Chapter 15: Signing the Death Pact

“Truly!”
Yi Taihe held his hands respectfully.
“Your Majesty, I am willing to sign the military order! If we fail, we will forgo our daily wages and rewards, and accept whatever punishment!”

Chai Xiao pressed further.
“Have you thought it through? You’re responsible for the livelihood of sixty people!”

Yi Taihe’s lips parted slightly, deeply moved.
“We will definitely succeed. We have confidence in our skills! In this time of crisis, Your Majesty entrusts us, and we shall not fail you!”

“Good! Good! Good!”

Chai Xiao laughed heartily and applauded, then turned to Zhang Bao, who had been trained for half a day and was nearly a “master accountant.”
“Chief Zhang, tell us! How exactly do we sign this death pledge?”

Zhang Bao held a ledger in one hand and quickly wrote on a blank sheet with the other.
“The materials saved from breakfast, lunch, and dinner amount to a total expenditure of 1,400 taels.”
“Multiply that by four, it comes to 5,600 taels.”
“In ten days, deliver 5,600 taels—this shall be our death pledge.”

Hearing this, those present might have thought 5,600 taels wasn’t much—after all, compared to one million taels, it was barely a fraction under ten thousand.

But to Zhang Bao, recognized by Chai Xiao as a “master accountant,” this was profoundly shocking.

He had originally thought saving 1,400 taels from ten days’ worth of meals was the utmost limit.

Yet unexpectedly, the ruler used the saving of 87 taels in labor as a catalyst, triggering Yi Taihe to leverage it into 5,600 taels.

Using a small stake to win big, instantly quadrupling the original 1,400 taels.

At this rate, one million taels might not be an unattainable dream.

It was like Zhang Liao in the Three Kingdoms era, who terrorized Xiaoyao Ford.

Surrounded on all sides, he led 800 elite Wei troops to charge against Sun Quan’s 100,000-strong Wu army.

Everyone thought it impossible, yet Zhang Liao emerged victorious.

He even reached Sun Quan’s side twice, nearly capturing him alive.

Merely hearing Zhang Liao’s name struck fear; even when ill, no one dared face him.

“Though Zhang Liao is sick, he remains unbeatable—beware!”

Eight hundred against one hundred thousand, a ratio of one to one hundred and twenty-five.

This 5,600 taels, plus nearly a thousand taels bestowed by the emperor, and 200 taels earned from the second prince’s beauty pillows.

Add the 600 taels he won from wagers with Consort Yunshu and the tutor, Zhuque.

That totaled 7,400 taels.

The second prince initially donated 50,000 taels but still needed to raise 950,000 more.

7,400 to 950,000 is roughly the same ratio—one to one hundred and twenty-five.

It seemed the ruler intended to be the “Zhang Liao” of this great endeavor!

“I am willing to sign the death pledge!”

Yi Taihe signed his name on the death pledge Zhang Bao had prepared and pressed his seal. He was about to return to the kitchen when Chai Xiao smiled and asked,

“Chef Yi, what about your name?”

Yi Taihe composed himself.
“My name was given by my father…”

Before he could finish, Chai Xiao unexpectedly spoke, revealing the meaning.

“Yi Yin, from the Shang dynasty, skilled in cooking with cauldrons.”
“He proposed the ‘Five Flavors Harmony Theory’ and ‘Control of Heat,’ leaving behind the ‘Yi Yin Soup,’ revered as the ‘Primordial Sage.’”
“Not only that, he was also the chancellor of the dynasty.”
“Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish—careful from start to finish, all his teachings.”
“He assisted Shang Tang to overthrow the tyrannical Xia and made a legendary name!”

“Taihe Gong was from the Spring and Autumn period’s Wu state, most skilled in roasting fish.”
“He taught five hundred disciples, strict in discipline, founding a culinary lineage.”
“Among them, Gongzi Guang’s disciple Zhuanzhu studied with him for three months and mastered the art of roasting fish.”
“He specially roasted fish for King Liao of Wu, hiding a dagger inside the fish’s belly.”
“When opened, the aroma burst forth, and Zhuanzhu stabbed King Liao in one strike.”
“Gongzi Guang then seized the throne as Helü, appointed Wu Zixu and others, and established a hegemonic reign.”
“This shows just how superb Taihe Gong’s culinary skills were!”

“Your surname Yi indicates a connection to Yi Yin.”
“And your father named you Yi Taihe hoping you would embody both Yi Yin and Taihe Gong.”
“To master exquisite culinary arts while understanding governance and legacy!”

“Am I right?”

“Your Majesty!”

Yi Taihe knelt with a thud, his heart swelling with emotion.
“My father’s naming indeed intended to unite Yi Yin and Taihe Gong.”
“If I am to do this, I will become the best chef! I cannot disgrace my ancestors!”
“As for governance and legacy, my father never mentioned it.”
“But now, having met Your Majesty’s guidance, I shall take it as my creed, serving wholeheartedly!”

Beside them, Zhang Bao stared blankly, dumbfounded.

Anyone would know that the tutor had taught the ruler to read since childhood, but the ruler hated history books most of all.

“They’re all old relics, ancient affairs—what use is reading them?”

Yet, how could someone who never studied history know so much about these two founding fathers of the culinary world?

It was like his combat ability suddenly improved despite never training in martial arts.

Could it all have come from dreams?

If there were such a secret art of dreaming, how wonderful it would be to learn it myself!

Of course, Zhang Bao did not know that Chai Xiao’s knowledge came from being forced by the squad leader to memorize these upon joining the cooking team.

“You must know the true heritage of culinary arts to become a good chef!”
“Being a chef is not just cooking dishes—it’s about being a person, handling affairs, passing down traditions, and managing governance!”

Hence, the immediate recitation of Yi Yin and Taihe Gong as the two founding patriarchs.

There were also Yi Ya of the Spring and Autumn period, the Tang dynasty’s Culinary Ancestor, and Fan Zheng of the Five Dynasties.

Lady Liu and Sister Song Wu of the Song dynasty, Dong Xiaowan, Xiao Meiren, and Wang Xiaoyu of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Each known as if reciting family treasures.

Looking back, the forced memorization then was not in vain but quite useful.

Chai Xiao waved his hand, signaling that breakfast was finished and could be cleaned up. He stood, ready to leave.

But from the side and behind the long table sat a person—

A face full of smiles.

That smile stretched from mouth to eyes.

Every wrinkle expressed care and approval.

All worldly troubles vanished at the sight of that smile.

If not Consort Yunshu, then who else?

Chai Xiao was startled and hurried forward.

“Mother, why are you here? When did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Consort Yunshu smiled and stood, tiptoeing to pat his head.
“Don’t blame them; I told them not to say!”
“I came just when you said you’d invite me and the tutor to a breakfast meeting!”
“In this breakfast, my son saved many valuable things and discovered many treasures!”
“Saving materials, employing personnel, boosting morale—each step is a gem hidden in jade.”
“From early morning till now, only an hour has passed. The 5,600 taels death pledge is signed and ready to be secured!”
“You must know, before today, you’d still be fast asleep at this hour—how could there be such a flurry of clever moves in just one hour?”
“An hour earning 5,600 taels—seems this one million taels is not such a daunting task!”
“Son, I’ll make a pledge too. You save on breakfast, lunch, and dinner; I’ll save as well!”
“They just calculated—your daily saving of materials is 140 taels. I don’t eat much, so I can’t match your savings, but saving 60 taels is possible.”
“Ten days, that’s 600 taels!”

Chai Xiao gazed at his mother’s smiling face.

Last night, after losing control from drinking and harassing He Yun and Lan Zhi, he was nearly punished by her.

Now, she had praised him several times and was willing to save costs together on “food from the mouth.”

Complete trust.

Shared hardships.

The change was immense!

But to have such a mother—wasn’t that a true blessing?

Chai Xiao was about to express his gratitude to show filial piety.

Suddenly, he saw someone rise from the side near the door.

“Shall we add another saver?”