Chapter 83

Chapter 83

It is said that in those days, the sovereign of the Liao kingdom raised an army and came to seize the nine prefectures along the border beyond the mountains. The invading forces advanced along four routes, plundering Shandong and Shanxi, and pillaging Henan and Hebei. Every district and county sent memorials to the court, reporting the situation and begging for aid. These memorials first passed through the Bureau of Military Affairs before reaching the throne. But the Military Affairs Commissioner Tong Guan, together with Grand Preceptor Cai Jing, Commander-in-Chief Gao Qiu, and Yang Jian, discussed the matter and suppressed the memorials without presenting them to the emperor. They merely dispatched orders to neighboring prefectures, pressing them to mobilize troops from every region to go to the aid of the threatened areas—an exercise as futile as trying to fill a well with snow. Everyone knew of this, save the emperor alone.

Now it happened that these four treacherous ministers had devised a scheme, and had the Military Affairs Commissioner Tong Guan submit a memorial seeking to bring about the destruction of Song Jiang and his band. Unexpectedly, however, a high official stepped out from behind the palace screen and shouted them to a halt. This was Grand Marshal Su Yuanjing, who addressed the throne, saying: "Your Majesty, this band of brave men under Song Jiang has but lately submitted to the court. The hundred and eight of them are united as hand and foot, and their hearts are as one. They would never willingly be separated, and even unto death they would not part from one another. How can we now seek to take their lives? These men possess wisdom and valor of no ordinary measure. Should they rise in rebellion within the city, how would we deal with it? At present, the Liao kingdom has raised an army of a hundred thousand, seizing the counties belonging to the nine prefectures beyond the mountains. Memorials begging for help have been received from every quarter. Time and again troops have been dispatched to engage them, but it is like pouring boiling water upon ants—the enemy's strength is immense. The officers sent against them have no sound strategy, and every engagement results in the loss of men and officers, all concealed from Your Majesty's ears. In Your servant's humble view, this is precisely the occasion to dispatch Song Jiang and his entire company of able generals, leading their subordinate officers and men, straight to the border to subdue the Liao invaders. By allowing these brave men to render meritorious service and to be employed for the benefit of the realm, there would be great advantage. Your servant does not presume to act on his own authority and begs Your Sacred Majesty to judge."

When the emperor had heard Grand Marshal Su's report, his face shone with pleasure. He inquired of the assembled officials, and all agreed that the proposal was sound. The emperor roundly cursed the Military Affairs Commissioner Tong Guan and the others: "It is you flatterers and sycophants, you enemies of the state, jealous of the worthy and envious of the capable, who block the path of talent and cloak your words with deception, ruining every great affair of the court! I will mercifully overlook your offenses and not pursue the matter further." The emperor personally wrote a decree, appointing Song Jiang as Vanguard Commander for the Subjugation of the Liao, with Lu Junyi as his Deputy Vanguard Commander. As for the remaining generals, they would receive titles and rewards after they had distinguished themselves in battle. He ordered Grand Marshal Su Yuanjing himself to bear the decree and proceed to Song Jiang's forward camp to read it aloud. The emperor then withdrew from the court, and the officials dispersed.

Now then, Grand Marshal Su received the imperial edict and left the court, proceeding directly to Song Jiang's forward encampment to read it. Song Jiang and his men quickly arranged an incense table to welcome him. After they had knelt to hear the decree, all were overjoyed. Song Jiang and the others bowed and thanked Grand Marshal Su, saying: "We had just been wishing to do this—to exert ourselves for the state and perform meritorious deeds, to serve as loyal ministers. Now we have received Your Excellency's kindness in interceding on our behalf with such vigor—your grace is as that of our own parents. There is only the matter of the memorial tablet of our former lord Chao of Liangshan Marsh, which has yet to be properly interred. There are also the families and dependents of our various men who have not yet been sent back to their home districts. The city walls have not yet been dismantled, nor have the warships been brought in. We humbly ask Your Excellency to memorialize the throne and request an imperial edict granting us a respite of ten days, so that we may return to the mountain to settle these matters, organize our weapons, spears, armor, and horses, and then devote ourselves wholly to repaying the state with loyalty."

Grand Marshal Su was greatly pleased upon hearing this and returned to the court to report to the emperor. An imperial edict was at once issued, commanding that one thousand taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver, and five thousand bolts of colored silk be drawn from the treasury and bestowed upon the generals. The Grand Marshal was ordered to draw these from the treasury stores and distribute them among the generals at the forward camp. Those who had elderly dependents or young children were to receive grants sufficient to support those dependents for life. Those without such dependents were to receive the grants themselves for their own use. Song Jiang received the edict and, having expressed his thanks for the imperial favor, distributed the gifts to the men, and all was received in order. Grand Marshal Su then returned to the court and instructed Song Jiang, saying: "General, when you return to the mountain, go swiftly and come back quickly. Send a messenger ahead to inform me without delay."

Now then, Song Jiang gathered his men to deliberate on who would accompany him back to the mountain. Song Jiang together with the Military Advisors Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng, Lin Chong, Liu Tang, Du Qian, Song Wan, Zhu Gui, Song Qing, and the three Ruan brothers, along with some ten thousand men of the cavalry, infantry, and marines, would return. The remainder of the great army would remain encamped in the capital under the command of Vanguard Commander Lu. Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and Gongsun Sheng traveled without incident and arrived at Liangshan Marsh, where they took their seats in the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Orders were then issued for the families and dependents of the various households to gather their belongings and prepare for the journey. At the same time, pigs, sheep, and other sacrificial animals were slaughtered, along with incense, candles, paper money, and offerings, to sacrifice to the spirit of the former lord Chao. His memorial tablet was then burned. Afterward, the families and dependents of the various households were sent back to their original districts, and having boarded carts and mounted horses, they all departed. Then Song Jiang's own retainers escorted his elderly father, the elder Song, and the members of his household back to Song Family Village in Yuncheng County in Yunzhou, there to resume their status as law-abiding subjects. Next, the three Ruan brothers were ordered to select serviceable boats, while those small craft that were no longer fit for use were distributed among the local inhabitants for their own purposes. The houses and dwellings within the mountain were left for the residents to dismantle as they wished. The three mountain passes, the city walls, and the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness and other structures were all demolished. When every matter had been settled, the troops were assembled, and they hastened back to the capital.

Nothing worthy of note occurred along the way, and they soon arrived in Dongjing. Lu Junyi and the others came to greet them at the great camp. They first sent Yan Qing into the city to report to Grand Marshal Su, requesting an audience with the Son of Heaven to take leave and lead the army on its march. When the Grand Marshal received the report, he entered the palace and informed the Son of Heaven. The following day, he led Song Jiang to an audience with the Emperor at the Hall of Martial Glory. The Dragon Countenance was greatly pleased. After bestowing wine, the Imperial Voice said: "You must not decline the hardship of the journey, the toil of marching your soldiers and horses. Go with Us to subdue the barbarians and break the Liao, and return soon with songs of victory. I shall reward you handsomely and promote your officers and men according to their merits. Do not be remiss!" Song Jiang kowtowed his thanks and presented his memorial tablet, saying: "Your subject is but a lowly and contemptible petty official who erred and fell afoul of the law, and was exiled to Jiangzhou. In drunken madness I spoke wildly and was condemned to public execution. My comrades rescued me, and I had nowhere to flee, so I hid my body among the waters and marshes, barely prolonging this humble life. The crimes I have committed deserve ten thousand deaths without reprieve. Now Your Majesty in His mercy has received me and bestowed His boundless grace of pardon, forgiving my original offense. Though I should tear out my liver and gall, I could never repay the Emperor's kindness. Now that I receive Your Imperial command, how dare I not exhaust my strength and devote my loyalty unto death?" The Son of Heaven was greatly pleased and bestowed more Imperial wine. He also ordered that a set of gold-inlaid, magpie-patterned bows and arrows, a famous horse with full saddle and bridle, and a precious saber be presented to Song Jiang. Song Jiang kowtowed his thanks for the grace, took his leave from the throne, exited the palace, and carried the Emperor's gifts of the precious saber, saddle, horse, and bows and arrows back to camp. He issued orders to all officers and men to prepare to set out.

Now it must be told that on the following morning, Emperor Huizong commanded Grand Marshal Su to issue an Imperial edict instructing two officials of the Central Secretariat and Chancellery to proceed to the Chenqiao Post Station to distribute rewards to Song Jiang's vanguard army. Each soldier was to receive one bottle of wine and one jin of meat, to be issued to all without any reduction. The Central Secretariat received the edict and set about day and night preparing the wine and meat. They dispatched two officials to distribute them.

Song Jiang, for his part, issued orders to the armies and consulted with the strategist Wu Yong on dividing the troops into the vanguard and the main force for the march. He ordered the Five Tiger Generals and the Eight Mighty Generals to lead the army ahead, with the Ten Swift Cavalry Generals behind. Song Jiang, Lu Junyi, Wu Yong, and Gongsun Sheng commanded the central army. The naval commanders the three Ruan brothers, Li Jun, Zhang Heng, and Zhang Shun, along with Tong Wei, Tong Meng, Meng Kang, Wang Dingliu, and the boatmen and water chiefs, manned the war vessels, sailing from the Cai River into the Yellow River and heading north. Song Jiang urged the three armies forward, taking the main road through the Chenqiao Post Station, commanding his officers and men not to disturb or harass the common folk. There is a verse as proof:

Banners flutter proudly out from the Heavenly Capital,

Commissioned with full authority to wage a distant campaign.

Observe the discipline of the Liangshan army—

How does it compare with the Grand Marshal's own camp?

Now it must be told that the Central Secretariat had dispatched two厢官 (xiāngguān) officials to the Chenqiao Post Station to distribute wine and meat and reward the three armies. Who would have expected that these officials were insatiably corrupt, acting selfishly and cheating, reducing the wine and meat rations? They were the sort of flattering, sycophantic men who loved bribes. They reduced the Imperial wine from one full bottle to only half a bottle, and the meat from one jin to only six liang. The forward troops had all received their shares without incident, but when the distribution reached a company of black-clad soldiers—all wearing black helmets and dark armor—who were the banner-men under Xiang Chong and Li Gun, one military officer among them took the wine and meat, looked at them, and found only half a bottle of wine and ten liang of meat. He cursed the厢官, saying: "It is you greedy wretches who have undermined the Emperor's gracious reward!" The厢官 shouted back: "How am I a greedy wretch?" The officer said: "The Emperor gave us one bottle of wine and one jin of meat each, and you have reduced it all. It's not that we're quarrelsome, but I hate you unreasonable scum—scraping gold off the face of Buddha!" The厢官 cursed: "You great rascal of a bandit who deserves a thousand deaths! The rebellious nature of Liangshan Marsh still hasn't left you!" The officer flew into a rage and hurled the wine and meat straight in the厢官's face. The厢官 shouted: "Seize this scoundrel!" The officer drew his saber from behind his shield. The厢官, pointing at him, cursed loudly: "Filthy bandit, you dare draw a saber and kill anyone?" The officer said: "When I was at Liangshan Marsh, I killed thousands of better men than you. You petty official—what the hell are you worth?" The厢官 shouted: "You dare kill me?" The officer stepped forward and with a single stroke of his saber struck the厢官 squarely in the face, slicing him down to the ground. The others raised a cry and scattered. The soldier pursued them and struck several more blows, and it was clear the man could not survive. The soldiers surrounded the spot and halted their march.

At that time, Xiang Chong and Li Gun sent urgent reports to Song Jiang. Song Jiang was greatly alarmed upon hearing the news and immediately consulted with Wu Yong about what should be done. Wu Xuejiu said, "The provincial officials already bear no fondness for us. Now that this incident has occurred, it has played right into their hands. We must first execute the soldier in question as a warning, then send a report to the provincial office and hold our troops ready to accept punishment. Swiftly send Dai Zong and Yan Qing into the city in secret to inform Grand Marshal Su in full detail. Ask him to present our case to the emperor in advance and explain the circumstances, so that the provincial officials cannot bring false charges against us—only then can we be assured of safety."

Having settled upon this plan, Song Jiang rode in person to the Chenqiao Post Station. The soldier stood motionless beside the dead body. Song Jiang had wine and meat brought out from the post station to reward the troops and ordered them all forward. Then he summoned the soldier into the post station and questioned him on the matter. The soldier replied, "He called us 'bandits of Liangshan Marsh' a thousand times over and ten thousand times over, cursing us as men who could never be slaughtered enough. In a fit of rage, I killed him. I await only the general's punishment." Song Jiang said, "He was an appointed official of the court, and even I stand in awe of such men. How could you simply kill him? This will bring trouble upon all of us! We have only recently received the imperial commission to campaign against the Great Liao, and we have not yet achieved a single deed of merit—yet we have done something like this. What are we to do?" The soldier kowtowed and offered his life. Song Jiang wept, saying, "Ever since I came to Liangshan Marsh, not one of my brothers, great or small, has ever come to harm. Now that I have entered official custody, I cannot take a single step of my own choosing. Though your fierce spirit has not yet been tamed and you cannot abandon your former temperament—" The soldier said, "This humble one only awaits death." Song Jiang ordered the soldier to drink his fill until drunk, then had him hanged from a tree. His head was cut off and displayed as a warning. The body of the official was placed in a coffin with proper fittings, and documents were prepared and submitted to the provincial office. Let us speak no more of this.

Now, Dai Zong and Yan Qing secretly entered the city and went directly to Grand Marshal Su's residence, where they explained the full truth of the matter. That evening, Grand Marshal Su entered the palace and reported these events to the emperor. The next day, the emperor held court at the Hall of Literary Virtue. An official from the provincial office stepped forward from the ranks and reported, "A soldier under the newly surrendered general Song Jiang has killed an official sent by the provincial office to oversee the distribution of wine and meat. We humbly petition Your Majesty for an arrest and investigation." The emperor said, "It was I who entrusted this matter to your provincial office, and it falls under your jurisdiction. Yet you appointed an unsuitable person, which led to this incident. The imperial wine and meat were distributed in a miserly fashion—the soldiers received only names but no substance, and this is the result." The provincial officials further argued, "Who would dare to diminish the imperial wine and provisions?" At this point the imperial wrath erupted, and the emperor thundered, "I have already sent men to investigate secretly, and I know the full details. Yet you still try to use clever words and fair appearances to deceive me! My imperial gift of wine—one bottle was cut in half. The gift of meat—one catty amounted to only ten taels. This enraged the brave soldier, and blood was shed before our eyes!" The emperor demanded, "Where is the principal offender?" The provincial officials reported, "Song Jiang has already executed the principal offender and displayed his head before the troops. He has submitted a report to our office and is holding his troops ready to accept punishment." The emperor said, "Since he has already executed the offending soldier, Song Jiang's crime of lax discipline shall be recorded for now. When he returns from the Liao campaign, we shall deal with it according to his merit." The provincial officials retired in silence. The emperor then issued an edict, dispatching an official to hasten Song Jiang's departure, and ordered that the executed soldier's head be displayed at the Chenqiao Post Station.

Now, Song Jiang was at the Chenqiao Post Station holding his troops ready to accept punishment when an imperial envoy arrived, ordering Song Jiang and his men to advance against the Liao, and commanding that the offending soldier's head be displayed as a warning. Song Jiang expressed his gratitude for the imperial favor, then had the soldier's head hung at the Post Station as a warning. The body was buried. Song Jiang wept bitterly, then wiped away his tears, mounted his horse, and led his troops northward. Each day the army marched sixty *li* before making camp. The prefectures and counties they passed through were left entirely unharmed. Nothing further worthy of note occurred along the way.

As they approached the border of Liao territory, Song Jiang consulted with the Military Advisor Wu Yong, saying, "The Liao forces are attacking on four fronts. Should we divide our forces to campaign against them, or should we simply attack their cities?" Wu Yong said, "If we divide our forces, given the vast territory and sparse population, the vanguard and rear will be unable to support each other. It would be better to attack several of their cities first and then decide our next move. If we press them hard enough, they will naturally withdraw their troops." Song Jiang said, "This plan of the Military Advisor is most excellent!" He then summoned Duan Jingzhu and instructed him, "You know the northern route well. You may lead the army forward. What prefectures and counties are nearest?" Duan Jingzhu reported, "Ahead is Tan Prefecture, a critical pass of the Liao Kingdom. There is a waterway with the deepest network of inlets and channels, called the Lu River, which surrounds the city on all sides. This Lu River connects directly to the Wei River. We must use warships for the advance. It would be best to first hasten the naval commanders and their ships to arrive, then advance by both land and water, with boats and cavalry linked together—thus we can take Tan Prefecture." Having heard this, Song Jiang sent Dai Zong to urge the naval commanders such as Li Jun to hasten with their ships day and night to rendezvous at the Lu River.

Now, Song Jiang mustered his troops and naval vessels, set a date for the rendezvous, and advanced by both land and water toward Tan Prefecture. As for Tan Prefecture, the Khitan officials guarding the city were four fierce generals under the Liao Kingdom's Minister Dongxian: one named Alichi, one named Yao'er Weikang, one named Chu Mingyu, and one named Cao Mingji. All four of these warriors possessed the courage of ten thousand men. Upon learning that the Song court had sent Song Jiang with his entire company, they sent a memorial to the Khan, notified the neighboring prefectures of Ji, Ba, Zhu, and Xiong to send reinforcements, and mobilized troops to meet the enemy outside the city. They dispatched Alichi and Chu Mingyu to lead the troops into battle.

Let me tell of Guan Sheng, known as "The Great-Blade," who led the vanguard forward and brought his army to assault Miyun County, which fell under Tanzhou's jurisdiction. When the county magistrate learned of this, he sent a swift report to two Khitan generals, saying: "The Song army has raised its banners in great force — it is that band of Liangshan Marsh who have recently accepted amnesty under Song Jiang." Upon hearing this, Aliqi laughed and said: "If it is that band of outlaws, what cause is there there to fear?" He gave orders for the Khitan soldiers to make their preparations complete, and on the following day they would march out from Miyun County to engage Song Jiang in battle.

The next day, Song Jiang received word that the Liao forces had drawn near. He immediately issued orders to his officers: when engaging the enemy, they must read the flow of battle and not lose coordination or fall out of formation. The generals received their orders and donned their armor and mounted their horses. Both Song Jiang and Lu Junyi, clad in full military attire, personally supervised the battle from the front lines. In the distance they saw the Liao forces sweeping across the earth, dark and dense, blotting out the sky and sun, all bearing black eagle banners. Both sides loosed their crossbows and arrows to hold their battle lines. Then, as the black banners parted at the center of the opposing formation, there emerged a Khitan general, riding a Tartar horse that pranced and kicked with graceful power. When Song Jiang observed this Khitan general, how was he attired? Behold:

On his head he wore a three-pronged golden-purple crown, with two pheasant tail feathers bound within the crown's mouth.

About his body he wore a white silk robe lined with armor, embroidered on the back with three phoenixes.

Over his shoulders he wore interlocking wrought-iron armor, bound at the waist with a jeweled lion-belt.

On his feet he wore a pair of cloud-rooted eagle-claw boots, and hanging from his neck was a gold-threaded neck-protector.

At his side he carried a magpie-pattern iron-bow, and suspended from him was a quiver of carved-fletching barbed arrows.

In his hand he held a pear-blossom-tipped steel lance, and he rode a silver-maned flecked-flower horse.

Upon the Khitan general's banner was written clearly: "Great Liao Supreme General Aliqi." Song Jiang looked at him and said to his generals: "This enemy general must not be taken lightly!" Before he had finished speaking, the Golden-Lance Hand Xu Ning rode out to battle. He leveled his hooked lance, spurred his horse, and advanced straight to the front of the formation. When the Khitan general Aliqi saw him, he cursed loudly: "The Song court is finished, appointing outlaws as generals! You dare to invade our great nation — do you not know death?" Xu Ning shouted back: "Insignificant little general of a disgraceful kingdom, how dare you spew such filth!" Both armies roared their battle cries. Xu Ning and Aliqi charged to the center of the field to engage, the two horses meeting as their weapons clashed. The two generals fought for more than thirty exchanges, but Xu Ning could not withstand the Khitan general and turned to flee toward his own lines. Hua Rong quickly readied his bow and arrows. Just as the hot pursuit was underway, Zhang Qing, who had already settled himself in his saddle, reached into his brocade pouch and took out a stone. Watching the enemy general draw near, he hurled the stone straight at Aliqi's face — it struck him squarely in the left eye, and Aliqi turned a somersault and fell from his horse. At this point Hua Rong, Lin Chong, Qin Ming, and Suo Chao charged forth together, first seizing that fine horse, and then took Aliqi alive and carried him back to their formation. When the deputy general Chu Mingyu saw that Aliqi had fallen, he rushed forward to rescue him, but Song Jiang's great army fell upon him from front and rear. Chu Mingyu abandoned Miyun County and fled in great defeat toward Tanzhou. Song Jiang did not pursue; he encamped his army at Miyun County. When they examined the Khitan general Aliqi, his brow was shattered, one eye destroyed, and he died from his wounds. Song Jiang gave orders that the Khitan officer's remains be burned. On the record of merit, Zhang Qing was inscribed as having rendered the first and greatest service. Aliqi's interlocking wrought-iron armor, his pear-blossom-tipped white steel lance, his jeweled lion-belt, his silver-maned flecked-flower horse, along with his boots, robe, bow, and arrows — all were bestowed upon Zhang Qing. That day, at Miyun County, all offered congratulations and held a feast of drinking. No more of this.

The following day, Song Jiang ascended his command tent and issued orders to break camp. They departed from Miyun County and advanced directly upon Tanzhou. Now, the Vice Censor-in-Chief of Tanzhou, upon receiving word that one of his principal generals had fallen, firmly closed the city gates and would not come out to meet the enemy. He then received further reports that Song Jiang's warships were anchored beneath the city walls, so he led his Khitan generals up to the city wall to observe. They saw fierce generals in Song Jiang's formation waving their flags and shouting their battle cries, displaying their martial prowess and readiness to fight. The Vice Censor-in-Chief observed and said: "With such a force, how could our young general Aliqi not have been defeated?" At this, the deputy general Chu Mingyu responded: "Did the young general lose to them? The barbarian soldiers had already been beaten. Our young general charged after them, when a barbarian dressed in green among them struck him from his horse with a single stone. Four barbarians from that group, with four lances, then converged upon him. On our side we were caught off guard, and so we lost to them." The Vice Censor-in-Chief said: "What does this stone-throwing barbarian look like?" Among his attendants, those who recognized him pointed and said: "Down there, the one wearing a blue head-cloth, now wearing the young general's armor and riding the young general's horse — that is the one." The Vice Censor-in-Chief leaned over the parapet to look, when Zhang Qing had already spotted him first. Zhang Qing spurred his horse forward and sent a single stone flying. The attendants all cried out at once to take cover, but the stone had already grazed past the Vice Censor-in-Chief's ear, scraping off a patch of skin from his earlobe. The Vice Censor-in-Chief, nursing his wound, said: "This barbarian is truly formidable!" He descended from the wall and, on the one hand, wrote a memorial to present to the Great Liao Emperor, and on the other, sent word to all outlying prefectures to prepare their defenses.

Meanwhile, Song Jiang led his troops beneath the city walls. For three to five days in a row they attacked, but could not gain victory. He then led his army back to encamp at Miyun County. Seated in his tent, he deliberated on strategies for taking the city. Just then Dai Zong came to report that the naval commanders had arrived with their warships on the Lu River. Song Jiang ordered Li Jun and the others to come to the conference, and they all came to pay their respects before Song Jiang's tent. Song Jiang said, "This battle is not like the times at Liangshan Marsh. You must first scout the depth of the water before advancing. I observe that the Lu River has a very swift current. If there is a single misstep, it will be difficult to mount a rescue. You must all be careful and not be overconceited. Cover the boats well so they resemble grain transport vessels. Each of you commanders shall carry concealed weapons and hide inside the boats. Only let three or five men pole and scull, with two men pulling from the shore. Step by step, inch close to the city, then moor the boats on both banks. Wait here for my forces to advance. When the city learns of this, they will certainly open the water gates to seize the grain boats. Your hidden troops will then rise and capture the water gates—this can be a great achievement." Li Jun and the others received their orders and departed.

Then a scout sent to survey the waters reported: "To the northwest a body of cavalry is sweeping in with flying dust, all flying dark eagle banners, roughly ten thousand strong, heading toward Tanzhou." Wu Yong said: "This must be Liao reinforcements dispatched by their court. We should first send several generals to intercept and engage them. Once they are scattered, the city will not be emboldened by their arrival." Song Jiang then dispatched Zhang Qing, Dong Ping, Guan Sheng, and Lin Chong, each leading a dozen minor commanders and five thousand troops, to rush forward.

It turned out that the Liao lord had learned that this band of heroes from Liangshan Marsh under Song Jiang had led troops in an assault as far as Tanzhou and besieged the city. He had specially dispatched these two imperial nephews to come to its aid. One was called Yelü Guozhen, the other Guobao. Both were top generals of the Liao and imperial nephews, each possessing the courage to withstand ten thousand men. They led ten thousand barbarian troops to relieve Tanzhou. As they drew near, they met the Song forces. Both sides drew up their formations, and the two barbarian generals rode out together. Behold:

They wore three-pronged purple-gold crowns inlaid with gold and jewels, and donned chainmail of golden links bordered with brocade and set with pearls. Their battle robes were crimson as if dyed in orangutan blood, embroidered all over with golden-winged eagles. White jade belts girded their waists, and tiger-head plaques hung from their backs. On their left, quivers of carved bows; on their right, hard arrows packed in their quivers. In their hands were twelve-foot green-steel lances; beneath them they rode nine-foot horses with silver manes.

The barbarian generals were two brothers, dressed identically and wielding identical lances. The Song forces met them and drew out their formations. "The Twin-Lance General" Dong Ping rode forward and shouted in a stern voice: "From whence do you barbarian bandits come?" Yelü Guozhen was enraged and roared: "Puddle-dwelling grass brigands, you dare invade our great nation—and you ask where we are from?" Dong Ping asked no further. He spurred his horse and leveled his lance, charging straight at Yelü Guozhen. That young barbarian general, his temper fierce and hot, would not yield an inch. He raised his steel lance and rode straight to meet him. The two horses crossed, and three lances rose in wild flurry. The two generals were amid the shadows of war-dust and within the thickets of killing breath. The one wielding twin lances had his own lance method; the one wielding a single lance each employed their divine skill. After fighting more than fifty bouts, neither had prevailed. Yelü Guobao, seeing his elder brother had fought for some time and fearing he might tire, beat the retreat gong from the center of the army. Yelü Guozhen was at the height of his battle-fury when he heard the gong and urgently tried to disengage, but Dong Ping entangled him with his twin lances and would not let him go. Yelü Guozhen, now flustered, let his lance technique slow. Dong Ping forced aside the green-steel lance with his right hand, raised his left lance, and with a single thrust struck the barbarian general squarely at the base of the neck. Pitiable Yelü Guozhen—his golden crown toppled upside down, both feet kicked at the air, and he fell from his horse. His brother Yelü Guobao, seeing his elder brother unhorsed, charged out of the formation, one horse, one lance, racing to the rescue. On the Song battle line, "The Arrowless Arrow" Zhang Qing, seeing him approach, would by no means let this chance slip. He reined his pear-wood lance on horseback, reached one hand into his brocade bag, and pinched out a stone. He slapped his horse and flew out to the front of the formation. Yelü Guobao came flying toward him. The two cavalry mounts were no more than ten *zhang* apart. The barbarian general, taking no precautions, thought only that Zhang Qing had come to do battle. He saw only Zhang Qing's hand rise, and a voice cried: "Take this!" The stone struck Yelü Guobao squarely on the face, and he turned a somersault off his horse. Guan Sheng and Lin Chong led a charge to overrun the enemy. The Liao troops, bereft of their commanders, scattered east and west in disorder. In a single engagement they shattered over ten thousand Liao cavalry, took both barbarian generals' full sets of saddle and horse, two gold plaques, gathered their precious crowns and armor, cut off both their heads, captured over a thousand horses on the spot, and brought them all to Miyun County to present to Song Jiang. Song Jiang was overjoyed. He rewarded the three armies and recorded Zhang Qing and Dong Ping's second merit. Once Tanzhou was broken, a joint memorial would be submitted.

Song Jiang conferred with Wu Yong. That evening he wrote military orders, dispatching Lin Chong and Guan Sheng to lead a body of troops from the northwest to take Tanzhou. He further dispatched Huyan Zhuo and Dong Ping to lead a body of troops advancing from the northeast. He ordered Lu Junyi to lead a body of troops by the road from the southwest. "We in the central army shall advance from the southeast road. On hearing the cannon fire, all shall advance together." He also dispatched the artillerist Lingzhen, along with Li Kui, Fan Rui, Bao Xu, and the shield bearers Xiang Chong and Li Gun, leading over a thousand troops with rolling shields straight to the city walls to fire the signal cannon. The second watch of night was set as the hour, with land and water forces advancing together. The armies on all routes were to coordinate in battle. The orders were given, and each army prepared to take the city.

Let me tell of Dongxian Shilang, who was holding firm in Tanzhou, waiting for the arrival of reinforcements. Then came the remnant troops of the emperor's nephews, fleeing for their lives into the city. They reported in detail that the two imperial nephew princes—Yelü Guozhen had been slain by a man wielding twin spears, and Yelü Guobao had been struck from his horse by a man wearing a blue headband who used stones, and taken captive. Dongxian Shilang stamped his feet and cursed: "It's those savages again! Not only have we lost two imperial nephew princes—what face do I have left to see our lord? When we capture that savage in the blue headband, I'll cut him to pieces!" By evening, a Liao soldier reported to Dongxian Shilang: "On the Lu River, five or seven hundred grain boats are moored along both banks. In the distance, more troops are approaching!" Dongxian Shilang listened and said: "Those savages don't know our waterways—they've foolishly sailed their grain boats straight here. The men and horses on the shore must have come looking for the grain boats." He then dispatched three Liao generals—Chu Mingyu, Cao Mingji, and Yao'er Weikang—and gave them orders, saying: "Those savages under Song Jiang have again sent many men and horses tonight, and yet here are their grain boats right in our river. Have Yao'er Weikang lead a thousand men out of the city to attack, and have Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingji open the water gates and send boats out through the swift current. If you can capture two out of every three of their grain boats, you will have accomplished a great deed!" What the outcome was, we cannot say. There is a testifying poem:

Clever schemes have always been far from the same—

Below Tanzhou's walls, warships were arrayed in train.

The minister failed to grasp the art of war's intent,

And opened wide his gates, giving free passage again.

Now to tell of Song Jiang's forces. That evening, at dusk's first approach, with Li Kui and Fan Rui in the lead, the foot soldiers raged beneath the city walls with insults. Dongxian Shilang ordered Yao'er Weikang to hasten the troops out of the city to charge and fight. The city gates opened, the drawbridge was lowered, and the Liao soldiers poured out. But Li Kui, Fan Rui, Bao Xu, Xiang Cong, and Li Gun—five stout warriors leading a thousand foot soldiers, all fierce and brave shield-and-sword men—blocked the way at the drawbridge, so the Liao troops could not emerge from the city. Ling Zhen, meanwhile, set up the artillery frames in the army, preparing to fire the cannons, waiting only for the right moment. Though arrows rained from the city walls, the shield men on either side deflected them, while Bao Xu roared from the rear. Though they were only a thousand men, they made the impression of ten thousand. Dongxian Shilang, seeing from within the city that his troops could not break out, urgently ordered Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingji to open the water gates and seize the boats. By now, the Song Jiang naval commanders had long been hidden in their boats, ready and waiting, not yet stirring. When they saw the water gates opening, they raised the sluice gates section by section and sent out their warships. Ling Zhen, having received the signal, first ignited a wind-and-fire cannon. At the sound of the cannon, warships from both sides surged forth to engage, confronting the Liao boats. From the left burst forth Li Jun, Zhang Heng, and Zhang Shun; from the right burst forth the three Ruan brothers. All piloting warships, they charged into the Liao flotilla. The Liao generals Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingji, seeing the warships surging forward, could not hold them off. Realizing there must be hidden troops lying in wait, they tried to turn their boats around, but the Song sailors had already leaped aboard their vessels. The Liao men could only flee ashore. The six Song naval commanders seized the water gates first. The Liao guards at the gates were either killed or fled. Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingji each escaped for their lives. A fire had been set beforehand atop the water gate. Ling Zhen then fired a box cannon. The shot soared into the sky with a deafening blast. Dongxian Shilang, hearing the ceaseless roar of cannons, was frightened out of his wits. Li Kui, Fan Rui, and Bao Xu, leading the shield men Xiang Cong, Li Gun, and the rest, charged straight into the city. Dongxian Shilang and Yao'er Weikang, from within the city, saw that the gates had already been seized, and Song soldiers were closing in from all four directions. They had no choice but to mount their horses, abandon the city, and flee through the north gate. Before they had gone two li, they ran straight into "Great Blade" Guan Sheng and "Leopard Head" Lin Chong blocking their path.

A heaven-spanning net spread tight—hard to move a step;

An earth-encompassing snare drawn high—how could one escape?

How Dongxian Shilang managed to escape with his life—listen to the next chapter for the explanation.