The person who came was none other than Mrs. Meng.
Just now, Mrs. Meng took all her family members out of the house, but she saw her brother and nephew coming to visit Meng Ao. Since Meng Wu was still in Meng Ao's room, it was inconvenient to disturb him at the moment, so he talked about some family affairs in the study.
Mrs. Meng's maiden name is Sima, her brother's name is Sima Hong, and her nephew's name is Sima Jie.
When the father and son heard that Ying Zheng was here, they wanted to see Ying Zheng out of courtesy, so they asked Mrs. Meng to come and report.
Mrs. Meng saluted and said: "Your Majesty, my brother and his nephew came to visit my father. I learned that the King was here and wanted to see him. Is the King free?"
"Mrs. Meng is so polite. I wonder if brother Ling is...?" Ying Zheng asked.
"My uncle's name is Sima Hong, and my cousin's name is Sima Jie. They came to visit me the day my grandfather first fell ill. They must have been worried today, so they came to visit again." Meng Tian said from the side.
Ying Zheng nodded and thought to himself: It turns out that Mrs. Meng's surname is Sima.
How could Ying Zheng of the Sima family not know that it was a huge family throughout China with deep roots. Although they lived in different countries, they were very united and prosperous. There have been many Sima people serving as officials in the past dynasties. According to legend, the surname Sima was derived from the position of Sima, who ranked among the three noble families. There is also a theory that Sima was designated as the official because there were too many people in the Sima family. It is impossible to verify who came first among the three official positions.
Not only in the officialdom, through the accumulation of generations, the Sima family has strong financial resources and numerous family properties, and everyone in the family who marries are also dignitaries from various countries.
"Although I have never met, your uncle is naturally my elder. This is not the middle of the court, so how can the elder pay homage to the younger one." Ying Zheng stood up and said, "Please help me, Mrs. Meng, to lead the way." Go visit your brother."
"How dare you, how dare you." Mrs. Meng said, "It's better to ask my brother to come here."
Seeing the two people being polite to each other, Meng Tian first glanced at him, and then said to Mrs. Meng: "Mother, why don't you do this, it's almost noon, why not prepare some food and wine, we should have a banquet for the king in the mansion. Then invite uncle, Wouldn’t it be better if my cousin comes together.”
"Well, what Tian'er said is that mother almost neglected the king." Mrs. Meng said apologetically, "It's a long way back to the palace, so I hope the king will condescend to have a meal in his humble residence."
"It's better this way." Ying Zheng said with a smile, "Then there is Laogui Mansion."
Ying Zheng's view is a compromise, so he naturally agrees.
"Then I'll go and give the order." After Mrs. Meng responded, she turned to Meng Tian and said, "Tian'er, take the king to have a meal later. Your uncle will be waiting there."
After saying that, Mrs. Meng saluted Ying Zheng and went out to prepare.
The two brothers were not in a hurry to take Ying Zheng to dinner and started chatting again.
"Meng Tian, what kind of person is your uncle?" Ying Zheng asked curiously.
"My uncle is a generous man and has a rich family fortune, but he never bullies the weak. He often helps the poor and victims of disasters. People everywhere call him a great philanthropist," Meng Tian said.
Ying Zheng smiled and said, "I have long heard that the Sima family has a rich heritage and a good reputation. Now I want to see the Sima family's elegance."
Meng Yi added: "My cousin is also quite talented in literature. He writes good articles and has quite a lot of insights into the affairs of all the countries in the world."
"Oh? Why not recommend him as an official? Wouldn't it be better to serve the country and benefit the people?" Ying Zheng said.
"Actually, there are many officials in the Sima family, and there is no shortage of people who can be recommended. Our Meng family has also mentioned this matter. But in order to manage the family business, my uncle has never thought of becoming an official." Meng Tian paused and said, "But I heard my uncle say that he wants his cousin to serve the country and achieve great achievements. My cousin is about the same age as Meng Yi, and he is about to be crowned, so he may have such plans by then."
Ying Zheng nodded. He wanted to get acquainted with people like Sima Hong, and young talents like Sima Jie should be reused if they were really talented.
After all, the relationship with the Meng family is here, loyalty is not a problem, and with such a family background and good conduct, they are exactly the talents that Ying Zheng needs.
At this time, the footsteps of several more people came from outside the door. It was Zhao Gao and others who took the medicinal materials and returned.
Cheng Xi did not follow him back because of something in the palace.
The medicinal materials were all stored in the medicinal material library. The imperial physician of the Song Dynasty classified them and gave instructions on how to fry them and how to take them. After everything was arranged, he returned to Ying Zheng.
Not long after, a maid came to invite Ying Zheng to a banquet. The Meng brothers led the way, followed by Ying Zheng, Zhao Gao and others to the banquet hall.
The banquet hall is an independent courtyard of its own, which is antique and quite noble and elegant. There is a small garden next to it, but it is winter, so there is not much scenery to enjoy.
Meng Wu had been waiting in front of the door, with two people standing tall behind him.
"It's noon. I'll prepare some light wine and vegetarian dishes, which are not as good as those cooked in the palace. I hope the king won't blame me." Meng Wu said with cupped hands.
Ying Zheng waved his hand and said: "Anyway, when I come here, it will be like home. General Meng, please don't be polite."
Knowing that Ying Zheng didn't like to be polite, Meng Wu nodded. He was not a scholar to begin with, but a military commander, and he was not used to being polite.
What made Meng Wu embarrassed was the identity of the guest at this banquet, who was the head of a country. Now that it's time to eat, if Ying Zheng says that things are done and he will go back to the palace to have a meal, it would naturally mean that he did not entertain him well. But Ying Zheng stayed, and he prepared things in a hurry. If the meal didn't suit his taste, Ying Zheng might blame him.
A voice came from behind Meng Wu: "Sima Hong, a common man, brings his dog Sima Jie to pay homage to the king." The speaker was Meng Tian's uncle, Sima Hong.
Following the words, the father and son knelt down and worshiped.
"No courtesy, no courtesy, we are all guests, there is no need to be like this." Ying Zheng stepped forward to help Sima Hong up, and his other hand supported Sima Jie's arm behind him to stand up.
What makes Ying Zheng like this is not only the relationship between the Sima family and the Meng family, but also because of Sima Hong's good deeds. Ying Zheng's character always treats different people in different ways.
Sima Hong stood up and looked at Ying Zheng with admiration and respect in his eyes. As the leader of a country, he is neither arrogant nor coquettish and has no airs. This is a blessing for the officials and the people.
"Don't stand outside. Let's talk after we sit down." Meng Tian guided and said, looking like a young master.
"Your Majesty, please." Meng Wu turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation. Then lead the way.
After everyone sat down, Ying Zhengcai asked: "How is General Meng doing?"
"My father is a little tired. He has eaten some food and has fallen asleep now." Meng Wu said, "My father has asked me to do some things, and I already know how to do them."
Speaking of this, Meng Wu showed a trace of sadness, obviously feeling that this was Meng Ao's move to explain his funeral to him.
"Old General Meng is loyal and courageous, and he is far-sighted in what he is entrusted to do, but..." Ying Zheng paused, and his tone also changed slightly, "The Meng family's army is a system of its own. Without the Meng family, Control, I am afraid that even if the military power is given to a few people, the emperor's orders may sometimes be ignored."
"What does the king mean?" Meng Wu asked slightly nervously. After all, he did not hear the conversation between Ying Zheng and his two sons, and thought Ying Zheng had some other ideas or requests.
"I want General Meng Wu to inherit his father's legacy and continue to be in charge of the Meng family's army. As for the military power, it's up to you to hand it over to me or not." Ying Zheng said using a compromise method.
A simple sentence, but it expresses absolute trust. The Meng family's army is crucial to the current Ying Zheng. How could Meng Wu not know this? Being able to hand over the general power to Meng Wu again shows that Ying Zheng has regarded Meng Wu as a confidant and placed the Meng family in an unusual position.
That's what a military commander is, the more you trust him, the more loyal he will be to you.
Meng Wu stood up, faced Ying Zheng respectfully, and bowed heavily.
"Your Majesty, Meng Wu, represents the Meng family. I feel grateful for Your Majesty's kindness, and I am willing to follow you to the death and repay you with my life." Meng Wu said with some excitement, "As for the affairs of the Meng family, please leave it to the King to decide, and Meng Wu will just execute it." yes."
Meng Tian and Meng Yi also stood up and kowtowed behind Meng Wu. In fact, the two brothers had been looking forward to this moment for a long time, waiting for Meng Wu to bow down.
And the meaning of this bow is completely different from the concept of a minister paying a visit to the monarch.
Ying Zheng also stood up, holding a wine glass in his hand, and said, "Okay! Zhao Gao, pour a few glasses of wine."
Zhao Gao brought three glasses of wine to Meng Wu and his son.
Ying Zheng walked up to Meng Wu, helped Meng Wu up, and signaled the Meng brothers to get up. Then he offered his wine glass to Meng Wu and said, "Please, General Meng."
A monarch using his own wine glass to toast his ministers shows the greatest respect and trust.
Meng Wu made a gesture of toasting, and then without saying a word, he raised his glass and drank it down in one gulp.
Ying Zheng handed the two glasses of wine brought by Zhao Gao to brothers Meng Tian and Meng Yi respectively. The brothers also drank it all.
Several pairs of eyes intertwined together, but the emotions they conveyed to each other were different.
"Hahaha..." They heard laughter coming from the side of the banquet. When everyone looked, it was Sima Hong who was laughing.
"Such a scene is probably rare in my life." Sima Hong stood up and said, "I am very happy for the Meng family. I wonder if Sima Hong can ask the king for a drink."
Everyone could hear this. Sima Hong wanted to take this opportunity to express his loyalty to Ying Zheng and follow the King of Qin. Although for him, who has no official position, showing loyalty does not mean much.
However, Ying Zheng said without any hesitation: "Zhao Gao, serve two more glasses of wine."
It was Sima Hong who asked for a drink, and Ying Zheng asked for two glasses of wine, obviously bringing Sima Hong's son Sima Jie with him.
Sima Jie came behind Sima Hong and looked at Ying Zheng with burning eyes.
Ying Zheng handed the wine to the father and son, and Sima Hong and Sima Jie drank it down in one gulp.
"Hahaha..." The generous laughter of everyone rang out in the banquet hall. The friendship and tacit understanding between men danced with the laughter, exuding unique charm.
Everyone returned to their seats. Meng Wu looked at Sima Hong and asked, "My brother asked the king for a drink. Isn't it just a whim?"
"Haha, in front of the king, you are making fun of me as your brother." Sima Hong said, "Although I can't go to the battlefield and I don't have any official position, the Sima family has a rich family business and a wide range of interests. There are many people of the same clan, and they are very well-informed, so I believe they can do their best for the king."
"Oh? I wonder what kind of property the Sima family has?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Back to the king, there are some fertile fields, horse and carriage shops, minerals, and pottery kilns, coal kilns, etc." Sima Hong said with a smile, "If the king needs anything, just give me your orders."
"That's very good." Ying Zheng said happily, "I originally wanted General Meng to develop the production and reserve of ordnance, military rations, chariots and horses while leading the army. In this way, the Sima family can really help me a lot. ah."
"Oh? Does the king have such a plan?" Meng Wu asked slightly surprised.
"Yes, father." Before Ying Zheng could speak, Meng Yi said to Meng Wu, "The king has appointed eldest brother and Yi'er to be responsible for the production and storage of ordnance and military rations."
"Haha, it seems that the king has already made a plan." Meng Wu said.
Sima Hong said from the side: "It seems that it is a coincidence. In the future, if the Sima family can help, the king will just ask."
Ying Zheng nodded in response, and then told everyone the reasons why he wanted to develop ordnance, rations, chariots and horses, thus leading to the strategy of destroying the six countries.
The expressions of Meng Wu and Sima Hong kept changing, as if they had seen the spectacular scene of the Qin soldiers being invincible.
Several juniors also talked about their ambitions, and they all spoke in extraordinary ways.
Ying Zheng was so excited that he sharpened his sword for ten years and pointed it at the Six Kingdoms.
