After hearing the advice of the elder Meng Jian, Meng Zhong stayed with his mother and brother at home for five days.

Five days later, the Meng family had received the military order from Sima "Xiao Zhu" in Shangqiucheng County, and the Sima "Meng Qing" led ten troops to set off for Shangqiu, preparing to join the tribes of the other families outside Shangqiu City and set off for Pengcheng together.

As one of the top major families in Shangqiu and Jingbo, the Meng family sent ten chariots and a total of 750 soldiers of the clan, commanded by Meng Qing. His younger brother "Zhì", including the elder Meng Jian's son "Meng Xian", and the ten athletes of the Meng family, all served as military officers on each chariot, and each commanded 75 soldiers.

Meng Zhong's brother Meng Bo was arranged on the chariot of "Meng Zhi" as a soldier and the latter's assistant.

In this regard, Meng Zhong must thank Meng Hu, a companion who grew up with him.

Although Ge had asked Meng Qing, as Sima, Meng Qing's responsibility was to be responsible for all the children of the Meng clan, and it was difficult to cover everything. Therefore, Meng Hu asked his uncle Meng Zhi for Meng Zhong. Because his father Meng Qing was too strict, Meng Hu had been close to his uncle Meng Zhi since he was a child. Meng Zhi also liked this naughty nephew. After being begged by Meng Hu, he arranged Meng Bo to his own chariot "for public and private".

You should know that even though they are children of the Montessus and even if they have the status of "Armor", there are only 30 people who are qualified to ride in a chariot. There are nearly 200 children of the Montessus who set out this battle, which means that nearly 170 people have to hike, whether they are rushing or fighting.

As a newcomer who went on the war for the first time, Meng Bo was able to stand on the chariot and had to admit that this could be done by relationships.

“Depart!”

With the order from Sima Mengqing, the soldiers of the Meng family slowly headed towards Shangqiu.

During this period, the old people in the tribe, such as the sect leader Meng Qie, the elder Meng Jian, Meng Qie, and Meng Fei, stood outside the towns and watched, while the young sect leader Meng Wu led the tribe's team to send their families on foot to see them off.

Among the teams that sent each other were Ge and Meng Zhong, mother and son, as well as the latter's companion Meng Hu.

After sending each other for ten miles, Mengwu stopped and stopped his tribesmen from continuing to send each other. Instead, he watched the tribe soldiers led by Meng Qing.

At this time, a few depressing crying faintly appeared in the team that was sent. Meng Zhong looked around and saw several aunts and sisters-in-law in the clan. At this time, he couldn't help but cry.

The young sect leader Meng Wu also heard the sound and was about to scold him, but in the end, he pursed his lips and said nothing.

Meng Zhong was also very worried about his mother, Ge. He looked up at Ge, and saw that Ge's eyes were slightly red, but there was still a forced smile on his face. However, from her hands holding her sleeves tightly, it could be seen that her mother was not as calm as she showed at this moment.

Not only Meng Zhong could see it, but even Meng Hu could see it. He persuaded him, "Aunt, don't worry, I also asked my uncle (Meng Zhi). My uncle loved me the most in the past, and he would also help take care of Brother Meng."

"Thank you, my aunt, good boy."

Ge looked grateful and held Meng Zhong and Meng Hu in his arms, staring at the army of soldiers who had left far away, and took away his eldest son Meng Bo.

After the clan army had disappeared from sight, Mengwu urged the clan people to return to their hometowns. However, at this time, many aunts in the clan refused to leave, and even turned back three times, so it took nearly two hours before the team who sent them back to their hometowns.

After returning to his hometown and home, Ge's inner emotions seemed to calm down, so she urged Meng Zhong to say, "Zhong'er, you should have been with Master Zhuang, but you returned home because of your brother's affairs. Now your brother has set off, and it's time for you to go back to your master."

Meng Zhong nodded, but said worriedly: "But if the child leaves, you will be the only one left in the family."

Ge touched Meng Zhong's head and said with a smile: "In this township, are you still worried about something going on for your mother?"

This is true. In the large family, the tribesmen generally help each other. If there are unsightly evil people sneak into the town and try to rob and commit murder, the men in the town will stand up, so Meng Zhong is not worried about this.

What he was most worried about was because their two sons were not around and they were afraid that Ge would feel lonely.

However, the elder Meng Jian solved this problem for him.

About half an hour later, just as Meng Zhong packed his luggage at home and was about to return to Zhuangziju, the elder Meng Jian led a small donkey to Meng Zhong's home, intending to give the small donkey to Meng Zhong so that he could travel between Zhuangziju and his hometown.

"This is the reward from the clan for becoming a disciple of Mr. Zhuang." Meng Jian explained with a smile.

Even if it was Meng Zhong, it would be difficult to hide the surprise in his heart at this time.

After all, in modern times, most horses are used to marches and fight, transport food and grass. It is very difficult to get a horse for transportation. The donkey is the one who replaces horses as a means of transportation, but this is not something that ordinary people can get.

Not to mention the distance, just Meng Hu. His grandfather and father were Sima of the clan for two generations, and they could be regarded as the "third generation of officials". However, when he went to Zhuangziju to visit Meng Zhong and Meng Sui, they were all hiking on foot. Only when he sent a message to Meng Zhong this time, he received permission from his grandfather Meng Hun, allowing him to ride in a carriage.

It’s not that Meng Hu’s family does not have any extra carriages, but that under the Confucian “ritual system”, people with a strict status can enjoy what kind of treatment they can enjoy - Meng Hu is not able to own a carriage and have the qualifications to fight horses.

As a disciple of Zhuangzi, Meng Zhong had a donkey to carry it, which was not considered a usurpation.

Because the little donkey was covered in gray hair, Meng Zhong named it "Grey Gray", which made Meng Hu, who was watching, envious.

After lunch at home, about an hour later, Meng Zhong said goodbye to his mother and playmate Meng Hu, and rode a donkey to set off for Zhuangziju.

Huihui is a very ordinary donkey. Maybe because he is still young, he doesn't walk fast, at least he won't be faster than Meng Zhong himself, but he is better off saving effort. After having such a transportation tool, even if Meng Zhong returns home to see his mother every few days, he will not make his body tired.

As dusk approached, Meng Zhong returned to Zhuangziju.

Sure enough, the existence of the little donkey was surprised and excited by the presence of all the scholars in the house. In fact, these children of various families had not seen donkeys in the past, but with their age, they had not yet possessed them.

"A Zhong, can I ride a circle?"

Hua Hu asked excitedly.

Of course, Meng Zhong would not be stingy and said with a smile: "Of course, but it is still small, don't let it be too tired."

"Then Wuying can't ride it." Mu Wu smiled and teased Wuying, making the burly but stupid-mouthed Wuying's face flushed.

Throwing the donkey Huihui to his companion, Meng Zhong walked into the main house where Zhuangzi lived. Seeing that Zhuangzi was sitting in the house with his eyes closed and resting, he sat gently on his usual seat and greeted in a low voice: "Master, student Meng Zhong is back."

Zhuangzi slowly opened his eyes when he heard this. After taking a look at Meng Zhong, he picked up his pen and wrote on a bamboo plaque: Have you said goodbye to your brother?

"Yes." Meng Zhong nodded and told Zhuangzi about the past five days, including the story of his mother sending his brother to him today.

Zhuangzi looked at his disciple deeply, and suddenly picked up his pen and wrote on Zhupai Mountain: You are very frightened.

Meng Zhong opened his mouth and finally nodded: "The student felt that the State of Song was difficult to be safe for a long time, so he wanted to prepare early so that he could protect my relatives in the future, but the student did not expect..."

In fact, let alone Meng Zhong, even Zhuangzi did not expect that Song Wangyan would send troops to attack Teng. After all, Teng was just a small country between Song and Lu, and the country was less than 10% of the territory of Song. However, it was also a country that promoted the "well-field system" and ruled by benevolence and righteousness. When Song Wangyan attacked such a country this time, even if he won and annexed the land of Teng, he would definitely bear a considerable reputation.

But unfortunately, even if he is Zhuang Zhou, which everyone admires, he cannot control the monarch's decision.

"Study with peace of mind".

Finally, Zhuangzi picked up his pen and wrote on the bamboo plaque.

This is how he can only comfort his disciples.

A few days later, the weather gradually became colder. When Meng Zhong rode his donkey back to his hometown to visit his mother, it began to snow.

At this time, Ge had already sewed the winter clothes for his youngest son to protect the cold, but when he saw Meng Zhong put on the clothes for his cold, Ge couldn't help but think of his eldest son.

"Your brother must be still on his way to Pengcheng at this moment, right? The weather is getting colder and colder, and I don't know if he will be frozen on the way."

Seeing his mother's face full of worry, Meng Zhong comforted: "Mom, did you bring your clothes to protect the cold when you set off? Don't worry, Brother Ah won't have any trouble. He is a soldier standing on a chariot, so he doesn't have to hike on foot when he marched. If you are still worried, what do the aunts in the clan think?"

“That’s true.”

Ge nodded.

Indeed, his eldest son Meng Bo can become a soldier on the bus, all depends on her relationship. If she still complains, what should the mothers of those tribe members who are hiking on the road think?

Seeing that my mother nodded, Meng Zhong said again: "By the way, mom, I have asked my master for instructions. This winter, you can move to my master's house with me to live in order to prevent the road from being blocked from heavy snow and the child cannot return home, so that you can worry about it."

"How does this make?"

Ge said in surprise.

In fact, she was also worried about this. After all, it was almost winter. When the road was blocked by heavy snow, it would be difficult for her son to go back and forth again, but let her follow her son to move to the vicinity of Zhuangzi's residence... That was Mr. Zhuang.

"Mom, the child has already told the Master about this, and the child's companions in the village also built a small bamboo house outside the courtyard for her. No one will talk about the matter with presumptuous etiquette."

"this……"

After Meng Zhong's persuasion, Meng Shi responded, and then she asked her son again: "Then...what gifts should you bring for your mother?"

"Just bring some rice and wheat that we grow." Meng Zhong replied with a smile.

His teacher was Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi, who refused to serve as prime minister of Song and Chu, would he care about what gifts those who came to visit brought?
Chapter completed!