Explore Chapter 29 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.
It is said that after the main force of the Jin troops assembled at Jizhou, they divided into eastern and western routes to invade Dongping and Gaotang. The commander of the western route was the Great Marshal of the Jin Kingdom, Helise, while the eastern route was led by the Left Supervisor-General of the Jin Kingdom, Gu Shen. Helise was a cunning and resourceful man, skilled in deceptive warfare. He crossed the river from the lower reaches of the Yellow River, capturing many cities along the way. Seeing the Song army in complete disarray, he grew even more audacious. With eight thousand cavalry and twenty thousand infantry, he marched grandly toward Dongping. He knew well that several key cities in the northeast of the Song Dynasty, such as Dongping, Gaotang, Qingzhou, and Linqing, were now garrisoned by the Liangshan Marsh forces after the amnesty and recruitment. Yet, he did not take these bandits seriously. Before his main force advanced, he sent a letter to Linqing to intimidate Lu Junyi, while also learning that the one hundred and eight heroes of Liangshan Marsh had split into three groups: one to reinforce Gaotang in the east, one to reinforce Dongping in the west, and one to remain guarding Linqing. He saw this as an opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.
When his army reached the border of Dongping, a meticulous scout reported that the city was already garrisoned. The defending generals were Zhu Wu, Hao Siwen, and Fan Rui. Originally, when Song Jiang ordered troop deployments, because Fan Rui was at Gaotang and had used Gongsun Sheng's magic to hold off the Jin troops for many days, he sent Gongsun Sheng to the eastern route and transferred Fan Rui to Dongping as a surprise force for defense. Upon hearing this report, Helise pondered to himself. He had heard that the deputy Chieftain of the Liangshan Marsh forces was Lu Junyi, and that Lu Junyi was the most skilled. Now, the defenders in Dongping were all second-rate characters. He wondered if Song Jiang had come personally. Deciding not to act rashly, he would test them first. He then ordered his troops to camp thirty li away from the city.
The next day, he led over a thousand cavalry to charge to the city walls, circling the moat to observe the situation. He saw the city walls were orderly, covered with flags, and the area outside was quiet with no troops stationed. He guessed that the defender must be capable. He wanted to personally challenge them at the city wall to see what kind of leaders they were. So he rode toward the moat, ordering fifty cavalrymen with shields to surround him as protection against hidden arrows from the walls. When they approached the city, the defending soldiers paid no attention. The walls remained silent, with no flags waving and not a single person in sight. Helise grew even more puzzled. He shouted loudly, "Hear me, Song soldiers on the wall! I am Marshal Helise, the Right Supervisor-General of the Great Jin Kingdom. If you recognize the times and surrender the city, I will spare your lives. Otherwise, when we break the city, not a blade of grass will remain." After speaking, he ordered his accompanying cavalry to shout in unison. At that moment, a figure appeared in an arrow slit on the wall. Suddenly, a Song general emerged-a blue-faced man with a curly beard, wearing a red-tasseled helmet and green armor, holding a broadsword horizontally. It was none other than Hao Siwen, the Well Wood Antelope. He demanded, "Is the approaching barbarian general Helise? Cease your boasting. If you are a true hero, hold your troops and wait for our main general to come out and face you in battle." Helise said, "Who will you send?" Hao Siwen replied, "The main general of our Song camp is not like your Jin marshals, afraid to fight you. Since you pride yourself on your skill, let us agree to a decisive battle here tomorrow. Do you dare to come?" Helise said, "Why wouldn't I dare? If I don't wipe you out completely, I am not worthy of being a Great Jin marshal." Hao Siwen said, "In that case, we shall see your means tomorrow." With that, he retreated into the arrow slit, and the walls remained deserted. Helise, who had not intended to attack lightly, withdrew back to camp.
That night, he summoned his five senior generals to his tent. He secretly dispatched three thousand infantry to march swiftly before dawn, taking a detour to the southeast corner to sneak attack the city. He also sent a thousand cavalry to challenge the west gate at daybreak. Additionally, he ordered a thousand infantry to wave flags and beat drums at the southwest corner after dawn to create a diversion. After making these arrangements, he personally led three thousand cavalry and quietly stationed them on a ridge five li west of the city before daybreak to observe the city's movements. Around the hour of Mao, he first heard a clamor outside the city-the challenging cavalry had already set out. Soon after, drumbeats echoed, and flags shook at the southwest corner. From the ridge, Helise watched the city tower of Dongping. Despite the uproar of battle cries in the fields, the city walls remained silent, with only a few flags planted. Before long, the west gate opened, the drawbridge lowered, and a Song general led two to three hundred cavalry charging out. The Song general's face was not clearly seen, but he wielded a broadsword, killing anyone in his path. The Jin troops challenging cavalry advanced to meet him, but after just a few rounds, they retreated in disarray. The general, exhilarated by the slaughter, rampaged outside the moat. Helise watched from the ridge and was secretly startled. The Song general who had charged out was indeed Hao Siwen, the Well Wood Antelope. He thought to himself that this barbarian general was too careless-how dare he attack the city with just these troops? Just as he was feeling smug, he heard a gong sound from the Jin troops camp at the southeast corner, and another two to three hundred cavalry rushed out. This force did not head straight for the west gate but instead circled the moat and charged toward the east gate. By then, the sky had brightened, and though there were some flags on the walls, no movement was seen. As he hesitated, a crowd emerged on the city walls-the same blue-faced, curly-bearded general he had seen before stood on the tower, waving a command flag. Instantly, thousands of flags were raised on the walls, and a multitude of soldiers shouted in unison. In the blink of an eye, two to three hundred infantry poured out from the west gate tunnel, led by a Taoist priest with disheveled hair, holding a sword. He stood on the drawbridge, waving a command flag toward the sky. The Jin cavalry charging toward the east gate had just reached the gate when a strange wind suddenly swept up out of nowhere, whipping sand and stones that struck the Jin troops head-on. These Jin troops, having entered the Central Plains, had never seen such sorcery. Thinking divine soldiers had descended, they retreated in panic. Hao Siwen, seeing this from behind, led his troops in a fierce charge. The main infantry of the Jin troops, seeing their vanguard falter, dared not come out to rescue. On the east gate tower, another crowd emerged, torches blazing, throwing sulfur and saltpeter balls with fuses at the Jin troops, igniting thousands of fireballs on the ground. The Jin troops grew even more chaotic, fleeing for their lives. Helise, watching from the ridge, was furious. He ordered his three thousand cavalry to charge toward the west gate. By the time they reached it, Hao Siwen had already led his troops back into the city, the drawbridge raised, and the gate tightly shut. Not a single person was visible on the walls. Seeing the wide and deep moat, Helise dared not attack the city and had to withdraw his troops back to camp.
Although this engagement did not cause heavy losses, it dampened their morale. Returning to camp to tally his troops, he learned that the infantry sent to sneak attack the city had encountered an ambush halfway, losing over a thousand men. He had no choice but to hold his position and rest for several days. Gradually, he received reports that reinforcements from the Liangshan Marsh forces were approaching from the southwest in a wide flanking maneuver. Calculating the distance, they would arrive in three or four days. Helise thought to himself that if Song Jiang led the entire force to reinforce, his isolated army might fall into their trap. It would be better to first march toward Gaotang and eliminate that group of Liangshan Marsh troops. Then, combining with Gu Shen's army, they could launch a full-scale attack on Dongping. Having made up his mind, he issued orders for the entire army to prepare, eat at the fifth watch, and move eastward at dawn.
After marching over twenty li, they reached a three-way crossroads. In the distance, a cluster of flags fluttered in the hazy mist. Scouts reported that Song troops blocked the path ahead. Helise ordered his general Wuli Dequi to lead three thousand cavalry forward to engage the enemy. Before the main army's formation could be properly deployed, the sound of drums and battle cries erupted from the vanguard-the fighting had already begun. Helise personally climbed a high point to observe. He saw that the approaching force consisted of only about a thousand cavalry, flying the banner of Liangshan Marsh. The leading general was a fair-skinned man with a long beard, wielding a long spear-none other than Lin Chong, the Leopard Head, one of the Five Tiger Generals of Liangshan Marsh. Helise had long heard of the famous generals of Liangshan Marsh and their formidable skills but had never faced them personally. He thought this force must be a vanguard sent to test them. He should let them pass so his army could retreat eastward smoothly. As he hesitated, he saw Lin Chong's troops entangled with Wuli Dequi's men in a fierce melee. Lin Chong's spear danced back and forth on the battlefield like a living dragon. The Jin troops could not get close and fell from their horses one after another. Enraged, Helise led his central army of three thousand cavalry to charge forward. Unexpectedly, a cannon shot sounded from the side, and another force emerged. The leader was a dark-faced man with a curly beard, brandishing a pair of axes-it was Black WhirlwindLi Kui. He led over two hundred infantry into the Jin troops formation, cutting down anyone in his path. Helise's central army was thrown into disarray. Seeing Li Kui's ferocity, Helise thrust his spear. Li Kui roared and deflected the spear with an axe. Helise, on horseback, was startled, feeling the black man's immense strength. He could not take him lightly. So he exerted all his skill, making his spear strike like rain at Li Kui. Li Kui's two axes whirled up and down, but he could not gain the upper hand. At this time, the main Jin troops, seeing the central army engaged, divided into left and right wings to surround Lin Chong and Li Kui's forces. Lin Chong, seeing the Jin troops's superior numbers, dared not prolong the fight. He fought while retreating, leading his troops to break through the encirclement and withdraw to a earthen ridge. Li Kui, after over thirty rounds with Helise, suddenly noticed his own formation shifting and grew flustered. Leaving an opening, he was pierced in the left leg by Helise's spear and fell to the ground. Helise was about to strike again when the junior officers brought by Li Kui rushed forward, rescued Li Kui, and fled. Helise refused to let them go and urged his horse to pursue. Lin Chong, on the ridge, saw this and waved his spear. From behind the ridge emerged the divine archer Hua Rong, who shouted, "Barbarian general, watch the arrow!" As the bowstring twanged, an arrow struck Helise's helmet, shooting off the tassel. Helise was startled and dared not pursue further, reining in his horse to return to formation. Lin Chong and Hua Rong's forces then took the opportunity to retreat. Although Helise had won a minor victory and injured two generals of Liangshan Marsh, Li Kui's left leg was severely wounded, so he likely could not fight again. However, the fact that this vanguard force of Liangshan Marsh was active within the borders of Dongping made him even more wary. He decided not to advance eastward to avoid the Dongping defenders joining forces to ambush him here. So he recalled his troops and temporarily stationed them at the original camp, while sending more scouts to ascertain the true situation of the Liangshan Marsh reinforcements.