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Thread: The Deer and The Cauldron - Unabridged Thread

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    Default Chapter 37 - Part 4

    These two, a ruler and his minister, were displaying such an artificial show, the numerous high-ranking ministers were watching with knowing expressions; who did not understand Kangxi’s intention? These high-ranking ministers had received Wu Sangui’s bribe, the most recent it was delivered by Wei Xiaobao himself. They thought that if they were not being tactful, and Wei Xiaobao shook the imperial court with ‘venerating Yunnan’ tactic again, the Emperor might be furious, and then all of them might be charged with ‘acting as liaison of foreign vassal state, conspiring against the law’; if they were not beheaded, then they would be banished to an army post.

    Wei Xiaobao’s speech to frame Wu Sangui was indeed very childish and ridiculous; even if Wu Sangui really had the intention to rebel, he would never divulge his secret in front of an imperial envoy sent by the Emperor himself. Wei Xiaobao also spoke about Wu Sangui sending gold and silver to the high-ranking ministers of the imperial court, and that in the future he would want to get both the principal and the interest back, suggesting that when the rebellion succeeded in the future and he became the emperor, he would want the high-ranking ministers to pay him back the gold and silver. This was definitely a child’s idea; Wu Sangui was a man of rigorous schemes and deep foresight, how could he haggle over how much gold and silver he had given to each minister? Yet they knew perfectly well that Wei Xiaobao could not be contradicted, he had the Emperor’s support; who would dare to bring trouble to himself by saying anything to refute him?

    Ming Zhu’s brain was the quickest; he immediately said, “Wei Dutong is young, yet he is brave and talented; he understands the matter of the world and has a red-bellied devotion toward His Majesty, he can see through Wu Sangui’s tiger cave, and obtain the actual facts, indeed he is worthy of other people’s admiration. If not for Your Majesty was able to illuminate the cave, seeing the plot first by sending Wei Dutong to personally investigate, how would we, who work in Beijing, know that Wu Sangui that old fellow has received the country’s kindness, yet unexpectedly harboring the desire to rebel?”

    With these words, he had flattered Kangxi and Wei Xiaobao, while gently exonerated himself and the entire court, and asserting the criminal charge against Wu Sangui. Everybody in the Hall of Supreme Harmony felt that his speech was really pleasant to their ears. The various high-ranking ministers were originally anxious and uneasy; this moment they could not help but heaving a sigh of relief.

    Prince Kang and Songgotu were always in good terms with Wei Xiaobao, naturally at this time they threw their lot with him and threw their stones to one who fell down the well; they loudly said Wu Sangui was wrong. The numerous ministers also ‘you said a sentence, I said a sentence’, everybody said the border defense should be removed, some even chided themselves for being muddled, fortunately the Emperor had straightened them up, as if the clouds and mist were pushed aside that they saw the blue sky. Some even went farther by offering plans how to remove the border defense, how to seize Wu Sangui’s capital, how to raid his house. Wu Sangui’s riches matched those of the enemy’s country, as soon as they talked about how to raid his house, everybody thought that it was a greatly profitable mission; but then they had a second thought, they felt it may not be easy to do, when Wu Sangui became hostile, before you could raid his house, he would chop your head first.

    Kangxi waited until everybody finished talking before saying, “Although Wu Sangui has intention that is against the law, this rebellion accusation has not been revealed. Our discussion in this place today, nobody can leak it out even for one sentence. We must give him an opportunity to reform and start afresh.”

    The numerous ministers chorused their praises of the Emperor’s vast and mighty benevolence, for his broad and deep mercy.

    From his pocket Kangxi extracted a piece of yellow paper; he said, “Here is the imperial edict, I want you to see if there is anything improper.”

    Batai bowed and received it. Holding it high with both hands, he read aloud, “Receiver of the Mandate of Heaven the Emperor’s imperial order says: From time immemorial the Emperors and Kings pacify the world, always rely on ministers, master of military affair’s strength. Reaching up to the peace and quiet of the ocean and the universe, rousing the spirit to travel and return in triumph, resting the soldiers, enabling the important minister of the border region to leisurely look after it, bestowing him with prolonged abundant life, pampering him with the rivers and the mountains, in an extremely grand ceremony!”

    Reading to this point, he paused. The numerous ministers broke into murmur, clucking their tongues, praising the Emperor for producing such a magnificent writing. Batai let out a gentle cough, turned his head around twice, as if he was enjoying a Han Liu Ou Su’s[1] exquisite literary work; and then with elongated intonation he continued reading, “The King has always been sincere, loyal and dependable, subduing, setting forth, planning and strategizing, with all his strength exerting himself on behalf of others, guarding the cliff of the border, releasing Zhen from concern over the South, rendering such a splendid meritorious deed!” Reading to this point, he paused, sighed softly and said, “What an excellent literary work!”

    Songgotu said, “Your Majesty’s kindness reaches the heavens, if Wu Sangui has a bit of humanity in him, when he kneeled to read this imperial edict, perhaps he would be ashamed to death.”

    Batai continued reading, “Remembering the King’s years already high, master and followers are laid bare, for a long time stationed in an out-of-the-way places, yearning for good rest. Since the adjacent places are in order, it’s only fair to grant the King’s request to be removed from your position. Now, such-and-such and such-and-such are especially sent to announce Zhen’s imperial intention. The King’s, along with the officers and men under his command, interest in packing up and go north, has reassured Zhen to think fondly of you all; if only the cycle of dawn and dusk stops, the ruler and his ministers share the joy, guaranteed endless rest forever. When this matter is settled, a place will be meticulously prepared. The day the King arrives, there will be peaceful place so that you will not have any worry. By the Emperor himself.”

    Batai read with sonorous voice, the intonation with which he read the imperial edict was as if he was reading literary work. When he finished reading, none of the numerous ministers did not praise him. Ming Zhu said, “If only the cycle of dawn and dusk stops, the ruler and his ministers share the joy, these eight characters [dan xi gou zhi, jun chen xie le] truly make people feel unsurpassed gratitude. When your servants heard it, there was a burst of nice and warm feeling in the pit of our stomachs.”

    Tu Hai said, “Your Majesty has given this matter a very careful consideration, you have stated in advance that as soon as he arrives in Beijing, there will be a place for him to stay. Otherwise, he might use all sorts of excuses, saying that he must send people come to the Capital to set up a house. Stalling and delaying, he might tarry three or five more years.”

    Kangxi said, “It would be best if Wu Sangui can follow orders and respond to the imperial court, so that the common people will be exempt from the horrors of war. We must send two people who can talk really well to Yunnan to announce Zhen’s intention.”

    When the numerous ministers heard what the Emperor just said, they all turned their gaze toward Wei Xiaobao. Being at the receiving end of everybody’s gaze, Wei Xiaobao was flustered; he thought, “My goodness, this is not a plaything. Last time I delivered the new daughter-in-law, I nearly delivered my own life as well. This time I go to remove the border defense, how could Wu Sangui not have the intention to kill the imperial envoy minister?” Thinking that if he went to Yunnan he might see Ah Ke, his heart warmed up involuntarily; but in the end his life is still more important.

    Ming Zhu saw Wei Xiaobao’s ashen countenance, he deduced correctly that Wei Xiaobao did not dare to go; thereupon he said, “Your Majesty, please understand: with regard to the ability to talk really well, Dutong Wei Xiaobao is very competent. However, Wei Dutong hates the wicked as if they were his personal enemies; knowing that Wu Sangui disrespected the Emperor, he hates him to the bones. If he sees even half of his face, he would reprimand Wu Sangui immediately; I am afraid that he might spoil this important matter. In your servant’s humble opinion, it would be better to send the Ministry of Rites’ assistant minister Zhe’erken, and Imperial Hanlin Academy Xueshi [equivalent to bachelor’s degree] Da’erli to go to Yunnan and announce the imperial edict. These two people are refined in manner and have fine reputation, they might be able to influence mischievous wicked man to a better life; we never know.”

    What he said suited Kangxi’s intention, he approved on the spot for Zhe’erken and Da’erli two people to go and announce the imperial decree.

    The numerous ministers realized that the Emperor had decided early on to remove the border defense that he even prepared the imperial edict in advance; they all regretted that they spoke good words on Wu Sangui’s behalf earlier. By now they all changed direction, they said many fabricated indictments, that Wu Sangui was big traitor, major criminal, that his crime must not be pardoned.

    Kangxi nodded and said, “Although Wu Sangui is bad, it’s unlikely that he would go as far as that. All of us must seek the truth from facts, and handle this matter carefully.” Standing up, he beckoned Wei Xiaobao to follow him into the rear hall.

    Wei Xiaobao followed behind the Emperor toward the imperial garden. Kangxi laughed and said, “Xiao Guizi, you are really quite something! If you did not take that bag of pearls and jewels and poured them out on the floor, those damn old fellows would still speak good words about Wu Sangui.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Actually, Your Majesty only needs to say, ‘Removing the border defense is better’, then everyone would say, ‘Indeed removing the border defense is better’. It’s just that to have them say it with their own mouth is a bit more interesting.”

    Kang nodded and said, “Those old fellows are striving to secure their positions, everything they have in their mind cannot be spoken incorrectly. However, as the matter stands, if we let Wu Sangui act whenever he wants to act, everything will be in his hand, and then it will be greatly disadvantageous to us. By removing his border defense first, we may greatly disturb his footsteps.”

    “That’s right,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Just like playing Pai Jiu, how can we always let Wu Sangui be the banker? Your Majesty must also throw several throws of dice.”

    “Your analogy is correct, we must not let him be the banker all the time,” Kangxi said, “Xiao Guizi, we have thrown the dice, but that fellow Wu Sangui is really not easy to fight. The generals and soldiers under his command are all formidable veterans of a hundred battles. When he deploys his troops in rebellion, if the Han people throughout the world respond to him, that will be bad!”

    For the last several years Wei Xiaobao went around all over the country, the number of time he heard Han people cursed the Tatars was indeed not a few. Han people were numerous, for every hundred of Han people, there might not necessarily be one Manchu person. If the Han people throughout the world rose in rebellion, no matter what Manchu people would not be able to resist. However, although the number of people who curses the Tatars was many, there were even more people who detested Wu Sangui. Thinking about this fact, he said, “Your Majesty, please don’t worry. Not one of the Han people throughout the world likes that fellow Wu Sangui. If he wants to revolt, other than his own trusted aides, nobody would support his effort.”

    Kangxi nodded. “I have thought about that too,” he said, “Previous Ming’s King Gui ran away to Burma, it was Wu Sangui who captured him and killed him. Wu Sangui wants to rebel, he can only say Han people rebelling against the Manchu, he cannot say fighting the Qing to restore the Ming.” Speaking to this point, he took a short pause, and then asked, “Previous Ming’s Emperor Chongzhen, when did he die?”

    Wei Xiaobao scratched his head. “This …” he stammered, “At that time your servant has not been born; actually I am not … not too clear.”

    Kangxi laughed aloud. “I was asking blindly,” he said, “At that time I have not been born either. Right, on the anniversary of his death, I will send several Princes and Beilei to go to Chongzhen’s tomb and offer sacrifice, so that the common people throughout the world will be grateful to me and hate Wu Sangui even more.”

    “Your Majesty can calculate and scheme like deity,” Wei Xiaobao said, “But if the anniversary of Chongzhen’s death is still some time away, what if Wu Sangui rise in rebellion first?”

    Kangxi paced back and forth, and then he smiled and said, “All these times you were on imperial orders to work for me, you have indeed suffered not a few hardships. Mount Wutai, Yunnan, Shen Long Island, Liaodong, and lastly you even went to Luocha Country. This time I am going to send you to a good place, to make up for it.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “The best place in the world is by Your Majesty’s side. As long as I can hear Your Majesty’s voice, I can see Your Majesty’s face, my entire body will be filled with vigor, my heart will be unspeakably comfortable. Your Majesty, this word is absolutely true, it’s not boot-licking.”

    Kangxi nodded. “I know it’s the truth,” he said, “I and you, a ruler and his minister, are congenial, that is also predestined affinity. You and I have friendship that goes far to our fights when we were children, this friendship indeed stands out from the masses. When I see you, my heart is also very happy. Xiao Guizi, that half a year when I did not hear anything about you, I thought you drowned in the ocean; I was full of regret, I should have not sent you to take that kind of risk, I was really broken-hearted and grieved.”

    Wei Xiaobao was deeply touched. “If … if only I can take care of you for the rest of my life,” he said, with a hint of sob in his voice.

    “Alright, alright,” Kangxi said, “I will become the Emperor for sixty years, you will become high-ranking officer for sixty years. We, a ruler and his minister, have kindness and brotherhood, we will carry things through to the end.” It was extremely rare for an emperor to say such word toward his subject. One, Kangxi was young, he spoke frankly; two, he and Wei Xiaobao had been friends since their teenage years, they were mutually since.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “You will become the Emperor for a hundred years, I will work for you for a hundred years; whether I become high-ranking official or not, I don’t care.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “Isn’t sixty years as the Emperor enough? One must not not knowing enough is enough.” He paused a moment, and then continued, “Xiao Guizi, this time I am sending you to Yangzhou, to come back to your hometown in silken robes.”

    As he heard ‘go to Yangzhou’ three characters, Wei Xiaobao’s heart skipped a beat. “What is ‘come back to one’s hometown in silken robes’?” he asked.

    “You have become a high-ranking minister in Beijing,” Kangxi said, “Returning to your hometown to see your relatives and friends, you must create quite a stir; let everybody envy you, won’t that be great? Have your subordinate help you write a memorial to the throne, to have your father, mother, and your household be granted titles, let them be well-regarded, well-off.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Many thanks for Your Majesty’s kindness.”

    Kangxi noticed Wei Xiaobao’s somewhat awkward expression. “Uh, you don’t like it?” he asked.

    Wei Xiaobao shook his head, “I like it very much,” he said, “It’s just that … it’s just that I don’t know who my father is.”

    Kangxi was taken aback; recalling that his own father had left home to become a monk on Mount Wutai, he felt that the two of them were fellow sufferers who empathize with each other. He patted Wei Xiaobao’s shoulder and said warmly, “When you get to Yangzhou, there is no harm in investigating it slowly. Perhaps the Heaven will have pity on you and let you, father and son, have a reunion. Xiao Guizi, you go to Yangzhou, your mission this time may be very easy to accomplish, I am sending you to build a martyr shrine [忠烈祠 zhong lie ci].”

    Wei Xiaobao scratched his head, “Grow chestnut [种栗子 zhong li zi]?” he asked, “Your Majesty, if you want to eat chestnut, I’ll go to the street and buy some for you; sugar-coated deep-fried Liangxiang [town in Beijing municipality] sweet-scented osmanthus chestnut is savory and glutinous; we don’t need to go to Yangzhou to grow some.”


    [1] These four characters are surnames. I don’t know what it is, but I am guessing it refers to some great literary talent of the past.

  2. #282
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    Default Chapter 37 - Part 5

    Kangxi roared in laughter. “Damn it,” he said, “Xiao Guizi is unlearned. I said ‘Martyr Shrine’, but you muddle things together and changed it to ‘grow chestnut’. Martyr shrine is a memorial hall, to enshrine and worship loyal minister who was martyred.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed. “Your servant is indeed very stupid,” he said, “Turns out you want me to build something like Guan Di [I am not sure, but I think it refers to Guan Gong (Romance of the Three Kingdoms)] temple.”

    “Now you are talking,” Kangxi said, “When the Qing troops entered the Pass, their massacre of Yangzhou and Jiading people was very tragic, to such an extent as to create those ‘Ten Days of Yangzhou’, ‘Three-slaughter of Jiading’, and so on. Thinking about these matters, my heart is always uneasy.”

    “The massacre was indeed very tragic,” Wei Xiaobao said, “There were bodies everywhere within Yangzhou’s city wall. Even after ten years, it was not uncommon to find human bones in the wells and in the rivers. But that time I was not even born yet, you have not been born either; the blame cannot be placed on our heads.”

    Kangxi said, “You said it right; however, it was my ancestor’s affair, hence it is my affair. At that time, there was this Shi Kefa; have you heard of him?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Shi Gebu, Shi Daren defended Yangzhou to the death, he was a greatly loyal minister. When the older people of our Yangzhou mentioned him, they all shed some tears. In our courtyards we have a memorial tablet that reads ‘Memorial Tablet of Nine-Tattooed-Dragon Shi Jin[1]’. On the first and the fifteenth of each month, everybody would kowtow to this memorial tablet. I heard people say that it was actually Shi Gebu, but was hidden from the government officials.”

    Kangxi nodded, “Loyal minister martyred, leaving behind affection in the people’s hearts,” he said, “Turns out the common people enshrine and worship Nine-Tattooed-Dragon Shi Jin’s memorial tablet, burn incense and kowtow to it, is actually to commemorate Shi Kefa. Xiao Guizi, what kind of courtyard do you have at home?”

    Wei Xiaobao’s entire face blushed. “Your Majesty,” he said, “This is actually not too pleasant to hear. In our home we open a brothel, called the Lovely Spring Hall; it is reckoned to be first or second best brothel in Yangzhou.”

    Kangxi smiled; in his heart he said, “Your mouth is full of marketplace nonsense, I knew early on that you did not come from any scholar or aristocratic family. This boy is very loyal to me that he did not conceal even this kind of shameful matter from me.”

    Actually, by saying that his family opened a brothel or whatever, Wei Xiaobao was merely tooting his horn; his mother was no more than a prostitute, not some brothel proprietress.

    Kangxi said, “You present my imperial edict and announce it in Yangzhou. I am commending Shi Kefa’s loyalty to the end in his dedication to the service of his country, loyal to his lord and loving the people, a greatly loyal minister, a great hero and warrior. We, the Great Qing, respect loyal ministers and patriots, while looking down upon rebels and traitors. I am building a nice memorial hall for Shi Kefa, for his bravery as the loyal minister who sacrificed himself in defending Yangzhou city in the past, everybody can enshrine and worship him in the memorial hall. Take another three hundred thousand taels, to comfort and aid bereaved families, to give relief to the needy in Yangzhou and Jiading, two cities. I will issue another edict, to excuse these two places from taxes for three years.”

    Wei Xiaobao let out a deep breath. “Your Majesty,” he said, “Your grace this time is indeed too great. I must simply kneel down and kowtow to you several times in sincerity and wholeheartedly.” While saying that, he went down on his knees, and ‘dong, dong, dong’ kowtowed three times.

    Kangxi laughed and asked, “When you kowtowed to me in the past, you were not being sincere and wholehearted?”

    Wei Xiaobao smiled and said, “Sometimes it was sincere and wholehearted, other times it was no more than half-heartedly.”

    Kangxi laughed aloud; he did not consider it a disobedience. He thought, “Those people who kowtow to me, out of a hundred, perhaps 99 are doing it half-heartedly, yet only Xiao Guizi dares to say it out loud.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty, this stratagem of yours is indeed shooting two birds with one arrow.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “What do you mean shooting two birds with one arrow? It is called ‘one arrow, two golden eagles’. Tell me, which two birds are you talking about?”

    “By building this Martyr Shrine,” Wei Xiaobao said, “The Han people under the heavens will know that Your Majesty treats the common people very well. Formerly, the Ta … formerly, the Qing troops massacred Han people in Yangzhou and Jiading randomly, Your Majesty is full of remorse in your heart, and thought of something to make amend. If Wu Sangui rebels, or perhaps Shang Kexi, Geng Jingzhong rise in rebellion, saying they want to restore the Ming Dynasty or whatever, common people will say, what’s not good about the Manchurian Qing? The Emperor is very good.”

    Kangxi nodded. “You are right,” he said, “But you are a bit ‘gauging the abdomen of a gentleman with a lowly man’s heart’. I think that ‘Ten Days of Yangzhou’ and ‘Three Massacres of Jiading’ of the past were definitely the sorrow of their hearts; sending out money to comfort and aid bereaved families and reducing taxes, it is not entirely for the sake of buying the hearts of the people. So what’s the second bird?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty builds this memorial hall, everybody will know that being a loyal minister and a patriot is good, being a rebel and a traitor is not good. Wu Sangui wants to rebel, he is a rebellious thief, hence the common people will look down on him.”

    Kangxi reached out to slap Wei Xiaobao’s shoulder heavily; he laughed and said, “Right! We must proclaim it without restraint, loyal subjects who repay their lord are good people. Of the common people in the world, which one is willing to become a bad person? If Wu Sangui does not deploy his troops, then that’s the end of it; but if he does, nobody will follow him.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “I heard the storytellers tell the tales, the most amazing loyal minister and patriot, one was Yue Fei, Yue Yeye [grandpa], the other was Guan Di, Guan Wangye. Your Majesty, this time we go to Yangzhou to build Martyr Shrine, it would be better to also repair Yue Yeye, Guan Wangye’s memorial halls.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “Your mind is exceptionally quick; it’s a pity that you don’t read books, you don’t have knowledge. Repairing Guan Di Temple is very good; Guan Yu repaid his lord with loyalty, he had strong yi qi, I can grant him an honorary title. But that Yue Fei fought Jin troops. Our Great Qing was originally called Later Jin (Dynasty). Jin is Qing, Jin troops are Qing troops. This Yue Wang [King Yue] Temple, you don’t need to pay attention.”

    “Yes, yes, so that’s how it is,” Wei Xiaobao replied; in his heart he mused, “Turns out you, Tatars, are Jinwuzhu, Hamichi’s descendants. Your ancestors are very disappointing.”

    Kangxi said, “Henan Province’s Wangwu Mountain, there seem to be a group of troops and horses who lean toward Wu Sangui, is that right?”

    Wei Xiaobao was startled. “That’s right,” he replied, but in his heart he said, “If you did not mention it, I would have forgotten about this matter.”

    Kangxi said, “That time you investigated Wu Sangui’s plan to rebel, and sent people to submit memorial to me, I rebuked you instead; do you know the reason?”

    Wei Xiaobao replied, “Presumably because we are not prepared to deal with Wu Sangui’s military force yet, thus Your Majesty pretended not to believe, to avoid beating the grass to scare the snake.”

    Kangxi laughed. “Correct!” he said, “Beat the grass to scare the snake, you have used this idiom correctly. In the imperial court, Wu Sangui must have a lot of confidants. This old thief knows our each and every move very clearly. The matter of Situ Bolei of Wangwu Mountain, if I followed up with the investigation at that time, Wu Sangui would definitely find out. If he was alerted, he might dispatch his troops immediately in rebellion. At that time he knew the real situation of the imperial court, but of his military strength, deployment and what have you, I did not have the slightest idea. If we went to war, we would definitely lose. We must know ourselves, and know our enemy, then we will emerge victorious in every battle.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “At that time Your Majesty sent people to scold me a bit, the entire brigade’s officers knew about it. If Wu Sangui had spies in my military camp, they were bound to report to the old fellow. Perhaps in his heart the old fellow snickered at Your Majesty’s muddle-headedness.”

    Kangxi said, “This time you go to Yangzhou, take with you five thousand troops and horses, go to Henan’s Jiyuan, take them by surprise, destroy the bandit cave on Mount Wangwu completely. Wu Sangui has supporting troops hidden too close to the Capital, it is calamity within our bosom.”

    “That’s much more wonderful,” Wei Xiaobao said happily, “Your Majesty, it would be better for you to personally lead the troops into battle, kill Wu Sangui in an initial show of strength.”

    Kangxi smiled and said, “There are only a thousand or two bandits on Mount Wangwu, among those, more than half are the old, the weak, women and children. That man surnamed Yuan was boasting, he said more than thirty thousand men, it’s entirely bogus. I have already sent people to go up the mountain to investigate clearly. Against a thousand or so bandits, you want me to personally lead the troops into battle, I will be the laughingstock of the people! Ha ha, ha ha …!”

    Wei Xiaobao followed with some hollow laughs, he thought that the young Emperor was indeed very astute, false report of large number would not work on him.

    Kangxi said, “On how to exterminate Mount Wangwu bandits, you think about it, come back here in one or two days to make your report.”

    Wei Xiaobao complied and withdrew. He pondered it over, “This matter of marching an army and go to war, laozi is not too adept at it. That day in the naval battle I relied on Shi Lang; in the land battle, whom should I rely on? Get it. I should have Guangdong Tidu [local commander] Wu Liuqi as my assistant, I simply must listen to his advice in everything. This man is an expert in fighting battles.” But then he had a second thought, “His Majesty wanted me to think of a good strategy and report to him in one or two days. Going to Guangdong to invite Wu Liuqi and come back here, at least I need a month; there won’t be enough time. In Beijing, who is the expert in fighting battles?”

    After thinking for half a day, the number of well-known military leaders in Beijing was actually not a few, but they were mostly Manchu generals; if not they had received the title ‘Gong’ [duke] or ‘Hou’ [marquis], then they must be high-ranking military officer or local commander. Wei Xiaobao was a lowly Dutong [commander], he could not order them around.

    His own nobility title was ‘Bojue’ [count/earl]. Within the Manchurian Qing system of government, ‘Zijue’ [viscount] was one-pin rank, ‘Bojue’ was above it; it was above the pin rank system, it was even higher compared to the Da Xueshi [great bachelor (master’s degree?)] and Shangshu[2] pin rank. But of course it was an empty title, although he was respected, in reality he did not have real power. He was really young, it was really not easy if he wanted a famous minister or brave general to obey his order.

    He paced back and forth in his room, lost in thought. He saw the jade bowl presented by Shi Lang as a gift sitting on the table, and thought, “In Beijing Shi Lang was dissatisfied, hence he came to me for help. The number of dissatisfied military officers in Beijing should be a lot. But those who are dissatisfied and those who have skills may not necessarily be together. Those without skills but enjoy meteoric rise in career advancement, in Beijing there are not a few; I, Wei Xiaobao, am one. Ha ha …!”

    Walking over to the table he held the jade bowl with both hands; he thought, “The choice of these four characters ‘jia guan jin jue’ [to confer a title of official position/to be promoted] is very effective; when he sent me this jade bowl, I was a ‘Zijue’, but now I am promoted to ‘Bojue’. What kind of skill do I rely on to be ‘jia guan jin jue’? My biggest skill is boot-licking, patting the young Emperor’s back so that he would feel comfortable. Other than that, laozi’s real skill is damn too ordinary. Looks like people with real skill do not like to flatter; those who like to flatter will be more or less the same as laozi.”


    [1] Shi Jin is a fictional character in the Water Margin. He ranks twenty third of the thirty Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed Nine Tattooed Dragons. He is one of the Eight Tiger Cub Vanguard Generals of the Liangshan cavalry. He sports flowery tattoos all over his body, as well as nine dragon tattoos on his upper torso, which earns him the nickname Nine Tattooed Dragons. (Courtesy of Ace High)

    [2] A shàngshū (尚書) is a board chairman, president or in this case, a minister. Ming Zhu is a Chairman/President of Board of War, or the Minister of War, possible the Left Minister of War. (Courtesy of Ace High)

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    Default Chapter 37 - Part 6

    Looking up, he pondered deeply: among his acquaintances, which military officer was unwilling to flatter? Tian Di Hui warriors were heroes who definitely would not flatter casually; but other than his shifu Chen Jinnan and Wu Liuqi, everybody else only knew internal strength and external skill, they could not lead troops and fight a battle. Shifu’s subordinate Lin Xingzhu could fight a battle, too bad he had returned to Taiwan.

    Suddenly he remembered something: that day when he and Shi Lang led the troops to Tianjin, and then detoured to Tanggu and went out to sea, the Naval Zongbing [regional commander] Huang Fu fawned on him attentively; yet there was a military officer in Tianjian, one with big beard, who received him with knitted brows and flat mouth, someone who acted as if he was looking down on him, who was not willing to utter even a sentence of boot-licking. Who was that fellow? If at that time he did not pay attention to this military officer’s name, by now naturally he could not remember even more. He mused, “Those who flatter have no skill; this big beard was unwilling to flatter, he must have skills.”

    He got an idea; immediately he went to Ministry of War Shangshu yamen to find Shangshu Ming Zhu, asking him to send for a big-bearded officer of the Tianjin Guard Regiment and have him by carriage to Beijing as quickly as possible. This big beard’s military rank was neither high nor low, if not a Fujiang [deputy general/regional vice-commander, equivalent to brigadier general], then he must be a Canjiang [administrator, equivalent to colonel].

    Ming Zhu felt this matter was rather strange; this big beard had no name no surname, how to summon him? However, Wei Xiaobao was presently the Emperor’s most favorite person, forget that he had to send for a military officer from Tianjin, even something ten times more difficult, he must find a way to accomplish it; with a smile on his face he complied at once. He personally wrote a ‘600-li urgent message’ to the Tianjin Guard Regiment Zongbing, ordering him to send all military officers with big beard under his command to go to Beijing and have an audience at the Ministry of War.

    Around noon the next day, Wei Xiaobao had just finished his lunch when his personal guard came in to report that Ministry of War Shangshu was asking for an audience. Wei Xiaobao went to the front door to welcome the visitor, he saw Ming Zhu and about twenty big bearded military officers behind him; some had black beard, some white beard, some grizzled beard. All of them were covered in sweat and dust. Ming Zhu said, “Wei Jueye [master noble], you instructed me to summon a man, Xiongdi found a group of men. Please make the selection yourself, I don’t know which one you wanted.”

    Suddenly seeing these many big-bearded military officers, Wei Xiaobao was startled, and then he could not help but bursting in laughter. “Shangshu Daren,” he said, “I only ask you to find a big-bearded man, you are handling this matter really thoroughly. Once you looked for people, you found twenty. Ha ha, ha ha …!”

    Mingzhu said with a laugh, “I was afraid I might summon the wrong person, not the one Wei Jueye has in your mind.”

    Wei Xiaobao roared in laughter again; he said, “Turns out under Tianjin Guard Regiment Zongbing there are so many men with big beard …” He had not finished speaking, someone from among the crown suddenly bellowed in his thundering voice, “So what about the big beard? You created a lot of trouble just for a joke?”

    Wei Xiaobao and Ming Zhu were shocked; they turned their heads toward that man. They saw a tall and sturdy man; standing among the other military officers, he was still half a head taller. There was an angry look on his entire face, his thick big beard looked as if they were standing up from the roots. Wei Xiaobao was startled, but then he delightedly said, “That’s right, that’s right, it’s precisely laoxiong [ol’ big brother] that I wanted to see.”

    The big beard angrily said, “Last time you came to Tianjin, I have offended you. I knew early on that you would retaliate to vent your anger. Humph, I have not committed any crime; if you want to lodge an accusation against me, I am afraid it won’t be easy.”

    “What’s your name?” Ming Zhu rebuked him, “Why are you this rude in front of your superior?”

    The big beard had just arrived at the Ministry of War’s yamen and paid his respect to Ming Zhu, hence he knew that Ming Zhu was his big boss; therefore, he did not dare to recklessly contradict him. Immediately he bowed down and said, “Reporting to Daren: lowly officer is Tianjin Fujiang Zhao Liangdong.”

    Ming Zhu said, “This is Wei Dutong, whose nobility is revered; he is generous and is a good friend of our ministry. How did you offend him? Quickly step forward and admit your guilt.”

    Zhao Liangdong struggled hard to suppress his anger; furiously he cast a sidelong glance toward Wei Xiaobao, thinking, “This playboy’s smell of mother’s milk has not yet dried, why would I want to admit my guilt to you?”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Zhao Dage, please don’t blame me. It was Xiongdi who offended you, Xiongdi is the one who should admit my guilt to you.” Turning around, he addressed the group of military officers, “Xiongdi has something important I need to discuss with Zhao Fujiang, but momentarily I could not remember his honored surname and great given name, thereupon the Ministry of War Daren invited all of you gentlemen to come to Beijing, tiring everybody in an all-night journey. In actuality I feel very bad.” While saying that he repeatedly cupped his fist and bowed.

    The crowd of military officers hastily returned the propriety. Seeing his modesty, which was entirely beyond his imagination, the anger in Zhao Liangdong’s heart vanished immediately; he said to Wei Xiaobao, “Xiaojiang [lowly general] apologize,” and bowed with cupped fist.

    Wei Xiaobao returned his salute and said with a laugh, “No need to be polite.” Turning toward Ming Zhu, he said, “Daren, would you honor me with your presence? Please come inside and sit, Xiongdi wants to propose a toast to express my gratitude. Friends of Tianjin Guard Regiment, please also come in.” Ming Zhu had a mind to befriend Wei Xiaobao, hence he happily complied.

    Wei Xiaobao prepared a grand banquet; he asked Ming Zhu to sit on the seat of honor [lit. ‘head seat’], and invited Zhao Liangdong to sit on the second seat, while he himself accompanied on the host position. The rest of Tianjin military officers sat on three separate tables. The Count Mansion banquet was extremely sumptuous, the wine made three rounds, the performers put on a play in front of the banquet tables. Among the military officers from Tianjin who went to the Capital this time, some were no more than low-ranking officers; it was only due to their big beard that they unexpectedly were able to drink wine and watch a play together with Ministry of War Shangshu and Bojue Daren [Lord Count] in the Count Mansion. It was indeed a chance in a lifetime that even in their dreams they did not dare to expect.

    Although Zhao Liangdong was temperamental and obstinate, he was a careful man; seeing Wei Xiaobao did not mention anything about what he wanted to discuss during the banquet, he did not ask. He only listened to Wei Xiaobao recounting strange manners and different customs of Luocha Country. He thought, “Little child is talking nonsense, how can there be any man and woman hugging and jumping around in public? How can there be such shameless matter in the world?”

    After drinking several cups of wine and watching a round of play, Ming Zhu stood up to take his leave. Wei Xiaobao sent him off to the main gate, and then he returned to the main hall to accompany the military officers until the play was finished and they had drunk and ate to their hearts’ content, before he invited Zhao Liangdong to the inside study room to speak in detail.

    Noticing that the bookshelf was full of books, Zhao Liangdong could not help but feeling deep veneration toward Wei Xiaobao, “Although this child is young, he is actually very well-learned; he must be a lot wiser than us, crude people.”

    Seeing his eyes were on the books, Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Zhao Dage, let me be honest with you: these books are here to keep up appearances only. The number of characters that Xiongdi knows, added together is less than ten. My own name ‘Wei Xiaobao’, three characters, if they are put together, I always recognize them; but put them apart, there’s no guarantee I would know them. Apart from those characters, I have no choice but to watch these damn books helplessly.”

    Zhao Liangdong burst into loud laughter; he relaxed considerably, thinking that this young commander was actually very frank, he did not put on airs. “Wei Daren,” he said, “Lowly officer has offended you previously, please don’t take any offense.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “What offense? There is no harm in you and I become brothers. You are older, I call you Zhao Dage, you call me Wei Xiongdi.”

    Zhao Liangdong hastily stood up and bowed with cupped fist. “Dutong Daren must not speak such words,” he said, “Xiaoren is too undeserving.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed, “Please sit down, please sit down,” he said, “I just have good luck, I happened to accomplish some matters which satisfied His Majesty and made him happy; you still think I really have some dog fart skill? I became this high-ranking official, honestly I am very ashamed. How could I be like Zhao Dage, who gain merit by hard work, one saber one spear at a time, completely depending on your real skill to achieve it.”

    Zhao Liangdong was very pleased to hear him. “Wei Daren,” he said, “I am a coarse man, whatever it is that you want, do not hesitate to instruct me. As long as Xiaojiang can do it, I will definitely stake my life in doing it for you. Even if it is impossible for me to achieve it, I will still stake my life in doing it.”

    Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted. “I don’t have anything important,” he said, “It’s just that last time at the Tianjin Guard Regiment I saw Zhao Dage, I noticed your grand appearance, a model of a man of talent. I was the imperial envoy minister, everybody else was patting my behind, only Zhao Dage was unwilling to sell your integrity.”

    Zhao Liangdong looked rather awkward, he said, “Xiaojiang is an uncouth military man, I am not good in flattering my superiors; it was not that I deliberately wanted to be rude to the imperial envoy minister.”

    “I did not mind at all,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Otherwise, I would not ask you to come here. I have a logical explanation: those without any skills will have no choice but to rely of flattery to be promoted and gain wealth; those who are unwilling to flatter must be people with real skill.”

    Zhao Liangdong delightedly said, “Indeed Wei Daren’s word is extremely refreshing. Xiaojiang does not have any skill, but when I hear people tooting their horn and patting the horse’s butt, I would become angry, and thus offended my superior and had a row with my colleague. The reason I cannot win a promotion, is precisely due to this stubbornness [orig. ‘ox temperament’].”

    “You are not willing to flatter, you must have skills,” Wei Xiaobao said.

    Zhao Liangdong’s jaw dropped; he did not know what to say, he only thought, ‘my father and mother who gave birth to me did not know me as well as Wei Daren.’

    Wei Xiaobao ordered another banquet in his study room; the two of them sat face-to-face, drinking and chatting. Zhao Liangdong told him about his lot in life; he was a native of Shaanxi, started his career as a leader of a squad of five soldiers, he advanced bravely in battles, amassing merit and gained promotion until he reached the rank of Fujiang. Hearing he was adept in fighting battles, Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted; he mused, “I really did not misread this man.” Thereupon he asked him about how to attack the enemy on a mountaintop.

    Zhao Liangdong did not read any military book, but he was battle trained, his experience was extremely vast; as soon as he heard Wei Xiaobao’s question, he thought his skill was being tested. Like an unceasing torrent he immediately talked with great gusto; he took down the four books and five classics from the bookshelf, and spread it around on table, using the books to model mountain peak, valley, river, and pathways. He explained where to set up ambush, where to feign an attack, where to intercept the enemy, where to assault; one by one he explained in great detail.

    What he explained was a battle strategy where presumably both sides have equal strength. Wei Xiaobao asked, “If the enemy only has one thousand men, and we have five thousand troops and horses, how do we attack to guarantee victory?”

    “There is no such thing as guaranteed victory,” Zhao Liangdong replied, “But our military strength is several times bigger than the enemy’s; if it were Xiaojiang who is leading the troops, if we lost, how could we consider ourselves human beings? We simply must capture the enemy alive, don’t let even one escape our net; only then will it be great.”

    Wei Xiaobao ordered his servant to get several thousand-wen worth of copper coins, which he used as troops and horses. Zhao Liangdong thus spread it out to make battle formation. Wei Xiaobao memorized everything he said. That night he had Zhao Liangdong stayed in his Mansion for the night.

    The next day he saw Kangxi, he imitated Zhao Liangdong by spreading the formation around the Upper Study Room. He did not dare to recklessly move the Emperor’s books, as long as he could roughly capture the scope, it would be good enough.

    Kangxi pondered for half a day. “Who taught you this strategy?” he asked.

    Wei Xiaobao did not conceal the truth, he told Kangxi about Zhao Liangdong. Hearing that Ming Zhu summoned twenty some big bearded military officers to travel overnight from Tianjin to Beijing just to let Wei Xiaobao select one, Kangxi could not help but burst out in loud laughter. “How did you know Zhao Liangdong has skill?” he asked.

    Wei Xiaobao did not dare to say that it was because this big beard was unwilling to flatter. He himself was the ‘big king’ of bootlicking; naturally he could not let the Emperor know this trade secret. Thereupon he said, “Last time Your Majesty sent your servant to Tianjin, I noticed that this big beard performed the military drill very well. I thought that the day will come that we must deal with Wu Sangui’s troops movement, this big beard is a very good talent.”

    Kangxi nodded and said, “You have ‘how to deal with Wu Sangui’ constantly in your mind; that is very good. Those old fellows in the imperial court, humph, they have ‘how to curry favor with Wu Sangui’ constantly in their minds, how to get him to bribe them. That Zhao Liangdong is currently a Fujiang, isn’t he? When you return, promise him that you will do your best to ensure that he will get good recommendation for promotion. I will especially issue an imperial edict to promote him to Zongbing, let him owe you, so that in the future he will help you in your mission with all his heart.”

    Wei Xiaobao was delighted, “Your Majesty is very considerate toward your subjects, you are very meticulous.”

    Returning to his Count Mansion, he told Zhao Liangdong about the promotion. Sure enough, a few days later the Ministry of War issued a statement, promoting Zhao Liangdong to be a Zongbing, assigned to serve under Dutong Wei Xiaobao. Zhao Liangdong was deeply grateful, thinking that following this young boss, even without flattery he could enjoy rapid promotion; indeed it was the number one great pleasure of one’s life.

    In recent days the high-ranking ministers of the imperial court were waiting for the news whether the three border defenses accepted the imperial order of the removing of the defenses, or they would rise in rebellion; in their hearts they were quite anxious.

    One day Wei Xiaobao was chatting with Zhao Liangdong in his mansion when someone came to ask for an audience; the Prince Consort Wu Yingxiong invited him to his mansion for little drink and refreshments. The messenger was Wu Yingxiong’s personal attendant; he said, “Prince Consort has not seen Wei Daren for a long time, he is very concerned; he is asking Wei Daren for the honor of your presence. Prince Consort said that the ‘thank-the-matchmaker’ wine has not been drunk by you, Senior.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “This Fuma Ye [emperor’s son-in-law] has a name but no reality, you want to thank what matchmaker? However, speaking about this word ‘thank you’, you guys surnamed Wu cannot simply settle your matter with me over a cup of wine. There is no harm in going, here’s a chance to get rich easily, why not?” Therefore, taking Zhao Liangdong along with his personal guards from the Valiant Cavalry Brigade, he went to the Prince Consort’s mansion.

    After Wu Yingxiong got married with Princess Jianning, he was given a residence in Beijing, which was different from the temporary residence he used to stay when he visited Beijing in the past. Leading several military officers, Wu Yingxiong went out the main gate to greet him. “Wei Daren,” he said, “We are brothers, today we are going to chat, there is no other guest. I only have these several friends who have just arrived from Yunnan, I invited them over to accompany Zhao Zongbing drinking wine.”

  4. #284
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    Default Chapter 37 - Part 7

    The military officers introduced themselves. One man grew long beard, his appearance majestic; he was Yunnan’s Tidu [local commander] Zhang Yong. The other two were Fujiang; the one with valiant expression was Wang Jinbao, the one with mild and deferential appearance was Sun Sike. Wei Xiaobao pulled Wang Jinbao’s hand and said, “Wang Dage, you are a treasure [‘bao’], I am also a treasure, but you are a Dabao [big treasure], I am a Xiaobao [little treasure]. The two of us brothers are ‘a pair of treasures’, we can only make a kill without having to compensate.” [Translator’s note: the context is (you guess it) gambling.] The three generals from Yunnan roared in laughter. They were delighted to see Wei Xiaobao was so easy-going.

    “Zhang Dage,” Wei Xiaobao asked Zhang Yong, “Last time Xiongdi went to Yunnan, how come I did not see the three of you?”

    Zhang Yong replied, “At that time Wangye happened to send Xiaojiang, three people, to go out on border patrol, we could not be in Kunming to wait upon Wei Daren.”

    “Ay, what Daren, Xiaojiang?” Wei Xiaobao said, “Let’s just be straightforward; I call you Zhang Dage, you call me Wei Xiongdi. We are brothers who are happy to meet by chance!”

    Zhang Yong laughed and said, “If Wei Daren say it that way, how can we dare not to do it?”

    They were chatting and laughing as they went into the reception hall. As soon as they were seated, the servants appeared to serve them tea. Another servant came to Wu Yingxiong and said, “Princess is asking the Prince Consort to accompany Wei Daren to come in for a visit.”

    Wei Xiaobao’s heart was thumping madly, he thought, “Maybe I should not see this Princess.” He recalled the time she and he together during their journey to Yunnan, along the way ‘the wind and the light were charming and gentle’, just like newly married couple; he could not stop his blood from boiling and bubbling up inside him, his face turned deep red.

    Wu Yingxiong laughed and said, “Princess often says that our marriage, predestined by fate was brought together by Wei Daren; we simply must present the ‘thank-the-matchmaker’ cup of wine to you.” Finished speaking he stood up and said to Zhang Yong and the others with a laugh, “Gentlemen, please sit and relax here.” Accompanied by Wei Xiaobao, he went into the inner hall.

    Passing through two halls, they arrived at the wing. Wu Yingxiong held his hand against the door, with serious expression on his face, he said, “Wei Daren, I have a big favor I must ask for your help.”

    Wei Xiaobao’s face turned red again; he thought, “You were castrated by the Princess, you can’t be a husband, do you want me to do you this big favor?” He stammered, “This … this … this is rather improper.”

    Wu Yingxiong was taken aback, “If not for Wei Daren lending your hand for the sake of loyalty, helping us in this dire distress, who else has this kind of ability?”

    Wei Xiaobao looked even more embarrassed; he thought, “The Princess must have forced him to ask me; otherwise, why would she insist on me and not allow others to help?”

    Looking at Wei Xiaobao’s strange expression, Wu Yingxiong thought he was unwilling to lend his hand. “This matter,” he said, “I understand it is very difficult to do. But if we succeed, Fu Wang [father king] and Xiongdi will never forget Wei Daren’s favor.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “Why would even Wu Sangui be grateful to me?” Ah, right, Wu Sangui does not have any grandson, he wants me to help him get one. But whether I can get him a grandson or not, I have no guarantee.” He said, “Fuma Ye, I cannot guarantee anything. Wangye and you want to thank me in advance, if I fail, won’t I let you down?”

    “Not a big deal, not a big deal,” Wu Yingxiong said, “As long as Wei Daren is doing everything in your power, we, father and son, will be grateful just the same. Even the Princess will also be deeply grateful.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “You want me to really put out my energy for you, that is for sure.” And then he continued in serious voice, “Regardless of success or failure, I will definitely guard my mouth like a closed bottle; Wangye and Prince Consort can set your hundred and twenty hearts at ease.”

    “Naturally,” Wu Yingxiong replied, “Who would dare to leak the secret? I must ask for Wei Daren’s kind effort, the quicker the better.”

    Wei Xiaobao smiled and said, “Can’t we just do it now?” Suddenly he remembered something, “Aiyo, it’s not right! I am helping him to get a son is not a big deal, but he, father and son, are going to rebel, inevitably they will be executed unto the third generation. Won’t that mean including my son’s head will be chopped down?” But then he had another thought, “The young Emperor can’t possibly kill Princess Jianning. To the Princess’ son he will naturally also open up two sides or three sides of the net.”

    Seeing Wei Xiaobao’s expression alternated between gloomy and bright, Wu Yingxiong took a step forward and said in a low voice, “The news of border defense removal has not reached Yunnan yet, Zhang Tidu and the others do not know. If Wei Daren can hurry to see Your Majesty and speak to him to withdraw the order to remove the border defense, we can send a ‘600-li urgent message’ to Yunnan, the edict to remove the border defense can still be intercepted and withdrawn.”

    Wei Xiaobao was startled. “You … you are talking about the border defense removal?” he asked.

    “That’s right,” Wu Yingxiong replied, “What other matter at present is more important than the border defense removal? It can be said that toward Wei Daren, His Majesty would see, hear and obey; only if Wei Daren act will we be able to pull back the raging tide.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “Turns out I misunderstood completely; it’s really funny.” He could not help but roaring in laughter.

    Wu Yingxiong was bewildered. “Why does Wei Daren laugh? Did I say anything wrong?” he asked.

    “No, no,” Wei Xiaobao hastily said, “I am sorry, I suddenly remember something funny.”

    Wu Yingxiong’s face showed a rather hurtful look; he secretly gnashed his teeth in anger, “Right now I have to bear your savageness, wait till Fu Wang raise up his righteous banner, we will sweep our way to Beijing. You, this boy will be captured; it will be a wonder if I don’t hack you into pieces.”

    Fuma Ye,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Early in the morning tomorrow, I am going to kowtow to His Majesty, I will tell him that Prince Consort Wu is His Majesty’s younger sister’s husband, Ping Xi Wang is His Majesty’s honorable relative; even if he will no longer confer a title or official position, he must not take away his honorable relative’s title of nobility, since doing that will wrong the Princess.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wu Yingxiong happily said, “Wei Daren’s brain moves so fast, in just a short while you are able to come up with great argument; please do as you suggested. Let us see the Princess now.”

    He led Wei Xiaobao to the Princess’ door and asked for an audience. From the Princess’ room a palace maid came out, inviting Wei Xiaobao to wait in the reception pavilion at the side of the room. Not too long afterwards the Princess came out to the pavilion. “Xiao Guizi,” she sternly said, “You did not see me for such a long time; you want to die? Get lost!”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and paid his respect; he said with a laugh, “Princess, may you have ten thousand good fortune and peace like gold. Xiao Guizi is thinking about Princess daily, it’s just that His Majesty sent me out on a mission all the way to Luocha Country; I just got back a few days ago.”

    Princess’ eyes turned red. “You are thinking about me daily?” she said, “Looking at your craftiness, I … I …” speaking to here, her tears flowed down like rain.

    Wei Xiaobao noticed the Princess’ jade countenance was gloomy, her face looked thin and pallid, presumably after she got married to Wu Yingxiong she was depressed. He thought, “This fellow Wu Yingxiong is a eunuch; married to a eunuch, naturally she is not happy.” Seeing the Princess’ situation, and remembering the feeling of the former days, he could not help but feeling tenderness toward her. He said, “Princess misses His Majesty, His Majesty also misses the Princess; in a few days, he is going to invite Princess into the Palace to chat about the sentiment of the brother and sister.” He made up a fake imperial decree; Kangxi had never said anything about the Princess.

    For the last several months Princess Jianning had lived in the Prince Consort Mansion, she was extremely bored. Hearing Wei Xiaobao, she was greatly delighted. “When?” she eagerly asked, “Tell Huangdi Gege [big brother Emperor], tomorrow I am going to see him.”

    “That’s great!” Wei Xiaobao said, “Prince Consort has something he wanted me to present to His Majesty tomorrow, I’ll present another memorial to ask His Majesty to receive Princess into the Palace.”

    Wu Yingxiong was also very happy, “With the Princess helping to talk, His Majesty can’t possibly refuse even more,” he said.

    The Princess pouted and said, “Humph, I only talk about daily life of a family with Huangdi Gege, I won’t help you talk about any national affair.”

    Wu Yingxiong laughed with her, “Very well,” he said, “Whatever you love to talk, just talk about that.”

    The Princess rose up slowly, “Xiao Guizi,” she said, “I haven’t seen you for such a long time, you have grown tall and big. I heard in Luocha Country you have a very good demon miss friend; is that true?”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “How can there be such matter?” Suddenly ‘slap!’ his face was burning, as he took the Princess’ slap on his face. “Aiyo!” Wei Xiaobao cried out and jumped.

    The Princess laughed and said, “You speak dishonest words endlessly, you dare to lie to me?” Raising her hand, she wanted to slap him again. Wei Xiaobao leaned sideways to evade, her palm did not strrike him. The Princess said to Wu Yingxiong, “I have something I’d like to question Xiao Guizi, I don’t want you to be here to hear it.”

    Wu Yingxiong smiled and said, “Fine, I’ll accompany the military officers outside drinking wine.” He thought that if Wei Xiaobao was taking a beating and he could only look helplessly, it would not be good for his ‘face’; thereupon he withdrew from the reception pavilion.

    The Princess reached out to twist Wei Xiaobao’s ear. “Dead little demon,” she shouted, “You have forgotten me.” While saying that, she twisted his ear really hard.

    Wei Xiaobao yelped in pain. “No, I have not!” he busily said, “Haven’t I come to see you?”

    The Princess’ foot flew up and kicked his lower abdomen. “You have no conscience,” she cursed, “See if I don’t cut you to pieces. If I did not call you to come, even after three years you won’t possibly come to see me.”

    Seeing there was no one else in the hall, Wei Xiaobao reached out to embrace her; he said in a low voice, “Don’t punch and kick, tomorrow you and I can chat in the Palace.”

    The Princess blushed, “Chatting what?” she asked, “Chatting about you, this little demon!” She reached out toward his forehead and knocked him that he grew a bump the size of a chestnut.

    Wei Xiaobao wrapped his arms around her tightly, he said, “I use the move ‘A pair of dragons fighting over a pearl’!” The Princess spat at him and struggled hard to free herself. Wei Xiaobao said, “If we are being intimate in here, I am afraid Fuma Ye will be suspicious. Tomorrow I’ll see you in the Palace.”

    The Princess’ cheeks blushed, “What does he suspect?” she said. Her coquettish glances as smooth as silk as she looked at him with the corner of her eyes. With a smile that did not look like a smile she said, “Little demon, get out of here!”

    Book Note: During the Jin Dynasty, the pacifying of barbarian region in the present day Qujing, Yunnan area, the classical quotation ‘Imperial Edict of Sichuan Document’ was referring to Han Wudi [Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty (141-87 BC)], when he wanted to communicate with the barbarian in southwest China, he sent Sima Xiangru to visit Bashu [i.e. Sichuan] first to announce the edict, telling the officers and people of southwest region to comply with the imperial decree.

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    Default Chapter 38 - Part 1

    Chapter 38 - Criss-crossing the field a herd of horses flew across the road, domineering kite streaks across the sky
    (Translated by Foxs)


    LuDingJi-38.jpg

    They saw two horses fell dead on the roadside, the horses were indeed Yunnan horses. Zhang Yong happily said, “Dutong Daren, the path Wang Fujiang picked to pursue is indeed not bad.” Yet Wang Jinbao was frowning and worried, he did not stop sighing, ‘Ay, what a pity, what a pity!”

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    Default Chapter 38 - Part 2

    All smiles Wei Xiaobao returned to the main hall, he saw Wu Yingxiong was chatting with the four generals. Zhao Liangdong and Wang Jinbao were involved in some heated argument on the side; both men were flushed with anger, they talked with raised voice. When they saw Wei Xiaobao, they both stopped. Wei Xiaobao laughed and asked, “What are the two of you arguing about? Can you tell it to me?”

    Zhang Yong replied, “We are talking about horses. Wang Fujiang [deputy general] has an original insight in horses, the horses that he picked were always good colts. Just now everybody was talking about the beast of burden, Wang Fujiang praised Yunnan horses as very good. Zhao Zongbing [regional commander] did not believe him, he says that Sichuan horses, Yunnan horses have short legs, they can’t run fast. But Wang Fujiang says that Sichuan horses, Yunnan horses have enduring power, within ten li, they are not any better than other horses, but after running for twenty, thirty li, the more they run, the more they have vigor.”

    “Is that so?” Wei Xiaobao said, “Xiongdi has several mounts, would Wang Fujiang please take a look?” He ordered his personal guard to go back to his mansion to fetch several good horses from the stable and bring them here.

    Wu Yingxiong said, “Wei Dutong’s mount was given by Prince Kang, a famous Ferghana [orig. Dayuan, Central Asia] colt, called Yu Hua Cong [Jade Flower Buckskin Horse]; how can our Yunnan horses match this horse?”

    Wang Jinbao said, “Wei Daren’s horse is naturally a very good horse. Dayuan produces good horses, lowly officer has heard about it. When lowly officer was in Gansu and Shaanxi, I have ridden many famous Ferghana colts. In short distance sprint, they can run very fast, no other horses can compare to them.”

    “How about long distance race?” Zhao Liangdong asked, “Are you saying that Ferghana horse cannot beat Yunnan horse?

    “Originally, Yunnan horse are not good at all,” Wang Jinbao replied, “But after surviving hardship and hard work, they have enduring strength. These past few years lowly officer has raised horses in northern Yunnan, I mated Sichuan horses with Yunnan horses, and contrary to expectation, the new species is not bad.”

    Laoxiong,” Zhao Liangdong said, “You are an amateur. Horses must be purebred; the more pure they are bred, the better the result. I have never heard mixed stallions are better than the purebred.”

    Wang Jinbao’s face was bulging red, “Zhao Zongbing,” he said, “I am not saying that all mixed-bred horse are good. There are different uses of horse; some are use to break through enemy lines, some are use to pull heavy military load. Even battle horses are greatly different from each other, some are hundred-li horses, some are thousand-li horses, some are long distance horse, some short distance; they are completely different.”

    “Humph,” Zhao Liangdong said, “Surprisingly some people think mixed breed are better.”

    Wang Jinbao was furious; he suddenly stood up and shouted, “Who are you calling mixed breed? What a foul-mouthed remark!”

    Zhao Liangdong laughed coldly and said, “I was talking about horses, I am not talking about you. Whose breed is not pure, is a thief lacking in conscience; there is no need to get angry without any reason.”

    Wang Jinbao was even more furious. “This is the Prince Consort Mansion,” he said, “Otherwise, humph, humph!”

    “Humph, humph what?” Zhao Liangdong replied, “You want to fight with me?”

    Zhang Yong intervened, “Gentlemen, you have just met each other for the first time; why would you fight over beast of burden? Come, come, come, let me toast both of you a cup, everybody must not fight.” He was a Tidu, his official rank was higher than Zhao Liangdong and Wang Jinbao. The two of them did not dare not to give him some face, they did not have any choice but to drink the wine.

    The two of them ‘I stare at you, you stare at me’; if not for the fact that their superiors were present, these two men with fiery temper would definitely fight on the spot.

    Shortly after, Wei Xiaobao’s personal guards returned from his mansion, with the stable hand led the horses. Everybody went to the stable at the back of the mansion to look at the horses. Wang Jinbao indeed understood horses, with just a quick look he was able to tell good aspects and weak points of each horse; he was even able to guess each horse’s nature and temperament with about seventy, eighty percent accuracy. The Wei Mansion’s stable hands were very impressed; they all praised Deputy General Wang’s keen insight.

    Finally they looked at Wei Xiaobao’s mount, the Jade Flower Buckskin. This horse’s legs were long and fat, it’s appearance was like divine steed, its entire body was snow white with rouge spots everywhere, its coat was smooth and shiny, in short, it was a beautiful horse; everybody cheered incessantly. Wang Jinbao, however, showed neither approval nor disapproval. After looking for a long time, he said, “This horse’s intrinsic quality is superb, it’s a pity that it was raised incorrectly.”

    “How was it raised incorrectly?” Wei Xiaobao asked, “Please advise.”

    Wang Jinbao said, “Wei Daren’s horse can be counted as a very good colt that is seldom found in the world. This kind of good horse has to be sprinted a dozen li or so, and let it canter several dozen of li every day; the more it is tempered the better. However, Wei Daren treasured it too much, he was unwilling to ride it too much. This beast has passed too many of comfortable days, eaten too much of good refined grain, it is seldom ridden for more than two trips a year. Ay, what a pity, what a pity; just like the children of rich and noble families, it is too spoiled.”

    When Wu Yingxiong heard this, his countenance changed slightly; he uttered a soft ‘humph’. Wei Xiaobao noticed that, and knew that Wang Jinbao’s last few sentences had offended Wu Yingxiong. He thought, “There is no harm in my seizing this chance to sow dissension, let them, Yunnan’s commanders, not get along well with each other.” Thereupon he said, “I am afraid Wang Fujiang is only half right; children on rich and noble families can also have enormous skill. Take Prince Consort for example, he is your Wangye’s Heir Apparent, since childhood he holds golden bowl to eat rice, and jade bowl to drink his soup, yet he is not the least bit spoiled.”

    With a bulging red face Wang Jinbao busily said, “Yes, yes. Wangye’s Heir Apparent is naturally not the same. Lowly officer was not talking about Prince Consort.”

    With a cold laugh Zhao Liangdong said, “In your heart, I am afraid there is no difference.”

    “Zhao Zongbing,” Wang Jinbao angrily said, “Why do you always make life difficult for Xiongdi? Xiongdi did not offend you at all.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Alright, don’t harm the friendship over a small matter. As military officers, some people often look down on young high-ranking minister of the imperial court; I have seen it.”

    Wang Jinbao said, “Reporting to Dutong Daren: lowly officer does not dare to look down on you.”

    “But you look down on the Prince Consort,” Zhao Liangdong said.

    “I did not!” Wang Jinbao almost shouted.

    “Wang Fujiang,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Too bad that the good horses you raised are all in Yunnan, otherwise you might be able to let us increase our knowledge.”

    Wang Jinbao said, “The horses that I raised … yes, yes, I do not dare.”

    Wei Xiaobao felt a bit strange, “Why did he called out, ‘yes, yes, I do not dare’?” he mused.

    Zhao Liangdong said, “In any case, since Wang Fujiang’s good horses are in Yunnan, the dead cannot testify. Wei Dutong, ourside the Pass, Xiaojiang has also raised several hundred good horses, each one is capable of running three thousand li during the day, running two thousand li at night. It’s a pity that they all far away, I can’t have Dutong Daren take a look at them.” Everybody burst into loud laughter; they knew he was intentionally ridiculing Wang Jinbao.

    Wang Jinbao was so angry that his face turned pale; pointing to the stable on his left, he said in a loud voice, “The several dozen of horses over there are precisely the one I brought from Yunnan this time. Zhao Zongbing, you may select ten horses of yours, and randomly pick ten of mine; have the horses compete in leg strength. We’ll see who wins who loses.”

    Zhao Liangdong saw the Yunnan horses are thin and small, their coat bald, their skin dry, altogether there were fifty, sixty horses; he thought, “What’s so amazing about your beggar horses?” He said, “Indeed you have a lot of horses, but they are a bit ‘five tuberculosis seven wounded’. I guarantee that if I randomly pull several horses from Wei Dutong’s Mansion, they will surpass Wang Fujiang’s darling treasures that you personally raised.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “We all are arguing in vain. Prince Consort, let us each pick ten horses, we’ll have a race. Both sides place a bet.”

    Wu Yingxiong said, “How can our Yunnan’s little horse compete against Wei Dutong’s Ferghana horse? No need to compete, of course we will lose.”

    Wei Xiaobao noticed Wang Jinbao was fuming; his expression shows that he clearly did not accept defeat. Wei Xiaobao said, “Prince Consort admits defeat, but Wang Fujiang does not concede. How about this: I’ll get ten thousand taels of silver, Prince Consort also get ten thousand taels of silver, in a moment we all go outside the city to have a horse race. Whoever wins six races, the rest do not have to race. What do you say?”

    Wu Yingxiong was about to decline again, suddenly he had another thought, “This boy is young and eager to win, let me deliberately lose ten thousand taels to him and let him be happy.” Thereupon he laughed and said, “Very well, let’s do it. Wei Daren, if you lose, you must not be angry.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Winning must be in style, losing must be graceful; where’s the logic in getting angry when losing?” As he took a glance, he caught Wang Jinbao’s eyes flickered with delight; he thought, “Aiyo, looking at this Wang Fujiang’s expression, he seems to be very sure of victory; could it be that these sickly looking horses really have good endurance? Not good, not good, I must resort to trickery.” In all his life, he loved to cheat at gambling; seeing that in this horse race he might not necessarily win, he immediately cooked up some plan. He thought, “If we have the race today, there won’t be enough time to rig up a scam.” Thereupon he said, “Since we are going to make a bet, I must carefully select the ten horses; how about if we have the race tomorrow?”

    Wu Yingxiong had made up his mind not to go all-out, in ten races, he decided to let Wei Xiaobao win eight or nine. Today or tomorrow did not make any difference to him; thereupon he nodded his approval immediately. Wei Xiaobao continued drinking wine and watching the opera in the Prince Consort Mansion, he no longer said anything about the race. He invited Wu Yingxiong, along with Zhang Yong, Wang Jinbao and Sun Sike, three people to come over to his own mansion to have some drink that evening. Wu Yingxiong happily accepted the invitation. They went to Wei Xiaobao’s Count Mansion together.

    After they were seated and were offered some light refreshment and tea, Wei Xiaobao excused himself, “Please sit down and enjoy yourselves, Xiongdi needs to make some arrangement.”

    Wu Yingxiong laughed and said, “We are family, no need to be polite.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Honored guests grace me with their presence, I can’t be too shabby and crude in my hospitality.”

    Going to the inner hall, he instructed his manager to prepare a feast and theatrical troupe; and then he summoned his mansion’s head stable hand, gave him three hundred taels of silver and said, “My Yu Hua Cong and other horses are still at Prince Consort’s Mansion; go and fetch them back. While you are at it, invite the Prince Consort’s stable hands for a drink; have them drink the damn wine until they are drunk rotten.” The head stable hand complied.

    Wei Xiaobao continued, “Give the horses something, make them weary and their legs soft that they won’t have any strength to run. Just don’t poison them dead.”

    The head stable hand said, “Whatever it is that Jueye wants, Xiaoren will strive my hardest to do it.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “I guess it’s not a big deal to tell you: Prince Consort has a batch of horses just arrived from Yunnan. They boast that the horses’ endurance strength is superb. Tomorrow they are going to have a race with us. We cannot let them win over us, can we?”

    The head stable hand understood immediately; he laughed and said, “Jueye wants Xiaoren to concoct something and have Prince Consort’s horses eat it, so that during the horse race tomorrow we will win?”


    Wei Xiaobao laughed. “Correct,” he said, “You are very smart. In the horse race tomorrow, we have a bet. If we win, I’ll divide the gold and you will get your share. Do this quietly, you must never let Prince Consort Mansion’s stable hands know. Take this three hundred taels of silver, give a dinner party, take them to a drink, to gamble, to visit prostitute, damn it, just do whatever you need to do, make them fall into dark sky and black earth before you drug the horses.”

    The head stable hand said, “Jueye set your heart at ease, I won’t make mistake. Xiaoren will go buy several dozen catties of croton seed[1], mixed them inside the pea grain, and feed it to Wu Mansion’s horses, let those horses defecate all night long. In the race tomorrow, even a turtle will outrun them.”

    Wei Xiaobao immediately went out to accompany Wu Yingxiong and the others drinking wine. He was afraid when Wu Yingxiong and the others came back, Wang Jinbao would go see the horses and would be able to see through their scheme; hence he attentively served them and constantly urging them to drink more wine. Zhao Liangdong’s drinking capacity was extremely great, all along he had a drinking competition against Wang Jinbao. Very late that night, other than Wei Xiaobao and Wu Yingxiong, the four military commanders were dead drunk.

    After the morning audience the next morning, Wei Xiaobao went to the Palace to wait upon the Emperor. Kangxi was smiling from ear to ear, he was in a very good mood. “Xiao Guizi,” he said, “I have good news I want to share with you: Shang Kexi and Geng Jingzhong have accepted the imperial decree of border defense removal. In the coming days they are going to leave for the Capital.”

    “Congratulations Your Majesty,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Shang and Geng, two border defenses accepted the imperial decree, that old fellow Wu Sangui’s one palm cannot clap hand …”

    Kangxi laughed, “It’s hard to clap with only one hand,” he corrected.

    “Right,” Wei Xiaobao said, “It’s hard to clap with only one hand. We’ll beat him that he will be in a sorry state.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “What if he also accepted the imperial decree of border defense removal?”

    Wei Xiaobao was taken aback, “That would be great,” he said, “If he came to Beijing, Your Majesty wanted to roll him in your palm and make him round, he would not dare to be flat; Your Majesty wanted to knead him flat, no matter what he would not dare to be round.”

    Kangxi smiled and said, “You know this logic too?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “That time, he would be like ‘dragon[2] stranded on the sandy beach’, this old fellow would be like ‘tiger fell onto level ground …’” Speaking to this point, he stuck out his tongue and knocked his own forehead trying to remember the rest.

    Kangxi roared in laughter; he said, “It is called ‘tiger fell onto flat land, you can take unfair advantage of it’. At that time, not only he would not dare to offend me, he would not even dare to offend you.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “That will be extremely amusing.”

    Kangxi said, “I have finished the imperial order to build Martyr Shrine in Yangzhou, I had a Hanlin Academy scholar wrote it. Bring it to Yangzhou, and have it engraved on a vertical stone tablet. Pick an auspicious day and make your journey.”

    “Yes,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “If all three border defenses accepted the imperial order, do we still need to build the Martyr Shrine?”

    “We don’t know whether Wu Sangui will accept or not,” Kangxi said, “Besides, commending martyrs is a good deed; even if Wu Sangui did not revolt, we still need to do it.”

    Wei Xiaobao complied. When chatting, he mentioned Princess Jianning was asking to have an audience with the Emperor. Kangxi nodded, he ordered the court eunuch serving him to immediately announce to Princess Jianning that her request had been granted.


    [1] Croton has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat severe constipation since the seed of the plant can cause diarrhoea to human. Apparently, it has the same effect on horses. (Courtesy of Ace High)

    [2] Orig. ‘jiaolong’ – legendary dragon with the ability to control rain and floods.

  7. #287
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    Default Chapter 38 - Part 3

    Kangxi’s mood was really good; he asked in details about Luocha Country’s natural condition and social customs, as well as about the people there. He also wanted to know how the gunmen revolted, how Princess Sophia suppressed the rebellion, how the Senior and Junior Tsars could co-exist. After talking for a while, the Princess arrived at the Upper Study Room.

    As soon as they saw each other, the Princess threw herself to Kangxi’s feet, she hugs his legs and bawled. “Huangdi Gege,” she said, “From now on I want to accompany you in the Palace, I don’t want to go back again.”

    Kangxi stroked her hair. “What is it?” he asked, “Prince Consort bullies you?”

    The Princess cried; she said, “He won’t dare. He … he …” and broke into crying again.

    Kangxi said in his heart, “You castrated him, you made him unable to be your husband. You did it yourself and you suffer the consequence.” He consoled her for a moment, and then said, “Alright, alright, don’t cry. You can accompany me for a meal.”

    The Emperor ate his meals not on a fixed schedule; whenever he was in the mood, the meal must be served at any time. At once the eunuchs from the imperial kitchen served the meals, while Wei Xiaobao waited upon him on the side. Although the Emperor extremely doted on him, he simply cannot accompany the Emperor eating and drinking. Kangxi bestowed on him a dozen or more big bowls of dishes, which he ordered the eunuchs to deliver the dishes to his mansion, to be eaten later when he came back home.

    After drinking several cups of wine, the Princess’ face blushed, her eyes watery as she cast glance after glance toward Wei Xiaobao. In the Emperor’s presence Wei Xiaobao did not dare to show the slightest bit of rude behavior, all along he did not meet the Princess’ eyes, while his heart was thumping wildly. “If after drinking the Princess reveal the secret and the Emperor finds out,” he mused, “This head of mine won’t be too secure.” He escorted the Princess on imperial order to Yunnan to complete her marriage, yet on the journey he embezzled the goods by having illicit relationship with the Princess; the criminal charge against him was indeed not small. In his heart he started to regret, he really should not have mentioned to the Emperor that the Princess was seeking for an audience.

    The Princess suddenly said, “Xiao Guizi, get me some rice.” While saying that, she held the empty bowl in front of his face.

    Kangxi laughed and said, “You have a good appetite.”

    “To be able to see Huangdi Gege, I can eat my rice,” the Princess replied.

    Wei Xiaobao filled the bowl with rice, and then holding it with both hands, he respectfully put the bowl on the table in front of the Princess. Princess’ left hand dropped down, she heavily twisted his thigh. It was painful, but Wei Xiaobao did not dare to make any noise, he did not even dare to reduce the smile on his face for half a part; only inevitably his smile became awkward, his overall expression became rather strange. “Dead wh0re,” he cursed in his heart, “Why is it that each time you see me you always twist me?”

    The cursing in his heart has not finished, his head was suddenly jerked backward; the Princess had reached to his back and forcefully pulled his braid.

    This time Kangxi saw it; he smiled and said, “Princess is married now, yet you are still this naughty.”

    The Princess pointed at Wei Xiaobao and said with a laugh, “It’s he, it’s he …” Wei Xiaobao was greatly anxious, he wondered what it was that the Princess was about to say. Luckily the Princess only broke into giggles. She said, “Huangdi Gege, your reputation is getting better and better. I did not know it when I was still in the Palace, but during the round trip to and back from Yunnan, I heard the common people all say that with you as the Emperor, the days of the common people throughout the world are really good. Even this boy,” speaking to here, she cast Wei Xiaobao a malicious look, and then continued, “His official position was rising higher and higher. Only your little sister is actually getting more and more bad luck.”

    Kangxi’s mood was very good to begin with, and now Princess Jianning’s compliment was just perfect; he laughed and said, “You are married to a dependable and noble husband. If Wu Yingxiong, father and son, nicely obey the imperial order of border defense removal, the whole world will be at peace. I promise you I will raise his official position.”

    The Princess’ small mouth pouted; she said, “You raise Wu Yingxiong, this fellow’s official position or not, it has nothing to do with me. I want you to raise my official position.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “And what official position do you want?”

    The Princess said, “Xiao Guizi said that the Luocha Country Princess became some Queen Regent. You can make me a great marshal, send me to fight foreign country.”

    Kangxi burst into loud laughter. “How can women be great marshals?” he said.

    The Princess said, “In the past, Fan Lihua, Yu Taijun, Mu Guiying[1], which one did not seize the seal of authority and become the great marshal? Why can they be one, but I can’t? If you say my martial art skill is inadequate, let’s try it.” While saying that, she stood up with a giggle.

    Kangxi laughed and said, “You did not want to study, just like Xiao Guizi, you both do not have the knowledge, you only know the stories from the opera. In the previous dynasties, there were indeed women who became marshals. Tang Taizong Li Shimin’s meizi [younger sister] Princess Pingyang, helped Tang Taizong pacifying the world. She was a marshal, commanding a division of army called Niangzi Jun [women’s corps]. The mountain pass where her troops were stationed was called Niangzi Guan [women’s Pass], it was very formidable.”

    The Princess clapped her hands and said, “That’s it then. Huangdi Gege, as an emperor, you surpass Li Shimin; let me be like Princess Pingyang. Xiao Guizi, what do you want to be? Gao Lishi? Or Wei Zhongxian?[2]

    Kangxi roared in laughter; he shook his head repeatedly and said, “You are speaking nonsense again. Xiao Guizi was a fake eunuch. Besides, Gao Lishi and Wei Zhongxian were both court eunuchs serving under muddleheaded rulers; by saying that, aren’t you scolding me?”

    The Princess laughed and said, “I am sorry Huangdi Gege, you should not be offended; I did not know.”

    Thinking about ‘Xiao Guizi was a fake eunuch’, she could not refrain herself from casting a glance toward Wei Xiaobao; the thoughts of love surged in her heart. She said, “I should go kowtow to the Empress Dowager.”

    Kangxi was startled; he thought, “The fake Empress Dowager has become the real Empress Dowager; your mother has run away from the Palace.” He has always loved this younger sister dearly, he could not bear to see her be embarrassed. “These past few days Empress Dowager is not feeling very well,” he said, “There is no need to tire her, the Senior. Just go to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful and kowtow and pay your respect outside.”

    The Princess complied. “Huangdi Gege,” she said, “I am going to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful, and will be back to talk to you again. Xiao Guizi, you come with me.”

    Wei Xiaobao did not dare to comply. Kangxi signaled him with his eyes, telling him to try to stop the Princess, not to let her see the Empress Dowager. Wei Xiaobao understood his intention; he nodded to signal that he received the Emperor’s order, and at once went to accompany the Princess toward the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful.

    Wei Xiaobao ordered a little eunuch to run ahead to report to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful first. As expected, the Empress Dowager instructed them that she was unwell, hence they did not need to kowtow and pay their respect. The Princess had not seen her mother for quite a long time, she was quite worried. “Empress Dowager is not feeling very well, I simply must take a look,” she said, while picking up speed, rushing toward the Empress Dowager’s personal quarter; how could the numerous court eunuchs and palace maids dare to stop her?

    “Your Highness, Your Highness,” Wei Xiaobao anxiously called, “Empress Dowager, the Senior, catches cold; she must not be blown by the wind.”

    The Princess said, “I will enter slowly, there won’t be the slightest wind.” Pushing the bedroom door open, she raised the door curtain, but saw the gauze screen was hanging down, the Empress Dowager was sleeping in the bed, with four palace maids stood by the bed. The Princess said in a low voice, “Empress Dowager, your daughter is here to kowtow to you.” While saying that, she went down on her knees and kowtowed several times.

    She heard several groans from the Empress Dowager inside the gauze screen. The Princess walked toward the bedside; she was about to lift the mosquito net, a palace maid said, “Your Highness, Empress Dowager instructed us that nobody is to alarm Empress Dowager.”

    The Princess nodded. She opened the net a slit and looked inside. She saw the Empress Dowager was facing inside, she seemed to be in a very deep sleep. The Princess called in low voice, “Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager.” The Empress Dowager did not respond at all. The Princess had no choice but to put the screen down and withdrew quietly. Her heart ached; she could not help but broke into crying.

    Seeing she did not discover the truth, it was as if a large rock was removed from Wei Xiaobao’s heart; he persuaded her, “Princess lives in the Capital, you can enter the Palace at any time to pay your respect. Wait until Empress Dowager is well, you can come back to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful.”

    The Princess thought his advice was reasonable; she wiped her tears immediately and said, “I wonder how my former dwelling place is, I want to take a look.” Finished speaking she turned toward her former bedroom. Wei Xiaobao followed behind her.

    The Princess’s former personal quarter, Jianning Palace was located next to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful; they arrived after only a short walk. After the Princess was married, Jianning Palace was dusted, swept, and looked after by eunuchs and palace maids, just like before.

    The Princess stopped at the bedroom door, she saw Wei Xiaobao was standing outside, giggling; he did not follow her inside. The Princess blushed and said, “Dead eunuch, why aren’t you coming in?”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “I was a fake eunuch, I can’t come into the Princess’ bedroom.”

    The Princess reached out to twist his ear; she shouted, “You don’t come in, I’ll twist your dog ear off.” She pulled hard, Wei Xiaobao had no choice but to come into the bedroom. The Princess closed the door and bolted it behind her.

    Wei Xiaobao was so scared that his heart was thumping madly. “Princess,” he said in a low voice, “We must not fool around in the Palace, I … I … I might lose my head!”

    The Princess’ eyes were watery, as if drops of water were about to fall down; in a seductive voice she said, “Wei Jueye, I am your servant, let me serve you.” Reaching out with both arms, she hugged him tightly.

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “No, we must not!”

    The Princess said, “Alright, I’ll go tell Huangdi Gege, you coerced me on the journey, you told me to castrate that fellow Wu Yingxiong, and now you are ignoring me.” Reaching down to his thigh, she pinched and twisted him really hard.

    It was quite a long time before the two of them emerged from the Princess’ bedroom. The Princess’s face was beaming with joy; she said, “His Majesty ordered you to tell me about the Luocha Country Princess; how come you have not finished telling me yet you already want to leave?”

    “Your servant is extremely tired,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “I don’t have the strength to tell you a story.”

    The Princess laughed and said, “Next time you have to come again to tell me about how you caught fox-spirit [i.e. enchantress] in Liaodong.”

    Wei Xiaobao squinted and cast her a sidelong glance; he said in a low voice, “If your servant talk much longer, I won’t be able to move.”

    The Princess giggled; she reached out backhandedly and ‘slap!’ she made a mark on his face with her palm. The eunuchs and palace maids at the Jianning Palace were old timers, they knew that the Princess was pampered and was rough; seeing her slapping someone, they all thought, “Princess is married, but her old temperament has not changed a bit. Wei Bojue [Count] is the minister His Majesty most doted on, unexpectedly she still slaps him.”

    The two of them returned to the Upper Study Room, she wanted to take her leave. The sky was getting dark. They saw Kangxi was looking at a large map on the desk; he looked deep in thought. The Princess said, “Huangdi Gege, Empress Dowager is unwell, I could not see her. I will be back in a few days to kowtow and pay my respect.”

    Kangxi nodded and said, “Next time wait for her to summon you before you come here.” With right hand finger pointing to the map, he asked Wei Xiaobao, “You entered Yunnan from Guizhou, but came out from Guangxi; which route is easier to take?” Turned out he was studying Yunnan’s terrain.

    Wei Xiaobao replied, “Yunnan’s mountains are very high, it does not matter whether we enter from Guizhou or Guangxi, both are very difficult. The majority of the roads cannot be traveled by marching troops. The Princess had to take sedan chair, your servant rode a horse.”

    Kangxi nodded. Suddenly he remembered something; he ordered a eunuch, “Summon the officer in charge of the carriage of the Ministry of War.” And then he turned toward the Princess and said, “Go back to your mansion, you have been out the whole day, the Prince Consort is waiting for you.”

    The Princess pouted and said, “He can’t possibly wait for me.” She was thinking of leaving the Palace together with Wei Xiaobao; it would be good if she could only talk to him some more along the way. But hearing the Emperor was summoning an official to discuss national affair, she said, “Huangdi Gege, it is already late, you still worry about national affairs. Even in the past Fu Huang [father emperor] did not work over government affairs as hard as you do.”

    Kangxi’s heart ached, remembering his father emperor lived in seclusion on Mount Wutai as a monk; he said, “Fu Huang was bright, wise and farsighted; the matter that he managed to do in one sichen [i.e. two hours], I cannot finish it in three sichen.”

    The Princess smiled and said, “I heard people say that Huangdi Gege has heaven-sent wisdom, which is rarely found since the dawn of time. Nobody dares to say that you surpass Fu Huang; however, they say that you are a good Emperor who is seldom seen in China for the last several thousand years.”


    [1] All were female warriors. I could not find any useful information on them other than from Hong Kong TV series/movies: Fan Lihua from ‘Lady Fan’ and Yu Taijun from ‘Saving General Yang’, Mu Guiying from ‘Legendary Amazons’ (Yang Saga/Stories of the Yang Clan). Additional info courtesy of Ace High:
    1. Fan Lihua was the wife of Tang Dynasty General Xue Dingshan. She was a woman warrior from a minority tribe. As a capable and independent fighter, she insisted on being accepted as her husband’s partner and not his subordinate; the mutually strong-willed and unyielding couple argued constantly. At last, she moved back to her old home, and the hurt and angry husband decided to divorce her. Three times General Xue wrote her a letter of divorcement, but each time he could not bring himself to send it. Meanwhile, their old enemy had regrouped, and attacked. Xue Dingshan resisted, but soon realized that victory was impossible without the aid of his estranged wife. Swallowing his pride, the General called on her to seek her help. After arguing out their mutual grievances, the couple reunited and together forced the enemy into retreat.
    2. She (Yu) Taijun was the widow of General Yang Ye of the Yang Family Generals. At the age of 100, widow She Taijun, persuaded the Emperor to allow her to lead the troops with her granddaughter-in-law, Mu Guiying. Under She Taijun and Mu Guiying’s leadership, the Northern Song army successfully defeated the enemy.
    3. Mu Guiying was the daughter of Mu Ke, an official of the Song court who had been wrongfully sent into exile. Mu Guiying grew up in his fortress on Mount Mu which was where young people who distrusted the Emperor came. She practiced martial art skills from young age and mastered many esoteric aspects of it. The special skills she developed proved useful in helping her break the famous Heavenly-Gate Formation of the Liaos. But hers is a story of turning her back on her father and joining the side of her husband’s illustrious family of generals. Her life greatly changed when she met Yang Zongbao, scion of the illustrious Yang family of generals. He was the only male heir of this illustrious family. Rash and hot-headed, he provoked an argument with Mui Guiying which escalated into a full-blown duel. In the process, the two fell in love and Yang demanded the Dragon-Subduing Wood which the Song forces direly needed to counter the Heavenly-Gate Formation. Mu Guiying helped her husband get the Wood and chose to cast her lot with the Yang family. She thus left Mount Mu to serve the court her father despised. She was the second woman, after her grandmother-in-law, Yu Taijun, to hold the seal of Supreme Commander, and with it she led the Imperial Song troops to crack the Heavenly-Gate Formation.


    [2] Gao Lishi (684–762), formally the Duke of Qi, was a eunuch official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, becoming particularly powerful during Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's reign. He is believed to have been in charge of many decisions that were supposed to be the emperor's responsibility during Emperor Xuanzong's later years, and was believed to have been richer than many of the nobility of the era.
    Wei Zhongxian (1568 – October 19, 1627) is considered by most historians as the most powerful and notorious eunuch in Chinese history. Originally a hoodlum and gambler, he took the step of becoming a eunuch and entering palace service to escape from his creditors. After entering the palace, he got into the service of Madam Ke, the wet-nurse of the future Ming emperor. The couple began manipulating the Tianqi Emperor, who renamed him Wei Zhongxian. The emperor's favor later gave Wei absolute power over the court.
    Wikipedia has full article on each man. (Incidentally, Wei Zhongxian was an important character in White Hair Demoness, translated by Faerie Queene and yours truly.)

  8. #288
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    Default Chapter 38 - Part 4

    Kangxi smiled. “Good Emperors in China are actually a lot,” he said, “Forget about Yao Shun Yu Tang [See Chapter 14] who were adept in both pen and sword, the three generations after them, Han Wendi, Han Guangwu, Tang Taizong, they were all enlightened rulers who were greatly admired by the people.”

    The Princess noticed that as Kangxi spoke, he was staring without blinking at the map on the table; she did not dare to talk too much, hence she cast a glance toward Wei Xiaobao, her arms were hanging down, but her finger pointed toward him, and then she turned her finger around to point to herself; her meaning was that Wei Xiaobao should see her often. Wei Xiaobao understood; he nodded slightly. The Princess paid her respect to Kangxi and withdrew.

    A moment later, Kangxi looked up and said, “In that case, I am afraid the cannon we make are too heavy and too big, not easy to haul over those mountainous roads.”

    Wei Xiaobao was startled; he understood immediately that Kangxi was thinking of transporting the cannon to Yunnan to attack Wu Sangui. “Yes, yes,” he said, “Your servant is muddleheaded, I had not thought of this. It would be best if we could make small cannon that can be pulled by two horses; entering Yunnan will be a lot more convenient.”

    Kangxi said, “Decisive engagement between opposing army on the mountainous region cannot depend on magnificent army with thousands of men and horses rushing in at the same time; infantry will be even more important than cavalry.”

    Shortly afterwards, the Ministry of War’s three Manchu officials and one Han official in charge of the horse and carriage arrived together and kowtowed in front of Kangxi. Kangxi asked, “How’s the horse preparation?”

    This particular department of the Ministry of War was in charge of relay station and moving vehicle logistics. Immediately the officers reported in details: how many horses they purchased from Western Region and Mongolia, how many horses they transported from outside the Pass, presently they had a total of more than 85,000 good horses, and they were still continuing to buy and raise more horses. Kangxi was very pleased; he uttered some words of praise. The four officials kowtowed to express their gratitude for the compliments.

    Suddenly Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty, I heard that Sichuan, Yunnan’s horses are not the same as the outside the Pass and Western Region horses; although their body is smaller, they have good endurance and good at traveling on the mountainous road; I wonder if that’s true.”

    Kangxi asked the four officials, “Is that true?”

    The Han official replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty: Sichuan horses, Yunnan horses, are able to resist hardship and carry heavy load, their endurance is very good, and their ability to travel over mountainous roads is indeed very good. However, to charge and break through the enemy lines on flat land, they are far inferior to horses from outside the Pass and Western Region. For this reason, in the armed force we do not use Sichuan and Yunnan horses.”

    Kangxi cast a glance toward Wei Xiaobao, and then asked the official, “How many Sichuan horses, Yunnan horses do we have?”

    The official replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty: in the defense forces stationed in Sichuan and Yunnan, Sichuan horses and Yunnan horses are not a few; however, in other places there are very few. In the defense force stationed in Hunan, we have more than 500 horses.”

    Kangxi nodded, “Dismiss,” he said. He did not want to reveal to these officials his intention to attack Yunnan. After the four officials withdrew, he said to Wei Xiaobao, “Luckily you reminded me. Tomorrow I must issue a decree, ordering Sichuan Zongdu [governor-general] to immediately buy Sichuan horses in large quantity. It would be best if we can keep this matter top secret.”

    Wei Xiaobao suddenly giggled with a very complacent look on his face. “What is it?” Kangxi asked.

    “Prince Consort Wu has just had one batch of Yunnan horses shipped here from Yunnan,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “He boasted that these horses have excellent endurance. Your servant did not believe him, so I made an appointment with him to have a race. Whether Yunnan horses really have good endurance, we will find out in a little bit.”

    Kangxi smiled and said, “You should race him well then. How are you going to race?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “We agreed to race ten pairs, he who wins six will win the bet.”

    Kangxi said, “Only race ten, you won’t necessarily find out if Yunnan horses indeed have the good quality. Do you know how many Yunnan horses did he ship in?”

    Wei Xiaobao replied, “I looked at his stable, there are at least fifty, sixty horses. All are newly shipped.”

    Kangxi said, “Then you’d better race with him fifty, sixty pairs. Take the long route, it will be best if you go to Xishan [western mountain], run along the mountain roads.” Seeing Wei Xiaobao’s expression was bit strange, he said, “Damn it, you have no prospect! If you lose, I’ll pay you back your gold.”

    Wei Xiaobao felt it was inappropriate to tell the Emperor honestly that he had played some trick in Wu Yingxiong’s stable. In this race his chance of victory was 99%, but when the race finished, the Emperor would think that Yunnan horses were useless; and then when they march to fight the war in the future, perhaps Wei Xiaobao had brought harm to this important matter. He smiled and said, “It’s not about the gold …”

    “Uh,” suddenly Kangxi exclaimed, “Yunnan horses have good endurance, that fellow Wu Yingxiong has a large quantity of Yunnan horses shipped to Beijing; what for?”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “It must be that he wanted to create quite a stir, boasting that his Yunnan horses are good.”

    Kangxi frowned. “Not right!” he said, “This … this boy wants to escape.”

    Wei Xiaobao still has not understood. “Escape?” he asked in surprise.

    “That’s right!” Kangxi said, “Guards!” he called out. When several eunuchs appeared, he ordered them, “Issue a decree at once, close the Nine Gate, nobody is allowed to get out of the city, summon Prince Consort Wu Yingxiong to the Palace to see Zhen.”

    The eunuchs complied and went out to issue the decree. Wei Xiaobao’s countenance changed slightly, “Your Majesty,” he said, “Are you saying that that fellow Wu Yingxiong is that audacious that unexpectedly he is going to escape?”

    Kangxi shook his head, “I wish that my premonition is incorrect,” he said, “Otherwise, we will have to resort to arms immediately against Wu Sangui. At this time our preparation is insufficient.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “If we are not prepared, Wu Sangui is not necessarily prepared either.”

    There was a concerned look on Kangxi’s face as he said, “You’re wrong. Before he even reached Yunnan, Wu Sangui has already recruited soldiers and bought horses, he already has the intention to revolt. He has been prepared for a dozen or so years, while I only started large scale deployment in the last year or two.”

    Wei Xiaobao could only speak some comforting words, “But Your Majesty is brilliant and wise; your one year deployment is equal to Wu Sangui’s twenty years.”

    Kangxi raised his foot and pretended to kick Wei Xiaobao as he said with a laugh, “I kick you once, it’s equal to Wu Sangui kicking you twenty times. Damn it, Xiao Guizi, you must not take Wu Sangui too lightly. This old fellow is very good at deploying troops and fighting a battle. Li Zicheng was that formidable, yet he was defeated by him. Within the imperial court, not one general is his match.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “We rely on numbers to gain victory. Your Majesty sends ten generals; ten beat damn one.”

    “Even so,” Kangxi said, “Only if we send out capable great marshals will we succeed. If under my command I have Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, or perhaps Mu Ying, then I won’t have to worry.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty personally lead your troops into battle, you surpass Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Mu Ying. In the past Ming Taizu defeated Chen Youliang, he also personally led his troops into battle.”

    “It’s easy for you to bootlick,” Kangxi said, “You can say raw bird fish soup [niao sheng yu tang, see Chapter 14], brilliant and wise, et cetera. But to be brilliant, first you must know yourself. Marching troops into battle is no small matter. I have never been to battle; how can I be Wu Sangui’s match? Several hundred thousand soldiers and horses, if the command is improper, inevitable everything will fail and wiped over the floor. In the previous Ming’s Crisis of Tumu Fortress[1], the Emperor believed eunuch Wang Zhen, he personally led the army into battle, several hundred thousand troops suffered total defeat under this eunuch’s muddleheaded advice that even the Emperor was captured by the enemy.”

    Wei Xiaobao was scared; he busily said, “Your Majesty, your servant is a fake eunuch.”

    Kangxi roared in laughter; he said, “You don’t have to be afraid. Even if you were a real eunuch, I am not a muddleheaded ruler like that previous Ming’s Yingzong; how can I let you mess up with me?”

    “Right! Right!” Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty’s divine strategy is indeed not a small matter. There is a saying in the opera, it’s called … it’s called inside something something, something is ten thousand li away.”

    Kangxi laughed and said, “That saying is too difficult; I am not going to teach you.”

    While they were still talking, a eunuch came to report that Nine Gates’ Tidu already received the imperial order to shut the city walls. Kangxi was just feeling slightly relieved when another eunuch came to report, “The Prince Consort went hunting and has not returned, the city gate is already shut, we cannot go out of town to summon him.”

    Kangxi slapped the table; he stood up and called out, “He has really left.” He asked, “What about Princess Jianning?”

    The eunuch said, “Reporting to Your Majesty: Her Highness the Princess is still in the Palace.”

    “That fellow,” Kangxi hatefully said, “Unexpectedly he does not have the slightest bit feeling between husband and wife.”

    “Your Majesty,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Let your servant pursue this fellow and get him back; he has an agreement with your servant for a horse race today, unexpectedly he went hunting out of town; indeed it’s not right for him to do so.”

    Kangxi asked the eunuch, “When did the Prince Consort go out of town?”

    The eunuch replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty: when your servant went to the Prince Consort’s Mansion to announce the imperial decree, the Prince Consort’s Mansion zongguan [manager] said that Prince Consort left early this morning to go hunting.”

    “Humph,” Kangxi said, “This fellow must have received the news this morning that Shang Kexi and Geng Jingzhong accepted the imperial orders of border defense removal. I am guessing that he knew that his old man is going to revolt immediately, hence he sneaked out at once.” Turning toward Wei Xiaobao he said, “He has gone for six, seven sichen [i.e. 12 or 14 hours]; you won’t be able to catch up with him. He had several dozen of Yunnan horses shipped here from Yunnan, it is precisely so that he could exchange horses all the way to Kunming.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “The Emperor indeed can prophecy with supernatural accuracy; as soon as he heard that Wu Yingxiong had a large quantity of Yunnan horses shipped here, he could guess that he was planning to run away.” Seeing Kangxi’s countenance was not good, he did not dare to flatter randomly; but suddenly he remembered something. “Your Majesty,” he said, “Please don’t worry, perhaps your servant has a way to catch this fellow and bring him back.”

    “How are you going to do that?” Kangxi said, “Rubbish! If Yunnan horses really have good endurance, and he has left Beijing far away, if he changed his appearance in disguise, you won’t be able to overtake him at all.”

    Wei Xiaobao was not sure if his head stable hand managed to feed crotons to Wu Yingxiong’s Yunnan horses, hence he did not dare to boast extravagantly in front of the Emperor. He said, “Eating the ruler’s good fortune, loyal to the ruler’s matter. Let your servant try to pursue him; if I really cannot overtake him, there is nothing we can do anyway.”

    Kangxi nodded. “Very well!” he said. Taking a brush-pen in hand, he quickly wrote an imperial edict, and stamped it with the imperial jade seal, ordering the Nine Gates’ Tidu to open the city gate to let Wei Xiaobao out; he said, “Take more Valiant Cavalry Brigade’s sergeants with you; if Wu Yingxiong resists arrest, overcome him with force.” Kangxi also handed over the golden seal to give him the authority to mobilize the troops.

    “I obey the order!” Wei Xiaobao replied; he received the imperial edict and dashed out the Palace.

    The Princess was waiting at the Imperial Palace gate. Seeing Wei Xiaobao hurrying out in quick steps, she called out, “Xiao Guizi, what are you doing?”

    “It’s desperately serious,” Wei Xiaobao called back, “Your husband ran away.” Unexpectedly he did not stop, but ran even faster instead.

    “Dead eunuch,” the Princess cursed, “You have no manners; quickly halt for me.”

    Wei Xiaobao called out, “I am going to catch the Princess’ husband, I will go through water and tread on fire, I will not decline under any circumstances, I will travel through night and day, my horse will not stop to rest …” While babbling nonsense, he had already gone far.

    Outside the Palace, Wei Xiaobao mounted his horse and galloped back to his mansion. He saw Zhao Liangdong was accompanying Zhang Yong and the others, three men, drinking in the reception pavilion. Immediately he turned around, summoned several dozen of his personal guards, and shouted his order to arrest Zhang Yong and the others, three generals. The personal guards immediately tied the tree generals up.

    With an imposing voice Zhang Yong said, “May I ask Dutong Daren, what crime did Xiaojiang and the others commit?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “I have the imperial edict here, I don’t have time to talk to you.” While saying that, he waved the imperial edict in his hand, and fired up several orders in succession, “Get one thousand Valiant Cavalry Brigade Sergeants and fifty Imperial Bodyguards here to this Mansion immediately to receive order. Prepare horses.” His personal guards complied and left.

    Wei Xiaobao told Zhao Liangdong, “Zhao Zongbing, that fellow Wu Yingxiong ran away. Wu Sangui is about to revolt. We must go out of the city to pursue.”

    “That fellow is too brazen,” Zhao Liangdong called out, “Lowly officer receives the order and ready to go.”

    Zhang Yong, Wang Jinbao and Sun Sike, three people were greatly shocked; they looked at each other in dismay. Wei Xiaobao ordered his personal guards, “Guard these three men well. Zhao Zongbing, let’s go.”

    “Wei Dutong,” Zhang Yong called out, “We are Western Liang men, and we are Great Qing’s officers, we have never been Ping Xi Wang’s direct subordinates. Formerly the three of us were serving as military officers in Gansu, afterwards we were transferred to Yunnan on a mission, all along Wu Sangui has always pushed us out. He transferred us elsewhere, he wanted us, three people to leave Yunnan, because he knew perfectly well that the three of us are unwilling to associate ourselves with traitors; he was afraid we might spoil his plan.”

    “How do I know that you are telling the truth and not lying to me?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Sun Sike replied, “Last year Wu Sangui was about to kill me, it was only because Zhang Tidu’s protection that lowly officer was able to preserve my head. In my heart I hate that old b@stard to the bones.”

    Zhang Yong said, “If lowly officers, three people are Wu Yingxiong’s accomplices, why didn’t we run away with him?”

    Wei Xiaobao thought that he was right; he hesitantly said, “Alright, whether you are in cahoots with Wu Sangui or not, I will examine when I come back. Zhao Zongbing, pursuing people is more important, let’s go.”

    Dutong Daren,” Zhang Yong said, “Wang Fujiang is very good at tracking horses’ footprints, he can tell Yunnan horses’ hoof print as soon as he sees it.”

    Wei Xiaobao nodded, “That skill is definitely very useful,” he said, “But if I bring you along, and on the way you pound the egg, laozi may fall into your great trap.”

    In a loud and clear voice Sun Sike said, “Dutong Daren, you can tie Xiaojiang in here, take Zhang Tidu and Wang Fujiang along in pursuit. If the two of them have a change of heart, when you come back, you may kill Xiaojiang with a chop.”


    [1] Tumu Rebellion or Battle of Tumu Fortress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumu_Crisis.

  9. #289
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 38 - Part 5

    “Good,” Wei Xiaobao said, “You actually have yi qi. I am still rather undecided in this matter. Come, come, come, Zhang Tidu, let you and I throw the dice three times. If you win, I will listen to you, if I win, I have no choice but to borrow the three gentlemen’s heads.” Without waiting for Zhang Yong to respond, he called loudly, “Guards, get some dice!”

    Wang Jinbao said, “Xiaojiang has dice with me, loosen my bondage, let Xiaojiang gamble with you.”

    Wei Xiaobao was greatly surprised; he ordered his personal guard to loosen the rope binding him. Wang Jinbao groped into his pocket and sure enough, he had three dice. ‘Clink, clink, clink’ he threw the dice onto the table, his technique was very good. “Why do you carry dice in your pocket?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Wang Jinbao replied, “In my whole life Xiaojiang loves gambling the most, hence I always carry dice in my pocket. If I have nobody to gamble with, my left hand will gamble against my right hand.”

    Wei Xiaobao was even more interested. “Your own left hand gamble against your right hand?” he asked, “How do you decide win or lose?”

    Wang Jinbao replied, “If my left hand loses, my right hand will punch my left arm; if my right hand loses, my left hand will punch my right arm.”

    Wei Xiaobao roared in laughter. “Interesting, interesting,” he repeatedly said. “Laoxiong,” he added, “You and I are like-minded, you must be a good man. Come, I’ll release these two generals as well. Wang Fujiang and I will throw three times, no matter who win or lose, the three of you will come with me to pursue Wu Yingxiong. If I win, just consider my offense to the three of you just now is settled. If you win, I will kowtow to the three of you to apologize.”

    Zhang Yong and the others, three men roared in laughter; they all said, “We do not dare.”

    Wei Xiaobao took the dice. He was about to throw when his personal guard came in to report that the Valiant Cavalry Brigade Sergeants and Imperial Bodyguards have assembled outside the Mansion awaiting orders. Wei Xiaobao collected the dice and said, “There’s no time to lose, pursuing people is more important. Four generals, let’s go!” Taking Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, and the others, four people, and leading the Valiant Cavalry Brigade Sergeants and Imperial Bodyguards, he went out of the city heading south to pursue.

    Wang Jinbao led the way in front. After pursuing for several li, he dismounted to look at the hoof print on the road. “Dutong Daren,” he said, “This is really strange; when the party reached this place, they turned eastwards.”

    “It is indeed strange,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “He is running away to Yunnan, he should be going south. Alright, everybody, let’s go east.”

    Suspicion arose in Zhao Liangdong’s heart, “Running away to the east? It does not make sense. Could it be that this fellow Wang Jinbao is deliberately leading us on the wrong road, so that Wu Yingxiong can escape?” He said, “Dutong Daren, is it possible for Xiaojiang to lead a team of men and horses to continue pursuing southwards?”

    Wei Xiaobao cast a glance toward Wang Jinbao. Noticing the angry look on his face, he said, “No need, we will all follow Wang Fujiang’s lead. Yunnan horses were raised by him, he will not recognize it incorrectly.” He ordered his personal guards to bring some weapons and let Zhang Yong and the others, three people to choose.

    Zhang Yong selected a broadsword on staff; he said, “Dutong Daren is young, yet you are amazingly broad-minded and open. We are military officers from Yunnan, Wu Sangui is about to rebel, unexpectedly Dutong Daren gives us your bare heart and let us keep it without the slightest doubt.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “You don’t need to praise me. I am gambling here, I put all my valuables, all my money on the table. If I win, I will win big: capturing Wu Yingxiong and gain three good friends. If I lose, I will also lose big: I will have my head chopped by you, laoxiong.”

    Zhang Yong was greatly delighted; he said, “We are real men of Western Liang, we love to make friends with heroes and warriors the most. I am indebted that Wei Dutong holds me in such a high esteem, the one surnamed Zhang will throw my life for you forever.” While saying that, he tossed his broadsword to the ground and did obeisance toward Wei Xiaobao.

    Wang Jinbao and Sun Sike also fell on their knees. Wei Xiaobao jumped down from his horse and kneeled down on the road to return the salute. The four of them kowtowed to each other, then they stood up and laughed heartily. Wei Xiaobao said, “Zhao Zongbing, please also come, let’s salute each other. From now on we will be like brothers, blessing we will enjoy together, difficulty we will face together.”

    Zhao Liangdong said, “I only don’t trust this Wang Fujiang. I want to wait until he catches Wu Yingxiong, and then I will become sworn brothers with him.”

    Wang Jinbao angrily said, “Although my official rank is low, I am a real man; why would I covet becoming sworn brothers with you?” While saying that, he jumped onto his horse and galloped ahead, following the trail.

    Speeding along eastwards for ten or so li, Wang Jinbao jumped down the horse to look at the hoof print on the road and some manure. He knitted his brows and said, “Odd, odd.”

    “What is it?” Zhang Yong hurriedly asked.

    Wang Jinbao said, “The horse dung is pulpy, I don’t know the reason. This does not look like our Yunnan horses’ manure.”

    As soon as Wei Xiaobao heard this, he was greatly delighted; he laughed aloud and said, “That’s it, this is genuine goods at fair prices, treating both the young and the old honestly. This is indeed Wu Yingxiong’s caravan.”

    Wang Jinbao muttered to himself, “The hoof print is correct, but the manure is too strange.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Not strange, not strange! Yunnan horses got to Beijing, they are not accustomed to the climate, their excrement will definitely become mushy; must wait seven or eight days before they get better. As long as the horse dung is pulpy, this is definitely Yunnan horse.”

    Wang Jinbao looked at him; seeing Wei Xiaobao’s strange expression, like a smile yet not a smile, he could not help but half believing and half doubting.

    They continued following the trail. After galloping for a while, they saw the hoof print turned southeast. Zhang Yong said, “Dutong Daren, Wu Yingxiong is running toward Tianjin, he wants to go out to sea from Tanggu. He must have prepared a boat on the shore, going to Guangxi by boat, and then continued on to Yunnan, in order to avoid government army cutting him off along the way.”

    Wei Xiaobao nodded. “True!” he said, “From Beijing to Kunming, a great distance of a hundred and eight thousand li, he could be stopped by government army any time. Going on sea route is much safer.”

    “We must pursue him even faster,” Zhang Yong said.

    “Why?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Zhang Yong replied, “From the Capital to the seaside is only several hundred li. He does not need to empathize with the horses, he will definitely run desperately fast.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Zhang Dage can prophecy with supernatural accuracy; indeed you have the talent of a great general.” Hearing Wei Xiaobao calling him ‘big brother’, Zhang Yong was even more delighted.

    Wei Xiaobao turned around and ordered a team of Valiant Cavalry Brigade to urgently run toward Tanggu harbor to transmit order to the naval commander there, to seal off the seaport and not allowing any ship to go out to sea. A zuoling [company commander] received the order and led his troops galloping away.

    Before long, they saw two horses fell dead on the roadside, the horses were indeed Yunnan horses. Zhang Yong happily said, “Dutong Daren, the path Wang Fujiang picked to pursue is indeed not bad.” Yet Wang Jinbao was frowning and worried, his countenance looked very distressed.

    “Wang San’ge [third brother],” Wei Xiaobao said, “Why aren’t you happy?”

    Wang Jinbao thought, “I am not number three, why do you call me ‘San Ge’?” He said, “Xiaojiang raised these Yunnan horses, each one is a good colt, one in a thousand, how could they produce pulpy excrement and fall dead on the road? Even if Wu Yingxiong urged them desperately, those horses cannot be this useless! Ay, what a pity, what a pity!”

    Wei Xiaobao knew he loved horses, hence he did not dare to mention about they sneakily feed the horses with crotons; he said, “That fellow Wu Yingxiong is solely engrossed in escaping, hence he worked these horse to their deaths, he wasted Wang San’ge’s heart and blood. Damn it, this fellow was not raised by humans.”

    Wang Jinbao said, “How can Dutong Daren call Xiaojiang ‘Wang San’ge’? I really do not dare to accept.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Zhang Dage, Zhao Er’ge, Wang San’ge, Sun Sige [first, second, third, and fourth brother, respectively]; I only looked at which one has more grizzled beard, I considered him a bit older.”

    “So that’s how it is,” Wang Jinbao said, “Wu Sangui’s entire family does not have even one good person. If those who serve in the army do not love horses, they won’t have a good fate.” While saying that, he heaved a deep sigh.

    Not even several li later, they saw three more horses fell dead on the roadside. The farther they went, the more they saw dead horses. Zhang Yong suddenly said, “Dutong Daren, Wu Yingxiong’s horses get sick because they ate bad food, they cannot be forced to run. But we must guard against him dismounting and running into the countryside to hide.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Zhang Dage can indeed foresee everything, Xiongdi is full of admiration.” At once he transmitted his order to the Valiant Cavalry Brigade to spread out and outflank the area ahead of them.

    Sure enough, several li later a team of Valiant Cavalry Brigade on the north side cried out joyfully, “We get Wu Yingxiong!”

    Wei Xiaobao and the others were greatly delighted; following their voice, they rushed ahead and saw in the distant several hundred Valiant Cavalry Brigade sergeants forming a circle in the wheat field by the main road. This area had just had rain the previous day, the wheat field was muddy. Wei Xiaobao and the others urged their horses to run toward them. The sergeants were surrounding several men who were covered all over in mud and looked very dirty. The one in front was indeed Wu Yingxiong, only he was wearing marketplace small merchant attire, the graceful and luxurious ‘golden horse jade hall’ appearance was completely gone.

    Wei Xiaobao jumped down from his horse, paid his respect and said, “Prince Consort, are you dressing up to play the opera? His Majesty suddenly carried away by a whim to watch an opera, he instructed Xiaode [little/lowly one, referring to self] to summon you. If you perform in front of His Majesty, I think it is very fitting. Ha ha … You dress as a beggar, isn’t it Mo Ji from the story ‘Precious [orig. gold and jade] Slave Stick Beating Unkind Boyfriend’?”

    Wu Yingxiong was already scared that his entire body trembling; hearing Wei Xiaobao’s ridicule, he did not respond a single word. Wei Xiaobao was very happy and excited; with Wu Yingxiong in his custody he returned to the Capital. By the time they arrived at the Palace, it was already around noon the next day. Kangxi had already received the report brought by the Imperial Bodyguards riding fast horses. He immediately summoned Wei Xiaobao for an audience.

    Wei Xiaobao deliberately did not wipe the mud and dust from his face. When Kangxi saw him, naturally he thought that this man handled this matter loyally, that he had worked hard and rendered extremely great merit. Kangxi reached out and patted Wei Xiaobao’s shoulder, as he laughed and said, “Damn it, Xiao Guizi, what kind of skill do you have? Unexpectedly you succeeded in catching Wu Yingxiong.”

    Wei Xiaobao no longer concealed anything, he told Kangxi about his scheme of poisoning the horses. He laughed and said, “Actually, your servant was only hoping to win his ten thousand taels of silver, teaching him a lesson that he won’t boast, while at the same time your servant will have extra money to be spent, so that after working for Your Majesty, I won’t have to embezzle any money. Who would have thought that Your Majesty’s flood of good fortune fills the heavens; your servant fooled around a little bit, unexpectedly I obstructed Wu Sangui’s sinister plot from prevailing. It is obvious that that old fellow’s rebellion is doomed to failure.”

    Kangxi laughed aloud. He also felt that in the heart of this matter there seemed to be a divine intervention, that his own good fortune was indeed not small. He laughed and said, “I am a blessed Son of Heaven, you are a lucky general. You may go and take a rest.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “That fellow Wu Yingxiong has been handed over to the Imperial Bodyguards; we are waiting for the Holy Sage’s decision on how to discipline him.”

    Kangxi hesitated. “For the time being, we must not say a word or make any movement,” he said, “Put him back in the Prince Consort Mansion. See if Wu Sangui is making any movement. It would be best if he knew that his son has been captured back and I did not kill him, perhaps he would be grateful for this and no longer want to revolt.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Majesty is magnanimous, raw bird fish soup.”

    Kangxi said, “Send a team of Valiant Cavalry Brigade to guard all the doors of the Prince Consort Mansion. Interrogate in details everybody going in and out of the Mansion. Take all horses and mules in his mansion out, don’t let even one animal remains.” For each order he spoke, Wei Xiaobao said ‘yes’ once.

    Kangxi said, “All personnel who render merit this time, make a list and submit it to me, give them reward and promotion as appropriate. Even the head stable hand who fed crotons to the horses, promote him to be a petty official. Ha ha …”

    Wei Xiaobao kneeled down to express his gratitude; he mentioned Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, Wang Jinbao and Sun Sike, four people’s names, and also said, “Zhang Yong and the others, three generals, were Yunnan’s high-ranking military officers, but it is clear that they vow loyalty and devotion to Your Majesty, they exerted themselves in the capture of Wu Yingxiong. It can clearly be seen that if Wu Sangui wants to revolt, the generals under his command are bound to surrender one after another.”

    Kangxi said, “Zhang Yong and those two Fujiang do not wish to be associated with traitors, that is very good. Zhang Yong was originally Gansu’s Tidu, most likely the other two Fujiang are not Wu Sangui’s former subordinates.”

    “Your Majesty is an enlightened sage,” Wei Xiaobao said.

    Leaving the Palace, Wei Xiaobao personally escorted Wu Yingxiong back to the Prince Consort Mansion. “Fuma Ye [emperor’s son-in-law], only after I spoke not a few words of praise on your behalf in front of His Majesty that you can preserve your head. Next time you run away again, I cannot guarantee even my own head.”

    Wu Yingxiong repeatedly expressed his thanks, but in his heart he did not stop cursing. On how dozens of good horses fell dead one after another on the road, to such an extent as he failed within sight of success, he could never figure it out.

    Several days later, an imperial decree was issued, commending Wei Xiaobao, Zhang Yong, and the others for their effort, and promoting all of them one level up. Kangxi did not wish to make this matter widely known, to avoid inciting Wu Sangui to rise in rebellion. For this reason, the citation in the imperial edict was obscure, it only said that these people had worked efficiently.

    Because of Wu Yingxiong’s attempted escape, Kangxi deduced that Wu Sangui’s rebellion was imminent. But because Wu Yingxiong was captured back, he hoped it would instill fear in Wu Sangui’s heart, perhaps it would slow down the rebellion plan somewhat. These days Kangxi was ‘moving the army and sending the general’, he manufactured cannon and purchased horses; he was very busy. It’s just that the treasury coffer was rather limited. Supposing the three border defense rose up in rebellion together, plus Taiwan, Mongolia and Tibet, three places, so that he had to deal with six armies at the same time, the military expenditure would be spent like running water. Managing the money was indeed not easy; if he could delay for one day, he would have one more day to raise soldier’s pay and prepare the provisions.

    Kangxi thought that luckily Wei Xiaobao managed to break the Divine Dragon Island, and win the Luocha Country over. Divine Dragon Island was inconsequential, but Luocha Country was a real threat. This person was without learning or skills, yet he had tremendous luck; thereupon Kangxi issued an imperial edict, sending him to Yangzhou to build the Martyr Shrine, with a secret mission to detour south to Henan, to destroy the Mount Wangwu’s Situ Bolei’s gang of bandits, hence eliminating any ‘calamity within their bosom’. Wei Xiaobao presented a memorial, requesting Zhang Yong and the others, four generals to be allocated under his command. Kangxi promptly granted his request.

    One day Wei Xiaobao, accompanied by Zhang Yong and the others, four generals, was ready to leave. Suddenly Shi Lang, Huang Fu, as well as Tian Di Hui’s Xu Tianchuan, Feng Jizhong, and the others arrived. As they see each other, they all were very happy. Turned out when Wei Xiaobao fell into Cult Leader Hong’s ‘beautiful woman trap’ and was captured, it was not that Shi Lang and the others did not dare to come back, rather, every day they sailed the battleships to look for him in every island, with the hope that they were able to save him. Xu Tianchuan and the others even separated themselves to look for him in Liaodong, Zhili, and Shandong, three provinces’ coastal area. It was not until they received Wei Xiaobao’s news, which he sent from the Capital that they finally returned to the Capital to see him.

  10. #290
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    Default Chapter 38 - Part 6

    Naturally Wei Xiaobao did not want to talk about the shameful way he was captured; he simply babbling nonsense a little bit to conceal his fault. Shi Lang and the others did not believe him, but nobody dared to ask too much question. Wei Xiaobao went back to present another memorial to the Emperor, reporting Shi Lang and the others’ merit; hence everybody was duly rewarded. Xu Tianchuan and the other Tian Di Hui brothers did not receive Qing Court’s officer’s salary, hence Wei Xiaobao did not even mention their names. They all had a big feast in Beijing for a day, the next day they all left together.

    One day they arrived at the foot of Mount Wangwu. Wei Xiaobao quietly informed the Tian Di Hui brothers about his mission to exterminate Situ Bolei. Everybody was shocked. Li Lishi said, “Wei Xiangzhu, we must not do that. Situ Bolei’s aspiration is to restore the Ming, he is one great hero and a warrior. If we destroy Mount Wangwu, that means we are working for the Tatars.”

    “So that’s how it is,” Wei Xiaobao said, “When I saw Ol’ Situ’s disciples, I noticed that they have the lofty quality of a hero. But I receive the imperial decree to destroy Mount Wangwu; this is a difficult thing to do.”

    Priest Xuanzhen said, “Wei Xiangzhu’s official position in the imperial court is getting higher and higher, I am afraid it is a bit inappropriate. In my opinion, we join hands with Situ Bolei, and rise in rebellion.”

    Qi Qingbiao shook his head and said, “Our first step is to borrow the Tatars’ hand to deal with that big traitor Wu Sangui. If Wei Xiangzhu rebel at this time, there is a possibility the Tatar Emperor would ally himself with Wu Sanhui instead, and then we will ruin the enterprise for the sake of one basketful.”

    Wei Xiaobao did not want to rebel against Kangxi to begin with, as soon as he heard this, he hastily said, “Right, right! We must get rid of Wu Sangui first before we do anything else; this is the number one important matter. Situ Bolei only has several hundred people on Mount Wangwu, this is a trivial matter, we must not save a little only to lose a lot.”

    “The matter at hand,” Xu Tianchuan said, “Is how to dodge the Tatar Emperor’s order and explain to him. Besides, the Tatar Emperor has a heart to build Martyr Shrine for Shi Gebu in Yangzhou; in this matter, we must not spoil his plan.”

    Shi Kefa’s utter devotion, his death for the country, none of the heroes and warriors of the world did not respect greatly. Hearing Xu Tianchuan, the Tian Di Hui warriors nodded their agreement. As for how to explain to the Emperor, nobody had better skill than Wei Xiaobao, thereupon everybody turned their eyes to him, waiting for him to come up with an idea.

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Since we must not strike Wangwu Mountain, we can send a letter to Situ Laoxiong, asking the old brother to keep away.”

    They all deliberated for half a day, yet in the end they all thought that this stratagem was the most feasible. Wei Xiaobao recalled when he threw the dice betting on their lives that day, Wangwu Pai had a melon seed faced little Miss Zeng Rou, with big round eyes, and was very graceful and lovely. He thought, “I do not have any friendship with the Ol’ Situ; if I want to do a favor, I might as well do it for Miss Zeng.”

    Right this moment, Zhang Yong and Zhao Liangdong separately sent their people to report: they had Wangwu Mountain surrounded, all access to and from the mountain had been blocked. Turned out as soon as Wei Xiaobao entered Henan province’s border, he quietly informed Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, and the others, four generals, about the imperial edict to encircle and annihilate Mount Wangwu. Without a word or movement, the four generals separately let their troops to guard all access and strategic locations at the foot of Mount Wangwu; they were only waiting for the order to attack the mountain.

    After the four generals followed Wei Xiaobao, only by capturing Wu Yingxiong, such an easy assignment, they all enjoyed promotion; hence they were very grateful, they hoped that this time they could strive to render meritorious service. They dug pits around the access roads everywhere, and covered the pits with horse-tripping ropes. Archers, hooks, scythes and spears guarded four sides and eight directions. The plan was to capture everybody from the mountain alive, not to let even one person escape. All four generals thought, “More than five thousand officers and soldiers attacking about a thousand bandits on the mountain, if we win, what’s so special about it? Only if we manage not to let even one person escape from the net will we be considered as rendering a tiny merit.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “Capturing Situ Bolei and those bunch of old heads cannot be considered great merit; Tian Di Hui Xiongdi also greatly disapprove. The heroes of Jianghu attach most importance to yi qi, I simply must not offend my friends.”

    While he was busy thinking about how to send letter to Zeng Rou and set Wangwu Pai master and disciples free, suddenly he heard sound of drums from the east side, and numerous sergeants shouting and yelling, followed by a sentry came in to report that some people were rushing and killing down the mountain. Wei Xiaobao thought, “In all three armed forces, I must not issue the order to let anybody go; we can only capture them alive and talk later, then I can slowly think of a way to set them free.” He ordered, “Capture all of them alive, not a single one can be killed or injured.” His personal guards went out to transmit the order. Wei Xiaobao added, “Especially the women, they must not be harmed even more.” With a glance he saw Xu Tianchuan, Qian Laoben and the others’ expression, and could not help but blushing a little. He said in his heart, “Don’t worry, this time it won’t be like Shen Long Island, where I fell into ‘beautiful woman trap’ and was captured.”

    Leading the Tian Di Hui warriors, he went toward the mountain road on the eastern end to observe the battle, he saw halfway up the mountain a hundred or so men rushing down. The officers and men had received their commander-in-chief’s order, they did not dare to release any arrow, they only rushed upward to stop. They heard the shouts repeated continuously as the people rushing down fell into the trap one by one, and were captured by the soldiers wielding hooks, scythes and spears. Wei Xiaobao wanted to see if Zeng Rou had been captured, but the distant was too far, he could not see clearly.

    Suddenly they saw someone leaping as if he was flying from one tree to the other, going down the mountain. The officers and men rushed forward to block, the man was extremely vigorous and nimble, unexpectedly nobody could stop him. Priest Xuanzhen sighed in admiration, “Good skill!”

    The man gradually came near, in just several dozen more zhang he would have reached the foot of the mountain. Qian Laoben said, “This man’s martial art skill is this superb, could he be Situ Bolei?”

    Xu Tianchuan said, “Other than Old Hero Situ, I am afraid other people would not have this kind of …” Before he could finish, Sun Sike suddenly called out, “That man looks like Wu Sangui’s guard.” While they were speaking, the man had dashed several zhang nearer. “Capture him first, talk later!” Wei Xiaobao shouted.

    The Tian Di Hui warriors rushed to encircle the man. The man brandished a steel saber; with each wave of his saber, he hacked down a sergeant. Sun Sike stuck out his long spear to meet him; after he saw clearly the man’s face, he called out, “Ba Langxing, what are you doing in here?”

    This man was precisely Wu Sangui’s trusted aide, Ba Langxing. He replied in loud voice, “I am under Ping Xi Wang’s order to remove evil from the imperial court, to kill this rebel thief Situ Bolei. Why are you hindering me?”

    When Xu Tianchuan and the others heard this, they were greatly shocked; they saw hanging on his waist was a bloody, badly mutilated head, but they were not sure if it belonged to Situ Bolei or not. They swarmed around to surround him. Sun Sike said, “Wei Dutong is here, lay down your weapon and go up to pay your respect, let’s hear what Dutong Daren has to say in dealing with the offender.”

    “Alright!” Ba Langxing said. Putting the saber back into the scabbard, he strode toward Wei Xiaobao and said in a loud voice, “I pay my respect to Dutong Daren.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “You are here …” Ba Langxing suddenly leaped with two outstretched claws toward Wei Xiaobao’s face and pit of his stomach.

    “Aiyo! Mother!” Wei Xiaobao cried out, turned around and ran away.

    Ba Langxing’s martial art skill was highly perfected and strong; he sneered and reached out to grab the clothes on Wei Xiaobao’s back with his left hand, while with right hand he grabbed the top of Wei Xiaobao’s head. Suddenly he felt a kick aimed at his right flank, a powerful and extremely fast kick. Ba Langxing leaned sideways to evade, the attacker followed up by a head-on palm strike; it was Feng Jizhong.

    Ba Langxing raised his palm to parry, his body swayed, suddenly he felt his lower back tightened, Xu Tianchuan grasped him. Qian Laoben stretched out his finger to jab the pit of his stomach, Ba Langxing grunted. Feng Jizhong’s left leg swept across, Ba Langxing could not stand his ground, he fell down to the ground. Qian Laoben pressed him firmly down, Wei Xiaobao’s personal guards came over to tie him up and pushed him in front of Wei Xiaobao.

    Ba Langxing loudly said, “Ping Xi Wang’s great army will arrive any day, at that time all of you will die without burial site, quickly surrender now.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Ping Xi Wang has dispatched his troops into battle? I did not know that. Is he, Senior, well?”

    Seeing his genial manner, momentarily Ba Langxing was unclear of Wei Xiaobao’s intention. “Imperial Envoy Minister,” he said, “You have been to Kunming, Ping Xi Wang also have a very high regard of you. You are an intelligent person, why do you want to be Tatars’ servant? It would be better for you to pledge allegiance to Ping Xi Wang as soon as you can.”

    Xu Tianchuan kicked his buttocks and shouted, “That big traitor Wu Sangui is mean and shameless, and you become his servant, you are even more shameless.” Ba Langxing was very angry, he turned his head around and spat toward Xu Tianchuan. Xu Tianchuan sidestepped, the spittle hit a personal guard’s face.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Ba Laoxiong, you want to say something, say it nicely, no need to get angry. You want me to pledge my allegiance to Ping Xi Wang, that is not a bad advice. You came to Mount Wangwu, for what purpose?”

    Ba Langxing said, “It’s not a big deal to let you know; in any case I have already killed Situ Bolei.” While saying that, he cast a glance toward the severed head hanging on his waist.

    “Why did Ping Xi Wang want to kill him?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Ba Langxing replied, “You can go see Ping Xi Wang with me, the Senior will definitely tell you.”

    Xu Tianchuan and the others were greatly angry; they raised their fists to beat him. Wei Xiaobao signaled them with his eyes to stop, he ordered his personal guards to drag Ba Langxing into his tent to be interrogated. Who would have thought that this man was extremely obstinate, and was very loyal to Wu Sangui; he merely urged Wei Xiaobao to surrender, but unwilling to reveal anything else even for half a word. When he was searched, they found a document stamped with vermillion seal. Wei Xiaobao ordered his men to read it for him. Turned out it was a fake imperial order written by Wu Sangui, bestowing Situ Bolei the title ‘Kai Guo Jiang Jun’ [general who found a state]. When asked about the origin of this document, Ba Langxing only glowered at him without saying anything.

    Realizing he would not find anything from Ba Langxing, Wei Xiaobao ordered his men to detain him. He had the other people who were captured flogged and interrogated. Some could not endure the torture and spilled everything. Turned out these days Wu Sangui was about to deploy his troops in rebellion, he sent his trusted aide Ba Langxing, leading a small team of soldiers, to go see his former subordinate Situ Bolei, wanting him to respond to the uprising. Wu Sangui told Ba Langxing that if Situ Bolei accepted the order, nothing can’t be better, but if he did not, he was to be killed to guard against him leaking the conspiracy.

    When Situ Bolei heard about the uprising to ‘fight the Qing’, he was greatly delighted, and immediately promised to join the righteous uprising; however, when he asked about the particulars, he learned that Wu Sangui did not have ‘restoring the Ming’ in mind; rather, he wanted to be the Emperor. Hence the title ‘Kai Guo Jiang Jun’ could not be clearer. Situ Bolei was unwilling to accept the fake imperial order, he told Ba Langxing to return and inform Wu Sangui that if he pledge his allegiance to Ming Emperor’s later generations, Situ Bolei would definitely march at the front and would not balk at ten thousand deaths. But Wu Sangui murdered King Gui in the past, and now he wanted to be the Emperor, the world’s loyal-to-the-Ming-Dynasty patriots would never submit to him.

    Ba Langxing persuaded him several times, Situ Bolei slapped the table and rained curses on him, telling him that Wu Sangui forfeited Han people’s rivers and mountains, he committed ten thousand evils and was beyond any pardon. If he was willing to reform and start afresh, he might still be able to atone his crimes by meritorious acts, otherwise Situ Bolei was ready to feed on his flesh and sleep in his skin.

    Ba Langxing did not say anything else, that evening he caught Situ Bolei off-guard and killed him, cut his head, and led his troops escape down the mountain. Because Wangwu Pai disciples were unaware, it was too late for them to pursue. As luck had it, the officers and men happened to surround the mountain right that moment, hence Wu Sangui’s troops fell into the trap and were captured. Ba Langxing’s sudden attack to Wei Xiaobao was with the intention of capturing the commander and used him as a hostage so that they could escape.

    After finding all the details, Wei Xiaobao convened Tian Di Hui warriors in private discussion. Li Lishi said, “Wei Xiangzhu, Old Hero Situ was a person of loyalty and righteousness [orig. ‘loyal liver righteous guts’], it was unfortunate that he lost his life in a crafty scoundrel’s hand. It’s only right for us to give him a proper burial.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “I have an idea.” And then he explained what he had in mind. Everybody clapped and praised his idea was good. Thereupon they went their separate way to make preparation.

    That day not all of the officers and men attacked the mountain. As for Wangwu Pai people, because their leader was killed, they were thrown into confusion, they only guarded the mouth to their mountain strictly.

    Early in the morning the next day, Wei Xiaobao led the Tian Di Hui warriors plus a team of Valiant Cavalry Brigade officers and men, bringing everything they had prepared, halfway up the mountain, where he ordered the officers and men to stay and guard, waiting for his order. He himself and Xu Tianchuan and the others, along with several of his personal guards, continued up the mountain. After walking for several li, they saw a dozen or so Wangwu Pai disciples with weapons in their hands blocking their way.

    Xu Tianchuan stepped forward, alone, holding a white visiting card with both hands. The visiting cards had these words written on it: ‘Junior [orig. later generation] Wei Xiaobao, accompanied by Li Lishi, Qi Qingbiao, Priest Xuanzhen, Feng Jizhong, Fan Gang, Qian Laoben, Gao Yanchao and the others, solemnly come to deliver Old Hero Situ’s coffin and offer sacrifice.’

    The Wangwu Pai disciples saw that the incoming people did not seem to carry any animosity, behind them there were some people carrying a coffin, and they also brought incense stick and candles, ritual paper money and other things; the disciples were greatly baffled. “Gentlemen, please wait, Zaixia will go up to report,” they said. Immediately one of them dashed up the mountain; while the rest of them still guarded the mountain road strictly. Wei Xiaobao and the others withdrew several dozen steps and sat on mountain rocks to rest.

    Not too long afterwards, from up the mountain several dozen people walked down; the leader was Situ He, whom they had met in the past. He was Situ Bolei’s son; as the leader of the mountain passed away, he was to be in charge of Wangwu Pai’s affairs. Wei Xiaobao’s eyes, however, were looking at the people behind him; he saw a young, slender woman, wearing white flower on her head, which was precisely Zheng Rou. He could not help but was delighted.

    In a loud and clear voice Situ He said, “Gentlemen have come to our humble place, I wonder for what purpose?” While saying that, he had his hand pressed on the hilt of the sword hanging on his waist.

    Qian Laoben stepped forward with cupped fist and said, “Our superior Lord Wei learned that Old Hero Situ was unfortunate and was harmed by crafty scoundrel; he is deeply grieved, hence he leads Zaixia and the others to deliver the Old Hero’s coffin and offer sacrifice.”

    Situ He looked at Wei Xiaobao from the distance and said, “He is a Tatar Imperial Court official, he leads imperial officers and men to surround the mountain, he is definitely harboring malicious intentions. You are planning evil schemes, we are not going to fall into your trick.”

    Qian Laoben said, “May I ask, who is the assassin murdering Old Hero Situ?”

    Gnashing his teeth, Situ He said, “He is Wu Sangui’s warrior, Ba Langxing, plus his subordinates, a bunch of evil thieves.”

    Qian Laoben nodded and said, “Situ Shaoxia [young hero] does not believe our superior’s good intention, this is not surprising at all. Let us present the sacrificial offering first.” Turning his head around, he called out, “Bring it up!”

    Two personal guards dragged a man slowly up the mountain. This man’s hands and feet were shackled, his head was covered in black cloth. Wangwu Pai disciples were greatly baffled; they wondered what kind of trick the other side was playing. When the man reached Qian Laoben, the personal guard held back the iron chain to stop him from walking further.

    Qian Laoben said, “Situ Shaoxia, please look!” Reaching out, he pulled the black cloth covering the man’s head; they saw the man had furrowed brows and blazing eyes, he was none other than Ba Langxing.

    As soon as Wangwu Pai disciples saw him, they shouted angrily, “That’s the treacherous bandit! Quickly kill him!” A series of ringing sound was heard as every one drew their weapons out, ready to chop Ba Langxing into pieces.

    Situ He raised his hands to block in front of everybody. “Wait a moment!” he said. Cupping his fist toward Qian Laoben he asked, “Sire has caught the crafty scoundrel, I wonder how you are going to handle him.”

  11. #291
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 38 - Part 7

    Qian Laoben said, “My superior highly esteemed Old Hero Situ; that day he also had predestined affinity to meet Situ Shaoxia. Today we apprehended this crafty scoundrel who committed the violent crime, along with the numerous evil thieves that he brought, we want to have everything hacked to pieces in front of Old Hero Situ’s coffin, to console the Old Hero’s spirit in Heaven.”

    Situ He was surprised, thinking that how could there be such good deed in the world? He turned to look at Ba Langxing, in his heart he was half believing, half doubting, thinking, “Tatars are crafty; there must be an evil scheme behind this.”

    Ba Langxing suddenly opened his mouth in curses, “F*ck your granny, you look at laozi’s bird, that old fellow of yours was killed by laozi …”

    Qian Laoben’s right palm slapped on his back, his left foot flew and kicked his buttocks. Ba Langxing’s hands and feet were shackled, he could not dodge, his body tumbled forward, he was thrown toward Situ He, and was unable to crawl back up.

    Qian Laoben said, “This is my superior’s small gift; Sire may handle this crafty scoundrel any way you wish.” Turning his head around, he called out, “Bring them all up.”

    A team of personal guards dragged a hundred or more prisoners who had their hands and feet shackled, and their heads covered in black cloth. When the black cloths were removed, their faces were exposed; they were precisely Ba Langxing’s men. Qian Laoben said, “Situ Shaoxia may take them all away.”

    Things had come this far, Situ He’s suspicion vanished. Turning toward Wei Xiaobao, he bowed from a distant and said, “Honored Sir’s great kindness, my humble Sect’s gratitude is inexplicable.” In his heart he mused, “He extended this kind of great friendship to us, I wonder what he wants from us. Could it be that he wants us to surrender to the Tatars? That is absolutely impossible.”

    Wei Xiaobao quickly stepped forward to return the propriety; he said, “That day I threw the dice with Situ Xiong, Miss Zeng; I have always remembered that. I only hoped that some day we could play again.” Pointing to the coffin behind him, he said, “Old Hero Situ’s remains is in that coffin, please take it up the mountain, put it together with his body and give him a proper burial.”

    Situ Bolei was decapitated, his severed head was brought down the mountain by Ba Langxing, none of Wangwu Pai numerous disciples was not extremely grieved. Situ He was still afraid they were being tricked; he walked over to the coffin, and saw the coffin lid had not been nailed down. When he uncovered it, he indeed saw his father’s severed head inside; he could not help but was overcome with grief, he kneeled down on the ground and cried loudly. When the rest of the disciples saw him like that, they also kneeled down and wept in sorrow.

    Situ He stood up, he ordered four of his martial brothers to take the coffin up the mountain. He said to Wei Xiaobao, “Would Honored Sir visit my deceased father’s spirit tablet to burn an incense stick?”

    Wei Xiaobao replied, “We ought to kowtow in front of the Old Hero’s spirit tablet.” He ordered his personal guards to wait at the mouth of the mountain, and only brought Shuang’er and Tian Di Hui brothers to follow Situ He going up the mountain.

    Wei Xiaobao walked over to Zeng Rou and said in a low voice, “Miss Zeng, how are you?”

    The tears on Zeng Rou’s face had not dried yet, she cried so much that her eyes were red; she looked even more adorable and pitiful. She lifted up her head and with sobs and sniffles she said, “You … you are General … Huacha … Huacha?”

    Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted. “You remember my name?” he said.

    “Um,” Zeng Rou mumbled while lowering her head; her face blushed slightly.

    Seeing her blushing, Wei Xiaobao’s heart was shaken, “Why is she blushing when she saw me? When a man is all smiles, it’s not a good thing; when a woman’s face is blushing, she is thinking about a husband. Could it be that she is thinking of me as her husband? I wonder if the dice I gave her is still here.” In a low voice he asked, “Miss Zeng, last time I gave you something, do you still have it?”

    Zeng Rou blushed again and looked the other way. “What thing?” she asked, “I forget.”

    Wei Xiaobao was quite disappointed; he sighed. Zeng Rou turned her head back and smiled gently; she said in a low voice, “Departing Ten!” [See Chapter 22]

    Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted; he could not stop the itch in his heart, which was difficult to scratch. He said in a low voice, “Mine was a Departing Ten, yours was a Supreme!”

    Zeng Rou no longer paid him any attention; she quickened her steps and walked by Situ He’s side.

    All four sides of Wangwu Mountain appeared like they were cut, the shape was like the top of a royal carriage; hence it got the name ‘Wang Wu’ [king’s room]. The peak was called ‘Temple of Heaven’; on the east there was ‘vibrant sun peak’, on the west there was ‘lunar corona peak’. The party followed Situ He to the Wang Mu Dong [queen mother cave] on the north side of Temple of Heaven. Along the way the pines were dark blue, the cypress bluish-green, the mountain scenery was beautiful and secluded.

    Mount Wangwu was mentioned in literature as ‘Clear and Void Little Paradise[1]’. Among the thirty-six paradises under the heavens, it ranked number one. According to legend, it was the place the Yellow Emperor prepared as the dwelling place of Queen Mother. Wangwu Pai people lived in Wang Mu Cave and other caves nearby, where it was warm in the winter and cool in the summer, better than regular buildings. Situ Bolei’s memorial tablet was located inside the Wang Mu Cave. The disciples stitched the severed head together with the body and put him inside the coffin.

    Wei Xiaobao led the Tian Di Hui brothers lighting the incense sticks and offered sacrifice in front of the spirit tablet. He kneeled down and kowtowed, thinking, “If I want to flatter Miss Zeng, I must act grieved, the more sorrowful the better.”

    Pretending to cry was actually the trick he was an expert at. He recalled to mind the tragic suffering several times the old wh0re beat him up in the Palace, and then the dangerous situation when the Cult Leader Hong caught him, the repeated bad luck he had to suffer from Fang Yi cheated on him time and again, the helplessness he felt because Ah Ke loved Zheng Keshuang; he was overwhelmed with grieve, and burst into tears.

    At first his crying was somewhat strained, yet as soon as he started to cry, it is only logical that the more he cried, the sadder he was. “Old Hero Situ,” he cried loudly, “For a long time Junior has heard that you are a loyal minister, a patriot, a great hero and warrior. In those days I saw your honorable son’s swordsmanship, I was even more convinced that your martial art was superb. I was hoping that I could do obeisance to you and be your disciple or grand-disciple; learning several moves of your martial art would be enough to feel proud and elated in the Jianghu. Who would have thought that you, Senior, was actually harmed by crafty scoundrel. Boo hoo … boo hoo … It really makes people exceedingly broken-hearted.”

    Situ He, Zheng Rou and the others were already inconsolably heart-broken; listening to his crying, the cries of grief inside the Wang Mu Cave shook the heavens, the anguished wailing moved the earth. Xu Tianchuan, Qian Laoben, and the others originally did not want to cry, yet they were touched by the people’s mournful cry, and could not help but shedding some tears.

    Wei Xiaobao beat his breast and stamped his feet, while continuously crying loudly; it was not until the Wangwu Pai disciples repeatedly consoled him instead that he finally held back his tears. He asked for Ba Langxing to be brought out; fetching a steel saber he handed it over to Situ He and said, “Situ Shaoxia, kill this treacherous bandit, avenge your esteemed father.”

    With one chop of the saber Situ He severed Ba Langxing’s head and put it on the sacrificial table. Wangwu Pai disciples bowed down together to Wei Xiaobao to thank his great kindness. Actually, Wei Xiaobao was young, he would not think about the strategy of ‘buying people’s hearts’; he learned it from the opera ‘Wolong [i.e. Zhuge Liang] Condolence Visit’. After Zhou Yu was angered to his death by Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Liang himself came to Chaisangkou[2] to offer sacrifice, and cried with utmost grief on his knees, causing the various generals of Eastern Wu to have deep feeling toward him. Fortunately the Zhuge Liang in the opera recited a rather long memorial, his poetic oration was too elegant, so that Wei Xiaobao did not understand a single sentence; otherwise he would have copied the opera by reciting muddled memorial on Mount Wangwu, and thus would immediately expose the fox’s tail.

    As such, naturally Wangwu Pai people were deeply grateful to him, to say nothing of when the other day after Wei Xiaobao captured Situ He and the others, he set them free and presented them silver as a gift, hence he had sold great friendship toward these people. However, he was a noble official of the Qing court, hence all along the people were quite baffled with his actions.

    Qian Laoben then pulled Situ He aside, and explained that he and his companions were actually brothers of the Green Wood Hall of Tian Di Hui. Only he did not reveal Wei Xiaobao’s real status as he acted as an official of the imperial court, for fear that as soon as it leaked, their great endeavor might be spoiled. Qian Laoben only gave vague explanation that Wei Xiaobao had strong yi qi, that he ‘lived in Cao camp, but his heart was in Han camp’, that all the brethren regarded him as a good friend.

    When Situ He heard this, he was enlightened at once; he repeatedly expressed his gratitude. This time he spoke most sincerely; completely different compared to a while ago, when misgivings in his heart had not yet explained.

    They also discussed Wangwu Pai’s future. Situ He said that since their Sect had just suffered great mourning, plus there were officers and men surrounding the mountain, they had not really thought about this matter. Qian Laoben tried to attract their interest a little bit, by saying that in Jianghu, Tian Di Hui’s prestige was extremely resounding, that they were the present day leader of the fighting the Qing restoring the Ming movement, which Wangwu Pai had always respected and admired, plus they had a common goal.

    When Situ He heard this, he was greatly delighted; straight away he discussed with the elders and all brothers of the Sect, and they all approved. Immediately he spoke to Qian Laoben, requesting to join the alliance. It was then that Qian Laoben explained clearly that Wei Xiaobao was actually the Xiangzhu of their Green Wood Hall.

    In the afternoon of that very same day, Tian Di Hui’s Green Wood Hall held a general assembly in Wang Mu Cave to admit Wangwu Pai brothers into their Society. They all bowed in respect to their Xiangzhu, and became Wei Xiaobao’s subordinates. Wei Xiaobao was very happy; after drinking the ‘forming of an alliance’ wine, he wanted to have a gambling session with the old and new brothers. Li Lishi, Qian Laoben and the others promptly advised him against gambling, saying that if they were gambling in high spirits, unavoidably it would be too disrespectful to Situ Bolei who had just passed away.

    Wei Xiaobao was somewhat disappointed; he then asked how would they deal with the aftermath of this Wangwu Pai affair. Li Lishi said, “Wangwu Mountain is located on the common boundary of Shanxi and Henan, two provinces; they are outside our Green Wood Hall’s jurisdiction. According to our Society’s rule, there is no harm in accepting brothers into our Society across the border, but each Hall’s brothers cannot overstep the boundary in handling our matters. It would be best if Situ Xiongdi and the others move away to Zhili province and establish your residence there.”

    Qian Laoben said, “Tatar Emperor sends Wei Xiangzhu to attack Wangwu Mountain, Situ Xiongdi and the others cannot stay on Wangwu Mountain anymore, Wei Xiangzhu most likely has to report to his superior.”

    “Exactly,” Situ He said, “Xiaodi [little brother, referring to self] will respectfully follow all Dage’s instruction.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Situ Dage, right now we are heading to Yangzhou to build a Martyr Shrine for Shi Gebu. After this memorial hall is completed, everybody will go to fight Wu Sangui.”

    Situ He stood up and said loudly, “Wei Xiangzhu is going to attack Wu Sangui, subordinate wishes to be in the vanguard, leading my martial brothers and sisters to fight that wicked thief Wu Sangui to the death, to take revenge and wipe out a grudge for my deceased father.”

    Wei Xiaobao delightedly said, “Nothing can be better than that. In that case gentlemen may come with me to Yangzhou. It’s just that you must disguise yourselves as Tatar officers and men; I am afraid you will feel slightly wronged.”

    Situ He said, “In order to fight Wu Sangui, we are willing to endure greater grievance. Wei Xiangzhu becomes Tatar officer, we will also become Tatar soldiers. Besides, don’t Li Dage, Xu Dage, and the others also disguise yourselves as Tatar soldiers?”

    That evening they buried Situ Bolei, and then packed their belongings to go down the mountain. The men with martial art skills would come with Wei Xiaobao to Yangzhou. The old, the weak, women and children would go to Baoding [prefecture, Hebei] and picked a place where they would settle down. In that area there were small branches of Tian Di Hui’s Green Wood Hall, hence they would be well taken care of.

    Wei Xiaobao talked to Zhang Yong and the others, he explained that when the Wangwu Mountain bandits saw that they were surrounded by large army, they knew that they could not escape. After a bit of enlightenment, everybody agreed to surrender. He had already offered amnesty and enlisted the rebels as soldiers, incorporating them into their troops.

    Zhang Yong and the others immediately congratulated him; they said that without any blood on the men’s blade Dutong [commander] had pacified Wangwu Mountain fierce bandits, hence he had set up great merit. Wei Xiaobao said, “This is the Four Generals’ merit; if you did not encircle the mountain so that the bandits were unable to escape even in they grew wings, they would not have agreed to surrender. Later Xiongdi will report to the Imperial Court, there will be reward and promotion for everybody.”

    The four generals were greatly delighted; they knew that Ming Zhu, the Ministry of War’s Shangshu, would do everything he could to fawn on him. As long as it was Commander Wei who reported the merit, the Ministry of War would definitely give it preferential treatment.

    At first Wei Xiaobao was worried that Zeng Rou would follow Wangwu Pai’s women and children to go to Baoding to settle there. He was thinking of assigning her to come with him to Yangzhou, but felt it was rather inappropriate. When he saw her putting on men’s clothing, ready to march with Situ He and her martial brothers, the delight in his heart was unspeakable.

    All through the journey, he was always looking for an opportunity to have an intimate time with her, but Zeng Rou was always following her martial brothers closely. Each time she saw him, she only smiled shyly without saying anything. Wei Xiaobao wanted to say something intimate to her, but all along he did not have the opportunity to do so; inevitably his heart was unbearably itching. If as the Qing army’s commander-in-chief he wanted to use his official authority for private interests, he could simply transfer her into his personal guards brigade; however, in the capacity of a Tian Di Hui Xiangzhu, he knew that taking liberties with a woman, especially the woman of their Society, was a strict prohibition. Plus it would be unsightly in the eyes of the numerous brothers. Therefore, all he could do was swallowing his own saliva while waiting for a good opportunity.


    [1] Paradise here refers to ‘the dwelling place of Buddhist Immortals’.

    [2] Not sure if this is a place’s name. Chai – firewood, Sang – mulberry tree, Kou – mouth/entrance.

  12. #292
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 1

    Chapter 39 - Men seeking pleasure selectively, young men leaving floating footprints like duckweed.
    (Translated by Foxs)


    LuDingJi-39.jpg

    Suddenly WeiXiaobao’s braid tightened, followed by a sharp pain on his throat; someone pulled his braid and lifted it up, the person’s left hand fingers were wrapped around his neck. With a ‘smile, yet not a smile’ look on her face; she sternly said in low voice, “Little demon, you have the nerve to amuse yourself even with me!”

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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 2

    Along the journey, government officials welcomed them and delivered bribe in abundant. Naturally Wei Xiaobao refused nobody; the farther they travelled south, his luggage became heavier and heavier. To his Tian Di Hui brothers he explained that they were corrupting Tatars’ government; the more bribes they received, the more the common people would grumble, hence the reputation of the government officials everywhere would be damaged. When the time came to rise in rebellion, it would be easier to succeed. Xu Tianchuan and the others believed he was right.

    One day they arrived in Yangzhou. The Zongdu [governor-general] of the Two Rivers[1] Ma Leiji, the Xunfu [inspector-general/provincial governor] of Jiangning Ma You and his subordinates: provincial administrative commissioner, surveillance commissioner, provincial educational officer, Huai River road construction, supply line, river control work managers, Yangzhou prefectural magistrate, Jiangdu County head magistrate, as well as military officers of all levels, had already received the news; they all were waiting several li outside the city.

    The imperial envoy field office was setup at the Huai River Taotai [lit. raised circuit, or ancient official title; circuit intendant?] Yamen. Wei Xiaobao thought that the place was too constraining; he only stayed for one night, and the next day he requested to be moved to different place. He felt that the best place for the imperial envoy field office would be his old home, the Lovely Spring Courtyard, since he was bestowed honor by the Emperor himself, it would be fitting to come back to his former residence in silken robes. But he could not find any justification to have the imperial envoy field office in a brothel. Thinking about his past in Yangzhou, his most cherished desire, other than opening several big brothels, was to pull all the Chinese peony flowers in the Chinese Peony Garden in front of the Chanzhi [Dhyana/Zen wisdom] Temple from their roots.

    Yangzhou’s Chinese Peonies were claimed to be the most famous in the world, the Chinese Peony Garden in front of the Chanzhi Temple was especially grand; the different variety in the garden numbered in hundreds or thousands, the flowers were as big as rice bowls. When Wei Xiaobao was around ten years old, he, along with a group of street urchins, went out to play there. Seeing the beautiful blooming peonies, he picked two flowers to play. The monk of the Temple saw him, snatched the flower back, and slapped him twice on his ears. Wei Xiaobao kicked and bit; he created quite a ruckus with the monk, and was able to push the big and fat monk to the ground, and kicked him several times. The rest of the urchins roared and swarmed into the garden, randomly pulling the Chinese peonies.

    The monk cried out for help, a bunch of monks and kitchen helpers rushed out from the Temple with clubs in their hands, to chase the urchins away. Because Wei Xiaobao was the chief offender, he suffered quite a bit of beating with the clubs, his head grew a big lump. When he returned to the Lovely Spring Courtyard, his mother punished him by not giving him any supper that night. Although eventually he managed to go to the kitchen and stole some food until he was full, but the ‘Chanzhi Temple Picking Flower Disgrace’ was deeply etched in his heart. The next day he returned to the Temple to rain curses from a distant; he cursed the monks, from ‘Tathagata Buddha’s mama’ all the way to cursing the monks’ daughters. He swore, “There will come a day when laozi will pull out all the Chinese peonies in front of this Temple clean, will tread on your stinky temple to level it to the ground, will dig hole in it as latrine pit.” He cursed until the monks of the Temple chased him away, and then he ran away as fast as he could.

    Many years later, he had already forgotten about this matter. It was not until that day he returned to Yangzhou and was looking for a place to setup his field office did he remember Chanzhi Temple; immediately he told the Huai River Taotai about his intention. The Taotai thought, “Chanzhi Temple is a well-known Buddhist place, a thousand-year old ancient temple. If the imperial envoy stays there, I am afraid he would disturb the peace and stir up confusion.” Thereupon he said, “Reporting to Daren: the scenery in the Chanzhi Temple is indeed magnificent, Daren has a superb idea, lowly officer admires it exceedingly. However, I am afraid it won’t be too convenient to have non-vegetarian food and wine in the Temple.”

    “What’s not convenient?” Wei Xiaobao asked, “Just move the Bodhisattva inside the Temple out; problem solved.”

    Hearing that he wanted the Bodhisattva to be moved, the Taotai was even more scared; he thought that it would invite misfortune. If the common people inside Yangzhou’s city wall were angered, they would be very difficult to handle. Therefore, with a force laugh he bowed with cupped fist and said in a low voice, “Reporting to Daren: Yangzhou’s prostitutes are famous throughout the world. Along the way Daren has toiled to render great merits, now that you have arrived at my humble place, lowly officer ought to serve you with all my heart; I have already selected not a few good-looking girls who are adept at strumming the lute and singing songs, ready to be inspected by Daren. The monks’ temple has hard bed and stiff backless stool, I am afraid it will spoil the fun very much.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought what he said actually made a lot of sense; he laughed and said, “In your opinion, where should we set the field office?”

    The Taotai said, “Among the salt merchants of Yangzhou, there is one surnamed He, his home is called the He Garden, it is considered the most famous garden in Yangzhou. He has a mind to curry favor with Imperial Envoy Minister, and has already prepared proper invitation card, with the hope that Daren would honor him with your presence. It’s just that his scholarly honor (in imperial exams) is too low, he did not dare to speak out. If Daren does not look down on him, there is no harm in you taking the trouble to visit and take a look.”

    This salt merchant surnamed He was very rich and powerful; when he was a kid, Wei Xiaobao often walked by the high wall outside his house. He heard the sound of string and wind instruments from the inside, and was very envious; however, he had never had any opportunity to look inside. Thereupon he said, “Very well, I’ll stay there for several days; if it is not enjoyable, we’ll move again. There are a lot of salt merchants in Yangzhou; we can stay from one house to the next. Even if we eat there, we won’t make them poor.”

    The He Garden’s rooms were connected like clouds, there were serene rocky small streams winding around the garden, the pavilions were elegant, the construction was exquisite; with just a glance one could tell that each foot of land had cost not a few gold and silver. Wei Xiaobao was very satisfied; he ordered his personal guards to also stay in the garden. Zhang Yong and the others, four generals, as well as the troops under their command were spread around neighboring government officials’ private residences.

    By this time Yangzhou was flourishing, it was considered one of the most bustling cities in the world. During the Tang Dynasty, there was a saying about Yangzhou: ‘ten li of pearl curtain, twenty-four romantic bridges’. At the beginning of Qing Dynasty, it had become the collection and distribution center Huai River salt, thus it became even more prosperous. According to historical records, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were a total of more than 375,000 ‘ding’ (men sixteen years old and older). During the Ming-Qing transition, Yangzhou suffered Qing troops’ massacre, by Shunzhi’s third year, there were only 9,320 ‘ding’ remained, but by Kangxi’s sixth year, the number increased again to more than 397,900 ‘ding’. Not only the vitality was completely restored, it even surpassed its former glory.

    Early morning the next day, all government officials, big and small, within Yangzhou’s city wall appeared at the Imperial Envoy Field Headquarters to pay their respect. Wei Xiaobao received them, and then he read aloud the Imperial Edict. He did not know any character in Kangxi’s imperial edict, hence earlier he asked the secretary to read it and he memorized it. This time he recited character by character; his memory was quite good, he did not make any mistake. In his haste he only held the imperial edict carelessly, but nobody detected anything.

    When the numerous officials heard that the Emperor issued an edict to exempt Yangzhou’s residents in every county three years of land tax, plus compensation to the orphans and widows of the victims of disaster during the founding of the country, and construction of Martyr Shrine for the loyal minister Shi Kefa, none did not shout ‘long live’, and kowtowed to thank the vast and mighty imperial kindness.

    Finished announcing the imperial decree, Wei Xiaobao said, “Gentlemen, Daren, when Xiongdi left the Capital, His Majesty instructed me that Jiangsu province’s output is prosperous, but for the past few years, the government is somewhat relaxed, troops preparation is also not in order; Xiongdi was ordered to investigate and reorganize properly. His Majesty cherished Yangzhou’s common people so much, as government officials, we ought to spare no effort to repay the Holy Sage’s grace.”

    All the civil and military officials voiced their agreement, but they could not help being secretly anxious. Actually, these words were taught by Songgotu. Wei Xiaobao knew that to receive a lot of bribes, first, have the opposite party asking for a favor; second, have the opposite party somewhat afraid. For this reason, he threatened Jiangsu’s civil and military officials a bit; he must flaunt his authority, but the threat must be neither too light nor too heavy, it must be just right, yet must be discreet and completely delivered in government official lingo. He would not be able to do this if Songgotu did not coach him.

    With the bureaucratic protocol completed, he had the local official selecting the location for the Martyr Shrine, and also drawing up a plan to get the victims’ names registered. He sent people to the four townships to announce the edict about Emperor’s benevolence in exempting the people from land tax. All these businesses were not something that could be done in one morning one evening; while waiting, he lived comfortably in a golden nest in Yangzhou. For the next several days, the governor-general and inspector-general prepared banquet for him, the administrative commissioner and chief of police prepared banquet for him, various departments’ officials prepared banquet for him. In every banquet room, delicacies were spread out, it was extremely extravagant, no expense was spared.

    Every day Wei Xiaobao was thinking of going to the Lovely Spring Courtyard to visit his mother, but the exchange of toasts never stopped, from the beginning it was never convenient for him to do so. Imperial Envoy high-ranking official’s mother worked as a prostitute in Yangzhou, this matter must never be exposed. The disgrace and loss of face was a minor matter, but the loss of imperial court’s dignity was a major issue. Much less Wei Xiaobao had been a high-ranking official for quite a long time, all along he did not fetch his mother to live a happy and prosperous life with him in the Capital, instead he allowed her to be reduced to prostitution; it was a greatly unfilial thing. If this matter was ever found out by the imperial censor, even the Emperor would find it difficult to protect him.

    He was thinking that as soon as things had settled down, he would quietly put on a disguise and go to the Lovely Spring Courtyard to take a look, and then he would have his personal guard escorted his mother to settle down in Beijing. He thought that it would be best if the gods did not know and the ghosts did not detect.

    At first he had always had a plan to escape [orig. ‘anoint oil at the bottom of his feet’], as soon as he saw something amiss, he would immediately ‘spur the horse to full speed’, and escape without a trace. Unexpectedly his official position was getting higher and higher, the longer he was in office, the happier he was. By the time he actually had a thought to fetch his mother back to the Capital, he had already been in office for too long.

    Several days later, it was Yangzhou’s prefectural magistrate Wu Zhirong’s turn to invite him to a banquet and wash the dust from the Imperial Envoy’s feet. Wu Zhirong had heard from the Taotai that the Imperial Envoy has had a thought to make Chanzhi Temple his field office. He thought that the Chanzhi Temple’s best feature was merely the Chinese peony garden in front of the Temple, the Imperial Envoy set his heart on the Temple, it must be because he appreciate the flowers’ beauty. He was very good at flattery, hence several days ahead of the banquet, he had a flower canopy built at the bank of the Chinese peony garden. He had artisans built it, the pine frame still had its bark intact, the branches and leaves remained on the trunk, inside the canopy the table and chairs were made of natural trees and rocks, the floor inside the canopy was covered with shrubs and grass, they used bamboo pieces to channel water to create streams around the canopy, complete with its gurgling noise, the details were extremely well-thought, it was as if the banquet was held on the mountain and fields, compared to rich people home’s engraved beams and jade-brick hall, it had different feeling and local flavor.

    Who would have thought that Wei Xiaobao was an unbearably uncouth person, who did not have even half an elegant bone in his entire body; when he arrived at the flower canopy, the first question he asked was, “How can there be an arbor here? Ah right, it must be the Temple monks built it for their Buddhist ceremony; they are going to set it on fire, and put some food in here to feed the hungry ghosts.”

    Wu Zhirong’s meticulous effort was totally in vain; he could not help but looking very awkward. He still thought that the Imperial Envoy was intentionally ridiculing him; with no other choice he let out a forced laugh and said, “Lowly officer’s knowledge and experience is shallow and crude, I failed to make arrangement that satisfies Daren’s taste; indeed I deserve to die.”

    Seeing that the other guests had already stood respectfully to wait for his arrival, Wei Xiaobao greeted them and then took a seat. After socializing with Wei Xiaobao for several days, the governor-general of the Two Rivers had already returned to Jiangning to do his duty. The inspector-general of Jiangsu province and administrative commissioner had their administrative offices in Suzhou, but they all stayed in Yangzhou to accompany the Imperial Envoy. As for the rest of the guests, if not famous scholar, then they must be salt merchants with scholarly honor in imperial exam, or have some official position in Yangzhou.

    Yangzhou’s banquet was very elegant and very rich in variety. Just the pre-banquet tea, fruits and delicacy were already more than a dozen varieties. Although Wei Xiaobao was born and raised locally, he could not know everything. After drinking a round of tea, the sun was gradually tilting to the west, the sun illuminated the several thousand Chinese peony outside the canopy, like glorious and magnificent luster of gems, just like brocade clothes. But the more Wei Xiaobao looked at it, the angrier he got, thinking about the grudge of the past, when he was beaten and humiliated by the monks of the Temple. Right then and there he was thinking of having all the Chinese peony pulled and burned, but he must have a legitimate pretext to do that.

    While he was mulling over this, the Inspector-General Ma You said with a laugh, “Wei Daren, listening to Daren’s accent, it seems that you have lived in Huai Yang region before. Huai Yang’s water and soil is rich, thus it produces talented persons, as well as good flowers.”

    The rest of the officials only knew that the Imperial Envoy was a Yellow Banner Manchu, the last several days the Inspector-General heard him speaking, he could detect Yangzhou accent in his speech, thereupon he seized this opportunity to flatter him a little bit.

    Wei Xiaobao was thinking about the hateful monks of Chanzhi Temple. “Yangzhou’s monks are no good,” he blurted out.

    The Inspector-General was startled, he was not sure what Wei Xiaobao was referring to. The administrative commissioner Mu Tianyan was a very perceptive, as well as highly educated; he interrupted, “Wei Daren’s observation is very true. Yangzhou monks selfishly concerned with gaining advantages for themselves, they fawn on local authorities, humiliate the poor; they were just like that since ancient times.”

    Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted; he laughed and said, “That’s right. Mu Daren is a scholar, you knew that it was written in the books.”

    Mu Tianyan said, “Isn’t the story of ‘Jade Green Muslin Covering’ by Wang Bo of the Tang Dynasty set in Yangzhou?”

    Wei Xiaobao just loved to hear stories; he hastily asked, “What is the story of ‘yellow cloth [huang bu] versus sandy dragon’ [bi sha long, same pronunciation, different characters from ‘Jade Green Muslin Covering’]?”

    “The story happened in Yangzhou’s Shita [stone pagoda] Temple,” Mu Tianyan said, “During the early Qian years of the Tang Dynasty, the Shita Temple was called Mulan [lily magnolia] Courtyard. When the poet Wang Bo was young, his family was poor …”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “Turns out this person was called Wang Bo, not a piece of yellow cloth.” He heard Mu Tianyan continued, “… he lived away from home in Mulan Courtyard. The monks in the temple rang a bell to signal meal times, when Wang Bo heard the bell, he went to the dining hall to eat. The monks disliked him, there was one time when everybody ate first, and rang the bell after they all finished eating. Wang Bo heard the bell, he went to the dining hall, but saw that the monks had already dispersed, the food had already been eaten clean …”

    Wei Xiaobao slapped the table and angrily said, “Damn monks are so repulsive.”

    “That’s right,” Mu Tianyan said, “Just a meal, how much does it cost? At that time Wang Bo was very ashamed, he inscribed a poem on the wall, ‘Attending a lesson from west to east, ashamed returning to black after-meal bell.’”

    “What kind of fellow was this ‘Hui Li’ [return black]?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    [1] The Viceroy of Liangjiang (两江总督), fully referred to as the Governor General of the two Yangtze Provinces and surrounding areas, overseeing military affairs, food production; Manager of waterways; Director of Civil Affairs, was one of eight regional viceroys in China proper during the Qing Dynasty of China. The Viceroy of Liangjiang had jurisdiction over the provinces of Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Anhui. Because Jiangsu and Anhui were once the combined province of Jiangnan (South of the Yangtze), the province was known, along with Jiangxi (west of the Yangtze) as the two rivers (jiang), hence the name ‘Liangjiang’. Chinese historians often rank the Viceroy of Zhili as the most honorable and powerful, and the Viceroy of Liangjiang as the richest of the eight (Courtesy of Ace High).

  14. #294
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 3

    The numerous officials had been in contact with him these past few days, they knew that the Imperial Envoy was not a scholar; in fact, a lot of famous, rich and honorable banner men did not come from academic field, hence nobody thought it strange. Mu Tianyan said, “Hui Li means monk.”

    Wei Xiaobao nodded. “So they are the bald thieves,” he said, “And then what happened?”

    Mu Tianyan said, “And then Wang Bo became a high-ranking official, the imperial court sent him to guard Yangzhou, and he returned to Mulan Courtyard. Naturally those monks were fawning on him. He went to see if the poem he inscribed on the wall was still there or not, but he saw a piece of expensive jade green muslin pasted on the wall, covering the two lines of poem he wrote, in order to avoid it being damaged. Wang Bo was deeply moved, he added two more lines after the original poem, ‘Thirty years ago dust covered the surface, only now it is covered with jade green muslin.’”

    “Surely he arrested those bald thieves and had them flogged?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Mu Tianyan said, “Wang Bo was an elegant scholar, he thought that the two lines of poem already ridiculed them, hence he let it pass.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “If it were me, how could I give up that easily? But if I had to write a poem, I don’t have that kind of skill. Laozi can only defecate, cannot write a poem.”

    After the story, the tea was removed and the wine was poured. Wei Xiaobao looked around. He caught Wang Jinbao on separate table was pouring a cup of wine into his mouth; the way he drink was very straightforward. Wei Xiaobao had an idea, “General Wang,” he said, “You told me once that the war-horses that eat Chinese peony are especially full of power and grandeur, didn’t you?” While he spoke, he winked at him.

    Wang Jinbao did not understand his intention, “This …” he stammered.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “His Majesty selects and uses famous species of good horses: Mongolian horses, Western Region horses, Sichuan horses, Yunnan horses, what have you. His Majesty instructed us to raise those horses carefully, didn’t he?”

    Wang Jinbao knew about Kangxi accumulated war horses with diligent care. “Daren is right,” he said.

    “You are well acquainted with horses’ character,” Wei Xiaobao continued, “When we were in Beijing, you said that if war-horses are fed Chinese peony, their running speed will double. His Majesty loves horses like this, we as his servants should uphold the Holy Sage’s intention. If we dig the Chinese peony in this place and send it to the Capital, so that the Ministry of War’s carriage manager can feed the horse. When His Majesty finds out, his dragon countenance will surely be very pleased.”

    When the people heard this, their countenance looked extremely strange; Chinese peony flowers can strengthen the horse? It was the first time that they heard about it. Looking at Wang Jinbao, they noticed his expression was ambiguous, apparently he disagreed, but did not dare to object blatantly. Yet Wei Xiaobao kept saying His Majesty this and His Majesty that, he was ‘lifting high the Emperor’s hat’; who would dare to show the slightest objection? They all could see that these several thousand famous varieties of Chinese peony would be destroyed in his hands. Henceforth Yangzhou would lose one scenic spot. But why did this Wei Daren hate these Chinese peonies so much? Everybody looked at each other in dismay, nobody could say anything.

    Prefectural magistrate Wu Zhirong said, “Wei Daren’s scholarly knowledge is profound, indeed worthy of other people’s admiration. This Chinese peony’s root is called Scarlet Peony. The Compendium of Medical Herbs[1] mentions that its function is to reduce internal blood clot and improve blood circulation. The name Chinese peony [shaoyao] itself has the character ‘yao’ [medicine] in it; apparently the people of old recognized its good medicinal character. When the horse eats Chinese peony, its blood vessels unimpeded, naturally it can run like flying. When Daren returns to the Capital, lowly officer will have all the Chinese peony flowers here dug out and have Daren carry it back to the Capital.”

    When the other officials heard this, in their hearts they all scolded Wu Zhirong as despicable and shameless, in order to curry favor with a superior officer, he was willing to go as far as destroying Yangzhou’s beautiful scenery. Wei Xiaobao clapped his hands and said, “Wu Daren is capable and experienced. Very good, very good.”

    Wu Zhirong felt much honored; he hastily stood up to bow and said, “Thank you for Daren’s compliment.”

    The administrative commissioner Mu Tianyan walked out of the canopy toward a cluster of Chinese peonies. He picked a big Chinese peony, as big as a rice bowl, and returned to the table; with both hands he presented the flower to Wei Xiaobao and said with a laugh, “Would Daren please stick this flower on your hat? Lowly officer has a story for Daren to hear.”

    Hearing that he was about to listen to another story, Wei Xiaobao received the flower; he saw that the Chinese peony’s petals were dark red, with a yellow line running right in the middle of each petal, it was indeed a tender and beautiful flower, hence he inserted it onto his hat.

    Mu Tianyan said, “Congratulations Daren, this Chinese peony has a name; it is called the ‘Gold Band All Around’. It is a very rare variety, there is a writing in the ancient books that whoever can see this ‘Gold Band All Around’, in the future he could be the Prime Minister.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “How can there be such thing?”

    Mu Tianyan said, “The story originated during the Northern Song Dynasty. In those days Han Weigong [Duke of Wei], Han Qi, was guarding Yangzhou. In the Chinese peony garden, right here, in front of the Chanzhi Temple, suddenly four big flowers bloomed on one Chinese peony tree, the petals were dark red, with gold thread right in the middle; it was precisely this ‘Gold Band All Around’. This kind of Chinese peony had never been seen before, it was extremely rare. His subordinates promptly reported this, Han Weigong graced the garden with his presence to enjoy the scenery; he was very happy. Seeing there were four flowers, he thought about inviting three guests to enjoy the flowers together.”

    Wei Xiaobao took down his hat to look at the flower again; indeed the red and yellow produced stark contrast, it was exceptionally marvelous. The lines of golden stripes may not be found in a hundred flowers.

    Mu Tianyan said, “At that time there were two well-known persons in Yangzhou, one was Wang Gui, the other Wang Anshi[2]; both were people of talent and learning, of knowledge and experience. Han Weigong thought, there were four flowers, but only three people; unavoidably ‘everything is fine except for one small defect’. If he were to invite other person, their prestige may not fit the other three. While he was hesitating, suddenly someone came to pay respect to him; it was Chen Shengzhi. He was also a famous scholar. Han Weigong was greatly delighted; the next day he held a big feast in front of the Chinese peony garden. He had the four ‘Gold Band All Around’ flowers picked and inserted into each man’s hat. This story is called ‘The Feast of Four Prime Ministers with flowers on their hats’. These four men later on became Prime Ministers.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Interesting. These four honorable friends were all famous intellectual, people who could write poem and write essays. Xiongdi cannot be compared to them.”

    “That is not necessarily so,” Mu Tianyan replied, “During the Northern Song Dynasty, only intellectuals can become Prime Ministers. Our Great Qing conquered the world on horseback. The ones esteemed the most by His Majesty are brave and cunning heroes and warriors.” Hearing the comment ‘brave and cunning heroes and warriors’, nine characters [you yong you mou de ying xiong hao han], Wei Xiaobao could not help but was very happy. He nodded his head repeatedly.

    Mu Tianyan continued, “Han Weigong was conferred the title Duke of Wei Country, it goes without saying. Wang Anshi was bestowed the title Duke of Jing Country, Wang Gui was made Duke of Qi Country, and Chen Shengzhi became Duke of Xiu Country. Not only these four famous feudal officials became Prime Ministers, they were all bestowed the title ‘Country Duke’; not only each one had riches and honor, they also had long life. Wei Daren attained much in your youth, right now you are bestowed the title Bojue [Earl/Count], if you are promoted one more level, you will be Houjue [Marquis]; one more level and you will become Gongjue [Duke]. Even Wang [King] or Qinwang [Prince (royalty)] is just a matter of time.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed aloud and said, “If only it will be according to Mu Daren’s golden mouth, then everybody here will also be promoted and gain wealth.”

    All the officials rose and held the wine cups with both hands; they said, “Congratulations to Wei Daren for your upcoming promotions, Gong and Hou for ten thousand generations.”

    Wei Xiaobao also stood up and drank the toast together with the numerous officials; he thought, “This official is both scholarly and eloquent, he can tell stories and attract people’s attention. If I call him to Beijing to work for me, I can frequently listen to his stories, won’t it be better than listening to the storytellers? By nature this man is a big king of flattery, he was given the name Mu Tianyan [lit. admiring heaven’s countenance]; clearly he always wanted to have an audience with the Emperor.”

    Mu Tianyan continued, “Afterwards Han Weigong led the troops to guard the western border. Seeing him, Western Xia people were scared to death, they did not dare to send any troops to disturb the border. At that time the Western Xia people feared two Song Dynasty ministers, one was Han Weigong, Han Qi; the other was Fan Wenzhenggong[3], Fan Zhongyan. At that time there was a saying, ‘With a Han in the army, western thieves hear it and their hearts tremble; with a Fan in the army, western thieves hear it and were frightened that their guts busted’. In the future Wei Daren will lead the troops to guard the western border, there will be a saying, ‘With a Wei in the army, western thieves see it and hastily kneel down’!”[4]

    Wei Xiaobao loved it very much; he said, “These two characters ‘western thieves’ are very clever. Ping Xi Wang that western …” Suddenly he remembered, “Wu Sangui has not yet risen in rebellion; I cannot call him ‘western thief’.” Hastily he corrected himself, “Ping Xi Wang is guarding the western border, we have peace and security without any problem; he has rendered very great merit.”

    Wu Zhirong said, “Ping Xi Wang is brave and resourceful, he performs high service through hard work, he was bestowed the title Qinwang, the heir apparent has become the Prince Consort. In the future Wei Daren will have great riches and great honor, will live as long as Mount Nan, definitely you will be no different than Ping Xi Wang.”

    In his heart Wei Xiaobao cursed, “Hot piece mama, you want me to be no different than Wu Sangui that big traitor. This old turtle will have his head removed any day, you want me to be the same as him?”

    Mu Tianyan usually paid closed attention to what’s happening in the imperial court, just a few days ago he saw the imperial bulletin that the Emperor has issued the imperial decree of border defense removal. He immediately foresaw that Wu Sangui would be in deep trouble. Right now, seeing Wei Xiaobao’s countenance slightly changed, his suspicion was confirmed and he understood it clearly. He said, “Wei Daren is promoted by the Emperor himself, he is the trusted aide that the Holy Sage depends on, the pillar of the imperial court, the ridgepole and beams of the nation. Ping Xi Wang, on the other hand, while his official ranking right now is high, in the end he cannot be compared to Wei Daren. Wu Fuzun [prefectural magistrate] comparison is not too correct. Wei Daren’s ancestor was Tang Dynasty’s Zhongwu Wang [lit. loyal martial/military king] Wei Nie; who once destroyed four hundred and eighty thousand foreign troops, whose prestige shook the western frontier. When Zhu Ci rebelled that time, he sent people to invite Wei Zhongwu Wang to send troops into battle together. Zhongwu Wang was loyal to the Emperor and was not double-minded, how could he be willing to do such treason and heresy? Immediately he had the rebel thief’s envoy beheaded, and then he sent his troops to help the imperial court defeat and pacify the rebel thieves, hence he set up great merit. Wei Daren appearance is stately, his good fortune great, incomparable; in all likelihood, he inherits Wei Zhongwu Wang’s good fortune.”

    Wei Xiaobao smiled and nodded. Actually, he did not even know his own surname; it was only because his mother’s name was Wei Chunfang that he went by his mother’s surname. It had never occurred to him that surname Wei had this kind of high-profile persona, this administrative commissioner even said with conviction that he was his own ancestor. It seemed that the administrative commissioner was determined to ‘paste gold onto Wei Xiaobao’s face’. From the tone of his voice, it seemed that he already figured out that Wu Sangui was about to revolt. This man’s ability and wisdom was really amazing.

    Being refuted by him, Wu Zhirong was dissatisfied, but he did not dare to openly contradict his senior; he said, “I heard that Wei Daren is a Plain Yellow Banner man.” His implication was clear: he was a Manchu, how could he have anything to do with Wei Nie of the Tang Dynasty?

    Mu Tianyan laughed and said, “Wu Fuzun only knows one does not know two. The present Holy Sage reigns the world; toward the millions of people all over the world, he treats everyone equally favorably. Manchu and Han are one family, why make any distinction between the two?” This argument was actually rather forcing the logic, but Wu Zhirong did not dare to argue. He thought that if he spoke several more sentences, he might very well offend the Imperial Envoy; hence he repeatedly stated his agreement.

    Mu Tianyan said, “Ping Xi Wang is our Yangzhou’s Gaoyou [county] man, do Wu Fuzun and Ping Xi Wang belong to the same family?”

    Wu Zhirong was really not from Gaoyou, hence he did not have any relationship with Wu Sangui, but at that time Wu Sangui’s power and influence was overpowering, hence he hurriedly borrowed the influence and claimed some honor due to his surname Wu. He said, “According to genealogy, lowly officer is one generation younger than Ping Xi Wang; I should call Wangye my uncle.”

    Mu Tianyan nodded, no longer paid him any attention. He said to Wei Xiaobao, “Wei Daren, although this ‘Gold Band All Around’ Chinese peony is not as rare as it was during the Song Dynasty, yet it is in full bloom like this, it is also exceptionally rare. Today Wei Daren arrived and enjoy the flower when it is in full bloom, this is not a coincidence; it must be the Heaven’s will. Lowly officer has a tiny bit of idea, would Daren listen to me?”

    Laoxiong, please give your advice,” Wei Xiaobao said.

    “Giving Advice, these two characters, how can I dare?” Mu Tianyan said, “The root of the Chinese peony indeed has some medical benefit. Daren wants to use it to feed the horse, if it is further refined by drug store, the effect will be even more powerful. Lowly officer will order my men to procure a large quantity of it, and will have medicine expert in Beijing process it. As for the Chinese peony in this place, to think that they have merit in announcing the good news to Daren, is it possible to leave them behind? When the day come in which Wei Daren takes command to destroy the thieves, and you are bestowed the title Wang [king], just like Han Weigong, Wei Zhongwu Wang, you can come back here to enjoy the flower. At that time I am sure the ‘Gold Band All Around’ will be in full bloom again to welcome the noble; won’t that be a beautiful thing indeed? In lowly officer’s opinion, in the future there will be an opera developed based on this story.”

    Wei Xiaobao was happy and excited, “Are you saying that there will be an actor playing me in the opera?”

    “That’s right,” Mu Tianyan said, “Naturally there will be an elegant, attractive young actor playing the role of Wei Daren. But there will also be actors with white beard, black beard, ‘big flower face’ [referring to lots of makeup], and ‘white nose [cunning/sly person] little clown’ playing us, the officials.” The government officials roared into laughter.

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and asked, “What will this story called?”

    Mu Tianyan turned to the inspector-general Ma You and said, “For that, please Futai [inspector-general (old)] Daren pick a good name.” He noticed that the inspector-general has been very quiet, he thought that they must not give him a cold shoulder.

    Ma You laughed and said, “Wei Daren will be bestowed the title Wang in the future, how about this opera is called ‘Wei Wang inserts the flower on his hat’?” The numerous officials voiced their approval together.

    In his heart Wei Xiaobao was delighted, he no longer desired to haggle over the old grievance of the past. He thought, “Laozi will never be a prime minister, or destroying western thieves. Being a wangye just for fun, perhaps I can, but if I pulled these Chinese peonies, I am afraid I will bring bad omen.” Looking at the flower garden, he saw that there were at least several dozen more of ‘Gold Band All Around’; he thought, “How can there be this many prime ministers? Could it be that all of you will become prime ministers? Futai or Fantai [vassal state governor (old)], there is still hope. This Wu Zhirong has a thief head and dog brain, no matter what he won’t be a prime minister. In the future, the ‘white nose little clown’ must be playing his role.”


    [1] Compiled by Li Shizhen, c. 1596.

    [2] Wang Anshi (1021-1086), Song Dynasty politician and writer, one of the Eight Giants.

    [3] Duke of Wenzheng, ‘wen (culture/literature/gentle) zheng (upright/just)’ being his posthumous title.

    [4] In these three phrases, the word ‘tremble’ (han) rhymes with the surname Han, the word ‘busted guts’ (po dan) rhymes with the surname Fan, and the word ‘knee down’ [xia gui] rhymes with the surname Wei.

  15. #295
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 4

    He was fully aware that this administrative commissioner spoke in a roundabout way, spending a lot of effort planning his speech, his main intention was to save these several thousand Chinese peonies in front of the Chanzhi Temple. This was government official trick that was passed through in front of everybody; it was called ‘flowered sedan chair people lift the people’, since you have lifted me up, I cannot be obstinately clinging to my own way. He could not make these Yangzhou officials lose face. Thereupon he no longer mentioned anything about the Chinese peony. He laughed and said, “In the future, if there is indeed an opera like that, we can’t watch it anyway. Right now, why don’t we listen to songs first?” The numerous officials voiced their approval at once.

    Wu Zhirong had already prepared everything, he issued the order, from outside the canopy they could hear the tinkling noise of girdle ornament, followed by a whiff of perfume. Wei Xiaobao’s spirit was aroused; he thought, “There’s a beauty I can look at.”

    Sure enough, a woman gracefully walked into the flowered canopy, paid her respect to Wei Xiaobao and with a delicate voice she said, “May Imperial Envoy Daren and all Daren have ten thousand good fortune and peace like gold. Xiao Nuzi [little/lowly woman] will serve by singing a song.” The woman was approximately thirty years old, her attire was gorgeous, but her facial features were only average.

    The flute player started to blow the bamboo flute, and she sang. The song she sang was Du Mu’s [(803-852) Tang Dynasty poet] two-stanza Yangzhou poems: “There are faint green mountains and far green waters, And grasses in this river region not yet faded by autumn; And clear in the moon on the Twenty-Four Bridges, Girls white as jade are teaching flute-music[1].” “With my wine-bottle, watching by river and lake, For a lady so tiny as to dance on my palm; I awake, after dreaming ten years in Yangzhou, Known as fickle, even in the Street of Blue Houses.[2]

    The flute was melodious, the singing voice winding amidst the music; it was very pleasant to listen to. But looking at this courtesan, Wei Xiaobao felt rather impatient.

    When the woman finished singing, another courtesan walked in. This woman was around thirty-four or thirty-five years old, her bearing was elegant, her voice was even more trained, she was able to sing the most complicated melody. Her voice remained even while the pitch and rhythm were dynamically rising and falling. The song she was singing was Qin Guan’s poem, ‘Watching The Waves’[3]; “The stars divide the Niu [ox] and Dou [big-dipper] constellations, the horizon borders Huai River and the ocean, Yangzhou’s ten thousand wells raised to prominence. Flowers along the streets emitted its fragrance, at the hawk’s cry the people arise, ten li of Vermillion curtain brought the spring breeze. Hero’s aura like a rainbow, dragging the spring’s gold and purple out, flying pass each other over the canopy. The lane enters hanging down poplar, painting of a bridge running north and south behind the bluish-green smoke.”

    The poem was definitely sung very beautifully, but listening to it, Wei Xiaobao was extremely bored; he could not help but yawning loudly. The ‘Watching The Waves’ was only sung halfway, Wu Zhirong was very perceptive, seeing the Imperial Envoy was not interested, he waved his hands, the courtesan immediately stopped singing, saluted, and withdrew. With a forced laugh Wu Zhirong said, “Wei Daren, these two courtesans are the most well-known in Yangzhou, they were singing about the liveliness of Yangzhou. I wonder what does Daren think?”

    It never occurred to him that for Wei Xiaobao to listen to songs, first, the singer must be young and good-looking, second, the song must be romantic and simple, third, the way she sang it must be flirtatious. That day when Chen Yuanyuan sang about the downfall of the country, she had the gorgeous appearance, plus she added explanation to the verses all the way through before he could finish listening to the ‘Yuanyuan Song’. Right now these two courtesans’ appearance was mediocre, their expression stiff, and he did not have any idea what they were singing about. He was only yawning; it could be considered that he was being extremely polite.

    Hearing Wu Zhirong’s question, he said, “Not bad, not bad, it’s just that they are a bit too old. This kind of aging goods and old stock, Xiongdi does not have much appetite.”

    “Yes, yes,” Wu Zhirong said, “Du Mu was a Tang Dynasty man, Qin Shaoyou was a Song man, indeed they are too old-fashioned. There is one new poem, written by a new poet, called Zha Shenxing; he made his name not too long ago. He was writing about the charm of Yangzhou’s farmer family girl; it’s really fresh, really fresh.” Signaling with his hand, he ordered his attendant to summon another courtesan.

    When Wei Xiaobao talked about ‘aging goods and old stock’, he was referring to the courtesans, but Wu Zhirong thought that the songs and poems were too old-fashioned. Wei Xiaobao did not have the slightest idea about the Du Mu or Qin Shaoyou that he was talking about, he did understand, however, about ‘the charm of Yangzhou’s farmer family girl; it’s really fresh, really fresh’. He thought, “Since it’s about a very fresh Yangzhou’s farmer family girl, there is no harm in taking a look.”

    When the courtesan entered the flowered canopy, it would be alright if Wei Xiaobao did not look at her, but as soon as he looked, he could not stop anger from rising in his breast, malicious intent arose to the edge of his guts, ready to flare up. Turned out this courtesan, perhaps she was not quite fifty yet, but for sure she was way over forty; there were graying hair on her temples, lots of wrinkles on her forehead. Her eyes should be big and round, but they were thin instead, her mouth should be small, but it was huge instead. Seeing this courtesan was holding a pipa, Wei Xiaobao’s anger ablaze; he thought, “Someone like you wants to copy Chen Yuanyuan!”

    Soon the strings were plucked, like the sound of jade or leaping pearls, singing oriole or twittering swallow; it was very pleasant to hear. And then she sang, “Reflection of distant mountain on Huai River so bluish-green, overflowing water on Huai River so clear. Inverted image enters the tower, the entire fence is draped with flower. Who would have guessed that outside the marketplace fence and gate the reed hut is still there? When the woman with light makeup appears, her dark green skirt drags a long tail.”

    Her singing voice was simple yet elegant, each line was accompanied by beautiful segment of pipa melody; sometimes it sounded like gurgling water, other time it sounded like the ringing of silver bells. On the final line ‘her dark green skirt drags a long tail’, the pipa was diminishing into soft ritardando. None of the government officials did not feel ‘their heart untroubled, their spirit pleased’. Some closed their eyes in concentration, some shook and swayed their heads in keeping with the music. When last note of the pipa vanished, the government officials cheered together.

    Mu Tianyan said, “Good poem, good song, good pipa. It is indeed chaste tree branch hairpin and plain cloth skirt does not cover ‘divine fragrance, national grace’ [i.e. outstanding beauty]. It doesn’t matter if it is a poem or a song, natural beauty can be seen from simplicity and elegance. This is a first class skill.”

    “Humph,” Wei Xiaobao snorted; he asked the courtesan, “Do you know the song ‘Eighteen Touches’? Sing it for me.”

    As soon as the government officials heard the request, their countenance turned pale. The courtesan’s countenance changed even more. Suddenly tears streamed down her face; she turned around and ran out. ‘Crash’, the pipa in her hands fell to the ground, the courtesan did not even pick it up, she continued running out.

    Wei Xiaobao laughed heartily and said, “You can’t sing the song, I won’t punish you; why are you so scared?”

    The ‘Eighteen Touches’ was actually an extremely obscene folk song, it was about touching eighteen parts of a woman’s body, each touch was accompanied by a metaphor to describe it. Although all the government officials had heard this song, but in this grand feast of distinguished assembly, who dared to mention it openly? Wouldn’t that be a major disgrace to their reputation as government officials? The courtesan’s pipa playing skill and her singing voice had a long standing reputation in Yangzhou. Not only she was good at singing poems, she was also good at composing poems, her fame spread among the high-ranking court officials. Even Yangzhou’s rich merchants and powerful families could not casually see her. Wei Xiaobao’s request was a major humiliation to her.

    Mu Tianyan said in a low voice, “If Wei Daren loves to hear folk songs, we’ll find someone who can sing, so you can enjoy it.”

    “Even the ‘Eighteen Touches’ she couldn’t sing, this old wh0re is really disappointing,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Next time I’ll take you to Lovely Spring Courtyard at Ming Yu Alley, the prostitutes over there know a lot of folksongs.” As soon as those words came out of his mouth, he immediately felt it was improper; he thought, “No matter what I cannot invite him to Lovely Spring Courtyard. Luckily there are a lot of brothels in Yangzhou; for nine brothels with big names, there are nine brothels with small names. Any courtyard will provide the amusement.” Lifting up the wine cup, he laughed and said, “Let’s drink, let’s drink.”

    When the civil government officers heard his vulgar talks, they all felt embarrassed, they all raised their cups and drank, pretending not to hear anything. The military government officials, however, were delighted; they thought that the Imperial Envoy Minister was somewhat like-minded with them.

    Right this moment, he saw a yamen bailiff walked out of the flowered canopy with lowered head. Wei Xiaobao only saw his back, but his heart was moved, “This man’s back looks very familiar; who is he?” But the bailiff never returned. After a while, Wei Xiaobao forgot all about him.

    After drinking several more cups of wine, Wei Xiaobao felt that socializing with these civil government officials was dull and boring; since there was no opera and no gambling, he was extremely bored. To amuse himself, he sang the ‘Eighteen Touches’ in his heart, “One touch, two touches, touching the end of Jiejie’s [older sister, used in more intimate way] hair.” Unable to endure the boredom anymore, he stood up and said, “Xiongdi has enough wine, I’ll take my leave now.” He bowed with cupped fist toward the inspector-general, the administrative commissioner, the chief police officer, and other high-ranking officials before walking out. All the government officials also arose and send him off, out of the flowered canopy, and waited until he sat on a large sedan chair.

    Wei Xiaobao returned to his field headquarters and told his personal guards that he wanted to rest; any guest, no matter who, must not be allowed to see him. Entering his bedroom, he changed into a set of tattered clothing. Several days ago he ordered Shuang’er to go to the marketplace to buy a set of old clothing. He tore the clothing in several place, trampled it on the ground, and poured some lantern oil on it, so that the clothes were unbearably filthy and greasy. His hat, shoes and socks, even the string tying his braid were all exchanged with shabby, low-quality goods. From the wood burning stove he grabbed a handful of ashes, diluted it with water, and smeared it all over his face, his arms and hands. When he looked in the mirror, his appearance had indeed returned to that of the little servant at the Lovely Spring Courtyard many years ago.

    Shuang’er helped him changed; she laughed and said, “Xianggong, in the opera there is the Imperial Envoy Minister Bao Longtu[4] took a disguise to make private investigation; I wonder if he’d look like you?”

    “More or less,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “But Bao Longtu was born with dark skin, he did not need to rub ashes on his face.”

    “Is it all right if I go with you?” Shuang’er asked, “You are going alone, if something bad happens, no one is going to help you.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “The place that I am going to, a good looking young lady like you must not go.” Finished speaking, he hummed the song, “One touch, two touches, touching the side of my good Shuang’er’s cheek …” Reaching out to her, he stroked her face. Shuang’er blushed and giggled, she stepped away to evade.

    Wei Xiaobao took a big wad of banknotes and stuffed it into his pocket, he also took a bundle of loose money, grabbed Shuang’er, and lightly kissed her face, before he slipped out from the back door.

    The personal guard on guard duty at the back door shouted, “What are you doing?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “I am the He Family’s wet-nurse’s son’s older [male] cousin’s younger sister’s husband. Do you understand the family relationship?” The personal guard was startled; before he was able to figure out the family relationship, Wei Xiaobao had already slipped out of the door.

    None of Yangzhou’s main streets and small alleys he did not know thoroughly, so much so that he would not get lost even if he was blindfolded. Not too long afterwards he had already reached the Ming Yu Alley by the bank of Shouxi Lake; faintly he heard from behind the doors everywhere the sound of pan pipes, drum, string and woodwind instruments, intersperse with the sound of finger-guessing game, of singing, and people shouting ‘Six!’ When these sounds entered his ears, he felt it was ten times better than listening to great immortals’ heavenly music; there was an unspeakable comfort and joy in his heart.

    When he arrived at the Lovely Spring Courtyard, he saw that the gate and the front courtyard were just as before, there was no difference from when he left many years ago. He quietly walked around to the side, pushed open the side door, and slipped in. He tiptoed toward his mother’s room. Peeking inside, he did not see anybody, hence he knew that his mother was accompanying a guest. He mused, “Hot piece mama, I wonder which pest is visiting my Mama this time to be my foster father tonight.”

    Entering the room, he saw the bedclothes was the same as he remembered it, it’s just that it looked a lot more worn-out. He mused, “Mama’s business is not too good, my foster fathers are not too many.” Turning sideways, he saw his own little bed was still standing against the wall. In front of the bed there was his own pair of old shoes. The bedding on the bed had been washed and starched clean. He walked over and sat down on the bed. Seeing his old bamboo-green long gown was folded neatly on the corner of the bed, there was a tinge of regret in his heart, “Ma is waiting for me to come back. Damn it, Laozi is living merrily in Beijing, I did not send anybody to deliver money to Ma. I really don’t have a good heart.” He reclined on the bed, waiting for his mother to come back.

    The rule in the brothel was that if the patron wanted to stay overnight, another fine, clean and big room would be prepared for them. The prostitutes’ own rooms were smaller, and rather simple and crude. Young and beautiful, popular prostitutes would have comparatively better accommodation. Women like Wei Xiaobao’s mother, Wei Chunfang, for example, their age was not young anymore, business was scarce; naturally the brothel proprietress treated them very carelessly, their rooms were made of thin boards.

    Wei Xiaobao lay down for a while. Suddenly he heard someone in the adjacent room was shouting in stern voice, it was the brothel proprietress’ voice, “Laoniang [old lady, referring to self] bought you with white shining silver, you use all kinds of excuses, always refuse to receive patrons. Humph, do you think I bought you to put you in the courtyard to be Bodhisattva Guanyin that we offer sacrifice to, so that we will look good? Beat her; beat her well for me!” Right away there was the sound of whip lashing on flesh, the cry of pain, the weeping, and the cursing noises mixed into one.

    Wei Xiaobao was accustomed to hear this kind of noise since he was little; he knew that the brothel proprietress had just bought a young girl, forced her to receive a patron, and whipped her for a while. It was quite common. If the young woman still refused, pricking her fingernail with needle, branding her skin and flesh, all kinds torture could be used on her one by one. This kind of sound never failed to be absent in the brothels. It’s just that he had left for a long time that this time he heard the noise again, he felt he was reliving past experience. Toward the young girl, however, he did not feel any pity.

    The young girl cried and said, “Just beat me to death; I won’t receive any patron even if I am dead, I’d rather bash my head against the wall and let you see!”

    The brothel proprietress instructed the ‘turtle slave’ to beat her fiercely. After twenty, thirty lashes, the young girl was still crying and shouting that she would not give in. The turtle slave said, “We can’t beat her anymore today, let’s talk it over again tomorrow.”

    The brothel proprietress said, “Drag this little s1ut out.”

    The turtle slave helped the young girl out. A moment later he came back. The brothel proprietress said, “This s1ut is impossibly stubborn, we must use soft technique, give her Mi Chun [lit. confused/lost spring] wine.”

    The turtle slave said, “She won’t drink wine.”

    “Idiot!” the brothel proprietress said, “Put the Mi Chun wine inside the meat. That will do the trick.”

    “Yes, yes,” the turtle slave said, “Qi Jie [seventh (older) sister], you are just amazing!”

    [1] A Message To Han Cho The Yangzhou Magistrate, http://www.shiku.org/xlib/lingshidao/hanshi/dumu.htm

    [2] A Confession, from the same web site.

    [3] Qin Guan (1049-1100), Song Dynasty Poet. I found an English version (Translated by Laijon Liu), but it seems to be a different poem. Perhaps Mr. Liu was translating the essence, while I translate it literally?
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/qin-g...ing-the-waves/


    [4] ‘Bao the Dragon Image’, fictional name used for Bao Zheng (999-1062), Northern Song official renowned for his honesty. Justice Bao stories were based on this character.

  16. #296
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 5

    Wei Xiaobao peeped through a crack on the wooden partition, and saw the brothel proprietress was standing in front of the cupboard; she took out a bottle of wine, and poured a cup, which she then gave to the turtle slave. He heard her saying, “Have Chunfang accompany those two gongzi [young master] drink. The money they bring is indeed not a few. They said they want to stay overnight in the courtyard, waiting for a friend. This kind of young, inexperienced people would not fancy Chunfang, later I will talk to them, to see if they want to ‘comb the covering’ of this s1ut. If we are lucky, I won’t be surprised if we’ll swindle three, four hundred taels from them.”

    The turtle slave laughed and said, “Congratulations Qi Jie on ushering in wealth and prosperity; I will also hold on to your good fortune, that way I will strike my gambling debt in one stroke.”

    The brothel proprietress cursed, “Lowly road kill [orig. lowly embryo, a corpse who died along the road], painstakingly we earn several taels, and you lost it all in thirty-two domino tiles. This is not good, watch out or I’ll cut your turtle tail.”

    Wei Xiaobao knew that Mi Chun wine was a type of drug wine, those who drink it will lose their conscience. All brothels used this kind of drug toward young prostitutes who were unwilling to receive guests. When he was little, he thought this was very mysterious, but now he realized that it was no more than knockout drug mixed into the wine; to him this matter became very ordinary. He thought, “Today my foster fathers are two young gongzi? What kind of fellow are they? I must take a look.”

    He quietly slipped away toward the Sweet Nectar Hall, where they usually received rich merchant or grand guests. He stood on the round stone block outside the hall where he used to stand and peeked inside. In the past, whenever there was a grand guest coming to visit the brothel, he would always stand on this round stone block to peep inside, right here the crack on the window was especially big, when he looked inside, he could get a very clear view. The guests usually sat with their side to the window, hence they never saw any shadow outside the window. He had peeped several hundred times before, and had never bumped into a nail.

    He saw the red candle inside the room was burning hot, his mother’s face was covered in makeups, she wore a pink satin gown, and a red flower on her head; she was pouring wine for the guests with a smile on her face. Wei Xiaobao took a good look at his mother; he thought, “Turns out Ma is already old; she won’t be in this business for long, only blind pest like these two rookies can possibly call her to accompany them drinking. Ma’s folksong is also not too pleasant to hear; if it were me who visited the courtyard, if she were not my Ma, even if I lose twelve-hundred taels I would not have called her.”

    He heard his mother said with a laugh, “When two gongzi drink this cup, I will sing ‘Lovesickness Before Dawn’ tune to accompany you downing your wine.”

    Wei Xiaobao sighed inwardly; he mused, “Ma’s folksongs are very limited; if not ‘Lovesickness Before Dawn’ [orig. thinking of each other at the fifth hour (between 3-5am)], then it must be ‘One Straight Black Bamboo Sprout’, or ‘One Folding Fan Seven Cun Long’, or ‘One Person Fanning Two Persons Cool Down’. She never wanted to learn some more. As a prostitute, she is not diligent.” Suddenly he had a brainwave and almost burst out laughing, “In learning martial art I am not diligent either; turns out my lazy character I inherited from Ma.”

    Suddenly he heard a tender and delicate voice saying, “No need!” As soon as he heard these three words [bu yong le], Wei Xiaobao’s entire body shook, he almost slipped down from the stone block. Slowly he squinted and saw a slender jade-white hand holding a wine cup; his eyes traced the delicate hand through the sleeve and up to the face. He saw the side of a pretty face; who else but Ah Ke? Wei Xiaobao’s heart leaped in joy, the surprise and delight in his heart was hard to suppress. “How could Ah Ke be in Yangzhou?” he mused, “How could she come to the Lovely Spring Courtyard and called my Ma to accompany her drinking? She’s a woman dressed as a man and did not call anybody else but only my Ma, she must be eager to see me. Turns out in the end she still has conscience, she remembered that I am her husband who has bowed to the heaven and the earth with her. Aha! Wonderful, wonderful! You and I, husband and wife are having reunion, today we can have wedding festivities [orig. bridal room and ornamented candles], I will wrap my arms around you …”

    Suddenly he heard a male voice, “Right now Wu Xiandi [worthy brother surnamed Wu] is not drinking anything, but when those Mongolian friends arrived …” Wei Xiaobao’s ears were buzzing; immediately he knew things were far from good. Before his eyes the sky spun and the earth went around, for a moment his eyes were blurry; he closed his eyes and calmed himself. When he opened his eyes and looked at the young master who was sitting by Ah Ke, he saw who else but Taiwan’s Er Gongzi [second young master] Zheng Keshuang?

    Wei Xiaobao’s mother Wei Chunfang said with a laugh, “Since Xiao Xianggong [little/younger ‘young master’] does not drink, Da Xianggong [big/older ‘young master’] must drink one more cup.” While pouring a cup of wine for Zheng Keshuang, her butts sat on Zheng Keshuang’s lap.

    “Hey,” Ah Ke said, “Show some respect.”

    Wei Chunfang laughed and said, “Aiyo, Xiao Xianggong’s face is too tender, you cannot bear to see this kind of teasing. After this you should come here every day to have fun, I am afraid you will not like it if people do not flirt with you enough. Xiao Xianggong, let me get a young miss to accompany you, what do you say?”

    “No, no, don’t!” Ah Ke busily said, “You sit nicely on the side!”

    Wei Chunfang laughed and said, “Ah, you are jealous! You blame me for accompanying Da Xianggong and not you.” She stood up, and sat on Ah Ke’s lap.

    When Wei Xiaobao saw that, he was irritated, but amused at the same time. He thought, “Unexpectedly there is such thing in the world, my wife came to patronize [‘visit a prostitute’] my Mama.”

    He saw Ah Ke stretched out her hand to push. Wei Chunfang could not stand, she spun and fell on her buttocks. Wei Xiaobao was enraged; he thought, “Little wh0re, you pushed your mother-in-law; so lacking in manners!”

    But Wei Chunfang was not angry, with a giggle she stood up and said, “Xiao Xianggong is afraid of disgrace; how about you come and sit on my lap?”

    Ah Ke angrily said, “Not good!” [A bit of explanation: when asking ‘is it alright?’, Chinese use the phrase ‘hao bu hao?’ (good or not good)] She turned to Zheng Keshuang and said, “I want to leave! We can meet people any place, but why did you insist on this place?”

    Zheng Keshuang said, “We have agreed to meet here; we won’t leave until we meet. I did not know that this is actually a dirty place. Hey, I want you to sit properly.” The last sentence was directed toward Wei Chunfang.

    The more Wei Xiaobao thought, the angrier he got; he mused, “That day in Guangxi by the River Liujiang, you pleaded laozi to spare your dog life, you swore a heavy oath that you would not speak to my wife even for one word. Today, in spite of everything, you came together to patronize my Mama. Patronizing my Mama is still alright, but you have spoken I don’t know how many thousand words, tens of thousand words. That day I did not cut your tongue, it was really laozi’s biggest blunder.”

    Wei Chunfang was in high spirit, she reached out to wrap her arm around Zheng Keshuang’s neck. Zheng Keshuang pushed her arm away and said, “Wait for us outside. The two of us brothers have something we need to discuss, don’t come in before I call you.”

    Wei Chunfang had no choice but to leave the room. Zheng Keshuang lowered his voice, “Ke Mei [younger sister, term of endearment], small disturbance must not harm big scheme, if we want to accomplish big thing, we have to endure small inconvenience.”

    Ah Ke said, “That Prince Galdan is not a good person, why would he want us to meet him here?”

    Hearing the words ‘Prince Galdan’, Wei Xiaobao mused, “That Mongolian scoundrel is also coming; marvelous, marvelous. Most likely they are going to discuss rebellion plan. Laozi can move an army and send a general to catch them in one net.”

    He heard Zheng Keshuang said, “These days Yangzhou’s security is so tight. If the guests to the inns and hotels are not frequent visitors, the yamen and local military troops would ask endless questions. If we reveal the least bit of our background, it would not be good at all. This brothel does not have any officers coming to harass us, it is much safer for us to stay here. You and I are still alright, but Prince Galdan and his party, a group of Mongolians’ appearance will be too conspicuous. Besides, with your appearance like an immortal, if we stayed in an inn, all Yangzhou’s men would want to come to see you. Sooner or later something bad will happen.”

    Ah Ke let out some soft giggles, “You don’t need to be oily-mouthed and smooth talker to fawn on me.”

    Zheng Keshuang stretched out his arm around her shoulder, and landed a light kiss on the corner of her mouth. He said with a laugh, “When was I ever be oily-mouthed and smooth talker? If there was any immortal as beautiful as you, those Lu Chunyang, Iron Crutch Li, and the others would not want to descend to the world, all deities would stay in Heaven, unable to take their eyes off my little treasure.”

    “Pfft,” Ah Ke stifled her laughter, and lowered her head. Wei Xiaobao’s rage shot to the heavens, he could not endure it anymore; his hand reached his dagger, he was ready to charge inside. Immediately he had a second thought, “This fellow’s martial art skill is stronger than mine. Ah Ke will definitely help him. If I rush in, this adulterous couple will surely murder her own husband. In the world, people can be anything, except big wanderer without martial art skill.” Thereupon he struggled to suppress his anger, and had no choice but to close his eyes so that he would not see the intimacy of those two people.

    He heard Ah Ke said, “Gege [big brother, term of endearment], actually …” As soon as she said this word, ‘Gege’, Wei Xiaobao’s heart was filled with bitterness and anger. “Damn it,” he mused, “No sense of shame at all; you even call him ‘Gege’.”

    He did not hear the rest of Ah Ke’s words, but he heard Zheng Keshuang said, “He is in the open, while we are in the dark. Galdan’s warriors are really formidable; leave it to me, this time we will definitely stab several open holes on his body.”

    “That fellow really bullies intolerably,” Ah Ke said, “If this hatred is not avenged, all my life I won’t be happy. Did you know that I originally did not want to acknowledge my father? It was simply because he promised that he would send eight martial art experts to accompany me dealing with this matter that I finally agreed to acknowledge him.”

    Wei Xiaobao said in his heart, “Who offended you? If you want revenge, you can simply tell your husband. Nothing is impossible, you did not need to acknowledge Wu Sangui, that big traitor as your father.”

    Zheng Keshuang said, “It’s really not difficult to stab him dead, it’s just that the Tatars officers and men are taking strict precautions. After assassinating him, to withdraw and escape alive is not too easy. We have to think an entirely different strategy before we make our move.”

    Ah Ke said, “Father promised to send people to kill him was not entirely for my sake. He wants to deploy his troops to attack the Tatars, and this man is a major roadblock. He instructed me that I should never let Ma know, I suspect he has his own selfish reason.”

    “Have you told your Ma?” Zheng Keshuang asked.

    Ah Ke shook her head, “I have not,” she said, “In this kind of matter, the more secretive the better. You never know, Ma might say something to stop me. If I did not obey her, that won’t be good. I might as well not say anything to her.”

    Wei Xiaobao wondered, “Who is it that she wants to assassinate? Why is this person a roadblock to Wu Sangui’s plan of deploying his troops?”

    He heard Zheng Keshuang said, “These days I am watching his coming and going, the security is indeed very tight, it is very difficult to come near him. I gave it a lot of thought, this fellow is a lecher, someone disguised as a courtesan might be able to get very close to him.”

    “A lecher?” Wei Xiaobao wondered in his heart, “Is he talking about Futai [inspector-general]? Or Fantai [vassal state governor]?”

    “Only if Shijie and I disguise ourselves,” Ah Ke said, “But I don’t want to disguise myself as that kind of lowly woman.”

    “Or we attempt to bribe the cook,” Zheng Keshuang said, “Put some poison in his wine.”

    Ah Ke hatefully said, “Killing him by poison, my anger cannot be vented. I want to chop his hands, to cut his tongue that always talks nonsense to me! That little demon, I … I hate him!”

    As soon as the three words ‘that little demon’ entered his ears, Wei Xiaobao’s head spun. Instantly he understood; he said repeatedly in his heart, “Turns out you want to kill your own husband.” Although he knew that Ah Ke wholeheartedly leaned toward Zheng Keshuang, he had never imagined that she hated him that much. “When did I ever offend you?” he wondered in his heart.

    This doubt was instantly answered, as he heard Zheng Keshuang said, “Ke Mei, this fellow is infatuated with you, he has never dared to offend you the least bit. I know the reason you wanted to kill him is because you want to vent my anger. You have this kind of affection to me, I … I really don’t know how to repay you.”

    Ah Ke said in a gentle voice, “I hate him more for humiliating you one part compared to him humiliating me ten parts. If he beats me, curses me, I look at Shifu’s face, and swallow my hatred, but toward you he … he repeatedly treated you that rude. When I remember it, I really wish I could make mincemeat of him.”

    “Ke Mei,” Zheng Keshuang said, “How about if I repay you right now?” His right arm also reached out to embrace her body. Ah Ke’s face looked so lovely and bashful, she buried her head in his bosom.

    Wei Xiaobao’s heart was aching, angry, and bitter at the same time. Suddenly his head was jerked back, somebody grabbed his braid. He was greatly shocked; immediately afterwards somebody twisted his ear. He was about to scream when a voice that he was very familiar with spoke near his ear in a low voice, “Little b@stard, come with me!” [the word here is ‘wang ba dan’ – turtle (derogatory way) egg]

    In all his life, he could not remember how many hundreds or thousands times he has heard this scolding ‘little b@astard’; without thinking he obeyed immediately. The grabbing of his braid and the twisting of his ear was executed very skillfully; it was also something that he could not remember how many hundreds or thousands times he has had his braid pulled and his ear twisted like that. He knew it was his mother Wei Chunfang.

    The two of them arrived at her room. Wei Chunfang kicked backward to slam the door closed. As soon as she released his braid and ear, Wei Xiaobao called out, “Ma! I am back!”

    Wei Chunfang stared at him for quite a long time. Suddenly she threw herself onto him and hugged him tightly, while crying and sobbing uncontrollably. Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Haven’t I come back to see you? Why are you crying?”

    Still sobbing and sniffling, Wei Chunfang said, “Did you die? Where did you go? I looked for you everywhere inside and outside Yangzhou, I beseeched the deity and worshipped Buddha, I don’t know how many times I raised my prayers, how many times I knocked my head. Dear Xiaobao, finally you return to Mother’s [‘niang’] side.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “I am not a child anymore, I went out to roam outside, you don’t have to worry.”

    With tears still in her eyes, Wei Chunfang’s eyes were blurry. She saw her son had grown tall, his build was thick and solid, she was very happy. She broke into crying again and scolded him, “You little b@stard, without saying anything to your Niang, you went away that long. This time if I don’t ferociously feed you sautéed bamboo shoots in meat, little b@stard won’t know his laoniang’s fierceness.”

    The so-called ‘sautéed bamboo shoots in meat’ was spanking of his bottoms by feather duster with bamboo stick handle. Wei Xiaobao has not had that in a very long time. Upon hearing his mother, he could not help but laughing in amusement.

    Wei Chunfang also laughed. She took out her handkerchief to rub the mud and filth from his face. After wiping for a while, she looked down and saw the front lapel of her new satin gown was stained with tears and snoot, plus a lot of charcoal ashes from her son’s face; she could not help but feeling upset. ‘Slap!’ she heavily struck his face and scolded him, “This is my new clothes, I just sewed it to celebrate the New Year three years ago, I haven’t worn it quite several times yet. Little b@stard, you came back is not a good thing, you made your laoniang’s new clothes dirty. How am I going to accompany the guests?”

  17. #297
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 6

    Seeing how his mother treasuring the new clothes, making noises with flushed face and looked very angry, Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Ma, don’t worry about your new clothes. Tomorrow I am going to have a hundred new clothes sewn for you, they will be ten times better than this one.”

    Wei Chunfang angrily said, “Little b@stard can only talk big; what kind of skill do you have? Looking at your revolting behavior, can you get rich outside and come back here?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Riches, I haven’t gotten any, but my gambling luck has been good, I won some money.”

    Wei Chunfang had a 30% confidence in her son’s ability to cheat in gambling; she held out her palm and said, “Give it to me! When you have a bit of money in you, not too long afterwards you would spend it all.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “This time I won really big, too big that no matter what I cannot spend it all.”

    Wei Chunfang raised her palm and slapped him again. Wei Xiaobao ducked, the palm missed. He thought, “As soon as she sees me she wants to beat me. I have the Princess in the north, and my laoniang in the south.”

    He was just putting his hand into his pocket to get some money out when the turtle slave outside called, “Chunfang, the guests want you. Come quickly!”

    “I am coming!” Wei Chunfang said. She walked over to the table and picked the mirror box, hurriedly put up some cosmetics in front of the mirror inside the lid of the box. “Just lie down here,” she said, “When Laoniang is back, I want to examine you carefully. You … you must not go away!”

    Wei Xiaobao saw his mother’s eyes were brimming with concern, she was afraid that he would be gone missing again, thereupon he laughed and said, “I am not leaving, don’t worry!”

    “Little b@stard,” Wei Chunfang cursed again, but her face looked happy. Brushing off her clothes, she left the room.

    Wei Xiaobao lay down on the bed, he pulled the quilt to cover himself. He only lay down for a moment, Wei Chunfang was back in the room, carrying a wine pot. Seeing her son was lying on the bed, she was relieved. She turned around to go out. Wei Xiaobao knew that Zheng Keshuang ordered her to get more wine. Suddenly he had an idea. “Ma,” he said, “Are you getting some wine for the customer?”

    “Right,” Wei Chunfang replied, “Just lie down nicely for me, when Ma returns, I will swindle something good for you to eat.”

    “Get some more wine,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Let me drink some.”

    “Gluttonous ghost,” Wei Chunfang scolded him, “Little child is not supposed to drink wine.” She took the wine pot away.

    Hastily Wei Xiaobao peeked through the wooden partition. Seeing nobody in the adjacent room, like an arrow he dashed out of the room and entered the adjacent room, opened the cupboard and took the brothel proprietress’ bottle of Mi Chun wine, returned to his own room and hid the bottle underneath the quilt. Pulling the cork out, he said in his heart, “Zheng Keshuang you little b@stard [the word here is ‘za zhong’ – mixed breed], you want to put poison in my wine, today laozi will strike first and gain the upper hand!”

    Before long, Wei Chunfang returned, carrying a pot brimming with wine. Upon entering the room, she said, “Quickly drink two mouthfuls.”

    Still lying down on the bed, Wei Xiaobao received the wine pot. He sat up and drank a mouthful. Wei Chunfang looked at her son stealing brothel patron’s drink, she was not able to refrain her face from revealing overflowing tenderness.

    “Ma,” Wei Xiaobao said, “There is a big soot on your face.”

    Wei Chunfang hastily went to the mirror to look. Wei Xiaobao brought the wine pot into the quilt, and poured more than half a bottle of the Mi Chun wine.

    Seeing her face was clean, without any soot in sight, Wei Chunfang realized that her son had been playing trick with her, to get her attention away from him, so that he could steal a big mouthful of wine. She turned around at once, snatched the wine pot and cursed, “Little b@stard came out of laoniang’s belly; how could I not know your trick? Humph, formerly you could not drink wine, after loitering around outside these days, you learned all kinds of bad deeds.”

    “Ma,” Wei Xiaobao said, “That Xiao Xianggong’s temperament is not good. No matter what you must give him several more cups to drink. After he is drunk and does not make any sound, it will be easier to swindle that Da Xianggong’s money.”

    Wei Chunfang said, “Laoniang has been in this business all my life, do I still need you to teach me this child’s play?” But in her heart she secretly agreed that her son’s idea was good. She also thought, “Little b@stard is home, this is indeed a tremendously happy occasion. Tonight I’d better not have any pest asking me to spend the night with him, laoniang wants to be with my son.” Taking the wine pot, she hurriedly left.

    Wei Xiaobao lay back down on the bed, anger and complacency alternated in his mind, he thought, “Laozi is really lucky. That stinky thief surnamed Zheng did not visit other prostitute, he came here to give me advantage, he wanted to be laozi’s foster father. Let’s see if I don’t stab him with a sword and scatter some corpse transforming powder.” He thought about how after sprinkling some corpse transforming powder on his wound, Zheng Keshuang would soon turn into a puddle of yellow liquid; when Ah Ke’s drunkenness was over, her ‘Gege’ would have been disappeared without a trace, his whereabouts unknown, even if she broke her head she would never figure out what happened. “Damn it,” he mused, “If you want to call your ‘Gege’, quickly call him several more time. Very soon you won’t be able to call at all.”

    He was very happy. Crawling out of his bed, he went back to the Sweet Nectar Hall to peek inside. He saw Zheng Keshuang had just downed a cup of wine. Ah Ke had a cup on her lips, which she daintily sipped. Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted, he saw his mother poured another cup for Zheng Keshuang. Zheng Keshuang waved his hand and said, “Out, out, we don’t need you to serve.”

    Wei Chunfang complied. When she put down the wine pot, her sleeve covered a dish of sliced ham. Wei Xiaobao smiled and said in his heart, “I am going to eat some ham tonight.” He hastily returned to the room.

    Not too long afterwards, Wei Chunfang came back with a plate of sliced ham. She laughed and said, “Little b@stard, when you were dead outside, did you have this kind of good food to eat?” Grinning from ear to ear she sat on the bed, watching her son eating with gusto; she felt better than if she was eating it herself.

    “Ma,” Wei Xiaobao asked, “Did you drink the wine?”

    “I did, several cups,” Wei Chunfang replied, “If I drank some more I am afraid I will be drunk, and then you’ll slip away.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “If I did not drug Mama, I could not achieve big thing.” He said, “I won’t leave. Ma, I haven’t accompanied you sleeping for a long time. Tonight don’t go to keep those two pests company, you stay here with me.”

    Wei Chunfang was greatly delighted; her son hated to leave her like this, the last time it happened he was about seven, eight years old. She could not believe that after suffering outside, he finally remembered to love his mother. She could not help but beaming with joy as she said, “Alright, tonight Niang will accompany obedient Xiaobao to sleep.”

    “Ma,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Although I was outside, I remembered you every day. Come, let me take your clothes off.”

    His bootlicking skill had been used on the Emperor, the Cult Leader, the Princess and his masters; it was honed to perfection. Presently he was using it on his own mother, unexpectedly he received an unusual reaction. Wei Chunfang was used to social interaction with the patrons of the brothel, men’s hand groping her body, she just hardened her heart. But when her own son’s hand was extended to unbutton her clothes, she could not stop her body from turning weak; she let out a giggle. After Wei Xiaobao took off his mother’s outer clothes, he proceeded by loosening her trousers’ belt. “Pei,” Wei Chunfang spat, and gently slapped his hand; she said with a laugh, “I can do it myself.” Suddenly she felt shy, she went inside the quilt and took off her trousers, and from underneath the quilt she put it on top the quilt.

    Wei Xiaobao fished two ingots of silver, altogether worth more than thirty taels, and stuffed it into his mother’s hand; he said, “Ma, I am giving this to you.”

    Wei Chunfang was very happy; suddenly she burst into tears. “I … I’ll keep it for you,” she said, “In … in a few years I’ll give it back to you to get yourself a wife.”

    Wei Xiaobao said in his heart, “I already have.” He blew the oil lantern off and said, “Ma, quickly sleep. I will wait for you to fall asleep, before I go to sleep myself.”

    Wei Chunfang laughed and said, “Little b@stard, you really have a lot of tricks,” and then she closed her eyes.

    She was tired after working all day, plus she drank several cups of wine; seeing her son returned, she was unbearably happy. As soon as she closed her eyes, it did not take long before she dozed off.

    As soon as Wei Xiaobao heard her snore, he tiptoed toward the door. An idea struck him, hence he returned and took his mother’s trousers and tossed it on top of the mosquito net; he thought, “When she wakes up, without trousers she won’t be able to catch me.”

    He went outside Sweet Nectar Hall, and saw Zheng Keshuang splayed on his chair face up, and Ah Ke slumped face down on the table; they were both motionless. Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted; he waited for a moment, seeing that the two of them were still unmoving, he entered the hall. He was about to close the door behind him when he suddenly had a second thought, “There is no hurry to close the door. If this fellow only pretend to be drunk, I can’t escape if the door is closed.”

    Pulling his dagger, he walked over to him, and pushed Zheng Keshuang with his right hand. He was completely motionless; it was obvious that he had lost his consciousness. Wei Xiaobao also pushed Ah Ke; she mumbled something, but did not sit up. He thought, “The wine she drank was too little; I am afraid she will wake up soon, and that will be dangerous.”

    Inserting the dagger back into his boot, he propped her up until she was sitting up. Ah Ke’s eyes were closed, “Gege,” she mumbled incoherently, “I … I can’t drink anymore.”

    Wei Xiaobao said in a low voice, “Good Meizi, drink one more cup.” He poured a cup full of wine and pushed it into her little mouth with his left hand that the wine trickled down. Still in a daze Ah Ke swallowed the Mi Chun drugged wine. Wei Xiaobao said in his heart, “You and laozi have bowed to the Heaven and the Earth in an official wedding, you were unwilling to celebrate the wedding festivities with your husband, but came to Lovely Spring Courtyard to be a little wh0re, you want your husband to be the pest who ‘comb your covering’. You are indeed a lowly pervert.”

    Ah Ke’s beauty was originally matchless. Now that she was drunk, under the red candle’s light, she looked even more ‘thousand-adorable hundred-charm’. Wei Xiaobao’s sexual desire was greatly aroused. No longer cared whether Zheng Keshuang was dead or alive, drunk or awake, he carried Ah Ke in his arms toward the large bedroom next to the Sweet Nectar Hall.

    The large bedroom was prepared for grand patrons who wanted to spend the night. The big bed was at least six chi [foot] wide. The mattress and quilt were embroidered, the furnishing was magnificent. Wei Xiaobao gently put Ah Ke down on the bed. He went back outside to pick the candlestick, which he put on the table next to the head of the bed. Looking at Ah Ke’s rosy complexion, he could not stop his heart from thumping madly. Leaning over her, he took her long robe, exposing her thin, close-fitting light green undergarment.

    He reached out to loosen the knots on her thin underpants, suddenly he heard footsteps behind his back; someone was rushing in. He was about to turn around when his braid tightened, his ear was twisted; once again he was grabbed by Wei Chunfang. “Ma,” Wei Xiaobao said in a low voice, “Let go, quickly!”

    “Little b@stard,” Wei Chunfang cursed, “Although we are poor, we must not violate the courtyard’s rule. Among the nine famous courtyards of Yangzhou, which one ever had the guest’s money stolen? Quickly return it!”

    “I did not steal anybody’s money,” Wei Xiaobao anxiously said.

    Wei Chunfang pulled his braid as hard as she could, and forcefully dragged him back to their own room. She scolded, “If you did not steal money, why did you take people’s clothes off? These several tens of taels, you must have become little thief and stole it. I raised you up with great trouble, it had never occurred to me that you would become a thief.” In her bitter anger, she burst into tears. She took the two ingots of silver at the head of the bed and threw it to the floor.

    Wei Xiaobao found it hard to explain; if he said that the guest was a woman dressing up as a man, and that she was his own wife, one, it was complicated and was not easy to express succinctly, two, no matter what his mother would not believe him. He could only say, “Why would I want to steal anybody’s money? Look, I have a lot of money.” From his pocket he took out the big wad of banknotes. “Ma,” he said, “I wanted to give all this money to you, but I was afraid I might scare you off, hence I am going to give it to you slowly.”

    Wei Chunfang saw several dozen sheets of banknotes worth several hundred taels each, she was so scared that her eyes grew big. “This … this … little thief,” she stammered, “You … you … didn’t you take this from those two xianggong? Even if you re-enter the womb and reincarnate as little b@stard ten lifetimes, you won’t make this much money. Quickly return other people’s money, we do business in the courtyard, if we have the ability, we may swindle other people’s money a hundred or eighty thousand taels, but the pest has to be most willing to do it, he has to present it with both hands. If you ever steal one thing from other people, Er Lang Shen [deity with three eyes] would never spare you, you will still do the same thing to earn a living in your next life. Xiaobao, Niang is doing this for your own good!” When she spoke the fast few sentences, her tone turned gentle. She also said, “When those people wake up tomorrow and do not see this much money, won’t they raise a ruckus? And then officials from yamen will come to investigate, they will arrest you, won’t they beat you until your skin breaks and your flesh rotten? Obedient Xiaobao, we cannot covet this much money belonging to other people.”

    After talking back and forth, the bottom line was that she wanted her son to return the money. Wei Xiaobao thought, “Ma making a lot of fuss, this matter cannot be explained succinctly. If the noise reaches the brothel proprietress, the turtle would find out, everybody will make a fuss, then this matter will turn for the worst.” His heart was moved, he had an idea, “Alright, alright,” he said, “Ma, I will listen to you.”

    Pulling his mother’s hand along, he went back to the Sweet Nectar Hall, and stuffed his wad of banknotes into Zheng Keshuang’s pocket. He pulled his own two pockets inside out and brushed his body, saying, “I don’t even have one tael left on me; you feel better?”

    Wei Chunfang sighed and said, “Good, you are doing the right thing.”

    Returning to their own room, Wei Xiaobao noticed that his mother was wearing a pair of old trousers, he could not help but scoffing. Wei Chunfang bent her finger and knocked his forehead with her knuckle; she scolded, “I woke up to use the toilet, and could not find my trousers, hence I knew you were not doing a good thing.” Finished speaking, she could not refrain from laughing.

    “Aiyo, not good,” Wei Xiaobao said, “I need to sh1t.” Hugging his belly, he rushed out.

    Wei Chunfang was afraid he might return to Sweet Nectar Hall; seeing he was running toward the latrine [orig. thatched hut] at the back garden, she was relieved. “You want to go to the reception hall again, you won’t escape laoniang’s eyes,” she mused.

    Wei Xiaobao exited from the side door and dashed back to the He Garden. The personal guard on duty raised his arms to block, “What do you want?” he shouted.

    “I am the Imperial Envoy Minister,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Don’t you know me?”

    The personal guard was startled; he looked closer, indeed it was the imperial envoy minister. “Yes, it’s Daren …” he hastily said.

    Without waiting for him to finish, Wei Xiaobao quickly returned to his room and said, “Good Shuang’er, quick, quick, help me change back into Imperial Envoy Minister.” While talking, he pulled off the long robe he was wearing.

  18. #298
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 7

    Shuang’er served him washing his face and changing his clothes; she said with a laugh, “Imperial Envoy Minister going out to make personal investigation, have you found the actual facts?”

    “I have,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “We are going to make arrest right now. Quickly wear your personal guard uniform, go get eight personal guards and follow me.”

    “Do you want me to get Xu Laoyezi [old master] and the others?” Shuang’er asked.

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “Zheng Keshuang and Ah Ke are already unconscious, just stretch a hand and grab it, it’s going to be as easy as blowing off dust. If Xu Tianchuan and the others come with me, they won’t let me kill that stinky fellow surnamed Zheng. Taking personal guards with me, I can put on airs and scare my Niang, scare the brothel proprietress, the turtle.” Thereupon he said, “No need.”

    Shuang’er put on her personal guard uniform, “How about taking Miss Zeng along?” she asked.

    Within the personal guard squad, only she and Zeng Rou were women dressed as men. These days these two girls were in contact with each other, and were already very close to each other. Wei Xiaobao thought, “If I want to carry Ah Ke back here, Shuang’er alone cannot do it, I must have two persons carrying her. Imperial Envoy Daren cannot do the job himself in front of other people, and I can’t let any personal guard’s stinky hands touch my wife’s fragrant body, can I?” He said, “Very well, you may take her along. Just don’t call those Wangwu Pai people.”

    Zeng Rou quickly put on the personal guard uniform and was ready in a short time. Leading the two women and eight personal guards, Wei Xiaobao returned to the Lovely Spring Courtyard. Two personal guards went up to knock on the door, “Canjiang [administrator/colonel] Daren is here,” they shouted, “Quickly open the door and greet him.” The personal guards were instructed to say that Wei Xiaobao was a Canjiang; to scare the brothel proprietress and the turtle, a Canjiang is more than enough.

    After beating the door for half a day, the main gate was finally creaking open, a turtle slave came out to meet them. “Visitors!” he shouted. The word was called out in such a bored way.

    Wei Xiaobao was afraid he might be recognized, he did not dare to look at the man. A personal guard shouted, “Canjiang Laoye [old master] personally arrived, tell laobao [brothel keeper] to serve him well.”

    Wei Xiaobao went to the main hall, the brothel proprietress came out to greet him; she did not even look at Wei Xiaobao as she said, “Laoye please come to the reception pavilion for some tea.”

    Wei Xiaobao said in his heart, “It’s best that you did not look at me, so that you won’t recognize me; I also don’t need to see my Ma. I ought to simply tell them to bring Ah Ke and Zheng Keshuang out and leave this place.” However, usually this brothel proprietress was very attentive in receiving the guests, she was even more deferential and polite toward government officials, yet today she was that cold, the way she spoke was very odd, unconsciously he was rather astonished.

    When he entered the Sweet Nectar Hall, he saw that the feast had not been cleaned up, Zheng Keshuang was still splaying face up on the chair. He was about to give order when suddenly a man with magnificent attire walked in. “Wei Daren, how are you?” the man said.

    Wei Xiaobao was startled. “How did you know me?” he mused, and looked at him. His shock was not a small matter. Immediately he stooped down to pull the dagger from his boot, suddenly his hand tightened; somebody behind him grabbed his wrist, and coldly said, “Sit down nicely, don’t make unnecessary move!” With his left hand the man grabbed the back of Wei Xiaobao’s neck and lifted him up and dropped him into a chair.

    Wei Xiaobao groaned secretly. He heard Shuang’er’s tender voice shouting and yelling as she fought the man. Zeng Rou also stepped forward to join the fray. A young master in brocade clothes sent a palm to hack at her, the two of them immediately fought. Wei Xiaobao focused his attention to look, turned out this young master in brocade clothes was a woman dressed as a man, she was none other than Ah Ke’s martial older sister Ah Qi. The man fighting Shuang’er was tall and thin, he was actually Tibetan Lama Sangjie; only right now he was wearing casual clothes, complete with a hat on his head and a fake braid. The first man with magnificent attire was Mongolian Prince Galdan.

    “I am too muddleheaded,” Wei Xiaobao mused, “I plainly heard Zheng Keshuang said that they have an appointment with Galdan in here; why didn’t I guard against this? As soon as I saw Ah Ke, I was in a daze that I don’t even remember laozi’s own surname. Damn it, laozi’s surname, I actually do not know; no wonder …”

    He heard Shuang’er cried out, “Aiyo,” as the acupoint on her waist was sealed by Sangjie, and she fell to the ground. In the meantime, Zeng Rou was still engaged in fierce battle with Ah Qi. Although Ah Qi’s style was exquisite, her attacks were lacking strength; several times she hit Zeng Rou, but failed to injure her. Sangjie came over, and in just two moves he was able to seal Zeng Rou’s acupoint too. The eight personal guards either had their acupoint sealed by Sangjie, or were killed by Galdan; their bodies were scattered around the courtyard outside the hall.

    Sangjie let out a ‘hey, hey’ laugh and sat down. “Wei Daren,” he said, “Where is your Shifu?” While saying that, he stretched out both his hands with the fingers right in front of Wei Xiaobao’s face.

    Wei Xiaobao saw that all ten of his fingers were short by one section; human fingers originally have three sections, right now his fingers only have two sections left. It looked extremely strange and scary. Wei Xiaobao groaned inwardly, “That day he flipped through the Sutra, the tips of his fingers were moistened by my poison. This man is unexpectedly very ruthless; he has the heart to cut his own ten fingers. Today laozi has fallen into his hands, if he wants to take revenge, he would chopped all my ten fingers, which is not a big deal; but what if he also want to cut a section of my head?”

    Seeing that Wei Xiaobao was so scared that he was merely staring blankly; Sangjie was very proud of himself. “Wei Daren,” he said, “That day I saw you were just a small kid, I did not know that you are a person of high rank within the imperial court; I have offended you much.”

    “I don’t dare to accept the honor,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “That day I only thought you were an ordinary Lama, I did not know that you are a really great hero; I have offended you much.”

    “Humph,” Sangjie snorted; he asked, “How do you know I am a hero?”

    Wei Xiaobao replied, “Someone put violent poison on the Sutra, with the intention of harming my Shifu. Shifu was able to see through the scheme, she did not dare to reach out and touch it. You insisted on looking at the Sutra, my Shifu had no other choice but to give it to you. Great Lama, after your fingers were poisoned, you made prompt decision to chop your fingers at once, it is really amazing! People swipe their own neck to suicide is easy, people chop their own ten fingers, since ancient times there has never been one great hero who had done it. Back then Guan Yunchang scraped his bone to remove poison, without knitting a single brow, but it was someone else who scrape his bone for him; for him to chop his own fingers, I don’t think he can do that. You are more formidable than Guan Yunchang; doesn’t it mean that you are a great hero, the first under heaven since ancient times?”

    Sangjie was fully aware that Wei Xiaobao was flattering him big time, thinking that he would show leniency toward him, which was no difference than asking Sangjie to spare his life. However, when those words entered his ears, admittedly he enjoyed a comfortable feeling. That day he had to ruthlessly cut his own fingers before he was able to save his own life. Although his pair of hands was mutilated, his martial art skill was greatly reduced, but thinking that in that juncture of life and death he unexpectedly had this kind of courage, he was actually very proud of himself. He took twelve of his martial younger brothers to the Central Plains to seize the ‘Forty-two-chapter Sutra’. The outcome was that all twelve people perished while his pair of hands was mutilated; it was indeed a bad luck. Naturally he never mentioned about this matter to anybody, while there has never been anybody who dared to ask either as why he chopped his own ten fingers. Consequently, it was the very first time that he heard something like what Wei Xiaobao had just said.

    Unconsciously, a hint of smile appeared on the Great Lama’s grim face. “Wei Daren,” he said, “We found out that you have graced Yangzhou with your presence; hence we all agreed to meet you here. You especially caused trouble for Ping Xi Wang, spoiling not a few of his, the Senior’s important matters. When the Prince Consort wanted to return to Yunnan to visit his family, he was also blocked by you; is that right?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Gentlemen’s information is actually very quick, it is indeed incredible! This time I left the Capital, I wonder if Gentlemen knew what His Majesty instructed me to do.”

    “Please advise,” Sangjie said.

    “With pleasure, with pleasure,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “His Majesty said, ‘Wei Xiaobao, you are going to Yangzhou on a mission, I am afraid Wu Sangui would send people to assassinate you, Zhen is somewhat uneasy. Luckily his son is in Zhen’s hands; if you ever meet unexpected misfortune, Zhen will treat this fellow Wu Yingxiong the same as whatever they are doing to you. Wu Sangui sends people to cut the tip of your little finger, inevitable this fellow Wu Yingxiong will also lack the tip of his little finger. That old fellow Wu Sangui sends people to kill you, it’s is equal to killing his own son.’ I said, ‘Your Majesty, I can be anybody’s son, but I definitely don’t want to be Wu Sangui’s son.’ His Majesty roared in laughter. As such, I am coming to Yangzhou.”

    Sangjie and Galdan looked at each other, their countenances changed slightly. Sangjie said, “His Highness the Prince and I this time go to Yangzhou to find you, at first we thought that the Imperial Envoy His Majesty sent must be an extraordinary character, who would have thought that when the two of us looked from afar, turned out it was an old acquaintance. Even this Miss Ah Qi also knew you.”

    Wei Xiaobao said with a laugh, “We are indeed old friends.”

    Ah Qi picked up a chopstick from the table and jabbed it on Wei Xiaobao’s forehead. She spat and said, “Who wants to be old friend with you?”

    Sangjie said, “We made appointment to meet Taiwan’s Zheng Er Gongzi in here, originally it was to discuss how to deal with you. Who would have thought that you personally came to pay a visit, hence you saved us a lot of trouble.”

    “Precisely,” Wei Xiaobao said, “His Majesty interrogated that big beard, the Prince’s subordinate Hantiemo for three days; we know everything.”

    When Sangje and Galdan heard the name Hantiemo, they were greatly shocked; they both rose up and asked, “What?”

    “It’s nothing really,” Wei Xiaobao said, “His Majesty and Hantiemo talked in Mongolian, jabbering words that I did not understand even one. Afterwards His Majesty bestowed him quite a lot of money, and sent him to the Ministry of War to work for Shangshu Ming Zhu Daren. Less than three days later, he sent me to rush him to draw some maps. This is military stuff; I don’t know anything. I said to His Majesty, ‘Your Majesty, Mongolia and Tibet are too cold, if you want to send troops to fight a war, your servant is considering to have a vacation with you, I want to go to beautiful world of Yangzhou to have a stroll.’”

    Galdan’s face showed concern; he asked, “Did you say the young Emperor is going to dispatch troops to attack Mongolia and Tibet?”

    Wei Xiaobao shook his head and said, “This kind of matter, I am not really clear. His Majesty said: it would be best if we deal with the old fellow, one person. If Mongolia and Tibet want to help us, then we’ll consider them as friends; if they help the old fellow, there is no other way, we have to gain the initiative by striking first.’”

    Sangjie and Galdan looked at each other; they felt relieved, and sat down. Galdan asked about Hantiemo, Wei Xiaobao described his appearance and mannerism vividly and realistically, Galdan and Sangjie could not not believe him. Noticing that these two men were frowning slightly, Wei Xiaobao guessed that as the two of them find out that Hantiemo had surrendered to the Qing, they expected that the collusion between Mongolia, Tibet and Wu Sangui could not be concealed from the young Emperor, hence they were afraid Kangxi would gain the initiative by striking first.

    Wei Xiaobao saw Shuang’er and Zeng Rou had their acupoints sealed and were lying on the floor, while most of the eight personal guards had perished. This time he quietly went to the Lovely Spring Courtyard; because he was afraid other people might know his life’s secret, Xu Tianchuan, Zhang Yong, Zhao Qixian, and the others did not know at all. It seems that even if he was chopped into mincemeat, made to be the famous Yangzhou’s lion’s head [i.e. pork meatball], perhaps simmer-fried or steamed in broth, or cooked with crab meat, nobody would come to rescue him. Since he had no way out anyway, he might as well babble anything, it was better than sitting and waiting for death quietly.

    “His Majesty heard that Prince Galdan’s martial art skill is superior, that he is an unparalleled hero,” he continued, “He is very full of admiration.”

    Galdan smiled and asked, “Did the Emperor also train martial art? How did he know about my martial art?”

    “Naturally His Majesty knows martial art,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “And his skill is not bad at all. That day Your Highness fully displaying your capabilities at the Shaolin Temple, you beat Shaolin Temple’s Abbot that he concede defeat. The heads of Damo Hall, Luohan Hall, Bo’re Hall, three great halls, flee at the mere distant sight. Xiongdi told His Majesty everything.” That day Galdan left Shaolin with his tail between his legs, yet right now hearing Wei Xiaobao tooting the horn on his behalf, giving him a lot of face in front of Sangjie, he could not refrain from showing a satisfied look on his face.

    Wei Xiaobao continued, “Shaolin Temple Fangzhang [abbot] Hui Cong Dashi’s martial art skill can be considered first or second best in Wulin, but Your Highness the Prince merely flicked your sleeve and Hui Cong Fangzhang could not hold his stand and fell sitting down. Fortunately when he fell, his buttocks happened to land on a putuan [round meditation mat used by Buddhists], hence he was saved from breaking a few of his old bones …” Actually, it was Galdan who was brushed by Hui Cong’s sleeve that day, so that he landed on a chair and was unable to stand up; Wei Xiaobao turned the story around. He said in his heart, “Hui Cong Shixiong treatment to me was not bad, but today as his Shidi I am facing a calamity, in a moment I will die in a sitting posture [referring to Buddhism death] and leave for the Western Paradise. I have no choice but to treat emptiness as appearance, and appearance as emptiness; Shixiong’s victory as defeat, and other people’s defeat as victory.”

    While his mouth was babbling nonsense, in his heart he let his imagination run wild, his eyes looked to the east and gazed to the west. In a glance he saw Ah Qi’s expression; she seemed to be smiling yet she was not exactly smiling, her pair of beautiful eyes was fixed at Galdan’s face, her gaze was brimming with affection.

    Wei Xiaobao had a sudden inspiration, “This wicked girl wants to be Mongolian Princess.” Thereupon he said, “His Majesty said, ‘Prince Galdan’s martial art skill is high, his appearance is handsome; if he wants to take a Princess, he ought to marry young, good looking, as well as with high level of martial art skill Miss …” Stealing a glance toward Ah Qi, sure enough, he noticed that her face was blushing; it was obvious from her expression that she was paying full attention; hence he continued, “Although that Chen Yuanyuan is known as the first beauty under the heavens, but right now she is older; I wonder why Galdan is determined to marry her?”

    Ah Qi could not bear not to talk, “Who said he wanted to marry Chen Yuanyuan? You are talking nonsense!”

    Galdan shook his head, “How can there be such thing?” he said.

    “That’s right,” Wei Xiaobao said, “I said, ‘Reporting to Your Majesty: His Highness Prince Galdan has a very good lady friend, called Miss Ah Qi …’”

    Ah Qi spat, but her face looked very happy; Galdan cast her a glance with a smile on his face. Wei Xiaobao continued, “… This Miss Ah Qi’s martial art skill is number three in the world, she is only below Great Lama Sangjie and His Highness Prince Galdan. Compared to Your Majesty, hee hee … she is still a bit stronger. Your servant is telling the truth, Your Majesty must not take offense …’”

    At first Sangjie was somewhat bored listening to his babbling, but when he heard that unexpectedly Wei Xiaobao told the Emperor that Sangjie’s martial art skill was the first under the heavens, he knew perfectly well that out of ten words that this little demon said, he ought not believe even half a word; yet he could not help feeling happy and content. His nose made a snort though, hinting that he did not believe him.

    Wei Xiaobao continued, “His Majesty said, ‘I don’t believe you. Even if this young lady’s martial art was stronger, can it be that she is superior to her Shifu?’ I said, ‘Your Majesty did not know this, but this young lady’s Shifu is a Buddhist nun wearing white clothes, her martial art skill was actually very strong, she could be considered number three in the world. However, once upon a time, during a duel against Great Lama Sangjie, she was struck by Great Lama Sangjie’s palm. The Shitai could not resist, the entire internal energy in her body disappeared without any trace. Therefore, the title of number three martial artist in the world was snatched by her disciple.’”

  19. #299
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 8

    When Ah Qi heard him exposing her school background, she was surprised and baffled, “How did he know my Shifu?” she mused.

    Although Sangjie had not personally fought with Jiu Nan, his twelve martial brothers all died a violent death under her, master and disciples’ hands; it was really an extraordinary shame and disappointment of his life. This moment as he heard Wei Xiaobao asserted that Jiu Nan was struck by his palm that her internal energy dissipated, he knew that Wei Xiaobao was pasting a lot of gold on his face. Previously he and Galdan were most worried that Wei Xiaobao would unmask their disgrace, and thus both of them were thinking to kill this man as quickly as possible to close his mouth; but when they heard that he had reversed their great defeat into great victory, they thought that there was no harm in letting him live a bit longer.

    Sangjie turned his gaze toward Ah Qi for a moment; he thought, “This is the first time that I knew that you are the little nun in white’s disciple. There is something odd here.”

    Ah Qi asked, “You mentioned Chen Yuanyuan; what about her?”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “That Chen Yuanyuan, I have seen her with my own eyes in Kunming. To tell Miss the truth, she is quite much older than I am; however, the title ‘number one beauty under the heavens’ [tian xia di yi mei ren] six characters is indeed not in vain. When I saw her, immediately my soul flew out, my hands and feet ice-cold, I shook all over, my heart said, ‘How can there be such a beauty in the world?’ Miss Ah Qi, your Shimei Ah Ke can be considered very beautiful, but compared to this Chen Yuanyuan, her appearance and her physique, she is far too inferior.”

    Naturally Ah Qi knew that Ah Ke was stunningly beautiful, she was far above her; she also knew that Wei Xiaobao was ‘spirit and soul upside-down’ toward Ah Ke. If even he could say those words, very likely it was the truth. But in her mouth she still said she was unconvinced, “You, little kid, is a little lecher, looking at people’s thirty-percent good looks, you said she was a hundred percent beauty. Chen Yuanyuan is at least forty years old this year, even if she was previously good-looking, nowadays she can’t be that beautiful.”

    Wei Xiaobao repeatedly shook his head. “Not right, not right,” he said, “Just look at you, Miss Ah Qi. This year you are no more than eighteen, nineteen years old; it’s only natural that you are exceedingly beautiful. In thirty more years, definitely you will still be extremely beautiful. If you don’t believe me, you and I can make a bet. If after thirty years your appearance is not beautiful, I will cut my head for you.”

    Ah Qi giggled. Any woman who hears other people call her beautiful will be delighted, especially if she was praised in front of her boyfriend, she would burst with joy even more. Much less she had quite a confidence in her own beauty to begin with, she believed that after thirty years, she could not possibly be a lot more uglier.

    Wei Xiaobao was hoping that she would accept the bet, so that Galdan would perhaps look at his beloved’s face and let Wei Xiaobao live thirty more years; when that time comes, it would not be too late to decide victory or defeat. Unexpectedly Sangjie snorted and said with a cold laugh, “Too bad you won’t live pass tonight. Miss Ah Qi’s beautiful appearance thirty years later, you won’t have the good fortune of seeing.”

    Wei Xiaobao giggled and said, “That’s not a big deal. I only hope that Great Lama and Your Highness the Prince will remember what I said tonight, thirty years from today, you will know that Wei Xiaobao already had the foreknowledge.” Sangjie, Galdan and Ah Qi, three people, could not bear not to burst into laughter.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “I went to Kunming; that was a matter of several months ago; I escorted Princess Jianning to marry Wu Sangui’s son, the three of you already knew. It was originally a very happy occasion, but as soon as I entered the city of Kunming, I saw people crying and wailing loudly on the streets. Not several houses later, I saw a coffin; there were many women and children in mourning clothes, they cried until the sky darkened and the earth black.”

    “Why is that?” Galdan and Ah Qi asked together.

    “I also felt it was very strange,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “I asked Yunnan’s officer, everybody hummed and hawed but nobody gave me any answer. Afterwards I sent my personal guard to make discreet inquiry, and only then did I find out. Turns out early that morning Chen Yuanyuan learned about the arrival of the Princess, she wanted to personally welcome her. When she came out of the sedan chair, more than a hundred thousand Kunming men went wild; everybody rushed forward to see her, they all said that a celestial fairy has descended to the world of the immortals. You pushed, I throng forward, several thousand men were trampled to death. At first the military officers and soldiers under Ping Xi Wang’s command desperately tried to suppress the disturbance, but later on they saw Chen Yuanyuan, everybody’s sword and spear all fell to the ground; their jaw dropped, their mouth watered as they have their eyes fixed at Chen Yuanyuan.”

    Sangjie, Galdan and Ah Qi, three people, were ‘you look at me, I look at you’, while thinking, “This child definitely added oil and soya paste in his speech, but perhaps Chen Yuanyuan’s beauty is indeed out of the ordinary. It would be good if I can see it myself.”

    Seeing that the three of them were gradually convinced, Wei Xiaobao said, “Your Highness the Prince, Ping Xi Wang has a zongbing under his command by the name of Ma Bao; have you heard this name before?”

    Galdan and Ah Qi nodded. The two of them went together with Ma Bao to the Shaolin Temple, how could they not know? Galdan said, “That day at Shaolin Temple, you have also met him.”

    “Was it he?” Wei Xiaobao said, “I don’t remember. That day I was only paying attention to Your Highness the Prince’s obviously marvelous skill, beating Shaolin Temple’s eminent monks, I did not have time to look at other people. Even if I did have a bit of free time, I would rather steal several glances toward Miss Ah Qi’s countenance of a flower, face like the moon.” Ah Qi spat, but in her heart she was very happy.

    “What about Ma Zongbing?” Galdan asked.

    Wei Xiaobao sighed. He said, “Ma Zongbing was part of the problem that day. He received Ping Xi Wang’s order to protect Chen Yuanyuan, who would have thought that as he looked at Chen Yuanyuan several times, unexpectedly he was also in a daze, and went as far as stroking her white and tender little hand. Afterwards Ping Xi Wang found out about it, and had him flogged forty times with army club. Ma Zongbing quietly told other people: ‘I stroked Chen Yuanyuan’s left hand, actually I expected Wangye to cut my hand. If I had known that I only got forty army-club floggings, I would have stroke her right hand too. Eighty floggings will not necessarily kill me.’ Under his command, Ping Xi Wang altogether has ten big zongbing, the other nine zongbing were really envious. These words of him were passed on to Ping Xi Wang, in turn, he passed on a military order: henceforth whoever stroke Chen Yuanyuan’s hand will have both his hands chopped. Ping Xi Wang’s son-in-law Xia Guoxiang was one of the ten big zongbing, right away he had a master artisan to create a pair of fake hands. He said that every now and then he might see this fairy-like mother-in-law, just in case he could not bear not to touch her hand, he might as well make false hands first, in case when that happens he did not have time to have the hands made to order. This is called ‘anticipating trouble’.”

    Galdan was listening with his mouth open and his eyes staring blankly as if he was entranced. Sangjie repeatedly shook his head and said, “Absurd, absurd!” But it was unclear whether he meant the ten big regional commanders were absurd, or that Wei Xiaobao’s story was absurd.

    “You have seen Chen Yuanyuan,” Ah Qi said, “How come you did not stroke her hand?”

    “There is a reason behind it,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “Before I went to see Chen Yuanyuan, Wu Yingxiong came to see me first, he said that I have travelled thousands of li to deliver the Princess to be his wife, he was very grateful. From his bosom he took out something, it was shiny yellow, fully inlaid with emerald, beautiful jade, ruby and kitten eyes; turned out it was a golden manacles.”

    “How can manacles be that precious?” Ah Qi asked.

    “That’s right,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “At that time I asked him what kind of toy was that; I thought he was going to give it to me as a present. Who would have thought that ‘clack’, he shackled my hands. I was gobsmacked. ‘Prince Consort’, I cried out, ‘Why are you arresting me? What crime did I commit?’ Wu Yingxiong said, ‘Imperial Envoy Daren, you must not misunderstand, Xiongdi only has good intention toward you. You are going to see my Chen Yiniang [father’s concubine], you simply must wear this manacles, in case you cannot restraint yourself and reach out to touch her. If you only touch her hand, Fu Wang [father king] may look at your face as the Imperial Envoy Daren, and may not do anything. But I am afraid you will touch her once, touch her twice, touch her three times or more. Fu Wang will inevitably commit major offense by killing Imperial Envoy Daren. While admittedly it was Daren who was being improper, our Wu family will be ruined.’ I was so scared that I wore the manacles to see Chen Yuanyuan.”

    The more Ah Qi listened, the more she thought it was ridiculous. “I don’t believe you,” she said.

    “Next time you go to Beijing,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Ask Wu Yingxiong to show you these golden manacles, then you cannot not believe. He always has it with him, so that as soon as he sees Chen Yuanyuan he can immediately take it out and put it on. If he was one step slower, it would be desperately serious.”

    “Humph,” Sangjie said, “Chen Yuanyuan is his shu mu [concubine mother], could it be that he has the audacity to be impolite to her?”

    “Naturally he doesn’t,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “And that’s exactly why he is carrying the golden manacles.”

    Ah Qi said, “He is in Beijing now, why would he want to carry it?”

    Wei Xiaobao was startled; he mused, “Bad! The horn I tooted is broken.” But his brain could move very fast; he said at once, “Wu Yingxiong was thinking of returning to Kunming immediately, he did not expect to stay in Beijing for long. He stayed in Beijing against his will.”

    Sangjie glowered at him and said, “In that case, you repaid kindness with evil. Others lent you manacles, showing you a lot of friendship, but you stopped him, you did not let him return to Yunnan.”

    Wei Xiaobao shook his head, “What kindness did Wu Yingxiong show to me? He and I have an enmity that we cannot live under the same sky.”

    Sangjie was surprised, “What did he do to offend you?” he asked.

    “Why hasn’t he offended me?” Wei Xiaobao said, “He loaned the manacles to me, it was more malicious than having my laozi [in this case, old man, father] killed. At that time, if I did not wear that manacles, I would have touched even Chen Yuanyuan’s face. Ay, Great Lama, Your Highness the Prince, at that time, if only I could touch Chen Yuanyuan’s face, which is ten thousand times more beautiful than the petal of a flower, what do I care even if Wu Sangui chopped both of my hands? Even if he chopped both of my legs to be made Yunnan’s Xuanwei Ham, I consider it nothing.”

    Three people’s thoughts flew to the southern sky, imagining Chen Yuanyuan’s peerless glowing countenance; listening to Wei Xiaobao, unexpectedly they did not laugh.

    Wei Xiaobao lowered his voice and with a mysterious expression he said, “I have a very top secret, the three of you must not divulge it. Actually I should not say it, but the opportunity to chat amiably with you is very rare; there is no harm in telling our own people.”

    “What secret?” Galdan hastily asked.

    Wei Xiaobao lowered his voice even more, “His Majesty is about to move an army and send a general to attack Wu Sangui.”

    Sangjie and the others, three people, looked at each other and laugh; they all thought, “What kind of secret is that? If the Emperor does not attack Wu Sangui, Wu Sangui will deploy his troops to attack the Emperor.”

    “Do you know why the Emperor is deploying his troops to Yunnan?” Wei Xiaobao asked, “This is rather difficult to guess.”

    “Could it be also because of Chen Yuanyuan?” Ah Qi asked.

    Wei Xiaobao slapped the table, he appeared extremely amazed. “Uh! How did you know?” he asked.

    “Casual guess,” Ah Qi replied.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Miss is indeed a female Zhuge, you can prophecy with supernatural accuracy. As the Emperor, His Majesty has everything; the only thing that is lacking is this ‘number one beauty under the heavens’. Why do you think last time His Majesty sent me, a little child to Yunnan, and not some people of virtue and prestige, a cabinet minister who has rendered great merit through hard work? It was precisely because he wanted me to take a look, whether this woman was really extremely beautiful. He also wanted me to sound out Wu Sangui, whether he would be willing to present Chen Yuanyuan to the Palace. If he sent a white-bearded high-ranking minister to handle this matter, it would be rather embarrassing, wouldn’t it? Who would have thought that as soon as I raised this subject, Wu Sangui furiously slapped the table and said, ‘You deliver one Princess here, and want to have my living Guanyin in exchange? Humph, humph, even if you give me a hundred princesses, I won’t give you any.’”

    Sangjie and Galdan looked at each other, they both had a nagging feeling that they had fallen into Wu Sangui’s ruse; turned out this matter involved this kind of beauty entanglement. When Wu Sangui ‘flushed the crown in anger due to beautiful woman’ in the past, it was precisely because of Chen Yuanyuan that he forfeited the Ming Dynasty’s three hundred years’ rivers and mountains; everybody in the world knew about it. The young Emperor was young and romantic, hence this matter actually made sense.

    Wei Xiaobao said in his heart, “Xiao Xuanzi, you are raw bird fish soup [see Chapter 14]; definitely you won’t covet the old turtle’s wife. I, Xiao Guizi, am facing a great catastrophe, I have no choice but to make some malicious remark about you, it is indeed not a good thing.” Seeing Sangjie and Galdan’s grim expression, he continued, “When I saw that Wu Sangui was angry, I did not dare to talk anymore. At that time, although I brought several thousand troops and horses to Yunnan, how could I match the magnificent army with thousands of men and horses under Wu Sangui’s command? What choice did I have but to shut my mouth and quietly amassed great fortune?” Galdan nodded.

    “One evening,” Wei Xiaobao continued, “That big beard Hantiemo came to see me. He said he was sent by His Highness the Prince to Kunming to establish contact with Wu Sangui. But in Kunming he discovered that something was not right. He said that Mongolians are descendants of Geng something Khan, that each one is a hero and a warrior; why would they go to war and deliver their lives for the sake of Wu Sangui’s beautiful woman? He asked me to smuggle him back to Beijing to see the Emperor, he wanted to personally tell the Emperor that Chen Yuanyuan has nothing to do with Mongolian Prince and Tibetan Lama, that Mongolian Prince Galdan has already had Miss Ah Qi, he can’t possibly want to have Chen Yuanyuan. Tibetan Great Lama also has … has a lot of good-looking Tibetan girls …”

    “Nonsense!” Sangjie shouted, “We, Yellow Hat[1] Lama strictly maintain purity, rule and monastic discipline, we can’t possibly have a voracious desire for beauty and lust.”

    Wei Xiaobao hastily said, “It was Hantiemo who said that, it has nothing to do with me. Great Lama, to win favor from the Emperor, I am afraid Hantiemo told him not to worry, he can be rest assured that you will not fight over Chen Yuanyuan.”

    “Humph,” Sangjie said, “Next time I see Hantiemo, I will ask him clearly, whether he was telling lies, or it was you who told lies, and thus ruin my clean reputation.”

    Wei Xiaobao was secretly delighted, “He wants to ask Hantiemo, apparently he won’t kill me right away.” He busily said, “Yes, yes, next time you can tell me to confront Hantiemo. You are helping Wu Sangui to revolt, honestly you won’t get any benefit. Even if the rebellion was successful, if the two of you don’t have any manacles handy, you will always be fearful and apprehensive …” Suddenly seeing angry expression appeared on Sangjie’s face, he said hastily, “Great Lama, you treat emptiness as appearance, and appearance as emptiness; when you see Chen Yuanyuan, naturally your heart will not be tempted, it’s just that, it’s just that … ay!”

    “It’s just that what?” Sangjie asked.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Last time I went to Kunming, Chen Yuanyuan came out to welcome the Princess, were not several thousands of people being crushed to death? These dead people’s families wanted to conduct burial ceremony, but suddenly they could not invite any Buddhist monk or Taoist priest.”

    “Why?” Ah Qi asked.

    [1] Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism.

  20. #300
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 39 - Part 9

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Many of those monks who saw Chen Yuanyuan had their worldly desire aroused; in one day, several thousand monks in Kunming returned to secular life, they did not want to leave home anymore. Just think, suddenly the number of monks decreased by several thousands, naturally there was not enough monks to perform the ceremony.”

    Galdan and the others, three people, were half believing and half-doubting; they all thought that his story was rather too unbelievable, but toward Chen Yuanyuan’s beauty, they had no doubt at all. Ah Qi cast a glance toward Galdan, she said softly, “Kunming is a strange place, I don’t want to go there. If you want to help Wu Sangui, you can go alone.”

    “Who said that I want to go to Kunming?” Galdan hastily said, “I do not wish to see Chen Yuanyuan. In my opinion, our Miss Ah Qi is not necessarily inferior to Chen Yuanyuan.”

    Ah Qi’s countenance sank, she said, “You said that I am not necessarily inferior to Chen Yuanyuan, obviously you are saying that I am inferior to her. You definitely want to see her.” While saying that, she stood up and said, “I am leaving!”

    Galdan was greatly embarrassed; he hastily said, “No, no! I swear to the Heaven, in my whole life, I will not cast a single glance to Chen Yuanyuan.” Ah Qi turned from anger to happiness; she sat back down.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “You will not cast a single glance to Chen Yuanyuan, you are speaking correctly. No matter who, as soon as he sees her, will one glance be enough? A hundred glances, a thousand glances will not be enough.”

    “You little devil,” Galdan cursed, “You only know how to talk nonsense. I swear not to see Chen Yuanyuan forever, and that’s that. If I see her, let my eyes be blind immediately.” Ah Qi was greatly delighted; she gazed at him full of tender feelings.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “I listened to the young Emperor speaking, he really did not understand why the two of you want to help Wu Sangui. If it is because of Chen Yuanyuan, then nothing we can do; there is only one Chen Yuanyuan under the heavens, even the young Emperor does not have it. Other than because of this beautiful woman, whatever Wu Sangui has, the young Emperor has ten times as much. If the two of you are willing to help the Emperor, gold, silver, money and valuables, you will get whatever amount you want.”

    Sangjie coldly said, “Although Tibet and Mongolia are poor, we do not covet gold, silver, money and valuables.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “These two do not want gold, silver, money and valuables, they do not want beautiful women, what do they want the most?” He had a second thought, “That’s right,” he mused, “Lowly men cannot survive a day without money, great men cannot survive a day without power. I, Wei Xiaobao, am a little man, these two are great men.” Thereupon he said, “The young Emperor said, Galdan is only a prince, his power is not high enough, if he helps me fighting Wu Sangui, I will make him the Mongolian King.”

    Galdan’s eyes shone with delight; he said excitedly, “The Em … Emperor really said that?”

    “Of course!” Wei Xiaobao replied, “Why would I lie to you?”

    “There is no such thing as ‘Mongolian King’ in the world,” Sangjie said, “If the Emperor can really help His Highness to be the Dzungar Khan [orig. ‘zhun ka’er han’], His Highness will be perfectly contented.”

    “Possible, possible!” Wei Xiaobao said, “This title ‘zheng ge’er hao’ [complete/total good], the Emperor will definitely agree to grant.” While in his heart he mused, “What in the world is damned ‘total good’? Could it be there is another title ‘half good’?”

    Looking at his expression, Sangjie knew that Wei Xiaobao did not understand; he said, “Mongolia is divided into several divisions, among those, the Dzungars[1] are the biggest. Mongolian rulers are not called ‘Kings’, they are called ‘Khans’. His Highness the Prince is not a Khan yet.”

    “So that’s how it is,” Wei Xiaobao said, “As long as Your Highness the Prince helps His Majesty, won’t become one or two Zhengge’er [complete/total] Khan be easy? The Emperor can issue an edict, send several tens of thousands troops and horses, will the other Mongolian people dare to resist?”

    Hearing this, Galdan was very happy; he said, “If the Emperor is willing to do that, naturally it will be easy.”

    Wei Xiaobao struck his chest and said, “You don’t have to worry, leave it to me, I’ll accomplish it for you. His Majesty hates only Wu Sangui, one person. Although Miss Ah Qi is beautiful, as long as you keep the Emperor from laying his eyes on her, I guarantee that he won’t snatch her from you. As for Great Lama Sangjie, if you help the Emperor, His Majesty can make you the grand ruler of the entire Tibet.” He did not know what they called the grand ruler of Tibet, hence he did not dare to speak irresponsibly.

    Sangjie said, “The entire Tibet is under the Living Buddha Dalai Lama’s rule, the office cannot be casually bestowed by the Emperor.”

    “Others can be the Living Buddha,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Why can’t you? In Tibet, how many Living Buddhas are there?”

    Sangjie said, “There is also Panchen Lama Living Buddha, altogether there are two.”

    “That’s right,” Wei Xiaobao said, “One sky cannot have three suns, but everything else must have three to make sense. We can ask His Majesty to grant the title Living Buddha Sangjie. Grand Living Buddha Sangjie will be in charge of Da something, Pan something, two little Living Buddhas.”

    Sangjie’s heart was moved; he mused, “This kid talks nonsense, but he actually made some sense.” Thinking about this, a smile appeared on his thin face.

    This moment Wei Xiaobao was only trying to survive and escape with his life, whatever the opposite party asked, he would readily agree. Much less granting these people the titles of Dzungar Khan or Tibetan Grand Living Buddha did not cost him one tael of silver. He said, “I am not tooting my horn, whatever plan Xiongdi suggested to the Empeor, 99% he will see, hear and obey. Besides, the two of you agree to fight Wu Sangui, not only the Emperor will bestow the title to you, Xiongdi will render great merit as well, I will definitely enjoy promotion and gain wealth. As the saying goes: ‘the imperial court needs good people to be the officials’. In the imperial court, Xiongdi is a high-ranking official, the two gentleman separately become high-ranking officials in Mongolia and Tibet; I’ll say it would be better if the three of us do obeisance and become sworn brothers. From now on the three of us will enjoy blessing together and will face difficulty together; we are not fated to be born on the same year same month same day, but willing to die on the same year same month same day. In this world, other than the young Emperor, the three of us are the greatest; won’t that be wonderful?” He thought, “To die on the same year same month same day, these words are important. As soon as the two of them nodded their heads in approval, they cannot kill me. If they do, it will be the same as committing suicide.”

    Before Sangjie and Galdan went to Yangzhou, they had already investigated carefully, and knew that this young Imperial Envoy was the number one favorite among the people who served in front of the Emperor, his career has enjoyed meteoric rise, his promotion was speedy; it’s just that they had never imagined that he was the same youngster they had met in the past. Galdan did not have any enmity with him to begin with. Sangjie had his twelve younger martial brothers killed by his master and he, and had his ten fingers chopped because of him; originally he hated Wei Xiaobao to the bones, but after listening to his talk, he thought that his martial brothers were dead, they could not be brought back to live, his fingers were chopped and would not grow anymore. Even if he could strike this man dead with his palm, he was merely venting his anger; nothing more. If he helped Wu Sangui accomplishing his goal, he would simply exert his strength in vain, without any benefit to himself. But if he became sworn brother with him, he would absolutely reap tangible benefit, the advantage to him was really great. The two of them ‘you look at me, I look at you’, they both slowly nodded their heads.

    Wei Xiaobao was overjoyed at the unexpected turn of events; he would have never imagined that his speech would move these two evil people’s hearts. Afraid that they might change their mind, he hastily said, “Da Ge, Er Ge, Er Sao [big brother, second brother, second sister-in-law, respectively], let us swear brotherhood right now. It does not matter if Er Sao wants to join us or not, as soon as you bow to the Heaven and the Earth with Er Ge, we become one family.” Blushing, Ah Qi spat, but in her heart she felt that this little kid really know how to make people happy.

    Sangjie suddenly stretched out his hand and ‘slap!’ he broke a corner of the table. Wei Xiaobao was shocked. “What is he doing?” he mused.

    He heard Sangjie said in stern voice, “Wei Daren, whatever you told me, today I believe you. But if in the future you repeatedly changing, you don’t live up to your promises, let the corner of this table become your example.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Whatever Da Ge says, the three of us brothers will do it together, everybody will reap the benefit. If Xiongdi deceive the two of you, you can dispatch army from Mongolia and Tibet to give the Emperor some trouble; if the Emperor is angry, he would definitely have my head chopped. Two Gege please think, will Xiongdi dare to do you wrong?”

    Sangjie nodded and said, “Well said, you are right.”

    Immediately the three of them arranged the red candle in the hall, kneeled down and bowed toward the outside to become sworn brothers. Sangjie was the oldest, Galdan next, Wei Xiaobao became the third brother. He bowed to the first brother and the second brother, and then also kowtowed to Ah Qi, while calling her ‘Second Sister-in-law’ in a very intimate way. He thought, “Now that you have become my Er Sao, next time I am fooling around with my own wife Ah Ke, I wonder if you’d feel embarrassed to do so.”

    Ah Qi picked up the wine pot and poured four cups; she laughed and said, “Today the three of you boys swore brotherhood, I wish from now on you will carry things through, that you will accomplish this great undertaking. Xiaomei [little sister, referring to self] toast the three of you a cup.”

    Sangjie also laughed; he said, “Naturally I must drink this toast.” Finished speaking, he picked up the wine cup.

    Dage, wait!” Wei Xiaobao hastily said, “This wine is spoiled, it’s not too clean, we must have it replaced. Waiter!” he called out loudly, “Quickly get some wine.” He felt something was not right, “What happened in Lovely Spring Courtyard? It’s been quite a while and I haven’t seen anybody serving us.” But then he remembered, “Ah right, seeing a fight, plus some government officers get killed, the brothel proprietress, the turtle slave must have run far away.”

    Right this moment, he saw a turtle slave came in with head hung low. “What is it?” the man mumbled.

    Wei Xiaobao mused, “The turtle slaves of Lovely Spring Courtyard, which one I did not know? This fellow must be new, how can he be this without-propriety toward the guest? He must be so scared that he turned silly.” He shouted, “Quickly get two pots of wine.”

    “Right away!” the turtle slave replied, turned around and left.

    Looking at the turtle slave’s back, Wei Xiaobao’s heart was moved. “Uh! Who is this man? I have seen him during the day at the Chinese peony garden outside the Chanzhi Temple; how can he be a turtle slave in here? Something’s strange here.” He pondered deeply, and soon his back was wet with cold sweats. “Ah!” he exclaimed, and sprang up.

    “What is it?” Sangjie, Galdan and Ah Qi, three people asked in chorus.

    Wei Xiaobao spoke in a low voice, “This man is Wu Sangui’s martial art expert warrior in disguise. He must have heard everything we said just now.”

    Sangjie and Galdan were shocked; they both said, “In that case we can’t let him live.”

    “Two Gege,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Please … please don’t act too soon. Let’s pretend we did not know, we’ll see how many are they, and … and what trick they are playing.” While saying that, his voice was actually trembling.

    If that turtle slave was really Wu Sangui’s warrior in disguise, he would not be this panic-stricken; actually, that man was Divine Dragon Cult’s Lu Gaoxuan. This man was coming with him from the Divine Dragon Island to Beijing, and had been in contact with Wei Xiaobao for quite a long time. This time his disguise was extremely ingenious, his real face was completely unrecognizable; but looking at his back, Wei Xiaobao had a feeling that it looked familiar. Outside the Chanzhi Temple that day, he had not recognized him; but now at the Lovely Spring Courtyard he saw the same back once again, he felt something was not right, hence he gave it a careful thought, and only then did he realize who the man was.

    If it was only Lu Gaoxuan, one person, Wei Xiaobao had nothing to fear. It seemed that outside the Chanzhi Temple Lu Gaoxuan had overheard Wei Xiaobao accidentally said that he wanted to go to Lovely Spring Courtyard to listen to songs, hence Lu Gaoxuan also came and disguise himself as a turtle slave. But since he was here, most likely Fat and Thin Toutuo were also here. Perhaps even Cult Leader Hong has also personally come. If Wei Xiaobao wanted to repeat his ruse by having Hong Jiaozhu to swear brotherhood with him, to pledge that they were going to die on the same year same month same day, it would be extremely difficult. The more he thought about it, the more he was scared. Beads of sweats appeared on his forehead.

    He saw Lu Gaoxuan came in, carrying a wooden tray with two pots of wine. With his head hung low, he put the wine pots on the table. Wei Xiaobao mused, “He hangs his head low, must be because he is afraid I might see through his disguise. Humph, I wonder who else is coming?” He said, “How come there’s only you in the Courtyard? Quickly call some more people to serve us.”

    Lu Gaoxuan let out an ‘Um’, and quickly turned around and left. Wei Xiaobao said in a low voice, “Da Ge, Er Ge, Er Sao, wait for my signal. If I roll my eyes and throw my head back, you must act immediately, kill whoever comes in. This man has superior martial art skill, it is no small matter.”

    Sangjie and the others nodded their compliance; but in their hearts they thought, “What’s so amazing about Wu Sangui’s warrior even if his martial art skill were higher? There is no need to make such a big fuss over nothing.”

    A moment later, Lu Gaoxuan came back with four prostitutes, who then separately sat by the four people’s side. When Wei Xiaobao saw them, he did not recognize all four prostitutes, they were not the original Misses of the Lovely Spring Courtyard. All four of them were extremely ugly, some had drooping eyes, some had twisted mouth, or sickly yellowish skin or dark skin, or perhaps bumpy face like they had edema, or face full of scars. Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Lovely Spring Courtyard’s girls are very pretty.”

    He saw the one sitting by Sangjie, a young woman with face full of scars, winked at him, and signaled him with her eyes. Wei Xiaobao saw her eyes were alive, her glance was very beautiful; he thought, “These four are from Shen Long Jiao, deliberately disguising themselves like this, but she is repeatedly signaling me with her eyes, I wonder what’s her intention?” He picked the original Mi Chun wine and poured one cup each for the four prostitutes. “Everybody must drink one cup!” he said.

    In the brothels, there was no such thing as the guest pours the wine for the prostitutes. As soon as the guest reaches out toward the wine pot, the prostitute would immediately pour the wine; but these four prostitutes only sat down with their heads hung low. Wei Xiaobao pour the wine for them, unexpectedly the four of them did not say a single word. Wei Xiaobao mused, “These four women masquerade as prostitutes, their skill is extremely lacking.” He said, “You are here to serve the guests, how come you did not understand the custom? You must drink one cup first.” While saying that, he poured another cup and said to Lu Gaoxuan, “Are you new? You can’t even be a turtle. All of you are disrespecting the guest’ wine; if the guest is angry, would he spend his money?”

    Lu Gaoxuan and the four prostitutes thought that it was really a brothel’s custom, they all replied, “Yes!” and picked up the wine and drank it.

    Wei Xiaobao said with a laugh, “Now that’s good. Are there more turtles and prostitutes in the courtyard? Call everybody here for me. Such a big Lovely Spring Courtyard, how come there are only the five of you? I am afraid this is rather strange.”

    The prostitute with swelling yellowish face signaled Lu Gaoxuan with her eyes. Lu Gaoxuan turned around and left. When he returned, he brought two turtle slaves along. With a hoarse voice he said, “No more prostitutes, but we have two more turtles.”

    Wei Xiaobao was secretly amused; he thought, “Prostitutes, turtles, are the terms people say behind your back; you are a turtle slave yourself, how can you say ‘prostitute’ and ‘turtle’? Even if you are a patron of the brothel, you can’t be this rude. In the courtyard, you would say ‘Miss’ and ‘waiter’. I just tested you, and immediately you ‘reveal the horse’s foot’. Humph, humph, Hong Jiaozhu can prophecy with supernatural accuracy, but even in his dream he would never imagine that I, Wei Xiaobao, grew up in this Lovely Spring Courtyard.”

    [1] Wikipedia has a couple articles on Dzungar and Galdan, as well as Sangjie (Sengge). If you are interested, search using those three keywords.

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