The coming of wind and snow is so unexpected that it completely disrupts the rhythm of siegers and defenders. Faced with the power of "general winter", both the Czar Russian army and zaporoze\'s Cossacks chose to retreat. They retreated to the villages and towns they occupied, waiting for the end of the wind and snow.

But for the defenders of Smolensk, although the heavy snow drove back the enemy, it also surrounded the defenders instead of people - it is extremely dangerous to go out in this weather.

What\'s more, the food in the city has begun to be insufficient. On the 20th day of the snowstorm, the refugees who fled the war and entered the city received only half of the relief in front of the besieged city every day, and the other residents were no better.

As mercenaries, they still get better treatment than ordinary residents. At least tea and bread.

At this moment, Cherchen, Ruth and eight other members of their team were hiding in the wooden shed inside the city wall and baking on fire. The wooden shed was smashed into several big holes by artillery in the previous battle. Because firewood is also a scarce strategic material now, Cherchen and his team have no surplus materials to repair, so they have to plug the gap with rags and rotten fur. But even so, the cold wind kept pouring in.

"It\'s so cold."

Chechen put his little hand as close to the campfire as possible. On the campfire hung a tin bucket, in which tea was burning.

"Come on, bake these too. Otherwise they will be as hard as ice." a mercenary named Francisco took out some bread from behind and put it by the campfire.

The bread was really cold and hard and felt like stones. But even if the fire is roasted, such bread only softens a little. If anyone eats it directly, several big teeth will collapse. This has happened to other companies. So after baking soft, you have to break it up and soak it in hot tea water.

"I really miss the steak and milk in my hometown!" francisco said with emotion after sniffing the aroma of tea.

His words, as expected, resonated with his companions. Everyone sighed and talked about the delicious food in their hometown, and then cursed the damn ghost weather and the city Lord.

"I think we should be satisfied. A few days ago, I walked across the street, where there were refugees. It was said that their bread was made of sawdust." Chechen picked a campfire and said.

But his words not only did not resonate with his companions, but provoked a higher dissatisfaction among everyone.

"Can it be the same? Without us, they would have been caught by the Cossacks and sold to the Tatars. We protect their lives and property. Of course, they should reward us with the best food," said a middle-aged mercenary with a bad nose.

"Yes, I heard that the officers had red wine and beef."

"I also saw chablin, the civil affairs officer in the city, take white bread to pay the bills of prostitutes."

Everyone cursed as much as you could.

Chechen is a bitter face. He wanted to persuade everyone to be content, but he didn\'t expect it to have a reaction.

"Yes. May those damn guys see Satan after they die."

At this time, someone inserted a sentence behind Chechen.

Everyone looked back and saw that it was lieutenant Pedro, Chechen\'s uncle.

Now, everyone, including Ruth and Chechen, was a little embarrassed.

Pedro went to Cherchen and was ready to sit down. The people nearby quickly moved and gave him a seat.

After sitting down, Pedro picked up a piece of bread by the campfire. The bread is not so hard after being baked over the fire.

Pedro took out a knife, cut a piece of bread, then opened the lid of the tin bucket and threw the cut bread in.

"Here\'s to the city Lord. May he take a good bath in it," Pedro shouted. He took the bread as a fiordo and threw it into the hot water.

If you are in the regular army, you feel that you can\'t bear the behavior of having no officers.

But in the mercenary corps, Pedro\'s perverse behavior is very consistent with everyone\'s heart. Everyone also followed suit and gave bread pieces various names, most of which were nobles and officials at the head of the city. Now everyone gets together in the "bathhouse".

Chechen looked at his uncle with some admiration. He didn\'t expect that his uncle could resolve the embarrassment so easily, but he still used this method.

Bread made with hot tea softens quickly. Pedro played a bowl, took it to his mouth and took a big sip. After drinking, it still looks like it\'s not enough.

Seeing that Pedro drank so delicious, the mercenaries were greedy and couldn\'t wait to eat a bowl.

Although the bowl of bread and tea soup eaten in Chechen\'s mouth is no different from that usually, it may be because of the addition of "Sir", but it is particularly delicious in other people\'s mouth.

As a result, everyone\'s resentment dissipated temporarily with the meal.

After lunch, Pedro took out some cut tobacco and some bottles of wine to share with everyone. This made the soldiers even happier.

In the smoke, the soldiers on duty raised the curtain of the wooden shed.

"Cherchen, someone is looking for you outside."

"Looking for me? Who is it?"

"No, she\'s a middle-aged Tatar woman. She said she knew you."

Chechen recalled, but he didn\'t remember what Tatar he knew in Smolensk. He was still a woman.

"I\'ll come right away. You tell her to wait."

Although I have no impression, since someone comes to me in this weather, there must be something important.

"Uncle, I\'ll go out."

"OK, come back quickly."

Chechen opened the curtain and went out. A cold wind came on his face. He couldn\'t help tightening his collar.

The woman was standing under the city ladder with her back to her, so Chechen went down.

"Are you looking for me?" Chechen asked.

Hearing the sound, the middle-aged woman turned around.

The middle-aged woman was in her fifties and had a typical Tatar appearance. Her face was flat and full of wrinkles; The bridge of the nose is low and flat, and the nostrils are upward; A pair of squint eyes only have a gap due to the wrinkles on the face.

Chechen is sure that if he had seen this woman before, he would have an impression.

"Are you Mr. Chechen?" the middle-aged woman asked carefully.

"Yes, I\'m Chechen from the aleval family."

After confirming Chechen\'s identity, the Tatar woman excitedly tried to hold Chechen\'s hand and kiss, but Chechen escaped.

"I don\'t know who you are."

"My name is insignificant. In fact, I don\'t know you. My master sent me to you."

"Who is your master?"

"It\'s Miss Helena obhovich."