Chapter 66 Displaying Relics of Posterity

Jiang Ye walked over to a cardboard box, opened it, and took out a package of refined salt printed with blue lettering.
The moment he tore open the packaging and poured the snow-white salt grains into his palm, the tiny crystals glittered like diamonds in the setting sun.
"General Guo, this is the salt consumed by us people of later generations."
Jiang Ye proactively touched a pinch of salt with his fingertips and placed it in his mouth to prove it was safe.
Guo Xin looked at the salt in his palm, his pupils suddenly contracting.
The finest green salt he had ever seen still carried a faint grayish tint, yet this handful of salt before him was even whiter than the first snow of winter.
"General Guo might as well try it and taste how the salt of us people of later generations differs from what is commonly eaten in the army." Jiang Ye advanced the bag of salt forward.
Zhang Qian frowned, about to stop him, but Guo Xin had already raised a hand to signal that it was fine.
The old general lightly dipped his calloused index finger into the salt grains and slowly brought them to his mouth.
In an instant, his weathered face shook with astonishment.
There was none of the expected bitterness, staleness, or fishiness, only the purest savory saltiness flowing between his lips and teeth.
"Fine salt," Guo Xin sighed in a deep voice.
Seeing the commander's reaction, Zhang Qian also stepped forward, his fingertips lightly touching the salt grains.
The moment that pure whiteness melted on the tip of his tongue, this iron-blooded deputy general's pupils shrank violently.
Having been stationed in the Western Regions for many years, he had tasted rock salt sent as tribute from Tubo and sea salt collected by merchant caravans from the Arab lands, but he had never encountered such a crystal-clear, snow-like treasure devoid of any impurities.
"This..." Zhang Qian's voice was rarely tight. "Does such pure salt truly exist in this world?!"
Hearing this, the veteran soldiers of Anxi around them cast their gazes uniformly onto the handful of snow-white salt grains, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Although the veterans were full of curiosity, they still strictly adhered to military discipline, and no one stepped forward without authorization.
Wang Zhengqing reacted the fastest, immediately opening a package of refined salt, holding it in his palm, and offering it to the nearest veteran.
"Have a taste, old sir."
The veteran stared at the frost- and snow-like salt grains before him, hesitating and remaining still.
Understanding, Wang Zhengqing first took a few grains into his mouth himself.
Only then did the veteran cautiously pinch a tiny pinch. The instant his tongue lightly touched it, his clouded eyes suddenly cleared.
"Fine salt, fine salt," he said with a trembling voice, his fingertips still lingeringly rubbing the residual salt grains.
Seeing this, the surrounding veteran soldiers cast expectant gazes in succession.
Understanding, Wang Zhengqing held the bag of salt and walked up to everyone one by one.
Passing each person, rough fingers would cautiously pinch a few grains, followed by gasps of amazement sounding one after another.
Seeing them busy showing off, Chen Xueolin refused to be outdone.
He walked over to a cardboard box printed with the words "White Sugar" and neatly tore open the seal.
He beckoned to Tong Yi beside him: "Come, help me hold this."
Tong Yi took the cardboard box, inside which dozens of transparent plastic bags were neatly arranged, filled with snow-white crystals that sparkled in the sunlight.
Chen Xueolin took out a bag and walked with Tong Yi toward Guo Xin.
"General Guo, please try this as well."
This time, Chen Xueolin carefully tore open the packaging, afraid of wasting things in vain like before.
Zhang Qian stepped forward vigilantly. "Let this subordinate taste it first."
The general was their backbone and core, and not the slightest mishap could be tolerated.
Realizing this, Jiang Ye shifted the direction in his hand and handed it to Zhang Qian.
Zhang Qian took the heavy metal object, his fingers brushing over the cold barrel.
"General Zhang, you might as well place your eyes right here," Jiang Ye said as he demonstrated for him.
Imitating Jiang Ye's demonstration, Zhang Qian aimed the eyepiece at the guard tower on the distant city wall.
The instant his right eye moved close to the lens, his entire body shuddered violently!
The sentry, who had originally been shrouded in twilight, was now so sharp and clear that every single detail was visible!
The rust on the soldier's armor, the sideburns ruffled by the wind and sand, and even a notch on the waist saber were all right before his eyes.
*(Dear readers, while reading up to here, don't forget to add this to your bookshelf! Add it to your bookshelf! By the way, I'm asking for a reward; even a penny or two is love. O(*￣︶￣*)O)*