Chapter 1059 – The Legendary Iron-Eating Beast Legion (1)
Compared to Huang Song’s “sentimentality,” Jiang Pengji was remarkably calm, as if nothing could pique her interest.
As they marched north along the Song River, they gathered information about Cangzhou’s situation.
Meng Heng and Meng Hunyun both hailed from Cangzhou. Though the former held no real power as the clan’s eldest son, and the latter was a defector who had fled from Cangzhou eight years prior, their knowledge of Cangzhou surpassed that of others. Meng Hunyun shared what he knew, while Meng Heng added a few remarks.
In battle, it’s not just about understanding the enemy’s terrain and strategy; one must grasp their combat strength and troop composition too.
Jiang Pengji didn’t expect much from them, but it was better than nothing—at least it kept them occupied on the road.
Meng Heng and Meng Hunyun were quite serious, yet Jiang Pengji’s propensity to divert the conversation led them astray.
“Suddenly, I remembered that Zheng Tu spent some time in Cangzhou…” Jiang Pengji inquired, “Is it true that the Cangzhou elite enjoy beast-fighting for entertainment?”
Fu Wang, playing his role as a wolf-child, unfortunately had too low a luck value and ended up being seized to fight beasts for others’ amusement.
This wasn’t a secret; Fu Wang didn’t shame himself over his past, often using it to boast. Thus, Jiang Pengji mentioned it without hesitation. She was curious—wasn’t it said that the Dongqing gentry were all weaklings?
Did a group of dames really relish such bloody activities?
Just to watch life fight for survival in the arena?
Meng Heng couldn’t quite wrap his head around it, but Meng Hunyun remained calm, having spent seven or eight years with the Lord.
“It’s rumored that our ancestral founder, Meng Gong, had the ability to tame beasts. When aiding Xia Taizu in conquering the world, he presented ten fearsome beast legions. He himself, like Chi You, commanded the Iron-Eating Beasts and was extraordinary in battle.”
If not for Meng Heng’s presence, Meng Hunyun would’ve directly addressed the ancestor by name instead of using honorifics.
Meng Jing, himself a skilled warrior, was known as a cultured general, capable both in civil affairs and warfare; he was also adept at beast-taming, which sounded quite impressive.
Due to Meng Jing’s influence, Cangzhou had a long-standing custom of taming ferocious beasts.
However, as these beasts could be dangerous, the practice faded over time, leaving only the wealthy and powerful as qualified to raise them.
Raising ferocious beasts wasn’t for them to act adorable; the bored nobility devised the entertainment of beast-fighting, showing utter disregard for human life.
Fu Wang was one such victim; he was neither the first nor would he be the last.
“Controlling Iron-Eating Beasts? Sounds magnificent, but what a pity—”
The ancestor, Meng Jing, was hailed as the “White Dragon among men,” yet the lineage ended up with Meng Zhan, such a fool.
The future of the Meng Clan seemed to rely on Meng Heng—the son who had been expelled from the clan by Meng Zhan.
Jiang Pengji lamented aloud, while the audience broke into laughter.
Riding an Iron-Eating Beast?
Magnificent?
More like adorably deadly!
【Hua Hua Loves Pig Head】: Host, do you even know who the Iron-Eating Beast is?
【Sang Que】: Bet the host doesn’t know! Honestly, when I read about Chi You riding an Iron-Eating Beast battling the Yellow Emperor as a child, I thought the Iron-Eating Beast was some terrifying creature. Until one day, I went to the Giant Panda base with my parents—
【Slightly Bored】: I just can’t picture a person sitting on a panda’s back, coordinating in battle—
【A Gay One】: Suddenly reminded of something—aren’t all the pandas in the host’s world supposed to be wild? Hunting isn’t illegal; why not raise a panda one day? Imagine watching the host pet a panda up close; this livestream room would never get old.
【Fireworks Era】: Pandas are bears, you know! But I still want to pet one—jealousy makes me separate from reality.
Jiang Pengji was taken aback; she knew that Iron-Eating Beasts existed in this world, but she had never seen one.
Listening to the audience, these Iron-Eating Beasts didn’t seem to match the general perception of ferocity?
“Have you seen an Iron-Eating Beast, Shijiu?”
Shijiu was Meng Heng’s courtesy name.
The Book of Changes states that “Heng” means “long-lasting.”
This courtesy name was neither good nor bad.
Meng Heng replied, “I have seen one.”
“How do they look?”
Meng Heng said, “The ‘Shen Yi Jing’ mentions ‘In the south, they are sold, known as the Iron Nibbler.’ ‘Erya’ also states they ‘resemble bears, with small heads and thick legs, black-and-white mottled, able to gnaw on copper, iron, and bamboo.'” They appear gentle and harmless but are actually fierce and aggressive, able to crush a person’s skull with a single slap.
Jiang Pengji stretched her limited imagination and pictured a creature somewhat like a black-and-white bear, which still looked rather menacing.
“Perhaps it’s a matter of aesthetics—”
Little did she know, she would soon have a chance to witness the “ferocity” of the Iron-Eating Beast legion.
The Meng Clan’s ancestor possessed beast-taming skills, but his expertise was learned from a beast-taming tribe north of Cangzhou.
To reciprocate kindness, the Meng Clan ancestor protected this large foreign tribe and even encouraged intermarriage between them and Cangzhou’s native populace.
Due to the friendship established by the ancestor, this tribe built a solid relationship with the Meng clan of Cangzhou.
The Meng Clan offered them sanctuary while they helped guard the northern frontier.
The farming techniques illuminated by the agricultural peoples of the Central Plains came with diverse skills from these foreign tribes.
Leading the army northward along the Song River, Jiang Pengji found the river wide and rushing, with no dam in sight.
Fifteen days later—
Jiang Pengji arrived at her destination, and the army crossed the river without incident, astonishingly smooth.
“Could it be a trap?”
Fearful of ambush, the army crossed the river cautiously, prepared for retreat and support at any moment.
Once they’d all crossed and rested for two hours, still, nothing had happened.
“No telling— soldiers handle soldiers, water helps water; we’ll adapt to whatever comes.”
Jiang Pengji frowned.
According to scout reports, there truly appeared to be no ambush around.
If there was indeed a trap, crossing the Song River would have been the perfect opportunity.
Little did they know, it wasn’t that Meng Zhan didn’t want to act; he simply lagged in information.
This “achievement” was thanks to the lady general who had “rushed to Han Chang Pass a thousand miles.”
Meng Zhan knew precisely how many opportunities he had squandered, nearly leading to a heart attack from rage.
He issued ten commands to summon his men back, even killing some to vent his anger.
Huang Song and Liu Xi’s forces diverged at the Song River, splitting their troops for a surprise attack on Cangzhou; such critical information was concealed by this cowardly fool. If the message had been timely, perhaps they could have countered with a surprise attack; now—things were beyond repair.
Meng Zhan was indeed an old hand; his experience outshone the new generation. After killing to relieve his fury, he quickly calmed down.
Cangzhou’s strategic crossings were few; Huang Song and Liu Xi, mere children, likely aimed for a pincer attack—based on this notion, Meng Zhan quickly identified several points and drafted documents, sending orders racing out on swift steeds.
Even if they couldn’t withstand the ferocious assault, they shouldn’t let these youngsters off too easily.
A fierce madness flashed in Meng Zhan’s eyes.
He seemed to think of something, seated himself back down, and picked up his brush.
“Quickly, send these two letters to the guards at Zhanjiang Pass and Yumen Pass.”
Cangzhou possessed three perilous gateways: Han Chang Pass, Zhanjiang Pass, and Yumen Pass.
Han Chang Pass served as a barrier against domestic powers in Dongqing, while Zhanjiang Pass and Yumen Pass were different.
Meng Zhan whispered ominously, “One way or another—don’t push me too hard…”
