Zhao Xi didn't leave to Wen Shu, and there was another reason. He also had someone bring the compressed biscuits that were remade after being returned to the furnace.

  The queen was so dizzy from Zhao Xi's words that she forgot how Zhao Xi would deal with the remaining cake.

  "Mother, as for this..."

  "Hmm? Xier, what else is there?"

  I'm going! Isn't that too much? Zhao Xi even wants to put down the cookie compression thing.

  This wave after wave rushed towards the queen, could she bear it?

  "Mother, does the child know if the imperial harem is involved in this matter?"

  Zhao Xi still held back and didn't plan to reveal the whole plan, truly afraid of startling the Empress. So it turned into an inquiring tone.

  "What did Xier say?"

  "This thing can be stored for three or two months, and even longer, it is still edible."

  Zhao Xi was uncertain whether he could get away with doing this casually, but it should be fine for a few months.

  "What then?"

  "Your Highness, this object is very small in volume, only one or two pieces are needed to satisfy an adult's meal. It... it is most suitable for use as military rations, making it the most suitable for military rations."

  Zhao Xizhen didn't know if saying this would startle the empress again.

  He shouldn't know anything about military affairs, how can he determine if this thing is suitable for military rations?

  Alas! His age has limited his actions.

  As expected, after Zhao Xi finished speaking, the empress stared at Zhao Xi... Fortunately, there was no suspicion, only relief.

  "Xī ér, is this also something you know from the book?"

  "Your Ladyship, the book does not mention anything about military rations. It describes marching for many days, or how many miles they marched as being numerous. I think that since the officers and soldiers are far away from the city, their food and drink are often inconvenient, so this thing is suitable."

  Forced to call out in a loud voice, hoping to bluff their way through.

  The queen didn't understand, although she was born into a military family, she was only born into it and wasn't clear about marching and fighting, let alone her father who was a civil servant.

  ……

  "Zao Xiang, how did the princess instruct you? Tell me clearly."

  Cao Cong nominally held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards, but in reality did not actually participate in military or political affairs, only occasionally appearing at major celebrations.

  After being wrongly impeached and returning to the court, the imperial family was kind and did not demote him. It's just that the Cao family had always been cautious and knew how to advance and retreat.

  Now idle at home, it is actually a teaching for children and grandchildren, becoming the master of the family.

  The second generation of the Cao family, and now only this old man is left. In the third generation, there is an empress to take care of things, so it won't be too bad, but Cao Zhen strictly follows his father's teachings and disciplines his family members very severely.

  Today, because of the queen's message, he finally met this junior member of the clan.

  "Returning to the old ancestor, the nephew had not seen the empress, but only the middle official conveyed the message on behalf of the empress, saying that let the old ancestor see if this thing can be used for the army, and also said that this thing can be stored for three or two months without any problem, one or two pieces can be enough for a soldier's meal."

  Cao Cong looked at this small object and sniffed it under his nose... if there was some fragrance, it should be the scent of spices.

  It feels weightless in one's hand. If a soldier carries it, dozens of them are no different from none at all.

  "Lin'er, give it a try."

  Cao Lin had followed his uncle Cao Xi to the southern border for training, but later returned to the capital after half a year due to the Empress's pity, and naturally understood military affairs.

  "Grandpa, two pieces of bread can fill our stomachs."

  Cao Lin thought that the food was only as big as a palm, and he could eat thirty or fifty pieces by himself. But unexpectedly, after swallowing just two pieces, he felt very full in his stomach and couldn't eat anymore.

  It's so dry and thirsty that a lot of water is needed to quench it, but after just two sips of tea... nothing can be swallowed anymore, not even water.

  "How is the taste?"

  "Grandpa is back, the food in the army can't be compared with his."

  When marching, it's already good if soldiers can have hot meals, let alone being picky.

  This thing is sweet and seems to have some salty flavor and fragrance. If this thing were to be promoted in the military, it would save a lot of trouble.

  "Lin'er, quickly go and invite Old Master Shi and Old Master Gao over for a chat."

  The queen spoke in this manner, and Cao Ju knew the meaning of her words. This was not something that the Cao family could swallow alone; it required the concerted effort of many noble families to accomplish this matter.

  ……

  Zhao Xi knew that things couldn't be rushed, especially with the emergence of a new thing, people need time to accept it, let alone military rations.

  So for compressed biscuits he only needs to tell his mother and then wait, after all, it's not like he can do anything about it now, might as well just wait until he grows up a bit.

  He was not clear about the current military system, nor did he know how the forbidden army was controlled and distributed at present. He only knew that Empress Cao was a martial general's family and also a meritorious noble, perhaps it would be a breakthrough.

  It's been six or seven days already, and there has been no progress on anything, not just the cookie compression, but also the opening of the egg cake branch...

  It seems I was too anxious after all.

  "Xier, come and take a look at this."

  Two days later, Zhao Xi came out of school and saw that Tuo Nian was not there. He was about to take his book to the pavilion outside to review when he was summoned by the Empress.

  It's a piece of paper with some scribbled names on it, including family backgrounds and military dispatches... looks like it belongs to three or four families.

  "Your Ladyship, this..."

  "Xi'er, your maternal uncle's family agrees with the food you made and thinks it can be used as military rations. That's why several families are willing to get involved in this matter."

  My goodness! Can things be done this way?

  Are they all nobles? Can't it be true that you don't care about the imperial court? Don't you care about the dignity of the scholars?

  The ancestral system favors the meritorious and noble, so it's possible that the officials in the imperial court deliberately ignore these mediocre nobles who are just going through the motions. That's because you're just going through the motions, but if you ever get involved in major military or national affairs, not being stripped bare and thrown out is already a blessing from heaven.

  "Mother, Xi'er...Xi'er thinks it's not suitable."

  "Is it inappropriate?"

  "Your Majesty, this thing is often used in times of war, so it's best to store a small amount for daily use. In our dynasty, the transportation of military rations was handled by the Transportation Commissioner, who also took charge of military ration affairs."

  "The amount to be prepared should be consumed in a timely manner, and the fact that the dosage is not large is one aspect. What truly needs to be considered is how to make it acceptable to the officials of the imperial court. Therefore, Xier thinks that this thing should be promoted by scholars as a safe choice."

  If they were all noble warriors, Zhao Xi could be sure that even if this thing was very suitable for military rations, it would not be suitable in the imperial court.

  In the eyes of scholars, warriors are just tools, tools for war. If a military general is involved in military equipment... saying it lightly is not suitable for military equipment, saying it heavily can give him a hat that can be punished by law.

  Zhao Xi was well aware that the current military ration transportation would not be very smooth, which means that after a long time, compressed biscuits would be recognized by soldiers, and at that time, compressed biscuits might become the main supply of military rations, leading to the possibility of controlling the army with compressed biscuits.

  Zhao Xi did not think that those officials in the imperial court who were busy with trivial matters every day would overlook the possibilities of the future.

  It's an internal affair and it's not suitable to put it on the table for now.

  It's probably because of a miscommunication, but still, our maternal uncle's family shouldn't be so neglectful.

  "Xier, this is just some food..."

  "Your Ladyship, although it's just a meal, it's also military supplies. I think the person who conveyed the message couldn't make it clear to your brother's family that the palace is involved in this matter, and for now, it's not suitable to speak openly about it, lest your brother's family thinks the palace is taking charge."

  "Mother, I think it's better to tell the truth."