The Muddy River Dragon Makes a Small Alliance at Lake Tai; Song Gongming Gathers the Hosts at Suzhou

A poem says: They cannot see life and death, yet recklessly flaunt their might; Good fortune and disaster always come together. The world knows only that warriors pacify rebellion, But seldom sees a general live to see the realm at peace. With a loyal heart of his own, he never flattered or submitted; Who would have thought Heaven’s justice is sometimes not clear? For merits like those of Han Xin and Peng Yue, later men can hardly tell the outcome— Just as when the hare is caught, the hunting dog is cooked. The story tells that at that time the commanders rescued Song Jiang, and only after a long while did he come to. He said to Wu Yong and the others, “I fear we shall not be able to take Fang La this time. Ever since we crossed the Yangtze, nothing has gone smoothly, and we have lost eight of our brothers one after another!” Wu Yong urged him, “Do not say such things, Commander, lest you shake the army’s morale. When we campaigned against Liao, all returned safely to the capital—that was Heaven’s will. Now the brothers who have fallen have each reached the end of......