have heard of those robbers,” said Shi Jin, “but did not know that they have made so much trouble. This being the case the people certainly dislike them. Li Ji, if you have any game in the future bring it here.”
Shi Jin thought this matter over. “These men will certainly come here to plunder.” He then told the farm laborers to select two fat buffaloes and kill them; and bring the best brew of the village. He sent invitations to all the Shi clan and upon arrival they seated themselves in order of seniority. Wine was served and Shi Jin then spoke to the audience, saying, “I have heard there are three robbers on Mount Shaohua, who have altogether about seven hundred followers, and they rob the people with violence. Sooner or later they will come and pillage our village. I now invite you here to discuss this matter—so that we may be prepared when they come. I will have a rattle sounded at my house when they arrive; and upon hearing this you must bring your arms to defend the village. If your families are attacked we will defend you.” All of them are agreed to what Shi Jin said. They then returned home and prepared their weapons. Shi Jin repaired the defenses of the village.
At Mount Shaohua, the three bandit chiefs were now holding a conference. The leader, Zhu Wu, the “Intuitve Strategist,” was a Dingyuan County man and could fight with a sword in each hand. He was clever in arranging plans for an attack. The second chief Chen Da was a Yecheng County man, and was skillful in the use of a steel lance while the third Yang Chun was a Xieliang County man and used a long sword.
When they were discussing, Zhu Wu said, “I have heard that there is a reward offered for anyone who can capture us, and I am really afraid that when the soldiers come we shall have a severe strugge with them; but we are short of food so we must take some for use here. We must collect a large stock of food on the mountain ready for the time when the soldiers attack us.”
Chen Da the “Leaping Tiger” agreed. “Let us go to Huayin County, and ask the people there to lend us some grain and we can see what they say.”
Yang Chun the “White-speckled Snake” remarked, “There is no need to go there; it would be better to go to Pucheng County. The chances are ten thousand to one, we shall not fail there.” Chen Da said, “There are very few people in Pucheng and very little money or grain there. It will be better to attack Huayin County. The folk there are wealthy and have abundance of grain.”
Yang Chun replied, “Elder brother, you do not know that if we attack Huayin County we must pass the village of the Shi clan where that dangerous fellow Shi Jin with nine dragons lives, and we must not provoke him. He will not let us pass.”
Chen Da said, “Younger brother, what a coward you are, you are even afraid to pass a village, so what can you do when you are opposed by soldiers?”
“Elder brother, you should not despise Shi Jin. He is hard to deal with.”
“I have already heard that he is very brave and is extremely capable,” said Zhu Wu. “Younger brother, do not go.”
Chen Da would not change his mind, and said, “You two, shut up! Do not increase the other man’s determination and reduce our own courage. He is only one man and has not three heads or six arms.” He then called to his armed followers, “Get my horse ready! I will attack the Shi clan village, and afterwards seize Huayin County.”
Zhu Wu remonstrated with him but Chen Da did not listen. He put on his armor and mounted his horse: he then mustered about one hundred fifty armed brigands down the mountain and went with gongs and drums sounding.
The brigands’ approach was duly reported to Shi Jin, who instantly had the rattles sounded and quickly all the men assembled in arms. Shi Jin wore a towel round his head and was equipped with red mail over an embroidered black wadded coat. On his feet were embroidered green boots and round his waist a leather belt. In front and behind were round metal plates. He carried a bow with quiver full of arrows. In his hand he held a double-edged sword with three sharp spikes at the end and four holes with eight rings attached. He was mounted on a roan horse. Before him were forty of his retainers while behind were ninety of the farm laborers. With a combined shout they all moved toward the north of the village. The brigands halted. Shi Jin saw that Chen Da was in front of his men, wearing a red cap with a concave top, and with iron-armor covered with gilt, wadded red clothing, thick army boots and a plaited waistbelt. He rode a white horse and carried a three-pronged halberd which was about ten feet long. As the two leaders met, the men raised a loud shout. Chen Da paid his respect to Shi Jin by rising in his stirrups.
Shi Jin spoke in a loud voice, “You kill people, set places on fire, rob with violence; your crimes fill the heavens, and you are all deserving of death. You ought to have ears; how dare you come to pouch the tiger’s litter!”
Chen Da replied from his horse, “We are short of grain at our mountain fortress and are going to borrow some grain at Huayin County. We have taken a short cut by passing your honorable village—but we will not disturb even a blade of grass here. Let us pass and on our return we will thank you.” “Nonsense,” replied Shi Jin, “I am the head of this village and I must arrest you. If I don’t do so, I shall be implicated and the magistrate will blame me.” “Within the four seas all men are brothers, so let us use your road,” said Chen Da.
“What meaningless talk!” said Shi Jin. “Even if I am willing, but there is one who is not, so you must have his consent before you pass.”
“You are a hero. Tell me whom I must ask?” replied Chen Da.
“You can ask the sword in my hand and if it is willing then you can pass,” said Shi Jin.
Chen Da spoke angrily, “You are trying to deceive me, but you should not be presumptuous.” Shi Jin was also angry, and brandishing his sword, he rode forward to fight.
Chen Da whipped his horse, thrust forward his three-pronged halberd, and advanced to meet Shi Jin. They fought for some time. Then Shi Jin thought of a plan, and purposely allowed Chen Da to thrust in his halberd, he parried the blow by moving to one side, as Chen Da lunged forward. With a dexterous turn of the arm he caught Chen Da and pulled him out of his saddle, then he took hold of his plaited waistbelt and threw him to the ground. The horse galloped away like a gust of wind. Shi Jin told his servants to bind Chen Da, and the band of robbers scattered. Shi Jin returned to his house and bound Chen Da to a pillar in the hall to wait until he captured the other robber chiefs so as to send them together to the magistrate’s yamen to be dealt with. He gave wine to all the villagers and then dismissed them. Everyone applauded him and said, “You, sir, are a hero.”
We will not say anything more about the feast at the Shi clan village, but let us consider the anxiety of Zhu Wu and Yang Chun in their mountain stronghold. They had sent many soldiers to make inquiries, and on the way they met the men returning with the riderless horse. The defeated men said, “Bad luck! Our elder brother’s life is in danger.”
Upon reaching the stronghold they gave details of the fight, saying, “Shi Jin was a great hero.”
“Shall we risk our lives in rescuing him?” asked Yang Chun.
“We cannot do that,” replied Zhu Wu. “The disaster is of his own making. How can we defeat Shi Jin? I have a desperate plan but if we fail to rescue Chen Da, that will be the end of all of us.” Zhu Wu whispered his plan. Yang Chun said, “Good! Let us go without delay.”
Now in the village Shi Jin’s anger had not abated when a laborer rushed in and reported that the other robber chiefs had come. Shi Jin said, “I will send them both to the magistrate. Bring me my horse.”
The rattle was sounded and the same crowd of armed men assembled. He was just on the point of leaving
