Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 77 Standard War Rations – Shangganling Fried Noodles! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Huo Qubing was deeply moved, not expecting that his master had also prepared a gift for him.

"The fine white flour here is something we can't find in our own worlds. Please take some back with you when you leave."

The Tang Dynasty provided swords, armor, and saddles; now our master has given us flour. Why not share it and let the worlds see what it's all like?

Wu Zetian thought for a moment and said:

"I only need two bags. If there are too many, the people in the palace won't cherish them. It's better to have less so that they seem more precious."

Chen Tang wanted to try making pancakes using a solar cooker:
"I'll take ten bags, and some baking powder too. The soldiers have traveled a long way and haven't had much rest. Let them try some delicious white flour steamed buns. If I have time, I'll also make them some hand-pulled noodles myself. I believe they'll be moved to tears."

Zhouyi: "..."

Don't use the rolling pin badly; just kill some aliens in a fit of anger to vent your frustration.

Grandma Gongsun asked for five bags of flour so that her grand-nephew could taste flour from the future.

Li Bai was reluctant to take his junior brother's military rations, but then he thought that the governor was still at home, and taking some flour back would help his family make some connections, so he asked for ten bags.

The group of people together only took twenty-seven bags of flour, and the remaining thousand-plus bags all belonged to Huo Qubing.

The Marquis of Champion felt a warmth in his heart and was about to express his gratitude again when Wu Meiniang suddenly consulted Zhou Yi:
"His Majesty desires a portrait of the Marquis of Champion to inspire Li Weigong. If you can provide it, His Majesty is willing to exchange it for the Imperial Seal of Gaochang... This was a small country that the Tang Dynasty destroyed incidentally, and the seal has been treasured in the Imperial Treasury."

Zhou Yi laughed upon hearing this:

"That's easy. I'll take a picture later and get it developed in town... How big of a picture do you need? You guys can take a group photo and put it on my desk later."

This suggestion pleased everyone. Chen Tang raised his hand, also intending to ask for a photo of Huo Qubing. Zhou Yi said:

"I'll just print a whole stack, you can divide them up however you like."

After the photos are printed, Huo Qubing will write some encouraging words on the back. Li Jing might get so excited that he might transform into Zhao Zilong, wielding his spear and charging into and out of the Goguryeo camp seven times.

After breakfast, Huo Qubing, dressed in military attire, followed Zhou Yi to the main gate of Hunyuan Palace, drew the Han sword hanging at his waist, assumed a fighting stance, and struck an attacking pose.

Zhou Yi took a picture with his phone, but felt it was still lacking:
"Qubing, what weapon are you using?"

"Reporting to Master, I use a long spear, and occasionally a horse lance."

"I'll buy you a spear online later. Try it next time you come. If it doesn't work, I'll bring you some real weapons that have been used in battle during the Tang Dynasty."

After taking photos of Huo Qubing, everyone took a group photo and then started tidying up the armor.

Zhou Yi rode his motorcycle to town. Dozens of photos of Huo Qubing were printed, trimmed, and framed. Six group photos were also printed, one for each person to keep.

Once all the photos were taken, Zhou Yi returned to the mountain, where the armor was already half-finished.

Sets of armor were stacked at the entrance of the Hall of Longevity, and would be brought to the world of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty by tonight at the latest, to be worn by Huo Qubing's men.

Zhou Yi didn't disturb everyone's work. He went to the kitchen, poured the sesame paste he had just bought into a small bowl, added some peanut butter, a little salt, a little sugar, and slowly diluted the sesame paste with cooled boiled water.

When eating hot pot with mutton, sesame sauce is indispensable. After diluting it, Zhou Yi fried some chili pepper pieces and took out the chive blossom sauce he had bought.

The dipping sauce is almost ready; now it's time to slice the lamb.

I shredded all the frozen mutton from the morning into mutton rolls. Although it's not as good as hand-cut mutton, it's more convenient and efficient.

There weren't many vegetarian dishes for lunch today; we mainly ate hot pot with mutton. Eating more meat gives us the energy to work.

After cutting the mutton, wash the copper pot clean, fill it with red-hot charcoal, pour in mineral water, and add a packet of seaweed and dried shrimp to enhance the flavor. Once it boils, the bottom of the pot will be almost ready.

"Come on, come on, let's eat!"

Zhou Yi turned on the restaurant's air conditioning, laid out various hot pot ingredients, and finally brought out two bowls of shredded mutton, asking everyone to wash their hands and start eating.

After washing her face, Gongsun Da Niang said to Zhou Yi:

"Master, everyone in town is wearing short sleeves. Could you buy us a few too? It's too inconvenient to work in a Taoist robe."

Chen Tang was wise enough to have changed into a basketball jersey and shorts earlier, and now, with the air conditioning blowing, he was shivering from the cool breeze. Zhou Yi said:

"You and Meiniang can change into your pajamas. I'll go buy you new clothes after dinner."

Then he took out his own short-sleeved shirt and shorts and asked Huo Qubing and Li Bai to change into them. He planned to buy several sets of modern clothes for everyone after dinner.

After changing their clothes, everyone filled their bowls with sesame sauce and started eating hot pot.

Several ancient people were trying this for the first time and found it very enjoyable, as they could taste the freshness of the meat and the richness of the sesame paste.

Lamb and sesame paste are a perfect match.

Huo Qubing consulted the Book of Changes, saying:
"Master, how will we eat that flour during our campaigns? Is there a quick way to fill our stomachs?"

Gongsun Da Niang answered quickly:
“When our troupe goes out to perform, we make a lot of flatbread and dry biscuits in advance to take with us on the way. But if we eat too much, we can easily choke, so we have to bring enough water.”

Wu Zetian was born into a Duke's mansion, so her understanding of food was more refined:
"It can be made into stuffed buns, but they spoil easily over time and cannot be stored for long."

Zhou Yi was originally considering the finer details, but then he suddenly remembered the famous essay "Who Are the Most Lovable People," which described the arduous conditions of the volunteer soldiers who ate fried noodles and snow.

Stir-fried noodles with snow are indeed bitter, but they are also very efficient. When there are no conditions to start a fire to cook or even boil water, stir-fried noodles, which can be stored for a long time, become a good choice.

Especially on ancient battlefields, soldiers could quickly replenish their energy without even dismounting.

Thinking of this, he said to Huo Qubing:
"I'll go buy a few big pots this afternoon. After you take this flour over, have your uncle arrange for someone to make it into fried noodles. When you're frying it, add the seasonings and pickles I bought. Give everyone a small bag. It should last for ten days without any problem."

Fried noodles are easy to store. Adding salt and seasonings while frying them can effectively replenish salt. Although eating them for a long time may lead to vitamin deficiency, they are fine for short-term emergency use.

If possible, boil a pot of water and add it to the fried noodles to make a paste; this will greatly improve the texture and taste.

Zhou Yi picked up a piece of mutton from the pot with his chopsticks and said:

"I'll save the recipe for fried noodles to your phone later. The cooks in the military camp should be able to learn it after watching it a few times."

It doesn't matter if the emergency rations are slightly burnt; the soldiers don't care. They only care about killing more Xiongnu people in this battle to earn military merits and more rewards to support their families.

The quality of food was not the most important thing. Moreover, once they were in the territory of the Xiongnu, they would unconsciously implement the policy of "seeking food from the enemy" and would not mistreat the cattle and sheep that nature provided.

After the meal, the group continued to tidy up their armor. Zhou Yi drove his Wuling van down the mountain and bought all the large iron pots with a diameter of over one meter at the kitchenware store in town.

Shop owner Wang Shuangqing asked, puzzled:

"Xiao Yi, what are you doing buying so many pots? Are you planning to sell braised chicken in a clay pot on the mountain?"

Zhou Yi chuckled:
"I'm going to study alchemy, but I don't have an alchemy furnace, so I'll buy a few large iron pots to see if I can refine the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir."

Wang Shuangqing knew he was joking and grinned broadly.
"If you can refine it, I'll immediately raise the price. A pot that can refine elixirs, selling it for ten thousand isn't expensive, is it?"

Zhao Wei, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, passed by the door and, upon hearing this, began to complain:
"You're already trying to raise prices before you've even sold anything! You're such a shrewd businessman!"

"Get out of here. I haven't even settled the score with you for digging a hole in my second uncle's fishpond last time... Now he's planning to rebuild it, but there's still half a pond of water left, and he doesn't know what to do."

Zhao Wei has a lot of bad ideas:

“If we contract it out to Li Weigang online, he will not only drain the water completely, but he will also pay a contract fee. It’s a win-win situation.”

Wang Shuangqing didn't have time to waste on this guy's idle chatter.

"Go talk to my second uncle yourself. I'll take the pot to Xiao Yi up the mountain first."

Zhao Wei gave an OK sign and said to Zhou Yi:
"Xiao Yi, I just got some information that the highway project team will be moving to our town soon. If there's any feng shui-related work, I'll contact you."

Why is the highway project headquarters located in Yunwu Town instead of the county seat?

Hopefully nothing unexpected will happen.
------------

Second update delivered, please vote with monthly tickets, brothers!

(End of this chapter)