No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 709 Is the Young Master a God? [4k2 second update, please vote at the beginning of the month]

Early in the morning, Ouyang Rong came to the lobby of Jiangzhou.

Go directly to Yan Liulang and ask directly:
"Where is the batch of Burning Sky Dragon Oil that Wang Caozhi left behind before he left?"

Yan Liulang immediately replied:
"Reporting to the governor, they are stored in the governor's mansion. A few days ago, Magistrate Diao came and took a batch back, but the number was too large, so there is still a batch that has not been taken away. We will slowly transport it back."

Shuangfengjian was blocked in the name of flood control and the construction of the giant Buddha was secretly completed. Wang Caozhi, who went to ask the high monk of Donglin Temple to pretend to be dirty, brought back a batch of Burning Sky Dragon Oil from Longcheng County for use. Later, the giant Buddha was successfully landed without any unexpected conflicts. The Burning Sky Dragon Oil was not used and is now prepared to be transported back to Longcheng County for storage.

Ouyang Rong asked: "How many barrels are left?"

"Nine barrels." Yan Liulang reported the number accurately.

Yan Liulang saw his own Master Ming counting on his fingers and muttering, "It should be enough. If not, we can make some more..."

"Enough of what?" he asked curiously.

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It's okay, don't transport it away yet, leave it at the governor's house and wait for my subsequent instructions."

"Yes, Mingfu."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and glanced into the distance.

Yan Liulang followed his gaze and found that it was the Xunyang Palace...

After giving instructions to Yan Liulang, Ouyang Rong took a carriage to Xunyang Palace.

The remaining Burning Sky Dragon Oil in Longcheng was all used by the Jade Chi Fairy and others to blow up Di Gongzha at the Di Gongzha bride-cutting ceremony.

After being seized, they have been stored in the Longcheng County Government Office. Due to the large quantity, they have not been used up until now.

But it's okay after using it up.

Ouyang Rong knew that the production method of Burning Sky Dragon Oil was passed down from the Jade Cup Fairy. In addition, the Jade Cup Fairy and the Liu family had once privately borrowed the Gu Yue Sword Shop to make it, and some craftsmen remembered the formula.

Also out of curiosity, he had previously done special research on the materials for making Burning Sky Dragon Oil, and Ouyang Rong discovered an extremely familiar raw material - saltpeter.

This is the material of gunpowder. In a sense, the Burning Sky Dragon Oil that can explode and ignite is the same as gunpowder... In addition, saltpeter can actually be used to make ice. The method is simple, easy and low-cost, but it is just a byproduct.

It seems that the alchemists of this era have already invented this thing in the process of alchemy, but they regard it more as a thing of gods and ghosts, and even use it with Qigong materials to make strange things like the Burning Sky Dragon Oil.

Ouyang Rong nodded slightly.

The carriage arrived at Xunyang Palace. After entering, he went directly to the boudoir of his junior sister, preparing to discuss with her the birthday gift arrangements in a few days.

When he arrived at the place, he found no one in the courtyard. Ouyang Rong asked the maid and got the answer. He turned and walked towards the back garden. A quarter of an hour later, he saw Li Xian's family in a pavilion overlooking the lake, and his junior sister was among them.

A group of people were enjoying the scenery in the waterside pavilion and tasting fresh fruits. There were also several bottles of wine and water emitting white mist on the plates.

When they saw Ouyang Rong coming, everyone welcomed him warmly.

"Everyone is here, there's something..."

Ouyang Rong was halfway through his words when Li Dalang grabbed his sleeve and pulled him into the pavilion.

The latter warmly entertained: "Lianghan, try this pot of ice wine. It is really refreshing after drinking it."

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but take a closer look.

I found that the fruits and drinks were all icy. No wonder there was "fog" coming out of it. They must have been taken out not long ago.

The weather is getting warmer now and early summer is coming. Eating ice cream is really refreshing.

However, he reacted and asked with a puzzled look:

“Where does all this ice come from?”

Li Guoer said as if it was normal: "It's an ice cellar, where else can we get ice in late spring?"

Xie Lingjiang explained: "The ice in the ice cellar is all cut and stored in the winter, and is saved for use in the summer."

Ouyang Rong stared at the ice, thoughtfully.

It seems that the Zhou Dynasty court did have a special agency for storing ice, called Bingjingwu. In addition to storing ice, there were also chilled wines, beverages, vegetables and fruits for the enjoyment of the royal family and high-ranking officials.

However, the only way to store ice now is to harvest it manually in winter, which is inefficient, and the production and preservation process is very complicated and costly. Therefore, among the people, only the rich and noble can afford it. Ice is a luxury more expensive than gold.

However, Xie Lingjiang, Li Guoer and others were used to it.

In Xunyang City right now, there are no more than three families who can afford ice. The Huaiye Lane mansion certainly doesn't have any, and Xunyang Palace is one of them. This is the ice that the court regularly grants to the palace.

When everyone saw his reaction, they thought he liked ice cubes.

Xie Lingjiang said, "Big Brother, if you like it, I'll have someone send some over tomorrow."

Li Xian also said: "Why don't we ask the craftsmen to go to Tan Lang's residence and build an ice cellar, so that it will be convenient for ice storage. In the future, half of the ice in the palace will be distributed there."

Li Guoer's lips curled up slightly: "Ouyang Lianghan, your study is called Yinbingzhai, how can it be without ice? This is just right."

Ouyang Rong said nothing, stretched out his hand to touch the body of the cold wine pot, and suddenly said:
"Is the palace's ice cellar big? Where is it located?"

Everyone was stunned.

Ouyang Rong threw the fruit aside without tasting it, and turned to leave:
"Take me over there and have a look."

After getting the signal from his father, Li Dalang followed and led the way.

Li Xian shouted out of curiosity: "What did Tan Lang want to say just now?"

"We'll talk about it later."

Ouyang Rong waved from behind.

……

Ouyang Rong visited the ice cellar of Xunyang Palace in the morning.

After leaving, go straight to find Pei Shisan Niang.

In the woman's house, in the hall.

"What are your orders, son?"

Pei Shisan Niang walked in with some joy and served tea to Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong seldom came to her place.

Moreover, after the meeting at the Governor's Mansion a few days ago, when Wang Caozhi and others left, Ouyang Rong told them to rest quietly for a few days and wait for his aunt's birthday ceremony and the celebration ceremony for the Great Buddha.

So he should have not been seen these few days...but today, he came to see her.

Pei Shisan Niang had some wild thoughts.
But Ouyang Rong brought him back to reality:

"Do you know where I can find some ice?"

"Ice? Isn't it only available in winter?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Except for the ice harvested in winter, where does the ice in the ice cellars of the imperial court come from? Is there any other source? Or is there any method to make ice?"

Pei Shisanniang was puzzled: "How to make ice?"

He stared at the beautiful and well-informed woman and asked, "Well, is there any?"

Pei Shisan Niang suddenly nodded: "Yes."

Ouyang Rong turned around: "What?"

"I heard that some mountain gods can turn water into ice. They should be able to make ice, too."

Ouyang Rong's mouth twitched and he waved his hand:
"That doesn't count. There are no other general methods, right?" "Yes." Pei Shisan Niang was puzzled: "Sir, what other methods are there?"

Ouyang Rong paced in circles in the hall, muttering to himself, "Haven't you discovered the method of making ice with saltpeter yet... I never thought that I would have to do such a boring thing one day..."

Under Pei Shisanniang's puzzled gaze, he turned around and asked calmly, "Is Binggui expensive?"

Pei Shisan Niang said sternly: "It's expensive, very expensive, but if you like it, I can get it, but the amount may not be too much..."

"I'll get it out for you."

Pei Shisan Niang was a little shy like a little girl: "What, Master, are you going to stay here?"

She looked left and right at the terrain.

Ouyang Rong was puzzled: "What are you talking about? I mean making ice."

In fact, he understood it immediately and said seriously: "I will teach you a method. You can have as many as you want in the future."

Pei Shisan Niang stopped smiling, her expression became more serious, and asked, "Where did you get it, sir? The temperature is so high now."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand and said, "Help me find something first."

"What?"

Ouyang Rong took out a grayish-white crystalline object, which he found after searching for it in drug stores and other places throughout the day.

"Have you seen this? It's called saltpeter. Go find out where you can find it. You can mine it."

Pei Shisanniang led the saltpeter out in confusion. When she came back in the evening, Ouyang Rong was drinking tea and writing something on a piece of paper with a pen in his hand.

Pei Shisan Niang took a look and it seemed to be a strange recipe for processing saltpeter.

Ouyang Rong took a sip of tea and continued writing, asking without raising his head, "How is it?"

Pei Shisan Niang bowed gracefully and said:

"Yes, it is found in abundance in Mount Kuanglu. There are many natural caves there. Some people have seen it in there..."

Ouyang Rong put away the paper, stuffed it into his arms, and stood up with a smile:

"Come on, let's go there."

"Yes, son."

Pei Shisanniang's expression became more and more curious.

……

late at night.

Xunyang Palace.

At the door of the study, Li Xian's family came in with confused looks on their faces.

Xie Lingjiang and Li Guoer also came from the boudoir with sleepy eyes. They were both wearing thin nightgowns and a shawl to cover their shoulders. Li Guoer also wore a fox fur scarf, which made her delicate and rosy face stand out.

Everyone was still asleep and was whispering to each other when they were called over.

Li Guoer asked, "What happened? Did they say they would discuss matters tonight?"

Li Dalang said, "I don't know. I heard that Tan Lang came and called us over."

When I walked into the study, I saw Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang.

Ouyang Rong was wearing a grey scholar's robe and looked dusty, as if he was in a hurry back from a journey.

Xie Lingjiang immediately walked over, poured a cup of hot tea, brought it back, and put it in his hand. She touched the back of the senior brother's slightly cold hand, frowned, and asked, "Senior brother, why are you running around outside in the middle of the night instead of resting?"

Ouyang Rong said directly: "I came here for two things, and I need to tell you right away."

Li Xian suddenly perked up and spread his hands to signal, "What's the matter, Tan Lang, please tell me."

Ouyang Rong said calmly, "First, I have temporarily requisitioned the palace's ice cellar to store some things."

"What needs to be refrigerated?"

"Add a batch of ice cubes and nine boxes of oil drums. Store them here first."

After saying this, Ouyang Rong pointed his index finger at Yan Liulang:
"I asked Shisan Niang to open a new store that specializes in selling ice cubes, called Bingjian. From now on, the palace will purchase ice cubes from this store and transport them back to the ice cellar. Liu Lang will arrange the specific distribution of goods in due course. The ice cubes and oil drums that are transported must avoid Li Congshan and his men. Well, I'll trouble you to cover up for me, Princess. You can handle it."

"Okay." Wei Mei nodded: "Don't worry, I'm watching them, they won't dare to look around."

"Good. In addition, the palace's ice cellar needs to be expanded. I checked it out last time and it would be best to add another space. But we'll talk about this later... As for the second thing, it concerns our escape route in case of danger."

Everyone listened attentively, and saw Ouyang Rong raised a finger:
"In addition to the route of boarding a boat at Xunyang Ferry and taking the water route to Longcheng County, we need to add another route just in case. This is a lesson learned from the last incident with pirates. What if there is also the danger of encountering pirates on the water route?"

Everyone then remembered that the last time Shuangfengjian was closed in the name of flood control and the construction of the giant Buddha was secretly completed, the pirates from Hukou County went north along the waterway and approached Xunyang. Although they escaped danger in the end, they neither destroyed the Xunyang Grottoes nor attacked Xunyang City. However, Ouyang Rong has been reviewing and thinking about it afterwards.

Li Guoer looked at Ouyang Rong, who looked worried, and asked:

"Which way should we take? The most convenient way to Xunyang City is by water."

Ouyang Rong pointed outside the window, and everyone turned to look and saw a huge dark mountain.

"We can go through Kuanglu Mountain and take the land route. Xiushuifang is backed by Kuanglu Mountain. Just in case, the water route from Xunyangdu to Longcheng is not available, we can just go into Kuanglu Mountain. This time I went to the mountain to look for things and saw many caves. They are as mysterious and deep as a maze, suitable for hiding people and can be used as a temporary hiding place..." Ouyang Rong analyzed rationally and muttered to himself: "In this case, we have to prepare a carriage in advance and wait in the dark."

Li Guoer asked: "This direction is southwest. After crossing Kuanglu Mountain, there is only one official road heading southwest. If we want to go north, we need to take a long detour? Wouldn't this waste the best opportunity to escape?"

Ouyang Rong calmly waved his hand: "Don't worry about it. If it really doesn't work, we can go to the southwest front to find General Qin. This route is not a bad one. As long as we have a legitimate reason, the prince can leave Xunyang City."

Li Xian asked: "What's the legitimate reason?"

Ouyang Rong said calmly: "Is it enough for the rebels from Tiannan Jianghu to attack the palace?"

Li Dalang subconsciously asked, "Tanlang, do you think they are really coming?"

He found that his good friend was smiling but not saying anything. The girl next to him, Li Guer, turned to him and said:
"Whether the rebels will come, when they will come, how many people will come, and even how they will come, all of these depend on us, not on them. Do you understand?"

Li Dalang and Li Xian looked at each other and suddenly realized: "This is a good excuse."

Li Guoer turned to ask Ouyang Rong, "Is there something fishy going on with Li Congshan, or is it the matter of that thin-faced man that makes you feel uneasy? Didn't you send someone there? Lu Ya has also gone there. Wouldn't the outcome be known when he returns in two days? Why are you suddenly planning a retreat?"

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and said softly, "It's partly all of them, but there's one more thing that reminded me, it was said by Ms. Rong... No matter what, it's always better to plan ahead. Oh, there's one more thing."

He turned to Li Xian and said:
"The prince and the prince should not attend this celebration ceremony."

Li Dalang was a little embarrassed: "But we have already promised to be there on the day."

Ouyang Rong said calmly, "I'll find an excuse then, and say... I just feel unwell, or I could say I attended my aunt's birthday party the day before and accidentally got an upset stomach... Anyway, there are plenty of excuses."

"That's fine." Li Xian hesitated and said, "Does Tan Lang have any bad premonitions?"

Ouyang Rong pondered, "Not really, but I still feel that the purpose of Ms. Rong organizing this celebration is a little inappropriate. She actually wants to lure people from the Tiannan Jianghu here. Since we know this and that there might be a conflict, there is no need to go over there. We should nip some signs in the bud in the bud in advance."

"Good, Tan Lang is the right one."

Xie Lingjiang frowned and asked, "Since we are planning a retreat, what does Senior Brother want this ice cellar for?"

Ouyang Rong looked at his junior sister and suddenly remembered what Pei Shisan Niang had asked him when he used a large amount of saltpeter to make ice not long ago: "Are you a god?"

He chuckled:
"It's hot, so why not store some ice? You can also take some with you on the road."

……

----

(PS: Two chapters, 4k words per chapter, 8k words in total, please vote for me at the beginning of the month!)
(End of this chapter)