by Shi Nai-An
Sung Chiang thought, "I am a most unfortunate fellow! I killed a girl, and am now in this awkward predicament. But who would have expected me to die in such a place as this." The soldiers now began to light the lamps. Sung
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Chiang was exceedingly cold, and sighed at his bad fate. About midnight three or four soldiers came from behind the big shed and said, "Our chieftain has now got up." They went to the lamps, and trimmed the candles. The chieftain soon came, and Sung Chiang stealthily looked at him. His hair was dressed in a knob on the top of his head, and was covered in a red silk turban. His gown was of bright red silk. He sat down in one of the chairs covered with a tiger skin. His name was Yen Shun, and his nickname was Sleek Tiger. His family was at Laichou in Shantung province. Previously he had been a horse dealer, but had lost all his money and so had become a bandit.
"Where did you capture this fellow!" he asked. The soldiers told him how this had happened.
"That is good," said Yen Shun. "Go and tell the other two chieftains to come here, and partake of this fellow."
A soldier went, and in a short time the two chiefs arrived. One of them was a dwarf, but had very brilliant eyes. His name was Wang Ying, and his nickname was Stunted Tiger. He was a Liang Hwei man, and had previously been a carter. He had once been arrested, and imprisoned because he had killed a passenger on the road and robbed him of his property. But later he had escaped from the jail. He had joined Yen Shun at the Pure Wind Mountain, and taken to brigandage.
The other chieftain had a white face, with a beard and mustache. He was broad shouldered but rather lanky. He wore a brown silk turban, and had a distinguished appearance. He was a Soochow man. His name was Cheng Tien-shou, and his nickname was White Faced Squire. Previously he had been a silversmith, and from his youth had been skillful with the cudgels, and had always been fond of strolling about. Once he had happened to meet Wang Ying, the Stunted Tiger, and they had fought for about fifty bouts without either being victorious. Yen Shun had been watching this fight, and had admired Cheng's skill so he invited him to come and join them as brigands.
The three chieftains sat down, and Stunted Tiger spoke, "Be quick, and let us have this fellow's liver made into sour soup for us three."
A soldier brought a large bowl of water, and placed it in front of Sung Chiang. Another soldier rolled up his sleeves,
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and took a knife for cutting out the heart. The first named soldier opened Sung Chiang's dress, and poured cold water over his bosom. The water was used to force the hot blood from the heart, and make the heart and liver tender when taken out. The cold water was splashed in Sung Chiang's face so that he gasped, and cried out, "What a pity that Sung Chiang should die like this!"
When Yen Shun heard the name Sung Chiang, he at once told the soldier to stop splashing the water on the man. He then asked, "What did that man say?" When the soldier repeated it, Yen Shun got up and asked, "Do you know Sung Chiang?"
"I am Sung Chiang."
"Which Sung Chiang do you mean?" asked Yen Shun.
"I am Sung Chiang who was a clerk in the yamen at Yun Cheng Hsien."
"Are you the Sung Chiang sometimes called 'Welcome Rain' who killed Miss Yen, and then escaped?"
"How do you know that?" asked Sung Chiang. "I certainly am that person."
Yen Shun was astonished. He took the knife from the soldier, and cut the ropes binding Sung Chiang. He then took the bright red silk gown he was wearing, and put it on Sung Chiang. He lifted him up, and seated him in his own chair. He then summoned the other two chieftains, and they all three went down on their knees and kotowed to Sung Chiang.
Sung Chiang arose and also gave them a kotow. He asked, "Why have you gentlemen not killed me? Why do you pay such respects to me?"
"I feel that I ought to gouge out my own eyes because they failed to recognize you," said Yen Shun. "I did not even ask you any questions so that I was almost on the point of killing a hero. If Heaven had not luckily moved you to say your name we should not have found out who you are. I have acted as a brigand for ten years, and during my travels I have heard that you distributed money in good cause and assisted people in distress. Only I have been so unfortunate that I could not pay you the respects earlier. Now I am contented that Heaven has arranged for us to meet to-day."
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"What virtuous acts have I done that you should now regard me in this manner?" asked Sung Chiang.
"Elder brother, you befriend great heroes, " said Yen Shun. "Your name resounds in all parts, and where is the man who would not respect you? Just now matters at Liang Shan Po are prospering, and that is known in all quarters. It has been said that all the prosperity there has been due to your assistance. I did not expect you to turn up at this spot."
Sung Chiang then told all the details of his adventures with Ch'ao Kai, his murdering of Miss Yen, and how he was now on his way to the Pure Wind Mountain to find Hwa Jung. All the chieftains were very glad to hear all this, and gave Sung Chiang clothes to put on. They had a sheep and pig killed, and that night they entertained Sung Chiang to feast. The next day Sung told them all about Wu Sung, and what that brave hero had done. The chieftains felt much regret that Wu Sung had gone to somewhere else without calling at their place.
It was the custom in Shantung province to visit the family graves during the first ten days of the last month of the year. One day a soldier reported that in the valley below there was a sedan chair followed by about eight men, who were carrying two boxes, and they were evidently going to a grave to offer sacrifices. Stunted Tiger was very fond of woman, and when he heard this report, he at once assumed that there might be a woman in the sedan chair. He summoned about fifty soldiers to follow him down the mountain. Sung Chiang and Yen Shun were opposed to this expedition, but could not stop it. The bandits seized their guns, and striking a gong they set off down the mountain. The other three (Sung Chiang, Yen Shun, and Cheng Tien-shou) were left behind, drinking wine.
About three hours later, a scout reported to Yen Shun that Stunted Tiger bad attacked the eight soldiers who had all run away, leaving the sedan chair in which was a woman. There were only incense sticks in the silver box.
"Where has the woman been taken to?" asked Yen Shun. "Stunted Tiger has taken her into his own room," was the reply. Yen Shun laughed. "Then our brother Wang Ying must be lustful, which is not creditable to a hero," said Sung Chiang.
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"He is very brave on all occasions," said Yen Shun, "but he has just that one fault." "Let us go, and give him some good advice," said Sung Chiang. So they all three went to Stunted Tiger's quarters, and upon pushing open the door they saw that he was embracing a woman, and was making solicitations. When he saw his friends he pushed the woman away from him, and asked them to be seated.
"Lady, what family do you belong to?" asked Sung Chiang. "What urgent business have you that brings you to this place?"
The woman blushed, and gave three feminine salutes. "I am of the family of the commander of Pure Wind Pass. My mother is dead so I seized this opportunity to visit her grave, and offer sacrifice to her spirit. I would not think of coming here on an idle trip. I beg you to save my life!"
Sung Chiang was startled on hearing this, and thought, "I was going to seek refuge with Mr. Hwa, the commander of Pure Wind Pass and this woman perhaps is his wife. Why should I not save her?" So he again asked, "If you are the wife of Mr. Hwa how is it that he did not accompany you to the grave?"
"I will tell you," said the woman. "I am not his wife."
"But just now you said you were the wife of the magistrate," said Sung Chiang.
"You do not understand," said the woman. "At Pure Wind Pass there are now two chiefs -- one military and the other civil. The military chief is Hwa Jung. The civil chief is Liu Kao, who is my husband."
Sung Chiang thought, "Her husband is a fellow officer of Hwa Jung. If I do not help her it will not look well for me to go and see my friend Hwa Jung
." He turned to Stunted Tiger, and said, "I have something to say to you, but I do not know whether you will like it or not."
Stunted Tiger said, "Elder brother, please say what you have to say."
"If a hero commits debauchery everybody is ashamed of him," said Sung Chiang. "This woman says she is the wife of an official appointed by the imperial court. What do you think if you take into account my friendly advice and the rules of common decency, and let her go to rejoin her husband?"
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"Brother, listen to me," said Stunted Tiger, "I have not a wife to accompany me at the stronghold, moreover in the present generation, many wives are monopolized by one person. Better leave this matter alone, and let me have this woman."
Sung Chiang knelt down and kotowed. He said, "Sir, if you want a wife, I will look round, and find you a very good one. I will endow her with wedding presents, and you can marry her. But this woman is the wife of an official, who is a comrade of my friend, so we must have some consideration of his feelings, and let this woman go."
Yen Shun and Cheng Tien-shou both raised Sung Chiang up, and said, "Elder brother, please get up. This matter will be easily arranged."
Sung Chiang said, "Thank you for not standing in the way of this being done."
Yen Shun saw that Sung Chiang was determined so without asking Stunted Tiger whether he agreed or not, he ordered the captive sedan chair coolies to take the woman away at once.
The woman upon hearing this order saluted Sung Chiang, and expressed her thanks many times.
"Lady," said Sung Chiang, "do not thank me. I am not a leader at this stronghold, but merely a guest from Yen Cheng Hsien."
The woman again expressed her thanks, and then entering the sedan chair, she was quickly borne down the mountain by the two coolies whose lives had been spared. They almost flew down the mountain as though they had very many legs.
Stunted Tiger was disappointed, and also ashamed.
Sung Chiang took him to the front hall telling him not to worry. "I will certainly get you a wife later on, and then you will be able to enjoy yourself. You can depend upon me keeping my promise."
Upon this both Yen Shun and Cheng Tien-shou laughed.
Stunted Tiger had been balked of his prey by the rules of decorum, but although he was angry he dared not say a word.
The soldiers reported the seizure of his wife to the magistrate Liu. He was very angry, and abused them for their dereliction of duty. He had them beaten as punishment.
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They stated that they were outnumbered as there were about forty of the bandits.
"Nonsense!" said the magistrate. "If you do not now go and recapture my wife, I will have you all put in prison."
The men had no escape so they asked other soldiers to join them, and altogether about eighty soldiers started off to rescue the magistrate's wife. They had not gone half the distance on the return journey when they met the two coolies carrying the sedan chair with the lady inside.
"How did you get away from the mountain?" asked they.
"Those fellows who seized me," said the lady, "were quite upset when I told them that I am the wife of magistrate Liu, and they at once ordered the chair coolies to take me down the mountain again."
The soldiers replied, "Lady, we pray you to say that we rescued you, and so save us from further punishments."
"I know how to speak to the magistrate," she said.
They all saluted and expressed their thanks. They all escorted the chair and went along. But the chair coolies still walked very quickly so the soldiers asked them, "In ordinary days you walked like ducks or geese, so how is it you hurry so much now?"
"We really cannot walk fast," said the chair coolies, "but we are afraid that those terrible fellows will catch us up and give us a beating."
The escort laughed and said, "Have you seen a devil? Where are the men following you?"
The chair coolies now dared to look round, and seeing nobody pursuing them they exclaimed, "Ai Ya! We have had no time to look behind before, because our heels were kicking our backs as we raced along."
When they reached the yamen the magistrate was very much pleased to see his wife again, and asked her who had rescued her.
"When those bandits seized me they made vile solicitations, but I did not listen to them, and they were going to kill me. When they heard however that I was your wife they were immediately startled and saluted me. When all these soldiers arrived on the scene, they rescued me, and brought me back."
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When the magistrate heard this he ordered ten jugs of wine and a roasted pig to be given to the soldiers as a reward for their efforts.
After the woman had left the mountain Sung Chiang stayed there about ten days, and then expressed his desire to visit commander Hwa. The three chiefs of the bandits did not want him to go, but at last they prepared a feast, and made him presents of much silver.
Sung Chiang bid them good-by. The three chiefs accompanied him down the mountain for about seven miles where they drank the parting cups of wine, and before separating they urged Sung Chiang to come and visit them again on the mountain when he left the magistrate's protection. This, Sung Chiang promised to do. If the author were living at that time, he would not have allowed Sung Chiang to depart and face death again in the Hwa Jung's service.
Why should people look for trouble,
Which is not like changing clouds?
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CHAPTER 32
SUNG CHIANG VISITS A LANTERNS' DISPLAY
DURING THE NIGHT; HWA JUNG MAKES
A ROW AT PURE WIND TOWN
THE Pure Wind Mountain was only about thirty miles from the Ching Chou Prefecture. In the prefecture was Pure Wind Town which had three roads leading to it from three wild mountains, and for which reason a military station was established there. The town had about five thousand families.
Sung Chiang traveled along one of these roads by himself, and upon reaching the town he inquired for the residence of magistrate Hwa Jung. He was told that the yamen was in the center of the town. The residence of the military officer was on the north side, and that of the civil official on the south side of the main road. Sung Chiang went to the military residence, and found several soldiers at the entrance. They asked for his name, and one then went inside to report his arrival. In a short time Hwa Jung came out and led Sung Chiang to a hall where he asked Sung Chiang to be seated on a divan and gave four salutes with the hands.
He then said, "I think it must be about six years since we separated, and during that period I have often thought of you. I heard that you had killed a loose woman, and the officials issued the usual proclamation for your arrest. When I heard of the case, I felt very uneasy and although I wrote several letters to your home I do not know whether you have received them. Now to-day I have the pleasure of meeting you, and am exceedingly delighted, and my anxiety has vanished."
Sung Chiang asked the magistrate Hwa Jung to be seated, and offer no further obeisance. He then told him all about his affairs, and how he had been detained at the Pure Wind Mountain.
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"Elder brother," said Hwa Jung, "you have experienced many difficulties. I am much pleased that you have come here. You can stay here for a few years with safety."
"While I was living with Sire Kung I received a letter from my younger brother telling me to come here. But even had I not received such a letter I would have come all the same."
Hwa Jung asked Sung Chiang to come into his private apartments where he introduced him to his wife -- Tsuei. He then introduced his sister also. After this Sung Chiang was asked to take a bath and to change his dress for dinner. During the meal Sung Chiang told Hwa Jung all the details of how he had assisted the wife of magistrate Liu to escape from the bandits, stronghold.
"It would have been much better if you had not interfered," said Hwa Jung frowningly.
"Is that not rather strange?" asked Sung Chiang. "When I heard that she
was the wife of your colleague I thought it better to restrain Stunted Tiger, and allow the woman to escape. Why do you now speak like this?"
"You do not understand. I am not boasting, but this is a very important place. If I were in sole charge here the brigands, near or far, would not dare to disturb the district. But recently this very stupid fellow was appointed to take the senior post. He was a civil official but illiterate, and as soon as he arrived he started to extort money from all the wealthy people. He never observed the imperial laws. As I was his assistant, he took every opportunity of insulting me, so that at times I felt much regret that I could not have killed him. Oh! why did you save his wife from ill-treatment? That woman has not a noble character and is always egging on her husband to do wicked things, to injure the people, and to squeeze money. It would have been much better had you allowed the bandits to debauch her. You made a mistake in rescuing such a bad woman."
