Water Margin, Volume One

by Shi Nai-An

  "As Wang Lun has that kind of disposition," said Wu Yung, "we need not wait until he asks us to go, but must ourselves seek refuge in some other place."

  "You. heroes," said Lin Ch'ung, "must not look at things in that way, because I have another plan. I was afraid that you had the idea of leaving here, and that was why I came early to discuss matters with you. You had better wait and see how he treats you to-day. If he is reasonable and quite different from yesterday, then we need not discuss matters any further. But if there is only half a sentence which is doubtful then everything that follows will rest upon my shoulders."

  "As you display such kindness," said Chao Kai, "we shall be grateful to you forever."

  "In that case," said Wu Yung, "you will break up the old brotherly associations for our sake. If we are allowed to remain then we will stay, but if we must go then let us depart."

  "You are mistaken," said Lin Ch'ung. "There is an ancient proverb: 'One ape will pity another ape, and a good man will have compassion for his fellow men.' I think he (Wang Lun) must be the offspring of a couple of rotters, as he is a vile brute, and we cannot therefore regard him as a brother. But you heroes need not be troubled about him." Lin Ch'ung then rose to make his departure, and said that he would

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  see them again very soon. He then left after being duly saluted by all the men present.

  Shortly afterwards one of the bandits came, with an invitation from the chief (Wang Lun) for them to dine with him at an arbor on the south side of the mountain. Chao Kai told him to tell Wang Lun that they would soon be there, and he then asked Wu Yung, "What do you think of this meeting with Wang Lun?"

  Wu Yung laughed and said, "Sir, you need not worry, as you will soon be in command of this stronghold. I think that to-day Lin Ch'ung will fight Wang Lun, and if he hesitates then you will find that my three-inch tongue will not be useless, and I can make him risk his life. We must be prepared, and conceal weapons on our bodies. When you see me stroking my mustache you can use your united strength."

  Ch'ao Kai and the others were quite pleased at hearing this. After 9 a.m. four times a man came to request them to go to the feast. They all carried weapons, but their dress gave no indication of them. Sung Wan came to conduct them to the feast, and he was riding a horse. He brought seven sedan chairs carried by bandits, and the party went there and were ushered to the feast. Upon arrival at the arbor they were met by Wang Lun, Tu Chien, Lin Ch'ung, and Chu Kwei who conducted them inside where they all took their seats. Wang Lun and his four leaders sat on the left while Ch'ao Kai and his six companions sat on the right. Many bandits served them with wine. After drinking wine and partaking of about two courses of food, Ch'ao Kai attempted to start a conversation with Wang Lun about their joining the band, but every time Wang Lun diverted the conversation to some other subject. Wu Yung was watching Lin Ch'ung who sat with his arm over the back of his chair and kept his eyes on Wang Lun's body. Thus the feast went on till after midday when Wang Lun turning round ordered his bandits to bring in a thing, and shortly afterwards a bandit entered carrying in both hands a large tray on which were five ingots of silver. Wang Lun rising with a glass of wine in his hand addressed Ch'ao Kai, "We are greatly honored by you heroes wishing to join our band, but unfortunately our stronghold in the midst of these waters

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  is so small that it cannot accommodate many dragons. As a manifestation of my feelings I wish to present you these gifts, and I hope that you will accept them with a smile. Also should you find a larger stronghold where you can stay, I shall have much pleasure in surrendering myself to you there."

  Ch'ao Kai said, "We heard that you were always inviting virtuous men to enter your band, and that was why we came here. But if it is not convenient for you we will of course retire to some other place. We are extremely honored by your offering us these ingots of silver, but we cannot accept them. I do not care to boast of the wealth that we have, but we really have enough for our present requirements. I request you to take these presents back, and we will then take our leave."

  "But why won't you take the presents?" asked Wang Lun. "It is not that we do not wish you heroes to stay here, but because our food supplies and housing accommodation are so scanty that we are afraid that you would soon be dissatisfied with them."

  While he was saying this Lin Ch'ung raised his eyebrows and his eyes expressed anger. Leaning back in his chair he shouted out, "When I first came here you falsely said that your food supplies and housing accommodation were scanty, and now that Ch'ao Kai and his heroes have arrived you make the same pretext. How unreasonable you are!"

  "Do not get angry," said Wu Yung. "The fault is on our side as our arrival has evidently upset the amiable relations in your mountain stronghold. Wang Lun, your chief, has to-day diplomatically suggested that we should go, and has even provided us with our traveling expenses. He did not try to drive us away. So I request you to appease your anger as we are quite willing to depart."

  "There is a hidden dagger behind his smiling face," said Lin Ch'ung. "His words are nice, but his actions are dirty enough. Indeed today I cannot bear with him."

  Addressing Ch'ao Kai, Wang Lun said, "Just look at this brute! He is not drunk, and yet he hurts my feelings by this kind of rebellious language."

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  "You are evidently a poor scholar who has failed in the official examinations," said Lin Ch'ung. "You have no learning so how can you be the leader at this stronghold?"

  "Brother Ch'ao Kai." said Wu Yung, "our seeking refuge at this mountain has resulted in causing the chief to 'lose face.' We had better get a boat and depart immediately."

  Ch'ao Kai and his six companions rose from their seats in order to leave the arbor. But Wang Lun urged them to finish their meal before going. Lin Ch'ung, however, kicked the table over, and taking a sword from his clothes he flashed it about. Wu Yung stroked his mustache, and seeing this Chao Kai and Liu Tang gathered round Wang Lun, and pretended to urge him not to have any fighting.

  Wu Yung plucked at Lin Ch'ung's dress, and said, "Do not be rash!"

  Kung-Sun Sheng addressing both parties said, "Do not break your friendly relations on our account."

  Yuan the Second was pressing Tu Chien to remain passive; Yuan the Fifth was pretending to persuade Sung Wan; Yuan the Seventh to persuade Chu Kwei; while the bandit soldiers were too afraid to speak a word but looked on with surprise.

  Lin Ch'ung seized hold of Wang Lun and cursed him saying, "You village bumpkin! You are very lucky in having Tu Chien to help here. Squire Ch'ai helped you and gave you plenty of money. But when he recommended me to you, you were not willing to allow me to stay here. Again to-day you wanted to send these heroes away. This mountain surely is yours! But how jealous you are of capable men! As you are such a useless customer I must kill you. You are so narrow-minded and incapable that you certainly cannot be the chief of this stronghold."

  Tu Chien, Sung Wan, and Chu Kwei all wanted to intervene, but were surrounded by the three pretending peacemakers. Wang Lun would have escaped at this time had not Ch'ao Kai and Liu Tang prevented him from doing so. He saw that the position was bad and called out, "Where are my intimate followers!" There were several of his intimates at one side, but although they had a desire to help him yet dared not come forward when they saw Lin Ch'ung's fierce aspect.

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  Now Lin Ch'ung caught hold of Wang Lun, and after further cursing he stabbed him in the breast. Seeing this Ch'ao Kai and his men drew their swords. Lin Ch'ung cut off Wang Lun's head with his sword, and held it aloft in his hand. Seeing this Tu Chien, Sung Wan, and Chu Kwei were much afraid, and kneeling down they said to Lin Ch'ung, "We are quite willing to hold your stirrup and reins" (i.e., be your servant). Ch'ao Kai and his followers immediately raised them up on to their feet again. Wu Yung took the chair that was standing in a pool of blood, and placing it at one side said to the assembly, "If you do not submit you will suffer the same fate as Wang Lun. Today
we recognize Lin Ch'ung as the chief headman of this stronghold."

  Lin Ch'ung shouted, "You are making a mistake. Today I desired justice to reign, and that is why I killed this bad thief. I certainly do not want to occupy the position as your chieftain. Wu Yung has asked me to occupy this seat, but should I do so I should be a laughing stock of all the heroes in the empire. Should you press me any further in this matter I would rather die than submit. But will you listen to just one sentence I wish to say to you?"

  The men replied, "We shall of course listen to what you, our chief, have to say."

  Lin Ch'ung did not say much, but the result was that many men were admitted to the Broken Gold Pavilion, [3] and many meetings would be held in the Hall of Justice.

  The administrator of heaven's justice is coming,

  The wealth distributor in good cause is approaching.

  We will now relate what Lin Ch'ung actually said to Wu Yung.

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  CHAPTER 19

  THE HEROES AT LIANG SHAN PO ELECT CH'AO

  KAI AS THEIR CHIEFTAIN; LIU TANG

  IN THE MOONLIGHT GOES TO YUN CHENG HSIEN

  AFTER killing Wang Lun, Lin Ch'ung pointed his sword towards the men and said, "I was previously an officer in the army but had been banished. To-day these heroes came to join our band, but Wang Lun was narrow-minded, and jealous of them so that he wished them to go away. Therefore I killed him, and I did this not because I wanted to be your chieftain. But if in the future you wish to fight the army and those vile ministers at the capital I am afraid that my courage and strength will not be of much use. Now we have Ch'ao Kai whose wisdom and bravery are known all over the empire. To-day I fought for our rights, and now propose that he should be our chieftain. Do you agree to that?"

  "What you say is quite right," said the men.

  "That won't do," said Ch'ao Kai. "An ancient proverb says, 'However strong the guest should not try to overthrow his host.' As I have just come from a distant place how could I be your chieftain?"

  Lin Ch'ung gently pushed Ch'ao Kai into the chair, and said, "Our business is now finished so do not decline the offer. If there are any men who oppose us we shall treat them in the same way as we treated Wang Lun." After much pressing he got Ch'ao Kai to take the seat. He then shouted out that everybody must assemble outside and make obeisance to Ch'ao Kai. After doing this the bandits went to prepare a feast. He then told some of the men to remove Wang Lun's body. He also sent some men to summon all the minor leaders to meet at the assembly hall. Lin Ch'ung and the others asked Ch'ao Kai to mount his horse, and the whole company then mounted horses or rode in sedan

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  chairs to the assembly hall. Upon entering the hall they got Ch'ao Kai to take the seat of honor, and then brought in an incense urn which they placed in the center of the hall.

  Lin Ch'ung came forward and said, "'I am only a coarse fellow with a little knowledge of how to use the cudgel and lance. I am without learning or ability. Very luckily these heroes have come to our mountain stronghold to-day. We now all anderstand the justice of our cause, and therefore we must improve on what has been done here before. As we have Wu Yung here I suggest that we make him the second in command, and assign him the duties of adviser controlling both troops and their officers, and also arranging plans of strategy."

  "I was only a teacher in a village," said Wu Yung, "and I am afraid that I have not the ability to assist you in military affairs. Although I have some knowledge of the stratagem of Sun Wu and Wu Ch'ai (B.C. 4th and 6th century) I yet have done nothing great so how can I become second in command?"

  "Our business is now complete," said Lin Ch'ung, "so do not lot us be too polite."

  Wu Yung thereupon took the seat of the second in command.

  "Now Kung-Sun Sheng must take the position of third in command," said Lin Chung.

  "This will not do," said Ch'ao Kai. "If there is any more of this politeness I shall resign from the leadership."

  "You are wrong," said Lin Ch'ung. "Kung-Sun Sheng is capable in commanding soldiers, and even the devils do not know his plans. Where is there a man who can control the wind and rain as he does?"

  "I have only a few small tricks," said Kung-Sun Sheng, "and they are not of much help so how dare I become the third in command? You ought to occupy that position."

  "We have just beaten our enemies," said Lin Ch'ung, "but we know that it was due to your excellent plan. An incense urn has three legs and is useless without the third, so I hope that you will accept the position of the third in command."

  Kung-Sun Sheng took his seat as the third in command.

  "Lin Ch'ung then started to urge another man to take the fourth seat, but the three leaders objected and said,

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  "You pointed out that an incense urn should have three legs, and therefore we accepted the three highest positions, and if you persist in urging for a fourth we shall retire from office." They induced Lin Ch'ung to accept the position of fourth in command. They then invited Sung Wan and Tu Chien to take the next positions. But both men were not willing to accept. After a great deal of talk it was agreed, at last, that Liu Tang should be fifth; Yuan the Second, the sixth; Yuan the Fifth, the seventh; Yuan the Seventh, the eighth; Tu Chien the ninth; Sung Wan the tenth; and Chu Kwei the eleventh. This was how the eleven commands at Liang Shan Po were arranged. At that place there were about eight hundred bandits, and they assembled in two large bodies and saluted their new leaders.

  Ch'ao Kai addressed them saying, "I have been invited by drill inspector Lin Ch'ung to occupy the position of chieftain of your stronghold, with Wu Yung as adviser, and Kung-Sun Sheng as staff officer. Lin Ch'ung and the other leaders control the affairs of this place, and you men must carry on your affairs as before, guarding the barriers and banks. We must now be all united and with one mind, and must maintain our cause of justice." He then gave orders for the houses to be repaired, and arranged for the use of the families they had brought there. He instructed some of the bandits to fetch the birthday presents seized at the Yellow Mud Ridge and also the valuables from his own village and he divided them among the bandits and their leaders as rewards.

  Cows and horses were killed to provide meat for an offering to the spirits of heaven and earth, and celebrate their success. They all had a feast, and the leaders only separated until well after midnight.

  The celebrations and feasting continued for several days.

  Ch'ao Kai, Wu Yung, and the other leaders then held conferences to consider their food supplies in the granaries, repairs to the defense works and embankments, the making of all kinds of accouterments including spears, swords, bows and arrows, mailed clothing, and helmets, so as to be prepared for an attack from the army. They also got their fleet of boats in order, and drilled the men in fighting on water.

  One day Lin Ch'ung saw that Ch'ao Kai was so generous

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  in making arrangements for the families brought to the moun. tain and happened to think of whether his wife at the Eastern Capital was living or not so he decided to tell his affairs to Ch'ao Kai. He said to him, "Ever since I have been here I have had a desire to bring my wife to this place, but as Wang Lun's disposition made our future uncertain I hesitated to carry out my plan until now. I do not even know whether she at the Eastern Capital is alive or not."

  "Then why not go to the Eastern Capital and bring her here?" said Ch'ao Kai. "You write a letter, and I will at once send a messenger with it."

  Lin Ch'ung wrote a letter the same day, and selecting two reliable men he dispatched them with it. In less than two months the men returned and said to Lin Ch'ung, "We arrived at the Eastern Capital, and near the commander in chief's headquarters we found the home of drill inspector Chang where we inquired about your wife, and were informed that Kao Chiu, the minister for war, had arranged a marriage with her by force. She had committed suicide about half a year ago. Drill Inspector Chang had grieved go much that he became sick and also died
about half a month ago.The maidservant Chin Erh being left alone had married a man, and they now lived at that house. We got all this confirmed by our close inquiries of the neighbors. Being satisfied as to the reliability of these statements we came back here to report to you."

  Upon hearing this Lin Ch'ung wept. Ch'ao Kai and the other leaders were very sorry for Lin Ch'ung when they heard the news.

  We need not say anything further about the stronghold except that every day the soldiers were drilled, and got ready to resist an attack from the army.

  It happened however that on a certain day while the leaders were discussing matters in the assembly hall, a bandit came and reported that about two thousand soldiers had arrived from Chi Chou Fu, and were encamped at the Shih Chieh Village where they had about five hundred boats.

  Ch'ao Kai was startled upon hearing this, and turning to Wu Yung, his military strategist, asked him, "As the army has arrived how do you suggest that we should meet them?"

  Wu Yung laughed and said, "Do not get anxious! I have

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  a plan. There is an ancient saying, 'When the water rises we use earth to keep it back; when the soldiers arrive we use a general to keep them off."' Wu Yung then whispered something to the three brothers Yuan. He then explained his plans to Lin Ch'ung and Liu Tang, and told them what they were to do. He also gave orders to Tu Chien and Sung Wan.