Do wuxia folks have the ability to become emperor by force, if they wanted to?

[PJ]

Given the martial arts abilities of wuxia elites, do you think any 2 or 3 elites could defeat the emperor's armies, and become the emperor, if they wanted to do that?

For example, in the movie HERO, Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung were almost unstoppable by Qing Shihuang's armies.

In DGSD, Jin Yong said that Duan Yanqing had the power of ten thousand people, many years before he reached his peak. Considering that 3 Xiao Yao Pai elders would be much better than Duan Yanqing, do you think they could neutralize everyone that the emperor's got?

[Ken Cheng]

I'm of the opinion that no single wuxia fighter, not even the Janitor Monk, can singlehandedly defeat an army of tens of thousands in a head on fight. A single fighter can, however, change the course of history by fighting strategically a la Yeung Gor's killing of Mongke Khan at the end of ROCH (cutting off the head of the snake).

However, I always wondered how an army of soldiers from that period (Mongol, Jin, Khitan, Hsi Hsia, Sung, Dali...you name it) would fare against this force (with everyone at the peak of his/her abilities):

Janitor Monk, Siu Yiu Sect Elders, Hui Juk, Deun Yu, Kiu Fung, Kau Mor Tze, Mo Yung Bok, Siu Yeun San, Yau Tan Tze, Wong Seung, Dook Goo Kau Bai, Central Divinity Wong Chung Yeung, Lam Chiu Ying, Central Mischief Chow Bak Tung, East Heretic Wong Yerk See, West Poison Au Yeung Fung, South Emperor Deun Chi Hing, North Beggar Hung 7 Gung, West Passionate Yeung Gor, North Valiant Gwok Jing, Kau Cheen Yan, Cheung 3 Fung, Cheung Mo Gei, and Dong Fong But Bai.

That particular force just *might* be able to topple an army if they have an appropriate strategy (Wong Yung in command with the Mo Muk War Tactics Manual as reference?).

[Siven]

Many wuxia writers seem to abide by this notion that the government and the wuxia underworld want to have as little to do with each other as possible. To become a political leader one needs the support of the masses, and the ambition.

Would Superman run for President?

[Ken Cheng]

Many wuxia writers seem to abide by this notion that the government and the wuxia underworld want to have as little to do with each other as possible. To become a political leader one needs the support of the masses, and the ambition.

The emperors and princes often hired wulin fighters as mercenaries, and in Gu Long's LUK SIU FUNG, the swordsman Yip Goo Sing had ambitions to become emperor.

Would Superman run for President?

In some SUPERMAN comics from the 1960s, he actually did.

And a few years ago, Lex Luthor actually became President of the U.S. in the DC Comics Universe, much to Superman's chagrin.

[PJ]

Many wuxia writers seem to abide by this notion that the government and the wuxia underworld want to have as little to do with each other as possible.

Right, because otherwise the throne would be seriously threatened by the outstanding martial arts of Wulin.

[Suet Seung]

Maybe the Wuxia writers just don't want to tamper with Chinese History as in making their characters become emperor of China. Or because they'd have to answer to the public audience and critics. Whatever the reason maybe...is it risky?

[K2Grey]

I wonder, do regular soldiers have inner power?

Because if so then while Wuyazi might not be able to take on the entire army, if he wanted to he could probably do strategic raids and so on and eventually suck everyone dry and start glowing in the dark

[wkeej]

zwj and xu zhu can become emperors/kings, but then the criterion is "by force". hmm, that's a bit difficult.

[Ken Cheng]

I wonder, do regular soldiers have inner power?

Everyone does, but only martial artists with specific training can use it well enough to achieve the spectacular effects achieved by the great wulin fighters.