Chapter 318: Forty-seven, Old Acquaintance from Longcheng

Forty-seven, Old Acquaintance from Longcheng

"Does Commandant Qin not attend Jiangzhou Cishi Wang's lunch banquet?"

Walking out of the Jiangzhou Prefectural Office, Sun Yu, the Zhechong Chief Clerk of the Sixth Zhechong Prefecture of Jiangzhou in the Jiang Nan Circuit, grabbed the sleeve of a young general with a cold face and asked curiously.

"Feeling unwell, going back to rest. Commandant Sun, please accompany General Yang, Coach Du, and the others. Don't neglect Jiangzhou Cishi Wang and Commandant Lan."

Qin Heng, the Right Guo-Yi Commandant of the Jiangzhou Zhechong Prefecture, replied calmly, pulled his sleeve away with slight force, and walked down the steps in front of the Prefectural Office.

Sun Yu thought about Qin Heng's silent and reticent attitude during the meeting in the hall not long ago, and his face showed a sigh:

"Coach Du was newly transferred from Yangzhou and is not yet very familiar with our Jiangzhou Zhechong Prefecture. Some of his propositions are a bit unreasonable; I hope General Qin will be understanding."

"Anyway, it's only for another year, and the third regiment will be rotated, transferred back from Guizhou. We've waited so long, it's not a difference of this little bit. General Qin, there's no need to offend..."

"Got it, Commandant Sun, please go early."

Watching Qin Heng's back not stop and not look back, this Zhechong Commandant shook his head,

"With this temperament, no wonder the relationship with General Yang and the others is not good..."

He muttered, lowered his head to organize his official robe sleeves, and went back to change clothes for the banquet...

As the rear area of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Jianghuai region in the southeast has relatively few Zhechong Prefectures; the entire Jiang Nan Circuit has only six.

Jiangzhou has one, the Third Zhechong Prefecture; the nearest Hongzhou Prefecture has two, which are the Fourth and Fifth Zhechong Prefectures.

Each prefecture is staffed with one Zhechong Commandant, one Left and one Right Guo-Yi Commandant, and one Chief Clerk, one Separate General, and one Coach each.

As the Right Guo-Yi Commandant of the Jiangzhou Zhechong Prefecture, Qin Heng holds a high rank among military officers, at Grade 6 (Junior) Top-grade.

Leaving the Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Cishi's office, Qin Heng rode his horse away from Chaisang Ward, along the main road by the river, passed through Xingzi Ward, and prepared to leave the city to return to the military camp.

Passing by Xunyang Ferry, Qin Heng touched his abdomen, glanced at the prosperous and lively restaurant on the street with the plaque "Yunshui", hesitated slightly, and whipped his horse to walk over.

Magistrate Wang's summons was issued this morning, and these Zhechong Prefecture generals left their homes too early and had not yet eaten breakfast.

Sitting in the lobby on the first floor, he picked a corner seat and ordered a few small stir-fries.

Sitting on the stool, his waist and back were straight, looking sideways at the songs on the stage, waiting silently,

Compared with the noisy and cheering spectators in the lobby, his sitting posture was somewhat out of place.

There were many guests at noon, but Qin Heng's table of dishes was served quite quickly.

And, delicious food and fine wine, one plate after another.

"Wait."

Qin Heng stopped the maid who was holding an empty plate and preparing to leave, pointed to the dishes on the table and said:

"Did your restaurant serve the wrong dishes? I didn't order these, and this jar of osmanthus wine, I don't drink."

The restaurant maid smiled and shook her head:

"It's not wrong. It's a regular customer of this restaurant who is treating you. He said he is your friend and ordered these dishes for you, saying that you should like them."

"Who."

The restaurant maid pointed to the dishes and said: "The distinguished guest said, you will know after eating the dishes. These are the local stir-fries there, you should have tasted them."

Qin Heng frowned slightly.

Before he could ask more, the restaurant maid slipped away quietly.

Qin Heng looked at the osmanthus wine and the local stir-fries of Longcheng County, and pursed his lips.

After being quiet for a while, his eyebrows relaxed, and he took out a pair of chopsticks and washed them with tea water.

Hua Xuanji, he buried his head and ate this lunch treated by an acquaintance.

Two sticks of incense later, most of the dishes were cleared,

But the osmanthus wine was not moved.

After finishing the meal, Qin Heng sat in his original seat for a while, and seeing no one appear, he got up and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, a blue-clothed constable with a sword walked in from the door, passed by Qin Heng's table, went to the counter, reported his name, and was enthusiastically led upstairs by a restaurant maid, with a loud voice:

"The distinguished guest invites you, Qinghe private room, health tea ceremony..."

Before walking up the stairs behind the maid in front, Yan Liulang turned his head, as if scanning the lobby, and then went upstairs as usual.

Qin Heng looked left and right, his face hesitant for a moment,

He got up and followed upstairs.

Arriving at the low-key, luxurious third floor of Yunshui Pavilion.

At noon, the corridor was empty and quite quiet.

He didn't see the figure of the constable from Longcheng who looked quite familiar.

Qin Heng turned his head, looked at the door plate, walked along the corridor, and stopped in front of a private room with the sign "Qinghe".

Creak—

He pushed the door and entered.

A burst of pale tea mist rushed to his face,

And appearing in front of him with it was a white fox-fur young man sitting on the floor in the center of the private room, who was lowering his eyes to make tea, with a small tea table in front of him.

The curling tea mist was rising from a new pot of tea he had just brewed in his hand.

Ouyang Rong lowered his head, holding a long-spouted teapot in his hand, and poured a cup into a porcelain cup on the empty seat opposite him on the small tea table.

"General Qin, coming early is not as good as coming coincidentally, the tea is just brewed."

Ouyang Rong said with a smile.

He turned his head and looked at Qin Heng, whose expression was quite complex, nodded lightly, and was very talkative:

"This cup is cloud tea from Mount Kuanglu, brewed with clear spring water from a waterfall on the mountain. Not long ago, a wealthy merchant from Yangzhou used this tea to entertain me, but I was unwilling to drink it.

"Because I heard people say that this tea is used by the famous scholars of Mount Kuanglu to entertain confidants and good friends. For those who are not confidants, this official naturally felt embarrassed to drink more of the Yangzhou merchant's tea. General Qin, am I right?"

Qin Heng scanned the empty room, paused for a moment, took off his sword, and hung it in front of the door.

Finally, he walked over with big strides and sat down opposite Ouyang Rong.

He sat upright, picked up the teacup, and looked at the tea leaves rolling and floating.

Ouyang Rong picked up the cup and took a sip first.

Qin Heng immediately raised his head and drank this so-called tea of confidants and good friends in one gulp.

Seeing the martial man in front of him swallowing the date whole, Ouyang Rong smiled and let it go.

"General Qin, long time no see."

"Ouyang County... Commandant, long time no see."

Qin Heng changed his words, looked at Ouyang Rong, who was generous and calm, and his face was a bit cautious.

The two stared at each other.

For a time, the room was a bit quiet.

Just then, someone pushed the door and entered.

Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng turned their heads to look at the first time, and found it was a coolly dressed tea-serving maid.

"Distinguished guests, sorry to keep you waiting..."

Two sharp gazes like torches made the cool maid who had just entered the room stunned. Her words were stuck. She first looked at the two of them left and right, and then her face flushed red and said:

"How... how are there two guests? The tea ceremony of winter warmth can only be for one person."

Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng were both stunned.

The cool maid seemed to be a bit afraid, took a step back, her eyes couldn't help but fall on Ouyang Rong's frowning face, paused, and gritted her teeth:

"Even if you bring a very handsome white-faced one, you can't break the rules. If there are two people, you have to... have to pay more."

The maid's tone was very firm, biting it to death.

Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng were even more stunned.

"No, how did you run in blindly? Didn't you say the private room name? How did you run to the wrong one?"

Suddenly, the private room door was pushed open again, and Yan Liulang's figure ran in in a hurry and speechless, dragging the cool maid who was as dedicated as ever out the door.

"Cough cough, Commandant, General Qin, please continue, don't disturb."

Yan Liulang apologized, closed the door quickly, and pulled the maid away.

Outside the door, the sound of the maid's puzzled voice came faintly: "Isn't this Qinghe private room? The slave didn't remember wrong, familiar as a home."

Yan Liulang's tone was helpless: "Look at the door plate with your eyes, okay? The one opposite is Qinghe now."

"...?" Cool maid.

The sound of the argument gradually disappeared.

The misunderstanding was resolved.

In the private room that was originally hung with the sign "Qinghe", Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng looked at each other.

A short while later, they both laughed suddenly.

Qin Heng looked around, his tone emotional.

"Commandant Ouyang seems to be a regular customer."

"I don't, I'm not, I don't understand what she is saying at all. Strange."

Ouyang Rong was serious and denied it three times directly.

"Hahaha."

The atmosphere of caution and restraint that had not been seen for a long time was suddenly swept away.

Qin Heng looked at the serious and talkative white fox-fur young man and felt a bit emotional:

"Commandant Ouyang is still the same as in Longcheng, full of righteous spirit, yet understanding and gentle, making people feel like a spring breeze."

Ouyang Rong smiled and waved his hand: "General Qin is also the same. Since the Longcheng grain case investigation, it has been nearly a year. General Qin is still so heroic."

"What heroic, just a soldier." Qin Heng waved his hand, hesitated, and bowed apologetically:

"After parting in Longcheng, Commandant Ouyang's reputation and deeds spread one after another, like thunder. Although I knew you were working as a Commandant in Xunyang City later...

"It's a pity that the military camp duties are busy, and I am not very good at climbing and making friends, so I didn't come to disturb you. Please forgive me."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "General Qin did the right thing. Provincial officials need to avoid suspicion. General Qin protecting me is for my sake."

Qin Heng smiled, didn't deny it, looked at the cloud tea water: "I didn't expect Commandant Ouyang to be so attached to old feelings, sincere and enthusiastic."

Ouyang Rong heard this and went straight to the point:

"Not to hide from General Qin, I am a Commandant, you are a general. I avoided suspicion before, so I was embarrassed to find you. But today, I came here with a thick face because I really encountered a difficult matter, so I had to meet secretly. I hope General Qin doesn't think I am utilitarian."

Qin Heng looked at Ouyang Rong's sincere attitude with some surprise, and directly pointed out this tacit understanding. He unexpectedly didn't feel unhappy, but instead felt some good feelings.

"Commandant Ouyang sought welfare for the people of Longcheng, fought floods, eliminated evil bullies, and pleaded for the people. The end will always remember it in my heart, and I am very impressed...

"I believe Commandant Ouyang will not mention anything shady, so if you have any difficulties, just say it. As long as it doesn't violate the principles, I will do my best to help."

Ouyang Rong nodded vigorously and asked with burning eyes:

Ouyang Rong nodded vigorously, his eyes burning as he asked:

Qin Heng looked surprised, looked at Ouyang Rong's serious face, and confirmed repeatedly: "Commandant Ouyang only asks for this?"

"Yes, only this one thing, not party formation for private interests, so, it's hard for General Qin."

Ouyang Rong said magnanimously.

Qin Heng pondered for a moment:

"Actually, it's not very difficult, and this matter is not a military secret..."

He sighed and told the story while drinking hot tea...

In the smoky room, Ouyang Rong listened with a focused face. After a stick of incense, his face was a bit surprised.

It turned out that the cause of the matter was the chaos caused by the barbarian chieftains in the western border of Lingnan Circuit six years ago.

And Guizhou is the most important core province in the west of Lingnan Circuit, and the imperial court immediately provided assistance.

Guizhou is the most important core prefecture in the western part of Lingnan, so the imperial court immediately provided aid.

The Divine Capital ordered the various circuits in the south to send troops to assist; each circuit dispatched a portion of Zhechong Prefecture soldiers to suppress the rebellion, and subsequently stationed them in Guizhou to maintain stability.

About five regiments of elite soldiers.

One regiment, with a establishment of three hundred people.

One regiment, with an establishment of three hundred men.

The officials of Jiang Nan Circuit announced at the beginning that it would be for a period of three years, and they would be transferred back when the period expired.

But three years later, affected by the chaos in Yingzhou, the military officials of Jiang Nan Circuit issued a command from afar.

Extended for one period.

And stated that it would never be extended again.

In addition, to appease emotions, three hundred soldiers from one of the regiments were allowed to return to Hongzhou,

In addition, to appease their emotions, three hundred soldiers from one of the regiments were permitted to return to Hongzhou.

Subsequently, these soldiers who had replaced three hundred people in Guizhou had to be stationed in the barbarian foreign land thousands of miles away for another three years.

Subsequently, these Guizhou soldiers, who had been replaced by three hundred new men, had no choice but to remain stationed in a wild and foreign land thousands of miles away for another three years.

But Guizhou Commandant Lan Changhao began to run around.

First came, first went to Hongzhou, then went to Jiangzhou.

Contacted Jiangzhou Cishi Zhu of Hongzhou and Jiangzhou Cishi Wang of Jiangzhou, discussing the issuance of the second command to extend it again.

Because of the Guizhou tragedy not long ago, the need to maintain local stability, Lan Changhao's reason was very sufficient.

He came righteously and discussed writing to the imperial court together.

Extend for another year.

Now, on the Hongzhou side, Lan Changhao had already negotiated.

And on the Jiangzhou side, the Jiangzhou Cishi's office meeting this morning was also roughly negotiated.

As for Jiangzhou, the meeting at the Prefectural Office this morning was also roughly settled.

After all, even the Hongzhou side with the largest number of people agreed to this matter, and Jiangzhou, which only had three hundred soldiers outside, naturally had no reason to oppose it.

Jiangzhou Cishi Wang Lengran and General Yang, the Zhechong Commandant, discussed it casually, waved their hands, and allowed another year.

Guizhou Commandant Lan Changhao returned satisfied.

"This matter, General Qin seems unhappy?" Ouyang Rong asked suddenly.

Qin Heng wanted to speak but stopped:

"The soldiers of the third regiment sent to replace them three years ago were the soldiers I led. Most of them are good family sons from Jiangzhou. I naturally hope they can return early.

"After all, Guizhou is thousands of miles away, and it is in the western corner of Lingnan Circuit. I heard that there are swamps and poisonous miasma everywhere. I have also been stationed in the border army, and I understand the feeling of melancholy and missing my hometown when the night is deep and the armor is cold."

After a pause, he suddenly raised his head, drank the tea in the cup, and wiped his mouth fiercely:

"Besides, there are no empty words in the army. How can you break your promise to the soldiers?"

Ouyang Rong nodded: "So that's it."

Qin Heng asked suddenly: "As a Commandant, you are also a local official of this province. You don't even know about this. In terms of military affairs, is it that no one has reported and discussed it before?"

Ouyang Rong smiled, his tone was praising:

"Our Jiangzhou Cishi Wang must have been an old mason in his previous life. His craftsmanship is sophisticated, and the wall is built airtight."

Remembering the rumors about the two in Xunyang City, Qin Heng's face was thoughtful.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 319 =====

(End of chapter)