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141 pages

English

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The country has just been conquered by the Manchus, who would go on to rule China for 267 years, ending in 1911. The dynasty changes from 'Ming' to 'Qing'. Anti-Manchu activists work hard to drive out the Manchus and form a Triad Society 'to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming'.Foremost in their priorities is to enlist the Shaolin Monastery to their cause. The three young heroes grow up in the monastery where they develop superior kung fu skills. They must save Shaolin Monastery from falling into the hands of the Triad Society.The young Manchu Emperor, Kang Xi, finds himself in Shaolin. When the power hungry Regent Oboi hears of the Emperor's whereabouts, he sends out his assassins. The youngsters must protect the emperor and help him seize back power from the evil regent.Finally, there is the graduation test, in which Shaolin disciples must fight their way through the Wooden Men Lane.This fast-paced novel traces the history of Shaolin Monastery and kung fu, while following the trials of Flint, Bussie and Tobie as they learn the skills they will need in their fight against evil and to become real Heroes of Shaolin.

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Historical fiction

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Publié par	eBook Versions
Date de parution	28 janvier 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781843962311
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0240€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Published by
CHK Literature Ltd

This revised edition
copyright © 2013 CHK Literature Ltd

Author s website
www.heroesofshaolin.com

CHK Literature Ltd has asserted its
right under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988 to be identified
as the copyright holder of this work.

ISBN-13 978-1-84396-231-1

Also available in paperback
ISBN-13 978-1-48276-192-4

A CIP catalogue record for
this ebook edition is available
from the British Library.

ePub ebook production
www.ebookversions.com

All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in or
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or transmitted in any form
or by any means electronic,
photomechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without
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of the publisher. Any person who
does any unauthorised act in
relation to this publication may be
liable to criminal prosecution.
For Mark, Karl and Edwin
With thanks to Robyn
HEROES OF SHAOLIN

Through the
Wooden Men Lane

REVISED EDITION 2013

Zen Lee

CHK Literature Ltd
Contents

Title Page
Copyright Credits
Dedication I
Dedication II

Gates of Beijing
FU XI CHART OF THE EIGHT TRIGRAMS
Stone carving of Bodhidharma

Prologue
I The Brotherhood
II Yin and Yang
III All Roads Lead to Shaolin
IV Number One Monastery Under Heaven
V Close Encounter
VI Master Wei s Groove
VII Hunt for the Third Prince
VIII Heroes and Villains
IX A Test of Strength
X A Stranger Comes Bearing Gifts
XI The Secret Underground Chamber
XII The Heaven and Earth Triad Society
XIII To Catch a Spy
XIV The Secret Manual of Tendon Transformation
XV Mutiny at Shaolin
XVI Hidden Dragon
XVII The Showndown
XVIII The Tartar Champion
XIX The Last Mission
XX The Great Escape
XXI The Emperor s Gambit
XXII Final Justice
XXIII Through The Wooden Men Lane
Chapter Endnotes
Author s Notes
Author s Notes Endnotes
Ming Emperors and Ming Pretenders
Glossary of Terms

Prologue

On 6th June 1644, Manchu troops entered Beijing and put their own six year old Emperor on the throne in the Forbidden City under the reign title Shun Zhi [1] . The name of the Dynasty was changed by the conquerors from Ming to Qing . Hence began the history of the Manchu rule in China which lasted for 267 years, ending in 1911.
Anti-Manchu feeling remained strong among the Han Chinese [2] . The resistance movement continued with vigour, igniting in the hearts of millions of Chinese people the hope of Overthrowing the Qing and Restoring the Ming [3] .
The story begins in the eighth year [4] of the reign of Kang Xi [5] . Kang Xi succeeded Shun Zhi and became the second Qing emperor to rule in China. It is 25 years since the Manchu Conquest of China. The literary inquisition is still in progress. Many well-known and respected Chinese scholars have been arrested, some are still imprisoned, and others have been executed, their properties confiscated and their family members beheaded, enslaved or exiled.

[1]
[2]
[3]
[4] 1669AD
[5}
I

The Brotherhood

It was drizzling in the city of Kaifeng. Summer rain had started early. Broad brimmed bamboo hats and straw rain capes filled the already congested streets. Kaifeng was an ancient city, the capital of seven dynasties in the early history of China. Although it had lost its capital status to Beijing, it was still bustling. Shops lined the streets. Hawk and falcon traders, horse traders, pearl and silk traders, salt merchants and peddlers flocked here for business. The city retained its importance as a trading centre because it was at the hub of the busy waterways, situated only a few miles south of the Yellow River.
Not far from the waterfront stood a two-storied tavern, a handsome structure with eaves, carved beams and decorative vermillion pillars. A pair of blue banners hung from a tall pole advertising Riverside Inn and Top Quality Wine . The inn was popular and every table was occupied with people eating and drinking. The shouts and laughter and the flurry of activity were such that no one paid attention when a Daoist priest and his acolyte walked in.
The Daoist was in his late thirties, tall and powerfully built, with a large mouth and bulbous nose. His eyebrows were bushy and his face half covered with wild, tangled beard. A black bandanna bound his head, and he wore a short black robe. His feet were clad in hemp sandals with many eyelets, and a pair of old bronze swords swung from his back. Following behind was his acolyte, a young lad of fifteen. The boy carried over his shoulder a cloth sack made from a large square scarf, the four corners tied in a knot in the centre. Anywhere else, the Daoist would have attracted the attention of the crowd. But this innwas used to accommodating strangers. From the four corners of the land traders gathered in Kaifeng, and there was no better place than the Riverside Inn to meet, talk business and take a bowl of wine. The hoteliers were accustomed to turning a blind eye.
The Daoist and his acolyte could not find a seat, so they climbed the stairs to the first floor and found a table by the window facing the waterfront. Food and wine arrived, steamed buns, noodles, braised beef, five-spice bean-curd slices, vegetables, and large bowls filled to the brim with wine. The Daoist was hungry and ate voraciously, gulping down bowl after bowl of wine. His young acolyte was gentle and well mannered. He picked delicately at the vegetables with his chopsticks, and slowly sipped his tea.
At the next table, five men were deep in conversation. A tall, fair-faced man wearing the dress of a scholar said, There have been sightings of the Third Prince. Someone saw him in Guangzhou, some have seen him in Hangzhou. Only two months ago, someone saw him in Fujian. The scholar was nicknamed The Iron-Fan Scholar , because he used an iron fan as his weapon. Deadly darts were hidden in the ribs of the fan. With a flick of the hand, darts fired in all directions to hit their targets. The fan had razor sharp edges and could cut, strike or slide. It could be also used to strike vital energy points, paralysing opponents.
The scholar was an ambitious young man, but he had been born at the wrong time and in the wrong place. His grandfather and father had served in the Ming courts. His father had told him that a man could not serve two masters, and so, being a filial son and a Ming Loyalist, the scholar could not serve the Manchus.
Are you saying that Prince Zhu San 1 , the third son of Emperor Chong Zhen 2 , is alive? the man next to him demanded.
He was tall with a horse-like face, and wore a leather band round his head. On this early summer day, he was still wearing his leather boots. He was a horse trader from Shanxi and had earned his nickname The Phantom Rider , because of his superior riding skills and his ability to tame any horse. His weapon was a soft whip made from cow tendons which he disguised as a girdle round his waist.
The scholar nodded. Rumour has it that when the city of Beijing fell to the rebels, Emperor Chong Zhen s pregnant concubine of the Western Palace fled to Yunnan. There she gave birth to the Third Prince. Nobody had heard of him, but now suddenly he has appeared and claims to be the rightful heir to the Throne. He took a swig of wine. When Li ZiCheng 3 and his rebel army captured Beijing, Emperor Chong Zhen hanged himself on Coal Hill. 4 . That was the end of the Ming Dynasty. Li had the throne within his grasp. Who would have thought at the time that in less than two months, he would have lost his throne to the Manchus. And all because of the woman Chen YuanYuan 5 .
Another man at the table spat on the floor. That filthy traitor Wu SanGui s 6 favourite concubine. When Li saw her in Beijing, he was struck by her beauty, and decided to keep her for himself. Wu went mad. Instead of fighting it out with Li, Wu went to the Tartar 7 barbarians for help. He led the barbarians to Beijing. He betrayed his country for a whore! The speaker was a short man with a swarthy complexion and high cheek bones. He wore a tattered bandanna and an old tunic which opened in front to reveal a well toned body and skin that gleamed like dark oil. He was a fisherman from Fujian, nicknamed The Flying Fish . His fighting skills were deadlier under water than on land.
Slut! Son of turtle egg! A booming voice caught the attention of other diners in the room. It was a butcher from Guangdong, a short stocky man nicknamed The Hurricane . His weapon was a nine-ring sabre which rattled loudly in action. The fisherman motioned to him to keep his voice down.
The five companions continued to eat and drink in silence. After a while, the fifth diner at the table grumbled, I would like to chop him into a mince ball and feed him to the dogs! This was a hunter from Liaodong, a descendant of a Ming Commander stationed there before the Manchu occupation. His chest was tattooed with a two-headed green snake, and he gained his nickname The Magical Archer , because he was able to fire two arrows in quick succession so that they hissed like a two-headed snake in the air. Was Wu daft, handing our country on a plate to the Tartar barbarians? What did he think he was doing?
The scholar smiled. Dear brother, Wu was not stupid. He was only a Ming General then. He got rid of the rebel leader Li, and is now the Prince of the Western Region, answerable to only one man, the Emperor himself. He is many times wealthier and more powerful than before. If he had tried to challenge Li, who knows who would have come out victor? A hill does not have room for two tigers . It was a safe bet for Wu to get help from the Manchus to make sure Li was eliminated. Did Wu betray his country for a woman? Probably! Don t forget that Chen YuanYuan is the most beautiful woman on earth. Since the beginning of time, heroes and beauties have always gone together. If a man s ego