HEAVEN SWORD DRAGON SABRE Book 2 of 2

Refusing to Acknowledge Zhang As Husband Part 2

Zhang Wuji took a bundle of yellowish thin paper from his bosom. It was the Wumu Legacy, which was concealed inside the Tulong Saber. He turned the page to the 'Troops Trapped on the Ox-head Mountain' section and handed it over to Xu Da.

Xu Da received the book with both hands and read attentively for a moment. He could not help but be stunned and impressed and the same time. "Wumu's ability in managing the troops was truly divine, truly unachievable by the later generation," he sighed, "If Yue Wumu was still alive today, leading the warriors of the Central Plains, we would not worry about driving the Tatars back to the northern desert."

While saying that, he respectfully returned the book But Zhang Wuji did not want to receive it. He said, "'The most revered in the Wulin world, treasured Saber slaughtering the dragon; ruling everything under the heavens, no one dares to disobey.' The real meaning of these sixteen characters, only today did I finally understand. The so-called 'the most revered in the Wulin world' is not the Saber itself, but it is the Legacy concealed inside the Saber. When this military strategy is used to face the enemy, fighting a battle will result in victory, attacking will result in subduing the enemy. Ultimately, 'ruling everything under the heavens, no one dared to disobey.' Otherwise, how can one rule everything under the heavens with just a single treasured saber? Xu Dage, I am passing this military strategy book to you. I hope you will use the notes Yue Wumu left behind to take our country [orig. 'he shan' – river and mountain] back and set up a new emperor [orig. 'huang long – yellow dragon]."

Xu Da was taken aback. "What kind of virtue or ability does Subordinate have?" he hastily said, "How can I be worthy to accept such a generous gift from Jiaozhu?"

"Xu Dage," Zhang Wuji replied, "Please do not decline. I am giving this book on military strategy to you on behalf of the common people."

Xu Da held the book with trembling hands. Zhang Wuji continued, "There were two more lines in the saying circulating within the Wulin world: 'Yitian [relying on Heaven] does not appear, who can match its sharpness?' Presently, the Yitian Sword is broken into two; but someday someone will mend it. Hidden inside the Sword was a very fierce secret martial art manual. I also know the meaning of these last two lines. The Military Manual is to be used to drive the Tatars away. Somebody will seize the power. If it happens that the new ruler is abusing his newfound power, that he is simply replacing one tyrant with another, so that the common people are oppressed with great suffering, then there will come a day when a hero, wielding the Yitian Sword, will severe the head of that tyrant. Although by commanding millions of warriors the tyrant is able to overturn the world, he might not necessarily able to withstand one strike of the Yitian Sword. Xu Dage, I want you to remember what I said today."

Xu Da's back was streaming with cold sweats; he did not dare to decline anymore. "Subordinate will cautiously observe Jiaozhu's instructions today," he said. With full respect he placed the Wumu Legacy on the table, kneeled down and kowtowed to it four times before respectfully thanking Zhang Wuji again for bestowing the book to him.

Hereafter, Xu Da did indeed command his troops with a divine skill; consecutively defeated the Yuan army, until finally he held the commander-in-chief position in the expedition to the north, driving away the Mongolians beyond the Great Wall. His prestige shook the northern desert, establishing meritorious achievement of his generation. Henceforth the Ming Cult was admired by the heroes of the Central Plains. Everywhere Zhang Wuji issued his order, nobody dared to disobey. For the last several hundred years the Ming Cult was held in contempt by the common people; they were considered demonic and heretical. After this heaven-turning-and-earth-shaking huge change, the Ming Cult became the leader of the heroes and warriors of the Central Plains, became the driving force behind the resurgence's great mission. Later on, Zhu Yuanzhang turned double-minded and repeatedly schemed to ascend the throne. Even so, the Ming Cult people were the ones helping him to take back the country [here, the word is 'jiang shan' – river and mountain]; therefore, he could not help but choose the character 'Ming' [bright] as his dynasty name. From the first year of Ming Dynasty's Emperor Hongwu [reign name of Zhu Yuanzhang] to the seventeenth year of Emperor Chongzhen [the last emperor of Ming Dynasty], 277 years of ruling the land under the heavens [i.e. China], it was because of the Ming Cult.