Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Here is the translation:

---

Dongxian Shilang, seeing that Tanzhou had already fallen, had no choice but to flee the city, escorted by Erwei Kang as they pushed forward. They ran straight into Lin Chong and Guan Sheng, who launched a fierce attack. How could they have any heart to fight? They broke through at a diagonal, fighting desperately for their lives. Guan Sheng and Lin Chong, wanting to seize the city, did not pursue them but instead rushed into the city.

Meanwhile, Song Jiang led his main army into Tanzhou, scattering the foreign troops. On one hand, he posted notices to reassure the people and soldiers, permitting not the slightest offense against them. He issued orders to bring all the warships into the city. On the other hand, he rewarded the three armies and the Liao officials who had been in the city—those with surnames were reinstated to their former posts, while the nameless foreign officials were all sent out of the city back to the desert. He also wrote a memorial to the court reporting the capture of Tanzhou. All the gold, silk, and treasures from the treasury were forwarded to the capital. A letter was written to Grand Marshal Su reporting on this matter. The Son of Heaven, upon receiving the memorial, was greatly pleased. He immediately issued an imperial edict, dispatching Zhao Anfu, the Vice Prefect of Tokyo Prefecture, to lead twenty thousand imperial army troops as supervisor of the campaign.

When Song Jiang and the others heard the report, they led their generals out of the city to welcome him from afar, then entered Tanzhou prefecture and settled there, making it their provisional headquarters. All the generals and officers came to pay their respects, and the rites were completed. Now this Zhao Anfu was a descendant of the Zhao family lineage—a man of broad benevolence and deep virtue, upright and proper in all his dealings. He had been recommended by Grand Marshal Su before the emperor and specially dispatched to supervise the military forces. When Zhao Anfu saw Song Jiang's benevolence and virtue, he was greatly pleased and said: "His Majesty already knows that you generals have been dedicated and that your soldiers have labored hard. He has specially sent this official to supervise the army in the field and has brought twenty-five carts of rewards—gold, silver, and silk. For any extraordinary achievements, I shall report to the court and request official titles. Now that you, General, have already captured the prefecture and commanderies, I shall further report this to the court. All you generals must exert your loyalty and utmost effort, achieve great merit early, and return with the army to the capital. The Son of Heaven will certainly employ you with great honor." Song Jiang and the others bowed and thanked him: "We ask the Lord Anfu to garrison Tanzhou. We, the lesser generals, will divide our forces to attack the key prefectures and commanderies of the Liao, so that they cannot support each other front and rear." On one hand, he distributed the rewards among the officers and soldiers. On one hand, he ordered the various armies to return and await orders to attack the Liao prefectures and commanderies. Yang Xiong reported: "Ahead is Jizhou, nearby. This is a large prefecture with vast wealth and grain, abundant with rice and wheat—it is the Liao's treasury. Once Jizhou is taken, all other places can be captured." After hearing this, Song Jiang invited the Military Adviser Wu Yong to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, Dongxian Shilang and Erwei Kang were heading east when they encountered Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingji leading some defeated troops, all fleeing together toward Jizhou. They entered the city and met the Imperial Younger Brother, the Great Prince Yelü Dezhong, and recounted: "Song Jiang's soldiers and generals are vast in number. Among them there is a barbarian who throws stones—most formidable indeed. His stones hit their target every single time, never missing, and he is supremely skilled at striking people. Both imperial nephews and the young general Aliqi were all killed by his stones." The Great Prince said: "Since it is so, stay here and help me kill that barbarian." Before he finished speaking, a scout on horseback came rushing in to report: "Song Jiang's army is advancing on Jizhou in two columns—one is attacking Pingyu County, the other is attacking Yutian County." Upon hearing this, the Great Prince immediately ordered Dongxian Shilang: "Take your own troops and hold the mouth of Pingyu County. Do not engage them in battle. I will first lead my forces and capture the barbarians at Yutian County, then come around from behind. Where will the barbarians from Pingyu County escape to? Meanwhile, report to Baozhou and Youzhou and have troops from both routes come as reinforcements." Now this Jizhou was garrisoned by the Liao ruler's younger brother, Yelü Dezhong, who commanded four sons: the eldest, Zongyun; the second, Zongdian; the third, Zonglei; and the fourth, Zonglin. Under him were more than ten generals, a chief commander named Baomisheng, and a deputy commander named Tianshan Yong, guarding the city of Jizhou. At that time, the Great Prince instructed Baomisheng to defend the city while he personally led the great army, taking his four sons and Deputy Commander Tianshan Yong, and flew toward Yutian County.

Meanwhile, Song Jiang led his army forward to Pingyu County. Seeing the pass ahead blocked, he dared not advance and instead camped to the west of Pingyu County. Lu Junyi, however, led many generals and thirty thousand troops forward to Yutian County, where they soon drew near to the Liao forces. Lu Junyi then consulted with the Military Adviser Zhu Wu: "Now that we are near the Liao forces, the problem is that our men do not know their territory—we are unfamiliar with their geography. What strategy can we use?" Zhu Wu replied: "In my humble opinion, since we do not know their geography, the various units must not advance rashly. We should deploy our forces in a long snake formation, with the head and tail supporting each other, cycling endlessly. In this way, we need not worry about being unfamiliar with the terrain." The Vanguard Commander Lu said: "The Military Adviser's words are exactly in accord with my own thinking." He then urged his troops to advance. In the distance, they saw the Liao forces covering the earth as they approached. What they beheld was this:

Yellow sand stretching endlessly, black fog swirling thickly.

Black eagle banners unfurled like masses of dark clouds; flanking cavalry sweeping the sky with killing force.

Blue felt hats, like a thousand lotus leaves dancing in a gentle breeze;

Iron helmets, like a vast frozen sea beneath the wintry sun.

Every man's garment fastened on the left; every man's hair hanging to the shoulders.

Linked chain armor worn in layers, embroidered battle robes tightly bound.

The foreign soldiers were robust—dark-skinned, with blue eyes and yellow beards;

The war horses were fierce—broad-shouldered, with steel waists and iron feet.

Horn bows with sand willow arrows; tiger-skin saddles beneath narrow carved saddles.

Born in the borderlands, they grew up drawing strong hailing bows;

Native to the northern wastes, they were raised to ride the fiercest of steeds.

Bronze drums beaten before the front lines; reed pipes played from horseback.

The Imperial Brother Prince Yelü Dezhong, having led his troops to Yutian County first, drew up his army in battle formation. From the Song army side, Zhu Wu ascended a cloud ladder to observe, then came down to report to Vanguard Commander Lu: "The barbarians have deployed what is called the 'Five Tigers Mountain-leaning Formation'—nothing remarkable." Zhu Wu then mounted the command platform again, waved the signal flags, and directed the troops to wheel left and right, marshaling the entire army into a formation of their own. Lu Junyi looked on but could not identify it, and asked, "What formation is this?" Zhu Wu replied, "This is the 'Kun Transforming into Peng Formation.'" Lu Junyi asked, "What is the 'Kun Transforming into Peng'?" Zhu Wu said: "In the Northern Sea there is a fish called the Kun, which can transform into a great Peng bird and fly ninety thousand li in a single flight. This formation, whether viewed from afar or up close, appears to be a small formation, but when the enemy attacks, it transforms into a great formation. That is why it is called 'Kun Transforming into Peng.'" Lu Junyi listened and praised it without end.

On the opposing side, the enemy drums sounded, and where the gate banners parted, the Imperial Brother Prince himself rode forth in person, his four sons positioned to his left and right, all clad in identical armor and regalia. Observe:

On their heads, barbarian helmets with iron visors to deflect arrows, topped with pure black knobbed tassels.

On their bodies, fine armor of willow-leaf scales with polished round mirrors, bound with lion-patterned golden belts.

Their boots, with stirrups curved like half-mooned hawk beaks; their embroidered robes with coiling dragons in brocade.

Each carried strong bows and hard crossbows, each rode a fine steed with carved saddle.

At their waists, they all wore Kunwu swords; in their hands, they all bore sweeping-blade sabers.

In the center was the Imperial Brother Prince, with four young generals on either side. On both shoulders of each hung small bright mirrors, with black tassels set into the mirror frames. Four precious swords, four swift horses—all drawn up in formation before the army. Behind the Imperial Brother Prince, ranks upon ranks were arrayed, with many warlords among them. The four young generals shouted loudly: "You bandit weeds, how dare you violate our borders!" Lu Junyi, upon hearing this, asked: "With two armies facing each other, which hero shall go forth first to do battle?" Before he had finished speaking, "Great Blade" Guan Sheng was already brandishing his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and riding out ahead of all. On the other side, the Khitan general耶律宗Yun spurred his horse and waved his sword to meet Guan Sheng. The two had fought no more than five exchanges when耶律宗Lin rode out with sword in hand to join the fray. Huyan Zhuo saw this and raised his twin riding whips, charging straight out to engage him in combat. Then the brothers耶律宗Dian and耶律宗Lei, sabers in hand, vaulted onto their horses and rode out together to join the battle. Here Xu Ning and Suo Chao each raised their weapons to meet them. Four pairs clashed before the formation, tangled into a knot, locked into a single mass.

While the battle raged, "Arrowless" Zhang Qing saw his chance and quietly urged his horse forward toward the front. But among the defeated remnants from Tanzhou, there were soldiers who recognized Zhang Qing and hastily reported to the Imperial Brother Prince: "That southern rogue in the green battle robe across the formation is the one who is skilled at hurling stones. He is riding out now—he means to use his old trick again." Tianshan Yong heard this and said: "Let my prince rest assured. I will make this rogue taste one of my crossbow bolts!" Now this Tianshan Yong was skilled on horseback with a black-painted crossbow, firing iron-fletched arrows a foot long, known by the name "Single Drop of Oil." Tianshan Yong on his horse fastened his equipment ring, rode out from the formation, and had two subordinate generals screen him from the front. The three horses advanced quietly all the way to the front. Zhang Qing spotted them first, secretly took stones in hand, aimed at the lead barbarian officer, and with a single stone cried: "Take this!" It glanced off the top of his helmet. But Tianshan Yong had slipped behind his companion's horse, set his arrow steady, drew his bowstring true, gauged Zhang Qing at close range, and shot straight at him. Zhang Qing cried out "Aiya!" and tried to dodge, but the arrow struck his throat and he toppled from his horse. "Double-Spear General" Dong Ping and "Nine-Dragon" Shi Jin led Xie Zhen and Xie Bao in a desperate charge to rescue him. Vanguard Commander Lu saw this and urgently ordered the arrow removed, but the blood flowed without stopping, and a bandage was bound around his neck. He then ordered Zou Yuan and Zou Run to help Zhang Qing onto a cart and escort him back to Tanzhou, to be treated by "Divine Physician" An Daoquan.

The cart had only just departed when a cry rose again from the front, and a report came: "From the northwest, a column of cavalry is charging at full speed—they speak no words, but crash straight into the formation, cutting across and smashing through." Seeing that Zhang Qing had been struck by an arrow, Lu Junyi had no heart left for battle. The four generals each feigned defeat and withdrew. The four barbarian generals pressed forward in pursuit; the barbarian troops from the northwest slashed in from the flank; the main barbarian force across the formation surged forward like a mountain collapsing. Where was the formation now? The armies of the three forces were scattered in seven breaks and eight gaps—they could not rescue one another. Only Lu Junyi remained, a single horse and a single spear, fighting his way over to the far side. As evening fell, the four young generals happened to return and met Lu Junyi head-on. One horse, one spear against four barbarian generals—and he showed not the slightest fear. They fought for roughly two hours. At an opportune moment, Lu Junyi deliberately exposed an opening.耶律宗Lin swung his sword in, but Lu Junyi gave a great shout. The barbarian general was caught off guard, and with one thrust of the spear, Lu Junyi drove him from his horse. The three remaining young generals each started in fear, their faces showing dread. They had no heart for further battle and rode off. Lu Junyi dismounted, drew his sword, and cut off the head of耶律宗Lin, tying it beneath his horse's neck. He mounted again and rode south, where he encountered a group of Liao soldiers, roughly a thousand strong. Lu Junyi crashed into their midst and the Liao soldiers scattered in all directions. He had ridden no more a few li when he encountered another body of cavalry.

The night was moonless and dark, and no friend or foe could be distinguished. Only from the voices could they tell that these were men of the Song. Lu Junyi asked, "Who is the army that comes?" It was Huyan Zhuo who answered. Lu Junyi was overjoyed, and the two forces joined. Huyan Zhuo said, "We were scattered by the Liao troops and could not come to your aid. I broke through the enemy lines and fought my way here with Han Tao and Peng Qi. I do not know how the other generals fared." Lu Junyi replied, "I fought four of their generals at close quarters and killed one; the other three fled. Then I encountered over a thousand men, and I scattered them as well. I came here and did not expect to meet you, General." The two rode together, with their men following, heading south. Before they had gone more than ten li, an army blocked the road ahead. Huyan Zhuo said, "How can we fight in the dark? We will wait for daylight and fight to the death!" From the opposing lines came a voice: "Is it General Huyan Zhuo who comes?" Huyan Zhuo recognized the voice as that of Guan Sheng, "the Great Blade," and called out, "Leader Lu is here!" All the leaders dismounted and sat down upon the grass. Lu Junyi and Huyan Zhuo recounted what had befallen them. Guan Sheng said, "We were defeated on the battlefield and could not come to each other's aid. I, along with Xuan Zan, Hao Siwen, Shan Tinggui, and Wei Dingguo, five horsemen, found a way through and then gathered over a thousand soldiers. We came here. Not knowing the terrain, we have been lying in wait along the road, meaning to move at daybreak. I did not expect to encounter you, brother." The forces were joined as one.

The company endured until dawn and then continued southward, winding along the road. They were approaching Yutian County when they saw a band of men scouting the way. Upon looking more closely, it was Dong Ping, the Twin-Spear General, and Xu Ning, the Golden-Spear Hand, with their men, all encamped within Yutian County. The Liao soldiers had been completely routed and driven off. They said, "Hou Jian and Bai Sheng have gone to report to Song Gongming, but we have not seen Jie Zhen, Jie Bao, Yang Lin, and Shi Yong." Lu Junyi ordered the army to advance into the district of Yutian County and mustered the generals and officers. Over five thousand men were missing. His heart was heavy. Around the hour of the snake (9–11 a.m.), a report came: "Jie Zhen, Jie Bao, Yang Lin, and Shi Yong have arrived with over two thousand men." Lu Junyi summoned them and asked what had happened. Jie Zhen said, "The four of us fought our way through! We had penetrated deep into enemy territory and lost our way, and in our haste we dared not turn back. This morning we encountered the Liao troops again and fought a great battle before we could reach here." Lu Junyi ordered the head of Yelu Zolin to be displayed as a warning in Yutian County, and he comforted the soldiers and the common people.

Before nightfall, the soldiers were just settling down to rest when a scout on watch came to report: "The Liao army—no one knows how many—has surrounded the county on all four sides." Lu Junyan was greatly alarmed. He took Yan Qing and ascended the wall to look. Far and near, the torches were ten li deep. A young general rode at the front, directing the troops—it was Yelu Zongyun, mounted on a poor horse, urging on the three armies amid the sea of torches. Yan Qing said, "Yesterday Zhang Qing took a cold arrow from him; today I shall return the courtesy!" Yan Qing took out his crossbow, loosed a bolt, and it struck the foreign general squarely on the bridge of the nose. The general fell from his horse. His men rushed to his aid, but Zongyun had already lost consciousness from his wound. The foreign troops withdrew five li.

Lu Junyi discussed the situation with his generals in the county: "Although we have fired this cold arrow and the Liao troops have fallen back slightly, when daybreak comes they will surely attack. They surround us like an iron bucket. How can we break free?" Zhu Wu said, "If Song Gongming learns of this, he will certainly come to our aid. With an attack from within and from without, we may yet escape disaster." The company endured until daylight and saw that the Liao soldiers on all four sides were drawn up without a gap. Then from the southeast, dust rose, and an army of tens of thousands approached. All the generals looked toward the southern troops. Zhu Wu said: "This must be Song Gongming's army! Wait until he deploys his forces, then charge south together, and we will raise all our troops from here and fall upon them from behind."

Meanwhile, the opposing Liao troops had been besieging from the hour of the morning until mid-afternoon, and just as they were growing exhausted, Song Jiang's army attacked them. Unable to resist, they were completely routed and fled. Zhu Wu said, "Why not pursue them now while we have the chance?" Lu Junyi immediately gave orders to open all four gates of the county and led his entire force out in pursuit. The Liao troops suffered a great defeat—scattered like stars and clouds, cut to pieces, fleeing in all directions. Song Jiang pursued the Liao soldiers far off, and at dayfall sounded the gong to recall the army and entered Yutian County. Commander Lu gathered his forces together and discussed the attack on Ji Prefecture. He left Chai Jin, Li Ying, Li Jun, Zhang Heng, Zhang Shun, the three Ruan brothers, Wang矮虎 (Wang Aihu), 一丈青 (Yizhangqing), Sun Xin, Gu Dasaoshu, Zhang Qing, Sun Eryang, Pei Xuan, Xiao Rang, Song Qing, Le He, An Daoquan, Huangfu Duan, Tong Wei, Tong Meng, and Wang Dingliu, all under Commander Zhao in Tanzhou for defense. The remaining generals were divided into two armies. Commander Song Jiang led the left army with forty-eight officers: Strategist Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, Lin Chong, Hua Rong, Qin Ming, Huangxin, Zhu Tong, Lei Heng, Liu Tang, Li Kui, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu, Sun Xin, Sun Li, Ou Peng, Deng Fei, Lü Fang, Guo Sheng, Fan Rui, Bao Xu, Xiang Chong, Li Gun, Mu Hong, Mu Chun, Kong Ming, Kong Liang, Yan Shun, Ma Lin, Shi En, Xue Yong, Song Wan, Du Qian, Zhu Gui, Zhu Fu, Ling Zhen, Tang Long, Cai Fu, Cai Qing, Dai宗 (Dai Zong), Jiang Jing, Jin Dajian, Duan Jingzhu, Shi Qian, Yu Baosi, and Meng Kang. Commander Lu Junyi led the right army with thirty-seven officers: Strategist Zhu Wu, Guan Sheng, Hu Yanzhu, Dong Ping, Zhang Qing, Suo Chao, Xu Ning, Yan Qing, Shi Jin, Jie Zhen, Jie Bao, Han Tao, Peng Qi, Xuan Zan, Hao Siwen, Shan Tinggui, Wei Dingguo, Chen Da, Yang Chun, Li Zhong, Zhou Tong, Tao Zongwang, Zheng Tianshou, Gong Wang, Ding Desun, Zou Yuan, Zou Run, Li Li, Li Yun, Jiao Ting, Shi Yong, Hou Jian, Du Xing, Cao Zheng, Yang Lin, and Bai Sheng. After the division, the two armies advanced on Ji Prefecture by separate routes. Commander Song Jiang led his force through Pingyu County, while Lu Junyi led his through Yutian County. Governor Zhao and twenty-three generals remained to guard Tanzhou—no more of them.

Now, Song Jiang saw that his soldiers had been toiling for days and ordered them to rest briefly. He had a plan for attacking Ji Prefecture. First, he sent someone to Tanzhou to inquire about Zhang Qing's arrow wound. The divine physician An Daoquan sent back word: "Though the flesh was wounded on the outside, the inside was unharmed. Let the commander rest assured. When the pus has dried, there will be no cause for concern. At present, in the heat of summer, many soldiers are ill. I have already reported to Governor Zhao and dispatched Xiao Rang and Song Qing to the Eastern Capital to purchase medicines and draw summer remedies from the Imperial Medical Office. Huangfu Duan also needs to requisition fodder and medicinal supplies for horses from the official bureau. Both tasks have been entrusted to Xiao Rang and Song Qing. I report this for the commander's knowledge." Song Jiang was pleased to hear this and consulted with Commander Lu on attacking Ji Prefecture first. Song Jiang said: "I did not know that while you were besieged in Yutian County, I had already devised a plan. Gongsun Sheng is originally from Ji Prefecture, Yang Xiong once served as a jailer there, and Shi Xiu and Shi Qian had lived there for a long time. When we repelled the Liao soldiers the other day, I instructed Shi Qian and Shi Xiu to mingle among the defeated stragglers, and they would certainly enter Ji Prefecture to stay. Once inside the city, they would have their own means. Shi Qian had proposed: 'In Ji Prefecture there is a great temple called Baoyan Temple. Beneath its corridors is a Dharma wheel treasure house; in the middle is the Mahavira Hall, and in front stands a pagoda reaching straight into the clouds.' Shi Xiu said: 'Let him hide atop the pagoda. Each day I will arrange for food to be brought to him. When our army outside attacks fiercely, he will set fire atop the Baoyan Temple pagoda as a signal.' Shi Qian, being an expert at scaling walls and walking on eaves, could hide himself anywhere. Shi Xiu would set fire to the prefectural yamen at the appointed time. The two had already agreed and set out. Meanwhile, I will prepare the advance." A *Xijiangyue* verse attests to this:

The Liao troops from beyond the mountains invaded the border;

The Song Emperor of the Central Plains raised an army.

From the water country were drawn the Heavenly Stars,

Dispatched by imperial decree to suppress evil and restore righteousness.

In secret, Shi Qian sets fires,

And Shi Xiu accompanies him.

Easily they will break Yongping City—

A deed of merit honored for a thousand years!

The next day, Song Jiang led his army, bypassing Pingyu County, and joined forces with Lu Junyi. They pressed on with their troops straight toward Ji Prefecture.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Younger Brother, grieving the loss of his two sons, consulted with his generals Baomisheng, Tian Shanxiong, and the Cave Immortal Chamberlain. "Previously, the relief forces from Zhuozhou and Bazhou went separately. Now Song Jiang has gathered his forces at Yutian County and will soon advance to attack Ji Prefecture. What shall we do?" General Baomisheng said: "If Song Jiang's army does not come, all is well. But if those savages do come, I will go out and face them myself. Unless I capture several of them alive, they will not retreat!" The Cave Immortal Chamberlain said: "Among those savages there is one in a green robe who hurls stones with deadly skill. We must be on guard against him." Tian Shanxiong said: "That savage was already struck in the throat by one of my crossbow bolts—he is likely dead!" The Cave Immortal Chamberlain said: "With that savage gone, the rest are nothing to fear." As they discussed, a soldier reported that Song Jiang's army was advancing on Ji Prefecture. The Imperial Younger Brother quickly marshaled his three armies and ordered Baomisheng and Tian Shanxiong to ride out swiftly to meet the enemy. Thirty *li* from the city, they confronted Song Jiang's forces.

Each side deployed into battle formation. The foreign commander Bao Misheng leveled his spear and rode forth from his ranks. Song Jiang, observing from the front of his own formation, called out: "To slay an enemy general and capture his banner—that is how one earns the foremost merit!" Before he had finished speaking, "Leopard-Head" Lin Chong rode out from the formation to meet the foreign general Bao Misheng in combat. The two fought for over thirty exchanges with neither gaining the upper hand. Lin Chong, determined to claim the foremost merit, gripped his eight-zhang snake-spear and, pressing deep into the fray, let out a thunder-like roar, knocked aside Bao Misheng's long spear, and thrust his snake-spear into Bao Misheng's neck, stabbing him from his horse. Song Jiang was overjoyed. Both armies raised a great shout. The foreign general Tianshan Yong, seeing that Bao Misheng had been slain, leveled his spear and rode forth. From Song Jiang's ranks, Ning Xu advanced with his hooked-spear lance to meet him directly. The two horses crossed, and before twenty exchanges had passed, Ning Xu raised his spear and thrust Tianshan Yong from his horse. Song Jiang, seeing that two generals had been defeated in succession, was elated in his heart and urged his troops into a general melee. The Liao soldiers were routed and fled toward Jizhou. Song Jiang's army pursued them for several *li* before withdrawing.

That day Song Jiang made camp and rewarded the entire army. The following day he issued orders to break camp and advance directly upon Jizhou. On the third day, the Imperial Younger Brother Grand Prince, having lost two major generals, was greatly alarmed. When he was further reported that "the Song army has arrived," he hurriedly said to Dongxian Shilang: "You must lead this force out of the city to meet the enemy and share this burden of mine!" Dongxian Shilang dared not refuse. He led Yawer Weikang, Chu Mingyu, and Cao Mingji, taking a thousand troops, and deployed them before the city walls. As Song Jiang's army drew near the city, they spread out in a goose-wing formation. Where the gate-banner parted, Suo Chao, his great axe laid across his body, rode out to the front of the formation. From the foreign ranks, Yawer Weikang charged forth. The two said not a word; the two generals crossed weapons and fought for over twenty exchanges. The foreign general, his courage at last failing, had no heart to continue the fight and sought to flee. Suo Chao gave chase on horseback, raised his great axe with both hands, and brought it down upon the foreign general's skull, splitting Yawer Weikang's head clean in two. Dongxian Shilang, seeing this, hastily called Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingyu to go quickly to the rescue. These two were already eight parts out of ten afraid, but being hard-pressed, they had no choice but to level their spears and ride forth to the front of the formation. From Song Jiang's army, "Nine-Dragon" Shi Jin, seeing two generals riding forth together from the foreign ranks, brandished his saber and spurred his horse straight at the two generals. Shi Jin displayed his heroism: his saber fell, and first Chu Mingyu was hacked from his horse. Cao Mingyu, in haste to flee, was overtaken by Shi Jin, who struck him with a single blow of his saber and likewise cut him from his horse. Shi Jin drove his horse into the Liao army's ranks. Song Jiang, seeing this, pointed with the tip of his whip and urged his soldiers forward in a great advance, fighting all the way to the drawbridge. Yelu Dezhong, witnessing this, only grew more troubled. He ordered the city gates tightly shut and commanded his officers to mount the walls and defend closely. At the same time he sent a memorial to the Emperor and dispatched men to Bazhou and Youzhou to beg for reinforcements.

Let us return to Song Jiang, who was deliberating with Wu Yong: "If the city defends itself so stubbornly, what are we to do?" Wu Yong said: "Since Shi Jin and Shi Qian are already inside the city, how can we afford to delay long? Order cloud-ladders and catapult-towers erected on all four sides and attack the city at once. Then order Ling Zhen to fire his cannons on all sides, blasting our way in. Press the attack hard and the city will surely fall." Song Jiang immediately issued orders for a night assault on all four sides.

Let us speak further of the Imperial Younger Brother Grand Prince. Seeing the Song soldiers pressing the attack fiercely on all sides, he drove all the citizens of Jizhou onto the city walls to help defend. Meanwhile, Shi Qian, who had been hiding inside the city at Baoyan Temple for many days, saw no sign of action. Then Shi Qian came and reported: "Our brothers outside are attacking the city fiercely. If we don't set fires now, when will we?" Shi Qian, having heard this, conferred with Shi Qian. They decided first to set a fire atop the pagoda, then to burn the Buddha hall. Shi Qian said: "You go quickly and set a fire inside the prefectural yamen. If flames break out at the crucial point by the South Gate, those outside will certainly press the attack with even greater force—why worry that the city won't fall!" The two having made their plans, each carried fire-starting chemicals, fire-strikers, flints, fire-tubes, and kindling on their persons. That evening, Song Jiang's army was attacking the city fiercely.

Now, Shi Qian was a man who could walk on rooftops and scale walls—leaping over walls and crossing ramparts as though walking on level ground. He first went to the top of the pagoda at Baoyan Temple and set a fire there. That pagoda was the tallest; when the fire ignited, who within or outside the city did not see it? The flames illuminated thirty *li* in every direction, blazing like a fire-drill. He then went to set a fire in the Buddha hall. With those two fires burning, the city was thrown into turmoil. The common people, young and old in every household, were thrown into a panic; in every home children wept and women wailed, great and small fleeing for their lives. Shi Qian climbed directly onto the roof of the Jizhou prefectural yamen and set fire to the wind-boards. When three fires were seen burning within Jizhou, the people knew there were agents among them. The citizens had no heart to defend the city—they could not be held back and each fled to protect their own homes. Before long, another fire broke out inside the temple gate—it was Shi Qian, who had come out of Baoyan Temple and set yet another fire. The Imperial Younger Brother Grand Prince saw that there was not a single watchman left in the city and fires blazing from four or five directions, and he knew that Song Jiang had men inside. In desperate haste, he gathered his troops, loaded his family and two children onto wagons, opened the North Gate, and fled. Song Jiang, seeing the chaos within the city's garrison, urged his soldiers to sweep into the city. Within and without the walls, the cries of battle rang to the heavens, and the South Gate was taken. Dongxian Shilang, seeing that he was outnumbered, had no choice but to follow the Imperial Younger Brother Grand Prince and flee through the North Gate.

Song Jiang led the main body of his army into Jizhou city and immediately issued orders to first extinguish the fires raging on all four sides. At daybreak, he posted proclamations to reassure the people of Jizhou. The three armies were all quartered within the city, and rewards were distributed to the generals and officers. On the ledger of merits, the deeds of Shi Xiu and Shi Qian were duly recorded. Documents were then dispatched to report to Governor Zhao that the major prefecture of Jizhou had been taken and requesting that the governor come in person to take up residence. Governor Zhao replied by letter, saying: "I am presently quartered in Tanzhou. Let Vanguard Song secure Jizhou for now. These are the sweltering days of summer, the air is hot and oppressive—it is not yet time to move troops. We shall make further plans when the weather grows somewhat cooler." Having received this reply, Song Jiang ordered Lu Junyi to take the officers originally assigned to him and quarter them in Yutian County, while the main body of troops remained to garrison Jizhou. They were to await further orders when the weather cooled.

Now let us speak of the Imperial Younger Brother Yelü Dezhong, who, together with Dongxian Langjun, fled with his family back to Youzhou and all the way to Yanjing to present himself before the Grand Lord of the Liao. The Liao sovereign ascended the golden throne, and the civil and military officials of both columns assembled for the morning audience. When the court was concluded, the Chamberlain of the Gate announced: "The Imperial Younger Brother, the Prince of Jizhou, has returned and waits at the gate." The sovereign, upon hearing this, promptly summoned him. Yelü Dezhong and Dongxian Langjun prostrated themselves below the imperial steps and wept aloud. The sovereign said: "My beloved younger brother, do not grieve so. Whatever troubles you have, speak them fully before Us." Yelü Dezhong replied: "The boy emperor of Song has dispatched Song Jiang with an army to invade us. His forces are vast and impossible to resist. Two of my sons have perished, and four great generals of Tanzhou have been slain. The Song army swept onward and Jizhou too has fallen. I come before Your throne to beg for death!" The Grand Lord of Liao heard these words and issued an edict: "Rise, my lord. Here in Our court, we shall deliberate properly." The sovereign asked: "Who is this barbarian who leads the troops? And what manner of ruffians are they?" From the ranks of the court, the Right Chancellor and Grand Preceptor Chu Jian stepped forward and said: "Your subject has heard that this band of Song Jiang's were originally brigands of the Water Margin at Mount Liangshan. Yet they would not harm good people—they acted only on Heaven's behalf, slaying corrupt officials and oppressors who abused the common folk. Later, Tong Guan and Gao Qiu led troops to suppress them, but Song Jiang routed them in five battles, leaving not a single man alive. These heroes could not be captured. The boy emperor sent envoys three times with imperial edicts to offer them amnesty, and at last they all surrendered. Song Jiang was appointed Vanguard Commander, but no substantive office was conferred upon him, and the rest remain commoners without rank. Now he has been sent to fight us. They say there are one hundred and eight of them, corresponding to the celestial constellations. These men are formidable indeed—let not the Grand Lord underestimate them!" The sovereign said: "Since you speak thus, what then is to be done?" From among the assembled officials stepped forth a minister—Ouyang Langjun, whose robes swept the ground and his ivory tablet rested against his breast. He said: "Ten thousand years to the Grand Lord! Though Your subject is untalented, he ventures a stratagem that may drive back the Song army." The sovereign was greatly pleased and said: "Since you have worthy counsel, speak it now." Ouyang Langjun spoke many words in a single breath. And it came to pass that Song Jiang's name was inscribed in the annals of history and his deeds recorded in the vermilion scrolls. Truly, the guardian of the state devised plans surpassing Lü Wang, and the work of Heaven's will rivaled that of Zhang Liang. As to what Ouyang Langjun proposed, listen to the next chapter.