Just when Hui An, a trustworthy brother-in-law, helped Meng Zhong win the official title in front of Song Wangyan, Meng Zhong had already returned to the family army stationed outside the city with Meng Hu and five other clansmen.

It is worth mentioning that when Meng Hu learned that when they were not in the army in the past few days, Pengcheng sent many young sons to "treat" them as soldiers, he regretted that his intestines were blue, and the appearance of beating his chest made Meng Zhong feel ashamed, and kept a little distance from this guy quietly.

In fact, it is no wonder, after all, Menghu is at the age of fourteen or fifteen, and it is the time when he has a great interest in women.

However, only a moment later, Meng Hu put the matter behind him, and triumphantly told Meng Hu and the rest of the people about their experience of entering the city, and emphasized how they were treated as guests by Hui An.

I have to say that at that time, even the young sect master Meng Yu unconsciously showed an expression of envy and yearning on his face.

You must know that Hui Ang is an important minister around Song Wangyan, and he is from the Shangqiu and Jingbo areas, and he can also be called a neighbor of the Meng family.

It may be that Meng Hu's expression is too proud, and some people in the clan may coax him to dismantle the stage and say: "Ah Hu, after talking for a long time, you can't get such treatment because of your relationship with Ah Zhong, and it is not you who is entertained by that Doctor Hui." ”

As soon as he heard this, Meng Hu became anxious, patted his chest and swore solemnly: "What does I have to do with Ah Zhong?" Brothers are general, Dr. Hui recognizes Ah Zhong as his brother, that's the same as recognizing me......"

Hearing this, the surrounding clansmen made louder noises, and Meng Hu was so anxious that Meng Hu pulled over Meng Zhong, who was standing aside, and asked, "Ah Zhong, did you say that?" ”

"Yes, yes......" Meng Zhong nodded repeatedly.

After all, they are clan companions who have played together since childhood, and of course Meng Zhong wants to help this brother, even if this heartless brother sometimes calls him quite helpless.

Seeing Meng Zhong's support for him, Meng Hu was even more proud, grinning and laughing.

Seeing his appearance, Meng Zhong was secretly glad that he didn't tell Meng Hu about "seeing Song Wangyan", otherwise this guy would probably get even more carried away.

After a while, Meng Zhong was pulled aside by the young sect master Meng Hu and asked carefully about the situation.

Meng Zhong told the truth, but omitted the matter of his debate with Qiu He at the palace banquet, and also omitted the fact that Song Wangyan talked to him afterwards, only saying that it was because he wanted to see Song Wangyan, so Hui Ang took the risk to take him to the palace.

But even so, Meng Hu was already very surprised, after all, he was more than twice as old as Meng Zhong, but he had not seen what the monarch of the Song Kingdom looked like.

After sighing with emotion, Meng Yu said to Meng Zhong: "Ah Zhong, don't think I'm snobbish, but I still hope and hope that you can have a good relationship with that Doctor Hui......"

I have to say that the young sect master Meng Hu is a very upright person, so much so that when he said this, his face turned red, and his speech was a little stumbling.

"I understand, Uncle Menghu." Meng Zhong said in understanding.

Meng Yu nodded, patted Meng Zhong's shoulder, he was not good at words, and put everything into it.

looked back at Menghu, but saw that this guy was still bragging in front of the clansmen, and he frowned when he saw Menghu - Elder Mengzhu once said that only Mengzhong, Menghu, and Mengsui were the best among the juniors, and Menghu and Mengsui recognized it, but this Menghu ......

"When he gets to Tengdi, his father will clean him up."

Meng Hu said coldly, and Meng Zhong couldn't help but secretly pray for Meng Hu, after all, Meng Hu's father, Meng Qing, was a man who was even more silent and strict than the young sect master Meng Hu.

The next day, on the 15th day of the seventh month, Meng Hu led his clan soldiers to set off for Teng.

The route of the march was the same as the last time, which was also the road of "Pengcheng - Pei - Tengguo", that is, starting from Pengcheng to the northwest, after a distance of about 1670 miles, arriving at "Pei County", and then crossing the Nanhu Lake by boat from the Hugang ferry port in the area of Pei County, which is now called "Jin", and stepping into the territory of Tengguo in the northeast direction.

The ferry port in the area of Pei County, let's call it "Peijin", there is a water village there, and as far as Meng Zhong knows, there are about 2,000 soldiers stationed in the royal division, but the servants, that is, the conscripted people, or about 5,000 people, are responsible for carrying the grain and grass transported to this place on ships and carrying them to the other side of the lake.

After arriving at the water village, Meng Hu sent the "Fu Festival" issued by Jingbo County to the soldiers stationed in the local garrison.

The so-called symbols, that is, the documents for conveying orders, conscription and transfer of generals, and other various affairs, have gold, copper, jade, (beast) horn, bamboo, wood, etc. as materials, and the shapes are also different.

The runes held by Menghu are tiger-shaped runes made of animal horns, with the word "Jing Bo" engraved on the front and the character "Meng" engraved on the back, which represents "Jing Bo Montessori".

For such a talisman, the local county government will only issue one to a big family like Montessori, which is generally kept by the suzerain.

As for the talisman held by Sima Mengqing when he led his troops to this time, the general appearance and words are similar to Menghu, but the material is different, and it is carved from bamboo and wood.

After a while, a military official walked out of the water village, and after carefully inspecting the Meng clan soldiers and confirming that they were indeed Jing Bo Meng's clan soldiers, he ordered to open the gate of the village and let them go, and immediately arranged boats to prepare to transport the Meng clan soldiers and chariots to the other side of the lake.

About an hour later, the Meng soldiers took advantage of the boat and arrived on the other side of the lake.

"Is this Teng Guo? It doesn't look any different. ”

Meng Hu looked around, it was probably the first time he had left the territory of the Song Kingdom, and he was a little excited.

I saw him driving the carriage while saying to Meng Zhong with great interest: "Ah Zhong, do you think you will suddenly kill an army of Teng State?" ”

"Impossible." Meng Zhong shook his head and said calmly: "The Teng people are defending Teng City now, even if they organize a counteroffensive, they won't be able to get here...... At least tomorrow and tomorrow, we may run into Teng's army. ”

"That's right......" Meng Hu was slightly disappointed.

At this time, Meng Zhong turned his head to Meng Yu and asked, "Uncle Meng Hu, I look at the sky, I'm afraid it will be dusk in another hour and a half, should I wait for a slow walk, or ......?"

"At this rate." Meng Hu replied, and immediately shouted to a chariot behind him: "Meng Chong, you lead a group of troops to explore the road and see if there is a place to stay in the area ahead." ”

"Yes!"

The clansman named Meng Chong on the chariot answered, and drove the chariot with seventy-five soldiers under his command, speeding up and heading forward.

The rest of the clan soldiers followed far behind.

After estimating that after an hour's journey, Meng Chong personally drove the carriage back to the team, and he said to Meng Hu: "Young Sect Master, about seven miles in front of the left, there is a ruin of the township, and the houses in the city can still be inhabited. ”

"Okay, then I'll camp in that country tonight." Meng Yu nodded.

After another half an hour, near dusk, the soldiers of the Meng clan finally arrived at the township that Meng Chong had mentioned.

It is a township very similar to Mengyi, but not as large as Mengyi.

In this season, this field should be full of crops, but in front of Meng Zhong and others, it is a barren field overgrown with weeds.

In the distance, you can see some shadowy houses.

"Be cautious."

Meng Hu ordered all the soldiers to be vigilant, after all, this was in a completely strange land.

And in the end, it turned out that this abandoned township, there were no living people in it, there were a lot of dead bodies, I remember that during the period when the Meng clan people allocated a house to rest for a night, Meng Hu accidentally stepped on a shriveled corpse because of curiosity, and was so frightened that Meng Hu, who had never been afraid of heaven and earth, turned pale, and subconsciously pulled out the sword on his waist, and the whole person was tense.

In fact, it was not only Menghu but also other tribesmen who suffered similar experiences, so that in the end some timid tribesmen preferred to build bonfires in the open spaces of the countryside and spend the night with a cold wind blowing around the campfires rather than rest in the houses of those who had died.

While Meng Hu was so frightened that his face turned pale, Meng Zhong crouched down to examine the shriveled corpse, and when he saw that the corpse was wearing the usual linen clothes instead of leather armor, he sighed to himself.

Obviously, the army of the Song State slaughtered this township.

Although I once saw the record of "Song soldiers wantonly slaughtering and poking Teng people" after my brother's letter, but seeing it with my own eyes is a different mood.

Later, he found Meng Hu and told him what he was thinking.

"Bury these bodies?" Meng Yu was busy getting dry food to satisfy his hunger, and was slightly stunned after hearing Meng Zhong's words.

"Even if it's a 'deal', we live in their house and help them bury their bodies. …… Moreover, with these corpses present, the tribesmen may not dare to spend the night in the house, and the cold wind will blow overnight and continue on the road tomorrow, which is not good after all. Meng Zhong explained.

"What's wrong with staying overnight and continuing tomorrow?"

Meng Yu took a deep look at Meng Zhong, and finally nodded: "However, the clansmen are tired, I can't force them anymore, if anyone is willing to join your 'righteous act', I have no objection." ”

Obviously, he saw through Meng Zhong's true thoughts.

I have to say that after Meng Hu's big mouth showed off, the clansmen had already learned that Meng Zhong was a disciple of Zhuangzi, so that Meng Zhong still had some status among these clan soldiers, not to mention that many clansmen were also unbearable, so when Meng Zhong raised the matter, more than 20 clansmen immediately volunteered to help.

In the end, more and more people helped, and even the young sect master Meng Hu also participated.

It took more than an hour for everyone to dig a pit in the township and bury all the bodies they found.

Then the hungry people were hungry with dry food and water.

During this time, Meng Zhong was chewing dry food and thinking about a question.

From the standpoint of the Song people, he could not deny that it was beneficial to the Song State to start this war, but it was unacceptable to him to involve innocent civilians of Teng State, as if he would not extend the hatred of Teng Hu for killing his brother to the entire Teng State people, which he believed was the "virtue" advocated by Taoism, that is, the moral bottom line (of being a human being).

"Uh-huh-"

The cold wind in the night blew through the banner of the Mengshi soldiers, and the banner of the "Beibo Mengshi" made a rustling sound.

This night, Meng Zhong and Meng Yu chatted for a long time.