or the western army. Did you hear
anything about that?"
Chen started in surprise and wondered how he could
have known. They had hurried south after the Lanfeng
incident without resting. "I understand there was such
an incident," he said. "The refugees had no clothes
and no food and the local officials did nothing to
help them. They were forced to break the law in order
to survive, an action which under the circumstances is
pardonable."
Dongfang was silent for a while. "I understand it was
not quite simple as that," he said nonchalantly. "I
heard the Red Flower Society incited the refugees."
"What is the Red Flower Society>" asked Chen, feigning
ignorance.
"It is rebellious underworld society. Have you never
heard of it?"
"I am afraid that between my lute and my chess board,
I have little time for the affairs of the world."
"There's no need to be ashamed. These people are in
any case no great problem."
"What basis do you have for saying that?"
"The Emperor is on the throne and the administration
of the country is enlightened and orderly. Once one or
two men with talent are assigned to the job, the Red
Flower Society will be destroyed in no time at all."
"I know nothing of administration, so please do not
laugh if I should say something stupid. But in my
humble opinion, most court officials are drunkards and
guzzlers. I doubt if they would be able to accomplish
such a mission."
As he spoke, Dongfang and his three attendants turned
pale.
"That is simply the view of a scholar," Dongfang
replied. "These friends of mine here are of more than
mediocre ability. If you were a student of the martial
arts, you would know that I was not exaggerating."
"I lack even the stength to tie up a chicken, but I
have always had the greatest respect for heroic
fighters," Chen said. "Are these your pupils? I wonder
if you could ask them to perform a demonstration of
their abilities?"
"Show this Master Lu one of your tricks," Dongfang
said to the attendants.
"Thank you," said Chen.
One of the attendants stepped forward. "That magpie in
the tree is too noisy," he said. "I'll knock it down
so we can have some peace."
With a wave of his hand, a sleeve dart shot off
towards the magpie, but just as it neared the target,
it suddenly veered off to one side and missed.
Donggang looked surprised and the attendant's face
went red with embarrassment. He threw another dart.
This time everyone was watching closely and saw a
piece of earth knock the dart off course.
The old man noticed Xin Yan's hand had moved slightly
and realised he was responsible. "This young brother's
kung fu is excellent. We must get to know one
another," he said and grasped for Xin Yan's hand with
fingers of steel.
Chen was surprised to see the old man was using Great
Eagle's Claw kung fu. "There are only a handful of men
as good as that," he thought. "Why would such a man
agree to be Dongfang's servant?"
He flicked open his fan in front of Xin Yan as the old
man lunged at the boy, and the old man quickly
withdrew. As his master was treating Chen in a
friendly manner, it would be extremely disrespectful
to damage one of his possessions. He glanced at Chen,
wondering if he knew kung fu. Chen began fanning
himself lightly, completely relaxed as if the move a
second ago had been a pure coincidence.
"This boy's kung fu is very good despite his youth,"
said Dongfang. "Where did you find him?"
"He doesn't know kung fu," replied Chen. "But he has
been throwing things at insects and birds since he was
small, and he's become quite good at it."
Dongfang could see this was untrue, but did not pursue
the matter. He looked at Chen's fan.
"Whose is the calligraphy on your fan? May I look?" he
asked. Chen handed the fan over to him.
"A man who was not of such noble character as yourself
would be unworthy of this object. Where did you get
it?"
"I bought it in a bookstore for ten gold pieces."
"If you had paid ten times as much, I would still
consider it a bargain," Dongfang replied. "Possessions
such as this are usually passed down from generation
to generation in the great families. It is certainly
amazing that you were able to buy it so easily in a
bookstore."
Chen knew Dongfang didn't believe him, but he didn't
care. He smiled lightly.
"I like this fan very much," Dongfang said. "I wonder
if I could ask you to sell it to me?"
"If you like it, I would be pleased to give it to
you," Chen replied.
Dongfang accepted the fan and lifted up the ancient
lute and presented it to Chen. "Just as an heroic
fighter should be presented with a treasured sword, so
should this lute belong to you."
Chen knew the lute was extremely valuable, and he
wondered why the man wanted to exchange gifts so soon
after they had met. But as the son of a high official,
he had seen many treasures and was not dazzled by
them. He saluted Dongfang with his fists in thanks and
told Xin Yan to pick the lute up.
"If there is anything I can ever do for you in the
future, please come to Beijing with that lute and just
ask for me," Dongfang said. "Why don't we walk back
down the hill together?"
"Fine," said Chen, and the two started off, holding
hands.
As they reached the Hidden Spirit monastery, several
people came towards them, led by a handsome-faced man
wearing an embroidered gown. The man bore a striking
resemblance to Chen and was even about the same age,
but he lack Chen's imposing air. Chen and he started
in surprise as they looked at each other.
"Isn't he like you, Brother Lu?" Dongfang said. "Kang,
come and meet Master Lu."
Kang bowed towards him, and Chen quickly returned the
courtesy.
All of a sudden, they heard a girl call out in
surprise. Chen turned and saw Zhou Qi with Xu and her
parents emerging from the monastery, and knew she must
have struck with surprise at the sight of two Great
Helsmen Chen's. He saw Xu hustling her away and turned
back.
"Brother Lu," Dongfang said. "We seem to have become
good friends on our first meeting. We will meet again.
Goodbye." They bowed to each other and Dongfang walked
off guarded by several dozen of the blue-gowned men.
Chen turned and nodded slightly in Xu's direction. Xu
hurriedly made his apologies to Lord Zhou and to Zhou
Qi and followed after Dongfang and his companions.
Towards evening, he returned to make his report. "The
fellow spent a long time floating about on the lake
and then went to the Provincial Commander-in-chief's
Yamen," he said.
Chen told him about his meeting with Dongfang, and the
two decided he must be a very senior official, either
an Imperial Inspector-General or a member of the
Emperor's close family. From his appearance, he did
not look like a Manchu, and so they concluded he was
probably an Inspector General.
"Could his arrival have anything to do with Fourth
Brother, I wonder," Chen mused. "I think I will go
over to the Commander-in-chief's Yamen personally this
evening to investigate."
"It would be best to take someone with you just in
case," Xu replied.
"Ask Brother Zhao," said Chen. "He's from Zhejiang
province so he should know something of Hangzhou."
In less than a day, the heroes arrived in Xuzhou. The
local Red Flower Society Chief was immediately rushed
off his feet making arrangements for them. After a
night's rest, they continued on south. Every place
they passed through now, big and small, had a Red
Flower Society branch, but the heroes maintained their
anonymity and sped onwards. They reached Hangzhou
several days later and took up residence in the home
of the Hangzhou Helmsman, Ma Shanjun. Ma's residence
lay at the foot of Lonely Mountain beside the West
Lake.
Ma was a merchant who owned two large silk factories.
About fifty years old and portly, Ma, in his flowered
silk robe and black woollen jacket, was the picture of
a wealthy man used to luxury. But the appearance was
deceptive: he was also a brave fighter. That night at
a welcoming banquet in the rear hall, the heroes told
him of their plan to rescue Wen Tailai.
"I will immediately dispatch men to find out which
prison Master Wen is in, and then we can decide on a
plan of action." He ordered his son Ma Dating to send
someone to investigate.
The next morning, the son reported that his men had
discreetly asked about Wen at all the prisons and
military headquarters in the area, but had failed to
find any trace of him.
Chen called a meeting of the heroes to discuss the
situation.
"We have brothers in all the Yamens and in the
military headquarters," said Ma. "If Master Wen was in
an official prison, we would know about it. I am
afraid the authorities are guarding him secretly."
"Our first step is to find out where Brother Wen is,"
said Chen. "Please continue to dispatch capable men
around all the Yamens, Brother Ma. This evening, I
will ask Priest Wu Chen and the Twin Knights to go to
the Commander-in-chief's Yamen to see what they can
find out. It is important that we don't alert the
Manchus to what we are doing so whatever happens,
there must be no fighting."
Priest Wu Chen and the Twin Knights set out at
midnight and returned four hours later to report that
the Yamen was tightly guarded with at least a thousand
soldiers with torches on guard duty. Several of the
officers on patrol were second and third level
Mandarins wearing red caps. The three had waited a
long time, but the troops did not drop their vigilance
in the slightest and they had no option but to return.
"The patrols have been particularly strict around
Hangzhou over the past few days," Ma said. "Yamen
officers have visited every gambling den and every
brothel, and many people have been seized for no
reason at all. Could it have something to do with
Master Wen?"
"I don't think so," replied Xu. "The local people must
be making an extra effort to impress some high
officials visiting from Beijing.
"I haven't heard of any high officials coming here,"
Ma said.
The next day, Zhou Qi asked her parents to take her to
see the famous West Lake. Lord Zhou agreed and asked
Xu to accompany them. Xu had lost his parents when he
was very young and had been alone ever since. To be
suddenly treated as a son by Lord Zhou and his wife
and to have such a lovely fiancee moved him greatly.
He was very happy, and the brothers were happy for
him.
Great Helsman Chen also went to the lake for a stroll
with Xin Yan. They walked for a while, then sat alone
on a bridge and gazed at the depths of the lake and
the mountains. The forests of bamboo and wood on the
hillsides were dark and dense, a myriad leaves
glistening brightly. The air was moist and hazy and
the beautiful mountain peaks were wreathed in clouds.
Chen had been to the West Lake several times in his
youth, but had been unable, then, to appreciate its
beauty.
As he gazed out at the scene, he spotted a carriage
heading towards the Hidden Spirit Temple on Flying
Peak, five hundred feet above them.
"Let's go up there," he said to Xin Yan. There was no
road straight up to the peak, but the Lightness Kung
Fu of both was excellent and they reached the top
quickly. They gazed up at the sky, enjoying the peace
and seclusion of the forest.
Suddenly, they saw two large men wearing blue gowns
walking towards them. The two weighed up Chen and Xin
Yan as they passed, expressions of surprise on their
faces.
"Master, they're Kung fu experts," Xin Yan
whispered.Two more men appeared walking towards them
dressed exactly the same. They were discussing the
scenery, and from their accents, it appeared they were
Manchus. All the way along the path, they kept passing
the blue-gowned fighters, perhaps thirty or forty in
all, who all looked surprised when they saw Chen.
Xin Yan was dizzy at the sight of so many obviously
top-ranking fighters. Chen was curious.
"Could it be that some secret society or martial arts
school is holding a meeting here?" he thought. "But
Hangzhou is Red Flower Society territory. If there was
something of that sort, we would surely have been
informed. I wonder why they all look so surprised when
they see me?"
They rounded a bend and the sound of a lute
accompanied by a chanting voice and the soft tinkle of
a waterfall drifted across towards them. The voice
recited:
"All is peace throughout heaven and earth,
Politics unsullied.
Fortunes and good fortune mount over four reigns.
The people wait to greet the Emperor
The banners of prosperity and wine fly in every
village.
As the Imperial attendants appear."
They strolled across in the direction of the music,
and saw a man dressed in the manner of a noble seated
on a rock playing the lute. He was aged about forty.
Two strong fighters and one stooped old man, all
wearing blue gowns, stood beside him.
Chen suddenly shivered. He was struck with a vague
feeling of recognition as he looked at the lute
player. The man had an aristocratic bearing, and the
more Chen looked at him, the more he seemed familiar.
The group eyed Chen and Xin Yan warily. The
lute-player's fingers performed a final swirl over the
strings and the lute was silent.
Chen saluted with his fists. "I could not help
overhearing the song you just played, sir," he said.
"I have never heard it before. Did you write it
yourself?"
The man smiled. "Yes. It is a recent composition of
mine. Since you are a music lover, I would be grateful
of your opinion."
"Excellent, excellent," said Chen. "I especially liked
the phrase 'The banners of prosperity and wine fly in
every village.'"
An expression of delight appeared on the man's face.
"So you remember the words. Please come over here and
sit down, sir."
Chen refrained from adding that he disapproved of the
way the song flattered the Emperor. He walked over,
bowed and sat down.
The man studied Chen carefully and with curiosity.
"While coming up to the peak, we met a large number of
other strollers all of whom looked surprised when they
saw me," said Chen. "You now look at me in the same
way. Is there something strange about my face?"
The man laughed. "You wouldn't know," he said. "I have
a friend who bears a remarkable resemblance to you.
The people you met on the path are also my friends, so
they were naturally puzzled."
"So that's it," Chen smiled. "I also find your face
very familiar, as if we had met before, but I can't
remember when. I wonder if you can?"
The man laughed again. "Well that really is strange,"
he said. "What is your honourable name, sir?"
"Lu Jiachen. And you, sir?"
The man thought for a moment. "My name is Dongfeng. I
am from Hebei Province. From your accent, I would
guess you are from around here."
"That is correct," said Chen.
"I had long heard that the scenic beauty of the south
was incomparable," continued the man who called
himself Master Dongfang. "I can see today that it is
true. Not only is the scenery superb, but the area is
also obviously blessed with much talent."
Chen could tell from his speech that this was no
ordinary man. He watched the reverential way in which
the old man and the other two attendants treated him,
and wondered just who he was.
"Someone with such outstanding knowledge of music as
yourself must certainly be a virtuoso," Dongfang said.
"Why not play a song for us?" He pushed the
seven-stringed lute in front of Chen.
Chen stretched out his hand and lightly strummed the
strings and found the lute's tone to be matchlessly
crisp and clear. It looked liked an antique of great
age.
"I am not worthy of playing such an instrument," he
said. He checked the tuning, then struck up a tune,
named 'The Goose Lands on the Flat Sands'.
Dongfang listened, engrossed. "Have you ever been to
the border regions?" He asked when the tune finished.
"I have just returned from there," Chen replied. "How
did you know?"
"Your playing conjures up the vast emptiness of the
great desert. I have heard that tune many times in my
life, but never have I heard it played with such
feeling." Chen saw he indeed had a great knowledge of
music and was very pleased.
"There is something I would like to ask you," Dongfang
continued.
"Please feel free to ask."
"I would guess that you are from the family of an
official," he said. "What post does your respected
father hold? And what is your rank?"
"My father has unfortunately passed away. I myself am
a man of mediocre abilities with no official rank,"
Chen replied.
"But you are obviously greatly talented. Could it be
that the examiners failed to appreciate your
abilities?"
"No, it is not that."
"The Commander-in-chief of Zhejing province is a
friend of mine. If you went to see him tomorrow, you
could have an opportunity."
"Thank you for you kind thought, but I have no wish to
be an official," Chen replied.
"But do you intend to hide yourself away like this
forever?"
"I would prefer to live in seclusion than oppress the
common people."
Dongfang's expression suddenly changed and the two
blue-gowned attendants both took a step forward. He
was silent for a second, then laughed out loud. "You
are indeed a man of noble character," he said. "Simple
folk such as myself cannot be compared with you."
The two weighed each other up, aware that there was
something special about the other.
"You must have heard much news on your long journey
from the Moslem regions," Dongfang said.
"When I arrived at the Yellow River, I found great
flooding and many homeless people. I had no heart for
appreciating the scenery after that."
"I am told that the refugees in Lanfeng looted grain
stores meant f |
