Chapter Fifty-Eight: Jade Gentleman’s Immortal Brew, Fragrance Wafting for Ten Miles (End)

Very soon, Chunyu Qiong and his son were escorted out, and at the last moment, Zhang Yu cast a sympathetic glance at the drunken general, wondering if he had also discovered a tinge of green on his own head, which might explain his habit of drowning his sorrows in drink.

The arrival of these Imperial Wine Guards truly surprised Zhang Yu. As General Shen had mentioned before, the addition of several hundred well-armed soldiers, sanctioned personally by Yuan Shao, now surpassed even the garrison forces at Lunu, making them an extraordinary presence in all of Zhongshan. Moreover, the distance from here to Ye City was not far; so long as Yuan Shao did not command otherwise, would these troops not become Zhang Yu’s own private army?

Yuan Shao’s generosity left Zhang Yu both honored and somewhat overwhelmed, but he believed in reciprocation; he would send more wine in return in days to come. More importantly, his brief encounter with Yuan Shao had kindled a deep curiosity about the man himself, about the Battle of Guandu, and about that formidable figure, Cao Cao.

How could Yuan Shao, so adept at both people and affairs, have been defeated?

What kind of man was Wei’s martial lord, Cao Cao, famed for the most comprehensive abilities of the era?

To Zhang Yu, the chance to witness these brilliant heroes, whose deeds had etched dazzling marks in history, mattered even more than undertaking great endeavors himself.

After all, he was a devoted fan of the Three Kingdoms.

The next day, the second sale of the Immortal Brew began.

The vast city of Lunu was swept by a frenzy; the streets emptied as ten thousand flocked to the event.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu had foreseen this. The Drunken Immortal Tavern had been carefully chosen for its location; its grand entrance faced a spacious plaza, reminiscent of the site of the Zhongshan King's palace, converted from a mansion purchased at great expense by the Zhang family. Under normal circumstances, overcrowding would not be an issue.

Even so, the crowd stretched from the tavern all the way into the plaza, uncountable bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder, each eagerly awaiting their turn.

“Brother Du, you’re here too?”

“Brother Li, how could I miss it? The taste of Immortal Brew is something I could savor for a lifetime.”

“Granny Cai, at your age, you’ve come to buy wine as well?”

“My niece from the Wang family… I’ve heard this brew… the Immortal Brew… can prolong life. Naturally, Granny has to buy some.”

“Manager Liu, aren’t you busy with business in Changshan? How come you’re here today—”

“This is the day Yu Lang is selling Immortal Brew! Even if I were in Jiangdong, I would rush back for this!”

The allure of fine wine knows no boundaries—men and women, old and young alike. If you walk on two legs, you are not spared.

Finally, the tavern doors opened, and a rich fragrance of wine flooded the air, intoxicating the senses.

People surged forward, jostling and shoving, some intent on chaos to seize an advantage, others simply drawn by the legendary brew. As the crowd grew restless, the Imperial Wine Guards appeared.

Their steps were unified, their military bearing impeccable. Under Zhang Yu’s guidance, dozens marched out in precise formation, long spears in hand, kicking up dust behind them.

This was the routine of a grand parade, and a well-executed march could have astonishing effects—especially in this era, where nothing could describe the impact but awe.

Looking at the soldiers, each was clad in gleaming silver-gray armor, dazzling under the sunlight. Their cloth decorations and helmet plumes were blue-gray, and long swords hung at their waists; their attire easily outshone the entire Zhongshan garrison.

For a moment, the crowd was silent as the imposing presence of the troops stirred deeper currents beneath the surface.

“Is… General Yuan trying to seize Yu Lang’s tavern?”

“Where’s Yu Lang? Where is he?”

“Why are there soldiers here? Are they not letting us common folk buy wine?”

Whispers, at first hushed, soon grew bold as people realized the soldiers showed no reaction; under the temptation of Immortal Brew, even armored men seemed less frightening.

A loud clang sounded, and several dozen men placed long tables across the tavern entrance. Next, Zhang Yu appeared in elegant attire.

He wore a white robe adorned with blue flowers, a purple jade dragon hairpin securing his long hair, silver-threaded cloud boots on his feet, and as he walked, the clouds seemed to drift around him.

“Is that Yu Lang of Zhongshan? He’s too beautiful,” exclaimed an unknown member of a visiting group.

“Such a handsome young man… but what’s a Yu Lang? I wouldn’t dare try for him,” lamented a burly, rough-looking man.

“Yu Lang! Yu Lang!”

“Ah! Yu Lang saw me! He greeted me! Ah!” cried the fans, mostly teenage boys and girls, some waving portraits of Zhang Yu’s face—“Yu Sketches”—above the crowd.

Zhang Yu smiled and waved, then pressed his hand down, signaling for silence:

“Ladies and gentlemen, today marks the second sale of Immortal Brew by the Zhang family. I am deeply grateful for your presence and support.

As before, only one hundred jars will be sold, each by auction—highest bidder wins! Please observe the rules and discipline; otherwise, General Yuan’s fierce warriors may not be so forgiving.”

With that, Zhang Yu turned and went back inside. He paid little heed to the auction itself; since arriving in this era, his concept of money had faded…

In his previous life, Zhang Yu would even ask the cafeteria aunt to drizzle some meat broth over his rice to save the cost of a meat dish, and he managed his monthly allowance with meticulous precision—if the cafeteria was available, he would never eat out.

Now, money was merely a number.

Zhang Yu enjoyed being a hands-off manager; he was lazy… The tedious process of auctioning the wine was handed entirely to the old steward, Zhang Shuo, while Zhang Yu retreated to his secluded chamber in the tavern, savoring the joy brought by the system.

“Ding! Congratulations, host. Because you have successfully brought high-proof Immortal Brew to this world, your reputation has greatly increased! You have received 1,000 experience points and 2,000 reputation points. Current experience: 3,550 points; current reputation: 5,050 (9,200) points.”

“Ding! Congratulations, host, you have activated the badge: [Du Kang Reborn] (Easier to win the favor of wine-loving generals)!”

“Hm, I already have five badges now, but I wonder when my chronically ill body will improve. Speaking of wine-loving generals… is there any general in this era who doesn’t love wine?”

After some thought, Zhang Yu concluded this skill might be a universal trump card.

“The popularity of Immortal Brew nationwide is now beyond doubt. The hunger marketing strategy can be dropped, and I can start large-scale sales. Once they’ve tasted my Immortal Brew, what chance do other wines have?”

Zhang Yu silently scorned the ruthless monopolies of his previous life, oblivious to the fact that he was now doing much the same. “Next, the Immortal Brew produced by basic brewing skills can spread to every household. We still have mid-tier and high-tier routes to pursue.”

Seeing his points rise above 8,000, Zhang Yu hesitated briefly, then steeled himself and exchanged 3,000 points for Intermediate Brewing and 5,000 points for Advanced Brewing, returning himself to square one.

But upon seeing these new skills, Zhang Yu found it hard to accept…

“[Basic Brewing] triggered… shout ‘What can relieve sorrow? Only Du Kang!’ five times… Effect: The wine will achieve good distillation, reaching the standard of famous modern liquors.”

“[Advanced Brewing] triggered… shout ‘What can relieve sorrow? Only Du Kang!’ seven times… Effect: The wine will achieve excellent distillation, reaching the standard of tribute wines.”

Five times! Seven times! What twisted humor—why not choose another poem? Must he recite Lord Cao’s “Short Song” over and over?

Zhang Yu even wondered whether shouting a few more times at the start would have triggered the same effect without exchanging for the skill…

“In this way, Immortal Brew will no longer be limited in quantity, allowing the Zhang family and Drunken Immortal Tavern to build their reputation among the widest range of common folk.

The names of the mid-tier and high-tier wines should be discussed with Father; both should be more expensive, aimed at profit and prestige. Especially the high-tier brew, reserved for nobles, ministers, and elite families—limited to ten jars per month! Let the world regard tasting Zhang family wine as an honor!”

A grand blueprint slowly unfolded in Zhang Yu’s mind, but then his door was knocked hurriedly.

“Master! The Black Mountain Bandits are here. They’ve surrounded the city!”

“Huh?” Zhang Yu was startled, then sat down again. “Let them come. The city’s defenses are still intact; what’s there to fear?”

“They… say they’re here for you, master!”