and white bands of cloth (like puttees). His socks were of deerskin, and his boots were of undressed cowhide. He had a halberd in his hand, and a sword in his belt. He was over six feet high, and his face was covered with blue spots. His mustache and scanty side whiskers were of brown color; his felt cap was hanging down his back by the strings; his loose clothes were displaying his broad breast; and wrapped around his head was a small turban. Pointing his halberd at Lin Chong he spoke in a loud voice, “You thief! Where is my baggage?”
As Lin Chong was not in a good temper he did not reply, but glared at his adversary, and turned up the corners of his mustache. He grasped his halberd, and advanced to fight with the man. Just at that time the weather was clear and bright, with no clouds in the sky.
These men in their bloodthirsty struggle trampled down the snow on the bank of a small stream at that spot.
They had about thirty bouts, without either side winning or losing. They went on and had about ten more combats when they heard on the hillside a loud voice saying, “These two fine fellows, you need not fight any more.”
Upon hearing this Lin Chong leapt to one side out of the ring as an indication that he had stopped fighting. The two men looking up the hillside saw there Wang Lun, the “White Clothes Scholar,” Du Qian, Song Wan, and many other bandits. They descended the hill, and crossed the lake by boats. Upon their arrival Wang Lun said, “You two, good fellows, are expert with the halberd. Quite marvelous! This is my younger brother, Lin Chong, ‘Leopard’s Head.’ Who are you, the blue marked face? What is your name?”
The man replied, “I am the grandson of Marquis Yang Linggong, and my father and his grandfather were generals. My name is Yang Zhi, and I am now wandering about ‘west of the pass.’ While young I passed a test for my military skill and had a small position in the Imperial Guard. The Emperor decided to build a palace on Mount Wansui, and deputed ten of us lieutenants to get the marble from a quarry near the Taihu Lake, near Suzhou, and convey it to the Eastern Capital. I did not expect bad luck, but in conveying the marble along the Yellow River a strong wind overturned the boat and the valuable cargo was all lost. I was afraid to go back to my post, and ran away to hide myself in some other place. Since then, however, I have been pardoned. So I got together some money and presents for the officials of the Grand Council at the capital, to try to regain my position. In passing this place I hired a farm laborer to carry my baggage, and did not expect that I should lose it like this. Are you now going to give it back?”
“Is not your nickname ‘Blue Faced Brute,’” inquired Wang Lun.
“That is so.”
“As that is the case,” said Wang Lun, “please come to our stronghold, and after a few cups of wine I will return your baggage.”
“You are a fine fellow,” said Yang Zhi, “and as you know me I think it will be better if you give me my baggage, and never mind about the wine.”
“When I sat for the examinations at the Eastern Capital a number of years ago,” said Wang Lun, “I then heard of your fame. It is very opportune for us to meet here today, so how can I let you depart without entertaining you? Please come to our mountain stronghold just for a little chat. I really have no other intention.”
Yang Zhi agreed to this, and thereupon they all crossed the lake, and ascended the hill to the stronghold. Zhu Gui at the inn was summoned to the stronghold for an interview. They all gathered together in the Assembly Hall. On the left were four seats for Wang Lun, Du Qian, Song Wan, and Zhu Gui, and on the other side were seats for Yang Zhi and Lin Chong. When they were all seated Wang Lun ordered a sheep to be killed, some wine to be prepared, and made arrangements for a banquet to entertain the guests.
While they were dining Wang Lun thought the situation over, and saw that if they kept only Lin Chong, he would discover their weakness. But on the other hand if they got Yang Zhi to stay he would be able to keep Lin Chong in order. So pointing to Lin Chong he said to Yang Zhi, “This our younger brother is Lin Chong, nicknamed ‘Leopard’s Head,’ who previously was Drill Instructor in the Imperial Guards, but the Marshal Gao Qiu, did not like him, and banished him to Cangzhou. There was some further trouble at that place so that he has just arrived here. You are a lieutenant and are on your way to the capital to get a position. I do not intend to ask you to join us but will simply point out that previously I sat for the civil service examination, but afterwards became a brigand. Although you have been pardoned you will still be regarded as an offender, and therefore you will have a difficulty in getting back your previous post. Moreover, Gao Qiu is still in office so it is unlikely that he will be willing to give you a position. So would it not be better for you to stay here, and becoming a hero, share with us the silver, gold, wine, and meats? Do you not think this is a better plan?”
“I am much obliged to you for your kind invitation,” said Yang Zhi, “but I have a relative at the capital, who was blamed for my offense, and I have never been able to thank him for his part in the affair. Today I must really go on my way to see him, so I hope that you will let me have my baggage at once. If you do not give it to me then I must depart empty-handed.”
Wang Lun laughed at this, and said, “You say you will not stay, so how can I use force and compel you to join our band? I must ask you to rest here for the night at least, and depart tomorrow.”
Yang Zhi was much pleased with this settlement, and after drinking wine together until about ten o’clock they each went to their separate rooms to sleep.
The following day they were up very early, and after breakfast the bandit chief detailed a man to carry the baggage, and accompany Yang Zhi down the mountain. All the leaders went down the mountain; across the lake, and put Yang Zhi on the road again where they bade him adieu, and then returned to their stronghold.
Wang Lun told Lin Chong that he would take thereafter the fourth seat, and Zhu Gui, the fifth.
Now we will not go into the question of the fighting and looting of these five leaders and their bandits on Liangshan Marsh.
Yang Zhi soon found a man to carry his baggage, and then dismissed the bandit soldier who went back to the stronghold on the hill. Within a few days he reached the Eastern Capital. Finding an inn he stopped there. He duly paid the countryman for carrying his baggage, and dismissed him. Taking off his sword and putting his baggage in a room, he gave the waiter a little money to go and buy some wine and meat for him.
After a few days he requested a man to go to the Grand Council, and make some arrangement for his case to be reconsidered. He also took the silver and gold articles, and sent them to the higher and lower officials with a request that he should be reinstated with his rank of lieutenant. When he had expended all his presents an order came instructing him to call and see the Marshal Gao Qiu . Upon Yang Zhi’s arriving at the headquarters, Gao Qiu looked at his official record and was very angry. He spoke in a loud voice, “I see from this record that ten lieutenants were deputed to bring marble, but nine executed the work, and you were the only one who lost a cargo. You did not even come and report the loss, but instead ran away to avoid being arrested! Although you were pardoned of this serious offense, yet I cannot give you a commission in the army again.” He then made his mark on the record and gave an order that Yang Zhi be driven away. That hero left the headquarters in a very melancholy frame of mind. Upon arriving at his inn he thought matters over, and saw that Wang Lun was quite right in the advice he had given him. But as his family had a clean record, he could not join their band and disgrace his parents.
He hoped that he might by meritorious service at some distant frontier again establish a good reputation for himself, and even add to the luster of his ancestors, and make it better for his descendants. He did not, however, expect this rebuff. “Marshal Gao! How malicious you are! How cruel!” He was in a state of mental agony for some time.
