by Shi Nai-An
The two servants served the wine and food. It was evening before they had finished the meal, and then Chang Ch'ing brought out the priest's swords for Wu Sung to inspect. It was indeed made of excellent steel, and must have taken a long time in making. The two men talked about bandit adventures, killing of men, and incendiarism.
"There is a Shantung man called Sung Chiang, nicknamed Welcome Rain," said Wu Sung, "who has sought refuge just now with Squire Ch'ai."
The two soldiers upon hearing such talk were astonished, and rising kotowed to Wu Sung. Wu Sung spoke to them, "You two treated me well on the road, so I will never illtreat you. We are only speaking about bandits and robbers so you need not be afraid. We certainly would not injure good men like you. Take no notice of what we say, but just drink your wine, and to-morrow when we reach Meng Chou I will reward you."
They stayed at that place for the night, but next morning when Wu Sung wanted to depart, Chang Ch'ing was not willing to let him go. He gave way and stayed there for three days more. At last he recognized the generosity of Chang Ch'ing and his wife. Chang Ch'ing was Dine years older than Wu Sung, and therefore he adopted the latter as his younger brother. At last when Wu Sung decided to depart Chang Ch'ing prepared the parting cup of wine, and bade him farewell, and gave him about ten ounces and the two soldiers about three ounces of silver. Wu Sung gave his silver to the soldiers, and put on again his cangue. Upon leaving Wu Sung could not avoid shedding tears at the kindness received from Chang Ch'ing and his wife.
Wu Sung and his escort reached Meng Chou the following morning. They went straight to the yamen, and presented the dispatch from Tung Ping Fu. After the magistrate had perused the dispatch, he wrote a reply, handed it to the soldiers who returned to Tung Ping Fu. Wu Sung was sent to the prison, but just as he got to the entrance he noticed a
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signboard with the three characters, "An Ping Ch'ai." He was put in a cell by himself. He had not been there long before about ten men in the adjoining cell came to speak to him saying, "Kind sir, if you have any letters of recommendation or any money, you must not forget to hand them to the man who will come to search you. If you give him money he will see that the blows with the bamboo are only light, but if he gets no money the blows will be extremely severe. We are criminals like yourself, and therefore tell you what to expect. Do you not know the saying, 'When the hare dies the fox mourns; and so animals grieve for their kind.' As you have only just arrived we thought it better to tell you about this."
"I am much obliged to you for the information," said Wu Sung. "I have something at my side, and if the man is polite to me I will give it to him. But if he demands anything I will not give him a cent."
A prisoner said, "Sir you should not talk like that. There is an ancient saying, 'Do not fear the government, but rather fear to be governed.' When you are under the eaves of a low house you have to bend your head. It would be better if you took a little care." While he was saying this another prisoner called out, "Here comes the head jailer!" At this all the prisoners dispersed. Wu Sung fastened his belt, and sat down in his cell. Soon the head jailer entered and asked, "Where is that new prisoner?"
"I am the man," replied Wu Sung.
"Well, you seem to have eyes, ears, and yet you have got to be told," said the head jailer. "You are the man who killed a tiger on Ching Yang Ridge and was a drill inspector at Yang Ku Hsien, so I suppose you know how matters are arranged. How dare you come here where I am! There is not even a cat here that you dare beat."
"Did you come here to talk and expect me to give you something?" asked Wu Sung. "But I have not got anything to give you except my two fists. I have, however, a little silver, but I shall want that to buy food and wine for myself. So what shall you do? How would it do if you took me back to Yang Ku Hsien?"
The head jailer retired in an angry mood, and immediately the prisoners crowded forward, and said, "Sir, you treated him roughly, and it won't be long before you are in trouble.
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He will certainly go and speak to the warden of the jail and put an end to your life."
"I am not afraid," replied Wu Sung, "let him try and do his worst. Civility meets civility; violence meets violence."
While he was saying this about four jailers came and entering his cell called out in a loud voice, "Now, where is that new prisoner Wu Sung?"
To which Wu Sung replied, "I am here! I will not go away! But why do you shout like that?"
The men did not reply to this, but took him away to the Inspection Office where the warden was seated. About six soldiers took charge of him, and placed him in front of the warden who ordered that the cangue be removed. The warden then addressed him. "Prisoner, are you aware of the old decrees of the Emperor T'ai Tsu, Wu Te, that the newly arrived exile should receive one hundred severe blows with the bamboo?"
"There is no need for many men to be employed in that," said Wu Sung. "If you want to beat me there will be no need for men to hold me down. If I flinch from a single blow I forfeit my reputation of being a tiger-killer. You need not be too careful in keeping a count of the blows as it won't matter if there are a few extra. If I make any noise I forfeit my name of being the brave man of Yang Ku Hsien."
The bystanders laughed at this, and one said, "This foolish fellow is looking for death! We shall see how he can stand the torture."
Wu Sung continued, "Make the blows as hard as you like, show no kindness to me. I shall not be pleased if you show me any favor."
The audience on both sides again laughed. Two men seized the bamboo, and shouted as he advanced. Standing at the side of the governor, however, was a very tall man of about twenty-five years of age. He had a fair complexion and a small beard of three tufts. He wore a white crape girdle round his waist. That man whispered something into the warden's ear who then spoke, "Prisoner Wu Sung, what illness had you on the way to this place?"
"I had no illness at all but just drank and ate on the journey."
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"This man must have been taken ill on the road, judging by his appearance," said the warden, "so perhaps I ought to postpone beating him with the bamboo."
The two men who were ordered to beat him whispered to Wu Sung, "You say at once that you are sick. The warden wishes to show mercy to you. You better offer an excuse."
"I am not sick," said Wu Sung. "I do not want to stop them from beating me. Let them beat me and so finish the matter. If they don't do it now. I shall always be expecting it."
The audience and also the warden laughed at this, and the latter said, "I think that he must have a fever, and he is talking in this delirious way because he has not had a good sweat to get the fever out. We will not listen to what he says now, and put him in solitary confinement."
About four soldiers took him back to his cell, where all the other prisoners crowded outside and asked, "Did your friend write a letter to the warden?" Wu Sung denied this and they continued. "In that case it is not good, because they will now come in the night and kill you."
"How will they kill me?"
"They will bring you two big bowls of rice, and after you have eaten that, they will take you inside the prison. There they will swathe you tightly in cordage, stop up your nostrils, ears, and mouth, and then turn you upside down and leave you against the wall. In less than an hour you will be dead."
"What else might they do?"
The prisoners replied, "They might bind you with ropes, and then get a sandbag and press it tightly on your body. Again, if they do that you will die in less than an hour."
"Have they any other way of killing me?" asked Wu Sung.
"Those two are what most men are afraid of, and the others are not as bad." While they were speaking a soldier came bearing a basket and asked where Wu Sung, the drill inspector, was. Wu Sung laughed and said, "Here I am! What have you to say?"
The man replied that the warden had sent some refreshment for him. Wu Sung looked and saw a bowl of wine, a plate
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of meat, a plate of vermicelli, and a bowl of soup. He wondered what their plan was in sending him such food. He thought it better to partake of the meal, and wait for developments. He did this, and had soon finished the food. The soldier took all the vessels away, and then Wu Sung sat down and soliloquized, "I wonder what they will do next." When it was nearly dark the head jailer came with a round box, and said, "I am sent here with your supper." Wu Sung saw that there was vegetable, wine, meat, fish soup, and rice. He thought, "Surely they will kill me after I have eaten this meal! If I eat all this and then die I shall at least be a well-fed ghost. Let they do what they may. After supper I will think of some scheme."
The soldier waited until Wu Sung had finished the meal, and then removed the crockery. But he soon came back with another soldier, one carrying a tub, and the other, a bucket full of hot water, and they asked Wu Sung to take a bath. Wu Sung thought that they would kill him after the bath. "But I am not afraid of them, so I will take my bath." The soldiers emptied the hot water in the tub, and Wu Sung had his bath. When finished he was supplied with a towel, and told to dress. One soldier emptied the water, and took the tub and towel back. The other soldier spread the gauze silk mosquito net, arranged the cool bedding and pillow, and then withdrew. Wu Sung put the bar across the door, and then sat down to think matters over. "What is their intention in all this? Let them do as they like. I will watch the proceedings?" So he went to sleep and nothing happened during the night.
He was awake quite early and opening the door of his cell he saw the same soldier who had waited on him the previous night, and he had now brought a basin of water for Wu Sung to wash his face. He had also brought a cup of cold water with which Wu Sung rinsed his mouth. A barber came and dressed Wu Sung's long hair into a knot on the top of his head, and. then inclosed the knot in a small hood. Still another man entered with his breakfast of rice, meatsoup, and vegetables. He ate his breakfast, and then drank a cup of tea. Just then the man who brought the food asked him to remove to another cell which was much more convenient, and would save time at meal. He agreed
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to this, and the servant took him to another room, and when the door was opened he saw that the apartment was very clean and the bed nice and tidy. The furniture appeared to be quite new. But Wu Sung was still perplexed as to why they bad brought him to such a comfortable place. The room was very much better than the place he had been in. He sat down there until noon, when a man brought him a jug of wine with four kinds of fruit, roasted chicken, and some pancakes. The man took the chicken in his hands, and tore it into small pieces. He poured out the wine, arranged the chopsticks, and invited Wu Sung to dine. Wu Sung was however still perplexed as to the mystery of all this fine treatment.
In the evening they brought his supper, and allowed him to enjoy the cool in the open. He could not help but think of what the other prisoners had predicted, so this treatment made him more and more perplexed.
During the third day he was treated in the same way, and he even went for a stroll in the prison yard after breakfast. He saw many prisoners in the sun cutting firewood, carrying water, and doing various odd jobs. It was a very hot day in the month of August, and he was sorry that they had no shade from the heat of the sun's rays. Walking up to them with his hands behind his back he asked why they worked in the sun. They laughed at the question and one man replied, "Sir, we have been sent here to work, and this place is like heaven compared with some other places. We should not care to think that this place is too hot. Many prisoners are not so well treated, but remain chained up in cells, and whether they wish to live or die makes no dif ference."
Wu Sung walked away to the prison shrine (King of Heaven's Hall) where by an urn for burning papers he noticed a large stone block which had a hole in the center to hold a staff. He took his seat on it for some time and then returned to his apartment, where a servant brought his food again.
But we need not go into the details of his daily life. For several days he got his food and wine, and he was still doubtful as to the outcome of it. But one day he could not endure this suspicion any longer so when the servant brought
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his food he asked him who was his master, and how it was that he sent him nice food every day. The man replied that he had previously told Wu Sung that he was the confidential servant of the warden.
"But who tells you to bring me this food and wine every day?"
"It is the warden's son who instructs me to do this."
"But I am a criminal and I have not done anything for the warden's son so why does he treat me in this way?"
"That I do not know. But he told me that after three months like this he would explain matters fully."
"How strange! It seems to me that they are just feeding me so as to fatten me ready for killing. It is quite a riddle, and how can I guess its real meaning? How can I eat the food with ease, if the matter is not explained clearly? What kind of man is your young master, and where did we meet before? If I knew that, I might eat the food with contentment."
"He is the same man who stood on the right of the warden with his forehead wrapped in white cloth when your case first came into court."
"So he is that man? When I was on the point of being beaten he said something to the warden, and thus saved me from that, I suppose."
"That is so," said the man.
"How strange! I am a Ching Ho Hsien man, whereas he is a Meng Chou man, and as we are not acquainted with each other how is it that he treats me like this? I think he must have a reason for this, but what is it? But I ask you one more question: What is his name?"
"He is Shih En with the nickname, 'Golden Eyed Tiger's Cub.' He is skillful with the cudgels."
"He must be a good fellow. You go and request him to come here, and have an interview with me. When he does that then I will partake of his food. If you won't go and ask him to meet me then I won't eat any more."
"But he told me also that I was not to speak with you much, as after about three months he would come and explain matters to you himself."
"Don't talk nonsense! You go and ask him to come here now, and that will settle the matter."
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The man was afraid, and was unwilling to do this. Seeing this Wu Sung was vexed, and sprang up. The man at once withdrew to carry out the request.
After quite a long time Shih En came hurriedly, and upon seeing Wu Sung knelt down. Wu Sung ran forward to raise him up, and said, "I am a criminal, and have not had the honor of meeting you before. A few days ago I was beholden to you for saving me from a beating, and since then I have been honored by your kindly sending me food and wine. This you ought not to have done. You have not given me any work to do, so I am a useless fellow, and in eating your food I feel guilty and uneasy."
"I have long heard of your name like a crash of thunder," said Shih En. "But unfortunately we have ever been separated by impassable roads so that I could not meet you. Fortunately we meet to-day and I must pay you respect. I am sorry that as I had no suitable presents for you, I did not dare to approach you before."
"Your servant told me that in about three months you would have something definite to say to me. Now, what is it you wish to say?"
"My servant was simply outspoken to your question, but he did not know anything about the matter. How could he talk in that reckless manner?"
"You evade my question with literary skill! But why not tell me now instead of leaving me in a melancholy frame of mind? Please speak outright! Do you want me to do something?"
"As the servant has said this, I will tell you. As you are a great hero and a straightforward man, I have one thing to request you to do for me, which nobody else can do. But you came from a good distance, and must have been tired upon your arrival here, and have not had time to regain your strength. So if you will now rest for a few months to restore your strength, I will tell you something when you are in better form."
Wu Sung burst in
to loud laughter upon hearing this, and said, "Last year I was very ill with fever for three months, but when passing Ching Yang Ridge I being somewhat tipsy killed a tiger with only three blows of my fist and a couple of kicks. Am I not better to-day than on that occasion?"
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"I cannot tell you about the affair just now. We had better wait until you are quite in good health, and then I will tell you.”
"But why do you think that I am not strong now? Well, yesterday I was at the King of Heaven's Shrine, and saw there a large boulder. What is the weight of that?"
"I am afraid that it may be about four hundred pounds in weight," said Shih En.
"I will go there with you to see whether I can lift it or not.
"Let us finish our wine, and then I will go with you," said Shih En.
"I would rather go first, and drink the wine when we come back," replied Wu Sung.
So they both went to the King of Heaven's Shrine, and when they arrived the prisoners there stood to attention, and gave salutations.
Wu Sung took hold of the boulder, and moved it. He laughed and said, "I am now so delicate that I cannot move it?"
"That is a very heavy stone, and you cannot make little of it," said Shih En.
"So you really think I cannot lift it up? All of you get out of the way, and watch me lift it." He then took off his upper garments, and tied them round his waist, and easily lifted the stone up. He threw it away, and it fell with a thud on the ground making a hole about a foot deep. All the bystanders were thunderstruck at this. But Wu Sung had not finished. He now seized the stone with one hand, drew it out of the hole, and hurled it about ten feet high. As it fell he caught it in both hands, and gently placed it in its original place. He immediately turned round and faced the crowd of spectators, and they could see that his face was not red; his heart was not palpitating, and that he was not out of breath from his exertion.
