Du Shuqing was still missing.

Two days later, letters from Magistrate Diao and the news brought back by Yan Liulang from Longcheng were sent back one after another.

Ouyang Rong was a little silent.

"Ming Mansion, I went to Meiluyuan to take a look. Du Shuqing must have lived there. It was very clean, including fallen leaves, dust, etc., but... I didn't see his luggage.

"In addition, the door is locked from the outside, but I saw this bunch of keys on the table in the side gate room."

Ouyang Rong reached out, took the key handed over by Yan Liulang, and looked down.

It was on that day when he was seeing off Li Zhengyan and others at Xunyang Ferry, he smiled and handed Du Shuqing the key to the gate of Meiluyuan.

Ouyang Rong sent Yan Liulang away.

He held the key in his hand and sat quietly on the seat in the main hall for a while.

The morning sunlight that slanted in gradually retreated from the feet of the table to the wooden threshold of the door.

Ouyang Rong came to his senses.

Silently put away the key.

I got up and went out, stood still in the courtyard, and basked in the warm sun that was approaching noon for a while.

Ouyang Rong went to hold Dongmei in his arms and left the Jiangzhou lobby.

I went out this morning and promised my aunt that I would go back for lunch at noon.

Junior sister is here and she will cook lunch.

Weak Guan Changshi rode a maroon rouge horse and passed by Xunyang Ferry and the lively West Market next to it. He bought some snacks that junior sister Ye Weilai liked along the way.

He had taken off his official uniform and was only wearing a green soap suit. No one recognized him, just like an ordinary member in this bustling crowd of people.

During this period, Ouyang Rong's eyes fell on the busy streets, on the traffickers, tourists and residents.

He actually likes the bustling and popular atmosphere of Xunyangdu.

When I came to Xunyang City for the first time and saw this classic, old and popular ferry, I became very motivated.

Think of it as the second Dragon City.

It's a pity that there are still many dragon cities in the world.

Right now, he can change this ferry and the people's livelihood in Jiangzhou, but he can't change the rest of the world.

It cannot influence the imperial policy under the influence of the various forces or factors such as the empress, the Wei clan, and the Baoli faction.

Even Wang Lengran was using his Shangguan status and rules to squeeze him out.

Returning to the Huaiye Lane mansion, I had a peaceful meal with my junior sister, Zhen Shuyuan, Ye Weila and other female family members.

That afternoon, Ouyang Rong wore a crimson official uniform and solemnly rushed to Prince Xunyang's Mansion.

Discussed all afternoon.

In the evening, he left Prince Xunyang's Mansion under the eyes of a pair of people, either bright or dark.

The next day, Jiangzhou Hall issued a document, following the order of King Xunyang, the governor of Jiangnan, in order to prevent floods during the rainy season,

The excavation of the twin peaks and the construction of the Donglin Giant Buddha have been temporarily stopped, and the recruitment of Xunyang Ferry has been suspended.

In the afternoon of that day, Jiang Governor Ouyang Rong went to inspect important grain depots such as Jimincang.

Subsequently, Jiangzhou Hall, which already had sufficient grain and grass, purchased grain and grass on the pretext of preventing floods and expanding the granary.

The tax season has not yet come, and Jiangzhou's finances are stretched thin, so they use an accounting method to let people who sell grain draw deposits.

Thanks to the good reputation of Jiangzhou Hall under the leadership of the new Chang Shi, people in Xunyang responded in an endless stream.

As for the wealthy merchants in Xunyang and the Jiangnan businessmen who were passing by, they heard about this and came to transport grain... Jiangzhou Hall purchased and stored it at a suitable price.

In the next few days, the weak-headed official inspected the wells in each village one by one on the pretext of inspecting the people's livelihood in Xunyang.

Later, the government hired people to add another forty or fifty wells in the vacant areas of the temples or where there were springs of sweet water...

Xunyang City is not short of food and water, but this series of practical actions of hoarding water and preparing food has attracted the attention of many people.

Jiangzhou lobby also welcomed a long-lost "guest".

When Wang Lengran, the governor of Jiangzhou, walked into the main hall, Ouyang Rong was chatting with Yuan Huaimin.

The former seems to be asking the latter about the long-abandoned Suojiang Ancient Pagoda built by a certain predecessor on the banks of the Xunyang River.

With his hands behind his back and a cold face, Wang Lengran walked from the gate to the governor's table at the top of the hall and sat down.

"snort."

A cold snort.

Ouyang Rong ignored it and continued to ask Yuan Huaimin about the past history of the Suojiang Tower.

The people of Yuan Huai returned home, but they were very familiar with local chronicles and historical materials such as mountains, rivers, scenery, humanities and biographies.

So Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows, a little approving of his "poetry and painting excellence" that he talked about every day.

"Hmph, Ouyang Changshi didn't see me coming?"

Wang Lengran snorted again and interrupted.

Ouyang Rong lowered his head and carefully wrote down what he had just learned with his brush. Then he put down his pen and said calmly:

"Your Majesty Wang is a rare guest. If you need me, please sweep your couch to wait for me. I'll walk over to welcome you and wash away the dust for you."

The main hall, which had been silent for a long time, had a strong smell of gunpowder. When he heard the two officers pointing their fingers at each other, Yuan Huaimin immediately stopped talking and began to look at his eyes, nose and heart.

"It's not Ouyang Changshi who did something good because he was smart."

Wang Lengran looked dissatisfied and asked:

"I heard that Ouyang Changshi suddenly ordered to stop the construction of His Majesty's Donglin Giant Buddha, and instead used the money to store water and food, strengthen the city walls, and build some strange things.

"It's ridiculous. Xunyang City is short of water and food. Why are you hoarding these things? Are you going to rebel? I don't know, I thought you were going to defend the city and be self-reliant!"

Ouyang Rong's business-like expression:

"The suspension of the construction of the Donglin Giant Buddha is an order from the prince to prevent possible floods in the future. The Yangtze River is in flood season, so take precautions.

"Furthermore, I have already reported this matter to the imperial court. The Donglin Buddha will be built within the time limit, and it will not be less than this time and a half. What is the hurry, Mr. Wang?"

"Ah, rebellion." Ouyang Rong chuckled:

"I don't have the slightest power in the military affairs. If there is a rebellion in Xunyang City, the person with the greatest possibility and opportunity is probably you, Mr. Wang."

"You..." Wang Lengran stood up abruptly, slapped the case and angrily shouted: "That's a bunch of nonsense."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "Look, it's urgent."

"..."

Wang Lengran's blood pressure suddenly surged to his head, and his old face became congested and red.

But there was nothing he could do about Ouyang Rong, otherwise he wouldn't have rushed here in anger today.

Ouyang Rong came out in the name of preventing floods in the Yangtze River, and he had previously made great achievements in flood control in Longcheng and was widely praised for his political achievements.

Her Royal Highness the Queen, in the eyes of the princes of the imperial court, he is an authority on water conservancy, and he may even be included in the history books of this dynasty a hundred years from now.

After all, there is the Broken Wing Canal. Such masterpieces are left in the south of the Yangtze River where floods are the most serious. With such a famous achievement, it can be regarded as one of the top water conservancy projects in the current dynasty or in the world.

Wang Lengran knew that even if he submitted a letter as the governor, he would probably not be able to compete with him.

"Ouyang Changshi, don't try to use this to do any mischief, build a plank road openly or secretly visit the warehouse. I will keep an eye on you."

Wang Lengran warned word for word.

Of course Ouyang Rong knew the meaning of Wang Lengran's words and some of his concerns.

He was afraid that Ouyang Rong and the Xunyang Palace would lose control and use this opportunity to do something unexpected and completely break the situation.

In fact, the entire Xunyang City has always been in a state of looseness on the outside and tightness on the inside. Wang Lengran is always keeping an eye on the Xunyang Palace and firmly controls the prosecutorial and military power.

Ouyang Rong looked at him and said calmly:

"What a coincidence, I also like to stare at people."

Wang Lengran was silent for a while and suddenly asked:

"I heard that in the name of Jiangzhou Hall, you sent someone to deliver a letter to the Hongzhou Governor's Mansion."

"Master Wang is quite well informed."

"I am the chief official of Jiangzhou, so I naturally have the right to know this. Ouyang Changshi, you used the name of Jiangzhou without authorization to warn Hongzhou and point fingers. What do you mean?"

"Of course it means literally."

"If you go beyond the superior official and send official documents privately, you will bring shame on me! The people in Hongzhou think that I am incapable of governing."

Ouyang Rong looked at him with strange eyes, as if asking, isn't it?

Wang Lengran suddenly scolded:

"I work hard every day on military and political matters, so I don't come here often. What do you know? I just deal with some civil affairs in Tsoer, just trivial matters. Do you really think that you are an unparalleled national scholar? Do you think you can interfere in anything?"
To be continued...