Chapter 26: The Liquor Business

Li Shen’s primary purpose for this visit was to gauge the quality of the spirits sold at the Cui family’s tavern. He had just heard a waiter claim that their liquor was distributed to every province across the country, with some even being purchased by foreign merchants from the Western Regions for resale. The Cui family’s business was indeed substantial.

The most famous spirit of the house was called "Immortal’s Drunkenness," implying that even an immortal would succumb to its potency. Li Shen opened a jar, and the aroma wafted out. When poured into a bowl, the liquid had a slight yellowish tint. While common rice wine was typically murky and yellow, the clarity of this spirit suggested it was of high quality.

As Li Shen was not a drinker and lacked the expertise to judge spirits, he turned to Xue Rengui and said, "Rengui, taste this 'Immortal’s Drunkenness' and tell me what you think."

Xue Rengui lifted the bowl, took a sip, and after savoring the aftertaste, replied, "Your Highness, this is truly a fine spirit, full-bodied and strong. When I worked in the East Market, I often heard that the 'Immortal’s Drunkenness' at the Yunlai Tavern was exceptionally potent. Tasting it today, I find the rumors true. It is no wonder this wine is so expensive; it is worth every coin."

Hearing Xue Rengui’s praise, Li Shen took a small sip himself. He smacked his lips, trying to gauge it. The alcohol content seemed to be around twenty percent. In his previous life, Li Shen had often gone out to dine and drink with friends. Although his tolerance was mediocre, he had consumed spirits as low as thirty-two percent, which were far harsher than this. He wasn't a connoisseur, but he knew how to judge alcohol content—he had tried thirty-two, forty-two, fifty, and sixty percent varieties. Once, he had even secretly tasted a seventy-percent spirit from a friend’s father’s collection and had been left dazed after a single small cup.

After tasting it, Li Shen asked Stone, "How much does a jar of this cost?"

"Your Highness, this jar costs two strings of cash," Stone replied.

"Two strings? Is it really that expensive?" Li Shen was startled. He wondered if liquor in the Tang Dynasty was truly this costly; it wasn't how it was portrayed in the television dramas he remembered.

"Your Highness, this is 'Immortal’s Drunkenness,' the very best. Even the Imperial Palace procures it from here. It is generally reserved for nobles," Lan Yu’er explained.

"If it’s only for the elite, they can’t be selling that many jars a year. How much does this jar hold?" Li Shen asked.

"Your Highness, this jar contains one small *dou*, which is about four pounds," Stone answered.

"What about the prices of other spirits?" Li Shen continued.

Xue Rengui, standing nearby, replied, "Your Highness, the wine consumed by commoners ranges from 150 to 300 *wen* per *dou*, with the most expensive being 500 *wen*."

"That is correct, Your Highness. Even at this Yunlai Tavern, apart from this premium 'Immortal’s Drunkenness,' they also have 'Sage’s Drunkenness' for one string per *dou*, and other varieties for 500 *wen*," Stone added.

Li Shen knew that the *dou* they were referring to differed from the measure used for rice. In the Tang Dynasty, there were "large *dou*" and "small *dou*." A large *dou* was roughly twelve units, used for grain, while a small *dou* was about four pounds, used for wine. A jar of wine was roughly one small *dou*. This explained why Li Bai often mentioned drinking a *dou* or two in his poetry—because Tang citizens drank low-alcohol fermented beverages like rice wine, yellow wine, or fruit wine, consuming them by the *dou* just as people would drink beer in later eras.

It seemed that "Immortal’s Drunkenness," with its twenty-percent alcohol content, was indeed a quality spirit, whereas the commoners were drinking wine with only about ten percent. Li Shen felt this business was viable, provided he could execute it correctly. He would need allies to ensure the Cui family didn't play any tricks, and he would need to build a distillery—certainly not within the palace. He would need to ensure strict security and find someone trustworthy to manage it.

Xue Rengui was clearly not the man for the job. He was a military man; it wasn't a matter of trust, but that he lacked a head for business, and it would be a waste of his talents. Building a distillery, finding workers, managing sales, and securing partners—business was not so simple.

After the meal, as they walked out of the tavern, Li Shen considered how to arrange things for Xue Rengui. Bringing him into the palace was out of the question, so he had to find him a place to live. Furthermore, Xue Rengui had a wife in his hometown who needed to be brought over so he could serve Li Shen without distraction.

"Rengui, I currently reside in the palace and have no private manor outside. I would like to arrange a residence for you; what do you think?" Li Shen asked.

"Your Highness, I intend to return to my home in Hedong first to see my wife. I will tell her that I have entered your service and have a bright future ahead, so she need not worry," Xue Rengui replied.

"Rengui, why not bring your wife to Chang'an instead? I have two villages as my fiefdom south of the city, along with five thousand acres of fertile land. I will grant you one hundred acres to manage as my tenant. I will also buy you a house in the city so you can live with your wife. I will provide you with a monthly salary of one string of cash. Once I move out of the palace, you will serve as my guard, and I will increase your salary then. How does that sound?" Li Shen was determined to cultivate this future great general.

"This... Your Highness, this is inappropriate. Although I have entered your service, I have yet to perform any duties for you. Such generosity is more than I can bear," Xue Rengui said, stunned. He knew that as a laborer, he would only earn three to five hundred *wen* a month.

"Enough. Say no more. Just follow my arrangements," Li Shen said, then turned to Stone. "How much money did we bring out of the palace?"

"Your Highness, we brought twenty strings of cash. We have already spent five," Stone replied.

"What? Five strings of cash for a meal? Is this Yunlai Tavern a den of thieves?" Li Shen was incredulous. Five thousand *wen* gone in a single meal! Was the cost of living during the Zhenguan era truly this high?

"Your Highness, you ordered every top dish on their menu and a jar of 'Immortal’s Drunkenness,'" the maid Chunxiang reminded him.

"Hmph, it’s still too expensive. I’m never coming back. A den of thieves, that’s what it is," Li Shen grumbled.

He pondered for a moment, suddenly recalling his plan from yesterday to partner with Zhangsun Wuji on a business venture. The Duke of Zhao’s estate was nearby, so he could go there to borrow money and discuss the partnership. However, he couldn't approach the Duke directly; as a prince, colluding with a high-ranking court minister would be taboo. Li Shen wouldn't make such a mistake. He had already devised a compromise.

"Let’s go to the Duke of Zhao’s mansion," Li Shen said with a wave.

The group headed straight for the estate. It was not far from the Imperial City and spanned over twenty acres. Most dukes’ estates ranged from five to fifty acres, depending on the available space in the ward and the size of the household. Since a ward in Chang'an spanned six to eight hundred acres, dukes did not live in clusters; there wasn't enough space. At most, two or three families lived in the same ward. For instance, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin lived next door to each other, but Yuchi Gong’s estate was in a different ward.

Upon arriving, Li Shen had Stone present his token. Usually, one would use a formal calling card, but Li Shen hadn't prepared one, so he used his Prince’s token. Furthermore, he wasn't there to see the Duke of Zhao, but Princess Changle, his half-sister. A visit to her would raise no eyebrows. The gatekeeper quickly hurried inside to report.

Princess Changle, Li Lizhi, was married to Zhangsun Chong, so she resided at the Duke’s estate. If she had been married to a commoner, she would live in a Princess’s manor. Zhangsun Chong was the only one to marry a daughter of Li Shimin, which spoke to the trust and esteem the Emperor held for Zhangsun Wuji.

Li Lizhi was surprised to receive the notification. She had met Li Shen a few times but had never spoken to him. When she married years ago, Li Shen was only five. She couldn't fathom why he would come to see her. Nevertheless, she had to receive him, as he was now a Prince and had saved her mother.