Chapter 39: Calculations

For the entire day, Zheng Fu and a group of junior managers in the office were so busy that they had to run to the toilet, and they didn't even have time to eat or drink. It wasn't until the lamps were lit that they finished distributing the last string of coins and wrote down the last name, totaling over 1,100 people, almost all the able-bodied men from four villages had signed up.

When Zheng Fu finally sat down in the office and sipped a cup of hot tea, warming up, he looked at the thick roster in confusion. How did people change their minds overnight and all think it through?

"Hey, you guys, stand there if you want to eat. I'll bring it to you, but you're not allowed to come in!" At this moment, Zheng Fu heard an argument outside and hurriedly went out.

"We're not blocking you, we're people from the mansion!" a child said.

"Nonsense, this is the mansion, not a beggar's den. How can you be from the mansion?" the gatekeeper blocked a group of little beggars and sneered.

"Uncle Tian, we are the young servants by the second master's side. Don't you recognize us?" a child brought his face close to the lantern and asked.

"Oh, you're Zhao Ren, and you're Zhao Yi. How did you end up like this?" Old Tian finally recognized them, they were indeed the second master's people.

"Zhao Ren, why aren't you by the second master's side? Why are you pretending to be beggars? What are you up to?" Zheng Fu walked over and said sternly.

"Chief, you're like a dog biting Lü Dongbin. We endured hunger and cold to help you recruit people, and you scold us!" Zhao Xin, his face red with anger, jumped up and said.

"You helped us recruit people? I doubt it," Zheng Fu was a bit hesitant. "Come into this room to warm up, and tell me what happened!"

"Alright, we'll tell you. But first, order the kitchen to bring us some food. We drank the wind all night and only had a bowl of wheat porridge today. We're starving!" Zhao Xin pouted, seemingly unafraid of Zheng Fu.

Zheng Fu immediately ordered a pot of mutton soup and half a basket of flatbreads to be brought in. The group ate and warmed themselves by the fire, and he listened to their story. The strategy Zhao Cheng used was something a modern person would easily understand. At the entrance of a large hospital, a new building opening, or a mall opening, they all use the same method—finding shills.

He had Zhao Ren and the others dress as beggars and spread the news that the Zhao Mansion was recruiting people for a large-scale water conservancy project in the state capital. He also gave a few 'indentured servants' a holiday, strictly ordering them not to talk about the recruitment, as there were few spots left to avoid causing chaos with too many applicants.

Zhao Cheng exploited people's weaknesses. If you talk to them nicely, they won't listen, thinking you're lying to them. But they believe in rumors, especially 'inside' information. The people he sent back were carefully selected 'little trumpets.' The more he forbade them from talking, the more they itched to do so. They first secretly told their families, then their best friends, and by the next morning, everyone who needed to know did.

"It turns out the second master arranged this. No wonder so many people came today. He really thought of everything," Zheng Fu suddenly felt powerless. He had wanted to use this opportunity to impress the prince, but it turned out the prince had been in control from the beginning. Without his help, he might have messed things up.

In the prince's study, the lamp was still lit. Opposite Zhao Cheng sat a man in his fifties, and Jixi, standing behind him, was dazed, swaying and exhaling a strong smell of alcohol.

"Uncle Zheng, you brewed wine in the Duke's mansion? I heard you're also a wine connoisseur," Zhao Cheng said, pouring him a cup of tea. It was the end of the year, and the old duke, thinking of his pitiful grandson who was alone, sent a batch of New Year's goods, and this old man was the manager in charge of the delivery, enjoying the prince's warm reception.

"Your Highness, don't call me that. I'm just a small manager in the Duke's mansion!" Zheng Quan said, his buttocks trembling in fear. "When I was young, I helped the Duke manage the wine cellar, so I know a bit about it, but I can't claim to be an expert!"

"Uncle Zheng, try this wine," Zhao Cheng said, having Jixi pour a cup for Zheng Quan.

"Ah, Manager Zheng, this wine is quite strong. You should drink it slowly!" Jixi couldn't help but burp.

"Ha ha, thank you, Jixi. I appreciate the reminder!" The old man said, but his expression showed he didn't really care. "If I die tomorrow, I'll have spent my whole life with wine. What haven't I seen?" But when he saw the wine poured into the cup, his face turned serious. When the cup was full, he eagerly picked it up, sniffed it, put it down, drank a sip of tea, and then took a small sip of the wine, savoring it, and took another sip.

"Your Highness, this wine is sweet and clear, and it feels like fire going down the throat. It's definitely not brewed, it's distilled!" Zheng Quan said, surprised.

"Oh, there's already distilled wine now?" This time, it was Zhao Cheng's turn to be surprised. He thought he had found a way to make a fortune, but it turned out it already existed in the Song Dynasty, and he felt a bit disappointed.

"It seems the old man was right. Distilled wine has been around for a long time. Have you heard of 'He Shang'?" Zhao Cheng shook his head. He had never heard of it, so how could he know? "Legend has it that during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, a man named Liu Baodu from Hedong was skilled at making wine. The wine he made could make people drunk for a long time, and it became a rare delicacy. Scholars often traveled thousands of miles to give it as a gift, so it was called 'He Shang.' Later, when the governor of Qingzhou, Mao Hongbin, took office, he brought this wine with him. On the road, he encountered bandits, who all got drunk and were captured. People called this wine 'Qin Jian Jiu,' and there was a saying, 'Not afraid of bows and arrows, only afraid of Baodu's spring wine.' He made distilled wine!"

"Damn, did he also come from the future and take my job!" Zhao Cheng muttered.

"Your Highness, what did you say?" The old man's ears were a bit deaf, and he didn't hear clearly.

"I mean, is this wine still being made now?" Zhao Cheng asked vaguely.

"Yes, I once drank it when I was young. It's said to come from Sichuan and is as precious as gold. I haven't had it since, and now it's only occasionally heard that some wealthy families still have it, but they keep it secret!" Zheng Quan said, full of regret.

"Hmm! Is it really that rare?" Zhao Cheng was surprised again. The old man was panting, and if his body wasn't better, he would have 'crashed' again. It seemed there was still potential, so he asked urgently.

"Yes, it's worth a thousand pieces of gold. Your Highness, where did you get this fine wine?" The old man looked at the remaining half cup of wine on the table, still savoring it.

"This... this is made by a servant in the mansion based on an ancient recipe!" Zhao Cheng stuttered. Jixi pouted. The prince was playing this trick again, not knowing who he would attribute this 'good thing' to. It was clearly the prince's idea, and they had spent a whole day making it. He had secretly taken a few sips and was still a bit dizzy.

"Ah?!" The old man stood up suddenly. "Is this person still here? Can I meet him?" he said in a hurry.

"Uncle Zheng, don't be in a rush. This person is not in the mansion right now. He went home for the New Year."

"Oh, I lost my composure!" Zheng Quan, being a shrewd old man, immediately understood. Such a person would be a treasure in his mansion, and he couldn't let him meet outsiders easily.

"Jixi, when Uncle Zheng returns, bring the remaining jar of wine to the old duke. It's a small token of my appreciation!" Zhao Cheng said to Jixi.

"Your Highness is truly filial. The old duke will be very happy to drink this wine!" The old man bowed. Zhao Cheng waved his hand, and Jixi led him to rest. The old man didn't forget to take the remaining half cup of wine as he left.

"Second Master, why did you let that old man go? He's very knowledgeable about wine. Weren't you looking for someone like him?" Jixi asked, puzzled, as he watched Zheng Quan leave.

"Hmph, with that jar of wine, do you think he won't come back? I bet the Duke's mansion will send someone again before the New Year, and it will be a high-ranking person. Do you think my wine is so easy to drink?" Zhao Cheng smiled.

"Second Master, are you trying to bring the Duke's mansion into this? Won't they take a big advantage?" Jixi asked.

"Ha ha, this is called an investment. Do you think I let people take advantage of me so easily?" Zhao Cheng reached out to tap Jixi's head, feeling like a leader educating a 'little devil,' but he was much shorter than Jixi, and even on tiptoe, he could only reach his shoulder, which was quite frustrating.

Zhao Cheng saw off the old manager, and Jixi draped a cloak over him. Two young eunuchs lit lanterns and led the way. Meng Tao and Yang Feng followed a few steps behind, and the lanterns under the corridors of the mansion were all lit, casting a red glow over the entire mansion. Despite the cold winter, it felt peaceful and festive.

"Being an ordinary person is really good." The servants in the courtyard were busy coming and going. When they saw him walk out, they would stop and greet him, their eyes full of care and gratitude. Zhao Cheng nodded in response, looking at their contented smiles and sighing to himself.

These servants were content with a few pounds of pork, a few feet of silk, and a few extra coins at the end of the year. They could then happily spend the New Year with their families. He, as a prince, was born into intrigue and had to constantly guard against the open and hidden struggles from his family, where only life and death mattered, not family ties.

"Many people dream of being born into the imperial family, but Second Master envies us. It's truly a case of not appreciating what you have!" Yang Feng, hearing the prince's sigh, shook his head and said.

"Haven't you heard the saying, 'During the holidays, one misses one's family even more'? Second Master is so young, but he can't go home for the New Year. Although there are many people in the mansion, none of them are his family. Isn't he sad?" Meng Tao said softly.

"No wonder everyone in the mansion is grateful to Second Master. He has everyone bring their families to celebrate the New Year together. He understands everyone's hardships!" Yang Feng, understanding the connection, said softly.

"Brother Yang, we've been wandering for years, and it's not easy to find a good master. Second Master, though young, is smart and kind. He will surely be a great leader in the future. We should settle down!" Meng Tao said.

"Um!" Yang Feng looked at the prince walking ahead and thoughtfully responded.