Chapter 101

Chapter 101

It was said that Cai Jing, at the Military Academy, had been inquiring into the identity of the official who had disregarded his discourse on military matters and gazed upward at the roof corners. This official's name was Luo Jian, a native of Yunnan Army and Dazhou Prefecture, currently serving as Military Academy Vice Rector. At that moment, Cai Jing's chest was brimming with rage, and he was on the verge of making an example of him, when word arrived that the Emperor's carriage had reached the academy. Cai Jing therefore set the matter aside and led all the officials in welcoming His Sacred Majesty into the academy, performing the ritual prostrations and threefold acclamations. After the Emperor Daojun had concluded his review of military exercises, the Military Academy Vice Rector Luo Jian, without waiting for Cai Jing to speak, stepped forward and prostrated himself, submitting a memorial: "Your humble minister Luo Jian, the Military Academy Vice Rector, ventures at the risk of ten thousand deaths to respectfully report to Your Sacred Intelligence the circumstances of the powerful bandit Wang Qing's rebellion in Huai-Xi. Wang Qing has wreaked havoc in Huai-Xi for five years now, and the imperial armies have been unable to withstand him. Tong Guan and Cai You received imperial commands to campaign in Huai-Xi, but their entire forces were annihilated. Fearing punishment for their crimes, they concealed the truth and deceived Your Majesty, claiming that the soldiers were unaccustomed to the local climate and temporarily withdrawing the troops—thereby allowing this great menace to grow. Wang Qing's power has grown ever more rampant. Just last month, he captured Yun'an Army, my home prefecture, where he plundered, violated, and slaughtered, with cruelties too horrific to describe. In all, he now occupies eight army prefectures and eighty-six counties. Cai Jing, who assists in upholding the state, and his son Cai You, who has destroyed armies, killed generals, and brought disgrace and ruin upon the nation—even before Your Sacred Majesty's arrival, they sat loftily discoursing on military affairs, boasting shamelessly, maddened and bereft of conscience! I implore Your Majesty to swiftly execute the treacherous ministers Cai Jing and others who have brought disaster upon the nation, select generals and dispatch troops at once to suppress this rebellion, rescue the common people from their sufferings, and protect the altars of state for eternity. Then your ministers and people will be most fortunate! The world will be most fortunate!" Upon hearing this memorial, the Emperor Daojun was greatly enraged and severely reproached Cai Jing and the others for their crime of concealment. However, Cai Jing and his cohorts craftily presented their case to the Emperor, and punishment was not immediately imposed. The Emperor then departed for the palace.

The following day, the Prefect of Bo Prefecture, Hou Meng, arrived in the capital awaiting reassignment and submitted a memorial speaking plainly of the crimes of Tong Guan and Cai You in annihilating their forces and disgracing the nation. He also recommended: "Song Jiang and his men possess exceptional talent and strategy, and have repeatedly achieved extraordinary merit. Having returned from the campaign against the Liao and then pacified Hebei, they have now reported their triumphant return. At present, Wang Qing's rampage continues unchecked. I implore Your Majesty to issue an imperial edict first bestowing rewards upon Song Jiang and his men, and then ordering this very army to campaign in Huai-Xi—great success will surely result." The Emperor Huizong granted the memorial and immediately issued an edimandating the Secretariat-Chancellery to deliberate on the conferral of official titles upon Song Jiang and his men. The officials of the Secretariat-Chancellery deliberated with Cai Jing and the others, and reported back: "Wang Qing has broken Wan Prefecture. Just recently, emergency memorials arrived from Yu Prefecture, Zai Prefecture, and Lai County. These three jurisdictions are prefectures and counties under the Eastern Capital, adjacent to the sacred capital. I implore Your Majesty to command Chen Guan and Song Jiang and his men not to return to the capital upon completion of their campaign, but rather to lead their troops with all haste to relieve Yu Prefecture and the others. We the ministers recommend Hou Meng as a military advisor. Luo Jian has long possessed strategic acumen; let him accompany Hou Meng to serve under Chen Guan's command. Song Jiang and his men are currently engaged in suppression and should not be promoted at this time; rewards and titles may be deliberated separately after victory in Huai-Xi is reported." The truth was that Cai Jing knew Wang Qing's forces had fierce troops and fierce generals, and in consultation with Tong Guan, Yang Jian, and Gao Qiu, he deliberately sent Hou Meng and Luo Jian to Chen Guan's command—simply waiting for Song Jiang and his men to suffer defeat. As for Hou Meng and Luo Jian, where could they flee even if they tried to climb to the heavens? Then all of them could be swept up in one net. But enough of this. The Emperor Daojun approved each of these four treacherous ministers' proposals in turn and issued an imperial edict, commanding Hou Meng and Luo Jian to bear the edict and imperial gifts—gold and silver, bolts of silk, robes, armor, horses, wine from the imperial cellars, and other such items—and set out at once to ride swiftly to Hebei to proclaim the edict to Song Jiang and his men. He further commanded the relevant ministry to promptly recommend and appoint prefectural and county officials to fill vacancies in the various prefectures and counties newly recovered in Hebei, ordering them to proceed to their posts with all possible speed. After the Emperor Daojun had finished adjudicating these matters, Wang Fu and Cai You once again persuaded His Majesty to divert himself at the Gen-Yue gardens. But no more of this.

Now, Hou Meng received the edict and the rewards for the officers and men, loading them into a full thirty-five carts, and departed the capital, heading toward Hebei. Nothing of note occurred along the road. In less than a day, he passed Huguan Mountain and Zhao-de Prefecture, arriving at Wei-sheng Prefecture. Still some twenty *li* from the city, he encountered Song troops escorting captured rebel leaders. It happened that Song Jiang had already received the edict ordering his return, and coincidentally, Qiongying had just returned from burying her mother. Song Jiang had prepared a detailed memorial to the court reporting the deeds of Qiongying, her mother, and Ye Qing in their chastity, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness; the merit of capturing the chief rebel leader; as well as the meritorious service of the officers and men, including the sorcerer Qiu Daochen and Sun An, who had submitted to the Heavenly Court. He had dispatched Zhang Qing, Qiongying, and Ye Qing to lead troops and escort the captured rebel leaders ahead of him. At this moment, Zhang Qing came forward and completed the courtesies with Military Advisor Hou Meng and Luo Jian. Having received this news, Zhang Qing sent a messenger galloping to report to Chen Anfu and Vanguard Commander Song Jiang. Chen Guan and Song Jiang led the other generals out beyond the city walls to welcome them. Hou Meng and his party bore the imperial edict into the city, where a dragon pavilion and incense table were arranged. Anfu Chen and all the generals below Song Jiang arranged themselves in neat rows, kneeling facing north, and Pei Xuan called for the obeisances. After the prostrations were completed, Hou Meng stood facing south to the left of the dragon pavilion and read the edict:

"The Decreed Edict: We revere Heaven and model ourselves upon our ancestors, continuing the great foundation of our dynasty, relying entirely upon outstanding ministers and mighty assistants to aid in the great enterprise. In recent times, there have been many alarms along the borders, and the peace of the state has been little assured. You, Vanguard Commissioner Song Jiang and others, have traversed mountains and rivers, crossed perilous barriers, first accomplishing the merit of subduing the barbarians, and next reporting the achievement of pacifying the bandits. We are truly grateful and rely upon you. We now specially dispatch Military Advisor Hou Meng to bear this edict and bestow upon Anfu Chen, Song Jiang, Lu Junyi, and others gold and silver, robes and silk, famous horses, armor, wine from the imperial cellars, and other such items, to manifest your merit. At this time, moreover, the powerful bandit Wang Qing has rebelled in Huai-Xi, overthrowing our cities, slaughtering our people, ravaging our frontiers, and shaking our Western Capital. We hereby again command Chen Guan as Pacification Commissioner, Song Jiang as Pacification Vanguard Commander of the West, Lu Junyi as Pacification Deputy Vanguard Commander of the West, and Hou Meng as Military Advisor. On the day this edict arrives, you are to lead your troops with all haste to first relieve Wan Prefecture. You officers and soldiers, strive together with all your loyalty; when the merit of complete pacification is reported, rewards shall be duly bestowed. Should the rewards bestowed upon the officers and men of the three armies prove insufficient, Chen Guan is authorized to draw upon the abundant treasuries of the prefectures and counties within Hebei to provide additional rewards, and to compile a register for reporting to the court. Let you respectfully heed this! A special edict."

On the fourth month of the fifth year of the Xuanhe era, Hou Meng finished reading the imperial decree. Chen Guan, Song Jiang, and others shouted "Long live the emperor!" three times and bowed twice in gratitude for the imperial favor. Hou Meng took out the gold, silver, silks, and other items and distributed them according to rank: Governor Chen, Song Jiang, and Lu Junyi each received five hundred taels of gold, ten bolts of brocade, a set of brocade robes, a fine steed, and two bottles of imperial wine. Wu Yong and the other thirty-four officers each received two hundred taels of silver, four bolts of colored silk, and one bottle of imperial wine. Zhu Wu and the other seventy-two officers each received one hundred taels of silver and one bottle of imperial wine. The remaining gold and silver Governor Chen arranged to be supplemented and distributed to the soldiers. Song Jiang then ordered Zhang Qiong, Qiong Ying, and Ye Qing to escort Tian Hu, Tian Bao, and Tian Biao as prisoners of war to the capital for the presentation of captives.

Gongsheng Sheng came to report, requesting that his elder brother repair the images of the five dragons in the Dragon God Temple on Wulong Mountain. Song Jiang assented and dispatched craftsmen to rebuild them.

Song Jiang sent Dai Zong and Ma Ling to instruct the officers and soldiers guarding the various cities: as soon as the new officials arrived, they were to hand over their posts and lead their troops to join the campaign against Wang Qing. Song Jiang spent several more days making arrangements. The new officials in all locations arrived successively, and the officers and soldiers guarding the various cities led their troops in one after another. Song Jiang distributed the silver awarded by the emperor. Song Jiang ordered Xiao Rang and Jin Dianjian to carve a stone tablet to record these events. It happened to be the fifth day of the fifth month—the Dragon Boat Festival—and Song Jiang instructed Song Qing to prepare a grand feast to celebrate the peace. He invited Governor Chen to take the seat of honor, with the newly appointed prefect, Hou Meng, Luo Jian, and the assistant officials of the prefecture seated below him. Below Song Jiang, except for Zhang Qiong who had gone to the capital, the remaining one hundred and seven men, together with the seventeen former Hebei generals who had surrendered—Dao Qing, Sun An, Bian Xiang, and others—sat in neat and orderly rows on both sides. During the feast, Chen Guan, Hou Meng, and Luo Jian praised the meritorious deeds of Song Jiang and his men. Song Jiang and Wu Yong, grateful to these three men of understanding, discussed affairs of the court or poured out their hearts to one another. Goblets were exchanged back and forth, and the lanterns and candles blazed brightly. They drank until midnight before dispersing.

The next day, Song Jiang and Wu Yong discussed plans and assembled their troops. They took their leave of the prefectural offices, departed Weisheng, and together with Chen Guan and the others headed south. Wherever they passed, not a single item was plundered. The common people lined the road with incense, flowers, lanterns, and candles, bowing in thanks to Song Jiang and his men for exterminating the bandits. "We common people have the grace of seeing the light of day again."

Let us leave Song Jiang and his men advancing southward to campaign, and turn to speak of "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qiong, who together with Qiong Ying and Ye Qing escorted the prison carts containing Tian Hu and his brothers. They had already arrived at the Eastern Capital. First they presented Song Jiang's letter to Grand Marshal Su and also offered gold, pearls, and rare treasures. Grand Marshal Su conveyed the matter to the Retired Emperor. The Son of Heaven greatly praised Qiong Ying and her mother for their chastity and filial piety. An imperial edict was issued posthumously granting Qiong Ying's mother, Lady Song, the title "County Lady of Jie Xi, Chaste and Virtuous," and ordering the local authorities to construct a memorial archway and shrine to commemorate her chastity, with sacrifices offered in spring and autumn. Qiong Ying was enfeoffed as "Lady of Chastity and Filial Piety," and Ye Qing was appointed as a regular rank-and-file soldier. They were awarded fifty taels of silver in commendation of their righteousness. Zhang Qiong resumed his original post. The three were still ordered to assist Song Jiang in the campaign against Huai Xi, with rewards to be given upon completion of the mission. The Emperor Daojun issued an order to the judicial authorities to take the rebels Tian Hu, Tian Bao, and Tian Biao to the execution ground to be cut into pieces. Qiong Ying brought small portraits of her parents and reported to the supervising executioner. She had the small portraits of Qiu Shen and Lady Song hung at the execution ground. A table was placed before the portraits. When the third mark of the noon hour arrived and Tian Hu was being cut into pieces, Qiong Ying placed Tian Hu's head on the table, dripped the blood upon it to sacrifice to her parents, and broke into loud weeping. By then, Qiong Ying's story had already spread throughout the Eastern Capital. On that day, the spectators were piled like a mound, and seeing Qiong Ying weep so mournfully, none failed to be moved to tears. When Qiong Ying had finished her sacrifices, she, together with Zhang Qiong and Ye Qing, turned to thank the imperial court for its favor. The three left the Eastern Capital and headed straight for Wanzhou to assist Song Jiang in the campaign against Wang Qing—but of this, no more for now.

Pray, good reader, keep this firmly in your mind and listen carefully, while I set forth the story of Wang Qing from his youth to his manhood. Wang Qing had originally been an assistant rank-and-file soldier in the Kaifeng Prefecture of the Eastern Capital. His father, Wang Huo, was a wealthy man of the Eastern Capital who specialized in cultivating the yamen, stirring up lawsuits, acting deceitfully and taking advantage of others, and framing good people. For this reason, people all gave way to him somewhat. He listened to a geomancer who had identified a burial plot of yin virtue destined to produce a greatly distinguished son. This plot of land had already been used by a relative of Wang Huo's for a burial, but Wang Huo and the geomancer schemed to frame them. Wang Huo took the lead and filed a false accusation against that family. The lawsuit dragged on for years, and their family fortune was exhausted. Unable to contend with Wang Huo, that family left the Eastern Capital and settled far away. Later, when Wang Qing rebelled and his three clans were exterminated, this family alone, being far away, was spared. The authorities discovered that Wang Huo had been the one who had wronged them, and so they alone were preserved. Wang Huo seized that burial plot and interred his parents there. His wife then became pregnant and reached full term. Wang Huo dreamed of a tiger entering his house and crouching in the west of the hall. Suddenly a lion-like beast burst in and carried the tiger away in its jaws. Wang Huo awoke, and his wife then gave birth to Wang Qing.

From childhood, Wang Qing was dissolute. By the age of sixteen or seventeen, he had grown powerful and strong. He did not attend school but devoted himself to cockfighting, horse riding, spear play, and staff fighting. Wang Huo and his wife had only the one son, Wang Qing, and they loved and pitied him dearly. They always shielded his faults and let him have his way. By the time he had grown up, how could they possibly restrain him? Wang Qing gambled for money, slept with prostitutes, and drank wine. Wang Huo and his wife admonished him from time to time. But when Wang Qing's rebellious nature flared up, he cursed and berated his parents. Wang Huo could do nothing but let him be. After six or seven years, the family fortune was completely spent. Wang Qing relied solely on his own abilities and served as an assistant rank-and-file soldier in the prefecture. Whenever he had money in hand, he would feast with his brothers on wine and meat all day long. But if anything displeased him, he would throw his fists at them. Thus, people both feared and liked him.

One day, Wang Qing entered the yamen before dawn to report for roll call. After completing his duties, he strolled south of the city to the Yujin Garden for some leisure. It was the sixth year of Zhenghe under Emperor Huizhong. In mid-spring, visitors swarmed like ants and troops massed like clouds. Truly: flowers bloom in the upper garden and embankment slumbering willows; among the crowds of sightseers mingle fair maidens. Golden-bridled horses neigh on fragrant meadows; jade tower ladies drift apace beneath apricot blossoms.

Wang Qing wandered alone for a while, then leaned his shoulder against a weeping willow by the pool, waiting for an acquaintance to join him so they could go to a wine shop for three cups before returning to the city. Before long, he saw ten or so clerks, attendants, and serving women on the north side of the pool, surrounding a sedan chair. Inside sat a young woman lovely as a flower. She had removed the bamboo curtain to enjoy the scenery. Wang Qing was fond of women, and seeing such a ravishing beauty, his very soul was swept away. He recognized the clerks and attendants as men from Marshal Tong Guan's household.

Wang Qing followed the sedan at a distance and trailed the group to Genyue Garden, which lay in the northeast corner of the capital, built by the Daojun Emperor. Strange peaks and fantastic rocks, ancient trees and rare birds, pavilions and ponds and halls—too many to count. Outside, vermillion walls and crimson doors stood like the gates of a forbidden palace, guarded by eunuch soldiers of the inner court. Ordinary folk would not dare so much as point a toe toward the gate. The party set down the sedan, and the serving woman helped the young woman out. She walked straight into the gate of Genyue Garden, swaying and graceful, enchanting and alluring. The eunuch guards and palace servants all stepped aside to let her pass.

The young woman was the daughter of Tong Guan's brother Tong Shi and the granddaughter of Yang Jian. Tong Guan had raised her as his own daughter and betrothed her to Cai You's son, thus making her the granddaughter-in-law of Cai Jing. Her pet name was Jiaoxiu, and she was sixteen years old. She had obtained Tong Guan's permission to visit Genyue Garden while the Emperor was amusing himself for two days at the home of Li Shishi. Tong Guan had given orders to the guards in advance, so none dared to stop her. Jiaoxiu went in and for two hours still had not come out. Wang Qing stood outside like a fool, hungry, and slipped to a tavern on the East Street, bought some wine and meat, and hastily drank six or seven cups. Fearing the woman might leave, he did not even settle the bill, but pulled out a two-qian-weight piece of silver from his purse and tossed it to the waiter, saying, "I'll settle later." Wang Qing then went back to Genyue Garden and waited a while longer. At last the young woman came out with her serving woman, walking with light, lotus steps. She did not get into the sedan but stayed to admire the scenery outside Genyue Garden. Wang Qing edged closer to look at her, and truly she was beautiful. There is a verse to prove it, in the tune "Hunjiang Dragon":

> A figure of cultivated grace—what golden chamber could contain her?

> Cherry lips small, eyes like autumn waters.

> Had not last night's clear moon shone so bright,

> how could this morning break one's heart at Little Liangzhou?

> Fragrant and elegant, a match for orchids,

> her sleeves wafting the grace of lotus blooms.

> On both sides, hearts like gibbons were hooked by moon and flowers.

Wang Qing, seeing such beauty, felt his heart leap like a deer, his bones turn soft and his sinews weak—like a snow lion facing fire, half his body melted in an instant. Jiaoxiu, in the crowd, noticed Wang's features: phoenix eyes and thick brows as if painted, a slight mustache over a fair ruddy face. A level crown and broad forehead filling the celestial storehouse, a sturdy frame of seven feet. Skilled at stealing fragrance and jade, practiced in coquetry and flirtation. He stood lost in thought before her, his handsome charm endless.

Jiaoxiu had taken one look at Wang Qing's elegance and was smitten with him too. The clerks and attendants shouted the crowd back, the serving woman helped Jiaoxiu into the sedan, and the party escorted her east and west until they came outside Zaozhmen Gate to burn incense at the Temple of the Sacred Mountain. Wang Qing followed them to the temple, where the crowd was mountain-deep and sea-wide, packed so tight there was no room. The people saw that these were attendants and clerks from Marshal Tong's household and cleared a path. Jiaoxiu descended to offer incense. Wang Qing pushed forward but could not get close, and feared the escorts might berate him. Pretending to be acquainted with the temple keeper, he helped light candles and burn incense, his eyes constantly stealing glances at Jiaoxiu, and Jiaoxiu's eyes also kept drifting back to him. It happened that Cai You's son was born dull-witted. Jiaoxiu had heard the matchmakers' reports confirmed several times and had wept and raged day and night. Today, seeing Wang Qing's charm and handsomeness, the young girl's heart was stirred too.

Now a certain Surname Dong attendant in Tong's household had already noticed and recognized the patrol soldier Wang Qing. Dong struck Wang across the face and shouted, "Whose household lady is this? You are a mere soldier of Kaifeng Prefecture! How dare you crowd in here? I'll report you to the Marshal and see that your donkey head stays no longer on your neck!" Wang Qing dared not say a word. He covered his head and fled like a rat, running out of the temple gate, spat, and cried out: "Damn it! What a fool I am! A toad lusting after swan flesh!" That night he swallowed his shame and went home in disgrace.

But Jiaoxiu, after returning to the household, thought of him day and night. She bribed her maid heavily and sent her to question Dong the attendant, to learn all about Wang Qing. The maid was close with a Madame Xue, who acted as a go-between and secretly lured Wang Qing in through the back gate. Without anyone knowing, he and Jiaoxiu became lovers. Wang Qing was overjoyed and spent his days drinking.

Time passed quickly. Three months went by, and just as joy turns to sorrow, Wang Qing one day drank himself dead drunk and let the matter slip in front of Zhang Bing, the chief patrol officer of his own office. The affair became known and inevitably reached Tong Guan's ears. Tong Guan was furious and began looking for a crime with which to punish him—but that is another story.

Now it must be said that because this matter had been discovered, Wang Qing dared not enter the Tong residence any longer. One day he was sitting idle at home. It was already the latter part of the fifth month, and the weather was sweltering. Wang Qing fetched a bench and set it down in the courtyard to enjoy the cool. He had just risen to go into the house for a fan when he saw the four legs of the bench moving as it walked into the courtyard. Wang Qing cried out, "Strange!" and flew into the air with his right foot, kicking at the bench with a single blow. Wang Qing screamed, "Ai ya! Bitter fate!" Had he not kicked, all would have been well; but the moment he kicked, misfortune arrived. Truly it is said: Heaven has unpredictable winds and clouds, and man has misfortune and fortune before the evening shadows fall. Just why Wang Qing cried out in agony upon kicking that bench—listen to the explanation in the next chapter.