Chapter 3

Chapter 3

At the time, Shi Jin said, "What shall we do?" Zhu Wu and the other two chiefs knelt down and replied, "Elder Brother, you are an innocent man. Don't let us drag you down, young master. Bind us with ropes and take us out to claim the reward, so you won't be implicated and suffer disgrace." Shi Jin said, "How could I do such a thing! If I did that, it would mean I lured you here to capture you and claim the reward—I'd be mocked by the whole world. If I must die, I'll die with you; if I live, I'll live with you. Get up, set your minds at ease, and don't talk in circles. Let me first ask about the origins and circumstances of this matter."

Shi Jin climbed the ladder and called out, "You two constables, why have you come in the middle of the night to raid my manor?" The two constables replied, "Young master, you're still trying to deny it! We have the plaintiff Li Ji right here." Shi Jin shouted, "Li Ji, how dare you falsely accuse an innocent person?" Li Ji answered, "I didn't know anything about it. I found Wang Si's letter in the woods and took it to the county office to show them, and that's how this came to light." Shi Jin called Wang Si and asked, "You said there was no letter—so how is there one now?" Wang Si said, "It's just that I was drunk at the time and forgot about the letter." Shi Jin roared, "You beast—what are we to do now?" Outside, the constables and their men were so afraid of Shi Jin's prowess that they dared not rush into the manor to seize anyone. The three chiefs gestured with their hands, saying, "Answer them outside for now." Shi Jin understood. From the ladder he called out, "You two constables, don't make a commotion. Withdraw for now, and I'll bind myself and come out to be handed over to the authorities for the reward." The two constables were afraid of Shi Jin and had no choice but to say, "We mean no harm. Wait for you to bind yourself and come out, and we'll go together to claim the reward." Shi Jin came down the ladder and went to the front hall. He first called for Wang Si, took him into the back garden, and cut him down with a single stroke. He ordered many of the manor servants to gather up all the valuables in the manor, whether they had them or not, and pack everything quickly. At the same time, they lit thirty or forty torches. In the manor, Shi Jin and the three chiefs donned full armor. Each took a waist-mounted saber from the rack, grabbed a pudao, and tied up their clothes. They set fire to the thatched huts behind the manor. The servants each packed their bundles. Outside, when they saw the fire within, they all rushed around to the back to look. Meanwhile, Shi Jin set fire again in the central hall, threw open the manor gates, raised a great shout, and charged out.

Shi Jin took the lead, Zhu Wu and Yang Chun were in the middle, Chen Da brought up the rear, and with the small bandits and manor servants, they smashed and charged in every direction. Shi Jin was like a great tiger—who could stand against him! Behind them, fires blazed in confusion. They cut open a path and burst out, running straight into the two constables and Li Ji. When Shi Jin saw them, his anger flared. "When enemies meet, the eyes see with exceptional clarity." The two constables saw the situation was hopeless and turned to flee. Li Ji also tried to turn, but Shi Jin was already upon him. With one swing of his pudao, he cut Li Ji in two. As the two constables were trying to escape, Chen Da and Yang Chun caught up with them and each finished one off with a pudao. The county military officer was so frightened he fled on horseback. The soldiers didn't dare advance—they each fled for their lives, scattering in all directions. Shi Jin led his men, fighting as they went. The government troops dared not pursue and dispersed on their own. Shi Jin, along with Zhu Wu, Chen Da, Yang Chun, and the manor servants, all went up to the stronghold on Mount Shaohua and sat down inside. Only after they had caught their breath did they settle down. When Zhu Wu and the others arrived at the stronghold, they quickly ordered the small bandits to slaughter cattle and horses and prepare a celebratory feast—but no more of this.

Several days passed in succession. Shi Jin pondered: "In my haste to save the three of them, I set fire to my manor. Although I had some valuables and household goods, all the heavy belongings are completely lost." He hesitated in his heart, feeling he could not remain here. He spoke openly to Zhu Wu and the others, saying, "My teacher, Wang the Instructor, is serving in the military headquarters in the western region of Guanxi. I had wanted to go find him, but because my father died, I never went. Now that my household and manor are ruined, I want to go find him." The three said, "Elder Brother, don't go. Just stay in our stronghold for a while longer and we can discuss it further. If you don't wish to become an outlaw, once things have calmed down, we younger brothers will help you rebuild your manor and you can be a law-abiding citizen again." Shi Jin said, "Although this shows your good intentions, my heart is set on leaving and I cannot stay. If I find my teacher, I also want to seek a livelihood there and pursue a lifetime of happiness." Zhu Wu said, "Elder Brother, why not be the chief of this stronghold right here—wouldn't that be wonderful? I only fear our stronghold is too small to accommodate you." Shi Jin said, "I am an honorable man. How could I defile the body my parents gave me by becoming an outlaw? If you try to persuade me to join the outlaws, speak of it no more." Shi Jin stayed a few more days, but he was determined to leave. Zhu Wu and the others tried in vain to detain him. The manor servants he had brought with him all remained in the stronghold. He himself packed only a small amount of loose silver into a bundle, and left the rest deposited in the stronghold.

Shi Jin wore a large white felt hat from Fanyang, with a sprig of red tassel on top. Under the hat he wrapped a soft blue horn-tipped headband. Around his neck was a bright yellow silk sash. He wore a white ramie silk battle robe with a double-collared design, and at his waist a five-finger-wide plum-red gathered silk sash. His legs were wrapped in blue-and-white interwoven puttees bound at the feet, over which he wore multi-eared hemp shoes suited for climbing mountains and traversing rough ground. At his waist hung a copper-ringed, goose-feather-patterned saber. With his bundle on his back and a pudao in hand, he took his leave of Zhu Wu and the other two. Many of the small bandits escorted him down the mountain. Zhu Wu and the others shed tears as they parted and returned to the stronghold.

Shi Jin took his pudao, left Mount Shaohua, and set out toward the five routes of Guanxi, heading for the road to Yan'an Prefecture. He saw before him:

Rugged mountain ridges, lonely silent villages.

Through cloud and mist, lodging by night in desolate woods; with the dawn moon, climbing dangerous paths by day.

The sun sank low as they hurried on, dogs barking in the distance; frost came early, and the rooster's crow urged them forth.

On the road, Shi Jin could not but eat when hungry and drink when thirsty, lodging by night and pressing on at dawn. He traveled alone for more than half a month before reaching Weizhou. "There is a garrison headquarters here as well—could it be that my master, Instructor Wang, is stationed here?" Shi Jin entered the city and saw that it still bustled with its six streets and three markets. He noticed a small teahouse right at the crossroads and went inside, choosing a seat. The tea keeper asked, "Honored guest, what kind of tea would you like?" Shi Jin said, "I'll have steeped tea." The tea keeper prepared a bowl and set it before him. Shi Jin asked, "Where is the garrison headquarters?" The tea keeper replied, "It's just up ahead." Shi Jin then asked, "Might I inquire whether there is an instructor here named Wang Jin, who came from the Eastern Capital?" The tea keeper said, "There are many instructors in that headquarters, and three or four of them have the surname Wang—I couldn't tell you which one is Wang Jin."

Before the words had left his mouth, a great fellow strode in and walked straight into the teahouse. Shi Jin looked at him and saw he had the bearing of a military officer. How was he dressed? He wore:

A sesame-threaded silk headcloth with the "myriad-character" pattern; two twisted-gold rings from Taiyuan Prefecture behind his ears; a parrot-green ramie-silk battle robe on his upper body; a crow-blue sash of dual silk-cotton weave tied at his waist; and a pair of eagle-claw-skin, four-seamed, dry-yellow boots on his feet.

He had a round face and large ears, a straight nose and square mouth, and a fox-like beard at his cheeks;

He stood eight feet tall and was ten spans around the waist.

The man sat down inside the teahouse. The tea keeper said, "If you're looking for Instructor Wang, just ask this captain—he knows everyone." Shi Jin rose quickly and bowed, "Sir, please sit and share some tea." The man saw that Shi Jin was tall, large, and imposing, like a true hero, and came forward to return his bow. The two sat down. Shi Jin said, "Forgive my boldness, sir, but may I ask your honorable name?" The man replied, "I am a captain in the garrison headquarters. My surname is Lu, and my given name is Da. And may I ask you, brother, what is your surname?" Shi Jin said, "This humble one is from Huayin County in Huazhou. My surname is Shi, and my given name is Jin. May I ask, sir, whether my master—Instructor Wang Jin, who taught the eighty-thousand-strong Imperial Guards in the Eastern Capital—is in this headquarters?" Captain Lu said, "Brother, are you by any chance the 'Nine-Dragon' Shi Dalang from Shi Family Village?" Shi Jin bowed and said, "This humble one is he." Captain Lu hastily returned the bow and said, "To hear of you is not to see you; to see you surpasses merely hearing of you. The Instructor Wang you seek—is he the Wang Jin who fell afoul of Grand Marshal Gao in the Eastern Capital?" Shi Jin said, "The very same." Lu Da said, "I have heard his name too. That brother is not here. I have heard he is serving under Old Marshal Zhong in the garrison at Yan'an Prefecture. This Weizhou of mine is defended by Young Marshal Zhong—he is not here. Since you are Shi Dalang, I have long heard of your fine reputation. Come, let's go out to the street together and have a cup of wine." Captain Lu took Shi Jin by the hand and led him out of the teahouse. Lu Da called back, "I'll pay you for the tea myself." The tea keeper answered, "The captain is welcome to drink his fill—please, just go."

The two walked arm in arm out of the teahouse and had gone thirty or fifty paces along the street when they saw a crowd of people gathered in a circle around an open space. Shi Jin said, "Brother, let's take a look." They parted the crowd and saw a man standing in the middle, wielding ten or so staffs; on the ground were spread a dozen or so medicinal platter-pills on a tray, with a paper placard stuck in it. He was, it turned out, a street performer who sold medicines and demonstrated staff and cudgel techniques. Shi Jin looked and recognized him—it had been the very master who first taught him martial arts, known as "Tiger-Fighting General" Li Zhong. Shi Jin called out from among the crowd, "Master, it has been a long time!" Li Zhong said, "Good brother, how did you come to be here?" Captain Lu said, "Since he is Shi Dalang's master, come along with me and have three cups of wine." Li Zhong said, "Wait until I have sold my medicines and collected my pay, then I'll go with the captain." Lu Da said, "Who has the patience to wait for you? If you're coming, come now." Li Zhong said, "I must earn my living somehow. Captain, please go ahead and I will find you later. Good brother, you go ahead with the captain." Lu Da grew impatient and pushed the onlookers, sending them sprawling, cursing, "You lot—open your arses and get out of here! Anyone who doesn't leave, I'll beat!" The crowd, seeing it was Captain Lu, scattered with one accord. Li Zhong saw how fierce Lu Da was and dared not speak his anger, forcing a smile instead, "What a hasty man!" He packed up his gear and medicine bag, left his staffs in safekeeping, and the three men turned corner after corner until they came to a famous Pan family wine shop under the prefectural bridge. Before the door a banner pole was raised, with a wine pennant hanging from it, fluttering and drifting in the air. A fine wine shop indeed—a poem testifies to it:

Wind stirs the mist, the brocade pennant soars on high;

In this age of peace, the days begin to grow long.

It can add boldness to the hero's heart,

And skillfully soothe the sorrow in a beauty's breast.

Three feet of willow droop beyond the willow trees,

One pole slants planted beside the apricot blossoms.

A man who has not yet fulfilled his life's ambition

May yet find joy in singing loudly and entering the land of wine.

The three of them went up to the Pan family wine shop and chose a snug, well-appointed private room to sit in. Provincial Commandant Lu took the seat of honor, Li Zhong sat opposite, and Shi Jin took the lower seat. The waiter came forward with a greeting and, recognizing Provincial Commandant Lu, said, "Sir, how much wine would you like?"

Lu Da said, "First bring four measures of wine, and along with it lay out the vegetables, fruits, and appetizers." Then he asked, "What would you like for a main course?"

Lu Da said, "What are you asking for? Whatever you have, just bring it out—I'll settle the bill all at once. This fellow keeps chattering away at me."

The waiter withdrew and presently brought the warmed wine. Every manner of meat and food was brought out and set before them, covering the entire table.

After several rounds of wine, as they were chatting casually and comparing notes on spear techniques, getting along famously, they suddenly heard someone weeping and sobbing in the room next door. Lu Da grew agitated and flung the dishes and cups onto the floorboards.

The waiter, hearing the commotion, hurried up and found Provincial Commandant Lu seething with anger. The waiter pressed his hands together respectfully and said, "What does the master wish? Just give your orders and I'll buy it."

Lu Da said, "What does this old fellow want? You ought to know who I am—yet you let someone carry on weeping in the next room, disturbing this old fellow and his brothers while they're drinking! I've never shorted you on wine money!"

The waiter said, "Master, please don't be angry. How would I dare let someone weep and disturb your drinking? The ones crying are a father and daughter who sing to entertain the wine patrons. They didn't know you gentlemen were drinking here and upset themselves weeping for a moment."

Provincial Commandant Lu said, "How strange! Go and bring them to me."

The waiter went to call them. In a short while, two people appeared: in front, a young woman of eighteen or nineteen years; behind her, an old man of fifty or sixty, holding a set of clappers in his hand. Both came forward. Looking at the young woman, though she was not perfectly beautiful, she possessed a certain captivating charm. Observe:

Her cloud-like hair was loosely piled, adorned with a single jade hairpin;

Her slender waist was graceful, bound by a skirt of six panels of red silk.

A plain white old blouse draped over a body pale as dust;

Pale yellow soft socks set off her tiny bow-shaped shoes.

Her brows were tightly knit, her eyes brimming with tears like pearls;

Her powdered face hung low, her delicate skin seeming to melt like jade-white snow.

If not illness born of sorrow like rain and clouds,

Then surely grief and resentment long accumulated within.

The young woman wiped her tears and came forward, making three deep curtsies. The old man also greeted them.

Lu Da asked, "Where are you from? Why are you weeping?"

The young woman said, "Sir, you don't know. Allow me to explain: I am from the Eastern Capital. I came to Weizhou with my parents to seek relatives, but they had already moved to Nanjing. My mother fell ill and passed away at an inn. Father and daughter, we have been stranded here, suffering in this place. There is a wealthy man here called 'Zhenxi Guan'—the Great Lord Zheng—who, upon seeing me, sent a forceful matchmaker to compel me to become his concubine. Who would have thought he would draw up a contract for three thousand strings of cash—a debt on paper with nothing actually paid—and take my body? Before three months had passed, his principal wife, a fierce woman, drove me out and would not let us remain together, and ordered the innkeeper to pursue me for the original three thousand strings of cash for my body. My father is weak and could not contend with him, and besides, the man has wealth and power. We never received a single coin from him originally—where would we get the money to repay him now? With no other recourse, my father had taught me some songs since childhood, and we come to this wine shop to perform for patrons. Each day, whatever money we earn, the greater part goes to him, and we keep only a little for father and daughter's expenses. These past two days there have been few wine patrons, and we fell behind on the payment deadline. We feared he would come to collect and we would be humiliated. Father and daughter, thinking of this bitter hardship and having nowhere to turn, wept. We did not mean to offend you, sir. I beg your forgiveness—please be merciful."

Provincial Commandant Lu asked again, "What is your surname? At which inn are you staying? And where does this 'Zhenxi Guan' the Great Lord Zheng live?"

The old man answered, "This old man's surname is Jin, and I am the second in my family. My daughter's name is Cui Lian. The Great Lord Zheng is none other than the butcher Zheng, who sells meat under the Zhuangyuan Bridge here—his nickname is Zhenxi Guan. Father and daughter, we are staying at the Lu family inn just inside the East Gate."

Lu Da listened and said, "Bah! I thought this 'Great Lord Zheng' was someone important—so he's just a pig-slaughtering butcher! This filthy scoundrel has attached himself to the household of our Little Seed Military Commandant as a butcher, and turns out to be this kind of bully!" He turned to look at Li Zhong and Shi Jin and said, "You two stay here—let this old fellow go kill that wretch and come back."

Shi Jin and Li Zhong threw their arms around him, pleading, "Brother, calm yourself—deal with it tomorrow." After several rounds of persuasion, they finally managed to restrain him.

Lu Da said again, "Old fellow, come here. I'll give you some money for the road. Why not head back to the Eastern Capital tomorrow?"

The father and son replied, "If we could return to our hometown, it would be like being given a second life by our parents. But how could the innkeeper let us go? His Excellency Zheng will press him for the money."

"The need to inquire does not concern me," said Constable Lu. "I have my own way of handling this." He reached into his robes and pulled out five taels of silver, placing them on the table. He looked at Shi Jin and said, "I didn't bring much with me today. Do you have some silver? Lend me some, and I'll pay you back tomorrow."

"What's the point of making me repay you, brother?" said Shi Jin. He went to his bundle and produced an ingot of ten taels of silver, which he set on the table.

Lu Da looked at Li Zhong and said, "You lend me some as well."

Li Zhong felt around on himself and produced two taels of silver.

Constable Lu saw it was a small amount and said, "You're not a straightforward man either."

Lu Da gave the fifteen taels of silver to Old Jin and told him, "Take this, you two, and use it for your travel expenses. Pack your things at the same time. I'll come early tomorrow morning to see you off and make sure you can leave. We'll see if that innkeeper dares to keep you!" Old Jin and his daughter kowtowed their thanks and departed.

Lu Da threw the two taels of silver back at Li Zhong. The three men drank another two measures of wine, then went downstairs and called out, "Innkeeper, I'll pay the wine bill tomorrow."

The innkeeper answered hastily, "Take your time, sir. Don't worry about it. I'm only afraid you won't come back to run up a tab again."

The three men left Pan's wine shop and parted ways on the street. Shi Jin and Li Zhong each went to their own inns.

Let us return to Constable Lu. He went back to his quarters at the Commandery headquarters, entered his room, and went to sleep without eating supper, burning with anger. The innkeeper did not dare to ask him anything.

Meanwhile, Old Jin received the fifteen taels of silver and returned to the inn, where he settled his daughter. He first went outside the city to a distant spot and found a cart, then came back and packed their luggage. He paid back the room and board, settled the account for firewood and rice, and waited for the next day's dawn.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, before the fifth watch, father and son rose, lit the fire, and cooked breakfast. After eating, they gathered their things. As the sky began to lighten, they saw Constable Lu stride into the inn and call out loudly, "Innkeeper, where is Old Jin staying?"

The waiter said, "Father Jin, the constable is looking for you."

Old Jin opened his door and said, "Sir, please come in and sit down."

"Sit down? If you're going, go. What are you waiting for?" said Lu Da.

Old Jin led out his daughter, shouldered his load, thanked Constable Lu, and was about to leave when the waiter blocked his path. "Father Jin, where are you going?" he asked.

Lu Da asked, "Does he owe you room money?"

"Sir, last night he settled the room fee in full. But he still owes His Excellency Zheng the money for his daughter's indenture, and I've been put in charge of watching over him!"

"I'll pay the butcher's money myself. Let this old man return to his hometown," said Constable Lu.

The waiter absolutely refused to let them go. Lu Da flew into a rage, spread his five fingers, and struck the waiter across the face with one palm blow. Blood gushed from the waiter's mouth. Then Lu Da hit him again with a fist and knocked out two front teeth. The waiter scrambled to his feet and fled into the inn like a puff of smoke. The innkeeper did not dare come out to stop him.

Old Jin and his daughter hurriedly left the inn and went out of the city to find the cart they had arranged the day before.

Now Lu Da began to think: the waiter might chase after them to intercept them. So he dragged a bench over to the inn door and sat there for about two hours. He reckoned that Old Jin must have gotten far away by now, then he got up and went straight to the Zhuangyuan Bridge.

Now, this Zheng the Butcher ran a shop with two front rooms, two meat stalls, and five or six sides of pork hanging up. Zheng was seated in the counter area in front of his shop, watching his ten or so assistants sell meat. Lu Da walked up to him and called out, "Zheng the Butcher!" Zheng looked up and saw it was Marshal Lu. He hurriedly came out from behind the counter, bowed, and said, "Forgive me, Marshal." He then told his assistant to fetch a stool: "Please have a seat, Marshal." Lu Da sat down and said, "By order of the Grand Marshal, I need ten catties of lean meat, minced fine for filling — and I don't want to see a speck of fat on it." Zheng said, "Certainly. You men, pick out the best and cut ten catties." Marshal Lu said, "Don't let those filthy hands do it. You cut it yourself." Zheng said, "Fair enough. This humble man will cut it himself." He went to the meat stall and selected ten catties of lean meat, which he minced carefully into filling. The waiter, his head wrapped in a handkerchief, had been on his way to Zheng's shop to report on the matter of Old Jin, but when he saw Marshal Lu seated by the meat stall, he dared not approach. He stood far off, watching from under the eaves. Zheng the Butcher spent a full half-hour cutting the meat himself, then wrapped it in lotus leaves and said, "Marshal, shall I have someone deliver it?" Lu Da said, "Deliver what? Hold on! I want another ten catties — all fat, not a trace of lean on it. Mince it for filling too." Zheng said, "The lean meat was just now — I thought the prefecture might want it for dumplings. What would they use fat filling for?" Lu Da glared and said, "Those are the Grand Marshal's orders to me. Who dares question them?" Zheng said, "If it's what's needed, this humble man will cut it." He then selected ten catties of solid fat and minced it into filling as well, wrapping it in lotus leaves. The whole business took the entire morning, and by the time it was done, it was the hour for the midday meal. The waiter dared not come near, and even customers who wanted to buy meat kept their distance. Zheng said, "Have someone carry it for the Marshal and deliver it to the prefecture." Lu Da said, "I want ten catties of inch-gold tenderloin bone, also chopped fine into filling — and I don't want to see any meat on it." Zheng laughed and said, "Isn't this just a way to make a fool of me!" Lu Da heard this, leaped to his feet, grabbed the two packets of filling, and stared at Zheng the Butcher: "I'm making a fool of you on purpose!" He hurled the two packets of filling straight at Zheng's face, and it was like a shower of meat raining down. Zheng the Butcher flew into a rage. Fury surged from the soles of his feet straight up to the crown of his head. His fire of blind wrath blazed up and could not be contained. He snatched a boning knife from the meat stall and leaped down with a bound. Marshal Lu had already stepped out into the middle of the street. The neighbors and the ten or so assistants — not one of them dared step forward to intervene. Passersby on both sides stopped in their tracks, and the waiter stood frozen in shock.

Zheng the Butcher held the knife in his right hand and reached with his left to grab Lu Da. Marshal Lu seized the moment, pinned down his left hand, drove forward, and kicked him squarely in the belly, sending him sprawling in the middle of the street. Lu Da stepped forward again, planted his foot on Zheng's chest, and raised his fist — big as a vinegar jug — glaring down at the butcher: "I first served under Old Marshal Zhong, and rose to be Inspector of the Five Circuits of Guanxi. I earned the name 'Who Pacifies the Western Pass.' But you — you're a lowly meat-selling butcher, a dog of a man, and you call yourself 'Who Pacifies the Western Pass'! How dare you force yourself on Jin Cuilian?" He threw a single punch straight into Zheng's nose. Blood gushed forth; the nose was knocked sideways, and it was as if a sauce shop had opened up — salty, sour, and spicy, all came pouring out. Zheng could not get up. The boning knife lay discarded to one side, and all he could do was cry out, "Well hit!" Lu Da cursed: "You damned villain, you still dare talk back!" He raised his fist again and drove it into the area around Zheng's eye, at the brow. The bone around the eye split, and the eyeball itself burst forth. It was like a shop of colored silks had opened — red, black, and crimson, all bursting forth. The onlookers were all afraid of Marshal Lu; not one dared step forward to intervene. Zheng could not bear it and begged for mercy. Lu Da roared: "Ha! You're a worthless wretch. If you had stood your ground and defied me to the end, I might have spared you. But since you beg mercy from me, I will not spare you." He threw another punch, landing it right on the temple. It was as if a full Water and Land Buddhist service were being performed — the chime stones, the cymbals, and the gongs all sounded at once. Lu Da looked and saw Zheng the Butcher lying stiff on the ground, with breath going out but none coming in, unable to move. Marshal Lu said with feigned calm: "You scoundrel, you're only pretending to die. I'll hit you again." But he saw Zheng's face gradually changing color. Lu Da thought to himself: "I only meant to give him a good beating. I didn't expect three punches to actually kill him. I'll have to face legal trouble, and no one will bring me meals in jail. Better to get out of here quickly." He turned and walked away, pointing back at Zheng's corpse: "You pretend to die, and I'll settle this with you later." Cursing all the while, he strode off in great strides. The neighbors and Zheng's assistants — not one dared step forward to stop him. Marshal Lu returned to his quarters, hastily bundled up some clothes, traveling money, valuables, and silver — but the old and heavy clothes he left behind. He took a short staff that came up to his eyebrows, rushed out the South Gate, and vanished in a cloud of dust.

Now, the people in Zheng Tu's household tried to revive him for half a day, but he would not come to. He breathed his last and died. His elderly family members and neighbors went straight to the prefectural office to file a complaint. It happened that the prefectural magistrate was holding court; he received the complaint, read it through, and said: "Lu Da is a brigade commander under the Military Commissioner's office. I dare not rashly send men to arrest the culprit." The magistrate then took his sedan chair and proceeded to the gate of the Military Commissioner's office, where he alighted. He ordered the gate guards to go in and announce him. The Military Commissioner, upon hearing this, instructed that the magistrate be invited into the hall. They exchanged greetings, and the Military Commissioner asked, "What brings you here?" The magistrate reported: "I must inform you, sir, that the brigade commander Lu Da in your office struck and killed Zheng Tu, a butcher in the marketplace, with his fists, for no apparent reason. As I did not dare to arrest the culprit without first reporting to you, I have come to inform you." The Military Commissioner was greatly startled upon hearing this. He thought to himself: "Although Lu Da is skilled in martial arts, he is rough and rash by temperament. This time he has committed a capital crime—how can I cover up for him? I must let him be interrogated and dealt with properly." The Military Commissioner said to the magistrate: "This Lu Da was originally an officer under my father, the old Military Commissioner. As I had no one to assist and protect me here, he was transferred to serve as a brigade commander. Since he has now committed a capital crime, you may arrest him and interrogate him according to the law. If his confession is clear and his sentence has been determined, you must still inform my father before carrying out the judgment. I am afraid that if my father needs this man for border service in the future, it would look bad." The magistrate replied: "I will ascertain the facts of the case and then formally report to the old Military Commissioner before daring to carry out the sentence."

The magistrate took his leave of the Military Commissioner, went out to the front of the office, boarded his sedan chair, and returned to the prefectural yamun. He took his seat in the hall and summoned the constable on duty, issuing a warrant to arrest the criminal Lu Da. At that time, Observation Officer Wang received the document and led some twenty officers to the lodging of Brigade Commander Lu Da. They only saw the landlord, who said: "Just now he dragged out some bundles, took up a short staff, and left. Your servant thought he was going on an official errand and did not dare to question him." Officer Wang, upon hearing this, ordered the door of his room to be opened and inspected; inside there were only some old clothes and bedding. Officer Wang then took the landlord and searched everywhere—south to north across the city—but could not find him. Officer Wang then arrested two neighboring households along with the landlord and brought them together to the prefectural hall to report: "Brigade Commander Lu Da, fearing prosecution, has fled. His whereabouts are unknown. We have only been able to apprehend the landlord and the neighbors." The magistrate, upon hearing this, ordered them detained for the time being. On the one hand, he had the neighbors and witnesses of the Zheng household summoned; he appointed the coroner and instructed the local ward officials and neighborhood heads to conduct a thorough examination three times over. The Zheng family at their own expense prepared a coffin for the burial and placed it temporarily in a Buddhist temple. On the other hand, the case files were compiled, and at the same time men were dispatched with a time limit to track down the culprit; the plaintiff was released on surety to return home; the neighbors were given a light beating for failing to render aid; and the landlord and the neighbors at Lu Da's lodging were charged only with negligence. As for Lu Da, who had fled, an urgent circular warrant was issued to be sent to all circuits for his arrest, with a reward of a thousand strings of cash. Lu Da's age, registered address, and physical description were recorded, and notices were posted everywhere for his apprehension. All the persons involved were released pending further proceedings. The relatives of Zheng Tu went to perform their mourning rites—let us speak no more of that.

Now, Lu Da had left Weizhou and was fleeing east and west in a great hurry, much like:

A lone wild goose separated from its flock, riding the bright moon to fly across the sky on its own;

A live fish that slipped through the net, riding the current to turn and leap through the waves.

He cared not for distance, nor did he mind the terrain.

In his haste he bumped pedestrians off the road; his feet were as swift as a warhorse on the battlefield.

This Brigade Commander Lu Da hurried through several prefectures and districts, truly "fleeing for one's life, one does not choose the road; everywhere becomes one's home." Since ancient times there have been these sayings: "The hungry do not choose their food; the cold do not choose their clothing; the desperate do not choose their road; the poor do not choose their wives." Lu Da, frantic and racing along the road, did not know where to go. He wandered aimlessly for half a month and found himself in Daizhou, Yanmen County. Entering the town, he saw that the marketplace was bustling and lively, the population dense, carriages and horses speeding past. All one hundred and twenty trades were represented, buying and selling, with every kind of goods and commodity available—truly well-organized. Although it was a county seat, it rivaled a prefecture. As Brigade Commander Lu Da was walking along, he unwittingly saw a crowd of people gathered around the crossroads, reading a posted notice. He saw:

Shoulders touching, backs leaning against each other, necks intertwined and heads pressed together.

In the confusion, one could not distinguish the worthy from the foolish; in the tumult, it was hard to tell the noble from the lowly.

Fat Zhang, illiterate, only shook his head;

Short Li, looking at others, stamped his feet as well.

White-haired old men leaned their beards on their walking sticks;

Young scholars with dark hair copied the items with their writing implements.

Every line was drawn up according to Xiao He's laws; every sentence conformed to the statutes.

Lu Da saw the crowd reading the notice, packed tightly at the crossroads. He squeezed into the crowd to listen. Lu Da, however, could not read. He only heard the crowd reading aloud: "Yanmen County of Daizhou, by order of the Taiyuan Command, having received documents from Weizhou, is to arrest the criminal Lu Da, Brigade Commander of the Military Commissioner's office, who killed the butcher Zheng Tu. Anyone who harbors or feeds him in their home shall be guilty as an accomplice. Anyone who captures him or reports him to the authorities shall be rewarded with one thousand strings of cash..." Just as Brigade Commander Lu Da was listening to this, he suddenly heard a voice behind him call out: "Elder Brother Zhang, what are you doing here?" The man seized him around the waist and dragged him away from the crossroads. Had this man not seen him and pulled him away by force, it would have come to pass that Brigade Commander Lu Da would have his hair shaved off, his beard removed, his murderous name changed, and the wrath of the Buddhist monks aroused. It would have come to pass that his iron staff would open the perilous road and his monk's blade would slay all who dealt in injustice. But who was it that seized Brigade Commander Lu Da? Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.