The Secret Divination Conference of the Military Statistics Bureau
In the 007 Palace Teaching Institute of Manchukuo, Kodama Yoshio’s face was gloomy.
“Useless! Useless! The Imperial Army has nurtured you for so many years, yet you can’t even deal with a small Jiang Xiang Sect! And those Axe Gang thugs—they’ve killed so many of our people, yet you haven’t caught a single one! You talk about playing the long game to catch the big fish—where’s the big fish? Also, you claim your poison craft is superior and has surpassed Chinese poison masters, but what’s the result? Zeng Jingwu laid yang poison on the surrounding islands, while the Jiang Xiang Sect planted yin poison inside the organization, working in concert from within and without, yet you knew nothing of it!”
“Yes!” The Japanese agents and sorcerers bowed their heads in repentance.
“Calm down, Your Excellency, calm down,” said a Northeast cult leader long controlled by the Japanese, wearing a fawning smile. “It’s all because this Zu Ye is too cunning and fearless—he dared to place poison insects on his own body, then caught us off guard by pricking his finger to contaminate the water source. That Axe Gang’s Zeng Jingwu is an even more desperate man—he dared to carry poison insects deep into snake-infested territory, planting the yang poison on snakes. Just as the tide rose and seawater flooded in, yin and yang attracted each other, brewing this great disaster…”
“Just happened? Even now you think it just happened? Scheming, scheming—this was premeditated! Moreover, you didn’t lose only here! You didn’t even know that snakes aren’t afraid of realgar! You’ve truly disgraced the great Emperor of Japan!”
Kodama Yoshio’s words dripped with endless resentment. Much of Japan’s knowledge originated from China, including erroneous information. The belief that snakes fear realgar originated in China—every Dragon Boat Festival, people drink realgar wine to repel snakes and ward off evil. But this was a huge misunderstanding. This matter was actually discovered by Zhang Zizhan, a young member of the Jiang Xiang Sect. As a child, every Dragon Boat Festival his father made him drink realgar wine, saying it could repel snakes. After growing up, this fellow deliberately went to a medicine shop, bought a pile of realgar, then caught several snakes and placed them in the realgar pile. The result was that the snakes lazily crawled around in the realgar pile and eventually slept in it. From then on, Zhang Zizhan reached a conclusion: snakes aren’t afraid of realgar at all.
When the Japan-China Friendship Metaphysics Exchange Institute was completed, the Japanese feared attacks from poisonous snakes on the island and had long scattered realgar inside and outside the building. After the disaster passed, they realized this didn’t work at all.
“Enough!” Kodama Yoshio sighed and said, “The war has begun. The Imperial Army must take China within three months! Your mission is even more arduous. If there are more mistakes, your heads will pay!”
Subsequently, in August, Japanese forces launched a full offensive on Shanghai, which fell in November. In December, Nanjing fell, and the horrific Nanjing Massacre began…
Wherever Japanese forces conquered, they mostly held sacrificial ceremonies, and the accompanying sorcerers would show off their skills. They would place the incense burner bestowed by the Emperor on the altar, burn incense and play music, then wearing Shinto shrine costumes, strike contorted poses and emit beast-like cries. At this moment, the devils who had slaughtered their way here would also reach the climax of conquering all of China amid the swirling smoke and the sorcerers’ hoarse, frenzied howls.
The Japanese forces’ accompanying sorcerers mostly came from Japanese religions—this was another means of Japanese invasion of China. At that time, Japan’s total population was seventy million, with forty million having faithful religious beliefs. Mobilizing religious believers to fight and establishing soul-summoning shrines greatly stimulated Japanese invasion fervor.
Previously, Japanese agents had manipulated Chinese cults through the Palace Teaching Institute, using superstitious activities to promote Sino-Japanese friendship—this was part of the comprehensive invasion strategy. Unfortunately, this grand scheme was ruined by the Jiang Xiang Sect with its three hundred years of native Chinese heritage. Kodama Yoshio hated Zu Ye to the point of grinding his teeth, vowing to personally skin Zu Ye alive!
Yet at this very moment, Zu Ye was visiting the Military Statistics Bureau.
Receiving him was a deputy officer of the Military Statistics Bureau—Feng Siyuan (General Feng from the first volume). The introducer was Jiang Feiyan.
Jiang Feiyan had no choice but to introduce Zu Ye to Feng Siyuan.
At that time, Feng Siyuan had not yet suspected Jiang Feiyan’s fraudster identity. He only felt this devastatingly beautiful woman was talented and thoroughly versed in yin and yang. Although she often engaged in superstitious activities like praying for wind and rain, she could repeatedly make them come true, and she often presented large sums of silver as tribute. Before long, she had even given her body to him. Feng Siyuan couldn’t help but sigh: “Since ancient times, talented women have been among the common people. When the war ends, I will definitely marry her.”
But the Japanese invaders pressed closer step by step, while the Nationalist Army retreated continuously. For a time, the entire nation was filled with a desperate atmosphere of national destruction and family ruin.
At this time, Dai Li, head of the Military Statistics Bureau responsible for war intelligence, was even more anxious. This usually superstitious man became even more superstitious. After much thought, this fellow actually summoned all the famous fortune-tellers from the Nationalist-controlled areas and held a secret divination conference.
Those fortune-tellers summoned all appeared confident. They felt this was a good day to get ahead—Dai Li’s superstitious nature was known to all. As long as they flattered General Dai well, everything would be easily resolved. They were wrong. This time, Dai Li wasn’t asking about personal fortune but about national affairs.
In the heavily guarded hall, Dai Li paced while speaking: “Masters, now that the nation faces crisis, each of you ordinarily claims to be the world’s best, surpassing Zhuge Liang and matching Liu Bowen, knowing five hundred years forward and five hundred years back. Now I want you to divine whether our nation will perish or defeat Japan. If we can win, when?”
The fortune-tellers from the Hunan-Hubei region looked at each other, thinking: how can one casually speak of such things? Regardless of what the divination shows, we must certainly answer that victory is assured! Otherwise, General Dai will squeeze our testicles out!
This scene was remarkably similar to when German Fascist leader Hitler organized astrologers for divination! Besides waging war, Hitler had two other specialties: painting and divination. A large portion of his private library consisted of divination and fortune-telling books. In March 1938, Hitler secretly organized a “Prophets’ Conference” in a small German city called Eisenach, gathering several of Germany’s master astrologers to divine the future of his war. The last astrologer prophesied: four years later, the war will turn, and German forces will suffer massive casualties beside a great river!
After hearing this, Hitler flew into a rage: “Throw all these scoundrels into concentration camps! I’ll show them how I trample the world!”
As it turned out, in 1942, at the Volga River in Soviet territory, German forces suffered a dramatic defeat. Subsequently, from 1943 to 1944, Britain and America launched head-on warfare against Nazi Germany, and German Fascism began its decline.
Under Dai Li’s surveillance, the fortune-tellers trembled and each displayed their methods—some turned compasses, some pinched their fingers, some set up feng shui wheels, some struck iron abacuses. After much fussing, they reached a unanimous opinion: the Nationalist Army would surely win! In the year Wuyin! Translated into plain language: the Kuomintang forces would definitely defeat the Japanese devils in 1938.
After hearing this, Dai Li’s teeth ached, his heart nearly stopped from anger. He thought: you might as well have said we’ll win this year! Then he roared: “Get out! Get out! All of you, get out!”
The fortune-tellers lifted their bottoms, stumbled and scrambled away clutching their lives.
Dai Li sat exhausted on the sofa, at a complete loss. Suddenly someone shouted: “Report!”
“Enter!”
“General, we’ve found that Zu Ye!”
Upon hearing this, Dai Li’s eyes immediately brightened: “Mr. Tieban, the number one master of Jianghuai—I’ve only heard his name, never seen him. Bring him at once!” The little agent was about to carry out the order when Dai Li said again: “Wait, for such a great master, I should personally visit!”
“Yes!”
Dai Li removed his military uniform, changed into fresh civilian clothes, and was about to leave when the phone suddenly rang. Dai Li picked up: “Yes! It’s me, Headmaster! Yes, I’ll be right there!” Chiang Kai-shek was summoning him.
At Chiang Kai-shek’s official residence in Wuhan, Chiang Kai-shek sat while Dai Li stood.
“I heard that not long ago, a high monk divined for Mao Zedong. You know about this, right?” Chiang Kai-shek asked methodically.
“Yes! I’ve heard a little about it!” Dai Li replied.
“Did this really happen?” Chiang Kai-shek pressed.
“This… it’s probably just hearsay among the common people…” Dai Li answered glumly.
“That high monk said he’s the true Son of Heaven! I heard he also gave him four numbers: 8, 3, 4, 1. What does it mean?”
“This… this… I don’t know.”
Dai Li wasn’t lying—he truly didn’t know. At that time, no one knew.
Legend has it that during the Long March, when Mao Zedong led the Red Army past a temple, a high monk there looked at Mao Zedong’s physiognomy and said he would surely gain the realm in the future, then mentioned a string of numbers: 8341.
Mao Zedong smiled and asked: “Old venerable, what does this mean?”
The high monk clasped his hands together and said: “Hehe, this is Heaven’s secret. You must ponder it yourself, benefactor.”
As a proletarian revolutionary leader, Mao Zedong naturally wouldn’t stop his struggle over such trifles. He gazed at the vast sky and said deeply and firmly: “The Communist world is fought for the common people. The Red Army doesn’t believe in Heaven’s secrets—we only believe in the worker and peasant masses. Whoever serves the common people possesses all of Heaven’s secrets.” After speaking, he instructed his guard to take some highland barley flour and give it to the high monk. “Old venerable, take care of yourself. You must wait until the day the world is at peace.”
From that time on, “8341” became a mystery. Later, Mao Zedong simply designated his Central Guard Regiment’s number as “8341.”
Time passed, great changes occurred, and the historical events of 1976 finally pierced through this historical fog. More than a month after the Tangshan earthquake, the great leader Chairman Mao also passed away. Careful people reviewed the Chairman’s military career and were astonished to discover: the Chairman seized power at the Zunyi Conference in 1935 and passed away in 1976—exactly 41 years in power. The year he died, he was exactly 83 years old. The “8341” matter was finally solved.
This was, of course, folk legend—the legendary interpretation born from the people’s infinite love and admiration for the Chairman. Years later, relevant leaders of the Central Guard Regiment specifically came forward to clarify the historical facts: the code 8341 was simply a military sequence number given by the General Staff to the Central Guard Regiment. There was no such thing as Chairman Mao seeking the Dao during the Long March, and other rumors in society about the 8341 designation were also groundless.
But Chiang Kai-shek at the time believed it: “Find this Living Buddha. You understand what I mean, right?”
Dai Li immediately said: “Headmaster, I’ve been searching all along, but haven’t found him yet, so I haven’t reported to the Headmaster!”
Chiang Kai-shek nodded and smiled. For this prized student of hoodlum origins, Chiang Kai-shek valued him highly, because he could always think what Chiang thought and worry about what Chiang worried about. For Chiang Kai-shek’s sake, Dai Li could sacrifice everything. Especially during the Xi’an Incident, when He Yingqin and others wanted to finish off Chiang Kai-shek, Dai Li disregarded personal safety and resolutely followed Song Meiling to Xi’an, and at the detention site wrote his final words: “To die here in martyrdom is what I wished for, but I cannot die content without seeing the leader!” This completely won Chiang Kai-shek’s trust. Outsiders all called Dai Li “Chiang Kai-shek’s sword.”
“However, I have found another master!” Dai Li said.
“Wei Qianli?”
Dai Li shook his head.
“Yuan Shushan?”
Dai Li still shook his head, then said: “It’s the one known as Jianghuai’s number one fortune-telling master, Mr. Tieban!”
Upon hearing this, Chiang Kai-shek became angry: “I heard this person has connections with Wang Yaqiao!”
Dai Li was stunned: “Headmaster, minor flaws don’t obscure major virtues! After all, he’s a useful talent! Not long ago, he destroyed the Japanese spy organization in Zhoushan.”
Chiang Kai-shek nodded: “Is the news about destroying the spy organization reliable?”
“It should be reliable. The cannon fire from the Zhoushan archipelago reportedly relates to this…”
“What do you mean ‘should be reliable’? Either it’s reliable or it’s not reliable!” Chiang Kai-shek interrupted Dai Li.
“Yes! Headmaster! I’ll investigate immediately!” Though he said this, he had no confidence—infiltrating Japanese spy organizations was no easy matter.
Chiang Kai-shek looked at Dai Li and said: “You meet with him first. For this kind of wandering bandit mixed up with Wang Yaqiao, be extra careful!”
Dai Li said loudly: “Yes!” and turned to leave.
To find Zu Ye, Dai Li took great pains. Finally, Feng Siyuan, who worked under Dai Li, suddenly thought of Jiang Feiyan. Although he didn’t yet know that Jiang Feiyan and Zu Ye were both disciples of the Jiang Xiang Sect, he thought since they were both in fortune-telling and both wandering the jianghu, they must have heard of each other.
Feng Siyuan asked Jiang Feiyan: “Do you know of Jianghuai’s Mr. Tieban?”
After hearing this, Jiang Feiyan’s heart trembled: “Mm… I’ve heard a little.” She understood she couldn’t say she didn’t know—that would be too false and would instead expose her.
“Then can you find him?” Feng Siyuan pressed.
Jiang Feiyan pondered for a moment and said: “When my master was alive, he once met this person. He’s an heir of the Iron Divination Daoist sect, my master was from the Maoshan Shangqing tradition—both being Daoist, they had dealings. But this person’s whereabouts are uncertain. Many jianghu seekers come to him for teaching, and he often travels. I’ll try.”
“Thank you, Miss Jiang.” Feng Siyuan said playfully.
“Such behavior!” Jiang Feiyan glanced at him.
Soon, Jiang Feiyan told Zu Ye about this matter, asking if Zu Ye was willing to meet.
Zu Ye had always hated the Military Statistics Bureau agents to the bone, especially after they killed Wang Yaqiao. Zu Ye’s eyes would redden just hearing the words “Military Statistics.”
“Divine for Military Statistics agents? Dai Li just killed Jiu Ye!” Zu Ye said.
“But Zu Ye, the waves you’ve stirred are too great—Dai Li has already set his sights on you,” Jiang Feiyan said worriedly.
“Sister Yan, the Southern Sect has always had connections with the court—this is a survival principle. The Eastern Sect has always remained among the rough masses. If I meet Dai Li, it might later implicate the entire Jiang Xiang Sect, and then we might not be able to cope. Look at the Western Sect’s Master Liu—he was nearly executed by Liu Xiang. Dealing with the Kuomintang, we’re still too inexperienced. Right now, the Kuomintang doesn’t know we have the Jiang Xiang Sect behind us, doesn’t know we’re all fraudsters, and doesn’t know that although the four great fortune-tellers Qin Baichuan, Qian Yuelin, you, and I are located in the east, west, south, and north, we all belong to one family. If this information is exposed, the entire Jiang Xiang Sect won’t be far from extinction!”
Jiang Feiyan looked at Zu Ye and suddenly asked: “Zu Ye, are we fraudsters?”
Zu Ye was stunned.
Jiang Feiyan continued: “We’re not fraudsters! Zu Ye is thoroughly versed in eight characters, six lines, and feng shui. Feiyan has also inherited Fifth Mistress’s art of summoning wind and rain. After all these years of struggling, we’ve long trained ourselves to have real skills. Our kung fu is far stronger than those fortune-tellers on the streets! It’s just that we have a mission to rob the rich to help the poor, to carry out Heaven’s way, which means besides using real skills, we must also rely on setting up schemes to make a living. We need to earn big money to aid more poor people—this is our mission. Others use the banner of fortune-telling to swindle money, but we wear the outer garment of fraudsters while doing good deeds. Who exactly are the fraudsters?”
Jiang Feiyan’s words stirred Zu Ye’s heart. After so many years, through wind and rain, setting up schemes and deceiving, true and false, nine deaths and one life, he’d almost forgotten he was a good person.
After being stunned for quite a while, Zu Ye said: “But when Military Statistics people look for me, it’s nothing more than asking two things—first, personal fortune; second, the chances in the War of Resistance. Can such matters be casually divined? We truly haven’t reached that realm. China isn’t without capable people, but we’re not among them.”
“Zu Ye is mistaken! Originally I was hesitating whether to let Zu Ye meet them, but now I’ve suddenly understood—Zu Ye must meet them. Once you meet them, the Jiang Xiang Sect will be safe!” Jiang Feiyan blinked and said.
Zu Ye was stunned again: “How so?”
Jiang Feiyan leaned close and whispered in Zu Ye’s ear.
After hearing this, Zu Ye laughed heartily: “Sister Yan is indeed the Southern Sect’s master—deeply versed in the mysteries of officialdom. I’m impressed, impressed!”
Jiang Feiyan’s face reddened: “Zu Ye is teasing me again.”
Five Elements and Naming
In the reception room, Feng Siyuan personally poured tea for Zu Ye, then obediently said: “Sir, please wait a moment. General Dai will arrive shortly.” His eyes were full of infinite respect for Zu Ye.
“Deputy Officer Feng need not be so courteous. To serve General Dai is my deep honor.”
About half an hour later, Dai Li arrived.
Zu Ye stood to greet him—seeing the living Dai Li for the first time! When enemies meet, eyes turn especially red. Zu Ye struggled to conceal the fury in his heart, but Wang Yaqiao’s image kept flashing before his eyes.
“I’ve long admired your great name, sir. Meeting you today, you truly have the bearing of an immortal!” Dai Li extended his hand to shake with Zu Ye.
“General Dai is divinely wise and mighty, his prestige shakes the four seas. To meet the General is my great fortune, great fortune!” Zu Ye responded.
“Please sit!” Dai Li was very polite.
After the two sat down, Dai Li suddenly asked: “I heard you’ve had dealings with Wang Yaqiao?”
Zu Ye had anticipated this scenario. Jiang Feiyan had also repeatedly instructed Zu Ye not to lose composure. Zu Ye calmly said: “Dealings is too much to say. It’s just that when the King of Hell summons, little ghosts dare not refuse. Whether Wang Yaqiao or General Dai, all are flesh and blood. People fear death—this is natural law. Therefore, the sages created the I Ching to seek fortune and avoid calamity. Wang Yaqiao also had me divine fortune while alive.”
This answer cleverly skirted Dai Li’s trap while maintaining strong authenticity.
Dai Li smiled and said: “What you say is extremely right. Just as a doctor’s duty is to heal and save people—whether good or bad people, in a doctor’s eyes there are only patients, and patients must be treated. The ancients said: ‘A good doctor treats illness; a good diviner heals fate.’ Medicine and divination are one family—traditional Chinese medicine and numerology both follow the principles of yin and yang, both follow the generation and restraint of the five elements. So the ancients said ‘if not a good minister, then be a diviner’—if you cannot serve the court as a general or minister governing the nation, then be a proper doctor or fortune-teller, honestly serving the common people. Sir, your divination ethics are upright!”
Zu Ye thought to himself: Dai Li is indeed Dai Li—whether in eloquence or learning, he far surpasses ordinary agents.
Zu Ye also smiled: “General Dai deeply understands the principles of divination, his learning spans ancient and modern times. I’m impressed, impressed.”
Dai Li took a sip of tea and said: “I’ve invited you here to ask about national affairs.”
Zu Ye said: “I’ll answer all questions and do my utmost.”
Dai Li nodded: “Japanese invaders attack China, China faces crisis. Since our founding father Mr. Sun Yat-sen established the nation, this is the first time China has suffered such great calamity. Nanjing has fallen, hundreds of thousands of common people died at once—the Chairman’s heart aches. Please, sir, from the perspective of national righteousness, carefully examine the Sino-Japanese conflict—who can achieve victory? When will victory come?”
Zu Ye nodded and said: “General Dai’s patriotic devotion is admirable. To examine national fortune, one must use the Qimen method, especially for wars between nations—even more so the Qimen cosmic technique. I’m poorly learned and shallowly talented, not very proficient in this method. I can only rely on celestial observation—playing the axe before Lu Ban.”
“You’re too modest, sir. Please speak.”
“Observing the nine stars, the main star is dim while the Army-Breaker star is fierce—this reveals misfortune. But the Literary Star and Military Star shine together—this is auspicious. The Japanese invade China, the Great Gate star opens, the Greedy Wolf rises—for the first two years, they will surely have the upper hand. But once the first two years pass, Japanese forces will be at a disadvantage. Japan is a tiny nation—driving deep into China’s heartland, it will surely sink into the quagmire of war. Over time, our forces will drag them down. When the time comes, our forces counterattack and will surely drive the wolves out of China! There’s just one point…”
“Which point?” Dai Li pressed.
“China’s War of Resistance requires unity. If the Nationalist Army only thinks about eliminating Communists, this goes against Heaven and willæ‹› æ‹›failure. The Xi’an Incident by Generals Zhang and Yang was an omen.”
“What you say is extremely right!” Dai Li nodded. “But how can one nation tolerate two masters? The Communist bandits are too arrogant…”
Zu Ye smiled faintly: “Those who win the people’s hearts win the realm—General Dai surely knows this.”
“Then… how many years will this war take to achieve victory?” Dai Li pressed.
“At shortest five years, at longest ten years.”
“That long?” Dai Li said in surprise, then thought again. “But yes, that makes sense.”
At this point, Dai Li had already been drawn in by Zu Ye. Those who ask for fortune-telling are often like this—they’ve clearly judged something themselves but lack confidence, so they must hear it from the fortune-teller’s mouth before feeling relieved. From this perspective, fortune-tellers also assume the role of psychologists.
In fact, at that time, nationwide judgment on the anti-Japanese outcome was nothing more than two types: one was Japanese victory and China’s national destruction; the other was China’s certain victory, but the timing of victory was uncertain—there was quick victory theory and protracted theory. In any case, those holding the victory theory were the majority—how could such a vast nation lose to a small barbarian tribe!
These judgments also permeated the Military Statistics spy system. Sometimes after intimate affairs with Jiang Feiyan, Feng Siyuan would also chatter about these matters. Jiang Feiyan carefully organized them and told everything to Zu Ye. Only then could Zu Ye speak so eloquently, making Dai Li admire him. As for the judgment of “at shortest five years, at longest ten years,” this was Zu Ye’s own guess, because he didn’t know how long the war would actually last. But as a Chinese person, he firmly believed: China would not perish.
After Dai Li finished asking about national affairs, he began asking personal matters. Before asking, he gave Feng Siyuan a look. Feng Siyuan tactfully withdrew.
“I’ve long heard that you’re proficient in Iron Plate divination—report the eight characters and fortune is immediately known. These are my eight characters…” Dai Li handed over his eight characters.
Zu Ye had finally waited for this opportunity.
After thinking for a moment, Zu Ye said: “According to common theory, General Dai’s eight characters lack water. Water is the first beneficial god in your fate! Therefore, encountering water brings fortune—whether in feng shui layout or naming, all should contain water.”
After hearing this, Dai Li nodded repeatedly. He himself understood eight characters and knew his eight characters lacked water, so he’d given himself over a dozen names containing water.
“However…” Zu Ye’s tone shifted.
“However what?” Dai Li quickly asked.
“However, this is a fallacy!”
“Fallacy?” Dai Li was so shocked he nearly stood up.
“Eight characters are generally divided into eight patterns, but there are also special patterns that cannot be judged by five-element balance. When one element in the eight characters is excessively strong, so strong it cannot be suppressed, one must let it continue being strong. Otherwise, forcing the opposite element to suppress it will instead激起 arouse reverse momentum. This is called ‘two fists cannot defeat four hands, a hero cannot withstand many men.’ The ancients also discussed this extensively. In General Dai’s eight characters, fire is strong. According to common theory, water should be supplemented to extinguish fire and maintain five-element balance. But looking carefully, your day master is Bing fire, born in the Si fire strong position. The Ding fire on the year and the Ding fire on the hour provide parallel support, and the Yi wood on the month stem generates fire—wood and fire illuminating, great fire blazingly strong, momentum unstoppable! Therefore, water absolutely cannot be used!”
“Then what should be used?” Dai Li broke out in cold sweat.
“Use earth!” Zu Ye said resolutely.
“Please explain in detail, sir.” Dai Li realized he’d lost composure and immediately regained his calm.
“Fire generates earth. Earth can drain the strong energy of fire without激起 arousing fire’s strong reverse momentum like water would.” Zu Ye said.
Dai Li nodded: “Mm, that makes sense.”
This theory of Zu Ye’s originated from the rules of five-element generation and restraint. Later, Zu Ye often explained this theory to his fellow disciples.
The five elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The five elements are the ancient people’s abstract categorization of all things in the world. The Book of Documents: Great Plan records: “Five elements: first is water, second is fire, third is wood, fourth is metal, fifth is earth. Water flows downward, fire flames upward, wood bends and straightens, metal follows reform, earth produces crops.”
The five elements are the foundation of all fortune-telling arts. The ancients believed heaven, earth, and all things exist within the five elements, and all fortune and misfortune result from the movement and interaction of the five elements. Once the principles of the five elements are mastered, the mysteries of predictive arts are easily solved.
When first learning, Xiao Jiao and others would sometimes ask: heaven is round and earth is square, with myriad red dust phenomena—there are many things in this world. Besides gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, there are many other things—like pig head meat, long robes and jackets, gramophones, cats, dogs, feces, etc. How can the five elements alone encompass everything?
Zu Ye smiled and said: “If you view metal, wood, water, fire, and earth merely as gold, wood, water, fire, and soil, you greatly underestimate the intelligence of ancient sages. All concepts have their connotations and extensions. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are merely abstract expressions of the five elements—high-level generalizations of all things. In our daily lives, everything we see can be categorized within the five elements.”
Metal: all substances with hard texture and aura of stern killing are called metal—including not only gold but also silver, copper, iron, aluminum, steel, diamonds, pearls, agate, Hetian jade, jadeite, and all metals and hard elements. Silver dollars, copper coins, butcher knives, pistols, cannons, human bones, jade bracelets, etc.—these commonly seen things in daily life all belong to metal in the five elements.
Wood: all things that grow straight upward with benevolent energy belong to wood. Including trees, flowers and plants, wooden furniture, wooden ornaments, wooden combs, human hair, body hair, tobacco plants, etc.
Water: all flowing things with nimble energy belong to water. Including oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, drinking water, various fruits, fish and shrimp, medicinal soups, etc.
Fire: all hot and flaming upward things with warm energy belong to fire. Including various flames seen daily, steel furnaces, the sun, brick kilns, lit light bulbs, matches, firecrackers, etc.
Earth: all convergent things with honest and simple energy belong to earth. Including mountains, land, city walls, deserts, housing, roads, sand, ceramics, mud, etc.
Zu Ye told us the pattern of five-element generation is: metal generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal.
Why does water generate wood? Plants need water to grow; rural people know crops need irrigation to grow; wealthy ladies who like raising flowers and plants all know the importance of timely watering… these most ordinary daily matters reveal the principle of water generating wood.
Why does wood generate fire? Wood can burn—ancient people all used wood to make fire for warmth and cooking, and the earliest man-made fire source also came from drilling wood. In ancient times, wood was almost the only fire-making material. The principle of wood generating fire is self-evident.
Why does fire generate earth? Fire generates earth because burning plants produce plant ash, which eventually gradually merges into soil. Mountain folk burning forests to reclaim land employs this principle.
Why does earth generate metal? Metal ores, jade, and jadeite are mostly dug out from soil layers.
The above four situations were easy for Xiao Jiao and others to understand, but Zu Ye alone wouldn’t explain why metal generates water. Zu Ye joked: “Whoever can explain why metal generates water can take my position!”
So Xiao Jiao and the others chattered their guesses. Some said metal substances are cold with chilling energy, so metal generates water; others said melting metal yields molten steel or iron; still others said in the Eight Trigrams, Qian represents heaven and belongs to metal in the five elements, and rainwater comes from heaven, so metal generates water.
Zu Ye shook his head, indicating they were all wrong.
Regarding five-element restraint, Zu Ye explained even more vividly to us. He could always explain profound principles using the most ordinary phenomena, making them immediately comprehensible. The basic principle of five-element restraint is: metal restrains wood, wood restrains earth, earth restrains water, water restrains fire, fire restrains metal.
Why does metal restrain wood? A well-growing small tree—one axe strike injures it, a few more chops and it breaks. The axe is made of metal—this is metal restraining wood.
Why does wood restrain earth? On a level piece of land, drive a wooden stake in and the earth immediately crumbles. Ancient people tethering livestock with wooden stakes and pitching tents with wooden pegs employed the principle of wood restraining earth. Plant seeds sprouting and breaking through soil also embody this principle.
Why does earth restrain water? The saying goes “when soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth covers it”—this is the principle. Earth has strong water-absorbing properties. If flooding occurs, the best method is using earth to channel and block.
Why does water restrain fire? This is even easier to understand—when fire breaks out, water is generally used to extinguish it.
Why does fire restrain metal? Metal is hard and stubborn, but no matter how hard the metal, with sufficient heating temperature, it can be melted—this is determined by its properties.
Now Zu Ye applied this theory to Dai Li. Zu Ye had his own calculations—he wanted to use this to avenge Wang Yaqiao. Those proficient in yin-yang and five elements know that fortune-telling is like medical diagnosis. If the diagnosis is wrong—someone needs water supplementation but you give them fire instead—that’s using medicine backwards, which worsens the condition. Reflected in fate, that means terrible misfortune! Zu Ye deliberately said Dai Li’s eight characters lacking water shouldn’t be supplemented with water, but rather should be supplemented with earth—this was to disrupt the balance in his eight characters and put Dai Li to death.
This approach, which seemed laughable to laymen, required Zu Ye to rack his brains, carefully laying out the scheme and painstakingly practicing his rhetoric. But thinking carefully, what other methods could a mere fortune-teller have? This was the fortune-teller’s sorrow, and also his cunning.
After Zu Ye finished speaking, he quietly observed Dai Li.
Dai Li blinked but said nothing.
Zu Ye added: “This is merely my humble opinion. General Dai should consider it as reference only, not take it completely on faith.”
Dai Li was ultimately Dai Li—his suspicious nature now played its role. He suddenly asked: “How does sir view my ‘peach blossom fate’?”
When ancient people examined eight characters, they often involved terms like “peach blossom fate,” “peach blossom evil,” “peach blossom calamity.” Those consulting divination would also frequently ask fortune-tellers: “Master, does my fate carry peach blossoms?” The term “peach blossom” has been imbued with too much mysterious color. Actually, “peach blossom” is just one type of spirit in eight characters. Ancient people discussing fate initially based it on the five-element generation and restraint of the eight character stems and branches. Later, during historical evolution, many feudal practitioners added many superstitious elements—”peach blossom” was one of them.
In eight-character spirits, peach blossom is also called “Xianchi”—a place specially provided by heaven for celestial maidens to bathe. Ancient people also said: the sun rises from Fusang and sets in Xianchi. If the eight characters contain this spirit, it’s called fate carrying peach blossoms. What’s the function of peach blossoms? Ancient people believed peach blossoms carry dual value. If the eight-character combination is good, it represents beauty, intelligence, passion, good relations with the opposite sex, and happy marriage. If the eight-character combination is bad, it represents licentiousness, promiscuity, debauchery, multiple marriages. If peach blossom evil is violated, one might even die from a crime of passion. Therefore, whether having peach blossoms in fate is good or bad depends on the specific eight-character combination.
The peach blossom judgment method is simple. Ancient people had a formula: “Shen-Zi-Chen peach blossom is in You, Yin-Wu-Xu peach blossom is in Mao, Si-You-Chou peach blossom is in Wu, Hai-Mao-Wei peach blossom is in Zi.”
Based on the year pillar, anyone born in the year of Monkey (Shen), Rat (Zi), or Dragon (Chen), if the character “You” appears in the eight-character earthly branches, is said to have fate carrying peach blossoms. Anyone born in the year of Horse, Dog, or Tiger, if “Mao” appears in the eight-character earthly branches, has fate carrying peach blossoms. The other two lines follow the same principle.
For example, someone born in the year of Monkey, born in the You month (eighth lunar month), has encountered peach blossoms; born in the You hour of afternoon (approximately 5-7 PM) also encountered peach blossoms.
For these judgments laden with superstitious color, successive I Ching masters have given sharp criticism, believing this dross should have long been swept into history’s garbage heap. But to this day, many practitioners still use this to discuss fate.
Now Dai Li asked Zu Ye about peach blossom fate matters. With Zu Ye’s old fox wisdom, he naturally wouldn’t play by conventional rules.
Zu Ye calculated with his fingers, nodded repeatedly, then smiled slightly and said loudly: “General Dai has a heroic bearing—any woman he obtains must be devastatingly beautiful, if not from an illustrious family, then certainly a popular movie star.”
Upon hearing this, Dai Li thought: amazing! He’d secretly loved Shanghai’s film queen Hu Die for years, determined not to give up until he possessed her—this was his deepest secret. How could he know that his dispatching agents to secretly investigate Hu Die’s background had long been told to Jiang Feiyan by Feng Siyuan as a joke under the bedcovers. Several years later, in Chongqing, Dai Li finally embraced the fallen first beauty of the Republic, Hu Die, “confirming” Zu Ye’s saying of “if not from an illustrious family, then certainly a popular movie star.”
With fortune-telling reaching this level, Dai Li hesitated—he hesitated whether to still introduce Zu Ye to Chiang Kai-shek. He had two concerns: first, this fellow divines so accurately—what if he calculates I have ambitions and provokes the old man’s suspicion, wouldn’t that be trouble? Moreover, the Military Statistics Bureau is full of factions—too many people want to bring me down! Exposing myself at this moment, I’m afraid my life won’t be guaranteed. Second, keeping this person at my side—isn’t that stronger than offering him to the old man? At critical moments, divine a hexagram—this can both help me turn misfortune to fortune and allow me to offer counsel before the old man according to his guidance, winning favor—isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?
At that moment, Dai Li, whose wings weren’t yet fully grown, pondered bitterly.
All of this was within Zu Ye and Jiang Feiyan’s expectations—this was precisely why Jiang Feiyan insisted Zu Ye meet Dai Li. Jiang Feiyan was too familiar with officialdom rules. For hundreds of years, the “Yue Haitang” had extremely wide connections at court, maneuvering skillfully and thriving everywhere. From the Qing to the Republic, the female A’Baos understood very clearly how emperors thought, how eunuchs thought, how presidents thought, how generals thought.
Finally, Dai Li left alone.
Zu Ye let out a long breath: today he’d both preserved the reputation of Jianghuai’s first master without arousing Dai Li’s suspicion—the Jiang Xiang Sect was temporarily safe—and hadn’t been implicated in the lord-subject conflicts between Chiang Kai-shek and Dai Li. As for how Dai Li reported to Chiang Kai-shek after returning, no one knew. In any case, Chiang Kai-shek didn’t receive Zu Ye.
Exposing “Flying Celestials,” Burning the “Heavenly Beings”
At the same time, in China’s heartland, Japanese forces continued their frenzied attacks. Due to various warlord faction struggles within the Nationalist Army, resistance was weak. By June 1938, Japanese forces had occupied Xuzhou, Lanfeng, and other places. Next, Japanese forces concentrated almost all superior forces from North and East China to attack Kaifeng. Once Kaifeng fell, the entire Ping-Han Railway would be lost, and Japanese forces could drive straight in, directly attacking the Nationalist Party’s lair—Wuhan. After Japanese forces occupied Nanjing, although the Nationalist Party hastily moved the capital to Chongqing, at that time most government organs and military command were in Wuhan—Wuhan was actually the national military, political, and economic center.
For this reason, Chiang Kai-shek, forced to the brink, made a decision that shook hell’s gates: blow up the Yellow River! Stop the Japanese advance!
On June 9th, hundreds of shells fired toward the Yellow River’s Huayuankou. Subsequently, the Yellow River breached—this giant dragon roared and rolled out, instantly washing away 44 counties and drowning 890,000 common people.
When Zu Ye heard this news, he trembled with grief: “Devils, devils! I will drink your blood! I will eat your flesh!”
The reason Zu Ye cursed the devils rather than Chiang Kai-shek was that the Nationalist authorities at the time concealed the truth, claiming the Yellow River was blown up by the Japanese. Later, not until 1978, three years after Chiang Kai-shek’s death, did Taiwan’s textbooks dare acknowledge this historical fact.
The lives of 890,000 common people bought three months of buffer time. Subsequently, Japanese forces organized superior forces to advance toward Wuhan’s three towns! The heroic Wuhan defense battle began! Both sides’ participating forces reached 1.4 million at one point. The Nationalist Army suffered 400,000 casualties, Japanese forces 140,000. Japanese forces won miserably, while the Nationalist Army, through enormous casualties, dragged Japanese forces into a strategic stalemate phase.
After Japanese forces occupied Wuhan, Zu Ye, huddled in Wuhan’s suburbs, also prepared to withdraw. As for where to go, he hadn’t yet decided. At this time Guangzhou had already fallen, and Jiang Feiyan had fled hastily to Guangxi with her sisters. Thus, of the four great halls, only the Western Sect’s “Dragon Whisker Sprout” sat firmly in Chongqing—the other three halls had all been severely damaged.
Qin Baichuan was now smug, repeatedly sending people with messages to Zu Ye and Jiang Feiyan, claiming willingness to extend a helping hand—Southern and Eastern Sect brothers could all come to western Sichuan. Both Zu Ye and Jiang Feiyan understood this was actually crocodile tears—false compassion. Once on his territory, they’d have to follow his commands—he wanted to take this opportunity to absorb the entire Jiang Xiang Sect.
“Should we go, Zu Ye?” San Batou asked.
Zu Ye pondered silently. Going was inevitable—the key was where.
“We can’t go!” Si Batou, who’d been silent for over a year, suddenly spoke. “In life, be an outstanding person; in death, be a heroic ghost. The devils killed my eldest brother and caused my wife’s death. I want revenge!”
Zu Ye looked at the haggard Si Batou, his heart like an overturned five-flavor bottle, not knowing what to say. Finally, the guilt-ridden Zu Ye sighed deeply: “Alright, before we leave, we’ll do one scheme—kill devils!”
“Zu Ye, think thrice!” All the Batous became anxious.
Zu Ye said nothing. Everyone looked at each other and also fell silent.
Zu Ye understood that while Japanese forces militarily invaded, they would certainly conduct extensive psychological warfare. Wherever they went, they would use superstitious methods to perform, internally encouraging new soldiers and comforting dead souls, deceiving soldiers that as long as they served the Emperor loyally, their souls could enter Yasukuni Shrine after death and gain eternal peace. At the same time, performances rich in magical color could make Chinese common people feel Japanese forces were heavenly soldiers, irresistibly sharp—we can only obediently listen to survive Heaven’s will. Now occupying Wuhan, the agents’ and sorcerers’ performance wasn’t far off—the Jiang Xiang Sect could take this opportunity to set up a scheme.
Sure enough, Japanese forces soon posted notices throughout the city promoting the heresy of “Imperial Army Heavenly Beings,” roughly saying the Imperial Army were celestial beings descending, heavenly soldiers and generals, one worth ten, unstoppable by any army. They announced the Imperial Army would hold a “Receiving Heaven” ceremony on “Daoist Slope” on a selected day, when “Heavenly Beings would descend from the sky glowing with light,” inviting Greater East Asian subjects to observe.
“Heavenly beings,” also called “flying celestials”—in Buddhist theory, many heavenly realms exist, and the beings of these heavenly realms are “heavenly beings.” The sorcerers wanted to create the illusion that the Imperial Army were “heavenly beings” descending, using superstitious methods to make people in occupied areas submit.
Zu Ye analyzed that to create “heavenly beings,” they must make people dance in the air. This scheme couldn’t be done in daylight—in broad daylight, suspended wires would be easily discovered. Only at night, gathering the masses, finding a clearing in a distant grove, stretching steel wires between two large trees, having several small sorcerers wear steel rings to hang themselves on the high steel wires, sliding from one end to the other like “flying celestials” in Buddhist murals.
But there was another problem—doing “flying celestials” in darkness, if too far people couldn’t see clearly, if too close they’d see through the trick, inevitably arousing suspicion. The accompanying sorcerers would certainly rack their brains to find a solution—applying glowing substances on the sorcerers playing “flying celestials.” This way, once the curtain opened, the “heavenly beings” appeared—in darkness, glowing all over, slowly drifting like immortals descending.
With professional sensitivity, Si Batou and Zu Ye analyzed that this scheme would definitely use props, especially since the devils proclaimed “heavenly beings would descend glowing with light”—this strengthened Si Batou’s judgment that yellow phosphorus or similar substances would definitely be used in this scheme.
Yellow phosphorus is flammable. Using yellow phosphorus for schemes requires important preliminary preparation work. If the proportion is excessive, it will spontaneously combust completely; if the proportion is insufficient, it won’t emit light. Si Batou’s invented glowing talismans succeeded only after hundreds of trials.
But whether the Japanese actually used yellow phosphorus, neither Zu Ye nor Si Batou dared confirm. They gambled, and later it proved they gambled correctly.
Yellow phosphorus’s auto-ignition point is over 40 degrees Celsius. Exceeding 40 degrees carries combustion danger. After special chemical adjustment, phosphorus slowly produces phosphine in air. When air flows, at normal temperature, it glows. As long as the ignition point isn’t reached, large-scale combustion won’t occur.
What Zu Ye and Si Batou had to do was, when the devils’ “heavenly beings” flew out, somehow get fire on them, igniting the yellow phosphorus coating on the devils’ bodies, burning them to charred chickens. But if they directly approached with torches, they’d probably be shot dead before getting close. Zu Ye and Si Batou thought and thought, finally devising a clever trick.
They analyzed that as long as one part of the devils’ bodies reached ignition point, it would rapidly burn across an area. So as long as there were sparks—even just a little—splashing on the devils, they needn’t worry the scheme wouldn’t break. Si Batou brought out his self-made “flash thunder”—simply put, homemade fireworks. Using a bamboo tube, after boring through the middle, the very bottom was filled with white clay, followed by gunpowder divided into combustion, propulsion, explosion structures, finally drawing out a fuse. Holding the bamboo tube, lighting the fuse, when the fuse burned to the gunpowder pellet, the pellet would be explosively propelled out, flying very high, then exploding in the air, bursting into fireworks.
Si Batou’s self-made flash thunder could shoot gunpowder pellets fifty paces distant. The steel wire the devils suspended was probably only three zhang from the ground—higher wouldn’t be easy to operate. Thus, to hit the devils at an angle with flash thunder from the ground, Si Batou calculated the flash thunder’s buried position couldn’t exceed forty-nine paces from the farthest point. Zu Ye and Si Batou decided to bury flash thunder about forty-nine paces from where the “heavenly beings” would fly, when the devils weren’t paying attention. When the devils constructed scaffolding, the platform was surrounded by tarpaulin, completely enclosed, probably five or six zhang square. Outside the tarpaulin tent was conveniently a large outer perimeter they could use.
How to bury the thunder was difficult. Finally, Zu Ye decided to use the strategy of “openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing Chen Cang.”
At night, over a dozen A’Baos dressed as common people, carrying the hall’s remaining dozen eggs and two bags of rice, came to the devils’ construction site. After shouting, they knelt from far away, hands presenting the food.
Several devils on watch saw this, quickly ran over carrying guns, pointed guns at everyone, and instantly understood—these came to pay tribute. They chattered a few sentences and happily accepted the food.
At this time, behind the tarpaulin tent, Er Batou and several others were crawling on the ground, nervously burying flash thunder.
The A’Baos in front tried to delay as long as possible. One A’Bao knocked open a boiled egg, personally peeling it for a devil. While peeling, she smiled and said in heavy Jiaodong dialect: “After peeling you eat it, and after eating may your asshole rot, you stupid prick!” While speaking, she extended her thumb.
That devil was delighted: “Yoshi!”
About several minutes later, Er Batou and others finished burying the thunder, connecting them with fuses, then drawing the fuses out several dozen meters, hiding them in a firewood pile. They left one Xiao Jiao to crouch overnight in the firewood pile, waiting until the ceremony to receive the “heavenly beings” began the next day, then quickly lighting the fuse and escaping in the chaos.
After everything was properly arranged, Zu Ye said to Si Batou: “Planning lies with man, success lies with Heaven.”
Si Batou understood the meaning in Zu Ye’s words. Many hidden risks existed—for example, the devils discovering it, or rain coming and soaking the fuses. Although Si Batou had made wrappings, if heavy rain fell during the day with especially large rainfall, it would be useless. Even if everything went smoothly, the time the “heavenly beings” traveled on the steel wire was uncertain. If lit too early, they probably couldn’t hit them; if lit too late and people had already come down, they also couldn’t hit them. Everything that could be done was done—the rest depended on Heaven.
The next evening, the devils gathered all nearby men, women, old and young together. Several dozen paces from the “flying celestials” performance, the devils’ sorcerers first came out to perform rituals, pretentiously fussing for half a day, then muttered a few sentences to a traitorous translator. The translator said: “The ‘heavenly beings’ are coming. Everyone welcome the ‘heavenly beings.’ Don’t make noise, don’t move.”
Then a sorcerer chanted incantations and pulled down the curtain blocking people’s view. Only then did people vaguely see that behind the curtain was a large platform over three chi high, built among a grove. At this time the translator had everyone kneel—those who didn’t kneel got rifle butts—so everyone was forced to kneel. Before long, in the darkness several glowing people vaguely appeared between two trees, slowly traveling from one end to the other. An outcry erupted from the crowd—common people who didn’t know the truth were stunned. Several children cried out in amazement.
At this time, Si Batou was very nervous below the platform, thinking: quickly light the fuse! In a moment the devils will travel to the end and come down, then when they raise the curtain there’ll be no opportunity!
After a while, the surroundings were still completely silent. Si Batou became anxious—what happened? Where did it go wrong? At this time several “heavenly beings” had already traveled to the end and were about to come down.
Suddenly, a Japanese soldier from the distance gave a loud shout, seeming to say there was a situation. Before all the devils could react, dozens of firework streams flew from all directions, drawing arcs across the night sky, then exploding around those “heavenly beings.” Sparks flew everywhere—several “heavenly beings” suddenly caught fire all over. They never expected this situation—one by one they burned, baring fangs and brandishing claws, howling loudly.
The crowd immediately descended into chaos. Japanese soldiers began firing guns, trying to surround the scene. Several common people tried to run and were shot dead by devils.
Si Batou, leading several Xiao Jiaos, was trying to break through the encirclement when suddenly he felt the earth shake—as if a herd of something was rushing over. Just as he looked around, a herd of bulls burst from the grove, firecrackers tied to their tails crackling. The bulls frantically charged toward the ritual ground. The crowd exploded—the devils also lost formation. Si Batou led Xiao Jiaos to break through the encirclement in the chaos.
Actually, Si Batou didn’t need to personally attend, but bearing national shame and family vengeance, this time was more like fighting with his back to the river. He’d been clutching flint in his hand, flash thunder in his bosom. He thought if that side had an accident and couldn’t light the fuse, he’d do it himself—he was prepared to die.
Zu Ye saw this. At the council meeting, Zu Ye had solicited everyone’s opinions—everyone remained silent. Zu Ye’s heart turned cold. Even if one Batou had stood up saying this wouldn’t work, Zu Ye’s heart wouldn’t be so cold. Always calling each other brothers, yet at the critical moment abandoning their own brothers. Zu Ye knew that under internal and external troubles, the A’Baos’ “Way” probably couldn’t be maintained.
Zu Ye didn’t want Si Batou to die, so he left backup. The bulls on the grove’s perimeter were arranged by Zu Ye, but Zu Ye was also gambling—gambling this scheme could end perfectly, gambling Si Batou wouldn’t act personally, gambling he could return alive.
Si Batou returned alive. Zu Ye, who’d been waiting at the roadside, saw Si Batou and others arrive and gave an order: “Withdraw!”
Dozens of people took off running. As for whether they could actually escape, no one knew. Zu Ye’s guilt toward Si Batou forced him to support Si Batou in doing this scheme, but risking death to do this scheme also intensified the conflict between Zu Ye and the other Batous. Originally they could have smoothly slipped away, but now they had to flee for their lives under Japanese forces’ fire pursuit. Zu Ye was gambling with his brothers’ lives.
The Japanese alarm sounded: “Remaining bandits! Search the entire city!”
These Eastern Sect people often did acrobatics, frequently climbed trees and walls—their legs and feet were absolutely nimble. Now fleeing for their lives, each was like flying. Especially Da Batou—simply a wild bull, both strong and fast. While running he also stripped off his jacket, running bare-chested against the wind, his flamboyant pectoral muscles and chest hair trembling.
Everyone ran madly for two hours. The sporadic gunfire behind grew more and more distant. Finally running to a mountain hollow, no one could run anymore—they lay on large rocks gasping heavily. At this time dawn was breaking. Zu Ye counted heads—several were missing, unknown whether they couldn’t keep up due to lack of stamina or had slipped away on their own.
Everyone was thirsty and hungry. Er Batou said: “Zu Ye, we must first get some food, otherwise we can’t run.”
Zu Ye looked at him but said nothing. Everyone also said nothing—everyone understood, in this wilderness where could they find food?
At this time, San Batou smiled, smiling and shaking his head.
Everyone didn’t know why—they thought he was dizzy from hunger, mentally disturbed.
San Batou rubbed his hands, then reached into his bosom and suddenly pulled out two bright red oranges. He waved them before everyone, then presented them to Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, I’ve carried these two oranges for three days just in case.”
The unbearably hungry and thirsty brothers saw the oranges—saliva flowed uncontrollably. Zu Ye secretly praised San Batou’s cleverness even more.
Er Batou said in amazement: “Amazing, San’er, you’re really something.”
Zu Ye accepted the oranges and slowly peeled them. Two oranges, sixteen segments total. Zu Ye said: “Perfect—one segment for every two people.”
Da Batou’s eyes were about to pop out, constantly swallowing saliva: “Zu Ye, I can’t stand it—give me the orange peels first!”
Zu Ye smiled and distributed the oranges to everyone.
Finally Zu Ye had one segment left. He called Si Batou over: “Zizhan, you eat first.”
Si Batou’s face reddened: “Zu Ye, you first.”
Zu Ye glared. Seeing he couldn’t oppose Zu Ye, Si Batou had to accept the orange segment, bit half, then passed the other half to Zu Ye.
Zu Ye accepted it and put it in his mouth. While chewing, he said: “This thing called feelings is like this orange—sweet when entering the mouth, sour in aftertaste, ultimately astringent. A real man can pick up and put down. Do you understand my words?”
Si Batou’s tears immediately flowed. He quietly said: “Zu Ye, I understand, I understand.”
Suddenly, a shout came from the mountain hollow: “Don’t move, everyone! Hands up!”
Everyone was so frightened their hair stood on end!
A troop slowly emerged. Zu Ye saw they wore National Revolutionary Army uniforms—his suspended heart dropped.
“What are you doing?” An officer-looking person walked over and asked.
“Sir, we’re common people from Wuhan city. The devils attacked and we fled out!”
That person carefully examined Zu Ye and the Batous. Before fleeing Wuhan, the brothers had all changed clothes, looking exactly like ordinary common people. That person looked them over, then said to soldiers behind: “These are all fellow villagers! Quick, lower your guns!” The soldiers all put away their guns.
“Fellow villagers, bandits frequently appear in this area. Wherever you’re going, our people can escort you out of the mountains,” that person said kindly.
Zu Ye was stunned: “Sir, we…”
“Don’t call me sir. Our troops don’t go in for that. We’re the New Fourth Army!”
“New Fourth Army?”
“Right, National Revolutionary Army New Fourth Army. We’re a force led by the Communist Party, the common people’s force!” that person said smiling.
“Then how should I address you?” Zu Ye asked puzzled.
“Call me ‘comrade’!”
“Com…rade?”
“Right, comrade—same aspirations, same goals, same heart same virtue, save all of China!” that person answered with righteous bearing.
“Oh, comrade, where are you heading?” Zu Ye asked.
“Shifting warfare to northern Jiangsu, establishing more anti-Japanese base areas, fighting devils!” that person said with high fighting spirit. “By the way, fellow villager, what do you do?”
This question startled several Batous whose eyes darted about.
Zu Ye quickly said: “Antiques business, antiques business. When the devils came, everything was robbed, alas…”
“Fellow villagers don’t be afraid. The devils will eventually be driven out of China by us! Wherever you’re going, I’ll send some people to escort you…”
“No need, no need, thank you sir, ah no… comrade.” Zu Ye kept bowing in thanks.
At this time Da Batou suddenly walked up, scratching his head: “Com… comrade…”
Zu Ye was startled, thinking what’s this kid doing?
Da Batou continued: “Comrade… escort isn’t necessary… could you… could you give some food?… We haven’t eaten for two meals…”
That person smiled slightly: “Little fellow villager, two meals without eating and you’re already like this? Back when we fought guerrilla warfare in Jinggangshan, we often went three days and nights without food, hehe.” Turning to a young soldier, “Quick! See how much food we have left and distribute it to the fellow villagers!”
“Yes!” That soldier saluted in acknowledgment.
Soon, that soldier came over clutching several cloth bags of rice balls, distributing them in sequence to everyone. The brothers wolfed them down.
“Fellow villagers, past this mountain is our base area. Take care on your journey—we must depart!”
Zu Ye tightly gripped that person’s hand and said deeply: “Comrade, take care!”
The New Fourth Army detachment rapidly departed. Watching their receding figures, Zu Ye felt deeply moved: China still has such good soldiers—Zeng Jingwu didn’t choose wrong…