Most of the state cities in the Zhou Dynasty were planned and built based on the Lifang system in Chang'an and Luoyang to facilitate management.
The same is true for Xunyang City.
There are Chaisang, Lianxi, Xiushui, Dehua, Xingzi and other squares inside.
The size of each village is almost equivalent to most of the core urban areas of Longcheng County where Ouyang Rong worked.
High walls are built around the inner square, and there is a door on each side, called the square gate. It is closed at night and no entry or exit is allowed.
However, all the living facilities in Lifang are complete and can almost operate independently without any worries.
Between the high walls of each square and on the streets, curfews are strictly enforced and guards patrol.
It closes when it is dark and opens at the fifth watch.
However, within the inner square, you can move around smoothly, and there are some nightlife activities of their own, such as brothels and singing houses, boat cruises, etc.
It's just that during the night ban, they can't visit each other.
Huaiye Lane is located in Xiushui Fang.
It is different from Chaisangfang, where the mansions of the rich and distinguished are gathered, and Lianxi Fang, which is adjacent to the Kuanglu mountains and rivers, where eminent monks, celebrities, and literati love to live.
There are many government offices in Xiushui Square.
Including Jiangzhou Hall, most of the power offices of Jiangzhou Prefectural Government are located in this square.
Xiushui Fang, together with the neighboring Xingzifang, were also the two old squares when Xunyang City was first built.
The largest Xunyang Ferry in Jiangzhou is located between these two lanes and can be used as their dividing line.
Xiushifang is on the left and Xingzifang is on the right.
They are also the only two villages adjacent to the river.
However, in the eyes of most locals in Xunyang City.
Compared with Xiushui Fang, where state officials and gentlemen gather and the high-walled compound is high up.
Xingzifang, which gathers dock boatmen, traffickers, craftsmen, and a large number of people who come from other places to make a living, is obviously synonymous with filth and disorder, and is the low point of public security and discipline in Xunyang City.
There are many dilapidated old houses in Xingzifang, as well as many wild houses and wandering houses. Well, it can be regarded as an alternative urban village... let’s not talk about it for now.
Regarding these characteristics, Ouyang Rong took office for more than half a month. He walked through the streets and alleys and visited the huge Xunyang City before he became familiar with them.
Tonight, Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang gathered together and left Huaiye Lane in a familiar way.
Not long after, two figures quickly jumped out of the tall square wall and easily dodged the tired-looking curfew soldiers.
They deliberately bypassed the chaotic Xingzifang and rushed towards Chaisangfang in the distance...
About an hour later.
In the clean and tidy Chaisangfang, a recently built grand palace, there is a simple study room with dim lights.
Familiar figures are gathering together.
"Tanlang, you're here!"
Li Xian came forward with a face of joy and pulled Ouyang Rong to the seat. Ouyang Rong stepped aside slightly, turned around and sat on the right hand side of the main seat.
The two sat down and Ouyang Rong looked at Li Xian and saw that he was wearing a gorgeous red robe with various auspicious animals and flowers embroidered on it. It was the official attire of the Prince of Zhou Dynasty.
Ouyang Rong turned around again, and the same was true for his aunt Wei Mei, who was the princess. She was dressed in palace attire and had elegant makeup.
As for Li Fusu, he was still wearing regular clothes, because he had been living idle for a long time and studying in the study, which was more casual.
As for Li Guo'er, as a princess of the Zhou clan, her makeup standards are no lower than those of her father and mother.
Wearing a blue, purple and dark pomegranate dress, she was walking on the floor. On her snow-white forehead, between her eyebrows, there were freshly painted plum blossoms, which were bright and eye-catching.
These days, Li Guo'er has been dazzling and outstanding at the afternoon tea parties held by the ladies of high-ranking families in Xunyang City.
It was a private meeting in the study now, but it was not like it was during the day, veiled in gauze, noble and cold, and repelling people thousands of miles away.
It seemed that she had returned home from a banquet not long ago. She had just finished taking a bath and incense. Her oval face was bare-faced. She did not look at Ouyang Rong. She lowered her head and silently stroked the snow-white cat in her arms.
Under the dim light, it was difficult to see clearly the expression of this stunning little princess.
Ouyang Rong didn't care and turned around and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, for returning to the throne."
Li Xian panicked, grabbed Ouyang Rong's sleeves tightly, and shook his head vigorously:
"Uncle Tanlang has defeated you. If you are not a prince, just call me uncle. Tanlang, and niece Xie, everything is the same as before for you and our family. How it was when we were in Longcheng is how it is now."
"Shichiro is right, never change."
Wei Mei came forward with a plate of pastries in both hands and said enthusiastically to Ouyang Rong:
"Don't meet Tan Lang. Speaking of which, it's our turn to congratulate Tan Lang. He has been promoted to a long history. Mr. Xie and Huan Huan gave him a mansion in Huaiye Lane. How can we be left behind? Prepare a small gift for later. Tanlang must accept it before leaving."
Ouyang Rong wanted to refuse, but Li Fusu also grabbed his sleeves and said in a friendly tone:
"Just accept it, Tanlang. This is our intention."
Li Fusu looked at his friends Ouyang Rong, Miss Xie, and their happy family members. His eyes were full of smiles and he said again:
"The day before yesterday, when I went shopping, in addition to choosing formal attire for the sister Xie family, my sister also chose a fox fur shawl for Tan Lang to keep out the cold. The fur is snow-white..."
Li Guo'er, who was quietly sucking on the cat, raised his head and glared at Brother: "My mother said she wanted to buy it, so I picked one at random. Finally, Sister Xie said it looked good and decided on this one. Brother said it all."
Li Fusu scratched his head helplessly: "Isn't that because Amei's heart is... OK, OK."
Ouyang Rong couldn't help laughing.
"Taste it, Tanlang. This is a flower cake sent as a tribute from the palace. It was a reward from Your Majesty..."
Li Xian, Li Dalang, and Wei Mei surrounded Ouyang Rong enthusiastically.
Ouyang Rong had no choice but to pick up the silver spoon and taste it. It was so sweet that it was cloyingly sweet, but in the Zhou Dynasty, it was a delicacy that ordinary people could not eat in their lifetime.
He slapped his mouth.
In fact, I was a little surprised by the atmosphere maintained by Li Xian's family. It seems that the family ties that have been shared through thick and thin and shared joys and sorrows after living in Longcheng for more than ten years are indeed deep.
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang ate the pastries together.
He took the white handkerchief handed over by his junior sister, carefully wiped his fingers one by one, turned his head, calmly glanced at the smiles on the faces of Li Xian and others, and suddenly said:
"It's not time to completely relax yet."
Everyone was stunned.
The atmosphere quickly became quiet.
Li Xian, Wei Mei, and Li Fusu showed some serious expressions, and Li Guo'er, who was quietly playing with the cat, also looked up at him.
"Uncle, you have only one goal right now, and that is to return to Beijing, return to Beijing at all costs."
Li Xian perked up and said, "Tan Lang teaches me."
"It's very simple."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and uttered only one word:
"wait."
"Wait?" Li Xian was confused, "Why don't we do something like showing auspiciousness?"
"What needs to be done has been done. Your Majesty already knows your uncle's intention and the circumstantial enlightenment. Now all you have to do is stay tight and not make any mistakes. Just 'wait' honestly."
Ouyang Rong sighed: "And we are not the only ones waiting, there is also Your Majesty, she is waiting too."
"What does this mean?"
Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes, "I would like to ask, your majesty restored the title of uncle and had an excuse to treat his illness. Why didn't he just call back to the capital? Why did he come to Xunyang City to recuperate?
"And why is it such a coincidence that I was assigned to serve here? Hasn't uncle thought about this?"
Li Xian's face was solemn: "What are you waiting for, mother?"
"The reaction of the Wei family, the reaction of the Prime Minister's Palace, and the reaction of the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty. His Majesty is also throwing stones to ask for directions. Uncle Qin is this stone.
"If you don't call my uncle's family back to the capital directly, Your Majesty will be going around in circles."
"So that's it. At first I thought it was because my mother didn't completely forgive me..."
"The lack of complete forgiveness is just an appearance. Your Majesty is a very clear-minded person. She knows very clearly who is good for her and who is not good for her. Otherwise, why would you condone the Wei family? Why re-employ Mrs. Di?
“This is neither a foolish king nor a wise king.
"So there is no question of whether or not you are completely unforgivable.
"It doesn't matter whether a mother is truly kind and her son loves her. What matters is whether a mother is kind and her son is filial."
Li Xian asked nervously: "Then... what was the reaction of the Queen Mother when she observed the Wei family?"
Ouyang Rong said calmly:
"Because the Wei family was originally the foundation for His Majesty to change his career to Zhou and establish the new dynasty. She is not only a help, but also a hidden danger. Just like a vicious dog that bites people everywhere, isn't the owner afraid at all? Before the Yingzhou Rebellion, There is a tendency for the tail to be too big to fall off.
"But after the Yingzhou Rebellion, the Baoli faction could not completely liquidate the Wei family. This was not good for Your Majesty. How could she watch the restoration of Daqian? The position of emperor must be passed on to the emperor who agreed to continue the title of Dazhou. Even if his surname is Li, he must change it to Wei."
Li Xian suddenly realized.
Ouyang Rong said calmly:
"Now that we can neither give up on the Wei family nor support the Wei family as orthodox, how to deal with the double-edged sword of the Wei family has become extremely important.
"Even if there is an optimal solution, it is to use you, uncle, to balance the two families.
"But it is not convenient for Your Majesty to tell the two kings directly that they will not be able to become emperor's heirs.
"Because the previous two kings of the Wei family, especially the King of Wei, fought for too long with the Prime Minister and the Baoli faction, fighting for the throne of the emperor, and were intrigued by His Majesty's hints. They acted as His Majesty's black gloves and did not know what to do. How many things have caused anger and resentment.
"His Majesty, who is proficient in the art of emperors, will naturally not tell him directly, which makes him completely disillusioned.
"So now, I am transferring my uncle to Xunyang City to restore the prince, but not directly transfer him back to the capital. I want to see what the attitude of all parties, especially the two kings of the Wei family, is towards this trend.
"Sometimes, if you implement something at once, all parties will react violently. But if you do it step by step, everyone will be divided, and in the end they will pinch their noses and reluctantly accept it."
Ouyang Rong sighed:
"Your Majesty now wants to see whether Wei's reaction is violent, whether he wants to suppress his uncle or win over him.
"Besides, if you really want to win over, you have to give the Wei family some time to change. Now my uncle is temporarily staying in Xunyang City, which is a buffer time for both parties to contact and build trust, instead of waiting for my uncle to return to Beijing.
"So now, uncle just needs to stay tight and wait. When the situation is clear and the reactions of all parties are clearly seen, Your Majesty will naturally make the next move and send uncle back to Beijing!"
Li Fusu couldn't help but said: "Then... what if Mrs. Wei refuses to change her mind and chooses to suppress this trend or even eliminate us?"
Ouyang Rong's eyes are meaningful:
"Then your Majesty will have to look back at our situation. We can't even get out of Xunyang City, let alone the court in the divine capital in the future.
"Of course, fighting like this will not be good for us or the Wei family. On the contrary, the Prime Minister may be happy to see the result..."
Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but said: "But if something happens to my uncle, wouldn't His Majesty's best solution to ease the Liwei dispute be gone?"
Ouyang Rong sighed: "As an emperor, how can you put all your hopes on your uncle alone? Naturally, there are other backup strategies.
"Little Junior Sister. Sometimes, history does not choose the optimal solution, but the upward spiral. The same is true in the field of power."
Li Guoer suddenly said: "Just in case, grandma transferred you to Jiangzhou City to serve as the chief historian. Does she know about our relationship?"
Ouyang Rong thought for a while, then laughed and said:
"That female officer named Miaozhen probably gave me a lot of 'good words' after I went back last time."
Wei Mei frowned slightly: "Tan Lang, do you think this Wei family is crazy? After the Yingzhou Rebellion, the situation has become like this, and they are still determined to be the emperor's heir. Don't you know that once King Xiang takes the throne? Is the Wei family going to die without a burial place?"
Ouyang Rong stretched out two fingers:
"If I guess correctly, King Wei is very entangled now. The situation is indeed not good, but deep down he is unwilling to accept his fate easily, and is even still hoping for a life-saving straw.
"A lifeline?"
"It's the Xinding Sword. The Prince of Wei has used the Liu family to forge swords in Longcheng County for many years, just to use this symbol of the greatest auspiciousness in the prosperous age to gain a chance of winning... But now, this illusion seems not to be shattered yet."
Ouyang Rong and Li Guo'er looked at each other and suppressed their laughter.
"In addition, the Wei family has been so domineering for so many years. How can I say that I just bow my head and succumb to my uncle's family? Especially because I am very unfamiliar and distrustful of my uncle. My uncle's surname is also Li. Who knows whether he will get closer to the Prime Minister?" "
Ouyang Rong asked directly: "Uncle, if you can return to Beijing in the future, how will you treat the Wei family?"
Li Xian looked hesitant, paused, and said seriously: "I listen to Tan Lang. Does Tan Lang have any grudge against them?"
"They should be stupid and don't be 'smart' enough to mess with me." Ouyang Rong, who had benefited a lot from being intercepted, shook his head and said:
"For the sake of the overall situation, if we want to move in a direction that is beneficial to His Majesty, we need to do two things. First, obey His Majesty's wishes and accept the olive branch of the Wei family; second, show an attitude."
"What attitude?"
"In order to maintain the orthodoxy of the Great Zhou Dynasty, uncle, don't even think about restoring the Qian Dynasty. Even after we return to Beijing, we have to stay away from Master Di."
Ouyang Rong said calmly: "This is what your Majesty would like to see happen."
"This..." Li Xian, Li Fusu, and Wei Mei were all stunned. Li Guo'er looked at Xie's sister and found that she was sitting with her eyes down, as if she hadn't heard the shocking words of her senior brother.
Ouyang Rong immediately changed the topic:
"This is still far away...Uncle, from now on, we must not leave Xunyang City for a step. This is the 'recuperation place' chosen by His Majesty for you.
“As long as you’re in the city, you’re safe.
"The eyes of all parties are fixed on this. If something happens to you, they will be investigated thoroughly. Once dirty water is thrown at you, or evidence is found, the perpetrator will be completely eliminated by the other party."
"I understand, Tanlang!"
Li Xian nodded vigorously.
Ouyang Rong turned his head and looked out the window at the night.
"It's calm..."
Everyone turned their heads and saw the weak crown counselor continuing to murmur: "This is the most nervous thing. Be on guard at all times, but there is no reason to guard against thieves all the time..."
Li Xian thought of something: "By the way, there is a little news from the capital. It seems that the Queen Mother is going to build a Buddha statue in Jiangzhou..."
"I already know this." Ouyang Rong interrupted.
"Tanlang, are you ready to watch?"
Ouyang Rong sighed: "How else can we look at it? Choose a location in advance, and squeeze some money out of Jiangzhou Mansion's purse to prepare for a rainy day."
"As long as Tanlang is prepared."
In the study, everyone chatted for a while.
Li Fusu grinned and said, "New Year's Day is coming soon, has Tanlang figured out how to spend the holiday?"
Ouyang Rong smiled.
New Year's Day and the Winter Solstice in the Zhou Dynasty were celebrated together, a total of seven days of holiday, similar to the New Year's Eve in previous lives.
Not far away, Xie Lingjiang, who was eating cakes secretly, glanced calmly at Ouyang Rong, who was about to take a break, and his eyes flickered slightly...
After a cup of tea, the lights in the study went out and figures left one after another.
The next day.
In front of a mansion on Huaiye Lane.
Under the farewell of the beautiful woman in the skirt and the silver-haired girl, Ouyang Rong walked out in a crimson official uniform and headed to the Jiangzhou lobby to start a new day...
