Mysterious Martial Arts: The Record of the Swordsman

Chapter 311 Even in shallow waters, hidden dragons may lurk.

Outside the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts Hall, more than three hundred strong horses snorted deeply, their front hooves pawing the ground, breaking the stillness of the night. A sudden gust of wind swept up armor plates, mingling with the faint smells of saltpeter, leather, and horse sweat from the saddles, creating a heavy, ominous atmosphere in the air.

The leader landed with a thud, his armor clanging as he strode through the martial arts school gate. He bowed slightly to Jiang Wen, who came out to greet him, and laughed loudly. A red flag with the character "Geng" on a gold border fluttered in the air, belonging to Geng Jingzhong, the heir of the Prince of Jingnan.

"Master Jiang, it's been a long time!"

Geng Jingzhong's voice carried a deliberate warmth as he clasped his hands in a fist and smiled.

"After several months apart, I heard that the Taoist Master is making great strides in Wuyi Mountain and preparing for this grand martial arts event. I am eager to join you! I have specially led three hundred of my personal guards from the Prince's Palace, traveling day and night, to stand by and cheer for the Taoist Master! How could this grand gathering of the martial arts world be complete without the support of the Prince of Jingnan's Palace?"

Geng Jingzhong, his cloak drooping and helmet still on, glanced at the slightly uneasy Master Luo, the wary Fan Xinghan, and the surprised Zhou Long, finally fixing his gaze on Jiang Wen standing quietly in the hall. He surveyed the simple martial arts school, his tone carrying a hint of reserved superiority, "If you have any difficulties, Master, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Seeing that Zhou Long and the others were silent, especially the newly convicted criminal Fan Xinghan, whose eyes were filled with anger that he suppressed, Jiang Wen quickly cupped his hands and smiled calmly. If Fan Xinghan hadn't been too drunk to walk, he probably would have already fought his way out.

"The presence of Prince Jingnan is an honor to my humble abode; I, Jiang, have failed to greet you properly."

Jiang Wen thought to himself why this kid was putting on such a show of power, but his words were calm and unreadable. Only his gaze, like two small swords, gently swept across Geng Jingzhong's face hidden beneath his armor. "Your Highness's entourage, with its gleaming swords and spears and imposing armor, seems more like a bandit-suppressing expedition than a show of support. This humble martial arts gathering is merely a friendly exchange of skills among fellow martial artists; I'm afraid it doesn't deserve Your Highness's favor."

Geng Jingzhong's movements stiffened, a barely perceptible hint of anxiety flashing in his eyes. "Daoist Master, you jest! Matters of the martial world are also my duty. Now that you are issuing invitations to heroes in the name of my Jingnan Prince's Mansion, how can I ignore it? I'll take this opportunity to see how you're handling things, and secondly..."

He paused, lowered his voice slightly, and said meaningfully, "Let me also ask you, what is the sentiment of the people in the Fujian martial arts world...?"

Jiang Wen glanced at him thoughtfully, then slightly stretched out his arm and pointed to the deeper part of the hall, indicating that they should move towards the inner hall. Subsequently, Geng Jingzhong did not bring any guards with him, and Zhou Long and the others naturally did not dare to follow. Jiang Wen even shook his head slightly with his eyes, and even Hong Wending was stopped outside the hall.

Once only Jiang Geng and Jiang Wen were left, Jiang Wen smiled and said, "Young Prince, you have indeed improved; you still remember to say 'you' (formal)."

Geng Jingzhong sighed and slowly removed his helmet. The carefully maintained dignity of a prince collapsed instantly, like a punctured window. Underneath the helmet, he looked exactly like the Prince of Jingnan, who was once imprisoned in the mansion and about to lose everything.

Geng Jingzhong's face was much thinner, and his figure was taller. His skin was as pale as paper, his dark circles were deep, and his lips and cheeks were covered with small, dry, and wrinkled wounds. Tiny beads of blood seeped from under his skin where the fierce wind had blown them away. A few strands of disheveled hair clung to his sweaty cheeks, and a wound on his forehead was bleeding from a fall. A dirty mark from his helmet, mixed with dust, was left under his brow bone. He was completely different from the prince in his brocade robes and jade belt. No wonder he hadn't dared to take off his helmet.

Jiang Wen glanced at him with slight surprise, thinking to himself that Geng Jingzhong had ridden horses quite often in Fuzhou and his riding skills were not bad. Logically, he shouldn't be riding in such a sorry state, but judging from his current appearance, it was as if he had just gone through a hard march.

“Your Highness, it seems your position as the ‘Prince of Jingnan’ in Fuzhou is not very secure. Is it because your uncles and brothers in the palace have become envious of your succession to the title? Or are the arrogant and unruly soldiers of the Geng family unruly and disobeying orders? Or perhaps…”

Jiang Wen leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning, as if instantly piercing through Geng Jingzhong's magnificent armor and bluffing facade, reaching the core of his panic and unease.

"...Is it because the Jingnan Prince's Mansion moved to Fujian and its foundation is not yet stable? Now the treasury is empty and the economy is on the verge of collapse?"

“…Master…”

Geng Jingzhong's voice was dry and hoarse, as if he was no longer the high and mighty "this king", but rather carried a slight tremor and dependence. He lowered his head and dared not look Jiang Wen in the eye.

Logically speaking, with Shang Kexi's death in the wilderness and the strong support of Prince Wu Sangui, Emperor Shunzhi had already issued an imperial edict allowing him to inherit the title. If it weren't for the internal and external troubles that left him with no other choice, Geng Jingzhong should be sitting comfortably in his palace in Fuzhou, comforting his old subordinates and reorganizing military affairs, instead of acting like a chief镖师 (chief镖师) escorting goods, bringing the capital of his palace to the foot of Wuyi Mountain to cheer on these江湖草莽 (jianghu caomang, a term referring to outlaws and江湖江湖草莽, a term referring to ...

According to Jiang Wen's summary, Geng Jingzhong's character can be described as scheming but indecisive, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak. His only commendable trait is his ruthlessness; he is absolutely unwilling to surrender. Now, he arrives with three hundred cavalrymen, and the grander the scene, the more his anxiety is revealed.

Now, the Geng family has just experienced two major events: the relocation of their garrison to Fujian and the death of Geng Jimao. Their core military force has been greatly weakened, with only fifteen Zuo-ling (military units) of Han Bannermen and about three thousand soldiers. The Green Standard Army has been completely conscripted. The three hundred men in these two Zuo-ling are likely the most elite of the elite troops.

"My father... passed away too suddenly. Although the imperial decree allowed me to inherit the title, it was vague and only allowed me to 'temporarily manage the affairs of the vassal state'... Those old guys like Commander Ma Jiuyu were all proud and fierce generals who followed my father from Liaodong. They paid homage to him, but they had other ideas in their hearts."

Jiang Wen nodded. Geng Jingzhong grew up in the capital. He had neither the military achievements of Geng Zhongming in establishing his dynasty, nor the prestige of Geng Jimao in conquering Fujian and Guangdong. Moreover, he inherited the title eleven years earlier than in history, at the age of sixteen. He lacked the time to cultivate his foundation, so he naturally could not control the veteran generals and nobles who had fought alongside two generations of princes within the vassal state.

"Fujian has just been pacified, and everything is in need of rebuilding. The imperial court ordered the Prince of Jingnan's mansion to supervise and urge the payment of taxes and military pay in Fujian, and not a single penny could be owed. However, due to the urgency of the war in Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, the payment of military rations and subsidies to the Prince's mansion has been suspended. If the payment is delayed, the morale of the army will surely be low and there will be mutiny!"

The financial crisis was the core internal worry facing Geng Jingzhong. The financial system on which the Jingnan Prince relied for survival was on the verge of collapse when he inherited the title, and it was completely unable to maintain the normal operation of the princely government. Historically, from the Shunzhi period to the early Kangxi period, the Jingnan Princely Government's annual rigid expenditures such as military expenses and princely government expenses amounted to several million taels, of which more than 70% came from the Qing court's subsidies. Once the Ministry of Revenue stopped issuing subsidies, the princely government's core financial income was directly halved, and it lost its biggest source of funds.

Fujian was originally characterized by "many mountains and little arable land, barren soil and poor people," with limited agricultural output. In order to support such a large-scale military force and officials with taxes, it was necessary to plunder the local people's labor. In history, Geng Jingzhong could only continuously levy exorbitant taxes such as salt tax, tea tax, bamboo and timber tax, forcibly conscript laborers, extort silver and rice, and even "allow his subordinates to seize agricultural and commercial businesses and use taxes to plunder and oppress the people of Fujian," which aroused widespread dissatisfaction among the people of Fujian.

Jiang Wen listened quietly, the mockery on his face long gone, replaced by a deep calm and rapidly working thoughts.

"So that's how it is. These two moves are truly ruthless. If you can't control the military, you can't collect provisions. If you can't distribute provisions, you can't control the military. It seems that the Qing court still has doubts about your succession to the title, which is why they used such a blatant scheme to trip you up. They just hope that the morale of your troops will be low and your finances will be depleted, so that they can take the opportunity to reduce your power."

Jiang Wen sat down again, his fingers tapping lightly on the table in a steady rhythm. "Are the three hundred people outside reliable?"

"These two lieutenants are the personal guards of the Prince's mansion, and have always been directly controlled by the Prince of Jingnan, never delegated to others. Now, however, they are being ostracized by everyone, with various excuses used to delay their pay. Clearly, they also intend to win them over and divide them. I had no choice but to send them out on this campaign under the pretext of suppressing bandits..."

"Fortunately, the Fuwei Escort Agency managed to scrape together three months' worth of travel expenses, and Chief Escort Lin said that Wuyi Mountain has its own 'Prime Minister in the Mountains,' so I came here rashly..."

Jiang Wenxin understood. This personal guard was not easy to win over or incorporate, so the old man of the Jingnan Prince's Mansion deliberately threw the hot potato to Geng Jingzhong. He was probably happy to let him use the excuse that the prince needed the personal guard to protect him when he went out. After all, Geng Jingzhong was still young and had limited ability. If he couldn't even make a living for the personal guard, then even the other neutral officers and Green Standard Army soldiers would definitely start their own group. At that time, he would really be abandoned by everyone.

In order to truly control this army, Geng Jingzhong also wanted to use the method in the military strategy book "Six Secret Teachings: Dragon Teachings". The general shared the cold and heat, the hardships and hunger of the soldiers, so that he could win their hearts and make them work for him. So he could only lead his personal guard on long marches, eating and sleeping with them along the way. He was so tired that he almost fell off his horse, but he dared not make a sound. However, it was obviously not very effective. No matter how hard he gritted his teeth and persevered, he could not compare with the veteran generals of the previous two generations. Instead, he felt like he was just imitating Dong Shi.

After saying all this, Geng Jingzhong, who had stubbornly persisted, had his anger replaced by immense anxiety and a trace of helplessness. His clenched fists slowly loosened, and he slumped back into his chair, as if all his strength had been drained away.

"I need momentum, I need power, I need... I need your wisdom, Master, to help me stabilize the situation! Just like when... I helped my father!"

Jiang Wen never helped Geng Jimao. The "help" that Geng Jingzhong mentioned naturally referred to the bloodshed that night in Fuzhou.

It can only be said that people have path dependence. Perhaps even Geng Jingzhong himself did not believe that Jiang Wen, a penniless martial arts practitioner, could help him solve his current internal and external troubles. However, he still followed Lin Zhennan's advice and came this way, persisting with a fierce determination, hoping that Jiang Wen would create another miracle.

"Your Highness, no, Prince Jingnan."

Jiang Wen's voice regained its composure, and he deliberately emphasized the title, conveying a sense of calm control over the overall situation. "The poverty of Fujian lies not in the mountains and fields, but in the perilous waters and mountains. If we continue to impose heavy taxes and levies, wouldn't we be entering a mountain of treasures only to leave empty-handed?"

The wealth of the coastal areas was unimaginable. According to the report of the Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang, in the eleventh year of the Shunzhi reign, "Zheng Chenggong demanded grain and military pay, with large counties receiving no less than 100,000 taels and medium-sized counties receiving no less than 50,000 taels." This refers to the situation Zheng Chenggong faced at that time. He profited greatly by taking advantage of the relaxation of the sea ban in the coastal areas of Fujian through various means. According to the "Veritable Records of the Former King", Zheng's army received 1.08 million taels of silver in military pay in Zhangzhou alone.

A glint flashed in Geng Jingzhong's eyes, then he shook his head in a cryptic manner.

"Now the imperial court has imposed strict prohibitions, and small boats are no longer allowed to cross. The fields, fishing grounds, and salt fields around Fuzhou are mostly abandoned. Various regions have decided to send troops to suppress the rebellion while also guarding the borders. It is feared that the trade routes in Fujian will be difficult to sustain."

Jiang Wen shook his head confidently.

"It's alright. I think Dasu's expedition will be in vain. Once the army withdraws, the court will face the awkward situation of having to fight but being unable to fight at sea. At that time, our opportunity will come... Right now, I have a 'practical way' that can solve your urgent problem, deter internal and external forces, and allow you to secure your position."

Geng Jingzhong suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes: "Master, what brilliant plan do you have?"

"I couldn't come up with a brilliant plan, so I just took a risky approach." A glint flashed in Jiang Wen's eyes, and a slightly sly smile appeared on his lips.

"Since ancient times, one must first pacify the internal situation before resisting external threats. I wonder how you plan to handle this internal matter?"

When Geng Jingzhong spoke just now, he deliberately omitted the real internal troubles, namely that Zhou, the wife of Prince Jingnan Geng Jimao, did not like Geng Jingzhong, the eldest son, but preferred the second son Geng Zhaozhong and the youngest son Geng Juzhong.

He vaguely heard that his mother, Zhou, and family members had inquired about whether Geng Zhaozhong, who was also a hostage, could be brought back. Rumors also suddenly circulated that Geng Jingzhong had murdered his father and plotted to usurp the throne.

“Mother probably misses her second brother Zhaozhong and often mentions him,” Geng Jingzhong said with a worried expression.

Jiang Wen smiled slightly, “Prince Jingnan is a very filial son. How can he let his mother fall ill from missing him? Why not send a group of people to escort the old lady and the third brother to the capital as hostages, so that they can reunite with your second brother?”

Geng Jingzhong, who had once been a hostage, was jolted awake and suddenly opened his eyes.

"As for these three hundred iron cavalry, instead of showing off their power and intimidating the martial arts world here, I have a better place to go..."

...............

As dusk settled like ink, it soaked into the bluestone streets of Chong'an. The silhouettes of the roof ridge beasts on the eaves of the county government office appeared even more menacing in the gloom, and the view from the window already suggested an impending storm.

Guan Shengjun stood at the city gate, surrounded by the gentry of Chong'an County. A rough count showed that there were at least forty or fifty people crowding the city gate. Even those who usually didn't take him, the county magistrate, seriously now stood respectfully behind him.

The terrified screams of the constables, shattering the deathly silence of the study, still echoed in his ears: "My lord! Outside the city are the banners of the Prince of Jingnan! And... Master Jiang of the Wuyi Sect!"

"Quickly...quickly open the middle gate! Everyone, straighten your clothes!"

Guan Shengjun forced himself to straighten his spine, ignoring the scalding heat from the broken teacup, still unable to understand why the Prince of Jingnan would come in person! What ability did Jiang Wen have to be able to ride alongside the prince's son? The muffled thunder of three hundred iron cavalrymen outside the door seemed to pound on his heart.

The iron helmets on the cavalrymen's heads were fastened tightly, and the ear guards on both sides and the drooping neck guards covered half of their faces, revealing only their taut jaws and a pair of sharp eyes. The red tassels at the top of the helmets were stretched straight by the wind, contrasting with the thin iron horse armor protecting the chest of their warhorses. Even the manes of the warhorses were neatly braided with red ropes, making it clear that they were well-trained warhorses, and could not be faked by civilian horses temporarily conscripted from the neighboring county.

"Your humble servant, Guan Shengjun, Magistrate of Chong'an County, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty!"

Guan Shengjun's temple throbbed slightly. He bowed deeply in accordance with etiquette, his voice trying to be steady but unable to hide a hint of difficulty.

Then came Jiang Wen's voice, piercing the chilling atmosphere—"Magistrate Guan, His Highness is compassionate towards the people. Hearing of the previous bandit disturbances, he has come to inspect the livelihood of Chong'an. I trouble you, Magistrate, to treat him well."

Geng Jingzhong reined in his horse and stopped. From Guan Shengjun's perspective, the corner of his mouth under the shadow of his helmet remained unmoved: "Magistrate Guan, I have long heard of the grand event in Wuyi Mountain and have come to witness it. The scenery of northern Fujian I have seen along the way is quite reminiscent of the saying 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette.' My men and horses plan to stay for two days."

Before Guan Shengjun could answer, several trembling gentrymen had already knelt on the ground and shouted loudly, "We have empty rooms and houses in the city that Your Highness's heavenly soldiers can use. Your Highness need not worry about our food, lodging and other necessities!"

Even more panicked than Guan Shengjun were these gentry. After all, Guan Shengjun had only offended Jiang, the sect leader, while these gentry knew they had offended the government. They couldn't afford to gamble on whether these cavalrymen would come to support Guan Shengjun.

They had initially been skeptical, suspecting it was a bluff by Guan Shengjun, but upon closer inspection, they realized these were battle-hardened elites. Seeing the details of the armor up close only fueled their fear. Thick, dark cotton armor tightly wrapped the riders' torsos, the edges worn smooth from years of riding, revealing densely packed rectangular iron plates underneath. This was a type of cloth-covered, concealed armor, inherited from the Han army's standard, covering from the shoulders and arms to the knees, even protecting the joints with soft iron plates. The knee guards between the riders' legs clinked gently with the horse's movements, producing a crisp, tinkling sound.

Guan Shengjun paused for a moment, then immediately replied, "This is my duty, and you righteous citizens need not make a fuss. Since Your Highness has such a fondness for the land of Chong'an, I will naturally do my part as a host!"

Just as flustered as the gentry was the monk Hengmin of Ruiyan Temple. He happened to be walking around the county town today and was afraid that the arrogant soldiers of the Jingnan Prince's Mansion would take a fancy to the auspicious location of Ruiyan Temple. So he rushed to the front to fawn over them, saying that although the temple was poor, it had prepared silver to reward the troops.

Geng Jingzhong nodded calmly, then turned to look at Jiang Wen, his surprise at Jiang Wen's abilities growing.

Along the way, he passed through many cities and counties, and all he could do was to collect grain and provisions with the royal decree. He also had to deal with the officials who made excuses and obstructed him, and the local gentry who cried poverty and pleaded guilty. He had never been able to find a place so generous in offering everything he needed.

In the end, only a few middle-aged men in black and green robes remained in the group, looking at each other with worry and whispering among themselves for a long time. They seemed to be in dire financial straits. Finally, they ran to Jiang Wen's side and said to him with hopeful eagerness.

"Are you Master Jiang of the Wuyi Sect? I am Qiu Jiuzhang, a disciple of the Jingyan Sect. A few days ago, my disciples went out and happened to rescue two martial artists. We wonder if any of your disciples are missing. We would be grateful if Master Jiang would come and take a look!" (End of Chapter)