Qin Official

Ever since the siege at Yangping Pass half a month ago, Chang Yan had been held hostage.

Lieutenant Xiao Tao, who was renamed "Tao Xiao", handed Chang Yi over to Hanzhong to guard Licang, and was carried north by the envoy sent by Heifu. Xiao Tao himself led more than 10,000 troops and went south to join Zhou Chang, the governor of Ba County, and approached Shu County. , take over the local area.

Licang handled the matter quickly, and Chang Yan was able to quickly go north, directly taking the Baoxie Road, and arrived in Xianyang in late September.

Heifu specially sent Lu Jia Fengchang to greet him at Ba Shang.

Lu Jia was an old acquaintance of Chang Yan. He went to Shu to lobby a year ago and was almost cooked by Chang Yan. In the end, he used sweet words and promises to trick Chang Yan into agreeing to join Hei Fu's forces.

Heifu lived up to expectations and won the war in one fell swoop, but now Chang Yan couldn't help himself.

So as soon as he got out of the car and saw Lu Jia's first words, Chang Yan asked rather dissatisfiedly:

"Mr. Lu, am I a guest or a prisoner?"

When Lu Jia saw that the obese Chang Yan had actually lost some weight, he must have been frightened all the way, wondering whether he had eaten or slept well, so he smiled and said:

"Of course he is an honored guest, and he will also be the Prime Minister of Great Qin in the future!"

"Are there any distinguished guests brought here by the reckless Wu Ben?"

Chang Yin was a little angry. He was not a timid person. He was sure that although Heifu sent troops to hold him hostage, he did not dare to directly attack him. As the largest ally of the Northern Expedition, if Chang Yin did not end well, what would you let others think?

"This is really a misunderstanding!"

Lu Jia explained: "Some time ago, the regent uncovered a major case in Xianyang. It was Zhao Kuaiche who secretly sent his accomplices to hide in Xianyang to plot evil. After the traitor was captured, he confessed his name... "

"He is Chang Jun's staff, Yan Jin. He wants to collude with the six countries, instigate rebellion against Chang Jun, and cause civil strife in Qin!"

Hearing Kuai Che's name, Chang Yan's heart tightened, and he understood that Yan Jin's matter must have been known to Xianyang.

He couldn't deny it, so he could only say with a straight face: "Ignorant people, after being unworthy of being strict kings, actually listened to the traitor's estrangement. After being reprimanded by me, they committed suicide in shame..."

In fact, he asked his personal guard Ji Xin to kill him.

Lu Jia smiled and said: "Wu Zhonghou also knows very well that Changjun is loyal to the Qin Dynasty and will not be influenced by villains. It is just for Changjun's safety that he has no choice but to have his close associates protect him."

"Now that the misunderstanding has been clarified, today, everyone in the world will see that Wu Zhonghou and Chang Jun are in the same boat, and we must not allow the Six Nations Xiaoxiao to succeed..."

After saying this, he stretched out his hand and asked Chang Yan to step forward: "Marquis Wu Zhong has hosted a banquet at his residence to treat all the ministers!"

If it was as Lu Jia said, Heifu still showed enough respect for the arrival of Chang Yan, the Northern Expeditionary Army's biggest ally, and personally came outside the mansion to greet him.

When the two met, Chang Yan's first impression of Hei Fu was that he was not as fat as Lu Jia described...

The first impression Heifu gave to Chang Yan was that he was not as black as charcoal as the folk rumors said, and he could not see clearly at night...

In public, Chang Yan also put away his sullen expression, and the two of them bowed to each other solemnly.

Heifu praised Chang Yun highly: "Chang Jun has controlled the center of Shu for more than ten years, making the Shu County Yin rich, and helped me in times of crisis, and finally made the Northern Expedition a success. This time he came to Xianyang to discuss the country's plans with me, which will help consolidate the Qin Dynasty. It is the most gratifying thing for Sheji to wipe out the remnants of the Six Kingdoms as soon as possible! In the words of Confucian scholars, it is a great joy to have friends from far away!"

Chang Yan replied: "How dare you? I have heard about the appearance of Marquis Wu Zhong for a long time. Marquis Wu Zhong is a famous general in the world, and he is rich in the skills of governing the country. Now he is in charge of the affairs of the country. It is really a blessing for the Qin Dynasty. Today Chengjun and all the people Your Majesty is hosting a banquet, and I am extremely pleased with you."

The polite exchanges were exchanged, but Chang Yi did not mention the future political system or the purpose of establishing an emperor. Heifu did not say anything about the future of Shu County. After joining hands at the banquet, the two of them chatted tacitly about the Chinese people. Food that can always keep the conversation going.

gourmet food……

"I have heard for a long time that the people of Shu are wealthy. They are no longer satisfied with food. When it comes to appreciating food, especially dignitaries, they are the most particular about food. Chang Jun has lived in Shu County for a long time, so he must have been accustomed to the local taste. I specially I hired a few Shu chefs to cook some Shu-style dishes."

Hei Fu pointed to the middle of the banquet. The first dish was being prepared, but it was a plump pork leg placed on top of the charcoal, tumbling and grilling, sizzling with hot oil. The chef dips a brush into thick honey and brushes it upwards layer by layer. The aroma continues to spread in all directions...

"Wu Zhonghou has never been to Shu County, but he knows what it's like in Shu."

Chang Yan then said: "Outsiders often say that people in Shu appreciate the taste and spicy aroma, and like to use dogwood and pungent seeds as ingredients. However, this is just because of the dampness and heat in Shu. They use it to drive away the cold and wind. In fact, compared to the pungent taste, People in Shu prefer sweet and greasy food, and the taste of pork and chicken is bland, so people in Shu like to eat honey..."

This is really not nonsense. From this era until the Song Dynasty, Sichuan cuisine was always sweet.

For example, the honey-roasted pork leg in front of me probably tastes similar to the Cantonese barbecued pork of later generations. It is pickled with sugar, and it needs to be brushed with honey after roasting...

Hei Fu nodded: "It seems that the taste in Shu is quite similar to the taste in Jingchunan County. Lu Sheng, what did Qu Yuan say in that poem?"

Lu Jia immediately answered: "The turtles and lambs have some juicy sauce. It means boiling the turtle soup and roasting the mutton, and they must have sweet juicy sauce to go with them!"

Heifu held up his palm and said, "That's right, but nowadays when cooking in Nanjun, you don't have to use slurry to have sweet taste. You only need to cut some sugar."

"Speaking of sugar, I would like to thank Marquis Wu Zhong on behalf of the people of Shu."

Chang Yin said: "The climate in Shu County is suitable. There is a lot of honey around the county, but only the rich can afford it. However, after sugarcane cultivation was introduced from Nanjun, the area in Zizhong (Neijiang, Sichuan) was filled with sugarcane plantations. , and bought Bo slaves from the southwestern barbarians to work, and the brown sugar they squeezed out also spread throughout Shu, and the families in the middle could buy it. The Shu people were so happy that they called Zizhong County Sweet City..."

The mass-produced brown sugar replaced the less-produced glutinous rice and honey and became the favorite of Shu people.

In addition to satisfying the appetite of Shu's population, the rise of the sugar industry also boosted local taxes and gave Shuzhong, who had always liked to be autistic, the desire to open up southwestern Yi in order to obtain more Bo slaves. Chang Yi was most attracted by One of his proud political achievements is the opening of the Five Feet Road and the appointment of officials in small states in the southwest. He was even eager to use troops against the populous Dian Kingdom.

It's just that Shu County's demand for slaves was much less than that of Jianghuai, so it ultimately failed to force a war.

"Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs to benefit the world. If I don't take the credit, what do I think?"

Hei Fu stood up and toasted Chang Yi with a glass of wine: "Today I will give a gift to Lord Chang and the people of Shu. I hope Lord Chang will forget the offenses committed by my reckless generals."

As he spoke, Heifu clapped his hands, and the servants came up with copper plates one by one and presented them to the desks of Chang Yan and everyone at the table.

"This is……"

Chang Yan took a closer look and saw translucent ice-like objects on the plate. He thought they were ice cubes. Although it was not winter yet, wealthy people often dug ice cellars underground and stored ice in February and March. If the ice cellar is deep enough and sealed enough, the ice can even be stored until next year.

But what's surprising is that when I reach out to the plate, it doesn't feel cold at all.

Heifu understood: "This is candy."

"sugar?"

Not only Chang Yan, but also Lu Jia and other uninformed ministers also looked surprised. Only Zhang Cang, who had tasted it in advance, looked indifferent.

The sugar industry has appeared in this era for more than ten years. From Xianyang to the south, from Shu County to Guandong, everyone likes red, black or brown brown sugar. Even malt sugar is opaque and yellow. Have you ever seen colorless sugar?

It was Zhang Cang who demonstrated, taking a piece and throwing it into his mouth. The others followed suit, their expressions suddenly relieved.

"It's really candy!"

"That's right, Bingtang." Heifu's naming this time was rare and no one complained.

Chang Yan also licked it. It was a familiar sweetness, but also a bit unfamiliar...

Because brown sugar is cooked in a kettle, it has a strong flavor, and some even have a burnt taste.

But the sweetness of "rock candy" is subtle and sweet, and has no pasty taste.

Sugar pressing is also one of the pillar industries of Shu County. Chang Yan once visited the workshop and saw the complete process. He knew that according to the store's opinion, the lighter the color of the sugar, the fewer impurities, the better the quality, and the more energy it can produce. selling price.

In this case, isn’t this almost colorless rock candy the perfect product that craftsmen are striving for? This novel product is bound to be sought after by wealthy families in Sichuan. How much tax revenue can it create?

Heifu smiled and said: "This is newly made by Nanjun Sugar Factory. As for the formula and production method, the Shaofu can take the lead and be used by government-run workshops in various places."

The craftsmanship is slowly developed. Heifu has no time to improve the craftsmanship on the front line. He just provides a direction for the craftsmen to try to obtain products, from brown sugar to brown sugar to rock sugar, and in the future, white sugar.

Knowledge does not mean craftsmanship. Even if Heifu follows the encyclopedia, the candy he makes will definitely taste worse than an old craftsman who has been doing this for ten years.

Leave the things that experts do to experts.

"The workshops in Shu County should also treat everyone equally! As soon as possible, this product, like brown sugar, can be sold throughout Shu. It can even be sold to the southwestern barbarians and body poisons to make profits for the country. What do you think, Mr. Chang?"

coming!

Chang Yan was so excited that he talked about everything from food to sugar. After talking nonsense for a long time, Heifu finally got to the point!

Shu County is currently the only county with strong independence. Whether it is military, political or economic, it is controlled by Chang Chang's own shogunate.

Heifu has now made his attitude clear. Shu County's independence from outsiders is over. He will reunite Shu County with Guanzhong and Jianghan in terms of military, politics and economy. All the workshops and mines in Shu County will also be reduced. The government took over the government to supplement the central government's lack of economy.

Chang Yan nodded: "This is very wonderful, but I am old and old, and I am afraid I will not see that day again. Alas, although I am not from Shu, I still miss Shu."

Here comes the subtext, he means to ask Heifu:

Little brother, if I say that I no longer want to fight for power and want to be a right prime minister, and I just want to retire in peace, will you let me go back to Shu?

Hei Fu smiled and said: "Chang Jun wants to serve as the Prime Minister of a country and help me, the one who governs the world, isn't Shu County still under the rule of you, the Prime Minister of the country?"

You've come here, so naturally you can't let go. Don't even think about going back. I will take over everything in Shu County, and you can live your whole life in Xianyang.

Chang Yan sighed and seemed to be thinking of Heifu with good intentions: "The situation in Shu is complicated. After many prisoners were moved, the traitors are difficult to control. There are also Di and Qiang barbarians scattered all over the surrounding area. It cannot be controlled by the military. There must also be officials who are familiar with the local area.”

Chang Yan had no bargaining cards. The only thing he could throw out for Heifu to consider was his status in Shu County. Violent conflicts and officials would cause Shu County to fall into chaos.

Shujun has left me, can anyone else have fun? This is the only large granary that can still produce more than before the war after the world is broken. Aren't you afraid that it will collapse and affect your move eastward?

"But the center cannot do without Chang Jun. Shu County can just choose another governor. Chang Jun doesn't have to worry."

Shu County will not be transferred without you? Sichuan people no longer eat sweet food but eat spicy food? Just kidding, of course I’m not afraid!

Heifu was already prepared:

"There is a candidate for the governor of Shu County. What do you think of Mr. Chang?"

My choice is absolutely fine, I will scare you to death if I tell you.

Chang Yan said with a smile on his fat face: "Since he is the candidate for Marquis Wu Zhong, he is a suitable candidate."

You said it when you were down, I'm not bragging, no matter who goes, it will be good if they can do half of what I did. He doesn't think Heifu's old army can be accepted by the Shu people.

But the candidate proposed by Heifu stunned Chang Yan.

"He is an old member of Chang Jun's staff."

"The former Shanghe Nongdu Lieutenant managed the Helan wasteland into a capable official in the Central Plains."

Heifu smiled and said: "Li Bing's grandson, Li Ling! Is he qualified for the job?"

…

ps: The second chapter will be released after 0 o'clock, together with tomorrow's. I can't scrape together the 20,000 words for tomorrow. This is the only way to avoid being chased by editors...

I also recommend a new historical book by Sir Zhuo, "The Four Officials of Han". It is not a time travel book, and the writing and story are very good.