C85. Whole Pig Banquet.
After Guo Mao arrived in Jixian, he quickly adapted to the affairs of the Political Affairs Hall and built good relationships with his colleagues.
He soon showcased his talent by persuading the followers who were left behind by Cai Ji when he fled to join Yuan Li's ranks. These followers had been abandoned by Cai Ji and were not highly regarded by him, so those who were unwilling to follow Yuan Li voluntarily left.
Most of the strategists and servants were quite adaptable and willingly became Yuan Li's advisors and servants, continuing to manage the affairs of Guangyang County that were previously handled by Cai Ji.
With the addition of these people, the burden on the Political Affairs Hall was significantly reduced. In addition to recruiting soldiers, Yuan Li also began to recruit craftsmen.
He made it known that all types of craftsmen were welcome, regardless of their specialty. Not only artisans and blacksmiths, but also craftsmen skilled in agriculture, cloth-making, and water conservation were recruited without restriction.
As long as they were competent, anyone could receive favorable treatment under his rule.
There was a shortage of craftsmen, so Yuan Li assigned those who met the criteria to mass-produce three-bow bed crossbows and the "Divine Crossbow", also known as the small crossbow. The remaining blacksmiths were appointed to create military equipment, stirrups, and horseshoes.
Yuan Li had always wanted to produce horseshoes but had prioritized stirrups due to a lack of iron. Now that they had more iron available, he decided to equip the warhorses with the essential horseshoes.
Chu Hechao was also busy strengthening the defense of Youzhou and the borders, investigating spies within Youzhou, and warning the Wuhuan people and the Hu people who had migrated into Youzhou.
They were all secretly preparing to face the major changes that would occur after Emperor Jianyuan's death.
Yuan Li also made time to check on the cows, sheep, and pigs that could be taken out for grazing. The cows and sheep were herded onto the grassland, while the pigs were left in a designated area on a hill to forage for food.
During the winter, over four hundred pregnant sows gave birth to over three thousand piglets. By spring, a total of two thousand eight hundred and thirty-two healthy piglets had survived, with forty percent being sows.
The boar piglets had been castrated in February, and after three months, they had grown fat and healthy. According to the convalescent soldiers who looked after them, the castrated pigs had become more docile, lost their strong odor, gained weight quickly, and converted their food into fat rapidly.
Yuan Li was quite satisfied with what he saw, so he immediately took fifty pigs and had ten of them slaughtered that evening to create a grand feast, rewarding his subordinates and generals with a meal and wine.
The feast served two purposes: to reward everyone for their hard work, especially the officials of the Political Affairs Hall and the Department of Artefacts, as well as his three companions led by Guo Lin. Secondly, it was a way for him to feast before the news of Emperor Jianyuan's death arrived and the three months of mourning began, during which feasting, marriages, and meat consumption were all prohibited.
Before three months of vegetarianism, it was only right to indulge in a hearty meat feast.
Upon learning that they didn't have to work in the afternoon and could attend a feast featuring a whole roasted pig, Liu Jixin, Jian Shaoning, and others were moved to tears.
Putting aside their official duties, they returned to their residences early to bathe and rest, then changed into fresh clothes in the evening and rode horses to Yuan Li's estate.
Colleagues chatted and laughed, exchanging greetings with each other. Even Wang Er, who trained soldiers, brought Guan Zhihuai with him. Guan Zhihuai was reserved and appeared slightly displeased, but he still nodded slightly towards Yang Zhongfa and Wang Er.
Cui Yan, who had rarely been seen recently, couldn't help but feel invigorated by the lush trees and fragrant flowers in the estate. He suggested to Yuan Dan and Yuan Lou, the two brothers, to take a walk by the lake.
"Wait," Guo Mao hurried over to them, smiling broadly as he greeted the three of them. "Are you Mr. Cui Yan? I have long admired you and wondered if I could join you?"
Impressed by his openness and elegance, Cui Yan gladly agreed, "Of course, please join us, sir."
With the willow branches gently swaying and a light breeze blowing by, as the setting sun dyed half the sky red in the west, everyone slowly returned to their seats.
Today was a celebration, not for discussing official matters. Yuan Li didn't waste any words and had the roasted pig brought out first.
While half of those present had no shortage of pork, when the roasted pig was placed on their tables, the aroma made their mouths water and stomachs rumble uncontrollably.
The golden and crispy skin of the pig, with a perfect balance of fat and lean meat oozing with succulent juices, exuded a rich and dominant meaty aroma.
Jian Shaoning, who had enjoyed many delicacies but didn't particularly like pork due to its strong smell, found himself unable to resist the tantalizing scent of the roasted pig. He picked up a piece and examined it before finally taking a bite.
As soon as the taste of the roasted pig touched his tongue, his eyes lit up. There was no trace of the usual gaminess in the meat; it was incredibly tender and flavorful, making him want to devour it all.
As Jian Shaoning took another bite, he noticed that everyone around him had stopped chatting and was fully immersed in enjoying the roasted meat.
Cui Yan was also sweating profusely from the heat of the meat. After swallowing a mouthful and taking a sip of wine, he let out a contented breath and turned to Yuan Dan, "Wenhan, am I mistaken, or does the pork in the Lord's household taste much better than any I've had before?"
Yuan Dan, unfazed, with a greasy mouth, replied, "Lejun has always been fond of preparing these dishes. The pigs he raises have always had little gaminess and are the best and most robust in Ruyang County. The pigs we ate in Ruyang County before were of this quality; other pigs don't compare in taste."
Although Cui Yan seemed to not fully understand, he didn't show much interest in exploring further and simply smiled and raised his glass to Yuan Dan.
On the other side, Yuan Lou overheard their conversation and added, "Mr. Cui, Lejun mentioned that you used to live secluded at the foot of the mountain, enjoying carefree days of tea drinking and rain watching. How have you adjusted to the busy past two months?"
Cui Yan chuckled and nodded, "I have adapted well, very well."
He watched the people at the banquet, raising their glasses in toast or singing and dancing, and he also wanted to join in the singing.
But he was shy by nature and felt hesitant to do so, so he took a sip of wine and calmly said, "The busyness of before made this brief leisure time seem more precious and joyful. Look at these esteemed gentlemen, if they were to have leisure every day, would they still be as happy and content as they are now? My past days were indeed comfortable, but compared to them, I prefer my current days, and even feel that I am not busy enough."
Yuan Dan: "....?"
He stared at Cui Yan in shock, his chopsticks dropping on the table.
Yuan Lou, upon hearing this, couldn't help but admire Cui Yan. He raised his glass to Cui Yan, feeling guilty for being so pleased with avoiding official duties before. "Compared to Mr. Cui, I am too lazy."
The more Yuan Lou thought about it, the more ashamed he felt, wishing he could apologize to Yuan Li immediately. It was because of the trust Yuan Jun placed in him that he was given such important tasks, so how could he be afraid of having too many official duties?
When he left the political office in high spirits, if Yuan Li found out, wouldn't he be extremely disappointed?
Yuan Dan had originally wanted to say that Cui Yan might have been speaking nonsense due to being drunk, but he watched as Yuan Lou's expression changed to one of agreement mixed with guilt.
This wasn't right, was it?
Yuan Dan's mouth twitched.
He looked over at the followers of the Grand General opposite him.
Yang Zhongfa and He Lang, these two esteemed gentlemen, drank and played every day, either staying at home with their wives and children or fishing and enjoying spring outings. Compared to the followers of the Grand General, each one of them could be said to rise earlier than the rooster and sleep later than the dog.
Is this still considered being lazy?
He was almost forgetting what it meant to be lazy.
Yuan Dan hesitated, then said subtly, "Brother, Mr. Cui, don't you think our current days are already too busy?"
Yuan Lou straightened up, speaking firmly, "Wenhan, how can you think that way? Our busy schedules are a sign of trust from Yuan Lejun towards us. When we came here, we made a firm decision to assist Yuan Lejun and make a career for ourselves. How can it be that after just five months, we start to slack off?"
Yuan Dan, who had lost a lot of weight from the last two months of busyness, began to doubt if he was being too lazy. Remembering his initial determination, he felt ashamed and admitted his mistake, "Brother, I know I was wrong. Starting from tomorrow, I will be more diligent."
Yuan Lou nodded with satisfaction, "We both have not done well enough, we still have a lot to learn from Mr. Cui."
After the two brothers repented, they earnestly raised another glass to Cui Yan.
The atmosphere at the banquet was lively, and even Guan Zhihuai, along with a few colleagues, drank several pots of wine, loosening their belts and sporting smiles on their faces.
He Lang asked, "Sir Guan, you've been busy in the military camp for a few days. How does it feel, and how are Lord Yuan's military training methods different from ours in the camp?"
Upon hearing this, Guan Zhihuai furrowed his brow again, speaking solemnly, "His methods are better than ours."
"Really?" Yang Zhongfa exclaimed, then chuckled, "You should remember these methods and use them to train our soldiers after returning to the northern border."
"Don't you realize the seriousness of this?" Guan Zhihuai's heart grew heavier, as he stared at Yang Zhongfa with sharp eyes, saying in a low voice his concerns about Yuan Li.
Yang Zhongfa's reaction was nonchalant, and he sighed, "Old Guan, I advise you not to overthink."
Guan Zhihuai's frown deepened, "How can I not think about it?"
"You're just wasting your thoughts," Yang Zhongfa said, "The General and Lord Yuan are like family. If you continue this way, you will only anger the General."
Guan Zhihuai's face flushed with anger, but he forcefully suppressed it, coldly huffing, "Yang Zhongfa, it seems like you've been misled by temporary peace!"
Yang Zhongfa remained unfazed, swirling his wine glass, his gaze distant as he recalled the scene where Yuan Li had predicted a heavy rain.
Even though more than a month had passed, the memory still filled him with fear and dread, causing goosebumps to rise on his skin.
Guan Zhihuai did not understand.
He did not understand the emotions of those who had witnessed Yuan Li's supernatural abilities back then or the shock and admiration hidden deep in their hearts.
"One month ago, in mid-April, You Prefecture experienced a continuous three-month heavy rain," Yang Zhongfa spoke softly, "I was with the General when the rain fell. There were rumors that it was Lord Yuan who had prayed for the rain in You Prefecture, whether it was true or not."
Guan Zhihuai's expression hardened, "I do not believe that there are individuals who can pray for rain."
However, Yang Zhongfa continued, "Just before the rain fell, Lord Yuan had a premonition of its arrival and informed us that rain would fall from the sky in a quarter of an hour. At that moment, I, like you, did not believe it, but true to his words, the downpour began after fifteen minutes."
For the first time, Guan Zhihuai showed a look of astonishment, instinctively denying, "That's impossible!"
But Yang Zhongfa continued, "Several Wumang leaders were present at the time, and even a lightning bolt passed directly above Dadan's head. Guan Zhihuai, I speak no lie. Ask He Lang or Wang Er, ask our soldiers, whether you believe it or not, you must."
Guan Zhihuai stared at him in a daze, his face rigid with disbelief, momentarily speechless.
Yang Zhongfa softened his expression, patting Guan Zhihuai on the shoulder before turning to clink glasses with He Lang.
The roasted pig was just an appetizer, and after everyone had eaten to their satisfaction, Yuan Li smiled mysteriously, saying, "There's more stir-fried dishes to come, so make sure to leave some room in your stomachs."
"Stir-fried dishes?" the crowd inquired, "What kind of dish is that?"
"Could it be a local dish in You Prefecture?"
"I am from You Prefecture, but I have never heard of 'stir-fried dishes' there."
A few days ago, Chu Hechao had already savored the taste of stir-fried dishes - a type of dish prepared in an iron pan. It was the first time Chu Hechao had learned that iron could be used not only to make weapons but also to cook food.
The resulting dishes were extraordinary, with a taste that was unforgettable.
He leisurely sipped his wine, listening to the curiosity and interest of others, his smile deepening.
Yang Zhongfa loudly exclaimed, "Lord Yuan, don't keep us in suspense, what exactly is this 'stir-fry'?"
Yuan Li did not deliberately delay, but ordered the dishes to be brought out.
Two iron pots were set up in the kitchen, and with the use of iron pots for stir-frying, the preparation of the dishes became more diverse. After guiding the cook to make a stir-fried meat dish and braised pork, the cook quickly grasped the use of the iron pots.
As there was no rock sugar available at the moment, cane sugar was not produced either. Sweeteners such as sweet grass or honey were used instead of sugar in the dishes.
Due to the lack of ingredients, the taste naturally did not match the wonderful flavors of later generations. However, for the Northern Zhou people who were used to steaming and roasting in clay pots, these stir-fried dishes were truly eye-opening and pleasantly surprising.
Everyone tucked into the dishes stir-fried in the iron pots, accompanied by rice, and found the aroma irresistible. Even those who normally couldn't eat much ended up adding another bowl of rice, let alone the generals who already had big appetites.
In between wolfing down his food, Yang Zhongfa jokingly said to Chu Hechao, "If only my family had a suitable daughter, I would want to marry Lord Yuan off to her."
Chu Hechao coldly chuckled, "You don't even need to think about it."
Just as he was about to have another drink to cool his temper, Lin Tian, by Yuan Li's side, quietly approached and whispered in his ear, "General, my lord advised you to drink less."
Chu Hechao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yuan Li. Yuan Li was looking at him, with a furrowed brow and a slightly displeased expression.
"Do you even control how much I drink?" Chu Hechao muttered to himself, then he chuckled and put down his glass, lazily saying, "Alright, I got it, you can go back now."
Lin Tian gave a salute and quietly backed away.
Yang Zhongfa didn't hear what they were talking about and asked curiously, "What's going on?"
Chu Hechao vaguely replied, "My sister-in-law doesn't want me to drink too much."
Yang Zhongfa had always referred to Yuan Li as his little sister-in-law, so he didn't think much of it, but he was still taken aback, "Little sister-in-law even controls that?"
Chu Hechao smirked, "Yep."
Yang Zhongfa felt annoyed being told by his wife to drink less, so he sympathized with Chu Hechao, "Does the general really obey?"
"I do," Chu Hechao tapped the table with his fingers, smiling mysteriously, "If I don't, how else can I enjoy all these delicacies?"
Yang Zhongfa had a sudden realization, "That's true."
Everyone enjoyed the whole pig feast to their heart's content. Afterwards, Yuan Li gifted each guest a small pig.
Ten days later, merchants from Xuzhou and Yangzhou arrived in Jixian County.
They had come for the soap. Not only did they bring a large amount of money, but they also brought gifts from Ouyang Ting specifically for Yuan Li – five cartloads of southern sugarcane.