الفصل الثالث والأربعون

الفصل الثالث والأربعون

Li Kui said, "Brother, tell me now—what are those three things?" Song Jiang replied, "You want to go to Yishui County in Yi Prefecture to fetch your mother. First, go straight there and straight back—you must not drink wine. Second, knowing your hot temper, who would be willing to go with you? You must go quietly, get your mother, and come right back. Third, leave behind those two battle-axes you carry. Be careful on the road, and go and return as quickly as you can."

Li Kui said, "These three conditions—what reason would I have to refuse them? Brother, set your mind at rest. I'll leave today. I won't stay any longer." Right then Li Kui dressed himself neatly, strapped on only a waist saber, took up a broad-blade spear, tucked away one large ingot of silver and three or five small pieces, drank a few cups of wine, bowed deeply, took leave of the others, then went down the mountain and crossed the Golden Sand Beach.

Chao Gai, Song Jiang, and the other chieftains escorted him and returned, then seated themselves in the Assembly Hall in the great stronghold. Song Jiang could not set his mind at ease. He said to the others, "This brother Li Kui—I fear this journey will end in misfortune. I don't know, among all you brothers, which of you is from his home region? Someone could go there and gather news for us." Du Qian spoke up: "Only Zhu Gui is originally from Yishui County in Yi Prefecture—he's his fellow townsman." When Song Jiang heard this, he said, "I had forgotten. When we gathered at the White Dragon Temple the other day, Li Kui already recognized Zhu Gui as a fellow townsman." Song Jiang then sent someone to summon Zhu Gui. The little scout raced down the mountain and went straight to the inn, and brought Zhu Gui to him. Song Jiang said, "Our brother Li Kui has gone to his hometown to bring back his old mother. Because his weakness is wine, I would not send anyone to go with him, and I fear something may happen on the road. Now I know you are from his region—you could go there and find out what's happening. Will you make this trip?" Zhu Gui replied, "This younger brother is from Yishui County in Yi Prefecture. I have a brother named Zhu Fu who runs an inn just outside the West Gate of that county. This Li Kui—he lives at Dongdian Village in Baizhang Village of that county. He has an elder brother named Li Da, who does long-term labor for others. Li Kui was fierce and wild from youth, and after he killed a man, he fled into the rivers and lakes and never came back. Now if you send me there to gather news, that's fine, but I'm worried no one will tend the inn. It's also been a long time since I've returned home—I'd like to go back and visit my brother as well." Song Jiang said, "Don't worry about the inn—I'll have Hou Jian and Shi Yong look after it for a while." Zhu Gui received these instructions, took leave of the chieftains, and went down the mountain. He went to his inn, packed up, handed over the business to Shi Yong and Hou Jian, and set off for Yi Prefecture.

Meanwhile Song Jiang and Chao Gai remained in the stronghold, feasting and drinking happily every day, studying the Heavenly Book with Wu Xuexiu. But we will speak no more of this.

Now let us tell of Li Kui. He left Liangshan Marsh alone and made his way to the borders of Yishui County. On the road, Li Kui indeed drank no wine, and so he stirred up no trouble—there is nothing to tell. When he reached the area outside the West Gate of Yishui County, he saw a crowd gathered around a posted notice. Li Kui also stood among them and heard the reading: "First on the list, the chief bandit Song Jiang, a native of Yuncheng County. Second, the subordinate bandit Dai Zong, a prison warden of Jiangzhou. Third, the subordinate bandit Li Kui, a native of Yishui County in Yi Prefecture." Li Kui heard this from behind and was just about to point and make some remark, not knowing what to do, when a man rushed forward, seized him around the waist, and called out, "Elder Brother Zhang, what are you doing here?" Li Kui turned and looked—he recognized the "Drought-land Water-Weasel," Zhu Gui. Li Kui asked, "How do you come to be here as well?" Zhu Gui said, "Come with me and talk."

The two went together to an inn in a village near the West Gate, and went straight into a quiet room in the back, where they sat down. Zhu Gui said, pointing at Li Kui, "You have some nerve! That notice clearly offers ten thousand strings of cash for the capture of Song Jiang, five thousand for Dai Zong, and three thousand for Li Kui—and you stand there reading it? If some sharp-eyed fellow grabs you and takes you to the authorities, what then? Brother Song Gongming feared you would cause trouble, so he wouldn't send anyone with you. But he also worried you might do something reckless here, so afterward he specially sent me to come and find out how you are. I left the mountain a day later than you, yet I arrived a day earlier. How is it that you only got here today?" Li Kui said, "It was because my brother instructed me not to drink wine—that's why I traveled slowly on the road. How do you know this inn? You're from this region—where is your home?" Zhu Gui said, "This inn is run by my brother Zhu Fu. I'm originally from here. I fell into business on the rivers and lakes, lost my capital, and ended up joining the band at Liangshan Marsh. I've only just come back this time." He then called his brother Zhu Fu to come and meet Li Kui. Zhu Fu set out wine and food to entertain Li Kui. Li Kui said, "My brother told me not to drink wine, but today I've arrived in my hometown. What's the harm in drinking two bowls?" Zhu Gui dared not stop him and let him drink as he pleased.

That night they drank until the fourth watch. Some food was prepared, and after Li Kui had eaten, he set out for the village in the fifth watch, while the morning stars still lingered and the fading moon cast its light through the rosy dawn. Zhu Gui instructed him: "Do not take the side path. Go only by way of the big poplar tree, turn onto the main eastern road, and head straight to Baizhang Village—that will get you to Dongdian in the east. Fetch your mother quickly, and return with me to the stronghold early." Li Kui said, "I'll go by the side path—it's shorter. Who has the patience for the main road?" Zhu Gui said, "On the side path there are tigers, and also highwaymen who seize travelers' packs." Li Kui replied, "What the hell do I fear?" He put on his felt cap, took up his broad saber, strapped on his waist sword, bade farewell to Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu, and set out for Baizhang Village.

After traveling several tens of li, the sky gradually began to brighten. From among the dew-laden grasses, a white rabbit bolted out and bounded off ahead along the road. Li Kui chased it for a while and laughed: "That creature has actually led me a good stretch of the way." A poem bears witness:

The mountain path winds deep and still,

Through sparse woods yellow leaves the west wind fills.

Chasing a hare, I crossed the border ground,

And forgot my anxious haste, not knowing where I'd found.

As he walked along, he saw ahead a thicket of some fifty large trees. It was early autumn, and the leaves were turning red. When Li Kui reached the edge of the woods, he saw a big fellow swagger out from among them and shout: "If you know what's good for you, leave your toll money, or I'll take your pack." Li Kui looked the man over: he wore a red silk turban on his head, a coarse cotton-padded jacket, and carried two broad axes in his hands. His face was smeared with black ink. Li Kui roared: "What kind of damned fellow are you, to waylay travelers here?" The man said: "If you ask my name, it'll shatter your heart. Old Black Whirlwind is my name. Leave your toll money and your pack, and I'll spare your life and let you pass." Li Kui laughed loudly: "What the hell! What manner of man are you, and where did you come from? You dare to steal my name and run wild here." Li Kui raised his broad saber and rushed at the man. The fellow could no longer hold his ground and tried to flee, but Li Kui struck him across the thigh with his saber and brought him down. He planted one foot on the man's chest and demanded: "Do you know who this is?" The man cried from the ground: "Lord, spare this child his life!" Li Kui said: "I am the real hero of the rivers and lakes—Black Whirlwind Li Kui. You dare insult my name!" The man said: "This humble one does bear the surname Li, but I am not the real Black Whirlwind. It is because you have such a name on the rivers and lakes—when people hear the great name of a hero, even gods and ghosts tremble—that I borrowed your name to waylay travelers here. Whenever a lone traveler passes and hears the words 'Black Whirlwind,' he drops his luggage and fleeces. That's how I earn my living, but I truly dare not harm anyone. My own lowly name is Li Gui, and I live in the village just ahead." Li Kui said: "How dare this wretch be so brazen—seizing travelers' packs here and ruining my name, even copying me by carrying two broad axes. Let him taste my axe first." He snatched one of the axes away and raised it to strike. Li Gui cried frantically: "Lord, killing me is killing two!" Li Kui heard this and stayed his hand. "How is killing you killing two?" Li Gui said: "This humble one never dared to waylay travelers in the first place. But at home I have a ninety-year-old mother with no one to support her, so I borrowed only your great name to frighten people and seize lone travelers' packs to feed my mother. In truth I have never harmed a single person. Now if you kill me, my old mother at home will surely starve to death."

Li Kui, though he was a demon who killed without blinking an eye, pondered within himself upon hearing these words: "I came home specially to fetch my mother, and yet I would kill a man who supports his own mother—Heaven and Earth would not bless me for it. Very well, very well, I'll spare your life." He released him. Li Gui, holding his axe, bowed his head to the ground. Li Kui said: "I alone am the real Black Whirlwind. From now on, you must never again use my name to do harm." Li Gui said: "Having received my life today, I will return home and change my trade. I will never again rely on your name to waylay travelers here." Li Kui said: "You have a filial heart. I'll give you ten taels of silver as capital—go and change your trade." Li Kui took out a silver ingot and gave it to Li Gui, who kowtowed his thanks and departed.

Li Kui said to himself with a laugh: "This fellow ran right into my hands. Since he is a filial man and will surely change his trade, it would go against Heaven's principle to kill him. I'll be on my way." He took his broad saber and set out step by step along the mountain side path. A poem says:

Li Kui went to welcome his mother but met with harm;

Li Gui was truly one who fed his mother with his arm.

Thus we see that in this world, where loyalty and filial piety dwell,

In word and deed, careful judgment serves one well.

By the time the sun had climbed to the mid-morning hour, Li Kui felt both hunger and thirst gnawing at him. On all sides stretched only mountain paths and narrow trails—not a single inn or wine shop in sight. As he trudged along, he caught sight of two thatched cottages tucked far away in a hollow between the hills. Li Kui hurried toward them and arrived at the door, just as a woman emerged from behind the house. Her hair was bound in a widow's knot, with a cluster of wildflowers tucked at her temples, and her face caked with rouge and white powder.

Li Kui set down his broad-bladed sword and said, "Sister-in-law, I'm a traveler passing through. My belly's empty and I can't find a single food shop. I'll give you a string of cash—could you fix me some wine and a meal?"

The woman took one look at Li Kui's fearsome appearance and didn't dare refuse. "There's no wine to be had around here," she answered, "but I can cook some rice for you before you go on your way."

"Fine enough," said Li Kui. "Make plenty—my belly's so hungry it's fit to burst."

"Would a pint of rice be enough?" the woman asked.

"Make three pints," Li Kui said.

The woman kindled a fire in the kitchen, fetched rice from the stream to wash it, and set about cooking. Li Kui wandered around to the back of the house to wash his hands by the hillside, when he spotted a man tiptoeing home from the mountain path behind. Li Kui slipped around the back and listened. The woman had just gone to gather vegetables up the hill; opening the back door, she saw him and called out, "Elder Brother, what happened to your leg?"

The man replied, "Sister-in-law, I nearly never saw you again! Do you know my rotten luck? I've been lying in wait for a lone traveler for a whole fortnight without a single customer—and today at last I found one. Who do you think it was? None other than the real Black Whirlwind! But damn my luck, I ran into that brute—how could I fight him? He knocked me flat with one thrust of his sword and was about to kill me. I cried out, 'If you kill me, you'll be killing two people!' He asked me why, and I told him, 'I have a ninety-year-old mother at home with no one to care for her—she'll surely starve.' That fool actually believed me and spared my life. He even gave me a piece of silver to start a new trade and told me to leave my old ways and support my mother. I was afraid he'd come after me once he realized the trick, so I ran off and slept in a quiet spot beyond the hills, then came home by the back path."

The woman said, "Keep your voice down! A huge black fellow just came to the house and asked me to cook for him—it must be him. He's sitting out front now. Go take a look. If it's him, find some poison and mix it into the vegetables. Feed it to him and knock him unconscious. Then we'll finish him off together, take his gold and silver, and move to the county town to set up as merchants. Wouldn't that be better than banditry out here?"

Li Kui had heard every word. "Damn this wretch!" he thought. "I spared his life and gave him silver—and now he wants to do me in. This is truly beyond bearing."

He circled around to the back door. Li Gui was just about to step out when Li Kui seized him by the collar. The woman bolted out the front in a panic. Li Kui threw Li Gui to the ground, drew his waist knife, and cut off his head in one stroke. Sword in hand, he rushed to the front door after the woman, but she had vanished—who knew where.

He went back inside and searched the rooms. He found two bamboo cages holding some old clothes; underneath, he discovered a few pieces of broken silver and several hair ornaments and rings, all of which he pocketed. He searched Li Gui's body and took the small silver ingot as well, bundling everything into his pack. Then he looked into the pot—the three pints of rice were fully cooked, but there were no vegetables to go with it. Li Kui ladled out some rice and ate for a while, then laughed at himself: "What a fool! Here's good meat right in front of me and I don't know enough to eat it." He drew his waist knife and carved two pieces of flesh from Li Gui's legs. He washed them clean, snatched some embers from the hearth, and began to roast them—eating as they cooked. When he was full, he dragged Li Gui's corpse into the house below, set it alight, took up his broad-bladed sword, and set off down the mountain road.

By the time he reached Dongdian Village to the east, the sun was sinking in the west. He made straight for home, pushed open the door, and went inside. From the bed came his mother's voice: "Who's there?"

Li Kui looked and saw that his mother's eyes were both blind. She sat on the bed, murmuring Buddhist prayers.

"Mother, it's Tie Niu come home," Li Kui said.

"My son," she said, "you've been gone so many years... Where have you been all this time? Your elder brother has been working as a hired laborer for others, earning just enough to feed himself—he's done nothing to support me. I've thought of you constantly until my tears ran dry, and that's why I've lost my sight. How have you been all this while?"

Li Kui thought to himself: *If I tell her I've become an outlaw on Mount Liang, she'll never agree to go. I'd better lie.*

"Tie Niu has become an official now," he said. "I've come on the road especially to fetch you."

"Is that so?" his mother said. "That's wonderful! But how will you manage to take me?"

"I'll carry you on my back to the main road, and we'll find a cart to take us the rest of the way."

"Wait for your elder brother to come back, and we'll discuss it."

"What's the need to wait? I'll take you myself."

He was just about to set off when Li Da arrived carrying a pot of rice.

Once inside, Kui bowed and said, "Brother, it's been years since we last saw each other." Li Da cursed him, "What the hell are you doing back here? Come to drag us down again?" Their mother said, "Iron Ox has become an official now. He's come home specially to take me away." Li Da said, "Mother, don't believe his bullshit. Back then, he killed someone and got me shackled and locked up, and I suffered a thousand torments. Now I hear he's been in league with the bandits of Liangshan Marsh, stormed the execution grounds, stirred up trouble in Jiangzhou, and is now a bandit chief at Liangshan Marsh. A while ago, official documents arrived from Jiangzhou, ordering the local authorities to track him down and arrest him. They even dragged me to the magistrate's office for questioning. Fortunately, the wealthy patron spent money on my behalf, arguing that my brother had been missing for over ten years and had never returned home—it must be someone with the same name falsely claiming our hometown. He also greased palms high and low, so I escaped punishment and they stopped pressing the case. Now there's a notice offering three thousand cash for his capture. You're still alive, and you dare come home spouting nonsense!" Kui said, "Brother, don't get agitated. Come with me up the mountain—we'll have a fine time together. What could be better?" Li Da flew into a rage. He wanted to beat Kui, but knew he was no match for him, so he flung his rice pot to the ground and stormed off.

Kui said, "Once he's gone, he'll surely report me and bring people to arrest me. I can't get away now—better leave early. My brother has never seen such a large ingot of silver. I'll leave a fifty-tael ingot on the bed. When he comes back and sees it, he'll surely stop chasing me." Kui untied his money pouch, took out a large ingot of silver, and placed it on the bed. He called out, "Mother, I'll carry you away." She said, "Where are you taking me?" Kui said, "Don't ask me—just think of the good times ahead. It's no trouble for me to carry you." Kui hoisted his mother onto his back, grabbed his broad saber, and headed out the door onto the mountain path.

Meanwhile, Li Da rushed to the wealthy patron's house to report what had happened. The patron gathered a dozen or so estate hands and they sped back home. When they arrived, the old mother was gone—only a large ingot of silver lay on the bed. Li Da looked at the silver and thought to himself, "Iron Ox left this silver behind. He must have carried Mother off to hide her somewhere. Someone from Liangshan Marsh must have come with him. If I chase after him, he'll probably kill me. Since he's carrying Mother, he must be taking her to the mountain stronghold to enjoy life." The others couldn't find Kui and had no idea what to do. Li Da said to the estate hands, "This Iron Ox has carried Mother off, but who knows which path he took? There are too many trails around here—how can we chase him?" Seeing that Li Da was at a loss, the estate hands lingered for a while, then drifted back to their own homes. That's the end of that.

Now then, Kui feared that Li Da would bring people after him, so he carried his mother along remote, secluded paths deep into the mountains. As the sky grew late, they saw:

Evening mist stretched across distant peaks; night fog enshrouded strange summons.

Crows fluttered chaotically toward the woods; a hundred birds chattered by the trees.

Row upon row of wild geese descended toward the Yangtze, their shapes merging with the reed flowers;

Speckles of firefly light brightened the wild paths, clinging to rotting grass.

A golden wind rose and scattered withered leaves; frosty breath spread through the deep mountains.

By the time Kui carried his mother to the foot of the ridge, it was already late. His mother's eyes were dim, and she could not tell the hour. Kui knew this ridge well—it was called Yi Ridge. Only on the other side were there any homes. Mother and son pressed on step by step up the ridge under the bright moon and stars. His mother said from his back, "Son, if only you could find me some water to drink." Kui said, "Mother, let's wait until we cross the ridge. We'll find a house to rest in and make some food." She said, "I ate some dry rice at midday, but my thirst is unbearable." Kui said, "My throat's parched too, like smoke and fire. Just let me carry you to the top of the ridge, and I'll find water for you." She said, "Son, I'm dying of thirst! Please, help me." Kui said, "I'm exhausted too." When they finally struggled to the top of the ridge, Kui set his mother down on a large blue stone beside a pine tree, stuck his broad saber in the ground beside her, and said, "Sit patiently for a moment. I'll go find water for you to drink." Kui heard the sound of a mountain stream and followed the noise. He wound around two or three bends of the hillside and reached the stream—and what a beautiful stream it was. As the testifies:

Through cliffs and gorges it toils without complaint;

Only from afar can one know how high its source.

How could a mountain brook hold it back?

It returns to the sea to become surging waves.

Kui came to the stream, scooped up water with his hands, and drank several mouthfuls. He thought, "How can I carry this water back to Mother?" He stood up and looked around. Far off on the mountain top he saw a small shrine. Kui said, "That'll do." He climbed up by grasping vines and creepers until he reached the front of the shrine. He pushed open the door and looked inside—it was a shrine to the Great Sage of Sizhou. In front stood a stone incense burner. Kui tried to lift it with his hands, but it had been carved from the same block as its base. He tugged at it for a while but couldn't budge it. In a sudden fit of temper, he heaved the entire base up and smashed it against the stone steps in front, knocking the incense burner loose. He took it back to the stream, soaked it in the water, pulled up some wild grass, and scrubbed it clean. He filled the burner halfway with water, carried it in both hands, and made his way back along the old path, stumbling and staggering up the ridge.

When he reached the pine grove, he could find no sign of his mother on the rock, only the broad-bladed dagger stuck there. Li Kui called for his mother to drink the water, but no trace of her remained. He called several times, but no answer came. Alarmed, Li Kui set down the incense burner and looked around sharply in every direction—still no sign of her. He had gone no more than thirty paces when he noticed a patch of blood on the grass. Seeing this, his suspicions deepened, and he followed the trail of blood. It led him to the mouth of a large cave, where he saw two tiger cubs licking at a human leg. It was just as the verse said:

False Black Whirlwind truly stirs up trouble,

A deceitful heart in life, burning legs in death.

Who would have thought his mother's leg would also meet harm—

Hungry tigers and hungry men, all driven by the mouth.

Li Kui thought to himself: "I came all the way back from Liangshan Marsh especially to fetch my old mother. I endured untold hardships to carry her here, only to feed her to you. That beast dragged off this human leg—if it isn't my mother's, whose could it be?" Fury rose within him, his yellow whiskers bristling erect. He raised his dagger and thrust at the two cubs. The young tigers, panicked by the attack, bared their claws and fangs and lunged forward. Li Kui struck without hesitation and killed the first one. The second darted back into the cave. Li Kui rushed in after it and killed it there as well. Then he crawled deeper into the tiger's den and crouched inside, peering out. Soon the tigress came bounding back toward the lair, fangs bared and claws extended. Li Kui said, "So it was you, you cursed beast, who ate my mother." He set down his dagger and drew the saber from his hip. When the tigress reached the cave entrance, she first swept her tail into the lair, then settled the back half of her body inside. Li Kui watched carefully from within and, with all the strength he could muster, drove his blade into the base of her tail. The saber struck her squarely at the fundament. He had put such force into the blow that the entire weapon, hilt and all, was driven straight into her belly. The tigress let out a roar, leaped across the ravine from the cave mouth with the blade still in her, and Li Kui grabbed his dagger and rushed out of the den in pursuit. The tiger, writhing in pain, scrambled straight down the rocky hillside. Li Kui was about to give chase when suddenly a fierce wind whipped up from beside the trees, driving fallen leaves and branches down like rain. As the old saying goes: "Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger." From that gust of wind, beneath the light of the stars and moon, came a tremendous roar, and a great tiger with white forehead and staring eyes leaped out. The beast lunged fiercely at Li Kui, but Li Kui remained calm. Seizing upon the tiger's own momentum, he struck with his blade and hit it squarely beneath the jaw. The tiger could not lunge again—partly because of the pain, partly because the blow had pierced its windpipe. It retreated no more than five or seven steps, then came a crashing sound like half a mountain collapsing, and in an instant it lay dead on the rocks below.

Li Kui had killed all four tigers—mother and cubs. He went back to the tiger's lair and searched through it with his blade once more, fearing there might be more tigers, but there was no trace of any. Exhausted, Li Kui made his way to the Temple of the Great Sage of Si Prefecture and slept there until dawn. The next morning, he gathered what remained of his mother—her two legs and the rest of her bones—wrapped them in his cloth shirt, and went behind the Nunnery of the Great Sage of Si Prefecture, where he dug a grave and buried them. Li Kui wept bitterly. A poem bears witness:

West wind on Yi Ridge, an autumn in the ninth month,

Male and female tiger cubs gathered on the wooded mound.

Because they devoured his old mother's remains,

A hero's blood and tears were shed.

Fighting with all his might, he entered the tiger's den,

And slew four tigers to avenge his grievance.

By Si Prefecture temple he buried her himself—

For ages to come, the name Li Tie Niu shall be known.

By now Li Kui was ravenously hungry and parched. He gathered up his bundle, took his dagger, and slowly made his way along the path down the ridge. He came upon five or six hunters who were collecting their snares and crossbow bolts. Seeing Li Kui covered in blood and coming down the ridge, the hunters were startled and asked, "Are you some mountain god or earth spirit, sir, that you dare cross this ridge alone?"

When Li Kui heard this, he thought to himself: "The county of Yi has posted an offer of three thousand strings of cash for my capture. How can I tell them the truth? I had better lie." He replied, "I am a traveler. Last night I was crossing the ridge with my mother. She wanted water to drink, so I went down the ridge to fetch some, and a tiger dragged her away and devoured her. I went straight to the tiger's lair and killed two cubs first, then two tigers. I slept at the Temple of the Great Sage of Si Prefecture until dawn, and only now have come down."

The hunters all cried out in unison, "We don't believe one man could kill four tigers! Even Li Cunzi and Zi Lu could only take down one each. The two cubs are no matter, but the two full-grown tigers are no small thing. Because of these two beasts, we have taken more beatings than we can count. Ever since this den of tigers has been on Yi Ridge, for three to five months at a stretch, no one has dared pass through. We don't believe you—you must be pulling our leg!"

Li Kui said, "I'm not from this region. What reason would I have to deceive you? If you don't believe me, I'll go up the ridge with you and find the carcasses to show you. We can bring some men to carry them down."

The hunters said, "If they are truly there, we will reward you handsomely. That would be wonderful!"

The hunters blew their whistles, and in an instant some thirty or fifty men gathered, each carrying hooked spears and staves. They followed Li Kui back up the ridge. By now the sky was bright and clear. They all went to the mountaintop and, from a distance, saw that two tiger cubs had indeed been killed beside the lair—one inside it and one outside. A tigress lay dead by the cliff rock, and a male tiger lay dead before the Temple of the Great Sage of Sizhou. When the hunters saw that four tigers had been killed, they were overjoyed. They bound the carcasses with ropes, and the crowd carried them down the ridge. They invited Li Kui to go with them to claim the reward. At the same time, they sent a man ahead to inform the village headman and prominent households, who all came out to meet them. The tigers were carried to the manor of a wealthy household, the estate of Lord Cao. This Cao had once been an idle clerk who had specialized in oppressing the locals and squeezing out their livelihoods. He had recently come into some floating wealth, but his dealings were still dishonest. Lord Cao himself came out to receive them and invited Li Kui to sit in the thatched hall. He asked for an account of how the tigers had been killed. Li Kui told the whole story of how he had gone up the ridge with his mother the night before to fetch water, and how he had killed the tigers. Everyone present was stunned. Lord Cao asked the brave man's name. Li Kui replied, "My surname is Zhang. I have no given name. They just call me Zhang the Bold."

A poem says:

They say there was only a fake Li Kui,

But never was a real Li Kui ever false.

How can this Li Four masquerade as Zhang Three?

Who is false and who is true—all is a game.

Lord Cao said, "Truly a bold man! If you were not so fearless, how could you have killed four tigers?" In the meantime he ordered wine and food to be prepared for his guest—but of this, no more.

Now, when the village learned that four tigers had been killed on Yiling Ridge and carried to Lord Cao's house, the news stirred up every hamlet and roadside inn. It created such a commotion that in villages front and back, in remote mountain households, old men and young women came in droves to see the tigers. They went in to see Lord Cao, who was entertaining the tiger-slaying hero in the hall with wine. Among the crowd was the wife of Li Gui, who had fled to her father's house in the front village. She too had come with the crowd to see the tigers, and she recognized Li Kui's features. She rushed home and said to her parents, "This black giant who killed the tigers is the one who killed my husband and burned down his house. He is none other than 'Black Whirlwind' Li Kui of Liangshan Marsh." When her parents heard this, they hurried to inform the village headman. The headman said, "If he is the 'Black Whirlwind,' then he must be the Li Kui who killed a man in Baizhang Village behind the ridge, fled to Jiangzhou, and committed more crimes there. He was transferred back to this county of his origin for arrest. The authorities have put up a three-thousand-guan reward for his capture. And now he has come here!" He secretly sent for Lord Cao to come and discuss the matter. Lord Cao pleaded the need to change his clothes and went hastily to the headman's house. They talked about how the tiger-slaying hero was in fact "Black Whirlwind" Li Kui of Baizhang Village behind the ridge, and that the authorities were after him. Lord Cao said, "You must be absolutely certain. If it is not him, you'll bring trouble on yourselves. But if it really is him, then there's no problem. Capturing him will be easy—the only difficulty would be if it turned out not to be him." The headman said, "Li Gui's wife recognizes him. She used to cook at Li Gui's house, and he killed Li Gui." Lord Cao said, "In that case, let's just keep plying him with wine and ask him, 'Now that you've killed the tigers, do you want to go to the county office to claim the official reward, or would you rather take a reward from the village?' If he refuses to go to the county for the reward, then he must be the 'Black Whirlwind.' We'll have the men take turns filling his cup, get him drunk, and tie him up here. Then we'll report to the county and have the captain of the constables come to take him away. There will be no risk at all."

A poem attests:

As the saying goes, a mustard seed enters a needle's eye;

On a narrow road one often meets a foe.

Li Gui's ghost has not dispersed,

And the whirlwind's color is not auspicious.

He kills tigers and thinks of county rewards,

He kills a man and is seized by the authorities.

Watch the mantis and the oriole—

I urge you: do not boast when fortune smiles.

The crowd said, "That is well said."

The headman and the others reached an agreement. Old Squire Cao went home and kept Kui there for a while, and at the same time had wine served. He said, "Please forgive me for having been neglectful just now. Please, brave fellow, take off your waist-wrappings, put down your broadsword, and sit down at your ease." Kui said, "Very well, very well. My waist-knife has been thrust into the belly of the tigress; only the scabbard is here here. When you open up the tiger, you can give it back to me." Old Squire Cao said, "Have no fear, brave fellow. We have plenty of good knives here. I will give you one to wear at your waist." Kui took off his waist-knife and pointed knife, and handed his wallet and baggage over to the servants of the manor to put away, and then leaned his broadsword against the wall. Old Squire Cao ordered a large platter of meat and a large pot of wine to be brought. The wealthy householders, the headman, and the hunters, one after another, all urged him to drink, with large bowls and large cups, and did nothing but press Kui to drink. Old Squire Cao also asked, "I do not know whether the brave fellow intends to take this tiger to the authorities and claim a reward, or whether he only wants some traveling expenses here." Kui said, "I am a passing traveler, and am in a hurry. I killed this litter of fierce tigers by chance, and do not need to go to the county seat to claim a reward. If I can just get some traveling expenses here, that will do; if not, I shall be on my way." Old Squire Cao said, "How could we treat a brave fellow with disrespect? In a little while the village will collect traveling money and present it to you. I myself will take the tiger to the county seat." Kui said, "First lend me a shirt to cover me while I change." Old Squire Cao said, "We have one, we have one. ..." He then had brought a fine blue cotton-padded jacket, and gave it to Kui to change for his blood-stained clothes. Just then drums and flutes were heard at the front gate, and wine was brought to toast Kui in celebration, one cup cold and one cup hot. Kui did not know it was a trick; he just drank to his heart's content, and paid no attention at all to what Song Jiang had told him. In less than four hours Kui was dead drunk, and could not stand up. The others carried him to an empty room behind the house, laid him down on a bench, and took two ropes and tied him to the bench. They then told the headman to go to the county seat and report the matter with all speed, and brought forward Li Gui's wife as the plaintiff and drew up a formal complaint.

At that time all of Yishui County was stirred up. The magistrate, upon hearing the news, was greatly alarmed, and immediately ascended the hall and asked, "Where has Black Whirlwind been captured? He is a rebel; we must not let him escape." The plaintiff and the hunters answered, "He is now bound at the manor of Squire Cao of this township. Since there is no one who can guard him, we fear he might escape on the road, so we did not dare to bring him here." The magistrate then ordered the county chief constable to go and fetch him. Before the hall a chief constable stepped forward and acknowledged the order. Who was this man? There is a verse that testifies:

His face was broad, his eyebrows thick, his beard and hair were red, his two eyes were blue-green like a foreigner. In Yishui County, the Blue-Eyed Tiger, the heroic chief constable was Li Yun.

The magistrate summoned Li Yun to come up to the hall and gave his orders: "At Squire Cao's manor below Yiling Ridge, Black Whirlwind Li Kui has been captured. You must take many men with you and bring him here secretly. Do not make a disturbance in the village, lest he escape." Chief Constable Li received the magistrate's orders, descended from the hall, and mustered thirty experienced local soldiers, each equipped with weapons, and they hastened to the village below Yiling Ridge.

Yishui County was a small place, and the news could not be concealed. The people in the streets were talking about it, saying, "The Black Whirlwind who created a disturbance at Jiangzhou has been captured. They are now sending Chief Constable Li to fetch him." Zhu Gui, who was staying at Zhu Fu's house outside the east manor gate, heard the news and hurried to the back to speak to his younger brother Zhu Fu. He said, "This black fellow has got himself into trouble again. How are we to rescue him? Song Gongming was worried that something might happen to him, and sent me to find out the news. Now that he has been captured and bound, if I cannot rescue him, how can I go back to the stronghold and face my elder brother? What shall we do?" Zhu Fu said, "Elder brother, don't be alarmed. This Chief Constable Li is a very capable man; three or five dozen men could not get near him. Even if you and I work together with one mind, how could we get close to him? We can only outwit him, not fight him. Li Yun has always been fond of me, and often taught me how to use weapons. I have a plan for dealing with him, but I shall not be able to stay here after this. Tonight we will cook thirty or forty catties of meat and take a dozen bottles of wine. We will cut the meat into large chunks and mix some knockout drug into it. At the fifth watch tomorrow we will take several servants, carry the provisions, and wait for him on the road at a secluded spot. When we see him bringing Kui along, we will pretend to offer him wine to congratulate him, knock out all his men, and then release Li Kui. How about that?" Zhu Gui said, "This plan is excellent. We must not delay. We can make preparations and go early." Zhu Fu said, "The only problem is that Li Yun does not drink wine, so even if we knock him out, he will wake up quickly. There is another thing — if this is ever found out afterwards, we shall not be able to stay here." Zhu Fu said, "Brother, you sell wine here, but it is not a profitable business. You might as well take your family and come up the mountain with me. We can join the band together, and share the gold and silver by weight, and change into fine clothes. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Tonight we will tell two servants to find a cart and send your wife and children and your light baggage on ahead, to wait for us at the Ten-Mile Marker, and then we all go up the mountain together. I have a packet of knockout drug with me in my baggage. Since Li Yun does not drink wine, we will mix more of it into the meat and force him to eat a lot. When he is knocked out, we can rescue Li Kui and go up the mountain together. What could be wrong with that?" Zhu Fu said, "Elder brother is right." He then told someone to find a cart, pack five or six boxes, and load them on the cart, and they left behind all the heavy household goods. He told his wife and children to get into the cart, and ordered two servants to follow the cart and go ahead with all speed.

Now let me tell what happened. That night, Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu cooked the meat, cut it into large chunks, and mixed it with the drug. They loaded the wine and meat—also drugged—into two carrying poles, along with two dozen or so empty bowls. They had various vegetables too, all mixed with the drug as well. Those who might not eat the meat would still be affected. The two carrying poles of wine and meat were shouldered by two serving men, one each. The brothers themselves carried some fruit boxes and the like. Around the fourth watch, they went straight to a secluded spot by a mountain road and waited. By daybreak, they could hear in the distance the clanging of a gong, and Zhu Gui went to meet them at the road.

Now let me tell about those thirty or so militia soldiers. After drinking half the night in the village, around the fourth watch they bound Li Kui's hands behind his back and came along to deliver him. Behind them, Chief Li Yun sat on horseback, arriving just as they came into view. Zhu Fu stepped forward to intercept them, crying out, "Master, good news! Your humble disciple has come to greet you." He ladled wine from the barrel and poured a large cup, offering it up to Li Yun. Zhu Gui held out the meat, and the serving men carried over the fruit boxes. Li Yun, seeing this, hastily dismounted and jumped forward. "Good brother, you needn't have come so far to meet me," he said. Zhu Fu replied, "This is merely to show my filial heart as your disciple." Li Yun took the wine but did not drink it when it reached his lips. Zhu Fu knelt and said, "I already know my master does not drink wine. But on this joyous occasion, please drink at least half a cup." Li Yun could not refuse and took a small sip of two or three mouthfuls. Zhu Fu then said, "Since my master does not drink, please have some meat." Li Yun said, "I had my fill last night and cannot eat more." Zhu Fu said, "You've traveled a long road and must be hungry. Even if it isn't to your taste, please have some out of consideration, lest I be shamed." He picked out two good pieces and handed them over. Li Yun, seeing such earnest hospitality, reluctantly ate two pieces. Zhu Fu then went to urge wine upon the village heads, the local officials, and the hunters, filling three cups for each of them. Zhu Gui called out for the militia soldiers and the village men all to come and drink. That crowd of men and women paid no mind to whether things were hot or cold, tasty or not—once the wine and meat reached their mouths, they ate ravenously. Like the wind sweeping away scattered clouds, like fallen petals carried by rushing water, they all surged forward and snatched the food. Li Kui glared at the Zhu brothers, already knowing the ruse had worked, and deliberately said, "Let me have some too." Zhu Gui shouted, "You're a criminal! What wine and meat would we give you? Shut your mouth, you brute!" Li Yun looked at his soldiers and barked an order to move on. But they all stared at one another, unable to move, their lips trembling and their legs numb—they all collapsed. Li Yun cried out in alarm, "We've been tricked!" He was about to step forward when he too felt his head grow heavy and his legs light. He fainted, crumpled into a heap, and lay on the ground. At that moment, Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu each seized a broad cleaver and shouted, "None of you run away!" The two men raised their cleavers and went after the village men and onlookers who had not eaten or drunk. Those who ran fast escaped; those who ran slowly were stabbed to death on the spot. Li Kui let out a great shout, snapped all the hemp ropes that bound him, and seized a broad cleaver to go kill Li Yun. Zhu Fu hastily blocked him, crying, "Don't harm him! He is my master, a good man through and through. You go on ahead." Li Kui said, "If I don't kill that old donkey Cao Taigong, how can I vent this rage?" Li Kui caught up and with one stroke of his cleaver stabbed Cao Taigong to death, along with Li Gui's wife. After that he killed the local official too. In the heat of his fury, he went down the line of hunters and stabbed them one by one. All thirty or so militia soldiers were stabbed to death. The onlookers and the village men wished their parents had given them two more pairs of legs, and all fled for their lives along the paths into the deep countryside.

Li Kui kept looking for people to kill. Zhu Gui shouted, "This has nothing to do with the onlookers—stop harming people!" He hastily held Li Kui back, and only then did Li Kui stay his hand. They stripped two articles of clothing from the soldiers and put them on. The three men took up their cleavers and set off on the small path. Zhu Fu said, "This won't do—I've cost my master his life. When he wakes, how will he face the county magistrate? He certainly will come after us. You two go ahead, and I'll wait for him. Considering the kindness he's shown me in training me, and since he is an upright and loyal man, when he catches up, I'll invite him to join us on the mountain too. This is how I repay his kindness, and it will spare him from suffering when he returns to the county." Zhu Gui said, "Brother, you're right. I'll go ahead and follow the carts. I'll leave Li Kui by the road to help you wait for him. Li Yun took less of the drug and will wake within an hour. If he doesn't come after us, don't be foolish and wait." Zhu Fu said, "Naturally."

Thereupon Zhu Gui went ahead. Zhu Fu and Li Kui sat by the roadside and waited. Sure enough, before an hour had passed, they saw Li Yun charging toward them with a broad cleaver, as if flying, shouting, "Robbers, don't you run!" Li Kui saw how fiercely he came, leapt to his feet, raised his broad cleaver, and went to fight Li Yun—being careful not to injure Zhu Fu. And so it was fated: two more tigers would be added to Liangshan Marsh, and four would be welcomed before the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. As for how "Black Whirlwind" fought "Blue-Eyed Tiger," and how the two fared against each other—listen to the next chapter for the answer.