Chapter 328 Criticism
"Tan... Why does Chief Secretary Ouyang keep sneezing?"
"It's just a minor cold, thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Inside the main hall of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, with the gate wide open, Li Xian, dressed in a python robe, looked at Ouyang Rong with a worried expression, offering words of concern.
Besides Li Xian and a few advisors from the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, Master Shandao and his disciple Xiufa were also present in the main hall.
There was also a row of officials sitting in the main hall of Jiangzhou.
Ouyang Rong sat at the very front of this group of officials. He stood tall and straight, like a jade mountain, and wore a neat crimson official robe. Like Li Xian, who held the highest rank, he attracted the attention of most people in the hall.
Although Ouyang Rong was seated at the very front of the officials, there was still an empty seat between him and Li Xian, who was seated at the very top.
The meeting currently taking place in the main hall is to discuss the construction of the Donglin Buddha.
As the nominal supervisor of the construction project in Jiangnan, Li Xian was required to report to Ouyang Rong and the Jiangzhou Grand Hall on the Buddha-building plan and its progress on a daily basis.
Even when outwardly indifferent, one must "frequently inquire" to show involvement...
Of course, in front of so many people, he and Ouyang Rong had to pretend to be polite but not familiar with each other.
The terms "Tanlang" and "Tanlang" should naturally be changed.
And we've already had seven or eight such discussions.
The project to create Buddha statues began to get on track.
Aside from showing up briefly at the first game, Wang Lengran has been absent from all subsequent games.
This empty seat was symbolically reserved for him.
Governor Wang took leave due to the cold, leaving his seat empty, a situation the people in the hall were already used to.
It's unclear whether Governor Wang has actually contracted typhoid fever, but Chief Clerk Ouyang seems to have indeed.
Li Xian asked with concern, "Is Chief Secretary Ouyang really alright?"
Yan Liulang, sitting in the back row, interjected:
"Your Highness, the Prefect was frequently visiting Shuangfengjian a while ago to lead us on inspections and arrangements. As a result, the rain in the mountains came suddenly, and he was soaked to the bone in no time."
"Previously, the magistrate didn't care and just toughed it out, but after being soaked several times, he still caught a cold."
Yan Liulang's face showed concern, and his tone was slightly reproachful:
"And then there was the folk sacrificial ceremony held at Xunyang Ferry last time. Instead of sitting on the platform, Your Excellency insisted on following the custom and went down to help the boatmen carry the dragon-headed boat ashore. The river water was icy cold, and it soaked your lower body. How could you not catch a cold? And..."
"Yan, the Military Advisor."
Ouyang Rong, who was covering his mouth, frowned and interrupted.
Unable to hold back his complaints, Yan Liulang reluctantly shut up.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall turned their gazes toward Ouyang Rong.
"Is that so?" Li Xian asked with a worried expression, somewhat reproachfully, "Why didn't Military Advisor Yan stop it?"
Having said that, he stood up, still uneasy, and solemnly instructed the maid behind him:
"Someone, go and inform the Princess to prepare a bowl of hot ginger soup. Also, have the imperial physicians who are staying in the manor return with Chief Secretary Ouyang and take good care of him these next few days."
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It's just a minor injury or illness, Your Highness doesn't need to trouble yourself."
The cold and chills were just like the flu and fever in his previous life. He really only regarded it as a minor illness. In his previous life, Ouyang Rong was too lazy to take medicine and was used to letting his body tough it out.
However, in this world, even a minor illness like a cold is enough to take a person's life.
It is not surprising that Li Xian and Yan Liulang were worried, afraid, and took a serious stance.
"Prefect Ouyang, please stop talking. I will listen to you on the matter of building the Buddha, but on this matter, you must listen to me."
Li Xian, who was usually mild-mannered, spoke in an unusually firm tone, which surprised Ouyang Rong and the others.
Seemingly noticing the surprised gazes from the audience, Li Xian quickly softened his tone and affectionately patted Ouyang Rong's sleeve:
"These past few days have been a period of unseasonably cold weather, with sudden shifts between warmth and chill. Prefect Ouyang, you must take care of your health so that you can better serve His Majesty and complete the construction of the Donglin Buddha."
Ouyang Rong had no choice but to stand up and bow respectfully: "Thank you for your kindness in offering tea, Your Highness."
Officials such as Yan Liulang praised the Prince of Xunyang for his thoughtfulness and love for his officials.
A moment later, Wei Mei came in with her maids and brought a bowl of steaming ginger soup.
Ouyang Rong picked up the bowl, frowned slightly, swallowed a few mouthfuls of bitter soup, and exhaled a long breath of hot air.
Actually, his body, being a ninth-grade Qi cultivator, was quite robust and difficult to contract diseases.
However, the current projects of carving Shuangfengjian and constructing Xunyang Grottoes are indeed complex and demanding.
The workload was several times greater than that of the previous broken-wing canal.
He's been working non-stop lately.
Sometimes mental exertion is more exhausting than physical exertion.
Achoo...
Ouyang Rong lowered his head and covered his mouth with his fist.
Li Xian and the others couldn't help but turn to look.
The tall, slender young man, dressed in a crimson fifth-rank official robe, raised his hand and rubbed his slightly red nose.
He stood tall and straight, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his head slightly tucked into his fluffy white fox fur shawl, his eyelids drooping, and he looked somewhat sickly.
However, in the eyes of others, this sickly appearance, set against his handsome but thin face, only accentuated his melancholy and decadent demeanor.
An official in the hall looked at the calm and sickly chief secretary and a word inexplicably came to mind.
The tiger moves like a disease.
After exchanging a few more words of concern and pleasantries, Li Xian suddenly mentioned:
"By the way, I've heard that the scholars in Xunyang City have been discussing the matter of building a Buddha statue recently, and they also have some dissatisfaction with the Jiangzhou government. Is the Chief Secretary aware of this?"
Ouyang Rong paused in rubbing his nose, put it down, took another sip of ginger soup, and asked in a casual tone:
"It seems someone mentioned it, but I'm not sure. By the way, Your Highness, who told you this?"
Li Xian sighed: "There is a scholar surnamed Yue in the manor who was recommended by an old friend. He often talks about this matter loudly in private, so that all the guests in the manor know about it."
"So it seems this person also mentioned this to the Prince." Ouyang Rong nodded slightly. "Then what does the Prince mean..."
Li Xian turned to look at Ouyang Rong, adopting a solemn expression:
"The king and the crown prince rebuked him and drove him away."
"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Chief Secretary Ouyang and everyone else, but why did His Majesty commission the Great Zhou Ode to Heavenly Pivot and the Four Directions Buddha Statues? I'm rather dull and confused."
"However, I am very clear about one thing: His Majesty rules the world, loves the people like his own children, and is benevolent and wise. When he and the princes and dukes set such national policies, he must have had a deeper understanding of them. How could young scholars and commoners possibly understand and comment on them in the street?"
“Prefect Ouyang and the Jiangzhou Grand Secretary were not bothered by the noise and focused on their work. They were united in their duties and kept to their responsibilities. This is very good, and I am very pleased.”
Li Xian spoke sincerely, ignoring the gazes cast upon him by other officials, staff, or those secretly observing him in the main hall.
Ouyang Rong's previously droopy eyelids lifted slightly as he looked at Xunyang King Li Xian, who had publicly expressed his opinion today.
He nodded slightly and continued:
"The prince is a man of great wisdom and his insightful words have enlightened us officials."
"Prefect Wang, your humble servant, and all the officials in the government office will certainly follow the decrees of His Majesty and the Prince, and build the Buddha statue without causing hardship to the people or wasting resources."
Yan Liulang and other officials in the Jiangzhou court rose to their feet, bowed, and echoed his sentiments.
"That's excellent."
Prince Li Xian of Xunyang looked around with a gratified expression.
...
Ouyang Rong led the officials from the Jiangzhou main hall out of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
Li Xian insisted on giving him the imperial physician, and unable to refuse such kindness, he ordered the physician to be sent to his residence in Huaiye Lane to wait.
Ouyang Rong boarded the carriage and returned to the main hall of Jiangzhou.
It was only afternoon, and there was still a long time. He had many things to deal with before starting the Buddha statue project, so he didn't have time to rest.
Achoo...
Inside the carriage, Ouyang Rong sneezed, took out a light pink handkerchief that smelled of orchids, and rubbed his nose with his fingers.
The carriage started moving and drove away from the Xunyang Prince's Palace.
He lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at the Prince's Mansion.
There was still a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Surprisingly, he learned from his uncle quite quickly.
Although he knew perfectly well that Li Xian's public statement and the words he uttered were partly intended for the Empress of the capital to hear, he was actually referring to her.
However, Ouyang Rong also knew that Li Xian had another purpose in supporting him.
It was to help him stabilize the morale of the people in the Jiangzhou Hall.
In addition, Li Xian and Da Lang probably felt that the impassioned Yue Zi'ang was very troublesome and were afraid that Ouyang Rong would misunderstand, so they quickly expressed their stance and cut ties.
A warm feeling washed over Ouyang Rong.
The carriage passed through a bustling street outside Xunyang Ferry.
Lifting the carriage curtain, Ouyang Rong saw a crowd gathered in front of a notice board on the street.
Several scholars stood in front of a notice board covered with papers, their expressions impassioned. Some illiterate peddlers and laborers passing by curiously gathered around to watch.
The same scenery can be seen at the entrance of Jiangzhou Hall.
Ouyang Rong rode silently in his carriage past the scholars and the wall with the words "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it" pasted on it.
Since the beginning of this month, scholars and literati across the land have been in an uproar, opposing the construction of the Tian Shu (a celestial pivot) and Buddhist statues.
The same applies to Jiangzhou.
News of the Guizhou case spread, further fueling the indignation of the scholars in Jiangzhou. Larger crowds gathered to protest the Donglin Buddha's proposed location in Jiangzhou…
This turmoil left the officials in Jiangzhou's main hall in a state of utter chaos.
However, Governor Wang Lengran usually does nothing and is rarely seen.
Chief Secretary Ouyang Rong also shuttled between Shuangfengjian and Xunyang Prince's Mansion, quietly focusing on the construction of the Donglin Buddha, and remained silent on the matter.
The officials were at a loss, and no one dared to take responsibility.
The Jiangzhou court and the scholars were temporarily at odds.
Back to the main hall of the government office.
Ouyang Rong carried a copper basin, went to the courtyard, filled it with water, and brought it back.
He washed his hands with the officials around him.
Yan Liulang handed a towel to Ouyang Rong, followed behind him, and said indignantly:
"Your Excellency, these scholars are so ignorant, they're going on and on."
“I’ve explained to them countless times that the Donglin Buddha will not be built in Xunyang City, and it will not increase taxes. It will not cause hardship and waste of resources as they say. Why are these scholars still babbling on and on?”
A military advisor surnamed Chen shook his head and sighed:
"Military Advisor Yan, don't be angry. It's no use saying anything. The scholars already have a deep distrust of the imperial court and the government."
"It would probably take a renowned gentleman like the Chief Secretary to step in and give them repeated assurances before they would even begin to believe it."
Yan Liulang was speechless:
"Does Your Excellency have the time to make oaths and guarantees for them? Besides, Your Excellency has recently caught a cold, so you don't have the energy to waste words."
"Besides, if a few people have doubts, you have to step in. If people have doubts every day, you might as well not do anything and just spend all your time explaining."
Ouyang Rong carefully wiped his fingers clean, turned around, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Alright, Liu Lang."
Yan Liulang shut his mouth, suppressing his anger.
Military Advisor Chen hesitated for a moment, then reported:
"My Lord Chief Secretary, many scholars from the state academy participated in this protest, and it seems that a young man named Yue Zi'ang led the group."
"They made a request, demanding that the Jiangzhou Grand Hall refuse to build the Donglin Buddha, and at the same time oppose the establishment of the Great Zhou Songde Tianshu and stop collecting Songde copper from various states."
Ouyang Rong nodded slightly: "These requests are very well made."
Yan Liulang and Chen Canjun both froze and looked at him.
After a pause, Ouyang Rong folded the hand towel and tossed it back to Yan Liulang.
"If only that were true."
He shook his head:
"The Jiangzhou Grand Hall will properly construct the Donglin Buddha statue without affecting the livelihood of the people."
"But regarding the Great Zhou Praise of the Heavenly Pivot, neither I nor the Jiangzhou Grand Master can make decisions on the central government's resolutions. This is beyond my authority, and I cannot make such a decision."
Yan Liulang frowned, displeased, and said:
“My lord, you just passed by Xunyang Ferry and saw it too. They have started to disrupt the order of the city's docks.”
"Moreover, I've also heard that this kid named Yue Zi'ang has been privately criticizing Magistrate Ming these days, saying that now that Magistrate Ming has become a fifth-rank official, he's started to be cowardly and has lost his spirit and original aspirations... just like those corrupt officials."
"That's utter nonsense! This scoundrel is truly despicable! Your Honor, I'll take the constables over right now and arrest all these people who are disrupting order and spreading slander!"
"Military Advisor Yan, you absolutely mustn't!" Military Advisor Chen hurriedly waved his hand, advising:
"The incident in Guizhou is still fresh in our minds. If the Jiangzhou government acts impulsively as well... then we will be in deep trouble."
"The Chief Secretary and the Jiangzhou Grand Secretary will be criticized by the people, which will have a bad influence. The imperial court may even issue a document to reprimand us and deal with us to appease public opinion..."
Yan Liulang said resentfully, "Are we just supposed to be cowards and avoid them like this? They've become the big shots."
Military Advisor Chen smiled wryly:
"Right now, the officials in various prefectures and counties are unwilling to show their faces, fearing conflict and temporarily avoiding the limelight. But once their initial enthusiasm subsides..."
"Actually, Jiangzhou is considered relatively good. At least no one stormed into the government office to cause trouble. I've heard that in some places, the people are quite fierce. Sigh, these days, we're not afraid of heroes, but we are afraid of hotheads."
After sighing for a while, Chen, the military advisor, glanced at Yan Liulang, who was seething with resentment but unable to draw his sword, and calmly offered his suggestion:
"If Military Advisor Yan really can't stand it, there are ways to deal with them. Take off your official robes first, and then go quietly through other channels... cough cough, as long as you don't use the name of the government, it's just a personal grudge."
Yan Liulang was taken aback and couldn't help but take another look at Chen Canjun, who was usually refined and had thick eyebrows and big eyes.
Well, turns out you're not exactly a pushover either.
"Alright, stop giving me bad advice."
Ouyang Rong turned around, first glancing at Military Advisor Chen, then hoarsely gave the order:
"Sixth Brother, take your men to Xunyang Ferry. Leave the knife at the government office, don't take it with you. You go and drive away the scholars who are disrupting the order at the dock."
Yan Liulang asked impatiently:
"Your Excellency, what about the other places? What should we do with this group of troublesome scholars at the entrance of the Jiangzhou main hall? I've disliked them for a long time, and there's also that Yue Zi'ang."
"Don't worry about them. Just keep a low profile when you come and go from the government office. They won't cause any trouble. Just pretend they don't exist. Thank you for your hard work."
"Yes, sir." Yan Liulang nodded helplessly.
Soon after, Ouyang Rong returned to business and discussed the matter of Shuangfengjian. Then everyone dispersed.
Before leaving, Chen, the military advisor, remembered something and turned back to ask:
"By the way, Chief Secretary, the state school's sacrificial ceremony will be held at the Temple of the Sage Confucius the day after tomorrow. All the scholars from the state school will be there. Are you still going to preside over it? Or perhaps you should skip it and, like Governor Wang, lay low for a while."
Ouyang Rong took a sip of hot tea, savored it, put down the teacup, and walked out the door without looking back.
"Everything as usual."
(End of this chapter)
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