Chapter 0010: The General Steals Chickens

I? I went to steal? ... ... I, a general appointed by the governor of Xuzhou, commanding over five thousand troops and warriors under my leadership ... ... am I really going out to steal livestock myself?

Mi Fang hurriedly reported: "The scouts have informed us that there is a large village located twenty miles from our camp. It is said to have been recently established by a clan that migrated here from Qiao. The leading surname is Xu, and within the village, they have gathered several hundred strong men and clan members, primarily raising pigs and cattle, with a considerable number... I do not mean to boast, but we have been catching chickens and ducks for several days now, and each time we have succeeded effortlessly, it has become rather dull... I request permission to capture two large fat pigs tonight to offer as a sacrifice to the flag! I hope the young master will agree!"

What does it mean? Such a profound statement left Mi Fang momentarily perplexed.

Where would the meat come from if we don't seize it? Young master, could you please stop toying with me? I am discussing serious matters with you... This fellow Mi Fang has made this kid a bit neurotic

Regardless of the starting point, the consequences of the military's actions must ultimately be borne by the ordinary common people

... ...

A gentleman's teacher is also a human! Being human, one has the desire for speech... Everyone craves meat! Mi Fang argued with reason and strength

Good skills, good skills! Young master, your talents are truly admirable!

Tao Shang raised his eyebrows and said, "I understand improving the food, but why do we need to lead the troops out?"

"Young Master..." Mi Fang hesitated to speak

Master Tao spoke with solemnity: "General Mi, my father Tao Qian has long been known as a benevolent and virtuous man. Our army in Xuzhou is also one that upholds righteousness. Engaging in acts of burning, killing, and plundering is not something our Xuzhou army should be involved in..."

What is happiness? Happiness is being able to eat whatever one desires, and never lacking for anything one wishes to eat

In severe cases, individuals such as Bai Qi, Xiang Yu, Cao Cao, and Genghis Khan have all engaged in large-scale massacres of cities. The so-called strict military discipline is merely a decorative embellishment of gold dust for the victors in historical records. In fact, most generals, faced with shortages in military supplies and unable to meet the normal needs of their soldiers, resort to such means to reward meritorious soldiers in order to prevent mutiny, while also aiming to boost morale. In fact, most generals, faced with shortages in military supplies and unable to meet the normal needs of their soldiers, resort to such means to reward meritorious soldiers in order to prevent mutiny, while also aiming to boost morale

Mi Fang was instantly dumbfounded upon hearing this

Shall we also lead our troops out for a feast, how about that?" Mi Fang tentatively suggested

The two sat facing each other in silence, caught in an awkward situation between them, until after a considerable amount of time...

At this point, Mi Fang suddenly turned his head and looked at Tao Shang again, his eyes bloodshot: "Young Master, let us go and rob just once! Not too much, just enough livestock to improve our meals! I guarantee that no one will be harmed... I am willing to sign a military order!"

In the evening, as they set up camp, the personal guards brought dry rations and vegetable soup to Tao Shang and Mi Fang. The dry rations were a dark lump, making it difficult to discern what kind of grain it was. The vegetable soup was thin and scattered, with hardly any vegetable leaves to be found, and it had no trace of oil; the salt was pitifully scarce. Drinking it felt little different from drinking plain water—truth be told, Tao Shang thought that this vegetable soup might not even taste as good as plain water.

Today, Wangjia Village in Qiaonan lost five chickens, and tomorrow, Lijiazhuang in Huaidong will be short of six ducks. A few days later, several large geese mysteriously disappeared from Zhangzhuang at the border of Rudi, which can be described as unnoticed and undetected. Moreover, the route is clear, moving straight from east to west, almost spanning the entire Chenru region without any turns

Across various regions, it has begun to circulate that such a large-scale loss of poultry cannot be attributed to human actions; it must be the work of the yellow weasel spirit

Five days later, the troops arrived at Qiaoxian. According to Tao Shang's judgment, this area should belong to the territory of present-day Anhui Province. It appears that Yingchuan is located in the southern region of Henan Province. Thus, according to later calculations, by crossing another province, one can reach the first destination of our side.

The gentleman's teacher does not rob... does he steal?

Mi Fang chuckled twice and said: "If I don't lead the troops, who will take action to seize it..."

Tao Shang sometimes thinks that it is somewhat self-destructive for Tao Qian to team up with Mi Fang, who is rather incompetent, to lead the troops. Tao Shang himself does not know how to command an army, and Mi Fang is even less capable; it seems he has no skills at all. With such leaders, the prospects for the Xuzhou army are indeed concerning

Um... it seems that Mi Fang is somewhat hesitant, unsure of how to explain to him, saying: "It's just to lead the troops out and improve the brothers' rations."

Seeing Mi Fang's unnatural expression, Tao Shang suddenly realized

The potter shook his finger and said: "It is not the gentleman's teacher who steals, but you who steal"

The eldest son is indeed a true divine being

Above the governor, there are three lieutenants and three captains, you, me, plus about ten guards... that is more than enough to steal a chicken

Mi Fang took a few sips of the vegetable soup, and the repression he had felt for days finally erupted in an instant. He threw the bowl and chopsticks heavily onto the table and gritted his teeth as he hissed, "Not a single drop of oil is bad enough! Even the damned salt is pitifully scarce, tasteless... it's even worse than horse urine! I am, after all, a general appointed by the governor, how can I eat this livestock's food every day?"

Mi Fang murmured: "What should we do then"

The merchant sighed and said, "Well, seeing your sincerity, I shall teach you a lesson. Brother Mi, are you aware of a wonderful saying in this world"

Upon hearing this, Mi Fang immediately flushed with embarrassment: "Am I not also considering rewarding our soldiers?"

After reorganizing the troops that were dispatched for the campaign, the next day, five thousand soldiers from Xuzhou began their gradual march towards the land of Yingchuan

... ...

In Mi Fang's eyes was a look of bewilderment: "In an army, the highest commander along with the supervising officer all go out to steal chickens, and you call this a gentleman's army, young master?"

The merchant raised his eyebrows, both amused and exasperated: "Of course! It is you who wants to improve the food, not anyone else. If you want to be well-fed, you must take matters into your own hands... Besides, with 5,000 soldiers all mobilized to steal, do you think the people you are stealing from are fools?"

After two days of jostling on horseback, the potter felt pain in his waist and back, and discomfort throughout his body

Hmm?

The merchant Tao reached out and grabbed a chicken wing, puzzled, and said: "I did not expect General Mi to be so enthusiastic about this matter... Do you have a new goal?"

There are claims that the Han Dynasty did not have saddles and stirrups, which is an unobjective statement. Logically speaking, China during the Qin Dynasty lacked saddles and stirrups, but by the Western Han period, they were already in existence. This is because the Warring States period primarily relied on chariots. However, during the Han Dynasty, after engaging in battles with the Xiongnu, the scale of cavalry had become quite substantial, replacing infantry as the main force. Moreover, many mounted archers and the deep incursions into the grasslands made warfare without saddles and stirrups unrealistic. If the achievements of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were to be considered without saddles and stirrups, crossing the grasslands would have been nearly impossible. By the end of the Eastern Han period, saddles and stirrups were undoubtedly widespread and complete, but there is currently no evidence to determine whether the stirrups were single or double.

Mi Fang chuckled and said: "Young Master, as our army is about to enter the territory of Kong Zhong, engaging in such disgraceful acts in the lands of our allies is likely to be quite contrary to ethics and human feelings... It would be better to take advantage of the fact that we have not yet crossed the border and make a couple of significant moves tonight, so that we can have a proper beginning and end!"

The merchant Tao licked his oily fingers, humbly waved his hand and said: "Brother Mi, you flatter me. Your methods of operation have also become increasingly adept, and in recent instances, you have taken the lead, charging ahead... Over the past few days, you have slain seven roosters, three geese, and captured thirteen domestic ducks. Truly, you possess the courage of a thousand men, and you are indeed worthy of being the commander of the Western Expedition Army appointed by my father. From my perspective, it seems that in just a few days, you will surpass your predecessors!"

I can't take it anymore!

Mi Fang glanced at the dry rations and vegetable soup in front of Tao Shang, which had not been touched at all, and secretly curled her lip, saying, "It sounds nice, but if you don't mind the taste, why don't you eat it yourself?"

The陶商 could not help but laugh in anger upon hearing this. This Mi Fang, instead of properly managing the military, is instead so focused on such matters and scheming...

What is called prosperity brings suffering to the common people... What is called demise also brings suffering to the common people... The most marginalized among the populace are forever bearing the hardships brought about by every word and action of those in higher positions

Along the way, the villages and hamlets, for some unknown reason, occasionally began to discard large quantities of chickens and ducks

After a long journey, Tao Shang felt that he had lost about seventeen or eighteen pounds

Mi Fang stroked her chin and said in a cute and naive manner, "How many people should we go with?"

Mi Fang reached out and grabbed a chicken leg, stuffing it into his mouth, while nodding emphatically and mumbling, "That is natural! That is natural!"

The physique of the Tao merchant is not impressive; after a few days, his bones feel as if they have turned to mush, truly having endured great hardships. Moreover, the food consumed along the way has been quite poor. Although Xuzhou is considered relatively affluent, it had also experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the past two years, and thus is still in a period of recuperation. Tao Qian has decreed that military rations will only supply rice, and no meat is to be provided to the commanding officers. Consequently, the daily meals consist mainly of thin porridge, accompanied by little more than some nameless wild vegetables.

After thinking for a while, the pottery merchant nodded and said: "Very well! General Mi's enthusiasm for taking on such a challenging task is indeed admirable. There is a saying that goes... even the renowned generals of old cannot compare! However, I must make it clear beforehand that tonight is the last time!"

Riding a horse is not the same as riding in a vehicle; one must maintain stability at all times, keeping the body upright, and the lower back must be firm. The saddle can seem to wear down the inner thighs, and sometimes after a day of riding, both inner thighs may develop blisters, making it difficult to bring the legs together when walking.

Tao Shang calmly glanced at Mi Fang and said, "Military life is just like this; as long as the supplies are sufficient, that is already quite good. As for whether the food is good or not, I think you, Brother Mi, should not be so picky."

If that is the case, then there is nothing left but to steal, the potter explained with a smile

... ...

Inside the tent, Tao Shang and Mi Fang are dealing with a roasted chicken, both tearing and pulling at it, eating with great enthusiasm and abandon

In fact, it is quite normal. Throughout history, in times of chaos, when armies are dispatched, whether they are feudal lords, regional governors, or even local tyrants with troops at their command, how many have refrained from plundering the wealth of the people? How many have not allowed their soldiers to pillage and loot?

As time passed, the Xuzhou army had already reached the border of Yingchuan, and within three days, it would be able to join forces with Kong Rong's troops.

After breaching the city, most commanders would allow their troops to pillage for several days. During this period, the commanders, who were primarily responsible for the soldiers' acts of rape and plunder, would turn a blind eye. During the Three Kingdoms period, the population loss due to war was only a part of the total; approximately 60 to 70 percent of the population loss was attributed to such behaviors

Nuo... ..." Mi Fang found it quite boring, and with a sense of resentment, he lowered his head to drink the vegetable soup. However, the taste of the soup was truly unpalatable. Mi Fang came from a wealthy family; while it wasn't a life of luxury, he certainly never lacked meat at every meal. He had long since grown intolerant of such treatment

The attitude of the Tao merchant is very resolute: "No! My army from Xuzhou is a gentleman's army! How can we engage in banditry? As for looting, we absolutely cannot do it!"

Looking at this fellow Mi Fang, he is not much better off. After all, he comes from a wealthy family. Even if he has dabbled in military affairs, it has only been a superficial engagement. He has never endured such hardships, and after just a few days, he is already whining and complaining, cursing his father and mother.

As the saying goes, when a nation is on the verge of collapse, monsters will inevitably arise! In this time of turmoil, how can demons and evil spirits not come forth to stir up trouble? In a moment, the people of Chen Ruzhi's land are filled with anxiety, and everywhere there are high banners hung up, inviting powerful exorcists and sorcerers to come forth and eliminate the evil spirits. Families that have been visited by these demons are fervently burning incense and praying to the heavens and earth, hoping that the Yellow Skin Immortal will show some benevolence and refrain from repeatedly visiting their poultry, and at times, also go and wreak havoc on others' homes.

After reluctantly taking a couple of sips, Mi Fang suddenly threw the wooden spoon to the ground and cried out, "I can't take it anymore! It's too awful! There's not even a hint of meat flavor... It's simply bland to the point of being tasteless!"

Mi Fang is about to lead troops to plunder the wealth of the people

The pottery merchant looked at Mi Fang with confusion and asked, "What does it mean?"

Moreover, the crime scenes that have been lost often leave behind a few indistinct strands of yellow hair, which ordinary people cannot recognize at all, unaware of which celestial being has descended to cause trouble and left behind their magical artifact

Mi Fang said in a naive and simple manner: "What wonderful words are there?"

We are not lacking in military provisions, and besides, the battle has not yet begun. Why should we reward the soldiers for no reason? This will spoil them... General Mi, as the supervising officer, I must take charge of such matters. You are to issue a military order immediately tomorrow: anyone who plunders the wealth of the people during this western expedition shall be executed on the spot.

Starting from the eastern end of Qiaoxian, along the western border of Yingchuan, the disturbances caused by the yellow weasel spirit began to occur frequently

The merchant Tao leisurely remarked: "There are many ways to eat meat, why must one resort to snatching?"

Mi Fang, having eaten his fill, wiped his mouth and immediately began to flatter: "The young master's method of stealing chickens is truly exceptionally skillful! It has opened my eyes... Not only can he catch those poultry without a sound, but his technique is also swift and decisive, without any clumsiness or hesitation. After finishing, he even remembers to deliberately leave behind some yellow threads, creating a false trail to mislead the world, a feat only achievable by someone seasoned in battle... Hehe, the world still believes it to be the work of ghosts and monsters!"

Mi Fang stared blankly at Tao Shang, unsure of where he had learned such twisted reasoning

The merchant displayed a look of disdain: "How foolish! You can't even understand such simple words? Our Xuzhou army is a gentlemanly force; how can we casually plunder and lose the people's trust and reputation? That is the way of chaos! Therefore, looting is absolutely unacceptable."

In recent days, a strange incident has occurred throughout the regions of Huai and Ru

The so-called: a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a prostitute, and a prostitute is not as good as a thief

Do you not understand? This is an art!

Although there was preparation from the very beginning, Tao Shang still did not anticipate that life in the military would be so arduous