Chapter 84: Song Jiang Attacks Jizhou City; Lu Junyi Fiercely Battles at Yutian County
CHAPTER 84
Song Jiang Attacks Jizhou City; Lu Junyi Fights a Great Battle at Yutian County
The story tells that Dongxian Shilang, seeing that Tanzhou had already fallen, had no choice but to flee out of the city, hastening forward with Yao'er Weikang surrounding him. They ran straight into Lin Chong and Guan Sheng, who launched a great assault; how could they have any heart to linger in battle? They charged desperately off to the side. Guan Sheng and Lin Sheng, wanting to seize the city, did not pursue but for the time being entered the city.
Now it is said that Song Jiang, leading a great army into Tanzhou, drove off the Liao troops. On the one hand, he issued proclamations to reassure the people and soldiers, strictly forbidding any looting; he sent orders to bring all the war boats into the city. On the other hand, he rewarded the three armies and dealt with the former Liao officials still in the city: those with Chinese surnames were kept in their posts, while those with non-Chinese surnames were all sent out of the city and back to the desert. He also composed a memorial to the court, reporting that Tanzhou had been taken. All the wealth, gold, and treasures in the government treasury were sent to the capital. A letter was written to Grand Commandant Su, requesting him to present the matter. When the emperor heard the report, his countenance showed great joy. He immediately issued an imperial decree, appointing the Prefect of the Eastern Capital, Zhao Anfu, to command twenty thousand imperial guard troops and come to oversee the campaign.
Now it is said that Song Jiang, upon receiving the news, led all the generals out of the city to welcome him from afar, and escorted him into the Tanzhou prefectural offices to rest, which was temporarily used as the field headquarters. All the generals and leaders came to pay their respects, and when the ceremonies were complete, it turned out that this Zhao Anfu was a member of the imperial Zhao clan by ancestry, a man of benevolence and generous virtue, upright in his conduct. It was also on the recommendation of Grand Commandant Su before the emperor that he had been specially dispatched to oversee the troops at the front. Zhao Anfu, seeing Song Jiang's virtue, was very pleased and said: "His Majesty already knows that you generals have exerted yourselves and the soldiers have labored hard. He has specially sent me here to oversee the army and to bestow twenty-five carts of gold, silver, satin, and brocade as rewards. If there are extraordinary feats, I will memorialize the court to request official ranks and titles. Now that you have already taken a prefecture, I will further report it to the court. All the generals must exert their utmost loyalty and effort, achieve great success early, and return to the capital in triumph. The emperor will surely give you important posts." Song Jiang and the others bowed in thanks and said: "We beg the Imperial Commissioner to guard Tanzhou while we, your humble generals, divide our forces to attack the key prefectures of Liao, so that he cannot look after both ends." On the one hand, the rewards were distributed to the officers and men; on the other hand, troops from all directions were recalled to await orders to attack the Liao prefectures. Then Yang Xiong reported: "Ahead is Jizhou, which is close by. This is a major city, with vast resources of money and grain, abundant in wheat and rice; it is the treasury of the Liao kingdom. If we take Jizhou, all other places can be captured." Upon hearing this, Song Jiang invited Military Advisor Wu Yong to discuss the matter.
Now it is said that Dongxian Shilang and Yao'er Weikang were fleeing eastward when they encountered Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingji leading some defeated remnants, and together they all fled to Jizhou. Entering the city, they saw the Imperial Younger Brother, King Yelü Dezhong, and told him: "Song Jiang's troops are vast in number. Among them is a barbarian who uses stone pellets, and he is extremely formidable. Those pellets hit their mark every time, never missing, and he is most skilled at striking men. Both of your imperial nephews and the general Ariqi were all killed by his stones." King Yelü said: "Since this is so, you stay here and help me kill that barbarian." Before he had finished speaking, a fast horseman with urgent news reported: "Song Jiang's troops are advancing in two columns to attack Jizhou. One column is heading toward Pingyu County, and the other toward Yutian County." Upon hearing this, the Imperial Younger Brother immediately ordered Dongxian Shilang: "Take your own troops and hold the entrance to Pingyu County. Do not engage them in battle. I will first lead my troops to capture the barbarians at Yutian County, then swing around and attack from behind. Where can the barbarians at Pingyu County flee to? At the same time, send word to Bazhou and Youzhou, ordering their troops to come and reinforce us." It turned out that this Jizhou was guarded by the Liao emperor's younger brother, Yelü Dezhong, who commanded four sons: the eldest, Zongyun; the second, Zongdian; the third, Zonglei; and the fourth, Zonglin. Under him were over ten battle generals, one chief general named Bao Misheng, and one deputy general named Tian Shan Yong, who held the city of Jizhou. At that time, the Imperial Younger Brother instructed Bao Misheng to guard the city, then personally led the main army, along with his four sons and the deputy general Tian Shan Yong, and rushed toward Yutian County.
Now it is said that Song Jiang led his troops forward to Pingyu County, but seeing the pass ahead held by the enemy, he did not dare advance and camped west of Pingyu County. It is also said that Lu Junyi, leading many battle generals and thirty thousand men, arrived at Yutian County and soon drew near the Liao troops. Lu Junyi then discussed with Military Advisor Zhu Wu, saying: "Now that we are close to the Liao troops, we men of Wu do not know these borderlands. The terrain here is unfamiliar. What strategy can we adopt?" Zhu Wu replied: "In my humble opinion, since we do not know the terrain, the troops should not advance recklessly. We can deploy the ranks in the formation of the 'Long Serpent,' where head and tail respond to each other, circling without end. In this way, we need not worry about unfamiliar terrain." Lu, the Vanguard, said: "What the military advisor says matches my own thoughts." So he urged the troops forward. From afar, they saw the Liao troops coming like a sky-covering, earth-spreading mass. What they saw was:
A vast expanse of yellow sand, a thick darkness of black fog. Black vulture banners unfurled like a stretch of dark clouds; hooked cavalry horses stirred up half the sky's killing aura. Blue felt hats, like a thousand ponds of lotus leaves swaying in a light breeze; iron helmets, like ten thousand acres of ocean freezing in sunlight. Every man's lapel turned to the left, every head with hair hanging to the shoulders. Layer upon layer of linked iron armor worn, tight-bound felt battle robes fastened. The Liao troops were robust, with black faces, blue eyes, and yellow beards; their warhorses roared, with broad shoulders, steel-like waists, and iron hooves. Sheep-horn bows strung with sand-willow arrows; tiger-skin robes lined with narrow carved saddles. Born on the border frontiers, raised to draw stiff bows; from birth on the northern plains, grown to ride fierce horses. Bronze kettledrums beaten before the army; reed-leaf Tartar flutes blown from horseback.
The Imperial Younger Brother, King Yelü Dezhong, led his troops first to Yutian County and deployed his forces in battle formation. In the Song army, Zhu Wu climbed a cloud ladder to observe, then came down and reported to Lu, the Vanguard: "The barbarians have set up a 'Five Tigers Leaning on the Mountain Formation.' It is nothing remarkable." Zhu Wu then ascended the command platform, waved his signal flags, circled left and right, and deployed the troops into another formation. Lu Junyi looked at it but did not recognize it and asked: "What formation is this?" Zhu Wu said: "This is the 'Kun Transforming into Peng Formation.'" Lu Junyi asked: "What does 'Kun Transforming into Peng' mean?" Zhu Wu said: "In the Northern Sea there is a fish called Kun, which can transform into a great roc and fly ninety thousand li in one go. This formation, seen from afar or near, is only a small one, but if attacked, it transforms into a large formation. Hence it is called 'Kun Transforming into Peng.'" Lu Junyi heard this and praised it endlessly.
On the opposing side, the enemy drums sounded, the gate banners parted, and the Imperial Younger Brother himself rode out, with his four sons flanking him on left and right, all in identical gear. What they wore:
On their heads, iron-woven helmets with arrow-blocking brims, topped with pure black woolen tassels. Their bodies were clad in round-mirrored, willow-leaf fine armor, bound with lion-barbarian gold belts. Stirrup boots curved like half-moon eagle beaks; pear-blossom robes embroidered with coiled dragons. Each carried a strong bow and powerful crossbow; each rode a fine steed with carved saddle. At their waists, all wore Kunwu swords; in their hands, they grasped broom-handled sabers.
In the center was the Imperial Younger Brother, while on either side were the four young generals. On both shoulders, each wore small bright mirrors, with black tassels set in the borders. Four precious sabers, four swift horses, neatly arrayed before the formation. Behind the Imperial Younger Brother, ranks upon ranks were deployed, with many battle generals. The four young generals shouted loudly: "You grass-bandit rebels, how dare you invade our borders!" Lu Junyi heard this and asked: "With two armies facing each other in battle, which hero will go forth first?" Before he finished speaking, "Big Blade" Guan Sheng brandished his Green Dragon Crescent Moon Blade and eagerly rode out. The Liao general Yelü Zongyun, wielding his saber, spurred his horse to meet Guan Sheng. The two had fought no more than five rounds when Yelü Zonglin, brandishing his saber, charged in to assist. Huyan Zhuo, seeing this, raised his double rods and dashed out to intercept and fight. The two brothers, Yelü Zongdian and Yelü Zonglei, raised their sabers and leaped onto their horses, both charging into battle. On this side, Xu Ning and Suo Chao each took up their weapons to meet them. Four pairs fought before the formation, tangled into a single mass, locked in combat.
As the two sides were locked in battle, "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing spotted an opportunity. He quietly urged his horse forward to the front of the battle line. Some remnants of the defeated troops from Tanzhou recognized Zhang Qing and hastily reported to the Imperial Brother King: "That barbarian in the green battle robe opposite is the one who is skilled with flying stones. Now he is spurring his horse out of formation, about to use his old tricks again." Tian Shanyong heard this and said, "Your Highness, rest assured. Let me take this barbarian down with a crossbow bolt!" This Tian Shanyong, while on horseback, was accustomed to using a lacquered crossbow that fired iron-fletched bolts over a foot long, a weapon nicknamed "A Drop of Oil." Tian Shanyong secured his stirrups on his horse, urged it forward into formation, and had two deputy generals shield him in front. The three of them quietly rode straight to the front lines. Zhang Qing spotted them first, stealthily took a stone in his hand, and aimed at the leading barbarian officer. With a single stone, he hastily shouted, "Hit!" But the stone merely grazed past the helmet. Tian Shanyong, however, ducked behind the officer's horse, steadied his bolt, set the bowstring properly, and, seeing Zhang Qing was relatively close, shot it straight over. Zhang Qing cried out, "Ah!" As he hurriedly dodged, the bolt struck his throat, and he tumbled from his horse. "Double Spears" Dong Ping and "Nine Dragons" Shi Jin, leading Xie Zhen and Xie Bao, risked their lives to rescue him. Lu Junyi, seeing this, hastily ordered someone to pull out the bolt, but blood gushed without stopping. They bandaged his neck to staunch the flow. Then they had Zou Yuan and Zou Run help Zhang Qing into a cart, escort him back to Tanzhou, and let the "Divine Physician" An Daoquan treat him.
No sooner had the cart departed than shouts rose again from the front lines. A report came: "A force from the northwest is galloping in, without a word, charging straight into our formation." Lu Junyi, seeing Zhang Qing wounded by the bolt, had no heart for battle. The four generals each feigned defeat and withdrew. The four barbarian generals took advantage and pursued; the barbarian troops from the northwest also cut in from an oblique angle; the main barbarian force opposite surged forward like an avalanche. What formation could still be maintained? The three armies and all the generals were cut apart, scattered and unable to rescue each other, leaving only Lu Junyi, alone on his horse with his spear, fighting his way across to the other side. As dusk fell, the four young junior generals happened to be returning and ran straight into Lu Junyi. Alone on his horse with his spear, he fought four barbarian generals single-handedly without a shred of fear. After about an hour of combat, Lu Junyi saw an opening, feigned a flaw, and Yelü Zonglin slashed in with his blade. Lu Junyi let out a great shout; the barbarian general, caught off guard, took a spear thrust and was knocked off his horse. The three young generals were all startled, panic-stricken, lost their will to fight, and spurred their horses away. Lu Junyi dismounted, drew his saber, cut off Yelü Zonglin's head, and tied it under his horse's neck. He remounted and headed south. He then ran into a band of Liao troops, about a thousand strong, and charged into their midst, scattering them in all directions. After traveling a few more li, he encountered another military force.
The night was moonless, and he could not tell which side's troops they were, but hearing their speech, it was the language of Song people. Lu Junyi asked, "Whose troops are those approaching?" It was Huyan Zhuo who answered. Lu Junyi was overjoyed and joined forces with him. Huyan Zhuo said, "I was scattered by the Liao troops and could not come to your aid. I broke through the enemy formation and, together with Han Tao and Peng Qi, fought my way straight here. I do not know how the other generals are faring." Lu Junyi replied, "I fought four generals alone, killed one, and the other three fled. Then I ran into another thousand men and scattered them all. I came here and unexpectedly met you, General." The two rode side by side, with their followers, heading south. After no more than ten li, a force blocked their path ahead. Huyan Zhuo said, "How can we fight in the dark? Let us wait until dawn for a decisive battle!" The opposite side heard this and asked, "Is that General Huyan Zhuo approaching?" Huyan Zhuo recognized the voice as that of "Big Blade" Guan Sheng and called out, "Commander Lu is here!" All the leaders dismounted and sat down on the grass for a while. Lu Junyi and Huyan Zhuo recounted their experiences. Guan Sheng said, "We lost the field, and we could not rescue each other. I, with Xuan Zan, Hao Siwen, Shan Tinggui, and Wei Dingguo, five of us on horseback, sought a path and then gathered over a thousand troops. We came here. Unfamiliar with the terrain, we have been lying in ambush here, waiting for dawn to move on. I did not expect to run into you, brother." They merged their forces.
Everyone waited until dawn, then wound their way southward again. When they neared Yutian County, they saw a patrol scouting the road. Looking closely, it was "Double Spears" Dong Ping and "Golden Spear" Xu Ning and their brothers, all stationed in Yutian County, with the Liao troops completely driven off. They said, "Hou Jian and Bai Sheng have gone to report to Song Jiang, but we have not seen Xie Zhen, Xie Bao, Yang Lin, or Shi Yong." Lu Junyi ordered a temporary advance to the borders of Yutian County. Upon checking the troops and officers, they found over five thousand men missing. He was deeply troubled. Around the Si hour, someone reported, "Xie Zhen, Xie Bao, Yang Lin, and Shi Yong have arrived with over two thousand men." Lu Junyi called them over and questioned them. Xie Zhen said, "The four of us charged right through! We penetrated deep into enemy territory, lost our way, and dared not turn back hastily. This morning, we ran into Liao troops again, fought a great battle, and only then reached here." Lu Junyi ordered Yelü Zonglin's head to be displayed as a warning in Yutian County, to reassure the three armies and the people.
Just before dusk, as the soldiers were preparing to settle in for the night, a scout from the outposts reported, "Liao troops, numbering unknown, have surrounded the county town on all sides." Lu Junyi was greatly alarmed. He took Yan Qing and went up the city wall to look. Torches stretched far and near, about ten li in depth. A young junior general was leading the way—it was Yelü Zongyun, riding a fierce horse, urging the three armies onward amidst the torches. Yan Qing said, "Yesterday, Zhang Qing was hit by his cold arrow. Today, let us return the favor!" Yan Qing took out his crossbow and shot an arrow, striking the barbarian general square on the nose. The barbarian general fell from his horse. As the troops hurried to save him, Zongyun was already wounded and unconscious. The barbarian troops withdrew five li.
In the county town, Lu Junyi discussed with the other generals: "Although we shot a cold arrow and the Liao troops have pulled back slightly, they will surely attack at dawn, surrounding us like an iron bucket. How can we be rescued?" Zhu Wu said, "If Song Jiang learns of this news, he will certainly come to our aid. With an attack from within and without, we can escape this disaster." Everyone waited until dawn and saw the Liao troops arrayed on all sides without a gap. Then dust rose in the southeast, and tens of thousands of troops approached. All the generals looked toward the southern army. Zhu Wu said, "This must be Song Jiang's army arriving! When they engage, we will all charge south together. Here, we will raise all our troops and then sweep in from behind."
Now, the opposite Liao troops had been besieging from the Chen hour until the Wei hour and were just growing weary. Then Song Jiang's army attacked, and they could not withstand it. They gathered up and withdrew. Zhu Wu said, "If we do not pursue now, when will we?" Lu Junyi immediately issued orders: open all four gates of the county town, lead out the entire army, and pursue and attack. The Liao troops suffered a great defeat, scattered like stars falling and clouds dispersing, broken and fragmented, fleeing in all directions. Song Jiang pursued the Liao troops until they were far off. At dawn, he sounded the gong to recall the troops and entered Yutian County. Lu Junyi joined forces with him and recounted the attack on Jizhou. They left behind Chai Jin, Li Ying, Li Jun, Zhang Heng, Zhang Shun, the three Ruan brothers, Wang Yinghu, Yizhangqing, Sun Xin, Gu Dasao, Zhang Qing, Sun Erniang, Pei Xuan, Xiao Rang, Song Qing, Yue He, An Daoquan, Huangfu Duan, Tong Wei, Tong Meng, and Wang Dingliu, all to follow Commissioner Zhao in defending Tanzhou. The remaining generals were divided into left and right armies. Song Jiang, as the vanguard commander, led the left army with forty-eight officers: Military Counselor Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, Lin Chong, Hua Rong, Qin Ming, Huang Xin, Zhu Tong, Lei Heng, Liu Tang, Li Kui, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu, Sun Xin, Sun Li, Ou Peng, Deng Fei, Lü Fang, Guo Sheng, Fan Rui, Bao Xu, Xiang Chong, Li Gun, Mu Hong, Mu Chun, Kong Ming, Kong Liang, Yan Shun, Ma Lin, Shi En, Xue Yong, Song Wan, Du Qian, Zhu Gui, Zhu Fu, Ling Zhen, Tang Long, Cai Fu, Cai Qing, Dai Zong, Jiang Jing, Jin Dajian, Duan Jingzhu, Shi Qian, Yu Bao Si, and Meng Kang. Lu Junyi, as the vanguard commander, led the right army with thirty-seven officers: Military Counselor Zhu Wu, Guan Sheng, Huyan Zhuo, Dong Ping, Zhang Qing, Suo Chao, Xu Ning, Yan Qing, Shi Jin, Xie Zhen, Xie Bao, Han Tao, Peng Qi, Xuan Zan, Hao Siwen, Shan Tinggui, Wei Dingguo, Chen Da, Yang Chun, Li Zhong, Zhou Tong, Tao Zongwang, Zheng Tianshou, Gong Wang, Ding Desun, Zou Yuan, Zou Run, Li Li, Li Yun, Jiao Ting, Shi Yong, Hou Jian, Du Xing, Cao Zheng, Yang Lin, and Bai Sheng. After dividing the troops, they set out in two routes to capture Jizhou. Song Jiang led his army toward Pingyu County, while Lu Junyi led his army toward Yutian County. Zhao Anfu and the twenty-three generals remained to guard Tanzhou. That matter need not be told further.
Let us speak of Song Jiang. Seeing that the soldiers had been toiling for days on end, he first ordered them to rest temporarily. There would be a way to attack Jizhou. He first sent someone to Tanzhou to inquire about Zhang Qing’s arrow wound. The divine physician An Daoquan sent a man back with a message: “Although the flesh and skin are wounded externally, the internal organs are not injured. Please let the commander rest assured. When the pus and fluid have dried and been treated, he will naturally be fine. At present, it is the height of summer, and many of the soldiers are falling ill. This has already been reported to Secretary Zhao. Xiao Rang and Song Qing have been sent to the Eastern Capital to purchase medicinal herbs, and also to go to the Imperial Hospital to obtain medicines for summer heat. Huangfu Duan also needs to obtain medicinal materials for the horses from the government bureau. All these matters have been entrusted to Xiao Rang and Song Qing. This is reported for the’s information.” When Song Jiang heard this, he was quite pleased. He then discussed with the Lu Junyi the plan to first attack Jizhou. Song Jiang said: “I did not know that when you were surrounded in Yutian County, you had already discussed a strategy beforehand. There is Gongsun Sheng, who is originally from Jizhou; Yang Xiong, who once served as a jail warden in that prefecture; and Shi Xiu and Shi Qian, who also lived there for a long time. The other day, when we drove back the Liao troops, I had Shi Xiu and Shi Qian disguise themselves as defeated and scattered soldiers and mingle among them. They will surely have all gone to lodge inside Jizhou city. If the two of them have entered the city, they will have their own places to go. Shi Qian once proposed a plan: ‘In Jizhou city there is a large temple called Baoyan Temple. Under the cloisters is a revolving treasury of the Dharma. In the center is the Grand Hall. In front stands a pagoda that soars straight into the clouds.’ Shi Xiu said: ‘Let him hide on top of the pagoda. Every day I will bring him his meals. We only have to wait until the brother’s army outside the city attacks urgently; then we will set a fire on the Baoyan Temple pagoda as a signal.’ Shi Qian is a man accustomed to scaling walls and leaping over roofs—where could he not hide his body? When the time comes, Shi Xiu will go himself to set a fire in the prefectural office. The two of them have already settled their plans and gone. Here, I am making preparations to advance the troops.” There is a poem to the West River Moon as evidence:
Behind the mountains, Liao troops invade the border; the Song emperor of the Central Plains raises an army.
From the watery regions emerge the stars of destiny, answering the summons to turn from evil and return to right.
In secret, Shi Qian sets fires, and Shi Xiu goes along with him.
With ease they break Yongping city, a meritorious deed worthy of a thousand years!
The next day, Song Jiang led his troops, abandoned Pingyu County, joined forces with Lu Junyi, and urged the army and horses straight toward Jizhou.
Let us speak now of the Imperial Younger Brother Prince. Having lost his two sons, he was filled with vexation. He consulted with the great generals Bao Misheng, Tian Shanyong, and Dongxian Shilang, saying: “Previously, the two relief forces from Zhuozhou and Bazhou each dispersed and went their separate ways. Now Song Jiang has united his forces at Yutian County and will soon advance to attack Jizhou. What is to be done in such a situation?” The great general Bao Misheng said: “If Song Jiang’s troops do not come, all will be well. But if that gang of barbarians does come, I, the minor general, will go out myself and fight them. If I do not capture a few of them alive, how will this bunch ever retreat?” Dongxian Shilang said: “In that barbarian band there is one who wears a green robe and is expert with stones. He is extremely formidable. We must be on guard against him.” Tian Shanyong said: “That barbarian—I shot him in the throat with a crossbow bolt. He is most likely dead!” Dongxian Shilang said: “Aside from that barbarian, the others are not worth worrying about.” While they were discussing, a minor officer came to report that Song Jiang’s army had come charging toward Jizhou. The Imperial Younger Brother Prince hastily mustered the three armies and ordered Bao Misheng and Tian Shanyong to go out of the city with all speed to meet the enemy. Thirty li from the city, they confronted Song Jiang.
Each side drew up its battle formation. The Liao general Bao Misheng rode out brandishing his lance. Seeing this from in front of his formation, Song Jiang said: “To behead a general and capture the standard—that is the first merit!” Before the words were finished, “Panther Head” Lin Chong rode out from the formation and engaged in a great battle with the Liao general Bao Misheng. The two fought for more than thirty rounds, with neither victor nor vanquished. Lin Chong wanted to win the first merit. Gripping his eighteen-foot snake spear, he fought to the depths of the contest. With a thunderous roar, he swept aside the long spear and thrust the snake spear into Bao Misheng’s neck, toppling him from his horse. Song Jiang was overjoyed. The two armies raised a clamor. The Liao general Tian Shanyong, seeing Bao Misheng stabbed, rode out with his horizontal spear. From Song Jiang’s formation, Xu Ning rushed forward with his hooked lance. The two horses met. They had fought for fewer than twenty rounds when Xu Ning, with a swift stroke of his lance, stabbed Tian Shanyong from his horse. Seeing that he had won two consecutive generals, Song Jiang was greatly delighted. He urged his troops into a melee. The Liao army was thoroughly defeated and fled toward Jizhou. Song Jiang’s army pursued for more than ten li, then withdrew.
That day, Song Jiang set up camp and feasted and rewarded the three armies. The next day, he issued orders to break camp and advance straight to Jizhou. On the third day, the Imperial Younger Brother Prince, having lost two great generals, was extremely alarmed. Then came a report: “The Song army has arrived!” Hastily he said to Dongxian Shilang: “You may lead this body of troops out of the city to meet the enemy, and relieve me of my worries.” Dongxian Shilang dared not disobey. He had no choice but to take Yao'er Weikang, Chu Mingyu, and Cao Mingji, lead a thousand troops, and draw up in formation right outside the city. Song Jiang’s army gradually approached the city wall, spreading out like wild goose wings. As the gate banners opened, Suo Chao rode forward with his great axe slung across his shoulder. From the Liao ranks, Yao'er Weikang dashed out. The two did not exchange a word. The two generals met and fought for more than twenty rounds. The Liao general was ultimately cowardly at heart, with no mind for battle—he only wanted to flee. Suo Chao spurred his horse in pursuit, raised his great axe with both hands, aimed at the Liao general’s crown, and brought it down, splitting Yao'er Weikang’s head in two. When Dongxian Shilang saw this, he hastily called for Chu Mingyu and Cao Mingji to go quickly to his aid. These two were already eighty percent terrified, but being pressed, they had no choice but to lift their spears and advance to the front. From Song Jiang’s army, “Nine-Dragoned” Shi Jin, seeing two Liao generals come out together, flourished his blade, spurred his horse, and went straight for the two generals. Displaying his heroism, Shi Jin raised his blade and struck, first cutting Chu Mingyu from his horse. Cao Mingji tried to flee in haste, but Shi Jin caught up with a stroke and cut him down from his horse as well. Shi Jin then spurred his horse and charged into the Liao army’s formation. When Song Jiang saw this, he pointed with his whip handle and drove his great army forward, pressing straight to the drawbridge. When Yelü Dezhong saw this, he became even more distressed. He ordered the city gates tightly shut, had all the generals ascend the walls to guard them closely, and at the same time sent a memorial to the Lord of Liao and dispatched men to Bazhou and Youzhou to request reinforcements.
Let us speak now of Song Jiang discussing with Wu Yong: “With the city so tightly defended, how shall we proceed?” Wu Yong said: “Since Shi Xiu and Shi Qian are already inside the city, how can this delay last long? Have scaling ladders and catapult frames set up on all four sides and attack the city immediately. Also order Ling Zhen to fire cannons all around, shooting them inside. If the attack is pressed hard, the city will surely fall.” Song Jiang then issued orders for a night-long assault on all four sides.
Let us speak again of the Imperial Younger Brother Prince. Seeing the Song troops pressing the attack on all sides, he drove all the people of Jizhou city up onto the walls to guard them. Meanwhile, Shi Xiu was inside the city at Baoyan Temple. He had waited for many days, but saw no sign of activity. Then Shi Qian came to report: “Brother’s army outside the city is pressing the attack hard. If we do not set fires here, when will we?” Hearing this, Shi Xiu discussed it with Shi Qian. They decided first to set a fire on the pagoda, and then set the Buddha hall ablaze. Shi Qian said: “You go quickly and set a fire in the prefectural office. If a fire breaks out in the key area of the South Gate, when those outside see it, they will surely attack the city with even greater force. Worry not that it will not be taken!” The two discussed it, and each had with him hidden fire-starting materials: tinder, flint, steel, fire-tube, and charcoal dust. When evening came that day, Song Jiang’s army was pressing the attack on the city very hard.
Now as for Shi Qian: He was a man who could scale walls and leap over roofs, vaulting over walls and crossing ramparts as if on level ground. He first went to the pagoda of Baoyan Temple and lit a fire there. That pagoda was the highest. When the fire rose, both inside and outside the city, who could not see it? The firelight illuminated the area for more than thirty li, like a fiery drill. Then he went to the Buddha hall and set a fire there. With these two fires burning, the city boiled over. Among the common people, every household—old and young—was in panic; in every home, children cried and women wailed. Young and old fled for their lives. Shi Xiu climbed straight up to the eaves of the Jizhou prefectural office, into the wind-boards, and set a fire there. In Jizhou city, seeing three fires break out, they knew there were spies. The common people had no heart left to guard the city walls; they could no longer be stopped, and each fled home to look after their own houses. Before long, another fire broke out at the temple gate—it was Shi Qian, having left Baoyan Temple, who set yet another fire. When the Imperial Younger Brother Prince saw that within less than half a watch, fires had broken out in four or five places in the city, he knew that Song Jiang had men inside. Panicked and desperate, he gathered his troops, took his wife and children and his two sons, loaded them into carts, opened the North Gate, and fled. Song Jiang, seeing the troops in the city in confusion, urged his soldiers to sweep in and slaughter their way into the city. Inside and outside the city, the shouts of slaughter reached the heavens. The South Gate was soon taken. Dongxian Shilang, seeing that he was outnumbered and could not resist, had no choice but to follow the Imperial Younger Brother Prince and flee through the North Gate.
Song Jiang led the main army into Jizhou City and issued a command, first ordering people to extinguish the fires in all directions. After daybreak, he posted proclamations to reassure the citizens of Jizhou. He then brought all three divisions of troops into Jizhou to garrison, rewarding the officers of the three armies. On the merit roll, he recorded the achievements of Shi Xiu and Shi Qian. Immediately thereafter, he sent a dispatch reporting to Zhao that the great prefecture of Jizhou had been captured, requesting the lord to come and garrison it. Zhao replied in a dispatch, saying: "I am temporarily stationed with troops in Tanzhou. I order Song to first hold Jizhou. At present, it is the height of summer, the weather is scorching hot, and no military operations should be undertaken. Wait until the weather cools slightly, then we will discuss further." Upon receiving the reply, Song Jiang ordered Lu Junyi to take the troops originally assigned to him and garrison in Yutian County, while the rest of the main army held Jizhou. They were to wait until the weather cooled slightly before receiving further orders.
Now, the Imperial Younger Prince Yelü Dezhong and Dongxian Shilang, along with their families, fled back to Youzhou and went straight to Yanjing to appear before the Great Liao Emperor. Let it be told that the Liao Emperor ascended the golden throne, assembled the civil and military officials of the two courts, and completed the morning audience. The palace gate envoy reported: "The Imperial Younger Prince of Jizhou has returned to the court." Upon hearing this, the Emperor quickly ordered him summoned, and he was brought before the throne. Yelü Dezhong and Dongxian Shilang prostrated themselves at the foot of the imperial steps and wailed loudly. The Emperor said: "My beloved brother, do not be troubled for now. If there is any matter, you should fully report it to me so that I may know." Yelü Dezhong reported: "The young emperor of Song sent Song Jiang to lead an army on a punitive expedition. His forces are vast and difficult to withstand. I lost my two sons, and four generals of Tanzhou were killed. The Song army swept in like a tide, and Jizhou also fell. I have come specially to the palace to beg for death!" Upon hearing this, the Great Liao Emperor issued an imperial decree: "Sir, rise for now. Let me deliberate carefully here." The Emperor said: "Who is this barbarian leading the army, so formidable?" From among the ranks of officials, the Right Grand Councilor and Grand Preceptor Chu Jian stepped forward and reported: "I have heard that this group of Song Jiang's was originally a band of outlaws from Liangshan Marsh, but they refused to harm good people, specialized in acting on behalf of Heaven, and only killed corrupt officials and those who cheated and oppressed the people. Later, Tong Guan and Gao Qiu led troops to suppress them, but Song Jiang defeated them in only five battles, leaving them utterly routed. This band of heroes could not be captured. The young emperor sent envoys three times with imperial decrees to offer amnesty, and they later surrendered. Song Jiang was only appointed as a envoy, without any actual official post, and the rest were commoners. Today, he was sent to fight against us. It is said that there are one hundred and eight of them, corresponding to the stars of heaven. This group is extremely formidable, Your Majesty should not underestimate them!" The Emperor said: "If what you say is true, what should be done?" From among the ranks, an official named Ouyang Shilang stepped forward, wearing a robe that swept the ground, holding an ivory tablet before his chest, and reported: "Long live His Majesty! Although I am unworthy, I wish to offer a small plan that can drive back the Song troops." The Emperor was greatly pleased and said: "Since you have such good insight, speak it now." Ouyang Shilang spoke countless words, and his speech was not brief. It would cause Song Jiang's name to be recorded in history and his deeds to be written in books of merit. Truly: Protecting the state, his schemes surpassed Lü Wang; following Heaven, his achievements rivaled Zhang Liang. In the end, what matter did Ouyang Shilang present? Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.