Chapter - 515 Secret Manual And Military Treatise are Hidden Within (8) (1/2)
”Gentlemen, the heroes,” in a loud and clear voice Zhang Wuji said, ”Today is the day we, the Han men, kill the enemy to serve our country. The name of the Great Assembly of Shaolin Temple will go down the history for thousands of years!”
The Great Hall shook with the deafening cheers of the people.
Zhang Wuji continued, ”We can't go back now even if we want to. I am asking Kong Wen Fangzhang to give us the order. We, the Ming Cult, from top to bottom will follow with all our hearts.”
”Zhang Jiaozhu, what are you talking about?” Kong Wen said, ”Although our humble Sect's monks have learned a little bit punching and kicking, we know nothing about marching in the army and going to war. In the last several years the Ming Cult has initiated such a great undertaking; who in the Jianghu has not heard about it? Only the Ming Cult has the resources to fight Tatars' large army. We nominate Zhang Jiaozhu to hold the commander position and lead the heroes from all over the world to fight the Tatars.”
Zhang Wuji tried to decline modestly, but the crowd of heroes had already cheered loudly. It was true that Zhang Wuji was young and inexperienced, but his martial art skill was strong. His power in fighting the three Shaolin monks had been witnessed by everybody present. In addition, the success of Han Shantong, Xu Shouhui, Zhu Yuanzhang and the other Ming Cult generals in staging rebellions, attacking cities and capturing territories in such places as Huai Si River, Hunan and Hubei, and other areas had shaken the world. Earlier, the people had also seen the Five-Element Flags displaying their full capabilities in the arena. No other school or sect possessed these kinds of skills. The warriors from various sects and clans all agreed that nobody else fit to take such a big responsibility other than the Ming Cult.
Zhang Wuji said, ”I [orig. zai4xia4] have never learned how to manage soldiers. Please elect other capable person to be in charge.”
While he was still declining modestly, from the foot of the mountain came the rumbling noise of people shouting and fighting. Two Shaolin monks rushed into the Hall and reported, ”Reporting to Fangzhang: the Mongolian army has attacked our mountain.”
Zhang Wuji said, ”Rui Jin, Hong Shui, two Flags, are going to be the first to engage the enemy. Mr. Zhou Dian, Tie Guan Daozhang [Priest Tie Guan ('hard hat')], you are to assist these two flags.” Zhou Dian and Priest Tie Guan complied and quickly left.
The situation this time was so urgent that it did not allow Zhang Wuji to decline anymore. He had no choice but issue his orders: ”Shuo Bude Shifu, please take my Sheng Huo Ling and go to our Cult's encampments in the surrounding area. Tell them to go up the mountain to lend their assistance.” Shou Bude took the tablet and left.
As the crowd of heroes in the Great Hall heard about the Yuan's army arrival to destroy them, they drew their weapons and rushed out.
”Jiaozhu,” in a low voice Yang Xiao said, ”If you don't take command, these people will fight randomly, and they will certainly be defeated.”
Zhang Wuji nodded and ran out the Hall. He went to the pavilion halfway down the mountain and saw thousands of the Mongolian vanguard troops had arrived at the waist of the mountain. The Rui Jin Flag drove them back down by a salvo of arrows and javelins.
As far as eyes could see, the Mongolian troops were creeping up; their power looked so intimidating. Although their prestige was far below Genghis Khan's army, whose power overawed foreign lands, the Mongolian cavalry, after all, was very well trained and was still holding their reputation as unmatched elite troops.
Suddenly from the left came loud shouts as a large number of nuns, men and women ran up the mountain. They were the Emei Pai contingent, which was on their way down the mountain when they met the Mongolian army and was driven back up. About a dozen or so men were carrying stretchers and other things. They were surrounded by the Mongolian soldiers.