Explore Chapter 68 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, after breaking Bianjing, the Jin troops had plundered countless treasures and were filled with pride, intending to return north for rest and reorganization. However, the Song court still had loyal and righteous men who refused to accept humiliation. Lu Junyi and other surviving Liangshan outlaws, though scattered across the land, had not lost their hearts to serve the nation.
At that time, the Jin commander Wolibu was stationed at White Tiger Hall, arrogant beyond measure. Lu Junyi secretly gathered his old comrades, infiltrated Bianjing, contacted righteous men within the city, and plotted an uprising. That night, under the cover of darkness and howling wind, Lu Junyi led a dozen or so heroes including Lin Chong and Wu Song, disguising themselves to blend into White Tiger Hall.
Wolibu was feasting in the hall with singing and dancing, when suddenly he heard cries of battle. The Liangshan heroes had burst before him. Lu Junyi shouted, "Barbarian foe! Today, you shall learn of the heroes of the Central Plains!" With that, he raised his spear and charged straight at Wolibu. Lin Chong and Wu Song wielded their weapons, engaging in a fierce fight with the Jin generals.
The hall instantly descended into chaos. Though the Jin troops were numerous, the incident arose so suddenly that they had no time to prepare. The Liangshan heroes, resolved to die, fought with all their might. Wolibu was eventually wounded by Lu Junyi. However, Jin reinforcements gathered from all sides, surrounding them layer upon layer. Lu Junyi knew the situation was hopeless. Turning to his brothers, he said, "Today, we have only death to meet! How can we suffer the the humiliation of foreign yoke again?"
The heroes responded in unison. They piled firewood in the hall and set it ablaze, immolating themselves. Flames shot up to the sky. White Tiger Hall was reduced to ashes in an instant. Lu Junyi and his companions perished together with Wolibu and hundreds of Jin troops. When the news spread, the people of Bianjing all shed tears in admiration, and even the Jin troops were daunted.
Meanwhile, Han Shizhong and his wife Liang Hongyu led the naval forces stationed at the Yangtze River. Hearing that the Jin troops, emboldened by victory, intended to cross the river and invade the south, Shizhong said to Hongyu, "The nation is in peril. This is the time for us to serve." So, they set an ambush at Huangtiandang, stretching iron chains across the river to block the enemy's retreat.
The Jin commander Wuzhu led his fleet forward. Shizhong kept his flags furled and drums silent, waiting until half the enemy had crossed. Then, he suddenly raised a clamor and attacked. Liang Hongyu personally beat the war drums, greatly boosting the Song army's morale. The Jin ships were large and cumbersome, difficult to maneuver. Shizhong used light boats loaded with grease, oil, and reeds, setting them on fire with the wind.
At that time, a strong southeasterly wind blew. The fire, aided by the wind, swept through the Jin fleet. The Jin troops were thrown into disarray. Countless drowned or burned to death. Wuzhu barely escaped with his life, changing clothes to flee. The Song army pursued the victory, killing and capturing tens of thousands, with supplies abandoned in the river.
After the battle at Huangtiandang, the Jin troops were terrified and dared not look south of the river again. When the news of victory reached the Temporary Imperial Court, soldiers and civilians alike rejoiced, all saying, "This is a great victory that gladdens the heart!" However, Shizhong sighed, patting his chest, "Alas, righteous men like Squire Lu did not live to see this achievement!"
From then on, Jin and Song temporarily reached a stalemate. Though many of the Liangshan heroes had perished, their spirit of loyalty and valor, along with the illustrious deeds of Han and Liang, were passed down to later generations, admired by all under heaven.