Chapter - 43 (43) (1/2)
Hazy sky outside the imperial watchtower at Jiu Zhong [nine heavy] city walls, blowing wind and cloud spitting discontent.
The next day Wei Xiaobao took his leave from the host, and then he and Chen Jinnan went separately to the Capital. Chen Jinnan said, ”Xiaobao, Gui Er Xia, husband and wife are going to assassinate the Emperor. They have agreed to accept the decision after everybody has discussed it over. When you reach Beijing, you must not notify the Emperor so that he will be on guard.”
Wei Xiaobao did indeed have this intention, but since his Shifu hit the nail on the head, he hastily said, ”Of course; his Tatars occupy our Han people's rivers and mountains, I became an official in the imperial court under Shifu, you, Senior's order, how can I support him for real?”
”Then so be it,” Chen Jinnan said, ”If you say something without meaning it, and do something to let everybody down, I will be the first who will not spare you.”
”Shifu, please let your hundred and twenty hearts at ease,” Wei Xiaobao said, while in his heart he said, ”Let your hundred and nineteen hearts at ease! I, myself, am not too much at ease.”
Taking Shuang'er, Xu Tianchuan and the others, he went back to where Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, and the others were waiting. With Mao Dongzhu in custody, they returned to Beijing.
As soon as he was back at the Tong Maozi Lane, he immediately wanted to see Kangxi, thinking, ”The young Emperor is my good friend, how can I let him die under those three turtles' hands? I got it; I will go to the Palace and order the Imperial Bodyguards to be on high alert, to form tight security. I promised Shifu I won't tell the Emperor, a real man speaks and keeps his promise, I can't tell him then I won't tell him, but I can prevent those three turtles from succeeding.”
Just when he was going out the door, Chen Jinnan, taking Gu Zhizhong and Ma Chaoxing, arrived. Wei Xiaobao groaned inwardly. ”How could you arrive so quickly?” he thought in his heart. Without any choice he raised his spirit to prepare the reception banquet.
Not long afterwards one after another Tian Di Hui warriors arrived in small groups, followed by Mu Jiansheng, leading his companions, the Iron Back Blue Dragon Liu Dahong, Shaking-Head Lion Wu Lishen, Divine Physician Hermit Su Gang and the others also arrived. Actually Mu Palace people were already in Beijing; they came together after they received the information about the conference.
Everybody finished eating and drinking, and waited for quite a long time before the three Gui Family arrived. Wei Xiaobao ordered his servants to prepare another banquet. ”We already ate,” Gui Erniang said indifferently.
Gui Zhong glanced around; looking at the grand and luxurious mansion he said, ”Baby, the appearance of your house is not too far below Ping Xi Wang's Wuhua Palace. You did not lie, Wu Sangui is indeed your Bofu [father's elder brother].”
”Right,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Wu Sangui is your …” when he said the word 'your', suddenly he closed his mouth, thinking that if blurted out that sentence casually, Shifu must be angry with him. Thereupon he changed his statement to, ”Since the three of you have already eaten, please come to the eastern hall to have some tea.”
They all went to the eastern hall to enjoy some green tea and light refreshments, and then Wei Xiaobao sent all the servants out. Chen Jinnan also sent a dozen or so Society brethren to guard around and on the roof of the hall before he closed the door, bolted it, and started the meeting.
Chen Jinnan introduced Gui family husband and wife with the Mu Palace people, but he did not mention anything about Wu Liuqi. Although Gui family husband and wife had lived in seclusion for a long time, Liu Dahong, Wu Lishen, and the others were still full of admirations, they were very respectful to them.
Gui Erniang got straight to the point, ”After declaring war Wu Sangui attacked Hunan and Sichuan. The power of his troops is very sharp, as they swept everything. Although in the past Wu Sangui surrendered to the Tatars and forfeited the Great Ming's world, his crime was great, his evil extreme, but he is, after all, still one of our Han people. In our Gui Er Ye's [second master] opinion, we want to enter the Palace and assassinate the Tatar Emperor, so that the Tatars will be like a dragon without a head, and will be thrown into confusion. Gentlemen, what's your wise opinion?”
Mu Jiansheng said, ”Surely the Tatar Emperor ought to be killed, but if we do that, won't that mean we give Wu Sangui that traitor a big help?”
Gui Erniang said, ”In the past Wu Sangui killed Mu Wangye, naturally Mu Gongzi does not want to let him off. But the distinction between Manchurian and Han is of utmost importance, we must kill the Tatars first, it won't be too late to slowly deal with Wu Sangui later.”
Liu Dahong said, ”If in this rebellion Wu Sangui triumphs over the opponent, he himself will become the Emperor; to shake him later will not be easy. In Wanbei's [Junior] opinion, we'll let the Tatars and Wu Sangui massacre each other, fighting desperately against each other until you die, I live. And then we'll reap the benefit of spreading the net over them. Thus Junior believes that it is inadvisable to assassinate the Tatar Emperor right now.” Although he had a chin full of white beard, Gui Family husband and wife had made their name long time ago, thus the reason he called himself 'Junior'. Mu Palace's enmity against Wu Sangui was as deep as the ocean; they would be very pleased to see his destruction first.
Gui Erniang said, ”Wu Sangui is fighting for the Ming to demand prisoner of war, to rise the banner in assistance of the Third Zhu Crown Prince to ascend the throne. Here we have dispatch order from Wu Sangui, everybody please see.” From her pocket she took a large sheet of paper and spread it out on the table.
Chen Jinnan immediately read it aloud, ”Former Shanhai Pass Guard Zongbing, current grand marshal under imperial orders to preside over water and land under the heaven, great general Wu to rise the Ming to demand prisoner of war, writing to make all civil and military officers, government officers, military soldiers and common citizens under the heavens know: our garrison profoundly received the benefit of the Great Ming's nobility rank, to unite the garrisons of the Shanhai Pass …”
Chen Jinnan knew that most warriors did not understand literature; he read several sentences, then explained these sentences. After explaining clearly the first paragraph, he continued reading. The following section explained how Li Zicheng broke into Beijing, how Chongzhen returned to Heaven, how in order to avenge his lord father's enmity he acted against his will to turn toward Manchurian Qing's troops and gave them the opportunity to break in. After that he said, ”Fortunately the main offender received favor under successive rulers, inherited command, received duty to guard the border, compensated the Manchu tribal chief. Caught unprepared by the deceit of going against the oath to the Heaven, availing myself to my inner void, grandly I seize Yanjing [old name for Beijing]. Humbly I become the divine tool of the former Dynasty, transforming my China's crown and lower garment: fully aware that I must repel the entering wolves, and correcting the mistake of carrying firewood to put out a fire.”
Gui Erniang said, ”Afterwards he was aware that lending assistance to Manchu troop was wrong, unfortunately it was too late.”
”Humph,” Liu Dahong snorted, ”That traitor really know how to talk, it's all a lie.”
”Chen Zongduozhu,” Gui Erniang said, ”Please read on.”
”Yes!” Chen Jinnan said, and continued reading, ”Our garrison pierce the heart and vomit blood, my remorse reaches the extreme, desiring to return to the north, wiping out the stench, receiving the late Emperor's Third Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was only three years old, he did not remember the assassination, he lived as an orphan, he depended on his ancestor's associates. For the time being drinking blood, waiting patiently, growing up in the dark waiting for an opportunity, selecting generals training soldiers, secretly drawing plans to rise and restore, until today, thirty years later!”
Listening to this part, Liu Dahong could not hold his patience any longer. He slapped the table and said, ”Fart! Fart! This thief with a heart of wolf and lungs of dog whom the Heaven and the Earth cannot tolerate, if he really have half a heart of rising and restoring the Great Ming, why did he murder Emperor Yongli in the past? The Crown Prince Yongli! This matter is well known throughout the world, how would you deny that?”
When the crowd of heroes saw the look of Liu Dahong's halberd-like eyebrows, none did not admire his loyalty. They thought that the fact that twelve years ago in Kunming City Wu Sangui hanged Emperor Yongli, father and son, could not be disputed.
Gui Erniang said, ”Liu Dage is not wrong, Wu Sangui is definitely not a loyal subject or a patriot, even a three-year old knows that. The reason we want to assassinate the Tatar Emperor is to fight the Qing and restore the Ming, it is not to help Wu Sangui to become the Emperor.”
Chen Jinnan said, ”Let me finish reading this dispatch order, everybody may take your time in reaching the decision.” He continued reading, ”And now, to capture the tyrannical tribal chief, crafty and evil person of high status, let the scholars of righteousness and justice, colleagues who know: narrow-minded generation, all occupying prominent post …” Reading to this point, he laughed toward Wei Xiaobao and said, ”Xiaobao, this sentence is talking about you.”
Listening to his Shifu reading the document, Wei Xiaobao only felt that his intonation, the falling and rising of his voice was very pleasant to hear. Suddenly he heard that Wu Sangui's document was mentioning him, he could not help but was pleasantly surprised. ”Shifu,” he hastily asked, ”What did he say about me? That fellow can't be talking anything good about me.”
Chen Jinnan said, ”He said that well-educated, virtuous good men only become sesame-seed and mung-bean petty officials; those fellows without any skill whatsoever can be high-ranking officer. Isn't he talking about you?”
”What about himself?” Wei Xiaobao said, ”His official rank is higher than mine; wouldn't it mean that he is more useless than I am?”
Everybody roared in laughter; they said, ”That's right! No one in the imperial court has a higher official position than Ping Xi Qin Wang.”
The final paragraph of the document said, ”The mountains miserable the water anxious, women cry children sob, to such an extent as the comets fell the sky above shows its wrath, the landslide the soil cracks, the earth below voices its complaint. Our garrison look upward to observe and look down to examine, in sincerity dispatching expedition against cruelty to rescue the people, obeying the Heaven responding to the people's days. Lovingly forecasting the first day of the first month of the Jiayin year [51
st
year of the 60-year cycle], respectfully presenting to the Crown Prince, offering sacrifice to inform the heaven and earth, in veneration ascending the great treasure. Establishing the first Zhou consultant.”
Finished reading, Chen Jinnan explained the document. With the exception of Chen Jinnan and Mu Jiansheng two people, these people had never read any literary works, they all thought that this dispatch order seemed to be clear and logical; if there was anything not right in it, they could not tell.
Mu Jiansheng pondered deeply for a moment before saying, ”Chen Zongduozhu, if he wanted to present tribute to the Third Crown Prince Zhu and offer him to ascend the Great Treasure, why didn't he reinstating the Great Ming's dynasty title, but wanted to change the dynasty title to Zhou? There must be a very big hole in his argument. Let alone we do not know if the Third Crown Prince Zhu or what have you is real or fake; nobody has ever heard anything about him, but all of a sudden he appeared without a head without a brain. Most likely Wu Sangui went out to find a child who does not understand anything, and called him the Third Crown Prince Zhu to appeal to the heart of the people, while in reality he would use him as a puppet.” Everybody nodded their agreement.
Gui Erniang said, ”Wu Sangui uses the Third Crown Prince Zhu as his puppet, naturally I do not doubt it. Whether this person is real or fake, there is not much difference. It's just that the Third Crown Prince Zhu is not a little child, the late Emperor died for his country already thirty years ago, if the Third Crown Prince Zhu is real, at least he would also be in his thirties.”
Wei Xiaobao said, ”Thirty something baby who does not understand anything is not nonexistent, hee … hee …” While saying that he cast a glance toward Gui Zhong.
Several warriors were not able to stifle their laughter. Gui Erniang's eyebrows stood up, she was about to lose her temper, but then she had a second thought: Wei Xiaobao was right, her own precious son was already over thirty years of age, but he was still a little baby who did not understand anything. She could not help sighing softly.
They talked for a long time. Some proposed to leave Kangxi alone and get rid of Wu Sangui first, and then draw a plan to restore the country; some thought that although Wu Sangui was crafty and evil, in the end he was still a Han, they ought to help him driving out the Tatars, after the Han people's rivers and mountains were restored, then they would remove him. They kept debating on and on but could not reach the final conclusion. After a long time, they all turned their eyes toward Chen Jinnan, knowing that he was resourceful, certainly he would have a wise opinion.
Chen Jinnan said, ”We attach most importance to our country. If at this moment we kill Kangxi, admittedly Wu Sangui's momentum will get a lot of boost. But Taiwan's Zheng Wangye can also cross the ocean and attack to the west; their troops could enter via Fujian and Zhejiang, and attacked straight toward Jiangsu. With this east-west converging attack, the Tatars will definitely collapse. At that time, if Wu Sangui wants to be the Emperor, Zheng Wangye's force, combined with Mu Palace, Tian Di Hui and heroes from all over the world will be able to control and overpower him.”
Su Gang coldly said, ”By saying that, isn't Chen Zongduozhu leaning somewhat heavily toward the Taiwan's Zheng Wangye?”
Chen Jinnan replied sternly, ”Zheng Wangye's loyalty is well-known throughout the world, could it be that Su Xiong did not believe him?”
Su Gang said, ”Chen Zongduozhu is loyal, brave and chivalrous, everybody respect and submit to you. But by Zheng Wangye's side, devious and despicable lowly people are abounded.”
Wei Xiaobao could not bear not to speak up, ”That is absolutely correct; take that 'One Sword Without Blood' Feng Xifan for example, and then there is Zheng Wangye's younger son Zheng Keshuang. They all are not good people.”
Hearing that Wei Xiaobao did not align himself with him, Chen Jinnan was slightly surprised; but thinking that what he said was not wrong, he could not refrain from heaving a sigh.
Gui Erniang said, ”Driving out the Tatars is the most important task; as for who will be the Emperor, we have no right to interfere. Fighting the Qing is something we have to do, whether we restore the Ming or not, there is no harm in discussing it slowly. Emperor Chongzhen of the Great Ming was not a good thing anyway.”
Chen Jinnan and Mu Palace warriors had always been loyal to Zhu Family of Ming; as soon as they heard that, their countenances changed greatly. Mu Jiansheng said, ”If we fail to support the offspring of the Zhu Clan to regain the throne, won't that mean we are supporting that big traitor Wu Sangui?”
Gui Zhong suddenly said, ”Wu Sangui is a good man. He gave me this white tiger skin to be made as my robe. Have you seen it?” While saying that, he opened up the lapel of his robe to expose the white tiger skin underneath, seemingly very pleased with himself.
Gui Erniang said, ”Child, don't talk nonsense in here.”
With a cold laugh Su Gang said, ”In Gui Shaoye's opinion, a leather robe is more important than our Han's rivers and mountains.”
”Child,” Gui Erniang angrily said, ”Take that leather robe off!”
Gui Zhong was shocked, ”But why?” he asked.
Gui Xinshu stretched out his hand to pull the sword hanging on his son's waist. White light flashed, 'swish, swish!' the sword in Gui Xinshu's hand continuously flitted across his son's chest, back, shoulders and arms. Everybody was shocked; they all leaped back from their chairs, they thought Gui Xinshu was killing his son. But then they saw that the leather robe Gui Zhong was wearing had become seventeen or eighteen pieces, falling around his body, revealing the short silk, cotton-padded undergarments. Gui Xinshu's sword moved very fast; it cut the leather robe into pieces, yet it did not touch the cotton-padded silk undergarments at all. When the crowd of warriors had seen clearly, they all cheered.
Gui Zhong was so scared that he could only stared blankly, while coughing incessantly. He almost cried as he said, ”Dad … (cough, cough) … (cough, cough) … Dad … (cough) … I …”
Gui Xinshu waved his hand, the sword went back into its sheath, and then he took off his own cotton robe and draped it over his son's body. ”Put it on!” he said.
Gui Erniang picked up the pieces of white tiger skin from the floor and threw them into the blazing stove; immediately the fire blazed higher, a burst of burning leather smell arose, the white tiger was gradually burned into ashes. ”What a pity, what a pity,” Wei Xiaobao repeatedly stated.
”Let's go,” Gui Xinshu said. He pulled his son's hand and led him toward the door.
Chen Jinnan said, ”Gui Er Xia is going to attempt great things, we would like to offer some plans.”
”I do not dare!” Gui Xinshu said, ”No need!” While saying that, he walked toward the door of the hall.
Wei Xiaobao knew Gui Xinshu was going to make his move at once, it would be too late to inform the Emperor, he must use all kinds of delaying tactics. Blocking in front of Gui Xinshu, he said in a loud voice, ”The number of rooms in the Palace, if not ten thousands, then there are at least five thousands. Do you know where the Tatar Emperor live?”
Gui Xinshu was startled; he realized these words made a lot of sense. Turning his head around he asked, ”Do you?”
Wei Xiaobao shook his head, ”Nobody does,” he said, ”Tatar Emperor is afraid someone might come to assassinate him, each night he moves from place to place to sleep. Sometimes he sleeps at the Chang Chun [eternal spring (season)] Palace, sometimes he sleeps at the Jing Yang [Bright (scenery) Positive] Palace, sometimes he sleeps at the Xian Fu [harmonious good fortune] Palace, Yan Xi [extended joy] Palace, or perhaps at the Li Jing [beautiful scenery] Pavilion, Yu Hua [rain flower] Loft, or Yu Qing [nurturing (a child) celebration] Palace.” In one breath he mentioned seven or eight different Palace or Pavilion names.
Listening to him, Gui Xinshu frowned. Wei Xiaobao added, ”Even the court eunuchs and Imperial Bodyguards who serve on the Emperor's side do not know where the Emperor will sleep tonight.”
”So how are we going to find the Emperor?” Gui Xinshu asked.
Wei Xiaobao said, ”When the Emperor holds the morning audience, all civil and military officials will see him. As he entered the building, he will come to see you, others will never find him.” Actually the situation was not as dire as he made it to be, Kangxi did not frequently move around to lie down, but Gui Xinshu, husband and wife, were 'uncultivated land' and 'cloth clothes'; how could they know the Imperial Palace's inner courtyards' practices? Hearing Wei Xiaobao's crazy nonsense, they thought that the Emperor taking strict precautions against assassins was rightly so, hence they were greatly hesitating.
Looking at Gui Xinshu's expression, Wei Xiaobao knew that he realized the difficulty of this situation; in his heart Wei Xiaobao was very pleased. ”Gui Laoyezi [old master],” he asked, ”Do you know how many concubines the Emperor has?”
”Humph,” Gui Xinshu snorted; he stared at Wei Xiaobao without saying anything.
Wei Xiaobao said, ”The storytellers said that the Emperor has three palaces and six courtyards, the chambers of imperial concubines' beautiful girls … beautiful women are around three thousand. The Tatar Emperor does not have that many wives, I don't think he has three thousand, but I'll say he has at least eight or nine hundreds. Every night he becomes the groom; today he sleeps at the 351
st
imperial concubine's room, tomorrow he'll sleep at the 634
th
imperial concubine's room. Even the imperial concubines themselves will not know where the Emperor will spend the night. They might have to wait three years, four years, and still do not know if the Emperor is coming or not.”
”Xiaobao,” Chen Jinnan said, ”You have lived in the Palace for a long time, you must know a way to find the Emperor.”
Wei Xiaobao replied, ”During the day it is easy to find him, but in the night, no matter what I have no idea how to find him.”
Chen Jinnan said, ”In that case, during the day tomorrow we disguise ourselves and with you leading us, we'll sneak into the Palace to execute the mission. Last time didn't you take Qian Xiongdi and Wu Er Ge in and out of the Palace?” While saying that he pointed to Qian Laoben and Wu Lishen, two men.
”Qian Dage only went as far as the imperial kitchen,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”As soon as Wu Er Ge and the others entered the Palace, the bodyguards … the bodyguards discovered them. To see the Emperor's face, it was still a hundred and eight thousand li away. Qian Dage, Wu Er Ge, don't you agree?”
Qian and Wu, two men, nodded their heads. The two of them knew that to enter the Palace and look for the Emperor was like fishing a needle from the bottom of the ocean.
”Disciple has a way,” Wei Xiaobao said.
”What way?” Chen Jinnan asked.
Wei Xiaobao said, ”Disciple is going to see the Emperor tomorrow, he will surely want to talk about Wu Sangui's rebellion, how to send the troops to fight, disciple will advise him to come out and inspect the cannon. As long as he is out of the Palace, it would be a lot easier to make our move. Whether the assassination attempt is successful or not, we can put oil on the soles of our feet, and will be able to escape a lot easier; it will be a lot less dangerous.”
With a cold laugh Gui Erniang said, ”So the Emperor will listen to you, a baby? If you do not come out of the Palace for three years, do you think we should wait for three years? You use all sorts of excuses, in the end you are not willing to lead us in, is that it?”
Mu Jiansheng said, ”To enter the Palace and assassinate the Emperor, Xiongdi has done it. It was shameful actually, our Mu Palace lost quite a number of Xiongdi. My own little sister, along with Fang Shimei, also this Wu Shishu, as well as two other Shidi, were trapped inside the Palace and met quite an unexpected fate. Fortunately we received Wei Xiangzhu's help for the sake of loyalty before we could get out of the danger. It's not that we are coward who are afraid to die, this matter is truly difficult to succeed.”
Gui Erniang looked coldly at Wei Xiaobao; she asked, ”You can rescue them out of danger?”
Wu Lishen hastily said, ”Although Wei Xiangzhu is young, his benevolence and righteousness surpass others, he is quick-witted and smart; Xiongdi owes my life entirely to him.”
Gui Erniang said, ”Mu Palace failed, that does not necessarily mean that surnamed Gui will also fail for sure.”
Liu Dahong stood up abruptly and said, ”Gui Family husband and wife are Divine Fist Without Equal; it's only natural that you surpass us, tiny Mu Palace, by a hundredfold. I would suggest you go at once, we will be waiting in here for good news.”
A brother from Great Benevolence Hall said, ”Wei Xiangzhu, you'd better also go to the Palace. Wait until the Gui Family Three Da Xia [big hero] are captured by the Tatar bodyguards, you'd better find a way to rescue them.” He was still bitter over the Gui Family, three people murdered Wu Liuqi, so that even though they were in the presence of their Zongduozhu, he could not refrain from mocking them a bit.
Wei Xiaobao cursed in his heart, ”If the three of you turtles enter the Palace and are caught, even if my head is chopped I won't save you out.” He laughed and said, ”How can the Gui Family Three Da Xia be caught by the Tatar bodyguards? There are more than eight thousand Imperial Bodyguards in the Palace, Gui Shaoye only needs to cough several times, these more than eight thousand guards will have their brains shaken and die.” Quite a number of people from Tian Di Hui and Mu Palace broke out in laughter.
Gui Zhong laughed. ”Is there really such thing?” he said, ”That will be really fun. So they are afraid to hear my (cough … cough, cough) …? (Cough, cough) … (cough, cough) …” The Gui couple was furious; one of them grabbed their son's arm and the three of them walked out side-by-side.
”Gui Er Xia,” Chen Jinnan said, ”Please calm down. Xiongdi has a plan.”
Gui Erniang always knew that Chen Jinnan was full of stratagems; she turned around, waiting for him to continue.
Chen Jinnan said, ”Gui Er Xia virtuous husband and wife are exceptionally skillful in martial arts, you are unequaled in the present age, but you are entering a very dangerous ground, all in all there will be multitude of enemies, but only a few friends. We'd better discuss a foolproof plan to …”
Gui Erniang cut him off, ”I thought Chen Zongduozhu really had a brilliant idea, humph!” Turning around again, she walked toward the door.
Liu Dahong and Wu Lishen suddenly rushed forward and blocked the door. Liu Dahong said, ”If the two of you want to help Wu Sangui, we from Mu Palace absolutely will not allow it to happen.”
”What?” Gui Erniang said, ”You want to fight?”
Liu Dahong said, ”The two of you might better kill me and my martial brothers clean first before going out this door to lend a hand to Wu Sangui.”
”Who says we are going to lend a hand to Wu Sangui?” Gui Erniang said.
Liu Dahong said, ”Although the two of you do not have any intention to help that traitor Wu, but if you succeed, that traitor Wu's momentum will gain a lot of boost, he cannot be controlled anymore.”
”Get out of the way,” Gui Xinshu said in a low voice, while taking a step forward.
Liu Dahong spread his arms to block the door. Gui Xinshu stretched his left hand forward to grab Liu Dahong's chest. Liu Dahong raised his hand to parry, 'smack!' two palms collided, Liu Dahong's body swayed two times, his entire face turned deathly pale. ”I only used fifty-percent of my power,” Gui Xinshu said.
Wu Lishen shook his head and said, ”There is no harm in you using a hundred-percent of your power so that all of us martial brothers will die violently.”
Gui Zhong said, ”You want a hundred-percent, I'll give you a hundred-percent.” He raised both hands, one bent close to his body, the other outstretched. Wu Lishen stretched out his arm to parry. Gui Zhong pulled his hand back, Wu Lishen struck an empty space. Gui Zhong seized the opportunity when Wu Lishen was about to pull his hand back, quick as lightning his hands grabbed the acupoints on Wu Lishen's chest and waist.
Chen Jinnan rushed forward to stop them. ”We are all good friends here,” he persuaded, ”Let's not use force.”
Wei Xiaobao said, ”We all argue incessantly, in the end we still don't have any solution. Let's do it this way: we throw dice, leave it all to luck. If Gui Laoyezi wins, not only we will not hinder the three of you from entering the Palace, Wanbei [junior] will explain in details the situation in the Palace to the two of you.”
”And if you win?” Gui Erniang asked.
Wei Xiaobao replied, ”In that case we will put this matter on the shelf for the time being, after Wu Sangui is dead, we will make our move against the Emperor.”
Gui Erniang thought, ”If we do it on our own, Mu Family will most likely go to inform the Tatars, in the end this matter will be difficult to accomplish. We might as well listen to him.” She turned to ask her husband, ”Er Ye [second master], what do you think?”
Gui Xinshu said to Wei Xiaobao, ”If you lose you must not go back on your word.”
Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, ”A real man gave his words, dead horses cannot pull it back. The Tatar young Emperor is not my laozi [old man], why would I want to protect him? It's just that if we win, we must win it heroically, if we lose, we must lose gracefully. No matter who wins or loses, we must not harm our friendship.”
Chen Jinnan thought that his last sentence made a lot of sense; he said, ”This matter involves great responsibility, in the end it will affect the calamity or good fortune of our great undertaking of restoring our country; it is difficult to predict. People of old used divination when they were in doubt, we will roll the dice, the idea is the same. Everybody needs not argue opinionatedly, let's depend on the Will of Heaven.”
Gui Erniang said, ”Child, let him go.”
”I won't,” Gui Zhong replied.
”This little brother wants to play with you by rolling the dice,” Gui Erniang said.
Gui Zhong was delighted; immediately he relinquished his grip, releasing the acupoint on Wu Lishen's chest. Wu Lishen felt the pain on the pit of his stomach was unbearable, his breathing could not flow freely, he shook his head continuously.
”Gui Shaoye,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Please take your dice out. We'll use yours.”
”Dice?” Gui Zhong asked, ”I don't have any. Do you have some?”
”I don't have it either,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Who has some dice?” he asked around. Everybody slowly shook their head, they all thought, ”We are not rotten gambling ghost, who would carry dice everywhere?”
Gui Erniang said, ”No dice, we'll flip a coin.”
”Throwing dice is more fair,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Genuine goods at fair prices, cheating neither old nor young. I am a boy, Gui Shaoye is an old gentleman, thus it is clear that we must throw dice. I am sure one of the personal guards would have some dice; I'll go ask.” Finished speaking, he pulled the bolt, open the door, and went out of the hall.
He went out of the eastern hall, entered the main hall, and fetched six dice from his pouch. The dice were the talisman that he carried everywhere, but if he took out dice on the spot, Gui Family husband and wife would definitely suspect him. He sat down in the main hall for a moment before returning to the east hall and said with a laugh, ”I found some dice.”
”How do you decide winning or losing?” Gui Erniang asked.
Wei Xiaobao said, ”The trick in throwing dice, I don't understand the least bit. Gui Shaoye, how do you say we must gamble?”
Gui Zhong picked up two dice and said, ”You and I compete in accuracy.” His finger flicked, 'chi, chi!' the two dice flew and extinguished two candles, followed by 'pop, pop!' the two dice embedded itself into the wooden partition. The crowd of warriors broke into praise, ”Good skill!”
Wei Xiaobao said, ”I have seen people throwing the dice; it's a competition of the number of dots, big or small, not a competition of secret projectile throwing skill.”
”That's right!” Gui Erniang said, ”The two of you throw one time, who has the bigger number of dots wins.”
Wei Xiaobao thought, ”Only throwing one time, maybe his luck is really good, all at once he rolls thirty-six dots.” Thereupon he said, ”Let's do it this way: each one of us will throw three times, two out of three will win.”
Gui Zhong thought that the more they throw the dice the more he would have fun. He said, ”Each one of us will throw three hundred times, whoever wins two hundred times will be considered the winners.”
”That will be too much trouble,” Gui Erniang said, ”Each one throwing three times is enough.”
Xu Tianchuan pulled the two dice embedded into the wooden partition and put them on the table. ”Gui Shaoye,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”You throw first.”
Gui Zhong picked up the dice, and with a giggle he was ready to throw. ”Hold on!” Gui Erniang said. Turning her head, he asked Liu Dahong and Mu Jiansheng, ”If we win this game, will Mu Palace be considered lost too?”
Just now Liu Dahong exchanged a palm strike with Gui Xinshu, the blood and chi in his chest was still bubbling up, by this time he had not been able to regulate it yet; he thought that the opponent had said that he was only using fifty-percent of his power, this man was a senior hero, it must be not an empty word. If he really wanted to go to the Palace to assassinate the Emperor, based on Mu Palace's power alone, how could they stop him? Thereupon he nodded. Mu Jiansheng said, ”Let the Heaven reveal its will, the decision will be based entirely on the throw of the two gentlemen.”
”Very well!” Gui Erniang said. Turning to Gui Zhong she said, ”Throw it! The bigger the number of dots the better.”
Gui Zhong examined the dice carefully. He said, ”The biggest number of dots is six, the smallest is two, and then there is this big indentation here.”
”That big indentation is one dot,” Gui Erniang said.
Gui Zhong said, ”It's so weird, the four dots are red.” Waving his right palm, 'Slap!' the six dice went into the tabletop, all top surfaces had six dots on them. Turned out he arranged the dice on his palm, with all dice have one dot facing up, so that when he slammed the dice down, naturally all six dots were facing up.
Everybody was stunned, but they were also amused. This tuberculosis ghost seemed too weak to stand up to the wind, yet his internal energy was surprisingly this deep; but where in the world would there be throwing dice technique like this?
”Child,” Gui Erniang said, ”That's not the way to throw the dice.” Stretching out her palm, she slapped the table once, the six dice immediately jumped up. Everybody cheered. Gui Erniang picked up the dice and rolled it gently. She said, ”Whatever dots come up, that will be the number of dots you get. You can't rely on your own desire.”
”So that's how you do it,” Gui Zhong said. Imitating his mother's movement, he picked up the dice and gently tossed them on the table. The dice rolled. When they stopped, the number of dots was twenty. Six dice produced twenty dots, the chance of winning was slightly higher.
Wei Xiaobao picked up the dice, his little finger pushed a little bit, he was secretly employing his trick, and then he shouted, ”Eat 'em all!” while throwing the dice away. Five dice stopped to show seventeen dots, the last dice continued rolling. Based on Wei Xiaobao's skill in cheating, the last die should stop at six dots, bringing the total to twenty-three dots, then he would win the first throw. Who would have thought that the die suddenly tripped into a little hole on the table, one of the holes created by Gui Zhong when he slammed the dice just a moment ago. The die shook slightly and stopped rolling altogether. The top surface showed one dot. Eighteen dots; he lost.
Wei Xiaobao said, ”There are holes on the table, this one did not count.”
He picked up the dice and was about to throw again. Chen Jinnan shook his head and said, ”This is the Will of Heaven, you lost the first round.”
Wei Xiaobao thought, ”There are two more throws, I will definitely win.” He handed the dice to Gui Zhong.
Gui Zhong won the first round, he was extremely pleased with himself. He gently rolled the dice, but only got nine dots. When Mu family people saw that this round his lost was guaranteed, they could not help but standing up and cheering.
Wei Xiaobao walked around the table to another corner, far from the six little holes, and threw the dice over there. Unexpectedly he got four dice at six dots each, and two dice at five dots each, bringing the total to thirty-four. Any combination of two dice already won. The victory was completely without any surprise without any risk.
Both sides had won one round each, the third throw would decide win or loss. Gui Zhong threw the dice. Six dice rolled around for a good while, finally they stopped at thirty-one dots, the chance of winning was very high. Anxiety reappeared on the Mu Family's people's faces, thinking that to beat these thirty-one dots they would need enormous good luck. But Wei Xiaobao was not worried at all, he thought, ”I will use the same trick, I'll throw thirty-four dots to beat you.”
With little finger pressed on the hollow of his palm, he set up the position of the dice and then gently rolled them out. He saw the six dice rolled on the table and stopped one by one; six dots, five dots, five dots, six dots … the first four dice all produced big numbers, he already had twenty-two dots. The fifth die also stopped at six dots, bringing the total to twenty-eight dots. The last die was still spinning. If it stopped at three, it would be a draw, then they would have to throw another round. One or two dots would mean he lost; four, five or six would give him victory. His chance of winning was 60%. Wei Xiaobao thought, ”Even if it is three dots and we have to throw one more time, you won't necessarily have the same good luck.”
The last die seemed to roll endlessly; they saw that it was going to land on six. ”Good!” he shouted excitedly. Suddenly the die flipped over and rolled again. He was stunned. ”There's a ghost!” he cried out.
When he took a glance, he saw Gui Xinshu was blowing gently toward the dice. Right this moment, the die stopped rolling, the big indentation was facing up to the morning sky. It was one dot. Everybody shouted in chorus.
Wei Xiaobao was shocked and angered at the same time, he had seen people cheating in dice countless times, but to see people blowing on the dice to flip it over, this was his very first time; he had never even heard about it before. This old man's internal energy was outstanding to the extreme, he was able to blow a thin stream of air; not only he was able to turn the six dots into one, perhaps when Gui Zhong threw thirty-on dots just now, it was not entirely due to his good luck in gambling, but because his laozi [old man] on the side was blowing air to help him. With face bulging red he shouted, ”Gui Laoyezi, you … you … (whoosh, whoosh, whoosh)!” While saying that he pursed his lips to blow.
”Twenty-nine dots, you lose!” Gui Xinshu said. Reaching out, he picked the six dice and pinched them between his thumb and middle-finger. 'Crack!' the dice shattered, a few drops of mercury flowed out; the drops scattered around the tabletop and immediately turned into hundreds or perhaps thousands of small beads, which rolled everywhere.
Gui Zhong clapped his hands and cheered, ”It's fun, it's fun! What is that thing? It looks like water, but also looks like silver.”
Seeing Gui Xinshu was exposing the mercury inside the dice to artificially increase their weight, Wei Xiaobao knew he could not argue over him blowing the dice. Pretending to be amazed, he said, ”Turns out there is some mercury inside the dice. Laoyezi, you have taught Junior something new. The dice are made of ox bones, today I learned that mercury also come from cows. Previously I thought that it was silver plus water turned into mercury. Cows can cultivate soil, they also can produce mercury. Amazing, amazing!”
Gui Erniang ignored his nonsense; she said, ”Anybody has anything else to say? Wei Xiongdi, please explain in details the situation of the Imperial Palace.”
Wei Xiaobao cast a glance toward his Shifu. Chen Jinnan nodded his head, saying, ”It's the Will of Heaven, you must explain honestly to the two Seniors.” He knew this disciple of his was very crafty, hence he added the word 'honestly'.
Wei Xiaobao's mind was churning; he had an idea, he said, ”Since I have lost, naturally I can't renege on the result of the bet. A real man steals, robs and cheats is not a big deal, but betting result must be honored. There are too many rooms in the Imperial Palace, even if I explain everything I can't make you understand. I'll draw a picture. Xu San Ge, Qian Dage, please accompany the guests, I'll make the drawing.” Cupping his fist toward everybody, he turned around, walked out of the hall, and entered his study room.
This earl mansion was given to him by Prince Kang, inside the study room, the books filled the wall, writing brush and ink stone was prepared on the table. Wei Xiaobao was afraid his gambling luck would turn bad, books and loss ['shu' and 'shu'] are homophone; normally he would not enter this Study Room ['shu fang' – book room, library] even for half a step. Right now he sat in front of the desk and shouted, ”Grind the ink!” He had already summoned his personal attendant to serve him.
The Bojue Daren [Earl] has never written any letter, the personal attendant was bewildered, but his face showed admiration. Immediately he pulled himself together and started to work. He put fresh water into the antique purple coiled dragon stone ink slab that used to belong to Wang Xizhi
[4], took the pine-black fragrant ink that was a leftover from Chu Suiliang
[5]Wei Xiaobao bent his palm like a tiger claw, using qinna [grab and capture/grappling] power he grabbed the shaft of the brush, dipped it into the ink until the brush was soaked, suddenly with a light 'plop!' a large drop of ink dripped from the tip of the brush onto the paper, immediately staining the gold-patterned jade edition note-paper. The personal attendant thought, ”Turns out Bojue Daren is not writing letters, he is going to paint, Liang-calligraphy style, by splashing ink onto the paper.” But then he saw him making a straight vertical line down on the left of the dot, as if he was drawing a curvy tree trunk. And then on the left of the tree trunk he lightly put another dot. It appeared like the northern school's Li Sixun's hatchet hacking style, or perhaps the southern school's Wang Mojie's draping hemp cloth style. It was definitely a combination of the two schools', north and south, major styles.
Wei Xiaobao said, ”Go, summon Zhang Tidu here.”
The attendant complied and went out, thinking, ”I wonder what Bojue Daren is going to write next?” But even if he guessed ten thousand times, he would never have guessed correctly.
Actually, after the character 'Xiao', Wei Xiaobao drew a circle. Underneath the circle, he drew a horizontal line, something that looked like stiff firewood or shoulder pole, and then a squiggly line like an earthworm passing through the shoulder pole. The earthworm passing through the shoulder pole was actually a 'Zi' [子] character. This three-character string was actually Kangxi's name, 'Xiao Xuanzi'. Since he did not know how to write the character 'Xuan', he substituted it with a circle
[6].
He recalled that day when he was a monk in the Qingliang Temple, Kangxi drew some pictures in the imperial decree; Wei Xiaobao was happy and very impressed. Following the example of the Holy Sage, he respectfully copied what he did; today the situation was urgent, hence he submitted the memorial to the throne in drawings.
After writing the name 'Xiao Xuanzi', he drew a sword, with the tip of the sword penetrating the circle. If it meant to be a saber, it did not look like a saber, if it meant to be a sword, it did not look like a sword. Just by drawing these, his forehead was drenched in sweats.
He had just finished the drawing when Zhang Yong arrived.
Wei Xiaobao folded the gold-patterned jade edition note-paper and put it in an envelope. He sealed it well and handed it over to Zhang Yong, while saying in a low voice, ”Zhang Tidu, this is a very important memorial to the throne. Please deliver it at once to the Palace and present it to His Majesty. Just say that this is my secret memorial, the Imperial Bodyguards and eunuchs will immediately announce your arrival.”
Zhang Yong complied. He received the envelope with both hands, and was about to put it into his pocket when they heard the two personal guards outside the study room asked in chorus, ”Who's there?” The door opened with a bang, three people burst in, they were none other than Gui Family husband and wife and Gui Zhong.
In a glance Gui Erniang saw the memorial in Zhang Yong's hand; both reached from left and right, she snatched the envelope away, and asked Wei Xiaobao in stern voice, ”You are going to inform the Tatar Emperor?”
Wei Xiaobao was so stunned that he could only stare blankly. ”No … it's not … it's not …” he stammered.
Gui Erniang tore open the envelope, took the letter out and looked at the strange drawing on the paper. She was puzzled. ”Look at this!” she said, while handing it over to Gui Xinshu. ”What is this?” she asked Wei Xiaobao.
”I told him to go to the kitchen,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”I am ordering some … some … some dumpling soup for the guests to eat, the small dumplings, not the big ones. I want some pattern to be carved on the dumplings. He … he did not know what I mean, I drew some picture for him.”
Gui Xinshu and Gui Erniang nodded; their expressions softened. The drawing on the paper indeed looked like carving a pattern on the dumpling with a knife, so he was not trying to inform the Emperor at all.
Wei Xiaobao waved his hand to Zhang Yong and said, ”Quickly go, quickly go!” Zhang Yong turned around and exited the study room. Wei Xiaobao said, ”Tell them to prepare well, get more people, do it quickly! Everybody is going to eat soon, this is life-and-death situation, must not delay even for a moment.” From the door Zhang Yong replied again.
Gui Erniang said, ”It's just light refreshment, no need to rush. Wei Xiongdi, have you drawn the Imperial Palace map?”
Wei Xiaobao took another sheet of gold-patterned jade edition notepaper, spread it on the desk, and handed the writing brush to Gui Erniang and said, ”I tried drawing some, but it was not good. I'll say, I'd better ask you to draw it.”
Gui Erniang received the brush, sat down, and said, ”Very well. Please start.”
Wei Xiaobao thought that he had nothing to conceal, thereupon he started from Wu Men [Meridian Gate], to the north toward Jin Shui Qiao [Golden Water River Bridge]. Turning to the west, passing Hong Yi Ge [great/extensive righteousness pavilion (usually two-storied)], passing Tai He Dian [Hall of Supreme Harmony], Zhong He Dian [Hall of Central Harmony], Bao He Dian [Hall of Preserving Harmony], three main halls, passing Long Zong Men [grand ancestor gate] toward the imperial kitchen; Wei Xiaobao's origin. From here to the east, passing Qian Qing Men, to Qian Qing Palace
[7].
And then turning toward Tai Dian [grand/safe/peaceful palace hall], Kun Ning Gong
[8], Yu Huayuan [imperial (flower) garden], Qin An Dian [veneration safe/secure hall]; from the imperial kitchen going north was southern warehouse, Yang Xin Dian [Hall of Mental Cultivation], Yong Shou Gong [Palace of Eternal Longevity], Yi Kun Gong [respectable female (see note) palace], Ti He Dian [body/form harmony hall], Chu Xiu Gong [Palace of Gathering Elegance], Li Jing Xuan [beautiful bright pavilion], Shu Fang Zhai [rinsing fragrance study-room], Chong Hua Gong [repeated magnificent palace].