Break it down into smaller parts
Outside the city, a dilapidated temple.
The group temporarily settled in an abandoned city god temple.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
"That woman... she called the police herself?" Ling Zhan frowned after hearing Shen Yan's brief account.
"Um."
Shen Yan's voice was icy cold, "Her mind has been destroyed. Forcibly taking her away will only cause her to break down or resist to the end."
Shen Hong remained silent, the image of Hong Shao's frantic gaze and screams as she knocked over the vase still flashing before his eyes.
That was not hope for rescue, but despair of sinking into oblivion.
"Looks like we caught nothing tonight with either line."
Ling Zhan's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible fatigue, but was predominantly cold, "However, the waters have been thoroughly muddied. Both the Zhang family and the Prince's residence have been alerted, and the government offices are in a state of chaos at the Jinxiu Pavilion..."
Chen Yan's gaze turned towards Hongzhou City, where firelight flickered and the commotion had not yet subsided: "Is the list still in that little constable's hands?"
"Plain Shadow" landed on Ling Zhan's arm again.
Ling Zhan removed the new wax pill and quickly deciphered it: "News just came in that the conflict at Jinxiu Pavilion has escalated, with suspected involvement from remnants of the Demon Cave and another unknown force. The young constable has disappeared in the chaos with the list! Our people are doing everything they can to track him down!"
A cold glint flashed in Shen Yan's eyes.
"Chase them! The list is key to finding more 'fish'! Notify our informants in the city to dig three feet into the ground and find them!"
He glanced at the silent Shen Hong and the aloof Ling Zhan.
"Tonight's 'mistake' does not mean the end. The waters of Hongzhou City have only just begun to boil. The real 'big fish' is yet to come."
Inside the dilapidated temple, the bonfire crackled, illuminating the solemn or cold expressions on the faces of the people.
The "mishaps" of the Zhang family and the Prince's Mansion weighed heavily on my heart like two cold stones.
Shen Hong stared at the leaping flames, his mind haunted by Hong Shao's frantic, alarming gaze and piercing screams.
Shen Yan stood with his arms crossed, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if he were calculating something.
Ling Zhan then carefully wiped the mechanism of the crossbow with a soft cloth.
His movements were calm and composed, as if the fierce conflict that had just occurred had never happened.
After a brief silence, Ling Zhan gently placed the cleaned crossbow beside him and looked up at Shen Yan and Shen Hong.
The voice was clear and calm, carrying a sense of decisiveness after everything had settled.
"The list must be followed, and the clues must not be lost. The trouble at Jinxiu Pavilion, the whereabouts of the young constable, and even the reactions of the Zhang family and the Prince's Mansion tonight must all be investigated. Mr. Yang must continue to follow up and evaluate how much of a wave this 'stone' of the account book has stirred up, and what kind of fish, shrimp, turtles, and crabs will be swept up in the aftermath."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the flickering flames, as if she could see deeper layers of meaning through the firelight.
"But like today!"
Ling Zhan's tone carried an undeniable tone of denial: "There's no need to infiltrate the mansion and forcibly rescue them."
She looked at Shen Yan with sharp eyes.
"Whether it's Hong Shao or Jin Su'er, their choices reflect the true reality. What can we gain by forcibly taking away someone whose heart is dead or who is willing to sink into despair, besides exposing ourselves and increasing casualties? Are we saving a walking corpse, or a hidden danger that could turn against us at any moment?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Shen Hong's heart.
This allowed him to pull himself out of his anger and sorrow and begin to think about deeper issues.
"The most urgent task."
Ling Zhan's fingers unconsciously traced invisible lines on his knees, the outlines of intelligence.
"It is necessary to thoroughly understand the details of 'the devil's scheme' and uncover the truly intricate network of forces behind the den of iniquity. If these venomous snakes lurking in the shadows are not eliminated, and the source is not cleansed, saving more people will only be a temporary measure, and may even invite more insane retaliation."
"As for those victims who were sold into various prefectures..."
Ling Zhan turned his gaze to the deep night outside the temple.
“We need a more detailed approach. It would be most appropriate to leave this matter to Elder Yang and Daoist Xuanchen to arrange.”
She explained the strategy in detail.
"Yang Sijian could use his extensive network and shrewd business acumen to make small-scale, cautious contact with lower-ranking servants or related marginal figures in the target mansion under inconspicuous identities such as 'pilgrim,' 'merchant,' or 'donor.' The focus was not on rescuing people immediately, but on understanding the situation."
Seeing that Shen Yan was listening attentively, she continued: "Consider the target's true situation, mental state, whether they still have the will to survive, their surrounding environment, and any exploitable gaps or weaknesses. At the same time, continue to assess the impact of the ledger scandal, see how muddy the waters it can stir up, and which big fish it can force to the surface. When is the right time to throw more out?"
“Xuan Chenzi can take Hong’er with him. With his status as a hermit and his otherworldly temperament, he might be able to make contact with some of the women or stewards of the mansions. Under the guise of ‘begging for alms,’ ‘feng shui consultation,’ or ‘preaching’, he can conduct more covert observations and gather information from the sidelines. His task is to judge people’s hearts and assess which people still have the possibility and value of redemption.”
Seeing that Shen Yan had listened attentively, she explained even more clearly.
“These trivial but crucial ‘pulse-taking’ tasks require patience, meticulousness and absolute secrecy, which only Master Yang and the Taoist priest can handle.”
Ling Zhan's tone was full of trust in their abilities.
Then, her gaze became more profound, pointing directly to the core issue.
“And we,” she said, glancing at Shen Yan and Shen Hong, “should go back and consider the fundamental issues of development.”
"The fundamental problem?" Shen Hong asked with a probing look.
Ling Zhan: "Yes, although the new emperor governs the country with benevolence and virtue, and the atmosphere in the court seems to have become clearer, who can say for sure how deep or shallow this pool of water is?"
Ling Zhan's tone carried a hint of cautious distance, and only Shen Yan understood her meaning, nodding slightly.
She continued, “Now that powerful ministers are in power, we have no intention of, and absolutely must not, get involved in the infighting within the court. If we stand out too much, especially in things like ‘winning people’s hearts’ or ‘gathering exiles,’ we are easily accused of treason by those with ulterior motives, and we will get burned.”
She stated firmly: "Self-preservation is the top priority right now. We must break up into smaller groups as soon as possible! We cannot stay at the Qixia'ao camp for long. The wealth redistribution and personnel relocation that Mr. Yang is currently handling is the first step. Next, we need a more solid foundation, more secretive and dispersed strongholds, and more reliable industrial support. Our strength must be dispersed invisibly, yet able to quickly coalesce at critical moments."
"Only when we have a solid foundation and live in seclusion can we be qualified to talk about whether the next step is to lie low or... something else."
Ling Zhan looked at Shen Yan one last time, awaiting his decision.
The firelight danced in her calm eyes.
There is no frustration of failure there, only calm planning after seeing the road ahead and an unwavering determination.
The snowbird's "pure shadow" rests quietly on the ruined beams of the temple.
The ruby-like eyes reflected the firelight, as if silently guarding the path leading to a solid future.
The hustle and bustle of Hongzhou City seemed to fade into distant background noise at this moment.
Meanwhile, the few people inside the dilapidated temple were already thinking about long-term plans and survival strategies.
As soon as everyone returned to Qixia'ao, the core members immediately held a meeting to discuss Ling Zhan's opinion.
The flickering campfire illuminated the solemn and weary faces of the people at the temporary camp in Qixia'ao.
Ling Zhan, Shen Yan, Yang Sijian, Xuan Chenzi, Shen Hong, and several core leaders of the Shura Guard sat in a circle.
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder brought back from Hongzhou City, and a sense of indescribable heaviness.
Ling Zhan spoke first, his voice clear and calm.
"The battle of Hongzhou City has stirred up the waters, but it has also thoroughly exposed the fact that our camp cannot remain here for long. The target is too large, like a beacon in the dark. 'Breaking down into smaller units, hiding in the city and countryside, and consolidating our foundation' is now an urgent way to protect ourselves."
Her gaze shifted to Yang Sijian and Xuan Chenzi.
"Elder Yang, Daoist Master, the specific arrangements for this strategy will depend on the two of you."
Yang Sijian stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness, already confident of success.
"Madam, rest assured, I have considered this issue beforehand and have a plan in mind, which can be implemented in three steps:"
"First, wealth can be distributed to ensure people's safety. Relying on the Cihang Jingzhai depository, the Weiyuan Escort Agency's transport route, and several secretly purchased farms and properties, the enormous wealth obtained in Qixia'ao will be broken down into smaller, dispersed, and hidden locations according to the previous plan. Part of it will be used as the capital for subsequent operations, while the rest will be converted into capital for purchasing properties and settling people in various places."
"In addition, their identities need to be cleared. All personnel will be evacuated in batches and along different routes."
"The artisans and their families can integrate themselves into the community by relying on my scattered businesses and estates, posing as shop assistants, tenant farmers, or managers. The elite of the Shura Guard need to be more cautious. Some will disguise themselves as merchant guards or bodyguards, while others will temporarily remain in Qixia Pass, lying in wait in remote estates or forests nearby, awaiting further instructions. As for the key personnel, such as ourselves, we need to arrange more secretive identities and hideouts. But none of them can be too far away; they should be near Linzhou Prefecture or Hongzhou City."
"In addition, we need to establish a network of outposts, with Hongzhou City as the center. This location is convenient for radiating to the three surrounding prefectures. We need to purchase or lease a number of inconspicuous houses, small shops, and even land in the suburbs and towns near major transportation routes. These outposts are not about scale, but about being hidden, dispersed, and convenient, serving as transit points, short-term accommodations, and information gathering points. They should be managed by reliable people, with no connection between them, and only one-way communication with Yang or the Taoist priest through specific channels."
Xuan Chenzi nodded slightly.
He added, “I can continue to travel, begging for alms, preaching, and studying feng shui, going to various places, especially near the residences of the powerful or near temples and monasteries, so that I can both pass on messages and find out what is needed from the side. This is how a person who lives outside the world should be.”
Ling Zhan nodded.
“Alright. Elder Yang will be in charge of overall coordination, asset settlement, and information assessment. The Taoist priest will be in charge of reconnaissance and special liaison. Make sure every step is done quietly, like spring rain nourishing the earth, leaving no trace.”
She looked at Shen Yan.
Question: "Shen Yan, what do you think?"
Shen Yan crossed his arms, his face solemn. His gaze swept over Yang Sijian and Xuan Chenzi, finally landing on Ling Zhan's face.
He nodded slowly: "It's feasible. But..."
His gaze involuntarily drifted to a corner of the camp—
There, more than twenty children of all ages played or cuddled by the firelight, completely unaware of their impending separation.
What will happen to them?
His voice was deep, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.
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