Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Song Jiang led his officers and troops on a campaign toward Jingnan, advancing sixty li each day before making camp. Wherever the army passed, the common people were not harmed in the slightest. The forces arrived and encamped at Jishan. Jishan lay to the north of Jingnan and was a strategic stronghold of that region. A rebel general named Li Nian was stationed there with thirty thousand soldiers to defend the mountain. Li Nian was the nephew of Li Zhu. Wang Qing had appointed him as Pacification Commissioner. Upon learning that Song Jiang and his forces had taken Shannan Army and captured Duan Er, he dispatched a messenger with all haste to Nanfeng to report the news urgently to Wang Qing and Li Zhu, informing them: "The Song army is formidable. They have already captured two great prefectures. They are now advancing on Jingnan, while also detaching Lu Junyi's forces to attack Xijing."

Li Zhu was greatly alarmed upon receiving the report and immediately entered the palace to inform Wang Qing. An inner attendant announced him within, and an imperial edict came forth saying: "Let the Military Adviser wait. His Majesty will ascend the throne presently." Li Zhu waited for two hours, but nothing stirred within. Li Zhu quietly asked a trusted attendant, "His Majesty is engaged in a lively tussle with Consort Duan!" Li Zhu asked, "Why is His Majesty quarreling with the Consort?" The attendant whispered into Li Zhu's ear, "Because of the state of Consort Duan's face, His Majesty has not visited her palace for a long while. Consort Duan is therefore vexed." Li Zhu waited a while longer, when an attendant emerged and said, "His Majesty asks by edict whether the Military Adviser is still here." Li Zhu replied, "I await your Majesty's pleasure!" The attendant conveyed this within. Shortly after, a retinue of attendants and palace ladies escorted Wang Qing forth as he ascended the front hall and took his seat. Li Zhu prostrated himself and performed the ritual of obeisance, then submitted: "This humble minister's nephew Li Nian has reported that Song Jiang and his generals are brave and his soldiers strong; they have captured the cities of Wanzhou and Shannan. Now Song Jiang has divided his forces: one column is advancing on Xijing, the other attacking Jingnan. I humbly beg Your Majesty to dispatch troops to relieve them."

Wang Qing flew into a rage upon hearing this: "Song Jiang and his band are nothing but water-margin brigands. How dare they be so rampant?" He then issued an edict commanding Governor Du Bo to lead twelve officers and twenty thousand soldiers to relieve Xijing. He also ordered Commander-in-Chief Xie Yu to lead twelve officers and twenty thousand soldiers to relieve Jingnan. The two generals received their military credentials and imperial orders, selected their troops, and prepared their equipment. The bogus Privy Council assigned the officers, and the bogus Transport Commissioner Gong Zheng supplied provisions to support the two generals. They took their leave of Wang Qing and each led their forces to relieve the two locations. Of this, no more need be said.

Now then, Song Jiang's army encamped ten li north of Jishan, preparing for an assault. Scouts returned with confirmed intelligence of the enemy's movements. Song Jiang consulted with Wu Yong and addressed the assembled generals: "I have heard that the officers under Li Nian are all fierce and valiant warriors. Jishan is a crucial stronghold of Jingnan. Although our soldiers and officers are twice the number of the rebels, the enemy holds the high ground while we are encamped on the shadowed side of the mountain—we are hemmed in by the foe. Li Nian is cunning and treacherous. When you brothers engage in battle, you must read the situation carefully and not treat this as an ordinary encounter." He then issued orders: "When officers enter the camp, close the gates and clear the streets. Anyone who dares walk shall be executed. Anyone who dares raise his voice shall be executed. The army shall have no second command—those who issue a second command shall be executed. Those who delay an order shall be executed." The moment the orders were proclaimed, the army fell into strict discipline.

Song Jiang sent Dai Zong to command the waterborne commanders, including Li Jun, to guard the grain boats carefully and transport them to the front in succession to supply the army. He dispatched a messenger to deliver a letter of challenge to Li Nian, arranging for a decisive battle on the following day. Vanguard Commander Song Jiang ordered Qin Ming, Dong Ping, Huo Yanhuo, Xu Ning, Zhang Qiong, Qiong Ying, Jin Ding, and Huang Yue to lead twenty thousand troops into battle. He ordered Jiao Ting, Yu Baosi, Duan Jingzhu, and Shi Yong to command two thousand foot soldiers to fell trees and widen the roads to facilitate the battlefield. After these assignments were made, Song Jiang and the remaining officers each guarded the camp.

The next day, they prepared the meal before dawn. The soldiers ate their fill, the horses were fed fodder, and at daybreak the armies joined battle. Li Huai led his subordinate generals Ma Qiang, Ma Jin, Yuan Lang, Teng Kui, and Teng Kan, with twenty thousand troops, charging down to attack. These five men were the fiercest warriors among the rebels; Wang Qing had appointed them Tiger-Generals. At that moment, the rebel forces stood face to face with Qin Ming and the others. The rebel army was drawn up on the level ground of the northern foothills, with additional troops positioned on the mountain above ready to support them. On both sides, banners fluttered and flags unfurled; the two armies formed their battle lines, each deploying powerful bows and crossbows to secure their positions. Drumbeats thundered to the heavens, and colorful flags dazzled the eyes. Where the gate-banner of the rebel formation parted, the rebel general Yuan Lang spurred his horse to the fore. He wore a burnished copper helmet on his head and a flowered embroidered silk robe, with black lacquer inlaid armor. He rode a curly-maned black steed, with a red face and yellow beard, standing nine feet tall, wielding two water-polished steel maces—the left one weighing fifteen catties, the right one sixteen. He shouted loudly: "Water-marsh bandits—who dares come forward and offer his life?" From the Song ranks, the former Jin generals Jin Ding and Huang Yue, eager to claim the first merit, charged out together on horseback, cursing: "Traitorous rebel, not worth a mention!" Jin Ding brandished a sweeping wind great-sword, and Huang Yue leveled an iron-tipped steel spear, both spurring straight at Yuan Lang. Yuan Lang met them with his two steel maces. The three horses spread out in a triangle and began to clash. After thirty exchanges, Yuan Lang parried with his mace and turned his horse to flee. Jin Ding and Huang Yue galloped in pursuit. Yuan Lang suddenly wheeled his horse around; Jin Ding's horse was slightly ahead. Just as Jin Ding swung his sword down, Yuan Lang raised his left mace to meet it. With a clang, the blade was notched. Before Jin Ding could withdraw his sword, Yuan Lang struck with his right steel mace, smashing Jin Ding through his helmet and crown to pieces, knocking him from his horse. Huang Yue's horse arrived, his spear already thrust at Yuan Lang's chest. Yuan Lang, sharp-eyed and quick-handed, dodged his body aside; Huang Yue's spear missed, passing below his right flank. Yuan Lang tucked his left arm around the mace, and with his right hand seized the spear shaft, pulling it backward. Huang Yue tumbled straight into Yuan Lang's embrace. Yuan Lang wrapped his right arm around Huang Yue's waist, pulled him across his horse, and threw him to the ground. The soldiers raised a great shout and rushed forward to seize him and carry him into their lines. Huang Yue's horse galloped back to its own formation.

From the Song ranks, "Thunderbolt Fire" Qin Ming, seeing two of his generals lost, flew into a rage. He leaped forward on horseback, swinging his wolf-tooth mace, and charged straight at Yuan Lang. Yuan Lang brandished his maces to meet him. The two fought for over fifty exchanges. From the Song ranks, the woman warrior Qiongying let loose her silver-maned horse, leveled her square-halberd, wearing a purple-gold kingfisher-feather crown and a red embroidered silk battle-robe over silver-inlaid golden armor, and rode out to aid Qin Ming. The rebel general Teng Kui, seeing that she was a woman, spurred his horse out of the formation, laughing loudly: "Song Jiang and his men are truly bandits—how can they send a woman into battle?" Teng Kui wielded a double-edged three-pointed blade and engaged Qiongying in combat. After more than ten exchanges, Qiongying parted Teng Kui's blade with her halberd and turned her horse to flee toward her own lines. Teng Kui gave a great shout and galloped in pursuit. Qiongying reached secretly into the embroidered pouch at her saddle-bow, took a stone, twisted her willow waist, aimed squarely at Teng Kui, and flung a single stone. It struck him full in the face, tearing the flesh and splitting the skin, blood gushing forth, and he toppled from his horse. Qiongying wheeled her horse around in an instant, galloped up, and finished Teng Kui with a single stroke of her halberd. Teng Kan, seeing the woman warrior kill his elder brother, was consumed with rage. He spurred his horse out of the formation, brandishing a tiger's-eye steel bamboo-section whip, and charged at Qiongying. Here "The Twin-Whiplash General" Huyan Zhuo rode forth swinging his whip to meet him in combat. The generals watching the two judged their abilities to be evenly matched, and their attire was quite similar as well. Huyan Zhuo wore an iron headpiece with upturned points, a golden silk forehead band, a black silk robe studded with seven stars, and black lacquer inlaid armor, riding a snow-kicking black steed. Teng Kan wore an iron headpiece with crossed points, a crimson silk forehead band, a black silk robe embroidered with a hundred flowers and kingfisher feathers, and black lacquer gilded armor, riding a yellow-maned horse. Huyan Zhuo had only one more item—a water-polished eight-faceted steel whip. The two faced each other on the battlefield, wheeling left and right, advancing and retreating, fighting for over fifty exchanges without either gaining the advantage. On the other side, Qin Ming and Yuan Lang had already fought for over a hundred and fifty exchanges. The rebel commander-in-chief Li Huai, watching from a high mound, saw how dangerous the woman warrior's stone-flinging was, and that Teng Kui had fallen. He immediately ordered the gong to be sounded to recall the troops. Qin Ming and Huyan Zhuo, seeing that the rebel generals were formidable, did not pursue. Yuan Lang and Qin Ming each returned to their own formations, and the rebel soldiers withdrew up the mountain.

Qin Ming and the others returned to the main camp and reported that the bandit generals were valiant fighters. They had lost Jin Ding and Huang Yue, and had it not been for General Zhang's wife, it would have truly dampened the army's morale. Song Jiang was greatly troubled and consulted with Wu the Scholar: "If this is the case, how can we take Jingnan?" Wu Yong crossed two fingers and devised a strategy, saying, "There is only one way—we must do thus and so." Song Jiang approved. He then summoned the fourteen chieftains Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Jiao Ting, Li Kui, Fan Rui, Bao Xu, Xiang Cong, Li Gun, Zheng Tianshou, Song Wan, Du Qian, Gong Wang, Ding Desun, and Shi Yong, together with Ling Zhen, to lead five thousand agile foot soldiers. That night, under the cover of the dark moon, they were each to don light armor, carry short weapons, round shields, javelins, and flying knives, and take the mountain paths to the rear to carry out their mission. The generals departed with their orders.

The next morning, Li Niang sent soldiers down with a challenge to battle. Song Jiang consulted with Wu Yong, who said: "The enemy surely has some cunning scheme. Lu Zhishen and the others have already penetrated deep into enemy territory. We must quickly prepare for battle." Song Jiang wrote his reply agreeing to fight that same day, and the soldiers carried the letter up the mountain. Song Jiang then ordered Qin Ming, Dong Ping, Huo Yanxu, Xu Ning, Zhang Qiong, and Qiong Ying to lead the vanguard with twenty thousand troops—crossbows and bows on the outside, shields and halberds within, war chariotss in front, and cavalry in support—to charge the enemy. He instructed Huang Xin, Sun Li, Wang Ying, and Hu Sanniang to ready ten thousand troops in camp to await orders, and Li Ying, Chai Jin, Han Tao, and Peng Qi to ready another ten thousand troops likewise: "When you hear the signal cannon from my vanguard, you are from the east and west flanks to sweep forward to the front." He further ordered Guan Sheng, Zhu Tong, Lei Heng, Sun Xin, Gu Dasao, Zhang Qing, and Sun Erniang to lead twenty thousand horse and foot soldiers and encamp behind the main camp, to guard against enemy reinforcements. Once the deployments were settled, Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and Gongsun Sheng personally took command of the battle, while the remaining officers guarded the camp.

That day, around mid-morning, Wu Yong climbed a cloud ladder to survey the terrain. Seeing the mountain was steep and perilous, he hastily ordered the troops to fall back two li and form their lines, so that the two flanking detachments could maneuver freely.

No sooner had the lines been formed than the Jishan bandit general Li Niang, commanding the four tiger generals Yuan Lang, Teng Kan, Ma Jiang, and Ma Jin, advanced with twenty-five thousand troops. Teng Kan had his soldiers mount Huang Yue's severed head on bamboo poles and paraded it before the five thousand iron-clad cavalry that led the charge. The soldiers wore deep helmets and iron armor, with only their eyes showing; their horses wore heavy barding and face masks, with only their four hooves touching the ground. This was because Li Niang had seen the female general's flying stones wound one of their officers the day before, and had prepared in this manner. Though arrows and stones might fly, the armor would protect them. These five thousand cavalry were arranged with two archers flanking each lancer as they charged down. Behind them, the foot soldiers divided into two wings to converge on the flanks. Song Jiang could not withstand the assault and retreated hastily in the rear. Song Jiang urgently ordered the signal cannon fired. The enemy had already shot and wounded several hundred soldiers pushing the chariots, but the war chariotss held the line, so the iron cavalry could not advance. Though cavalry stood behind the chariotss, they could not engage. Just as the situation was becoming critical, a string of cannon fire was heard from behind the mountain. Lu Zhishen and his men had climbed over the ridges and charged up the mountain. Inside the mountain stronghold, there were only five thousand old and weak bandit soldiers and one junior officer, all slain to the last man by Lu Zhishen's force, who seized the stronghold. Li Niang and his generals, seeing the uprising behind the mountain, tried to retreat, but Huang Xin and four other generals, along with Li Ying and four more, swept in from both flanks. Song Jiang then ordered the gunners to fire upon the iron cavalry, and the enemy forces broke into a rout. Lu Zhishen, Li Kui, and the other fourteen chieftains led their foot soldiers in a downhill charge, scattering the enemy like drops of rain and broken stars as they fled for their lives. Alas, Yuan Lang, a fine and fierce general, was killed by cannon fire. Li Niang was struck down by Lu Zhishen in the rear. Ma Jiang and Teng Kan were killed in the chaos of battle. Only Ma Qiang escaped. Armor, drums, horses, and other spoils beyond count were captured. Of thirty thousand enemy troops, more than half were slain. The mountain slopes above and below were covered with corpses. Song Jiang recalled his forces and counted his own losses—over a thousand men fallen. As it was already dusk, he encamped once more to the north of Jishan.

The next day, Song Jiang led his officers and soldiers up the mountain, gathered the gold, silver, grain, and provisions, set fire to the enemy camp, and richly rewarded the troops. He recorded the merits of Lu Zhishen and the other fifteen men, including Qiong Ying, and pressed forward with his army. After crossing Jishan, the great army encamped fifteen li outside Jingnan. Together with the strategist Wu Yong, Song Jiang planned the deployment of officers and soldiers to attack the city—but of this, no more for now.

Let the story divide here. We return now to the other thread and speak of Lu Junyi's army, which was advancing toward Xijing, cutting through mountains and bridging rivers along the way. In the regions they passed through, the bandit general Wu Shun of Baofeng and other places offered lanterns and candles, surrendered their cities, and submitted to the imperial court. Lu Junyi comforted and encouraged them, appointing Wu Shun to garrison the city. Because of this, all the bandit generals were moved to tears, bared their hearts, and turned from evil to righteousness. From then on, Lu Junyi and his men had no worries to their south, and their army advanced without hindrance. Before many days had passed, they arrived thirty li south of the Western Capital, at a place called Mount Yique, and encamped there. They learned that the commander defending the city was the illegitimate Xuanfu Commissioner Gong Duan, along with the army commander Xi Sheng and several fierce generals. That Commander Xi Sheng had studied battle formations and understood their profound mysteries. Lu Junyi immediately consulted with Zhu Wu on what strategy to use to take the city. Zhu Wu said: "I hear that fellow Xi Sheng is well versed in military tactics and will certainly come out to contest us with formations. Our army should first deploy a formation and, when the enemy troops arrive, engage them in a gradual challenge." Lu Junyi said: "The strategist's wisdom is most clear." He then dispatched and arrayed his troops on the flat ground south of the mountain in the "Cyclic Eight Trigrams Formation."

While they waited, the enemy troops arrived in three columns: the center column bore red banners, the left column blue banners, and the right column red banners. The three forces arrived together. Xisheng saw that the Song army had already formed battle array, so he ordered the blue-bannered and red-bannered forces to take positions on the left and right and set up camp. He ascended a cloud-ladder to observe the Song formation and said, "The enemy has arranged the Cyclic Eight Trigrams Formation. Who does not know this formation? Let me array a formation to astonish them." He ordered the troops to beat the painted drums three times, then erected a command platform. From the platform he wielded two signal flags, and the troops on either side completed their formation. He descended the platform, mounted his horse, and ordered his lead general to open the formation and ride to the front to parley with Lu Junyi. As for how Commander Xi was accoutered, one saw:

A golden helmet blazing, spitting rays of rosy light;

Silver armor spread with frost, swallowing the moon's reflection.

A crimson campaign robe embroidered and brocaded into splendor,

A yellow belt studded with pearls.

Dark green boots canted as they pressed the precious stirrups,

Gold-traced reins fastened to the silken whip.

Before the array, a horse that rode like a dragon;

In his hand, a sword lay across three feet of water.

Xisheng reined his horse up to the front of the formation and called out loudly, "You have arranged the 'Cyclic Eight Trigrams Formation'—whom do you think you can fool? But do you recognize my formation?" Hearing that Xisheng wished to contest formations, Lu Junyi ascended the cloud-ladder alongside Zhu Wu to observe. The enemy had arranged their troops in squads of three, combining three squads into a medium unit, and five medium units into a large formation—square on the outside and round within, the great formation enclosing the smaller ones, all linked and interconnected. Zhu Wu said to Lu Junyi, "This is Li Yaoshi's 'Six-Petal Formation.' Yaoshi took Marquis Wu's Eight Formations and adapted them into the Six-Petal Formation. The enemy general presumes we here do not know his formation. But he does not realize that our Eight Trigrams Formation can be transformed into eight times eight, making sixty-four—precisely Marquis Wu's Eight Formations diagram—and with that we can break his Six-Petal Formation." Lu Junyi rode to the front of the formation and shouted, "Your so-called 'Six-Petal Formation' is nothing remarkable!" Xisheng said, "Do you dare to attack it?" Lu Junyi laughed loudly. "Such a trifling formation—what difficulty could it possibly pose?" Lu Junyi entered the formation. Zhu Wu stood on the command platform, waving the signal flags to the left and right, transforming it into the Eight Formations diagram. Zhu Wu instructed Lu Junyi to pass the order: Yang Zhi, Sun An, and Bian Xiang were to lead a thousand armored cavalry to attack the formation. Since this day belonged to the element Metal, the troops at the South Li position of our formation were to charge forward together. Yang Zhi and the others obeyed the order and beat the drums three times. The generals advanced, swept aside the enemy's western gate banners, and fought their way in. Meanwhile, Lu Junyi led the generals Ma Ling and other officers and soldiers in a flanking attack. The enemy troops were utterly routed.

Now, when Yang Zhi and the others fought their way into the enemy army, they came upon Xisheng himself, who was leading several fierce generals, fleeing northward under protection. Sun An and Bian Xiang, eager to win merit, led troops in pursuit, not knowing they had ventured deep into hostile territory. From behind the hillside came the sound of a single gong, and a fresh force of soldiers burst forth. Yang Zhi, Sun An, and the others could not retreat quickly enough. Truly:

Horses charging the formation perish beneath the blue ridgeline;

Boats playing on the waves are trapped among the green rushes.

Just who were these troops, and how did Sun An and the others meet the enemy? Listen to the explanation in the following chapter.