Considering the quality of the food on the upcoming march, the entire anti-bandit army was quite attentive to Pei Liang.
After all, she was the only woman, which made things a bit inconvenient. They even set up a separate tent just for her, diligently driving out insects, boiling water, and bringing in dry straw to make a bed.
Pei Liang only needed to lay out some clean clothes and she could sleep—Shi Feiyu himself didn’t receive such treatment.
Although the conditions were still rough, compared to sleeping out in the wild alone, it was quite comfortable. At the very least, there was no need to worry about personal safety.
Pei Liang hadn’t slept for two days straight. After a quick wash and tying up her hair, she fell into a deep sleep for the entire night. When she woke the next morning, she was fully recharged.
She couldn’t help but marvel at the advantages of youth—being under twenty, her body could endure a lot.
Pei Liang was among the last to wake. After tidying up her simple tent, she headed straight to the riverbank.
The soybeans had already been ground, and several large buckets were filled with milky white liquid.
Pei Liang busied herself with lighting a fire, then called over Qiu Sanxiang and Ying Siji. “I heard a lot of chickens crowing just now. There must be plenty of wild fowl here. The cured pork is too greasy for breakfast—if we want something tasty, it’s up to you two.”
Qiu Sanxiang’s archery was exceptional—so precise it almost seemed magical. Only then did Pei Liang dare entrust them with such an early mission.
After all, hunting enough chickens to feed this many people was no small feat.
Qiu Sanxiang smiled confidently. “Just wait.”
With that, he led Ying Siji and several other skilled riders and archers into the woods.
Pei Liang turned and took two bamboo poles, tying them into an equilateral cross shape. She then had coarse burlap tied to the four ends, creating a large, stretched-out sieve.
She slowly poured the soybean milk in, shaking it alternately clockwise and counterclockwise. The filtered soy milk flowed into the buckets below.
This was a task that required no special skill and didn’t need Pei Liang’s personal attention. A few nimble helpers quickly crafted two or three more sieves, and soon all the soy milk was filtered.
As the soy milk was brought to a boil, Pei Liang had her own use for the large bags of soybean pulp left behind.
By then, Qiu Sanxiang and the others had returned, each carrying several wild pheasants and rabbits. Not only that, Ying Siji opened a pouch to reveal a good number of wild eggs.
Pei Liang smiled with delight. “Perfect. That’ll add even more flavor.”
She instructed them to use boiling water to pluck the feathers and gut the birds. These were tasks the soldiers, accustomed to marching and camping in the wild, handled expertly and swiftly.
Pei Liang cracked the yolks of the wild eggs into a large bowl, adding oil, sugar, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice from the wild greens they had gathered. She quickly whisked it all into a simple homemade mayonnaise.
Then she had someone grind wasabi root against a stone until it became a paste, mixing it with wild honey collected the day before and some freshly ground spices.
She tasted it. Although it lacked some ingredients, the freshness of the components made the flavor rival that of any industrially produced batch.
By now, the men had stripped the meat from the bones of the chickens and rabbits as Pei Liang had instructed, chopping the meat finely.
To be honest, wild pheasant was fine for soup, but the meat itself was a bit tough.
However, there was a certain way of preparing it that could make up for this shortcoming.
Everyone watched as she mixed okara with minced meat, adding ginger juice, chopped scallions, and ground mountain pepper along with several other seasonings, kneading and pounding the mixture until it developed the perfect elasticity.
Finally, it reached a satisfying sticky consistency, and she shaped the okara and meat mixture into patties about the size of a child's palm.
She dusted them with fried flour, dipped them in beaten egg, then coated them with fried rice flour before dropping them into the pig fat rendered the day before, which had been heated until shimmering.
The moment the patties hit the hot oil, they crackled crisply, and soon the rich aroma of chicken blended with grains filled the air.
Tell me, how many people in this world can resist fried food? High sugar and high fat—these are choices hardwired into human evolution.
If even in today's world of abundant food and clothing this is true, imagine how much more so in ancient times of scarcity.
Those packing up caught their breath at the delicious smell, swallowing hard as Pei Liang instructed someone to fetch a type of wild vegetable to wash in the river.
"Make sure to wring out the water well," he reminded.
When the patties were done, they were handed out to everyone along with bowls of soy milk sweetened with honey.
Some couldn't wait and bit in immediately—the crispy, fragrant crust gave way to juicy, tender chicken inside.
Okara, such a coarse byproduct, was usually considered barely edible after the soy milk was extracted—leftover pulp meant just to fill the stomach.
Who would have thought that now, the full-bodied aroma of soy and the satisfying chewiness could bring such pleasure that sweat broke out on their brows?
Pei Liang then placed a bowl of honey mustard sauce on the table and told everyone, "Dip the patties in this sauce, and eat them with the wild vegetables—it tastes even better."
No one doubted him. The thought of such delicious patties tasting even better was enough to make them reach out quickly, afraid they’d miss out.
Sure enough, the sauce carried a strange, sharp heat, but thanks to the honey and mayonnaise smoothing it out, it wasn’t overpowering. Dipped in the sauce, the patties’ crispiness and juiciness gained layers of flavor.
Wrapping the wild vegetables around them added another dimension. Usually, the wild greens eaten raw had a faint bitterness, but here, that slight astringency blended beautifully with the fried flavor, creating a taste so stunning it drew exclamations of delight.
This was food beyond their previous experience.
Even Shi Feiyu and Ying Siji, who had tasted countless delicacies, found this sauce rare and intriguing.
It was odd—though their bodies had no similar flavor memories, the taste was surprisingly impressive.
Of course, some couldn’t handle the wasabi-like sting; even pure wasabi paste, mild as it was, was too much for them.
After breakfast, full and content in both body and mind, the anti-bandit troops broke camp and set off.
In recent years, chaos across the land had kept the imperial court overwhelmed, leaving little energy to deal with minor bandit troubles.
The reason this 500-strong force was dispatched was that last month’s tribute had been robbed, sparking the emperor’s fury and an order to clear the tribute routes.
From this, one could see how hopelessly corrupt this dynasty had become—at a time like this, the highest priority was still to protect the channels of luxury.
Shi Feiyu carried the imperial edict, granting him the authority to conscript local garrison troops wherever he went and full command over them—a considerable power.
After several days of marching, Pei Liang took excellent care of the hundreds of soldiers’ appetites, preparing meals that were both efficient and delicious, rarely repeating the same dishes.
As a result, Shi Feiyu gradually entrusted her with greater authority—even allowing her to temporarily break away from the light cavalry when necessary.
For instance, when passing through villages or county towns, the army wouldn’t stop or delay their march, but Pei Liang could take a few men to quickly run errands and make purchases, provided that the goods didn’t become a burden or hinder the army’s progress.
Thanks to the steadily improving meals, with something to look forward to at every meal, the soldiers’ morale was high and their enthusiasm for any task was remarkable.
When they reached their first bandit stronghold, under Shi Feiyu’s tactical command, the troops swiftly and thoroughly wiped out the bandits, despite the latter having the advantage of terrain.
When it came time to inventory the spoils, the soldiers were surprisingly indifferent to the money and valuables seized from the bandits’ plunder. Instead, their eyes lit up at the sight of the various wines, meats, and food supplies hidden in the bandit den, along with the cattle, sheep, chickens, and ducks raised in the hills behind.
“This is delicious—send it to Chef Pei.”
“This is good too—send it to Chef Pei.”
“Wow, this is tasty as well. A whole nest of bandits, huh? I spit on them! Send everything to Chef Pei.”
Thus, besides following military orders, the soldiers found an extra motivation during the bandit hunts: “raiding the kitchen and boosting the rations.”
Shi Feiyu was a master at commanding her subordinates. Although this was her first major responsibility, she seemed naturally gifted at inspiring the troops.
From then on, whenever the army approached a bandit hideout, the soldiers’ thoughts could almost be read on their faces.
“See that bandit den? It’s not just a bandit den anymore—it’s our dining hall for tonight’s feast.”
Pei Liang, cooperating with Shi Feiyu’s strategy, naturally pulled out all the stops at these moments.
Though unspoken, after a few rounds everyone understood that once the bandit den was cleared, a divine feast awaited.
Those fierce bandits were no longer enemies but merely tokens to be cashed in for a grand banquet. Once enough points were accumulated, it was time to feast.
Thanks to the soldiers’ rich combat experience and fierce fighting spirit, their enthusiasm was unprecedented, and the missions went smoothly all along the way.
Most of the time, the local militia was of little use in these mountain bandit areas. When a dynasty’s fate is waning, decay inevitably spreads from the top down.
Moreover, mountain bandits were mostly disorganized rabble. Ancient laws strictly controlled iron weapons; from equipment to combat capability, they could not compare to Shi Feiyu’s personally selected elite troops. Often, they were even outnumbered.
Even with the advantage of terrain, it was only a matter of how long they could hold out. So far, they hadn’t encountered any truly difficult bandit dens.
Meanwhile, Pei Liang was steadily approaching Jiangnan.
One day, as they entered the jurisdiction of Kaili Prefecture, they stopped at a notorious bandit-infested area.
Last year, the region suffered a devastating pestilence, and life for the common folk had become harsh. While the capital region was still relatively prosperous and they could forage along the way to improve their meals, the farther they traveled from the capital, the less they could expect to find food readily available.
Some places were barely livable; others had reached the desperate point where families were selling their children and daughters. Even pulling a single blade of grass from the mountains was a struggle.
This was another reason why the soldiers were so eager to hunt bandits and raid their kitchens.
The governor of Kaili Prefecture was relatively benevolent. After last year’s pest disaster, he actively organized relief efforts, which had been effective. So although the area looked desolate and impoverished, it hadn’t yet descended into widespread starvation.
Because there had been no new supplies for the past two days, their meals had become much simpler. The soldiers, once nourished by delicious food and now glowing with health, began to feel a bit restless.
As the sun was about to set, Ying Siji, who had been scouting ahead, returned excitedly. "There's a village up ahead. How about we stop and buy some meat, vegetables, and seasonings?"
Shi Feiyu glanced around at the terrain, a thoughtful look flickering in his eyes.
He then looked at Pei Liang and noticed her gaze lingering on a few spots as well. He realized that she was probably thinking the same thing he was at that moment.
To be honest, although he was traveling as a cook, having gone through several skirmishes and battles along the way, he found working with Pei Liang especially easy. In a short time, they had developed a remarkable understanding of each other.
Shi Feiyu had been gifted since childhood, and few could keep up with his pace, but with Pei Liang, she not only instantly grasped his intentions but had already prepared to cooperate.
If anyone knew what to do right now, it was definitely her.
He nodded. "Go ahead, take a few more people with you."
Ying Siji then led Pei Liang and several soldiers on horseback swiftly toward the village, while the rest began setting up camp.
The village was somewhat rundown. The sight of a group of mounted soldiers in uniform immediately made the villagers nervous.
Along the way, they saw few able-bodied men—mostly the elderly, women, and children. It was understandable; with frequent conscriptions in recent years, some places had already reached the point where there was no one left to recruit. The villagers’ fear of soldiers coming to seize people was only natural.
Soon, a hunched old man came out. Upon seeing Pei Liang and the others, he quickly forced a smile.
"Gentlemen of the army, what brings you here?"
Ying Siji replied, "No need to be nervous. We're just here to buy some meat, vegetables, and seasonings."
To avoid any misunderstanding of being robbers, he shook the jingling money pouch. "Don’t worry, we’ll pay."
Relief spread across the old man’s face, but then he hesitated. "The harvest hasn’t been good. Most households don’t have much stored food, but we do have some sweet potato and pickled vegetables to spare."
"There’s a bandit den nearby that keeps coming down the mountain to raid us. Chickens, ducks, pigs—everyone’s barely left with anything."
For a moment, Ying Siji and the others felt reluctant to buy what little food the villagers had.
Pei Liang, however, said, "That’s all right. We can come to your house and wait while you gather what you can."
"That’s fine, that’s fine!" the old man said.
He led them to his home.
It was a modest farmhouse courtyard. Just as they entered, a young woman with delicate features came out.
"Grandpa, who are these people?"
"Mind your manners. Go quickly and pour some water for the gentlemen."
The woman pouted but turned and went into the kitchen.
In a simple farmhouse, the main room usually held just a square table and four narrow stools.
Ying Siji and the others didn’t mind and pulled out the stools to sit.
Pei Liang, however, glanced at a small patch of grease stain on the edge of the table. Because it was on the rim, it was easy to overlook if cleaned carelessly.
She took a breath. Most people might not notice, but as a cook, she could identify the ingredients, cooking techniques, and sequence of dishes just by scent. Her keen and precise sense of smell was beyond ordinary.
From the lingering aromas in the air, she could even tell what dishes had been served on this table during the last meal.
Before long, the old man’s granddaughter brought out several bowls of water—plain, rough bowls, some even chipped at the edges.
As the young woman placed the bowls before Ying Siji and his companions, she glanced at the group of handsome men with upright postures, each radiating an intense, almost lethal aura.
A faint blush flickered across her face as she was about to speak, but then she heard the beautiful woman beside her open her mouth.
She said, “Miss, your hair is truly remarkable—so black and thick, with a fine, smooth sheen. Is there some special secret to how you care for it?”
Pei Liang noticed that the young woman’s attitude toward Ying Siji and his group was far warmer than toward herself, but still, being praised by such a stunning peer lifted her spirits.
She reached up to touch her hair, a hint of pride in her voice as she said, “I’m just a country girl. There’s no special care—this hair is just natural.”
Pei Liang’s eyes brightened with envy. “May I come closer to have a look?”
The young woman hesitated but found it hard to refuse. She stepped forward and lowered her head.
Pei Liang reached out and gently brushed aside some strands, catching sight of a red hair ribbon tucked into the bun.
The ribbon’s surface was smooth and supple, glowing softly in the light. Upon closer inspection, it was woven with extremely fine strands of gold.
Such a thing was absolutely beyond the means of a rural girl.
And even though the surroundings were spotless and no detail overlooked, the woman and the old man wore coarse homespun clothes, and their hands were rough and calloused.
Yet that hair ribbon, hidden inside the bun and easier to miss than even one’s undergarments, along with the lingering scent in the air, betrayed them completely.
