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Thread: The Deer and The Cauldron

  1. #1701
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 29 - Part 3

    Anh, Ali, you are welcome. Wandering, Tweety, Crazee, I wish that is the case. During LOCH, I had to wait for the other translators, hence I finished everything and posted daily update. That was fun, I don't have to worry about not meeting the deadline ... my own deadline, that is ... For many years I spent my lunch time playing card games on the computer (solitaire, freecell, hearts, and the like), now I spend my spare time working on my hobby: wuxia translation. But, as I offered you before, I can always finish one chapter and post it in one go if you like.

    9dragons, as I said, I am not Chinese literate, I rely heavily on dictionary, and those were the words I got from it; 斧头 and 菜油. If you think the dictionary is inaccurate, please kindly let me know, I'll report it to them. However, not that I am trying to dampen your spirit, I simply translate what Jin Yong has written. Even if he made mistake, I would still translate it as is. IMHO, we are reading a fiction, not a scientific article. Smurf, Grundle, your discussion is very interesting.

    Merry Christmas y'all, and God bless us, everyone! I am not going anywhere this Christmas, hopefully I can get some more before the year is over.


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    Chen Jinnan rushed forward to hold him up again, they saw Guan Anji’s eyes were wide open, but he had already met a violent death. His body was still warm though, apparently he had not died long. The people were shocked and grieved. Feng Jizhong, Priest Xuanzhen, and the others jumped outside, but did not see any trace of the enemy.

    Chen Jinnan untied Guan Anji’s robe, and saw a blood red hand print on his chest. “Feng Xifan!” he said in choked voice.

    Priest Xuanzhen angrily said, “It is definitely Feng Xifan! This red sand palm is his Kunlun Pai’s unique martial art skill. After suffering serious injury, that evil thief must have circled around a moment later. It’s really … damn it, it’s alright if he wanted to save Zheng Er Gongzi, but why did he have to kill Guan Erge?”

    Everybody cursed in rage. Guan Anji’s brother-in-law, Jia Laoliu’s [Ol’ Six Jia] cry shook the heavens and the earth. In his grief Chen Jinnan was silent.

    They returned to the hall. Qian Laoben said, “Zongduozhu, we all know about Er Gongzi and Da Gongzi’s struggle over the Wangye position. Our Tian Di Hui has always been impartial in this matter; Da Gongzi is older, naturally we support Da Gongzi. Er Gongzi has always considered you as a nail in his eyes, this time he received Feng Xifan’s instigation, and was thinking of seizing this opportunity to get rid of you. Today we have offended Er Gongzi. I am afraid Wangye might believe their slanderous report. Hereafter Zongduozhu cannot return to Taiwan anymore.”

    Chen Jinnan sighed and said, “Guoxing Ye’s benevolence to me was very heavy, even with torn body and crushed bones it would be difficult for me to repay his kindness. Wangye has always been wise, plus he is very respectful toward me; he can’t possibly harm a loyal and good person.”

    Priest Xuanzhen said, “As the saying goes: distant relation cannot separate flesh and blood relation. Er Gongzi has already determined that our Tian Di Hui refuses to follow Taiwan’s order. If even in the Central Plains he was already like this, would he give you any leeway in Taiwan? Their Zheng Family has altogether eight Gongzi, everybody is fighting everybody else to seize the power, our Tian Di Hui does not need to be involved. Zongduozhu, while it’s true that we are not Qin Hui, but we are definitely not Yue Fei either[2].”

    Qian Laoben said, “Zongduozhu is loyal and devoted, and has always served the Zheng Family all your life, yet you were nearly killed by Er Gongzi; no matter what we cannot simply swallow this matter.”

    Chen Jinnan sighed again and said, “A real man’s conduct has a clear conscience against the heaven and the earth, whatever other people say, long or short, has nothing to do with him. It’s just that I have never imagined such misfortune would befall us. Just now if it were not for Xiaobao’s resourcefulness, we all would die a violent death … ay, it’s a pity Guan Erge …”

    Wei Xiaobao was relieved to hear that his shifu would not investigate the scattering of lime and the nailing of the coffin. Afraid that it was merely a momentary lapse of memory, he decided to change the subject immediately. “We have made quite some noise,” he said, “I am afraid all next door neighbors have heard it; if they report to the authorities, I am afraid … I am afraid … We must move immediately.”

    “Absolutely,” Chen Jinnan said, “My mind is in turmoil, unexpectedly I haven’t thought about it.”

    Right away they all went back to the garden to dig a hole and bury Guan Anji’s body. After shedding more tears and kowtowing, they carried their belongings out and left immediately. The Tian Di Hui warriors were constantly on the move around the Capital, moving their residence was a common occurrence. Wei Xiaobao was afraid his Shifu would ask him about his martial art training, he took the opportunity to take his leave and return to the Imperial Palace.

    Back at his residence, he bolted the door, and opened the six copies of sutra one by one. Indeed he saw a lot of sheepskin pieces in between the cover of the sutras. He took out the pieces and stitched the cover back to its original state. But after stitching the cover of less than one book he already fed up with it; he thought, “It would be best if Shuang’er is here. Right this moment she is most likely still outside Shaolin Temple waiting for me. I was captured by Shifu Jiu Nan, this good servant girl must be extremely worried. I must send someone to tell here to come here.” Sewing several stitches later, his eyes grew very heavy; he hid the sutra well and fell asleep.

    Early in the morning the next day he went to the Upper Study Room to wait upon the Emperor. Kangxi said, “I am going to issue an imperial decree tomorrow, sending you to escort Princess Jianning to Yunnan, to be married to that little b@stard surnamed Wu.”

    “Yes,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “It’s just a pity that I have not served Your Majesty for several days and I will have to be far away from you.”

    Kangxi lowered his voice and said, “The Empress Dowager has told me a very important matter. This time you go to Yunnan, you may try to take this opportunity to work on it.” Wei Xiaobao complied.

    Kangxi continued, “The Empress Dowager said, that evil maid servant impersonating the Empress Dowager, actually it was part of a great conspiracy: her mission was to find the location of our Manchu’s dragon vein, and try to find a way to break it.”

    Wei Xiaobao blurted out without thinking, “That old wh0re’s crime is great, her evil extreme!” But then he hastily covered his mouth, realizing that he had cursed with vulgar language in front of the Emperor, unavoidably it was too disrespectful.

    Who would have thought that Kangxi did not give it the slightest thought? “Correct!” he responded, “That old wh0re is indeed not a ‘thing’. The Empress Dowager had to endure disgrace and endure suffering, she would rather die than reveal the secret; only by doing that did the old wh0re’s evil scheme fail. With the Heaven’s blessing therefore the Empress Dowager is safe and sound until today, and has been able to hold on without revealing this big secret.”

    Wei Xiaobao already knew the secret early on, but he said, “Your Majesty, it would be best if you do not tell me this huge secret. One more person knows about it, the danger that the secret will leak also increases by one part.”

    Kangxi praised him, “You are making good progress; you understand that in everything we must be cautious. However, since the first time you work for me, you have never leaked anything. If I can’t even trust you, I can trust nobody else.”

    Wei Xiaobao felt that the several hundred bones in his body, each bone was several taels several qians lighter. He kneeled down and kowtowed, while saying, “Your Majesty trust me this much, even if your servant’s tongue is cut, I will not dare to divulge half a word of what Your Majesty is going to tell me.”

    Kangxi nodded; he said, “The secret of our Great Qing’s dragon vein is actually hidden in the eight copies of the ‘Forty-two-chapter Sutra’.”

    Wei Xiaobao pretended to be astonished; he repeatedly said, “Ah, strange, is there such thing? It’s absolutely unthinkable!”

    Kangxi continued, “After the Shezheng Wangye [master king regent] entered the pass, he bestowed eight copies of sutra to the Eight Banners’ Banner Commander. Within the Eight Banners, the troops and horses of Plain Yellow, Plain White and Bordered Yellow, three banners are under the command of the Son of Heaven. But the farmland and material belongings of these three banners are still the Banner Commanders’ responsibility. The Plain Yellow Banner’s copy has always been in Fu Huang’s [father emperor] possession, which he took with him to Mount Wutai. Later on he sent you to bring it back and bestowed it to me. Because the Bordered White Banner’s Banner Commander committed a crime, the Bordered White Banner’s sutra ended up in the Palace, and Fu Huang bestowed it to Empress Duan Jing.”

    Wei Xiaobao said in his heart, “The Old Emperor doted on Empress Duan Jing; naturally he wanted to give the best thing to her. If it were me, if all eight copies ended up in the Palace, I would bestow all to her.”

    Kangxi continued, “The old wh0re murdered Empress Duan Jing, naturally she took hold of her sutra. Oboi was the Bordered Yellow Banner’s Banner Commander. When I sent you to search and seize Oboi’s home that day, the old wh0re wanted you to find two sutras, one was precisely the Bordered Yellow Banner’s, the other was Plain White Banner’s.”

    “Yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “If I had known the old wh0re was bad, your servant would have reported to the old wh0re that I could not find it, and quietly presented the sutras to Your Majesty.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “At that time we did not know that the old wh0re was a fake Empress Dowager; we also did not know that there is such great responsibility inside the ‘Forty-two-chapter Sutra’. If you were fooling around like that, I would have … I would have flogged your buttocks.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wei Xiaobao said. In his heart he said, “Flogging my buttocks and that’s it? You don’t need to be polite!” He asked, “The Plain White Banner’s copy, I wonder where did Oboi get it from?”

    Kangxi said, “He has killed the Plain White Banner’s Banner Commander Suksaha, and seized his family property, his belongings, including his copy of sutra. Humph, even death cannot wipe out that rebel’s crimes.”

    “Yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “In that case, the old wh0re had three copies in her hands.”

    “Only three?” Kangxi said, “She also sent the Deputy Chief of Imperial Bodyguards Rui Dong to make things difficult for the Bordered Red Banner’s Banner Commander Hechabo. At that time I did not know the reason, that fellow Hechabo had always been in collusion with Oboi, so I did not pay him any attention. Now that I think about it, naturally it was to seize his copy of the sutra. And then Rui Dong mysteriously disappeared; the old wh0re must have killed him to close his mouth.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty can see things like a deity [i.e. prophecy with supernatural accuracy; you will see shortly why I kept the literal translation].” While in his heart he said, “You are convinced that Rui Dong was killed by the old wh0re, hence I praised you that you can see things like a deity; that is striking a nail on one foot. If in the future you find out that Rui Dong was killed by me, you cannot go back on your word by questioning me. Otherwise, you are acknowledging that you cannot see things like a deity. In your capacity as the Emperor, how can you see things not like a deity, but like a demon?”

    Kangxi said, “But if my guess is incorrect …”

    Wei Xiaobao busily said, “Definitely correct.”

    Kangxi said, “… the old wh0re had four copies of sutra in her hands. But there is one very strange thing: Fu Huang bestowed to me that copy of the Plain Yellow Banner’s sutra, all along I put it on the table in the Upper Study Room, but suddenly it disappeared. You think who has such a nerve to brazenly come to the Upper Study Room and steal something?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Can come and go the Upper Study Room, and have guts to take a book without permission, only … only …”

    “Princess Jianning!” Kangxi said.

    Wei Xiaobao did not dare to interrupt; he mused, “This time indeed you can see things like a deity.”

    Kangxi said, “The old wh0re sent her daughter to steal my copy of the sutra. In that case, she had five copies in her hands.”

    “Let us quickly go to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful to search,” Wei Xiaobao said, “The old wh0re was running away out of the Palace empty-handed, she did not bring anything.” While his heart was pounding madly, “If this moment the Emperor search my room, even if Xiao Guizi has a hundred heads, all will be chopped down.”

    Kangxi shook his head, “I have already searched carefully,” he said, “I could not find anything. I only found a monk robe. The old wh0re’s good friend was actually a monk. Ha ha, ha ha …!”

    Wei Xiaobao started to laugh, but after only two ‘ha’s, he felt it was extremely rude, so he hastily stopped laughing. Kangxi was still laughing heartily, however, as he said, “It’s just that when that short winter melon ran away, carrying the old wh0re with him, I saw that he had long hair, hence I was surprised. Most likely he was like that palace maid impersonator, his hair was fake. That fellow was short and fat; the old wh0re’s man was not a good steal, why did she look for such a short winter melon?”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “That short winter melon’s martial art skill was very high. If he was handsome, he might not necessarily have the ability to sneak into the Palace. Last time that fake palace maid was also very ugly.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “You got that right.” After a short pause, he said, “The other three copies of the sutra are in the hands of Plain Red Banner, Plain Blue Banner, and Bordered Blue Banner, three Banners’ possession. The current Plain Red Banner’s Banner Commander is Prince Kang, I have already ordered him to present the sutra to me.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “That night someone stole Prince Kang’s sutra, and right now it is in my possession; how can Prince Kang present it to the Emperor? This time that Ol’ Kang will be a deep trouble.”

    Kangxi continued, “The Plain Blue Banner’s Banner Commander Fu Deng is still young. Just now I asked him, he said that his predecessor, the Banner Commander Jia Kun died during the assault of Yunnan; the funeral arrangement was taken over by Wu Sangui. What Wu Sangui handed over to him was an official seal, several army banners, and several tens of thousands taels of silver. Other than that, there was nothing else.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “The sutra must be embezzled by Wu Sangui.”

    “That’s right,” Kangxi said, “For that reason, when you get to Wu Sangui’s mansion, carefully investigate this matter, think of a way to get the sutra. That servant Wu Sangui is very crafty, you must never let him know the inside story.”

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    [2] Yue Fei (1102-1142), Song Dynasty’s patriot and fames general. Qin Hui (1090-1155), Song Dynasty official who betrayed General Yue Fei and had him executed.

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    Foxs, Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    Thank you for the great Christmas gift. :-)

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    Thanks Foxs

  4. #1704
    Senior Member Ace High's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tweety365 View Post
    Looking at this scene from another perspective, to win in politics, one needs to weed out the enemies and sometimes the enemies are those close to you. ZKS's older brother is the heir. Hence, getting rid of CJN is a perfectly logical act, even if it is not a wise one since they haven't beaten the Qings yet. Right now, they need talented people like CJN to help with the rebellion. ZKS should try to get rid of CJN later. I also think ZKS's actions are ruthless, sneaky and unheroic. However, lots of WXB's acts toward his enemies are like that as well. And people like CJN who are foolishly loyal always annoy me.

    Thanks foxs!
    This fight between ZKS and CJN is replay of the fight between TDH & Mu Family of Yunnan, only the difference is the former is an internal strife within Da Gongzi and Er Gongzi while the latter was external strif between supporters of the Third Crown Prince and the Fifth Crown Prince.

    Secondly, both Da Gongzi and Er Gongzi still haven't show their leadership abilities and other capabilities worth mentioning. This strife was more to choose a puppet on the throne.

    Thirdly, ZKS's action in trying to kill CJN is more harmful to himself. Killing a loyal and capable officer just for a whim (such as because that officer's subordinate didn't escort him) will make other officers' loyalty wavered and they will start to doubt orders. Some of the officers will began @ss-kissing while some of them will desert.
    You plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree

  5. #1705
    Senior Member SkyWalker's Avatar
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    Thanks foxs. Hope you had a great Christmas!

  6. #1706
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 29 - Part 4

    Eagle, same to you! Anh, you are welcome. Ace, what they needed was a strong (much stronger than the rest) organization like the Ming Cult during the Yuan Dynasty. Right now the power was almost evenly distributed among various factions, nobody was willing to yield to anybody. As you said, even if they succeeded in toppling the Qing, they would fall into prolonged civil war. Sky, it was nice and quiet. How was yours? Did you get a white Christmas?

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    “Yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Your servant will act according to the situation, will attempt to swindle him to come out.”

    Kangxi knitted his brows, he paced back and forth in the Upper Study Room. “The Banner Commander of the Bordered Blue Banner, Eshuokeha is a big muddled egg, I told him to present the sutra to me, unexpectedly he said that it disappeared a few years ago. I dispatched Imperial Bodyguards to his home to search, no trace. I have already sent him to Tian Lao [lit. heaven prison], and have the people interrogate and torture him well. I want to know whether it was really stolen or did he hide it and unwilling to turn it in.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Perhaps the old wh0re sent someone to embezzle it; I wonder if it was seized by force or was stolen in secret.” He thought, “I am not slandering the old wh0re; the person who seized it by force or stole it in secret was most likely the short winter melon.” He added, “Supposing these six copies were obtained by the old wh0re, when all is said and done, where are they?” As soon as he said that, he felt a slight remorse, “I said it wrong,” he mused, “I suffer too much losses. I said it was the old wh0re who obtained the six copies of the sutra, while the one who has six copies of the sutra is actually Wei Xiaobao. Won’t that mean I am the old wh0re?”

    Kangxi said, “Actually, what is the old wh0re’s background? At this moment we do not have any clue. She managed this important matter, there must be someone she conspired with. After she obtained the sutra, she must have smuggled it out of the Palace one by one. I am afraid it will be extremely difficult to recover all those six copies of sutra. Fortunately the Empress Dowager said that to find the Great Qing’s Dragon Vein location, one must have all eight copies in one’s possession. Even if someone obtained seven copies, as long as one copy is lacking, all seven will be useless. We only have to have the two copies in Prince Kang and Wu Sangui’s hands and destroy them, and then there will be peace and security without any trouble. We do not want to find the Dragon Vein; as long as nobody else finds it, that will be enough. It’s just that I lost the sutra Fu Huang bestowed to me; if henceforth I cannot find it back, I am really unfilial. Humph, Princess Jianning, that little … little …”

    Kangxi could not finish his cursing, in his heart Wei Xiaobao was finishing it for him, “Little wh0re!”

    Right this moment, however, in his heart Kangxi was recalling the admonition given by Shunzhi in the meditation room at the Jing’e Temple of Mount Wutai: “My son, you are astute and competent, you cherish common people; you are a much stronger emperor than I was. There is a map hidden in those eight copies of ‘Forty-two-chapter Sutra’, it’s a map to an enormous hidden treasure. When our Eight Banners’ troops entered the pass, they plundered gold, silver, money and valuables everywhere they went in the Central Plains, and hid everything in this treasure trove. The Eight Banners have equal share on this treasure trove; therefore, the map was divided into eight parts, and were distributed to the Eight Banners, so that no single banner can keep everything for themselves. The Han people inside the pass is a hundred times more numerous than us, Manchu people; if they rose up in rebellion simultaneously, we are absolutely unable to suppress it. At that time, we have no choice but to return outside the pass, open up the treasure-trove, divide the treasure equally among the Eight Banners, and henceforth we won’t have to worry not to have enough food and warm clothes for the next several years.”

    Kangxi recalled that at that time his father emperor asked Wei Xiaobao to bring back these words: ‘In the matters of the world, he must let nature take its course, nothing can be forced. It would be best if he could benefit the common people of the Central Plains. But if the common people wanted us to leave, then from the place we came, there we should come back to.’ He also heard Shunzhi saying, ‘That our Manchurian Qing is able to conquer the land under heaven, it is solely by the Will of Heaven; in this matter, we are really lucky. We cannot harbor the thought that we will stay in the Central Plains for a long time; we must not let Manchu people destroy everything inside the Pass, because then a single horse will not be able to go beyond the Pass.”

    With his mouth Kangxi repeatedly say ‘yes’, but in his heart he was thinking otherwise, “The great undertaking of our Great Qing in the Central Plains is getting more and more stable. From now on we ought to open up new territory and expand our lands, establishing a foundation that won’t pull out in ten thousand ages; why would we need to prepare a fallback plan? As soon as we have a fallback, it would only bring disaster. Father has left home, his heart is contented, he is standing aloof from worldly affair, no wonder he has that kind of thought.”

    As expected, his father continued, “However, the Regent instructed all Banner Commanders: the fact that there is an enormous treasure buried outside the Pass must never be revealed. Otherwise, if the Manchurian kings, dukes and soldiers knew that there is a fallback plan, when the Han people revolt, they won’t be willing to risk their lives in fighting, and then our great undertaking will fail. For this reason, when the Banner Commanders pass on the sutras to the next generation, they can only say that the sutras hide a great secret concerning the Manchurian Qing’s Dragon Vein, that if the Dragon Vein is dug and broken, all the Manchurian people will die without a burial site. Hence, first, the later generation of the Eight Banners won’t get greedy and sneakily dig the treasure; second, if there is anybody trying to dig the treasure, the Eight Banners would rise together to attack, to do their utmost to stop it. Only the lord of the country one person is allowed to know the real secret.”

    Thinking back about the past conversation, he had to admit, “The Regent indeed had great skill and strategy, his foresight is very true.” Casting a glance toward Wei Xiaobao, he thought, “Although Xiao Guizi is loyal, I can only tell him about the Dragon Vein, I cannot say anything about the treasure. Someday this boy will grow, there is no guarantee that he won’t be greedy. The Empress Dowager told me yesterday, when Fu Huang made up his mind to leave home, he entrusted this great secret to the Empress Dowager, telling her to wait for me to grow up, and then pass on this secret to me. The Empress Dowager was willing to bear humiliation to preserve her life was precisely for this reason. She did not know that I have already gone to Mount Wutai to see Fu Huang. But it was fortunate this way, the Empress Dowager was not killed by the old wh0re.”

    Seeing Kangxi pacing back and forth, deep in thought, Wei Xiaobao suddenly had an idea, “Your Majesty,” he said, “If the old wh0re was sent by Wu Sangui to infiltrate the Palace, that means he … he has seven copies of sutra in his hand.”

    Kangxi was startled; thinking that it was a great possibility. “Send in the Imperial Clothing Supervisor!” he called out.

    After a while, an old eunuch entered the Study Room and kowtowed; he was the eunuch manager [orig. Zongguan] of the Imperial Clothing Supervisors. Kangxi asked, “Have you found out?”

    The eunuch replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty: your servant has examined it carefully, the material of that monk robe was weaved in Beijing.”

    “Hmm,” Kangxi mumbled. Wei Xiaobao understood, “The Emperor wants to know the short winter melon’s origin. The material of his clothing was manufactured in Beijing, so what? He did not find anything.”

    The eunuch continued, “However, the man’s undergarment was made of Liaodong Peninsula’s cocoon silk, it was the product of Jinzhou [prefecture, Liaoning province] region.”

    Kangxi’s countenance lit up; he nodded and said, “Dismissed.” The eunuch kowtowed and withdrew.

    Kangxi said, “Perhaps you are right, this short winter melon may have some connection with Wu Sangui.”

    “Your servant does not understand,” Wei Xiaobao said.

    Kangxi explained, “Formerly Wu Sangui was guarding Shanhai Pass, Jinzhou was his territory. Perhaps this short winter melon was his former subordinate.”

    “Exactly!” Wei Xiaobao happily said, “Your Majesty is brilliant, your premonition is definitely correct.”

    Kangxi muttered to himself, “If the old wh0re returned to Yunnan, the danger of your trip may increase by one part. You must bring more Imperial Bodyguards, plus three thousand Valiant Cavalry sergeants.”

    “Yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty, please set your heart at ease. It would be best if your servant can catch the old wh0re and the short winter melon, we can make mincemeat of them and thus venting the Empress Dowager’s anger.”

    Kangxi patted Wei Xiaobao’s shoulder; he smiled and said, “If you can render this great service, and help the Empress Dowager venting her anger, hey, hey, your age is young, your official position is big, you are going to make things difficult for me. However, we are the young emperor, the young high-ranking minister, a couple of young people managed to accomplish big matters; we let those bunch of old officials be intimidated and stupefied. It’s very amusing.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Although Your Majesty is young, your wisdom and foresight has already made that bunch of old ‘things’ full of admiration in their hearts. After you deal with Wu Sangui, it will be ‘before there is no such thing, after there is no one of ancient times’ [qian wu lai zhe, hou wu gu ren].”

    Kangxi burst out laughing; “Damn it,” he said, “It’s ‘no one precedes, no one follows’ [qian wu gu ren, hou wu lai zhe]. You, this fellow, is clever and quick-witted, but without learning or skills, and not willing to study.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed, “Yes, yes,” he said, “When your servant has some spare time, I will study well for a few days.”

    Actually, Wei Xiaobao’s uncouth and illiteracy was what made Kangxi like him more. If Kangxi wanted literate and highly educated chamberlains by his side, he could have as many as he wanted. Day in and day out he heard a lot of good poems, classical quotations and Confucius teachings. Only when talking street talk and day-to-day speech with Wei Xiaobao did he really feel carefree.

    Wei Xiaobao withdrew from Kangxi presence. He had just went out of the Upper Study Room when an Imperial Bodyguard came up to him, paid him respect, and said in a low voice, “Wei Fu Zongguan [deputy chief], Prince Kang wishes to see you; he was wondering if Wei Fu Zongguan have spare time.”

    “Where is Wangye?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    The Imperial Bodyguard replied, “Wangye is waiting for your reply at the Imperial Bodyguard room.”

    “Has he come personally?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    “Yes, yes,” the Imperial Bodyguard replied, “He said he wanted to invite Wei Fu Zongguan to drink wine and watch the opera. He was afraid that His Majesty might have some important matter for Wei Fu Zongguan to do that you, Senior, cannot spare a moment for him.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed. “Damn it,” he said, “What ‘Senior’ am I?”

    Arriving at the Imperial Bodyguard room, he saw Prince Kang with a teacup in one hand, sitting on a chair with a blank expression on his face, wrinkled eyebrows, and deep worried look. As soon as he saw Wei Xiaobao, he hastily put down the teacup, scrambled up to pull Wei Xiaobao’s hand, and said, “Xiongdi, long time no see, I miss you like crazy.”

    Wei Xiaobao was fully aware that Prince Kang was looking for him because of the lost copy of sutra, but seeing he was this warm, he was quite happy. “If Wangye needs anything, you can simply send someone to let me know,” he said, “You want to bestow me with food and wine, won’t lowly officer rush over to your place? You are giving me a lot of face like this, you actually come personally to see me.”

    “I have prepared an opera troupe at home,” Prince Kang said, “I was only afraid Xiongdi does not have time. Can we go now?”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Alright, since Wangye is going to bestow a dinner to me, as long as His Majesty did not send me to do anything urgent, even if my own old man died, lowly officer will have to disturb Wangye and eat your food first before doing anything else.”

    The two of them left the Palace hand-in-hand, they mounted their horses and rode to the Prince’s mansion. Prince Kang entertained his guest lavishly, he treated Wei Xiaobao with utmost respect. This time there was no other guest in his mansion.

    After dinner, Prince Kang invited Wei Xiaobao into his study room. He made small talks, praising Wei Xiaobao about being the Emperor’s proxy at the Shaolin Temple and amassing countless achievements and virtue, with good result; he also praised him as a young man, but had achieved the Deputy Chief position of the Imperial Bodyguards and Commander position of the Valiant Cavalry Brigade; his future prospect was really unlimited. Wei Xiaobao responded by some humble talk, saying that in the future he would rely heavily on the Prince’s support and guidance.

    Prince Kang sighed. “Xiongdi,” he said, “You and I are family, I don’t need to conceal anything from you: your Laoge [old older brother] is facing an imminent catastrophe; I am afraid my life, as well as my family’s, will be difficult to protect.”

    Wei Xiaobao pretended to be greatly astonished. “Wangye is of royal family, a Great Beilei [see note 19 chapter 13] of the Virtuous Dynasty, the Tie Maozi Wang [3], the person His Majesty put in an important position as someone he could trust; what kind of imminent catastrophe might you be facing?”

    Xiongdi,” Prince Kang said, “You did not know. When we, Manchurian Qing entered the Pass, the Banner Commander of each Banner was bestowed a Buddhist sutra by the Late Emperor. I am the Banner Commander of the Plain Red Banner, hence I was also entrusted with this gift. Today His Majesty summoned me, asking me to present the sutra the Late Emperor bestowed to me. But … but my copy of sutra, somehow, unexpectedly … unexpectedly it is stolen …”

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    [3] "Iron-Capped Prince", refers to a royal title which is hereditary and, in theory, passed down into perpetuity. For most titles given during the Qing dynasty, the son of the person who was awarded a royal rank would inherit a "diluted" title which is one rank lower than their father's title (and their son would inherit a title one rank lower than their own, and so on and so forth). But those princes who were awarded an "Iron-Capped" title would be able to pass their title down to their children undiluted, and so on and so forth. (Courtesy of Ren Wo Xing)
    Last edited by foxs; 12-27-11 at 02:57 PM.

  7. #1707
    Moderator Ren Wo Xing's Avatar
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    Great translation, foxs! Keep it up!

    FYI, the "铁帽子王", lit "Iron-Capped Prince", refers to a royal title which is hereditary and, in theory, passed down into perpetuity. For most titles given during the Qing dynasty, the son of the person who was awarded a royal rank would inherit a "diluted" title which is one rank lower than their father's title (and their son would inherit a title one rank lower than their own, and so on and so forth). But those princes who were awarded an "Iron-Capped" title would be able to pass their title down to their children undiluted, and so on and so forth.
    Read the latest chapters of Coiling Dragon at Wuxia World!

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    Senior Member smurf120's Avatar
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    By now I should know better, but I am always amazed at WXB political insight and talking ability. Thanks Foxs and hope you had a good relaxing Christmas!

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    Senior Member Gubrak's Avatar
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    Thanks Fox The Great

    Actually I'm not worry if the story will finish faster as you have enormous wuxia story to translate, mmm .... for us .... . So keep your performance, jia you .... !!!

    And also, keep the footnote as much as possible, I really love the explanation, make things clear ....

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    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all....

    Was away for my Christmas Hols and voila.... 2 translations in a row....what a Christmas Gift.

    Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!....thanks, Santa Foxs....for your lovely gift. It's the best one I got....
    cheerio..

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    Ace, what they needed was a strong (much stronger than the rest) organization like the Ming Cult during the Yuan Dynasty. Right now the power was almost evenly distributed among various factions, nobody was willing to yield to anybody. As you said, even if they succeeded in toppling the Qing, they would fall into prolonged civil war.
    Actually, TDH by far is the strongest organisation. They have a clear command structures for the halls and members at all 18 provinces and better coordination between halls at different provinces while other groups works independently. It would be better if the members of other resistance groups attached themselves to the various TDH’s halls rather than appointing provincial mengzhus. It is easier to work with an organisation with established framework rather than establishing something new from a scratch. But, the pride of an individual clan/school/society is way more important. However, the leader of TDH aka CJN served a master who is plagued by problems. How many times CJN had to return to Taiwan because of internal strife there? TDH’s matters always take second priority to Taiwan’s matters. This affects TDH’s efficiency.

    Secondly, all those factions failed big time to read common people’s mood. Are the Ming factions truly thinks the common people wished for the Ming to rule them again? Kang Xi is a great ruler, with policies that benefited common people, compared to the rule of Wan Li till Chong Zhen, which care little for the common people. There were many peasants uprising during the later years of Ming, while Kang Xi’s rule can be said is free from peasants uprising. It is very hard to defeat a government that received support from the people.
    You plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree

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    Senior Member Grundle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by crazee View Post
    Friend...its an alkali...opposite of Acid. lime powder with water creates caustic soda...remembered that from my chemistry class.....yes it burns like acid too on skins..
    You are correct, I mispoke on that point. In fact highly basic substances are more damaging than highly acidic /shrug.
    --=={Grundle}==--

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    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 29 - Part 5

    Thanks Ren, I'll add the information into the text. Smurf, if he is not lazy, I am sure he would easily surpass or at least equal Jin Yong's other protagonists. Don't you agree? Gubrak, I agree, I want to know all the details, which was the main reason I took this 'crazy task' of retranslating something that is already widely available. Crazee, honestly, I am surprised that you guys are still around. I thought everybody is out on vacation or something. I can't afford it, since this is our first Christmas in new state, with new job, et cetera. I am thinking that you might like more frequent update, albeit shorter. So here it is ...

    Ace, although I am in full agreement with you, I still think Tian Di Hui did not have the 'charisma' of Ming Cult in the past (mind you, I am talking in Jin Yong's universe, not the real historical fact). Zhang Wuji was highly respected by wulin people, and as you mentioned, his army had the full support of the people.

    Grundle, I am surprised you are still thinking about the lime ...


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Wei Xiaobao’s entire face looked astonished. “That’s really strange!” he said, “Stealing gold and silver, I can understand. But stealing sutra? What good does it have? Is the sutra made of gold? Or perhaps fully inlaid with jade, pearls and precious stones, so that it is extremely valuable?”

    “It’s not that,” Prince Kang said, “It is only a common sutra. But I was not able to safeguard the item that was bestowed to me by the Late Emperor, it is really disrespectful. His Majesty suddenly wanted me to present it to him, I am afraid he already knew that I lost this sutra and wanted to investigate this matter. Xiongdi, please help me.” While saying that, he stood up and bowed with cupped fist to Wei Xiaobao.

    Wei Xiaobao hastily returned the propriety; he said, “Wangye is too polite, do you think Xiaoren deserve it?”

    With a distressed look Prince Kang said, “Xiongdi, if you can’t find a way to help me, I will have no choice but to kill myself.”

    Wangye is considering this matter too heavily,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Tomorrow I will present a memorial to let His Majesty know about this matter, at most he will punish Wangye by several months of official salary, or perhaps rebuke you openly in front of the other officials; how can there be any life and death situation?”

    Prince Kang shook his head and said, “If only I can keep my life, I am willing to forego my royal status as a prince; even if I have to be a commoner, I will thank the Heaven and thank the Earth, and will be perfectly contented. Because of losing the sutra bestowed to him, the Banner Commander of the Bordered Blue Banner Eshuokeha was put into Tian Lao yesterday. I heard he received a lot of beating. His Majesty sent people to interrogate him severely, to find out where did that copy of sutra go?” While saying that, his facial muscle twitched, apparently he was imagining the miserable and ruthless torture he would experience if he was sent to Tian Lao.

    Wei Xiaobao knitted his brows, “The sutra is that important?” he asked, “Ah, right, that day when I searched and seized Oboi’s home, the Empress Dowager ordered me to find two books in his house, some thirty-two-chapter sutra, forty-three-chapter sutra, or something like that. Is that the thing that Wangye lost?”

    The worried look on Prince Kang’s face grew deeper. “Exactly,” he said, “It’s the Forty-two-Chapter Sutra’. When you searched and seized Oboi’s house, the Empress Dowager did not want anything else, but she only wanted that sutra, thus it is clear that that thing is extremely important. Did Xiongdi find it?”

    “I did,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “That servant Oboi had the sutra in his bedroom, in a hole on the floor; it took quite some efforts for me to find it. What’s so strange about this sutra anyway? I can go to any monk’s temple and ask for eight or ten copies for you, then you can present it to His Majesty.”

    Prince Kang said, “The Late Emperor personally bestowed the sutra, it is totally different than ordinary Buddhist scripture from the monk’s temple; I can’t pass it for the real thing.”

    With a solemn expression Wei Xiaobao said, “If that’s the case, then it’s a bit troublesome. I wonder what it is that Wangye wanted me to do?”

    Prince Kang shook his head and said, “I really cannot say it; how … how can I ask Xiongdi to so something that will disadvantage our lord?”

    Wei Xiaobao struck his chest, “Wangye might as well say it,” he said, “You consider Wei Xiaobao as your friend, I will deliver this little life for you; it is yi qi. Very well, you present a memorial to His Majesty, just tell him that I, Wei Xiaobao borrowed the sutra to have a look, but I was not careful and I lost it. These last few days His Majesty liked me very much, at most he will have me flogged, he might not necessarily want to chop my head.”

    “Thank you very much for Xiongdi’s good intention,” Prince Kang said, “But I’m afraid it won’t work. His Majesty can’t possibly believe that Xiongdi would want to borrow the sutra to have a look.”

    Wei Xiaobao nodded. “Although I have been a monk once, but I don’t know any character even if it is as big as a watermelon. I am afraid His Majesty won’t believe that I borrowed the sutra to read it. We must find another way.”

    Prince Kang said, “I was thinking of asking Xiongdi … of asking Xiongdi … asking Xiongdi …” He said ‘asking Xiongdi’ three times but did not finish; he only looked at Wei Xiaobao, watching for his reaction.

    Wangye,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Please don’t feel awkward. Your Xiongdi’s little life …” His left hand grabbed his own pigtail, his right hand moved across his own neck, and then with both hands he made a gesture as if he lifted his own head and presented it to the Prince. He continued, “… has already been given to you. As long as it’s not something that will endanger His Majesty, I will obey whatever you wish to tell me.”

    Prince Kang was greatly delighted. “Xiongdi upholds yi qi in such a high regard like this, ay, your Gege don’t have anything much to say. I only wish to ask Xiongdi to go to either the Empress Dowager or His Majesty, and steal one sutra. I will prepare several dozen of master artisans to wait in here. We will start working that very night to make a copy of the sutra, so that I can pass through this crisis.”

    “Can you make an exact replica?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Prince Kang busily said, “We can, we can. We simply have to make an exact replica, I guarantee it won’t have any flaw. After we finish making the copy, Xiongdi may immediately return the original, we won’t dare to make the slightest damage to it.”

    Actually, he was fully aware that hastily making a copy of the sutra without any flaw was extremely difficult; he was thinking of wrapping both the real and fake sutras, and have Wei Xiaobao return the fake one to the original place, while he presented the real one to the Emperor. He presumed Wei Xiaobao did not know anything, and would have a hard time distinguishing the real from the fake. If Wei Xiaobao did not find out about it later, that would be an extraordinary good luck; however, even if he did, Prince Kang would not be implicated. It’s just that at this moment he could not openly explain his intention to Wei Xiaobao.

    “Alright,” Wei Xiaobao said, “The matter should not be delayed, I am going to find a way to steal it. Wangye should just wait quietly in your mansion for my news.”

    Prince Kang thanked him profusely [orig. thousand kindness ten thousand thanks], and personally walked him out of the gate. He also warned Wei Xiaobao repeatedly to be careful.

    Wei Xiaobao returned to his room. He pieced together the several dozen of sheepskin fragments under the lantern; thinking that since he had obtained seven out of the eight copies of sutra, even if there would be some empty spaces, he would be able to assemble most of it. Who would have thought that after spending more than an hour he could not even locate the corners of the map? By nature he did not have the patience, and was easily bored. Thereupon he put the several hundred small pieces in a piece of wax paper and wrapped it in a layer of oilcloth.

    After putting the bundle inside his inner pocket, he thought, “Old Kang is the Banner Commander of the Plain Red Banner, naturally his copy of sutra has red envelope. Tomorrow I’ll simply give him a copy with different color.”

    Early morning the next day, he sewed back the outer sheepskin cover of the Bordered White Banner’s sutra, pasted the envelope, and put it in his pocket. He then went straight to Prince Kang’s mansion.

    As soon as Prince Kang heard about his arrival, he hurriedly came out to greet him. Holding Wei Xiaobao’s hands, he repeatedly asked, “How was it? How was it?”

    Wei Xiaobao frowned with concerned look on his face; he shook his head. Prince Kang’s heart immediately sank. “It is indeed a very difficult matter, today we cannot succeed …”

    “I have it,” Wei Xiaobao said in a low voice, “I am only afraid that you won’t be able to make a replica within ten days or half a month.”

    Prince Kang was ecstatic; he jumped up suddenly, gave Wei Xiaobao a big hug, and carried him into his study room. Seeing their Wangye was acting like that, the numerous attendants and family warriors could not help but were secretly amused.

  14. #1714
    Senior Member smurf120's Avatar
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    Wouldn't Kangxi suspect something if there is empty concealed pocket in the sutra? Prince Kang is funny, carrying WXB to his study - even though he tries to use his relationship with WXB since the outset, I am glad they are friends - he seems simple enough.

    I am amused by our dissection of the correct way to treat lime burn, I'm finding it more interesting than the endless qinggong/LDA/jumping over the ocean discussions!

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    Thanks for the rapid updates! Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that you translate what Jin Yong has written. I would not have it any other way. That's the correct translation for axe. Perhaps it was written in error, or I've seen axes with a hammer on the adjacent side, much like a multi-use tool (Swiss army knife).

    With fiction, authors have artistic license to write extraordinary feats/events. We shouldn't get too critical or overanalytical over minute details, or risk missing enjoyment of the overall story. Sometimes uncovering little facts can be still be fun and educational.

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    Senior Member smurf120's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ace High View Post
    Secondly, all those factions failed big time to read common people’s mood. Are the Ming factions truly thinks the common people wished for the Ming to rule them again? Kang Xi is a great ruler, with policies that benefited common people, compared to the rule of Wan Li till Chong Zhen, which care little for the common people. There were many peasants uprising during the later years of Ming, while Kang Xi’s rule can be said is free from peasants uprising. It is very hard to defeat a government that received support from the people.
    So were the Revolutionaries racist against the Manchus or more nationalistic towards Ming? Sounds like they hated the previous Ming government even more.

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    Senior Member tweety365's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smurf120 View Post
    So were the Revolutionaries racist against the Manchus or more nationalistic towards Ming? Sounds like they hated the previous Ming government even more.
    I think it is more the case of them hating the Ming government for its corruption and incompetencies, but they don't like the fact that foreigners took advantage of the situation and managed to conquer them. So I think what they have in mind is kick out the Qings and set up a dynasty ruled by the Han people.

  18. #1718
    Senior Member Ace High's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by foxs
    Ace, although I am in full agreement with you, I still think Tian Di Hui did not have the 'charisma' of Ming Cult in the past (mind you, I am talking in Jin Yong's universe, not the real historical fact). Zhang Wuji was highly respected by wulin people, and as you mentioned, his army had the full support of the people.
    Well, that’s the points actually.

    Chen Jinnan, although well respected by the members of the martial world, still answer to Zheng Jing of Taiwan. It’s all right if Zheng Jing was a strong and capable leader, but Taiwan itself was full of internal strife and intrigues. Furthermore, Chen Jinnan gave Taiwan affairs a higher priority than the affairs on the mainland. Since the leader is weak while the subordinate is strong, it’s inevitable that discords slowly take a root.

    Zhang Wuji is the Chief of the Ming Cult, and he answered to nobody, not even to the Persian Ming Cult. As such, he could concentrate all of his resources into the rebellion, without have to worry about internal strife and intrigues.

    The situations were hardly similar. During later years of Yuan Dynasty, the populace was hit by a famine and they felt resentful towards the Yuan. It is natural for the populace to support the Ming Cult who waved a banner of righteousness for the common people. However, during Kang Xi’s reign, up until this point of story anyway, the populace is content with his rule. There is no hint of displeasure or bitterness among the populace (except the revolutionists). Therefore, the populace have no reason what so ever to support a rebellion.

    Quote Originally Posted by smurf120
    So were the Revolutionaries racist against the Manchus or more nationalistic towards Ming?
    I don’t think they’re being nationalistic towards Ming. It’s more because the Qing is a foreign dynasty, not a Han dynasty. If we read back all the revolutionists’ discussions on why they must rebel against the Qing; it’s all about freeing the Han’s rivers and mountains from the Tartars. Not once because of the Qing’s governance or the people plight.

    Quote Originally Posted by smurf120
    Sounds like they hated the previous Ming government even more.
    During the later years of Ming Dynasty, the populace was hit by famine and they have to pay very high taxes due to inflation of copper value. The populace conduct business in copper while paying their taxes in silver. The value of copper compared to silver fell from 1000 : 1 to 3000 : 1. In other words, the populace had to pay taxes 3 times higher while their incomes were lower due to famine. Moreover, the central government didn’t send any aid to lessen populace’s plight.

    Kang Xi, whether historically or in fiction, is a very good ruler. He employed capable people in his administration and pay close attention to the affairs of the state. While the emperors of later years of Ming are known to neglect their responsibilities.

    So, is there any possibility the common people would choose to support a revolution to topple a good administration and replace it with a bad administration?

    Quote Originally Posted by tweety365
    I think it is more the case of them hating the Ming government for its corruption and incompetencies, but they don't like the fact that foreigners took advantage of the situation and managed to conquer them. So I think what they have in mind is kick out the Qings and set up a dynasty ruled by the Han people.
    While pretending to be loyal towards the Ming Dynasty.
    Last edited by Ace High; 12-28-11 at 03:42 AM.
    You plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree

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    Senior Member smurf120's Avatar
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    Good points Ace High, who is Bluesmurf?? LOL

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    Quote Originally Posted by smurf120 View Post
    Good points Ace High, who is Bluesmurf?? LOL
    LOL, Ace is hinting for you to change your userid, smurf!

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