Chapter 313: Forty-two, Criticism

Forty-two, Criticism

"Tan... why does Commandant Ouyang keep sneezing?"

"Just a slight cold, many thanks to the Prince for your concern."

Inside the main hall of the Xunyang Wang Fu, with its gates thrown wide open, Wang Lixian, dressed in his python robe, looked at Ouyang Rong with a worried expression, offering his solicitous concern.

Besides Wang Lixian and a few staff members of the Xunyang Wang Fu, the hall also contained Master Shan Dao and his disciple Xiu Fa.

Seated there as well was a row of officials from the Jiangzhou government office.

Ouyang Rong sat at the very front of this group of officials. His posture was upright, like a jade mountain about to topple, and he wore a neat, crimson official robe. Like Wang Lixian, who held the most noble status, he drew the attention of most people in the hall.

Although he sat at the very front of the officials, a seat remained empty between Ouyang Rong and Wang Lixian, who sat at the head.

The meeting currently taking place in the hall was to discuss matters regarding the construction of the Donglin Great Buddha.

As the nominal Supervisor of Construction for Jiang Nan, Wang Lixian required Ouyang Rong and the Jiangzhou government office to report their Buddha-building plans and progress to him daily.

On the surface, Wang Lixian also had to "frequently inquire" to show his participation...

Of course, in this public setting, he and Ouyang Rong had to pretend to be polite but unfamiliar.

Terms of endearment like "Tan-lang" naturally had to be changed.

Discussions like today's had already been held seven or eight times.

The Buddha-building project was beginning to get on the right track.

Aside from the first meeting, where he had merely touched his buttocks to the stool, Wang Lengran had been absent ever since.

This empty seat was symbolically reserved for him.

Everyone in the hall was long accustomed to the empty seat of the Jiangzhou Cishi Wang, who had taken leave due to a cold.

However, today, while it was unclear if Jiangzhou Cishi Wang had truly caught a cold, this Commandant Ouyang seemed to have genuinely caught one.

Wang Lixian asked with a face full of concern: "Is Commandant Ouyang truly alright?"

Yan Liulang, sitting in the back row, interjected:

"Your Highness, the Prefect has been running to the Twin Peaks frequently these past few days to lead us in surveying and planning. As a result, the mountain rains came suddenly, and in a moment, he was soaked like a drowned rat.

"The Prefect didn't care at first and tried to tough it out, but after being drenched back and forth like that several times, he caught a cold."

Yan Liulang's expression was pained, his tone carrying a hint of reproach:

"And then there was the folk sacrifice held at Xunyang Ferry last time. The Prefect wouldn't sit on the platform; instead, he insisted on following custom and ran down to help the boatmen lift the dragon-head boat onto the shore. The river water was ice-cold and soaked his lower body. How could he not catch a chill? And there's more..."

"Yan Canjun Yan."

Ouyang Rong, who was covering his mouth, frowned and interrupted.

Yan Liulang, unable to stop himself from complaining, helplessly shut his mouth.

Hearing this, the people in the hall cast various glances toward Ouyang Rong.

"There's such a thing?" Wang Lixian looked worried and somewhat reproachful: "Yan Canjun Yan, you should have stopped him."

After speaking, he stood up, still uneasy, and gave a stern order to the maidservants behind him:

"Someone, go notify the Wang Fei to prepare a bowl of hot ginger soup. Also, have the imperial physicians staying in the residence follow Commandant Ouyang back to his home and take good care of him for these next few days."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It is just a minor ailment, Your Highness need not go to such trouble."

A cold was just a common flu or fever from his past life; he truly regarded it as a minor illness. In his past life, Ouyang Rong wouldn't even bother taking medicine, accustomed to toughing it out with his own body.

However, in this world, such a minor cold was enough to claim a life.

The worry, fear, and solemn response of Wang Lixian and Yan Liulang were not surprising.

"Commandant Ouyang, say no more. Regarding the Buddha-building, this Prince listens to you, but in this matter, you must listen to this Prince."

The usually gentle Wang Lixian was unexpectedly firm in his tone, which surprised Ouyang Rong and everyone else.

Seeming to notice the surprised gazes in the hall, Wang Lixian hurriedly softened his tone and affectionately patted Ouyang Rong's sleeve:

"These days are the 'spring chill'—it's warm one moment and cold the next. Commandant Ouyang must cherish his health so that he can better serve His Majesty and build the Donglin Great Buddha well."

Ouyang Rong had no choice but to stand up and bow respectfully: "Many thanks to the Prince for the tea and concern."

Yan Liulang and the other officials praised the Prince of Xunyang for his thoughtfulness and love for his subordinates.

A short while later, Wei Mei walked in with maidservants, bringing a bowl of steaming hot ginger soup.

Ouyang Rong took the bowl, frowned slightly as he swallowed a few mouthfuls of the bitter soup, and let out a long breath of hot air.

In truth, his body as a Grade 9 Qi Refiner was quite robust and rarely prone to illness.

It was just that the excavation of the Twin Peaks and the construction of the Xunyang Grottoes he was currently busy with were indeed complex and taxing.

The workload was several times greater than that of the Zhe Yiqu project.

He had been working around the clock lately.

Sometimes, mental exhaustion was more draining than physical labor.

"Achoo..."

Ouyang Rong lowered his head, covering his mouth with his fist.

Wang Lixian and the others couldn't help but turn to look.

The slender young man in the crimson Grade 5 official robe raised his hand to rub his slightly red nose.

His posture was upright, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his head slightly hunched into his fluffy white fox-fur cape, his eyelids drooping, his expression looking a bit sickly.

Yet, in the eyes of the crowd, this sickly appearance on his handsome, gaunt face only made his temperament seem more melancholy and decadent.

An official in the hall looked at this calm, sickly Commandant and, for no reason, thought of a phrase.

"A tiger walking as if ill."

Wang Lixian offered a few more words of concern and then suddenly mentioned:

"By the way, this Prince has heard that the scholars in Xunyang City have been discussing the Buddha-building lately and are somewhat dissatisfied with the Jiangzhou government office. Does the Commandant know of this?"

Ouyang Rong's hand, which was rubbing his nose, paused. He put it down, took another sip of ginger soup, and asked in a casual tone:

"It seems someone has mentioned it, but I am not very clear on the details. By the way, from whom did the Prince hear this?"

Wang Lixian sighed: "There is a scholar with the surname Yue, recommended by an old acquaintance in the residence, who often privately speaks loudly about this matter, making it known to all the guests in the residence."

"In that case, this person has also reflected this to the Prince." Ouyang Rong nodded lightly: "Then, what is the Prince's meaning..."

Wang Lixian turned to look at Ouyang Rong, putting on a solemn expression:

"This Prince and the Shizi scolded him and drove him away.

"I do not fear being laughed at by Commandant Ouyang and everyone else, but why His Majesty builds the Great Zhou Praise-Virtue Hub and the Buddha statues in the four directions—this Prince is dull and somewhat confused.

"However, this Prince is very clear on one point: His Majesty rules the world, loves the people like children, and is benevolent and wise. The national policies set by the Prince and the dukes must surely have deeper considerations. How could young scholars understand and comment on them just by discussing them on the street?

"It is very good that Commandant Ouyang and the Jiangzhou government office are not troubled by the noise, but bury your heads in your work, are united as one, do your jobs well, and strictly guard your duties. This Prince is very gratified."

Wang Lixian spoke sincerely, and he did not avert his gaze from the many eyes cast by other officials, staff, or those secretly observing in the hall.

Ouyang Rong's previously drooping eyelids lifted, and he looked at the Prince of Xunyang, Wang Lixian, who had made his stance public today.

He nodded slightly and replied:

"The Prince understands the great righteousness, and your brilliant argument has enlightened us subordinates.

"Jiangzhou Cishi Wang, this subordinate, and everyone in the office will certainly strictly follow the will of His Majesty and the Prince, and build the Great Buddha without troubling the people or wasting wealth."

Yan Liulang and the other Jiangzhou officials stood up one after another to bow and echo his words.

"That is very good."

The Prince of Xunyang, Wang Lixian, looked around with a face full of gratification.

Ouyang Rong led the Jiangzhou officials out of the Xunyang Wang Fu.

The imperial physician Wang Lixian had forced upon him was hard to refuse, so he ordered someone to send the physician to the Huaiye Lane residence to wait first.

Ouyang Rong boarded the carriage and returned to the Jiangzhou government office.

It was only afternoon, and there was still a long time left; he had many matters regarding the start of the Buddha statue construction to handle and no time to rest.

"Achoo..."

Inside the carriage, Ouyang Rong sneezed, took out a pale pink handkerchief that emitted the scent of orchids, and used his fingers to rub his nose.

The carriage started and drove away from the Xunyang Wang Fu.

He lifted the curtain and glanced at the Wang Fu.

There was still a look of surprise in the depths of his eyes.

He hadn't expected Uncle Li to learn so quickly.

Although he knew clearly that Wang Lixian's public stance today and the words he spoke were partly intended for that Empress in the Divine Capital.

But Ouyang Rong also knew that Wang Lixian had the purpose of supporting him.

He was stabilizing the hearts of the people in the Jiangzhou government office for him.

Furthermore, Wang Lixian and Dalang must have felt that the impassioned Yue Ziyang was very troublesome and feared Ouyang Rong would misunderstand, so they hurriedly made their stance clear and cut ties.

A warm current flowed through Ouyang Rong's heart.

The carriage passed through a busy street outside Xunyang Ferry.

Lifting the curtain, Ouyang Rong saw a crowd gathered in front of a bulletin board on the street.

He saw several scholars posting big-character posters on the board, while some illiterate peddlers and laborers passing by watched curiously. The scholars were impassioned, explaining the drawbacks of building the Hub and the Buddha statues in front of everyone.

Arriving at the entrance of the Jiangzhou government office, there was also a group of scholars gathered on the street outside the gate.

Ouyang Rong rode the carriage silently past the protesting scholars and the wall plastered with big-character posters like "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

Since this month, the public opinion of scholars in all provinces of the world had been boiling, with scholars and literati opposing the construction of the Hub and the Buddha statues.

The conflict with the greatest impact was half a month ago in Guizhou, one of the four provinces where the Buddha was being built.

Scholars from the Guizhou government school blocked the government office.

The Guizhou Commandant, Lan Changhao, ordered soldiers to forcibly disperse them.

As a result, a bloody conflict broke out between the two sides, with several scholars killed and over twenty imprisoned.

This matter shocked the world.

Scholars in all provinces of the world launched another wave of protest conflicts.

Jiangzhou was the same.

The news of the Guizhou case arrived, making the Jiangzhou scholars even more indignant. More scholars gathered at the gate of the government office to protest, and some even took the lead in posting big-character posters, protesting the Donglin Great Buddha being located in Jiangzhou...

This wave of unrest left the officials of the Jiangzhou government office overwhelmed.

However, Jiangzhou Cishi Wang Lengran was habitually slacking off and could not be seen.

Commandant Ouyang Rong was also traveling back and forth between the Twin Peaks and the Xunyang Wang Fu, keeping a low profile and burying his head in the busy work of building the Donglin Great Buddha, noncommittal about this.

The officials were at their wits' end, and no one dared to take responsibility.

The Jiangzhou government office and the scholars were temporarily at odds.

Returning to the main hall of the government office.

Ouyang Rong picked up a copper basin, walked to the courtyard, drew a basin of water, and carried it back.

Together with the officials around him, he washed his hands.

Yan Liulang handed a towel to Ouyang Rong, followed behind him, and said indignantly:

"Prefect, these scholars are too unreasonable; it's endless.

"We've already explained to them countless times that the Donglin Great Buddha will not be built in Xunyang City, will not increase harsh taxes, and will not affect the people or waste wealth as they say. Why are these bookworms still chattering?"

A Sican Commandant surnamed Chen shook his head and sighed:

"Yan Canjun Yan, don't be angry. It's useless for us to say anything; the scholars have always been very distrustful of the imperial court and the government.

"I reckon only a gentleman with a reputation like the Commandant can come forward and give them repeated assurances for them to barely believe it."

Yan Liulang was speechless:

"Does the Prefect have such leisure to swear and guarantee to them? And the Prefect has a cold recently; where would he have the energy to waste his breath?

"Besides, if a few people question, the Prefect must come forward? Then if there are people questioning every day, the Prefect might as well stop doing his work and go explain every day."

Ouyang Rong carefully wiped his fingers clean, turned his head, and said in a somewhat hoarse voice: "Alright, Liulang."

Yan Liulang shut his mouth and suppressed his anger.

Commandant Chen looked hesitant and reported:

"Commandant, this scholar protest has involved many scholars from the provincial school, seemingly led by a young man named Yue Ziyang.

"They have put forward demands, requesting the Jiangzhou government office to refuse to build the Donglin Great Buddha, and at the same time opposing the establishment of the Great Zhou Praise-Virtue Hub and stopping the collection of Praise-Virtue Copper from all provinces."

Ouyang Rong nodded lightly: "These demands are well-stated."

Yan Liulang and Commandant Chen were both stunned and looked at him.

After a pause, Ouyang Rong folded the towel he used to wipe his hands and threw it back to Yan Liulang.

"If only it could really be like this."

He shook his head:

"The Jiangzhou government office will properly build the Donglin Great Buddha without affecting the people's livelihood.

"But regarding the Great Zhou Praise-Virtue Hub, this official and the Jiangzhou government office cannot manage the decisions of the imperial court's center. This exceeds this official's authority, and I cannot make the decision."

Yan Liulang frowned and said unhappily:

"Prefect, you saw it when you passed by Xunyang Ferry just now; they have already begun to interfere with the order of the docks in the city.

"And I also heard that the kid named Yue Ziyang has been privately criticizing the Prefect these days, saying that the Prefect has now become a Grade 5 official, has started to fear death, and has lost his sharp edge and original intention... just like the corrupt officials.

"It's truly nonsense. This thief is truly hateful. Prefect, I will take the constables over now and arrest all these guys who interfere with order and slander and spread rumors!"

"Yan Canjun Yan, absolutely not." Commandant Chen hurriedly waved his hand and advised:

"The Guizhou tragedy hasn't passed long, and the lesson is still before our eyes. If the Jiangzhou government office is also impulsive and has a conflict with the hot-blooded scholars, it will be a big disaster.

"The Commandant and the Jiangzhou government office will be criticized by the people of the world, the impact will be bad, and perhaps the imperial court will also issue a document to blame us and deal with us to extinguish public opinion..."

Yan Liulang said hatefully: "Is it possible to just hide cowardly like this? They have instead become the masters."

Commandant Chen gave a wry smile:

"Anyway, with the Guizhou scholar tragedy in front, the officials of the provinces and counties in Jiang Nan Circuit now don't want to show their faces and have conflicts with the scholars; they are all avoiding the limelight, waiting for the scholars' hot blood to pass...

"Actually, our Jiangzhou is still considered good; at least they didn't rush into the government office to make trouble. I heard that in some places with fierce folk customs, sigh, these days, I don't fear heroes, but I fear reckless youths."

After sighing for a while, Commandant Chen looked at Yan Liulang, who was hateful and unable to draw his sword, and suggested nonchalantly:

"If Yan Canjun Yan really can't bear it, it's not that there's no way to cure them. Take off the official uniform first, and then go quietly through other channels... cough cough, anyway, as long as you don't use the name of the government office, it's just a personal grudge."

Yan Liulang was stunned and couldn't help but look more at this Commandant Chen, who was usually gentle and had thick eyebrows and big eyes.

Good fellow, it turns out you are not a good person either.

"Alright, stop giving blind ideas."

Ouyang Rong turned his head, first looked at Commandant Chen, and then ordered hoarsely:

"Liulang, take people to Xunyang Ferry, leave the swords at the government office, don't bring them, you go and drive away the scholars who interfere with the order of the docks."

Yan Liulang asked impatiently:

"Prefect, what about other places? How to deal with this batch of annoying scholars at the gate of the Jiangzhou government office? I have long found them unpleasant, and there is also that Yue Ziyang."

"Don't worry about them, you guys keep a low profile when entering and leaving the government office. Anyway, it doesn't matter; pretend they don't exist. Thank you for your hard work."

"Obey." Yan Liulang nodded helplessly.

Immediately, Ouyang Rong returned to business and discussed the Twin Peaks matter, and the crowd dispersed.

Before leaving, Commandant Chen remembered something, turned back and asked:

"By the way, Commandant, the provincial school sacrifice held at the Temple of the Most Holy Teacher the day after tomorrow, all the scholars of the provincial school will be there. Are you still going to preside? Why don't you not go and avoid the limelight like Jiangzhou Cishi Wang."

Ouyang Rong took a sip of hot tea, tasted it, put down the teacup, and walked out the door without looking back:

"Everything as usual."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 314 =====