“You need not say anything more, I am the village chief, Chao Gai. The way I can help you, is that you recognize me when Inspector Lei Heng leaves here, as your maternal uncle and I will also recognize you as my nephew. You can say that you left here when you were only about five years old, and in returning to find me you forgot the place where I lived.”
The man replied, “If in this matter you assist me I shall never forget your kindness. I request you to help me.”
Chao Gai picked up the lantern, and leaving the guardroom, closed the door after him. Going to the room where Lei Heng was seated, he said to him, “I must apologize for leaving you alone so long.”
Lei Heng politely replied, “I have not been right in giving you so much trouble.”
They drank together several cups of wine before they saw the rays of early dawn entering through the window. Lei Heng then remarked that it was already dawn and that he must go as he had to report in the magistrate’s yamen by dawn.
Chao Gai said, “As you are on official business I cannot of course detain you. But should you at any time have any business near this village I hope that you will pay me a visit.”
Lei Heng said, “I will certainly pay you a visit, but I request that you will not now accompany me.”
Chao Gai said, “Very good, I will only go a short distance to the gate of this farm.”
They both went outside. The soldiers had finished their wine and food, and now taking their spears and cudgels they went to the guardroom and released the prisoner, tied his hands behind his back, and then took him outside the gate. When Chao Gai saw the prisoner, he said, “What a big man!”
Lei Heng said, “This is the man who was arrested as a thief at the Lingguan Temple.” He had hardly finished speaking when the prisoner called out, “Uncle! Save me.”
Chao Gai pretended to look at him carefully, and shouted, “Hello! Can this be Wang the Third?”
The man replied, “I am. Uncle, save me!”
All the men were surprised. Lei Heng asked Chao Gai: “Who is this man? How is it that he recognizes you?”
Chao Gai said, “Oh! That is my nephew called Wang the Third. But how was it that he took rest in a temple? He is my sister’s son, and previously lived here. When he was about five years old he went with his parents to Nanjing, and ten years later he paid us a visit here. A man from Nanjing came with him to buy some things, but since that time I have not seen Wang the Third. From other men I heard that he had become a useless individual. But why has he come here now? At first I did not know him, but now I recognize him because of the birthmark on his temple.” Then turning to the prisoner he asked “Young Third! Why did you not come to see me in a straightforward way instead of arriving as a thief?”
The man replied, “Uncle, I am not a thief.”
Chao Gai asked, “If you are not a thief, what were you arrested for?” Saying this he took a cudgel from a soldier and struck the man on his head and face.
Lei Heng urged Chao Gai not to beat the man, but to wait and hear what he had to say.
The man said, “Uncle! Do not be angry, but listen to me. When I came here I was only fifteen years old, and is that not ten years ago? Yesterday I drank much wine on the way, so that I was not in a condition to visit you. When these soldiers came to arrest me they did not ask me any questions. I am certainly not a thief.”
Chao Gai again raised the cudgel to beat him, and reviled him; saying, “You beast! Instead of coming straightforwardly to visit me you indulged your vile appetite for the “yellow soup” (wine). If you had come to me would I not have given you wine to drink? What a disgrace!”
Lei Heng said, “Chief! Do not get angry. Your nephew may not be a thief. We saw him sleeping in a strange way in a temple, and as we did not know him we were suspicious, and arrested him. If we had known that he was your nephew we would not have arrested him.” He then ordered his soldiers to untie the ropes, and deliver the prisoner to the chief. The soldiers did so, and released the prisoner. Lei Heng then spoke to Chao Gai, “You must not blame me. If I had known before that he is your nephew I would not have committed such a serious mistake. We must now go back to the town.”
Chao Gai said, “Inspector, do not go yet. Please come inside as I have something to say to you.”
They both then went into the guest’s chamber where Chao Gai gave Lei Heng ten taels of silver, and then said, “Inspector, this is only a small present but I trust that you will accept it.”
“There is no need for such things.”
“If you do not accept it you must feel unsatisfied with it.”
Lei Heng said, “As you are so generous, I will accept it, but I will recompense you later on.”
Chao Gai told the prisoner to salute Lei Heng; then he gave some money to the soldiers, and accompanied Lei Heng to the gate. Lei Heng saluted Chao Gai, and departed with his men.
Chao Gai took the prisoner into a room, and gave him clothes and a cap. He then asked him for his name, and where he came from.
The man said, “My name is Liu Tang, and I am a native of East Luzhou Prefecture. But people call me the “Red-Haired Demon” because of my birthmark. I came here to tell you about a matter of great importance. Yesterday evening I stayed in the temple and got drunk. I did not expect to be arrested by these men, and to be brought here as a prisoner. But fortunately today I am here. Elder brother, please be seated, and agree to receive my salute four times.”
This being done Chao Gai said, “You now tell me where is the thing that will give me wealth and influence.”
Liu Tang said, “Since I was a boy I have rambled about everywhere, and have been particularly fond of making friends with heroes. I always heard of your fame, but never had a chance to come and see you. I also knew some merchants who did illegal buying and selling in both Shandong and Hebei provinces. I also heard that many of them sought refuge with you, and therefore I decided to mention this important matter to you and if there is no stranger here, I can now tell you everything.”
Chao Gai said, “All the people here are my confidants so there is no need for any further delay in your speaking to me.”
Liu Tang said, “I have heard that Grand Secretary Liang, the commander-in-chief at Daming, the Northern Capital, has bought gold articles, pearls, and other valuables to the value of one hundred thousand strings of cash, which he will send to the Eastern Capital for presentation as a birthday gift to his father-in-law, Prime Minister Cai. Last year he also sent similar presents, but they were stolen by bandits, and so far the culprits have not been arrested. It has not been fixed on what date this year’s presents will be dispatched, but they should reach their destination before the birthday which is the 15th day of the sixth month.
“I think this is ill-gotten money so why should we not take it? We had better think of some plan of seizing these presents on the road. Even if Heaven knows of the matter our act will not be regarded as a crime. I have heard of your fame, and think that your military training will insure success to the scheme. I have no skill but I know something of fighting. It is needless to mention only three or five men, because if there were two thousand mounted soldiers I would not be afraid of them even if I had only one spear. But if you think that my skill is not of much use, I shall be willing to assist you
