The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The requirements for warriors are much higher than those for scholars. For those who are unhealthy or whose internal organs are not strong, or whose qi and blood are insufficient, forcing themselves to practice martial arts will only cause damage to their bodies. Dancing with swords and guns, punching and kicking require enough food and drink, and meat, while ordinary people cannot even get enough food and clothing.

Ordinary people learn martial arts either because they are strong enough to join the army or because they get the opportunity by chance.

Therefore, few of the warriors who went to the capital to take part in the martial arts examination were truly ordinary people.

The first martial arts examination was scheduled for September. In order to prevent acclimatization problems that would affect performance, many martial artists who passed the provincial examination and were able to wield a 100-jin sword arrived in the capital one after another in early July.

With so many wealthy and generous warriors pouring in all of a sudden, the capital city became even more lively, especially the major restaurants, which welcomed the peak season ahead of time.

However, heroes use force to break the law. Ordinary people may start fighting after being drunk and having a few words, let alone this group of hot-blooded warriors. They fight every three days and every five days. Even a single man gets angry and blood splatters every five steps, causing chaos in the capital.

As it was the last day of the dog days and it was noon, the sun was blazing brightly and there were only a few pedestrians on the wide Qianmen Street.

In the distance, a group of Southern Pacification Division guards walked over with knives.

The leader was Xue Pan, who was wearing the uniform of the general flag and had a greasy and sweaty head.

When he reached a big willow tree, Xue Pan stopped, unbuttoned his collar, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the sweat off his face, then cursed Wang Ren's ancestors in his heart.

He rushed back to the capital with joy at the good news, but before he had the chance to go home, he was forcibly taken to the Southern Pacification Office by that bastard Wang Ren, who assigned him the job of patrolling the streets and forbade him to go home.

During the past half month, he had to lead people out to patrol the streets before dawn and could only return to the yamen after sunset. When he returned to the yamen, he would be scolded and humiliated by Wang Ren. At first, he was so angry that he cursed at Wang Ren, but he was beaten badly. He was beaten with ten boards for each word, and the most he was beaten with fifty boards. He had to continue patrolling the streets the next day, otherwise he would be beaten with a board.

A few days ago, Aunt Xue, Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin came to Qianmen Street in a carriage to see him. Before they could say a few words, they were interrupted by Wang Ren's lackeys.

Just as they were thinking about it, a captain from the Southern Pacification Division came out of the teahouse nearby with a knife slung over his shoulder and looked at them.

The guards under Xue Pan looked at each other and smiled bitterly. It was really unlucky to follow such a superior.

Xue Pan also saw it, spat "dog stuff", and continued walking forward.

Just then, shouting and cursing were heard from the restaurant diagonally opposite.

Xue Pan stopped and did not go over immediately until he heard the sounds of fierce fighting and the breaking of tables and chairs inside. Then he led the crowd over.

Only then did a waiter in the restaurant run out to report to the police.

Ever since this group of warriors who have no shortage of money came to Beijing, the Beijing restaurant has gained another way to make money. The tables and chairs in the hall have been replaced with the most common wood, and the counters are filled with wine inside and outside. Let them fight and smash. No matter who wins or loses, the restaurant will make a profit.

As soon as he stepped into the door, Xue Pan was stunned.

The tables and chairs were turned upside down, and the floor was littered with smashed cups, plates, bowls, wine and meat.

Three or four monks were beating up a young man, insulting him and using very harsh words.

Xue Pan looked at the waiter.

The waiter gave a bitter smile and said, "The young man just said, 'Monks really drink wine and eat meat.'"

Xue Pan frowned.

A soldier spoke up: "Sir, we can't let them fight any further, or someone will die."

Xue Pan nodded.

"Stop!" the guy shouted.

The monks then stopped. The young man was beaten until he was covered in blood and lay there motionless.

Xue Pan looked at the guy and motioned him to go and take a look.

The man walked up to the young man and put his hand in front of his nostrils. He breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at the monks who were drunk, and then said to Xue Pan, "He's not dead."

Xue Pan nodded, glad that he was not dead.

This kind of situation had happened many times, so the guy calmly sent a few people to take the young man to a nearby clinic.

The monks looked at each other and were about to leave. The waiter quickly stopped them, smiling: "Dear guests, please settle the bill."

A monk spoke up: "Pay the bill? What bill?"

Another monk said: "We are here to participate in the martial arts examination under the order of the emperor. Eating your food and wine is a compliment to you."

Another monk said: "That's right, don't be ungrateful. Get out of here right now. If you piss me off, I'll burn your restaurant down!"

Xue Pan widened his eyes. Is this a monk?

The guy looked unhappy: "Are you guys trying to eat for free?"

The leading monk spoke up: "You should ask that evil creature who slandered the Buddha for this money."

Several other monks shouted:

"That's right. Go find that evildoer!"

"He insulted Buddhism and should go to hell. Please have mercy on me and spare his life."

"He slandered my Buddha and sowed evil seeds. Now he must bear the evil consequences."

Xue Pan’s eyes widened, how shameless!
The man laughed in anger. He had seen many battles, but he had never seen such a shameless person! No wonder the court killed so many monks in one go and abolished the privileges of Buddhism.

Thinking about it, he stretched out his hand and said, "I don't understand your karma. I only know the rules set by the Ministry of War. If you lose a fight, you go to the clinic. If you win, you pay. Thank you, eighty taels of silver. Thirty taels are for the medicine for the injured, and fifty taels are for the wine and food and compensation for the things you broke."

When they heard that it was a rule set by the Ministry of War, several monks looked at each other. The leading monk snorted coldly and took out a few silver bills from his pocket.

The waiter smiled again and took the banknote with both hands: "Thank you very much, gentlemen."

The monk glared at him fiercely.

Xue Pan came back to his senses and looked at the small flag beside him: "Monks can also participate in the martial arts examination?"

The little flag: "The court has a clear rule that untouchables, monks and foreigners are not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations. Monks cannot participate in the military examinations, even if they have returned to secular life."

After these words were spoken, the faces of the monks turned gloomy.

"We have not received any vows, and we are not disciples of Buddhism. We shaved our heads only to make it easier for us to practice martial arts."

The leading monk looked at Xue Pan, "We have passed the Luoyang Prefecture Examination."

Xue Pan blurted out, "Hasn't all the monks in Luoyang been killed yet?"

As soon as these words were spoken, anger flashed in the eyes of those monks.

A cold light flashed in the leading monk's eyes. He snorted coldly and strode out.

The monks followed him out.

Xue Pan suddenly realized: "Hey, you are not monks, why are you angry?"

Xiaoqi shook his head and smiled bitterly. Even though everyone had left, he was still in a state of shock.

Xue Pan clapped his hands and said, "Are they here to assassinate the Duke?"

Xiaoqi and the other guards looked at each other and thought, this guy must be a fool!

The more Xue Pan thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case: "No, I have to go and report it."

There were noises and fighting outside again, many tables and chairs were knocked over, and cups, plates and bowls fell to the ground.
The little flag said: "The Duke has not come back yet, the mission is urgent. If you delay the mission, you will be punished again."

Xue Pan felt a pain in his buttocks and walked out cursing. (End of this chapter)