Chapter 48: Dual-Flower Red Pole

“Where are the disciples of the Hongmen?” Master Gu Heng called out loudly.

“We are here!” Tigu Dong, Uncle Lin, Uncle Niu, Uncle Ding, Feibo, Ma Fu Rong, Guan Zai Sen, and Xing Hong all stepped forward in unison, clasping their fists.

“Where are the Hongmen officials of the capital?”

“We are here!” Tigu Dong, Uncle Lin, Uncle Niu, and Uncle Ding stepped forward once more, clasping their fists.

Master Gu cleared his throat, his resonant voice echoing through the detention room.

“Respectfully invite the altar master!”

Tigu Dong stepped forward, bringing his hands together over his chest and offering an imaginary incense.

“Open the altar!”

Wang Yaotang, Xing Hong, Uncle Lin, Uncle Niu, and Uncle Ding knelt down in unison.

Outside, the main door was pulled open. A young police officer who had just been scolding them was about to shout again but was suddenly slapped on the head by an older officer beside him, who whispered sharply, “Shut up.”

The young officer looked confused but dared not speak when he saw the solemn expression on the elder’s face.

“In the year of Gengshen, month of Guiwei, day of Wuxu, the Hongmen Xiang Hall of Hong Kong Island and the incense master of Shengyi, Teng Shengdong, together with the brave disciples of Hongmen, though imprisoned, do not forget the legacy of their ancestors. Within this official precinct, they open the incense hall to perform the initiation ceremony for our disciples. May the ancestors of Hongmen bear witness!”

“Call the newcomer!” Master Gu shouted again.

“I am here!” Wang Yaotang responded loudly.

Uncle Lin barked, “Do you know this is restricted Hong Army territory, strictly guarded and not to be offended! Violators will be dealt with according to military law!”

“I am the Ming Dynasty's Vanguard General, the first to build bridges and roads, clearing paths through mountains and breaking cities — who does not know the heavenly protection of Hong!”

Master Gu asked, “Who stands before the altar?”

Wang Yaotang replied, “A disciple from East Point, Wang Yaotang.”

Master Gu asked, “What brings you here?”

Wang Yaotang said, “To pay respects to the Tiandihui!”

Master Gu asked, “What is the purpose of the visit?”

Wang Yaotang answered, “To restore the Ming and overthrow the Qing!”

Master Gu asked, “What proof do you have?”

Wang Yaotang recited:

“The righteousness of Hongmen spans heaven and earth,
The heroic Shengyi stand united in purpose,
Words resound with loyalty and honor,
An oath as steadfast as a mountain, never to falter!”

Master Gu asked, “What mountain is this mountain?”

Wang Yaotang replied, “The mountain is the Chinese mountain!”

Master Gu asked, “What hall is this hall?”

Wang Yaotang said, “The hall is Shengyi Hall!”

Master Gu asked, “What incense is this incense?”

Wang Yaotang said, “The incense of the Five Sacred Mountains!”

Master Gu asked, “What water is this water?”

Wang Yaotang answered, “The water of the Four Seas!”

...

“What’s going on here?” the young police officer whispered.

“Opening an incense hall,” the older officer whispered back.

“Ah? Isn’t this a gang? Can we arrest them now?” the young officer asked excitedly.

“Troublemaker, if you want to die, don’t drag me down with you,” the older officer shot him a fierce glare. “This is a Hongmen ritual. Not even Tangning Street can interfere. Interrupting the Hongmen ceremony will be cut off immediately.”

...

Tigu Dong said, “Foolish Lin, you are ordered to be the hall’s executioner.”

Foolish Lin replied, “Within the incense hall, there are many heroes and great men. I am but lowly and incapable, how dare I act as executioner here?”

Tigu Dong said, “This is your duty as steward.”

Foolish Lin said, “Brother has given orders. I ask permission to wear the ceremonial robe.”

Tigu Dong said, “Orders, instructions, and ceremonial robes.”

Foolish Lin said, “Forgive me for standing in the positions beside the seats of honor.”

Tigu Dong said, “Thank you for standing.”

Foolish Lin sang:

“Red flag steps forward, the sword is spoken of,
Before the hall of loyalty and righteousness, I hurry to report.
In front of my elder brother, I plead to be taught,
Today, the heroes gather at the watchtower...”

...

Fei Ying made a gesture as if to receive a sword, waving his hand, “Do you love your brothers or gold?”

“I love my brothers!” Wang Yaotang shouted.

Master Gu declared, “The first oath: since entering Hongmen, your parents become my parents, your brothers and sisters become my brothers and sisters, your wives become my sisters-in-law, your children my nephews. Should you break this, may the five thunders strike you down.”

Wang Yaotang repeated, “Since entering Hongmen, your parents become my parents...”

Master Gu continued, “If your parents or siblings reach a hundred years but have no money for burial, and white silk arrives seeking help, you must immediately notify and provide money if able, or labor if not. If you feign ignorance, may the five thunders strike you down.”

Wang Yaotang repeated, “If your parents or siblings reach a hundred years...”

After thirty-six oaths, Wang Yaotang bowed his head to the ground.

Master Gu clasped his fists, “Incense master, please bestow the seal.”

Tigu Dong nodded to Mo Shijiu.

Mo Shijiu stepped forward, clasped his fists and saluted, “Today, at the altar opening, the incense master of the East United Society, Mo Shijiu, has the honor to witness. Hearing of East Point disciple Wang Yaotang’s loyalty and courage, the East United Society grants a red flower!”

The “East” character denotes a society formed by workers from Dongguan, originating from the East United Society, which itself came from “Dong Fu He.”

In the 1950s, Liu Fu retired, causing Dong Fu He to split. The seat-holder Liu Rongju took a small faction and joined with Deng Bowen’s group, renaming it “Lian Gong Le.”

Deng Bowen was the hall master of Guangzhou Zhigong Hall, so “Lian Gong Le” was a branch of Hongmen.

Later, Deng Bowen’s son Deng Guangrong succeeded him.

Dong Fu He split into five factions; one was Dong Yixuan, which further split into four, one of which was Dong Huaxuan, later renamed Dong Xinping, and finally East United Society again. It revived under Feng Jiu, a rent collector for Lv Le, but declined after Lv Le retreated to Taiwan.

Mo Shijiu was responsible for its revival.

Tigu Dong proclaimed loudly, “Today, with Shengyi, we appoint East Point disciple Wang Yaotang as a 426 Red Stick, confer the seal, and promote him!”

Wang Yaotang knelt, offering incense to Guan Sheng Dijun in the void, accepting the position, then performed a grand bow to the deity.

In the detention room, everything was kept simple; the usual presentation of tokens and other formalities were waived. From now on, Wang Yaotang was a core member of the society. Both societies jointly promoted the martial champion, the new rising star of the underworld—the Double Flower Red Stick!

“Ceremony complete!” Tigu Dong called out.

“Close the altar!” Master Gu bowed in response.

“Beep beep beep beep…” A series of system alerts sounded, startling Wang Yaotang.

“All right, Ah Yao, once we’re out, we’ll pick an auspicious day to hold a lively celebration, so the underworld knows that Shengyi has a new bearer—the Double Flower Red Stick, Wang Yaotang!”

“Thank you, Ah Gong, I understand,” Wang Yaotang replied with a smile.

Seeing the ceremony end, the old officer knocked on the iron door, making a loud clang, “Opening an incense hall in the police station—quite impressive. Just don’t get the inspector angry, or I wonder if you’d still be laughing.”

“Thanks, brother, for giving Shengyi this face,” Tigu Dong clasped his fists in gratitude.

“Don’t mention it, just don’t cause trouble for me,” the old officer shrugged. Having served over twenty years, he was also a Hongmen 49 member and had attended incense hall openings, but as the societies declined, they merged with Shenghe.

When the Independent Commission Against Corruption was established in ’74 and the ’77 clashes between police and ICAC occurred, the old officer withdrew from the societies.

Nowadays, it was rare for officers with over ten years of service not to be members of a society; it was nothing unusual.

“Wang Yaotang, Double Flower Red Stick, holding down the police station, quite eye-catching. Handsome fellow, can you hold your ground?”

“I’m a legitimate businessman selling clothes; of course I can,” Wang Yaotang smiled.

At this, the old officer clicked his tongue and made a strange expression, “Red Bean Clothing, huh? How did you think of those designs?”

“I don’t like fighting or killing, gambling and drugs hurt people deeply. I, Wang, am kind-hearted, sworn to never associate with gambling or drugs. I just make things people enjoy, adding fun for couples,” Wang Yaotang said earnestly.

“You didn’t mention the yellow label, huh?” The old officer chuckled.

“Sir, may I ask your name?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Food and pleasure are natural. I’m about to start another company, ‘Food and Color’ PR firm, specializing in high-end business. My clothing has the company phone number; call and give your name, and I’ll get the best for you, sir, guaranteed promotion and raise.”

“Cough, cough, Xiong Yunjing,” the old officer smiled, pulling out a cigarette box and offering one, lighting it for him. “Sharp as a tack, no wonder you’re a Double Flower Red Stick.”

“There’s an all-Hong Kong anti-triad operation outside. Once it’s done, I’ll have time to find you. Rest well, today’s no time.”

“Thanks.” Wang Yaotang smiled and cupped his hands.

The old officer waved, leading his men out.

Only then did Wang Yaotang have time to open the system and take a look.