Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 376 Military Rations (Part Two)

That's a wonderful question.

It's not about how much grain we can buy, but how much grain we want.

Having been accustomed to poverty and hunger in her previous life, Pei Qinghe greedily indulged in a daydream before saying, "Take out all the silver stored in the military camp, and give Shi Li another thousand elite soldiers. Buy as much as you can!"

There can never be too much military rations.

With sufficient military rations, they can confidently recruit more new soldiers and expand the Pei family army.

Shi Yan bowed and accepted the order. The couple's brief reunion lasted only a few words before they parted again. They were both used to this way of interacting. Even in Pei Family Village, it was the same.

General Pei is certainly busy training troops, but isn't Chief Steward Shi, who is in charge of military supplies and internal affairs, also busy? When they meet, they discuss business first, and occasionally exchange a word of concern. They simply don't have time for romance.

After Shi Yan left, Pei Qinghe summoned all the military officers. Even General Lu, who arrived last, was invited over.

The generals swallowed hard as they looked at the pure white rice.

Those who lead armies and command troops often worry about food shortages. The Pei family army, however, rarely had such worries; their soldiers ate three full meals a day. Well-fed soldiers have the strength to train, and are more docile and loyal. The Pei family army's elite troops were nurtured by ample rations.

"General, is this the new grain that Chief Steward Shi sent?" The rough and boorish Lü Feng was the first to speak, his eyes shining with joy: "I was worried before, what if we can't keep up with the supply of food while we're fighting like this? Now it seems that you were prepared, General. I was worried for nothing."

Yang Hu chuckled and continued, "Sometimes when the general manager is procuring military rations and supplies, the food in Pei's army is absolutely the best in the north."

Li Chi smiled and corrected, "It should be the best in the world. Even if King Qiao and General Situ had enough grain, they wouldn't let their soldiers eat their fill."

Yes! It's common practice in the military for generals to drink soldiers' blood, cut soldiers' rations, and even withhold their pay. Those few of them have done this many times before.

The Pei family army, however, had none of these vices. The soldiers shared clothes and food with General Pei, trained alongside him, and in battle, General Pei never lagged behind. How could such a General Pei not be respected and loved by his soldiers?
They, too, were deeply impressed.

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "I brought you all to see the military rations, and now you're all vying to flatter me. Today I'll have the kitchen cook a meal with the new rice, so everyone can taste its flavor."

The crowd responded in unison.

Song Dalang and General Fei were both shouting happily.

General Lu, upon hearing this, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Times had changed, and heroes emerged from among the young. General Pei was young and valiant, and his generals were all young men, each one full of passion and vigor. It made him, this old codger, seem rather out of place. He would have to push his own nephews and younger relatives forward in the future.

……

The kitchen was bustling with activity.

They usually eat mostly wheat-based foods, and are used to making steamed buns and flatbreads. Today, the iron pot is full of newly cooked rice. There's no time to cook other dishes, so Bian Shulan loudly ordered people to pour the vegetables and prepared dried meat from the basin into the rice pot to steam together. When it's done steaming, add some soy sauce, then pour in the melted lard, and then vigorously stir it with a large iron spatula.

The aroma wafted over, and those queuing for food couldn't help but take a deep sniff.

"It smells so good!" Pei Yan's mouth was watering from the aroma, and she kept peeking out, asking, "Why are the kitchen staff so slow? They haven't started serving the food yet?"

Pei Qinghe also smelled the aroma of the food and said with a smile, "Don't rush, wait patiently."

Pei Yan chuckled: "I'm not the only one who's anxious today. Everyone's drooling!"

Pei Qinghe turned her head and saw young Pei Yue drooling, and couldn't help but laugh. Twelve-year-old Pei Yue was going on his first campaign with the army. He had been observing the battles for some time and hadn't been allowed to fight on the front lines yet. Mainly because the army camp wasn't short of soldiers, there was no need to cram the young and old together like before. This allowed the younger generation to calmly adapt to the battlefield and warfare.

Pei Yue loved to eat since he was a child, and was a handsome little chubby boy. Now that he's grown up, he's still just as greedy. When Pei Yan teased him like that, Pei Yue retorted without any politeness, "How can my drool compare to that of my cousin Yan? Everyone knows that my cousin Yan is the number one glutton in the Pei family!"

Pei Yan glared, clenching her fists so tightly they cracked.

Pei Yue cleverly hid behind Pei Qinghe: "Cousin Yan is trying to bully me because of her height and strength. General, save me."

Pei Yan didn't dare to clench her fists in front of Pei Qinghe, and threatened fiercely, "I'll deal with you after the general leaves."

"You can get your food now," Pei Qinghe reminded him with a smile.

Pei Yan immediately turned around, picked up a bamboo bowl as big as her face, and went to get her food.

Pei Qinghe's bamboo bowl was the same size. The rice, mixed with soy sauce and lard, contained cured meat and vegetables, and even some crispy rice crust. Scooping up a large mouthful with a spoon and stuffing it into my mouth, I was immediately filled with deliciousness.

The aroma of rice, vegetables, meat, and oil, and the crispy rice crust is especially delicious. All mixed together, it's an unimaginably delicious treat.

This is so delicious!

Pei Qinghe didn't look up, focusing intently on finishing the large bowl of rice. Pei Yan, who was beside her, had already brought out a second bowl.

Pei Yue, despite his small size, had a large appetite and started eating a second bowl.

Looking at Lü Erlang, Yang Hu, and the others, they were eating with great gusto, burying their heads in their bowls and devouring the food.

While eating quickly, General Fei said to Song Dalang, "Why is the food in the Pei family army so good?"

It's not that they can eat this. The point is that all the soldiers in the camp can eat it. That's truly amazing.

Song Dalang said, "It's always been this good... Don't say anything yet, let's eat first."

Some people with big appetites have already gotten up and lined up for their third bowl.

The kitchen staff had made preparations beforehand, bringing out dozens more rice bowls. This time, instead of rice mixed with pork fat, meat, and vegetables, it was served with honey and white sugar, topped with soft and sweet ingredients like raisins and red beans. The steaming, sweet aroma filled the air, making one's heart flutter with its fragrance.

I feel hungry again even though I'm full.

Pei Qinghe hesitated for a moment, then got up and got half a bowl herself.

Sure enough, it was another wonderfully sweet taste.

Pei Qinghe called over Bian Shulan, the head of the kitchen, and praised her in front of everyone: "You put a lot of effort into making dinner tonight. Sister-in-law Shulan deserves credit."

Bian Shulan has become much plumper than she did a few years ago, and she laughs heartily: "Tonight's dinner used up a lot of meat and vegetables. We also used a lot of sugar."

"It's the first meal of new rice, so everyone can enjoy something fresh and delicious. We can't eat like this every day, every meal."

Everyone burst into laughter.

(End of this chapter)