Yang Zhi Escorts the Gold and Silver Loads; Wu Yong Outwits Him to Seize the Birthday Gifts

Yang Zhi Escorts the Gold and Silver Loads; Wu Yong Outwits Him to Seize the Birthday Gifts

A ci poem to the tune “Partridge in the Sky” says:

The Heavenly Spirits rise in Shandong;  
Fierce heroes range freely through the marsh.  
Seven stars gather in one place,  
Showing their heroic mettle to the world.  
Men fierce as tigers, horses swift as dragons,  
On Yellow Earth Ridge they craft a clever scheme.  
Cartloads of gold and silver are hauled back to the stronghold,  
Making Grand Secretary Liang regret it bitterly.

Now Gongsun Sheng was in the small room speaking to Chao Gai: “These birthday gifts from the Northern Capital are ill-gotten wealth. There is nothing wrong with us taking them.” Suddenly a man rushed in from outside, seized Gongsun Sheng by the chest, and shouted, “You are very bold! I have heard everything you were just discussing!” This man was none other than the Resourceful Star, Wu Yong. Chao Gai laughed and said, “Do not be alarmed, Scholar. Come and meet him.” The two bowed to each other. Wu Yong said, “I have long heard in the rivers and lakes of the great name of Gongsun Sheng, Master Yiqing, the Dragon in the Clouds. I never expected to meet you here today.” Chao Gai said, “This scholar is the Resourceful Star, Wu Yong.” Gongsun Sheng said, “Many people in the rivers and lakes have spoken of the great name of Master Jialiang. I never expected to meet you at the squire’s manor. The squire is righteous and generous, which is why heroes from all under heaven come to him.” Chao Gai said, “There are several other brothers I know inside. Let us all go to the inner rear hall to meet.” The three went into the rear hall and met Liu Tang and the three Ruan brothers one by one.

Everyone said, “This gathering today is no accident. Please, Brother Squire, sit in the seat of honor.” Chao Gai said, “I am only an ordinary manor lord. I have nothing precious to entertain you heroes. How dare I sit in the highest seat?” Wu Yong said, “Brother Squire, listen to me. Sit first.” Chao Gai had no choice but to sit in the first seat. Wu Yong took the second, Gongsun Sheng the third, Liu Tang the fourth, Ruan the Second the fifth, Ruan the Fifth the sixth, and Ruan the Seventh the seventh. The seven gathered together, spread wine, and celebrated. Fresh wine and dishes were set out, and everyone drank freely.

Wu Yong said, “The squire once dreamed that the seven stars of the Northern Dipper fell upon his roof. Today we seven gather in righteousness, exactly matching the heavenly sign. This fortune can be seized easily. The seven of us plot this matter in secret, and no outsider knows. Master Gongsun Sheng is a righteous hero of the rivers and lakes, so when he learned the news, he came specially to join the squire. Earlier we planned to send Brother Liu Tang to investigate the route of the birthday convoy. Today it is late. Tomorrow morning he will set out.” Gongsun Sheng said, “There is no need to send anyone. I have already found out clearly. They will come by the main road through Yellow Earth Ridge.” Chao Gai said, “Ten li east of Yellow Earth Ridge is Peace Village. In the village there is an idler named Bai Sheng, the Daytime Rat. He once came to me, and I gave him travel money.” Wu Yong said, “That white light beside the seven stars of the Northern Dipper may well correspond to this man. We can use him when the time comes.” Liu Tang said, “Yellow Earth Ridge is far from here. Where will we hide?” Wu Yong said, “We will stay at Bai Sheng’s house. That will be our base, and we will need Bai Sheng’s help in this matter.” Chao Gai asked, “Master Wu, shall we take it by force or by clever scheme?” Wu Yong laughed and said, “I have already arranged the trap. We will see how they come. If we can take it by force, we take it by force; if we can take it by scheme, we take it by scheme. I have a plan. I do not know what you all think of it. It goes like this…” When Chao Gai heard it, he was overjoyed. He stamped his foot and said, “What a wonderful plan! No wonder you are called the Resourceful Star. Your wisdom surpasses Zhuge Liang!” Wu Yong said, “Speak softly. As the saying goes, walls have ears, and someone may be listening outside the window. This matter must be known only to you and me.” Chao Gai then arranged: “The three Ruan brothers will go home first and come back to my manor on the appointed day. Master Wu will return to his teaching as before. Master Gongsun and Liu Tang will stay at my manor for now.” That day they drank until evening and then each went to rest.

The next day at the fifth watch, everyone rose and ate breakfast. Chao Gai took out thirty taels of silver and gave them to the three Ruan brothers. “A small gift. Please do not refuse.” The three Ruan brothers would not accept. Wu Yong said, “It is a friend’s kind intention. Do not refuse.” Only then did the three brothers take the silver. Everyone saw them out the manor gate. Wu Yong leaned close to the three Ruan brothers and whispered instructions: “Remember to do exactly this. On the appointed day, there must be no mistake.” The three Ruan brothers said farewell and returned to Stone Tablet Village. Chao Gai kept Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, and Liu Tang at the manor, discussing the great matter every day.

We need not tell idle talk. Now Grand Secretary Liang of Daming Prefecture had prepared all one hundred thousand strings of birthday gifts for his father-in-law and chosen a day to send them. One day Grand Secretary Liang sat in the rear hall. Lady Cai asked, “Husband, when will the birthday convoy set out?” Grand Secretary Liang said, “The gifts are all ready. They will set out the day after tomorrow. There is only one thing I cannot decide.” Lady Cai asked, “What is troubling you?” Grand Secretary Liang said, “Last year I spent one hundred thousand strings on gold, silver, and jewels and sent them to the Eastern Capital. Because I chose the wrong man, bandits robbed them on the road, and to this day the robbers have not been caught. This year, among my officers, I cannot find a reliable man to escort them, so I am caught between two choices.” Lady Cai pointed below the steps and said, “You often say this man is highly skilled. Why not have him sign a document and escort the birthday gifts? There will be no mistake.” Grand Secretary Liang looked and saw that the man below the steps was the Blue-Faced Beast, Yang Zhi. Grand Secretary Liang was very pleased. He at once called Yang Zhi up to the hall and said, “I nearly forgot you. If you can deliver the birthday gifts safely, I will certainly promote you.” Yang Zhi bowed with hands clasped. “Your Excellency’s command—I dare not disobey. But I do not know how you plan to arrange it, or when we set out.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “Daming Prefecture will prepare ten large carts and assign ten imperial guards to watch the carts. Each cart will fly a yellow flag reading ‘Birthday Gifts for the Grand Preceptor.’ Each cart will also have a soldier following. We set out within three days.” Yang Zhi said, “It is not that I shirk, but this way truly will not do. Please choose another capable man, Your Excellency.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “I intend to promote you. I will specially recommend you in the letter I send to the Grand Preceptor. When the matter is done, I guarantee you will receive an official post at court. Why do you make excuses?” Yang Zhi said, “Your Excellency, I have heard that last year’s birthday gifts were robbed on the road, and the robbers have still not been caught. This year there are even more bandits on the road, and it is very dangerous. To the Eastern Capital there is no water route; it is all dry road. We must pass Purple Gold Mountain, Two Dragon Mountain, Peach Blossom Mountain, Umbrella Ridge, Yellow Earth Ridge, White Sand Ford, Wild Cloud Crossing, and Red Pine Forest. These places are all haunts of bandits. Even lone merchants do not dare pass alone. If they know the carts carry gold and silver treasures, why would they not come to rob them? It would be throwing away our lives for nothing. So we cannot escort them this way.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “Then send more soldiers to protect them.” Yang Zhi said, “Even if you send five hundred men, it is useless. As soon as the soldiers hear bandits are coming, they will run for their own lives.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “According to you, then, we are not to send the birthday gifts at all?” Yang Zhi reported, “If you follow my plan, I will dare to escort them.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “This matter is entrusted to you. Naturally I will follow your arrangements.” Yang Zhi said, “According to my plan, we do not use large carts. Divide all the gifts into more than ten carrying loads and disguise them as merchant goods. Choose ten strong imperial guards and dress them as porters. I will add one more man, disguised as a merchant. We will travel quietly by night and deliver them to the Eastern Capital. Only this way is safe.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “What you say makes good sense. I will write a letter strongly recommending you. When you return, I will seek an official post for you.” Yang Zhi said, “Thank you, Your Excellency, for your promotion.”

That day Grand Secretary Liang had Yang Zhi prepare the carrying poles and choose soldiers. The next day Yang Zhi waited at the front of the hall. Grand Secretary Liang came out and asked, “Yang Zhi, when will you set out?” Yang Zhi reported, “I report to Your Excellency: I will set out early tomorrow morning. I am willing to sign a document for the escort.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “My lady has one more load of gifts for the Grand Preceptor’s household. You will escort that too. I fear you are not familiar with the road, so I am specially sending the foster-father, Steward Xie, and two aides to go with you.” Yang Zhi quickly said, “Your Excellency, if that is so, I cannot go.” Grand Secretary Liang said, “The gifts are already tied and packed. Why can you not go?” Yang Zhi reported, “These eleven loads of treasures depend entirely on my direction. Everyone must obey my orders. When we go and when we rest must all be arranged by me. Now you send the old steward and the aides with me. They are people close to my lady, and the old steward is the foster-father of the Grand Preceptor’s household. If they argue with me on the road, how would I dare dispute with them? If the great matter is delayed, how will I explain myself?” Grand Secretary Liang said, “That is easy. I will order all three of them to obey your command.” Yang Zhi answered, “Since Your Excellency so orders, I am willing to sign the document. If anything goes wrong on the road, I will accept severe punishment.” Grand Secretary Liang was delighted. “I did not promote you in vain. You truly have good judgment.” He at once called Steward Xie and the two aides and instructed them in court: “Commandant Yang Zhi is willing to sign a document to escort the eleven loads of gold, silver, and treasures to the Grand Preceptor’s household in the Eastern Capital. All responsibility is on him. You three will accompany him. On the road, when to travel and when to rest, all must follow Yang Zhi’s orders. You are not to argue with him. Matters my lady has instructed you about, you may handle yourselves. Be careful and prudent. Go early and return early. There must be no trouble.” Old Steward Xie agreed to everything. That day Yang Zhi received the assignment.

The next day at the fifth watch, the loads were set out before the great hall. Old Steward Xie and the two aides also brought a small load of goods. There were eleven loads in all. Eleven strong imperial guards were chosen and all dressed as porters. Yang Zhi wore a cool hat, a blue gauze shirt, a tied belt, hemp shoes, a waist knife, and carried a broadsword. Old Steward Xie dressed as a merchant, and the two aides as attendants. Each carried a broadsword and also a rattan whip. Grand Secretary Liang gave Yang Zhi the official documents and letters. The party ate their fill and took leave of Grand Secretary Liang in the great hall. The soldiers picked up the loads and set out. Yang Zhi, Steward Xie, and the two aides escorted them. There were fifteen men in all. They left Liang’s residence, went out the city gate of Daming Prefecture, and took the main road to the Eastern Capital. It was mid-fifth month, the weather clear and the heat unbearable. Long ago Prince Wu of the Seventh Commandery wrote a poem about summer heat:

Jade screens surround on four sides with red railings,  
Schools of fish play among duckweed and algae.  
An eight-foot mat of white shrimp-whisker bamboo is spread,  
The head rests on a red agate pillow.  
The six dragons fear the heat and dare not move;  
The sea boils and scalds the isle of Penglai.  
A noble son still thinks the fan’s power too weak;  
But travelers are on the dusty road.

This poem describes the deep summer heat. Princes and nobles in cool pavilions and water chambers, with iced melons and fruit, still feel stifled. How much less do traveling merchants, with no cangue forcing them, have to walk under the blazing sun in the dog days? Yang Zhi’s party had to reach the Grand Preceptor’s birthday by the fifteenth of the sixth month, so they could only travel day and night. For the first few days after leaving Daming Prefecture, they rose at the fifth watch, traveled while it was cool, and rested at noon when it was hot. After five or six days, the population grew sparse, travelers were few, and the road became all mountain paths. Yang Zhi changed the schedule to set out at the hour of the Dragon and rest at the hour of the Monkey. The eleven imperial guards carried heavy loads, and not one load was light. The weather was blazing hot. They could not walk and wanted to stop and rest whenever they saw a grove. Yang Zhi used his rattan whip to urge them on. Whoever dared stop was cursed or beaten with the rattan. He forced them forward. The two aides carried only their personal bundles, yet they were panting and could not keep up. Yang Zhi angrily scolded, “You two are useless! The responsibility for this mission is all on me! You do not help me urge the porters, but dawdle behind. This road is no joke!” The aides said, “It is not that we want to walk slowly. It is truly too hot to walk, so we fall behind. For the past few days we traveled in the cool of the morning. Why are we now traveling in the great heat? The arrangement is unfair.” Yang Zhi said, “That is nonsense. The past few days we were on flat, broad roads. Now this place is dangerous. If we do not get through in daylight, who dares walk mountain roads at night?” The two aides did not dare answer, but inwardly they grumbled: this fellow curses people at the slightest thing.

Yang Zhi carried his broadsword and rattan whip and went on urging the loads. The two aides sat under a willow tree. When Old Steward Xie came up, they complained, “That Yang Zhi is at most a commandant under the commissioner, yet he is so arrogant!” Old Steward Xie said, “The commissioner instructed us face to face not to argue with him, so I say nothing. These past two days I too cannot stand him. Bear it for now.” The two aides said, “The commissioner’s words were only for appearance. You, Steward, can make your own decision.” Old Steward Xie said, “Bear it a few more days.” That day at the hour of the Monkey they reached an inn and rested. The ten imperial guards, drenched in sweat, sighed without stopping and said to Old Steward Xie, “We are unlucky to be soldiers and assigned this bitter task. In such fiery heat, carrying heavy loads, these past two days we have not even traveled in the cool morning, and he beats us with the rattan at every turn. We are all flesh and blood born of parents. Why must we suffer so?” Old Steward Xie said, “Do not complain. When we reach the Eastern Capital, I will reward you.” The soldiers said, “If you, Steward, are so understanding, we will not complain.” Another night passed. The next day before dawn, everyone rose, wanting to set out while it was cool. Yang Zhi jumped up and shouted, “Do not go! Go back to sleep and wait for my orders.” The soldiers said, “If we do not go early, at noon it will be too hot to walk, and you will beat us again.” Yang Zhi cursed, “What do you know!” He took up the rattan whip to strike. The soldiers swallowed their anger and went back to sleep. Only at the hour of the Dragon did they light a fire, cook, and set out. Along the way Yang Zhi beat and cursed without stopping and would not let them rest in the shade. The eleven imperial guards grumbled without ceasing, and the two aides kept speaking ill of Yang Zhi in Old Steward Xie’s ear. Old Steward Xie listened. He said nothing, but in his heart he too hated Yang Zhi.

Thus they traveled for fourteen or fifteen days. Of the remaining fourteen men, not one did not resent Yang Zhi. That day at the inn, at the hour of the Dragon, they lit a fire, ate breakfast, and set out. It was the fourth day of the sixth month. Before noon, the blazing sun was in the sky, not a cloud in sight, and the heat was unbearable. An ancient poem describes the fierce heat:

Zhurong comes south whipping his fire dragon;  
Fire banners flame and burn the sky red.  
The sun’s wheel at noon congeals and will not move;  
All lands seem inside a red furnace.  
The five sacred mountains’ green dries, clouds vanish;  
The sea god in his undersea palace worries the waves will dry.  
When will one evening’s golden wind rise  
And sweep away the world’s heat for me?

That day they walked only remote, difficult mountain roads, crossing ridges and peaks. Yang Zhi drove the eleven soldiers on for more than twenty li. The soldiers wanted to rest in the shade of a willow, but Yang Zhi came at them with the rattan whip, shouting, “Keep moving! If you want to rest, get on faster!” The men looked up at the sky. There was not a cloud in ten thousand li, and the heat was unbearable.

Hot air struck their faces; dust flew.  
Heaven and earth were like a great steamer; the sun hung like a great fiery umbrella.  
There was no wind on any side; the heat seemed to boil the sea.  
The mountains were scorched by the sun, and the rocks seemed about to burn.  
Birds in the sky could not bear the heat and hid deep in the dense woods;  
Fish and shrimp under the water seemed about to dry their scales and burrowed deep into the mud.  
Even a stone tiger would pant without stopping; an iron man would sweat.

Yang Zhi urged the group along the remote mountain road. It was nearly noon. The stones were scorched hot and burned their feet so they could not walk. The soldiers said, “In such heat, we will be baked to death!” Yang Zhi scolded, “Keep moving! Once we cross that earthen ridge ahead, we will rest.” As they walked, an earthen ridge appeared before them. They looked at it:

The top was covered with green trees; the foot was all yellow sand.  
The mountain wound like a lying dragon; in dangerous places it seemed one could hear wind and rain howl.  
The thatch on the slope was thick as spears;  
The scattered rocks lay like sleeping tigers and leopards.  
Do not speak of the dangers of Shu roads;  
This Yellow Earth Ridge was as perilous as Mount Taihang.

The fifteen men rushed up Yellow Earth Ridge and put down their loads. The other fourteen all lay down in the shade of the pine trees. Yang Zhi shouted, “Bad! What place is this, that you lie here to rest! Get up and move on!” The soldiers said, “Even if you cut us into seven or eight pieces, we cannot walk.” Yang Zhi took up the rattan whip and struck them over head and face. He beat one down, and another lay down. Yang Zhi could do nothing. The two aides and Old Steward Xie, panting, also climbed onto the ridge and sat under a pine to catch their breath. Seeing Yang Zhi beating the soldiers, Old Steward Xie urged, “Commandant, it is truly too hot to walk. Do not punish them.” Yang Zhi said, “Steward, you do not know. This is Yellow Earth Ridge, where bandits appear. In peaceful times, men were robbed here in broad daylight. How much more now? Who dares stop here!” The two aides said, “You have said this many times, always trying to frighten us with bandits.” Old Steward Xie said, “Let everyone rest a while. We will go after noon. Is that all right?” Yang Zhi said, “You too are muddled! How can we rest here! After we go down the ridge there are still seven or eight li with no houses. This is a dangerous place. We cannot stay!” Old Steward Xie said, “I will sit a while and then go. You urge them on first.” Yang Zhi took up the rattan whip and shouted, “Whoever does not move gets twenty strokes!” The soldiers all cried out together. One of them said, “Commandant, we carry loads of over a hundred catties, unlike you walking empty-handed. You do not treat us as human! Even if the commissioner himself escorted us, he would let us speak. You are too unreasonable, only showing off your power!” Yang Zhi cursed, “This beast will anger me to death. I can only beat him!” He raised the rattan whip and struck at his face. Old Steward Xie shouted sternly, “Commandant Yang, stop! Hear me. When I was foster-father in the Grand Preceptor’s household in the Eastern Capital, I saw countless officers and soldiers, and all treated me with respect. It is not that I presume on my age, but you were originally a convicted soldier. The commissioner pitied you and promoted you to commandant. For such a tiny post, why are you so arrogant? Do not speak of me as the steward of the commissioner’s household; even an old man in a village deserves a word of respect. You just beat people. What do you take us for?” Yang Zhi said, “Steward, you live in the city in the commissioner’s household. How would you know the hardships and dangers of the road?” Old Steward Xie said, “I have been to Sichuan and Guangdong. I have never seen anyone show off his ability as you do.” Yang Zhi said, “These are not peaceful times.” Old Steward Xie said, “That is bold talk. Where under heaven is not peaceful today?”

Yang Zhi was about to argue further when he suddenly saw a man peeping from the pine forest opposite. Yang Zhi said, “What did I tell you? There are villains indeed!” He threw down the rattan whip, took up his broadsword, and rushed into the pine forest, shouting, “You are very bold, spying on our goods!” He saw seven wheelbarrows lined up in the pine forest and seven men stripped to the waist cooling off. One of them, with a large red birthmark at his temple, took up a broadsword and came toward Yang Zhi. The seven men all cried out and jumped up. Yang Zhi shouted, “Who are you?” The seven asked in return, “Who are you?” Yang Zhi asked, “Are you bandits?” The seven said, “We should ask you. We are small merchants. Where would we get money for you to rob?” Yang Zhi said, “You are small merchants, but I am escorting valuable goods.” The seven asked, “Who exactly are you?” Yang Zhi said, “You speak first. Where are you from?” The seven said, “We are seven brothers from Haozhou. We are going to the Eastern Capital to sell dates and are passing through here. We heard that bandits often rob travelers at Yellow Earth Ridge. We discussed it on the way. We have only dates and no money, so we dared cross the ridge. When we came up, we could not bear the heat, so we rested in the forest and planned to go on in the evening when it was cool. We heard someone come up the ridge and feared bandits, so we sent a brother out to look.” Yang Zhi said, “So that is it. You are also traveling merchants. Just now I saw you peeping and feared you were thieves, so I came to check.” The seven said, “Guest, take a few dates to try.” Yang Zhi said, “No need.” He took up his broadsword and returned to the loads.

Old Steward Xie said, “Since there are bandits, let us go quickly.” Yang Zhi said, “I thought they were villains, but they are just date merchants.” Old Steward Xie said, “By what you said earlier, they would have been dead long ago.” Yang Zhi said, “Do not argue. As long as all is well. You rest first and go when it is cool.” The soldiers all laughed. Yang Zhi planted his broadsword in the ground and sat under a tree nearby to rest. Before half a meal had passed, far off they saw a man carrying two buckets and singing a mountain song as he came up the ridge. The song went:

The red sun blazes like fire;  
The grain in the fields is half scorched.  
The farmer’s heart boils like soup;  
The noble son upstairs waves his fan.

The man sang as he came up Yellow Earth Ridge. He put down his load by the pine forest and sat to cool off. The soldiers saw him and asked, “What is in your buckets?” The man answered, “White wine.” The soldiers asked, “Where are you carrying it?” The man said, “To the village to sell.” The soldiers asked, “How much for a bucket?” The man said, “Five strings a bucket.” The soldiers discussed, “We are hot and thirsty. Why not buy some wine to relieve the heat?” They pooled money. Yang Zhi saw and shouted, “What are you doing!” The soldiers said, “Buying wine to drink.” Yang Zhi took up his broadsword shaft and struck at them, cursing, “Without my order, you dare buy wine privately! You are very bold!” The soldiers said, “You are looking for trouble. We pooled our own money to buy wine. What business is it of yours? You even beat us.” Yang Zhi said, “You countrymen know nothing! You only care about your mouths and do not know the dangers of the road. How many good men have been drugged with knockout powder!” The wine seller looked at Yang Zhi and sneered, “This guest is too unreasonable. I was not going to sell to you anyway, and you say such frightening things.”

Just as they were arguing by the pine tree, the date merchants from the opposite pine forest all came out carrying broadswords and asked, “What are you arguing about?” The wine seller said, “I am carrying wine over the ridge to sell in the village. It is hot, so I am resting here. They want to buy wine, but I have not sold it. This guest says my wine has knockout powder in it. Is that not laughable!” The seven merchants said, “We thought there were bandits, but it is only this. It is nothing. We will buy a bucket and drink. Since they suspect you, sell us one bucket.” The wine seller said, “I will not sell, I will not sell!” The seven merchants said, “You are too stubborn. We are not suspecting you. You are going to the village to sell anyway. Selling to us also gets you money. What difference does it make? Treat it as giving us tea to relieve our thirst.” The wine seller said, “Selling you a bucket is fine, but they spoke so nastily. And there is no ladle to scoop the wine.” The seven said, “You are too particular. It was only a word. We have our own coconut ladles.” Two merchants ran to the wheelbarrows and brought out two coconut ladles and a big handful of dates. The seven stood by the bucket, opened the lid, took turns scooping wine, and ate dates with it. Before long, one bucket was finished. The seven merchants asked, “We have not asked the price.” The man said, “One price: five strings a bucket, ten strings a load.” The seven merchants said, “Five strings is five strings. Give us one extra ladle to taste.” The man said, “The price is settled. You cannot give more.” One merchant paid. Another merchant opened the lid, scooped a ladle of wine, and was about to drink. The man went to snatch it. The merchant ran into the pine forest with half a ladle of wine. The man chased him. Another merchant came out of the pine forest and scooped wine from the bucket with a ladle. The man saw him, seized the ladle, poured the wine back into the bucket, covered it, threw the ladle on the ground, and cursed, “You guest are too unruly. Even a respectable man is so greedy!” The soldiers nearby watched, their mouths watering. They all wanted to drink. One soldier said to Old Steward Xie, “Old Grandfather, speak for us. The date merchants have already bought and drunk one bucket. Let us buy this bucket too and wet our throats. We are truly hot and thirsty, and there is no water on the ridge. Please be kind!” Old Steward Xie saw them pleading bitterly and wanted to drink himself. He said to Yang Zhi, “The date merchants have already drunk a bucket. There is only this one left. Let them buy it to relieve the heat. There is truly no water on the ridge.” Yang Zhi thought, “I watched from afar as they drank that bucket, and they drank half a ladle in front of me. The wine should be all right. I have beaten and cursed them for a long time. Let them buy wine.” Yang Zhi said, “Since Old Steward pleads, let them buy it. After they drink, we move on.” The soldiers pooled five strings and bought the wine. The wine seller said, “I will not sell, I will not sell! This wine has knockout powder in it!” The soldiers smiled and said, “Brother, why say angry words?” The man said, “I will not sell. Do not pester me!” The date merchants urged, “You are too particular. He said the wrong thing. Do not be angry and make us suspected too. This has nothing to do with them. Sell them some to drink.” The man said, “Why invite others’ suspicion?” The date merchant pushed the wine seller aside, lifted the bucket, and handed it to the soldiers. The soldiers opened the lid. There was no ladle, so they carefully borrowed a coconut ladle from the merchants. The merchant said, “We will give you a few dates to go with the wine.” The soldiers thanked him. They first scooped two ladles and asked Old Steward Xie and Yang Zhi to each drink one. Yang Zhi would not drink. Old Steward Xie drank one ladle first, and the two aides each drank one. The soldiers all came up and quickly finished the bucket. Yang Zhi saw that the others drank and were fine. He had not wanted to drink, but the heat was great and his thirst unbearable. He took the ladle and drank half a ladle and ate a few dates. The wine seller said, “Just now the guests scooped two extra ladles, so there is less wine. I will take half a string less.” The soldiers gave him the money. The man took the money, picked up the empty buckets, and still singing his mountain song, went down Yellow Earth Ridge.

Then the seven date merchants stood by the pine tree and pointed at the fifteen men, shouting, “They are down! They are down!” The fifteen men all felt their heads heavy and feet light. They looked at one another, their bodies weak, and fell to the ground. The seven merchants pushed out seven wheelbarrows from the pine forest, dumped all the dates on the ground, loaded the eleven loads of gold, silver, and jewels onto the carts, said, “Sorry to trouble you, gentlemen!” and pushed the carts straight down Yellow Earth Ridge. Yang Zhi cried out in distress, his whole body weak, unable to struggle up. The fifteen men watched helplessly as the seven carried off all the treasure. They could not move or speak.

Now let me ask you, who were these seven? They were none other than Chao Gai, Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, Liu Tang, and the three Ruan brothers. The wine seller was the Daytime Rat, Bai Sheng. How did they drug the wine? When the buckets were carried up the ridge, both were full of good wine. The seven first drank one bucket. Liu Tang opened the lid of the other bucket, scooped half a ladle, and drank, deliberately acting for Yang Zhi’s group to see and allay their suspicions. After that, Wu Yong took knockout powder from the pine forest, shook it into the ladle, pretended to go up and ask for one more ladle of wine, and when he scooped the wine, the drug mixed into it. Bai Sheng reached out, snatched the ladle, and poured the wine back into the bucket, so the drug mixed into the whole bucket. This plan was entirely Wu Yong’s. It was called “cleverly seizing the birthday gifts.”

Yang Zhi had drunk little, so he woke first. He struggled up, but his legs were still unsteady. He looked at the other fourteen. Saliva ran from the corners of their mouths, and none could move. Truly, as the saying goes: even if you are as clever as a ghost, you still drink the foot-washing water of this trap. Yang Zhi was full of grief and rage: the birthday gifts had been stolen. How could he face Grand Secretary Liang when he returned? The escort document could not be delivered. He tore the document to pieces. “Now I have made it so I cannot return home, and I have no country to flee to. Where can I go? Better to end it here on Yellow Earth Ridge!” He threw open his clothes and strode toward the edge of the ridge, intending to jump and kill himself. Truly: before he gained glory and wealth, disaster had already fallen on him. Like wind and rain in the third month beating down flowers, like late autumn frost destroying willows. Yang Zhi sought death on Yellow Earth Ridge. Could his life be saved? Listen to the next chapter for the answer.