The following day after breakfast he packed up his things in a bundle, and left them in his room. Then picking up his weapons he departed with his bandit companion and went down the mountain and across the lake to the eastern road. He said to the bandit, “If I do not get a head today I then have to go and find another place where I can get a peaceful living.” They hid in a forest there until noon without anyone passing. The snow had ceased falling, and it was a very bright clear day. Lin Chong picking up his weapons spoke to his companion, “I see that I am again unfortunate. I think I had better get my bundle, and set out for another place before it gets dark.”
His companion pointed with his finger and said, ‘Fine! But is not that a man coming?”
Lin Chong looked in the direction pointed out, and said that he felt ashamed. In the distance he saw a man coming along by the foot of the mountain. He waited until the man got near, and then taking his halberd he struck it against the ground, and jumped out of the shade of the forest. The man upon seeing Lin Chong exclaimed “Ai Ya,” threw down his load, and ran away. Lin Chong ran after him, but could not catch up to him. The man disappeared round the shoulder of the hill.
Lin Chong spoke to his bandit companion who had followed him, “You see what bad luck I have! After waiting for three days the man who turns up runs away.”
The bandit replied, “Although you cannot kill the man you can seize the bundle of valuables he has left behind instead.”
“You can carry the baggage up the mountain, but I will wait here for a little time more.”
A short time after the bandit had departed with the booty Lin Chong saw a tall man again coming along the road.
Lin Chong said to himself, “Now Heaven is assisting me.”
The man was armed with a long bladed halberd, and upon getting near and seeing Lin Chong he shouted in a very loud voice, “You thief! I shall murder every bandit I can get hold of. Where is my baggage? I am going to arrest you as you have ‘pulled the tiger’s whiskers.’” So saying he sprang forward, and Lin Chong noticing his extremely fierce expression, advanced to encounter him.
The fighting of this man with Lin Chong resulted, as we shall see, in an addition to Liangshan Marsh.
At Liangshan Marsh tigers bold and fierce,
At Water Margin beasts with glaring eyes.
We will now relate who this man was.
CHAPTER 11
Lin Chong Becomes a Bandit at Liangshan Marsh; Yang Zhi Sells a Sword at Kaifeng
LIN CHONG noticed that the man was wearing a felt hat, with a red tassel on top; a white silk fighting gown; a loose sash; a pair of trousers with the bottom wrapped round with blue 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