الفصل الثلاثون

الفصل الثلاثون

Wu Song then planted his foot on Jiang Men Shen and said, "If you want me to spare your life, you must agree to three conditions." Jiang Men Shen replied, "Speak, good hero. Jiang Zhong will agree to anything."

Wu Song said, "First, you must leave Happy Forest at once and return all your household goods and property to their rightful owner, Golden Eyes Biao, Shi En. Who gave you the right to seize his property by force?"

Jiang Men Shen hastily agreed. "Agreed, agreed."

Wu Song said, "Second, now that I have spared you, you must go and invite all the leading heroes and gallants of Happy Forest to come and make amends to Shi En."

Jiang Men Shen said, "This humble one agrees as well."

Wu Song said, "Third, from today, once the property is returned, you must leave Happy Forest and go back to your hometown tonight. You are not allowed to stay in Mengzhou. If you do not leave and I see you here again, I will beat you once for every time I see you—ten times if I see you ten times. At best you will be half dead; at worst I will finish you off. Do you agree?"

When Jiang Men Shen heard this, desperate to save his life, he cried out repeatedly, "Agreed, agreed. Jiang Zhong agrees to everything."

Wu Song lifted Jiang Men Shen off the ground and looked at him. His face was bruised and swollen, his neck twisted to one side, and blood was flowing from a wound on his forehead. Wu Song pointed at Jiang Men Shen and said, "Don't think you're anything, you stupid fool! That giant tiger on Jingyang Ridge—I killed it with just a few punches and kicks, and here I am still standing. What are you compared to that? Return his property at once! If you delay even a little, I'll give you another beating, and this time I'll finish you off!"

Only then did Jiang Men Shen realize that this was Wu Song. He could only kowtow and beg for mercy. Just as they were speaking, Shi En arrived early with twenty or thirty fierce soldiers to help, but when he saw that Wu Song had defeated Jiang Men Shen, he was overjoyed and surrounded Wu Song in a crowd. Wu Song pointed at Jiang Men Shen and said, "The rightful owner is here now. Move out at once, and quickly go invite the others to come and make amends."

Jiang Men Shen replied, "Good hero, please come sit in the shop."

Wu Song led everyone into the shop and saw that wine was splashed all over the floor. The two wretched creatures were still in the vat, struggling and groping along the walls. The woman had just managed to climb out, her face and head bruised and scraped, while wine dripped down the lower half of her body. The servants and bartenders had vanished without a trace.

Wu Song and the others sat down inside the shop. He barked, "Get ready to leave at once!" He arranged for carts and luggage to be prepared and sent the woman away first. Then he ordered the uninjured servants to go into town and invite a dozen or so of the leading gallants to come to the shop and make amends on behalf of Jiang Men Shen to Shi En. He had the best wine opened, along with all kinds of dishes, and spread them across the tables, inviting everyone to sit. Wu Song had Shi En take the seat of honor above Jiang Men Shen. A large bowl was placed before each person, and the wine was poured freely.

After several rounds of drinking, Wu Song spoke. "All you honored neighbors are here. This humble man, Wu Song, was sent here as a convict after killing someone in Yanggu County. I had heard people say: 'This inn in Happy Forest was originally built and managed by young Master Shi; Jiang Men Shen, relying on his power and force, openly seized it and took away his livelihood without cause.' Do not think that he is my master—he and I have no connection. I have always fought against such unjust and immoral people in this world. If I see injustice on the road, I truly draw my sword to help, and I would not fear death. Today I was ready to beat this Jiang fellow to death with my fists and rid the world of a pest. But out of respect for you honored neighbors, I will spare his life for now. Only tonight I will make him leave for another prefecture. If he does not leave this place and I see him again, the tiger on Jingyang Ridge will be his example."

Only then did the people realize that this was Wu Song, the Regimental Commander who had killed the tiger on Jingyang Ridge. They all stood up and made amends on behalf of Jiang Men Shen, saying, "Be at ease, good hero. We will have him move out and return the property to its rightful owner." Jiang Men Shen, having been so thoroughly frightened, dared not say another word. Shi En then took inventory of the household goods and property and took possession of the shop. Jiang Men Shen, his face burning with shame, thanked the crowd, called a cart, loaded his luggage, and departed. That was the end of that.

Now then, Wu Song invited all the honored neighbors and they drank until they were thoroughly drunk. When evening came and the others had dispersed, Wu Song slept soundly until the next morning, not waking until the hour of the dragon. Meanwhile, the old garrison commander, Shi, heard that his son Shi En had retaken the Happy Forest inn. He rode his horse directly to the shop to thank Wu Song, and for several days they celebrated with drinking in the inn. Everyone in the Happy Forest area knew of Wu Song's prowess, and not a single one failed to come pay his respects. From then on, the inn was renovated and reopened for business. The old garrison commander returned to Anping Stockade to attend to affairs. Shi En sent men to find out where Jiang Men Shen and his family had gone, but they could not be found. They focused on running their business and paid him no further mind, keeping Wu Song to live in the shop. From then on, Shi En's business increased by thirty to fifty percent compared to before, and the various shops, gambling houses, and money exchanges all sent several times the usual gifts of money to Shi En. Having Wu Song fight for him in this matter, Shi En honored and respected Wu Song as he would his own parents. Thus Shi En retook Happy Forest in Mengzhou, and that is the end of that.

Indeed:

He who seizes another's road shall have his own seized in return;

Where loyalty and righteousness abound, profit follows as well.

In Happy Forest, happiness is renewed;

The wicked will always meet their match.

Time slipped by quickly, and more than a month had already passed. The oppressive heat gradually withdrew, the dew grew cool, the autumn wind dispelled the summer's warmth, and it was already deep autumn. Where there is much to say, the tale grows long; where there is little, it is brief. On that day, Shi En was sitting idly in the shop talking with Wu Song, discussing techniques of boxing and the use of spear and staff, when they saw two or three soldiers leading a horse stop at the shop entrance and ask, "Which one is the Tiger-Slaying Captain Wu?" Shi En recognized them as personal attendants of Zhang Mengfang, the Military Defense Commissioner of Mengzhou. Shi En stepped forward and asked, "What do you want with Captain Wu?" The soldiers replied, "By order of the Commissioner: we have heard that Captain Wu is a fine man, and he has specially sent us with this horse to bring him. Here is his official letter." Shi En read it and thought to himself, "This Commissioner Zhang is my superior officer—my father is under his command. Moreover, Wu Song is a prisoner sent here under his jurisdiction. There is no choice but to let him go." Shi En then said to Wu Song, "Elder brother, these gentlemen have been sent by Commissioner Zhang to fetch you. Since they have brought a horse for you, what does my brother think?" Wu Song was a straightforward man who knew nothing of diplomatic subtlety. He said, "Since he wants me, I shall just go and see what he has to say." He then changed his clothes and cap, took a small servant, mounted the horse, and together with the others rode to Mengzhou city.

When they arrived at Commissioner Zhang's residence, Wu Song dismounted and followed the soldiers to the main hall to pay his respects. Zhang Mengfang was in the hall and, seeing Wu Song arrive, said with great pleasure, "Let him come forward and meet me." Wu Song came down into the hall, bowed to Commissioner Zhang, and stood to the side with his hands clasped. Commissioner Zhang said to Wu Song, "I have heard that you are a great man, a true hero, matchless in courage, willing to share life and death with others. I am lacking such a man in my household. Would you be willing to serve as my personal attendant?" Wu Song knelt and expressed his gratitude, saying, "This humble one is a prisoner in the prison camp. If you, sir, would deign to raise me up, I would serve you holding the whip and carrying the stirrups." Commissioner Zhang was greatly pleased and ordered wine and fruit to be brought out. He personally poured wine for Wu Song and made him drink until he was thoroughly drunk. A side room was prepared in the front hall corridor for Wu Song to rest. The next day, men were sent to Shi En to fetch Wu Song's luggage, and from then on Wu Song lodged at Commissioner Zhang's residence. Morning and evening, the Commissioner would summon Wu Song to the inner chambers to drink wine and eat, allowing him to move freely through the house as though he were one of the family. He also had the tailor make Wu Song new autumn clothes, inside and out. Wu Song was pleased with all this and thought to himself, "It is rare to find a Commissioner who is so determined to promote me. Ever since I came here, he has not let me leave his side for a moment, and I have had no leisure to go to Happy Forest to speak with Shi En. Though Shi En frequently sends men to visit me, they are generally not allowed to enter the compound..."

After Wu Song entered the household of Commissioner Zhang, the Commissioner showed him great favor. Whenever anyone outside had some official business they wished to ask a favor of, Wu Song would speak to the Commissioner, and nothing was refused. These outsiders all sent gifts of gold and silver, bolts of silk, and other such items. Wu Song bought a willow-wicker chest and locked all these gifts inside it. But enough of that.

Time flew swiftly, and soon it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, the eighth month. How fine was the Mid-Autumn scenery? Behold:

The jade dew is cool and clear, the golden wind murmuring.

By the well, the paulownia leaves fall; in the pond, the lotus seedpods form.

The cries of the newly arrived wild geese are mournful; the chirping of the cold crickets urgent.

The willows, tossed by the wind, are half withered; the rain-drenched hibiscus blooms with delicate splendor.

Autumn's colors divide evenly, hastening the seasons; the full moon shines bright upon mountains and rivers.

On that evening, Commissioner Zhang had a feast prepared at the Mandarin Duck Tower in the deep inner rear hall to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. He summoned Wu Song to come inside to drink wine. Wu Song saw that the lady of the house and the female relatives were all seated at the table. After drinking one cup, he was about to turn and leave. Commissioner Zhang called out, "Where are you going?" Wu Song replied, "Sir, with the lady and the female relatives here at the banquet, it is only proper that I withdraw." Commissioner Zhang laughed heartily and said, "You are mistaken. I respect you as a man of honor and have specially invited you to drink with us, treating you as one of the family. Why should you withdraw?" He told Wu Song to sit down. Wu Song said, "I am a prisoner. How dare I sit in the presence of Your Honor?" Commissioner Zhang replied, "Sir, why stand on ceremony? There are no outsiders here—you may sit without hesitation." Wu Song declined several times, but Commissioner Zhang would not let him go and insisted that Wu Song sit with them. Wu Song finally bowed with an apology for his impropriety and sat down at a distance, leaning slightly to one side. The Commissioner had the maids and serving women urge him on. Cup by cup, they drank some five or seven glasses of wine. The Commissioner then ordered the fruit trays to be brought up, and another two courses of food were served. They chatted casually and discussed spear techniques. Commissioner Zhang said, "A great man drinking wine—why use small cups?" He ordered a large silver goblet to be filled and offered to the man of honor. He urged Wu Song to drink several cups in quick succession. The moonlight grew brighter, shining in through the eastern window. Wu Song was half drunk and had quite forgotten all propriety, simply drinking his fill. Commissioner Zhang then called for a favorite serving girl named Yulan to come out and sing a song. How beautiful was Yulan? Behold:

Her face was like a lotus calyx, her lips like cherries.

Her two brows were painted like the blue of distant mountains; her pair of eyes were bright as autumn waters.

Her slender waist was graceful; her green silk skirt hid her golden lotus feet.

Her pure body was fragrant; her crimson sleeves lightly covered her jade-like fingers.

A phoenix hairpin slanted in her cloud-like coiffure; she held a ivory clapper high as she stood before the tortoiseshell banquet table.

The Commandant Zhang pointed at Yulan and said, "There are no outsiders here—only my trusted man, Chief Constable Wu, is present. You may sing a song about the mid-autumn moon to entertain us."

Yulan took up the ivory clappers, stepped forward, and curtseyed to each of them. Then she opened her throat and sang a tune to the "Prelude to Water Melody" by Academician Dongpo on the subject of the mid-autumn moon. She sang:

*When did the bright moon first appear?*

*Wine cup in hand, I ask the azure sky.*

*I do not know what year it is tonight*

*In those celestial palaces on high.*

*I long to ride the wind and return there,*

*Yet fear those jade towers and marble courts,*

*So lofty and so cold they lie.*

*Dancing, I sport with my shadow—*

*How does it compare with the world of men?*

*She raises the beaded curtain high,*

*Lowers the silk window screen,*

*And shines upon the sleepless eye.*

*The moon should bear us no ill will—*

*Why then is it always full when friends are apart?*

*Men know sorrow, joy, parting, and reunion;*

*The moon knows shadow, light, waxing, and waning.*

*This has been so since time began—*

*Impossible to make perfect.*

*If only we may live long and share*

*This lovely moon, though a thousand miles apart.*

When Yulan finished singing, she set down the clappers, curtseyed again to each of them, and stood to one side. The Commandant Zhang said, "Yulan, you may circulate the wine."

Yulan complied. She took a tray of cups, and a maidservant poured the wine. First she presented it to the Commandant, then to his lady, and third she offered a cup to Wu Song. The Commandant Zhang called out to fill the cup to the brim. Wu Song dared not raise his head. He stood up, received the cup from a distance, gave a deep bow to the Commandant and his lady, raised the cup, drained it in one draught, and returned the empty cup.

The Commandant Zhang pointed at Yulan and said to Wu Song, "This girl is rather clever and quick-witted, understands music well, and is exceedingly skilled at needlework. If you do not think her too lowly, within a few days I will choose an auspicious time and give her to you as a wife."

Wu Song rose and bowed again. "I am a man of no consequence at all—how could I dare to aspire to take a member of Your Excellency's household as my wife? It would be to shorten my own life-span for nothing."

The Commandant Zhang laughed. "Since I have spoken these words, I will certainly do it. Do not make excuses or refuse—I will not break my promise."

They then drank another ten cups or so in succession. Feeling the wine rising, Wu Song feared he might lose his composure and breach etiquette. He rose, bowed his thanks to the Commandant and his lady, and went out to the front hall, to the door of his room in the corridor. He opened the door, but finding the food and drink heavy in his stomach, he could not sleep at once. He went into the room, took off his clothes, removed his headband, and took up a staff. He went to the middle of the courtyard, where the moon shone bright, and practiced with the staff several times, executing a few spinning movements. He looked up at the sky—it was about the third watch.

Wu Song went back into his room and was about to undress for sleep when he heard a great clamor rise from the back hall: "Thieves!" Wu Song heard someone say, "The Commandant treats me with such kindness—if there are thieves in his back halls, how can I not go to his aid?" Eager to prove his devotion, Wu Song seized a staff and rushed straight into the back hall. He saw the singer Yulan come running out in a panic and point, saying, "A thief has run into the back garden!"

Hearing this, Wu Song gripped his staff and strode into the garden to search. He circled the entire garden but found nothing. He turned to come back out, but without warning a bench flew out from the shadows and tripped him, sending him sprawling. Seven or eight soldiers rushed out and shouted, "Seize the thief!" They bound Wu Song on the spot with a hempen rope.

Wu Song cried out, "It's me!" But the soldiers would not let him explain. Inside the hall, the lamps and candles blazed bright. The Commandant Zhang sat in the hall and shouted, "Bring him here!" The soldiers dragged Wu Song forward, beating him with staves at every step, until they reached the hall. Wu Song shouted, "I am not a thief—I am Wu Song!"

The Commandant Zhang glared at him in fury, his face darkening. He bellowed, "You damned convict! You were originally a bandit, a man with a thief's heart and a thief's liver. I meant to raise you up and make something of you—I have not been ungenerate to you in the slightest. Just now I had you sit at the same table and drink with me, meaning to promote you and give you an official post. How could you commit such a deed?"

Wu Song shouted, "Your Excellency, this has nothing to do with me! I came to catch the thief—how can you seize me and treat me as a thief? Wu Song is a man who stands upright between heaven and earth—I would not do such a thing."

The Commandant Zhang roared, "Don't try to deny it! Take him to his room and search it for stolen goods."

The soldiers dragged Wu Song to his room and opened his wicker trunk. On top were clothes; underneath were silver wine vessels and cups—perhaps a hundred or two hundred taels' worth of plunder. When Wu Song saw this, his eyes bulged and his mouth fell open—he could only cry out that he had been wronged.

The soldiers carried the trunk out to the hall. The Commandant Zhang looked at it and cursed furiously, "Damn convict! How insolent! The stolen goods were found right in your trunk—how can you deny it? As the saying goes: 'It is easy to save all living creatures, but hard to save a single man.' You look like a human being on the outside, but you have a thief's heart and a thief's liver inside. Since the evidence of the stolen goods is clear, there is nothing more to say."

That very night they sealed up the stolen goods and had Wu Song locked in the secret detention room. "Tomorrow morning we will deal with this fellow," they said. Wu Song loudly protested his innocence, but no one would let him explain. The soldiers carried off the stolen goods and took Wu Song to the secret detention room to be held. The Commandant Zhang sent word to the prefect that very night. The clerks and judicial officers on all sides were given money to ensure their cooperation.

The next morning at daybreak, the prefect took his seat in the hall. The arresting officers escorted Wu Song before him, and the stolen goods were carried in and laid out. Trusted servants of Zhang Dujian's household presented a formal complaint reporting the robbery, which the prefect read. The prefect ordered his men to bind Wu Song hand and foot. The jailers placed a set of instruments of torture before him. Wu Song tried to open his mouth to protest, but the prefect roared, "This wretch is already a soldier sentenced to distant exile—how could he not turn to banditry? He must have been seized by a sudden lust for wealth. The evidence is perfectly clear. Pay no attention to his ravings—just give him a good beating!" The jailers and guards seized bamboo canes and rained blows down upon him like drops of rain. Wu Song knew this was no place to argue, so he had no choice but to confess falsely: "On the fifteenth of this month, seeing many silver wine vessels in the official residence, I conceived the intention to steal and, taking advantage of the night, carried them off for myself." A written confession was drawn up. The prefect said, "This fellow was plainly moved by greed. There is no need for further discussion. Fetch the cangue, nail him, and lock him up." The jailers brought the long cangue and clamped it around Wu Song's neck, then threw him into the condemned cell and locked him in. A poem says:

Zhang Dujian's corruption is truly lamentable—

He gave up his wife and offered his maids to serve villainy.

How could the prefect's heart be bought as well,

That he should seize an innocent man and call him a thief?

Now when Wu Song was thrown into the great jail, he thought to himself, "Damn that Zhang Dujian—he arranged this trap to destroy me. If I can ever struggle free with my life, I will settle accounts then." The jailers and guards locked Wu Song in the great jail and kept his feet shackled day and night; they also nailed wooden clamps over his hands, allowing him not the slightest ease.

Meanwhile, someone had already informed Shi En of what had happened. He hurried into the city to consult with his father. The old warden said, "It is plain that Zhang Tuanlian is avenging 'Jiang Menshen' and has bribed Zhang Dujian to devise this scheme to destroy Wu Song. He must have sent people to grease every palm, spending money and spreading gifts, so that no one will listen to Wu Song's side of the story—they are determined to take his life. Now as I see it, he should not deserve the death penalty. If we can buy off the wardens of both prison sections, we may be able to preserve his life. Outside, we must also make other plans." Shi En said, "The warden currently in charge of the jail section is a man named Kang, who is the closest friend of mine. Should I go and beg him?" The old warden said, "He has gotten into trouble on your behalf. If you don't save him now, when will you?" Shi En took one or two hundred taels of silver and went directly to the house of Warden Kang, but Kang was not yet back from the jail. Shi En had someone in Kang's household go to the jail to inform him. Before long, Kang returned and met with Shi En. Shi En told him everything that had happened. Kang replied, "To be honest with you, this whole affair is the work of Zhang Dujian and Zhang Tuanlian, who are sworn brothers sharing the same surname. At present 'Jiang Menshen' is hiding in Zhang Tuanlian's house, and Zhang Tuanlian has bribed Zhang Dujian to work out this plan. Every official involved, high and low, has been bribed by 'Jiang Menshen'—we have all taken his money. The prefect in the hall is doing his utmost to press the case and is determined to see Wu Song dead. The only one who resists is the chief clerk, Ye Kongmu, who refuses to go along. This man is loyal and upright and will not harm an innocent person, and so Wu Song has not suffered worse. Now that I have heard what you say, everything within the jail is under my control. I will go at ease his situation and from now on see to it that he suffers not the slightest hardship. But you must quickly send someone to urge Ye Kongmu to push for an early verdict, and then his life can be saved." Shi En offered a hundred taels of silver to Kang. Kang at first absolutely refused, but after repeated protestations, he finally accepted them.

Shi En took his leave and went directly back to the garrison. He then sought out a person close to Ye Kongmu and gave him a hundred taels of silver, entreating him to press for an early and urgent verdict. Ye Kongmu already knew that Wu Song was a good man and had his own reasons for wanting to protect him; he had already made the official documents flexible. It was only that the prefect, having accepted Zhang Dujian's bribes and instructions, refused to show leniency. As things stood, Wu Song had been convicted of stealing another man's property but did not deserve the death penalty, so the case had been dragged out, and the only purpose was to plot his death within the jail. Now, having received this hundred taels of silver and knowing full well that Wu Song had been falsely accused, he revised all the documents to make the charges lighter and cleared Wu Song of the heavier accusations, simply waiting for the term to expire before rendering a verdict. A poem bears witness:

Corrupt officials crowd the important posts,

Openly accepting gold in broad daylight.

The clerk of the western hall has a heart like water—

He does not take an honest heart for a thief's heart.

Now, on the following day, Shi En prepared a generous spread of food and wine, all in good order, and asked Kang Jieji to lead him into the prison to visit Wu Song and deliver the meal. By this time, Wu Song was already under Kang Jieji's watchful care, and the restrictions on him had been considerably relaxed. Shi En then took out twenty or thirty taels of silver and distributed them among the lesser jailers. He had the food and wine brought for Wu Song to eat, and then whispered into his ear: "This case is clearly the Commandant seeking revenge on behalf of Jiang the Gate God, to frame you, elder brother. Set your mind at ease and do not worry. I have already spoken through intermediaries to Magistrate Ye, who is most willing to help and do what he can for you. Wait until your term is up and the sentence is passed, and then we will see what can be done." By now Wu Song had been given some freedom and had begun to entertain thoughts of escape, but hearing what Shi En said, he set that idea aside. Shi En comforted Wu Song in the prison and then returned to his barracks. Two days later, Shi En prepared more food and wine along with money, and again asked Kang Jieji to lead him into the prison to speak with Wu Song. They met, and he treated Wu Song to food and wine. He also distributed some small amounts of silver to the others for drinking money. Returning home, he again asked people to make payments up and down the chain of officials to hasten the processing of documents. After several more days, Shi En prepared more meat and wine, made several articles of clothing, and once more asked Kang Jieji to arrange for him to be brought into the prison. He invited everyone to drink and pleaded them to look after Wu Song, having him change into fresh clothes and eat and drink his fill. After several consecutive days of visiting, Shi En had come to the prison three times. But he failed to notice that a trusted servant of Zhang the Regiment Training Official had seen him and reported it back. The Regiment Training Official then went to Commandant Zhang and told him of the matter. Commandant Zhang in turn sent someone with gold and silk to the prefect, briefing him on the situation. Now this prefect was an official who took bribes, and having accepted the payment, he frequently sent men down to the prison to inspect it. Whenever they saw any unauthorized person, they would seize and question them. When Shi En learned of this, he no longer dared to go visit. Wu Song, however, had Kang Jieji and the other jailers looking after him on their own. From then on, Shi En went only to Kang Jieji's home each day to inquire after news, learning how things stood—but of this, no more.

As time went on, nearly two months passed in this way. The presiding magistrate, Magistrate Ye, had been steadily advocating on the matter, speaking to the prefect morning and evening to lay out the facts. The prefect only then came to know that Commandant Zhang had accepted a certain amount of silver from Jiang the Gate God, colluded with the Regiment Training Official, and together they had devised this scheme to frame Wu Song. The prefect thought to himself: "You fill your own pockets with silver and have me do your dirty work of harming an innocent man!" His heart grew slack in the matter, and he stopped paying attention.

When the sixty-day term was up, Wu Song was brought out from the prison and his canes were removed in the hall. The presiding magistrate, Magistrate Ye, read out the charges and pronounced the sentence: twenty blows of the heavy rod on the back, and banishment to Enzhou prison city. The stolen goods from the original case were to be returned to their owner. Commandant Zhang had no choice but to send family members to claim the goods on the spot. In the hall, Wu Song received twenty blows on the back, was branded with the golden mark, and had a seven-and-a-half-pound iron-leaf head canes fitted on him. A written warrant was issued, and two sturdy guards were assigned to escort Wu Song, with a set date by which he must depart. The two guards received the travel documents and escorted Wu Song out of the Mengzhou yamen, and they set off at once. Now, when Wu Song had been beaten, the old prison superintendent had used his money to make arrangements, Magistrate Ye had looked after him, and the prefect also knew he had been framed, so the blows were not delivered with full force. For this reason, the beating was lighter than it might have been.

Wu Song swallowed his grievance and, wearing his canes, walked out of the city, with the two guards following behind. They had gone barely a li or so when, from a wineshop beside the official road, out stepped Shi En, who looked at Wu Song and said: "I, your younger brother, have been waiting here especially for you." When Wu Song looked at Shi En, he noticed his head was wrapped and his arm was bound up. Wu Song asked, "I haven't seen you for quite some time—how did you come to be in such a state?" Shi En replied: "To be honest with you, elder brother: after my three visits to you in the prison, the prefect learned of it and constantly sent men down to inspect. That Commandant Zhang also stationed men on both sides of the prison gate to keep watch. So I could no longer get into the prison to visit you and could only go to Kang Jieji's home for news. Half a month ago, I was at my shop in Forest of Bliss when that scoundrel Jiang the Gate God came again with a gang of soldiers and attacked me. He beat me savagely once more and made me send someone to apologize, and then he took back the shop once again, returning all the household goods and furnishings as before. I have been recuperating at home and have not yet recovered. Today I heard that elder brother has been sentenced to exile in Enzhou, and I have brought two padded garments for you to wear on the road. I have also cooked two ready geese here—please eat a couple of pieces before you go." Shi En then invited the two guards into the wineshop, but they would not go in and began to grumble: "This fellow Wu Song is a criminal—if we eat your food and wine, tomorrow we shall have trouble explaining ourselves to the authorities. If you're afraid of a beating, move along quickly!" Seeing this was going nowhere, Shi En took out ten or so taels of silver and offered it to the two guards. The two of them refused to accept it and, in a fit of anger, only urged Wu Song to get on the road. Shi En poured two bowls of wine and had Wu Song drink them, then tied a bundle around Wu Song's waist and hung the two cooked geese from his canes. Shi En whispered into his ear: "In the bundle are two padded garments and a packet of loose silver for traveling expenses—there are also two pairs of eight-laced hemp shoes inside. But be careful on the road: these two scoundrels have no good intentions." Wu Song nodded and said: "No need to say more—I understand. Even if two more came, I would not fear them. Go back and rest. Set your mind at ease—I know what to do." Shi En took leave of Wu Song, weeping as he departed—but of this, no more.

Wu Song and the two constables set out on the road. After traveling no more than a few li, the two constables whispered to each other: "The other two haven't shown up." Wu Song overheard and silently thought to himself with a cold sneer, "Damn it all! Those scoundrels actually think they can ambush your old man!" Wu Song's right hand was pinned under the traveling cangue, but his left hand was free. He took the cooked goose from the cangue and began eating it on his own, paying no attention to the two constables. After another four or five li, he finished the rest of that cooked goose—pulling it apart with his right hand while tearing pieces off with his left, eating all by himself. Before they had gone another five li, he had consumed both cooked geese entirely. Roughly eight or nine li from the city, they spotted two men waiting by the roadside ahead, each carrying a broad dagger and a sword at their side. When they saw the constables escorting Wu Song, they joined them on the road. Wu Song noticed these two constables exchanging meaningful glances and secret signals with the two dagger-wielders. Wu Song had already caught sight of this and figured out the situation eight parts in his mind, but he kept it to himself and pretended not to notice.

After traveling a few more li, they arrived at a vast and expansive fish marsh, surrounded on all sides by wild creeks and broad rivers. The five men came to a wide wooden bridge by the marsh's edge, where an archway bore a plaque inscribed with three characters: "Feiyun Marsh." Upon seeing this, Wu Song asked deliberately, "What is this place called?" The two constables replied, "Are you blind? Can't you see the plaque on the bridge that says 'Feiyun Marsh'?" Wu Song stopped and said, "I need to relieve myself." The two dagger-wielders stepped forward, but Wu Song shouted, "Get down!" and with a flying kick sent one of them tumbling head over heels into the water. The other was about to turn when Wu Song's right foot shot out, and splash—he too was kicked into the river. The two constables panicked and fled toward the bridge's far end. Wu Song bellowed, "Where do you think you're going!" and with a single twist snapped the cangue in two halves. He rushed down the bridge after them. One of the two dagger-wielders had already collapsed in terror. Wu Song dashed forward, punched the other one square in the back, knocked him down, then picked up a broad dagger from the water's edge and ran after him, stabbing him several times until he lay dead on the ground. He then turned back and stabbed the one who had fainted. The two who had been kicked into the water had just managed to struggle to their feet and were about to flee when Wu Song pursued them and cut one down. He advanced another step, grabbed the other by the hair, and roared, "Tell me the truth and I'll spare your life!" The man said, "We two are disciples of Jiang the Door God. Our Master and Instructor Zhang plotted a scheme and sent us to assist the escorting constables in doing away with you, brother." Wu Song asked, "Where is your master Jiang the Door God now?" The man replied, "When we set out, he and Instructor Zhang were drinking wine in the rear hall of the Mandarin Duck Tower at Commander Zhang's residence, waiting for our report." Wu Song said, "So that's how it is—then I cannot spare you." He raised his blade and struck, killing this man as well. He unbuckled the man's sword, picked a fine one to carry, and threw both corpses into the marsh. Still fearing the two in the water might not be dead, he lifted the broad dagger and stabbed each of them several more times. He stood on the bridge for a while, pondering: "Though I've killed four of these scoundrels, if I don't kill Commander Zhang, Instructor Zhang, and Jiang the Door God, how can I vent this hatred!" He gripped the broad dagger, hesitated for a long while, then with a single resolve turned and rushed back toward Mengzhou city.

Because of this turn of events, it came to pass that Wu Song would slay a few greedy villains and vent his burning rage. It was destined that in the depths of the painted hall corpses would lie strewn upon the ground, and amid the glow of red candles blood would drench the tower. As for what befell Wu Song when he returned to Mengzhou, let us listen to the next chapter for the account.