Chapter 133: Army and People: Fish and Water

On this day, three cavalry divisions of the Taihang Military Region mobilized; their sole operational objective was to drive straight into the political center of the Jin Kingdom—Zhongdu.

When a rider, mounting a mighty warhorse, gallops toward you with the force of thunder and lightning, the overwhelming pressure that strikes your face is enough to make your heart race and your legs tremble involuntarily, as if the entire world had frozen in that instant.

Imagine tens of thousands of war horses charging forward in unison across the vast plains; what a magnificent and shocking spectacle! The sound of hooves rolls like thunder, shaking the earth; every hoofbeat strikes the heart with heavy force, making one unsteady on one's feet, almost collapsing to the ground.

That vibration, created by the combined tread of tens of thousands of hooves, is not merely the trembling of the earth, but a shock to the soul. It makes one feel an irresistible power, as if the entire world trembles at this very moment.

Each rider in these cavalry divisions was equipped with three warhorses. In the early days, most of the warhorses in their revolutionary base areas were provided by Guo Jing and Nie Huaishang. Later, when revolutionaries assumed the post of Inspector of Hengzhou, this became the Jin Kingdom's most important horse-breeding region.

It is said that after Temujin captured this place, he seized a million military horses. A million military horses is naturally an exaggeration, but two or three hundred thousand warhorses were indeed present.

Tens of thousands of cavalrymen, carrying ammunition clips and firearms, advanced lightly, without grain or supplies. They firmly believed that, relying on the deep bond of "fish and water" between the army and the people, the villagers along the route would surely rise early to prepare abundant food and sweet drinks for them.

As expected, shortly after the Jin Emperor's edict was issued, village committees in various revolutionary base areas spontaneously organized themselves.

Bai Jingting, the village party secretary of Baiyang Village, rose at dawn, gathered the villagers, and shouted through a loudspeaker: "Villagers of Baiyang Village, pay attention! The Jin dog-emperor has issued an edict to issue warrants for two Committee Members surnamed Zhang and to force us to surrender our land so that those old masters who once shat on our heads may return. Now our People's Sons and Soldiers are risking their lives to fight those dog-mother-bearers so that we no longer have to live lives worse than pigs and dogs."

"They are all young men of seventeen or eighteen; many have not yet even taken wives, yet they must go to the battlefield. Tell me, if they fight desperately and also starve, how much would their parents' hearts ache? Fellow villagers, let us bring out the best things in our homes; we cannot let them go hungry or eat poorly."

"Understood, we are heading home to prepare right now." After speaking, the villagers eagerly returned home, opened their cellars, and brought out their stored provisions.

One villager, panting heavily, carried out his family's flatbreads. Seeing what his neighbor had brought out, he could not help but exclaim in admiration: "Ho! Wang Xiaoke, I didn't expect it! You, who in the village never even attended half a banquet or gave a gift, are actually willing to bring such fine things; you've even brought out all the cured meat prepared for the New Year."

Wang Xiaoke rolled his eyes and said: "I am stingy, but not stupid. Those Sons and Soldiers are risking their lives so that we may live a good life in the future. They are willing to give up their very lives; I have no reason not to be able to offer even cured meat. Moreover, if the Sons and Soldiers win, although I may have no cured meat this New Year, I will be able to eat cured meat at every New Year from now on. It's just that, Wang Da Dan, you were so generous before, yet now when it comes to sending food to the Sons and Soldiers, you cannot bring out anything good and can only make do with flatbreads."

Wang Da Dan chuckled: "Very well, you Zhang Xiaoke are so generous; I, Wang Da Dan, cannot possibly be outdone by you. Since you can bring cured meat, I will go right now and kill the donkey I bought from the west, have my wife make donkey-meat huoshao, and send it to the Sons and Soldiers."

After a full day of uninterrupted galloping, the cavalrymen of the division were utterly exhausted. Riding horses at a wild sprint across the vast plains, they had no time to attend to eating or resting, throwing themselves wholly into this endless journey. At this moment, their faces were pale, their eyes filled with bloodshot veins, and their bodies seemed to have reached their limit. The horses also appeared utterly weary, panting heavily, their footsteps heavy. Yet, despite physical and mental exhaustion, he remained firmly seated on the horseback, gripping the reins tightly, and continued forward.

Noticing the condition of the troops, the division commander immediately ordered the unit to rest on the spot and sent men to borrow grain from the local villagers.

Those responsible for borrowing grain had not gone far before they returned with crowds of villagers; countless people, joyful and cheerful, carried loads on shoulder poles, chatting and laughing.

The village heads at the front laughed loudly: "Ah, let me tell you, as soon as that dog-emperor of the Jin issued his edict, we knew you would surely come out of the mountains to fight those dog-mother-bearers. Although we cannot go to the battlefield with you, we certainly cannot let you go hungry, can we? Early this morning, the villagers had already prepared food, fearing you might not come to our place; otherwise, all our preparations would have been in vain, wouldn't they?"

After speaking, the village secretaries and township secretaries quickened their pace with their loads, turned back, and shouted loudly to the villagers behind them: "Fellow villagers, put in more effort! The Sons and Soldiers are still waiting for us to bring them food."

The soldiers stationed and resting, seeing the villagers arrive with loads to support them, though extremely tired, still dragged their weary bodies forward to help.

"Fellow villagers, you've worked hard; for the remaining stretch of road, let us carry these."

"No need. You've been riding horses all day; we still have enough strength for this little bit of work."

After uncovering the loads brought by the villagers, countless soldiers showed troubled expressions. It was not that the provisions prepared by the villagers failed to suit their tastes; as soldiers, they must always be prepared to face perilous situations and eat whatever food is available.

But the things the villagers had prepared were too good. If it were just steamed buns or flatbreads, they would have no hesitation and would stuff them directly into their stomachs.

But how could there be cured meat, buns, and donkey-meat huoshao here? It seems the villagers must have brought out everything they had in their homes.

Seeing the soldiers' hesitation, the secretaries shouted loudly: "Children, eat quickly! Only when you are full will you have the strength to fight those reactionaries. Do not let them return!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Should these things not be given to our Sons and Soldiers, then who? To those landlords and rich peasants who shat and pissed on our heads?"

"If we do not eat these now, they will grow cold, and all our preparations will have been in vain."

Looking at the enthusiastic villagers, Division Commander Liu Qingyun's eyes turned red as he said to the communications officer beside him: "Have the soldiers tally the supplies and expenses, then let them eat. Remember, these things must be repaid."

"Yes." After the communications officer finished speaking, he relayed the commander's order downward.

After the soldiers tallied the supplies and reported them to the accountants, they began to eat heartily.

It must be said that Hebei's snack varieties are rich and diverse, and each one exudes an enticing flavor.

There are crispy and delicious fried cakes, fresh and tasty donkey-rolling cakes, and uniquely characteristic jianbing guozi, among others. These snacks are not only delicious but also meticulously crafted; every step of the process is executed with extreme precision. Whether in ingredient selection, preparation, or seasoning, they embody the wisdom and unique craftsmanship of the people of Hebei.