The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 83: Hanyu Pinyin
Cheng Xu was panicking, pacing back and forth in a fluster within the county office hall.
The image of his grandmother appeared everywhere. At one moment, she beckoned to him smilingly from the doorway; the next, from the window; then from behind the screen; and suddenly, she was seated in the county magistrate’s chair, waving him over. At times, more than a dozen grandmothers joined hands, swirling and flying around Cheng Xu…
Grandmothers were everywhere!
“My wonderful great-grandson, Grandmother loves you most,” they cooed, “come down below to keep me company.”
Just then, another figure burst through the main entrance. Swishing right through the phantom image of the grandmother at the door, he leaped before Cheng Xu. It was the deputy inspector, Cheng Xu’s loyal confidant. Beaming with joy, he announced, “Boss, great news!”
Cheng Xu grimaced, “Great news? Nothing can save me now. Over a dozen Grandmothers are on their way to fetch me.”
The deputy inspector pressed on, “Boss, hunters from the mountains that Wang Er’s rebels have been defeated. Zheng Yanfu and Zhuang Guangdao are dead. Wang Er himself suffered severe injuries.”
Cheng Xu’s spirits instantly soared, rushing with pride. The dozen or so grandmothers encircling him were simultaneously flung backward, tossed far away. “Eh? What happened? Tell me quickly!”
The deputy inspector explained, “The night before last, Wang Er led his rebels in a night raid on Gaojia Village. Unexpectedly, the village was prepared. Under the command of Bai Yuan, the instructor of the Bai Family Fortress militia, the Gaojia Village Militia ambushed Wang Er’s rebels. They killed Zheng Yanfu and Zhuang Guangdao, and critically wounded Wang Er. Wang Er now only has a hundred or so men left in his command. They’ve gone into hiding in the mountains, too scared to cause any more trouble. Hearing this news, nearby rebel forces have been terrified into silence, trembling with fear.”
His information was entirely wrong. Had anyone from Gaojia Village heard this, they would have laughed their teeth out. But this misinformation wasn’t accidental; it had its reasons.
Indeed, after Wang Er left, he feared implicating the people of Gaojia Village. He deliberately instructed his men to spread false news, claiming that his attack on Gaojia Village had failed. This way, no one would suspect the villagers of collaborating with him.
It also preserved the reputations of Zheng Yanfu and Zhuang Guangdao. It prevented other forest heroes from learning that these two had betrayed their leader, saving them from a legacy of treachery after death.
He protected everyone except himself. Now, everyone knew he was severely wounded with only a hundred men left.
A tiger fallen onto the flats could be bullied even by a dog.
How could Cheng Xu resist such an opportunity? He was overjoyed. Planting his hands on his hips, he roared with laughter: “Hahaha! Excellent! A heaven-sent opportunity! Gather the troops immediately! We pursue and suppress Wang Er’s rebel force now! We have three days before the Donglin Party magistrate arrives. Let’s strike while the iron is hot and capture him!”
“As long as Wang Er is dealt with, the rebels who rose in his wake will naturally disperse. I’ll write a blaming all the Wang Er troubles squarely on that dead ghost Zhang Yaocai. I, Cheng Xu, worked diligently, just cleaning up Zhang Yaocai’s mess behind the scenes, suppressing the rebel hordes. Handled this way, we might just forge a path out of this dead end.”
The grandmother at the door vanished. The kind smile at the window blurred. The dozen grandmothers swirling around him dissolved into streaks of light…
Do you believe in light?
To a surge of triumphant music, Ninth-rank Inspector Cheng Xu revived, full of health and vigor. Transformed from a coward into a hero, he launched his offensive!
…
Early in the morning, Gaojia Village was as peaceful and harmonious as ever.
Labor offenders were released by the Deity’s giant hand and began cooking their own breakfasts. Every day of their labor reform started with a meal – who would believe that if told?
Law-abiding citizens from other villages might weep with envy.
Inside the “study well,” a group of children finished their radio calisthenics, getting ready for class.
Mr. Wang held the “Book of Family Names,” prepared to teach them “Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li; Zhou, Wu, Zheng, Wang.” Before he could start, Gao Yiye suddenly stood up. “Master, a divine message has come from the Deity!”
Mr. Wang immediately straightened solemnly. Having been in Gaojia Village for some time, he had personally witnessed the Deity manifest miracles on several occasions. He was now a true believer in the Dao Xuan Deity Teachings, though following “Confucius didn’t speak of gods and spirits,” he kept his faith to his heart and not his lips.
“What message from the Deity? I am all ears,” he responded respectfully.
Gao Yiye announced, “The Deity says that he possesses a celestial method that can allow children to learn reading and writing much faster. It helps them pronounce every word correctly.”
Mr. Wang was instantly overjoyed upon hearing this. “A celestial method!”
Don’t just teach it to the children, I want to learn too!
Gao Yiye continued, “The Deity instructs that this method should be taught to Master Wang first. Then, Master can pass it on to the children. This is the best approach.”
Mr. Wang was so thrilled he almost began hopping like a monkey. “Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! This lowly scholar… ahem… we scholars aspire to inherit the lost wisdom of past sages. This celestial method of the Deity… I shall devote every effort to mastering and transmitting it!”
Gao Yiye said, “Then listen carefully. This method is called: Hanyu Pinyin.”
Mr. Wang sighed, “Just hearing the name fills me with an aura of immortality.”
…
Li Daoxuan watched Gao Yiye and Mr. Wang begin studying Hanyu Pinyin, a faint smile playing on his lips. It was often tricky dealing with learned but impoverished scholars like Mr. Wang from ancient times. Trying to instill new knowledge or ideas into them was like trying to add oil or salt that wouldn’t stick. Yet, use the trick of framing it as a “celestial method,” and these ancients became remarkably easy to persuade.
It was rather frustrating. Progressive ideas and new teaching methods had to be packaged as divine revelations just to be accepted.
Lost in these thoughts, he suddenly caught the buzz of tiny voices and turned his head.
Visitors had arrived outside the village!
Familiar face – Inspector Cheng Xu.
The last time Cheng Xu visited, Gaojia Village was surrounded by that colorful Lego-brick wall. The village population was small, its people timid. Li Daoxuan, wishing to avoid complications, had resorted to using “sorcery” to scare him away.
But now, Gaojia Village was entirely transformed. There was no need for tricks this time. Let’s see how Thirty-Two handles this.
Li Daoxuan entered spectator mode.
Cheng Xu spotted Gaojia Village ahead from afar and felt a twinge of apprehension. Last time he came here, he nearly got eaten by ghosts, scaring him away from this place for a long time. But it was still Early in the morning. He’d never heard of ghosts running amok so early.
Summoning his courage, he marched towards the gate of Gaojia Fortress at the head of over a hundred soldiers.
Raising his head, he saw the place had changed again. Last time, the walls were two zhang high (around 6.6 meters), brightly colored, and decidedly odd-looking. This time, they stood three zhang high (approx. 10 meters), looking like a proper fortress residence.
Stone and mud… this place truly felt eerie.
Thirty-Two’s face appeared atop the fortress wall. He waved down at Cheng Xu outside. “Ah! General Cheng! Long time no see! Missed you immensely! Please wait! I’ll be right out to see you!”
As Thirty-Two descended the wall, he whispered to a servant beside him, “Notify all the villagers immediately. Hide the armor.”
Chapter 83: Hanyu Pinyin
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