No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 694 No one understands the Buddha better than me! [Subscription available! Please give me a monthly ticket in the middle of the month!]

"How long has Ms. Rong been waiting?"

"I had something to do and was delayed for half an hour. I sent someone to inform you. Ms. Rong should have received the message. Why was she still waiting on the roadside just now?"

"Ms. Rong, please walk slower..."

There was heavy fog in the morning.

The hazy mist from the Yangtze River enveloped the entire Twin Peaks.

The official road outside Shuangfeng Peak is heavily guarded.

Elite soldiers in white robes and armor can be seen everywhere on the roadside. They are either patrolling in groups or occupying high ground as sentries.

This official road leads to the Xunyang Grottoes inside Shuangfengjian. No one visited it in the past, but today it is checked by checkpoints to block all outsiders. Even if government officials or teams need to enter Shuangfengjian, they must be strictly inspected.

Ouyang Rong, who arrived from Xunyang City as scheduled, had just got off the carriage when he saw a familiar figure of a girl in palace dress in front of him.

She was surrounded by a group of female officials from the Censorate and generals from the White Tiger Guard, standing by the road with her sleeves rolled up.

The surrounding mountains and forests were shrouded in mist, and Rong Zhen's beautiful young face seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, waiting in the cold.

Seeing Ouyang Rong coming, she turned around and walked inside.

Ouyang Rong got off the car holding a violin case, and his movements were a little slow. Seeing this, he turned around and gave Ali a word, then chased 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 were left outside the Twin Peaks and were led by a gentle female officer to the stable of a nearby military camp.

Before this, Rong Zhen had come out early and was waiting eagerly by the official road. Several female officials of the Supervisory Council and generals of the White Tiger Guard who were guarding the checkpoint were a little puzzled. They looked sideways frequently, curious about why this strict and harsh female historian came out to bask in the sun.

Seeing this scene, they immediately looked straight ahead, not even checking on Ouyang Rong, who was wearing a scarlet official uniform, and let him chase in...

"How's the situation here, Ms. Rong?"

The Rong Zhen in front did not answer.

Ouyang Rong took two quick steps forward and walked side by side with her, turning his head frequently to examine the profile of the girl in palace dress.

Rong Zhen never looked at him.

Ouyang Rong looked a little embarrassed:
"Sorry to have kept Ms. Rong waiting for so long."

She said calmly, "Just arrived, not waiting."

"Then I shouldn't be late."

"It's okay. You sent someone to inform me. You're really giving me face. I'm honored."

"Ms. Rong, please don't say that. I feel guilty."

"Don't feel guilty. You are Ouyang Lianghan, a scholar from Xiuwen Academy. It's okay if you're late. Just laugh it off and it will be over. Who is so blind as to keep nagging you? You are shameless and I will teach you a lesson."

"..."

Ouyang Rong felt a little guilty:
"Ms. Rong is joking."

Rong Zhen suddenly turned around and looked into his eyes.

"You brought a lot of little things with you. No wonder you came so late. You must be bidding farewell to your lovers. You put all your thoughts on them. You brought them amulets and skirt-pressing knives. You really have a lot of affection between a man and a woman. It seems like you have coaxed them all?"

Ouyang Rong subconsciously touched the skirt knife and amulet at his waist:

"Is this what Madam Shi said?"

Rong Zhen did not even glance at the two objects, and interrupted, saying:

"Okay, stop talking nonsense, get on the boat and cross the river. When you get to the north bank, prepare to search you."

Ouyang Rong looked up and found that at this moment, the two of them had just passed through a dense forest. The river breeze blew in their faces, and their vision suddenly became clear.

After a tributary of Xunyang River was opened in the middle, Shuangfengjian was divided into North Peak and South Peak, with a river tributary in the middle that is beneficial for flood discharge.

Xunyang Grottoes are built on the north bank, with its back against the rocks of the North Peak. The Giant Buddha faces north and south, facing the Xunyang City below.

Ouyang Rong left the city from the west gate and now has come to the south bank, where he needs to cross the river.

I saw a boat anchored at the south bank ferry, with several female officials guarding the boat.

Looking around, there was not a single sail on the river surface that was shrouded in morning mist.

Ever since Rong Zhen led the female officials of the Supervisory Council to take over the Xunyang Grottoes, the Shuangfengjian ferry has been closed and no outsiders are allowed to dock unless they are carrying materials for making statues.

"Ah."

Ouyang Rong followed Rong Zhen onto the boat.

The female official who was guarding nearby did not board the ship. Only Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen were on board.

Before Ouyang Rong could react, the boat had already sailed towards the north shore at a slightly faster speed without wind.

Rong Zhen ignored Ouyang Rong and stood at the bow with his sleeves rolled up.

There were neither sails nor oars, and no one knew what kind of power propelled the boat.

Ouyang Rong sat down with his violin case in his arms and glanced at Rong Zhen's embroidered shoes that were touching the boat surface.

Ouyang Rong's attention did not stay on this for too long.

He looked up at the towering Buddha in the grottoes on the north bank.

Through the hazy mist on the river surface, one can vaguely see the headless Buddha, sitting with its back against the stone wall of the north cliff, looking a little deserted. The workers who used to build the huge Buddha are no longer seen, as if the work has stopped.

But at this moment, Ouyang Rong glanced at the surrounding river surface.

He discovered that he and Rong Zhen were not the only ones on the river.

In the white mist on the river, there were faintly visible government ships whose distances were difficult to determine.

On the official ship, the figures of soldiers in black robes and black armor could be vaguely seen moving around.

They are from the Xuanwu Guard commanded by Wei Mi.

"arrive."

Rong Zhen in front suddenly said.

Ouyang Rong was looking past when he saw a piece of land suddenly emerging from the white fog. When he reacted, the ship under his feet had already crashed into the dock.

"Ms. Rong Zhen, why did it take you so long to pick someone up? If you don't come back, I will think you have met a rebel."

A tall and cold woman in white armor walked out from the north shore pier.

Rong Zhen lowered his eyes and did not answer.

Ouyang Rong casually handed the violin case to her, Rong Zhen took it and held it in her arms.

The two of them have been learning to play the piano recently, and they often carry this thing with them.

Ouyang Rong looked at Yi Qianqiu and then looked behind her.

Densely packed white-armored soldiers stood on the dock, all silent and stern. The white robes and armor they wore blended faintly into the white mist, as if they had become the background.

However, the white tiger masks on their faces revealed their fang-like tiger mouths, curved downward.

If you don't look closely, they look unhappy.

The entire dock was under strict guard by the White Tiger Guards.

"My apologies, Governor Ouyang. Although the cave was built by you and your people, we have taken full control of it since last night. You will need to be searched when you enter the cave."

Yi Qianqiu spoke indifferently, and a White Tiger soldier immediately stepped forward to check Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong waved his hand:

"I will do it myself."

As he spoke, he took out his skirt knife, showed the blade, untied the amulet, and signaled to the female officials around him who were conducting the search.

"Open this and have a look."

Yi Qianqiu pointed at the violin case in Rong Zhen's arms.

"I use it to learn the piano."

Rong Zhen shook his head, but still handed it over. Yi Qianqiu took it personally and walked aside.

"Qin? Why is it so heavy inside?"

Ouyang Rong didn't answer.

Yi Qianqiu opened the piano case, looked down, and his face was slightly stunned.

The several female search officers behind her were also stunned.

"what is this?"

Yi Qianqiu took out a can of chicken soup, two bowls of sesame soup, and four still-hot pancakes from his piano case, and looked at the two of them with a slightly strange expression:

"You two are learning piano, and the food is pretty good."

Rong Zhen's pretty face suddenly blushed and she turned around and glared at Ouyang Rong.

"Can you finish your meal outside? Why bring it here? Can you be serious? We are here for serious business."

Ouyang Rong coughed.

After a while, after Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen each tried the soup noodles, they were allowed in.

It was just a routine inspection, but it was a bit strict. These days, even Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen had to follow the regulations.

After leaving the North Shore Pier, Rong Zhen turned back in displeasure, complaining:
"Don't bring it next time. If you don't feel ashamed, I will. As the governor of Jiangzhou, I still bring breakfast when I come to work..."

Rong Zhen paused and found that Ouyang Rong's eyes passed over her head and fell on the giant Buddha in the cave not far away.

Rong Zhen didn't look surprised when he saw this.

She waited for a while.

Ouyang Rong retracted his gaze and said apologetically:

"Ms. Rong asked me to come last night, but I wasn't ready, so I postponed it until the morning. I felt a little embarrassed, so I asked my aunt to stew some soup. Also, before leaving the city this morning, I happened to pass by the breakfast shop I often eat at, so I bought some sesame soup and pancakes. I didn't think much about it, but I didn't expect you to be so strict. We all had to be searched..."

Rong Zhen pursed his lips and said nothing. He snorted softly, said "this won't happen again", and turned away.

Ouyang Rong's gaze immediately fell on the Donglin Buddha in front of him, and he looked at it intently.

Rong Zhen in front of him chuckled and asked:

"how?"

Ouyang Rong nodded:

"sharp."

In front of him, the interior of the Xunyang Grottoes was extremely noisy, with crowds of people flowing and bustling.

The quiet atmosphere when crossing the river on the shore was gone. I don’t know how these sounds could not be heard. They could only be heard when I walked close to the cave.

What is even more shocking is that when Ouyang Rong was gazing at the river in the distance not long ago, the headless Buddha that had been idle for a long time was now covered with densely packed figures, working overtime to carve and construct it.

What you see varies depending on the distance.

It's two completely different scenes.

Rong Zhen said calmly:
"In terms of formations, our Yin-Yang family is the ancestor. Yunmeng Jianze is not even worthy of carrying shoes for the Sitianjian.

"However, it is also thanks to the assistance of the Xuanwu Guards."

Ouyang Rong thought of the boats in the fog on the river and asked:
"The Black Tortoise Guards can also set up formations? Did they create the white fog? Is this sleight of hand from your Sitianjian or the White Tiger Guards? How many formations are there here? After setting up sleight of hand, and blocking out the sound, what else can it do?"

Rong Zhen snorted coldly: "I remember that someone seems to have failed the confidentiality investigation of this prison. Well, I'm sorry to inform you."

Ouyang Rong laughed and clasped his fists.

After a stick of incense, Rong Zhen brought Ouyang Rong to a bamboo forest.

Stopping in front of a secluded bamboo house:

"It's a bit shabby here, you can live here first and clean up. I live next door, very close. If you need anything, come to me."

"it is good."

Before leaving, Rong Zhen took away the chicken soup and sesame soup without hesitation, and said casually:
"I'm just hungry. Let's study piano in the afternoon. From now on, we'll schedule it in the afternoon. We'll try to finish it before the Buddha is finished, within ten days."

"Row."

Rong Zhen walked forward a few steps, and suddenly said without turning his head:

"Ouyang Lianghan, I won't eat your food for nothing. After I finish, I'll take you to see something. It's a gift. You will like it."

"what gift?"

"Let's talk about it after it's completed... In the past few days, I suddenly understand why you like this kind of construction that benefits the country and the people. The moment it's completed, it really makes people yearn for it, and the sense of accomplishment is incomparable."

Rong Zhen muttered a few words and left leisurely.

Ouyang Rong stayed in the house, tidied himself up, changed out of his crimson official uniform and put on a comfortable, everyday green Confucian robe.

He sat cross-legged in front of the door and looked around the courtyard.

He brushed the dust off his sleeves and slowly closed his eyes.

On the south bank, next to a stable of a military camp outside Shuangfeng Peak, a violin case was making a clattering sound in a carriage.

There was a faint sound of swords.

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 sword control range that is expanded after the sword wielder's Dao Meridian is promoted to the seventh level. He can recall the Ding Sword to protect the sword master.

Besides this, Rong Zhen, Yi Qianqiu and others may not be clear about one thing:
This Xunyang Grottoes, and even the entire Shuangfeng Peak, were planned and constructed by Ouyang Rong from scratch.

As outsiders, they don't know the extent of insight that the founders can have.

He didn't know how many times he had conducted field surveys and how many sketches of various terrains he had drawn while staying up all night.

These days, Wang Caozhi was in charge of the construction of the Buddha statue, and under his strict command, he reported the details every day...

All in all, it can be said that Ouyang Rong felt as familiar with Shuangfeng Peak as returning home.

Except for the golden Buddha head that had never been approachable, no one knew Shuangfeng Peak and Donglin Buddha better than him.

This is no joke.

Including the deployment positions and checkpoints of Yi Qianqiu and the White Tiger Guards, which he had seen with a calm face throughout the day, Ouyang Rong guessed them almost exactly.

Because there are only so many places in total, where is suitable for setting up defenses and checkpoints, where is suitable for setting up visible and hidden sentries... it is almost a standard answer and is generally correct.

Unless generals like Yi Qianqiu are rookies in the army and make random moves, there is nothing we can do, but it is obviously not the case.

So as he walked along this morning, seeing and hearing all that he had seen, Ouyang Rong felt a little bored. He used his mind to sense things along the way, silently calculating the scope of the recalled [craftsmanship] and roughly covering which locations within the Xunyang Grottoes.

Of course, it's not that there is no interest at all. For example, the illusion formations set up by Rong Zhen and Si Tianjian are quite interesting.

But it was not unexpected, because Rong Zhen had already told him about this special plan after meeting the embroiderer a few days ago.

However, Ouyang Rong did not expect Rong Zhen to implement it so quickly. She did what she said and acted decisively and efficiently.

In addition to calculating the maximum distance to summon the [Craftsman] along the way, Ouyang Rong also rehearsed two "tactical transition" retreat routes in his mind.

There was no way. Old Six had been a sword-wielding man for many times, and he always subconsciously felt that something was up and someone was going to kill him, especially when he was around a certain lady who had been persecuted, so he became even more cautious.

Well, didn’t you see that Ouyang Rong always followed the cold palace-dressed girl, at most walking side by side, never showing her his back, just because he was afraid that one day he would turn around and see her “smile”…

Ouyang Rong let out a long breath.

At present, everything is as expected, but the gift Rong Zhen just mentioned...

A look of doubt appeared on his face.

"A woman's heart is like a needle in the sea."

He began to murmur:
"I hope it's a surprise and not a shock..."

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(End of this chapter)