Crimes & Mysteries

Chapter 6Nine Dragons Shi Jin Robs in Red Pine ForestSagacious Lu Burns Down Waguan MonasteryAfter crossing a number of ridges, Sagacious saw a path up the mountain through a large forest of pines. He followed it for less than half a li and arrived at a run-down monastery. It was from here that the tinkling of the bells came. Above an arch a faded vermilion sign read in letters of gold: "Waguan Monastery." Lu proceeded another forty or fifty paces, crossed a stone bridge, and entered the compound. He went directly to the guest-quarters. Its front gate was gone and its surrounding walls had cru...

Chapter 5Drunk, the Little King Raises the Gold-Spangled Bed CurtainsLu the Tattooed Monk Throws Peach Blossom Village into Confusion"Sagacious," said the abbot, "you definitely can't stay here. In the Eastern Capital a Buddhist brother of mine, called the Lucid Teacher, is the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Monastery. Take this letter to him and ask him to find you a job. Last night I had a vision and composed a four-line prophetic verse to guide your destiny. You must remember these words."Kneeling before him, Lu said: "I'd like to hear the prophecy."The abbot intoned: "Take action in the fores...

Chapter 4Sagacious Lu Puts Mount Wutai in an UproarSquire Zhao Repairs Wenshu MonasteryLu Da turned to see who was hustling him away. It was none other than Old Jin from the Weizhou tavern, the man he had rescued. The old fellow didn't stop pulling till they reached an isolated spot. Then he said:"You're too rash, benefactor. That notice offers a thousand strings of cash for your capture. How could you stand there looking at it? If I hadn't spotted you, you might have been nabbed by the police. Your age, description and place of origin are all there.""To tell you the truth, when I went to the ...

Chapter 3Master Shi Leaves Huayin County at NightMajor Lu Pummels the Lord of the West"What shall I do?" Shi Jin exclaimed.Zhu Wu and the other two bandit chieftains knelt before him and said: "Your hands are clean, brother. Don't get involved because of us. It's better to tie us up and claim the reward than have your own good name besmirched.""Impossible," retorted Shi Jin. "If I did such a thing it would look as if I inveigled you here so that I could get the money. Everyone would laugh at me. We'll live or die together. Stand up and don't worry. There's no need to sacrifice yourselves on my...

Chapter 2Arms Instructor Wang Goes Secretly to Yanan PrefectureNine Dragons Shi Jin Wreaks Havoc in Shi Family VillageDuring the reign of Emperor Zhe Zong, who ruled a long time after Ren Zong, in Bianliang the Eastern Capital, in Kaifeng Prefecture previously called Xuanwu District, there lived a young scamp named Gao. A second son, he was quite useless. He cared only for jousting with spear and staff, and was an excellent football player. People in the capital were fond of making quips. They dubbed him Gao Qiu, or "Gao the Ball." Later, when he prospered, he changed "Qiu" to another characte...

Chapter 1Zhang the Divine Teacher Prays to Dispel a PlagueMarshal Hong Releases Demons by MistakeAfter Five Dynasties' turmoil and strife,The clouds dispersed and revealed the sky,Refreshing rain brought old trees new life, Culture and learning once again were high.Ordinary folk in the lanes wore silk,Music drifted from mansions and towers,Under the heavens all was serene,Men dozed off at noon midst gay birds and flowers.This eight-lined poem was written during the reign of Emperor Shen Zong of the Song Dynasty by a scholar named Shao Yaofu, also known as Master Kang Jie. From the end of the T...