Chapter 78: Ten Military Governors Plot to Take Liangshan Marsh; Song Jiang Defeats Grand Marshal Gao Qiu Once

Chapter 78: Ten Military Governors Discuss Taking Liangshan Marsh; Song Jiang Defeats Marshal Gao in the First Battle

Let us speak again of the Liangshan Marsh heroes. After they had twice defeated Tong Guan, Song Jiang and Wu Yong discussed the matter and decided that someone must go to the Eastern Capital to spy out the true situation there, then return to the mountain to report, so that they could prepare troops and horses for the coming battle in advance. Before they had finished speaking, the Marvelous Traveler Dai Zong said, "Your younger brother is willing to go." Song Jiang said, "For spying on military intelligence, we rely much on you, brother. Although you, worthy brother, are fit to go, it would be best to have another helper to go with you." Li Kui then said, "Your brother will help big brother go on this trip." Song Jiang laughed and said, "You are that troublemaker, the Black Whirlwind!" Li Kui said, "If I go this time, I won't make any trouble." Song Jiang shouted him away, then asked again, "Which brother dares to go on this trip?" The Red-Haired Devil Liu Tang reported, "How would it be if your younger brother went with Dai Zong, big brother?" Song Jiang was greatly pleased and said, "Good!" That very day the two packed their gear and went down the mountain.

Let us set aside for now Dai Zong and Liu Tang going to the Eastern Capital to spy out the news, and speak instead of Tong Guan and Bi Sheng, who along the way gathered together the broken and defeated troops, more than forty thousand men. When they returned to the Eastern Capital, on the road he ordered the various military commanders to lead their respective troops back to their camps and stockades, bringing only the Imperial Guard troops into the city. Tong Guan removed his armor and military dress and went directly to the residence of Marshal Gao Qiu to discuss matters. The two met, exchanged courtesies, and were invited to sit in a rear chamber. Tong Guan told him everything: how he had been badly defeated twice, had lost eight route commanders, along with many troops and horses, and how Feng Mei had been captured alive. "What is to be done?" he said. Marshal Gao said, "Your Excellency the Privy Councilor, do not be distressed. We only need to keep this from the present Emperor. Who would dare to speak nonsense! You and I will go and inform the Grand Preceptor, and then we will think of something." Tong Guan and Gao Qiu mounted their horses and went directly to the residence of Grand Preceptor Cai Jing. Word had already been received that Privy Councilor Tong had returned. Cai Jing guessed that he had not won, and when he heard that Gao Qiu had come with him, Cai Jing ordered them summoned to his study for a meeting. Tong Guan bowed to the Grand Preceptor, his tears falling like rain. Cai Jing said, "Do not be distressed for now. I know full well about your loss of troops and horses." Gao Qiu said, "The rebels hold the lake and marshes. Without boats, they cannot be attacked. Your Excellency only used cavalry and infantry to suppress them, and therefore suffered defeat, falling into the rebels' cunning plan." Tong Guan recounted the matter of the lost troops and the defeated army. Cai Jing said, "You have lost many troops and horses, wasted much money and grain, and also lost eight route commanders. How dare we let His Majesty know of this!" Tong Guan bowed again and said, "I hope the Grand Preceptor will cover this up and save my life!" Cai Jing said, "Tomorrow, only report that the weather is hot, the soldiers are not accustomed to the climate, and that we temporarily halted the campaign and withdrew. If the Emperor flies into a rage and says, 'A threat to the heartland like this, if not exterminated, will surely become a disaster later on,' then how will you officials answer?" Gao Qiu said, "It is not that Gao Qiu boasts, but if the Grand Preceptor is willing to recommend me to lead the troops and go there myself to subdue them, I can pacify them in one blow." Cai Jing said, "If the Marshal is willing to go in person, that would be excellent. Tomorrow I will recommend you as commander-in-chief." Gao Qiu further reported, "There is only one thing: I must have a sacred edict allowing me to raise troops at will, and to build boats at any time, or to requisition official and civilian boats, or to prepare official prices to purchase timber and build warships, advancing by water and land simultaneously, with boats and cavalry moving together. Only then can success be achieved within a set number of days." Cai Jing said, "That is easy." While they were speaking, the gatekeeper reported, "Feng Mei has returned." Tong Guan was overjoyed. The Grand Preceptor ordered him brought in and asked him the reason. Feng Mei finished his bows and told how Song Jiang let all those captured alive up the mountain go free, refused to kill them, and even gave them travel expenses, ordering them to return to their hometowns. Therefore, this minor general was able to see their honored faces. Gao Qiu said, "This is a rebel trick, deliberately to slow down our country. From now on, do not deploy nearby troops. Go directly to Shandong and Hebei to select capable men to follow Gao Qiu." Cai Jing said, "Since we have settled on this plan, tomorrow at court we will present it face to face to the Son of Heaven." They each returned to their residences.

The next day, at the fifth watch and the third drum, they all gathered in the waiting chamber. When the court drum sounded, they arranged themselves according to rank, lined up on the marble steps, performed the kowtow and dance of obeisance, and rose. The civil and military officials separated into ranks and stood below the jade steps. Then Grand Preceptor Cai Jing stepped forward and reported, "Yesterday we dispatched Privy Councilor Tong Guan to lead a great army to attack the grass-bandits of Liangshan Marsh. Recently, because of the heat, the troops were not accustomed to the climate. Moreover, the rebels occupy a watery lair that cannot be approached without boats. The cavalry and infantry could not advance quickly, so we temporarily halted the campaign and returned each to their camps to rest, awaiting further sacred decrees." The Emperor then said, "Since it is so hot, we will not go again!" Cai Jing reported, "Tong Guan may be sent to the Taiyi Temple to await punishment. Let another be appointed commander to go and subdue them again. I beg Your Sacred Decree." The Emperor said, "This bandit is a threat to the heartland and cannot be left uneliminated. Who will share my worries?" Gao Qiu stepped forward and reported, "Your humble servant is without talent, but I am willing to exert the efforts of a dog or horse and go to suppress these bandits, humbly awaiting Your Sacred Decree." The Emperor said, "Since you, my minister, are willing to share my worries, I leave you to choose your troops and horses." Gao Qiu further reported, "Liangshan Marsh is over eight hundred li in circumference. Without relying on boats and ships, we cannot advance. I beg Your Sacred Decree to allow me to fell timber near Liangshan Marsh, supervise craftsmen to build boats, or use official funds to purchase civilian boats, for use as warships." The Emperor said, "I entrust this to you. Act as you see fit. If it can be done, do it. Be careful not to harm the people." Gao Qiu reported, "How would your humble servant dare! I only beg for a lenient time limit, in order to achieve success." The Emperor ordered that a brocade robe and golden armor be bestowed upon Gao Qiu, and another auspicious day be chosen for the army to set out.

That day, after the hundred officials withdrew from court, Tong Guan and Gao Qiu saw the Grand Preceptor to his residence. Then they summoned the clerks of the Secretariat to transmit the sacred edict and determine the allocation of troops. Marshal Gao said, "Formerly there were ten military governors, many of whom rendered meritorious service to the state, whether attacking foreign lands or conquering the Western Xia, as well as the Jin and Liao regions. Their martial skills are superb. I beg that official orders be issued, appointing them as generals." Grand Preceptor Cai Jing agreed and issued ten official dispatches, commanding each of them to lead one thousand picked troops from their respective commands and proceed to Jizhou to assemble, there to await orders. These ten military governors were no ordinary men. Each led ten thousand troops and advanced by a set deadline. Those ten armies were:

Wang Huan, Military Governor of Henan and Hebei

Xu Jing, Military Governor of Shangdang and Taiyuan

Wang Wende, Military Governor of Jingbei and Hongnong

Mei Zhan, Military Governor of Yingzhou and Runan

Zhang Kai, Military Governor of Zhongshan and Anping

Yang Wen, Military Governor of Jiangxia and Lingling

Han Cunbao, Military Governor of Yunzhong and Yanmen

Li Congji, Military Governor of Longxi and Hanyang

Xiang Yuanzhen, Military Governor of Langya and Pengcheng

Jing Zhong, Military Governor of Qinghe and Tianshui

It turned out that these ten armies were all of crack troops that had undergone training. Moreover, these ten military governors had all originally come from the ranks of outlaws in the greenwoods. Later they accepted amnesty and rose straight to such high official positions. They were all men of valor and courage, not men who had built up only a little merit over a short time. On that day, the Secretariat set a time limit and issued ten official documents, ordering these ten armies to arrive in Jizhou on schedule. Any delay would be dealt with according to military law. In Jinling, at Jiankang Prefecture, there was a naval force. Its chief commander was named Liu Menglong. When that man was born, his mother dreamed that a black dragon flew into her belly, and she gave birth to him as a result of that omen. When he grew up, he was skilled in the ways of water. He had rendered meritorious service in suppressing bandits on the Xia River in Western Sichuan and had been promoted to the rank of military commander-in-chief. He commanded fifteen thousand naval troops and five hundred warships, guarding the region south of the Yangzi River. Marshal Gao wanted to take this naval force and its boats, ordering them to come day and night to await deployment. He also dispatched a trusted man named Niu Bangxi, who had also risen to the rank of infantry colonel, ordering him to go up and down the Yangzi River and along all waterways to requisition boats, all to assemble in Jizhou for handover and deployment. Marshal Gao had many staff officers before his tent, two of whom were the most capable: one was named Dang Shiying, and the other Dang Shixiong. These two brothers were both commander-generals, each with a courage that ten thousand men could not withstand. Marshal Gao also selected fifteen thousand crack troops from the Imperial Guard. In total, with the troops from various places, he had one hundred and thirty thousand men. First, he dispatched officers from the various circuits to supply grain and fodder, to be delivered along the route. Marshal Gao spent several days straightening his armor and equipment and manufacturing banners and flags, but had not yet set out. There is a poem to prove it:

Light of heart, greedy for glory, he wished to lead the host;

Once power to command was his, he lingered at his post.

Thank heaven the commander-in-chief was slow to go;

A few more days of life were granted the troops below.

Dai Zong and Liu Tang stayed in the Eastern Capital for several days, gathered detailed intelligence, and hastened back to the stronghold that very night to report these matters. When Song Jiang heard that Grand Marshal Gao was personally leading an army, mobilizing a total of one hundred thirty thousand troops from across the empire under the command of ten military governors, he was alarmed and consulted with Wu Yong. Wu Yong said, "Elder brother, do not worry. I, your humble scholar, have long heard of the reputations of these ten military governors. Most of them have rendered great service to the court, but only because they have never met a worthy opponent, hence their fame as heroes. Now we have this band of fine brothers here, all men fierce as tigers and wolves. Those ten governors are already past their prime. Why should you fear them, elder brother? When their ten armies arrive, let them first taste a surprise from us." Song Jiang asked, "Military advisor, how will you give them a surprise?" Wu Yong replied, "Their ten armies will all rendezvous at Jizhou. Let me first send two capable fighters to the vicinity of Jizhou to meet the advancing troops and strike a blow—this will deliver a message to Gao Qiu." Song Jiang said, "Whom should I send?" Wu Yong answered, "Send 'Featherless Arrow' Zhang Qing and 'Double Spears' Dong Ping; these two will do." Song Jiang ordered the two commanders to each take a thousand cavalry and go on patrol toward Jizhou, intercepting and cutting down the various armies. He also deployed the water force leaders, preparing to seize boats on the lake. The stronghold's leaders had already made their preliminary arrangements, which need not be detailed here; the following account will make them clear.

Now, Grand Marshal Gao had delayed in the Eastern Capital for over twenty days. The Son of Heaven issued an edict urging him to set out. Gao Qiu first sent the Imperial Guard out of the city, then selected over thirty singing girls and dancing girls from the Imperial Music Bureau to accompany the army for amusement. By the time the flag was consecrated and he took leave of the emperor to depart, about a month had passed. It was early autumn. Civil and military officials of all ranks saw him off at the Long Pavilion. Grand Marshal Gao was in full armor, riding a steed with a golden saddle. Before him were five horses with jade reins and carved saddles as attendants. Flanking him were the brothers Dang Shiying and Dang Shixiong. Behind him were many commanders of the Imperial Guard, military commissioners, adjutants, and defense and training officers, all following in procession. The army and cavalry were arrayed with great order. A poem says:

Concealing treachery and deceiving the sovereign shows no loyalty;

Eager for war, he violates all ancient statutes.

Instead of using gentle means to subdue the strong and violent,

He drives only the good and innocent to face the spear and sword.

Grand Marshal Gao led the great army out of the city, dismounted at the Long Pavilion, and bade farewell to the officials. After drinking the farewell wine, he mounted his horse and set out on the road to Jizhou. Along the way, he allowed the soldiers to plunder and ravage the villages at will, causing endless suffering to the common people.

Now, the ten armies arrived at Jizhou one after another. Governor Wang Wende led one army from the capital's northern regions and rushed day and night toward Jizhou. When he was still over forty li from the city, he urged his men forward that day until they reached a place called Phoenix Tail Slope, at the foot of which was a large grove of trees. The vanguard had just passed through the grove when they heard the sound of a gong. From behind the grove, at the foot of the slope, a band of cavalry emerged, and a commander blocked the way. That commander was helmeted and armored, with arrows and bow at his side. On the quiver were fastened two small yellow pennants, each bearing five gold characters: "Heroic Double Spears General; Romantic Lord of Ten Thousand Households." In each hand he held a steel spear. This commander was none other than the first brave general of Liangshan Marsh to charge into battle, Dong Ping, hence known as "Dong the Charger." Dong Ping reined in his warhorse, blocked the road, and shouted, "Whose army is this? Why don't you dismount and surrender at once? What are you waiting for?" Wang Wende reined in his horse, laughed heartily, and said, "Even jars and pots have two ears! Have you not heard that we ten military governors have rendered great merits and are famed throughout the land? I am the great Governor Wang Wende!" Dong Ping laughed loudly and shouted back, "So you're the big scoundrel who killed his stepfather!" Wang Wende was enraged and cursed, "Rebellious scoundrel, how dare you insult me!" He spurred his horse, raised his spear, and charged straight at Dong Ping. Dong Ping also raised his double spears to meet him. The two generals fought for thirty rounds without either prevailing. Wang Wende, realizing he could not overcome Dong Ping, shouted, "Pause, and we'll fight again!" Each returned to his own formation. Wang Wende ordered his troops not to linger in battle but to charge straight through. With Wang Wende in front and the three armies behind, they gave a great shout and surged forward.

Dong Ping led his troops in pursuit. As they were about to pass through the grove, another force of cavalry suddenly emerged ahead. At their head was a top general, none other than "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing, who shouted from his horse, "Don't flee!" He took a stone in his hand and hurled it directly at Wang Wende's head. Wang Wende tried to dodge, but the stone struck the top of his helmet. He bent low over his saddle and fled, galloping away. The two generals gave chase and were about to catch up when a troop of horsemen appeared from the side. Wang Wende looked and saw it was another military governor, Yang Wen, coming to his rescue. Therefore, Dong Ping and Zhang Qing dared not pursue further and turned back.

The two armies entered Jizhou together and settled there. Prefect Zhang Shuye received the various armies. Within a few days, scouts reported that Grand Marshal Gao's main force had arrived. The ten governors went out of the city to welcome him, all paying their respects to the Grand Marshal, and together escorted him into the city. The prefectural office was temporarily used as the marshal's headquarters, where he took up residence. Grand Marshal Gao issued orders that all ten armies were to encamp outside the city, awaiting the arrival of Liu Menglong's naval forces before advancing together. These ten armies each set up their camps. They cut down trees from the nearby mountains and forcibly took doors and windows from the people's homes to build shelters, causing great harm to the populace. Grand Marshal Gao, safe in the city's marshal headquarters, decided on the order of advance for the troops. Those who had no silver or money to bribe were assigned to the vanguard for battle; those with silver were kept in the central army, where they could claim false merits. Such corrupt practices were endless.

Grand Marshal Gao had been in Jizhou for no more than a day or two when Liu Menglong's warships arrived, and their commander came to pay respects at the marshal's headquarters. After the formalities, Gao Qiu immediately summoned all ten military governors to the hall to discuss the best strategy. Wang Huan and others reported, "Let the Grand Marshal first send the cavalry and infantry to scout the route and lure the rebels into battle. Then dispatch the water forces and warships to attack the rebels' lair, so that they cannot support each other on both sides. Thus we may capture all the rebels!" Grand Marshal Gao followed their advice. He then assigned Wang Huan and Xu Jing as the vanguard; Wang Wende and Mei Zhan as the rear guard; Zhang Kai and Yang Wen as the left wing; Han Cunbao and Li Congji as the right wing; and Xiang Yuanzhen and Jing Zhong as the forward and rear relief forces. Dang Shixiong was to lead three thousand elite troops to board the ships and assist Liu Menglong's naval forces, while also overseeing the battle. All the armies received their orders, spent three days preparing, and then invited Grand Marshal Gao to review the various troops. Grand Marshal Gao personally went out of the city, inspected each unit, and then ordered the entire army—both land and water forces—to advance together straight toward Liangshan Marsh.

Now, Dong Ping and Zhang Qing returned to the stronghold and reported the details. Song Jiang, together with the other leaders, led the main force down the mountain. They had not gone far when they saw the government troops approaching. The vanguard halted and formed a line, with both sides facing off. The vanguard commander Wang Huan rode out, wielding a long spear, and shouted from his horse, "Wretched rebels, daring village fools, do you know the great general Wang Huan?" On the opposite side, amid the embroidered banners, Song Jiang rode out in person and saluted Wang Huan, saying, "Governor Wang, you are advanced in years and no longer fit to exert yourself for the state. To face spears and oppose the enemy might lead to some mishap, ruining your lifelong reputation. You should withdraw! Let a younger man come out to fight." Wang Huan was furious and cursed, "You are nothing but a tattooed lowly clerk! How dare you resist the imperial army!" Song Jiang replied, "Governor Wang, do not boast of your skill! This band of righteous men, who act on behalf of Heaven, will not lose to you!" Wang Huan then thrust his spear forward. Immediately, from behind Song Jiang's horse, a general rode out, his bridle bells jingling, spear raised, entering the fray. Song Jiang looked and saw it was "Leopard's Head" Lin Chong, who came to fight Wang Huan. Their horses met, and the troops on both sides shouted encouragement. Grand Marshal Gao himself came to the front of the battle line, reining in his horse to watch. The soldiers on both sides shouted and cheered. Truly, the cavalry stood in their stirrups to watch, and the infantry lifted their helmets to stare. The two displayed their various spear techniques. Observe:

One used the "screen spear" style, swift as a thunderbolt;

The other used the "level spear" style, fierce as rolling thunder.

One's "skyward spear" was hard to defend or dodge;

The other's "drilling wind spear" was impossible to parry or block.

One wished to pierce through the nine-layered clouds with his spear;

The other wished to stab through the nine-bend Yellow River.

One's spear was like a python emerging from a cave;

The other's spear was like a dragon leaping from the waves.

One wielding a spear was as fierce as a tiger devouring a sheep;

The other wielding a spear was as swift as a hawk pouncing on a hare.

Wang Huan fought a great battle with Lin Chong; after roughly seventy or eighty exchanges, neither could gain the upper hand. Both sides sounded their gongs, and the two generals separated, each returning to their own formation. Then the Military Governor Jing Zhong came to the front of the army, bowed in his saddle, and reported to Grand Marshal Gao: “This minor general wishes to fight the rebels to the death and requests your orders.” Grand Marshal Gao then ordered Jing Zhong to ride out and engage. From behind Song Jiang’s horse, a bridle bell rang, and Huyan Zhuo rode out to meet him. Jing Zhong wielded a large-bladed saber and rode a melon-yellow horse. The two generals clashed, and after about twenty exchanges, Huyan Zhuo feigned an opening, swept aside Jing Zhong’s great blade, and with a smooth motion raised his steel mace; with a single blow, striking squarely on Jing Zhong’s head, he smashed his skull, spilling brains and popping out his eyeballs, and Jing Zhong died beneath his horse. Seeing that he had lost one military governor, Gao Qiu urgently dispatched Xiang Yuanzhen, who galloped forth with a leveled spear, charging out of the formation and shouting: “Rebel scum, dare you fight me?” From behind Song Jiang’s horse, “Double Spear General” Dong Ping charged out to battle Xiang Yuanzhen. The two fought for less than ten exchanges when Xiang Yuanzhen suddenly reined his horse around, trailing his spear as he fled. Dong Ping urged his horse in pursuit. Xiang Yuanzhen did not reenter his formation but rode around its edge, taking to the wilds. Dong Ping flew after him at full speed. Xiang Yuanzhen halted his spear, took up his bow with his left hand, nocked an arrow with his right, drew the bow to its full extent, turned in his saddle, and shot a backward arrow. Hearing the twang of the bowstring, Dong Ping raised his hand to block it, but the arrow struck his right arm squarely. He dropped his spear, turned his horse, and fled back. Xiang Yuanzhen hung up his bow, took up his arrows, and gave chase in reverse. Seeing this, Huyan Zhuo and Lin Chong each rode out on their horses and rescued Dong Ping back to the formation. Grand Marshal Gao commanded the great army to engage in chaotic battle. Song Jiang first had Dong Ping rescued and sent back to the mountain. The rear troops could not hold the line and scattered in all directions. Grand Marshal Gao pursued them straight to the water’s edge, then deployed men to support the waterway vessels.

Now Liu Menglong and Dang Shixiong led the naval forces, sailing their ships deep into Liangshan Marsh. They saw nothing but vast, surging reeds and rushes, densely blocking the inlets and channels. The official vessels, with their oars and poles constantly in motion, stretched across more than ten li of water. As they proceeded, a cannon shot suddenly sounded from the hillside. From all directions, small boats emerged. The troops on the official vessels, already half-terrified, seeing such dense reeds, were completely panicked. Unable to withstand the ambush, the small boats hidden among the reeds swarmed out, cutting through the main fleet. The official ships could not support each other, front and rear, and most of the official troops abandoned their ships and fled. Seeing the official forces in disarray, the Liangshan heroes beat their drums and shook their oars, charging straight ahead. When Liu Menglong and Dang Shixiong hastily turned their ships back, they found that the shallow channels they had passed through had all been blocked by Liangshan heroes using small boats loaded with firewood and brush, and by cutting down mountain timber to fill them in. Their oars and rudders could not move. All the soldiers abandoned their ships and jumped into the water. Liu Menglong shed his armor and gear, climbed to the shore, and slipped away along a small path. Dang Shixiong refused to abandon his ship, constantly shouting for the naval troops to seek deep channels to row into. Before they had gone two li, they saw three small boats ahead, manned by the three Ruan brothers, each wielding a reed-leaf spear, drawing near. All the sailors on board jumped into the water. Dang Shixiong himself, holding an iron truncheon, stood on the ship’s prow and engaged Ruan Xiao’er. Ruan Xiao’er also leaped into the water, while Ruan Xiao’wu and Ruan Xiao’qi pressed close. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Dang Shixiong dropped his iron truncheon and jumped into the water as well. Then “Boatman” Zhang Heng emerged from beneath the surface, grabbing Dang Shixiong by the hair with one hand and gripping his waist and hip with the other, tossing him like a top onto a clump of reeds. More than a dozen minor brigands were already lying in ambush there; they hooked him with grappling hooks and lassoes and captured him alive, carrying him to the stronghold on the marsh.

Now Grand Marshal Gao, seeing the vessels on the water all scattering and drifting wildly toward the mountain’s edge, and that the bound men on them all bore the flags and insignia of Liu Menglong’s naval forces, realized that he had suffered another defeat on the waterways. He hastily ordered a retreat, recalling his troops to Jizhou to make new plans.

Just as the five armies were about to withdraw, night fell, and from all directions, cannons roared without cease. Song Jiang’s troops charged in from who knows how many directions. Grand Marshal Gao could only cry out in despair. Truly: Lost on the path at Yinling, he met divine crossbows; in the fierce battle at Red Cliffs, he encountered a strange wind. How Grand Marshal Gao finally escaped will be told in the next chapter.