Water Margin, Volume Two, page 26
That night he sent to Liang Shan Po for reinforcements.
Kao Lien upon returning to the town issued an order that the gates and moat should be carefully guarded both day and night, but that no further fighting would take place against Sung Chiang until his (Kao Lien's) wound was healed.
Sung Chiang had a talk with Wu Yung. "Kao Lien has defeated us twice, and our losses have been great. What can we do if he gets reinforcements from other districts?"
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"I know a man who can overcome these supernatural tricks of Kao Lien," said Wu Yung, "and if we do not get him to help us I do not see how we can attack the town or rescue Squire Ch'ai Chin."
To raise mist and cloud,
A supernatural man was brought.
We will now relate who this man was.
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CHAPTER 52
TAI TSUNG FETCHES KUNG-SUN SHENG;
LI K'WEI SPLITS OPEN TAOIST LO,
THE TRUE MAN
Wu Yung said, "The only man who can overcome Kao Lien is Kung-Sun Sheng, and we must send for him at once."
“Previously Tai Tsung went to Chi Chou to find Kung-Sun Sheng without success;" said Sung Chiang, "so where can he go this time?"
“Chi Chou is a very big district," said Wu Yung, "with many villages, hsiens, and hamlets. I think he must be somewhere there. As he is a great Taoist he will probably be at some temple in some remote mountain, and we must tell Tai Tsung this time to make inquiries at all the mountains in isolated spots."
Sung Chiang sent for Tai Tsung, and then told him about their plans for finding Kung-Sun Sheng.
"I will go," said Tai Tsung, "but it would be better this time if somebody accompany me.
Li K'wei was there, and volunteered to go. "In that case," said Tai Tsung, "you will not eat meat while on the way with me, and also you must obey my order implicitly."
"Where is the difficulty in that?" said Li K'wei. "I will of course do what you say."
"On the way you must be careful," said Sung Chiang to Li K'wei, "as we do not want any trouble this time. When you find Kung-Sun Sheng you must return at once with him."
"There will be no row this time," said Li K'wei.
The two men started off at once, and when they had got about ten miles beyond Kao T'ang Chou, Li K'wei suggested that they should stop at an inn for some wine. But Tai
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Tsung reminded him that he had promised to abstain from meat They went on until evening, when they stopped at an inn. Li K'wei went and got the food, and soon brought in some vegetables for Tai Tsung.
"Why don't you also dine with me?" asked Tai Tsung.
"I do not feel hungry just now," said Li K'wei; "I will dine by and by."
"This fellow probably tries to deceive me," thought Tai Tsung, "and will get some meat behind my back." He however finished his meal, and then went stealthily to see what Li K'wei was doing. In a room at the back be found Li K'wei with a plate of beef and two horns of wine. He decided, however, not to disturb him at his meal, but would have a practical joke with him the following day. Tai Tsung then went to bed. The next morning he was up by about 4 a.m., and awakening Li K'wei they got their breakfast, and went on their way. They had only gone a short distance when Tai Tsung said, "Yesterday we did not travel by supernatural power so we have to hurry up to-day. Now pack up your things firm, I will apply the charm to you and you can travel three hundred miles, where you can stop. You can go in front, but when you come to an inn you wait for me there." He then put the enchanted greaves on Li K’wei, repeated the incantation, and blew at Li K'wei who sailed off. He took very long strides, and in fact, was like a cloud floating along with a strong wind behind.
When Li K'wei had gone Tai Tsung laughed, "He will be hungry before the day is done." Tai Tsung then put on enchanted greaves, and flew after Li K'wei.
Li K'wei did not suspect there was a joke being played on him. He felt the wind rushing past his ears, and saw the trees and houses whirl past him. The speed became so great that he became afraid, but when he tried to stop he found that he was quite helpless. He had the sensation of being swept along by some invisible force. When he saw an inn he was simply whirled past it although he would have liked to stop there and have a drink. He called out, "Sir, stop here! Stop here!" His flight continued until the western sky began to redden for sunset, and he was
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now not only thirsty but very hungry as well. His body was covered with perspiration and he was panting for breath.
At last Tai Tsung caught up to him, and asked, "Elder brother Li, why did you not stop at some inn for a meal as I asked you?"
"Elder brother!" replied Li K'wei, "Save me! Save me, before I die from hunger!"
Tai Tsung took some cakes out of his breast pocket, and began to eat them. Li K'wei seeing this called out, "I cannot stop. Please give me a bite."
"Brother," said Tai Tsung, "if you will only stop I can give you some."
Li K'wei turned round, and reached out a hand, but found that Tai Tsung was nearly a furlong away. He himself was now traveling along at the same rate, but without seeing where he was going. He called out, "Elder brother! Elder brother! Let us stop here."
"Things are very strange to-day, as I cannot control my legs, and they will not stop," said Tai Tsung.
"Oh dear! My legs are the same. I am quite helpless. They won't obey me at all to-day. The only escape would be for me to cut off my legs with my ax."
"That appears to be the only way, because if we go on like this we shall never stop until the first day of the New Year."
"Elder brother, please do not play practical jokes with me. If I cut off my legs how can I go back?"
"Last evening you must have disobeyed my order, and I think that is why we are like this to-day. You must go on."
"Elder brother, please forgive me."
"I cannot do anything because you must have broken the important rule about abstaining from meat. If you have committed that sin you will probably have to continue your flight for very many years."
"What a prospect! I deceived you yesterday, and ate some meat. But it was not very much -- only about six pounds. What can I do now? "
"No wonder that we cannot stop to-day. You have seriously injured me, and rendered me helpless."
Li K’wei hearing this threw his hands towards heaven, and wept.
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Tai Tsung could not help laughing, "If you would swear to always listen to what I say I might be able to find a way out."
"Sir, please say what you like in future, and I will obey every word."
"Well never dare again to deceive me about eating meat."
"If I do that again may my tongue be blistered. Yesterday I saw you eat the vegetables, but I did not like the taste, and so ate just a very little meat. I will never do that again."
"In that case I will forgive you just this time." So saying Tai Tsung hastened his speed, caught up to Li K'wei, and catching hold of his leg, pulled it bard, and shouted, "Stop!" They began to slow down, and soon stopped. Tai Tsung said, "I will now go in front, and you can come slowly behind." But when Li K'wei tried to go he found that he could not move. His feet were like cast iron, and he could not lift them. "Trouble again! I request you to assist me," he said.
Tai Tsung turned his head, laughed, and said, "Will you take an oath that you have spoken the truth?"
"You are my elder brother, and I will strictly do what you ask me to do," replied Li K'wei.
"Will you really do as I tell you this time?" asked Tai Tsung. So saying he took hold of Li K'wei, and saying, "Rise," and the latter began to walk.
"Please take pity on me as I am tired, and should like a rest," said Li K'wei. Soon they came to an inn and stopped there.
Upon entering the inn they bought some sacrificial paper, and burnt it to the gods.
"Well, what about to-day's journey?" asked Tai Tsung. Li K'wei rubbed his legs, and said, "These legs appear to be mine just now."
Tai Tsung got some warm water, and they both bathed their feet. They then partook of a vegetarian repast, and went to bed.
The next morning they were up early, and after breakfast they started off again on the road. When they had gone about a mile Tai Tsung took the enchanted greaves, and said he would put only a pair of them on Li K'wei's so that he could travel slower that day.
"I do not want them," said Li K'wei.
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"You must do as I tell you," said Tai Tsung. "We are on important business, and I will not trifle with you. If you don't do as I wish, I will leave you here rooted to the spot. I will then go to Chi Chou, and after finding Kung-Sun Sheng I will return here and release you."
"Do it! Put them on!" replied Li K'wei hurriedly.
They were put on, and that day the two men traveled together. Whatever Tai Tsung proposed Li K'wei agreed to at once.
They duly reached Chi Chou, and stopped at an inn there. The day following their arrival Tai Tsung dressed as a master with Li K'wei as his servant. All that day they made inquiries in all parts of the town without finding any trace of Kung-Sun Sheng. The next day was the same although they tried all the small alleys. At the end of that day Li K'wei lost his temper and said, "Where can this Taoist beggar have got to? When I find him I will take him by the hair and drag him off."
Tai Tsung frowned at him, "You are at it again! Don't forget what trouble you got into once before." Li K'wei laughed, and said, "I was only joking."
They returned to the inn that evening to rest, and the third day they spent all their time outside the town making inquiries in all the villages. But again nobody had ever heard of Kung-Sun Sheng. About noon as they were both hungry they entered an inn for a meal. The inn was very crowded, and they could not find a seat. The waiter however asked them to sit at a table where there was an old man. Tai Tsung saluted the old man, and they sat down. They ordered four bowls of vermicelli and Tai Tsung said to Li K'wei, "If I eat one bowl to your three bowls will that do?"
"Not enough!" said Li K'wei. "If they bring six bowls I could eat the whole lot."
The waiter laughed at this. After waiting a long time however no food was served. The other tables were however being served with vermicelli, and seeing this Li K'wei became angry. The waiter now brought a bowl of hot vermicelli, and set it in front of the old man at their table. The old man without any ceremony began to eat. He had his head bowed down to the bowl eating when Li K'wei called out, "Waiter, why have we to wait so long?"
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So saying he struck the table so hard that the bowl of hot vermicelli was upset. The old man was annoyed at this, and taking hold of Li K'wei said, "Have you no reason? Why have you upset my bowl of vermicelli?"
Li K'wei held up his fist to strike the old man, but Tai Tsung interposed and told him not to do so. Tai Tsung addressed the old man, "Take no notice of this man as he is very stupid. I will supply you with another bowl of vermicelli."
"You do not understand," replied the old man, "I come from a distant place, and must hurry back as quickly as possible according to the order I received."
"Where did you come from, and who gave you orders?" asked Tai Tsung.
"I am from the Two Fairies Hill in Nine Palace Hsien in Chi Chou," said the old man. "I came here to buy incense, and must get back quickly because True Man Lo has promised to disclose to us the secrets of immortality."
Tai Tsung thought a bit, and then asked if he had heard of a man Kung-Sun Sheng.
"If you had asked anybody else they could not have answered you," said the old man. "He is a neighbor of mine, and lives with his mother. He is often away from home, and was once called Kung-Sun I-Ching, but now is known as Ching, the Taoist. People have forgotten his original name."
Tai Tsung repeated the old proverb, "You can wear out iron shoes in fruitless searching, and yet by a lucky chance you may find the lost thing without even looking for it." He asked the old man, "How far is this Two Fairies Hill? Is Ching, the Taoist, at home just now?"
"It is about fifteen miles from here. Ching, the Taoist, is a pupil of the True Man Lo who would not dispense with him."
Tai Tsung was much pleased and when they all had their food he paid the bill, and they left the inn. He then got full directions of the road and let the old man go in advance.
Tai Tsung and Li K'wei put on the enchanted greaves, and set off and soon reached the Two Fairies Hill. There they met a woodcutter, and asked him where Ching, the Taoist,
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lived. The man told them to cross a pass on the hill, and they would come to a house with a stone bridge opposite the door. That was where Ching, the Taoist, lived. They followed these directions, and found the house. There they asked a woman carrying a basket of fruit whether Ching, the Taoist, was at home. The woman replied that he was in a room at the back preparing a magic drug. Tai Tsung asked Li K'wei to wait outside while he went in by himself. Tai Tsung entered, and came to a room with a reed curtain in front of the door. Here he coughed, and a white-haired old woman came out. He saluted her, and said, "I come here to see Ching, the Taoist."
"What is your name? " she asked.
"I am Tai Tsung, and have come from Shantung."
"My son has not yet returned from his travel abroad."
"I am an old friend of his," said Tai Tsung, "and have a message for him."
"He is not here, but you can tell me the message, and I will tell him when he returns."
"As he is not here I will call again to see him," said Tai Tsung. He again saluted and went outside, and said to Li K'wei, "An old woman says that he is not at home so now I want you to go inside and see what you can do. If she tells you the same story you must make a row, but avoid striking the old woman. When I hear the noise I will come in, and intervene between you two."
Li K'wei put down his pack, and putting his two axes in his waist belt he entered the house and shouted, "Is anybody here?"
The old woman came, and asked, "Whom do you want!" When she saw Li K'wei, however, she was afraid.
"I am the Black Whirlwind from Liang Shan Po, and have orders to come here for a man Kung-Sun Sheng. Tell him to come here at once. If he comes I will be respectful, but if there is any obstacle I will burn down this house."
"Sir, do not get excited, this is not the home of Kung-Sun Sheng, but of Ching, the Taoist."
“Then tell him to come here. I know his face."
“He has gone abroad, and has not returned yet."
Li K'wei took his ax and striking the wall made a big hole in it. He then said, "If you won't call your son I will
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kill you at once." He then advanced with his ax in a threatening attitude, and the woman fell down. A door opened, and Kung-Sun Sheng came out saying, "You have no decency." Tai Tsung just then also entered, and said, "Iron Ox, why have you knocked this old lady down?" He went and lifted her up.
Li K'wei threw his ax on the ground, and said, "Please excuse me. I did this only because you would not come out to see us."
Kung-Sun Sheng took his mother inside, and then came and saluted both Tai Tsung and Li K'wei. He then took them into a small room, and Tai Tsung explained the position at Kao Tang Chou, and asked Kung-Sun Sheng to help them against the troops who had defeated them. Kung-Sun Sheng was unwilling to go and leave his old mother alone, but Tai Tsung pressed him, and said that if Kung-Sun Sheng did not help them they would be defeated again, and probably Sung Chiang himself would be captured.
Kung-Sun Sheng at last agreed to go to consult his master Lo, the True Man. He with Tai Tsung and Li K'wei then left the house, and went to the Two Fairies Hill. By the time they got there it was dusk. A small path through pine trees brought them to a small temple with three characters over the door, "Pole Star Temple." They entered an arbor in front of the door, and arranged and dusted their clothes. They then went inside. Two acolytes had seen them coming, and had announced their arrival to Lo, the True Man. He asked them to come into the Pine and Stork Room where be usually sat in silent meditation. Kung-Sun Sheng and Tai Tsung kotowed, and then stood in respectful attitude. But Li K'wei instead of following their example was staring about the room.
Kung-Sun Sheng then explained the object of the visit, and asked Lo, the True Man, to advise him whether he should go to rescue Sung Chiang.
"You sought refuge here from the wicked world," said Lo, "and wished to attain immortality. So why do you now think of returning?"
"We only want him to help us in defeating Prefect Kao Lien, and after that he can return here," said Tai Tsung.
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That is hardly a matter for a priest to interfere in," replied Lo "You can decide that question yourself."
Kung-Sun Sheng and the other two then withdrew, and returned to Kun-Sun Sheng's house. Upon arriving there Li K’wei asked what the priest had said. "Did you not listen?" asked Tai Tsung.
