越女剑- 第6部分

ng　the　Crazy“。　When　Wen　Chung　came　to　be　the　magistrate　of　Wan，　　he　heard　of　the　Feng　Li”s　reputation。　He　sent　subordinates　to　summon　Feng。　　The　subordinates　said　“That　Feng　is　the　famous　crazy　man　of　this　land。　　Nothing　he　does　makes　any　sense。”　Wen　Chung　smiled　“When　a。　man　try　to　do　　something　different，　other　people　always　say　that　he　is　mad。　When　he　has　　asuperior　opinion，　the　mon　of　wit　will　call　him　stupid。　How　can　you　　understand　Master　Feng？”　So　Wen　Chung　went　to　visit　Feng　himself，　but　Feng　　avoided　him。　Feng　expected　that　Wen　would　not　give　up　so　easily，　so　he　　borrowed　some　proper　clothes　from　his　brother。　When　Wen　came　back，　Feng　　was　ready。　The　two　talked　and　found　that　they　had　much　in　mon。　They　both　felt　the　kingdoms　were　weak。　The　kingdom　of　Chuh　was　large，　　but　chaotic。　The　only　kingdoms　which　could　rise　to　mand　the　rest　were　　located　at　southeast。　Wen　Chung　resigned　his　position　and　went　to　the　kingdom　　of　Wu　with　Feng　Li。　At　the　time。　the　king　of　Wu“s　favorite　was　Wu　TzuShi。　　The　two　lived　in　the　capital　for　a。　few　month　and　saw　that　Wu　TzuShi　was　　indeed　a。　wise　man。　They　were　not　necessarily　better　than　him。　After　some　discussion，　they　decided　that　although　Yueh　was　a。　smaller　　kingdom，　but　they　could　put　their　talents　to　use　there。　Kou　Chiang　received　　them　warmly　and　gave　them　both　high　positions。　Then　Kou　Chiang　ignored　the　advise　of　Wen　Chung　and　made　war　with　Wu。　　His　army　was　defeated　by　the　shore　of　Chiang　Tang　River。　Kou　Chiang　was　　surrounded　at　Kuai　Chi　Mountain　and　almost　died　along　with　his　kingdom，　　but　he　listened　to　the　advise　of　Feng　Li　and　Wen　Chung　and　bribed　the　Prime　　Minister　of　Wu。　Fu　Chai　then　listened　to　the　Prime　Minister　instead　of　　the　wiser　Wu　TzuShi　and　agreed　to　a。　peace　treaty。　Kou　Chiang　lived　in　　Wu　as　a。　hostage　for　a。　few　years，　but　he　was　released　later。　Then　Kou　Chiang　　slept　only　on　beds　made　of　thorny　branches　and　tasted　the　bitter　juice　　of　beef　gall　bladders　to　remind　himself　of　the　humiliations　he　suffered。　　He　used　Wen　Chung”s　Nine　Methods　to　subvert　Wu　and　strengthen　Yueh。　The　Nine　Methods　were。　One，　pay　respect　to　the　gods　and　spirits。　Two，　　give　Fu　Chai　vast　amount　of　money　so　he　will　feel　secure　as　well　as　being　　soft　in　luxury。　Three，　borrow　food　from　Wu　and　return　seeds　which　will　　not　grow，　causing　famine　in　Wu。　Four，　give　Fu　Chai　beautiful　women　such　　as　Si　Shi　and　Cheng　Dang，　so　Fu　Chai　would　be　paying　more　attention　to　　the　beautiful　women　rather　than　the　affairs　of　the　state。　Five，　give　Fu　　Chai　engineers　so　he　started　building　expensive　palaces　which　drained　the　　economy　of　the　country。　Six，　bribe　the　ministers　of　Wu。　Seven，　distance　　Fu　Chai　from　his　wise　ministers。　The　wise　Wu　TzuShi　was　eventually　forced　　to　mitt　suicide　as　punishment　of　a。　false　charge　of　treason。　Eight，　hoard　　food　so　the　kingdom　of　Yueh　will　have　great　reserve　available。　Nine，　make　　weapons，　train　soldier　and　wait　for　the　chance。　Eight　methods　have　succeeded，　　but　the　ninth　had　run　into　great　difficulty。　Everyone　could　tell　that　the　eight　warriors　of　Wu　were　better　than　anyone　　Yueh　could　produce。　Feng　Li　told　Wen　Chung　the　results　of　the　contest。　　Wen　Chung　frowned　“Brother　Feng，　the　sharpness　of　their　swords　is　a。　major　　problem，　also　the　way　their　swordmen　worked　together　in　groups　in　accordance　　to　Sun　Tzu”s　Art　of　War。“　Feng　Li　said　”Yes，　decades　ago，　when　Sun　Tzu　　helped　the　king　of　Wu。　They　destroyed　Chuh，　the　most　powerful　kingdom　in　　the　world　at　the　time。　In　his　book，　it“s　said　”If　Iconcentrate　my　forces　　and　the　enemy“s　forces　is　fragmented　into　ten　parts　then　Ican　use　my　unified　　one　to　attack　his　ten　fragments。　Then　Iwill　outnumber　my　enemy　and　the　　battle　will　be　over。”　Wu　used　this　principle　to　achieve　local　superiority　　against　our　swordmen。“When　they　talk　they　arrived　in　front　of　Kou　Chiang。　Kou　Chiang　was　staring　　at　the　gift　sword。　After　a。　long　while，　Kou　Chiang　lifted　up　his　head　and　　said　”Minister　Wen。　Years　ago，　Wu　had　the　husbandwife　team　of　swordsmiths，　　Keng　Chiang　and　Mo　Shei。　Yueh　had　OYeh　Tzu。　Now，　all　three　have　died。　　Wu　still　have　great　swordsmiths，　yet　we　have　no　one　to　succeed　OYeh　Tzu。“Wen　Chung　said　”I　have　heard　that　OYeh　Tzu　had　two　students。　One　is　　named　Fong　HuTzu，　The　other　is　called　Hsieh　Chu。　Fong　HuTzu　is　in　the　　kingdom　of　Chuh。　Hsieh　is　still　in　Yueh。“Kou　became　glad　and　said　”Summon　him。　And　order　someone　to　go　to　Chuh　　with　gold　so　we　can　get　Fong　HuTzu　here　as　well。“The　next　morning，　Wen　Chung　reported　that　he　already　sent　someone　to　　Chuh。　Meanwhile，　Hsieh　Chu　was　already　here。　Kou　Chiang　grant　Hsieh　an　　audience　and　asked　”Your　master　OYeh　Tzu　once　followed　my　father“s　ordder　　and　forged　five　swords。　How　do　you　grade　those　five　swords？”Hsieh　said　“I　have　heard　my　master　said　that　he　forged　five　swords　for　　the　king。　Three　large　swords　and　two　small　swords。　They　are　Trembling　Reed，　　Pure　Edge，　Defeater　of　Evil，　Fish　Intestine　and　the　Great　Tower。　Now，　the　　Trembling　Reed　is　in　Chuh。　Defeater　of　Evil　and　Fish　Intestine　are　in　Wu。　　Your　Majesty　still　have　Pure　Edge　and　Great　Tower。”Years　ago，　the　Prince　Ho　Lu　of　Wu　heard　of　the　swords　and　asked　Kou　　Chiang“s　father　for　some　of　the　swords。　Kou　Chiang”s　father　feared　the　　might　of　Wu　and　gave　Holu　Trembling　Reed，　Defeater　of　Evil　and　Fish　Intestine。　　Using　Fish　Intestine，　Ho　Lu　assassinated　his　cousin　the　king　and　took　the　　throne。　Trembling　Reed　fell　into　a。　river　and　was　acquired　by　the　king　of　　Chuh。　King　of　Chin　heard　of　this　and　asked　for　it。　Even　after　a。　few　wars，　　the　king　of　Chuh　still　refused　to　give　it　up。　Hsieh　said　“My　master　said，　of　the　five　swords，　Defeater　of　Evil　is　　of　the　highest　grade。　Pure　Edge　and　Trembling　Reed　are　next。　Fish　Intestine　　is　lower　and　Great　Tower　ranks　last。　When　Great　Tower　was　forged，　the　alloy　　was　not　pure，　so　it　was　only　a。　sharp　sword　and　not　a。　truly　precious　sword。”Kou　Chiang　said　“Are　you　saying　my　Pure　Edge　and　Great　Tower　are　not　　as　good　as　Fu　Chai”s　Defeater　of　Evil　and　Fish　Intestine？“Hsieh　dare　not　admit　that　Kou　Chiang”s　swords　was　inferior，　but　Kou　　Chiang　knew　the　answer　anyway。　Feng　Li　said　“You　have　the　skill　of　your　master。　You　can　forge　a。　few　　swords　of　your　own。　They　might　not　be　inferior　to　those　owned　by　Wu。”Hsieh　said　“I　cannot　forge　swords　anymore。”Feng　Li　asked　“Why？”Hsieh　held　up　his　hands。　On　both　his　hands，　the　thumb　and　the　index　　fingers　were　gone。　He　said　sadly　“Thumbs　and　index　fingers　are　required　　for　forging　swords。　Iam　a。　cripple。”Kou　Chiang　said　“Did　you　enemy　cut　away　your　fingers？”Hsieh　said　“No，　my　fellow　student　did　it。”　“Your　fellow　student？　You　　mean　Fong　HuTzu？　Why　did　he　doe　it？　Ah！　It　must　be　that　you　have　greater　　skill　than　he。　He　beame　jealous　and　cut　away　your　fingers。”　Hsieh　remained　　silent。　Ko　Chiang　said　“I　was　thinking　about　inviting　Fong　from　Chuh，　but　now　　Isee　he　won”t　e　because　he　fears　your　vengeance。“Hsieh　said　”Your　Majesty　is　indeed　wise，　but　Fong　is　no　longer　in　Chuh。　　He　is　in　Wu。　Ko　Chiang　said　“He……He”s　in　Wu？　What“s　he　doing　there？”Hsieh　said　“Three　years　ago，　Fong　came　to　my　home　and　took　out　a。　precious　　sword　for　me　to　inspect。　Iwas　astounded。　That　sword　was　forged　by　my　master　　for　Chuh。　It　is　named　the　Flowing　Fabric。　The　blade　was　full　of　runes　that　　flowed　like　water。　Iheard　from　my　master　that　he　forged　three　swords　for　　Chuh。　That　was　one，　the　others　were　Dragon　Spring　and　Ching　Ah。”Kou　Chiang　said　“Then　the　king　of　Chuh　must　have　given　it　to　Fong。”Hsieh　said　“Indirectly。　Fong　said　that　after　the　army　of　Wu　broke　the　　capital　of　Chuh。　Wu　Tzushi　took　the　sword　from　the　grave　of　the　previous　　king。　When　he　returned　to　Wu，　he　heard　of　the　skills　of　Fong，　so　he　gave　　the　sword　to　him　as　a。　gift。　He　said　the　sword　was　a。　legacy　from　our　master　　and　that　Fong　was　the　rightful　owner。”Kou　Chiang　said　“Wu　TzuShi　let　the　sword　go？　He　is　truly　a。　great　hero　　to　let　such　a。　treasure　go。”　Then　he　laughed　“Fortunately，　Fu　Chai　has　already　　taken　care　of　him　for　me。”　Then　he　asked　“What　did　Wu　TzuShi　wanted　in　　return　from　Fong？”Hsieh　said　“Wu　Tzushi　merely　said　that　he　admired　our　master。　Fong　　felt　grateful　after　he　received　the　sword，　so　he　went　to　Wu　and　thanked　　Wu　TzuShi　in　person。　Wu　TzuShi　treated　as　an　honored　guest。”Kou　Chiang　said　“That”s　how　he　make　people　bee　loyal　to　him，　even　　onto　death。“Hsieh　said　”Your　Majesty　is　wise，　but　Fong　didn“t　understand　Wu　Tzushi”s　　true　intentions，　so　he　asked　again　and　again　how　he　could　repay　the　great　　favor　done　to　him。　Wu　Tzu　Shi　merely　said　he　would　not　ask　anything　of　　an　honored　guest。“Kou　Chiang　said　”The　old　fox！“Hsieh　said　”Fong　finally　said　to　Wu　Tzushi　that　he　had　little　skill　　except　forging　swords。　In　return　for　Wu　TzuShi“s　favors，　he　will　forge　　afew　precious　swords　for　him。”Kou　slapped　his　thigh　and　said　“Got　him！”Hsieh　said　“But　Wu　Tzushi　said　the　kingdome　of　Wu　already　had　many　　precious　swords　and　needed　no　more。　Besides，　the　forging　of　a。　precious　　sword　is　a。　tremendous　labor。　Years　ago，　when　Keng　Chiang　and　Mo　Yeh　were　　forging　their　sword，　the　sword　refused　to　e　into　being　until　Mo　Yeh　　flung　herself　into　the　fire。　Wu　Tzushi　had　no　intention　of　repeating　that　　kind　of　tragedy。”Kou　Chiang　said　“He　didn”t　want　Fong　to　forge　swords　for　him？　Strange。“Hsieh　said　”Fong　was　baffled　too。　Then　Wu　Tzushi　visited　him　again。　　They　said　that　the　army　of　Wu　was　fully　capable　of　fighting　with　superpowers　　like　the　kingdoms　of　Chi　and　Jin。　Wu“s　warriors　were　courageous，　but　their　　skills　in　chariot　warfare　were　inferior。　Moreover，　their　swords　and　spears　　were　not　sharp　enough。　Fong　began　to　talk　to　Wu　TzuShi　about　the　way　of　　forging　swords。　What　Wu　TzuShi　wanted　wasn”t　a。　few　precious　swords　with　　mysterius　powers，　what　he　wanted　was　thousands　and　thousands　of　sharp　swords。“Kou　Chiang　understood　and　looked　at　Feng　Li　and　Wen　Chung。　Worry　filled　　Wen　Chung”s　face。　He　asked　“Minister　Feng，　what　do　you　think？”Feng　Li　said　“Even　though　Wu　Tzushi　is　crafty，　he　is　not　wise　enough　　to　escape　Your　Majesty”s　schemes。“Kou　Chiang　laughed　”I　am　afraid　that　Ihave　never　been　Wu　Tzushi“s　　match。”Feng　Li　said　“Wu　Tzushi　is　already　dead。　What　more　can　he　do　to　th