Water Margin, Volume One

by Shi Nai-An

  Lin Ch'ung agreed to these conditions. He then went with the bandits to his quarters, and slept there that night. During the night Chu Kwei departed and went down the mountain to his inn.

  The following morning Lin Ch'ung got up early, and after breakfast, buckled on his short sword, and took his long sword in his hand. He then summoned one of the bandits to show him the way down the mountain, and crossing the lake by boat, he hid himself at a lonely spot on the road waiting for someone to pass. He waited there from early morning till late at night without a single individual passing that way. He was very disappointed at this, but summoning the bandit they both returned to the mountain stronghold.

  Upon reaching the stronghold Wang Lun asked where the "Tou Ming Chuang" was.

  Lin Ch'ung replied that not a single person had passed him that day so that he had not been able to get a head.

  Wang Lun said that if he did not get a head the next day it would be awkward.

  Lin Ch'ung did not reply to this as he was so depressed. He went and had his meals and then went to bed.

  The following morning he again summoned the bandit to go with him down the mountain.

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  The bandit suggested that they should go to the southern road that day. They did this, and hid in the forest on that road. About noon a large party of about three hundred people passed, but as they all kept close together Lin Ch'ung dared not attack anyone of them. He still kept looking out, but not another person passed that way.

  Lin Ch'ung spoke to his bandit companion, "How unlucky I am! Here I have been watching for two days, and no single person has passed me."

  "Elder brother, never mind," said the bandit. "There is still one more day left, and to-morrow I will go with you to the eastern road."

  When they got back at the stronghold Wang Lun asked where the head was. Lin Ch'ung dared not reply, but simply heaved a sigh.

  "I suppose you have not got one to-day," said Wang Lun laughingly, "l gave you three days, but two have already passed without any result. If you don't get one to-morrow you need not try to see me, but instead you must leave the mountain at once."

  Lin Ch'ung withdrew to his quarters in a very melancholy frame of mind. Gazing towards heaven he sighed as he thought how that thief Kao Chiu had illtreated him, and how both gods and men had not given him the least assistance. Really he had had very bad luck.

  The following day after breakfast he packed up his things in a bundle, and left them in his room. Then picking up his two swords he departed with his bandit companion and went down the mountain and across the lake to the eastern road. He said to the bandit, "If I do not get a head to-day I shall have to go and find another place where I can get a peaceful living." They hid in a forest there until noon without anyone passing. The snow had ceased falling, and it was avery bright clear day. Lin Ch'ung picking up his swords spoke to his companion, "I see that I am again unfortunate. I think I had better get my bundle, and set out for another place before it gets dark."

  His companion pointed with his finger and said, "Fine! But is not that a man coming?"

  Lin Ch'ung looked in the direction pointed out, and said that he felt ashamed. In the distance he saw a man

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  coming along by the foot of the mountain. He waited until the man got near, and then taking his big sword he struck it against the ground, and jumped out of the shade of the forest. The man upon seeing Lin Ch'ung exclaimed "Ai Ya," threw down his load, and ran away. Lin Ch'ung ran after him, but could not catch up to him. The man disappeared round the shoulder of the hill.

  Lin Ch'ung spoke to his bandit companion who had followed him, "You see what bad luck I have! After waiting for three days the man who turns up runs away."

  The bandit replied, "Although you cannot kill the man you can seize the bundle of valuables he has left behind instead."

  "You can carry the baggage up the mountain, but I will wait here for a little time more."

  A short time after the bandit had departed with the booty Lin Ch'ung saw a tall man again coming along the road.

  Lin Ch'ung said to himself, "Now Heaven is assisting me,"

  The man was armed with a sword, and upon getting near and seeing Lin Ch'ung he shouted in a very loud voice, "You thief! I shall murder every bandit I can get hold of. Where is my baggage? I am going to arrest you as you have 'pulled the tiger's whiskers.'" So saying he sprang forward, and Lin Ch'ung noticing his extremely fierce expression, advanced to o encounter him.

  The fighting of this man with Lin Ch'ung resulted, as we shall see, in an addition to Liang Shan Po.

  At Liang Shan Po tigers bold and fierce,

  At Water Margin beasts with glaring eyes.

  We will now relate who this man was.

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  CHAPTER 11

  LIN CH'UNG BECOMES A BANDIT AT LIANG

  SHAN PO;YANG CHIH SELLS

  A SWORD AT KAIFENG

  LIN CH'UNG noticed that the man was wearing a felt cap made at Fanyang, with a red tassel on top; a white silk fighting gown; a loose sash; a pair of trousers with the bottom wrapped round with blue and white bands of cloth (like putties). His socks were of deer skin, and his boots were of undressed cowhide. He had one sword in his hand, and another in his belt. He was over six feet high, and his face was covered with blue spots. His mustache and scanty side whiskers were of brown color; his felt cap was hanging down his back by the strings; his loose clothes were displaying his broad breast; and wrapped around his head was a small turban. Pointing his sword at Lin Ch'ung he spoke in a loud voice, "You thief! Where is my baggage?"

  As Lin Ch'ung was not in a good temper he did not reply, but glared at his adversary, and turned up the corners of his mustache. He grasped his sword, and advanced to fight with the man. Just at that time the weather was clear and bright, with no clouds in the sky.

  These men in their bloodthirsty struggle trampled down the snow on the bank of a small stream at that spot.

  They had about thirty bouts, without either side winning or losing. They went on and had about ten more combats when they heard on the hillside a loud voice saying, "These two fine fellows, you need not fight any more."

  Upon hearing this Lin Ch'ung leapt to one side out of the ring as an indication that he had stopped fighting. The two men looking up the hillside saw there Wang Lun, the White Clothes Scholar, Tu Chien, Sung Wan, and many other bandits. They descended the hill, and crossed the lake by boats. Upon their arrival Wang Lun said, "You two, good fellows, are expert with the sword. Quite marvelous!

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  This is my younger brother, Lin Ch'ung, Leopard's Head. Who are you, the blue marked face? What is your name?"

  The man replied, "I am the grandson of Marquis Yang Ling-kung, and my father and his grandfather were generals. My name is Yang Chili, and I am now wandering about 'west of the pass.' While young I passed a test for my military skill and had a small position in the imperial bodyguard. The emperor decided to build a palace on Wan Sui Shan, and deputed ten of us lieutenants to get the marble from a quarry near the Taihu Lake, near Soochow, and convey it to the Eastern Capital. I did not expect bad luck, but in conveying the marble along the Huang Ho (Yellow River) a strong wind overturned the boat and the valuable cargo was all lost. I was afraid to go back to my post, and ran away to hide myself in some other place. Since then, however, I have been pardoned. So I got together some money and presents for the officials of the grand council at the capital, to try to regain my position. In passing this place I hired a farm laborer to carry my baggage, and did not expect that I should lose it like this. Are you now going to give it me back?"

  "Is not your nickname Sallow Faced Brute," inquired Wang Lun.

  "That is so."

  "As that is the case," said Wang Lun, "please come to our stronghold, and after a few glasses of wine I will return your baggage."

  "You are a fine fellow," said Yang Chih, "and as you know me I think it will be better if you give me my bagga
ge, and never mind about the wine."

  "When I sat for the examinations at the Eastern Capital a number of years ago," said Wang Lun, "I then heard of your fame. It is very opportune for us to meet here to-day, so how can I let you depart without entertaining you? Please come to our mountain stronghold just for a little chat. I really have no other intention."

  Yang Chili agreed to this, and thereupon they all crossed the lake, and ascended the hill to the stronohold. Chu Kwei at the inn was summoned to the stronghold for an interview. They all gathered together in the Assembly

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  Hall. On the left were four seats for Wang Lun, Tu Chien, Sung Wan, and Chu Kwei, and on the other side were seats for Yang Chih and Lin Ch'ung. When they were all seated Wang Lun ordered a sheep to be killed, some wine to be prepared, and made arrangements for a banquet to entertain the guests.

  While they were dining Wang Lun thought the situation over, and saw that if they kept only Lin Ch'ung, he would discover their weakness. But on the other hand if they got Yang Chih to stay he would be able to keep Lin Ch'ung in order. So pointing to Lin Ch'ung he said to Yang Chih, "This our younger brother is Lin Ch'ung, nicknamed Leopard's Head, who previously was drill inspector in the Imperial bodyguards, but the Minister for War, Kao Chiu, did not like him, and banished him to Tsangchou. There was some further trouble at that place so that he has just arrived here. You are a lieutenant and are on your way to the capital to get a position. I do not intend to ask you to join us but will simply point out that previously I sat for the civil service examination, but afterwards became a brigand. Although you have been pardoned you will still be regarded as an offender, and therefore you will have a difficulty in getting back your previous post. Moreover, Kao Chiu is still in office so it is unlikely that he will be willing to give you a position. So would it not be better for you to stay here, and becoming a hero share with us the silver, gold, wine, and meats? Do you not think this is a better plan?"

  "I am much obliged to you for your kind invitation," said Yang Chih, "but I have a relative at the capital, who was blamed for my offense, and I have never been able to thank him for his part in the affair. To-day I must really go on my way to see him, so I hope that you will let me have my baggage at once. If you do not give it to me then I must depart empty-handed."

  Wang Lun laughed at this, and said, "You say you will not stay, so how can I use force and compel you to join our band? I must ask you to rest here for the night at least, and depart to-morrow."

  Yang Chih was much pleased with this settlement, and after drinking wine together until about ten o'clock they each went to their separate rooms to sleep.

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  The following day they were up very early, and after breakfast the bandit chief detailed a man to carry the baggage, and accompany Yang Chih down the mountain. All the leaders went down the mountain; across the lake, and put Yang Chih on the road again where they bade him adieu, and then returned to their stronghold.

  Wang Lun told Lin Ch'ung that he would take thereafter the fourth seat, and Chu Kwei, the fifth.

  Now we will not go into the question of the fighting and looting of these five leaders and their bandits on Liang Shan Po.

  Yang Chih soon found a man to carry his baggage, and then dismissed the bandit soldier who went back to the stronghold on the hill. Within a few days he reached the Eastern Capital. Finding an inn he stopped there. He duly paid the countryman for carrying his baggage, and dismissed him. Taking off his sword and putting his baggage in a room, he gave the waiter a little money to go and buy some wine and meat for him.

  After a few days he requested a man to go to the grand council, and make some arrangement for his case to be reconsidered. He also took the silver and gold articles, and sent them to the higher and lower officials with a request that he should be reinstated with his rank of lieutenant. When he had expended all his presents an order came instructing him to call and see the Minister for War, Kao. Upon Yang Chih's arriving at the war office Kao Chin looked at his official record and was very angry. He spoke in a loud voice, "I see from this record that ten lieutenants were deputed to bring marble, but nine executed the work, and you were the only one who lost a cargo. You did not even come and report the loss, but instead ran away to avoid being arrested! Although you were pardoned of this serious offense, yet I cannot give you a commission in the army again." He then made his mark on the record, and gave an order that Yang Chili be driven away. That hero left the war office in a very melancholy frame of mind. Upon arriving at his inn he thought matters over, and saw that Wang Lun was quite right in the advice he had given him. But as his family had a clean record, he could not join their band and disgrace his parents.

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  He hoped that he might by meritorious service at some distant frontier again establish a good reputation for himself, and even add to the luster of his ancestors, and make it better for his descendants. He did not, however, expect this rebuff. "Kao, Minister for War! How malicious you are! How cruel!" He was in a state of mental agony for some time.

  He stayed at the inn for a few days until all his money was spent. Then he wondered what he must do. His ancestors had bequeathed him the best of swords which he had always carried with him. But now that he was in difficulty he had to go on the street and try to sell this sword for several hundred strings of cash. That would enable him to get away to some other place. So he tied some grass to the sword to indicate that it was for sale, and went out. He went to the Horse Market Street, and stood there for a long time, without any inquiry being made. In the afternoon he removed to the Tien Ran Chou Bridge where there was more traffic. When he had been standing there a short time he noticed that the men on both sides of the bridge ran off to hide in the alleyways near the bridge. While Yang Chih was looking on at this confusion he heard some men say, "Hide quickly The 'Big Tiger' is coming!"

  Yang Chih said, "How strange! This is the capital, and yet there is a 'Big Tiger' here!" Looking along the street he noticed in the distance a big black man coming who was evidently half drunk as he staggered along. Yang Chih then remembered that he had previously heard that in the capital these was a bully called Niu, the Second, whose nickname was Hairless Tiger. He had the reputation of always making rows and fighting on the streets. He had been before many magistrates but even the governor had not been able to make him submissive, and therefore when he came on the street everybody ran away to hide until he had passed. On this cocasion he hurried up to Yang Chili and took the sword out of the latter's hand. He asked, "How much do you want for this sword?"

  Yang Chih informed him that it was an excellent sword and an heirloom, but he was willing to sell it for three thousand strings of cash.

  "What sword is this that you want so much money for?"

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  asked Niu Erh. "I can buy a good sword for thirty cash which will cut up meat and bean curd. What is there about this sword that will justify you in calling it an excellent sword?"

  "This sword," said Yang Chih, "is not for use in an inn cutting up meat, but is an excellent sword."

  "But why do you call it an excellent sword?" asked Niu Erh again.

  Yang Chih said, "This sword will cut through copper or iron without the edge being blunted, and again if you blow a hair against the edge the hair will be cut in half, and yet again if you kill a man there will be no blood left on the blade."

  Niu Erh asked, "But dare you cut copper with it?"

  Yang Chili said, "If you bring some cash here then you can see whether it will cut or not."

  Niu Erh went to a peppermint shop at the side of the bridge and demanded twenty copper coins valued at three cash each. He put these on the stone railing of the bridge and said to Yang Chili: "If you can cut those in half I will give you three thousand strings of cash for the sword."

  The people did not dare to come and see what was taking place, but they stood around in the distance looking on.

  Yang Chih said, "That will
easily be done." He took the sword and taking a careful steady aim he cut the coppers in half with one stroke. The crowd seeing what he had done applauded.

  Niu Erh said, "What are you people applauding for?" He then turned to Yang Chih and asked him what was the second thing that the sword could do.

  Yang Chih said that if he got several hairs, and put them on the edge of the sword, and then blew, the hairs would be entirely cut in half.

  Niu Erh did not believe this, but he pulled some hair from his own head, handed them to Yang Chih and said, "You blow, and I will watch."

  Yang Chih taking the hair in his left hand, put it against the edge of the sword and with his blowing very hard the hair fell to the ground cut in hall The crowd had increased in size and applauded this.

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  Niu Erh asked, "What was the third thing this sword can do?"

  Yang Chih said, "If a man is killed there is no sign of blood on the blade."

  Niu Erh asked, "How can that be?"

  Yang Chih said, "It cuts so quickly that the blood has no time to get on the blade."

  Niu Erh said, "I don't believe that. But you just kill a man, and I will see whether that will happen."

  Yang Chih said, "This is the Emperor's Forbidden City so how dare I kill a man here? But as you do not believe what I say, then get a dog and I will kill it, and you will then see what happens."

  "Your claim was to kill a man, and you did not say anything about a dog."

  Yang Chih said, "I suppose you don't really want to buy. But why are you wasting my time by such remarks?"

  "Let me have a look at the sword," said Niu Erh.