Chapter 56: Celestial Brew of Jade Gentleman, Fragrance Wafting for Miles (Part 3)

When all the beauty of April has faded in the mortal world, the peach blossoms of Lunu are just coming into full bloom.

It is as if a hundred miles of rouge-tinted clouds have descended upon the city, rolling like waves and tides, a red rain falling softly and endlessly.

Yet, for all their beauty, the people of the city spare no mind to the peach blossoms. They only recall the old saying: “The fragrance of wine, though subtler than plum, is best when a few blossoms are steeped into the jar.”

For it is already mid-month, and the entire city of Lunu is suffused with a wine aroma that seems to drift from fairyland itself. The days for selling “Immortal Banished Wine” have arrived once more.

“Xia’er, bring the bundle.”

“Yes, Father.”

Outside Lunu’s gates, two horses and two riders—a father and son by their looks—approached together.

The boy was perhaps in his early teens, his every gesture graceful, features fair and bright, lips like coral, eyes shining with stars—a strikingly handsome youth.

He handed the large bundle he’d been cradling to his father and let out a long sigh. “Father, is it worth coming all this way just for a bit of wine? The bundle is so heavy—who knows how much money it cost.”

“Silence, child! If others were to hear you, and word reached the Zhang family, how would your father ever buy wine again?”

The boy’s face was full of protest. “But you are a grand commander, equal to Lord Gong and General Gongze, each leading mighty armies! Zhang Yu is but a commoner in plain robes. Is he worth all this effort for a drink?”

“Heh, Xia’er, you know little. Though Zhang Yu of Zhongshan may wear plain robes, his fame in our land outshines even our lord’s. When a commoner’s reputation surpasses the ruler’s, it is a dangerous path indeed!

Yet our lord cares not in the least. He even praises him openly. In Jizhou, with the lord’s support, whether one has official rank or not hardly matters.”

“This wine truly is so extraordinary? The lord himself, his whole retinue, and even all of Hebei crave after it. But I’ve tasted wine before—”

“Ignorant child! The Immortal Banished Brew is no common tipple! Not only Hebei, but soon all under heaven will be dazzled by it!”

The middle-aged man was of sturdy build, his stride powerful and bold—clearly a figure of importance. But at the mention of the “Immortal Banished Brew,” his face grew flushed with longing, his mind lost in drunken reverie.

“I once had the fortune to taste this celestial wine at a banquet held by our lord for his assembled civil and military ministers. Xia’er, do you know how rare this wine is?”

“I do not.”

“At that banquet, all the ministers gathered—there must have been dozens present! Yet the lord brought out only one jar.”

The boy’s eyes widened in disbelief. “One jar? The lord is always generous—he would not be so stingy with wine—”

“Because this is no ordinary wine. This is the Immortal Banished Brew.”

The man inhaled deeply, as if savoring the lingering aroma drifting from Lunu.

“Even the lord himself received only three jars.”

“That day, as each person tasted the wine, they went mad with delight! Especially the generals—they turned red-eyed, demanding to know whence came such a divine brew, quite frightening the lord himself, hahahaha!”

The man laughed heartily, but the boy rolled his eyes.

“When it comes to loving wine, who could surpass my father, General Chunyu? I wager you were one of those red-eyed, pestering the lord for more wine... If the lord knew you had left your troops behind and come all this way to Lunu just for a drink, would you not be ashamed?”

Chunyu Qiong, oblivious to his son’s silent complaints, continued, “That Zhang Yu announced when he first sold the Immortal Banished Brew earlier this month that it would only be available for three days in the middle of each ten-day period, and only a hundred jars each time. They say the young man is a gifted poet, and even more—he’s beautiful as a jade immortal descended to earth, quite a match for you, Xia’er.”

“How can I compare to him? They call him the Jade Prince of Zhongshan, peerless in both talent and looks—a banished immortal come down to earth. And now he’s crafted this divine wine—he must be more revered than the emperor in the hearts of the people.” Xia’er glanced around to make sure no one was near, then retorted with a competitive pout.

Chunyu Qiong shot him a fierce glare but said nothing more. It seemed in his heart, even the emperor was not as important as the young master’s wine.

“He claims that only when he creates an even finer brew will he increase the supply. But I don’t believe it—how could there be a wine greater than the Immortal Banished Brew? It must be that this wine is so precious and the brewing so complicated that he can only offer this many jars each time.”

...

“What can dispel sorrow but Du Kang’s wine!”

The fragrance of wine filled the air, intoxicating all within.

If Chunyu Qiong knew how the sacred Immortal Banished Brew of his dreams was truly made, he would likely cough up blood and die on the spot.

After discussing with Su Shuang last month, each family opened a wine shop, and the wine cellar was built beneath the Zhang family’s gymnasium. It took half a month for their men to dig the tunnel connecting the cellar to both shops.

Of course, soundproofing was what Zhang Yu cared about most...

The reason only three jars were given to Yuan Shao was not a lack of Immortal Banished Brew. In truth, as much wine as one had, there could be as much Immortal Banished Brew... But to give too much would be too conspicuous.

Wine gifts, of course, could not be reserved for a single person. His uncles, the three brothers, and Yuan Benchu—the governor of Jizhou—could not be left out. Especially when Gongsun Zan, the White Horse General preparing to capture Liu Yu, was in the northeast. He had no special friendship with Zhang Yu, but a bribe would help build ties, making it easier for the wine to find its way into the homes of ordinary people in Youzhou.

With the initial gestures of respect complete, it was time to begin selling.

As a young man of the new century, Zhang Yu was no stranger to “hunger marketing”—the art of making customers yearn and wait, which only increases their desire to buy. In those days, examples abounded, none more famous than Apple, Xiaomi, and major real estate developers.

When Zhang Yu explained this to old hands Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping, they grasped it instantly and wholeheartedly agreed.

Rarity makes things precious. The first launch of the Immortal Banished Brew had to be high-end, a symbol of status and position. The rich had to find it unattainable, the poor unpurchasable, so that the longing for what cannot be had would forever stir the heart!

And truly, this distilled high-proof spirit, unique in the world, was worth it. Limiting the quantity only increased its value.

When Zhang Yu spoke of increasing supply, it was not idle talk. His plan was, if this first wave of the wine’s fame met or even surpassed his expectations, he would push on to exchange for intermediate and high-level brews, letting his fine strong liquor conquer every corner of Han territory, without fail.

The more renown he earned, the greater his powers would become, and the better his chances of surviving well. In this world, there would only be more and more people he needed to protect.

...

“Second Brother, I saw it with my own eyes—Jade Young Master’s men brought five jars, but Big Brother only gave me one...”

“Yide, Big Brother has his reasons. Are you afraid he’ll slight you?” Guan Yu frowned.

“But, this Immortal Banished Brew—ah, this is what wine should be! What was I drinking before—nothing but rubbish. And this wine is a gift from Jade Young Master—”

“Third Brother!” Guan Yu’s voice rose, “You love wine, so you know what the Immortal Banished Brew is worth. Big Brother gave one jar each to you, me, and Tian Feng, but would not open the remaining jars even for himself—he knows how precious it is, wishing to save it for a time of real need. Such a treasure—would it not be a waste to simply drink it? We three brothers should set aside our own desires, put the great enterprise first, and devote ourselves to restoring the Han dynasty. That is what matters.

I have said my piece. If you still wish to drink, go to my room and take it yourself.”

“Oh, Second Brother! I won’t drink it—there, are you satisfied? That Yu boy, instead of coming to join Big Brother early, spends all day concocting things to tempt me. Next time I see him, I’ll beat him until he hands over ten jars of Immortal Banished Brew!”