Chapter 694 No one understands the Great Buddha better than me! [Available for subscription! Requesting monthly votes mid-month!]
"How long have you been waiting, Lady Rong?"
"I was delayed by some business and it took me half an hour. Um, I sent someone to inform you. Lady Rong should have received the message by now. Why were you waiting by the roadside just now?"
"Ms. Rong, please slow down..."
In the morning, a thick fog blanketed the area.
A misty fog from the Yangtze River enveloped the entire Twin Peaks.
The official road outside Shuangfengjian was heavily guarded.
Everywhere along the roadside, one can see elite soldiers in white robes and armor, patrolling in groups or occupying high ground as sentries.
This official road leads to the Xunyang Grottoes inside Shuangfengjian. In the past, no one visited it, but today it has been blocked off from all outsiders. Even government officials or teams that need to enter Shuangfengjian must be strictly checked.
Ouyang Rong, who had arrived from Xunyang City as agreed, had just stepped off his carriage when he saw a familiar figure of a young girl in palace attire ahead.
She stood by the roadside, surrounded by a group of female officials from the Censorate and military officers from the White Tiger Guard.
The surrounding mountains and forests were shrouded in mist, and Rongzhen's beautiful face seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, waiting in the cold.
Upon seeing Ouyang Rong arrive, she turned and walked inside.
Ouyang Rong got off the bus carrying a violin case. He was a little slow, so when he saw this, he turned around and told Ali a few words before chasing after him with the violin case in his arms.
Ouyang Rong asked a few more questions out of curiosity, but Rong Zhen walked forward quickly without saying a word.
Ali and the carriage remained outside Twin Peaks, where a gentle female official led them to the stables of a nearby military camp.
Earlier, when Rong Zhen came out early and waited eagerly by the official road, the female officials of the Censorate and the generals of the White Tiger Guard who were strictly guarding the checkpoint were a little puzzled and kept glancing at her, wondering why this strict and demanding female historian had come out to sunbathe.
Seeing this, they immediately shut their eyes and focused on their own thoughts, not even bothering to check on Ouyang Rong, who was dressed in a scarlet official robe, and let him follow them inside...
"How is the situation here, Lady Rong?"
Rongzhen, standing ahead, did not answer.
Ouyang Rong took two quick steps forward to stand beside her, frequently turning his head to examine the profile of the girl in palace attire.
Rongzhen never looked at him.
Ouyang Rong looked somewhat embarrassed:
"I apologize for keeping Ms. Rong waiting."
She said calmly, "I just arrived, I didn't wait."
"Then I shouldn't be late."
"It's alright. You've already sent someone to inform me, which is very kind of you. I'm honored."
"Please don't say that, Lady Rong. I feel ashamed."
"Don't feel guilty. You are Ouyang Lianghan, a scholar of the Xiuwen Academy. So what if you are a little late? Just laugh it off. Who is the blind fool who dares to make a fuss? They don't know what's good for them. I'll teach them a lesson."
"..."
Ouyang Rong felt a little guilty:
"Ms. Rong is joking."
Rongzhen suddenly turned around and looked into his eyes.
"You brought quite a few trinkets. No wonder you're so late. You must have been saying goodbye to your lovers all this time. You were so focused on them, giving them amulets and skirt-suppressing knives. You two are really in love. Looks like you've won them over?"
Ouyang Rong subconsciously touched the skirt-shaped sword and amulet at her waist:
"Is this what you mean, Lady Historian?"
Rongzhen didn't even glance at the two objects, her eyes fixed straight ahead, and interrupted, saying:
"Alright, enough talk. Get on the boat and cross the river. Once we reach the north bank, prepare for a body search."
Ouyang Rong looked up and realized that the two of them had just passed through a dense forest, with a river breeze blowing in their faces and their view suddenly opening up.
After a tributary of the Xunyang River was opened up in the middle of Shuangfengjian, it was divided into North Peak and South Peak, with a tributary of the river in the middle that is beneficial for flood discharge.
The Xunyang Grottoes are built on the north bank, backed by the cliffs of the North Peak. The Buddha statue sits facing south, overlooking the city of Xunyang below.
Ouyang Rong left the city through the west gate and has now arrived at the south bank, where he needs to cross the river.
A boat was moored at the ferry crossing on the south bank, with several female officials standing guard beside it.
Looking out over the river, where the morning mist still lingers, there is not a single sail.
Since Rongzhen led the female officials of the Censorate to take over the Xunyang Grottoes, the Shuangfengjian ferry crossing has been closed, and no outsiders are allowed to dock there except for those carrying materials for the creation of statues.
"Um."
Ouyang Rong followed Rong Zhen onto the small boat.
The female official who was guarding the boat did not board; only Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen were on board.
Before Ouyang Rong could react, the small boat had already started moving on its own without any wind, heading towards the north bank at a slightly faster speed.
Rong Zhen ignored Ouyang Rong and stood at the bow of the boat with her sleeves up.
There were neither sails nor oars, and it was unknown what kind of power propelled the boat.
Ouyang Rong, who sat down with his zither case in hand, glanced at Rong Zhen's embroidered shoes that were touching the deck of the boat.
Ouyang Rong's attention did not linger on this for long.
He looked up at the majestic Buddha statue inside the grotto on the north bank.
Through the hazy mist on the river, one can vaguely see the headless Buddha statue, sitting against the north cliff, looking somewhat desolate. The massive Buddha statue is devoid of the laborers who used to swarm around it during its construction, suggesting that work has ceased.
But just then, Ouyang Rong glanced at the surrounding river surface out of the corner of his eye.
He discovered that he and Rongzhen were not the only ones on the river in their small boat.
Amidst the white mist on the river, several official boats could be vaguely seen at uncertain distances.
On the official ship, the figures of soldiers in black robes and black armor could be vaguely seen moving about.
They were members of the Xuanwu Guard, under the command of Wei Mi.
"arrive."
"Rong Zhen suddenly said from the front."
As Ouyang Rong looked up, he noticed a piece of land suddenly appearing in the white fog. By the time he realized what was happening, the ship beneath his feet had already crashed into the dock.
"Lady Rongzhen, why did it take you so long to go fetch someone? If you don't come back soon, I'll think you've encountered some rebels."
A tall, aloof woman in white armor walked out from the north bank dock.
Rongzhen lowered her eyes and did not answer.
Ouyang Rong casually handed her the zither case, which Rong Zhen took and held in her arms.
The two of them have recently been learning to play the piano, and they often carry this item with them.
Ouyang Rong glanced at Yi Qianqiu, then looked behind her.
A dense array of white-armored soldiers stood on the dock, all silent and austere, their white robes and armor blending into the misty fog, as if they had become part of the background.
However, the white tiger masks on their faces revealed tiger mouths with fangs, curving downwards.
If you don't look closely, they look unhappy.
The entire dock was under strict guard by the White Tiger Guards.
“Prefect Ouyang, I apologize. Although the grotto was built by you and your men, it has been under our full control since last night. You will be searched before entering the grotto.”
Yi Qianqiu spoke in a cool and indifferent tone, and immediately, White Tiger Armored Warriors stepped forward to examine Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong waved his hand:
"I'll do it myself."
As he spoke, he drew his skirt knife, revealing the blade, and then removed his amulet, gesturing to the female officers searching around him.
"Open this and take a look."
Yi Qianqiu pointed to the zither case in Rong Zhen's arms.
"This is for my zither practice."
Rong Zhen shook his head, but still handed it over casually.
Yi Qianqiu took it personally and walked aside.
"A zither? Why does it feel so heavy inside?"
Ouyang Rong did not answer.
Yi Qianqiu opened the zither case, looked down at it, and his expression froze slightly.
The female investigators behind her were also stunned.
"What's this?"
Yi Qianqiu took out a jar of chicken soup, two bowls of sesame soup, and four still-warm flatbreads from his zither case, looking at the two with a slightly strange expression:
"You two are learning the piano, and the food is pretty good."
Rong Zhen's pretty face immediately flushed slightly, and she turned around to glare at Ouyang Rong.
"Couldn't you have eaten outside? Why bring it here? Can't you be serious? This is a serious business trip."
Ouyang Rong coughed.
After a short while, Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen each tasted the soup noodles and were allowed to enter.
It was just a routine inspection, only a bit stricter. These past few days, even Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen have had to follow the regulations.
Leaving the North Shore Wharf, Rongzhen turned back with a disgruntled expression, seemingly complaining:
"Don't bring it next time. You may not feel ashamed, but I do. A dignified governor of Jiangzhou, bringing breakfast on official business..."
Rong Zhen paused, noticing that Ouyang Rong's gaze had passed over her head and landed on the large Buddha statue in the grotto not far away.
Rong Zhen's expression was not surprised upon seeing this.
She waited for a while.
Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze and said somewhat apologetically:
“Ms. Rong called me over last night, but I wasn’t prepared and postponed it until this morning. I felt a little embarrassed, so I asked my aunt to make some soup. Also, before leaving the city this morning, I happened to pass by my usual breakfast stall and bought some sesame soup and pancakes. I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t expect you to be so strict. We all have to be searched…”
Rong Zhen pursed her lips and remained silent, letting out a soft hum, then turned away, saying, "This is the last time."
Ouyang Rong's gaze immediately fell on the Donglin Buddha in front of him, his eyes staring intently at it.
Rong Zhen, standing ahead, chuckled and asked:
"how?"
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"sharp."
Before him, the Xunyang Grottoes were bustling with noise, teeming with people, and teeming with activity.
The quiet atmosphere we had when crossing the river on the bank was completely gone. I don't know how these sounds couldn't travel further; they could only be heard when we got close to the grotto.
What's even more astonishing is that not long ago, when Ouyang Rong looked out over the river, the desolate, abandoned headless Buddha statue was now covered with densely packed figures, working overtime to carve and repair it.
Different distances result in different views.
They are completely different scenes.
Rong Zhen said calmly:
"When it comes to formations, our Yin-Yang School is the true ancestor. The Yunmeng Sword Swamp isn't even worthy of carrying shoes for the Imperial Observatory."
"However, we also owe a great deal to the assistance of the Xuanwu Guard."
Ouyang Rong recalled the boats shrouded in mist on the river and asked:
"The Xuanwu Guard can also set up formations? Did they create those white mists? Is this illusion created by your Imperial Observatory or the White Tiger Guard? How many formations are there here? If they can create illusions and block out sound, what else can they do?"
Rong Zhen snorted coldly: "I remember someone didn't pass the confidentiality investigation of this prison. Well, I'll not tell you."
Ouyang Rong chuckled and clasped his hands in a fist salute.
After a stick of incense had burned, Rongzhen led Ouyang Rong to a bamboo forest.
We stopped in front of a secluded bamboo house:
"It's a bit simple here, but you can stay here for now and tidy up. I live right next door, very close. If you need anything, just come to me."
"good."
Before leaving, Rongzhen unceremoniously took the chicken soup and sesame soup with her, casually saying:
"We're hungry right now, so let's have piano lessons this afternoon. From now on, we'll schedule them all for the afternoon and try to finish before the Buddha statue is completed, within ten days."
"OK."
Rong Zhen took a few steps forward, then suddenly said without turning her head:
“Ouyang Lianghan, I won’t let you off easy. After the project is finished, I’ll take you to see something as a gift. I’ll make sure you like it.”
"What gift?"
"Let's talk about it after it's completed... These past few days, I've suddenly come to understand why you like these kinds of projects that benefit the country and its people. The moment they're completed, they truly inspire awe and bring an unparalleled sense of accomplishment."
Rongzhen muttered a few words in her sleep, then leisurely departed.
Ouyang Rong stayed in the room, tidied himself up, and changed out of his scarlet official robes into a comfortable, everyday blue scholar's robe.
I sat cross-legged in front of the door and looked around the small courtyard.
He patted the dust off his sleeves and slowly closed his eyes.
On the south bank, near a military stable outside Shuangfengjian, a zither case was making a "clunking" sound inside a carriage.
A faint clang of swords could be heard.
Under the eaves, a smile appeared on Ouyang Rong's lips.
The distance was just right, at the edge of the maximum distance at which he could recall [Craftsmanship].
This is the expanded sword control range that comes with the Sword Master's advancement to the seventh rank. It allows the user to recall the Cauldron Sword and protect its master.
Besides this, there is one thing that Rong Zhen, Yi Qianqiu, and others may not be aware of:
The Xunyang Grottoes, and indeed the entire Shuangfengjian, were planned and constructed by Ouyang Rong from scratch.
Laypeople like them don't realize the extent to which the founder can gain insight.
He had conducted countless on-site investigations and drawn countless sketches of various terrains, often staying up all night.
During this period, Wang Caozhi took over as the supervisor of the construction of the Buddha statue, and under his strict command, he reported on the details every day...
In short, it can be said that Ouyang Rong felt as familiar with Shuangfengjian as if he were returning home.
Aside from the golden Buddha head that he could never get close to, no one understood Shuangfengjian and Donglin Buddha better than him.
This is no joke.
Including the locations of Yi Qianqiu and the White Tiger Guards' defenses and checkpoints that he had calmly observed along the way today, Ouyang Rong had guessed them with great accuracy.
Since there are only so many places in total, there is almost a standard answer to where it is suitable to set up defenses and checkpoints, and where it is suitable to have visible and hidden sentries... It is generally correct.
Unless Yi Qianqiu and other generals are military novices who make haphazard deployments, there's no way to solve the problem, but that's clearly not the case.
So, having walked along all morning, seeing and hearing all that he had, Ouyang Rong was somewhat bored. Along the way, he used his mind to sense and mentally calculate the range of the [Craftsmanship] he could recall, roughly encompassing which locations within the Xunyang Grottoes.
Of course, there were some interesting ones as well. For example, the illusionary formations set up by Rongzhen and the Imperial Observatory were quite interesting.
But it wasn't entirely unexpected, because Rongzhen had already told him about this special plan a few days ago after meeting with the embroiderer.
Ouyang Rong just didn't expect Rong Zhen to implement it so quickly. She acted immediately, and the Lady Historian was decisive and efficient.
In addition to calculating the furthest distance from which to summon the [Craftsman], Ouyang Rong also mentally rehearsed two "tactical retreat" routes.
There was no way around it; having served as the sixth swordsman so many times, he always subconsciously felt that something was amiss, that someone wanted to kill him, especially when he was by the side of a certain persecuted female historian, he became even more cautious.
Hmm, didn't you notice that Ouyang Rong always followed behind the cold, aloof girl? At most, they walked side by side, but he never showed her his back, just in case he turned around one day and saw her with a "smiling face"...
Ouyang Rong let out a long breath.
So far, everything and everyone seems to be going as expected, except for the gift Rong Zhen just mentioned...
A look of confusion appeared on his face.
A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.
He began to have doubts:
"I hope it's a pleasant surprise and not a shock..."
————
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(End of this chapter)
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