Xu Churen cursed inwardly: What a tyrant!
He completely forgot his previous thoughts of praising the emperor.
In the oil pot, spices such as ginger, garlic, cloves, dried tangerine peel, cinnamon, and cardamom were bubbling and releasing their aromas.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, most of the juice from the red chilies had been extracted, and with the addition of sauce, the oil in the entire pot turned red.
Everyone was stunned.
Holy crap!
Is this thing really edible?
As expected! Your Majesty, the culinary disaster you've created is inedible; you were just here to play around in the kitchen!
"Add more alcohol!"
The chef was a little confused: "Huh?"
Then, he quickly realized what was happening, picked up a wine jar from the side, and poured wine into it.
The wines produced in the Song Dynasty were fermented wines, not high-concentration distilled wines, so their effects were not very good.
However, this was, after all, royal wine. As soon as it was added, a rich aroma rose instantly, making everyone take a deep breath.
The spices inside are infused with royal wine in boiling oil.
It gets more and more fragrant over time.
After another incense stick's time, the water in the heavy black iron cauldron had boiled.
"Pour it in!"
The chef quickly poured the contents of the pot into the iron stove.
The cauldron was exquisitely shaped, not large, and made of pure iron. It had excellent thermal conductivity, and the temperature inside was extremely high, making it the best equipment for eating hot pot.
After a while, the inside of the stove began to boil under the heat of the charcoal fire.
Zhao Huan took a plate of mutton slices cut as thin as cicada wings, used silver chopsticks to pick up a piece of mutton, and then put it into the pot to cook.
Damn it! I've been in the Song Dynasty for six years, and I haven't had Chongqing hotpot in six years!
Although it wasn't authentic, it still had some of the flavor.
Zhao Huan slowly fed it to himself, and at that moment, he felt like the happiest person in the world.
Zhao Huan pointed to the other cauldrons: "Pour them all in!"
The chef then began to pour them out one by one.
Zhao Huan then said, "Give one portion each to the Emperor and Consort Han."
Two eunuchs then carried a cauldron, and palace maids carried out chopped meat and vegetables, which were then delivered to the respective palaces of Empress Zhu Lian and Consort Han Chenchen.
Zhao Huan couldn't help but add, "Empress Han can only eat a few bites, not more. You all keep a close eye on her and don't allow her to eat too much. After she has a few bites to satisfy her craving, take the cauldron away!"
"yes!"
Zhao Huan took another bite, then suddenly turned around and saw Xu Churen staring at him with dead fish eyes: "Oh, and there's also Master Xu, pour that pot for Master Xu!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not eat. Your Majesty, I have something important to tell you."
"Let's talk slowly after we finish eating."
"Your Majesty, this matter concerns the safety of the Great Song Dynasty!"
"Lord Xu, this was made by me personally, and I personally directed its production."
Xu Churen thought with great disgust: I dare not eat that stuff!
"Your Majesty, matters of state are of utmost importance!"
Zhao Huan turned around, ignoring Xu Churen, and continued eating.
For someone who loves Chongqing hot pot, who hasn't had a bite in six years, now that they finally have the chance to eat it, what's it to you? I'll just eat my fill first!
Xu Churen watched from the side, seeing the emperor eating with relish, his mouth covered in oil, completely lacking the dignity of an emperor.
The emperor remained silent, creating an awkward atmosphere, and those around him dared not speak either.
After a while, Xu Churen picked up his silver chopsticks, ate some hot pot mutton while breathing on it, and said, "It smells so good!"
Zhao Huan smiled with satisfaction and said, "Is that so? I made it myself and personally directed its production. By the way, Minister Xu, what important matter did you want to tell me just now?"
"Your Majesty, eat the meat first, eat the meat first."
The autumn wind outside blew fallen leaves all over the sky.
After Zhao Huan finished eating, he said to Shao Chengzhang, "Make one for each of my ministers and send them over."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Let's go, Master Xu."
The emperor and Xu Churen walked out of the kitchen. Suddenly, the emperor thought of something and turned around, saying, "Give Tang Ke double."
"As you command."
When Zhao Huan returned to his study, the palace maids had already prepared tea.
The emperor and his minister sat down, and Zhao Huan, while drinking tea, said, "Minister Xu, what important matter do you have to discuss with me?"
"Your Majesty, this is the Northwest War Zone's expenditure for this year."
Xu Churen presented the memorial, and Zhao Huan opened it and saw that 3 million shi of military rations had been consumed!
In the Northwest Theater alone, 5 million shi of military rations were consumed!
The Yan-Yun war zone, which boasts 500,000 elite generals, only has 3 million shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain!
The standard ration for an ordinary soldier in the Song Dynasty army was 3 catties of grain per day, which was more than enough to fill him up!
This was a standard personally imposed by the emperor.
Currently, ordinary soldiers' 3 jin of rations do not include meat.
However, each month the war zone will have one chance to eat meat.
Officers will be allocated a corresponding amount of meat as their rank increases.
Based on the total strength of 300,000 troops in the Northwest Theater, and assuming an average of 3.5 jin of rations per officer, the daily ration consumption would be 1.05 million jin.
One shi equals 194 jin, and 1.05 million jin equals 5,412 shi. From the first day of last year to now, a full 300 days, according to the standard configuration, a total of 1.7 million shi has been consumed!
Of course, officers have the right to reward, so the food consumption would only be more than 1.7 million shi, but 3 million shi is far too much!
This indicates that there are serious problems with the governance of the Northwest Theater Command.
Since the end of the war to destroy the Xia dynasty, the Northwest Theater has been in a rather awkward situation.
The emperor promised that whoever destroyed Xia would be appointed as the Grand Commander of the Northwest War Zone, in charge of the entire Northwest military and political affairs.
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