Water Margin, Volume One

by Shi Nai-An

  The prefectural governor in making his report to the provincial judge made the case as trivial as possible. He then dispatched a confidential clerk to the capital with private letters, with instructions to arrange for the case to be settled. The official in charge of the Board of Punishments was on good terms with the prefectural governor Ch'en Wen-chao, and he talked the case over with the provincial judge: Regarding Mrs. Wang she had beguiled them to commit adultery, and had instigated Mrs. Wu to poison her husband. She had told Mrs. Wu to send Wu Sung away so that he could not sacrifice to his elder brother's spirit, and that was why he had killed Mrs. Wu. Mrs. Wang had interfered between husband and wife, upsetting the harmony of married life, and should therefore suffer death by being hacked to pieces (ling ch'ih). Regarding Wu Sung -- he had killed the adulterer Westgate out of revenge for his brother's death, but he could not be acquitted for his crime. He should be beaten forty times with the bamboo and then banished to the frontier. Both the adulterer and the adulteress had committed a grievous crime, and they deserved their deaths. The witnesses should all be allowed

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  to return to their homes. The provincial judge wrote a judgment in accordance with the above, and dispatched it to the prefectural governor, and the latter carried out the sentence accordingly.

  Wu Sung was branded, and sent to the prison at Meng Chou. He was escorted by two men who treated him well on the road as they knew that he was a good man. Wu Sung saw that they were taking care of him, so he did not find fault with them. He had silver and gold in his bundle, and when they stopped at inns in villages on the way he paid all the expenses out of his purse. He had committed the murder at the beginning of April, and after remaining under arrest for more than six months, it was now about July, and the blazing sun was hot enough even to melt the gold in the quartz. Therefore they always walked during the early morning when it was a little cool. After about twenty days on the way the three men got on a big road which took them over a mountain range. When they had reached the top of the pass it was about 10 a.m., and as they were all tired Wu Sung told his escort to take it easily, and to have a drink at the first inn when they got down the hill. They agreed to this, and hurried down the hill. They soon saw in the distance a hillock with a number of straw huts on it. There were some willow trees by the side of a stream, and flying from the top branches was a wine-shop flag. They all hurried their steps down the road, and when they were near the bottom of the brow they met a woodcutter carrying a bundle of firewood.

  Wu Sung asked him what was the name of that place, and the man replied that it was called the Cross Road. When they reached the village they saw a gigantic tree with a trunk that five men could not have encircled, and hanging from it were dead creepers that had twined round its branches. A few steps away from the tree was an inn, and a woman was sitting inside near an open window. Her coat was of green gauze, and in her hair was a golden-colored hair-pin. At both of her temples were flowers in the hair. When she saw the three men arriving she got up to receive them at the door. They then saw that her short skirt was of brilliant red silk, and that she had red and white powder on her face. Her dress was open exposing her breast and an inner pink

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  cotton waist belt. On her dress were golden buttons. She welcomed them, saying, "Guests, please come inside and take rest. We have good wine, good meat, and excellent refreshment." The three men entered and sat down. The tables and stools were made of cedar wood. Wu Sung took off his bundle, and placed it on the table. He removed his belt and outer garments, and put them in the same place.

  The two soldiers saw that there was no man about to see what they were doing, and so they removed the cangue from Wu Sung's neck, and placed it under the table. They then also removed their outer garments, and placed them on the window sill.

  Now the woman with a smiling face, asked how much wine they wanted. "You need not ask how much," replied Wu Sung. "You just keep on bringing it, and also bring about six pounds of meat. I will pay you when we have finished."

  "We have also very good pies."

  "Then bring us about forty."

  She gladly went inside and soon brought out a large jar of wine, with three large cups, three pairs of chopsticks, two dishes of meat, and a basket of pies. The two soldiers partook of the meal, but Wu Sung took one pie and opening it looked inside and called out, "Is this human flesh, or dog's flesh?"

  The woman laughed, and replied, "Please do not make me laugh so much. In this peaceful empire and general tranquillity how could there be human flesh, or dog's flesh in the pies. In our house we have never put anything in dumplings except beef."

  "I have traveled extensively," replied Wu Sung, "and I have heard that very few people dare pass the tree at this Cross Road, that fat men's are cut up for making the dumplings, whereas thin men are just killed and used for filling up the river."

  "Where did you hear that nonsense? It must be your own fabrication."

  "As I see human hair in this dumpling so I still have my doubts. How is it that there is no man in this place?"

  "My husband has gone to visit a friend and has not returned yet," she replied.

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  "Then you must feel lonely in this dismal place."

  She laughed at this, and said to herself. "Is this exile not to find death? He likes to flirt with me! You are really the moth that flies into fire flame only to get yourself burnt to death. I would not make trouble with you, but now I have a plan to deal with you." So she replied, "Don't try to flirt with me. Drink your wine, and then go and cool yourself under the tree. Or if you want to rest, you can rest in the inn."

  When Wu Sung heard this he came to the conclusion that the woman had some bad intention and he decided to put her to the test. So he remarked, "Woman, this wine is rather weak. If you have better wine let us have it."

  "I have excellent wine with a lovely taste, but it does not look quite clear."

  "Splendid! The duller it is the better."

  The woman was laughing at this in secret and going inside she took out a jug of dark colored wine on a tray. Seeing this, Wu Sung said, "This is really good wine, but it would taste better when warmed." The woman said, "This gentleman is indeed an, experienced drinker; I will warm it for you." Laughingly she added to herself, "That banished thief ought to die now, as he wishes to drink hot wine which will make the medicine soon produce the desired effect. That fellow will soon be in my hands." When the wine was warmed she took it in, and poured out three cups full. Laughingly she said, "Gentlemen, please try this wine."

  How could those two soldiers restrain their thirst? They fell to the wine immediately. Wu Sung said, "I am not used to drinking pure wine. Please bring us some meat to eat with this wine." When the woman had gone to do this, he scattered the wine on the floor in a place where it could not be seen, and then making the sound of drinking, he said, "What good wine! It certainly has a 'kick' in it."

  But the woman had not gone to bring the meat, and just then returning she clapped her hands and called out, "At last! At last!" when she saw that the two soldiers who had drunk the wine had fallen backwards with tightly closed

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  mouths. Wu Sung then closed his eyes, and intentionally fell off his stool, and he heard the woman laugh and say, "That's all right! I am not afraid of you cunning devils now that you, have drunk the water in which I washed my feet. Come, Small Two and Small Three!" He then heard two stupid fellows rush in, and seize the two soldiers and carry them into the inner room. The woman came and took the bundles and belts lying on the table. She felt the silver inside, and laughingly said, "I have got three men to-day so that I shall be able to make plenty of bread; I get plenty of booty too!" She took the belts and bundles away, and upon returning she ordered the two stupid fools to carry Wu Sung inside, also. But Wu Sung lay rigidly flat on the ground so that they could not move him. The woman seeing this abused them, "What stupid clowns! You eat and drink, but are of no use for anyth
ing else! Do you expect me to pick him up? Does this big fellow expect to play with me? Such stout flesh will sell as yellow beef, but those two soldiers are so thin that they can only be put to vend as water-buffalo beef. But we must carry this man inside as I will kill him first." So saying she took off her coat of green gauze and skirt of red silk so that she was entirely naked above the waist, and she took hold of Wu Sung to lift him up. But as she stooped down Wu Sung embraced her, and pressed her to his breast. He twined both his legs round the lower part of her body, and held her tight. She squealed like a pig going to be slaughtered. The two fellows were on the point of coming to her assistance, but Wu Sung shouted at them in such a loud voice that they could not move. The woman feeling helpless called out, "Sir, please forgive me!" But he would not release her. Just then he saw a man set down a load of firewood at the door, to rest a while. When he saw the pair on the floor he sprang forward and said, "Sir, restrain your anger! Forgive her, and I will say something to you." At this Wu Sung got up planted his left foot on the woman, and placed himself on the defensive with his two fists ready. He saw that the man was wearing a black crape cap, a white coat, puttees round his legs, hempen sandals; a money purse was round his waist and his cheek bones were prominent. He had a small beard; and appeared to be about

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  thrity-five years of age. He clasped his hands over his heart, and addressed Wu Sung, "May I inquire what is your name?"

  "Whether I travel or stay at home I do not change my name, I am Wu Sung, the drill inspector."

  "So are you the man wou killed the tiger at Ching Yang Ridge?"

  "Certainly."

  The man knelt down, and kotowing saying, "I have heard of your fame for a long time, and to-day I fortunately meet you."

  "Are you the husband of this woman?"

  "Yes, I am sorry that I did not recognize your eminence (Tai Shan), I do not know how my wife offended you, but I hope that you will forgive her."

  Wu Sung lifted the woman up and said, "I see that you two, husband and wife, are not average people. What is your name?"

  The woman went and put on her dress agin and then came and kowtowed to Wu Sung who said to her, "Excuse my intrusion! Please do not blame me!"

  "I did not notice that you are a fine man. It was my mistake of a moment. I hope that you will forgive me. I request you to come inside and take a seat."

  "But what is your name, and how do you get to know my name?"

  "My name is Chang Ch'ing," said the man, "and previously I was in charge of the vegetable garden of the Kwang Ming Temple near here. At one time in a fit of temper I killed the priests, and burnt down the temple. After that I had no enemies, and as the officials did not come here to investigate the matter I started a business as a highwayman. One day an old man passed here carrying a load of fuel, and that old man knocked me down. As a matter of fact that man had himself been a highwayman some time before, and he took me to his home inthe town and there taught me all the tricks of the trade. While there he induced me to marry this woman who was his daaughter. But Idid not care to live in the town so I came here erected this house, and opened it as an inn. But in fact I am on the lookout for the rich people to intoxicate them with a drug and when they are

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  unconscious I out off their flesh, and sell it as beef, and minced the smaller bits to put inside the bread. Every day I take the flesh to the village for sale, and this has been going on for a long time. I am on intimate terms with many brigands, and they call me Vegetable Gardener Chang Ch'ing. My wife has the surname Sun, but people always call her, 'Mother Sun, the Night Ogre.' Upon returning to my home just now I heard my wife shrieking, but did not expect to meet you drill inspector. I have repeatedly told my wife that there were three types of men whom she must not harm. First -- traveling priests: they lead a thrifty life, and moreover are homeless, bow can we harm such poor people? Once we nearly destroyed a celebrated man. This was Major Lu Ta who was in the army of the generalissimo Old Chung at Yen An Fu, and who killed the butcher Cheng Kwan-hsi, and became a priest at Wu Tai Shan. He had figures tattooed on his back, and is therefore known by brigands and others as the Flowery Priest Lu Ta (Chih Shen). He carried an iron priest staff of eighty pounds weight, and passed here at one time. My wife seeing that he was a big man and very stout, put a drug in his wine, and was going to have him carried into the next room to be killed when I just arrived. I at once saw by the huge staff who he was, and administered a counter-remedy so that he recovered, and I adopted him as my elder brother. I have heard that he is now at the Pao Chu Ssu (Precious Jewel Temple) on the Two Dragons Mountain with Yang Chih, the Sallow Faced Brute, where they act as brigands. He has written me many letters inviting me to go and join them, but so far I have not been able to go."

  "I have often heard of the fame of those two men," said Wu Sung.

  "What a pity that a giant monk should have died! I came back too late when his legs and arms had been cut off. But I kept his iron crown, his priest's gown, and his priest's certificate. But these are of no importance when compared with the two other things I have kept. I have his string of beads made from the bones of the one hundred and eight skulls, and also his two wonderful swords. Because of these things I think that priest must have killed a good many people and even now his sword makes a hissing sound in the night. I

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  was sorry that I could not save his life, and I often still think of him. Secondly, there are the journeying prostitutes who wander about from place to place, and carefully adapt themselves to the company they meet. Their money are hard earned, if we kill them then many people are bound to get to know about it, and we should have the reputation of not being very brave men. So I instructed my wife not to kill such women. Thirdly, there are the banished prisoners among whom there are often very fine men and they also must not be killed. I never thought that my wife would not pay attention to what I said, and so she commit the fault of seizing you drill inspector, and fortunately I came back in time to save your life." Turning to his wife he asked, "How is it that you had such an idea to-day?"

  "At first I did not intend to hurt this man," said the Night Ogre. "But I saw that he had a very heavy bundle, and also he talked as though he had the intention of flirting with me."

  "I killed vile people and shed their blood," said Wu Sung, "so how could I dally with an honest woman? I saw that you were taking a keen interest in my bundle, so I became suspicious, and intentionally spoke lightly so that you would think I should easily fall into your hands. I poured the wine on the ground, and pretended to be poisoned, and you quickly came and seized hold of me. So I took hold of you at the same time. I hope that you will pardon me."

  Upon hearing this Chang Ch'ing burst into loud laughter, and then invited Wu Sung to come and sit down in an inner room. Wu Sung however asked that his escort should be released. Upon going into the kitchen where men's flesh was prepared, he saw men's skin stretched out on the walls. Ranging from the rafters were several men's legs, and the two soldiers were stretched out on a bench.

  Wu Sung said, "Brother, please enable these two men to get up."

  "What was your crime, and to what place are you going?" asked Chang Ch'ing.

  Wu Sung then told him in detail how he had killed both Westgate and Mrs. Wu.

  Both Chang Ch'ing and his wife were pleased upon heating the details, and the former said, "I should like to tell you

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  something, but I wonder if you would like to listen to it." Wu Sung asked him to proceed, and Chang Ch'ing spoke slowly and deliberately which we will now recount.

  A man with strength of elephant's,

  By tiger slayer defeated.

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  CHAPTER 27

  WU SUNG ASTONISHES THE PRISONERS;

  THE DELIGHTFUL FOREST IS

  RESTORED TO SHIH EN

  CHANG CH'ING said, "As you are on your way to be imprisoned we can kill your escort, and then you can stay
here for some time. If you are willing to become a bandit I will go with you to the 'Two Dragons Mountain' where we can make the acquaintance of Lu Ta and join his band."

  "It is very good of you to arrange for me this way but there is another matter. I have always been keen on fighting against strong men, but those two soldiers have treated me quite well on the road, so that if I now illtreat them Heaven will not tolerate it. If you admire me I hope you will at once help them to recover instead of injuring them."

  " Drill inspector, you are an upright man, and I must save these men's lives," said Chang Ch'ing. He thereupon ordered two waiters to release the soldiers lying on the bench. Mrs. Sun, the Night Ogre, prepared the antidote, and gave it to Chang Ch'ing, who forced it down the throats of the unconscious soldiers. In less than an hour the soldiers recovered as from a dream and got up. They recognized Wu Sung and asked him, "How did we get drunk in this place? The wine must have been so good! We did not drink much so how did we get drunk? We must remember this place so that we can have some more of this wine on our way home."

  Wu Sung, Chang Ch'ing, and Mrs. Chiang all laughed upon hearing this, but the two soldiers did not understand why. The two waiters killed a chicken and a goose, and after cooking them brought them in with wine and other food. Chang Ch'ing told the servants to arrange a table under the vine frame in the garden at the back, and then requested Wu Sung and the two soldiers to go there and partake of

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  the feast. Wu Sung asked the two soldiers to take the seats of honor, and he and Chang Ch'ing sat down op. posite to them while Mrs. Chang took her seat at the side of the table.