wine they had had, and escorted Lin Chong out of the inn about five A.M. After walking about a li the blisters on Lin Chong’s feet, caused by the new straw sandals burst, and the blood oozed out. Walking was extremely painful, and he could not suppress his groans.
Xue Ba abused him, saying; “If you can walk, then walk quickly, and if you don’t walk quickly I shall have to use this stick to make you get on.”
Lin Chong said, “Have pity on me. I dare not go slow and so delay our journey. But the fact is that my feet are very painful, and I cannot walk quickly.”
Dong Chao said, “I will support you a little, and that will make it easier for you to walk.” He assisted him in this way for about two li. They then saw in the distance the gloomy, dense forest, called “Yezhu Forest.” On the road between the Eastern Capital and Cangzhou, this was well known as the most dangerous place. In the Song Dynasty it often occurred that when somebody owed a grudge to a person the latter was accused, and banished, and then the escort was bribed so as to put him to death when passing through this forest. It is unknown how many innocent people were killed in this way.
On this day when the escort with Lin Chong entered the forest Dong Chao said, “We have been traveling for two hours, but have not covered three li. If we keep on like this how can we get to Cangzhou?”
Xue Ba said, “Well, I cannot walk any further, and must have a rest in this forest.”
The three men then left the road, and went into the forest where they threw down their bundles. Lin Chong cried out with the pain and fell down.
Dong Chao said to Xue Ba, “I am quite tired so we must rest a while here, and have a sleep before going on.”
They then put down their sticks, and lay down at the foot of a tree. After closing their eyes for a short time they got up, and shouted at Lin Chong.
Lin Chong asked, “What is the matter with you?”
“There is no place here where we can lock you up, so we do not care to sleep as you might escape.”
Lin Chong replied, “I am a brave man. As I have already been condemned I will never run away.”
Xue Ba said, “We do not believe that. In order to feel safe we must tie you up.”
“If you want to tie me up, of course I must agree.”
Xue Ba thereupon took a rope, and tied Lin Chong to a tree—both hands, feet, and also the cangue. As soon as he had done this he turned round, picked up his stick and looking at Lin Chong said, “We do not wish to kill you, but the fact is that the day before yesterday Lu Qian told us that Marshal Gao Qiu of the Imperial Guard had given an order that we must kill you at this place. We must also quickly bring to him your brand mark as proof that we have done the deed. So it does not matter how many days we should travel you would eventually be killed. So today we have come here to finish the matter, and to get back as soon as possible. You must not bear resentment against us two as we are only obeying orders. If you think the matter over you will see that it is not our arrangement. A year from today will be the anniversary of your death. We have decided upon today for the deed, and we must return at once to report the matter.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Chong burst into tears, and said, “Gentlemen, I have had no grudge against you. So if you two will save my life on this occasion I shall never forget your gracious action.”
“We cannot do that, and it is a waste of time to talk about it.” So saying the two men took their sticks to hit Lin Chong on the head.
How pitiful to see a hero bound up and killed in this way!
On the way to Hell no inn is found
Lin Chong’s soul will now be roaming round.
We will now relate what eventually happened to Lin Chong’s life.
Footnote
57 In Imperial China, positions in the Imperial civil service held dual administrative and judicial roles. These positions are conventionally translated as governor, prefect, and magistrate, at the provincial, prefectural city, and county town levels of responsibility respectively.
CHAPTER 8
Chai Jin Offers Hospitality; Lin Chong Hits Drill Instructor Hong with His Cudgel
XUE BA took up his stick in both hands, and was on the point of striking Lin Chong with it when all at once there came a tremendous noise in the fir trees, and a big fat monk jumped out and shouted, “I have been in the forest for some time and have heard all that you have said.” So saying he knocked the stick out of Xue Ba’s hands with his monk staff. He then whirled his staff, and was going to hit the constable with it when Lin Chong, recognizing Lu Da, called out, “Brother, leave them alone. I have something to say.”
Lu Da upon hearing this stayed his hand. The two constables were almost paralyzed with fear.
Lin Chong said, “They are not responsible for this as the Marshal of the Imperial Guard gave instructions through Lu Qian that they were to kill me. They were only carrying out the order. So if you kill them it will only create another grievance.”
Lu Da unsheathed his sword, cut the ropes binding Lin Chong to the tree, and raising him said, “Younger brother, I have been thinking of your trouble ever since we parted on the day you bought that sword. Since you were arrested, I have been planning to save you. I heard that you had been banished to Cangzhou, but although I waited outside Kaifeng I did not see you depart. Afterwards I heard that you had been sent to the prison in Kaifeng, and also heard that an official had had a private conversation with the two constables in an inn. Because of this procedure I was very suspicious, and anxious about your safety. So when you left I secretly followed you. I saw these two rascals take you into the inn, and I therefore stayed there myself. In that night I heard these two men discussing their evil schemes, and saw them thrust your feet in the boiling water. At that time I thought of killing them, but there were many people in the inn who might have tried to stop me. But as they had bad intentions I was more anxious about you. I left the inn before you in the morning, and hid in the forest with the intention of killing these rascals as they passed that way. As they came here with the object of killing you it will be better if I kill them.”
“Elder brother,” said Lin Chong, “as you have saved my life, you should not kill these two men.”
Lu Da spoke in a loud voice, “If my younger brother had not interfered, I would have cut you two rascals into mincemeat. But at his request I forgive you.” After sheathing his sword, he continued, “Now you assist my younger brother, and follow me.” The two men dared not utter a word in reply, but helping Lin Chong they followed Lu Da. They also carried Lin Chong’s bundle. After going about a li they came to a village where there was an inn. The four men entered the inn and sat down ordering from the waiter eight pounds of meat, two big tankards of wine, and flour cakes. The waiter soon spread the table, and placed the tankards of wine in a dish containing hot water so as to keep them warm.
The two men then said, “Reverend, we dare not ask you at what monastery you live?”
Lu Da laughed and said, “You rascals! If I tell you what will you do? I suppose you would just go and report it to Marshal Gao of the Imperial Guard. Some men fear him, but I do not. If I met him I should give him three hundred blows with
