Chapter 8

Baidong began to worry about his journey to the western river, particularly about the food situation.

Breakfast was served relatively early. During the early Warring States period, food shortages were common, and unless one belonged to the noble class or was about to go to battle, everyone else only ate two meals a day. Breakfast was served at the hour of Si (9-11 AM), and dinner at the hour of You (5-7 PM). There was no hope for a midnight snack; even the scholar-officials had to secretly enjoy them behind closed doors, or they would be cursed.

When Qin soldiers came to invite him, Baidong got out of the carriage, loosened his muscles, and watched with interest as the Qin soldiers set up their cooking pots. The grain carts were parked by the roadside, with half of the soldiers guarding each cart while the other half ate. It seemed they took turns.

The soldiers squatting on the carts were responsible for the military rations. No one touched the other grain bags; they only opened the one they were in charge of to cook. At this time, pots had not been invented, so dozens of people would gather around a single fire pit, with a large earthenware pot hanging over the fire, the bottom of which was already blackened. There were nearly a hundred such fire pits in sight.

Baidong was invited to one of the fire pits. Besides the magistrate of Liyang, Baidong, there were some ordinary soldiers, all of whom were rubbing their bellies and drooling. The highest-ranking official, Baidong, was the most uncomfortable; his stomach was already growling before he even approached.

Seeing Baidong, Baidong waved him over: "Sir, come quickly. After this meal, you'll have to wait until dinner, so you can't miss it. Is the porridge ready? Come, serve Mr. Bai a bowl of millet porridge first. After such a long journey, how can a scholar endure it..."

Just porridge? Watching a Qin soldier approach with a steaming large bowl, Baidong looked around but saw no solid food. He had no choice but to accept the large old earthenware bowl and look down. Immediately, he saw the bright sun and his own wide-eyed reflection.

Is this porridge? It's just clear water! Without any solid food, what's the point of a bowl of clear water? He was furious and turned to look at Baidong. Is this a way to bully outsiders?

On closer inspection, Baidong's bowl was the same, not even a thick porridge, just a bit of millet-colored water. If this were served with a couple of dog-shaped buns, it would be delicious, but who could drink it plain? Baidong frowned slightly, realizing the situation was more serious than he had imagined. Immediate action was needed, or he would starve to death before being punished by Ying Lian.

"Magistrate, I've heard that fierce wolves, if hungry, cannot catch wild deer; strong horses, if hungry, run slower than oxen; wise rulers, if hungry, become foolish; and loyal ministers, if hungry, will defect to other countries... You have so many brave soldiers. If they are hungry, aren't you afraid they won't be able to protect the rations and will be slaughtered by the enemy?" Baidong shook his large bowl.

Baidong rolled his eyes: "Scholars always speak in riddles. If there's not enough food, just say so. Why bring up wolves and horses? Sir, I'm not stupid. Do you think I like being hungry? We have no food!"

"No food?"

Baidong's eyes widened like copper bells, pointing at the grain convoy: "Each cart has about ten shi of grain, right? I calculated that there must be about four hundred grain carts, which means four thousand shi of grain. You're telling me there's no food, and you want the soldiers to starve to death while surrounded by piles of grain?"

"That's military rations!"

Baidong shook his head and drank the broth in one gulp: "There are rules for transporting grain. The escort army brings its own rations, and the military rations cannot be touched, or the penalty is immediate execution! We encountered several days of heavy rain, which delayed our journey, and we were ambushed by Wei several times, further delaying us. We are now three days away from the western river camp, and our rations are almost gone. Having broth to drink is already a good thing."

"Magistrate, you're too inflexible. If the soldiers are hungry, what will they do when they encounter the enemy? Are you going to give the four thousand shi of military rations to the enemy to follow the rules?" Baidong was speechless. Are the ancients all as stubborn as wooden heads? They are about to starve to death, yet they still follow the rules?"

"Rules are rules. What's a few less meals for the old Qin people? We can still kill the enemy and protect the rations!" Baidong suddenly stood up, waving his fist forcefully.

"Kill the enemy and protect the rations! Kill the enemy and protect the rations!" countless Qin soldiers stood up and roared with him.

They are all madmen. Baidong drank the broth in a few gulps and said no more. These people were beyond help.

No matter how strict the rules, a strong man cannot withstand hunger. When Baidong started seeing the moon as a large scallion pancake, he knew he couldn't keep his private stash hidden. He reached for the bag under his head, which contained not only the bamboo slips that marked his status as a scholar but also the dry noodles, salt, and a few roasted fish that his clan had prepared for him. The fish were given to him by Cao'er, who had cried as she packed them.

This food was for his last resort, a symbol of his longing for home. He would not touch it unless absolutely necessary. Even after drinking thin broth for two days, he still held on. If it weren't for Baidong's inhumanity, he would have sprinkled salt on the fish and preserved them as salted fish. Cao'er had made them by hand, and her fingers were pierced by fish bones.

When he opened the bag, Baidong was stunned, his eyes turning red: "Baidong, you despicable scoundrel! Military rations cannot be touched, but can my private property be plundered at will? Tell me, where are my noodles, my roasted fish? And the salt, which Bai Long bought by walking hundreds of miles with a whole load of goods, where is it?"

The bamboo slips were still there, but the food was gone. Baidong was so angry he wanted to kill someone. He leaped out of the carriage and grabbed the driver by the collar, roaring like a madman.

"It was the Magistrate who took them and gave them to the wounded brothers. The Magistrate said that the entire army is grateful to you, and when we reach the western river camp, we will repay you tenfold!"

"Repay tenfold? Who knows if he will even make it to the western river? What a bandit, taking my things without asking?"

Looking back at the many carts with compartments in the grain convoy, where the wounded soldiers lay, they were the ones with the best treatment. Baidong, the magistrate of Liyang, drank thin broth, while they could have porridge. Baidong was actually no longer angry. In any era, saving lives and helping the injured is a universal moral principle. He was just upset about Baidong's act of taking without permission.

"Your dry noodles and roasted fish saved the lives of two comrades. The Magistrate said that taking without permission is theft, and taking with permission is robbery. Qin people value bravery, so theft is a greater crime than robbery in Qin. The Magistrate chose to be a thief to punish himself and to honor Mr. Bai."

"Honor my ass, I'm not dead, you're using the wrong words!"

Baidong sat back in the carriage, staring at the driver's back for a long time: "Are you hungry?"

"Hungry. But don't worry, sir. When I can't go on, someone will take over driving for you. The brave old Qin..."

"Alright, alright, stop singing your military songs, my ears are going to bleed. Your Magistrate is a good leader, but he's brainless. He starves the entire army to save a few wounded soldiers. What's the point? Wait until tomorrow. I have a way to make you and everyone else eat their fill..."

A living person cannot be starved to death, it's just a matter of rules. When it comes to finding loopholes in the law, Baidong is an expert...