The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

"Tu" (荼).

This time, Lu Jun gave the answer directly, a single word that no one expected.

"Tea?" Wu Zetian was greatly puzzled. "I remember that Princess Wencheng brought tea with her when she got married, but the Tibetans have never asked for it in all these years?"

"荼" means tea. Before the Tang Dynasty, it was pronounced "tu". Later, influenced by the pronunciation of the people of Shu, the pronunciation became closer to "zha".

The horizontal stroke wasn't removed when it was written, and it wasn't until Lu Yu wrote "The Classic of Tea" that the new character was used.

When Wu Zetian mentioned Princess Wencheng, she meant that if the Tibetans truly needed tea, they wouldn't have remained silent.

Lou Shide added:

"As far as I know, tea was already there when the Tibetans conquered the Zhangzhung Kingdom."

"It was introduced to the Xiangxiong Kingdom through Tokharistan and Bolu after Zhang Qian opened up the Western Regions, several hundred years ago."

"If they really needed tea, wouldn't they have gone hundreds of years without ever asking for it?"

He was indeed quite knowledgeable about the lifestyle and customs of the Tibetans.

Lu Jun replied:

There are two reasons.

"Firstly, after tea arrived in Zhangzhung and Tubo, only nobles could obtain it, and the current way of consuming tea and its effects were not attractive to them."

Secondly, although tea was widely popular among scholars from the Wei and Jin dynasties onwards, its production was not large, making it difficult to engage in commercial trade.

"Even the common people of the Tang Dynasty did not drink it in large quantities, so why would the Tibetans demand it because of their fondness for it?"

"Actually, the second reason is essentially caused by the first reason."

"Ultimately, the way we drink tea isn't good enough..."

Tea has been consumed since the pre-Qin period, eaten as a vegetable. During the Han Dynasty, there was a method of roasting tea cakes, grinding them into powder, and mixing them with scallions, ginger, and orange peel to make a mixed beverage.

This method was very popular during the Wei, Jin and Southern Dynasties, but scholars in the Northern Dynasties disliked it and called it a bad habit of the Wu people.

It wasn't until the Sui and Tang dynasties unified China and revitalized the status of the Southern Dynasties that tea drinking was promoted to the literati in the North.

However, it's not exactly a fancy or expensive drink.

Wu Zetian frowned and said, "Chu Yu, there is tribute tea in the palace. If you like it, I will give you some to take back. But speaking of how to drink it... is there another way?"

Lu Jun bowed deeply: "Thank you, Empress Dowager. May I ask when, where, and by whom the tea cakes offered as tribute to the palace were produced?"

"This..." Wu Zetian turned her head and beckoned Shangguan Wan'er over, "You like to drink tea, tell me about it."

She certainly wouldn't care about something as trivial as the tea-producing area.

Shangguan Wan'er knelt beside the phoenix bed and replied:

"The palace has seven kinds of tribute tea, all made by local tea farmers, which are handed over to the prefectural governor for tribute."

"In the second year of the Wude era, Guizhou paid tribute of tea."

"In the fourth year of the Wude era, Qizhou, Huzhou, Shenzhou, and Raozhou paid tribute of tea."

"In the sixth year of the Wude era, Fuzhou paid tribute of tea."

"In the seventh year of the Wude era, Muzhou paid tribute."

"At this time, the palace still has last year's tea, and the new spring tea is still on its way and has not yet reached the capital."

"But the tribute tea is well preserved, and when cooked, it doesn't taste much worse than fresh tea."

She had a very good memory and loved drinking tea. She knew the imperial tribute teas like the back of her hand and could even recite the year the tribute was paid.

Lu Jun asked about the origin of the tea, not because she was concerned about its quality, but to confirm the production process of the tribute tea at that time.

"Your Majesty, I inadvertently came across the Medicine King's prescriptions and learned two new ways of brewing tea..."

"Both of these methods use only tea, without scallions, ginger, or other ingredients, making them even more cooling in nature."

"The Empress Dowager and the officials only need to take a look and smell it to know that it is far superior to the previous method."

"In addition to its effects of brightening the mind and invigorating the body, it can also relieve summer heat, aid digestion, and further highlight the refined and elegant style of scholars."

"Tibetans eat a lot of meat, and tea can help cleanse their intestines and stomach. Barley is hot in nature, so tea is also needed to relieve the heat."

"I am confident that this method will be favored by scholars throughout the land, and the common people will flock to it. If it is spread by word of mouth among the palace and ministers, its promotion will only be faster."

"If it were brought to Tibet later, it would surely be welcomed by the Tibetans, who would depend on it as much as water and food."

The two methods he mentioned are—

The tea-making method of the Northern Song Dynasty

The loose-leaf tea method of the Ming Dynasty.

Lu Yu's method of making tea was similar to that of this time. It involved making tea cakes, roasting them, grinding them into powder, and then adding them to boiling water. However, he removed the seasonings and made it drinkable on its own. He also standardized the process, explained the principles of its effects, and popularized the practice.

The exquisite and beautiful tea-making techniques can be called works of art, and they can bring a sense of awe to the nobles.

As for loose-leaf tea, it is simpler to make, more convenient for ordinary people to consume, and its aroma is just as rich.

Lu Jun inquired about the origin of the tribute tea and confirmed one thing...

Nowadays, tea drinking in the imperial court is not very particular.

The true tribute tea system of the Tang Dynasty was implemented eighty years later, in the fifth year of the Dali era.

The producers were not local tea farmers, but rather local tribute tea institutes established by the imperial court, where artisans organized by the government roasted the tea.

Furthermore, it clearly stipulates that there are more than twenty kinds of tea to be paid as tribute, such as...

Shuzhou Tianzhu Tea

Huzhou Guzhu Zisun Tea

Muzhou Jiukeng Tea

Xuanzhou Yashan Tea

Xizhou Lingxi Tea

Xiazhou Bijian Tea... and so on.

The tribute was required to be delivered to the capital within ten days of the harvest and processing, before the Qingming Festival.

According to Shangguan Wan'er's introduction, the time of tribute, the name of the tea, and the production method do not match up, and it is still very rudimentary.

After tea became popular in the Tang Dynasty, it entered Tibet through trade during the reign of Emperor Dezong, and was known as the Tea-Horse Trade.

This time, it wasn't just shared among the kings and nobles, but spread to the common people.

The people of the plateau truly love tea; as the proverb goes, "They would rather go three days without food than one day without tea."

The Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties all established Tea and Horse Bureaus, which promoted this practice on a large scale and were very effective.

Using the abundant tea production to acquire strategically valuable horses, and also to create dependence among the highland tribes, thus preventing them from easily starting conflicts, is truly a win-win situation.

After the mid-Tang Dynasty, tea also brought huge financial benefits to the imperial court, which was another great value of tea.

Lu Jun knew this, but she didn't intend to use it to make money.

Officials are not allowed to engage in business.

Besides, there's no need to go down this track.

"The Medicine King's recipe? Chu Yu, can you make it now?" Wu Zetian asked with great interest.

The Medicine King was Sun Simiao, who was said to have been born during the Datong era of the Western Wei Dynasty. He was known as a divine physician. He was summoned by Emperor Taizong during the Zhenguan era and by Emperor Gaozong during the Xianqing era. He refused official titles and ranks both times. He passed away eight years ago at Wangwu Mountain at the age of over 140.

When it comes to medical skills and prescriptions, he enjoys a very high reputation, both in the imperial palace and among the common people.

Hearing that it was his posthumous prescription, Wu Zetian, Shangguan Wan'er, and the important officials had already begun to believe it and were filled with anticipation.

Only Lou Shide, Xu Qinming, and Tang Xiujing traveled a long way to come, eager to discuss military affairs, which made me feel like we were going off-topic.

But the Empress Dowager had given the order, so they could only wait.

This concerns trade, and is indeed an important issue for the border regions...

"I can do it!" Lu Jun nodded.

"I beseech Your Majesty to bestow upon me a stove, a jade bowl, a jade spoon, a mortar and pestle, honey, and a pot of hot water."

After returning from the princess's residence, he immediately sent Ade to the southern market to buy tea cakes and drew up a design for a carpenter to make a tea whisk, which is what we now call a tea brewing machine.

The two items were not heavy, and he carried them with him when he went to court today.

A moment later...

Lu Jun sat in the center of the main hall, and the important officials all gathered around to watch. Even the Empress Dowager came down the steps.

The tea cake was roasted, crushed, and placed in a jade bowl. A small amount of hot water was added and mixed well. The mixture was then stirred with a jade spoon until it became a thick paste.

Next, pour in the second batch of hot water and whisk it quickly with a tea whisk, making a swishing sound in the jade bowl.

That thing, with a bamboo tube at the top and dozens of thin bamboo tassels at the bottom, and slightly curved, was really strange...

Amidst a chorus of astonished gazes, Lu Jun's hands moved with lightning speed, and the jet-black tea powder in the jade bowl turned a greenish-white!

He stirred the water several times in succession, using different techniques, sometimes lightly, sometimes heavily.

The thick green and white ointment in the jade bowl unknowingly became just like the jade bowl—no, even whiter than the jade bowl!

Like snow.

With a texture reminiscent of milk, the tea paste in the jade bowl was piled high in layers, bubbling up like clouds of foam.

Suddenly... a small drop of honey, like a ribbon, quietly disappeared into the surging mist, gently shaken by Lu Jun.

The simplified tea-making method is now complete. It's certainly not good enough for tea competitions in the Northern Song Dynasty, but it can easily outperform teas made with scallions and ginger at that time.

"Gentlemen, who would like to try this bowl of tea?" Lu Jun asked with a smile, glancing around.

The high-ranking officials, unaccustomed to the world, were somewhat intimidated by the thick foam and remained silent.

"Can I give it a try?" Shangguan Wan'er suddenly asked.

She was a tea lover, and seeing Lu Jun's extremely elegant technique and the snow-white jade bowl, she was even more moved. Since the others were unwilling to cooperate, she volunteered.

After receiving the Empress Dowager's approval, she gracefully walked into the hall, raised the jade bowl, took a gentle sniff, and her brows immediately relaxed.

As I brought my lips to the rim of the bowl, I felt a warm fragrance, like orchids after the rain, seeping into my lips.

The snow-white foam had a slightly bitter taste from roasted tea, but it seemed to have been dispersed by the tea whisk, leaving no trace of bitterness.

Suddenly, a sweet taste came from deep within my tongue, instantly washing away the bitterness.

My heart couldn't help but feel light and carefree.

"Lu Shiyi's tea-making skills are unparalleled throughout history! Wan'er has never tasted tea like this before."

"It is more refreshing than tea, and has a cooling effect. It is also sweet and bitter, fragrant and astringent, making it very enjoyable to savor."

"After taking a sip, I felt refreshed and invigorated. Watching Lu Shiyi make his product was also a pleasure to behold."

"Thank you for the tea, Shiyi."

Shangguan Wan'er slowly finished her drink, put down the jade bowl, and a trace of snow-white remained on her dark red upper lip, which made her look especially lovely after her dignified and proper introduction.

Firstly, she was impressed by the elegant craftsmanship and tasted the delicious flavor; secondly, she wanted to support Lu Jun, so she praised her...

It looks like a shill.

I don't have money to pay you, sister~

"Thank you so much, Mr. Sheren... You flatter me." Lu Jun smiled and lightly wiped her upper lip, reminding her to wipe her mouth.

Wan'er blushed and quickly raised her hand to brush it away, instantly covering her chest and neck with a hot, pinkish hue.

Caught off guard by Lu Jun's fleeting glance, he regretted not wearing a scholar's robe; he'd seen everything...

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager only walked behind her and didn't see her embarrassing situation.

"I didn't adjust the water temperature properly just now and forgot to remind you, which caused you to get scalded. I'm sorry..." Lu Jun helped her save face.

A true gentleman observes the chest and remains silent.

Upon hearing this, Wan'er softly hummed in agreement: "It's alright."

Wu Zetian didn't notice the expressions of the two. Seeing that Lu Jun's new tea looked very nice and hearing Wan'er say that it tasted good, she couldn't help but be tempted.

Tea is grown in many places and is more readily available than beverages like perilla tea, crispy mountain tea, or milk tea. Perhaps it really will become popular in various regions…

If it can relieve summer heat and aid digestion, the Tibetans would definitely like it, and even the Turks would need it...

Thinking of this, she smiled and said to Lu Jun, "Chu Yu, give me a bowl too!"

"Your subject obeys," Lu Jun replied respectfully.

He then said to the others, "I have another type of loose-leaf tea that's even easier to brew. How about we enjoy some tea while discussing state affairs?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Xu Qinming couldn't wait any longer.

He immediately spoke first:

"Lord Lu, your policy proposal mentions establishing many new military garrisons in Hexi, Longyou, and Anxi..."

"Roughly speaking, Liangzhou will need at least two thousand men each for the newly added Hongyuan Valley and Baiting Naval Garrison, and another two thousand men will be needed for the Dadouba Valley garrison."

"The addition of Momen Army in Longyou and the garrison in Pingyi will each require two thousand men, and the establishment of Linzhou Army will likely require ten thousand!"

"And the four garrisons of Anxi will need another 25,000 people, bringing the total to 45,000!"

"Where do people come from?"