General Qin

Army rations?

Hearing this, everyone suddenly became energetic.

I saw those maids filing in and putting trays of food on the food table in front of everyone.

"This thing..."

Qin Wangzheng looked down, and saw two pieces of food similar to golden cakes on the plate, which were wheat-yellow in color, and looked golden and very conspicuous under the flickering lights.

In the cold and warm winter, I can only see the heat rising from the plate, and a special fragrance is introduced into the nose.

"What is this, can it be eaten?"

Qiang Li yelled, but his hands were not slow, he picked up the cake from the plate, and bit into it.

Surprisingly crunchy, with a curious aroma in your mouth.

Qiang Li's eyes lit up, this feeling made him even more fond of the noodles just now.

He kept opening and closing his big mouth, and he ate it up in a short while. Turning his head and looking around, he saw that everyone was chewing in small mouthfuls, and nodded in praise.

"interesting."

This is another delicacy that has never been seen before.

Qin Wangzheng on the main seat put down the cake after tasting two mouthfuls, and his eyes fell on Zhao Tuo again.

"What is this thing? What's the benefit of using it as military rations?"

Zhao Tuo said with a smile: "My lord, this thing is made of wheat flour, which can be called wheat cake. Because it is baked, it looks dry and hard, so it can be stored for a long time. According to Yichen's observation, if this thing is stored in winter, it is enough to survive It is not bad for more than half a month. The time may be shorter in summer, but it is enough to store for several days after it is made."

As soon as Zhao Tuo's words fell, Wang Ben, who was eating cakes on the other side, called out: "Okay, this thing is very good! If I want to launch a surprise attack, I only need to let the soldiers carry this thing with them, instead of the cauldron. Waiting for things, save the time of burying the cauldron and cooking, and speed up the march. If you can travel several miles a day, you can catch the enemy by surprise!"

"However, if this thing is used as military rations. If I use soldiers, I don't need to consider logistics issues. I can drive straight in with my chariots and cavalry, and I can go straight in a few days..."

Li Xin spoke in the middle of his excited speech, suddenly remembered his current situation, and closed his mouth lonely again.

"What General Wang and General Li said is true. This thing is military rations and has many benefits."

Zhao Tuo nodded.

The wheat cakes he made this time are actually similar to the pot helmets and naan cakes of later generations. They are dry and durable, and they are eaten with water, which is very filling.

As the saying goes, soldiers and horses go first before using food and grass. In ancient wars, the food and grass of the army has always been a very important issue. Generals and soldiers must first consider food security before every battle.

Just like when the Qin army was blocked by Xiang Yan at the water lake outside Shandao, it was because they were afraid that the other party would intercept their food road that they did not dare to let the army detour to Dongyang. In the end, when Zhao Tuo made a detour, he was also extremely prepared for the Chu army to attack his grain transportation team, and Jing Tong on the opposite side did exactly the same.

If there were wheat cakes, then many of the military activities of the Qin army would not require food transport teams at all, and a fatal flaw would be missing directly, and the tactics that could be used in battle would become more flexible.

And because wheat cakes are used as food, there is no need to carry utensils such as kettles, and more food can be carried when marching.

When camping, there is no need for soldiers to cut firewood for cooking, which will save a lot of time, and if there is no fire for cooking, there will be no smoke rising in the camp where the army is located, and it will not be easy for the enemy to detect in advance, which can improve Success rate when raiding.

Of course, this thing also has many restrictions, and it is unlikely to be a regular diet for the army.

The biggest advantage is still used for short-distance raids!

Just like what Li Xin said, let the cavalry carry this thing, and within a few days, they can go straight to the enemy's heart, playing the effect of a blitzkrieg!

There were many generals in the hall, Wang Ben, Li Xin, Meng Wu and others spoke one after another, talking about the use of this object in military battles.

Even that Qiang Yan nodded again and again.

Li Si, Yao Jia, Feng Quji and other ministers present who did not understand military warfare also became more and more surprised as they listened.

Small wheat cakes are really powerful.

Sitting on the main seat, Qin Wangzheng's eyes lit up, he couldn't help picking up the wheat cake on the plate, and took a bite, it was really delicious.

"I didn't expect that the hard-to-swallow wheat can be made into such food. Using wheat cakes as military rations will indeed strengthen our Qin army."

Qin Wangzheng gave a compliment, but then, he changed the topic.

"However, although this thing is beneficial in military struggles, it can't directly enhance the national strength of our Qin State. Zhao Qing just said that 'wheat can benefit the military'. Are there other sayings?"

"Your Majesty sees clearly the usefulness of wheat, please listen to your ministers."

Zhao Tuo cupped his hands and said, "Wheat, because the wheat rice made from it is difficult to swallow, is often regarded as the food of the lowly, and is only eaten by prisoners and slaves. Therefore, the common people in Qianshou are not very willing to plant wheat. Those who are a little rich would rather grow other vegetables than wheat."

"If Your Majesty promotes these wheat-based foods in Qin State, the common people will know that there are such ways to eat wheat, and they will no longer have to chew hard-to-eat wheat rice, and they will naturally plant them enthusiastically. In this way, our Qin State can harvest a lot more every year. food."

Because of wheat's ability to resist cold, most of the wheat in this era was sown in autumn and winter and harvested in the next summer, which was called permanent wheat. It's just that wheat rice is too unpalatable, and most people don't want to eat it, so the enthusiasm for growing wheat is not high, and the area of ​​wheat planted in Qin is not large.

If according to what Zhao Tuo said, to promote the way of eating pasta, I believe that many people will be willing to plant wheat in autumn and winter. In this way, the grain production of the entire Qin State can be increased in disguise. This is the so-called strengthening of national strength!

And because of the emergence of pasta, delicacies such as noodles can be served on the tables of the wealthy, and foods such as wheat cakes can be used as military rations, which are no longer just the food of prisoners and slaves in the past.

In addition to the original millet, the Qin army's food has been expanded. In times of war, it is equivalent to having one more choice. If it encounters the battle of Changping and the battle of Huaiyang again, the Qin army can use the extra pasta to consume the opponent.

Following Zhao Tuo's narration, Qin Wangzheng and all the ministers in the palace nodded their heads.

The emergence of foods such as noodles and wheat cakes is indeed beneficial to the country, not a lie!

At this moment, a middle-aged man sitting in the front row said: "The method of eating wheat that Shaoshangzao said is indeed very useful. But Shaoshangzao also said that if you want to make these foods from wheat, you need Use a stone mill to grind it into powder. Wouldn't it be very restrictive in this way?"

As soon as these words came out, Qin Wangzheng frowned, and everyone's expressions changed.

This is indeed a rigid condition. Although other grains, such as millet, need to be pounded before eating, it is much simpler than grinding wheat with a stone mill. After all, not every household can buy a stone mill.

Zhao Tuo glanced at the man, saw that it was the prime minister of the left, Wang Wan, and cupped his hands and said, "What the prince said is true. Stone mills are needed for pasta. This is a problem that needs to be solved. Therefore, I think it can be done in every lilu. During the period, a stone mill was set up by the government and managed by the local officials. The use of animal power to pull the mill can be used by the local people, so that the problem of implementation can be solved.”

Seeing that Wang Wan was still sullen, Zhao Tuo knew the problem in his heart.

He quickly added: "It takes money to build a stone mill, the officials who guard the stone mill need salary, and the damaged stone mill also needs to be repaired. Therefore, this stone mill is not free for the use of the people in the village. The government can let the people in the village grind wheat every time. At that time, pay a little money and things. This way, it will not cost the government’s goods, but can earn some income. And the people in the village can also use stone mills to grind wheat and eat after paying a little money. This is the best of both worlds.”

Hearing this, Wang Wan's face completely relaxed. This thing can actually make money from Xiaomin, which is very good.

He nodded to Zhao Tuo and said, "Your Highness has considered everything carefully."

Qin Wangzheng also laughed.

"What Zhao Qing said is very good. This so-called pasta is indeed beneficial to the military and the country, and can be used to implement the internal history of the millet. Tonight, I am very happy!"

Zhao Tuo hurriedly bowed his head and said, "It is my honor to say that my humble words can benefit the army and make the king happy."

Zhao Tuo lowered his head, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his eyes were full of smiles.

Qin Wangzheng was happy, and Zhao Tuo's goal was achieved.

Is his real purpose of making pasta this time for appetite?

no.

Is it really for the sake of strengthening the country and strengthening the army?

A little bit, but not the most important.

The real reason why Zhao Tuo made this thing was to regain the king's favor!

Because of Xiong Qi's incident, Qin Wangzheng became suspicious of Zhao Tuo, the Duke of Zhao, and even made tentative moves.

After being instructed by Wang Jian, Zhao Tuo often felt palpitations.

In the state of Qin, the king is the sky.

If Qin Wangzheng had doubts about him in his heart, it would be a very terrible thing.

Zhao Tuo came up with this thing of pasta at this time, which is not only beneficial to leading soldiers to fight in the future.

Moreover, he can also show his own ability. This is the strategy of strengthening the country and strengthening the army, and he will surely make the king happy again.

A king like Qin Wangzheng likes capable people the most.

Zhao Tuo looked up.

The king was looking at him with a smile.

The pasta is almost done, and the plot about the princess will follow.

This episode of invention is actually an echo of the two chapters "Qi Dai, the King's Heart is Unpredictable". Suspected by the monarch, the protagonist made this countermeasure after being instructed to show his ability and win trust and reuse. These plots are interlocking and not useless. Moreover, after the emergence of pasta, the tactics of future wars will be more flexible, which is actually very important for the whole book.