Chapter 748 Rong Zhen: Lecherous thieves are easy to catch, but good men are hard to coax.
On a high platform at the foot of the majestic Buddha statue.
Ouyang Rong glanced sideways and saw that her cheeks were slightly puffed out, which, combined with the chubby pink baby fat on the girl's cheeks, made her look like a vengeful little hamster.
"Don't forget, he has already proven that he has the potential to be a legendary swordsman. Swordsmen are rare, and legendary swordsmen are even rarer, appearing only once every hundred years. This time, it just so happens that it has fallen into the hands of a despicable and lewd thief... so we must be even more careful in dealing with him."
"You may not feel it deeply, but every time I fight him, I can find that he has become very different. Of course, one thing remains unchanged, and that is his despicable and shameless nature. Apart from that, he has a lot of strange and tricky moves, and his methods of breaking the deadlock are impossible to guard against... This rate of growth is too fast."
Her eyes were calm and expressionless as she spoke, her demeanor icy, but her enunciation grew increasingly forceful:
"Even if we think he can't break through our moves now, and that we've completely blocked his path, we can't judge a legendary swordsman by common sense. While we're brainstorming and optimizing our strategy, he's also making progress and preparations in secret. He's not necessarily worse than us. Pride comes before a fall."
"The most crucial point is that the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. This advantage is even greater for the swordsman. Once he successfully deploys his sword in a strange and unusual way, we will be injured or killed. Therefore, I think that this time, we cannot wait for him to show himself on his own. That would be too passive. We must take the initiative to attack."
"Therefore, I personally believe that he should also be listed as a first-level danger, on par with Xue Zhongzhu, and a separate plan should be formulated to deal with him."
Rong Zhen finished speaking in a slow, deliberate manner, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube. In the middle of the conversation, those who had objections or were hesitant to speak all swallowed their words.
Everyone nodded in agreement, including Ouyang Rong, who was the first to nod and calmly asked:
"Alright, let's discuss two plans for dealing with this person, one overt and one covert..."
Rongzhen suddenly waved her hand, interrupting him:
"No need. I have already prepared a way to deal with this person. There is no need to trouble you any further."
Before Ouyang Rong could ask any questions, Yi Qianqiu spoke first:
"What method? How many people are needed?"
Granny Song and the others also cast inquiring glances at Rongzhen.
Ouyang Rong glanced around the field and noticed that their expressions were also surprised and puzzled.
This shows that Rongzhen's preparations were not only not told to Ouyang Rong in advance, but also not informed to them or anyone else beforehand!
They only announced it publicly now, at such a crucial moment.
Rong Zhen remained calm, nodded, and slid a string of white jade prayer beads off her wrist, mimicking Ouyang Rong by gently turning them in her palm.
Facing the gazes of the crowd, she said calmly:
"The manpower has been arranged, Commander Yi, don't worry. We won't be drawing troops from your existing forces. I will take full responsibility for this matter."
"What kind of manpower?"
Rongzhen glanced at Duan Quanwu.
Ouyang Rong and Yi Qianqiu also immediately looked over.
The martial artist, whose face had been gloomy all morning, gave a cold laugh and seemed eager to fight.
"As I said before, wherever the owner of this Butterfly Love Flower is, I will be sent there. I will have a good meeting with him. Thank you, Lady Rong, for giving me this opportunity."
"Act according to orders and cooperate with me. If you dare to act impulsively, even Commander Yi will not be able to protect you."
Rong Zhen's expression was indifferent as she issued a warning.
Duan Quanwu chuckled awkwardly and nodded emphatically:
"Understood. I bear some responsibility for the events in Hukou County. Now I am here to atone for my sins through meritorious service."
"Good to know."
Rong Zhen snorted coldly, then suddenly turned around and said to Ouyang Rong:
“Ouyang Lianghan, we haven’t finished talking about the defense deployment yet, and we haven’t explained the arrangements between the Empress and General Duan.”
Ouyang Rong chuckled lightly and spoke in a clear voice:
"It's specifically designed to deal with the owner of Butterfly Love Flower, right? Lady Rong and General Duan personally took action, which is very appropriate. It seems that the kid can't escape now."
As the young governor spoke, he nodded with a resolute expression, indicating that he was happy for his good colleagues and partners.
“That’s right. Once he arrives, he won’t be able to escape within Xunyang City. But before we talk about that, I need to tell you about the Buddha statue. Actually, today, the main focus isn’t on me, Senior Song, or even Elder Yu. All the defenses at Shuangfengjian today are centered around the Buddha statue you built. It’s the real protagonist today, the grand finale, the national treasure…”
At this point, Rongzhen paused, her petite frame looking up at the majestic Buddha, at the lotus inscription, and she sighed with emotion:
“Ouyang Lianghan, you have no idea how significant what we’ve been doing these past few days is. I’ve often stood here looking at them these days, unable to resist taking a few more glances. The day we secretly completed it, I was truly happy and felt a great sense of accomplishment. It’s just that you seem to be very busy, busy going back to the city…”
"Speaking of which, this is something Lin Cheng wanted to do but didn't finish. This giant Buddha statue will be remembered by many people, will live as long as the Great Zhou Dynasty, and will solve the current bandit problem in Tiannan, which is also the biggest destabilizing factor in Jiangnan..."
"Future generations will remember us, not just because of this circle of lotus stone carvings."
Rongzhen spoke with unwavering conviction.
Ouyang Rong smiled and said:
"The Donglin Buddha is also involved in a formation, isn't it?"
"Hmm, coincidentally, are the Great Zhou Songde Tian Shu and the other three Buddha statues also like this, not just simple sculptures?"
Rongzhen sighed softly:
"That's right, pretty much it, Ouyang Lianghan. You really did guess it a long time ago. You're always like this, too smart. So there are some things I don't want to say outright. It's good that we keep our tacit understanding... But now that I've promised you, I won't go back on my word."
A serious expression appeared on her small face as she asked:
"Ouyang Lianghan, do you know about Emperor Wen?"
"I've heard that this sword was made during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Sui Dynasty. The book says that after the dynasty was destroyed, Emperor Taizong acquired it, hid it away, and established an ancestral precept forbidding future imperial descendants from using it..."
Granny Song forcefully interrupted:
"That's the law of the previous dynasty's royal family, and it's their ancestral law. Don't use it to suppress the current monarch."
She corrected Ouyang Rong.
Rongzhen pursed her lips:
"Emperor Taizong is worthy of respect, but it is indeed a thing of the past. Now, the current situation requires it. For the sake of the country and the people, the sage has ordered the Imperial Observatory to unseal this legendary cauldron and sword."
Ouyang Rong was not annoyed, and nodded, saying:
"Oh, so this grand formation is related to the [Emperor Wen]?"
"That's right."
Rong Zhen squinted and said:
"The Emperor Wen is the core of this great formation. The Great Zhou Praise Heavenly Pivot, as well as the four Buddha statues, including the Donglin Buddha, were all built for it and surround it... Not to mention the more complex Praise Heavenly Pivot, the Buddha heads of the four Buddha statues alone cost countless rare and precious materials from the Imperial Observatory's secret treasury, which was extremely expensive."
Ouyang Rong turned around and looked up at the Buddha statue.
He pointed to the golden Buddha head and asked:
"Is Emperor Wen currently inside? Or is part of him inside, or perhaps within the Great Zhou's Praise Center? Can this great array be connected remotely?"
Rong Zhen glanced at him, and under the watchful eyes of Song, Yi, and the others, she didn't answer the question that was beyond her scope, and automatically skipped it.
“Ouyang Lianghan, seeing the Buddha is like seeing Emperor Wen, it’s that simple.”
She stopped short of commenting, paused, and sighed:
“Ouyang Lianghan, you have never seen the Dingjian, nor its power. I have been fortunate enough to witness the might of the Emperor Wen, and it is unforgettable. Even a Qi cultivator is nothing more than a fish on a chopping board in front of it, to be slaughtered at will. The sharpness of the Dingjian against mortal flesh is like the bright moon in the sky against the firefly light on rotten grass, simply destroying everything in its path.”
"Okay, I've learned something."
Ouyang Rong sighed, waited a moment, and seeing that Rong Zhen remained silent for a long time, he asked directly:
"What's the deal with the special quota that Lin Cheng mentioned?"
Rong Zhen lowered her eyes and said:
"Each of the four great Buddhas needs a presiding person, who can be considered a different kind of swordsman. The requirements are relatively lenient, but the selection by the Imperial Observatory is very strict... I have been appointed by His Majesty and the Grand Master of Fate to take one of the spots."
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
"Hahaha."
Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads to look at the young governor who suddenly burst into laughter.
Rong Zhen looked up with some confusion, glanced at Ouyang Rong for a moment, and said with a hint of melancholy in her voice:
"Ouyang Lianghan, do you think you've discovered my ulterior motives? Do you think I've been using you all this time?"
"No, it's not that. It's that I suddenly realized something, a little detail."
Rong Zhen fixed her gaze on him, her voice softening: "What is it?"
Ouyang Rong pointed at the giant Buddha statue, facing the petite, loli-like Lady Historian, and said with a smile:
"So, it was because it was built that Lady Rong came to me that day to discuss today's celebration ceremony, right?"
"You're not doing this to claim credit or reward, but to lure the people of Tiannan Jianghu here, give them time, and then wipe them all out in one fell swoop."
"Including your previous suggestion to secretly build the Buddha statue first, it was also for this purpose. Once the Buddha statue is built and the great formation is completed, we will not be afraid of these rebels. Instead, we will be afraid that they will all run away and not come back."
"So, your Imperial Observatory's trip to Xunyang City in Jiangzhou to oversee the construction of the Buddha statue and perfect the grand formation is just one part of the whole process. Yes, it is undeniably the most important part, but the real goal is far more than that."
"After the Buddha statue is completed, your next step is to take the opportunity to clean up all the dissidents and rebels in the Tiannan Jianghu. That's the important part, right? You can also gain a huge credit by killing everyone in the Tiannan Jianghu and making a bloodbath. You can reap a continuous stream of credit."
Ouyang Rong smiled and said, "I knew it. Given your personality, how could you flatter me like that? I was wondering about it at the time."
Rong Zhen paused for a moment, then stared at him and asked:
"Are you so certain that my grand victory celebration isn't truly just to please His Majesty?"
Although Ouyang Rong smiled, his eyes remained calm, and he said with absolute certainty:
"Lady Rong is a very proud person. The excuse of currying favor with the Emperor might work for Song... or for other palace ladies in Luoyang, but it doesn't work for Lady Rong..."
He shook his head: "Given Ms. Rong's ambition, she would only do great things and make a decisive move. She would disdain such petty tricks as flattery."
Not sure if she had misheard, Granny Song frowned and glanced at Ouyang Rong with a suspicious look in her eyes.
Ouyang Rong ignored her and didn't even look at the old woman who was giving him the cold shoulder.
After listening, Rongzhen remained silent for a moment, then looked away.
Perhaps it was because of the morning sunlight, but her little face, bathed in sunlight, was slightly rosy and pale, as if she were moved.
She took a deep breath and spoke softly:
"First of all, the celebration ceremony is not entirely a lure. I want to give you... well, to help you claim credit and rewards, which is why I invited Yuan Huaimin to come and paint."
"Secondly, today's celebration was indeed intended to lure them into a trap, to capture them all in one fell swoop, and to eliminate any future troubles. If they hadn't come, I would have been disappointed."
"Furthermore, Ouyang Lianghan, the Buddha statue you helped build with all your heart and soul is my greatest source of confidence. Regardless of whether it is completed today or not, your contribution is immense."
"Finally, you misused one word just now. What 'you all'? It should be 'we.' This is not just my achievement, but also yours. Do you understand?"
Ouyang Rong's smile faded, and he shook his head seriously:
"No, it's not me. At least the credit that follows is no longer what I'm pursuing; it's what you want."
"As the local official of Jiangzhou, I have always been in charge of my duties. The stability, prosperity, and abundance of Jiangzhou have always been my top priorities. The reason I was willing to take on the mission of building the Buddha statue was based on this. Not causing unnecessary trouble and financial loss is my bottom line. As for the credit, that comes later."
"At the time, I never expected that this Buddha statue would hold such a mystery... As a result, it attracted these people from Tiannan Jianghu and brought about today's crisis. It is foreseeable that conflicts and struggles over this Buddha statue will still be inevitable after today. Moreover, Xunyang City, which is home to thousands of people, is right next to us, and the golden waterway that is related to Xunyang's prosperity also flows through this area."
Ouyang Rong rubbed his face vigorously and continued:
“Ms. Rong, the current situation has begun to deviate from my original intention and is gradually moving away from my promise to the people of Xunyang that the Buddha statue would not cause them hardship or financial burden.”
"Perhaps, Lady Rong, Deputy Supervisor Song... you people from the capital have a broader vision and a more expansive perspective. You might say that you are standing on the premise of long-term peace and stability south of the Yangtze River and even the entire territory of the Great Zhou, hoping to lure all the dissidents from the Jianghu in the south and wipe them out in one fell swoop."
He lowered his hand, his face expressionless, his tone calm:
"Therefore, even if there are some minor innocent casualties or sacrifices, we can accept it, for the sake of the overall situation. For example, the casualties of the people in this small Xunyang area, or the sacrifice of the prosperity of this small Jiangzhou prefecture, right?"
"I'm sorry, but I lack that vision. My perspective is too narrow. I can only focus on the small city of Xunyang. I just want to ensure that the area is prosperous and stable. I'll avoid fighting if possible, and at least not deliberately provoke Xunyang into attacking..."
Hearing Ouyang Rong's somewhat heavy tone, Rong Zhen's expression seemed completely unsurprised.
She quickly stepped forward and soothed him gently:
"I know, I know, just as you know me. I know you too, Ouyang Lianghan, don't be angry... Don't be angry with me, listen to me..."
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:
"Lady, you anticipated my attitude, which is why you've been delaying telling me about the mysteries of the Buddha. Is it because you're afraid I won't cooperate? All this talk of a secret investigation is just an excuse. You'll wait until the Buddha is completed before telling me. As for the intense reaction from the Tiannan Jianghu region, it's best if it looks like they're just overreacting. Make it seem like they're looking for trouble, inexplicably coming to challenge a Buddha that has nothing to do with them. That way, I'll have no choice but to cooperate with you. Isn't that right, Lady?"
Rongzhen's eyelashes trembled slightly.
(End of this chapter)
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