Qiu Ying, who looked slightly tired, looked at Qiu Shenji, whose eyes were slightly dazed, and sighed, feeling the same.
As expected, hard work has no boundaries. The uncle and nephew worked hard for five hours every day and were already very exhausted.
But I heard that Yuanfang's daily working hours have been extended to seven hours.
Come early in the morning and never go home until late at night.
They finally tried hard, but failed so completely.
Qiu Shenji couldn't stand that kind of high-intensity work, but he was worried that Xiao Ling would make great achievements first: "Where is the spy interrogation?"
"Xiao Ling is interrogated every day, but so far he has not spoken more than ten sentences to the female spy. Yesterday he was furious and tortured her directly, but it had no effect."
Qiu Ying waved his hand: "This woman is very stubborn. It is difficult to pry her mouth open with force. However, Yuanfang comes once every three days and can chat with her for a long time. They discuss Su Bi's situation. When Xiao Ling saw it,
I’m even more anxious.”
Qiu Shenji instantly regained his balance.
Aha, there are people worse off than me!
"Third uncle, I went to see Yuan Fang. He seems to have gained something recently. He went to the temple and bought a lot of tea."
Qiu Shenji calmed down and prepared to work overtime as a habit.
Qiu Ying was very confused after hearing this: "Tea? The kind of medicine that Buddhist monks drink in the morning? What does he do with this?"
"He said he would use tea to make a deal with Tibet, so that Tibetan thieves would not be able to do without it."
Qiu Shenji's face was full of confusion: "I thought it was just a whim, but that Liniang seems to be really interested."
…
Inner prison.
Li Yan laid out a set of tools in front of Liniang and started making tea smoothly.
A necessary adjective.
He originally did not pay attention to tea culture, thinking that this thing had emerged as early as the Wei and Jin Dynasties and would be widely popularized in the Tang Dynasty.
However, after truly understanding it, I discovered that the common concept of tea in this era was actually for medicinal purposes.
Except for the monks in monasteries everywhere.
Because tea has a stimulating effect, it can help them keep their minds clear and read more scriptures.
Well, it seems to be used as a medicinal and stimulant!
The first reason for this is that after the Sui Dynasty unified the country from north to south, buttermilk in the north suppressed tea in the south and became the mainstream drink in society.
The second thing is that the way of cooking tea in this era is basically a dark cuisine, which requires a lot of seasonings.
For example, onions, ginger, pepper, dates, cinnamon, cheese and even beef, mutton and pork.
First bake the tea cake on the fire until it is red and dry, mash it and pour it into a porcelain bottle. Boil water on the other side and add the above ingredients into the pot. After the water boils, pour the crushed tea leaves into the water.
Boil together with the ingredients to make a pot of porridge, pour it out into cups, and drink.
Clean and hygienic!
Anyway, Li Yan feels that drinking this stuff will not make him feel better than aloe vera juice.
The tea cake Li Yan was holding in his hand at this time appeared in the temple wearing official robes. The monk was very enthusiastic and let him buy it for zero yuan.
However, the method of making tea is completely different from that of the temple, and the astringent aroma of the tea itself is retained to the greatest extent.
Although there is still a gap between it and the tea of later generations, Li Yan already felt alive after drinking it.
"please!"
He poured a glass for Liniang.
Liniang was temporarily put down. She was still wearing chains on her hands and feet, making jingling sounds, but she could still pick up the tea cup and take a sip.
Her face looked a little strange: "Is this the tea you made? It has a different taste!"
Li Yan smiled slightly: "You Fan people have already started trading tea on a small scale with Shu people."
Liniang's pupils contracted.
Li Yan drank tea and said slowly: "Tubo is located in a high-cold area and must eat high-calorie foods. Therefore, you often use milk, butter and beef and mutton as staple foods. However, you lack vegetables and the diet is hot and dry. Too many calories are in the
It is not easily decomposed in the human body, and over time it will inevitably lead to physical decline and short life.”
"Tea can not only decompose heat, but also prevent dryness and heat. It is the best food supplement for you. Although you don't understand the principle, you have started to trade after being exposed to it by chance, but it has not been widely popularized yet."
"This shows that Tang and Tibet can still live in peace, and we can trade tea."
Liniang sneered: "What's the use of all this? Except for Shu, there are no tea gardens anywhere else."
"You are so narrow-minded. Sichuan tea is sacred, and Sichuan tea is certainly the best among teas. But our country, China, is vast and rich in resources. How can we not grow tea in other places? It's just that we don't drink much of it, and the people don't like to grow it.
.”
Li Yandao: "Once tea becomes popular, it can be exported to Tibet, and we, the Tang Dynasty, will form a trade with you, Supi."
Liniang shook her head: "You are still fanciful. Qinling's family controls the ancient roads between the two countries. To communicate between Tang Dynasty and Tubo, you must first obtain his consent. Do you think the Gar family will allow this kind of trade to exist?"
The current Tang-Tibet Ancient Road starts from Chang'an, passes through Longyou, passes Tuyuhun, then crosses the plateau, and finally reaches Luosuo City in Tubo.
This is the official path of both countries, and Princess Wencheng took this path to enter Tibet.
At this time, the Gar family in Qinling took control of the hometown of Tuyuhun on this road, and suddenly secured the main road.
Whether Tubo wanted to contact the Tang Dynasty or the Tang Dynasty wanted to communicate with other forces in Tubo, he could not be avoided.
"It doesn't matter, I've planned a new route, look!"
Li Yan was well prepared and took out a map he drew: "Starting from the tea-producing area of Yazhou in Shu, passing through Yajiang, Litang, Batang, Zuogong and Qamdo, this route can be bypassed.
The Er family goes straight to the hinterland of Tubo."
This route is actually the famous Tea Horse Road in later generations.
Trading tea from the Central Plains for horses from the snowy areas flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Even in the middle and late stages of the Anti-Japanese War, the Ancient Tea Horse Road became the main international passage in the southwest rear area, playing an important role in the critical moment of the survival of the Chinese nation.
Liniang looked at the tea, then at the map, and finally froze.
In order to pry open the mouth of her secret spy, this guy improved the method of drinking tea and planned a route as a trade route between Tang and Tubo?
With your style, wearing a green robe is really too condescending!
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Li Yan added: "I am sincere. If Tibet can obtain tea trade, it will not only solve its own physical problems, but also sell it to other countries in the Western Regions.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to establish friendly relations with the Tang Dynasty?”
"If you tell me your upper-level connections, I won't kill you. We actually have a common enemy, and that is the Gar family!"
"The Gar family sidelined Zampu, controlled government affairs, undermined peace, and started rash wars. There must be a lot of opposition within Tubo!"
"Think carefully!"
After saying that, he put away the map and tea set, stood up and prepared to leave.
"Who wants to go to war if they can live a good life?"
Liniang's expression was unpredictable, and she suddenly said: "Wait a minute, I can tell you something."
However, what Liniang said was not what Li Yan wanted to hear. It was actually a prophecy of murder:
"Within ten days, a second murder is about to occur in Liangzhou. This time, the person who dies will be a person of high status!"
"Li Yuanfang, if you could solve this case just like you did when you discovered my identity..."
"I will tell you everything I know, and I will tell you everything!"
Xiao Ling outside breathed a sigh of relief, but soon realized that the matter was serious and hurried to report to Qiu Ying.
Li Yan stood in the cell, his face as sinking as water, and he stared at Liniang coldly: "Is this how life is used as a bet in your eyes?"
Liniang was startled, and just as she was about to say something, Li Yan had already turned around and strode away: "You can say what you want, and don't force it if you don't want to, but I, Li Yuanfang, refuse such a bet!"
Looking at Li Yan's upright figure as he left, Liniang finally showed shame on her face.
This Tang man was wearing an official uniform just because he had been caught.
So based on common sense, he should be willing to accept such a challenge and continue to get promoted and make a fortune.
But the other party refused without hesitation.
In the face of huge temptations, you never waver in your principles. This is the true gentleman!
***The author has something to say***
Thanks to the book friend "Xianhe" and "book friend" for the reward.