Zu Ye Relocates the Council Back to Shanghai

Amid the complex and chaotic wartime situation, Zu Ye assessed the circumstances and in one decisive move relocated the council back to Jianghuai in 1943! At the same time, Chinese military forces and civilians began their strategic counteroffensive against the Japanese army. In 1945, Mao Zedong published “The Final Battle Against the Japanese Invaders,” launching a full-scale counteroffensive in the War of Resistance. On August 15th, the Japanese Emperor announced unconditional surrender.

At that moment, Zuo Yongchan of “Tian Sheng Dao” panicked, Jiang Tiancheng of “Shun Tian Jiao” panicked, and the “Huidaomen” of Shandong also panicked. Several protectors under Zuo Yongchan contemplated dividing up the assets and each seeking their own way out.

Zuo Yongchan flew into a rage: “Damn it! ‘Tian Sheng Dao’ has been around for so many years, and you want to disband just like that? So what if the devils lost? Every dynasty needs great masters! Hasn’t the Kuomintang come back? I’ll take them down just the same, I’m still ‘Jianghuai’s Number One Great Master’!”

The protectors thought to themselves: Stop bragging, times have changed! The devils are gone, and what comes next is settling accounts with traitors! You’re not afraid of death, but we don’t want to die with you!

That night, several protectors quietly crept into Zuo Yongchan’s room and stabbed the sleeping Zuo Yongchan to death with a knife, then took all the gold and silver and scattered in all directions!

Poor Master Zuo Yongchan, after struggling for half his lifetime, first lost a leg, and ultimately was assassinated by his own disciples. The “Tian Sheng Dao” that Zhang Jiyao had single-handedly established also completely collapsed in his hands. He could only hobble on his crutches to the underworld to apologize to his teacher.

Zu Ye’s organization reopened for business. That night, Zu Ye hosted a banquet for all the Batous, filled with emotion.

“Ten years ago, the Jianghuai region was divided among three powers: ‘Mu Zi Lian,’ ‘Mei Hua Hui,’ and ‘Tian Sheng Dao.’ Now only ‘Mu Zi Lian’ stands alone in its excellence—this is Heaven’s will and also the people’s will. Now that peace has returned to the land, our days should be easier!” After speaking, Zu Ye emotionally composed a poem:

*Seeking the Dao*

*Years spent seeking the Dao, yet the Dao remains elusive,*

*Having seen all manner of things, all are inferior.*

*One palm turns yin and yang to virtuous fruit,*

*In this vast world exist myriad gates.*

“Excellent!” San Batou led the applause, and all the brothers stood up to applaud.

The next day, Zu Ye wore a brand-new robe onto the streets. After six years away, Shanghai had changed its appearance. Traces of Japanese occupation remained: wall slogans promoting the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, strongpoint defense lines stationed at intersections, ominously towering concentration camps, Japanese civilians who hadn’t had time to evacuate. However, these Japanese people were no longer arrogant and domineering, but instead were hiding here and there, afraid of catching a Chinese person’s blade in the dark.

Zu Ye kept shaking his head and sighing. He suddenly thought of Nishida Yoshiko and the words she said before dying: War not only harms the other side but also harms oneself.

At this moment, from a corner not far away, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old young man was quietly watching Zu Ye, secretly following behind him.

Liu Batou and Er Batou followed behind Zu Ye but didn’t notice. Zu Ye was careless, and the Batous were careless too. Everyone thought that with the devils surrendering and the Jianghuai traitor “Huidaomen” disbanded, there were no more enemies, so they all relaxed their vigilance and strolled leisurely.

That fellow observed for a while, slowly approached, and while walking pulled out a bowl from his waist. Walking up to Zu Ye, he said: “Sir, spare a couple of coins…”

Zu Ye smiled and lowered his head to reach for money. Unexpectedly, the fellow suddenly whipped out a sharp knife from his sleeve and fiercely stabbed at Zu Ye. Zu Ye instinctively blocked with his hand—his arm was pierced through, and fresh blood immediately stained his clothing. Liu Batou and Er Batou behind him rushed forward upon seeing this and instantly knocked the fellow to the ground.

“Don’t kill him! Keep him alive!” Zu Ye looked around and said quietly, “Take him back to the council for interrogation!”

At the council, the steward bandaged Zu Ye’s wound. Zu Ye sat in a chair carefully examining the young man, as if he had seen him somewhere before but couldn’t remember.

“Do we know each other?” Zu Ye asked.

“I know you!” the fellow said loudly.

“Do we have a grudge?” Zu Ye asked in surprise.

“The hatred of a father’s murder cannot be shared under the same sky!” the fellow shouted.

“Murder of your father?” Zu Ye was stunned. “May I ask who your esteemed father was?”

“My father was Mei Xuanzi, my mother Gai Xia!” the fellow said.

“Ah?” Zu Ye was greatly shocked. Looking at this fellow more carefully, no wonder he looked familiar! In 1934, when Mei Xuanzi had invited Zu Ye to the West Asia Restaurant to discuss cooperation, he had left this boy in Zu Ye’s council care. At that time, he was only five years old.

“Quickly untie him, he’s my sworn nephew!” Zu Ye thought of his sworn brother Mei Xuanzi, hence called his son sworn nephew.

Da Batou was stunned. Zu Ye repeated: “Quickly untie him!”

The fellow was also confused: “Who’s your nephew? You caused my father’s death!”

Zu Ye didn’t know why he said this, but still had Da Batou untie him, then said: “Your father and I were sworn brothers. We went to the island together to set up the scheme against the Japanese. Your father unfortunately perished—I was deeply pained!”

“Hmph, crocodile tears! It was that very time when you caused my father’s death!”

“Nephew, why do you say this!” Zu Ye asked urgently.

“Why didn’t you die?! Why didn’t your brothers die? Why did only my father die? And without even remains left!”

Zu Ye was startled: “Your father and I were sworn brothers—your mother knows this too. We went to the island together to set up the scheme. Your father was killed by a Japanese bomb. I was extremely pained…”

“You liar! You still have the face to mention my mother? My parents fell for your trick! Going to the island with you, in the end Father died, and Mother was captured by the Japanese, living in shame and disgrace…”

“Your mother is still alive?” Zu Ye quickly asked.

“So you were hoping our whole family would die! ‘Mei Hua Hui’ threatened your ‘Jiang Xiang Sect,’ so you wanted to exterminate us completely, right?”

Zu Ye’s temper flared. He walked over and grabbed the fellow by the collar, about to slap him. He raised his hand, then slowly lowered it. The fellow’s features were too much like Mei Xuanzi’s—Zu Ye couldn’t bear it.

“Your mother is…” Zu Ye asked.

“You want to ask how my mother survived? Of course it was because of my father! Because my father died, the Japanese believed my parents weren’t allied with the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’! Mother said that day all the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ people escaped by boat and abandoned them. What shared loyalty, what living and dying together—all bullshit!”

“So that’s how it was…” Zu Ye nodded after hearing this. “Like this, you take me to see your mother, and I’ll explain this matter!”

“Hahaha!” The fellow laughed wildly. “You think I’m a fool? You want to kill my mother too? Today I’ve fallen into your hands—kill me or torture me as you please! If I so much as blink, my name isn’t Mei Liren!”

Zu Ye also laughed: “You’ve got guts! So nephew’s name is Mei Liren—standing in benevolence and walking in the Dao, what a good name! Hehe!”

“Cut the crap with your false familiarity!”

Da Batou and Er Batou on the side were so angry they wanted to slap this fellow a few times, but were stopped by Zu Ye.

“Nephew, it seems we have quite a misunderstanding. Like this—since you’re so clever, think carefully. If I wanted to harm your whole family, would I still be here wasting words with you? Who treats their enemy this well?”

“You want to get my mother’s whereabouts, then eliminate everyone in one sweep,” Mei Liren said.

“Mm, that makes sense. If I were you, I’d think the same. How about this—I’ll give you a gun. You hold it, press it against my back, and go with me to see your mother. If we still can’t clear up the misunderstanding then, you can shoot me dead with one bullet. How’s that?”

“You dare?” Mei Liren immediately perked up hearing this.

“Of course!” Zu Ye answered.

“Zu Ye, absolutely not! This fellow is vicious and ruthless…” The Batous all advised Zu Ye together.

Zu Ye waved his hand, then drew a gun from his waist, removed the cylinder, and shook out the bullets. He said to Mei Liren: “To show my sincerity, watch.” Then, before Mei Liren’s eyes, he loaded the bullets one by one into the chambers. “These are six bullets, a full cylinder, so every shot will fire true. As long as you pull the trigger, I’ll die. Are you satisfied?”

Having said this, he handed the gun to Mei Liren.

“Zu Ye!” The Batous cried out in unison.

Zu Ye waved his hand indicating they should remain calm: “I believe nephew will be like his father—keeping his word, upright and honorable!”

Mei Liren took the gun and weighed it: “Alright, we have a deal.”

The two turned through several alleys and walked a long distance before arriving at Gai Xia’s residence. Zu Ye looked—this was formerly a Japanese-occupied area.

“Mom…” Mei Liren knocked on the door.

A woman came out: “Ah!” Seeing Zu Ye, she cried out in alarm.

“Madam, don’t be afraid!” Zu Ye looked at Gai Xia, who had been through so much hardship, his face full of shame. “I came here to explain the situation to you!”

Mei Liren waved the gun in his hand: “Mom! He can’t escape, don’t be afraid!”

Gai Xia looked around: “Come in and talk!”

“Madam, you’ve wronged me!” After entering, Zu Ye saw Mei Xuanzi’s memorial portrait in the room and quickly offered a stick of incense.

“Wronged you? Hmph,” Gai Xia said with a cold laugh. “Zu Ye is such a clever person—luring us onto the island to cooperate in your scheme, then you escaped while my husband died, and Pei Jinglong died too. Three families in the scheme, two families died, only your family escaped. And I wronged you?”

“Madam, the situation was urgent then. No one knew whether they would live or die. My brothers and I didn’t escape together either. Madam, please hear me out…” Zu Ye recounted the escape experiences of each Batou.

“Zu Ye is eloquent—we’ll just listen for what it’s worth,” Gai Xia didn’t believe him.

Zu Ye thought for a moment and said: “Master Mei was hit by a shell that day. Madam thinks the body washed into the sea, never to be found again. But does Madam know that when I escaped that day, I carried away Master Mei’s body and buried him in a place in Shaoxing? If I wanted to harm you, how could I have thought about Master Mei’s remains in such a critical moment? Madam, please reconsider—Master Mei and I were sworn brothers!”

Hearing this, Gai Xia was stunned. For years, she had believed Mei Xuanzi had been hit by the shell and fed the fish: “Is this true?”

“Madam can go with me to Shaoxing—one look will tell!”

“Wait!” Mei Liren said. “How do I know you won’t set up a fake grave to deceive us?”

Zu Ye looked at him and said: “Nephew makes a good point. At the time, the situation was urgent. After I buried Master Mei, I wanted to erect a tombstone with my sworn brother’s name, but considering safety issues and fearing it would expose Master Mei’s identity, I gave up on that idea…”

“See, see? Isn’t that so? Still setting up a nameless fake grave to fool us!” Mei Liren said.

Zu Ye looked at him again and said: “But I was also afraid it would be difficult to identify later, so I dug a pit in front of Master Mei’s grave and hid an ink stone in it for future verification! On the ink stone I carved my handwriting—’Money green calyx tree, fragrance comes from bitter cold!’ The money green calyx represents the finest plum blossoms. I lamented that Master Mei was noble and upright, like plum blossoms unafraid of cold and hardship—a true gentleman!”

“Is this true?” Gai Xia became excited.

“If there’s half a false word, may Heaven and Earth punish me!”

Soon, Gai Xia, Mei Liren, and Zu Ye’s group arrived in Shaoxing. Fortunately, the Japanese bombing hadn’t affected this place. After ten years of wind and frost, Mei Xuanzi’s grave mound had nearly flattened. Zu Ye forcefully dug up the earth in front of the grave, and an ink stone was revealed. Zu Ye slowly picked it up, wiped the mud off it, and held it up: “Madam, nephew, please look!”

Gai Xia took it—the characters on it matched Zu Ye’s description exactly. “Husband—” Gai Xia cried out in grief and knelt before the grave.

“Father!” Mei Liren also knelt down.

Zu Ye couldn’t help but shed tears either. Scenes from the past revolved in his mind—once separated by the boundary between yin and yang for eternity, ten years of life and death, both boundless and bleak.

After crying, Zu Ye arranged for Da Batou and Er Batou to erect a monument for Mei Xuanzi. Zu Ye personally wrote the epitaph for his sworn brother, and on the front of the tombstone, Mei Xuanzi’s name was carved according to Zu Ye’s handwriting.

Afterward, Gai Xia said to Zu Ye: “‘Mei Hua Hui’ is no more, but the Plum Blossom Daoist Temple still exists. I want to become a nun, cultivate virtue at my husband’s temple, and finish out my remaining years.”

Zu Ye nodded: “If there are difficulties, you can come find me at my residence anytime.”

Gai Xia also said to Zu Ye: “My son is young and impetuous, but his good nature is not yet lost. I hope Zu Ye will look after him.”

Zu Ye nodded repeatedly: “Madam can rest assured. I will treat nephew as my own son and definitely won’t let him go down the wrong path!”

After Gai Xia left, Mei Liren requested to formally join the “Jiang Xiang Sect.”

Zu Ye sighed deeply: “You can do anything, and I’ll support you in everything—except you cannot join the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’!”

“Why not? Isn’t it about carrying out Heaven’s will?”

Zu Ye laughed bitterly: “Hehe, when I was your age, I was the same as you. Now that the war is over, your fate is better than mine. Study well! Which school do you want to attend? I’ll support you.”

“But I’m slow at learning.”

“Practice makes perfect. Smart people don’t necessarily have wisdom—great talents often mature late! Your father’s heroic sacrifice for the country will surely result in merit that will bless his descendants.”

“Oh.”

Zu Ye looked at the thin and gaunt Mei Liren and suddenly had a new idea: “Want to go abroad?”

“Go abroad? To do what?” Mei Liren had never thought of this.

“Listen, let me tell you—why did Japan dare invade China? Because it was advanced, had good weapons. It’s like two households—the better-off one bullies the worse-off one. Being backward means getting beaten. Look at this Shanghai Bund—where is it most prosperous? The ten-mile foreign settlement! Because those are all buildings constructed by foreigners. Banks, securities—these things were all brought by foreigners! And those gramophones, phonographs, movie projectors—these fun things were all invented by foreigners. So you must also learn these things. Once you’ve learned them, return to China and make these things for the common people. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Zu Ye said.

“Mm! Now that you put it that way, I find it interesting! I love tinkering with gramophones and cameras! I’ve always dreamed of having my own camera! Before when I worked for a master at a photo studio, the master wouldn’t even let me touch it!” Mei Liren said excitedly.

“So you need to go learn. After you’ve learned well, return to China and open your own photo studio! Then you can take pictures for me.”

“It’s a deal!” Mei Liren said with a smile.

“It’s a deal!”

“Uncle, which country should I go to?” Mei Liren suddenly asked.

“Nanyang, Britain, America—you pick whichever, and I’ll find a way to send you there!”

Mei Liren thought for a moment and said: “Then America! I heard America has some kind of atomic bomb that blew up several hundred thousand Japanese people at once. I’ll go there and learn, come back and make a few. If the Japanese ever invade us again, we’ll throw them at the little devils!”

“Hehehehe,” Zu Ye was amused. “Good! Good!”

One month later, one evening, Zu Ye wrote a letter and handed it to Mei Liren, saying: “Tomorrow I’ll buy you a boat ticket. When you get there, someone will naturally meet you. At that time, give this letter to them, and they’ll arrange your lodging and studies.”

“Uncle, I’ll come back to see you and Mom…” Mei Liren took the letter, and his eyes suddenly reddened.

“A great man has his ambitions in all directions. Don’t cry. Be like your father—dare to venture, dare to act, and have a kind heart. Don’t disgrace the Chinese people!”

“I’ll remember.”

Mei Liren left. Several months later, Zu Ye received a return letter from him. After reading it, Zu Ye was filled with emotion.

*Mom, Uncle:*

*I trust this letter finds you well!*

*Upon opening this letter, I wish you health. After I arrived in America, Auntie Liaoliao received me. I feel America is especially good—you can’t imagine how developed it is here, you can’t imagine how advanced the industrial system and educational system are here! There’s a kind of meat patty made with ground beef and onions called a hamburger. I also drank that beverage called “Coca-Cola” that I saw rich people drinking in Shanghai.*

*There are also many Chinese gathering areas here. Since I can’t speak English, I often only play with Chinese people. Auntie Liaoliao told me that if I want to integrate into America and learn more knowledge, I must learn English well. So I started learning English. Auntie Liaoliao is very capable—her English is especially fluent, and she forces me to speak English with her every time.*

*Auntie Liaoliao found me a school specializing in photographic arts. The teacher who gives us lessons is a journalist who took many photos in China during the War of Resistance exposing Japanese crimes. I heard he even won the “Pulitzer Prize for Journalism.”*

*Mom, Uncle, I finally have my own camera! Auntie Liaoliao paid for it, but I’ve decided that when I earn money in the future, I’ll definitely repay Auntie. In America, people emphasize the spirit of “contract.” I reached an agreement with Auntie Liaoliao—the money Auntie lends me, I must repay in the future. Otherwise, I will no longer accept Auntie’s assistance. Auntie agreed to my request.*

*Mom, Uncle, do you know? The better life is in America, the more I miss you. Before when I was in China, I never had a concept of country or awareness of patriotism, but now I do. I’m not afraid you’ll laugh at me—I really want to learn good skills and return to use my abilities to change the face of my hometown. I want more children to know that besides poverty and war, this world also has beauty and prosperity. I want everyone to eat hamburgers and drink Coca-Cola.*

*Mom, Uncle, I can’t write anymore. It’s time for my English conversation with Auntie Liaoliao again. Finally, I want to say in English: Mom, Uncle, I love you!*

*Take care of yourselves. I’ll return to China to see you.*

*Oh, right—Auntie Liaoliao asked me to send her regards to Uncle. She asked me to tell Uncle that she already has two daughters. The elder daughter’s Chinese name is Hu Aizhong, the second daughter is Hu Aihua, and their family of four lives very happily. In addition to formal American classroom education, Auntie Liaoliao personally supplements lessons in “Di Zi Gui” and “Liao Fan’s Four Lessons” for her two daughters every day.*

*Liren*

*January 6, 1946*

Seeing the letter mention “Di Zi Gui” and “Liao Fan’s Four Lessons,” Zu Ye knew Huang Farong had completely awakened. Reading to the end, Zu Ye’s eyes filled with tears, but the corners of his mouth showed a trace of gratified smile.

## The Discourse Between Two Great Fortune Tellers of the Republican Era

When Zu Ye delivered this letter to Gai Xia at the Plum Blossom Daoist Temple, Gai Xia held the letter and couldn’t stop crying. The two went to Mei Xuanzi’s grave once more, read the letter to the long-sleeping Mei Xuanzi beneath the earth, and then burned the letter before the grave. Zu Ye sighed: “Brother Mei, nephew is humble and studious. In the future he will surely achieve great things. You can rest in peace.”

That night, after Zu Ye returned to the council, his thoughts were myriad. Shanghai had recovered its former prosperity, and moreover, the foreign concessions that had persisted for nearly a hundred years were gone. All over Shanghai were posted portraits of Chiang Kai-shek, with those singing praises everywhere. Various spirit mediums and charlatans swarmed out again. Those drawing fortune-telling slips each established their own signboards, and common people who had survived the catastrophe began entering temples and Daoist shrines to fulfill vows.

“Mu Zi Lian” reemerged, and under the identity of “Patriotic Master” made the front page of Shanghai newspapers. “Mr. Tieban” had returned. “South Yuan, North Wei, East Lewu—the Three Immortals return to consult Zu Ye.” That year Yuan Shuzhan was 65, Wei Qianli was 35, Xu Lewu was 60, and Zu Ye was 44. These four were all nationally famous fortune-telling masters, each summarizing human nature and categorizing human life on their respective paths of fortune-telling.

Zu Ye very much wanted to hear the views of the other three great destiny masters on fortune-telling. For many years, Zu Ye had wanted to visit these distinguished figures. But in the early period, Zu Ye was busy reorganizing the council, and also felt his foundation wasn’t sufficient, so he didn’t dare act rashly. Later he was busy struggling against the “Huidaomen” and the Japanese, wandering displaced, and lost the opportunity. Now Zu Ye had clearly become a recognized master, and moreover a patriotic master. Whether in terms of status or ability, Zu Ye was qualified.

Zu Ye first went to visit Yuan Shuzhan, this 65-year-old senior.

Yuan Shuzhan was an extremely kind person. In his life he most admired two people: one was Fuxi, the founder of the Former Heaven Eight Trigrams; the other was Wu Xun, a pioneer of modern popular education and educator of the poor. Yuan Shuzhan didn’t love wealth—all his money was used for charity. He established an elementary school in his hometown, not only charging no tuition but also distributing writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to poor children for free. During the War of Resistance, because his hometown suffered from warfare, he had no choice but to abandon teaching and flee to the Shanghai foreign settlement to take refuge. When Shanghai people heard a fortune-telling master had come, they all came to seek his counsel.

Later, because too many people came seeking consultations, Yuan Shuzhan had no choice but to have people queue up and wait. Moreover, those seeking consultations had to fill out a form first, writing down their birth date and time before submitting it. After Yuan Shuzhan reviewed it, the consultation seeker would then enter to respectfully hear his guidance.

This prosperity at the fortune-telling studio made the local hoodlums around jealous. This fellow was making so much money—he should share some at least. So every few days petty thugs and hooligans would come to the door threatening: “You’ve made so much—cough some up, otherwise we’ll smash your place!”

Yuan Shuzhan was completely unafraid: “Fine! Smash it and I’ll have peace! I didn’t want to do fortune-telling anyway!”

Hearing this, the hoodlums were at a loss, but soon came up with another dirty trick. They guarded at the fortune-telling studio entrance, and whenever they saw someone come out after having their fortune told, they’d go up and ask: “How was it?”

Generally people would say: “Mm, pretty accurate.”

The hoodlums would immediately say: “Then he didn’t predict you’d have a bloody disaster today?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll beat the hell out of you! Teach you to come give him money again!” Having said this, the hoodlums would swarm forward and beat the common people who came for fortune-telling black and blue.

After this kind of disturbance, Yuan Shuzhan couldn’t take it anymore: What can be done about this?

At this time, Huang Jinrong, one of Shanghai’s Three Tycoons, also heard news of Yuan Shuzhan settling in Shanghai and came to seek his counsel. Yuan Shuzhan helped Huang Jinrong analyze his birth chart with precise accuracy. After listening, Huang Jinrong was filled with endless emotion: “Sir’s mastery of the principles of the I Ching is profound—I’m impressed, impressed!”

Having said this, he was about to take out silver dollars.

Yuan Shuzhan said: “I don’t need the silver dollars. I have a matter to request of you…”

“Please speak, sir!”

Yuan Shuzhan shared his recent troubles.

Upon hearing this, Huang Jinrong became very indignant: “Is there still law? Is there still justice?”

Returning to the gang, Huang Jinrong personally created a painting scroll titled “Hero Standing Alone” and had his subordinates drive a jeep carrying a band, making a clamorous procession all the way to deliver it to Yuan Shuzhan.

When the hoodlums saw this display, they were all scared witless. This fortune-teller was buddies with the Green Gang boss—they were finished, this time they’d bitten off more than they could chew! So they all came to Yuan Shuzhan’s fortune-telling studio to beg for mercy.

Yuan Shuzhan knew how to handle people well. Not only did he not reproach them, he smiled and said: “Gentlemen are all forest heroes, you just robbed the wrong place. The money I earn here all has its purpose—part for the war effort, part for building schools. So please, heroes, show mercy.” Having said this, he took out some silver dollars. “I don’t have much, but each hero take two coins—consider it money to buy wine!” The hoodlums took the money, expressed their gratitude profusely, and then withdrew politely.

This incident spread throughout all of Shanghai, and even Huang Jinrong felt Yuan Shuzhan knew how to handle affairs.

Zu Ye had been away from Shanghai for many years. After returning, he also heard of this matter and admired the old senior Yuan Shuzhan even more. His only worry was that years ago he had created a big publicity stunt in the newspapers with “South Yuan, North Wei, East Lewu—the Three Immortals return to consult Zu Ye.” He didn’t know if Old Master Yuan might harbor displeasure.

Zu Ye arrived at Yuan Shuzhan’s home and knocked on the door. A young woman came out: “Who are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for Old Master Yuan.”

“My master no longer does fortune-telling.”

“Oh, I’m not here for fortune-telling. Please go in and announce that ‘Mr. Tieban’ requests an audience.”

“Please wait a moment.” The young woman went inside.

After a while, the young woman returned: “Sir, please come in.”

Zu Ye’s anxious heart settled, and he quickly followed the young woman inside.

“Greetings to Old Master Yuan, this junior pays his respects.” Upon entering, Zu Ye respectfully saluted Yuan Shuzhan.

Yuan Shuzhan smiled benevolently: “Zu Ye is a rising star of Jianghuai, masterful in divination arts, noble in patriotism—not like us old relics who could only hide in the foreign settlement and compromise.”

“Old Master is too kind, too kind. This junior truly doesn’t deserve such praise. I’ve long heard of Old Master’s great name and always wanted to visit, but helplessly got caught up in warfare, rushing east and west. Having just returned, I’ve come specially to pay my respects today.”

“Zu Ye’s great name—this old fool has long heard it like thunder. The Iron Plate Divine Numbers form their own school. Holding an abacus, you can tell fortunes. Among 520,000 types of birth charts, with a movement of your fingers, you can calculate instantly…”

Zu Ye’s face reddened, and he quickly said: “All empty reputation, all empty reputation. Before… before, this junior was young and impetuous, and with the council newly established, so I made a show of force in the newspapers. If I’ve offended the old senior anywhere, I hope…”

Before Zu Ye could finish, Yuan Shuzhan laughed: “Zu Ye worries too much! Hehe, the waves behind in the Yangtze River push forward the waves ahead, each wave higher than the last. If a person studying the I Ching doesn’t have a broad mind, how can he achieve great mastery of comprehending yin, yang, and all things? I am thus, and in the future Zu Ye must be thus as well. When juniors emerge, you must never be jealous, and mustn’t suppress them—you must nurture and cultivate them. Only this way can Chinese I Ching studies be passed down through generations and flourish!”

After hearing this, Zu Ye admired him immensely in his heart: “Old Master truly has both virtue and skill!”

“What instruction does Zu Ye have in honoring my humble dwelling?” Yuan Shuzhan turned to the main topic.

“I dare not, I dare not. Actually, this junior has come to ask one question, and ask Old Master to teach me…”

“Please speak.”

“Sir, after engaging in destiny studies for so many years, what is your greatest insight?” Zu Ye asked.

“My greatest insight is that yin and yang have fixed numbers, but human life has no constants.”

“Please enlighten me, Old Master.” Zu Ye said humbly.

Yuan Shuzhan nodded and said: “Zu Ye yourself are also a great master of destiny studies and surely know the profundity of the I Ching. All things and matters exist within yin, yang, and the Five Elements. Grasping the patterns of the Five Elements enables one to comprehend the trajectory of human life. Whether it’s Eight Characters, Six Lines, Qi Men, or Six Ren—all paths lead to the same destination, the principles are all the same. Using different methods to tell fortunes for the same person, the results obtained must be the same. Otherwise, wouldn’t one person have two or more destinies? People are born receiving the qi of the Five Elements. The Five Elements have patterns, so human life must have patterns. This is called yin and yang having fixed numbers, and it’s also the source and value of the I Ching’s existence. But does having these fixed numbers mean human destiny becomes unchangeable? The answer is no. You and I have both told fortunes for decades—don’t we often encounter such situations? According to the I Ching, when telling someone’s fortune, you predict great disaster in a certain year, but that year they’re safe and sound? Or you predict someone should make great wealth in a certain year and month, but they don’t make wealth, or only make a small fortune?”

Zu Ye nodded: “Yes. Every fortune-teller has encountered this situation.”

“Then has Zu Ye summarized the relevant patterns—why does this situation occur?” Yuan Shuzhan asked in return.

Zu Ye nodded deeply again: “I have summarized it. Those whose destiny trajectories change are nothing more than two types of people: one is those of great goodness, one is those of great evil. Those of great goodness can turn misfortune to blessing even when encountering danger, and encounter auspiciousness even when meeting difficulty. But those of great evil, even wealth and blessings they should have in their destiny, will gradually diminish as they commit evil deeds, until finally they have nothing!”

“Hehe.” Yuan Shuzhan smiled kindly. “Since Zu Ye has already glimpsed through life’s mysteries, why come ask me?”

“Is this the reason Old Master no longer tells fortunes?” Zu Ye asked another question.

“It’s one of the reasons. Saying I don’t tell fortunes—actually I’ve created this cause, and for a time can’t escape it. There are always visitors at the door. I have my disciple go out to turn them away, but if we really can’t turn them away, I can only receive them. Zu Ye, those of us in this profession all know that those who come for fortune-telling are nothing more than three types: one is those who’ve suffered major trauma, two is those obsessed with fame and fortune, three is those with nowhere else to turn. So no matter what, we must counsel them—let the despondent person regain courage, let the arrogant person understand restraint.”

“Old Master’s teaching is correct.” Zu Ye nodded.

Yuan Shuzhan lifted his head, looked out the window, and said with endless emotion: “This thing called fortune-telling—no matter how you calculate, there’s always something you can’t calculate. This is called man’s calculations cannot match Heaven’s calculations. Just like life—no matter how you plan, there’s always something you can’t anticipate. This is called Heaven’s will. Therefore, in this world there’s no division between clever and foolish people, only division between good and evil. No matter how clever a person is or how many calculations they make, there’s always a time when they stumble. Heaven’s eye cannot be avoided, Heaven’s will cannot be defied!”

Finally, Yuan Shuzhan gave one statement. On the way back, Zu Ye carefully pondered it, not knowing whether it was advice or prophecy: *The greater the gang, the deeper the karmic debt—nothing else, just cause and effect.*

Later, Zu Ye didn’t visit Wei Qianli, nor did he disturb Xu Lewu. Zu Ye had already found his answer. From then on, he began to plan—to plan the final scheme of his life.

In 1947, Mr. Yuan Shuzhan published an article in Shanghai newspapers titled “On Fortune-Telling.” After reading it, Zu Ye was filled with endless emotion.

*Destiny is the creation of the prenatal, fortune is the progression through eight steps. Destiny is carried by the Five Elements, calculated through the Four Pillars. Entering the Great Fortune, yin and yang interchange; encountering the flowing year, stems and branches transform. The Great Fortune is like the place one arrives at, the flowing year is like the person one encounters—internal and external interaction is the dialectical method.*

*Destiny can be calculated, yet also cannot be calculated. What can be calculated is the reasoning of yin and yang; what cannot be calculated is the law of cause and effect. Fortune-telling is not the goal but the means—using the method of deducing destiny to achieve the purpose of seeking fortune and avoiding calamity. Divination arts are popular in this age for this sole reason! But how to seek fortune and avoid calamity? Can destiny be changed? I have practiced divination for over thirty years, attempting to help people seek fortune and avoid calamity through feng shui, names, talismans and such methods. Ultimately, the results were minimal!*

*Why? Feng shui cannot overcome the human heart; supernatural powers cannot overcome karmic force.*

*Feng shui and talismans are external causes, supplementary and superficial. Personal cultivation is fundamental and primary—the internal cause. Those with poisonous and corrupt hearts, no matter how adjusted, will never have good destiny. For instance, someone spends hundreds of taels of silver searching everywhere for prosperous feng shui locations but ultimately cannot obtain them. Yet those with kind hearts effortlessly and naturally reside in the most prosperous arrangements. This is called: blessed people dwell in blessed land, blessed land dwells with blessed people.*

*The I Ching is a book of supreme goodness. Within it contains the way of being human. If people simply understand the principles of being human, they can seek fortune and avoid calamity, encounter auspiciousness in difficulty—there’s no need to take a roundabout path through feng shui, talismans, naming and other heterodox methods to cultivate destiny and change fortune. With a heart directed toward goodness, knife mountains melt away; with complete purity of mind, seas of fire run dry!*

*Those skilled in the I Ching do not divine. Only at the age of my destiny did I understand this principle. Now relying on my old age to give counsel to the younger generation—the ruts of the cart ahead, let the world observe for itself. I only wish that future great worthies will expound more on the principles of the I Ching and less on the tricks of divination arts. Only thus will we not disgrace the intentions of the sages…*

Yuan Shuzhan did as he said. In his later years, when his son Yuan Furu wanted to learn fortune-telling from him, Yuan Shuzhan solemnly told him: “I have two legacies—one is fortune-telling, one is medicine. After I die, you must smash and burn the fortune-telling legacy and inherit my medicine!”

Yuan Furu was very obedient. From then on he never touched half a bit of destiny studies, focused entirely on medicine, later studied abroad in Japan continuing to study medical arts, and still later lived in America, opening a Chinese medical clinic, healing the sick and wounded, promoting Chinese medicine, becoming a great medical master.

Of the four great fortune-tellers of the Republican era, Wei Qianli in his later years used the I Ching to speculate in stocks and lost almost everything, Xu Lewu died suddenly of heart disease, Zu Ye’s life and death were unknown—only Yuan Shuzhan exited gracefully. This was because Yuan Shuzhan was the earliest to recognize that fortune-telling creates karmic debt, so he stopped in time, dissolving karma and averting disaster.

## Dai Li’s Naming and Dai Li’s Death

Several days later one morning, San Batou was sitting in the hall telling fortunes when a person wearing a duck-billed cap walked in with his head lowered.

“Sir, what do you want to ask about—marriage? Wealth? Official fortune?” San Batou yawned and said.

That person still kept his head lowered, spoke in a low voice, and said: “I want to ask if your Zu Ye is still alive and well?”

“Hmm?” San Batou immediately became alert. “You are…”

That person slowly lifted his cap. San Batou saw clearly and was greatly shocked: “Instructor Zeng!”

“Quickly follow me to the back hall!” San Batou looked at the bustling crowd outside the door and said quietly.

In the back hall, Zu Ye was tasting tea.

“Zu Ye, guess who’s here?” San Batou shouted upon entering.

Zu Ye looked up and quickly stood: “Instructor Zeng!”

“Zu Ye!” Zeng Jingwu called out happily.

Brothers reunited, the two embraced tightly.

“Third, you may withdraw.” Zu Ye ordered.

San Batou acknowledged and withdrew.

“How has Instructor Zeng been all this while?” Zu Ye could hardly believe his eyes.

“All well, all well. Has Zu Ye made a comeback?” Zeng Jingwu said with a smile.

“The devils left, peace has returned, and over a hundred brothers need to eat. Hehe. By the way, wasn’t Instructor Zeng in northern Shaanxi? How did you return to Shanghai?”

Zeng Jingwu looked outside the door, then listened for any sounds: “Zu Ye doesn’t know—I secretly returned to Shanghai two years ago. We have underground organizations here. The central command felt I was familiar with Shanghai, so they sent me back!”

“Underground Party?” Zu Ye asked quietly.

“Mm,” Zeng Jingwu nodded. “Otherwise, how would we have obtained so much intelligence on the devils?”

“Oh,” Zu Ye nodded. “Now that the devils have surrendered, is Instructor Zeng going back?”

Zeng Jingwu looked at Zu Ye and said: “Does Zu Ye truly believe peace has returned?”

“What else would happen?” Zu Ye didn’t understand.

“There’s going to be war again!” Zeng Jingwu said.

“War? With whom?”

“The Kuomintang and Communist Party.” Zeng Jingwu answered.

“The Kuomintang and Communists will fight? Wasn’t there just negotiations in Chongqing not long ago? The newspapers even published the ‘Double Tenth Agreement,’ saying the two parties reached unanimous agreement for peaceful nation-building!” Zu Ye was greatly shocked.

“Bullshit! Old Chiang has no sincerity in negotiating at all! It was just to delay time and reorganize military preparations before launching civil war!” Zeng Jingwu said indignantly.

“What? Then the Chongqing negotiations?” Zu Ye asked.

“After Japan surrendered, Old Chiang telegraphed the whole nation, not letting the Communist Party take over Japanese-occupied territories, and not letting us confiscate strategic materials. What does this mean? The battlefield behind enemy lines was opened by us Communists. To open these base areas, how many of us died! In 1942 alone during one devil sweep operation, we lost over ten thousand people! Every inch of land, an inch of blood. Now the devils have withdrawn, our comrades’ heroic spirits still remain—if we don’t reclaim these territories, how do we account to our fallen comrades? How do we account to the local common people? Old Chiang on one hand is anxious to usurp the fruits of victory in the War of Resistance, on the other hand tells us not to move. Isn’t this making us sit and wait for death? To fully prepare for exterminating us, he deliberately set up the trap of Chongqing negotiations. He thought Chairman Mao and Vice Chairman Zhou wouldn’t dare go to Chongqing. As a result, both chairmen went, which caught Old Chiang completely off guard. So the Chongqing negotiations all proceeded according to terms we proposed, because Old Chiang had no sincerity at all, so he also hadn’t prepared any proposals. Just like that the two sides began talking. At the same time, Old Chiang secretly mobilized troops to suppress our base areas—but we beat them all back!” Speaking to this point, Zeng Jingwu paused. “Do you know how Chairman Chiang Kai-shek evaluated Chairman Mao after these negotiations?”

“Two great figures meeting—there must be interesting stories. How did he evaluate him?” Zu Ye also became interested.

“Chiang Kai-shek said Chairman Mao is a person of great determination!”

“Why?”

“Because Kuomintang staff all know Chairman Mao is addicted to smoking like life itself. Whether in meetings or reviewing documents, he always has a cigarette in hand, smoke swirling—this has been his habit for many years. But during the Chongqing negotiations, when Old Chiang and the Chairman met, Chairman Mao didn’t smoke even one cigarette, because the Chairman knew the Generalissimo doesn’t like the smell of smoke.”

After hearing this, Zu Ye praised repeatedly.

Suddenly, Zeng Jingwu’s face filled with worry again: “A great war is about to begin again…”

“Is Old Chiang really going to fight?” Zu Ye asked.

“No choice. We want peace, but the Generalissimo won’t give it. Chairman Mao said, if Chiang Kai-shek wants to fight, we’ll fight to the end! It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“Just that this time we’re not fighting the Japanese—it’s our own people fighting our own people…”

After hearing this, Zu Ye’s heart filled with melancholy: “Yes, Chinese fighting Chinese.”

“There’s more…” Zeng Jingwu said.

“What else?”

“Intelligence shows Chiang Kai-shek wants to dig up Chairman Mao’s ancestral grave! Using such despicable tactics! Old Chiang believes the Chairman’s ancestral grave’s feng shui is too prosperous, showing the sign of a true dragon emperor—it must be dug up before he can defeat the Chairman!” Zeng Jingwu said.

“Then… what did your Chairman Mao say?” Zu Ye thought of his own ancestral grave being dug up.

“Hehe! Chairman Mao laughed and said: ‘Chiang Kai-shek wants to dig up my ancestral grave—this is something that loses the people’s hearts. Those who lose the people’s hearts lose the world!'”

After hearing this, Zu Ye secretly admired him: Truly worthy of being the Communist Party’s leader! Such bearing, such boldness—it would be strange if he didn’t win!

Zu Ye suddenly thought of something: “Did Instructor Zeng visit this time just to tell me there’s going to be war?”

Zeng Jingwu nodded: “A few days ago, I went out on business and suddenly saw Zu Ye’s council had opened. After so many years without contact, I thought it was someone else using the name. After observing for several days, I discovered it truly was Zu Ye who had returned! The newspapers even said Zu Ye assisted Bai Chongxi in arranging defenses at Kunlun Pass in Guangxi, protecting China’s dragon veins—Zu Ye’s reputation is very great!”

Zu Ye shook his head: “Alas! Instructor Zeng doesn’t know—many things were coincidence, neither you nor I could have imagined. People like us who’ve entered the jianghu, our lives are no longer our own to control. These ten years, I’ve escaped death nine times. I thought I’d never return to Shanghai, never see Instructor Zeng again! Heaven truly opened its eyes and let me return alive.”

“Hehe, using a phrase you fortune-tellers often say—Zu Ye ‘the auspicious have Heaven’s protection.'”

“Hehe, hardly, hardly. Escaped death nine times, nine times.”

“Zu Ye, the current situation is thus—the Kuomintang and Communists will soon be at war. Ten years ago, I strongly invited Zu Ye to go with me to northern Shaanxi. Zu Ye didn’t accept. Now the great powers are no longer here, only the two major forces of the Kuomintang and Communists exist. Has Zu Ye thought about where to go?” Zeng Jingwu finally said what he most wanted to say.

Zu Ye’s heart jumped in alarm. Not knowing how to answer, after a long while he said: “I… am a rough and unrefined person. Party or politics—I’m not qualified to participate…”

“Zu Ye is mistaken! All these years, Zu Ye has killed many people and deceived many people, but they were all people who deserved to be killed and deceived, just like Ninth Master conducting assassinations—he has a clear conscience. Joining the Party isn’t that difficult. Back when the devils were sweeping through, at the most difficult moment, when a distant cousin of mine requested to join the Party, the organization only asked him two questions—Do you love your country? Yes! Are you afraid of death? No! Good, approved! Just that simple!”

Zu Ye still didn’t speak. After a long while, he pushed open the door and sighed deeply: “Please look, Instructor Zeng—over a hundred brothers, fierce as wolves and tigers, of varying quality. If I just leave, what will happen to them?”

Zeng Jingwu looked for a long time, thought for a long time, but had no answer.

Finally, Zeng Jingwu said: “Zu Ye has Zu Ye’s difficulties. The reason I came to explain this matter is also… is also… is also because I’m afraid…”

Zu Ye instantly understood: “Is Instructor Zeng afraid that in the future we two brothers will become enemies in the great environment of Kuomintang-Communist confrontation?”

Zeng Jingwu nodded: “I don’t want our brotherly relationship to become an enemy contradiction…”

Zu Ye also nodded firmly, stood up, put his hands behind his back, paced and thought, then said resolutely: “Please be assured, Instructor Zeng. I guarantee that I and my brothers will never join any party for our entire lives! This council has its own destined end. In the future, regardless of whether the Kuomintang or Communists win the world, as long as I’m alive, I won’t let this council do things that harm Heaven and reason!”

Zeng Jingwu raised his head and grasped Zu Ye’s hand: “It’s a deal.”

“It’s a deal.”

At this moment, Liu Batou rushed in frantically: “Zu Ye! Zu Ye!” Just entering the room, he saw Zeng Jingwu and froze: “Uncle Zeng!”

Zeng Jingwu rushed over and embraced Liu Batou: “Little Six!” The former “Axe Gang” brothers met again.

Liu Batou’s tears flowed down. Suddenly he jerked his head: “A group of Kuomintang soldiers came outside, saying they’re catching Communist bandits!”

Zu Ye and Zeng Jingwu were greatly shocked.

“Instructor Zeng, first hide in the inner room. I’ll go out and see!” Zu Ye strode outward, then suddenly turned back and said to Little Six, “Notify Er Batou to give Instructor Zeng the needle treatment!”

“Needle treatment?” Instructor Zeng didn’t understand.

Zu Ye didn’t answer and walked out.

“Oh—Zu Ye? Truly, there’s no place in life where paths don’t cross!” Zu Ye followed the voice and looked—he could tell it was that Kuomintang soldier from the day in Hunan when they were suppressing Tiger Hong, the one who wanted to rape Zhu Jin.

“Hehe, yes. After several years’ separation, I still don’t know the commander’s esteemed surname and great name?” Zu Ye clasped his fists.

“Don’t do that—won’t that be the death of me? You have such a great reputation—don’t call me commander. My humble surname is Cai, given name Xuezhong. Just call me Little Cai.” That fellow said with a sinister tone.

“Oh… Master Cai!” Zu Ye said with a smile.

“Don’t! Don’t! If this reaches Director Dai’s ears, won’t I be punished by military law?” Cai Xuezhong still hadn’t forgotten the grudge from that day when Zu Ye stopped him from raping.

“Master Cai is joking…”

“Enough nonsense!” Cai Xuezhong interrupted Zu Ye. “Cai is currently the captain of Shanghai Police Bureau’s First Brigade. Now conducting routine business—someone reported that there’s a Communist hiding in Zu Ye’s residence. Please cooperate, Zu Ye!”

“Hehehehe, Captain Cai performing official duties impartially—of course I must cooperate, must cooperate. It’s just that Captain Cai brought so many people to my residence. First, it affects my family’s business. Second, if you can’t find any Communists, won’t it ruin my reputation? I’m a patriotic diviner personally appointed by Director Dai. Captain Cai should think carefully…” Zu Ye was stalling for time.

“Haha, how will we know if it ruins Zu Ye’s reputation without searching?” Cai Xuezhong said.

“Mm! Makes sense! Does Captain Cai know what this Communist bandit looks like?”

“Hehe, I’m always meticulous in my work!” Saying this, Cai Xuezhong pulled out a paper from behind him, pointed at the portrait on the paper and said, “I’d recognize this person even if he turned to ash. He used to be with the ‘Axe Gang,’ then ran over to the Communist side! I’ve been watching him for a long time. His skills are good—he escaped every time. But today even with wings he can’t escape. However, what I’m most worried about is once I catch him, how will Zu Ye account to Director Dai? Harboring Communist bandits—that’s a beheading offense…”

“Hahahaha!” Zu Ye also laughed. “Alright, since Captain Cai is so confident, please…” Saying this, he opened his arms and made a gesture of invitation.

“Search!” With Cai Xuezhong’s order, dozens of people rushed in.

After bustling about for a long time, the police force people came out one after another: “Report—nothing!”

“What?” Cai Xuezhong was a bit confused. “Didn’t they say they clearly saw him walk in?”

Having said this, he walked in himself.

In the inner room, Cai Xuezhong saw someone lying on the bed covered with a blanket: “Who’s this?”

Zu Ye said: “This is my disciple’s father. Not long ago he had a stroke and is convalescing at my place.”

“Convalescing?” Cai Xuezhong looked at Zu Ye suspiciously, then suddenly reached out and yanked the blanket off the bed. Immediately he was so frightened he leaned backward, stumbled and nearly fell. “Holy shit! What the hell? Scared me to death!” He quickly threw the blanket back down.

“I already said—stroke.”

Zeng Jingwu had been treated by Er Batou using the needle displacement method—his facial features had been moved, especially his left cheek, which sagged very long. His eye and cheek drooped together, the flesh all collapsed down to under his chin.

At this moment a policeman said quietly: “I clearly saw him walk in just now…”

Cai Xuezhong went up and slapped that policeman: “Fuck your mother! Do your eyes work? Last time you said that prostitute was beautiful. After I went in and kissed her all over, her face was covered in rouge and powder falling off—she was almost fifty years old!”

Cai Xuezhong adjusted his peaked cap and faced Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Captain Cai, please calm down, calm down. The young ones have it hard doing their work—just forgive him this time.” Saying this, he walked in front of the beaten policeman. “Brother, see more clearly next time.”

“No, it was an informant who told me, so I followed…” That person said while covering his cheek.

“Fuck your mother!” Cai Xuezhong rushed up and gave another round of slaps. “I’ll teach you to have a loose mouth, I’ll teach you to have a loose mouth! Your damn mouth is looser than a prostitute’s waistband!”

All of this, Zeng Jingwu on the bed heard. An informant? It seems someone inside had betrayed them!

“All of you fuck off back!” Cai Xuezhong was angry and ashamed.

The policemen withdrew one after another.

“Zu Ye, farewell!” Cai Xuezhong said.

“Captain Cai, go well. Come visit when you have time.”

That night, Zu Ye personally treated Zeng Jingwu to restore his blood circulation. Zeng Jingwu slowly recovered his appearance.

“Someone has betrayed us,” Zeng Jingwu murmured. “I must send out the signal to have everyone transfer locations.”

“Mm,” Zu Ye nodded. “The fellow who came today used to be Dai Li’s man. Dai Li truly infiltrates every crack.”

Zeng Jingwu said: “Dai Li’s power is growing larger and larger. The Military Statistics Bureau he controls not only interferes in military and political affairs, but also penetrates into national defense, transportation, diplomacy, police administration, and finance in all areas… But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

“What do you mean?” Zu Ye asked.

“What kind of person is Old Chiang? He’s a suspicious person! Dai Li’s made it so big—can Old Chiang feel at ease?”

Zeng Jingwu’s words proved prophetic. At this moment, Dai Li was sitting on pins and needles.

Actually, as early as 1942, on the tenth anniversary of the Military Statistics Bureau’s establishment, Dai Li had already been “too clever for his own good.” On April 1st of that year, the Military Statistics Bureau held a tenth anniversary celebration. Chiang Kai-shek attended the ceremony personally with his wife Song Meiling. To demonstrate his abilities and achievements before his superior, and moreover to show the Military Statistics Bureau’s unified determination to serve the Generalissimo, Dai Li organized a grand military review of the special agent forces, and to ensure success, rehearsed three times in advance.

When Chiang Kai-shek mounted the reviewing platform, what he saw was a uniformly aligned special agent force. These people were in high spirits, wearing American-style equipment, heroically and spiritedly passing below the platform. At that moment, Chiang Kai-shek became suspicious. Ten years ago, this organization was just a small special agent office with only a few dozen people. Now under Dai Li’s painstaking management, it had become the most combat-capable force. The entire system had hundreds of thousands of people—180,000 plainclothes agents, 70,000 guerrilla armed forces, 20,000 special operations teams, 10,000 dare-to-die squads. A force with such powerful combat capability now entirely obeyed Dai Li’s orders alone—this was not a good thing.

At that moment Chiang Kai-shek smiled, and Dai Li also smiled. Chiang Kai-shek was grateful he discovered it in time. Dai Li believed his loyalty had been recognized.

After the Japanese surrender, facing the Military Statistics Bureau at the height of its power, Chiang Kai-shek suddenly issued an order to “disband the Military Statistics Bureau.”

At that moment, Dai Li understood: he had been too capable, too clever, and had invited the Generalissimo’s suspicion.

He sighed to his confidants: “If I don’t die at the hands of the Communists, I’ll die at the hands of the old man.”

With the Military Statistics Bureau’s dissolution imminent, Dai Li’s heart was full of confusion about where to go. Just as Yuan Shuzhan had said, fortune-seekers fall into three types—at this moment, Dai Li belonged to the category of those with nowhere else to turn.

In February, Dai Li secretly arrived in Shanghai.

“How have you been, sir?” Dai Li met Zu Ye in secret.

“Thanks to the General’s concern, all is well.”

“I remember sir said before that in ten years I would certainly become a prince or minister. Counting from 1936, it’s almost been ten years.”

“The General led the Military Statistics Bureau and defeated the Japanese invaders. Now you hold the highest position among officials—doesn’t that count as prince or minister?” Zu Ye said.

“Sir, you must not deceive me! Say whatever there is to say!” Dai Li intensified his tone.

“I dare not! I dare not! When have I ever deceived the General?”

“But now the old man wants to abolish the Military Statistics Bureau!” Dai Li roared like a trapped beast.

“The old man?” Zu Ye was startled.

“Generalissimo Chiang…” Dai Li said.

“Oh, abolishing the Military Statistics Bureau—perhaps it’s the Generalissimo’s normal arrangement. As for General Dai… perhaps there’s another important appointment.”

“Another important appointment? The Military Statistics Bureau is Dai’s lifeline! Without the Military Statistics Bureau, Dai Li is water without a source, a tree without roots—I’ll be nothing!”

“From this perspective, is the Generalissimo moving against General Dai?” At this moment, Zu Ye secretly sighed about what Zeng Jingwu had said a few days ago—Dai Li was truly finished.

“But I’ve never had divided loyalties! Since I began following the old man, Dai has upheld the leader’s will, understood the leader’s painstaking efforts, served before and behind like a horse, without complaint or regret, willingly laboring like a dog for over a decade! The old man should know this! Not to mention anything else, just during the Xi’an Incident, how many people wanted to kill the old man? Yet I risked my life accompanying Madam Song to Xi’an—the old man couldn’t possibly not know this!” Dai Li almost cried these words out.

“General, don’t be anxious. Perhaps it’s colleagues framing you?” Zu Ye reminded him.

Hearing this, Dai Li suddenly broke out in goosebumps all over: All these years, to bring down opponents, I’ve killed so many people, harmed so many people. Many Kuomintang big shots hate me to the bone. How many want to put me to death? But all of this was approved by the old man! I’m like a loyal dog, always obeying my master’s commands. Now that the master wants to abandon me, without the master’s protection, those enemies can tear me apart in an instant. No, no—I can’t just surrender like this! Gamble one more time! Gamble one more time!

Dai Li’s sweat poured down. At that moment, Zu Ye didn’t take pleasure in Dai Li’s state of struggling like a trapped beast. Instead, he felt more desolation. In a hundred years of worldly affairs, how many times glory, how many times sorrow? Who could have imagined that the once infinitely glorious “Gestapo” would fall to such a state?

“Sir, what brilliant strategy can save me?” Dai Li’s eyes stared fixedly at Zu Ye.

Looking at the desperate Dai Li, Zu Ye no longer wanted to discuss Zhou Yi and the Eight Trigrams, but said frankly: “General Dai, would you listen to my advice?”

“Please speak, sir!” Dai Li looked at Zu Ye urgently.

“General Dai might as well emulate Zhang Liang of the Han Dynasty—retire bravely from the rapids. Before the Generalissimo speaks, first resign from the position of Military Statistics Bureau Director yourself. Then don’t seek other positions, claim illness and return home, and from then on no longer concern yourself with official matters…” At that time, Zu Ye truly had good intentions.

“What?” Before Zu Ye could finish, Dai Li became anxious. “You want me to voluntarily retire?! Never mind not retiring—even if I voluntarily withdrew, could I keep this life? Without power, those people could crush me like crushing an ant! Sir surely knows the principle of ‘the tree desires stillness but the wind won’t stop’?”

“General, please hear me out. The General has always been loyal to the Generalissimo. If upon honorable retirement you could obtain an immunity plaque from the Generalissimo, what could the Kuomintang staff do to you? The Generalissimo, mindful of the General’s many years of hard work, would certainly spare you.” Zu Ye said.

Having said this, Zu Ye himself became confused. Facing this executioner who had killed Ninth Master Wang Yaqiao, he had actually shown a Bodhisattva’s heart.

Dai Li lowered his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly felt something was wrong: Why does this fortune-teller always advise me to hand over power? Could he have already been taken by the old man, deliberately persuading me?

Seeing Dai Li’s eyes constantly rolling, Zu Ye, as an old trickster, instantly understood: It’s over—Dai Li has become suspicious!

As expected, Dai Li suddenly laughed: “Hehe, sir predicted in earlier years that I would certainly become a high official in the future, but now advises me to retire. Isn’t this self-contradictory?”

Zu Ye shook his head, remembering Yuan Shuzhan’s words: “Yin and yang have fixed numbers, but human life has no constants. Some things—man’s calculations cannot match Heaven’s calculations. I hope the General will forgive me.”

“Haha. What a good ‘man’s calculations cannot match Heaven’s calculations’! Sir has probably already met with the old man, haven’t you!”

“Absolutely not!” Zu Ye looked at Dai Li without blinking.

Dai Li stared fiercely at Zu Ye: “I want to take another step forward—is it possible?”

“How does the General want to proceed?” Zu Ye felt he had gone mad.

“I want to become China’s Naval Commander!” Dai Li said.

“Uh…” Zu Ye was momentarily confused.

“The old man won’t abandon me! He won’t! People in America also support me. With the Kuomintang-Communist confrontation imminent, the old man needs to establish a navy and still needs me—I’m still useful! I want to fight to the death!” Dai Li had become nearly deranged.

“This…” Zu Ye didn’t know what to say.

“Sir, just wait for my good news.” Dai Li stood and left. Just as he was about to exit, he suddenly turned back and said, “Before, sir told me to choose a name with earth in the Five Elements. I never did, but this time, I want to try it!” Having said this, he left without looking back.

After Dai Li left, Zu Ye thought for a moment, then urgently召集ed a council meeting and announced they would skip town.

“Why, Zu Ye? We just opened, business is booming—why skip town?” The Batous asked, puzzled.

“Someone’s going to die!” Zu Ye said this sentence and gave no further explanation.

The Batous and Xiao Jiaos all skipped town, hiding in the countryside.

Zu Ye’s analysis was correct. If someone as clever as Dai Li revealed his innermost thoughts to you, how could he let you live? Especially a fortune-teller who knew so many of his secrets—he had to be eliminated no matter what!

Sure enough, shortly after Zu Ye and the others left, Cai Xuezhong led a team, armed with guns, and charged into the council—only to come up empty.

When Dai Li heard this news, he became even more anxious. He believed Zu Ye had already been bought by the higher-ups, and all his secrets would surely be leaked. What could be done?

At this moment, the telephone rang. Dai Li jumped, slowly picked it up, and timidly said: “Hello?”

“Director Dai?”

Hearing it was his secretary-assistant Yuan Qibin, Dai Li’s pounding heart settled: “It’s me. What is it?”

“The Military Statistics Bureau is being reorganized, all code names must be changed. The Director’s code name must also change. What name this time? Still with the water radical?” Secretary Yuan asked.

“Oh…” Dai Li cleared his throat and said in a low voice, “This time give me one with earth…”

“Ah?” Secretary Yuan was stunned, suspecting he’d heard wrong. Director Dai had always felt he lacked water in his destiny and always preferred names with water. What happened this time? “With… earth, right?”

“Yes! It must have earth—the more the better.” Dai Li repeated.

“Oh, alright.” The secretary shook his head helplessly.

Thus, Dai Li left his final code name in the Military Statistics Bureau roster: Gao Chongyue.

This name was extremely “strange”—absolutely belonging to earth in the Five Elements. Lofty mountains and towering peaks, majestic Five Sacred Mountains—top, bottom, inside, and out, all earth. To supplement his earth, the secretary nearly named him “Gao Diqiu” (High Earth-Ball).

After hearing this, Dai Li nodded secretly.

On March 12th, Dai Li met with his subordinate Zheng Jiemin in Beiping and gave detailed instructions on handling the aftermath of the Military Statistics Bureau’s dissolution.

On March 13th, Dai Li went to Tianjin and handled a corruption case with the Military Statistics agents there.

On March 15th, he returned to Beiping and discussed matters with Du Yuming.

During this period, Chiang Kai-shek’s phone calls were incessant, constantly urging Dai Li to return to Chongqing. So much so that whenever the phone rang, Dai Li’s heart would pound.

Dai Li was stalling for time. He had been waiting for the availability of Admiral Cooke, Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. He wanted to meet Cooke face-to-face, because Cooke had promised he would help General Dai rebuild China’s navy. Dai Li wanted to secure Cooke first. With Cooke’s complete support, he could negotiate with the old man to continue serving loyally.

Dai Li’s delay in returning to Chongqing, coupled with his running east and west, made Chiang Kai-shek even more suspicious: This fellow better not be cornered and run over to the Communist side.

The ruler and minister grew further apart in mutual suspicion.

On March 16th, Dai Li finally received news from Cooke. Cooke said he was currently in Qingdao, Shandong, but couldn’t get to Beiping for the time being. He hoped General Dai would wait two more days.

Dai Li couldn’t wait. He arranged for a special plane and flew directly to Qingdao.

Upon arrival, it was already dark. Dai Li learned that Cooke had already flown to Shanghai on business. Dai Li had no choice but to stay in Qingdao.

That night, Dai Li desperately shut himself in his room and didn’t turn on the lights. In the dim room, Dai Li held his head and sobbed. No one knows how Dai Li got through that night, no one knows what he was thinking. Was he thinking about his decades-long thrilling spy career, or about his former glory and arrogance? Perhaps he thought of nothing except his elderly mother far away in another land, and that childhood without conspiracies and killings…

After dawn, Dai Li changed into a fresh shirt, took a bath, shaved his beard clean, and before going out, looked at himself in the mirror one more time. Twenty years ago, he had also examined himself in the mirror like this—it was on the eve of applying to Huangpu Military Academy. He said to himself in the mirror: “You can do it.” And indeed he passed, and was lucky enough to become Chiang Kai-shek’s aide-de-camp, thus beginning his spy career… Spring and autumn passed several times, past events became wind. Now standing before the mirror again, he didn’t know what to say to himself. Finally, he smiled—smiled bitterly at himself in the mirror…

Around 10 AM, after confirming by phone that Cooke was still in Shanghai, Dai Li immediately boarded a plane bound for Shanghai.

That day, everything in the world seemed to be working against Dai Li. Shortly after the plane ascended into the sky, the originally cloudless sky suddenly turned bad. Then fierce winds arose, torrential rain poured down, and the plane nearly lost balance in the storm.

“Director, the rain is too heavy. The plane cannot fly to Shanghai according to the flight path,” Dai Li’s subordinate reported.

Dai Li didn’t speak. Looking through the plane’s window at the murky sky, he thought: Heaven is trying to destroy me!

“Should we turn back?” the little spy asked.

“No! First fly to Nanjing. After the weather improves, then fly to Shanghai,” Dai Li ordered.

“Yes!”

The plane bumped all the way through the rain curtain to the skies above Nanjing.

Unexpectedly, the rain in Nanjing was even heavier, with thunder and lightning intertwining. The plane couldn’t land at all.

The pilot nervously circled above Nanjing. In the torrential rain, he lost his bearings. Suddenly a mountain loomed ahead.

“Pull up quickly! Pull up quickly!” the co-pilot shouted. “Quick! Quick! Quick!”

“Too late! Too late! Ahhh—”

The ground dispatcher at Nanjing airport lost the signal from the plane Dai Li was on and hurriedly reported to superiors: Director Dai’s plane has disappeared!

When Chiang Kai-shek heard this news, he was first unusually calm, then immediately said to Mao Renfeng, the Military Statistics Bureau’s number two: “If alive, I want to see the person; if dead, I want to see the corpse!”

Chiang Kai-shek didn’t know whether the plane had crashed or whether Dai Li had shut off the radio and flown toward the Communist side.

Two days later, the plane wreckage and Dai Li’s remains were found. The plane had truly crashed into a mountain.

Those who collected the body returned and reported to Chiang Kai-shek: “The mountain Director Dai’s plane crashed into is called ‘Daishan,’ and the gully where the plane fell is called ‘Kunyu Gully.'”

People inside the Military Statistics Bureau were all quite shocked, discussing among themselves: Dai Li, courtesy name Yunong, throughout his life his Eight Characters lacked water, so he constantly gave himself names with water. Now, having just taken the name “Gao Chongyue,” which belongs to earth in the Five Elements, he crashed into “Daishan” and died in “Kunyu Gully!” Was it timing? Was it destiny?

The Military Statistics chief, whose crimes were too numerous to record, thus drew the final period on his life.

When Zu Ye learned this news, he didn’t speak for a long time.

Jiang Feiyan sent a congratulatory letter: Congratulations to Zu Ye for finally avenging Ninth Master! She believed that nine years ago, she and Zu Ye had jointly set up a scheme to tell Dai Li’s fortune, suggesting Dai Li choose a name belonging to earth in the Five Elements, and now it had taken effect.

Zu Ye didn’t think so. Having experienced so much turmoil, Zu Ye knew deeply this wasn’t something a name could decide. Otherwise, wouldn’t randomly giving someone a name be able to put them to death? Conversely, randomly giving someone a good name could make them escape poverty and become wealthy? Fantasy!

Zu Ye knew that Dai Li’s death was only a matter of time. Any emperor fears subordinates whose achievements overshadow the master. Accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger. Done well, one accepts “releasing military power over cups of wine” and takes the silver home to retire. Done poorly, it’s the fate of Han Xin or Hu Weiyong. Dai Li had exhausted all his mental effort killing so many people, calculated everything, yet never thought he would be forced to death by Chiang Kai-shek.

Only at this moment did Chiang Kai-shek feel some regret: Perhaps Dai Li had no rebellious heart. He investigated Dai Li’s itinerary before death in detail. Dai Li’s trip to Tianjin was truly to handle a corruption case within the Military Statistics Bureau. Meeting the commander of the 94th Army in Tianjin wasn’t plotting rebellion but managing the scandal of the 94th Army commander taking a concubine. Dai Li meeting Du Yuming in Beijing also wasn’t plotting rebellion but visiting Du Yuming’s illness. Dai Li going to Qingdao then heading to Shanghai was truly to discuss establishing China’s navy with Cooke…

At that moment, Chiang Kai-shek also recalled Dai Li’s recent speech at the Military Statistics Bureau’s Beiping office: “Last year the leader asked me to become a Central Committee member. I firmly declined because scrambling for power and profit is unworthy of a revolutionary… Recently the Central Committee held the Sixth Plenum of the Second Session. The situation displayed over ten-plus days didn’t exceed my expectations. Regarding the Investigation and Statistics Bureau issue, it seems praise and criticism are half and half. Some say they want to overthrow us. I don’t know what ‘overthrow’ means, what ‘abolish’ means. I only fear our comrades won’t progress, will become bureaucratic and corrupt. If so, even without others attacking, we’ll fall ourselves. What I constantly think about is how to be worthy of the martyrs, how to maintain our glorious history. I’ve never thought about how others might overthrow me. I personally have no political stance—everything follows only the Generalissimo’s wishes. Burying my head to work—only then will the nation have a way forward, will individuals have prospects…”

“It seems Dai Li truly had no rebellious heart. I pushed him too hard.” Chiang Kai-shek felt a wave of self-reproach: With the great Kuomintang-Communist war imminent, I’ve lost such a loyal talent! Thinking of this, Chiang Kai-shek felt a headache.

Later, after defeat in Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek cried out many times: “If Comrade Dai Yunong hadn’t died, we wouldn’t have retreated to Taiwan today!”

## The Lost and Recovered Remains

Zu Ye’s council reopened for business.

One day, the sun was warm and gentle, the streets bustling with traffic. San Batou was sitting at the storefront telling fortunes when suddenly a middle-aged man wearing a black felt hat walked over, looking left and right.

This person looked east, looked west, as if searching for something.

San Batou gave a look to a nearby Xiao Jiao: “Go out and see.”

Xiao Jiao went out and patted that person’s shoulder: “Sir, do you want your fortune told?”

That person smiled: “No, no, I’m looking for someone.”

“Looking for whom?” Xiao Jiao asked.

That person looked Xiao Jiao up and down, shook his head, and said with a smile: “You’re still young—I estimate you wouldn’t know him.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jiao was displeased, but as a trickster, his mind was always full of scam ideas. He immediately said cleverly: “You’re right—I’m only in my teens, short on experience and shallow in knowledge. However, you could have my master tell your fortune, calculate where the person you’re looking for is. Otherwise, in this vast Shanghai, how will you find them?”

That person’s eyes lit up: “Accurate?”

“Whether it’s accurate or not, one reading will tell! Please come in!” Xiao Jiao coaxed and deceived, “fishing” the person into the room.

San Batou inside heard clearly and thought: This Xiao Jiao really has a future.

“Sir is looking for someone?” San Batou asked the man wearing the felt hat.

“Mm.” That person nodded.

“Male or female?”

“Male.”

“How old?”

“Nominal age 45.”

“Mm,” San Batou nodded and said, “This person is an old acquaintance of yours, correct?”

“Right, right, right!” That person excitedly said three times.

San Batou laughed secretly to himself: Nonsense—of course it’s an old acquaintance. Otherwise why would you be looking for him? Hehe, this mark is really cute.

San Batou continued: “This person has done you a favor…”

“Exactly right!” That person was so excited he nearly stood up.

San Batou was even more delighted inwardly: Definitely a favor. If it were a grudge, you wouldn’t have this expression after entering.

That person had fallen into San Batou’s trap. Unable to wait, he started speaking himself: “This person is my fellow villager. I only know he’s in Shanghai, seems to be in your line of work, also a great master. Over ten years ago he returned home to worship ancestors. Later when the devils attacked, there was no more news of him…”

Hearing these sentences, San Batou broke into a cold sweat: A great master? “Do you know what he’s called?” San Batou urgently pursued.

“Childhood name Guansheng, formal name Chengming, compound surname Shangguan…”

San Batou’s whole body ran cold with sweat. He gave Xiao Jiao a look, and Xiao Jiao quickly closed the consultation room door. Then San Batou and Xiao Jiao rushed forward together and tied that person up.

That person was terrified: “What are you doing? What are you doing?”

San Batou pulled out a strip of cloth and stuffed it in his mouth, then said to Xiao Jiao: “Quickly go get Zu Ye!”

Zu Ye was drinking tea in his residence when Xiao Jiao burst in recklessly: “Zu Ye, something’s happened!”

Zu Ye put down his teacup and followed Xiao Jiao to San Batou’s storefront. The two looked around in all directions—no one was following. They pushed open the door and went in.

“It’s this person!” San Batou pointed at the felt-hatted man.

Zu Ye lowered his head and looked carefully, then his body shuddered: “Daifu!”

That person, upon seeing Zu Ye, tears fell down his face. He struggled desperately and shouted, but helplessly his mouth was stuffed with cloth and he couldn’t make a sound.

“Quick! Quick, untie him!” Zu Ye ordered.

San Batou and Xiao Jiao were a bit dazed: “Oh… yes! Yes!”

After being untied, that person threw himself onto Zu Ye’s shoulder: “Brother Guansheng, I finally found you!” Tears streamed down.

Zu Ye’s eyes reddened: “Good brother, good brother, speak slowly…”

San Batou was somewhat at a loss. Zu Ye said to him and Xiao Jiao: “This is my fellow villager who grew up with me since childhood, Brother Daifu. You should all call him Uncle Daifu!”

A silly mark instantly became an uncle. San Batou’s brain couldn’t quite process it: “Oh, Uncle… Daifu.”

“Back then, when my entire family suffered cruel murder, the remains of my grandfather, grandmother, mother, and eldest brother were all buried by Daifu’s help…” Zu Ye added another sentence.

Hearing this, San Batou and Xiao Jiao immediately knelt down and shouted: “Uncle Daifu, receive this junior’s bow!”

Daifu had never seen such a display and quickly said: “Don’t! Don’t! Honored sirs… what is this… quick… quickly get up!”

“Let’s go, let’s talk at home.” Zu Ye patted Daifu’s shoulder, then looked at San Batou and Xiao Jiao still kneeling on the ground. “Third, you come along too.”

“Yes, Zu Ye.”

Arriving at Zu Ye’s residence, Zu Ye personally made tea for Daifu.

Daifu looked at Zu Ye’s spacious and bright house and just smiled foolishly: “Brother, your house is so big, so beautiful.”

At this moment, steward Wu Lao’er brought up refreshments and fruit plates. Zu Ye personally took a piece of osmanthus cake and handed it to Daifu: “Brother, eat this… don’t be constrained…”

Daifu embarrassedly accepted it, then pushed it toward Zu Ye: “Brother, you eat, you eat first.”

Zu Ye smiled and pushed it back to him, then grabbed another piece himself: “Let’s eat together!” He stuffed it in his mouth in one bite.

San Batou knew that usually Zu Ye never ate sweets—these things were for entertaining guests. Today, to make this Daifu less reserved, he actually swallowed a whole piece of osmanthus cake in one bite. It seemed Zu Ye’s relationship with this country bumpkin was quite special!

“Third, you come eat too!” Zu Ye ordered.

“No, no, thank you Zu Ye.” San Batou thought to himself: What’s so good about eating this stuff!

“Hmm?” Zu Ye’s eyes shifted sideways.

San Batou immediately understood: It’s not enough for you to accompany him eating alone—you have to drag me in too. He could only step forward, grab a piece, and force it down his throat.

Seeing everyone eating, Daifu stopped being reserved and wolfed it down ravenously.

After eating for a while, Zu Ye had him drink tea. Daifu took a few sips, rinsed the osmanthus cake stuck in his mouth, and swallowed it down with a gulp. Seeing this, San Batou nearly vomited.

“Brother, where have you been all these years? Over ten years ago, you returned to our hometown and left me a note saying if there was anything, I could come find you in Shanghai at this address… Two years ago I came to Shanghai once, but the place was full of Japanese devils everywhere. I was so scared I didn’t dare enter the city and ran away. After the devils were driven out, I came to find you again at the address on your note, but that place is now all cloth shops, all businesses… This is my fourth time coming to Shanghai to find you… The travel expenses were all pooled together by the villagers…” Speaking to this point, Daifu’s eyes reddened and he was about to cry again.

Zu Ye sighed deeply: “Brother, it’s a long story. I haven’t been in Shanghai all these years… Alas, it’s hard to explain in a few words… Brother, what brings you to find me? Just speak freely!”

“Brother…” Daifu finally couldn’t hold back. Tears gushed out like a tide. “Our hometown ancestral hall was bombed by Japanese planes! The Shangguan family clan ancestral hall is gone! A three-hundred-year-old ancestral hall, completely blown to pieces! This year there was a great drought, not a single grain harvested. The elders all say this is because the ancestral hall’s feng shui was destroyed. The ancestral tablets and genealogy records were all blown away—our lineage will have no descendants…”

Hearing this, Zu Ye’s heart felt like it was being cut by knives. He thought again of his own ancestral grave being destroyed by Zuo Yongchan and others, waves of sharp pain in his heart.

“Brother, I came this time entrusted by the villagers. Everyone says you’re someone of status and reputation in the city, and you’re also a great master. See if… see if you can raise some money… to rebuild the ancestral hall?…” Daifu said.

San Batou immediately understood upon hearing this: He’s come to ask for money! Although Zu Ye is the leader of the council, the money was earned by the brothers risking their lives. Moreover, Zu Ye’s own parents’ remains have long been scattered—there’s no need to help them build an ancestral hall!

Thinking of this, San Batou mustered his courage and said: “Alas… Uncle Daifu, my Zu Ye understands your feelings. Actually, my Zu Ye’s situation is even worse than yours. Although your ancestral hall was bombed, each family’s ancestral graves still exist, the ancestors’ remains still exist. As long as the ancestral hall is rebuilt and each family’s tablets are erected, everything can start over… But pitiable is my Zu Ye… the old master and old mistress’s remains are no longer there. What meaning is there in erecting empty tablets? Thinking of this, my heart aches for Zu Ye…” San Batou wiped away tears, quietly waiting for Zu Ye to respond.

San Batou’s words had double meaning: the first layer meant to advise Zu Ye not to spend silver participating in this ancestral hall construction; the second layer blamed Daifu and the other villagers—you didn’t even watch over Zu Ye’s grave properly, yet you still have the face to ask for money?

Zu Ye looked at San Batou, then picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and said: “In life I am a person of the Shangguan clan, in death I am a ghost of the Shangguan clan. Without the Shangguan clan’s blood lineage passed down through generations, how could there be Guansheng’s body today? My father originally came from a humble family. Later he abandoned his brush for military service, and the family circumstances gradually improved. No matter where a person goes, no matter how they fare, they must not forget their roots… As for my parents’ scattered remains, that too is fate…”

Hearing this, Daifu suddenly interrupted: “Brother, uncle, aunt, grandfather, grandmother, and brother’s remains aren’t lost!”

Upon hearing this, Zu Ye’s hand holding the teacup froze in midair, staring blankly at Daifu. San Batou was also stunned, staring foolishly at Daifu.

“You didn’t know?” Daifu continued. “Alas, that’s right—how would you know! A few years ago, wasn’t there always fighting? All kinds of fighting—we couldn’t figure out who was fighting whom. Anyway, troops kept passing through our hometown. Sometimes the Central Army came, sometimes the Northeast Army, sometimes the Sichuan Army, sometimes the devils. There were good soldiers and bad soldiers. When good soldiers came, at most they’d ask for some food and water. If bad soldiers came, that was trouble—stealing things, stealing women. And some defeated soldiers, if they couldn’t steal anything, would set off explosives to blow up graves and steal the burial goods inside. Later the village head and several clan elders discussed it and moved all the graves to another location. Each family’s ancestral graves were secretly relocated. The new grave site had no grave mounds—no one could tell it was a cemetery. They still planted crops on top. The old grave site still existed, only underneath was no longer the ancestors’ remains but pig bones and sheep bones instead. Without careful examination, no one could tell!”

Zu Ye’s eyes lit up.

Daifu paused, scratched his head, and continued: “But it was quite dangerous too. That night when we were moving the graves, I was pushing a small cart. I had just wrapped up uncle, aunt, grandfather, and grandmother’s remains when I saw a dark mass of people coming toward us. Everyone was terrified. When they got close, we saw it was a group of fleeing common people. That group thought what we had on the cart was food and rushed over to grab it. The villagers wouldn’t let them touch it, so fighting broke out. I clutched uncle and aunt’s remains tightly—they hit my head with stones. Later the village head brought out his long blunderbuss (a hunting rifle used in the countryside to hunt rabbits), fired one shot, and they ran away!” Speaking to this point, Daifu lowered his head and removed his felt hat. “Brother, look, this is the scar from being hit that night. The scalp was completely smashed off—it’s bald, won’t grow hair anymore. Hehe, that’s why I wear a hat every day to cover the ugliness…”

Zu Ye stood up, looked at the bald patch of scalp on Daifu’s head, and embraced him tightly.

“You didn’t want your life anymore…” Zu Ye patted Daifu’s back, forcibly holding back tears from flowing.

Daifu laughed foolishly: “Brother, you forgot—my whole family’s lives were given by aunt! That year my father died and our family had no money for burial, so we borrowed usury from the landlord. Later the interest compounded and we couldn’t pay it back. The landlord brought people to our house to cause trouble and even had people dig up my father’s grave. My mother wanted to fight the landlord to the death and was beaten with a broken leg. Later… later it was aunt who paid the money, and only then did the landlord give up. Afterward my mother told aunt we probably couldn’t pay back this money for a while. Aunt said whenever you have it, pay it back then. But… but before I could pay it back… aunt… aunt…” Speaking to this point, Daifu couldn’t help crying.

Zu Ye could no longer hold back. Thinking of his kind mother, tears streamed down his face.

Good deeds bring good rewards, evil deeds bring evil retribution—this is the eternal unchanging law. Zu Ye’s mother did good deeds in life and her descendants received blessings after death. Originally Zu Ye had despaired. In China where clan concepts were extremely strong, a man whose ancestral grave was gone couldn’t hold his head up anywhere he went. Daifu’s arrival gave Zu Ye new life.

This was tremendous good news for the entire council! The brothers saw a long-absent smile on Zu Ye’s face. At the council meeting it was unanimously approved: take out silver to build the ancestral hall.

On the day the new ancestral hall was completed, Zu Ye personally composed six couplets for the ancestral shrine, starting from both sides of the main gate all the way to both sides of the genealogy records:

First couplet: A thousand branches return to one root, ten thousand families all share the same source.

Second couplet: The Shangguan name unchanged for a hundred generations, ancestral worship eternal as thus.

Third couplet: Ancestral virtue revives the great enterprise of a thousand autumns, clan merit initiates the civilization of a hundred generations.

Fourth couplet: Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trust; loyalty, filial piety, integrity, virtue, conduct.

Fifth couplet: Achieving harmony and balance, clan descendants’ bloodline shares one source; knowing honor and shame, the family’s backbone comes from the same root.

The final couplet: Ancestral virtue and clan merit remain for a hundred generations, father’s kindness and son’s filial piety last ten thousand years.

Then the sacrificial ceremony began. That day, Zu Ye drank a lot of wine.

Later returning to the old residence, he fell asleep and dreamed of his kind mother smiling at him, dreamed of his mother once again telling him stories from “Liao Fan’s Four Lessons.”

The next day returning to Shanghai, after just two days, Zu Ye went out alone again. This was Zu Ye’s habit of many years—sometimes when he went out, he brought neither Xiao Jiao nor Batou, not even his personal bodyguard Little Six. No one dared ask Zu Ye where he went, much less dared ask what he went to do.

Zu Ye thought of one person—a council member who was once honest and loyal, an old Batou who had now devoted himself to Buddhism—Dharma Master Qingfeng, Zhou Zhenlong.

After eight years of war, he didn’t know if that small temple still existed, if the people in the temple were still there. Sometimes, some words—Zu Ye felt he could only speak to someone who had left secular life.

Zu Ye finally saw that familiar figure again.

“How have you been, Dharma Master?” Zu Ye pressed his palms together in greeting.

“Amitabha. Thank you for Zu Ye’s concern—this poor monk is well.” Dharma Master Qingfeng looked at Zu Ye. “Zu Ye’s seal hall is bright, rosy clouds shine through—it seems there’s joyous news again.”

Zu Ye smiled slightly: “What a karmic retribution.” He then told Dharma Master Qingfeng everything about his family members’ remains.

After hearing this, Dharma Master Qingfeng nodded repeatedly: “All dharmas are empty, but cause and effect are not empty. Cause and effect follow each other like shadow following form.”

Zu Ye suddenly felt another wave of sadness and couldn’t help asking: “Speaking of this cause and effect, sometimes I’m also confused. My mother was kind-hearted all her life, charitable and generous—how did she end up dying cruelly at the hands of villains? The one who should have died was me…”

“Amitabha. Zu Ye, please listen to me. What you see is the karmic retribution of one lifetime. This poor monk sees the karmic retribution of three lifetimes. Let me tell you a story: In the Song Dynasty in Kaifeng there was a man named Wang Jue. This person was born into a wealthy family, but unfortunately was born blind. However, this person was extremely kind-hearted and charitable. At age thirty, his parents died. After burying his parents, he took all the remaining family money to build a bridge for the local people. During the bridge construction, he was hit by a stone and both his legs were broken. The villagers advised him to stop building and use the remaining money to treat his illness. He insisted on continuing. Later the bridge was finally completed. But on the day of completion, suddenly heavy rain fell from the sky. After a lightning bolt, Wang Jue was struck by lightning, then lost consciousness and soon died. The common people were all enraged—they couldn’t take it anymore. Pointing at Heaven, they cursed: Is there still heavenly justice? He was already blind, and building the bridge broke both his legs. Just as the bridge was completed, he was struck dead by lightning. Does Heaven still have eyes? Later this matter grew bigger and bigger and reached Bao Zheng’s ears. To calm the people’s resentment and anger, Bao Zheng personally came to the bridge and erected a stone tablet reading: ‘Heaven has no eyes, but the human world has compassion.’ But in his heart, Bao Zheng also couldn’t understand. He found a senior monk named Zhiyu to seek enlightenment. Great Master Zhiyu laughed and told Bao Zheng: ‘You should not grieve for Wang Jue, but be happy for him. Due to past life causes, this person should have suffered for three lifetimes—one lifetime as a blind person, one lifetime as a cripple, one lifetime struck by lightning. But because he single-mindedly did good, Heaven let him complete three lifetimes of suffering in one lifetime, so he could quickly reincarnate as a normal person!’ After hearing this, Bao Zheng asked candidly: ‘How do I know the Great Master isn’t deceiving me?’ Zhiyu said: ‘A monk dare not speak falsely. Three days from now, twenty li south of Kaifeng Prefecture, there’s a village called Baoshan Hall. A baby will be born, and on his back from birth will be a birthmark—the trace of that day’s lightning strike. This child will have the talent of a Hanlin scholar in the future!’ Three days later, Magistrate Bao personally brought people to Baoshan Hall village to investigate. When Bao Zheng lifted the infant’s swaddling clothes with trembling hands, a thumb-sized birthmark met his eyes. Bao Zheng couldn’t help taking a deep breath…”

After hearing this, Zu Ye nodded repeatedly.

“Zu Ye, although your mother was harmed by evildoers, she ultimately preserved you. The bloodline continued down, and only thus could Zu Ye carry out Heaven’s will and do good deeds in the world. This is a good karmic connection,” Dharma Master Qingfeng said. “Otherwise, wouldn’t Zu Ye’s entire household have all died at the hands of villains? Moreover, Zu Ye yourself has also felt the karmic law of good deeds bringing good rewards. If not for your mother doing good deeds while alive, who would risk their life to rescue remains for your family?”

Zu Ye nodded: “Yes, Dharma Master’s words are reasonable. But are the things I’m doing now good deeds?”

Dharma Master Qingfeng sighed deeply: “It seems Zu Ye has also sensed the drawbacks of the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect.'”

“Dharma Master, what should I do?”

“Zu Ye will find a way himself—it’s just that the karmic opportunity hasn’t yet arrived…” Speaking to this point, Dharma Master Qingfeng paused slightly. Looking out the window at the vast mountains, he recited a Buddhist verse:

A human body is hard to obtain, yet now obtained; The Buddhist dharma is hard to hear, yet now heard; If this body is not saved in this life, What other life awaits to save this body?

This seemed spoken for Zu Ye to hear, yet also seemed spoken for himself to hear.

Zu Ye nodded deeply.

From then on, Zu Ye began planning his great charitable undertaking. Later, he finally set the “Jiang Xiang Sect” on the right path. Because of his single-minded pursuit of goodness, he also broke through destiny’s constraints like Master Yuan Liaofan—the Daoist priest said he wouldn’t live past fifty and would have no sons or descendants, yet he had a son, and moreover an outstanding military man. As for his lifespan, the living brothers all believed he died at age fifty-two, but jianghu rumors varied and there was never a definitive conclusion…

The Military Statistics Number Two Hunts Down the Fortune-Teller

Just as Zu Ye was visiting his teacher to discuss philosophy and planning the grand scheme, Jiang Feiyan in southern Guangdong was extremely busy. The War of Resistance had ended, and after Jiang Feiyan returned, local common people eagerly came to seek divination. Even people from Hong Kong across the strait took boats over to consult fortunes. The great disciple of “Hui Ci Fairy Maiden”—this title wasn’t just talk: “After Wu Niang comes Sister Yan; the maiden wins in looks by three parts, the sister surpasses the old lady in one line of fragrance.”

Some Hong Kong merchants no longer came specifically for divination, but rather wanted to see Jiang Feiyan’s beautiful face and smell the fragrance emanating from her body.

One day, Jiang Feiyan was receiving a tycoon from Hong Kong when Xiao Jiao reported: “Major General Feng has arrived.”

Feng Siyuan of the Military Statistics Bureau, having repeatedly obtained intelligence with merit during the War of Resistance, had already been promoted to major general.

“Oh my, my great general has arrived…” In the study, Jiang Feiyan said with a smile.

“Sister Yan, don’t say that—even the great general is played around by you!” Feng Siyuan replied.

Jiang Feiyan felt something was wrong with Feng Siyuan’s words, but still smiled and said: “What’s the matter? Did someone make my great general unhappy? Come, let me rub your shoulders.” She walked over as she spoke.

Feng Siyuan grabbed Jiang Feiyan’s hand and slowly moved it away.

“You?” Jiang Feiyan felt even more that something was wrong.

“Am I very fun to play with?” Feng Siyuan suddenly said.

“What do you mean?” Jiang Feiyan pretended to be angry.

“Haven’t played enough yet?” Feng Siyuan said coldly.

“The general says this—Feiyan doesn’t know how to respond!” Jiang Feiyan struggled to maintain composure.

“Good! Good! Very good!” Feng Siyuan laughed coldly, then suddenly murmured: “The greedy will be poor—the gentleman considers this a great warning, Buddhism also makes it the first of the five precepts. Those who act as con artists, the fault lies not in the mark, but in the ‘big one.’ It seems Sister Yan truly took me for a ‘big one’!”

Jiang Feiyan’s head buzzed. What’s going on? How does he know everything? Where did I slip up? Jiang Feiyan’s brain raced rapidly: “Hehe, what is the general saying? Is it a folk song?”

“Hahahaha!” Feng Siyuan suddenly laughed toward the sky, his laughter filled with endless sorrow. “I, Feng Siyuan, have loved someone since age twenty-five. She’s six years older than me. She’s very beautiful, dignified and graceful, refined on the outside and wise within. She’s masterful in yin and yang, capable of summoning wind and rain. In others’ eyes, she’s an immortal. But in my eyes, she’s just a good woman. She has a wife’s gentleness and a mother’s loving kindness. Sometimes when she cries, she has a daughter’s pitiful helplessness. Every time I lay in her arms, only then could I forget the conspiracies and struggles of reality, only then could I enjoy a moment of peace. Countless times I fell asleep smelling her body fragrance, I entered dreams pillowing on her name. I thought this was the only pure land in the filthy world, the only place that could calm me down! But I was wrong, I was wrong! I was truly wrong! That place isn’t pure land—it’s conspiracy, it’s a place filthier than anywhere in the world! My heart held you, but you held someone else! I really don’t know what it tastes like in your heart when you slowly stroke my head and coax me to sleep while thinking of someone else?”

“You…” Jiang Feiyan wanted to speak.

“Don’t speak!” Feng Siyuan was already shedding tears. “Let me finish speaking. You’ve been using me all along, using me as your protective umbrella! Using me to obtain the intelligence you wanted! Using my infatuation, using my foolishness! Who would have thought… who would have thought… I, a seven-foot man born from the secret service, was played around by a jianghu swindler!”

“Do you think I’m especially easy to deceive, especially fun to play? Do you? Do you?” As Feng Siyuan spoke, he pressed closer to Jiang Feiyan step by step, then grabbed Jiang Feiyan’s collar. “Speak—do you?” His voice shook the entire room with a buzzing sound.

Jiang Feiyan didn’t speak. She silently looked at him as two lines of tears slowly rolled down from the corners of her eyes.

Feng Siyuan froze, slowly released his hands, then suddenly embraced Jiang Feiyan tightly: “I was wrong, I was wrong! Don’t deceive me anymore! Don’t deceive me anymore!” Speaking thus, tears flowed wildly.

The two cried for a long time. Jiang Feiyan said softly: “Do you think when I deceived you I felt relaxed? I was also in torment every day. I’m not afraid of lechers, nor afraid of bastards who wipe clean and leave after eating. I’m most afraid of devoted people like you. Deceiving you is deceiving myself. Now you know the truth—you’re suffering, but I’ve been suffering since the day I met you. I’ve concealed this for so many years. Today you’ve exposed it, and I’m also liberated! Kill me or torture me—it’s up to you…”

“As if I could bear to kill you…” Feng Siyuan sighed deeply. “Sometimes I truly wish I could be like Director Dai—toward people who harm my interests, kill them without hesitation. Moreover, you’ve deceived me for so long. Because I loved you, I don’t know how many traps of yours I walked into, nor how many secrets I revealed…”

“You’re right! I did deceive you for a long time and extracted many secrets from you. But think carefully—have I harmed you? Have you lost anything because of me? I deceived you for my own survival. People like us, our lives aren’t as valuable as the general’s. Our lives aren’t controlled by ourselves—we need to borrow others’ protection… And I’ve also been paving the way for you. For instance, through you I introduced Zu Ye to Director Dai. In the end, wasn’t Director Dai very pleased? When he was pleased, it was a great merit for you. Of course, you can say I did this to set up a bigger scheme and seize more benefits. But the actual situation is truly that no one was harmed. We don’t want to harm people—we’re just trying to survive, just trying to protect ourselves…” Jiang Feiyan said.

“Have you ever loved me?” Feng Siyuan suddenly said.

Jiang Feiyan fell silent. After a long while she said: “People aren’t unfeeling grass or wood—who can be without feelings? You and I have known each other so long, and… and have had intimate relations many times. To say there are no feelings would be false, but… but more of it is guilt.”

“But do you know how much I love you?” Feng Siyuan shed tears again.

“Not worth it, not worth it. Feiyan is just a swindler who mistakenly entered the mortal world—not worthy of the general like this.” Jiang Feiyan also cried.

“I know you’ve always been thinking about that Zu Ye, but he doesn’t appreciate it. Aren’t you tired?” Feng Siyuan said.

“Then let me ask you—you’ve loved me for so long, aren’t you tired?” Jiang Feiyan asked in return.

“Not tired, not tired at all!” Feng Siyuan said.

“The reasoning is the same—with love there is everything, you won’t feel tired.” Jiang Feiyan said.

“Then… then can I ask you a question?” Feng Siyuan’s face suddenly reddened.

Jiang Feiyan looked at him: “I know what you want to ask. You want to ask whether Zu Ye and I have been together, right?

“Don’t think of us jianghu people as too filthy. Nations have national laws, gangs have gang rules. Sometimes we wild country folk are much cleaner than you temple hall officials and nobles! In the sunlight, you’re people; with lights turned off, you’re ghosts. But we’re ghosts in the sunlight—day and night, in front of people and behind their backs, all the same. Zu Ye is upright and righteous—he won’t do improper things, much less marry me…” Jiang Feiyan said.

“Why? You have money and connections—he should have run away with you long ago!” Feng Siyuan asked.

“Your Generalissimo Chiang has even more money, even more connections—why doesn’t he run?” Jiang Feiyan asked in return.

“Don’t joke! Generalissimo Chiang wants to pacify the four seas and unify China.” Feng Siyuan said.

“Right! Everyone has their own mission. Zu Ye also must manage the entire gang. Big people have big matters, small people have small matters!” Jiang Feiyan said.

“Then does Zu Ye truly have such determination? You’re so beautiful—has he never been moved?” Feng Siyuan asked again.

“Being moved in heart and acting on it are two different things. Just like many of your Kuomintang soldiers like Madam Song Meiling, but they only think about it in their hearts. Can you pull them all out and execute them by firing squad?” Jiang Feiyan asked in return.

“Hehe,” Feng Siyuan laughed. “Makes sense, makes sense.”

“You only asked me—I haven’t asked you yet. How did you discover our affairs?” Jiang Feiyan finally had the chance to ask in return.

“Alas. If you don’t want people to know, don’t do it yourself. People act, Heaven watches—there’s always a time when it’s revealed. You know about 1936 when Zu Ye joined forces with Wang Yaqiao’s subordinate Zhang Enrui to set up a honey trap and deceived my Military Statistics colleague Xu Huaijin, right?”

Seeing Feng Siyuan was already this clear about things, Jiang Feiyan could only nod and admit it.

“Xu Huaijin later fled from the Military Statistics Bureau, escaped to Hong Kong, then later went to Nanyang. This person and I were privately close friends. When he left, I even covered for him. In 1944 during the late War of Resistance period, this person took advantage of the domestic chaos and secretly returned to the mainland. Through some method he found the grave of the courtesan Hua Yuerong whom he deeply loved. As a result, he discovered a Kuomintang company commander named Zhang Enrui was buried together with her. He had me investigate who Zhang Enrui was. Through Military Statistics intelligence data, I found out he was Wang Yaqiao’s subordinate. After Wang Yaqiao died, Zhang Enrui followed Li Jishen, then later entered the Guangxi faction Li Zongren’s army. In 1940 during the Southern Guangxi Campaign, a bullet pierced through his chest. Before dying, he left a dying wish to bury himself together with Hua Yuerong. Only at that moment did my colleague Xu Huaijin suddenly realize he’d been deceived! Angry and ashamed, he immediately dug open Hua Yuerong’s grave, opened the coffin wanting to destroy the remains to vent his hatred! As a result, he discovered Hua Yuerong’s suicide note in the coffin. After reading the suicide note, he learned that Hua Yuerong truly loved him and was even willing to die for him! After reading Hua Yuerong’s final letter, Xu Huaijin nearly collapsed. He knelt before the grave and cried for a full three hours! Hua Yuerong herself probably never imagined that the letter she thought at the time could never be delivered would be seen by her beloved with his own eyes eight years later! Xu Huaijin carefully collected Hua Yuerong’s remains piece by piece, wrapped them in clothes, and left the mainland. Before leaving he told me he would never return for the rest of his life. He wanted to take Hua Yuerong to a place where no one could find them…”

Speaking to this point, Feng Siyuan’s eyes reddened. Jiang Feiyan’s tears had long been streaming down.

Feng Siyuan walked over and held Jiang Feiyan tightly in his arms.

Jiang Feiyan silently shed tears and said: “Don’t be as foolish as Xu Huaijin. I’m not worth you being like this. I’m old—every day applying powder and rouge, drawing eyebrows and eyes, only then can I barely look acceptable. You should quickly find a young woman to marry…”

Feng Siyuan held Jiang Feiyan even tighter: “Love cannot be replaced. If it can be replaced, it’s not love.”

“But you’re a major general, I’m a swindler.”

“I love Jiang Feiyan—it doesn’t matter whether she’s a swindler or not.” Feng Siyuan said word by word.

“Report!” The little spy shouted loudly outside the door.

Feng Siyuan wiped away his tears: “Wait a moment!” He also wiped away Jiang Feiyan’s tears, then kissed Jiang Feiyan once and walked out.

“Director Mao has sent a telegram!” The little spy handed the telegram to Feng Siyuan.

Feng Siyuan opened it and couldn’t help gasping: They’re going to arrest Zu Ye!