HBBMAWH Chapter 102

Setting up a fire, roasting sweet potatoes on one side and meat on the other, Chen Nan's team was salivating, one by one squatting by the fire, their eyes almost glued to the meat. 

As for what Yan Cai was roasting on the other side, they didn't even care. Everyone was craving meat! Meat!

Only Chen Nan, ignoring his subordinates who were drooling over the meat, squatted beside the sweet potatoes roasted by Yan Cai. He had seen the thing Yan Cai dug up before but had never tasted it. And he had never seen one this big.

That is to say, he had only seen it a few days ago. What he had seen before were all tiny, as thin as a thumb, nowhere near the size of what Yan Cai dug up. 

This one was as thick as a forearm.

Gradually, the aroma of the rabbit meat became stronger, and today's roast was particularly fragrant. Usually, when they roasted meat themselves, they just sprinkled some salt on it, not much flavor, just satisfying their craving for meat.

But the meat prepared by Yan Cai was seasoned with chili peppers, cumin, and even smeared with honey, making it exceptionally fragrant. Instantly, there was a chorus of slurping sounds.

Among the meaty aroma, there is also a little sweetness that is slowly becoming richer.

Yan Cai pushed aside the charcoal fire and wrapped the slightly charred sweet potatoes in leaves before taking them out. Splitting them in half, the bright orange flesh was glossy and delicate. Yan Cai couldn't wait and took a bite.

It was so hot! But so delicious!

Although sweet potatoes were easy to get tired of and could make your stomach sour if eaten too much, they were still quite fragrant when eaten in moderation.

Qingke couldn't resist, wanting to grab Yan Cai's hand and take a bite, but Yan Cai wouldn't let him eat it like that. He waited until it cooled down before feeding his son.

Glancing at Chen Nan, seeing that he looked eager to try it, Yan Cai generously waved his hand.

"What are you waiting for? Try it."

Chen Nan didn't hesitate and picked it up, biting directly into it. Actually, it was mainly because Jiang Manyue wasn't here right now; otherwise, he would never be so shy. But the person in front of him was not only a noble prince, but also his own self-declared sister-in-law.

He felt a bit embarrassed to be too presumptuous. After tasting it, Chen Nan's eyes lit up. This thing tasted good and could fill the stomach, so it could be eaten as a meal. It’s good stuff!

Moreover, this thing was found in the nearby wilderness, and they could find it themselves. If they were short of grain, they could spend some time looking around to see if they could find this thing growing somewhere and sustain themselves.

Yan Cai noticed Chen Nan's subtle reaction and was inclined to enlighten him.

"This thing is called sweet potato, and there are varieties with purple or white flesh, with skin ranging from purple to reddish-purple, and so on. Not only can the roots be eaten, but the stems and leaves are also useful. And it's very productive... Of course, it's not the mature season now, so you probably won't find mature ones. But it's not too late to plant them now."

Although Chen Nan was curious about where those ones the size of a forearm came from if it wasn't the mature season, he understood enough not to ask Yan Cai about it.

Everyone has their own secrets, and sometimes, breaking those secrets is the most foolish thing to do.

Just as he was thinking this, Jiang Manyue returned. He had gone to tally the provisions, which were supplies to be transported to the army, and were the food for the army for a whole year.

This brought new hope and joy to Chen Nan and the others.

"We'll go back to camp and tell the soldiers this good news!" Chen Nan was very happy. This was much more joyful than knowing how to plant sweet potatoes.

Now that the food has arrived, everyone felt more at ease. Otherwise, if they had to guard this place and fight this tough battle without provisions, they wouldn't have had much confidence.

This wasn't their home turf. Even during peacetime, soldiers would cultivate some crops. But here, the climate was relatively dry, and the soil wasn't fertile, so the crops they grew were not enough for their own consumption.

The Beirong people massacred an entire county of the Chen Dynasty, initiating the conflict. The Chen Dynasty couldn't just let it go. Initially, both sides were just on guard, not taking the first step, but the Beirong people did, prompting the Chen Dynasty to take up arms in resistance.

Compared with the Beirong people, the Chen Dynasty was at a disadvantage here. First of all, the climate here wasn't suitable for the people of the Chen Dynasty, and then there were the horses. The Beirong's horses were far more suitable for the environment here than the horses of the Chen Dynasty. Finally, there was the geographical location.

For Beirong, this is the doorstep of home, while the Chen Dynasty is fighting far away from home.

Liu Neng led his army to camp twenty miles away from Beirong. There had been several small skirmishes between the two sides, but both sides were very careful and no major fierce battles had occurred yet.

Unlike the previous brutal invasion of Qingyang County, this time the Beirong general was extremely cautious. He completely ignored Liu Neng's provocations, refusing to engage in battle and instead opting to play a game of cat and mouse with Liu Neng's forces.

Since Jiang Manyue and the others departed, more than a month had passed. During this time, the two armies had been like cats chasing mice, with each side probing the other. However, as soon as the situation seemed unfavorable, Beirong would sound the drums and immediately retreat to the city, faster than mice.

Moreover, once they returned to their city, they would not come out under any circumstances, in stark contrast to their previous aggressive method of attacking and slaughtering a city. It was clear that this was a completely different approach.

Chen Nan walked while explaining the situation like this. After he finished speaking, he seemed a bit stunned.

He naturally regarded Jiang Manyue as his superior, but now the superior who had come down should be the Prince, right?

However... Chen Nan looked at Yan Cai, who was already walking away quickly, and couldn't help feeling that this Carefree Prince didn't seem like he was here for serious business; he looked more like he was here for a spring outing.

Jiang Manyue said, "He's engaging us in a war of attrition, betting on our insufficient provisions, hoping that we won't be able to sustain the fight."

Chen Nan nodded, pushing aside the strange feeling in his heart. Whoever was in charge didn't matter much to him; as long as there was someone in charge, it was fine. Although some of Chen Nan's subordinates had some grievances against Jiang Manyue for sending them a warning and sending them to Qingchang County, as mentioned in Jiang Manyue's letter, Chen Nan still had a lot of trust in him.

Regarding the Qingyang County incident, Chen Nan felt uneasy. Perhaps it was destined to be this way, no matter what.

He said, "But now it's different. We have sufficient provisions, and we have plenty of time to hold out against them."

"Don't be too happy too soon. The Beirong general is not simple," Jiang Manyue's eyes were slightly cold, and he knew the person leading the troops now.

Although he was at odds with the current king of Beirong in terms of personality and intentions, this person, was extremely loyal to Beirong and very capable, acting extremely calmly, a complete opposite to the impulsive Liu Neng.

Jiang Manyue was about to say something else when he suddenly looked up into the distance. In just a moment, Yan Cai had disappeared.

Chen Nan knew Jiang Manyue was worried about Yan Cai.

"Brother Jiang, don't worry. We're almost at the camp. Once the prince arrives at the camp, there won't be any trouble."

Yan Cai's steps were fast, but Jiang Manyue couldn't follow him and ignore the provisions behind him. The most important task this time was the provisions. If they were lost, their situation would be dire.

Yan Cai, who was faster than the others, arrived at the camp, only to find that Liu Neng was nowhere to be seen. Not only did he not see Liu Neng, but he was also stopped by several soldiers at the camp gate.

"Who goes there? Outsiders, you're not allowed in! Leave now!"

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