Chapter 74: Yan Qing Wrestles Down the Heaven-Propping Pillar; Li Kui Plays at Being a Magistrate in Shouzhang

Now this Yan Qing, although he was the last of the Thirty-Six Stars of Destiny, was clever, sharp-witted, well-traveled, understanding of reason, and perceptive of fate, surpassing all the other thirty-five in these respects. That day, Yan Qing reported to Song Jiang, saying: "Since childhood, I have learned this art of wrestling from Squire Lu, and on the rivers and lakes I have never met an opponent. Today, fortunate to encounter this opportunity, and the twenty-eighth of the third month is drawing near, Xiao Yi needs no one to accompany him; I will go alone to the arena, and at the very least, I will throw him down in a bout. If I lose and die, I will never regret it; if I win, it will add some luster to you, brother. On that day, there will certainly be a great commotion, and you, brother, should send someone to support me." Song Jiang said: "Worthy brother, I hear that man is ten feet tall, with a countenance like a vajra, and has the strength of a thousand or a hundred pounds. With your small and slender stature, even with skill, how can you get near him?" Yan Qing said: "I fear not his tall stature, only that he might not fall into my trap. As the saying goes: 'In wrestling, the strong use strength, the weak use wit.' It is not that I, Yan Qing, dare to boast, but adapting to circumstances and acting according to the situation, I will not lose to that dullard." Lu Junyi then said: "This Xiao Yi of mine has indeed trained from youth into excellent wrestling skills. Let him follow his own will and go. On that day, I, Lu, will go myself to bring him back." Song Jiang asked: "When can you set out?" Yan Qing answered: "Today is the twenty-fourth of the third month. Tomorrow I will take my leave of you, brother, and go down the mountain. I will stay one night on the road, arrive at the temple on the twenty-sixth, scout around there on the twenty-seventh, and on the twenty-eighth, it will be just the time to face that fellow." That day, nothing else happened.

The next day, Song Jiang held a feast to bid Yan Qing farewell. When everyone looked at Yan Qing, he was dressed in a rustic manner, wrapping his flowery tattoos completely with a padded jacket so they were invisible, disguised as a Shandong peddler. He had a stringed drum tucked into his waist and carried a tall-shouldered mixed-goods pole on his back. Everyone saw this and laughed. Song Jiang said: "Since you are pretending to be a peddler with a load, first sing us a Shandong peddler's tune." Yan Qing, with one hand twirling the stringed drum and the other clapping a rhythm, sang a peddler's peace song, indistinguishable from a native of Shandong, and everyone laughed again. When the drinking was half done, Yan Qing took leave of the chieftains and went down the mountain, crossed the Golden Sands Beach, and took the road toward Tai'an Prefecture.

As the day grew late and he was about to find an inn to stay, he heard someone behind him shout: "Brother Yan Xiao Yi, wait for me." Yan Qing set down his load and looked, and it was Black Whirlwind Li Kui. Yan Qing said: "Why have you come after me?" Li Kui said: "You accompanied me to Jingmen Town on two trips; I saw you going alone and felt uneasy. Without telling brother, I stole down the mountain specifically to help you." Yan Qing said: "I have no use for you here. Quickly go back." Li Kui became impatient and said: "Even if you are truly a great hero, I come with good intentions to help you, and you take it as malice! I insist on going!" Yan Qing thought to himself that it would be bad to damage their brotherly bond, so he said to Li Kui: "Going with you is fine. But at the Holy Emperor's birthday festival, people from all directions gather, and many will recognize you. If you agree to three conditions, I will take you along." Li Kui said: "I agree." Yan Qing said: "From now on, on the road, you and I walk separately, one ahead and one behind. Once we reach an inn and enter the door, you must not come out. This is the first condition. The second is: at the inn near the temple, you must pretend to be sick, cover your head and face with a quilt, snore as if sleeping, and make no sound. The third: on the day at the temple, when you crowd among the people watching the wrestling, do not make a fuss. Brother, can you agree?" Li Kui said: "What's so hard about that! I will agree to all of them." That night, the two of them found an inn and stayed.

The next day, they rose at the fifth watch, paid for the room, and went together to a place ahead to light a fire and eat. Yan Qing said: "Brother Li, you go half a li ahead, and I will follow shortly." On that road, incense-burners came and went without end, and many were talking about Ren Yuan's prowess, saying he had been unbeaten at Mount Tai for two years, and this was the third year. Yan Qing listened and remembered it in his heart. Around the Shen hour, near the temple, many people stopped, looking up. Yan Qing set down his load, parted the crowd, and squeezed forward to see. There were two red marker poles, about the size of street signs, with a white wooden placard erected on them, reading: "Taiyuan Wrestling Heaven-Supporting Pillar Ren Yuan." Next to it, two lines of small characters: "Fist strikes the fierce tiger on the southern mountain; foot kicks the azure dragon in the northern sea." Yan Qing saw this, pulled out his carrying pole, smashed the placard to pieces, said nothing, shouldered his load again, and went up to the temple. Among the onlookers, many were eager for excitement; they flew to inform Ren Yuan that this year, someone had broken the placard to challenge.

Now, Yan Qing ahead met Li Kui, and they sought an inn to stay. The temple grounds were extremely lively. Not counting the hundred and twenty trades of merchants, there were one thousand four or five hundred inns alone, welcoming incense-burners from all over. By the time of the holy festival, there was no place to accommodate people, and many inns were fully booked. Yan Qing and Li Kui had to rent an inn at the end of the market, set down their load, took a quilted coverlet, and made Li Kui lie down. The inn waiter came and asked: "Big brother, are you a Shandong peddler coming to the temple fair? I'm afraid you might not be able to afford the room rent?" Yan Qing spoke in a dialect: "You look down on people! A small room—what is it worth? Even if it costs as much as a large room, there's nowhere else to go. Whatever others pay for a room, I'll pay you as well." The waiter said: "Big brother, don't take offense. This is a busy time; it's best to settle things clearly first." Yan Qing said: "I am just a peddler; it's no big deal. I could stay anywhere, but I happened to meet this fellow villager on the road, and now he has asthma, so I have to rest at your inn. I'll give you five strings of copper cash first, and trouble you to prepare some tea and food for me in the pot. I'll reward you when I leave." The waiter took the cash and went to the front to prepare tea and food, and there is no more to tell.

Before long, there was a commotion outside the inn door. Twenty or thirty big men entered and asked the waiter: "The good man who broke the placard to wrestle—in which room does he stay?" The waiter said: "There's no one like that here." The group said: "Everyone says he is in your inn." The waiter said: "There are only two rooms. One is empty; the other is rented by a Shandong peddler supporting a sick man." The group said: "It is that peddler who broke the placard!" The waiter said: "Don't listen to others' jokes! That peddler is a young lad—what use could he be!" The group chorused: "Just lead us to see him." The waiter pointed and said: "The room in that corner is his." The crowd came to look, but the door was tightly shut. They peeked through the window slats and saw two people on the bed, sleeping with their feet touching each other. The crowd was puzzled. One among them said: "Since he dares to break the placard and be the world's opponent, he is no ordinary man. Afraid someone might plot against him, he must be pretending to be sick." The crowd said: "Exactly. Don't guess anymore; we'll see at the time." Before dusk, no fewer than twenty or thirty groups of people came to inquire at the inn, wearing out the waiter's lips. That evening, when food was brought for the two, Li Kui poked his head out from under the quilt. The waiter saw him, was startled, and exclaimed: "Ah! This must be the wrestling master!" Yan Qing said: "He is not the wrestler; he is sick himself. I am the one specifically here to wrestle." The waiter said: "Don't lie to me. I think Ren Yuan could swallow you whole." Yan Qing said: "Don't mock me. I have my own plan, and I'll make you all laugh heartily. When I return, I'll give you more rewards." The waiter watched them eat their dinner, collected the bowls and dishes, and went to the kitchen to wash up, still not believing.

The next day, Yan Qing and Li Kui ate some breakfast. Yan Qing instructed: "Brother, you fasten the door and sleep soundly." Yan Qing then followed the crowd to the Daiyue Temple. When he saw it, truly it was the finest under heaven. Truly:

The temple was situated on Mount Tai, guarding heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers. It was the most honored among the peaks, the leader of all gods. At the summit, railings were set up, from which one could directly gaze upon the Weak Water and Penglai Immortal Isle; at the highest point, clinging to pine trees, dense clouds and thin mists filled the air everywhere. The towers and pavilions rose high, as if the Golden Crow (the sun) spread its wings and flew here; the halls and galleries stood in layered splendor, as if the Jade Hare (the moon) leaped and landed here. Carved beams, painted rafters, green tiles, and vermilion eaves. The phoenix-patterned doors shone brightly with yellow gauze, and the tortoiseshell-patterned embroidered curtains hung with brocade sashes. Viewed from afar, the holy image wore a crown of nine tassels, with Shun's eyes and Yao's eyebrows; seen up close, the divine countenance donned a dragon-patterned robe, with Tang's shoulders and Yu's back. The Nine Heavens Life-Spirit God, with a hibiscus crown reflecting a crimson gauze robe; the Bright and Holy Prince, with an ochre-yellow robe perfectly matched by a blue-field jade belt. On the left stood officials with jade hairpins and pearl shoes; on the right stood ministers with purple ribbons and gold seals. The hall was full of majesty, with three thousand golden-armored warriors guarding the imperial presence; the two corridors were fierce, with a hundred thousand iron-armored soldiers serving the throne. The Five Peaks Tower connected to the Eastern Palace, and the Benevolent Peace Hall leaned against the Northern Gate. Below Mount Haoli, the judges divided the seventy-two departments; in the White Mule Temple, the earth spirits acted according to the twenty-four solar terms. The Iron-Faced Grand Governor, managing the fire pool, was spiritual every month; the Five Paths General, overseeing life and death reincarnation, manifested his power year after year. The imperial incense never ceased, with heavenly spirits flying on horses to deliver red talismans; the sacrifices were made on schedule, and young and old alike, catching the wind, could obtain blessings. Auspicious clouds swirled above the Jiading Hall, and propitious vapors coiled before the Zhengyang Gate. Ten thousand people worshipped the Blue Cloud Goddess, and all quarters submitted to the Benevolent Holy Emperor.

At that time, Yan Qing wandered around for a while, then left the Grass-Viewing Pavilion, made four bows, and asked the incense-burners, "Where is that wrestling Master Ren resting?" Then some busybody said, "He's at the big inn under the Welcome Grace Bridge. He teaches two or three hundred top disciples." When Yan Qing heard this, he went straight to the Welcome Grace Bridge to look. He saw twenty or thirty wrestling apprentices sitting on the railing by the bridge, and in front of them were gold-embroidered pennants and banners, embroidered canopies, and backrests as tall as a man. Yan Qing slipped into the inn and saw Ren Yuan sitting in the center of a pavilion, truly with the appearance of a Guardian Deity and the countenance of a Vajra. He bared his chest, showing the might of Cunxiao slaying the tiger; he sat sideways on a barbarian couch, with the aura of Xiang Yu uprooting a mountain. He was watching his apprentices wrestle. Among the crowd, someone who recognized Yan Qing as the one who had once split his placard secretly reported it to Ren Yuan. Then Ren Yuan leaped up, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "This year, which damned soul comes to seek death at my hands?" Yan Qing lowered his head and hurried out of the inn, hearing laughter inside. He quickly returned to his lodgings, arranged some wine and food, and ate with Li Kui for a while. Li Kui said, "Sleeping like this is boring me to death!" Yan Qing said, "Only tonight remains; tomorrow we'll see the outcome." At that time, they chatted idly, but none of it need be detailed.

Around the third watch, they heard a burst of drum and music—it was the many incense officials at the temple offering birthday felicitations to the Holy Emperor. Around the fourth watch, Yan Qing and Li Kui got up. They asked the innkeeper's assistant for hot water to wash their faces, combed their hair smooth, took off their inner quilted jackets, tightly fastened their leg wrappings and knee guards below, cinched their fine silk water trousers, put on multi-eared hemp sandals, and wore a sweat-shirt and armbands on their upper bodies, tying them at the waist. The two ate breakfast and called the assistant to instruct him, "Take care of the luggage in the room for me." The assistant replied, "It won't be lost. Win quickly and return victorious." In this small inn, there were also twenty or thirty incense-burners, all saying to Yan Qing, "Young man, consider carefully; don't throw your life away for nothing." Yan Qing said, "When the time comes and I cheer, everyone can help me seize some prizes." Most of the crowd went ahead first. Li Kui said, "It would be good if I brought these two axes of mine." Yan Qing said, "That won't do; if someone sees through it, it will ruin the great affair." At that time, the two mixed in with the crowd, first went to the corridor, and gathered together to lie in ambush.

That day, the incense-burners truly rubbed shoulders and heels; the vast Dongyue Temple filled up in a surge, and even the ridgepoles were covered with spectators. Facing the Jiading Hall, a mountain shed was erected, and on the shed were gold and silver vessels, brocade and silk fabrics; outside the gate were tied five fine horses with full saddles and bridles. The prefect forbade the incense-burners from approaching, so they could watch the scene of the year's wrestling dedicated to the saint. An elderly referee, holding a bamboo switch, mounted the offering platform, paid homage to the spirits, and then invited the year's wrestling opponent to come forward and contend.

Before the words were finished, the crowd surged like a wave, and already a dozen pairs of staff-bearers came forward, with four embroidered banners leading the way. That Ren Yuan sat in a sedan chair; before and after the sedan were thirty or forty strong men with tattooed arms, shielding and crowding around, as they arrived at the offering platform. The referee asked him to dismount from the sedan and exchanged a few polite formalities. Ren Yuan said, "I came to Mount Tai for two years, won the top prize, and took many rewards for nothing. This year, I must fight bare-chested." When he finished speaking, a man carrying a water bucket came up. Ren Yuan's disciples all stood tightly in a circle around the offering platform. Let us speak of Ren Yuan: he first bared his arms, removed his headcloth, loosely draped a Shu brocade jacket, and gave a shout of homage to the spirits. He received two mouthfuls of holy water, took off the brocade jacket, and a million people shouted a single cheer. Look at that Ren Yuan—how was he dressed?

On his head was tied a red topknot piercing through the center; around his waist was a crimson and emerald three-strand belt, fastened with twelve jade butterfly tooth-shaped clasps; on his main belt were arrayed several pairs of gold-embroidered pleated linings. In his knee guards were brass gussets and brass rings; in his leg wrappings were iron plates and iron rings. His wristbands were firmly fastened, his kicking shoes tightly tied. Truly he was the world's sea-stabilizing, heaven-supporting pillar, the subduer of demons and vanquisher of generals on Mount Tai.

The referee said, "Master, for two years at the temple you have had no opponent. This is the third year. Master, do you have anything to say to inform the world's incense-burners?" Ren Yuan said, "Four hundred military prefectures, over seven thousand counties—the devoted incense-burners, revering the Holy Emperor, all contributed prizes. I, Ren Yuan, accepted them for nothing for two years. This year, I take leave of the Holy Emperor and return to my homeland, never to come up the mountain again. From the east where the sun rises to the west where it sets—the two wheels of sun and moon, one combined universe—from the southern barbarians in the south to Youyan in the north—dares anyone come out to contend with me for the prizes?"

Before the words were finished, Yan Qing pressed on the shoulders and arms of people on both sides, called out, "There is! There is!" and flew straight from the backs of the crowd onto the offering platform. The crowd all shouted together. The referee took over and asked, "Fellow, what is your surname and given name? Where are you from? Where do you come from?" Yan Qing said, "I am Zhang the Peddler from Shandong, specially come to contend with him for the prizes." The referee said, "Fellow, your life hangs in the balance—do you understand? Do you have a guarantor?" Yan Qing said, "I am my own guarantor; if I die, who will pay for my life?" The referee said, "Take off your upper garments and let me see." Yan Qing removed his headcloth, combed his hair into two smooth topknots, took off his straw sandals, bared his feet, and crouched on one side of the offering platform. He undid his leg wrappings and knee guards, leaped up, took off his cloth shirt, and struck a posture. The spectators in the temple were like a churning sea and tumbling river; they cheered with heads bobbing, and everyone was stunned. Ren Yuan, seeing his tattooed patterns and his agile, robust build, felt five-tenths of fear toward him.

On the terrace outside the temple gate, the prefectural magistrate sat there maintaining order, with over seventy or eighty pairs of black-clad officials standing in rows around him. He promptly sent someone to summon Yan Qing down from the platform. When Yan Qing came before him, the magistrate saw his floral tattoos, which looked like soft emerald laid over a jade pillar, and was greatly pleased. He asked, "Fellow, where are you from, and why have you come here?" Yan Qing replied, "My surname is Zhang, the eldest in my family, from Laizhou in Shandong. I heard that Ren Yuan was inviting all comers to wrestle, so I came specially to contend with him." The magistrate said, "That fully saddled horse before you is my prize, awarded to Ren Yuan. As for all the items on the shed, I propose to give you half, and the two of you can split them. I will personally promote you to serve by my side." Yan Qing said, "Your Honor, the prizes are not what I care about. I only want to throw him, make the crowd laugh, and earn a cheer." The magistrate said, "He is a great fellow like a vajra; you won't even get near him!" Yan Qing replied, "If I die, I shall have no regrets." He then went back up to the platform to face Ren Yuan.

The referee first demanded a written agreement from him, took out the wrestling society rules from his bosom, read them aloud, and said to Yan Qing, "Do you understand? No foul play is allowed." Yan Qing sneered coldly and said, "His whole body is prepared, and I only have this single water stick. What foul play could I do?" The magistrate again called the referee and instructed him, "Such a fellow, a handsome young man—what a pity! Go and settle this match for him." The referee immediately went up to the platform and said to Yan Qing, "Fellow, spare your life and go back to your hometown. I'll call the match a draw for you." Yan Qing said, "You're quite clueless. Who knows whether I'll win or lose?" The crowd all shouted in agreement. Then the tens of thousands of pilgrims parted, lining up on both sides like fish scales, and even the ridges of the corridors and roofs were packed with people, for fear of missing this wrestling match. Ren Yuan was now determined, wishing he could hurl Yan Qing into the clouds and dash him to death. The referee said, "Since you two want to wrestle, this year you will compete in this offering match. Both of you be careful and pay attention." On the platform, quiet and empty, only three people remained. By then, the morning dew had all dissipated, and the rising sun had just begun to shine. The referee, holding a bamboo switch, gave instructions to both sides and shouted, "Watch the bout!"

This wrestling match, with its back-and-forth exchanges, must be described most clearly. To speak of it, slow as it may seem, it was as swift as stars shifting and lightning flashing in the sky—no delay was possible. At that moment, Yan Qing crouched like a single block on the right side, while Ren Yuan first established a stance on the left. Yan Qing did not move at all. Initially, each occupied half the platform, meeting in the center. When Ren Yuan saw that Yan Qing was not moving, he gradually pressed over to the right side. Yan Qing only watched his lower body. Ren Yuan thought to himself, "This fellow is surely going to attack my lower body. Watch me, without even using my hands, kick this scoundrel off the platform with one foot." As Ren Yuan pressed closer, he deliberately exposed a gap with his left foot. Yan Qing shouted, "Don't come!" Just as Ren Yuan was about to charge at him, Yan Qing slipped through under Ren Yuan's left armpit. Enraged, Ren Yuan quickly turned to grab Yan Qing again, but Yan Qing feigned a leap and slipped through under his right armpit. The big fellow was always clumsy in turning, and after three swaps, his steps became disordered. Yan Qing then rushed in, seized Ren Yuan with his right hand, thrust his left hand into Ren Yuan's crotch, pressed his shoulder against Ren Yuan's chest, and lifted him straight up, head heavy and feet light. Using the momentum, he spun him around four or five times, carried him to the edge of the platform, and shouted, "Down you go!" He hurled Ren Yuan headfirst and feet upward straight off the platform. This throw was called the "Pigeon Spin." The tens of thousands of pilgrims who saw it shouted in unison with acclaim!

When Ren Yuan's disciples saw their master thrown, they first pulled down the shed and scrambled to snatch the prizes. As the crowd shouted and struck out, those twenty or thirty disciples rushed onto the platform, and the magistrate could not control them.

Little did they expect that this disturbance angered a certain "Grand Duke" nearby—it was "Black Whirlwind" Li Kui, who had witnessed the scene. With his fierce eyes wide open and his whiskers bristling like a tiger's, he had no weapon at hand, so he snapped off the fir twigs as if they were onions and, holding two fir branches like clubs, charged straight at them.

Among the pilgrims, some recognized Li Kui and called out his name. The officials outside rushed into the temple, shouting, "Don't let 'Black Whirlwind' of Liangshan Marsh escape!" When the magistrate heard this, his three souls fled from the crown of his head, and his seven spirits scattered from the soles of his feet, and he fled into the rear hall. The crowd surged and surrounded them from all sides. The pilgrims in the temple scattered and ran. When Li Kui looked at Ren Yuan, he had fallen unconscious, lying by the edge of the platform, with only a faint breath left in his mouth. Li Kui picked up a stone slab and smashed Ren Yuan's head to pieces. The two of them fought their way out of the temple, but arrows were shot wildly from outside the gate. Yan Qing and Li Kui had no choice but to climb onto the roof and hurl tiles down wildly.

Before long, a great uproar arose at the temple gate as people charged in. At the head was a man wearing a white felt hat from Fanyang, a white satin jacket, a waist-sword at his belt, and wielding a long-bladed saber. That man was Lu Junyi, the "Jade Qilin" of Daming. Behind him came seven bold heroes: Shi Jin, Mu Hong, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Xie Zhen, and Xie Bao, leading over a thousand men. They burst open the temple gate and came in to support them. When Yan Qing and Li Kui saw them, they jumped down from the roof and followed the main force as they withdrew. Li Kui went to the inn, retrieved his pair of axes, and rushed back to join the fight. By the time the prefecture had mustered its government troops, the band of bold heroes had already gone far away. The officers knew that the Liangshan Marsh men were too formidable to oppose and dared not pursue.

Now, Lu Junyi ordered them to gather Li Kui and return. They traveled half a day, and on the road, Li Kui disappeared again. Lu Junyi laughed and said, "He truly brings disaster and trouble. Someone must be sent to find him and bring him back up the mountain." Mu Hong said, "Let me go find him and bring him back to camp." Lu Junyi said, "Excellent."

Let us leave aside Lu Junyi leading the men back to the mountain, and speak of Li Kui, who, with his pair of axes in hand, went straight to Shouzhang County. It happened that the noonday court session had just ended. Li Kui arrived at the county yamen gate and shouted as he entered, "Your 'Black Whirlwind' father of Liangshan Marsh is here!" The people in the county were so terrified that their hands and feet went numb and they could not move. Now, this Shouzhang County was situated closest to Liangshan Marsh. If one heard the five words "Black Whirlwind Li Kui," it could truly cure a child's night terrors and crying. Today, he had come in person—how could they not be afraid?

At that time, Li Kui went straight over and sat down in the magistrate’s chair, shouting, “Send two people out to speak with me; if you don’t, I’ll set fire to the place!” The men in the side rooms below the corridor discussed among themselves: “We have to send a few out to deal with him; otherwise, how can we make him leave?” Two clerks came out to the hall, bowed four times, knelt, and said, “Since the chieftain has come here, he must have some instructions.” Li Kui said, “I haven’t come to bother you county people; I’m just passing through and having some fun. Have your magistrate come out—I want to see him.” The two men left, then returned and reported, “The magistrate, sir, saw the chieftain coming and opened the back door; we don’t know where he’s fled to.” Li Kui didn’t believe it. He went himself to the rear hall and the rooms to search. “Chieftain, look—there’s a hat and clothing box sitting there.” Li Kui twisted off the lock, took out a black gauze hat with extended corners, put it on, donned the green official robe, fastened the horn belt, then looked for black boots, changed into hempen shoes, took up a wooden tablet, and walked out to the front of the hall, shouting, “All you clerks and functionaries, come pay your respects!” The crowd had no choice but to go forward and answer. Li Kui said, “How do I look in this outfit?” They said, “It suits you perfectly.” Li Kui said, “All you clerks and attendants, come to the yamen for me, and then I’ll leave. If you don’t obey, this county will be turned into a wasteland.” The crowd, afraid of him, had no choice but to gather some official functionaries, who raised ivory staffs and wooden clubs, beat three rolls of drums, and came forward to pay their respects. Li Kui laughed heartily and said, “Now, you people send two of yourselves to file a lawsuit.” The clerks said, “With the chieftain sitting here, who would dare come to file a lawsuit?” Li Kui said, “I know why no one comes. You yourselves send two people disguised as plaintiffs to file a suit. I won’t harm them; I’m just having a bit of fun.” The officials and clerks discussed it for a while and finally sent two jailers disguised as men who had been fighting to file a suit. The commoners outside the county gate were all let in to watch. The two knelt before the hall. One plaintiff said, “Your Honor, have mercy, he beat me.” The other said, “He cursed me, so I beat him.” Li Kui asked, “Which one is the one who was beaten?” The plaintiff said, “I am the one who was beaten.” He then asked, “Which one is the one who beat him?” The defendant said, “He cursed me first, so then I beat him.” Li Kui said, “This man who did the beating is a good fellow. Release him first. This worthless one—how did he let himself get beaten? Put him in the cangue and display him in front of the yamen as a warning.” Li Kui stood up, tucked up the green robe, thrust the wooden tablet into his belt, drew his great axe, and watched directly until that plaintiff was cangued and displayed at the county gate. Then he strode away, not even taking off the robe and boots. The commoners watching at the county gate could hardly contain their laughter.

He was passing east and west in front of Shouzhang County when suddenly he heard the sound of students reciting from a school. Li Kui lifted the curtain and walked in, scaring the teacher so much that he jumped out the window and fled. The students cried, screamed, ran, and hid. Li Kui laughed loudly and came out the door, just as he collided with Mu Hong. Mu Hong shouted, “Everyone has been worried sick about you, and here you are acting crazy! Get up the mountain quickly!” Without letting him argue, Mu Hong dragged him away. Li Kui had no choice but to leave Shouzhang County and head straight for Liangshan Marsh. There is a poem as evidence:

The magistrate who governs the people is often arrogant,

From childhood taught by a poor teacher in the past.

They should have sent Iron Ox to patrol through,

He stirred up the music hall, then stirred up the school hall.

The two crossed the Golden Sand Shoal and arrived at the stockade. When the crowd saw Li Kui in that outfit, they all laughed. They reached the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, where Song Jiang was just celebrating with Yan Qing. Then they saw Li Kui put down his green robe, discard his twin axes, and swagger up to the hall, holding the wooden tablet, to bow to Song Jiang. Before he had bowed twice, he stepped on and tore the green robe, tripped, and fell to the ground. Everyone laughed. Song Jiang cursed, “You reckless scoundrel! You dared to go down the mountain without my knowledge—this is a capital offense! Everywhere you go you cause trouble. I declare today, before all the brothers, I will not forgive you again!” Li Kui, muttering assent repeatedly, withdrew.

From then on, the people of Liangshan Marsh were at peace, and there were no major incidents. Every day in the stockade they trained in martial arts, drilled the troops, and had those who could swim board the boats for practice. In each stockade they added to the manufacture of weapons, uniforms, armor, spears, swords, bows and arrows, shields and crossbows, and banners—but all this is not to be told in detail.

Now, Tai’an Prefecture prepared to report the earlier events to the Eastern Capital. In the Office of Memorial Presentation, they also received reports from various prefectures and counties, all saying that Song Jiang and his followers were in revolt, disturbing the region. At that time, the Taoist Sovereign Emperor had not held court for a month. On this particular morning, when the three sharp cracks of the silent whip echoed through the imperial palace, and the civil and military officials arrayed themselves on the golden steps, the hall attendant shouted, “Let those with business come forward early to present it; if there is none, roll up the screen and dismiss the court.” The director of the Office of Memorial Presentation stepped forward and reported, “Your servant’s office has received repeated memorials from various prefectures and counties, all stating that Song Jiang and his band of rebels have openly entered prefectural cities, plundered treasuries and granaries, killed soldiers and civilians, and are insatiably greedy. Wherever they go, no one can oppose them. If we do not suppress and capture them soon, it will become a great calamity in the future.” The Emperor said, “These rebels disturbed the capital on the night of the Lantern Festival, and now they are disturbing everywhere else—and what of the prefectures and counties nearby? I have repeatedly sent the Privy Council to advance troops, but so far no report has come back.” Then Censor-in-Chief Cui Jing stepped forward and reported, “Your servant has heard that on Liangshan Marsh they have raised a large banner inscribed with the words ‘Act on Behalf of Heaven.’ This is a technique to delude the common people. The people’s hearts have already turned to them; it would be inadvisable to use troops. At present, the Liao invaders are pressing the border, and the military forces in various regions are stretched too thin to cover everything. If we raise an army to attack, it would be extremely inconvenient. In your servant’s humble opinion, these outlaws in the mountains are all criminals who have no way to escape the law, so they gather in the forests and do as they please. If we issue an imperial amnesty, and the Court of Imperial Entertainments bestows fine imperial wine and delicacies, and send a high minister straight to Liangshan Marsh to speak kindly and pacify them, offering amnesty and surrender, we could then use them to counter the Liao troops—a benefit to both public and private interests. I humbly beg Your Majesty to consider this.” The Emperor said, “Your words are very fitting; they accord with my own thoughts.” He then dispatched Chen Zongshan, a Grand Marshal of the Palace, as the envoy, bearing the imperial amnesty and the imperial wine, to go and offer amnesty to all the people of Liangshan Marsh.

That day in court, Grand Marshal Chen received the imperial decree and went home to prepare. As it happened, when Grand Marshal Chen received the imperial amnesty, it was fated that the fine wine would become a self-burning poison, and the imperial decree would become a declaration of war. After all, how did Grand Marshal Chen go to offer amnesty to Song Jiang? Listen to the next chapter for the explanation.