252: Chapter 249 This is what it means to win people over with virtue

"So, this is a martial art that convinces people with virtue!" Li Changsheng said solemnly.

"Convincing people with virtue? Are you sure?"

Zhang Zhao's expression was somewhat strange.

"Yeah. It's definitely convincing people with virtue. Since you can gain an advantage by learning Nanzhi Fist, then I'll learn it too. Over time, everyone will have learned Nanzhi Fist, and then we can all sit down calmly and have a good talk.

As Confucius once said, 'Those who use force to convince others do not win their hearts, but merely overcome their lack of strength; those who convince with virtue win their hearts, and they submit sincerely.'"

Watching Li Changsheng spout nonsense with a straight face, Zhang Zhao almost believed him, as it actually made some sense.

"So, 'convincing people with virtue' just means having a sufficiently hard fist? Only when everyone's fists are hard can they sit down and have a good talk?"

"Uh..." Li Changsheng felt that the other party was twisting his meaning, but after thinking about it, it was close enough, so he nodded.

"Then isn't that essentially the same as Old Master Li's Sanhuang Paochui?"

Although Zhang Zhao only mentioned Old Master Li and Sanhuang Paochui, Li Changsheng immediately thought of one person: Li Yaochen.

This man was not only a Great Master of Chinese Martial Arts, but he was also known as the King of Escort Agencies during the late Qing Dynasty.

This was the true model of convincing people with virtue. What do you do when your escort is always being robbed by the chaotic and arrogant bandits of that time?

You use Sanhuang Paochui combined with the Mianzhang you've learned to beat the hell out of them.

What do you do when the Japanese Faction comes aggressively?

Join the army and beat the hell out of them.

Oh, the Japanese Faction seems good at bayonet fighting?

No problem, I, Li Yaochen, will convince them with virtue. I'll create my own Wuji Saber Technique, teach it to all the officers and soldiers, and we'll all beat the hell out of them together.

Old Master Li Yaochen was a ruthless man. With him in the 29th Route Army, they never lost when it came to bayonet fighting, always hacking the enemy until they threw away their helmets and armor. Once, he even charged into the enemy's artillery position, and with a display of 'convincing people with virtue,' captured over a dozen cannons.

What do you do if you get caught by the Japanese Faction and they try to force you to be 'convinced with virtue'?

The old master wouldn't say a word; he'd go right up and 'convince them with virtue' instead.

The Japanese Faction officer wanted to spar with the old master using his own country's combat techniques, but he was directly subdued by the old master. Not only that, but after subduing that Japanese Faction member, he even retreated from their headquarters unscathed.

His life could be considered quite spectacular. He met Empress Dowager Cixi, married a woman from the Qing imperial clan, worked as an escort, and rescued Mr. Li Dazhao.

He killed hundreds of members of the Japanese Faction and met several of the top figures who founded the modern nation.

Does it feel like a novel? In fact, his experiences of 'convincing people with virtue' are even more numerous. Using his fists, feet, and martial arts, he truly made many people submit.

"Uh, you're right, but the founder of Nanzhi Fist didn't have a life as spectacular as Old Master Li's. You've seen the style of the fist technique: one move per step, using both hands and feet, multiple forces exerted simultaneously, close-quarters combat, Grappling, throwing, leaning, and falling, and it's especially good at clever takedowns.

So, they really do convince people with virtue. Old Master Li's Sanhuang Paochui? That stuff is lethal!"

Li Changsheng held his forehead. One hammer blow from that Sanhuang Paochui, and the person would probably die on the spot. So much for 'convincing people with virtue.'

"Hmm, it is indeed the style of Southern Fist schools. They all 'convince people with virtue.' Brother Li, you really have made me redefine Southern Fist."

The expression on Zhang Zhao's face became even stranger.

"Nanzhi Fist is inherited from Chen Nanzhi and can be considered a modern martial art. It's quite famous internationally, but most people in the country still don't know about it," Li Changsheng said.

"Wait, isn't that right? Is this what you call being good at clever takedowns?"

Zhang Zhao was suddenly stunned.

He saw a miserable howl coming from not far away.

"It's broken, it's broken! Let go!"

"Doctor! Doctor!"

The medical team here was very efficient. Within almost three minutes, two people in white coats were carrying away a young man with a twisted wrist.

Standing opposite where the young man had just been was none other than the Nanzhi Fist representative.

At this moment, the other person had a gentle, harmless expression like a little lamb; he was also a young man, looking to be around twenty years old.

"Uh, I wasn't wrong. Grappling, throwing, leaning, and falling—that move just now was clearly Grappling technique!"

Li Changsheng said solemnly. There was nothing wrong with that; it was just that the other person's exertion of force was a bit too fierce.

Young people, they don't know their own strength.

Zhang Zhao opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found he couldn't really argue.

Just then, a middle-aged man who had been watching them for a while smiled.

"Brother, don't be fooled by that young man. All that talk about Grappling, throwing, leaning, and falling..."

The middle-aged bald man shook his head with a smile. He was wearing a navy blue Tang suit and was clearly also a representative of Traditional Martial Arts here.

"That Nanzhi Fist representative has been learning lion dancing since he was a child and has participated in many Southern Fist competitions, always placing in the top three.

He hits people really fiercely.

Do you know what Old Master Chen Nanzhi's first disciple does for a living?

He is a renowned bone-setting physician and martial arts expert in Guangdong Province over the past hundred years. Why is that? Figure it out yourself!

However, there is one thing that young man didn't get wrong: Nanzhi Fist is indeed about convincing people with virtue. They emphasize having a straight head, straight body, straight hands, straight stance, and even straighter martial ethics."

Uh...

At this point, Li Changsheng couldn't hold it together. Where did this guy come from, and why was he undermining him?

"I am Li Changsheng from Xingyi and Baji Quan. May I ask your surname, brother?" Li Changsheng cupped his hands.

Seeing Li Changsheng so solemn, the bald man was stunned, but he still smiled and returned the gesture: "Tai Xu Fist, Chen Youcai!"

Tai Xu Fist?

Upon hearing this, Li Changsheng was confused, but he vaguely felt he had some impression of it.

"Is it the Tai Xu Fist that originates from Wudang Internal Martial Arts?"

"Exactly!" Chen Youcai nodded with a smile. He was clearly somewhat satisfied that Li Changsheng could name Tai Xu Fist right away.

"Sigh, Brother Chen, you're not that old, are you? Tai Xu Fist is considered one of the branches of Wudang Internal Martial Arts, and its health-preserving effects should theoretically be quite good... and you..."

Li Changsheng looked at the bald top of the other man's head, somewhat stunned.

"This..." The smile on Chen Youcai's face instantly froze.

"It's Innate, a genetic issue! Yes, a genetic issue!" Chen Youcai looked embarrassed. This young man was really hitting a sore spot.

"I understand Tai Xu Fist. Do you guys also emphasize convincing people with virtue?" Zhang Zhao laughed.

"What 'convincing people with virtue'?" Chen Youcai was a bit confused. He hadn't heard the topic they started with, so he didn't quite understand.

"Ahem, Brother Zhang said that yours belongs to the Southern Fist schools," Li Changsheng quickly explained.

"Oh, I see. You could say it is, but you could also say it isn't. It can also be classified under the Taiji school. The reason it's called a Southern Fist is mainly because Tai Xu Fist is currently primarily spread throughout Guangdong Province," Chen Youcai laughed.

"I see. However, this Tai Xu Fist technique has some tricks to it; it incorporates Xingyi, Taiji, and Bagua! This is like trying to master all three major Internal Martial Arts!" Zhang Zhao exclaimed.

"Hehe, not exactly. Most of the fist styles in the southern region incorporate the shadows of many other fist styles. And besides, who says the three major Internal Martial Arts aren't both offensive and defensive?

Good things should naturally be copied... uh, borrowed. Yes, borrowed a little!" Chen Youcai laughed.

Although Chen Youcai was somewhat self-deprecating, Li Changsheng did not think so.