Chapter 284

Ten, Jin Shengshui

"Is Tanlang going to a dinner party tonight?"

"Pretty much."

"A private family banquet, or a public invitation?"

"Just a casual meal, a small dinner at Xunyang Tower. Aunt, I won't take you with me."

"Alright, Tanlang, take care."

"Hmm."

At dusk, at the mansion in Huaiye Lane, Ouyang Rong spread his arms, and with the busy help of Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai, he finished dressing.

This time, he was just wearing ordinary black robes and a turban, not as troublesome as wearing official robes for work. However, the female family members in the house, such as Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai, were particularly attentive to the master's attire.

They circled around him to check his appearance, and only after he was neatly dressed did they let him leave.

Ouyang Rong stepped out of the door. The cold and beautiful woman in a silk skirt who was seeing him off suddenly said: "By the way, Tanlang, there is one thing I forgot to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Didn't I receive a name card when I first arrived at Xunyang Ferry? That woman, Madam Pei, visited in person yesterday and invited me to attend some women's gatherings in the city."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and asked directly: "Does Aunt want to go?"

"I don't really want to move around." Zhen Shuyuan shook her head and suddenly smiled: "Actually, I feel that woman is a bit overly attentive for no reason. As a woman, Tanlang, my nose is very sharp, so I can't go even more, so as not to cause Tanlang trouble."

Ouyang Rong looked at Zhen Shuyuan, a bit surprised, lowered his eyes, and nodded:

"Aunt is still thoughtful. Hmm, then don't go. Decline all invitations from that side in the future. If they find me through roundabout ways, just say I'm not home."

"Alright." Zhen Shuyuan nodded: "I will decline all gifts and such."

"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt."

Ouyang Rong patted his sleeves and left the mansion in Huaiye Lane with a carefree air.

Zhen Shuyuan looked at her nephew's graceful back with a mix of joy and worry, muttering:

"Hmm, I don't know who Tanlang is going to eat with, why is he so happy? Is he in such a good mood after returning from work today...

"Could it be that he is eating with Wanwan? Hmm, doesn't look like it... He was so busy these past few days, and when Wanwan came, Tanlang wasn't there, leaving the beauty alone for so long, sigh."

Zhen Shuyuan turned her head and met the eyes of Ye Weilai, who was watching Tanlang with eyes full of affection and obedience.

The two women turned and went back together.

Before entering the house, Zhen Shuyuan suddenly remembered something and looked down at her own silk skirt attire. Especially the pure goose-yellow scarf draped over her two arms.

"That woman surnamed Pei has quite good taste in clothes. She seems to like wearing scarves. The one she wore when she visited yesterday was really beautiful, and she does have the demeanor of a noble lady.

"Hmm, I'll ask Banxi to go to the tailor shop in the city another day and buy one too..."

The cold and beautiful woman in the silk skirt nodded and murmured, walking into the house with lotus steps.

Ouyang Rong was not going to meet the junior sister in private tonight, as Zhen Shuyuan had expected.

Now that they had arrived in Xunyang City, the junior sister couldn't follow him in male disguise often. After all, she was a noble daughter of the five surnames, and she still had to consider the face of the Chen Jun Xie clan.

So these days, the junior sister was staying at Prince Xunyang's mansion to accompany Wei Mei and Li Guoer, and she didn't have much time to see Ouyang Rong during the day.

Ouyang Rong didn't call her for the banquet invited by Wang Caozhi and others at Xunyang Tower tonight.

He was dressed in low-key ordinary clothes, equipped with a skirt-knife, and went to the meeting alone.

Arriving at Xunyang Tower, he headed to the reserved small private room.

Along the way, almost no one recognized Ouyang Rong.

After all, his work as the Jiangzhou Commandant could be described as very low-key. Except for the welcome banquet on the day he took office, he hadn't appeared at any other banquets.

With no one to recognize or disturb him, Ouyang Rong felt it was quite good.

After a while, led by a pretty maid, Ouyang Rong arrived at a low-luxury private room on the third floor that overlooked the Xunyang River view.

"Brother-in-law!"

As soon as Ouyang Rong walked into the door, he heard a shout that resounded through the private room.

He saw a "whirlwind" rushing towards him.

A short young man rushed to the door to greet him.

Ouyang Rong stretched out a palm and pressed it against the short young man's chest.

Wang Caozhi found that he couldn't move forward even half a step, but this didn't stop his enthusiasm at all.

The short young man, blocked by the palm, desperately poked his head behind the young Commandant, stretching his neck to look outside the door: "Brother-in-law, where is our sister?"

Ouyang Rong and the grain merchants in the entire private room behind him were speechless.

However, thinking of Ouyang Rong's current official position, his future career prospects, and the huge profits from the construction of the Zhe Yiqu in Longcheng County, Shopkeeper Ma and other grain merchants suddenly understood very well. Even the eyes they looked at the low-key Commandant in ordinary clothes at the door couldn't help but become heated.

Wang Caozhi rubbed his hands like a fly and asked enthusiastically: "Brother-in-law, why didn't our sister come?"

He winked again and said: "Sigh, brother-in-law, there is no second half tonight, and this meal is vegetarian, without any meat. It's fine if you bring our sister, but with Sister Xie in Xunyang City, how could I, your younger brother, be so ignorant."

Ouyang Rong gently pushed Wang Caozhi away and walked into the private room, "Don't talk nonsense, the junior sister will definitely beat you if she hears it."

"Brother-in-law, you don't understand women. She would be too late to praise me."

Ouyang Rong ignored this guy whose skin was thicker than the city wall.

"Shopkeeper Ma, Shopkeeper Li, Shopkeeper Sun..." Ouyang Rong walked to the table, picked up a cup of wine, scanned the room, accurately reported their names without missing one, and raised his cup to signal:

"Are you all well?"

Shopkeeper Ma and the other major grain merchants were flattered and hurriedly raised their cups to return the toast, drinking it all in one gulp.

"It is our small people who are ignorant and haven't celebrated Commandant Ouyang's promotion yet! A small gift, I hope you will accept it with a smile."

Ouyang Rong politely declined, everyone pushed and pulled, exchanged pleasantries, and sat down together.

Wang Caozhi stood up, bent down to pour wine into the cup in front of Ouyang Rong: "Brother-in-law, just accept it. If you don't accept it, everyone will feel uneasy."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, "Old rules, don't do these things, let's talk about business."

Wang Caozhi, Shopkeeper Ma, and the other grain merchants looked at the young Commandant with complex expressions.

They had thought that the young magistrate would have a successful career and smooth sailing due to his outstanding political achievements.

But they didn't expect that he would be promoted so quickly. Just after the Zhe Yiqu was built, he was promoted to a Grade 5 Commandant, a high-ranking official of the province.

This speed made even Wang Caozhi's eyelids jump violently when he first heard about it.

Unlike the snobbish and shrewd grain merchants, he had the vision of a family background.

He saw at a glance that behind this promotion speed, he must have been appreciated by a noble person, and perhaps this noble person was directly Empress Wei.

This was the true gold content behind the youngest Grade 5 Commandant of this dynasty.

"Brother-in-law." Wang Caozhi toasted a cup, not being pretentious, and asked directly: "What is the reason for gathering us here this time, that we have to talk about it in person on the spot?"

Shopkeeper Ma looked at the Xunyang night view outside the window and asked calmly: "Commandant Ouyang, could it be... hmm, that things are not going smoothly at the Jiangzhou government office, and you need our meager strength?"

Ouyang Rong turned to look at Shopkeeper Ma, nasal sound: "Hmm, Shopkeeper Ma, have you heard any rumors? Why do you ask this?"

Shopkeeper Ma laughed: "My master knows the officialdom of the Jiang Nan Circuit quite well, and heard some rumors. I heard a little bit, but I don't know if it's true or not...

"I heard that the official with the highest seat in the Jiangzhou government office made his fortune and was promoted by relying on the Wei clan.

"And Commandant Ouyang, you... hmm, of course, you are a righteous gentleman. Are you being slightly troubled while temporarily residing as the second-in-command in the Jiangzhou government office?"

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly.

He was a bit surprised that these merchants were so well-informed.

But thinking about it, merchants of this era are either white gloves for the imperial court or local high officials, or money bags for aristocratic families. At the very least, they must be sharp-nosed people who know how to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.

They are all shrewd people, otherwise they would be walking fat sheep and wouldn't be able to sit at this dinner table tonight.

At this moment, a pipa sound, from slow to fast, came from downstairs outside the private room.

Ouyang Rong regained his senses and said softly to everyone:

"When I came, someone told me that this Jiangzhou government office has stood for more than six hundred years since the Xunyang Commandery was first established in the Han Dynasty.

"The Commandery Governors and Commandery Assistants of the Qin and Han Dynasties, and the Commandery Inspectors and Commandery Commandants of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, have come and gone in batches, like crucian carp crossing the river.

"Sometimes, I sit alone in this hall, looking up and around, always curious and confused, what can be left behind for a long time?"

Ouyang Rong turned his head and raised his cup to invite:

On that day, watching the Zhe Yiqu resolve the flood on the top of the mountain, and then violently killing Qiu Shenji, Ouyang Rong realized the true meaning of "Craftsmanship" for the first time:

"Tonight, I invite you all here, not to discuss the honor or disgrace of one person or one official, but only to discuss the cause of mutual benefit between the people and merchants, and the blessing of future generations."

There was silence at the dinner table for a moment.

Everyone's eyes were cast on the young Commandant in the main seat.

Wang Caozhi suddenly stood up, and everyone followed, raising their cups together and drinking them all in one gulp.

"Brother-in-law, whatever plan you have this time, just say it, I, Caozhi, will definitely follow!"

The short young man said readily.

Ouyang Rong laughed and asked: "Why don't you listen to what it is first? What if it's a losing business, or thankless work?"

Wang Caozhi shook his head: "Following brother-in-law to work, it will definitely not be a loss. Even if it is a loss, I recognize it!"

Shopkeeper Ma and Shopkeeper Li also stood up and raised their cups, nodding vigorously:

"Commandant Ouyang is definitely not the kind of person with short-sighted vision. This small person is the same as Shopkeeper Wang, I'll follow!"

Some other grain merchants and wealthy merchants who were not very familiar with him hesitated for a moment, then turned to a decisive look and stood up to express their stance:

"We will follow Commandant Ouyang's lead."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand helplessly and pulled them to sit down.

He didn't explain the plan clearly in the letter, but everyone still rushed here from thousands of miles away and arrived one after another.

Even those who were far away and not in the Jiang Nan Circuit at the time rushed back quickly after receiving Ouyang Rong's letter. According to Wang Caozhi, they would arrive at Xunyang Ferry in a few days.

Such trust might be purely because they didn't care about business losses and only invested in Ouyang Rong's own career prospects.

But a gentleman judges by deeds, not by intentions.

It would be a lie to say that Ouyang Rong was not moved at all by this scene.

However, he was not blindly arrogant.

Ouyang Rong nodded calmly: "Please sit down, everyone, and listen to me."

Everyone sat down, and Ouyang Rong took a manuscript from his sleeve and first handed it to Wang Caozhi beside him, and the group of wealthy merchants passed it around.

The short young man opened it and found a drawing-like blueprint and a stack of dense planning manuscripts inside.

Wang Caozhi looked up at the smiling Ouyang Rong and asked curiously:

"Brother-in-law, this is..."

Ouyang Rong said softly to them:

"Two plans, hmm, or rather, one plan.

"The excavation of the canal at Shuangfeng Peak and the construction of the Xunyang Grottoes.

"One first, one later."

Everyone was stunned, looking at each other, "Excavate a canal, build grottoes?"

Shopkeeper Ma put down the blueprint and asked curiously:

"Excavating a canal, this small person can understand. Is it similar to the Zhe Yiqu? Commandant Ouyang needs to use it to dredge the Xunyang River and manage water for the people. But... why build grottoes for no reason?"

Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes and said: "Prince Xunyang offered auspicious signs, His Majesty welcomed the divine jade and changed the era name to Tianyou. Everyone must know about this, right?"

"Of course." Shopkeeper Ma and the others nodded: "We know about such major events."

Wang Caozhi said calmly: "I heard that Assistant Magistrate Diao... Magistrate Diao was the first to offer auspicious signs. I was wondering why it wasn't brother-in-law. Now it seems brother-in-law is too low-key. Magistrate Diao meeting an official like brother-in-law is truly a blessing for eight lifetimes."

Ouyang Rong smiled without saying a word, and asked again: "Then do you know that to commemorate this auspicious sign of the Buddha's jade returning to roundness, His Majesty is preparing to build a Donglin Great Buddha in Jiangzhou to promote the Buddhist teachings of the Lotus Pure Land Sect and bless the Great Zhou?"

There was silence in the room.

Everyone was surprised. Only Wang Caozhi, who came from the Langya Wang clan, didn't show much surprise. Seeing Ouyang Rong looking at him, he coughed and explained:

"Brother-in-law, I have heard a little about this. A clan uncle of mine also works in the Ministry of Rites in the Divine Capital. I heard that His Majesty is preparing to donate some 'powder money' for this Buddha construction."

Ouyang Rong nodded. Such Buddha construction matters, except for Master Shan Dao, Xiufa, and other Donglin monks involved, were first known by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works. That's right, there was no Secretariat, because Empress Wei probably bypassed Prime Ministers like Di Fuzi and issued the edict directly.

After all, it was another tossing of money for no reason. The people of the Great Zhou all knew that His Majesty, who loved face, found it hard to speak in front of the elders of the state.

"Heh, powder money." Ouyang Rong pulled the corner of his mouth without saying much.

Wang Caozhi and the others heard a hint of mockery, but they all looked straight ahead, pretending not to hear.

Wang Caozhi tucked his hands into his sleeves, pondering:

"I originally thought that this Donglin Buddha statue would be built at Donglin Temple in Longcheng. It would be convenient to transport materials with the Zhe Yiqu. Of course, Xunyang City's water transport is more developed, but there is almost no empty flat land outside the city. You can't tear down houses in the city to build it, right."

The short young man shook his head and sighed: "I didn't expect it to be settled in the most crowded and inconvenient Xunyang City. Sigh, it's really a toss-up."

Ouyang Rong's voice was faint:

"The Sui Dynasty belonged to the Fire Virtue, the Great Qian belonged to the Earth Virtue, Earth produces Metal, Zhou inherits the Qian system, Zhou belongs to the Metal Virtue, and Metal produces Water."

He lowered his eyes:

"There are palace geomancers who suggested that this Donglin Great Buddha should be cast with a golden body and built in a place with both famous mountains and great rivers, symbolizing the eternal prosperity of the Great Zhou."

Wang Caozhi scratched his head: "Famous mountains and great rivers are both present. Such a geomantic treasure land is indeed rare. It just so happens that Xunyang City in Jiangzhou is the eyebrow of the world, and Donglin Temple is also in this province..."

Ouyang Rong suddenly said: "Maybe it's also because Prince Xunyang is here. Mother is kind and son is filial. Previously, Prince Xunyang gave birth to auspicious signs while praying before the Buddha. Now that the Donglin Great Buddha is cast, it is even more convenient to pray, isn't it?"

The young Commandant gave a light laugh.

(End of chapter)