Chapter 379 Accumulating Merit
Twin peaks.
What was once a low-lying canyon between two mountain peaks has been transformed into a waterway.
The newly dug waterway connects to the Xunyang River on both the front and back sides.
The waterway has now been opened, and the mighty Huangsha River flows into it, connecting the north and south banks of the Xun River.
Magnificent and spectacular.
A newly opened pier is situated in a prime location at the starting point of this waterway.
Compared to the quiet days when there were few tourists and craftsmen buried in their work during construction, the new wharf was bustling with activity early this morning.
Many convoys from Xunyang City filled the official road outside the ferry crossing.
The crowds of onlookers surged in like the rushing river in a newly dug waterway.
Among them were wealthy merchants, scholars and travelers, officials from Jiangzhou, as well as craftsmen and laborers who had not yet left.
We eagerly await it.
This is a major event that has been the talk of the town in Xunyang for the past two days.
The construction of Shuangfengjian, vigorously promoted by Ouyang Lianghan, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, is completed today.
I heard that it reversed the surging current of the Xunyang River.
According to some knowledgeable people in the city, the floods that used to plague Xunyang City have been eliminated, and low-lying neighborhoods such as Xingzifang no longer need to be troubled by seasonal floods.
The people of Xunyang City came to watch for various reasons, including simple curiosity and admiration, a sense of pride in witnessing history, or a shrewd business sense that saw an opportunity and that vendors had set up stalls.
I heard that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at Jiangzhou Grand Hall this morning.
The Jiangnan region has been plagued by floods since ancient times. In Jiangnan folklore, the threat of floods is itself associated with superstitions about supernatural forces and ghosts.
The people naturally felt a sense of wonder and awe towards the Shuangfengjian Canal, which, like the Zheyi Canal, could prevent flooding.
In addition, many people also wanted to meet the Jiangzhou Prefect, who was skilled in flood control.
This young chief secretary, rumored to be incorruptible and exceptionally handsome, has been quite legendary in the eyes of the people of Xunyang City since taking office:
He was originally a renowned and upright gentleman, but because he offended the reigning empress, he was demoted to the remote and impoverished Longcheng County in Jiangzhou.
This was also a poor and remote area that the people of Jiangzhou previously recognized as being close to the mysterious Yunmeng Marsh, where floods were most severe.
Unexpectedly, in less than a year after taking office, he delivered the remarkable achievement of the Zheyi Canal, eradicating the floods in Longcheng and earning the farewell of the people of Longcheng for miles... The last person to be so remarkable was the then Prime Minister, Di Fuzi.
With such a resume, he naturally attracted much attention as soon as he took office, becoming a topic of conversation among the people of Xunyang, in stark contrast to the less noticed Wang-surname governors.
In addition, the recent great victory in the Battle of Guling has relieved the predicament of Jiangzhou, and the retreat of the Hongzhou Kuangfu Army has given Xunyang City temporary safety, giving scholars, travelers, commoners and merchants more time to go out.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for this morning has attracted a large crowd from almost half the city to watch...
On the side where the new wharf is located, a newly built pavilion sits atop the West Peak, one of the two main peaks of Shuangfengjian.
The two main peaks of Shuangfengjian are not very high, but they offer a panoramic view of the Xunshui River below.
Even before the ribbon-cutting ceremony began this morning, a large number of people had already gathered inside the pavilion on the mountaintop.
It was September, and autumn was deepening. The morning chill was quite heavy, and a hazy mist hung in the air among the sparsely leafed trees.
The group that arrived at the pavilion had their clothes dampened by the dew on the grass when they had walked up the mountain path not long ago.
September is the perfect time for mountain climbing. The crisp autumn scenery far outweighs the discomfort of being chilled and soaked in the cold. The Li family, who came from the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, didn't care and looked around with great interest. As for the others, they were already used to it.
Inside the pavilion, a group of people had gathered around a stone table, enjoying their breakfast.
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang.
Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai.
Li Xian's family and the maids of the Prince's mansion.
There's also Master Shandao and his disciple Xiufa.
With Magistrate Diao absent and Longcheng already recaptured, he returned to Longcheng early to handle a multitude of miscellaneous matters, also to avoid wasting time and to prevent any trouble from happening to Aqing and Liu's mother.
Master Shandao and Xiufa remained in Xunyang City, awaiting the construction of the Donglin Buddha.
Everyone is here today.
Yan Liulang was also there, but he needed to preside over the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the ferry crossing at the foot of the mountain. He had just drunk a few mouthfuls of hot porridge when he hurriedly went down the mountain.
"Sorry to bring you here so early," Ouyang Rong said.
Li Xian took the bowl of porridge from Wei Mei and smiled:
"It's alright, it's a good time to enjoy the autumn scenery. September is the perfect time to climb mountains. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've left the city. Today is a beautiful day."
Li Dalang turned his head, his eyes filled with curiosity as he looked down at the newly dug waterway at the foot of the mountain:
"Tanlang has been busy for so long, and the Twin Peaks have finally been carved out. I didn't know it was so difficult until I saw it. I guess only Tanlang has the patience to carry out this project."
After taking a few sips of glutinous rice porridge, Li Guo'er handed the bowl back to Cai Shou, stood up, and looked towards the distant opposite bank.
There are grottoes there, their outlines already visible.
"Ouyang Lianghan, is that the place where the Donglin Buddha was built for my grandmother?"
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"Yes, the main grotto is ready, and construction of the Donglin Buddha will begin. Miaozhen and Rongzhen will also be here to inspect it today."
Li Guo'er then asked, "What about those extra small grottoes nearby?"
Ouyang Rong smiled:
“It’s not meaningful to build just one big Buddha statue, which is intended for wealthy Buddhist temples or big pilgrims. If you’re going to build one, build more. That’s called ‘letting a hundred flowers bloom.’”
Li Guo'er seemed to be deep in thought: "So it turns out they were earning money from the Buddhist community."
Ouyang Rong chuckled, blinked, and said:
"They are clearly doing a great act of charity. There are so many famous temples and ancient monasteries in Jiangnan, and quite a few in Mount Lu. We can't let the Pure Land School of Lotus Buddhism monopolize the spotlight."
"The Xunyang Grottoes are located on both banks of this golden waterway, comparable to the best Buddhist sites for propagating Buddhism. I imagine that famous monks from various sects would not want to be left out."
After speaking, he turned to look at Master Shandao:
"However, Venerable Master Dahui, rest assured that the largest Buddha statue in the Shuangfengjian Grottoes, and the best location, can only be the Donglin Buddha. The grottoes next to it are just extras."
"Besides, what's the point of one flower standing out? Spring is about flowers vying for attention."
Xie Lingjiang smiled and replied:
"What a great win-win strategy, where everyone gets what they need."
"The excavation of the Xunyang Grottoes at Shuangfengjian requires transporting so much stone and employing workers. The demand for these workers can help support the local people in Xunyang who are struggling to make a living."
"The Buddha Grottoes can also attract pilgrims and tourists, and promote the prosperity of commerce and trade in Xunyang."
"Moreover, once the new ferry crossing becomes bustling, it will also drive the expansion of Xunyang City westward, bordering Shuangfengjian..."
She knows them all like the back of her hand.
Li Xian and the others nodded with smiles.
Master Shandao stroked his beard and said:
"Your Excellency is truly remarkable. It is excellent that the Donglin Buddha has been placed here. Passing ships and tourists can all be bathed in the Buddha's light of our Lotus Pure Land School."
The old monk sounded satisfied.
The atmosphere inside the pavilion became pleasant and harmonious for a time.
But the eldest brother didn't respond. Xie Lingjiang turned around curiously and immediately found someone silently eating pickled radish.
When he put down his chopsticks, he was incredibly fast and precise.
"Senior brother, stop holding it, wait for me..."
With a sharp glare, Xie Lingjiang quickly used her chopsticks to stab at it, engaging in a "battle".
The virtuous teacher and his disciples were quite perceptive. When they came to Xunyang City to escape the disaster, they didn't bring any expensive gifts, but instead brought a few jars of pickled radishes.
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang were very satisfied.
However, since they are both foodies, they are naturally in competition.
"Tanlang, slow down. What are you arguing with Wanwan about? Really..." Zhen Shuyuan patted Ouyang Rong's hand with her jade-like hand.
"My aunt is biased."
Ouyang Rong sighed, put down his chopsticks, looked at his junior sister who was as happy as if she had just won a fight with a rooster, and couldn't help but chuckle.
“My lord, since there are extra grottoes, I will also donate a Buddha statue.”
After discussing it with Wei Mei, Li Xian turned around and said seriously:
"As the nominal supervisor of the construction, I am donating a Buddha statue to pray for the Empress Dowager. As for the form, let's choose this Lotus Sect Buddha statue to build. As for the specifications, it can be a little lower than the Donglin Buddha, without overstepping the bounds."
"Well……"
Ouyang Rong glanced at Li Xian's sincere expression and at Wei Mei beside him, who was smiling and had no objections.
He thought for a moment, nodded, and muttered something to himself:
"That works too. With the prince taking the lead, it should attract quite a few wealthy patrons."
Before long, everyone finished their hot porridge breakfast, glanced at the sky, and seeing that the time was approaching, immediately went down the mountain.
On the mountain path, Xie Lingjiang looked her senior brother up and down and couldn't help but ask:
"Senior Brother, did you request that the Jiangzhou Hall host this ribbon-cutting ceremony today?"
“Yes.” Ouyang Rong nodded: “However, Governor Wang and Zhu Lingxu did not come.”
Li Guo'er said calmly, "You don't seem like the type to be ambitious or eager for quick success."
Ouyang Rong smiled but didn't say anything.
You can't exactly say you just wanted to rack up some merit points, can you?
The previous incident involving the Blood-Red Blessing had given Ouyang Rong a sense of crisis.
The thousand or so merit points inside the Merit Pagoda always feel somewhat insecure.
What if you urgently need something, or have good fortune to exchange for, but lack merit points?
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was quite ostentatious in showcasing the twin peaks, which is indeed inconsistent with Ouyang Rong's usual low-key style.
However, after figuring out the little wooden fish's logic, Ouyang Rong had no choice but to shamelessly participate in the wedding ceremony.
Sometimes, if you don't publicize it, people really won't know what you've done.
Since there haven't been any floods this year, we had no choice but to resort to this drastic measure to test the effectiveness of the Twin Peaks excavation and accumulate some good karma first.
The constant, clear sound of wooden fish drums around me proves that this method is good, much better than being low-key and passive.
This also proves that he is indeed a man of action and has a good reputation among the people of Xunyang City.
But compared to accumulating merit, Ouyang Rong felt that this trust was especially valuable.
The group went down the mountain.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony in the morning was held as scheduled.
The process proceeded as usual, but Ouyang Rong did see Rong Zhen, in addition to Miao Zhen.
Speaking of which, it's been almost a month since I first met this woman outside the West Gate.
However, she remained the same as always, expressionless, with a cold expression.
Ye Weilai, who had followed behind Ouyang Rong, suddenly tensed up, her blue eyes coldly fixed on her.
Rong Zhen didn't care about the little girl's gaze.
Rongzhen wasn't particularly interested in the excavation and water diversion of the twin peaks.
Her eyes were fixed on the massive stone cave on the opposite bank of the river, and she asked directly:
"Was the Donglin Buddha chosen for this location? Built against the mountain and beside the water?"
“That’s right, it fits the terrain where metal generates water.”
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"At present, the Twin Peaks have been excavated and the new ferry crossing has been built to facilitate the transportation of stones and equipment. The construction of the Buddha will begin soon. Please be patient, Your Excellency, it will be quick."
Rong Zhen turned to look at the distant Xunyang city walls, then glanced at the grotto, calculated with her fingers, frowned, and turned back:
"Why not build it in the city?"
Ouyang Rong calmly replied:
"There is no land in the city to build on. I have carefully selected a site. Lady Historian, you can take a stroll around Xunyang City and look for a better one. If you find one, please let me know. But we can't just demolish houses in the city, can we?"
"Do you want His Majesty to bear the blame? This is absolutely unacceptable."
Ouyang Rong's tone was teasing, but Rong Zhen could hear the firm bottom line in his voice.
The girl in palace attire frowned and remained silent, staring coldly at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong shrugged:
"Lady, could you please stop beating around the bush? If there's anything you're not satisfied with, or if there are any taboos or things to be aware of regarding the location, please be sure to tell us."
Rong Zhen pursed her lips, seemingly lost in thought, and ignored him.
Ouyang Rong was somewhat speechless:
"Your Excellency, what's the use of just staring without saying anything? If you don't give a definite answer, then I'll take that as your tacit consent."
Rongzhen suddenly turned around.
Before leaving, he coldly tossed out a sentence:
"Let's leave it at that for now."
"Alright, Your Excellency, please take care."
Ouyang Rong smiled and waved his hand.
After Rongzhen, Miaozhen, and the others walked away into the distance.
The smile on his face gradually faded.
Ouyang Rong calmly glanced at the largest, empty grotto on the opposite bank.
Next comes the most important part: the statues.
"There's definitely something fishy going on. This Buddha statue isn't as simple as it seems. Otherwise, it wouldn't matter where it's built, so why go through all this trouble? This Rongzhen must have something left unsaid."
He pursed his lips and muttered to himself for a while.
Moreover, the Donglin Buddha statue is being built to a very high standard, with officials from the Imperial Observatory in Luoyang providing guidance throughout the entire process.
Next, I might have to deal with Rongzhen and Miaozhen frequently.
Thinking about this, Ouyang Rong felt a slight headache.
The morning passed quickly, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony ended.
Ouyang Rong, along with Zhen, Ye, and other female relatives, as well as his junior sister and Li Xian's family, boarded a boat at the new ferry crossing, preparing to return to Xunyang City.
He planned to go back and immediately check inside the Merit Pagoda to see how many merit points he had gained this time.
Just then, Yan Liulang arrived in a hurry:
"Your Excellency, we have received the latest official document from the imperial court in the main hall."
"What official document is it that's in such a hurry?" Xie Lingjiang asked curiously.
Ouyang Rong took the official document, glanced at it, and, facing the curious gazes of the crowd, Yan Liulang frowned and said:
"The Grand Commander of the Jiangzhou Road Army has been chosen. His Majesty appoints the Prince of Wei as the Grand Commander of the Jiangzhou Road Army, ordering him to take full charge of the southwestern campaign, assemble a large army, and march south immediately!"
The atmosphere fell silent.
Even though Wang Lengran had already vaguely guessed this after Zhu Lingxu's defection and great victory, Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian and others had already guessed this.
However, the fact that it has been fully implemented at the moment still leaves people somewhat speechless.
Ouyang Rong looked up and chuckled, saying:
"Besides this expected event, there's something else interesting. That Grand Commandant Zhu impeached me and the Prince. Sure enough, a barking dog doesn't bite."
Everyone frowned immediately.
(End of this chapter)
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