Chapter Twenty-Five: Forging Iron and Kindling Fire

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  For you provided "The Legend of Wu Sheng: The Story of Yue Fei" main text, please enjoy! Last time, it was said that Master Zhi Ming gave his skills to Yue Fei at night.

  Yue Fei practiced under the guidance of Master Zhi Ming, his high intuition and quick grasp left the master in awe.

  Just as the practice was going smoothly, a sudden "crack" sound came from afar, and it seemed like something had fallen down behind the wooden pillar. Yue Fei immediately stopped his exercise and went with Master Zhi Ming to investigate.

  As I walked closer, I only saw Niu Gao standing there awkwardly, with the incense burner on the small altar next to him knocked over.

  "Alas, benefactor, you have overturned the humble monk's incense burner. Forgive me, forgive me."

  Yue Fei asked in pursuit, it turned out that Niu Gao woke up to urinate and saw Yue Fei sneaking out quietly. Thinking there was something fun, he followed him out. Seeing Master Zhi Ming passing on his skills to Yue Fei, he imitated behind the pillar, but accidentally knocked over the incense burner.

  Yue Fei looked at Zhi Ming with difficulty.

  Ladies and gentlemen, in ancient times, peeking at others while they were transmitting their skills was a very serious matter.

  Master Zhi Ming burst out laughing and said: "Meeting each other is also fate, since we have fate, why not learn together?"

  Master Zhi Ming had already known there was someone behind the pillar.

  Niu Gao Fu arrived at Zhiming's place with a sincere heart, knelt down in front of Master Zhiming and kowtowed.

  Master Zhi Ming helped Niu Gao up and together they instructed the two men.

  Unconsciously, the three of them ended up practicing together all night long.

  The sun has come out, Xiaoshi is ready for morning worship, and everyone eats together. Master Zhiming, Yue Fei, and Niu Gao chat with the crowd as if nothing had happened.

  At the banquet, Yue Fei said to Zhou Tong: "Teacher, I had a premonition this morning that I would meet an important person today..."

  Zhou Tong heard this and seemed to be thinking deeply, but didn't respond. Yue Fei also didn't dare ask further.

  After finishing breakfast, Master Zhi Ming led everyone to the back mountain to see the secular affairs arranged by the Huashan School here.

  After walking about three or four miles on the mountain road, they suddenly heard a series of "ding-dong" sounds. Yue Fei asked Zhi Ming: "Master, this seems to be the sound of iron being hammered."

  Zhi Ming Dashi had not yet replied, when Zhou Tong took over the conversation and answered: "That's right, this is the sound of iron being forged, it is also one of the sparks left behind by our Huashan Sect for the Han people."

  "What's a fire starter?" Yue Fei was confused, "What does it have to do with forging iron?"

  Zhou Tong replied, "Those corrupt Confucians in the imperial court do not think of ways to benefit the people. They only focus on pleasing the emperor, saying that 'protecting the people is more important than protecting the rivers.' In just over a hundred years, they have not only changed the manufacture of iron and weapons to official workshops, but also repeatedly issued edicts prohibiting private possession of weapons by civilians. It has become so extreme that even the knives and guns used by ordinary people for farming, daily life, rituals, and folk performances are prohibited. The Han people's iron and weapon manufacturing technology, which had been proud since the Han and Tang dynasties, has declined to a point where it is not even comparable to that of a small island nation like Japan. Alas! For this reason, Ouyang Xiu wrote a poem called 'The Song of Japanese Knives' to mock us, which says:

  The path of Kunyi is far and no longer accessible, who can exhaust the legend of cutting jade that has been passed down for generations.

  A treasured sword is about to emerge from Japan, and will cross the vast ocean to the east.

  Fish skin inlaid with fragrant wood scabbard, yellow and white miscellaneous decorations with copper.

  A hundred pieces of gold are passed into good hands, and worn as an amulet can ward off evil spirits.

  It is said that his country is located on a large island, with fertile soil and good customs.

  Xu Fu deceived the Qin people and went to gather medicine, but he stayed away with a group of young boys.

  The hundred artisans and five kinds of craftsmen lived among them, and to this day their utensils and toys are all ingenious.

  The former dynasty's tribute came and went frequently, and scholars often worked on ornate language.

  Xu Fu's writings were not burned when he went on his journey, and more than 100 of his works still exist today.

  The order was strict and did not allow transmission in China; no one in the world could recognize ancient characters.

  The great king's grand canon hid the Yi and Man, with vast waves surging, no ferry to cross.

  "It's enough to move one to tears and sighs; what need is there to mention a rusty short sword?"

  After finishing his poem, Zhou Tong looked at Yue Fei and continued: "Now the main combat weapons of the imperial court have also changed from swords and spears to bows and arrows. Do you know why?"

  Yue Fei thought for a moment and said, "It's because there isn't enough iron."

  "Hmm, that's right." Zhou Tong said with a hint of resentment: "Not enough iron, not enough horses, the entire court is being bullied by foreigners. It's truly pitiful and infuriating. Our Huashan sect has gathered a group of skilled craftsmen, scattered throughout the north and south, trying to preserve some seeds and hope for us Han people."

  Yue Fei asked again: "Since both iron casting and weapon manufacturing are state-run, how can they decline so severely?"

  "Fei'er, from now on, you must remember that all things in the world can only be passed down and improved upon if they are your own. But things that belong to others will never truly be yours and will only decline until they are lost forever. This is also true for desires and personal interests."

  Before I knew it, we had already arrived at our destination.

  That was a flat land in the middle of the mountain, with a large earthen house on it. Behind the earthen house, there were also several small thatched cottages. Inside the earthen house, there was a high furnace, and beside the furnace, there was a big pile of black stones. There were three dark iron tripods next to the furnace fire, and the craftsmen were forging iron.

  To the left of the earthen house was a stone wall, with a seam in it, from which a stream of water gushed out. On a large stone beside it were carved four big characters: "Lingquan's Wonderful Product". Yue Fei recognized that as Su Dongpo's handwriting.

  Many people were watching all around, and two people came over from the small thatched cottage. It turned out to be a nun and a young girl. The two of them walked closer. Yue Fei took a closer look and saw that the girl had hair as black as ink, with a high bun on her head. Her face was like a peach flower, with willow eyebrows and starry eyes. She wore green clothes and pants, with a crimson silk scarf draped over her shoulders. On her feet were pink silk shoes embroidered with flowers, with a butterfly made of gold thread embedded in the toe. The butterfly had silver whiskers and eyes like golden beads, its wings fluttering as if about to fly, vividly lifelike. The whole person was refreshing and elegant, with the style of a woman from the prosperous Tang Dynasty, completely different from ordinary weak women.

  Yue Fei looked carefully, his heart suddenly racing faster, his face flushing red, his ears burning hot. The girl in front of him seemed familiar, and he could only think of taking her hand...

  Zhou Tong noticed something unusual about Yue Fei and took another look at the girl. He understood that this young man had started to feel romantic thoughts.

  The nun walked forward and bowed to Zhou Tong, saying: "Amitabha, I've finally waited for Brother Zhou to arrive."

  Zhou Tong returned the courtesy and said: "Spring Chou Shifu is too polite, it's been many years since we last met, Shifu's cultivation has made further progress." Then he pointed to Yue Fei and said: "This is my young apprentice Yue Fei, my foster younger brother."

  Yue Fei stepped forward and bowed: "I have seen Spring Chou Shifu, disciple has paid respects." Then he said to the girl: "This young lady..."

  "Spring Chou said: 'This is a child I picked up at the foot of the mountain fourteen years ago, also my only disciple, named Nie Chun Xiao.' Then to that girl: 'Don't you greet your master's sister and brother?'"

  The girl also walked forward, saluted Zhou Tong and Yue Fei, and said: "Master Zhou, Brother Yue, the little woman has paid her respects." Her voice was clear and crisp like a spring water bell, and Yue Fei's heart was drunk with it.

  Zhou Tong chatted with Master Zhi Ming and Spring Chou for a few sentences, then let Master Zhi Ming lead the way to the warehouse.

  The so-called armory is actually the innermost large room of a earth house. Inside, it's piled up with square iron bricks and some strangely shaped iron pieces and weapons.

  Yue Fei pointed at these iron blocks and was about to ask a question when he heard Zhou Tong explaining:

  "These iron bricks have been forged, and with a little processing, they can be made into various weapons and tools, quick and convenient. Moreover, the official ban on weapons is very strict, so if I were to make them into real weapons, I would have to report it to the imperial court; but by making them into brick shape, even if someone discovers them, I can still handle it at the county government office and keep them from being confiscated, without alarming the imperial court."

  Want to know what happens next? To be continued.