Chapter 39: The Descendants of Old Qin

  The history of Chinese Huangjiu is very long, it has appeared as early as the Xia and Shang dynasties.

  However, the period when Huangjiu technology was truly perfected and matured was during the Northern Song Dynasty, and various brands of Huangjiu began to emerge.

  However, during the Qin and Han dynasties, Huangjiu was still only at the level of Wujiqu wine.

  The concept of sake has already appeared, but it is only relative. In the five dynasties, only Chen Qi can barely be considered as sake.

  The purpose of clear wine is mainly not for drinking, but as an offering to sacrifice to heaven and earth.

  In the "Zhou Li - Tian Guan Jiu Zheng", it is recorded that there are three types of wine: to distinguish between the three wines, one is called Shi Jiu (wine for matters), two is called Xi Jiu (wine for leisure), and three is called Qing Jiu (clear wine). Shi Jiu is for drinking on occasions; Xi Jiu is for drinking without occasion. As for Qing Jiu, it is the wine used for sacrificial rites. From this, we can see the status of Qing Jiu.

  The nine brewing methods mainly divide the brewing process of yellow rice wine in detail.

  Soaking rice, steaming rice, drying rice, fermenting in a vat, opening the vat, fermenting in a jar, brewing... and so on, all these tasks must be completed in sequence.

  The previous Xishui Huajiao lacked just this process of brewing liquor.

  Of course, only Liu Kan understood this process. This is also the most crucial step in the entire brewing program. Huangjiu that has not been brewed can only be ordinary turbid wine, but after going through the brewing process, ordinary turbid wine can become clear wine.

  With such fine wine to sacrifice to heaven and earth, it can only be said that the First Emperor is extraordinary.

  As for the 'Wansui wine' legend, it's just a bunch of nonsense. If not said so, how can we show the dignity of 'Wansui wine'? As for Ren You, he has already been fooled by Liu Quan. The fact is right in front of him, but he has never seen or tasted such fine wine before.

  So now, no matter how nonsensical Liu Jian's words are, Ran You will unhesitatingly believe them.

  "Ah Qiang, I'll take this hundred-year-old wine!"

  After finishing speaking, he immediately felt that he had misspoken and hurriedly added: "No, no, it's not me who wants it, it's...no, that's not right either...I'm offering this wine to the Emperor. Next year, the Emperor will ascend Mount Tai for the Fengshan ceremony, and only the Longevity Wine is worthy of His Majesty's status. Liu Kan, speak up! How much does this wine cost per jar? I'll pay any price."

  Liu Kan said with a surprised face: "But this wine was originally meant for the emperor."

  "Ah..."

  Ren Yao was also overly excited and forgot what Liu Jian had said earlier. However, after calming down, Ren Yao praised: "Liu Jian, you have a good heart, this is the best. Let me handle this matter, Luo Jia listen to my orders!"

  "The end is near!"

  Ren Yao turned around, using a black wooden stopper to seal the mouth of the vase, and then carefully covered it with a black handkerchief, tying it up tightly.

  He took out a copper seal with a black ribbon from his bosom, together with that bottle of 'Wansui wine', and handed it over to Li Bi.

  "You take my seal and lead the troops to set out overnight, rushing to Xiaxiang. After arriving at Xiaxiang, please ask Lord Tu to dispatch soldiers and horses, you must not leave this jar behind, immediately rush to Xianyang, and hand over this jar of wine personally to General Meng Tian, General Meng will naturally understand my intention... Remember, it's personal delivery, if the wine is lost, you'll come to see me with your head chopped off."

  "Hi!"

  Luo Jia also knew the importance of this 'Wan Sui Wine'.

  He then picked up his wine and left in big strides, walking out of the main hall.

  On the platform, apart from Ren You, there were only two people left: He and Li Bi Liu Quan.

  "Liu Kan, this time you have successfully brewed the wine, which can be considered a great achievement. However, before the pardon arrives, you still need to put up with it for a while."

  "The guilty party understands!"

  Liu Jian bowed and expressed no resentment.

  Ren Yao continued: "However, this 'Wansui wine' is a matter of great importance. One hundred jars of Wansui wine must be prepared and shipped within the month... As for tasting it, I'm not quite at ease. Alright, you'll handle this matter personally. During the period when the wine is being prepared, I permit you to stay in my home, but don't take a single step outside the door. You must do this thing well, and after the wine is shipped, you can return to prison and await the arrival of the pardon."

  "Thank you, sir!"

  Ren Youming ordered Li Bi to lead ten Qin soldiers to escort Liu Kan back home.

  After seeing Liu Jian off, Ren Xiao let out a sigh of relief and suddenly felt an unprecedented fatigue.

  Finally solved one thing...... I didn't expect my premonition to be true! Even more unexpected is that this Liu Quan has such skills.

  However, Liu Jian's identity has yet to be confirmed.

  Qin Wu Wang Ying Dang collapsed, it has been nearly ninety years ago. Ninety years, the sea and the mulberry fields have changed greatly. The people who lived in Sanchuan County, which was the capital of Eastern Zhou at that time, Luoyang, are dead or gone, how can they investigate Liu Quan's ancestral affairs clearly?

  Moreover, Liu Gan and his mother seem not to be very clear about Liu Fu's affairs either.

  Mrs. Liu did say where Mr. Liu used to live in Luoyang, but after investigation, it was found that Mr. Liu's former residence had ceased to exist long before Qin Wang Zheng conquered Luoyang, leaving only a piece of ruins. As for the residents who lived nearby at that time, not one could be found.

  Liu Kan's contribution in offering wine this time is not small.

  Since General Meng intends to bring Liu into the Blue Dragon Camp after he comes of age, why not take advantage of the situation and offer this favor?

  At this thought, Ren Yao immediately ordered someone to bring Liu Kan's household registration.

  After a moment of contemplation, he picked up the engraving knife and carefully carved the four characters "Pingyang Dongxiang" in the blank space below the two characters for his ancestral home.

  Pin Yang is where Liu Xian, a descendant of the Liu family from the Tang State, lived during his time in Qin.

  It was from this moment on that Liu Jian's body had an indelible mark of being a true descendant of the Qin people. Whether or not Liu Jian was willing to acknowledge this fact, his household registration clearly showed that he was a descendant of the old Qin people.