by Shi Nai-An
Lu Ta upon hearing this said, "So that is the case. But if I have the means of causing him to change his mind about taking away your daughter, how will that do?"
"He is king of devils, and kills men without moving an eyelash, so how can you get him to change his mind?"
"I studied under the abbot at Wu Tai Shan and therefore I can speak reasonably. Even if he were a man of iron or stone I could alter his decision. Tell your daughter to hide in some other place this evening, and I will stay in her room."
"That will be fine but do not pull the tiger's whiskers," said Sire Liu.
"Is not that my business?" asked Lu Ta. "Leave it to me and I'll do the correct thing."
"Certainly it will be all right," said Sire Liu, "we are very lucky in meeting such a living Buddha as you."
He then asked Lu Ta if he would like something more to eat but the latter replied, "only wine." Sire Liu ordered the servants to bring a big bowl of wine as well as a cooked goose, both of which were eaten by the priest, who told the servants to place his bundle in the room. Then putting his sword in his belt and picking up his priest's staff, he asked if the girl was in hiding, Sire Liu had sent his daughter to a neighbor's house, and led Lu Ta to the bride's apartment. The servants withdrew to prepare the banquet. Lu Ta placed the tables
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and chairs that were in the room to one side; put his sword at the head, and his staff at the side, of the bed; let down the bed curtains covered with gilt letters, took off his clothes and lay down.
Sire Liu saw that it was getting dark so he told the servants to light the lanterns which were outside. He had a table placed on the threshing floor on which were flowers, incense sticks, and lanterns. He also instructed them to get a dish of meat ready, and heat a large kettle of wine. About ten o'clock they heard the sound of gongs and drums being beaten on the hill. Sire Liu thought of a vile scheme, and the servants were almost in a state of panic. They all went outside the gate of the farm but upon seeing in the distance a great illumination from five hundred torches, they fled into the farmhouse. Sire Liu had the gate opened and proceeded to welcome the guests. He saw two bodies of men, one in front of the other. They were armed with all kinds of military weapons, glittering in the light, and were decorated with red and green silk. The bandits had stuck wildflowers in their caps, and carried four or five red gauze lanterns, which lit the road for their leader who was riding a horse. On his head he had a flat topped cap of red color, and near his temple was a large imitation flower made of silk, he wore a long green gown with tiger design embroidered in gold, round his waist a red sash fastened with a golden buckle, standing away from this a few inches a stiff girdle was suspended; leather boots with designs of clouds on them. He was riding a big white horse and dismounted at the gate of the farmhouse. The bandits offered congratulations by singing:
"To-night his cap is very bright
"For he is a bridegroom;
"Clothed with handsome dress is he
"And all his cheek's abloom."
Sire Liu poured out a cupful of wine and kneeling on the ground, offered it to the bandit leader, who, however, raised him, saying; "You are my father-in-law so why do you kneel before me?"
"As you are the chief of this district, and my family is under your control you should not object like this," replied Sire Liu.
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The bandit chief was almost drunk and laughingly replied, "As I am to be your son-in-law I will treat you fairly; as your daughter is to be my wife things will soon be all right." Upon reaching the threshing floor, the bandit chief saw the preparations, and asked, "Father-in-law, why do you receive me in this way?" He drank three cups of wine at that spot. He told his men to tie up his horse to a poplar, and went toward the guest room. His men began to play on the musical instruments and beat the drums. Upon entering the guest room the bandit chief sat down, asking for his wife. Sire Liu replied, "My daughter is so timid that she dare not come here." The robber chief laughed, and taking a cup of wine said, "I should like my wife to come here and drink some wine with me."
Sire Liu thought this a suitable opportunity for the priest to act as mediator, so he requested the guest to come with him. He took a candle, and going to the bridal chamber pointed, saying, "This is the room. Please enter." Sire Liu took the candle and departed, as he did not expect trouble. The bandit chief pushed the door open, and saw that the interior was dark. He said, "My wife's father is really so economical that he has not even a lamp lighted in the room, and let my wife to sit in the dark. To-morrow I will tell one of my men to bring a bucket of good oil to my mountain stronghold, so that my wife can light the lamp there."
Lu Ta lying inside the bed curtains heard all this, but he suppressed his inclination to laugh and made no sound.
The bandit chief felt his way into the dark room, calling out, "Wife, why do you not come to receive me? You need not be so timid because to-morrow you will be the leading woman in my stronghold." Feeling his way in the darkness, and calling "wife, wife," he at last touched the embroidered bed curtains, and lifted them. Then reaching with his hand he felt the belly of Lu Ta. The latter at once took hold of the bandit chief's head and pressed him down on the bed. The chief struggled to get up but Lu Ta abused him. "You are certainly a robber of women" and lifting his fist struck a blow. "Why do you hit your husband?" he asked. Lu Ta shouted, "I am teaching you how to recognize your old woman." He pulled him to the floor at the side of the bed.
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belabored him with him fist, and kicked him, while the' bandit called out, "Save me, save me." Upon hearing this Sire Liu was almost startled out of his wits, and hastily picking up a lamp, led the bandits into the room. There they saw a big fat priest, stark-naked, on top of the bandit chief, beating him. The bandits had their spears and cudgels, and Lu Ta, upon seeing these, let go the chief and got his priest's staff from the bed. The men seeing his fierce bearing, all retreated, followed by Lu Ta. Seizing the opportunity the bandit leader crawled to the door of the room, and walked into the yard. He soon found his unsaddled horse in the dark, broke off a twig from the tree, and jumped on the horse. He hit the horse with the twig but it did not move. The robber leader said to himself, "What a nuisance! Even the horse despises me!" He then realized that he had omitted to loosen the reins which were still fastened to the tree. He quickly snatched them, and the horse galloped away with him. As he passed through the. gate, he cursed Sire Liu; saying, "You, old ass, need not hurry. Wherever you fly, I shall catch you." He lashed the horse which carried him up the mountain. Sire Liu caught hold of Lu Ta, saying, "Master, you have brought trouble to my home."
"You cannot say that I have done something improper," replied Lu Ta. "Bring me my clothes, and when dressed I will talk with you." This was done, and Sire Liu said, "I hoped you would be reasonable, and get him to change his mind. I did not expect you to assault him; he will now gather a large body of his men and come to kill us."
"Sire, do not get excited, and I will tell you something," replied Lu Ta. "I am a major, in the army of Generalissimo and Grand Secretary Liang at Yen An Fu. I became a priest because I killed a man. You need not speak of these bandits, for I should not be afraid of two thousands of them on foot or mounted. If you do not believe me then pick up my priest's staff and look at it." A servant tried to lift the staff but he could not move it. Lu Ta, however, picked it up in his hand, and whirled it round as though it were only a lamp wick made of rush.
"Teacher, you must stay here and protect us," said Liu.
"That is needless talk because I will not go away."
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The farmer told his servants to bring more wine, but to be careful not to make the guest drunk.
"If I drink only a little wine, I can do only a small piece of business, but if I drink a lot, then I can do more," said Lu Ta.
On Tao Hwa Shan, the principal head of the bandits was thinking of sending one of his men to inquire about his second in command's marriage.
When the armed bandits returned with a defeated appearance he asked why they were in such disorder, and they told him that their second in command bad been defeated. At this he was surprised, but while he was listening to details, his assistant arrived. He noticed that he was not wearing the usual red cloth round his head, and that his green dress was in tatters. As he dismounted in front of the main building he called, "Elder brother, please save me," and when he was asked for an explanation, he continued, "l went down the mountain to the village where Sire Liu lives, and found that the detestable old donkey had hidden the woman, and had got a big priest to lie on the bed in her place. I was quite unprepared for attack, and when I groped my way to the bed, and touched him, he hit me with his fists, kicked me, and severely maltreated me. When my men entered the room he chased them out, and while this was happening I managed to get away. Elder brother, I want revenge."
The principal bandit leader answered, "So, this is it! You rest indoors, while I go and seize this bald-headed thief." He then commanded his men to get his horse ready. He mounted, and led his men down the mountain, who shouted as they went along. Lu Ta was drinking wine, when a servant reported that the bandits were again approaching. "Keep cool!" said Lu Ta, "I will knock them down, and you can tie them up and take them to the yamen. Let somebody bring my sword." He then took off his long gown, tucked his short underclothing in his belt; put on his sword; he picked up the iron priest's staff, and strode to the gate where he saw the bandit leader seated on a horse, and holding a spear, surrounded by many torches. He heard him shout, "Where is that baldheaded donkey? Tell him to come at once as we must fight out the matter." Lu Ta was angry and abused him, "You dirty rascal! You shall certainly recognize
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me." He then lifted his iron priest's staff and whirled it round.
The leader of the bandits called, "The sound of your voice is familiar to me. What is your name?"
Lu Ta answered, "I am none other than Major Lu Ta, in the employment of Grand Secretary and Generalissimo Liang. Just now, however, I am a priest called Lu Chih-shen."
The leader of the bandits laughed, and dismounted, and threw away his spear, knelt down, and making salutations said, "Is my elder brother quite well? I am aware that my younger brother felt the weight of your hand."
As Lu Ta suspected that was a trick he retreated several steps, and examined the man closely by the light of the torches. He then recognized him as a drill instructor who had often sold medicine on the streets, and was named Li Chung, with a nickname "The Tiger Hunter." In those days the thieves did not consider it advisable to say "kneel down" in their band, so they used another expression, "Scissors and Brush"; as a kind of code. Li Chung now arose and said, "Elder brother, why are you a priest?"
"I will talk that over with you indoors," replied Lu Ta.
When Sire Liu heard this he was afraid of more trouble, as he thought that they both were thieves. When Lu Ta was inside, put on his clothes, sat at a table, and called for Sire Liu, the latter did not care to come. So Lu Ta said, "Sire, you need not fear. He is my younger brother." When Sire Liu heard this he was more confused: still he came forward, and sat on Lu Ta's left. Lu Ta gave a resume of how he had killed the Bully and afterwards entered a monastery where be became drunk on two occasions, had been expelled, and sent to Kaifeng.
Li Chung explained that when he heard Lu Ta had killed the butcher at Wei Chou, he tried to find him. Hearing the police wished to arrest him, he also went away. He happened to pass near this mountain and was attacked by the bandits in charge of Chou Tung, nicknamed "Little Tyrant": but he repulsed them, so they invited him to join them as their leader.
"As things are like this you need not say anything about the bridal fiasco," said Lu Ta, "because if Chou Tung had taken the girl, her father would have become a vagrant."
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Sire Liu was much pleased at this and ordered the servants to bring wine and food, and entertained his two guests well. He also ordered that each of the bandits was to have two small loaves of bread, two slices of meat, and a big cup of wine. Lu Ta told Li Chung to take the gold and silk, prepared by Sire Liu and give them back to "Little Tyrant." Li Chung asked both of them to come to the stronghold on the mountain and stay for a few days: this was agreed to. Sedan chairs were prepared for Lu Ta and Liu, while Li Chung rode his horse. It was daybreak, and upon arrival at the stronghold they entered the hall to discuss matters. Chou Tung was sent for, but when he saw the priest he was angry, and said, "So my elder brother has not carried out my revenge, but asked the priest to come, and invited him to sit in the premier place."
Li Chung laughed, "This priest is the one who killed the Bully with three blows of his fist, about which I have told you many times."
Chou Tung rubbed his head and exclaimed, "Ai Ya"! He then knelt and saluted Lu Ta, who returned the compliment, saying, "Pray excuse my intrusion." They all sat down and Lu Ta explained the position to Chou Tung, advising him to break his engagement, and find a better girl. The wedding presents were handed to him. Chou Tung agreed to this, and promised to let the matter drop, saying, "This is a vow taken with the breaking of an arrow." [2]
Sire Liu was satisfied and returned home while the bandits prepared a feast for Lu Ta. During the following days they took their guest all over the mountain to see the splendid wild scenery. The mountain was covered with grass and trees, and was difficult of access, there being only one road. After a few days, however, Lu Ta saw that Li Chung and Chou Tung were mean, and had no nobility in their natures. When he told them he wanted to leave, they pressed him to remain but he reminded them he being a priest could not join them.
The bandit chiefs said, "As you have definitely decided to go, please wait until to-morrow, when we will go down the
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mountain, and plunder somebody for some money, which we will give you for your traveling expenses."
The next day they made a big banquet at which the wine cups were of gold and silver, but just as they sat down one of their men came to report that below were two carts with about ten travelers. Upon hearing this the bandit chiefs summoned their followers and said to Lu Ta, "Elder brother, you will have to drink our wine by yourself, but we will leave two men to wait upon you. We must go and get the money for you." So saying they left with their men.
Lu Ta thought, "These two men are certainly very mean as they have plenty of gold and silver here to give me, but instead they want to plunder other people for money and give it to me. Is not this being generous at other people's expense? So I will frighten these two men who are attending on me." He then told the men to bring him some warm wine, and after drinking same he got up and knocked them down with his fists. He then took their girdles, and tied their arms and legs. He gagged them with balls of hempen thread; he opened his bundles and threw away everything that was not needed; and then taking the gold and silver cups he made them flat by stamping on them, and packed them in his bundles. He hid the letter from abbot Chen in his breast pocket; put on his sword; picked up his priest staff, and left the stronghold. He had a good look round, and saw that the mountain behind the stronghold was very wild. If, however, he went down the mountain by the ordinary road he was sure to meet the brigands, so he decided to descend the mountain by rolling down through the grass. He tied his sword, and the priest staff to the bundle, and threw them down the steep slope. He then rolled himself down to the foot of the mountain without sustaining any injury. He soon found his bundle, and started on his way.
The bandit chiefs attacked the travelers, who resisted for a long time, but seeing that they were outnumbered they at last retreated abandoning their baggage. Upon returning to their stronghold with the loot, the chiefs discovered that Lu Ta had gone, and had taken away the gold and silver cups, and at first they thought of pursuing him, but after a little discussion they agreed to let the matter drop.
That day Lu Ta walked a distance of about twenty miles
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wi
thout coming across an inn so that by evening he was very hungry. Just then lie happened to hear the tinkling of a bell, which he knew was the sound of a bell hanging at the eaves of a Taoist temple, and it was moved by the wind. So he decided to investigate this. We will now relate what this temple was.
A score of souls,
Were lost in half a day;
Temples of long standing,
In ambers mere now laid.
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CHAPTER 5
SHIH CHIN ACTS AS A HIGHWAYMAN IN
A PINE FOREST; LU TA SETS FIRE
TO THE WA KWAN TEMPLE
LU TA had crossed several mountain ridges before he entered a pine forest, and still following a path for about half one li he at last came to a ruined temple on the eaves of which bells were tinkling in the breeze. Above the main entrance was an honorary tablet in a horizontal position with four characters "Wa Kwan Chih Temple" in a dilapidated condition. He crossed a stone bridge, and entering the temple went to the priest's living rooms. There he found there were no doors, windows or walls left standing, and wondered how the place had been destroyed. Near the abbot's living quarters the ground was covered with bird's excreta, and there a door was locked and covered with spider's webs. He stuck his staff into the ground and called out, "Are there any priests here? I want some food." Although he said this several times there was no reply. So he went to the kitchen, but found that there was no boiler and that the cooking range had all been destroyed. There be placed his bundle in the seat usually occupied by the supervisor at meal times, and then went to look round the place. Behind the kitchen he found a small room in which several emaciated old priests were sitting on the ground. He shouted, "You priests have no manners. I called out several times without getting a single reply from you."
