Hogan had always been kind and honest. He had a noble heart and respected his parents. He would never take credit for something that looked like a miracle.
He calmed himself and spoke loudly, "Soldiers, please rise."
His voice was clear and strong. It had a calming effect. Even with all the noise in the camp, everyone could hear him clearly.
The kneeling soldiers hesitated. They looked up at the young man they respected like a god.
Hogan raised his hand slightly, telling everyone to stand. Then he spoke again, with a serious and respectful tone.
"This strange event is not because of me. It is Heaven's kindness. Heaven was moved by my father, Emperor Qin's good rule, and knew the hard work and pain of you border soldiers. So Heaven sent blessings."
"I am only following Heaven's will. I just do what my father, the Emperor, has asked me to do."
His words explained clearly where the goods came from. He gave credit to Heaven and to the Emperor. He made it clear that he was only the person carrying out the task. He didn't try to take any glory for himself.
The soldiers were shocked.
So these piles of rare and special items were actually a gift from Heaven to the Emperor, and the young master was simply delivering them?
Suddenly, people shouted, "Long live the Emperor!" and "Heaven bless Great Qin!" louder and with more passion than before.
When they looked at Hogan, their eyes were full of even more respect and warmth. They saw not only a noble leader but someone who truly cared about the lower-ranked soldiers like them.
Seeing everyone so excited, Hogan felt more at ease.
He knew that words weren't enough. He needed to show something real to calm people's hearts and lift their spirits.
He turned to a few of his guards who were still calm and said, "Go open those boxes of candy and fruit. Hand them out. Everyone here today, whether soldier, craftsman, or laborer, will get some."
"Yes, sir."
The guards quickly obeyed. With help from some officers, they carefully opened boxes that had bright pictures printed on them.
Colorful, neatly wrapped candy spilled out. The sweet smell filled the air.
Another box had bright red apples and shiny yellow bananas. The fruits looked so fresh and beautiful, something none of them had ever seen before.
"Are these gifts from Heaven?"
"They smell so good."
"How can fruit look like that?"
People began whispering in surprise. Some swallowed hard as they stared.
Soon, under the officers' direction, the candy and fruit were handed out.
Each person got one small piece of candy with a pretty wrapper and a small slice of fruit.
It wasn't a lot, just enough to have a taste.
But even so, when the sweet, strange flavor melted in their mouths, many soldiers' eyes lit up.
Some older soldiers even had tears in their eyes.
Life on the border was very hard. They ate cornmeal and wild vegetables most of the time. If they had some dried meat, it was already a big treat.
This kind of pure sweetness that brought real joy to the heart was something they never thought they would experience.
Everyone ate slowly and carefully. The camp became quiet. The only sounds were chewing and soft breaths of happiness.
At that moment, a young soldier who still looked a bit childish stood up. Maybe the sweet taste had made him bold, or maybe he finally gathered enough courage.
He raised his voice and asked nervously, "Sir, may I ask, this sweet and tasty thing, can we eat it again in the future?"
His voice was shaky, full of hope.
Everyone looked at Hogan.
Hogan didn't answer right away.
He looked kindly at the young soldier, then slowly looked around at everyone. He saw clearly the mix of hope, nervousness, and longing on their faces.
After a short pause, he finally spoke in a deep and calm voice, "This kind of sweet treat is a gift from the heavens. It was given because the Emperor is kind and has won their favor. So, it belongs to the Emperor."
"Today, it was shared with you because the Emperor cares about you. You guard the border and fight with your lives. You have done great service for the country. That is why His Majesty gave special permission for you to have it."
Then his voice became louder and stronger.
"You only need to remember this. Be loyal to the Emperor, and loyal to Great Qin. As long as our country stays strong, the borders stay safe, and the Emperor continues to rule with wisdom, he will never be stingy with rewards."
"One day, not only these sweet things, but eating full meals with meat every day will not be a problem."
These words were like fire dropped into oil. Everyone's hearts were suddenly filled with excitement.
The soldiers started talking loudly. Their voices were even louder than before.
"Did you hear that? The young master said we'll be able to eat full meals. Even meat."
"Is it true? I'm not dreaming, right?"
"Loyal to the Emperor. Loyal to Great Qin. My life belongs to His Majesty."
Hope filled their hearts. A strong hope that they had never felt before. It spread in every corner of the army camp.
Hogan raised his voice again, taking advantage of the moment. "Great Qin remembers your hard work and the pain you've gone through. I, Hogan, promise from now on, I will make sure all of you can eat until you're full."
"To eat until we're full."
These words hit every soldier right in the heart.
In these times, most people didn't have enough food. Many joined the army just to have something to eat.
Life in the army was strict, and training was hard, but at least there were regular meals in the morning and evening.
Two meals a day, even if it was just thin corn porridge or rough rice mixed with sand. It was still better than staying at home and drinking one bowl of watery porridge or not eating at all.
Now, Hogan himself had promised that they would have enough food every day.
What did that mean?
It was like a dream. A life they never dared to imagine.
The entire army camp was filled with energy and spirit.
The soldiers looked at Hogan with eyes full of trust and admiration.
It was like they believed that as long as they followed this young master and stayed loyal to Great Qin, a good life was finally within reach.