Sweep Yuan

Chapter 163 Fighting a Fierce Tiger with Bare Hands

Huaidong Road, Dongming Village, Yancheng County, Bian Family Residence.

Bian Shizhen carefully folded the letter in his hand, gently tucked it into his left sleeve pocket, raised his head, and once again looked at Zhou Wendao and Hua Yun sitting in the guest seats. His tone was completely calm as he said:

"I am fully aware of what Zhao Rui described in his letter. When my son returns home, I will instruct him to do his utmost to assist you both."

Since the master had already promised to help, Zhou Wendao quickly stood up, bowed, and said:
"Thank you, sir."

Zhou Wendao was actually only sixteen years younger than Bian Shizhen, but the latter was Shi Nai'an's maternal uncle, and thus of a higher generation. Since Zhou Wendao needed Bian Shizhen's help, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and act as a junior.

Bian Shizhen's mind was preoccupied with the matter described in the letter from his troublesome nephew Shi Nai'an, and he had no interest in Zhou Wendao's way of addressing him. After finishing his business, he instructed his servant to lead the guests to the side room to rest.

"Quickly summon Dalang back."

After all the servants had been dismissed, Bian Shizhen let out a barely audible sigh.

About half an hour later, Bian Houheng hurriedly returned with his servants.

Bian Shizhen had already moved to the quiet ancestral hall and was offering incense to the ancestral tablets.

It was neither a holiday nor a festival, yet his father suddenly began to worship the ancestors. Bian Houheng's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself that the letter brought by the guest today must contain some important information. He quickly washed his hands and hurried to the ancestral hall.

"Father?"

Upon seeing his son return, Bian Shizhen solemnly took three sticks of incense from the incense box, handed them to Bian Houheng, and said:
“Come, offer incense to our ancestors. The matter I wanted to discuss has already been prayed to by our father to our ancestors.”

Bian Houheng received the incense sticks with both hands, lit them by the candlelight, held the incense in his left hand and gently protected them with his right, and inserted them into the incense burner from left to right, closing his eyes and praying devoutly. Then, he meticulously performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ritual.

After all the rituals were solemnly completed, Bian Houheng rose and silently followed his father out of the ancestral hall, heading straight to the quiet study.

"This is a letter written by your cousin Zhao Rui. Please take a look."

Coincidentally, the Bian family has had children late in life, living to a ripe old age.

When Bian Shizhen was born, his father Bian Junyong was already thirty-nine years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning); when Bian Houheng was born, Bian Shizhen was already thirty-eight years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning).

Although Shi Nai'an was Bian Shizhen's nephew, he was actually only three years younger than his maternal uncle. He began his studies at the Bian family and was Bian Shizhen's childhood playmate. Yet, he also found common ground and mutual respect with his cousin Bian Houheng, who was more than thirty years younger than him.

Bian Houheng took Shi Nai'an's letter and began to read it attentively.

The Bian family has always been known for its strict discipline. Even though the matter described in Shi Nai'an's letter was of great importance and could even implicate the entire clan, Bian Houheng, like Bian Shizhen, showed no unusual expression while reading the letter. Only after he opened his mouth did his emotions change slightly.

"I never expected that my cousin had already joined Shi Jingxing's ranks!"

Knowing son Moruo father.

The Yuan Dynasty was in decline, and heroes rose up everywhere. Those who aspired to make great achievements chose wise rulers to serve.

Among the many heroes who had already risen up, only Shi Jingxing of Shishan was known for his strict military discipline, benevolent conduct, and refrain from plundering wherever he went, earning him the most praise from the literati (though he received the least criticism). Bian Shizhen, hearing the barely concealed admiration and longing in his son's tone, knew that he had already made his choice.

Bian Houheng began his formal education at the age of five and possessed a photographic memory. He was fond of reading history books from a young age, and as an adult, he loved literature, was good at composing poetry, and had extraordinary strength, able to lift a heavy tripod weighing a thousand catties (Note).

His literary and martial skills, as well as his breadth of vision and character, far surpassed his father's. Moreover, his willpower was unwavering. Bian Shizhen did not use his seniority to suppress Bian Houheng. Seeing that his mind was made up, he did not try to dissuade him further, but instead slowly revealed a family secret:
"Eldest son, do you know that your grandfather... once changed his name?"

The Bian family were kitchen workers in Dongming, which should have been a lowly class, but they were a family that valued poetry and propriety.

Bian Shizhen was famous in Luzhou for his outstanding talent and learning in his early years. He served in the Yuan court and was appointed as the Dunwu Colonel. He held lucrative positions such as Commander of Yudongchang (a seventh-rank official) and Supervisor of Changtingchang in Taizhou.

When Bian Houheng was born, Bian Shizhen was still an official in Yudongchang. He was raised by his grandfather Bian Junyong from a young age. He admired his grandfather's broad vision and extensive knowledge. His speech and behavior were completely unlike those of an ordinary farmer. However, he did not know why his grandfather devoted himself to fishing in his later years and never talked about national affairs.

When his grandfather passed away, Bian Houheng was nine years old (by Chinese reckoning) and already quite sensible. Before that, he had curiously inquired about his grandfather's past, but Bian Junyong only lovingly stroked his head and smiled without saying a word.

"Could it be... that my grandfather served as an official in the previous dynasty?" Bian Houheng asked, voicing a question that had been buried deep in his heart for many years.

Bian Shizhen nodded and said in a deep voice:
"Your grandfather's original name was Jizhi, and he was a former Song Dynasty Vice Minister of State Affairs. After the fall of the Song Dynasty, your grandfather firmly refused the Yuan court's offer of titles and emoluments. In order to avoid being captured by the court, he moved from Suzhou to this place in the seventeenth year of Zhiyuan (1280), changed his name to 'Junyong', and lived in seclusion for many years."

That's it!

Bian Houheng was incredibly perceptive and immediately understood the purpose of his father's visit to the ancestral hall to burn incense and to have a private conversation in the study. It was both to respect his choice and to remind him not to dishonor the reputation of his ancestors and the integrity of his family.

"Father, rest assured. Although the Yuan Dynasty is declining and heroes are vying for power, it is a good time for men to make their mark. I have mastered both literary and martial arts and will certainly enter the world to make my mark. However, before I go, I must first listen to what they say and observe what they do, and carefully examine them before making a decision."

"Ah."

Seeing that Houheng understood his meaning, Bian Shizhen's eyes flashed with a hint of relief, and he said:
"Your father will take care of things at home, so there is no need to worry. If you are determined to follow Shi Jingxing, you only need to follow the example of your ancestors and change your name. Nowadays, the court's control over the local areas is lax, and Dongming is located in a remote corner of the sea. Even if you make a great name for yourself, it will not implicate your family."

As a father who had no children in middle age, I obtained the fifty-first divination slip before the throne of the True Martial Emperor, and thus you were born. The character '亨' in your name comes from the divination and cannot be changed. Therefore, I have changed the character '厚' in your name to '元', meaning 'primordial, prosperous, and steadfast,' also signifying that you will never forget your roots."

As his son was about to embark on a long journey, the sixty-year-old father did not utter a single word of farewell, but had silently cleared away any worries for him and paved the way for his future. Bian Yuanheng (hereafter referred to by the name Yuanheng for the sake of continuity) felt a surge of warmth in his heart, his throat tightened slightly, and he knelt down deeply.

"Your son will remember your teachings, Father, and will never bring shame upon our ancestors!"

After the father and son finished speaking their minds, Bian Yuanheng, seeing that it was still early, went straight to the side room to meet Zhou Wendao and Hua Yun.

After the three finished exchanging pleasantries, Hua Yun, who was usually taciturn, took the initiative to speak, looking intently at Bian Yuanheng, and said:
"Young Master Bian."

Bian Shizhen served two terms as a salt official and was also quite good at business, accumulating great wealth.

The Yousheng Temple, located near Wuyouchang (in the coastal area of ​​Huaidong, "chang" often refers to salt fields), wanted to expand its temple and sought funds from wealthy families in the surrounding area. Bian Shizhen generously donated a thousand taels of silver and also purchased three hundred acres of fertile land at once, specifically for incense offerings and the living expenses of the temple's abbot.

Born into such a family, Bian Yuanheng was dressed in fine silks and ate delicacies from a young age, and his every move exuded the elegance and nobility of a scion of a prominent family.

He was over six feet tall, and his simple white robe accentuated his thick, dark eyebrows, bright, star-like eyes, and jade-like face. He was beardless, with a broad face and a prominent chin, truly exceptionally handsome, and possessed a refined air cultivated by extensive reading. Hua Yun's address of him as "Young Master" was perfectly fitting. Seeing Hua Yun's imposing figure and muscular build, Bian Yuanheng knew he was a rare and formidable warrior and, wanting to befriend him, quickly bowed and humbly declined.
"Brother Hua, you flatter me. The Bian family has been in the kitchen for generations, how can I be worthy of the title 'Young Master'? I am not as old as you, Brother Hua, you can just call me Yuanheng."

Hua Yun wasn't deliberately trying to get close to him; it was simply that the handsome young man before her was far removed from the image of the unparalleled hero who could kill a tiger with his bare hands that she had imagined. Doubts arose in her heart, and she couldn't help but ask directly:

"I've heard that Brother Yuanheng... once killed a tiger with his bare hands?"

"Oh, about that."

The story of Bian Yuanheng fighting a tiger bare-handed is so legendary that it has been widely circulated. He has been asked about it countless times over the years, but his expression remains calm as he recounts the tale:

"That was three years ago. There was a tiger causing trouble in the grassland outside Wuyou Field, which had killed many people. Even experienced hunters were helpless. I was young and impetuous at the time, and I was confident in my strength, so I took a broadsword and went to find it."

He spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"Unexpectedly, that beast was extremely cunning. Seeing that I had a knife, he seemed to know that he was no match for me, so he hid and disappeared without a trace. After three days of this stalemate, I had no choice but to abandon my knife on the beach and go back into the waist-deep mudflats with my bare hands."

Bian Yuanheng paused, a hint of recollection flashing in his eyes, and then continued:
"That beast must have been starving. It was crouching and hiding in the tall grass. As I approached, a stench suddenly hit me, and it pounced on me! Its speed was like a thunderbolt, and there was no way to avoid it."

In the nick of time, the younger brother had no choice but to twist his body and leap backward—his toe striking the beast squarely in the jaw. When he rolled over, ready to fight again, he saw that its jawbone was shattered, and it died after only a few breaths of struggle.

Known for their bravery, Hua Yun would never believe the claim of "just one kick." This kind of beast is extremely alert and agile, moving very quickly and adept at ambushes, especially when it pounces from the shadows, almost always killing the prey.

In such a desperate situation, an ordinary person wouldn't even have time to react, let alone fight back. Bian Yuanheng was able to leap back and dodge in the blink of an eye, and then kick the tiger's jaw with unparalleled precision. His explosive speed, powerful force, and composure in the face of danger were all indispensable!

It is rare for an ordinary warrior to possess even one of these qualities, but this person has all three—truly a divine being sent from heaven!

Hua Yun's eyes widened as she recalled Bian Yuanheng's amazing feat of fighting and killing the tiger, her knuckles clenching unconsciously, her longing beyond measure.

Zhou Wendao, not understanding the intricacies of the matter, didn't have so many thoughts on it. He only knew that someone who could kill a fierce tiger must be a hero among heroes, one in ten thousand. His curiosity was piqued, and he interjected, asking:

"About how much did that tiger weigh?"

Seeing that both of them showed interest, Bian Yuanheng smiled and said:

"It's not very heavy, only about four hundred catties. The tiger skin is perfectly tanned and stored in my storeroom. If you two gentlemen are interested, I'll show you around."

Hua Yun's interest was piqued by Bian Yuanheng's words, and she was about to get up when Zhou Wendao quickly grabbed her sleeve, turned his gaze to the window, and said:

"Brother Yuanheng, is your storehouse located deep within the inner courtyard?"

But as dusk settled outside the window, and hazy shadows hung from the eaves, Bian Yuanheng, reminded by this, also noticed the sky.

The warehouse was located deep within the inner courtyard, where his mother, wife, children, and younger sister all lived. It was indeed highly inappropriate to let a strange man into the inner courtyard at dusk!

Bian Yuanheng's heart skipped a beat, and he felt ashamed. He had been so caught up in talking about the past that he had forgotten this important etiquette. He quickly apologized and said:

"It was my oversight and my abruptness. After breakfast tomorrow, I will come again to respectfully invite you two brothers to come and have a look, is that alright?"

Hua Yun had calmed down by now and realized that she had a heavy responsibility on her shoulders and it was really inconvenient to delay any longer.

Moreover, if the Bian brothers truly serve under the Marshal, they will have many opportunities to distinguish themselves on the battlefield in the future. Their abilities will be revealed in battle, so why be fixated on verifying them at the moment?
Thinking of this, Hua Yun politely declined:
"No, thank you. I have a heavy responsibility entrusted to me by the Marshal and cannot afford to delay. I will need Brother Yuanheng's help in finding the ship."

Bian Yuanheng secretly realized that he was still not steady enough. A good man should compete in battle, how could he be so obsessed with the old story of fighting the tiger?
Previously, a wealthy merchant had offered a large sum of money to buy the tiger skin, but he had always been reluctant to part with it. Now, however, he wanted to ask his father to dispose of it as soon as possible—it would be good to put an end to this idea.

"Brother Hua is absolutely right. The important matter is more important."

Bian Yuanheng's expression turned serious, and he said:
We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning.

The next morning, after breakfast, Bian Yuanheng bid farewell to his parents, wife, and children, and then rode south to Baijuchang with Zhou Wendao and Hua Yun.

Baijuchang, salt-boiling area.

As soon as I stepped into this area filled with the pungent, salty smell and rising white steam, Zhang, the head cook of the farm, strode up to greet me, cupping his hands in a salute and smiling from afar:

"Hahaha! Brother Bian! It's been a long time. What lucky wind has brought you here today?"

Zhou Wendao sized up the newcomer and saw that he had phoenix eyes, silkworm eyebrows, earlobes, black eyes, square lips and a wide mouth, sparse beard, a full forehead and a square jaw. He was indeed a handsome man with an extraordinary bearing. Zhou Wendao couldn't help but secretly admire his good looks!
Bian Yuanheng was clearly familiar with the stove, and without much small talk, he went straight to stating his purpose:
"Brother Zhang, are there any boats going to Yidu Road recently? My two relatives want to go north to do business and need to hire a stable boat for their return journey."

To the east of Baijuchang lies the sea, but the seabed is not deep to begin with. Furthermore, due to the massive silt deposited by the Yellow River, a shallow shoal over a hundred miles wide and stretching for hundreds of miles has long been formed, known as the "Ten Thousand Mile Long Shoal," making it impossible for large ocean-going ships to pass through.

But every coin has two sides. This place, where large ships had disappeared, became a fertile ground for salt smugglers. Zhang Zaotou and his gang would drive small, flat-bottomed boats to the Yellow River estuary in Beisha year-round, then transfer the salt to larger ships, where it would be smuggled among ordinary goods to various parts of the north and south.

What Bian Yuanheng sought was precisely this kind of hidden waterway.

Without a trustworthy and upright person to vouch for you, even mountains of gold and seas of silver will not be enough to gain entry.

Bian of Dongming was known for his generosity, and his long-standing business dealings with Zhang Zaotou had built a deep trust between them, making their relationship extraordinary.

Zhang Zaotou's gaze swept over Zhou Wendao and Hua Yun. Seeing their composed demeanor, he realized they were no ordinary merchants, and that Bian Yuanheng had personally introduced them. He then clapped his hands and laughed:

"Since you are distinguished guests introduced by Brother Bian, why bother asking if there is a boat or not! Don't worry, I'll take care of it! Today, I will have Shixin escort the three of you to the mouth of the Beisha River to board the boat!"

Bian Yuanheng was overjoyed and quickly bowed to express his gratitude:
"In that case, I'll trouble Brother Zhang to make the arrangements!"

……

P.S.: The information about Bian Yuanheng in this chapter is a combination of information from Baidu and the "Epitaph of Bian Gongguo Fu Yin Jun". There is also a claim that he could lift a thousand jin (a unit of weight), whether it is a thousand jin or a thousand jun (another unit of weight), of course these are all exaggerations, please do not take them seriously.

(End of this chapter)