59 Chapter 59 Even Bugs Are Edible (2/2)
All of the food they had brought, would run out in 5 days. The cities and towns along the way were already half-plundered by the king's men, that had been sent up earlier with promises of payment later. Most refused to even allow their group inside the city. Everyone who had been sent to enquire about food were barely being sold anything after all the demands. Until the harvest season, n.o.body had anything to offer. The only explanation that made sense, was that a number of n.o.bles must have been pocketing the requisitions in the kings name, and someone was running interference so the reports weren't getting back to the king in time.
Everyone knew it for what it was.
”There you go, gentlemen and lady. The best horse, could get back to the capital with a response and return in 8 days. I sent a letter about half an hour before this meeting to the king and warned him, that starving us was certainly in violation of the contract and that if he wished to avoid a breach, he needed to send us food immediately. I even included the names of a number of n.o.bles who we were certain are interfering. Based on the reports, enough food to feed us all, for 3 months, has gone missing. All of the town up here have been drained dry, which is surely what the king had expected us to use.
”Therefore, I can expect the king to need time to gather food, and travel time for a convoy, rather than a messenger on a fast horse, which puts the food s.h.i.+pment realistically arriving between 4 and 5 weeks out. Count Blanche, that fat b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” several nod at that, ”gave me some c.r.a.p excuse about harvests being down last year. That was the reason his food s.h.i.+pment wasn't ready when we left the castle.
”Now, with everything that I was able to make edible yesterday, how long do we have?”
”a.s.suming we fish out the rivers, and harvest every wild herb, gra.s.s, or grain we can figure out how to eat on these plains, we can feed everyone for 2 weeks, maybe 3 weeks if we ration, but we are also feeding all of the king's subjects, who have started building the wall to stop the barbarians. That is very demanding work and starving them won't work,” said Daniel.
”No, I understand,” Joseph said, interrupting him. ”I have found an extra week's worth of food for 7500 people already. We need to find probably 3 more weeks of food. Who has suggestions?”
It got very quiet.
”Free desert to anyone with a suggestion?”
Even desert couldn't get anyone to speak. Joseph sighed and turned to Stella.
”Stella, I need you to do something for me.”
”What, master?”
”I need you to go discus trade with the barbarians. It's a long shot, but if they have food we can trade for, it will help. Also, see if you can find out what caused them to come south.”
”Yes, master.”
Joseph looked at her very seriously. ”Always prioritize your own safety. This is dangerous but you are the only person I trust to be able to make it back.”
She smiled. ”As you wish.”
”Um…master?”
Great! Someone had an idea. Apparently, hoping that the barbarians would feed them, made them realize just how desperate the situation was.
”We may need to move the camp to keep finding food.”
”Agreed. It's a terrible idea, but better than letting everyone starve.”
Another person speaks up, ”Young master, perhaps we could send out all of the hunters to find some wandering herds?”
”Excellent. See to it. I want groups of 5 men to go scout. They are to try and drive any herds closer to the settlement. If they have to, they can start a fire and burn them all as long as we can haul back the meat, we can save most of it. I would rather lose part of the meat from a whole herd than only get a few. We won't feed this many people with just a few. Start cutting the gra.s.s as well. a.s.sign some people to grind it down and extract the juice. The animals can still eat the fibers afterwards. It won't do much but it will do something. Setup the mill first so we can start. Also, don't overlook insects. Most are edible.”
”You want us to eat bugs, sir?”
”I want you to eat. You won't get extra portions of other things if you turn down your insects. Lots of slaves eat flour with bugs. Given my preference, we would all enjoy fine dining but I'm not about to let my people starve when there is something edible. I know a few recipes that can be used with insects as long as I'm somewhat familiar with them. Also, ensure everyone gets plenty to drink. We can't delay the wall when the workers are pa.s.sed out because we didn't let them have a moment to drink something.”
The rest of the meeting went quickly. Mostly, what will be built in what order, in light of possibly having to move the entire camp to chase food if the other ideas fell through. Everyone departed and got to work quickly.
Joseph knew they had a hard time listening to him, and taking him seriously, because he was a child, but he was in a position of power and responsibility. There was no one, among those from the king, who wanted to take that position in light of the recent mess they found themselves in. He wasn't sure who exactly was behind this, and could only hope the king was able to fix it before things became too desperate.
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