by Shi Nai-An
We have already mentioned that close to the garden there
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lived some worthless vagabonds who passed their time gambling, and stole vegetables. When they entered the garden that day they read the notice about the new arrangement, and they agreed among themselves that they must take an early opportunity to pick a quarrel with Lu Ta as he would submit to them when he had been beaten. One man had a plan, "We must entice him to the manure pit to receive our congratulations, and while we are knelt down we must seize his legs, and throw him into the manure pit. That will be a nice bit of fun." The others thought it was a splendid idea, and they awaited Lu Ta's arrival to put it into execution.
When Lu Ta arrived, the gardeners all came and saluted him, and the keys were handed over to him. The two priests who had accompanied him, and also the priest whom he had relieved, bid him good-by and returned to the principal temple. Lu Ta then went into the garden to look round, and there lie saw about thirty of the vagabonds who had a basket filled with fruit and wine. When they saw him they smiled and said, "We heard that you have come to live here, and therefore we have come to offer you our congratulations as we are your neighbors."
Lu Ta had no suspicion of a trick, and therefore walked up to them near the manure pit.
A priestly foot was raised on high;
Fierce tigers slunk away;
He raised his fist up to the sky;
Scaly dragons were dismayed.
You will now learn how these rascals tried to molest Lu Ta.
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CHAPTER 6
LU TA UPROOTS A WILLOW TREE; LEOPARD'S
HEAD MAKES A MISTAKE IN ENTERING
THE WHITE TIGER HALL
NOW these vagabonds had two leaders; Chang San, nick named "The Crossing Road Rat” and the other Li Ssu, nicknamed "Green Grass Snake," and they tried to induce Lu Ta towards the manure pit, but he noticed that the crowd of men did not move at all. Lu Ta invited them all to come into the temple, but as the two leaders had already knelt down they did not want to get up, and waited for him to come forward to assist them to get up when they would seize his legs. As they neither moved nor got up, Lu Ta at once suspected some trickery, and thought they were surely waiting to "pull the tiger's whiskers." So he decided to go forward, and make them feel the weight of his fist and foot. As he strode up to them the leaders said, "We offer you our congratulations," so saying, they advanced on their knees, and tried to grab hold of Lu Ta's legs. But the latter was too quick for them, and he kicked Green Grass Snake into the manure pit, and then did the same to Old Rat. This made the crowd of rascals speechless, and they all wanted to sneak off. Lu Ta shouted that if any man attempted to go away he would be treated in the same way. No one dared move. In the manure pit the leaders were peeping to see what was happening. The manure pit was so deep that they could not touch the bottom. There was a terrible stench, and their heads were covered with maggots. They called out, "Master, please forgive us."
"You rascals there," shouted Lu Ta, "come and help these men to get out. I forgive the whole lot of you."
The two leaders were assisted out of the pit, and then they went and stood near a gourd stand some distance away as the stench was so strong.
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Lu Ta laughed, "You foolish fellows! You had better go to the pool and after a wash there I will talk with you."
The leaders did this, and their followers handed them a change of clothing to put on.
Lu Ta ordered them all to come into the temple, and there sitting in the center of the hall he pointed at the assembled men and said, "You gang of vagabonds need not try to deceive me. Now why did you come here to trifle with me?"
They all knelt down, and the leaders replied, "We live by gambling, and therefore have to depend on your garden for our food. The temple bribed us several times to leave the vegetables alone, but there is no result. Master, where do you come from? You are so strong that we must submit to you. We are willing to do whatever you wish."
"I was a major in the army," replied Lu Ta, "and because I killed many men I became a priest. My name is Lu Ta. You thirty men are of no account to me for even if a thousand soldiers came here I would defeat them."
The rascals expressed their appreciation of his clemency in letting them off so lightly; they then departed. The next day the rascals got together some money, ten jars of wine, and a roasted pig, and brought them to present to Lu Ta. In the temple they took their seats in two rows with Lu Ta in the center, and they all drank wine.
Lu Ta asked why they had wasted so much money, and they replied, "We are happy because you are with us to-day, and we ask you to become our chief."
Lu Ta was pleased at this offer. When they had been drinking for some time, some were singing, others talking, applauding, or laughing. While in this state they heard a great noise outside, caused by some crows cawing. Some men showed their teeth to indicate dislike of this interruption and used a saying, "If there is trouble let it go to either heaven or hell."
"What trouble are you fellows talking about?" asked Lu Ta.
The men said, "We are afraid there will be trouble because of the cawing of those crows."
"Where do you get that idea from?" asked Lu Ta.
A servant laughed and replied, "The crows build their
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nests in a willow tree just outside the garden, and every evening they clamor there?"
Some said they would get a ladder, and destroy the nests. Lu Ta was now merry with wine, and they all went outside to look at the nests. The Green Grass Snake said he would climb up the tree, but Lu Ta took off his gown, and seizing the tree with both hands he made a mighty heave and uprooted the willow tree. The vagabonds were astounded, and kneeling down they worshiped him. They said, "Master, you are not a mortal man, but must be a living Buddha. If you had not the strength to lift five hundred tons in weight you could not have done this."
"That is only a small affair. Wait till to-morrow, when you can see me do some military exercises with my sword."
It was evening before they all departed. The next day they were quite submissive in spirit due to what they had seen. They brought wine and meat for Lu Ta, and watched him at his exercises. After they had done this for some time Lu Ta decided to give them a banquet, and ordered his gardeners to go into the town and buy various kinds of fruit and wine, kill a pig and a sheep. At that time the weather was warm it being the end of March, so Lu Ta had mats spread under the ash tree, and there the vagabonds sat down. They were served with big bowls of wine, and large pieces of meat, and were told to eat as much as they wanted. During the feast they said, "Master, for several days we have seen you exercising, but we have not noticed you using your staff, and we should like to see you do that now."
Lu Ta agreed, and going indoors, brought out his priest staff, seventy inches in length, and weighed ninety pounds. When they saw this huge weapon they were startled, and said, "If a man had not the strength of a buffalo in both arms he could not use that." But Lu Ta whirled it round with great ease, making it whistle in the air. On seeing this the men applauded.
Lu Ta was quite in high spirit and did this display in good form. He noticed an official watching him through a break in the garden wall, so he ceased his exercises. The official wore blue gauze silk, folded in a knot on his head; round his head was a string of pearls to which were attached two white jade tablets at the back of his head; his military
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gown was of thin green silk decorated with a flower design; his belt was embroidered like the marks on the back of a tortoise; suspended from it were two otters’ tails, and it had a silver buckle; his black shoes were of court fashion with tips turned up; in his hand he held a fan made of Szechwan paper. His face was like a leopard's, with big round eyes and a heavy beard. He was nine feet tall and seemed to be thirty-five years of age. He called out, "This is an extraordinary master, and uses his weapon well."
The vagabonds answered, "As
this drill inspector approves, Lu Ta must be very good."
"Who is that army officer?" asked Lu Ta.
"He is the drill inspector of the imperial guards, and is named Lin Ch'ung.''
"Why don't you ask him to come inside?" asked Lu Ta. But just then the onlooker jumped over the broken wall, and met Lu Ta under the ash tree, where they sat down.
After the usual courtesies as to names, Lu Ta said that he had met Lin Ch'ung's father at the Eastern Capital. Lin Ch'ung was much pleased, and insisted upon making Lu Ta his sworn elder brother. He then informed Lu Ta that he had come with his wife to worship at the Yueh Temple nearby. As he saw Lu Ta exercising, so be told his maidservant, Chin Erh, to go with his wife to the temple, and he would wait there for them. Lu Ta ordered his servants to bring wine for the guest, and when the latter had partaken three cups, he saw the servant with a red face hurrying towards the broken wall and calling, "Master! come at once! Your wife has trouble with a man in the temple."
Lin Ch'ung quickly inquired where they were, and Chin Erh replied, "She was just at the bottom of the Wu Yueh Lou in the temple when a cheeky fellow stopped her, and would not let her go."
Lin Ch'ung hurriedly said to Lu Ta, "Please excuse me, sir; I will come back very soon." He ran towards the broken wall and jumping over, hastened to the Yueh Temple followed by the maid. Upon reaching the Wu Yueh Lou, he saw several men with bows, blow pipes, and sticks covered with lime for catching birds, standing inside the railings. On the staircase to the upper chamber was a young man,
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preventing his wife to proceed, and saying to her, "Come with me upstairs as I have something to say to you."
Lin Ch'ung's wife blushingly replied, "How dare you speak to me in this way, in broad daylight?"
Lin Ch'ung hurried forward, caught hold of the rnan, and pulled him away, saying; "You should be severely punished for molesting a respectable woman like this." He was on the point of hitting him, when he recognized him as Master Kao, the adopted son of the Minister for War, Kao Chiu.
Now sometime before Kao Chin having no child of his own, had adopted his cousin, and was very fond of him, but Master Kao used the influence of this official for the sole purpose of debauching the people's wives. The people at the court were afraid of his power, and dared not oppose him; nevertheless, they nicknamed him "Great Rake."
When Lin Ch'ung saw who it was, be became cautious. Master Kao saw that he was restraining himself, and not knowing that the woman was Lin Ch'ung's wife, asked, "Why do you interfere in my affair? You are going too far!"
Men standing round saw the danger of a row.. and came forward saving, "Drill inspector, please excuse him for if he had known that she was your wife he would not have intruded,"
But Lin Ch'ung's anger had not entirely subsided, and he glared at Master Kao, who left the temple and rode off.
Just then Lu Ta arrived, armed with his priest staff, and accompanied by the vagabonds, and said he had come to fight for Lin Ch'ung.
Lin Ch'ung explained what had occurred, and said that he had let Master Kao off this time as he did not wish to annoy Kao Chiu. He referred to the old saying, "There is no fear of the government, but rather fear to be governed."
"You are afraid of the Minister for War," said Lu Ta, "but I am not. If I had met that young rascal I would have given him three hundred blows with my staff."
Lin Ch'ung saw that Lu Ta was drunk so he said, "What you say is all right. These men persuaded me to let him off."
"If you have any further trouble please tell me, and I will help you," said Lu Ta. They then all departed, but Lin Ch'ung was rather troubled in his mind.
Master Kao was infatuated with the wife of Lin Ch'ung,
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but had submitted to Lin Ch'ung's interference, and led his followers away, but as he returned to his official residence he was in low spirits. During the next few days his followers kept out of his way as they found him upset, and quite unable to attend to business. But one man named Fu An, nicknamed "Dried Bird's Head," understood his master, and waited upon him. One day as Master Kao was sitting idly in the library he entered and remarked, "You are not looking well these last few days, and there must be something worrying you."
"And don't you know the reason?"
"I think I can guess what it is," replied Fu An. "You are thinking of the wife of Lin Ch'ung. Am I right?"
Master Kao laughed, "You have guessed correctly, but I have no means of getting her."
"There is no difficulty. You are afraid of Lin Ch'ung because he is a hero, and therefore you dare not belittle him. But never mind that, because he is in your employ, and he would not dare to offend your father, the Minister for War. If he made a slight mistake he could be banished, or if a serious error be would be ruined for life. I have a plan by which he could be implicated."
Master Kao after hearing this said, "I have met many nice young women and girls, but I particularly love this one, and since I saw her, my mind has not been at peace. How could you implicate him? If applicable I will handsomely reward you."
"I have an intimate friend Lu Ch'ien who is very friendly with Lin Ch'ung. To-morrow you can hide yourself in Lu Ch'ien's house. He would arrange a feast, and invite Lin Ch'ung to it. He however is to be told to lead Lin Chung to the Fan inn for wine. Then I will go to Lin Ch'ung's home, and tell his wife that her husband, while drinking wine at Lu Ch'ien's house he suddenly became ill and fell down unconscious. I will tell her that she had better go at once as it might be serious, and I will bring her to Lu Ch'ien's house. There when she sees you so well dressed, and listens to your flattery, she will become amenable to your suggestions as she is of an unstable disposition. What do you think of my plan?"
Master Kao was pleased, and said, "This evening I will send for Lu Ch'ien."
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Now Lu Ch'ien's house was in the same alley as the house of the Minister for War, Kao Chiu. The next day the plan was explained to Lu Ch'ien who agreed to act his part. Although he was a friend of Lin Ch'ung yet he would do this treacherous thing in order to ingratiate himself with the more influential Master Kao.
Lin Ch'ung had been depressed in spirits for some time, and had not gone out of doors. But one day about ten o'clock in the morning he heard a man at the street door call out, "Is the drill inspector in?" Upon going to the door he saw Lu Cli'ien and asked what he wanted.
"I have specially come to see you as I have not seen you for a long time."
"I have been much depressed," said Lin Ch'ung, "and therefore have not been outside."
"Come with me.”' said Lu Ch'ien, "and a few cups of wine will drive your care a way."
Lin Ch'ung invited him to come inside, and after a few cups of tea he told his wife that he was going with Lu Ch'ien for some wine. She asked him not to drink too much, and to get back as soon as possible. The two men then left the house, and after strolling about for a little time Lu Ch'ien suggested that instead of going to his home they would go to the Fan Inn for the wine. This was agreed to, and at the inn they sat in a small apartment where the waiter brought wine and fruit. While they were chatting Lin Ch'ung sighed, and Lu Ch'ien asked why he did that.
"You do not understand," said Lin Ch'ung, "that although I have ability I have not yet found an employer who appreciates my skill. I have to submit to the injustices and vile tempers of mean fellows."
"Although there are several drill inspectors yet there is not one equal to you in ability. The Minister for War treats you well so whose vile temper have you to submit to?"
Lin Ch'ung then told of the affair he had with Master Kao some time ago, while Lu Ch'ien pressed him to drink more wine. Lin Ch'ung drank about nine cups of wine, he left the room, and then the inn, for the lavatory. He was returning to the inn when he met his maidservant Chin Erh who said that she had been looking for him. Upon Lin Ch'ung asking why, she explained, "You had been gone with Lu Ch'ien
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less than half an hour when a m
an rushed into your house, and spoke to your wife, 'I am a neighbor of Lu Ch'ien, and your husband is drinking with him. I saw your husband fall down senseless. You had better go there at once.' Your wife asked our neighbor Mrs. Wang to look after the house, and then set off with me. We went to the alley where the Minister for War lives, and opposite his gate we entered a house and went upstairs where there was a table set with food and wine, but you were not there. I was just about to go below when I saw the young man who had annoyed your wife at the Yueh Temple the other clay. He spoke to her, 'Please sit down. Your husband will be here shortly.' I hurried below, and there heard your wife upstairs shouting, 'Help! Help!' Therefore I ran to look for you, and happened to meet a man who told me that he had seen you entering the Fan Inn so I came here at once. Please, sir, hurry up.
Lin Ch'ung was astonished, and immediately rushed off to Lu Chi'en's house. Upon arriving there, and going up the staircase he found that the door of the room was fastened, but heard his wife inside say, "In this day of universal tranquillity why do you detain me an innocent woman here?" To this Master Kao replied, "Madame, please take pity of me! Even a woman of iron or stone would change her mind."
Lin Ch'ung shouted, "Wife, open the door." And she did so, while Master Kao being afraid, opened a window, jumped out and ran away.
Lin Ch'ung ascertained that his wife had not been ravished, and then smashed everything in the room. He took her downstairs, and on the streets noticed that the doors of the neighboring houses were closed. The maidservant just then joining them, they all three went home. There Lin Ch'ung taking a dagger concealed it in his sleeve, and went to the Fan Inn to look for Lu Ch'ien, but did not find him there. He then went to Lu Ch'ien's house, and waited outside the door until evening without seeing that man. Upon returning home Lin Ch'ung was exhorted by his wife, "As I did not fall into that man's trap you must be reasonable."