Chapter 388 The Ceremony of the Eighth Rank!
"Why is Chief Secretary Ouyang here?"
Zhu Lingxu's face, now a deep purplish-red, forced a smile as he asked in a gentle voice:
"Didn't I hear from Lord Wang that Prefect Ouyang is on leave for some business?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"I'm just destined to be a workaholic; I can't rest for long."
"Moreover, today is the day the vanguard sets off. The vanguard may have a large number of people from Hongzhou who are going home to reclaim their hometowns. But the main force of the vanguard is different this time. There are 2,187 soldiers from Jiangzhou Zhechong Prefecture, all of whom are local men with their mothers, wives and daughters in Jiangzhou."
"General Zhu is setting off today and will take them all with him. He may make his mark and achieve great things, but how many have returned from war throughout history? I am not talented, but as the local official of Jiangzhou, I must personally come to the city wall to see them off and lead their horses for the general and you gentlemen."
Ouyang Rong spoke clearly and calmly, waving his hand to the people behind him.
The junior sister with her arms crossed, Yan Liulang with his sword, Chen You with his strange eyes, and other attendants stopped.
Ouyang Rong, holding the Moonlight Sword, walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain, and met Zhu Lingxu's gaze.
The latter had an old face, and when he smiled, his face was full of wrinkles. Right now, those smile lines looked somewhat stiff.
"Prefect Ouyang is truly... truly loves the people like his own children, and is dedicated to his duties. He is admirable. Haha, actually... to be honest, Prefect Ouyang, I do have some habits that are difficult to talk about. I hope Prefect Ouyang and you gentlemen will not make a fuss about it and will give me some face. Haha..."
Ouyang Rong didn't laugh along, nor did Xie Lingjiang, Yan Liulang, and the others behind him. The atmosphere became awkward, and Zhu Lingxu immediately felt embarrassed.
He saw the handsome young man before him, wearing a crown, holding a sword, and dressed in a scarlet fifth-rank official robe, and shook his head again:
"It's not so much about being conscientious and dutiful, but just about each of us doing our own job."
Ouyang Rong casually pointed to Chen You and the others behind him and said indifferently:
"General Zhu trusted me and my colleagues. After taking over the military affairs of Jiangzhou, he continued to leave the defense of Xunyang to the Jiangzhou government. I did not change the original rules for the defense of the city. General Zhu focused on the expedition and even brought no more than ten personal guards when entering and leaving the city."
"The one who is truly dedicated to his duties and worthy of respect is Steward Zhu."
He calmly recounted the facts, his tone even and even, as if chatting with an old friend.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Lingxu's expression stiffened even more, and he couldn't help but widen his eyes to carefully observe the subtle expressions on Ouyang Rong's face.
It seemed they were trying to find out something, or if there was a hidden meaning in their words, but unfortunately they didn't find any clues.
This young official, barely twenty years old, acted as if he were leading a team on duty, conducting a routine inspection down from the city wall.
"To be honest, Chief Secretary Ouyang, some disputes arose among the soldiers when they were assembling in the military camp outside the city. I came out of the city this time to deal with the matter and try to minimize the damage. It's difficult to go into details..."
He paused, his tone sincere:
"After all, it's close to the time of departure for the expedition at 3:45 PM, so it wouldn't be good for the situation. I had no choice but to keep a low profile and handle it by myself. And then... and by the way... haha, some of my unspeakable hobbies were accidentally revealed. I hope Chief Secretary Ouyang won't laugh."
“I see.” Ouyang Rong nodded. “I understand. Everyone has their little quirks. I know a friend who likes to linger and inhale the fragrance left behind by a woman he admires when they part ways. He’s known for recognizing a woman by her scent…”
He stood under the carriage and chatted casually with Zhu Lingxu, as if they were just having a casual conversation.
Zhu Lingxu couldn't help but glance a few more times at the talkative Ouyang Lianghan.
He had already come up with a suitable excuse in a moment of inspiration, waiting for Ouyang Rong to question him with suspicion, but unexpectedly, the boy nodded in agreement and believed him directly.
"Haha, this friend of Chief Secretary Ouyang is truly interesting."
Zhu Lingxu responded with a verbal agreement.
Having been through thick and thin, his mental fortitude was strong. Now that the crisis seemed to have passed, his emotions had stabilized considerably, and he was no longer as nervous and sweaty as before. Zhu Lingxu smiled and looked around.
"Under normal circumstances, I would certainly ask more questions of such an interesting friend, but unfortunately there are urgent matters at hand, and the military situation is critical. I hope Chief Secretary Ouyang can understand... By the way, Chief Secretary, have you finished your inspection? Can you let me through? I will return shortly after I finish my military business."
"After the inspection, it's clear at a glance that Steward Zhu is all alone, with only a groom and no more than ten personal guards."
Ouyang Rong nodded, then shook his head:
"However, according to the latest city defense regulations established by the Jiangzhou government, we must search your body and carriage to see if you are carrying any prohibited items, such as important official documents or city defense layout maps..."
"Although I know that Steward Zhu would not commit such a offense, it is my duty to do so, and I have offended him."
Ouyang Rong remained calm and spoke in a measured manner, while Zhu Lingxu hesitated to speak.
As usual, Ouyang Rong spread his hands in greeting and said:
"Let Steward Zhu and the carriage move to the left gate for now. Leave the right gate for the people queuing behind. They're getting impatient."
He turned to look at Xie Lingjiang, Yan Liulang, and Chen You.
The west gate has three gates: one large and two small.
The main gate is the largest, and it is only opened for important meetings or events.
Normally, only the left and right side doors are open for easy access.
At Ouyang Rong's gesture,
Xie Lingjiang remained on the city wall with his sword, continuing to look down and monitor the suspicious areas in place of his senior brother.
Yan Liulang stayed at the right gate to check the procession of people entering and leaving the city.
Ouyang Rong and Chen You, along with Zhu Lingxu dressed in brightly colored women's clothing and a low-key carriage, moved to the left city gate to begin their inspection.
Ouyang Rong gently pushed Chen You aside, boarded the carriage himself, and carefully inspected it.
So Chen You walked to Zhu Lingxu's side, signaling him to cooperate with the body search, and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Forgive me, Steward Zhu."
"It's nothing."
Zhu Lingxu shook his head kindly, cooperating fully.
Chen You smiled and carefully searched him, but found no weapons or official documents.
It was completely empty.
"Is there any water?" Zhu Lingxu asked.
"have."
Chen You turned his head and ordered someone to fetch a water bag from the city wall.
He took the water pouch, walked back to Zhu Lingxu's side, handed it to him, and watched as the latter drank it.
With his mouth dry, Zhu Lingxu tilted his head back and drank plain water. He squinted and secretly glanced at the short sword hidden in the sheath at Chen You's waist, who was two steps away. A moment later, he glanced at the tightly closed left city gate in front of him.
At this moment, Xie Lingjiang is standing on the city wall, while Yan Liulang is leading his men to the right gate.
These two were relatively far from Zhu Lingxu, while Ouyang Rong and Chen You were closest.
One of them inspected the carriage, while the other stood beside Zhu Lingxu to watch over him. The inspection was routine, with no special treatment given.
The scene in front of the left gate attracted the attention of many passersby who were watching the spectacle.
After all, Zhu Lingxu was a tall, strong man, yet he was dressed in brightly colored women's clothing, which was quite strange and naturally attracted attention.
A short while later, Ouyang Rong stepped down from the carriage, his hands empty. His expression softened, and he nodded.
"It's safe, Military Advisor Chen. Let Chief Steward Zhu leave the city."
Zhu Lingxu forced a smile. If nothing unexpected happened, he was the first in Xunyang City to learn of the defection of the vanguard troops at the front.
He was in a hurry to escape, racing against time, and his main goal was to create a time difference. Naturally, he didn't have time to bring extra guards or contraband. In the end, these things helped him get past the city's defenses, which can be considered a small blessing in disguise.
"Steward Zhu, I apologize for my rudeness just now. But since you're dealing with an emergency, this carriage is too slow. Let's ride a horse instead."
"Yes, Chief Secretary Ouyang is very kind."
Ignoring Zhu Lingxu's women's clothing, Ouyang Rong took the initiative to lead a fast horse towards Zhu Lingxu, preparing to hand him the reins.
Zhu Lingxu breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Military Advisor Chen, open the door."
Chen You nodded and gestured to Xie Lingjiang and the others who were guarding the city wall above.
The left gate slowly opened, and Zhu Lingxu tried his best to keep a straight face and remain serious.
The city gate slowly rose in front of him and Chen You.
As the gate rose halfway up, before Ouyang Rong, who was leading the horse, could hand the reins to Zhu Lingxu, a clerk suddenly ran up the city wall and handed a small note to Xie Lingjiang. The latter lowered her eyes, quickly read it, then her beautiful eyes widened slightly as she shouted towards the city gate below:
"Senior Brother, urgent news from the front! Zhu Yuheng's vanguard has defected this morning and surrendered to Hongzhou!"
The crisp sound echoed inside the city gate bridge archway.
Zhu Lingxu's expression changed slightly, while Chen You, Yan Liulang, and the others looked somewhat shocked and bewildered.
Zhu Lingxu turned his head instantly and saw Ouyang Lianghan, who was leading the horse, frowning slightly and looking thoughtful.
The air at the city gate was deathly still for a moment.
Ouyang Rong suddenly realized and turned to look at Zhu Lingxu.
But in the next instant, Zhu Lingxu, who was standing close to the city gate, flashed a fierce expression. He drew the cold short blade from Chen You's waist and charged out like a cheetah, aiming straight for Ouyang Rong, who was leading the horse in front of him, for the throat.
Taking advantage of Ouyang Rong's unarmed state, Zhu Lingxu's short sword, gleaming with a cold light, slashed across Ouyang Rong's neck.
This happened in the blink of an eye, catching everyone off guard.
Zhu Lingxu, who had been preparing this attack for a long time, vaguely saw Ouyang Rong's panicked eyes out of the corner of his eye.
In that instant, his face was filled with a fierce and triumphant expression.
Rather than waiting for Ouyang Lianghan to react and be arrested and interrogated, or for Wang Lengran and the others to imprison him and take the blame, it would be better to kill Ouyang Lianghan, this scoundrel, directly, steal a horse, and escape. That's the real way to survive...
Zhu Lingxu felt a pleasant resistance as the short sword in his hand touched Ouyang Rong's neck. Based on his years of experience, he knew that it would pierce flesh and slit his throat in an instant.
However, what happened next left the seasoned Zhu Lingxu somewhat bewildered.
After feeling resistance, the short sword in his hand snapped into four pieces with a "crack" and flew into the air. Each piece had a clean and smooth cut, while Ouyang Rong's neck was left with only a red mark after being cut by the short blade.
Is this guy some kind of indestructible Buddhist body?
Wait, this short sword wasn't sharpened; it was already broken!
Zhu Lingxu lowered his head, his eyes filled with astonishment and indignation as he looked at the broken sword in his hand.
Before him, the young man leading the horse who had been attacked and killed instantly calmed down, as if he had finally waited for something. Ouyang Rong drew his Moonlight Sword and silently walked towards Zhu Lingxu.
Zhu Lingxu looked up abruptly, filled with grief and indignation: "This...this sword is faulty! You...you did this on purpose! You're playing me for fools!"
With a sheath hanging from his waist, Chen You led his soldiers to surround the area and shouted, "Fleeing out of fear of punishment, attacking and killing the guards, violating the prohibitions—according to the city rules, they shall be executed without pardon!"
A flash of sword light.
Zhu Lingxu's right forearm flew out.
The long sword in Ouyang Rong's hand gleamed like a waterfall of silver light, untouched by a drop of blood.
"Ah—! Ouyang Lianghan, what are you doing? I am still the Commander-in-Chief of the Vanguard Army and the Grand Commander of Hongzhou! You have no right to act first and report later! Ah—! My hand, you...you stay away..."
He cried out in pain, clutched his arm, and staggered back, shouting as loudly as he could.
Ignoring him, Ouyang Rong advanced with his sword, kicking the staggering, one-armed Zhu Lingxu to the ground. His boot slammed into Zhu Lingxu's cheek, and Zhu Lingxu's eyes widened like saucers, his initial anger quickly replaced by fear. He cried out:
"I plead guilty, I plead guilty! I plead guilty to the striker incident! I am willing to accept trial..."
Ouyang Rong lowered his head, gripped the long sword with both hands, and raised it three feet above his head.
Just then, Wang Lengran, Li Li, and their personal guards, including the monk Mi Yin, appeared on the street in the distance and rushed towards them.
Behind the crowd, the figures of Rongzhen and other female officials could be faintly seen.
The newly arrived group was utterly astonished by what they were seeing at the city gate ahead.
"Wait, Ouyang Lianghan, what are you doing? How dare you defy your superiors!"
Wang Lengran, frantically searching for someone throughout the city like an ant on a hot pan, waved his hand and shouted as he ran, then hastily made up an excuse:
"Put down your sword! This matter is still in doubt. You must be taken into custody for questioning! You must be taken into custody for questioning!"
The defection of Zhu Yuheng and his vanguard has already occurred. Even if we can't save Zhu Lingxu, we must at least leave someone for His Highness Prince Wei to confess and take the blame, to bear the brunt of His Majesty's wrath!
"Master!" The Persian merchant stared at the ascetic.
The latter chanted "Amitabha," and in a flash, his body covered ten steps, rushing towards the city gate like lightning to save the person with his sword.
Xie Lingjiang, her robes fluttering, nimbly flipped and leaped down from the city wall, rushing to stop the Secret Seal Monk. At the same time, she asked in a clear voice:
"Zhu Lingxu has unjustly sent out his vanguard, and now he has defected. His gang is attacking the city defenses in concert. Is the Lady Conniving at this?"
A graceful figure in palace attire appeared instantly before the Secret Seal Monk and Xie Lingjiang, who was about to fall into a disadvantageous position. Her slender hand stopped the two combatants, and she said coldly:
"Neither of you are allowed to move."
At the same time, Rong Zhen frowned and turned around, coldly ordering towards the distance: "Ouyang Lianghan, put down your sword first..."
Ouyang Rong ignored the advice, or rather, he did listen to it and put down his sword!
He swiftly severed the head of Zhu Lingxu, who had dared to attack the guard, and, holding the head with its unseeing eyes, turned to face the crowd.
Wang Lengran, Li Li, and the others slowly stopped, their eyes wide with shock.
The usually aloof palace-dressed girl's pupils constricted sharply, her dark eyes reflecting the frail scholar's figure, sword in hand, carrying a severed head, beneath the blood-soaked city gates:
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, this "frail scholar" casually tossed his head at the feet of the crowd, wiped away the warm blood splattered on his calm face, looked around, and his long, jet-black hair, falling across his forehead, contrasted with his blood-stained face, making his face appear as red and dazzling as the face paint of a cold, primitive tribal priest.
That splash of red stole the show!
He nodded:
"Those who violate city regulations are subject to the same punishment as commoners, and shall be executed!"
The entire room fell silent.
A fourth-rank military commander and the Grand Commander of Hongzhou, who was suspected of defecting to the enemy, was beheaded in public at the city gate by a mere garrison officer!
(End of this chapter)
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