Goujian said, “Then the King of Chu must have given it to Feng Huzi.”

Xue Zhu said, “Indirectly. Feng Huzi said that after the army of Wu broke the capital of Chu. Wu Zhixu took the sword from the grave of the previous king. When he returned to Wu, he heard of the skills of Feng Huzi, so he gave the sword to him as a gift. He said the sword was a legacy from our master and that Feng Huzi was the rightful owner.”

Goujian said, “Wu Zhixu let the sword go? He is truly a great hero to let such a treasure go.” Then he laughed, “Fortunately, Fuchai has already taken care of him for me.” Then he asked, “What did Wu Zhixu wanted in return from Feng Huzi?”

Xue Zhu said, “Wu Zhixu merely said that he admired our master. Feng Huzi felt grateful after he received the sword, so he went to Wu and thanked Wu Zhixu in person. Wu Zhixu treated as an honoured guest.”

Goujian said, “That’s how he make people become loyal to him, even onto death.”

Xue Zhu said, “Your Majesty is wise, but Feng Huzi didn’t understand Wu Zhixu’s true intentions, so he asked again and again how he could repay the great favour done to him. Wu Zixu merely said he would not ask anything of an honoured guest.”

Goujian said, “The old fox!”

Xue Zhu said, “Feng Huzi finally said to Wu Zhixu that he had little skill except forging swords. In return for Wu Zhixu’s favours, he will forge a few precious swords for him.”

Goujian slapped his thigh and said, “Got him!”

Xue Zhu said, “But Wu Zhixu said the kingdom of Wu already had many precious swords and needed no more. Besides, the forging of a precious sword is a tremendous labour. Years ago, when Gan Jiang and Mo Ye were forging their sword, the sword refused to come into being until Mo Ye flung herself into the fire. Wu Zhixu had no intention of repeating that kind of tragedy.”

Goujian said, “He didn’t want Feng Huzi to forge swords for him? Strange.”

Xue Zhu said, “Feng Huzi was baffled too. Then Wu Zhixu visited him again. They said that the army of Wu was fully capable of fighting with superpowers like the kingdoms of Ji and Jin. Wu’s warriors were courageous, but their skills in chariot warfare were inferior. Moreover, their swords and spears were not sharp enough. Feng Huzi began to talk to Wu Zhixu about the way of forging swords. What Wu Zhixu wanted wasn’t a few precious swords with mysterious powers, what he wanted was thousands and thousands of sharp swords.”

Goujian understood and looked at Fan Li and Wen Zhong. Worry filled Wen Zhong’s face. He asked, “Minister Fan Li, what do you think?”

Fan Li said, “Even though Wu Zhixu is crafty, he is not wise enough to escape Your Majesty’s schemes.”

Goujian laughed, “I am afraid that I have never been Wu Zhixu’s match.”

Fan Li said, “Wu Zhixu is already dead. What more can he do to threaten Yue?”

Goujian laughed, “True. Xue Zhu. Did Feng Huzi finally started forging swords?”

Xue Zhu said, “Yes. He went to Mount Mogan. He saw one thousand sword smiths working there. He corrected and improved their techniques. After this, every sword in Wu is sharper than anything made in other kingdoms.”

Goujian nodded, “So that’s why.”

Xue Zhu said, “After one year, Feng Huzi became too fatigued to continue, so he told Wu Zhixu my name. Wu Zhixu readied lavish gifts and asked Feng Huzi to invite me to work for him as well. I remembered the hatred between Wu and Yue. If Wu’s sharp swords could kill the people of Ji and Jin, they could also kill the people of my home, so I counselled Feng Huzi not to return to Wu.”

Goujian nodded in approval, “You have foresight.”

Xue Zhu said, “Thank for your praise, Your Majesty, but he didn’t listen to me. That night he slept in my home. In the middle of the night, suddenly he put his sword at my neck, then he chopped off four of my fingers so I’ll never forge another sword.”

Goujian became angry, “If he fell into my hands, I would chop him into meat paste!”

Wen Zhong said, “Master Xue Zhu, even though you cannot forge swords by yourself, but you can teach our sword smiths. We, too, can make as many sharp swords as the Wu sword smiths.”

Xue Zhu said, “Minister Wen, both Yue and Wu produce the necessary iron needed for sword blades, but Yue produces copper and Wu produces zinc.”

Fan Li said, “Wu Zhixu is guarding the zinc mines and forbids any private mining, is that right?”

Xue Zhu showed surprise on his face, “So you knew already.”

Fan Li smiled, “No, I am merely speculating. Now that he’s dead, his order may not be followed anymore. We now can purchase zinc, if we’re willing to pay for it.”

Goujian said, “But a source of water far away cannot extinguish a nearby conflagration. By the time we gather all the materials, train the sword smiths and start production, at least two or three years would have pa.s.sed. That’s not counting any setbacks along the way. If Fuchai died before we’re ready, wouldn’t that be the greatest regret in our lives?”

Fan Li and Wen Zhong bowed deeply, “Yes, we will find another way.”

Fan Li walked out of the palace, thinking, “His Majesty couldn’t wait two or three more years? Why, I can’t even wait one more day…” A dull pain came to his chest as he remembered the image of that unmatched beauty which could stun the world.

She was Xi Shi from the banks of Huansha brook. He found that woman who gathered all the beauty of the land of Yue into her person and he had to send her away into the palace of Wu.

The road from the capital of Yue to the capital of Wu was not long, only a few days by river, but that was long enough for love to grow beyond control. The white face of Xi Shi was full of pearl-like tears and her voice was soft as a whispering stream, “Young Sir, promise me that you will come and get me as soon as possible. I will wait for you, day and night. Say that you will never forget me, forever and ever.”

Vengeance against Wu could wait, as far as Fan Li was concerned, but Yiguang, was in the embrace of King Fuchai. Love and jealousy gnawed at his heart. He must find to way to make as many sharp swords as possible, even sharper than those wielded by the invincible Wu swordsmen….

He walked aimlessly on the street. Eighteen armed guards followed him faithfully. Suddenly someone was singing a Wu song, “My sword is sharp! My enemy has no courage! My sword is sharp! My enemy has no head!”

Eight men in blue, arm in arm, swaggered down the street, showing no concern for the pedestrians who were hurrying out of their way. They were the eight Wu swordsmen. They were obviously very drunk.

Fan Li frowned. He could feel his anger rising.

The eight swordsmen stopped in front of Fan Li. One of them looked sideways with his drunken eyes and said, “You… you are Minister Fan Li?” Then he broke into uncontrollable giggles. Two guards leaped in front of Fan Li and said, “Don’t be so rude. Make way!”

The eight swordsmen merely laughed and mimicked their words, “Don’t be so rude. Make way!”

Two guards pulled out their swords and cried, “By royal decree, those who dare to interfere with Minister Fan Li’s welfare is to be executed!”