About four hundred members of the Shi clan came to the funeral in white mourning clothes and they buried the dead in the ancestral graveyard in the hills to the west of the village. After this there was no one at home to manage the property as Shi Jin only wanted to practice fencing.
Three or four months after the death of the farmer on a hot day in the sixth month Shi Jin was idling away his time. He placed a bedstead outside on the threshing floor, in the shadow of a willow tree, and took rest. A breeze came from the fir trees just opposite. He was enjoying the cool breeze, when all at once he saw a man stealthily spying. He shouted, “What are you doing, and who is there looking round this place?” As he said he rose and went to behind a tree to get a better view. He recognized that that man was Li Ji, the rabbit hunter. Shi Jin called, “Li Ji, what are you looking for in my village? Have you come as a spy?”
Li Ji stepped forward and said “Yes, sir, I want to find a man named Qiu Yilang to drink wine with him, but seeing you taking a siesta I dared not intrude.”
“Did you not previously come here selling game—and did I not pay you liberally? So why have you not been here lately with your game. You might think that I had no money.” Li Ji replied, “That’s not the case. Just now there is no game and therefore I did not come.”
“Stupid talk,” said Shi Jin. “Shaohua is a mountain of vast expanse and I do not believe that neither deer nor hare can be found there.” Li Ji answered, “You do not know that there is a band of robbers on the mountain, where they have erected a stronghold. They have collected about seven hundred armed men and over a hundred horses. The chief is a man named Zhu Wu, nicknamed “Intuitve Strategist,” and the second in command is Chen Da, nicknamed “Leaping Tiger,” the third in command is Yang Chun, nicknamed “White-speckled Snake.” These three leaders take to robbing houses; they have been officially denounced in Huayin County, and a reward of three thousand strings of cash has been offered for their capture. But who dare go to arrest them? Even we hunters dare not go to the mountain to shoot game, so how could I come here to sell it.”
“I 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.
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