Explore Chapter 15 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.
Wu Yong said, "Although the court has proposed a three-pronged military deployment, their forces are not yet united. The troops from Daming, led by Wen Da and Li Cheng, fear us like tigers. They will certainly not advance lightly. Zhang Shuye of Haizhou is both wise and brave. I hear he governs his army strictly. Without explicit imperial orders, he is unlikely to leave his post rashly. What we should worry about are men like Tong Guan and Cai You. They may come in anger and mobilize other troops to besiege us. Although we have achieved minor victories, we cannot assume we are free from worry. Our current strategy should be to spread our intelligence network. We must gather news of the court's movements while firmly defending our base. We should conserve our strength and wait for the right moment."
Song Jiang said, "The Military Strategist's words are very sound. But now, in the regions of Hebei and Shandong, beacon fires rise on all sides. Although the Jin troops have temporarily retreated, their intentions are unfathomable. The court seeks temporary peace, with treacherous officials in power, tormenting our people. Our brothers have gathered here in righteous union, but this is not a permanent solution. Previously, the mission of Chai the Great Official and Yan Qing to the Eastern Capital slightly dampened the arrogance of the powerful traitors. Yet, the path to amnesty and recruitment grows ever more remote. Whenever I think of this, it depresses me deeply."
As they spoke, a report came that an old friend from the north had arrived, seeking an audience. Song Jiang ordered him to be admitted. Shortly after, a man with a dust-covered face and tattered clothes rushed into the hall and prostrated himself in salute. Song Jiang hurriedly helped him up. Looking at him under the lamplight, he saw it was Yang Xiong, known as the Ailing General. All the Chieftains were overjoyed to see Yang Xiong. After exchanging greetings with everyone, Song Jiang took his hand and said, "Brother, have you been well since we parted? Why are you in such a state?"
Yang Xiong had not yet spoken when tears streamed down like rain. Choking with emotion, he said, "Elder Brother, it is a long story! Since parting with you, I wandered in the northern lands, hoping to find a place to settle. Unexpectedly, the Jin troops launched a massive invasion. Prefectures like Zhending and Zhongshan fell one after another. Those Jin troops are utterly vicious. Wherever they pass, they kill indiscriminately, plunder women, seize property, turn cities into ruins, and reduce villages to ashes. I witnessed countless commoners, supporting the old and carrying the young, fleeing south in panic. Their wails shook the wilderness. The elderly and weak who could not keep up filled the ditches. The women who were captured suffered endless humiliation. Corpses littered the fields, and blood flowed into rivers. It is utterly heartbreaking!"
At this point, Yang Xiong was sobbing uncontrollably. On the seat, Lin Chong and Xu Ning, who were originally northern military officers, heard of this tragedy in their homeland. They gnashed their teeth in anguish, their hair standing on end with rage. Lin Chong pressed his sword and stood up, exclaiming fiercely, "The court maintains a million soldiers, but those border generals, who lord it over others in ordinary times, are utterly defeated when needed. They surrender our ancestral lands and the lives of our people without a fight. What use are they!"
Yang Xiong wiped his tears and said, "Instructor Lin, calm your anger. The court is not without troops and generals, but it appoints the wrong people. Those like Tong Guan and Cai You only know how to flatter the emperor and extort wealth from the people. Which of them truly cares for the state? When the Jin troops besieged Taiyuan earlier, defenders like Wang Bin and Zhang Xiaochun held out bitterly, but court reinforcements delayed and never arrived. Moreover, Guo Yaoshi, who commanded heavy troops, surrendered to the Jin instead, leading the wolf into the house. With such a corrupt court, how can people not be disheartened?"
Yang Xiong said, "Along the way, I only saw officials pressing for grain and conscripting laborers, preparing to 'respectfully send off' the Jin troops as they withdrew north, seeking temporary peace. I also heard that the Daojun Emperor, because the Jin troops had temporarily retreated, thought the world was at peace and still indulged in pleasure within the palace, constructing the Genyue Garden and transporting exotic rocks and flowers. A group of treacherous ministers continued to enjoy high positions and lavish salaries. Only the Imperial University student Chen Dong repeatedly submitted memorials at the palace gates, forcefully listing the crimes of the six traitors-Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Wang Fu, Liang Shicheng, Li Yan, and Zhu Mian. He pleaded for their execution to appease the world and urged the reinstatement of loyal officials like Li Gang to fortify the border defenses. His words were impassioned, moving all who heard them. Yet the court ignored him, and some petty men even sought to harm him. While in Eastern Capital, I once met Chen Dong by chance. Though a scholar, he possesses remarkable courage. He often gathered with a few like-minded companions in wine shops to discuss current affairs, grieving and lamenting. Knowing I was from the martial world, he confided in secret, 'If heroes from all quarters, such as Song Jiang and others, can prioritize the greater cause of the nation and jointly resist foreign aggression, then the Central Plains might yet be saved.' He also composed a secret letter and entrusted me to deliver it to you if I saw you."
With that, Yang Xiong took out a letter wrapped in oilcloth from against his skin and presented it with both hands to Song Jiang. Song Jiang received it and saw on the cover the inscription "For the Esteemed Song Jiang, Righteous Warrior," written in vigorous calligraphy. Opening it, the gist of the letter was: "I, Dong, have heard of your righteous gathering at the water margins, upholding the Way of Heaven, and my heart yearns for it. Now, the barbarian cavalry runs rampant, the state teeters on the brink of collapse, and the six traitors-Cai, Tong, and others-sicken the nation and afflict the people, their crimes reaching to the heavens. The court is benighted, loyal officials are exiled, and the channels of remonstrance are blocked. I am but a mere scholar, unarmed, with only a heart full of fervent blood. I have knocked at the palace gates several times, but my words go unheeded. I humbly believe that the rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every commoner, let alone heroes. If you, righteous warriors, remember the pain of our sinking land and the suffering of the people hanging upside down, raise your arms and call out, jointly execute the state traitors, and resist the fierce invaders from without, your merit will last for millennia, and your names will be inscribed in history. Though I lack talent, I am willing to offer my humble efforts, connecting with loyal and righteous forces as an internal ally. With hearts laid bare, I await your consideration."
After reading, Song Jiang remained silent for a long while, then passed the letter to Wu Yong, Lu Junyi, and others to peruse. Wu Yong sighed after reading it and said, "This Chen Dong is a man of loyal heart and righteous courage, renowned throughout the land. Yet his strategy, though bold, is extremely difficult to execute. If we lead troops directly to Eastern Capital, we could cleanse the court of evil, but I fear it would entangle us in endless strife. Instead, the Jin might seize the opportunity to invade, and the Jianghuai region would be lost. Then we would become sinners for all time. Moreover, though the court is dark, it is still the Han realm. Openly raising troops against the capital would be problematic in terms of legitimacy."
Lu Junyi said, "The Military Strategist's concerns are very reasonable. Yet sitting idly by while treacherous ministers ruin the state and barbarians run wild is truly unbearable. The four words 'jointly resist foreign aggression' in Chen Dong's letter are most apt. Why not send someone to secretly contact Chen Dong, probe the actual situation, and inquire about the court's true intentions regarding resistance against the Jin? Then we can decide accordingly. If the court truly has the will to fight, we can serve on the battlefield and find our proper place. If not, we can preserve Liangshan Marsh, protect the people here, bide our time, and act when opportunity arises. That might also be acceptable."
That night, Song Jiang's thoughts were in turmoil. He walked alone to the Duanjin Pavilion at the mountain's edge, leaning on the railing to gaze afar. The moonlight spread like water, enveloping the eight hundred li of water margins in vast, misty waves. Recalling the tragic scenes in the north described by Yang Xiong and the impassioned words in Chen Dong's letter, and pondering the future of his mountain stronghold brothers, with no path to amnesty and recruitment and no door to serve the nation, he could not help but feel endless emotion. He sighed deeply under the moon. Truly: The rivers and lakes lay desolate under the cold night air; a hero's heart was tossed upon the waves. Gazing north at the blood-drenched land of the Central Plains, he wondered when they would restore the old rivers and mountains.
The next day, Song Jiang gathered everyone for discussion. They decided to send Dai Zong and Yan Qing, disguised and altered in appearance, back into Eastern Capital. First, to gather news on the court's latest strategies and movements regarding the Jin. Second, to secretly meet Chen Dong, observe his character and the surrounding circumstances, and establish contact. But they were admonished to be extremely cautious and not reveal their presence. He also ordered Yang Xiong to recuperate and provide detailed descriptions of the northern terrain and the Jin troops' tactics for reference. From then on, Liangshan Marsh focused on drilling troops and stockpiling provisions while turning their gaze toward the ever-changing northern battlefield and the muddle-headed Eastern Capital, Bianliang.