舌尖上的航海丨第26集 “水頭”的酒故事

酒救了一個國家！

此話一出，立刻引起《東方神卅號》船員一片嘩然：這是天方夜漂吧！

《東方神州號》“水頭”魯冀被船員稱為酒故事專家。

魯冀出生于著名酒鄉(xiāng)一河北衡水，是衡水老白干的產(chǎn)地

“水頭”是水手長的簡稱，船上的”兵頭將尾“。

逢年過節(jié)，無論船在大洋里還是靠泊在港口，船上的各類活動總少不了魯冀，一邊喝著家鄉(xiāng)的老白干，一邊講看與酒有關(guān)的故事。

一年中秋，船靠泊在碼頭，”水頭”特意取出一瓶家鄉(xiāng)衡水的老白干，興致勃勃地說：“當(dāng)年京劇大師程硯秋就喜歡衝水老白干！”接著講了一叚程大師飲酒的故事，說一次，程硯秋在火車上遇見一位老朋友，歺車伙房里傾其所有做了幾道拿手菜，還未等菜到齊，程大師自帶的衡水老白干已經(jīng)喝下了大半瓶。老朋友問道，喝酒會壞嗓子。程大師笑著回答說：嗓子不好的，不喝酒也好不了，嗓子好的，喝酒也壞不了，有時還能增強(qiáng)嗓聲！老朋友聽了哈哈大笑：“程大師的啞嗓是喝出來的！”。程硯秋解釋說，酒吃過極，太傷身體，喝酒要有度。

時間長了，每逢船上有慶?；顒樱藗兺达嬀频摹八^“都會說一句：”酒吃過極，太傷身體，喝酒要有度！“

“水頭”不以為然，仍然埋頭喝著酒。一字一板的講著酒的故事。

一次，船靠泊在意大利米蘭港，正值當(dāng)?shù)氐氖フQ節(jié)，晚歺時，大廚特意加了幾個菜，“水頭”將家鄉(xiāng)帶來的老白干酌了滿滿一杯。

人們望著“水頭”酒杯的酒，習(xí)慣地說了句：“酒喝過極，太傷身體，喝酒要有度！”

此刻，”水頭”一反常態(tài)，將杯中酒一干而盡，借看酒勁，激動地說了句：”唱酒要有度，喝多了要傷身體，但是你們知道。酒救了一個國家嗎？”

“酒救了一個國家！？”人們疑惑地直搖頭！

“對，就是我們船仃靠的國家意大利！”

接著”水頭”講了一個鮮為人知的歷史故事，

人們望著滿嘴酒氣的“水頭”，聽他講述這個真實(shí)的故事。

故事發(fā)生在公元1241年冬天，圣誕節(jié)剛過。

這一年，整個歐州在嚴(yán)寒和戰(zhàn)爭的威脅下瑟瑟發(fā)抖。蒙古軍隊(duì)的鐵蹄己踏過冰凍的多匘河，前鋒己越過阿爾卑斯山，進(jìn)入了意大利。

這是蒙古軍隊(duì)第二次西征，勢如破竹，一路橫掃。就在整個意大利絕望地等待亡國和慘遭大屠殺的時刻，奇跡發(fā)生了！

“水頭”講到此處，故意買了一個關(guān)子：“什么奇跡？你們猜猜！“

人們議論紛紛：”猜不到！”

“水頭”舉起手中的酒杯，一字一板地說：”是酒救了這個國家！”

此刻，歺廳里出現(xiàn)了文章開頭的局面：”絕不可能！這是天方夜譚！“

接著”水頭”興致勃勃地講了一個酒的故事。

就在兵臨城下，整個意大利處于絕望的時刻，一天清晨，圍城的蒙古軍隊(duì)突然消失的無影無蹤。

原來，正當(dāng)蒙古鐵蹄準(zhǔn)備踏進(jìn)城池的前夕，從遙遠(yuǎn)東方來了一隊(duì)疲憊而悲傷的快騎，帶來了一個驚天的消息：國王窩闊臺大汗駕崩了！

按照蒙古開國元勳成吉斯汗定下的規(guī)矩：大汗死后，所有黃金家族的所有子孫，無論他們身在何處，都必須立刻返回蒙古夲部參加新大汗的推舉。

窩闊合大汗之死，讓歐洲文明躲過一場浩劫！世界歷史為之發(fā)生了變化?；厮葸@叚歷史，歐州人要感謝一種東西：酒！

窩闊合大汗因酗酒而死。

窩闊合是成吉斯汗第三個兒子，是馬背上長大的“天之驕子”，驍勇善戰(zhàn)，屢立奇功，是蒙古帝國的著名虎將。因小時候受苦太多，登基后開始享受生活。最大的享受就是喝酒，每次喝酒，能從天黑喝到天亮?？胺Q嗜酒如命，使其身體日況愈下。眾臣苦心勸諫也無用。

公元1241年3月的一天，窩闊合打獵歸來，多喝了幾杯，突然昏死過去，經(jīng)過大力搶救，終于轉(zhuǎn)危為安。此次打擊使窩闊合收諫不少。但是沒過多久，嗜酒成癮的窩闊合重操舊業(yè)一”酗酒”，整日以酒為樂！

這一年的十二月的隆冬季節(jié)，蒙古大軍跨過多垴河，正準(zhǔn)備發(fā)動兇悍的攻擊。在外涉獵的窩闊合歸來，一頭躦進(jìn)暖烘烘的帳篷里豪飲美酒。

這場大酒喝到翌日清晨。此刻部下進(jìn)帳報告歐州戰(zhàn)場的軍情，發(fā)現(xiàn)窩闊合已經(jīng)癱倒在地，不省人世。不久就過世了。時年56歲，在位12年。

窩闊合大汗的駕崩，使歐州躲過了一場浩劫，改變了世界的歷史。

至今，歐州人提起那段歷史，都不會忘記他們的救命恩人一灑！

“水頭”的酒故事很快在航海畀傳開了。一位有心的船員將這些故事記錄下來，編了一夲書：《“水頭“的酒故事》在網(wǎng)上受到網(wǎng)友的熱捧！

“Alcohol saved an entire country!”

A new shiphand on the SS Orient burst out laughing upon hearing those words. How

could alcohol save a nation?

One particular sailor on the SS Orient, Lu Ji, who went by the nickname “Shuitou”,

loved to drink and knew of many stories that were related to alcohol. He was born in a town

named Hengshui in the Chinese province of Hebei, where many Chinese liquors were

distilled and created, including the famous Lao Bai Gan. Lu’s nickname, “Shuitou”, came

from the Chinese word for head sailor. Lu was the most experienced and skillful seafarer

onboard, so his fellow crewmates respectfully referred to him as his position, “Shuitou”.

No matter where the SS Orient travelled to, Shuitou could always be found on the

terrace with a bottle of Lao Bai Gan, telling stories of his voyages and of alcohol.

One year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, as the SS Orient took its place in a foreign

harbor, Shuitou took out a bottle of Lao Bai Gan and boasted to his crewmates, “The Chinese

Opera singer, Cheng Yanqiu, was a huge fan of the Hengshui Lao Bai Gan!”

As his fellow sailors gathered around, Shuitou recounted the story of Cheng Yanqiu and

his favorite liquor. Cheng Yanqiu once ran into an old classmate when taking a train back to

his hometown, and the opera singer drank over half a bottle of Lao Bai Gan before the dining

car even began to cater their dinner. Cheng’s friend told him, “If you keep drinking like this,

you’re going to lose your voice!”

Cheng replied, “If nobody likes my singing, then they won’t start liking it because I

don’t drink. But because everyone already loves my singing, then drinking isn’t going to

make them stop liking it - it will instead make it deeper and more interesting!”

If my voice didn’t sound great, then drinking isn’t going to make it better. But since

everyone already loves my voice, then drinking isn’t going to make them stop liking it - it

will instead make it deeper and more interesting!”

Cheng’s friend laughed at the singer’s sarcastic answer, saying, “Of course! The

beautiful voice of Cheng Yanqiu is all thanks to alcohol!”

Despite Cheng’s love for alcohol, he eventually stopped drinking and ate a fair share of

healthy food. Alcohol was fine in moderation, but Cheng didn’t want to unintentionally

damage his health.

Eventually, whenever the SS Orient hosted an event of celebration, all the other sailors

would say to Shuitou, “Drinks are fine in moderation, but you need to make sure that you

don’t hurt yourself!”

But Shuitou never listened. He continued to drown himself in alcohol while telling tales

of other people’s drunk adventures.

That Christmas, the SS Orient sailed to the Port of Milan in Italy. During dinner, the

head chef prepared a table full of delicious dishes, and Shuitou put forward the Lao Bai Gan

he brought specifically from his hometown.

All the other sailors looked at Shuitou, and said, “Remember to drink in moderation!”

That day, Shuitou exceeded the expectations of all his crewmates. Rather than ignoring

his friends’ advice, he only took one shot and stopped before he poured a second. He smiled,

and said enthusiastically, “You’re right, alcohol can be harmful to the body. But did you know

that alcohol once saved an entire nation?”

“It saved an entire nation?” The sailors asked, shaking their heads.

“Yes! That nation is exactly the country that we’re in right now - Italy!”

Shuitou put down his glass, and described the unknown part of history that concerned

Italy and alcohol. His crewmates leaned in closer to Shuitou as the smell of unfinished liquor

filled the atmosphere, and listened carefully.

The story transpired in the year 1241, on Christmas Day.

During the 13th century, Europe was plagued with the threats of war, bitter winters, and

famine. The Mongol Army had just crossed over the frozen Danube River, crossing the Alps

and barging into Italy.

This was the second westward conquest of the Mongol Army, who swept through

country after country and wreaked havoc and destruction. Just when Italy seemed to fall

desperately into despair, a miracle fell into the hands of the Italian people.

“Can you guess what the miracle was?” Shuitou asked his crew.

The sailors argued for a moment, and all admitted, “We have no idea!”

Shuitou lifted his glass from the table, and exclaimed, “The miracle was alcohol!”

“That’s impossible!” The sailors yelled, “There’s no way that alcohol could have saved

the people!”

Shuitou laughed and continued his story. The Italian capital was under siege, and the

Italian people fell into desperation and despair. But one morning, to everybody’s surprise, the

Mongol Army simply disappeared without a trace.

It turned out that just before the Mongols readied themselves for the invasion of the city, a messenger rode in on his horse and told the army that Mongol Emperor, Odegai Khan, had

passed away!

According to Genghis Khan’s decree, after Odegai died, every single descendant of the

imperial family must return to the Mongolian headquarters no matter where they were, no

matter what they were doing, in order to participate in the selection of the next great Khan.

The death of Odegai Khan saved Italy from a devastating catastrophe, and altered the

entire course of world history. Looking back, the European people have only one thing to

thank: Alcohol!

Odegai Khan died as a result of alcohol poisoning. He was the third son of Genghis

Khan, and grew up as a “Son of Heaven”. Brave and courageous on the battlefield, he was

trained by the most vicious generals in the Mongol Army and participated in the conquests of

China, Iran, and Central Asia. But because of the stressful training and pressure he went

through as a child, he turned to alcoholism when he came of age. He drank almost everyday

from dusk until dawn, deteriorating his health and ignoring the suggestions from his advisors.

In March 1241, Odegai returned home after hunting and drank a little more than he

usually did. He fainted from alcohol poisoning, and after intensive care and treatments,

luckily escaped death by mere inches. Though this near-death experience struck Odegai hard,

he soon returned to his old habits of overdrinking, despite what his advisors and family told

him.

In December of the same year, the Mongol Army prepared for their ferocious siege of

Italy. Odegai once again set out on a hunting trip, and as he returned, he zipped up his tent

and flooded himself in wine.

The next morning, Odegai’s men entered his resting quarters to report on the military

situation in Italy. Horrifically, they discovered Odegai lying on the floor motionless, his

breath taken away by alcohol. Odegai was 56 years old, and had been on the throne for 12

years.

The death of Odegai Khan saved Europe from an attack that could have changed the

course of history.

Even now, whenever historians speak of the miraculously cancelled siege of Italy, they

mention the part that alcohol played in the ordeal.

Shuitou’s passion for storytelling and his drunken humor was admired by the majority of

his fellow sailors. One of his crewmates enjoyed his tales so much that he published a book

titled “The Drunken Stories of Shuitou” that became loved by many.