Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Hero's Intoxication

Ten days had passed in the blink of an eye since the birth of Princess Gaoyang.

During this time, Li Kong had been busy with preparations for the sale of his strong liquor. This was his first major endeavor since taking over the imperial estate in Changle County, and he had to make a striking name for himself.

Emperor Taizong, having just welcomed a new daughter, seemed to have entirely forgotten about Li Kong. For ten days straight, he had not summoned him. To the uninformed, it might have seemed as if Li Kong had fallen out of favor.

In the Western Market District of Chang’an, Li Kong had especially brought along Cheng Yaojin and Li Jing today. In addition to these two generals, there were also the four key ministers: Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and Pei Ji.

“What a strong aroma of liquor! Come on, let’s go have a look!” Despite the bustling crowds, Cheng Yaojin, an old lover of fine drink, was the first to catch the scent. His eyes lit up, and without another word, he hurried off toward the source.

Li Kong’s lips curled in amusement. The reason he had brought these particular men, beyond the simple fact that they were the only ones he knew, was to use them as living advertisements for his new brew in Chang’an. Each of them was a man of genuine character, respected throughout the city. No one could serve as better ambassadors for his liquor.

As for not choosing Emperor Taizong as his spokesman, the reason was simple: Li Kong’s liquor was not intended solely for the elite. This time, he was determined to make his strong spirits accessible to the common folk. The Emperor’s endorsement would only elevate the product’s status, giving the impression that it was a tribute wine—expensive and unattainable—killing the curiosity and desire of the masses. The losses would outweigh the gains.

Li Jing, also a lover of good wine, followed after Cheng Yaojin. The four ministers, however, looked somewhat puzzled. Still, as guests, they deferred to their host. Since it was Li Kong who had invited them, they all turned their gaze toward him.

Being under the scrutiny of the Four Pillars of the Lingyan Pavilion made Li Kong feel a bit uneasy. He managed to compose himself and said, “Since that’s the case, uncles, why don’t we all go and have a look? If the wine is truly good, we can drink to our hearts’ content.”

The four exchanged glances and then nodded in agreement.

In front of a modest tavern stood four large earthen jars. Three were tightly wrapped in red gauze, while the one in the middle had its lid removed, allowing the rich aroma of liquor to waft out, halting passersby in their tracks.

When Li Kong and his party arrived, they could clearly hear the sound of people swallowing their saliva in anticipation.

At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed as a shopkeeper emerged and announced in a loud voice, “Ladies and gentlemen, today is the grand opening of our establishment, and also the first day that our master’s new liquor is for sale. To ensure good fortune, all drinks today are half price—thirty cash for a cup. If you’d like a taste, please come in. However, our tavern is small, so you may have to wait a bit if it gets crowded.”

Thirty cash for a cup was not cheap, but it was within acceptable bounds, and soon enough, some in the crowd could no longer resist and began to head inside.

The forthright Cheng Yaojin made his way straight to the jars, declaring to the shopkeeper, “Pour me a cup!”

The shopkeeper hesitated, then glanced discreetly at Li Kong, who was standing nearby.

Li Kong took Cheng Yaojin aside and said, “Let it be, Uncle Cheng. The man is just doing business. Even if you are a duke, we should respect his trade, don’t you think?”

Cheng Yaojin pondered this for a moment. Having come from humble beginnings, he did not insist. “Then bring us a whole jin!” he said at last.

With that, he led the way into the tavern, Li Kong and Li Jing following, along with the others.

Inside, the small tavern hosted a dozen or so tables. Guests, whether acquaintances or strangers, were seated together at the direction of the waitstaff and soon engaged in lively conversation.

Shortly after, two dishes were served to each table: one of fried soybeans, the other of peanuts. These were the only side dishes available, for here the focus was on the liquor, not the food.

Moreover, under Li Kong’s tutelage, these two humble dishes had been transformed with new flavors, unlike anything the people of this era had ever tasted. They could easily rival the so-called rare delicacies of the time.

After sampling the fare, many diners’ eyes brightened with delight. The dishes vanished quickly, even before the wine had arrived. As for the price—twenty cash per plate—who cared about such a trivial sum?

“What a unique taste! This tavern is truly impressive. From now on, I’ll be coming here for my drinks!” exclaimed Cheng Yaojin, biting into a soybean with obvious delight.

Li Jing, though more reserved, was nonetheless excited by the novel flavors. The four ministers were even more impressed.

Soon, the wine was brought out. Once inside, most were not content with merely a single cup, as each cup held only a modest amount, barely enough to wet the throat. Most ordered a half-jin, some even a full jin.

Observing these eager patrons, Li Kong was inwardly amused. A jin now equaled sixteen liang, which meant a jin of wine cost five hundred cash—and there were no refunds. If they found themselves unable to finish, what then?

He looked forward to seeing the outcome. In this era, people never took their drink to go; whatever was left behind became the property of the tavern, who could then process and resell it. It was not that Li Kong was unscrupulous; rather, it was simply the custom of the times. Besides, the wine was poured straight from the jars, which remained clean. Unless someone drank directly from the jar—a rare occurrence—there was little to fear. Even the boldest drinkers would opt for a large bowl, not the jar itself.

As soon as the wine arrived, Cheng Yaojin poured himself a full cup and downed it in one gulp. Instantly, his face flushed red, his throat burned with a fiery heat, then his esophagus, his stomach, and finally, warmth spread throughout his entire body.

“Ah! Excellent! That’s the kind of drink fit for a man!” he roared after a moment, exhaling a cloud of boozy breath, tinged with a peculiar odor.

Li Kong pinched his nose and cursed silently. He had not expected Cheng Yaojin to have such terrible breath—or rather, in this age, almost everyone did. This would persist until the Song Dynasty, when government salt became widely available. People brushed their teeth with coarse salt, an expensive commodity. Even as the son-in-law of the noble Cui family, Cheng Yaojin could seldom afford it.

“Waiter, what do you call this wine?” Cheng Yaojin bellowed.

The shopkeeper hurried over and replied with a smile, “Your Grace, this wine is called Hero’s Drunkenness.”

“A fine name indeed—Hero’s Drunkenness! Bring me two more jin, and twice the dishes!” Cheng Yaojin, his spirits soaring, drained another cup after Li Kong refilled it, then licked the remaining drops from his lips with abandon.

As for Li Jing and the others, their expressions were a study in contrasts, but their faces were uniformly flushed, as though they had been warmed by a gentle fire.