Outlaws of the Marsh, One of the best known and best loved of the ancient Chinese novels which have come down through the ages, written in the fourteenth century, is a fictional account of twelfth-century events in the final years of Hui Zong, a Song Dynasty emperor who reigned from 1101 to 1125. It tells why and how one hundred some-old men and women are forced by the harsh feudal officialdom and banded together on a marsh-girt mountain, became leaders of an outlaw army of thousands and fought brave and resourceful battles against pompous, heartless tyrants.
Mistress Wang went to Songjiang and broached the subject.At first he refused. But he was no match for the marriage broker'seloquence， and finally he consented. He took a house in the western part of town， bought some furnishings， and installed Poxi and her mother. From then on， Poxi was draped in silks and herhair was studded with precious ornaments， often drinking withSongjiang.One day， Songjiang brought his assistant Zhang Wenyuanover to have some wine. Zhang was a handsome young fellow，Poxi was attracted to Zhang the moment she laid eyes on him.Busy with the line of duty， Song Jiang came to the house lessfrequently. Poxi， who was a whore before， and Zhang Wenyuanbecame lovers and stuck together like glue.One day， Song Jiang came back to the house of Poxi. Whenhe reached the corner of the wall， he saw Yan Poxi opened door tosee Zhang Wenyuan off. He also heard the gossip of the neighborsthat "Song the Third is coming after Zhang the Thirdleft：In a pet，Song jiang left and had never gone to the house from then on.Ihe other day， Song Jiang drank wine in a tavern. Liu Tangentered and then dropped to his knees and kowtowed.
Songjiangwas startled， asking "How do you dare to come here?" Liu Tangsaid： "Brother Chao is very grateful to you for saving his life. He'snow the highest leader of our stronghold on Mount Liangshan.There is no way we can repay you for your great benevolence， butI have been sent with a letter and a hundred ounces of gold as atoken of our thanks to you."Liu Tang opened his pack， produced a letter and a bundleof gold and gave them to Song Jiang. Ihe clerk put the letter in apouch and gave the gold back to Liu Tang， saying "Listen to me，brother. You seven have just gone to the mountain stronghold. It'stime when you can use money You'd better go back quickly Don't
