Volume One, Chapter Three: The Pot Boils, Meat Simmering—Feast Without Restraint!

At the South Gate of Suiye City.

Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the dark road ahead, filled with anticipation. Beside him, Meng Jun and the soldiers behind them were filled with doubt and apprehension. Guanzhou City had explicitly stated that they would provide neither reinforcements nor grain. At a time like this, what possible way could Qin Feng have to obtain supplies?

"Your Highness, what are we waiting for?" Meng Jun asked tentatively.

Qin Feng’s lips curled upward. Pointing to a figure flickering in the moonlight ahead, he said, "It has arrived!"

Meng Jun focused his gaze. Sure enough, a figure clad in pitch-black armor was walking slowly, leading a fine steed laden with several large bags on either side. Under Meng Jun's vigilant gaze, his hand gripping his cold blade, the figure placed the heavy bags before Qin Feng, bowed, mounted the horse, and left decisively.

Qin Feng thought to himself, "Quite a character!"

"Grain!"
"General, it's grain, and meat too!"

Several soldiers carefully opened the packages. Seeing the millet and pork inside, their eyes gleamed with intense excitement! They hadn't tasted meat in nearly a month. Meng Jun sheathed his blade and looked down; it was indeed fresh millet and pork still stained with blood.

However, Meng Jun's excitement quickly dissipated. He sighed deeply and said, "Your Highness, this amount of grain, I'm afraid..."

A hundred catties of grain and ten catties of pork. Even if boiled into thin porridge and broth, it would only barely restore some strength to a few hundred people, without ever letting them feel full. Not to mention that there were over twenty thousand civilians within Suiye City—it was like trying to extinguish a cartload of burning firewood with a single cup of water.

"This is just an appetizer, don't worry." Qin Feng smiled and said to the soldiers nearby, "First, distribute this food to the elderly and children in the city."

"Yes!" The soldiers hoisted the food and headed toward the city.

Qin Feng took off his damaged armor, casually thrust his dulled sword into the ground beside him, sat down, and gazed at the vast starry sky. Meng Jun was filled with curiosity, but seeing that Qin Feng offered no further explanation, he did not press him.

An hour later, aside from the faint whistling of the evening wind across the city walls, the only sounds were the persistent, echoing rumbles of hunger. The faint aroma of meat wafting from the city behind them made the waiting even harder to endure.

"Your Highness, has it not arrived yet?" Meng Jun asked.

Thump, thump, thump!

Before the words had even finished, a heavy sound of horses' hooves echoed from the front. Everyone looked ahead. A squad of a thousand men was slowly approaching, followed by a vast herd of spirited horses. The horses were sturdy and vigorous with flowing manes, moving like a disciplined army. On their backs, some carried massive sacks, while others were strapped with sharp swords and armor, glinting coldly in the moonlight.

"All troops, alert!" Meng Jun drew his blade and commanded coldly.

Qin Feng rose slowly, waved his hand, and laughed, "No need to be tense, our supplies have arrived!"

With that, under the hopeful gazes of the crowd, the thousand-man squad drove the ten thousand spirited horses to them, bowed to Qin Feng, and turned to leave without hesitation.

Qin Feng smiled, looked at the dumbfounded Imperial Army soldiers behind him, and said, "Don't just stand there! Transport this grain into the city, fire up the pots for the meat, and eat your fill!"

The words fell. After a few moments of stunned silence, a thunderous roar erupted. The Imperial soldiers cheered wildly!

"Long live Your Highness!"
"Long live Your Highness!"

Although they did not know where Qin Feng had managed to secure such food and supplies, they knew they would finally have a full meal!

Qin Feng added, "Also, keep the weapons and armor in a unified storage. As for these ten thousand fine horses, each member of the Northern Border Army gets one. Take good care of them; if they lose weight, I will hold you accountable!"

The men laughed, vowing that even if they had to go hungry themselves, they would never let the horses lose a pound. Watching the constant stream of grain, weapons, and horses being transported into the city, Meng Jun asked in bewilderment, "Your Highness, where did these supplies come from?"

This was no small amount. Even in the past, the Great Yu Imperial Court had never been this generous, let alone sending so much meat, weapons, armor, and ten thousand fine horses. Now, with Guanzhou City under blockade, a new emperor on the throne, and the Xiongnu eyeing them like tigers, obtaining such supplies was something beyond human capability.

"This grain was all purchased from merchants in advance!" Qin Feng crossed his arms and said, "Suiye City is at a life-or-death moment; it is time to put these supplies to use."

Meng Jun’s tiger-like eyes shone with admiration. "Your Highness, did you foresee the crisis in Suiye City early on?"

Qin Feng gave a mysterious smile. "Consider it a talent of mine." The existence of the system was too fantastical; even if he tried to explain it to Meng Jun, it would be impossible to make it clear, so he left it at that.

Inside the city, the soldiers had already set up large pots, adding water and firewood. As the flames licked the bottoms of the pots, the water began to boil. Meat was poured in, and before long, the aroma of cooking meat drifted through the air.

The people of Suiye City began to gather. That hundred catties of millet and pork, even if given only to the elderly and children, could not fully solve their hunger. Now, as the scent of meat wafted over, their nostrils flared, and their eyes widened, as if the fragrance had reawakened their very vitality.

Elderly men leaning on canes arrived, trembling as they followed the scent, their parched lips parted, their eyes filled with longing and anticipation. Young women pulled their children along. The children's faces were dirty, but their eyes were fixed straight on the cooking meat, their small hands instinctively clutching their mothers' sleeves, whispering, "It smells so good!"

Many sturdy men could not hold back either. Although they tried to maintain their composure, their quickened pace and eyes locked on the pots betrayed their inner urgency.

Before long, Meng Jun brought a bowl of meat broth and two large chunks of mutton to Qin Feng. "Your Highness."

Qin Feng did not stand on ceremony. He took a large bite of the mutton, drank the broth, exhaled with satisfaction, and said, "Maintain order."

Meng Jun nodded. "Understood!"

At the hour of Hai (9:00 PM to 11:00 PM), although Suiye City remained a place of broken walls and ruins, there was no sorrow or grief, only laughter. It was as if they had completely defeated the Xiongnu and would never have to live in fear again.

The Imperial soldiers were also well-fed. Each wore new, pitch-black armor, carried a cold-edged blade at their waist, and stroked their horses with satisfaction, grooming their coats and adjusting their saddles.

Qin Feng ordered someone to bring a map of the area around Suiye City. After examining it, he asked, "General Meng, how many villages are there outside Suiye City?"

Meng Jun thought for a moment and replied, "About a hundred or so, though I am not certain of the exact count."

Qin Feng nodded slightly. "Dispatch cavalry to every village at top speed and conduct a careful count of all able-bodied men!"

Meng Jun's eyes gleamed. "Your Highness, do you intend to...?"

"Conscript them!" Qin Feng said with unquestionable authority.