Chapter 16: Qu Jue Xing Issues Commands at the Banquet Table — Ling Qi-Bo Employs Fire in the Assault

Generally speaking, in rural villages in the interior, all the inhabitants are long-established locals. The place is small, and there are no traveling merchants coming and going; the people one sees morning and evening are always the same few. So in any village, regardless of rich or poor, high or low, nearly everyone knows everyone else. Tancun was no different. Thus Zhang Feng knew who Liang Tian Lai was; and there was not a soul in Tancun who did not know this Zhang Feng.

But enough of digressions. Now Zhang Feng, having overheard those words outside the window and knowing that Tian Lai faced danger tonight, rushed off in haste to report it, not even minding that he was ill, and in one breath ran up to Tian Lai's front door and knocked with all his might, the sound shaking heaven. Qi Fu, not knowing what was happening, gave a start and opened the door to find Zhang Feng. He cursed: "Bah! You worthless scoundrel — are you trying to get yourself killed? If you want to beg, beg properly!" Zhang Feng said, "I'm not getting myself killed — it's your household that's in danger of someone getting killed!" Qi Fu roared with anger: "Zhang Feng! Have you gone mad today? How dare you come to our door and curse us?" Zhang Feng said, "Don't be angry — I need to see your master." Qi Fu said, "Our master has absolutely nothing to do and is just waiting to see you!" He gave Zhang Feng a shove and made to close the door. Zhang Feng began to shout: "You ungrateful slave! Is your master the Emperor himself, that nobody is allowed to see him?..." The ruckus startled Yang Fu inside, who came out and called, "Who is out here causing trouble?" Zhang Feng said, "I have come with urgent news, but your Qi Fu here refuses to announce me." Yang Fu said, "What news are you bringing?" Zhang Feng said, "I am bringing news from Ling Gui Xing!" Yang Fu heard the name "Ling Gui Xing" and his heart jumped: "Did Ling Gui Xing send you?" Zhang Feng said, "I am no servant of his — he could hardly command me. I overheard some news and came especially to report it." Yang Fu said, "What news? Can't you just tell me?" Zhang Feng said, "This is a matter of life and death — I will not speak to anyone but your household's master." Hearing this, Yang Fu was puzzled, but had Qi Fu stand down and stop quarreling, then went inside to inform Tian Lai. Ling Shi said, "There is no need to say it — this is surely that wretch Gui Xing who has sent him here to cause trouble." Tian Lai said, "Let me go out and see." He walked out and asked Zhang Feng what the matter was. Zhang Feng said, "Sir, might we speak in private?" Tian Lai let him step inside the gate. Zhang Feng then told him everything — how he had been begging food, how the fever had come on, how he had crawled into the alley to lie down, how he had overheard the secret conversation — all of it, from beginning to end. Tian Lai said, "Many thanks for your concern — I will take precautions." He felt in his robe and produced a piece of silver, roughly a tael in weight, and handed it to Zhang Feng: "Please take this to buy yourself a bowl of wine." Zhang Feng thanked him profusely and left.

Tian Lai returned to the inner rooms and told Ling Shi. Ling Shi said, "Better to believe this than not — we must not fail to guard against it!" Jun Lai said, "This must be Zhang Feng in desperate straits, inventing rumors to fish for a reward. Even if Gui Xing is vicious to the last degree, we live in peaceful times — how could anyone simply kill people? Is there no law?"

They were all half-believing and half-doubtful, debating the matter, when Qi Fu came in and said, "That Zhang Feng is back causing trouble again — I can't drive him off." Tian Lai went out again to look. Zhang Feng said, "Sir! I just thought of something. When I came just now to bring you this news, thank you for rewarding me with a piece of silver — in my heart I was overjoyed. But walking away, I thought: I am a beggar, and today I came unexpectedly with this information. If I accepted the silver, your household would surely suspect that I was making up stories to fish for a reward and would not take the necessary precautions. Tonight you would still fall into their hands. Would that not mean that my bringing this news was all for nothing — and that I would even be suspected of concocting a lie for money? So I am returning the silver in full. I beg you to flee at once!" He handed back the silver. Tian Lai was greatly alarmed: "Does this mean what you said is absolutely, one hundred percent true?" Zhang Feng said, "Yes — I knew that if I accepted that piece of silver, people would suspect me of lying to trick you, and you would not believe me. Now is it clear? Sir, please escape without delay!" Tian Lai said, "In that case, I have not thanked you nearly enough! Take the silver back for now — tomorrow I will thank you even more generously." Zhang Feng said, "This piece of silver is something I cannot accept today — I will not let it get in the way of saving your life. After you have gotten through tonight safely, tomorrow you may give me as much as you like and I will accept it." He pushed the silver toward Tian Lai, who refused to take it. Zhang Feng flung it to the ground, turned on his heel, and walked off. As he went, he called back: "Sir, please take care — escape at once and make your plans! All I ask is that tomorrow you are safe and sound!" With that, he strode away.

Tian Lai picked up the silver and went inside to tell Ling Shi. Everyone was finally alarmed, and no one knew what to do. Ling Shi said, "My sons, you and your father and brother must leave quickly! Hide through tonight and then we will see." Tian Lai said, "How can that be right? We must think of something else." Jun Lai said, "Why not take Mother with us to the provincial capital?" Ling Shi said, "By now it is nearly dusk — there is no time to make other arrangements. And I need not go to the provincial capital with you. Surely Gui Xing would not dare harm me! Besides, from what Zhang Feng said, they have given orders to 'kill every male, spare every female' — we women are somewhat safer. The three of you must leave at once! If you brothers are worried, just leave Qi Fu outside to keep watch. Go — quickly!" Liu Shi said, "Better to wait until it is nearly dark before leaving. If we go now, we might run into them, and that would not be good either." Everyone was in a turmoil of anxiety, all pushed together with no settled plan. It was getting dark and drawing close to lamplight time. Ling Shi urged them again and again; Tian Lai with his son and brother had no other choice, and with tearful farewells, they boarded a boat and fled to the provincial capital for safety.

Meanwhile, Ling Gui Xing had been watching and waiting since the twelfth when the ceremony had opened, burning with anticipation until the eighteenth. On that day, from morning until dusk, he spent the whole time clenching his fists and eager to shed blood. Around the shen hour (approximately 3-5 pm), the company gathered to drink. Qu Jue Xing then began to issue his orders at the table. First he summoned Xi Lai: "You usually serve and manage the drinks at our gatherings — today you are relieved of that duty. Have two servants wait on the guests. As for you: go and invite the local constable Li Yi. Tell him that tonight we are holding a burning-of-offerings ceremony (yankou) and are afraid that crowds of onlookers may cause a disturbance, so we ask him to come and keep order. When you have gotten him here, bring him to the gatehouse to drink. This Li Yi is a man who would lay down his life for a drink — pour him until he is dead drunk. But you yourself must not get drunk; I have another use for you later."

Xi Lai received his orders and went. Jue Xing then called Run Bao and Run Zhi: "The eastern road is the approach road from the Thousand-Commander's yamen. You two are to dress as household servants, take the master's calling card, and post yourselves there. If the Thousand-Commander Huang hears the commotion and comes out to investigate, the two of you will intercept him, show him the card, and say: 'There were crowds watching the ceremony here creating a disturbance and fighting; we have just now talked them apart. Our master feared to trouble the Thousand-Commander's honor and sent us to head him off at the pass.'" Run Bao and Run Zhi received their orders. Jue Xing then called Qi Yu, Hai Shun, Liu Yu, and Liu Quan: "I have prepared more than ten baskets of firecrackers. Each of you take two baskets and set them off continuously all around the ceremony tent outside the gate — front, back, left, and right — with not a moment's pause. When you run out, come inside for more." Liu Quan said, "A burning-of-offerings ceremony has never involved firecrackers — won't people find it suspicious?" Jue Xing said, "If anyone asks, just say that our household lost two women last year, leaving a heavy yin presence in the air, so tonight we are using the firecrackers to dispel it." The four men received their orders. Jue Xing then called Zong Meng, Zong Ji, Zong Xiao, and Zong He: "You four each take a bundle of knockout incense. After the first watch (approximately 7-9 pm), fan out to all four streets surrounding the Liang household and render unconscious all the night-watch men and gate-guards in their posts. Then each of you patrol your own route. If you encounter any soldiers or constables, come and report it instantly — do not fail!" He then called Ling Mei Xian: "Lead Yue Wen, Yue Wu, Yue Shun, Yue He, Jian Dang, and Ye Sheng — seven men in all — as the vanguard to break open the main gate. When you arrive at the Liang family gate, fire off one cannon; then I will send the second wave." He then called Lin Da-You: "Lead Zhou Zanxian, Li A-Er, Li A-Tian, You A-Mei, Xiong A-Qi, and Gan A-Ding — six men in all — as the second wave. The moment you hear the cannon ahead, set out. When you arrive, fire one cannon, and I will send the third wave. If either of your two waves catches sight of Tian Lai or his brother, arrest them and wait for the master to come in person and confirm their identity before killing them." He called Jian Lexian and Cai Shun: "The northern road is the approach from the Patrol Inspector's yamen. You two dress as household servants and post yourselves somewhere nearby. If the yamen sends runners, have one of you bring them here and deliver them to the gatehouse for Xi Lai to look after them with food and drink. You yourself must then return to your post. If Inspector Li comes out in person, fly here and report to me at once." The two men received their orders. Jue Xing then produced a rocket flare (liuxing huo) and gave it to Run Bao and Run Zhi: "If you two cannot hold off the Thousand-Commander Huang, retreat immediately to a hidden spot and set off this flare. If I cannot hold off Inspector Li here, I will also set off a flare. Watch carefully: if you see a flare rise in the east, withdraw at once; if you see a flare rise in the north, scatter in all four directions and drift back slowly." Everyone received their orders together.

Zong Kong said, "Elder Cousin-Master! My nephew-father handles all his affairs by dispatching me in advance — there has not been one occasion when I was sent last. How is it that today I have been given nothing to do?" Jue Xing pretended not to hear and said to Gui Xing, "Worthy nephew, you will lead the third wave yourself — you need not bring many men, but you should travel by sedan chair. Have your uncle Zong Kong escort you there. You need only go to confirm the identity of Tian Lai or his brother in person and have them killed, then return. I will have a victory banquet prepared here." Gui Xing said, "Elder Cousin's command and deployment is truly remarkable — what a waste that he has never served as a military strategist!" Jue Xing said, "Tonight I suppose I shall play that role for once." A burst of laughter followed.

With the meal finished, they waited until the first watch was nearly at its end, and then one by one they began to set out. Jue Xing gave each departing group final instructions: "Everyone must enter by the rear gate when you return — no exceptions!" He watched the waves depart one after another, then heard the distant sound of the second cannon boom. Gui Xing boarded his sedan chair; Zong Kong gripped the chair shaft and walked beside it. Jue Xing smiled inwardly: "One way or another, tonight you play the part of a lackey."

What happened at the attack outside — this chapter has now set the scene. Read on to the next chapter.