Chapter 43: The False Li Kui Waylays a Traveler; the Black Whirlwind Kills Four Tigers at Yiling

Chapter 43: The Fake Li Kui Robs a Traveler; The Black Whirlwind Kills Four Tigers on Yiling

It is told: Li Kui said, “Elder Brother, just tell me those three things.” Song Jiang replied, “You want to go to Yizhou’s Yishui County to fetch your mother. First, go straight there and back—no drinking. Second, because you have a hot temper, who would be willing to go with you? You must go quietly alone, bring your mother, and return at once. Third, do not take those two axes of yours along. Be careful on the road, leave early, and come back soon.” Li Kui said, “These three things—what’s there to object to? Elder Brother, rest assured. I’ll leave this very day; I won’t stay.” Thereupon Li Kui packed neatly, wearing only a waist saber, carrying a long-handled sword, and taking one large silver ingot and three or five small ones. He drank a few cups of wine, made a deep bow, bade everyone farewell, and went down the mountain, crossing the Golden Sand Beach.

Chao Gai, Song Jiang, and the other chieftains saw him off and then returned to the main stronghold, where they sat in the Assembly Hall. Song Jiang, still uneasy, said to the group, “This brother Li Kui—this trip will surely bring trouble. I wonder, which of you brothers is from his hometown? Could someone go there to gather news?” Du Qian said, “Only Zhu Gui is originally from Yishui County in Yizhou, and he is from the same hometown.” Hearing this, Song Jiang said, “I forgot. The other day at the White Dragon Temple gathering, Li Kui already recognized Zhu Gui as a fellow townsman.” Song Jiang then sent someone to fetch Zhu Gui. A junior chieftain quickly went down the mountain to the inn and brought Zhu Gui back. Song Jiang said, “Now Brother Li Kui has gone to his hometown to fetch his old mother. Because of his bad temper when drinking, I didn’t want to send anyone with him, truly fearing trouble on the road. Now I learn that you, worthy brother, are from the same place. Could you go there to inquire and make a trip?” Zhu Gui replied, “I am from Yishui County in Yizhou. I have a younger brother named Zhu Fu, who runs an inn west of the county gate. This Li Kui lives east of Dongdian in Baizhang Village in that county. He has an elder brother named Li Da, who works as a hired hand for others. Li Kui was violent from childhood; because he killed someone, he fled to the rivers and lakes and never returned home. Now if I go there to inquire, it’s fine, but I worry about who will look after the inn. I haven’t been home for a long time either, so I’d also like to visit my brother.” Song Jiang said, “Don’t worry about the inn. I’ll have Hou Jian and Shi Yong manage it for a while.” Zhu Gui accepted this order, bade farewell to the chieftains, and went down the mountain. He then went to the inn, packed his belongings, handed over the shop to Shi Yong and Hou Jian, and set off for Yizhou.

Meanwhile, Song Jiang and Chao Gai stayed in the stronghold, holding feasts daily, drinking and enjoying themselves, and studying the Heavenly Book with Wu Yong the Learned. Of this, no more is said.

Now Li Kui, alone, left Liangshan Marsh and took the road to the border of Yishui County. Along the way, Li Kui truly did not drink wine, so he stirred up no trouble, and nothing worth telling occurred. When he reached the west gate of Yishui County, he saw a crowd gathered around a notice board. Li Kui also stood among the people and heard someone reading: “First on the list is the chief bandit Song Jiang, from Yuncheng County; second is the accomplice bandit Dai Zong, warden of the two prisons in Jiangzhou; third is the accomplice bandit Li Kui, from Yishui County in Yizhou.” Li Kui, hearing this from behind, was about to wave his hands and shout in frustration when a man rushed forward, grabbed him around the waist, and called out, “Brother Zhang, what are you doing here?” Li Kui twisted around and saw that it was “Dry-Land Crocodile” Zhu Gui. Li Kui asked, “How did you come to be here?” Zhu Gui said, “Come with me, and we’ll talk.”

The two went together to an inn in a nearby village outside the west gate, straight into a quiet inner room, where they sat down. Zhu Gui pointed at Li Kui and said, “How bold of you! That notice clearly offers a reward of ten thousand strings for capturing Song Jiang, five thousand for Dai Zong, and three thousand for Li Kui. How could you stand there reading it? If some sharp-eyed, quick-handed person had seized you and handed you over to the authorities, what then? Elder Brother Song Jiang was afraid you’d cause trouble and wouldn’t let anyone go with you. He also feared you’d do something reckless here, so he specially sent me to catch up and check on you. I left the mountain one day after you, but I arrived a day before you. How is it you only got here today?” Li Kui said, “It’s because Elder Brother instructed me not to drink, so I walked slowly on the road. How do you know this inn? You’re from here—where does your family live?” Zhu Gui said, “This inn is my brother Zhu Fu’s place. I’m originally from here, but I traveled the rivers and lakes as a merchant, lost my capital, and ended up as an outlaw on Liangshan. I’ve only just returned.” He then called his brother Zhu Fu to meet Li Kui. Zhu Fu prepared wine to entertain Li Kui. Li Kui said, “Elder Brother told me not to drink, but now that I’m in my hometown, what harm is there in a couple of bowls?” Zhu Gui dared not stop him and let him drink.

That night they drank straight through until the fourth watch. Then some food was prepared; Li Kui ate it, and taking advantage of the fifth watch, beneath the fading stars and crescent moon, with rosy dawn light, he set off toward the village. Zhu Gui instructed him, “Don’t take the small path. Turn at the big mulberry tree onto the main road east, and go straight to Baizhang Village—that’s east of Dongdian. Quickly fetch your mother and come back to the stronghold with her as soon as possible.” Li Kui said, “Since childhood, I’ve always taken the small path—it’s shorter. Who can stand the main road?” Zhu Gui said, “On the small path, there are many tigers, and also bandits who rob travelers of their bundles.” Li Kui replied, “What do I care about such things?” He put on his felt hat, picked up his long-handled sword, hung his waist saber, said goodbye to Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu, and went out the door, heading for Baizhang Village.

After traveling about ten miles, the sky gradually grew light. From the dew-covered grass, a white hare sprang out and ran ahead on the path. Li Kui chased it for a while, then laughed and said, “That beast has led me along for a bit.” A poem testifies to this:

The mountain path, rugged and quiet, deep and deep,

West wind and yellow leaves fill the sparse woods.

By chance chasing a hare, he crossed the border ahead,

Not remembering the haste within his traveler’s heart.

As he walked, he saw ahead a dense cluster of about fifty large trees. It was early autumn, and the leaves were red. When Li Kui reached the edge of the woods, a big man stepped out and shouted, “If you know what’s good, leave your toll money, or I’ll take your bundle!” Li Kui looked at the man: he wore a red silk turban with a topknot, a coarse cloth robe, and carried two axes in his hands, with black ink smeared on his face. Seeing this, Li Kui bellowed, “You scoundrel! What kind of bird are you, daring to rob people here!” The man said, “If you ask my name, it will shatter your heart! Your lord is called ‘Black Whirlwind.’ Leave your toll money and your bundle, and I’ll spare your life and let you pass.” Li Kui laughed loudly and said, “To hell with your mother’s fun! Who are you? Where did you come from, pretending to my reputation and acting wildly here?” Li Kui raised his long-handled sword and charged at the man. The man could not withstand him. About to flee, he was struck on the thigh by Li Kui’s sword and knocked to the ground. Li Kui planted a foot on his chest and roared, “Do you recognize your lord?” The man cried from the ground, “Grandfather, spare your child’s life!” Li Kui said, “I am the true hero of the rivers and lakes, ‘Black Whirlwind’ Li Kui. How dare you insult my name!” The man said, “Though I am surnamed Li, I am not the real ‘Black Whirlwind.’ Because your name is famous on the rivers and lakes, and even gods and demons fear the mention of your great name, I falsely learned your name and rob here recklessly. Whenever a lone traveler passes and hears the words ‘Black Whirlwind,’ he abandons his luggage and flees. Thus I get some profit, but truly I dare not harm anyone. My own lowly name is Li Gui, and I live only in the village ahead.” Li Kui said, “How hateful that this scoundrel is so rude, stealing people’s bundles and luggage here, ruining my name, and imitating me by using two axes! Let him first taste my axe!” He snatched one of the axes and was about to strike. Li Gui hastily cried out, “Grandfather, if you kill me, you kill two!” Li Kui heard this, stopped his hand, and asked, “How does killing you kill two?” Li Gui said, “I never dared to rob people, but at home I have a ninety-year-old mother with no one to support her. So I alone use your great name to scare people, taking bundles from lone travelers to support my old mother. Truly, I have never dared to harm anyone. If you kill me now, Grandfather, my mother at home will surely starve to death.”

Although Li Kui was a demon who killed without blinking an eye, upon hearing these words he thought to himself, "I came home specially to fetch my mother, yet instead I've killed a man who supports his own mother. Heaven and Earth would not bless me. Enough, enough, I'll spare your wretched life." He raised him up; Li Gui, axe in hand, bowed low. Li Kui said, "I am the real 'Black Whirlwind.' From now on, do not ruin my reputation again." Li Gui replied, "Today I, your humble one, have been granted my life. I will go home and change my trade, and dare no longer rely on your honor's name to waylay travelers here." Li Kui said, "Since you have a filial heart, I'll give you ten taels of silver as capital. Go and change your profession." Li Kui then took out a silver ingot and gave it to Li Gui, who bowed in thanks and left.

Li Kui laughed to himself, "This fellow ran right into my hands. Since he's a filial man, he'll surely change his ways. If I had killed him, it wouldn't have been in accord with Heaven's principles. I'd better be on my way myself." He took his long-bladed sword and walked step by step along the winding mountain path. There is a poem:

Li Kui went to meet his mother but met with harm;

Li Gui, how could he truly support his aged dam?

Thus one sees that in matters of loyalty and filial piety,

Words and deeds must be carefully considered.

He walked until the hour of Si (9–11 a.m.), feeling hungry and thirsty. All around were mountain paths, with no tavern or inn in sight. As he walked, he saw two thatched cottages far off in a hollow of the hills. Li Kui hurried toward them. A woman came out from behind the house, wearing her hair in a bun with a cluster of wild flowers pinned at the temple, her face heavily powdered and rouged. Li Kui set down his sword and said, "Sister, I'm a traveler passing through, terribly hungry and can't find a wine shop. I'll give you a full string of cash; trouble yourself to prepare some wine and food." The woman, seeing Li Kui's fierce appearance, dared not say no and could only reply, "There's no wine to be bought, but I can cook some rice for you to eat before you go on." Li Kui said, "That'll do. Just make plenty—I'm so hungry I could shit." The woman said, "Will a pint of rice be enough?" Li Kui said, "Make three pints of rice for me to eat." The woman went into the kitchen, lit the fire, went to the stream to wash the rice, and began cooking. Li Kui went around behind the house to wash his hands by the hillside, and saw a man staggering back from the mountain. Li Kui circled to the back to listen; the woman, about to go up the hill to gather vegetables, opened the back door and, seeing him, asked, "Brother, where did you hurt your leg?" The man replied, "Wife, I nearly never saw you again. Tell me, wasn't that unlucky? I went out hoping to catch a lone traveler, waited a full half-month without a single score, and just today I nabbed one—guess who? It turned out to be the real 'Black Whirlwind.' Damn my luck to run into that ass. How could I match him? Instead, he gave me a cut with his sword and knocked me to the ground. He was set on killing me, but I cried out in pretended grief, 'If you kill me, you'll kill two of us.' He asked why, and I told him, 'I have a ninety-year-old mother at home with no one to support her; she'd surely starve.' That ass actually believed me, spared my life, and even gave me a silver ingot as capital, telling me to change my trade and support my mother. I was afraid he might come to his senses and chase after me, so I left that forest, slept a while in a secluded spot, and came home over the back hill." The woman said, "Keep your voice down. Just now a big black fellow came to the house and told me to cook rice—could it be him? He's sitting by the front door now. Go and take a look. If it's him, go find some knockout drug and put it in the food. Let that bastard eat it, get drugged and fall to the ground. Then you and I can deal with him, take his gold and silver, move to the county town, and start a business. Wouldn't that be far better than waylaying travelers here!"

Li Kui had heard everything and said, "Damn this scoundrel! I gave him silver and spared his life, and now he wants to harm me. This is truly unforgivable." He turned and walked to the back door. Li Gui was just about to go out when Li Kiu grabbed him by the face. The woman hastily fled out the front door. Li Kui seized Li Gui, threw him to the ground, drew his waist knife from his side, and cut off his head. Holding the knife, he rushed to the front door to look for the woman, but she had disappeared without a trace. He went back inside, searched the room, and found two bamboo baskets with some old clothes; beneath them he found some loose silver and a few hairpins and earrings. Li Kui took them all. He also searched Li Gui's person and retrieved the small silver ingot, tying everything into his bundle. Then he looked in the pot—the three pints of rice were already cooked, but there were no vegetables to go with it. Li Kui scooped out the rice and ate for a while, then laughed to himself, "What a fool! Fine meat is right before me, and I don't know enough to eat it." He drew his waist knife, cut two pieces of meat from Li Gui's thigh, washed them clean with water, grabbed some charcoal from the stove, and roasted them. He ate as he roasted, until he was full. Then he dragged Li Gui's corpse under the house, set it on fire, took up his long-bladed sword, and headed back into the mountain paths.

By the time he reached the east of Dong Village, the sun was already slanting westward. He went straight home, pushed open the door, and entered. He heard his mother on the bed ask, "Who's there?" Li Kui looked and saw that his mother's eyes were both blind. She sat on the bed reciting Buddhist prayers. Li Kui said, "Mother, Iron Ox has come home." His mother said, "My son, you've been gone so long... Where have you settled these past years? Your elder brother only works as a hired hand for others, barely earning enough food to eat, and can't support me properly. I missed you constantly and cried until my tears ran dry, so I've gone blind. How have you been all along?" Li Kui thought, "If I tell her I've become an outlaw at Liangshan Marsh, she'll certainly refuse to go with me—I'll just lie." So he replied, "Iron Ox is now an official and has come specially to fetch you on the road." His mother said, "That's good! But how can I go with you?" Li Kui said, "Iron Ox will carry you on his back to the main road, then find a cart to take us." His mother said, "Wait for your elder brother to come, and we'll discuss it." Li Kui said, "Wait for what? I'll just go with you myself." Just as he was about to leave, Li Da came in carrying a pot of rice.

When Li Da entered and saw Li Kui, Li Kui bowed and said, "Elder brother, it's been many years." Li Da cursed, "You bastard, what are you coming back for? To get me into trouble again?" His mother said, "Iron Ox is an official now and has come home specially to fetch me." Li Da said, "Mother, don't believe his bullshit. Back then he killed a man and made me wear the cangue and chains, suffering untold hardship. Now I hear he's in league with the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh, that they raided the execution grounds and stirred up Jiangzhou, and that he's become a bandit there. The other day, an official warrant from Jiangzhou arrived, ordering that the culprit be traced and captured in his home district, and they wanted to take me to the yamen for comparison and arrest. Fortunately, the local rich man helped me plead in court, saying his brother had been missing for over ten years, hadn't come home, and that it must be someone with the same name claiming to be from the same village. He also spent money to smooth things over for me, so I didn't suffer beating or time limits. Now there's a reward of three thousand cash posted for his capture. You should have died, and instead you come home talking nonsense!" Li Kui said, "Don't be angry, brother. Let me take you up the mountain to enjoy life together—that would be best." Li Da was furious and was about to hit Li Kui, but knowing he was no match for him, he threw the rice pot to the ground and stormed off.

Li Kui said, "Once he leaves, he'll certainly report me and have people come to arrest me. I won't be able to get away, so I'd better leave quickly. My elder brother has never seen such a big silver ingot. I'll leave a fifty-tael ingot on the bed. When he comes back and sees it, he surely won't chase after me." Li Kui untied his waist pouch, took out a large ingot, and placed it on the bed. Then he said, "Mother, I'll carry you myself." His mother said, "Where are you carrying me?" Li Kui replied, "Don't ask me; just come and enjoy yourself. I can carry you myself, no problem." So Li Kui carried his mother on his back, picked up his long-bladed sword, and went out the gate, heading along the small path.

As for Li Da, he ran to the rich man's house to report and led a dozen or so farmhands flying back home. When they looked, the old woman was gone, and only a large silver ingot lay on the bed. Seeing this big ingot, Li Da thought to himself, "Iron Ox left this silver and carried Mother off to hide somewhere. He must have come with someone from Liangshan Marsh. If I chase after him, I'll only get myself killed. I suppose he's carrying Mother to the stronghold to enjoy life." The men saw that Li Kui had vanished and had no idea what to do. Li Da said to the farmhands, "That Iron Ox has carried Mother off, but I don't know which road he took. The paths here are very confusing—how could we catch him?" Seeing that Li Da was at a loss, the farmhands lingered for a while and then went back home, each to his own affairs.

Let us now speak only of Li Kui. Fearing that Li Da would bring men in pursuit, he carried his mother on his back and made straight for the deep mountains, following a remote and secluded path. As the sky grew dark, they saw:

Evening cooking smoke drifted horizontally over the distant peaks; the mist of night shrouded the strange crags. Crows in noisy flocks sought the woods to roost; all manner of birds clamored and chirped beside the trees. Lines of southward-flying wild geese cast their shadows into the Yangzi River, their forms vanishing among the reeds; a few points of firefly light illumined the wild paths, clinging stubbornly to rotting grass. The autumn wind rolled up fallen leaves, and the frosty chill filled the deep mountains.

By then, Li Kui, carrying his mother, had reached the foot of a mountain ridge, and the sky was already dark. His mother was blind and could not tell day from night. But Li Kui himself recognized this ridge; it was called Yi Ridge. Once they crossed over to the other side, there would be people’s homes. Mother and son, taking advantage of the bright starlight and clear moonlight, climbed the ridge step by step. From his back, the mother said, “My son, if you could get some water for me to drink, that would be good.” Li Kui said, “Mother, wait until we cross the ridge, then we can borrow a house to rest and make some rice to eat.” The mother said, “I ate some dry rice at noon, and I’m unbearably thirsty.” Li Kui said, “My throat feels like it’s smoking and spitting fire too. You just wait until I carry you to the top of the ridge, then I’ll find water for you to drink.” The mother said, “My son, I’m dying of thirst! Save me!” Li Kui said, “I’m so tired I can’t go on either.” Li Kui struggled to reach the top of the ridge, and by a large green rock under a pine tree, he set his mother down. He stuck his short sword in the ground beside him and instructed his mother, “Be patient and sit here for a while. I’ll go find water for you to drink.”

Li Kui heard the sound of water in a mountain stream. He followed the sound, winding around two or three mountain spurs, and when he reached the stream bank and looked, he saw a fine stream of clear water. How was it seen? A poem bears witness:

Through cliffs and ravines it comes, grudging no toil;

Looking far, one knows its source is high.

How could the mountain stream ever be detained?

It must at last return to the sea and become waves.

Li Kui went to the stream, cupped some water, and drank a few mouthfuls himself. He thought, “How can I take this water back to my mother to drink?” He stood up, looked all around, and far off on the hilltop he saw a small temple. Li Kui said, “Good!” Clinging to vines and pulling at creepers, he climbed up to the temple. Pushing open the door, he saw it was a shrine to the Great Sage of Sizhou. In front was a stone incense burner. Li Kui tried to move it with his hands, but it turned out to be carved in one piece with its base. He tugged at it for a while but could not budge it. In a sudden fit of temper, he pulled the whole thing up, base and all, and struck it on a stone step in front, knocking the burner free. He took it back to the stream, soaked it in the water, plucked some weeds, and washed it clean. He scooped up half a burner of water, held it in both hands, and retraced the old path, twisting and turning back up the ridge.

When he reached the pine grove, his mother was no longer on the rock; only the short sword was stuck there. Li Kui called for his mother to drink water, but there was no trace of her. He called several times, but no one answered. His heart panicked. He dropped the incense burner, fixed his eyes, and looked all around, but he did not see his mother. He had taken fewer than thirty paces when he saw a patch of blood on the grass. Seeing this, Li Kui grew even more suspicious. He followed the trail of blood. He traced it to a large cave, where two little tigers were licking a human leg. Truly:

The false Black Whirlwind played tricks indeed;

Living, he cheated; dead, they burn his leg.

Who knew his mother’s leg would also be harmed?

Hungry tigers and hungry men—both act for the mouth.

Li Kui thought to himself, “I came back from Liangshan Marsh specially to fetch my mother. Through a thousand hardships and ten thousand labors, I carried her here, only to have her eaten by you. That damned big tiger dragging this human leg—if it’s not my mother’s, whose is it?” Rage flared in his heart, and his reddish-yellow beard stood on end. He raised the short sword in his hand and stabbed at the two little tigers. Startled by the stabbing, they bared their teeth and claws and sprang forward. Li Kui struck with his sword and killed one of them with a single blow. The other scurried into the cave, and Li Kui chased it in and killed it too. Li Kui then crawled into the big tiger’s lair and hid inside, looking out. He saw the mother tiger, baring its teeth and claws, coming toward the den. Li Kui said, “So it’s you, beast, who ate my mother.” He put down the short sword and drew the waist knife from his hip. The mother tiger reached the mouth of the cave. First, it lashed its tail into the den, then it sat its hindquarters inside. Li Kui, seeing clearly from inside the lair, drove the knife with all his might at the base of the tiger’s tail, striking it squarely in the anus. Li Kui’s force was too great; even the knife handle was thrust deep into its belly. The mother tiger let out a roar, and with the knife still in it at the cave mouth, it leaped across the stream bank. Li Kui took up his short sword and rushed out of the cave. The tiger, in pain, dashed straight down the rocky slope. Li Kui was about to give chase when a sudden whirlwind rose from beside the trees, blowing dead leaves and branches down like rain. From ancient times it is said: “Clouds arise with the dragon; wind arises with the tiger.” As the wind arose, under the starlight and moonlight, a great roar sounded, and suddenly a spotted, white-browed tiger leaped out. The beast made a fierce lunge at Li Kui. Li Kui, unhurried, followed the tiger’s momentum, struck with his knife, and hit the tiger square on the chin. The tiger could not continue its attack: first, because it was nursing its pain, and second, because its windpipe was injured. The tiger retreated no more than five or six paces, and with a crash like half a mountain collapsing, it died instantly on the rock below.

Thus Li Kui killed four tigers—the mother, the father, and the two cubs—in one bout. He went back to the tiger’s lair, knife in hand, and looked it over again, fearing there might be another tiger, but there was no trace left. Li Kui was also exhausted. He went to the temple of the Great Sage of Sizhou and slept until dawn. The next morning, Li Kui gathered his mother’s two legs and the remaining bones, wrapped them in his cloth shirt, and went to the back of the Great Sage of Sizhou’s shrine, where he dug a pit and buried them. Li Kui wept bitterly. A poem bears witness:

On Yi Ridge, west wind in the ninth-month autumn,

Male and female tigers gathered in the forest mound.

Because they devoured the old mother’s remains,

They made the hero shed tears of blood.

Fiercely he risked his life to explore the tiger’s cave;

Straightway he slew four tigers to avenge the wrong.

Behind the Sizhou temple, he buried her with his own hands;

Through a thousand ages, Li Iron Ox’s name will be renowned.

Li Kui’s belly was now both hungry and thirsty. He had no choice but to pack his bundle, take his short sword, find the path, and slowly cross the ridge. He saw five or seven hunters there, collecting their hidden crossbows and arrows. Seeing Li Kui covered in blood as he came down the ridge, the hunters were startled and asked, “Traveler, are you perhaps the mountain god or earth spirit? How dare you cross the ridge alone?” When Li Kui heard this, he thought to himself, “Now Yishui County has posted a notice offering three thousand strings of cash to capture me. How can I tell the truth? I’ll just lie.” He answered, “I am a traveler. Last night, I crossed the ridge with my mother. Because my mother wanted water, I went down to fetch it, and a tiger dragged her away and ate her. I tracked it all the way to its lair, killed two cubs first, then killed two big tigers, and slept in the Sizhou temple until dawn before coming down.” The hunters all cried out together, “We don’t believe that one man could kill four tigers! Even Li Cunxiao and Zilu only managed to kill one. Those two cubs are not such a big deal, but the two big ones are no small matter. Because of those two beasts, we’ve suffered no end of beatings. Since this nest of tigers appeared on Yi Ridge, for a full three to five months, no one has dared to cross. We don’t believe you—are you trying to fool us?” Li Kui said, “I’m not from around here. Why would I bother to fool you for no reason? If you don’t believe me, let’s go up the ridge together, and I’ll show you. Bring some men to carry the bodies down.” The hunters said, “If it’s true, we’ll naturally reward you handsomely. That would be wonderful!”

The hunters gave a whistle, and in an instant thirty or fifty men gathered, all carrying grappling hooks, spears, and clubs. Following Li Kui, they went back up the ridge. By now it was fully daylight. When they reached the mountaintop, they saw from afar that two small tigers were indeed killed by the den—one inside the nest, one outside; a tigress lay dead by the cliff, and a male tiger lay dead in front of the Sizhou Great Sage Temple. Seeing the four tigers killed, the hunters were overjoyed. They tied them up with ropes, and the men carried them down the ridge. They then invited Li Kui to accompany them to claim the reward. Meanwhile, they sent someone ahead to inform the village head and the wealthy households, who all came to welcome them. They carried the tigers to the estate of a large family called Squire Cao. This man had once been a minor official, idle and fond of playing tricks and cheating in the village. Recently, he had come into some sudden wealth, but his character was bad. Squire Cao received and welcomed them in person, inviting Li Kui into the thatched hall to sit down, and asked about the circumstances of the tiger killing. Li Kui recounted how, the night before, he and his mother had come to the ridge to get a drink of water, and thus had killed the tigers. Everyone was dumbfounded. Squire Cao asked the stalwart his noble surname and great name. Li Kui replied, "My surname is Zhang. I have no given name; I am only called Zhang the Bold." A poem says:

People say there is only a false Li Kui,

Never has there been a false Li Kui.

How could Li Si pretend to be Zhang San?

Who is false, who is true—all are but a game.

Squire Cao said, "Truly bold! If the stalwart were not so daring, how could he have killed four tigers?" He then ordered preparations of wine and food to entertain him, and we shall say no more of that.

Now in that village, when word spread that four tigers had been killed on Yi Ridge and brought to Squire Cao’s house, it stirred up the whole neighborhood. From the front and back villages, and from remote mountain households, men and women, young and old, came in droves to see the tigers. As the crowd entered Squire Cao’s house, they saw him entertaining the tiger-killing stalwart, who was drinking wine in the hall. Among the crowd was Li Gui’s wife, who had fled to her parents’ home in the front village. Following the crowd to see the tigers, she recognized Li Kui’s appearance. Panicking, she went home and told her father and mother, "That black, burly man who killed the tigers is the one who killed my husband and burned down my house. He is none other than the ‘Black Whirlwind’ Li Kui of Liangshan Marsh." Hearing this, her parents quickly went to report to the village head. The village head said after hearing this, "If he is the ‘Black Whirlwind,’ then he is the Li Kui from Baizhang Village behind the ridge who killed a man and fled to Jiangzhou, where he caused more trouble. A warrant has been sent to this county for his capture in his original hometown. Now the authorities have offered a reward of three thousand strings of cash for his arrest. And he has come here!" ... Secretly, he sent someone to invite Squire Cao to discuss the matter. Squire Cao excused himself, saying he needed to change clothes, and hurried to the village head’s house. The village head said that this tiger-killing stalwart was the "Black Whirlwind" Li Kui from Baizhang Village behind the ridge, and that the authorities were now searching for him. Squire Cao said, "You must investigate carefully. If he is not that man, it will cause trouble; if he truly is, it’s no great matter. Catching him will be easy—the difficulty is only if he isn’t the one." The village head said, "Li Gui’s wife recognizes him. He once went to Li Gui’s house to eat, and killed Li Gui." Squire Cao said, "If that’s the case, we’ll just keep plying him with wine and ask him: ‘This time, after killing the tigers, do you intend to go to the county office to claim merit, or collect the reward here in the village?’ If he refuses to go to the county office, then he is the ‘Black Whirlwind.’ Have men take turns toasting him, get him drunk, tie him up here. Then report to the county and send the constable to take him away. There’s no risk of failure." A poem testifies:

As the saying goes, mustard seed meets needle’s eye,

On a narrow path, one always meets one’s foe.

Li Gui’s ghost lingers on, unappeased;

The Whirlwind’s luck has now turned ill.

His tiger-slaying merit seeks county reward,

But for murder, his body is by the law seized.

Behold the mantis stalking the oriole—

I urge you, when pleased, do not boast.

Everyone said, "Well spoken."

The village head and the others reached their plan. Squire Cao returned home to entertain Li Kui. As he set out wine and food, he said, "I was just absent for a moment—please don’t take offense. Please, stalwart, unbuckle your waist pouch and put down your halberd, and sit at ease." Li Kui said, "Fine, fine. My waist knife is already stuck in the tigress’s belly; only the sheath is here. When the tiger skins are flayed, you can ask for it back for me." Squire Cao said, "Rest assured, stalwart. I have good knives here; I’ll give one to you to wear." Li Kui unbuckled his waist knife, dagger, money pouch, and bundle, and handed them all to the servants to store. He then leaned his halberd against the wall. Squire Cao ordered large platters of meat and large jugs of wine. Many wealthy households, the village head, hunters, and others took turns toasting Li Kui, urging him to drink with large bowls and cups. Squire Cao then asked, "May I ask, stalwart, do you intend to take these tigers to the county office to claim merit, or collect some reward here?" Li Kui said, "I am a passing traveler, extremely busy. I happened to kill this den of fierce tigers by chance. There’s no need to go to the county office to claim merit. Just giving me some reward here will do; if not, I’ll just leave." Squire Cao said, "How dare we be negligent toward the stalwart? In a while, the village will scrape together some travel money for you. As for me, I will naturally have the tigers taken to the county." Li Kui said, "First, lend me a cloth shirt to change into." Squire Cao said, "Yes, yes." ... Then he took a fine blue cloth padded jacket and gave it to Li Kui to replace his blood-stained clothes. Just then, drums and flutes sounded at the gate, and people brought wine to toast Li Kui in celebration, one cup cold, one cup hot. Li Kui, not realizing it was a trick, gave himself over to drinking freely, completely forgetting Song Jiang’s instructions. In less than two hours, they had Li Kui dead drunk, unable to stand. The men helped him to an empty room in the back hall, laid him flat on a bench, and took two ropes to tie him, bench and all. Then they had the village head lead men to swiftly report to the county; at the same time, they brought Li Gui’s wife as the plaintiff and prepared a formal complaint.

This stirred up Yishui County. The magistrate, greatly alarmed, hastily held court and asked, "Where is the ‘Black Whirlwind’ captured? This is a rebel; we must not let him escape." The plaintiff and the hunters replied, "He is now tied up at Squire Cao’s estate in this village. Since no one can restrain him, and for fear of losing him on the road if he escapes, we dared not escort him here." The magistrate then ordered the county constable to go and fetch him. From the hall stepped forward a constable to answer the call. Who was this man? A poem testifies:

Broad face, thick brows, red whiskers and beard,

Eyes dark green like a foreigner.

In Yishui County, the Green-eyed Tiger,

The stalwart constable was Li Yun.

The magistrate then called Li Yun to the hall and instructed him, "The ‘Black Whirlwind’ Li Kui has been captured at Squire Cao’s estate below Yi Ridge. You take many men, secretly escort him here, and do not alarm the village or let him escape." Constable Li received the order, descended from the hall, mustered thirty seasoned soldiers, each armed, and headed straight for the village at Yi Ridge.

Yishui County was a small place—how could it be kept secret? By then, the rumor had spread through the streets and markets, saying: "The 'Black Whirlwind' who stirred up trouble at Jiangzhou has been caught. Now Captain Li has been sent to take him." Zhu Gui, hearing this news at Zhu Fu’s house outside the East Village gate, hurried to the back to tell his younger brother Zhu Fu: "That black fellow has stirred up trouble again. How can we rescue him? Song Gongming sent me specifically to check on him, fearing something might go wrong. Now that he's been caught, if I don't save him, how can I return to the stronghold to face our brother? What’s to be done?" Zhu Fu said: "Big brother, don’t panic yet. This Captain Li has real skill; thirty or fifty men can’t get near him. There are only two of us, and even with one heart and mind, how dare we approach him? We can only outwit him, not overpower him by force. Li Yun usually likes me and often teaches me to handle weapons. I have a plan to deal with him, but we won’t be able to stay here afterward. Tonight, boil twenty or thirty catties of meat, take ten or more bottles of wine, cut the meat into large chunks, and mix some knockout drug into it. The two of us, at the fifth watch, will take a few helpers carrying the loads, go to a secluded spot halfway along the road, wait for him as he escorts the prisoner, pretend to offer him wine to celebrate, knock everyone out, then release Li Kui. How about that?" Zhu Gui said: "This plan is excellent. There’s no time to lose; we can prepare and set out early." Zhu Fu said: "But Li Yun doesn’t drink. Even if we knock him out, he’ll wake up quickly. There’s another thing—if he finds out later, we won’t be able to stay here." Zhu Gui said: "Brother, selling wine here isn’t much of a life. Better to take your family, come up the mountain with me, and join the band. We’ll weigh out silver and gold evenly, change into new clothes—wouldn’t that be fine? Tonight, have two helpers find a cart, first send your wife and children with the valuables and baggage, arrange to meet at Ten Mile Post, and all go up the mountain. I have a packet of knockout drug in my bundle here. If Li Yun doesn’t drink, mix more into the meat, force him to eat plenty, and he’ll be knocked out too. We’ll rescue Li Kui and go up the mountain together. What’s wrong with that?" Zhu Fu said: "Big brother speaks sense." So he had someone find a cart, packed three or five boxes, loaded them on the cart, and left all the coarse household goods behind. He told his wife and children to get on the cart, instructed two helpers to follow the cart, and told them to go on ahead without stopping.

Meanwhile, Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu that night boiled the meat, cut it into large pieces, mixed in the drug, packed it with the wine into two loads, and brought twenty or thirty empty bowls. They also prepared some vegetables, likewise mixed with the drug—in case there were those who didn’t eat meat, they’d still be caught. The two loads of wine and meat were each carried by a helper on a pole. The two brothers themselves carried some fruit boxes and such, and around the fourth watch, they went straight to a secluded mountain pass and sat down to wait. At dawn, they heard gongs ringing in the distance, and Zhu Gui went to the crossroads to meet them.

Now those thirty-odd soldiers had been drinking half the night in the village; around the fourth watch, they had Li Kui bound with his arms behind his back and were escorting him along. Behind them, Captain Li rode on his horse, and as he saw them approaching, Zhu Fu stepped forward to block the way, calling out: "Teacher, congratulations! Your disciple has come specially to welcome you." He ladled out a pot of wine from the bucket, poured a full cup, and stepped forward to urge Li Yun to drink. Zhu Gui carried over the meat, and the helpers presented the fruit boxes. Seeing this, Li Yun quickly dismounted, leaped forward, and said: "Worthy brother, why trouble yourself to come so far to meet me?" Zhu Fu said: "Just a small token of a disciple’s respect." Li Yun took the wine, but when it reached his lips, he didn’t drink. Zhu Fu knelt and said: "Your disciple knows that Teacher doesn’t drink. But today is a celebratory wine—please take half a cup." Li Yun couldn’t refuse, so he forced himself to take two sips. Zhu Fu then said: "Teacher doesn’t drink, please have some meat." Li Yun said: "I’ve already eaten my fill at night; I can’t eat any more." Zhu Fu said: "Teacher has walked a long way and must be hungry. Though it’s nothing fine, please have some, to spare your disciple’s shame." He picked out two good pieces and offered them. Seeing how earnest he was, Li Yun forced himself to eat two pieces. Zhu Fu then offered wine to the village head, the ward chief, and the hunters, urging them all to have three cups. Zhu Gui called for the soldiers and the village workers to come and drink too. This crowd, caring nothing for hot or cold, good or bad, grabbed the wine and meat as soon as it reached their mouths, eating like a whirlwind sweeping clouds or flowers falling in water, all rushing to snatch it up. Li Kui glared, watching the two brothers Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu, knowing they had used a trick, and deliberately said: "Give me some to eat too." Zhu Gui shouted: "You’re a criminal—what wine and meat do you deserve? You damned wretch, shut your mouth." Li Yun looked at the soldiers and yelled for them to move on, but he saw them all staring blankly at each other, unable to stir, their mouths trembling and legs numb, collapsing to the ground. Li Yun cried out: "We’ve fallen for a trick!" Just as he was about to step forward, he too felt his head heavy and feet light, fainted, and slumped into a limp heap on the ground.

At that moment, Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu each grabbed a broadsword and shouted: "Don’t let the lads run!" They raised their swords and chased after the village workers who hadn’t drunk the drugged wine, along with the crowd of onlookers. Those who ran fast escaped; those who were slow were stabbed to death on the spot. Li Kui let out a great roar, snapped the hemp ropes binding him, seized a broadsword, and moved to kill Li Yun. Zhu Fu hastily stopped him, shouting: "Don’t harm him! He’s my teacher, a good man. You just go on ahead." Li Kui replied: "If I don’t kill that old donkey Cao the Squire, how can I vent my anger?" Li Kui rushed forward, raised his sword, and first stabbed Cao the Squire to death, along with Li Gui’s wife, and then killed the ward chief too. In his fury, he went after the hunters one by one, stabbing them all, and those thirty-odd soldiers were all slain. The onlookers and the village workers only regretted that their parents hadn’t given them two more legs, and they fled for their lives into the deep countryside and wild paths. Li Kui still kept looking for people to kill, but Zhu Gui shouted: "It’s none of the onlookers’ business—don’t keep harming people!" He hastily stopped him, and only then did Li Kui hold his hand. He stripped two garments from the dead soldiers and put them on. The three of them, carrying broadswords, prepared to take the small path.

Zhu Fu said: "This is bad—I’ve doomed my teacher. When he wakes up, how can he face the magistrate? He’s sure to give chase. You two go on ahead; I’ll wait for him a while. I think of the kindness he showed me when he taught me, and he’s an upright man. When he catches up, I’ll invite him to join the band up the mountain—that would be my repayment of kindness, and spare him suffering back in the county." Zhu Gui said: "Brother, you speak sense. I’ll go on ahead with the cart and leave Li Kui by the roadside to help you wait for him. That fellow Li Yun only took a little drug; he’ll wake up in less than an hour. If he doesn’t come, don’t foolishly wait for him." Zhu Fu said: "Of course."

Thereupon, Zhu Gui left first. Now only Zhu Fu and Li Kui sat by the roadside waiting, and sure enough, in less than an hour, they saw Li Yun, wielding a broadsword, rushing toward them like the wind, shouting: "Strong bandits, don’t run!" Seeing how fierce he came, Li Kui leaped up, raised his sword, and engaged Li Yun, fearing he might harm Zhu Fu. This truly was a case of: A pair of tigers added to Liangshan’s band, Before the Assembly Hall, four men stand hand in hand. In the end, whether the "Black Whirlwind" prevailed over the "Green-Eyed Tiger," and the outcome of their battle, must be heard in the next chapter.