Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 445 This is instant noodles, and also soup noodles
"In an instant, the wind and clouds surged."

"At the foot of Hulao Pass, the three brothers were locked in a fierce battle with Marquis Wen."

"In the blink of an eye, the spear flashed like a dragon, the sword like a tiger descending the mountain; the twin swords moved with dazzling speed and precision."

Lin Dao, standing on the podium, got carried away and started making things up as he pleased.

He described the story of the three heroes fighting Lü Bu as a chaotic free-for-all, like a bunch of demons dancing wildly.

However, it was clear that the audience was thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Zhang Bao and Guan Xing, in particular, were gesturing wildly and babbling incoherently.

Their demeanor suggested they wished they could travel back to that great battle decades ago.

Of course, this didn't happen in real history.

At that time, Liu Bei was still whipping the inspector in Pingyuan County.
The inspector wasn't beaten by Zhang Fei; it was Liu Bei himself who did it.

His personality is actually a mixture of calmness and irritability.

When he gets really angry, not even Zhuge Liang could stop him, let alone his second and third brothers.

Only Fa Xiaozhi could persuade and pull him away.

Everyone was looking forward to the outcome of this battle, but Lin Dao picked up his water bottle and drank all the water.

He raised his hand and slapped the podium.

To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next episode!

There was an uproar in the audience.

This feeling is like pile driving – it's like being really into a book when it suddenly stops midway through.
Lin Dao looked at Prime Minister Zhuge, the only one who did not show any emotion.

The two looked at each other but neither spoke.

A moment later, Lin Dao smiled nonchalantly, ignoring the audience's attempts to persuade him to stay and their shouts, picked up his phone, turned around, and left.

This world wasn't that important to him.

I'm here to offer help. If you're going to act all high and mighty, then I simply won't help you.

Moreover, Lin Dao also needs to do something in this world, something that threatens those in power.

All of these require a solid foundation for cooperation.

As for building his own team~
This is no longer an era of chaotic warfare among warlords.

The tripartite division of the Three Kingdoms had already taken shape, and powerful clans still held strong control over the local areas.

The old Lin Dao system, which relies on food supplies to build up the ranks, doesn't work very well here.

Even if a force is forcibly assembled, to succeed, at least half of the population must be slaughtered.

It wasn't just the local powerful clans and aristocratic families, but also the common people who were driven there.

For Lin Dao, who has been working too hard, there is really no need for this.

What he least wanted to face was the situation where, once he had assembled his troops, Zhao Yun, who was over seventy years old, would ride a horse and charge at him with his spear. What would he do then?
Could it be that he would actually shoot his most admired Zhao Zilong of Shijiazhuang, leaving him riddled with holes?

Now, it all depends on when Prime Minister Zhuge will come looking for me.

Prime Minister Zhuge, sitting and drinking tea, frowned slightly as he pondered deeply.

Only after the tea had completely cooled down did he catch his breath and stand up.

They were sitting in the corner, so not many people noticed them.

As everyone prepared to leave, they were astonished to find the Prime Minister there.

Those who can come here to drink tea and listen to storytelling must at least be clerks or the wealthiest people in the city.

Almost everyone recognized the Prime Minister and stepped forward to pay their respects.

By the time Prime Minister Zhuge came out, it was already getting dark.

"Arrange for manpower." Before getting into the carriage, Prime Minister Zhuge instructed Ma Su to "keep an eye on this place."

He then added a sentence.

"Don't let anyone cause trouble."

He understood that the mysterious and unpredictable forest path would attract the probing of others.

But that person was clearly coming for him.

Back at the Prime Minister's residence, he had dinner with Huang Yueying.

Prime Minister Zhuge arrived at the study.

He should have been handling government affairs, but he had something on his mind and did nothing.

Looking at the sealed "Memorial on Dispatching the Troops," Prime Minister Zhuge thought carefully and put it away, deciding not to send it out for the time being.

The next afternoon, after finishing his official business, Prime Minister Zhuge returned to the tavern.

Lin Dao arrived on time and began to tell his story in a leisurely and unhurried manner, adapting and artistically refining his version.

He consciously sped up the pace of his storytelling, skipping over unimportant details.

For several days in a row, the conversation revolved around Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage, the Battle of Red Cliffs, his ascension to the throne in Shu, and the disastrous defeat at Yiling.

Until he returned after capturing Meng Huo seven times, he prepared for the Northern Expedition.

During this period, Liu Shan sent an eunuch to bring Lin Dao into the palace to perform storytelling.

A powerful local family in Yizhou wanted to take back the shop.

Powerful and influential families would demand that Lin Dao become their disciple, and so on.

But all of these were thwarted by Prime Minister Zhuge.

Correspondingly, this tavern is full of people whose names are recorded in history books, and everyone wants to hear what will happen next.

Even now, as Lin Dao finished recounting his seven captures of Meng Huo and prepared to leave...

Prime Minister Zhuge, who had not spoken to him until now, finally stood up to greet him.

"Please wait a moment, Your Excellency."

Lin Dao stopped in his tracks and looked over. "I thought you could hold back until I told you about the Northern Expedition."

Prime Minister Zhuge stepped down from the stage.

He crossed his arms in front of his chest, left hand on top, right hand on the bottom, thumbs interlocked, and leaned slightly forward.

This is the crossed hands salute.

The main difference between this and the fist-and-palm salute lies in expressing one's respect.

For Prime Minister Zhuge, although many of the stories Lin Dao told were fabrications.

They treated him like a god, as if he were some kind of deity who had borrowed the east wind.

Yet there are still many secrets that are unknown to outsiders.

Those who know these secrets are undoubtedly not ordinary people and deserve respect.

"My surname is Zhuge, my given name is Liang, and my courtesy name is Kongming."

"To be appointed Prime Minister of the Great Han Dynasty~"

"A banquet has been prepared at my residence. Would you please do me the honor of joining us?"

Lin Dao smiled as well. His gaze swept over everyone in the shop, finally settling on Prime Minister Zhuge. "Let me treat you."

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, glancing at the crowd, "I'm treating everyone, so please clear the room."

No one moved; everyone looked at Zhuge Liang.

"I would like to trouble Zilong to come with me."

Prime Minister Zhuge smiled and nodded to an elderly general with white hair not far away, then instructed, "Please return, everyone."

Lin Dao's eyes lit up as he looked at the old man with white hair and beard.

Zhao Zilong of Changshan!
Even in their old age, they are still formidable warriors capable of eliminating a family's household registration.

Zhao Yun, supporting his sword, came up behind Prime Minister Zhuge.

His gaze was sharp, fixed intently on Lin Dao.

The person in front of him looked young, but he could exert pressure on him.

He is a master!

'If anyone dares to harm the Prime Minister, I will certainly punish them!'

"General Zhao," Lin Dao's gaze fell on his sword, "Could this be the Qinggang Sword?"

A few days ago, Lin Dao said that during the Battle of Changban, the entire tavern was in an uproar, with everyone praising Zhao Yun's bravery.

Later, it was even heard that Liu Shan had specially sent someone to deliver gifts to Zhao Yun.

However, Zhao Yun only arrived today, presumably because Prime Minister Zhuge wanted to reveal his hand and specially brought his guards.

"This item does not exist."

Zhao Yun simply shook his head, "Back in Changbanpo, I never encountered Xiahou En, nor did I ever obtain the Qinggang Sword."

He is a man of integrity; if he doesn't have something, he doesn't have it.

Ma Su and the others who were standing nearby were unwilling to leave.

Since Prime Minister Zhuge had already spoken, all they could do was bow and take their leave.

However, none of them went home; instead, they gathered outside the tavern.

"Please take a seat."

If Lin Dao had arrived in this time and space the first time he traveled through time, he might have been excited.

After all, it was Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and Zhao Zilong of Changshan meeting face to face.

But now, having traversed countless realms, Lin Dao has already honed his character.

After gesturing for Prime Minister Zhuge to sit down, Lin Dao turned around to prepare the meal.

"Prime Minister~"

Zhao Yun asked in a low voice, "Should we go and keep an eye on things?"

"There's no need for that," Prime Minister Zhuge waved his hand. "This man is highly capable and is definitely not a spy for Cao Wei."

Zhao Yun frowned slightly, but ignored the Prime Minister's words and followed directly after him.

The Prime Minister is the pillar of the Han Dynasty. His safety is a matter of national importance and must not be compromised!
It was a tavern, so it naturally had a kitchen.

Unlike the cooking methods commonly used today, Lindao uses a stove and a beautifully crafted large iron pot.

He was in the kitchen, directing the workers to cook.

There was no surprise whatsoever at Zhao Yun's arrival.

Because he knew that Zhao Yun was a meticulous person.

Lin Dao treated everyone to a meal, but it wasn't a fancy meal of meat and fish; instead, it was instant noodles.

Several large bags of instant noodles were torn open and thrown into a pot of boiling water.

He poured in all the seasoning packets, and soon a pot of fragrant noodles appeared in front of Zhao Yun.

Having traveled south and north, Zhao Yun was quite knowledgeable and experienced.

"This...this is soup noodles?"

Noodles have actually existed for a very long time.

According to modern archaeological research, millet noodles existed as early as four thousand years ago.

The "tangbing" mentioned in the "Shiming·Shiyinshi" of the Eastern Han Dynasty is actually noodles.

"It's soup noodles, or you can call it noodles."

Lin Dao held up a piece of flatbread and gestured to Zhao Yun.

"Look at this flatbread, it's made of dough, all lined up together."

He took the dough and squeezed it; it crumbled instantly.

"How can it be so crispy?"

"These are deep-fried." Lin Dao then brought over a few packets of seasoning. "These are soup packets, rich in oil."

"These are dehydrated vegetables. Once you soak them in water, they'll be vegetables again."

"And this is a salt packet~"

"This stuff is quite nutritious, and most importantly, it's easy to carry. Even if the flatbread is broken, you can still eat it."

"The general will know once he tastes it."

When inviting someone to dinner, noodles alone are definitely not enough.

Lin Dao opened a few cans of food.

He bought a wider variety of items.

Besides canned luncheon meat, which is the main product, there are also canned fish and other products.

He instructed the servants to take the food out and place it on the table in front of Prime Minister Zhuge.

Three large bowls of instant noodles, several cans of fish, several bags of Fuling pickled mustard tuber, and a few bags of tea eggs.

Looking at the strange writing on these things, Prime Minister Zhuge's brows furrowed even deeper.

"Don't be shy, everyone." Lin Dao tore open a piece of pickled mustard greens and poured them into a bowl, then started eating first to reassure them. "Try it, how is it?"

The food is a bit strange, but since it's food, it's fine.

In our Central Plains, we have a deep understanding of food; when we're starving, we'll even eat clay.

Steaming hot noodles, paired with pickled vegetables and canned goods, made for a very satisfying meal.

After eating and drinking his fill, and taking the towels handed to him by the waiters to wipe his mouth, Prime Minister Zhuge asked, "Why did Your Excellency invite me to eat these things?"

"Prime Minister."

Lin Dao raised his hand and pointed at the bowl in front of him. "If~"

"If you were to launch a northern expedition, all the soldiers would be able to eat these things every day."

Can we win?

(End of this chapter)