Chapter 465 Did the Lady Historian speak well of me?
Ouyang Rong was right, Rong Zhen was indeed not tall.
She had cultivated to the sixth-rank Jade Maiden and Golden Boy realm of the Yin-Yang School at a young age, but her growth was slow, and she was almost frozen in time at the age of sixteen, making her look like a giant loli.
She was about the same size as her own white-haired maid.
However, the aura of the Empress's special envoy, Lady Historian, made the officials of Xunyang, including Ouyang Rong, dare not underestimate her, and many of them respected and looked up to her.
Ouyang Rong cut down bamboo from the Yinbingzhai Studio and specially made this "jade staff," which was just the right length and thickness.
He glanced at the back of the palace-dressed girl walking calmly at the front of the mountain path.
The jade staff is quite easy to use.
“Ouyang Lianghan, when the court announced the construction of the Songde Tianshu and the scholars were in an uproar, I heard about your story of reciting the original text of the debate on the boat and water at the Temple of the Sage Confucius in Luoyang.”
Rongzhen suddenly brought it up.
"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Lady Historian." Ouyang Rong shook her head.
"I did laugh at the time," she said sternly.
"..."
Ouyang Rong wiped his face and asked, "So, what about now?"
"Now?"
Rongzhen murmured something under her breath, then fell silent, refusing to look at the man she had once considered a "hypocrite."
The girl in cold, palace-style clothing leaned on a jade staff and took a few steps forward, climbing onto a rock. Her view suddenly opened up.
Ouyang Rong followed, and the same scenery unfolded before him.
Standing atop the southern peak of Shuangfengjian, the two looked down upon the giant Buddha project already taking shape on the cliff face of the northern bank of the Xun River.
Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen made a spur-of-the-moment decision to leave the city today, without notifying the Jiangzhou officials stationed at the construction site, and therefore did not bring anyone with them.
It was already late afternoon, and the sun had set early, casting a bright red glow, just like the maple leaves, onto the Buddha's head on the opposite stone wall.
The Donglin Buddha is about forty or fifty feet tall. The Buddha's head has not yet been carved, so it looks like a faceless person, without any expression of joy, sorrow, anger, or sadness.
Faintly visible are black ant-like figures, clinging stubbornly to the hard, steep rock face, chiseling and carving around the faceless Buddha stone carving.
There were about two thousand people at the entire construction site. The cliff was covered with a dense mass of people, and they were even more concentrated near the Buddha statue. They were like tireless worker ants, creating a sense of orderly beauty.
During this time, occasionally, workers clinging to the cliff face, no bigger than a grain of rice, would slip and fall from the steep cliff, causing screams of alarm. Fortunately, they were held up by emergency ropes strapped to their bodies, preventing any real danger.
Below the Buddha, a tributary of the Xunyang River flows northward along the newly excavated Shuangfengjian Canal, surging and churning up waves full of gold, while also welcoming swaying boats carrying goods from Xunyang Ferry.
Looking out, on the distant Xunyang River, one can faintly see fishermen returning to their ferries and singing their evening songs.
This magnificent scene was witnessed by Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen, who were atop the mountain on the south bank.
Rongzhen watched quietly for a while.
Ouyang Rong glanced sideways and noticed that her gaze lingered for a long time on the rows of "ants" on the cliff face.
The palace-dressed girl, leaning on her bamboo cane, suddenly pointed to a large, dark group of laborers carrying stones on the southeast side of the opposite bank and asked:
"What are these people doing? Why are they throwing the rubble they've carried down into the river at that fork in the river?"
Ouyang Rong glanced at it and patiently explained:
"Even before Shuangfengjian was excavated, there were many undercurrents and whirlpools in the river next to it, which often caused shipwrecks, and passing ships would detour around it."
"After the successful excavation of the Shuangfengjian tributary, the whirlpools became even more severe, affecting the transport of supplies. Therefore, I ordered them to move the excess stone used for carving the Buddha statue to fill that section of the river, which would help reduce the whirlpools and undercurrents as much as possible..."
When talking about the details of the construction of this twin-peaked structure, Ouyang Rong spoke eloquently.
As Rong Zhen listened, she couldn't help but turn around and glance at his focused expression. After a moment, she said thoughtfully:
"I heard that after Shuangfengjian was excavated, this tributary was created, and now the floods in Xunyang City, which is in a low-lying area, have been greatly reduced. During this year's Yangtze River flood season, the rising water did not even reach Xingzifang, which is in the lowest-lying area, and we got through it safely."
Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then nodded:
"Yes, that's right. The flood seems to have been resolved, but it's only this year's wave. We need to observe and confirm next year. We can't make any hasty judgments, after all, lives are at stake, and the flood issue cannot be ignored."
Rongzhen stared at him for a while, then turned to gaze at the Donglin Buddha slowly taking shape below, and the workers toiling away, muttering to herself:
"So, this can be considered a water conservancy project, just like... just like the Broken Wing Canal in Dragon City, right?"
“Indeed.” Ouyang Rong nodded, then asked with curiosity, “Does Your Excellency still remember the Broken Wing Canal in Longcheng?”
Rong Zhen resumed her indifferent tone, seemingly devoid of any emotional fluctuation:
"Back in Luoyang, many officials praised it, and His Majesty also paid attention to it. When I passed through Longcheng last time, I went to see what was going on."
"Uh, nothing, I just didn't expect Lady Historian to be so thoughtful." Ouyang Rong waved her hand.
Rongzhen said softly, "Prefect Ouyang is quite meticulous. Last night, I reviewed the design drawings you sent. Did you design a hidden drainage system for this Donglin Buddha?"
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow slightly: "Yes. There is one."
Why is that?
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips: "Xunyang has a lot of rain. To prevent the Buddha from being destroyed, the water must be drained to avoid wear and rot."
Rong Zhen listened attentively, then sighed softly:
"Like the Broken Wing Canal in Longcheng, it seems that Prefect Ouyang truly wanted to leave something for Xunyang that could be passed down for hundreds or thousands of years during his tenure as an official, unlike the other prefectures where he merely completed the tasks assigned by the court or won the top prize to claim credit, using it as a stepping stone for advancement."
"After all, the officials from the imperial court who come to inspect these details won't pay attention to them, and they're hardly considered achievements. In many people's eyes, they're just useless work. Tell me, who are you working so hard for, right?"
Ouyang Rong calmly shook her head: "It was something I did on the spur of the moment, and it was also within my duties. It's rare for Lady Historian to appreciate it; you flatter me."
Rong Zhen reluctantly looked away from the magnificent scenery below and said softly:
"Is it these seemingly minor but meticulous design details that added to the completion time of the Donglin Buddha?"
"Your Excellency, these efforts cannot actually be considered in vain..."
Ouyang Rong's tone was insistent, but he was interrupted by Rong Zhen halfway through his sentence:
"I know, you don't need to explain anymore, but... answer me a question first."
"Please speak, Your Excellency," Ouyang Rong said earnestly.
"How long have you calculated the delay to be?"
Ouyang Rong hesitated for a moment, but still gave a number, a number that had been on his mind recently:
"Later than scheduled... about four and a half months."
Rong Zhen frowned, glanced at Ouyang Rong, and suddenly pointed to the nascent faceless Buddha head of the stone Buddha opposite them, saying:
"What if we remove this Buddha head? We should not concern ourselves with that, but only build the Buddha body below."
Ouyang Rong frowned: "Why is that?"
"I told you, don't ask questions yet. Answer my question first: besides the work on the Buddha head, how much longer will the project need to be delayed?"
Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment, then replied meticulously:
"It can be done a month and a half earlier, which means a three-month delay. Waiting might even make it faster."
"Then let's calculate it as a three-month extension."
Rong Zhen pinched her fingers together in her sleeve, as if she were doing some calculations.
Although Ouyang Rong was curious, he didn't want to disturb him, so he held his breath and focused on his work.
A moment later, her furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and she murmured to herself:
"Three months... we should be able to finish before the inner pillar of the Songde Central Government in Luoyang is completed..."
Ouyang Rong overheard a few words, his eyes growing increasingly curious, but before he could ask, Rong Zhen glanced at him, then lowered her eyelids and whispered:
"There's nothing I can't say. This is some breaking news: the gold Buddha head for the Donglin Buddha will be sent from Luoyang. You won't need to build it, which will save you a lot of time."
Ouyang Rong was taken aback for a moment, then asked calmly:
"Is this only the case in Jiangzhou, or are the statues in all prefectures the same?"
Rong Zhen coldly said, "That's how it is. Just cooperate, Chief Secretary, and don't ask any more questions."
Ouyang Rong nodded and muttered to himself:
"For each of the four Buddha statues, is a golden Buddha head provided? Why not have them cast locally? The imperial court is so thoughtful..."
Rongzhen looked away.
There was a moment of silence between them.
She asked casually:
"I heard that Qin Jingzhen, the Grand General of the Jiangnan Road Army, is currently in Xunyang City."
Ouyang Rong did not hide anything:
"Well, Miss Qin is on good terms with the princess of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and the others. She is currently staying in the city and traveling around. I don't have many opportunities to see her on weekdays. May I ask why you ask about this, Lady Historian?"
"How come I've heard that the Qin family also participated in the construction of the Xunyang Grottoes organized by the Chief Secretary?"
Ouyang Rong didn't lift his eyelids, his tone remaining calm:
"That's true, but Old Master Qin only got involved because of the Prince's influence..."
“Prince Xunyang? I’ve heard about the banquet at the Xie Qin family’s house last time.”
"What did you hear?" The person feigned ignorance, "I was just there to make up the numbers at that family banquet. Your Excellency wouldn't think..."
"Alright, no need to explain."
Rong Zhen suddenly interrupted him, pursed her lips, and slowly said:
"Regarding the postponement of the Buddha statue, if you could persuade Chief Steward Qin to speak on your behalf, the imperial court's reaction might be more moderate."
"Ask Elder Qin to speak on our behalf?"
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but take another look at the palace-dressed girl in front of him who was earnestly offering her suggestions.
"So, what does Your Excellency mean?"
Rongzhen shook her jade hand:
"Alright, regarding the postponement of the Donglin Buddha statue by three months, Chief Secretary Ouyang should prepare to submit a memorial. Now go find the Prince and Chief Steward Qin. This matter should not be delayed any longer."
Ouyang Rong frowned.
After giving her instructions, Rong Zhen turned and descended the mountain. As she passed Ouyang Rong, she silently uttered a sentence:
"I will also write to Her Majesty the Empress and explain the facts clearly."
Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment.
"Huh? What did Your Excellency say? A... a memorial?"
He wondered if he had misheard, so he quickly followed her and pressed her for an answer.
Rongzhen, leaning on her jade bamboo cane, slowly walked down the mountain path, her gaze shifting away:
"Don't overthink it, this is just... my duty."
"Besides, it's already halfway done, what else can we do now? I've already boarded your pirate ship. Although it seems that you've put your heart into this Xunyang Grottoes and it's not just a sloppy job, I can't blame you."
"But what about Luoyang...?"
"As for Luoyang, I can't guarantee how Her Majesty the Empress will respond after we submit our petition. Chief Secretary, please be prepared."
"Then thank you very much, Lady Historian."
Ouyang Rong stared blankly at the back of the girl in the cold palace attire.
Is this lady going to... say a few good words for him?
Three days later.
Ouyang Rong, in his capacity as the Prefect of Jiangzhou, accompanied the Supervisor of Construction, Prince Li Xian of Xunyang, to jointly submit a memorial to Luoyang regarding the three-month delay.
Among those who jointly submitted the petition were the eminent monk Shandao, the nominal governor of Jiangzhou Li Fusu, and a group of Jiangzhou officials who participated in the creation of the statue and had close ties with the royal court.
As for Rong Zhen's suggestion to ask Qin Ying to pass on a message to persuade General Qin to speak on their behalf, Ouyang Rong did not comply. He didn't even mention it to Qin Ying and stopped his junior sister from making the request.
There are two main reasons.
First, according to Li Guo'er's theory of intertwined interests, the old General Qin did not simply favor or value him and involve his granddaughter and the Qin family business in the matter. Instead, he secretly befriended the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and took the opportunity to make a profit.
Therefore, it's unlikely that Qin Jingzhen would participate in jointly submitting a memorial, something that could easily lead to him being labeled as an accomplice by political enemies in the court. After all, it's a matter of mutual benefit; if there's something to gain, they'll cooperate, and if there's no benefit, they'll part ways. There's no way to force it.
Secondly, the front-line battlefield is at a critical moment, and Ouyang Rong does not want to trouble Qin Jingzhen now and distract the general in charge of the troops. Doing so would be against the rules.
Although Qin Jingzhen, the Grand Commander of the Jiangnan Army, and his family hold considerable influence in the imperial court, speaking up for the postponement of the Donglin Buddha statue could easily arouse suspicion. Presumably, the shrewd and calculating Qin Jingzhen is not unaware of this.
Therefore, instead of pinning our hopes on this not-so-deep appreciation for each other right now, it's better to save it for a crucial moment in the future...
Soon, Xunyang Prince Li Xian, Ouyang Changshi, and others submitted a memorial requesting a postponement, which immediately sparked a heated discussion in the Jiangzhou Hall.
Wang Lengran, the governor of Jiangzhou, remained aloof throughout the process and showed no intention of joining the joint petition or submitting a memorial.
This matter fueled further speculation, but by evening, a piece of news was spreading rapidly throughout Xunyang City:
It turned out that Rongzhen, a lady-in-waiting who was a favorite of Her Majesty the Empress and was sent to supervise, also submitted a memorial later that afternoon, seemingly submitting it along with everyone else.
This incident immediately caused a huge uproar within the official system of Xunyang City.
Inside the main hall, Ouyang Rong, who was packing his things to finish his shift, heard some murmurs and calmly went out, boarded his carriage, and silently peered into the inner chambers, glancing at the string of blue-gold characters inside the Merit Pagoda that had been rising steadily day after day.
He touched his chin.
This wave of merit and goodwill seems to have been worthwhile; it's actually quite profitable.
(End of this chapter)
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