The Jing Country version of the Old Beijing chicken roll used the same sweet sauce that was traditionally paired with Jing roast duck.
The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, wrapped in a soft flatbread along with fresh, crisp lettuce. The bread was slightly thicker than the pancakes used for roast duck, providing a satisfying chew for the hungry soldiers who had been training all day.
Combined with the rich, oily fried chicken, sweet sauce, and the refreshing crunch of vegetables, each large bite exploded with flavor in their mouths.
"This stuff is amazing!" one soldier exclaimed.
"One isn't enough to fill me up, but it's substantial. I want three more!" another chimed in.
Outside the military camp's kitchen, a pack of hungry wolves eagerly awaited their turn.
Fortunately, these rolled flatbreads could be made quickly.
[Hehe, fast food is truly an assembly line, churning out food at high speed.]
[Unlike slow-cooked dishes that require simmering in rich broths.]
Xiao Chuchu watched for a while, amused by the scene.
She soon turned her attention to Duoti and the grassland soldiers, observing as they devoured each roll in just a few bites, their eyes gleaming with delight.
It wasn't long before the camp's kitchen staff began to improvise, inspired by these somewhat Western-style fried chicken rolls.
They started wrapping all sorts of ingredients in flatbreads.
The kitchen was soon producing an impressive variety of rolls filled with shredded potatoes, cured meat, bean sprouts, and more.
The speed of production was remarkable, and large platters of diverse rolls were sent out in quick succession.
Duoti and the grassland soldiers ate their fill, thoroughly enjoying the meal.
The sophistication of Jing Country's cuisine far exceeded their expectations.
Even their military rations had such variety!
"Today," announced Zhao Qianwei, the camp's commander-in-chief, as he approached the soldiers who were standing and eating, "these rolled flatbreads were conceived by His Majesty the Emperor and Lady Consort Liu."
Duoti was taken aback.
Most of the Jing soldiers also paused their eating, looking gratefully towards the Emperor and Lady Consort Liu who stood nearby.
"Your Majesty, would you like to say a few words?" Zhao Qianwei fawningly turned to Xiao Yunzhou.
Xiao Yunzhou, basking in the soldiers' grateful and admiring gazes, felt a surge of emotion. As he stepped forward, ready to praise himself, he began, "Today, I have come here to—"
Suddenly, he heard the Little Princess exclaim inwardly.
[The leader is about to speak!]
[Comrades, thank you for your hard work—]
"!" Xiao Yunzhou's prepared self-praise suddenly caught in his throat.
The Little Princess's inner voice, like a stroke of divine inspiration, had jolted his mind awake!
'Comrades, thank you for your hard work...'!?
Was this how celestial leaders addressed their divine soldiers?
It was truly earth-shattering, deafening, and deeply moving!
Xiao Yunzhou's face immediately flushed red in front of nearly a thousand soldiers.
He was far inferior to the celestial leader!
Embarrassed, Xiao Yunzhou awkwardly extended his hand, attempting to gloss over his interrupted speech. "Ahem, thank you all for your hard work," he managed to say.
In an instant, all the soldiers' eyes widened.
What?
The Emperor said they had... worked hard?
The Emperor had just... waved at them?
[Holy crap!]
Even Xiao Chuchu was startled by her father's body's actions.
[He's even learned how to wave?]
Xiao Yunzhou had no idea about any leader's wave.
He had stumbled upon it by accident, and coupled with his embarrassed blush, his expression was devoid of any imperial pride. He appeared even more approachable than Zhao Qianwei or Commander Hou.
The soldiers were stunned. After a moment, someone choked back a sob.
"I used to herd cattle, and even my father never told me I'd worked hard."
This statement struck a chord, and several of the burly grassland men behind Duoti visibly reacted.
Herding cattle, herding sheep... this was something the grassland people knew all too well!
After all, they had grown up herding sheep since childhood!
This single sentence instantly made the grassland men empathize, reminding them of their own fathers, tribal leaders, and their Khan.
"How... how can the Jing Emperor be so kind to his soldiers?" one of the grassland warriors, who had previously looked down on the Jing army, couldn't help but mutter in his heavily accented tribal language.
"If only we could serve in the Jing army..." another sighed.
"!" Duoti, hearing this, turned and sharply rebuked them, "Nonsense!"
[Oh my, Duoti scolding his wavering subordinates, but his own loyalty score has risen to 54%...]
[Wow, one sentence from Emperor Dad increased it more than the Old Beijing chicken rolls did earlier.]
Xiao Chuchu was surprised to see the system's notification message.
Xiao Yunzhou was immediately elated.
[Strange, how did Father's words increase Duoti's loyalty towards Mother?]
Xiao Yunzhou's joy quickly turned to dismay.
Well, well, was he now considered an extension of Concubine Liu?
Had he scored big points for her?
Who would have thought that he, the supreme ruler, would ever be considered a woman's accessory?
Xiao Yunzhou's mouth twitched as he turned to Liu Chaniang and hastily waved her over. "Concubine Liu, come here, say a few words."
He refused to believe it!
Would Concubine Liu's words increase loyalty even more than his?
Xiao Yunzhou was determined to find out.
"Um, this meal isn't even our best yet," Liu Chaniang said, blushing slightly as she stepped forward to address the soldiers, encouraged by Xiao Yunzhou.
She had previously only interacted with people close to her family, never speaking in front of so many strangers.
Let alone a group of virile soldiers.
However, her recent experience leading the women in making cotton clothes had built up her confidence and experience somewhat.
Liu Chaniang was nervous at first but quickly composed herself. Remembering her daughter's mentions of 'hamburgers' and 'fried food being unhealthy,' she decided to be honest with the soldiers. "I want to say that our military provisions, whether it's food or equipment, are not yet at their best."
The soldiers were taken aback.
What?
This wasn't the best yet?
Not only were the Jing soldiers surprised, but the grassland men were also dumbfounded.
How could it get any better?
This food used so much oil and meat, how was it not good enough?
These warm, cozy down jackets and quilts, how were they not good enough?
How much better could it possibly get? Were they aiming for heaven?
Nobody believed it.
But Liu Chaniang continued, "In the future, not just me, but the women of the palace, the officials' families, and even ordinary citizens, along with His Majesty, the officials, scholars, and common people, will all use their wisdom to continually improve the provisions and equipment for our military..."
"We are not just individuals, but a collective."
Under the Little Princess's guidance, Jing Country would only get better and better.
Liu Chaniang had complete faith in her daughter, and her words carried an air of unwavering conviction.
"One day, our Jing Country's military equipment will be the best!"
"One day, our Jing Country's soldiers will be the strongest!"
"Thank you all for your hard work," Liu Chaniang concluded, echoing her daughter's inner voice.
The entire camp fell silent.
Everyone was stunned, then their chests swelled with pride, and many eyes reddened with emotion!
Applause erupted – starting with a single soldier, it quickly spread to ten, a hundred, a thousand...
The excitement in the camp couldn't be contained!
"We are definitely the best!"
"We have the best treatment, so we must live up to it and be the strongest soldiers!"
"Lady Consort Liu spoke well!"
The entire camp erupted!
The thunderous applause drowned out Xiao Chuchu's inner thoughts, moving Xiao Yunzhou to the point where his eyes became a bit moist.
Xiao Yunzhou looked at Liu Chaniang beside him, a glimmer of approval and surprise flashing in his eyes.
How come he hadn't noticed before that Concubine Liu had such capability?
"I never knew you were so good with words, Chaniang," Xiao Yunzhou couldn't help but praise.
Liu Chaniang's face reddened; she was just speaking the truth.
They were supposed to make Chinese buns, but it turned out wrong, not at all what the Little Princess had in mind.
Today, she couldn't bring herself to praise these chicken rolls, so she could only say that they weren't good enough yet.
"This concubine is not good with words, I just thought of speaking the plain truth."
[Oh my, sincerity is indeed the greatest weapon!]
Xiao Chuchu's excited inner voice finally transmitted again as the thunderous applause slowly subsided.
Sincerity?
Xiao Yunzhou was stunned for a moment.
Then, he was shocked.
[Wow, Duoti's loyalty to my mother just broke through to 67%, rising by ten points in one go.]
[The impact of my mother's words is too powerful.]
Xiao Yunzhou was astonished. He looked towards Duoti and saw that the sturdy, robust man was gazing at Concubine Liu with fervent eyes.
"!"