Chapter 24: Slaying the Japanese Slaves and Seeking a Title of Marquis

  "All brothers who have seen Gangming, Gangming urgently needs recommendations, recommendations, and recommendations! Thank you for all the support from brothers, thank you!"

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  "Frosty horn sounds, grass and trees mourn; Clouds gather, stone gate opens. North wind blows, wine can't get drunk, Fallen leaves return, countless crows come. If only carved dragon could dispel killing aura, It wouldn't hinder old white-haired edge. Who is with me on the named peak? General Li's sword dance platform."

  No one expected that with the sound of the pipa, it was actually a "Climbing to the Top of Pan Mountain" by Qi Jiguang, a famous Ming dynasty general who resisted Japanese pirates.

  Xiao Xiao was a famous courtesan of her time. Years ago, on the Qinhuai River, she sang a "Chuan Tou Feng" that shocked the talented scholars in Jinling City, taking first place among the beauties on the Qinhuai River. Originally thought this time would be those romantic and elegant songs, but never expected it to be such a bold and stirring "Deng Pan Shan Jue Ding".

  For a moment, those guests who came to cheer also didn't know whether to applaud or not.

  This poem is magnificent and desolate, with a heroic and tragic atmosphere that is perfectly interpreted by the woman's singing. However, compared to the scene in front of "Lan Yue Ge", it seems somewhat out of place.

  "What a wonderful sight on the top of Le Name Peak! Who is with me? General Li's Sword Dance Platform!"

  Just as everyone was about to disperse in disappointment, someone suddenly applauded loudly.

  Everyone looked towards the source of the sound, but it was just a young man of 18 or 19 years old who had spoken.

  It was Ding Yunyi who gave the greatest praise. He had been studying with his grandfather and father since he was a child, and had often come into contact with Qi Jiguang's poetry. At this time, when he heard this "Climbing Pan Mountain to the Absolute Top" sung by a woman in such a delicious way, he didn't care what others thought, and immediately shouted out his praise on the spot.

  Ding Yunyi was wearing a set of old clothes, which he had borrowed from Hong Diaoyuan just before leaving the house. Among the many guests, he looked exceptionally shabby and almost all the guests showed disdain on their faces.

  No one knows where he came from, a poor little guy who mixed into the famous Yuan Yue Lou, pretending to be elegant.

  On the second floor, a curtain was hanging, and Han Xiaoxiao was playing and singing behind it. At this time, she heard someone calling out to her, so she whispered a few words to the maid beside her, and the maid stepped forward and said: "Please ask this young master to stand up and meet."

  Qin Yun poked Ding Yunbi, and only then did Ding Yunbi realize he was being called. He stood up immediately, and just then, someone behind the curtain on the second floor asked, "Does the young master also know Meng Zhugong?"

  "Meng Zhu" was the late-year title of Qi Jiguang. When Ding Yunyi heard it, he immediately said: "In those years when the Japanese pirates invaded our Great Ming, General Qi fought against the invading Japanese pirates in the coastal areas of Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong for more than ten years, with over 80 battles big and small, and finally eliminated the Japanese pirate menace, making him a meritorious minister of our Great Ming. How could I not know about it?"

  "What's more?" asked the voice from behind the curtain.

  Ding Yunyi's expression was solemn: "General Qi is a hero of the ages, and our great Ming dynasty has no one who can surpass him in military prowess. At the Battle of Baishuiyang, 1,500 men defeated 2,000 Japanese pirates, annihilating them all, while we lost only three men, including Chen Si. At the Battle of Changsha, we eliminated 3,000 Japanese pirates. At the Battle of Niutian, we routed over 10,000 Japanese pirates, beheading 688 of them, without losing a single man on our side. There were countless other battles like these, all of which were won with weakness defeating strength, and at an extremely small cost in exchange for extremely great victories. Later, after the Japanese pirates were cleared out, he was again dispatched by the imperial court to oversee border defense, establish chariot camps, and defend against the Tatars - what a great hero!"

  For a time, the Moon Pavilion was quiet.

  Everyone knows that Qi Jiguang is a true general of the Great Ming, but no one has the ability to recount his deeds in such detail.

  The curtains on the second floor were slightly silent for a while, and then the gentle and pleasant voice sounded again: "Since the young master is so familiar with Meng Zonggong, can he recite Meng Zonggong's poems?"

  "Only one 'Victory Song' by General Qi is well-remembered." Ding Yunyi thought for a moment: "In the 41st year of Ming Jiajing, the Qi family army captured Hengyu and returned triumphantly. General Qi and all the soldiers in the army watched the moon together, but there was no wine in the army at that time. General Qi immediately dictated 'Victory Song' on the spot, teaching all the soldiers to sing together, using songs instead of wine to boost morale."

  "Be brave and ask the young master to carry it."

  Ding Yunyi was also straightforward and said loudly:

  "With one heart and mind, we can move mountains. Only loyalty and righteousness can make our spirit soar like a bull in battle. Our commander is as dear to us as our parents, victory is as sweet as their love. Those who disobey military law will lose their freedom. Orders are clear, rewards and punishments are trustworthy. Rushing into the flames of war, dare not hesitate! Reporting to the Emperor above, rescuing the people below. Wipe out the Japanese slaves, seek a noble title. Wipe out the Japanese slaves, seek a noble title!"

  The Moon Embracing Pavilion is quiet and still.

  After a while, the pipa sound started again, and then the person behind the curtain hummed:

  "With one mind and united hearts, we can shake the mountains... Kill all the Japanese slaves, to win a title of nobility. Kill all the Japanese slaves, to win a title of nobility!"

  As soon as the music stopped, a burst of applause erupted from the Moon-Embracing Pavilion.

  In this "triumphant song", there is a deeper meaning, and among the ten people in the pavilion, nine of them may not understand it. However, behind the curtain, Xiao Xiao sang so well that she sang two more songs in a row. If they didn't applaud, they would seem to be ignorant of music and unappreciative of romance.

  Ding Yunyi was also enchanted by what he heard.

  "The Triumphal Song" was something I had been familiar with since childhood, but I never thought that hearing it sung by a woman would have such a different flavor.

  He had originally come to the Moon Embracing Pavilion with a playful mindset, having no interest in any famous courtesans, but now he suddenly felt an immense curiosity towards Han Xiaoxiao.

  At the end of the Ming Dynasty, many famous courtesans were talented and had a strong character. When faced with national destruction and family collapse, some died to save the country, while others shaved their heads and became nuns. Most men at that time could not compare to them.

  Unfortunately, after singing a song, Xiao Xiao Han did not ask Ding Yunyi anything else. She only let the maid come out and say: "My family's Miss Han has two questions to ask everyone, whoever can answer them correctly. My family's Miss Han is willing to offer a table of wine and dine with you."

  This is a great honor for everyone, and if I can be invited by the famous Han Xiaoxiao to have another drink together, it will be a glorious thing to talk about.

  Among these people, there are many talented and knowledgeable individuals, but privately thinking about it, a woman's problem is always hard to be solved by herself.

  The young lady, Han Xiaoxiao, asked the first question: "Recently, the red barbarians have been rampant. A few days ago, our great Ming naval forces fought bravely and defeated the allied forces of the red barbarians and pirates, killing countless enemies and greatly boosting the prestige of our great Ming dynasty. My family's Miss Han would like to ask, where did these red barbarians come from? Why does this small barbarian country dare to challenge our heavenly imperial court?"

  This question can embarrass many guests.

  If you ask them about poetry, songs, and folk customs, they can answer fluently, but if you ask them something like "Hong Yi", they have no idea. They don't have time to care about these things.

  At this time, a guest in his thirties stood up and shook his head, saying: "The Red Barbarians are a small country outside the borders, their people have hair all over their bodies, they like to eat raw meat, they don't observe etiquette, brothers and sisters marry each other..."

  He shook his head and said for half a day, another companion stood up and said: "Wrong, wrong! Xi Leng brother is indeed knowledgeable and talented, writes well, paints well, but doesn't understand this red barbarian very much."

  "Xī Lěng" was dissatisfied and couldn't help but say: "Could it be that Guǎn Fù brother has understood?"