usatvline Chapter 72 Take a Rest
Chapter 72 Take a Rest
Since Liu Shan traveled through time, he has found that his mind is becoming clearer and his memory is better than usual.
Anything I encountered and learned about in my previous life, I still remember clearly here.
For example, what is taught in agricultural science classes is all the accumulation of life and work from previous lives.
Even if you only understand it from books and have never put it into practice, as long as you express the concepts and ideas accurately, there will naturally be specialized people to take charge of the research.
Perhaps this is the cheat code after time travel?
But there's one thing: things I've never encountered before, I still don't know even after arriving here.
Otherwise, given his personality, he'd be doing himself a disservice if he didn't make an AK himself.
This so-called "lip tea" has sparked controversy online.
Legend has it that its name comes from the myth of a fairy maiden who transformed into a thrush and carried tea seeds to plant. The tea leaves were picked by the fairy with her lips, and when brewed, the fairy's phantom appeared in the tea mist. During the Tang Dynasty, it was listed as a tribute because it cured Yang Guifei's illness.
This was originally a marketing model that associated with mythology and promoted tea, but in reality, some businesses actually hired virgin tea pickers to perform, which was stopped due to its vulgarity and malicious hype.
However, Liu Shan believed that in this era, using "tea on the lips" as a gimmick could make tea an important source of tax revenue for the imperial court.
Zhang frowned slightly. This method of using a young girl's body temperature for "initial warming" made her a little embarrassed, and two rosy clouds began to rise on her cheeks.
"Your Majesty, is this tea truly destined for popularity?"
Liu Shan explained, "Ordinary people would naturally not buy it, but it's different for aristocratic families. They like these novelties, and as long as the taste is not bad, they will not hesitate to pay a high price. If it can be made into a fine product, this tea can rival Shu brocade."
Shu brocade is world-renowned and deeply loved by noble families and aristocrats in various regions.
If even a small piece of tea could circulate among nobles, the resulting profits would be immeasurable.
"Someone, quickly invite the Prime Minister to the palace. I have important matters to discuss with him."
To get tea out of Yizhou, besides hype, promotion is also needed.
Prime Minister Zhuge Liang was an expert in this field.
Under his operation, an economic war, tied together with Shu brocade and Zhibai coins, has quietly begun.
If the tea packaging is promoted at this time, it will be like adding wings to a tiger.
"Your Majesty's ingenious idea is truly admirable. How did you come up with this method?"
Although Zhang did not understand, he wholeheartedly supported it if it could increase the court's revenue.
"Speaking of which, I have to thank you, Yun'er."
"I?"
"Just now when you poured me tea, I noticed that Yun'er's neck was fair and white, and I suddenly thought of this method. If this method succeeds, Yun'er will be a meritorious official of the court."
As husband and wife, Liu Shan spoke without any restraint and spoke frankly.
But Zhang, being a woman, blushed even more after hearing these slightly frivolous words.
"Your Majesty knows that you are devoted to the Han Dynasty, but if others hear these words, they may think that Your Majesty is a frivolous person."
Seeing Zhang's expression of both shame and anger, Liu Shan found it quite endearing. He took her small hand and said, "You are my lawfully wedded wife, and we are speaking privately behind closed doors. How can you call this frivolous?"
"Anyone who can come up with such a method can't be considered a licentious person."
"If you don't like it, Yun'er, then I won't say it again?"
Zhang quickly pressed her finger gently against Liu Chan's lips, then nestled close to him, gazing at him with deep affection.
"No! Your Majesty, do you know that only in this way can I feel the true affection between husband and wife?"
Liu Shan's heart trembled, almost melting in Zhang's tender and gentle eyes.
Before I knew it, my lips were moist and warm, with an intoxicating fragrance.
Outside the study, Wang Gui stopped the eunuch who was going to deliver the imperial decree.
"Chief Steward Wang, His Majesty urgently summons the Prime Minister to the palace for an audience; there's no time to delay!"
Everyone in the palace knew Liu Shan's rule: any decree concerning the Prime Minister had to be delivered immediately.
Wang Gui stared coldly at him and warned, "Do you think I don't know this? Do I need you to teach me?"
"I deserve to die, please forgive me, Steward Wang."
"I'm not trying to stop you, but rather to deliver the imperial decree to the Prime Minister's residence later."
"What Steward Wang means is..."
"His Majesty was just discussing matters with Generals Guan Xing and the other three in the study. He is a little tired and needs to rest. Summon Prime Minister Zhuge to the palace in an hour."
"During this period, anyone who disturbs His Majesty's rest will be executed without mercy."
......
An hour and a half later, Zhuge Liang entered the palace by imperial decree and met Liu Shan in the study.
"What urgent matter has Your Majesty summoned me to the palace?"
Liu Shan first gestured for Zhuge Liang to take a seat, and then ordered tea to be served.
"I invited the Prime Minister here to enjoy tea."
Although Zhuge Liang was puzzled, he didn't know why Liu Shan had suddenly invited him for tea.
When the tea was served, the tea soup was clear and bright, with a faint tea aroma that was refreshing and delightful.
Zhuge Liang was a tea connoisseur, and he could tell at a glance that this was a tea cake brewed with boiling water, without any other ingredients added.
He smiled leisurely, then took a small sip.
"Father, how does it taste?"
Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, when I was in Longzhong, I tried many ways of brewing tea. This method involves adding boiling water directly to the dried tea cake. Although it retains the original flavor of the tea leaves, it also has a raw and astringent taste, and it tastes bitter."
"The Prime Minister is indeed learned."
"Your Majesty summoned me to the palace today not merely for tea, is it?"
"Nothing can be hidden from Your Excellency. I'll be frank: if this tea can remove the astringency and bitterness, what do you think, Your Excellency?"
hiss!
Zhuge Liang gasped.
Back when he was still farming, he tried many methods to remove the off-flavor from tea leaves, but he failed to do so after a long period of research.
After entering officialdom, he no longer had the extra time and energy to study this subject.
But he believes that if the off-flavors in tea can be truly removed, it will elevate tea to a new level.
"Does Your Majesty have a solution?"
Zhuge Liang's excited voice trembled slightly.
Liu Shan nodded and said, "Prime Minister, I have an idea that I would like to discuss with you."
Then, Liu Shan revealed his idea of developing "lip tea".
"Your Majesty, tea is currently only popular in the south. The north does not have good tea. It may be difficult to get the Central Plains to accept tea."
Liu Shan agreed with Zhuge Liang's statement.
Although China has a long history of tea culture, its promotion throughout the country was a long process. It was not until at least the Tang and Song dynasties that tea began to circulate nationwide.
The main reason is the tea-making process.
Only with continuous improvement in processing techniques can tea become a daily necessity for ordinary people.
"But if Your Majesty can truly remove the bitterness from tea, I dare to guarantee that it will become popular in the Jiangnan region."
"If it becomes popular in Jiangnan, it will only be a matter of time before it spreads to the north. At that time, tea will become a daily commodity, and the court can set up special officials to manage it, thus making it one of the court's stable sources of tax revenue."
Zhuge Liang's words coincided with Liu Shan's thoughts.
"Very well, since the Prime Minister thinks this method is feasible, then issue my decree."
"A temporary 'tea ceremony class' was set up at the Imperial Academy to gather tea makers from the community to learn new tea-making techniques."
"The imperial court established the 'Tea and Horse Commissioner' to oversee the planting, processing, and tax collection of tea."
Zhuge Liang gladly replied, "I will obey Your Majesty's decree."
"However, this new tea-making process..."
"Naturally, I will personally teach him," Liu Shan said, patting his chest.
Zhuge Liang was another remarkable figure.
"Your Majesty's ability to make tea is truly divine."
His understanding of Liu Shan could no longer be described using normal thinking.
"but......"
Zhuge Liang seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
"Father, please speak frankly."
Zhuge Liang coughed lightly.
"Your Majesty's complexion is dull and your eyes are lifeless, a sign of weak kidney energy..."
"Your Majesty needs to exercise restraint and take care of yourself!"