Military rations?
After hearing this, everyone suddenly became energetic.
I saw the maids filing in and placing plates of food on the table in front of everyone.
"This thing..."
Qin Wangzheng looked down and saw two pieces of food similar to gold cakes on the plate. They were wheat-yellow in color and looked bright and conspicuous under the flickering lights.
In the cold temperature of winter, I saw the heat rising from the plate, and a special fragrance passed into my nose.
"What is this? Can it be eaten?"
Qiang Yu shouted, but his hands were not slow, he picked up the cake from the plate and took a bite.
Unexpectedly crunchy and full of unique flavor in your mouth.
Qiang Xu's eyes lit up, he liked this feeling even more than the noodles just now.
His big mouth kept opening and closing, and he ate it all in a while. He turned around and looked around, and saw everyone chewing in small mouths and nodding in praise.
"interesting."
This is another delicious food that I have never seen before.
After taking two bites, Qin Wangzheng at the main seat put the cake down and looked at Zhao Tuo again.
"What is this thing? What's the benefit of using it as military rations?"
Zhao Tuo smiled and said: "Your Majesty, this thing is made of wheat flour and can be called wheat cake. Because it is dry and hard after baking, it can be stored for a long time. According to my observation, if this thing is stored in winter, it will last long. It won’t go bad for more than half a month. In summer, the time may be a little shorter, but it’s enough to store for a few days after making.”
As soon as Zhao Tuo finished speaking, Wang Ben, who was eating cakes on the other side, shouted: "Okay, this thing is very good! If I want to launch a surprise attack, I only need to ask the soldiers to carry this thing with them, and they don't need to bring the cauldron." Wait for things, save the time of burying the cauldron for cooking, and speed up the march. In this way, you can cover more miles in a day and catch the enemy by surprise!"
"Of course, if I use this as military food, if I use troops, I can ignore logistical issues and lead my chariots and cavalry to march straight in. We can attack them in a few days..."
Li Xin was halfway through speaking excitedly when he suddenly thought of his current situation and shut up in despair.
"What General Wang and General Li said is true. This product is military ration and has many benefits."
Zhao Tuo nodded.
The wheat cakes he made this time were actually similar to the pot helmets and naan cakes of later generations. They were dry and durable and could be eaten with water. They were very filling.
As the saying goes, food and fodder must go before soldiers and horses move. In ancient wars, food and fodder for the army has always been a very important issue. Generals and soldiers must consider food security before every battle.
Just like when the Qin army was blocked by Xiang Yan at the swamp outside Shandao, he was afraid that the other party would intercept his food route, so he did not dare to let the army detour to Dongyang. When Zhao Tuo detoured in the end, he was also extremely prepared for the Chu army to attack his grain transport team, and Jing Tong on the opposite side did exactly the same.
If there were wheat cakes, then many of the Qin army's military activities would not require a food transport team at all, which would directly eliminate a fatal flaw, and the tactics that can be used in war will become more flexible.
And because wheat cakes are used as food, there is no need to carry utensils such as cauldrons and steamers, so more food can be carried during the march.
When setting up camp, there is no need for soldiers to chop down firewood for cooking, which saves a lot of time. Moreover, without lighting a fire for cooking, there will be no smoke rising from the camp where the army is located, and it will be less likely to be detected by the enemy in advance, which can improve the situation. Success rate during raids.
Of course, this thing also has many restrictions and is unlikely to be used as a regular diet for the army.
The biggest advantage is that it can be used for short-distance raids!
Just like what Li Xin said, if the rider carries this object, he can go straight to the enemy's heartland in a few days, creating a blitzkrieg effect!
There were many generals in the palace, and Wang Ben, Li Xin, Meng Wu and others spoke one after another about the use of this object in military conflicts.
Even Qiang Yu nodded repeatedly.
Li Si, Yao Jia, Feng Quji and other ministers who were not familiar with military affairs were also more and more surprised as they listened.
Small wheat cakes actually have the power to strengthen an army.
Sitting on the main seat, Qin Wangzheng's eyes were bright. He couldn't help but pick up the wheat cake on the plate and took a bite. It felt really delicious.
"I didn't expect that the unpalatable wheat could be made into such food. Using wheat cakes as military rations can indeed strengthen our Qin army."
Qin Wangzheng praised it, but then he changed the subject.
"However, although this thing is beneficial in military struggles, it cannot directly enhance the national power of Qin. Zhao Qing just said that 'wheat can benefit the military and the country'. Is there any other way to say it?"
"Your Majesty clearly sees the usefulness of wheat, so please listen to your advice."
Zhao Tuo cupped his hands and said: "Wheat, because the wheat rice made from it is difficult to swallow, is often regarded as food for the lowly, and is only eaten by prisoners and slaves, so the people in Guizhou are not very willing to plant wheat. Those who are slightly wealthy would rather grow other vegetables than wheat.”
"If your Majesty promotes these wheat foods in the Qin State, the common people will know these ways to eat wheat and no longer have to chew the unpalatable wheat rice, and they will naturally plant it enthusiastically. In this way, our Qin State will be able to harvest a lot more every year food."
Because of wheat's ability to withstand cold, wheat in this era was mostly sown in autumn and winter and harvested in the following summer. It was called Sumai. It's just that wheat rice is too unpalatable and most people don't want to eat it. Therefore, the enthusiasm for growing wheat is not high, and the area planted with wheat in Qin is not large.
If we follow what Zhao Tuo said and promote the eating of wheat, I believe many people will be willing to plant wheat in autumn and winter. In this way, the food production of the entire Qin State can be increased in a disguised manner. This is the so-called strengthening of national power. !
And because of the emergence of wheat, 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, no longer just food for prisoners and slaves in the past.
The Qin army's food supply expanded beyond the original grain of millet and millet. In times of war, it is equivalent to having one more choice. If the Qin army encounters a very costly war like the Battle of Changping and the Battle of Huaiyang again, the Qin army can use the extra wheat to consume their opponents.
As Zhao Tuo narrated, Qin Wangzheng and all the ministers in the palace all nodded in agreement.
The emergence of foods such as noodles and wheat cakes is indeed beneficial to the country, and it is not just a lie!
At this moment, a middle-aged man sitting in the front row said: "The method of eating wheat that Young Master Zao mentioned is indeed of great use. But Young Master Zao also said that if you want to make wheat into these foods, you need to Just use a stone mill to grind it into powder. Wouldn't this be very restrictive?"
As soon as these words came out, Qin Wangzheng frowned, and everyone's expressions also changed.
This is indeed a hard condition. Although other grains, such as millet, also need to be pounded before eating, it is much simpler than using a stone mill to grind wheat. After all, not every household can afford a stone mill.
Zhao Tuo glanced at the man and saw that it was Wang Wan, the Prime Minister of the Left. He cupped his hands and said, "What the prince said is true. Wheat requires a stone mill. This is a problem that needs to be solved. Therefore, I think we can grind it in every case." In the meantime, the government set up a stone mill and managed it by the local officials. Using animal power to pull the grinding mill can be used by the local people, so that the problem of implementation can be solved."
Seeing Wang Wan's face still slumped, Zhao Tuo knew what the problem was.
He quickly added: "It costs money to build a stone mill, and the officials who guard the stone mill need a salary, and the damaged stone mill also needs to be repaired. Therefore, this stone mill is not free for the people to use. The government can let the people grind wheat every time. When you pay a small amount of money, you will not spend the government's property, but can actually earn some money. And the local people can also use a stone mill to grind wheat for food after paying a small amount of money. This is the best of both worlds."
Hearing this, Wang Wan's face relaxed completely. This thing can actually make money from Xiaomin, which is great.
He nodded to Zhao Tuo and said, "Young Master Zao has thought carefully."
Qin Wangzheng also smiled.
"What Zhao Qing said is very good. This so-called wheat food is indeed beneficial to the military and the country, and can be implemented to govern the internal history of millet. I am very happy tonight!"
Zhao Tuo hurriedly bowed his head and said: "If my humble words can benefit the army and the country and make the king happy, it is my honor."
Zhao Tuo lowered his head, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, 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 to satisfy his appetite?
no.
Is it really to strengthen the country and the army?
A little bit, but not the most important thing.
The real reason that prompted Zhao Tuo to create 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 probing moves.
After being prompted by Wang Jian, Zhao Tuo often felt heart palpitations.
In Qin, the king is the sky.
If Qin Wangzheng had doubts about him, that would be a very terrible thing.
Zhao Tuo's invention of pasta at this time will not only be beneficial to leading troops in future wars.
And he can also show his abilities. This is a strategy for strengthening a country and an army, and it will definitely make the king happy again.
What a king like Qin Wangzheng likes most is capable people.
Zhao Tuo looked up.
The king was looking at him with a smile.
The pasta is almost done, and what follows is the plot about the princess.
This invented plot actually echoes the two chapters "The Qi Dynasty and the King's Heart are Unpredictable". Suspicious by the monarch, the protagonist takes this countermeasure after being prompted to show his ability and regain trust and reuse. These plots are all intertwined and not useless. Moreover, after the emergence of pasta, future war tactics will become more flexible, which is actually very important to the whole book.
