Chapter Twenty-Five of Hu Sanniang's Scandalous History: Hu Cheng Buys Land in Shouzhang County, Xu Sheng Becomes an Apprentice at the Mountain God Temple

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

After returning to his hometown, the emperor's elder brother, Hu Cheng, began to rebuild the ancestral lands. Shouzhang County and Yuncheng County were now under Hu Cheng's jurisdiction. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, one-tenth of the annual tax revenue collected by these two counties from the court would be given to Hu Cheng as his princely stipend. However, these two counties remained under the administration of court officials, and Hu Cheng had no right to interfere. Hu Cheng visited the magistrate of Shouzhang County, proposing to rebuild the family estate and reconstruct the ancestral temple, among other things.

During the Jin invasion, Zhujiazhuang, Lijiazhuang, and Hujiazhuang were sites of numerous battles between the Song and Jin armies. At that time, the local population either fled, were conscripted, or were killed, and most of the houses were destroyed in the war. Later, the area became an uninhabited wasteland, never to be restored. After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, all unclaimed land throughout the country was confiscated by the government.

The magistrate of Shouzhang County was worried about the lack of people cultivating the land. Hearing that Prince Rende was willing to buy the land, he was overjoyed and sold all the land in Zhujiazhuang, Lijiazhuang, and Hujiazhuang to Hu Cheng for two thousand taels of gold. Hu Cheng then began recruiting laborers in his hometown, rebuilding houses and temples, purchasing livestock, and cultivating the fields. Those villagers who had fled from these three villages, hearing that their imperial brother Hu Cheng had returned in glory, all returned to their hometowns, young and old, to rely on him, and the nearby villages prospered as well. After reporting to the government for approval, Hu Cheng renamed the place Rende Town and sent someone to Tokyo to obtain the three characters "Rende Town" personally inscribed by the Empress, which were then carved by craftsmen on the stone wall in front of Dulonggang.

Of the three thousand taels of gold the Empress bestowed upon her brother, Hu Cheng spent two thousand taels on land, livestock, and housing for thousands of households who had come to live with him. His princely stipend wouldn't be received until after the autumn harvest, leaving him financially strapped. As the Emperor's brother, many were willing to lend or give him money if he asked. However, he remembered his sister's instructions and dared not accept a single coin, fearing it would tarnish his title of Prince Rende. Seeing her son-in-law's predicament, Li Rulian offered to take some of the Empress's retirement allowance for him, but Hu Cheng refused to touch his mother-in-law's savings.

That day, a wealthy man named Wang from a neighboring village came to visit. Wang Fugui was Hu Cheng's childhood friend, living in Wangjia Village, ten li from Hujiazhuang. Wang was educated and had even passed the imperial examinations. He had made his fortune in business in Jizhou City in recent years. Hu Cheng invited him inside for tea. Seeing that Hu Cheng's home was quite simple, Master Wang couldn't help but ask, "Brother Hu, you are now so wealthy and powerful, why don't you buy some decent furniture?"

Hu Cheng replied, "I've recently spent almost all the gold and silver my sister gave me, both for building houses for the farmers and buying livestock."

Master Wang then asked, "I see many unopened bundles of luggage in the next room. Could they be goods that Brother Hu brought from Dongjing to sell?"

Hu Cheng said, "They are all things my sister gave me before she left, things she used herself. I haven't had time to open them yet. My sister..." The emperor was a good one; she lived very frugally in the palace. She said that all these things were unnecessary and a waste, so she had a dozen or so loads packed up for me to take back to my hometown.”

Master Wang, a worldly man, said to Hu Cheng, “Forgive my impertinence, but even the oldest things taken from the palace might be valuable treasures. Brother Hu, could you let me see them?”

Hu Cheng replied, “Brother Wang, please feel free to look.” He led him to the next room and first opened the outermost load of luggage for him to see.

That load contained scrolls of calligraphy and paintings. Old Master Wang glanced at the painting a few times, then smiled and said to Hu Cheng, "Brother Hu, you're really sitting on a mountain of gold and crying poverty." Hu Cheng, puzzled, asked, "Why do you say that, Brother Wang?" Old Master Wang picked up a dusty painting and said, "Brother Hu, look, this painting was created by the current Emperor Emeritus, Zhao Ji, as a New Year's gift to Her Majesty the Empress. This painting alone is worth three hundred taels of gold. In fact, even if you had gold, you couldn't buy it!"

Hu Cheng was astonished. Zhao Ji was recognized as the Empress's godfather at the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and therefore the Ming Dynasty also honored him as Emperor Emeritus. He was the only person in history to have served as Emperor Emeritus in two dynasties. He was also a master painter; his paintings were indeed priceless. Third Sister herself had no time to concern herself with such trivial matters. She only told her sister, Tian Shou, that she wanted to give her brother some old things she didn't need. Tian Shou packed and prepared these things for her and then gave them to Hu Cheng. Presumably, there were many such paintings and calligraphies in the palace, so Tian Shou casually picked some up and bundled them into a load.

Hu Cheng said, "I'm ashamed to say that I didn't even have time to check what was in these loads before I left." Master Wang then picked up another painting and said, "This one is even more priceless, but you must keep it as a family heirloom and never sell it."

Hu Cheng took it and saw that it was also a painting by the retired emperor, depicting Empress Hu San Niang herself, with a poem inscribed by the retired emperor himself praising Empress Hu San Niang. Hu Cheng exclaimed, "My goodness! If it weren't for Brother Wang, these treasures might have been lost and buried!"

Master Wang said, "Although these paintings and calligraphy are valuable, there are no buyers here. Why don't I help you choose a dozen or so less rare ones to take to Jizhou City and sell to wealthy families for over ten thousand taels of silver to ease your immediate financial burden? Keep the rest safe and make plans later. Those other dozen or so loads must contain many good items; please take good care of them and don't be careless."

Hu Cheng said, "Thank you very much, Brother Wang. Please take ten percent of the money from the paintings as a token of my gratitude."

Master Wang said, "How can I accept that?" He firmly declined. Hu Cheng insisted on thanking him, but Master Wang said, "Since that's the case, it would be impolite of me to refuse. Please give me this 'Drunken Flower Shade' calligraphy by Li Qingzhao, the foremost poet of our time; it's also a rare treasure." Hu Cheng agreed. Master Wang was overjoyed and that very day took the dozen or so paintings and calligraphies he had selected to Jizhou City to find buyers. Hu Cheng escorted him all the way to the outskirts of the manor.

Ten days later, Master Wang sent someone to deliver the proceeds of the sale of the paintings—over 18,000 taels of silver—to Hu Cheng. Master Wang had originally estimated that the paintings and calligraphies would fetch at least 10,000 taels of silver, but to his surprise, the wealthy households in Jizhou City, upon hearing that these were items personally used by the Empress, competed fiercely to raise the price, resulting in a sale for over 18,000 taels. Hu Cheng was overjoyed; he hadn't expected that the matter that had troubled him for days would be resolved so easily. In his happiness, he went to Yinzhi and Yuzhi's room that night and indulged in a wanton debauchery.

Ever since enjoying the pleasures of Wanyan Hong and Qionghua, he had developed a liking for having sex with two women at once. For convenience, he had Yinzhi and Yuzhi share a room. The two sisters were already very close and obedient to Hu Cheng, quickly getting used to the game of the three of them sharing a bed. Following the example of Wanyan Hong and Qionghua's encounter, Hu Cheng taught Yinzhi and Yuzhi to kiss, touch each other's breasts, and lick each other's genitals, a practice the three of them thoroughly enjoyed.

Two months later, both Yinzhi and Yuzhi became pregnant. Helpless, Hu Cheng had to stop his absurd affair and sleep in Jinzhi's room at night. Jinzhi and he were an old married couple, and Hu Cheng was skilled at having sex with her, though it wasn't nearly as exciting as with Yinzhi and Yuzhi. Jinzhi also knew she was getting old and couldn't compare to her two younger sisters, who were over twenty years younger. That night, as Hu Cheng was on top of her, she blushed and whispered in her husband's ear, "Aunt Li has been quite lonely lately."

Her mother-in-law, Li Rulian, was a year younger than Jinzhi, and even when she was Queen of Siam, Jinzhi only called her Aunt, never Mother. Jinzhi's words reminded Hu Cheng, who was overjoyed and showered her with kisses, saying, "My dear, wait here a moment, don't move." He then got out of bed, dressed, and left.

At that moment, Li Rulian was about to undress and go to bed when Hu Cheng burst in. Li Rulian cried out in fright, "What are you doing in my room?" Hu Cheng didn't answer, but grabbed her, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and carried her to Jinzhi's room. Li Rulian was both ashamed and anxious, but dared not make a sound.

Back in the room, Hu Cheng tore Li Rulian's clothes to shreds, stripped her naked, and threw her onto the bed. Jinzhi, naked on the bed, reached out to help Li Rulian up. Hu Cheng sat cross-legged on the headboard and said, "You two, show me your affections first." Jinzhi and Li Rulian blushed and remained motionless, embarrassed. In fact, Hu Cheng and Yin Zhi and Yu Zhi never shied away from doing that kind of thing. The two of them had already been eavesdropping outside, but they were too embarrassed to do it themselves.

Hu Cheng glared at Li Rulian, making her tremble. Jinzhi steeled herself, pressing close to Li Rulian and caressing her large breasts and white buttocks, making her pant heavily. Gradually, Li Rulian loosened her grip, opening her mouth to suckle Jinzhi's nipple. Hu Cheng watched, his lower body already hard as an iron rod. With a roar, he pounced on her, thrusting his member between Li Rulian's legs. His hands were also busy, kneading the two women on the bed.

This ordeal was no less intense than his battle with Yinzhi and Yuzhu! Li Rulian and Jinzhi were brought to ecstasy by his fucking, while he himself was drenched in sweat. From that night on, he frequently ordered Li Rulian to come to Jinzhi's room for him to fuck. Li Rulian dared not disobey and had to comply.

Since helping Hu Cheng sell his calligraphy and paintings, the wealthy Wang had become his close friend. The two often visited each other, enjoying tea, wine, and chess together, living a very pleasant life. One day, Master Wang came to visit the manor again, and Hu Cheng welcomed him into the house and served him wine. During their conversation, Master Wang showed a hesitant look, as if he had something difficult to say. Hu Cheng asked, "Brother, what troubles you? Please speak frankly. Perhaps I can offer some assistance."

The wealthy Wang replied, "To be honest, brother, some time ago I was in Shouzhang County on business when a group of friends dragged me to a brothel for drinks. There I met a woman. She was incredibly beautiful, originally the daughter of a military officer. Due to her family's decline, she became a prostitute. After drinking and enjoying myself with her, I decided to redeem her and bring her home. However, my wife can't tolerate her. She argues with me constantly and insists on kicking her out. My wife comes from a wealthy family; I made a lot of money in my business using her dowry as capital, so I'm afraid of her. But I can't bear to drive that poor woman out of the house, hence my troubles." "

Hu Cheng laughed and said, "This is my brother's family matter, and I can't help with it."

Master Wang said, "I spent three hundred taels of silver to redeem her. I want to give this woman to you, brother, without asking you to spend a single penny. Consider it a great favor you've done for me."

Hu Cheng declined, saying, "How can I take away what someone else loves? Absolutely not, absolutely not."

Master Wang said, "If I keep her, my family will not have peace. If I send her away, I will be harming her. Brother, please consider this an act of kindness and accumulating good karma!" After pleading with Hu Cheng for a long time, he finally said, "You can come with me to my home to see her. If she doesn't satisfy you, I won't force you. What do you say?"

Hu Cheng, having heard that she was a beautiful woman and the daughter of a military officer, was curious. Master Wang further urged him, practically dragging him to his home.

Upon seeing the woman, who was eighteen or nineteen years old, he indeed found her exceptionally beautiful. Seeing Hu Cheng's expression, Master Wang knew he had taken a liking to the woman, so he said, "Brother Hu, please talk to her for a while." He then pushed open the door and left. Hu Cheng asked the woman, "What is your name? Where are your parents? Who else lives in your family?"

The woman bowed to Hu Cheng and said, "My name is Xu, and my name is Xu Huiniang. Both my parents are deceased. My father, Xu Ning, was originally a military general in the Song Dynasty and later became a leader of Liangshan Marsh. I have only one older brother, Xu Sheng, who is currently imprisoned in the Shou Zhang County jail."

Hu Cheng was surprised and asked, "Why is your brother imprisoned?"

Xu Huiniang replied, "My parents died young. My brother originally served under General Huyan Zhuo, alongside his son, Huyan Yu. After the Jin army occupied Dongjing (Kaifeng), my brother and I wandered around, exhausting our savings. After the Ming Dynasty was established, my brother and I learned that Uncle Huyan Zhuo had been enfeoffed as a marquis in Dongjing and wanted to go to him, but we couldn't raise enough money for the journey. Later, we encountered a rogue who came to harass us..." "My brother broke his leg. The authorities imprisoned him for fighting. I had no choice but to sell myself into a brothel and use the money to pay the family whose leg was broken, thus reducing my brother's sentence. He should be released in about six months."

Hu Cheng thought to himself, "Since her father is a leader of Liangshan, he must be an old friend of Third Sister. I should rescue her and her brother from their suffering; it would be a good deed for my sister."

He then said to her, "The wealthy man Wang who redeemed you is a close friend of mine. His wife can't tolerate you and wants to give you to me. I have a sister who happens to know your father. You can stay here for the night. Tomorrow I will take you to Shou Zhang County to rescue your brother, and then send you and your sister to seek refuge with General Huyan Zhuo."

Xu Huiniang was overjoyed and wept, kneeling down to thank Hu Cheng. Hu Cheng did not tell her who his sister was. When Madam Wang heard that Hu Cheng was going to take Xu Huiniang away the next day, she was overjoyed and hurriedly went to the kitchen to instruct the maids to prepare food and wine to entertain him. That night, Hu Cheng and Xu Huiniang shared a room. Hu Cheng, having drunk quite a bit, went to bed first and fell asleep. Xu Huiniang, seeing this, remained silent and went to sleep at the foot of the bed.

The next morning, Xu Huiniang got up to help Hu Cheng dress and wash. Madam Wang instructed the servants to bring breakfast to Hu Cheng and Xu Huiniang. After breakfast, Hu Cheng bid farewell to Madam Wang and his wife, and Huiniang also thanked Madam Wang for redeeming her brother. The two set off for Shouzhang County. Huiniang didn't know what ability Hu Cheng had to save her brother, and dared not ask, simply following behind Hu Cheng.

Upon arriving at the county office, Hu Cheng requested an audience with the magistrate. He had met the magistrate once before when Hu Cheng bought the land, and the magistrate had come out of the county office to greet Hu Cheng, addressing him as "Your Majesty." After the formalities were completed, Hu Cheng was respectfully invited inside and served fragrant tea. Only then did Hui Niang learn that Hu Cheng was Prince Rende of the Ming Dynasty, the brother of Empress Hu San Niang, and she was stunned.

Hu Cheng addressed the magistrate, saying, "I have an old friend's son named Xu Sheng, who is imprisoned for fighting. I would like to request that you, Magistrate, hand him over to me for discipline. I will pay the fine according to the law."

The magistrate instructed a clerk to review Xu Sheng's case file. Seeing that it was a common case of fighting resulting in disability, he said, "This man's crime is not very serious; originally, he only needed to pay five hundred taels of silver to be released. However, since he has already been imprisoned for more than three months, the fine is reduced by half according to regulations. Your Majesty, you can take him away if you pay two hundred and fifty taels of silver." Hu Cheng immediately took the silver and paid the fine. The magistrate then ordered Xu Sheng to be released from prison and handed over to Hu Cheng.

Hui Niang and her brother Xu Sheng met and embraced, weeping bitterly. After crying, Hui Niang brought her brother to Hu Cheng and said, "This is our great benefactor, the brother of the Empress of the Ming Dynasty, Prince Rende, Lord Hu. He came to see the magistrate and paid the fine, which is why you were released from prison."

Xu Sheng knelt to thank Hu Cheng. Hu Cheng saw that Xu Sheng was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a majestic and handsome appearance. Hu Cheng chatted with him very happily and thought he was a capable military general, which pleased him greatly. He said, "You two should come back to the manor with me to rest. We will discuss this further tomorrow."

By the time they returned to Rende Town, it was already dark. Hu Cheng introduced Xu Sheng and Xu Hui Niang to his three concubines, saying that they were descendants of an old friend of Her Majesty the Empress. Hui Niang was obedient and quickly knelt down to greet the three concubines. Jin Zhi liked her pretty and lovely appearance and personally helped her up. Yin Zhi and Yu Zhu also came over, took her hand, and asked her about her well-being. Hu Cheng ordered a meal to be prepared in his honor. After the meal, he had maids serve Xu Sheng and Xu Huiniang a fragrant bath and then escort them to their guest rooms to rest. Nothing more was said that night.

The next morning, after settling things in, Hu Cheng summoned Xu Sheng and his sister to sit in the main hall, with Jinzhi, Yinzhi, and Yuzhi also seated nearby. Hu Cheng said, “Your father is an old friend of my sister’s. My sister is a very kind person, and she takes good care of her former acquaintances from Liangshan. I heard that Huyan Zhuo has retired to his hometown after being granted a marquisate. If you go to him, he will surely write a letter entrusting you to someone else, which would take a lot of time. It would be better if I wrote a letter now, and you two could take it directly to the palace to see my sister, who will then take care of you. Wouldn’t that be much easier?” Although Hu Cheng loved Xu Huiniang very much, he remembered his sister’s instructions to live up to the title of Prince Rende, so he suppressed his personal feelings and was determined to help Xu Sheng and his sister.

Upon hearing this, Xu Sheng and Hui Niang knelt down and kowtowed to Hu Cheng. Xu Sheng said, "I have learned martial arts since childhood and have a rudimentary understanding of military strategy. I wish to join the army and earn a living. If I achieve merit in battle, I can bring glory to my ancestors. I will remember the Prince's kindness. From now on, I will swear to serve the Empress and the Ming Dynasty to the death, even at the cost of my life." Xu Hui Niang, however, was thinking about other things and remained silent with her head down.

Hu Cheng said, “Since you wish to join the army, I have an idea. Now that the world is at peace and the country is at peace, there are few places in the Ming Dynasty that require troops. My sister said that only the Prince of Zhenxi is still expanding westward, and that is where they need manpower. The Prince of Zhenxi is my niece, and she is currently stationed in Tibet. Although I have not yet met her, I might as well write a letter recommending you there. For the sake of your mother and uncle, she will surely make use of your strengths. If you can make great contributions on the battlefield, you may even be ennobled in the future. However, there is one thing: your sister is a weak woman and it is difficult for her to go with you.”

Just as he was saying this, Xu Huiniang got up from her seat and knelt down with a thud, which startled Hu Cheng. Xu Huiniang kowtowed three times to Hu Cheng, saying, "Your Highness, I have heard that since I met you, I have known you to be a kind and benevolent gentleman, a truly upright and honorable man. Although I am now a withered flower, my only wish is for my brother to have a bright future. I am willing to follow you as your servant, to serve you and your wife for the rest of my life. Please grant my request." She then kowtowed again, tears streaming down her face.

Jinzhi had heard Hu Cheng recount Xu Huiniang's story from her bed the previous night and sighed deeply. Now feeling even more sorry for her, he helped her up from the ground and held her in his arms, wiping away his tears as he said to Hu Cheng, "This sister is truly pitiful; please take her in."

Xu Sheng also said, "My sister has been virtuous since childhood and is a grateful person. Please, Your Highness, take her in. I, as her brother, will feel at ease knowing she is by Your Highness's side."

Hu Cheng said to Xu Sheng, "Since you have this intention, I will not refuse. However, it would be too unfair for your sister to be a servant. I wish to choose an auspicious day to take your sister as a concubine. What do you think?" Xu Sheng was overjoyed and pulled Hui Niang to thank Hu Cheng. Hui Niang then bowed to the three princesses, Jin Zhi, Yin Zhi, and Yu Zhi, one by one. Hu Cheng thought to himself, "I originally intended to help the brother and sister, but unexpectedly, I won the heart of a beauty. It is true that good deeds are rewarded."

Three days later, Hu Cheng took Hui Niang as his concubine. The Prince Rende's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a grand celebration was held. When the villagers and neighbors heard that Prince Rende had taken a concubine, they all came to offer their congratulations. The Wang family, including the wealthy man and his wife, also came to present gifts. The Wang family member was the most conflicted that day; he was grateful to Hu Cheng for his righteous act of rescuing him, but also incredibly jealous. That alluring, beautiful, and gentle woman had become someone else's concubine, and he would never have her again.

Jinzhi, Yinzhi, and Yuzhi helped Huiniang dress and prepare, and amidst the sounds of drums and music, they escorted Hu Cheng and Huiniang to their bridal chamber.

When Hu Cheng looked at Huiniang under the lamplight, she was truly as beautiful as Xi Shi and as alluring as Diao Chan. After undressing, the two were inseparable, sharing a passionate and tender moment. Huiniang, having worked in brothels, knew all the tricks of the trade for seduction, and Hu Cheng enjoyed her immensely. Jinzhi, hearing the lewd sounds from inside, was overcome with desire and finally couldn't resist pushing open the door. Hui Niang used all her skills to please the couple, making them feel like they were in heaven. Hu Cheng enjoyed the ultimate pleasure that night.

Seeing his sister find a good home, Xu Sheng was overjoyed and drank to his heart's content. He got very drunk that night and didn't wake up until noon the next day. Xu Sheng stayed at Prince Rende's residence for another ten days or so. On this day, he came to bid farewell to Hu Cheng and his sister, carrying a handwritten letter from Hu Cheng to the Prince of Zhenxi in his arms, and set off westward. Hu Cheng naturally prepared Xu Sheng's luggage, travel expenses, and horse. Hui Niang and Hu Cheng accompanied their brother for ten miles, only returning when he was out of sight.

Now, Xu Sheng left Shouzhang County and traveled day and night, enduring hardship. After about two months, he finally entered the territory of Tibet. Tibet was a harsh and cold region, and its people had always been fierce, with constant warfare and feuds. After the Prince of Zhenxi conquered Tibet, he brought many capable ministers who governed Tibet strictly according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, executing many unruly individuals. Over the years, the Han and Tibetan peoples of Tibet lived in harmony and prosperity, and with favorable weather, agriculture, animal husbandry, and commerce gradually flourished. Xu Sheng, traveling along the way, saw many rare sights he had never seen before in the Central Plains.

One day, Xu Sheng was riding alone on a mountain road when he suddenly heard the sounds of fighting ahead. Before entering Tibet, Xu Sheng had traversed many treacherous places without encountering any bandits. Seeing people fighting here, he was greatly surprised and spurred his horse closer to see what was happening.

He saw twenty-five or twenty-six fierce-looking men on horseback, all dressed as Tibetans, attacking an old monk with white hair and beard. These men were armed with broadswords, spears, bows, and axes, while the old monk was unarmed, riding a blue-maned horse, dodging the incoming weapons. Xu Sheng was a hot-blooded, upright, and forthright man. Seeing them ganging up on the old monk, he was furious. However, he didn't consider that if the old monk wasn't extraordinary, how could he have held off this group of villains for so long with his bare hands?

When Xu Sheng left Hu Family Village, Hu Cheng had a long spear and a waist knife forged from the finest steel and gave them to him as weapons. Xu Sheng immediately untied the bundle and placed it in the bushes by the roadside, brandished his spear, and mounted his horse to rescue the monk. Upon reaching him, Xu Sheng shouted, "Stop! Where did you villains come from, daring to gang up on the monk and rob him here?" The men, seeing Xu Sheng, didn't answer. Five or six of them engaged him in combat, while the rest continued their fierce attack on the monk.

Xu Sheng hadn't been on the battlefield since Kaifeng was captured by the Jin army. Today was the first time in years he had faced such formidable enemies, and he was incredibly excited. These opponents all seemed to have killed before, and their martial arts were quite good. Xu Sheng unleashed his full skill, his spear moving with unpredictable speed, engaging the men in a fierce battle. Xu Sheng hadn't originally intended to kill; he only wanted to save the old monk. However, these men seemed to have an irreconcilable hatred for him, their attacks relentless and desperate. Xu Sheng could no longer afford to hesitate; he showed no mercy, wielding his spear and fighting to the death.

Xu Sheng, being a military man, possessed rich battlefield experience, and his martial arts were far superior to his opponents. In less than half an hour, Xu Sheng had killed them all, through thrusts and parries. Strangely, none of them fled or surrendered until the very end. Xu Sheng was now drenched in sweat, his body covered in blood.

He suddenly realized that the surroundings were eerily quiet; could the old monk have been killed or captured? He turned around and was startled to see the old monk standing behind him, silently watching him with a smile. He had already dismounted his blue-maned horse, a long spear in his hand, which he had likely just seized from the enemy. Looking around, Xu Sheng was so shocked he almost cried out: all the villains who had attacked the old monk had been wiped out, their corpses dragged to a spot and neatly arranged.

This old monk was a master!

The old monk said to Xu Sheng, "Thank you for your righteous intervention, young master. I am grateful for your rescue." He then bowed deeply. Xu Sheng hurriedly returned the bow, saying, "Master, you possess extraordinary skills. I was overestimating myself and made a fool of myself."

The old monk said, "Young master, please go to the spring to wash away the blood. After I burn these corpses, I will come back to speak with you." Only then did Xu Sheng notice that the old monk was completely clean, without a single drop of blood. Only then did he realize that there were always people more skilled than himself, and he couldn't help but admire the old monk's abilities immensely: he, a young man, had struggled immensely to kill only five or six enemies, while the old monk had easily killed more than twenty. Xu Sheng felt a strong urge to become his disciple.

He went to the mountain spring to wash himself, threw away his blood-stained clothes, and took clean clothes from his bundle to change into. By then, the old monk had already gathered firewood and lit a roaring fire to burn the corpses. He clasped his hands together and chanted incantations, seemingly performing a ritual to guide the souls of the dead. There happened to be a dilapidated mountain god temple nearby, and the old monk and Xu Sheng went inside to rest. The old monk took out some dry food, which the two shared.

The old monk asked, "May I ask your name, young master, where you come from, and where you are going?"

Xu Sheng replied, "My name is Xu Sheng. I was originally a military general of the Song Dynasty, and I was on my way to serve in the army of the Prince of Zhenxi. Just now, I saw these villains attacking my master, and I, relying on my strength, stepped forward to help them. Fortunately, I met my master. My master's skills are amazing, and I greatly admire them. I humbly request that my master accept me as his disciple." After saying this, he knelt down and bowed to the monk.

The old monk said, "Get up, I have something to ask you." He reached out to help Xu Sheng up. Xu Sheng felt a strong force lifting him up, unable to struggle, and could only stand. The old monk asked, "Just now, I saw your spear technique, which resembled the family spear technique of General Huyan Zhuo. I thought you were his son. But you said your name is Xu Sheng. What is your relationship with old man Huyan? Are you perhaps his disciple?"

Xu Sheng said, "Master, you have a good eye. My father was named Xu Ning. He and Uncle Huyan Zhuo were both military officers in the Song Dynasty. Later, they joined Liangshan, and were later recruited by the imperial court, fighting for the court in the east and west. My father died early, when I was still young, and I was unable to learn the ancestral martial arts of my Xu family from him. From a young age, I was cared for by Uncle Huyan Zhuo, and I became sworn brothers with his son, Huyan Yu, and we practiced martial arts together..." "I joined the army. I learned my spear technique from Huyan Yu."

The old monk said, "I see. Since you are Brother Xu Ning's son, you should call me Uncle. My name is Lin Chong. In my early years, I was an instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards along with your father. I joined Liangshan a few years earlier than him. Now, time has passed, and it all seems like a lifetime ago." Xu Sheng exclaimed, "So you are Uncle Lin Chong! No wonder you are so skilled! Uncle Huyan Zhuo has mentioned to Huyan Yu and me many times that in the entire Liangshan, if we talk about martial arts, Uncle Lin Chong is the best. Please accept me as your disciple, Uncle!" After saying that, he knelt down again.

This time, Lin Chong did not stop him and let him bow three times. Xu Sheng was overjoyed. Lin Chong said, "My life has been full of hardships, and I became a monk because of some unspeakable reason. Today, by a twist of fate, I have taken you as my disciple. You must swear to Heaven that you will never tell anyone that you have seen me." Xu Sheng immediately swore a solemn oath and said, "Master, rest assured, I will remember your instructions!"

Xu Sheng then told his master everything, from how he and his sister wandered around after the Jin army invaded, to how he was imprisoned by the government for fighting, how he was rescued by Prince Rende, Hu Cheng, and how Prince Rende recommended him to seek refuge with the Prince of Zhenxi. Lin Chong listened and nodded without saying a word. Hu Cheng asked his master, "Where did these villains come from? Why are they chasing you?"

Lin Chong replied, "They are assassins kept by the Lingjiu Palace in Tibet. They are chasing me because I stole the palace's most prized possession. The master of the Lingjiu Palace is plotting to summon monks and believers from all over Tibet to rebel, intending to assassinate the Prince of Zhenxi and drive the Ming Dynasty's forces out of Tibet. I went to steal the treasure to stop their conspiracy. I didn't want to kill, but they kept chasing me, so I had no choice but to pray for their souls. Amitabha." The

master and disciple rested for a night in the mountain temple. The next day, they packed their luggage and horses and arrived at a small town dozens of miles away. Lin Chong rented a dilapidated courtyard in the town, with a large open space behind it. Lin Chong said to Xu Sheng, "I want to stay here for two or three months so I can teach you martial arts." Xu Sheng was overjoyed and helped his master tidy up the place.

Lin Chong said, "I know too many martial arts; even if you study for three to five years, you won't learn them all. Fortunately, you are very intelligent and have a good foundation. I will only teach you one or two powerful spear techniques. Later, you can carefully experience them in actual combat, learn by analogy, and integrate them into your own understanding." He added, "I am very close to your father, Xu Ning, and we often sparred together. Therefore, I am well aware of the mysteries of your family's martial arts. Now I will teach you the Xu family's Golden Spear Technique and Hook-and-Sickle Spear Technique. If you achieve merit in the future, you can also comfort your father's spirit in heaven."

Xu Sheng was greatly moved and said, "Master, I will never be able to repay your kindness!" He then kowtowed repeatedly.

Lin Chong drew up a design and instructed Xu Sheng to ask a blacksmith to forge a hook-and-sickle spear. From then on, Xu Sheng studied spear techniques with Lin Chong every day. He was taller and stronger than his father, Xu Ning, and was willing to work hard. With Lin Chong's dedicated instruction, his martial arts skills improved greatly. In less than two months, Xu Sheng had mastered the Golden Spear Technique and the Hook and Sickle Spear Technique to a level of unparalleled skill and profound mystery. During this time, Xu Sheng served Lin Chong's daily needs every day, like a son serving his father. Lin Chong also increasingly felt that Xu Sheng was filial, like his own son.

That day, Lin Chong said to Xu Sheng, "My disciple, your spear skills are now quite proficient; you only need to experience them in actual combat. These past few days, I've observed your character and conduct; you are an honest and kind person, yet unlike me, you are not as rigid and pedantic. You will surely have a bright future. In short, I am very satisfied to have such a good disciple in my later years. I also have a set of Buddhist martial arts techniques that I will pass on to you. I originally started practicing this technique to treat my hemoptysis, but unexpectedly, it has some remarkable effects. As for what those effects are, I will not tell you for now, and you should not ask me. Just practice slowly, and you will naturally know its benefits in the future."

Xu Sheng said, "Since Master says so, I will definitely learn this technique well. I thank you in advance."

Over the next ten days or so, Lin Chong taught Xu Sheng this Buddhist secret technique, instructing him to practice it every day without stopping. After practicing for only a few days, Xu Sheng discovered that this technique was extremely useful for restoring physical strength; it was truly an extraordinary treasure. After Xu Sheng had memorized and mastered the martial arts technique, Lin Chong said, "We are master and disciple, our fate is not shallow. Today we part ways, but we will meet again someday." Xu Sheng was very reluctant to part, kneeling on the ground and hugging his master's legs, weeping bitterly.

Lin Chong then uttered a startling statement: "My disciple, the Zhenxi King Lin Wushuang, whom you are going to serve, is my daughter. Her brother, Zhenbei King Lin Wudi, is my son. However, I have already instructed you not to tell anyone that you have seen me." Xu Sheng was greatly shocked.

In the Ming Dynasty, Empress Hu Sanniang's prestige was at its zenith. Although the people had many private discussions and rumors about her and her four children, they dared not speak openly, fearing to commit a grave offense of disrespect. Therefore, few people knew that Lin Chong had once been Hu Sanniang's man, and that Wushuang and Wudi were his biological children.

Xu Sheng said, "Forgive my impertinence, but I've always wanted to ask you, Master, why you chose to become a monk? Is there anything you need my help with?"

Lin Chong replied, "It's not appropriate to tell you now. Let's discuss it when we meet again. There are villains from Lingjiu Palace trying to kill my daughter, Wushuang. If you go there, you can secretly protect her. I cannot meet her now, so please don't mention me to anyone, remember that. Also, if you have the opportunity, you can teach her this martial art as well." Xu Sheng nodded and thanked his master again. After they parted, Xu Sheng went to Luoxie City to seek refuge with the Prince of Zhenxi, but he didn't know where his master, Lin Chong, had gone.

Along the way, Xu Sheng encountered several groups of people searching for his master, Lin Chong: some were monks, some were government officials. They were all asking passersby about an old monk riding a blue-maned horse. Xu Sheng thought to himself, "The treasure that Master seized from Lingjiu Palace must be extraordinary." He wasn't worried about his master at all; with his master's abilities, even hundreds of elite soldiers couldn't defeat him.

However, a mother and daughter caught Xu Sheng's attention; they were also inquiring about his master's whereabouts. The mother was a wealthy merchant or a relative of a wealthy merchant, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, accompanied by a large group of servants, all of whom seemed to be skilled in martial arts. She was not only beautiful but also seemed quite capable. Her mount was a fine Ferghana horse, and Xu Sheng knew that only those with skill could ride such a spirited steed. Her daughter, only five or six years old, was able to hold the reins with both hands and ride alongside her. Xu Sheng's intuition told him that the mother and daughter seemed to have a special relationship with his master, but they were definitely not his enemies. The woman introduced herself as Yang; her eyes were beautiful, and when she asked Xu Sheng questions, it seemed as if she saw into his heart, making him unable to look directly at her. Of course, Xu Sheng couldn't reveal his master's whereabouts to her, and he felt a pang of reluctance as the mother and daughter left.

Xu Sheng entered Luoxie City and saw a recruitment notice posted by the Luoxie City Garrison Command in a bustling market. The notice stated that the Luoxie Garrison Command of the Ming Dynasty was recruiting skilled martial artists and military strategists at the East Military Training Ground. The top ten young talents who passed the competition, regardless of their social status, would be assigned to the garrison. Xu

Sheng thought to himself, "I have a personal letter from my elder brother, the Emperor. If I could meet the Prince of Zhenxi, I might be able to obtain an official position. However, I have studied military strategy with General Huyan Zhuo and received superb martial arts instruction from my master Lin Chong. Why not try my luck with my own abilities? This competition is an excellent opportunity. If I could serve at the Luoxie Garrison Command, I could also get close to the Prince of Zhenxi and secretly investigate the villains in Lingjiu Palace who want to harm him." With this in mind, he didn't bother looking for the Prince of Zhenxi's palace but resolutely headed to the East Military Training Ground. It was because Xu Sheng was young and impetuous; if it were a more mature person, he would have gone to pay his respects to the Prince of Zhenxi first.

Upon arriving at the drill ground, they found hundreds of young men already there, all there to take the exam. A large open area in the center of the ground was surrounded by wooden fences and guarded by several soldiers. A burly, dark-skinned man stood at the entrance, wielding a wooden stick, next to a pile of sticks of varying thicknesses. Anyone wishing to enter had to exchange blows with this man. Only with his permission could they proceed. The young men lined up, and when it was their turn, they would choose a stick from the pile to spar with the man. Xu Sheng joined the end of the line, watching the man's moves.

He couldn't help but chuckle; the man hadn't used any particularly unusual techniques, yet none of the young men were a match for him, each one defeated. Those struck on the buttocks or legs cried out in pain, while others lay on the ground, unable to get up, the ground littered with broken sticks. Occasionally, one or two skilled fighters, though defeated by the burly black man, were beckoned in. However, nine out of ten couldn't get in. Xu Sheng overheard others talking about how the burly black man was called Luan Yong, the younger brother of Luan Ying, the garrison commander of Luoxie City, and her deputy.

When it was Xu Sheng's turn, he picked up a new wooden stick, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the burly black man, and then swung the stick fiercely at him. Seeing the fierce attack, Luan Yong raised his stick to block, and with a "crack," the stick in Luan Yong's hand broke in two. Cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd. It seemed that no one had been able to defeat Luan Yong for a long time, and everyone was holding their breath.

Luan Yong looked at Xu Sheng and said, "You're not bad. I should have let you in. Would you be interested in playing with me again?" The people around, seeing a spectacle, shouted excitedly, encouraging Xu Sheng to go up and accept the challenge. Xu Sheng laughed, "In that case, I'll make a fool of myself."

This time, Luan Yong used an extremely thick wooden stick, more than twice the thickness of the one he had before. He asked Xu Sheng, "Do you want to change your stick again?" Xu Sheng shook his head. The two exchanged blows and began to spar. The number of onlookers gradually increased, even those who had been put into the wooden enclosure by Luan Yong were attracted. Some officers and soldiers who were training nearby also came to watch.

This time, although Xu Sheng was still using the same wooden stick, he used the Xu family's Golden Spear Technique, slashing, thrusting, parrying, and parrying, which was very impressive, and the onlookers cheered loudly. Luan Yong also showed his true skills, swinging his thick wooden stick with a whooshing sound. Before long, both of them were covered in sweat. Suddenly, Xu Sheng changed his stick technique and used a strange move. As the two passed each other, somehow Xu Sheng's stick tip tripped Luan Yong's foot, and Luan Yong stumbled, but fortunately he regained his footing and did not fall. Xu Sheng's move was a hook-and-sickle spear technique; if he were to actually use the hook-and-sickle spear, Luan Yong's legs would certainly be injured.

Just as Xu Sheng was about to make his move, a clear voice called out, "Stop!" Xu Sheng looked up and saw a beautiful and valiant female general standing there, surrounded by a group of guards. She was staring intently at him. Luan Yong walked up to her and said, "Sister, this person's martial arts are extremely high; there's no need to try again." Luan Ying nodded and said to Xu Sheng, "Young master, please follow me." Xu Sheng had already guessed that she was Luan Ying, the garrison commander of Luoxie City, and quickly bowed and followed her. A chorus of envious murmurs arose from the crowd.

Once inside the wooden enclosure where the examination was to be held, Luan Ying did not have Xu Sheng stand with the other young men taking the exam, but instead had him stand close behind her, like her attendant. Luan Ying summoned the young men Luan Yong had let in one by one to answer questions, starting with their names and hometowns, followed by basic military knowledge. Several civil officials nearby were busy taking notes.

Xu Sheng, gazing at the beautiful and spirited woman beside him, listening to her melodious voice, and smelling her youthful fragrance, felt his heart flutter. A jolt ran through him, and he unconsciously began using the Buddhist martial arts his master had taught him to suppress his burgeoning desires. Surprisingly, it worked quite well; his mind quickly calmed down. These past few days, Xu Sheng had practiced the martial arts every night, finding it increasingly miraculous, as if he had become a different person. Although Xu Sheng

was twenty-nine years old, he had only slept with a handful of women, mostly during his early military service when his comrades dragged him to brothels. In the years of constant war, and later, due to extreme poverty, Xu Sheng had had no opportunity to be close to women. Today, he unexpectedly encountered such a stunning beauty as Luan Ying, and he truly wanted to hold her in his arms. Thankfully, his master had taught him this technique, otherwise he would have made a fool of himself. He remembered his master's words: this technique has great benefits. Besides quickly restoring strength when fatigued, could resisting the temptation of beauty also be one of its benefits? Putting that aside for now, Xu Sheng focused his attention on the questions and answers between Luan Ying and the other young men.

To Xu Sheng's surprise, Luan Ying then asked him to test the young men's knowledge of military strategy and tactics. Xu Sheng was puzzled: she hadn't even asked his name, yet she wanted him to test others? Fortunately, Xu Sheng had been on the battlefield before and still remembered much of the military strategy he had learned from Huyan Zhuo, so he selected the points he considered important and asked these young men. Since someone was recording, he didn't need to judge the correctness of their answers. At first, he stammered a little due to nervousness, but later relaxed and spoke clearly and concisely. He saw Luan Ying nod slightly beside him, her eyes showing approval.

What Xu Sheng didn't know was that Luan Ying was looking for a close attendant for the Prince of Zhenxi, a man skilled in both literature and martial arts. Not only was outstanding martial arts required, but also loyalty and reliability, as well as insight, keen observation, and quick wit. Of course, proficiency with women was also essential; otherwise, he wouldn't withstand the Prince of Zhenxi's vigorous desires. However, this last criterion couldn't be met with mere questioning; a real-life test was necessary. After briefly inquiring about Xu Sheng's name and hometown, and learning that he was still unmarried and unengaged, Luan Ying was very satisfied. She took Xu Sheng back to her residence.

Luan Ying was one of the few people in the Ming Dynasty who knew the secret of Empress Hu Sanniang. Sanniang was a great benefactor to her family and to the common people of the Ming Dynasty. Sanniang's daughter, Sister Wushuang, was her most admired peer since childhood. She had always envied Aunt Qiongying, the Empress's close friend. She felt that her feelings for Sister Wushuang were the same as Aunt Qiongying's feelings for Third Sister. She was determined to be Sister Wushuang's Qiongying, willing to do anything for Wushuang, including helping her find a suitable man!

Looking at the room's furnishings, Xu Sheng could easily guess that this was Luan Ying's boudoir. He couldn't help but feel nervous, wondering what would happen next. Luan Ying removed her armor, approaching Xu Sheng in only a thin silk robe. Xu Sheng smelled Luan Ying's fragrance, looked at her pretty face and slightly exposed breasts, and his heart pounded.

Luan Ying asked, "Young Master Xu, would you be willing to become the Prince of Zhenxi's closest personal guard?" The Prince of Zhenxi's personal guard? And the closest? Xu Sheng was surprised, but he still nodded vigorously. The Prince of Zhenxi was the biological daughter of his master and the Empress of the Ming Dynasty; both publicly and privately, he had to protect the Prince of Zhenxi from harm. His master had said that the people of Lingjiu Palace were plotting to assassinate the Prince of Zhenxi. If he could become her personal bodyguard, he could definitely help her in a critical moment.

She said to Xu Sheng, "You did very well today. There's one last test left. Don't be nervous, try to relax." After saying that, Luan Ying moved closer and used her slender hands to undress Xu Sheng. Xu Sheng rarely got this close to other women, except for his younger sister. After his clothes were removed, Xu Sheng's face turned bright red, and his lower body became hard and erect, like a pillar supporting the sky. He glanced at Luan Ying and saw that she was also staring at his lower body. For some

reason, Luan Ying blushed, and her shy appearance made Xu Sheng's heart flutter. Suddenly, Luan Ying reached out and hugged Xu Sheng's body, turning around to throw him down, but he managed to break free in time. If he had met his master before, Xu Sheng would definitely have fallen for Luan Ying's tricks. When teaching him martial arts, his master often used various sneak attacks to help Xu Sheng adapt to unexpected situations in actual combat. Seeing that his sneak attack had failed, Luan Ying drew his sword and attacked Xu Sheng. Although Xu Sheng knew Luan Ying was testing him, he was still very nervous. He dodged the gleaming sword naked in the room, looking utterly disheveled.

Luan Ying unleashed dozens of sword techniques, yet she couldn't overcome Xu Sheng's bare hands. She couldn't help but feel fortunate: finding someone so skilled and alert was truly difficult. At that moment, Xu Sheng, while dodging and weaving, casually grabbed a wooden staff. With the staff in hand, Xu Sheng naturally employed the spear techniques his master had taught him. The staff was less than half the length of a spear, but in Xu Sheng's hands, it possessed immense power, and Luan Ying was instantly at a disadvantage. After more than ten moves, Luan Ying's silk robe was torn in several places by Xu Sheng's staff, revealing her jade-like breasts and buttocks. She knew Xu Sheng had held back, and she accepted her defeat wholeheartedly.

Luan Ying stopped Xu Sheng, saying, "Alright, you won." She threw down her sword, stripped herself naked, and, blushing, walked over and embraced Xu Sheng. Luan Ying laid Xu Sheng down on the bed, straddled him, spread her strong thighs, and slowly sat down on Xu Sheng's erect penis. Xu Sheng's penis entered a warm and moist space, feeling incredibly comfortable. Now completely driven by instinct, his strong waist and hips began to move rhythmically. Luan Ying felt her lower body filled by Xu Sheng's jade pillar, and her face flushed red. With Xu Sheng's thrusts, she began to moan softly.

Her voice was beautiful, and Xu Sheng was incredibly aroused. He began to kiss and caress the woman on top of him frantically. After a while, he suddenly rolled over, pinning Luan Ying beneath him, and began to thrust with all his might. Their bodies collided, making a continuous "slap, slap" sound. Luan Ying couldn't help but cry out in pleasure, and Xu Sheng's movements became faster and faster, finally erupting with a shout as Luan Ying's body convulsed violently.

Afterwards, Xu Sheng silently began practicing the techniques his master had taught him. Luan Ying's sweat mingled with Xu Sheng's, still pinned beneath him, his penis still inside her. Luan Ying was satisfied with Xu Sheng. She rested for a while, trying to crawl out from under him, but Xu Sheng held her down. Then, Luan Ying's eyes widened in shock. Xu Sheng had recovered his energy in such a short time; his penis was rapidly growing larger inside her again.

Xu Sheng roughly flipped Luan Ying over, grabbed her buttocks, and thrust his penis into her from behind. Luan Ying couldn't help but scream. This time, Xu Sheng fucked Luan Ying until dark, her genitals becoming red and swollen. Luan Ying wept with joy; she had finally found a good man for her sister, Wushuang!

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