How many experts did Zhao Min have working for her?
Zhao Min made a grand entrance at Wudang leading a large number of soldiers disguised as Ming cultists, but also more than 10 experts.
Based on this line from Chapter 24:” 張無忌看這幹人時,只見半數穿著明教教眾的服色,為首的十餘人卻各穿本服,想是自高身份,不願 冒充旁人。”
There were at least around a dozen men who did not wear Ming Cult clothes, and Zhang Wuji thought they must have a high position and refuse to disguise themselves.
A few of those experts used their internal energy to project their voice, so that Zhang Sangfeng could hear. They were challenging and mocking Zhang Sanfeng.
張三丰道:「這拳勁首要在似松非松,將展未展,勁斷意不斷……」正要往下解說,只聽得前面三清殿上遠遠傳來 一個蒼老悠長的聲音:「張三丰老道既然縮頭不出,咱們把他徒子徒孫先行宰了。」另一個粗豪的聲音道:「好啊 !先一把火燒了這道觀再說。」又有一個尖銳的聲音道:「燒死老道,那是便宜了他。咱們擒住了他,綁到各處門 派中遊行示眾,讓大家瞧瞧這武學泰斗老而不死的模樣。」後山小院和前殿相距二里有餘,但這幾個人的語聲都清 楚傳至,足見敵人有意炫示功力,而功力確亦不凡。
After Zhao Min fails to convince Zhang Sanfeng to surrender, she turns around and smiles:” Since Master Zhang is so stubborn, I don’t want to say anything else. I would like all of you to join me.” Then, a large fellow bows slightly to her and moves away. Four figures behind Zhao Min sunddely move forward and surround Zhang Sanfeng. One is a muscular tall man, the second man was dressed in rags (like a beggar), the third was a thin and tall monk and the fourth was a bearded man with blue eyes from the Western Regions.
Zhang Wuji was shocked to see how fast or steadily they moved and thought:” How does Miss Zhao have so many experts at her command?” Each of them is formidable based on the movements they make.
趙敏白玉般的左手輕輕一揮,那大漢躬身退開。她微微一笑,說道:「張真人既如此固執,暫且不必說了。就請各 位一起跟我走罷!」說著站起身來,她身後四個人身形晃動,團團將張三丰圍住。這四人一個便是那魁梧大漢,一 個鶉衣百結,一個是身形瘦削的和尚,另一個虯髯碧眼,乃西域胡人. 張無忌見這四人的身法或凝重、或飄逸,個個非同小可,心頭一驚:「這趙姑娘手下,怎地竟有如許高手?」眼見 張三丰若不隨她而去,那四人便要出手,張無忌心想:「敵人甚眾,這一班人又儘是奸詐無恥、不顧信義之輩,非 圍攻光明頂的六大派可比。我實不易保護太師父和三師伯的平安。就算擊敗了其中數人,他們也決計不肯服輸,勢 必一擁而上。但事已至此,也只有竭力一拼,最好是能將趙姑娘擒了過來,脅迫對方。」
The muscular fellow is certainly not A San, because this unnamed muscular guy does have a short duel with Wei Yixiao, who wins with the help of Shuobude via a sneak attack. I think from memory the TVB adaptation from 1985 had this correct. The only difference is that in the book he does not die. They were evenly matched in the novel.
Below is the description of Fang Dongbai (A Da,), A Er and A San, they differ from those four described above. So, Zhao Min could have had nine experts at her command (including the Xuanming Elders). It is a shame that those four unnamed ones were forgotten by the writer and were replaced by Tibetan lamas who were somewhat weaker unless they used formation or those mini formations.
只見那阿大是個精幹枯瘦的老者,雙手捧著一柄長劍,赫然便是那柄倚天寶劍。這人身材瘦長,滿臉皺紋,愁眉苦 臉,似乎剛才給人痛毆了一頓,要不然便是新死了妻子兒女,旁人只要瞧他臉上神情,幾乎便要代他傷心落淚。那 阿二同樣的枯瘦,身材略矮,頭頂心滑油油地,禿得不剩半根頭髮,兩邊太陽穴凹了進去,深陷半寸。那阿三卻是 精壯結實,虎虎有威,臉上、手上、項頸之中,凡是可見到肌肉處,盡皆盤根虯結,似乎周身都是精力,脹得要爆 炸出來,他左頰上有顆黑痣,黑痣上生著一叢長毛。張三丰、殷天正、楊逍等人看了這三人情狀,心 下都是一驚。
Zhao Min or the Prince of Ruyang did very well in recruiting experts. Poor Wanyan Honglie had to do with Ouyang Ke, Lingzhi, Sha Tongtian, Peng Lianhu, Liang Ziweng and Hou Tonghai. He did get a boost from Qiu Qianren and unofficial ally, Ouyang Feng. HR in the Late Jin Empire was not doing its job properly.