That night, after the campfires burned low and the prairie winds grew colder, Chen Rong sat inside his off-road pickup and began to carefully organize everything he possessed.
If he was truly stranded in the thirteenth century, then every object in this vehicle might determine whether he lived comfortably… or struggled to survive.
He took a deep breath and began his inventory.
First and most important—the vehicle itself.
The off-road pickup truck was his greatest advantage. Though the body bore scratches and dents from the earlier rollover, the engine still started, and the tires remained intact. As long as it could still move, this steel carriage alone made him vastly different from anyone in this era.
Then came the lighting equipment.
Two high-powered flashlights lay beside the driver's seat, both fully charged. Their beams could cut through darkness like daylight—something that, in this era, would easily be mistaken for divine light.
Next was the homemade electric shock baton.
Chen Rong picked it up briefly, weighing it in his hand. Earlier, he had already demonstrated its power to the Mongol cavalry. Even a brief discharge had frightened them badly. In close combat, this would be one of his most reliable self-defense tools.
After that came the electronic devices.
One domestic smartphone, still with about half its battery remaining. Though there was no signal in this era, the phone still contained useful resources—photos, downloaded maps, reference materials, and various offline applications.
Then a portable camera prepared for filming.
A drone set, along with spare batteries.
And a high-definition telescope used for long-distance observation.
Each of these items, when used properly, could reinforce his carefully constructed identity as a mysterious figure.
On the roof of the vehicle, he also had a foldable solar charging panel. When paired with the portable power station stored in the back, it could store approximately 1.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
This meant that, as long as sunlight remained available, he could recharge essential equipment.
It wasn't unlimited power—but it was enough to maintain a decisive advantage.
He continued checking the smaller items.
A compact projector.
Three towels.
Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Several rolls of toilet paper.
Two packs of wet wipes.
Miscellaneous small tools.
There were also two small buckets, a portable first-aid kit, and an outdoor induction cooker.
Chen Rong nodded slightly.
This was his complete equipment.
Fortunately, aside from some minor cosmetic damage to the vehicle, nothing had broken during the rollover.
Next came food supplies.
There were several cucumbers.
A bag of tomatoes.
One large watermelon.
Two cases of mineral water—originally prepared to prevent heatstroke during travel.
There were also snacks purchased from a gas station convenience store: bread, ham sausages, packaged biscuits, and other preserved foods.
And finally, a large bag of dried chili peppers—something his mother had specifically told him to buy before his trip.
Chen Rong paused.
"If I had known I would travel through time… I should have bought potatoes… and corn," he muttered quietly.
Those were high-yield crops—valuable survival resources.
Still, he quickly shook his head.
No potatoes… no corn… he could accept that.
But living without chili peppers?
That would be unbearable.
Fortunately, the dried chili peppers in front of him offered another possibility.
Chen Rong carefully took out several dried peppers and examined them under the flashlight.
The seeds inside were still intact.
If properly treated, they might still germinate.
His mind immediately began calculating.
These chili peppers were modern cultivated varieties from Xinjiang. After decades of agricultural improvement, they possessed strong adaptability and high yield.
Compared to the original peppers of South America—still unknown to Eurasia(central plane) in this era—these seeds were extremely valuable.
If he could cultivate them successfully…
They would not only improve his food but might also become a valuable commodity.
Chen Rong took out the small utility scissors stored in the car and carefully cut open the dried peppers.
Slowly and patiently, he removed each seed, placing them gently onto a clean surface.
Then he took a damp towel and wrapped the seeds carefully inside.
After a few days, he would check whether they began to germinate.
If not, he would still preserve the remaining dried peppers as backup.
He moved on to the cucumbers.
After breaking one open, he examined the seeds inside. Unfortunately, supermarket cucumbers were bred for taste and tenderness. Many of their seeds were immature and had a low survival rate.
Moreover, cucumbers have now been introduced to the Central Plains. The taste may not be as good as modern cucumbers, but it is not inedible.
However, modern cucumbers do have considerable advantages over the cucumbers of this era. At least in terms of yield, they are better if we compare to the cucumbers of this era.
He carefully removed several seeds and wiped them clean using dry toilet paper. These seeds would need to dry in the shade before storage, otherwise mold might develop.
Next came the tomatoes.
Tomatoes, in this era, still existed only in South America. If successfully cultivated, they could become another rare crop.
He cut open a tomato, removed the yellow seeds, wiped away the pulp, and set them aside to dry.
Finally, he turned his attention to the large watermelon.
Watermelons had already reached parts of Central plane by this period, but their sweetness and yield were far inferior to modern varieties.
This watermelon, by contrast, represented centuries of agricultural improvement.
Tomorrow, he decided, he would share it with the Mongol soldiers and Master Changchun. At the same time, he could collect the seeds.
Even if he tried, he could never finish such a large fruit alone.
After finishing the seed preparations, Chen Rong considered another important matter—fertilizer.
Seeds alone were not enough. If he wanted them to survive, he would need nutrients.
On the grassland, however, there was no shortage of natural fertilizer.
Cow dung.
Horse dung.
Sheep dung.
These were scattered everywhere across the prairie.
Once they left the grasslands, finding such resources might become difficult.
Chen Rong grabbed one of the small white buckets and stepped out of the vehicle.
The cold wind brushed across his face as he scanned the dimly lit grassland.
Almost immediately, Liu Zhonglu noticed him and hurried over.
"Sir, is there something you require? If you are thirsty, we have wine. There is also fresh kumiss—though its taste is somewhat sour."
Liu Zhonglu glanced at the bucket in Chen Rong's hand and assumed he was searching for water.
Water sources were scarce at night, and drinking from unknown streams could easily lead to illness. Moreover, wild beasts sometimes roamed the grasslands after dark.
Chen Rong shook his head.
"I am not short of water. I came out to gather some dry cow dung… or horse dung… sheep dung—anything suitable."
Liu Zhonglu blinked in surprise.
"Ah… I see."
He quickly nodded.
"There is plenty nearby. But the grassland is not safe at night. Tomorrow morning, I will have several soldiers gather some for you."
"Then I thank you, General," Chen Rong said, cupping his hands politely. "May I ask your name?"
Only then did he realize he had never properly asked. but it seems that he is also a Han Chinese.
"I am Liu Zhonglu," the man replied with a faint smile. "Imperial physician and personal attendant to the Great Khan."
Chen Rong nodded.
So that was his identity.
No wonder his bearing differed slightly from the other soldiers.