Water Margin, Volume Two, page 31
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persuade them to join the bandits. Colonel Han Tao agreed to this, as he was destined to be one of the seventy-two leaders at Liang Shan Po.
General Huyen Sho had escaped but having lost all his men he was very despondent as he rode by himself. He realized that he could not return to the capital. He thought, "I never expected to be in such an awful predicament. Where can I go now? The only place is Ching Chou where my old friend Prefect Mujung may assist me. He may arrange the matter with the government, and then I may be able to find means of getting my revenge for this defeat."
He traveled in that direction for two days, and then in the evening he came to an inn by the roadside. He was both hungry and thirsty so he tied up his horse, and entered the inn. He sat down, placed his whip on the table, and ordered food. The waiter said that they had only wine, but Huyen Sho would give him the money he would go into the village and buy some meat and food.
Huyen Sho did so, and asked him to buy some mutton. He also asked him to give his horse some fodder. He would stay there for the night, and go to Ching Chou in the morning.
"Sir, we have no beds here either," replied the waiter.
"That does not matter as I am an old soldier, and can sleep anywhere," said Huyen Sho.
The waiter went to buy the food, and Huyen Sho went to look after his horse. He then sat down outside the inn waiting for the waiter to return. Soon the waiter came, and Huyen Sho sat down for his evening meal. He told the waiter who he was, and said that he would depart for Ching Chou Fu the following day.
"Sir, I will tell you something. Not far from here is Tao Hwa Shan where there are some bandits named Li Chung, nicknamed Tiger Hunter, and his company. There are about five hundred men in that band, and they are always raiding the surrounding villages. In fact they come here often so that to-night you must be wary."
"That will not upset me," said Huyen Sho, "I should not be afraid even if all of them came. You just take care of my horse."
As Huyen Sho had now finished his supper, the waiter prepared a temporary bed for him. That day he had been
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very melancholy, and in addition he had drunk rather a lot of wine so that he lay down to sleep without taking off his clothing. About 4 a.m. he was awakened, and heard the waiter complaining at the back of the inn. He jumped up, and taking his two whips he went to the door, and called out, "Why are you complaining like that?"
"I came out to feed your horse," replied the waiter, "and saw that a part of the fence had been broken down. I found that your horse had been taken away. I saw a torchlight about a mile away, and it must have been the man stealing your horse."
"What place is in that direction?"
The waiter said it was Tao Hwa Shan, and Huyen Sho insisted upon his going with him to find the road. After they had gone a mile the light in front vanished.
"This is a great disaster to me," said Huyen Sho, "as that horse was presented to me by the emperor himself."
"Sir, we cannot do anything further to-night, so we must go back. To-morrow you can go on to Ching Chou Fu, and there get soldiers to recapture the horse for you."
So they returned to the inn, but Huyen Sho could not sleep. Early the next morning he asked the waiter to accompany him, and carry his armor. They both set out for Ching Chou Fu where they reached after dusk.
Early the next morning General Huyen Sho went to the yamen of the Prefect Mujung who was surprised to see him, and said, "I have heard that you went to attack the bandits at Liang Shan Po. How is it that you come here?
General Huyen Sho told the prefect what had happened, and the latter said, "It was evidently not your fault that your army was defeated and destroyed, but was due to the vile strategy of the bandits in this district there are many bandits. I want to use you against the brigands at Tao Hwa Shan, and there you can recover your horse as well. After that I shall ask you to clear the bandits from the Two Dragons Mountain, and also the White Tiger Mountain. Then if successful I will report the whole matter to the emperor, and reestablish your command in the army,
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Then you can take your revenge on the bandits at Liang Shan Po. What do you say to my proposal?"
"I am deeply grateful for Your Excellency's kind consideration, and shall be much pleased to undertake the task," replied General Huyen Sho. "I will pledge my life to repay you."
The prefect gave him a room in his quarters, and supplied food and clothing. The waiter returned to the inn. After about three days General Huyen Sho got three thousand troops from Prefect Mujung, and advanced upon Tao Hwa Shan.
The bandits at Tao Hwa Shan were delighted at having captured a general's horse, and they celebrated the event with several days' feasting. One day a bandit scout reported that a great many soldiers were approaching. The second leader in command Chou Tung offered to meet the army, and he took about a hundred men, went down the mountain to meet the opposing army.
General Huyen Sho upon seeing the bandits halted his soldiers and rode forward. He called out to the brigands, "Robbers, be quick to surrender:" Upon hearing this challenge Chou Tung arranged his men, and then riding forward engaged General Huyen Sho in conflict. After about seven bouts, however, Chou Tung realized his own weakness, and retreated giving his men orders to retire to the stronghold on the mountain. General Huyen Sho seeing the bandits retiring, remembered his previous experience, and he ordered his army to stop pursuit.
Upon seeing Li Chung, Chou Tung explained what had happened, and asked what must be done if the soldiers advanced upon the stronghold. Li Chung said, "We must get assistance from Lu Ta, Yang Chih, and Wu Sung who are famous heroes at the Two Dragons Mountain. I will write a letter at once, and send it by messenger. I will tell them that we will compensate them for any losses, and amply reward them for a success."
"I know there are many heroes there," said Chou Tung, "but I am afraid that the leader Lu Ta has an old grudge against us."
Li Chung laughed at this, "Lu Ta is a very straightforward man, and he may not treat us like that. I think that he will
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come and assist us when the position is fully explained by our messenger." He wrote the letter forthwith, and sent two men with it.
The letter reached the Two Dragons Mountain within two days, and the leaders had a conference at the headquarters. The messenger explained that General Huyen Sho had been defeated at Liang Shan Po, and was now endeavoring to retrieve his fortunes by attacking Tao Hwa Shan and other brigand's strongholds.
After listening to the full statement Yang Chih spoke, "We are independent and each protects his own stronghold. But it is true that if Huyen Sho destroys the Tao Hwa Shan stronghold it will be our turn next. We should therefore go with all our men, and fight together in this common cause."
This was agreed to, and that day five hundred bandits set out for Tao Hwa Shan.
When Li Chung at Tao Hwa Shan heard of the arrival of the reeinforcements he marched to meet them with three hundred men. General Huyen Sho being informed of this movement assembled his men on the main road. When the two forces met he rode forward to challenge Li Chung to single combat. Li Chung was a descendant from military ancestors, and he rode forward to keep up his reputation. After about ten bouts, however, he knew that General Huyen Sho was more than his equal, and therefore retired. Huyen Sho, however, pursued him up the mountain as he was confident of victory. Chou Tung, however, seeing this gave orders to his men to throw stones at General Huyen Sho, and this hail of stones forced General Huyen to retire also. As he rode back, however, he was surprised to hear loud shouts from the rear of his own army. He then saw there was a large cloud of dust under which a troop of bandits was advancing. He rode forward, and saw that in front of the bandits rode a big fat priest (Lu Ta) who shouted out, "You fellows have been defeated by the heroes at Liang Shan Po, so how dare you come here to disturb us?"
"I will first kill you bald-headed donkey," replied General Huyen Sho. "That will appease my anger."
Lu Ta advanced flourishing his iron priest's staff, and was met by the general. They fought for about fifty bouts
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without either gaining an advantage, and at last General Huyen recognized that he had a skillful opponent. Gongs were sounded on both sides as a signal for an interval of rest for both combatants. After a brief rest General Huyen Sho dashed forward again, shouting, "Come on, you priestly thief."
Lu Ta was on the point of returning to fight when Yang Chih called out, "Brother, take a rest and I will engage this man." He then urged his horse forward, and met General Huyen Sho. They fought for about fifty bouts without either gaining any advantage, and then General Huyen thought, “This is the second man I cannot beat. But where do they come from? They do not look like brigands."
Yang Chih seeing the skill of his opponent turned his horse to retire. General Huyen did not pursue him, and also retired.
Lu Ta spoke to Yang Chih, "We have just come and cannot encamp so close to this opposing army. Let us withdraw about seven miles, and come again to-morrow." This was agreed to, and the bandits retired.
General Huyen Sho in his tent felt disappointed, as he had expected to deal with these bandits just as one breaks a piece of bamboo, but he had actually met his equals. He must be ill-fated to get such results. But what could he do just then? However a messenger came from Prefect Mujung ordering him to bring the troops back to guard the town. The brigands from White Tiger Mountain had arrived and were threatening the town. General Huyen gave orders immediately for a general retreat, and that night all the troops arrived near Ching Chou Fu.
The next day when Lu Ta, Yang Chih, and Wu Sung led their bandits to the foot of Tao Hwa Shan, they were very surprised to find that the troops had all gone. It was not long however before Li Chung and Chou Tung arrived, and invited the three leaders to go to their stronghold on Tao Hwa Shan. There a feast was prepared, and matters discussed.
When General Huyen Sho reached Ching Chow Fu he saw a large body of men was approaching outside the town. They were the brigands from the White Tiger Mountain under the leadership Kung Ming and Kung Liang. These two leaders had had a dispute with a wealthy man whom they had
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killed, and had then escaped to White Tiger Mountain where they assembled about five hundred bandits. Because of this murder the Prefect Mujung had arrested Kung Ping, the uncle of Kung Ming, and had put him in prison. Kung Ming therefore took the brigands against Ching Chou Fu to try to release his uncle from prison.
When General Huyen Sho arrived with his army he at once led them against the bandits. Prefect Mujnng having been informed of the arrival of the troops had taken up his position in a tower gate to watch the battle. General Huyen Sho rode out in front of the army, and his challenge was accepted by Kung Ming. The general soon found that his opponent was not very skillful, and soon succeeded in unhorsing him, and taking him prisoner. Upon seeing this Kung Liang gave orders for all the bandits to retreat.
Prefect Mujung sent orders for the troops to pursue the brigands, and this was done, capturing about a hundred of them. The other brigands were scattered in all directions, and at last Kung Liang found himself alone, and slept that night in an old temple he came across.
Prefect Mujung was much pleased that Kung Ming had been captured, and sent him to prison to join his uncle. The prefect rewarded the troops, and then sat down with General Huyen Sho to hear the news of the Tao Hwa Shan expedition. General Huyen Sho said, "The bandits at Tao Hwa Shan were cornered like a tortoise in a jar, but a strange thing happened. Another body of brigands arrived to attack us. They were led by a big fat priest, and a sallow complexioned man with both of whom I fought, but without success. Their military skill was quite unusual, and they were quite capable of defending themselves."
"I know that priest," said Prefect Mujung; "he is Lu Ta, who was previously a major in the army, but afterwards became a priest and then a bandit. The other leader is Yang Chih who was also previously an officer in the army. There is also another leader Wu Sung, an ex-army man also, who is famous for having killed a tiger on Ching Yang Ridge. They are now at the Two Dragons Mountain, and although we have tried to dislodge them, our troops have failed, and have always been defeated."
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"I also have heard of those men," said General Huyen Sho, "and certainly they are equal to their reputation. But I am here now, and will see to it that those men are captured."
The next morning when Kung Liang was riding in a forest, he met a body of bandits in charge of Wu Sung. He dismounted, saluted, and inquired after his health. The two exchanged compliments and related what had happened on both sides.
At last Wu Sung suggested that Kung Liang and his men should join with the bandits of Tao Hwa Shan in an attack on the government troops. Kung Liang agreed to this, and was taken and introduced to Lu Ta and Yang Chih.
When discussing the proposed attack on Ching Chou Fu by the combined bandits from the three mountains Yang Chih said, "The town is strongly fortified, and has a general like Huyen Sho in charge of the defense it will not be easy for us to take. But I have a plan that I think will succeed." He then explained how to take the town, and they were highly pleased with his proposal.
Tiles are broken; town in flames;
Pity the people of Ching Chow.
Smashing fists and crushing blows,
Admire the bandits and heroes.
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CHAPTER 57
THE BANDITS FROM THE THREE MOUNTAINS
ATTACK CHING CHOU; ALL THE HEROES
CAST THEIR LOT WITH LIANG SHAN PO
Yang Chih said that it would be better if they had the support of the brigands at Liang Shan Po, and he suggested that Kung Liang should go to Sung Chiang to ask for his assistance.
"That is a good idea,” said Lu Ta. "I very often hear of the fame of Sung Chiang, but so far I have not met him. I have heard of him so much that I am almost made deaf with hearing his name. I hope our brother Kung Liang will go, and bring that famous man to join us. We will proceed with our attack on Ching Chou Fu in the meantime."
Kung Liang agreed, and handed over all his men to Lu Ta. He then departed for Liang Shan Po.
Lu Ta then sent to his stronghold to summon all the 200 bandits upon hearing of the news from Ching Chou Fu. Li Chung also got all his 500 men from Tao Hwa Shan. When these bandits arrived they joined to attack Ching Chou.
Kung Liang was allowed to pass the outposts upon reaching Liang Shan Po and was conducted up the mountain. There he explained his mission to Sung Chiang, and the other leaders, who unanimously agreed to join in the attack upon Ching Chou Fu. The bandits were soon ready, and Sung Chiang divided them up into five companies in charge of twenty leaders. They left the mountain the same day, and duly joined the other bandits in the neighborhood of Ching Chou Fu. There all the leaders were introduced, and were pleased to meet each other.
Sung Chiang introduced the question as to how they were to attack the town, and Yang Chih spoke, "Before you arrived we had attacked the town about five times without gaining any advantage. The defense of Ching Chou Fu evidently depends
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upon one man (General Huyen Sho), and if we can capture him, his army would disappear like snow when hot water is thrown on it."
Wu Yung laughed and said, "To use force against such a man is useless. We must use strategy."
"How could that be done?" asked Sung Chiang.
Wu Yung explained a trick he had thought of, and Sung Chiang was delighted as he considered the plan excellent.
Early the next day all the bandits surrounded the town with much noise of gongs and drums. Inside the town the Prefect Mujung upon hearing of this sent for General Huyen Sho. "Evidently," he said, "these men have now got the bandits from Liang Shan Po to assist them, and we are surrounded. What shall we do?"
These brigands are skilled in fighting on water, “replied Huyen Sho, "but now they are out of their element and far away from their stronghold. I will capture them one by one. I request you to go to the gate tower, and watch me defeat them."
General Huyen put on his mail armor, mounted his horse, and led about one thousand men out the gates to meet the bandits.
Out of Sung Chiang's forces Chin Ming rode forth armed with a spiked mace and he cursed the enemy. "You covetous and malicious thieves of the people. You have ruined my family, and to-day I come for revenge."
Prefect Mujung on the wall recognized the man as ex-general Chin Ming, and shouted, "You were an official appointed by the emperor, and were well treated. So why are you now a rebel? If I capture you I will have you hacked into a thousand pieces. General Huyen, please arrest that man.
General Huyen at once galloped forward towards Wards Chin Ming who also advanced. They met, and were well matched. After about fifty bouts neither had gained any advantage.
Mujung being afraid that General Huyen would not succeed in single combat had a gong sounded as a signal for the general to return inside the gate. As General Huyen retired, Chin Ming also withdrew without pursuing his opponent. Sung Chiang issued an order for all the bandits to withdraw about five miles from the town.
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When General Huyen had dismounted inside the city he spoke to Prefect Mujung, "I wanted to defeat Chin Ming. Why did you give the order for a retreat?"
"I saw that you had not succeeded after many attempts, and fearing that you would be tired, I thought it better that you should have a rest. That man Chin Ming was previously in charge of the troops here, but he and an officer Hwa Jung deserted. You must not treat them lightly."
