Chapter 104

I Truly Am Not a Wise King!

After the military examinations.

The court ascertained that the [Idle Talk] incident was fabricated. The Minister of Rites was dealt with leniently and remained in his current position.

Emperor Chongzhao only penalized him by docking three months' salary and ordered him to reflect on his mistakes in solitude, warning him not to associate too closely with others during sensitive periods in the future.

The Third Prince was also reprimanded and had been keeping a much lower profile in court recently.

Once the military examination results were announced, combining the scores from the literary and martial tests, Xia Fuyang secured the position of Tanhua (third place) in the military examinations—his literary test scores were still somewhat lacking.

There was no grand parade through the streets on horseback for the military exam graduates. After a celebratory banquet, the process of selecting official posts or army postings began.

Given his ranking, Xia Fuyang had a degree of freedom in choosing his military assignment. He selected Xianghe, a remote area in the south, to serve as a minor garrison commander.

Before his departure, Qu Dubian and Xi Zixing prepared a farewell banquet for him.

It was held again at Ruyi Lou, in their usual private room.

However, the dishes weren't from Ruyi Lou this time. Some were brought by Qu Dubian from his uncle Xu Tingfeng, and others were prepared by Xi Zixing.

Qu Dubian also brought a jug of wine—he had once promised Xia Fuyang a jug of good wine.

The current winemaking technology in the Great Zhou dynasty remained at the 'fermentation mash' stage. Distillation technology for grains had not been developed. Without distillation, the fermentation process would stop at a certain point.

The highest alcohol content nowadays didn't exceed about twenty percent.

The simulator had given him diagrams for a still, but didn't specify the material. He experimented with several—wood, iron, copper—before concluding that the liquor distilled from a copper still best concentrated the aroma.

He then asked his uncle Xie Jingshan, who worked in the Ministry of Works, to help him forge a proper small-scale copper still.

However, because the distilled liquor was too strong, he divided it into two jars and aged them for two years. Today, he brought up one jar.

He had never drunk very strong liquor in his past life, as it hurt his voice—he still had to sing back then—and preferred lower-alcohol drinks.

But Qu Dubian estimated this wine was over sixty percent alcohol.

Xia Fuyang couldn't wait any longer and opened it. A rich aroma of alcohol filled the air: "Wow, you filtered out the mash. It's all clear liquor."

Xi Zixing sniffed: "This wine smells incredibly fragrant and strong."

After saying this, he glanced at Qu Dubian.

Qu Dubian, sipping warm water, pouted: "Don't look at me like that. I'm not drinking any. I only like sweet fruit wines."

Xia Fuyang laughed heartily, eager: "Let me taste it."

He poured a cup for himself. One mouthful sent a burning sensation like a hot knife sliding from his throat down to his stomach, warming his whole body. He perked up: "Now that's potent!"

"If this wine could be transported to the northern frontier, it would surely warm the soldiers during the harsh winter!"

Xi Zixing: "Probably not easy to come by, though."

"True, the brewing process is more complicated, and the equipment requires money to forge," Qu Dubian said. "Moreover, if this wine spreads, it would greatly impact the existing wine-making households and businesses. Even if we want to promote it, we'd need careful planning."

Winemaking was risky; if fermentation went wrong, the drink could be fatal. Therefore, not every household was permitted to brew and sell wine. Making a small amount for family consumption was fine.

'Wine households' were those officially authorized by the Great Zhou to produce wine.

The livelihoods of common people hinged on every minor detail. A change or policy from above, seemingly an insignificant grain of sand, could become a crushing mountain for some when it landed below.

Xia Fuyang: "I hadn't thought that far ahead."

Xi Zixing: "Little Seven is right. What do you plan to do?"

Qu Dubian: "We'll talk about it later."

If he simply presented it to the Old Geezer, the emperor might not give him a single coin, just bestow some gold or jewels as a reward. Wouldn't that be a huge loss for him?

"Let's drink first, drink! Try the dishes my uncle made. They're very good!"

"Come on, come on."

After pouring a cup for Xi Zixing, Xia Fuyang became reluctant to part with more, treasuring the jar and keeping it close by his side.

Over the years, Xu Tingfeng's cooking skills had improved considerably, but the presentation had declined just as much.

Fortunately, all three of them knew this and ate quite heartily.

Xia Fuyang said proudly: "Our uncle really cares for me. Knowing I'm leaving, he specially prepared a whole table of dishes."

Qu Dubian: "Ah, right. He cares for you."

Xi Zixing: "But speaking of which, why did you choose to go to Xianghe as a commander?"

Xianghe was about a hundred li east of Zhennanguan Pass, also bordering Nanning. It suffered from frequent floods and mosquitoes. While the environment was pleasant, life as a garrison soldier there was rather arduous.

Qu Dubian: "Zhennanguan has many generals. He might not stand out there. The Xianghe border also has friction with Nanning. It's a place to gain experience and advance."

Xia Fuyang: "Exactly. In the army, you speak through military merit and ability," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm going with the official rank of Zhiguo Xiaowei (a seventh-rank military officer). If I went to some comfortable place, would they grant me such a high position right away?"

It was rare to start as a seventh-rank military officer.

"Haha, good! A toast to our Zhiguo Xiaowei," Qu Dubian raised his cup. "Here's to you rising through the ranks quickly and becoming a great general guarding our borders!"

Xi Zixing: "I hope by the time I take the spring metropolitan examinations, you're already a great general."

Xia Fuyang accepted without modesty: "Absolutely! Maybe even sooner."

The three raised their cups and drank.

A second later, Xi Zixing's eyes watered from the strong liquor, his face flushed instantly. He hissed and puffed, hurriedly stuffing food into his mouth.

Qu Dubian, drinking water, enjoyed the spectacle.

He said: "The area near Xianghe is the hometown of Consort Zhou. I've heard her say the scenery there is beautiful, the people are simple and honest, and the mulberries are especially sweet. When you get there, you should try the mulberry wine."

Xia Fuyang: "If it's good, I'll send you some."

Qu Dubian teased: "Send plenty. I can use it for social favors."

On the day of Xia Fuyang's departure from the capital.

Madam Wang prepared a large bundle for him.

He was to travel with fellow graduates also heading south to join the army.

Madam Wang: "The journey is long, and you may not return home for two or three years. My son, you must take great care."

Xia Fuyang: "Don't worry, Mother."

Madam Wang sighed softly: "Actually, going to the northern frontier would have been best. Your father could have looked after you, sparing you much hardship."

Xia Fuyang said earnestly: "I have made my choice. My path may differ from Father's in the future."

Only military merits earned through one's own efforts were a reliable foundation of strength. He needed to grow and establish himself to have sufficient standing in the capital's power struggles.

In the future, even if the Seventh Prince had no intention of contending for the throne, he could still help his friend from a position of strength.

Madam Wang nodded: "Since it is so, I will say no more. I only hope you add clothes when cold and eat well when hungry."

Xia Fuyang: "I understand, Mother."

Like thistledown, each goes their distant way; for now, let's drain the cup in hand.

He bid farewell to his mother, mounted his horse, and with his pack on his back, did not look back. He resolutely set off on the path he had chosen.

-

Qu Dubian finished discussing with Xu Tingfeng.

That afternoon, he opened the second jar of wine and went to see Emperor Chongzhao.

"Father, taste this."

Emperor Chongzhao took a small sip and was jolted awake by the sharp stimulus, the lingering drowsiness vanishing: "This wine?"

Qu Dubian said proudly, "Someone gave it to me as a tribute."

Emperor Chongzhao chuckled, "To you?"

Qu Dubian: "Yeah, I go to Ruyi Tower often, and I frequent bookshops too. The owner of one bookshop gave me a jar of wine, said it was good stuff, and that if I couldn't finish it, I could give it to my family."

He leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "I know he's trying to butter me up, hoping I'll buy more books from him."

Emperor Chongzhao pondered for a moment.

He reckoned someone had recognized Little Seven's identity and wanted to use him as a conduit to present the wine. The little rascal, being used and still thinking it's a tribute to him.

Still, the wine was excellent.

A gleam shone in his eyes.

Domestic production within Great Zhou needed control; the livelihoods of wine households and distilleries had to be considered. But selling it at high prices to Nanning and the Northern Frontier, disrupting their domestic economies—that had nothing to do with Great Zhou.

"Which bookshop owner?"

Qu Dubian racked his brains, "What was it called again..."

Emperor Chongzhao: "..."

"You go there every day to buy storybooks and you don't know?"

Qu Dubian: "I read the stories, knowing the location is enough. Remembering the shop's name is too much mental effort."

Emperor Chongzhao felt a pang of exasperation but could only wait patiently for him to remember.

Only after Qu Dubian had downed two more bowls of rice, pushing right to the limit of the Emperor's patience, did he say, "Oh! The owner's surname is Xue. I don't know his full name, but he's the one who developed the brewing method. Father, if you want more, you should buy it from him."

Emperor Chongzhao immediately summoned officials from the Ministry of Revenue.

Qu Dubian didn't get involved in what followed. He made himself scarce, taking his small bowl to the side to eat. After all, professional matters were best left to professionals.

He had handed the wine still and the system-optimized distillation diagrams to his uncle. With his uncle's shrewd mind guiding things from behind the scenes, Uncle Letian wouldn't get the short end of the stick.

Though he might get sent out on assignment—a bit tough, but nothing to be ashamed of when making money.

Three days later.

Xue Letian negotiated with the Ministry of Revenue. They named the distilled grain liquor "Treasure Wine," and he secured the exclusive royal agency for it, responsible for sales, with a thirty-seventy split with the Ministry.

Xue Letian got thirty percent, the Ministry seventy.

And even Xue Letian's thirty percent was subject to tax.

Fuming, he ranted, "You have no idea, that dog-faced Lin from the Ministry of Revenue is stingy to the core! I don't know how anyone does business with him. Utterly shameless!"

Xu Tingfeng wasn't surprised by the outcome; it was within their acceptable range.

"We managed to secure over twenty percent largely because they looked into your background. Censor Zheng from the Censorate is your relative. With that official connection, they didn't just swallow you whole."

Under the leadership of Minister Lin, none of that bunch at the Ministry of Revenue were easy to deal with.

But if you wanted to make money, you had to cooperate with the court. Selling privately would risk a court ban, confiscation of the diagrams and technique, and not a single copper coin in return.

Now, with the backing of Great Zhou, Treasure Wine was practically a monopoly. If anyone tried to make it privately, the authorities would step in to suppress it before they even had to lift a finger.

Xue Letian: "Ah well, in a little while, I'll have to head to Baojiang Workshop again. Seems I'm just not fated for a life of leisure."

Xu Tingfeng beckoned him closer, lowering his voice.

"How much iron has been bought with the circulated funds?"

Xue Letian's expression turned serious. "Not much at the moment."

Xu Tingfeng: "Buy more when funds increase later."

Xue Letian: "Mm."

Xu Tingfeng leaned back in his wheelchair. His legs had begun to show faint signs of sensation. Since restarting his martial arts training from scratch, the longer he practiced, the more pronounced the effects became.

The internal cultivation manual his little nephew had given him rekindled his hope of standing again.