Water Margin, Volume Two, page 45
Before the Liang Shan Po brigands drew near the village, Shih Ch'ien was sent in advance as a spy. He found out the whereabouts of these hidden pitfalls, and duly reported the matter to Sung Chiang.
Upon hearing this Wu Yung laughed and said, "That is not important." He gave orders for the men to move forward, and they soon reached the outskirts of the village. It was about noon, and a horse galloped towards them with copper bells tinkling, and with a long plume on its tail. Its rider had white clothes and a black hat, and carried a short spear. The brigands wanted to rush forward and fight with him, but Wu Yung forbade this, and ordered encampment there. He also ordered that trenches were to be dug all around their position, and these were to be protected by iron palisades. He instructed the five detachments raise defensive works accordingly around their separate camps.
They encamped there for three days, but the soldiers in the village did not show themselves. So Wu Yung instructed Shih Ch'ien to enter the village again as a spy, and to find out what was happening. He was also to locate exactly where the hidden pits were. Shih Ch'ien did this, and within a day had found out all about the hidden pits, and duly reported the details to Wu Yung.
This information was made known to all the leaders, and Wu Yung then ordered that a body of men was to be armed with hoes, and that a hundred carts were to be loaded with grass and reeds, and all these were to be concealed in the center of the camp. This was done, and then Wu Yung issued orders that at 10 a.m. the next day an attack would be made on the village on the west and east sides my foot soldiers only. On the north side, however, other bounted men were to be on parade with flags flying and drums beating, but they were not to move forward.
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The following day Shih Wen-kung heard the noise of bombs and was informed of the approaching of the brigands on all four sides, but he held his men back waiting for the brigands to advance and fall into the, hidden pits. But Wu Yung gave orders for his men to attack the soldiers at the South Gate from two sides instead of a frontal attack. This was done, and they not only avoided the hidden pits, but actually drove the soldiers into their own traps.
Shih Wen-kung upon seeing this brought soldiers to the South Gate to repel the attack, but Wu Yung had given orders for all the carts to advance (avoiding the pits), and when near the gates the dry grass and reeds were all set on fire. The flames spread to the gate tower, and so set that on fire, and Kung-Sun Sheng having control of the wind caused a South wind to blow, which carried the flames into the village.
When Wu Yung saw this desired result he withdrew his men to their camp while Shih Wen-kung inside the village had the fires put out, and during the following night endeavored to repair the damage done at the South Gate.
The following day a son of the headman Tseng Tu expressed his opinion to Shih Wen-kung that if they did not capture the chief leader of the brigands they would have no chance in defeating them. He therefore proposed to take some men to fight outside, while Shih Wen-kung guarded the South Gate. This was agreed to.
When Sung Chiang was informed that Tseng Tu had come out to fight he accepted the challenge, and rode forth accompanied by Lu Fang and Kuo Sheng. When he saw Tseng Tu he was angry, and pointing at him with his whip called out, "Who will fight with that fellow and revenge the death of our late commander?"
Upon hearing this Lu Fang whipped his horse and galloped forward. The two men fought for about thirty bouts. Kuo Sheng then noticed that Lu Fang would be defeated as his opponent proved more skillful. Lu Fang was showing weakness, and was making mistakes. He was acting entirely on the defensive. So Kuo Sheng whipped his horse, and galloped forward with his halberd in hand to engage Tu. Both of the two brigands had leopard tails fastened to the end of their halberds, and as they both lunged at Tseng Tu he in a flash took his spear to ward off the halberds.
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But the spear happened to catch the two leopard tails and so the three weapons were entangled. All three men pulled in order to free their weapons without success. Hwa Jung seeing this realized that Tseng Tu had the advantage so taking his bow he shot an arrow which bit Tseng Tu in the shoulder and sent him off his horse. Lu Fang and Kuo Sheng now drove their halberds into Tseng Tu, and killed him immediately.
This fatality was reported to the village and when the headman heard of his son's death he cried. But a younger son, Tseng Sheng, was very angry, and called for his horse, and shouted out that he would avenge the death of his elder brother. Tseng Sheng would not heed his father's objections, and rode out to the South Gate. There he met Shih Wen-kung who said, "You must not treat these men too lightly, as they are very talented and skillful warriors."
But Tseng Sheng was determined. "They have killed my brother, and I must have revenge." He rode forward accompanied by about ten men on horseback.
Chin Ming was in charge of the brigands' advance post, and he was ready to accept the challenge when he saw that Li K'wei with his axes had already gone forth. The Tsen troops recognized Li K'wei, and Tseng Sheng ordered his archers to shoot at him. An arrow hit Li K'wei on the leg, and he fell down. Tseng Sheng ordered his cavalry to capture Li K'wei, but the brigand leaders Chin Ming, Hwa Jung, and four others, also moved forward at the same time to rescue him. Tseng Sheng seeing so many opponents ordered his cavalry to retire, and so Li K'wei was rescued.
The following day Shih Wen-kung again was opposed to any offensive, but Tseng Sheng was still keen on having revenge, so at last Shih Wen-kung put on his uniform and mounted his horse. The brigands were ready for action, and Chin Ming rode forward to fight with Shih Wen-kung. But after about twenty bouts Chin Ming felt being overcome, and turned his horse to retire, but Shih Wen-kung was too quick for him, and wounded Chin Ming in his leg, so the latter fell off his horse. Four brigand leaders, however, rushed to his rescue, and took him back to the camp. The defeated brigands retreated about three miles
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where they encamped. Chin Ming was placed in a cart and sent back to Liang Shan Po. Reinforcements under Kuan Sheng and three other leaders were at the same time called for from the mountain stronghold.
Sung Chiang burnt incense and prayed to the spirits, and secretly caste lots to divine the further proceeding of the battle. Wu Yung read the indication of the lots and said to him, "Congratulations, as there is no need for fear. This night I am sure the villagers will again press their attack. We must warn our leaders of this, and divide our men into two camps to the east and west of this place. The mounted men must be stationed all around, and wait for orders." This was done accordingly.
That night the moon shone brightly. There was neither wind nor cloud. Shih Wen-kung, spoke to Tseng Sheng, "We have wounded two of the brigand leaders to-day, and as they have retired after being defeated they will be afraid of us now, so we must press forward our attack." Orders were given for a march that night. Horses were not to carry bells, and all was to be done in silence. About 11 p.m. they started off, but upon reaching the place where the brigands had stopped, they found nobody there. Suspecting some trick, Shih Wen-kung gave orders for all to return to the village. But they bad not gone far when they were attacked from both sides. Fires were set up by the brigands on all sides, and the fighting went on till midnight when Shih Wen-kung got back to the village and wrote a note to Sung Chiang admitting defeat, and offering to surrender. It read as follows:
"Tseng Lung, headman of the Tseng T'ou Shih village, sends greetings to Sung Chiang, commander of the army. Previously my son seized your horses, and offended you by his ignorance. When Ch'ao Kai came here we ought to have surrendered to him. Unfortunately one of our soldiers sent a stray shot which wounded Ch'ao Kai, and we recognize the seriousness of that offense, and can offer no excuse for same. Allowance may however be made of the fact that it was done without orders. My two sons have been killed, and I plead with you for peace. If you will withdraw your men I will return to you all the horses. I will also send you money, for distribution among your men. By peace we
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shall avoid further bloodshed. I write this with all due respects, and hope for your kind consideration."
When Sung Chiang read this letter he seemed to be angry and tore it into pieces. He said to Wu Yung, "How can we settle things in this way when they have killed our leader? We must wipe them out."
The messenger heard this, and trembled on the ground in fear.
Wu Yung exhorted Sung Chiang, "I think you may be wrong. In this fight both sides were merely in a display of temper. Now that they desire peace we should be in the wrong if we refuse to consider their proposal." After fruther discussion he wrote at once a reply, and handed it to the messenger with ten ounces of silver.
The messenger duly returned, and handed the reply to Shih Wen-kung and Tseng Lung who read it as follows:
"Sung Chiang, commander at Liang Shan Po, replies to Tseng Lung, headman of the Tseng T'ou Shih. It has always been a fact that a country without confidence among the people must become extinct in the end; without propriety soon become of no account. Unjust gains must be robbed, generals without bravery must soon be defeated. These are definite laws. Liang Shan, Po and your village had no enmity before, and we both guarded our own domains respectively. But recently you did a wicked thing, and so we are now enemies. If, however, you wish to have peace then you must return to us the horses you stole, and also hand over to us Yu Pao-ssu who stole the horses. You must also give money to our men. If you are sincere you must not I treat lightly the proper procedure."
When they read this both men were surprised. But the following day they sent a messenger to talk with Sung Chiang that if Yu Pao-ssu was handed over to the brigands they must also hand over a man in exchange.
When Sung Chiang received this message he agreed, and sent not one man, but five of his leaders to be exchanged for Yu Pao-ssu. Shih Ch'ien and Li K'wei were two of the five, and before they left Wu Yung gave Shih Ch'ien secret instructions what to do in case of treachery.
When they reached the village they were taken before' Tseng Lung and Shih Ch'ien said to him that they had
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come to arrange peace. But Shih Wen-kung replied, "As Wu Yung has sent you five men to arrange peace I think he must have some trick."
Li K'wei was very angry at this, and seized hold of Shih Wen-kung to fight, but Tseng Lung interposed.
Shih Ch'ien also spoke, "This man, Li K'wei, is very rough but he is a personal friend of Sung Chiang. You need not suspect him as Sung Chiang specially sent him here."
Tseng Lung wanted peace, and would not listen to Shih Wen-kung's remarks. He ordered a meal for the five men from the brigands and provided them a room in the Fa Hwa Temple, and placed a guard of 500 soldiers to look after them.
Tseng Sheng and Yu Pao-ssu were duly dispatched to discuss peace with Sung Chiang. They took with them all the stolen horses, and also a cartload of silver and embroidered cloth. When Sung Chiang saw the horses he noticed that the splendid white race horse presented to Liang Shan Po by Tuan Ching-chu was not among them and therefore asked why it had not been returned also.
"That horse is now ridden by Shih Wen-kung," replied Tseng Sheng.
"Then you quickly write a letter at once demanding the immediate return of that horse," said Sung Chiang.
Tseng Sheng did this, and sent the letter off by a messenger. When Shih Wen-kung read the letter he spoke to the messenger, "I will not return the horse, but am quite willing to send another horse instead of it."
The messenger went back with this message, but was soon back again with the word that the identical horse must be returned. Shih Wen-kung then spoke, "As Sung Chiang insists upon the horse being returned, I will return it, but only on the condition that he first withdraws his men from the environs of our village."
When this message was delivered to Sung Chiang he consulted Wu Yung, and while they were talking a scout arrived, and reported that imperial troops were approaching by two roads from Ching Chou and Ling Chou. Sung Chiang said, "If Shih Wen-kung gets to know this he will probably change his mind, so we must keep the matter secret." He then divided his men into two bodies, and gave orders that they were to march along the two roads to oppose the
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coming troops on the way. He then summoned Yu Pao-ssu and said, "'We have a very important commission for you to carry through, and if you succeed I will promote you to a position as leader at Liang Shan Po. I will take a solemn oath by this arrow that I will bear no more grudge to your taking my horse. But if you do not agree I shall recommence the attack on Tseng T'ou Shih."
Yu Pao-ssu agreed to do what he was requested. Wu Yung then said to him: "You must enter the village quietly as though you have secretly left us, and tell Shih Wen-kung that you think we do not really desire peace, but that Sung Chiang will try to get back the white race horse by some deception. That as soon as he gets the horse, his attitude towards the village will change. That as troops are approaching here from Ching Chou and Ling Chou, the brigands are in great terror and the villagers may now embrace the opportunity to attack Sung Chiang."
Yu Pao-ssu left with these orders, and duly came back to Tseng T'ou Shih. When Shih Wen-kung heard the news he decided to recommence his attack on the brigands. Tseng Lung however objected to a renewed attack as it would endanger the life of his son Tseng Sheng who was then staying with the brigands. But Shih Wen-kung said that when they had seized the brigands, camp Tseng Sheng would be saved. Shih Wen-kung then gave orders for all the men to be ready for an attack that very night.
Yu Pao-ssu knowing all this went secretly to the Fa Hwa Temple, and told Shih Ch'ien and the other leaders there what had been arranged.
In the brigands' camp Sung Chiang asked Wu Yung whether their plan would be carried out.
"If he does not return," said Wu Yung, "then we can assume that Shih Wen-kung suspects us. We may expect him to attack us this night, but we will not oppose them, but retreat and lay in ambush on both sides of their road. At the same time we may dispatch our men to their village while it is depleted of soldiers, and so we can establish ourselves there. That plan is called, 'Drawing the wild dog from its hole.’ It generally succeeds."
That night Shih Wen-kung got his men together, and marched out of the village. There was little moonlight. When
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they reached the brigands’ camp they were surprised to find the gate open and the place quite deserted. Shih Wen-kung now suspected a plot and ordered a retreat. But they had not gone far when they heard bombs being fired in their village, and also heard the large bell in the Fa Hwa Temple booming. From the noise it seemed that the brigands had got into the village.
In the Fa Hwa, Temple Li K'wei and the other three leaders were armed, and rushing out with swords in their hands. When the headman, Tseng Liang, heard that the brigands had got into the village he committed suicide by hanging himself. His son, Tseng Mi, was killed in resisting the brigands on the west side of the village. Another son, Tseng Kwei, was also killed in the confused fighting on the east side. Su Ting was killed near the North Gate where he found himself apposed by Lu Ta and three other leaders. Many of the villagers met their death by falling into the traps while trying to escape from the village.
Shih Wen-kung being mounted on the white race horse reached the village before any of his soldiers, but seeing the confused mass of fighting in the streets he immediately left by the West Gate. There was a great deal of mist that night, and in the dark and confusion he was soon uncertain where he actually was. He had gone about two miles when he heard a gong sounded in a forest, and soon he saw a body of about five hundred men. In front of them was their leader armed with a cudgel. He ran up to Shih Wen-kung and struck his horse with the cudgel. But the horse leapt over his head and carried Shih Wen-kung off. The mist here however was extremely thick, and it was blown about by a very strong cold wind. e thought he saw the spirit of Ch'ao Kai everywhere in the mist, so he turned his horse and went back by the same road. He soon met Yen Ching, the servant of Lu Tsun-i. He then met Lu Tsun-i himself who called out, "Thief! Where are you going?" So saying he wounded Shih Wen-kung in the log with his sword. The latter fell off his horse, was immediately seized, bound with ropes' and taken back to Tseng T'ou Shih as a prisoner. The coveted horse had also been captured' and brought to the village.
Sung Chiang was excited to get the horse again. He
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gave orders that every member of the Tseng family must be executed, including Tseng Sheng who was a prisoner. 'The whole village was then looted, all valuables and rice being loaded on carts, and transported to Liang Shan Po.
The troops from Ching Chou and Ling Chou were attacked and defeated, and then all the brigands returned to Liang Shan Po. In the Loyalty and Justice Hall all the leaders assembled, dressed in mourning, and held a memorial service to the spirit of Ch'ao Kai. A prayer was written addressed to Ch'ao Kai, and then burnt as a sacrifice. Shih Wen-kung was executed, and his heart was also offered as a sacrifice.
After this Sung Chiang raised the question for discussion as to who should now be the commander-in-chief at Liang Shan Po.
"You should remain in that position," said Wu Yung, "and Lu Tsun-i should be your assistant. All the other leaders can remain as before."
"But we must not forget the will of Ch'ao Kai," said Sung Chiang. "He said that whoever should capture Shih Wen-kung should be our commander-in -chief, no matter who he was. As Lu Tsun-i captured that thief and avenged the injury to Ch'ao Kai, he must be our head without any question."
