Chapter 514 We are all fellow sufferers
Ouyang Lianghan was demoted.
The news spread throughout the officialdom of Jiangzhou.
The new Chief Secretary is Yuan Huaimin, the former Sima of Jiangzhou.
The two switched places.
One rises and one falls.
Anyone with a discerning eye in officialdom can see through it at a glance.
Yuan Huaimin must have benefited from Ouyang Lianghan's influence; the imperial court will certainly punish Ouyang Lianghan for his refusal to obey the imperial edict at Xunyang Wharf.
Removing him from his position as chief secretary was already considered a relatively lenient punishment. Previously, many people in the court had speculated that His Majesty might, in a fit of anger, order this upright official to commit suicide with poison and a white silk noose.
In retrospect, it seems that the fact that Ouyang Lianghan's memorial of apology, which was tantamount to a provocation and declaration of war against the Wei clan, was stopped on the spot by the Prince of Xunyang can be considered a saving grace.
The vacancy in the position of Chief Secretary was filled temporarily by the former Jiangzhou Sima, who was nominally the fourth-ranked official in Jiangzhou's officialdom—the second and third being the Prefect and the Chief Secretary, respectively.
In other words, Yuan Huaimin's promotion to Prefect of Jiangzhou was not due to covering up his crimes or doing anything that would attract the attention of His Majesty and the Ministry of Personnel.
It's purely a matter of succession by order of succession.
Since Ouyang Lianghan refused to obey the imperial edict and cooperate with the statue-making in Xingzifang, let's replace him with someone who won't cause any trouble or objection.
Yuan Huaimin, the former Sima of Jiangzhou, was someone who was acceptable to all parties—docile, obedient, and not a troublemaker.
So this was truly a windfall, a battle of gods, and a chance for ordinary people to get a stroke of luck... The officials in the Jiangzhou Hall were extremely envious of Yuan, who used to be good at everything from being late to leaving early.
As for Yuan Huaimin himself.
Several days have passed, and he is still somewhat confused.
"Chief Secretary Ouyang, what do you report to Lady Rongzhen when you go to the Censorate every day? She seems to be in a bad mood. Could it be that I happened to be on my period, which is a woman's monthly period... By the way, does the Censorate provide breakfast? I remember you always seemed to be full when you came back. Is their food that good?"
"I don't know, you should ask them."
"How could I dare? If the Lady hadn't mentioned it, and hadn't invited me to stay for a meal, I wouldn't have dared to ask even if I had a hundred lives..."
Inside the main hall of Jiangzhou, Yuan Huaimin followed Ouyang Rong closely, holding a small notebook and taking notes while humbly asking questions.
"By the way, Chief Secretary Ouyang, what is the budget for Jiangzhou's expenditures next month? Should we have the Prefectural Governor's Office sign it first, or submit it to the Ministry of Personnel of the Imperial Court for approval in advance...?"
"First submit it to the Prefectural Governor's Office, then to the Ministry of Personnel. It must be signed and sealed by an official of the rank of Director or above. The order is crucial; otherwise, it will be difficult to determine responsibility if something goes wrong..."
"Very well, very well. Chief Secretary Ouyang is indeed very thoughtful. I am very pleased. Oh, by the way, there is one more important matter. I was looking through the 'Great Zhou Law' and suddenly found a sentence: 'Officials are entitled to a maximum of one day off every ten days...' How about we make an adjustment and give them two more days off each month, three days of rest, to conserve their energy and build up their strength? It makes a lot of sense..."
When he asked the last question,
Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around, lowered his eyes, and stared at him intently.
Yuan Huaimin immediately shut up.
I felt a little uneasy being watched by my friend.
The newly appointed chief secretary shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum:
"Just kidding, just kidding, cough cough, Chief Secretary Ouyang, don't look at me like that. I think once a month is pretty good now, it's motivating, I'm used to it, hahaha, Chief Secretary Ouyang, stop looking..." He shrank his neck again.
Ouyang Rong ignored him, stared at the pitiful Yuan Huaimin for a while, then said with a stern face:
"Now that Lord Yuan is the Prefect of Jiangzhou, his word is law. I dare not order him around. Lord Yuan, do whatever you want. Go ahead and do it. Don't worry about me. Be bold. You can even dismantle those broken wooden beams in the main hall of Jiangzhou and work from home. I have no objection."
“How can this be! As the saying goes, sticking to old rules is like following the old ways blindly. Chief Secretary Ouyang is my mentor and friend! The rules he established before were very good. I think there's nothing to change. Very good, all very good. I will resolutely not change them…”
At this point, he covered his mouth with his hand guiltily and quietly pleaded, "Brother Lianghan, please don't look at me like that."
However, the look in Ouyang Rong's eyes was still frighteningly calm. Yuan Huaimin glanced around, then, on a sudden inspiration, made up an excuse to "go to the Censorate to report to Lady Rongzhen," and slipped away...
The Jiangzhou officials who passed by in the surrounding corridors looked normal, as if they were used to this scene and were not surprised.
Watching the back of that unreliable new Jiangzhou governor disappear into the distance, Ouyang Rong shook his head.
Unlike Yuan Huaimin, who was always busy and never had a moment to spare, the Jiangzhou Sima, as expected of a popular post for demotion, was indeed bored out of his mind.
In the early morning, while the main hall of Jiangzhou was bustling with activity, he leisurely went out alone to Xunyang Ferry to bid farewell to a friend.
“Prefect Ouyang, I am truly ashamed.”
“Brother Hu, I am no longer the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary of Jiangzhou is now Brother Huaimin. Please do not make a mistake.”
At Xunyang Ferry, below a large ship preparing to depart from the ferry, Hu Fu shook his head.
"No, in my eyes, Chief Secretary will always be Brother Ouyang."
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment.
Khufu sighed softly and patted his shoulder:
"In all my years of service in the palace, I have never seen anyone who dares to defy the imperial decree in public or say 'no' to His Majesty. Most importantly, he is still able to continue in his post... For this alone, the whole world admires you."
He paused, glanced at Ouyang Rong's expression, and then said seriously:
"I don't understand the Xunyang Grottoes, but I know the taste of failure after putting my heart and soul into something. But on the bright side, as long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of running out of firewood."
“Chief Secretary Ouyang, remember this: no one can stop Her Majesty from doing what she wants to do. You did your best to stop her, although it has become a lesson.”
"But to have reached this point is already a testament to the people's goodwill."
"His Majesty did not transfer you away from Xunyang City, there must be a reason for it, perhaps the Xunyang Prince's Mansion is still in Jiangzhou..."
Khufu's final words were somewhat meaningful.
Ouyang Rong nodded silently, and the two chatted for a few more minutes.
Just then, a clear, melodious sound of a pipa drifted from the dock.
They do not know where they came from, nor where they are going.
Who is playing the zither?
I don't know.
However, it caused the guests and hosts seeing them off at the dock to stop and linger.
Hu Fu said absentmindedly, "I almost forgot. I heard that a certain master at Xunyang Tower has an exceptional pipa playing style. I've been in Xunyang for so long, but I forgot to go and listen to it. Ah... I wonder if that pipa playing is hers. I really want to meet her."
Ouyang Rong remained silent, his hands tucked into his sleeves. He turned and gazed at the ferry crossing where the sound of the pipa echoed, his expression lost in thought.
Khufu was about to speak, but suddenly blurted out:
"We are both wanderers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?"
Ouyang Rong turned his head and glanced at Hu Fu, who was reciting poetry.
Hu Fu's face lit up with delight, and he said to Ouyang Rong and those around him:
"Hey, this is brilliant! I don't know why, but it suddenly popped into my head. Haha, what a great line! I'm really inspired today. This line is probably comparable to many literary masters."
Ouyang Rong took a deep breath.
This is the "Pipa Ballad" that I memorized in my previous life, but I haven't recited it in this one.
He immediately smiled and nodded.
Amidst Hu Fu's self-satisfaction and the astonishment of the crowd, Ouyang Rong's right hand, concealed in his sleeve, pierced even deeper, reaching out to pat the head of a certain little ink spirit who had quietly helped.
That almost caused a disaster.
A short while later, the guards on the ship came to inform him, and Khufu then boarded the ship and left, bidding a reluctant farewell.
"Prefect Ouyang, may we meet again someday."
"Bon Voyage."
Although they all came from Luoyang as imperial envoys, Lin Cheng is currently concurrently serving as the Right Inspector of Jiangnan Circuit and does not need to return to the palace for the time being, while Hu Fu returned ahead of schedule.
After watching Hu Fu's figure disappear, Ouyang Rong turned around and returned to the main hall of Jiangzhou.
On the way, when they reached a secluded spot, Miaosi emerged from his sleeve, poked his nose with a finger, and stared at him:
"I'm watching you. Be careful, and don't let your literary talent show out again. If I hadn't helped you transfer it to that eunuch, you would have revealed your poetic talent again."
Ouyang Rong nodded helplessly.
He went out today without Ali and the others.
Ouyang Rong, wearing a felt hat, rode Dongmei through the marketplace.
After the imperial decree of demotion was delivered, Ouyang Rong took off his official robes as chief secretary and returned to his normal life.
The position of Jiangzhou Sima was very leisurely, and no one cared whether he wore official robes or not.
Xunyang city has returned to its former tranquility.
However, Lin Cheng is currently serving as the Right Supervisor of Construction in Jiangnan, and the statue-making project in Xingzifang is being prepared at an alarming pace.
Ouyang Rong heard Yan Liulang's report that these days, the carriages of Yangzhou merchants, including Pei Shisan Niang, have frequently appeared near the governor's mansion.
This is definitely bad news.
Although the situation was deteriorating step by step, the city remained calm and seemingly unaffected, except for the quiet price increase of pork and other goods in the East Market, where prices were gradually rising.
In fact, all the smart people in Xunyang City know that some things are beyond saving, and Xingzifang will soon be unrecognizable...
This is actually Lin Cheng's ruthlessness. Some things shouldn't be pushed to the end all at once; they should be done step by step. Boiling a frog in lukewarm water is the most damaging, as the heat will slowly spread to all levels of society in Jiangzhou...
I just got back to the main hall of Jiangzhou.
Yuan Huaimin, his official hat askew, came to visit again:
"Prefect Ouyang, please wait a moment. I have another matter to discuss with you..."
This time, Ouyang Rong continued walking forward without stopping:
"Let me say it again, Lord Yuan is now the Chief Secretary. Don't shout it out, it's not good if others hear it."
"Very well, Brother Lianghan, please take a look at this official document. What should I do about this matter?"
Ouyang Rong said in a serious tone: "How many times have I told you, when you're working, don't use your given name, use your job title."
"Yes, Ouyang Sima."
"Besides, what's with all this talk about being a subordinate official? You're the Chief Clerk, and I'm the Military Advisor. I should be the subordinate official."
Yuan Huaimin scratched his head:
"Hey, it doesn't matter what you call me... Besides, these past few days, when other officials report to me, they often call me by the wrong name, calling me Chief Secretary Ouyang... I'm thinking of having them go find you, so they don't have to make a wasted trip here. Anyway, I'm still going to come and ask you."
Yuan Huaimin then said in a serious tone:
“Ouyang Chang… Ouyang Sima, I now understand how you felt when you saw that I wasn’t in the seat opposite you… Ah, now that I’m sitting in the main hall, every time I look up and see that you’re not in the seat opposite me, I feel very depressed. You’re never there when I need something.”
"..."
Ouyang Rong met his gaze silently for a moment, then asked in a serious tone:
Are these two the same?
"Pretty much."
After a short while, the awkward atmosphere dissipated, and Ouyang Rong went to help out.
Afterwards, Yuan Huaimin looked on with envy:
"Brother Lianghan, why don't we switch back? This Chief Clerk is too tiring..."
Ouyang Rong curled his lip: "Then you should also refuse to accept the imperial decree."
"That won't do. I'm a coward. I'd rather be tired than beheaded."
Soon, the day ended as the leisurely Ouyang Rong watched Yuan Huaimin's busy and flustered figure.
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
Although he was acquainted with Yuan Huaimin, he did not ask Yuan Huaimin to inquire about or stop Lin Cheng's affairs, nor did he incite Yuan Huaimin to oppose Lin Cheng.
Because they knew that Yuan Huaimin was no match for Lin Cheng.
There's no need to harm them.
As for Yuan Huaimin, he is still in the stage of being promoted in a daze.
Especially when they learned that the salaries of the Chief Clerk of Jiangzhou and the Prefect of Jiangzhou were not much different.
Yuan Huaimin looked dejected... Wasn't this just working for nothing?
Midnight, at the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
Inside the study, everyone gathered again.
"Is Tanlang alright lately?"
Ouyang Rong snapped out of his daze and shook his head at the crowd:
"Thank you, Your Highness, for calming the people that day. I did not expect the people of Xunyang to react so strongly. If it had not been handled properly that day, something bad might have happened, and we might have been taken advantage of."
Li Xian shook his head: "Tanlang, you're too kind. It's what we should do."
Li Guo'er asked directly, "Ouyang Lianghan, are you still sulking?"
"It's all in the past. Don't mention it, Sister Guo'er."
Xie Lingjiang poured Ouyang Rong a cup of hot tea and said softly:
“Perfect timing. Since things are quiet lately, Senior Brother can take a rest. Since His Majesty and Lin Cheng insist on forcibly erecting statues in Xingzifang, let's just stand by and watch. If anything goes wrong, it will be their fault. We'll just observe from the sidelines…”
"What if the Donglin Buddha is completed and stands forever in Xingzifang?" Li Dalang suddenly asked.
No one spoke.
Ouyang Rong raised his head and took the initiative to speak:
"Your Highness should be careful. Lin Cheng is not only involved in creating statues in Xingzifang, but may also be working with Wang Lengran to use these statues to suppress the Prince's Mansion... This is almost inevitable."
"good."
Before long, the meeting in the study ended, and everyone dispersed.
Ouyang Rong was the first to walk out the door.
Li Xian, Li Guo'er, Xie Lingjiang, and the others watched his departing figure.
They looked at each other for a few moments.
Li Dalang tried to call out to his friend, but Xie Lingjiang shook her head to stop him...
It was late at night.
In the dark bedroom of the residence in Huaiye Lane, at Yinbingzhai.
Ouyang Rong had a dream.
He opened his eyes in the darkness, removed the girl's bare arm from his body, and got up to put on his clothes.
Ouyang Rong walked to the wardrobe and pulled out the long, narrow violin case that was lying under the fast-sleeping Miao Si.
Open the sword case.
The room was filled with the aura of swords.
He glanced at the full moon outside the window and the crescent moon inside, and said softly:
"Is it all in the past? Some things are in the past, but I haven't accepted them, even though it seems like everyone else has..."
Only a sword listened to their nighttime conversation.
The little guy stared curiously at the sword master, whose face was different from usual.
The night outside the window was quiet.
(End of this chapter)
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