Explore Chapter 48 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 Shi Qian, known as the Flea on a Drum of the Liangshan heroes, after returning to the mountain stronghold from the Eastern Capital, was rewarded for his merits and felt delighted. One day, Wu Yong, the Military Strategist, summoned Shi Qian to his tent and instructed him, 'A scout has reported that Wang San, known as Maggot in the Snow, a general under Sun Hao of the Yizhou garrison, has secretly unearthed tombs to steal burial treasures out of greed, corrupting military discipline. You must use your skills to go and steal the human head among the loot hidden by Wang San, so as to disrupt their morale.' Shi Qian accepted the order, then disguised himself as a merchant and secretly headed for Yizhou.
Shi Qian arrived in the territory of Yizhou. He inquired and learned that Wang San was stationed at the camp east of the city. He then mixed the knockout drug he carried into wine, bribed the guards at the gate, and sneaked into the camp. That night, under a moonless sky with a howling wind, Shi Qian quietly entered Wang San's tent. He saw that Wang was drunk and sound asleep, with a human head placed beside his pillow in a brocade box, stolen from an ancient tomb. Shi Qian lightly took the head, left a note that read, 'The Flea on a Drum of Liangshan Marsh borrows this head for a use,' and then vanished without a trace.
The next day, Wang San woke up and found the head stolen and the note. He was terrified, fearing investigation by his superiors, so he had no choice but to falsely report the theft. Shi Qian returned to the mountain stronghold to report his mission and presented the head. Wu Yong laughed and said, 'This plan has succeeded. Maggot in the Snow's greed in unearthing tombs has already lost him the hearts of his troops. Now, with the loss of the head, his forces are sure to be in chaos.' He then ordered Lu Junyi to prepare the army for battle and take advantage of the situation to attack.
As for Wang San, due to the loss of the head, he was restless all day long. His subordinate soldiers, knowing of his disgraceful tomb-raiding, all despised his character, and morale collapsed. Before long, the great army of Liangshan Marsh pressed upon the border. Wang San's troops collapsed without a fight. Sun Hao, upon hearing the news, had no choice but to retreat and defend Jizhou. Thus it is: Greed in unearthing tombs ultimately invites disaster; cunning in stealing a head displays divine skill.