Lu Da traveled hastily without any definite object in view. When hungry, he took any food that was ready; when cold, any clothing available; hurrying, he did not choose road; and being poor he would have taken any woman as his wife. In just more than a fortnight he reached Yanmen County in the Daizhou Prefecture, and entering the town on a market day he found that the streets were crowded and noisy. Horses and carts were passing along side by side. There were all kinds of traders selling and buying goods from all parts. Although it was only a county town yet it was better than many a prefectural capital for business. Arriving at the crossroads he saw a crowd looking at a proclamation. He forced his way through the crowd, and as he could not read he listened to one man who was reading it aloud. It was the proclamation about himself, warning the people not to harbor him, and offering a reward for his arrest. When he had listened to this he heard a voice behind him say, “Elder brother Zhang, what are you doing here?” He was then pulled away from the crossroads.
We will now relate how Lu Da had his head shaved, and his beard cut off, changed his name, and destroyed a Buddhist disciple.
His staff cleared the roads from danger,
His sword killed the vicious people.
Footnote
52 The character “wan,” is described as a “swastika” in Jackson’s translation, by virtue of the physical appearance of the way the Chinese character is written. Wan literally means “ten thousand” and it may also mean “myriad” or “a great many.” Hence it is used to suggest bounty or longevity. English speaking readers may know it in from the Chinese phrase used in exaltation to the Emperor “Wan Sui” (“may you live ten thousand years”) or the same phrase in Japanese, “Banzai.”
53 A measurement of weight approximating a pound. Historically expressed in English as a “catty.”
CHAPTER 3
Zhao Yuanwai Rebuilds Wenshu Monastery; Lu Da Makes a Row at Mount Wutai
WHEN Lu Da turned round he saw that it was Old Jin of the wine shop at Weizhou who was pulling him. They went to a quiet spot where the old man said, “Benefactor! You are too brave! That proclamation orders your arrest, and yet you go to look at it. If I had not seen you, you might have been recognized by a minor official.”
“I will tell you the truth,” said Lu Da, “because of your affair I killed the Bully, and I have been wandering about for fifty days, and did not plan to come here. Why did you not return to Kaifeng as it was arranged?”
“My superior benefactor!” said Old Jin. “On the day you saved me I hired a cart, and left with the intention of returning to Kaifeng, but on the way I met an old neighbor of ours who was coming here to do business as a merchant, and he brought us here. Fortunately, he arranged a marriage for my daughter with a wealthy man, Zhao Yuanwai,54 who kept her as a concubine. My daughter is always telling him of your benevolence, and he says that he would like to meet you. Let us go and see them now.”
They went about half a li to the house of Zhao where Old Jin lifted the curtain in front of the door, and called out, “Daughter, our benefactor has arrived.”
She came outside and invited Lu Da to enter and sit down. She then gave him six salutations, and asked them to go upstairs. He wished to leave, but Old Jin took his staff and bundle, and said to his daughter, “Please take our benefactor upstairs, and I will go to arrange the food.” He then went with a servant, and bought some fresh fish, a tender chicken, a goose cured in wine, and some pickled fish. Upon returning he had these cooked and taken upstairs. The girl servant brought the hot wine in a silver pot and father and daughter took it in turn to fill up Lu Da’s cup. Old Jin knelt and made his obeisance. “Why do you pay me such respect?” exclaimed Major Lu Da, “you lessen my prospects in life.” “Benefactor, please listen, I have been here a short time but I wrote your name on a piece of red paper, and every morning I burn a stick of incense and made obeisance to it. Now that you are here in person why should I not do the same to you?”
In the evening they heard a noise below. Major Lu then opened the window, and looked down; he saw about thirty men armed with wooden sticks and cudgels, who were calling out, “Bring down the man from upstairs.” Among them was an official on horseback who was shouting, “I do not want this thief to escape.” Upon hearing this Lu Da took a stool and was going to dash down to fight. Old Jin called, “You need not fight about this.” He then descended and went to the official, and spoke to him a few words. The official laughed and dismissed the men. He dismounted and went indoors. Old Jin requested Major Lu Da to come down. The official was Zhao Yuanwai who knelt, kowtowed, saying, “To learn of your name is not so good as to see your face; to see your face is better than knowing your name. Famous Major, please receive my obeisances.”
Lu Da asked Old Jin, “Who is this person? We are not acquainted, why does he make obeisance?” “This is my daughter’s husband,” replied Old Jin. “He suspected that I had brought an outsider here to drink wine, therefore he brought his servants to beat him. When I told him the truth he sent his men away.”
Major Lu and the others went upstairs and sat down. Zhao Yuanwai said, “I wish to express my respect to you at this time. I have heard a great deal of your heroism and today Heaven has granted me this meeting.”
“I am very stupid and am deserving death,” said the Major. “If you do not mind my poverty and misfortune, we shall become close friends, and if you have anything to do I shall be willing to serve you.”
Zhao Yuanwai was much pleased and inquired about the murder. They chatted, and compared notes about fencing with lances. They drank wine to midnight, and then went to rest.
The next day Zhao Yuanwai remarked: “I do not consider this place is safe, so I decided to take you to my native village which is three li from town.” He sent a man to the village to bring a horse which Lu Da mounted, and the farm servant was asked to carry the baggage. They took leave of Old Jin and his daughter, and as they rode abreast, they chatted. The next day Lu Da said, at a feast, “You are treating me well, and I am not able to return your kindness.” Zhao Yuanwai replied, “Within the four seas all men are brothers, so why mention ‘returning the kindness’?”
Lu Da stayed there for a week. One day Old Jin hurriedly arrived and told Lu Da, “Benefactor, I have a suspicion, because of that affair the other day the neighbors talked about it, and yesterday four policemen came making inquiries. I am afraid that they will come here and arrest you.”
Lu Da said that he had better go, and Zhao Yuanwai replied, “I have another plan, I will find a peaceful retreat for you if you would agree to go.” Lu Da asked where that place was, and Zhao Yuanwai said, “About ten li from here is a mountain called Mount Wutai, and on it is a monastery called Wenshu Monastery. This was the earthly abode of the Bodhisatva Wenshu, and now there are about seven hundred monks in the monastery. The Abbot’s name is Zhi Zhen, and he is a close friend of mine. An ancestor of mine endowed the monastery. I once took the vow that I would subsidize a monk there. I have purchased the certificate, monk’s gown, and alms bowl. I have no trusty person who would fulfill my wish, but if you would care to do so, I will arrange matters for you. Are you willing to have your hair cut off and become a monk?”
Lu Da thought the matter over, “Now I must leave here; but where can I go? I had better do as you suggest.” So he said, “I accept your offer and will become a monk. I have confidence in you.” During the night they arranged matters, and prepared the clothes, traveling expenses, rolls of silk, and other gifts for the temple. They rose early