Xu Di also tried it and said, "We can't make too much of this. It's not packaged, so we can only put it in a flour bag, which is inconvenient to eat. And the seasonings are just two pieces of pickled vegetables. I think we should make some jerky instead."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "This is great. When you're on a march and fighting, and time is running out, you can eat a couple of pieces to tide you over while you're on the go. You don't even need to cook a meal. It's so convenient."
The mother and daughter were in the kitchen researching what else could be delicious, convenient, and, most importantly, easy to carry, when Wei Lang arrived.
Seeing the instant noodles drained of oil in a basket, Wei Lang picked one up and took a bite. After thinking for a moment, he looked at Xu Di with surprise and said, "If we take this with us on a march, it can be used as dry rations."
Xu Di said, "That's right, I was planning to make it and take it with me for training. Your Highness, that special training is no joke. Building such a team is really expensive, but if trained well, it will be a surprise force to win."
Wei Lang nodded repeatedly and said, "I've already selected the people. This time, we'll choose one hundred, and we'll take them into the mountains first thing tomorrow morning."
Xu Di said, "Since we want them to train properly, the food must be adequate. When you get back, have your cooks prepare some of this, and also some fried rice and fried noodles. We'll be staying in the mountains for ten days, and we can't light fires there."
Wei Lang kept agreeing, saying he would have the cooks from there come and learn as soon as he got back. Before leaving, he said, "Xu Di, I've been thinking about this for a long time. How about I give you a military position?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Di said, "I'm going to take the imperial examinations in the future, what's the point of giving me this identity?"
Wei Lang said, "You've done so much for me, and I have nothing else to give you in return."
Xu Di said, "Aren't we going to open a hot pot restaurant together? We're partners now, so it's only right that partners help each other. Alright, alright, Brother Wei, don't overthink it. As long as we train our people and can keep the Northern Di out, that's all that matters. Protecting our country is everyone's responsibility."
After seeing Wei Lang off, Xu Di hurried back to the kitchen to fry rice and noodles.
They use crops grown on their own farms; the rice is made from dry rice that has been pounded, and the flour is made from wheat harvested in the summer.
Xu Di was precocious and intelligent. He started training at a young age and, taking advantage of his young age, sweet talk and high IQ, became good friends with many people who were more than ten years older than him. Even after many years, when those people retired and went home, they still kept in touch and often sent him some local specialties. When Xu Di had time, he would also travel to the hometowns of his good friends.
Xu Di learned to make fried rice and fried noodles when he visited the hometown of a good friend he knew.
Dry-frying rice in an iron pot until cooked gives it a slightly burnt smell. It's delicious whether eaten raw or soaked in water. Xu Di even brought the fried rice to the laboratory and used the laboratory's beakers to cook fried rice porridge.
It's best to add some lard to fried noodles, preferably with some pork cracklings. When you eat them dry, accidentally eating a little pork crackling makes you feel much better. You can also soak the fried noodles in boiling water to make a nice porridge.
After the two ingredients were cooked, they were spread out to dry, and then packed into a cloth bag to take with them.
When Xu Rao returned home and saw the simple food his family had prepared, he said, "Xu Di, you can sew a food bag out of coarse cotton cloth and carry it on your back, just like our revolutionary predecessors did during the Long March. That would be so convenient."
Xu Di thought for a moment and said, "I don't know how to make that."
Xu Rao chuckled and said, "I know, our company goes to those places every year. There are exhibits in the exhibition halls, and the tour guides have explained them to us in great detail. Your mother isn't good at needlework, so go and invite Granny Lu over. We'll ask Granny Lu to sew one for you."
Xu Di happily agreed and went to the backyard to invite Granny Lu over. Following Xu Rao's instructions, Granny Lu insisted on sewing two food bags for him.
Later, Xu Di made the instant noodles into bite-sized pieces. After they were fried and cooled, he packed them in a food bag. When Wei Lang came to pick him up before dawn, he saw that Xu Di was carrying three food bags on his back. Although it looked a bit strange, it was really convenient to use.
For this training trip to the mountains, Wei Lang selected people with good physical fitness and high loyalty. He put a lot of thought into the training. Xu Di had told him that the people trained this time would be able to fight ten against one on the battlefield. Most importantly, these people would become instructors in the future and train more talents like them. Naturally, he didn't want to train talents for others for nothing.
Wei Lang only talked about the training with a few of his confidants. Even the selection of personnel was done in secret. Wei Lang was a man who cared a lot about his soldiers. The men under his command were physically fit, quick-witted, and had a good understanding of the situation. He simply gathered them together, talked about the training, and explained the risks beforehand. Anyone who was unwilling could withdraw.
The Crown Prince personally led the training. Although there were risks involved, it would be foolish to back out just because of those risks.
More than a hundred people, dressed neatly and with only ten days' worth of provisions, were led by Wei Lang and Xu Di into the mountains through the north gate of Hexi.
The most important gate in Hexi County is the East Gate. The West Gate is not very tall because it is close to Yanmen Pass. As for the South Gate and North Gate, they are located near the mountains on both sides, so only tall city walls were built. There is a small gate at the bottom of the city wall, and there are usually no guards on these sides.
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