Chapter 56: Even the Warhorses Eat Better Than Them

In front of the Cook Battalion of the Beijiang Army.

A large crowd of dark-clad Beijiang soldiers were lining up for food.

In the large iron pots set out, there was plenty of pork stewed with radishes, the milky white broth bubbling and rolling, steaming hot, with the fragrance of meat overflowing.

In the dozens of iron basins nearby, they were filled with stir-fried green vegetables.

The vegetables were stir-fried with freshly rendered lard, bright green and shiny, covered in beads of oil, with a fresh, mouth-watering fragrance.

The soldiers under Zhang Zhao were all stunned.

All around, a chorus of swallowing sounds erupted.

"The Beijiang Army actually has pork to eat, and it's fresh pork."

"And there are rare green vegetables! This is the middle of winter!"

"It smells so good; why didn't anyone tell me the Beijiang Army's food was this good?"

Several generals who had just been complaining about the poor food of the Beijiang Army were also staring with their mouths half-open, unable to say another word.

Zhang Zhao frowned tightly, looked at the mixed bean rice in his own earthenware bowl and the watery horse meat soup, and instantly lost his appetite.

At this moment, Xiao Moting walked over.

Zhang Zhao could not help but take a step forward, "Fourth Prince, may I ask what important day it is today?"

Xiao Moting raised his sword-like eyebrows, "General Zhang, why do you ask?"

Zhang Zhao pointed his hand and said in a deep voice, "Then why is the food made by the Cook Battalion all big fish and meat?"

"You mean this?" Xiao Moting glanced at the Cook Battalion and smiled slightly, "General Zhang, the soldiers of our Beijiang Camp eat these meals every day."

Xiao Dabao walked over while eating half a watermelon.

The emerald-green watermelon had bright red flesh.

He was gnawing on it until his mouth was full of juice, which kept flowing down the corners of his mouth; he looked like he was eating extremely happily.

"Western Regions watermelon, isn't this a rare fruit only available in summer?" A general recognized it and immediately exclaimed, "And even in Shengjing, it sells for one hundred taels of silver each; he's just eating half of one like this?"

"Huh?" Xiao Dabao raised his face covered in watermelon juice, looking blank, "We all eat like this; there are over a dozen baskets over there."

After speaking, he pointed his hand.

Following the direction of his finger, several generals saw that there were actually over a dozen large bamboo baskets placed next to the Cook Battalion, filled with fresh, emerald-green watermelons.

Xiao Dabao wiped his mouth and pointed casually at the stables.

"Look, our Beijiang warhorses are eating them too."

In the stables nearby, a pile of picked green vegetable leaves lay in the feeding trough, along with a trough full of leftover watermelon rinds and several half-eaten large watermelons.

The plump and sturdy warhorses were eating with great relish, snorting from time to time.

The group of generals were left speechless.

Not only was their food not as good as the Beijiang soldiers', but even the other side's warhorses were eating better than them!

Zhang Zhao's complexion was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Xiao Dabao frowned, "Why are you all staring at me? The Prince had originally prepared food for you and even said he would roast fifteen pigs to make roast pork rice to welcome you. Since you didn't want it yourselves, we ate it."

Several generals looked at the food in their hands, feeling deep regret in their hearts.

Xiao Moting coughed and signaled to Xiao Dabao with his eyes to stop talking.

"Old General Zhang, let me have the Cook Battalion add some dishes for you..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Zhao flatly refused.

"Many thanks, Prince!"

"Our Heyuandaying army brought its own provisions; there is no need."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hearts of the surrounding generals and soldiers sank in unison.

Such good food, it looked like they wouldn't get to eat it!

Seeing Zhang Zhao so stubborn, Xiao Moting did not insist and turned to instruct the cooks.

"The craftsmen are still rushing the work; send the food to them."

Several cooks carried two large pots filled with pork, placed them on a cart, and hauled them toward the Craftsman Battalion.

The generals watched, wanting to cry but having no tears.

Even the craftsmen were eating this well; they truly regretted it!

After Xiao Moting left, Zhang Zhao returned to his tent and looked at the food in his bowl, finding it completely tasteless.

He was so angry that he slammed the table heavily.

"Xiao Moting must have done this on purpose, wanting to use good food and drink to buy the hearts of the army."

At this time, the Deputy General hurried over.

"General Zhang, seventeen more soldiers in the camp have fallen ill, alternating between cold and hot, and suffering from constant diarrhea."

Zhang Zhao frowned tightly, "Have you asked the Military Doctor to look at them?"

There were already dozens of sick soldiers in the army, which was why he had brought the Military Doctor from Heyuandaying along with medicinal herbs; he had not expected that these soldiers would not be cured and that over a dozen more would fall ill.

The Deputy General said, "The Military Doctor looked at them and said it was caused by the soldiers being unaccustomed to the local water and soil, and that they only need to rest for a day."

"Order the Military Doctor to treat them as soon as possible," Zhang Zhao commanded in a deep voice, "Do not delay the war."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.

The Deputy General hurriedly stepped forward to support him, "General Zhang, are you alright? Should I call the Military Doctor to take a look?"

Zhang Zhao shook his head, feeling lightheaded.

He stubbornly waved his hand.

"I am just unaccustomed to the water and soil; I will be fine after resting for a night. There is nothing wrong with my body."

Xiao Moting has already returned.

Bai Wei sent him several dozen more books on military strategy.

"The Art of War", "Lundichizhuan", "On War"...

He held a Flashlight and read through the night in his tent, devouring the pages with an insatiable hunger.

The more Xiao Moting read, the more invigorated he felt.

These military books were simply brilliant, each one of them, and were of great help for marching and fighting wars.

Xiao Moting read for an entire night, committing everything he had read to memory.

"Swish."

The tent flap was lifted, and Qin Zhan, his brows tightly furrowed, walked in with several Military Doctors in long strides.

"Prince, something has happened on Zhang Zhao's side."

Xiao Moting's expression darkened, "What is it?"

He had sent men to monitor Zhang Zhao day and night precisely to prevent the other party from stealing military intelligence.

"Zhang Zhao was suddenly struck by a severe illness last night; he was alternating between chills and fever, and also had diarrhea. He hasn't been able to get out of bed this morning."

"The onset of this illness was too sudden; not only did Zhang Zhao fall ill, but over a hundred soldiers in his camp have also fallen ill one after another."

"The symptoms of these people are all exactly the same."

Xiao Moting shouted in a low voice, "Have the Beijiang Army Military Doctors been asked to go over and examine them?"

"They have already rushed over, and I had them put on Protective Suits to avoid infection," Qin Zhan hesitated, "The Military Doctor says it might be a plague."

"A plague?"

Xiao Moting held his breath, his heart sinking.

This time, it was his oversight.

He had only guarded against the refugees, isolating the sick outside Fengsha Pass.

But he never expected that the plague would actually be brought in by Zhang Zhao!

He stood up quickly.

"Have all Military Doctors wear isolation suits, and they must be sprayed with alcohol all over when entering or leaving the camp area."

"Send Zhang Zhao and the sick soldiers to the makeshift hospital outside the pass for isolation."

"The ten thousand soldiers Zhang Zhao brought are to remain at their station and are not allowed to go out."

A plague is even more terrifying than war!

If the prevention is ineffective, tens of thousands of people could die in just half a month!

At this moment, another soldier ran in, panting.

"Reporting to the Prince, thirteen craftsmen have fallen ill, and some have high fevers that won't subside and are in a coma."

"Several people in the Cook Battalion have also fallen ill."

Qin Zhan was greatly alarmed, "The craftsmen and the cooks have had no contact with the soldiers in Zhang Zhao's camp; how could they have caught the illness too?"

The soldier shook his head in confusion.

Xiao Moting's face was cold and grim, his brows knitted even tighter.

To be able to catch the epidemic without even having contact—this plague is simply impossible to guard against.

It is even more ferocious than he had imagined.

No wonder Bai Wei prophesied that he would die in this plague.