Chapter 383: 132. Rong Zhen

132. Rong Zhen's Worry

Artisan Artisan

After the holiday.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong went to the Jiangzhou Main Hall every day to take up his post. The first thing he did when he walked into the Main Hall was to browse the frontline battle reports.

Half a month had passed since Qin Qin Jingqin led the army to expedition, and no important news had come from the frontline for the time being.

This morning's latest report was that the vanguard of the crusade army had entered the territory of Hongzhou.

There were also some new movements of Li Li Zhengyan's army in the southwest.

However, compared with the previous news, the timeliness of the latter news was lower, so it had to be estimated.

The old punctuality person Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin had not yet arrived. The main hall in the morning was empty, and there was autumn morning mist in the courtyard. Not far away in the corridor, officials in soap uniforms came to take up their posts from time to time...

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who arrived early, exhaled a hot mist into his palms, turned to move the map, and began to deduce at his desk.

There was still a period of time before the short-handed encounter between the crusade army and Li Li Zhengyan's army.

Looking at it now, the vanguard of the crusade army should be able to arrive under the city of Hongzhou before Li Li Zhengyan. The only problem was whether they could take Hongzhou City before Li Li Zhengyan's army arrived...

Actually, the marching speed of both sides was not fast, which was normal.

Because the marching of a team of tens of thousands of people was actually a huge and complex project. This military machine looked slow, but once opened, it was difficult to stop easily.

Not just at the starting stage, but even after the two armies met, in the absence of accidents, it was still such a "slow" movement, until a decisive battle became unavoidable, and then they would "collide" together like a mountain at a time and place where both generals thought they had the advantage.

The tug-of-war before the decisive battle might look like old people playing Tai Chi in the square in the eyes of laymen.

As for the so-called surprise soldiers, gods descending from heaven, and unexpected attacks... most of these wonderful dramas were just thoughts.

The examples of surprise soldiers that could be recorded in history books were all winners, which also caused the great victories that were famous in history to seem full of drama and fun.

However, throughout the ages, from the Pre-Qin period to the present Gan and Zhou Dynasties, I don't know how many wars have occurred, but most of them were "straight against straight," dull and boring.

Even the military gods and famous generals who shook the past and present had most of their wars in their lives like this, regular and orderly.

So if you can eliminate the enemy's effective strength in a decisive battle, just honestly fight a decisive battle. Don't always think about your big meteorite technique, big flood technique, big destiny technique...

Take the marching route of the crusade army westward to Hongzhou as an example. It was determined early in the internal military meeting, and Magistrate Ouyang Rong was clear about it. It would not be easily changed because it involved the logistics of the army.

And Cai Qin on the Hongzhou side could also guess the general marching route of the crusade army.

The reason was very simple. Given the traffic conditions of this era, there were not many roads available for a large number of military horses to march, not to mention the Jiang Nan with a mild climate and more vegetation.

If you insist on taking a large army of tens of thousands into the deep mountains and old forests, ignoring everything, just wanting speed and surprise, what about logistics transportation?

Even if the rear wants to milk you, it's strenuous.

Maybe the Emperor has a whim and wants to micro-manage, but can't find you. What a bold guy.

In addition, after the army sets out, the vanguard, front army, middle army, rear army, etc., set out in batches. In order to cooperate with the strategic goals proposed by the commander, they would discuss their respective marching tasks in advance before setting out.

For example, a certain army, on a certain day, must arrive at a certain place on time.

If you go out and have strong subjective initiative, take a "convenient new road" provided by a roadside farmer or hunter, what if you get lost or are late?

Um, not only beyond the enemy's expectations, but also beyond the commander's expectations.

This is called violating military orders and delaying the opportunity for battle.

On the contrary, the well-known common big roads have been walked by predecessors hundreds of times when fighting, and it is easiest to estimate the general marching time before the army sets out.

So just honestly walk the planned right path, which is not only convenient for logistics but also not easy to "delay the opportunity for battle."

These realistic factors have also led to some places becoming so-called must-contested places for soldiers, becoming the gateway to a territory, and even a turning point where offense and defense can change.

Because this is in hundreds of ancient wars dominated by cavalry, infantry, etc., that ancestors have explored and summarized with blood and tears, two armies must fight for it, must collide here, and logistics are difficult to bypass and must pass through it...

In the main hall, Magistrate Ouyang Rong finished browsing and put down the latest frontline battle report.

Recently, in addition to cultivating "Zhen Gao" at night, Magistrate Ouyang Rong was also silently learning the military books of this era, giving birth to some insights that were difficult to ponder without being on the scene in his previous life.

Sometimes, for the officials stationed in the rear, the fact that there is no big news from the frontline is good news,

because this represents that all armies are executing according to the strategic plan, and there is no link that is lagging or delaying the opportunity for battle.

At present, the army is on an expedition, and Qin Qin Jingqin is in full charge of commanding the war. Magistrate Ouyang Rong only needs to cooperate earnestly with the new Senior Official of the Marching Camp and preside over the smooth operation of the logistics most important link in Prince Xunyang City, Jiangzhou.

This also gave him a very good opportunity to observe the war mode of this era at close range.

Actually, that night at the banquet, Magistrate Ouyang Rong's shocking words and eloquent talk were more inclined to strategic theory, more like a high-level advisor or strategist.

After all, he had been lurking in the political group for ten thousand years in his previous life, and his high-level mouth-cannon was a set of sets, and he could talk for three days and three nights without repeating.

If Qin Qin Jingqin vacated his seat for the virtuous and let him go on the field as a commander, he would actually be a bit empty, although his strategic judgment might not be wrong.

However, even the best strategy needs an excellent and solid executor. No matter how good the theory is, it is another matter to turn it into practical operation.

However, Qin Qin Jingqin, Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Xuee, Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, Qin Ying, and the others seemed to be very fond of this set of Magistrate Ouyang Rong, and were amazed by his vision and strategy.

This is also the disadvantage of the aristocratic politics of the Great Gan and Great Zhou Dynasties. Aristocratic elites monopolize certain knowledge channels. How can ordinary cold-door scholars learn this kind of vision and knowledge of Magistrate Ouyang Rong?

Where did the general public learn this kind of rare knowledge that does not touch the spring water with ten fingers and is not conducive to the imperial examination?

With the imperial examination as the orientation, most cold-door scholars focus on poetry, songs, and the Four Books and Five Classics planned by the upper-level elites.

Therefore, facing Magistrate Ouyang Rong, this big alien, these aristocratic elites who monopolize rare knowledge such as military affairs, Confucianism, and Qi cultivation techniques are naturally bluffed.

Moreover, Magistrate Ouyang Rong's strategy is not wrong. In the eyes of an insider like Qin Qin Jingqin, it may be extremely high and leading the era.

Although letting him go on the field would be quite empty, the first execution would be a bit clumsy and unfamiliar, lacking practical experience, and needing to stumble and grind, but fortunately, he doesn't need to come immediately. Qin Qin Jingqin, this old general, is not short of practical operation.

A Great Zhou famous general certified by the Great Gan border army system, the gold content goes without saying.

Because Qin Qin Jingqin also has his own military methodology, his appreciation for Magistrate Ouyang Rong's methodology is more like an appreciation for a "cook" of the same kind, taking the best and making up for the shortcomings.

At present, Qin Qin Jingqin is personally on the field, which just facilitates Magistrate Ouyang Rong to quietly learn military practical operation, and by the way, complement some cognitive differences between his previous life and later life.

These days, he does not miss the line reports and logistics every day, reads them carefully, and diligently takes notes, which is the reason.

It is true that some of Magistrate Ouyang Rong's knowledge systems are ahead of the era, but if he doesn't go to the ground and integrate them, it is also useless...

So learning cannot stop.

On this point, Magistrate Ouyang Rong has self-knowledge.

In addition, because of the geographical location, the materials transported from the rich southeastern states of the Jiang Nan Circuit through the Yangtze River waterway and the soldiers from the north are continuously transported to Jiangzhou, making Prince Xunyang City a most important transshipment node.

Although it is considered the frontline of the war, danger also breeds huge profits and opportunities. Many southeastern merchants take risks to transport goods here.

There are also officials, scholars, and wealthy merchants fleeing eastward from the southwest, who are continuously landing at Prince Xunyang Ferry.

This has indirectly promoted the prosperity of Prince Xunyang City's "wartime economy."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, the Jiangzhou Senior Official who presides over civil affairs, has become a popular big figure in the eyes of these outsiders.

However, Magistrate Ouyang Rong has no time to hit their autumn wind and rake money. His focus during the day is mainly on the Buddha statues of the Prince Xunyang Grotto.

The major affairs of the country are in sacrifice and war.

This sentence is not wrong at all. This is the foundation of the country. Even if the crusade army and the Restoration rebel army are about to clash, in Jiangzhou, the official documents between the Jiangzhou Main Hall and the imperial court talk the most about the construction of the Donglin Great Buddha, which involves "national sacrifice."

This matter was ordered not to be delayed by half a point.

Even a cold palace-dressed girl would come over to check the post and urge from time to time.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was a bit speechless, but didn't say much. A few days ago, he called "Great Wisdom Monk" from Mount Mount Dagu in Dragon City, and taking advantage of the opportunity of the wealthy people in the west of the Jiang Nan Circuit gathering in Prince Xunyang, he let Master Venerable Shan Dao pull many wealthy and pious people to donate generously to build the grotto, which saved another cost.

In the main hall, waiting for Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin to walk into the door at the sound of the bell, and throwing him the civil affairs of this month, Magistrate Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, glanced at the bright sunshine on the floor at the door, and shouted:

"Chen Yan Canjun, where is Female Official Rong Zhen? In the city? Can you see her?"

"Reporting to the Mingfu, the Female Official sent people to urge for manpower this morning. The subordinates listened to your instructions, cooperated earnestly, and cooperated with the Female Official... Judging from the number of people who went over, they should be investigating at the Zhuxiang Paper Mill in Xingzi Lane in the west of the city today."

"Did Yan Yan Canjun go?"

"Went. According to your instructions, every time the Female Official comes to ask for people, Yan Yan Canjun arranges it and designates people to help."

"Understood."

After listening to Chen You's report, Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded without changing his expression.

Rong Zhen has been focusing on investigating the owner of that Butterfly Loves Flowers poem.

In Magistrate Ouyang Rong's view, for the sake of this truth, she has become a bit obsessed, and even the construction progress of the Donglin Great Buddha, which she should have been in charge of, has been asked less.

And originally, Rong Zhen, as the Army Supervisor of the crusade army, was to follow Qin Qin Jingqin's army to the frontline in Hongzhou.

However, I don't know what she said to the above, the position of Army Supervisor was transferred to Miao Zhen, who supervises the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

The latter replaced her to leave the city, while Rong Zhen stayed in Prince Xunyang to continue investigating the owner of Butterfly Loves Flowers...

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rubbed his face.

Since Rong Zhen wants to investigate, he has to cooperate.

She fulfills her duties, and he fulfills his duties.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded and got up, changed his official uniform, put on a regular uniform, and left the Jiangzhou Main Hall.

He took a carriage to Xingzi Lane.

The Zhuxiang Paper Mill is close to the west city wall.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong walked into the paper mill with his hands behind his back, walked into a wide backyard for drying paper without looking sideways, and saw the cold figure of the palace-dressed girl.

Rong Zhen stood under the eaves, pinched a piece of new paper with two fingers, and looked up at the thin paper with finger shadows in the sun.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong saw it in his eyes, stopped with his hands in his sleeves:

"Any discoveries?"

Rong Zhen didn't turn her head, and after a moment of silence, she said coldly:

"The direction is not wrong. The paper used in this Butterfly Loves Flowers is produced from this mill, named Zhuxiang paper, which is one of the three major bamboo papers in Prince Xunyang. The date of completion of drying should be two months and three days ago."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled: "You checked quite carefully."

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, bamboo paper is not mainstream, only popular in the south.

There are many bitter bamboos in Mount Mount Kuanglu next to Prince Xunyang, and Prince Xunyang bamboo paper also has a famous reputation in Jiang Nan.

The imperial court and government offices use green, white, and yellow rattan paper, and the Jiangzhou Main Hall is the same. A large number of officials hit the autumn wind, and their homes all use rattan paper.

Rong Zhen ignored him and said softly:

"The problem now is whether the owner of Butterfly Loves Flowers was in Prince Xunyang when writing the poem, or whether the Zhuxiang paper fell outside."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong thought for a moment: "Definitely in Prince Xunyang."

"Oh?" Rong Zhen finally turned her head: "Why so sure."

"Two months and three days ago, if I remember correctly, it was when Cai Qin and Zhu Zhu Lingxu's army from Hongzhou invaded Jiangzhou. Prince Xunyang closed the city and prepared strictly. The subordinate is not talented, but I am the official in charge of defense. At that time, there was an order that some materials were not allowed to flow out of the city gate, including various types of paper."

"This paper could only be sold in the city."

Rong Zhen looked at him for a while.

"Senior Official Magistrate Ouyang is really smart." She nodded lightly, her tone softening a bit:

"I also feel the same, but the reason is that the pine ink used by the owner of Butterfly Loves Flowers is also newly produced in Prince Xunyang. The combination of the two is not a coincidence."

"Oh." Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked curious: "Are there any new discoveries on the ink side?"

"Um." Rong Zhen was vague: "Just started to have some eyebrows."

"Do you want Yan Yan Canjun to send more people?"

"Let's see. If I need it, I will call him."

"Good. Don't be polite with him, Yan Yan Canjun also likes to investigate cases."

Rong Zhen said suddenly: "Senior Official Magistrate Ouyang looks very enthusiastic."

"Afraid of being passive and not cooperating, and being labeled by the Female Official."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled lightly, and Rong Zhen stopped talking.

A moment later, sensing her absent-mindedness toward him and starting to lose her mind, Magistrate Ouyang Rong left naturally.

Rong Zhen raised her head and looked at the back of the fox-white fur young man who was cooperating with her very much.

The literary scholar wearing a fox mask in the darkness that night was taller and thinner than Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan.

Rong Zhen withdrew her gaze.

The date of the paper and ink, and the explanation Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan just added, indicated that the owner of this Butterfly Loves Flowers was in Prince Xunyang City when writing that Butterfly Loves Flowers.

And the death of Zhao Zhao Rushi, the County Lieutenant and Mobile Corps Commander of Jishui County, was inextricably linked to the strange defection of Zhu Zhu Lingxu and his son.

Carefully analyzing, there are two parties who have the motivation to benefit.

One is Li Li Zhengyan, and the other is the pro-Li faction such as the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

The motivation of the latter comes from hitting the Wei family in the imperial court behind Zhu Zhu Lingxu.

According to the clues currently mastered by Rong Zhen and the Astronomical Bureau.

The former's suspicion is the greatest.

Whether it is beheading Zhao Zhao Rushi to deter Zhu Zhu Lingxu and his son from defecting again;

Or the Butterfly Loves Flowers poem happens to involve Yue women.

Or, the more accurate speculation about a certain Ding Sword in the latest news.

And other clues all point to Li Li Zhengyan and them.

But this extends another problem.

Li Li Zhengyan let a rare Sword Holder and a mythical Ding Sword ambush under the eyes of the enemy in Prince Xunyang City. Is it too risky?

"Are they lurking and staring at the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion?"

Rong Zhen frowned slightly and muttered to herself:

"Or, after you took down the Buddha statue facilities in Guizhou, you reversed the deduction and discovered that matter.

"To be able to write such a clear and refined poem, this person is absolutely impossible to be unknown in the city... But he is not a gentleman!"

She suddenly turned cold, as if she remembered something, and gritted her teeth.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 384 =====