Water Margin

Author: Shi Nai'an
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features:
1. During the reign of Emperor Zhezong in the Song Dynasty, Kaifeng Prefecture had a notorious disciple named Gao Shou. He was skilled at playing football and even more adept at flattery. Later, he served as a personal attendant in the residence of the Imperial Consort Wang, moving about as if he were part of the family.
2. That day, the Imperial Consort ordered Gao Shou to deliver two jade artifacts to Prince Duan. The Prince was playing football when the ball came to Gao Shou. He performed a "mandarin duck trick" and kicked the ball back to the Prince, who was delighted and asked him to join the game. Gao Shou demonstrated his full skills, making the ball seem as if it were glued to his feet. The Prince was pleased and hired him as his personal confidant.
3. Two months later, Emperor Zhezong passed away, and the Prince ascended the throne as Emperor Huizong. He promoted Gao Shou to the position of Grand Marshal of the Hall of Martial Command.
4. Upon taking office, all the generals came to pay their respects. Gao Shou reviewed the roster and noticed that only Wang Jin, the instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards, was absent due to illness. Gao Shou recalled that when he was learning martial arts, his father had knocked him down with a single blow. He then sent men to arrest Wang Jin.
5. Wang Jin came to pay his respects despite his illness. Gao Shou ordered him to be dragged out and beaten, but the generals pleaded with him to spare Wang Jin from the punishment. Wang Jin knew Gao Shou would take revenge and discussed it with his mother, deciding to seek refuge with the old commander of Yan'an Prefecture, General Zhong.
6. That day, they stayed at Shi Village. Wang Jin saw the young master Shi Jin practicing martial arts and called out from the side, "This is a great display of skill, but there are flaws—you won’t defeat a true hero!" Shi Jin flew into a rage, "I am Shi Jin, the Nine-Flowered Dragon, and you dare to challenge me?"
7. Wang Jin did not dare to fight back. Shi Taigong persuaded Wang Jin to teach Shi Jin. Wang Jin took a staff, set up a stance, and Shi Jin charged in with his own staff. Wang Jin then retreated with the staff, but Shi Jin chased after him. Wang Jin turned around and thrust the staff straight into Shi Jin’s chest, followed by a twist that made Shi Jin drop his staff and fall.
8. Shi Jin knelt to the ground, saying, "I have sought instruction from many masters, but it was all in vain. I must learn from you." Wang Jin taught him for half a year, and Shi Jin mastered all eighteen martial arts. Wang Jin then left for Yan'an Prefecture.
9. Six months later, Shi Taigong passed away. One day, Shi Jin heard that a bandit group had gathered on nearby Shaohua Mountain and set up a stronghold. He gathered three or four hundred households from Shi Village to his home for a drink and a meeting to discuss how to protect the village.
10. Shaohua Mountain had three leaders: the strategist Zhu Wu, the Leap-Fall Tiger Chen Da, and the White Flower Snake Yang Chun. Knowing that Huayin County had offered a reward to capture them, they decided to raid the county first to seize money and grain. Zhu Wu and Yang Chun feared encountering Shi Jin on their way past Shi Village, but Chen Da, who despised Shi Jin, insisted on attacking Shi Village first.
11. Chen Da led over a hundred bandits straight to Shi Village. When he saw Shi Jin and the villagers blocking their path, he said, "We are going to Huayin County to borrow grain. Please let us pass." Shi Jin replied, "If you can defeat my sword, you may pass."
12. Chen Da flew into a rage and charged forward with his spear. The two fought for a long time. Shi Jin feigned a weakness, allowing Chen Da to thrust his spear toward his heart. Shi Jin then dodged to the side, and with a swift movement, captured Chen Da alive.