Chapter 111

Chapter 111

This passage describes the Yangtze River and the military situation around Runzhou. The Yangtze stretches nine thousand three hundred *li*, connecting three rivers—the Hanyang, Xunyang, and Yangtzi rivers—from Sichuan all the way to the great sea, earning it the name "Ten-Thousand-Li Long River." It divides the lands of Wu and Chu. In the middle of the river stand two mountains: one called Jinshan (Gold Mountain) and the other Jiaoshan (Coal Mountain). On Jinshan sits a temple that wraps around the mountain, called "Mountain-Wrapped Temple"; on Jiaoshan, a temple hidden in a hollow, invisible from afar, called "Temple-Hidden Mountain." These two mountains sit mid-river, straddling the tail of Chu and the head of Wu. On one side lies Yangzhou in Eastern Huai; on the other, Runzhou in Western Zhejiang—present-day Zhenjiang.

Now, the city of Runzhou was held for Fang La by Lü Shinang, the Eastern Chancellery Grand Secretariat. Originally a wealthy man of Shezhou, he had contributed grain and funds to Fang La and was appointed to this post. Having studied military strategy in his youth, he wielded an eighteen-foot serpent spear with outstanding martial skill. Under his command were twelve garrison commanders known as the "Twelve Gods of Jiangnan," who jointly defended the Runzhou riverbank. The twelve gods were:

"Sky-Lifter" Shen Gang of Fuzhou; "Roving Scout" Pan Wende of Shezhou;

"Escape Art" Ying Ming of Muzhou; "Six Ding Spirit" Xu Tong of Mingzhou;

"Thunderbolt" Zhang Jinren of Yuezhou; "Giant Spirit" Shen Ze of Hangzhou;

"White Venus" Zhao Yi of Huzhou; "Grand Duke Jupiter" Gao Keli of Xuanzhou;

"Hanging Guest" Fan Chou of Changzhou; "Yellow Banner" Zhuo Wanli of Runzhou;

"Leopard Tail" He Tong of Jiangzhou; "Death Gate" Shen Lin of Suzhou.

This Grand Secretariat Lü Shinang commanded fifty thousand southern troops, holding the riverbank. Below Sweet Dew Pavilion, over three thousand warships were arrayed. On the northern bank lay Guazhou ferry—open and undefended, offering no natural obstacles.

At this time, Song Jiang's vanguard forces, advancing by both land and water, had already reached Huai'an, with orders to rendezvous at Yangzhou. That day, Song Jiang discussed with his strategist Wu Yong in the tent: "We are not far from the great river. The southern bank is held by the rebels. Who will go first to reconnoiter, gather intelligence across the river, and determine how we may advance?" Four generals stepped forward, all volunteering. They were: "Little Whirlwind" Chai Jin; "White Streak in the Waves" Zhang Shun; "Risking-Death Three-Lang" Shi Xiu; and "Living Yantuo"阮小七. Song Jiang said: "You four will divide into two groups: Zhang Shun with Chai Jin, and阮小七 with Shi Xiu. Go directly to Jinshan and Jiaoshan, gather intelligence on the rebel stronghold at Runzhou, and return to report at Yangzhou." The four took leave of Song Jiang, each bringing two attendants disguised as travelers, and set out for Yangzhou. At that time, hearing that a great army was coming to suppress Fang La, all the common folk along the road had packed up their families and fled to the countryside. The four parted in Yangzhou, each preparing dry rations. Shi Xiu and阮小七, with their two attendants, headed for Jiaoshan.

Meanwhile, Chai Jin and Zhang Shun, also with two attendants, carried their dry rations on their persons, each bringing a sharp-edged knife and a broad saber, and the four made their way to Guazhou. It was early spring—warm sun and fragrant flowers. Reaching the Yangtze riverbank, they gazed from the high ground: surging white waves, rolling misty waters—what a magnificent river scene! A poem testifies:

*Ten thousand li of mist and waves, ten thousand li of sky,*

*Red clouds reflecting far across the eastern sea.*

*The fishing boatmen have nothing to do,*

*Drunk, they sleep at ease wrapped in their green straw cloaks.*

Chai Jin and his companion saw beneath Beigu Mountain a stretch of blue and white banners, with many boats lined up along the shore, while the northern bank held not a single piece of timber. Chai Jin said: "Along the Guazhou road, though there are houses, none are inhabited, and there are no ferries on the river. How can we learn what lies across?" Zhang Shun said: "We need a house to stay in. Let me swim across to the foot of Jinshan and gather intelligence." Chai Jin said: "Good thinking." The four hurried to the riverbank and found several grass huts, all shut tight, the doors unopenable. Zhang Shun turned to the side, pried open a section of wall, and slipped inside, where he found an elderly white-haired woman rising from beside the stove. Zhang Shun said, "Grandmother, why don't you open your door?" She replied, "To be honest with you, sir, hearing that the court has raised a great army to fight Fang La, this area being a strategic point, the families have all moved elsewhere to take shelter. Only this old woman remains to watch the house." Zhang Shun asked, "Where is your husband?" She said, "He went to the village to check on the old and young." Zhang Shun said, "There are four of us who need to cross the river. Where can we find a boat?" She said, "Where would one find a boat? Recently, Grand Secretariat Lü, hearing that a great army was coming to fight him, had all the boats requisitioned to Runzhou." Zhang Shun said, "We have our own food. We only ask to stay in your house for two days. We will give you silver for the lodging and won't trouble you." She said: "Staying is no problem, but I have no beds or mats." Zhang Shun said: "We'll manage." She said: "Travelers, I'm afraid the army may come at any moment!" Zhang Shun said: "We know how to avoid trouble."

She then opened the door and let Chai Jin and his attendants in. They all leaned their broad sabers against the wall, set down their luggage, and brought out dry rations and baked cakes to eat. Zhang Shun went back to the riverbank and gazed at the river scene—the Jinshan Temple sat in the very heart of the river. He saw:

*The river swallows the turtle's back; the mountains rise like dragon scales.*

A silver plate disgorging a blue-green snail, soft emerald hills trailing a distant white silk ribbon.

The golden halls, bathed in winds from every corner of the sky;

The bell tower in the distance, leaning against a thousand-layered stone wall.

The Brahma pagoda rises high, invading the sun over the dark sea;

The lecture hall sits low, reflecting the clouds upon blue waves.

From the Boundless Pavilion, one watches ten thousand leagues of war-junks;

At the Flying Pace Pavilion, one breathes in the refreshing air of the whole sky.

In Guo Pu's tomb, dragons spew waves; in Golden Mountain Temple, ghosts move lanterns.

Zhang Shun stood by the river and watched for a while, then thought to himself: "That Lü Shumi in Runzhou must often come to this mountain. I shall go there tonight and surely learn something." He returned and discussed it with Chai Jin: "Now that we've arrived here, we don't have a single small boat—how can we find out what's happening across the river? Tonight I'll bundle up my clothes, carry two large pieces of silver on my head, and swim straight across to Golden Mountain Temple. I'll offer some money to those monks, find out the truth, and report back to the Vanguard Elder Brother. You just wait here." Chai Jin said, "Finish your business early and come back."

That night the stars and moon shone together, the wind was calm and the waves still, water and sky one color. At dusk, Zhang Shun stripped off his upper garments and wrapped a waistband of white silk around his waist as swimming trunks. He bundled up his headscarf and clothes together with the two large pieces of silver and tied them to his head. He wore a sharp knife at his waist and entered the water at Guazhou, swimming straight toward the open heart of the river. The water did not reach above his chest; in the water he moved as if walking on dry land. He swam until he reached the foot of Golden Mountain, where he saw a small boat moored by a rocky shoal. Zhang Shun climbed to the boat's side, removed the bundle from his head, took off his wet clothes, dried himself off, got dressed, and sat in the boat. He heard the night-watch drums of Runzhou—the third watch was striking. Zhang Shun crouched in the boat and watched. He saw a small boat coming down from upstream. Zhang Shun watched it and said, "That boat is coming suspiciously—there must be spies!" He was about to push off and flee, but that boat was held fast by a large cable, with no oar or pole. Zhang Shun had no choice but to take off his clothes again, draw his sharp knife, and leap back into the river, swimming straight to that boat's side. Two men aboard were rowing with oars, heading toward the north shore, paying no attention to the south side, just rowing steadily. Zhang Shun dove underwater and came up beneath the boat, grabbed the gunwale, and with one stroke of his sharp knife, cut the oars loose. The two rowers dropped their oars and tumbled backward into the river. Zhang Shun had already jumped aboard. Two men poked their heads out of the cabin. Zhang Shun raised his blade and struck one into the water; the other, terrified, fell back into the cabin. Zhang Shun shouted, "Who are you? Where did this boat come from? Tell the truth and I'll spare you!" The man said, "Listen, good sir: I am a servant of the Chen Jiangshi family from Dingpu Village outside Yangzhou. He sent me across to Runzhou to pay respects to Lü Shumi, who has accepted our grain tribute. He sent a虞候 back with me to request fifty thousand bushels of white grain and three hundred boats, as a tribute offering." Zhang Shun said, "What is that虞候's surname and given name? Where is he now?" The servant said: "The虞候's surname is Ye, given name Gui. He's the one the good sir just chopped into the river." Zhang Shun said: "And what is your surname and name? When did you cross over to pay respects? What's in this boat?" The servant said: "My surname is Wu, given name Cheng. I crossed the river on the seventh day of the first month this year. Lü Shumi told me to go to Suzhou to see Fang Mao, the Imperial Younger Brother and Third Prince. He gave me three hundred colored pennants and the official commission for my master Chen Jiangshi, who was appointed Prefect of Yangzhou and formally granted the title of Grand Master of Luminous Clarity. There are also a thousand uniforms and a letter from Lü Shumi." Zhang Shun asked again: "What is your master's surname and name? How many men and horses does he have?" Wu Cheng said: "Several men, over a hundred horses. He has two sons by his principal wife, both formidable. The eldest is Chen Yi, the second is Chen Tai. The master is called Chen Guan." Zhang Shun asked in full detail about everything, then with one stroke he chopped Wu Cheng into the water as well. He took up the oar at the stern and rowed straight to Guazhou.

Chai Jin heard the sound of the oar and hurried out to look. Seeing Zhang Shun rowing a boat toward him, Chai Jin asked what had happened. Zhang Shun told him everything that had occurred. Chai Jin was overjoyed. He went into the cabin and took out a bundle of documents along with three hundred red silk pennants and a thousand assorted uniforms, which he packed into two loads. Zhang Shun said: "I'll go get my clothes." He rowed the boat back to the foot of Golden Mountain, retrieved his clothes, headscarf, and silver, then rowed back to the bank at Guazhou. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and heavy fog covered the ground. Zhang Shun scuttled the boat and pushed it out into the river to sink. He went to the house, gave two or three taels of silver to the old woman, and with two companions carrying the loads, they went straight back to Yangzhou. At this time, Song Jiang's vanguard army was encamped outside the walls of Yangzhou. The local officials welcomed Song Jiang into the city and quartered him at the post-station. For several days there were banquets, and provisions were supplied to the soldiers.

Chai Jin and Zhang Shun, having waited until the banquet ended, met with Song Jiang at the postal relay station and told him all about Chen Guan and his sons colluding with Fang La, luring bandit troops across the river to attack Yangzhou at the first opportunity. Heaven had granted them a chance meeting on the river, enabling their commander to accomplish this great deed. Song Jiang was overjoyed and immediately sought the counsel of the strategist Wu Yong to devise a suitable plan. Wu Yong said, "Since this opportunity presents itself, capturing Runzhou will be as easy as turning one's hand. First seize Chen Guan, and the great matter will be settled. We need only do thus and thus."

At once he summoned the "Prodigal" Yan Qing, disguising him as Ye the Gentleman-in-Attendance, and ordered Xie Zhen and Xie Bao to pose as Southern soldiers. Having learned the way to Dingpu Village, Xie Zhen and Xie Bao shouldered their carrying poles, and Yan Qing received his detailed instructions. The three departed Yangzhou and took the road to Dingpu Village. After traveling some forty li beyond the city, they soon arrived at the gate of the Chen household's manor. Before the entrance stood twenty or thirty retainers, all neatly and uniformly attired, dressed alike. They wore:

Bamboo hats, topped with a tuft of black tassels;

Fine-threaded padded jackets, bound at the waist with eight-chi lengths of red silk.

Ox-shin shoes, as swift for climbing as arrows;

Deer-skin socks, guarding the feet like cotton padding.

Every man carried a goose-feather saber; each one bore a crow-beaked spear.

Yan Qing adopted the Zhejiang dialect and greeted the retainers, saying, "Is anyone at home at the Commander's residence?" A retainer asked, "Where does the gentleman come from?" Yan Qing replied, "I come from Runzhou. I crossed the river and lost my way, wandering half the day before I found my way here." The retainer then led him into a guest room, had him set down his load, and brought him to the rear hall to see Commander Chen. Yan Qing bowed and said, "Ye Gui pays his respects!" When the bow was done, Commander Chen asked, "Where do you come from, sir?" Yan Qing spoke in the Zhejiang dialect, "Clear away the idle ones; I dare speak only in the Lord's presence." Commander Chen said, "These are all my trusted men; speak freely." Yan Qing said, "This one's surname is Ye, given name Gui, a Gentleman-in-Attendance in Marshal Lü's camp. On the seventh day of the first month, I received a secret letter from Wu Cheng. The Marshal was greatly pleased and specially sent Ye Gui to deliver Wu Cheng to Suzhou to see the Imperial Younger Brother, the Third Prince, to convey the Lord's intentions fully. The Third Prince sent a memorial to the throne, and an official commission was issued appointing the Lord as Prefect of Yangzhou. As for the two Gentlemen of the Pavilion, their ranks will be decided when the Marshal meets them. Now they wished to send Wu Cheng back, but he has contracted a wind-cold illness and cannot move. The Marshal feared the great matter might be delayed, so he specially sent Ye Gui to deliver the Lord's official commission, along with the Marshal's documents, seals, tablets, three hundred signal banners, and one thousand uniforms. On a set day and hour, the Lord is to send grain and boats to the Runzhou riverbank to make the exchange." He then presented the official commission and documents for Commander Chen to read. Chen was overjoyed, quickly arranged an incense table, and faced south to express his gratitude. Then he summoned Chen Yi and Chen Tai to come out and meet the visitors. Yan Qing had Xie Zhen and Xie Bao bring out the uniforms and banners and deliver them in the rear hall. Commander Chen then invited Yan Qing to sit. Yan Qing said, "I am merely a courier; how dare I sit in the Lord's presence?" Commander Chen replied, "You are a man sent by the authorities on the other side, and you have brought me an official commission—how could I treat you lightly? Please sit without ceremony." Yan Qing declined several times before sitting at a distance. Commander Chen ordered wine brought and offered a cup to Yan Qing. Yan Qing declined, saying, "I have a heavenly prohibition against drinking wine." After two or three rounds had passed, both sons came to congratulate their father and offer wine. Yan Qing signaled with his eyes for Xie Zhen and Xie Bao to act. Xie Bao produced from his person a potent drug and, when no one was watching, dropped it into the wine pot. Yan Qing then rose and said, "Though Ye Gui has not brought wine across the river, let me borrow the Lord's wine and fruit to offer a toast of congratulation." He poured a large goblet and offered it upward to Commander Chen, urging him to drain the cup. He then urged Chen Yi and Chen Tai to drink a cup each. Several trusted retainers present were also urged by Yan Qing to take a cup. With a flick of his lips, Yan Qing signaled Xie Zhen to go outside, find a fire source, and produce the signal banners and signal cannon, which he set off before the manor gate. On both sides, leaders were already waiting; at the sound of the signal cannon, they rushed forward to support the operation. Inside the hall, Yan Qing saw one man after another collapse. Drawing a short blade from his person, he and Xie Bao set to work together, quickly severing all their heads. Outside the manor gate, ten good men caused a great commotion, charging in from the front. These ten commanders were: the Sagacious Monk Lu Zhishen, the Pilgrim Wu Song, the Nine-Dragon Shi Jin, the Sick Guan Suo Yang Xiong, the Black Whirlwind Li Kui, the Eight-Armed Nezha Xiang Chong, the Flying Great Sage Li Gun, the God of Death Bao Xu, the Brocade Leopard Yang Lin, and the Sick Mighty Tiger Xue Yong. The retainers at the gate could not withstand them. Inside, Yan Qing, Xie Zhen, and Xie Bao had already brought out the heads of Commander Chen and his sons. Outside the manor gate, a company of government troops arrived, led by six commanders. These six were: the Beautiful Beard Zhu Tong, the Vanguard Suo Chao, the Arrowless Arrow Zhang Qing, the Demon King of Chaos Fan Rhui, the Tiger-Fighting General Li Zhong, and the Little Overlord Zhou Tong. The six leading commanders, with a thousand soldiers, surrounded the manor and put Chen Guan's entire family to the sword. They seized the retainers and led them to the riverbank to inspect the boats. Along the river and in the harbor were moored three or four hundred boats, all fully loaded with grain. The commanders tallied the numbers and flew a report to the main general Song Jiang.

Having heard that the Chen official had been killed, Song Jiang discussed with Wu Yong their plan to advance the troops. They packed their baggage, took their leave of the Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zhaotao, and led the main force in person to the Chen official's estate. He assigned the vanguard officers and soldiers to board the ships and proceed with the plan, while simultaneously dispatching men to hasten the war vessels across. Wu Yong said, "Select three hundred fast boats, each flying the banners surrendered by Fang La's forces. Let one thousand soldiers each wear the proper uniforms, while the remaining three or four thousand men dress in various attire." Within the three hundred boats, more than twenty thousand men were concealed. Furthermore, Mu Hong was ordered to disguise himself as Chen Yi, and Li Jun as Chen Tai, each taking a large vessel for himself, while the remaining boats were distributed among the other officers.

The first detachment of boats was placed under the command of Mu Hong and Li Jun. By Mu Hong's side, ten lieutenants were assigned to attend him. These ten were:

Xiang Chong, Li Gun, Bao Xu, Xue Yong, Yang Lin,

Du Qian, Song Wan, Zou Yuan, Zou Ran, Shi Yong.

By Li Jun's side, ten lieutenants were likewise assigned to attend him. These ten were:

Tong Wei, Tong Meng, Kong Ming, Kong Liang, Zheng Tian-shou,

Li Li, Li Yun, Shi En, Bai Sheng, Tao Zong-wang.

The second detachment of boats was placed under the command of Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun. On Zhang Heng's boat, four lieutenants were assigned to attend him. Those four were:

Cao Zheng, Du Xing, Gong Wang, Ding De-sun.

On Zhang Shun's boat, four lieutenants were assigned to attend him. Those four were:

Meng Kang, Hou Jian, Tang Long, Jiao Ting.

The third detachment of boats was placed under the command of ten principal officers, also divided into two boats for the advance. Those ten were:

Shi Jin, Lei Heng, Yang Xiong, Liu Tang, Cai Qing,

Zhang Qing, Li Kui, Xie Zhen, Xie Bao, Chai Jin.

On these three hundred boats, principal and subordinate officers, great and small, numbering in all forty-two, crossed the river. Afterward, Song Jiang and the others loaded the war horses onto the vessels—a thousand ships of the Youlong and Feiqing class, flying the banners of Song Jiang, Vanguard Envoy of the Song Dynasty—and all the mounted and foot officers, principal and subordinate, embarked together to cross the river. Two naval commanders, Ruan Xiao-er and Ruan Xiao-wu, were placed in overall charge of the advance.

Not to mention Song Jiang's central army crossing the river—let us turn instead to Yuzhou's Beigu Mountain, where scouts reported that some three hundred warships had emerged from the opposite harbor all at once, their masts flying red banners marked "Escort Grain Vanguard." The Southern army rushed to report this to the provincial command. Lü Weipi gathered his twelve military commissioners, all fully armored with bows strung and swords drawn, and led his finest troops to the riverbank to observe for himself. They saw that the first hundred ships had already pulled alongside the shore. Standing aboard, flanked by attendants, were the two leaders, all clad in golden chainmail surcoats, each one a strapping brute of a man.

Lü Weipi dismounted and sat upon his silver folding chair, with the twelve commissioners standing in two rows along the bank. Mu Hong and Li Jun, seeing Lü Weipi seated on the riverbank, rose and called out a respectful greeting. The guards on either side ordered the ships to halt, and the hundred vessels dropped anchor in a single neat line. Behind them, the remaining two hundred ships, riding the favorable wind, all arrived—dividing to pull alongside on either side, a hundred to the left and a hundred to the right, arranged in three evenly spaced groups.

The reception officer came ashore and asked, "Where do these ships come from?"

Mu Hong replied, "This humble one's name is Chen Yi; my brother is Chen Tai. Our father, Chen Guan, has specially sent us brothers to present fifty thousand dan of white rice, three hundred ships, and five thousand elite soldiers, in gratitude for the Marshal's grace in recommending us for office."

The reception officer said, "The other day the Marshal sent Envoy Ye—where is he now?"

Mu Hong said, "The envoy and Wu Cheng both fell ill with typhoid fever and are recuperating at the manor—they cannot come. We have brought the official tallies and documents here for presentation."

The reception officer received the documents and went ashore to report to Lü Weipi: "Chen Yi and Chen Tai, sons of Prefect Chen Guan of Dingpu Village in Yangzhou, present grain and troops. They have submitted the original official tallies."

Lü Weipi examined them and found they were indeed the original documents. He issued orders summoning the two men ashore. The reception officer called for Chen Yi and Chen Tai to come forward. Mu Hong and Li Jun came up onto the shore, followed by twenty lieutenant generals. The guards shouted, "The Minister is here—no unauthorized persons may approach!" The twenty lieutenant generals all stopped. Mu Hong and Li Jun bowed with hands clasped and stood at a respectful distance. After some time, the reception officer led one of them forward to pay respects, kneeling before Lü Weipi.

Lü Weipi said, "Why has your father Chen Guan not come himself?"

Mu Hong replied, "My father, hearing that Song Jiang of Liangshan Marsh has led troops here, feared that bandits might raid the countryside. He is managing affairs at home and did not dare leave."

Lü Weipi said, "Which of you two is the elder?"

Mu Hong said, "Chen Yi is the elder."

Lü Weipi said, "Have you two brothers trained in martial arts?"

Mu Hong said, "By the grace of Your Excellency, we have received some training."

Lü Weipi said, "How is the white grain loaded on your ships?"

Mu Hong said, "The large ships carry three hundred dan of grain; the small ships carry two hundred dan."

Lü Weipi said, "I suspect you two have come with ulterior motives!"

Mu Hong said, "My father and I come with nothing but loyal and filial hearts—how would we dare harbor any improper intent?"

Lü Weimi said, "Though your intentions may be good, I observe that the soldiers on your ships look extraordinary—one cannot help but be suspicious. You two will remain here. I will send four military commissioners with a hundred soldiers to search your ships. If they find anything beyond what has been declared, I will show no mercy."

Mu Hong said: "We came hoping for Your Excellency's trust and appointment—why this suspicion?"

Lü Shangang was just about to assign four commissioners to search the ships when a scout arrived and reported: "An imperial edict has arrived at the south gate. Please, Marshal, mount your horse to receive it."

Lü Weimi hastily mounted his horse and gave orders: "Hold the riverbank. Bring these two—Chen Yi and Chen Tai—with me."

Mu Hong glanced at Li Jun. The moment Lü Weimi had gone ahead, Mu Hong and Li Jun summoned their twenty lieutenant generals and entered the city gate. The gate guards shouted: "The Marshal ordered only the two leaders to come—the rest may not enter!" Mu Hong and Li Jun passed through, but the twenty lieutenant generals were all stopped at the city's edge.

Now, when Lü Weimi reached the south gate, he met the imperial envoy and asked, "Why has this come so urgently?"

The envoy was Fang Xi, a presentation secretary in front of Fang La. He said quietly to Lü Shangang: "Recently, the Astronomer Royal Pu Wenying reported: 'Observing the heavens at night, I have seen numerous warrior stars entering the celestial territory of Wu, among which half are dim—there is great calamity within.' The Son of Heaven has specially issued an edict instructing the Marshal to strictly guard the riverbank. All people coming from the north must be thoroughly interrogated and questioned for the truth. Those of suspicious appearance are to be executed immediately and not detained."

Lü Weimi was greatly alarmed. "This group I just saw—I was deeply suspicious of them, and now this news confirms my fears. Please come into the city to read the edict."

Fang Xi went with Lü Weimi to the provincial command. After the imperial edict had been read aloud, a galloping messenger reported again: "Another envoy has arrived from Suzhou, bearing the decree of the Imperial Third Prince."

The message read: "Regarding the surrender of the Yangzhou officers and soldiers the other day—this cannot be trusted. There may be treachery. We have recently received an imperial edict: the Observatory has observed warrior stars in the celestial territory of Wu. You must strictly guard the riverbank. I will soon send my own men to supervise."

Lü Weimi said: "His Highness is also concerned about this matter. I have already received the imperial edict." He immediately ordered that the river be strictly guarded—not a single person from any arriving ship was to be allowed ashore. At the same time, he prepared a banquet to host the two envoys.

Meanwhile, the men on the three hundred boats had seen no movement for half a day. On the left hundred boats, Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun, with eight lesser officers, took up their weapons and went ashore. On the right hundred boats, ten chief officers all seized their spears and swords and scrambled ashore. The southern army guarding the river could not hold them back. Black Whirlwind Li Kui, Xie Zhen, and Xie Bao rushed into the city. The gate guards hurried out to intercept them, but Li Kui swung his twin axes, chopping and hacking, and soon cut down two of the gate officers. A great cry arose from the city wall. Xie Zhen and Xie Bao each leveled their steel tridents and entered the city. All at once they broke out in action—how could the gates be shut against them? Li Kui threw himself across the threshold, seeking people to hack and kill. The twenty lesser officers who had reached the city wall first each seized weapons and began fighting. Lü Shumi hastily sent orders to hold the river firmly, but by the time the command reached the gate, the attackers had already fought their way inside. The twelve garrison commanders, hearing the cries at the city wall, were mobilizing their cavalry when Shi Jin and Chai Jin had already roused the soldiers from within the three hundred boats. They had stripped off the southern army's uniforms and were the first to land. The troops hidden in the boat cabins all charged ashore together. When the lead garrison commanders Shen Gang and Pan Wende brought their cavalry from two directions to defend the gate, Shen Gang was cut from his horse by a single stroke of Shi Jin's blade, and Pan Wende was stabbed diagonally by Zhang Heng's spear. The armies clashed in confusion. The ten garrison commanders all retreated into the city to protect their families. Mu Hong and Li Jun, hearing the news in the city, seized fire from a tavern and set the flames going. Lü Shumi was hastily mounting his horse when three garrison commanders arrived to his aid. The city blazed as if fire had fallen from the sky. From Guazhou, a force of cavalry was dispatched at once to reinforce them. At the four gates of the city, the confused fighting raged for a long time. Soon the banner of Song Vanguard was raised on the city wall. From every direction, men and horses clashed in battle—too much to tell in full, but what follows will make it clear.

Meanwhile, on the north bank of the river, a hundred and fifty warships had already pulled alongside. The warhorses were led ashore all at once. Ten battle-hardened generals disembarked, fully armored from head to foot. These ten great commanders—Guan Sheng, Huyan Zhuo, Hua Rong, Qin Ming, Hao Siwen, Xuan Zan, Shan Tinggui, Han Tao, Peng Qi, and Wei Dingguo—together with a thousand chief and lesser officers, led two thousand cavalry and charged into the city. By now Lü Shumi had suffered a great defeat and fled with his wounded troops straight to Dantu County. The great army captured Runzhou. They had the fires extinguished and stationed troops at the four gates. Then they went to the riverbank to welcome the boats of Song Vanguard. Just then, on the river's surface, vessels like soaring whales and flying dragons, riding the favorable wind, all arrived at the south shore. Officers of every rank welcomed Song Vanguard into the city. Proclamations were issued beforehand to reassure the people. All officers of the main force were summoned to the central army tent to report their merits. Shi Jin presented the head of Shen Gang. Zhang Heng presented the head of Pan Wende. Liu Tang presented the head of Shen Ze. Kong Ming and Kong Liang had captured卓Wanli alive. Xiang Chong and Li Gun had captured He Tong alive. Hao Siwen had shot Commander Xu dead with an arrow. They had taken Runzhou, killed four garrison commanders, captured two garrison commanders alive, and slain an incalculable number of officers and men.

Song Jiang reviewed his officers and found that three lesser officers had fallen—all killed in the chaos of battle, shot by arrows or trampled by horses. The three were: Song Wan, known as Diamond in the Cloud; Jiao Ting, known as Faceless; and Tao Zongwang, known as Nine-Tailed Tortoise. Song Jiang was troubled by the loss of these three and deeply grieved. Wu Yong counseled him: "Life and fate are allotted by Heaven. Though we have lost three brothers, we should rejoice that we have taken the first strategic stronghold in the south. Why grieve and harm your precious body? If we are to accomplish great deeds for the state, let us discuss the great matters at hand." Song Jiang replied: "We one hundred and eight men, as recorded in the celestial signs, correspond to the stars above. When we made our vows at Liangshan Mount and our oaths at Mount Wutai, we swore to live and die together. After returning to the capital, who would have thought that Gongsun Sheng would leave us first, that Jin Dajian and Huangfu Duan would be detained at court, that Grand Tutor Cai would take Xiao Rang, and that Commandery Prince Wang would claim Le He? And now, having just crossed the river, I have lost three more brothers. When I think of Song Wan—though he never won any remarkable merit—when Liangshan Mount was first founded, we owed much to this man. Today he is a guest beneath the springs!" Song Jiang gave orders for the soldiers to set up a memorial rite at the place where Song Wan had died. Silver money was laid out, and a black pig and white sheep were prepared. Song Jiang personally offered wine in sacrifice. Then the captured puppet garrison commanders卓Wanli and He Tong were brought forward, beheaded, and their blood offered to honor the three heroic souls. Song Jiang returned to the prefectural offices to distribute rewards. At the same time he wrote a report and sent a messenger to inform Recruitment Envoy Zhang—but of this, no more. The dead bodies strewn along the streets were all gathered and burned outside the city. The remains of the three lesser officers were buried outside the east gate of Runzhou.

Meanwhile, Lü Shumi had lost more than half his forces. He retreated with six garrison commanders to Dantu County and dared not advance again. An urgent dispatch was sent to Suzhou to seek aid from the Third Prince, Fang Mao. Then a scout reported that Suzhou had sent Grand Marshal Xing Zheng with an army. Lü Shumi received the Grand Marshal, exchanged courtesies, and came to the county seat. He explained in full how General Chen's feigned surrender had allowed Song Jiang's army to cross the river. "Now that the Grand Marshal has arrived, together we can recover Runzhou." Xing Zheng said: "The Third Prince, knowing that the Stars of the Dipper have invaded the Wu region, specially dispatched me with an army to patrol the river. I did not expect the Marshal's defeat. I shall avenge you, Marshal. You should assist me in battle." The next day, Xing Zheng led his army to try to recapture Runzhou.

Meanwhile, in the prefectural compound at Runzhou, Song Jiang was consulting with Wu Yong. He sent Tong Wei and Tong Meng with over a hundred men to Jiaoshan to retrieve Shi Xiu and Ruan Xiaoqi, while at the same time he dispatched troops out of the siege to seize Dantu County. He detailed five thousand soldiers for the operation, placing ten principal generals in command. The ten were: Guan Sheng, Lin Chong, Qin Ming, Huyan Zhuo, Dong Ping, Rong, Xu Ning, Xu Ning, Suo Chao, and Yang Zhi. The ten generals at once led their elite force of five thousand men away from Runzhou and advanced on Dantu County.

As Guan Sheng and the others were marching along, they encountered the army of Xing Zheng on the road. The two forces faced each other, loosing arrows to fix their positions and forming battle lines. On the Southern army's front, Xing Zheng rode out with his spear at the ready, the six divisional commanders ranged on either side. From the ranks of the Song army, Guan Sheng caught sight of him, and urging his horse forward he swung his Green Dragon Crescent Blade to engage Xing Zheng. The two commanders fought for fourteen or fifteen exchanges, when one of them toppled from his horse. Indeed, "The earthen jar will break beside the well; the general must fall before the battle line." Which of the two had been defeated in this clash, you will hear explained in the next chapter.