The hall became quiet for a while, and Rong Zhen turned around and asked:

"Ouyang Lianghan, what are you thinking about?"

Ouyang Rong raised his head and seemed to have come to his senses:

"In the case of Hukou County, it was normal for those water thieves to take advantage of Duan Quanwu's leadership and launch a counterattack. But what's strange is why the remaining soldiers were so easily conquered by them, and in turn occupied Hukou County.

.

"The water thieves have never been able to capture the town of Hukou County several times before, but this time they were completely destroyed. Don't you think it's strange?"

Rong Zhen also nodded thoughtfully:

"It makes sense."

Ouyang Rong continued to ask:

"How many soldiers did Duan Quanwu leave in Hukou County before he left? How many were taken away."

"Leave three hundred armor and take away three hundred armor."

"Are they all the elite White Tiger Guards?"

"Absolutely. There used to be six hundred armors over there, and the most elite three hundred armors were direct descendants. Duan Quanwu brought them back. Although the remaining three hundred armors are not the most elite, they are good enough and are standard White Tiger Guards.

"

Ouyang Rong nodded lightly and said:

"That's right. Even the three hundred normal White Tiger Guards were strong enough to easily wipe out two mid-level Qi Refiner rebels. However, they were still directly annihilated by the counterattack of these water thieves. Water

The strength of the thieves cannot be underestimated. Judging from the results, the combat power of the three hundred soldiers left behind 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 just learned the news about Hukou County. He remembered that Ouyang Rong had used Qin Yanqing's three hundred Xuanwu Guards to defeat the entire army.

Xunyang City's anti-thief spies in Tiannan Jianghu were all cleaned up. In terms of combat power alone, in terms of the positioning of the imperial guards in the north and south of the imperial court, the White Tiger Guard was even better than the Xuanwu Guard.

Ouyang Rong knew very well that once an organic military machine like this, specifically targeting Qi Refiners, was activated, three hundred people would be enough to detour the mid-level Qi Refiners, but now they were crushed by the enemy.

It's definitely not normal if you push it through.

Rong Zhen seconded:

"That's right. However, Quanwu's people had discovered Qi Refiners among these water thieves before and reported them. However, they did not expect that they were quite capable. There may be reinforcements. It is impossible to say that Yunmeng Jianze's female

The lady of Junyue is hiding inside."

She frowned and said:

"As for why Duan Quanwu's people just left and then counterattacked, is there a possibility? It's a coincidence. Duan Quanwu had long ago mentioned that he would bring his troops back on the day of the celebration, and today is the day of the Buddha's celebration.

It is the day when the rebels in 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 wants to counterattack, but they were originally planning to take down Duan Quanwu and all the armored soldiers in one go. They have mobilized enough manpower from the rebels in Tiannan Jianghu and are ready. However, Duan Quanwu happened to bring half of the armored men with him.

The soldiers left and just missed, so we didn't catch them all."

Ouyang Rong thought for a while and nodded: "It is possible."

He looked in the direction 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."

"Yeah." Ouyang Rong had a look of contemplation on his face, mainly because he thought of Wang Caozhi, Lu Ya and others who were sent there.

Duan Quanwu has come back. Not to mention Wang Caozhi, Lu Ya should have followed Duan Quanwu back. Until now, he has not returned to the palace to protect the prince. He is a little late. I don't know what happened.

I wonder if the two of them encountered the group of water thieves who occupied Hukou County? If so, something might be wrong.

However, it is also possible that they left before the water thieves took over Hukou County and did not hit the water thieves behind who counterattacked.

While Ouyang Rong was thinking quickly, Rong Zhen asked coldly:

"Ouyang Lianghan, what do you think these water thieves are planning to do? Where will they attack after approaching Xunyang City?"

Ouyang Rong pondered:

"Now that they have the government's big ships, they can fight on the water. After arriving in Xunyang, there are only two ways to attack the Buddha.

"One is to land at Shuangfengjian Ferry in a regular manner, occupy the south bank of Shuangfengjian where the ferry is located, establish a foothold, cut off the connection between Xunyang City and Xunyang Grottoes, and isolate the giant Buddha in the main grotto on the north bank from the ones we left behind.

Strength, start to attack.

"One is to take control of the official ship, instead of going to the ferry, turn directly and sail from the fork of the Yangtze River into the Shuangfengjian Waterway. In this way, you can not only forcefully land at the main grotto on the north bank, but also park on the waterway for water battles and attack the shore.

Beside the Big Buddha and the crowd.”

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 manpower in Hukou County, naturally the second option is the most suitable, and they can make a thunderous strike.

"If everyone is not here yet, then the former method is adopted. Then the landing of these water thieves on the south bank will be used to tear open the gap in Shuangfeng Peak's always impregnable defense. They are waiting for the rebel thieves from Tiannan Jianghu to gather, and then

Attack the giant Buddha on the north bank and slowly map it out."

Rong Zhen looked admiring and nodded heavily:

"Okay, let's make two preparations first. For these two plans, we have to formulate defensive counterattack methods."

She frowned and glanced at the sky outside, urging:

"Ouyang Lianghan, it's getting late. Don't delay here yet. Go back to Xunyang Grottoes with me to prepare for the situation."

Ouyang Rong looked calmly and nodded:

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

Rong Zhen asked directly:

"Will the prince go today?"

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

The girl in palace clothes nodded: "I think so too, just let Li Congshan, Miaozhen and the others protect the palace."

Ouyang Rong stood up and went out without comment.

"Please wait a moment, Nu Shi."

"Please come back soon."

"Um."

As soon as Ouyang Rong walked outside, he saw the figure of Yan Liulang, who was waiting on the corridor not far away, probably waiting for the conversation between Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen to end.

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, the so-called notification to the prince was just to delay time. He wanted to delay further to verify the information, but he could not tell Rong Zhen clearly.

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

With a calm expression, he asked:

"Why is it so urgent?"

"The Ming Mansion is in trouble, over there in Hukou County..."

Yan Liulang was anxious and reported the latest information from Hukou County through government channels, including the group of water thieves who had boarded the ship and came down the river. The location of the ship they hijacked was uncertain, and they did not know when they would arrive in Xunyang...

…

After hearing this, Ouyang Rong didn't look surprised at all. After all, he had just heard about it from Rong Zhen, and now he was more about checking for omissions and filling in the gaps.

Yan Liulang asked curiously: "Mingfu already knows?"

Ouyang Rong nodded and asked again:

"Have there been any news from the people watching over Xunyangdu that Director Lu is back?"

Yan Liulang shook his head:

"No, but Wang Caozhi sent a few of his cronies back, saying that they were replacing Taoist Master Lu Ya and followed Duan Quanwu and his party by boat along the waterway..."

"What about Lu Ya? You won't be back today?"

"I'm back, but before I left yesterday morning, I was called by Wang Caozhi to help. I might have to arrive later."

Hearing this, Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and said nothing, feeling slightly relieved.

Although Lu Ya didn't come back, at least he was with Wang Caozhi. The latter's safety was guaranteed. Even if Hukou County was captured, he should be able to escape.

Ouyang Rong still trusts Lu Ya's strength.

Ouyang Rong suddenly raised his head:

"Go to the governor's office to get my governor's seal. I'll wait for you here and come back soon."

"Yes, Mingfu."

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

In the back garden, in the study.

The Li Xian family has been waiting for a long time.
To be continued...