Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 223 Attack
When Zheng Long brought Xie Yuyan to the estate, Mr. Wen had already gathered the people.

More than twenty people were carrying sticks, and each of them also carried a can of black kerosene.

Zheng Long stepped forward and exchanged a few words with Mr. Wen, and everyone in the courtyard looked at Xie Yuyan.

Xie Yuyan's eyes held a hint of fear, but more than that, they were filled with joy.

Mr. Wen walked towards Xie Yuyan. Unlike Zheng Long, Mr. Wen was clearly more shrewd. He suddenly asked in Xixia language, "What are you transporting?"

In her nervousness, the woman blurted out, "It's the Empress Dowager's birthday..."

The familiar sounds of Tangut language echoed in Mr. Wen's ears.

Although the woman stopped speaking in time, it was too late; that half-sentence undoubtedly revealed her identity.

Xie Yuyan's eyes widened, her face full of astonishment. She spoke again in Xixia language, "Why do you speak the language of Daxia? Are you also a Daxia person?"

Mr. Wen was certain that the woman came from Western Xia, because only people from Western Xia would refer to themselves as Great Xia.

Mr. Wen shook his head, and the woman's face clearly showed disappointment.

“However,” Mr. Wen said, “I once lived in Western Xia for a while. Our…master liked Western Xia very much and even sent the Tripitaka to your Dacheng Temple.”

Mr. Wen intentionally showed off the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist.

Xie Yuyan immediately lowered his head and recited a Buddhist saying.

Mr. Wen nodded and smiled: "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Xie Yuyan took a deep breath: "We were transporting wealth for Empress Dowager Liang when we passed through Daming Prefecture and learned that... something had happened in Daming Prefecture and the old trade route was no longer valid."

"Therefore, we had no choice but to head to Xiangzhou, intending to return to Daxia via Qingzhou."

Mr. Wen knew about this: "It's just that you're unlucky. A patrol inspector named He came to Daming Prefecture and arrested a lot of people. Things have been getting unsettled again these days, with soldiers constantly passing by on the official roads." Mr. Wen didn't know the details; this was all they could see.

Mr. Wen said, "That's why you encountered those refugees." Heading towards Xiangzhou, you'll inevitably pass through the area inhabited by refugees.

"But how did you get to Guan County?"

Xie Yuyan said, "We had no choice but to run and hide to get rid of those people. We encountered patrolmen on the way and were attacked from both sides. We could only wander aimlessly into the forest and that's how we ended up in Guan County."

After asking repeatedly and finally finding no problem, Mr. Wen asked, "You can see the Empress Dowager of the Great Xia?"

Xie Yuyan nodded.

“If we help you retrieve your valuables,” Mr. Wen said, “you must take us to Daxia, and it would be best if we could meet the Empress Dowager.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuyan was stunned for a long time before saying, "Taking you to the Great Xia is no problem, but seeing... the Empress Dowager... I can't guarantee that. We are only working for Lord Wang..."

Fearing these people wouldn't be willing to help, Xie Yuyan continued, "Lord Wang has influence with the Empress Dowager. Once you arrive in Daxia, you can discuss this with Lord Wang at your leisure."

"The lord knows that you helped protect the valuables, and based on that alone, he will recommend you."

Mr. Wen nodded. If the woman readily agreed, it would only make him suspicious. He had heard of Lord Wang; he was a high-ranking official close to the Empress Dowager of Western Xia.

Xie Yuyan said, "If you are willing to go with me, we must set off now. We must get there before dark."

Mr. Wen said no more and had Xie Yuyan lead the way. The group still could not take the official road, but instead wandered through the forest before finally entering the mountains.

Xie Yuyan had only walked this route once before, so now when he turned back, he hardly needed to stop to determine the direction.

The group reached the foot of the mountain before nightfall.

As they were about to enter the mountains, Mr. Wen instructed Zheng Long and Wang Hu to take men to scout out the situation.

Two quarters of an hour later, the two hurried back. "It's dark, we can't see clearly, but there are people in the mountains."

Xie Yuyan's face lit up with joy: "There are still people in the mountains... which means those refugees shouldn't have left... We can still make it there in time."

According to Xie Yuyan, her father was escorting the valuables and was resisting the fleeing people. The fleeing people should have left with the valuables after they succeeded, but there were still signs of activity on the mountain, which meant that the fleeing people had not yet succeeded.

"Let's go, up the mountain." With Mr. Wen's command, everyone began to climb the mountain.

After walking for about half an hour, Wang Hu discovered a corpse. He dragged the body out from behind a rock and examined it by the moonlight.

"They are the refugees."

Xie Yuyan stepped forward to look at that face.

The sallow-faced, emaciated man was indeed a fugitive.

"There is another body here."

Xie Yuyan quickly walked over to take a look, and found it was yet another refugee.

These people followed Chen Rong, but in the end, they still lost their lives.

"You had a weapon?" Mr. Wen examined the corpses and found that the wounds on the two bodies were cleanly cut, obviously caused by a sharp weapon.

Just as Xie Yuyan was about to speak, Wang Hu suddenly said, "There are fires on the mountain over there; they're there."

After Wang Hu finished speaking, he was about to move towards the firelight, but Mr. Wen grabbed him and said, "What's the rush?"

Zheng Long said, "We still need to confirm whether they are those fugitives."

“It must be,” Xie Yuyan said. “Our people can only hide everywhere, how could they dare to light a fire at night?”

As if to confirm Xie Yuyan's words, more lights appeared on the opposite mountainside, and they were moving rapidly.

Those are torches.

"I'm afraid your father won't be able to hold on much longer," Mr. Wen said. "Or perhaps they've already succeeded in taking him."

Just by looking at the firelight, it was clear that there were quite a few people on the other side. Mr. Wen was now somewhat doubtful: were they really just refugees? Could there really be bandits among them?

After all, it was common for refugees to seek refuge with bandits.

If it weren't for the Great Xia incident, perhaps Mr. Wen would have given up.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Now that we're here, there's no way we can leave halfway. Besides, they still have black oil in their hands.

Mr. Wen pointed to the east where there were many torches: "Go there, but don't fight them directly. Throw some black oil over there first so they can have a taste."

Zheng Long, Wang Hu, and the others laughed. They had great confidence in the black oil in their hands, as it was their sacred object, and Mani would protect them.

Xie Yuyan watched the Mani followers move forward. After they finished throwing the black oil, they would fight with those people. At that time, they would find that the people in front of them were not refugees, but soldiers of the imperial court.

What will these Manichaeans do to her then?
Just as she thought of this, Xie Yuyan felt a tightness on her arm as the female Manichaean follower reached out and grabbed her.

Mr. Wen said calmly, "We'll go together in a bit."

Xie Yuyan responded. Mr. Wen beside her must have sensed something was wrong, which is why he had someone keep an eye on her to prevent her from escaping.

She didn't intend to escape.

Even if things were exposed, she didn't plan to leave, because... it was already difficult to escape at this time. If she left, the Manicheans would also leave, and who would help her suppress those soldiers?
Having gone to such lengths to make this trip, we can't just deceive the Manichaeans into setting a fire.

Only by making a bigger commotion could Wang Yan and the remaining villagers of Chenyao Village take the opportunity to escape.