of Lin Chong. Marshal Gao was aware of the weakness of his case, and had to agree to the sentence of the Prefect. Straightway he returned to the judgment hall and gave an order for the cangue to be taken off Lin Chong, and that he was to receive twenty blows on his back. He then told the workman who branded prisoners to brand Lin Chong on his cheek. He was to be banished to the prison at Cangzhou.
A cangue was at once made weighing ten pounds with round corners, and strips of metal nailed to it, and with a paper pasted on to seal the two halves together. A document giving particulars of the case was then handed to two constables who were to escort the prisoner to Cangzhou. The two men were named Dong Chao and Xue Ba, and as soon as they got the official documents they left the yamen.
At the gate of the yamen a large number of neighbors with Drill Instructor Zhang (Lin Chong‘s father-in-law) were assembled and they conducted Lin Chong and the two constables to a wine shop near the Zhou Bridge where they all sat down.
Lin Chong said, “Fortunately I have been helped by the secretary Sun, and although I was beaten with a bamboo yet I can walk without pain.”
Drill Instructor Zhang told the waiters to bring wine and fruit, and treat the two constables well. After they had drunk a few cups of wine Drill Instructor Zhang took out some silver, and presented it to the constables.
Lin Chong raising his handcuffed hands to his father-in-law said, “Please listen to what I say. This year I have had misfortunes, and since I offended Master Gao I have been wrongly prosecuted. Today I wish to speak to you, and request your attention. I am indebted to you for your kindness. Three years ago you gave me your daughter, and since that time we have had no quarrels. Although she has not had any children, yet we have not had the least bit of dispute about it. But now this calamity has resulted in me being banished to Cangzhou, and now even my life is uncertain. My wife remains at home, but I shall always be thinking of her. I am very much afraid that Master Gao will press his suit very strongly. As my wife is quite young I do not want to stand in her way of being happy. It is my own will, not influenced by any outside pressure at all. Now in the presence of all my neighbors I will write a bill of divorcement so that she may marry another husband as she will and there will be no dispute. In this way I shall be contented, and she will avoid any injury from Master Gao.”
Drill Instructor Zhang said, “My worthy son-in-law! What are you talking about? You have been unlucky, and have encountered a calamity which was arranged by your enemy. You are going to Cangzhou today to avoid the coming trouble. When heaven have pity on you, and allow you to come back, you will be reunited to your wife. At my home there is plenty of money, and your wife, and her maid Jin Er, can both live at my home and whether they are there for three or five years I will look after them. So Master Gao shall not get the opportunity to see your wife. I will be responsible for this, and you need not worry about it. While you are in the prison at Cangzhou I will write you letters, and send you clothes frequently. You can go with a contented mind, and must not be anxious.”
Lin Chong replied, “I am extremely grateful for your kindness. But I cannot rid myself of concern about my wife in the present state and any delay would only be a sorrow to each of us. I hope you will accept my wishes, and then I shall die with a peaceful mind.”
Drill Instructor Zhang was unwilling to agree to do this. All the neighbors who were there also said that it could not be done.
Lin Chong said, “If you will not do as I wish I swear on my oath that when I return from prison I shall not live with my wife.”
Drill Instructor Zhang said, “As it is that way then even if you write down such a wish I shall certainly not take your wife, and marry her to another man. He then told the waiter to buy a sheet of paper and then find a man who could write a letter. Upon the arrival ot the letter writer Lin Chong dictated the following:
“I, Drill Instructor Lin Chong of the Imperial Guards of Eastern Capital, am banished to Cangzhou because I have committed a serious crime, and as it is uncertain whether I shall die there or not I write this letter to express my willingness to give my young wife (family name Zhang) full liberty to marry a second husband, so that there shall be no dispute about it afterwards. This is certainly my wish, and there shall be no obstacle in the way of this being done. I have therefore written this document so that hereafter it may be proof of my desire.”
Lin Chong saw that the date had been inserted, and then affixed his seal, and impressed his fingerprint on the document. When this had been completed he went to hand the document to Drill Instructor Zhang, but the former’s wife just then arrived, bewailing loudly. With her was the maidservant Jin Er who was carrying a bundle of clothes. Lin Chong rose to receive her, and said, “Wife, I have something to tell you which I have already imparted to your father. I have had to submit to a serious injustice. I have to go to Cangzhou, and whether I shall survive is uncertain. I am very much afraid that this will spoil the days of your youth and therefore I have signed this document expressing my fervent hope that you will not wait for my return, but if there is a suitable man you will marry him, and not allow me to stand in the way of such a virtuous wife.”
His wife wept upon hearing this and said, “Husband, I have not the slightest stain on my character, so why do you dismiss me in this way?”
“Wife, I have the best of intentions, but I am afraid that they cannot be realized, and I do not want to deceive you.”
Drill Instructor Zhang said, “My daughter, be contented. Although my son-in-law wants to arrange your affairs in this way I will promise you that I shall not press you to remarry. If we do this business in the way suggested he will depart with a contented mind, and if he does not return then I will provide for you at my home for the remainder of your life so that you can maintain your chastity.”
His daughter listened to this and continued to sob, but when she saw the sealed document she fell down in a faint. Lin Chong and Zhang raised her up, and after a long time she regained consciousness, but still continued to weep.
Lin Chong took the document, and handed it to Zhang. The wives of the neighbors had now arrived, and they gave advice to Lin Chong’s wife, and supported her back to her home.
Drill Instructor Zhang bade farewell to Lin Chong; saying, “Now be carefree and proceed on your journey, and try to come back as soon as possible. Tomorrow I will take your wife to my home, and provide for her, and she can wait there until you are reunited. You go now, and do not worry about her. And if there is anybody coming here, never fail to send a letter by that person.”
Lin Chong rose and expressed his thanks. He then saluted Zhang and all the neighbors, shouldered his bundle, and departed in the company of the two constables. Inspector Zhang and the neighbors went back to their homes, and we will not say anything more about them.
The two constables took Lin Chong to the jail and there left him for the night. They then went to their homes, to get their baggage. While one of them named Dong Chao was packing up his bundle, a waiter from a wine shop in the same alley came, and said to him, “There is an official in our wine shop who wishes to speak to you.”
Dong Chao asked who he was, and the waiter replied that he did not know him. The man, he said, had simply asked him to invite him.
Dong Chao went with the waiter to the inn, and there he saw a man sitting in a small room with the character “Wan” on his turban, wearing a short black crape coat, and a pair of black shoes with white socks. When he saw Dong Chao he immediately saluted with folded hands, and asked the constable to be seated.
Dong Chao said, “I have never had the pleasure of knowing you, and do not know what business you have for me.”
“Sit down, and you will soon know about that.”
