Chapter 1 · The Lord of Northern Han Casts Out a Loyal Minister; Huyan Zan Takes Fierce Revenge

Liu Jun, the lord of Northern Han, hearing that the great Song had pacified the various provinces, debated with his ministers and said: "The late sovereign and the Zhou were mortal foes. The ambition of the lord of Song is greater still. Now that he has cut down all the states, how could he ever allow me to hold a single corner and rule as my own?" The Remonstrance Counselor Huyan Ting came forward and memorialized: "Your servant has heard that the sovereign of Song is an heroic and martial ruler, and that all the states have already made submission. Now if Your Majesty's realm is but one corner, and further our soldiers are few and our generals weak, how can we resist him? Better to prepare a memorial of tribute, so as to spare the people calamity and keep Hedong without concern." Liu Jun hesitated and did not decide.

Suddenly Ouyang Fang, Vice Commissar of the Privy Council, advanced and said: "Huyan Ting is in league with the court of Song, and that is why he bids Your Majesty to submit in surrender. And consider — Jinyang is a place of natural strength, and it is from such a place that emperors rise. In time of peace we register the people to hold it; in time of alarm we take up arms and fight. This advantage is in our own hands. Why should we lightly serve another? I beg Your Majesty to put Huyan Ting to death, that the laws of the state be made straight. Should the army of Song come to punish us, I alone am willing to bear the brunt." Liu Jun approved the memorial and ordered Huyan Ting taken out and beheaded.

The Imperial Uncle Zhao Su earnestly remonstrated: "Huyan Ting's words are loyal counsel — how could there be any secret collusion with Song? If Your Majesty cuts him down, and the lord of Song should hear it, then he will have a just cause to make war. If you must not use him, it is enough to strip his office and send him away, so that the bond between sovereign and minister may be preserved." Liu Jun followed his words, and ordered the office taken from him and that he retire to the fields.

Huyan Ting thanked the favor and withdrew. That very day he packed his gear, and took his family straight toward Jiangzhou. But Ouyang Fang was still not satisfied; he nursed a deep hatred of Huyan Ting and wished to murder him. He called his trusted attendants Zhang Qing and Li De, and said: "Do you two lead several hundred sturdy soldiers, secretly pursue Huyan Ting to wherever he lodges, and put them all to death. When you return I will reward you richly." Zhang and Li accepted the command and set out after Huyan Ting.

Now it is told that Huyan Ting, with his people, came to Stone Mountain Post. As the daylight was already late, they rested their horses and stopped. That evening he drank with his wife, recounting their misfortune to one another. Toward the second watch, they suddenly heard a great shout outside the post — torches flaring up to the sky — and men reported that brigands had arrived. Huyan Ting, alarmed, ordered his family to flee at once. Zhang Qing and Li De, with their men, burst into the post and slew Huyan Ting and his family, old and young alike, and plundered the treasure away.

The followers each fled for their lives. Only the concubine, Lady Liu, holding a little son, slipped into the privy and so saved her life. By the fourth watch, Lady Liu sighed: "Who would have thought my house would meet this calamity, leaving me and my child with no one to lean upon?" She wept aloud. Suddenly someone behind her called: "Little lady, why do you cry so bitterly?" In the starlight, drenched in tears, she looked up. The man drew near and asked: "Whose daughter are you, and why have you come here alone?" Lady Liu wept: "I am but the secondary wife of Huyan Ting, the Remonstrance Counselor. Returning to my homeland, we came to this place, and were robbed by bandits, who put my whole household to death and left only me, with my nursing child, hiding here. I have no plan to save us. I beg the noble sir to take pity."

On hearing this, the man sighed in indignation and said: "I am a clerk of the two courts of Hedong Prefecture, named Wu Wang. I have just heard that the one who killed your benefactor was Zhang Qing and Li De, the trusted men of Ouyang Fang, who came disguised as brigands. You must at once take your little son and flee, or your life cannot be saved." So saying, he went away.

Lady Liu was still in a panic when the shouting rose outside the post again, and a band of strongmen came in. Seeing Lady Liu, they seized her and brought her to Ma Zhong. Ma Zhong asked: "What woman are you, holding a child here?" Lady Liu answered: "This concubine carries a great wrong and an injustice…" And she told again, in full, how her household had been slain. Ma Zhong said: "Just now the night patrol reported that officials had been robbed at the post, and I was about to come and divide the gold. So this is the bitter story. If you will follow me back to my manor, and raise this child until he grows up, I will avenge this wrong for you — will you?" Lady Liu said: "I bear a boundless grievance; how could I spare this lowly body? I am willing to go with the chief." Ma Zhong then led Lady Liu back to his manor. As dawn was near, Ma Zhong settled Lady Liu in a dwelling, and himself returned with his men to the mountain stronghold. Lady Liu secretly sent someone to the post to collect her master's corpse and bury it, resolved only on revenge and on raising her child.

Time flew like an arrow and the sun and moon sped like a shuttle. Nearly seven years passed, and the child was grown. Ma Zhong gave the boy the name Foulang and sent him to a school to study. The lad was born with a face of iron and eyes round and red, of a look like the Wei-ching Jingde of the Tang. Though he studied books, in spare hours he practiced the art of war. By fourteen or fifteen he could gallop and shoot, and his martial skill was thorough. He wielded a single dark-iron spear with a power that baffled both gods and ghosts. Ma Zhong, seeing his courage and strength, was overjoyed, and changed his name to Ma Zan.

One day, following Ma Zhong beyond the manor, he saw some porters carrying a great stone stele, on which was carved the words "Grand Pillar of State, Ouyang Fang." On seeing it, Ma Zhong flushed with anger. Ma Zan said: "Father, seeing this stone stele, why are you displeased?" Zhong said: "Seeing this name Ouyang Fang wounds my heart. Fifteen years ago this man destroyed the whole household of Huyan Ting. I have heard that Huyan Ting had a son still alive — if I ever meet him, I will go with him to avenge the wrong." Zan said angrily: "It is a pity this child is not Huyan Ting's son; if he were, I would avenge it this very day." Zhong said: "Your mother knows the matter in full — go in and ask her."

Zan went back to the manor, came in to see his mother Lady Liu, and asked her about how Ouyang Fang had destroyed Huyan Ting's household. Lady Liu choked and wept, saying: "I have borne this grief and hatred for fifteen years and more. You are the son of Huyan Ting, and this father is the one who fostered you." On hearing this, Zan fainted. Ma Zhong hurried in and revived him with alarm. Zan wept: "This child will today bid farewell to his parents and go to avenge the wrong." Zhong said: "He is a powerful minister of Hedong, with many soldiers beneath him — how can you draw near him? You must use a stratagem. From now on, call me only 'uncle.'" Zan bowed and said: "Uncle, what stratagem have you to teach me? I shall never forget your kindness!"

While Zhong was still thinking, word came that Geng Zhong had come to visit. Ma Zhong went out to receive him, brought him into the manor and seated him, and made Zan come and meet him. Geng Zhong asked: "Who is this?" Ma Zhong answered: "My adopted son, Ma Zan." Then he asked Geng Zhong why he had come. Geng Zhong said: "Just now, contending with some bandits, I won a fine horse named the Black Dragon Horse. I was about to take it to Hedong and sell it to the chancellor Ouyang, and since I passed by your manor, I came to call on you." Ma Zhong said: "Since brother has such a fine horse, better to sell it only to my son — and there is a deeper reason in it." Geng Zhong said: "My bond with you, brother, though sworn in friendship, is closer than that of own flesh. Your son is surely my nephew, and this horse I give as a gift." Ma Zhong was delighted, and set out wine and food to entertain him.

At the feast Ma Zhong told how Huyan Ting's household had been destroyed by Ouyang Fang, and that this lad was Huyan Ting's own son, now bent on revenge but without a plan. Geng Zhong, hearing this, said indignantly: "Brother, do not worry. I have a plan by which Ouyang Fang may be killed." Ma Zhong said: "Brother, what plan? Do teach me." Geng Zhong made Zan come close and said: "You must present this horse to Ouyang Fang's house, calling it a token of respect. When he gets this horse, he will surely ask what office you want. You must answer that you wish no office, but only to serve the lord, to tend his horses. He will be pleased and take you in. When the opportunity comes, kill him — and this wrong can be avenged." Zan bowed and received the plan. That day the feast broke up, and Geng Zhong returned to his stronghold. The next day Zan bade farewell to Ma Zhong and Lady Liu, mounted, and set off. Later men made a verse to witness it: Heroic and bold, his courage coarse; an upright figure none in the world surpass. This journey surely shall see the wrong avenged, and mark him forth as a true man.

Now Huyan Zan, leaving the manor of the Marshal, made straight for Hedong and sought out the house of Ouyang Fang. He had a man report: "At the gate is a brave man leading a fine horse, who wishes to present it to the lord." Ouyang, hearing it, ordered him brought in. Zan knelt at the foot of the steps and said: "Your servant lately came by a splendid steed, and has brought it to present to the lord as a token of introduction." Ouyang said: "What place are you from?" Zan said: "My family dwells at Ma Manor; your servant's name is Ma Zan." Ouyang said: "What is this horse worth?" Zan said: "Its worth is a string of cities." Ouyang thought to himself: "This man must be seeking an office." He had his attendants ask. Zan said: "I wish no office, but only to serve the lord for a year or so; in the end I am a man with a name to keep." Ouyang saw Zan's unusual bearing, and that he had given this horse, and was gratified beyond measure. He kept him as an attendant at his side. Since Zan wished to act, he flattered and served him with all his heart, and won Ouyang's favor utterly.

On the Mid-Autumn festival of the seventh year of Kaibao, Ouyang Fang drank wine and admired the moon with his wife in a pavilion in the rear garden. How fine that scene was! The song "Prelude to the Water Melody" by Su Dongpo bears witness: When did the bright moon first arise? I raise my cup and ask the blue sky. In the heavenly palaces tonight, what year is it, I wonder? I would ride the wind and return, yet fear the jade towers and white jade halls — too high and cold up there. I rise and dance, playing with my clear shadow; how unlike the world of men! Turning about the vermilion pavilion, sinking low by the painted windows, it shines on me who cannot sleep. It should have no grief; why, then, when people part, is it always full? For men there is sorrow and joy, parting and reunion; and for the moon, waxing and waning, bright and dim. This has never been perfect since olden days. I can only wish that people live long, and share the same bright moonlight, though a thousand miles apart.

Ouyang Fang finished drinking and was drunk. Attendants helped him into the study, where he leaned on the table and sat. Zan followed him into the courtyard and thought: "If I do not act here, when shall I wait for?" Just as he was about to draw his knife, someone outside the window came bearing a lantern into the courtyard — it was the steward, come to ask Ouyang to rest. Zan hid his knife in its sheath and sighed: "This robber still has some fortune left him; I must try again."

Now Zhao Su, seeing that Ouyang Fang had held sway over the government so long, feared it would bring on war. One day he memorialized to the lord of Northern Han: "Ouyang has the crime of killing men without warrant. If Your Majesty does not early remove him, the harm will be deep." And the generals, such as Ding Gui, joined in impeaching his crimes. Liu Jun then removed Ouyang Fang from the office of chancellor and conferred on him the post of commander of a regiment. Ouyang, ashamed to be ranked with Zhao Su, memorialized and begged leave to return to the countryside. The lord of Han granted his request. Ouyang that very day packed and left Jinyang with his attendants, bound for Yunzhou. In less than a day he was at his home, and all his kinsmen came to offer congratulations, and Ouyang entertained them daily with wine and feasts.

On the ninth day of the ninth month, being Ouyang's birthday, he prepared a banquet and drank freely with his wife. Huyan Zan alone waited in the outer room, sitting fretting in idleness. As the second watch drew near, he went out into the courtyard to stroll. The moon shone bright as day and the west wind brushed his face. Zan looked up and sighed long: "I came for my parents' sake to avenge a wrong, and yet I have not fulfilled my purpose. Can Heaven have no pity on me?" So saying, he wiped his tears, went in, and lay down. Suddenly a strange wind arose before the window, and in his sleep Zan saw many people drenched in blood, who came forward and urged him: "Your father was wronged by Ouyang — this day you may avenge yourself!" Zan heard it and woke with a start; it had been a dream. As he hesitated, an attendant came to call: "Constable Ma, the lord summons you." Hiding his blade, he went straight into the study and saw Ouyang Fang asleep in bed. Ouyang said: "I have had a few cups and am not yet sober. Stay by my side and serve me well." Zan assented, and thought to himself: "This robber's fate is done!"

Near the fourth watch, Zan went out of the courtyard and saw all around was silent. Truly then: Anger rose in his heart, and wickedness grew bold beside it. From his waist he drew the sharp knife — a cold gleam and a murderous air — and entering the study again, he seized Ouyang Fang and said: "Do you recognize the son of Huyan Ting?" Ouyang was so startled that his heart and courage split asunder, and he pleaded: "Spare my life, and my whole estate is yours." The words were not yet done when Zan swung the blade, thrusting it into his throat. Ouyang Fang, in great pain, without a sound, went to the nether world. Having killed Ouyang Fang, Zan went straight inside and likewise put to death the wife and all the close kin, forty and more, men and women. A poet later wrote: His spirit reaches the clouds — who can surpass? The hidden wrong must be avenged, shaking the realm. He slew the whole household to vent his deep hatred, and we learn at last that Heaven's retribution is exact.

Zan fought his way out of the court, and only an old woman knelt at the foot of the steps, begging: "I pray you spare this withered life." Zan said: "This is not your doing. Make haste, gather gold and jewels for me." The old woman went into the room, and loaded silk, gold, and silver onto a cart for Zan to take back. As he left, Zan wrote four lines on the door in blood: His lofty spirit shoots toward the stars; the old hatred in his heart is at last set at rest. He has plainly killed Ouyang Fang, and made of Hedong a gnashing enemy. Having written, Huyan Zan rode the Black Dragon Horse, bearing the treasure, and returned by night to his mother Lady Liu, telling her in full how he had slain the whole household of Ouyang Fang and brought back the gold. Lady Liu was overjoyed.

The next day, when they met Ma Zhong, Zhong asked: "Have you avenged the wrong?" Zan answered: "By my uncle's good fortune, I slew the whole family of Ouyang, old and young, and at my leaving left behind four written lines." Zhong asked: "What did the lines say?" Zan told him the verse. Zhong, alarmed, said: "If the lord of Han learns of this, our house will suffer the calamity of extermination! You must at once make ready travelling money and go to the Helan Mountains, to your two uncles Geng Zhong and Geng Liang, to escape the danger." Zan accepted the command, and that very day bade farewell to his mother and father and went away.