CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 94 COLLUDING WITH THE ENEMY

Xie Liangchen followed behind Chen Yongsheng as the people of Chen Family Village and several workers from the Wang Family searched around for any sign of Wang Jian.

"This is definitely the place," the Wang Family Shopkeeper affirmed with certainty, pointing upwards with his hand, "He fell from that road over there."

"There’s no sign of any mule cart around here!" Chen Zigeng exclaimed.

The Wang Family Shopkeeper looked anxious: "Perhaps it’s too far to see clearly; let’s get a bit closer."

Chen Yongyi took a few people and quickly moved forward to search.

"Miss Xie, village chief, it’s so late, and yet you’re helping me look for my master... I really don’t know how to express my gratitude." Concerned that the people of Chen Family Village might back out, the Wang Family Shopkeeper kept speaking anxiously.

"It’s our duty," Chen Yongsheng replied, "Mr. Wang has known us for so long and has helped the village in many ways. If something happens to him, we must step in."

After searching for about another half an hour, they heard Chen Yongyi’s voice: "I see a broken mule cart up ahead."

Hearing this, everyone’s spirits lifted, and they immediately walked towards it.

As evening approached, Chen Yongsheng led the group, lighting the torches he had made, guiding everyone toward Chen Yongyi’s direction.

"There are also boxes for carrying goods here."

The boxes were broken, revealing what was inside.

Chen Yongyi looked carefully; the boxes contained furs, exactly what Wang Jian was dealing with in his trade, confirming the Wang Family Shopkeeper’s words.

Chen Yongsheng hurried over with the villagers, and the torches illuminated many boxes scattered around: "There are more goods up ahead."

"Master, master..."

The Wang Family Shopkeeper began shouting, but there was no response from Wang Jian.

"Don’t worry," Chen Yongsheng reassured the Wang Family Shopkeeper, "Mr. Wang might have moved ahead on his own. Let’s keep looking."

The Wang Family Shopkeeper nodded, and the people of Chen Family Village searched all around.

The Wang Family Shopkeeper shook the torch in his hand at a few workers. The Wang Family began to gradually distance themselves from the people of Chen Family Village.

"Why is there a house here?"

Xie Liangchen followed behind Chen Yongsheng and saw a thatched house hidden behind the trees, instantly realizing that this was the place.

Chen Zigeng rushed over and said, "Sister, the Wang Family members have slipped away."

As soon as the Wang Family Shopkeeper and workers moved, Chen Zigeng had noticed it. His sister had previously told him about the Wang Family’s intentions, and although he was prepared, witnessing their actions firsthand deepened Chen Zigeng’s understanding of human maliciousness for the first time.

Chen Yongyi asked, "Should we open it and take a look?"

Chen Yongsheng pondered for a moment and looked towards Xie Liangchen.

Xie Liangchen replied, "It should contain medicinal herbs; now that we’re here, there’s no harm in taking a look." She also wanted to know what kind of concoction they intended to use to frame Chen Family Village.

Chen Yongsheng opened the wooden door, and the mixed scent of herbs and a metallic tang of blood hit them in the face.

Chen Yongsheng instinctively shielded Xie Liangchen behind him, shining the torch inside, revealing two figures lying among the boxes.

Judging by their clothing, the two were indistinguishable from the Wang Family workers, their faces smeared with fresh blood, eyes half-open, motionless.

Chen Yongsheng whispered to Xie Liangchen, "I’ll go in and take a look."

He approached the figures cautiously, reaching out to feel their breath; his fingers touched icy coldness.

"The blood on them is still wet; they must have died not long ago."

Chen Yongsheng heard Xie Liangchen’s voice and turned his head to see Xie Liangchen examining the bodies without the slightest hint of fear on her face.

"They were beaten to death with sticks," Xie Liangchen stated, "There are no sharp weapons in the village, so it seems more like we did it."

If these two were Wang Family workers, Wang Jian might be trying to clear his name, proving he had no ties with Chen Family Village and that he discovered the village’s secret, prompting the villagers to silence him.

Xie Liangchen glanced around: "Uncle, call everyone over; everyone should be alert, in case there’s a fight soon. We’ll need to find ways to protect ourselves."

Chen Yongsheng nodded in agreement. He had been informed by Miss Chen that General Song Xian was already aware of the situation and would arrive to save them. But Miss Chen was correct in saying they couldn’t entirely rely on others; they needed to prepare themselves too.

Chen Yongyi went out to gather information, while Chen Yongsheng had the villagers collect stones from the surroundings; with a stone barrier, they could at least guard against arrows.

...

The Wang Family Shopkeeper and workers ran hastily forward, growing further from the people of Chen Family Village. Yet, the Wang Family Shopkeeper puzzled over why the villagers hadn’t pursued them.

At this moment, the people of Chen Family Village should have realized they were gone, so why weren’t they chasing them?

If the villagers pursued them, it would make the situation more believable.

Could it be that the villagers were even more naive than he thought, having neither discovered the hidden herbs nor realized anything was amiss?

As he wondered, he heard a worker say, "Someone’s coming ahead."

The sound of horse hooves drew closer, and uncertain of the strangers’ identities, the Wang Family members hid cautiously.

Faintly, they heard someone shout, "Who’s there, show yourselves immediately. We are from the Zhenzhou Prefecture."

Wang Jian had previously arranged with Song Min that Song Qizheng’s troops and the Zhenzhou County Magistrate would come to seize the goods, claiming to be "from the Zhenzhou Prefecture."

"Help... help..." the Wang Family Shopkeeper shouted as he ran forward, "Sir, please stand up for us common folk! The people of Chen Family Village... have gone mad. We stumbled upon them transporting goods here, and they asked us to assist.

We couldn’t refuse, but suddenly they attacked our workers. I saw with my own eyes two workers struck on the head, lying on the ground, uncertain of their fate. We fled desperately to get here..."

Torches lit up, and the Zhenzhou County Magistrate looked at the Wang Family Shopkeeper: "The night is upon us; what are you doing here?"

The Wang Family Shopkeeper replied, "Our mules fell ill halfway and couldn’t pull the cart. We were returning to the city to inform the master, taking a shortcut through here, and saw the people of Chen Family Village moving boxes and were stopped by them."

Pointing in a direction behind him, the Wang Family Shopkeeper said, "Sir can send someone to check if there are three mule carts there."

Before the Zhenzhou County Magistrate could speak, the nearby Deputy General urged, "I’ve received intelligence that the Liao people transported goods into these mountains; we should investigate."

Hearing this, the Wang Family Shopkeeper couldn’t help but say, "Liao... Liao people? We saw many boxes up ahead, all filled with pelts."

The Deputy General asked seriously, "Where are those boxes?"

The Wang Family Shopkeeper replied, "I’ll lead the sirs there."

The Deputy General ordered the Wang Family to lead the way, then turned to instruct his soldiers nearby: "Prepare your bows and arrows; if the enemy collaborators dare to resist, kill them without mercy."