Chapter 45: The Guide
To wipe out the Five Lakes Gang, they would undoubtedly need someone familiar with the terrain and layout of its base. The scrawny man Li Yanchu had captured, Zhang Zhiliang, was just right for the job.
Unlike Wang Wanrong, Zhang Zhiliang wasn’t some low-ranking lackey. Within the Five Lakes Gang, he held a mid-to-lower-tier leadership position, not high up, but not insignificant either. When he heard that the authorities needed a guide, Zhang Zhiliang immediately volunteered.
Though Li Yanchu had already vouched for him and he had confessed willingly, Zhang Zhiliang was clearly hoping to earn merit and redemption, and perhaps gain the favor of the officials, which was a lifeline worth clinging to.
Every region had its underbelly, and it was no secret that the authorities sometimes supported more orderly gangs to grow in power, making them easier to manage. Zhang Zhiliang saw this as a chance to rise up by performing well, hoping to win the approval of the magistrate and his men. Without hesitation, he became their guide.
His junior sister, Wang Wanrong, came along as well, but not to redeem herself.She came for revenge. She had left her sect, risking her life to join the Five Lakes Gang, ready to give her all. But in the end, she had been used and betrayed, and she had been cursed with a yin spirit and nearly silenced for good. Now, Wang Wanrong was here to settle the score.
The pair followed closely beside Li Yanchu’s speckled buckskin horse, riding together along the way.
Li Yanchu wasn’t worried about them turning against him. The Five Lakes Gang might be a major power in Wei City, but to the imperial court, they were nothing. No one in their right mind would choose to die alongside a gang that had committed such a grievous crime.
“Five Lakes Gang is a fairly prominent force in Wei City, so why would they secretly hoard gunpowder and even plot against Qingyi Temple?” Li Yanchu asked Zhang Zhiliang, who was riding beside him.
Zhang Zhiliang paused thoughtfully, then replied, “I don't know the specifics behind this matter either. However, the gang has indeed undergone dramatic changes over recent years, and even our gang leader’s personality shifted drastically.
“All those old, disciplined members have either been pushed out or died during conflicts. Those who rose to power were ruthless, causing the gang’s rules to slacken.”
Zhang Zhiliang carefully distanced himself from any wrongdoing first, then he answered Li Yanchu's inquiries cautiously.