Chapter 518 Treat him as a national hero
A short while later, the carriage arrived at the street in front of the governor's mansion.
Before they even got close to the gate, Ouyang Rong's carriage had already run into another group of carriages, blocking each other's way.
"Young Master..."
"Make way, it's alright."
"Yes, young master."
Ouyang Rong snapped out of his daze and casually gave the order.
Ali, driving the carriage, voluntarily moved aside.
Ouyang Rong lifted the carriage curtain and first glanced at the governor's mansion, which was quite lively today.
Immediately, out of the corner of his eye, he saw two familiar figures inside the carriage blocking the road.
Inside the carriage opposite, a noblewoman draped in a purple-gold shawl and a short, stout merchant with a pure gold dragon ring on his thumb lifted the curtain almost simultaneously to check what was happening outside.
And so, their eyes met in mid-air.
They were all stunned at first.
“Prefect Ouyang”.
Pei Shisan Niang called out subconsciously.
"What Chief Secretary? He's just a Minor Commander now, humph..."
The straightforward Shen Bingqiang adjusted his hat and hummed softly.
Pei Shisan Niang immediately tugged at Shen Bingqiang's sleeve, and the latter reluctantly shut his mouth.
However, when he saw the handsome young man with a calm face in the carriage that was making way for him, his gaze swept over her, Shen Bingqiang, and the governor's mansion next to them.
Pei Shisan Niang's face immediately turned awkward.
...
"Hey, why haven't Chief Clerk Qin and the others arrived yet? It's almost noon."
"It's alright. There might have been some delays on the way. There was a heavy rain in Longcheng and Jishui County the other day, and the mud and sand are mixed in, making waterways a bit inconvenient. The climate in Jiangnan is not like that in the north..."
"However, each autumn rain brings a chill, so Third Young Master and Governor Wang, please take care to keep warm."
"Brother Lin is truly composed. Lord Wang should learn from Brother Lin how to cultivate his composure."
Inside the governor's mansion, in the main hall, Wei Shaoqi, Wang Lengran, and Lin Cheng, whose whereabouts were usually elusive, sat chatting over tea.
At the head of the main hall, the two seats that should have belonged to the governor on the left and right were given up, and Wei Shaoqi and Lin Cheng sat down without ceremony.
Wang Lengran, on the other hand, sat at the lower end of the table to serve tea.
However, the old governor showed no displeasure whatsoever.
Wang Lengran put down his teacup and paced in the center of the hall, occasionally glancing at the sky outside, or calling over his subordinates, asking them a few questions, and then impatiently waving them away.
Only after Wei Shaoqi leisurely put down his teacup and said a few words did Wang Lengran force a smile, nod and bow, and sit back in his original seat to continue waiting patiently.
He turned to Lin Cheng, who remained calm and composed, and said without blushing:
"Young Master Lin is indeed a young talent, one of the best in the world. He has remained calm and composed all this time, which is truly amazing."
Lin Cheng smiled and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, neither humble nor arrogant.
"You flatter me, Lord Wang. I still have a lot to learn from you senior colleagues."
"Oh, not at all."
Wei Shaoqi scoffed:
"Alright, you two stop flattering each other. Brother Lin, you've been corrupted by Lord Wang too, haha."
All three laughed.
Wang Lengran smiled ingratiatingly for a while, then glanced at the bright sunshine outside, and changed the subject, asking:
"The wartime meeting is scheduled for the afternoon in the warm pavilion of my residence. However, I booked a banquet at Xunyang Pavilion at noon to welcome Chief Secretary Qin of the Central Army Camp. I also sent out invitations to many colleagues and wealthy merchants..."
"It seems that Chief Clerk Qin and his group are unable to make it through due to their delay.
Wei Shaoqi waved his hand, somewhat impatiently saying:
"Stop focusing on your own little schemes. We can eat anytime. The important thing now is to see how General Qin responds. We need to get things settled this afternoon."
Wang Lengran whispered, "Actually, you can talk during meals; the dinner table is a good place to build rapport."
Lin Cheng suddenly spoke:
"Young Master Wei, Lord Wang, what was General Qin's reply to the letter I asked Miss Qin to deliver a few days ago?"
Wei Shaoqi immediately smiled, his sharp white teeth gleaming brightly:
"General Qin's letter says that he fully supports His Majesty's and the Council of State's decisions. He has no objection to the personnel changes of the Prefect of Jiangzhou or the statue-making in Xingzifang. He also doesn't understand this matter and, as an outsider, he won't interfere. General Qin also asked Brother Lin and the Jiangzhou Prefectural Government to work hard and not let His Majesty down. If there is anything needed during the statue-making process, just let us know and we will do our best to cooperate and share the burden of the court."
Lin Cheng smiled, then suppressed a smile and asked:
"Did General Qin not mention the Prince of Xunyang or the Prince of Xunyang's residence?"
Wei Shaoqi laughed and said, "No, not a word was mentioned, as if we weren't familiar with each other."
Lin Cheng shook his head and chuckled, sighing, "Well, well, what a cold and indifferent world! Excellent! General Qin is still very clear-headed..."
Regarding the selection of locations for the Xingzifang and Xunyang Grottoes statues, although the Luoyang court had already issued an edict, Lin Cheng, Wei Shaoqi, and Wang Lengran were still slightly relieved to receive a definite answer from the Grand General of the Jiangnan Road Army.
Some of the worries that had been weighing on my mind these past few days have dissipated.
As the general who currently commands hundreds of thousands of troops in Jiangnan and Lingnan, Qin Jingzhen's words carry enough weight to make His Majesty, who respects the old general's opinion, "slightly" change his mind.
Therefore, if Qin Jingzhen still has ties with the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and has already made plans for a marriage alliance, then even if he doesn't openly oppose the statues in Xingzifang, just making things difficult for Lin Cheng and the Prefect's Mansion by being "ambiguous" in his attitude on this matter would be enough to give them a hard time.
For example, if the government uses the excuse that "the military and national affairs at the front are more important" to squeeze Jiangzhou's finances on logistics and supplies, then the Xingzifang statue project will probably be "indefinitely delayed."
There are too many crucial points and twists and turns involved. Many discerning people in Jiangzhou are waiting for him to make a statement. Wei Shaoqi, Lin Cheng, and Wang Lengran are afraid that he will speak up for the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
Now that they have received a definite and satisfactory response, Wei Shaoqi, Lin Cheng, and others can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The tea, which was originally slightly bitter, tasted much sweeter.
Wang Lengran whispered:
"Third Young Master, has General Qin responded to Lin Cheng's proposal to make concessions to the Qin family, or to the olive branch we extended?"
Wei Shaoqi glanced at him:
"What's the rush? Haste makes waste. Look, I'm here today."
"What do you mean?" Wang asked, puzzled.
Wei Shaoqi smiled slightly, and Lin Cheng spoke on his behalf;
"This wartime meeting was convened by General Qin himself. In the past, it was held once every ten days, but this time it was held half a month earlier, which shows that there are important matters to discuss."
"According to people on the front lines, the ones sent from the central military camp this time include not only Zhang Zhong, the quartermaster, or Qin Yi, the transport supervisor, who usually come to Jiangzhou to attend meetings and make a show of things."
"Among those who came north with the ship this time was Qin Yanqing, the commander of the central army camp, an important figure!"
"The Chief of the Central Army Camp is no simple position. He assists General Qin in handling all military camp affairs except for battle command, including logistics and food transportation... He is equivalent to the chief steward of hundreds of thousands of troops on the southwestern front. He is considered one of the most trusted confidants in General Qin's camp."
Lin Cheng's expression was somewhat solemn.
Wang Lengran was taken aback, and then said with a hint of realization, "What Young Master Lin means is..."
Wei Shaoqi waved his hand:
"Jiangzhou was the most important logistical base for the southwestern expeditionary army, and most of the grain and fodder transport ships passed through Xunyang City."
"The three of them together—Commander Qin Yanqing, Quartermaster Zhang Zhong, and Transport Supervisor Qin Yi—are the highest-ranking officers in charge of the army's logistics. Don't you think it's making a mountain out of a molehill that General Qin has sent them all to Jiangzhou to attend a routine wartime rear meeting?"
Before Wang Lengran could speak, Lin Cheng smiled slightly and said:
"I made some inquiries and found that Qin Yanqing, the chief clerk of the central army camp, also comes from the Qin family of the Duke of Hu, and is the grandson of the younger brother of General Qin."
"The power to appoint the Chief Clerk of the Central Army was entrusted to General Qin by His Majesty, as a sign of the trust between the monarch and his minister."
"So Qin Yanqing is one of the leading talents of the new generation of the Qin family. The position of Chief of the Central Army Camp is a special promotion for him to get promoted quickly, haha."
"Therefore, Qin Yanqing's visit this time can be considered as General Qin's representative. Lord Wang, you tell me, we just extended an olive branch a few days ago, and General Qin has already found an excuse to send Qin Yanqing over these past two days. What is he trying to do?"
Lin Cheng gave a half-smile.
Wang Lengran's eyes lit up:
"Does the Third Young Master and Young Master Lin mean to take advantage of attending the wartime conference and send their trusted confidants over to discuss in detail a concession plan for the statues in Xingzifang?"
Wei Shaoqi and Lin Cheng smiled without saying a word.
Wang Lengran's expression showed some admiration.
Just as the three were leisurely drinking tea.
A minor official suddenly rushed in from outside, reporting with a troubled expression:
"Your Excellency, Your Excellencies... Ouyang Lianghan has arrived. He's right outside the gate. I don't know what he's doing. The road outside is a bit crowded. His carriage even encountered Madam Pei and Master Shen..."
Wang Lengran frowned: "Ouyang Lianghan, what's he doing here?"
Wei Shaoqi's eyes darted around: "They're quite well-informed. They probably know Qin Yanqing and the others are coming and want to come up and strike up a conversation."
He scoffed, "I guess they haven't figured out the situation yet. They still think they're the Chief Secretary of Jiangzhou. Don't they even realize they're not qualified now?"
"My lords, what should we do?" the servant asked.
Wang coldly waved his hand dismissively:
“Tell him that I am busy today and the governor’s office has important matters to attend to. I do not receive casual guests. Tell him to come another day. If he does not listen or is not respectful, then do not give him face. Just tell him that he is not qualified to attend the meeting this afternoon. He should go back to managing the stables.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Lin Cheng suddenly spoke up: "No, go, invite him over."
Why would you invite him?
Wei Shaoqi and Wang Lengran looked somewhat puzzled, but then they saw Lin Cheng smile and say:
“I have always admired Ouyang Changshi’s talent. Although he was demoted impulsively and has slandered me, I still sincerely want to invite him to help rebuild the Buddha statue in Xingzifang. I will let bygones be bygones.”
Wang Lengran suddenly realized, and took a breath: "To kill someone, you must first destroy their spirit. Young Master Lin's move is ruthless."
"Haha, Brother Lin really knows how to have fun."
Wei Shaoqi laughed and waved his hand, saying, "Let's go. Let's go out and see. We need to invite Ouyang Lianghan."
Wei Shaoqi, Lin Cheng, and the other two left the hall.
When they arrived at the gate of the mansion, they immediately saw Ouyang Rong and Pei Shisan Niang's convoy blocking their way.
The atmosphere on the field was initially a bit awkward.
Wei Shaoqi walked out of the gate and asked with a smile, "Ouyang Lianghan? What a rare guest! What brings you to the governor's mansion?"
Ouyang Rong got straight to the point: "I heard there's a meeting this afternoon, I wonder if it would be possible to..."
"Yes, yes, Ouyang Sima, please come in too."
Lin Cheng reached out to grab Ouyang Rong's sleeve, but Ouyang Rong silently took a half-step back to avoid him. Lin Cheng wasn't annoyed and continued earnestly:
"However, I would like to ask Sima Ouyang for a favor and help me with the construction of the Xingzifang Buddha. Once it is completed, I will personally recommend Sima Ouyang for credit. What do you say?"
Wang coldly curled his lip, turning his head to the side as if talking to himself:
"Young Master Lin is truly magnanimous, unlike someone who was so impolite and rude to you before... The difference in their character is obvious. But it's alright, now that we've met, a smile can erase all grudges. Anyone would feel guilty, right?"
A crowd of officials and commoners gathered around to watch.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, these sounds could be heard throughout the entire venue.
All eyes turned to Ouyang Rong, who was at the center of the storm.
Faced with Lin Cheng's sincere smile and the various serious expressions of the others, Ouyang Rong remained quiet for a moment, looked at Lin Cheng's face seriously, stuffed the letter back into his sleeve, turned around, and left.
"Oh, Ouyang Sima is quite arrogant," Wang Lengran said with a smile.
Lin Cheng maintained his smile, watching the tall, aloof figure disappear into the distance.
Wei Shaoqi, who was watching coldly, chuckled and shook his head.
Pei Shisan Niang watched the show cautiously from the sidelines, observing the expressions and demeanor of the important figures on stage, as well as the desolate figure of the young man who calmly walked away.
Shen Bingqiang, a wealthy businessman standing to the side, touched his gold ring as he watched the commotion, a look of satisfaction on his face, and hummed under his breath.
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and the banners of the knights could be seen in the distance.
"This banner... it belongs to Chief Secretary Qin, Quartermaster Zhang, and Transport Supervisor Qin. They have finally arrived."
Lin Cheng, Wei Shaoqi, and Wang Lengran exchanged a glance and smiled.
The three quickly tidied themselves up and went to greet him.
The bluestone slabs of the entire street trembled, as if they were about to be crushed by the "clattering" sound.
Upon encountering Lin Cheng and his group, the troop of knights, still bearing the lingering aura of bloodshed from the front lines, reined in their horses and slowly came to a stop.
The leader of this group of knights was a spirited young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He wore light armor, had a fair complexion, and a resolute and serious gaze. His demeanor was somewhat similar to that of Qin Heng, the Righteous Captain, and he was clearly a soldier by birth.
"General Qin, you've worked hard..."
Before Lin Cheng and the others could even exchange a few pleasantries, Qin Yanqing, the leader, immediately launched into a barrage of questions:
Where is Ouyang Lianghan?
"What? Who?"
"ah?"
Seeing the stunned expressions on the faces of everyone in front of the mansion gate, Qin Yanqing waved his hand and asked anxiously:
"It's the current Sima of Jiangzhou, Ouyang Lianghan, that should be his current position. I saw him briefly when I passed through Jiangzhou last time... You gentlemen should recognize him, right? I heard he came here, and we just went around in circles to the Jiangzhou main hall and the Xunyang Prince's residence, but we couldn't find him. Have you seen him?"
Wei Shaoqi, Wang Lengran, Shen Bingqiang and others composed themselves, while Pei Shisan Niang couldn't help but turn her head to look at a tall, slender figure at the street corner.
"What does Chief Clerk Qin want with Military Commander Ouyang?" Lin Cheng asked cautiously.
Qin Yanqing ignored him, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, looked around, and seemed to see a certain figure out of the corner of his eye. His eyes lit up and he rode forward.
“Ouyang Sima”.
The young, rising star of the Qin family immediately dismounted and, leading his imposing generals including the quartermaster and transport officer, bowed deeply to the bewildered Ouyang Rong.
"Second Uncle... Marshal Qin ordered me to come to you and personally invite Sima Ouyang to the central army camp to serve as my temporary Chief Secretary! Marshal Qin said that Sima Ouyang is a rare talent of the nation and ordered me to treat him with the respect due to a teacher, to observe him carefully and learn from him."
Qin Yanqing's eyes sparkled as she spoke loudly, then she turned to the stunned Wang Lengran and the others, casually cupping her fists in a perfunctory gesture:
"Oh, by the way, I would like to ask Governor Wang and other officials in Jiangzhou to be generous and give the honorary position of Ouyang Sima to our frontline expeditionary army!"
"On behalf of the Grand Marshal, I, Qin, thank you all."
Countless gazes were cast upon Ouyang Rong, who stood at the end of the street with his sleeves tucked in.
The entire street gradually fell into a deathly silence.
(End of this chapter)
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