In a sacked city, the china's one of the first things to go. Smashed on the streets in favour of silver and gold. Certainly, the plates are likely bloody precious -- but every seasoned soldier knows it's too delicate to shove in your pack for the march. So it gets shattered, instead.

[ although he responds well to his laughter, he can't help but feel a little sad at the reminder of sieges cracked and men let off their leashes. ] So I suppose I see the stuff broken more often than whole.

[ his own dishes on the march were metal. or they were wooden. and they were few. though some officers carried whole trunks of belongings with them. ]