by Yan LeiSheng
“Now no one will accidentally venture onto the lake tonight,” he explained.
This part of the lake, which was its smallest and least frequented area, was part of the prefectural district. The snow there was deeper and more tenacious, and its surroundings easily flooded, but its water was much clearer.
Finally, Wang Yangming said, “I started secretly investigating Zhang Yong when he started acting strangely after the investiture of the new Emperor… I later discovered he was diverting a large portion of funds for the imperial guard towards Canton instead.”
“Canton? Why Canton?”
Headquarters of the provincial government and capital of the province of Guangdong, this important city was a trading center between land and sea, despite being some distance from the coast. It was also a long way from the empire’s capital, so it was easy to imagine it as a good place for discreetly carrying out shady operations.
“I was just as surprised as you,” said Yangming. “I later learned he was communicating secretly with the Portuguese and managing a small island in the South China Sea from this base.”
He hit the ice again and a pool of water formed on the surface.
“I think it’s connected with what you just told me,” he murmured.
“I still don’t understand what that scroll was supposed to be…”
“No one seems to know, to tell the truth. But our former Emperor gave it to you on his deathbed, prophesying that the person who opened it would control the world, so it must be an incredibly important document. It’s no surprise that Zhang Yong is so eager to get his hands on it.”
The mentor hesitated for a moment, then suddenly raised his head.
“I’ll worry about that later. For now, I have ice to break.”
They moved around the lake, breaking the frozen surface along the banks to reveal pure, clear water. Master Yangming noticed Shao Jun’s reddened hands.
“Are you cold, young girl?” he asked with a small laugh.
“No, no.”
While the beginning of this spring5 was not the most clement, as evidenced by the persistence of the snow, the young woman had warmed up as she walked.
5 According to the lunar calendar, spring begins after Chinese New Year (end of January or the beginning of February).
“The universe is my mind and my mind is the universe,” declared Wang Yangming. “Warmth and cold exist only in my mind. The ten thousand things of this world are nothing and my mind alone gives birth to them. The weather is what it is, and if you are cold, it is only in your mind.”
The first phrase of this declaration was a quote from Liu Jiuyuan, one of the great philosophers of the Song dynasty. It was based on these words that the Beijing Brotherhood had been named the Society of the Mind, that the mentor had named his school of thought the School of Mind, and why Master Zhu had become Zhu Jiuyuan, in homage to the philosopher. When Wang Yangming had welcomed the young girl into the organization, he had never revealed his name to her and had limited himself to teaching her only the basics of martial arts due to her age, entrusting Zhu Jiuyuan with her intellectual education. A task which he was able to undertake in only a very limited way due to the limitations imposed by their flight to the West. Intrigued by these words, Shao Jun asked, “Master, if the ten thousand things are born from my mind, then they have no existence of their own… Does that mean that neither good nor evil truly exist?”
“In the beginning there was neither good nor evil,” the mentor responded with a short laugh. “Just like the beauty and strength of a new carriage are put to the test when travelling, the natural balance of our mind is threatened by the appearance of emotion. Therefore we must endeavor to harmonize them through knowledge and exercise, which allow us to ‘drive’ our spiritual carriage safely for thousands of lis.”6
6 A Chinese measure of distance. One li measures around 500m.
This analogy was the basis of the School of Mind, whose basic principles were written on the great scroll hung in the Hall of High Virtue. Although it was up to individuals to combine knowledge with practice, few used it to distinguish good from evil. After successfully exploring all the subtleties of his thoughts, Wang Yangming had passed it and its accompanying military applications on to his disciples in Wang Ji’s generation. Zhu Jiuyuan was a military expert, but despite his best intentions he was far from the most learned scholar and was unable to be the teacher Shao Jun needed to fully embrace the School of Mind. Hardened by her years of wandering and the massacre of her loved ones by the Eight Tigers, the young girl’s heart had filled with anger. It was possible she might succumb to the demons that haunted her soul, and her crimes lead her to certain death. At this crossroads in her life, she had thus become the living embodiment of the principle by which “good and evil are born of intention”. And it was Wang Yangming’s duty to teach her how to work for good and to eliminate evil. Fortunately for her, the wise old man was a kind and patient master who communicated his philosophy in clear and simple terms.
“Thank you for your teaching, master,” she said without understanding that it was the turbulence of her mind which had made her insensible to the cold.
Wang Yangming struck the surface of the lake once more with his cane, but the ice was already broken, and the bamboo only stirred small pieces of it which collided with a quiet thud.
“What secret hides this ice which is sharp as a blade?” he asked.
The School of Mind was based on Confucianism, but it also owed some of its foundation to Zen Buddhism. Its four principles were styled on the enigmatic format of the verses in canonical texts. Wang Yangming’s disciples thus argued in the Zen style, beginning with an opaque statement and then arriving at a clear philosophical conclusion. Despite her low level of instruction and the fact that she was unused to this type of thinking, Shao Jun had an epiphany:
“Even the sharpest ice returns to water in the spring.”
The master let out a sincere laugh, then quickly lifted his cane to point it at the young woman’s chest like a sword, which she parried with a loud crack! The bamboo seemed like it could fell an army when in the hands of such a talented fighter.
If one breaks the ice and waves emerge, the solid and liquid coexist under our gaze. But when this broken pellicle melts as spring arrives, who then can still separate it from the lake? At its height, the art of the sword does not imitate the stiff inflexibility of ice, but the liquid properties of water: the blade is no longer hard and slicing, but fluid, ephemeral… and thus impossible to counter.
Shao Jun’s style was derived from Master Wang’s, and she already had a high level of skill when Ezio Auditore stepped in to continue her training. Despite her efforts, her basic technique had mingled with that of her Italian mentor, but she had been unable to successfully compensate for the fundamental differences that existed between the Western school and the Chinese school. Noting her martial uncertainties, Wang Yangming had brought her to break the ice in the hope that she would understand the absurdity of setting the Western art of the sword against the Chinese because, like ice and water, they were simply two forms of the same basic element.
To counterattack and defend against the cane pointed at her, the young woman had been forced to use Zhu Jiuyuan’s and Ezio Auditore’s teachings together at the same time. She had parried the strike with speed rather than dodging but had rounded off her riposte instead of thrusting, a very natural and thus more effective move. She had just assimilated Wang Yangming’s complex precepts with complete clarity through the instinctive language of her body, and now exchanged high-speed strikes with him without the slightest effort.
“Oh thank you, master!” she exulted.
“Martial arts and philosophy are different, but their foundations are identical. I studied the Six Classics7 fervently, and the Six Classics shaped my thinking.”
7 Foundational books of Chinese philos
ophy, including the Books of Rites, Odes, Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals compiled by Confucius.
This mention of the Six Classics was actually a quote from Liu Jiuyuan, who had given this exact answer when asked why he no longer studied. He had also been an eminent teacher, as accomplished in martial arts as he was in philosophical study.
Shao Jun had not studied these texts, but she had been trained by two great masters whose teachings she had blended to shape her mind, without which she would not have had the confidence to face opponents such as Gao Feng or Wei Bin. Wang Yangming’s analogies had been the alchemy she needed to transform the lead of her bastard style into gold. Pleased with her success, he smiled at his pupil.
“Young girl, you have not studied long, but you understand the greatness of the mind, which is not something everyone can achieve. I have taught many students the philosophy of my school, but you are the only one who has ever received my teachings in the martial arts.”
Seeing the sadness in his eyes, Shao Jun realized he was thinking of the almost entirely destroyed Society of the Mind. While the master certainly had many able students of his philosophy at the university, very few were equally competent in martial arts. Now she was the only one left to take over and continue his teachings.
“Master, you will find peace again when the Society of the Mind is restored.”
She managed to draw a smile from him, and he resumed his role as teacher.
“To continue your path towards the law of mind, you must have complete understanding of the principle of developing knowledge through practice, because unfortunately our road inevitably leads to Uncle Zhang.”
Shao Jun remained silent as she considered Master Yangming’s words. She had begun on the path to the law of mind several years before. With the death of Gao Feng, only six of the Eight Tigers remained, with Yu Dayong the Cruel and Ma Yongcheng the Butcher both being less skilled in the use of swords – though this did not mean they lacked talent. Qiu Ju the Demon and Wei Bin the Snake were both quite accomplished. When she faced the latter on the bridge leading to the Leopard Quarter, she had observed the yawning gap that still existed between her and these dangerous martial arts experts. Wang Yangming believed himself to be of a similar level, but knew he was far from being a match for Zhang Yong.
Yet she refused to give up.
“Master, even a three-foot layer of ice must melt eventually.”
“Excellent!” Wang Yangming replied, breaking into laughter. “The treasures of the greatest army can be taken, but the ideals of the most ordinary men are inviolable. Your determination does you credit, young girl.”
But the mentor’s pride was very real.
“Zhang Yong doesn’t seem to scare you, master. How is this possible?”
She noticed that he called the leader of the Tigers “Uncle Zhang”, and spoke of him with something close to respect despite the fact that the man had reduced the Society of the Mind to nothing. Her question was bold and perhaps lacked deference, but she needed to understand.
Wang Yangming swallowed and took a deep breath before replying.
“I sometimes wonder if Uncle Zhang and I are not two sides of the same coin.”
Shao Jun was speechless.
“Once,” the master muttered, “when I helped quell the rebellion of the prince of Ning, Zhang Yong came as Emperor Zhengde’s representative, and we had a long discussion…”
Master Yang Yiqing, who they both respected, and this conversation had remained etched into both their memories. Despite the difference in their age and status, that evening the three men realized they shared the same ideals and regretted not meeting one another sooner. While normally a reserved character, the master seemed emotional as he reminisced. He turned his head to hide his face from Shao Jun and said, “About that box you left here last time… I’ve got a few leads…”
She had left it with him as a safety measure before departing for Beijing. The object had previously been given to her by Ezio Auditore when they parted. He had explained to her that it was a treasure that members of the European Brotherhood passed from generation to generation, and that she could open it to use its secrets if she was ever faced with insurmountable difficulty. Not knowing where to start to revive the Society of the Mind, she had opened it in Master Yangming’s company. Instead of the magical object she had expected, the box was completely empty. Even the wise mentor was at a loss to explain what this meant.
“Why was the box empty, master?”
“I remember a book I read a long time ago. It mentioned scant detail but spoke of an object known as the ‘Precursor Box’. All the author knew was that it dated from ancient times, and that its purpose was a mystery.”
“Do you remember the name of the book?”
“It was called the Record of Blood Spilt for a Righteous Cause and was written under the reign of the Songs, but I don’t know the author. According to my notes, it was an account of the siege of Diaoyu fortress in 1259, and the box is only briefly mentioned.”
That was disappointing. Wang Yangming was amused by the young woman’s crestfallen expression.
“I have learned something else, however.”
“What?”
“The Tao priest Yan of the Imperial Academy also writes of a box.”
“What is the Imperial Academy?” asked Shao Jun, frowning.
It was the most prestigious institute of higher learning in the capital. The Classical Academy was administered and led by Shan, and the imperial academy by Priest Yan.
“His full name is Yan Song. He held an insignificant position at Hanlin academy in Nanjing until last year, when suddenly he was promoted on Uncle Zhang’s recommendation.
“Does that mean the Tigers are after the box?”
Master Yangming nodded.
“The other night on Mount Wolong, Gao Feng remained hidden while you fought his accomplice not only because he wanted to see who you were meeting, but also to ensure that the box was in your possession. It also explains why you were able to avoid the killing blow… because he hesitated at the last second.”
Shao Jun had initially underestimated Gao Feng due to the clumsy attack that she had avoided despite the element of surprise. But she now knew that it had been at least as dangerous as her encounter with Wei Bin on the bridge in Xiyuan park. She also understood why the Tiger had hesitated.
“He saw the box at my waist!”
The young woman had kept it with her ever since leaving Europe, and had attached it to her belt that night. Gao Feng hadn’t seen it until he was close, at the very moment he made to attack. He had been forced to change his attack at the last second to avoid damaging the precious object.
Master Yangming nodded slightly.
“He missed his target, but not by much!” he said.
Shao Jun remained silent. She still didn’t know the purpose of the box, but she had at least learnt that Zhang Yong sought it. It was now clear that the Society of the Mind could only be rebuilt if the Eight Tigers were defeated first. Although two were already dead, the survivors had immense political power and each was a master of the art of kung-fu; vanquishing them would be no mean feat. Gao Feng had fallen to Wang Yangming’s blade because he hadn’t expected him to be there, and without that timely intervention Shao Jun would most certainly have perished. And Zhang Yong would continue to hunt them while he remained determined to have the box…
Master Yangming stroked his beard with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
“Young girl, what do you think of using the box to lure and trap one Tiger after another?” he asked.
“It’s a brilliant idea, master.”
“This plan will put you in great danger.”
“I will do whatever it takes to destroy the Eight Tigers and rebuild the Society of the Mind.”
“Good,” stated the mentor after thinking for
a moment. “Other than Uncle Zhang, Qiu the Demon and Wei the Snake will be the most troublesome. The first is cruel, unable to think on his own, and follows his master like a shadow; the second is not as skilled, but we will need to get him out of the way quickly before he becomes a problem. The original chess players, whose style defied convention, were the most unpredictable as their opponents could only react to their moves and not anticipate them. That is how we must plan our strategy: in assuming your next move, Uncle Zhang will surely send Ma the Butcher or Yu the Cruel against you… But we will take the initiative and attack Wei Bin, which neither he nor his master will expect. Our only alternative would have been Luo Ziang, the last of the Tigers, but we don’t know where he is or when he will reappear.”
Shao Jun was suddenly overcome with doubt. Was she up to the task? Perhaps there was still time to avoid the worst and change things. Once the first Tiger was down, the others would quickly realize that they were also potential targets and would become much more difficult to fool.
“Do you lack confidence, young girl?” teased Wang Yangming.
“Master, I worry that the task exceeds my abilities. When I fought Wei Bin the other night, it was clear that his level of skill far exceeded mine.”
“The Tigers all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Wei Bin, the former head of the imperial guard, is very close to Ma Yongcheng, but Qiu has never seen him fight and knows nothing about his favorite weapons. He always gives off a disinterested air, but really he seeks to excel above all others, and is thus very easy to provoke. He won’t be able to resist the temptation, we simply need to him to believe he has an opportunity to flaunt his skills.”
Master Yangming spoke of the Eight Tigers as if they were close acquaintances. And for good reason. He had waited to rebuild his Society of the Mind for years and had had time to study them down to the smallest detail, but Shao Jun still had trouble believing that Wei Bin would be easy to beat.
