owlsbooks Chapter 327 A Perilous Tower, Wine in Hand, and the Reeds
Chapter 327 A Perilous Tower, Wine in Hand, and the Reeds
Chapter 327 A Perilous Tower, Wine in Hand, and the Reeds
The morning mist over Wuyi Mountain had not yet completely dissipated when Jiang Wen had already dragged Lin Zhennan to the gate of Dawang Peak, saying that he wanted to go for a morning outing. However, his enthusiastic appearance made Lin Zhennan realize that things were far from simple.
“Zilu, why do you value this martial arts tournament so much? Several murders down the mountain have already created a tense atmosphere. If something goes wrong, all your hard work these past few days will be wasted.”
Lin Zhennan earnestly advised him, believing from the bottom of his heart that this matter should not be rushed. If it could not be done at Dawang Peak this time, it would be better to do it again when they arrived in Fuzhou City. It is always better to accumulate strength and make a breakthrough than to force growth.
Jiang Wen chuckled. He was a man with high aspirations, but what concerned him most was the battle with Zhao Wuji that might come at any time.
The world of martial arts is treacherous and unpredictable, and the situation is perilous. Since he has decided to step into it, he cannot hesitate and wait for the right opportunity. At least his knowledge of history from his previous life tells him that the situation will only get worse as time goes on. If he insists on waiting until Zheng Chenggong, Li Dingguo, and Zhang Huangyan are all defeated and the thirteen families of Kuidong are struggling to survive, then there will be no point in him stepping into the world of martial arts.
Could it be that he really covets the title of "Gentleman's Sword" and wants to be remembered in history for it? Ordinary people can only wait for the right opportunity, while wise people know how to go with the flow, and Jiang Wen is destined to stir up trouble.
"This trivial matter cannot ruin my grand plan. As long as I get serious, even the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber are no match for me!"
Lin Zhennan said quietly, "Forget it, I've never been able to see through you. So, what brilliant plan do you have to turn the tide in the current situation?"
After saying that, he added, "Why don't you let Prince Geng bring troops to guard the area? Perhaps these problems would be easily solved."
Jiang Wen waved his sleeve, and his green robe fluttered as he walked towards the mountain path.
“Brother Lin, this young prince is all bark and no bite, good at scheming but indecisive, yet he has a ruthless streak. He is currently stationed in Chong’an County, and every day he is engrossed in the act of distributing food and clothing. His personal guards have not exposed his actions, so why should we go looking for trouble?”
"After a few days, he will find that these veterans are not so easy to bribe. Then we will naturally have a reason to step in, and everything will fall into place."
"This is indeed a far-fetched idea, but the young prince is doing this because he is afraid that the imperial court will issue an edict to demote him from the highest heavens. At that time, he will be without a single soldier and will not even have a chance to struggle."
Jiang Wendao said, "He still doesn't understand. Geng Jingzhong is no longer the same Geng Zhongming or Geng Jimao who conquered the world. If he wants to secure his position as a prince, he must follow Confucius's advice: 'Sufficient food, sufficient troops, and the people's trust.' As long as he can firmly control Fujian and even expand to Zhejiang and Jiangxi, what kind of troops can't he muster?"
Lin Zhennan sighed softly, "Zilu, ever since you left, strange things have been happening one after another between the Three Mountains and Two Pagodas, and there are also many rumors circulating in the market that are detrimental to him. He probably sees it as a lifeline."
Jiang Wen, however, did not take it to heart and said, "It's alright. I will have to go to Fuzhou sooner or later. I need to go and see the Min King's Heavenly Palace, which is in a state of flux, and the heavy military deployment across Zhangzhou and Quanzhou."
Lin Zhennan was slightly taken aback, then patted his shoulder with a relieved expression: "You want to open the Hidden Scales and Hidden Feathers? Are you really planning to rebel this time?"
Jiang Wen playfully slapped Lin Zhennan's hand away.
"This is outrageous! I roam the martial world, repaying the kindness of heaven and earth in giving me life and protecting the lives of the common people. Living alone in this world is more in line with the code of the martial world. What's wrong with that? If what I'm doing is considered rebellion, then I can only say that rebellion is justified."
After saying this, the two laughed heartily and continued walking down the mountain. Just then, a commotion arose simultaneously from both sides of the mountain path.
The sound of orderly hooves came from ahead, and a group of people galloped along the mountain road. Leading them was a young man of about fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in brocade robes, with a gilded longsword hanging at his waist. He rode a tall horse, followed by more than twenty men in uniform tight-fitting clothes. Each of them had broad shoulders and thick backs, sharp eyes, and their swords at their waists were polished to a gleaming shine. They were clearly martial arts masters from a family who had practiced hard skills for many years. They carried an undisguised arrogance as they headed straight for Lin Zhennan and his group.
The guards from the Fuwei Escort Agency, who were on guard around the area, all had slightly bulging temples, walked steadily, and scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes. They possessed the unique sharpness and vigilance of experts raised by merchants. When they saw the horses galloping towards them, they immediately prepared to step forward to stop them.
Before the guards from Fuwei Escort Agency could fully prepare for battle, three or four more people slowly walked up the mountain path on the other side.
The two middle-aged men at the head of the group were particularly striking in their demeanor. One had a round face and large ears, and looked like a wealthy old man with a kind and gentle appearance. He was also holding a pair of iron walnuts in his hand. The other was thin and upright, wearing a faded gray Taoist robe, with a long sword slung across his back. He walked with a light step as if he were walking on the wind.
Although the two were not walking fast, they closed the distance in just a few steps. Their auras were as deep as a pool, and it was obvious to anyone with eyes that they were top-level masters who had cultivated their internal martial arts to the extreme.
The two groups, one on the left and one on the right, perfectly blocked both the way forward and backward on the mountain path, and their eyes all fell on the middle of the group.
Lin Zhennan's back straightened instantly. He had been a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) for over ten years and knew the experts in both the north and south of the country like the back of his hand. But these two groups, one with an impressive entourage and the other with extraordinary bearing, were people he had never heard of in the Fujian area. He had absolutely no idea where they came from.
Moreover, this is the territory of the Wuyi Sect. The people who appeared today must be either enemies or friends. It is impossible that they were just passing by.
So he turned to Jiang Wen and whispered urgently, "Zi Lu, what's going on? We're still at the foot of Wuyi Mountain, how could someone dare to cause trouble here?"
Jiang Wen showed no surprise whatsoever. Instead, he raised his hand and patted the back of Lin's clenched hand, seemingly to let the others hear. His tone was very relaxed: "Chief Escort Lin, please relax. I'm not here to cause trouble. This is a backup plan I arranged in advance. At this Wuyi Sect martial arts conference, it will carry more weight if we invite more friends to speak. Therefore, I specially sent out a message to invite a few familiar friends to come and lend a hand."
No sooner had these words been spoken than both groups of people had already walked up to them.
The young man in brocade robes dismounted with swift and decisive movements, his expression still somewhat shy. However, when he reached Jiang Wen, he still respectfully clasped his hands and bowed, performing the proper etiquette perfectly. Only then did he stand up and address the two of them in a loud voice.
"This junior, Shang Baozhen of Shangbao Fort, has come here with the brothers from the fort, as entrusted by my father. Today, we have come to pay our respects to the seniors of the Wuyi Sect and to greet Sect Leader Jiang and Chief Escort Lin."
Lin Zhennan stood there, gasping for breath, his expression uneasy. Shangjia Fortress was located in Wuding County, Shandong Province, and was renowned in the martial arts world for its Bagua Purple Gold Saber and Bagua Swimming Palm. His father, Shang Jianming, was not only a top master, but also the eldest disciple of Wang Weiyang, the "King of Hebei" and the head of the Bagua Sect, and had the air of someone who could take charge of the sect.
Wang Weiyang was old, but he was highly respected in the martial arts world. Unlike Lin Zhennan, who was a dubious leader of the Southern Green Forest Alliance, Old Master Wang saw through the intricacies of the situation and did not want to get too involved. Therefore, he politely declined the plaque of the Eastern Green Forest Alliance Leader and gave it to his eldest disciple, Shang Jianming. However, no one in the martial arts world did not know his name, and his position as the uncrowned king was unshakeable.
Jiang Wen looked at Lin Zhennan's shocked expression and couldn't help but chuckle. He then raised his hand and gestured towards Shang Baozhen.
"Is Chief Escort Lin curious why Shangjia Fort, located all the way from Shandong, would go all the way to Fujian?"
Lin Zhennan nodded hurriedly. Having been a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) for twenty years, he knew the boundaries between the martial arts worlds of the North and South best. Shangjiabao was a well-known and powerful name in the North, and would never venture thousands of miles into the Wuyi Mountains unless necessary, let alone treat an unknown Wuyi Sect with utmost respect.
"It's actually quite simple."
Jiang Wen said slowly, "I have Tian Guinong's Achilles' heel. I found out that Shangjiabao and the Tian family of Tianlongmen have a marriage agreement, and the person Shang Baozhen wants to marry is Tian Guinong's daughter, Tian Qingwen."
Lin Zhennan asked doubtfully, "Tian Guinong is a mean and ungrateful man who has a deep-seated grudge against us. How could you possibly persuade him with just a few words?"
"Persuasion is difficult, so why not just use threats?"
Jiang Wen paused, a half-smile playing on his lips: "I passed on a message to Tian Guinong, telling him to urge the merchants to bring their men to Wuyi to support me. If he dares to make excuses, I'll hand his daughter over to the Southern Shaolin Temple. After she has three or five little monks, she can go back and acknowledge Tian Guinong as her cheap grandfather. When the martial arts world is shocked and everyone laughs at her, her good days in the Qing court will be over."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhennan immediately understood. Tian Guinong was the head of the Northern Branch of the Tianlong Sect, and he was always a man of absolute authority in the North. Now, he called himself the Grand Leader of the Northern Green Forest Alliance, and he cherished his reputation the most.
If such a scandalous affair were exposed in public, he would not only lose his standing in the martial arts world, but even the Shang family would be his sworn enemy. No wonder Shang Baozhen rushed over; he was forced to come by Tian Guinong and dared not be negligent in the slightest.
As soon as he finished speaking, two middle-aged men on the other side stepped forward slowly, bowed slightly to Jiang Wen, and displayed a calm and humble demeanor.
The wealthy man with a round face and large ears spoke first with a loud and deep voice: "I am Zhao Banshan of the Taiji Sect. It is a great pity that I have not been able to meet Master Jiang in Guangzhou. This is my good friend, Brother Lu Feiqing of the Wudang Sect. We met on the road and came together to join in the fun, which can also be considered as lending a hand to the Wuyi Sect."
Lin Zhennan was even more shocked.
Zhao Banshan was the chief disciple of the Wenzhou Tai Chi School, possessing unparalleled skill in fist and palm techniques. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he failed to inherit the position of sect leader and instead became a master of concealed weapons, creating his own unique style, earning him the nickname "Thousand-Armed Buddha." Lu Feiqing, on the other hand, was a renowned figure in the Wudang School, nicknamed "Needle in Cotton," and was proficient in the Wudang Soft Cloud Sword Technique. Due to a conflict with the sect in his early years, he subsequently roamed the martial arts world.
Shangjiabao is a well-known sect in the north, and Taijimen is a famous sect in the southern martial arts world. Zhao Banshan and Lu Feiqing are both seniors who have been famous for many years. He never expected that these people who are rarely seen on ordinary days were actually Jiang Wen's backup plan, invited by a single word.
He glanced again at Jiang Wen, who stood calmly beside him, and his shock deepened once more—
Jiang Wen is so reckless; could it be that he's also captured the daughters of these two renowned figures in the martial arts world?
He had just recovered his senses when he quickly looked at Zhao Banshan and Lu Feiqing, who were smiling silently on the other side, and asked in a low voice, "Then... what about Mr. Zhao from Tai Chi School and Master Lu from Wudang? These two are both well-known figures in the martial arts world. Surely they don't have any dirt on you, Brother Jiang?"
Jiang Wen smiled and waved his hand, his tone becoming more frank: "No, not at all. Brother Zhao is the pillar of the Tai Chi Sect and the third leader of the Red Flower Society. The Red Flower Society's leader, Chen Jialuo, is a friend I had a life-or-death bond with in Guangzhou. And the fifth and sixth leaders are even more devoted to me. I guess if it weren't for Leader Chen keeping me in check, they would have already rushed here overnight."
"I was worried that the Wuyi Sect's reputation was tarnished and that I wouldn't be able to handle the situation on my own, so I sent a letter to Master Luo in Guangzhou and asked him to put in a good word for me. You see, Brother Zhao is the most enthusiastic and righteous. As soon as he received the letter, he brought Master Lu, whom I know well, over here to give me some support."
Lin Zhennan was a little dazed, but he had a feeling that Jiang Wen had something on Old Master Luo.
Just then, Shang Baozhen and Zhao Banshan's group walked over.
Shang Baozhen still had a bit of junior's restraint on his face. He respectfully clasped his hands in a fist and bow to Jiang Wen, saying, "Sect Leader Jiang, the brothers in the fort have all been settled. I'll be troubling you these next few days."
Zhao Banshan smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, his voice loud and deep: "Brother Jiang, Brother Lu and I will inevitably be staying here for a few more days."
Jiang Wen nodded, raised his hand to the two of them, and spoke in a much more polite tone: "Thank you for your help, Brother Zhao and Nephew Shang. Consider this a favor I owe you."
Shang Baozhen looked hesitant, but after a moment's hesitation, he held back.
Jiang Wen's backup plans naturally didn't stop at the Wudang Sect. The Shangjia Fortress and the Taiji Sect were his trump cards that he had prepared in advance, meant to add icing on the cake at the right time, but now they were a lifesaver.
He and Chen Jialuo didn't actually have much of a relationship, and the two didn't like each other much. But Jiang Wen understood his personality and knew that as long as he stood on the moral high ground, Chen Jialuo would definitely help him out of consideration for the code of honor in the martial arts world and his uncle Chen Jinnan.
Jiang Wen then strode confidently toward Dawang Peak. Several of his disciples had already gone out to inform Feng Daode of Wudang, Master Ji Po of Southern Shaolin, and others that today, Jiang Wen would be drinking and laughing with the martial arts heroes in the Tongtian Hall of the Wuyi Sect.
With the arrival of these forces, Jiang Wen no longer needed to lament that heroes of the world were like golden apple snails, catfish, jackals, and street sweepers crossing the river. He could confidently announce to the world that the Eastern Green Forest Alliance Leader "Shangjiabao," the Southern Green Forest Alliance Leader "Fuwei Escort Agency," and the four major sects—"Wudang Sect," "Shaolin Sect," and "Taiji Sect"—had all sent representatives. Five of the eight most prestigious sects in the world had gathered. Who dared to say that this martial arts gathering in Wuyi Mountain was not an unprecedented and unparalleled event!