Chapter 160 That Large Bowl of Congee Is Really Fragrant

Gou Moli held a large bowl of congee, so large it could be used as a washbasin.

Actually, although Gou Moli's figure wasn't imposing, he had always had a large appetite. As the Blind Man would say, whether he was detained in Xuehai Pass before, or doing things now that he was released, when it came to mealtimes, this guy could always eat the equivalent of two, even almost three, people's portions.

Because he could always adjust his mental and physical state to its best before each meal. If he wanted to live well, he naturally had to eat well.

A large circle of pickled ginger was arranged around the edge of the congee bowl, crisp and salty, a perfect accompaniment to the congee.

At his feet were four salted duck eggs.

He was enjoying his congee, while around him, a group of Yeren soldiers clad in rattan armor were chewing on dry rations, accompanied by strips of cured meat.

During wartime, the soldiers' food standards would be raised, ensuring they had both dry rations and meat, otherwise, their strength would be difficult to guarantee.

Moreover, now that Dongshan Fort had been captured, the Chu people, having learned their lesson from the Qingluan Army in Yupancheng, had stored a wealth of grain in Dongshan Fort. Coupled with the stable supply from the Great Yan logistics, Xuehai Army really wasn't lacking in food.

The Yeren soldiers suffered heavy casualties in the siege. The subsequent Chu counterattacks and the series of battles that followed resulted in even more casualties, but some still survived.

The Yeren King honored his promise, personally going to the quartermaster to apply for rations for his hundreds of men.

These hundreds of men would be the backbone of his future First Town. Well, it was enough, after all, Lord Zheng had initially set the establishment for him at two camps, three thousand soldiers.

In a few days, he would go to the Yeren slave camp and select some more strong young men to join. Then, the stage for this First Town would be set up.

The process was tortuous, and the road was rough, but fortunately, it was considered to be on the right track.

The Blind Man was holding two rice balls, eating as he walked over, and then sat down beside the Yeren King.

Gou Moli took a couple of bites of congee and said, "North Mister, is Lord Zheng awake yet?"

The Blind Man took a bite of a rice ball and picked up a duck egg next to the Yeren King, gently tapping it.

He said:

"What, got something on your mind?"

"How could I? Even if Lord Zheng isn't here, you're still around, aren't you?"

"Hey, why do I feel like you're implying something in your words now?"

"Isn't it because Lord Zheng and you both told me to change my old habits? I'm trying to change."

"Mm."

The Blind Man peeled the salted duck egg, took a bite, and said, "The lord is fine, just a bit exhausted."

"That's good." The Yeren King took two big gulps of congee and said, "Those Chu people are really formidable; that wave of counterattacks almost crushed us. Thank goodness for our Lord Zheng's heroic efforts.

"By the way, North Mister, your injuries?"

"The injuries aren't serious, as long as my mind is clear."

"That's true."

"I'm looking for you to chat about the next plan. No matter what the process, Dongshan Fort has been taken," the Blind Man said. "Next, how should we operate?"

Now that Gou Moli was on the same boat as them, the Blind Man naturally wouldn't let go of such a great strategist.

Gou Moli naturally had nothing to hide and spoke frankly:

"The battle at Yangshan Fort was the first great achievement; the capture of Dongshan Fort is the second great achievement. Moreover, Dongshan Fort and Xishan Fort are the two major gateways and reliance of the Chu people's entire defense zone since Zhennan Pass. In my opinion, taking Dongshan Fort like this is a greater achievement than Yangshan Fort, and its invigorating effect on the overall situation is even stronger.

"The death of Great Chu Pillar State Shi Yuantang here is the third great achievement; the loss of the most elite part of the Great Chu imperial guards is the fourth great achievement.

"Lord Zheng always likes to view war with the mindset of doing business. No matter how you calculate it, we've already exceeded our quota early on.

"If the commander of the army wasn't Tian Wujing, then we'd have to think about it again. After all, if we can't take Zhennan Pass, then once the situation changes drastically, the situation in my Xuehai Pass will quickly become worrying.

"But now the commander-in-chief is the Jingnan King. We can trust Tian Wujing's ability to fight, so I think we can take a good rest and recuperate for the next period of time.

"First, we will reorganize the Gongsun Zhi and Gong Wang troops.

"The old foundation of the Gongsun Zhi troops is the Zhenbei Army. Tsk tsk, the Zhenbei Army, their ability to fight tough battles is beyond doubt.

"The Gong Wang troops, well, how should I put it? It's just that Gong Wang's ability to absorb Jin people and his prestige are unmatched. Using Gong Wang as a gimmick can attract a large number of Jin people to join;

"And here with me, Lord Zheng personally promised the First Town, and can also take this opportunity to pull together an establishment of three thousand people. I will hone it well and strive to make this army more murderous, and the effect of some Yeren slave soldiers in my hands will be stronger than in others' hands.

"When the time comes for war, I will have three thousand Yeren soldiers under the command of Yeren slaves.

"And my Xuehai Pass headquarters can also absorb some auxiliary soldiers this time, first to fill the losses of soldiers, and second, to have more reasons to ask for support from the rear.

"Our losses in this battle are actually very large, but after a period of adjustment, the strength of this warlord hill with my Xuehai Pass as the core will not decrease but increase.

"The most important thing is that the Jingnan King wants Lord Zheng to show off, to grab military merit, to grab popular support, rather than wanting to use a knife to kill people, and at the same time dull our knife.

"So, next, probably until the battle of Zhennan Pass really starts, we may stay here to integrate and train new soldiers, and take the opportunity to consolidate our strength. There shouldn't be any other battles.

"After all, Great Yan's Guangzheng Army has dispatched hundreds of thousands of troops for this campaign against Chu. It's impossible for all the battles to be thrown to us.

"I know that Lord Zheng has always wanted a stable environment to develop silently. Right now, this is an opportunity.

"There is one thing that I didn't say, but North Mister, you should do it, but I have to say it, otherwise, it will seem that I am useless."

"Speak."

"The memorial to the Jingnan King about casualties and requests for aid, that is key."

The Blind Man nodded and took a bite of the salted duck egg.

"We have done what we should do. Now it depends on whether the Jingnan King will give us another back door."

"Mm."

"There's one more thing."

The Blind Man said, "What else is there?"

"This doesn't count, it's just that I think Tian Wujing might not clear the periphery so steadily before attacking Zhennan Pass."

"Oh? What are your thoughts on this?"

"I have no opinion, because I don't know what else he can do besides continuing to grind away. I also know the terrain of Jin and Chu. If you want to attack Chu, you can only pry open Zhennan Pass. This is the only way to attack Chu."

"Then why are you saying anything?"

"I don't have one, but it doesn't mean Tian Wujing doesn't have one. You have to know that I am just a defeated general under Tian Wujing."

"Heh heh."

"Is General Liang okay?" Gou Moli asked.

"What could happen to him?"

"No, I mean, this time..."

"Our relationship with the lord is beyond your imagination."

"That's right, that's right."

The Blind Man finished the rice balls in his hand with the salted duck egg,

Gently patted his hands,

And said:

"Okay, you continue eating, I'll go take a look around in other places."

"North Mister, take care."

After the Blind Man left,

Gou Moli continued to drink his large bowl of congee, but his gaze was a little erratic, because in the distance, a general was riding away quickly.

It was Jin Shuke.

Gou Moli suddenly felt a little pressured. Jin Shuke was a barbarian, just like him, and neither of them were Xia people.

But unlike him, Xuehai Pass was adjacent to the snowfields, so he could have more room to maneuver. But once the base was no longer near the snowfields in the future, could his role compare to Jin Shuke's?

Everyone has a competitive spirit, and Gou Moli could see that, if nothing unexpected happened, Lord Zheng's foundation would become wider and wider, and bigger and bigger, and it was inevitable that the people of Zhuxia would be the base.

So, he and Jin Shuke were, strictly speaking, eating from another separate plate. If one eats more, the other must eat less.

Suddenly,

Gou Moli felt that the congee in his large bowl was no longer fragrant.

He looked at his subordinates around him who were gobbling down food,

And cursed in the Yeren language;

"A bunch of wolf cubs, eat faster, after you finish eating, follow me to work!"

"Yes."

"Yes."

His subordinates' attitude towards him was still very respectful.

But Gou Moli still didn't feel so refreshed. He took a sip of congee,

And pinched his throat;

"Heh, our relationship with the lord, isn't something you can imagine."

………

Jin Shuke returned to the city all the way, and everyone he met along the way, whether soldiers or generals, greeted him with great enthusiasm.

Everyone knew how important the role Jin Shuke played in leading a cavalry charge in that battle.

It can be said that the battle situation was changed by Jin Shuke's own strength.

Jin Shuke was already deeply valued by Lord Zheng. Ke Yan Dongge was able to become a town's main general because of his Ke Yan tribe, but Jin Shuke was purely out of "imperial favor."

With "imperial favor" already in hand, and having made such great contributions, Jin Shuke's future in Xuehai Pass was naturally limitless.

But Jin Shuke was still low-key, not daring to put on airs at all, and not having the slightest intention of getting carried away. He nodded to the soldiers who saluted him, and he returned the salute to the other generals who greeted him with great care.

After entering Dongshan Fort, Jin Shuke came directly to the residence where Lord Zheng was.

Actually, it can't be considered a residence, because Dongshan Fort is a military castle, and it was not intended to have any residential components, but this used to be where the main general guarding the city lived, so the conditions were not bad.

Lord Zheng, after falling into a coma, was placed inside.

Jin Shuke dismounted his horse, came to the door, and asked the guards there;

"Is Lord Zheng awake yet?"

The guard shook his head.

Hearing this, Jin Shuke nodded, and his eyes revealed concern.

After a while, just as he was preparing to ride away, a guard rushed out from inside, saw Jin Shuke standing at the door, and immediately smiled:

"What a coincidence, General Jin, Lord Zheng just woke up and ordered this humble servant to find General Jin and ask you to come in."

"Lord Zheng is awake?" Jin Shuke was very pleasantly surprised, took off his saber and handed it to the guard next to him, and then quickly walked into it.

………

Lord Zheng had just woken up,

When Jin Shuke came in,

Lord Zheng was sitting cross-legged on the bed, eating.

One meat dish, two vegetarian dishes, and a soup, not the light congee that habitual "convalescents" eat.

In fact, Lord Zheng's appetite was really not very good, but he knew his body. He needed to replenish his nutrition now, and after all, he was a sixth-rank martial artist, and he had never stopped honing his physical body, so his physical fitness was not bad. The biggest reason for his previous coma was because his spirit had been emptied by the magic pill and that pill. It was really unsustainable.

So, after waking up, eating normally was no problem.

"Have you eaten?"

Lord Zheng raised his eyes and glanced at Jin Shuke kneeling in front of him.

"Responding to Lord Zheng, not yet." Jin Shuke replied.

"Heh heh." Lord Zheng smiled and ordered a guard next to him, "Add a pair of bowls and chopsticks."

Then, he said to Jin Shuke again:

"Eat together."

"This subordinate dare not!"

"Eat together, I'm deliberately bestowing favor on you, you have to cooperate."

"........." Jin Shuke.

The bowls and chopsticks were brought, and Jin Shuke squatted in front of the bed.

Lord Zheng "heh heh" smiled and said, "Sit up, don't be restrained."

"This........."

Jin Shuke got up, and his butt touched the edge of the bed.

"Sigh."

Lord Zheng waved his hand and said, "Forget it, forget it."

After saying that,

Lord Zheng poured the rice in his bowl onto a vegetable plate, and then took Jin Shuke's bowl and covered the rice on the meat dish plate.

This was equivalent to directly making two sets of rice bowls.

"Okay, take this and eat."

"Thank you, Lord Zheng, thank you, Lord Zheng."

Jin Shuke held the plate, got off the bed, and squatted aside to eat.

Lord Zheng also held the plate, got off the bed, sat on the ground, and ate face-to-face with Jin Shuke.

After a while,

Jin Shuke, who was eating, raised his head, looked at Lord Zheng sitting in front of him, and was a little excited for a moment. After choking, he choked on the rice.

He immediately lowered his head and started coughing crazily.

"I don't know what you're afraid of. I'm eating in front of the Jingnan King, and you're not as scared as you are now."

"Lord Zheng is much more majestic in this subordinate's heart than the Jingnan King." Jin Shuke said.

"Okay." Lord Zheng nodded.

Jin Shuke also said: "Furthermore, how can this subordinate compare with you, Lord Zheng?"

"Okay, here we go again. You kid, you're capable. If you hadn't led the army to kill that day, I don't know if I would still be able to sit here and eat."

"Lord Zheng, this subordinate, subordinate, this subordinate..."

"Okay, okay, stop talking, eat first, and then talk after eating."

The two began to eat in silence together.

With Jin Shuke accompanying him to eat, Lord Zheng's appetite also increased.

After eating the rice and vegetables in their respective plates, Lord Zheng picked up the soup bowl again. It was seaweed and egg drop soup. He drank three-tenths of it first, and then handed it to Jin Shuke.

Jin Shuke "gulped" and finished all the remaining soup, and then burped.

After eating and drinking enough,

Lord Zheng was still sitting on the ground,

Jin Shuke also slowly stopped squatting and sat down.

"I am blessed to have you as my subordinate."

"It is this subordinate's blessing to be able to serve Lord Zheng to the death."

"I have always valued you very much. Actually, I noticed you very early on. Otherwise, I would not have arranged for the Sword Saint to guard the city gate with you."

"Lord Zheng..."

"You know what kind of temper I am. I will treat capable people who can do things well under my command, and in the future, I will not be stingy with military exploits and prospects.

"This time, your contribution to capturing Dongshan Fort is the greatest. I have it in my heart. Let's put the rewards aside for now, after all, the war hasn't ended yet."

"Yes, Lord Zheng."

"I called you here because there is one thing that I need you to do."

Jin Shuke immediately knelt down on one knee to Lord Zheng and said:

"This subordinate is at your command!"

"The funeral team for Shi Yuantang, is it ready?"

"Responding to Lord Zheng, according to North Mister's instructions, this subordinate has already prepared it properly."

"Well, I plan to have you lead the team to first send the funeral team to the Wangzhang there, so that our prince can also take a look, and then go around the various Chu army camps and fortresses.

"This is a face-showing job, and it should be done by you."

"This subordinate thanks you, Lord Zheng!"

"Well, okay, let's do that. I'll take another nap, you can go down first."

"This subordinate takes his leave, Lord Zheng, you must also take care of your health."

"Okay, you too."

After Jin Shuke went down, the Sword Saint walked out from the next room and said with emotion:

"I didn't expect him to get to this point."

Back then, the Sword Saint just thought that Jin Shuke was a bit interesting and was someone who could do things. In addition, because of the time they spent together, the Sword Saint owed him a favor, so he opened his mouth to recommend him to Zheng Fan.

But Jin Shuke's growth was so fast that even the Sword Saint was caught off guard.

"Isn't it because your vision is good? You have a keen eye for talent." Lord Zheng laughed.

"I don't have the face to say such things. In the end, it's still because you are willing to delegate power. In this regard, you are very similar to your Yan Emperor."

In the eyes of outsiders, everything in Xuehai Pass is Lord Pingye's word.

But the Sword Saint, as a neighbor, naturally knew how lazy this lord was. Usually, apart from attending some events and showing his face, he was completely a hands-off shopkeeper.

He delegated all the financial power, military power, commerce, people's livelihood, and so on in Xuehai Pass to his subordinates.

"I say, you are going to commit a taboo by talking like this. If the secret agents around me hear it, it will be terrible."

The Sword Saint laughed; "Are you still afraid of this?"

"How can I not be afraid? My subordinates suffered heavy losses in this battle, and I have to seize the time to recover my strength. Moreover, even before the war started, with my strength, I was fine in this Jindo, but in the eyes of the imperial court, I'm really not able to make it to the stage.

"Not to mention anything else,

"If the Yan Emperor really issued an order to let the Jingnan King destroy me,

"Hey,

"Our lord is really not enough to be pinched by one hand."

At this time,

A voice came from outside:

"Then this king, should I pinch you to death or not?"

"..." Lord Zheng.