Chapter 9: The Heart of a Confucian Scholar

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  He walked out of the camp, Kong Xue Meng clasped his hands behind his back and turned to look at the campsite, with a hesitant expression. Meng Yao saw it in his eyes, although he knew what he was thinking, but also didn't know how to respond. Indeed, since they were already in the camp, there were too many things to see, although for the assault camp, it was just a drop in the ocean. But this drop in the ocean was already an earth-shattering event for people of this era. What could he say about something that was beyond comprehension?

  Finally, Kong Xue Meng could not help but bow deeply and say: "I have read a lot of books and have some knowledge, but I couldn't help asking General Meng today. Your army is majestic and powerful, with a strong and vigorous atmosphere, and it's hard for me to see through it. Could you please enlighten me, even if only briefly? It would be great if I could understand it in my dreams and smile once or twice. The army in front of me is indeed the mighty iron armor of China."

  Meng Yao hesitated for a moment, then suddenly grasped Kong Xue Meng's hands and said sincerely: "Old sir, from your words and tone, I have understood that although you are living in the deep mountains, you are indeed a true recluse who worries about the country and its people. Now I can answer you, and please believe me, the army in your eyes is truly the iron-clad torrent of my great China."

  "Good," said Confucius and Mencius, their eyes suddenly shining brightly. "China has hope now, China has great hope now."

  He said, gazing out at the distant mountains, deep in thought. After a while, he turned back to look at the camp behind him, nodding his head repeatedly and saying: "Since heaven has brought you down from above, it means that heaven still favors this great land of China, which has long been worn out and defeated. Now, with warlords fighting each other, bandits roaming everywhere, strong enemies surrounding us, and our territory lost, China cannot be saved without a powerful medicine or special remedy."

  Kong Xue Meng said to this point, suddenly plop a sound knelt down, two eyes staring at Meng Yao sternly and said: "Meng Yao, please tell the old man clearly, if you really want the two armies to confront each other, how do your 2,000 cavalry compare to Ma Da Hu Zi and Long Xiao Tian's?"

  Meng Yao tried to pull Kong Xue Meng up, but he was held back tightly. He could only gaze at the distant dark mountain peaks and let out a long laugh, squeezing out four words from between his teeth: "Different as heaven and mud."

  "Good," Kong Xue Meng asked quickly again: "Then, how about compared with the new army outside the mountain?"

  "What's this 'new army'?" Meng Yao quickly reacted, the teacher was probably referring to those warlords who had just cut off their braids and picked up quick guns. He hummed, now in this vast land of China, even the Whampoa Military Academy has not yet been born, and maggots are rampant everywhere, what's the point? He subconsciously shook his head repeatedly, and with a hint of disdain, he laughed repeatedly: "Let's not mention it, let's not mention it."

  Upon hearing this, Kong Xue Meng's eyes lit up even more, and he almost choked with emotion: "In that case, what about those foreigners with long guns and red hair and green eyes? Are they not to be reckoned with either?"

  "Hmm, this is a bit more complicated. Meng Yaogazed at the tottering Kong Xue Meng and with a burst of strength pulled him up. 'Old sir, let me put it this way: everything in today's world seems to us like an elephant looking down at ants at its feet. But I'm sure you've also read the phrase "learn from the barbarians to control them", so we can't be too self-deprecating either. Please rest assured that as long as we're here, something like the Eight-Nation Alliance will never happen again on our soil.'"

  "Good, good." Kong Xue Meng nodded repeatedly, "From the moment I saw you, I knew you were not ordinary people. You can descend to our Niutou Mountain stronghold, it is a great blessing for my stronghold. The leader also said that from now on, Niutou Mountain will be at your disposal, and the people and horses of the stronghold will also serve you."

  "I don't dare, I don't dare." Meng Yao heard this and knew it wasn't a joke, so he hastily interrupted him.

  Kong Xue Meng looked at Meng Yao with a serious expression, somewhat unhappily asking: "What's wrong, Meng Yao... or should I say Meng Yao the leader, do you look down on us few hundred people, or are you tired of these old and young being a burden?"

  Meng Yao listened, and that's all he dared to say. Kong Xue Meng laughed and said: "That's right! Don't look at our young sister as a weak and inexperienced woman, but she has a bright heart. From the day you sent us grain, canned goods, clothing, and even ten fast-moving cars, we knew you were our lucky stars, our saviors. We are very clear that if you wanted to swallow us up, you would be more formidable than Ma Dahuizi and Long Xiaotian. But you didn't, not a single move was made, and you even proposed to pay us rent for your garrison. Is there such a thing in the world? So, you are not only mighty warriors but also civilized teachers."

  Listening and listening, Meng Yao started to get confused. Haven't our army been known as the mighty and civilized teacher for generations? How did even the teacher know this title, didn't he also come with us from the past?

  He walked back to the camp with a dizzy head, only to find that Zhuge Dan had been following him listlessly all along. He stopped in his tracks and asked intently, "Have you been following me all this time?"

  Zhuge Dun nodded and replied inexplicably, "Yes, I'm a guard, of course I have to follow."

  "So tell me, what did Master just say?"

  "What does it mean?" Zhuge Dun looked at Meng Yao in confusion, and after a long time, he replied cautiously: "It seems to be surrendering, anyway, they are relying on us, wanting to join our assault camp."

  "Uh," Meng Yao nodded unknowingly, "it seems I heard it that way too."

  Zhuge Dan's face suddenly lit up with joy, "Actually, you knew it all along."

  Meng Yao suddenly turned stern, loudly commanding: "Zhuge Dun listen to orders, you are commanded to report to the guard squad within 15 minutes and be confined for a day, not one minute less."

  Zhuge Dun's face suddenly turned sour, and he shouted in disbelief: "Why, Colonel? They wanted to rush in themselves, and we couldn't stop them. Besides, didn't you agree to surrender? And what's more, this is a remote and desolate place, who will protect you if I lock you up?"

  "One more word and you'll be confined for another day." Meng Yao said, suddenly turning back to add, "Oh right, when the confinement is over, hand in a deep self-examination report."

  "Yes." Zhuge Dan walked away with a bitter face.

  Looking at Zhuge Dan's dejected back, Meng You fell into deep thought.

  If, if the assault camp is not unexpected, now in the intense battle of the red and blue army's exercise battlefield, would Zhuge Dun have made such a mistake? If, if they are still under the close watch of the army commander, division commander, and even regimental commander, wouldn't they be like this every day, crazily suppressing their homesick thoughts deep in their hearts, jumping spiritedly on the exercise field, with hot blood boiling over, shouting loudly...

  Time travel, it's all this damned time travel.

  "Huh, Camp Chief you're back." Cao Feibiao almost bumped into Meng Yao.

  Meng Yao nodded, "And what about Wang Zijin, hasn't he gotten into any trouble?"

  "No," Cao Feibiao said, his eyes darting around as he casually replied, "She knew you were going to send off her military advisor, she's delighted. Oh no, I've got an emergency, brother, bye!"

  "Get lost." Meng Yao cursed with a smile, and lifted the curtain to enter the tent.

  As soon as Meng Yao appeared, Wan Di stood up and stared at his face, asking directly: "Meng Yao, did the masters tell you?"

  "That's all." Meng Yao calmly returned to his own seat.

  "How?" asked Meng quickly.

  Meng Yao picked up his cup and took a look, huh, who moved my water cup?

  Lu Tao and others quickly caught the flavor from the conversation between the two, their eyes darting back and forth on each other's faces, trying to find some clues.