"Did the deity send down another divine gift?!"
General Ulric's eyes lit up.
He stepped closer and saw the iron box in General Yves's hand, inside were three mooncakes.
"Aren't these mooncakes? What's so special about them?"
General Yves handed over a mooncake that had already been unwrapped. "Try it."
Ulric took it, bit a big piece, and immediately his eyes brightened. "So sweet!"
He looked at Yves with admiration. "Very sweet, soft and fragrant. Is that a salted egg yolk in the middle? It has a little salty aroma."
The technology in this era was very backward. Salt tasted bitter, and sugar was even rarer.
The countries Zhao, Wu, and Zhao all had the custom of eating mooncakes at Mid-Autumn Festival, but the mooncakes given by the deity would definitely become valuable currency here.
Although Zhao was not as powerful as Wu or Zhao, the upper-class nobles' quality of life would not be much worse.
Even General Yves and General Ulric praised it highly; these mooncakes were luxury goods here.
"Have the candidates been chosen?"
General Yves asked.
Earlier, they had talked about sending someone to Wu as a spy, but how to get in and who to send had not been decided.
The generals and strategists Yves sent for had just arrived.
At this moment, a piece of paper floated down in front of General Yves.
"Is this an order from the deity?"
Everyone thought Yves called them to discuss military matters but instead saw the deity's blessing.
They immediately knelt down.
The group of generals were tall and upright, disciplined and confident, very pleasing to see.
Sophia didn't see this, or she would have been even more willing to do these tasks.
General Yves carefully read the paper, not hiding anything, and his indifferent face showed a slight excitement. "The deity has mercy and sent us a world map, so we can travel to get water. Then the capital city can supply the people's daily needs."
A world map?
Everyone exchanged looks, curious and unable to imagine if the world could really be drawn on paper.
Some found it unbelievable.
If the world could be drawn, was it square or round?
Everyone was shocked, unable to come to terms with it.
After a long moment, their expressions changed to awe.
The continuous supply from the deity made them feel the deity was like a mother.
But now, the deity seemed lofty and unreachable.
General Ulric and the others knelt again and bowed their heads to General Yves.
Yves knew they were not bowing to him, but he didn't refuse.
He needed the soldiers to have reverence for the deity and respect and follow him.
Inside, he was also shocked. Did the world map really exist?
He controlled his swirling thoughts.
"General Ulric, tell the soldiers and scholars."
General Yves ordered.
Ulric repeated what Yves said earlier.
He had servants cut the mooncakes into small pieces and distributed them.
The salted egg yolk lotus seed mooncakes, dismissed by modern people, were eaten with relish by the soldiers.
They quickly finished the small bites but kept savoring the taste.
The oily crust, the soft lotus seed paste with a bean aroma, and the salty egg yolk.
They had eaten mooncakes before, but these made their previous ones worthless.
"Enough, is there anyone to recommend?"
Yves interrupted their reverie.
The servants in the courtyard were sent away.
The courtyard was silent for a moment.
Then a strategist wearing a long robe stepped forward.
"Commander, may I try?"
Yves glanced sideways, surprised it was Penn, usually quiet and unremarkable.
Although his surname was Wu, Penn was not from Wu country.
He was from Jin country, born there, and had traveled around many countries.
He once went to Wu but failed to meet his role model.
Wu had many talents, and capable officers were well used, but Penn got no official post and left.
Unlike General Yijan, Penn did not have a deep hatred for Wu Kingdom.
He actually respected Wu Kingdom's way of ruling. It was different from the old-fashioned Zhao Kingdom. Wu Kingdom made good use of talented people, and capable men were given important positions.
The only problem was he arrived at the wrong time.
Fortunately, he met his true lord in Zhao Kingdom.
His previous knowledge about Wu Kingdom was now useful.
Penn felt he had been silent for too long and believed his talents would soon be used.
He was excited inside but kept a calm expression.
General Yves did not hesitate and agreed right away.
Sophia rested for a while, ate some snacks to fill her stomach, then continued working.
The rice and flour came in 100-pound bags. She did not know what deal Mr. Qi had made, but he bought Wuchang rice at a good price.
Sophia pushed the bags down directly instead of carrying them. She just moved the pig troughs.
The warehouse stored grains and other supplies that did not need special storage.
Sophia worked hard for three to four days to finish unloading.
She had distributed grains, cooking oil, rice, and flour before, so the people were happy but not surprised.
When the clothes arrived, people were more excited.
The weather was getting colder each day. Days were still okay, but nights were cold, and people woke up feeling cold.
The clothes looked strange but would keep them warm during winter.
After receiving the supplies, General Yves gave the clothes to the soldiers first.
For the city's civilians, General Yves gave porridge every day to make sure no one starved.
To get more supplies, people had to work and trade their labor.
Women and children helped by making pancakes and cooking porridge.
General Yves ordered digging trenches and reservoirs, so labor was needed.
The workers digging the trenches got two meals a day. Each meal had two big pancakes and a bowl of porridge. They earned 800 wen a month.
Women who made porridge, baked pancakes, and washed clothes got one big pancake per meal and earned 500 wen a month.
For them, the pancakes were more valuable than money.
After Sophia finished giving out the supplies and saw the warehouse empty, she relaxed.
But she still had more to give General Yves.
She was inspired by her recent trip to the coastal city.
Before acting, Sophia sent a letter to General Yves.
Tomorrow, a large shipment of fresh fish will arrive. Get ready.
General Yves could not sleep after reading it. He got up and started to arrange things through the night.
Sophia drove four hours to a nearby coastal city.
Her car stopped at the frozen seafood wholesale market entrance. She learned many restaurants bought frozen seafood here in large amounts and at low prices.
Seafood buffets and hotpot restaurants often used frozen seafood stored for many years.
Sophia wanted to send fresh seafood to General Yves and the others, but fresh seafood was expensive and rare. Filling stomachs was more important now.
At the market entrance, Sophia made a phone call. Soon, a man came to meet her.
Are you Miss Sophia?
The man was short, looked about 30 or 40 years old, slightly bald, wearing arm sleeves. He greeted her.
Sophia put down her phone and nodded. Boss Xu.
Did you say you want 10,000 jin of barramundi?
They walked while Boss Xu asked.
Yes. I want 10,000 jin today, but not only today. Every two or three days, I need another shipment.
This time barramundi, next time squid, then grouper, rotating like that.
Sophia gave examples.
Boss Xu nodded, though he did not fully understand the strange request. But as long as there was money to make, he was fine.
Then they talked about the price.
Sophia wanted cheap and practical food that could fill stomachs and provide nutrition.
All the fish sold were frozen. These years-old barramundi were finally about to be sent out.
Sophia paid 20,000 as a deposit and agreed to pay 60,000 after delivery.
Boss Xu agreed.
Soon, the goods were loaded and sent.