Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Now let me tell of what happened outside the Suanzao Gate. Among thirty or so rowdy wastrels, there were two ringleaders: one called "Street-Rat Zhang" Zhang San, and the other "Green-Grass Snake" Li Si. These two led the others forward, and it so happened that the Venerable Zhi-shen had just come to the edge of the dung pit. He saw this crowd standing still by the pit, and they all said in unison, "We've come specially to celebrate with the monk." Zhi-shen said, "Since you're all neighbors, come into the temple hall and sit down." Zhang San and Li Si then prostrated themselves on the ground and refused to get up, hoping the monk would come to help them up so they could seize the opportunity to attack. Zhi-shen saw through this and thought to himself with suspicion, "This lot are no good, and they won't come close. Could they be trying to throw me? Those scoundrels actually dare to stroke a tiger's whiskers! I'll walk right up there and let them see what I'm made of." Zhi-shen strode up boldly before the crowd. Zhang San and Li Si said, "We humble brothers have come specially to pay respects to the Master." Even as they spoke, they lunged forward—one to grab his left foot, the other his right. But before they could reach him, Zhi-shen's right foot shot out and sent Li Si flying into the dung pit. Zhang San turned to run, but Zhi-shen's left foot was already up, and both scoundrels were tumbling into the pit, struggling to get out. The twenty or thirty wastrels behind them were so stunned they stood gaping, ready to flee. Zhi-shen roared, "If one runs, one goes in! If two run, two go in!" None of the ruffians dared to move. Then Zhang San and Li Si raised their heads from the pit. That dung pit was fathomlessly deep—both men were covered in filth, their heads crawling with maggots, standing in the pit crying, "Master, spare us!" Zhi-shen bellowed, "You lot—quickly pull that bird out, and I'll spare the rest of you." The crowd rushed to help and hauled them over to the gourd trellis, so foul and filthy no one could come near. Zhi-shen laughed heartily. "You wretched creatures—go wash yourselves in the vegetable garden pond first, then come talk with me."

The two scoundrels washed themselves, and the others stripped off some clothes for them to wear. Zhi-shen called out, "Everyone come into the hall and sit down to talk." Zhi-shen sat in the center first, then pointed at the crowd and said, "You bunch of birds—don't try to fool me! What sort of people are you, coming here to make sport of me?" Zhang San, Li Si, and all their companions knelt down together and said, "We humble ones have lived here for generations, making our living by gambling. This vegetable garden is our rice bowl—the Great Xiangguo Temple has tried several times with bribes to get rid of us, but couldn't manage it. Master, where did you come from, such a formidable elder? We've never seen you at the Xiangguo Temple. Today we're all willing to serve you." Zhi-shen said, "I'm an officer under Old Marshal Chong of the Xi'an Prefecture in Guanxi—the Western Route Military Command. Because I've killed too many men, I chose to become a monk. I came from Mount Wutai to this place. My family name is Lu, my Dharma name is Zhi-shen. Don't speak of your thirty or so men—even in the midst of a thousand troops and ten thousand horses, I'd dare to charge straight in and fight my way out again." The scoundrels murmured their assent and thanked him before leaving. Zhi-shen went back to his quarters in the temple to put things in order and rest.

The next day, the ruffians pooled some money and bought ten bottles of wine and a pig to present to Zhi-shen. They arranged everything in the temple hall and invited Lu Zhi-shen to sit in the center, with the twenty or thirty scoundrels seated on both sides to drink. Zhi-shen said, "What's the meaning of this—making you all spend your money?" The crowd said, "We're blessed to have the Master here with us today to be our leader." Zhi-shen was greatly pleased. As they drank and grew merry, some sang, some talked, some clapped, and some laughed. Right in the middle of all the noise, they heard an old crow cawing outside the gate. Some of the men knocked their teeth and said in unison, "Send the red mouth up to heaven, let the white tongue sink into the earth." Zhi-shen said, "What sort of nonsense are you up to?" The crowd said, "The crow is cawing—there may be quarrels ahead." Zhi-shen said, "Where did you get that idea?" One of the local men laughed and said, "A new crow's nest appeared on the green poplar tree by the corner wall—it's been cawing from morning till night every day." The crowd said, "Get a ladder and climb up to tear down that nest." Several said, "We'll go right now." Zhi-shen, riding the wine, went outside with them to look. Sure enough, there was a crow's nest in the green poplar. The crowd said, "Climb up with a ladder and tear it down—that will give us some peace and quiet." Li Si said, "I'll climb up there and get it—no need for a ladder." Zhi-shen sized up the situation, walked to the front of the tree, took off his monk's robe, reached down with his right hand, turned his body upside down, gripped the upper part with his left hand, gave a single heave with his waist, and uprooted the entire green poplar tree, roots and all. The scoundrels saw this and all prostrated themselves on the ground, crying out, "The Master is no ordinary man—he's truly a living Arhat! Without the strength of ten thousand pounds, how could he have pulled it up?" Zhi-shen said, "What's the big deal? Tomorrow watch me practice martial arts with weapons." That evening the scoundrels all went their separate ways.

Beginning the next day, these two or thirty down-and-outs, having seen how thoroughly the monk submitted to them, came daily with wine and meat to entertain him, watching him practice martial arts and demonstrate his boxing. Several days passed. The monk thought to himself, "I've been eating their food and drinking their wine for quite some time now. Today I should arrange a feast to repay them." He had the temple attendant go into the city to buy several kinds of fruits, purchase two or three loads of wine, slaughter a pig, and butcher a whole sheep. It was the end of the third month, and the weather was getting hot. The monk said, "The weather is hot." He had the attendant spread reed mats under the green locust tree and invited all the rascals to sit in a circle. He poured wine in large bowls and cut meat in large chunks, letting the men eat their fill before bringing out the fruits. By then, they were drinking with great enthusiasm.

The rascals said, "These past few days we've watched the master demonstrate his strength, but we haven't seen him use any weapons. Could you show us?" The monk said, "You're right." He went into his room and brought out his solid iron monk's staff, five feet long from end to end and weighing sixty-two jin. When the men saw it, they were all astonished. They said, "Unless your arms have the strength of a water buffalo, how could you possibly wield it?" The monk took it up and swung it swiftly with a whoosh — not a single misstep in his entire body. The men all cheered in unison.

The monk was swinging the staff with fluid grace when an official outside the wall saw him and called out, "Truly well done!" The monk heard this and stopped. Looking over, he saw an official standing by a gap in the wall. Here is how he was dressed:

On his head, a green silk kerchief with curled-up corners, and behind his head two white-jade-ringed pearl hair rings.

On his body, a single emerald-green brocade robe with embroidered flowers, and around his waist a silver belt with turtle-shell pattern and double-folded ends.

On his feet, a pair of black boots with melon-shaped toes facing forward, and in his hand a folding paper fan from West Sichuan.

This official had a leopard's head, round piercing eyes, a swallow's jaw, and a tiger's whiskers. He was eight feet tall and about thirty-four or thirty-five years old. He said, "This master is truly extraordinary — his weapon work is excellent!" The rascals said, "If this officer is praising him, he must be truly skilled." The monk asked, "Who is that military officer?" The men said, "This official is the Instructor Lin, drill master of the spear and staff for Eight Hundred Thousand Imperial Guards. His name is Lin Chong." The monk said, "Why not invite him over to meet?" The Instructor Lin then leaped over the wall, and the two met beneath the locust tree and sat together on the ground.

Instructor Lin asked, "Where are you from, Brother? What is your dharma name?" The monk said, "This monk is Lu Da of the Western Pass. I became a monk because I killed too many people. When I was young, I once went to the Eastern Capital and knew your father, Battalion Commander Lin." Lin Chong was overjoyed and immediately made the monk his sworn elder brother. The monk said, "Instructor, what brings you here today?" Lin Chong replied, "I just now came with my wife to the neighboring Temple of the Sacred Mountain to fulfill a vow. I heard the staff work and was so absorbed that I sent my maid Jin'er with my wife to burn incense in the temple while I waited here. I never expected to meet you, Brother." The monk said, "I just arrived here and knew no one. These several brothers have kept me company every day, and now I have you, Instructor, who does not disdain me enough to become my brother. This is excellent." He told the attendant to bring more wine to entertain him.

They had just drunk three cups when the maid Jin'er came rushing up in a panic, her face red, calling from the gap in the wall: "Sir, don't just sit there! Madam is having an argument with someone in the temple." Lin Chong quickly asked, "Where?" Jin'er said, "Right below the Five Sacred Mountains Tower. She ran into some unscrupulous fellow who has blocked your lady and won't let her pass." Lin Chong said hastily, "I will come back to see you later, Brother. Forgive me, forgive me."

Lin Chong took leave of the monk and hastily leaped over the wall gap. He rushed with Jin'er straight to the Temple of the Sacred Mountain. When he reached the Five Sacred Mountains Tower, he saw several men standing by the railing holding pellet bows, blowguns, and sticky poles for catching birds. On the stairs stood a young man with his back turned, blocking Lin Chong's wife and saying, "Go upstairs, and let me speak with you." Lin Chong's wife blushed and said, "In this peaceful world, what sort of reasoning is this — to harass an honest woman?" Lin Chong rushed forward, grabbed the young man by the shoulder and yanked him around, shouting, "You harass an honest man's wife — what crime deserves that?" He was just about to throw a punch when he recognized the man as Gao Yanei, the adopted son of his own commanding officer, Grand Marshal Gao.

It turned out that Gao Qiu had recently risen in the world and had no sons of his own, and with no one to help him, he had adopted the son of his uncle, Third Master Gao, as his own. Though they were actually uncle and nephew, Gao Qiu treated him as a foster son. Therefore, Grand Marshal Gao doted on him. This scoundrel relied on his influence in the Eastern Capital to bully others and made a specialty of defiling other men's wives and daughters. The people of the capital feared his power, and no one dared to cross him. They called him the "Flower-Prince of Pestilence." A poem testifies:

Flowers on his face — ugly to look upon,

Flowers in his heart — he loves women.

If your birth year clashes with his,

You'll know the Pestilence Star brings calamity.

At that moment, Lin Chong had pulled the man around and recognized him as his own commanding officer's adopted son, Gao Yanei. His hand went limp of its own accord. Gao Yanei said, "Lin Chong, what business is this of yours? Why do you meddle?" Actually, Gao Yanei didn't know she was Lin Chong's wife. If he had known, this incident never would have happened. Seeing that Lin Chong did not strike, he said this. The many idlers who had been watching the commotion now gathered around and said, "Instructor, don't be angry. The young master didn't recognize you — it was an honest mistake." Lin Chong's anger had not yet subsided, and his eyes glared at Gao Yanei. The idlers persuaded Lin Chong and escorted Gao Yanei out of the temple and onto his horse.

Lin Chong led his wife, his child, and their maidservant Jin'er out from under the corridor as well. Just then he saw Zhishen striding into the temple bearing his iron staff, followed by those twenty or thirty ne'er-do-wells. Lin Chong called out, "Where are you going, Senior Brother?" Zhishen said, "I've come to help you fight." Lin Chong said, "That was the young master of the Prefect Gao, my commanding officer. He didn't recognize my wife and was rude to her for a moment. I was ready to give that scoundrel a good beating, but it would look bad for the Prefect's face. As the saying goes, 'It's not the office you fear, but the man who holds the office.' Since I draw a salary from him, I'll let him off this time." Zhishen said, "So you're afraid of your commanding officer Prefect Gao? The hell with him! If I ever run into that bastard, I'll make him eat three hundred blows from my staff." Seeing Zhishen was drunk, Lin Chong said, "What you say is right. I was persuaded by everyone just now, so I'll spare him this once." Zhishen said, "If anything comes up, just send for me and I'll go with you." The ruffians, seeing Zhishen was drunk, supported him and said, "Master, let's go. We'll meet again tomorrow." Zhishen hefted his staff and said, "Sister-in-law, don't take offense—don't laugh at me. Brother, I'll see you tomorrow." Zhishen took his leave and departed with the ruffians. Lin Chong led his wife and Jin'er and made his way home, his heart heavy and cheerless.

Now this young Master Gao, having led his pack of idlers, had been smitten the moment he laid eyes on Lin Chong's wife, and then seeing her driven off by Lin Chong, his heart was consumed with longing. He returned to the mansion in low spirits. After two or three days, the idlers all came to attend him. Seeing the young master agitated and restless, they dispersed. Among them was a hanger-on called Gan Niaotou, whose given name was Fuan. He understood what the young master was thinking and went alone to the mansion to wait on him. He found the young master sitting idly in the study. Fuan approached and said, "Young Master, you've been looking pale and joyless lately. Something must be troubling you." The young master said, "How would you know?" Fuan said, "I can guess it in one try." The young master said, "Then guess what's troubling me." Fuan said, "Young Master is thinking of that pair of—" The young master laughed and said, "You've guessed right. Only I can't think of a way to get her." Fuan said, "What's so hard? Young Master is afraid Lin Chong is a tough fellow and won't let himself be trifled with—but that's nothing to worry about. He serves under the Prefect's command now, drawing generous pay and favors. How would he dare cross the Prefect? At worst he'll be exiled, at worst his life will be taken. Your humble servant has thought of a scheme that will let Young Master have her." The young master, hearing this, said, "I've seen many fine women, but for some reason I only love her. My heart is enchanted, and I'm sick with longing. If you have some plan that can get her for me, I'll reward you handsomely." Fuan said, "There is Lu Qian, the Marshal Lu, a trusted man on your staff. He and Lin Chong are the closest of friends. Tomorrow, Young Master can hide in the upper chamber of Marshal Lu's house, where we'll set out wine and food. Then have Marshal Lu invite Lin Chong out for drinks, and lead him straight to the upper chamber at Fan Tower to drink. Your humble servant will go to Lin Chong's house and tell his wife, 'Your husband the drillmaster is drinking with Lu Qian. He's suddenly fallen ill from heavy drinking upstairs. He's asking for his wife to come quickly and see him!' When she's lured upstairs to the chamber, well—women are fickle by nature. When she sees a handsome young man like Young Master and hears a few sweet words, how can she refuse? How is this plan?" The young master applauded and said, "Excellent plan! Send for Marshal Lu tonight and give him his orders." Now Marshal Lu's house was just in the lane next to Prefect Gao's mansion. The next day, they worked out the scheme. Marshal Lu agreed at the time—he had no choice. He only wanted the young master to be pleased and gave no thought to the bonds of friendship.

Now Lin Chong had been gloomy for days on end and had no inclination to go out. Around the ninth hour, someone called at the gate, "Is the drillmaster at home?" Lin Chong came out to look and found it was Marshal Lu. He hurriedly said, "Brother Lu, what brings you here?" Lu Qian said, "I've come specially to visit you. Why haven't you been seen on the street these past few days?" Lin Chong said, "I've been feeling down and haven't gone out." Lu Qian said, "Let me take you out for three cups to lift your spirits." Lin Chong said, "Sit a moment while I make tea." They drank their tea and rose to leave. Marshal Lu said, "Sister-in-law, I'm taking your husband out for three cups." Lin Chong's wife hurried to the cloth curtain and called, "Husband, drink little and come home early." Lin Chong and Lu Qian went out and strolled along the street. Marshal Lu said, "Brother, let's not go home. Let's just have a couple of cups at Fan Tower." The two of them went up to Fan Tower, took a private room, and called the waiter to bring two bottles of fine wine and rare fruits to accompany it. They chatted as they drank. Lin Chong sighed. Marshal Lu said, "Why does Brother sigh?" Lin Chong said, "You don't understand, Brother... A man may have great ability, but if he never meets a worthy lord, he's forced to live under petty men and swallow this kind of filthy injustice!" Marshal Lu said, "Among the drillmasters in the Imperial Guard today, who can match your ability? And the Prefect holds you in high regard. Whose injustice could you be suffering?" Lin Chong told Marshal Lu the whole story of what the young master had done. Marshal Lu said, "The young master surely didn't recognize your wife. Don't be angry—just enjoy your wine." Lin Chong had drunk eight or nine cups when he needed to relieve himself. He rose and said, "I'll be right back after washing my hands."

Lin Chong came downstairs, left the wine shop, and went east down a narrow alley to wash his hands. When he turned back and came out of the alley, his maid Jin'er called out, "Master, I've been looking for you so desperately—you're here!" Lin Chong asked in alarm, "What is it?" Jin'er said, "After Master and Officer Lu came out, not half an hour passed before a man came rushing in a panic to our house and told the mistress, 'I'm a neighbor of Officer Lu's. Your husband and Officer Lu were drinking wine, and suddenly the husband stopped breathing and collapsed. Tell the mistress to come quickly and see to him.' When the mistress heard this, she asked old Mother Wang next door to watch the house, and she and I followed the man to a house in a narrow lane in front of the Grand Marshal's mansion. We went upstairs, and there were wine and food on the table, but no sign of you. Just as we were about to go back down, the young scoundrel who harassed the mistress at the Temple of the Mountain God the other day came out and said, 'Mistress, please sit a moment. Your husband is coming.' I hurried downstairs in a panic, and from above I heard the mistress screaming that someone was killing her. So I've been searching everywhere for you, but couldn't find you. Then I ran into Physician Zhang, who said, 'I passed the Fan Tower earlier and saw the husband and another man go in to drink wine.' That's why I rushed here. Master, go quickly!"

When Lin Chong heard this, he was greatly startled. Without waiting for Jin'er, he ran in great strides to Officer Lu's house. He rushed up the staircase, but the upstairs door was locked. He heard his wife crying out, "In this peaceful world, how dare they lock up an honest man's wife in here?" Then he heard Young Master Gao saying, "Mistress, take pity on me and save me. Even a man of iron and stone would relent upon hearing this." Lin Chong stood on the staircase and called out, "Sister-in-law, open the door!" The woman recognized her husband's voice and came at once to open the door. Young Master Gao was terrified. He pried open the window and jumped over the wall to escape. Lin Chong went upstairs but could not find Young Master Gao. He asked his wife, "Has this villain dishonored you?" She said, "No." Lin Chong smashed everything in Officer Lu's house to pieces. He took his wife downstairs and out the door. When he looked around, the neighbors on both sides had shut their doors. Jin'er came to meet them, and the three of them went home together.

Lin Chong took a sharp knife and went straight to the Fan Tower to look for Officer Lu, but could not find him either. He waited outside Lu's house all night, but Lu did not return home. Lin Chong went back by himself. His wife urged him, "I wasn't deceived by him. You mustn't do anything rash." Lin Chong said, "How could I endure that beast Lu Qian! You and I are like brothers, and yet you deceive me! Even if I hadn't run into Young Master Gao, I'd still have to settle accounts with him." His wife pleaded bitterly, but she could not stop him from going out. Officer Lu hid himself in the Grand Marshal's mansion and dared not go home. Lin Chong waited for three days in a row but did not see him. The people in front of the mansion noticed Lin Chong's dark expression and dared not ask him anything.

On the fourth day, at mealtime, Lu Zhishen came straight to Lin Chong's house to visit him and asked, "Brother, why haven't I seen you these past few days?" Lin Chong replied, "I've been a bit busy and haven't had a chance to visit you. Since you've come to my humble home, I should have prepared three cups of wine for you, but I'm afraid I can't manage it on short notice. Why don't you and I go out together for a stroll and buy two cups of wine on the street?" Zhishen said, "That would be best." The two of them went out together and drank wine all day, and they arranged to meet again the next day. From then on, Lin Chong went out drinking with Zhishen every day and gradually let the matter slip from his mind. Truly:

A man's troubles find relief in the company of friends,

Through laughter and song, pent-up grief is dispelled.

But a woman's sorrow has no such release—

In her silent chamber, illness takes hold with no words to tell.

Now, ever since that day when Young Master Gao had been frightened in Officer Lu's upstairs room and escaped by jumping over the wall, he had not dared to tell the Grand Marshal. He lay ill in his mansion. Officer Lu and Fu An came to visit him and saw that his face was haggard and his spirits broken. Lu Qian said, "Why is Your Lordship in such low spirits?" The young master said, "I won't hide it from you: I've been trying twice to get Lin Chong's wife but failed, and then I was frightened by him. My illness has only grown worse. I can see clearly that I have only six months, perhaps three, to live." The two men said, "Your Lordship, set your mind at ease. Leave it to us two. One way or another, we'll bring that woman together with you—unless she hangs herself and dies." As they spoke, the old steward of the mansion also came to check on the young master's illness. They saw:

No pain, no itch, yet his whole body alternated between chills and fever;

No cause for alarm, yet his belly was at once full and famished.

He forgot to eat by day and lay sleepless at dusk.

How could he tell his parents the hatred in his heart?

How could he hide the shame on his face before acquaintances?

When the old chief steward came to inquire about Lu Yuhou's and Fu An's illnesses, the two of them conferred and said, "There's only one way." They waited for the old steward to finish his visit and come out, then invited him to a secluded spot and said, "If we want the young master's illness to get better, the only way is to let the Grand Marshal know and have Lin Chong killed. Only then can his wife be with the young master, and only then will his illness be cured. If we don't do this, the young master's life is surely forfeit." The old steward said, "That's easy. I'll inform the Grand Marshal tonight." The two men said, "We already have a plan. We're just waiting for your reply."

That evening the old steward came to see the Grand Marshal and said, "The young master isn't suffering from any other ailment—he's pining for Lin Chong's wife." Gao Qiu asked, "When did he see his wife?" The steward reported, "He saw her at the temple on the twenty-eighth of last month. It's been over a month now." He then laid out in full detail the scheme devised by Lu Yuhou. Gao Qiu said, "So it is—because of his wife, how should I harm him?—Let me think. If I spare Lin Chong, it will surely cost my son his life. What am I to do?" The steward said, "Lu Yuhou and Fu An have a plan." Gao Qiu said, "Since that is so, summon the two of them for a discussion." The old steward then called Lu Qian and Fu An into the hall, where they made their salutations. Gao Qiu asked, "Regarding my young master's situation, what plan do you two have? If you can cure my son, I will advance you both." Lu Yuhou stepped forward and reported, "Your Excellency, there is only this one way it can be done." When Gao Qiu heard the plan, he exclaimed, "Excellent scheme! Put it into action for me tomorrow." But no more of this.

Now, Lin Chong had been drinking with Zhishen every day and had put the matter out of his mind. One day, the two of them were walking together to the Wufu military drill district lane when they saw a big man standing in the street. He wore a cap with upturned corners, a old battle robe, and held a precious sword with a blade of grass stuck in it as a sign for sale. He was talking to himself, saying, "Without one who appreciates it, this fine sword of mine is buried in obscurity." Lin Chong paid him no mind and kept walking and talking with Zhishen. The man followed behind them and said, "What a fine sword—it's a pity no one appreciates it!" Lin Chong just kept walking with Zhishen, deep in conversation. The man said again from behind, "Such a great city as the Eastern Capital, and not a single person who knows weapons!" Lin Chong, hearing this, turned around. The man swiftly drew the sword, its blade gleaming and dazzling to the eye. Lin Chong, fated to have this trouble, impulsively said, "Let me have a look." The man handed it over, and Lin Chong took it in his hands and examined it together with Zhishen. He saw:

Its pure light dazzled the eye, its cold aura chilled the bones;

From afar it was like spring ice in a jade pool, up close like auspicious snow on a terrace of precious stone.

Its patterns were dense, as if it had flown from the prison of Fengcheng;

Its purple vapor crossed the sky, like the sword received in the dream of King Zhao of Chu.

Even Tai'a and Juque could hardly compare, and Mo Ye and Gan Jiang were mere trifles.

When Lin Chong saw it, he was startled and blurted out, "What a fine sword! How much do you want for it?" The man said, "The asking price is three thousand strings of cash; the real price is two thousand." Lin Chong said, "It is worth two thousand strings, but there's no one who appreciates it. If you'll let it go for a thousand strings, I'll buy it." The man said, "I'm in urgent need of money. If you truly want it, I'll knock off five hundred strings—the lowest I can go is fifteen hundred." Lin Chong said, "I'll only pay a thousand strings." The man sighed and said, "Selling gold as pig iron! Fine, fine—not a single coin less." Lin Chong said, "Come with me to my house and I'll get your money." He turned back to Zhishen and said, "Brother, wait in the tea house for a moment. I'll be right back." Zhishen said, "I'll head back. We'll meet again tomorrow."

Lin Chong parted from Zhishen and led the sword seller to his house to get the money. He asked the man, "Where did you get this sword?" The man said, "It was left to me by my ancestors. Because our family fell into poverty, I had no choice but to sell it." Lin Chong said, "Who were your ancestors?" The man said, "If I told you, it would be an insult to the dead!" Lin Chong asked no further. The man received his silver and left. Lin Chong turned the sword over and over, examining it, and exclaimed, "Truly a fine sword! The Grand Marshal Gao's mansion has a precious sword that he recklessly refuses to let anyone look at. I've asked to borrow it several times, but he won't produce it. Today I've bought this fine sword, and I'll compare it with his slowly." Lin Chong examined the sword all that evening without putting it down. At night he hung it on the wall. Before dawn the next morning, he was looking at it again.

Around mid-morning the next day, two messengers were heard calling at the gate: "Instructor Lin! His Excellency the Grand Marshal has commanded: you bought a fine sword, and he wishes you to bring it for comparison. The Grand Marshal is waiting for you at the prefectural residence." Lin Chong said to himself, "Who else has been running their mouth again?" The two messengers hurried Lin Chong into his clothes, and taking the sword, he followed them along the way. Lin Chong said, "I don't know you two from the prefecture." The two men replied, "We are newly assigned attendants." Before long they arrived at the prefecture gate and proceeded as far as the front hall. Lin Chong stopped his feet. The two men said again, "The Grand Marshal is seated in the inner chamber behind." They passed through a screen into the rear hall, but still the Grand Marshal was nowhere to be seen. Lin Chong stopped again. The two men said once more, "The Grand Marshal is waiting for you inside. He bids us bring the instructor in." They passed through two or three more gates and came to a place surrounded on all sides by green railings. The two men led Lin Chong to the front of the hall and said, "Instructor, wait here a moment while we go in and announce you to the Grand Marshal." Lin Chong stood beneath the eaves holding his sword while the two men went inside. A full cup of tea passed, and they did not emerge. Lin Chong grew suspicious and peered through the curtain. Above the lintel he saw four characters written in blue: "White Tiger Hall of Military Command." Lin Chong started with a shock. "This hall is where matters of military strategy are deliberated! How dare I enter without cause?" He was about to turn back when he heard the sound of boots and the patter of footsteps. A man came in from outside. Lin Chong looked and saw it was none other than his own superior, Grand Marshal Gao. Lin Chong advanced with his sword and saluted. The Grand Marshal roared, "Lin Chong! You have no summons—how dare you enter the White Tiger Hall of Military Command unbidden? Do you know the law? You stand here holding a sword—do you mean to assassinate your superior? Someone told me that two or three days ago you stood by the prefecture gate with a sword, nursing evil intentions." Lin Chong bowed and reported, "Your Excellency, just now two messengers summoned me, Lin Chong, to bring the sword for comparison." The Grand Marshal thundered, "Where are these messengers?" Lin Chong said, "They have already gone into the hall." The Grand Marshal said, "Nonsense! What messengers would dare enter my prefecture hall? Seize him, men on either side!" Before he had finished speaking, more than twenty men emerged from the side rooms and bore Lin Chong down, pushing and dragging him—like a black hawk chasing a purple swallow, or a fierce tiger devouring a lamb. Grand Marshal Gao, in a towering rage, declared, "You are an instructor of the Imperial Guard, yet you do not even know the law. Why do you come armed with a blade, intruding into the Hall of Command, seeking to kill your commanding officer?" He ordered his men to push Lin Chong down. What became of his life remained uncertain. But from this affair it came about that there would be great turmoil across the Central Plains and upheaval throughout the land—till farmers bore new marks upon their backs and fishermen planted signal flags upon their boats. As for what became of Lin Chong's life, listen to the explanation in the next chapter.