Explore Chapter 10 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 story tells that after the Liangshan heroes had created a great uproar in the Eastern Capital, and further defeated the government troops outside Dongping Prefecture, seizing Yizhou, the imperial court was shaken. The prefect of Haizhou, Zhang Shuye, was a man of both civil and martial talents. Upon receiving the report that a great force from Liangshan Marsh was advancing eastward, he immediately wrote a letter. He dispatched a trusted envoy to deliver it to Jizhou, urging Gao Qiu to dispatch troops for a joint suppression campaign. At the same time, he mustered and prepared his own prefectural forces for battle.
One day, Zhang Shuye was in his official residence discussing military affairs with his sons, Zhang Bofen and Zhang Zhongxiong, when a report came. A spy had been captured outside the city walls, claiming he had urgent military intelligence and demanded to see the prefect personally. Zhang Shuye ordered the man brought in. Before long, soldiers escorted in a man of refined appearance, with clear brows and bright eyes, a three-part beard covering his mouth. He wore a Tang-style headscarf and a purple silk Daoist robe. When Zhang Shuye looked at the man, he recognized him instantly. It was none other than the Military Strategist of Liangshan Marsh, the Resourceful Star Wu Yong. It turned out Wu Yong, following General Song Jiang's orders, had disguised himself as a wandering Daoist priest to Haizhou to gather intelligence. However, upon entering the city, the gate guards noticed something amiss and captured him.
Zhang Shuye recognized Wu Yong, but did not expose him. He merely shouted a question. "Where are you from, spy? How dare you come to my Haizhou to gather information?" Wu Yong bowed and replied, "This humble priest is a disciple of Celestial Master Zhang from Dragon Tiger Mountain in Jiangxi. I am merely wandering here. I am no spy." Zhang Shuye sneered. "If you are truly a Daoist from Dragon Tiger Mountain, you should know the Celestial Master's residence is in Guixi County. Why then do you say 'Jiangxi'?" Wu Yong was caught by this question and momentarily found no reply. Zhang Shuye then ordered his guards. "Bind this wretch and interrogate him thoroughly!" The guards responded with a shout. Like wolves and tigers, they threw Wu Yong to the ground and bound him.
Zhang Bofen, standing nearby, said, "Father, since this wretch is a bandit from Liangshan Marsh, why not behead him now and display his head at the city gate?" Zhang Shuye waved his hand. "You do not understand, my son. This Wu Yong is the Military Strategist of Liangshan Marsh, Song Jiang's right arm. Killing him would merely rid us of one bandit. Keeping him alive may serve a purpose." He then ordered Wu Yong to be taken to an empty room in the rear garden and placed under strict guard. Simultaneously, he issued commands. He instructed Zhang Bofen and Zhang Zhongxiong each to lead a thousand cavalry and lay ambushes to the left and right outside the city walls. They were to charge out only upon hearing the signal of a cannon fired within the city. He then summoned his deputy generals, Wang Bing and Zhao Tan, and gave them secret instructions.
Meanwhile, Wu Yong, imprisoned in the empty room, was filled with deep regret. He thought to himself, "I, Wu Yong, have schemed all my life without failure. Yet today I have stumbled within the walls of this Haizhou city. If I am delivered to the Eastern Capital, I will surely be torn limb from limb." As he was lost in these wild thoughts, he suddenly heard a low voice call from outside the door. "Master Strategist, Master Strategist." Wu Yong was startled. Peering through a crack in the door, he saw an old soldier holding a lantern, looking around. Wu Yong asked, "Who are you?" The old soldier replied, "This humble one is a sergeant from the local prison camp, surnamed Li. In my early years, I lived at the estate of Lord Chai, the Little Whirlwind, in Cangzhou. I received much kindness and aid from Lord Chai. Seeing you captured today, I have come specially to see you."
Wu Yong listened, half believing, half doubting. He then said, "If you are truly an old acquaintance of Lord Chai, can you save me and get me out?" Sergeant Li said, "The Haizhou city walls are strong, and the prefect's laws are strict. How could I possibly save you? However, I have a plan that might help you escape." Wu Yong hurriedly asked, "What is this plan?" Sergeant Li said, "Tonight at the third watch, I will be on duty. I can quietly release you. Outside the rear garden wall is a narrow alley. You can proceed directly to the East Gate. The guard commander there, Wang Bing, is a good friend of mine. Upon seeing my waist token, he will surely let you pass." Wu Yong was overjoyed. "If you can do this, I will surely repay you handsomely."
They waited until the third watch. True to his word, Sergeant Li quietly opened the door and handed Wu Yong a set of soldier's uniform, instructing him to change into it. He then took out a waist token and hung it on Wu Yong's belt. Leading him, he wound his way through twists and turns, exiting the rear garden until they reached a section of low wall. Sergeant Li said, "Master Strategist, climb over the wall here. Eastward from here is the East Gate. When you see General Wang, just say you are on a secret mission for the prefect." Wu Yong thanked him. He clambered onto the wall and jumped out, only to tumble straight into a concealed pit. Hooks from both sides immediately descended, snagging him and binding him tightly.
At that moment, lanterns and torches flared up all around. Zhang Shuye, leading Zhang Bofen and Zhang Zhongxiong, stepped out from behind some trees, roaring with laughter. Zhang Shuye said, "Master Strategist Wu, how could your 'golden cicada shedding its shell' trick deceive me? This Sergeant Li was precisely the one I arranged for you." Wu Yong heaved a long sigh and bowed his head in silence. Zhang Shuye ordered Wu Yong to be taken back to his room and kept under guard as before.
The next day, Zhang Shuye ascended his hall. He summoned Wang Bing and Zhao Tan and instructed them. "Each of you take five hundred cavalry. Carry many banners, drums, and gongs. Do as follows." The two men received their orders and left. He then called Zhang Bofen and Zhang Zhongxiong. "You two take a thousand cavalry and lie in ambush at the Maple Grove Slope ten li outside the city. When you see the forces of Liangshan Marsh approach, let them pass. When they retreat, intercept and attack them." His two sons accepted the command and departed. Zhang Shuye personally led the remaining troops to defend the city.
Meanwhile, back at Liangshan Marsh, Song Jiang had been uneasy ever since Wu Yong left. One day, a scout suddenly reported that Wu Yong had been seen through by Zhang Shuye in Haizhou and imprisoned in the prefectural office. Song Jiang was greatly alarmed. He immediately summoned Lu Junyi, Gongsun Sheng, and others for counsel. Song Jiang said, "Master Strategist Wu is my trusted confidant. Now that he is trapped in Haizhou, it is like having my arm cut off. Which of our brothers dares to make a trip to Haizhou to rescue Master Strategist Wu and bring him back to the mountain?" At once, Li Kui jumped to his feet and cried, "Brother, do not panic! Iron Ox is willing to go! I'll chop that so-called Zhang Shuye into two pieces and rescue Master Strategist Wu!" Song Jiang said, "You are too rash and hot-tempered. How can you go on such a mission?"
Guan Sheng rose and said, "I am willing to go." Song Jiang said, "Zhang Shuye of Haizhou is no ordinary official. You must be very careful, brother." He then assigned Guan Sheng five thousand troops, with Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen as his deputy generals. They set out that very day, marching straight for Haizhou.
Guan Sheng's army reached Haizhou and made camp ten li from the city. The next day, Guan Sheng led his troops to challenge the enemy at the city walls. The city gates opened, and Zhang Shuye led a contingent of troops out. The two armies formed their lines. Zhang Shuye rode forth and called out, "Bandits of Liangshan Marsh, why have you invaded my territory?" Guan Sheng replied, "Quickly release my Military Strategist, Wu Yong, and I will spare all the citizens of your city. If you do not release him, I will break your city walls and leave not a blade of grass standing!" Zhang Shuye laughed heartily. "That wretch Wu Yong? I have already sent him under escort to the Eastern Capital. If you seek him, you must go to the Eastern Capital to look."
Enraged, Guan Sheng slapped his horse, brandished his sword, and charged straight at Zhang Shuye. From behind Zhang Shuye, Wang Bing leveled his spear and rode out to meet him. They fought less than three rounds before Wang Bing turned and fled. Guan Sheng waved his troops forward in a sweeping attack. Zhang Shuye retreated into the city and shut the gates, refusing to come out. Guan Sheng ordered his soldiers to hurl every manner of insult at the foot of the walls. The city remained utterly unresponsive.
On the third day, a scout suddenly raced to report to Guan Sheng. Two columns of troops were approaching from the northwest, their banners bearing the characters 'Zhao' and 'Wang'. Guan Sheng urgently consulted with Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen. Hao Siwen said, "These must be relief troops summoned by Zhang Shuye. We should divide our forces to resist them." Guan Sheng then ordered Xuan Zan to lead a thousand troops to engage Zhao Tan, and Hao Siwen to lead a thousand troops to engage Wang Bing.
Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen had not been gone long when they came galloping back with a report. Those two government forces had fought only a few rounds before retreating in defeat. They could not be pursued. Guan Sheng grew suspicious. He personally led troops out of the camp to observe. To the northwest, he saw dust swirling and the chaotic sounds of drums and gongs, but no sign of men or horses. Guan Sheng said, "These are decoy troops. Zhang Shuye seeks to lure us out of our camp." He ordered his army to return.
Just as they returned to camp, another scout came to report. A fierce troop was attacking from due east, their banner bearing a large character 'Zhang'. Guan Sheng quickly mounted his horse to look. Indeed, a force of about a thousand appeared. At their head was a young general. It was Zhang Bofen. Just as Guan Sheng prepared to meet the enemy, a great clamor suddenly arose from his rear ranks. Reports came that Zhang Zhongxiong was leading troops to attack from behind. Guan Sheng divided his forces to hold them off.
After a bout of fighting, Zhang Bofen and Zhang Zhongxiong each withdrew. Guan Sheng gathered his troops and returned to camp, only to find fires breaking out within. It turned out that Zhang Shuye, taking advantage of Guan Sheng's sortie, had sent spy into the camp to set the fires. Guan Sheng frantically ordered his men to fight the flames. The camp had already descended into chaos.
At this moment, the forces of Wang Bing and Zhao Tan attacked once more, exploiting the confusion. Guan Sheng's troops, having marched and fought all day, were exhausted. Pressed from three sides by the government troops, they could not hold their ground. They had no choice but to abandon their main camp and flee westward in defeat. Just as they reached Maple Grove Slope, a cannon shot rang out. The ambush forces of Zhang Bofen and Zhang Zhongxiong sprang out from hiding, blocking their escape route. Guan Sheng fought desperately to open a path and, making many turns, managed to flee back to Liangshan Marsh.
In this battle, Guan Sheng had lost over a thousand men and horses. Returning to the mountain, he prostrated himself before Song Jiang to ask for punishment. Song Jiang helped him up and said, "This is not your fault, brother. It is that Zhang Shuye who is full of cunning schemes. Let us wait until Master Strategist Wu returns to the mountain, then we shall make further plans."
Meanwhile, after repulsing Guan Sheng and gathering his troops back into the city, Zhang Shuye pondered. "Although the Liangshan Marsh bandits were defeated this time, they will surely return. I must utterly extinguish their hopes." He summoned Sergeant Li and gave him instructions. "Go to the rear garden and do as follows."
Sergeant Li received the order and went to the empty room where Wu Yong was imprisoned. He said to Wu Yong, "Congratulations, Master Strategist!" Wu Yong replied, "I am a prisoner. What cause for congratulation do I have?" Sergeant Li said, "Today, Guan Sheng led troops to rescue you but was utterly defeated and routed by the prefect. Fearing that Liangshan Marsh will come again, the prefect intends to execute you here and now to eliminate future trouble. It was I who pleaded repeatedly on your behalf. I said that you are the Military Strategist of Liangshan Marsh. If you were killed, Liangshan Marsh would surely descend in full force to seek revenge. Only then did the prefect's anger subside. He ordered me to release you and send you back. You are to convey a message to Lord Song Jiangming: henceforth, each should guard his own borders and not invade the other." Having said this, he removed Wu Yong's cangue and chains.
Wu Yong was still half in doubt, but he followed Sergeant Li to the rear garden gate. Sergeant Li handed him a bundle, saying, "Inside are travel funds and provisions. You must leave quickly, Master Strategist. I have already given orders at the East Gate. They will let you pass upon seeing you." Wu Yong accepted the bundle and bowed deeply. "I am profoundly grateful for your great virtue. I will surely repay you one day." He then hurried out of the garden gate. Indeed, no one stopped him.
Wu Yong arrived at the East Gate. The gate guards examined his waist token, opened the gate, and let him pass. Wu Yong raced away like the wind for over twenty li before he finally felt at ease. Looking back toward Haizhou city, he saw only banners fluttering, gleaming brilliantly in the setting sun. Wu Yong sighed. "Zhang Shuye is truly a man of godlike prowess, far beyond my own! He clearly saw through me, yet allowed me to return. First, to show benevolence. Second, to demonstrate his power. With such a man guarding Haizhou, Liangshan Marsh cannot afford to act lightly against it."
Traveling day and night, Wu Yong returned to Liangshan Marsh. Song Jiang and the others greeted him with great joy. Wu Yong recounted in detail how Zhang Shuye had laid his traps and how he had ultimately been released. Song Jiang said, "Since Zhang Shuye has allowed our Military Strategist to return, we must not betray his goodwill. Let us set aside the matter of Haizhou for now." From then on, the forces of Liangshan Marsh did not venture eastward again for a long time.