Explore Chapter 34 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.
Now, the Jin troops had besieged Eastern Capital, attacking day and night. Although Li Gang was a civil minister, he was well-versed in military strategy and supervised the defense on the city walls day and night. The Jin troops used various siege engines such as scaling ladders, assault towers, fire ladders, and goose carts. But the defenders broke them all one by one with rams, hook sickles, iron hooks, and fire arrows. Li Gang also ordered daring soldiers to descend the walls by ropes and burn the Jin troops' siege equipment. Thus, though the city was in peril, it still held firm.
However, the troops in the capital, aside from the imperial guards, consisted only of regional armies and local militias. They totaled no more than tens of thousands. After days of fierce fighting, casualties were heavy. Li Gang, worried and anxious, discussed with Zhang Shuye: "Your insight is most astute, lord minister. But to recruit militiamen, we must have loyal and righteous leaders to succeed."
As they spoke, the gatekeeper reported: "A righteous warrior from Hebei, Wang Yan, leads several hundred men of the 'Eight-Character Army' here to offer their service." Li Gang was overjoyed and hurriedly had him admitted. He saw that Wang Yan had a tiger-like back and bear-like waist, with a majestic aura. He came forward to pay respects. Li Gang helped him up and asked about his background. Wang Yan said: "I was originally a farmer from Heshuo. Because the Jin troops invaded and plundered, my family was destroyed. So I gathered a crowd to defend ourselves. As I have the eight characters 'Loyal Heart Serves the Country, Swear to Kill the Jin Bandits' tattooed on my face, we are called the 'Eight-Character Army'. Hearing of lord minister's loyalty and righteousness, I specially come to join. I am willing to exert my utmost strength." Li Gang sighed: "A true righteous warrior!" He immediately appointed Wang Yan as Commander. All his subordinates were given official posts and assigned to guard the city.
Another day passed, and the gatekeeper reported again: "Righteous warriors from Hedong, Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun, lead several hundred naval troops. They are coming via the Yellow River to assist in the battle." Li Gang then ascended the wall with Zhang Shuye to watch. They saw on the Yellow River, dozens of small boats flying towards them. On the leading two boats stood two big men, both bare-chested, holding simple swords. From the wall, someone asked: "Who comes?" One big man replied: "I am Zhang Shun, the White Stripe in the Waves from Liangshan Marsh! This is my brother, Zhang Heng, the Boat Fire! Hearing that the Jin troops have besieged the city, we specially come to help!" Li Gang turned to Zhang Shuye and said: "I have long heard of the loyalty and righteousness of the Liangshan heroes. Today it proves true." Zhang Shuye said: "Although they are heroes from the marshes, their hearts are commendable. Now in this time of need, we cannot refuse them." Li Gang then ordered the city gates opened to let them in.
Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun led their men into the city and paid respects to Li Gang. Li Gang, seeing the two men full of heroic spirit, was pleased. He asked: "How many troops have you brought, righteous warriors?" Zhang Shun said: "We have over five hundred brothers skilled in watermanship and fifty small boats. On the Yellow River, we come and go like the wind. The Jin troops can do nothing about us. We wish to assist lord minister in guarding the water gates." Li Gang immediately appointed the two as naval Commander. They were to guard the waterways around Xuanze Gate.
From then on, morale in the city slightly revived. Li Gang also posted notices to recruit daring soldiers. Responders gathered like clouds. In a few days, they obtained over three thousand stout men. They divided them into six teams and ordered Wang Yan, Zhang Heng, Zhang Shun, and others to lead them respectively. They drilled day and night in preparation for battle.
The Jin army marshal, Wolibu, saw the city unyielding to attack and grew anxious. That day, he discussed with the Military Strategist, Hamichi: "The southern court's capital is sturdy. Li Gang is skilled at defense, making it hard to break quickly. If we linger long under this strong city and the southern court's reinforcements arrive, we might face enemies on both fronts." Hamichi said: "Marshal, do not worry. I hear that the southern court's Emperor is timid, and his ministers are at odds. We can attack on one hand and send envoys to discuss peace on the other. Offer great benefits. Their ruler and ministers will surely grow suspicious. When they become lax, we can break them in one move." Wolibu was delighted. He wrote a letter and sent an envoy into the city to request peace negotiations.
The envoy reached the city walls and shouted loudly: "The second prince of the Great Jin has a letter to present to the southern court's Emperor!" The wall guards reported this to Li Gang. Li Gang said: "This is a stratagem to sow discord. It intends to slacken our soldiers' morale." He then ordered a volley of arrows to drive the envoy back. The Jin envoy could not enter and returned to report to Wolibu. Wolibu angrily said: "That fellow Li Gang is so disrespectful! Once we break the city, we will leave not a blade of grass!" He then urged his troops to attack fiercely. They fought day and night without rest.
In the city, He Guan, then serving as the Four Walls Defense Commissioner, saw that the Jin troops were attacking urgently. He said to Li Gang: "The Jin troops attack the northeast and east gates most fiercely. Especially Suanzao Gate and Fengqiu Gate. I am willing to personally go and supervise the defense." Li Gang said: "General, be careful." He Guan then led several hundred of his personal guards towards Suanzao Gate.
Just as he reached the wall edge, he saw the Jin troops climbing like ants. The defenders were falling one after another. The situation was critical. He Guan was enraged. He drew his sword and shouted: "The state nourishes soldiers for a thousand days to be used in one moment! Today is the time to repay our duty! Anyone who dares retreat will be executed!" With that, he personally braved arrows and stones, fighting fiercely. The soldiers saw their commander thus and all resisted desperately. He Guan also ordered burning oil, rolling logs, and huge stones to be dropped like rain. Countless Jin troops fell to their deaths from the walls.
The battle lasted until dusk, and the Jin troops slightly retreated. He Guan was covered in blood, his armor completely red. Yet he still patrolled the walls, comforting his soldiers. Suddenly, he saw several miles outside the city, dust flying. A troop of cavalry charged, bearing Song army banners. He Guan, suspecting it was reinforcements, hurriedly ordered his soldiers to prepare to receive them.
That troop had about a thousand men. At its head was a general in golden helmet and armor, holding an iron spear. He charged straight into the Jin camp. The Jin troops, unprepared, were scattered in disarray. The general fought through the ranks and reached the city walls. He shouted: "I am He Ji, son of Longyou Protector He Guan! Hearing the capital besieged, I specially lead righteous troops to aid! Open the gates quickly!"
He Guan on the wall saw clearly that it was indeed his son. He was both shocked and joyful. He hurriedly ordered the gates opened to let him in. He Ji led his troops into the city, and father and son met. He Guan grasped his hand and wept: "How did you come here, my son?" He Ji said: "Father, in Longyou, I heard that the Jin troops had invaded the capital. I was restless day and night. So, I used all my family wealth to recruit a thousand stout men. I came day and night without rest. Along the way, I fought several skirmishes with Jin troops patrols. I fortunately reached here." He Guan sighed: "Loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fully achieved. Now you abandon your post to come here, which is filial. And you risk death to aid in difficulty, which is loyal. Truly my good son!" He immediately introduced him to Li Gang. Li Gang deeply commended and comforted him. He ordered He Ji to assist in guarding Suanzao Gate.
From then on, the defending troops gained another fresh force. Li Gang discussed with Zhang Shuye, He Guan, and others. They must send troops out of the city to launch attacks to blunt the Jin troops' momentum. Zhang Shuye said: "We can order Wang Yan's 'Eight-Character Army' to raid the Jin camp at night. Their army is newly arrived and unfamiliar with the terrain. We can achieve a minor victory." Li Gang agreed and called Wang Yan to give instructions.
That night at the third watch, the moon was dark and the wind high. Wang Yan led five hundred men of the 'Eight-Character Army'. They were well-fed and fully armed. They descended the walls by ropes. With men holding bits in their mouths and horses without bells, they quietly approached the Jin camp. They saw the Jin camp's lights flickering, and the watch drums sparse. Wang Yan was overjoyed. He gave a shout and killed into the camp. The Jin troops, startled from sleep, did not know how many Song troops there were. They trampled each other and suffered heavy casualties. Wang Yan charged back and forth and set fire to the camp. Only when dawn began to break did he withdraw his troops back to the city.
In this battle, they killed over a thousand Jin troops and burned countless provisions and tents. Wolibu was furious. The next day, he personally led a large army. He vowed to level Eastern Capital. Truly: Loyalty and righteousness stir the hearts of heroes. Arms and armor disturb the imperial domain. What happened next will be told in the following chapter.