The Legend of Song Jiang in Water Margin

Chapter 115 Liangshan's Development is at its Peak, Shandong Cuisine's Fragrance Attracts Guests from All Directions

Putting aside other thoughts, Song Jiang spoke up: "Currently, Liangshan has 1,500 soldiers, and I need one set of each type, which would be 4,500 sets of armor. Brother Tang Long, do you have a solution?"

Tang Long was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. Song Jiang was truly planning something important!

Suppressing his surprise, Tang Long thought for a moment and said, "I can't guarantee that much. If you trust me, brother, I'll go to Bianliang tomorrow to inquire about the armor. Also, since you need a lot of craftsmen, I'll go and find them too!"

Song Jiang nodded and said, "When you go down the mountain, go to Jiang Jing and get a thousand taels of silver. If you need any money, just let me know!"

""

Tang Long said, moved, "Brother, don't worry, I'll send a message back to you as soon as I have any news!"

After Tang Long left, Song Jiang went to Wu Yong's place.

Since Liangshan seized the birthday gifts, Liangshan has developed rapidly, and Wu Yong is busy every day!

Unfortunately, Liangshan had very few scholars available, and everyone had multiple duties, even Wang Lun!

Upon seeing Song Jiang arrive, Wu Yong stepped forward excitedly and said, "Brother, in the past two months, we have taken in many oppressed and impoverished families and refugees suffering from natural disasters and man-made calamities. Liangshan now has a population of over ten thousand! Among them, Liangshan has 1,500 generals and soldiers on land and water, and two thousand reservists!"

Song Jiang pondered for a moment. Two thousand reserves were not a small number. They could be used as the main force by the other three groups. However, Song Jiang was quite strict and insisted that they must meet his standards to become regular soldiers!

In addition to training, the reserves also have to do chores every day, but the main force does not need to; they spend most of their time training and studying!

Beforehand, Song Jiang specially built a military academy and purchased many military strategy books, such as "The Art of War", "The Thirty-Six Stratagems", "The Six Secret Teachings", "The Three Strategies", and so on!

The books are kept in the Military Academy; you can borrow and copy them whenever you need them!

Song Jiang required them to read and write every day. After a few months, many of them went from being illiterate roughnecks to being "cultured people" who could understand the meaning of a few sentences in classical Chinese!

Seeing their rapid progress, Song Jiang also began to have them read other books, but daily reading and writing were still essential!

Generally, Song Jiang personally lectured on military strategy, once every three days, using concise language and giving examples. He also recounted many battles from ancient and modern times, both Chinese and foreign, in the form of stories!

Military strategy is not only for soldiers to learn; even generals such as Bian Xiang, Liu Tang, and Ruan Xiaoer became interested in these stories and attended every class!

Song Jiang was also happy to share many stories with them, believing that as long as everyone made progress, Liangshan would become better and better!

Getting back to the main point, after several months of development, Liangshan has now cultivated fifty acres of land and owns two hundred horses, including a peerless steed like Zi Sa!

There are 1,000 pigs and 1,000 sheep, 5,000 chickens, 5,000 ducks and geese, 100 cows and 20 dogs.

Cattle are generally used for plowing, and Song Jiang never orders the slaughter of cattle for meat. Dogs are trained to guard poultry, and Song Jiang also does not order them to be eaten. As for the eggs laid by poultry, Song Jiang ensures that every member of the Liangshan army, including the reserves, has one to eat every day to maintain their physical fitness!

Meanwhile, Liangshan currently has 10,000 shi of grain, 300 small fast boats, 150 medium fast boats, 70 large fast boats, and 3 extra-large warships, all of which were built by themselves or purchased from various places!

There are more than 700 houses, but it is still not enough to live in, because people keep coming to Liangshan. There are three armories, two blacksmith shops, and one workshop for various crafts!

It has only been a little over half a year since Song Jiang joined Liangshan, but the development has far exceeded Song Jiang's expectations!

Although Song Jiang was satisfied, he was not arrogant or complacent. After all, keeping a low profile and developing his abilities in a low-key manner had always been Song Jiang's foundation!

Having finally found some peace and quiet, Song Jiang took a few days to rest at Liangshan!

A few days later, good news came from the city: Song Jiang's restaurant had been renovated and Song Jiang had to return to the city to prepare for its opening.

Once the restaurant opened, Song Jiang planned to have Song Qing stay in Dancheng for a long time. After all, he had too many things to do and simply couldn't manage the restaurant. Moreover, with so many people in Liangshan, one restaurant couldn't support them all. Although they weren't short of money, they couldn't just sit around and do nothing.

Tang Niu'er, Song Jiang's follower and devoted fan, was not sent to Liangshan after Song Jiang returned to Yuncheng from Qinghe. Instead, he stayed in Songjia Village to improve the pickling technique and do odd jobs for Song Qing. After all, it was not easy to find a loyal and reliable follower, especially one who was also a die-hard fan of his.

Song Jiang planned to go to the city the next day and bring Tang Niu'er with him. Of course, he also prepared a lot of the white wine and fruit wine that he had brewed for the first time when he first arrived, and planned to transport them to Dancheng the next day. After all, tomorrow was the grand opening day. He was a well-known figure in the city, and Shi Wenbin and Chen Dahu would definitely be back. In addition, there would be some local bigwigs and so on. The scene tomorrow would be quite impressive. He wanted to make a name for himself and shock everyone, to tell them that he was not just playing around when he opened the restaurant.

The thought of the next day made Song Jiang excited.

At dawn the next day, Song Jiang got up. Although he usually got up at six in the morning, it was still a bit early today, and he couldn't hide his sleepiness!

After a quick wash, he led a group of people toward the city!

When we arrived in Yuncheng, it was already bright daylight. The streets were bustling with people, busy making a living. Some faces were full of fatigue, while others had a trace of worry between their brows.

Sometimes, this is reality. Song Jiang saw it all, but there wasn't much he could do. He could only wait until he could truly change things completely, so that the people could be prosperous, have enough to eat and wear, have enough money to live on, and that children could all go to school!

Upon arriving at the restaurant, it was found that it had not yet opened for business! However, a signboard had already been hung at the very top of the entrance on the first floor!

The three golden characters "Tianranju" are engraved on the plaque, making it look both grand and bright!

Song Jiang thought to himself, "Master Chen is truly thoughtful!"

The main gate of Tianranju is made of the finest nanmu wood, which is heavy and stable, and can be seen to be made by a carpenter with very profound skills!

The ancient gate, seemingly carrying a heavy history, tells the story of its past!

A couplet hung on either side of the door; the first line read, "Guests arriving at Tianranju are truly guests from heaven!"

The second line reads, "People pass by the Great Buddha Temple, but the Buddha in the temple is greater than the people!"

The horizontal scroll reads "Welcome!"

This couplet is quite brilliant, but it wasn't Song Jiang's original creation. It was a couplet composed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and Ji Xiaolan. As for "Welcome," that was Song Jiang's own addition. After all, guests must be welcomed. As for the meaning of those four characters, if anyone asks, let Song Jiang explain it!

Song Jiang was quite satisfied with the restaurant's exterior decor; it was all done according to his requirements—understated, simple, yet with a touch of luxury!

Pushing open the door, a bright red carpet immediately comes into view, seemingly outlined with gold thread, the interwoven patterns forming a unique scroll painting—simple yet luxurious. The carpet stretches from the entrance to the shopkeeper's counter against the wall. A plaque inscribed with "Drunken Life, Dreamlike Death," written by the prefect of Jeju, hangs prominently in the most conspicuous place!

The entire first floor is about 200 square meters, and the floor is covered with snow-white tiles. I don't know what material they are, but you can still tell that Mr. Chen really put his heart into it!

Dozens of tables were neatly arranged on the ground, some large and some small, so that there wouldn't be any problem even with a large number of people!

Each table is spaced far enough apart, allowing waiters to serve dishes easily and customers to move around freely and choose their seats!

Song Jiang was quite satisfied and was just about to go upstairs to take a look when a voice came from the doorway: "Brother!"

Upon hearing this, Song Jiang recognized Wu Song's voice. Turning around, he saw Wu Song leading Wu Da and his wife, along with Pan Jinlian, into the room!

Wu Da carried a carrying pole on his shoulder, while Wu Song held some gifts in his hands. It wasn't that Wu Song didn't want to help Wu Da carry the carrying pole, but rather that Wu Da was afraid that Wu Song, being an official, would lose face by carrying a carrying pole!

Wu Song walked in, carrying a gift in one hand and leading Pan Jinlian by the other!

Wu Da also came in with his wife, carrying a shoulder pole!

Wu Song laughed and said, "Brother made three hundred steamed buns overnight and insisted on sending them to Brother Gongming!"

Song Jiang smiled and said, "Brother Wu Zhi, you're so kind!"

Wu Da, carrying his load, said, "Master Song, you're too kind. My brother and I are grateful for your help. I don't have any other skills, but we were just hoping to get some assistance on our first day of business!"

Song Jiang hurriedly said to Tang Niu'er, "Go take the load and carry it to the kitchen!"

Wu Da quickly replied, "No need to trouble yourself, just take me to the kitchen!"

Wu Song put down the gifts, took Pan Jinlian's hand, and walked to Song Jiang's side, saying, "Brother, Jinlian is an excellent cook and housekeeper. She must have a lot to do today, so let Jinlian help out!"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "In that case, I'll trouble you, sister-in-law!"

Pan Jinlian quickly bowed and said, "No trouble at all, I'll go help!" Then she dashed off to the kitchen!

Watching Wu Song's smiling face as he gazed at Pan Jinlian's retreating figure, Song Jiang thought to himself, "This is good enough. Let's not make her the kind of woman who will be cursed countless times by later generations!"

However, when Song Jiang glanced at Pan Jinlian just now, although she was still very beautiful, the irresistible charm between her brows had long since disappeared, replaced by a more gentle and virtuous temperament!

It seems that a woman who marries a good husband is no longer the ruthless and venomous beauty she once was!

Wu Song greatly admired Song Jiang, because according to the social environment at that time, women basically stayed at home!

However, Song Jiang always advocated gender equality and gave women enough respect, rather than making women mere appendages of men. Wu Song, who had been by Song Jiang's side for a long time, was unconsciously influenced by Song Jiang's views. Therefore, at home, he and Pan Jinlian were a harmonious couple, and Wu Song was very considerate of Pan Jinlian. They lived a very comfortable life.

Song Jiang was chatting with Wu Song when Zhu Tong arrived with his wife, along with Lei Heng and his mother!

As people came to offer their congratulations one after another, Song Jiang instructed Song Qing to prepare to entertain the guests!

Shi Wenbin also arrived with his wife. Song Jiang quickly got up, intending to let Shi Wenbin go up to the private room on the second floor first!

"Thump thump thump thump, clatter clatter!"

A sound of gongs and drums came from outside. Song Jiang rushed to the door and, sure enough, there were many people dressed in the same clothes, gonging and drumming, and there was also a special team of people performing a dragon dance!

Song Jiang smiled and shook his head, saying, "You really put your heart into it!"

Suddenly, the wealthy Chen stepped forward and asked, "Clerk, are you satisfied with this display?"

Song Jiang laughed heartily and said, "Master Chen, you've really given me a pleasant surprise! Please, take a seat!"

Mr. Chen went inside with his wife, daughter, and his returning son!

Gradually, more and more people came, many of whom were minor wealthy men whom Song Jiang only knew by nodding acquaintance, but they also came to join in the fun!

As the saying goes, one cannot hit a smiling face, so Song Jiang welcomed them all!

Time flies, and soon it was lunchtime. Song Jiang took out some silver and gave it to Song Qing, asking him to reward the people who were dancing the dragon and playing the drums and gongs. He then went inside to entertain his friends.

Upon entering the private room, besides Shi Wenbin and Chen Da, there were several other prominent figures from Yuncheng present!

As for Wu Song, Zhu Tong, and the others, they were in the room next door!

Song Jiang cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I am so sorry that everyone has come to support me today!"

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, firecrackers went off outside!

The door opened, and the food was served!

The first waiter came in carrying a tray with two plates of pickled vegetables on it and placed them on the table.

Song Jiang began, "This is pickled radish that Tang Niu'er made himself. Everyone, please try it!" He then picked up a piece of radish with his chopsticks and placed it in his bowl.

Everyone picked up some, and one of them, Liu the wealthy man, ate a piece of spicy radish, nodded, and said, "Crisp, sweet and sour, not bad!"

The others also praised it, but for these nouveau riche who are used to eating delicacies, these two plates of pickled vegetables were just passable and edible!

Song Jiang smiled. At this moment, the door opened and two waiters came in. One of them carried a fish and placed it on the table, while the other started to distill wine for the eight people at the table.

The aroma of fish mingled with the aroma of Erguotou liquor, filling the air!

"This?" One of the wealthy merchants was pot-bellied and clearly a glutton!

Song Jiang remained calm and simply raised his hand to indicate that they should try it!

Without further hesitation, the glutton picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of fish, and eagerly put it into his mouth!

The sweet and sour taste of the fish is like a relaxing massage for his tongue!

It was so delicious! He had never eaten such delicious fish before. He swallowed it hastily, but then a fish bone got stuck in his throat.

There was no other way, so I picked up a bottle of Erguotou and poured it down my throat. But the liquor was so strong that I started coughing as soon as it entered my mouth!

Seeing the glutton in such a sorry state, those who knew him well knew he was always willing to risk his life for food, so they also picked up their chopsticks!

Chen, the wealthy landowner, was more refined. Looking at the adorable fish with its golden scales and red tail, he asked Song Jiang, "Clerk, what is this dish?"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "This dish is called Sweet and Sour Carp! We'll use a three-and-a-half-pound Yellow River carp, and then prepare it with various ingredients!"

Song Jiang didn't explain the specific process, mainly because he found it too troublesome!