Water Margin, Volume Two, page 43
Upon reaching the East Gate, Liang was attacked by four big men Li Ying, Shih Chin, Tu Chien, and Sun Wan, and realizing that his soldiers there had been overcome he turned his horse and galloped off towards the South Gate. On the way however he heard people shouting that a big fat priest armed with an iron priest's staff had got in through the South Gate and was killing people on the way. The grand secretary therefore again turned his horse towards the yamen, but when near that place he saw two big men were running amuck on the street so that he could not pass. Just then he saw the Governor Wang attacked by two brigand leaders (Yang Hsiung and Liu Tang) who struck Wang on the head with a pole and killed him on the spot.
The grand secretary turned his horse again, and raced off towards the West Gate. On the way however he heard a loud explosion ion in the Temple of the City God. There the two brigand leaders Tsou Yuan and Tsou Jen had long bamboo poles with torches on the ends, and were quickly setting fire to the houses about there. There was general confusion in the town, and the people were shrieking and crying with fear. There were fires in all parts of the town.
Near the West Gate the grand secretary happened to meet General Li Cheng, who rushed with him to the South Gate. Upon reaching there they ascended the city wall and went to the gate tower. From there they saw that there were many brigands on the streets with banners bearing the characters "General Kuan Sheng, the Big Sword." In the blaze of light they could see Kuan Sheng mounted on a horse in a defiant attitude. He was supported by other leaders on horseback and they were fighting and killing as they came towards the gate. Liang, the grand secretary, and General Li Cheng seeing the weakness of their position descended from the Gate Tower, mounted their horses, and went towards the North Gate. Upon getting near that place they saw so many brigands in charge
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of Lin Ch'ung that they again turned, and went towards the East Gate. But that was no better as there were about a thousand brigands entering the city in charge of Mu Heng. So they turned to the South Gate. But on the way they met Li K'wei and a number of other leaders, and when Li K'wei saw them he ran forward wielding his two axes. General Li Cheng went in front with the grand secretary behind, and together they cut their way through the brigands. They, however, were attacked from the left by a large number of brigands led by Huyen Sho. General Li Cheng fought with Huyen Sho, but after about two bouts Li Cheng retreated as he realized that fighting was useless because other leaders were arriving. Among them was Hwa Jung who shot an arrow which wounded the adjutant of General Li Cheng. General Li Cheng seeing his adjutant fall galloped off, but soon ran into another party of brigands under Chin Ming.
Li Cheng and the grand secretary, however, succeeded in getting through the South Gate, having killed so many men that they and their horses were covered with blood. Thus they rode off.
We will now return and see what was happening inside the city. In the jail Squire Ch'ai Chin and Yueh He, seeing the fires breaking out, spoke to the head jailer Ts'ai Fu, "Do you see those fires? What time are you waiting for?" The main entrance of the jail just then was smashed in, and a crowd of brigands entered shouting. Ch'ai Chin drew out his weapon, and breaking the cangues released Lu Tsun-i and Shih Hsiu without waiting for the head jailer. Then he told Ts'ai Fu, "You had better take me to your home, where I will protect your family." This was done.
Li Ku was at Lu Tsun-i's home, and seeing the fires and hearing the uproar on the streets he discussed escape with the late wife of Lu Tsun-i. They quickly made up bundles containing jewelry and valuables, with the idea of escaping, but they could not leave by the front gate as there was much noise and uproar there. So they went to the back door, and getting out, turned round corners, and at last reached the bank of the river. But Chang Shun was there, and upon seeing them he shouted out, "Where is that woman going?" Li K-u did not reply, but jumped on a boat. A man
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on the boat, however, caught bold of him and called out, "Li Ku! Do you recognize me?" Li Ku recognized Yen Ch'ing by his voice and replied, “Younger brother, we are not enemies. Let me go!”
But Yen Ch'ing did not reply. He took Li Ku, and Chang Shun took the woman, to the East Gate as prisoners.
This had just happened when Lu Tsun-i arrived at his home. As he could not find Li Ku and his wife at once gave orders that all his movable wealth was to be packed and placed on carts to be conveyed to Liang Shan Po.
Head jailer Ts'ai Fu also packed up his things and got his, family ready to start for Liang Shan Po. He then addressed Squire Ch'ai Chin, "I request you to use your influence to spare the lives of the people in the city." Squire Ch'ai Chin agreed to this, and went to see Wu Yung about it. Wu Yung concurred and issued orders to that effect but a great many people had already been killed or wounded.
It was now daybreak, and Wu Yung gave the signal for his men to assemble.
Liang, the grand secretary, and General Li Cheng happened to meet with General Wen Ta as they fled from the town. They had not gone far, however, before their progress was stopped by a party of brigands blocking their way.
Pardoned man again arrested.
Vile disease returns again.
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CHAPTER 66
SUNG CHIANG REWARDS HIS MEN:
KUAN SHENG MAKES TWO GENERALS SURRENDER
WHEN the grand secretary and his generals and their followers found themselves surrounded by brigands they desperately fought their way out and escaped towards the West. The brigand leaders could not catch them so they returned to Ta Ming Fu to await further orders.
In the town Wu Yung had ordered his men to help put out the fires. He also had the treasury opened, and had all the loot loaded up. The public grain stores were all opened, and much rice was given to the people, and the remainder was loaded up and sent to Liang Shan Po. Li Ku and Lu Tsun-i's former wife were confined in prisoner's carts to be conveyed to the mountain stronghold. The brigands then were formed into three bodies, and so returned to Liang Shan Po. Tai Tsung having already been dispatched to inform Sung Chiang of their complete victory.
Upon reaching their stronghold the brigand leaders were welcomed by Sung Chiang and all assembled in the Loyalty and Justice Hall. When he saw Lu Tsun-i, Sung Chiang kotowed, and Lu Tsun-i did likewise.
"I was very careless," said Sung Chiang, "when I requested you to stay at Liang Shan Po. I did not think that it would cause so much misery to you. The hardships you underwent made me feel as though a sword had pierced my heart. But Heaven helped us, and so to-day we can see you here again."
Lu Tsun-i saluted and replied, "I am indebted to you for your powerful assistance, and am grateful to all the leaders for their heroism. Your united strength has rescued me from death. Even if my brains and kidney were rubbed on the ground I could not recompense you for your kindness." He then introduced Ts'ai Fu and Ts'ai Chin, and continued.
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“I owe a great deal to these jailers who kept me alive and treated me so well.”
Sung Chiang then offered to abdicate his position to Lu Tsun-i who was surprised, and said, "What am I to accept your offer? I am only fit to hold your whip and stirrup, and act as an ordinary retainer."
Sung Chiang however insisted upon his offer being accepted.
"Brother, Von are not straightforward," interposed Li K'wei. "You previously consented to occupy this position, but now you want to yield to another man. This chair must be made of real gold that you always regard it as a present. If you keep on yielding it, you will make me resort to my knife."
“You fellow!" shouted Sung Chiang.
Lu Tsun-i hurriedly saluted, and said, "If you still press me to take the position I must leave here."
"If Sung Chiang became emperor," said Li K'wei, "and Lu Tsun-i the prime minister and all of us were now sitting in the gold palace it would be worth while for us to act in these polite ways. But as a matter of fact we are only brigands so it is better for us to conduct ourselves as such."
Wu Yung interposed, "Would it not be better if we treated Lu Tsun-i as a guest and ask him to live temporarily in the rooms on the east side. When he has done some meritorious deed we could then press him to accept the position of commander in chief."
Sung Chiang agreed to this. He then ordered a feast to be prepared for all the men. 'The leaders had their feast in the Loyalty and Justice Hall where they all enjoyed themselves. During the feast Lu Tsun-i stood up, and addressed Sung Chiang, "The adulterer and the adulteress are our prisoners here and await your disposal."
Sung Chiang laughed and replied, "I have forgotten about them. Let the prisoners be brought in."
The prisoners were taken out of the cart, and tied up to posts in front of the hall.
Sung Chiang then said, "There is no need to question them to their crime. We can leave Lu Tsun-i to deal with them."
Lu Tsun-i took a sword, and going outside he cut both of
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them open and took out their hearts. He then sliced their bodies into small pieces.
When Liang, the grand secretary, heard the news that the brigands had gone back to Liang Shan Po he went back to Ta Ming Fu with his general, and their few remaining soldiers. There they found what enormous damage had been done, and how their own families and property had been wiped out. He wrote a dispatch to the royal tutor at the Eastern Capital giving particulars of the disaster, and requesting that troops be at once dispatched to safeguard the district. Of the civilians about five thousand, and of the soldiers about 30,000, had been killed.
Upon reaching the Eastern Capital the messenger delivered the dispatch. Upon considering the matter the royal tutor at first thought that it would be a good plan to induce the brigands to join the imperial army, but on second thoughts he saw that was impossible as the brigands had gained such a victory, and as everybody would soon know about it and therefore he was determined to attack the brigands and reestablish the name of the imperial troops.
The following morning when the emperor had his usual audience with his ministers at daybreak, the Royal Tutor Ts'ai presented a memorial about this disaster. When the emperor read the same he showed surprise. The Censor Chao Ting stepped forward, and addressed the throne, "Many troops have been dispatched, but they have all been defeated. The brigands have the advantageous positions and so are invincible. My humble opinion is that Your Majesty issue an edict pardoning them for their crimes, and conferring upon their leaders official ranks, if they will reform, and help you to restore order in the country."
The Royal Tutor Ts'ai was very angry on this, and spoke, "The censor's suggestion would endanger the moral dignity of the emperor. Your crazy proposal makes you worthy of death."
"In that case," said the emperor, "he may retire from the court."
The censor withdrew and was duly deprived of his office. After that who would dare to offer any suggestion or reproof about the case?
The emperor then asked Ts'ai Ching, "As these brigands are so truculent, who can be deputed to subdue them?"
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"I think these brigands have not much power," replied Ts'ai Ching, "and therefore we need not dispatch a very big army against them. At Ling Chou there are two men -- one is Colonel Shan Ting-kwei and the other is Colonel Wei Ting-kwo. I recommend that your majesty issue a decree ordering them to take command of an expedition against Liang Shan Po."
The emperor was pleased at this, and had the edict written at once. He then left the court, and all the officials dispersed. Many of them regarded this event as a laughingstock among themselves. The following day the edict was duly dispatched to Ling Chou to summon the two colonels.
At the stronghold on Liang Shan Po the brigands continued their feasting in celebration of their victory. One day during the feast Wu Yung spoke to Sung Chiang, "As we have done great damage at Ta Ming Fu you may be sure that the grand secretary must write a dispatch to the Eastern Capital so that we cannot treat the matter as entirely settled. I expect that it will not be long before we are again attacked by the imperial troops."
"I quite agree with your view," said Sung Chiang. "Why we don't send spies to Ta Ming Fu to find out what is being done, and prepare our men here for the coming attack?"
Wu Yung laughed and said. "I have already sent a spy, and he will soon be back." Duly as they were speaking before the feast was over the spy arrived, and reported that Liang, the grand secretary, had sent a dispatch to the Eastern Capital asking for reinforcements. He also told them what had occurred at court, and how troops at Ling Chou had been ordered to attack Liang Shan Po.
"What shall we do?” asked Sung Chiang.
"Let them come," said Wu Yung. "We shall arrest them all."
Here Kuan Sheng stood up and addressed them, "Since I arrived at Liang Shan Po I have done nothing yet. I know both of these colonels who are in command of the expedition against us. Colonel Shan Ting-kwei is food of flooding the enemies camp by breaking the dams of rivers. For this reason people call him the Water God General. Colonel Wei Ting-kwo is skillful at the use of fire attack, and therefore is nicknamed the Fire God General. If you
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will let me have five thousand men I will go and meet them on their way from Ling Chou before they can reach here. If they will surrender, that would be all right. If they do not surrender, I will bring them to you as captives. I do not need any other leaders to assist me in this matter as I can manage it myself."
Sung Chiang was pleased at this offer, and instructed Hsuan Tsan and Hao Ssu-wen to accompany Kuan Sheng under whom they had previously served. The following day they left with five thousand men.
When they had left, the leaders again assembled in the Loyalty and Justice Hall, and there Wu Yung said to Sung Chiang, "Kuan Sheng has gone, but you cannot guarantee his heart (i.e.,loyalty) so we had better send a reliable man to watch his movements, but ostensibly to assist him."
"As I know," said Sung Chiang, "Kuan Sheng is quite loyal to us. From first to last he is always the same. You need not harbor any suspicion of him."
"I am afraid that he is not of the same mind as you," said Wu Yung. "I suggest that we dispatch another five thousand men in charge of Lin Ch'ung and three other leaders to follow Kuan Sheng."
"I also want to go," interposed Li K'wei.
"We do not need you this time," said Sung Chiang, "as we have capable leaders for this work."
"If I am idle I shall soon be sick," said Li K'wei. "If you do not let me go, then I will go myself."
"If you disobey my order," said Sung Chiang, "I will have your head cut A."
Li K'wei did not reply to this, but left the hall with a very downhearted spirit.
The men under Lin Ch'ung duly left the next day, and when they had gone a menial reported that the previous night Li K'wei had left the mountain by himself with his two axes. Sung Chiang was annoyed at this. He said, "Yesterday I injured his feeling and he must have gone somewhere else."
"Though he is a rough fellow,' I said Wu Yung, "yet be is very faithful, and I do not think he will. desert us. You need not worry, he will return in a few days." But Sung Chiang was anxious, and sent Tai Tsung to find out where
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he had gone to. In addition he sent Shih Ch'ien and three other leaders to look for him.
Li K'wei had as a matter of fact taken the direct road to Ling Chou, and on the way he thought, "Those two colonels are only small officers, and I cannot understand why we should send so many men to attack them. I will go myself into the town of Ling Chou, and kill those officers with my axes, one ax for each man, and that will surprise my brother Sung Chiang. Then I shall be able to argue the point with him to my advantage." He walked for half day, and then felt very hungry. He had left the mountain without any money. He soliloquized, "I must look out for a traveler and kill him." Soon he came to an inn, and entering he ordered a jug of wine and three pounds of meat. He sat down and having eaten the food walked out. But the waiter demanded payment, and Li K'wei said, "I have some business to transact, and when I come back I will pay you for the food." Just then he saw a big man approaching who shouted to him, "You nigger, you have some cheek! You eat our food, and won't pay for it. To whom do you think this inn belongs?"
Li K'wei glared at the man, and replied, "Wherever I go I never pay for my food."
"If I tell you who I am you would be very afraid," said the man. "I am Han Po-lung of Liang Shan Po, and this inn is provided by Sung Chiang."
Li K'wei was amused at the man's impudence and thought, "I do not know this fellow at our stronghold." The fact was that this man had tried to join them at Liang Shan Po, but as Sung Chiang was sick at the time he could not see him. Therefore, Chu Kwei told him to open an inn at this point, and await further instructions. Li K'wei took an ax out of his belt, and said, "I will leave this in pawn with you for payment. Han Po-lung thought this was a genuine offer, and held out his hand for the ax, but U K'wei lifted it up and cleaved open his head. When the waiters saw this they ran away.
Li K'wei went into the inn, and took all the cash about there. He then set fire to the inn which was only made of straw matting. He went on his way, and the following day he met a big man who looked him over very minutely.
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Li K'wei asked him, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Who are you?" asked the man.
Li K'wei did not reply, but went forward to attack the man. The man avoided the blow, and hit Li K'wei with his fist so that the latter was forced to crouch. Li K'wei had felt the great strength of the man, so he sat down, and looking upwards asked, "What is your name?”
