Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 218 Take it away
Wang Yan drew a map on the ground and had Sang Dian, Chen Rong, and the others gather around to look at it. He then arranged the departure route for Xie Yuyan and the villagers of Chenyao Village.

They only have one chance. As long as Wang Yan and his men can hold off the attacking troops, they must leave immediately and not turn back no matter what happens here.

The older villagers of Chenyao Village will have to stay with Wang Yan and the others. Whether they can safely descend the mountain depends on whether reinforcements can arrive in time.

Judging from the current situation, it is unlikely that Wang Yan can defeat the garrison of Daming Prefecture.

Knowing everything, Prefect Liu still dared to send troops, which shows that the identities of the Wang family and the envoy made Prefect Liu want to kill them to silence them.

Then more troops will come to the mountains.

"So you have to leave tonight."

The situation might be completely different tomorrow.

Xie Yuyan did not try to persuade Wang Yan to go with her. If they were to abandon everyone, it would be easiest for Wang Yan to escape; the Wang family guards he brought with him would fight to the death to clear a path for him.

But Wang Yan had no intention of abandoning them and fleeing for their lives; instead, he wanted to protect them and help them leave first.

Such is the current situation; it is impossible for everyone to escape, and those who are holding back the garrison in Daming Prefecture are likely in grave danger.

Xie Yuyan raised her eyes; this was quite different from the Wang Yan she knew from her previous life.

Wang Yan asked, "Do you understand now?"

Xie Yuyan nodded.

The two traveled together from Daming Prefecture to Guan County, and then went into the mountains to find Chen Rong. They supported each other and became closer than their previous relationship of mutual exploitation.

Now we must act separately...

She would certainly thank Wang Yan, but... she wouldn't actually stay and stand by him through thick and thin. It wouldn't be worth it if something went wrong here.

Chen Rong got up to inform the fleeing people who had followed him. There were some things he needed to explain to them. Not all of these people came from Chenyao Village, but Chen Rong was confident that they would be willing to fight to the death.

The men who brought him here had long harbored resentment towards the government troops. Before Wang Yan arrived, they had mentioned several times that they wanted to go down the mountain to kill the government troops and kill a few people to their heart's content. They thought it would be good if they died, and they shouldn't be blamed for thinking this way. All of these men had relatives who died at the hands of the government troops. Their purpose in living like this was to seek revenge.

Since I can't seek justice through legitimate means, this is the only way I can go.

Sangdian carefully added firewood to the fire, making sure the fire didn't get too big, lest it attract the attention of those people.

Wang Yan gazed at Xie Yuyan, whose features appeared exceptionally gentle in the firelight.

Xie Yuyan said, "Even if you didn't say it, I would still suggest splitting up..." because this is the last chance to leave.

Wang Yan had anticipated this.

Xie Yuyan said, "Besides what Lord Wang mentioned, we also need to make some other preparations."

She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and calm.

"Does Your Excellency have any identification on you? After leaving Daming Prefecture, you will need to show it to others."

Wang Yan reached out and took off the fish-shaped tally from his waist, handing it to Xie Yuyan: "Give this to the Prefect of Mingzhou. This man was promoted by the Emperor himself. He is not close to Prefect Liu or those people, nor does he align himself with us. He is wholeheartedly devoted to serving the Emperor. When he sees the imperial fish tally, he will protect you no matter what."

Because they are witnesses.

"Anything else?" Xie Yuyan asked after putting away the fish-shaped talisman.

Wang Yan then produced another seal: "This is my personal seal. There is a retired official named Lord Sun in the east of Xingzhou City. Although he is only a seventeenth-rank civil official, he is very famous in Xingzhou. If anything goes wrong in Mingzhou, you can go and seek refuge with him. He can also ensure your safety. Even if this case cannot reach the Emperor's ears directly, he will find a way to send you out of the north."

Xie Yuyan put the seal into his purse and continued to look at Wang Yan.

Wang Yan then drew out a dagger: "For your self-defense."

Xie Yuyan accepted almost everything offered. "There's a Wang family estate east of Xingzhou City. We can use that seal to have someone prepare the money."

Xie Yuyan nodded.

The two men looked at each other in front of the fire, and perhaps because of the constant sparks from the firewood, their eyes seemed brighter than usual.

At this moment, although everything was cold, a touch of warmth seemed to be felt. However... the fire was about to go out, and what followed was an extremely dangerous situation.

Wang Yan suddenly wanted to say something, to ask something he wanted to ask but hadn't said.

But when his gaze fell on him again, he didn't want to talk anymore.

It's fine to let her leave like this.

Although he had made arrangements and was able to fight back even if surrounded, he could not guarantee a smooth escape.

Wang Yan remained silent, but Xie Yuyan said, "I want some more things."

"Does the gentleman have any valuables on him?"

It's impossible for Wang Yan to carry silver coins with him, but he might have jade pendants and gold and silver items.

Wang Yan paused slightly, raised his eyes, and smiled. For a fleeting moment, he thought she was going to say something else…

Wang Yan summoned Sang Dian: "Give all the gold and silver you are carrying to Madam Xie. We'll stay here; there's no use in carrying it."

Sang Dian was slightly taken aback. So... the young master had to stay here, and the money had to be given to Madam Xie. Thinking about it this way, wasn't it... a bit too tragic?

The gold and silver were placed in a bundle, which Xie Yuyan tied to her body. Then she looked at the top of Wang Yan's head and said, "Give me the jade hairpin and the small crown too!"

Wang Yan tied his hair with a cloth strip, then handed the crown and hairpins he had taken off to Xie Yuyan, along with the jade pendant he always carried with him.

It was a piece of mutton fat jade with almost no impurities. The crane stood among flowers and clouds, symbolizing good fortune and peace.

His courtesy name was "Hechun," and jade pendants related to one's name are usually worn from childhood to adulthood.

That's quite extraordinary.

Xie Yuyan tied the jade pendant to her waist, and also wrapped up the jade hairpin and hair ornament, placing them together with the gold and silver items.

“I will go and tell the people of Chenyao Village,” Xie Yuyan said, “that we can set off within two quarters of an hour.”

After speaking, Xie Yuyan got up and walked into the darkness.

Sang Dian, who was squatting to the side, couldn't help but sigh. Why did he feel so sorry for his young master? Not only did he have to stay, but he was also stripped naked.

"Everything is arranged?"

Wang Yan's calm voice came, and Sang Dian had no choice but to get up: "I'll go and inform him again." Seeing that his lord had been abandoned, he must be furious, and Sang Dian didn't want that anger to burn him.

……

Xie Yuyan made arrangements with the people of Chenyao Village for tonight.

“As long as we can walk,” Xie Yuyan said, “we won’t be delayed for a moment on the road, nor will we stop to wait for anyone. This is an escape opportunity that we have risked our lives for, and we can’t let it all go to waste because of someone else.”

Zheng looked at the crowd, who were about to shake their heads.

Xie Yuyan said, "Those who can leave must leave. You are all evidence. The more people who survive, the more useful you will be. Now that we've said that, you can discuss it. We'll set off in a quarter of an hour."

(End of this chapter)