by Shi Nai-An
On the sixth day the superintendent summoned Lin Ch'ung to come to the place where the roll of prisoners was generally called, and said to him, "You have been here a long time, but we have not promoted you in spite of the influence of Squire Ch'ai. About five miles outside the Eastern Gate there is a forage depot for the army. Every month we receive hay and fodder. There is an old soldier there who manages the depot, and you can exchange duties with him, and perhaps make some extra money for yourself. You can go with the head jailer, and take over the new duty."
Lin Ch'ung replied that he would go. He then left the prison, and went to Li Hsiao-erh's place. Where he asked them what they thought of the new arrangement.
Li Hsiao-erh said that the new job was much better than looking after the temple, as he could make money. And previously anybody who got that position had to bribe the superintendent.
"But instead of injuring me he is giving me a better job. I cannot understand this move."
Li Hsiao-erh said, "Well, you need not be suspicious, because if there is no trouble it will be very fine. That place is a long way from here, but when I have time I will go and see you." He got some wine, and offered it to Lin Ch'ung. When they separated Lin Ch'ung went back to the Lord of Heaven's Shrine packed up his bundle, and took his dagger, and a long spear. He then took leave of the superintendent, and departed with the head jailer, for the forage depot. The weather was extremely cold with a clouded sky. A cold wind was blowing from the north and snow was failing heavily. On the way there was no inn where they could stop for a drink of wine, and they soon reached the depot. There was mud wall running round the inclosure, and a large gate with two leaves. Pushing the gate open they saw inside about eight sheds for beans,etc., many stacks of hay on all sides, and two rooms for the
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caretaker. When they came to the caretaker's rooms they found the old soldier warming his hands at the fire.
The head jailer said, "The superintendent has sent this man Lin Ch'ung to take over your duties, and you are to perform his duties at the Lord of Heaven's Shrine. So you can hand over the place immediately."
The old soldier took the keys, and said to Lin Ch'ung "The officials have sealed up the doors of the sheds containing the fodder, but you had better count the number of stacks of hay." After doing this they returned to the living quarters. The old soldier then got his baggage together, and when leaving he said, "I will lend you the stove, the rice boiler, the cups and saucers."
Lin Ch'ung said he had such things at the Lord of Heaven's Shrine, and if he liked he could use them.
The old soldier pointed to a gourd on the wall, and said, "Should you want to buy some wine you can take that to a small village or market about a mile from here in an easterly direction." He then departed with the head jailer.
Lin Ch'ung put the baggage away, and spread his quilts on the bed. At the back of the room was some firweood and charcoal so he put some on the stove which was standing close to his bed. Upon lying down and looking at the ceiling he noticed that there were many holes through which the wind was blowing strongly.
He soliloquized, I cannot stay here all winter with the roof like that, so when it is fine I will go into the town, and get a bricklayer to come and repair the roof." After a little time he felt cold so he remembered what the old soldier had told him, and decided to go to the village and buy some wine. He took some silver from his bag, picked up his spear and the gourd for the wine and put a cover on the fire. He put on his felt cap, and locked the doors. Then carrying the keys with him he went along the road towards the east. The snow lay deep on the ground like masses of beautiful white jade, and as there was a strong north wind blowing he walked sideways with his back half to the wind. The snow was falling fast, and he had not gone more than a quarter of a mile when he saw an old temple at the side of the road. He entered and bowing his head to the image he said, "Protect me, O ye gods, and later I will
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burn paper money for you." He then resumed his journey, and soon came to a number of houses. He saw a bamboo fence with a signboard of a wine shop sticking outside. He entered the wine shop, and the proprietor spoke to him. "Where are you from?"
"Do you recognize this gourd?"
The proprietor said that it belonged to the old soldier at the fodder depot.
Lin Ch'ung admitted it. "Since you are the keeper of the fodder compound please take a seat," said the proprietor. "And as the weather is very cold, you had better have three glasses of wine on my account as you are a new comer." He brought forward a kettle of hot wine, and also cut up a plateful of beef, and requested him to dine.
Lin Ch'ung took out some silver and with it bought his gourd full of wine, and placed the beef away in his breast, and expressed his thanks for their kind treatment. He then left the inn, and faced the strong, cold wind. He saw that the snow was falling more heavily than before. He trudged through the snow, heading the cold north wind, and hurried to the fodder depot where he unlocked the door, and entered his miserable quarters.
The gods in heaven protect good and just men, and they no doubt saved the life of Lin Ch'ung by this heavy fall of snow, which by its weight had broken down the grass hut where he was going to sleep. When he saw this he wondered what he must do. He was afraid that the stove might ignite the debris so putting his lance and gourd down on the snow he parted the grass and looked underneath. Creeping inside he found that the fire had been extinguished by the snow. He then felt around for the bed, and dragged away the cotton quilt. Withdrawing his body from the wreckage he looked around and as it was quite dark and he had no place to make a fire he wondered what he must do. He remembered however that there was the old temple a few hundred yards down the road where he could shelter. So he decided to go and sleep there for the night, and arrange matters the following day. He rolled up the quilt, and carrying the gourd of wine on the lance over his shoulder he locked the gate again, and left for the temple. Upon entering the temple he closed the door, and placed a large
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stone against it. Looking round he saw an image of the "Mountain Spirit" covered with gilt armor, attended by a recorder, and a small devil on each side. On one side was a large pile of loose paper, and there was evidently nobody in charge. Placing his spear and the gourd of wine on the heap of paper, he unrolled his quilt, and shaked the snow off his clothes. His felt cap and outer gown were very wet so he took them off, and placed them on the altar. He then lay down with the quilt covering half his body, and drank the wine, and ate the meat which he had brought with him.
While lying there he heard a sound of crackling outside so he jumped up and peeping through a hole in the window he saw that the fodder depot was all in flames. He went to get his spear with the object of going to put out, the fire when he heard some men outside talking. Hiding behind the door he found that there were three men who were coming to the temple. They pushed at the door but could not open it on account of the large stone he had placed there. So they stood under the eaves of the temple watching the fire, and one man spoke, "Is not this a good plan?"
Another man remarked, "Both of you, the superintendent and the head jailer certainly arranged the matter very well, and when I get back to the Eastern Capital, and report it to the Minister for War, you two will certainly be promoted. Then Drill Inspector Chang will have no ground for further objection to the marriage."
Another man said, "Lin Ch'ung has certainly been caught in our trap this time. Master Kao will soon be cured of his sickness now!"
Another man said, "A man was sent four or five times to plead with Drill Inspector Chang, and said that Lin Ch'ung (his son-in-law) was dead. But Chang would not agree to let his daughter remarry. As Master Kao only got worse the Minister for War ordered us to do this business, and we did not expect to get it finished so soon."
Another man said, "I went inside the fence and lit about ten stacks of hay on every side, so that he could not get out."
Another man said, "I
t is nearly all burnt down now."
Lin Chung listening heard another man say: "Even if
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Lin Ch'ung escapes he will have to answer a serious charge of allowing a big depot full of army fodder to be burnt."
The other man said, "Let us go back to the town."
A man said, "It will be better if we wait until the fire is out, and then we can go and get one or two of his bones, and then when we report the matter to the Minister for War and also Master Kao, they will see that we did the work thoroughly."
Lin Ch'ung knew by listening that one of the men was the head jailer, and the others were Lu Ch'ien and Fu An. He thought, "Heaven has had pity on Lin Ch'ung! If that straw hut had not fallen down I would certainly have been burnt to death." He then quietly removed the stone from the door, and holding his spear in one hand he opened the door with his left hand, and shouted out, "Where are you thieves going?"
The three men wanted to get away at once, but they were so startled that they could not move. Lin Ch'ung stabbed the head jailer with his spear. Lu Ch'ien called out, "Spare my life!" but he was so frightened out of his wits that he could not move either hand or foot. Fu An ran about ten steps, but Lin Ch'ung caught him up and stabbed him in the back. He turned round, and saw that Lu Ch'ien had walked away a few steps. He shouted at him, "You villain! Where are you going?" He seized Lu Ch'ien, and threw him on the ground. He then stuck his spear in the ground, and planted his foot on Lu Ch'ien's breast. He then drew his sword, and lay it across Lu Ch'ien's face. He shouted, "You villain! Previously I had no hatred of you so why did you try to injure me?" An old saying says, "Murder may be excused sometimes, but generally no excuse can be allowed."
Lu Ch'ien said, "This was not my affair. I am only carrying out the order of the Minister for War, and dared not disobey."
Lin Ch’ung abused him, "You villain! I have been a friend of yours since we were children, and yet you come now to kill me, although you say it is not your business. I will give you a taste of my sword." He opened Lu Ch'ien's dress, and made a big wound in his breast -- the blood rushing out in all directions. He then plucked out his heart.
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Turning his head he noticed that the head jailer had got up, and was getting away. Lin Ch'ung pushed him down, and shouted, "You are a vile fellow I will also give you a taste of my sword! He then cut off his head and stuckit to the end of his spear. He then cut off the heads of Lu Ch' en and Fu An, and tying the hair in one knot took all three heads into the temple, and placed them on the altar. He then put on his gown, and cap, and drank the wine from the gourd. Then picking up his spear he left the temple going east. After walking about a mile he came to a village where the men were getting hooks and buckets of water to go and put out the fire. Lin Ch'ung said to them, "You had better hurry up if you are going to put out the fire. I am going to report the matter to the officials." He then proceeded on his way. The snow was still falling heavily. After walking for about an hour his body was very cold. Looking round he saw that the flames of the fodder depot were now a long way off. Where he had stopped was a dense forest and among the trees were a number of straw huts covered with heavy snow. Through the cracks gleams of light were streaming. He walked towards the huts, and pushing open the door of one, he saw inside an old farmer, and about five farm laborers sitting in a circle round a glaring fire warming their hands. He entered and standing facing the old farmer, he said, "Gentlemen, I salute you. I am employed at the fodder depot belonging to the prison, and as my clothes are wet through I request that you allow me to dry them at your fire."
"You can dry them if you like," said the farmer.
As Lin Ch'ung was drying his clothes he saw at the side of the fire a jar that was being warmed, and from which came the aroma of wine. So he told them that he had some silver, and wished to buy some of their wine.
The farmer said, "We take turns during the night in guarding the rice bin and we each take a drink of the wine as it is so cold. It is now about 4 a.m., and as there won't be enough for us how can we let you have some? There is no chance of you getting any."
"Just sell me only two or three cups of wine to keep out the cold."
The farmer said, "Don't be so greedy!"
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But Lin Ch'ung could not withstand the aroma of the wine so he said, "There is no other way. I must have some."
All the men replied, "We have been kind enough to let you dry your clothes, and now you want to drink our wine. Get off at once, and if you don 't go we shall have to tie you up.
Upon hearing this Lin Ch'ung became angry, and said that they were very unreasonable. He then took his spear, and putting it under a piece of wood in the fire be flicked the wood into the face of the old farmer burning his mustache. He then scattered the remains of the fire. The farm laborers jumped up, and the farmer ran outside. Lin Ch'ung thrust about him with his spear, and the laborers ran away, but not before they had been beaten with the spear.
Lin Ch'ung soliloquized, "So they have all gone! Now, you sir can make merry with the wine." Above the bed were two ladles so taking one he poured out half of the wine, and drank it off. Then picking up his spear he left the hut. But he had drunk too much, and staggered about in an directions. After walking a short distance he came to a ravine where the bitterly cold wind brought him down. It is generally the case that drunken men once fallen cannot get up again, and Lin Ch'ung lay in the snow in his drunken sleep.
The farm laborers had got the assistance of more than twenty men, but upon reaching the straw hut they could not find Lin Ch'ung. So they followed his footprints in the snow, and so came to the place where he was lying in the snow with his spear at his side. They tied him up with ropes, and then carried him away to another place. Afterwards, it happened that many thousands of armed boats were arranged in close order in a pool of water surrounded by high reeds, and in the middle of the pool was a fortress occupied by over a hundred valiant heroes.
Malice harbored deadly dim;
Chilled to the marrow in the bones.
We will now relate what this place was where the farm laborers had brought Lin Ch'ung.
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CHAPTER 10
CHU KWEI SHOOTS A WHISTLING ARROW FROM
AN ARBOR; LIN CH'UNG ARRIVED AT LIANG SHAN
PO IN THE NIGHT DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM
WHILE the Leopard's Head (Lin Ch'ung) was drunk he lay down in the snow, and being unable to rise was seized and bound by the farm laborers, and carried to a courtyard. A farm laborer came out of the yard and said to them, "Our master has not got up yet so you had better hang this man up by his hands under the tower at the gate. By daybreak Lin Ch'ung had recovered from his drunkenness. Looking round he realized that he was in the yard of a big farm. He shouted out, "Who has dared to hang me up in this way?"
A farm laborer hearing him shouting came from inside the gateway, with a stick and spoke in a loud voice to him, "So your spirit is still unbroken?"
The farmer whose mustache had been singed also came on the scene and said, "Don't ask him; just beat him! When our master gets up he will cross-examine him minutely." The farm laborer beat him accordingly.
Lin Ch'ung had to submit to this beating, but he said, "Never mind this! I have something to say to you."
Just.then another farm laborer came on the scene, and said that the master was coming. Lin Ch'ung saw him strolling with his hands behind his back, and upon arriving at the veranda he heard him say, "Whom are you beating?"
The farm laborers replied, "Last night we arrested this man who was stealing our rice!"
The gentleman approaching recognized Lin Ch'ung. He immediately told the laborers to go away, and releasing him asked, "Drill inspector, how is it that you were hung up here?"
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The farm laborers all retired.
Lin Ch'ung recognized Ch'ai Chin (Small Whirlwind), and immediately said, "Sir, please save me!"
Ch'ai Chin said, "Drill insp
ector, why have you allowed these villagers to disgrace you, and bring you here?"
Lin Ch'ung said, "That is hard to explain in a few words."
The two men went inside and sat down. Lin Ch'ung then related in detail what had happened at the forage depot.
After listening to this Ch'ai Chin said, Elder brother, you have been unfortunate. But to-day Heaven has taken pity and made all straight again, so that you need not worry any more. This is my Eastern Village. You can rest here for a few days, and then we will discuss your affairs again." He then told a laborer to bring a new suit of clothes for Lin Ch'ung, and also to set out wine and food in the room which had a fire in it, as he would ask Lin Ch'ung to dine with him. Lin Ch'ung stayed at that place for about a week, but we need not say anything more about that.
The superintendent of the prison at Tsangchou reported to his superior officer that Lin Ch'ung had killed the head jailer, Lu Ch'ien, and Fu Au, and had set fire to the army fodder depot. Upon hearing of this the magistrate was upset, and immediately issued an order to every district and police. man and village that all lower officials were to do their best to arrest Lin Ch'ung. Full particulars were, to be given and a full description of Lin Ch'ung was to be placarded in every village and inn on the roads, and a reward of three thousand strings of cash was to be given to any person who gave information leading to his arrest. They were also to make a strict inquiry and search for Lin Ch'ung in every house in their districts.
When Lin Ch'ung heard of these measures being taken he was so afraid that he felt as though he was sitting on a carpet full of needles. He waited until Squire Ch'ai Chin returned to that village, and then spoke to him. "I know that you do not want me to go, but I really must depart as these officials are making careful inquiries, and a strict search for me from house to house. Should they come to your village you will most certainly be implicated. As I am aware of your liberal-mindedness I beg you to lend me some money to cover my traveling expenses, and I will
