Song Gongming Crosses Yijin Pass by Night; Scholar Wu Yong Cleverly Takes Wen’an County

There is a lyric to the tune of Xijiang Yue: The Liao troops invaded the border from behind the mountains, And the Great Song emperor sent out troops to punish them. The band of Liangshan Marsh, like the stars of Heaven, Received the imperial edict, had their crimes wiped away, and submitted to the court. Shi Qian secretly set fires, And Shi Xiu worked with him. Lightly and easily they took Yongping City; This merit will be admired even a thousand years later. Now to tell the story: Vice Minister Ouyang said to the Liao king, “Song Jiang and his men are all heroes and good fellows of Liangshan Marsh. Now the little emperor of Great Song has the government controlled by the four treacherous ministers Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, and Yang Jian. These men envy the talented; men of ability cannot be promoted. Unless one is their confidant, they will not employ him; unless one sends them money, they will not put him in an important post. As time goes on, how can they tolerate Song Jiang and his company? In my opinion, Your Majesty could grant them high office and send......