Adventures of the Mad Monk Ji Gong

by Guo Xiaoting

  As soon as Cloud Dragon realized that he could not long remain there, he left Four Rivers. When he reached Yushan prefecture in Kiangsi province, he heard people say that there was a prominent official named Yang Ming in charge of armed escorts for travelers and merchants. People spoke of him as one who could quell disorders in every direction. Yang Ming was a brave man himself, and he liked to form friendships with men who were talented, intelligent, and courageous.

  At Ruyi Village in the Phoenix Mountain Range area, Cloud Dragon went to pay his respects. In response to Yun Long’s request, the household servant went inside to announce him. As soon as Yang Ming heard who it was, knowing that Cloud Dragon was a dissolute thief who some said had committed rape, he told the servant that he would not see him. The servant went outside and said, “Our master is not at home.”

  There was nothing else Cloud Dragon could do, so he went away. After several days someone mentioned that Yang Ming was at home. Again Cloud Dragon went to visit him, but was not admitted. Altogether Cloud Dragon went three times to see Yang Ming, and on this third occasion Yang Ming invited him in to talk.

  Hua Yun Long was by nature a person who could converse easily. He saw that Yang Ming was tall with a slender waist, that he wore a blue silk kerchief tied around the knot of hair at the base of his head with a golden ornament in the shape of two dragons contending for a jewel, an embroidered blue silk robe, a sash with the male and female phoenix, and brocade slippers. His head was erect and his features pleasant. His beard divided into three parts as it fell toward his chest.

  Cloud Dragon was filled with both admiration and envy as he said, “This younger brother has heard of Older Brother’s great name and deeply longed to see you. Now it is my great good fortune to meet you—truly good fortune enough for three lives.”

  Yang Ming replied, “As ignorant as I am, what can I do to serve you? I am honored by your refined attention and surprised that we have not met before.”

  And so the two made several polite remarks.

  Then Cloud Dragon went on. “I am but a guest in a place strange to me, young and knowing nothing. Perhaps Elder Brother could advise me.”

  Yang Ming was pleased that Cloud Dragon could make polite conversation, and detained him in the great hall to eat and drink. During the meal, Yang Ming remarked that it had been said that while Cloud Dragon was in Four Rivers he had been involved in a case of flower plucking. Hua Yun Long regretted what he had done. Yang Ming wished to turn him from his vicious ways. He might play among the flowers but he was not to pluck them. Hua Yun Long was willing to follow Yang Ming’s advice.

  Thereupon Yang Ming sent out invitations. Altogether there were thirty-six brave men who came, including the young Chen Liang, who had hoped to become a follower of Ji Gong, with his friend Lei Ming. They all welcomed Cloud Dragon and congratulated him upon his rehabilitation. After they had drunk wine with blood to show their brotherhood, they departed.

  Hua Yun Long remained at Yang Ming’s home. When he had nothing to do, he sometimes visited the town with Yang Ming. He learned to throw the javelin and studied the art of sword fighting. And so he passed three years there, until one day he felt a desire to go to the capital, Linan. Yang Ming gave him one hundred ounces of silver for traveling expenses, cautioned him against getting into trouble, and urged him to return soon safely.

  Cloud Dragon left Ruyi Village and journeyed alone, sleeping during the day and traveling by night, eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty, until he reached Linan. He first stopped outside the Qiantang Gate. In the street he saw crowds of people and a great number of store-fronts. On the north side of the road he saw an inn named the Riverfront Tower. The piece of red cloth hanging by its corner showed it to be a wine shop, while the teapot sign announced food. On either side of the door were carved characters that read: The drunkard’s universe expands, while in the wine pot time extends.

  Hua Yun Long thought that he would have a couple of cups of wine, and quickly entered. At first sight, he noticed that upstairs and downstairs were both busy. He went upstairs and found a table. Turning his head to the east, he saw seated beneath a window a man wearing a six-sided embroidered, and a dark-blue jacket with arrows on the sleeves, and a wide leather belt. The man’s eyes were rather strange and a narrow beard hung from his chin. He was sitting alone holding a cup of wine. Cloud Dragon recognized him and immediately went over to his table, saying, “I have not seen Elder Brother since we parted in Four Rivers, and never expected to meet here. Are you well?”

  The man laughed and replied, “So it is my dear younger brother Hua. We indeed have come a thousand leagues to meet.”

  Now this man was surnamed Wang, with the personal name of Tong. His nickname was “the Monkey with Iron Legs.” He had been, in fact, one of the chief robbers back in Four Rivers, and he had been a sworn brother of Cloud Dragon back in the Greenwood. The two had met many times before, and today, meeting in this way, each wanted to tell whatever had happened since they parted.

  The two sat down together and again ordered wine and food. As they drank, Wang Tong asked, “Second Brother, since you and I parted in Four Rivers, where, dear brother, have you been preserving your body and what did you come here for today?”

  Cloud Dragon told the whole story from beginning to end of how he had met Yang Ming in Jiangsi and about the thirty-six friends who had assembled to congratulate him upon his reform from vicious habits. Then he asked, “Did Elder Brother come here to see the sights, or are you about some business?”

  “I came here because of a person against whom I have a grudge,” Wang Tong replied. “An elder brother in the provincial capital needed money and signed a note. Later, because he could not pay two hundred ounces of silver, this dog of an official threw my elder brother in jail, where he died. At that time I was not at home, and only learned about it when I returned. I went to find that dog of an official and avenge my brother’s wrong. Not knowing where the dog was to be found, I have just come here to Linan and have not yet found an inn. You and I can stay at the same place.”

  “Good!” said Cloud Dragon. “I also have just arrived.”

  As the two men were speaking, they heard a coughing sound from the stairway and a man came up carrying a wicker basket of fruit. He was about forty years old. He was wearing a blue kerchief on his head and a padded jacket and pants. His skin was yellow. His eyebrows were thin, and a small bird-beak of nose marked the center of his round face.

  He wanted to drink some wine. After looking around the room, he quickly came up to Cloud Dragon’s table, put down his wicker basket, and said as he bowed toward the floor, “Ah, so, it is my two masters. This small person presents his respects.”

  When Hua looked at him, he said, “Let me guess who this is. It is Liu Chang.” Liu Chang had been born in Four Rivers and for a very long time had associated with the men of the Greenwood as a dishwasher or servant. When it became known that he was connected to their affairs, he had run away to Linan and had become a peddler. Now he knelt in front of the two robbers.

  “Get up, Liu Chang,” said Wang Tong. “What are you doing here? Where do you live and where are the fashionable and busy spots? Tell us and we will listen. We two have just arrived and are not acquainted with the people or places.”

  “Then my two masters should go sightseeing at West Lake,” Liu Chang answered. “The three great avenues in town have every kind of merchant and shop. The West Lake has its ten famous views and the best hill of worship under heaven. All of these are busy and crowded places. Come with me, and in the evening you need not stay at an inn. I have a small building where you may stay.”

  Upon hearing this, Cloud Dragon was very pleased. Liu Chang sat down and ate and drank with them. When the three had finished their meal, Wang Tong paid the bill and they went downstairs and out of the restaurant. In the street as they walked to City God Hill, the crowds of people seemed endless. The woods were beautiful and many people were walking to and fro under the trees.
As they went on, they saw approaching them a sedan chair. In it was sitting a young woman with a face as lovely and delicate as a flower. No snowy heron in all its beauty could have compared with her. No jewels could have been compared to her eyes.

  To Cloud Dragon she seemed hardly to be an earthly being. He followed the sedan chair back to the Qiantang Gate. He saw the sedan chair enter the Bird and Bamboo Nunnery. Looking back, he saw Wang Tang and Liu Chang, who had been walking behind him. When they had reached a place where there were no people, he asked Liu Chang, “Do you know where this woman comes from?”

  Liu Chang said, “Master, you must not think about her. That is the daughter of Shao Tongpan. She was to be given to Son Taokang in marriage, but before she left the family’s gate the son of the Son family died. As soon as he died, the daughter of the Shao family went to pay her respects to the parents of the dead young man. Then she said, ‘I do not bear your son’s name, but our betrothal has made us the same as man and wife. Open the coffin and I will look at him.’ The Son family had someone open the coffin. Immediately, the girl cut off her hair. Although both the boy’s parents and her own have urged her against doing so, she is taking her hair to the Bird and Bamboo Nunnery and is going to become a nun. This is the young woman that you have just seen. Since the second master asked, I have to tell you that you must think of someone else. I am afraid this one cannot be for you.”

  When Cloud Dragon heard, his heart leaped. He decided that, when night came, he would go to the nunnery and pluck that heavenly flower.

  CHAPTER 32

  The Robber Rat creeps into the nunnery; Prime Minister Qin reads the robber’s message

  WHEN Cloud Dragon heard what Liu Chang said, he did not say anything in return. The three ate dinner that evening and went to Liu Chang’s house outside the Qiantang Gate. When the drum sounded the first watch of the night, Cloud Dragon lay awake until he saw that Wang and Liu Chang were sleeping. Then Cloud Dragon got up and opened a bundle. He took out his black close-fitting thief’s garments, changed, packed his other light-colored clothing into the bag, and using the cords inside the bag fastened it to his back. Then he slipped his broad-sword into its flat leather sheath and tied it to his waist. He left the house and fastened the door. Looking up, he saw a sky full of stars and a great bridge of moonlight. With one leap, he was on the wall and then out of the courtyard. There were no watchmen to be seen.

  Arriving at the nunnery, he went up onto the roof. Looking about, he saw a great temple hall, three stories high. Just east of it was a corner gate and a courtyard. Continuing over the roofs he saw that the eastern courtyard had a one-story building of three sections to the north, and similar buildings to the east and west. On the south side there was a wall. In the courtyard there was a pine tree and a few bamboo. There was a flickering light in the north building and the sound of low voices chanting a sutra. He leaped down in front of the northern building.

  Making a small hole in the paper window, he looked in and saw a brick platform bed along the opposite wall. On the bed was a small table with a candle. There were four nuns of fourteen or fifteen years old. One was holding a sutra and reading while the rest followed. At the east end of the room was a long table piled high with sutras. In front of it was a smaller square table with an armchair at each side. In one of them sat a nun, about sixty years old with a kind face, listening to the young nuns chant.

  Hua Yun Long looked for a while. The young woman who had cut off her hair and brought it to the nunnery was nowhere in sight. He turned and crept to the eastern building. Outside the window there, he again made a hole in the paper and looked within. Again he saw a brick platform bed with a small table, upon which was a candle. There beside it sat the young woman he had seen that day sitting in the sedan chair. She was in the middle of reading a sutra by the light of the candle. When Cloud Dragon saw her, he pushed the door open and entered the room.

  As she was reading, Shao Shi was frightened to see a man dressed all in black carrying a sword entering the room. Immediately she asked, “Who are you and why do you enter a quiet Buddhist place at night in this manner? Answer me!”

  Cloud Dragon replied, “Young lady, today I saw you passing the City God Hill in your sedan chair. I saw that you were very beautiful. I followed you here. This is why I have come here tonight to find you. If you are willing, for a little while we will just exchange the wine cups of marriage.”

  The young woman blushed as she said, “Leave this place at once or I will call out and summon our teacher, who will send you to the yamen. Then it will be too late to simply regret what you have done.”

  Hearing her, Cloud Dragon Hua asked angrily, “Will you do what I wish, or not? If you will not, then look at this!” He drew his sword from its scabbard.

  At the sight, the young woman who would die to defend her chastity called out, “Help! Murder! Save me!”

  When he heard her, Cloud Dragon feared that someone would come. He stepped forward and grasped her shortened hair, raised his sword, and with one slash killed her. It was sad to see the young woman return to the red dust just as she was saying a prayer, but Cloud Dragon was happy. Now that he had killed her, he felt satisfied.

  Outside the old nun was saying, “Who is there that comes among us to make trouble?” As she opened the door and entered, Cloud Dragon became anxious. He struck her once with a sword upon her head, and as she turned, again in her face. She said only, “Ah! Ah!” and fell to the ground. Cloud Dragon took advantage of that moment to leap into the courtyard and haul himself up onto the roof. He then returned to Liu Chang’s by his earlier route.

  Liu Chang had just awakened. “Where have you been, Second Master Hua?” he asked.

  Cloud Dragon did not try to hide the truth, but told all the details of his flower-plucking affair. As soon as he started to speak, Wang Tong awoke, and understanding what had happened, remarked, “Younger Brother has only just arrived and already he has performed this terrible act. I fear that you will not be able to remain here long.”

  At this Cloud Dragon chuckled. “It’s nothing to worry about. It gives our local headmen something to do. I would like to hear what people are saying.”

  After this Wang Tong and Liu Chang arose. The sky was growing light.

  “Liu Chang,” Cloud Dragon said, “You go and do your buying and selling. Do not go sightseeing with us. You have your business to do.”

  Liu Chang agreed, and Wang Tong went with Cloud Dragon toward the Qiantang Gate. The street was already crowded. They could hear snatches of talk about the murder at the Bird and Bamboo Nunnery. Wang Tong said, “Younger Brother, let us find a quiet and pleasant place to drink a little wine. Let us not do our sightseeing here.”

  The two men quickly hastened through the Qiantang Gate into the city. Here also the streets were crowded. On the north side of Phoenix Hill Street there was a place called the Tai Shan Tower. It was a large restaurant selling wine and food. Deciding to eat and drink there, the two quickly went in. Seeing that the place was crowded, they went upstairs. At one table there was a man seated alone. His complexion was like bronze powder. He wore a blue head kerchief and a long blue robe. His eyes and other features had an evil and ugly look. There were four or five servants about. It did not seem like an ordinary place of business.

  They sat down for some time, but no one came to wait on them. After a while, they heard the man with the bronze complexion, who seemed to be the manager, ask: “Just now as I was coming upstairs, what was that I heard you waiters talking about?”

  One of them replied, “Don’t even mention it! Why don’t you eat your bowl of rice or look out the window at the crowd! Well! You must know that outside the Qiantang Gate there is a Bird and Bamboo Nunnery. Yesterday morning the chaste widow of a young son cut off her hair and took it there. Last night a dirty robber killed her! He also seriously wounded the old nun and in a little while she died. Don’t you think that strange?”

  Then they heard the manager with the coppery com
plexion say, “That robber is truly hateful. It is too bad that a licentious outlaw should kill such a virtuous person. No doubt he was the sort of villain who had something foul done to him and he wanted to do the same thing to someone else.”

  Cloud Dragon was so angry that his eyes were sending out sparks. Yet it did not seem to be a good time to speak out. But his anger was rising within him. He stamped loudly on the floor with one foot, saying loudly, “Have you no eyes? When two masters have been waiting for half the day, why do you not come to our table?”

  One of the waiters looked over and retorted: “You needn’t shout. If you came here to find fault, ask around to find out who opened this business. Let me tell you. Since this business was opened, there has been more than one who was beaten up here. In fact, scores of people have been beaten up. And after they were beaten, we took one of our cards and sent it with each of them to the local yamen. I tell you this in a nice way. Do not criticize.”

  When Hua Yun Long heard this, his eyes flashed as he said, “We two masters do not care who opened this place. If you turn your head away from me, I will burn your place down. Call the owner and I will have a talk with him. Even though he has three heads growing from his neck or six arms sprouting from his shoulders, I will turn up his eyes for good.”