الفصل الثاني والستون

الفصل الثاني والستون

Now Lu Junyi, for all his prowess, could not swim. The "White Streak in the Waves" Zhang Shun capsized his boat and sent him tumbling into the water. Zhang Shun caught him around the waist beneath the surface, swam across to the opposite bank, and snatched up his saber. Then he hauled Lu Junyi straight to the shore.

Torches had already been lit. Some fifty or sixty men were waiting there. They pulled him ashore, surrounded him on all sides, unbuckled his waist-sword, stripped off his soaked clothes, and were about to bind him with ropes when the "Marvelous Traveler" Zong Dai arrived with orders, shouting from afar: "On no account harm the noble person of Merchant Lu!" He at once sent men forward with a bundle of brocade robes and embroidered jackets for Lu Junyi to put on. Eight small lads bore a sedan chair, helped Merchant Lu into it, and set off.

In the distance, some twenty or thirty pairs of red silk lanterns could already be seen, illuminating a company of horsemen. To the sound of drums and music they came to meet the party. At the head were Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and Gongsun Sheng, followed by all the other chieftains, who dismounted together. Lu Junyi hastily stepped down from his sedan chair. Song Jiang knelt first, and behind him all the chieftains knelt in rows. Lu Junyi knelt in return and said: "Since I have been taken captive, I ask only for an early death!" Song Jiang laughed loudly and said: "Please, Merchant, get back into your sedan chair." The company all mounted their horses, and to the sound of drums and music they escorted him past the three barriers, dismounting before the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Lu Junyi was invited into the main hall, where lamps and candles burned bright and clear. Song Jiang stepped forward and spoke with great courtesy: "This humble one has long heard your great name, Merchant — it has thinned upon my ears like thunder. Today I am blessed to meet you at last, and it is the greatest comfort of my life. Yet just now our brothers were gravely discourteous — I beg you most earnestly to forgive them." Wu Yong came forward and said: "Yesterday, by my elder brother's command, he sent me specially to your gate. Under the pretext of selling divinations, I lured you up the mountain so that we might gather together in great righteousness and together carry out the Way on behalf of Heaven." Song Jiang then invited Merchant Lu to take the first seat of honor. Lu Junyi replied with courtesy: "I am a man of no learning, no wisdom, and no ability. I have trespassed upon the tiger's domain — death a hundred times over would be too light a punishment. Why do you trifle with me so?" Song Jiang said with an ingratiating smile: "How would we dare to trifle? It is that I truly admire your might and virtue — my longing for them is like hunger and thirst. I only hope you will not despise our humble mountain stronghold and become its master. Day and night we would all heed your stern commands." Lu Junyi replied: "I would sooner die. I cannot possibly consent." Wu Yong said: "We shall discuss it again another day." That night a feast was prepared for his entertainment. Lu Junyi, seeing no way out, could do nothing but drink a few cups, after which the small lads escorted him to the rear hall to rest.

The next day Song Jiang had sheep and horses slaughtered and a great banquet laid out. He invited Merchant Lu to come to the feast, and after repeated, most deferential urgings, Lu at last consented to sit in the middle of the company. After several rounds of wine, Song Jiang rose, raised his cup, and spoke: "Last night we behaved with great presumption — I hope you will kindly forgive us. Although our mountain stronghold is small and mean, scarcely fit to rest a horse, I ask you to consider the two words 'loyalty and righteousness.' Song Jiang is willing to yield the leadership to you. Please do not refuse." Lu Junyi replied: "Chieftain, you are mistaken! This humble man has no criminal record and still possesses a considerable family fortune. I was born a man of Great Song, and I shall die a ghost of Great Song. I would rather die than obey." Wu Yong and each of the chieftains spoke in turn, but the more they urged him, the more firmly Lu Junyi refused to take to the greenwood. Wu Yong said: "Since the merchant will not consent, how can we force him? We may detain the merchant's body, but we cannot detain the merchant's heart. It is only that our brothers are sorry that the merchant has come so far. Since he will not join us, let him stay a few days in our humble stronghold and then we will escort him home." Lu Junyi said: "My staying here is no trouble. I only fear that my wife and family will not know what has become of me." Wu Yong said: "That is easily arranged. We shall first send Ligu back with your carts and goods. The merchant can follow a few days later — what harm is there in that?" Wu Yong asked: "Manager Ligu, are your carts and goods all intact?" Ligu replied: "Not a single item is missing." Song Jiang ordered two large silver ingots to be given to Ligu, two small pieces of silver to the two servants who had accompanied him, and ten taels of silver to the ten carters. The men bowed their thanks. Lu Junyi instructed Ligu: "You know all the suffering I have endured. When you return home, tell my wife not to worry. I shall be back in three or five days." Ligu, whose only thought was to escape, agreed readily: "There is nothing to fear at all." He took his leave and went down from the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Wu Yong rose at once and said: "Let the merchant sit at ease for a while. This humble scholar will see Manager Ligu down the mountain and return shortly."

Wu Yong gave the excuse of escorting Ligu, but he went ahead to wait at Golden Sands Shoal. Presently Ligu, the two servants, the carts, the livestock, and all his companions came down the mountain. Wu Yong had five hundred small lads drawn up on either side. He sat beneath the shade of the willows and called Ligu forward. "Your master," he said, "has already reached an agreement with us and now occupies the second seat of honor. Before he ever came up the mountain, he had written four lines of seditious verse on the wall of his own house. Let me tell you what they said. The twenty-eight characters on the wall — each line conceals a single word. 'A single boat among the reed flowers in the concealed pool' conceals the word Lu. 'How could a hero wander in such a place?' conceals the word Jun. 'A righteous man wields a three-foot sword' conceales the word Yi. 'When the time comes, behead the rebellious minister's head' conceals the word 'rebel.' Those four lines of verse conceal the four characters: Lu Junyi rebel. Now that he has come up the mountain, how could you not know? I had intended to put all of you to death, but that would only show that us men of Liangshan Marsh behave dishonorably. Today I am letting you return by night. Do not dream of your master coming back!" Ligu and the others could do nothing but kneel and bow. Wu Yong had them ferried across in a boat. The party set off on the road and hastened back to Daxing Prefecture.

*A stranded fish slips free from the golden hook — it whisks its tail and shakes its head, and never turns back again.*

The story now branches into two threads. Let us leave aside Li Gu and the others returning home, and return instead to Wu Yong, who went back to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness and rejoined the banquet. With artful words, he continued to work upon Lu Junyi's mind, and the feast did not break up until the second watch of the night. The next day, the stronghold once more arranged a celebration in his honor, but Lu Junyi said, "I am grateful for the kind intentions of all the chiefs in keeping me here, but every day drags on like a year. Today I must take my leave." Song Jiang said, "I am a man of no great talent, yet fortunate enough to have made your acquaintance. Tomorrow I have prepared a modest cup of wine, and I would have a heart-to-heart talk with you face to face. I pray you do not refuse." Another day passed. The following day it was Song Jiang who hosted; the day after that, Wu Yong; the day after that, Gongsun Sheng. There is no need to recount every detail—over thirty of the upper-ranking chiefs took turns hosting feasts, each one a day. The days slipped by swiftly, the hours flew like a shuttle, and before long more than a month had passed. Lu Junyi began once more to consider taking his leave. Song Jiang said, "It is not that we wish you to go, but the matter is most urgent, and you must return with all haste. Tomorrow in the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, we will arrange a simple farewell cup of wine for you."

The next day, Song Jiang again saw him off with a personal escort, when all the other chiefs spoke up: "Our elder brother honors you with ten parts of respect, and we should honor you with twelve! Yet if our elder brother's feasts you will accept, why not ours? Is the brick so thick and the tile so thin?" Li Kuai roared from among them, "I risked my very life riding straight to Daming Prefecture to bring you here, and now you will not even share a feast with your brothers? I'll lock brows with you and fight you to the death!" The Scholar Wu laughed loudly. "I have never seen such hospitality—truly rough and blunt. Sir, pray forgive him. Seeing the sincerity of their intentions, stay a few more days." And so, before he knew it, another four or five days had gone by, but Lu Junyi was firm in his resolve to leave. Then the Marvelous Strategist Zhu Wu led a company of chiefs straight to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness and spoke plainly: "Though we are brothers of a lesser rank, we too have exerted our strength on behalf of our elder brother. But is there poison hidden in their wine? If Sir Lu takes offense and refuses to drink with us, that is his affair—but I fear the younger brothers may do something rash, and then it will be too late for regrets." Wu Yong rose at once and said, "Do not trouble yourselves on this account. I will entreat the sir to stay a few more days—what harm could there is in that? As the saying goes: 'To offer wine to a man can never be ill-intentioned.'" Lu Junyi could not withstand the insistence of them all and had no choice but to remain a few days more. In all, he had stayed some thirty to fifty days. It had been the fifth month when he left Daming, and now, without his realizing it, over two months had already passed at Liangshan Marsh. And so it was:

The autumn wind whispered chill, the dew lay cold and clear—the Mid-Autumn Festival was drawing near.

Lu Junyi thought of his homeward journey and spoke of it to Song Jiang. Seeing how earnestly he longed to return, Song Jiang said, "That is easily done. Tomorrow we will see you off at Golden Sands Beach." Lu Junyi was overjoyed. A poem bears witness to his feelings:

A parting from my mountain home—the months have stretched so long,

Not a single day has my heart ceased to yearn for home.

If only this body could grow a pair of wings,

I would borrow the heavenly wind and cross the water's edge.

The next day, they returned to him his old clothes, saber, and staff, and all the chiefs escorted him down the mountain. Song Jiang presented him with a tray of gold and silver. Lu Junyi declined, saying, "It is not boasting on my part to say that I have no lack of gold and wealth at home. If I can reach Daming with traveling expenses, that is enough. I absolutely cannot accept your gifts." Song Jiang and the other chiefs escorted him across Golden Sands Beach, took their leave, and returned. But there is no need to dwell on that.

Leaving Song Jiang's return to the stronghold aside, let us follow Lu Junyi, who strode out with urgent steps, traveling day and night. After ten days' journey, he arrived at Daming Prefecture. The sun was already sinking low, and he could not enter the city, so he spent the night at an inn. Early the next morning, he left the village inn and hastened into the city. When he was still more than a *li* away, he saw a man whose hat was torn and ragged, his clothes threadbare and worn, who looked up at Lu Junyi and bowed to the ground. Lu Junyi raised his eyes and recognized him—it was Yan Qing, the "Prodigal." "Xiao Yi," he asked, "how have you come to look like this?" Yan Qing said, "This is not the place to talk." Lu Junyi turned aside behind an earthen wall and asked him in detail what had happened. Yan Qing said, "After you left, no more than half a month passed before Li Gu returned. He told the mistress, 'Our master has gone over to Song Jiang of Liangshan Marsh and taken the second seat.' He went straight to the authorities and lodged an accusation. He and the mistress have since become one. Blaming me for defying him, he drove me from the house. He took all my clothes and cast me out of the city. What is more, he gave orders to every relative and acquaintance—if anyone dared to let Yan Qing lodge in their home, he would spend half his fortune to bring a lawsuit against them. So no one dares to take me in. I could not find a place in the city and had no choice but to come outside the walls to beg for my living, sheltering for the time being in a temple. I was just about to go to Liangshan Marsh to find you, but I did not dare to act rashly. If you have indeed come from the marsh, heed my words—return to Liangshan Marsh and make new plans. If you enter the city, you will surely fall into a trap." Lu Junyi shouted, "My wife is not that kind of woman! How dare you talk such nonsense!" Yan Qing went on, "You cannot see what is behind your back—how can you know what has really happened? In the past, you devoted yourself only to training your strength and had no interest for women. The mistress and Li Gu had an old liaison, and now they have opened the door to each other and become husband and wife. If you go, you will surely meet with murder!" Lu Junyi flew into a rage and berated Yan Qing, "My family has lived in Daming for five generations—who does not know us? How many heads does Li Gu have, that he would dare to do such a thing? It is more likely you who have done something wicked, and now you come here with these slanderous words! When I reach home and find out the truth, I will not let you off!" Yan Qing wept bitterly, prostrated himself on the ground, and clutched at his master's robes. Lu Junyi kicked him aside and strode straight into the city.

He rushed into the city and went straight to his home, where all the household staff were startled. Li Gu hurried forward to greet him and invited him into the main hall, where he kowtowed at once. Lu Junyi asked, "Where is Yan Qing?" Li Gu replied, "Master, spare me the details for now—it's a long story! I fear it will make you angry. Let us rest first, and I'll tell you afterward." Madam Jia emerged from behind the screen, weeping. Lu Junyi said, "My dear, don't cry. Tell me, what happened to Yan Xiaoyi?" She said, "Husband, don't press me now. I'll tell you slowly." Suspicious, Lu Junyi was determined to learn Yan Qing's whereabouts. Li Gu said, "Master, please change your clothes and eat breakfast first. There will be time to talk later." He arranged a meal for the master. Just as Lu Junyi raised his chopsticks, shouts erupted from both the front and back gates, and two or three hundred constables burst in. Lu Junyi was stunned. They bound him, beating him with staves at every step, all the way to the office of the Liang Zhongshu upon his return. At that time, Liang Zhongshu was seated in the main hall. On both sides stood seventy or eighty officers, fierce as wolves and tigers. Lu Junyi was brought before him. Madam Jia and Li Gu knelt to one side. Liang Zhongshu roared, "You are a law-abiding citizen of Daliang! How dare you go over to Liangshan Marsh to become an outlaw, taking the second-in-command's seat? Now you come conspiring within and without to attack Daliang! You've been captured—what defense have you?" Lu Junyi said, "This humble man was foolish. Wu Yong of Liangshan Marsh came to my home disguised as a fortune-teller, spouting wild words to stir my conscience, and tricked me into going to Liangshan Marsh, where I was held under soft confinement for over two months. Today I have finally escaped and returned home. I have no evil intentions. I beg Your Honor to see clearly." Liang Zhongshu roared, "How can you talk your way out of this! If you had not cooperated at Liangshan Marsh, how could you have stayed so long? Here we have your wife and Li Gu's testimony and accusation against you. How can this be false?" Li Gu said, "Master, since you are here, you may as well confess. On the walls of your house, a seditious poem in acrostic form is written in plain sight—that is the greatest evidence. No need to say more." Madam Jia said, "It is not that we wish to harm you, but we fear you will drag us down with you. As the saying goes, 'When one man rebels, his entire clan is wiped out!'" Lu Junyi knelt below the hall, crying out his innocence. Li Gu said, "Master, don't cry injustice. The truth cannot be destroyed, and lies are easily dispelled. Confess quickly, and spare yourself suffering." Madam Jia said, "Husband, false charges are hard to bring before the court, but the truth is impossible to deny. If you've done it, you'll cost me my life. The rod knows no mercy. Even if you confess, you'll only face a fixed sentence." Li Gu had bribed everyone above and below. Zhang Kongmu reported to the hall, "This stubborn wretch—how will he confess unless he is beaten?" Liang Zhongshu said, "Well spoken!" He shouted, "Beat him!" The officers threw Lu Junyi to the ground, bound him, and beat him without a word. His skin split open, blood flowed freely, and he lost consciousness three or four times. Unable to endure the pain, Lu Junyi looked up to heaven and sighed, "It is my fate to die unjustly. I will confess falsely!" Zhang Kongmu at once took his confession and fitted him with a hundred-jin prisoner's death cangue, then had him thrown into the great jail. People from all around the prefecture who had gathered to watch could not bear to see it. That day he was pushed through the prison gate and given thirty "intimidation" blows, then dragged to the courtyard and forced to kneel. The jailer sat on the heated brick bed.

The warden of the two prison sections, who also served as executioner, pointed at him and said, "Do you know me?" Lu Junyi looked at him and dared not speak. Who was this man? A poem attests:

The warden of the two sections, Cai Fang by name,

With stately bearing and spirit soaring to the clouds.

A blue sash girded his waist, a tilted cap sat high on his head.

His questioning struck dread in men's hearts, his ropes and cangues made ghosts lose their souls.

Throughout the prefecture he was praised as "Iron Arm,"

Wherever men died, his spirit shone.

This warden and executioner of the two prison sections was named Cai Fang, a native of Daliang. For his formidable skill, people called him "Iron Arm." Standing beside him was his own younger brother, Cai Qing, of whom a poem attests:

Among the jailers stands Cai Qing,

With thick brows and large eyes, fierce and strong.

His crimson jacket embroidered with mandarin ducks, his tea-brown robe stitched with patchouli.

His curved collar dyed deep black, his wide sash lightly touched with yellow.

Golden rings gleamed on his small cap, a flower tucked beside his temple.

This junior jailer Cai Qing had loved wearing a flower since birth. People of Hebei, taking it lightly, called him "One-Flower" Cai Qing. He carried a staff of punishment and stood beside his elder brother. Cai Fang said, "Take this death row prisoner to whichever cell you like. I'll go home for a moment and return." Cai Qing took Lu Junyi away himself.

Cai Fang rose and left the prison gate. Just then, from around the corner of the wall before the office, a man appeared, carrying a rice pot, his face clouded with worry. Cai Fang recognized him as "The Roamer" Yan Qing. Cai Fang asked, "Brother Yan Xiaoyi, what are you doing?" Yan Qing knelt on the ground, tears streaming down both cheeks, and said, "Brother Warden, take pity! My master, Squire Lu, is suffering a wrongful case, and I have no money to bring him food! Outside the city I begged this half-pot of rice to fill my master's belly. Brother Warden, please do me a favor." With that, tears poured like rain, and he prostrated himself on the ground. Cai Fang said, "I know about this. Go ahead and take the rice to him." Yan Qing thanked him and went into the prison himself to deliver the food.

Cai Fu crossed the prefecture bridge when a tea-house keeper stopped him with a salute and said, "Brother Jieji, there is a customer in my upstairs tea room who is waiting specially to speak with you." Cai Fu went up to the upstairs room and found that it was the steward Li Gu. After they had exchanged greetings, Cai Fu said, "What instructions do you have for me, Steward?" Li Gu said, "No point deceiving a man about his treachery, no point fooling a man about his cleverness. You know all about what I've done. Tonight, I want it done thoroughly—root and branch, no loose ends. I don't have much to offer you as a token of respect, but here are fifty taels of gold in the shape of garlic stalks, for you. As for the officials at the yamen, I'll take care of them myself." Cai Fu laughed and said, "Have you not seen the words carved on the warning stone in the main hall: 'The common folk are easy to oppress, but Heaven is hard to deceive'? Do you think I don't know about your scheming, your conscience-searing doings? You've seized his property, plotted to take his wife, and now you want to give me fifty taels of gold to end his life. When the penal inspector arrives in the future, I couldn't bear to face that kind of prosecution." Li Gu said, "It's only that you find the amount too little. I'll add another fifty taels." Cai Fu said, "Li Gu, you're serving a cat's tail with a cat's meal! Lu the Squire is such a famous man in Daming Prefecture—is he worth only a hundred taels of gold? If you want me to finish him off, I'm not trying to cheat you, but give me five hundred taels of gold." Li Gu said, "The gold is right here. I'll give it all to you. Just have it done tonight." Cai Fu accepted the gold, hid it on his person, and stood up. "Come early tomorrow to carry away the body," he said. Li Gu bowed his thanks and departed joyfully.

Cai Fu returned home. He had barely stepped through the door when someone lifted the reed curtain and walked straight in. The man called out, "Greetings to Brother Cai Jieji." Cai Fu looked and saw that this man was exceptionally handsome and dressed very neatly—he wore a black-winged blue robe with a round collar, a waistband of mutton-fat jade ornaments, a headdress of kingfisher feathers, and pearl-embroidered shoes on his feet. The man entered and, seeing Cai Fu, bowed at once. Cai Fu hurriedly returned the bow and asked, "May I ask your honored surname? What instructions do you have for me?" The man said, "May we speak inside?" Cai Fu then invited him into a consultation room, where they took their seats as guest and host. The man opened the conversation: "Brother Jieji, do not be alarmed. I am from Cangzhou's Henghai Commandery. My surname is Chai, my given name Jin. I am a direct descendant of the Great Zhou Emperor. They call me 'Little Whirlwind.' Because I loved righteousness and gave generously to others, I became acquainted with heroes everywhere. Unfortunately, I committed a crime and drifted to Liangshan Marsh. I have come now on orders from Brother Song Jiang to inquire after the news of the Squire Lu. Who could have known that corrupt officials, a licentious woman, and her paramour would conspire to falsely accuse him, and that he now sits in the condemned prisoners' cell, his life hanging by a thread, entirely in your hands? Risking death, I have come to your home to inform you of this. If you preserve the life of Squire Lu in this world, I will regard you with the eyes of Buddha and never forget your great virtue. But if there is the slightest mistake—our troops will be at the city walls and at the moat's edge, and whether worthy or unworthy, old or young, we will breach the city and put everyone to the sword! I have long heard that you are a man of righteousness and complete loyalty. I have nothing to offer you, but here is a humble gift of a thousand taels of gold. If you want to arrest Chai Jin, just bring out the ropes right now, and I will not so much as furrow my brow." When Cai Fu heard this, he broke out in a cold sweat and for a long time could not reply. Chai Jin stood up and said, "A hero does not hesitate in his actions. Please make your decision at once." Cai Fu said, "Please go back for now, sir. I will make my own arrangements." Chai Jin bowed and said, "Since you have given your word, I will repay this great favor." He went out, summoned a servant, handed the gold to Cai Fu, gave a salute, and left. The servant outside was none other than Dai Zong, "the Marvelous Traveler"—and he certainly was not one who couldn't walk!

Cai Fu received this news and could not put it out of his mind. He pondered for a long while, then returned to the prison and told his brother everything that had happened. Cai Qing said, "Eldest Brother, you have always been the best at making decisive judgments. What difficulty is there in a small matter like this? As the saying goes: 'If you kill a man, you must see blood; if you save a man, you must save him completely!' Since there is a thousand taels of gold here, let the two of us use it to work every connection above and below. Liang Zhongshu and Zhang Kongmu are both greedy men. Once they've taken the bribe, they will certainly see to Squire Lu Junyi's safety. He'll be paraded through the streets and exiled somewhere—whether he can be saved or not will be up to the Liangshan heroes. Our part will be done." Cai Fu said, "Brother, your reasoning is exactly what I had in mind. For now, settle Squire Lu comfortably and give him good food and wine morning and evening to recover his strength. Pass him the news." Cai Cai and Cai Qing made their plans together, and in secret they used the gold to grease palms at every level—the arrangements were settled.

The next day, Li Gu saw no sign of action and came to Cai Fu's house to press the matter. Cai Qing told him, "We were just about to finish him off, but Lord Zhongshu refused. Someone has given orders that his life is to be spared. Go and use your own influence up above. Once the instructions come down, what difficulty will there be for us?" Li Gu immediately sent more people to exert influence up above. The intermediary who passed the money went with the request, and Liang Zhongshu said, "This is the business of the prison warden. Are you asking me to do it myself? In a day or two, I'll have him die on his own." The two sides pushed the responsibility back and forth. Zhang Kongmu had already received the gold and simply kept delaying the paperwork.

Cai Fu once again worked behind the scenes to expedite matters. Zhang Kongmu brought the case documents for review. Liang Zhongshu said, "How should this matter be decided?" Zhang Kongmu said, "In this humble clerk's view, though Lu Junyi has an accuser, there is no concrete evidence. Although he stayed at Liangshan Marsh for a long time, this amounts to being implicated by association—it is difficult to convict him as a principal offender. Forty strokes of the heavy rod and exile to a place three thousand li away—what does the magistrate think of this?" Liang Zhongshu said, "Your analysis is most sound and accords perfectly with my own judgment."

He then summoned Cai Fu to bring Lu Junyi out of the jail. Right in the hall, they removed his long cangue, read out the indictment and case documents, and sentenced him to forty strokes of the heavy rod. He was fitted with a twenty-pound iron-leaf head cangue and shackled before the hall. Dong Chao and Xue Ba were assigned to escort him to his place of exile—Shamen Island. Now, Dong Chao and Xue Ba had originally been officers in Kaifeng Prefecture. On the way to Cangzhou with Lin Chong, they had failed to kill him, and upon their return, Grand Marshal Gao had found an excuse to have them exiled to Beijing. Liang Zhongshu, finding them capable men, had kept him in the service of the garrison office. Now he assigned them once more to escort Lu Junyi.

Dong Chao and Xue Ba received their documents, took Lu Junyi, and left the prefecture office. They placed Lu Junyi in the envoys' quarters and each returned home to pack their belongings before setting out at once. A poem says:

A man who kept aloof from women's charms,

Why, once away, should he miss his wife at home?

Who would have guessed the lion's roar within

Could bring the "Jade Qilin" to ruin!

Now when Li Gu heard the news, he could only groan in distress. He sent for the two escorting officers to speak with them. When Dong Chao and Xue Ba arrived at the inn, Li Gu received them, invited them to a private room, and set out wine and food for them. After three cups, Li Gu spoke plainly: "I will hide nothing from you—Lu Junyi is my enemy. Now he is being sent to Shamen Island, a long and distant road. He has not a single copper, and you two will have your travel expenses for nothing. Even hurrying back, it will take three or four months. I have nothing much to give you, but here are two large ingots of silver to start with. Whether it is two stages or just a few li, find a secluded spot and finish him off. Bring back the golden seal from his face as proof, so I know it is done, and I will give you each an additional fifty ounces of garlic-shaped gold. All you need to do is alter a single document—I will handle matters at the garrison office myself." Dong Chao and Xue Ba looked at each other and pondered for a long while. Faced with two large ingots of silver, how could greed not arise in their hearts? Dong Chao said, "I'm afraid we cannot do this." Xue Ba said, "Brother, this Master Li is a decent fellow. We might as well make friends with him through this matter. If we ever find ourselves in trouble, we can count on him for help." Li Gu said, "I am not an ungrateful or unrighteous man. I will repay you two in due time."

Dong Chao and Xue Ba took the silver, bid farewell, returned home, packed their bags, and set out that very night. Lu Junyi said, "This humble man has just been flogged and the wounds are painful. Allow me to set out tomorrow." Xue Ba cursed, "Shut your bird mouth! It's our own bad luck to have crossed paths with you, you penniless devil! Shamen Island is over six thousand li round trip—think of the travel expenses! And you don't have a single copper. How are we supposed to manage?" Lu Junyi pleaded, "Please consider that this humble man has been wronged. Show some mercy, I beg you." Dong Chao cursed, "You rich men are stingy as a rule—won't part with a single hair. Now Heaven has opened its eyes and the retribution comes swiftly! Don't complain—we'll help you along the way." Lu Junyi swallowed his anger and had no choice but to move. They passed through the East Gate. Dong Chao and Xue Ba hung their clothing bundles and umbrellas on Lu Junyi's cangue. Lu Junyi, who had been a wealthy man all his life, was now a prisoner with no recourse. To make matters worse, it was late autumn—yellow leaves fell in flocks, and wild geese flew in pairs toward the frontier. Amid his melancholy, he could hear the sound of a flute in the distance. Truly:

Whose jade flute plays in the autumn air,

Stirring restless feelings with no cause?

It is not that the music breaks the heart—

The heart was already broken before it heard.

The two officers alternated between rough treatment and grudging accommodation as they escorted him along. As dusk approached, they had traveled some fifteen or sixteen li when they came to a village in search of an inn. The innkeeper led them to a back room and they set down their bags. Xue Ba said, "Damn us for being officers—when did we ever come to waiting on a convict? If you want food, go fire up the stove!" Lu Junyi had no choice but to go to the kitchen with his cangue, ask the innkeeper for some straw, tie it together, and light a fire at the stove. The innkeeper cooked the rice and washed the bowls for him. Lu Junyi, born to wealth, had no idea how to do such things. The straw was damp and wouldn't catch fire; it went out completely. When he finally blew on it with all his might, the ashes got in his eyes. Dong Chao muttered curses under his breath. When the food was ready, the two officers served themselves and ate. Lu Junyi did not dare ask for a portion. After they had eaten their fill, they left him some cold leftover soup and rice. Xue Ba cursed him some more. After supper, they told Lu Junyi to heat water for their feet. When the water had come to a boil, Lu Junyi dared to sit down in the room. The two officers washed their own feet, then prepared a basin of scalding hot water and tricked Lu Junyi into washing his feet in it. He had barely taken off his straw sandals when Xue Ba grabbed both his legs and plunged them into the boiling water. The pain was unbearable. Xue Ba said, "Your lordship waits on you, and you put on airs!" The two officers went to sleep on the kang. They locked Lu Junyi to the back of the room's door with an iron chain. At the fourth watch, the two officers rose, had the innkeeper prepare breakfast, ate their fill, and packed to set out. When Lu Junyi looked at his feet, they were covered in blisters filled with fluid, and he could not set foot on the ground.

That day the autumn rain fell thick and fast, and the road was slippery. Lu Junyi stumbled with every step. Xue Ba picked up his water-and-fire cudgel and struck him across the waist. Dong Chao pretended to intervene, all the while grumbling and complaining along the way. Leaving the village inn behind, they had traveled some ten li when they reached a great forest. Lu Junyi said, "This humble man truly cannot go on—have pity and let me rest a moment!" The two guards led him into the woods. It was just beginning to grow light in the east, and no one else was on the road. Xue Ba said, "We two rose too early and are terribly drowsy. We'd like to sleep a bit in the woods here—we're afraid you might run off." Lu Junyi said, "This humble man could not fly away even if I had wings." Xue Ba said, "Let's not give you any tricks, and let this old fellow tie you up first." He untied the hemp rope from his waist, wrapped it around Lu Junyi's belly, pulled it tight against a pine tree, twisted his feet back, and bound him to the trunk. Xue Ba said to Dong Chao, "Elder brother, you stand outside the woods. If anyone comes by, cough as a signal." Dong Chao said, "Brother, finish quickly." Xue Ba said, "Don't worry, go keep watch outside." With that, he picked up the water-and-fire cudgel and, looking at Household Lu, said, "Don't blame us two. Your steward, Li Gu, instructed us to finish you off on the road. Even if you reach Shaomen Island, you'd only die. Better to send you on your way early! In the underworld courts of the nether realm, don't hold this against us. A year from today will be the anniversary of your death." When Lu Junyi heard this, tears poured down like rain, and he bowed his head to meet his end. Xue Ba raised the water-and-fire cudgel with both hands and brought it down toward Household Lu's skull. Dong Chao, outside, heard only a thudding sound and rushed into the woods to look. Household Lu was still bound to the tree, but Xue Ba lay on his back beneath it, the cudgel cast aside. Dong Chao said, "Now this is strange! Could it be that he used too much force and knocked himself down?" He looked around on every side but saw nothing. Blood poured from Xue Ba's mouth, and protruding from his breast was a small arrow shaft, three or four inches long. He was just about to call out when he saw a man sitting in a tree to the northeast. The man shouted, "Take this!" and at the twang of the string, an arrow struck Dong Chao in the neck. His feet kicked at the air and he too fell to the ground with a thud.

The man dropped lightly from the tree, drew a sharp knife for cutting ligatures, severed the ropes, smashed the collar-and-handcuffs, and lifted Household Lu from the ground, embracing him and weeping loudly. Lu Junyi opened his eyes and recognized him—the "Rogue" Yan Qing. He called out, "Xiao Yi, am I meeting you as a spirit?" Yan Qing said, "I followed these two scoundrels all the way from the Guardian's office. I saw them lock my master in the envoys' quarters, and then saw Li Gu invited in for a talk. I suspected these scoundrels meant to harm my master, so I followed them out of the city that very night. When my master was at the village inn, I waited outside. Before the fifth watch, I came here first to wait. I figured they would certainly come to these woods to make their move. I finished them both with two crossbow bolts—did you see, master?" This "Rogue" Yan Qing's crossbow and his three fast arrows were truly unfailingly accurate. How fine his crossbow arrows were:

The stock was carved from dense black ebony, the root inlaid with red horn at the base.

The trigger was lightly set with crystal, the bowstring half drawn of golden thread.

The quiver was wrapped at the back, curved like a crescent moon not yet full;

The carved-fletching arrows flew steady and swift, sudden as shooting stars.

Lu Junyi said, "Though you have saved my life by force, you've killed these two guards—this only adds to the weight of our crimes. Where can we go?" Yan Qing said "From the start it was Song Jiang who brought this hardship upon you. Today, if you don't go to Liangshan Marsh, there is nowhere else to turn." Lu Junyi said, "It's just that my wounds from the beating have opened, and the skin on my feet is torn—I cannot even touch the ground." Yan Qing said, "There is no time to lose—I'll carry you on my back." He went to the guards' bodies, searched out their silver, took the crossbow, thrust a saber at his waist, picked up the water-and-fire cudgel, and with Lu Junyi on his back, headed straight east. Before they had gone ten li he could carry him no further. He saw a small village inn, went inside, found a room to rest, bought some wine and meat to stave off hunger for the moment, and the two of them rested there for the time being.

Now, passersby saw the two guards shot dead in the woods. The local headman reported it to the village elder, who in turn reported it to the prefecture of Daming. Officials were immediately sent down to examine the bodies—they turned out to be the Guardian's office guards Dong Chao and Xue Ba. The report was relayed to Grand Secretary Liang, who ordered the Daming prefecture constabulary to apprehend the culprit within a set deadline. The constables all came to examine the scene. "Judging by these crossbow bolts, it's clearly the work of the 'Rogue' Yan Qing." Without delay, a hundred or more constables split up and went in every direction, posting notices everywhere with descriptions of the two men's appearances, instructing villages, inns, towns, and households far and wide to search and seize them. Meanwhile, Lu Junyi was in the village inn nursing his wounds from the beating. Unable to travel, he had no choice but to remain there for now. The innkeeper heard that a murder had been committed and that the villages were going door to door with the descriptions. When he saw the two likenesses, he hurriedly reported to the local headman: "There are two people in my inn with a very suspicious look—I don't know if they match or not." The headman in turn reported it to the constables.

Now Yan Qing, having no side dish for his meal, took his crossbow and went to the nearby area to find some insects and ants to eat. When he was about to return, he heard shouting throughout the entire village. Yan Qing hid in the woods and looked out, when he saw some two hundred constables, surrounded with spears and swords, binding Lu Junyi to a cart and pushing him along. Yan Qing wanted to rush out and save him, but he had no weapons, and could only cry out in anguish. He thought to myself: "If I don't go to Liangshan Marsh to report to Song Gongming and have him come to the rescue, wouldn't I be responsible for my master losing his life?"

At that time, he set out on the road and traveled half the night. His stomach was empty, and he didn't have a single coin on him. He came to a small earthen ridge, overgrown with a tangle of trees, and slept in the grove until dawn. His heart was troubled and anxious. He only heard magpies chattering and squawking in the tree branches, and thought: "If I could shoot one down, go to a village household and beg some water, cook it thoroughly, it would at least fill my stomach." He walked out of the grove, raised his head to look, and there was the magpie squawking at Yan Qing. Yan Qing quietly drew his crossbow, secretly asked heaven for an omen, prayed toward the empty sky, and said: "Yan Qing has only this one arrow left. If it can save my master's life, then wherever the arrow lands, the auspicious bird will fall from the sky; if my master's fate is indeed doomed, then when the arrow flies, the auspicious bird will fly away." He nocked the arrow, called out: "Ruyizi, do not fail me!" When the crossbow sounded, it struck the magpie right in the tail, and the bird, carrying the arrow, flew straight down the ridge. Yan Qing strode quickly down the ridge after it, but the magpie had vanished. Just as he was searching, he saw two men walking toward him from up ahead. What were they wearing? But look:

The one in front wore a pig-snout headcloth,

with two gold-wrapped silver rings behind his head,

a fragrant soap-colored silk robe on his upper body, a gold-threaded sash at his waist,

half-knee-length soft socks and hemp shoes, and carried a staff that came up to his eyebrows.

The one behind wore a white Fanyang dust-shading hat,

a tea-brown gathered-thread sleeved robe.

A crimson silk pouch tied at his waist, mud-kicking leather shoes on his feet,

a bundle of clothes on his back, a short staff in hand, and a waist knife at his belt.

These two men coming were exactly shoulder-to-shoulder with Yan Qing. Yan Qing turned around, looked at these two, and thought: "I was just short of traveling funds—why not knock both of them down with two fists, seize their bundles, and then go up to Liangshan Marsh?" He tucked away his crossbow and doubled back. These two men walked with their heads bowed, paying attention only to the road ahead. Yan Qing caught up, and with a single punch to the back of the one wearing the felt hat, knocked him flat to the ground. He was just about to throw another punch at the one in front, when the man's staff came down and struck Yan Qing squarely on his left leg, knocking him to the ground. The man in back scrambled to his feet, pinned Yan Qing underfoot, drew his waist knife, and slashed toward Yan Yan's face. Yan Qing cried out: "Good sir, it's no matter if I die, but who will carry the message for my master?" The man then held back his knife, stayed his hand, and lifting Yan Qing up, asked him: "What message does this fellow carry?" Yan Qing said: "What do you want to know?" The good sir in front pulled Yan Qing's hand, exposing the flower tattoo on his wrist, and hastily asked: "Aren't you the 'Rascal' Yan Qing from the household of Squire Lu?" Yan Qing thought: "I'm as good as dead either way—I might as well tell the truth. Let him capture me; at least my spirit can keep company with my master!" He said: "I am indeed the 'Rascal' Yan Qing from Squire Lu's household. Now I need to go to Liangshan Marsh to report, so that Song Gongming can come rescue my master." When the two men heard this, they laughed heartily and said: "It's a good thing we didn't kill you—so you are Brother Yan Xiaoyi! Do you recognize the two of us?" The one in the dark robe was none other than the Liangshan Marsh chieftain "Sick Guansuo" Yang Xiong, and the one behind was "Desperate Third Brother" Shi Xiu. Yang Xiong said: "We two have received orders from the elder brother to go to Beijing to find out news of Squire Lu. The Strategist and Dean Dai have also come down from the mountain afterward, specifically waiting for a report." Upon hearing that they were Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, Yan Qing told the two of them everything that had happened. Yang Xiong said: "Since that's the case, Yan Qing and I will go up to the mountain stronghold and report to the elder brother, so he can devise another plan. You go on your own to Beijing, find out the news, and come back to report." Shi Xiu said: "Best that way." He gave his bundle to Yan Qing to carry, and together with Yang Xiong, they went up to Liangshan Marsh through the night. When they saw Yan Jiang, Yan Qing told him everything in detail. Song Jiang was greatly alarmed and immediately gathered all the chieftains to discuss a plan.

Now then, Shi Xiu, taking only the clothes on his body, arrived outside the city walls of Beijing. The sky was already dark, and he could not enter the city, so he spent the night outside the walls. The next morning after breakfast, he entered the city, but saw everyone sighing with lamentation and grief. Shi Xiu was suspicious. He came to the marketplace, where he saw households with their doors and windows shut. When Shi Xiu asked the townspeople, an old man replied: "Sir, don't you know that here in Beijing we have Squire Lu, a wealthy man of the highest order. Because he was captured by the bandits of Liangshan Marsh, and after managing to escape back, he suffered a wrongful sentence and was exiled to Shamen Island. Then somehow on the road he killed two constables. He was brought back last night, and today at the third quarter of the noon hour, he will be brought to this marketplace for execution. Sir, you can come and watch."

Having heard this, Shi Xiu went to the execution ground to have a look. At the crossroads stood a wine shop, so Shi Xiu went up to the upper floor, took a booth overlooking the street, and sat down. The waiter came forward and asked, "Honored guest, are you meeting someone, or drinking alone?" Shi Xiu glared with his fierce eyes and said, "Bring me big bowls of wine and huge chunks of meat—keep them coming! What's with all the damned questions?" The waiter was thoroughly startled. He served two measures of wine and a large plate of beef. Shi Xiu ate and drank in great gulps for a while. He had not sat long when he heard a commotion in the street below. Shi Xiu went to the window and looked down—every house had its doors shut, every shop its gates closed. The waiter came upstairs and said, "Honored guest, are you drunk? Official business is happening below. Quickly settle your bill and go somewhere else to avoid trouble!" Shi Xiu said, "What the hell do I have to be afraid of? Get downstairs fast, and don't make me thrash you!" The waiter dared not say another word and went back down. Before long, the sound of gongs and drums came thundering through the street. And this was the scene:

Two cracked drums beat, a shattered clapper-gong sounded.

Black pennants unfurled like clouds, willow-leaf spears crossed like snow.

Criminal charge placards led the way, white truncheons followed behind.

The prison escort officers were savage, the sword-bearing constables fierce and bold.

On his tall horse, the supervising executioner was more fearsome than a living King of Hell;

Among the forest of swords and blades, the court officers were like spirits of pursuit and doom.

Alas, at the heart of this crossroads, a man who bore wrongs and grievances was about to be put to death!

As Shi Xiu watched from the upstairs window, the execution ground at the crossroads was surrounded on all sides. A dozen pairs of knife-wielding and club-carrying executioners, pressing from front and rear, forced Lu Junyi forward, bound, and made him kneel before the building. Iron-Armed Cai Fu held the execution blade; "One-Blossom" Cai Qing supported the cangue at the neck and said, "Sir Lu, you know full well in your heart—it's not that my brother and I wouldn't save you, but the matter has been handled too clumsily. In the Hall of the Five Sages up ahead, I have already prepared a seat for you. Your soul can go there to receive offerings." When he had spoken, a cry rang out from the crowd: "The third mark of the noon hour has arrived!" They opened the cangue on one side; Cai Qing had already seized Lu Junyi's head, and Cai Fu had already drawn the execution blade. The presiding clerk read aloud the criminal charge placants in a high voice, and the crowd roared with one voice. Up in the building, Shi Xiu seized that moment of unison, drew his waist saber, and shouted at the top of his lungs: "The heroes of Liangshan Marsh are all here, every one of them!" Cai Fu and Cai Qing abandoned the warden and fled, dragging their ropes. Shi Xiu leaped down from the upper floor, raised his steel saber, and began cutting down men like slicing melons and vegetables. Those who could not flee fast enough—he killed more than a dozen. With one hand he grabbed Lu Junyi and headed south.

The truth was that Shi Xiu did not know the roads of the Northern Capital, and Lu Junyi, having been terrified into a daze, could not move faster no matter how they hurried. When Grand Secretary Liang heard the report, he was greatly alarmed. He ordered his headquarters officers to lead troops and seal the four city gates, one by one. He dispatched constables and runners from the front and rear to converge and surround them. No matter how heroic you were, how could you escape a towering city with its formidable ramparts? Truly it was as the saying goes: On land, one lacks claws and fangs; in the sky, one lacks wings to fly. As for how Sir Lu and Shi Xiu managed to escape on this occasion—let us listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

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Water Margin (120-Chapter Edition)