Explore Chapter 28 of '水浒新传' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
By this time, the Jin troops had captured Zhending. The great army under Wanyan Zongwang (Wolibu) divided into two columns that cut across southern Hebei, aiming straight for Daming. In addition to his own force of over a hundred thousand men, he had the surrendered Liao generals Guo Yaoshi and Yelü Yudu leading their own turncoat troops as vanguards, totaling some two hundred thousand soldiers. Having crossed the Yellow River, Wolibu advanced to lay siege to Bianjing. Meanwhile, the great army under Nianhan moved south from Taiyuan, crossed the Taihang Mountains, and launched a direct assault on the northwestern corner of Bianjing.
After crossing the Yellow River, the eastern Jin troops could not spare many of their own men to guard the newly surrendered soldiers. Fearing these recent defectors might still harbor loyalty to the Central Plains, they temporarily stationed them to garrison southern Hebei. When the forces under Lu Junyi and Chai Jin charged into Jizhou, they happened upon the very area where Guo Yaoshi was garrisoned. When Guo Yaoshi betrayed the Song at Xiongzhou, he took with him sixty to seventy thousand soldiers, many of whom were from Cangzhou and Yingzhou. Seeing Lu Junyi and his men charge into Jizhou, he sent envoys urging surrender, claiming they could retain wealth and status by submitting to the Jin. Hearing this, Lu Junyi gnashed his teeth in fury. He ordered his soldiers to shoot back a reply: they wanted only Guo Yaoshi’s head. Enraged, Guo Yaoshi commanded his entire force to give chase northward.
Having gathered four to five hundred refugees in Jizhou, Chai Jin and Lu Junyi dared not take the main road via Pingyuan. They took only byways, heading directly for Zhengding. After two days of travel, a great tumult of battle cries suddenly arose from the northwest, sweeping over hills and ridges like a gale. From his saddle, Lu Junyi looked toward the northwest and saw billowing clouds of yellow dust churning into the sky. Several thousand cavalrymen charged into view. At their head was a general wearing a silver helmet and iron armor, astride a date-red horse. Wielding a painted halberd, he surged forth from the ranks.
Lu Junyi tugged his reins and galloped to the front. Leveling his spear at the approaching general, he shouted, "State your name!" The man reined in his horse and pointed his halberd at Lu Junyi. "I am Xuelihua, vanguard under the great Jin Marshal," he declared. "You bandits refuse to surrender to the great Jin? Where else do you think you can flee?" Lu Junyi scoffed coldly. "I had thought you a general of the Central Plains-to think you're but a Jin commander! I shall take your head to avenge the soldiers and civilians who perished in the two rivers region." With that, he thrust his spear. Xuelihua parried the spear point with his halberd and struck back. They fought roughly thirty bouts. Then Xuelihua made a feint toward Lu Junyi's flank with his halberd, wheeled his horse around, and fled. Lu Junyi shook his reins and gave chase. After pursuing for about half a *li*, Lu Junyi saw a stretch of woods ahead. Fearing an ambush, he reined in his steed.
Suddenly, the sharp crack of a wooden clapper resounded from the woods, and a thousand arrows shot forth from the trees. Lu Junyi frantically used his spear to deflect the arrow shower, then turned his horse to retreat. Just then, another troop of soldiers poured from the woods. Their leader, a Jin commander, wielded a pair of maces and charged straight forward. From behind the formation, Chai Jin saw this clearly. He commanded Yan Qing and Shi Jin on their steeds to charge out. The Jin commander abandoned Lu Junyi and turned to engage Shi Jin in combat. Seeing a female general charge from behind Chai Jin’s formation, Xuelihua ordered his troops to surround her. Hu Sanniang, leading Xie Zhen and Xie Bao, rushed to the front but was encircled at the heart of the enemy by Xuelihua’s men. She fought left and right but could not break free.
In the midst of this fierce battle, a great clamor of battle cries arose from the northeast. A band of riders, some two hundred strong, swept in like a whirlwind, charging into the fray. At their head was a young general clad in a white robe and silver armor, astride his horse like a swirling ball of pristine snow. He plunged into the Jin troops’ formation, his spear tip a blur of pear-blossom flashes that felled Jin soldiers wherever it touched. Lu Junyi, watching this, marveled silently. The young general hacked a bloody path through the enemy and galloped before Xuelihua. With a great shout, he thrust his spear. Xuelihua hurriedly raised his halberd to block. The young general retracted his spear point and, following the halberd’s shaft, made a horizontal slash that struck Xuelihua squarely on the arm. Xuelihua cried out in pain, dropped his halberd, and fled slumped over his saddle. The young general waved his spear in the air. His two hundred riders all converged on the encirclement and rescued Hu Sanniang and her companions. Seeing Xuelihua defeated, the Jin commander with the twin maces also led his troops in retreat.
Seeing the Jin troops withdraw, Lu Junyi sounded the gongs to recall his forces. The young general also reined in his cavalry. Lu Junyi then spurred his horse forward and, with clasped hands, said, "We owe you a great debt for relieving the encirclement, General. May I ask your honorable name?" The young general returned the salute. "I am Yao Pingzhong, Military Commissioner of Zhending Prefecture," he replied. "Engaged in battle with the Jin troops, I was trapped here. What a fortunate encounter." Hearing this, Lu Junyi cried out in surprise, rolled from his saddle, and prostrated himself on the ground. "To think it is Commissioner Yao! I, Lu, have long held your illustrious name in the highest esteem, a name that has thundered in my ears." Yao Pingzhong hastily dismounted to return the courtesy. "Could you be the Jade Qilin Lu, Military Commissioner of Daming Prefecture?" he asked. Lu Junyi affirmed, "Indeed I am." Yao Pingzhong grasped Lu Junyi’s hand. "I have long heard that the Jade Qilin of Hebei is a true hero. I regretted never having made your acquaintance. Meeting you today is the fortune of three lifetimes."
The two men courteously remounted and rode side by side back to camp. Lu Junyi ordered pigs and sheep slaughtered to feast Yao Pingzhong and his men. A banquet was set in the tent, and Lu Junyi raised a cup with his guest. As they drank, Lu Junyi inquired, "How did Commissioner Yao come to be here?" Yao Pingzhong sighed. "Speaking of it shames me. I was ordered to defend Zhending. Though knowing we were outnumbered, I was resolved to share the city's fate, be it survival or ruin. However, the Prefect of Zhending, Li Miao-the younger brother of the current Vice Minister Li-seeing the formidable strength of the Jin troops, wished to open the gates and surrender. I refused. He then transferred my city defense troops away. I had only a little over a thousand cavalry left under my command. After two engagements outside the city, more than half were lost or wounded. I have only these two hundred riders left by my side. I intended to charge to Daming to combine forces with Military Commissioner Zhang. Today, charging to this place, I was again surrounded. Had you not arrived, Commissioner Lu, I fear I would not have escaped."
Lu Junyi said, "Commissioner Yao's loyalty and righteousness shine like the sun and moon. However, Daming is now also besieged by the Jin troops. We plan to skirt the city. This place is still a day's journey from Daming. The land is crawling with Jin troops. Fighting our way through will be no easy task. What is your wise counsel?" Yao Pingzhong replied, "The Jin troops are now focused only on major cities like Daming and Zhending. Since we intend to break past Daming, we should abandon the cities and rush back to the Eastern Capital. There we can petition the court to send troops to rescue Hebei. Even if Daming and Zhending cannot be held, we must preserve the Eastern Capital, our foundation. The Hebei armies are now under Military Commissioner Zhang's command. He will surely know what to do. We should charge into the Eastern Capital, petition His Majesty in person, and thus coordinate from within and without."
Lu Junyi was overjoyed. "Commissioner Yao's words align perfectly with my humble thoughts. When we crossed the Yellow River, we considered returning to the Eastern Capital to request troops. Now with you joining us, His Majesty will surely trust our report." As they spoke, a scout rushed in with a report: the Jin troops were in pursuit again, roughly five to six thousand cavalry. Hearing this, Lu Junyi hastily conferred with Yao Pingzhong, and they resolved to split their forces into two columns. One, led by Yao Pingzhong, would charge southeast to draw away the Jin troops. The other, led by Lu Junyi, would protect the refugees and retreat via small paths. They agreed to rendezvous at Kaide Prefecture before crossing the river together. Yao Pingzhong assented, and they proceeded to act separately.
Lu Junyi, protecting the refugees, traveled southeast for a stretch. As dusk fell, they found a village to rest in. The villagers had all fled, leaving only a few empty houses. Lu Junyi ordered his soldiers to settle the refugees, then discussed with Chai Jin. "We have fought our way here. It is still two or three days to the Yellow River, and the land is filled with Jin troops. With so many refugees in tow, how can we possibly break through?" Chai Jin said, "In my humble opinion, refugees accompanying the army are a true burden. It would be better to settle them in a secluded village. We could then cross the river with light cavalry." Lu Junyi replied, "Having rescued them, how can we abandon them halfway? Let us find a safe place first, then decide."
As they spoke, a great clamor of battle cries suddenly erupted outside the village. Lu Junyi hurriedly took up his spear, mounted his horse, and rode to the village entrance. There he saw a troop of Jin troops, roughly a thousand strong, already charging toward the outskirts. Enraged, Lu Junyi leveled his spear and thrust. A rider flew out from the Jin troops’ ranks, wielding a pair of swords, and engaged him in combat. After about twenty bouts, Lu Junyi saw more and more Jin troops arriving. He made a feint with his spear, turned his horse, and fled. The enemy general gave chase but was caught off guard as Hu Sanniang charged from the side and struck him from his saddle with a halberd thrust.
Lu Junyi turned his horse back and commanded his soldiers to hold the village entrance. Seeing their commander slain, the Jin troops fell back in disarray. Lu Junyi then ordered his men to fell trees at the entrance to block the road. As dawn broke, the Jin troops charged again with loud cries. Lu Junyi commanded his soldiers to loose arrows indiscriminately, preventing the enemy from approaching. They held out for an hour, but the Jin troops grew ever more numerous, encircling the village so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through.
Lu Junyi consulted with Chai Jin. "The Jin troops have us surrounded. What shall we do?" Chai Jin said, "Breaking out in a charge would not be difficult for us. But how can we take these four to five hundred refugees with us?" Lu Junyi replied, "Even if we break out, there are more Jin troops ahead. We cannot escort so many refugees." The two men hesitated for a long while. Then an elderly man with white hair stepped forth from among the refugees. Bowing to Lu Junyi, he said, "General, you saved us. Your kindness is like giving us life anew. Now, in this dire crisis, we are willing to die here. We dare not burden you further. Please, General, take your own forces and charge out. In the future, when you bring back a great army, avenge us." Lu Junyi said, "Elder, your words miss the mark. Having rescued you, how can we stand by and watch you die at the hands of the Jin troops?" Tears welled in the old man’s eyes. "Your sense of honor, General, moves us deeply. But we are old, weak, and useless. Following you would only be a burden. If you cannot break out and we all perish, our survival would be a living death. Better for you to preserve yourself to serve the nation. In that service, we shall live on even in death."
Hearing this, Lu Junyi felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart, and he fell silent. Chai Jin said, "Since it is so, we can split into two groups. One protects the able-bodied refugees, the other protects the old and weak. We charge out separately; perhaps one group can break through." Lu Junyi agreed. "That seems the only way." He then ordered Hu Sanniang, Xie Zhen, and Xie Bao to lead three hundred soldiers and protect two hundred able-bodied refugees in a charge from the village’s east. He and Chai Jin would take two hundred soldiers and protect three hundred old and weak refugees, charging from the village’s west.
With the plan set, Lu Junyi ordered a fire to be set, burning the village. Seeing the flames rise, the Jin troops charged with cries. Hu Sanniang, leading her group, was the first to charge out. She immediately encountered a troop of Jin troops and engaged them in battle. Xie Zhen and Xie Bao protected the refugees, following in the charge. The Jin troops grew ever more numerous, surrounding Hu Sanniang and her companions at the core. Hu Sanniang fought left and right but could not break free. More than half of her soldiers fell. Xie Zhen and Xie Bao were also scattered by the Jin troops. The two hundred refugees fled east and west, all slaughtered by the enemy.
Lu Junyi and Chai Jin, leading their refugees, charged out from the west. Before traveling even one *li*, they found Jin troops arrayed in formation ahead, blocking the path. Lu Junyi leveled his spear and thrust. A general flew out from the Jin troops’ ranks, wielding a great blade, and engaged him. After thirty bouts, Lu Junyi pierced the general’s throat with his spear, and the man tumbled from his saddle. Seeing their commander slain, the Jin troops fell back in disarray. Lu Junyi commanded his soldiers to hack a bloody path open and head southwest. After traveling a stretch, the Jin troops gave chase again. Lu Junyi ordered his soldiers to escort the refugees ahead while he and Chai Jin covered the rear.
As they fled, a great clamor suddenly arose ahead. A troop of soldiers and horses blocked their path. Their leader was a Jin general with a dark face and curly beard, wielding an iron spiked mace. He bellowed, "Lu Junyi, will you not dismount and submit?" Enraged, Lu Junyi leveled his spear and thrust. The general brandished his mace. They fought twenty bouts with no victor. Seeing Lu Junyi could not best the man, Chai Jin slapped his horse, danced his blade, and joined the fray. The general fought both without a trace of fear.
As the battle reached its peak, the general swung his mace at the head of Lu Junyi’s horse. Lu Junyi tugged his reins, dodging to the side. Seizing the momentum, the general swept his mace toward Chai Jin. Chai Jin hastily raised his blade to block, the impact numbing both his arms. Seeing the general’s ferocity, Lu Junyi turned his horse and fled. The general roared with laughter and ordered his troops to surround Lu Junyi and his men.
In this moment of crisis, a deafening clamor of battle cries erupted from the northwest. A troop of soldiers and horses charged into the formation. At their head was a great general in a golden helmet and golden armor, wielding a pair of whips. It was none other than Huyan Zhuo of the Twin Whips. Seeing Huyan Zhuo charge, the Jin general abandoned Lu Junyi to engage him. Huyan Zhuo danced his twin whips. After thirty bouts, one whip struck the general squarely on the back. The general spat blood, slumped over his saddle, and fled. Huyan Zhuo commanded his troops to scatter the Jin troops.
Lu Junyi, seeing Huyan Zhuo, was both startled and overjoyed. He asked, "General Huyan, how come you are here?" Huyan Zhuo replied, "I was in Daming and saw the Jin troops’ formidable strength. Military Commissioner Zhang ordered me to lead three thousand men to provide support. I did not expect to meet you here." Lu Junyi recounted their ordeal of fighting through the enemy. Huyan Zhuo said, "We cannot linger here. Follow me quickly back to Daming." Lu Junyi asked, "What about these refugees?" Huyan Zhuo replied, "We shall have to skirt the city."