Chapter 97

Chapter 97

At that moment Wu Yong said to Song Jiang: "The troops within the city are weak. In the past they relied on the sorcerous arts of Daoist Qiao, but now that they know Qiao Daoqing is defeated and besieged with no reinforcements arriving, how could they not be terrified? This morning I climbed the scaling ladder to observe and saw that all the soldiers manning the walls wore expressions of fear and dread. We should take advantage of their terror now, offer them a path to redemption, and make clear to them the stakes of their choices. The city will surely bind their commanders and surrender, and we can take the city without bloodshed, as easily as picking it up in the hand." Song Jiang was overjoyed and said: "The strategist's plan is excellent!" They then deliberated and drafted several dozen proclamations to announce to the enemy, which read:

> Northern Expedition Commander-in-Chief of the Great Song, Song, hereby proclaims to all officers, soldiers, and civilians defending Zhaode Prefecture: Tian Hu is a rebel and must be executed according to law, but the rest who were compelled to follow him have grounds for leniency. If the defending officers and soldiers can turn from evil to righteousness, reform and make a new start, lead the soldiers and civilians to open the gates and submit, I will certainly petition the court to pardon their crimes and employ them. If the officers persist in their obstinacy and refuse to reform, then you soldiers and civilians are all children of the Song dynasty—you must quickly rise up in righteousness, seize the officers, and submit to the Heavenly Court. Those who take the lead will be richly rewarded and recommended for special commendation. If you remain deluded and hesitate, when the city is destroyed, both jade and stone will burn together, and none will survive. This is a special proclamation.

Song Jiang ordered the soldiers to tie the proclamations to arrows and shoot them into the city from all four sides. He commanded the gates to ease their attacks somewhat and observe the city's reaction. At dawn the next day, a great shouting shook the sky. The four gates raised surrender banners. The defending lieutenant generals Jin Ding and Huang Yue gathered the soldiers and civilians, killed the vice-commanders Ye Sheng, Niu Geng, and Leng Ning, hung the three heads on poles, and displayed them to the army of Song. They released from prison Li Kui, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Liu Tang, Bao Xu, Xiang Cong, Li Gun, and Tang Bin, all carried out on sedan chairs. The city gates were thrown open wide and they were escorted out. The soldiers and civilians, with flowers, incense, lanterns, and candles, welcomed the Song soldiers into the city. Commander Song was delighted and issued orders to the officers at each gate to lead their troops into the city in proper order. The city was taken without bloodshed, the common people were not disturbed in the slightest, and joyful shouts thundered everywhere.

Song Jiang arrived at the command headquarters and took his seat. Lu Zhishen and the other seven came forward to pay their respects and said: "Brother, we never thought we would see you again! Now thanks to your mighty power, we are reunited—it feels like a dream." Song Jiang and all the others wept together. Afterward, Jin Ding and Huang Yue led Weng Kui, Cai Ze, and Yang Chun forward to pay their respects. Song Jiang quickly returned their salutes, helped them up, and said: "You generals have risen up in righteousness and preserved the lives of the people—this is a merit without parallel in this age." Huang Yue and the others said: "We were slow to come over and submit—our crime is unpardonable. Yet you, Commander, have treated us with such generous courtesy. It is engraved on our hearts and etched in our bones, and we swear to repay you with our lives!" Huang Yue and the others then gave a full account of how Lu Zhishen, Li Kui, and the rest had reviled the rebels and refused to yield. Song Jiang wept with gratitude and praised them. Li Kui said: "I heard that that damned Daoist is at Baigu Ridge. Let me go hack that bastard a hundred times with my axes and vent my anger!" Song Jiang said: "Qiao Daoqing is being besieged at Baigu Ridge by Brother Yiqing, who wishes to bring him to submission. Reverend Luo has already issued a divine command—brother, you must not act rashly." Lu Zhishen said to Li Kui: "How dare we not obey the elder brother's order?" Only then did Li Kui agree to hold back.

Commander Song then posted notices to reassure the common people, rewarded the officers and soldiers of the three armies, and recorded the merits of Gongsun Sheng, Jin Ding, and Huang Yue. While he was attending to military affairs, it was suddenly reported that the "Magic Traveller" Dai Zong had returned from Jinning. Dai Zong entered the headquarters to pay his respects, and Commander Song eagerly asked for news of Jinning. Dai Zong said: "Brother, you sent me to Jinning. Commander Lu was attacking the city. He said, 'Wait until I have taken the city, then I will go to report the victory to you.' So he kept me there for three or four days. Jinning could not be taken quickly. On the sixth day of this month, there was a heavy fog at night so thick you could not see your hand before your face. Commander Lu ordered the soldiers to quietly bring earth in sacks and pile them up against the city walls. By the third watch, the defenses in the northeast corner had slackened. Our troops climbed the sacks of earth and scaled the wall, killing thirteen defending officers and soldiers. Tian Biao broke out of the north gate and fled for his life. The rest of the subordinate generals all surrendered. We captured over five thousand warhorses and more than twenty thousand soldiers who surrendered. Those killed were very numerous. Commander Lu then took Jinning. When dawn came and the fog lifted, he was busy pacifying the city and settling affairs when it was reported that Tian Hu of Weisheng had sent the Palace Guard Commander Sun An with ten subordinate generals and twenty thousand troops to relieve the city, and they had camped ten li away. Commander Lu at once ordered Qin Ming, Yang Zhi, Ou Peng, and Deng Fei to lead troops out of the city to meet the enemy, while Commander Lu personally led reinforcements. Qin Ming fought Sun An for fifty or sixty bouts with neither side prevailing. When Commander Lu's troops arrived and he saw how fierce Sun An was, he ordered the gongs to be sounded to recall the troops. Sun An also withdrew his forces, and each side set up camp. Commander Lu returned to his camp and said that Sun An was so fierce that he could only be overcome by strategy, not by force.

The next day, the troops were divided and placed in ambush. Lu Junyi personally rode out to engage Sun An in battle. After more than fifty exchanges, Sun An's horse suddenly stumbled and threw him to the ground. Lu Junyi shouted, "This is no fault of your defeat! Quickly change your horse and fight again!" Sun An mounted a fresh horse and fought another fifty-odd bouts with Lu Junyi. Lu Junyi feigned retreat, luring Sun An to the edge of the woods. At a signal cannon, the ambushers on both sides rushed out. Sun An was caught off guard. The soldiers threw out hobbling ropes, tripping Sun An's horse, and the troops swarmed forward, capturing him alive, horse and all. On the northern side, three generals—Qin Ying, Lu Qing, and Yao Yue—rode out together to rescue Sun An. From the other side, Yang Zhi, Ou Peng, and Deng Fei rode out to meet them. Six horsemen paired off and fought. In the thick of the battle, Yang Zhi let out a great shout and with a single spear thrust, stabbed Qin Ying from his horse. Lu Qing was fighting Ou Peng when Ou Peng deliberately showed a flaw, enticing Lu Qing to slash with his saber. Ou Peng dodged aside, Lu Qing's blade cut empty, and before he could recover his weapon, Ou Peng thrust his spear through Lu Qing's back and killed him. Seeing both his comrades fall from their horses, Yao Yue wheeled his horse and fled toward his own lines, but Deng Fei overtook him and swung his iron chain down upon his head, shattering Yao Yue's helmet and skull to pieces. Lu Junyi drove his troops forward in pursuit, and the northern army was utterly routed, with four or five thousand slain. The northern forces retreated ten *li* and made camp. Our victorious troops entered the city. The soldiers brought Sun An bound before them. Lu Junyi personally loosened his bonds, treated him with generous courtesy, and urged Sun An to submit to the Imperial Court. Seeing Lu Junyi's noble spirit, Sun An willingly surrendered. Sun An said to Lu Junyi, "Outside the city there are still seven officers and fifteen thousand troops. Allow Sun to go out and persuade them to surrender." Lu Junyi, trusting him without suspicion, released Sun An to leave the city. Sun An rode alone to the northern camp and persuaded all seven generals to surrender. They came to pay their respects to Lu Junyi, who was greatly pleased and set out a feast for them. Sun An said, "I left Weisheng together with Qiao Daoqing to lead the troops. Qiao Daoqing went to relieve Huguan. That man is skilled in sorcery, and I fear he may bring great harm to Commander Song's forces. Qiao Daoqing and I are from the same hometown. Grateful for your generous kindness, I wish to go to Huguan, find out the situation, and persuade Qiao Daoqing to surrender." Lu Junyi approved and ordered me to bring Sun An here to report the victory. Lu Junyi assigned Xuan Zan, Hao Siwen, Lü Fang, and Guo Sheng to command twenty thousand troops and garrison Jinning. Lu Junyi led the remaining officers and twenty thousand troops toward Fenyang. I set out from Jinning yesterday and applied the magic travel technique to Sun An as well. On the road today, I heard that my elder brother had besieged Zhaode and that Qiao Daoqing was trapped. By the time I reached the city walls, I also learned that your great army had entered the city. I have come especially to pay my respects. Sun An is waiting outside the prefectural office."

Song Jiang was overjoyed and ordered Dai Zong to bring Sun An in for an audience. Dai Zong obeyed and led Sun An into the office to pay his respects. Song Jiang observed that Sun An was tall, imposing, and distinguished in appearance, and he came down from his seat to greet him. Sun An bowed to the ground and said, "I resisted your great army and deserve ten thousand deaths!" Song Jiang returned his bows repeatedly, saying, "You have turned from evil to righteousness. Join me in destroying Tian Hu, and when we return to court to report to the Emperor, you will certainly be given an office." Sun An thanked him and rose. Commander Song invited him to sit and set out a feast in his honor. Sun An said, "Qiao Daoqing's sorcery is formidable, but fortunately Master Gongsun has countered it." Song Jiang said, "Gongsun Yiqing wishes to subdue him and teach him the proper way. We have besieged him for three or four days, but he has not yet shown any intention of surrendering." Sun An said, "This man and I are the closest of friends. I should be able to persuade him to surrender." Commander Song then ordered Dai Zong and Sun An to leave by the north gate and go to Gongsun Sheng's camp. After they had greeted one another, Dai Zong and Sun An explained the full purpose of their visit to Gongsun Sheng. Yiqing was greatly pleased and ordered Sun An to enter the mountain to find Qiao Daoqing. Sun An received the order and rode alone up the ridge.

Now, Qiao Daoqing, along with Fei Zhen, Xue Can, and fifteen or sixteen soldiers, had been hiding in the Shennong Temple, where they begged a few coarse meals from the temple's own Daoist priests to stave off hunger. The temple had only three priests, who had been forced to let Qiao Daoqing and his men eat up all the rice they had accumulated over months of begging. Seeing how many they were, the priests could only swallow their grievances in silence. On that day, Qiao Daoqing heard shouting from within the city. He left the temple and climbed a high cliff to look out. He saw that the troops outside the city had lifted the siege and that men and horses were passing through the gates. He knew that Song Jiang's forces had entered the city.

He was sighing with despair when he suddenly saw a woodcutter emerge from the trees at the edge of the cliff. The man had an axe tucked in his waist and used his carrying pole as a staff, picking his way up the cliff step by step. He was singing a song:

Going up the mountain is like pulling a boat;

Going down the mountain is like riding the current.

Pulling a boat, one must be on guard;

Riding the current, one is ever free.

Today I climb the mountain

In preparation for the descent.

When Qiao Daoqing heard these six lines of the woodcutter's song, his mind was suddenly stirred. He asked, "Do you know the news from the city?" The old woodcutter said, "Jin Ding and Huang Yue killed the deputy general Ye Sheng and surrendered the city to the Song. Song Jiang took Zhaode without shedding blood." Qiao Daoqing said, "So that is how it is!" Having said this, the woodcutter turned past the rocky cliff and disappeared over the mountainside.

Qiao Daoqing saw yet another man riding up alone, following the path toward the ridge, gradually approaching the temple. Qiao Daoqing descended from the cliff to observe and was greatly startled—it was Sun An, the Palace Commandant. "How has he come here so quickly?" Sun An dismounted and came forward to exchange greetings. Qiao Daoqing asked eagerly, "Commandant, you led troops toward Jinning—why have you come here alone? There are many soldiers and horses below the ridge. How did they not stop you?" Sun An said, "Let me tell you, elder brother—" Qiao Daoqing noticed that Sun An no longer addressed him as "National Preceptor," and already felt a measure of suspicion. Sun An said, "Let us go into the temple, and I will tell you in detail." The two entered the temple, where Fei Zhen and Xue Can came to greet them. After the formalities, Sun An recounted in full the events at Jinning and the surrender. Qiao Daoqing sat in silence. Sun An said, "Elder brother, do not harbor doubts. Song Jiang and the others are men of great honor and loyalty. We have placed ourselves under his banner and submitted to the Imperial Court; in the end, we too shall find our proper place. Sun has come here especially for your sake. Elder brother, did you once visit the Realist Luo?" Qiao Daoqing asked quickly, "How do you know of that?" Sun An said, "The Realist Luo refused to receive you and had a boy attendant deliver a message, saying that in the future you would 'meet virtue and the demon will submit.' Was there such a saying?" Qiao Daoqing answered hastily, "Yes, yes." Sun An said, "The man who broke your magic arts—do you know him?" Qiao Daoqing said, "He is my nemesis. I only know he is among the Song forces, but I do not know his background." Sun An said, "He is none other than the Realist Luo's disciple, Gongsun Sheng, Song Jiang's deputy military adviser. It was he who told me this prophecy. This city is called Zhaode—your magic was broken here. Does this not fulfill the words 'meet virtue and the demon will submit'? Gongsun Sheng acts specifically on the True Man's instruction, seeking to enlighten you and bring you back to the proper path. That is why he surrounded the mountain with troops but did not come up to capture you. Since his arts can overcome yours, if he wished to harm you, how difficult would that be? Elder brother, you must not remain obstinate." Qiao Daoqing was greatly enlightened by these words. Thereupon he went down the ridge together with Sun An, leading Fei Zhen and Xue Can, and came before Gongsun Sheng's army.

Sun An entered the camp first to report, and Gongsun Sheng came out of his encampment to welcome them. Qiao Daoqing entered the camp, prostrated himself, and begged forgiveness, saying, "I am grateful for the master's benevolence and kindness. For the sake of one man, Qiao, you have troubled the great army—my guilt is all the deeper!" Gongsun Sheng was overjoyed, bowing repeatedly in return and treating him as an honored guest. Seeing such generosity of spirit in Gongsun Sheng, Qiao Daoqing said, "Qiao was blind and failed to recognize a good man. Today I am fortunate to stand in the master's company—this is the greatest fortune of my life." Gongsun Sheng issued orders to lift the siege. Fan Rui and the other generals on all sides broke camp and departed. Gongsun Sheng led Qiao Daoqing, Fei Zhen, and Xue Can into the city to pay their respects to Song Vanguard. Song Jiang received them with courtesy and spoke comforting words. Seeing Song Jiang's humility and gentleness, Qiao Daoqing admired him all the more. Shortly afterward, Fan Rui, Shan Tinggui, Wei Dingguo, Lin Chong, and Zhang Qing all arrived. Song Jiang gave orders that all the troops and horses be brought into the city to be quartered. That very day, Song Jiang prepared a feast to celebrate. During the banquet, Gongsun Sheng said to Qiao Daoqing, "Your arts, good sir, are not of the highest order—unlike those of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who through countless aeons of cultivation have realized the samadhi of emptiness and gained sovereign mastery of spiritual powers. Nor are they of the middle order—unlike the true immortals of the thirty-six grottoes of Penglai, who refine water and fire for several decades, exchanging marrow and sinews, before they can transcend the physical form, cross over to the realm of the transcendent, and roam freely through the workings of creation. You merely rely on talismans and incantations, seizing power for a moment, stealing the essence of Heaven and Earth, and borrowing the operations of ghosts and spirits. In Buddhist terms this is called the 'Vajra Zen heterodox method'; in the language of the immortals it is called 'illusion arts.' If you think such methods can make one transcend the ordinary and enter the realm of the sage, is this not the grossest error of mistaking a hair's breadth for a thousand li?" When Qiao Daoqing heard these words, it was as if he had awakened from a dream. He then bowed and accepted Gongsun Sheng as his master. Song Jiang and the others, hearing Gongsun Sheng speak with such clarity and profundity, all praised Gongsun Sheng's divine powers and moral virtue. The feast ended that day, and nothing further happened through the night.

The next day, Song Jiang ordered Xiao Rang to draft a memorial to the court, reporting the capture of the two prefectures of Jinning and Zhaode. He also wrote a letter to Grand Marshal Su to announce the victory. As for the officials needed to fill the vacancies in the six prefectures and counties of Weizhou, Jinning, Zhaode, Gaizhou, Lingchuan, and Gaoping, he requested that the Grand Marshal select worthy and capable men and petition the court to appoint them swiftly, so that the generals could be relieved and the campaign advanced. Xiao Rang completed the documents, and Song Jiang ordered Dai Zong to carry them and set out at once.

Dai Zong obeyed the order, packed his bags and bundles, received the memorial documents and letters, selected a swift soldier to accompany him, took leave of Song Jiang the Vanguard Commander, employed his magic traveling art, and arrived in the Eastern Capital the next day. He first went to Grand Marshal Su's residence to present the documents and letters, and happened to find Grand Marshal Su at home. Dai Zong sought out a Yang虞候 (attendant officer) of the mansion, presented some silver as a gift, and then asked him to convey the documents and letters to the Grand Marshal. The Yang虞候 took the documents into the mansion. Shortly after, the Yang虞候 came out and called, "The Grand Marshal has issued an order summoning the chief." Dai Zong followed the虞候 into the mansion and saw the Grand Marshal sitting in the hall, reading the letter. Dai Zong stepped forward to pay his respects. The Grand Marshal said, "At this most critical moment, your arrival is most opportune! Just the other days, Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and Qiu Gao impeached your brother Song Jiang the Vanguard Commander before the Emperor, accusing him of annihilating armies and killing generals, losing troops and disgracing the state, spreading great slander and seeking the Emperor to punish him. The Emperor was hesitating when Chen Guan, the Right Rectifier of Remarks, submitted a memorial impeaching Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and Qiu Gao for falsely accusing loyal and good men and driving out the worthy, stating that your troops had already crossed the strategic pass of Hegu and requesting the Emperor to punish Cai Jing and the others for their deceitful falsehoods. This offended Grand Preceptor Cai, who then sought faults against him. Yesterday he reported to the Emperor, saying, 'Chen Guan compiled the Zunyao Lu, in which he honors Shenzong as Yao, which implies he is slandering Your Majesty, and requests that Chen Guan be punished for slandering the Emperor.' Fortunately, the Emperor did not immediately impose punishment. Today I received your victory report, which not only gives Chen Guan face, but also relieves me of much worry and anxiety. Tomorrow at the morning court, I will present your victory memorial." Dai Zong bowed again in thanks, left the mansion to find lodging, rested and awaited orders, and there is no more to tell.

Now, the next day, Grand Marshal Su entered the palace for the morning court. The Daojun Emperor received his civil and military officials in the Wende Hall. After Grand Marshal Su finished his bows and prostrations, he presented Song Jiang's victory memorial, stating that Song Jiang and others had campaigned against Tian Hu, recapturing six prefectures and counties in total, and had now sent someone to present the victory memorial. The Emperor was greatly pleased. Grand Marshal Su Yuanjing further memorialized, "The Rectifier of Remarks Chen Guan compiled the Zunyao Lu, honoring the former Emperor Shenzong as Yao and Your Majesty as Shun. How can honoring Yao be considered a crime? Chen Guan has always been upright and unyielding, daring to speak on all matters, and has always had courage and strategy. I beg Your Majesty to bestow additional titles upon Chen Guan and order him to Hebei to supervise the troops, where he will surely achieve great merit." The Emperor approved the memorial and immediately issued an edict: "Chen Guan shall be promoted from his current post to Vice Director of the Privy Council, appointed as Pacification Commissioner, to lead twenty thousand imperial camp troops to the front of Song Jiang's army to supervise the campaign, and to carry rewards and silver to reward the officers and soldiers." The court then dispersed. Grand Marshal Su returned to his private residence and summoned Dai Zong to deliver a reply. Dai Zong, knowing an imperial edict had been issued, bid farewell to Grand Marshal Su, left the Eastern Capital, employed his magic traveling art, and arrived at Zhaode City the next day. The round trip to the Eastern Capital took exactly four days.

Song Jiang was inspecting troops and discussing the advance when Dai Zong returned. He eagerly asked about the news from the court. Dai Zong presented Grand Marshal Su's reply. Song Jiang opened and read it, then explained its contents in detail to all the chiefs. Everyone said, "It is rare for Pacification Commissioner Chen to be so loyal and courageous—we have not exerted our efforts in vain here." Song Jiang issued orders that they would advance only after receiving the imperial edict. The generals obeyed and stationed themselves in the city, and there is no more to tell.

Now, Lucheng County north of Zhaode City was a subordinate county of the prefecture. The defending general Chi Fang, upon learning that Daoist Qiao had been surrounded, immediately sent a report to Tian Hu in Weisheng requesting urgent aid. The false provincial official under Tian Hu received the urgent report from Chi Fang of Lucheng and was about to inform Tian Hu when it was reported that Jining had been lost and the Emperor's younger brother, the Third Prince Tian Biao, had barely escaped with his life to reach this place. Before he finished speaking, Tian Biao had already arrived. Tian Biao and the provincial official entered and paid their respects to Tian Biao. Tian Biao wept loudly and said, "The Song troops are so powerful that they broke through the walls of Jining, killed my son Tian Shi, and I barely escaped with my life to reach this place. I have lost territory and troops—I deserve ten thousand deaths!" He wept again. The provincial official then reported, "I just now received a report from Chi Fang, the defending general of Lucheng, saying that State Preceptor Qiao has been surrounded by Song troops and Zhaode is in imminent danger."

Upon hearing this, Tian Hu was greatly alarmed. He assembled his civil and military officials, including Right Prime Minister and Grand Preceptor Bian Xiang, Privy Councilor Fan Quan, and Commander Ma Ling, to discuss the matter at court: "Song Jiang has invaded our borders today, occupying two of our great western commanderies, killing many officers and soldiers, and Daoist Qiao has been surrounded by him. How will you handle this?" The Imperial Uncle Niu Li stepped forward and memorialized, "Your Majesty, do not worry! I have received the state's favor and am willing to lead troops to set out for Zhaode, determined to capture Song Jiang and his men and recover the seized cities." The Imperial Uncle Niu Li was originally a wealthy household in Weisheng. Niu Li was devoted to the spear and staff, had the strength of a thousand pounds in his two arms, could draw a powerful bow, and was accustomed to using a fifty-pound Pofeng broadsword. Tian Hu knew that his young sister was very beautiful and took her as his wife, then appointed Niu Li as Privy Councilor and called him Imperial Uncle. The Imperial Uncle Niu Li further memorialized, "My young daughter Qiongying recently dreamed of a divine being teaching her martial arts, and when she awoke, she had superhuman strength. Not only is she skilled in martial arts, but she also has a divine ability—she can throw stones by hand to strike birds and beasts with unerring accuracy. Recently, people have called her 'Qiong Arrowhead.' I recommend my young daughter as the vanguard, and she will surely succeed." Tian Hu immediately issued an edict, granting Qiongying the title of Commandery Princess. As soon as Niu Li finished thanking the Emperor for his favor, Commander Ma Ling also memorialized, "I am willing to lead troops to repel the enemy in Binyang." Tian Hu was greatly pleased and bestowed golden seals and tiger tallies, as well as pearls and precious treasures, upon both. Niu Li and Ma Ling each were given thirty thousand troops and ordered to set out immediately.

Without recounting Ma Ling's leading his subordinate officers and troops in their advance toward Fenyang, let us speak instead of State Uncle Wu Li, who received the king's decree and military tally, went to the parade ground, and selected thirty thousand soldiers. He had their swords, spears, bows, and arrows put in order, along with all other equipment. He returned to his residence, took the woman warrior Qiongying as his vanguard commander, entered the palace to take leave of Tian Hu, and made arrangements to set out. Qiongying, receiving her father's command, led her troops straight toward Zhaode. Now it was precisely because this woman warrior took the field that a chaste and valiant daughter would avenge a mortal foe, and a heroic general would find a perfect match in marriage. As to how this woman general challenged the enemy, you will hear explained in the next chapter.