Chapter 17: The Tattooed Monk Fights Alone at Twin Dragon Mountain; The Blue-Faced Beast Seizes the Jeweled Temple

CHAPTER 17

THE TATTOOED MONK FIGHTS ALONE AT TWIN-DRAGON MOUNTAIN; THE BLUE-FACED BEAST SEIZES THE JEWEL TEMPLE

Yang Zhi, having been robbed of the Birthday Gifts on Yellow Mud Ridge, could not face returning to Commander Liang. He thought of killing himself on the spot. As he was about to leap from the ridge, he suddenly came to his senses and checked himself. He thought: "My parents gave me this fine, imposing body. Since childhood I have mastered the eighteen martial arts. Am I to throw it all away like this? ... Rather than die now, I will wait until the thieves are caught and then see what can be done." Turning back, he saw the fourteen men staring at him wide-eyed, none able to rise. Yang Zhi pointed at them and cursed: "It's all because you wouldn't listen to me that this happened, dragging me into disaster." He picked up his halberd from the root of a tree, hung his saber at his waist, and looked around. There was nothing else. He sighed and went straight down the ridge.

The fourteen men did not wake until the second watch. Struggling to their feet, they cried out in misery. The chief steward said: "None of you listened to Instructor Yang's good advice, and now you've ruined me!" The others said: "Sir, what's done is done. Let's discuss what to do now." The chief steward asked: "What ideas do you have?" They replied: "We were wrong. As the old saying goes: 'When fire reaches your body, each sweeps it away; when a wasp gets in your shirt, you strip it off at once.' If Instructor Yang were still here, we could not get away with it. But now he's gone, no one knows where. When we go back to see Commander Liang, why not put all the blame on him? We'll say: 'All along the way he abused and beat us, forced us until we could not move. He was in league with the bandits, drugged us with knockout drops, tied our hands and feet, and made off with all the gold and silver.'" The chief steward said: "That sounds reasonable. Let's wait until dawn, then go to the local authorities and file a complaint. Leave two aides here to wait for orders and help catch the thieves. The rest of us will hurry back to the Northern Capital overnight and report to our lord, so he can send documents to the Grand Preceptor and order Jizhou Prefecture to pursue and capture this gang." At daybreak the next day, the chief steward and his party went to the appropriate officials in Jizhou Prefecture to lodge their complaint. That we will not detail.

Meanwhile, Yang Zhi, carrying his halberd and feeling deeply dejected, left Yellow Mud Ridge and traveled south for half a day. After walking another half of the night, he rested in a grove and thought: "I have no money left, and I don't see a single acquaintance. What am I to do? ..." As the sky gradually grew light, he had to take advantage of the morning coolness to move on. He walked another twenty-odd li. Truly:

His fierce face and dark skin displayed his prowess,

Eleven loads of gold and pearls were given away for naught.

Why is he hurrying so today?

Who knows if he'll be beaten with rattan strips?

At that time, Yang Zhi, weary from his journey, arrived at a tavern. He said to himself: "If I don't get some wine, how can I bear it?" So he entered the tavern, sat down at a table with mulberry-wood stools, and leaned his halberd against his side. A woman by the stove asked: "Sir, would you like to stop for a meal?" Yang Zhi said: "First, bring me two measures of wine to drink. Lend me some rice to cook, and prepare some meat. I'll settle the bill with you later." The woman called a young man to pour the wine, while she cooked the rice and stir-fried the meat, all of which she served to Yang Zhi. After eating, Yang Zhi rose, took up his halberd, and headed for the door. The woman said: "You haven't paid for your wine, meat, and rice!" Yang Zhi replied: "Wait until I come back; let me have it on credit for now." Saying this, he walked out.

The young man who had poured the wine chased after him and grabbed Yang Zhi. Yang Zhi knocked him down with a single punch. The woman began to cry out for justice. Yang Zhi kept walking, but heard someone behind him shouting: "Where do you think you're going?" He turned and saw a man with bare arms, dragging a staff, rushing toward him. Yang Zhi thought: "This fellow's asking for trouble, coming after me!" He stopped and stood his ground. Looking behind, he saw the young man who had poured the wine also coming with a pitchfork, followed by two or three farmhands, all carrying staffs, racing toward him like the wind. Yang Zhi said: "If I finish off this one, the rest won't dare pursue." He raised his halberd to fight the man. The man swung his staff and came to meet him. They fought for twenty or thirty rounds, but the man was no match for Yang Zhi, managing only to parry and dodge.

The young man and the farmhands were about to join in when the man suddenly leaped back out of the circle and shouted: "Stop! Don't anyone move! You with the halberd, state your name!" Yang Zhi patted his chest and said: "I never change my name when traveling or sitting—I am the Blue-Faced Beast, Yang Zhi!" The man asked: "Could you be Instructor Yang of the Imperial Guards in the Eastern Capital?" Yang Zhi said: "How do you know I'm Instructor Yang?" The man threw down his staff and knelt, saying: "I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai." Yang Zhi helped the man up and asked: "Who are you, sir?" The man replied: "I am originally from Kaifeng Prefecture, a disciple of Lin Chong, the Instructor of the Eight Hundred Thousand Imperial Guards. My surname is Cao, my given name Zheng. My family has been butchers for generations. I am good at slaughtering livestock, stripping sinews, boning meat, and dressing carcasses, so people call me 'Butcher Cao.' A wealthy man in my hometown gave me five thousand strings of cash to come to Shandong as a merchant. Unfortunately, I lost my capital and couldn't return home, so I married into a farming family here. The woman by the stove is my wife. The one with the pitchfork is my brother-in-law. Just now, when I fought with you, I saw that your skill is just like my teacher Instructor Lin's, which is why I couldn't withstand you." Yang Zhi said: "So you are Instructor Lin's disciple. Your teacher was framed by Marshal Gao and has become an outlaw. He is now at Liangshan Marsh." Cao Zheng said: "I've heard such talk, but I don't know if it's true. Please come to my home and rest a while."

So Yang Zhi and Cao Zheng returned to the tavern. Cao Zheng invited Yang Zhi to sit inside, and called his wife and brother-in-law to pay their respects to Yang Zhi. Then he prepared more wine and food to entertain him. During the meal, Cao Zheng asked: "Instructor, why have you come here?" Yang Zhi told him in full detail about losing the Flower-and-Stone Tributes as an instructor, and now losing Commander Liang's Birthday Gifts. Cao Zheng said: "If that's the case, Instructor, please stay at my humble home for a few days, and we can discuss matters further." Yang Zhi said: "I am deeply grateful for your kindness. But I fear the authorities may come after me, so I dare not stay long." Cao Zheng asked: "If that's so, where do you plan to go?" Yang Zhi replied: "I was thinking of going to Liangshan Marsh to find your teacher, Instructor Lin. When I passed by there before, I met him coming down the mountain, and we fought. Wang Lun saw that our skills were equal and invited us both to the stronghold. That's how I came to know your teacher Lin Chong. Wang Lun earnestly tried to keep me then, but I didn't become an outlaw. Now with this tattoo on my face, it would be shameful to go and join him. So I am undecided, caught between two difficulties."

Cao Zheng said: "You are right, Instructor. I've also heard people say that Wang Lun is narrow-minded and can't tolerate others. They say that when my teacher Instructor Lin went up the mountain, he suffered much mistreatment. Not far from here, in Qingzhou territory, there is a mountain called Twin-Dragon Mountain. On it is a temple called the Jewel Temple. The mountain is naturally formed to encircle the temple, with only one path leading up. The temple's abbot has returned to lay life, let his hair grow, and the other monks have all submitted to him. They say he has gathered four or five hundred men who rob houses and plunder homes. Their leader is called 'Golden-Eyed Tiger' Deng Long. If you, Instructor, are determined to become an outlaw, you could go there and join them. It would be a good place to settle." Yang Zhi said: "If such a place exists, why not seize it and make it our own?"

That night, Yang Zhi stayed at Cao Zheng's home. He borrowed some traveling money, took his halberd, bid farewell to Cao Zheng, and set out at a brisk pace for Twin-Dragon Mountain. He walked for a day, and as dusk began to fall, he saw a high mountain in the distance. Yang Zhi thought: "I'll rest in the grove for the night, and go up the mountain tomorrow." As he turned into the grove, he was startled. He saw a huge, fat monk, stark naked, with a floral tattoo on his back, sitting at the root of a pine tree to enjoy the cool air. When the monk saw Yang Zhi, he grabbed his monk's staff from the tree root, leaped up, and roared: "You bastard, where are you from?" Truly:

Having lost the loads of jewels in vain,

He now seeks payment from the Jewel Temple.

To join the bandits in the temple,

First he draws out the monk outside the temple.

Yang Zhi heard this and said, "So he's a monk from Guanzhou as well. He's from my hometown; I'll call out to him." Yang Zhi shouted, "You monk, where do you come from?" The monk did not reply but swung his staff and struck at him. Yang Zhi said, "This bald donkey is so rude; I'll take out my anger on him!" He raised his blade and charged straight at the monk. The two fought in the forest, back and forth, up and down, trading blows. It was like:

Two dragons fighting for a treasure, a pair of tigers contending for prey. The staff rose like a tiger's tail or a dragon's sinew, the blade danced like a dragon's whiskers or a tiger's claws. With a crash and a roar, heaven and earth seemed to split, black vapors swirling in the battle clouds; fiercely and mightily, thunder bellowed and wind howled, golden light flashing amid the killing aura. Two dragons fighting for a treasure terrified Zhou Chu, strong and stalwart with his frosty blade, until his eyes dimmed; a pair of tigers contending for prey startled Bian Zhuang, bold and reckless with his snow-white sword, until his soul fled. Two dragons fighting for a treasure made their eyes blaze, their tails shook the halls of the Water Mother; a pair of tigers contending for prey sent beasts fleeing, their roars made the mountain god's hair stand on end.

At that time, Yang Zhi and the monk fought for forty or fifty rounds without either gaining the upper hand. The monk feigned a flaw, leaped out of the circle, and shouted, "Hold!" Both of them stopped. Yang Zhi silently applauded, thinking, "Where does this monk come from? What fine skill, what superb technique! I can barely match him!" The monk called out, "You there, the blue-faced man, who are you?" Yang Zhi said, "I am Yang Zhi, the Military Instructor from the Eastern Capital." The monk said, "Aren't you the one who killed the ne'er-do-well Niu Er in the Eastern Capital over a knife?" Yang Zhi said, "Don't you see the golden brand on my face?" The monk laughed and said, "So we meet here after all." Yang Zhi said, "May I ask who you are, brother monk? How do you know about my selling the knife?" The monk said, "I am none other than Lu Da, formerly the Captain under the old General Zhong of Yanan Prefecture. Because I killed the 'Tyrant of the West' with three punches, I shaved my head and became a monk at Mount Wutai. People saw the tattoos on my back and called me 'Flowery Monk' Lu Zhishen."

Yang Zhi laughed and said, "So you're from my hometown! I've often heard of your fame in the rivers and lakes. I heard you were residing at the Daxiangguo Temple; why are you here now?" Lu Zhishen said, "It's a long story. I was tending the vegetable garden at Daxiangguo Temple when I met Lin Chong, the 'Leopard Head.' Marshal Gao wanted to kill him. I saw injustice and escorted him all the way to Cangzhou, saving his life. But those two escorting officers went back and told that scoundrel Gao Qiu, 'We were about to finish Lin Chong in the Wild Boar Forest, but Lu Zhishen from Daxiangguo Temple saved him. The monk escorted him to Cangzhou, so we couldn't harm him.' That cursed bastard hates me to death. He ordered the temple abbot to refuse me lodging and sent men to capture me. Luckily, a group of rogues tipped me off, or I'd have fallen into his hands. I burned down the garden's buildings and fled into the rivers and lakes, finding no peace anywhere. I came to the Crossroads Slope in Mengzhou and nearly lost my life to a woman innkeeper who drugged me with knockout drops. Her husband came home early, saw my condition, and was shocked by my staff and ring knife. He quickly revived me with an antidote. He asked my name, kept me for a few days, and swore brotherhood with me. That couple are famous heroes in the rivers and lakes: he's called 'Vegetable Gardener' Zhang Qing, and his wife 'Night Ogress' Sun Erniang, both very righteous. After four or five days, I heard that the Baozhu Temple on Twin Dragon Mountain was a safe haven, so I came to join Deng Long. But that scoundrel wouldn't let me stay on the mountain. We fought, and he couldn't beat me, so he just locked the three passes at the foot of the mountain. There's no other way up, and that bastard just won't come down to fight, no matter how I curse. I've been stewing here with no resolution, and I never expected to meet you, big brother." Yang Zhi was overjoyed. The two greeted each other in the forest and sat on the ground through the night.

Yang Zhi recounted how he had killed Niu Er over the knife and the loss of the Birthday Convoy, giving all the details. He also mentioned Cao Zheng's guidance to come here, and said, "Since the passes are blocked, how can we get him to come down? Let's go to Cao Zheng's place and discuss it."

The two left the forest together and arrived at Cao Zheng's tavern. Yang Zhi introduced Lu Zhishen to him. Cao Zheng hastily prepared wine to entertain them, and they discussed how to take Twin Dragon Mountain. Cao Zheng said, "If the passes are truly sealed, even ten thousand troops couldn't get up, let alone the two of you. This calls for a clever plan, not a direct assault." Lu Zhishen said, "I hate that bastard. When I first came to him, we met only outside the pass. Because he wouldn't take me in, we fought, and I kicked him in the belly, knocking him over. I was about to finish him, but his men rescued him and carried him up the mountain, then closed that damned pass. You can curse all you want from below, but he won't come down to fight." Yang Zhi said, "Since it's such a good place, why don't we put our minds to taking it!" Lu Zhishen said, "There's just no way up; we can't do anything about him!"

Cao Zheng said, "I have a plan. I don't know if it will meet with your approval." Yang Zhi said, "I'd like to hear your good strategy." Cao Zheng said, "Military Instructor, don't dress like this. Wear the clothes of the local villagers here. I'll take this master's staff and ring knife, and have my brother-in-law lead six of my men to deliver them to the mountain. We'll tie up the master with a rope, and I'll make a slipknot. Then we'll go to the foot of the mountain and call out, 'We are local innkeepers from the nearby village. This monk came to our tavern to drink, got too drunk, refused to pay, and said he'd call men to attack your stronghold. When we heard that, we took advantage of his drunkenness, tied him up, and brought him here to present to the chieftain.' That scoundrel will surely let us up the mountain. Once we're inside their stronghold and see Deng Long, we'll pull the slipknot loose, and I'll hand the staff to the master. You two heroes attack together—where can that scoundrel run? If we finish him off, the rest won't dare to disobey. What do you think of this plan?" Lu Zhishen and Yang Zhi said together, "Excellent! Excellent!" There is a poem to prove it: A suckling tiger calling itself a dragon is in vain; Twin Dragon Mountain allows two dragons to coil. When men meet in loyalty, feelings run deep; In times of crisis, plans become more complete.

That evening, everyone ate and drank, and prepared some dry provisions for the road. The next day, they rose at the fifth watch and all ate their fill. Lu Zhishen's luggage and bundles were left at Cao Zheng's house. That day, Yang Zhi, Lu Zhishen, and Cao Zheng, along with his brother-in-law and five or seven farmhands, took the road to Twin Dragon Mountain. By early afternoon, they reached a forest, took off their clothes, tied up Lu Zhishen with a slipknot rope, and had two farmhands hold the rope end tightly. Yang Zhi wore a wide-brimmed sun hat and a tattered cloth shirt, carrying his blade upside down. Cao Zheng carried his staff. The others all bore clubs and sticks, crowding around in front and behind. When they reached the foot of the mountain and saw the pass, it was lined with strong crossbows and hard bows, lime pots and stone throwers.

The junior bandits on the pass saw the bound monk being brought and reported it swiftly up the mountain. After a while, two junior leaders came to the pass and asked, "Who are you people? What are you doing here? Where did you catch this monk?" Cao Zheng replied, "We are local villagers from the foot of this mountain, running a small tavern. This fat monk often came to our place to drink. He got too drunk, refused to pay, and said, 'I'm going to call a thousand men from Liangshan Marsh to attack this Twin Dragon Mountain and wipe out your whole village!' So we had no choice but to ply him with more good wine until he was dead drunk, then tied him up with a rope to present to the chieftain, as a token of our village's respect and to avoid future trouble."

The two junior leaders heard this and were overjoyed, saying, "Good! Wait here a moment." The two junior leaders went up the mountain to report to Deng Long, saying they had captured the fat monk. Deng Long was delighted and ordered, "Bring him up the mountain. I'll take out his heart and liver to go with my wine and satisfy my vengeance!" The junior bandits received the order, opened the pass gate, and called for the monk to be brought up.

Yang Zhi and Cao Zheng tightly escorted Lu Zhishen up the mountain. When they looked at the three passes, they were indeed steep and perilous: the mountain ranges curved around on both sides, enclosing the temple. The peaks were rugged and majestic, with only a single path leading up through the passes. On the three passes were arrayed rolling logs and ballista stones, powerful crossbows and strong bows, and bitter bamboo spears packed closely together. After passing through the three barrier gates, they arrived before the Precious Pearl Temple. There, three hall gates stood, and a stretch of ground as smooth as a mirror, surrounded by wooden palisades serving as city walls. Below the temple gate stood seven or eight minor bandits, who, seeing the bound Lu Zhishen approach, pointed and cursed, saying, “You bald donkey! You wounded the Great King, and now you’ve been caught today! Slowly we’ll hack this brute to pieces!” Lu Zhishen remained silent. When they were escorted to the Buddha hall, they saw that all the Buddha statues had been removed, and in the middle was placed a tiger-skin armchair. Many minor bandits stood on both sides, holding spears and clubs.

After a moment, two minor bandits helped Deng Long out and seated him in the armchair. Cao Zheng and Yang Zhi tightly flanked Lu Zhishen as they reached the foot of the steps. Deng Long said, “You bald donkey, the other day you knocked me down and wounded my lower abdomen, which is still blue and swollen. Today you finally see me.” Lu Zhishen glared with his monstrous eyes and bellowed, “You bastard, don’t run!” The two farmhands tugged at the rope ends, pulling loose the slipknot, and the ropes scattered. Lu Zhishen then took his monk’s staff from Cao Zheng’s hand and whirled it like flying clouds. Yang Zhi cast aside his straw hat and raised his gleaming sword. Cao Zheng also brandished his club. All the farmhands rose up together, joining forces and pressing forward. Deng Long struggled to resist, but Lu Zhishen’s staff struck him square on the head, splitting his skull in two and shattering the armchair as well. The minor bandits under his command were already stabbed down by Yang Zhi, four or five of them. Cao Zheng shouted, “All of you, come and surrender! If anyone refuses, they will be swept away and executed!” The five or six hundred minor bandits and several minor leaders, both in front of and behind the temple, were stunned with terror and had no choice but to come and submit. They were then ordered to carry away Deng Long’s corpse and the others to the back mountain to be cremated. Meanwhile, they inspected the storehouses, tidied up the rooms, and went to see what goods were behind the temple. For the time being, they arranged wine and meat to eat. Lu Zhishen and Yang Zhi became the masters of the mountain stronghold, setting out wine and feasting to celebrate. All the minor bandits surrendered and were still organized under minor leaders to be managed.

Cao Zheng took leave of the two heroes, led his farmhands, and returned home, and there is no further word of him. Truly:

The ancient temple, majestic and hidden in the green haze,

Turned into a bandits’ lair, feigning mercy.

Heaven-gifted with strength, the Tattooed Monk,

Wielding staff and sharpening blades, became the abbot.

Another poem also mentions Yang Zhi:

With wisdom deep, he aided Zhishen,

A greenwood hero became the forest’s master.

Subduing dragons and taming tigers, true comrades,

Who would know the beast-faced one had a Buddha’s heart?

Let us not speak of Lu Zhishen and Yang Zhi living as outlaws on Two Dragons Mountain, but rather of the old steward who escorted the “Birthday Gifts” and the several garrison soldiers. They traveled by dawn and rested by night, hurrying back to the Northern Capital. Arriving at the residence of Prefect Liang, they went straight to the hall and all knelt down on the ground, confessing their guilt. Prefect Liang said, “You have labored on the road, and I am indebted to you all.” Then he asked, “Where is Instructor Yang?” The men replied, “It cannot be said! This man is a bold and ungrateful villain! Five or seven days after leaving here, when we reached Yellow Mud Ridge, the weather was extremely hot, and we all rested in the woods to cool off. Unexpectedly, Yang Zhi colluded with seven bandits, pretending to be date merchants. Yang Zhi conspired with them to travel together. They first pushed seven Jiangzhou carts and waited in the pine forest on Yellow Mud Ridge. Then they had a man carry a load of wine up to the ridge and set it down. We, the humble ones, should not have bought his wine to drink, but we were all drugged with knockout drops by that scoundrel, and then bound with ropes. Yang Zhi and the seven bandits loaded all the ‘Birthday Gifts’ treasure and luggage onto the carts and took them away. Now we have reported to the prefectural office of Jizhou, and two officers have been left there to await court proceedings for the capture of the bandits. We, the humble ones, have rushed back day and night to inform you, Your Honor.”

When Prefect Liang heard this, he was greatly startled and cursed, “That convict soldier! You were a criminal prisoner, and I went out of my way to promote you to a man. How dare you commit such an unkind and ungrateful act! If I capture him, I will chop him into ten thousand pieces!” He immediately summoned a clerk, wrote an official document, and dispatched a man day and night to deliver it to Jizhou. He also wrote a family letter and had someone rush to the Eastern Capital overnight to inform the Grand Preceptor.

Let us not speak of the man sent to Jizhou with the document, but only of the one who went to the Eastern Capital to the Grand Preceptor’s residence to report. When he saw the Grand Preceptor and presented the letter, Grand Preceptor Cai was greatly startled and said, “This gang of bandits is extremely audacious! Last year they robbed the gifts my son-in-law sent, and we have yet to capture them. This year they act insolently again—how can this be tolerated!” He immediately stamped an official document and had a mansion steward personally take it, traveling day and night to Jizhou, ordering the prefectural magistrate to urgently capture this group of bandits and report back.

Now, the magistrate of Jizhou, ever since receiving the document from the Garrison Command of the Northern Capital, Daming Prefecture, had been unable to handle the matter daily. While he was feeling anxious, the gatekeeper reported, “A steward from the Grand Preceptor’s residence in the Eastern Capital has arrived before the hall with an urgent document, requesting to see you, Your Honor.” The magistrate, hearing this, was greatly alarmed and said, “It must be about the ‘Birthday Gifts’ affair!” He hurriedly ascended the hall to meet the steward and said, “Regarding this matter, I have already received the complaint from Prefect Liang’s officers and have sent out investigators to hunt down the bandits, but there is no trace yet. The other day, the Garrison Command also sent a document here, and I have instructed the constables and detectives, setting a deadline for the pursuit, but no captures have been made. If there is any movement or news, I will personally go to the Grand Preceptor’s residence to report.” The steward said, “I am a trusted man from the Grand Preceptor’s residence. Now, by the Grand Preceptor’s order, I have been sent here specifically to demand these people. Before I left, the Grand Preceptor personally instructed me to tell you to lodge at the prefectural office, waiting for you, Your Honor, to capture these seven date merchants and the wine seller, and the escaped officer Yang Zhi, each bandit in person. A deadline of ten days is set for their complete capture, and they are to be escorted to the Eastern Capital. If this case is not resolved within ten days, I fear you will first be invited to take a trip to Shamen Island. I, too, will find it hard to return to the Grand Preceptor’s residence—my life may not be spared. If you do not believe me, Your Honor, please look at the Grand Preceptor’s official order.”

The magistrate looked at it and was greatly alarmed, then immediately summoned the constables. A man at the foot of the steps responded with a shout and stood before the curtain. The prefect said, “Who are you?” The man replied, “I am He Tao, chief detective of the three prefectures.” The prefect said, “The ‘Birthday Gifts’ that were robbed on Yellow Mud Ridge the other day—are you in charge of that case?” He Tao replied, “Reporting to you, Your Honor: Since I took on this case, I have been sleepless day and night, dispatching sharp-eyed and quick-handed constables under my command to patrol Yellow Mud Ridge for clues. Although I have been repeatedly beaten and punished, to this day there is no trace. This is not due to any negligence on my part toward the authorities, but truly out of helplessness.” The prefect roared, “Nonsense! ‘If the top is not strict, the bottom will be slack.’ I earned my degree as a presented scholar and went through many posts to become a prefect—this was no easy feat! Today, an agent from the Grand Preceptor’s residence in the Eastern Capital has arrived with his order: a ten-day deadline to capture each bandit in person and deliver them to the capital. If I exceed that limit, I will not only lose my office but will certainly be sent to Shamen Island. You are a detective chief, yet you are not diligent, and so you bring calamity upon me. First, I will have you exiled to a remote and harsh military post, a place where even wild geese cannot reach!” He then summoned a tattoo artist to brand on He Tao’s face the characters “Exiled to… Prefecture,” leaving the prefecture name blank, and pronounced, “He Tao, if you fail to capture the bandits, a severe punishment will not be spared!” Truly:

Drafting a face with such perverse schemes,

Seeking peace for oneself while others suffer.

A branded face need not be so contrived,

One’s true heart should also be carefully weighed.

Now He Tao, having received the order, left the hall and went to the detectives’ room, gathering many constables in the secret chamber to discuss the case. All the constables looked at each other, like arrows piercing a goose’s beak or hooks catching a fish’s gills, utterly speechless. He Tao said, “You all usually make money in this room, but now when there’s a difficult matter, none of you speak. You should pity the characters branded on my face.” The men said, “In response to you, Inspector, we humble ones are not made of wood or stone—how could we not understand? But this group of traveling merchants must be outlaws from other prefectures or remote mountains and wilderness. When they encountered the chance, they robbed the treasure and went back to their stronghold to enjoy themselves. How can we catch them? Even if we knew, we could only take a look.” He Tao, hearing this, had originally only five parts of worry, but after these words, another five parts were added. Leaving the detectives’ room, he mounted his horse and returned home, leading the horse to the back stable to tie it up. Alone, he was utterly dejected. Truly:

Double brows locked with triple bars of sorrow,

A belly filled with ten thousand measures of grief.

A fish escaped from the net—where can it be found?

To catch a turtle in a jar, to whom can one turn?

Just then his wife asked, “Husband, why do you look like this today?” He Tao replied, “You don’t know. The other day the prefect gave me a warrant, because a gang of bandits on Yellow Mud Ridge robbed the gold, pearls, and precious gifts—eleven loads in all—that Secretary Liang was sending to his father-in-law, Grand Tutor Cai, to celebrate his birthday. We still don’t know who did it. Since I received this order, I haven’t caught anyone. Today I went to ask for an extension, but unexpectedly the Grand Tutor’s office had already sent an agent, demanding that the bandits be captured and escorted to the capital immediately. The prefect asked me for news of the criminals. I replied, ‘There’s no clue yet; I haven’t caught anyone.’ The prefect tattooed the words ‘Exiled to … Prefecture’ on my face, but hasn’t filled in the place yet. From now on, I don’t know what will become of me!” His wife said, “If it’s like this, what can be done? How will this end?”

Just as they were talking, his younger brother He Qing came to visit. He Tao said, “What are you here for? Why aren’t you out gambling, coming here instead?” He Tao’s wife was quick-witted and immediately waved him over, saying, “Brother-in-law, come into the kitchen; I have something to tell you.” He Qing followed his sister-in-law into the kitchen and sat down. She prepared some wine, meat, and vegetables, heated a few cups of wine, and invited He Qing to drink. He Qing asked his sister-in-law, “Brother is too insulting! Even if I’m useless, I’m still his own brother! Even if he’s so great, he’s only a. What’s so shameful about having a cup of wine with me?” His sister-in-law said, “Brother-in-law, you don’t know. Your brother is very distressed right now!” He Qing said, “He makes plenty of money every day, where does it all go? He has plenty of money and grain. What’s there to be distressed about?” His sister-in-law said, “You don’t know. It’s because of the incident on Yellow Mud Ridge. The other day, a group of date-selling travelers robbed the ‘birthday convoy’ that Secretary Liang of Beijing was sending to celebrate Grand Tutor Cai’s birthday. Now the Jizhou prefect has received orders from the Grand Tutor: within ten days, he must capture all the bandits and escort them to the capital. If the actual criminals aren’t caught, he’ll be tattooed and exiled to a remote and dangerous military prefecture. Haven’t you seen that your brother’s face has already been tattooed with ‘Exiled to … Prefecture,’ but the place hasn’t been filled in yet? If they aren’t caught soon, he’ll really suffer! How could he have the heart to drink with you? I just prepared some food and wine for you. He’s been upset for a while now; you can’t blame him.”

He Qing said, “I’ve also vaguely heard people say, ‘Some bandits robbed the birthday convoy.’ Where did it happen?” His sister-in-law said, “I only heard it was on Yellow Mud Ridge.” He Qing said, “What kind of people robbed it?” His sister-in-law said, “Brother-in-law, you’re not drunk. I just told you, it was seven date-selling travelers who robbed it.” He Qing laughed heartily and said, “So that’s it. If you know it was date-selling travelers, why are you still worried? Why not send some clever people to catch them?” His sister-in-law said, “That’s easy for you to say, but there’s nowhere to catch them.” He Qing laughed and said, “Sister-in-law, you’re worrying for nothing. Brother has his usual group of good friends who feast and drink with him, but usually he doesn’t pay any attention to his own brother. Now that something’s happened, he says there’s nowhere to catch them. If I, your brother, knew about it and could earn a few strings of cash, I reckon these petty bandits wouldn’t be so hard to deal with!” His sister-in-law said, “Brother-in-law, do you happen to know something about this?” He Qing laughed and said, “Just wait until brother is in real danger; then I’ll come up with a way to save him.” After saying this, he got up to leave. His sister-in-law urged him to stay and drink two more cups.

The woman, hearing these words that seemed odd, hurriedly went and told her husband in detail. He Tao immediately asked his brother to come before him. He Tao put on a smiling face and said, “Brother, since you know where the bandits have gone, why won’t you save me?” He Qing said, “I don’t know anything about it. I was just joking with my sister-in-law. How could I, your brother, save you?” He Tao said, “Good brother, don’t be cold or hot toward me. Just think of my usual kindness to you, and don’t remember my faults. Save my life!” He Qing said, “Brother, you have many sharp-eyed and quick-handed constables under you, two or three hundred of them. Why don’t they do some real work for you? How can I, just one brother, save you?” He Tao said, “Brother, don’t talk about them. There’s something in your words. Don’t hand it over to others to play the hero. Just tell me some clue, and I’ll find a way to repay you. How can I set my mind at ease?” He Qing said, “What clue? I, your brother, don’t know anything!” He Tao said, “Don’t provoke me. Think of the bond between us, born of the same mother.” He Qing said, “Don’t panic. Wait until the most critical moment, and I, your brother, will naturally exert some effort and catch these petty bandits.” His sister-in-law said, “Brother-in-law, just help your brother somehow—it’s also a matter of brotherly affection. Now, under orders from the Grand Tutor’s office, they’re waiting for these people. It’s a huge matter, and you call them petty bandits!” He Qing said, “Sister-in-law, you know that because of my gambling, I’ve suffered many harsh words from brother. Whenever there were beatings or scoldings, I never argued with him. When there was wine and food, he only enjoyed himself with others. Today, your brother has his uses too.”

He Tao, seeing that his words had some substance, quickly took out ten taels of silver, placed them on the table, and said, “Brother, take this silver for now. Later, when the bandits are caught, I’ll take full responsibility for any rewards in gold, silver, and silk.” He Qing laughed and said, “Brother, you’re truly like ‘in a crisis, you clasp the Buddha’s feet; in peacetime, you don’t burn incense.’ If I wanted your silver, that would be me extorting you, your brother. Put it away; don’t try to fool me. If you do this, I won’t say anything. Since you two have spoken kindly to me, I’ll tell you. Don’t bring out the silver to scare me.” He Tao said, “The silver is offered as a reward by the authorities. How could it be less than three or five hundred strings of cash? Brother, don’t refuse. Let me ask you: where do these bandits have some connection?” He Qing slapped his thigh and said, “These bandits, I’ve got them all in my waist pouch.” He Tao was greatly startled and said, “Brother, how can you say these bandits are in your waist pouch?” He Qing said, “Brother, don’t worry about that. Naturally, they’re all there, that’s all. Just put the silver away, don’t use it to fool me. Just rely on our usual brotherly affection. I’ll tell you now.”

He Qing, unhurried and unflustered, held up two fingers and began to speak. As a result, in Yuncheng County, a righteous hero would be brought forth; on Mount Liang, a band of heaven-supporting good fellows would gather. After all, what person did He Qing reveal to He Tao? Listen to the next chapter for the explanation.