Guangxu Emperor is, as usual, in his study and reads some reports about Japanese attempts to create a Pan-Asian Alliance and sighs. "Can't they understand that without approval from the Western Powers, any attempt will fail?". The Emperor is a person who loves Western ideas and culture. He has been trying to learn French and has read a Chinese Translation of Plato (translated from an English translation). However, he absolutely loves the traditional Chinese Martial Arts. Although he himself is by no means an expert, he is crazy about Martial Arts and every few months he invites Martial Artists to the Palace. This time, he has invited a swordsman who is said to have great skills, the Taoist Priest Yang Li.
Commander Li Bu Bai enters the Emperor's office and bows before him.
"What is it?", the Emperor asks.
"Your Majesty, Priest Yang has arrived."
"Good! I shall go see him."
The Emperor runs out of his study and goes to the Imperial Garden where he finds a middle-aged Taoist Priest waiting for him. When the Priest sees the Emperor, he kowtows three times before him and, after the Emperor orders him to do so, he gets up.
"So, you are the famous swordsman Yang?"
"Your Majesty is right.", he replies with a soft voice that is neither manly nor female but sounds like that of an Eunuch.
"I want to see how good your Martial Arts are." Guangxu then turns to Li and shouts "Call Zuo Huang."
Zuo Huang is one of the most able men of the Imperial Guards and is an expert in Martial Arts. A few minutes later, Zuo arrives and kowtows before the Emperor.
"Zuo, I want you to compete on swordplay with this Priest.", the Emperor orders.
Zuo stares at the Priest for a few seconds and asks "What swordplay are you using?"
"Bixie Swordplay."
"Bixie?"
"A swordplay originated in the Ming Dynasty. It was used by the Lin family and Huashan leader Yue Buqun. Everyone thought it was lost after Yue Buqun died. But, after searching for many years on Mt. Huashan, I found a manual of the Bixie Swordplay. It is said that the manual has the same origins with the Sunflower manual used by
Dongfang Bubai."
"I've never heard of this swordplay. Let me see how good it is."
With a sword in his hands, Zuo speeds forward against Yang. Yang goes on the defensive and the two blades clash with a great 'clang'. Zuo attacks again, but Yang somersaults and lands behind Zuo. The Emperor, seeing this, claps his hands and shouts "Good jumping!".
Zuo charges once again against Yang, but Yang dodges all of his attacks. Yang is able to move very fast and his movements have an elegance in them, like that of a lady. Zuo, instead, relies on his physical prowess.
Yang, laughing, says "Now it is time for
me to go on the offensive."
Yang speeds forward with his sword and aims directly towards Zuo's throat. Zuo blocks the sword with his own sword, using all his might, and a great "clang" is heard. Yang somersaults and attacks again Zuo with his sword. Zuo flinches, but his shoulder is struck.
Now, Yang gains the upper hand. He moves too fast for Zuo to compete and Zuo is forced on the defensive, fighting now not for victory but for holding as much as he can against his enemy before being defeated. Zuo sees that the movements of Yang are soft and do not seem to have great power in them, but like water overcomes huge stones, Yang's soft movements overcome his physical prowess. After a few minutes, Yang stops attacking, allowing Zuo to go on the offensive once again. How would Zuo know that this is a trap? He thinks that his enemy has got tired and so he charges against Yang.
When Zuo charges with his sword against him, Yang makes no move until the sword is only one inch from his nose, then stretches out his hand and grabs it by the hilt. Zuo lets out a ragged breath and the Emperor claps his hands and, laughing, shouts "Excellent swordplay."
"Thank you, your Highness."
"Please, stay here in the Palace, so we can talk later about your martial arts."
"Since you insist, I cannot decline."
Some servants take Yang to his room and the Emperor walks along with Commander Li.
"Commander Li, how did you find his Martial Arts?"
"They were were outstanding, your Majesty."
"That's what I also think. But, now let's talk about state affairs. Have the Russians agreed to send Military Officers to train our Army to the Western style of fighting?"
"Yes, your Majesty. They have agreed."
"Good. With our army modernized, we shall not be bullied anymore by the Europeans. We can then industrialize slowly but steadily our economy and soon the Chinese Dragon shall rise again!"