The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 312 Wu's Basic Class

King Liang, what is meant by a warrior?
What martial arts training!
A warrior is a knife, a sword—in short, a tool, livestock, beast, bastard, specifically for killing. A good warrior is one who kills quickly, kills many, and kills both quickly and many. Shut up! Opinion reserved; take my word for it.

I'll ask you again, how do you kill someone?
What? A fair one-on-one duel... a completely aboveboard fight?
Shit!

Murder is about taking lives; it's about using any means necessary!
If it can be done cleanly and efficiently, then cut them down with one stroke; if it can be preemptive, then never wait to retaliate; if it can be stabbed in the back, then never face them head-on; if it can be a murder, then kill the whole family, leaving no one alive.

All that talk about the Way of the King, the Rules of the Martial World, and the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues is utter nonsense.

You're going to take lives, destroy families, wipe out clans, crush cities and destroy formations, you're acting like a beast. Who are you trying to impress with these tricks and empty fame?

Besides licking your boots a few times, what good is that?

Murder is murder, murder is an evil deed, murder will damage one's karma and shorten one's lifespan. Heaven and hell, the nine classes of people on earth, who cares about your methods? This is the essence of murder: evil! Don't try to make it sound like chopping off your head is gentler than chopping you into pieces, or that poking your stomach is more moral than stabbing your back.

Can't do it? Then just wait to die. You're better suited to be a pile of rotten meat, wrapped in salted vegetables for others.

A good warrior always has only one standard: Faster! More! Unkillable!

Write this sentence down and recite it ten times every day!
Wu Xiong has always taught himself and his three youngest sons this way, and now he is instilling the same teachings in his apprentice, Li Zhengyang.

"The first commandment of a warrior—" Wu Xiong raised a finger: "Fear! Even if you are killing an infant, a paralyzed person, or a desperately pleading old woman, you must treat them as you would me, and kill them as quickly and opportunistically as possible."

"If things are hopeless, like if there's any rustling around or an ambush, do you leave or not? You have to leave, even if it means death!! No hesitation, turn around and leave! A head is what matters, not your life."

Great killers are cunning and treacherous, always assessing situations and approaching everything with the mindset of a rookie, treating everything with trepidation.

There once was a man, a veteran of the expeditionary force, highly skilled in martial arts, who at a young age was appointed as the military governor of the capital, even the emperor had to bow to him. And what happened? He died. He was carried into a pot and stewed into large slices of meat. How tragic!
"How did he die?!" King Liang asked in surprise.

“Because they had no fear, they were betrayed by us halfway through the journey.” Wu Xiong spread his hands and sighed, “The world despises us, but what good warrior can’t defend against insubordination and betrayal? If you can’t do that, you’re not a good warrior.”

Did you write it down?

"His mouth is full of twisted doctrines." King Liang pointed to the table: "He has memorized them, but they are different from what his mother taught him?"

"Her Highness the Imperial Concubine is a woman, a lowly woman, she doesn't know anything."

"Hey, you fatso, watch your mouth!" King Liang slammed his hand on the table and said, "Be careful when we get back, or I'll report you."

"Good, good, filial son." Wu Xiong smiled, propped himself up on his legs and sat down opposite him, and said leisurely, "It seems I have to pick up my manners and become a refined and easy-going person. I can't keep using such vulgar language. Taking care of other people's children is always different from taking care of my own."

"What are you saying?" King Liang rested his chin on his hand. "I have the utmost respect for you. I will do whatever you command. What's the difference?"

Wu Xiong slammed his fist on the table: "You call me 'you,' is that what you call respect?"

"General Wu, General Wu~" King Liang crossed his hands: "If General Wu likes it, you can call me teacher."

"You are truly inferior to the King of Wu!" Wu Xiong pointed and said, "I regret becoming your teacher!"

"That's a good reminder." King Liang nodded slightly. "How can I compare to you, elder brother? It's normal for a five or six-year-old boy to be inferior to you." As he spoke, he quickly apologized, "Don't regret it, don't regret it, I won't dare to do it again."

"He may not have learned anything else, but he certainly mastered the Holy Emperor's silver tongue!"

“No, it’s not even worth a single hair of my father’s.”

Wu Xiong was at a loss, and found it all very strange: "How are you so smart?"

"Really?" King Liang scratched his head. "I feel pretty stupid. General Wu, have you ever seen a smart person who needs two readings to memorize the Thousand Character Classic?"

Wu Xiong was so angry that he fainted.

"Oh dear, teacher's face is red; this is the disciple's fault. How about this, the disciple will compensate with three sets of clothing? My son and I are about the same age; I'll alter the clothes, removing the inappropriate patterns and colors—"

"That's more like it." Wu Xiong's face showed a hint of pleasure. "However, I appreciate the sentiment. This is only the first lesson, and I'm already accepting your reward. If word gets out, people will think I'm starving. Also, don't even think about bribing me! When it comes to being strict, I won't hold back!"

"A truly virtuous man!" King Liang flattered. "A minister as important as Commander Wu is not someone I, a mere prince, can bribe. Just uphold the principles of the Way of the Master. If I were to utter a word against him, I would be no hero of the Zhao family."

“It’s no use being stubborn now.” Wu Xiong couldn’t help but mock a few times, but he was also somewhat smug, revealing a hint of appreciation as he observed the child who resembled his mother so closely: “Your Majesty.”

"Why all of a sudden, so formal?"

Wu Xiong raised his hand to signal silence: "Now that the formalities of teacher-student are complete, and I have drunk the king's tea and received his greetings, well then, I am now the king's teacher. The court is treacherous, and the world is unsettled; let us, teacher and disciple, be of one mind and strive to go together and return together! You must learn everything I teach you diligently." "How could I not be careful?" King Liang replied: "Master, please continue your lessons."

Wu Xiong took out two fruits, tossed one to King Liang, and slowly ate the other himself.

King Liang thought he was about to preach, so he focused his attention.

Wu Xiong, however, pulled out his gourd and sipped his wine. After being watched by King Liang and thoroughly indulging in his master's authority, he wiped his mouth and held up two fingers: "The second commandment of a warrior—being too sentimental!"

Be filial to your parents and make friends as you should.

Once you have a steel knife in your hand, you become a beast, a murderer, and you must suppress all your emotions.

Take it from the king. Don't draw your sword lightly; when you do, you're not human; if you don't sheathe your sword, you're not human either. Kill them all if you can.

This is not only to eliminate future troubles, but also to remain anonymous. As long as you have no morals or burdens when you kill, no one can threaten, manipulate, or exploit you with morality or reputation before you commit the murder.

Remember, fame is the most harmful and deadly thing in the world.

You would rather live in this world condemned by thousands than be pitied and remembered in the underworld.

Ten years ago, I killed countless people, just to steal horses, money, and women. Even the position of General of Chariots and Cavalry and Military Governor of Shuofang was earned by me through cannibalism! Countless vengeful ghosts and wronged spirits gnaw at me, but do the world dare to say anything? Have I received my retribution? Hmph.

With just a few words, King Liang understood the fat man's character and style, and couldn't help but sigh: "Why does this not seem like learning martial arts, but like listening to scriptures? What I want to become is the guardian of the Tang Dynasty, the one who guards the soul of the nation with a long spear. The purpose of wielding a sword is not to kill many people or to pursue wealth and worldly things."

“These are the basics,” Wu Xiong retorted. “Only by learning to be a bad person can Wang Dedang be qualified to be a good person.”

Having said that, he stood up, put his hands on his hips, and said, "Alright, now that I've covered the mindset of a warrior, what I'll teach you next is the courage, skills, and so on. First, we'll practice kicking, stances, punching, splits, and claw techniques, while also learning about weapons. Then we'll practice all kinds of weapons and horsemanship..."

Having planned the course, Wu Xiong brought over a chicken, a sheep, a dog, a cat, and a toad.

He tossed it at King Liang's feet and said casually, "That concludes the lesson on 'mouth.' Your teacher and Your Majesty have arranged a practical exercise: kill them!"

King Liang rose, astonished, and said, "This... I haven't reached the point where I should be killing anyone yet, have I?"

"Ha." Wu Xiong said disdainfully, "I'm not that fool Wang Congxun. Talking about martial arts, talking about martial arts, he lectured the King of Wu for so long, yet he didn't dare kill a single chicken. What's the use of learning such martial arts? Kill! If you don't kill, then eat my whip!"

At this point, Wu Xiong cracked his whip, gritted his teeth, and his fleshy, scarred face was full of ferocity.

King Liang hesitated: "Kill?"

"Of course! If I don't kill, will you just give me my ruthlessness and experience for free? Humph!" Wu Xiong pursed his lips and said cruelly and coldly, "What if others are ruthless, but we are born beautiful and kind-hearted and can't be ruthless? Kill! Practice! This is what I learned when I was seven years old, after the little girl next door tricked me out of half a vinegar cake."

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud thud echoed, and the steel sword was drawn from its sheath.

Then there was a loud splattering sound, accompanied by the lamb's struggles and screams. The lamb was pinned to the ground and chopped into a pile of steaming bits of meat and bones by Wu Xiong, with blood splattering all over his face and hands.

King Liang closed his eyes: "This trial is so difficult. My young heart can hardly bear it..."

Wu Xiong flew into a rage, kicking over the table and yelling, "What the hell is it that you can't bring yourself to do it? This is the food the imperial cook prepared for our lunch; it should have been killed and cooked just now. You're just helping the butcher by killing it. Don't be foolish; why did you learn martial arts? Isn't it to prepare to kill someone someday?"

"That's how it should be, but—"

Wu Xiong threw down his knife, squatted down, and demonstrated: "What's so difficult about this? I'll grab your neck, and you can just slash it down. If you're not dead, I'll finish you off with another slash."

Wu Xiong patiently explained, "Just stab the throat, place your hand on the neck and chin to feel the location..."

King Liang remained silent.

Wu Xiong stood up again, his tall and imposing shadow looming over the little man: "If you don't even dare to kill beasts, how will you deal with enemies in the future? And how can you talk about protecting the Holy Tang? If you've made up your mind, then just be a leisurely prince. Let's put on a show and get through this master-disciple drama."

Perhaps it was those two words about protecting the empire that moved King Liang. He struggled with this decision for a long time before finally making up his mind.

I want to become the Crown Prince. I must ascend to the Taiji Palace and become the guardian of the Holy Tang Dynasty!
He picked up the knife and stepped forward.

While holding him down, Wu Xiong instructed him, "Cats and dogs are used to overcome affection. Cats are so cute, and puppies are so endearing, how can you kill them! Toads are used to overcome disgust and ugliness, how can you lay a hand on such disgusting creatures!"

(End of this chapter)