Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 577: Falling into a trap
Yang Kuan hadn't made up his mind yet and seemed somewhat distracted.

Seeing this, Master Wu said, "Brother Yang, you must be tired. Go and rest. Think it over before you come back and tell me what to do next."

Yang Kuan opened the bundle, looked at it, then packed it up and carried it on his back. Before leaving the house, he said, "If I'm leaving..."

Master Wu said, "No one will stop us."

Yang Kuan nodded and strode out. Once the boy was out of sight, Wu Er said worriedly, "What if that kid really ran away..."

Master Wu said, "He won't leave. Haven't you seen enough people like him?"

Wu Er, Wu Shi, and the others looked at each other.

Within the Holy Church, many people are in this situation. Although their experiences vary, they are all struggling to make a living and do not easily trust anyone, especially the government.

How is it any different from the Holy Sect's strategy of gathering people together to risk their lives for him?
Yang Kuan only felt that staying here was an opportunity, because he was very comfortable with the way things were done here.

Master Wu said, "If Yang Kuan wants to find out information from you, we can tell them everything except that we are members of the Holy Sect, since we cannot tell them for the time being."

"In particular, how you work under my supervision."

He was confident that he could completely subdue Yang Kuan.

Master Wu sighed inwardly. In gathering manpower and winning people's hearts, he was still no match for the old leader. When the old leader was alive, he didn't need to borrow Mani's name to gain everyone's respect.

The old leader also hesitated about whether to expand the Holy Sect and oppose the imperial court. For a time, the old leader had close ties with an imperial official who tried to persuade him to accept the court's offer of amnesty. If the Xu family hadn't reminded the old leader at a crucial moment that the official had ulterior motives, the old leader would have fallen into the official's trap.

As it turned out, that wasn't an attempt to recruit or appease the enemy, but rather a campaign of encirclement and suppression.

They are doomed to die.

The official who came to offer amnesty was Xie Yisong, the younger brother of Xie Shumi.

Seeing Master Wu's expression, Wu Er knew that he had been thinking about the past again, so he advised again: "The Second Master of the Xie family almost killed us all, and the current leader still has dealings with the Xie family in secret. Just for this reason, it is only right for us to rebel against her."

"Furthermore, I've heard that the leader's daughter is most likely Xie Shumi's. Isn't that betraying one's own people? What would the clerks in the sect think if they knew this?"

Master Wu glanced at Wu Er, and that indifferent look sent a chill down Wu Er's spine.

"Do you really think those law enforcers didn't know? How could they not have known something that you were able to find out? It was Xie Yizhi who led the troops to Shaozhou back then."

There might have been some inside story they didn't know back then. If we rush in without figuring it out, they'll only be the ones who suffer.

Master Wu remained silent, while Wu Shi said, "I still think that we don't need Yang Kuan. We can still find a way to sneak into the city, since we know that the young master is at Baode Temple."

Master Wu said, “You want to deal with the leader, and the leader is also eager to use the government to get rid of us. The leader only needs to arrange for people to guard the city gate, and report to the court when they see you... and you will be caught like turtles in a jar.”

Wu Er chimed in, "I told you long ago, if it were that easy, why would Master have put so much effort into Yang Kuan?"

Master Wu said, "Yang Kuan has a group of people mingling in the streets and alleys of Bianjing. With their help, we can carry out our plans more easily."

Master Wu decided to give Yang Kuan one night to think it over. Just as Master Wu had expected, Yang Kuan was indeed gathering information from all sides.

The next morning, Yang Kuan left with his bundle, but he returned not long after.

In the end, Yang Kuan went to Master Wu and asked him about his plans for the future.

What are your plans?

Master Wu said, "After you return to the city, mobilize your men to keep an eye on several city gates. If you find anyone deliberately loitering at the city gates, remember their appearance and come to me."

"Furthermore, keep an eye on the Xie family; they have an unmarried daughter..."

"Pay special attention to that woman and her maid, see what they do and who they associate with."

Yang Kuan frowned: "Who are these people? Shouldn't you be wary of the government? What does this have to do with a woman?" "I have my reasons for asking you to do this," said Master Wu. "If you can find out any information this time, I will give you a sum of money."

Yang Kuan's eyes lit up slightly.

Master Wu said, "Tell Wu Qian not to worry, we will be able to take him out soon."

Yang Kuan nodded: "Besides these people, are there any others?"

Master Wu said, "Let's start with these people for now." He hadn't been to Bianjing for a long time, and he had no idea how many people the leader had planted there. He could only follow the clues and find them all.

Yang Kuan said, "There's no time to lose. I'll set off now. If things go quickly... I might come back tonight."

……

Baode Temple.

Wu Qian huddled in the crowd, anxiously staring into the distance, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yang Kuan.

Of course, he would prefer that his father come with Yang Kuan.

Finally, several figures came into Wu Qian's view. Wu Qian immediately stood up, but soon the excited expression on his face gradually faded.

Those were unfamiliar faces; Wu Qian didn't recognize them.

Several people walked over, and one of the men said, "The abbot just said that Baode Temple's porridge distribution can only continue for four more days, and then everyone will no longer need to wait."

A chorus of wails erupted from the crowd, and someone immediately began shouting, "How could they be gone so quickly?"

"Wasn't it supposed to be available every day?"

"A senior monk cannot go back on his word."

The burly man replied, "Neither the imperial court nor the temples can provide you with free food and drink forever."

As he spoke, he glanced at the crowd and said, "Begging is not a long-term solution. If you really want to eat your fill, I have some jobs for you. As long as you are willing to do them, you will get two meals a day, a place to stay, and I will also give you eighty coins."

The crowd erupted in cheers once again.

The burly man continued, "This is a method that Master Zhiyuan came up with for everyone. We want both men and women. Those who are willing to come with me, stand over here."

The burly man beckoned to the crowd, and soon the crowd moved toward him. Wu Qian didn't move; he couldn't leave, he still had to wait for Yang Kuan there.

But soon he found that there were fewer and fewer people around him, and he stood out conspicuously. What was even more frightening was that a patrol was heading this way.

Without much thought, Wu Qian followed the crowd and quickly walked towards the burly man.

On the way away with the burly man, Wu Qian tried to escape several times, but the patrol team accompanied them all the way. When the patrol team left, they had already been led to the courtyard.

"Women can go to the dyeing workshop and the porcelain kiln."

“The men stay here to help us repair the courtyard. Those with good skills will be promoted to the porcelain kiln, where their wages will increase to 120 coins a day.”

Wu Qian felt that something was off about what he was saying.

"The boss is here."

Wu Qian subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound, and then he saw a figure that he would never forget.

A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl with a beautiful face.

Wu Qian clenched his fists. This must be a nightmare. He had actually walked right into a trap and ended up next to Lady Xie.

(End of this chapter)