Chapter 358: Eighty-nine, Seeing Old Friends Again

Eighty-nine, Seeing Old Friends Again

"Chief Clerk Ouyang, please go ahead, no need to see me off. Guard the city well. You can prepare some wine and water. Wait for this official to return in triumph, and I will reward all the generals."

Early morning, the morning sun covered the deck of the ship about to set sail, as well as the pier below with red flags fluttering. On the deck, Wang Lengran stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in Confucian robes and wearing a long sword at his waist.

Compared with the red-turbaned soldiers in full armor standing on the deck,

It was clearly a scholarly general's attire.

This Magistrate Wang tilted his head at forty-five degrees, as if bathing in the morning sun, and said faintly to Ouyang Rong and his party on the shore below, without turning his head.

Ouyang Rong led the farewell, standing at the forefront of a group of officials, unable to help but look twice at Wang Lengran's "glorious" back.

Good, good, good, you are recognized for this pretense.

It's fine for you to pretend, just don't go to your death, giving away two thousand five hundred elite soldiers for nothing.

Ouyang Rong suppressed the urge to complain in his heart and bowed slightly:

"Waiting for Magistrate Wang's good news, by the way..."

He pointed to three large ships not far away, on the deck of one of which, the heroic figure of Qin Heng, wearing battle robes and holding a dry sword, could be vaguely seen.

Ouyang Rong reminded:

"This official prepared some fierce oil, loaded on three ships. This oil is special, from the Hu state. Use the wind well, and it can burn fiercely on the river water. It can burn enemy ships... perhaps it will be useful to Magistrate Wang."

Wang Lengran couldn't help turning his head, looking at Ouyang Rong's calm face:

"I didn't expect Chief Clerk Ouyang to provide assistance. You have a heart... Didn't Chief Clerk Ouyang oppose the reinforcement of Jishui County before?"

Ouyang Rong nodded: "Attitude is attitude, duty is duty, one code is one code."

Wang Lengran observed his calm face, nodded slightly, clasped his fists reluctantly, and performed a salute.

The head ship where Wang Lengran was located started slowly.

The large fleet loaded with Jiangzhou elite soldiers left Xunyang Ferry, sailed downstream, and headed toward Jishui County in the southeast.

Wang Lengran led deputy generals like Sun Yu and Qin Heng to reinforce Jishui County.

After they left, except for the conscripted civilian laborers and auxiliary soldiers, only five hundred elite soldiers remained in Xunyang City to guard the city.

Ouyang Rong tucked his hands into his sleeves, standing alone in the river breeze, watching the fleet disappear at the end of the river.

As the main official, he did not move, and the Jiangzhou Hall officials like Beside Yan Liulang, Chen You, and Yuan Huaimin behind him did not dare to move first, waiting patiently.

Beside Yan Liulang looked at the back of the Magistrate.

The twenty barrels of Burning Heaven Jiao Oil divided into three ships were ordered by the Magistrate yesterday, transported overnight from Shuangfeng Peak, and handed over to the Zhechong Prefecture soldiers who were about to leave the city.

Beside Yan Liulang received this order last night and was also a bit puzzled.

However, the Magistrate said that Jishui is indeed in a key position, and it is best to be able to lift the siege, but in case there is a trap, Wang Lengran loses everything, which is not good for the entire military and civilians of Jiangzhou City. Burning more of Cai Qin and Zhu Lingxu's ships, or letting more soldiers run back, is also good.

"The Magistrate is truly performing duties faithfully, taking the overall situation as the priority..."

Beside Yan Liulang thought to himself, his eyes filled with admiration.

Ouyang Rong looked up at the sun and suddenly looked back:

"Chen Canjun, immediately notify the city gate guards, as well as the Xunyang Ferry Shipping Department, that at the second quarter of the noon hour today, all city gates and ferry crossings will be closed. Xunyang City will implement strict prohibition, strictly controlling entry and exit. Strange merchants and outsiders will not be allowed to enter the city..."

Ouyang Rong was orderly and issued the city closure order.

At this moment, Wang Lengran has left, and the entire Xunyang City is decided by Ouyang Rong, acting as the Jiangzhou Hall.

"Yes, Chief Clerk!"

Chen You took the order and retreated.

"Sima Yuan..."

Ouyang Rong turned his head to speak, but suddenly his peripheral vision seemed to catch something, and he fell silent.

Yuan Huaimin and other Jiangzhou officials discovered that Ouyang Rong turned his head slightly, looking sideways at the crowd watching outside the pier, not knowing what attracted his attention.

"What is the Chief Clerk looking at?"

Ouyang Rong did not speak, silently watching the familiar Persian merchant's back disappear into the crowd.

Ouyang Rong didn't speak, silently watching the familiar back of the Persian merchant in the crowd leave.

And just now when Ouyang Rong turned his head, when he noticed him with his peripheral vision, the Persian merchant had already turned his back and walked toward a low-key carriage waiting by the side of the road... He did not discover Ouyang Rong's gaze.

"Nothing."

Ouyang Rong retracted his gaze and shook his head.

Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze and shook his head.

Hua Xuanji, he glanced at Beside Yan Liulang, who, like him, noticed Li Li's figure, squinting at the low-key carriage on the street outside the crowd slowly driving away.

Later, he also sent Beside Yan Liulang to investigate this Persian merchant.

Later, he also sent Beside Yan Liulang to investigate this Persian merchant.

So Beside Yan Liulang also knew Li Li and knew his general identity.

This might be the reason why he ran to see Wang Lengran off today without any defense.

Ouyang Rong and Beside Yan Liulang looked at each other tacitly.

A short while later, Ouyang Rong's expression was as usual, leading Yuan Huaimin and other officials back to the Jiangzhou Hall.

Beside Yan Liulang's figure disappeared.

I don't know when he retreated and went silently to where...

Jiangzhou Hall, Ouyang Rong patiently arranged all the items for the city's strict preparation. The officials below had their own divisions of labor, and even the old salted fish Yuan Huaimin became busy.

Ouyang Rong turned to find Mistress Miao Zhen.

Originally, he wanted to find Rong Zhen, but this cold palace-attired girl came and went without a trace, and he couldn't find her figure, nor did he know if she was in the city.

Ouyang Rong's expression was calm, and he applied to Mistress Miao Zhen to suspend the construction of the Donglin Great Buddha for a few days.

Wait until Magistrate Wang returns with the soldiers and it is safe, then continue the statue-building matter.

The latter looked at him, her expression unchanged:

"Chief Clerk, handle it as you see fit. Statue building is a major matter of the court, don't delay it for too long."

"Good."

After discussing, Mistress Miao Zhen left without stopping.

For these cold and arrogant colorful-robed palace maids, Ouyang Rong was used to it.

Looking at the sun outside the door, Beside Yan Liulang, who went to follow someone, had not returned.

Ouyang Rong left a long-term attendant to wait in the main hall, turned and went out, boarded the carriage, and went to Xiushui Ward.

At the gate of the Xunyang Prince's mansion, which was crowded with people, Ouyang Rong got off the carriage and immediately saw the figure of Magistrate Diao wandering and waiting not far away.

"Magistrate."

"Let's go, let's go in."

Magistrate Diao's face was a bit nervous, looking around: "There seem to be many people submitting posts to visit today."

"It's fine, it's been like this recently. The Prince may not see them. Let's go."

Ouyang Rong glanced at Magistrate Diao and explained casually, taking the lead to walk into the main gate of the Prince's mansion.

Diao Magistrate was like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden, looking around curiously and awe-inspiringly.

When encountering maids and servants, he hurriedly straightened his face and looked straight ahead.

And for the palace maids and physicians who occasionally passed by, Diao Magistrate looked sideways cautiously.

This solemn and majestic Great Zhou Prince's mansion, which was the focus of everyone's attention outside, still had a layer of supreme imperial power filter in the eyes of Diao Magistrate, who had been in the grassroots of Great Zhou for a long time.

If there was no proper person to introduce, this was not something a sesame official of the seventh or eighth grade like him could walk into.

He asked cautiously:

"Magistrate, is the Prince free today?"

Ouyang Rong laughed: "He and Dalang are always free. Maybe they are still fishing idly. Don't think of them as too busy."

"Even if it's fishing, we just walk in like this, without submitting a post to notify, it's not very good."

"Uh, indeed no post was submitted, forgot, I usually just walk in directly, used to it."

Ouyang Rong naturally didn't say that he used to climb the wall at night.

As for now, it's even more convenient. After that night's crisis passed, he could walk in casually during the day, but he couldn't climb the wall anymore, he had to walk through the main gate. For a while, he was not used to it.

Aiming at a certain wall that he climbed more and more smoothly, Ouyang Rong smiled apologetically.

Diao Magistrate couldn't help but click his tongue:

"But as the Jiangzhou Chief Clerk, walking in directly, it's not... cough, even the Magistrate has to respectfully submit a post, the Magistrate still has to avoid suspicion."

"It makes sense, but it's not needed now. The Prince took the job of Pacification Ambassador of the Jiang Nan Circuit. Pacification Ambassador, bring you in to report work, let him pacify and pacify, what's wrong? No one can chew on the tongue."

Ouyang Rong said seriously.

Diao Magistrate: "..."

How come this feeling of being inexplicably reasonable.

Ouyang Rong patted Diao Magistrate on the shoulder lightly:

"Magistrate Diao, don't think so much. The matter of you taking the lead in offering auspicious signs before, the Prince and the Heir have always kept it in mind, but they left too hurriedly at that time and didn't have time to thank you.

"Speaking of which, you are also a Longcheng old man, don't treat yourself as an outsider."

Diao Magistrate choked: "Magistrate, the Prince and the Heir actually remember..."

Ouyang Rong nodded without speaking, everything was in silence.

Diao Magistrate's expression was moved.

Looking at Ouyang Rong who was walking in front and leading the way on the solemn and noble long corridor of the Prince's mansion, Diao Magistrate couldn't help but straighten his waist.

I thought that being an eighth-grade county assistant in this life was the end, white-headed, and couldn't move his butt.

But I didn't expect to meet a real noble person, a benevolent person. At the beginning, half-forced and half-admiring, gritting his teeth and following him to control the water in Longcheng and defeat the Liu family, it was really not the wrong choice.

Now not only promoted to a county official, but also climbed onto the hidden residence, vaguely having the opportunity to follow the dragon...

Being personally defined by Ouyang Rong as a "Longcheng old man," walking on the solemn and noble Prince's mansion long corridor, Diao Magistrate couldn't help but straighten his waist.

A short while later, entering the depths of the Prince's mansion, seeing that the surrounding maids and palace maids were fewer, Diao Magistrate leaned over and whispered:

"Magistrate, it is this official's incompetence, not matching the rebel army, not having the ability of the Jishui County Assistant. Although I escaped from Longcheng, before leaving, this official had already sent Miss Aqing and Mother Liu into the deep mountain village adjacent to Yunmeng Marsh, ordering people to look after them. That place is considered isolated from the world, and the war cannot reach it."

Ouyang Rong nodded slightly: "Liulang mentioned it, worked hard."

"Not hard, should be, not only helping the Magistrate, Brother Ashan is a hero of Longcheng, naturally cannot let the hero's family have an accident."

Diao Magistrate said righteously, his tone sighing.

Ouyang Rong was silent.

All the way without words, arriving at the study, Ouyang Rong brought Diao Magistrate to see Xunyang Prince Li Xian and Heir Li Fusu.

The father and son treated him with courtesy, which made Diao Magistrate flattered and loyal.

A short while later, it was noon. Only Diao Magistrate was left to eat in the Prince's mansion. Ouyang Rong was busy and prepared to leave. Walking halfway, suddenly, Beside Yan Liulang came to find him.

The father and son treated each other with courtesy, making Magistrate Diao flattered and devoted.

A while later, at noon, only Magistrate Diao was left to eat at the Prince's residence. Ouyang Rong was busy and prepared to leave. Halfway there, suddenly, Beside Yan Liulang came to find him.

Ouyang Rong nodded without expression.

A short while later, Beside Yan Liulang retreated.

Ouyang Rong frowned:

"With the help of the Wei clan? What kind of strong reinforcement will it be... So, this is Wang Lengran's source of confidence... No wonder he had a face that asked for a beating this morning, so confident.

"This Wei clan, in order to compete for the position of Grand General of the Jiangzhou Circuit Expedition, is truly painstaking, even putting the court's overall situation and Jiangzhou's safety and stability in a secondary position..."

He paced back and forth in place for a moment.

His face revealed thought. A short while later, Ouyang Rong did not leave the Prince's mansion, turned around, went to a certain boudoir, and came to the boudoir.

"Why did Senior Brother come."

Before seeing the person, the voice was heard, the beauty's voice was pleasantly surprised.

Only to see Xie Lingjiang walking out of the spring curtain, looking like she had just woken up from a nap, her soft long hair scattered over her shoulders, a pair of pretty eyes left with a bit of laziness and confusion, walking quickly, naturally holding Ouyang Rong's palm.

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but smile, immediately, with a serious face, entrusted: "Have something to ask."

"Oh, if there is nothing, you won't come." She pouted her lips, squinted at him, and then nodded: "Okay, speak quickly."

Ouyang Rong said apologetically: "Xiao Shimei, help me make a trip, go out of the city to handle something."

"Where to? What matter."

Noticing Ouyang Rong's serious attitude, Xie Lingjiang's morning anger disappeared, and she became much clearer.

But she didn't wait for an answer. The next instant, Xie Lingjiang felt her delicate body being hugged gently. Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but feel soft, her pretty face flushed, and just when she was nervous and expectant,

The three thousand green silks on her shoulders were picked up by a big hand.

Ouyang Rong half-hugged Xie Lingjiang, the beauty lying softly in his arms, Ouyang Rong turned his hand to take out a red rope, while carefully combing her hair for her, he said seriously:

"Xiao Shimei, go to Jishui County, follow Wang Lengran and them. If there is important military intelligence ahead, pass it back at the first time. I don't trust anyone else. It still needs you to go.

"However, you must be careful on the road. If there is danger, don't force it, run away as the priority, do you know, don't die for the sake of face, safety is the most important."

He rested his chin on her green-haired head, nagging.

Xie Lingjiang listened to his nagging silently, her palm-sized hibiscus pretty face was more beautiful than flowers. She was a bit moved, but tried hard to suppress it:

"Good, I know... what you said, I remember it all."

The two looked at each other for a while, couldn't help but hug each other, warmed up for a long time, before reluctantly separating. After separating, Xie Lingjiang lowered her head with a red face, first tidied up her messy chest and collar, immediately, like a frown and annoyance, pushed someone lightly, as if blaming him for making trouble secretly, but her eyes were soft, not blaming him at all.

Not long after, Xie Lingjiang changed into a white male outfit, tied her hair with a red rope, and went out with a sword.

Ouyang Rong watched silently.

After Xie Lingjiang left,

Ouyang Rong couldn't help lowering his head, sniffing his shoulders and fingers.

He smelled a faint orchid fragrance.

Fragrance, since ancient times, has been linked to women.

In this world, there are actually only two kinds of women's fragrance.

One is, when you walk close, you can feel the rich fragrance hitting your face, no matter how beautiful, it is hard to avoid being vulgar.

There is another kind of woman, when you stand with her, you don't feel any fragrance at all. Only when she leaves, you realize a wisp of faint dark fragrance, the beauty only leaves a back, the dark fragrance floats in your heart, making you feel lost.

Ouyang Rong was a bit distracted.

But suddenly, without reason, he thought of the slender figure sitting on the long sword with her knees hugged in the underground palace,

Which kind of woman's fragrance is she?

Ouyang Rong shook his head gently, feeling a bit guilty.

At this moment, why suddenly think of this kind of thing?

Hua Xuanji, he lowered his eyes:

"Should I tell Xiao Shimei about the embroidery woman? It's not good to keep her in the dark, but if she knows, will she be angry? However, Xiao Shimei has a broad mind, she shouldn't be a vinegar jar... Okay, take it that I didn't say this..."

As if remembering something, he shook his head, muttering to himself:

"So, should I tell her or not..."

Guilt arose in his heart.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 359 =====

Couldn't help but feel guilty.

(End of Chapter)