Jiang Pengji listened attentively to Meng Heng's narration. She could not help but frown.
She knew that Meng Heng wasn't treated well in Cangzhou, but she didn't expect his situation to be this bad.
All of this had to start from Meng Heng's childhood. Back then, Gu Zhen could not even take care of herself, much less her eldest son.
Gu Min and her husband took Gu Zhen away from the Meng Residence and let Meng Zhan and Gu Zhen divorce, but they could not take Meng Heng away.
Meng Heng struggled to live to the age of enlightenment. He did not live like a Zongzi. Instead, he lived like the most unfavored son of a concubine.
From the age of four to eight, he felt that Meng Zhan's favorite concubine was looking at him more and more unfriendly.
In order to escape from the persecution of his concubine, Meng Heng, who was only eight years old, found a way out for himself. Late at night, he paid a visit to the teacher who taught at the family school. From the teacher, he obtained a letter of recommendation for Meng Heng to go to the Dongyang Private School in Shangjing. Although it was said to be a student, it was actually a "hostage."
The Meng family of Cangzhou held the lifeline of the horse farm in Dongqing. How could the emperor be at ease? He was constantly thinking of taking back control.
Of course, the Meng family would not compromise. But if they did not, it would be hard to explain to the royal family. Meng Heng took advantage of this opportunity to go to Shangjing with the recommendation of the teacher. While studying, he also took the initiative to be a "hostage" to ease the conflict between the Emperor and the Meng family.
With this reason, Meng Heng also received the Immunity Medallion. No matter how much Meng Zhan's favorite concubine hated Meng Heng, she couldn't really kill him.
Not long after Jiang Pengji and Feng Jin met, she heard news about Meng Heng from him.
What had Feng Jin said about Meng Heng?
If Meng Heng hadn't accidentally revealed his identity, many of his classmates wouldn't have known that Meng Heng, who lived a simple life, was actually the Zongzi of the Meng family in Cang Prefecture!
Other than returning to Cangzhou for a few days during the New Year, Meng Heng basically stayed in Shangjing to study. He stayed for ten years.
In the assessment eight years ago, Meng Heng had wanted to enter the top three and become an official.
In this way, he wouldn't have to worry about Meng Zhan's favorite concubine when he returned to the Meng's.
Who knew that Meng Liang's scandal would be exposed, and the Meng County Governor's Office would be burned to the ground by Meng Hun and his men. Then, the Cang Prefecture Mutiny happened. How could this scandal be suppressed? As Meng Liang's eldest brother, Meng Heng was unfortunately affected and failed the test.
Not to mention the top three, Meng Heng couldn't even enter the top hundred.
After losing Meng Liang, the Meng family thought of him. More than a dozen letters to his family called him back.
Meng Heng set off from Shangjing. On his way there, he met Jiang Pengji, who was on her way to Langya County. It was the first time the two cousins had met.
Meng Heng, who had returned to the Meng's, felt as if his heart was being pricked by needles when he saw the no longer prosperous Cangzhou and the tired and poor people.
The Meng family of Cangzhou used to be the guardian of the people of this land.
Since when did the Meng family become the nightmare of the people and the demons who exploited them?
Meng Heng tried to make amends and restore the reputation of the Meng's. However, the head of the family was Meng Zhan, and Meng Zhan did not like him at all.
In this era where the patriarch was the king, Meng Heng's struggles and hard work were a joke.
As a son, the only thing he could do was admonish him.
He had tried many times, but the results were not ideal.
He didn't know why, but Meng Zhan's attitude toward him was getting colder and colder. He could even see the deep hatred and murderous intent in Meng Zhan's eyes.
"To be honest, my lord, although Heng's ancestral hall was removed and his surname was removed, Meng Heng is Meng Heng. I dare not forget the teachings of my ancestors." Meng Heng said, "If the Meng's of Cangzhou are done for, it is also fate. I dare not have the slightest resentment. I only ask for my lord's grace … "
Jiang Pengji looked at Meng Heng and guessed his request.
"You want me to give you the surname Meng and keep the ancestral hall of the Meng's?"
Jiang Pengji could not understand the persistence of people in ancient times to pass on their surnames and bloodlines.
Although she did not understand it, she respected it.
Meng Heng's eyes flashed with surprise and joy. He bowed his head and said, "I sincerely ask my lord to grant my wish."
There were many people with the surname Meng in the world, but not all of them were from the Meng's of Cangzhou.
Take Wei Ci as an example. The Wei's of Langye were separated from Bianzhou in Zhongzhao and moved to Langye to establish their own clan.
Both were from the Wei's, but when it came to their ancestors, one was from Bianzhou and the other from Langye.
Meng Heng planned to establish his own clan. When the time came, the Meng's of Cangzhou would be annihilated by Jiang Pengji, but the Meng's would not be completely wiped out because he would still be alive.
Jiang Pengji would naturally agree to such a small request.
"Okay … I'll do as cousin Heng says."
"Thank you, my lord!"
After discussing official matters, Jiang Pengji quietly changed the topic to Meng Heng's recent life. She asked him if he had any contact with the people under Huang Song's command. It was relatively easy for smart people to talk to smart people. Meng Heng immediately understood that Jiang Pengji wanted to poach him in private.
But …
Meng Heng said awkwardly, "I don't have much contact with the people under Magistrate Huang's command. The only one I have a friendship with is Nie Chengyun."
It was indeed Nie Xun.
Jiang Pengji's heart flashed with a hint of understanding.
Nie Xun really knew that he was Meng Heng's biological brother, but he had never acknowledged him.
Jiang Pengji continued to fish for information. She learned from Meng Heng that Nie Xun had taken care of him these days.
"My lord, do you fancy Nie Chengyun?"
Jiang Pengji smiled and squinted her eyes. "We hit it off at first sight."
Meng Heng had an idea. He whispered, "Magistrate Huang is suspicious but calm. I'm afraid it's not feasible to sow discord."
Jiang Pengji said, "That's why I need cousin Heng to do it. Nie Chengyun has taken care of cousin Heng many times. Cousin Heng should return the favor."
Nie Xun had taken care of Meng Heng many times. Meng Heng had a legitimate excuse to return the favor.
Wouldn't the two families be closer if they kept in touch?
When they were close to a certain extent, how could Huang Song not think too much about revealing their relationship as brothers?
Jiang Pengji did not hesitate at all when she swung her hoe to poach her brother.
Meng Heng sighed in his heart. Although it was not good to trick Nie Xun, both of them had their own masters.
"Heng obeys."
On the second day after Jiang Pengji arrived in Hede County, the Meng's garrison troops stationed at Hanchang Pass could not remain calm.
"Huang Song is hard enough to deal with. Why is there another Liu Xi?"
The general on guard slammed the table with a thud. His expression was ferocious. The people below him kept quiet.
"General, we can attack Hede County and defend Hanchang Pass. There's no need to be afraid."
The general on guard was worried. who didn't know this?
But —
But that was Liu Xi. Liu Xi, who had just destroyed the entire northern borderline with his troops!
When the soldiers guarding Hanchang Pass heard that Liu Xi had appeared among their enemies, their morale plummeted. This was what was worrying.
If there was only Huang Song, they could still take the initiative to come out of the pass to fight and force the enemy to retreat to Hede County.
Now that there was Liu Xi, who was like a wolf and a tiger, not to mention taking the initiative to attack, it was good enough that they did not cling to Hanchang Pass to defend it.
"Report this matter to the higher-ups as soon as possible and ask for a decision. The enemy is coming in menacingly. I'm afraid they won't be easy to deal with. "
The general on guard did not attack rashly. His mind was still very clear.
The most important thing at the moment was to defend Hanchang Pass and wait patiently for instructions from the higher-ups.
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