Explore Chapter 27 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, Song Jiang and Wu Yong had devised a three-pronged strategy to meet the enemy. Lu Junyi led his forces east to capture Yizhou, while Song Jiang himself crossed the Golden Sand Beach with the main army and set up a connected camp in the western suburbs of Dongping Prefecture, confronting the government troops. The commander of Dongping Prefecture, Gao Yun, along with Qingzhou's Militia Commander Dou Yi, heard that the Liangshan Marsh forces had arrived. They guarded the city closely, not daring to venture out lightly.
Song Jiang gathered his commanders in the tent and said to the Chieftains, "Your insight is most astute. We shall order Chai Jin and Yan Qing to each lead a force and challenge the enemy beneath the city walls. If the enemy does not come out, we will feign laxity. Seeing an opportunity, they will surely pursue us out of the city. Then our ambushes will spring up together, ensuring a complete victory."
Following the plan, Song Jiang ordered the Little Whirlwind Chai Jin and the Wanderer Yan Qing to each lead five hundred cavalry and a thousand infantry, divided into two teams, and go to challenge the enemy beneath the walls of Dongping. He also ordered Hua Rong and Xu Ning to each lead three thousand troops and lie in ambush in the woods west of the city. Li Kui and Liu Tang were ordered to each lead two thousand infantry and hide behind the earthen mounds south of the city. At the signal of a cannon from the central army, they were to attack simultaneously. With the assignments set, the Chieftains led their troops away.
Now, Chai Jin wore a crimson turban, donned chainmail armor, and held a large red banner embroidered with six golden characters: "Righteous Warrior Chai of Liangshan Marsh." He took the lead in advancing. Yan Qing followed closely behind, carrying a bow on his back with arrows, and holding a staff. The two forces arrived at the city walls of Dongping, beating drums and shouting challenges, specifically demanding Gao Yun and Dou Yi to come out and fight.
Gao Yun watched from the city walls as the Liangshan Marsh troops displayed bright banners and disciplined formations, hesitating in his heart. Dou Yi said, "The bandits have come from afar and are weary. We are fresh and waiting. Why not go out and fight, blunting their edge?" Gao Yun replied, "The Liangshan Marsh bandits are full of cunning tricks. Previously, Guan Sheng lured the enemy into a trap. I fear they have an ambush. We must be cautious." So he ordered the city gates shut tight, using only crossbows and arrows to hold their ground.
Chai Jin and Yan Qing hurled insults for half a day, but the city remained silent. Yan Qing said to Chai Jin, "Brother, the government troops are timid. I shall use a stratagem to provoke them." With that, he spurred his horse forward, drew his bow, and aimed at a junior officer on the battlements who appeared to be in command. He let fly an arrow that struck the fellow in the shoulder. With a cry, the man tumbled down from the wall. The soldiers on the city walls all turned pale with fear.
Seeing this, Dou Yi grew furious and made to charge out with his spear. Gao Yun hurriedly stopped him, saying, "General, calm your anger. This is the bandits' trick to provoke us." Dou Yi said indignantly, "The bandits are so rampant, insulting us grievously! If we do not fight, the morale of our three armies will be utterly broken. I will lead my own troops out of the city. Commander, cover me from the rear. If there is an ambush, come quickly to support." Gao Yun pleaded in vain and had no choice but to muster his troops and prepare for reinforcement.
Dou Yi donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led three thousand soldiers. He threw open the city gates, lowered the drawbridge, and charged straight out. Chai Jin, seeing Dou Yi emerge, waved his great banner. The Liangshan Marsh forces engaged briefly for a few rounds, then feigned retreat as planned. Dou Yi, stirred by the fight, urged his troops to pursue. Before they had chased three li, suddenly a cannon shot rang out. From the left, Hua Rong, and from the right, Xu Ning, two ambush forces sprang out together, cutting Dou Yi's army into two segments.
Gao Yun, watching from the city walls, cried out in alarm and hurriedly led troops out to rescue. Just as they crossed the drawbridge, another cannon shot sounded. Li Kui and Liu Tang led their ambush forces from behind the earthen mounds, charging straight for the city gate. Gao Yun, unable to turn back in time, was blocked by Li Kui's pair of axes. He had no choice but to fight desperately.
Meanwhile, Dou Yi was surrounded on three sides and could not break through. In his panic, Yan Qing had already taken aim at him. From the chaotic battlefield, he drew his crossbow and silently shot an arrow. Dou Yi heard the twang of the string and tried to dodge, but the arrow arrived too quickly, striking his warhorse squarely. The horse, in pain, knelt on its front legs, throwing Dou Yi to the ground. Liangshan Marsh soldiers swarmed forward and captured him. Seeing their commander taken, the government troops fell into disarray, with countless surrendering.
Chai Jin, seeing that Dou Yi had been captured and Gao Yun was still fighting fiercely with Li Kui outside the city, waved his great banner forward with all his might and shouted, "Brothers, follow me to seize the city!" He led the charge, galloping straight for the drawbridge. The guards on the bridge, seeing the ferocious onslaught and that their commander was already trapped, had no heart for battle and scattered in disarray. Chai Jin led his men to capture the drawbridge and stormed through the city gate.
The defenders on the walls saw that the city gate had been breached and the situation was lost. Some surrendered, others fled. Gao Yun, locked in a life-and-death struggle with Li Kui, suddenly noticed the banners on the city walls changing. Realizing the city had fallen, he sighed deeply and dared not continue the fight. He fought his way out and fled north. Li Kui and Liu Tang pursued for a while, but as Song Jiang had ordered not to chase too far, they withdrew their troops back to the city.
Song Jiang also arrived with the central army at this time. Seeing that Dongping had been captured and Chai Jin and Yan Qing had seized Dou Yi, he was overjoyed. He issued orders to post proclamations to reassure the people, ensuring not the slightest harm was done. Dou Yi was brought before the tent. Song Jiang personally untied his bonds and treated him with courtesy, saying, "General, your bravery is well known to me. Now, with traitors in power at the court, persecuting the loyal and good, why not stay temporarily at the mountain stronghold and join us in our righteous cause?" Dou Yi lowered his head and remained silent, ultimately unwilling to surrender. Song Jiang did not force him, but gave him gold and silver, and let him go freely. Dou Yi bowed in thanks and, alone on his horse, went off to Qingzhou.
With Dongping now secured, Song Jiang rewarded the three armies. In the record of merits, the first entries were for Chai Jin's seizure of the gate and Yan Qing's capture of the general. Wu Yong said, "Although we have taken Dongping, the great army of Sun Hao from Yizhou will surely hear the news and turn back to rescue. Also, the troops from Daming will march south. Though we have won one battle, we must not underestimate the enemy. We should quickly devise a defense strategy." Song Jiang agreed and ordered the fortifications repaired and supplies accumulated in preparation for a major battle. Thus it was: With banners unfurled, victory was won at the strategic pass; with arrows loosed, the chieftain was captured amid laughter and talk. Do not say that Liangshan Marsh is only domineering; they also show benevolence and righteousness by releasing the enemy to return.