A Touch of Zen Page #3

with men from the Eastern Group

Prepare to receive him

Yes, sir

- Your Excellency

- A decree from His Majesty

Yes, sir

Shall we proceed?

Certainly

All kneel to receive

His Majesty's decree

Long live the Emperor

"Yang Lian, you are hereby summoned..."

"...to an immediate audience

with His Majesty"

"By the Emperor's command"

Long live the Emperor!

Yang Lian

Is it correct that you

mentioned my name...

...in your report to the Emperor?

Yes

You've made false accusations

against Eunuch Wei

I reported only facts!

Very forthright!

But you have embezzled two million taels

from military funds...

What do you say to that?

It's outrageous

If you accuse me of such crimes...

...no-one will believe a word of it

So you won't confess?

You forged an Imperial Edict

to get me here

I'll inform His Majesty

Apply torture

My father suffered at their hands

They tortured him to death

Generals Shi and Lu...

...helped me to escape from the capital

That's Mr. Shi and Dr. Lu

But Eunuch Wei was relentless

He had Eastern Group agents

scour the land to find us

The generals took me to the

very border of the country

Go!

Go!

That way

Hide

Go!

Do not be alarmed

They will not dare trouble you here

Did you see three people passing this way?

Before he died, he told his disciples...

I'm talking to you!

What happened here?

A while ago your men

stooped to violence

Fortunately we intervened...

...and saved those people from grievous harm

Sir...

You're a monk

You should practice meditation in your temple

Not meddle in worldly affairs

There is no reason to shed blood

in a Buddhist land

Master, they will surely go on

to make more trouble

You have travelled far

Please take some rest in our monastery

Please...

This way

We stayed in the monastery for two years

Abbot Huiyuan taught me

how to defend myself

The world may be vast...

...but there is no safe place for us

Maybe Abbot Huiyuan could help again...

He will not

What about Magistrate Xu Zhengqing?

A just man like him will surely help

They say Eastern Group commander

Men Da is coming

It's a purported military exercise

But in fact he and his deputy Nie Qiu

are after you

What will you do?

I want to ambush them en route

No

We must find a way to sap their strength

HOW?

Here's a map of Fort Jinglu

You know the lie of this land

We should set a trap for them right here

I've been a student of military strategy

since I was a child

If they can be lured here...

...I can find a way to crush them!

Lu Qiong! What's the matter?

Miss Yang, Ouyang left for

Green Bamboo Hill this morning

Could he be retreating?

No

I think Men Da's men are arriving

We can't let Ouyang Nian make contact

Wait!

They're Men Da's bodyguards

They're very highly skilled

Take them one at a time

Go!

Captain!

Captain!

Leave me alone

"Office of the Magistrate"

Captain!

Magistrate...

Sir!

Bring a brush and ink

Write a letter for me

Yes, Captain

Write...

Yes?

"To Commander Men Da

of the Eastern Group"

"Survivors from Donglin Academy lie in wait here"

"Halt your advance"

"Ouyang Nian"

Dispatch it immediately

He has already left the capital

Hurry!

If there's any delay,

I'll have your head

Yes, sir

Who was that?

Nobody

Keep everyone out

Yes, sir, I've told the guards outside

Captain, your wounds...

I've taken medicine

Now I must lie still

I must have quiet

Yes, Captain

- General Lu

- Magistrate Xu

He's badly wounded

Who is it?

Captain, your wounds are grave

I've brought a doctor

I told you...

...to let no-one in!

Its you!

Captain Ouyang

Lu Ding'an...

You timed this well

I'm here to treat your wounds

We must lure Men Da here

Write to him!

A letter for His Excellency

Wait

Yes, sir

What is it?

Sir, a message from Ouyang Nian

What does he say?

"Everything is ready for your arrival"

He says they are fully prepared

Then let's advance

Forward!

Men Da will set up base at Fort Jinglu

When?

After he finds Ouyang Nian

How many men are with him?

Around two hundred

We're outnumbered

We start by sapping their morale

I don't understand

Spread the rumour that

Fort Jinglu is haunted

Surely that's too...

No, do it

I think my mother could help with this...

I've seen a ghost!

One night...

...I saw someone standing on the fort

He was this small at first sight

But when I looked again...

...he grew bigger and bigger

I tried to look more carefully.

What a shock!

Sir!

My respects, your Excellency

Have you found Ouyang Nian?

No

Have you been to the fort?

Well?

Your Excellency...

We hear the place is in ruins,

ravaged by wars

Well then, clean it up

Sir...

It's said that... the place is dirty

Meaning what?

It's rumoured that...

...there are ghosts

That's ridiculous

Don't listen to such talk

MOVE in there tomorrow

Yes, sir

Station a few men outside

Yes, sir

You four, stand guard

Yes, sir

Go in

Chief...

You! Stop!

Stop! Stop!

What's going on?

Look!

Come on

Ready?

What do you want?

Ghosts!

Ghosts!

Sir!

There are ghosts outside!

Did this really happen?

Yes, I saw them myself

I've heard many tales about

ghosts and demons

BUt I've never seen one

I'd like to see for myself

Sir, you have the burden of command here

I don't think you should take the risk

Ghosts won't bother us

It's said they fear violent men!

But...

Don't fall for this nonsense

The stupid locals spread these

rumours to make trouble

But our men believe the stories

Maybe this is all a plot

What do you think, Magistrate?

Yes, Your Excellency is surely right

He doesn't believe it?

It seems he's starting to

suspect the magistrate

No need for all this trouble

Let's just kill them in the

magistrate's office tonight

That would ruin our plan

We should lure them here tomorrow night

Then let's send Men Da a gift tomorrow

It's Ouyang Nian

Magistrate...

Sir!

Where was Ouyang Nian's body found?

Near Fort Jinglu

Captain Ouyang died in your area

Evidently he was murdered

What do you have to say?

I am to blame

Excellent!

Guards!

Take him away and confine him

Your Excellencies...

I have something to report!

Speak

It's confidential, could you...

Now, speak

Yang Huizhen!

Isn't she Yang Liam's daughter?

Yes

She has two renegade generals with her

Splendid

All three of them are here

Who else?

I heard they are gathering bandits

They plan to storm into town

to kidnap you

We'd better strike first

Sir, if you permit me to

command the troops...

...I can finish them all off tonight

We're ready, Sir

Help!

Don't move

What is it?

Sir, it's... true!

An ambush?

Ghosts!

Two dead!

Sir, the rumours are true

Ridiculous! Be alert for an ambush

What is it?

Look, sir...

Sir, maybe we should...

Try to calm them down!

Hold your positions!

Sir...

Please tell the commander...

Men can't fight ghosts

We should return in daylight

We're soldiers, we've done terrible things

Our deeds have spawned ghosts!

Sir, I think...

You're usually a sharp fellow!

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