No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 738: Dangers lurking everywhere [Please give me a monthly ticket! ]

The hall was quiet for a moment, Rong Zhen turned around and asked:

"Ouyang Lianghan, what are you thinking about?"

Ouyang Rong raised his head, as if coming to his senses:
"Regarding the incident in Hukou County, it was normal for the pirates to launch a counterattack while Duan Quanwu was away with his men, but what was strange was why the soldiers who stayed behind were so easily defeated and they were able to occupy Hukou County.

"The pirates had failed to capture Hukou County in previous trips, but they were able to do it with ease this time. Isn't it strange?"

Rong Zhen also nodded thoughtfully:

“That makes sense.”

Ouyang Rong continued to ask:

"How many soldiers did Duan Quanwu leave in Hukou County before he left? How many did he take with him?"

"Leave three hundred armors behind, and take three hundred armors away."

"Are they all elite White Tiger Guards?"

"Almost. There were originally 600 soldiers there, and the most elite 300 soldiers were brought back by Duan Quanwu. Although the remaining 300 soldiers are not the most elite, they are also good enough. They are standard White Tiger Guards."

Ouyang Rong nodded slightly and said:

"That's right. Even if it was a normal 300 White Tiger Guards, they were enough to easily wipe out the two middle-grade Qi Refiners. But they were still directly annihilated by the counterattack of this group of pirates. The strength of the pirates should not be underestimated. Judging from the results, the combat power of the 300 remaining soldiers is far inferior to theirs."

In Ouyang Rong's impression, the three hundred White Tiger Guards were indeed very intimidating, so he was a little surprised when he heard the news from Hukou County. He remembered that Ouyang Rong had used Qin Yanqing's three hundred Black Tortoise Guards to cleanse all the spies of the Tiannan Jianghu rebels in Xunyang City. In terms of combat power alone, in terms of the positioning of the imperial court's North and South Yamen's imperial guards, the White Tiger Guards were even stronger than the Black Tortoise Guards.

Ouyang Rong knew very well that once this kind of organized military machine specifically targeting Qi Refiners was activated, three hundred people would be enough to force middle-grade Qi Refiners to take a detour. But now they were crushed by the enemy, which was not normal at all.

Rong Zhen seconded:
"That's right, but Duan Quanwu's people had discovered a Qi Refiner among these pirates before, and they had reported it, but they didn't expect him to be so powerful. Maybe there are reinforcements, and Yunmeng Jianze's Junyue girl is hiding among them."

She frowned and said:
"As for why they counterattacked right after Duan Quanwu's men left, is there such a possibility that this is a coincidence? Duan Quanwu had mentioned long ago that he would bring his troops back on the day of the celebration, and today is the day of the Great Buddha Celebration, which is the day when the rebels in the Tiannan Jianghu are most likely to take action."

Ouyang Rong tilted his head: "What do you mean?"

"It means that this group of rebels not only wanted to counterattack, but also planned to wipe out Duan Quanwu and all the other soldiers. They had already mobilized enough manpower from the rebels in Tiannan Jianghu and were ready. However, Duan Quanwu happened to take half of the soldiers away, so they were missed and not all of them were captured."

Ouyang Rong thought about it and nodded: "It is possible."

He looked outside the door and asked:

"Where are Duan Quanwu and the others?"

"I received them at Shuangfengjian Ferry and ordered him to immediately take the soldiers back to Xunyang Grottoes to set up defenses."

"Hmm." Ouyang Rong had a thoughtful look on his face, mainly thinking of Wang Caozhi, Lu Ya and others who had been sent over.

Duan Quanwu has already returned. Not to mention Wang Caozhi, logically Lu Ya should have followed Duan Quanwu back. However, until now, he has not returned to the palace to protect the prince. He is a little late, and no one knows what he has experienced.

I don't know if the two of them encountered the pirates who occupied Hukou County? If so, it might be a bit bad.

However, it is also possible that they left before the pirates occupied Hukou County and did not encounter the counterattack of the pirates behind them.

While Ouyang Rong was thinking quickly, Rong Zhen asked in a cold voice:
"Ouyang Lianghan, what do you think these pirates are going to do? When they get close to Xunyang City, where will they attack from?"

Ouyang Rong pondered:
"Now that they have the government's large ships, they can engage in naval warfare. After arriving in Xunyang, there are only two ways to attack the Buddha.

"One is to land at Shuangfengjian Ferry in a conventional way, occupy the south bank of Shuangfengjian where the ferry is located, and after gaining a foothold, cut off the connection between Xunyang City and Xunyang Grottoes, isolate the big Buddha in the main grotto on the north bank and our remaining forces, and start the assault.

"One is to use the government's large ships to control the ferry instead of going to the ferry. Instead, turn directly and enter the Shuangfengjian waterway from the Yangtze River fork. This way, we can forcibly land on the main grotto on the north bank, or we can anchor on the waterway to engage in a naval battle and attack the Buddha and the crowd on the shore."

Rong Zhen nodded slowly: "It's similar to what I thought. Which one do you think is more likely?"

Ouyang Rong said bluntly:
"Looking at their manpower, if they have already gathered all their manpower in Hukou County, then the second option is naturally the most suitable, and we can strike with lightning speed.

"If the people are not gathered yet, then we can use the former method. Then, this group of pirates will land on the south bank to tear open the gap in the defense of Shuangfeng Peak, which has always been as solid as a rock. We will wait for the rebels in Tiannan Jianghu to gather, and then attack the Buddha on the north bank. We will take our time."

Rong Zhen looked somewhat admiring and nodded heavily:
"Okay, let's make preparations for both scenarios. We need to devise defensive counterattacks for both scenarios."

She frowned and looked at the sky outside, and urged:

"Ouyang Lianghan, it's getting late. Don't delay here. Come back to Xunyang Grottoes with me and make arrangements for defense."

Ouyang Rong looked calm and nodded:

"That's fine, but I have to inform the prince first."

Rong Zhen asked directly:

"Will your Majesty go today?"

Ouyang Rong groaned: "If it is not necessary, stay in the city. It is best not to let the prince take risks."

The girl in palace dress nodded: "I think so too. Let Li Congshan, Miaozhen and the others guard the palace."

Ouyang Rong did not comment and got up and left.

"Madam Rong, please wait a moment."

"Come back soon."

"Ah."

As soon as Ouyang Rong walked outside, he saw Yan Liulang, who was wandering and waiting on the corridor not far away, probably waiting for Ouyang Rong to finish his conversation with Rong Zhen.

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, the so-called notifying the prince was just to delay time. He wanted to delay a little longer to verify the news, but he couldn't tell Rong Zhenming.

Before Ouyang Rong went to the study to meet Li Xian's family, he first took Yan Liulang to an open space in the garden nearby.

He asked with a calm expression:

"Why is it so urgent?"

"Something's wrong with the Ming Mansion. Hukou County..."

Yan Liulang was anxious and reported the latest intelligence from Hukou County through the government channels, including the pirates who had boarded the ship and were coming down the river. The location of the ship they hijacked was uncertain, and it was unknown when they would arrive in Xunyang...

After hearing this, Ouyang Rong's face did not show any surprise. After all, he had just heard about it from Rong Zhen, and now it was more about filling in the gaps.

Yan Liulang asked curiously, "Does the Ming Mansion already know about this?"

Ouyang Rong nodded and asked again:

"Has the person who was watching over Xunyang Ferry sent any news? Has Taoist Lu returned?"

Yan Liulang shook his head:
"No, but Wang Caozhi sent a few of his trusted followers back, saying that they were replacing Taoist Lu Ya and followed Duan Quanwu and his party by boat along the waterway..."

"What about Lu Ya? He's not coming back today?"

"I'm back, but before I left early yesterday morning, Wang Caozhi called me to help, so I may be back later."

Hearing this, Ouyang Rong lowered his head and remained silent, feeling a little relieved.

Although Lu Ya did not come back, at least he was by Wang Caozhi's side, so the latter's safety was guaranteed. Even if Hukou County was captured, he should be able to escape.

Ouyang Rong still has great confidence in Lu Ya's strength.

Ouyang Rong suddenly looked up:
"Go to the governor's mansion to get my governor's seal. I'll wait for you here. Come back quickly."

"Yes, Mingfu."

Yan Liulang left like a whirlwind. Ouyang Rong turned around and continued to head towards the study.

In the back garden, in the study.

The Lixian family has been waiting for a long time.

After Ouyang Rong arrived, he directly repeated the information just revealed by Rong Zhen and Yan Liulang.

"Did Rong Zhen put that secret letter there?"

Xie Lingjiang asked first.

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Not sure yet, she didn't answer my question."

Li Guoer said: "Since she is anonymous, she just doesn't want us to know her identity."

Li Xian asked, "Tan Lang, the Great Buddha is in danger, what should our palace do?" Ouyang Rong was silent for a while, took out the secret letter again, and looked down at it.

If not on the table, then on the recipes...

For some reason, every time he read this letter, he had a feeling that someone was secretly spying on him, which was a very bad feeling.

Li Guoer asked directly:
"Should we help with the Buddha? It seems that the pirates from Tiannan Jianghu may take action today. If we help, they may retaliate. Ouyang Lianghan, are you sure Rong Zhen can stop them today?"

Ouyang Rong did not answer, but said softly: "I wrote a letter a few days ago and went to the front-line central army camp."

Li Guoer couldn't help but look at him with admiration.

The two looked at each other from a distance.

Li Guoer raised an eyebrow and did not ask in detail whether the reinforcements from Qin Jingzhen's side were coming to support the Big Buddha, or to support the palace or pick up people and run away.

She asked again: "By the way, where is Lu Ya? Why hasn't he come back yet?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It should be soon."

Li Xian looked worried, looked at his little daughter and Tan Lang, and asked:
"Has Tan Lang prepared these back-up plans in preparation for the Buddha to be captured?"

Ouyang Rong nodded and shook his head.

Xie Lingjiang grabbed his sleeve and said:

"Or, Senior Brother, don't go to Xunyang Grottoes. We won't get involved."

Ouyang Rong pointed to the secret letter in his hand and said seriously:

"Sometimes, we are afraid that we will not take action against others, but others will take action against us. If we are not on the table, we will be on the menu. We cannot put all our hopes on the victory or defeat of others and let others decide and control the situation."

"What do you mean?"

Ouyang Rong didn't explain, pursed his lips, and said:

"I am the governor of Jiangzhou. I have to go on this trip. I need to host the celebration ceremony. In addition, there will be an old senior playing the piano in the main cave today. The sound of the piano is what I need. This may be the last time I hear it. No matter what, I have to go and take a look."

Everyone wanted to speak but stopped.

Ouyang Rong said to Wei Mei calmly:

"There will be another batch of ice cubes from the ice room delivered this morning. Well, let's consider this as the last batch of ice cubes."

Wei Mei was stunned when she heard this and looked at Xie Lingjiang.

After hearing the words "the last batch", Xie Lingjiang frowned and asked:

"Big Brother, are you sure?"

The two seemed to be speaking in code.

Ouyang Rong nodded gently:
"But don't move yet. Wait until Li Congshan and the others leave the palace before going to drink ice."

When they heard the words "drink ice", everyone looked at them strangely.

After a while, Li Guoer got up and left first, and Li Xian and the others also started to move and prepare themselves.

Xie Lingjiang accompanied Wei Mei out to receive the last batch of ice cubes delivered by Yinbingshi.

Before leaving, Ouyang Rong took paper, ink, pen and inkstone and asked Li Xian for a written warrant, and the latter confessed the truth.

Before leaving, Ouyang Rong calmly walked to the table, took out some extra paper, ink and pen, and stuffed them into his sleeve without caring about getting them stained with ink.

As soon as he walked out of the study, he saw Yan Liulang, who had returned with the seal.

Ouyang Rong walked over, took the governor's seal from his hand, took out the pen and paper he carried with him, wrote a letter, stamped it with the big seal, and handed it to Yan Liulang.

He seemed to have issued a rather strange warrant. After Yan Liulang read it, he was a little stunned.

However, Ouyang Rong had already walked away. Without further ado, Yan Liulang bowed respectfully towards his back:
"As ordered."

Ouyang Rong rolled his hands up in his sleeves, returned to the hall, found Rong Zhen, and said straight to the point:

"The prince is not feeling well and cannot go for the time being. Let's go."

"it is good."

Rong Zhen is straightforward and decisive.

Ouyang Rong suddenly suggested:
"But the prince has a suggestion. He plans to let Li Congshan and Miaozhen lead the 300 soldiers of the palace to protect the Buddha. This can also be regarded as the palace's contribution to the Buddha."

Rong Zhen asked, "What about the palace? We need to find time to defend it. What if something happens to the prince and the prince..."

Ouyang Rong interrupted: "Nothing, there are some security measures in the palace, the prince told us not to worry."

Rong Zhen hesitated for a moment, and Ouyang Rong took out two things from his sleeves, nodded and said:
"This is the prince's handwritten order, and this is my seal as governor. If anything goes wrong, I will be responsible. Miss Rong Zhen, just nod your head and agree."

Rong Zhen was quiet for a while and looked at Ouyang Rong, who looked at her calmly.

"it is good."

Rong Zhen's head was heavy, and without further ado, he also wrote a letter by hand and handed it to Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong nodded, took the Lixian order, the seal of the Jiangzhou governor and the Rongzhen order, and handed the three sealed documents directly to Li Congshan who was patrolling in the mansion.

"This is..." Li Congshan was surprised.

"General Li, please do as you are told."

Li Congshan hesitated for a moment, clasped his fists, turned around, and went to mobilize manpower, preparing to leave the house and rush to the rescue of the Buddha.

With the consent of these three parties, even if Li Congshan and Miaozhen have some objections, they have to follow it honestly.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen did not wait for Li Congshan, Miao Zhen and others to finish mobilizing their troops, but went ahead.

The two set off quickly and headed for Xunyang Grottoes.

……

At the gate of Xunyang Palace.

About a quarter of an hour had passed since Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen left.

A luxurious carriage slowly stopped in front of the palace.

A silver-haired girl got off the car and looked around the palace. She found that people were coming and going in the palace, as if troops were being mobilized. She frowned, grabbed a maid and whispered a few words to her. The maid went inside to notify them.

Not long after, Li Dalang hurried out and came back.

"Miss Ye?" he asked in surprise.

Ye Weilai turned her back to the quiet and luxurious carriage behind her and whispered a few words to Li Dalang.

Li Dalang immediately shook his head and pointed in the direction of the Twin Peaks outside the city. He spoke a few words. Ye Weilai was stunned for a moment, bowed and thanked him, then turned around and returned to the carriage. She said to Zhao Qingxiu, who was waiting seriously,
"Sister Xiu Niang, there was an urgent message from Shuangfeng Peak early in the morning. Tan Lang went there early. I guess he won't have time during the day because he has to host the celebration..."

Inside the car frame, Zhao Qingxiu raised her head, her face blank, not knowing whether she heard it or not.

But when she heard the word celebration, she swayed slightly.

Ye Weilai said a few words of comfort and ordered the carriage to return to the mansion in Huaiye Lane.

Just before leaving, Li Dalang specifically told them to return to Huaiye Lane quickly and not to move around for the time being as there might be danger in the city.

After sending Zhao Qingxiu back to Yinbingzhai, Ye Weilai went to find Zhen Shuyuan.

However, what Ye Weilai didn’t know was that not long after she left, Yinbingzhai became empty.

A certain slender figure has disappeared.

The long cloth bag I carried with me was also gone...

About half an hour later, on an official road outside the city, Zhao Qingxiu's figure was light and swift, rushing towards the top of the twin peaks.

There was a hint of worry on her face, as if she was afraid that if she was a step late, Tan Lang would run into the other sisters...

(End of this chapter)