A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 246 Tokyo, I'm fucking here!

Di Qing slept on the large communal bed.
He was wearing a new cotton-padded coat and wrapped in a thick quilt, and he still couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

But the pain after applying the medicine reminded him that it was real.

Only in this way could Di Qing feel warmth.

He was completely frozen.

In addition, eating a lot of mutton made his stomach feel warm and cozy, giving him a sense of well-being.

A complete stranger, after exchanging only a few words, started throwing money around.

They didn't feel at all that he, as a criminal, was particularly disliked.

Lying in his warm bed, Di Qing listened to the excited tone in the words of the two constables, discussing how generous Song Twelve was.

The arduous journey was surprisingly enjoyable as we approached Tokyo.

After all, escorting prisoners in the dead of winter is a truly arduous task.

Following unspoken rules, the two of them received silver from Di Qing's brother to take care of Di Qing, which was essentially putting a 20-pound shackle on him.

It's still light.

Especially since we'll be traveling together tomorrow, given Song Twelve's extravagant nature, there will definitely be plenty of good food and drink.

"Di Qing, you've met a good person."

Another bailiff smiled at Di Qing.

Unfortunately, I wasn't as foolish as Di Qing to take the blame for his brother.

If Song Twelve were to pass the imperial examination with high honors, he might actually be able to take care of Di Qing in the future.

The men around him also looked like they were about to join the Imperial Guard.

"If Twelfth Brother were to become a member of the Imperial Guard, he would truly be a worthy man of our Great Song Dynasty!"

The other constable changed the subject and began praising Song Xuan.

"Don't even think about it. They're the kind of people who are destined to be the top scholar. We're just lucky to have made it this far."

"Yes, yes, yes, the top scholar from Yingtian Prefecture. If we two brothers had been a little slower in handing over the torch in Tokyo, we might have caught up with Shierlang and become the top scholar."

With Song Twelve's help, the two of them stopped making things difficult for Di Qing and instead removed his shackles and handcuffs early on so that he could apply the medicine.

There's a risk in doing this: the prisoner might escape halfway through.

Of course, there are even better opportunities; some people pay them to secretly kill criminals.

Carrying over fifty pounds of shackles, leg irons, and handcuffs, there are plenty of ways to torture you on a journey of a thousand miles.

Di Qing was secretly astonished.

He truly hadn't expected that Song Xuan, who was also young, was not only famous throughout the three capitals, but also the top scholar in the provincial examination of Yingtian Prefecture!

He had lived in his hometown county for a long time and had never heard of a top scholar from the county, let alone a top scholar. Even the number of successful candidates in the imperial examinations was pitifully small.

Although the Song Dynasty had the most successful candidates in the imperial examinations, they were scattered across various prefectures and counties in the three capitals and eighteen circuits.

Many counties may not produce even one Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) for many years, while some counties produce Jinshi every year, and more than one.

Di Qing remained hidden under the covers without making a sound. So Song Twelve was this powerful?

In another room, the charcoal was burning brightly.

Song Xuan first checked the ventilation in the room and, after confirming that it wasn't too bad, he felt relieved.

How could a hotel like this, which has been around for so long, not have any drafty spots?

He felt at ease only after burning charcoal for warmth.

It's not that people in ancient times didn't suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning, but rather that many ordinary people couldn't afford to burn charcoal.

Many people have trouble even keeping warm in winter, and those trees are not unclaimed, so you can't just cut them down for firewood.

The Song Dynasty was a dynasty that did not suppress land annexation in the slightest.

In addition, charcoal was expensive, and even charcoal sellers couldn't get a good price for it, so many ordinary people couldn't afford it.

Even when it's only halfway through burning, it will immediately go out once the room gets warm.

Only wealthy families had servants who would watch over the charcoal at night to prevent poisoning incidents.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the well-constructed imperial palace rooms made carbon monoxide poisoning incidents more likely to occur, leading to the deaths of young princes and princesses.

Wang Bao didn't have much to say about Song Xuan's judgment; he felt he had already risked his life for Song Xuan long ago.

I've never met someone as generous as Song Xuan in my entire life, I have to stick close to him.

He didn't even want to join the Imperial Guard, so he followed Song Xuan to serve as an official everywhere.

When Twelfth Brother travels, he always needs someone to lead his horse and put it in the stirrups.

Can other people use it with peace of mind?
Xu Xianchun, however, felt that Song Xuan was spending money too much.

Can a murderer who takes the blame for someone else be mentally sharp?
His brother-in-law had said long ago that it was pointless for someone with a bad brain to become an official.

What's the point of talking about climbing up the ladder?

However, Xu Xianchun couldn't bring himself to voice his thoughts, so he could only keep them to himself.

Most importantly, he felt that when he was out and about, he shouldn't flaunt his wealth, lest he attract unwanted attention!
Wang Gui, however, didn't care at all; he just thought it would be good if some foolish person happened to run into him.

"Young Master, do you think that Di Qing has the potential to become a great man in the future?"

Tao Hong was soaking his feet nearby when he was born and asked questions.

"Judging from his words and actions, he will surely make a name for himself in the Imperial Guard in the future."

Song Xuan also took off his shoes and soaked his feet, chuckling as he said:
"Besides, when you're out and about, helping others is helping yourself. If we can attract a few thugs by throwing money around so the brothers can practice their skills, that would be even better."

"Hahaha."

Wang Gui couldn't help but burst into laughter; he knew his twelfth brother liked fishing.

Xu Xianchun lowered his head to soak his feet, secretly glad that he hadn't said anything stupid.

Tao Hong nodded. He had come along to inspect Tokyo as well.

While we're at it, let's see if we can open a branch of Twelve Bookstore and establish a foothold in Tokyo.

Tokyo's relationships are complex and far more difficult to manage than those in Nanjing.

"Twelfth Brother, aren't you afraid something will happen?" Xu Xianchun mustered his courage and asked, bowing his head.

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan knew that Xu Xianchun had experienced a significant change in mood and had become taciturn, so he spoke up:

"You are all my bodyguards. If something happens, Xu Xianchun, are you so insecure about yourself that you think you can't protect me?"

"Of course not," Xu Xianchun quickly stated.
"Even if it's to shield someone from an arrow, I, Xu Xianchun, would be the first to shield my twelfth brother."

"With your small frame, how many arrows can you block? If anyone should be blocking, it'll be me."

Wang Bao chuckled.

"you."

Xu Xianchun was quite discouraged.

He found himself not even qualified to be a shield in this team.

"It's alright, you can take the arrow in my back."

Song Xuan laughed a few times: "There are plenty of cases of people being attacked from behind."

After hearing Song Xuan's words, Xu Xianchun finally smiled again.

Yes, no matter how big you are, you can't take care of everyone.

"Especially when we get to Tokyo, we'll look like prime targets, and someone will definitely try to take advantage of us."

After soaking his feet, Song Xuan felt very comfortable. It would be even better if someone else could give him a foot massage.

"That will be your chance to show off, and let me see if your martial arts have improved."

Song Xuan sat up again and wiped his feet: "That way we can make targeted improvements later."

Xu Xianchun and Wang Bao then understood Song Xuan's true intentions.

Silent all night.

The next day, until sunrise.

Everyone drank a bowl of warm and comforting meat porridge and hot and sour soup before slowly setting off on their journey.

The two constables were also very sensible.

However, Di Qing was made to carry shackles and chains on his own so that he wouldn't fall behind Shierlang's group.

Di Qing was wearing new shoes that were very warm.

My hands are still a bit sore from the chilblains.

Song Xuan was very careful to keep warm, even wearing gloves.

Di Qing looked at the tall warhorse beneath Wang Gui.

It's clearly a fine horse from the Northwest; you couldn't get off without spending a hundred strings of cash.

His eyes revealed a deep sense of envy.

Song Xuan, however, was not in a hurry to continue his journey and had Di Qing put the iron chain on the donkey cart.

Di Qing carried the shackles himself, considering it a way to toughen up.

"Is the twelfth brother from an official family, given his generosity?"

"Hey, what are you thinking about?"

Song Xuan handed his gloves to Di Qing:

"My family has been farmers for generations. We were lucky enough to survive the chaos of war and managed to acquire some land, but it wasn't enough for our sons to share."

"If it weren't for the old man's abilities, the family clan's influence would have collapsed long ago."

Di Qing didn't stand on ceremony.

He took the gloves and put them on his hands, just like Song Xuan did.

Di Qing only thought that when he became successful in the future, he would definitely repay Song Xuan.

He considered himself skilled and did not believe he had no chance of advancement in the Imperial Guard.

Clan power still wielded considerable influence in the Song Dynasty.

At least I won't be bullied anymore.

"That?"

Di Qing found it very strange.

After all, having only a small amount of land at home wouldn't be enough to make Song Xuan so extravagant.

Even his men were dressed in the finest clothes.

"I did some business on my own, and that's how I managed to save some money."

Di Qing nodded.

It's perfectly normal for someone with some land to provide capital for him to establish a family business.

Commerce was highly developed in the Song Dynasty, and many people made money.

“When I was a child, my father was a gambler. Then my mother remarried. There were three brothers in the family. My eldest brother was adopted, and my second brother was still a gambler. Nobody cared about me.”

"I was eight years old that year. I mustered up the courage to start a business just to fill my stomach, and that's how I got to where I am today."

Di Qing had assumed that Song Xuan had risen to power by relying on his family.

Who would have thought he started from scratch!
Eight years old?

When Di Qing was eight years old, his older brother took him around to play.

He glanced again at Song Xuan, who was dressed in fine clothes and eating the best food, and realized that he deserved it.

"Twelfth Brother, I admire you."

Di Qing was young, but he had an extremely bold and unrestrained personality.

He saw that Song Xuan was the same way, so he was very willing to associate with him.

Furthermore, Song Xuan revealed his true identity, showing that they all came from the same impoverished background, making them even more like kindred spirits.

"Hey, what's with all this admiration? All I know is that if I hadn't done this business back then, I would have starved to death, and I would have had to look on enviously for any piece of meat I wanted to eat."

Song Xuan spoke casually, and although Di Qing couldn't fully empathize, he understood how difficult it was to earn money.

Because he didn't have any money either.

However, Tao Hong knew very well how difficult things were for Song Xuan, because it wasn't just a matter of Song Xuan himself needing to eat meat.

The brothers chose to follow Song Xuan back then because he promised to let them eat meat together, which is why they escaped from Tokyo with him.

It's not just Song Xuan who needs to be fed; there are five other mouths to feed as well.

“I’ve heard that my twelfth brother is famous throughout the three capitals, but I’ve never heard of him in my hometown.”

Di Qing's understanding of Song Xuan reached a new level.

"I don't care about being famous throughout the three capitals."

Song Xuan tucked his hands into his sleeves:
"Actually, I really hope to make contributions in the Northwest in the future, but the cold weather this year almost made me back down."

"Why?"

Di Qing was extremely puzzled, because the soldiers of the Song Dynasty were indeed despised.

Moreover, there are also their own circles of contempt within the inner circle.

"it's too cold."

Song Xuan pointed to the frost that hadn't completely melted away:
"Even the Central Plains are so cold. If you were wearing iron armor in the Northwest, you might even get a layer of flesh stuck to your skin."

"Great ambitions will eventually be defeated by reality."

"this?"

Di Qing had also wanted to make contributions in the northwest, after all, the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty had signed an alliance and had not fought each other for many years.

When he was sentenced to serve as a guard in Kaifeng, Di Qing thought about going to the Northwest to make contributions so that he could climb the ranks.

But they almost froze to death on the way here.

Di Qing also realized that he had oversimplified things.

The environment in the Northwest is indeed not suitable for the average person to live in.

Summer is too hot, and there aren't enough slow horses to transport supplies; otherwise, the advance will be unsuccessful.

"The things that Twelfth Brother is worried about may be resolved in the future."

Di Qing couldn't think of any other solution: "Why aren't those Tanguts afraid of the cold?"

"The Tanguts who couldn't withstand the cold have all frozen to death."

Song Xuan's words left Di Qing speechless.

He really didn't know anything about the situation in Western Xia; he only heard people saying that Western Xia would occasionally invade our Great Song Dynasty.

As long as there is a war, that is the best opportunity to use military merit to advance one's career.

As for the rest, Di Qing didn't bother to think about it anymore.

It was only after talking with Song Xuan, a highly learned man, today that I realized that war cannot be accomplished by acting on impulse.

Logistics is also extremely important.

If every soldier is short of clothes and food and freezes like a baby, how can we fight this battle?
"Are Twelfth Brother's men really going to join the Imperial Guard?"

Di Qing didn't want to talk about those troublesome things anymore. He would find a way to study after he joined the Imperial Guard.

He noticed a strange look on Song Xuan's face:

“I said that with Twelfth Brother’s abilities, he should have no problem becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination. Wouldn’t they have a brighter future if they stayed by your side?”

Bored on the journey, Song Xuan told Di Qing about Wang Gui and the other two, all of whom were strangers who had just met.

They all have their own paths to follow, and they won't give up their own paths for anyone else.

Di Qing was deeply shocked.

He thought that Song Xuan was being kind-hearted and helping him out of pity.

Unexpectedly, Song Xuan was truly acting on impulse. It wasn't because he felt sorry for himself, but because he found the person he met interesting and decided to have a chat with him.

Anyway, he never considers whether the other person has money when making friends!

These words deeply shocked Di Qing, who had been troubled by financial problems.

Although he didn't lack food, practicing martial arts was a huge expense.

The family can't support two people practicing martial arts at the same time.

Fortunately, Di Qing was quick to learn, and his elder brother patiently taught him all the skills he had acquired.

Over the years, Di Qing has surpassed his teacher in many ways.

It was his elder brother who didn't know his own strength and killed someone.

Di Qing also explained the reason for his current predicament.

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan laughed nonchalantly: "As the saying goes, a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise."

Given the current situation, Di Qing could only take things one step at a time, but he hoped to befriend someone like Song Xuan as soon as possible.

Di Qing felt that he hadn't lost out at all on this trip.

Moreover, he had come all the way from his small hometown to join the Imperial Guard in Tokyo, which was a rare opportunity.

"By the way, did Twelfth Brother's fine horse cost nearly two hundred strings of cash?"

"Eighty strings of cash."

"eighty?"

Di Qing naturally knew the price of horses.

He had always wanted to buy one, but he didn't have the money!

"Twelfth Brother, don't try to deceive me."

"When I was studying in Luoyang last year, I bought a sick horse. The seller said that the horse had lung disease and was prone to getting sick in the summer."

Song Xuan looked at the warhorse:

"It was a promising seedling, but unfortunately we had already consulted a veterinarian. The medicine for its lungs was cold, but drinking cold medicine would kill it quickly, so we didn't keep it."

Song Xuan even fed it some garlic extract, just like he was treating Wang Congyi's lung disease. Perhaps the dosage was small, or perhaps it wasn't summer yet, so it's unclear whether it got better or not.

"pulmonary disease?"

Di Qing thought for a moment, then blurted out:

"Actually, I heard a method from an old soldier. I wonder if you dare to try it, Twelfth Brother?"

"Tell me about it, I'll listen."

"An old soldier taught me to cook glutinous rice with radish root into a thick porridge, add a little donkey-hide gelatin, and eat it. Only then did the horse dare to eat. After eating, I gave him regular lung medicine, with chebula peel added to the drink. The cooling medicine was astringed by the chebula in the lungs, and he was sure to recover."

After listening to Di Qing's words, Song Xuan pondered carefully. The root he mentioned was actually a Chinese medicine with effects such as treating coughs.

Haritaki peel is a prescription recorded in the Taiping Shenghui Fang (Prescriptions for Universal Relief).

It was compiled by Wang Huaiyin, the father of Doctor Wang. Song Xuan had roughly browsed through it at Doctor Wang's place, so he had an impression of it.

After returning home, Song Xuan found that the veterinarian was unsuccessful, so he went to see Doctor Wang for treatment methods. He had read some of the books he had read and remembered some of them.

"it is good."

Song Xuan nodded slightly:

"Once we reach Tokyo, we will treat the horse according to your method."

Di Qing was very happy to hear this, as he was able to help Song Xuan.

Song Xuan's trust alone warmed his heart.

Although Di Qing didn't say anything, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

After walking for a while, Song Xuan felt he had warmed up, so he got back on the donkey cart.

Along the way, Song Xuan ate and drank to his heart's content, unwilling to deprive himself, and his two constables also enjoyed the good food and drink.

And so we arrived in Tokyo.

Song Xuan and the others stood not far away, gazing at the majestic city of Kaifeng.

Located near the Yellow River, Kaifeng has been submerged several times.

The city of Kaifeng as we know it today was built up over the course of several dynasties.

The Yellow River is known as the Mother River.

She elbowed each of her "sons" almost equally.

They don't care about this or that, you don't need to perform any sacrifices, they'll just come ashore and sweep people away from time to time.

The Yellow River changed its course several times, and after the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, the flooding of the Yellow River continued to plague the Song Dynasty.

Especially during the reign of Emperor Renzong, the Yellow River breached its banks at Shanghu Sao (present-day Puyang), causing most of the river to change course and flow northward, retracing the ancient course of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, passing through the Wei River and flowing into the sea at Tianjin.

More than ten years later, the Yellow River breached its banks again near Daming Prefecture, forming a new waterway that flowed eastward. This is the peculiar phenomenon of the Yellow River's two northeastern branches flowing into the sea that appeared in the mid-to-late Northern Song Dynasty.

Over time, the eastern channel of the Yellow River gradually silted up, and by the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, the only remaining route for the Yellow River to flow to the sea was northward to Tianjin, thus completely eliminating its northward flow. Moreover, the Yellow River floods were particularly severe during the Northern Song Dynasty.

At that time, Kaifeng City did not know when the next Yellow River surge would arrive, but since the Tang Dynasty began to expand, the Bian River had been incorporated into the city.

After Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, established Kaifeng as the capital, three generations of emperors expanded the city of Kaifeng, and this expansion continued.

During the reign of Emperor Renzong, the population of Tokyo reached 1.5 million.

With the Jin Dynasty moving its capital to Tokyo, it began a project to expand the city.

Although Kaifeng is not a very large city today, its majestic earthen city walls are still quite awe-inspiring.

Song Xuan had to crane his neck to look at the tall city wall.

As a shout rang out, a black hole was chiseled into the ice of the moat.

The laborers tightened the ropes and dragged the cargo boat toward the water gate with heavy steps.

The ship's sides were covered with a thin layer of ice, an inch thick, and even the city gate openings were still adorned with icicles.

To allow boats to pass, 2,000 laborers were conscripted daily during the winter to clear the ice on the Bian River.

The weather was warmer, so Song Xuan saw fewer laborers.

As the shouts subsided, Song Xuan stepped into the mouth of what looked like a giant beast with fangs.

The soldiers guarding the city exhaled white breath that condensed into frost on their dog-skin collars, and they kept stamping their feet and cursing the delayed payment of their coal wages.

Even with rising temperatures near the water gate.

Even where water freezes instantly, it won't melt easily.

Instead, it solidified again after dawn.

It's quite cool in the summer, but it's incredibly miserable in the winter.

Upon hearing this, Di Qing felt a growing sense of unease.

Although the Imperial Guards in Kaifeng were the most elite, there were still significant differences between them.

Those guarding the city gates and the imperial guards standing watch in the imperial city rarely received the same treatment.

Moreover, the imperial guards who were guarding the city gates didn't dare to accept bribes, so they could only choose to take pleasure in harmful goods.

The soldiers who were cursing glanced at Di Qing a few times.

After all, there were many more bandits like Di Qing who had their household registrations removed and were sent to Kaifeng as convicts.

We might become "colleagues" in the future.

After entering the city gate, although it was still cold, there were quite a few pedestrians on the street.

Once inside Kaifeng, Di Qing was put back into shackles, as he was about to hand over his duties.

Tao Hong looked at the bustling city of Tokyo and a smile appeared on his lips.

He fled in a sorry state back then, never expecting to return again.

Although he had long been financially secure, Tao Hong still wanted to make a name for himself in Tokyo.

Song Xuan led his horse across the Rainbow Bridge.

He saw icicles blown off the mast of the cargo ship by the wind and shattered on the bluestone slab, like a jade hairpin being broken.

From its construction to its destruction, the Rainbow Bridge seemed to be working overtime day and night.

The foot shops on both sides were propped up with reeds to block the wind, but white smoke was still billowing out from inside.

The white smoke from the mutton soup pot, carrying the aroma of pepper, reached the foot of the bridge. Song Xuan glanced at it and noticed that it couldn't hide the bluish-purple and black toes of the beggar who had frozen to death by the bridge.

An old man carrying a load of spicy vegetable soup called out:
"It's still warm!"

The last note was cut off by the crunching sound of the donkey cart crushing the ice shards.

People come and go.

The bluish-purple, dark toe that was peeking out from the cloth shoe was no longer visible.

Wang Gui lived in Tokyo.

He then took the initiative to introduce to Song Xuan the old man's hawking of a kind of snack to ward off the cold.

It is made by boiling mustard greens and pepper.

Eating a bowl of this in winter will make you sweat and feel warm all over!
Many people who start working early in life are willing to have a bowl of this.

However, there wasn't much left at this point, and it was getting a bit salty.

No one cared about the beggar who froze to death.

This situation is extremely common in Tokyo.

The people had long been used to it.

Before long, specialized body collectors will come and dump the bodies on trucks, taking them to mass graves outside the city.

It was left to be eaten by wild dogs.

Even if you dig a hole, you won't be able to dig for long before you expose bones.

Besides, isn't it tiring to dig a hole in the dead of winter?
In a city like Tokyo with a population of one million, how many people can survive a single day?

The number of people flowing into Tokyo always exceeds the number of people leaving and the number of people dying.

Otherwise, a city would not have grown from a million people to 1.5 million.

Meanwhile, Baghdad, Rome, and London at the same time had a maximum population of no more than 200,000.

Even without the capital city of Tokyo, many cities in the Song and Liao dynasties had populations exceeding 200,000.

The bustling city of Tokyo has no shortage of people!
Tao Hong was deeply impressed by the beggar whose big toe was bluish-purple.

If I hadn't left Tokyo with Shiro, I might not have even lived to adulthood and would have become one of those frozen corpses in Tokyo.

Song Xuan, however, did not want to eat this spicy vegetable soup.

He caught a glimpse of the charcoal seller huddled in the corner, munching on a dry noodle bun.

The capital of the Song Dynasty was never short of such people.

More and more people crowded towards Song Xuan.

The fat sheep is beginning to take shape, looking around aimlessly, but unable to keep an eye on its own wallet.

Although it was Wang Bao and Xu Xianchun's first time in Tokyo, they were also captivated by its prosperity.

However, as soon as Wang Bao saw someone approaching Song Xuan, he immediately squeezed through and shoved aside the person who wanted to rush in and cause trouble.

The man was about to curse the country bumpkin, but when he saw Wang Bao's fierce physique, he stopped.

With the mace at her waist, she immediately fell silent.

Upon seeing his actions, Xu Xianchun immediately recalled his duties and the grand words he had once uttered.

He shielded Song Xuan's back, took out his whistle, and glared at everyone with equal anger.

I warned them not to come near, saying I wasn't someone to be trifled with.

"This Tokyo city is fucking huge!"

Song Xuan looked around at the shops.

It's no longer the same as when I left.

Di Qing glanced at Song Xuan with considerable surprise.

He had assumed that the adjective describing Song Xuan as "learned and talented" must be something he admired but was unaware of.

I never expected Song Xuan to be so down-to-earth!
He actually said the same thing he had imagined.

Di Qing also came to Tokyo from a small town to "make a living," and was so shocked by such a big city that he could only say "Damn it!"

Although it wasn't their first time on official business in Tokyo, the two constables were prepared for the city's sheer size.

However, the cost of living in Tokyo is beyond what they could afford with the money they were given on this trip.

This was still because I got a free meal from Song Xuan, which saved me a lot of money.

Such opportunities are rare and hard to come by.

Therefore, they were eager for Song Twelve to take them to Fanlou for a shopping spree.

Wang Gui laughed heartily a few times.

Even the renowned Twelfth Brother, famous throughout the three capitals, could only utter such words in the face of Tokyo's prosperity.

Wang Bao and Xu Xianchun had no interest in admiring the bustling city of Tokyo at the moment; it was just a city full of people.

In addition, Song Xuan said that he was "like a fat sheep" to lure people in and help them test their martial arts skills, so he was always very vigilant.

Song Xuan wasn't in a hurry at all, and strolled leisurely down the street.

Passing by a fabric shop, the shop assistant was splashing water in a copper basin, deliberately creating a smooth "glass path" there.

It's like they're trying to demonstrate their balancing skills to attract customers to stop and enter the store.

As Tao Hong asked the question, Wang Gui explained that it was to make water freeze into ice to prevent dust.

After all, silk is a high-end product, and those who can afford it naturally have high requirements.

The pharmacy clerk next door was not to be outdone; he tapped on fresh ice, accompanied by the long, drawn-out cry of "Snow-soaked plum blossom wine!"

This drink was a specialty of Song Dynasty winter beverages, made with plum blossoms, honey, and ice.

It's similar to Northeast China, like selling popsicles in winter.

Most Song Dynasty people with some money wouldn't skimp on their food.

Song Xuan smelled the sweet and sour scent of frozen pears carried on the wind, as well as the pungent smell of frozen urine emanating from the alley.

The practice of eating frozen pears originated from the Khitan people.

With the signing of the treaty between the two countries, their dietary habits were influenced by each other, and they both became corrupt and decadent.

Just then, a group of sable-hatted horses galloped past in the snow, splashing mud and snow that extinguished the small clay stoves by the roadside, and the refugee dared not cause a scene.

But then the young man in the brocade robe casually tossed out some roasted venison as compensation, which immediately sparked a scramble among the refugees.

After he laughed heartily, he glanced at Song Xuan.

The handsome horse behind Song Xuan was the one staring at him.

People who can ride horses in Tokyo must come from good families, but I've never seen a stranger like Song Xuan before.

The young man in brocade robes stopped his horse at Fanlou and was then escorted inside by those around him.

Wang Gui pointed to Fanlou, and everyone looked over.

It was unmatched in Tokyo, and even in the entire Song, Liao, Western Xia, Dali and other places.

The title of "Number One Restaurant in the World" is well-deserved.

The three floors are of equal height, and the five floors face each other, each with flying bridges and railings, connecting the light and dark areas.

Even though it wasn't lunchtime, the fishy smell of fermented ginger still wafted through the air.

Despite having amassed a considerable fortune through Song Xuan, Wang Gui still dared not set foot in Fanlou.

"Ordinary people could hardly get in, and a single banquet could cost tens or even hundreds of strings of cash."

Upon hearing this number, Di Qing and the others were dumbfounded.

They don't even have a few dozen strings of cash, let alone hundreds!

Wang Gui then explained, "The smell we're getting is from a rabbit called 'Qianpan Rabbit,' which is eaten exclusively in winter."

"What kind of way is that?" Di Qing had roasted rabbit meat before, but it wasn't very tasty.

"I heard it's sliced ​​rabbit meat, eaten raw with dipping sauce."

Di Qing stared wide-eyed, unable to believe that the wealthy people who could afford to come to Fanlou would actually eat raw rabbit meat!

He doesn't eat raw food because it's easy for him to get worms in his stomach.

Song Xuan understood; the Song people were pursuing "fashion," high-end sashimi.

"If I could have a meal at Fanlou, I would be willing to die for it."

One of the constables said with some emotion that he had never had the chance to set foot there in his entire life.

"What's the big deal? My twelfth brother took me to Fanlou once when I was eight years old."

Tao Honggang attracted the attention of several people as soon as he opened his mouth:
"Actually, the taste is just average. It's not as good as the dishes Jiao Ming makes at home."

Eight years old?

Want to eat at Fanlou?
Di Qing was somewhat confused by the sentence composed of these words.

After all, Twelfth Brother started doing business when he was eight years old. Did he earn enough money to eat at Fanlou back then?

Wang Bao's eyes revealed envy, envying Tao Hong for being able to follow Song Xuan so early and enjoy so many years of good fortune.

"Twelfth Brother, this isn't your first time in Tokyo, is it?"

Wang Gui looked surprised, because once he arrived in Tokyo, he automatically assumed the role of a tour guide.

“I was brought here by the villagers to broaden my horizons once. At that time, I didn’t know how expensive Fanlou was. I just heard people say it was delicious, so I took my brothers to have a meal there.”

Song Xuan explained, then added, "Actually, Fanlou's reputation is truly overrated!"

At that time, there were very few seasonings available, which suggests that the Song people had not yet experienced the power of technology.

The taste was just average.

Several people strongly disagreed with Song Xuan's "Versailles".

"We didn't actually have enough money that time, but the shopkeeper gave us a discount."

"If we didn't go to take a bath, the money would be enough," Tao Hong remarked.

"We can't get in without taking a shower."

"Hahaha, yes."

Song Xuan then said, "Let's go back to Granny Cao's Meat Pie Shop. Their meat pies are exquisite and the best in the capital."

"I'll do whatever Twelfth Brother says."

The constables didn't dare say much. People said Fanlou was just so-so, could you really argue with them?
Even though Song Twelve is generous, is a hundred strings of cash enough for a meal for these few people who have never seen the world?

Not to mention the fine wines, which are ridiculously expensive.

"Brother Twelfth really knows how to eat. Grandma Cao's meat pie shop is also very delicious, but there's always a long queue."

Wang Gui led the way, and sure enough, there was a long queue.

Di Qing was about to obediently go and join the queue, after all, it was really strange for a shackled criminal like him to be queuing up to buy meat pies.

Song Xuan, however, did not want to, and signaled Tao Hong to handle the matter.

So Tao Hong said that he had just arrived in Tokyo and had heard that Grandma Cao's meat pies were especially delicious, so he wanted to buy a few to try. He asked everyone to let him in, and then he started to take out money as an apology.

After all, they came with criminals, so they couldn't fake their arrival in Tokyo.

The people in Grandma Cao's shop didn't stop her; instead, they were overjoyed.

This shows that our store is quite famous.

The Tokyo residents who received the money did not complain or grumble; instead, they introduced the famous shops in various places.

As for Fanlou...

Is that the target consumer group for Grandma Cao's meat pie?

Song Xuan and his entourage were invited by the waiter to sit on the street-facing seats and serve as exhibits.

After all, first-time visitors can't fake it; just look at their luggage, their donkey cart, and that.

Oops.

They've got a really good bunch of horses!
They must come from a wealthy family, or their family must have power.

Otherwise, who could afford such a handsome, tall horse?

The pickled radish was served; it's meant to cut through the richness of the meat pie.

The group ate voraciously.

The more out-of-towners ate, the happier the staff at the shop were.

The other diners also praised how good the meat pie was.

Moreover, mukbang (eating broadcasts) are sometimes genuinely needed by many people.

Song Xuan wiped his mouth; to be honest, his pickled radish was quite delicious.

I'd like two pots of tea.

Let's cleanse ourselves of the greasiness once more.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two constables were extremely satisfied and quickly thanked Song Xuan.

"You all go and do your jobs. Di Qing, we'll get together again after you've settled down."

"it is good."

Di Qing was a straightforward man; he obediently put on the shackles and followed the constables.

Tao Hong chased after them with a smile, gave the constable some silver and told them to wait a moment and say a few words.

He secretly slipped two gold leaves to Di Qing, telling him to use them when necessary and not to get beaten up.

Otherwise, your body is prone to developing hidden ailments, so how can you fight your way out on the battlefield with sword and spear?
"Twelfth Brother knows that people are treacherous. If I give it to you in public, it will definitely arouse jealousy and end up killing you."

Tao Hong lowered his voice and said:
"If you ever have any financial difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me. I will settle down in Tokyo. This is also what Twelfth Brother wants."

Di Qing was truly surprised that Song Xuan would be so righteous, and he choked up for a moment.

After all, no one, except his brother, had ever treated him so well in his life.

"Okay, I remember."

Di Qing forced back the tears welling up in her eyes.

How can a real man shed tears so easily?

"Ah."

After watching the bailiffs escort Di Qing away, Tao Hong sat back down to drink his tea.

"Twelfth Brother, what do we do next?"

"Go to the pharmacy and buy some medicine to treat our horse's illness. Di Qing told me about a way to cure equine lung disease."

Wang Gui asked in surprise, "He knows this?"

"His horsemanship and archery are no worse than yours, otherwise how could he remain calm after taking the blame and instead try to make a name for himself in the Imperial Guard?"

Wang Gui stood there stunned. He had thought that as a member of the Imperial Guard, he would surely be able to stand out quickly.

I never expected to meet someone who possessed skills that I couldn't match.

It seems I must not underestimate anyone in the world, and I must be humble once I'm in the Imperial Guard.

Wang Gui came to his senses and said:

“Then let’s go to Zhao Taicheng’s house. It’s one of the most famous clinics in Tokyo, specializing in treating women and children. They have a full range of medicines, so you’re guaranteed to be able to order some.”

"Row."

Song Xuan exchanged a few pleasantries with the shopkeeper who had chased after him. Upon learning that Song Xuan had come to take the provincial examination, the shopkeeper immediately beamed with joy, uttering auspicious words and expressing his hope that he could come and eat there again after passing the examination.

After responding a few times, Song Xuan left.

There are regional accents even in different places, even within Henan Province.

Therefore, they did not have much suspicion about Song Xuan, who had come to the capital to take the imperial examination.

They were just astonished by Song Xuan's generosity; the burly man beside him ate as much as five people.

Without money, how can one afford to support such a servant?
In addition, Song Xuan's servants were all dressed in silk cotton clothes, and so was the prisoner.

Such an abrupt scene was something even the shopkeeper, who had been in Tokyo for so many years, had never witnessed before.

In the capital, wealthy young men usually wear fine clothes themselves; who would give fine clothes to their servants?

That would be defying the heavens!
But the unconventional Song Xuan left behind only a receding figure.

……

In the imperial city.

Although Emperor Zhao Zhen was warming himself by the fire, he appeared extremely excited.

Twelfth Brother finally arrived in Tokyo.

Because the Imperial City Guard's spies had already sent the message back when Song Xuan set off.

I estimate I'll be back today or tomorrow.

However, Zhao Zhen had just received news that Song Xuan had entered the city and was having a big meal at Granny Cao's shop.

On the way, they were accompanied by a convict who had been exiled.

Zhao Zhen realized that his twelfth brother was indeed very good at making friends.

He didn't care much about people from all walks of life, whether they were of high or low status.

That alone makes him far superior to ordinary people.

Upon receiving the news, Zhao Zhen appeared extremely aloof, seemingly complaining that he no longer had time to write Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but said nothing more.

But Zhao Zhen's heart was burning with passion:
"Twelfth Brother, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for quite some time!"

(End of this chapter)