by Guo Xiaoting
As Lei Ming heard this, he slashed toward the ghostly presence.
CHAPTER 74
Three heroes take shelter under the Jin family roof; Chen Liang questions
a fellow villager
AT the time when Lei Ming and Chen Liang had heard the voice say, “I smell a stranger,” Lei Ming had not answered, but had drawn his sword. Then he saw the bamboo curtain at the door move and a female form start to enter. “What is this hellish thing?” asked Lei Ming, and slashed with his sword. Then he saw a flash of light, and the being fled, but the sword had found its mark. On the floor there was blood and tawny fur. Whether it was that of a fox or a wolf he could not tell.
As soon as Lei Ming cried out, the old yuanwai and some household people lit the lamps and went to have a look. They saw the blood and the fur, but they also were unable to tell what sort of a beast it was.
This fox spirit, with its centuries of Daoist arts, was the same one that Ji Gong had confronted earlier. It had not changed its bad habits. Now wounded by Lei Ming, it fled back to the depths of the mountains, but it remembered the warning of Ji Gong and guessed that Lei Ming was the ragged monk’s follower.
Seeing proof that Lei Ming had driven away the bestial spirit, Jin Yuanwai thanked Lei Ming profusely. Everyone talked until daylight. Then the old yuanwai brought out two hundred pieces of silver to give to Lei Ming. He protested, but the yuanwai would not accept Lei Ming’s refusal. The three then divided the silver into three shares and left the village.
“You see, my brothers,” said Lei Ming, “we didn’t do so badly—a free meal, free lodging, and some sixty coins of silver each!”
“Yes, but after this you had better not try such a dangerous thing again,” warned Yang Ming. “If that fox had had red hair, it might have eaten you. Whatever power you had came from the fact that you were still under Ji Gong’s protection.”
As they neared their destination, the road led through the woods. Chen Liang had dropped slightly behind. Suddenly, a tall man approached from the rear. He was wearing close-fitting dark-blue clothing and his hair was in the style of an ox heart. He had a knife in hand with which he stabbed at Chen Liang’s back. Chen Liang ran forward a few steps, then turned and was easily able to overpower the man and bring him to his knees.
“You’re a brave fellow,” jeered Chen Liang. “You just can’t get your eyes open.”
The man immediately began to beg, “Honored sir, spare my life.”
“You probably have been a robber for a long time and you are probably wanted in connection with some case. What’s your name and where do you come from? I am ready to grant you your life if you answer my questions honestly!” responded Chen Liang.
The man answered in a frank and open manner. “I am from the Danyang district in Jenjiang prefecture.”
When Chen Liang heard this and also recognized the familiar accent, he thought to himself, “There was a reason I didn’t kill him! He might be a distant relative.” Aloud he said, “You say that you are from Danyang—what is your surname and in what village do you live?”
“I live in the little Chen family town,” the robber responded.
On hearing this, Chen wondered, “Why don’t I know him if he lives in Chen family town?” Again he asked the robber’s name and also asked where in the Chen family town he lived.
“I live north of the crossroads. My surname is Chen and I am called Liang. My nickname is the White Monkey with the Miraculous Hands,” the robber answered.
When Chen heard this, his anger boiled over and he slapped the robber’s face.
Yang Ming and Lei Ming, who had not gone very far ahead, ran back and Yang Ming asked, “What is going on, Old Third?”
“He came up behind me on the road and was about to stab me when I caught him, but that’s nothing! Elder Brother, you ask him what his name is,” Chen Liang replied, upset.
“So what is your name?” asked Yang Ming.
“My name is Chen Liang,” answered the robber, “and I am known as the White Monkey with the Miraculous Hands.”
“You borrowed yourself a name, you misbegotten liar,” Lei Ming snorted. “So you’re Chen Liang! Are you still Chen Liang?”
“I must be losing my eyesight. I’m from Danyang,” the robber whined. “I am from Danyang, but I am not named Chen. My name is Song, Song the Eighth Immortal, but because I knew there was an honorable heroic gentleman named Chen the Third, I borrowed his name. What are your honorable names?”
“I am Yang Ming and he is Lei Ming,” Yang Ming said.
“So you are the famed Yang Ming,” said the robber, “and you are the honorable Lei Ming of the Whirlwind. I hope you three will pardon me!”
“Let me give you a little silver,” said Yang Ming, “and you can try doing something else instead of robbing people.”
“Don’t bother, Elder Brother, why not snip off that calabash and let it go at that!” said Lei Ming, using the outlaw word for head. “That big gourd will make a good water holder.”
“I beg you three gentlemen, spare my life! Where are you going?”
“We’re going to the place of Ma Jahu, the father of Ma Ran,” answered Yang Ming.
“Ah, intimate friends! Pull apart while still alive! Up over the walls for silver,” said the robber in the black language of the river pirates. “The more water, the more fish”—implying that the three were going over the walls.
Lei Ming gave the still-kneeling man a kick. “Who taught you to talk like that? Be off with you!” At that the man jumped up and ran off.
The three hastened onward to the home of Ma Jahu and arrived at the village while it was still daylight. When they inquired after the official Ma, everyone knew him and said that his home was on the north side, just beyond the crossroad. As soon as they understood, they went on to the crossroad, and there it was. When they knocked, a house servant about thirty years of age came out and inquired in a very friendly manner, “Whom do you wish to see?”
“I have come on the orders of Ji Gong,” said Yang Ming, “with a letter to be delivered personally.”
“Of course,” said the manservant. “Will you three please wait here while I go in and announce that you have arrived.” He turned and quickly went inside.
Ma Ran was in the library talking with the iron-faced Zheng Xiong. He had just heard from a servant who had gone shopping at Changshan about the bandit caught there, called the Tangled Hair Ghost, and how the river pirates had come in a gang of several hundred to rescue him, killing the watchman. “Brother Xiong,” said Ma Ran, “tonight we will post our guard soldiers around the place.”
Just as they were talking, the manservant came to say, “There are three men who say they were sent by Ji Gong with a letter which they want to deliver personally.”
“Ask them,” directed Ma Ran, “whether they were coming this way and brought the letter as a favor, whether they were sent urgently with the letter, or whether they were paid by Ji Gong to deliver it.”
When the servant returned and said that they were sent urgently, Ma Ran came out with the servant and led them through one courtyard into a second, where they entered a large hall. The three noticed that Ma Ran was dressed in the rich clothing of a wealthy official, with a jade ornament at the front of the kerchief on his head; he was evidently in his early thirties, with a neat, black beard. With him was an impressive man of military appearance dressed all in black. Assembled in the room were a number of men, some in uniform. The three escorts were seated with the rest. Tea was served and names were exchanged.
Ma Ran took the letter and noticed Ji Gong’s mark on the outside, a cracked wine jar mended with seven rivets. After he had opened and read the letter, his face took on a serious expression.
CHAPTER 75
Yang Ming defends a country mansion; Zhou Rui is given leave from duty
SEEING the change in Ma Ran’s expression, Zheng Xiong asked, “What is it, my dear brother?”
“This is terrible!” exclaimed Ma R
an. “Look at these eight phrases!”
Zheng Xiong took the letter and read: “In valiantly coming to a traveler’s aid, it seems that you have stirred up trouble. Now a great flock of robbers has gathered, intending to invade the official residence and take revenge for holding one of theirs in prison. If Ma Ran does not quickly guard against them, his entire family will be killed by these outlaws.”
As Zheng Xiong read he said, “Ah, Ji Gong! He foretells with no rituals. What do you think we should do, dear brother?”
“Things do not look good,” said Ma Ran.
“Brother Yang,” asked Zheng Xiong, “what do you three usually do by way of occupation?”
“We have been acting as guard escorts elsewhere,” replied Yang Ming. “I have not heard your honorable name.”
“Really, I had forgotten,” said Ma Ran. “This is my sworn brother Zheng Xiong, sometimes called the Ironfaced.”
“I am happy to meet you,” said Yang Ming.
“Brother Yang,” said Ma Ran, “Since you are escorts, there is something I must beg you to do.”
“What is that?” asked Yang Ming.
“Read this note from Ji Gong,” said Ma Ran. “I recently offended a robber, a member of the Greenwood. Tonight the robbers are coming to kill this entire family. I have a few old people here with no special skills. I would beg you three to help us, but I don’t know how you would feel about it.”
Yang Ming took the letter. As soon as he looked at it, he understood. He thought about it for some time and then he said, “In this matter, Great Official Ma, I cannot fulfill your request unless I know which group of outlaws these are. If they are from the Jade Mountain Green-wood and I went against them, then I would be finished. If they are from the Four Rivers band, not only am I not worried, but I have a grudge against them.”
When Ma Ran heard this, he replied, “I have been aware for a long time that a person named Yang Ming was generous, that he thought no more of gold than dirt, and that he valued chivalry above property. It was only because of these character traits that I dared to ask if he could help. Nevertheless, if this day we have to part, I would not expect anything else from him.”
Yang Ming courteously replied, “Whatever happens, there are things beyond our control. I will certainly always respect you and feel as if we were old acquaintances at first sight. Indeed, if you are willing to accept my help, I wish to offer it but, if we do not want to fail tonight, we must make preparations.”
“You are right,” said Ma Ran. “We should discuss how we have to prepare.”
“How many people are there in your house?” asked Yang Ming.
“Altogether, including laborers and herdsmen, about one hundred,” answered Ma Ran.
“Good,” said Yang Ming. “Call them all here together. I have something to say to them.” Ma Ran then assembled the entire household. Yang Ming looked them over and separated the old, weak, and the very young from the rest. There were then about sixty who could be used in defense.
Yang Ming addressed them. “The head of your household has offended men of the Greenwood, and tonight a great number of outlaws are coming to make an armed attack. Do you wish to protect this house with all your strength and save the master of the household?”
They answered with one voice: “We will fight to the death against these robbers!”
When Yang Ming heard this reply, he realized Ma Ran must have treated others with great sincerity to bring forth such single-minded loyalty. He explained to them, “You must place all the wives, old women, and young girls in an empty room with no lights. How many such rooms are there in the rear courtyard?”
“There are four buildings facing the rear courtyard,” answered Ma Ran.
“Then those can be defended by armed men,” said Yang Ming. “Others will wait in the south courtyard in lighted rooms with the doors half open, listening for my shout. When you come out, do not try to capture any of the other robbers. Just defend yourselves with your weapons.” They all nodded their heads in assent.
“Official Ma,” Yang Ming continued, “You and Zheng Xiong should wait in the rear north courtyard rooms with your picked men, prepared for whatever may happen. Lock all the buildings in the western part of the estate. We three will wait in the rooms in the eastern part.”
As Ma listened to Yang Ming, he could not help but feel respect. He immediately chose the ones to be with him and had food and wine prepared for everyone. When they had finished eating and drinking, it was time to light the lamps. Then Ma Ran led Yang Ming and the others into the inner courtyard. They then sat down in the various rooms assigned to them by Yang Ming with their weapons in their hands.
Yang Ming, Lei Ming, and Chen Liang blackened their faces with soot and sat in the east room with the door open, watching. At a little after the second watch they suddenly saw a figure creep down the roof opposite them. He was wearing a suit of darkness with two butterflies embroidered on his chest and a horsetail headdress. He carried a sword in his hand.
Leaping down to the ground, he stood for a moment looking around. As he saw the open door of the east room, he quickly moved toward it. Yang Ming came from behind and struck him in the face with his hand. Lei Ming struck the intruder with his sword and killed him. As yet they did not know who the robber was.
Just as the robber was killed, the three heard someone on the roof say, “There is resistance, everyone. Good! Ma Ran, you dare to oppose the men of the Greenwood! Tonight, our swords will finish your whole household! Listen, everyone, there are no defenders in the north, south, and east buildings.”
Now Yang Ming shouted, “The robbers are attacking!” They could see that the courtyard was filling with robbers. Lei Ming and Chen Liang stood side by side as one of the robbers came toward them. With a sword in each hand, he slashed at Yang Ming, but Yang Ming evaded the blows and killed the robber instead.
In his place came Li Xiang, a famous outlaw. When he saw that the other outlaw had been killed, he aimed a blow at Yang Ming’s head. Yang Ming was hard pressed, but brought his own sword up just as the other raised his to strike. He caught the robber off guard. Before he could recover, Yang Ming thrust his sword home and the robber fell. In a little while Yang Ming had killed four of the robbers.
Then one dressed in dark clothing approached. Yang thought he recognized him as a sworn brother. He paused, unwilling to kill him, but he was mistaken about the man, who knew him and began to laugh. The two left the courtyard and went into the woods behind. Just then another robber cried out, “This man has killed some of our people! What are you doing with him?” He dashed at Yang Ming, but fell in a pool of blood.
A voice came out of the darkness asking, “Must you kill everyone?” It was Ji Gong.
Now, when the monk had leapt into the water saying he was going to give his lice a bath, he also told his two deputies, Headman Chai and Head-man She, that he would meet them in Changshan. They were extremely angry, but they walked on through the night until they reached the crossroads and saw a tall man standing in the open door of a wine shop on the west side of the road. A square blue cloth was tied over his hair knot and he was wearing a blue cotton robe. Two other men stood beside him.
“Look, Brother She,” said Headman Chai. “You see those men. Those two look as though they might be headmen. Yes, that one is Zhou Rui, who was chasing Cloud Dragon a few days ago and was hit by a stone thrown by Yang Ming.”
At the time Zhou Rui had been coughing up blood. When he was taken home, his father cried out, “I am so old and have only this one son. Lo Biao, you go to the magistrate’s court and request a leave of absence for him.”
When Lo Biao went to the yamen, surprisingly the magistrate did not believe him and said, “He wants a leave after losing such an important criminal! I want to look at him! I’ll see whether he needs it or not.”
There was nothing Lo Biao could do but go back to the house. Some of the household people helped Zhou Rui to the yamen. When Zhou Rui saw the magistrate, he
explained, “As this inferior servant was chasing an outlaw, he was struck by a rock thrown by another outlaw and is still spitting mouthfuls of blood.”
The magistrate could see that this was true, because Zhou Rui coughed up blood several times while he was at the yamen. The magistrate then gave Zhou Rui twenty ounces of silver and allowed him ten days’ leave from his duties to recover. He was helped out of the yamen. Upon reaching the wine shop at the crossroads, he was thirsty and wanted to drink something, and several friends were greeting him. Suddenly a man wearing a white jacket and a cap with six sections walked out. The man, about thirty years old, was carrying a bundle in his hand, and his face was very white.
As soon as Zhou Rui saw him and realized that it was Cloud Dragon, he commanded, “You waiters, quickly seize that man! He is Cloud Dragon Hua!”
The man laughed and said, “Who do you think you are catching? You should be trying to get over your illness.” And with that, he walked off to the north.
CHAPTER 76
Chai and She hear a voice from the clouds; Ji Gong buys a dog
WHEN the two headmen, Chai and She, heard about Zhou Rui’s having seen Cloud Dragon Hua, they took their iron-tipped staves and soon caught up with the outlaw. They said to him: “Go no further, my friend. You are wanted about a case. I am Headman Chai and this is Headman She. We have come from Linan to arrest you.”
“Cloud Dragon,” said Headman She, “do not give us more trouble. Just come along with us.”
The outlaw looked at the two headmen and laughed. “You gentlemen have come especially to take me?”
“That is so,” said Headman She.
The outlaw laughed again and said, “If I were Cloud Dragon Hua and you two headmen came to take me, I would certainly want to go with you, but I have a friend who is not so willing.”
“And where is this friend of yours?” asked Chai.