Explore Chapter 25 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 it is told that Lu Junyi, stationed outside Yizhou, drilled his troops daily yet kept them from advancing. Meanwhile, Sun Hao, encamped at the border while awaiting word from the Eastern Capital, likewise dared not march forward.
The stalemate lasted more than ten days before a dispatch arrived from the Bureau of Military Affairs in the Eastern Capital, reprimanding Sun Hao for underestimating the enemy and losing territory. He was ordered to redeem himself through merit and to recapture Yizhou within a fixed time. Sun Hao, downcast upon receiving the document, had no choice but to summon his generals for counsel.
Infantry Superintendent Yin Luo stepped forth from the ranks and bowed. "This unworthy general deserves death ten thousand times for losing the city," he said. "Today, I wish to lead a contingent to Yizhou and challenge the foe, hoping thus to atone for my failure." Sun Hao replied, "Your courage is commendable, General, but the rebels are formidable; we must not take them lightly. I shall divide our forces into three columns to march on Yizhou. You, General Yin, shall lead one to assault the West Gate. I myself will command another against the South Gate. The third, under Drill Instructor Dou, shall remain here to secure our supplies and guard against the enemy outflanking us."
The plan settled, they rose at the fifth watch the next day to prepare the morning meal and moved out at dawn. Sun Hao, clad in full armor astride a blue-maned steed and grasping his steel-tipped lance, led five thousand men toward the South Gate of Yizhou. Before they had gone ten li, a scout raced into the city with the news. Upon hearing it, Lu Junyi summoned Gongsun Sheng and Zhu Wu for discussion.
Gongsun Sheng said, "Sun Hao's advance must be compelled by orders from the Eastern Capital. We can turn his own scheme against him: lure him deep in, then surround and destroy his force." Zhu Wu added, "By dividing his army into three, Sun Hao seeks to divide our attention. This humble Taoist has a plan to ensure his three columns cannot support one another."
Lu Junyi said, "I am eager to hear our Military Strategist's brilliant strategy." Zhu Wu replied, "Order Yang Zhi and Shi Jin to take a thousand men and lie in ambush within the pine forest on Ten-Li Slope outside the South Gate. Once Sun Hao's troops have passed, they are to cut off his retreat. Then, order Lu Zhishen and Wu Song to lead another thousand and hide behind Boulder Ridge outside the West Gate. When Yin Luo's column arrives, they are to launch a surprise attack. You, Elder Brother, should lead the main army out the North Gate, make a detour, and raid Sun Hao's main camp to seize his supplies. Thus, Sun Hao will find himself with no path forward or back and will surely be captured."
Now, Sun Hao led his troops to the South Gate. Seeing the banners on the battlements in disarray and not a stir from within, he grew suspicious and ordered his men to hurl challenges. After half a day of this, a cannon suddenly roared. The city gates swung open, and out charged Lu Junyi, mounted on his Black Steed and brandishing his serpentine lance, at the head of a troop of soldiers.
Sun Hao leveled his lance and thundered, "Rebel scum! Dismount at once and submit!" Lu Junyi laughed in retort. "You corrupt officials who harm the people and ruin the state! Having come today, think not of returning!"
The two fought over thirty rounds with neither prevailing. Then Lu Junyi purposely left a gap in his guard, turned his horse, and fled. Unaware of the ruse, Sun Hao spurred his steed in pursuit. Chasing past Ten-Li Slope, he heard a rapid series of cannon reports. Yang Zhi and Shi Jin burst from the pine forest to block his retreat. Sun Hao, greatly alarmed, tried desperately to turn his army, but Lu Junyi had already wheeled his troops about to attack.
Three forces hemmed Sun Hao in at the core. He charged left and right but could not break free. At this critical moment, a great clamor arose from the southeast corner as a fierce troop fought its way in, led by none other than Yin Luo. It turned out Yin Luo, attacking the West Gate, had been defeated by the ambush laid by Lu Zhishen and Wu Song and had fled with his remnants to this spot. Encountering Sun Hao surrounded, he fought desperately to break through.
By then night had fallen. Sun Hao and Yin Luo led their defeated troops to a hillock and tallied their men: more than half were lost. Sun Hao sighed. "Since I began leading troops, I have never suffered such defeat. Our supplies gone, we have no way forward or back. What is to be done?"
They traveled through the night. At dawn the next day, they reached the road through Southern Hebei. Suddenly, a great dust cloud rose ahead, and a troop of soldiers blocked the way. Sun Hao reined in his horse and saw a banner inscribed: 'Commander Helise of the Great Jin.' Shocked, he said to Yin Luo, "How have the Jin troops come here?"
It transpired that after conquering Liao, the Jin had long harboured ambitions to push south. Now, hearing of the Song's internal strife-the uprising of the Liangshan Marsh forces and Fang La proclaiming himself emperor-they had dispatched their great general Helise with thirty thousand troops. Under pretext of aiding suppression, he had advanced to occupy Southern Hebei and probe the situation.
Helise, astride a yellow-maned horse and wielding a wolf-toothed mace, rode forth and shouted, "Who comes? Clear the way!" Sun Hao bowed slightly. "I am Sun Hao, Commandant of Yizhou in the Great Song, on official business to Cangzhou. I beg you, General, to grant us passage."
Helise roared with laughter. "The Southern Emperor cannot manage his own affairs! What need of a Commandant? Since you were beaten by the Liangshan Marsh bandits, you are useless. I am here under my sovereign's command to take the Central Plains. Surrender, and you keep your wealth; refuse, and you die now!"
Furious, Sun Hao thrust his lance at Helise. Before ten bouts, his strength failed, and he turned to flee. Helise waved his mace, and the Jin troops swarmed forward. How could the exhausted, hungry Song troops resist? They scattered instantly.
Sun Hao and Yin Luo broke out with a few dozen horsemen and fled into the wilds. Helise did not pursue but withdrew to camp.
Sun Hao came to a deserted village as night fell again, men and horses spent. Finding a ruined temple to rest in, he counted his followers: barely a dozen riders remained. Gazing heavenward, he lamented, "I, Sun Hao, studied military texts and practiced arms since youth. Never did I think to be brought so low! Unable to serve my country above, unable to protect the people below-what face have I left to exist between heaven and earth?"
Yin Luo urged, "Endure this humiliation for now, General. In Cangzhou we may plan recovery." Sun Hao said, "Though Commander Xuan of Cangzhou is an old friend, I hear he is stern and upright. He will not shelter defeated generals. Moreover, with the Jin troops in Southern Hebei, how can that lone city hold long? Going there avails us little."
As they spoke, a great clamour arose outside the temple, and torchlight flared. Helise, learning of Sun Hao's flight here, had sent troops in pursuit. Sun Hao hastily took lance and horse and charged out. The Jin troops had surrounded the place like an iron barrel.
Sun Hao said to Yin Luo, "I die here today. You must go swiftly to Cangzhou, inform Commander Xuan, and bid him prepare." Yin Luo replied tearfully, "This humble general would die with you!" Sun Hao barked, "Why must another perish? Go, quickly!"
With that, he slapped his horse and charged into the Jin troops, stabbing several men. Arrows flew. Struck by a dozen shafts, his battle-robe soaked through with blood, he gave a great cry and toppled from his saddle.
Now, the Commander of Cangzhou, named Xuan Zan, had been recommended for this post by Dou Jian, Chief Inspector of Bianjing, for his merits in suppressing bandits. This day, while reviewing troops in his yamen, he was told Yin Luo sought audience.
Xuan Zan summoned him in. Yin Luo knelt weeping and prostrated himself, recounting in full Sun Hao's defeat and death, and the Jin troops' invasion. Hearing this, Xuan Zan's beard seemed to bristle. He struck the table. "The Jin barbarians insult us too far! Though our troops are few, I vow to live or die with Cangzhou!"
He at once ordered the four gates shut fast, readied the defenses, and prepared to meet the enemy, while dispatching a memorial to the capital by swift courier.
Two days later, Helise arrived with his main army, besieging Cangzhou. He shot a letter into the city urging surrender. Xuan Zan tore the letter to shreds, beheaded the messenger, and hung the head upon the wall.
Enraged, Helise ordered the assault. The Jin troops swarmed like ants, scaling from all sides. Xuan Zan braved arrows and stones, directing the defence from the battlements. Moved by his loyalty, soldiers and civilians alike fought desperately to hold.
For three days the attacks continued, with countless Jin troops slain, yet the city held. Helise then ordered tunnels dug to enter from below. Learning of this, Xuan Zan had trenches dug along the walls and filled with boiling water, preventing the foe's approach.
Helise built scaling ladders and battering rams, attacking day and night. Xuan Zan ordered flaming arrows shot at the ladders and great stones hurled to smash the rams. The siege lasted over twenty days. When food ran out, the people ate bark and roots, yet still refused to yield.
On this day, the Jin troops' assault grew fiercer. The southwest wall was breached several zhang by catapult stones. The Jin troops swarmed in. Xuan Zan led his guards into street fighting. From morning till noon, he slew dozens with his own hand. Wounded many times, his blood soaked through his layered armor.
Seeing all was lost, Xuan Zan faced north and bowed twice. Tearfully he said, "My strength is spent. I cannot protect this land. I have only my life to offer in repayment of the Empire's grace!" Then he drew his sword and fell upon it.
When Helise entered the city and saw Xuan Zan's corpse propped against a wall, his face as in life, he could not but sigh, "A truly loyal minister!" and ordered him buried with honour.
With Cangzhou fallen, Southern Hebei was shaken. The news reached Liangshan Marsh as Lu Junyi discussed strategy with Gongsun Sheng and Zhu Wu. A scout reported Sun Hao slain, Xuan Zan martyred, and Helise occupying Cangzhou with designs to push south.
Lu Junyi sighed. "Though Sun Hao was our foe, he was a loyal, brave general. Commander Xuan's defence of a lone city against mighty invaders and his martyrdom command even greater respect. Now the Jin troops invade, the nation is in peril. Though we dwell in the wilds, how can we stand idly by?"
Gongsun Sheng said, "Your words are true, Elder Brother. In former days we gathered in the hills because corrupt ministers held sway and the people suffered. Now, with foreign aggression pressing upon us, to keep fighting the court would earn us the mockery of all under heaven for lacking larger vision."
Zhu Wu said, "The Military Strategist's view is astute. Yet the court still views us as bandits. To cease fighting abruptly risks being taken advantage of. Better to prepare our forces while sending word to the capital declaring our willingness to join resisting the Jin."
As they spoke, Dai Zong was announced, returned from the Eastern Capital with urgent news. Lu Junyi hastened him in. Dai Zong, travel-stained, presented a letter from Song Jiang. Lu Junyi read it. It said in brief: Hearing of the Jin troops' invasion, the court is in turmoil. Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, and others still urge quelling the internal rebellion first, but Grand Commandant Su Yuanjing strongly advocates amnesty and recruitment of our forces to jointly resist the foreign foe. The matter is seventy or eighty percent settled. You, worthy brother, should pause your advance and await the court's command.
Lu Junyi then wrote a letter for Dai Zong to carry back and ordered all camps to hold their positions strictly, making no rash moves.
Henceforth, Lu Junyi held his forces at Yizhou, awaiting word from Liangshan Marsh. In Southern Hebei, though the Jin troops held Cangzhou, their deep but isolated penetration made them cautious, and a stalemate ensued.
Truly: With foreign invaders pressing hard and troubles within unresolved, where can heroes with high ambitions turn their resolve? What happened next will be told in the following chapter.