The military rations were delicious.
Sang Qi admitted to this point. He kept all the beef and mutton, and gave the pork and chicken to Lu Bo and the others. He didn't want the vegetarian dishes. Although they were vegetarian, there was actually some meat in them.
The more the cannibals ate, the more upset they felt. The enemy's weapons were good because they didn't have the technology. They could only accept that they were at a disadvantage. But why was the logistics better than the enemy's? The war was truly a cowardly one.
Lu Bo and the others ate happily. The military rations sounded like they were for the soldiers, but due to the distance, it wasn't easy to preserve, so it should be hard to swallow. Today, they truly felt the strength of their country. It turned out that the military rations could be made even more delicious than those in ordinary restaurants.
Lu Bo slowly chewed a small piece of pickled cucumber in his mouth. It looked like an ordinary pickled cucumber, but it was marinated in shrimp oil, so it tasted fresh and delicious.
He glanced at the 24 subordinates who came with him and saw that they were all eating slowly. They hadn't eaten anything decent for many days, so the food now had the taste of their homeland.
The people at the border didn't get much. Three people ate two portions, and the portion that they didn't get was taken by the cannibals. The 164 people once again considered themselves as Tang people, and no longer felt that they were independent and independent existences.
The 164 people whispered to each other, their intentions more or less the same. If they could return alive, they would plant a flag of the Great Tang on their houses to indicate where they belonged. Like many Tang people, when they had nothing to do, they would plant the flag of the Great Tang on their windows and eaves, and some of them would even draw on their walls.
The military rations sent over weren't much. Even if they ate slowly, they were finished after half an hour. The cannibals weren't full, and each of them only tasted a mouthful. Thus, they turned their gazes back to the cans.
Sang Qi sucked his fingers. Just now, when he ate, there were chopsticks. He didn't know how to use them, and the people at the border also didn't know how to use them, but they still learned how to use them. After all, they were Tang people. Even if they didn't learn now, they had to learn if they survived. Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
"You, come here." Sang Qi shouted to Lu Bo. Lu Bo drank the last mouthful of soup, burped, and rubbed his stomach as he walked over. The food was enough for the soldiers, and he hadn't eaten properly for many days, so he ate until he was full.
"Open the can." Sang Qi looked at the satisfied expression on Lu Bo's face. He wanted to kill the other party, but at the same time, he thought that if he was also from the Great Tang …
Lu Bo burped again and picked up a can to study it. The acrostic poem was still vivid in his mind. He needed to think about how to open it. Many cans in the country did not have a long shelf life. They were made of bamboo, and the cost was low. Now they were made of iron. He had to read the instructions. Otherwise, it would be troublesome to destroy it directly.
"The tab." Lu Bo mumbled and stuck a finger into the tab. Thinking that something was wrong, he took it out and pressed the tab in one direction, making a small hole in the can. Then, he hooked the tab again and pulled it in the other direction.
A piece of iron fell off, revealing the contents of the can.
"What … is this?" Lu Bo was stunned. He had never seen this kind of food before. Fried rice? Covered rice? Why does it smell like there are so many spices? This … this was not the level of the chef Between the Clouds and the Water, right? Scallions, ginger, and garlic actually accounted for a large proportion of the ingredients. Using seasonings as supplementary ingredients?
Three of the 24 people who came with him came up and looked at the food in the can. They were also confused. One of them could not help but say, "It can't be? What are the chefs of the Zhang Family and Wang Family planning to do? Was it a revolt? Can this be eaten? "
"Let me open another one. Maybe it was not packed properly when it was packed." Lu Bo took another can and opened it in the same way as before. The inside was still the same as before.
Passing the can in front of Sang Qi, Lu Bo said embarrassedly, "This may be a newly developed food. It is not mature yet. I believe that it will be adjusted after some time. It will be fine to eat it then. The chefs of the Zhang Family and Wang Family are probably very busy and careless."
"Yes, yes. Normally, they should not have made it like this, really." The person who spoke just now promised. It seemed that the chefs of the Zhang Family and Wang Family had made the food like this, and they were also embarrassed.
Sang Qi put the can in front of his nose and smelled it. He nodded. "It tastes good. It is better than what we ate before we came. Call someone over and let's eat."
He called someone over from the border. He was afraid that it was poisonous. If someone was poisoned to death, it would have nothing to do with him. He thought that the Miao Protection Team would not be covered by artillery.
As hostages, Lu Bo and the other 25 people suddenly felt a sense of superiority. Pig food was actually praised. It was really sad to live a polyphagous life. No wonder many polyphagous people were willing to come to the Tang Empire in the past. They enjoyed a different life.
The 25 people thought so, but no one took the initiative to try it. What if it was really poisonous?
Five people from the border were called over. They opened three more cans, one for each person, and let them eat.
The five people held the cans and looked at them. Seeing that the polyphagous people wanted to come over, one of them immediately said, "Give me the chopsticks just now. I will eat."
"Use your hands." Sang Qi was not used to this. If he used his hands to grab, why couldn't they grab? Why did they have to use chopsticks? It was infuriating.
The five of them obeyed and reached out to grab the contents of the can. They pinched a little with three fingers and carefully put it into their mouths. They chewed twice, blinked their eyes, smacked their lips, and immediately reached out to grab the can again. They ate quickly.
They ate about 20 mouthfuls in a row. They looked at each other and were relieved to see that they were all alive.
"Wait a minute. You, what do you think?" Sang Qi stopped them and asked one of them.
The person who was asked nodded vigorously. "It's delicious. It would be better if there was less ginger."
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Lu Bo also asked.
The five people shook their heads.
Lu Bo pondered and opened another can. He reached out to grab it, but one of the people who came with him snatched it. "Boss, I will go first."
After saying that, he began to eat. After two mouthfuls, a smile appeared on his face. "I knew it. The food made by the Zhang Family and Wang Family's chefs can't be bad. I don't feel that there is too much ginger and too much pepper. It's not like I'm drinking mutton soup."
Sang Qi was tempted. He hesitated but still insisted on not eating. He let the five people finish the food in the can. Everyone surrounded the five people to see their reactions.
"I, I still want to eat." One of the five people said eagerly.
Lu Bo stopped him. "Don't be in a hurry. You have been hungry for too long. If you suddenly eat too much, it will cause problems. Do you want to drink water?"
"Drink." The five people really wanted to eat. Their stomachs were always hungry.
Someone brought a water bag and each person drank a few mouthfuls. They sat on the ground and waited to see if they were still alive.
The shadows of the five people gradually grew longer. Nothing happened to the five people. Instead, they digested the food and were no longer hungry. They sat there with a happy smile on their faces, enjoying the feeling of being full under the sun.
"Eat. Half of the people eat first." Sang Qi saw that the person who tasted the food was still alive and well. He waved his hand and ordered.
The many people were anxious. Immediately, half of them stood out and opened the can like how Lu Bo did before. They reached out and stuffed the food into their mouths. There was no smell of pork in the mixed food. They could taste that it was made of mutton oil and some mutton. With all kinds of seasonings, they ate until their stomachs felt warm.
After each of them ate two cans in a row, the others continued to wait under Sang Qi's order. The clouds in the sky floated and flew away. Another hour passed. The many people who ate the can were still alive. The five people who tasted the can were also fine.
Lu Bo thought for a while and said to Sang Qi, "General Sang Qi, eat. The protection team won't poison you. They know that you will let us try first. If they poison us, they will poison us. They are here to rescue you, not to harm you. It's just that you have to be careful in the process of meeting up with the main force on your side. They will keep shooting from the back.
Sang Qi was happy when he heard the first part, but when he heard the second part, his face turned gloomy. According to the Tang people, it was impossible to stop halfway. They didn't dare to kill to test the water. When they were rushing, the other party would shoot and they would have to walk for a few days. What should he do?
Should he discuss with the other party and let them go so that they wouldn't attack? No, if it were him, he would immediately chase after them. Should he tell them that he would kill one of them? It would be useless. They dared to shoot yesterday.
"Eat." Sang Qi, who couldn't think of a good idea, gritted his teeth and took a can to eat.
The other half of the people who didn't eat just now also opened the can as fast as they could.
When it was in his mouth, Sang Qi knew why the people who ate just now had that kind of expression. It was so delicious. Although it was cold, the food inside didn't make people feel disgusted. When it entered the stomach, there was a warm feeling, as if the whole body was full of strength.
When they were full, there were only 21 cans left in the woods. Sang Qi naturally kept the rest of the cans for himself. After a short rest, he let the hostages stand up and tie them firmly. Two people with knives were behind each of them. They surrounded their own people and continued to move forward.
After walking for a while, they saw a small river. The water was clear, and they could see the stones and small fish swimming below.
The crowd cheered. There was water.
Lu Bo squatted down and dipped his hands in the water. He washed his face first before drinking a mouthful. He requested Sang Qi, "Let us take a bath and change our clothes."
The 24 people who came with him looked at Sang Qi. They were here to do business, so they naturally had to bring things. Everyone brought an extra set of clothes and toiletries. They were confiscated before, but Lu Bo went to curry favor with the Great Tang traitor and was rewarded back. They hadn't been used since. The main reason was that many people were not used to wearing clothes and using other toiletries was also unfamiliar.
Sang Qi nodded and asked, "There's no poison in the water?"
"How much poison is in the flowing water? Don't worry. "Lu Bo revealed a flattering smile and shamelessly tried to curry favor with the Great Tang.
He did this to survive and create opportunities for the seedling protection team.
However, Wang Miao, who was watching from afar, pursed his lips tightly. He had already received news from the country and understood Lu Bo's family situation.
He was a pretty good businessman. He had two wives and seven children. His parents were still alive, and he was still supporting the parents of two of his wives. The grandfather of one of his wives was still alive, and he was as respectful as he was to his own grandfather.
His family had large courtyards in the capital, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yizhou, and Luoyang. He was smart since young, and he took over the family business at the age of 16. He got along well with the local officials. He had no criminal record and never gave money to the local schools. However, he opened a small book printing company that specialized in printing books for children and gave them out free of charge.
Five years ago, he found that this business route was more profitable, so he brought people here to do business. His family mainly dealt in leather, and later on, they added medicinal herbs and sold them to the clinic.
He could be considered a pretty wealthy businessman and lived a good life. His family was harmonious, and he was kind to others. He didn't take loans from banks, and his family had a lot of cash. However, he was willing to give the clinic credit for medicinal herbs.
He was also talented. He was proficient in six foreign languages and had good calligraphy skills. He also liked painting and often invited scholars to hold poetry gatherings.
He was very good to his employees and had a relatively high charisma.
Usually, he was neither servile nor overbearing when he met the officials, but now, he was like a dog trying to please its owner.
Wang Miao felt very uncomfortable. He felt that he didn't do a good job. Every smile of Lu Bo's was like a knife stabbing into his chest. He picked up the sniper rifle beside him and shot down the other party's leader, but he didn't dare to do so.
After threatening the other party, he actually felt a little guilty. Fortunately, he found that the other party was illiterate. Not only did they not recognize the Great Tang's words, but they also didn't recognize their own words. The school was very important and could play a life-saving role at a critical moment.
Wang Miao looked and estimated the time it would take for the people here to meet up with the main forces. He also estimated the time when he would release the spiked cans. He decided not to shoot at the other party during this process. At most, he would shoot at the sky to slow down the troops.
If he killed one of the other party and the other party retaliated by killing one of his own people, should he open fire or not?
Putting away his binoculars, Wang Miao gritted his teeth and said, "If only I knew what the other party's leader was thinking. Just wait, just wait. You'll all cry."
The speed of the many people was just as Wang Miao had expected. They slowed down and placed a portion of the hostages outside, constantly changing their positions. The other people hid behind the hostages and mixed in with the rest of the hostages so that the Great Tang army wouldn't shoot at the rat for fear of breaking the vases.
As night fell, the many people were exhausted. None of them were killed during the day, but the psychological pressure was even greater. They knew that there were countless eyes watching them and looking for an opportunity to kill them.
They were nervous when they were walking during the day, and they didn't dare to relax at night. The torches and bonfires burned, making crackling sounds from time to time. Every time there was a crackling sound, it made people worried that it was the sound of gunshots.
When it was time for dinner, the many people began to miss the days in the day. They ate canned food in the day, and now they had to eat the stir-fried barley at night. It was really hard to swallow. Without so many seasonings and delicious salted vegetables, they could only force themselves to swallow.
Tonight, the hostages didn't have any food. The many people felt that they had eaten a lot at noon and could starve a little.
Lu Bo's twenty-five people were gathered together and had relatively more freedom. The many people standing outside the tent were their own world.
"Drink some water. We'll probably have something to eat tomorrow morning." Lu Bo was also hungry. He rubbed his stomach and said to his subordinates. He picked up the water bag and gulped down a few mouthfuls to make his stomach feel less empty.
"Why didn't they send us anything to eat at night?" A person hugged the water bag and mumbled when he didn't feel like drinking.
"I'm not sure." Lu Bo shook his head. He wasn't complaining, but he was puzzled. Logically speaking, since the protection team had found them, they should have sent them something to eat. Now that the many people had finished eating, they were still hungry.
Midnight came quietly when everyone was hungry and nervous.
The sound of a gunshot broke the silence of the night. The Duo Eater on night watch was shocked and looked around to see who had been killed. The fire was still burning and the dark clouds were rolling in the sky. The moon and stars could not be seen, making people feel oppressed.
Sang Qi, who was sleeping in his clothes, walked out of the tent under the protection of a few people. He asked loudly, "Who died?"
After a while, someone came to report, "No, no one died. Should we go and get something?"
"Where did the gunshot come from?" Sang Qi listened and his stomach felt empty again.
"Over there." Someone pointed in a direction. There was a mountain, and the gunshot was echoing, making it difficult to distinguish.
"Take the hostages and take a look," Sang Qi ordered.
Someone came and called the hostages to the place where the gunshot came from. The hostages woke up. They were awakened by the gunshot.
It didn't take long for the people who went to check to return. As expected, they were carrying something. It was still a wooden box. Inside it was some military food and some canned food.
There were exactly 189 canned food. It seemed like they had prepared one for each of the hostages. However, there were only 200 canned food. It definitely wasn't enough for the many people.
Sang Qi didn't need to look to know that the food was filled with pork. It was specially prepared for the hostages. The 200 canned food was for his side.
"Wake them up and let them eat. If they don't let me sleep well, I won't let them sleep well either," Sang Qi ordered.
Lu Bo and the others were woken up. They came out of the tent in a daze and saw the food under the light of the torch. They were all very happy. There was food to eat, but the timing was too good. Why did it only arrive in the middle of the night?
"General Sang Qi, thank you, thank you. Can I eat?" Lu Bo ran to Sang Qi and bowed repeatedly.
"Eat, eat and sleep well. We have to hurry tomorrow." Sang Qi didn't want them to eat, but he was worried that it would affect their stamina. He could only agree gloomily.
He also picked up a can and was about to eat when he suddenly stopped and passed it to Lu Bo, "I'll add a can for you. You eat first."
"Yes, yes." Lu Bo took it and started to eat. He knew that the many people wanted him to test the poison. They were really cautious.
While eating, he looked at the words on the can. It was written in a different style. It said, "Delivering food in the middle of the night. Because of the long journey, it is difficult to transport. Peacefully wait for the clouds to disperse. Like the sun, like before. "
After seeing the words, Lu Bo's legs trembled. He knew that the time to act was three days later. The limerick on the can wasn't written clearly, but he knew.
Because he remembered that before he came here, he held a poetry party. Someone wrote a poem and everyone commented. When it was his turn, he said, "Like the sun, like the moon rising. Looking at the words and reading the shape, it was a good poem."
Then, today's limerick said that food was delivered in the middle of the night, followed by "like the sun, like before." It was telling him the time to act.
Lu Bo ate and sighed in his heart. It was too amazing. In just one day, they found out everything and used it to send a message on the can. How much resources did Xiao Bao and Cuckoo mobilize? Otherwise, it would be impossible to find out so clearly.
Three days, there were still three days. He had to hold on. If he didn't put Sang Qi in a cage by then, his name would be written upside down. No, it would be written horizontally.
Sang Qi watched Lu Bo eat and continued to wait. He wanted to find a few more people to test the poison, but he didn't want to. If there was no poison, his people would eat less.
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