Asahina Shimato wrote:If we can't conceal things from others we really suck as scheming courtiers. I think for once we should be able to demonstrate that with things like Cadence and our network of favors, we're more than a match for anybody's spies.
There's a difference between being able to conceal things at all, and being able to conceal a co-ordinated effort to funnel help to anti-Spider forces on a level that will meaningfully affect the outcome (especially when we are, with our other hand, helping Kanpeki's regime to function, and thus directly impeding the work of the resistance). Small groups of people can conceal things - that's why any successful covert operation does its best to minimise the number of people who know anything relevant. Every additional person who knows anything is someone else who can turn traitor or let something slip through carelessness, and it only takes one.
If the Crane were to take the role of Kanpeki's Left Hand, then I'm sure there would be individual Crane taking opportunities to help the resistance, and frequently paying a horrible price for it. It could make for some great stories. But the Clan as a whole would not be able to get away with anything but genuine support for Kanpeki, in deed if not in intent.
Edit: We're basically everybody's relative sitting there in enemy territory. If they actually like us I think this will motivate them to fight for the Empire.
If we take this path, they won't like us. We won't be people in need of rescue, we will be traitors to kill alongside the Spider when they finally win. Samurai culture does not give allowances for "oh, well, if they hadn't collaborated they would have died, so..."