Li Jiwu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Jiwu (李继武)
Alias(es)	Second Young Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Li Family; Li Residence
Occupation/Role	Second Young Master of the Li Family; contender for the family inheritance
First Appearance	9

Background / History

Li Jiwu is Master Li's younger son and Li Chengwen's second brother. While Li Chengwen is openly impatient with him, Li Jiwu maintains a refined, humble public manner that wins their father's favor. He presents his involvement in the Sword-Forging Courtyard dispute as family-minded assistance, earning praise for supposedly settling matters with Han Tieshan. 9

Behind this façade, Li Jiwu had encouraged Han Tieshan to take his men away from the Sword-Forging Courtyard in order to embarrass Li Chengwen. Sun Ping's unexpected success as a low-grade weapon forger ruins the scheme; Li Jiwu responds by slapping Han and refusing to arrange his return. 10 11

When Han later threatens to expose his involvement, Li Jiwu orders guards to beat him out of the Li Residence. Shen Chu witnesses the incident, becoming wary of the Second Young Master. 12

After Steward Li's death, Li Jiwu works with Madam Liu to place her cousin, Zhao Dezhu, in the Sword-Forging Courtyard. He publicly introduces Zhao as a diligent, dependable man who has served under him for years, while Master Li sends Li Chengwen away on business. 16 17 18

Zhao Dezhu's disappearance and the fire in his room destroy Li Jiwu's influence over the courtyard. Li Jiwu publicly accepts blame for his poor judgment and supervision, but Master Li pardons him after Madam Liu supports Zhao's character and questions the official conclusion. 28 29 30

As Li Chengwen gains recognition for securing and fulfilling the government weapon order, Li Jiwu escalates his attempts to undermine him. He first seeks to divide credit through outsourcing, then arranges workplace disruptions and orders the tampering of finished sabers through Zhang San and Little Six. The sabotage fails when Shen Chu discovers Little Six, allowing Li Chengwen to complete the order successfully. 34 35 36 38 40

Following this failure, Madam Liu proposes seizing the official shipment during transport. Li Jiwu initially hesitates at the prospect of robbery and deaths, but is tempted by the possibility of discrediting Li Chengwen and later rescuing the situation with his own backup plan. 41

Appearance

Li Jiwu is introduced as a handsome young man of about seventeen or eighteen, with a fair, jade-like face and an elegant, refined bearing. 9

• Wears long robes; later appears in a moon-white brocade robe. 9 17
• Maintains a gentle, polished smile in public. 10 29
• His cultivated composure slips when plans fail, revealing clenched fists, anger, or a cold expression. 28 29 40

Personality

Li Jiwu is calculating, image-conscious, and intensely ambitious. He frames his actions as service to the Li Family, speaks modestly before Master Li, and is careful to appear filial and respectful even while competing with Li Chengwen for status and inheritance. 9 20 29

He is ruthless toward allies who become liabilities. After Han Tieshan fails to damage Li Chengwen's standing, Li Jiwu abandons him; when Han attempts to reveal the plot, Li Jiwu has him beaten and driven away. 10 11 12

Li Jiwu is also prone to resentment and impatience when his schemes collapse. His restrained public persona gives way to fury toward subordinates such as Zhang San, and he repeatedly seeks new means of sabotaging his brother after prior efforts fail. 29 36 40 41

Abilities & Skills

Political Manipulation

Li Jiwu uses family favoritism, public appearances, and intermediaries to advance his position within the Li Residence.

• Takes credit for “settling” the Han Tieshan affair before Master Li. 9
• Uses Madam Liu's influence to install Zhao Dezhu as acting steward while Li Chengwen is sent away. 16 17 18
• Publicly accepts responsibility for Zhao Dezhu's disappearance in a way that preserves his image as a dutiful son. 29 30
• Arranges a large farewell gathering for Master Li and Li Chengwen to appear filial. 20

Sabotage and Covert Scheming

Li Jiwu repeatedly targets Li Chengwen's management of the Sword-Forging Courtyard and government weapons order.

• Encourages Han Tieshan's departure to create a shortfall and damage Li Chengwen's reputation. 10 12
• Attempts to weaken Li Chengwen's credit by proposing that part of the government order be outsourced. 34 35
• Sends people to create workplace “accidents” and injuries among the courtyard workers. 35 36
• Orders Zhang San to have Little Six adulterate finished weapons with Brittle Iron Powder. 36 38 40
• Considers arranging the seizure of the official shipment after the weapon-tampering plan fails. 41

Relationships

• Master Li — Father. Master Li consistently favors Li Jiwu's refined demeanor and accepts his explanations, even when aware of his rivalry with Li Chengwen. 9 30 31
• Li Chengwen — Elder brother and principal rival. Li Jiwu seeks to diminish Chengwen's achievements and prevent him from securing the family inheritance. 9 34 36
• Madam Liu — Political collaborator and the wife whom Li Jiwu calls his second mother or “Aunt Liu.” They cooperate to install Zhao Dezhu and sabotage Li Chengwen; their private exchanges are mutually flirtatious and improper. 16 17 34 36 41
• Han Tieshan — Former pawn. Li Jiwu directs Han to undermine Li Chengwen, then discards him once the plan fails and silences his attempted accusation. 10 11 12
• Zhao Dezhu — Trusted subordinate and Madam Liu's cousin. Li Jiwu supports his appointment as acting steward of the Sword-Forging Courtyard. 16 17 18
• Zhang San — Trusted confidant tasked with arranging the tampering of the government-order sabers. 36 40 41
• Shen Chu — A Sword-Forging Courtyard talent Li Jiwu sees as an obstacle to his plans. Shen Chu witnesses his treatment of Han Tieshan and later foils the saber-tampering scheme. 12 35 38
• Sun Ping — Low-grade weapon forger whom Li Jiwu unsuccessfully tries to win over at Sun's promotion banquet. 11

Story Role / Major Arcs

Han Tieshan Scheme

Li Jiwu covertly uses Han Tieshan's departure to destabilize Li Chengwen's Sword-Forging Courtyard, but Sun Ping's low-grade short blade eliminates the intended crisis. Li Jiwu abandons Han rather than risk exposure. 9 10 11 12

Zhao Dezhu's Appointment

Working with Madam Liu, Li Jiwu takes advantage of Steward Li's death to place Zhao Dezhu in the Sword-Forging Courtyard and isolate Li Chengwen from its affairs. Zhao's later disappearance deprives him of this foothold. 16 17 18 28

Government Weapon Order Sabotage

Li Jiwu attempts to prevent Li Chengwen from gaining prestige through the government order. His plans progress from advocating outsourcing, to arranging accidents, to tampering with completed sabers; each effort is defeated by Li Chengwen's precautions and Shen Chu's intervention. 34 35 36 38 40

Shipment Plot

After the completed weapons pass inspection, Li Jiwu considers Madam Liu's proposal to have the official shipment seized en route, hoping to erase Li Chengwen's accomplishment and create an opportunity to claim credit through a replacement plan. 41