Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 388 When the gears of the empire begin to move with precision down to every bite of food
After descending from the city wall, Zhu Youjian and his entourage did not return to the governor's mansion, but instead headed straight for a heavily guarded location inside the pass.

This is the newly built military grain depot, the most core and secret location of the entire Shanhaiguan camp, which has been constructed in recent months.

The layout of this granary is quite different from that of ordinary granaries used for storing rice and millet.

From a distance, one can see dozens of huge warehouses lined up one after another, all built on huge stones and with rammed earth walls, which have a bit of the grandeur of the royal treasury.

Outside the warehouse, there were guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, all of them elite soldiers. Each of them kept their eyes straight ahead and their hands on the hilts of their swords. Their imposing presence was even more impressive than that of an armory storing weapons and firearms.

As the group approached the warehouse, the guarding officer bowed and saluted, verified the warrant, and then the heavy iron gate slowly opened with a creak.

A complex aroma, a blend of roasted grains, savory meat, and sweet dried fruit, wafted from the crack in the door, so enticing that it made one's mouth water and invigorated one's spirit.

"What a wonderful smell!" Zu Dashou, a rough and boorish man, couldn't help but take a deep breath and say in a deep voice.

His half-joking, half-astonished remark brought a smile to everyone's faces, even the usually serious Sun Chengzong's lips curled up slightly.

Zhu Youjian smiled calmly and stepped into the granary first: "The soldiers risk their lives for the country, so it is only natural that they eat well and with fine food. My imperial kitchen serves only me. But my Divine Martial Division serves hundreds of thousands of my Great Ming's elite troops!"

The Shenwu Division was an office personally established by the emperor after the Military Medical Bureau. Its name was derived from the idea that "a mighty army regards food as its most important task," and it was in charge of the research, development, supervision, and distribution of military rations.

The composition of officials in this department was also unique, including imperial chefs from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, grain officials from the Ministry of Revenue, skilled craftsmen from the Ministry of Works, and even masters of sugar making, pickling, and dried goods who were sought out by the emperor from the common people.

It can be said that all sorts of people from different walks of life gathered together, all for one goal: to provide the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty with military rations that are unique in the world.

The group filed in, and the sight before them left Mao Wenlong and Qin Liangyu, who were visiting for the first time, completely stunned.

The warehouse was tall, spacious, dry, and clean.

The countless huge wooden frames were not filled with ordinary burlap sacks of grain, but with square "grain bricks" wrapped in oiled paper and tied with thin hemp rope, as well as rows of thick bamboo tubes sealed with wax.

The enticing aroma in the air wafts out from these neatly packaged items.

Wang Chengen had already ordered a long table to be prepared, and several officials from the Shenwu Division were quickly setting up the samples.

"Please take a look, gentlemen." Zhu Youjian walked to the table and casually picked up a "grain brick." The object was quite heavy, about the size of a palm, and was slightly yellow in color with a dense texture.

He addressed the crowd, saying, "I have named this food 'Wuwei Dry Rations.' It is now the staple food of our border troops."

His gaze turned to the head of the Divine Martial Bureau, a fair-skinned, beardless, and shrewd-looking middle-aged eunuch. This man was originally the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, an expert in food, and was later promoted by the emperor to be in charge of military provisions.

The steward understood and stepped forward to explain in a clear and logical voice: "Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, this 'Wuwei Dry Rations' may seem like ordinary fried noodles, but it is actually quite sophisticated. It was made in accordance with His Majesty's decree that 'grains should be the foundation, with a balance of meat and vegetables, and a moderate level of saltiness,' and was the result of the combined efforts of over a hundred people in the Divine Martial Division, undergoing more than a hundred rounds of formulation and improvement."

He took a small silver scalpel used for dissection, carefully cut open a piece of dry food, and showed its cross-section to everyone.

The cut surface was not a single powder, but rather a colorful, complex texture.

The officer stepped forward and explained loudly, “Your Majesty, esteemed officials, this ‘Wuwei Dry Rations’ is made in accordance with the imperial decree. It is a base of four staple grains: wheat, rice, beans, and millet. For the first time ever, fish meal, meat floss, dried vegetables, and salt have been added, and finally, it is pressed into bricks. One brick is equivalent to eating rice, meat, vegetables, and soup all at once, enough to keep the soldiers full of energy!”

Everyone listened with wide eyes and trembling eyes.

Sun Chengzong stroked his long beard, his eyes gleaming. This was not the first time he had heard about the method of making "Wuwei Dry Food," but every time he heard it, he couldn't help but admire it.

Mao Wenlong couldn't contain himself any longer. He stepped forward, picked up a piece of dried food, and first held it under his nose to smell it carefully. The complex aroma hit his head, making his mouth water, even though he was someone who spent his days with dried fish and pickled vegetables.

He broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth. At first, it was dry and hard, but as his saliva moistened it, the piece of dry food quickly melted in his mouth. A rich, salty aroma first took over his taste buds, followed by the mellowness of the grains, the savory flavor of the meat floss, the oiliness of the sesame seeds, and even a hint of barely perceptible sweetness from the vegetables. The various flavors intertwined, creating an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"Delicious... It's fucking delicious!" Mao Wenlong couldn't help but swear, then realized his mistake and quickly apologized, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I was just too excited! With such dry rations, my men of Dongjiang probably can't even compare to the pork stew we eat during the New Year!"

Tears welled up in his eyes as he said with deep emotion, “Your Majesty, before this, the soldiers of my Dongjiang Town ate coarse rice mixed with sand and dried fish that was so salty it was bitter! When marching and fighting, they carried only a handful of half-cooked beans in their arms! When they were starving, they even scraped off the mussels that grew on the ships and ate them raw! Many brothers did not die under the Jurchen swords, but rather from dysentery and died of diarrhea on the march! With this ‘Wuwei Dry Rations,’ which are clean, substantial, and even have the taste of meat, this is life-saving food!”

Qin Liangyu, standing to the side, also took a small piece and savored it carefully.

As a woman, she was more perceptive. After savoring the food for a moment, her phoenix eyes shone with admiration. She bowed to Zhu Youjian and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, the wonder of this dried food lies not only in its fillingness and taste. I have tasted it, and it is dry but not scorching, salty but not cloying. Although the meat is powdered, it does not lose its freshness."

More importantly, although the vegetables in it have a mild flavor, they are like the finishing touch, relieving the dryness and greasiness of the mouth after a long march.

In the midst of prolonged warfare, soldiers inevitably develop an aversion to food, a major taboo in military strategy. With these dry rations, the soldiers' appetites remain intact, and their physical strength does not wane.

This seemingly minor detail actually concerns the sustained combat capability of the army on its long expedition. Your Majesty's thorough consideration has reached the level of meticulous detail; this humble general is utterly convinced!

His words drew nods of agreement from everyone.

Sun Chengcheng added, "General Qin is absolutely right. I value the salt even more."

Throughout history, during major wars, plagues have been rampant in the army, and non-war casualties often account for five or six out of ten.

The root cause is often unclean food and physical exhaustion.

Now Your Majesty uses 'Jade Cleansing Sweet Wine' to cleanse the wound externally, 'Immortal Soup for Curing Disease' to regulate the body internally, and 'Martial Might Dry Food' to strengthen the body's foundation.

Sufficient salt intake leads to sufficient energy, and all diseases will naturally subside.

These three elements are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, forming an invisible and impenetrable shield for the soldiers of our Great Ming Dynasty!

This old minister dares to assert that in this national war, our army's non-combat casualties will be far lower than in any previous Northern Expedition!

Hearing the praise from everyone, Zhu Youjian was also pleased, but he simply waved his hand calmly and pointed to another object on the table.

They were strips wrapped in oiled paper, about the thickness of a child's arm and no more than a foot long.

He handed the strip-shaped object to Mao Wenlong: "General Mao, why don't you give it a try?"

Mao Wenlong took the object and found it to be heavy and hard as iron, with some nuts and meat floss particles embedded in it.

He tried to break it off, but only managed to break off a small piece.

With one chew, a salty and fragrant flavor, a blend of rich pork fat and the aroma of roasted grains, instantly fills the mouth. The texture is extremely dense, and the more you chew, the more you can taste the minced meat and nuts within.

"It smells so good! And it's so firm!" Mao Wenlong said indistinctly as he chewed with difficulty, "Your Majesty, what kind of dried meat is this made of fried noodles? It's more filling than any dry rations I've ever eaten! Just this small piece makes my stomach feel warm and my whole body is full of energy!"

Zhu Youjian laughed and said, "The method of making this thing does not use any precious ingredients such as maltose or honey, but rather the most common lard. Mix cooked rice flour and bean flour with chopped meat floss and nuts, then mix it with hot lard, and while it is still hot, put it into a mold, and repeatedly pound and press it down with a water-powered stone mortar. After it cools, it will be as hard as stone. This thing is not for daily sustenance, but for solving an urgent problem."

His gaze swept over the crowd: "For example, during a long march, men and horses are exhausted and there's no time to start a fire and cook; or when two armies are locked in battle, fighting all day long and their strength is depleted; or when breaking through an encirclement or holding a desperate position, if you can't catch your breath, all your efforts will be in vain. At such times, taking out a piece of meat, taking a few bites, and the rich fat and minced meat can quickly replenish your strength, keep you breathing, and revitalize your fighting power!"

"This item is small in size but heavy in weight, yet it contains more than three times the energy of ordinary dry rations! I have decreed that this is a strategic military resource, and it shall not be issued to anyone other than the elite troops performing special military duties. Every night watchman, every scout, and every warrior about to embark on a desperate charge will carry one of these in their baggage. It is my last hope of turning defeat into victory!"

If the previous Wuwei dry rations brought surprise and shock to everyone, then this little gadget made with lard and heavy pressure brings a more practical and profound subversive cognitive impact!
Those present were all veterans who had fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. They knew better than anyone how valuable "one breath" was on the ever-changing battlefield! Countless times, victory was within their grasp, but because their comrades were too hungry at the most crucial moment, they slowed down by that fatal step and gave up the decisive blow that should have been the one to slay the enemy general and seize the flag!

Success or failure can hinge on a single thought, often depending on whether or not one possesses the necessary strength!
Qin Liangyu's beautiful eyes flashed with a sharp light as she stared intently at the strip-shaped object wrapped in oiled paper. Her White-Spear Soldiers were best known for their mountain raids and long-distance battles, traversing mountains and valleys as if they were flat ground. However, even the most valiant warriors were ultimately mortal and would be worn down by hunger and exhaustion.

For her White-Clad Soldiers, this item was more than just military rations.

This is clearly a divine object that can give wings to an army of tigers and wolves; its value is immeasurable!
Thoughts raced through everyone's minds, and the more they thought about it, the stronger the chill ran down their spines.

From the General Medical Department to the Divine Martial Division, from saving lives and healing the wounded to strengthening the body and nourishing the vital energy, and even to this little life-saving gadget... His Majesty's gaze has long since transcended military strategies and formations, penetrating into the rice bowls, wounds, and even the stomachs of every soldier!

Just how meticulously has he prepared for this upcoming national war?

For ordinary commanders, the concerns before a battle are nothing more than soldiers, provisions, and weapons.

But the current emperor has already extended his reach to much deeper and farther places.

These generals and commanders occasionally heard that the Embroidered Uniform Guards were not only monitoring officials, but also gathering unprecedented information on the astronomy, geography, and daily life of Jianzhou; they also heard that ships from Dongjiang Town and the Dengzhou-Laizhou navy were using trade as a pretext to continuously instigate Han Chinese who had been coerced into rebellion in Liaodong...

This net is so fine that it reaches the breath of every soldier, yet so vast that it encompasses the entire chessboard of the world.

Everyone felt their blood boiling and wished they could immediately don their armor and mount their horses!

(End of this chapter)