Upon leaving Chai Jin, Lin Chong traveled for about ten days. It was almost the end of the winter, and there were heavy clouds in the sky. A cold north wind was blowing, which scattered snowflakes over the countryside. He plodded along through the snow without stopping anywhere. One very cold day when it was just getting dark, he saw in the distance an inn almost buried in the deep snow. It was close to a lake and on the bank of a stream. Upon arriving there he lifted the reed curtain hanging over the door, and hurriedly entered. Looking round he saw that there were many tables and stools. He took his seat, leant his halberd against a table, hung up his sword, set down his bundle and took off his felt cap. A waiter came forward and asked him how much wine he wanted. Lin Chong ordered two jars of wine. The waiter brought and placed them on the table. Lin Chong then inquired what food he could have. The waiter said they had beef both cooked and raw; a fat goose; and a tender chicken. Lin Chong ordered three jin of beef for a beginning. The waiter very soon brought this in on a big tray with several kinds of vegetables. While Lin Chong was drinking about four bowls of wine he noticed a man walking about with his hands behind his back, and occasionally going to the door to look at the falling snow. Presently the man asked the waiter who the other man was who was drinking wine. Lin Chong saw that he wore a fur cap with a deep rim; a rich gown lined with sable; his boots were made of deer skin, and were neatly made; he was tall, and had a commanding appearance; he had prominent cheek bones, a mustache, and a small beard.
Lin Chong called for some more wine, and upon it being served he asked the waiter to have a bowl of wine with him. After the waiter had drunk his wine Lin Chong asked him how far it was to Liangshan Marsh. The waiter said that although it was only about a li away there was only one way and that was by water. Lin Chong asked him if he could get a boat for him. The waiter said that as there was so much snow, and also it was getting dark he could not find a boat that day.
“If you can find me a boat at once I will give you plenty of money,” said Lin Chong.
The waiter said that there was no place there where he could find a boat.
Lin Chong wondered what he must do under these circumstances. But after drinking a few cups of wine he became more perplexed. Previously when he was Drill Instructor at the Eastern Capital he had drunk wine and had a good time, but who would have thought that Gao Qiu would injure and brand him, and then force him into his present predicament. “I am,” he thought, “a castaway; although I have a family I cannot go home; a country and yet cannot visit it. It is enough to break one’s heart.” Being so much chagrined he asked the waiter to bring a pen and ink, and wrote a poem on the white wall:
Justice he loved; loyalty his glory,
For these his fame was sung;
And far and wide they knew the hero,
The man of deeds, Lin Chong.
But now he sails on a sea of trouble,
Drifts like a reed—and where?
But powerful east of Mountain Tai,
With luck he shall rule there.
This written he put down the pen, and had another drink. As he was drinking, the man with the fur-lined gown came forward and embraced him saying, “What a brave man! You committed a great crime at Cangzhou, and yet you come here! The officials have offered a reward of three thousand strings of cash for your arrest so what is your object now?”
“Do you know me then?” asked Lin Chong.
“Are you not Lin Chong, the ‘Leopard’s Head’?”
Lin Chong said, “My name is Zhang.”
The man laughed at this, and said, “You need not talk so absurdly. You have just written your name on the wall, and also your face is branded so that it is quite clear who you are.”
“So are you really going to arrest me?” asked Lin Chong.
The man again laughed and said, “Why should I arrest you?” He then requested Lin Chong to come with him to an arbor at the back of the inn, where he told the waiter to take a lamp and some wine. Upon arrival there he gave him respectful salutation, and then they sat down face to face.
The man said, “I just heard you inquiring about the road to Liangshan Marsh, and about engaging a boat. That is a stronghold of some robbers, so why are you going there?”
“I will tell you all about it,” said Lin Chong. “The police are doing their utmost to capture me, and as I have no safe place to go to, I am going to join the band of the fine fellows at that mountain stronghold.”
“As matters are like this,” said the man, “there will certainly be a man who will recommend you to the robbers.”
Lin Chong said, “A friend of mine at Cangzhou in the Henghai County has given me an introduction.”
“Perhaps he is Chai Jin, the ‘Small Whirlwind’?”
“How do you know that?”
“Chai Jin is on friendly terms with the chief of the bandits at the mountain stronghold, and correspondence has been continually passing between them,” said the man. “Previously when Wang Lun failed to pass an examination he went with Du Qian to Chai Jin’s house, and lived there for several days. When they left Chai Jin gave them money to cover their traveling expenses, and so they are beholden to him.”
Upon hearing this Lin Chong saluted, and said, “Although I have eyes I do not recognize your eminence. I request your name.”
The man again saluted before replying, “I am an agent of the robber chief Wang. My name is Zhu Gui, but the robbers call me ‘Dry Land Crocodile.’ My native place is Yishui County in Yizhou Prefecture. I had an order from the mountain stronghold to open a wine shop here so that I could spy and listen to the conversation of the merchants and others who pass this way. If I hear of any valuables I go and report them to the headquarters on the mountain. If the traveler has no valuable I let him go. But if he has money I either hypnotize him or kill him outright, then cut up the flesh and salt it, and boil the fat into oil for use in the lamps. I heard you inquiring the road to Liangshan Marsh so I did not treat you in that way. Also I saw you write your name on the wall, and I had heard of you as a great hero from the men who had passed this way from the Eastern Capital, but I had not expected to meet you. An introduction from Squire Chai Jin combined with your wide-spread reputation will insure you having a responsible position under our chief Wang.” He then prepared some fish, meat, and other food, and entertained Lin Chong. Both of them sat in the arbor at the side of the lake drinking and eating until midnight.
Lin Chong asked whether they could get a boat to take them across. Zhu Gui assured him that he could get a boat, and he need not worry. They could stay there until daybreak, and then depart. So they both went to their rooms for a sleep.
At daybreak Zhu Gui called Lin Chong, and after washing they had their breakfast consisting of wine and meat. It was not yet very bright. Zhu Gui opened the windows of the arbor, and taking a bow decorated with magpies, he shot an arrow, which had a whistle attached, across the water to a spot where the reeds were flat with the ground.
Lin Chong asked what was the purpose of shooting the arrow.
“That is a signal to the stronghold,” said Zhu Gui. “A boat will be sent very soon.”
In a short time they saw about five bandits in a boat emerge from the reeds on the other side, and they quickly rowed the boat across to the arbor. Lin Chong picked up his baggage and weapons, and was conducted on to the boat by Zhu Gui. The bandits rowed the boat across to the other side, and brought it to the Jinsha Bank. Upon touching the bank Zhu Gui conducted Lin Chong ashore. The robbers carried Lin Chong’s baggage and weapons, and the party started off to ascend a hill that was there. On both sides of the road Lin Chong noticed that there were large trees of enormous girth, and halfway up the hill they passed an arbor which was lavishly gilded. Upon turning a corner they came to a barrier where there were arranged many spears, broad swords, two edged swords, halberds, bows, crossbows, short spears, and all around were round