Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 200 Boldness
The Yang clan members didn't know what had happened, nor did they know where Madam Xie had gone, so when the government troops came to search for them, they could only try their best not to anger them.

However, when they heard that Madam Xie had become a serious criminal of the court, and that Yang Mingde had informed the officials of Madam Xie's whereabouts, everyone looked at Yang Mingde with mixed emotions.

Those who worked for Xie Yuyan, in particular, had an undisguised resentment in their eyes.

Before leaving, Judge Hu left behind a few constables to guard the Yang family's gate. They needed to verify whether what Yang Mingde said was true.

However, it's easy to find out. Just ask the city gate guards if any of the patrol officers have left the city today, and you'll know.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, and Yong'anfang and the Yang family returned to silence.

After a moment of silence in the Yang family's inner courtyard, someone anxiously asked Yang Mingde, "What happened to our eldest daughter-in-law?"

Why is the imperial court coming to arrest us?

"Yes, where did Madam go?"

"How did you reveal Madam's whereabouts?"

"Madam must have been framed by those people. What kind of serious criminal is she? What did Madam do wrong?"

Yang Mingde remained silent, then said to Xie Yuyan's wife, "Let's go to the county government office and find out."

“Yes, let’s go ask them why they’re arresting people,” Yang Xiaoshan replied immediately. “I’ll go find Lawyer Liu.”

Many other members of the Yang clan also agreed.

Of course, there are also timid and cowardly people who shrink to the side and remain silent.

Yang Mingde was pressed hard before he finally spoke up: "When Sixth Brother's daughter-in-law left, she only said that someone had framed her and that she was going to find Inspector He to take charge. She told us not to cause any trouble and to follow the arrangements of the government office."

Hearing this, Madam Yang became even angrier: "Since the master knows all this, why did he tell that person? Even if it was just to delay it a little longer, it would have been better."

Some people became even more anxious and started to speak recklessly: "When something happens, they only think of themselves and forget how the old lady treated us?"

"If it weren't for Madam, the Yang family's porcelain kiln would have been gone long ago."

This was all because of Yang Mingde. Madam Xie trusted Yang Mingde so much, yet he sold her out so easily.

“The magistrate is also afraid that the officials will arrest us,” someone whispered in defense of Yang Mingde.

"So what if we're arrested?" Yang said. "What can they do to us?"

Yang was unwilling to complain too much about Yang Mingde. Rather than asking others to do things for her, she preferred to do what she could herself.

“Xiaoshan, go find Lawyer Liu,” Madam Yang said. “The rest of you, whoever is willing to go to the county government office to beat the drum and appeal for justice, can come with me.”

After saying this, she didn't wait for anyone else and walked straight outside.

Upon reaching the gate, they encountered soldiers guarding the entrance, leading to another entanglement.

However, this time quite a few members of the Yang clan joined in.

Seeing so many clansmen step forward, Yang Mingde frowned, but where no one could see, a look of relief flashed in his worried eyes.

Soon the fight in front of the Yang family's house attracted the attention of the residents of Yong'an Ward.

Grandma Li and the others also heard the news and joined in.

"Why can't we leave? Do you have any documents? If you don't have any documents, you have to let us through."

"Otherwise, you can come with us. We were going to the county government anyway, but since the county magistrate has found us guilty, we might as well stay here and not come back, so you won't have to go through the trouble of arresting us."

As more and more people gathered, the constables finally couldn't stop them and let the crowd rush out of Yong'an Ward.

……

Judge Hu found Chen Ju's whereabouts at the city gate.

“They left the city with their badges and documents, and we didn’t dare to stop them.”

"They brought two carriages, loaded with goods, but they said it was to reward the soldiers in the camp outside the city with wine and meat."

"We checked...we didn't...we didn't see anyone in the car." Judge Hu noticed the soldiers' shifty eyes and knew they hadn't checked carefully. It was true they didn't dare stop them; Chen Ju was no big deal, and they still had to give He Tan some face.

Hu Tongpan was so angry he was grinding his teeth. Either someone had leaked the news, or they had alerted Xie Yuyan when they arrested Yang Mingjing, and they had gotten there first.

He led his men out of the city. Judging from the traces on the official road, Chen Ju and his men were heading northwest, indeed to find He Tan.

However... Judge Hu couldn't just go after them like that. He looked at the general beside him and said, "Go back and tell Prefect Liu and Commander Feng that I'm going to chase after them. Let Commander Feng take care of things in the city first."

They had agreed beforehand that each would do their own job. He would handle things openly, while Feng Chuan would take care of the work behind the scenes. Now, nothing has changed, except that he has to go out of town once.

The general responded.

Judge Hu did not delay any longer and immediately spurred his horse forward.

The general found Feng Chuan in the yamen. When Feng Chuan heard that Magistrate Hu had not caught anyone, he showed a hint of mockery, but quickly suppressed it.

They all work for Prefect Liu, so they can't afford to cause internal strife, even though he always felt that Magistrate Hu was hesitant and indecisive.

"I understand."

He didn't care whether Hu Tongpan could catch anyone or not. After dark, he would go to the armory and kill a bunch of people first.

Since the goal is to frame He Tan, it would be better if Chen Ju and his group suddenly left Daming Prefecture. Then they could say that Chen Ju and his group killed someone before escaping.

Feng Chuan looked at Deputy Commander Tan Xiang: "Select twenty men, and we'll make our move after dark."

These twenty men were naturally his confidants; their families were in his hands, and they would rather die than reveal the truth.

After giving the instructions, Feng Chuan went to drink and eat meat again.

As darkness fell, Feng Chuan got up, changed his clothes, and left the mansion with Tan Xiang.

The armory was located next to the north city wall, and there were no residents around, making it the perfect place for them to get started.

After dealing with the weapon workshops in Daming Prefecture, they need to go to Guan County and Wei County. It would be best to arrange everything in these weapon workshops within a day, otherwise it will be too late when He Tan returns.

They hurried to the outside of the armory, where Feng Chuan gestured for Tan Xiang to knock on the door.

A response came from inside the door.

"Commander Feng has arrived and wants to inspect the weapons."

The lights came on, but still no one came to open the door.

"Open the door," Tan Xiang called out again.

A commotion came from the courtyard: "Does Commander Feng have any documents?"

When did arms workshops become so cautious?
Feng Chuan frowned: "I came in person, no paperwork is needed."

The person inside said, "The armory is a sensitive place now, and we can't let people in at will. Commander Feng, you'd better come tomorrow with the documents!"

After being repeatedly rejected, Feng Chuan sensed something was amiss. The weapons workshop usually obeyed their orders, so today was clearly different.

It seems someone came ahead of time; they must be someone He Tan left in the city.

Feng Chuan sneered: "Let's see if your door can really stop me."

As soon as Feng Chuan finished speaking, the people in the courtyard were clearly panicked: "Commander Feng, you mustn't act rashly. Forcibly breaking into the weapons workshop is a serious crime. We can kill anyone who comes here at will."

Feng Chuan said coldly, "Then let's see if you kill me, or I kill you all."

After saying that, he looked at the person next to him and said, "Climb over the wall and go in."

The soldiers responded and rushed forward.

After they jumped into the courtyard, a struggle ensued, and someone inside shouted, "How dare you! The angel is here! How can you lay a hand on him?"

An angel? Who are you trying to scare?
Surely we can't say it's He Tan, can we? He Tan came to Daming Prefecture to take up a post; even if the imperial family arranged it intentionally, he's not exactly an imperial envoy. Even if it were He Tan, he would kill him anyway.