Chapter 55: Old Qin's Branding Iron

  It's likely going to be updated in the second half of the night...

  Still the same words, if you have work or class tomorrow, get some rest early and you can read again when you wake up.

  The second update is now available, please recommend and click collect.

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  Baoyue is a vast and uncivilized land!

  At least in the eyes of many people, it is like this... For the old Qin people who grew up in the northwest, Baiyue is just a concept. What does it look like specifically? Many people can't say it out loud. All they know is that there is a group of uncivilized barbarians there.

  The First Emperor would have definitely sent someone to investigate.

  But this does not mean that the generals under his command, including Tu Wei and the Qin army, would really care about this matter.

  The six states have already been wiped out, what can a small Baiyue do? Perhaps this is what most Qin generals think.

  Of course, even if it were Emperor Qin Shihuang who attached great importance to this issue and was aware of the complexity of the Baiyue, some things still could not be solved.

  Liu Quan proposed a set of emergency treatment methods after the Battle of Zhao Yang's Great Swamp.

  But the most important factor here is the means of disinfection. Liu Quan's method is very simple, distilling high-concentration liquor. On the one hand, it can be used for disinfection, and on the other hand, if combined with medicine, it may solve the local malaria problem.

  "Baijiu?"

  Ren Yao still heard of such a term for the first time.

  Baijiu, also known as white wine, refers to various transparent and colorless distilled spirits. In Chinese history, the origin of baijiu dates back to what era? There are many different opinions on this topic. However, it is said that the earliest records of baijiu date back to the Tang Dynasty, but its authenticity is difficult to verify.

  "Is this thing you're talking about really useful?"

  Although he was still hesitant and uncertain in his heart, he had already been moved by her words.

  Liu Shan shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know either, theoretically it should be useful, but I've tried several times and they were all unsuccessful."

  "Then tell me in detail, maybe I can give you some ideas."

  Liu Jian thought for a moment, and then explained the principle of distilled liquor as he understood it. Of course, he wasn't an expert in this field, so he could only give a simple introduction. Specifically, he talked about the efficacy of medicinal herbs and distilled liquor working together, mainly with regards to treating poisonous diseases.

  Ren You listened very seriously to Liu Jian's account, gently patting his forehead, and fell into deep thought.

  Liu Jian did not dare disturb him and sat down beside him, quietly waiting.

  "This thing you're talking about... oh, it's called huangjiu, right? I've never heard of it before. But from what you said about the taste, it seems to have left some impression on me. It was like four years ago? When I followed General Wang Ba to break through Julu, I had a drink at a wine house in Songzi City (north of Zhao County, Hebei Province), and only had one sip, but the impression was still quite deep."

  The wine has a bit of sediment, it's not colorless and transparent as you said, but the taste is quite similar...

  I asked the owner of the wine shop at that time, who would be willing to taste such a bad-tasting wine. The owner said that the wine was left by a swallow person and there were still people who wanted to drink it, but most of them were northerners who liked that kind of flavor.

  In Northern mouth, often refers to the Xiongnu people north of the Great Wall of Yan and Zhao.

  Liu Kan's eyes lit up, "Can the adult introduce me to the common people? If this wine is brewed, it will definitely save many lives."

  Ren Youlang smiled and nodded: "Song Zixian Wei Xu Gong and I do have some connections. Liu Kan, since you're willing to do this, I can introduce you to him. If it succeeds, you'll definitely get military merit; but if it fails... hehe."

  "If we fail, ordinary people will have to bear the consequences."

  Ren You then returned to his room, took out a token and wrote on a wooden slip, and handed them over to Liu Kan.

  "This is the Iron Eagle token I held back then. With this wooden tally, Lord Xu will surely cooperate with you. Well, when do you plan to set off?"

  Liu Jian thought for a moment, "Of course, the sooner the better... But none of them have returned, including Shi Tang and Li, and at home..."

  Ren You naturally knew what Liu Jian was worried about, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry about your family matters, I will arrange for someone to take care of them. This matter is very important, the sooner it's done, the more guarantee there will be for the lives of my soldiers on the southern expedition, you should hurry up and set off."

  Liu Kan immediately agreed, "That little fellow will go home and make arrangements, at most four or five days, and set out on the journey."

  "Excellent!"

  Ren You then told Liu Gan some details that needed attention. After all, Songzi City was the former territory of Zhao, and the situation was different from Pei County.

  By the time Liu Quan bid farewell, it was already dark.

  Ren You broke the rules and ordered a family member to arrange for a carriage to send Liu Kan back home.

  Standing at the gate of the government office, watching the carriage disappear into the distance, an old servant beside Ren You stepped forward and said: "Sir, this Liu Quan is brave and resourceful, with many clever ideas. He will surely become your trusted assistant in the future. Why not take him to Xiang County?"

  Ren Yao shook his head and sighed lightly.

  "What was I thinking?" He fell silent for a moment, "I'm just worried that this place is too small to hold him... He's still too young, according to the law, officials must be at least 20 years old. Even if I take him to the county, what can he do?

  Neishi Da Ren once wanted him to serve in the military.

  However, many years have passed and Master Meng has not mentioned this matter again, presumably he has also forgotten. As for me, I do not wish him to join the army... Hehe, this is my private thought.

  Let him stay in Pei County then, I'll have someone keep an eye on him secretly.

  "If he is really worthy of great use, I am willing to recommend him to Your Majesty; but if he is not worthy of heavy use, then it's all right."

  Liu Kan returned home when it was almost time for dinner.

  Wang Ji Zheng was anxiously looking out at the gate when he saw Liu Kan get off the carriage, and hastily stepped forward to greet him, "Brother Liu Kan, Chen Yu of Yangwu has sent someone over, they've been waiting for a long time."

  Liu Kan heard this and his heart skipped a beat, hastily adjusting his clothes and hat, saying: "Quickly take me there."

  Has Chen Ping arrived?

  Liu Quan's heart was somewhat excited! Earlier, when he saw Xiao He, Liu Bang, and Lü Zhi, it was just a slight movement in his heart. At that time, he had no thoughts at all, only thinking about how to settle down in Pei County and make a living by fishing in the muddy waters.

  But now, after being branded with an old Qin person's mark, this idea is a bit different.

  Moreover, waiting for him in the house was Chen Ping, a rather impressive figure. Liu Quan's heart felt a bit stirred up.

  A young man of twenty-four or five years old, strong and vigorous, was sitting in the hall.

  Liu Kan entered the house and said: "I've troubled you, Chen Sheng, for a long time. Forgive me! Forgive me!"

  But on closer inspection, it seems somewhat different from the image of Chen Ping in mind, is this really Chen Ping?

  Young man stood up, cupped his hands and said: "I am Chen Yi, brother asked me to bring a hundred taels of gold and escort the remaining wine."

  "What's going on?"

  Liu Quanqi said: "Aren't you Chen Ping?"

  Young man smiled, "Chen Ping is my younger brother. Before my elder brother returned to Yangwu, he set out for Jimo to study. My elder brother had no choice but to order me to replace him and come here. Here is a letter from my elder brother and a hundred taels of gold as a gift."

  As he spoke, he took out a wooden tablet from his bosom, then picked up a package from beside the desk and slammed it onto the table.

  Liu Jian felt somewhat disappointed in his heart.

  It really wasn't Chen Ping after all... What a pity, what a pity! However, although I thought so in my heart, it didn't show on my face. Without even looking at the package, I just took over the wooden slip, glanced at it, "Brother Chen, don't worry, the leftover wine is already prepared and can be transported at any time. The sky is already late, why not rest here for a night first and talk about it tomorrow?"

  Chen Yi smiled and said, "Big brother said so, I must listen to Liu Sheng's instructions!"

  Liu Quan immediately had Wang Ji arrange accommodations for Chen Yi.

  Fortunately, there were two houses in our home, one of which had three side rooms, just enough to accommodate.

  He picked up the hundred taels of gold and rushed to the inner hall. After handing over the gold to his mother, he then told Madame Kan about what had happened at the county yamen.

  "Are you saying your father is from Qin?"

  It was clear that Liu Jian's father had not told his wife about his own background, so when she heard it, she was shocked.

  "The county head said that he had sent someone to investigate and it was said that our ancestors left Guanzhong because they were escaping from the law. My father's ancestral home should be in Fengyang East Township... However, the emperor has already pardoned the crimes of that year, but the specifics, the county head did not make clear."

  Madam Kong smiled after some thought: "Let the Qin people be Qin, actually under this sky now, who isn't a Qin person? People always have to face reality... Some people just won't admit it, but what's the use?"

  But why do you suddenly want to go to Julu?

  "That place is quite far from here, you're so young, going out alone, mom is a bit worried."

  It's also true that even if Liu Jian looks very majestic and robust, in reality, he is only just over 16 years old.

  Madam Kong said: "Mother still wants to take advantage of this period when there are fewer things, to arrange a marriage for you... it seems that's not possible now."

  "Marriage?"

  "Yes, you're already sixteen, considered a grown adult, and should be starting your own family and career!"

  Liu Jian felt dizzy... getting married at the age of 16? This is indeed a typical early marriage. But thinking about it, this custom is just like that, what can you do?

  "Ke, when will you set off?"

  Liu Jian thought for a moment, "Just one or two days. This matter is extremely urgent and cannot be delayed... En, after I finish some things tomorrow, I plan to set off the day after tomorrow. However, Guan's family has not yet replied, which makes me somewhat worried."

  Madam Kong fell silent for a moment, "You just focus on your work, don't worry about family matters, my mother and Wang Ji are enough to take care of it. As for business matters, let Old Zhou handle them... As for the others, shouldn't Shi Tang Lie and his three friends be back by now?

  But you're going alone, and mom is still a bit worried.

  "Alright then, Mother thinks that Mr. Cheng is a rather steady and mature person, he's older and has experience, let him go with you."

  Mr. Cheng is Cheng Mo.

  Liu Kan thought for a moment and felt that having someone like this following him wasn't necessarily a bad thing.