Before he developed the power of the shockwave, he understood that the thirteen forms of Tai Chi should be applied from the heart, and finally return to oneness, with each form encompassing all the variations of the thirteen forms.
Looking at it again now, he has gone a step further and has come to understand the principle of being outwardly soft but inwardly strong, and the essence of boxing being contained within.
Simply put, even a punch that can shatter mountains and split the earth should be delivered with a sense of lightness and agility. The more internally powerful the force, the more it should be expressed with gentleness, which is in accordance with the Yin-Yang principle of Tai Chi.
If one can reach this level, one will have reached the state described by Tai Chi master Wang Zongyue: "People do not know me."
As for reaching the level of "I alone know people" that Wang Zongyue mentioned, Li Boyang racked his brains but still didn't know how to do it.
Against someone who hasn't yet mastered the art of internal strength, the effect can be achieved by using the power gained from mastering internal strength before the opponent even applies it to their body.
Once the opponent's strength has also reached a high level, and their control over their body has reached a point where the power of their entire body naturally erupts, and not even a feather can be added or a fly can land, it becomes impossible to detect them beforehand. One can only rely on listening to their strength, which is why he needs to find someone to test his strength.
"Third junior brother, there's news."
Just as Li Boyang was pondering this with great interest, the sound of Yacha Su came from outside the study.
Toothpick Su stuttered a little when he spoke, which was a sign that he was a bit nervous. Nowadays, Toothpick Su can be considered a professional manager of Baozhilin, so anything that makes him nervous is no small matter.
"It's Second Senior Brother, come in and talk," Li Boyang said, putting down the Tai Chi Classics.
Although Li Boyang spoke in a calm tone, he naturally exuded an air of authority without anger, which was clearly due to his long-term self-discipline and adherence to the Confucian principles of health preservation. He also naturally possessed the Confucian virtue of moderation.
Great Confucian scholars of ancient times were like this; they could stand simply in front of people and inspire awe without even getting angry.
Toothpick Su rushed into the study and said urgently, "The White Lotus Sect is plotting a rebellion."
"Oh? Is the information accurate?" Li Boyang asked calmly.
Toothpick Su nodded very firmly and said, "The Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi is urging me to come find my junior brother and tells us to go to the Governor-General's Mansion as soon as possible. I think it's pretty much true."
"So the White Lotus Sect finally couldn't hold back anymore?"
The gentry's support for the White Lotus Sect in its fight against Baozhilin was like raising a venomous snake. When the snake was young, it dared not show its fangs, but now that it has grown up, it has reached the point where it wants to bite its master.
How are our preparations going?
Li Boyang was naturally prepared for the White Lotus Sect's rebellion; it was an outcome he could have tolerated, and it was something he had expected.
In the Qing Dynasty, treason was the most serious crime, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. No matter who it was, anyone who even remotely touched upon the word "treason" would not have a good end.
This was an inevitable consequence of minority groups ruling China. The Manchus were only a small minority, far fewer than the Han Chinese population.
The Manchus were the de facto rulers of the Central Plains, so any signs of rebellion would be nipped in the bud.
Otherwise, the Qing Dynasty wouldn't have had so many literary inquisitions, and the Taiping Rebellion is the best example of that.
Only the White Lotus Rebellion was significant enough to warrant the execution of the implicated gentry; other charges were insignificant to them.
Toothpick Su smiled confidently and said in a gentle voice:
"After more than two months of training following its expansion, the militia can be said to have initially acquired combat capabilities."
"Moreover, after my senior brother made contact with Tai Lai Trading Company, the artillery production line and military instructors they promised arrived, and we also directly purchased a batch of the latest German artillery."
"I don't know about other places, but in Guangdong Province, as long as our Baozhilin is willing, we can suppress the White Lotus Rebellion at any time."
Clearly, Toothpick Su was very confident in the power of Baozhilin, speaking with an air of self-assurance. Although Li Boyang had taken the lead in these matters, the actual implementation was entirely his doing.
The militia consisted of three full-strength divisions, totaling 39,000 men, all of whom were equipped with British Enfield rifles. Each division also had a dedicated artillery battalion.
If such a configuration still cannot suppress the White Lotus Rebellion, then there is nothing more to say. It can be said that as long as Baozhilin is willing, it can completely nip the White Lotus Rebellion in the bud.
Li Boyang nodded: "Tailai Trading Company is backed by Germany, you can dig deeper into this line."
After meeting Christian at the exchange meeting of the foreign firm, he took the initiative to come to my door on the third day after the meeting ended.
Li Boyang had no reason to refuse the cooperation requested by Tai Lai & Co., and the artillery production line was only a very small part of the cooperation with Tai Lai & Co.
The presence of a competitor for Jardine Matheson is a good thing for Po Chi Lam, as it not only highlights Po Chi Lam's importance but also expands its selection of competitors.
Of course, everything has two sides. The addition of Tai Lai & Co. meant that Jardine Matheson had an unexpected competitor, which made everyone unhappy.
With the deepening cooperation between Po Chi Lam and Tai Lai & Co., it can be said that the honeymoon period between Po Chi Lam and Jardine Matheson has officially ended.
Although Jardine Matheson still attaches great importance to the cooperation with Po Chi Lam, it is far less accommodating than before. To put it simply, the relationship between the two companies has entered a period of friction.
Nevertheless, Li Boyang had no intention of repairing the relationship, and the cooperation with Tai Lai & Co. was unlikely to end. Even if it caused a rift with Jardine Matheson, the overall benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
"In that case, there's nothing to worry about."
"Let's go see those officials in the yamen; they must be in a real panic right now."
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Chapter 38 The White Lotus Rebellion (Part 2)
The Governor-General's Office of Guangdong and Guangxi.
As Li Boyang had predicted, these officials with their official hats and plumes were now like ants on a hot pan.
Inside the council chamber.
“Governor, I have heard that the White Lotus sect in Guangdong has a population of 100,000. If they rebel, we will both be crushed to pieces and die without a burial place.”
"Your Excellency, please immediately dispatch the Eight Banners and Green Standard Army of Guangdong to Guangzhou."
"The only course of action now is to defend Guangzhou, the provincial capital, to the death, while simultaneously seeking aid from the imperial court."