Chapter 010: The Martial Arena
Hello, esteemed masters
On both sides of the main entrance, various weapons such as swords, spears, and halberds are displayed, many of which are so numerous that their names cannot be recalled
Zhu Xi put down his gun, slightly out of breath, and said to Zhang Weigong: "With such great force in this shot, how many times can one person manage it? Young people should not set their ambitions too high; meals are eaten one bowl at a time, and one cannot become fat from just one bite!"
Not long after dawn, many people were already moving their bodies in the vast training ground
The level achieved by Chun Ge'er and Qiu Ge'er has already become outstanding
It is undoubtedly the fickle young maidens who speak such words, but more often it is met with ridicule and disdain. A bastard child, already adopted out, has lost any chance of redemption in the eyes of many. The fact that a legitimate bloodline of a duke has fallen to such a fate brings considerable satisfaction to quite a few.
This is the position and feeling. Fifth Brother, remember this yourself. From now on, the first thing you do every morning is to practice standing meditation. Once you have developed strength in your legs and waist, with power in your legs and skill in your feet, that will be the first step
Step 2, practice endurance and breathing
Isn't this a scenario described in a martial arts novel
Five or six martial artists approached, clasping their fists together, their expressions quite haughty. They held a significant position within the residence, and the incident involving Zhang Weigong had stirred up considerable commotion yesterday, making it known throughout the entire household. Naturally, they felt no need to be overly courteous to a private child who had been adopted out.
In the context of Zhang Weigong and his adoptive parents' status, the servants assigned to them in the residence were also clumsy, foolish, and lazy, appearing as if they had not yet woken up even as dawn approached
In an instant, numerous martial artists exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment
Good strength
Haha, Fifth Brother, you are polite, very polite
This is the skill that has been honed through countless trials and tribulations
"One against a hundred?" Zhu Xi laughed and said, "A person's strength is finite. With ten or so people in an open space, I can manage with my practiced strength and killing techniques. However, if over a hundred surround me, after killing a few, my strength will be exhausted, and I will inevitably be killed. Killing a hundred people is impossible"
The great clan has a profound heritage, and within this small training ground, there are so many astonishing treasures that truly broaden one's horizons
Five or six individuals, all wearing headscarves, dressed in fitted attire, and sporting black boots, embody the standard appearance of martial artists from the Ming Dynasty
The martial arts instructor in the teaching hall, apart from instructing the direct descendants of the household, also teaches the bodyguards and attendants the skills necessary to ensure the safety of their master
The remaining coaches enthusiastically began to cheer.
Zhu Xi was delighted to see the hunting scene. Looking at Wei Gong's appearance, whether in terms of spirit or physique, he seemed to be an excellent choice. Generally, children around six or seven years old do not exhibit the same diligence as Wei Gong, and their physical build and skeletal structure are far inferior.
It turns out that Zhu Xi was also a martial arts champion, but he was only qualified to serve as a head instructor in the Duke's residence. This illustrates the status of martial artists in the Ming Dynasty.
When discussing martial arts, Wu Xi's entire demeanor transforms, radiating an aura of dominance and confidence
Zhu Xi drew out an iron spear, suddenly taking four or five steps forward, his entire body resembling a taut bow. He abruptly tightened, reaching the target stake, where he had originally held both hands together. Suddenly, he released his left hand, and with a powerful thrust, his right arm lunged forward!
Since the moment he resolved to avenge his mother, Wei Gong knew that he could no longer indulge in the comforts of power. From that day on, the trajectory of his life underwent a tremendous transformation
The Duke of England, after all, comes from a lineage of military nobility. After several generations of inheritance, the training grounds still exist and have not been abandoned. Following Zhang Fu, it seems that there have been one or two generations of dukes who were also quite outstanding, thus the family tradition of the Duke of England and the - map - book is not lacking in merit
Zhang Weigong bowed and returned the greeting, his voice clear and bright, exuding politeness and courtesy
In terms of usage, there are only several types such as the walking bow, riding bow, slingshot, and mounted crossbow and foot crossbow
Master Zhu, Wei Gong inquired: "Can you fight against a hundred?"
Life is not bad; walking in a straightforward manner, an honest, lovable, and handsome young gentleman
While assessing those entertaining performances, a group of martial artists also approached.
In terms of appearance, they are all robust men with full beards and well-developed muscles, exuding a fierce demeanor. Their eyes are bright and spirited, radiating a divine light. What astonished Zhang Weigong even more was the way these individuals clasped their hands in greeting.
Just the sight of these bows left him in awe, and the various finely crafted weapons were even more overwhelming for him.
After a long while, Zhu Xi laughed heartily and said, "Good brother, what we teach here is indeed the art of killing. However, to put it directly, you are the first one to come here to learn how to kill!"
It is the fifth son of the Qi Laoye family who has arrived
For Zhang Weigong, the greatest hope has finally become a reality, though it is somewhat different from what he had imagined. There are no qi training, no elixirs, nor any magical items like internal martial arts manuals; all that exists is hard work and sweat
Since it is quality material, it would be better to teach according to the material. Therefore, Zhu Xi dismissed the other teachers and personally provided guidance.
It has been peaceful for a long time, and certainly not many noble youths are willing to put in the effort to learn. Likewise, there are very few servants and attendants who genuinely wish to learn martial arts
Originally, he intended to become an outlaw, to accumulate strength, hone himself, and then seek revenge on General Tao and others. Now, suddenly arriving at the Duke's residence is akin to being given another choice by heaven. However, regardless of the choice, what will be required is undoubtedly a dual refinement of both will and body
The martial artists before us are all experts recruited by the Duke's residence, who are responsible for training the young members of the household and the guards in various martial arts such as boxing, spear techniques, and archery through m.hetushu.com. During the Ming Dynasty, martial arts flourished, and the individuals hired by the Duke's residence are all top-notch practitioners. It is not surprising that there are subtle differences in their skills compared to ordinary people.
I am from Baoding. I began practicing martial arts at the age of seven, standing in stance training for ten years to build my physical strength. At seventeen, I started to learn martial techniques, focusing on power generation and combat skills, followed by training with knives, spears, swords, halberds, and archery. During the Jiajing era, I passed the martial examination and was recognized by the elder, who invited me to his residence to serve as a martial arts instructor. It has been over ten years since then
The so-called standing post, is not the stance of bending both knees and extending both fists as perceived by Zhang Weigong, but rather involves spreading the legs apart, with Zhu Xi continuously adjusting the angles and postures at his waist and knees until he applies force through both the waist and knees before coming to a stop
I am Zhu Xi. Yesterday, I heard the master instruct that the young master is coming to learn skills. Regardless of whether it is boxing, palm techniques, leg skills, or weapons such as spears and knives, or even longbows, slingshots, and even equestrian skills, we have experts in all these areas. I wonder which one the young master wishes to learn
The worst is definitely the house facing south, which is close to the street, crowded with people and goods, and chaotic and noisy
Finally, in a very slow manner, Wei Gong said: "You want to learn the art of killing; others may treat it as a joke, but not here with me. Continue training with me, and killing will be a trivial matter."
It is fortunate that a thin dead camel is still larger than a horse; in terms of this training ground, it should be the foremost among the noble families.
The third step is to practice the strength of the entire body, coordinating the hands and eyes with the strength of the arms and legs
This shot was executed with skill and finesse, the entire movement flowing like a stream, appearing exceptionally beautiful. As the gun's muzzle quivered, it left behind a trail of afterimages, followed by a resounding "bang" as the bullet pierced through the center of the wooden target, causing the entire target to shatter.
From the Tang and Song dynasties to the early years of the Ming, Qing, and Republic periods, it was the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Particularly in the mid to late Ming dynasty, martial arts styles such as Tai Chi and Ba Ji began to emerge or take shape. The image of martial arts masters described by later generations is actually rooted in reality, yet gradually transformed into illusory characters in the writings of literati. Eventually, the ability to harm others with mere falling flowers or leaves became commonplace, and the notion of ascending to the heavens or diving into the seas to become a sword immortal became exceedingly fantastical.
Only after the fourth step can one discuss the techniques of boxing and swordsmanship, as well as archery and horsemanship
There are also Shanwen armor, Mingguang armor, and cold-forged warty armor, all of which are extremely rare and precious items
There are quite a few pieces of armor; the heavy foot armor is made of layered armor, with large plates of fine iron strung together with cowhide, giving it a notably heavy appearance. Nearby are heavy weapons such as iron axes and bronze hammers, and the mottled marks on the weapons suggest that they have been used on the battlefield.
The martial arts novels of later generations have mythologized martial skills, which is why Zhang Weigong was somewhat surprised upon witnessing them. In reality, the martial arts of ancient times were essentially techniques for killing. The myriad methods of practice stem from a singular source, which is merely the refinement and enhancement of one's own body. Once the internal strength is fully cultivated, one then seeks methods to exert that power, and from those methods, one further seeks the most straightforward techniques for killing
There are more than a hundred types of bows on display, including the long bamboo bows used by the Japanese.
Zhu Touer is skilled in marksmanship
Zhang Weigong looked at the tall martial artist, who resembled a giant spirit. He responded calmly, elegantly, yet seriously: "Master Zhu, I wish to learn the skills that can kill."
When several martial artists clasp their fists, their palms align perfectly in a straight line, and the spaces between their knuckles are almost completely worn smooth. Each person's fist appears to be a single entity, akin to a polished stone, with calluses layered thickly on their fingertips. It seems that between each person's palms lies an inexhaustible reservoir of strength
The illustrated book has been prepared!
Individuals like Zhang Weigong, who immediately seek to learn the art of killing, are indeed one of a kind
It is him
To cultivate a set of skills, to rise high and soar, to kill without a trace, and to take pleasure in vengeance and grievances—regardless of past or present, how many men can remain unmoved by such circumstances?
Zhu Xi expressed with emotion, turning to Zhang Weigong coldly and saying: "Let's stand still for now"
In the past few decades, Zhang Rong has not demonstrated outstanding performance in either political or military affairs. During the Jiajing period, the successive meritorious officials who managed the military affairs of the capital did not include the Duke of England. The old Duke Zhang Rong is incompetent and inept, and the influence of the Duke of England is no longer what it once was.
In terms of materials, they are mostly made from carefully selected high-quality woods, and the bowstrings are also of superior quality. Many bowstrings have been removed; when the bow is not in use, maintaining it requires considerable effort. The bow frame needs to be oiled, and it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. The bowstrings must be taken down for protection. Only those with expertise can truly appreciate this. Upon a glance, I noticed that many of the bowstrings are made from the tendons of birds such as cranes. The ancients believed that birds were far superior to terrestrial animals, making bowstrings crafted from them extremely valuable. These bows are not something families like the dukes can afford to prepare.
Listening to various malicious taunts, Zhang Weigong did not take offense
Zhang Weigong did not take the attitudes of the martial artists to heart; instead, he felt delighted upon witnessing their extraordinary abilities
As I made my way, I encountered numerous early-rising servants, including the young lad sweeping the floor, the young maid arranging flowers in vases, the groom feeding the horses, the gardener, and the aunt fetching clean buckets, all of whom were household staff. Upon seeing Weigong, many of them brightened up and began to whisper among themselves.
Fortunately, the road is still remembered. The residence of Weigong is located near South Street. The mansions of the great houses are all oriented north to south, with the further north being more tranquil. The essence of the back courtyard lies in the north, followed by the central area, where the grand halls and large houses are all built along the central axis