The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 55: Wudesi Red Dragon Guard (Seeking follow-up reading)

"Fist is power, how can it be passed on lightly!"

"What is circulated in the palace and outside is not the real Taizu Changquan at all."

"Taizu did not teach the boxing to the army. The 32-posture long boxing in the army and among the people was passed down by Taizong later in the name of Taizu's will!"

"Passed down by Emperor Taizong?" Zhao Ti raised his eyebrows.

“Taizong passed down the boxing stance and moves of Taizu Changquan, but did not pass on the essence and meaning of the boxing. The truth is not easily spoken and the method is not easily passed on. How could such a magical boxing be allowed to be easily lost in the world?” Gao Taotao said lightly.

"If that's the case, then why spread it? It would be better not to spread it." Zhao Ti asked doubtfully.

"No one knows what Emperor Taizong was considering back then." Gao Taotao had a complicated expression.

Zhao Ti took a deep breath and asked, "Why are there only thirty-two postures?"

"Because Taizong only learned the 32nd posture, and Taizu died before he could pass on the 33rd posture to Taizong."

"Then who knows the real Taizu Changquan nowadays?" Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes and had some guesses in his mind.

Gao Taotao looked at him and said, "Only the emperor of each generation is qualified to learn the real Taizu Changquan, and is qualified to practice the real Taizu Changquan, which is passed down from generation to generation by the emperor!"

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment and said, "Madam, if this is the case...wouldn't it be easy for it to be lost?"

He remembered that Zhao Xu died very suddenly. Although he had always been in poor health, he fell ill very suddenly. He could not even speak or hold a pen. He passed away without even designating a successor.

If that's the case... doesn't that mean that the punch might not even be passed on?

"If it's lost, let it be lost." Gao Taotao said coldly: "Although it is a magical fist, it is missing a move after all. The golden bowl is broken and the country is incomplete. There is no benefit in passing it down."

Zhao Ti was stunned. Gao Taotao's words were full of hidden meaning and very serious.

What does it mean that the golden bowl is broken and the country is incomplete? What does it mean that there is no benefit in passing it on?

He pondered and said, "My Lady, have Emperor Zhenzong, Emperor Renzong, and Emperor Yingzong ever practiced this boxing?"

Gao Taotao said that every generation of emperors had practiced it, but as for Renzong's act of burning the armory, if the other party really practiced martial arts, why would he burn down the armory?
"Of course I have practiced it. All the emperors of the Song Dynasty have practiced this boxing!" Gao Taotao said slowly.

"Madam..." Zhao Ti became even more confused.

"If Emperor Renzong had not practiced this fist, how could he have been so angry that he burned the arsenal? He even wanted to destroy this fist."

"Why is this?" Zhao Ti's heart moved.

"Why?" Gao Taotao said in a cold tone, "Zhenzong had only one heir, Renzong had no heirs, Yingzong died early, Shenzong died early! Why?"

"Hmm?" Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes.

"The current emperor has no children, and his health may not be that good. I'm afraid it's because of this boxing!"

"Madam, both Emperor Zhenzong and Emperor Renzong had children, but they died young..."

"If you don't practice this boxing, how can your children be born weak, have weak blood, die young, or fail to grow up?"

"Then Emperor Taizong..." "Emperor Taizong? Emperor Taizong experienced the great terror of the Spring and Autumn Period and was in awe of it. Although he had many guesses about Taizu Changquan, he did not dare to act rashly or recklessly."

"Madam, what does this mean?"

"Several other emperors wanted to derive the lost 33rd posture from the first 32 postures of this boxing method, but none of them succeeded. They pushed their bodies into the fists, which damaged their meridians, weakened their vital energy, and exhausted their blood circulation, so they failed!"

"What?" Zhao Ti's heart was filled with waves.

"The current emperor should be the same." Gao Taotao's voice was a little cold.

"Madam, why don't you change your martial arts? Since you can't reveal this fist to others and can't ask others to help you deduce it, if you still want to practice martial arts, can't you change your martial arts?"

"In fact, as long as you don't push the 33rd posture recklessly, there will be no problem. But I don't know what words Taizong passed down, anyway, every generation has been practicing it like a madman, and they disdain other martial arts."

Zhao Ti thought to himself, is there something special about Taizu Changquan? Otherwise, why can't every emperor resist practicing it? Or is it that the words passed down by Taizong are so special that everyone can't help but practice it.

"Madam..."

"Renzong was angry about the martial arts in the arsenal, but Taizu Changquan did not dare to destroy it, so he could only follow Taizong's will and continue to pass it down. Yingzong was fascinated by it, but in view of the past events of Zhenzong and Renzong, he studied the treasures in the heavenly palace, hoping to gain enlightenment from the Taoist purity and inaction, but it was difficult to change the final result."

Zhao Ti was certain at this time that if Zhao Ji succeeded to the throne in the future, he would most likely not have learned this boxing. Zhao Xu died suddenly and did not designate a successor, so the boxing was naturally not passed down. Otherwise, Zhao Ji would not have been so helpless. The real Taizu Changquan was lost after Zhao Xu.

Zhao Ji reigned for twenty-seven years without any illness, had many descendants, and was in extremely good health, which was completely different from the previous emperors. It was probably because he did not learn this boxing. But... in the end, he lost his country!
"Grandson understands." Zhao Ti said, "Thank you, grandmother, for telling me this and clearing up my doubts."

Gao Taotao looked at him without saying anything for a long while. Finally, his expression calmed down and he said, "Although I am a member of the Zhao family, I have no right to interfere with the martial arts of the Zhao family. Emperor Yingzong treated me well, so I know about this matter. Remember not to spread it to others."

Zhao Ti nodded, then picked up the wine jug and filled it up for the grandmother: "Madam, have you ever seen Emperor Yingzong practice boxing?"

Gao Taotao frowned: "Why are you asking this?"

Zhao Ti said: "I don't have any other thoughts, I'm just curious."

Gao Taotao said: "I have never seen it before. This fist can only be learned by the Emperor's bloodline. Even if Yingzong has a deep relationship with me, how could he easily reveal it?"

Zhao Ti said, "Grandson knows." He recalled the night he saw Zhao Xu. This sixth brother showed contradictions everywhere, his body and mind were alienated, and his spirit was not in harmony. Could it be that it was due to the deduction of Taizu Changquan?
"There is also a Red Dragon Guard within the imperial family of the Song Dynasty, which is also managed by the Emperor himself." Gao Taotao said, "If you didn't learn martial arts, I wouldn't have told you about it. Since you are learning martial arts, I will tell you about it to prevent any misunderstandings in the future."

"Red Dragon Guard..." Zhao Ti looked attentive.

"The Red Dragon Guards of the Wude Division were originally in the court. At that time, Emperor Taizong ordered it to be changed to the Imperial City Division. In fact, it was just to cover up the eyes of the outside world and hide the real Wude Division in the dark."

Zhao Ti nodded. Whether it was the real Taizu Changquan or the Wudesi, they were all hidden after Taizong ascended the throne and passed down to a single line of the emperor's bloodline. He might be guarding against something. Could it be that the candlelight and axe sounds back then were not just rumors, but real events?

That was why Taizong gave the imperial bloodline layers of armor and strictly guarded the royal family, not even letting them know about things like secret guards.

But if things continue like this, with literary styles prevailing in the royal family and martial arts not being encouraged, which is very different from the royal families of Liao, Xia and other countries, won't they become weaker and weaker?
He frowned slightly and looked out the window.

At this moment, the bright moon outside the window is rising higher and higher, shining on the land of Kyushu and the Saha world. The full moon shines on Kyushu, some are happy and some are sad.

Half an hour later, Zhao Ti returned to the palace. As soon as he entered the palace, a young eunuch came to report that Prince Shen had been there and had waited for him for a long time but did not see him return, so he just returned and left.

(End of this chapter)