Moma Liangshan

Chapter 5: Distilled Spirits Emerge, Father and Son at Night

Old Xu, as expected of a former master brewer from the official distillery, was proficient in every step of the brewing process, from making the koji, cooking the rice, boiling the syrup, combining the yeast, fermentation, transferring the wine to the vat, and finally, collecting the liquor. He also had excellent control over the koji and the base ingredients. Wang Hao, a complete novice in brewing, remained an observer throughout. Thirteen days later, Old Xu, beaming with excitement, reported, "Young master, the wine can be collected now." Wang Hao had previously instructed him that this final step of collecting the wine must be done personally. Hearing Old Xu's report, he said, "You take out one jar of wine first, and the rest is up to me." Old Xu obeyed, skillfully taking out a jar of the first batch of wine, then filling a rough porcelain bowl with it, saying, "Please, young master, taste it." Wang Hao brought the wine to the window, where, in the sunlight, a few grains of rice could be faintly seen floating in the air. Seeing this, Old Man Xu said, "Wine can be either cloudy or clear in color, or sweet, bitter, spicy, pungent, strong, or potent in quality. This wine is clear in color and somewhere between spicy and potent in quality. Even if it reaches the capital, Tokyo, it should be able to satisfy the palates of the court officials." Wang Hao smiled mysteriously, pointed to a large iron pot beside him, and said, "Transfer the lees from the cellar into the iron pot, place a steamer on top, and heat the bottom of the pot over a low flame. Place another iron pot on top of the steamer, and fill it with cold water." Everyone obeyed and began to work.

Old Xu, looking at the lees being moved into the iron pot, said with a worried expression, "Young master, your knowledge and wisdom are truly admirable. However, since this is your first attempt, could you perhaps take half a cellar of lees first to observe the results?" Wang Hao, feeling that his words made sense, replied, "As Master Xu suggests, let's take half a cellar of lees first." With everything prepared, firewood was lit under the iron pot to heat the lees. Wang Hao personally moved a wine jar and placed it under the steamer, then moved a chair and sat down. Everyone was intrigued, and except for the two men tending the fire, they all gathered around Wang Hao. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Wang Hao couldn't help but feel nervous. He placed one hand on the side of the steamer and said, "The steam hasn't come out yet, please be patient, please be patient!" A quarter of an hour later, the side of the steamer became noticeably hot, and the aroma of wine began to waft from the gaps around the steamer. Wang Hao called out, "Zhang Sangou, bring a wooden stool. You're in charge of monitoring the temperature of the water above. Ma Decao, go fetch a bucket of cold water and an empty bucket." Soon, the first drop of liquor rolled into the trough. Wang Hao stared intently at the droplet hanging at the trough's end, thinking, "From today onward, Liangshan liquor will surely be famous throughout the land." Just then, Zhang Sangou called out, "Young master, the water in the pot has cooled down." Still excited, Wang Hao shouted, "Change the water!"

An hour later, the wine jar was nearly full. Wang Hao ordered someone to bring over an empty jar to continue distilling the wine. Wang Hao picked up a long ladle and slowly ladled the liquid into a white porcelain bowl, then handed it to the dumbfounded Old Man Xu, saying, "Master Xu, how about tasting my masterpiece?" Old Man Xu took the bowl with both hands, carefully walked to the window, and observed every ripple in the liquid. He then lowered his head to sniff it, finally looking at Wang Hao and asking, "This old man would like to try a sip, please grant me permission, young master!" Wang Hao smiled casually and said, "This bowl of wine was originally a gift for you; please taste it freely." With permission granted, Old Man Xu first placed the bowl on the table, then picked up a gourd ladle from the wooden bucket, rinsed his mouth three times, stroked his beard, picked up the bowl again, and took a small sip. After savoring it several times, he took a large gulp. However, unexpectedly, the wine was too strong, and Old Man Xu's face instantly turned red. Seeing this, Wang Hao took the bowl and placed it on the table. No need to worry about spilling the wine in the bowl, Old Man Xu began to pant heavily. After a short while, without any warning, he suddenly knelt on one knee and shouted, "Please, young master, accept this old man as your apprentice!"

Caught off guard, Wang Hao hurriedly tried to help Old Man Xu up, but Old Man Xu remained resolute and refused to get up. Wang Hao said softly, "Master Xu is over sixty, while I am not yet of age. How can we address each other as master and disciple?" Old Man Xu looked up and said, "I have spent my entire life brewing wine, and my greatest wish is to brew the finest wine in the world. Unfortunately, I am naturally dull-witted. I have toiled from dawn till dusk my whole life, and have only managed to make a name for myself in Yuncheng County. Young Master, you are a wealthy man; you would never personally handle such mundane brewing matters. Therefore, I earnestly request that you take me as your apprentice. I swear to heaven, I will never deceive you." "If you break your oath, you will be struck by lightning for betraying your master and ancestors." Wang Hao looked at Old Man Xu and solemnly asked, "People love wine, so it's not hard to imagine the reaction this wine will cause. However, in the Song Dynasty, wine sold is divided 70% government-owned and 30% privately owned. The court is currently corrupt, and treacherous officials are in power. If you, Old Man Xu, were to learn such a method of making a fortune, it would only bring you death." Old Man Xu was a master craftsman at the official winery; how could he not understand the danger? He stood up dejectedly and sighed. At this moment, Wang Hao suddenly said, "I can teach you this method, and you don't need to become my apprentice. But you must promise not to leave Liangshan Marsh for three years. This will also ensure the safety of your Xu family."

Old Man Xu looked at Wang Hao and said, "I thank you, young master." He then continued, "The Xu family makes a living by brewing wine. I have four sons; the eldest and second eldest are married, while the third and fourth are still unmarried. The men you recruit will only be able to serve as ordinary able-bodied men for the next three years. I wish to bring two of my sons up the mountain to help you manage the distillery. I humbly request your permission." Wang Hao understood Old Man Xu's intentions and thought for a moment, "The method of distillation is not too profound. Once distilled liquor enters the market, someone will inevitably study its intricacies, and it will inevitably be cracked." After a brief consideration, he said, "Alright, I can even promise to give this technique to your Xu family after five years. But you must agree that for five years, you and your two sons will serve the Wang family. After five years, you and your two sons will receive my brewing secrets and be freed. During this period, your wages will remain unchanged, and your two sons will receive five strings of cash per month." Wang Hao did not believe he could monopolize the distilled liquor business for five years, and he urgently needed skilled brewers. Old Xu believed that Wang Hao not only offered generous wages, but also promised to transform the Xu family's winery in five years. Therefore, the two quickly reached an agreement.

Wang Hao ordered his men to carry the wine jar and accompany him to the mountain stronghold to meet Wang Lun. Wang Lun looked at the jar Wang Hao brought and said, "Is this the new wine you brewed?" Wang Hao replied confidently, "Indeed. Father, please give me a white porcelain cup to hold the wine." Wang Lun was puzzled and said, "We drink wine from bowls, and tea from porcelain cups." Wang Hao said, "This wine is too strong; a large bowl is not suitable." Wang Lun was half-convinced, but took out a white porcelain cup and said, "Are you trying to fool your father?" As Wang Hao poured the wine, he said, "Father, rest assured, this wine is absolutely the strongest and most mellow in the world." As soon as the wooden lid of the jar was opened, Wang Lun smelled an extraordinary aroma. When the clear, spring-like liquid fell into the porcelain cup, Wang Lun was already mostly convinced. Picking up the porcelain cup, Wang Lun took a small sip, his expression suddenly changing. He looked at Wang Hao with disbelief, and after a long while, slowly said, "Is this wine truly brewed by you?" Wang Hao replied, "Father, have you ever tasted such fine wine elsewhere?" Wang Lun did not answer Wang Hao, but instead called out to the door, "Someone come here!" A moment later, a henchman arrived, and Wang Lun said, "Pass on my orders: everyone in the distillery will be rewarded with twenty strings of cash. Furthermore, without my personal written order, no one in the distillery is allowed to leave the stronghold."

Wang Hao was indeed somewhat impressed with his father, saying, "Among the wineries, only Old Man Xu is skilled in brewing. I've already reached an agreement with him; he and his two sons will serve our Wang family for five years, and will not leave the stronghold during that time. The others are all your trusted confidants, Father. There's no need to be so strict!" Wang Lun replied, "You can't see into someone's heart; if you can't see clearly, you can only think the worst." Wang Hao was speechless and could only say, "I will obey Father's orders." The matter of keeping the winery secret was settled, but the sale of the fine wine was still under discussion. Wang Hao asked, "What does Father think of this wine?" Wang Lun picked up the wine cup, took another sip, and said, "I've been in Liangshan for so many years, and I've tasted at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, fine wines. This wine is unheard of, unseen, let alone tasted. In terms of quality, even the imperial wine I intercepted two years ago cannot compare. Moreover, this wine is extremely potent; even this small cup..." "This cup is probably worth as much as a bowl of ordinary wine. Such fine wine is beyond the reach of ordinary people, but high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and powerful figures will surely flock to it. Therefore, I believe that if this wine is to be sold, it should be sold directly to the capital, Tokyo. Only the prosperity of Tokyo is worthy of the richness and strength of my son's wine." Wang Hao agreed with Wang Lun's words, but how to sell the wine to Tokyo was a problem he had to consider. He said, "Tokyo is a strategically important city, and we have no connections there. If we go there rashly, won't we suffer a setback?" Wang Lun pondered for a moment and said, "My son is right. Then, when spring comes, I will write a letter, and you will take ten jars of this wine to Master Chai's estate. Master Chai is a member of the Later Zhou royal family, of noble status, and has always enjoyed associating with heroes and valiant men. This fine wine will surely suit his taste. We can then ask Master Chai for help, and we won't have to worry about this fine wine not entering Tokyo."

Wang Hao suddenly understood and said, "If this matter can be accomplished, I suggest directly giving Master Chai a 20% share. With Master Chai's name, our fine wine will no longer be considered a humble country bumpkin's creation. Moreover, it will travel throughout the north and south, and powerful figures will have to give us face." Wang Lun frowned and said, "Master Chai owns thousands of acres of fertile land and has inexhaustible wealth. Is a 20% share too much? How about 10%?" Wang Hao stood up and said cautiously, "I think that's inappropriate. Master Chai has been kind to Father, and we are now asking for his help. A 10% share..." "It's still a bit too little." Wang Lun's eyes darted around, and he said, "I have a plan that will both earn us a reputation for loyalty and protect our family's winery. When you see Master Chai, immediately present him with ten jars of fine wine, and then tell him that my son and I accidentally discovered this secret brewing method. We've diligently studied it for three years, and now we've finally achieved some success. However, out of consideration for Master Chai's kindness, I dare not keep it to myself, so I'm offering this method to him. Master Chai is a generous man by nature, and he certainly won't want our family's winery. Then, all the heroes of the world will hear of my reputation for loyalty and righteousness, and my son and I can enjoy our family's winery all to ourselves."