Instructor Lin at the Mountain Spirit Temple in Wind and Snow; Inspector Lu Burns the Forage Depot

Instructor Lin at the Mountain Spirit Temple in Wind and Snow; Inspector Lu Burns the Forage Depot

A poem says:

Heaven’s justice is clear and cannot be deceived; do not mistake a murderous scheme for a clever plan.  
If not for the wind and snow, when he went out to the village to buy wine, Lin Chong would surely have been burned to bones.  
They thought they had set a cruel trap in secret, not knowing that Heaven was protecting him from on high.  
Most admirable is this escape from death; Lin Chong truly deserves to be called a great man.

Now that day Lin Chong was strolling outside when someone suddenly called from behind him. Lin Chong turned and recognized the wine shop waiter Li Xiao’er. Years before in the Eastern Capital, Lin Chong had taken good care of Li Xiao’er. Li Xiao’er had once stolen from his employer in a moment of foolishness, was caught, and was about to be sent to the authorities. Lin Chong spoke up for him and saved him. Lin Chong also helped pay some money, and Li Xiao’er got off. He could not stay in the Eastern Capital, so Lin Chong gave him travel money and sent him to seek relatives. He never expected to meet him in Cangzhou. Lin Chong asked, “Little Second Brother, how did you come here?” Li Xiao’er quickly bowed and said, “After you helped me, benefactor, and gave me travel money, I went from place to place seeking people, but could not settle. I drifted until I came to Cangzhou and entered the service of a wine shop keeper named Wang. He kept me as a waiter. Seeing I was diligent and good at cooking and seasoning, and that customers praised the food, business prospered. The keeper had a daughter and took me as his son-in-law. Now my father-in-law and mother-in-law have both passed away, leaving only my wife and me. We opened a small tea and wine shop in front of the prison camp. Today I was out collecting accounts and happened to meet you, benefactor. Why are you here?” Lin Chong pointed to the tattoo on his face and said, “I offended Marshal Gao. He fabricated a charge and framed me. I lost the lawsuit and was tattooed and exiled here. Now I am assigned to watch the Hall of the Heavenly King. I do not know what will happen later. I never expected to meet you here.”

Li Xiao’er invited Lin Chong to his home and called his wife out to bow to their benefactor. The couple said happily, “We husband and wife have no relatives. Today you have come, benefactor, like a gift from heaven.” Lin Chong said, “I am a convict. I fear I will implicate you two.” Li Xiao’er said, “Who does not know your great name, benefactor? Do not say that. If you have clothes to wash, bring them here for my wife to wash and mend.” That day they prepared wine and food for Lin Chong and in the evening saw him back to the Hall of the Heavenly King. The next day they invited him again. From then on Lin Chong often visited Li Xiao’er’s home, and the couple often sent soup, food, and meals to the prison camp for him. Lin Chong saw that they were diligent and honest and often gave them silver to use as capital for their shop. Of this we need not speak further. A poem says:

He has just left the cold Hall of the Heavenly King, and now must watch the desolate forage depot.  
Li Xiao’er and his wife are warm-hearted, sending tea and wine with deep feeling.

We need not tell idle talk, only the main matter. Time passed quickly, and winter came. Lin Chong’s cotton clothes and jacket were mended and put in order by Li Xiao’er’s wife. One day Li Xiao’er was arranging vegetables in front of his shop when suddenly a man slipped in and sat down. Another man followed and came in. The first was dressed like a military officer; the second like an attendant. They sat down. Li Xiao’er came up and asked, “Would you like wine?” The man took out one tael of silver and gave it to Li Xiao’er. “Put this at the counter. Bring three or four bottles of good wine. When the guests arrive, serve fruit, wine, and dishes without asking questions.” Li Xiao’er asked, “Whom does Your Honor wish to invite?” The man said, “Go to the prison camp and invite the camp commander and the camp officer to come speak with me. If they ask, say an official wishes to discuss a matter with them and is waiting.” Li Xiao’er agreed. He ran to the prison camp, first found the camp officer, and together they went to the camp commander’s house and invited him to the shop. The officer and the camp commander and camp officer bowed to each other. The camp commander said, “We do not know you. May I ask your honorable surname?” The man said, “Here is a letter. You will know in a moment. First bring wine.” Li Xiao’er quickly opened the wine and set out fruit and dishes. The man called for a wine pot and cups, and they toasted each other and sat talking. Li Xiao’er busied himself serving. The attendant took a bucket and warmed wine himself. After about a dozen cups and more side dishes, the officer said, “We have our own man to warm the wine. Unless we call you, do not come over. We have private matters to discuss.”

Li Xiao’er agreed and went to the door. He said to his wife, “Wife, these two men are suspicious.” His wife asked, “Why suspicious?” Li Xiao’er said, “Their accent is from the Eastern Capital. At first they did not know the camp commander. Later, when I brought dishes in, I heard the camp officer mention the words ‘Marshal Gao.’ These people may have something to do with Instructor Lin. I will watch the front. You go behind the partition in the inner room and listen to what they say.” His wife said, “You go to the prison camp and call Instructor Lin to come identify them.” Li Xiao’er said, “You do not understand. Instructor Lin has a hot temper. If he starts killing, what then? If I call Lin Chong and he recognizes that Inspector Lu we spoke of before, this will never end peacefully. If a life is lost, it will implicate us. You listen first, then we will decide.” His wife said, “You are right.” She went inside and listened for an hour. Then she came out and said, “The three or four of them are gathered close, whispering. I cannot hear clearly. I only saw the man dressed as an officer take a package from the attendant’s bosom and give it to the camp commander and camp officer. It must be gold and silver. I heard the camp officer say, ‘Leave this to us. We will certainly finish his life.’” Just then someone inside called, “Bring soup.” Li Xiao’er hurried in to change the soup and saw the camp commander holding a letter. Li Xiao’er changed the soup and added side dishes. The men drank another half hour, paid the bill, and left. The camp commander and camp officer went first. Then the two men from the Eastern Capital left with their heads down. Before long Lin Chong came into the shop and said, “Little Second Brother, business is good lately.” Li Xiao’er said in a fluster, “Benefactor, sit quickly. I was just about to look for you. I have important news.” A poem says:

In secret they set a cruel plot to harm a hero; Heaven meant the news to leak.  
Thanks to kind Li Xiao’er, who protected him in secret and won merit.

Lin Chong asked, “What important news?” Li Xiao’er invited him into the inner room and said, “Just now several suspicious men from the Eastern Capital were in my shop, treating the camp commander and camp officer to wine. The camp officer mentioned Marshal Gao. I grew suspicious and had my wife listen secretly. They spoke in low voices, and she could not hear clearly. At the end she heard the camp officer agree, ‘The two of us will take care of this. We will certainly finish his life.’ The two men took out a package of gold and silver for the camp commander and camp officer. After drinking, they all left. I do not know who they are, but I am worried they mean harm to you, benefactor.” Lin Chong asked, “What did the man look like?” Li Xiao’er said, “He was not tall, had fair skin, little beard, and was about thirty. The man with him was also short, with a dark purple face.” When Lin Chong heard this, he was shocked. “That man of about thirty is Inspector Lu! That villain dares come here to harm me! If I meet him, I will chop him into mincemeat!” Li Xiao’er said, “You only need to be more careful. As the old saying goes, when eating, guard against choking; when walking, guard against falling.” Lin Chong was furious. He left Li Xiao’er’s house, first bought a short knife on the street and carried it on him, and searched the streets and lanes everywhere for Lu Qian. Li Xiao’er and his wife were sweating with fear.

That night passed without incident. The next morning Lin Chong washed and rinsed, took his knife, and searched all day in Cangzhou city and outside, through streets and lanes. There was no movement in the prison camp. Lin Chong returned to Li Xiao’er’s shop and said, “I did not see the man today.” Li Xiao’er said, “Benefactor, I hope all stays peaceful. Only be careful.” Lin Chong returned to the Hall of the Heavenly King and passed the night. He searched the streets for three, four, five days in a row, but found no trace. His vigilance gradually relaxed. On the sixth day, the camp commander summoned Lin Chong to the inspection hall and said, “You have been here a long time. For Squire Chai’s sake, I will promote you. Fifteen li outside the east gate is a large military forage depot. Every month people come to deliver grain and forage, and there are regular perquisites. An old soldier used to watch it. I now promote you to take his place and watch the forage depot. You can earn some spending money there. Go with the camp officer to take over.” Lin Chong answered, “I will go at once.” He left the camp and went straight to Li Xiao’er’s house. He said to the couple, “Today the camp commander sent me to watch the forage depot. What do you think?” Li Xiao’er said, “That post is better than watching the Hall of the Heavenly King. When grain and forage are collected, there are many benefits. Usually, without spending money on connections, you could not get this job.” Lin Chong said, “They are not harming me but giving me a good post. I do not know what they are planning.” Li Xiao’er said, “Benefactor, do not be suspicious. If all is peaceful, that is good. Only my home is far from there. In a while I will find time to visit you.” Li Xiao’er’s family prepared wine and food and invited Lin Chong to eat and drink.

We need not tell idle talk. The two parted. Lin Chong returned to the Hall of the Heavenly King, packed his luggage, took his sharp knife, took his spear, and together with the camp officer took leave of the camp commander and set out for the forage depot. It was deep winter. Dark clouds gathered, the north wind rose, and snow fell thickly from the sky. The snow grew heavier. A ci poem to the tune “Immortals by the River” describes the great snow:

Snowflakes fell in clumps and sheets in the air; such a great snow was truly astonishing.  
The Shan River froze and trapped Wang Ziyou’s boat.  
It was like a jade dragon shaking its scales and flying, filling rivers with snow.  
Towers and earth were all covered in white; the long sky drifted with snow like cotton.  
The whole world was silver; the banks of the Hebei River were frozen as if for ten years.

The snow fell thicker and thicker. Lin Chong and the camp officer could find no place to buy wine on the road. Soon they reached the forage depot. It was surrounded by a yellow earth wall, with two large gates. Pushing open the gates, inside were seven or eight thatched storehouses used as warehouses, piled everywhere with horse fodder, and in the middle two thatched halls. Entering the hall, they saw the old soldier warming himself by the fire. The camp officer said, “The camp commander has sent Lin Chong to take your place. You return to the Hall of the Heavenly King to watch there. Hand over at once.” The old soldier took the keys, led Lin Chong, and explained, “The storehouses all have official seals. Each pile of forage is recorded by number.” After counting the forage piles, the old soldier led Lin Chong into the thatched hall. The old soldier packed his luggage and said before leaving, “The brazier, pots, bowls, and pans are all left for you.” Lin Chong said, “I also have a set at the Hall of the Heavenly King. If you want them, take them.” The old soldier pointed to a large wine gourd hanging on the wall and said, “If you want to buy wine, go out of the forage depot and walk east two or three li. There is a village shop.” Then the old soldier followed the camp officer back to the prison camp.

Lin Chong spread his bedding on the bed and sat down to make a fire. There was a pile of charcoal by the wall. He put a few pieces into the earthen stove. Looking up at the thatched hut, the walls on all sides were broken and shook in the north wind. Lin Chong thought, “How can I spend the winter in this house? When the snow stops, I will go to the city and find a mason to repair it.” After warming himself a while, he felt cold. Remembering what the old soldier said about a shop two or three li away, he decided to buy some wine to warm himself. He took loose silver from his bundle, hung the wine gourd on his spear, covered the charcoal fire, put on his felt hat, took the keys, went out, and pulled the thatched hall door shut. At the main gate he locked the forage depot gate from the outside. Taking the keys, he walked east. He stepped through the snow, facing the north wind. The snow was falling hard.

After more than half a li, he saw a mountain spirit temple. Lin Chong bowed and prayed: “May the god protect me. Another day I will come burn paper money in thanks.” He walked on and saw a group of houses. Lin Chong stopped and saw a straw broom stuck outside a fence as a wine sign. Lin Chong went straight in. The shopkeeper asked, “Where does the guest come from?” Lin Chong said, “Do you recognize this gourd?” The shopkeeper looked and said, “This is the gourd of the old soldier at the forage depot.” Lin Chong said, “How do you know?” The shopkeeper said, “So you are the guard at the forage depot. Please sit. It is so cold today. First drink three cups as a welcome.” The shopkeeper cut a plate of cooked beef and warmed a pot of hot wine for Lin Chong. Lin Chong bought some more beef, drank a few cups, bought another gourd of wine, wrapped two pieces of beef, paid the silver, hung the gourd on his spear, put the beef in his bosom, thanked the shopkeeper, and went out. Facing the north wind, he walked back. It grew late, and the snow fell harder. A scholar of old wrote a ci poem about heavy snow in the eyes of the poor:

A bitter wind swept the earth, and great snow flew everywhere.  
Snowflakes were like torn cotton, each piece as big as a basket.  
Thatched huts in the woods were nearly crushed by the snow.  
Rich families said there was too little snow to drive away the miasma.  
They kept red charcoal fires and wore thick cotton clothes.  
They admired plum blossoms in their hands and praised the snow as a national auspicious sign, caring nothing for the hardships of the poor.  
Recluses closed their doors and lay down, writing many poems in praise of snow.

Lin Chong stepped through the great snow, faced the north wind, and hurried back to the gate of the forage depot. He opened the lock and went in. He could not help crying out in distress. Heaven’s justice was clear and protected the good man; this great snow had saved Lin Chong’s life. The two thatched halls had been crushed by the snow. Lin Chong thought, “What shall I do?” He put his spear and wine gourd in the snow, fearing the charcoal in the earthen stove would set the forage on fire. He moved aside the fallen wall boards, bent in, and looked. The fire inside had been put out by snow water. He felt around on the bed and found only a torn cotton quilt. Lin Chong crawled out of the ruins. It was already dark. He thought, “There is no place to make a fire. How will I spend the night?” Suddenly he remembered that half a li away there was a mountain spirit temple where he could stay. “I will stay in the temple tonight and think of something at dawn.” He rolled up the quilt, hung the wine gourd on his spear, pulled the gate shut and locked it as before, and walked toward the mountain spirit temple. Entering the temple, he closed the temple door. There was a large stone beside it. He moved it to block the door. Inside the temple hall was a golden-armored mountain god, with judges and imps on both sides, and paper piled by the wall. He looked around. There were no neighbors and no temple keeper. Lin Chong put his spear and wine gourd on the paper pile, spread the quilt, took off his felt hat, shook off the snow. His white cloth shirt was already half wet. He put the shirt and hat on the offering table, pulled the quilt over his lower body, took the cold wine from the gourd, and drank it with the beef from his bosom. As he ate, he heard a crackling sound outside. Lin Chong stood up and looked through a crack in the wall. The forage depot was on fire, blazing brightly.

When Lin Chong saw the forage depot burning on all sides, he took his spear and was about to open the door to fight the fire when he heard voices outside. Lin Chong hid in the temple and listened. There were three people walking toward the temple. They pushed the door, but it was blocked by the large stone and would not open. The three stood under the temple eaves watching the fire. One said, “Was this plan good?” Another answered, “Thanks to the camp commander and camp officer for their trouble. When we report back to the capital to the marshal, we will certainly recommend you for high office. This time Instructor Zhang will have no excuse to refuse.” Another said, “With Lin Chong disposed of this time, Gao Yanei’s illness will surely be cured.” Another said, “That old man Instructor Zhang—we sent people several times to persuade him, saying your son-in-law is already dead, but he still would not agree. The young lord’s illness grew worse, so the marshal specially sent us two to ask these two to handle it. Now the great work is done.” Another said, “I climbed into the wall and set a dozen torches around the haystacks. Lin Chong cannot escape even with wings!” Another said, “By now it is eighty percent burned.” Another said, “Even if he escaped by luck, burning the great army’s forage depot is a capital crime.” Someone said, “Let us return to the city.” Another said, “Let us watch a little longer. Pick up one or two of Lin Chong’s bones to take back to the capital. When the marshal and the young lord see them, they will know we did our job well.”

Lin Chong recognized the three: one was the camp officer, one was Inspector Lu, and one was Fu An. Lin Chong thought, “Heaven pitied me. If the thatched hall had not been crushed by the snow, I would certainly have been burned to death by these men.” Lin Chong gently moved the stone aside, gripped his spear, threw open the temple door, and shouted, “Where are you going, villains!” The three were frozen with fear and could not move. Lin Chong raised his spear and stabbed the camp officer first. Inspector Lu shouted for mercy, his hands and feet weak with fear, unable to run. Fu An had not run more than a dozen steps when Lin Chong caught up and stabbed him in the back. Lin Chong turned back. Lu Qian had only run three or four steps. Lin Chong shouted, “Villain, where do you think you are going!” He seized him by the chest and threw him into the snow. He planted his spear in the ground, put his foot on Lu Qian’s chest, took out his sharp knife, held it to Lu Qian’s face, and shouted, “Villain! You and I had no old grudge. Why did you harm me like this? Killing a man might be forgiven, but such a poisonous heart cannot be tolerated.” Inspector Lu begged, “This is not my doing. The marshal ordered it. I did not dare refuse.” Lin Chong cursed, “Villain! I have been friends with you since childhood, and today you came to harm me. How can you say it is not your doing? Take this knife!” He tore open Lu Qian’s clothes, thrust the knife into his heart, and blood poured from all seven openings. Lin Chong cut out his heart and liver. Turning, he saw the camp officer trying to crawl up and escape. Lin Chong pressed him down and shouted, “You evil man, you are just as poisonous! Take this knife.” With one stroke he cut off his head and stuck it on his spear. Then he cut off the heads of Fu An and Lu Qian. He put away his sharp knife, tied the three heads together by the hair, took them back into the temple, and placed them on the mountain god’s offering table. He put his white cloth shirt back on, tied his belt, put on his felt hat, and drank all the cold wine left in the gourd. He left the quilt and wine gourd behind. Taking his spear, he left the temple and fled east. Before he had gone three or five li, nearby villagers came with buckets and hooks to fight the fire. Lin Chong said casually, “Go quickly and fight the fire. I will go report to the authorities.” He carried his spear and went on. The snow fell even harder:

Cold air spread, mist darkened, and great snow fell from the sky.  
In a moment the fields were indistinguishable, and a thousand mountains showed no trace.  
A silver world, a jade universe, white and boundless all the way to distant Kunlun.  
If the snow fell until the third watch, it seemed it could fill the gates of heaven.

Lin Chong walked east for two double-hours. His clothes were thin and could not withstand the cold. In the snow he had already gone far from the forage depot. Ahead, deep in the woods, several thatched huts were pressed down by snow, and firelight shone through cracks in the broken walls. Lin Chong went straight to the hut, pushed open the door, and saw an old village elder sitting inside, with four or five farmhands around the earthen stove. The fire burned brightly. Lin Chong came forward and bowed. “Gentlemen, I am a runner from the prison camp. The snow has soaked my clothes. May I borrow the fire to dry them? Please do me this kindness.” The farmhands said, “Warm yourself. It does not matter.” Lin Chong dried his wet clothes. When they were a little dry, he saw a wine jar warming by the fire, giving off the fragrance of wine. Lin Chong said, “I have some loose silver. Could you sell me some wine to ward off the cold?” The old elder said, “We take turns watching the grain store every night. It is now the fourth watch, and it is very cold. This little wine is not enough for the several of us. We cannot spare any. Do not hope for it.” Lin Chong asked again, “Just give me three or five bowls to warm myself.” The old elder said, “Do not pester us.” Lin Chong smelled the wine and wanted it more. He kept begging. The farmhands said, “We kindly let you warm yourself, and now you ask for wine. Go quickly, or we will tie you up here.” Lin Chong flew into a rage. “You are too unreasonable!” He used his spear to lift a burning piece of firewood and thrust it at the old elder’s face. Then he stirred the fire with his spear, and the old man’s beard caught fire. The farmhands all jumped up. Lin Chong struck left and right with the spear shaft. The old elder ran first. The farmhands could not resist and all fled. Lin Chong said, “They have all run away. Just let me drink my fill.” There were two coconut ladles on the earthen bed. He took one, scooped wine from the jar, and drank half of it. Then he took his spear and went out to continue on his way. He stumbled, one step high and one low, unable to walk steadily. Before he had gone a li, the north wind blew, and he fell by a mountain stream and could not get up. A drunk man, once fallen, finds it hard to rise. Lin Chong lay drunk in the snow.

The farmhands came back with more than twenty men carrying clubs. They did not see Lin Chong in the hut. Following his tracks, they found him lying in the snow. The farmhands said, “So you fell here.” His spear lay to one side. They seized him, tied him with ropes, and in the fifth watch escorted him to a certain place. That place would lead to later events: in Liao’er Marsh, a thousand warships would be arrayed; in the Liangshan stronghold, a hundred heroes would gather. It would alarm the emperor in the palace and make him tremble on the dragon throne. As the saying goes, when this story is told, killing intent presses on men, and a mournful wind chills the bones. Where did the farmhands take Lin Chong? Listen to the next chapter for the answer.