الفصل التاسع والثلاثون

الفصل التاسع والثلاثون

Now, when Li Kui had pressed his finger and felled the girl, the tavern keeper stepped forward and said, "What are the four of you to do?" The keeper was flustered, so he called the waiters and cooks to come forward and revive her. They splashed water on her face right there on the ground, and after a while she came to, and they helped her up. When they looked, a patch of skin had been scraped from her temple, and so the girl had faintened from the blow. Once she was revived, all was well again. Her parents, upon hearing it was "Black Whirlwind," were so frightened they were struck dumb for a long while—how dare they utter a single word? They saw that the girl was already able to speak. Her mother took a handkerchief and wrapped it around her head, and gathered up her hairpins and jewelry. Song Jiang asked, "What is your surname? Where is your home?" The old woman said, "I won't hide it from you, sir. This old couple—husband and wife—we are surnamed Song, originally from the capital. We have only this one daughter, young name Yulian. Her father taught her a few songs, and we had her come to this Pipa Pavilion to sing for a living. Because she is impetuous, she doesn't read the situation, and she doesn't care whether a gentleman is talking—she just starts singing. Today this brother lost his hand and injured our daughter a little. Surely we can't go to the authorities and drag you into a lawsuit?" Song Jiang saw that she spoke sensibly, so he said, "Have someone accompany me back to the camp, and I will give you twenty taels of silver to nurse your daughter back to health. Later on, you can marry her to a decent man, so she won't have to sing for a living here." The couple bowed and thanked him, saying, "How could we dare hope for so much!" Song Jiang said, "When I say a word, it is a word—I do not lie. Have your old man come with me to get it." The couple bowed and thanked him again, saying, "We are deeply grateful for your kindness." Dai Zong scolded Li Kui, saying, "You brute, you just had to pick a fight with someone, and now you've cost our brother a good deal of silver." Li Kui said, "I only grazed her with my finger, and she fell on her own. I've never seen such a delicate bird of a girl. You could punch me a hundred times in the face and I wouldn't care." Song Jiang and the others all burst out laughing. Zhang Shun then told the waiter to say that he would pay for this round of wine. The waiter said, "No trouble at all, no trouble—go ahead." Song Jiang absolutely refused and said, "Brother, I was the one who invited these two gentlemen to drink, and now you want to pay?" Zhang Shun insisted stubbornly on paying, saying, "It is rare to meet you, brother. When you were in Shandong, my brother and I wanted to come and join you too. Today, by the grace of Heaven, I have the honor of meeting you. Please allow me this small token of respect—it is hardly enough as a proper gesture." Dai Zong said, "Elder Brother Gongming, since it is Second Brother Zhang's heartfelt respect, you must accept." Song Jiang said, "Since my brother insists on paying, on another day I shall host a return feast." Zhang Shun was overjoyed. He took two carp and, along with Dai Zong and Li Kui, escorted the old Song man and saw Song Jiang off from the Pipa Pavilion and back to the camp. The five of them went into the clerk's office and sat down. Song Jiang first took out two small ingots of twenty taels of silver and gave them to the old Song man. The old man thanked him and left—no more need be said of this. It was already late in the day. Zhang Shun delivered the fish, and Song Jiang took out Zhang Heng's letter and gave it to Zhang Shun. They parted. Song Jiang then took out a large ingot of fifty taels of silver and said to Li Kui, "Brother, take this and use it as you need." Dai Zong and Li Kui also took their leave and hurried back into the city.

Now, Song Jiang gave one of the fish to the camp superintendent and kept one for himself. Song Jiang, finding the fish fresh and delicious, ate rather more than he should have. By the fourth watch of the night, his belly was wracked with gut-wrenching pain. By dawn, he had diarrhea more than twenty times, faintened, and lay in his room. Song Jiang was a man of great goodness, and everyone in the camp came to cook porridge, heat broth, and tend to him. The next day, Zhang Shun, seeing that Song Jiang had enjoyed the fish, brought two more fine golden carp as a gift, to thank Song Jiang for delivering the letter. But he found that Song Jiang had collapsed in bed with diarrhea, and all the prisoners in the room were looking after him. Zhang Shun, upon seeing this, wanted to fetch a doctor to treat him, but Song Jiang said, "I was greedy and ate some fresh fish, and it ruined my stomach. Just go and buy me a packet of Stop-Diarrhea Six-Harmony Decoction and I'll be fine." He told Zhang Shun to give one of the two fish to Superintendent Wang and the other to Escort Commander Zhao. Zhang Shun delivered the fish and bought a packet of Six-Harmony Decoction medicine for Song Jiang, then left—no more need be said of this. Within the camp, there were people to brew the medicine and tend to him. The next day, Dai Zong and Li Kui prepared wine and meat and went straight to the clerk's office to visit Song Jiang. They found that Song Jiang had only just recovered from his sudden illness and could not eat or drink, so the two of them ate in front of the room themselves. They stayed until evening and then took their leave. No more need be said of this either.

Now, Song Jiang rested in the camp for five or seven days, and when he felt his body was fine and his illness had fully recovered, he thought of going into the city to find Dai Zong. Another day passed, and he still didn't see either of them. The next day, after his morning meal, around the eighth hour, he tucked some silver into his robe, locked his door, and left the camp. He strolled out into the streets, walked into the city, and went to the left side of the prefectural yama to ask for Clerk Dai's home. Someone said, "He has no family—he lodges at the Guanyin Nunnery next to the City God Temple." Song Jiang followed the directions all the way there, but the door was already locked—he had gone out. Then he went to ask about "Black Whirlwind" Li Kui, and many people said, "That fellow is a rootless spirit with no family—he just lives in the jail. He has no fixed place; he rests two days on the east side, lounges a few days on the west side. No one knows where his home is." Song Jiang then asked about the fish broker Zhang Shun, and someone said, "He lives in a village outside the city. Even when he sells fish, he stays by the river outside the city walls. He only comes into the city to collect debts."

Having heard this, Song Jiang sought to leave the city again, determined to pursue his inquiries wherever they might lead. Alone and sunk in melancholy, he walked aimlessly back beyond the city walls. Before him unfolded a stretch of river scenery of such surpassing beauty that he could never tire of gazing upon it. He had come to pass before a wine shop when, raising his eyes, he noticed a lookout pole standing to the side, from which hung a blue cloth tavern banner bearing the words: "Xunyang River Official Repository." Beyond the carved eaves, a placard displayed three large characters in the bold calligraphy of Su Dongpo: "Xunyang Tower." Song Jiang looked at them and said to himself, "Back in Yuncheng County I had often heard tell of the famous Xunyang Tower in Jiangzhou, and here it is after all. Though I am alone, I must not let this chance slip by. Why not go up and see it for myself?" Approaching the tower, he observed a vermilion ornamental pillar by the gate, and on either side of it two white-lacquered boards, each inscribed with five large characters reading: "A wine without equal in this world; a tower renowned under heaven." Song Jiang ascended the tower and took a seat in a balcony overlooking the river. Leaning on the railing and lifting his eyes, he found it truly a magnificent wine tower. Behold:

Carved eaves catching the sunlight, painted rafters soaring into the clouds.

Jade-green railings descending low to meet the lattice windows, emerald curtains hung high above the doors and windows.

Eyes dulled with wine, one leans upon a thousand layers of azure mountains in the sky;

The poet's soul is stirred as well, by the auspicious snow of mist and waters over the river.

At the white-apple ferry landing, from time to time one hears the fishermen tapping their poles;

At the red-knotweed shoal, one often sees the anglers beating their oars.

Beyond the tower green locust trees echo with the cries of wild birds; before the gate emerald willows brush against dappled horses.

Song Jiang gazed his fill and could not stop exclaiming in admiration. A wine server came upstairs and asked, "Are you expecting guests, or are you here simply to enjoy yourself, sir?" Song Jiang said, "I am waiting for two guests who have not yet arrived. For now, bring me a flask of your finest wine. As for fruits and meat, bring whatever you have—only no fish." The server went downstairs. Shortly after, he came up carrying a tray with a flask of Blue Bridge Moonlight wine, and laid out vegetables, fresh seasonal fruits, appetizers, and several dishes of fat mutton, tender chicken, prepared goose, and choice cuts of meat, all arranged on vermilion lacquer plates and dishes. Song Jiang looked on with quiet delight and said to himself, "Such neatly prepared dishes, such elegant vessels—truly this is a fine Jiangzhou. Though I have been exiled here as a criminal, at least I have seen some genuine mountains and waters. My own homeland has a few famous mountains and historic sites, but nothing to compare with scenery like this." Alone, cup after cup, he leaned on the railing and drank freely. Before long he was deeply drunk. Suddenly a thought welled up from the depths of his mind: "I was born in Shandong, raised in Yuncheng, trained as a clerk, and have befriended many heroes of the rivers and lakes. Yet all I have to show for it is an empty name. Now I am past thirty, with no fame and no fortune to speak of, and on top of it all my face has been tattooed and I have been sent into exile here. How shall I ever see my old father and my brothers back home?" The wine surged up within him and tears began to flow. Stirred by the breeze before his eyes, his heart brimmed with grief and resentment. On impulse he composed a lyric to the tune of "West River Moon," then called the server and asked for brush and ink. Rising to look around, he saw that the whitewashed walls bore many inscriptions by earlier visitors. Song Jiang thought to himself: "Why not write mine here too? If someday I rise in the world and pass this way again, I can revisit it, recall the years gone by, and remember the hardship of this day." Riding the wine, he ground the ink thick, dipped the brush full, and set it to the whitewashed wall:

In my youth I mastered the classics and histories;

Grown to manhood, I too possess cunning and stratagem.

I am like a fierce tiger crouching on a barren hill,

Lying low with claws and fangs, enduring in patience.

Alas, my face has been branded with the double tattoo,

And to my shame I am exiled to Jiangzhou.

If ever the day comes to avenge my wrongs,

I will dye the mouth of the Xunyang River with blood.

When Song Jiang had finished writing, he read it over and laughed with great delight. He drank several more cups, and as his spirits rose he grew wild and unbridled, waving his hands and stamping his feet. Once more he picked up the brush and wrote four lines of verse after the "West River Moon":

My heart is in Shandong, my body in Wu;

Drifting like a tumbleweed over rivers and seas, I heave my useless sighs.

If ever I fulfill my soaring ambition,

I shall dare to laugh at Huang Chao for being no true man!

Having finished the poem, he wrote five characters below it: "Written by Song Jiang of Yuncheng." Then he flung the brush onto the table and sang to himself for a while. After several more cups, he grew so drunk that the wine overpowered him. He called the server to settle the bill, paid with silver, and gave the change as a tip. Then he brushed his sleeves and made his way downstairs. Staggering and stumbling, he found his way back to the barracks. He opened the door, collapsed onto the bed, and slept straight through until the fifth watch. When he woke from his stupor, he had no memory at all of having written a poem on the Xunyang Tower the day before. At the time, still suffering from the effects of the wine, he simply lay in his room—but no more of this.

Now, on the opposite bank of Jiangzhou, there was another walled town called Wuwei Jun, a rather remote and desolate place. In the town lived a supernumerary tongpan named Huang Wenbing. This man had read the classics, yet he was a flatterer and a sycophant, narrow-minded and jealous of anyone of talent or virtue. Those who surpassed him, he sought to destroy; those who fell short of him, he toyed with. He made it his business to harm people in the locality. He had learned that Prefect Cai Jiu was the son of the Grand Tutor Cai, and he curried favor with him at every opportunity. He would often cross the river to call on the prefect, hoping to be recommended for an official post and thus return to a career in government. It was Song Jiang's fate to suffer, and he ran precisely into this adversary.

One day, Huang Wenbing was sitting idle at home with nothing to divert himself. He took two servants, bought some fashionable gifts, and crossed the river in his own fast boat to pay a visit on Prefect Cai Jiu at the yamen. Unfortunately, he happened upon a banquet being held at the prefect's residence and did not dare enter. He turned back to his boat, which by then had been moored by his servants beneath Xunyang Tower. Huang Wenbing, finding the weather warm and sultry, decided to amuse himself for a while upstairs. He wandered into the wine cellar, had a look around, then climbed to the upper story of the tower. Leaning on the railing to pass the time, he noticed many inscriptions on the walls. Some were well composed; others were nonsensical and absurd. Huang Wenbing looked at them and sneered. Then he came upon the *Xijiang Yue* poem and the four-line verse inscribed by Song Jiang. He was greatly startled. "Isn't this a seditious poem? Who wrote this here?" Behind it were written five large characters: "Yuncheng Song Jiang." Huang Wenbing read on:

"In youth I studied the classics and histories; in manhood I also mastered strategy and statecraft."

Huang Wenbing sneered. "This fellow thinks no small thing of himself."

He read again:

"Like a fierce tiger crouching in the wild hills, biding his claws and fangs in patient endurance."

Huang Wenbing said, "That fellow is no law-abiding sort either."

He read further:

"Alas, tattooed on both cheeks with the penal brand—how could I bear to be exiled to Jiangzhou?"

Huang Wenbing said, "No lofty-minded man either, it seems. Nothing more than a condemned convict."

He read on:

"If ever the day comes to avenge my wrongs, I will dye the mouth of the Xunyang River with blood."

Huang Wenbing said, "Whom does this fellow want to avenge himself on? And he wants to stir up trouble here! You're nothing but a convict—what can you accomplish!"

He read the verse:

"My heart is in Shandong though my body is in Wu; drifting like a tumbleweed on rivers and seas, I sigh in vain."

Huang Wenbing said, "These two lines might be pardoned."

He read on:

"If one day I fulfill my soaring ambition, I will dare to laugh at Huang Chao for lacking the mettle of a true man!"

Huang Wenbing shook his head. "This fellow is beyond all bounds—he claims he will surpass Huang Chao. If this isn't rebellion, what is it?"

He looked again at the signature, "Yuncheng Song Jiang," and said, "I have heard this name many times before. That man is probably just a petty clerk." He then called the tavern keeper and asked, "Who exactly wrote these two poems here?"

The tavern keeper said: "Last night a man drank an entire bottle of wine by himself. Drunk and wild, he wrote these here."

Huang Wenbing asked: "What sort of man was he?"

The tavern keeper said: "He had two rows of golden tattoos on his cheeks. Most likely someone from the prison camp. He was dark, short, and stout."

Huang Wenbing said, "So that's it." He borrowed a brush and inkstone, took a sheet of paper, copied the poems, and tucked them away on his person. He instructed the tavern keeper not to scrape them off.

Huang Wenbing went downstairs and returned to his boat to spend the night. After lunch the next day, his servants carried a box of gifts, and he went straight to the prefecture office once more. It happened that the prefect had just withdrawn from the court into the yamen. Huang Wenbing sent someone inside to announce his visit. After some time, Prefect Cai Jiu sent someone out to invite him to the rear hall.

Prefect Cai Jiu came out and exchanged pleasantries with Huang Wenbing. After the gifts had been presented, the two took their seats as host and guest. Huang Wenbing said, "Last night I crossed the river to pay my respects to you, but I heard you were holding a banquet and did not dare to intrude. Today I have come again to pay my respects to Your Excellency."

Prefect Cai Jiu replied, "You, Sir, are my most trusted friend. You might just as well have come straight in and sat with me. I am sorry I failed to greet you properly." Attendants served tea. When the tea was finished, Huang Wenbing said, "I would not presume to ask, but has the Grand Marshal, your honored father, sent anyone here recently?"

The prefect replied, "A letter only arrived the other day."

"May I ask," said Huang Wenbing, "what news there is from the capital?"

The prefect said, "In his letter, my father instructed me as follows: Recently the officials of the Imperial Observatory reported that they had observed the stars of the Dipper in the heavens shining upon the regions of Wu and Wu-Chu. If there are any who stir up trouble, they are to be investigated and suppressed without delay. Moreover, there is a rumor going around among the street children—a rhyme of four lines:

'Wasting the state through Household Wood,

Swords and soldiers dot the Water Worker.

Thirty-six in all, spreading chaos in Shandong.'

For this reason, my father has instructed me to guard this district with the utmost vigilance."

Huang Wenbing pondered this for a while, then smiled. "Your Excellency, this is no coincidence!" He drew from his sleeve the poem he had copied and presented it to the prefect. "I never expected to find it here."

Prefect Cai Jiu looked at it and said, "This is a seditious poem. Where did you get it?"

Huang Wenbing replied, "Last night, not daring to enter the yamen, I returned to the riverbank. Having nothing to distract myself, I went to the Xunyang Tower to escape the leisurely enjoy the cool air and read the verses previous visitors had inscribed there. On a freshly whitewashed wall, I saw this piece newly written there."

The prefect asked, "What sort of person wrote it?"

Huang Wenbing replied, "Your Excellency, the author's name is clearly written: 'Written by Song Jiang of Yuncheng.'"

The prefect said, "Who is this Song Jiang?"

Huang Wenbing said, "He clearly writes, 'Unhappily branded on both cheeks, how can I bear being exiled to Jiangzhou?' Evidently he is nothing more than an exile—a criminal prisoner from the prison camp."

The prefect said, "A mere exile—what could he possibly accomplish?"

Huang Wenbing said, "Your Excellency, do not underestimate him. The rumor about the street children that Your Excellency's father mentioned in his letter—it applies precisely to this very man."

"How can you tell?" asked the prefect.

Huang Wenbing said, "'Wasting the state through Household Wood'—one who squanders the wealth of the state must be the character for 'household' placed above the character for 'wood,' which clearly makes the character 'Song.' The second line, 'Swords and soldiers dot the Water Worker'—one who stirs up armed conflict is the character for 'water' placed beside the character for 'worker,' which clearly makes the character 'Jiang.' This man's surname is Song, his given name is Jiang, and he has written a seditious poem. It is clearly the will of Heaven, and the people are blessed."

The prefect asked again, "What about 'Thirty-six in all, spreading chaos in Shandong'?"

Huang Wenbing replied, "It may refer to the year sixty-six, or the number sixty-six. 'Spreading chaos in Shandong'—Yuncheng County is in Shandong. All four lines of the rhyme have been fulfilled."

The prefect asked, "Is there such a person in this district?"

Huang Wenbing replied, "Last night I asked the tavern keeper, and he said this man wrote it only a few days ago. It is not difficult—we need only consult the prison camp records, and we shall find out whether such a man exists."

The prefect said, "Your insight is most penetrating." He ordered an attendant to have the keeper bring out the prison camp register for inspection. The attendant went to the archives and brought the register. Prefect Cai Jiu examined it himself and found that among the entries, there was indeed a newly arrived prisoner from the fifth month, named "Song Jiang of Yuncheng County."

Huang Wenbing looked at it and said, "This is the man the rhyme foretells. This is no trivial matter. If we delay, I fear word may leak out. We must send men at once to arrest him and put him in prison, and then deliberate further."

The prefect said, "What you say is absolutely right." He immediately ascended the hall and summoned the wardens of the two prison sections. Below the hall, Dai Zong answered the summons.

The prefect said, "Take some constables with you and go quickly to the prison camp. Arrest the criminal Song Jiang of Yuncheng County, who wrote a seditious poem at the Xunyang Tower. You must not delay for a moment."

Dai Zong was alarmed upon hearing this, inwardly crying out in distress. He immediately left the prefecture office, gathered all the jailers and guards, and told each of them to go home, fetch their weapons, and assemble at the City God Temple next to his lodgings. After instructing everyone, Dai Zong sent them off to their homes. He then performed his own magic of swift travel and arrived at the prison camp, going straight to the records office. He pushed open the door and found Song Jiang inside. Seeing Dai Zong enter, Song Jiang hurriedly came forward to greet him and said: "I came into the city the other day and searched everywhere for you. Since my worthy brother was not around, I was bored and lonely, so I went to Xunyang Tower and drank a bottle of wine. These past two days I've been feeling muddled and unwell—I've been suffering from the effects of drink." Dai Zong said: "Brother, what words did you write in that tower the other day?" Song Jiang said: "Wild words spoken in drunkenness—who would remember them?" Dai Zong said: "Just now the prefect summoned me to the hall and gave orders, telling me to bring many attendants: 'Arrest the criminal who wrote a seditious poem on Xunyang Tower—Song Jiang of Yuncheng County—and bring him to the office in person.' I was greatly alarmed. First I went to keep all the constables waiting at the City God Temple. Now I've come specifically to inform you first. What should we be doing? How can we resolve this?" Song Jiang, upon hearing this, scratched his head without finding the itch and cried out in distress: "This time I'm surely done for—I'll die." Dai Zong said: "I have a plan to help you, brother, though I don't know how it will turn out. I dare not delay now. When I return, I'll come with the men to arrest you. You should mess up your hair, throw urine and excrement on the ground, and lie down in it, pretending to have gone mad. When I and the others arrive, you should babble nonsense and act as if you've lost your mind from madness. I'll handle reporting back to the prefect myself." Song Jiang said: "I thank my worthy brother for this advice. I beg you to help me through this."

Dai Zong hastily took leave of Song Jiang and returned to the city. He went straight to the City God Temple, called together all the constables, and led them directly to the prison camp. He pretended to shout: "Which one is the newly assigned Song Jiang?" The platoon leader led the men to the records office, where they found Song Jiang with disheveled hair, rolling in the filth of the urine and excrement pit. Seeing Dai Zong and the constables arrive, he said: "What kind of birds are you people?" Dai Zong pretended to roar: "Seize this fellow!" Song Jiang rolled his eyes and lashed out wildly, shouting: "I am the son-in-law of the Jade Emperor! My father-in-law has commanded me to lead a hundred thousand celestial soldiers to slaughter the people of Jiangzhou. The King of Hell will be my vanguard, and the Five Generals will bring up the rear. He has given me a golden seal weighing over eight hundred catties to kill you birds like you." The constables said: "So he's a madman. What use is there in arresting him?" Dai Zong said: "That's right. Let's go back and report—we can come for him again when needed." The men followed Dai Zong back to the prefecture office. Prefect Cai Jiu had been waiting in the hall for their report. Dai Zong and the constables reported below the hall: "It turns out this Song Jiang is a madman. He pays no heed to filth and excrement, babbles nonsense, and is covered in stinking waste. For this reason we did not dare bring him in."

Just as Prefect Cai Jiu was about to ask for an explanation, Huang Wenbing emerged from behind the screen and said to the prefect: "Don't believe this. The man composed a poem and wrote in his own hand—these are not the actions of someone with a madness ailment. There is trickery here. In any case, just arrest him and bring him in. If he cannot walk, carry him here on a pole." Prefect Cai Jiu said: "The controller is right." He then issued orders to Dai Zong: "No matter what it takes, just bring him to me."

Dai Zong received the order and could only cry out in distress. He gathered the men and went back down to the prison camp. He said to Song Jiang: "Brother, things have gone badly. You'll have to go through with it." He took a large bamboo basket, put Song Jiang in it, and carried him all the way to the Jiangzhou prefecture office, where they set him down in the hall. The prefect said: "Bring this fellow forward." The constables dragged Song Jiang before the steps below the hall. Song Jiang absolutely refused to kneel. He stared wide-eyed at Prefect Cai Jiu and said: "What kind of bird are you, that you dare question me! I am the son-in-law of the Jade Emperor! My father-in-law has commanded me to lead a hundred thousand celestial soldiers to slaughter the people of Jiangzhou. The King of Hell will be my vanguard, and the Five Generals will bring up the rear. I have a golden seal weighing over eight hundred catties. You'd better get out of my way quickly, or I'll have you all killed."

Prefect Cai Jiu looked at him and didn't know what to make of it. Huang Wenbing again said to the prefect: "Let us summon the camp superintendent and platoon leader and ask them whether this man was mad when when he first arrived, or whether he has only recently become mad. If he was mad when he arrived, then it's a genuine condition. If he's only recently become mad, it must be a feigned madness." The prefect said: "That is very well reasoned." He then sent for the camp superintendent and the platoon leader and questioned them. They dared not conceal anything and had to speak plainly: "This man showed no signs of madness when he first arrived. He must have only recently come down with this ailment." The prefect flew into a rage upon hearing this. He summoned the jailers and prison guards, had Song Jiang thrown down and tied up, and gave him fifty blows in succession—beating him so severely that one Buddha ascended to heaven and another entered nirvana. His skin split open and his blood flowed freely. Dai Zong watched and could only cry out in distress, having no way to rescue him. At first Song Jiang babbled nonsense, but after being unable to endure the beating, he had to confess: "I acted wrongly by writing a seditious poem while drunk—I had no other intention." Prefect Cai Jiu immediately took his confession, fitted him with a twenty-five-catty cangue for condemned prisoners, and had him thrown into the great jail for detention. Song Jiang, beaten so badly that he could not walk, was cangued on the spot and taken directly to the condemned prisoners' jail. But Dai Zong used all his influence to help, instructing all the junior jailers to treat this man well. Dai Zong himself arranged food and provisions for Song Jiang—but no more of that.

Then it shall be told that Prefect Cai Jiu withdrew from the hall and invited Huang Wenbing to the inner chamber, where he thanked him, saying, "Had it not been for your keen foresight, sir, I nearly let that scoundrel slip past my notice." Huang Wenbing replied, "Your Honor, this matter brooks no delay. You must hastily prepare a letter and send a trusted man with all speed to the capital to inform your esteemed father, so that Your Honor may be credited with this great service to the state. At the same time, you should report: 'If the prisoner is wanted alive, send a cage-cart to bring him to the capital; if not, to prevent his escape en route, let him be beheaded and his head displayed here to rid the realm of a great menace.' When the Emperor learns of this, he will surely be pleased." Prefect Cai said, "What you propose is sound. I too shall soon be sending a man home, and I shall commend your merit in my letter, so that my father may present you to the Emperor in person and secure for you an early promotion to a wealthy city, where you may enjoy honor and glory." Huang Wenbing bowed and thanked him, saying, "This humble scholar's whole life depends on Your Honor's patronage; I shall repay you with all the devotion of a bird carrying grass to repay kindness." Huang Wenbing then urged Prefect Cai to write the family letter and affix his seal. Huang asked, "Whom does Your Honor intend to send?" The prefect replied, "There is in this prefecture a warder of the two prisons named Dai Zong, who knows the 'Magic of Swift Travel' and can cover eight hundred li in a single day. I shall send him at first light straight to the capital. In barely ten days he can go and return." Huang Wenbing said, "If he can travel so quickly, nothing could be better." Prefect Cai then had wine set out in the inner chamber to entertain Huang Wenbing. The next day, Huang took his leave of the prefect and returned to Wujun.

Now it shall be told that Prefect Cai Jiu prepared two letter-boxes, packed with gold, pearls, jewels, and curios, and sealed them all. The next morning, he summoned Dai Zong to the inner chamber and charged him: "I have these gifts and a family letter that must be delivered to the Grand Tutor's mansion in the Eastern Capital to celebrate my father's birthday on the fifteenth day of the sixth month. The date is near at hand, and only you can accomplish this mission. Do not refuse the toil—go with all haste and return as soon as you have the reply. I shall reward you handsomely. I have already calculated the days of your swift journey and shall be waiting for your report. You must not tarry along the way or delay the business."

Dai Zong dared not refuse. He accepted the letter and the boxes, bowed his farewell to the prefect, and carried them back to his quarters. Then he went to the prison and said to Song Jiang, "Brother, set your mind at ease. The prefect is sending me to the capital; I shall be back in ten days. I shall use my wits at the Grand Tutor's house to help your case. As for your daily meals, I have instructed Li Kui to see to them and bring them to you—you shall not want for anything. Dear brother, just be patient and wait these few days." Song Jiang said, "I implore you, brother, to save my life." Dai Zong called Li Kui over and said to him directly, "Your brother wrote a seditious poem by mistake and is now in prison—we do not know what will become of him. I have been sent to the capital and shall return soon. Your brother's meals morning and evening depend entirely on you to look after him." Li Kui replied, "So he wrote a seditious poem—what's the great fuss? Tens of thousands of rebels have ended up as high officials. You go to the capital with an easy mind; who in this prison would dare harm him? If all goes well, good; if not, I'll take my great axe and hack them to pieces." Before he left, Dai Zong warned him again, "Brother, be careful—don't indulge in wine and neglect your brother's meals. Don't go out drinking and leave him hungry." Li Kui said, "Brother, go with an easy mind. If you have such doubts, I'll stop drinking today and not touch a drop until you return. Morning and evening I'll attend to Brother Song Jiang in prison—what could be better?" Dai Zong was overjoyed and said, "If you can make such a resolve and faithfully watch over your brother, all the better." That day he took his leave and departed. Li Kui truly stopped drinking and attended to Song Jiang in prison morning and evening, never leaving his side.

Let us leave Li Kui attending to Song Jiang and return to Dai Zong. He went back to his quarters, put on leg wrappings and knee-guards, laced hemp shoes, donned an apricot-yellow robe, adjusted his sash, tucked his official plaque into his belt, changed his headscarf, hid the letter and travel money in his pouch, hoisted the two letter-boxes, and went out of the city. Then he took out four magic talismans from his person, tied two to each leg, and began chanting the incantation of the Swift Travel spell. Behold the power of the Swift Travel spell:

*As if riding the mist, as if soaring on the clouds.*

*His two feet flew, stirring the red dust, hastening over ridges and mountains.*

*In a moment he had left the township, in an instant he had passed a city.*

*These golden talismans truly possessed divine power—a thousand li seemed as close as before one's eyes.*

That day Dai Zong left Jiangzhou. He traveled until evening, when he put up at an inn for the night. He untied his spirit horses, burned several bundles of spirit money, and sent them off. After spending the night, he rose the next morning, ate and drank, left the inn, tied on four spirit horses again, shouldered his dispatch case, and set off at a rapid pace. Truly, the wind and rain roared past his ears, and his feet scarcely touched the ground. Along the way he took some plain rice, plain wine, and refreshments, then pressed on. When evening approached, Dai Zong stopped early and once again put up at an inn for the night. The next day he rose before dawn and set out in the cool early hours, tied on his spirit horses, shouldered his dispatch case, and marched on. After covering some two or three hundred li, it was already the hour of si, and he had not seen a single decent tavern. It was the beginning of the sixth month, and the heat steamed down in torrents of sweat, drenching him through and through. He feared he might succumb to the summer heat. Just as he was hungry and thirsty, he caught sight ahead of a tavern nestled among trees by a lakeside. In the blink of an eye, Dai Zong reached the spot. He looked it over—it was spotlessly clean, with twenty sets of tables and benches, all painted red lacquer, and a row of lattice windows along one side. Dai Zong carried his dispatch case inside, chose a convenient seat, set down the case, untied the sash at his waist, removed his apricot-yellow robe, spat on it, and hung it on the window rail to dry. Dai Zong had barely sat down when a tavern keeper came and asked, "Honored guest, how many measures of wine will you have? What meat would you like to go with it—pork, mutton, or beef?"

"Wine is not important," said Dai Zong. "Just bring me a bowl of rice to eat."

The keeper said, "We sell wine and rice here, and we also have steamed buns and noodle soup."

"I don't eat meat or anything of that sort," said Dai Zong. "Do you have any plain soup to go with rice?"

"How about spicy braised tofu with extra seasoning?" asked the keeper.

"Excellent, excellent," said Dai Zong.

The keeper was gone only a short while before he returned with a bowl of braised tofu, two plates of vegetables, and three large bowls of wine. Dai Zong was hungry and thirsty, and in one go he finished off both the wine and the tofu. He was about to ask for rice when suddenly the world began to spin. His head swam and his eyes blurred, and he toppled over beside the bench.

"He's down!" called the keeper.

A man emerged from inside the tavern. He was built thus:

Broad arms, long legs, a slender waist,

And a manner of welcome that put all guests at ease.

A hero who served as the eyes of Liangshan Marsh—

The Land Chancu Zhu Gui.

Zhu Gui came out from inside and said, "First take the dispatch case inside. Search that fellow—see what he has on him." Two of the tavern hands went through his clothes and found a paper pouch in his satchel containing a letter. They brought it over and handed it to Chief Zhu. Zhu Gui tore it open. It was a family letter. On the envelope was written: "A letter of peace and well-being, humbly presented a hundred times at the knees of my esteemed father. Respectfully sealed by your son, Cai Dezhang." Zhu Gui broke the seal and read it from the beginning. It said: "We have now taken into custody Song Jiang of Shandong, who was arrested for composing rebellious poetry in accordance with the prophecy. He is being held in prison pending further action..."

When Zhu Gui finished reading, he was so stunned he stood dumbstruck for a long while, unable to utter a sound. The tavern hands had already hoisted Dai Zong onto their shoulders and were carrying him into the back room to butcher him, when a sash slipped from the bench. Hanging from it was a vermillion, red, and green lacquered official plaque. Zhu Gui picked it up and saw silver characters engraved upon it: "Jiangzhou Prison Commandant Dai Zong." Zhu Gui looked at it and said, "Hold off for now. I've often heard our Military Strategist say that there's a man in Jiangzhou called the 'Marvel of Speed' Dai Zong—his closest friend. Could this be the man? Why would he be delivering a letter to harm Song Jiang? This letter has by heaven's good fortune fallen into my hands. Tell the lads to wake him up with the antidote and find out the truth of the matter." The tavern hands immediately mixed water with the antidote, propped him up, and poured it down his throat. In a moment, Dai Zong's brows unfurled and his eyes opened. He sat up. He saw Zhu Gui holding the opened family letter, and roared, "Who are you? How dare you! You drugged me with knockout powder! And now you've dared to break open a letter from the Grand Secretariat and torn the seal—what crime do you think that is?"

Zhu Gui laughed and said, "What's so important about that damned letter? Never mind breaking open a letter from the Grand Secretariat—we here are already set on making an enemy of the Emperor of Great Song!"

Dai Zong was greatly alarmed. "Good fellow," he asked, "who are you? I would like to know your name."

Zhu Gui replied, "I never hide my name or change it whether I'm standing or sitting. I am the Liangshan Marsh hero 'The Land Chancu' Zhu Gui."

"Since you are a chieftain of Liangshan Marsh," said Dai Zong, "you must know Mr. Wu Yong, the Scholar."

"Wu Yong is our stronghold's Military Strategist, in command of our forces," said Zhu Gui. "How do you know him?"

"He and I are the closest of friends," said Dai Zong.

"Then you must be the 'Marvel of Speed' Dai Yuan-shi, whom the Military Strategist often speaks of!" said Zhu Zhu.

"I am he," said Dai Zong.

Zhu Gui asked further, "When Song Gongming was sentenced to exile in Jiangzhou and passed through our stronghold, Military Strategist Wu sent a letter to you. So why are you now delivering a letter to harm Song Jiang's life?"

"Song Gongming and I are also the closest of brothers," said Dai Zong. "He has been arrested for composing a rebellious poem, and I have been unable to save him. I was on my way to the capital precisely to find a way to rescue him. How would I want to harm his life?"

"If you don't believe me, look at this letter from Governor Cai Jiu," said Zhu Gui.

Dai Zong read it and was himself startled. He then told Zhu Gui in full detail about the letter Wu Yong had sent earlier, his meeting with Song Gongming, and how Song Jiang, after drinking at Xunyang Tower, had mistakenly composed a rebellious poem in a drunken state. Zhu Gui said, "Since this is the case, I invite you to come personally to our stronghold to discuss a plan with all the chieftains—we can save Song Gongming's life."

Zhu Gui hastily ordered the customary wine and food to be prepared for Dai Zong. From the waterside pavilion, he watched across the opposite shore and loosed a signal arrow. As soon as the whistling arrow arrived, a small boat was soon rowed over by some bandits.

Zhu Gui then accompanied Dai Zong, carrying the letter case, down to the boat. They landed at Golden Sand Beach and were led to the main stronghold. When Wu Yong received the report, he hurried down from the pass to greet them. Seeing Dai Zong, he exchanged courtesies and said, "It has been a long time since we parted. What wind blows you here today? Please come up to the main stronghold and meet the other chieftains." Zhu Gui explained the reason for Dai Zong's visit—that Song Jiang was now imprisoned there. Upon hearing this, Chao Gai hastily invited Director Dai to sit and asked in detail what had caused Third Brother Song to get into trouble with the law. Dai Zong then told everything about Song Jiang's seditious poem. When Chao Gai heard this, he was greatly alarmed and immediately wanted to summon all the chieftains, muster the men, and descend the mountain to attack Jiangzhou and rescue Third Brother Song. Wu Yong admonished him, "Elder Brother, you must not act rashly. Jiangzhou is far from here. If our troops go, I fear it may invite disaster. Startling the grass and alarming the snake would cost Song Jiang his life. This matter cannot be resolved by force—it must be resolved by cunning. Wu Yong, though untalented, has a modest scheme. It relies entirely on Director Dai. We must save Song Jiang's life." Chao Gai said, "I would be glad to hear the Military Advisor's ingenious plan." Scholar Wu said, "Now Prefect Jiu has sent Director Dai to the capital to deliver a letter and await the Grand Tutor's reply. We shall turn this letter to our advantage and forge a reply for Director Dai to carry back. The letter will say: 'Instruct that the prisoner Song Jiang must by no means be executed here. He must be sent under the escort of reliable and capable men to the capital, where his case will be fully examined, and he will then be executed publicly to put an end to the children's rhyme.' When they pass through here on their way with him, we will send men down the mountain to seize him. What do you think of this plan?" Chao Gao said, "But what if they don't pass through here? Then won't the whole affair be ruined?" Gongsun Sheng said, "What difficulty is there in this? We can send men ourselves to scout in all directions and find out which route they take. No matter which way they come, we will wait for them and seize them. We only fear they may not bring him here at all."

Chao Gai said, "The plan is good indeed, but no one here can imitate Cai Jing's handwriting." Scholar Wu said, "Wu Yong has already considered this. Today, four styles of calligraphy are prevalent in the world—those of Su Dongpo, Huang Luzhi, Mi Yuanzhang, and Cai Jing. Su, Huang, Mi, and Cai—the 'Four Excellences' of the Song dynasty. I once knew a scholar in Jizhou. That man's surname is Xiao, given name Rang. Because he can write in all these styles, people call him the 'Sainted-Hand Scholar.' He is also skilled with spear and staff, and can wield swords and swing blades. Wu Yong knows that he can imitate Cai Jing's handwriting. It would be better to ask Director Dai to go to his home and deceive him by saying: 'The temple of Mount Tai needs a stone inscription written. Here are fifty taels of silver in advance as a settlement allowance.' This will get him to come. Then we will send men to lure his family up the mountain and persuade him to join us. What do you think?" Chao Gai said, "If he can write the letter, that is fine, but we also need a seal and stamp." Scholar Wu said, "I have another acquaintance whom I have also been thinking of. This man is also one of the finest in the Central Plains. He now lives in Jizhou. His surname is Jin, given name Daji. He carves excellent stone inscriptions and engraves fine seals, jade, and stamps. He is also skilled in fighting with spear and staff. Because he carves jade so well, people call him the 'Jade-Arm Craftsman.' We will also give him fifty taels of silver to lure him here to carve the inscription stone. On the way, we will do the same thing. These two men will both be useful to the stronghold." Chao Gao said, "Splendid!" That very day a banquet was arranged to entertain Dai Zong, and he retired for the night.

The next morning, after breakfast, Director Dai was asked to dress in the manner of an Imperial Courier. He took some hundred-odd taels of silver, saddled his magic horse, and went down the mountain. The boat carried him across Golden Sand Beach to the shore. He quickened his pace and hastened to Jizhou. In less than four hours he had reached the city and inquired after the residence of the "Sainted-Hand Scholar" Xiao Rang. Someone pointed and said, "He lives just east of the prefectural offices, in front of the Confucian temple." Dai Zong went straight to his door, coughed once, and called out, "Is Master Xiao there?" A scholar emerged from inside. Seeing Dai Zong, he did not recognize him and asked, "Where is this Courier from, and what instructions do you have?" Dai Zong bowed and said, "This humble one is a Courier from the Mount Tai temple. The temple is now rebuilding the Five Peaks Tower, and the local gentry wish to have a stone inscription written. I have been specially sent to bring fifty taels of silver in advance as a settlement allowance. I invite you, sir, to graciously bestow your steps and come with me to the temple to compose the text. A date has already been chosen—I must not delay." Xiao Rang said, "This humble scholar can only compose texts and do the calligraphy. I have no other skills. For a stone inscription, one also needs an engraver." Dai Zong said, "I have another fifty taels of silver and wish to engage the Jade-Arm Craftsman Jin Daji to carve the stone. An auspicious day has been selected. I hope you will kindly direct me so we may travel together."

Xiao Rang received the fifty taels of silver, and together with Dai Zong went to seek out Jin Dajian. As they were passing by the Confucian temple, Xiao Rang pointed with his finger and said, "The man coming up ahead is the one called 'Jade-Arm Craftsman' Jin Dajian." At once Xiao Rang called out to Jin Dajian and introduced him to Dai Zong, telling him all about how the Five Sacred Mountain Tower at the Temple of Mount Tai in Taizhou was being rebuilt and how the leading households wished to erect a stone tablet with an inscription, and how this Grand Protector had specially brought fifty taels of silver each to invite the two of them to go. Jin Dajian was pleased at the sight of the silver. The two men invited Dai Zong to a wine shop, where they had three cups of wine bought and some vegetarian dishes prepared to entertain him. Dai Zong then paid Jin Dajian the fifty taels of silver as funds for settling his household, and said further, "The yin-yang diviner has already selected an auspicious date. I ask you two gentlemen to set out today." Xiao Rang said, "The weather is sweltering. If we set out today, we won't get far, and ahead of us there won't be a place to stay for the night. We should start before dawn tomorrow and leave as the gates open." Jin Dajian said, "That is exactly right." Both agreed to rise early the next morning and set out, and each went home to pack and prepare. Xiao Rang kept Dai Zong to stay the night at his house.

At the fifth watch the next day, Jin Dajian, carrying his baggage and tools, came to join Xiao Rang and Dai Zong, and the three traveled together. They had left Jizhou city and gone no more than ten miles or so when Dai Zong said, "You two gentlemen go slowly—I dare not press you. I will go ahead first to inform the leading households to come and receive you." He quickened his pace and hurried off ahead. The two men, carrying their baggage, proceeded slowly on their own. When it was about the hour of the afternoon, having covered roughly seventy or eighty miles, they suddenly heard a whistle blow ahead. From the hillside by the mountain pass leaped out a band of good fellows, some forty or fifty strong. At the head of them was none other than Wang Aihu of Qingfeng Mountain, who bellowed, "Who are you two? Where are you going? Lads, seize these fellows and take their hearts to eat with our wine!" Xiao Rang said, "We two are going to Mount Tai in Taizhou to carve stone inscriptions. We have not a penny of goods—only a few clothes." Wang Aihu roared, "I don't want your goods or clothes. I want the hearts of two clever men to go with wine!" Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian grew agitated. Relying on their own skills, they straightened their staffs and charged straight at Wang Aihu. Wang Aihu also leveled his saber to fight the two of them. The three wielded their weapons and fought some five or seven bouts, then Wang Aihu turned and fled. The two were about to give chase when they heard the sound of gongs from the hill—on the left came Song Wan, the "Diamond in the Clouds," on the right came Du Qian, "Touches the Sky," and behind them was Zheng Tianshou, the "Fair-Faced Gentleman." Each led over thirty men. All at once they fell upon Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian, dragging them horizontally and hauling them off into the woods. The four leaders of the band said, "You two can rest easy. We act on the orders of the Heavenly King Chao and have come specially to invite the two of you up the mountain to join us." Xiao Rang said, "What use would a mountain stronghold have for us? We two have no strength to bind chickens—we are only good for eating rice." Du Qian said, "Commander Wu knew you from before, and furthermore he knows your martial abilities. That is why he sent Dai Zong to your homes to invite you." Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian looked at each other in dismay and could not utter a word. They were taken at once to the inn of Zhu Gui, "Dry-Land Crocodile," where the customary food and wine were served. That very night a boat was summoned and they were sent up the mountain. When they arrived at the great camp, Chao Gai, Wu Yong, and the other chieftains all came out to meet them. A banquet was arranged, and they spoke of the matter of drafting the reply letter to Cai Jing, saying, "That is why we invited the two of you up the mountain to join us and together uphold great righteousness." When the two men heard this, they both seized Wu Yong and said, "It would be no problem for us to serve here, but the trouble is that each of us has old and young family members back home. When the authorities find out tomorrow, they will surely be ruined." Wu Yong said, "You two worthy brothers need not worry. By dawn tomorrow you will have your answer." That night they drank and rested.

The next morning at dawn, a small scout reported, "They have all arrived." Wu Yong said, "I ask you two worthy brothers to go personally and receive your families." Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian heard this with half belief and half doubt. The two went down halfway up the mountain and saw several sedan chairs carrying their families up the mountain. The two were stunned and asked for details. The elders said, "After you left yesterday, a group of people came with sedan chairs and said that you had been struck by heat stroke at an inn outside the city and urgently needed your families to come see and rescue you. Once outside the city, they would not let us get out of the chairs and carried us all the way here." Both families told the same story. Xiao Rang, hearing this, and Jin Dajian both closed their mouths and had nothing to say. They could only resign themselves completely and return to the mountain stronghold to join the band. Their families were settled. Wu Yong then came out and discussed with Xiao Rang the matter of drafting the reply letter in Cai Jing's calligraphy to save Song Jiang. Jin Dajian said, "I have always been able to carve all of Cai Jing's various seals, titles, and characters." The two then set to work and completed it. The reply letter was prepared, a banquet was laid on, and Dai Zong was sent on his way, with detailed instructions on the contents of the letter. Dai Zong took his leave of the chieftains and parted from them to go down the mountain. The small scouts had already ferried a boat across the Golden Sand Beach and escorted him to Zhu Gui's inn. Dai Zong took four paper horses and tied them to his legs, bade farewell to Zhu Gui, quickened his pace, and set off.

Now, Wu Yong had seen Dai Zong across the river, and he returned with the other chiefs to the great stronghold for more wine. Just as they were drinking, Wu Xuéjiū suddenly cried out in distress, not knowing what had come over him. The other chiefs asked, "Why does the military adviser cry out in distress?" Wu Yong said, "You all don't understand: it was this letter of mine that will cost the lives of Dai Zong and Song Jiang." The other chiefs were greatly alarmed and quickly asked, "What exactly was wrong with the letter, military adviser?" Wu Xuéjiū said, "In my haste I thought only of what lay ahead and not of what lay behind. There is a huge flaw in the letter." Xiao Rang then said, "This humble one's handwriting is no different from Grand Tutor Cai's, and the phrasing contains no errors. May I ask the military adviser—where exactly is this flaw?" Jin Dajian also said, "This humble one's carved seal contains not the slightest error. How can there be a flaw?" Wu Xuéjiū raised two fingers and revealed where the error and flaw lay. It would come to pass that the heroes would create a great uproar in Jiangzhou City and stir up chaos at the White Dragon Temple. Arrows and crossbows would become the means by which they escaped with their lives; forests of swords and spears would become the means by which they rescued their heroes. But to tell what flaw Military Adviser Wu Xuéjiū revealed—let us listen to the explanation in the next chapter.