Chapter 305: 305
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Bu Dai Heshang [cloth sack monk] and Shuo Bude were in command of Han Shantong, Liu Futong, Du Zundao, Luo Wensu, Sheng Wenyu, Wang Xianzhong, Han Jiao'er and the others, to raise their arms at Yingchuan district of Henan.
Peng Yingyu led Xu Shuohui, Zou Puwang, Ming Wudeng to fight at Jiangxi's Ganzhou, Raozhou, Yuanzhou, Xinzhou and other districts.
Tie Guan Daoren [iron hat priest] led Bu Sanwang, Meng Haima and the others raised their arms at Xiangchu and Jingxiang districts.
Zhou Dian commanded Zhi Mali, Zhao Junyong and the others raised their arms at Xuxiu and Fengpei districts.
Leng Qian was in charge of the Ming Cult member in the western region, cutting off any Mongolian reinforcement coming to the Central Plains from the western region.
The Five-Element Flags were under 'zong tan's command, to be dispatched as necessary as the reinforcement for those who needed it.
The people were 90% sure that this strategy came from Yang Xiao and Peng Yingyu's minds.
As Zhang Wuji finished outlining their strategy, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause. Zhang Wuji also said, "Logically, we cannot rely only on our own Cult's strength to shake nearly one hundred years of Yuan's occupation. We must make good contacts with the heroes and warriors; only by pooling our strength and resources together will we be able to achieve great merits. Presently almost half of the masters of the Wulin world of Central Plains are being captured by the royal government, 'zong tan' will think of a way to rescue them. Tomorrow all of the brothers will go your own way. Fight and kill the Tartars whenever you have the opportunity. 'Zong tan' will also head for Dadou for a rescue operation. We have met and enjoy this joyous fellowship today; I don't know when we are going to see each other again in the future. Brothers, you must show loyalty to each other, give the important matter a foremost place in your heart, don't fight with each other over power and profit, don't kill each other. If any injustice of this kind is found among you, 'zong tan' will not be lenient."
The crowd shouted their answer with one voice, "We won't dare to disobey Jiaozhu's order!" Their cheers and shouts echoed throughout the valley. Afterwards everybody sealed their oath by shedding their blood and burning the incense; determined to hold fast to their just cause in live or death.
The moon was shining brightly as it was daytime. The Ming Cult leaders sat around the banquet tables, while the staff of 'zhong tan' served some vegetable-stuffed round cakes to everybody. The round cakes looked like the moon, hence they called it 'moon cake.' Later on a legend developed that the Chinese made a pact to kill the Tartars while eating moon cake during the Mid-autumn Festival ['ba yue xhong qiu – lit. mid-autumn of the eighth month]; it was because of the Ming Cult held their assembly that evening to decide the battle strategy.
Zhang Wuji also said, "Our Cult has always had a rule passed on from generation to generation, that we don't eat meat or drink wine. But presently there are famines everywhere; we can't always choose what we eat. Moreover, our primary objective today is to drive the Tartars out. If we don't eat meat or fish our strengths will wane and it will be difficult to fight. From now on I lift up this religious rule of not eating meat and drinking wine. We live in this world must put important matter first, eating and drinking rule is trivial matter." From that time on the Ming Cult people ate the moon cake with pork stuffing.
Next day early in the morning everybody bade Zhang Wuji goodbye. Although they were warriors and brave people, but thinking about the incoming bloody battle nobody knew who would survive and who would perish. Although they were confident that they would be successful, but among the attendees of the Butterfly Valley assembly, perhaps only half of them would live; inevitably they all left with heavy hearts.
While the ceremonial fire was still ablaze in the Butterfly Valley, suddenly someone sang in a clear voice,
"Burn my wretched body, oh raging holy fire.
What joy is in life, what pain is in death?"
The rest of the crowd responded in one voice,
"Burn my wretched body, oh raging holy fire.
What joy is in life, what pain is in death?
To do good and shun evil, only for brightness' cause.
Whether it is a life of happiness or sadness,
Everybody will go back to the dust.
I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!
I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!"
The last phrase of 'I pity the mankind, with their many suffering! I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!' echoed in the Butterfly Valley. With their clothes as white as snow, the warriors came to Zhang Wuji's presence one by one, bowing their heads and salute, raised their head back up, turned around and left without looking back. Remembering that in the ten or twenty years to come, these warriors, such as Xu Da, would shed their blood for the sake of the Central Plains, Zhang Wuji could not help his eyes brim in tears.
The sound of singing was getting farther and farther away; the warriors dispersed their own separate ways. In a few moments stillness went back to reign in the Butterfly Valley, which was bustling with noise and excitement for the last several days; only Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and Zhu Yuanzhang with his company left. Zhang Wuji asked in details the Wan An Temple's location, as well as those ominous people's appearance.
"Zhu Dage," he said, "The world is in chaos, we cannot waste any time in this insurrection. You do not need to accompany me to Dadou; let us part here."
Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and the others said, "We wish Jiaozhu success. Subordinates will wait to hear the good news." Bidding their farewell to Zhang Wuji, they left the valley toward their assigned post.
"We also have to leave," Zhang Wuji said, "Xiao Zhao, you have shackles on your hands, you can't move easily, you better wait for me here."
Xiao Zhao agreed reluctantly, but with the pretense of sending them off she followed them going out of the valley. They had walked for three miles, she still followed them. Then three more miles, she still did not want to leave. "Xiao Zhao," Zhang Wuji said, "If you send us off farther, you might not recognize the way back."
"Master Zhang," Xiao Zhao said, "Are you going to see Miss Zhao in Dadou?"
"Can't say for sure, but I might," Zhang Wuji replied.
"If you see her, will you ask her a favor on my behalf?" Xiao Zhao asked.
"What do you want her to do?" Zhang Wuji wondered.
Xiao Zhao held out her arms and said, "I want to borrow the Yitian Sword from Miss Zhao to cut this iron chain, otherwise I will not be free for the rest of my life."
Zhang Wuji could not bear to see her pitiful expression, "I am afraid she won't let me borrow her precious sword, let alone let me bring it here," he said apologetically.
"Then … then, why don't you take me along, ask her to borrow the sword just for a moment?" Xiao Zhao asked.
Zhang Wuji smiled and said, "You talked in circles, in the end you want to go with me to Dadou, don't you? Yang Zuoshi, do you think we can take her along?"
Yang Xiao knew from the way Zhang Wuji speak that he wanted to take her along; he said, "I don't think that's a problem; so there is someone to take care of Jiaozhu's clothes and serve him tea. Only your iron chain's 'clink, clink, clank, clank' will be conspicuous. Let's do it this way; she pretends to be ill, then she can ride in a carriage and not come out unless it's important."
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Bu Dai Heshang [cloth sack monk] and Shuo Bude were in command of Han Shantong, Liu Futong, Du Zundao, Luo Wensu, Sheng Wenyu, Wang Xianzhong, Han Jiao'er and the others, to raise their arms at Yingchuan district of Henan.
Peng Yingyu led Xu Shuohui, Zou Puwang, Ming Wudeng to fight at Jiangxi's Ganzhou, Raozhou, Yuanzhou, Xinzhou and other districts.
Tie Guan Daoren [iron hat priest] led Bu Sanwang, Meng Haima and the others raised their arms at Xiangchu and Jingxiang districts.
Zhou Dian commanded Zhi Mali, Zhao Junyong and the others raised their arms at Xuxiu and Fengpei districts.
Leng Qian was in charge of the Ming Cult member in the western region, cutting off any Mongolian reinforcement coming to the Central Plains from the western region.
The Five-Element Flags were under 'zong tan's command, to be dispatched as necessary as the reinforcement for those who needed it.
The people were 90% sure that this strategy came from Yang Xiao and Peng Yingyu's minds.
As Zhang Wuji finished outlining their strategy, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause. Zhang Wuji also said, "Logically, we cannot rely only on our own Cult's strength to shake nearly one hundred years of Yuan's occupation. We must make good contacts with the heroes and warriors; only by pooling our strength and resources together will we be able to achieve great merits. Presently almost half of the masters of the Wulin world of Central Plains are being captured by the royal government, 'zong tan' will think of a way to rescue them. Tomorrow all of the brothers will go your own way. Fight and kill the Tartars whenever you have the opportunity. 'Zong tan' will also head for Dadou for a rescue operation. We have met and enjoy this joyous fellowship today; I don't know when we are going to see each other again in the future. Brothers, you must show loyalty to each other, give the important matter a foremost place in your heart, don't fight with each other over power and profit, don't kill each other. If any injustice of this kind is found among you, 'zong tan' will not be lenient."
The crowd shouted their answer with one voice, "We won't dare to disobey Jiaozhu's order!" Their cheers and shouts echoed throughout the valley. Afterwards everybody sealed their oath by shedding their blood and burning the incense; determined to hold fast to their just cause in live or death.
The moon was shining brightly as it was daytime. The Ming Cult leaders sat around the banquet tables, while the staff of 'zhong tan' served some vegetable-stuffed round cakes to everybody. The round cakes looked like the moon, hence they called it 'moon cake.' Later on a legend developed that the Chinese made a pact to kill the Tartars while eating moon cake during the Mid-autumn Festival ['ba yue xhong qiu – lit. mid-autumn of the eighth month]; it was because of the Ming Cult held their assembly that evening to decide the battle strategy.
Zhang Wuji also said, "Our Cult has always had a rule passed on from generation to generation, that we don't eat meat or drink wine. But presently there are famines everywhere; we can't always choose what we eat. Moreover, our primary objective today is to drive the Tartars out. If we don't eat meat or fish our strengths will wane and it will be difficult to fight. From now on I lift up this religious rule of not eating meat and drinking wine. We live in this world must put important matter first, eating and drinking rule is trivial matter." From that time on the Ming Cult people ate the moon cake with pork stuffing.
Next day early in the morning everybody bade Zhang Wuji goodbye. Although they were warriors and brave people, but thinking about the incoming bloody battle nobody knew who would survive and who would perish. Although they were confident that they would be successful, but among the attendees of the Butterfly Valley assembly, perhaps only half of them would live; inevitably they all left with heavy hearts.
While the ceremonial fire was still ablaze in the Butterfly Valley, suddenly someone sang in a clear voice,
"Burn my wretched body, oh raging holy fire.
What joy is in life, what pain is in death?"
The rest of the crowd responded in one voice,
"Burn my wretched body, oh raging holy fire.
What joy is in life, what pain is in death?
To do good and shun evil, only for brightness' cause.
Whether it is a life of happiness or sadness,
Everybody will go back to the dust.
I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!
I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!"
The last phrase of 'I pity the mankind, with their many suffering! I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!' echoed in the Butterfly Valley. With their clothes as white as snow, the warriors came to Zhang Wuji's presence one by one, bowing their heads and salute, raised their head back up, turned around and left without looking back. Remembering that in the ten or twenty years to come, these warriors, such as Xu Da, would shed their blood for the sake of the Central Plains, Zhang Wuji could not help his eyes brim in tears.
The sound of singing was getting farther and farther away; the warriors dispersed their own separate ways. In a few moments stillness went back to reign in the Butterfly Valley, which was bustling with noise and excitement for the last several days; only Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and Zhu Yuanzhang with his company left. Zhang Wuji asked in details the Wan An Temple's location, as well as those ominous people's appearance.
"Zhu Dage," he said, "The world is in chaos, we cannot waste any time in this insurrection. You do not need to accompany me to Dadou; let us part here."
Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and the others said, "We wish Jiaozhu success. Subordinates will wait to hear the good news." Bidding their farewell to Zhang Wuji, they left the valley toward their assigned post.
"We also have to leave," Zhang Wuji said, "Xiao Zhao, you have shackles on your hands, you can't move easily, you better wait for me here."
Xiao Zhao agreed reluctantly, but with the pretense of sending them off she followed them going out of the valley. They had walked for three miles, she still followed them. Then three more miles, she still did not want to leave. "Xiao Zhao," Zhang Wuji said, "If you send us off farther, you might not recognize the way back."
"Master Zhang," Xiao Zhao said, "Are you going to see Miss Zhao in Dadou?"
"Can't say for sure, but I might," Zhang Wuji replied.
"If you see her, will you ask her a favor on my behalf?" Xiao Zhao asked.
"What do you want her to do?" Zhang Wuji wondered.
Xiao Zhao held out her arms and said, "I want to borrow the Yitian Sword from Miss Zhao to cut this iron chain, otherwise I will not be free for the rest of my life."
Zhang Wuji could not bear to see her pitiful expression, "I am afraid she won't let me borrow her precious sword, let alone let me bring it here," he said apologetically.
"Then … then, why don't you take me along, ask her to borrow the sword just for a moment?" Xiao Zhao asked.
Zhang Wuji smiled and said, "You talked in circles, in the end you want to go with me to Dadou, don't you? Yang Zuoshi, do you think we can take her along?"
Yang Xiao knew from the way Zhang Wuji speak that he wanted to take her along; he said, "I don't think that's a problem; so there is someone to take care of Jiaozhu's clothes and serve him tea. Only your iron chain's 'clink, clink, clank, clank' will be conspicuous. Let's do it this way; she pretends to be ill, then she can ride in a carriage and not come out unless it's important."
Bu Dai Heshang cloth sack monk and Shuo Bude were in command of Han Shantong, Liu Futong, Du Zundao, Luo Wensu, Sheng Wenyu, Wang Xianzhong, Han Jiao'er and the others, to raise their arms at Yingchuan district of Henan.Peng Yingyu led Xu Shuohui, Zou Puwang, Ming Wudeng to fight at Jiangxi's Ganzhou, Raozhou, Yuanzhou, Xinzhou and other districts.Tie Guan Daoren iron hat priest led Bu Sanwang, Meng Haima and the others raised their arms at Xiangchu and Jingxiang districts.Zhou Dian commanded Zhi Mali, Zhao Junyong and the others raised their arms at Xuxiu and Fengpei districts.Leng Qian was in charge of the Ming Cult member in the western region, cutting off any Mongolian reinforcement coming to the Central Plains from the western region.The Five-Element Flags were under 'zong tan's command, to be dispatched as necessary as the reinforcement for those who needed it.The people were 90% sure that this strategy came from Yang Xiao and Peng Yingyu's minds.As Zhang Wuji finished outlining their strategy, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause. Zhang Wuji also said, "Logically, we cannot rely only on our own Cult's strength to shake nearly one hundred years of Yuan's occupation. We must make good contacts with the heroes and warriors; only by pooling our strength and resources together will we be able to achieve great merits. Presently almost half of the masters of the Wulin world of Central Plains are being captured by the royal government, 'zong tan' will think of a way to rescue them. Tomorrow all of the brothers will go your own way. Fight and kill the Tartars whenever you have the opportunity. 'Zong tan' will also head for Dadou for a rescue operation. We have met and enjoy this joyous fellowship today; I don't know when we are going to see each other again in the future. Brothers, you must show loyalty to each other, give the important matter a foremost place in your heart, don't fight with each other over power and profit, don't kill each other. If any injustice of this kind is found among you, 'zong tan' will not be lenient."The crowd shouted their answer with one voice, "We won't dare to disobey Jiaozhu's order!" Their cheers and shouts echoed throughout the valley. Afterwards everybody sealed their oath by shedding their blood and burning the incense; determined to hold fast to their just cause in live or death.The moon was shining brightly as it was daytime. The Ming Cult leaders sat around the banquet tables, while the staff of 'zhong tan' served some vegetable-stuffed round cakes to everybody. The round cakes looked like the moon, hence they called it 'moon cake.' Later on a legend developed that the Chinese made a pact to kill the Tartars while eating moon cake during the Mid-autumn Festival 'ba yue xhong qiu lit. mid-autumn of the eighth month; it was because of the Ming Cult held their assembly that evening to decide the battle strategy.Zhang Wuji also said, "Our Cult has always had a rule passed on from generation to generation, that we don't eat meat or drink wine. But presently there are famines everywhere; we can't always choose what we eat. Moreover, our primary objective today is to drive the Tartars out. If we don't eat meat or fish our strengths will wane and it will be difficult to fight. From now on I lift up this religious rule of not eating meat and drinking wine. We live in this world must put important matter first, eating and drinking rule is trivial matter." From that time on the Ming Cult people ate the moon cake with pork stuffing.Next day early in the morning everybody bade Zhang Wuji goodbye. Although they were warriors and brave people, but thinking about the incoming bloody battle nobody knew who would survive and who would perish. Although they were confident that they would be successful, but among the attendees of the Butterfly Valley assembly, perhaps only half of them would live; inevitably they all left with heavy hearts.While the ceremonial fire was still ablaze in the Butterfly Valley, suddenly someone sang in a clear voice,"Burn my wretched body, oh raging holy fire.What joy is in life, what pain is in death?"The rest of the crowd responded in one voice,"Burn my wretched body, oh raging holy fire.What joy is in life, what pain is in death?To do good and shun evil, only for brightness' cause.Whether it is a life of happiness or sadness,Everybody will go back to the dust.I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!"The last phrase of 'I pity the mankind, with their many suffering! I pity the mankind, with their many suffering!' echoed in the Butterfly Valley. With their clothes as white as snow, the warriors came to Zhang Wuji's presence one by one, bowing their heads and salute, raised their head back up, turned around and left without looking back. Remembering that in the ten or twenty years to come, these warriors, such as Xu Da, would shed their blood for the sake of the Central Plains, Zhang Wuji could not help his eyes brim in tears.The sound of singing was getting farther and farther away; the warriors dispersed their own separate ways. In a few moments stillness went back to reign in the Butterfly Valley, which was bustling with noise and excitement for the last several days; only Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and Zhu Yuanzhang with his company left. Zhang Wuji asked in details the Wan An Temple's location, as well as those ominous people's appearance."Zhu Dage," he said, "The world is in chaos, we cannot waste any time in this insurrection. You do not need to accompany me to Dadou; let us part here."Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and the others said, "We wish Jiaozhu success. Subordinates will wait to hear the good news." Bidding their farewell to Zhang Wuji, they left the valley toward their assigned post."We also have to leave," Zhang Wuji said, "Xiao Zhao, you have shackles on your hands, you can't move easily, you better wait for me here."Xiao Zhao agreed reluctantly, but with the pretense of sending them off she followed them going out of the valley. They had walked for three miles, she still followed them. Then three more miles, she still did not want to leave. "Xiao Zhao," Zhang Wuji said, "If you send us off farther, you might not recognize the way back.""Master Zhang," Xiao Zhao said, "Are you going to see Miss Zhao in Dadou?""Can't say for sure, but I might," Zhang Wuji replied."If you see her, will you ask her a favor on my behalf?" Xiao Zhao asked."What do you want her to do?" Zhang Wuji wondered.Xiao Zhao held out her arms and said, "I want to borrow the Yitian Sword from Miss Zhao to cut this iron chain, otherwise I will not be free for the rest of my life."Zhang Wuji could not bear to see her pitiful expression, "I am afraid she won't let me borrow her precious sword, let alone let me bring it here," he said apologetically."Then then, why don't you take me along, ask her to borrow the sword just for a moment?" Xiao Zhao asked.Zhang Wuji smiled and said, "You talked in circles, in the end you want to go with me to Dadou, don't you? Yang Zuoshi, do you think we can take her along?"Yang Xiao knew from the way Zhang Wuji speak that he wanted to take her along; he said, "I don't think that's a problem; so there is someone to take care of Jiaozhu's clothes and serve him tea. Only your iron chain's 'clink, clink, clank, clank' will be conspicuous. Let's do it this way; she pretends to be ill, then she can ride in a carriage and not come out unless it's important."
