الفصل السابع والستون

الفصل السابع والستون

It must be told that at this moment Liang Zhongshu, Li Cheng, and Wen Da hastily gathered their battered troops and fled southward. As they marched, they ran into two more detachments of ambushing forces who fell upon them from front and rear. Li Cheng led the way while Wen Da covered the rear, shielding Liang Zhongshu as they fought with all their might to break through the encirclement and escape with their lives. Their helmets were askew and their armor in tatters; though they had lost men and horses, the three had at least preserved their lives, and they fled westward. Fan Rui led Xiang Chong and Li Gun in pursuit but could not overtake them. He then returned to the city of Daming with Lei Heng, Shi En, and Mu Chun to await orders.

Meanwhile, the chief strategist Wu Yong issued commands throughout the city. On one hand, he posted notices to reassure the populace; on the other, he set about extinguishing the fires. The families of Liang Zhongshu, Li Cheng, Wen Da, and Prefect Wang—some were killed, some had fled—were not pursued further. He then opened the treasury of Daming Prefecture, and all the gold, silver, precious goods, bolts of silk, satin, and brocade were loaded onto carts. He opened the granaries as well, distributing grain to the people of the entire city; the remainder was likewise loaded onto carts to be stored in the granary at Liangshan Marsh. Orders were issued to all the chieftains and their forces, and everything was made ready. Li Gu and Lady Jia were locked into prisoner carts, and the troops were divided into three columns for the return to Liangshan Marsh. Indeed: the generals on horseback beat golden stirrups, and the soldiers in front sang songs of victory as they marched. Dai Zong was sent ahead to report to Song Jiang. Song Jiang assembled all the chieftains and went down the mountain to greet them, and they all proceeded to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. When Song Jiang saw Lu Junyi, he bowed to the ground, and Lu Junyi hurriedly returned the salute. Song Jiang said, "All of us had wished to invite you, sir, to join us on the mountain in our great cause, but who could have expected such calamity? We nearly lost you, and my heart was torn asunder. Heaven has looked with favor upon us, and today we meet again—this is the greatest comfort of my life." Lu Junyi bowed and said, "I have relied on your might, elder brother, and I am deeply indebted to all the chieftains for their virtue. With one heart and united strength, they rescued my worthless body. I would paint the ground with my liver and gall—even that would be insufficient to repay this kindness." He then invited Cai Fu and Cai Qing to pay their respects to Song Jiang, saying, "Had it not been for these two men, how could I have dragged my wretched life here?" His words of gratitude were endless. At this point, Song Jiang wished to honor Lu Junyi as the leader of the band, but Lu Junyi protested with a bow: "What manner of man is Lu Junyi, that he should presume to be master of this stronghold? If I might hold the whip and tend the stirrups for you, elder brother, and serve as a common soldier to repay the kindness of saving my life, that would be my greatest fortune!" Song Jiang pressed him repeatedly, but Lu Junyi absolutely refused to take the seat. Then Li Kui spoke up: "If you let someone else be master of this stronghold, I will start killing!" Wu Song said, "Elder brother, if you keep yielding and yielding like this, you will make the brothers' hearts grow cold." Song Jiang roared in anger: "What do you people understand? Hold your tongues!" Lu Junyi hastily bowed and said: "If you insist on pressing me so urgently, elder brother, I will have no safe place to stand." Li Kui shouted: "Today all troubles are settled. Elder brother should be emperor, let Lu Junyi be prime minister, and let us all be great officials. We will march on Tokyo and seize that wretched throne—wouldn't that be better than staying here in this wretched place?" Song Jiang flew into a rage and cursed Li Kui. Wu Yong counseled: "For now, let us have Lu Junyi rest in the eastern guest chamber and treat him as an honored guest. When he has rendered meritorious service in the future, the question of yielding the seat may be raised again." Only then did Song Jiang become pleased, and he ordered Yan Qing to rest in the same quarters. Separate quarters were assigned for Cai Fu and Cai Qing to settle their families. Guan Sheng's family had already been brought to the stronghold by Xue Yong. Song Jiang then ordered a grand feast to reward the cavalry, infantry, and naval forces, directing all officers, petty chiefs, and rank-and-file soldiers to form their own groups and go drink wine. In the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, a banquet was held in celebration. The chieftains, high and low, deferred to one another and drank with joy. Lu Junyi rose and said: "The adulteress and the adulterer have been captured and are here, awaiting your judgment." Song Jiang smiled and said: "I had quite forgotten. Bring the two of them forward." The soldiers opened the prisoner carts and dragged them before the hall. Li Gu was bound to the general's pillar on the left, and Lady Jia was bound to the general's pillar on the right. Song Jiang said: "There is no need to inquire into the crimes of these wretches—let sir himself pronounce their fate." Lu Junyi took a short knife in hand and descended from the hall. He cursed the vile woman and the treacherous slave, then cut open both of them, tore out their hearts, and had them executed by slow slicing. He cast aside their corpses, ascended the hall, and bowed to thank the assembly. All the chieftains offered their congratulations and praised him without end.

Not to mention how Liangshan Marsh held grand feasts and rewarded the cavalry, infantry, and naval forces. Let us turn to the scene in Daming Prefecture, where Grand Secretary Liang Shijie learned that the Liangshan band had withdrawn. He and his generals Li Cheng and Wen Da led the battered and depleted troops back into the city to check on his household. Of his family, eight or nine out of ten had been lost. All wailed without cease. By the time nearby garrisons mobilized to pursue the Liangshan forces, they had already marched far away, so each army was ordered to withdraw.

Liang Shijie's wife had hidden in the rear garden and escaped with her life. She urged her husband to draft a memorial to the court and write a letter to the Grand Tutor, requesting that troops and generals be dispatched at once to annihilate the bandits and avenge this wrong. A census was compiled of the common people killed—over five thousand dead, with wounded beyond counting. The various contingents of soldiers had suffered a total loss of more than thirty thousand men. The lead courier bore the memorial and secret letter and set out on the road. In less than a day, he arrived at the Grand Tutor's mansion in the Eastern Capital and dismounted. The gate officials reported his arrival, and the Grand Tutor ordered him brought in. The courier proceeded straight to the ceremonial hall, bowed before the Grand Tutor, and presented the memorial and secret letter, recounting how Daming had been sacked, how vast the bandit force was, and how they could not be withstood. Cai Jing's original intention had been to seek a hasty reconciliation, attributing the credit to Liang Shijie so that he himself might also enjoy glory. But now that the situation was ruined and impossible to conceal, he resolved to advocate war. In a great rage, he said, "Let the courier withdraw for now!"

The next day, at the fifth watch, when the bell rang at Jingyang, the assembled civil and official ministers gathered in the Courtyard of the Leaky Hours. Grand Tutor Cai led them straight to the jade steps to present the memorial to Emperor Daojun before the throne. The Son of Heaven read the report and was greatly alarmed. From the ranks of officials, Remonstrance Officer Zhao Ding stepped forward and submitted a memorial: "In the past, whenever troops have been dispatched, soldiers and generals have been lost—all because we have failed to exploit the terrain. In Your subject's humble opinion, it would be better to issue an imperial edict pardoning their crimes and offering to accept their surrender, summoning them to the capital, and appointing them as loyal ministers to guard against threats along the borders."

Cai Jing flew into a furious rage and bellowed: "You are a Remonstrance Officer, yet you undermine the laws and order of the court! Brazen wretch—your crimes merit execution!" The Son of Heaven said, "In that case, let him be expelled from court at once." On the spot, Zhao Ding was stripped of his rank and reduced to commoner status. No one else in the court dared to speak. A poem bears witness to this:

The imperial seal of amnesty was a worthy plan,

Yet loyal counsel was treated as an enemy band.

Once the elder statesman was driven from the land,

The Liangshan army could not be withstood or banned.

The Son of Heaven asked Cai Jing further: "With these bandits so rampant, whom can be sent to suppress them?" The Grand Tutor Cai replied: "Your subject reckons that for such rustic bandits of the wilds, what need is there for a great army? Your subject recommends two generals from Lingzhou: one named Shan Tinggui, the other Wei Dingguo, currently serving as militia commissioners of that prefecture. May it please Your Majesty to issue a sacred edict, dispatch riders by night and day, and summon this force to sweep clear the marshes at the earliest date." The Son of Heaven was greatly pleased. He immediately ordered the drafting of an imperial commission, to be transmitted through the Bureau of Military Affairs. The Emperor rose, the hundred officials retired from court, and among them many secretly smiled.

The next day, Cai Jing directed the relevant bureaus to send an official bearing the sacred edict and commission to Lingzhou.

Meanwhile, at the Liangshan stronghold by the rivers, Song Jiang distributed the gold, treasures, and goods seized from Daming's prefectural treasury as rewards to the cavalry, infantry, and naval forces. For days on end, cattle and horses were slaughtered, and grand feasts were held in celebration of Squire Lu. Though there were no phoenixes stewed or dragons roasted, there were veritable mountains of meat and seas of wine. When the chieftains were halfway through their cups, Wu Yong said to Song Jiang and the others: "Because of Squire Lu, we have sacked Daming, killed its people, plundered its treasury, and driven Grand Secretary Liang and the others to flee the city. Surely he will draft a memorial to the court? Moreover, his father-in-law is the Grand Tutor himself—how could he let this go? He will certainly raise troops and send them against us."

Song Jiang said: "The Marshal's concern is most sound. Why not send someone at once to Daming to find out the true situation, so that we here may make preparations?" Wu Yong smiled and said: "This humble brother has already sent someone; they should be returning soon." Even as they were gathered at the feast and discussing these matters, the spy they had sent arrived and reported: "Daming's Grand Secretary Liang has indeed submitted a memorial to the court, requesting troops to suppress the bandits. Remonstrance Officer Zhao Ding proposed offering amnesty, but Cai Jing berated him and stripped him of his office. Now a memorial has been presented to the Son of Heaven, and an official has been dispatched bearing an imperial commission to Lingzhou to summon Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo—the two militia commissioners—to lead the troops of that prefecture here to attack us."

Song Jiang said: "In that case, how shall we meet them?" Wu Yong said: "When they arrive, we will capture them all at once." Guan Sheng rose and said to Song Jiang and Wu Yong: "Since Guan came up the mountain, I have been deeply grateful for my lord's generous treatment, yet I have not rendered the slightest service. Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo I have known well in Pucheng for a long time. I have long known that Shan Tinggui is skilled in the method of using water to overwhelm troops—men all call him the 'Sacred Water General.' As for Wei Dingguo, he is a master of fire-attack tactics and specializes in using fire weapons in battle, so he is known as the 'Divine Fire General.' Lingzhou is his home territory, and he commands the troops of that prefecture. This unworthy brother volunteers to take five thousand soldiers. Before the two generals even set out, I will intercept them on the road to Lingzhou. If they are willing to surrender, I will bring them up the mountain. If they refuse, I will certainly capture them and present them to you, my lord. Then there will be no need for all the chieftains to strain their bows and waste their energy. What does my lord think of this?"

Song Jiang was overjoyed and ordered Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen to accompany him. Guan Sheng led his five thousand troops down the mountain the next day. Early the following morning, Song Jiang and the assembled chieftains held a farewell feast for them at the camp by Golden Sands Beach, after which Guan Sheng and his two companions led their troops away.

The chieftains returned to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Wu Yong said to Song Jiang, "We cannot be certain of Guan Sheng's heart. We could send another capable general to follow and supervise him, and at the same time provide support." Song Jiang replied, "I have observed that Guan Sheng is filled with righteous spirit and remains steadfast. There is no need for you to be suspicious, Military Advisor." Wu Yong said, "I only fear his heart may not be like yours. We could send Lin Chong and Yang Zhi with troops, with Sun Li and Huang Xin as their lieutenants, leading five thousand men down the mountain at once." Li Kui then said, "Let me go too." Song Jiang said, "You are not needed for this mission. There are capable generals who will win the glory." Li Kui said, "When I idle, I fall ill. If you won't let me go, I'll go on my own." Song Jiang shouted, "If you disobey my military order, I'll cut off your head!" Li Kui, hearing this, went down from the hall in sullen silence. We will not speak of Lin Chong and Yang Zhi leading troops down the mountain to support Guan Sheng. The next day, a soldier came to report: "'Black Whirlwind' Li Kui, last night in the second watch, took up his two broad axes and no one knows where he has gone!" When Song Jiang received the report, he could only cry out in distress: "Last night I offended him with those words—most likely he has gone over to someone else!" Wu Yong said, "Elder Brother, that is not so. Though he is rough and crude, he values righteousness deeply—he would not go over to another. Most likely he will return in a day or two. Set your mind at ease." Song Jiang, anxious, first sent Dai Zong to pursue him, and then dispatched Shi Qian, Li Yun, Yue He, and Wang Dingliu, four chieftains, to search along four different roads.

Now, Li Kui that night had taken his two broad axes and gone down the mountain, taking a small path straight toward Lingzhou. Along the way he thought to himself: "For these two worthless generals, why does it take so many troops to campaign against them? I'll rush into the city, chop one with each axe, and give Brother a surprise! That'll show them a thing or two!" After walking half a day, his stomach grew hungry—in his haste to get down the mountain, he had not brought any money. It had been a long time since he had done this sort of business, and he thought: "I'll just find someone to vent my anger on." As he walked along, he saw a village wine shop by the roadside. Li Kui went inside and sat down, drank three measures of wine and ate two pounds of meat, then stood up to leave. The tavern keeper stopped him and demanded payment. Li Kui said, "Wait till I do some business up ahead, and I'll come back and pay you!" With that, he started to leave. Just then a powerfully built man came in and shouted, "You black devil, how dare you! Who do you think runs this tavern? You eat and drink for free and refuse to pay!" Li Kui glared at him and said, "This old fellow will eat and drink for free wherever he pleases!" The man said, "I'll tell you who I am, and it will scare the piss and shit out of you! I am Han Bailong, a hero of Liangshan Marsh! The capital here all belongs to Brother Song Jiang." Li Kui laughed inwardly: "I've never known this bird in our stronghold!" Now, Han Bailong had once robbed and plundered along the rivers and lakes and wanted to go up to Liangshan Marsh to join the band. Instead he had fled to the "Dry Land Crocodule" Zhu Gui, asking him to arrange an introduction to Song Jiang. But Song Jiang was suffering from a festering sore on his back, and was also busy deploying troops in the stronghold—he had little leisure and had not been able to see him. Zhu Gui had put him in the village to sell wine for the time being. Li Kui drew an axe from his waist and, looking at Han Bailong, said, "Take this axe as a pledge." Han Bailong, not knowing the trick, stretched out his hand to receive it. Li Kui's hand rose and he brought the axe down on Han Bailong's face with a single blow, felling him with a thud. Poor Han Bailong, who had been a tough man for half his life, died at Li Kui's hand. Two or three servants, cursing their parents for not giving them two more legs, fled toward the deep village. Li Kui gathered up the money on the ground, set fire to the thatched house, and headed toward Lingzhou.

They had been traveling no more than a day when, along the main road, a tall, well-built man came straight toward them, sizing up Li Kui from head to toe. Li Kui noticed the man staring at him and said, "Why are you staring at me, you rascal?" The man replied, "Who are you calling 'sir'?" Li Kui lunged forward at once. The man threw a single punch and knocked Li Kui flat on his backside. Li Kui thought to himself, "This fellow knows his boxing!" He sat on the ground, looked up, and asked, "What is your name, you fellow?" The man said, "Old man has no surname. If you want a fight, I'll fight you! You dare stand up!" Li Kui was furious and was about to leap to his feet when the man kicked him in the ribs and sent him sprawling again. Li Kui cried out, "I can't beat him!" He scrambled up and started to walk away. The man called after him, "You black fellow, what is your name? Where are you from?" Li Kui said, "I'll tell you, but don't be frightened. I am none other than 'Black Whirlwind' Li Kui of Liangshan Marsh." The man said, "Are you really him? Don't lie to me." Li Kui said, "If you don't believe me, just look at my two axes." The man said, "If you're a hero of Liangshan Marsh, where are you headed all by yourself?" Li Kui said, "I quarreled with my brother and went off in a huff. I'm going to Lingzhou to kill those two fellows, the ones surnamed Shan and Wei." The man said, "I heard that Liangshan Marsh has already sent troops there. Who led them?" Li Kui said, first 'Great Blade' Guan Sheng led the troops, and then 'Leopard Head' Lin Chong and 'Blue-Faced Beast' Yang Zhi followed with supporting forces." Upon hearing this, the man bowed to the ground. Li Kui said, "What is your name?" The man said, "This humble one is originally from Zhongshan Prefecture. For three generations my family has made its living as wrestlers. The skills are passed from father to son, and we take no students. All my life I've had no luck finding anyone to take me in. People in Shandong and Hebei all call me 'No-Face' Jiao Ting. Recently I learned that in Kouzhou there is a mountain called Dead Tree Mountain, and on that mountain lives a bandit who has nothing he likes better than killing people. The world compares him to the God of the Dead. His surname is Bao, given name Xu. He robs and plunders on that mountain. I was planning to go there and join his band." Li Kui said, "With your skills, why haven't you come to join my brother Song Jiang?" Jiao Ting said, "I've wanted to join the great stronghold for a long time, but I had no way in. Today I've met you, elder brother, and I'm willing to follow you." Li Kui said, "I came down the mountain to prove myself to Brother Song Jiang. If I don't kill a single person and go back empty-handed, how can I face him? Come with me to Dead Tree Mountain, get Bao Xu, and together we'll go to Lingzhou and kill those two generals Shan and Wei. Then we can return to the mountain." Jiao Ting said, "Lingzhou is a whole prefecture with many troops stationed there. Even the two of us together, with all our skills, wouldn't stand a chance—we'd just throw our lives away. It would be better to go alone to Dead Tree Mountain, persuade Bao Xu, and all go to join the great stronghold. That's the superior plan." As they were talking, Shi Qian came hurrying up from behind and called out, "Brother, you've caused us so much worry! Please come back to the mountain. They've sent four groups out searching for you." Li Kui introduced Jiao Ting to Shi Qian, and they exchanged greetings. Shi Qian urged Li Kui to return: "Brother Song Jiang is waiting for you." Li Kui said, "Hold on! Jiao Ting and I have agreed—we'll go first to Dead Tree Mountain and persuade Bao Xu, then come back." Shi Qian said, "That won't do. Your brother is waiting for you—you must return to camp at once." Li Kui said, "If you won't come with me, go back to the stronghold first and tell my brother what's happened. I'll be along." Shi Qian was afraid of Li Kui and went back to the stronghold by himself. Jiao Ting and Li Kui went on toward Kouzhou, heading for Dead Tree Mountain.

Let us turn to another part of our story. Guan Sheng, together with Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen, led five thousand troops forward and drew near Lingzhou. Now, the prefect of Lingzhou had received the imperial edict from the capital ordering troop mobilization, as well as the directives from Grand Marshal Cai Jing, so he summoned the military training commissioners Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo to deliberate. The two generals received the orders, immediately selected and mustered soldiers, gathered weapons, saddled and harnessed the horses, prepared provisions, and set a date for departure. Suddenly a report came: "'Great Blade' Guan Sheng from Pudong is leading an army here, invading our prefecture." Shan Tingguo and Wei Dingguo flew with rage. They assembled their troops and rode out to meet the enemy. The two armies approached each other, banners facing banners. Beneath his standard, Guan Sheng rode out. From the opposing army, amid the beating of drums, the "General of Sacred Water" rode forth. He was armed and attired thus:

He wore an iron cap forged from a single piece of dark metal,

topped with a black tassel the size of a measuring peck.

He bore a black oil-leather armor of bear hide, pieced and stitched at the edges,

wore a black gauze battle robe embroidered with clustered flowers in kingfisher blue,

and a pair of slanted-leather riding boots with cloud-patterned heels stitched with thread.

He buckled a jade-green belt fitted with emerald-studded lion-head clasps.

He carried a bow and a quiver of arrows.

He rode a deep-black horse and wielded a black-shafted spear.

At the front was raised a black banner of the northern direction, inscribed in seven silver characters: "General of Sacred Water Shan Tinggui." Then from the other side, amid the jingling of bridle bells, rode forth the "General of Divine Fire" Wei Dingguo. He was armed and attired thus:

He wore a crimson-gold headdress clasping his hair at the temples,

topped with a scarlet tassel the length of a broom.

He bore a chain-linked beast-faced suit of armor of lion design,

wore a deep-red robe embroidered with cloud patterns and strange beasts,

and a pair of brocade boots with cloud-stitched seams and kingfisher-green trim.

He carried a gold-painted horn-decorated carved bow,

He carried a quiver of phoenix-feathered wolf-fang arrows, rode a rouge horse, and wielded a tempered copper blade.

Before him flew a command banner of red embroidery in the southern pattern, bearing seven silver characters: "Divine Fire General Wei Dingguo." The two tiger generals rode out together to the front of the formation. Guan Sheng saw them and said from horseback, "It has been a long time, Generals, since we last met!" Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo laughed loudly, pointed at Guan Sheng, and cursed him: "Worthless little upstart, rebellious madman! You betray the court's grace above and disgrace your ancestors' name below. You do not know life or death! You have brought an army here—what courtesy do you offer?"

Guan Sheng replied, "You two generals are mistaken. Today the sovereign is benighted and wicked ministers wield power. They employ only their kin and speak only to their cronies. Our elder brother Song Jiangong is benevolent and virtuous, enacts Heaven's way, and has sent Guan and the rest of us here to invite you two generals. If you do not think us unworthy, please come over and join us in the stronghold."

The two generals, Shan and Wei, flew into a rage and spurred their horses forth together. One was like a mass of black clouds from the north, the other like a ball of fierce flames from the south, flying out to the front of the formation. Guan Sheng was about to ride out to meet them when Xuan Zan burst forth from his left and Hao Siwen charged from his right. The two pairs clashed before the blades. Blade met blade, sending forth ten thousand shafts of cold light; spear thrust against spear, raising a whole sky of murderous aura.

From afar, Guan Sheng saw the Divine Fire General fighting with ever greater spirit, while the Holy Water General showed no trace of fear. In the midst of battle, the two generals wheeled their horses and fled toward their own lines. Hao Siwen and Xuan Zan immediately gave chase and crashed into the enemy formation. Wei Dingguo veered to the left, Shan Tinggui turned to the right. Xuan Zan pursued Wei Dingguo, while Hao Siwen chased Shan Tinggui. Now as Xuan Zan pressed the pursuit, he suddenly saw four or five hundred foot soldiers in red banners and red armor closing in from all sides. Grappling hooks descended together, lassos flew through the air, and both man and horse were captured alive. Then Hao Siwen chased Shan Tinggui to the right, where he saw some five hundred foot soldiers all in black banners and black armor closing in around him. Soldiers from behind surged forward and took Hao Siwen alive. Pitiful—two heroic generals, reduced to nothing more than a painted cake. One party sent the prisoners into Lingzhou, while the other led five hundred elite soldiers sweeping forward in pursuit. Guan Sheng was at a loss, suffered a crushing defeat, and retreated. Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo immediately spurred their horses to chase him from behind.

As Guan Sheng fled, he saw two generals burst forth ahead. Guan Sheng looked: on the left was Lin Chong, on the right was Yang Zhi, crashing out from both flanks and scattering the Lingzhou troops. Guan Sheng gathered his remaining soldiers and met with Lin Chong and Yang Zhi, joining their forces. Soon Sun Li and Huang Xin also arrived, and they made camp for the time being.

Now the "Water" and "Fire" generals, having captured Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen, returned victorious to the city. Prefect Zhang received them and set out wine to congratulate them. He ordered a cage-wagon built to hold the two prisoners, then assigned a lieutenant general to lead three hundred foot soldiers and escort them overnight to the Eastern Capital to report to the court.

Now this lieutenant general led three hundred men escorting Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen toward the Eastern Capital. They wound along their way until they reached a certain place. All around, dead trees covered the hills and reed shoots carpeted the ground. At the sound of a gong, a band of outlaws burst forth. The leader at the front, wielding a pair of axes, roared like thunder—it was none other than Li Kui, the "Black Whirlwind" of Liangshan Marsh. Following behind him was another hero. And who was it?

He was the one whom all wrestlers yielded to, whose grappling fists and flying feet were as lethal as blades. When his savage temper erupted, he toppled like a mountain—Jiao Ting, the man with no face.

The two heroes Li Kui and Jiao Ting, leading a band of petty lorsemen, blocked the road. Without a word, they rushed to seize the cage-wagon. The lieutenant general tried to flee, but another hero burst out from behind:

A hideous, ugly face like the bottom of a cauldron, with double-folded eyes and a wolf's lips bared. He set fires and slew men with a broadsword—Bao Xu, known as the "God of Death."

This hero was none other than Bao Xu, known as the "God of Death." He stepped forward, raised his sword, and brought it down, cutting the lieutenant from his horse. The rest of the men abandoned the prison cart and fled for their lives.

When Li Kui looked more closely, he found it was Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen. He asked them for the full details of what had happened. Xuan Zan, seeing Li Kui, also asked: "How did you come to be here?"

Li Kui said: "It's because my brother wouldn't let me come along to fight. So I slipped away on my own and came down the mountain. First I killed Han Bolong, then I ran into Jiao Ting, who led me here. Bao Xu and I hit it off at once—he's treated me like his own blood brother. Just now we were in the middle of discussing how to go attack Lingzhou when some of our men up on the mountain spotted this group of soldiers escorting a prison cart this way. We thought it was government officers hunting bandits, but I never expected it would be you two."

Bao Xu invited them into the stronghold, where they slaughtered cattle and set out wine to feast them. Hao Siwen said: "Since you brothers have your hearts set on joining the Liangshan Marsh, why not lead your men and go together with us to Lingzhou and combine our forces to attack it? That would be the best plan."

Bao Xu said: "Li and I were just discussing exactly that. What you say is the very thing. In my stronghold we also have three or two hundred good horses." He led out five or six hundred foot soldiers, and the five chieftains set out together to attack Lingzhou.

Meanwhile, the soldiers who had escaped ran back and reported to Prefect Zhang: "Halfway here, bandits seized the prison cart and killed our lieutenant."

Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo flew into a rage when they heard this. "When we catch them this time," they said, "we'll carry out the execution right here."

Just then they heard Guan Sheng outside the walls challenging them to battle. Shan Tinggui raced ahead, threw open the city gate, lowered the drawbridge, and led five hundred soldiers in black armor flying out to meet the enemy.

As the banners parted, Shan Tinggui, the "General of Sacred Water," rode forth, shouting at Guan Sheng: "You disgraced the state and lost your battle—why don't you just die!"

Guan Sheng heard this, flourished his blade, and urged his horse forward. The two fought for more than fifty rounds, then Guan Sheng reeled his horse around and hastily fled. Shan Tinggui immediately gave chase. After pursuing him for some ten li, Guan Sheng suddenly turned his head and shouted: "Why don't you dismount and surrender—what are you waiting for!"

Shan Tinggui leveled his spear and drove straight for Guan Sheng's back. But Guan Sheng summoned his divine might, lifted the flat of his blade, and with a single strike shouted: "Down!"

Shan Tinggui tumbled from his horse. Guan Sheng dismounted, stepped forward, raised him up, and called out: "Forgive me, General!"

Shan Tinggui, trembling with fear, bowed to the ground and begged for his life, offering to surrender.

Guan Sheng said: "I have spoken of you many times before Brother Song Gongquan. I have come specifically to invite you and your fellow general to join us in our great cause."

Shan Tinggui replied: "This unworthy man would devote the strength of a dog or horse to walk the path of Heaven together with you."

The two having said this, they rode side by side. Lin Chong met them as they approached together and asked what had happened. Guan Sheng said nothing of victory or defeat, replying only: "In the mountain wilds, we spoke of old times and new, and I invited him to come over and submit."

Lin Chong and all the others were overjoyed. Shan Tinggui rode back to the front lines, gave a great shout, and the five hundred soldiers in black armor surged forward in a mass. The remaining troops fled back into the city and hastily reported to the prefect.

Wei Dingguo flew into a rage upon hearing this. The next day he led his troops out of the city to do battle. Together with Shan Tinggui, Guan Sheng and Lin Chong rode straight to the front of the enemy lines. They saw the gate-flags part and out rode the General of Sacred Fire, Wei Dingguo. When he saw Shan Tinggui had gone over to Guan Sheng, he bellowed in fury: "Ungrateful traitor! Faithless wretch!" Guan Sheng was furious. He spurred his horse forward to meet the enemy. The two steeds crossed, weapons clashed. The two commanders had fought no more than ten bouts when Wei Dingguo turned and fled toward his own lines. Guan Sheng was about to give chase when Shan Tinggui shouted: "General, you must not pursue!" Guan Guan quickly reined in his horse. Before the words had died on his tongue, from the Lingzhou ranks five hundred fire-troops burst forth, wearing crimson garments and carrying fire weapons. Before and behind them came forth fifty fire-carts, each loaded with kindling of reeds and other combustibles. Strapped to each soldier's back was an iron gourd containing sulfur, saltpeter, and five-colored smoke powder. All were lit at once and flung forward. Any man who approached fell; any horse that charged was wounded. Guan Sheng's troops scattered in all directions and fled, halting forty li away to make camp. Wei Dingguo wheeled his army back toward the city, only to see his own prefecture blazing with roaring flames and billowing smoke. It turned out that "Black Whirlwind" Kuai, together with Jiao Ting and Bao Xu, leading the men of Withered Tree Mountain, had gone around behind Lingzhou, smashed open the North Gate, and burst into the city. They set fires and plundered the treasury's money and grain. When Wei Dingguo learned of this, he dared not enter the city and hastily turned his army back. Guan Sheng pursued close behind and fell upon him, so that he could not look after both front and rear. Lingzhou was lost. Wei Dingguo had no choice but to retreat and make camp at Zhongling County. Guan Sheng led his army to surround the county on all sides and ordered his generals to deploy troops for the assault. Wei Dingguo barred his gates and would not come out. Shan Tinggui then said to Guan Sheng, Lin Chong, and the other commanders: "This man is a brave but reckless fighter. If you press him hard, he would rather die than suffer disgrace. Give him room and the matter can be resolved; haste will accomplish nothing. I volunteer to go into the county. I will not shrink from blade or axe. With kind words I will persuade him to surrender and come to us with hands bound, sparing us the need for battle." Guan Sheng was overjoyed at these words and at once ordered Shan Tinggui to ride alone into the county. A guardsman reported his arrival, and Wei Dingguo came out to receive him. Shan Tinggui spoke in gentle terms: "Today the court is benighted and the realm is in chaos. The Son of Heaven is muddle-headed and wicked ministers manipulate power. We have given our allegiance to Song Gongming and dwell by the great marsh. In time the wicked ministers will be removed; then we can return to the right path and set things aright—it will not be too late." Wei Dingguo listened, sat in silence for a long while, and then said: "If you want me to submit, Guan Sheng himself must come and invite me. Then I will surrender. If he does not come, I would rather die than suffer disgrace!" Shan Tinggui mounted his horse at once and returned to report to Guan Sheng. Guan Sheng said: "A true man acts—why should there be hesitation?" He rode out with Shan Tinggui, just the two of them, each with a single sword. Lin Chong remonstrated: "Elder brother, the human heart is hard to fathom. Think thrice before you act." Guan Sheng replied: "A man of mettle has nothing to fear." They went straight to the county yam Wei Dingguo received them with great joy and pledged his surrender. They spoke of old times together and a feast was laid in their honor. That same day Wei Dingguo led his five hundred fire-troops to the great encampment, where he met Lin Chong, Yang Zhi, and all the other chieftains. Then the army was drawn up and they returned to Liangshan Marsh. Song Jiang had already sent Dai Zong ahead to meet them. To Kuai he said: "Because you slipped away down the mountain, you made all our brothers march a great distance! Now Shi Qian, Yue He, Li Yun, and Wang Dingliu have already gone back to the mountain ahead of us. I will now go on ahead to report to our elder brother, so he need not worry any further."

But to return to Dai Zong—he had already gone on ahead. As for Guan Sheng and his army, they reached the edge of Golden Sands Beach, where the naval chieftains ferried the troops across in boats, crossing in relays. Then they saw a man come running toward them in a state of frantic distress. When the others looked, it was "Golden-Haired Hound" Duan Zhu. Lin Chong asked him: "You went with Yang Lin and Shi Yong to the northern lands to buy horses. Why are you running back in such a rush?" Duan Zhu spoke many words, and no single telling could contain them. And it came about that Song Jiang would marshal his troops and march against this place, to avenge an old grudge and wipe away a former grievance. Truly it may be said: words are hooks and lines, and from the first they draw forth trouble and strife. As to what Duan Zhu actually said, hear it told in the next chapter.