Tian Zili ordered that all the grain be brought out so that everyone could have a full meal. These people were in poor health and were mainly hungry.
Kill all the pigs, cattle, and sheep, cook them in a big pot, and put in the salt as if it were free of charge. The prince-in-law said, no more. Everyone eats freely. Only when they are full can they withstand the severe cold.
These cooked meats plus cured dried fish, poultry, and pork are enough to eat on the road.
The women were mobilized and used bone needles to sew sheepskin and cowhide leather robes. The extra warmth they could get was the best. After all, in this season, there was a high possibility of freezing to death on the way.
Of course, during this season, there are not many people in the wild. It is also the best opportunity to escape.
The army brought tens of thousands of cotton coats, but if there were not enough, they could only use sheepskin and cowhide to make warm clothes. The Mongolian leather robes were stripped clean. Not a single hat, gloves, or leather boots were left behind.
These Chahar people were like shrunken pigs, continuing to sleep in their tents.
The stirrups and saddles, as well as the few camels in the camp, were also taken away to prevent them from reporting the news to Lin Dan Khan. The horses would freeze to death during this season, and only camels could move around.
By the time Lin Danhan got the news, he had already run far away and could not catch up. By that time, everyone had already reached the Great Wall. As long as they entered the Great Wall, they would be safe.
They didn't know that the destination was the city of Duolun.
Few outsiders know about this pearl of the prairie, and even if they know of its existence, the specifics are unclear. For example, Chongzhen only knew of the value of its existence, which was to provide fine-wool sheep's wool to the Queen's Woolen Mill.
The wool of Ming Dynasty sheep and Mongolian sheep is thick and hard, and it is very prickly. When making clothes, the skin will be red and swollen. It can only be made into felt. Only Yangfan's fine-wool sheep can be used for textiles.
An Sanxi collected all the lele carts in the camp. They used camels to tow them instead, and put pregnant women, the elderly, the weak and those in poor health in the carts. In this way, they would have a greater chance of reaching Duolun alive. Various
Supplies and food were also put in the car.
The princess had her own chariot, but now she was pulled by two camels to follow the procession.
Because Tian Zili's child was young, An Sanxi specially approved a kerosene stove to be placed in the car to keep warm. The four walls of the car were wrapped with felt to block the cold wind. The inside was covered with thick fur, and
To keep warm.
Xiaocui and the princess were sitting in the car with their children in their arms. Lu Shouli was sitting on the shaft of the car, driving the car. Two big dogs squatted on both sides of him.
The thick hair of the Mongolian biting wolf dogs gives them the ability to withstand severe cold. The furry fur keeps Lu Shouli very warm and well protected from the wind.
In this way, this huge team left the camp and embarked on the journey back.
It seemed that God was also sympathizing with these poor people who were surviving the disaster. The heavy snow that had been falling for more than ten days stopped. The wind also slowly began to weaken.
"Princess, this stove is so warm." Xiaocui said in surprise as she grabbed her daughter who was trying to test the kerosene stove with her little hands.
Her child is over one year old, much older than the princess's child. The little girl is getting more and more naughty.
The copper kerosene stove placed on the small kang table was exquisitely made and exuded a golden light. The flame inside turned blue. When it was turned on, the carriage immediately stopped being cold.
The most amazing thing is that it is an open fire, and you can use a small pot to cook food on it. You can also use a kettle to boil water.
"The things you Han people make are good, and the good things on the grassland are all bought from the Ming Dynasty." The princess said with emotion while holding a bowl of steaming milk tea. "In the future, when you arrive in the Ming Dynasty, you will often see these good things.
Something."
"Princess, although I am Han Chinese, I know nothing except that I can speak Chinese. I was born and grew up on the shore of Xiaohai. I don't know if life is good in Daming and whether I will be discriminated against in Daming."
Xiaocui said worriedly, she was far more afraid of Daming than she longed for it.
"No, the prince-in-law said that his master is a big shot in the Ming Dynasty and has his own independent territory. People of all ethnic groups there live together equally. No one will discriminate against others."
On the first day after leaving the camp, everyone wrapped themselves up like a ball and hugged the camel's hump tightly. Although these camels from the Horn of Africa were tall, they were all single-humped camels. They were different from those in Mongolia.
Bactrian camel.
However, because it is big enough, two people can sit in front of and behind the hump. Both people must hold the hump tightly to prevent falling.
Seven hundred miles is not a close distance, especially in such heavy snow weather.
It was getting dark and it was finally time to camp. Everyone's legs were numb and everyone was almost frozen.
After stumbling down from the camel, under the command of the soldiers, the camel was surrounded by the city.
Spread a felt on the open space in the middle and place a kerosene stove in the middle. Then boil water, roast the cooked beef and mutton, and naan bread. These are the foods brought by the army.
They have never eaten meat more than once in their lives, even though there are many cattle and sheep on the grassland.
But meat is not for them to eat.
What they can eat is always stewed bones with wild vegetables, offal of livestock, mushrooms picked and dried, and mice and other birds caught.
Don't even think about food. Ordinary Mongolians can't eat it. If they can eat some milk residue, it's because the Mongolian master is merciful.
The slaves looked at a 17 or 18-year-old soldier in fear. He skillfully poured dehydrated vegetables into the pot, and then the dried vegetables instantly absorbed the water and expanded into colorful vegetables.
They were so surprised that their eyes almost popped out of their eyes.
Sprinkle a small packet of soup into it, and the aroma immediately hits your nostrils.
Yang Fan's army all uses these instant soup ingredients in order to improve efficiency and save time.
These slaves who were kidnapped to the grasslands were originally poor people struggling to survive in the border areas.
I have never seen such good food. Everyone stared at the soup pot like hungry wolves. They kept swallowing their saliva. Their stomachs were growling.
However, they didn't dare to take any action. They already knew that these soldiers had very strict rules. All actions must be obeyed. You should do whatever you are told.
The soldier counted how many people there were, and then unloaded a package from the camel. He took out ten small stainless steel basins, one for each person, including one for the children. There was also a stainless steel spoon and fork integrated utensils.
This kind of thing has a spoon on one end and a fork on the other. It is very convenient for eating.
Then, the soldier took out a small iron can and put a tablespoon of lard into the soup. Suddenly, the soup became more fragrant.
"Don't be anxious. Everyone has a bowl of soup and a piece of naan bread. Drink it slowly. The soup covered with hot oil is very hot. You need to blow it with a spoon to cool it down before drinking, otherwise it will easily burn your mouth. Do you understand?"
"I understand, I understand." Everyone bowed their hands and said quickly.
By this time, the naan bread was hot, and the unique aroma of wheat came out. These people's saliva was salivating and they kept swallowing.
When they grow up to this size, they have only eaten flour a few times. Or even never.
Fine grains such as rice and noodles are not for the poor. They usually eat miscellaneous grains half the year and bran vegetables half the year.
However, as soon as the soup and cakes came into their hands, they immediately started drinking the soup and it was so hot that they stuck out their tongues.
Zhang Wang shook his head helplessly. When he first joined the army, he was no better than them.
It was really hard for these slaves on the grassland.
During this retreat, many people ate cooked mutton for the first time.
They have been tending sheep for more than ten years and have never even eaten mutton. But their lives will get better in the future. I heard that the master has divided the land for them, and from now on they will enjoy the same treatment as the farmers in Xincheng.
