The Sage, the Swordsman and the Scholars

by Pierre Dimaculangan

  “You are different today, Master Swordsman, but I seriously doubt this ‘new’ approach will stack the odds in your favor,” he said maliciously, once again baring his sharp teeth with a grin.

  “In our first meeting, I failed realize that you were not my greater enemy. But because I had dealt with what was, I realize that I can now deal with you,” Xin said in a new voice of steel that can unnerve even the most hardened warriors. Even he was surprised by it. Kurr growled and burst towards Xin now gripping his black metallic sword with both hands.

  Upon the top of the hill, Famin Jie continued to play his Guqin vigorously in an effort to equalize the priests’ incantations to buy the company more time. As long as he kept playing, he thought, the Ming forces would not become overwhelmed by the mutant hordes being fueled by the dark sorcery of the Terukk. Though his hands began to stiffen with the pain that surged through them, he strummed the seven strings with passion as he continued to pray to Heaven.

  After he had forcefully forged a path through the mutant hordes, Buff Baby struck down the Terukk priest with a sweep of its legs and a powerful down stroke for a swift beheading. Zuo Shilong and Big Bang as well had successfully cleared the area of mutants as Ming troops and Academicians swooped in to secure their position. A large mutant soldier in particular charged at Buff Baby in an attempt to grapple him to the ground. The force of the impact knocked Buff Baby’s weapon from his grasp though he instantly regained his footing and sprawled to counter the tackle. His feet grazed across the ground raising clouds of dust as he was shoved back several strides.

  He counter-pushed the mutant’s charge and with a pivot of the hips, Buff Baby tossed the mutant to the ground. Now, the two wrestled for leverage. Buff Baby grasped the mutant’s wrists in restraint and slammed his forehead onto its nose then proceeded pound its face with his bare fists until its head had turned to a pulp.

  “Is there anyone else who would dare challenge me in hand to hand combat?” he shouted with a fiery vigor. A stone’s throw away from where Buff Baby continued to fight, the Terukk priest facing Zuo Shilong had finally ceased his accursed chanting to divert his full attention onto his attackers. Upon his hand materialized a long-handled cleaver with a serrated edge forged with the same black metallic alloy used in the sword of Kurr. He swung decisively at Zuo Shilong’s neck, but the monk dove beneath the attack with a forward roll and thrust the end of his staff into the priest’s abdomen. As the priest doubled over, Shilong spun around to smash his heavy staff onto his back, but it was obstructed by the black cleaver. The impact from the block was bone-jarring. Zuo Shilong’s staff reverberated with the force, but he ignored it to continue the momentum of his attacks, striking at the priest from various angles. It was not long until the priest caved-in from the pressure when Shilong broke through the handle of the cleaver and landed a crushing blow to his head.

  The skull had caved in and spewed flesh and brain matter in every which way. The priests collapsed to the ground in a pool of black blood with both hands and arms twitching. Zuo Shilong did not make time for any celebration. The cleaver faded into smoke as Zuo Shilong leaped back into battle to aid the struggling Ming troops.

  Not far from where the second priest fell, two warriors dueled for the life of the final Terukk priest. This time however, Sun Xin had turned the tide on his enemy. Sun Xin evaded and redirected Kurr’s blows with an amazing calmness. He had peace. Xin foresaw every movement of his opponent’s body and was able to predict where the blade would strike next. He had clarity. Xin also knew where to step and how to flow with his body’s movements. He was effortless. These profound skills that had suddenly enlightened Xin caused Kurr to become increasingly frustrated and enraged. Just like Master Lo had said, darkness would not comprehend the light and so it was with Kurr who now could not comprehend his opponent. One final priest remained to hold back the Ming forces. If he could fall, the mutants could be quickly overrun and be cast into the sea.

  “Time to finish this,” Xin said in his cold, intimidating voice. He spun around Kurr’s sword thrust and slammed a reverse elbow strike into Kurr’s temple then in one continuous motion stabbed a dagger into his exposed inner thigh. Kurr roared with the pain. Just as soon as Xin proceeded to dispatch him once and for all, Kurr slashed his blade into the air, knocking away Xin with a powerful gust of wind. Kurr then fled into the heat of the battle in the background and disappeared amidst the chaos.

  The final Terukk priest continued to recite incantations into the mutant army until his head fell clean off his shoulders and the body collapsed in a heap. Just as the final Terukk priest fell, Famin Jie played struck the final chord upon his zither. As the string’ vibrations faded away, Famin Jie rolled onto his back in exhaustion and gave praise to Heaven. It was in that moment that the brunt of the Ming Imperial Army pushed against the Terukk with great force. Their shouts could be heard for many li and the ground shook with their thundering footfalls. General He Jin rounded up the rest of his commando and cavalry units and charged through the exposed flanks of the enemy. It was not long until the mutant army, severely lacking cavalry and artillery, and the dark magic of the Terukk priests, became completely overwhelmed by the Ming’s unstoppable onslaught of swords, spears, and projectiles. Imperial Commander Feishen, though a veteran of many great battles, could not help but be in awe of this battle’s immensity. When the priests had fallen, the infantry fought with a fiery inspiration as they cut down the mutant monstrosities who all of a sudden found themselves on the defensive. The cannons had ceased to fire after the two opposing armies had thoroughly defused in the battlefield. Coordinated battalions and their commanding officers systematically pressed forward against the receding Terukk mutants who still continued to resist. Cavalry units reformed their lines and swung around to cut them down as archer and gunner units concentrated their fire. No longer fueled by the mantras of the priests, the mutants had become just as mortal as any man despite maintaining the brute strength and ferocity of their mutations.

  Little by little the mutant hordes, once so mighty and unrelenting, were pushed into the sea. Thousands plummeted off steep cliffs while hundreds of others were thrown off abandoned harbors and pulled down by the weight of their armor. Many of the remaining stragglers used what was left of their strength to run into the endless steppes, perhaps to die in the wilderness if they would not be hunted down by predators or powerful tribes.

  Some tried to swim or row away in barges, but were immediately destroyed by naval cannons or shot down by smaller Ming gunboats. Morale for the Ming reached a new high as they pushed forward onto the mutants and utterly destroyed them. The battle was won for the Ming Imperial Army. All mutants who had attempted to flee were either cut down by cavalry, or shot down by mounted archers. Those in the rear began to cheer as the last few thousand mutants who continued to resist were destroyed, no longer under the enchantment of the priests’ incantations.

  After the soldiers on the ground gained the upper hand in the battle, the Ming Navy proceeded west towards the light Terukk naval blockade where the Shandong and Liaodong Peninsulas met most closely. The Terukk transport ships were caught completely off guard and barely managed to get into formation by the time the Ming ships reached firing range. In unison, the Ming formation veered to starboard as the crews brought the cannons at the ready. The Terukk were outnumbered three to one though their light armaments were more than enough for a difficult fight. The hull of their vessels absorbed the brunt of the Ming’s opening cannon salvo. Though buckled and splintered, a second volley of shells was needed to puncture the Terukk hull. As the broadside cannons of the Ming ships reloaded, they swung around to bring port cannons to fire. The Terukk ships answered the Ming attack with signature blue fires as piercing flames of intense heat slammed into several Ming ships puncturing hulls, spreading fires, and splintering decks. Many sailors fell overboard as others scrambled to douse fires and keep the cannons loaded.

  Admiral Han Bin and two of the crew quickly spun t
he tiller around to avoid the enemy’s return fire as the ship groaned and moaned with the strain. The Phoenix Spirit moved to the front of the formation and fired a salvo of winged rockets into the Terukk formation. The Scholars’ warship targeted the lower hulls of the Terukk ships while simultaneously firing volleys of cannon grapeshot and mortar shells to decimate the enemy armor.

  Commanding shouts, screams, and chatter filled the air between cannon and rocket volleys. The Terukk ships, still unable to get into their proper formation, were beginning to buckle from the harassing synchronized fire of the Ming ships. The Phoenix Spirit then used its signature speed and maneuverability to quickly evade the Terukks’ line of fire as the rest of the circling Ming ships fired another salvo of bombs and shells. The Terukk, though outnumbered, managed to destroy a handful of the Ming battleships. Lu Guanying was on the stern of the Phoenix Spirit as he witnessed the decimated vessels sink beneath the waves.

  Despite its size, the Phoenix Spirit swiftly evaded incoming bombs as it moved in to rescue any of the survivors clinging to chunks of driftwood and debris. The smaller Ming warships split into two formations in order to attack Terukk from two sides. Their signature battened sails swiveled to the left as it hauled wind from yet another angle. The enemy ships turned southwest in full sail to stay ahead of their pursuers. The two sides continued to exchange fire, but the accuracy of the Terukk weapons were unmatched. Their concentrated fire tore holes through the rest of the Ming ships with their fiery projectiles to attempt to discourage their pursuit. It was an impressive feat given they were mere lightly armed transport vessels. Some of the Ming ships were even forced to break formation.

  The Phoenix Spirit still managed to launch a trio of Fire Dragon missiles into the fleeing enemy ships. Two of the missiles slammed into the rear of one, and the third veered off-course as the ordnance tore through the cabin of another. Admiral Han Bin swiveled the Phoenix Spirit to a hard port to prepare to launch another salvo of cannon fire as Tian Qiu, Lu Guanying, and Shang Jian were swept off their feet. Eight heavy cannons fired away in quick succession, their thunderous booms shook the entire ship. The rounds slammed into the nearest vessel, completely shredding apart its stern leaving a heap of twisted metals and wood. The crew cheered and jeered as the enemy ship began to list and sink beneath the waves.

  Out from the ocean-blue horizon appeared a whole contingent of red sails soaring skyward. They approached the fleets with great speed in an attempt to cut off the Terukk retreat. The sails soon revealed to be the ships of the Ming Navy of Nanjing. They had finally arrived to participate in the battle of the gulf. The squadron’s flagship opened fire and accompanying warships followed suit.

  The pursuit lasted for another several dozen li until the Terukk finally revealed their oars and sailed out of range. At the battle’s culmination, six of their ships had been destroyed while the remaining four managed to limp away severely damaged with smoke seeping from their hulls.

  Admiral Han Bin desired to make chase but did not desire the risk of losing more ships or running into an ambush. The Ming had lost a total of seven ships and several others were in critical condition. There was only so much their superior numbers and the element of surprise could bring. This was a testament to the Ming military that the Terukk were indeed a force to be reckoned. The Phoenix Spirit did not survive the battle unscathed and had suffered a handful of breaches to the hull. Sturdy bulkhead compartments within its belly however have kept it afloat so far. After the survivors had been salvaged from the cold waters, the ships recalled to Liaodong and anchored at the shore near the battlefield.

  The first great battle against the Terukk’s forces had been won. Han Bin watched as the Terukk ships descended beneath the horizon trailing smoke and debris. A new squadron of box-shaped ships joined the Terukk from the west. It was a squadron loyal to the pirate lord Mizushima.

  “Now, we can confirm that pirates from Riben have allied themselves with the Foreigner scum,” commented Admiral Han.

  “This is the beginning of our woes at sea. We barely managed to defeat a small squadron of their ships despite our numeric superiority. What we have experienced today is but a small taste of their naval capabilities. If we are to stand a chance against them, our own navy might require an overhaul,” commented Shang Jian. Near the shores of Liaodong Peninsula, the Ming nursed its wounds. The Ming troops overall suffered low casualties relative to their enemy’s numbers though it brought Imperial Commander Feishen great pain to count the fallen. It was something he would never be accustomed to. He loved his men sincerely and it wrenched his heart greatly when those very same men whom he had trained for years and marched with for thousands of li would make their sacrifices on the battlefield. Just over seven thousand were counted among the dead and thousands more were counted among the injured and the disabled.

  Imperial Commander Feishen and his officers spent several minutes in silence as the dead were tallied and buried in a mass grave upon the plain. There were some among the dead whom he had known personally. He felt great regret for their loss though deep in his heart Feishen knew these were the inevitable daily realities of war that all officers had to reconcile. He must accept it gracefully so that it would not compromise his ability to lead.

  Preparedness, naval support, and superior weaponry indeed have played their part in the victory, but it was the company of Famin Jie who had truly won the battle for the Ming that day. Had the Terukk priests been allowed to continue their sorcery, the mutants’ strength would have overwhelmed the Ming army even with the use of superior artillery. These truths did not pass by Commander Feishen and General Jin who along with their officers personally commended and honored the Scholars, their Academicians, and Famin Jie’s company.

  “Were it not for the efforts of the Scholars and these heroes from the provinces the battle would have continued to no end and many among us would have perished under the sorcery of the Terukk!” they said. Big Bang laughed maniacally as he usually did. Jirgal however was only relieved to have survived the ordeal and urgently searched for some wine calm his nerves. Buff Baby celebrated with the rest of the troops in food and drink as he boasted about his ‘mighty’ feats during the battle. Zuo Shilong stood at the shore and silently stared into the sea which he was seeing for the very first time. Sun Xin, in his preoccupations with attending to his injured master, did not take the time to appreciate the commendations or the victory. Famin Jie however could not help but praise Heaven alone for the victory for he knew that it was Heaven who in supreme sovereignty had orchestrated the events that allowed these warriors to have assembled.

  He later rejoined Imperial Commander Feishen and General Jin to set up camp not far from the edge of the battlefield as the dead were buried and the wounded were attended. The company regrouped and reported to the commander though Master Lo continued to be in severe pain after suffering the vicious blow of Kurr’s kick. General Jin provided a bed for him to rest inside his own tent. His breath was labored and he coughed continuously.

  “So you are the great Master Lo. I have had the rare privilege of personally bearing witness to the incredible feats of Sun Xin, but to have finally met his master is a rare and great honor,” said General He Jin with a deep bow of respect.

  “For many years I had been angry and resentful of him. He had chosen a path which I was sure there would be no return, but to see the alliances he has made, to witness where his path has brought him, gladness and peace have replaced my anger. He is destined for something monumental, General. Heaven has great plans for him, though I think my part in this tale is finally coming to a close,” said Master Lo in a labored breath. He coughed profusely and blood poured from the corner of his mouth. General Jin then hurriedly searched for Sun Xin in the camp. His master did not have much time. Famin Jie approached Master Lo’s bedside with tears welling up in his eyes. “Oh Lord Di, should this battle bear such a terrible cost?” he cried as his lips quivered.

  “Do not lament for me, brother, for I
long to be in the presence of the Most High. The spirits have posted here to anticipate my departure. Such a glorious sight it is!” Master Lo exclaimed.

  “Look, the souls of my righteous ancestors descend and ascend from the right and left of Shang Di. I am overwhelmed.”

  “If your name is called, brother, do not neglect to answer it. I will find peace in your departure,” said Famin Jie, his lips quivering and tears rolling from his cheeks. Sun Xin rushed to his master’s side and fell on his knees. For the first time in ten years, Sun Xin began to cry.

  “Master, forgive me for what I had done,” he cried. “Do not leave my side, Master. You are the only father I have ever known.”

  “My son, the day I found you was the day I was made complete. You and Meiling have filled the aching abyss in my heart. Truly Heaven is gracious to have blessed me with the grand responsibility of raising you. The day you fled our home was the day I thought I had failed you, but little did I know of the grand master plan Heaven had already orchestrated for your life, and now I am blessed have finally seen it unfold. Do not depart from the paths of righteousness. Walk in the Way, honor Heaven alone. The road ahead of you is dark and very treacherous; your faith will be tested. Always walk before the Light where the cracks upon the path you tread can be made visible,” said Master Lo. He struggled to breathe, but mustered the strength to speak his last words. “Xin, never forget my words. Hide them in your heart. I’ve told you how you can overcome the curse. Your hardships are only beginning. Only in the Way can you let peace, clarity, and effortless action embody your life and guide your hand in battle. Then, only then will you find victory. Take my sword; keep it with you always so it will remind you of my words.”