Chapter 321: Fifty-Four, Racing Against Time

Fifty-Four, Racing Against Time

Magistrate Ouyang Rong strode out the gate and coldly climbed into the carriage.

As soon as he entered the cabin, sat down, and leaned back against the pillow, he closed his eyes and remained utterly still.

The anger and indignation on his face vanished for now.

"My Lord, where to now?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said nothing.

He continued leaning back with eyes shut, recalling the expressions of Li Li Zhengyan, Wei Wei Shaoqi, Du Du Shuqing, Wang Jun, and others when the hurried footsteps of Yan Yan Liulang and the others had reached the banquet hall.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong frowned slightly.

Yan Yan Liulang, holding the reins, frowned in silent wait, not disturbing his Lord—whose calmness only deepened in moments of chaos.

The Guangzhou mutiny, so massive, was like a thunderclap in the southern circuits, where peace had reigned for years and the people lived in harmony.

The news had spread throughout the entire city.

Public sentiment was in turmoil.

Magistrate Ouyang suddenly opened his eyes:

"Go, first to Prince Xunyang Wang Fu."

"Yes."

The carriage swiftly headed toward Xiushui Fang.

Half an hour later.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, in his capacity as Jiangzhou's Chief Secretary, paid his routine visit to Prince Prince Xunyang, reporting on the preparatory construction of the Prince Xunyang Grottoes and the recruitment for the excavation of Shuangfengjian.

In the hall, after the discussion ended, Prince Prince Xunyang, as the Jiang Nan Superintendent of Construction, warmly inquired after Magistrate Ouyang Rong's well-being.

Just before leaving the hall, Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly paused and, in a flat tone, addressed Prince Wang Lixian—who had looked troubled all day, several times opening his mouth but holding back:

"There are rumors circulating in the city today, but their truth has yet to be confirmed. Why should Your Highness worry and lose your composure?

"Even if true, Jiangzhou is not Guangzhou. The provincial governors and the ministers in the capital will handle this properly.

"This matter has nothing to do with Your Highness, nor with the Jiangzhou statues. Everything remains as before. Your Highness should focus on overseeing the construction of the Donglin Great Buddha and ease His Majesty's burdens—that is the greatest filial piety."

Wang Lixian blinked, his demeanor softened by Magistrate Ouyang Rong's calm analysis, and nodded slowly:

"Thank you, Chief Secretary Magistrate Ouyang. I know what I must do."

At the door, Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, and before turning away, he pointed at a half-full cup of hot tea on the hall's sandalwood table:

"This osmanthus tea is excellent. The craftsmanship is truly fine."

Under the watchful eyes of the officials and palace servants, Wang Lixian replied without expression: "Take some back with you."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head and walked away, his figure receding.

After leaving Prince Xunyang Wang Fu, he climbed back into the carriage.

Yan Yan Liulang drove forward, then turned into a narrow alley ahead.

The carriage waited for a while in the alley, not far from Prince Xunyang Wang Fu.

The curtain was suddenly pulled open from outside.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who had been scanning the limited reports from Guangzhou with lowered eyes, caught a familiar orchid scent rushing toward him.

Within this rich orchid fragrance was mingled the invigorating aroma of April osmanthus.

A woman in red robes, carrying a small bag of osmanthus tea, slipped quietly into the carriage and sat close beside Magistrate Ouyang Rong.

In the center of the cabin stood a small incense burner shaped like a white crane tilting its neck.

It had been brought by his junior sister and placed in the carriage to perfume and refresh Magistrate Ouyang Rong after every drinking return.

After boarding, Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang placed the osmanthus tea down and tightly shut the carriage windows.

With her frost-white hands, she picked up the small tongs and added two smokeless lacquered charcoal pieces.

A wisp of greenish smoke rose gently, filling the cabin.

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang turned her head, her starlit eyes fixed on Magistrate Ouyang Rong's furrowed brow, then glanced at the urgent Guangzhou document in his hand.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly felt his neck skin chilled, then slightly itched—he looked down and saw the woman beside him, her starlit gaze steady, raising her hand to carefully adjust his collar.

Then, a soft, boneless, silken hand slipped quietly into his palm and gripped half of his hand tightly.

"Ru Shixiong, how is the situation? Why did you call me? It shouldn't be anything serious, right?

"I heard about Guangzhou. The whole city is talking—rumors everywhere. Some say Chief Secretary Lan Changhao has acted tyrannically; others say the border troops resent His Majesty's construction of the Songde Tian Shu Buddha and have long simmered with grievance…"

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang bit her lower lip, her face filled with worry.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong clasped her delicate hand, silently feeling the warmth of her smooth, creamy skin, and shook his head:

"I am not the chief officer or responsible party for this. I know no more than the people of Prince Xunyang. The news of the Liuzhou garrison mutiny cannot be hidden. Right now, reports have traveled from the western frontier of Lingnan Circuit all the way to Jiangzhou—I don't know how long they've been delayed.

"The information we've received now is already half a month old.

I don't even know where these fifteen hundred mutinous border troops are now—whether they've been halted by the counties along the way, or whether terrified local officials have turned a blind eye and let them pass, heading straight for Hongzhou and Jiangzhou…

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rubbed his temples, his hand tightening silently around the official document:

"The first-hand reports must have reached every provincial military commander at once—but all Jiangzhou's military affairs are controlled by Wang Wang Lengran. Nearly every officer in the Zhechong Fu is his man.

"Perhaps the news of the Liuzhou mutiny reached them two days ago, yet they've suppressed it, hiding it from me and the Jiangzhou government for two days."

"Hmph. Among the fifteen hundred border troops, three hundred are from Jiangzhou's Zhechong Fu. Wang Wang Lengran, as Jiangzhou's military commander, cannot escape blame for negligence.

"Second only to Guangzhou's Chief Secretary Lan Changhao and Hongzhou's Jiangzhou Cishi Zhu Zhu Lingxu."

At this cold analysis, Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang sneered, a mocking curve forming at her lips:

"The key is the extent of the fallout. Perhaps Master Wang, the Grand Jiangzhou Cishi, is now urgently consulting with Zhechong Fu officers, plotting to shift blame and clear himself.

"In such matters, they'll delay telling Ru Shixiong as long as possible."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong took a deep breath:

"I don't care whether their official caps fall. I only care how these fifteen hundred border troops will be calmed and handled.

"From what I see, they were pushed into rebellion by delays.

"Fifteen hundred brave soldiers from Hongzhou and Jiangzhou—how many households across two provinces are tied to them?

"Lan Changhao, Wang Wang Lengran, Zhu Zhu Lingxu—they're stupid, they're suicidal. They treat mutiny as a game and drag so many innocent people down with them.

"If handled poorly, clashes along the way might provoke these mutineers returning north—or be manipulated by schemers—causing them to storm Hongzhou and Jiangzhou, the southeastern gateway of Jianghuai, then sail down the Yangtze, penetrating deep into the southeast, the empire's tax heartland—even reaching Jin Ling, sparking chaos…

"Then it would be a catastrophe. Even if not rebellion, it would be rebellion!"

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang sat upright, her beautiful face filled with anxiety: "What do we do now?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly said: "We must move fast."

"What do you mean?"

"We cannot let Wang Wang Lengran and his men monopolize the imperial ear, shift blame, and doom the soldiers. But before that…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly grew calm, turning to give orders:

"Yan Liulang, head straight to Xingzi Fang. Go to the address I gave you, passing through Zhenguang Street…"

"Why Xingzi Fang?"

Hearing his senior brother recite a familiar yet unfamiliar Xingzi Fang address, Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang frowned in confusion:

"Ru Shixiong wants to find your colleague Yuan Yuan Huaimin? He's Jiangzhou's Deputy Secretary, yes—but isn't that a ceremonial post? He's the idlest man there."

"Not him." Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head. "The person I'm looking for—you might know."

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang's eyes brightened with curiosity.

About half an hour later, under the fading sunset, a carriage slowly passed along a street in Xingzi Fang named "Zhenguang."

On the sunset-lit street, merchants and peddlers were closing up and heading home.

At the alley's corner, an ordinary, unremarkable house—whose owner rarely appeared—had, on its wall facing the street, no longer the crabapple blossoms the mistress usually displayed.

In their place stood a pot of vivid crimson azaleas, gently swaying in the evening breeze.

The carriage passed the house without stopping, continuing on into the distance.

"Ru Shixiong, what were you looking at?"

From inside the cabin, as if a woman's head had leaned forward, a curious voice asked.

"Shh." He pressed gently on her forehead, then added: "Let's go. Let's have tea."

"Tea? Where?"

"The usual place."

"What usual place?"

"Uh… Yunshui Pavilion. I was just speaking to Yan Liulang."

"Oh, you men have so many secret codes and jargon." She nodded.

"… " Someone.

About an hour later.

By the Prince Xunyang River, on the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion, in a private room, Yan Yan Liulang stood guard, sword in hand.

Inside the room.

Two men and one woman sat cross-legged before a small tea table, sipping tea.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng met again, facing each other.

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang sat beside Magistrate Ouyang Rong, not touching the tea he had poured for her. Her expression was slightly odd as she surveyed the tea room—complete with a sleeping couch, a bathtub, towels, and neatly folded male bathrobes.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng ignored these trivial details and got straight to the point.

"Chief Secretary Magistrate Ouyang, you know about Guangzhou?" Qin Heng asked gravely.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong glanced at Qin Heng's gloomy, troubled face and gave a slight nod.

I've heard whispers; General Qin should know more—could you elaborate?

Qin Heng nodded and sighed.

"I only learned of it late too. It was only last night that Jiangzhou Cishi Wang suddenly summoned us to discuss it. I only then learned the truth, and we argued all night at the camp outside the city… By this morning, the news had spread throughout the city. It seems the matter had reached a point where it could no longer be suppressed—Jiangzhou Cishi Wang was forced to speak."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong ignored all this and asked directly:

"I only want to know: did these fifteen hundred border troops storm the Guizhou Prefecture?"

"No. They only wished to return north to their homes; they committed no treasonous acts."

"Did they carry weapons?"

"Yes." Qin Heng closed his eyes and sighed. "They seized weapons and armor from the Army Supervisor's compound."

"Then what of Lan Changhao? He incited the mutiny—is he alive or dead?"

"He's alive and well."

Qin Heng clenched his teeth, his tone filled with bitterness:

"Lan Changhao is clever—he ordered Xu Commandant, who oversaw the border troops, to go to the camp outside the city to announce the delay, while he himself stayed far away in his residence inside the city, sipping tea and waiting."

"The border soldiers immediately rebelled. They wanted to return home to their wives, children, and elders, but were told the funds for disbandment were insufficient—a flimsy excuse."

"The soldiers then lost all faith in the Guizhou authorities. Despairing of ever returning home, no one knew who first incited them—but in their fury, they stormed the camp, eyes red, and killed Xu Commandant and two Du Yu. Finally, they elected Du Yu Cai Qin, a man of great prestige, as their leader. They destroyed the camp, seized the granaries, and marched north as one."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong immediately asked: "Who is this Cai Qin? Is he from Jiangzhou or Hongzhou?"

"Hongzhou. Originally under the Fourth Zhechong Fu. Most of these fifteen hundred soldiers were from Hongzhou; our three hundred from Jiangzhou were merely swept along, forced to follow them north."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pressed further:

"Among our Jiangzhou Third Zhechong Fu, did the Captain Su Li Qian lead the mutiny and kill his superiors?"

"I don't know. Probably not. I know Su's character—he's not the type to stir up trouble. He was surely forced to join. Too bad now, there's no turning back."

Qin Heng clenched his fist and sighed deeply:

"Your Excellency, you may not realize: soldiers naturally love wine and martial prowess. Once an army mutinies, caught in that atmosphere, men do things they never imagined. By the time they sober up, regret comes too late."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's expression remained unchanged as he continued:

"Where are these mutinous border troops now?"

"Latest reports say they entered Yongzhou territory ten days ago."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong felt a slight easing in his chest—good. Yongzhou lies within Jiang Nan Dao, yet sits at the border between Lingnan Dao and Jiang Nan Dao.

Hongzhou and Jiangzhou lie in the central-northern part of Jiang Nan Dao, along the vital middle stretch of the Dajiang River.

These soldiers may have grown sober, confused, regretful, and fearful of being branded rebels—or perhaps they lack sufficient boats to transport fifteen hundred men by water.

Thus, their progress is far slower than the eight-hundred-li express courier. They've only covered a fraction of the distance between Guizhou and Jiangzhou—there should still be considerable time to act.

Moreover, these fifteen hundred mutineers are mostly men from Hongzhou; they will surely head first for Hongzhou city, leaving Jiangzhou farther behind—lower risk.

"Have there been any clashes along the way?"

"Your Excellency knows: in Lingnan Dao, local indigenous clans hold great power, and local governments are short on funds and grain—most practice 'non-action governance.' So far, no local official has dared to intercept them. The route has been clear… even…"

"Good. What else?"

"Rumors say that as they passed through Guizhou and other regions, local villagers, sympathetic to them, gave them food and water."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong fell silent.

Qin Heng couldn't help speaking:

"Our Zhechong Fu soldiers are all born into military households—carefully selected sons of good families. We once guarded the empire's borders and fought its enemies; we carry our own pride. We are no bandits with rotten discipline. I believe that unless driven to utter desperation, with no food or water left, they will not harm a single civilian along the way."

As if remembering something, he added, worried:

"Your Excellency, Jiangzhou Cishi Wang has already drafted his memorial. Today he summoned us to sign it—together with the Zhechong Fu commanders, to testify on his behalf. Generals Yang, Secretary Sun, Instructor Du—they've all signed already."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded approvingly: "He moves quickly, indeed."

"I understand. Thank you, General Qin, for your explanation."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong lowered his gaze, thought for a moment, then slowly rose to his feet, preparing to leave with Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang.

As the two reached the door, Qin Heng, still seated alone sipping tea, turned back suddenly:

"Your Excellency—can Captain Su and the others still return safely?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's back paused. "I cannot guarantee it—but I guarantee I will spare no effort."

At Yunshui Pavilion, back in the carriage, Magistrate Ouyang Rong immediately said to Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang:

"Come back with me to Huaiye Alley. I must send two letters."

"One is a formal memorial, to be sent to the imperial court in Shendu."

"The other is a personal letter to my Master—I must explain every detail of this matter. Your letter, through your family's connections, must reach my teacher and be passed on."

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang replied crisply: "Understood!"

(End of Chapter)