At nine o'clock, Chen and 'Buddha' Zhao started out

for the Commander-in-chief's Yamen. Using Lightness

Kung Fu, they soon found themselves near the wall of

the Yamen. They spotted two figures patrolling on a

rooftop close by and crouched down to watch for a

while. Zhao waited for them both to turn their backs,

then sent a pellet shooting off towards a tree a few

dozen yards away. Hearing a noise in the branches, the

guards quickly went over to investigate, giving Chen

and Zhao an opportunity to slip silently over the wall

into the Yamen.

They hid in the shadows and looked out over the

Yamen's main courtyard. To their surprise, they found

it brightly lit with torches and several hundred

troops standing guard. Another strange thing was that

so many soldiers could be so quiet. When they moved,

they walked lightly on tip-toe, and the only sounds

that could be heard were the call of a cicada and an

occasional crackle from the burning torches.

Chen could see there was no way of getting in. He

gestured towards Zhao and the two retreated, avoiding

the rooftop guards. They stopped behind a wall to

discuss what to do.

"We don't want to alert them," Chen whispered. "We'll

have to go back and think of some other plan."

Just then, a side gate of the Yamen creaked open and

an officer emerged followed by four soldiers. The five

marched down the street a few hundred yards and then

turned back, obviously on patrol.

"Get them," Chen whispered. Zhao slipped out of the

shadows and threw three darts, and three of the

soldiers immediately dropped to the ground. Chen

followed with two of his chess pieces, hitting the

officer and the remaining soldier. They quickly

dragged the five into the shadows, stripped the

uniforms from two of the men and put them on

themselves.

They waited once more for the rooftop guards to turn

away, then jumped over the Yamen wall and strode

nonchalently into the torch-lit courtyard. They passed

through into an inner courtyard which was being

patrolled exclusively by senior military officials,

commanders and generals. Waiting for the right moment,

they leapt up under the eaves of one of the buildings,

then hung onto the rafters not daring to breathe. Once

it was clear they had not been discovered. Chen hooked

his legs over a beam and hung down over a window. He

moistened the window paper and looked inside, as Zhao

kept guard beside him.

Chen found himself looking in at a large hall. Five or

six men wearing the gowns of high officials stood in

the centre facing another man who was seated with his

back to Chen. Another official walked in and kowtowed

nine times towards the seated man.

Chen was surprised. "That is the ceremonial form used

when entering the presence of the Emperor," he

thought. "Could it be Qian Long himself is in

Hangzhou?"

"Zhejiang Province Civil Administrator Yin to see your

Highness the Emperor," the officer said.

So it was the Emperor, Chen thought. No wonder

security was so tight.

"I have sent troops to quell the Muslim regions," the

Emperor said. "I hear you object to this idea."

Chen frowned: he found the Emperor's voice strangely

familiar.

"I deserve to die, I would not dare," Yin said,

continuing to kowtow.

"I asked Zhejiang Province to supply six thousand tons

of grain to meet the needs of the army. Why did you

disobey my orders?"

"I truly would not dare, your Highness," Yin said.

"But the harvest in Zhejiang this year has been very

poor. The common people are in great hardship, and it

is temporarily impossible to supply such an amount."

"So the common people are in great hardship, are they?

The army is in urgent need of food supplies. Shall I

tell them to starve out there?"

"I wouldn't dare to say," Yin quavered, continuing to

kowtow.

"No, I want you to tell me," replied the Emperor.

"Your Highness's ability to spread enlightenment and

civilisation is far-reaching. The Muslim barbarians

are in fact not worth such a long trek by Your

Highness's armies. As the Ancients said: 'Soldiers are

instruments of violence which a man of virtue should

use only as a last resort.' Your Highness could cancel

the campaign, and the whole world would be thankful

for your benevolence."

"The people are discontented because I have decided to

wage this campaign, is that correct?" Qian Long

replied coldly.

Yin kowtowed even more energetically. His forehead was

by now covered in blood.

Qian Long laughed shortly. "You have a hard skull," he

said. "If you hadn't, you wouldn't dare to contradict

me."

He turned round and Chen started violently: the

Emperor was the Master Dongfang he had met earlier

that day.

"Get out!" he heard Qian Long shout. "And leave your

cap here!" Yin kowtowed a few more times and then

retired.

"There must certainly be some irregularities in Yin's

affairs," Qian Long said to the remaining officials.

"I want the Commander-in-chief to conduct a thorough

investigation and inform me of the results. He must

not be protected for personal reasons. His crimes must

be exposed." The officials assented in chorus.

"Now leave me. And arrange for six thousand tons of

grain to be collected and dispatched immediately." The

officials kowtowed and retired.

"Tell Kang to come," the Emperor added, and an

attendant left and returned a moment later with Chen's

look-alike. He stood close to Qian Long with an air of

familiarity very different from the cringing manner of

the officials.

"Call for Li Keshou," Qian Long ordered, and a

military officer quickly appeared, kowtowing his way

into the Emperor's presence.

"Li Keshou, commander-in-chief of Zhejiang Province,

pays his respect to Your Highness," he said.

"How is that Red Flower Society bandit chief, Wen

Tailai?" asked Qian Long.

"He was arrested after a savage battle and he is very

seriously wounded," Li replied. "I have assigned

doctors to treat him. We will have to wait until his

mind is clear before we can question him."

"You must be careful," Qian Long said.

"Your servant would not dare to be the slightest bit

neglectful," replied Li.

"Go now," said the Emperor, and Li retired.

"Let's follow him," Chen whispered, but as they

dropped quietly to the ground, someone inside the hall

shouted: "Intruders!"

Chen and Zhao ran into the outer courtyard and mingled

with the troops. Bamboo clappers sounded loudly and

the old man Chen had seen earlier that day with the

Emperor began directing a search.

Chen and Zhao walked slowly towards the gate.

"Who are you?" the old man shouted at them, and

grabbed for Zhao. Zhao deflected his hand, and they

made a run for it with the old man chasing. As they

reached the gate, the old man lunged at Zhao. Chen

ripped off the uniform he was wearing and flung it

over the old man's head, then they raced out of the

Yamen gate. The old man cast the uniform off to one

side and chased after them. But the slight delay had

made all the difference.

Two or three thousand troops swarmed out behind the

old man like bees from a hive.

"All of you get back!" he shouted. "Protecting the

Emperor is more important! You five, come with me." He

ran off down the street with the five guards,

following the two black shapes flying over the

rooftops ahead.

The old man gradually closed the distance between

himself and the intruders. Suddenly, the two figures

leapt down and stood stock-still in the middle of the

street. The old man lunged at Chen.

"I am your master's good friend." Chen laughed, not

bothering to retreat or defend himself. "You are an

audacious old fellow!"

The old man looked at his face under the moonlight and

started in surprise.

"So it's you," he said, retracting his hand, "Come

along with me."

"Do you dare to follow me?" Chen asked with a smile.

The old man hesitated, and as the five guards ran up

from behind, Chen and Zhao raced off westwards towards

the West Lake.

"After them!" shouted the old man. The guards reached

the lake in time to see Chen and Zhao jump into a boat

and push off from the shore. The boatman punted the

craft out several yards from the bank.

"My friends," the old man shouted. "Please tell me who

you are before you go."

"I am Zhao Banshan from Wenzhou," Zhao roared. "You, I

take it, are a member of the Songyang martial arts

school?"

"Ah, so you are the one they call the Thousand Arm

Buddha?"

"That's just a nickname. I don't really deserve it.

And your name, sir?"

"My surname is Bai, my name Zhen."

Zhao and Chen gasped in surprise. Bai Zhen was a

famous kung fu master, but he had not been seen or

heard of for years. Obviously, he had become the

personal bodyguard of the Emperor.

"So it's you, Master Bai. No wonder your kung fu is so

superb," said Zhao.

"I hear you are a leading member of the Red Flower

Society, Master Zhao. Who is your companion?"

Suddenly, he realized the answer without having to be

told. "Oh, of course, it must be Master Chen, the

Great Helmsman of the society, is that right?"

Chen opened his fan. "The moon is clear and the wind

is fresh," he said. "Why not come and drink a cup of

wine with us, Master Bai?"

"You have intruded into the Commander-in-chief's

Yamen, and disturbed the official household. You must

accompany me to see my master. He is well-disposed

towards you, and would not do you any harm."

"Go back and ask your master to come and have a chat

with me," Chen replied. "We can have a drink together

if he wishes. I will wait for him here."

Bai had seen the concern with which the Emperor had

treated Chen earlier, and he dared not offend Chen.

But after such an intrusion into the quarters of the

Emperor, he was also loath to return without them.

There were, however, no other boats nearby, and with

no way of chasing after them across the lake, he was

forced to return to report to Qian Long.

"It would be quite nice to go to the lake and enjoy

the moonlight," Qian Long said after a pause. "Go and

tell him I will come immediately."

"These are dangerous bandits," replied Bai. "In my

humble opinion, you should not risk such danger."

"Go," said Qian Long.

Bai did not dare to press the matter further, and rode

swiftly back to the lake. 'Crocodile' Jiang was

sitting at the stern of a boat with his arms round his

knees, waiting for him.

"Tell your master that my master will be here soon,"

Bai shouted.

"Heaven knows what the Emperor sees in this fellow,"

he thought as he hurried back to resume his guard of

the Emperor's person.

Qian Long was in high spirits, and talked and laughed

as Commander Li Keshou waited on him. He had changed

into an ordinary gown, while his bodyguards had also

put on civilian clothes. Once at the lakeside, he gave

his orders.

"He probably already knows who I am, but I want

everyone still to pretend to be common people."

Imperial guard units had been hidden all around the

lake with troops hand-picked by Commander Li behind

them. Beyond the flickering lantern light, they saw

five boats gliding towards them across the water.

'Leopard' Wei stood on the bow of the middle boat.

"I have been sent by Master Lu to invite Master

Dongfang onto the lake to enjoy the moon," he

announced, and jumped onto the bank and bowed before

Qian Long.

Qian Long nodded slightly. "Excellent," he said, and

stepped onto the boat. Commander Li, Bai and thirty or

forty bodyguards boarded the boats with him. More than

a dozen of the bodyguards were expert swimmers, and

Bai ordered them to keep their wits about them.

They started out across the lake, which was a

fairyland of lights. Pleasure boats were everywhere,

bedecked with lanterns that filled the darkness like

stars in the night sky and the sound of music floated

across towards them. A small sampan darted into view

then turned and led the boats to a flotilla of other

craft. Despite the huge number of troops they had

stationed around the shore, Bai and the other

bodyguards were uneasy at the sight of such a powerful

force, and all covertly felt for the weapons they had

hidden around their persons.

"So you decided to come, Master Dongfang," Chen called

from a nearby boat. "Please come aboard!"

The two boats drew alongside each and Qian Long,

Commander Li, Bai, and several other bodyguards jumped

across. Bai and the others relaxed as they saw that

Chen and his attendant, Xin Yan, were the only other

people on the boat. The cabin was spacious, with

exquisite murals on the walls. The table in the centre

was set with wine cups, bowls and chopsticks and was

covered with dishes of fruit, wine and all manner of

delicacies.

Chen and his guest shook hands and smiled broadly,

then sat down facing each other. Commander Li, Bai and

the others stood behind Qian Long.

Chen smiled briefly at Bai and noticed a

handsome-faced youth standing behind Commander Li whom

he recognised as Lu Feiqing's pupil. Surprised, he

wondered what the youth was doing accompanying court

officials.

Xin Yan poured some wine, and Chen, afraid that Qian

Long would be suspicious, drained his own cup first,

then began eating. Qian Long picked at a few of the

dishes that Chen had already tried, then put down his

chopsticks. He heard a flute on a neighbouring boat

playing the tune 'Welcome the Honoured Guest.'

"You are truly a man of culture," he said to Chen. "It

is amazing that you managed to arrange things so well

at such short notice."

Chen dismissed the praise. "One cannot drink wine

without music," he said. "I understand Beautiful Jade

has the best voice in all Zhejiang Province. Shall I

ask her to sing for us?"

Qian Long clapped his hands in approval. "Who is this

Beautiful Jade?" he asked, turning to Commander Li.

"She is one of Hangzhou's most famous courtezans," he

replied. "I have heard that she is very haughty by

nature and if it does not please her, she won't even

show herself let alone sing, no matter how much she is

offered."

"Have you ever seen her?" Qian Long asked.

"I...no I haven't," Li replied, extremely embarrassed.

'Leopard' Wei escorted Beautiful Jade out. Qian Long

looked admiringly at the perfect whiteness of her skin

and her petite figure, but decided her face was not

particularly attractive. Her eyes, however, were full

of life, and her glance around the cabin contained an

intimate greeting for every person there.

Chen stretched out his hand towards Qian Long. "This

is Master Dongfang," he said. Beautiful Jade greeted

him, then sat down next to Chen and cuddled up to him.

"I hear you sing very well," Chen said. "I wonder if

you would allow us the pleasure of enjoying your

talent?"

"If you want to hear me sing, Master Lu, I will sing

for three days and three nights continuously. But I am

afraid you would tire of me." An attendant handed her

a pipa, and with a light strum, she began to sing:

"Outside the window all is quiet

You kneel before the bed eager for some kissing

I scold you, call you heartless, and turn away,

But despite my words I am still half willing."

Chen applauded enthusiastically. Qian Long, hearing

her smooth, clear voice, felt a warm feeling rising in

his chest. Beautiful Jade smiled, then strummed the

pipa and turned to Qian Long:

"I want to beat you,

Don't think I'm joking," she sang.

"I clench my teeth

This time I really will

But you won't fear me

If I hit you softly,

And I cannot bear

To hit you hard.

Oh, my lover

I won't hit you after all."

The Emperor was completely carried away by the song.

"If you want to hit me, then hit me," he said.

Qian Long, born and raised in the depths of the

Imperial Palace had seen many girl singers, but all of

them had been dignified and monotonous, nothing like

this southern Chinese courtesan. He was entranced by

her eyes and her seductiveness, and the song, the

perfumed lake, the moon's reflection, all conspired to

make the scene dreamlike, so that gradually he forgot

that he was with renownedbandits.

Beautiful Jade poured some wine for Chen and Qian Long

and the two drank three cups in succession while

Beautiful Jade drank one to keep them company. Qian

Long took a jade ring off his finger and gave it to

her.

"Sing another song," he said. Beautiful Jade looked

down and giggled, revealing two little dimples. Qian

Long's heart melted.

"All right," she said. She batted her eyelids at him

then struck up a tune on the pipa. This time, the

rhythm was fast and light with a complex melody, and

Qian Long shouted out his approval.

She sang of a poor man with ambitions who gradually

climbs his way up, first obtaining clothes, then a

house, a wife and concubines, and then power. Finally,

he begins to covet the throne of the emperor himself.

Chen laughed heartily, but as the song progressed,

Qian Long's expression became increasingly dour.

"Could this girl know who I really am and be singing

this song to make fun of me?" he wondered.

Beautiful Jade finished the song and slowly put down

her pipa.

"The song makes fun of poor men," she said with a

smile. "Both of you, Master Dongfang and Master Chen,

are wealthy gentlemen with large mansions, lovely

wives and beautiful concubines. You would not think of

such things."

Qian Long laughed, and his eyes travelled over her,

taking in her softness, her fun-loving spirit. He

wondered how he should go about telling Commander Li

to have her brought to the Yamen, and how to make sure

the affair remained secret.

"The Emperor Xuanzong had a great interest in

beautiful women," he suddenly heard Chen say. "That in

itself is not important, but he should not have put

his weakness for women above the interests of the

nation."
关键字:书剑恩仇录
生词表: