Chapter Nine, Unexpected Gains

Li Chongjiu felt a sense of curiosity but said nothing at that moment, instead striding directly into the mountain stronghold

Li Chongjiu said with a smile: "This time, the Fourth and Fifth Masters came down the mountain; they must have gained quite a bit of profit, right"

This year the climate has been quite favorable, marking a small harvest year. However, everyone knows that next year there will be a large-scale campaign against Liaodong, with conscription for military service, which will be very challenging. Therefore, the farmers are estimating that they should stockpile more grain. Nevertheless, this winter is already worry-free, while concerns for next year can be set aside for the time being

Brother Wang, please speak slowly

This is certainly the case! All the mountain bandits burst into hearty laughter

Hunting is, in fact, the best method to train martial skills, particularly for the main force of the current dynasty's garrison troops

In the past ten days, Li Chongjiu has attempted to hunt this animal several times, but it has skillfully evaded him each time. Today, however, Li Chongjiu encounters the deer once again

Li Chongjiu still smiled amiably at everyone, and according to the rules, brought the golden pheasant and the muntjac to Wang Mahang's home, preparing to hand them over to his wife for her to take care of. Just as he arrived at the door, Wang Mahang hurriedly came out from outside and stopped in front of Li Chongjiu, saying: "Young Master, I finally found you"

The young master is truly in high spirits

Niu Er's face was unmistakably filled with an overwhelming sense of envy and jealousy towards Li Chongjiu

Li Chongjiu found himself in the dense forest, his gaze fixed on a deer rapidly chewing on leaves down the slope. The deer is the most adept at jumping among animals, and for hunters in the deep mountains, its difficulty in being captured is no less than that of a goat

"Have you heard of Shao Dangjia?" Xue Shenyi said nonchalantly, "Although Shaolin Temple is not a renowned monastery, it is not surprising to have heard of it."

Therefore, this time, the Fourth and Fifth Heads led the bandits over, merely to go through the motions. It was akin to a landlord urging a tenant for rent. Naturally, for those who were in arrears and had no intention of paying, a round of stick education was generally unavoidable

Li Chongjiu, upon hearing this, began to formulate a plan in his heart. As the saying goes, in prosperous times, people trust the emperor; in chaotic times, they trust the immortals. Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism has spread eastward. After the Northern Wei and Northern Zhou temporarily suppressed Buddhism, it experienced a resurgence once again.

To consume water means that one cannot privately appropriate the wealth obtained through robbery. All the bandits of Qianqianzhai are allocated resources by the chief. Although the distribution is based on the level of merit, everyone receives a share.

Little Master, I have heard there are also the Fourth Master, the Fifth Master, and an additional surprise for you

Young master, my old hen has laid eggs, I will make chicken soup for you tonight

After Niu Er finished speaking, everyone burst into hearty laughter, their faces filled with joy. Indeed, with the Fourth and Fifth Masters reaping rewards, it naturally brought benefits to everyone in Qiqian Village. This is also a rule of Qiqian Village: no one is allowed to drink water.

After the sudden death of Emperor Wu, the crown prince ascended to the throne as Emperor Xuan. Grateful for his mother's kindness, he immediately designated the temple where she had become a nun, named Zhihua Temple, to express his filial piety

Li Chongjiu, upon hearing this, did not expect there to be such an anecdote. However, he had indeed heard of the so-called calamity of the Three Wus and One Zong in Buddhist history.

Li Chongjiu recognized this deer, as it had a distinct white spot next to its large tear trough. He had attempted to hunt it twice before but had failed. With winter approaching, the deer's fur was in excellent condition, glossy and black, indicating that it had been living quite well in the mountains.

As time gradually passed, after consuming several clusters of leaves, the belly of the muntjac slightly swelled. However, the muntjac's greedy appetite compelled it to continue eating. Whether it is humans or animals, their reactions and movements tend to decrease significantly after they are full. This was the opportunity that Li Chongjiu had been waiting for

There is not just one hunter roaming the mountains and forests, and there are also quite a few wolves. This deer lives so comfortably, it must be very alert. The failures of the previous two hunting attempts have provided it with the best lessons.

The next morning, within the mountains of Qianqianzhai, the layer of mist had dissipated

Wang Mahan took a breath, suddenly looking excited, and exclaimed loudly: "Young Master Shao, that young lady who injured you has been captured by the Fourth and Fifth Masters working together!"

Li Chongjiu always returned with a harvest from his hunts, distributing the spoils to the elderly and orphans in accordance with the rules of the stronghold. As a result, he changed the previous impression that the bandits of Qiqian Stronghold had of him. Now, everyone spoke highly of him both in front of him and behind his back. Even many unmarried women from Qiqian Stronghold would come out to observe Li Chongjiu.

Autumn is indeed the season of harvest, and the farmers of Taiyuan County are currently tallying their annual yield.

These itinerant merchants, just before autumn, would band together to form a large caravan, crossing the Great Wall to trade with the Turkic, Xianbei, and other tribes beyond the frontier. These merchants from the Central Plains transported silk, tea bricks, and cloth to trade with these tribes. Later, in early autumn, taking advantage of the nomads who, in order to save on winter fodder, would slaughter a large number of cattle and sheep, they exchanged their goods for a substantial quantity of raw hides and fine horses from the Turkic tribes to return to the Central Plains. These merchants from the Central Plains transported silk, tea bricks, and cloth to trade with these tribes. Later, in early autumn, taking advantage of the nomads who, in order to save on winter fodder, would slaughter a large number of cattle and sheep, they exchanged their goods for a substantial quantity of raw hides and fine horses from the Turkic tribes to return to the Central Plains

The twelve guards and the four offices of the realm practice archery at home. Every winter, the Eagle Commander leads the troops of the five schools to conduct hunting exercises for training purposes. When the guards are on duty, they are also taught archery skills, and martial arts are emphasized during the winter and spring.

Shaolin Temple?" Li Chongjiu could not help but be somewhat taken aback

Meanwhile, Doctor Xue and Li Hu were still engaged in a detailed conversation, unaware that at this moment, Li Chongjiu had already formulated a new plan in his heart

Doctor Xue shook his head and smiled, saying: "Although he taught my father medicine, he is not very old. It is said that he has practiced a set of health-preserving exercises, and his health has always been robust. He should still be alive, I believe."

Physician Xue smiled and said: "I have some knowledge of this. In the past, Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty, under the pretext of seeking weapons between the pagodas and soldiers beneath the monks, launched a large-scale campaign to eradicate Buddhism. The empress, upon witnessing this, could not bear to remain silent and tried to dissuade him, but instead incurred the emperor's displeasure. At that time, Emperor Wu intended to marry the daughter of the Turkic Khan, Ashina, and sought to depose the empress. Upon hearing this, the empress immediately agreed, but stipulated that her son must be made the crown prince. After the emperor consented, the empress promptly took vows and became a nun.

Upon hearing this, Li Chongjiu finally understood why there was such joy. In the northern regions, it was the peak season for merchants traveling to and from the northern deserts, returning to the Central Plains.

But if there is such a method, wouldn't I understand how to use it? A few years ago, I asked someone to inquire about the whereabouts of this eminent monk at Zhifu Temple, but I was told that he had gone wandering, which caused the delay. I have already sent someone to remind the monks at Zhifu Temple that if there is any news of him, they should report it to me immediately

Li Hu said: "Third brother, I believe this matter is inappropriate. Your father's medical skills were taught by him, which means he must be at least eighty or ninety years old. I fear he may have long since passed away."

What?

During the autumn season, raiding merchant caravans was also a customary practice of the Qishan stronghold. Later, as routes were opened up, larger merchant caravans established relationships with these mountain bandits, paying a tribute in the form of a hundredth of their goods as a toll for passage.

At this point, Physician Xue changed his tone and said: "However, a few years ago, the late emperor had restored its name from Zhihushan Temple back to its original name, calling it Shaolin Temple"

Now Li Chongjiu has drawn the bowstring, nocking the arrow.

Drill exercises refer to military reviews; while practicing archery is often associated with hunting, termed as hunting reviews. After nearly half a month of deep mountain hunting, Li Chongjiu's archery skills have nearly returned to their previous normal level through integration, though it cannot be confidently stated that he hits the target every time, achieving five or six hits out of ten is certainly possible

Doctor Xue glanced at Li Chongjiu, stroked his goatee, and said: "You are quite perceptive."

Since the day Niu Er established a friendship with Li Chongjiu, he has been greatly impressed by his drinking capacity. He incessantly remarked: "This year, the government is collecting cow hides, which has caused the price of cow hides within the borders to soar to astronomical levels. Just think about those merchants who strip the hides; when they make a trip to the northern desert to collect cow hides from the Xianbei people, they must be making quite a profit."

Now, Li Chongjiu stood silently among the bushes, breathing steadily, even ignoring the bites of insects on his body. He was as still as a rock, waiting for an opportunity. In the mountains, the true hunter is not the one with the best marksmanship, but the one with the greatest patience. This is a game between man and nature

Indeed, my father's medical skills were passed down to him. He later became a monk. There may be other renowned physicians in the world who can cure the persistent ailment of the head of the family, but among those I know, he is the only one.

Upon entering Qianqianzhai, Li Chongjiu greeted the men and women in the village with utmost courtesy.

The sun had already begun to set in the undulating Qian Mountain range. Li Chongjiu also returned with a bountiful harvest, carrying a deer he had shot on his back and holding two pheasants in his hand

Through trade, the coarse silk, cloth, and tea bricks produced in the Central Plains can be sold on the grasslands for profits that can exceed tenfold. Meanwhile, raw hides and fine horses are also scarce goods from the Central Plains. The turnover between the two can be described as exorbitant profits

With a whoosh, the sound of the wind broke through

Surprise

In such humble households, there is no notion of a deep boudoir; being familiar with one another, unmarried women do not exhibit any shyness

Doctor Xue nodded and smiled, saying: "I did not expect that, young master, you are so filial."

Young master, good morning

Li Chongjiu said: "Doctor Xue, since this is the case, I will make a trip to Zhifu Temple. By any means necessary, please invite this eminent monk to treat my father's stubborn illness"

Little Master, can you get me some rabbit blood tomorrow? I heard it can nourish the body... What? Don't ask, it's just that I've started my period.

Li Chongjiu looked at those women who were subtly showing their interest in him, and could only smile in response. He did not know when it had started, but his charm with women had improved so much. It seemed that he had finally restored his reputation, which had plummeted after being defeated by Li Sanniang.

Why does the temple have such a name, and what is the story behind it? Li Hu could not help but ask

Which young lady

The young master, the prey has arrived again

By the time of Emperor Wen of Sui, the world was unified, and Buddhism flourished greatly. Emperor Wen of Sui revered Buddhism, and Li Chongjiu had heard of this.

Physician Xue stroked his long beard and said, "The term 'Zhi Hu' comes from the Book of Songs; it signifies a filial son on a journey, yearning for his parents"

As the counterfeit goods fell from the cradle to the ground, Li Chongjiu noticed that the faces of several bandits beside him were filled with joy. Before Li Chongjiu could ask, one of the bandits spoke up, saying: "Young Master, the Fourth and Fifth Masters have returned"

"Young master, I will mend your clothes for you"

Li Chongjiu remained silent. In his eyes, the modern Shaolin Temple had become heavily commercialized, losing much of its original depth. However, figures such as Bodhidharma, Huike, Sengfu, Daoyu, and the Thirteen Staff Monks were all historical characters. Wait, the Thirteen Staff Monks saved the Tang Emperor. I want to learn ancient martial arts; a trip to Shaolin Temple might not be a bad idea. If I could become a disciple of Shaolin, perhaps in the future, the Thirteen Staff Monks would need to be renamed the Fourteen Staff Monks.

The hide of the muntjac has always been of superior quality. Li Chongjiu speculated that if he were to sell this muntjac's hide, he could at least exchange it for one hundred and fifty good pieces of meat; if converted to cash, it would be even more. With the copper ring on his finger gently pressing against the bowstring, Li Chongjiu refrained from hastily drawing an arrow to shoot.

Near Luoyang, there is the Baima Temple, known as the source of Buddhism. After Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty ascended the throne, he further constructed a temple at each of the Five Great Mountains, as well as the Dashanxing Temple in Daxing City, all of which are renowned monasteries in the world. As for the Zhiwu Temple, with a name so difficult to remember, Li Chongji had not heard of it at the time, but it should not be hard to find in the vicinity of Luoyang