pappabearbooks Chapter 98 Shaolin Secret Techniques, the Imperial Guards Can Learn Them Freely!
Chapter 98 Shaolin Secret Techniques, the Imperial Guards Can Learn Them Freely!
Chapter 98 Shaolin Secret Techniques, the Imperial Guards Can Learn Them Freely!
"As for the three thousand Buddhist scriptures and the Shaolin Temple's martial arts manuals—keep them in the Wenyuan Pavilion."
Zhu Houzhao suddenly remembered something and said to the people behind him, "By the way, are any of you interested in these martial arts manuals?"
"If you're interested, feel free to choose any of them. Copy whatever you like and just keep the original in the Wenyuan Pavilion."
Zhu Houzhao had no interest in these martial arts manuals and did not think they were of any value.
But for Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, and others, this was an unexpected surprise.
During their battles with those Shaolin masters, they had already experienced the profound martial arts skills of the Shaolin Temple.
Yi Jin Jing, Vajra Palm, Thousand-Leaf Hand of Great Compassion, Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand, Shaolin Nine Yang Skill, Subduing Demon Staff Technique —
The martial arts of Shaolin Temple are vast and numerous, and they themselves have their own favorite techniques.
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao made all these precious techniques available for them to copy and learn, which greatly excited them.
Such a reward is more exciting than anything else for these martial arts practitioners.
If this news gets out, it will surely drive most of the martial arts world crazy.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject thanks you!"
Cao Zhengchun and the others kowtowed to express their gratitude, overjoyed.
Zhu Houzhao nodded and waved his hand, "Alright, you can go now."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
Cao Zhengchun and the others bowed and took their leave, departing from Cining Palace.
After leaving the Forbidden City, they immediately began to strictly implement Zhu Houzhao's orders.
A massive campaign of ordination and purification was launched throughout the entire Ming Dynasty.
All monks listed on their ordination certificates, ranging from eight to eight years old, were required to undergo monastic purification upon entering the temple, without exception.
Those abbots who violated the rules and regulations by building luxurious mansions, keeping concubines, and having sons were all exterminated and their families were wiped out without any room for negotiation.
This anti-Buddhist campaign launched by Zhu Houzhao dealt a devastating blow to Buddhism within the Ming Dynasty.
Even if one becomes a monk, one still has to work; even if one becomes a monk, one still has to be cleansed; even if one becomes a monk, one still has to pay taxes, and the tax rate on incense money is still 100%, leaving them not a single copper coin.
These three decrees reduced the desire of all Ming Dynasty citizens to become monks to the lowest point.
If you have to farm whether you're a monk or a nun, and you have to be purified before becoming a monk, then what's the point of becoming a monk?
For the pragmatic citizens of the Ming Dynasty, becoming a monk held no appeal whatsoever.
While carrying out Zhu Houzhao's orders, Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Shen Lian, and Zhuge Zhengwo also made sure to copy down some Shaolin martial arts manuals and bring them back to their organization.
They didn't hold back either; these precious secret manuals, which only inner disciples of Shaolin Temple could practice, were generously bestowed upon all the guards and constables.
This immediately sparked a wave of martial arts learning among the imperial guards and constables.
After learning the secret techniques of Shaolin Temple, a large number of the imperial guards and constables improved their martial arts skills by several levels.
The fighting capabilities of the imperial guards and constables are no longer what they used to be.
Their combat power has now increased by at least two times compared to before.
If ordinary guards and constables can make such great progress, then Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, and others have become even more powerful after learning Shaolin martial arts.
Zhu Houzhao did not show favoritism, remembering the great contributions Hulong Manor had made in the suppression of Shaolin Temple.
Zhu Houzhao also sent someone to copy all of Shaolin Temple's martial arts manuals and send them to the Dragon Guard Manor.
Zhu Wushi was not interested in these martial arts. His Absorption Technique was already the most evil and powerful martial art in the world, so he had no need to practice these Shaolin martial arts.
In the battle with the Sweeper Monk, although the Sweeper Monk noticed the strangeness of Zhu Wushi's Absorption Technique, he chose to recklessly self-destruct.
However, Zhu Wushi still absorbed at least twenty years of the Sweeper Monk's skills, which can be described as a great gain.
These Shaolin martial arts manuals were like chicken bones to Zhu Wushi.
So he directly passed on these Shaolin martial arts techniques, instructing the imperial secret agents of the four characters "天地玄黄" to practice them diligently.
Duan Tianya and Gui Haiyidao even learned some Shaolin martial arts, while Cheng Shifei simply ignored them completely.
Because when Cheng Shifei was infused with all his internal energy by Gu Santong, Gu Santong had already taught him all the martial arts in the world.
Cheng Shifei is now not only proficient in all kinds of Shaolin martial arts, but he is also proficient in the secret techniques of other sects around the world.
The potential for becoming a traitor is enormous.
Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Works, the first 44-zhang-long steel steamship has been successfully launched and is undergoing sea trials.
Incidentally, five more small steel steamships were also completed, which together with the large ship formed a fleet and were put into sea for trial voyages.
These ships were equipped with advanced breech-loading cannons. Once the Ming Dynasty's navy had trained themselves on how to use these ships and unleash their formidable combat power...
Zhu Houzhao's plan for external expansion could then be put on the agenda.
Dengzhou Guard.
After Qi Jingtong returned to Dengzhou Guard, he took over the position of Commander of Dengzhou Guard.
Zhao Chengzhi, the original commander of Dengzhou Guard, was demoted to deputy commander of Dengzhou Guard.
Upon receiving this order, Zhao Chengzhi was struck dumb, and his resentment towards Qi Jingtong deepened.
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Qi Jingtong was entrusted with important responsibilities by Zhu Houzhao. In addition to being the commander of Dengzhou Guard, he was also the naval commander of the Ming Dynasty.
Upon returning to Dengzhou Garrison, he immediately began organizing manpower and training the navy.
First, a large number of garrison soldiers were selected from Dengzhou Garrison and trained to fight in the water.
Later, the Ministry of Works sent another large ship and five smaller ships, but the local garrison troops were no longer sufficient to meet Qi Jingtong's requirements for training a navy.
After consulting with Zhu Houzhao, Qi Jingtong directly recruited soldiers from outside the region, gathering more local people to join the Ming Dynasty's navy.
Zhu Houzhao offered very generous terms to these recruits.
Firstly, regarding the benefits, the monthly military pay was a solid two taels of silver, which could also be directly exchanged for three shi of grain.
This price is simply astronomical for ordinary people.
To make a horizontal comparison, a craftsman in the Ming Dynasty earned about 800 coins a month.
A family of five would spend about 1,500 coins a month.
In other words, a family of five needs two people to work in order to afford a month's expenses.
By joining the army, one person can support a family of five and still have money left over.
The recruits were paid even more than the garrison soldiers, making the local garrison soldiers extremely envious.
In addition, the local people had an irreconcilable hatred for the Japanese pirates, so a large number of people signed up to join the army.
Qi Jingtong only recruited 3,000 naval troops in the first batch, and will make further plans after this batch has completed training.
This group of Ming Dynasty naval personnel trained on land for half a month to gain some military foundation. Then, Qi Jingtong directly sent them to the ships for training.
A 44-zhang-long steel steamship, eight 18-zhang-long steel steam boats, each equipped with a cannon and a large number of flintlock muskets.
Such luxurious equipment made the Ming Dynasty naval crew on board extremely proud during every training exercise at sea.
They were eager to sail these luxurious warships to wipe out the Japanese pirates who had killed their parents and destroyed their homes!
But those Japanese pirates, perhaps intimidated by these warships, were probably...
From the time Qi Jingtong returned to Dengzhou, the area was peaceful and tranquil, and there was no longer any sign of Japanese pirates.
It was late at night.
Zhao Chengzhi, the deputy commander of Dengzhou Garrison, left the garrison under cover of night. After carefully checking the surroundings, he slipped into a hidden cave.
"Why aren't you leaving yet? You dare contact me? Do you want to die?"
Upon entering the cave, Zhao Chengzhi posed three soul-searching questions to a man dressed in black night clothes.
The man in black looked calmly at Zhao Chengzhi and said in a strange tone, "Let's do one last job and then leave."
"Still thinking about pulling off one more heist?"
Zhao Chengzhi sneered, feeling disgusted by this group of greedy Japanese pirates.
"I am no longer the commander of Dengzhou Garrison, and Dengzhou is no longer under my control as it used to be."
"Go look at the sea. Qi Jingtong's Ming Dynasty navy, with its massive ships, cannons, and muskets. Why aren't you running away? You want to pull off another heist? Matsushita Kameichiro, do you really not know what death means?"
The man known as Matsushita Kameichiro remained calm, unaffected by Zhao Chengzhi's mockery.
"It was because we saw those cannons and muskets that we wanted to pull off a big heist."
"We need ten cannons and three hundred muskets. Once we have these, we'll leave."
"Don't worry, we won't shortchange you on the price; it'll be tripled from the original price."
"A cannon costs five thousand taels of silver, and a musket costs fifty taels of silver."
"There are also cannonballs and bullets. One cannonball costs thirty taels of silver, and twenty bullets cost one tael of silver. The more the better."
"How about it? Isn't this price a great deal?"
Upon hearing Matsushita Kameichiro's words, Zhao Chengzhi first stared in shock, then lowered his voice and roared angrily.
"Are you kidding me? How could I possibly get my hands on those things? I advise you to leave right now, or you'll get yourself into trouble!"
Matsushita Kameichiro gave a stiff smile: "Lord Zhao is too modest. You will definitely be able to get these things."
"
"If you don't want the Ming Dynasty to find out about our deal, I advise you to do your best to find these things—"
"you!"
Zhao Chengzhi glared at Matsushita Kameichiro, clenching his teeth.
Matsushita Kameichiro calmly looked back at him, waiting for his response.
In the end, Zhao Chengzhi conceded: "At most three cannons and one hundred and fifty muskets."
"As for shells and bullets, I'll try my best to find you as many as I can."
"One price, thirty thousand taels of silver, not a penny less."
Matsushita Kameichiro thought for a moment, then finally nodded: "Deal."