Chapter 193 Design Drawing
"It's something from the Western Regions." Liu Yunyan explained.
"I see. I don't know what these Western Region lanterns are made of, but the colored glaze inside can glow. I wish we could place a few more in the city to make it brighter at night."
The Liu family in the capital has business dealings with the Western Regions. The second young lady brought good things from the Western Regions to support them.
Originally, everyone was determined to defend the country even at the cost of their lives, so morale was somewhat tragic and low.
Now, because of this beautiful battle to defend the city, hope has risen in the hearts of the soldiers and the people in the city.
Seeing the foreigners being repelled, everyone was cheering, and the wounded sitting on the city wall had excited expressions on their faces.
Liu Yunyan also gained everyone's recognition and respect, and no one questioned her being a woman anymore.
"This rice actually has vegetables in it. It has not gone bad since it was brought here from the capital."
Sitting around the fire, the veterans had a rare moment of relaxation. They ate the self-heating rice heated in water with big mouthfuls and praised it highly.
I've never had food that tasted so good at home!
When defending the city in the north, the most commonly used seasoning in the army was vinegar.
It is linen cooked with salt and vinegar. It is easy to carry. When using it, cut a small piece and put it in the pot to cook with the grain, so that the food will have flavor.
You can imagine that it has nothing to do with taste.
It’s incomparable to the self-heating rice brought by Liu Yunyan.
The veterans ate very quickly. A bag of vegetable dumplings served with self-heating rice could be shared by several people. Paired with a large bowl of grain, it was simply a delicacy.
"It would be even better if there was some wine." The old veteran with a half-white beard smacked his lips with satisfaction.
"Don't even think about drinking!" Uncle Zhou sighed.
Long before, in order to defend the city, all the wine stored in people's homes was taken out and used as fuel.
"The things are good, but there are too few of them." Someone else sighed.
"I don't know if I will have the life to eat it again." The person next to him said in a heroic and tragic voice.
For those of them who wear heavy armor and fight in battle, a bowl of self-heating rice is not enough to fill them up.
The food made by people from the Western Regions comes in a big box, but there is only a little rice inside.
The cost is too high and it is difficult to use it as military rations.
Everyone in the north has only heard of goods from the Western Regions, and today is the first time we have seen them.
Several veterans studied the food packaging bag for a long time but couldn't figure out what it was.
Liu Yunyan stood on the city wall, and all he could see was the bitter cold wind and snow, as well as the tattered warm clothes on everyone's body.
Defending the city is too hard, and everyone needs a short break.
She can't.
The reason why the foreigners retreated so quickly this time was not because they gave up the siege, but because they lost the initiative in their plan to sneak into the city at the lowest cost and fastest speed.
It was colder in the north at night, and it was snowing. The visibility was poor and there was no advantage, so retreat was inevitable.
If we fight hard, we will lose a lot of manpower and supplies.
But there were no supplies in Shuozhou City, and the arrows used in this wave were the last ones in stock.
Without food or medicine, many soldiers had not only their old wounds healed, but also suffered frostbite.
The firewood can last for three days.
It would take at least five days for the reinforcements to arrive.
The truckload of supplies that the caravan saved was just a drop in the bucket.
The foreigners' intention is to wear them out, and the recent attacks have been aimed at attrition.
If there were enough supplies, the foreigners could hold on even if their forces outnumbered them ten times, but the current situation in Shuozhou could hardly be blamed on the capital.
It was clear that the supplies could have been delivered earlier, but they were delayed and the opportunity was missed.
She didn't believe that there was no one behind the scenes instructing or tacitly agreeing.
Liu Yunyan recalled her brother's expression when she talked about this matter at home and he was very secretive and asked her not to mention it again.
If this was done by King Cheng's faction, my brother would not have such an attitude.
She recalled Xiao Yunpeng's sarcastic and ambiguous words when he was dying, "The city gate you fought so hard to defend was totally not worth it."
The vague guess made Liu Yunyan's mind buzz.
Is it the emperor they are loyal to?
But why? What good would it do to him and Da Qi?
Liu Yunyan took a deep breath and pulled up the coarse cloth around her neck to protect her face which was hurt by the wind.
No matter what, she is now the commander-in-chief defending the city. As long as she is alive, she must guard the gate of Shuozhou for Da Qi.
——
Chen You came to Wen Zhi's house and met Liu Erniang here.
To outsiders, the mansion seemed to be the same as other families, having to customize the most fashionable cotton slippers in the capital from the Liu family workshop.
In addition to giving her something this time, Chen You also wanted to negotiate with her about expanding the business.
The reason why Liu Erniang was not allowed to go to the shop was that the situation in the capital was too chaotic, and Li Heng and the Liu family were active in Qingshi Lane again.
If they were discovered by the old emperor, political enemies, or foreign spies, Liu Erniang would also be implicated.
Wen Zhi is going to the north and won't be able to help when the time comes. Li Heng might be able to help, but Chen You doesn't dare to trust outsiders completely.
Especially in places where power is greater than the law.
Liu Erniang was led by the aunt who was in charge of the mansion to the study in the backyard. She was trembling with fear all the way and dared not look around.
Everyone in the capital knows that the imperial teacher controls the court and will rob other people's homes if he disagrees with them.
She was just a merchant, so she was naturally nervous when she came here.
"Manager Liu, we're here." The housekeeper stopped at the door and said, "Don't be afraid, the girl is very kind."
When Chen You came, she brought desserts and hand cream to everyone and was very easy to get along with.
Now everyone in the mansion only blames the master for not being able to propose marriage quickly to such a good girl.
Liu Erniang nodded with a stiff face, stepped into the door, and was about to bow, but she didn't expect to see Manager Shen!
"We're one family, don't be polite." Chen You stood up and called her.
Liu Erniang hadn't reacted yet. She had guessed that Manager Shen was not an ordinary person, but she didn't expect that she lived in the Imperial Master's Mansion.
Chen You opened the first box on the table and took out the imitation Qing Dynasty jade button inside.
The clothes of the Great Qi Dynasty had no buttons, but the nobles also sewed precious stones and pearls on them as decorations.
The jadeite that Miss Shen took out was extremely well polished and looked very valuable.
"And this, clothing drawings." Chen You said and took out a few printed color design drawings.
They are all Hanfu integrated with modern designs. This kind of innovation and fairy spirit will definitely make the noble ladies' eyes light up in Da Qi.
Although no one in the world would know if he used it directly, Chen You still followed the rules and spent money to buy it from the designer.
"What beautiful clothes and embroidery patterns!" Liu Erniang exclaimed.
She had never seen such a novel design, and the drawing was so clear!
Miss Shen is so amazing!
The last time I went to the Duke's Mansion, the clothes worn by the young ladies didn't look this good.
Chen You thought to herself that the charm of traditional colors and patterns is more expensive in modern times because they are rare, let alone hand-embroidery, which most people are reluctant to buy.
"Before the clothes are made, make sure no one else sees these drawings." Chen You warned.
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