Chapter 81: The Farmer and the Snake, Compassion Does Not Command Armies
The clouds remained overcast, but the heavy snow that had fallen all night had stopped, and from the patches of clearing iron-gray in the sky, one could see signs of the weather clearing up.
Zhongdu City was like a mat outlined in white snow, with streets and alleys drawing horizontal and vertical lines across the city.
Zhou Yan’s courtyard was also crisscrossed with footprints.
He had woken up early when the sky was just beginning to lighten, knowing that Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi had likely also woken up to meditate, but he pretended they were still resting and did not go to the east side room, which had been prepared for them, to wish them good morning.
He did not clear the snow in the courtyard or practice his skills. He drew water from the ancient well and simmered Eight Treasure Rice with rice, red dates, lotus seeds, and longan. In between, he recalled the events of the previous night.
What he was contemplating was not what had happened at the Zhao Wang Manor, but the Daoist Canon that Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi had spoken of.
The two were learned and spoke with great enthusiasm, talking late into the night by candlelight.
The natural and effortless philosophy of Lao Tzu’s “Five Thousand Words.” Zhuangzi’s unique insights on “Qi,” “Dao,” and “De” in the “Nanhua Sutra.” The theory of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements contained in the “Taiping Jing.” And the cultivation and health preservation studies in “Yun Ji Qi Qian,” all their profound thoughts, were eloquently narrated by Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi, and Zhou Yan gained a great deal.
He had always believed that once martial arts reached a certain level, any qualitative improvement, any desire to reach the pinnacle, required an elevation of one’s worldview and philosophical system, a profound realization, which would then allow one to glimpse the perfect possibility of a new world of martial arts in the subtle details. Huang Shang’s compilation of Daoist classics and his comprehension of their essence, leading him to master the Nine Yin Manual without a teacher, might have originated from this.
Zhou Yan certainly did not expect to have the same talent as Huang Shang, but the Daoist principles spoken by Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi had an obvious impact on his worldview in this world and his comprehension of martial arts cultivation techniques.
As the saying goes, in a backward way of thinking, any advanced teaching is merely meaningless repetition, and Zhou Yan’s uniqueness lay in his ability to integrate the knowledge he had encountered in his two lives to generate new insights and concepts.
The comprehensiveness of Kang Cangzi’s discourse on “Dao” in the “Dong Ling Zhen Jing,” as described by Ma Yu, opened Zhou Yan’s eyes. Besides the Way of Governance, the Way of the Ruler, the Way of the Minister, the Way of the Worthy, and the Way of Compliance, it even included the Way of Warfare. After his shock, he recalled the history he had studied and eventually found peace.
These great works by ancient sages could reach emperors and mingle with social elites; they were all knowledgeable. Guiguzi was also a member of the Taoist sect and had personally cultivated disciples like Sun Bin, Pang Juan, Su Qin, and Zhang Yi, all of whom were influential figures.
Therefore, being in the Jianghu of Legend of the Condor Heroes and listening to Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi speak, the improvement in Zhou Yan’s vision was no less significant than breaking through the mysterious pass of life in martial arts, with the convergence of dragon and tiger.
While Zhou Yan was preparing breakfast, Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi, who were meditating, felt deeply moved by Zhou Yan’s sincere desire to learn and his ability to draw inferences from what he learned. He was a rare talent in martial arts and Daoism, with outstanding comprehension and an unconventional approach, but unfortunately, he was not a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect.
Breakfast consisted of Eight Treasure Rice, served with Shangqing tofu, dried bamboo shoots and wood ear, and stir-fried cabbage with vinegar.
After the meal, Zhou Yan went out to the escort agency, while Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi continued to stay in the courtyard.
His figure passed through the alley and reached the long street. In the courtyard, Wang Chuyi entered the Plum Blossom Pile and began practicing the elbow strike technique from the Yue Family Fist Manual, which he had obtained from Zhou Yan.
Ma Yu watched for a while and said, “Junior Brother, why don’t we spar?”
“I was just thinking the same thing!”
Under the dim sky, the figures of the two Taoist priests suddenly collided. Their knees were like spears, their elbows like sabers, and they clashed with loud thuds.
…
The heavy snow had stopped, and the bustling pedestrians had emerged. When Zhou Yan arrived at the Fu’an Escort Agency, he saw many escorts coming and going from afar.
“Is it the escort team returning from the Shu Region?” he muttered to himself and quickened his pace towards the agency. Upon reaching the gatehouse, he asked a runner, “Has Escort Shi returned?”
“Yes, he just arrived a moment ago. Good morning, Escort Zhou.”
“Your Essence, Qi, and Spirit are very good,” Zhou Yan said to the runner, who was exhaling white breath.
The runner chuckled and said, “All the escorts practice diligently; how dare we be lazy? We arrived at the agency early, practiced some saber techniques with a stone lock, got our bodies moving, and then came to stand guard.”
“Good, when you have free time in the future, practice with me.”
“Thank you, Escort Zhou.” The runner was overjoyed.
Zhou Yan smiled and nodded, entering the porch.
The runner pinched his thigh, wincing in pain. He grinned, realizing that without offering any favors or treating Escort Zhou to a meal at Songhe Tower, such a great opportunity had fallen into his lap.
Zhou Yan arrived at the martial field and saw from a distance that Escort Leader Shi Xiangui and Escort Cui Qingshan were hurrying towards the meeting hall. He guessed that the Boss and the Escort Leader must be dealing with Cui Changshun’s matter.
He brought his thoughts back and looked at the martial field. Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Yang Tiexin, and Mu Nianci were all there.
…
Upon returning from the Shu Region and entering the escort agency, Shi Xiangui and Cui Qingshan keenly sensed some changes.
In previous years, with the Lunar New Year approaching, in such snowy weather, the escorts and runners would be lazily gathered together, speculating about the year-end bonuses, how to celebrate the New Year, or gossiping about romantic tales they had heard from tea houses and brothels. But this atmosphere was completely gone.
There were an unusually large number of escorts and runners practicing in the martial field, and even the runners on duty were discussing cultivation techniques, occasionally mentioning matters concerning the Changfeng Escort Agency.
Wasn’t the Changfeng Escort Agency in Datong Prefecture? Who was teaching these runners cultivation techniques hand-in-hand? Shi Xiangui and Cui Qingshan wondered.
The two entered the meeting hall, and Cui Qingshan was the first to see his nephew, Cui Changshun.
“Why is this beast here? Did he cause trouble?” Escort Cui Qingshan’s heart sank.
…
“Brother Zhou, come and sit quickly.”
Zhang Wangyue was explaining some key points of spear techniques to Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci, while Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and others listened. Seeing Zhou Yan approach, Escort Huyan waved.
Mu Nianci quickly got up to find a bench. Zhou Yan had already picked up a stone lock. She moved her seat to the side, and Zhou Yan sat down next to her.
In the biting wind, the young girl in red stood with her waist like a pine tree, her hands resting on her knees, sitting upright.
“Are the two Taoist priests still here?”
“Yes!” Zhou Yan replied, “I just saw Escort Shi and Escort Cui go to the meeting hall; it’s probably about Cui Changshun’s matter.”
Cui Changshun had been imprisoned in the escort agency all along. Escort Su and Escort Lu, whom Zhou Yan had captured from the Four Seas, had already been dealt with by Huyan Lei and Wang Kui after Lei Luo defected to Changfeng.
In response to his question, Huyan Lei said, “We were just discussing this matter a moment ago. The Boss will definitely punish Cui Changshun severely. I wonder how Cui Qingshan will react.”
Zhou Yan, who had been contemplating this issue for a long time, said directly, “The possibility of him harboring resentment is high.”
Zhang Wangyue and the others all looked at Zhou Yan, and even Mu Nianci couldn’t help but glance over.
“Rivers and mountains can change, but nature is hard to alter. Cui Changshun’s psychology has long been twisted. Appealing to his emotions or reasoning is not applicable to someone like him. Cui Changshun might appear to the Boss as if he is weeping profusely and has a change of heart, but when he turns around, he will surely sow discord before Cui Qingshan.”
Huyan Lei said, “I agree with Brother Zhou’s assessment.”
“What is Brother Zhou’s opinion?”
“A farmer sees a frozen snake. Knowing the creature is harmful, but feeling pity, he warms it with his own body, only to be bitten. Do not be like the farmer and the snake.”
“But Cui Qingshan is one of Escort Shi’s men. If he is punished too strictly, will that cause him to fall out with the Escort Leader?” Shi Baichuan said.
“Mercy does not lead armies,” Zhou Yan said resolutely. “The future conflict between Fu’an and Changfeng will intensify. To repel external enemies, one must first secure internal stability. Rather than leaving hidden dangers, it is better to make a decisive cut when a threat emerges.”
