Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain by Jin Yong (14 page)

"The three myrmidons wept bitterly. Fan wanted to slit his own throat instantaneously to sacrifice his life for his Master, but was held back by the two others, professing that wreaking vengeance for this blood feud should be their first priority. The three then conducted exhaustive enquiries in the environs of Jiugong Mountain, hoping to shed more light on details surrounding the circumstances of Li's death, for he had died as a martyr for the country. Hu, the myrmidon, apparently still alive and on the run, was an accomplished fighter, insurmountable under the sky. He was wise and resourceful. The three remaining myrmidons now needed him desperately to take charge of the situation before they could embark on retaliating and seeking vengeance for their Master. Thus spurred on, they set out in quest of Hu.

"The story among the forefathers of the outlawry had it that from generation to generation this quest brought on towering waves. Miao, Fan and Tian each detailed to their children a meticulous rendition of the scene they witnessed on that memorable day, also laying down rules to be strictly observed by the clansman that the same rendition be handed down to the progeny. Offspring of each succeeding generation of these three families were to take up the cause of their ancestors."

At this, Tree gave Orchid a serious look, remarking, "This monk is not one of your coterie. I therefore understood only the outline. If Miss Miao would consent to divulge more, I am sure we shall be more enlightened." The group assembled reflected to themselves, "Phoenix the father and Miss Miao the daughter are offspring of Miao the myrmidon."

* * *

Orchid started to tell her story, fixing her gaze on the brazier: "One evening, at the age of seven, I saw father sharpening and burnishing his backsword. I was scared by the sight of the sharp-edged weapon and I implored father not to wield it, but to put it away. Father told me he had to take one more life with this blade before he could lock it up for ever. I clasped my arms around his neck, entreating him not to kill anybody. There and then he poured forth the details of an incident.

"My father took me a long way back to the time when the serfs were living in a state of destitution, in want of food and clothing. They were crying out for food as they subsisted only upon bark and roots that animals eat. After this provender had all been devoured, they subsisted on mud and soil. Many died of hunger. Mothers, deprived of food, failed to give milk, starving many young at their breast. Nonetheless, the government officials were hard about extorting tithes and fines from the tenants and the landowners pressed the deprived for their dues and rents which were owed. Many serfs who failed their obligations were either sentenced to death by the official administrators or thrown into jail by the rich landlords. My father taught me a poem, written by a young gentleman, who was reputed a literary man and an accomplished martial artist. Would you like to listen to his verse?"

"We are all attentive," the Company replied. When she reached the part "reputed a literary man and an accomplished martial artist", Tree knew immediately she was referring to Li Yan, an army general of the Dashing King. Orchid then proceeded to pour forth the lines,

For years locusts and demons of drought devastated the land,

Scourging rice seedlings and young ears on the stalks, blighting all crops.

Rates for barter-staple soared, jumping in folds by score and score.

The great mass of people over the country strove and starved,

Obliged to replenish themselves with grassy roots, herbs and leaves.

And children cried and whined, pouring themselves out on mother and father.

Cauldron, earthernware and cooking stove had long since lain unused.

Day in, day out, from morning till dawn, begging a meal was hard.

Officials were more ferocious than tigers in extorting tithes.

The wealthy and high-ranking, like jackals and wolves, were out hounding debts.

The masses were living on the edge and drawing their last breath.

Departed spirits went forth to the kingdom of Death,

Leaving heaps of scattered bones strewn high on derelict mounds.

Though they strove hard as they might not to stare death in the face,

None could refrain from shedding tears through those miserable years.

And fear dripped from eyes, transforming them with a rusty dye.

Although the country was now enjoying peace and prosperity half way through the reign of Emperor Qianlong, floods and droughts infested the country annually, imposing considerable hardship on the common people. They had to strive hard to secure a living. The group assembled listened intently to every syllable and line delivered by Orchid. She enunciated the words in a perfect tone and her voice was compellingly melancholic, affecting all present. It had awakened a chord of memory, about the trouble they had been through among the Martial Brotherhood, the thoughts of which made them shudder.

Orchid then continued her story: "My father's story goes that in the end the common people broke down under these hardships. They could not bear the yoke any more. A great hero emerged at long last, marshalling the masses to besiege the capital. By a stroke of bad luck, after the hero had ascended the throne, he proved a poor administrator of his country, committing blunders and ill-treating his people. The army officers under his command turned to killing and looting, forcing the masses to turn their backs now on the hero. However, the hero believed that the masses had found a new leader in the gentleman-fighter to whose poem you have just listened. Gripped by fear, he ordered to have this very son of the gentry slaughtered. This incident brought on towering waves, for his followers reacted violently, fermenting agitation. It was not long after that the hero had his own life ended at the hands of a traitor." Orchid heaved a sigh at this.

After pausing for a while, Orchid then continued, "His three myrmidons then set out in quest of the missing myrmidon, hoping he would take the matter into his own hands and wreak vengeance for the great hero."

"The Mandate by then had come under the sway of a nomadic tribe from Manchuria. A Manchu ascended the throne, proclaiming himself Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The Emperor issued an edict, ordering the apprehension of the confederates of the deposed sovereign. The three myrmidons, no longer able to go into hiding, fled in disguise. One dressed up as a feldsher, a quack practioner hawking herbal drugs and medicinal concoctions. One went in the disguise of a pauper, begging alms. The remaining myrmidon, being the strongest of the three, disguised himself as a sham porter. The four myrmidons, pledging themselves in a sworn Brotherhood, had remained with each other through thick and thin for several decades, tending to each other with great devotion. Their attachment was fused closer than natural brothers. The three remaining myrmidons constantly had their lost sworn Brother on their minds; they missed him dreadfully. Thus they travelled far and wide over the country in search of him. But their efforts proved futile. When their quest was nearing the end of the eighth year, they began to harbour the thought that the missing myrmidon might have been slain in defending the great hero. The three myrmidons were grief-stricken."

The assembly was following Orchid's narration intently. She had adopted a tone of delivery as if she were telling a story to a group of small children. She must have imitated the tone characterized by her father in bygone days. The Company present remarked to themselves, "It is said that, though the sobriquet Gilt-faced Buddha contained the adjunct Buddha, the man himself is not kind and benevolent. He was known as a cruel and furious fighter, abhorring all evil as a deadly foe. Yet it seems he was a surprisingly affectionate and loving father."

Orchid took up her story again at this point: "A few years had elapsed and the three myrmidons decided not to continue their quest for the missing sworn Brother. As the traitorous villain who had taken the life of the great hero, having been made a Feudatory Prince, was now enjoying his fortune and happiness in the southwestern border province of Yunnan, the three myrmidons, after serious consultation, decided to journey southwest and stab the traitorous villain to death. Immediately they set out on the journey, embarking on their mission of wreaking vengeance for the great hero and for their sworn Brother."

The two Brothers-at-arms, Hawk and Prime, exchanged glances. They knew the traitorous villain to whom she was alluding was Wu Sangui, who had been conferred the title "Prince Who Pacifies the West" and bestowed a principality in a region bordering the southwest of the kingdom.

Orchid again continued from where she had left off: "The three myrmidons soon found themselves in Kunming, capital city of Yunnan province. They were cautiously reconnoitring the vicinity of the traitor's residence. On the night of the fifth day of the third moon, the three myrmidons leapt over the walls of the big house, all armed with swords and secret weapons. The traitor had his mansion closely guarded round the clock. A sentry caught all three red-handed the moment they touched the ground. A battle ensued. The three myrmidons who fought fast and furious slew or wounded some twenty sentries in a trice, throwing themselves off the sentries barring their way. They dashed headlong into the bed-chamber, counting on capturing the traitor on the spot, for he was now surrounded. Suddenly a man bounded from the side, shielding the front of the traitor. The three myrmidons saw that this very sentry was the sworn Brother whom they had been seeking for years. The sworn Brother excelled them all in martial ability. He was shielding the traitor, not allowing them to touch him. Mixed feelings of shock and wrath filled the three myrmidons. There and then they engaged him in a battle. In no time, several tens of sentries rushed into the chamber, coming to his aid. Being far outnumbered by their opponents, the three myrmidons had to run for their lives. Unfortunately, the old sham porter was captured on the spot.

"The porter myrmidon was interrogated by the traitor. He shouted and yelled at the interrogator using the most horrid epithets, calling upon all the gods. Then he accused the traitor of betraying the Hans and their kingdom to the Tartars. The traitor had him beaten severely, his legs mutilated, and thrown into a dungeon. The blood Brother, remorse-ridden, stole secretly to the dungeon and set him free. The sham porter, the feldsher and the pauper then met and wept without restraint. They found it hard to believe that this elder sworn Brother of theirs could have denounced their cause and joined league with their enemies. After quietly probing further into the matter, they unravelled one yet more spiteful and heart-rending happening: their investigation showed that, after the three myrmidons had fought their way out of Jiugong Mountain to call in help, the sworn brother was left in waiting. Several days elapsed and no reinforcements seemed imminent. Sensing the situation, he took the great hero with his own hands and handed himself over to the enemies. He was later granted a ranking statesmanship by the Manchu Emperor, having also been given the post of Military Governor in the service of the treacherous villain."

The assemblage changed its countenance on learning this. According to one version of the story the Dashing King had had his life taken on Jiugong Mountain by the common masses; by his army officers according to another version. Nothing gave rise to the third version that the killer was his own confidant, the myrmidon, whom he had trusted greatly.

Orchid sighed and continued her narration: "The three myrmidons, now having confirmed all their findings, concluded that he would have to pay. They admitted that even they three acting together were no match for him fighting single-handed. Now that the sham porter was seriously wounded, they were worth even less. While pondering on what steps to take, they suddenly received a letter dispatched by their sworn Brother, extending to each an invitation to a wine party on the night of the fifteenth day of the third moon, in the Immense Pool.

"The three myrmidons anticipated that the sender of the letter would be involved in some trickery. As he had already gathered detailed information about their movements and whereabouts, he certainly had control of the situation. Considering also that they were strangers to the locale, they found themselves in no position to decline the invitation. As matters now stood, they were obliged to go to the wine party, even if it meant committing and jeopardizing their lives. This particular trip which they had to take involved great risk.

"On the day appointed, the three myrmidons travelled to the edge of Immense Pool to attend the wine party, all secretly armed with edged weapons. The sworn Brother was there before the appointed time, waiting by himself, having brought no bodyguard with him. He was clad in a simple coarse garment of the commoners, similar to the one worn by the four myrmidons in the old days. The four of them procured some boiled meat, roast chicken, buns and several catties of good wine from a small tavern. Then they boarded a boat which took them to the centre of the lake. There they enjoyed the moonlight, along with the food and drink.

"While they were drinking, they recounted their audacious and boisterous days in the army. As the sworn Brother made no mention of the great hero, the other three had to check themselves. The sworn Brother gulped down bowl after bowl of wine. When the time approached mid-night, he lifted his head up towards the sky, crying out, 'Brothers, it has been a long time since we parted. I feel extremely happy today.'"

The last sentence was delivered boldly and uninhibitedly, somewhat incongruous with the style of the gentle and noble young lady who was speaking. However, this incongruity went unheeded as the group assembled were all listening intently, fascinated by the suspense and mystery of the story.

A short while later, the young lady in gamboge carried on her story: "In the end, the myrmidon disguised as a feldsher could hold himself back no longer and he sneered, 'You are now a ranking statesman and are enjoying fame, fortune and prosperity; of course you have every right to feel happy. I wonder how the Generalissimo would have felt?' The four myrmidons still referred to the great hero as the Generalissimo, long after he had proclaimed himself Emperor.