Scholar Wu Persuades the Three Ruan Brothers to Join the Venture; Gongsun Sheng Answers the Seven Stars’ Righteous Gathering

A poem says:

Heroes meet without any fixed day;  
By the marsh they wait for orders.  
To seize the many treasures of the birthday convoy,  
They specially invite the three Ruan brothers to plan the clever scheme.  
For a time these heroes dare defy the government;  
The light of the seven stars startles the heavenly palace.  
Together they hold Liangshan and gather in righteousness,  
And countless gold and silver treasures are all seized back.

Now Wu Yong said, “I have been thinking. There are three men full of courage, highly skilled in martial arts, willing to brave boiling water and fire, able to live and die together, and valuing loyalty above all. Only if we get these three can this great matter be accomplished.” Chao Gai asked, “What sort of men are these three? What are their names, and where do they live?” Wu Yong said, “They are three brothers, living in Stone Tablet Village by Liangshan Marsh in Jizhou. They make their living by fishing, and they have also done smuggling on the lake. Their surname is Ruan. The eldest is Ruan the Second, the Standing Earthly Titan. The second is Ruan the Fifth, the Short-Lived Second Brother. The third is Ruan the Seventh, the Living King of Hell. These three are brothers by one mother, and they are deeply loyal. I once lived there for several years and became friends with them. Though they do not understand poetry or books, they are sincere, loyal, and true heroes. That is why I often associated with them. It has now been two or three years since I last saw them. If we can get these three, the great matter will surely succeed.” Chao Gai said, “I have also heard the names of the three Ruan brothers, but I have never met them. Stone Tablet Village is only about a hundred li from here. Why not send someone to invite them here to discuss it?” Wu Yong said, “If we send someone to invite them, they will not be willing to come. I must go myself and use my tongue to persuade them to join.” Chao Gai was very pleased. “You think of everything, Scholar. When will you set out?” Wu Yong answered, “There is no time to lose. I will set out at the third watch tonight, and by noon tomorrow I will be there.” Chao Gai said, “That is best.” He at once told the farmhands to prepare wine and food. Wu Yong said, “I once traveled the road from the Northern Capital to the Eastern Capital, but I do not know which road the birthday convoy will take. I will have to trouble Brother Liu Tang to make a trip and go by night to the road from the Northern Capital to find out the date they set out and confirm which main road they will take.” Liu Tang said, “I will set out tonight.” Wu Yong said, “Wait a little. Grand Preceptor Cai’s birthday is the fifteenth of the sixth month. It is only the fifth month now, and there are still forty or fifty days. After I first persuade the three Ruan brothers and return, then I will send Liu Tang to investigate.” Chao Gai said, “That is fine. Brother Liu can wait at my manor.”

We need not tell idle talk. That day the men ate and drank for a long time. At the third watch, Wu Yong rose, washed, ate some dry provisions, took silver, and put on straw sandals. Chao Gai and Liu Tang saw him out the manor gate. Wu Yong hurried by night to Stone Tablet Village. By noon he reached the village. He saw:

Green peaks rising in layers, mulberry and cudrania trees thick as clouds.  
A ring of flowing water surrounded the lonely village;  
A few sparse bamboo groves grew along the path.  
Thatched huts leaned against the mountain stream; old trees formed dense woods.  
Outside the fence a wine banner hung high;  
In the willow shade a fishing boat was tied.

Wu Yong already knew the way and did not need to ask. He went straight into Stone Tablet Village and headed for Ruan the Second’s house. At the door he saw several small fishing boats tied to dead tree stumps, and a torn fishing net drying outside the sparse fence. The house stood by the mountain and water, with more than a dozen thatched rooms. Wu Yong called, “Is the Second Brother at home?” A man came out of the house. He looked like this:

A hollow face, two eyebrows slanting upward, a wide mouth, and tight facial muscles.  
A patch of yellow hair on his chest, ribs protruding from his back.  
His arms had the strength of a thousand catties; his eyes shot cold light.  
People called him the Standing Earthly Titan; truly he was like a demon king of the world.

Ruan the Second came out wearing a torn headwrap, old clothes, and bare feet. Seeing Wu Yong, he quickly bowed. “Why has the Scholar come? What wind blew you here?” Wu Yong answered, “A small matter has brought me specially to trouble you, Second Brother.” Ruan the Second said, “What is it? Tell me.” Wu Yong said, “I left here two years ago. Now I am a teacher in a rich household. My master is preparing a banquet and needs a dozen or so golden carp weighing fourteen or fifteen catties each. I came specially to ask your help.” Ruan the Second laughed. “First drink three cups with me, Scholar, and then we will talk.” Wu Yong said, “I came here intending to drink a few cups with you too.” Ruan the Second said, “There is a wine shop across the lake. Let us go by boat.” Wu Yong said, “Very good. I also want to speak with the Fifth Brother. Is he at home?” Ruan the Second said, “Let us go find him together.”

The two went to the lake, untied a small boat, helped Wu Yong aboard, and sat down. Ruan the Second took up the oar and rowed toward the middle of the lake. As they rowed, Ruan the Second raised his hand and shouted, “Seventh Brother, have you seen the Fifth Brother?” Wu Yong looked and saw a boat row out from the reeds. The man looked like this:

A lumpy face with strange flesh; eyes bulging outward.  
Light yellow beard of uneven length on his cheeks; black spots on his body.  
He seemed forged from pig iron, cast from hard copper.  
Do not speak of evil gods in temples; he was a hard man in the world.  
The village called him the Living King of Hell, like a judge of the underworld.

Ruan the Seventh wore a black bamboo hat, a plaid cloth vest, and a coarse cloth apron. He rowed and asked, “Second Brother, why are you looking for the Fifth Brother?” Wu Yong called, “Seventh Brother, I came specially to discuss a matter with you.” Ruan the Seventh said, “Forgive me, Scholar. It has been a long time.” Wu Yong said, “Come with your Second Brother and have a cup of wine.” Ruan the Seventh said, “I also want to drink with you, Scholar. It has been a long time since we met.”

The two boats moved together across the lake. Soon they reached a place surrounded by water on all sides, with seven or eight thatched huts on a high earthen slope. Ruan the Second called, “Mother, is the Fifth Brother at home?” The old woman said, “Do not speak of him. He could not catch fish, and he has been gambling for days. He lost everything. Just now he took the hairpin from my head and went to town to gamble.” Ruan the Second smiled and rowed away. Ruan the Seventh said from the boat behind, “Brother, I do not know what is wrong. He keeps losing at gambling. What bad luck. Do not speak of him not winning; I have lost everything too.” Wu Yong thought to himself, “My plan has hope.”

The two boats went side by side toward the town at Stone Tablet Village. After rowing half an hour, by a single-plank bridge, a man holding two strings of copper coins came to untie a boat. Ruan the Second said, “The Fifth Brother is here.” Wu Yong looked at him:

His hands were like iron rods, his eyes like brass bells.  
His face often wore a smile, but his heart hid cruelty.  
He easily brought disaster and stirred up trouble.  
One punch could frighten a lion; one kick could terrify a poisonous snake.  
No need to seek a plague god; this was the Short-Lived Second Brother.

Ruan the Fifth wore a torn headwrap askew, with a pomegranate flower stuck at his temple. He wore an old cloth shirt, and a blue leopard was tattooed on his chest. His trousers were tightly tied, and a plaid cloth towel was wrapped around his waist. Wu Yong called, “Fifth Brother, how is your luck?” Ruan the Fifth said, “So it is the Scholar. I have not seen you for two years. I have been watching you from the bridge for a while.” Ruan the Second said, “The Scholar and I went to your house to find you. Mother said you had gone to town to gamble, so we came to look for you. Let us go to the water pavilion and drink a few cups.” Ruan the Fifth quickly untied a small boat at the bridge, jumped in, and took up the oar. The three boats moved together. After rowing a while, they came to a waterside wine shop. They saw:

In front it faced the lake; behind it reflected the water.  
Dozens of locust and willow trees were green as smoke;  
Several patches of lotus flowers reddened the water.  
The cool pavilion had bright windows on all sides; the water chamber was elegant.  
The wine-selling girl wore a red skirt and green gauze blouse;  
The old man washing dishes had white hair and a hemp jacket.  
No need to speak of getting drunk on Yueyang Tower; this was like the immortal isle of Penglai.

The three boats stopped beneath the water pavilion in the lotus marsh and were tied up. They helped Wu Yong ashore and entered the wine shop. They chose a set of red-lacquered tables and chairs in the water pavilion. Ruan the Second said, “Scholar, do not blame us brothers for being rough. Please take the seat of honor.” Wu Yong said, “I would not dare.” Ruan the Seventh said, “Elder Brother sits in the host seat, the Scholar in the guest seat, and we two brothers will sit first.” Wu Yong said, “Seventh Brother is truly impatient.” The four sat down and called the waiter to bring a bucket of wine. The waiter set out four large cups, four pairs of chopsticks, four side dishes, and a bucket of wine on the table. Ruan the Seventh asked, “What do you have to go with the wine?” The waiter said, “We have just killed a yellow ox. The fat meat is as good as flower cakes.” Ruan the Second said, “Cut ten catties of large chunks of beef.” Ruan the Fifth said, “Scholar, do not laugh at us. We have nothing good to entertain you.” Wu Yong said, “I am the one troubling you. I am truly embarrassed.” Ruan the Second said, “Do not say that.” He urged the waiter to pour wine. Soon two large plates of beef were brought. The three Ruan brothers urged Wu Yong to eat a few pieces. Wu Yong could eat no more. The three brothers wolfed down a great meal.

Ruan the Fifth asked, “Scholar, what business brings you here?” Ruan the Second said, “The Scholar is now teaching in a rich household. He wants to buy a dozen or so golden carp weighing fourteen or fifteen catties, so he came specially to us.” Ruan the Seventh said, “Usually we could get thirty or fifty, let alone a dozen. Even more would be no problem. But now it is hard to find even ten-catty fish.” Ruan the Fifth said, “The Scholar has come from afar. We can gather about ten fish of five or six catties and give them to you.” Wu Yong said, “I have brought plenty of silver and will pay the price. I do not want small fish. I must have fourteen or fifteen-catty fish.” Ruan the Seventh said, “Scholar, we truly cannot find them. Even the five or six-catty fish the Fifth Brother mentioned cannot be gathered all at once. We would have to wait several days. I have a bucket of small fish in my boat. Let us bring it to go with the wine.” Ruan the Seventh went back to the boat and brought up a bucket of small fish, about five or seven catties. He cooked them himself in the kitchen, put them on three plates, and brought them to the table. Ruan the Seventh said, “Scholar, try a little.”

The four drank again for a while, and the sky slowly darkened. Wu Yong thought, “It is not convenient to speak of the great matter in the wine shop. Tonight I will stay at their home and discuss it slowly there.” Ruan the Second said, “It is late. Please stay at my house tonight, Scholar. Tomorrow we will discuss buying fish.” Wu Yong said, “It was not easy for me to come. It is rare that you brothers are together. It seems I will not have to pay for this drinking bout. Tonight I will stay at your house, Second Brother. I have brought some silver. Please buy a jar of wine and some meat from the shop, and a pair of chickens from the village. Tonight we will drink freely again. What do you say?” Ruan the Second said, “Why should the Scholar spend money? We brothers will prepare it. Do not worry about wine and food.” Wu Yong said, “This time I am specially treating the three of you. If you do not agree, I will take my leave now.” Ruan the Seventh said, “Since the Scholar says so, let us obey him and settle it after we drink.” Wu Yong said, “Seventh Brother is straightforward and quick.” Wu Yong took out one tael of silver and gave it to Ruan the Seventh. He bought a jar of wine, twenty catties of raw and cooked beef, and a pair of large chickens from the shop. Ruan the Second said, “My wine bill will be settled together.” The shopkeeper said, “Good, good.”

The four left the wine shop, boarded the boats again, put the wine and meat in the cabin, untied the ropes, and rowed back to Ruan the Second’s house. They went ashore, tied the boats to wooden stakes, carried the wine and meat, and sat down in the rear courtyard. They lit lamps and candles. Of the three Ruan brothers, only Ruan the Second had a wife and family. Ruan the Fifth and Ruan the Seventh had no wives. The four sat in the water pavilion behind Ruan the Second’s house. Ruan the Seventh killed the chickens and told his sister-in-law and a young servant to prepare them in the kitchen. Around the first watch, the wine and dishes were all set on the table.

Wu Yong urged the three brothers to drink a few cups, then brought up the matter of buying fish again and asked, “Such a great stretch of water—why are there no big fish like that?” Ruan the Second said, “To tell you the truth, Scholar, such big fish are only in Liangshan Marsh. Our Stone Tablet Lake is too small to raise big fish.” Wu Yong said, “This place is not far from Liangshan Marsh, and the waters are connected. Why not go there to fish?” Ruan the Second gave a long sigh. “Do not speak of it.” Wu Yong asked again, “Why do you sigh, Second Brother?” Ruan the Fifth cut in, “Scholar, you do not know. In the past Liangshan Marsh was our rice bowl. Now we do not dare go there at all.” Wu Yong said, “Such a great place—does the government forbid fishing?” Ruan the Fifth said, “What government dares forbid fishing? Even the King of Hell could not control it!” Wu Yong said, “Since the government does not forbid it, why do you not dare go?” Ruan the Fifth said, “Scholar, you do not know the reason. Let me tell you in detail.” Wu Yong said, “I do not know.” Ruan the Seventh continued, “That place Liangshan Marsh—it is a long story! Now a band of strongmen has come and occupied the lake. They do not allow us to fish.” Wu Yong said, “I never heard that. So there are strongmen there.” Ruan the Second said, “That band of strongmen: the chief is a failed scholar called Wang Lun, the White-Robed Scholar. The second is Du Qian, Touch the Sky. The third is Song Wan, Cloud-Capped Vajra. There is also Zhu Gui, the Dry-Land Crocodile, who keeps a wine shop at Li Family Crossing and gathers information. He is not considered very formidable. Recently a new hero came, an instructor of the Imperial Guard from the Eastern Capital, Panther Head Lin Chong. His martial skill is very high. These men are powerful. There are five or seven hundred of them, robbing houses and plundering travelers. We have not dared go fishing on the lake for more than a year. They guard the lake and cut off our livelihood. It is a long story!” Wu Yong said, “I truly did not know this. Why does the government not go arrest them?” Ruan the Fifth said, “Now when government troops move, they bring disaster to the people. As soon as they come to the countryside, they eat up the people’s pigs, sheep, chickens, and ducks, and make the people pay for their food. Now they cannot do anything about the strongmen. Those bandit-catching runners do not dare go to the countryside. When their superiors send them to arrest, they are frightened out of their wits. How would they dare face the strongmen?” Ruan the Second said, “Although we cannot catch big fish, we have avoided a lot of government taxes and labor levies.” Wu Yong said, “In that case, those strongmen are quite happy.” Ruan the Fifth said, “They fear neither heaven nor earth, nor the government. They divide gold and silver by weight, wear silk and brocade, drink whole jars of wine, and eat big pieces of meat. How could they not be happy! We brothers have skill, but when will we be like them?” Wu Yong heard this and was secretly pleased. “I can carry out my plan.”

Ruan the Seventh said again, “A man lives one generation, grass lives one autumn. We fish every day to make a living. If we could be as happy as they are for even one day, that would be good.” Wu Yong said, “What is there to learn from such people? The business they do—if caught, it is not a matter of a few dozen strokes. They waste their skills. Once the government catches them, they cannot escape the crime.” Ruan the Second said, “Now the officials are muddled. Many who commit monstrous crimes get off safely. We brothers live miserably. If someone would lead us, we would simply go too!” Ruan the Fifth said, “I often think the same. We three brothers are no less capable than others. It is only that no one recognizes us.” Wu Yong said, “Suppose someone recognized you. Would you be willing to follow him?” Ruan the Seventh said, “If someone recognized us, we would go through water and fire. If we could live happily for one day, we would die content.” Wu Yong thought, “These three are already moved. I will gradually draw them in.” Wu Yong urged them to drink two more rounds. Truly:

Men of talent are wronged by the world;  
Heaven sends heroes down to the mortal realm.  
See the three Ruan brothers—  
They will seize the ill-gotten birthday convoy.

Wu Yong said again, “Would you three dare go to Liangshan Marsh and arrest those strongmen?” Ruan the Seventh said, “Even if we caught them, where would we go to claim the reward? And heroes of the rivers and lakes would laugh at us.” Wu Yong said, “I was short-sighted. Since you hate that you cannot fish, why not go and join them? What do you say?” Ruan the Second said, “Scholar, you do not know. We brothers have discussed joining them several times. I heard Wang Lun, the White-Robed Scholar, is narrow-minded and cannot tolerate able men. Earlier when Lin Chong came up the mountain, he suffered much from Wang Lun. Wang Lun will not easily take in outsiders. Seeing this, we all gave up the idea.” Ruan the Seventh said, “If only they were as generous as you, Scholar, and cherished us brothers.” Ruan the Fifth said, “If Wang Lun had a tenth of your loyalty, Scholar, we would have gone up the mountain long ago. We would not wait until today. We three brothers would be willing to die for you!” Wu Yong said, “My little skill is not worth mentioning! There are many heroes in Shandong and Hebei.” Ruan the Second said, “There are many good men, but we brothers have never met one.” Wu Yong said, “Have you heard of Squire Chao of East Creek Village in Yuncheng County?” Ruan the Fifth said, “Do you mean Chao Gai, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King?” Wu Yong said, “That is he.” Ruan the Seventh said, “Although he is only a hundred li from us, fate has not allowed us to meet. We have only heard his name.” Wu Yong said, “Such a righteous and generous hero—why not go and become acquainted with him?” Ruan the Second said, “We have no business there, so we have not met.” Wu Yong said, “For the past few years I have been teaching near Squire Chao’s manor. Now I have learned that he has a fortune to seize. I came specially to discuss it with you. What if we intercept this wealth on the road?” Ruan the Fifth said, “That will not do. He is a righteous hero. If we rob him, heroes of the rivers and lakes will laugh at us.” Wu Yong said, “I thought your hearts were not firm. Now I see you truly value loyalty. Let me tell you the truth. If you are willing to help, I will tell you the real situation. I am now at Squire Chao’s manor. The squire has long heard of your three great names and specially sent me to invite you to discuss a great matter.” Ruan the Second said, “What we brothers said came from the heart, not a word false. Squire Chao must have a great enterprise and wants to raise us up, so he sent you. If there is truly such a great matter, and we three refuse to risk our lives to help, then let us swear by this leftover wine: may we meet with disaster, serious illness, and no good death.” Ruan the Fifth and Ruan the Seventh slapped their necks and said, “This hot blood of ours is only willing to be sold to a hero who knows its worth!” Wu Yong said, “Three brothers, I did not mean to deceive you. This matter is no small thing. Now Grand Preceptor Cai’s birthday is the fifteenth of the sixth month. His son-in-law, Grand Secretary Liang of Daming Prefecture, is sending one hundred thousand strings of gold, silver, and jewels to the Eastern Capital as birthday gifts for his father-in-law. A good man, Liu Tang, came specially to report it. We plan to ask you to discuss it together, gather several heroes, and seize this ill-gotten wealth on a quiet mountain road, so that we can all live happily for the rest of our lives. That is why I pretended to buy fish and came to ask you three to discuss it and accomplish this great deed. What do you three say?” When Ruan the Fifth heard this, he shouted, “Good! Good!” He turned to Ruan the Seventh and said, “Seventh Brother, what I said before was right, was it not?” Ruan the Seventh jumped up and said, “What I have hoped for all my life has come true today. It speaks exactly to my heart. When do we set out?” Wu Yong said, “You three prepare now. At the fifth watch tomorrow, we will go together to Chao the Heavenly King’s manor.” The three Ruan brothers were overjoyed. A poem says:

Their long-cherished ambition had nowhere to be used;  
Today they heard the Scholar awaken their hearts.  
The men gather at Liangshan Marsh  
To seize the birthday gifts of gold and silver.

That night they rested. Early the next morning, after breakfast, the three Ruan brothers gave instructions at home, then followed Wu Yong. The four left Stone Tablet Village and hurried toward East Creek Village. They walked all day. Far off they saw Chao Gai’s manor. Chao Gai and Liu Tang were waiting under the locust tree. When they saw Wu Yong coming with the three Ruan brothers, they came forward to meet them. Chao Gai was delighted. “The three heroes of the Ruan family truly deserve their reputation. Please come into the manor and tell us in detail.” The six entered the manor and sat down in the rear hall according to host and guest. Wu Yong told them what had happened. Chao Gai was very pleased and told the farmhands to kill pigs and sheep and prepare incense and paper. The three Ruan brothers saw that Chao Gai had extraordinary bearing and spoke generously. They said, “We love to befriend heroes. We never thought a hero was so near. If not for Scholar Wu’s introduction, how could we have met?” The three brothers were full of joy. That night they ate and talked until late. The next morning at dawn, paper money and horses were set out in front of the rear hall, along with boiled pig and sheep and incense and paper. The three Ruan brothers saw Chao Gai’s sincerity. With incense and candles before them, they all swore: “Grand Secretary Liang in the Northern Capital harms the people and squeezes out wealth to send to the Eastern Capital as birthday gifts for Grand Preceptor Cai. This is ill-gotten wealth. Among us six, if anyone harbors selfish intentions, may Heaven and Earth destroy him, and may the gods bear witness.” After the six swore the oath, they burned the paper money.

The six heroes drank in the rear hall to celebrate. A farmhand came to report, “At the gate there is a Daoist who asks to see the squire. He wants to beg for food.” Chao Gai said, “Why are you so foolish! I am entertaining guests and drinking. Give him three or five pints of rice and send him away. Why report to me?” The farmhand said, “I gave him rice, but he would not take it. He insists on seeing the squire face to face.” Chao Gai said, “He must think it too little. Give him two or three pecks of rice. Tell him the squire is entertaining guests today and has no time to meet him.” The farmhand went and returned after a long time. “I gave him three pecks of rice, but he still will not leave. He calls himself the Daoist Yiqing. He did not come for money or grain. He only asks to see the squire once.” Chao Gai said, “You do not know how to answer. Tell him I truly have no time today and ask him to come another day for tea.” The farmhand said, “I said that too. The Daoist said, ‘I did not come to beg for rice. I heard the squire is a righteous man and came specially to see him.’” Chao Gai said, “This man is so persistent and does not spare me any trouble. If he still thinks it too little, give him three or four more pecks of rice. Do not report again. If I had no guests, I would go out and see him. It would be nothing. Go send him away and do not report again.” Less than half an hour after the farmhand left, shouting was heard outside the manor gate. Another farmhand ran in and reported, “That Daoist is angry and has knocked down more than a dozen farmhands!” Chao Gai was startled. He quickly rose. “Brothers, sit a moment. I will go out and see.” He went from the rear hall to the manor gate and saw the Daoist. He was eight feet tall, with a dignified Daoist look and unusual features. He was beating the farmhands under the locust tree outside the gate. Look at this Daoist:

On his head were two loose buns of hair.  
He wore a short Bashan Daoist robe, with a colored silk belt at his waist.  
On his back was an ancient bronze sword.  
He wore barefoot multi-eared hemp sandals and held a turtle-shell fan.  
He had character-eight eyebrows, apricot eyes, a large square mouth, and a full beard.

The Daoist beat the farmhands and said, “You do not know a good man!” Chao Gai shouted, “Sir, calm your anger. You came to find Squire Chao, no doubt to beg for food. I already gave you rice. Why are you angry?” The Daoist laughed loudly. “I, a poor Daoist, did not come for wine, food, money, or grain. One hundred thousand strings of treasure is nothing in my eyes. I came specially to speak with the squire about a great matter. I hate that your farmhands were rude and insulted me, so I lost my temper.” Chao Gai said, “Do you know Squire Chao?” The Daoist said, “I have long heard his name, but have never met him.” Chao Gai said, “I am he. What does the sir wish to say?” The Daoist looked at Chao Gai. “Do not blame me, Squire. I pay my respects.” Chao Gai said, “Please come into the manor and have tea.” The Daoist said, “Thank you.” The two entered the manor. When Wu Yong saw the Daoist come in, he took Liu Tang and the three Ruan brothers and temporarily withdrew.

Chao Gai invited the Daoist into the rear hall and gave him tea. The Daoist said, “It is not convenient to speak here. Is there another quiet room?” Chao Gai led him into a small chamber and the two sat down. Chao Gai asked, “May I ask your honorable surname, sir, and where you are from?” The Daoist answered, “My surname is Gongsun, my given name Sheng. My Daoist name is Master Yiqing. I am from Jizhou. From childhood I learned spear and staff and acquired many martial skills. People call me Gongsun Sheng the Elder. I also learned Daoist arts. I can call wind and rain, ride clouds and mist. People of the rivers and lakes call me the Dragon in the Clouds. I have long heard the great name of the squire of East Creek Village, but have had no chance to meet you. Now there are one hundred thousand strings of gold, silver, and jewels. I have come specially to present them as a gift to you, Squire. Would a righteous man be willing to accept them?” Chao Gai laughed loudly. “What you speak of, sir, is surely the birthday convoy from the north?” The Daoist was greatly startled. “How does the squire know?” Chao Gai said, “I only guessed. I do not know if it is the same matter you mean.” Gongsun Sheng said, “This fortune must not be missed! The ancients said, when it is time to take, take it; afterward do not regret it. What does the squire think?”

Just as they were speaking, a man suddenly rushed in from outside the door, seized Gongsun Sheng by the chest, and shouted, “Well done! There may be laws of the state in the open, but there are ghosts and gods in the dark. How dare you discuss such a deed? I have been listening for a long time!” Gongsun Sheng turned pale with fright. Truly: before the plan was completed, someone was already listening outside the window; just as the scheme was being made, disaster arose inside the house. It would bring seven heroes together here, and ten thousand strings of wealth would change hands in a moment. Who exactly rushed in and seized Gongsun Sheng? Listen to the next chapter for the answer.