Chapter 11: Zhu Gui Fires a Signal Arrow from the Waterside Pavilion; Lin Chong Ascends Liangshan in the Snowy Night

CHAPTER 11: Zhu Gui Shoots the Signal Arrow from the Waterside Pavilion; Lin Chong Goes to Liangshan Marsh in the Snowy Night

It is said that Leopard’s Head Lin Chong, drunk that night, collapsed in the snow-covered ground and could not struggle to his feet. The estate servants came forward, bound him, and escorted him to a manor. A servant came out from the courtyard and said, “The master is not yet up. First, hang this fellow high under the gate tower.” As the sky grew light, Lin Chong sobered up. He looked around and saw it was indeed a large manor. Lin Chong shouted loudly, “Who dares hang me here?” Hearing his cries, a servant came out from the gate holding a white wooden club and roared, “You still dare to talk tough!” The old servant whose beard had been burned said, “Don’t question him—just beat him! When the master rises, we’ll ask for the details and send him to the authorities.” The servants all advanced together. Lin Chong, beaten and unable to resist, only cried out, “Don’t hit me! I have something to say.” Then a servant came and announced, “The master has arrived.” Lin Chong looked and saw an official approaching with his hands clasped behind his back. He came out to the corridor and asked, “Whom are you beating here?” The servants replied, “Last night we caught a thief who stole rice.” The official stepped forward to look, recognized Lin Chong, and hastily shouted for the servants to withdraw. He personally untied him and asked, “Arms Instructor, why are you hanging here?” Seeing this, the servants all fled.

Lin Chong looked and saw it was none other than Chai Jin, the Small Whirlwind. He quickly called out, “Lord, save me!” Chai Jin said, “Arms Instructor, why have you come here to be humiliated by these villagers?” Lin Chong replied, “It’s a long story!” The two of them sat down inside for a while, and Lin Chong told in detail the matter of the fodder depot being set on fire. After hearing it, Chai Jin said, “Elder Brother, your fate is so adverse! Heaven has granted this opportunity today. Please set your mind at ease. This is my eastern estate. Stay here for a few days, and we’ll discuss what to do.” He ordered a servant to bring a set of clothes and had Lin Chong change from head to toe. He invited him to sit in the heated chamber and arranged wine, food, cups, and dishes to entertain him. From then on, Lin Chong stayed at Chai Jin’s eastern estate for five or seven days. No more of this for now.

Now, the warden of the Cangzhou prison camp reported: Lin Chong had killed the jailer, Lu Qian, and Fu An, three men in total, and set fire that spread to the army’s fodder depot. The prefect was greatly alarmed and immediately issued an official document, ordering the arresting officers to lead constables through villages and counties, posting notices at roads, inns, and hamlets everywhere, offering a reward of three thousand strings of cash for the capture of the principal offender, Lin Chong. The search was very intense, and word spread throughout every village.

Meanwhile, Lin Chong, at Chai Jin’s eastern estate, heard the urgent news. He waited for Chai Jin to return to the estate, then said, “It’s not that you, Lord, are unwilling to keep me, but the authorities are hunting me closely, searching house by house. If they come to your estate, I fear I might implicate you. Since you have been so generous and open-handed, I beg you to lend me some traveling expenses so I can flee to another place to settle. If I survive, I will serve you like a horse or dog in repayment.” Chai Jin said, “Since you must leave, I know a place. I’ll write a letter of recommendation for you to take.” Truly:

A hero’s fortunes falter, his path not yet clear;

Every move he makes lands him in a snare.

Were it not for Chai Jin’s letter to recommend,

How could he win fame in the Water Margin band?

Lin Chong said, “If you, Lord, make such complete arrangements for me, you give me a place to live. Only, where am I to go?” Chai Jin said, “It’s a watery region under the jurisdiction of Jizhou in Shandong, called Liangshan Marsh, eight hundred li in circumference. In its midst are Wanzicheng and Liao’erwa. Three bold men have built a stronghold there. The leader is called the White-robed Scholar, Wang Lun; the second is called Touching the Sky, Du Qian; the third is called the Cloudy Golden Guardian, Song Wan. These three bold men have gathered seven or eight hundred lesser bandits and rob homes and loot houses. Many who have committed heinous crimes seek refuge there from disaster, and they take them all in. The three bold men are also close friends of mine and often send me letters. Now I’ll write a letter for you, Elder Brother, to go and join their band—how about it?” Lin Chong said, “If I can receive such care, it would be best!” Chai Jin said, “Only, at the Cangzhou pass, the authorities have posted notices and sent two officers to search and guard the road. You must pass through there.” Chai Jin lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said, “There’s another plan to get you through.” Lin Chong said, “If you help me so completely, I will never forget it even in death.”

That day, Chai Jin first sent a servant carrying a bundle out through the pass to wait. Then he prepared twenty or thirty horses, brought bows, arrows, banners, and spears, flew falcons, led hunting dogs, and had the whole company dressed up. He mixed Lin Chong in among them, and they all mounted and headed for the pass. The officer in charge of the pass, sitting at the checkpoint, saw it was Lord Chai Jin and recognized him. It turned out that before the officer had inherited his post, he had visited Chai Jin’s estate, so they were acquainted. The officer rose and said, “Lord, you’re off for some pleasure again!” Chai Jin dismounted and asked, “Why are you two officers here?” The officer said, “The Cangzhou prefect issued a document with a portrait to capture the offender Lin Chong, and specially sent us to guard here. Every passing traveler is interrogated one by one before being let through the pass.” Chai Jin laughed and said, “There’s Lin Chong hidden among this group of mine—why don’t you recognize him?” The officer also laughed and said, “You, Lord, understand the law, so you wouldn’t go so far as to hide him and take him out. Please, mount at your convenience.” Chai Jin laughed again and said, “Since you trust me like this, I’ll bring back some game to give you as a gift.” They took their leave, mounted, and all went out through the pass together.

After traveling fourteen or fifteen li, they saw the servant who had gone ahead waiting there. Chai Jin told Lin Chong to dismount, take off his hunting clothes, and put on his own clothes that the servant had brought. He fastened his saber, donned a red-tasseled felt hat, shouldered his bundle, and took up his long knife. He bid farewell to Chai Jin, bowed, and set off. As for Chai Jin and his company, they mounted and went hunting, returning only in the evening. They again passed through the pass, gave some game to the officers, and went back to the estate. No more of this for now.

Now, after Lin Chong parted from Lord Chai Jin, he traveled on the road for ten-odd days. It was late winter weather: thick clouds gathered densely, a north wind blew fiercely, and again it began to fall—flakes drifting and swirling, a sky full of heavy snow. He had not gone more than twenty li when he saw the ground covered as if with silver. In days past, the Jin emperor Wanyan Liang had a lyric, titled “Hundred Words,” written solely about the heavy snow, heightening the killing spirit in his breast:

The Heavenly Musterer in wrath

Upturns the silver sea,

Scatters pearl curtains.

Six-petaled wondrous flowers roll and fly,

Filling in the hills and valleys of the mountains.

A white tiger runs wild,

A white unicorn rages,

Snapping the string of pearls.

Jade dragons fiercely fight,

Their scales falling all over the sky.

Who thinks of the far-flung passes and mountains,

The conscripts standing stiff,

White ribbons clinging to the banner’s base?

The color glints on spears and halberds,

The light gleams on swords and lances,

Killing spirit fills the martial tent.

Brave as bears and tigers,

Valiant officers and men,

Together discuss military strategy.

We must get drunk,

And gaze at the vast azure sky.

It is said that Lin Chong, treading through the snow, kept on walking. The weather was bitterly cold, and it gradually grew late. In the distance, he saw an inn nestled by a stream and lake, heavily pressed down by the snow. It appeared thus:

Silver veils the thatched cottage,

Jade shines on the thatched eaves.

Several dozen old trees with gnarled branches,

Three or five small windows closed tight.

The sparse thorny fence,

Completely covered as with light powder;

The yellow earth wall,

Adorned as if with white lead.

A thousand clumps of willow catkins drift before the curtains,

Ten thousand goose feathers dance around the wine flag.

Lin Chong saw this and dashed into the tavern. Pushing aside the reed curtain, he sidled in, and when he turned to look, all around were seats. He chose a spot and sat down, leaning his lance against the table, undid his bundle, took off his felt hat, and hung his saber nearby. A waiter came over and asked, "Sir, how much wine will you have?" Lin Chong said, "First bring me two measures of wine." The waiter took a bucket, drew two measures, and set them on the table. Lin Chong then asked, "What dishes do you have to go with the wine?" The waiter replied, "We have cooked and raw beef, fat goose, and tender chicken." Lin Chong said, "First cut me two catties of cooked beef." The waiter left and soon returned, laying out a large platter of beef, several dishes of vegetables, placing a big bowl, and pouring wine on the side. After Lin Chong had drunk three or four bowls of wine, he saw a man in the tavern standing with his hands clasped behind his back, walking to the door to watch the snow. The man asked the waiter, "Who is that drinking wine?" Lin Chong looked at the man: he wore a deep-brimmed warm hat, a sable fur coat, and tight-fitting deer-skin boots. He was tall in stature, imposing in appearance, with a face of prominent bones and a yellow beard parted in three strands, and he was stroking his beard while watching the snow. Lin Chong told the waiter to keep pouring wine. Lin Chong said, "Waiter, you have a bowl of wine too." The waiter drank a bowl. Lin Chong asked, "How far is it from here to Liangshan Marsh?" The waiter replied, "From here to Liangshan Marsh, though it's only a few li, it's all by water, with no land route at all. If you want to go, you'll need a boat to cross over there." Lin Chong said, "Can you find me a boat?" The waiter said, "With this heavy snow and the day already late, where would I find a boat?" Lin Chong said, "I'll give you extra money; please find a boat to ferry me across." The waiter said, "But there's nowhere to find one." Lin Chong thought to himself, "What am I to do then?" He drank a few more bowls, and melancholy crept into his heart. Suddenly he recalled: "Before, when I was an instructor in the capital, I roamed the busy streets and markets daily, drinking and enjoying myself. Who would have thought that today that scoundrel Gao Qiu would harm me like this, branding my face, sending me to this desolate place, leaving me with no home to return to, no country to serve, suffering this loneliness!" Moved by his sorrow, he asked the waiter to borrow a brush and inkstone. Taking advantage of his drunken mood, he wrote eight lines on the whitewashed wall: "Upholding justice is Lin Chong, / A man most honest and true. / Through rivers and lakes his fame spreads, / In the capital his heroism shows. / His life is like a drifting weed, / His rank like a tumbleweed. / If one day his ambition is fulfilled, / His might will shake the east of Mount Tai." He threw down the brush and took more wine.

Just as he was drinking, the man in the fur coat stepped forward, grabbed Lin Chong by the waist, and said, "You've got some nerve! You committed a heinous crime in Cangzhou, and here you are! The authorities have offered a reward of three thousand strings for your capture. What do you have to say for yourself?" Lin Chong said, "Who do you say I am?" The man said, "Aren't you Leopard’s Head Lin Chong?" Lin Chong said, "My surname is Zhang." The man laughed and said, "Stop your nonsense. You've written your name on the wall, and you have the golden brand on your face. How can you deny it?" Lin Chong said, "So you really intend to seize me!" The man laughed and said, "Why would I seize you? Follow me inside, and I'll speak with you there." The man released his grip, and Lin Chong followed him to a water pavilion at the rear. He told the waiter to light a lamp, exchanged courtesies with Lin Chong, and they sat down facing each other. The man asked, "Earlier, I saw you, brother, constantly asking about the road to Liangshan, looking for a boat. That place is a bandits' stronghold. What business do you have there?" Lin Chong said, "To tell you the truth: the authorities are hot on my trail, and I have nowhere to hide. I've come specifically to join the good fellows in that stronghold. That's why I need to go." The man said, "Even so, someone must have recommended you, brother, to join them." Lin Chong said, "An old friend from Heng Hai Commandery in Cangzhou recommended me." The man said, "Could it be Xiao Xuan Feng Chai Jin?" Lin Chong said, "How do you know, sir?" The man said, "Lord Chai has a deep friendship with the chieftains of the stronghold, and they exchange letters often." It turned out that when Wang Lun was down and out, he and Du Qian had sought refuge with Chai Jin, and thanks to Chai Jin, they were kept in his manor for some time. When they left, he also gave them travel money and silver, so they owed him a debt of gratitude. Hearing this, Lin Chong bowed and said, "I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. May I ask your honored name?" The man hastily returned the bow and said, "I am an agent under Chief Wang’s command. My surname is Zhu, given name Gui, originally from Yishui County in Yizhou. In the rivers and lakes, they only call me 'Dry Land Crocodile.' The stronghold has me run this tavern as a cover, specifically to gather information on traveling merchants passing by. Whenever there's anyone with valuables, I report it to the stronghold. But if a lone traveler comes here with nothing, I let him pass. If he has valuables and comes here, for minor cases I drug him with knockout drops, for serious cases I finish him on the spot, slicing the lean meat into dried strips and rendering the fat for lamp oil. Earlier, I saw you, brother, constantly asking about the road to Liangshan, so I dared not act. Later, when you wrote down your great name, I remembered that some people from the Eastern Capital had spoken of your heroism. I never thought I'd meet you today. Since you have a letter of recommendation from Lord Chai, and your name, brother, is renowned throughout the land, Chief Wang will surely give you an important post." He then laid out fish, meat, vegetable dishes, and wine to entertain him. The two of them feasted on the water pavilion until midnight. Lin Chong said, "How can I get a boat to cross?" Zhu Gui said, "There are boats here, brother, don't worry. Stay for the night, and at the fifth watch I'll wake you, and we'll go together." Then the two each went to rest.

Sleeping until the fifth watch, Zhu Gui personally came to wake Lin Chong. After washing and rinsing, they had another three or five cups of wine and ate some meat dishes. The sky was still not fully light. Zhu Gui opened the window of the water pavilion, took out a magpie-patterned bow, fitted a whistling arrow, aimed toward the withered reeds and broken rushes on the opposite shore, and shot. Lin Chong asked, "What does that mean?" Zhu Gui said, "That's the signal arrow of the stronghold. A boat will come shortly." Before long, they saw three or five lesser bandits from the opposite reed marsh rowing a fast boat, coming straight to the foot of the water pavilion. Zhu Gui then led Lin Chong, took his lance and bundle, and boarded the boat. The lesser bandits rowed the boat away, heading through the marsh toward Golden Sand Beach. As Lin Chong looked around, he saw the eight-hundred-li Liangshan Marsh, truly a place from which no one could escape! Behold:

The mountains thrust up giant waves, the waters stretch to the distant sky. Tangled reeds form ten thousand ranks of spears, strange trees stand in a thousand layers of halberds. The palisades at the moat's edge are all built from piled bones; the bowls and ladles inside the stockade are all made from skulls. Skins stripped from men are used to cover war drums, hair cut off is twisted into reins. To block the government troops, there are countless broken harbors; to intercept bandits, there are many paths ending in forests and peaks. Cobblestones pile up like mountains, bitter bamboo spears fall thick as rain. On the Severing Gold Pavilion, gloomy clouds rise; before the Assembly of Righteousness Hall, murderous intent spreads.

At that moment, the lesser bandits rowed the boat to the shore of Golden Sand Beach. Zhu Gui and Lin Chong stepped ashore. The lesser bandits carried the bundle and took the lance and saber, and the two bold men headed up the mountain stronghold. The few lesser bandits rowed the boat back into the small creek. Looking at the shore, Lin Chong saw on both sides great trees as thick as a man's embrace, and halfway up the mountain a Severing Gold Pavilion. Turning around, he saw a great pass, before which were arrayed spears, swords, halberds, bows, crossbows, lances, and tridents, with rolling logs and boulders all around. The lesser bandits went ahead to report. As the two entered the pass, on both sides of the path were lined up troops and banners. After passing two more passes, they reached the stockade gate. Lin Chong saw the four sides surrounded by high mountains, the three passes formidable, all tightly enclosed; in the center, a flat area smooth as a mirror, perhaps three to five hundred zhang square; near the mountain pass was the main gate, with side rooms on both sides.

Zhu Gui led Lin Chong to the Assembly of Righteousness Hall. In the center, on a cross-legged chair, sat a bold man, none other than the White-Clad Scholar Wang Lun. On the left sat Touching the Sky Du Qian, and on the right, the Cloud-Like Vajra Song Wan. Zhu Gui and Lin Chong stepped forward, announced themselves with a shout, and bowed. Lin Chong stood beside Zhu Gui, and Zhu Gui said, "This is the instructor of the Eight Hundred Thousand Imperial Guards in the Eastern Capital, surnamed Lin, given name Chong, nicknamed Leopard’s Head. Because he was framed by Grand Marshal Gao, he was branded and exiled to Cangzhou. There, the army's fodder depot was burned down. With no choice, he killed three men and fled to Lord Chai’s estate, where he was treated with great respect. For this reason, he has specially written a letter to recommend him to join our band."

Lin Chong took the letter from his bosom and handed it over. Wang Lun received it, opened it, read it, then invited Lin Chong to sit in the fourth seat, with Zhu Gui taking the fifth. He ordered the junior bandits to bring wine, and after three rounds of drinking, he asked how Master Chai had been lately. Lin Chong replied, "He spends his days hunting in the outskirts for pleasure." After Wang Lun inquired for a while, he suddenly thought to himself: "I am but a failed scholar, who, out of a fit of anger, joined Du Qian to become an outlaw here; later Song Wan came, and we gathered this many men and companions. I have no great skill, and Du Qian and Song Wan’s martial arts are only average. Now, out of the blue, this man has been added—he was an instructor of the Imperial Guard in the capital, so his martial arts must be formidable. If he sees through our true situation, he will surely try to dominate us. How will we deal with that? It would be better to simply play the villain, make up some excuse, and send him down the mountain to avoid future trouble. It will just be a bit awkward in front of Chai Jin, forgetting past favors, but now I can’t worry about him." Indeed:

If their spirit’s not the same, how can they seek each other’s aid?

Even if a hero comes, he won’t be allowed to stay.

A scholar is by nature prone to jealousy and spite;

The Leopard Head sighs in vain, seeking rank and might.

At that moment, Wang Lun ordered the junior bandits to prepare food and drink, set up a feast, and invited Lin Chong to take his seat. The assembled heroes all drank together. As the feast was about to end, Wang Lun had a junior bandit bring out a tray with fifty taels of silver and two bolts of silk. Wang Lun stood up and said, "Master Chai recommended you, Instructor, to join our stronghold. But unfortunately, our small camp is short of grain, the buildings are in disrepair, and our manpower is meager. I fear we might delay you, sir, and that would not look good. I have prepared a small gift; I hope you will accept it. Please find another large stronghold to settle in, and do not take offense." Lin Chong said, "May I speak, three chieftains? I have come 'a thousand li to report my name, ten thousand li to submit to a master,' relying on Master Chai’s recommendation, straight to your stronghold to join. Though I, Lin Chong, am unworthy, I hope to be accepted. I will fight forward to the death and never flatter or fawn; this would truly be the fortune of my life. I did not come for the silver, and I beg the chieftain to see clearly." Wang Lun said, "This is but a small place of mine—how can it accommodate you? Do not take offense, do not take offense." Zhu Gui saw this and advised, "Elder brother, do not blame me for speaking out of turn. Though the stronghold’s grain is scarce, we can borrow from nearby villages and towns; there is plenty of timber in the mountain groves and marshes, so even building a thousand rooms would be no problem. This man was strongly recommended by Master Chai—how can we send him elsewhere? Moreover, Master Chai has always shown kindness to our stronghold. If he learns later that we did not accept this man, it may not look good. And this man is skilled; he will surely exert himself." Du Qian said, "What does it matter if we have one more man in the stronghold? If you, elder brother, do not accept him, Master Chai will know and will be displeased, and it will make us appear ungrateful. We owe him much from the past; today he recommends someone, and we refuse him like this and send him away!" Song Wan also urged, "For Master Chai’s sake, let him stay and be a chieftain here. Otherwise, it will seem we lack righteousness, and the heroes of the rivers and lakes will laugh at us." Wang Lun said, "Brothers, you do not understand. Though he committed a heinous crime in Cangzhou, now that he comes to the mountain, we do not know if his heart is true or false. What if he has come to spy on us?" Lin Chong said, "I am guilty of a capital offense, so I have come to join your band. Why do you doubt me?" Wang Lun said, "If that is so, and you truly wish to join, then bring a 'pledge of allegiance.'" Lin Chong then said, "I know a few characters; please bring me paper and brush, and I will write it." Zhu Gui laughed and said, "Instructor, you are mistaken. When heroes join our band, they must submit a pledge of allegiance. It means you must go down the mountain, kill a man, and present his head. Then there will be no doubt. That is what is called a pledge of allegiance." Lin Chong said, "That is not difficult. I, Lin Chong, will go down the mountain and wait; I only fear no one will pass by." Wang Lun said, "I will give you a three-day deadline. If within three days you bring a pledge of allegiance, I will allow you to join; if you do not, then do not blame me." Lin Chong agreed and returned to his room to rest, feeling gloomy and unhappy. Indeed:

His gloomy heart was hard to open, so full of distress;

How hateful that Wang Lun was playing such a tricky game!

Tomorrow he would go early to the mountain path and wait,

But he did not know who would come to offer up his head.

That night the feast ended, and Zhu Gui took his leave to go down the mountain and attend to his tavern.

That evening, Lin Chong took his knife, staff, and luggage, and a junior bandit led him to a guest room to rest for the night. The next morning, he rose early, ate some tea and rice, strapped on his waist knife, took up his long sword, and told a junior bandit to lead the way down the mountain. They crossed by boat and waited on a secluded path for travelers to pass. From morning until evening, he waited a whole day, but not a single solitary traveler passed by. Lin Chong, feeling dejected, returned across the water with the junior bandit and went back up to the stronghold. Wang Lun asked, "Where is the pledge of allegiance?" Lin Chong replied, "Today there was not a single traveler passing by, so I could not obtain it." Wang Lun said, "If you have no pledge of allegiance tomorrow, it will be hard for you to stay here." Lin Chong dared not answer further. Feeling unhappy, he went to his room, asked for some food, ate it, and rested another night.

The next morning, he rose early, ate breakfast with the junior bandit, took his long sword, and went down the mountain again. The junior bandit said, "Today let us wait on the southern mountain path." The two went into the woods to lie in ambush, but they saw no traveler passing by. They waited until noon, when a group of about three hundred travelers passed by in a file. Lin Chong did not dare to act and watched them go by. They waited a while longer, and as the sky began to darken, still no solitary traveler passed. Lin Chong said to the junior bandit, "My luck is so bad! I have waited two days and not seen a single solitary traveler. What is to be done?" The junior bandit said, "Brother, take heart. There is still one day left. Tomorrow I will go with you to wait on the eastern mountain path." That night, they went back up the mountain as before. Wang Lun said, "How is the pledge of allegiance today?" Lin Chong dared not reply and only sighed. Wang Lun laughed and said, "I suppose there was none again today. I told you a three-day deadline, and today is already two days. If there is none tomorrow, do not bother to see me again. Please move your steps down the mountain and go elsewhere."

Lin Chong returned to his room, feeling truly stifled. There is a lyric to the tune "Linjiang xian" that describes it:

Sad as a dragon trapped, leaving the sea isle,

Bitter as a tiger penned in a barren field,

Autumn grieves Song Yu, his tears streaming without end.

Jiang Yan has lost his pen, Xiang Yu regrets no boat.

Emperor Gaozu was besieged at Xingyang,

Wu Zixu was oppressed at the Zhao Pass,

Cao Cao’s fires blazed across Red Cliff,

Li Ling gazed from his tower,

Su Wu was stranded in Juyan.

That night, Lin Chong looked up to heaven and sighed long, saying, "I never thought that today I would be framed by that scoundrel Gao Qiu and end up here. Heaven and earth do not accept me—my fate is so rugged, my fortune so poor!" After a night, he rose at dawn the next day, asked for some food, ate it, packed his bundle, and left it in the room. He strapped on his waist knife, took up his long sword, and again went down the mountain with the junior bandit, crossed the river, and headed for the eastern mountain path. Lin Chong said, "If I still cannot obtain a pledge of allegiance today, I will have to go elsewhere to settle down." The two went to the woods on the eastern path below the mountain to lie in ambush and wait. They watched as the sun reached its zenith, but still no one came.

At that time, the lingering snow had just cleared, and the sky was bright. Lin Chong, holding his long sword, said to the junior bandit, "It seems it will not work out again. I might as well take the luggage early, while the day is not yet dark, and go elsewhere to find a place." The junior bandit pointed with his finger and said, "Look! Is that not a man coming?" Lin Chong looked and exclaimed, "Thank heaven!" He saw a man far off, coming from below the slope. As the man drew nearer, Lin Chong swung his long sword sideways and leaped out suddenly. When the man saw Lin Chong, he cried out, "Ah, ya!" and threw down his load, turning to flee. Lin Chong gave chase, but could not catch up; the man disappeared over the slope. Lin Chong said, "See how bitter my fate is! After three days, just as one man comes, he escapes." The junior bandit said, "Though you did not kill anyone, this load of goods can serve as a substitute." Lin Chong said, "You carry it up the mountain first, and I will wait a while longer." The junior bandit first carried the load out of the woods.

Then a big man emerged from behind the slope. When Lin Chong saw him, he said, "Heaven sends me a chance!" The man, holding a long sword, roared like thunder, "You bastard, you insatiable bandit! Where are you taking my luggage? I was just about to catch you scoundrels, and you dare to pull the tiger’s whiskers!" He charged forward like a flying arrow. Seeing the man’s fierce momentum, Lin Chong also stepped forward to meet him.

Had it not been for this person coming to fight Lin Chong, it would have been destined that within the Liangshan Marsh, there would be added a few white-browed tigers that stir up the wind; and in the Shuihu Stockade, there would be assembled several golden-eyed beasts that leap across ravines. After all, who exactly was this person who came to fight Lin Chong? Hear the explanation in the next chapter.