Water Margin, Volume Two, page 27
“I listened but could not understand what he said," replied Li K'wei.
"He said that Kung-Sun Sheng should not go," said Tai Tsung.
Li K'wei was angry at this. "We have come so far, and undergone many tribulations, and now we have at last found Kung-Sun Sheng but the priest tells him not to go. I feel like killing that priest."
Tai Tsung frowned upon him, and said, "Must I again fasten your feet to the ground?"
"No! No! I was only joking,” said Li K'wei.
That evening they talked over a plan, and at last Kung-Sun Sheng agreed to go with them the next day, and get the priest to agree to their proposal. But Li K'wei could not sleep as he was thinking the matter over. About 4 a.m. he got up, and heard that Tai Tsung was snoring while fast asleep.
He thought, "We are heroes so why should we ask a priest for his opinion about our own affairs. If I kill the priest there will be no obstacle in our way." He took his ax, and quietly opening the door he went towards Lo's temple, easily finding his way in the bright moonlight. Upon reaching the temple he found that the gates were closed. The wall was not very high, and he soon leapt over it. Then opening the gates from inside he went towards the temple. He soon found the room, and breaking a piece of the paper on a window he looked inside. Candles were burning on a table, and the priest Lo was slowly chanting the scriptures. Li K'wei thought, "That fellow deserves death." He pushed the door open, and going straight to Lo, the Priest, he struck him on the head with his ax, and killed him on the spot. Li K'wei saw that the blood was white, and laughed saying, "He evidently was a bachelor. He cannot stop Kung-Sun Sheng from going now He left the room, but was stopped by an acolyte who called out, "You have killed our master. Where are you going?'' Li K'wei
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without hesitation used his ax, and also killed the boy. He then quickly left the temple, and going down the hill soon came to Kung-Sun Sheng's house where he quietly opened the door and slipped into bed.
The next morning Kung-Sun Sheng was up early, and prepared the breakfast. While eating Tai Tsung reminded Kung-Sun Sheng that he had to take them to the temple again. Upon hearing this Li K'wei could hardly suppress a laugh. He said nothing, and accompanied the other two up the hill. Upon entering the temple they saw the two acolytes, and Tai Tsung inquired if Lo, the True Man, was in.
"He is sitting on the bed meditating," replied the acolyte.
Upon hearing this Li K'wei was dumbfounded, and stood with his mouth wide open, and his tongue hanging out. The curtain was raised, and looking into the room they saw Lo, the True Man, sitting on the bed. Li K'wei thought, "Last night I must have made a mistake."
"What do you three men want now?" asked Lo.
"We came to ask for your mercy," replied Tai Tsung, "and beg you to save us from calamity."
"Who is that dark man?" asked Lo pointing to Li K'wei,
"He came with me, and his name is Li K'wei," replied Tai Tsung.
Lo, the True Man, laughed, "I did intend to allow Kung-Sun Sheng to leave me, but I have changed my mind on account of that dark fellow." Tai Tsung saluted the priest, and then turning to Li K'wei told him what had been said. Li K'wei knew then that the priest was aware that he (Li K'wei) had tried to kill him.
"How would you like if I dispatch you three men to Kao T'ang Chou in a few minutes?"
Tai Tsung thought that a better way than using his enchanted greaves, and so they thanked the priest Lo. Lo then ordered the acolytes to bring three pieces of clothes, and asked the three men to follow him. He took them outside to a place and there spread a red cloth on a stone. He said, "Ching, the Taoist, you can stand on this." Kung-Sun Sheng did so, and Lo, the True Man, waved his sleeve, and said "Rise!" Immediately the cloth became a cloud which ascended carrying Kung-Sun Sheng upwards about fifty feet when Lo called out "Stop!" and there Kung
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remained stationary. He then spread a blue cloth on the stone, and invited Tai Tsung to stand on it. He did so, and the same process was gone through. Li K'wei was astonished, and gazed with open eyes at the two clouds in the sky on which stood his two companions.
Lo, the True Man, now spread a white cloth on the stone, and asked Li K'wei to stand on it. Li K'wei laughed, "This is no joke! If I fall I shall have a big lump on my head."
"Do you see those two men?" asked Lo.
Li K'wei took his position, and after the same process he rose up on a white cloud. "I do not feel safe," said Li K'wei "Let me come down!"
Lo, the True Man, hearing this, waved his sleeve again, and the red and black clouds descended. Li K'wei seeing this called out, "I also want to come down."
"I am a priest and have never offended you. Why did you attempt to kill me last night? If I had had no virtue you would have killed me. You also tried to kill my acolyte."
"It wasn't me! You must have made a mistake!" replied Li K'wei from aloft.
Lo, the True Man, laughed, and said, "You certainly broke two of my gourds last night. You are a bad man! I am going to punish you for that." So saying he again waved his sleeve. "Go!" he said, and a strong wind arose, and carried the white cloud right up into the sky with Li K'wei on it. On each side of the cloud were two men with yellow turbans, and looking downward Li K'wei saw houses, forests, and mountains skimming past under his feet. He was exceedingly afraid and trembled in every limb. All at once he heard a great noise and the next moment he fell on the roof of the yamen in Chi Chou Fu, and rolled off into the courtyard. The Fuyin was sitting on the bench with a full court, and they were all startled by this strange and sudden appearance of a big man rolling off the roof of the court.
"Seize that man," ordered the governor.
The attendants seized Li K'wei, and brought him as a prisoner before the governor who asked, "What kind of magic is this? Where do you come from?"
Li K'wei could not speak as in his fall his head had been injured. "He must be a wizard," continued the governor,
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"Use the means to exorcise evil spirits." The jailers took Li K'wei outside, and there an attendant took a bowl of dog's blood, and threw it over his head. Another attendant poured a bucket of urine and manure over him, and he was covered all over with the filth.
At last Li K'wei spoke, "I am not a wizard. I am only a servant of Lo, the True Man."
At that place they all knew Lo, the True Man, as a Living Buddha, so they ceased their activities against Li K'wei. They took Li K'wei into the court, and there a secretary spoke to the governor, "If this man is a servant of Lo, the Living Buddha, had we better not punish him?"
The governor laughed, and said, "I have read many thousand of books both ancient and modem, but have never read of a Living Buddha having this kind of servant. He must be a wizard. Jailers! Beat him!" The jailers forced Li K'wei on the ground, and beat him with the bamboo until he was almost unconscious.
"Now you fellow speak the truth, and I will stop the punishment," said the governor.
"I will confess," said Li K'wei, "I am a wizard, called Li Erh." A cangue was put on him, and he was sent to prison. Upon reaching the cell Li K'wei said, "I am a general of the Living Buddha, so how dare you put this cangue on me? I will duly report this indignity, and everybody in this town will die."
The jailers all respected the Living Buddha as they knew his great power, so they asked Li K'wei, "Now, who are you really?"
Li K'wei replied, "Truly, I am a confidential general of Lo, the Living Buddha. But as I had made a mistake, Lo sent me here so that I would be punished by you. He will send to rescue me in two or three days. If you don't treat me well and give me some meat and wine, I shall tell him, and he will kill all you people."
The jailers were afraid of him, and gave him a good meal. Li K'wei seeing their fear spoke wildly again, and the men being more afraid brought hot water for him to bathe, and also wash his clothes. He then swore that if they did not treat him well the next day he would fly away, and send
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trouble to them. They beseeched him to take pity on them, and promised to treat him well.
Lo, the True Man, told Tai Tsung how Li K'wei had tried to kill him, and how he would punish him. Tai Tsung expressed his great regret, and begged Lo to spare Li K'wei. Lo asked Tai Tsung to come into the temple where they discussed the affairs of Liang Shan Po. Tai Tsung explained that both Ch'ao Kai and Sung Chiang distributed wealth in good cause and were acting like agents sent from Heaven. They had sworn not to injure good officials or patriots who were willing to die for their country; filial sons or worthy grandsons; men of high principles or chaste wives; and they had done fine work.
Lo, the True Man, considered this, without expressing an opinion. Tai Tsung stayed there for five days, and every day he kotowed to Lo, and begged him to have mercy for Li K'wei. The True Man however said that Li K'wei was a bad man, who was not deserving to be saved from his distress.
"Master, you do not understand," replied Tai Tsung. "He is a very simple fellow, but has good intentions. He is very straightforward, and the making of wealth has no attraction for him. Again he is not a flatterer and is loyal even in the face of death. Again he is not lustful and is very brave. Because of these qualities he is liked by Sung Chiang and if he does not return to Liang Shan Po I should not dare to face Sung Chiang again."
Lo, the True Man, laughed, "He was evidently born under a murderous star, and Heaven has sent him here to kill off those sinful people. I will not oppose the will of Heaven. I have punished him enough, and will now have him back to you."
Tai Tsung kotowed and expressed his gratitude. Lo, the True Man, then summoned his strong men who came, and stood awaiting orders. Lo said to them, "That man you took to Chi Chou has now finished his period of punishment. You must go and release him from the jail and bring him back here." The men vanished, and in about an hour they reappeared throwing down Li K'wei from aloft. Tai Tsung went forward to lift Li K'wei up, and said to him, "Younger brother, where have you been these last few days?
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Li K'wei noticed Lo, the True Man, and kotowed to him before replying, "Sir! I dare not offend you again."
"After this you must abstain from taking, life," said Lo, the True Man, "you must exert all your strength to assist Sung Chiang, and must avoid bad thoughts."
Li K'wei again kotowed, "You are my newly adopted father, and I will certainly do as you say."
"But where have you been these last few days!" asked Tai Tsung.
Li K'wei then recited his experiences at the court and prison in Chi Chou, and how he had been brought back. When he was told that Lo, the True Man, controlled about one thousand of such stout men as had taken him to Chi Chou, Li K'wei said, "If I had only known all about this I would never have even tried to attack Lo, the True Man."
Tai Tsung again pressed Lo to let Kung-Sun Sheng accompany them to Kao Tang Chou. Lo said he would not place any obstacle in his way, though he did not like to let him go. He however had some advice to give him.
To help the age and guard the country,
Magic power must now be used.
We will now relate what that advice was.
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CHAPTER 53
KUNG-SUN SHENG BY A MAGIC TRICK DEFEATS KAO LIEN;
THE BLACK WHIRLWIND DE SCENDS INTO A WELL TO RESCUE CH'AI CHIN
“Disciple," said Lo, the True Man, the spell you have learned is the same as Kao Lien, but I will now disclose to you the means of controlling thunder so that you can help Sung Chiang to guard the country and pacify the people as an agent appointed by Heaven. You need not be anxious about your mother as I will see that she is well looked after. You are one of the stars of the constellation and therefore I let you go for some time. You must remember what I told you of the divine principles, and avoid being deceived by human desire, as this will upset your plans."
Kung-Sun Sheng kotowed, and received the method for controlling thunder. He, Li K'wei, and Tai Tsung saluted Lo and the other priests there. They then went to Kung-Sun Sheng's home where he put on his traveling dress, took his double-edged sword, and after bidding adieu to his mother they all departed.
When they had walked about ten miles Tai Tsung said he would go in advance to Kao T'ang Chou, and announce their approach. Kung-Sun Sheng agreed to this, and promised that they would follow behind.
"On the road I want you to wait upon Kung-Sun Sheng," said Tai Tsung to Li K'wei. "You must also be careful to avoid all further trouble."
"He has the same magic power as Lo, so how dare I deceive him?" asked Li K'wei.
Tai Tsung then put on his enchanted greaves and vanished from sight.
Kung-Sun Sheng and Li K'wei continued their way, and towards evening stopped at an inn. Li K'wei had felt the great powers of Lo, the True Man and therefore he dared not
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display his temper, but waited upon Kung-Sun Sheng with every attention. On the third day they came to Wu Kang Chen where the streets were very crowded. As they were both tired Kung-Sun Sheng said they would get some vegetarian food at that market town. They entered a small inn at the side of the street, sat down, and ordered food from the waiter.
"What kind of vegetarian cakes have you?" asked Kung-Sun Sheng.
"We have only wine and meat," replied the waiter. "But at the entrance of the street you can get cakes made with dates."
"I will go and buy the cakes," said LiK'wei. He went and after purchasing the food was on his way back to the inn when he heard the applause, "How strong!" Looking round Li K'wei saw a big crowd round a very big man who was holding a heavy iron hammer with a head as big as a watermelon. His face was pock-marked. The hammer, Li K'wei thought, must have weighed about forty pounds. The man swung it round, and brought it down on a stone in the street, and broke the latter into small bits. The crowd applauded this exhibition of strength, but Li K'wei did not think it amounted to much. So putting the cakes in his breast he stepped forward, and took hold of the mace.
“What are you doing? Who are you?" asked the owner.
"These people applaud you, but what for?" asked Li K'wei. "It does not seem very wonderful. You just watch me do it."
"You may try," said the man, "but if you fail the penalty will be a blow from my fist."
Li K'wei lifted the hammer, and after whirling it round his head brought it down on the ground lightly and with ease. His face was not red, his heart did not palpitate, and his breathing was regular. He looked quite cool and collected.
The tall man seeing this, saluted, and asked for his name.
“Where do you come from?" asked Li K'wei.
“I live just opposite," replied the man. He then conducted Li K'wei to his home, and upon reaching the house he unlocked the door, and asked Li K'wei to be seated,
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Li K'wei noticed that the room contained all kinds of implements of a blacksmith, a hammer, a stove, tongs, steel punches, and so on. He thought that the man must be a blacksmith, and as they had no such person at their stronghold it would be a good thing to invite this man to join them. He asked the man his name.
"I am Tang Lung, and my father was a military official at Yen-an-fu, Shansi province. This year my father died, and through gambling I have lost all the money. I work here as a blacksmith, and like to practice the use of lance and stick. Because of my pock-marked face the people call me the Cash Marked Leopard. I beg to ask for your honorable name."
Li K'wei told him, and also that be come from Liang Shan Po. Upon hearing this the man saluted, and said he had heard of Li K'wei's fame, and was very fortunate to meet such a hero. Then Li K'wei suggested that he should go with him to Liang Shan Po, and join the bandits there. The man agreed to this at once. Li K'wei then asked him to go with him to the inn to be introduced to Kung-Sun Sheng. The man got a few things together, and left his house to follow Li K'wei.
Upon reaching the inn Li K'wei duly introduced the new partner, and explained fully how they had met. After a meal together they three all started on their journey. When near their destination they met Tai Tsung, and Kung-Sun Sheng inquired whether there had been any more fighting.
"Kao Lien's wound is nearly healed now," replied Tai Tsung, "and every day there is fighting. Sung Chiang has been acting merely on the defensive awaiting your arrival."
The four men then went on their way to Kao T'ang Chou, and soon reached the bandits' camp. There Tang Lung was introduced, and duly joined the brigands. They were all pleased to see Kung-Sun Sheng.
The next day there was a general council held of all the leaders to discuss their future plans. Kung-Sun Sheng said that orders could be issued for a general advance on Kao T'ang Chou. He would go and see what the opposing army was doing. The next day the bandits all moved forward fully equipped, with flying banners, rolling of drums, and
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clash of gongs. Sung Chiang, Wu Yung, and Kung-Sun Sheng rode in the front.
Kao Lien bad been informed of the approach of the bandits, ordered his army to leave the town. The two bodies of fighting men soon met, and stood in ranks. There was a great display of banners, and a great noise of drums and gongs. Sung Chiang and the two leaders advanced. Kao Lien was seated on his horse surrounded by about thirty officers with a large flag. As Sung Chiang approached Kao Lien shouted, "You thieves! As you come here to fight I hope you won't run away this time when you are defeated. Running away does not look nice."
Sung Chiang turned, and asked who would volunteer for a single combat. Hwa Jung immediately set spurs to his horse, and dashed forward without saying a word.
Kao Lien also asked for a champion to meet Hwa Jung and Hsueh Yuan-hwei dashed forward.
These two fought for a long time, and then Hwa Jung retired. Immediately Hsueh Yuan-hwei pursued him, flourishing his sword. Hwa Jung, however, got his bow, and turning round in his saddle shot an arrow which wounded Hsueh who fell off his horse. The troops applauded.
