Using Birth Charts to Predict Fortune and Misfortune

After Xianren Shou’s death, San Batou saw his opportunity and vigorously recommended his prized student Wang Jiaxian, suggesting to Zu Ye that he be given the position of Qi Batou. After several discussions, despite Er Batou’s displeasure, Zu Ye nodded and approved it. Wang Jiaxian finally claimed the seventh chair.

When Wang Jiaxian joined Zu Ye in 1946, he was thin and tall, very fastidious about cleanliness. Each time he went out, he wore a neatly pressed long gown, his hair slicked back with pomade, presenting a refined and cultured appearance. He said his father had given him this name, meaning a household of virtue and goodness. I imagine when his old man chose this name, he certainly never anticipated his son would spend his days doing nothing but swindling and cheating.

His public identity was that of an elementary school teacher at a National Primary School. He was well-read with first-rate eloquence, progressive thinking, and excellent writing skills, earning him the adoration of women in the Republican era. He was also Zu Ye’s trusted strategist. Before setting up any scheme, Zu Ye would always consult his opinion. Who could imagine that this schoolteacher working within the classroom walls was actually a member of a fraud gang?

The first major scheme he helped Zu Ye execute targeted the wife of a Nationalist military officer. That year, the Nationalist front lines were under pressure, and the officer had sent home a letter filled with declarations of readiness to die for the cause and tender words of affection, the entire text reeking of life-and-death separation. This reduced his wife to daily tears, unable to eat or think of food.

Her condition directly affected her child, whose son happened to attend the school where Wang Jiaxian taught. Elementary school Chinese language instruction at that time placed great emphasis on humanistic cultivation. The very first lesson consisted of just five sentences: “The cat catches mice, the dog guards the gate, each performing their duty; a person without occupation is inferior to cats and dogs.” This spoke of how the Creator made this world where every living being must perform their duty, and if a person idles about doing no honest work, they’re not even as good as cats and dogs. I don’t know what Wang Jiaxian felt in his heart each time he explained this text to the children.

That officer’s wife’s child couldn’t concentrate in class. Of the seventeen students in the class, he alone couldn’t memorize these five sentences. When Wang Jiaxian asked him what was wrong, he lowered his head and said nothing. Later, after Wang Jiaxian pressed him repeatedly, he finally said his mother was unhappy every day because of his father’s situation.

Wang Jiaxian keenly latched onto this information. That very evening he discussed with Zu Ye whether they could set up a scheme. Zu Ye said yes, not only could they do it, they should go big—matters of life and death would certainly command a high price.

Wang Jiaxian used the child’s lack of concentration in class as a pretext to speak with the woman. Good-looking people have an easier time with everything, and Wang Jiaxian was exactly that type—very elegant, very scholarly, speaking in a refined manner and always polite. As a result, the first time the wife met Wang Jiaxian, she poured out all her worries in one go.

Wang Jiaxian said: “A general dies in a hundred battles, a brave soldier returns after ten years. Your husband serves on the battlefield—we languishing literati are ashamed before such courage!”

The wife sighed and said: “Sir, you’re too modest. Since ancient times, the scholar dies in remonstrance, the warrior dies in battle. Literary words sustain the nation, there are blades beneath the brush. Sir, in teaching and nurturing students, you too benefit future generations.”

Wang Jiaxian hadn’t expected this wife to be so cultivated. Usually he was the eloquent one, but today he’d encountered someone even more articulate.

Wang Jiaxian also sighed and said: “I only hope Madam can calm your heart and quietly await good news from your husband. Otherwise, your state has already seriously affected your son. He daydreams in class every day, and if this continues, I fear it will impact his studies.”

The wife nodded and said: “Though you speak truly, who can manage it! My husband’s fate is unknown—how can I possibly calm my heart!”

Wang Jiaxian sensed his opportunity and said with utmost seriousness: “Does Madam believe in fate?”

The wife was startled. “Fate? Now I can only resign myself to fate.”

Wang Jiaxian began his deception: “Madam, I happen to know an elderly gentleman who is proficient in the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams and can divine the future. I’m told he has read fortunes for many high officials in the government, knowing life, death, wealth and status at a glance, with remarkable accuracy. Would you like me to ask him to…”

Before Wang Jiaxian could finish, the wife hastily said: “Really? Can you find him?”

Wang Jiaxian saw she’d taken the bait. This wasn’t even hunting roe deer—the roe deer was clearly running home on its own.

Wang Jiaxian said: “Madam, don’t worry. That elderly gentleman is a close friend of mine. I should be able to arrange a meeting, though he’s very busy. I’ll do my best to schedule it for you.”

The wife seemed to grasp at this like a drowning person clutching at straw, saying urgently: “Please help me arrange it as quickly as possible, sir. I’ll pay whatever it costs.”

This was exactly what the scam artists most wanted to hear. Wang Jiaxian said: “Certainly, certainly. I’ll visit his home tonight. Please set your mind at ease.”

The wife said excitedly: “Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!”

People become foolish when in extreme grief or extreme joy, especially a woman keeping the house alone. When Wang Jiaxian reported back to Zu Ye, Zu Ye asked: “How much does she have in assets?”

Wang Jiaxian said: “Hard to say. She lives in a Western-style house, and judging from the furnishings, I’d estimate a regimental-level cadre’s household.”

Zu Ye thought for a moment and said: “Let her stew for a few days.”

The next day, Wang Jiaxian visited the wife’s home again and said: “Last night I went to find the elderly gentleman. He has many matters at hand recently and was supposed to travel out of town, but after I told him about your situation, he’s temporarily postponed his trip. Within these two or three days, we can meet.”

The wife said: “Thank you! Thank you so much! The sooner the better!”

Three days later, the three met at a teahouse.

Zu Ye appeared ethereal and sage-like, Wang Jiaxian dashing and elegant. That wife would never dream that these two refined gentlemen before her were complete fraudsters. Facing two men, the wife felt somewhat embarrassed, saying timidly: “I’m grateful for your trouble, sir.”

Zu Ye said: “Those who study the Book of Changes are compassionate at heart. Madam need not be polite. Mr. Wang has already told me about your matter.”

The wife said: “Then may I trouble you, sir, to help me see whether my husband faces fortune or misfortune?”

Zu Ye said: “Judging from Madam’s physiognomy, the husband palace shows dull coloring and the official-longevity area doesn’t rise. Forgive my frankness, but your husband’s situation is very dangerous.”

Upon hearing this, the wife was stunned: “Then… then is his life in danger?”

Zu Ye remained unhurried. “Madam, don’t panic. Tell me your husband’s birth date and time.”

After the wife reported it, Zu Ye contemplated for a moment and said: “I deduce that your husband has a large mole on his forehead. Is this correct?”

“Absolutely correct!” The wife grew excited. “Right on the left side of his forehead.”

Zu Ye continued: “His eyes are large, and his chin comes to a point.”

“Sir, you’re absolutely right!” the wife responded.

Wang Jiaxian also hastily added with an admiring expression: “The elderly gentleman’s knowledge of the Dao is truly profound! This junior is in awe, truly in awe!”

Zu Ye remained composed, calculating on his fingers: “Please also tell me Madam’s birth date and time.”

The wife quickly reported her birthday.

Zu Ye again calculated on his fingers, then appeared thoughtful. After a while, he said: “Ah, there’s hope, there’s hope.”

When the wife heard “there’s hope,” she couldn’t sit still, her eyes full of longing. “Sir, do you mean my husband has hope?”

Zu Ye said: “Madam’s Eight Characters happen to support and strengthen your husband! He’s fortunate to have married you, otherwise this time he’d have no escape from disaster.”

This was the technique of first striking, then elevating.

The wife said: “So you’re saying I bring prosperity to my husband?”

Zu Ye said: “Precisely.”

The wife said: “Then how can we resolve this disaster?”

Zu Ye contemplated for a moment and said: “It depends on whether Madam is willing.”

The wife was startled: “Sir, what kind of talk is this? Of course I’m willing! Even if you asked me to die, I’d be willing!”

Zu Ye said: “Madam is truly a person of great virtue! That your husband married you is truly his blessing! A few days ago I encountered a situation similar to yours, but when that wife heard that resolving the disaster would cost money, she grew hesitant. Alas, I didn’t know what to say—what’s more important, money or one’s husband! Alas.”

The wife said: “Sir, rest assured! As long as it can save my husband, I’ll pay you any amount, I’m willing. Even if it means bankrupting my family!”

Upon hearing this, Zu Ye immediately pulled his face stern. “Madam, what kind of talk is this! Pay me money? Though I’ve lived in poverty all my life, I still understand the meaning of righteousness and virtue!”

The wife was confused, saying anxiously: “Sir… didn’t you just say spending money was needed to resolve the disaster?”

Zu Ye said angrily: “Madam underestimates me! When I said resolving the disaster requires spending money, I meant you should spend money on your husband’s behalf, not give money to me. In your fate, the official star is firmly controlled by the wealth star. Only by spending the wealth can you save the official star, and only then can your husband return. That’s why I said you need to spend money, but the money can’t be spent carelessly—it must be used to accumulate merit. By spending the money while also accumulating merit for your husband, this kills two birds with one stone.”

The wife pressed: “How can I accumulate merit?”

Zu Ye said: “Look at that bridge leading to South Town—it’s fallen into disrepair. Common people pass over it daily coming and going, sometimes even merchants with horse carts. How dangerous! It should have been repaired long ago. You donate some money to repair the bridge. This both resolves the disaster for your husband and creates benefit for the common people! The ancients often said, building bridges and paving roads brings immeasurable merit. How wonderful!”

Before the wife could speak, Wang Jiaxian stood up first and gave Zu Ye a deep bow: “Sir, your compassion is truly moving. This junior is deeply touched.” As he spoke, his eyes even reddened, presenting a look of enlightenment.

The wife said: “Sir, you truly are a good-hearted person! Approximately how much money would be needed?”

Zu Ye said: “That I don’t know. You should ask the local headman. Give him the money when the time comes, and he’ll organize people to do the repairs.”

The wife said with relief: “This will resolve my husband’s disaster then?”

Zu Ye said firmly: “It certainly will! The heart must be sincere—don’t do it perfunctorily.”

The wife nodded and said: “Certainly, certainly! Sir, I’ve detained you for so long, I… how much should I pay you?”

Zu Ye shook his head. “Madam is in difficulty. I merely use what small skill I have to ease Madam’s worries. To take your money at such a time—wouldn’t Madam be insulting me?”

The wife felt even more embarrassed and said: “Then how should I thank you? You’ve taken such pains over my matter, I…”

Zu Ye waved his sleeves, then pointed to the tea bowl on the table: “Empty sleeves clean as wind, one cup of plain tea—that suffices, that suffices!” With that, he drained it in one gulp and departed with a flourish of his sleeves.

Watching Zu Ye’s retreating figure, the wife let out a long sigh: “They say the world degenerates and people’s hearts aren’t what they once were, but meeting this elderly gentleman today, I know human kindness hasn’t perished.”

Wang Jiaxian chimed in: “The elderly gentleman has always regarded money as worthless as dirt. Such people are rare in this world.”

Later, the wife spent a considerable sum repairing that bridge. The local headman who collected the money was actually on the same team as Zu Ye, long since bought off by Zu Ye to be used as a pawn. Only a small portion went to actually repairing the bridge; the lion’s share was split between Zu Ye and the headman. As for how Zu Ye divined her husband’s appearance, it was all information Wang Jiaxian had obtained by secretly observing the photographs on the walls when visiting her home. That wife’s mind was entirely occupied with her husband’s life and death—how could she know about all these tricks?

I greatly admired Zu Ye’s technique—striking and elevating in perfect measure, and in the end achieving an air of noble integrity. Later I once asked Zu Ye: “What if her husband doesn’t come back?”

Zu Ye said my brain was too rigid. He said: “I’m not afraid of her husband not coming back. What I fear is her husband coming back. If that fellow returns and figures things out, that really would be problematic. If he doesn’t come back, there’s nothing to fear—what can a widow without a husband do to you? Can’t you think flexibly!”

I suddenly understood, then immediately asked: “If her husband does come back and causes us trouble, what do we do?”

Zu Ye said: “When the cart reaches the mountain, a path will appear; when the boat reaches the bridge, it naturally straightens. If you’re going to be timid and hesitant as a scam artist, you might as well go home and raise pigs.”

Later, Wang Jiaxian kept visiting that wife’s home repeatedly. Zu Ye sensed something wasn’t right and said at a council meeting: “The money’s already been swindled—don’t start thinking about swindling favors too. Being too greedy will cause trouble.”

This scared Wang Jiaxian so much that sweat poured from his forehead, repeatedly saying: “Understood, understood.”

Later, during a drinking session, Wang Jiaxian and I were chatting. Wang Jiaxian said he’d developed feelings for that wife. Given her helpless state at the time, relying on his understanding of women’s hearts plus his own looks and methods, within a month he could definitely have her. Actually, he hadn’t wanted anything long-term—just wanted to sleep with her once, pick up a bargain.

He said that woman was an intellectual who understood poetry and had refinement—that’s the type he liked. I said you constantly visit brothels, do you really care about this one? He said it was different—no matter how beautiful a brothel girl is, she’s just a shell, ridden by thousands, mounted by tens of thousands. How can that compare with a respectable woman!

Finally, Wang Jiaxian got drunk and kept mumbling: “You dwell at the Yangtze’s head, I dwell at the Yangtze’s tail. Daily I think of you but don’t see you, yet together we drink the Yangtze’s water…” Then he passed out in a drunken stupor.

I knew Wang Jiaxian was someone with high aspirations who’d never found his opportunity, finally able to display his talents within the scam artist crew—it pained his heart. Actually, which scam artist wasn’t like this? Living like walking corpses day after day, drowning sorrows in wine, romantic affairs beneath flowers. After the pleasure came endless sadness and confusion. Who didn’t want to live honestly, marry and hold children, live peacefully, grow old, children in rows—what a happy thing that would be! But the scam artists no longer had this happiness. In material desire they lived and died in dreams, hollowing out their bodies and even more so their souls. Surface glamour could never cover the filth and inferiority in their hearts. In the deep of night, every scam artist would think, thinking of their once-clean selves, thinking how if they hadn’t walked this path, life might have been completely different…

Now, the elegant and learned Wang Jiaxian had finally endured his way to a Batou position. From then on, everyone called him “Qi Ye.”

China’s First Assassination King

Starting in September 1948, the Liberation War entered the stage of strategic decisive battles. By early 1949 when the Pingjin Campaign ended, the Nationalist main forces had been basically annihilated, and most areas north of the Yangtze River had been liberated. The Northern faction’s “Xuemeng Cao” sect leader Qian Yuelin, under the increasingly severe situation, finally agreed to put down his “Grand Master” status and come seek refuge with Zu Ye.

One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, just like Song Jiang and Chao Gai of Mount Liang—ultimately one must lead. Although Qian Yuelin was willing to bow his head in submission and willing to serve as a Batou under Zu Ye, which of Zu Ye’s seven Batou could accommodate him! Qian Yuelin was even older than Zu Ye, sinister and cunning by nature. He had once entertained lustful thoughts toward Southern faction leader Jiang Feiyan. If Zu Ye hadn’t intervened to mediate, the two halls likely would have had a bloody battle.

I heard from Er Batou that Jiang Feiyan was one year older than Zu Ye, and Zu Ye respectfully called her “Sister Yan.” When Qiao Wumei died, local gang members came to cause trouble, and it was Zu Ye who personally led his brothers to settle it. After Qian Yuelin took refuge with Zu Ye, Jiang Feiyan even specially sent a letter delivered by Xiao Jiao, reminding Zu Ye to guard against this fellow.

Therefore, everyone was wary of Qian Yuelin’s arrival. All eyes turned to Zu Ye.

The atmosphere in the hall wasn’t quite right anymore. On the surface there was harmony, but actually crisis lurked everywhere. Especially after Wang Jiaxian became Qi Batou, Er Batou was quite displeased, and his relationship with San Batou grew increasingly tense. Plus, the hall suddenly had Qian Yuelin. Although he said he was willing to serve as a Batou under Zu Ye, Zu Ye said that wouldn’t do—Qian Ye was still Qian Ye, the Grand Master was still the Grand Master. After some time when conditions permitted, Zu Ye would still help Qian Ye establish another hall. This way, the hall inexplicably had an extra Grand Master. Every time they held council meeting, Qian Yuelin would sit beside Zu Ye looking important, and occasionally Zu Ye would even seek his opinion, making the Batou below very uncomfortable.

During that period, after each council meeting, Zu Ye would always keep me behind to brew tea for him. No one objected to this because everyone knew I was stupid and dull—no one was wary of me.

Zu Ye was truly particular about tea. Each time he tasted it, he could detect the slightest difference. Sometimes when I was distracted while brewing tea, after Zu Ye tasted it, he would say: “Da Tou, you didn’t put your heart into it this time.”

I felt Zu Ye was like a divine being who could taste from the tea whether one’s heart was scattered or calm. During that period, Zu Ye and I would drink tea until late into the night every time. He couldn’t sleep and kept drinking tea. I could see he was pondering problems.

Sometimes we would also chat about hall matters. Actually, whatever I said didn’t matter—as I said before, everyone knew I was stupid, had no schemes, and wouldn’t cause trouble. If it were someone else drinking tea with Zu Ye every night until late, everyone would definitely become suspicious, or at least jealous. So, being stupid had its advantages—a fool has no desires, and having no desires makes one strong. Sometimes, stupidity is a natural barrier of self-protection.

One night, Zu Ye asked me: “What’s your view on the hall’s current state?”

I couldn’t figure out what Zu Ye meant and stammered, not daring to speak.

Zu Ye said: “Da Tou, speak freely! What passes between us stays between us alone.”

I said: “Zu Ye, there are some things I don’t understand. I don’t know why you do certain things.”

Zu Ye smiled and said: “Continue.”

I looked at him and said timidly: “For example, you shouldn’t have taken in Qian Ye, and even more so shouldn’t have let him sit in on council meeting. Although we’re all brothers, after all we’re not from the same hall. Now he knows all the hall’s major affairs—this isn’t good. Also, you shouldn’t have promoted Wang Jiaxian to Qi Ye so quickly. Because Xianren Shou just passed away and Er Ye is still grieving, doing this creates discord in the hall…”

After speaking, I didn’t dare raise my head, fearing I’d said something wrong and angered Zu Ye.

Zu Ye chuckled and said: “Da Tou, if you were me, would you hope the hall’s brothers were united as one, or would you hope they had barriers between them?”

I said: “United as one, of course! When everyone has one heart, that’s when things get done well!”

Zu Ye shook his head and smiled helplessly, saying: “Yes, one heart makes things easier to accomplish, but also easier to ruin.”

At the time, I didn’t understand this statement of Zu Ye’s. It wasn’t until later when four Batou joined forces in “climbing the incense” that I suddenly realized—fortunately it was four Batou rebelling. If all seven Batou had been united in rebelling together, Zu Ye would have been finished. In that moment, I suddenly remembered a picture book I’d read as a child called “Thousand Families Fighting,” which had a line: “Since ancient times, if ministers don’t fight among themselves, how can the emperor sit secure?” Zu Ye was brilliant!

Zu Ye didn’t answer my question about Qian Yuelin. It seemed the time wasn’t yet ripe.

During that period, Liu Batou “Fengzi Shou” also rarely went out, always staying by Zu Ye’s side, practically inseparable. Everyone in the hall knew that Fengzi Shou’s main job was to maintain contact with informants and the underworld. If he stopped going out and hibernated in the hall, it meant there were internal problems.

Fengzi Shou had grown up in Wang Yaqiao’s “Axe Gang,” absorbing underworld affairs from a young age. He was loyal, righteous, and upstanding. Zu Ye had expended great effort to bring him under his wing. This matter also requires starting with Old Master Zhang Dancheng.

When Zhang Dancheng died, Wang Yaqiao specially came to pay respects, bringing a large sum of funeral money. Any perceptive person knew this was Jiu Ye coming to support Zu Ye. Before Zhang Dancheng died, though he’d devoted himself to cultivating Zu Ye and repeatedly instructed Zhou Zhenlong and Tu Yiming to assist him wholeheartedly, the underworld was treacherous. At that time Zu Ye was only in his early twenties. To successfully manage a hall, he not only had to command respect internally but also had to handle relationships with others on the street. So Zhang Dancheng had sent letters to Wang Yaqiao several times, asking him to help support Zu Ye.

In China, whether a person’s connections are solid and their backing strong depends on who shows up at weddings and funerals. Wang Yaqiao not only came but brought substantial money. When people on the street saw this show of force, they understood.

Zu Ye naturally understood this favor. After Zhang Dancheng’s death, Zu Ye visited Wang Yaqiao every year. Zu Ye had said countless times to the hall’s brothers: “Jiu Ye (referring to Wang Yaqiao) is a true hero! If the Chinese people had even ten or twenty percent like Jiu Ye, China would not have fallen!”

In 1935, when Zu Ye went to call on Wang Yaqiao, at Wang Yaqiao’s hall he met the 14-year-old Fengzi Shou. At that time he wasn’t yet called Fengzi Shou—Wang Yaqiao called him “Xiao Liuzi.” Zu Ye saw that although this lad wasn’t old, his gaze was cold and stern. His every gesture revealed calm and determination—clearly someone trained in martial arts.

Over these years, Zu Ye had always had a knot in his heart. Whenever the hall had major friction with people on the street, he always had to personally seek help from Wang Yaqiao, always troubling the man, until he felt embarrassed about it. He wanted to poach someone from Wang Yaqiao’s side. This way the two halls’ relationship would be even closer. Once there were street matters to settle, Zu Ye wouldn’t need to personally intervene—he could just send this person, because it would be his own affair, and this person would have no choice but to handle it.

But there was a problem here. If he directly poached one of Wang Yaqiao’s trusted confidants, never mind whether Wang Yaqiao would agree, Zu Ye himself couldn’t bring himself to ask. Those confidants who’d sworn to follow Wang Yaqiao to the death wouldn’t follow Zu Ye either, or perhaps wouldn’t even take Zu Ye seriously. So Zu Ye needed to find a suitable person. This person’s credentials didn’t need to be particularly deep, but his roots had to be solid. Just mentioning his father’s generation would make people on the street fear him somewhat. This way, the initial objective would be achieved. As this person grew within his father’s network of connections, with time’s passage, once the older generation retired, he would truly be able to display his talents and be used for Zu Ye’s purposes!

That day, Zu Ye took one look at Xiao Liuzi and was impressed. He asked Wang Yaqiao: “Jiu Ye, this person is…”

Wang Yaqiao smiled and said: “This is my sworn brother’s nephew. Don’t let his youth fool you—his abilities are considerable. He’s practiced martial arts since childhood, proficient in Zonghe, Bagua, and Hongquan styles, and his lightness skill is also excellent.”

Zu Ye contemplated for a moment and finally couldn’t restrain himself. He clasped his fists toward Wang Yaqiao: “Jiu Ye, this younger brother has a request. I don’t know if I should speak it?”

Wang Yaqiao laughed. “Worthy brother, are you referring to Xiao Liuzi?”

Zu Ye was startled and spoke frankly: “A gentleman should not seize what another treasures, but the hall has recently suffered a shortage of talent, and this younger brother thirsts for worthy men. I see this young brother is a man of talent and bearing. Moreover, coming from Jiu Ye’s hall, he must have been deeply influenced by Jiu Ye’s teachings over time—valuing loyalty and righteousness. This younger brother couldn’t ask for more!”

Wang Yaqiao laughed heartily. “Between us brothers, you don’t need to flatter me—just say directly that you want him!”

Before Wang Yaqiao, Zu Ye was truly still somewhat green. When Wang Yaqiao spoke so directly, Zu Ye’s face actually reddened, but he felt more relaxed and said directly: “I beseech Jiu Ye to grant this!”

Wang Yaqiao said: “I have no objection. The key is to see what he thinks. This boy is quite stubborn.” With that, he beckoned to Xiao Liuzi. “Xiao Liuzi, this Grand Master wants to take you in. Are you willing to go with him?”

Zu Ye was in his thirties at that time. Xiao Liuzi glanced at Zu Ye: “What abilities do you have?”

Zu Ye smiled and countered: “What abilities do you have?”

Xiao Liuzi curled his lip and said: “I can dodge bullets.” What he meant by dodging bullets wasn’t that he could actually outrun bullets. He was just very agile, able to accurately judge the shooter’s firing direction and, before the trigger was pulled, use force in his legs to escape one step ahead. Once when he went out on an assassination with his uncle, the other side fought back. This kid jumped up and down, and an entire volley of bullets failed to hit him.

Zu Ye looked around. At that moment, there happened to be a plate of yangmei berries on the table. Zu Ye grabbed a few and said with a smile: “How about this—if you can dodge these few yangmei from me, I won’t take you in. But if you can’t dodge them, you’ll obediently come with me.”

When Xiao Liuzi heard this, his eyes turned red with anger. He thought this was truly boasting without fear of biting one’s tongue. He immediately rolled up his trouser legs and sleeves, saying: “Come on then!”

Wang Yaqiao sat to the side, squinting and smiling.

Zu Ye said: “Wait a moment.”

Xiao Liuzi was startled: “What, scared now?”

Zu Ye counted the yangmei in his hand and said: “There are five total. I’ll add one more condition—if even one of these five doesn’t hit you, I’ll consider it my loss!”

Xiao Liuzi’s nose was practically steaming. “Stop your nonsense, come on! Come on!”

This was Zu Ye’s provocation technique. When a person becomes anxious, they easily lose their composure. The more anxious he became, the calmer Zu Ye remained. Zu Ye gripped the yangmei tightly, shook them before his chest, gathered force in his hand, and suddenly his arm jerked as he shouted loudly: “Incoming!”

Xiao Liuzi had been watching Zu Ye’s wrist the entire time. Seeing the arm swing over, he suddenly ducked his head, then executed a “spinning cartwheel,” flipping to the side. After steadying his stance and finding that nothing had hit him, just as he was about to shout triumphantly, Zu Ye flipped his wrist and a yangmei whooshed out, striking right on his forehead. The force was considerable—the yangmei exploded with a pop, and immediately a red mark burst forth on Xiao Liuzi’s forehead. It turned out that Zu Ye’s first move had been a feint—he hadn’t actually shot out the yangmei. Only after Xiao Liuzi’s “spinning flip” had landed did he truly release one.

Xiao Liuzi shouted: “You cheated! You didn’t actually just…”

Before he could finish speaking, Zu Ye flicked his hand again: “Here comes another!” This time was even faster and fiercer. With a whoosh, the yangmei struck right at Xiao Liuzi’s throat. Xiao Liuzi seemed to choke on something, his throat making a gagging sound, unable to speak.

Zu Ye flicked his hand again, this time releasing three together. Although Xiao Liuzi exerted all his strength to dodge, one still struck his chest and the other two hit his abdomen.

Wang Yaqiao laughed heartily and said to Zu Ye: “I never imagined younger brother had such skills. If I’m not mistaken, this should be Tu Yiming’s technique!”

Zu Ye clasped his fists. “Jiu Ye, you flatter me. It was indeed taught by Elder Tu!”

At this moment, Xiao Liuzi stood to the side fuming, his right hand rubbing his throat as if that force still hadn’t dissipated.

Wang Yaqiao smiled and said to Xiao Liuzi: “What are you looking at? You lost! Just now, every one of those yangmei hit your vital points. If they’d been throwing knives or iron spikes, you’d be finished.”

Xiao Liuzi said with a curled lip: “He cheated.”

Wang Yaqiao said: “In underworld killing, one never plays by the rules. The victor becomes king, the defeated becomes bandit—if you lost, you lost. When you get to Zu Ye’s hall, you must listen and work hard. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and trust—you can’t lose any of them. Otherwise, I won’t forgive you.” This statement was said both for Xiao Liuzi and for Zu Ye. Though Wang Yaqiao had fallen into banditry, his entire life was filled with righteous spirit. Don’t look at how he was helping Zu Ye now—if Zu Ye ever dared to walk a crooked path, Wang Yaqiao would certainly be the first to eliminate him.

Upon hearing this, Zu Ye quickly stood and bowed: “Thank you, Jiu Ye!”

Xiao Liuzi said: “I can go with you, but there’s one condition.”

Wang Yaqiao’s face darkened. “A great man’s word, once given, cannot be taken back by a team of four horses. You cannot renege.”

Zu Ye quickly said: “It’s no matter, no matter. What condition do you propose?”

Xiao Liuzi said: “You must teach me this yangmei-throwing skill!”

Zu Ye and Wang Yaqiao looked at each other, then laughed heartily. And so Xiao Liuzi followed Zu Ye. Later, in the hall, through Zu Ye’s careful cultivation, he finally became capable of handling affairs independently. Because his boxing skills were excellent, his lightness skill superb, and he was skilled at underworld public relations and scouting for schemes—like a tireless horse—Zu Ye gave him an elegant sobriquet: “Fengzi Shou.”

The year after Fengzi Shou joined the hall, Wang Yaqiao was assassinated. Fengzi Shou cried all night over this. He wanted revenge, wanted to carry out assassinations, but Zu Ye forcibly stopped him! Zu Ye said: “Can you fight against the Military Statistics Bureau people? Jiu Ye was China’s first assassination king, and even he died at their hands. You’re going to your death! Jiu Ye entrusted you to me. Now, as Grand Master, I order you—you’re not permitted to go!”

Though he said this with his mouth, Zu Ye’s heart was pained. The person Zu Ye admired most in his life was Jiu Ye Wang Yaqiao, and moreover, Jiu Ye had extended help to Zu Ye several times in moments of crisis. Zu Ye also wanted revenge, but this time the opponent was Military Statistics. Zu Ye didn’t dare act rashly.

Just at this time, another Grand Master from the Jianghuai region appeared. Thus, the two Grand Masters joined forces to execute a scheme—a honey trap involving life-and-death separation.

The Superstitious Military Intelligence Agent

The Grand Master who came to find Zu Ye was truly named Zhang Enrui. When all was said and done, this Zhang Enrui was actually a patriot who had joined the “Workers’ Picket Corps” in his early years. After the April 12th coup, he swore to follow Shanghai’s first assassin Wang Yaqiao to the death, irreconcilable with the Nationalist Party. His force wasn’t large—they specialized in swindling evil people and bad people. A large portion of the money they swindled was handed over to Wang Yaqiao for use as activity funds for the assassins. When Zu Ye had previously visited Wang Yaqiao, Zhang Enrui, as a fellow member of the Jiang Xiang Sect, had accompanied him in receiving guests several times. He and Zu Ye had always had a good relationship. After Wang Yaqiao’s death, he “laid low” for a period. Once the storm passed, he hurried to find Zu Ye to discuss matters.

Wang Yaqiao was a famous patriot of the modern era who had successively planned shocking assassination activities such as attempts on Chiang, Song, and Wang that stunned China and abroad. After bombing and killing the Japanese Expeditionary Force Commander, Army General Shirakawa Yoshinori, his fame grew even greater. Every time Chiang Kai-shek mentioned him, his false teeth would ache. Such a formidable figure ultimately died at the hands of a woman named Wanjun. Dai Li had orchestrated a honey trap that sent a generation’s ambitious hero to the Yellow Springs.

Zu Ye knew that Dai Li himself was a very superstitious person who frequently sought divination. To compensate for the lack of water in his fate, he had successively adopted over a dozen names containing water radicals like “Wang Tao,” “Tu Qingbo,” “Shen Peilin,” and “Hong Miao.” He was absurd enough to compile Zeng Guofan’s “Ice Mirror” and the Daoist Mayi’s “Mayi Physiognomy Method” and other fortune-telling and face-reading books as required textbooks for agents. Under Dai Li’s influence, his subordinate agents were all incredibly superstitious, constantly seeking out masters to discuss fate and destiny whenever they had free time.

Zhang Enrui also understood the mysteries involved, so this scheme would be both easy and difficult to execute. It was easy because Military Statistics agents were all very superstitious, making it easy to find a breakthrough. It was difficult because under Dai Li’s influence, these agents all understood fate theory to some degree, and the Jiang Xiang Sect weren’t true fortune-tellers—they just used the fortune-telling banner to deceive people. So during the scheme, if any theoretical errors appeared, the other side could easily become suspicious. Most critically, how far should this scheme go? Should they kill the target? To kill Dai Li would be pure fantasy, completely unrealistic. To kill his subordinates would easily cause trouble. Being targeted by Military Statistics and provoking retaliation from the Bureau would likely be a catastrophic disaster for the Jiang Xiang Sect.

After long contemplation, Zhang Enrui said: “Let’s swindle money. With the swindled money, we’ll buy guns and cannons. I’ll raise a force so I can fight directly with these people!”

Zu Ye nodded. The two discussed setting up this scheme starting from a brothel.

Zu Ye had previously executed many honey traps, sometimes having female scam artists pose as prostitutes to hook high officials and wealthy merchants, and sometimes having male scam artists pose as rich men to flirt with prostitutes who frequently associated with high officials and wealthy merchants. Both methods had the same purpose—to extract information and find opportunities to deceive.

In that kind of society, brothels were information windows for the entire society. So many secrets flowed from prostitutes’ mouths. Because whether men or women, once they got into bed and feelings were stirred, they would pour out their hearts. Words they wouldn’t dare speak normally, they dared confide to their partner in bed.

Soon, the female scam artist Zhang Enrui had planted in the brothel sent word that recently several military officers kept coming to patronize the establishment. Each time they ordered many girls, spent money lavishly, and frequently flirted with the girls, reading their palms and faces, saying: “Just by looking at your palm, I can tell what year you lost your virginity.”

Zu Ye guessed these were very likely Military Statistics Bureau agents. Only Military Statistics people were so enthusiastic about fortune-telling and physiognomy. And the Military Statistics Bureau’s expenses received strong support from Shanghai gangs, so the agents spent money freely—truly a good opportunity to swindle money!

Because of Wang Yaqiao’s connection, Zhang Enrui feared he might have a record with the Military Statistics Bureau. He couldn’t personally take action, so for this scheme, Zu Ye had to go himself.

Zhang Enrui’s plan was to first have a female scam artist named Hua Yuerong go to “Fengming Tower” to pose as a prostitute. Speaking of this, Zhang Enrui felt somewhat melancholy. This Hua Yuerong was in her twenties and was Zhang Enrui’s ace. Born beautiful as a flower, she had come from an impoverished family in her early years and her family had sold her to a theater troupe. When Zhang Enrui went to see opera, he took a liking to her, redeemed her, and quickly developed her into a female scam artist. From then on, Hua Yuerong became Zhang Enrui’s capable assistant. Originally, Zhang Enrui had wanted to take Hua Yuerong as a concubine, but constrained by his “Grand Master” status and his brothers’ dignity, he had never formally married her. Actually, his subordinate brothers all understood clearly—when he was alone with Hua Yuerong, the brothers would withdraw.

Hua Yuerong would sometimes ask Zhang Enrui: “When will you marry me? When will we leave all this right and wrong and live peacefully?”

Whenever this happened, Zhang Enrui would embrace her and say softly: “It will happen, that day will come.”

For Zhang Enrui to allow Hua Yuerong to take the field required great internal struggle, after all, she was the woman he loved. The hall didn’t lack female scam artists, but their quality wasn’t sufficient. This included those scattered among the brothels as small-time operatives—some had good looks but insufficient brains, while others could act according to circumstances but were ugly as sin. Only Hua Yuerong was both beautiful and had studied opera. She knew many romantic literary phrases, could sing Kunqu opera, read expressions and observe minute details. To deal with Military Statistics agents, only she could be deployed.

This was like Zu Ye’s subordinates. In terms of ruthlessness, Da Batou came first—killing without batting an eye. In terms of “flying stakes” (grave robbing), Er Batou dominated—sleeping in a coffin with a corpse was nothing. In terms of scholarship, San Batou was absolutely unique—astronomy, geography, yin and yang, the Eight Trigrams—there was nothing he didn’t know. And there were Si Batou, Wu Batou, and Liu Batou—each person had their unique skill. But looking at comprehensive quality, no one could compare with Zu Ye, so for this scheme, Zu Ye had to personally take action!

After Hua Yuerong infiltrated Fengming Tower, the very next evening several Military Statistics agents arrived. The madam led the girls in a row. The agents selected a few but weren’t too satisfied, then asked: “Are there any others?”

The madam smiled obsequiously and said: “Officers, I happen to have just received a young lady. She was originally from a prominent family, but later her family circumstances declined, and she drifted into this brothel…”

Before the madam could finish, several agents clamored: “Hurry up and call her out!”

The madam smiled again: “Officers, don’t be hasty. This young lady stipulated in advance that she posted a first couplet line outside her door. Whoever can compose a matching second line, she’ll receive. Otherwise…”

One agent grew anxious: “Damn it! A whore making such a fuss! I’ll go drag her out!” He raised his gun and was about to go upstairs.

At this moment, an agent in his forties spoke: “Stop! No manners! Back when General Cai’e and Xiao Fengxian composed poetry and matched couplets in a brothel, it became a fine tale. Don’t always resort to violence. Manners! Understand? Madam, take me to see. I’ll compose the match.”

This person was precisely the target Zu Ye would later strike—his name was Xu Huaijin, Deputy Director of the Military Intelligence Division.

Led by the madam, Xu Huaijin climbed to the second floor and arrived at Hua Yuerong’s door. On both sides of the door was indeed a couplet. The first line read: “Yin yin yang yang, yin and yang uncertain—matters of romance and passion.” The second line was still blank paper—no one had matched it.

Xu Huaijin contemplated for a moment and said to the madam: “Bring me a brush.”

The madam brought him a brush. Xu Huaijin rolled up his sleeves and on the blank paper wrote in neat regular script: “Good good evil evil, good and evil have their reward—people of the rivers and lakes.”

The madam looked and quickly called into the room: “Miss Hua, a customer has come to match your couplet. He’s an officer.”

Shortly, the door opened. Hua Yuerong walked out covering her face with a handkerchief, delicate and touching. When Xu Huaijin saw her, his heart wouldn’t stop racing. This young lady was too beautiful—delicate skin and tender flesh, graceful figure, eyes full of emotion, glancing about enchantingly. Any normal man seeing her would be moved.

Hua Yuerong looked at the second line, nodded, smiled sweetly, and said: “Officer, please enter.”

Xu Huaijin smiled and made a gesture of courtesy. “Young lady, please.”

Hua Yuerong walked inside. Xu Huaijin tossed the madam a stack of bills and said: “Bring some wine and dishes.” Then he waved his hand dismissing the other agents and walked into the room himself.

Before long, the waiter came up with a tray—a pot of Daughter’s Red wine and four small dishes. Hua Yuerong poured a cup of wine and handed it to Xu Huaijin. After Xu Huaijin received it, he said: “Thank you for your trouble, young lady. May I ask your honored name?”

Hua Yuerong replied: “This young woman’s surname is Hua, given name Yuerong.”

Xu Huaijin smiled and said: “The beauty that makes fish sink and geese fall, the countenance that shames the moon and flowers—this is Hua Yuerong. Young lady, you truly live up to your name.”

Hua Yuerong’s face reddened: “The officer flatters me. When I was small, everyone in my family called me Yue’er. May I ask the officer’s honored surname?”

Xu Huaijin paused and said: “My surname is Xu. You may call me Director Xu. Miss Yue’er has uncommon bearing—how did you come to drift into this…” Suddenly feeling he’d misspoken, Xu Huaijin forcibly swallowed the second half of his sentence.

Hua Yuerong smiled faintly and said: “Director Xu need not be formal. This young woman is originally from Lin’an. Because my family suddenly suffered misfortune, I had no choice but to take this desperate measure… A person without food still has face, a tree though hollow still has bark. If it weren’t for my mother being gravely ill with no money for treatment…” As she spoke, two streams of hot tears rolled down.

Xu Huaijin quickly took out his handkerchief to wipe away Hua Yuerong’s tears. Hua Yuerong naturally sat in his embrace.

Xu Huaijin said softly: “Don’t worry. Tell me about it.”

Hua Yuerong leaned against Xu Huaijin’s chest and said: “My family was originally a prominent household in Lin’an. My father was a tea merchant. Later, father was killed by enemies and the family circumstances began to decline. Both my older brothers became soldiers and died on the battlefield. At the beginning of this year, mother caught a chill, then her condition worsened and developed into consumption. She coughs blood every day. Watching mother like this, my heart is like being cut by knives. As long as I can earn money to treat mother’s illness and let her eat something good, no matter how much suffering I endure, I’m willing.” After speaking, she shed tears again.

Xu Huaijin tightly embraced Hua Yuerong and said: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Though we meet by chance like duckweed on water, this too is fate. I will help you.”

Hua Yuerong stood up and filled another cup of wine for Xu Huaijin, then filled one for herself. Raising her wine cup, she said: “When wine meets a true friend, a thousand cups are too few; when words don’t match, half a sentence is too much. This young woman is not a person of loose nature. Even having entered this brothel, I’m not a casual person. That’s why I wrote this first couplet line on the door—at the very least, the person should be literate and reasonable before I’ll receive them. Several people before matched it in complete gibberish. Not until Director Xu came did this young woman feel relieved. Director Xu possesses both civil and military abilities. This young woman admires you. Let me toast you.”

Xu Huaijin smiled happily, pulled Hua Yuerong into his embrace, and drained the wine with satisfaction. Afterward, Hua Yuerong filled several more cups, and both drank them down in one gulp.

After several cups of wine, the two nestled quietly together. The moonlight lingered on the willow branches. A breeze blew in through the window. The fragrance of magnolia flowers from the courtyard wafted toward them. Setting aside all conspiracy and sin, this scene was like a painting, frozen in the warmth of love.

At the third watch, Xu Huaijin removed Hua Yuerong’s outer garment. Hua Yuerong shyly covered her red undergarment and said: “Director Xu, could you grant this young woman two days’ grace?”

Xu Huaijin didn’t understand. “Why?”

Hua Yuerong said with a melancholy expression: “I’ve been frail and sickly since childhood. Mother once had a fortune-teller cast my eight characters. He said I must pass my twentieth birthday before I can engage in conjugal relations. Otherwise, I certainly won’t live past twenty-two. In two more days, it will be my birthday. Therefore, I ask the Director…”

Xu Huaijin was startled: “Oh, I see. So you’re saying Miss Yue’er is still a virgin?”

Hua Yuerong’s face reddened, and she gently nodded.

Xu Huaijin smiled tenderly. “Hehe, the ancients often said, ‘Moving like a startled rabbit, still as a virgin.’ No wonder Miss Yue’er’s every gesture reveals composure and restraint. Hehe, no rush, no rush.”

Hua Yuerong quickly performed a curtsy and said: “Thank you, Director. This truly is ‘worry not that the road ahead lacks acquaintances.’ This young woman’s life is bitter—I’m like duckweed returning to the sea. Yet I never imagined I could meet someone as loyal and righteous as the Director in this pleasure quarter!”

Xu Huaijin laughed happily, then suddenly seemed to remember something: “You just mentioned there was a fortune-teller…”

Hua Yuerong said: “Yes, this person is very formidable. He was an old friend of my father’s. He once predicted that father would face mortal danger in middle age. Unfortunately, father paid no attention to this. Father had a stubborn temperament and often said life and death are ordained by fate, wealth and status are in heaven’s hands. The year of the incident, that fortune-teller even made a special trip to our home to inform us of methods to resolve the disaster, but father was busy with business and didn’t accept the advice. As a result, that winter, father was killed by enemies, and from then on the family circumstances declined. He also divined that my two older brothers would face disaster… One by one, these matters later came true. That’s why this young woman cares so much about the timing of consummating her marriage. This young woman doesn’t cherish life, but because mother is ill, I can’t let her go. No matter what, I must care for mother through her old age until her death… But recently mother’s condition has become increasingly severe. I don’t want to worry about these matters anymore. I think if I die, I die. If before dying I can let mother eat something, dying would be worth it…”

Before Hua Yuerong could finish, Xu Huaijin interrupted: “Don’t speak foolishly. There’s a solution to everything…” He contemplated for a moment, then said: “This fortune-teller you mentioned—what’s his name? Where is he from?”

Hua Yuerong said: “This fortune-teller, people call him Mr. Tieban. I’m told he’s the direct successor of some Iron Divination Daoist…”

Xu Huaijin interjected: “Is it the Mr. Tieban mentioned in the newspapers?”

Hua Yuerong smiled and said: “This young woman is neither official nor scholar. How would I understand reading newspapers? I don’t know which one the Director refers to.”

Xu Huaijin said: “It must be him, must be him! Can you still find him?”

Hua Yuerong said: “He wanders the four seas, his whereabouts uncertain. This is hard to say, but every year on father’s death anniversary, he comes to pay respects.”

Xu Huaijin asked: “When is your late father’s death anniversary?”

Hua Yuerong said: “The seventh day of this month.”

Xu Huaijin nodded, as if speaking to himself: “Heaven helps me.”

Hua Yuerong asked: “What did the Director say?”

Xu Huaijin said: “Nothing, nothing. Next time, take me to see your mother.”

Hua Yuerong said: “I couldn’t trouble the Director…”

Xu Huaijin said: “I must, I must. I absolutely must visit her.” He suddenly asked again: “Where are you living now?”

Hua Yuerong answered: “Dazhuizi Hutong, number 28. We just moved there at the beginning of the month.”

Xu Huaijin said: “Good. Next time, take me there.”

Hua Yuerong said: “Thank you for the Director’s concern. Since I cannot accompany the Director to sleep tonight, let me sing a Kunqu opera piece for you.” As she spoke, she poured another cup of wine for Xu Huaijin.

Xu Huaijin smiled and said: “Wonderful.”

Hua Yuerong strummed the three-stringed instrument and sang a section of “Dian Jiang Chun.” The tones rose and fell, the lingering notes circled the rafters. Xu Huaijin couldn’t stop clapping to show his appreciation. When she reached an emotional passage, Xu Huaijin involuntarily moved closer to Hua Yuerong and embraced her.

At this moment, a junior agent knocked and entered—apparently urging Xu Huaijin that time was up. Xu Huaijin walked over to the young agent and whispered a few words. The agent saluted and withdrew.

Hua Yuerong said: “If the Director has business, please attend to it. This young woman has met the Director… and my heart… now has someone it belongs to. Director, please attend to your official duties. Yue’er will wait here. If the Director doesn’t come for one day, Yue’er will wait one day. If the Director doesn’t come for one year, Yue’er will wait one year. If the Director doesn’t come in this life, Yue’er will wait until the next.”

Xu Huaijin stared blankly at Hua Yuerong. Hua Yuerong gazed at him adoringly. Xu Huaijin gently embraced Hua Yuerong. He wanted to say something but swallowed it back.

The rooster crowed thrice, the east turned red, and soon the sun jumped out. Xu Huaijin straightened his clothing and said to Hua Yuerong: “Miss Yue’er, this Xu will return in two days to see you again.”

The Female Scam Artist Falls in Love with the Military Intelligence Agent

After Xu Huaijin left, Hua Yuerong organized her thoughts in the room, then called a girl from downstairs and whispered a few words to her. Then she changed her clothes and rushed toward Dazhuizi Hutong. After about half an hour, she arrived at the gate of number 28, lightly knocked on the door, and called: “Mother?”

Before long, an old woman walked out, white cloth wrapped around her forehead, appearing gravely ill. She said happily: “My daughter has returned?” Then she began coughing violently.

Before Hua Yuerong could speak, the old woman gave her a meaningful look, her eyes sweeping toward the wall outside, and said loudly: “Daughter, just now two kind people came to our home. They said they were your good friends. They asked about my illness and even left some money for me. Such kind-hearted people!”

Hua Yuerong’s heart skipped a beat. While helping the old woman into the house, she said: “Mother, what friends? What were their names?”

The old woman said: “I asked, but they didn’t leave their names. They just said they were your friends and would come visit me again.”

Hua Yuerong said: “Oh, Mother, next time they come, make sure to have them leave their names so I’ll know who they are.”

The old woman sighed and said: “Yes, yes. We mother and daughter have truly met benefactors. Your father died early, and both your brothers are gone too…”

Hua Yuerong said: “Mother, why bring that up? With your daughter here, everything will get better for us.”

The two walked into the house and closed the door. The old woman immediately pulled off the white cloth from her head. Hua Yuerong flashed a conspiratorial smile at the old woman, who put her finger to her lips—”Shh”—signaling Hua Yuerong not to be too bold.

The two continued their mother-daughter dialogue in the room for a few more exchanges. Hua Yuerong began fetching firewood from the courtyard to make a fire and cook. Smoke rose from the chimney, curling upward until it dispersed into the high sky.

In fact, during this entire period, Xu Huaijin’s agents had been monitoring and eavesdropping from behind the back wall. Last night, when Hua Yuerong was recounting her background to Xu Huaijin, he had already prepared to verify her story. Near dawn, when that junior agent came upstairs, those few words Xu Huaijin whispered to him were instructions to immediately rush to number 28 Dazhuizi Hutong to see if things were truly as Hua Yuerong had claimed.

These two old hands, Zu Ye and Zhang Enrui, had anticipated this when laying out the scheme. They had arranged in advance for an older female scam artist to disguise herself and lie in bed looking sickly at number 28, ready to receive the agents at any time.

Sure enough, just as dawn was breaking, the old female scam artist heard knocking at the door. She put on her clothes, feigning illness, opened the courtyard gate, and saw two strangers. Her heart was already prepared. While letting them into the house, she sighed and lamented her family affairs in response to their questions, exactly matching what Hua Yuerong had said. All the while she kept coughing, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as if about to cough up her lungs. After coughing for a while, she stopped and opened the handkerchief. The blood capsule previously tucked in the handkerchief had burst. In the dim room, the agents thought she had truly coughed blood.

After conversing with the old woman for a while and finding no flaws, the agents left some money as Xu Huaijin had instructed, then slipped behind the back wall to stake out. These agents were truly cunning. They wanted to see what would happen when Hua Yuerong returned and how the two would interact. As a result, Hua Yuerong and the old woman performed their mother-daughter relationship flawlessly, and the two agents returned to report with peace of mind.

The reason Hua Yuerong was startled when she first entered was that she hadn’t expected Xu Huaijin’s agents to arrive so quickly. She hadn’t even detected when Xu Huaijin had informed the agents. For a scam artist, this was a fatal oversight. Scam artists cannot miss any glance or movement from their opponent. Hua Yuerong felt confused and muttered to herself: “What’s happening to me?”

The old woman asked: “What’s happening?”

Hua Yuerong was startled. “Oh, nothing.”

That night, Hua Yuerong returned to Fengming Tower. She had already sent word of the situation here to Zhang Enrui and Zu Ye through a small-time operative. She needed to rehearse the next steps according to plan—what to say, what to do, how to deceive, how to close the net. All the links passed through her mind over and over. No other customers dared to go upstairs with designs on her anymore, because before leaving, Xu Huaijin had tossed the madam a large sum of money and told her: “Miss Hua is reserved exclusively for me.”

Night deepened, and Hua Yuerong grew tired. She drank a few mouthfuls of tea, removed her outer garment, and lay on the bed. She wanted to sleep but couldn’t, so she just stared blankly. Xu Huaijin’s image kept tumbling before her eyes. Xu Huaijin was indeed handsome and imposing, a top graduate of Whampoa Military Academy, with a straight spine and courteous manner. Thinking about it, Hua Yuerong couldn’t help but smile involuntarily, then suddenly stopped. Worry replaced her smile. She was clear that she was just a scam artist, an absolute fraud. Xu Huaijin was her mark, her opponent. All of this was a scheme, a performance that would eventually end with everyone dispersing when the play concluded.

The next evening, after Hua Yuerong finished dinner and had just sat down in her boudoir after dressing up, she heard the madam’s loud cry: “Ai-yo! The officer has arrived! Miss Hua is waiting for you upstairs! Come in, come in!”

This was followed by the clomping sound of military boots climbing the stairs. Hua Yuerong quickly opened the door. Xu Huaijin strode over. The two lovers met as if separated by three autumns. Xu Huaijin smiled slightly: “Miss Yue’er.”

Hua Yuerong said tenderly: “Director.”

Just as Hua Yuerong was about to invite Xu Huaijin into the room, he waved his hand. “No rush, Miss Yue’er.” With that, he turned around, removed his gloves, extended his hand to the agent behind him and said: “Bring it.”

An agent handed a bouquet of beautiful flowers to Xu Huaijin. Xu Huaijin held the flowers with both hands before Hua Yuerong’s face, looked into her eyes, and said affectionately: “Happy birthday, Miss Yue’er. May your flower-like beauty remain forever, may you be forever beautiful.”

Hua Yuerong was stunned by the scene before her. After the Xinhai Revolution, although Western learning spread eastward and the people became increasingly romantic, this kind of Western romantic gesture—apart from great talents like Zhimo and Beihong playing at it—was truly rare among Military Intelligence agents! Hua Yuerong had been impoverished since childhood and deeply trapped in the theater world in her early years. From opera lyrics she had learned only the subtle, chess-board hidden love of Zhang Sheng and Yingying. How could she have experienced such a magnificent scene!

Hua Yuerong’s eyes actually moistened. For a moment she didn’t know what to say. She timidly accepted the bouquet of flowers, her face flushed red, and said softly: “Director, please come in!”

Xu Huaijin said to the agents and the madam behind him: “All of you, withdraw. Without my order, no one is permitted to disturb us!”

After entering the room, Hua Yuerong threw herself into Xu Huaijin’s embrace. The two held each other tightly. Xu Huaijin pulled out a small box from his pocket. When opened, it contained a jade bracelet carved with dragon and phoenix patterns. He said to Hua Yuerong: “This is what my mother gave me when I left to take the Whampoa Military Academy entrance exam. She told me to give it to her future daughter-in-law. Now I’ve found her.”

Hua Yuerong gazed deeply at Xu Huaijin. “Director.”

Xu Huaijin gently embraced Hua Yuerong and said: “I’ve already sent people to visit your mother. From now on, I’ll care for the old lady together with you. You never need to worry about livelihood again.”

Hua Yuerong leaned on Xu Huaijin’s shoulder and shed tears. At this moment, how she wished she truly were just a prostitute.

According to Grand Master Zhang Enrui’s arrangement, unless absolutely necessary, Hua Yuerong didn’t need to give herself. She could have followed the plan and used the excuse that three years of mourning for her father hadn’t passed to avoid tonight’s ordeal. But she changed her mind. She voluntarily loosened her clothes and removed her belt…

Later, after Hua Yuerong’s death, when Zhang Enrui sent people to sort through her belongings, they found a piece of paper under her pillow. It was a letter in small regular script written by Hua Yuerong’s own hand, perhaps the deepest confession from her heart. She wrote:

General, my beloved, as you read this:

This concubine is of lowly status, born at the wrong time. I intended to pass my days in a daze and end this life, but unexpectedly Heaven pitied me and I met the General. The General is heroic and magnificent, treating this concubine with kindness as heavy as mountains. That this concubine obtained the General—how could I not rejoice? This concubine has drifted for twenty years, suffering all hardships, without father or mother, without ties or attachments. Only after meeting the General did I come to understand the meaning of being a woman!

This concubine is a common fraudster, deeply trapped in the three evil paths. From when I first met the General, I deployed all manner of deceitful tricks. The General is within the scheme, this concubine is within a dream. Each day the General’s feelings toward me deepen by one part, this concubine’s heartbreak also increases by one part. The General advances, my heart breaks. Now, the General remains within the scheme, but this concubine’s dream has awakened. How this concubine wished to remain long in the dream!

This concubine doesn’t resent Heaven, doesn’t resent fate. That this concubine obtained the General’s love—this life is enough! Mandarin ducks often suffer sorrowful separation, since ancient times deep feelings bring parting’s pain. This concubine will not long remain among the living! The General is human in the yang world, this concubine will be ghost in the yin world. From now on, yin and yang are separated, each following Heaven’s decree. Humans are like the clear wind, flesh is like mud. When people die there is no emotion, flowers fall and depart. In life this concubine’s body was beyond control—where will my soul rest after death? This concubine only loves the General, and nine deaths cannot make me forget!

Words cannot fully express, expression cannot fully convey meaning. I hope you will take care of yourself. This concubine endlessly awaits.

Your concubine, Yuerong

Bingchen day, chou hour

She called this agent “General,” and her words were nothing but true love and devotion. This truly was: gauze curtains warm, red candles sway, one night of clouds and rain dispels a hundred regrets; Military Intelligence passion, scam artist’s love, truth and falsehood no longer matter.

She herself knew this was ultimately a letter that could never be sent. Actually, she had long since died—died in her own love.

The Fortune-Teller’s Honey Trap

According to plan, Hua Yuerong was to introduce Zu Ye to Xu Huaijin on her “father’s death anniversary.” After several days of intimacy, Xu Huaijin and Hua Yuerong already talked about everything. Hua Yuerong cleverly used menstrual cloth prepared in advance by the small-time operatives to substantiate her virginity claim.

Before the introduction, Hua Yuerong repeatedly instructed Xu Huaijin: “You absolutely mustn’t say you’re a military officer, because common folk like us normally have no opportunity to come into contact with high Military Intelligence officials. If that gentleman learns I work in a brothel as a prostitute and word reaches my mother’s ears, Mother will surely be heartbroken! I’ve always told Mother I work as a helper in a restaurant, and to wash all those plates and bowls, I have to work overtime all night.”

Xu Huaijin nodded and said: “I’ll just say I’m a merchant, a friend of your father’s from when he was alive.”

This was actually a diversionary trap. Only if Xu Huaijin concealed his identity could Zu Ye later expose it, thereby demonstrating Zu Ye’s profound mastery of the Way! On the surface, Hua Yuerong proposed this strategy to conceal her own identity, but actually it was to reduce Xu Huaijin’s wariness.

Xu Huaijin, in his identity as a tea merchant wearing a long gown and jacket, met Zu Ye at a restaurant.

As soon as they sat down, he humbly said: “I’ve long admired your great name, sir. Meeting you today, you truly possess the ethereal air of a sage. Your reputation is well-deserved.”

Zu Ye chuckled: “Sir, you’re too kind. A crude commoner surviving in chaotic times—what great name could there be?”

Xu Huaijin smiled and said: “Sir, you’re too modest. Fortunately Miss Hua made this introduction, otherwise I’d have no opportunity to meet you.” He handed over a slip of paper. “These are my eight characters. I trouble you, sir, to read them.”

Zu Ye received the eight characters, looked at them, contemplated for a moment, then suddenly said: “Sir, do you understand the Three Bonds and Five Constants?”

This left Xu Huaijin completely baffled, like a monk of eight feet unable to reach his head. He said timidly: “Sir… what do you mean by this?”

Zu Ye said: “The Three Bonds: the ruler is the bond of the minister, the father is the bond of the son, the husband is the bond of the wife. The Five Constants: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. Sir, you completely lack trust and righteousness. What is there for us to discuss?”

Xu Huaijin was startled. “Where does this statement come from?”

Zu Ye smiled: “Yue’er told me you’re a tea merchant. I observe your eight characters—you’re not a merchant at all. A merchant would not have these eight characters!”

Xu Huaijin’s head began to sweat. He asked: “This… then according to my eight characters, what profession should I be engaged in?”

Zu Ye said: “Your eight characters’ pattern is extraordinary. The Three Wonders converge in illumination, official killing merges with the body—this is the constitution of one who serves as general or minister, an official’s destiny!”

This move truly combined deception with striking, applying both flattery and technique, achieving everything in one step.

Xu Huaijin couldn’t conceal his inner joy. “May I ask, sir, how high a position can I attain? I’m currently at a critical moment for promotion. I don’t know if I can defeat my rivals. Please offer guidance, sir.”

Zu Ye smiled: “A tea merchant—how could there be opportunities for promotion?”

Xu Huaijin’s face reddened: “Sir, forgive me! I truly am not a tea merchant, but rather serve in the government. A few days ago at a brothel I happened to meet Miss Hua. The young lady was also forced by circumstances to fall into the brothel. She and I fell in love at first sight, which enabled this meeting with you, sir. The young lady feared that if you learned of these matters and sent word to her mother, so she adopted this desperate measure.”

Zu Ye shook his head helplessly. “The Hua family’s misfortune was within my expectations long ago. In earlier years I warned her father, but he wouldn’t listen…”

Xu Huaijin lowered his head and contemplated for a while, then said: “Alas, each person has their fate. Sir need not blame yourself. Actually, I too know a little about the Four Pillars and physiognomy. I wonder what lofty views sir has on Chinese numerology?”

When Zu Ye heard this, he understood there was subtext in these words, so he smiled and said: “The Book of Changes aligns with Heaven and Earth, able to encompass the Way of Heaven and Earth. Studying the Changes is valuable for understanding principle. If principle is unclear, the more one studies, the more confused one becomes!”

Xu Huaijin said: “Sir speaks correctly. I have several questions I can’t understand. Though I’ve pondered them for many days, I still haven’t found clarity. Please, sir, don’t spare your instruction.”

Zu Ye said: “Please speak.”

Xu Huaijin said: “First is the question of physiognomy. Ancient books often say that a full heavenly court and square earthly pavilion constitute a fortunate countenance. But I see many mediocre people throughout the streets, many of whom also have full courts and complete pavilions, yet why are they of such low station? Also, physiognomy books often say to observe a person’s wealth by looking at the nose—a high nose bridge, plump and fleshy, is the fate of great wealth. I often see rickshaw pullers and dock laborers, many with large noses, yet they labor in poverty. How do you explain this?”

Zu Ye laughed heartily: “You are mistaken, sir! Continuing thus, I fear… I fear you’ll become a laughingstock in the future! Physiognomy ultimately is the method of the Five Elements. The Five Elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The heavenly court and earthly pavilion, the three stops and five mountains are merely figurative descriptions of Five Element positions. The Five Elements are valuable in their flow and integration. Looking at a single location alone means nothing about fortune or misfortune. Examining all five features together is the correct principle. Have you not seen that Zhu Yuanzhang had a horse face and donkey lips—looking at each organ individually, all were hideously grotesque, but the five features combined together precisely concealed wind and gathered water, the Five Elements flowed smoothly, and thus he unified the empire and occupied the supreme position. By the same logic, merely looking at a person’s nose without analyzing the coordination of other palaces cannot accurately determine the fortune or misfortune of wealth. Moreover, a nose has four parts: the mountain root, year position, longevity position, and tip. Just looking at whether it’s high and fleshy without distinguishing whether it’s straight or crooked, its color and luster—how can one judge accurately? Studying the Changes is valuable in integration. Zhang Liang removed the dross from the ‘Supreme Duke’s Art of War’ to create ‘Mysterious Gate Escaping Armor.’ Xu Ziping supplemented Li Xuzhong’s ‘Three Pillars’ insufficiency to create ‘Four Pillars.’ Shao Yong broke the sequence of the Eight Trigrams to derive the ‘Imperial Ultimate Classic.’ Those who study the Changes but don’t understand yin and yang, don’t seek dialectics—these are mediocrities!”

Zu Ye was “striking.” This was the so-called “urgently strike, slowly deceive.” Zu Ye seized upon flaws in his theory and spoke eloquently in one breath, “striking” until Xu Huaijin had to prostrate himself in complete submission.

This was Zu Ye’s true skill. Scam artists fall into two categories: those who rely entirely on deception, and those with some real ability. A scam artist who doesn’t study the true Book of Changes will only be a “foot soldier” until death. Where does real ability come from? First, passed down generation after generation by hall elders. Second, seeking out folk masters. In his early years, Zu Ye inherited some Book of Changes knowledge from Zhang Dancheng, then frequently visited various Republican era worthies, integrating and comprehending, gaining much genuine knowledge.

Zu Ye once taught us: All fortune-telling arts based on the Book of Changes, the key lies in adaptation.

Take physiognomy and palmistry—ordinary people only know “this person’s nose is good, high and straight,” “that person’s eyes are good, phoenix eyes,” “this person’s hands are good, cotton-pouch hands.” They don’t realize that physiognomy requires “Five Element coordination, form and spirit both complete.”

What is Five Element coordination? Zu Ye explained: Human organs match with the Five Elements—eyes belong to fire, ears and mouth belong to water, cheekbones belong to metal, nose belongs to earth, skull and eyebrows belong to wood. The Five Elements mutually generate and control each other. Any organ that’s too large or too small will cause imbalance in the human body’s Five Element energy. For example, if the nose is too large while the cheekbones don’t rise and the chin is small, the entire nose appears especially prominent on the face. The nose belongs to earth—too much earth buries metal, metal’s depletion reduces water. The nose with the force of Mount Tai overwhelms the cheekbones, swallowing the nasolabial folds and chin. This is an extremely inauspicious countenance. Therefore, a person’s fortune or misfortune doesn’t lie in whether an individual organ looks good, but in the overall harmony of all facial organs—this is called “Five Element coordination.” Palmistry follows the same principle. The quality of a palm doesn’t only depend on several major palm lines. Palm lines are certainly important—the life line should be long, the money line should be deep, the emotion line should be stable, the wisdom line should be penetrating—but the entire palm’s shape, thickness, and luster require even more examination. Hand shapes are divided into five types: metal-type hand, wood-type hand, water-type hand, fire-type hand, earth-type hand. On the palm, the Eight Trigrams arise, divided into the eight palaces of Qian, Kun, Zhen, Li, Dui, Xun, Kan, and Gen. The palaces and hand shape must coordinate and cannot conflict or control each other. Palm lines and palaces must coordinate and cannot harm or injure each other. As the saying goes: palm shape and Eight Trigrams are primary, are sovereign; lines and colors are secondary, are ministers. First observe palm shape, then observe lines. Five Element coordination—destiny can be measured.

What does “form and spirit both complete” mean? Chinese physiognomy originated in the pre-Qin period and took shape during the Qin and Han dynasties. China’s first female physiognomist, Xu Fu, proposed the concept of “jointly examining form and spirit.” Form refers to external appearance, including a person’s facial features, palm features, bone structure, mole patterns, and so forth. Spirit refers to the temperament and aura a person projects to the outside world—that is, a person’s spiritual bearing. The ancients often said: External form is easy to judge, spiritual energy is difficult to measure. Zu Ye once said: A true master, when you pass by him, doesn’t need to look at any facial or palm features—your fortune or misfortune, poverty or prosperity, longevity or early death, he knows it all in his heart. A person’s walking, standing, sitting, reclining—every movement everywhere reveals fortune and misfortune. Legend has it that when Li Hongzhang brought three people to Zeng Guofan’s residence seeking employment, they happened upon Zeng Guofan taking a walk in the courtyard. Those three people stood there, and before they had a chance to speak, Zeng Guofan merely glanced at them and said to Li Hongzhang: “The one on the left can be used in minor capacity; the one in the middle cannot be used; the one on the right can be used in important capacity.” Zeng Guofan, just by looking at their standing posture and eye expression, made this conclusion. Later, history validated Zeng Guofan’s judgment—the person on the right was none other than the later famous first Governor of Taiwan, Liu Mingchuan. Before Zeng Guofan died, he compiled his research on physiognomy into a book—”Ice Mirror”—which was precisely the textbook Xu Huaijin and others were now studying.

Before Zu Ye, Xu Huaijin was still a novice, but he remained unconvinced and asked Zu Ye an extremely challenging question in the destiny-reading world: “Sir, then in your view, what is the accuracy level of Eight Characters fortune prediction?”

After hearing this, Zu Ye smiled slightly and said: “I’ve already mentioned this earlier. Eight Characters, when all is said and done, is a person’s birthday, composed of four groups of heavenly stems and earthly branches from the year, month, day, and hour of birth. Each group has two characters, making eight characters total, hence called Eight Characters. Because it’s constructed from four pillars—year, month, day, and hour—it’s also called Four Pillars. Eight Character fortune-telling is also called Four Pillar fortune-telling. It was originally created by Tang Dynasty advanced scholar Li Xuzhong, but at that time it was only Three Pillar fortune-telling, considering only a person’s birth year, birth month, and birth day, not considering birth hour. During the Song Dynasty, Xu Ziping discovered the insufficiency of Three Pillar destiny analysis and developed Three Pillars into Four Pillars, incorporating a person’s birth hour into consideration as well. Only then did Eight Character fortune-telling truly take shape. Due to Xu Ziping’s enormous contribution, Eight Character fortune-telling was respectfully called the Art of Ziping. The reason for this historic leap was that Xu Ziping considered that too many people were born in the same year, same month, same day. If birth hour wasn’t included in consideration, then people born on the same day would all have identical Three Pillars, meaning identical fates—which would obviously be too absurd! By incorporating the hour, people born on the same day were further divided into twelve time periods. Different hours would lead to different fortunes and misfortunes, making analysis more detailed and accurate. But is this perfect? Not at all! Many people are also born in the same hour. Their Eight Characters are identical—does that mean their fates are identical? Of course not! Therefore, in my humble opinion, if one hour could be further refined, refined to a specific quarter-hour, accuracy would advance another level. However, that wouldn’t be Eight Character fortune-telling anymore, but Ten Character fortune-telling! Of course, this only considers the time element and hasn’t yet considered the spatial element. The geographical environment of birth also has major impact on destiny. Sir, think about it—at this very moment, how many people are being born across the vast Chinese land? These people have identical Eight Characters, but their birth environments differ vastly. Some in the warm, humid regions of Jiangnan, some in the harsh cold lands beyond the Great Wall. Terrain, sunlight, temperature all differ—naturally their fates won’t be the same! Therefore, in my view, Eight Characters are merely an overview. Only by combining them with feng shui and physiognomy can one achieve greater accuracy!”

After Zu Ye finished speaking, he quietly observed Xu Huaijin. Xu Huaijin was already convinced. He stood up and bowed deeply. “Sir deeply understands the principles of the Changes, your learning spans ancient and modern times. I admire you, truly admire you!”

After speaking, he contemplated for a moment, then bowed deeply to Zu Ye again. “Sir, I have a request. Please instruct me.”

Zu Ye said calmly: “Please speak, sir.”

Xu Huaijin said: “My department is about to undergo organizational restructuring in the near future. I still wish to advance further. I wonder if you could employ your mystical methods to assist me? I will certainly reward you handsomely!”

Zu Ye contemplated for a moment, then let out a sigh.

Seeing this, Xu Huaijin quickly pressed: “Sir, why do you sigh? Could it be my destiny shows inauspicious omens? Or…”

Zu Ye said: “Those who study the Changes value honesty. I must tell you truthfully.”

Xu Huaijin said: “Precisely so. Sir, please speak freely!”

Zu Ye said: “This year, your fate encounters petty people. There are always people causing trouble behind your back, preventing you from having peace of mind!”

Xu Huaijin said: “Absolutely correct! They’re all wolf-hearted, dog-lunged creatures. Calling each other brothers openly, stabbing knives in the back secretly. Detestable! Detestable!”

This was all information conveyed by Hua Yuerong. These past few days, after their intimate encounters, Xu Huaijin would embrace Hua Yuerong and curse the sinister cunning of his Military Intelligence colleagues. Actually, even without Hua Yuerong conveying information, Zu Ye could have guessed roughly. The people within Military Intelligence were of mixed quality, black and white intermingled, with open strife and covert struggles—this was no secret. The wonderful thing about this was that the person involved was confused. Xu Huaijin daily calculated to guard against colleagues around him, never imagining that outside Military Intelligence, mysteries also lurked.

Zu Ye continued: “If you wish to rise steadily, to be promoted one rank, you must do two things. Otherwise, not only will you fail to advance, you’ll also face official disaster.”

Xu Huaijin quickly asked: “Which two things? Please instruct me, sir!”

Zu Ye seemed about to speak but stopped, shook his head, sighed again, and said to himself: “Impossible, impossible.”

Xu Huaijin grew somewhat anxious. “Sir, please speak freely. How much expenditure is needed?”

Zu Ye smiled: “It’s not about money, it’s… Sir, you’ve also researched mystical arts. Have you heard of the theory of absorbing yin to supplement yang?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Huaijin’s face reddened. “This… I’ve heard of this. It’s achieving yin-yang balance through male-female union. It’s mentioned in ‘Thousand Gold Prescriptions.’ What does sir mean?”

Zu Ye said: “The essence of this method lies in taking a virgin’s innate yin to supplement a man’s acquired yang. Your Eight Characters’ Four Pillars are pure yang, yang energy excessive. This year is also a year of vigorous yang energy. Extreme prosperity leads to decline. You must find a virgin body to unite with. Through yin-yang harmonization, official position can be attained. However, matters between men and women require mutual willingness. You absolutely must not force anyone, otherwise you’ll violate heavenly principle—better not to do it at all!”

Upon hearing this, Xu Huaijin was secretly delighted. “Heaven truly helps me—Yue’er is a virgin!” But he didn’t say this aloud. He still maintained a righteous appearance and said: “Yes, yes, sir speaks correctly. Such matters cannot be forced. How could I harm a respectable young lady for my own selfish interests? I’ll slowly search. If Heaven helps me, I’ll certainly encounter such a person. If Heaven doesn’t help me, I’ll accept it.” Though his mouth said this, his heart had long blossomed with joy.

Zu Ye watched his behavior and secretly laughed inside. He continued: “Moreover, if one day Heaven favors you and you encounter such a woman, you must pay attention—after intercourse, warn the woman not to go near water for one year, otherwise her life will be in danger!”

Xu Huaijin was startled: “What does this mean?”

Zu Ye said: “After a woman’s innate yin energy is completely released, it needs to slowly recover. To give an analogy, it’s like tender sprouts under scorching sun—after many days of burning exposure, water energy consumed dry, parched to the extreme. At this time, water is needed, but it must be a slow trickle, gradually moistening. Otherwise, if flooded with torrential water, not only won’t it save its life, it will die in reverse reaction. Water at the extreme yin is supreme. After intercourse, a woman must stay away from great rivers and large waters, otherwise her life is in grave danger! Remember this, remember!”

Upon hearing this, Xu Huaijin broke out in cold sweat. “So serious! I’ve noted it! Sir, you just mentioned two things. The other one is…”

Zu Ye smiled and said: “The other matter is simpler. It won’t harm human life. It’s all about accumulating virtue and goodness. In your destiny, fire force is intense and needs wet earth to contain the fire energy. The twelve earthly branches each correspond to zodiac animals—the so-called Rat of Zi, Ox of Chou, Tiger of Yin, Rabbit of Mao, Dragon of Chen, Snake of Si, Horse of Wu, Sheep of Wei, Monkey of Shen, Rooster of You, Dog of Xu, Pig of Hai. Among these twelve zodiac animals, the ox belongs to wet earth in the Five Elements. You can take the number fifty as derived from Heaven and Earth’s great expansion, raising fifty oxen. Don’t let them labor in plowing anymore or suffer whipping. Don’t slaughter them for meat either. Feed them fodder daily and let them die natural deaths. If you can fulfill this wish, not only will your official fortune prosper, you can also add to your lifespan!”

Xu Huaijin asked: “How is this so?”

Zu Ye said: “The six realms of beings each have spiritual nature. Look at the character structure of ‘ox’ and ‘dog’—ox is within prison, dog is beside jail. People who slaughter and eat these two animals all come to bad ends. They don’t live long in life, and descend to hell after death. You not only refrain from eating them but rescue them—naturally your lifespan increases and official fortune prospers!”

Xu Huaijin suddenly understood. “Sir’s compassion is admirable! However, in these chaotic times of war, to suddenly gather fifty oxen for raising is… not an easy matter.”

Zu Ye nodded: “It depends on human effort. You can send your subordinates to look at the livestock market, but one point—transactions must be honest, no plundering, otherwise you’re creating negative karma!”

Xu Huaijin nodded repeatedly. “Sir, rest assured! Thank you for your guidance!” He took out a stack of bills to give Zu Ye.

Zu Ye waved his hand: “No need. When you achieve success and fame in the future, it won’t be too late to express thanks.”

Xu Huaijin was completely speechless.

Actually, the livestock market during the Republican period wasn’t prosperous to begin with. After the war against Japan, it became even more depressed. For this scheme, within one month Zhang Enrui sent dozens of small-time operatives throughout the Jianghuai region going door-to-door buying calves. Calf costs were relatively lower compared to mature oxen, so expenses weren’t large. Later, seeing the date approaching, they couldn’t worry about so much anymore and began purchasing mature oxen too. Finally, they simply resorted to stealing. In the end, they barely managed to gather several dozen oxen before Zu Ye made his move. Then they had scam artists pose as livestock traders, leading ox calves to wander daily near the livestock market. At the same time, they contacted local gangs to temporarily drive out the “donkey-ass pokers” from the livestock market, sending scam artists to pose as “donkey-ass pokers” themselves.

“Donkey-ass poker” was underworld slang for the middlemen between buyers and sellers in the livestock market. Because buyers and sellers didn’t know each other, the livestock market waters ran too deep, with too many secret codes and illicit dealings. Both buyers and sellers dared not rashly negotiate. Over time, an intermediary group coordinating buyer-seller relationships emerged. They served as middlemen, balancing both parties’ interests, then taking a commission after reaching agreement.

The scam artists acted as “donkey-ass pokers.” This way, both sellers and middlemen were their own people, achieving maximum profit.

Though Xu Huaijin could gather human intelligence as easily as turning his hand, gathering livestock market intelligence was beyond his expertise. Normally he didn’t concern himself with this.

During that period, livestock market conditions suddenly changed, prices rising repeatedly. Xu Huaijin expended a very large sum of secret service funds before barely purchasing fifty oxen. He enclosed a plot of land in the suburbs, hired several laborers, and had them feed the oxen daily. After completing all this, he himself found it laughable. At night lying in bed chatting with Hua Yuerong: “Yue’er, don’t you think this matter is absurd? If word of this gets out, won’t people laugh their heads off?”

Hua Yuerong said: “What’s absurd about it? Matters concerning fate—better to believe it exists than not. My father didn’t believe this gentleman, which led to family destruction and death. Speaking of absurd, those officials of yours are truly absurd. Didn’t you say your superior, that Director Dai, has changed his name over a dozen times? And that Chairman Chiang—every place he establishes military camp, he must check feng shui…”

“Enough, enough, my little aunt, don’t speak of these matters to outsiders. They’re all classified.” Xu Huaijin interrupted Hua Yuerong’s words, pulled her into his embrace, and the two became intimate.

Xu Huaijin suddenly remembered Zu Ye’s warning and quickly said to Hua Yuerong: “Yue’er, this year you absolutely must not go to the riverside. Sir said only after entering summer next year may you approach water.”

Hua Yuerong smiled and said: “Are you afraid I’ll drown?”

Xu Huaijin said: “Don’t talk nonsense! What dying and such! Inauspicious!”

How could he know that according to Zhang Enrui and Zu Ye’s plan, Hua Yuerong had to “die” once? Otherwise, she couldn’t extricate herself and would more easily expose the scheme. Thus, when Xu Huaijin went to supervise affairs in the neighboring town, Hua Yuerong went shopping with Xu Huaijin’s female servant. She said she was pregnant and wanted to go to the riverside fish market to buy carp to release, hoping her and Xu Huaijin’s child could one day “leap through the dragon gate like a carp.” The female servant couldn’t stop her despite trying desperately, so she had to accompany her.

Zhang Enrui had already arranged small-time operatives to stake out at the fish market. That day the river happened to be at high tide. Just as Hua Yuerong and the servant stood at the riverside releasing fish, a commotion broke out in the fish market—apparently someone was stealing fish. Suddenly, a group of people appeared from nowhere, swarming over with chasing and fighting. Both Hua Yuerong and the servant were knocked into the river. When the servant was rescued ashore, Hua Yuerong had long disappeared in the surging river waters.

The servant ran home stumbling and crawling, frantically calling Xu Huaijin. Xu Huaijin rushed back like a madman. Facing the rolling river waters, everything was too late, everything was gone. He stood at the riverside, cried until his tears ran dry, ready to die himself.

For several consecutive months, Xu Huaijin couldn’t summon any energy. Hua Yuerong’s every smile, every frown, was deeply imprinted in his mind. Hua Yuerong had left, taking his heart with her. Every day he would come to the riverside to wander for a while. At night, lying in bed gazing at the empty ceiling, he recalled every day and night with Hua Yuerong. Thinking of emotional moments, tears couldn’t help but fill his eyes again.

He planned to care well for Hua Yuerong’s “mother” from now on. He wanted to fulfill his promise to “Yue’er.” How could he know that “mother” would also be unable to bear the pain of losing her daughter and would “throw herself in the river.”

The scheme ended. All the people had to withdraw. Except for those fifty oxen, eating their fodder alone, Xu Huaijin had nothing.

After Hua Yuerong and that old female scam artist returned to the hall, they laid low for several days. Zhang Enrui and Zu Ye began hosting celebration banquets for them.

Having been separated so long, Zhang Enrui truly missed Hua Yuerong. After the meal, Zhang Enrui kept Hua Yuerong behind, hugging her tightly. “Yue’er, this time we owe much to you.”

Hua Yuerong gave a bitter laugh: “Why has Grand Master suddenly become so polite? This is killing this junior.”

Zhang Enrui said: “Yue’er, do you know what I’m doing with all this money I swindled this time?”

Hua Yuerong said: “Isn’t it all for the livelihood of the hall’s brothers?”

Zhang Enrui smiled and said: “Yes, that’s correct, but this time it’s for the brothers’ long-term livelihood.”

Hua Yuerong asked strangely: “Long-term?”

Zhang Enrui said: “Yes, this is our last job!”

Hua Yuerong was shocked: “Last?”

Zhang Enrui said: “Don’t you often ask me when I’ll marry you, when we can leave all this right and wrong and live happily? We can soon leave all this right and wrong, leave all of this, change our way of living, live openly and honestly.”

Hua Yuerong sat up in shock from Zhang Enrui’s embrace. “I don’t understand what you’re saying?”

Zhang Enrui said: “The fraudster life isn’t a long-term plan. After Jiu Ye died, I decided to wash my hands of it. I’m going to join Li Jishen to fight against Japan. All this money swindled this time will be used to buy guns and ammunition. In a few days I’ll lay everything out with everyone. Those willing to follow me, I’ll take them all. Those unwilling will all be cut off… I’ll take you with me, treat you well from now on, marry you formally…” Speaking to here, Zhang Enrui tightly gripped Hua Yuerong’s hand, his eyes moistening.

Hua Yuerong fell silent.

“What? Aren’t you happy? We’re about to walk the proper path. You’re about to become my wife. I won’t let you live in fear anymore.” Zhang Enrui looked deeply at Hua Yuerong and said.

Hua Yuerong said heavily: “Happy, happy.”

Zhang Enrui slowly removed Hua Yuerong’s clothes and leaned over her…

Once a woman’s heart changes, everything in bed changes flavor. This feeling can’t be described, but can be felt. After the tossing about ended, Zhang Enrui leaned against the headboard, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, slowly exhaled, and said: “You’re not right.”

Hua Yuerong neither objected nor spoke. After a long silence, she said: “What’s not right?”

Zhang Enrui said: “You’re still in the scheme.”

Hua Yuerong gave another bitter laugh. “Aren’t we in schemes every day?”

Zhang Enrui took a deep drag on his cigarette and exhaled. Smoke rings spiraled upward. Neither person spoke. The room was completely silent. After a long time, Zhang Enrui said: “Speak it out, speak it out.”

Hua Yuerong bit her lip, contemplated for a while, lowered her head and said haltingly: “Can I… live on my own? I want nothing. I won’t say anything either.”

Zhang Enrui’s hand trembled. Long cigarette ash fell to the ground. Another stretch of silence. Hua Yuerong still kept her head lowered. After a while, Zhang Enrui said haltingly: “These years… you’ve suffered much hardship following me… If you have some choice, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my great undertaking, I… will let you go.”

Hua Yuerong suddenly raised her head, stared at Zhang Enrui, and said: “You’ll let me go?”

Zhang Enrui frowned tightly, not speaking.

Hua Yuerong suddenly fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face: “Please let me go! Please let me go! I swear I’ll never speak of these matters! I’ll let these things rot in my belly! Never speak of them for my entire life! I only ask to be with him, I only ask to be with him!”

Zhang Enrui was stunned, looking at Hua Yuerong. After a long time, he said: “Get up, get up. Speak properly, tell me what happened. I’ll let you go.”

Hua Yuerong looked at Zhang Enrui doubtfully. Zhang Enrui smiled slightly: “Don’t be afraid. Speak.”

Hua Yuerong hardened her heart and told from beginning to end everything buried in her heart. She spoke of how Xu Huaijin sincerely treated her, how she involuntarily fell in love with Xu Huaijin. She spoke for a long, long time… Finally, with tears flowing, she said: “I’ve wronged you, I’ve wronged you. This time I can’t extricate myself, can’t extricate myself. I won’t speak of these matters in the future, absolutely won’t speak of them! The hall is disbanding. I won’t interfere with your great undertaking. I only ask you to let me go!”

Zhang Enrui listened quietly, no expression on his face. Finally, he asked softly: “So you’re saying… you truly fell in love with him?”

Hua Yuerong nodded deeply. Zhang Enrui closed both eyes. Tears slid down.

Hua Yuerong didn’t speak. She silently withdrew from Zhang Enrui’s room, returned to her own quarters, took out brush and ink, wrote a letter she knew could never be sent, placed it under her pillow after finishing, arranged her hair before the mirror, then lay on the bed, resting her head on this letter and happily closed her eyes.

Before dawn, a gunshot rang out. The silent night sky trembled with it. Hua Yuerong died. No one knew whether Zhang Enrui acted from considerations of the greater cause or personal resentment. In any case, he personally killed the woman he loved most. Even less did anyone know whether Hua Yuerong had truly fallen asleep before death. She just lay there quietly. Perhaps she heard Zhang Enrui’s footsteps, heard even more clearly the sound of his trigger being pulled. She didn’t dodge. She had nowhere to dodge. Though the world was vast, there was no place for her.

Many years later, when Zu Ye spoke of this scheme again, he was always filled with sighs. Who was good, who was bad, who was in the scheme, who was outside it—Zu Ye couldn’t say clearly, Zhang Enrui couldn’t say clearly either, and Xu Huaijin even less so. Hua Yuerong left, taking with her a lifetime of suffering, endless love that couldn’t be severed, completely gone.

After the Japanese army invaded, Zu Ye sent people to distribute those oxen to local villagers. During the anti-Japanese resistance stalemate stage, these oxen were hitched to carts by villagers, helping transport Chinese army wounded soldiers withdrawn from the front lines. Zu Ye sighed with emotion: “People raise oxen for three years, oxen repay people for a lifetime. The reward of good and evil is fundamentally simple—why is it that between people, there’s always cutting that can’t be severed, straightening that remains tangled!”

Later, Zu Ye heard that Xu Huaijin had parted ways with Military Intelligence and was hunted as a result. He fled to Hong Kong, after which there was no more news.

After swindling the money, Zhang Enrui recruited soldiers and bought horses, raised forces to maneuver against the Military Statistics Bureau. It’s said he successively assassinated multiple trusted confidants under Dai Li. Later, Zhang Enrui joined Li Jishen in opposing Chiang and resisting Japan. After the full-scale war against Japan broke out, Zhang Enrui repeatedly requested to go to the front lines. In the 1940 Guinan Campaign, a bullet pierced through his chest. Before dying, he left a last wish—after cremation, his ashes should be transported back to his hometown and buried beside a solitary grave named “Hua Yuerong.”

This honey trap was the first time the Jiang Xiang Sect directly engaged with the Nationalist Military Statistics Bureau. Fortunately, the Military Intelligence agents never detected it and didn’t provoke retaliation. Fengzi Shou wanted to avenge Jiu Ye, and Zu Ye also wanted to avenge Jiu Ye. Through this method, Zu Ye gave Fengzi Shou an explanation and also taught him a vivid lesson. From this, Fengzi Shou understood one principle: Those who accomplish great things must not display momentary bravery. Anyone can risk their life—what’s one life worth?

As Military Intelligence influence expanded daily in China, Zu Ye anticipated that one day the Jiang Xiang Sect would meet the Military Statistics Bureau on a narrow road. But he never imagined this day would come so quickly, so unexpectedly.