sbdcsierra Chapter 368 Departure for the Arctic Ocean
Chapter 368 Departure for the Arctic Ocean
The atmosphere in Steward Li's mansion was tense and busy due to an upcoming long journey. Steward Li had been extremely busy these days, going to great lengths to ensure that Gu Mochen, Ye Qingchen, Bai Zhi, Fu Ling, Bai Yufei, and Song Ming could successfully reach the northernmost point of the Northern Frontier—the Ice Ocean.
The preparation of supplies took a long time. Manager Li entered the largest cloth shop in the northern frontier early in the morning. The shop assistants, seeing him enter, hurriedly greeted him with beaming smiles. Manager Li frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of fabrics in the shop, and said, "I want the best, thickest cotton, the more the better. Bring it out for me quickly." The shop assistants dared not delay, and soon a pile of thick cotton was stacked in front of Manager Li. Manager Li reached out and touched it, nodding in satisfaction, and then ordered, "Also, pick out some fine leather, the kind that can withstand the extreme cold. I want to make leather coats." Upon hearing this, the shop owner personally brought out several precious animal hides from the inner room, saying obsequiously, "Manager Li, look at these. They were all purchased at a high price from hunters in the northern frontier; their warmth is excellent." Manager Li examined them carefully, weighed his options, and then waved his hand, saying, "I'll take them all. You have three days to make enough cotton-padded coats and fur coats according to the measurements I provide." After thinking for a moment, Manager Li added, "See if you have any fox fur, the kind from the snow fox. See how much you have. If that's not enough, other fox fur will do, or even rabbit fur. Also, make me a few hats, earmuffs, and gloves." The shop assistants hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes! We may not have what others need, but we certainly have what you require, Manager Li. We keep all these good things for our master. We heard you're preparing supplies for your master's trip to the northern frontier, so naturally we'll provide whatever you need!"
Afterwards, Manager Li rushed to the butcher shop in the market. It was midday, and the market was bustling with activity, filled with the cries of vendors. Manager Li entered a rather large butcher shop, its interior hung with various kinds of fresh meat. He loudly addressed the butcher, "I need a large quantity of dried meat. Your usual stock is probably insufficient. Quickly slaughter the livestock and start curing and drying it, the sooner the better." The butcher looked troubled. "Mr. Li, preparing a large quantity of dried meat in such a short time is quite difficult." Manager Li pulled a 20-tael silver ingot from his sleeve and slammed it heavily on the chopping board. "This is a deposit. If you can deliver the goods on time and in the required quantity, you'll receive a substantial reward. If you delay my business, you can forget about opening this shop." Seeing this, the butcher quickly accepted the silver and nodded repeatedly in agreement. Actually, the butcher had plenty of dried meat; he had just wanted to take a cut—after all, this was Mr. Li, the wealthiest man in the area! If he had manipulated things a bit, he could have made a lot of money, but the other party simply wouldn't have listened. Oh well, he'd better just prepare the right amount for him. There was beef, pork, goose, etc., but he didn't make lamb because it becomes very gamey and unpalatable when cold. After finishing the meat, he quickly smoked it. Worried it wouldn't be enough, he contacted other butcher shops and got a lot more dried meat. Since Boss Li said the more the better, he'd take this opportunity to make more money off him, letting him threaten him.
Besides dried meat, dairy products are also delicious ways to ward off the cold. Manager Li knew this well, so he inquired around and finally found a workshop specializing in dairy products. This workshop was hidden in a quiet alley; although the storefront was small, it exuded a rich milky aroma. Manager Li pushed open the door, and a mellow milky smell wafted out, making him take a deep breath. Inside the workshop, several workers were busily working, their hands skillfully pouring fresh milk into large pots, slowly simmering it over a low flame, then adding various seasonings and starter cultures, stirring well. Soon, the originally thin milk thickened, forming various dairy products such as cheese and milk curds.
Manager Li watched all this with great interest, filled with confidence in the quality of these dairy products. He walked up to the workshop owner and said bluntly, "I want you to leave me all the high-quality dairy products you've made recently. Also, work day and night to produce more; I have a very important use for them."
The workshop owner was slightly surprised upon hearing this. After all, such a large order was unusual for his small workshop. However, when he saw Manager Li's generous payment of the deposit without hesitation, his doubts vanished. He quickly nodded and agreed, "Alright, rest assured, sir, we will definitely complete this order as soon as possible according to your requirements!"
Regarding provisions, Manager Li sought out the best pastry chef in town. He entered the shop, observing the chefs' busy figures, and said, "Masters, I need a large quantity of dry bread, made substantial, so it can be stored for a long time and is easy to carry." The chefs stopped their work, looking puzzled. Manager Li explained, "This is for a long journey; the food must be durable." The chefs then understood and began preparing carefully.
Strong liquor was also a key item on the preparation list. Manager Li arrived at a distillery, its air thick with the aroma of spirits. He told the distillery owner, "Pick out the strongest and purest liquor you have, and pack it all in small bags. I need to take it with me on the road." The distillery owner brought out several liquors for Manager Li to taste. After tasting them, Manager Li selected a strong, robust liquor with a mellow flavor and said, "That's it. Pack plenty."
Then he prepared some sausages, which they already had at home, so that was easy to arrange. After a full week of busy work, Steward Li finally had all the supplies ready. At the same time, he carefully selected six followers with good martial arts skills and who spoke the language of Northern Xinjiang, two of whom were locals from northern Xinjiang. He knew that the journey to the Arctic Ocean would be treacherous, and outsiders would be completely unable to cope with sudden severe weather. These six men were among the best selected over the past few days, having won a competition; otherwise, he really wouldn't feel comfortable letting his masters go out.
On the day of departure, sunlight streamed into the courtyard. Everyone was already packed and ready to go. Steward Li looked at the group about to embark on their journey, his heart filled with worry. He walked up to Gu Mochen, his eyes full of concern and unease, and repeatedly instructed him, "Master, the place you are going to is called the Ice Ocean. Although it is summer now, that place is very dangerous. You must not be careless. In summer, much of the ice there has melted, so you must be extra careful when walking. A slight misstep could lead to falling into an ice hole. Moreover, the weather there is unpredictable. If it is cloudy one day, it could suddenly turn into a snowstorm. Make sure to bring all this dried meat. There is nowhere to buy food there, and you can't go hungry. I have specially prepared some extra tinder for you. These things can be lifesavers in a critical moment, so don't lose them in case of any accidents. In short, Master, you must be careful. If you encounter any difficulties on the way, you must come back. We don't necessarily have to go to such a dangerous place."
Gu Mochen nodded slightly, glancing at the tightly packed three-wheeled cart of supplies. He was still a little dazed, but it was all Manager Li's good intention, so he decided to take it along with the six people. Then, he calmly said, "Manager Li, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. We'll be extra careful on the way." Ye Qingchen smiled and said, "Manager Li, we'll be careful!" Bai Zhi, Fu Ling, Bai Yufei, Song Ming, and the others also expressed their commitment to safety.
Despite everyone's concerns, Steward Li remained uneasy. He walked over to the six followers and said sternly, "You lot were all handpicked by me. You must take good care of your masters. If you encounter any trouble in the Northern Frontier, you'll have to lend a hand. Also, several Flying Eagle warriors will be traveling with you these days. If anything happens, have the Flying Eagle warriors bring it back immediately!" The followers clasped their hands in salute, indicating that they would do their utmost.
After everything was explained, the group finally embarked on their journey to the Arctic Ocean. As their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, Steward Li remained standing at the courtyard gate, gazing in the direction they had gone, reluctant to leave, silently praying for their safe journey.