area51novel Chapter 209 Drink!
Chapter 209 Drink!
The Meng family, starting with Meng Tian's grandfather, followed the King of Qin in his eastern and western campaigns, fighting bloody battles to expand the territory, and their meritorious service filled half of the history of Qin.
By the time of Meng Tian and his younger brother Meng Yi, the two brothers were loyal and devoted to the country. They wore armor and sharpened their swords every day, waiting for the king's order to ride off to the border and fight the enemy.
Lin Tian truly witnessed the fierceness and martial spirit inherent in the Qin people through Meng Tian.
That night, just past dusk, with the sky still faintly lit, Lin Tian was led by the steward to the front of the Meng residence when he saw Meng Tian, shirtless with sweat dripping down his bronze back, rushing out of the backyard martial arts training ground without even having time to put on his outer robe—he was practicing his sword with great effort!
This isn't just someone who loves training; he's clearly a ruthless character addicted to martial arts. Once he's immersed in martial arts, he forgets even the time.
According to Lin Tian's previous calculations, Meng Tian should be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old at this time, almost thirty. A general who has fought his way up from the ranks of the army should, in theory, have bulging veins and a booming voice. Even if he doesn't grow up to have a leopard's head and bulging eyes like Zhang Fei, he should still be broad-shouldered and have a fierce aura.
But when Lin Tian actually saw him face to face, he was taken aback: the man in front of him had a calm demeanor, composed manner, and spoke slowly and deliberately, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.
He was a scholar-general in every way, not at all like a rough and brutish warrior.
Meng Tian was indeed an unparalleled commander. He later assisted Ying Zheng in unifying the six states. He was a brilliant strategist, coming up with ingenious plans one after another, and never suffered a defeat on the battlefield.
If Wang Jian and Li Xin were the pillars that held up the sky when Ying Zheng first came to power, then Meng Tian was the anchor that carried him from annexing the feudal lords to building the Great Wall and driving back the Xiongnu in the north.
How could such a powerful general, who commanded a large army and strategized with great skill, be simply described as a "warrior"? A more refined description would reveal the true nature of a wise and capable general.
"I am sorry that I was unable to greet the Imperial Preceptor properly. Please forgive my rudeness!" The Meng family has been a prominent military family for generations, and they are more aware of the rules of officialdom and the proper conduct in the court than anyone else.
Meng Tian greeted him with a polite remark, which surprised Lin Tian slightly. He hadn't expected this fierce general to speak so thoughtfully.
"It's alright! I was afraid of disturbing the general's martial arts practice. It would be presumptuous of me to come here so abruptly." Lin Tian waved his hand and replied with a smile.
"Hehe, Grand Preceptor, you flatter me. Please come in—the food and wine have already been prepared."
As soon as Lin Tian stepped into the main hall and sat down in the guest seat, a maid brought him steaming hot braised pork knuckle, thick and fragrant flatbread, and even poured him a full glass of warm wine.
Despite being extremely busy, he handled everything flawlessly, remaining calm and composed.
This was the first label Lin Tian attached to Meng Tian.
He took a small sip of the warm wine, the warmth reaching his very core. Just as he was about to speak, Meng Tian, seated at the head of the table, asked first, "Is the Grand Preceptor here about Chancellor Lü?"
What?!
Could Meng Tian truly possess the ability to foresee the future?
Lin Tian was stunned for a moment, unable to process what was happening—he had never expected that the other party could so clearly see through his intentions.
Seeing his astonishment, Meng Tian simply smiled and said frankly, "This afternoon, Prime Minister Lü and Minister Li came to visit one after the other, and they both talked about the Imperial Advisor. Now that it's just getting dark, you've arrived. The reason is self-evident. I saw clearly what happened in front of Xianyang Palace today—the Imperial Advisor is a man of great wisdom and a man who dares to take real action."
It turned out that Meng Tian had changed into plain clothes during the day and mingled among the common people in front of the palace gates, observing the situation from the ground up. His spies also reported details one after another, so he knew the cause and effect better than anyone else. But he remained inactive, neither expressing his opinion nor taking sides. Even when Lü Buwei and Li Si came to test him, he only smiled and gave perfunctory answers, refusing to tell the truth.
The only thing he hadn't expected was that the person stepping into his doorstep tonight would be the protagonist of today's controversy—the newly appointed Imperial Advisor Lin Tian.
"Oh? I wonder what Prime Minister Lü said to the general?" Lin Tian watched as the maid silently refilled the empty bowl, tilted his head back and drank it all, his gaze fixed on Meng Tian on the main seat.
Meng Tian hesitated for a moment, then looked up and met Lin Tian's gaze for a brief instant. Suddenly, he raised his wine bowl and said with a smile, "Grand Preceptor, how about another bowl?"
"Isn't it a bit too formal to drink from such a small bowl? General, are you a man of great capacity for alcohol?" Lin Tian noticed the hesitation in the voice and followed up.
Meng Tian paused for a moment, then nodded frankly: "Which soldier doesn't enjoy this?"
Lin Tian slammed the small bowl down on the table and said decisively, "Change to a big bowl! Let's finish a few big bowls first, then we'll talk business!"
When dealing with these tough soldiers, Lin Tian didn't bother with beating around the bush—it was all about one word: drink!
As long as they don't collapse, then let them drink as much as they want!
These days, the liquor is not refined through distillation and has a low alcohol content, so for Lin Tian it's just enough to moisten his throat.
Someone who has been through countless trials in modern drinking parties really doesn't believe he would stumble here.
Seeing this, Meng Tian laughed loudly, slamming his hand on the table, making the wine cups bounce slightly: "I thought the Grand Preceptor was a refined gentleman holding bamboo slips and spouting etiquette, full of benevolence, morality, and regulations. I never expected him to be such a straightforward man! Since we're going to drink, let's make it more enjoyable—bring out the army's large bowls, three jars of strong liquor, and ten catties of braised pork hock! This general will drink with the Grand Preceptor to our hearts' content today, until we're both drunk!"
When the maid brought out the so-called "military-style large bowl," Lin Tian almost lost his composure.
This isn't a bowl at all! It's clearly a shallow wooden basin, not much smaller than a washbasin!
Meng Tian relaxed his brows and explained with a smile, "The winds and sandstorms are fierce at the border, and the war is urgent, so we often have to fight for a meal; and the bowls and chopsticks are precious, so we might as well use this big thing—one person can hold it to drink, two people can share the food, and three people can share the broth, which is quite convenient! If the Grand Preceptor finds it too crude, it is fine to replace it with a porcelain cup."
"Soldiers are made of flesh and blood, and I, Lin Tian, am just a mortal. If they can hold it up and drink from it, why can't I?" Lin Tian pushed the wooden basin onto the edge of the table, turned to the thirteen or fourteen-year-old maidservant with her hair in double buns beside him, and smiled, "Little sister, fill it up!"
The maid's ears burned when she heard "little sister." She hurriedly picked up the pot to pour wine, but her wrist trembled slightly, and not a single drop of wine spilled.
Meng Tian took in the whole scene, and his smile deepened.
His heart warmed—this "little sister" wasn't frivolous, but genuinely affectionate; this demeanor was unpretentious and unassuming. It was truly rare for a national advisor to be so kind to a maid who swept the floor and served tea.
The two large bowls were quickly filled with amber-colored liquor. Without hesitation, Lin Tian grabbed the heavy wooden basin, his voice booming like tearing silk:
"Let's drink to that first!"
Before he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and chugged the liquor down his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing as he slid the wine down his lip without a care. His heroic spirit was overwhelming, completely unlike the image of a national advisor. He looked more like a wandering knight who had roamed the martial world for years, licking blood from the edge of a knife!
What's even more amazing is that not a single drop was spilled; it all went into my stomach, truly and honestly, straightforwardly and happily.
"Good!! Grand Preceptor, please!" Meng Tian was so excited by this that his blood boiled. He grabbed his own large bowl, tilted his head back and gulped it down. "Glug! Glug! Glug!" Three sounds rang out in succession, like a whale sucking in water.
There was only one maidservant in the hall, the one standing next to Lin Tian. She stood there, stunned, her mouth slightly open, her eyes wide open, forgetting to blink.
This isn't drinking; this is swallowing the river!
She was used to her own general's burly build and fierce nature; but the one in front of her—the Grand Preceptor, who was rumored to be aloof and in charge of the court—was even more daring and exciting than the general!
Her big, dark eyes blinked, and her mouth was wide open, big enough to fit an apricot. She was completely dumbfounded.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Two muffled thuds followed as the wooden bowls slammed heavily onto the table. Moments later, both men had finished their drinks and simultaneously let out loud burps.