I remember that when Meng Xinghe came to Jiangdu for the first time and saw the tall city walls, he lamented whether the Qinhuai romance here was as endlessly yearning as what was written in later generations' documents. But since the day he stepped into Jiangdu City, it seems that more than a year has passed. The trajectory is all about how to stand out and honor the ancestors. He has never been to the Qinhuai River a few times, and rarely goes to the fireworks venue on windy and snowy nights. Looking back now, he doesn't know why he was so stubborn in the first place. Fame, fortune, money and power, He had everything he should have, but now that he thought about it, he felt that it was all a mirror image. Especially when he saw the tempting wanted documents next to Jiangdu City, Meng Xinghe even felt that his previous life seemed to be a dream. When I woke up, everything was taken back.
Although the soldiers guarding the city strictly interrogate those who come and go, Meng Xinghe was able to enter Jiangdu City smoothly, which is enough to show that the current soldiers' investigation ability is too poor. Even if they don't make up and don't disguise themselves, no soldier will find out when they enter openly. Extraordinary, you have to know that a few of them are worth a reward of nearly ten thousand taels of gold. It has to be said that Jiangdu's security is too poor, and it is more than enough to call them over.
"Third brother, where shall we stay?" Chai Shao approached Meng Xinghe and asked carefully, his eyes observing the surrounding situation from time to time.
"You go down and make arrangements. I have to go somewhere else." Meng Xinghe waved his robe and signaled to Mr. Chai and others not to worry about him, because he knew without guessing where Mr. Chai would choose the inn. , If you don’t believe it, Meng Xinghe went out for a walk and came back, asked someone at random where the nearest inn to Miaoyufang was, and he could find them if he went to keep it.
Sure enough, Mr. Chai didn't seem worried about Meng Xinghe wandering around Jiangdu City alone, and he immediately led Xue Rengui and others away.
"You come with me," Seeing Miss Du's hesitation, Meng Xinghe guessed that this girl was probably going to be a follower.
Miss Du didn't expect Meng Xinghe to say such things, so she had no choice but to lower her head and follow Meng Xinghe.
When it comes to places where Meng Xinghe can go in Jiangdu, besides Mr. Lu’s Governor’s Mansion, there is another place where he can go no matter what kind of person Meng Xinghe becomes, and that is the dean of the Jiangdu Provincial Academy. Meng Xinghe Now dressed in simple Tsing Yi, no one would recognize him when he walked on the street. They would not think that he was the Taiping rebels posted on the wall. Instead, he was followed by the beautiful Miss Du, and there were several people along the way. Students taking part in this year's provincial examinations will occasionally get noticed glances, but most of these people are aloof and arrogant literati in western clothes when they see a woman. They only hope for the woman's attention rather than taking the initiative to get close to them.
"Pretending to be cool," Meng Xinghe laughed at himself, wasn't that what he was like back then.
Miss Du didn't know where Meng Xinghe was going, so she followed him closely, like a girl dressed like a young man. However, not long after, when she saw the two big words "Provincial Education" above her head, Miss Du immediately understood that Meng Xinghe was coming here, how could she tolerate it? She couldn't help laughing at Meng Xinghe's courage, as Meng Xinghe had already walked in.
Ah, he was really not afraid. Miss Du also walked in. She had long been attracted by Meng Xinghe's weird behavior. If someone went to Li Chengqian to report it now, Meng Xinghe would undoubtedly be a sheep in a tiger's mouth.
Meng Xinghe actually believes that the most dangerous place is the safest place. Fortunately, he knows that the students from the Provincial School where Old Meng lives have no guts to disturb him. He took a few steps into Old Meng's private garden where no one is allowed to enter. , the aloe vera planted in the garden is growing well and is neatly maintained. Some of the soil has been newly plowed. It can be seen that the old man is living a very comfortable life planting flowers and grass. Behind the garden, there is a road paved with cobblestones. , there are three or two thatched huts inside. Meng Xinghe has seen him a few times. Most of the time, Old Man Meng lives here. It just so happened that when he went there today, he saw Old Man Meng relaxing in front of the door with the sun in his eyes, but there was no one around him. You know when there is a black wolf dog.
"General," Meng Xinghe recognized at a glance that the black dog sleeping next to old man Meng was the dog raised by that girl Lu Ning. He just barked, and the general opposite seemed to see his master coming back, and immediately rushed over wagging his tail and begging for mercy. Next to Meng Xinghe, he suddenly pounced on Meng Xinghe, showing great intimacy. However, Miss Du turned pale with fright when she saw the general. She is obviously not a dog lover.
Old Man Meng opened his eyes and saw Meng Xinghe appearing in front of him. Logically speaking, he should have known that Meng Xinghe was now a rebel, but he did not show any fear of contact. He seemed to have guessed that Meng Xinghe would come to see him, and said : "Give me a moment and let me take a look at the girl behind you,"
"Yeah," Meng Xinghe didn't know what he meant, so he turned away obediently.
"Little pigtails, do you still remember me?" Old Man Meng said a very rustic name. Miss Du was obviously taken aback, only to hear him continue: "I didn't expect that when I had two pigtails, I was always competing with Rongrong for the sky. There are so many girls in the stars, and now they are born so beautiful. I heard that they are still rare talents. Du Laosan is really blessed, blessed,"
As if recalling something, Miss Du pushed aside Meng Xinghe and walked in step by step until she saw old man Meng with white hair and beard sitting on a stool in front of him.
"Uncle Wei, it's really you," Miss Du finally remembered the frail old man in front of her: "Brother Wei Ming and sister Rongrong have been looking for you so hard. I didn't expect you to be in Jiangdu."
Erbo Wei, Wei Ming, Sister Rongrong, and Meng Xinghe seemed to have heard of them somewhere. However, why did Miss Du call Old Meng Meng Erbo Wei? Could there be some hidden secret in it?
"Uh, Old Man Meng, interrupt me, you know," Meng Xinghe felt that he was asking an idiot, but an idiot is an idiot, and he would never pretend to understand.
Miss Du glared at him: "If you don't speak, no one will treat you as a mute."
Meng Xinghe restrained himself from getting angry and brought a bench from the house.
"Thank you," before he sat down, Miss Du had already sat down and stared at him innocently, making Meng Xinghe unable to bear to fight for her.
Once, Meng Xinghe thought that he was very good at dealing with any woman, but now he realized that he was actually very stupid. Women, especially smart women, must not ignore the strong ability to persuade men hidden in their hearts.
"Brother Meng, why do you have the time to come to the Provincial School to see me today?" Seeing Meng Xinghe puffing up his cheeks, Old Meng joked and said, "You don't want to think that it's as simple as passing by Jiangdu and stopping by to see me, do you?"
"You were half right." Facts have proved that Meng Xinghe is very thick-skinned no matter what, even if his lies are exposed.
"What about the other half?" Old Meng was idle and had a boring conversation with Meng Xinghe.
"I want to ask you whether the Holy Emperor's decree has come to Jiangdu," Meng Xinghe is not a fool. He can see that the words written on those notices are not something Li Chengqian has the brains to write with such skill, let alone use the bounty money. Come and sell, the only possibility is that Li Shimin is always paying attention to the situation in Jiangdu, and even knows that he is not killed in the Hukou explosion. It just happens that Li Chengqian, a fool, has captured Mr. Lu, and Li Shimin can use him to make an issue. , it’s nothing more than trying to lure him, Meng Xinghe, to Jiangdu.
Old Meng thought for a moment: "It's here, Mr. Du personally delivered it."
"My dad,"
"I've already guessed it was Mr. Du,"
Two voices with different tones sounded. It was obvious that one didn't seem to believe it, and the other seemed to have expected it.
It seemed that everything was as expected by Li Shimin. Meng Xinghe sighed. It was almost the same as what he had thought before. The Taiping Sect was just an excuse for Li Shimin to let it go and then become an excuse to deal with the Turks and Lingnan. I think so. Li Shimin was a talented man and had a rough plan. Will tolerate someone who dares to threaten his throne under his nose. The Xuanwumen Incident of that year is a good example. As long as it is not planned, Li Shimin will eradicate and kill. For an emperor, it is as simple as eating and sleeping. Poor The master sister of the Taiping Sect has worked hard all her life, but in the end she is no longer worthy of the old fox Li Shimin.
However, Meng Xinghe is also relieved. If the Taiping Army refuses any imperial edict from the imperial court with the intention of death, they will still be defeated in the end, but they can still do a big thing with great vigor. But in this way, they know that they can't do it. In other words, it was just a matter of sailing against the current and ultimately losing. Since defeat was certain, Meng Xinghe had no intention of letting his brothers die. He just wanted to find a way out for his brothers, whether they were from the Taiping Cult or the Dragon Gang. As for the content of the imperial edict, I'm afraid it still needs to be considered.
The Sun Wukong in "Journey to the West" also got Bi Mawen. I don't know what will happen to me in the end. Meng Xinghe laughed at himself silently in his heart and said: "Then please ask Master Meng to ask Master Du to come here another day." How about we have a drink,"
"I want to eat and drink for free again," Old Man Meng rolled his eyes, obviously refusing to do it. Then, his face flickered, and he said: "You really decided to give away the Taiping Sect's hundreds of years of foundation. Luo Shen, does she know?" After he said it, his voice became much deeper. Meng Xinghe seemed to be able to hear some bitterness. For some reason, he felt that there must be some story about Old Meng, and besides, he could actually tell it. Given the name of God Shi Luo, he is undoubtedly someone who is very familiar with the Taiping Sect.
Could it be that Old Meng is also a Taiping Cultist? Meng Xinghe took a closer look. He heard that the Taiping Cult members are all unborn masters. Even Du Ruhui admires them. It’s not bad to think about it. Now I heard this senior ask about the Taiping Cult. Meng Xinghe did not want to hide the road ahead from him, saying: "Master Luoshen has handed over the Taiping Sect to my hands a long time ago. I think she will agree to my approach sooner or later."
"Maybe," Old Man Meng sighed: "With all the grievances and grievances in the world, when will the world be able to enjoy true peace?"
Meng Xinghe didn't know how to answer, and he didn't know if his choice was correct. But now, he had no way out. Apart from not letting his unborn child live a life of escape from birth, he couldn't let everyone else The brothers are groping blindly for a way forward. The only way is to negotiate, that is, to submit in name only and accept the imperial court's offer.