第76章 死亡正如出生一样自然（6）

　　当下宋江在寨里和花荣饮酒，正值元宵。宋江对花荣说道：“听闻此间市镇上今晚点放花灯，我欲去看看。”花荣答道：“小弟本欲陪侍兄长，奈缘我职役在身，不能够闲步同往。今夜兄长自与家间二三人去看灯，早早的便回。小弟在家专待家宴三杯，以庆佳节。”

　　宋江道：“最好。”宋江矮矬，人背后看不见。那相陪的体己人，却认得社火队里，便教分开众人，请宋江看。那跳“鲍老”的，身躯扭得村村势势的，宋江看了，呵呵大笑。只见这墙院里面，却是刘知寨夫妻两口儿，和几个婆娘在里面看。听得宋江笑声，那刘知寨的老婆，于灯下却认得宋江，便指与丈夫道：“兀！那个笑的黑矮汉子，便是日前清风山抢掳下我的贼头。”刘知寨听了，一惊，便唤亲随六七人，叫捉那个笑的黑汉子。宋江听得，回身便走。走不过十余家，众军汉赶上，把宋江捉住，拿到寨里，用四条麻索绑了，押至厅前。

　　那三个体己人，见捉了宋江去，自跑回来报与花荣知道。花荣听罢大惊，连忙写一封书，差两个能干亲随人，去刘知寨处取。刘高拆开封皮读过，大怒，把书扯的粉碎，大骂道：“花荣这厮无礼！你是朝廷命官，如何却与强贼通同，也来瞒我。这贼已招是郓城县张三，你却如何写济州刘丈？俺须不是你侮弄的。你写他姓刘，是和我同姓，恁的我便放了他！”喝令左右把下书人推将出去。那亲随人被赶出寨门，急急归来，禀覆花荣知道。花荣披挂，拴束了弓箭，绰枪上马，带了三五十名军汉，都拖枪拽棒，直奔至刘高寨里来。花荣抢到厅前，下了马，手中拿着枪，那三五十人，都摆在厅前。花荣口里叫道：“请刘知寨说话。”刘高听得，惊得魂飞魄散；惧怕花荣是个武官，那里敢出来相见。花荣见刘高不出来，立了一回，喝叫左右去两边耳房里搜人。那三五十军汉一齐去搜时，早从廊下耳房里寻见宋江，被麻素高吊起在梁上，又使铁索锁着，两腿打得肉绽。几个军汉便把绳索割断，铁锁打开，救出宋江。花荣便叫军士先送回家里去。花荣带了众人，自回到寨里来看宋江。却说刘知寨见花荣救了人去，急忙点起一二百人，也叫来花荣寨夺人。那二百来人拥在门首，谁敢先入去，都惧怕花荣了得。花荣使神箭震退了他们。宋江对花荣说：“他被你公然夺了人来，急使人来抢，又被你一吓，尽都散了，我想他如何肯干罢，必然要和你动文书。今晚我先走上清风山去躲避，你明日却好和他白赖，终久只是文武不和相殴的官司。我若再被他拿出去时，你便和他分说不过。”花荣道：“小弟只是一勇夫，却无兄长的高明远见。只恐兄长伤重了走不动。”宋江道：“不妨。事急难以耽搁，我自捱到山下便了。”当日敷贴了膏药，吃了些酒肉，把包裹都寄在花荣处。黄昏时分，便使两个军汉，送出栅外去了。宋江自连夜捱去。刘高那厮，终是个文官，意思深狠，有些算计，当下寻思起来：“想他这一夺去，必然连夜放他上清风山去了，明日却来和我白赖。我今夜差二三十军汉，去五里路头等候。倘若天幸捉着时，将来悄悄的关在家里，却暗地使人连夜去州里，报知军官下来取，就和花荣一发拿了，都害了他性命。那时我独自霸着这清风寨，省得受那厮们的气。”当晚点了二十余人，各执枪棒，就夜去了。约莫有二更时候，去的军汉，背剪绑得宋江到来。刘知寨见了，大喜道：“不出吾之所料。且与我囚在后院里，休教一个人得知。”连夜便写了实封申状，差两个心腹之人，星夜来青州府飞报。次日，花荣只道宋江上清风山去了，坐视在家，心里自道：“我且看他怎的！”竟不来睬着。刘高也只做不知，两下都不说着。且说这青州府知府，正值升厅公座。那知府覆姓慕容，双名彦达，是今上徽宗天子慕容贵妃之兄。倚托妹子的势，要在青州横行，残害良民，欺罔僚友，无所不为。正欲回衙早饭，只见左右公人，接上刘知寨申状，飞报贼情公事。知府接来，看了刘高的文书，吃了一惊。便教唤那本州兵马都监，来到厅上，分付他去。原来那个都监姓黄，名信。为他本身武艺高强，威镇青州，因此称他为镇三山。黄信“设鸿门宴招得花荣”并正式捉拿了他。当时黄信与刘高都上了马，监押着两辆分别监有宋江、花荣的囚车，并带三五十军士，一百寨兵，簇拥着车子，取路奔青州府来。（第三十三回）

　　On the fifteen of the first lunar month—Lantern Festival Day， Song Jiang was drinking with Hua Rongin the fort.“I hear there’s a lantern display in town tonight，”said Song Jiang.“I’d like to see it.”“I wishI could go with you. But I’m too busy. I can’t get away. There will be two or three attendants to keep youcompany， though. Come home early. I’ll be waiting here to celebrate the festival with you with a few cups ofwine.”“Fine.”replied Song Jiang. Song Jiang was short and couldn’t see over the heads of the crowd. Theattendants knew some of the performers， and they pushed a path through the onlookers to give Song Jiang anunobstructed view. The chief comic did an exaggerated imitation of a rustic’s walk， and Song Jiang roared withlaughter. Inside the open gate， Civilian Commandant Liu， his wife and several other women were observingthe show. When Liu’s wife heard Song Jiang laugh， she looked and recognized him in the light of the lanterns.

　　She pointed him out to her husband.“That short swarthy fellow laughing there is one of the bandit chieftainson Clear Winds Mountain who kidnapped me！”Startled， Liu shouted to six or seven of his guards to grab theshort dark man who was laughing. Song Jiang heard him and quickly left. But before he had passed a dozenhouses， the soldiers caught up， seized him， pulled him into the compound， tied him up， and took him intothe hall. When the three men who had been escorting Song Jiang saw that he was arrested， they ran back toinform Hua Rong. Hua Rong was shocked when Song Jiang’s escort rushed back and reported. He hastilypenned a missive which he dispatched to Liu with two of his trusted officers. Liu Gao tore open the envelopeand read it. Liu Gao angrily tore the letter to shreds.“That Hua Rong is too discourteous！ He’s an appointeeof the imperial court. How can he consort with bandits， and try to pull the wool over my eyes！ The knave of aprisoner says he’s Zhang San from Yuncheng County. Hua Rong says he’s Liu Zhang from Jizhou. He needn’tthink he can beguile me！ Just because he says the man’s name is Liu—the same as mine—does he imagineI’ll let him go？”The commandant ordered that the messengers be thrown out. They were hustled throughthe compound gate， and immediately returned to Hua Rong and reported. Hua Rong donned his armor， tiedon his bow and quiver of arrows， grasped his spear， and mounted. With forty or fifty men， bearing spear， andstaves， he set out directly for Liu Gao’s compound. Hua Rong rode up to the main hall， dismounted， and stood，spear in hand， his soldiers arrayed behind him.“Commandant Liu， please come out，”he called.“I havesomething to say to you！”Liu was terrified. Hua rong was a military man. He didn’t dare face him. WhenLiu still failed to emerge after several minutes， Hua Rong thought a moment， then ordered his men to searchthe compound’s wings. They made a quick sweep and found Song Jiang in a side room. He was in chainsand suspended by a rope from rafter. His legs were torn and lacerated from his beating. The soldiers cuthim down， broke off the shackles， and carried him out. Hua Rong ordered them to take him home. Leadinghis soldiers， Hua Rong returned to his own enclosure to look after Song Jiang. Liu promptly mustered twohundred men and ordered them to go to Hua Rong’s and bring Song Jiang back. The two hundred men stoodgathered outside the gate， not daring to enter. They all were afraid of Hua Rong， who frightened them off byhis arrow hitting the target squarely. Song Jiang said to Hua Rong，“You’ve openly snatched a prisoner awayfrom him. And when he sent men to take me back， you frightened them off. Do you think he’ll let it go at that？

　　Ointmentsand poultices were applied to Song Jiang’s injuries， and he ate meat and drank wine. He left his pack in HuaRong’s care. Toward dusk， on Hua Rong’s instructions， two soldiers saw him off to beyond the gates of thefort， and from there Song Jiang made his way through the night alone. That knave Liu was， after all， a civilianofficial， and very crafty.“Because of this attempt to seize Song Jiang， Hua Rong is sure to let him leave forClear Winds Mountain tonight，”he mused.“Tomorrow， he’ll deny knowing anything about it.“I’ll sendtwenty or thirty soldiers five li down the road to lie in wait for Song Jiang. If Heaven is kind and I nab him，I’ll keep him quietly locked up here and send a man to the prefecture immediately with a request that themilitary command come and get him. They’ll arrest Hua Rong at the same time and execute them both！ Then I’llrule Fort Clear Winds alone， and won’t have to take any more guff from those oafs！”He picked twenty or somen and， armed with spears and staves， they set out the same night. Around the second watch they returnedwith Song Jiang， his hands tied behind his back. Liu Gao was delighted.“Just as I expected！ Lock him inthe rear yard. No one is to know about this！”Liu wrote a formal accusation which he dispatched to QingzhouPrefecture by two trusted envoys， traveling through the night at flying speed. The next day Hua Rong， whoassumed that Song Jiang had already reached Clear Winds Mountains， sat at home thinking.“There’snothing he can do about it，”he said to himself， meaning Liu Gao. He made no inquiries， and Liu pretendedto be unaware of anything unusual. Neither mentioned the matter. In Qingzhou the prefect was holdingcourt. His family name was Murong， his given name was Yanda， and his younger sister was a concubine ofthe emperor. With this backing he rode high in Qingzhou， harming the people， abusing his colleagues， anddoing pretty much as he pleased. He was about to adjourn for breakfast when his police officers handed himthe complaint from Commandant Liu alleging bandit activities. The prefect was startled. He summoned thecommander of the prefectural army and directed him to go and investigate. Huang Xin， the commander，highly skilled in weapons and much respected by the people of Qingzhou， was known as the“Suppressor ofthe Three Mountains”. Huang Xin“held a dinner at Hongmen where treachery arrest of invited guest HuaRong was planned”and officially arrested him. Huang Xin and Liu Gao mounted their horses. With fiftyprefectural soldiers， plus a hundred from the fort， guarding the two cage carts in which Song Jiang and HuaRong were kept separately， they set out for Qingzhou (Chapter 33).

　　原来这三位好汉，为因不知宋江消息，差几个能干的小喽罗下山，直来清风镇上探听，闻人说到：“都监黄信掷盏为号，拿了花知寨并宋江，陷车囚了，解投青州来。”因此报与三个好汉得知，带了人马，大宽转兜出大路来，预先截住去路，小路里亦差人伺候。因此救了宋江、花荣两个，拿得 刘高并杀了，都回山寨里来。都监黄信一骑马奔回清风镇上大寨内，便点寨兵人马，紧守四边栅门。黄信写了申状，叫两个教军头目，飞马报与慕容知府。

　　知府便差人去请青州指挥司总管本州兵马秦统制，急来商议军情重事。那人原是山后开州人氏，姓秦，讳个明字，因他性格急躁，声若雷霆，以此人都呼他做“霹雳火”秦明。山寨里众好汉正待要打清风寨去，只听的报道：“秦明引兵马到来。”花荣和宋江定下计策。先使小喽罗或在东，或在西，引诱的秦明人困马乏，策立不定；预先又把这土布袋填住两溪的水，等候夜深，却把人马逼赶溪里去，上面却放下水来。那急流的水都结果了军马。你道秦明带出的五百人马，一大半淹死在水中，都送了性命；生擒活捉得一百五七十人，夺了七八十匹好马，不曾逃得一个回去。次后陷马坑里活捉了秦明。当下一行小喽罗捉秦明到山寨里，早是天明时候。五位好汉坐在聚义厅上，小喽罗缚绑秦明解在厅前。花荣见了，连忙跳离交椅，接下厅来，亲自解了绳索，扶上厅来，纳头拜在地下。秦明慌忙答礼，便道：

　　“我是被擒之人，由你们碎尸而死，何故却来拜我？”花荣跪下道：“小喽罗不识尊卑，误有冒渎，切乞恕罪。”随即便取衣服与秦明穿了。燕顺相留且住数日，随即便叫杀牛宰马，安排筵席饮宴。秦明吃了数杯，起身道：“众位壮士，既是你们的好情分，不杀秦明，还了我盔甲、马匹、军器，回州去。”燕顺道：“总管差矣。你既是引了青州五百兵马，都没了，如何回得州去？慕容知府如何不见你罪责？不知权在荒山草寨住几时。本不堪歇马，权就此间落草，论秤分金银，整套穿衣服，不强似受那大头巾的气？”秦明听罢，便下厅道：

　　“秦明生是大宋人，死是大宋鬼。朝廷教我做到兵马总管，兼受统制使官职，又不曾亏了秦明，我如何肯做强人，背反朝廷？你们众位要杀时，便杀了我，休想我随顺你们。”花荣赶下厅来拖住道：“秦兄长息怒，听小弟一言：我也是朝廷命官之子，无可奈何，被逼迫的如此。总管既是不肯落草，如何相逼得你随顺？只且请少坐，席终了时，小弟讨衣甲、头盔、鞍马、军器还兄长去。”秦明那里肯坐。花荣又劝道：“总管夜来劳神费力了一日一夜，人也尚自当不得，那匹马如何不喂得他饱了去？”秦明听了，肚内寻思，也说得是。再上厅来，坐了饮酒。那五位好汉轮番把盏，陪话劝酒。秦明一则软困，二乃吃众好汉劝不过，开怀吃得醉了，扶入帐房睡了。这里众人自去行事。且说秦明一觉直睡到次日辰牌方醒，跳将起来，洗漱罢，便要下山。众人慌忙安排些酒食管待了；取出头盔、衣甲，与秦明披挂了，牵过那匹马来，并狼牙棒，先叫人在山下伺候，五位好汉都送秦明下山来，相别了，交还马匹军器……秦明叫道：“我是秦总管，如何不放我入城？”只见慕容知府立在城上女墙边大喝道：“反贼，你如何不识羞耻！昨夜引人马来打城子，把许多好百姓杀了，又把许多房屋烧了；今日兀自又来赚哄城门。你的妻子，今早已都杀了。你若不信，与你头看。”军士把枪将秦明妻子首级挑在枪上，教秦明看。秦明是个性急的人，看了浑家首级，气破胸脯，分说不得，只叫得苦屈。城上弩箭如雨点般射将下来，秦明只得回避，看见遍野处火焰，尚兀自未灭。秦明回马在瓦砾场上，恨不得寻个死处，肚里寻思了半晌，纵马再回旧路。行不得十来里，只见林子里转出一伙人马来，当先五匹马上五个好汉，不是别人，宋江、花荣、燕顺、王英、郑天寿，随从一二百小喽罗。宋江在马上欠身道：“总管何不回青州？独自一骑投何处去？”宋江开话到：“总管休怪，昨日因留总管在山，坚意不肯，却是宋江定出这条计来，叫小卒似总管模样的，却穿了足下的衣甲、头盔、骑着那马，横着狼牙棒，直奔青州城下，点拨红头子杀人；燕顺、王矮虎带领五十余人助战，只做总管去家中取老小；因此杀人放火，先绝了总管归路的念头。今日众人特地请罪。”秦明见说了，怒气于心，欲待要和宋江等厮并，却又自肚里寻思：一则是上界星辰契合，二乃被他们软困，以礼待之，三则又怕斗他们不过。因此只得纳了这口气，便说道：“你们弟兄虽是好意，要留秦明，只是害得我忒毒些个，断送了我妻小一家人口。”宋江答道：“不恁地时，兄长如何肯死心塌地？若是没了嫂嫂夫人，宋江恰知得花知寨有一妹，甚是贤惠，宋江情愿主婚，陪 备财礼，与总管为室如何？”秦明见众人如此相敬相爱，方才放心归顺。（第三十四回）

　　Not having had any news of Song Jiang for some time， the three chieftains had sent a few competentscouts into Clear Winds Town to inquire.“Commander Huang Xin threw down his cup as a signal，”theywere told， and had Hua Rong and Song Jiang arrested. They’re both in cage carts， and will be taken toQingzhou.”This was reported to the three chieftains， who came down with their men. They made a wideflanking sweep and were waiting on the road when the soldier convoy arrived. The small paths were coveredas well. As a result Hua Rong and Song Jiang were saved and Liu Gao was captured and killed. All nowreturned to the mountain lair. When Huang Xin reached Clear Winds he hurried to the fort， mustered soldiersand posted a tight guard at each of the four gates. Then he wrote a dispatch and ordered two officers to deliverit at flying speed to Prefect Murong. The perfect， summoned General Qin， commander of all the armed forcesin the prefecture， to come at once for an urgent military conference. Qin， whose given name was Ming， wasfrom Kaizhou on the other side of the mountains. Because of his irascible temper and booming voice he wasknown as Thunderbolt. The brigand chieftains had been getting ready to attack Fort Clear Winds when theyheard the news：“Qin Ming is leading a force of men and horses this way！”Hua Rong and Song Jiang madea plan. First they had the bandits keep Qin Ming running back and forth， east and west， till men and mountswere exhausted and didn’t know what to do. Next， they dammed two brooks with sacks of earth. Late at night，when the soldiers and horses were forced to take shelter in the ravine， they released the pent up waters andfinished them off. More than half of Qin Ming’s five hundred men were drowned in this manner. A hundredand sixty or seventy of the remainder were captured， along with seventy or eighty good horses. Not a singlesoldier got away. Finally， they trapped Qin Ming and his steed in the pit. By the time bandits brought QinMing to the stronghold， it was already light. Five bold warriors， seated in Righteousness Hall， saw the menlead up the bound captive and detain him within the entry. Hua Rong left his armchair， hurried over， untiedQin Ming， supported him into the hall， then dropped to his knees and kowtowed. The general at once returnedthe courtesy.“I am your prisoner， a man you can pulverize to death，”he said.“Why do you greet me sorespectfully？”Hua Rong， still kneeling， replied：“Our men didn’t recognize you and discomfited you bymistake！ Please forgive us！”He presented Qin Ming with garments of silk and satin， and the general put themon. Yan Shun begged that he stay with them a few days， and ordered that sheep and horses be slaughtered anda feast be laid. After the general had downed a few cups， he rose to his feet.“Since you are good enough notto kill me， sirs， return my armor， horse and weapons， and let me go back to the prefecture.”“You would bewrong to do that， General，”said Yan Shun.“You’ve lost all of your five hundred men. How can you return？

　　Prefect Murong would surely condemn you as a criminal. Better to remain in our crude mountain fortress fora while. Although it’s beneath your talents， why not stay on with us permanently？ Gold and silver we shareand share alike， and we give clothing in complete sets. Wouldn’t that be preferable to being persecuted bythe bighat officials？”Qin Ming walked to the entry of the hall.“I was born a man of the great Song empire，and I shall serve it as a ghost when I die. The court commissioned me a general and gave me the rank ofCommander of Infantry and Cavalry. They’ve treated me very well. How can I rebel and become a brigand？

　　Kill me and be done with it！”Hua Rong hurried after him and took his arm.“Don’t be angry， brother. Pleaselisten to me. I am the son of a high court official myself. But I had no choice. I was forced into this. If you’renot willing， we wouldn’t dream of insisting. Please be seated. When the meal is over I will get your armor，helmet， horse and weapons and return them to you.”Qin Ming still held back， and Hua Rong continued toexhort him.“You’ve expended strength and spirit a whole day and night， General. You must be exhausted.

　　And how will your horse be able to travel unless it is fed？”“That’s true，”thought Qin Ming. He went backinto the hall and resumed his seat. The five bold gallants apologized to him and toasted him by turns. Thegeneral was indeed weary， and his hosts’ considerate treatment softened his reluctance. So he relaxed anddrank until he was bleary. Then he was helped into bed and he slept. The others went about their variousaffairs. Qin Ming slept right through till mid-morning the following day. He jumped out of bed， washed，rinsed his mouth， and announced he was leaving. Food and wine were hastily served. The general dressed inhis helmet and armor. His horse was led out and his wolf-toothed mace brought. Men were sent on ahead toattend him below...“I am commander Qin Ming！ Why don’t you let me in？”Prefect Murong appeared onthe battlements.“Rebellious brigand，”he cried.

　　As Qin Ming rode through the rubble he seriously considered killing himself. But after thinking a long time，he let his horse wander back along the road on which he had come. Before he had gone ten li he saw a bandof mounted men riding towards him from a grove. The five bold fellows in the lead were none other than SongJiang. Hua Rong， Yan Shun， Wang Ying， and Zheng Tianshou. They were followed by nearly two hundredbandits. Song Jiang bowed in the saddle.“Didn’t you return to Qingzhou， Commander？ Where are you going，out here alone？”... Song Jiang spoke first.“We hope you won’t blame us， General. Yesterday， we tried invain to convince you to remain with us， but you were determined to leave， and so I thought of a plan. I had oneof our men put on your armor and helmet， take your wolf-toothed mace， and ride your horse to Qingzhou Townwith a band in red turbans and kill many people. Yan Shun and Stumpy Tiger Wang went with reinforcementsof another fifty， and made it appear that you were trying to bring out your family. We committed all thismurder and arson to compel you to give up any hope of ever going back！ Today， we present ourselves beforeyou for punishment！”Qin Ming was furious. He longed to throw himself on Song Jiang. But then he realizedthat， first， this had been fated. Second， he had been put at a disadvantage by their abject courtesy. And third，he couldn’t vanquish them singlehanded anyway. He was forced to swallow his rage.“You meant well，brothers，”he conceded，“but you injured me grievously！ You caused my whole family to be killed！”“Ifwe hadn’t acted the way we did， would you have given up the idea of returning？”said Song Jiang.“HuaRong has a younger sister who would make you a fine wife. She’s virtuous and clever. I would be delightedto sponsor the match and provide all your household furnishings. What do you say？”This love and respecttouched the general’s heart， and he agreed. (Chapter 34)

　　众人都让宋江在居中坐了，秦明上首，花荣肩下，三位好汉依次而坐，大吹大擂饮酒，商议打清风寨一事。秦明道：“这事容易，不须众兄弟费心。黄信那人，亦是治下；二者是秦明教他的武艺；三乃和我过的最好。明日我便先去叫开栅门，一席话，说他入伙投降，就取了花知寨宝眷，拿了刘高的泼妇，与仁兄报仇雪恨，作进见之礼如何？”宋江大喜道：

　　“若得总管如此慨然相许，却是多幸多幸！”结果，秦明说服了黄信入伙。黄信与众好汉讲礼罢，坐于花荣肩下。次日，宋江和黄信主婚，燕顺、王矮虎、郑天寿做媒说合，要花荣把妹子嫁与秦明，一应礼物，都是宋江和燕顺出备。吃了三五日筵席。自成亲之后，又过了五七日，小喽探得事情，上山来报道：“打听得青州慕容知府申将文书去中书省，奏说反了花荣、秦明、黄信，要起大军来征剿，扫荡清风山。”众好汉听罢，商量道：“此间小寨，不是久恋之地。倘或大军到来，四面围住，如何迎敌？”宋江道：“小可有一计，不知中得诸位心否？”当下众好汉都道：“愿闻良策。”宋江道：“自这南方有个去处，地名唤做梁山泊，方圆八百余里，中间宛子城、蓼儿洼，晁天王聚集着三五千军马，把住着水泊，官兵捕盗，不敢正眼觑他。我等何不收拾起人马，去那里入伙？”秦明道：“既然有这个去处，却是十分好。只是没人引进，他如何肯便纳我们？”宋江大笑，却把这打劫生辰纲金银一事，直说到：“刘唐寄书，将金子谢我，因此上杀了阎婆惜，逃去在江湖上。”秦明听了大喜道：“恁地，兄长正是他那里大恩人。事不宜迟，可以收拾快去。”只就当日商量定了，便打并起十数辆车子，把老小并金银、财物、衣服、行李等件，都装在车子上，共有三二百匹好马。小喽罗们有不愿去的，赍发他些银两，任从他下山去投别主；有愿去的，编入队里，就和秦明带来的军汉，通有三五百人。宋江教分作三起下山，只做去收捕梁山泊的官军。山上都收拾得停当，装上车子，放起火来，把山寨烧作光地，分为三队下山。宋江便与花荣引着四五十人，三五十骑马，簇拥着五七辆车子，老小队仗先行；秦明、黄信引领八九十匹马，和这应用车子，作第二起；后面便是燕顺、王矮虎、郑天寿三个，引着四五十匹马。一二百人离了清风山，取路投梁山泊来。于路中见了这许多军马，旗号上又明明写着“收捕草寇官军”，因此无人敢来阻当。在路行五七日，离得青州远了。在去梁山的路上，宋江和花荣碰巧看见两位壮士各使方天画戟，在宽阔大路上交锋，斗到三十余合，不分胜败。正斗得火热，两枝戟上，一枝是金钱豹子尾，一枝是金钱五色罥，却搅做一团，上面绒绦结住了，那里分拆得开。花荣立即取弓搭箭，曳满弓，觑着豹尾绒绦较亲处，飕的一箭，恰好正把绒绦射断。那两个壮士便不斗，都纵马跑来，直到宋江、花荣马前，就马上欠身声喏，都道：“愿求神箭将军大名。”花荣在马上答道：“我这个义兄，乃是郓城县押司，山东及时雨宋公明；我便是清风镇知寨小李广花荣。”那两个壮士听罢，扎住了戟，便下马推金山，倒玉柱，都拜道：“闻名久矣。”宋江、花荣慌忙下马，扶起那两位壮士道：“且请问二位壮士高姓大名？”那个穿红的说道：“小人姓吕，名方，祖贯潭州人氏，平昔爱学吕布为人，因此习学这枝方天画戟，人都唤小人做小温侯吕方”。宋江又问这穿白的壮士高姓，那人答道：“小人姓郭，名盛，祖贯西川嘉陵人氏，原在嘉陵学得本处兵马张提辖的方天戟，向后使得精熟，人都称小人做赛仁贵郭盛。”宋江把上件事都告诉了，便道：“既幸相遇，就与二位劝和如何？”两个壮士大喜，都依允了。吕方先请上山，杀牛宰马筵会。次日，却是郭盛置酒设席筵宴。宋江就说他两个撞筹入伙，辏队上梁山泊去，投奔晁盖聚义。

　　那两个欢天喜地，都依允了。于是，他们都聚集一起，分三批，投向梁山去了。（第三十五回）

　　Everyone insisted that Song Jiang sit in the center， with Qin Ming， Hua Rong and the other three boldfellows occupying seats of lesser rank. Heartily， they ate and drank， and discussed the forthcoming attackon Fort Clear Winds.“That’s easy，”said Qin Ming.“You brothers don’t have to worry. Huang Xin wasunder my command. Whatever he knows about arms， I taught him. What’s more， we’re on excellent terms.

　　Tomorrow I’ll go to the fort， get them to open the gate， talk privately with Huang Xin， and persuade him tojoin us. I’ll bring out Hua Rong’s family， capture Liu Gao’s termagant wife， and avenge the hurts you havesuffered. This will be my entrance gift. How does that strike you？”“We are privileged to have so generousa man as a colleague，”exclaimed Song Jiang. Consequently， Qin Ming persuaded Huang Xin to join them.

　　Huang Xin greeted the assembled gallants and was seated below Hua Rong. The next day， with Song Jiangand Huang Xin serving as sponsors， and Yan Shun， Stumpy Tiger Wang and Zheng Tianshou acting asintroducers， Hua Rong’s sister was wedded to Qin Ming. All gifts and furnishings were contributed by SongJiang and Yan Shun. Feasting lasted for four or five days. About a week after the marriage a scout cameup the mountain and reported：“Prefect Murong of Qingzhou has advised the Council of Administrationin writing that Hua Rong， Qin Ming and Huang Xin have rebelled， and requests that a large army be sentto annihilate them.”“We couldn’t hold out long in this small stronghold，”the leaders agreed.“Howcould we cope if we were surrounded by a big army？”“I have an idea，”said Song Jiang.“But I don’tknow if you gentlemen will find it suitable.”“We’d like to hear it.”“South of here is an area calledLiangshan Marsh. It’s about eight hundred li in circumference and embraces the Water-Girt Fortress andthe Liao Er Lowlands. There， Chao Gai the Heavenly King has amassed a force of nearly five thousand men.

　　They control the entire region. When government troops go out hunting robbers， they don’t dare even lookin their direction. Why don’t we gather our men and horses and join their band？”“Since there is such aplace， that sounds fine to me，”said Qin Ming.“But we don’t have anyone to take us to them. Would theybe willing to accept us？”Song Jiang laughed. He told of the hijacking of the birthday gifts， and how LiuTang had delivered Chao Gai’s letter to him and sent him gold in thanks， and how this resulted in his havingto kill Mistress Yan and flee to the gallant fraternity.“Then you are their benefactor， brother，”said QinMing， very pleased.“There’s no time to lose. Let’s get our things together quickly.”Final plans were madethat day. A dozen or so carts were laden with wives， children， gold， silver， valuables， clothing and luggage，and nearly three hundred good horses rounded up. Those bandits who didn’t wish to go were given silverand sent down the mountains to seek other masters. The remainder， including the soldiers Qin Ming hadbrought， amounted to about five hundred men. Song Jiang ordered that they divide into three contingentsand set out. They were to pretend to be government troops on their way to capture Mount Liangshan. Wheneverything that was to be taken along was loaded on the carts， the stronghold was burned to the ground， andthe expedition started down the mountain in three units. The unit led by Song Jiang and Hua Rong containednearly fifty foot soldiers and the same number on horseback. They guarded the women and children on six orseven carts， and went first. Second was Qin Ming and Huang Xin with around ninety horses and the supplywagons. Bringing up the rear was Yan Shun， Stumpy Tiger Wang and Zheng Tianshou with fifty horses andabout two hundred men. They headed for Liangshan Marsh. People seeing this large contingent of soldiersand horses on the road， observed too their banner clearly inscribed with： Official Bandit Capturing Force， andso no one dared stop them. By the end of a week， they were far from the prefecture of Qingzhou. On their wayto Liangshan， Song Jiang and Hua Rong happened to see two warriors fighting over thirty rounds on the broadroad， with neither the victor. In the heat of battle， the woolen tassels decorating the weapons had becomeentangled， and the lances couldn’t be pulled apart. Hua Rong immediately produced his bow， notched theshaft to the string， pulled the bow to the full and let fly at the tangle of leopard’s tail and strings of wool. Thearrow clipped the wool neatly and the weapons came free. The warriors halted their combat and raced overto Song Jiang and Hua Rong. They bowed from their saddles.“May we ask the name of the officer who shotthat miraculous arrow？”“This pledged brother of mine is Song Jiang， clerk of the Yuncheng magistracyin Shandong， and known as the Timely Rain，”said Hua Rong.“I am Hua Rong， commandant of the fort atClear Winds.”The young men stabbed their lances into the ground， dismounted and kowtowed like fallinggold mountains or toppling pillars of jade.“We have long known the fame of you both！”Song Jiang and HuaRong hastily got off their horses and raised up the two young men.“Please tell us what you young warriorsare called.”“I am Lü Fang，”said the man in red.“My family are Tanzhou people. Because I’ve modeledmyself after Duke Lü Bu of antiquity and have learned， like him， to use the crescent-tipped lance， peoplecall me the Little Duke.”Song Jiang then questioned the man in white， and he said：“I am Guo Sheng， fromJialing in Sichuan. I had learned the crescent lance from a Major Zhang in Jialing， and became quite good atit. Everyone called me the Second Rengui.”Song Jiang told them everything that had transpired earlier， andsaid：“Since we’ve been fortunate enough to meet， suppose we make peace between you two， how will thatbe？”The two warriors were delighted， and they agreed. Lü Fang invited them to his mountain lair， wherehe slaughtered cattle and horses and laid a feast. Guo Sheng wined and dined them the following day. SongJiang proposed that they combine forces and go together to Mount Liangshan and join up with Chao Gai. Bothyoung men accepted with pleasure. Thereupon all of them get-together and marched in three units to MountLiangshan. (Chapter 35)