الفصل الثاني عشر

الفصل الثاني عشر

When Lin Chong looked at him more closely, he saw a man wearing a Felt Hat of Fanyang, with a tuft of red tassel on top; clad in a white silk campaign jacket, fastened with a braided cord, his legs wrapped in blue-and-white puttees below, gripping the trouser cuffs, wearing deerskin socks and hairy ox-hide boots; a waist-knife at his hip, a broad sabre in his hand. He stood some seven feet five or six in height, with a great blue birthmark on his face and a few reddish whiskers showing at his cheeks. He had pushed the felt hat back on his shoulders, bared his chest, wearing a soft kerchief tied in horns, and now brandishing his broad sabre, he roared in a loud voice: "You damned bandit! Where have you taken my luggage and goods?" Lin Chong was in no good mood to begin with and made no reply. He glared with his fierce eyes, his tiger-like whiskers bristling, and thrusting forward with his broad sabre, rushed to fight the big man. The lingering snow had just cleared, the thin clouds were dispersing; along the stream they trod on a sheet of ice, and on the riverbank two auras of killing intent surged—back and forth they fought some thirty exchanges without either gaining the upper hand.

The two fought another dozen or more bouts, and just as the contest reached a critical point, a voice called out from the heights of the mountain: "Two heroes, stop fighting!" Lin Chong heard this and suddenly leaped out of the circle. Both men stayed their broad sabres and looked up at the mountain top, where they saw the "White-Robed Scholar" Wang Lun, together with Du Qian, Song Wan, and many lesser bandits, coming down the mountain. They had ferried a boat across the river and said: "Two heroes—what magnificent broad sabres, as wondrous as spirits! This is our brother, 'Leopard-Head' Lin Chong. Blue-Faced Man, who are you? We would gladly know your name." The man said: "This humble one is the descendant of three generations of generals, the grandson of Lord Yang the Fifth Marquis. Surnamed Yang, given name Zhi. I have drifted here to the west of the passes. When I was young, I passed the military examination and was appointed a Commissioner of the Palace Command. His Majesty was building the Hill of Ten Thousand Years and sent ten commissioners in all to the shores of Lake Tai to transport the Flower Stone Convoy to the capital for delivery. As ill luck would have it, while I was escorting the Flower Stone Convoy, we reached the Yellow River when a wind struck and capsized the boats. The Flower Stone Convoy was lost, and I could not return to the capital to report for duty, so I fled elsewhere to take refuge. Now our crimes have been pardoned by the amnesty, and I have gathered a load of money and goods to take back to the Eastern Capital to use at the Privy Council, so I can settle my own affairs. I was passing through here and hired a farmer to carry the load, but I never expected you fellows to seize it. Would you return it to me?" Wang Lun said: "Could you be the one they call 'Blue-Faced Beast'?" Yang Zhi said: "This humble one is he." Wang Lun said: "Since you are Commissioner Yang, please come to the mountain stronghold and have three cups of wine—we will return your luggage as well." Yang Zhi said: "Since you heroes recognize this humble one, simply return my luggage—that would be better than inviting me to drink." Wang Lun said: "Commissioner, when I went to the Eastern Capital to sit for the examinations some years ago, I already heard of your great name. Today it is my fortune to meet you—how could I let you leave empty-handed? Please come to the mountain stronghold and stay a while; I mean no harm."

Having heard this, Yang Zhi had no choice but to follow Wang Lun and his party across the river and up to the mountain stronghold. Wang Lun called for Zhu Gui to come up to the stronghold as well, and they all arrived at the Hall of Gathered Righteousness on the left side were four chairs, occupied by Wang Lun, Du Qian, Song Wan, and Zhu Gui. On the right side were two chairs: the upper seat for Yang Zhi, the lower for Lin Chong, and all were seated. Wang Lun ordered a sheep slaughtered and wine prepared, arranging a banquet to entertain Yang Zhi—of this, no more need be said.

To be brief, after several cups of wine, Wang Lun thought to himself: "If I keep Lin Chong, he makes the rest of us look inferior. I had better do a favor and keep Yang Zhi as well, to serve as a rival to him." So he pointed to Lin Chong and said to Yang Zhi: "This brother is an instructor of the Eight Hundred Thousand Imperial Guards of the Eastern Capital, called 'Leopard-Head' Lin Chong. Because that scoundrel Grand Marshal Gao could not leave good men in peace, he framed an offense and had him sent in penal exile to Cangzhou. There he got into trouble again, and only recently arrived here. Just now, Commissioner, you wish to go to the Eastern Capital on your business—it is not that Wang Lun would press you to stay. I myself abandoned the pen for the sword and came here to turn outlaw. You, Commissioner, are also a man who has committed a crime; though you have been pardoned, it is hard to restore your former post. Moreover, that scoundrel Gao Qiu now holds military authority—how could he ever tolerate you? You would do better to rest your horse at our small stronghold, share the gold and silver by the large scale, eat meat and drink wine by the large bowl, and join us as outlaws. What does the Commissioner think?" Yang Zhi replied: "I am deeply grateful for the kindness of all the leaders, but I have a relative living in the Eastern Capital. Because of my official troubles, I have not yet been able to repay his kindness. Today I wish to go there and pay a visit. I ask the leaders to return my luggage. If you will not return it, Yang Zhi will go empty-handed." Wang Lun smiled and said: "Since the Commissioner is unwilling to stay, how dare we force you to join us? Please rest easy for one night and leave early tomorrow." Yang Zhi was overjoyed. That day they drank until the first watch, then each went to rest.

Early the next morning, they again prepared wine to see Yang Zhi off. After breakfast, the leaders ordered a lesser bandit to carry last night's load, and all escorted him down the mountain. At the crossroads they took their leave of Yang Zhi. They ordered a bandit to ferry him across and see him onto the main road. After parting, they returned to the mountain stronghold. Only then did Wang Lun agree to let Lin Chong take the fourth seat and Zhu Gui the fifth. From then on, the five heroes raided homes and plundered households at Liangshan Marsh—of this, no more need be said.

Now when Yang Zhi reached the main road, he found a farmer to carry his load and sent the bandit back to the mountain stronghold. Yang Zhi took to the road, and in a few days arrived at the Eastern Capital. Entering the city, he found an inn to rest at. The farmer handed over the load, received some silver, and went back on his own. Yang Zhi put down his luggage at the inn, took off his waist-knife and broad sabre, and asked the innkeeper to use some loose silver to buy wine and meat for him to eat.

Several days later, someone was sent to pull strings at the Bureau of Military Affairs to handle his proper business. The gold and silver and other goods from that load were used to grease palms high and low, seeking once more to be reinstated as a garrison commandant in the Palace Command. After much of his wealth had been exhausted, documents were finally submitted, and he was led to see Marshal Gao, the Grand Commandant. Arriving at the command hall, Gao Qiu reviewed all the records of Yang Zhi's past service and flew into a rage. "You ten commandants were sent to transport the Flower and Rock Convoy, and nine of you returned to the capital to make your deliveries. But you alone lost the convoy. You never came forward to confess, but instead fled, and for a long time you could not be apprehended. Now you seek appointment again, but though your crimes have been pardoned, it is difficult to entrust you with a post." He struck through the documents with a single stroke of his brush and drove Yang Zhi out of the Marshal's headquarters.

Yang Zhi returned in deep dejection. Back at his inn, he reflected: "Wang Lun advised me, and he had a point. It is only that this fellow's name is an honest one—I refuse to stain the body my parents gave me. I hoped to use my skills at the frontier, lance by lance and blade by blade, to win a title for my wife and children and bring honor to my ancestors. Who could have expected this blow? Grand Commandant Gao, you are too venomous, too harsh!" He brooded over this for some time. Staying several more days at the inn, his traveling money was completely spent. Truly:

The Flower and Rock Convoy was void of all order,

And in the end the wicked ensnared the loyal and good.

Had he known the court held such heavy power,

Better to have gathered brothers in the mountain woods.

Yang Zhi thought it over. "What else can be done? There is only this precious blade handed down from my ancestors, which has always been with me. Now that I am pressed by circumstance, I have no choice but to take it to the street and sell it for a thousand strings of cash to fund my travels and settle elsewhere." That day he took the precious blade, stuck a straw tag in it, and went to market. He walked into Horse Market Street and stood there for two watches, but not a single person inquired. As the hour approached noon, he moved to the bustling area of Tianhan Prefecture Bridge to sell it. Yang Zhi had not stood long when he saw people on both sides running into the alleys off the river to hide. Yang Zhi watched as they scattered in disorder, shouting, "Quick, hide! A great tiger is coming!" Yang Zhi said, "How strange! In such a splendid city, where would a tiger come from?" He stopped to look and saw in the distance a huge dark man, half drunk, staggering step by step toward him. Yang Zhi observed his appearance—rough and ugly. His face resembled a ghost's; his body seemed almost human. He was like a gnarled tree, transformed into a mass of knotted flesh; a rotting, filthy stump turned into a squalid demon. His whole body was covered with coarse, scaly sharkskin; from his temples to his head grew tight, curly, coiled screws of hair. His chest was a patch of tough, stubborn hide; his forehead bore three stubborn, creased lines.

This man was a well-known ne'er-do-well rascal of the capital called Bald Tiger Niu Er, who specialized in brawling, committing violence, and causing trouble in the streets. He had been involved several times in lawsuits, and even the Kaifeng prefectural government could not control him. For this reason, when the whole city saw him coming, they all fled.

Now Niu Er rushed up to Yang Zhi, pulled the precious blade from his hands, and asked, "Fellow, how much do you want for this sword?" Yang Zhi said, "It is a precious blade handed down from my ancestors. I want three thousand strings for it." Niu Er shouted, "What kind of blasted sword is that, to want so much money? I can buy a sword for thirty cash that cuts meat and cuts豆腐. What's so good about your blasted sword that you call it precious?" Yang Zhi said, "This is not some cheap iron sword sold in a shop—it is a precious blade." Niu Er said, "Why do you call it precious?" Yang Zhi said, "First: it chops through copper and cleaves iron without the edge curling. Second: you can blow through hair on the blade. Third: when it kills a man, there is no blood on the blade." Niu Er said, "Will you chop through copper coins?" Yang Zhi said, "Just bring some and I'll chop them for you to see."

Niu Er went to a pepper shop under the prefecture bridge and got twenty coins, strung together in a stack, and placed them on the bridge railing. He called to Yang Zhi, "Fellow, if you can chop them apart, I'll give you three thousand strings." The onlookers, though they dared not come close, gathered from a distance to watch. Yang Zhi said, "This is nothing." He rolled up his sleeves, took the blade in hand, took careful aim, and with a single stroke chopped the copper coin clean in two. The crowd cheered. Niu Er said, "What are you cheering about? Now tell me, what's the second thing?" Yang Zhi said, "Blowing through hair: if you place a few strands on the blade and blow on them, they will all break cleanly." Niu Er said, "I don't believe it." He pulled a handful of hair from his own head and handed it to Yang Zhi. "Blow on it for me to see." Yang Zhi took the hair in his left hand, and with all his breath blew on the blade. The hair broke into two pieces and fluttered to the ground. The crowd cheered, and more people gathered to watch. Niu Er asked again, "What is the third thing?" Yang Zhi said, "When it kills a man, there is no blood on the blade." Niu Er said, "How can there be no blood on the blade when it kills a man?" Yang Zhi said: "If you strike a man down with one stroke, there is no bloodstain—it is simply swift." Niu Er said, "I don't believe it. Give me the blade and let me see you chop a man." Yang Zhi said, "Inside the forbidden city, how dare I kill a man? If you don't believe me, bring a dog and I'll kill it for you to see." Niu Er said, "You said killing a man, not killing a dog!" Yang Zhi said, "If you won't buy it, stop pestering me!" Niu Er said, "Give it here and let me look at it." Yang Zhi said, "You keep making unreasonable demands—I'm not someone you can toy with!" Niu Er said, "You dare kill me?" Yang Zhi said: "I have no quarrel with you from the past, no enmity from days gone by. When one deal falls through, two things are lost—I have no reason to kill you."

Niu Er grabbed hold of Yang Zhi and said, "I insist on buying this sword of yours." Yang Zhi said, "If you want to buy it, bring the money." Niu Er said, "I have no money." Yang Zhi said, "If you have no money, why do you seize hold of me?" Niu Er said, "I want your sword." Yang Zhi said, "I won't give it to you." Niu Er said, "If you're a real man, chop me one." Yang Zhi flew into a rage and shoved Niu Er, sending him tumbling to the ground. Niu Er scrambled to his feet and plunged into Yang Zhi's arms. Yang Zhi shouted, "Neighbors and shopkeepers, you are all witnesses: Yang Zhi was short of traveling money and was selling this sword, when this scoundrel tried to seize my sword by force and also struck me." The neighbors were all afraid of Niu Er, and none of them dared to step forward and intervene. Niu Er roared, "You say I struck you—so what if I beat you to death?" Even as he spoke, he swung his right fist and threw a punch. Yang Zhi swiftly dodged, seized his sword, and lunged forward. In a fit of rage, he thrust the blade into Niu Er's temple, and Niu Er fell to the ground with a thud. Yang Zhi rushed in and stabbed Niu Er twice more in the chest. Blood flowed across the ground, and Niu Er lay dead.

Yang Zhi shouted, "I have killed this scoundrel—how could I let you be implicated? Since the scoundrel is dead, all of you come with me to report to the authorities." The neighborhood people hastily gathered and went along with Yang Zhi to the Kaifeng prefectural office to make their report. It happened that the prefect was holding court. Yang Zhi, carrying the sword, along with the local neighbors, all came before the hall and knelt down together, placing the sword before them. Yang Zhi stated, "This humble man was originally a commissioner of the Palace Command. Because I lost the shipment of exotic rocks and plants, I was stripped of my post and had no traveling money, so I was selling this sword in the street. I did not expect that a scoundrel and vagabond named Niu Er would try to seize my sword by force and also strike me with his fists. In a fit of rage, I killed that man. All the neighbors here are witnesses." The others also spoke on Yang Zhi's behalf, explaining the matter at length. The prefect said, "Since he has come forward of his own accord to report the crime, spare this man the usual beating upon entering the gate." He ordered that a long cangue be fetched and placed on Yang Zhi. He assigned two coroners, accompanied by an autopsy clerk, to escort Yang Zhi and all the neighbors—the entire group of persons involved—to the Tianhanzhou Bridge, where the body was examined on site and the case file was compiled. All the neighbors gave their depositions and were released on guarantee to await further proceedings at the court. Yang Zhi was placed under guard in the death row jail. And so it was:

Pushed into the prison, herded through the jail gate.

Yellow-bearded jailers, with hemp ropes ready for binding and hanging;

Black-faced prison keepers, with wooden boxes prepared for locks and chains.

The rod of authority—when the jailers broke it, one's waist ached.

The horns of punishment—when the prisoners saw them, their hearts trembled.

Do not speak of dying and meeting the King of Hell—this place alone was already a true hell.

Now, when Yang Zhi was escorted to the death row jail, the many guards and jailers, upon hearing that Yang Zhi had killed the "tailless tiger" Niu Er, all pitied him as a fine man and did not come to extort money from him, but instead treated him well. The people at the Tianhanzhou Bridge, because Yang Zhi had removed a pest from their streets, collected some traveling money and pooled silver to bring him food, and also spent money on his behalf above and below. The magistrate also regarded him as a man of honor who had turned himself in, and since he had rid the streets of the Eastern Capital of a menace, and since Niu Er's family had no one to press charges, the charges were all reduced in severity. After repeated interrogations, the confession was settled as: killing in a fight, inflicting injury that resulted in death. After the sixty-day limit was reached, the magistrate reported to the prefect, and Yang Zhi was brought before the hall. The long cangue was removed, and he was given twenty blows on the back with a heavy rod. A tattooing craftsman was called to brand two lines of gold seals on his face, and he was sentenced to military exile at the Beijing Daming Prefecture garrison. The precious sword was confiscated and placed in the government arsenal.

The official documents were issued in the hall, and two guards were assigned to escort him—none other than Zhang Long and Zhao Hu. A seven-and-a-half-pound iron-leaf head guard cangue was fastened on him. The two guards were instructed to take him on his way.

The wealthy households at the Tianhanzhou Bridge collected some silver and goods and waited for Yang Zhi to arrive. They invited him and the two guards to a wine shop, where they ate and drank, and then produced silver for the two escorting guards, saying, "We know Yang Zhi is a man of honor who rid the people of a menace. Now he is going to Beijing. On the road, we ask you two to look after him well and take good care of him." Zhang Long and Zhao Hu said, "We too know he is a man of honor. You need not trouble yourselves to instruct us—rest assured." Yang Zhi thanked the assembled people. The remaining silver was all given to Yang Zhi for his traveling expenses, and the people dispersed.

Now, Yang Zhi, together with the two guards, arrived at the inn where he had originally stayed. He settled the bill for the room, retrieved the clothes and luggage he had left in storage, arranged some food and wine, and invited the two guards. He sought out a physician and bought several plasters for his rod wounds, applied them to his injuries, and then set out on the road with the two guards. The three headed for Beijing. They posted markers every five li and every ten li, passing through prefectures and counties, buying wine and meat along the way, and from time to time inviting Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to eat with him. The three traveled by day along the post roads and lodged at inns by night. In a few days they arrived in Beijing, entered the city, and found an inn to stay at.

The Liangzhongshu of the Daming Prefecture capital in the north had the greatest authority, commanding the troops when he mounted his horse and governing the people when he dismounted. The man was Liang Zhongshu, whose given name was Shijie—he was the son-in-law of Cai Jing, the Grand Tutor at court in Dongjing. On that day, the ninth of the second month, the Liangzhongshu ascended to his hall of audience, and the two constables brought Yang Zhi before the gate of the Liangzhongshu's office, presenting the official document from Kaifeng Prefecture. Liang Zhongshu examined it. He had known Yang Zhi back in Dongjing, and now upon seeing him, he asked for the full account of the matter. Yang Zhi then reported everything truthfully: that Grand Marshal Gao would not allow him to resume his post, that he had exhausted his money, that he had sold his precious sword to make ends meet, and that in the course of these events he had killed Niu Er. Liang Zhongshu was greatly pleased. He ordered the cangue removed on the spot and kept Yang Zhi in the hall to await assignment. He sent a reply together with the two constables, who returned to Dongjing on their own. That is not worth recounting further.

Let us speak only of Yang Zhi, who from that day served diligently in Liang Zhongshu's household, morning and evening awaiting orders. Liang Zhongshu, seeing his diligence, wished to promote him and intended to appoint him an assistant military officer with a monthly stipend. But he feared the others might not accept it, so he issued an order directing the Military Affairs Office to announce to all officers and personnel, great and small, that on the following day they were all to go to the drill ground outside the East Wall Gate for military exercises and trials of skill. That evening Liang Zhongshu summoned Yang Zhi to the hall and said, "I wish to promote you to the post of assistant military officer with a monthly stipend, but I do not know how your martial skills measure up." Yang Zhi replied, "This humble man passed the military examination and formerly served as a commissioner in the Palace Command. These eighteen martial arts, I have studied since childhood. Now that Your Excellency in your grace wishes to promote me, it is like parting clouds and seeing the sun. If Yang Zhi should advance even an inch, I will repay you with the devotion of a grateful beast that bears its master on its back." Liang Zhongshu was greatly pleased and bestowed upon him a suit of armor and clothing. Nothing further happened that night.

The next day at dawn, it was mid-second month, and the weather was mild and the sun warm. After breakfast, Liang Zhongshu mounted his horse with Yang Zhi, preceded and followed by attendants, and rode toward the East Wall Gate. Arriving at the drill ground, he was received by the common soldiers and many officers. Before the martial review hall, he dismounted and went up to the hall, where a chair of pure silver had been placed at the center. He sat down. To his left and right stood two orderly rows of officers: commanders, militia commanders, chief commissioners, leaders, senior officers, captains, principal soldiers, and assistant soldiers. Before and behind, around and about, a hundred officers stood with fierce and forbidding looks. On the reviewing platform stood two chief military inspectors: one called Li Cheng, the Heavenly King, the other called Wen Da, the Great-Blade Wen—both possessed the courage to withstand ten thousand men. They led many troops and together approached to pay their respects to Liang Zhongshu, shouting three times in unison. Then a yellow flag was raised on the reviewing platform. On either side of the platform stood thirty to fifty pairs of drummers with gongs, and they began to beat the drums all together. Three rounds of painted horns were sounded, and three rounds of drums were beaten—no one within the drill ground dared raise his voice. Then a flag of pure order was raised on the reviewing platform, and the five armies before and behind stood in perfect formation. On the reviewing platform, a red guiding flag was waved, and at the sound of the drums, five hundred soldiers formed two battle arrays, each man gripping his weapon. Then the white flag was waved on the platform, and the cavalry of both arrays drew up before him in neat rows, each rider reining in his horse.

Liang Zhongshu issued an order calling upon Zhou Jin, an assistant soldier, to come forward and receive his command. Zhou Jin, hearing his name called from the right array, galloped his horse to the hall, dismounted, planted his spear, and shouted a great salute like a thunderclap. Liang Zhongshu said, "Let the assistant soldier display his own martial skill." Zhou Jin received the order, took up his spear, mounted his horse, and before the martial review hall wheeled left and right, right and left, wielding his spear through several routines. The crowd cheered. Liang Zhongshu said, "Call Yang Zhi, the military man transferred here from Dongjing." Yang Zhi came before the hall and gave a great salute. Liang Zhongshu said, "Yang Zhi, I know you were formerly a Palace Command officer in Dongjing and were sentenced and sent here as punishment. In these times when bandits run rampant and the state needs men, do you dare to match skills with Zhou Jin? If you win, I will promote you to fill his post." Yang Zhi said, "If Your Excellency in his grace deigns to assign me a task, how dare I disobey your honored command?" Liang Zhongshu ordered a war horse to be brought, and directed the officials of the armory accompanying them to supply weapons and armor. He had Yang Zhi don his armor and mount his horse for the contest with Zhou Jin. Yang Zhi went behind the hall, put on the armor that had been brought, bound it tight, and took up his helmet, bow, arrows, waist sword, and long spear. He mounted his horse and rode out from behind the hall.

Liang Zhongshu watched and said, "Let Yang Zhi and Zhou Jin first compete with spears." Zhou Jin was enraged. "Does this damned convict dare to cross spears with me?" But little did he know he had provoked this hero, who now came to test his skill against Zhou Jin. Were it not for this contest, Yang Zhi would not have made his name known among ten thousand horses, nor would he have won the foremost merit among a thousand troops. But what person was drawn out by the contest between Yang Zhi and Zhou Jin? Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.