The Romance of Empress Dowager Cixi's Scandalous History [23]

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Chapter Twenty-Three: Beyond the Law, Preaching, Joyful Meditation, and Unexpected Trouble. The ancients said: "White deer, steadfast pine; blue ox, patterned catalpa; flowers have flower spirits, trees have tree monsters." Such sayings are not to be trusted. For example, an object, if used extensively and with refined quality, will inevitably possess some supernatural power. How much more so a thousand-year-old tree, nourished by the essence of the sun and moon, and imbued with the spirit of mountains and rivers? If it were chopped and hacked, how could it not be met with howling winds, raging rains, and the cries of ghosts and gods? Two carpenters pulled their large saws, and had only cut halfway from the base of the tree when a strange wind suddenly blew, followed by a deafening crash, a sound more deafening than thunder. In the blink of an eye, large and small snakes appeared from nowhere, flying across the sky. Relying on her extraordinary courage, a golden snake, with eyes like bright lamps and a flickering tongue, lashed out. Cixi was caught off guard and fell to the ground with a thud. Prince Chun and Consort Chun trembled and collapsed to the ground; Li Lianying cried out incoherently. Fortunately, there were many people at Prince Chun's residence, including some guards and eunuchs accompanying the emperor. They rushed forward and, seeing the snakes, large and small, swept them away with the imperial ceremonial staff. Then, the eunuchs helped the Empress Dowager up. By this time, the large golden snake had vanished. Li Lianying rushed over, first embracing Cixi and gently pressing her onto an air mattress. Fortunately, there were enough people around, and a bowl of ginseng soup was quickly served. Cixi closed her eyes, sipped a couple of mouthfuls, and her mind calmed down slightly. She gasped, "I was terrified!
" Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Consort Chun clenching her hands, and Prince Chun standing hunched over before her. He asked slowly, "The snake…?" Consort Chun continued, "The snake is gone." Cixi quickly chanted Amitabha. At this time, tea was served, soup was served, and towels were wrung out. Li Lianying noticed that Empress Dowager Cixi's expression was not normal, and her speech was still somewhat incoherent. He had no choice but to order the preparation of the imperial carriage and help the Empress Dowager back to the palace. Consort Chun, because of her sisterly relationship, went along, while Prince Chun lagged behind. From then on, Prince Chun developed a condition of palpitations, with alternating chills and fever, which would not be discussed for now. Let
's just talk about Consort Chun escorting Cixi back to the palace. Consort Hui, along with the other concubines, greeted and helped the Empress Dowager to bed. At this time, Princess Changshou and Madam Nana Miao also arrived, asking all sorts of questions, but Cixi was always in a daze. A little while later, Emperor Guangxu also arrived after receiving the news. It was pitiful that Consort Chun had not seen her own son for many years, and at this moment, mother and son were finally able to meet.
After the customary greetings, Consort Chun glanced at Emperor Guangxu. He was tall and imposing, with a prominent nose and handsome face, high eyebrows and bright eyes, possessing the air of a wise and virtuous emperor, though he was somewhat thin. Emperor Guangxu was seventeen at the time, his speech and actions were very profound. Their eyes reddened, a sense of unspoken emotion welling up within them, yet neither could bring themselves to speak. Consort Chun managed to say, "Your Majesty, how have you been lately?" Tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls. Emperor Guangxu, with tears in his eyes, stammered, "My son…," but before he could finish the word, he turned to look at Empress Dowager Cixi, who glared at him angrily. The words he was about to utter failed him. Princess Changshou, quick-witted, swiftly changed the subject, and Emperor Guangxu, unable to remain silent, made a hasty retreat. After the Emperor left, Empress Dowager Cixi sighed and summoned Consort Chun to sit beside her on the couch. She quickly said, "My son is also your son. I see he's not very promising, always acting suspiciously, as if he has something on his mind. As Emperor, he should have some imperial bearing. What can't he handle? Why do I have to worry about him?" Consort Chun hurriedly replied, "I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Cixi said, "Of course! If I weren't so forgiving, I would have already handed this heavy burden over to him. It can't be delayed until next year. He's seventeen this year, eighteen next year. But there's one more thing: the issue of the Empress Dowager's marriage. I need to discuss this with you." Consort Chun quickly said, "This matter can be postponed. Firstly, etiquette forbids early marriage; secondly, I've heard the Emperor's health isn't very robust, so we shouldn't delay any young women's marriages." Consort Chun's words struck a nerve. Cixi sneered, "The Emperor's health isn't robust? Who told you that?" Consort Chun, unable to speak further, could only vaguely say, "Just now, judging from the Emperor's appearance, he was very thin; he must not be in good health." At this moment, Empress Dowager Cixi remained silent with her eyes closed. Instead, Consort Hui, acting on the imperial edict, said, "I've heard that the princess from Gui Xiang's uncle's family is beautiful and gentle. It would be perfect if she were to be made Empress in the future; this marriage alliance would be most harmonious." It turned out that Consort Hui had recently learned this from Empress Dowager Cixi herself. Before Cixi could speak openly, Consort Hui seized the opportunity to say it. Consort Chun was also a perceptive person. Gui Xiang was both Cixi's brother and Consort Chun's brother; Gui Xiang's daughter was generally considered a niece. Who wouldn't want that? After hearing this, Consort Chun smiled and said, "If that's the best approach, then it's perfect. My idea is that sooner or later, she can be brought into the palace to study… and be taught by the Empress Dowager." Empress Dowager Cixi lay on the kang (heated brick bed) and nodded, saying little more. Consort Chun, noting it was getting late, withdrew and returned to her residence.
From that day on, Cixi was preoccupied with the golden snake in the tree. Whether her eyes were open or closed, she always felt a shimmering golden light, appearing and disappearing in a flash. Sometimes she would wake up from her dreams in a cold sweat.
Li Lianying stayed by her side, but to no avail. He then thought of two people—
a lama named Daoxing and a Taoist priest named Zhou Henian—and hurriedly informed Cixi that he would find the monk and the Taoist to perform a ritual. Cixi agreed. Li Lianying quickly carried them out, first meeting with Taoist Zhou, who gave him some talismans and allowed him to gather a group of fellow Taoists at the Baiyun Temple for a forty-nine-day fast. Then he went to find the lama Daoxing, who said, "This is easy; we'll go with you to the palace to see the Empress Dowager." "He immediately changed into a large robe, took some personal Buddhist items, and hurried into the palace with Lianying. When Cixi heard that the lama had arrived, she came out to see him despite her illness. The lama bowed, put his hands together, and respectfully called out, 'Your Majesty.' Cixi also put her hands together in response, saying, 'Buddha and Bodhisattva, it is rare to have this opportunity today.' Daoxing said, 'Our affinity will last a long time from now on.'" "At that moment, he muttered incantations. Strangely enough, when Cixi met the lama and received some divine mantras, she felt calm and at peace, as if her illness had been cured. She immediately chatted and laughed with the lama, inviting him to the palace frequently.
At first, he spoke of Hinayana scriptures and discussed the causes and effects of heaven and hell. Later, as he visited more often, he began to collect the strange images of the Buddha statues in the Yonghe Temple—some made of clay, some cast in bronze, some on silk, some painted. The most alluring and erotic were none other than the paintings of Giuseppe Castiglione. Castiglione was a master of sketching. In one painting, he depicted many beautiful women, all completely naked, with a large, imposing man sitting in the center, also undressed. It is said that his appearance was identical to that of the Holy Ancestor, the Benevolent Emperor. When the Holy Ancestor saw this painting, he questioned Castiglione directly. Castiglione casually replied with a verse: 'The Buddha's teachings are empty and clear, without obstruction or hindrance; neither self nor other, why be surprised?'
Judging from this, Castiglione..." This living brush was far superior to the works of Tang Bohu and Qiu Shizhou, who painted erotic albums. How could Empress Dowager Cixi not be delighted and captivated by such dazzling and bizarre colors? Her adoration reached its peak, and the sensation of massaging her navel and conjuring her spirit must have been imbued with a divine connection. Later, Cixi thought of the story of the leather man. What was a leather man? It was a portrait of Dorgon, the founding prince, made of fish skin by skilled craftsmen from the West. It was a nude living Buddha, lifelike and exquisitely crafted. The Empress Dowager, practicing meditation, longed for such an object and sent a lama to search for it for three whole years before finally finding it. Her years in the palace passed in this way, with no inhibitions, only the sensuality of the scene. On one hand, she discussed serious matters with the lama, and on the other hand, Li Lianying supervised the gardeners. The Summer Palace was fully completed in the fourteenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign. That year, the Guangxu Emperor was nineteen years old, and his wedding ceremony, assuming full power, could not be delayed any longer. During these two or three years, the country was relatively peaceful, with nothing noteworthy to record. However, Ronglu, who had never held office again, was reinstated and appointed Commander of the Infantry. There were a couple of foreign negotiations: one was that Britain coveted Burma, and because the French had seized Annam, the British seized Burma, allowing little Siam to gain independence; the other was that Japanese troops conquered Ryukyu, abducting King Sho Tai and bringing him back to Japan, making the three regions of Shannan, Shanbei, and Zhongshan into Okinawa Prefecture. Our vassal states in the South Seas and the peninsula were practically nonexistent. For example, even in wealthy households, all the latrines, toilets, stables, and dog kennels were kept clean by the neighbors—that goes without saying. In the fifteenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, he assumed personal rule, followed by his grand wedding ceremony. Needless to say, the Empress was Empress Longyu, the daughter of Guixiang, from the Nara clan. There were also two Consorts, Consort Jin and Consort Zhen, both daughters of General Changshan of Guangzhou, making them sisters. Consort Jin was gentle and easygoing, while Consort Zhen possessed a touch of heroism. Both were female students of Wen Tingshi. Wen Tingshi was a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations, renowned for his talent, and had a minor romantic affair with the wife of Liang Dingfen, the Provincial Judge of Hubei. While other lovers always hid and concealed their affairs, Liang's wife was open and frank. Liang Dingfen was poised and generous, setting a precedent for a public wife in this extremely autocratic and stubborn era. People say that China's progress lags behind that of Europe and the West; from this perspective, the spirit of our Chinese progress undoubtedly lies in the freedom of union between men and women.
Enough of the digressions. Having received such literary training, Consort Jin and Consort Zhen were naturally proficient in poetry, lyrics, and prose. Selected for the palace, they were greatly favored by Emperor Guangxu. You might wonder, if Emperor Guangxu was suffering from impotence due to taking Taoist medicine, how could he be expected to have marital relations? The word "favor" shouldn't be interpreted literally; it can refer to lustful affection or emotional affection. Emperor Guangxu entered the palace at the age of five, initially under the control of Empress Dowager Cixi, receiving the favor of Empress Dowager Ci'an, but this didn't last. Later, his concern and care were solely due to the eunuch Kou Liancai. The newly appointed Empress, though a relative by marriage, lacked real power and influence, and was aligned with the Empress Dowager, severing all ties on both a personal and familial level. Only Consorts Jin and Zhen, by feigning compliance, engaged in discussions of literature (a mutually agreeable exchange) and politics (which they found somewhat persuasive), subtly advising the Emperor to cultivate a few trusted confidants to curb the Empress Dowager's influence. Ladies and gentlemen, although the Empress Dowager had retired to the Summer Palace, the Emperor still required daily audiences. While routine reports could be drafted by the Emperor, any discrepancies in personnel appointments or administration required his consultation at the Summer Palace. Therefore, no changes could be made to the Manchu and Han officials, both within and outside the capital. Consorts Jin and Zhen secretly cultivated a relationship with Wen Tingshi. This Wen official, merely a Reader-in-Waiting, was, judging by his extramarital affairs, a scholar with literary talent but lacking moral character; his economic and literary abilities were, to put it mildly, questionable. However, having gained some favor, he was on one hand contacting the inner court, forming alliances with the eunuch Wen, and also cultivating relationships with his elder brothers and sisters; on the other hand, he was courting some newly promoted classmates to expand his influence. At this time, the officials in the capital were divided into two factions: the Southern Faction and the Northern Faction. The Northern Faction was led by Xu Tong and Li Hongzao, then known as the Empress Dowager's Party, or the "Old Mother's Troupe"; the Southern Faction was led by Weng Tonghe and Pan Zuyin, then known as the Emperor's Party, or the "Children's Troupe." These two factions had a full range of roles, from leading men and women to clowns, with painted faces and other costumes. They were just waiting for the drums to sound and the strings to be played to create a spectacle of literary and martial arts, a truly bizarre and wonderful performance.
Before the promotions became too intense, I'll take a moment to recount two events. Remember in Chapter Thirteen, when the Taiping Rebellion was suppressed, weren't there two major criminals who escaped and disappeared? The story begins with Yang Fuqing, the Assistant King, and Hong Fu, the Young Heavenly King, fleeing from Yushan, Jiangxi, on two fast horses. They first hide among the common people, shaving their long hair and braiding it. Fortunately, they had prepared ample provisions and carried fine gold beads, the largest as round and clear as a longan, the smallest as small as a pea or soybean, in countless quantities. Traveling day and night, they reached Guangdong, abandoned their horses, gathered a dozen or so followers, and boarded a foreign merchant ship to sail overseas. Yang Fuqing was determined to reach America. At that time, San Francisco was recruiting Chinese laborers to explore for gold, and Yang and Hong Fu became overseas Chinese. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom originally believed in Jehovah; their so-called demon-slaying swords, exhortations, Heavenly Father, Heavenly Brother, and Heavenly Sister were nothing more than a fabrication of mythology, using the American pastor Robert Bartholomew as their leader. When Yang Fuqing arrived in America, he intended to find Bartholomew, but to no avail. Fortunately, there was a large Jesus church in San Francisco, and people like Hong Fu joined the church. The number of believers grew rapidly, and the Chinese laborers and expatriates in San Francisco all banded together. They hadn't brought the demon-slaying sword, but the exhortations were considered common knowledge among the Taiping rebels, and people like Yang Fuqing and Hong Fu were well-versed in them. They then copied it from beginning to end, printed it, and each member of the group made a copy. They gave speeches at various events and secretly named their society the Triads. The name "Triads" was derived from the phrase "three rivers converging," subtly containing the character "Hong," and the leader was called Qi Tianfu, meaning "great fortune reaching the heavens," explicitly revealing the character "Fu" (福, meaning fortune).
Imagine the scale of this gathering and recruitment! Their followers multiplied daily, and their fame grew daily. As the saying goes, "A person's reputation is like a tree's shadow." Hong Fu and Yang Fuqing gained a large territory in San Francisco, which soon attracted the attention of a great figure. This man could be considered China's first revolutionary leader. Around the eighth or ninth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, he traveled to America and heard of a Triad society in San Francisco, headed by a man named Qi Tianfu, which he found very interesting. At this time, Hong Fu, who had changed his name, was already in his forties, while Yang Fuqing was fifty-six or fifty-seven. The heroes, though aged, remained vigorous and their ambitions undiminished. One day, a card was dropped in. Hong and Yang took it and saw the two characters in the middle: Sun Yat-sen, with the two characters beside it: Sun Yat-sen. Gentlemen, how did this Sun Yat-sen end up here? We must recount his story.
Sun Yat-sen was originally from Guangdong. Orphaned at a young age, he studied medicine in a Hong Kong hospital, learned some German, had a strong memory, and his ideas gradually developed. At that time, Wang Wan fled to Guangdong, changed his name to Tiannan Dunsou, and worked as a chief editor for a newspaper. His writings were considered a precursor to Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao's, and his opinions always implicitly aligned with anti-Manchu sentiments. Sun Yat-sen read a few articles, which rekindled his revolutionary ambitions. Taking advantage of his residence in the foreign concession and his foreign citizenship, he advocated for the overthrow of the Manchus, printing numerous manuscripts under the pseudonym "Towering White Wave Hermitage." Such writings were strictly prohibited in China, and the government, aware of these clandestine activities, ordered the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi to conduct a thorough investigation and arrest. Feeling the situation was urgent, Sun Yat-sen decided to flee overseas. He arrived in America and learned of the Triads in San Francisco, whose aims were also to overthrow the Manchus, which resonated with his own interests. He then went to meet Hung Fu-yang, who supported the Qing dynasty. They explained their aims to each other and offered mutual support. Sun Yat-sen stayed in San Francisco, assisting Hung Fu-yang in their large-scale campaign. Within two or three years, the Triads had amassed a membership of thirty to fifty thousand. According to Hong Fu, they should return to Guangxi and occupy their old stronghold at Penghua Mountain, making it easier to rally support and launch a comeback. Sun Yat-sen simply waved his hand, saying, "Too early! I will go back and make all the necessary arrangements for you, ensuring a stable foothold and that your efforts will be fruitful." At this point, Yang Fuqing spoke up, saying, "I saw in the newspapers that my good friend Luo Dachun has become the Fujian Governor. Isn't he a first-class marquis of our Heavenly Kingdom? I want to rush back to the Central Plains and persuade him to occupy a territory in Zhejiang and Fujian, uniting with Guangdong and Guangxi. Mr. Sun can also return to Guangdong and Guangxi and exert his influence. If both sides can rise up under the banner of Qi Tianfu, wouldn't we be able to restore our Heavenly Kingdom's lands?" Hong Fu laughed and said, "When things are successful, Mr. Sun and I will share the spoils equally. For now, I will just wait here for the right opportunity.
" The three had finalized their plan, chosen a date, and Yang Fuqing followed Sun Yat-sen, boarding a sea liner to return to Guangdong.
At this time, the Gelaohui (a secret society) in Guangdong spread everywhere. Its leader was Hua Songhu, a man of great influence. Other members included Shi Jianru, Yang Feihong, and Shi Zhongji. Shi was a learned scholar, a confidant of Wang Wan. Wang Wan, later known as Wang Tao or Tiannan Dunsou, has a history previously recounted and need not be repeated here. However, a new figure emerged: Kang Youwei. Kang Youwei advocated new learning and considered himself academically superior to Confucius, hence his pseudonym Changsu. He had two prominent students: Liang Qichao, pseudonym Chaoyan, and Xu Qin, pseudonym Yizeng, both of whom had academic connections with Shi Zhongji.
However, Kang Youwei's approach differed from that of the Gelaohui. Hua Songhu and his group aimed at racial reform, while Kang Youwei's group aimed at political reform. In addition, there was a famous figure named Chen Bai, who organized the Xingzhonghui (Revive China Society).
Gentlemen, you must understand that the most important geographical relationships are those involving three river basins. In this age of advanced transportation, the Yellow River basin is no longer relevant; the Yangtze River basin has historically shone brightly; only the Pearl River basin, with its uprisings led by Taiping Rebellion and the emergence of some notable figures, remains far removed from true civilization. Now, with the influence of both Western and Eastern cultures, academically speaking, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao are undoubtedly giants; in terms of decisiveness, Sun Yat-sen is second to none. At this time, the Triads, the Revive China Society, and the Gelaohui gathered together, secretly conspiring to elect Sun Yat-sen as their chief representative. However, Sun Yat-sen was a follower of Christianity, and he needed outsiders to provide strong support. Coincidentally, a teacher in Hong Kong, an Englishman named Moore, discovered the details of their alliance and offered to provide military and financial assistance. Sun Yat-sen was delighted and immediately dispatched Yang Fuqing, a representative of the Triads, to Fujian to persuade the de facto governor, Luo Dachun, to act in unison. This Luo Dachun joined the army in the early years of the Tongzhi reign and rose through the ranks from a junior officer to a general. He also distinguished himself in the Sino-French War. The Governor-General of Zhejiang and Fujian, Bian Baodi, greatly valued him and promoted him to the position of Fujian Land Forces Commander-in-Chief, a position he deeply appreciated. At this time, Yang Fuqing arrived secretly to influence the situation. You should know that Luo was cunning and opportunistic; he couldn't bear to give up the prestigious position of Commander-in-Chief and instead sought to acquire blank ballots from the Triads. Upon meeting him, Luo feigned hospitality, but after only a short while, he whispered something to the flag officer, Xu Ming. Yang, realizing the danger, tried to flee, but Xu Ming, leading a large contingent of soldiers, swarmed forward and bound Fuqing with ropes. Fuqing only cursed, but Dachun ignored him and took him to the Governor-General's residence. Governor-General Bian didn't mistreat him; instead, he sent a urgent report to Beijing, giving him paper and pen to recount the history of the Taiping Rebellion and the organization of the Triads in America. It is said that such procedures were even documented in duplicate. Not long after, an imperial edict arrived in Beijing, and poor Yang Fuqing's head was immediately removed. This news greatly disheartened Sun Yat-sen, but those who accomplish great things do not lose heart easily. A year or two later, the Triads, the Revive China Society, and the Gelaohui expanded their power, and the Englishman Morgan provided substantial financial support.
I remember this was the seventeenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign. The pseudonym Qi Tianfu, the real Little Heavenly King, returned to Guangdong from America. They held a secret meeting somewhere, choosing Sanshui as an auspicious omen for floods, and then launched an attack on Sanshui County. Think about it, if the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom could have succeeded, it shouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat in the third year of the Tongzhi Emperor's reign. At that time, coastal defense was extremely strained, so the revolutionary army's attack was quickly suppressed by the coastal defense forces. The leader of the revolutionary army was Shi Jianru, only in his twenties, who died from gunfire. At this time, Qi Tianfu's whereabouts are unknown. Some say he died in the chaos of battle, while others say he escaped back to San Francisco. I will not mention this mystery again. However, due to his major failure, Sun Yat-sen secretly asked Shi Zhongji to consult Kang Youwei. Kang Youwei's face darkened, and he said, "This kind of revolution is premature. In my opinion, we should first carry out a political revolution, and then proceed with a racial revolution."
Meanwhile, Sun Yat-sen, realizing that Kang Youwei's principles differed from his own, could not remain in Guangdong and busied himself traveling abroad, visiting Europe and America. Later, in London, England, he was captured by the Chinese ambassador to Britain, Gong Zhaoyuan, and locked in the back building of the embassy. Gentlemen, if that Gong fellow had the courage and insight, he would have quickly sent a secret telegram to the Chinese government, requesting Sun Yat-sen's immediate execution. Wouldn't that have solved everything and prevented future troubles? Unfortunately, he was supposed to serve as the provisional president for forty days in the Republic of China, so he had a sudden inspiration and secretly sent out a letter in English pleading for help from the back building of the embassy. Unfortunately, the manager of a British trading company got hold of it and reported it to the British government. The British then negotiated with Ambassador Gong and forcibly brought Sun Yat-sen back. Here, Sun Yat-sen escaped and returned to Guangdong, where Kang Youwei had already rushed to Beijing to pursue his political reforms. As a side note, Kang Youwei was a scholar from Nanhai County who, taking advantage of his trip to Beijing for the imperial examinations, passed and became a second-class official. At that time, the opportunity arose, and he ingratiated himself with Weng Tonghe, the tutor of Emperor Guangxu, and joined forces with the imperial faction.
This chapter of my book narrates how the Pearl River tide swept into the mainland, with the Taiping Rebellion initially setting the stage for a racial revolution; later, Sun Yat-sen's alliance with the Triads, the Revive China Society, and the Gelaohui further paved the way for the Taiping Rebellion. In terms of effectiveness, Kang Youwei, in conjunction with key figures in Beijing, orchestrated a political revolution, marking the first step in Qing Dynasty reforms. Without this reform, Empress Dowager Cixi's third regency would not have been possible. Therefore, during this period of internal and external conflict and the brewing of events, I must clearly explain the underlying principles of this process.
The second point concerns Li Laizhong, a subordinate of the Loyal King. I remember when Xiucheng was imprisoned, Laizhong visited him. He was only eighteen years old, yet he was filled with resentment and anger. After Xiucheng whispered something to him, he slipped away from Nanjing and lived a carefree life for three years. He then inquired about Shi Dakai, who had fled to northern Sichuan. He searched all the way to Jingfa Temple on Qingshen Mountain, where he met Dakai, who had already become a monk. Ladies and gentlemen, how did this man surnamed Shi end up at Jingfa Temple? There are many details to this story, which I will elaborate on later. I remember when Shi Dakai first led his troops from Penghua Mountain, he took in a young woman named Han Si in Yong'an. The fourth daughter, named Han Baoying, was a remarkable female knight-errant. Her parents were killed by local bandits, and Shi Dakai avenged them, so she took refuge with him, addressing him as her father. The fourth daughter was quite literate, handling all the paperwork for the Wing King's army. Later, when Dakai chose a husband for her, she fell for a clerk named Ma Minggao. Why? Because Ma resembled the Wing King, and she saw him as a potential asset. When Dakai's plot failed and he fled to Sichuan, pursued by government troops to the Dadu River, facing certain death, the fourth daughter pointed at Ma Minggao and said, "Today's situation can only be resolved if you impersonate the Wing King." While Minggao hesitated, the fourth daughter ordered her men to dress her husband in the Wing King's robes, and then she drew her sword and committed suicide.
Because of this, the one who drowned was the imposter Wing King; the real Wing King escaped alone on horseback and took refuge at Jingfa Temple on Qingshen Mountain, where he became a monk. That day, Li Laizhong sought out Da Kai, whom he had met before, and they met by chance. However, the man surnamed Shi had lost all his arrogance and ambition. He originally knew some Qimen Dunjia and had received the true teachings of Hong Deyuan, the leader of the White Lotus Sect. Based on his calculations over these few miles, he knew that although the Heavenly Kingdom had failed, Man Yun was not yet finished. He had long ago decided to keep a low profile and remain hidden. Upon seeing Lai Zhong, who had come from afar, Da Kai already knew his purpose. He said, "I have now seen through the ways of the world. Fame, fortune, and power are all but dreams. Just consider me deceased and don't bother with me. But you are very young, and your face still carries the marks of impending doom. I will point you in the right direction: in less than twenty years, there will be another great calamity in the Shandong, Henan, Hebei, and Shanxi regions. The power of our White Lotus Sect will expand even further. Remember this: suffering alone is not true suffering; two, four, plus one, five, and the streets are filled with red lanterns—that is true suffering." Lai Zhong, hearing Da Kai's words, was confused and full of hidden meaning. He immediately tried to explain. Da Kai smiled and said, "This is a heavenly secret and cannot be revealed." He then recited two more lines: "There is a cave at the foot of Black Wind Mountain, capable of holding 108,000 people."
Lai Zhong, anxious, scratched his head and said, "I can't even guess the riddle of the red lanterns. I don't know where the Black Wind Cave is. Please, sir, show me." Da Kai said, "This calamity is still twenty years away. You should be patient and wait for the right time. Slowly make your way to Shandong, visit that group of people who wield broadswords, and get to know them. It will be useful." Lai Zhong, upon hearing this, began to understand. He realized that Da Kai had some merit and pleaded with him repeatedly. Da Kai then kept him by his side, teaching him some esoteric arts and the secret teachings of the White Lotus Sect.
Lai Zhong stayed for six or seven years without any other thoughts. One day, Da Kai said to Lai Zhong, "You have learned much of my wisdom. You should find your own way. I see that your complexion is very good, glowing with health. You should be blessed with good fortune. You can make your plans and live up to the loyal king's earnest advice." "Needless to say, Shi Dakai went into seclusion on the sacred mountain and ended his life as a wandering ascetic.
Li Laizhong left Sichuan, passed through the provinces along the Yangtze River, and arrived in Shandong from Jiangsu. Fortunately, he was an old hand in the martial world and a member of the White Lotus Sect. Along the way, he met two fellow members, Zhang Cheng and Li Xin, both from Qingzhou, Shandong. Through Zhang and Li's introduction, he sought refuge with a wealthy family in the eastern part of Linqing Prefecture. This wealthy family was named Zhang Shijie, and the place where they lived was called Zhangjiazhai. Shijie was over fifty years old, and his wife was surnamed Bao. They had three children.
The eldest son was Zhang Biao, and the second son was Zhang Bao. They were born uneducated and only skilled with a single-edged sword."
Their daughter, Zhang Luan, was only seventeen years old. They remembered that when Bao Shi gave birth to her, she dreamt of a bowl of brilliant lanterns, illuminating the ground with red light, which seemed strange. From a young age, she loved wearing red, always dressed in red, which accentuated her rosy cheeks—truly like a child from a fairyland. The elderly couple cherished her dearly and wanted to find her a suitable husband. One day, they met Shijie in Zhong. Shijie was strikingly handsome, and they chatted about the teachings of the sect, finding they clicked. He inquired about their families and learned they weren't yet engaged. He discussed it with his wife, wanting to become Zhong Shijie's son-in-law. Bao Shi smiled, called her daughter Luan over, and explained the matter. Luan readily agreed, and Zhong Shijie became her son-in-law. The three siblings all loved martial arts, especially swordsmanship. They started by teaching their neighbors, then spread their skills, and within ten years, their martial arts and swordsmanship were practiced throughout Shandong province. Li Laizhong, what a shrew! He never mentions the Taiping Rebellion in history, but instead exploits the common people's animosity towards foreigners. Gradually, he expands his influence, establishing village-wide societies. Those who join are given a large sword and taught martial arts; these societies are also known as the Big Sword Society. The local officials are somewhat aware of this, but because of their actions, they don't kill, burn, or rob, and instead claim to be supporting the Qing and destroying the foreigners.
Ironically, there's a provincial judge in Shandong named Li Bingheng, a stubborn man who hates foreigners. When he discovers Li Laizhong's connection to the Big Sword Society, he not only doesn't stop it but actively promotes it. Isn't that strange?

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The Romance of Empress Dowager Cixi's Scandalous History [23]

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