There is a reason why Gao Shilian came early today.
Most of the civil servants and generals who participated in the Xuanwumen Incident were greatly favored by Li Shimin. Otherwise, they would not have taken such a big risk with Li Shimin. Only Gao Shilian was different. Gao Shilian was Li Shimin's elder, and he was the same generation as Li Yuan.
After returning to the Tang Dynasty, he was deeply favored by Li Yuan. He knew what Li Shimin was planning, but he didn't mention it when he was accompanying him. On the day of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Yuan heard the noise in the palace and asked Gao Shilian what happened.
Gao Shilian first told Li Yuan that it was the Qianniu Guards guarding the palace who were practicing. Later it was revealed that Gao Shilian hindered Li Yuan from mobilizing troops and tried his best to delay time. In the end, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji died tragically.
It can be said that Gao Shilian played an important role in the Xuanwumen Incident. If he hadn't delayed the time, Li Shimin's few troops might not have been able to achieve great things. After Li Shimin killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, there were only a few troops left.
There were not many left. At that time, the generals with heavy troops were still under Li Yuan's orders. Even the Imperial Palace's imperial army could wipe out the few remaining people of Li Shimin.
Li Yuan did not kill Li Shimin because of Gao Shilian.
Gao Shilian told Li Yuan that among the princes, only Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were worthy of great responsibilities. Now that Li Jiancheng is dead, if Li Shimin is killed, the Tang Dynasty will have no successors. And the generals who control heavy troops will also follow the example of the Sui Dynasty.
At the end of the war, all the heroes were independent. The Turks were watching from the side, and the Tang Dynasty was in danger.
After all, Li Yuan was old and no longer as ambitious as when he raised his army. He thought about it for a day and a night, but finally did not kill Li Shimin and instead made him the prince. Afterwards, he became disheartened and gradually ceded power. Even so.
, Li Shimin also took three years to complete the change of court. It was not until he decided to conquer the Turks that he took control of the court.
Gao Shilian, however, felt ashamed and had no face to face Li Yuan. After Li Shimin came to the throne, in order to thank him for his contribution, he made him the minister. Later, Gao Shilian resigned due to self-destruction and gave up the position of minister to the king. Gao Shilian several times
He asked to see Li Yuan, but Li Yuan refused to see him, and their relationship fell to a freezing point.
He came here early this time just to please Li Yuan. If there was a chance to ease the relationship, it would be a worthwhile trip for him. Gao Shilian did not have much expectations for heaven and earth. He was born in the Northern Qi clan and was famous when he was young.
Making friends is someone who has seen the world. But coming to this heaven and earth today gave him a refreshing feeling.
First of all, the attire of these waiters, all with short lapels, looked neat and tidy. Moreover, they were all teenage girls. They looked cute and charming, which was pleasing to the eye. When Li Mu sent him to the stairs, there was one
The little girl came up to him with a smile. She was not afraid when she saw him and called him "Sir". This gave Gao Shilian a unique feeling in his heart. There were 180 large and small restaurants in Chang'an City. Gao Shilian didn't
I've been there half way, at least 30% of the time. Apart from other things, the people who serve me here are a step above heaven and earth.
Gao Shilian was not a lecherous person, and even if he was, he would not dare to act presumptuously here. Seeing that this little girl was smart and following him for some reason, he asked: "Little girl, why are you following me?"
"In reply to sir, the manager said that anyone he sends to the stairs today will be taken care of. I am specifically responsible for serving sir. If you need anything, sir, you can tell me and I will help you arrange it."
"Oh? That's interesting." Gao Shilian smiled and asked, "Where does this guy Li Mu plan to place me?"
"We're here." The little girl took two steps forward and came to the door of a private room and said, "The manager said that this is a private room on the second floor, specially used to entertain distinguished guests."
"The private room on the second floor?" Gao Shilian glanced at the stairs leading to the third floor and asked, "Where is this third floor? How many floors are there in total?"
"Sir, there are five floors in heaven and earth."
Gao Shilian was a little unhappy and said, "Then why don't you invite me to sit upstairs? Is it because I'm not worthy?"
The little girl has been trained, so she calmly said: "Sir, don't be surprised, this is our rule in heaven and earth. Above the third floor, no one can enter without being invited by the owner. But I can tell you briefly.
, the third floor is the auction house, the fourth floor is the clubhouse, and the fifth floor is the owner’s residence.”
Seemingly knowing that Gao Shilian would ask, the little girl continued to explain: "The auction house, as the name suggests, is a place where valuables are auctioned, and the one with the highest price gets it. Those in need can rent our place for auction, or if they only have one at home.
You can also bring over a treasure. We have appraisers here who will appraise the treasure. There are two auctions on the 15th and end of each month. Three days before the auction starts, Datang Daily will have a special page to introduce it.
Just pay attention.”
"The club on the fourth floor is where the master entertains friends. I am only responsible for entertaining the distinguished guests on the second floor. I am not qualified to enter the club on the fourth floor. I don't know what it is like. But today the master will entertain friends in the club. By then
Those who receive the invitation will be notified."
"That's it..." Gao Shilian felt a little apprehensive after hearing this. He naturally knew who the owner of this room was. Hearing that the fourth floor could only be entered by invitation from the owner, Gao Shilian suddenly felt that he was out of luck. Thinking of the nobles in the palace today,
, civil servants and military generals will all come here. If Gao Shilian can only stay on the second floor and does not receive an invitation to go to the fourth floor, he will have trouble getting through when they meet again in the future.
Gao Shilian made up his mind to talk to Li Mu later. No matter what, he had to go to the fourth floor.
After entering the private room, the little girl brought a teapot, brought some tea, and brewed it for Gao Shilian. Gao Shilian watched the little girl make tea carefully, wondering what she was doing. He recognized the tea and drank it too.
He passed. But he had never seen the little girl's method of making tea.
In fact, before the Tang Dynasty, tea was used for medicinal purposes. By the end of the Sui Dynasty, tea-making technology developed, and people realized that tea could also be used in daily life, so they started drinking tea. In the early Tang Dynasty, only tea drinking was
There are three methods: one is frying, the other is boiling, and the third is boiling. As for the tea ceremony later recorded in Lu Yu's "Tea Classic", it was more than a hundred years later.
The method of making tea is to put the tea powder into the water when it just starts to boil, and then boil it again, and you can drink it. If the taste is too light, rich people can add some salt. The tea made in this way is usually
Eat it with soup and water.
The Ancha method is to put some tea powder in a tea bottle and then pour it into boiling water. However, this method can only be drunk but not eaten.
The rule of making tea is to imitate the process of boiling medicine. Put the tea leaves, ginger, dates, etc. into the pot and cook them thoroughly. Then drink all the cooked things. This is the so-called making tea.
But look at the tea made by this little girl, it is different from these three. The tea she took out was not crushed tea powder, but directly leaves. It seemed to have been dried in the sun or baked and dried.
, put it directly into the pot, poured in boiling water, without adding salt or ginger.
Gao Shilian frowned when he saw it. This was a little too shabby. And what kind of way was this to drink tea? Is the tea brewed like this really drinkable?
"Little girl,"
"Sir, please speak."
"Is this your tea?"
"Yes." The little girl explained with a smile, "This is tea that can only be found in heaven and earth."
Gao Shilian opened the lid of the pot, looked at the tea leaves that had been brewed inside, and said, "Pour me a cup and I'll have a taste."
The little girl poured a cup as she was told. Gao Shilian touched the teacup and found that it was not very hot, so he picked it up and drank it in one gulp.
"Hmm..." After a cup of tea, Gao Shilian's expression was very complicated. The taste of this tea was hard to say. It was bitter in the mouth, but it had a sweet aftertaste. It was neither salty nor bland. He couldn't tell what it tasted like.
Mouth, said: "This way of drinking, was it Li Mu who figured it out? What does he mean?"
"The manager said that the previous way of drinking was too overwhelming. Tea has the style of a gentleman and is most suitable for people who practice frugality. Only by drinking in this way can you taste the real taste."
"The real taste?" Gao Shilian found it funny and said, "What is the real taste of tea?"
"The manager said it is the taste of life."
"Life..." Gao Shilian was startled. He recalled the feeling when the tea soup was in his mouth. He felt something in his heart, but it was still not clear. He asked: "What else did he say?"
"The manager said that tasting tea is to taste life. It tastes bitter when you eat it. Life is born with bitterness. There is no one who is not bitter. Only by working hard and making progress can you achieve a career. What follows is sweetness.
Only those who have experienced bitterness can become a master. Only those who have experienced bitterness can understand that sweetness is hard-won. Then comes the aftertaste. The more you experience in life, the more flavorful you will be when you look back on the past.
When I recall people and things, whether they are friends or enemies, I have mixed feelings, just like the taste of this tea soup, which cannot be explained or explained."
Gao Shilian was a little startled. The little girl didn't say these words and he hadn't thought about it yet. But after hearing her words, he thought about the taste of the tea just now and thought about it carefully.
Tea is a very magical thing, and even in later generations, young people rarely like to drink tea. Young people drink cola, drink fruit juice, and even drink ad calcium milk. Few would think of making a cup of tea to drink. But after a certain age,
When you are in your early thirties or forties, it is natural for you to hold a cup of tea.
As for why? No one seems to have thought about it carefully. Sometimes, there is no need to study a thing in detail. Things that most people do together must have their own simple and irrefutable reasons.
Gao Shilian was silent for a while, then he picked up the teapot and poured another cup. He looked at it for a while, took a sip, and savored it carefully. It was indeed like life.