“As you are a brave man you may give me a cut with the sword,” said Niu Er in a provocative voice.
Yang Zhi became angry at this, and pushed Niu Er down on the ground. Niu Er got up and butted his head against Yang Zhi’s breast.
Yang Zhi then addressed the surrounding crowd, “Neighbors, you have witnessed what has happened. I have no money, and want to sell this sword. This bully is determined to have it and has assaulted me, and wants to fight.”
The neighbors were all afraid of Niu Er, and therefore nobody stepped forward to mediate in the quarrel.
Niu Er shouted, “You say that I have assaulted you, so if I do hit you it won’t matter, I suppose.” So saying he lifted up his right hand to strike Yang Zhi. But Yang Zhi drew back, seized his sword, and thrust the point of it into the neck of Niu Er who fell down. Yang Zhi stepped forward, and thrust his sword twice into the breast of Niu Er. The blood gushed out, and the latter was soon dead.
Yang Zhi spoke to the crowd of people, “I have killed this rascal, and I do not want any of you to be blamed for it. As he is quite dead now I want you to come with me to the yamen, and report voluntarily as to how it was done.”
The bystanders came forward, and accompanied Yang Zhi to the yamen to give evidence. Upon arrival they found that the Prefect was in the court so they all crowded in and knelt down. Yang Zhi placed the sword before the Prefect, and said, “I was previously a lieutenant in the Imperial Guard but was dismissed owing to having lost a cargo of marble. As I had no money I took my sword to the street with the object of selling it. While I was there a blackguard named Niu Er came and tried to take the sword from me by force and also assaulted me. Because of this I got angry, and killed him. All these men saw what happened.”
The bystanders confirmed this statement with many details.
The Prefect said that as Yang Zhi had come forward and confessed the crime he would not inflict the usual punishment of beating with the bamboo. He then instructed the coroner with two assistants to go and hold a post-mortem examination of the body. A cangue was put on Yang Zhi who, with all the bystanders, departed with the coroner to the Tianhanzhou Bridge. Upon their arrival a careful examination of the body took place, and after having recorded the inquisition they returned to the yamen where the evidence of the bystanders was recorded, and duly attested by them. They were then released by bail and Yang Zhi was sent to prison.
In the prison the superintendent, jailers, and turnkeys did not ask Yang Zhi to give them money this time, but instead they took pity on him, and treated him well, because they heard that he had killed for the people the “Hairless Tiger,” Niu Er. Moreover the neighbors near the Tianhanzhou Bridge collected money; some of which they gave to Yang Zhi, and with another part they purchased food and sent it to him, and another part was given to the prison officials with a request that they should treat Yang Zhi well. The magistrate who considered the case saw that Yang Zhi was a good man, and had rid the capital of a great bully. As no relatives or mourners had come forward from Niu Er’s family, the judge decided to give a very light sentence. At several cross-examinations Yang Zhi besides confessing the crime, made it clear that he had done it unintentionally, and in a fit of temper. After keeping Yang Zhi in prison for sixty days without anything further turning up, the judge reported to the Prefect that the prisoner Yang Zhi had been given twenty blows with the bamboo, the cangue had been removed, he had been branded on both sides of his face and he recommended that he be banished to the Northern Capital, Daming Prefecture. The sword was ordered to be confiscated.
The Prefect thereupon issued an order that two aides, named Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, were to escort Yang Zhi, and that the prisoner was to have only a light cangue weighing ten pounds.
The wealthy people in the neighborhood of the Tianhanzhou Bridge collected money to present to Yang Zhi, and then waited there for him and his escort to pass. Upon their arrival they were asked to adjourn to an inn for some food and wine. There they presented some silver to the escort, and said, “We think that Yang Zhi is a good man, and has rescued us from much danger and trouble, and we therefore hope that you will look after him well on the road to Daming.”
Chang Long and Zhao Hu said, “We are already aware that he is a good man so you need not give us any orders and may rest assured that we will treat him well.”
After the people had also given Yang Zhi plenty of money to cover his traveling expenses they all departed.
Yang Zhi then got his escort to take him to the inn where he had previously stayed, and there he invited them to take food and wine with him. He paid the money owing for the room he had occupied, got together his clothes and also bought some plasters which he applied to the sores left on him as a result of the bamboo he had been beaten with. All three then started off on the road towards Daming Prefecture. On the road there was a single stone every five li, and two stones every ten li. At every town and city Yang Zhi bought meat and wine which he asked his escort also to partake of. They walked during the day, and slept at inns for the night. In a short time they duly reached Daming. Upon arriving there they found an inn at which they stayed. At that time the commander-in-chief had his headquarters at the Northern Capital (Daming) where he had great power, and authority as he not only controlled the army but in addition governed the people. The commander in chief was Grand Secretary Liang, the son-in-law of the Prime Minister Cai Jing.
It was the nineth day of the second lunar month when the escort arrived with Yang Zhi, and they delivered the report to that commander-in-chief who was at the headquarters at that time. Now it happened that Grand Secretary Liang had known Yang Zhi at the time he was stationed in the Eastern Capital. Upon reading the report he at once asked how it had happened that he had left the army.
Yang Zhi explained how he had been dismissed from the army by Marshal Gao, and how he had spent all his money in bribing officers to get him reinstated. How he had tried to sell his sword on the street, and during a fit of temper had killed Niu Er. He told him every detail of his affairs.
When Grand Secretary Liang heard it all he was much pleased. He gave orders for the cangue to be removed, and that Yang Zhi was to be employed at headquarters. The reply for the Eastern Capital was sent off by the escort.
At Liang’s headquarters Yang Zhi was very diligent and attentive at his duties. The commander-in-chief noticed this, and decided to give him a commission in the army with a salary attached to it. But as he was afraid of some opposition to this from the other officers he issued a general order that all ranks should proceed to the drill ground outside the East Gate (two li from the city) where there would be a general parade and inspection of the troops.
On the evening of the same day when he issued this order Grand Secretary Liang sent for Yang Zhi to come and see him. Upon his arrival he spoke to him: “I have thought of giving you a commission in the army with a suitable salary. But I do not know what training or skill you have in military matters.”
“I previously passed a military examination, and obtained a commission. I, in fact, learned the eighteen military arts when I was quite young. I am much obliged to you for your mentioning this, and this seems to me as the emerging of the sun from among the clouds. Should I be promoted I shall be only too glad if I had the opportunity of doing some services to you.”
Grand Secretary Liang was much pleased upon hearing this, and presented him with an officer’s uniform and armor.
The following day was the middle of the second month, and the weather was warm with a little breeze. After breakfast Grand Secretary Liang and Yang Zhi mounted their horses, and with a bodyguard both in front and behind proceeded outside the East Gate. Upon their arrival at the parade ground, the large number of troops and officers stood to attention. They proceeded to the inspection platform where they dismounted, and Grand Secretary Liang took his seat in a chair ornamented with silver. On either side of him stood the officers: staff officers, drill masters, generals, commanders, adjutant-generals, captains, and lieutenants. Before and behind were numerous minor officers. Near his chair stood his two chief Generals Li Cheng nicknamed “Li, the King of Heaven,” and Wen Da nicknamed “Wen, the Great Sword.” These two were the most skilled in the