Chapter 377 Guarding Against Thieves

The Xunyang Tower was booked out by a lavish crowd tonight.

It ushered in a long-awaited period of prosperity and bustle.

After a long hiatus, Qin Xiaoniangzi's pipa music once again resounded in the night along the Xunyang River.

This attracted cruise ships passing by the high-rise buildings along the river to frequently stop and listen...

War is a barometer of the economy.

The main theme, or essence, of a battle is to eliminate the enemy's manpower.

Not the entire enemy force.

What are the vital forces within Cai Qinjun's army?

Naturally, it consisted of 5,000 elite soldiers, mainly consisting of 1,500 returning garrison soldiers and surrendered soldiers from Hongzhou Prefecture.

Besides those who remained in Hongzhou City, there were also some Hongzhou surrendered soldiers who had been turned against the government by Zhu Lingxu and his son.

Cai Qin's elite troops still outnumbered Wang Lengran's reinforcements by a considerable margin.

However, after the Battle of Guling, Zhu Lingxu defected on the battlefield, and with Wang Lengran and Zhao Rushi attacking from both sides, the main force was routed, and Cai Qin escaped with eight hundred light cavalry.

However, it was late at night, and Guling was adjacent to a deep mountain forest. Many of the defeated Hongzhou infantrymen abandoned their weapons and fled into the nearby deep mountain forest. Otherwise, the victory could have been even greater.

However, some of the fleeing soldiers tried to escape towards the fleet on the riverbank, only to be met with a great fire set by Vice General Qin Heng.

In summary, in the Battle of Guling, Cai Qin's army suffered nearly a thousand wounded, killed, and surrendered soldiers. Although most of the remaining soldiers escaped, they would not be able to regroup in the short term, not to mention the blow this battle dealt to the morale of Cai Qin's previously unstoppable army.

But it's hard to say.

After all, the traitor Zhu Lingxu caused all their efforts to fail. Cai Qin and the other soldiers of the Kuangfu Army must be itching to get their hands on this traitor.

However, the enemy's pain is the victor's joy.

Having lost their vital forces, the counties within Jiangzhou that had previously surrendered at the mere sight of the enemy broke free and joyfully welcomed the victorious army.

One by one, the county towns of Jiangzhou were recovered...

The great victory at the front line revitalized all walks of life in Xunyang City, including scholars, merchants, and artisans.

The increasingly stable city of Xunyang once again became a popular stop for merchants traveling from the north and south, seeking profit and avoiding harm.

The peaceful and prosperous life along the Xunyang River has temporarily returned.

Tonight, the celebratory banquet hosted by Jiangzhou Hall is being held at Xunyang Tower, a famous Jiangnan tower that has reopened.

The pipa master, Qin Xiaoniangzi, was specially invited.

However, the real protagonists were Xunyang King Li Xian, who came to celebrate the victory, and Wang Lengran, Zhu Lingxu and his son, Zhao Rushi, Qin Heng and others who returned victorious.

Ouyang Rong led Yan Liulang, Yuan Huaimin, Chen You, and other officials from Jiangzhou to a banquet to celebrate.

Even Miao Zhen, the lady-in-waiting who oversees Xunyang City, has arrived, bringing with her a group of newly arrived female scribes and palace maids to announce Her Majesty the Empress's latest commendation.

However, Ouyang Rong glanced at the group of female scribes and palace maids and did not see Rong Zhen among them.

I wonder if that cold, aloof girl in palace attire is still in Xunyang City.

"What are you thinking about, Brother Lianghan? Could it be that you're also captivated by Lady Qin's pipa music?"

Ouyang Rong, who was lost in thought, was interrupted by Yuan Huaimin sitting next to him.

I turned around and took a look.

As Yuan Huaimin drank his wine with his head tilted back, he squinted slightly and listened to the pipa player playing on the high platform in the center of the hall.

It was clear that Yuan Huaimin was not interested in the theme of the victory celebration banquet, but was only interested in the celestial music that he had not heard for a long time because of the war.

Ouyang Rong wasn't the main character at tonight's banquet; he was just there for the usual celebration.

His and Yuan Huaimin's seats were quite far from those of the Prince of Xunyang, who sat at the very head of the table.

Ouyang Rong took a sip of wine, listened to the pipa music, and turned to look at the scene in the hall.

Prince Li of Xunyang sat leisurely at the head of the banquet.

Wang Lengran and Zhu Lingxu sat on his left and right respectively, as the protagonists of the night.

As for Zhu Lingxu's eldest son, Zhu Yuheng, and Zhao Rushi, the county magistrate of Jishui, they sat opposite Ouyang Rong, Yuan Huaimin, and other Jiangzhou officials.

The crowd sat in two rows on the left and right. On the stage in the middle, Qin Xiaoniangzi played the pipa, and graceful dancers performed.

Beautiful maids carrying wine would occasionally stroll gracefully through the room.

“Hey, Brother Lianghan, tonight we have beautiful women, fine wine, wonderful music, and delicious food all gathered together, but why are you all either daydreaming or chatting... Doesn't anyone appreciate these truly beautiful things?”

At this moment, Yuan Huaimin, standing beside him, spoke with some agitation, without turning his head:

"Brother Lianghan, look! It seems like Miss Qin is looking over here. She looks at me..."

"As expected of me, Miss Qin is a refined person. Has she also noticed that no one appreciates her beautiful music...? Alas, Miss Qin must have realized that although the banquet was noisy, only I appreciated her pipa playing. Otherwise, what's with those affectionate, watery eyes of Miss Qin's..."

Yuan Huaimin sounded quite proud.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong snapped out of his reverie and couldn't help but glance at his friend's delighted expression.

He remained silent, glancing at the pipa player in the center of the stage, their eyes meeting.

For some reason, Ouyang Rong's mind kept automatically conjuring up certain glaringly white images of a woman half-concealing her face while playing the pipa.

To dispel the unsettling scene, he pretended not to see the beauty's eager gaze.

"Brother Lianghan, look! It seems that Miss Qin smiled at me..."

Ouyang Rong raised the wine pot and poured a cup of wine for Yuan Huaimin:

"Isn't it said that one should sell one's art but not one's body? What is Huaimin expecting?"

Yuan Huaimin was a little embarrassed and whispered:

"Actually, I didn't expect anything. I just appreciated her pipa playing. It's like finding a kindred spirit in a beautiful landscape. I think Brother Lianghan understands what I mean."

"I understand, of course I understand."

Ouyang Rong nodded and sighed:

"Brother Huaimin likes elegance, but unfortunately I am a common man and am not used to elegance."

Yuan Huaimin was curious and wanted to speak.

Just then, there was another commotion at the banquet, so I turned to look.

The newly arrived palace ladies, including Miaozhen, read aloud to the crowd the latest edict from Her Majesty the Empress in Luoyang, which had greatly pleased the Emperor:

Zhu Lingxu abandoned the darkness and joined the light, and was reinstated as the Grand Commander of Hongzhou. At present, Hongzhou is still under attack, so he was ordered to continue leading the surrendered troops of Hongzhou. Next, he will cooperate with the Jiangzhou Grand Commander to recapture Hongzhou.

Zhao Rushi, the county magistrate of Jishui, was awarded the title of Guerrilla General for his meritorious service in organizing local militia to resist the rebels.

At the same time, Zhu Lingxu's eldest son, Zhu Yuheng, was appointed as a Righteous and Resolute Commandant...

At the same time, Jiangzhou officials such as Wang Lengran, Ouyang Rong, and Qin Heng also received varying degrees of commendation and rewards.

After the imperial edict was announced, Miaozhen and her female officials withdrew.

The banquet was filled with a lively and joyful atmosphere.

Although this reward may not seem like a very big prize,

However, Wang Lengran and others who were familiar with the officialdom of the Great Zhou Dynasty knew that it was still a state of war. These were just appetizers, meant to legitimize Zhu Lingxu, Zhu Yuheng, and others who had performed meritorious service in defecting, in order to facilitate the subsequent military operations.

Military achievements have been clearly recorded and are favored by the emperor. Once the rebellion is quelled, it will be time for them to be promoted and make a fortune.

Wang Lengran's old face was flushed with wine. He put down his cup, his face beaming with joy.

Zhu Lingxu and the others breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and continued drinking.

Unlike them, who were all smiles and joy.

Ouyang Rong remained calm, as if he were detached, watching Miaozhen and the others' graceful figures depart.

In fact, he was also awarded a military merit.

His merits include defending the city, providing logistical support, supplying strong oil, and helping Qin Heng burn the rebel ships...

However, there was little joy in Ouyang Rong's eyes.

At this moment, as if noticing a gaze from the head of the table, he turned his head and found it was Prince Xunyang, Li Xian, who glanced over out of the corner of his eye while raising his cup to drink.

The two looked at each other, remaining silent.

The imperial edict that Miaozhen sent this time reveals a subtle trend of a change in His Majesty's mind.

Ouyang Rong has a good memory; he just heard the imperial edict mention that Zhu Lingxu was inspired by the Prince of Wei…

It seems that the credit for this achievement belongs to the Wei family.

However, Her Majesty the Empress did not bestow any reward upon the King of Wei of the Wei clan in her edict.

This is bad news, relative to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and the pro-Li faction.

If merits are not rewarded immediately, when will they be rewarded?

It is clear that the position of Grand Commander of the Jiangzhou Road Army, which is currently being debated by the officials in the court, has been secured.

"As expected of Chief Clerk Ouyang, he is naturally not one to smile. Even though he has received military merits and rewards, he still has this expression."

Wang Lengran suddenly spoke, raising his glass to Ouyang Rong.

Zhu Lingxu, Zhu Yuheng, Zhao Rushi, and others turned to look.

Ouyang Rong raised his glass in response, took a small sip, and said calmly:

"Lord Wang understands me best."

"I dare not accept such praise. I have no idea what Chief Secretary Ouyang is thinking."

Wang shook his head coldly and said in an annoyed tone:

"Commander Zhu has clearly made great contributions by abandoning the darkness and turning to the light, which is enough to prove his loyalty to the emperor and his country. However, Chief Secretary Ouyang has been forcibly arranging for Commander Zhu's Hongzhou troops to be stationed outside the city these past few days, and not allowing a single soldier to enter the city to spend the night."

"Even when Governor Zhu and his son entered the city, Chief Secretary Ouyang sent Military Advisor Yan and the judicial officer to follow them, just like supervising prisoners..."

"I truly don't understand what Chief Secretary Ouyang means. Surely it's not the Prince's doing..."

"It has nothing to do with the prince, but Lord Wang certainly has a rich imagination."

Ouyang Rong immediately interrupted, first glancing at Wang Lengran, who seemed to have been holding back for a long time, then he nodded:

"Having the judicial officers accompany them is to protect the safety of Governor Zhu and his son."

"The reason why the surrendered soldiers from Hongzhou were not allowed to enter the city was because I was afraid that there might be spies from Li Zhengyan and Cai Qin among them. Commander Zhu and his son are loyal and trustworthy, so how could I dare to doubt them?"

Wang frowned:

"Commander Zhu is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and his son is just as good as his father. They don't need your protection at all. If you really want to, let their personal guards enter the city. They are no safer than the people you send."

"Is Chief Secretary Ouyang certain that he did not harbor any personal grudges?"

He snorted coldly, then said with a righteous expression:

"Now that His Majesty's favor has arrived, Governor Zhu has been reinstated, and Prince Wei has endorsed him. Is Chief Secretary Ouyang doing this to question His Majesty and Prince Wei's judgment?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head:

"I wouldn't dare."

"However, as the Prefect of Jiangzhou, I have the duty of guarding the city. The Prince of Xunyang's residence is also in the city, which is of great importance. I must be wary of all risks."

"If Lord Wang is dissatisfied, he may report to the imperial court and inquire whether my actions violated any regulations."

"you……"

The confrontational conversation between Ouyang Rong and Wang Lengran silenced the atmosphere at the table.

Zhu Lingxu and Zhu Yuheng remained expressionless, either drinking with their heads down or turning their heads to laugh and chat, as if they hadn't heard anything.

Wang Lengran was very displeased because his adjutant had the backing of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and didn't give face to outsiders.

After offering a few more curt rebuttals, Ouyang Rong ignored Wang Lengran and turned to Zhu Lingxu and his son, speaking apologetically:

"I apologize, it is my duty. I hope you two can be more understanding. Xunyang City welcomes Governor Zhu and Young Master Zhu. However, please do not have more than ten guards entering the city."

"good."

Zhu Lingxu turned around, nodded calmly, and spoke in a kind tone:

"I understand, Chief Secretary Ouyang, you've worked hard."

"Um."

Ouyang Rong nodded calmly, glanced at Zhu Lingxu, then turned and stared at Zhu Yuheng for a while before suddenly smiling:

"Oh."

The crowd couldn't help but turn their heads. The soft laugh that reached their ears inevitably carried a hint of disdain, especially after scrutinizing them in front of their faces.

Yan Liulang and the others looked at Zhu Lingxu and his son with great interest.

Zhu Lingxu remained unfazed, showing no sign of anger.

Zhu Yuheng kept his head down and drank the entire time.

Zhu Lingxu's eyes revealed a hint of curiosity:

"Sir Ouyang, is there something dirty on my face?"

"His face is perfectly clean." Ouyang Rong nodded. "Commander Zhu is truly a man of great courage and forbearance, able to endure humiliation and stand firm when necessary. He is a true hero."

"Well."

He smiled and said, "Yes, I was referring to when Governor Zhu was with Cai Qin. How can a true man remain subservient to someone for long?"

"Haha." Zhu Lingxu shook his head with a laugh: "Prefect Ouyang is truly witty."

Those listening nearby noticed that the two seemed to be in a good mood after chatting for a while.

Ouyang Rong glanced at Zhu Yuheng, who was quietly eating and drinking with his head down.

I can't help but recall the time when Li Zhengyan, Wei Shaoqi and others were in Xunyang City, and Zhu Yuheng and Yue Ziang were all very enthusiastic after a few rounds of drinks.

Their statements at that time didn't seem fake.

This is probably why Zhu Yuheng doesn't dare to look at Ouyang Rong too much right now.

Ah, this father and son are really interesting.

The celebratory banquet continued.

During the banquet, Ouyang Rong glanced at the Jishui County Lieutenant named Zhao Rushi across from him. After careful observation, he noticed that Zhao Rushi and Zhu Lingxu frequently exchanged glances and engaged in close conversations while toasting each other.

This person was indeed a trusted subordinate of Zhu Lingxu, and it seems that the resistance in Jishui County earlier was also planned in advance.

Ouyang Rong thought to himself.

Shortly after, the celebratory banquet ended amidst a cold war between Ouyang Rong and Wang Lengran.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they dispersed.

Perhaps understanding his status as a surrendered general, naturally inferior, and being on someone else's territory, Zhu Lingxu's attitude was extremely humble; he knew how to conduct himself well.

He stopped at the door and bid farewell to everyone, even to Yan Liulang, speaking a heartfelt goodbye.

His performance left a good impression on most of the Jiangzhou officials, except for Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang.

The group departed one after another.

Under the red lanterns at the main gate, a newly reinstated Grand Commander of Hongzhou stood silently, watching the crowd depart.

Zhu Yuheng silently walked up behind him and whispered, "Father, I acted impulsively in Hongzhou; it was all my fault..."

"Shut up."

Zhu Lingxu stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, and turned to look at the handsome chief secretary in the distance who was guarding against him like a thief.

"This boy is not good; keep an eye on him. Right now, you're living under someone else's roof, so remember to be careful what you say."

"yes……"

(End of this chapter)