Chapter 26: Special Statutes

Dishes rich in color, aroma, and taste were arranged on the table like a series of exquisite paintings. Rising steam, carrying an alluring fragrance, permeated the air. Each dish resembled a meticulously crafted work of art, wafting into the nostrils of those present and making their mouths water. Seeing the table full of delicacies, excitement flashed in their eyes, and they could not help but be stirred by a ravenous appetite.

Li Shimin scanned the group and said solemnly, "We are about to set out together to campaign against the Xueyantuo. Let this meal be our farewell toast." He paused, then raised his voice. "Let the feast begin!"

As soon as Li Shimin spoke, Cheng Yaojin eagerly picked up a flask of "Little White Dry." He held it under his nose and inhaled deeply, his intoxicated expression suggesting he was already immersed in a world of fine spirits. "Your Majesty! This wine is so fragrant!" Cheng Yaojin said, his face beaming. He carefully poured a small cup for Li Shimin, then filled the cups for the others before finally pouring his own.

Holding the small, delicate cup, Cheng Yaojin stared at the liquor, muttering to himself, "It’s good wine, but the serving is truly too small." Before the words were even out, he tilted his head back and downed the spirit in one gulp. Li Shimin, Yuchi Jingde, and Li Ji waited for his assessment, but instead, they watched as Cheng Yaojin suddenly gasped, his mouth emitting a hissing sound like a startled snake. His face, from his neck to his forehead, turned bright red, like a boiled shrimp, the color so deep it seemed as if he were bleeding.

When the potency finally subsided, Cheng Yaojin let out a breath and exclaimed, "Great wine! I’ve never tasted such fine liquor in my life! It’s so potent! After drinking this, I realize everything we had before was nothing but horse urine!" Wiping the residue from his lips, he looked at the others. "Remember, drink this slowly. It’s too strong! You won’t be able to handle it!"

Hearing this assessment from the "Demon King of Chaos," the others felt a surge of curiosity. As battle-hardened generals, what kind of strong liquor had they not tasted? They scoffed at Cheng Yaojin’s final remark. In their view, drinking should be done with bravado; what did "drinking slowly" mean? They were all men who would embrace a full vat of wine and drink their fill—there was no such thing as drinking slowly!

In a synchronized motion, as if rehearsed, the three picked up their cups and tossed them back without hesitation. Instantly, a chorus of hissing sounds filled the air. Their faces, like Cheng Yaojin's, quickly turned red, and the liquor burned within them like a ball of fire.

"Fine wine! Truly potent!" Yuchi Jingde said with a grin, his eyes squinting as he savored the lingering taste. Watching their reaction, Cheng Yaojin laughed heartily. "I told you, why didn't you believe me? This wine must be sipped slowly!" As he spoke, he refilled the four cups, and half the flask was gone in an instant. "When we leave, I must buy more to take back and drink slowly!" His words sparked the same idea in the others; they all secretly resolved to bring some of this fine spirit back for others to try.

"Eat, eat!" Li Shimin said with a smile. In the Tang Dynasty, while there were many types of meat, mutton was the staple. This was because pork at the time had an unpleasant, lingering gamey odor that was difficult to remove, whereas the scent of mutton was easier to accept.

Li Shimin, feeling adventurous, reached out with his chopsticks to pick up a piece of braised pork belly. It trembled enticingly. He slowly placed it in his mouth, and the moment he bit down, the blend of sweet and savory flavors exploded. The pork melted instantly. No sooner had he finished the first piece than he reached for another, praising, "Delicious!" Hearing this, the other generals couldn't wait to join in. Suddenly, chopsticks were flying across the table as everyone vied for the plate of red-braised pork. In a flash, the dish was wiped clean by the four men.

"Is this really pork? How can it be so delicious?" Li Ji stared at the empty plate in disbelief, feeling that such exquisite meat could not possibly be pork; the taste had completely overturned his perception of the meat.

What intrigued Li Shimin most was the "hot pot." According to the waiter, the red bubbling base was called "Spicy Pot." Li Shimin watched the broth churn, his eyes full of curiosity. He picked up a slice of mutton, thin as a cicada's wing, and following the example of those around him, swirled it in the boiling pot. He counted to ten in his heart, quickly retrieved the meat, dipped it lightly in the seasoning bowl, and took a bite.

Instantly, the numbing, spicy, and fresh flavors surged like a tidal wave, assaulting his taste buds, which had never been so stimulated. The heat burned like fire, while the numbing sensation felt like a thousand tiny ants dancing on his tongue. He couldn't help but gasp for air to soothe the burning. Just as he reached for his wine cup to quench his thirst, he remembered it was strong liquor and feared it would only make things worse. Resigned, he had to settle for eating large mouthfuls of stir-fried greens in lard to alleviate the spice.

Watching Li Shimin struggle with the hot pot, the other three exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity. They waited for his verdict. When Li Shimin finally caught his breath, he said, "Delicious—that feeling is simply hard to describe!" He called for a pitcher of cold water and drank a large cup in one go, finally feeling relieved. He looked at the still-boiling pot, his desire to eat growing again.

Yuchi Jingde was also eating the hot pot, and for some reason, he had a high tolerance for spice. He was drenched in sweat, which streamed down his face like broken beads, yet he continued to dip meat into the spicy pot and eat the pickled fish with gusto. To him, the spicy broth and the tangy, refreshing pickled fish were the greatest delicacies on earth; the intense flavors were a thrill to his palate.

The men enjoyed this rare time together, accompanied by fine food and wine. Before long, they were full and satisfied, each wiping the sweat from their brows with a towel. They couldn't help but sigh: this was a life worth living! This meal had given them a culinary experience like no other.

Li Shimin stood up with a grand, bold demeanor and walked over to the young girl to settle the bill. He not only paid for the meal but expressed a desire to buy more "Little White Dry" to take back to Chang'an. To his surprise, the girl refused.

"Why can't I buy some to take with me?" Li Shimin asked, puzzled. In his view, if a guest was willing to buy and the shopkeeper could profit, it was a win-win situation; there was no reason to refuse.

The girl replied helplessly, "Kind sir, it's not that I won't sell to you, but even if we did, you wouldn't be able to take these items out of Xianyang City." Her expression was serious. "It is against the law to secretly take items out of Xianyang."

Li Shimin’s eyes widened; he had never heard of such a law in the Tang Dynasty. "How have I never heard of this law in the Tang?"

The girl patiently explained, "It is not a law of the Tang, but the 'Xianyang Law' specifically enacted by His Majesty." She looked at Li Shimin and continued, "If you take items from Xianyang outside, it is considered smuggling. You can only buy them when His Majesty announces that they may be sold externally. Xianyang is in a special period right now. The only merchants here are from the Qianyu Trading Company, and our city is one that can be entered but not exited. They teach in school that selling Xianyang's goods outside would disrupt His Majesty's plans and the people's livelihood. Take the glass here, for example—it's worthless to us, but outside, it would be a treasure worth a fortune. Anyone caught smuggling faces the death penalty!"

The girl, like a little teacher, patiently educated these four "legal illiterates" on the Xianyang Law. Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately understood Li Chengqian's intentions. Though he felt a twinge of regret, he persisted: "Can't I, as an official, take some?"

The girl couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle. "You're from Chang'an, so I don't blame you for not knowing. Back then, the Crown Prince executed corrupt officials and noble scions in the Xianyang marketplace for three days and three nights; heads were rolling everywhere! If you don't want to die, you’d better follow the rules!"

Li Shimin had no choice but to step back. "Then pack ten flasks for us. We will finish them right here in Xianyang, and we absolutely will not take them out!"

The girl looked at him with skepticism. "Can the four of you drink that much in one night? Aren't you leaving for Chang'an tomorrow?" Her eyes showed concern. "I’ve told you! Don't try to break the law! That’s a double offense! If you can't finish it, throw it away or give it to someone, but you must not take it out! I’m only warning you because you seem like good people!"

The girl's repeated warnings made Li Shimin take them to heart. "Thank you, young lady. In the future, when Xianyang opens to the outside world, I will certainly come to repay you! May I ask your name?"

"Just call me Little Jiang!"

Li Shimin looked at her with satisfaction. "Then thank you, Miss Little Jiang!" No one knew better than Li Shimin that the law could not be violated, especially since these were rules set by his own son.

Soon, the ten flasks of Little White Dry were packed. Li Shimin was surprised to find that even the bottles were made of glass. He calculated in his heart that a single bottle, if sold outside, could buy at least ten restaurants like the Songhe Tower. That such a precious material was used here simply to hold wine was truly staggering.

Li Shimin picked up the ten packed flasks, kept four for himself, and divided the remaining six among the others. He sternly repeated everything the girl had said. The men pounded their chests, vowing they had taken it to heart, their voices so loud they seemed ready to blow the roof off, drawing the attention of other patrons. As they held their bottled spirits, their hearts trembled. They cradled the glass bottles with the utmost care, eyes filled with awe—the glass bottles were simply too exquisite.