Chapter 133: Military and People, Like Fish and Water

On this day, three cavalry divisions of the Taihang Military Region set out, their sole objective: to strike directly at the Jin state’s political center—Zhongdu.

When a rider, astride a mighty warhorse, charges toward you with thunderous force, the overwhelming presence alone can freeze your blood, make your legs go weak, as if the entire world had halted in that instant.

Imagine tens of thousands of warhorses galloping side by side across vast plains—what a sight, what a Zhenhan ! The thunder of hooves shakes the earth; each step strikes your heart like a hammer blow, making you stagger, nearly collapsing to the ground.

The trembling from ten thousand hooves is not merely the earth’s quaking—it is a soul-shaking force, evoking an irresistible power, as if the whole world trembled in that moment.

Each cavalryman in these divisions was equipped with three horses; early on, most warhorses were supplied by Guo Jing and Nie Huaishang, but later, revolutionary officers appointed as Inspector of Hengzhou took control of the Jin state’s most vital horse-breeding region.

It is said that when Temujin captured this land, he seized a million warhorses—though a million is an exaggeration, twenty to thirty thousand were certainly there.

Tens of thousands of cavalrymen marched light, carrying only magazines and rifles, without grain or supply wagons; they firmly believed that, through the deep bond of military-civilian unity, the villagers along the way would already be preparing abundant food and sweet drinks for them.

True to form, shortly after the Jin emperor’s edict was issued, village committees across revolutionary bases spontaneously organized.

At dawn, Baiyang Village’s Party Secretary Bai Jingting gathered the villagers, raised a loudspeaker, and shouted: “Attention, villagers of Baiyang! The Jin emperor has issued an edict to hunt down two Comrade Zhangs and force us to surrender our land to the old landlords who once shat on our heads! But our People’s Soldiers are risking their lives to fight those bastards so we never return to that pig-dog existence!”

“They’re all barely seventeen or eighteen—many haven’t even married yet, and now they’re heading to battle. If they fight to the death and go hungry, how heartbroken would their parents be? Villagers, bring out your best food—don’t let them eat poorly!”

“Understood! We’re going home to prepare now!” The villagers replied, then rushed home, opened their cellars, and pulled out stored food.

One villager, panting as he dragged out his family’s steamed buns, stared in astonishment at his neighbor’s offerings: “Wow, Wang Xiao Kou—you, the stingiest man in the village, who never even gave a few coins at a half-feast—you actually brought out this good stuff? You even dug up your New Year’s cured pork!”

Wang Xiao Kou glared at him: “I’m stingy, but not stupid. These soldiers are fighting so we can live well in the future. They’re willing to die—how can I not give up a little cured pork? Besides, if they win, I won’t have pork this New Year, but I’ll have it every New Year after. And you, Wang Da Dan, always so generous, now you’re bringing only buns to the soldiers?”

Wang Da Dan chuckled: “Fine, you big-hearted Xiao Kou—I won’t let you outdo me. If you can bring cured pork, I’m going to slaughter the donkey I bought from the west and have my wife make donkey-meat buns for the soldiers.”

After a full day of relentless galloping, the cavalrymen were utterly exhausted. Riding across endless plains, they had no time for food or rest, pouring every ounce of energy into the ceaseless march. Their faces were pale, eyes bloodshot, bodies pushed to the brink. The horses, too, were spent—panting heavily, legs dragging. Yet despite their fatigue, they sat firm on their mounts, gripping the reins, pressing forward.

Noticing the troops’ condition, the cavalry division commander immediately ordered a halt and dispatched men to borrow grain from local villagers.

The grain collectors had not gone far before they returned with crowds of villagers, countless people cheerfully carrying loads on poles, laughing and chatting.

The village heads laughed heartily: “Ah, we heard the Jin emperor’s edict just come out—we knew you’d be coming out to fight those bastards! We can’t fight with you, but we won’t let you go hungry. Since dawn, the villagers have been preparing food, afraid you’d pass us by—wouldn’t that make all our work useless?”

Then the Party secretaries and township secretaries shouldered their loads, quickened their pace, and turned to shout back at the crowd: “Villagers, push harder—the soldiers are waiting for our food!”

The resting soldiers, though weary, dragged themselves over to help carry the loads.

“Villagers, you’ve worked hard—let us carry these the rest of the way.”

“No need. You’ve ridden all day—we’ve got strength enough.”

When the soldiers lifted the lids off the baskets, their faces darkened—not because the food was unappetizing; soldiers must eat anything when in danger.

Buns and flatbreads would have been fine—they’d have wolfed them down without hesitation.

But why was there cured pork? Steamed buns? Donkey-meat buns? Had the villagers emptied their entire homes?

Seeing the soldiers’ hesitation, the secretaries shouted: “Kids, eat up! Eat well so you’ve strength to fight those reactionaries—don’t let them come back!”

“Exactly! Should we give this to the landlords who shat on our heads?”

“Hurry up, or it’ll get cold—our work will be wasted!”

Watching the enthusiastic villagers, Division Commander Liu Qingyun’s eyes grew moist. He turned to his communicator: “Have the soldiers tally the supplies and expenses, then let them eat. But remember—everything must be repaid.”

“Yes!” The communicator relayed the order.

After tallying the supplies and reporting them, the soldiers began feasting.

Indeed, Hebei’s snacks were rich and varied, each one exuding irresistible flavor.

There were crispy fried cakes, savory donkey rolls, and the unique jianbing guozi—each dish meticulously crafted, every step refined, embodying the wisdom and artistry of Hebei’s people in selection, preparation, and seasoning.