Chapter 110: River Marauder

Inside the ship’s cabin.

Zhang Yue was fast asleep and roused somewhat irritably when someone shook him awake, showing a trace of morning grumpiness. But upon hearing the voice say, “It’s me,” he instantly jolted awake—it was Tang Jiu’s voice.

Zhang Yue sat up and asked, “What is it? Is there something urgent?”

At that moment, he was sleeping on a bench inside the cabin. Tang Jiu spoke softly, “Put on your clothes first, then wake Scholar Huang.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yue nodded and called a few times to Huang Haoyi, who was sleeping on the bench opposite the tea table. When Huang didn’t stir, Zhang Yue didn’t say more; he gave his knee a sharp kick.

“It’s not too late to study tomorrow…” Huang muttered.

“Huang, get up.”

“What’s the matter?”

“There are river bandits!”

Zhang Yue was startled. The tale of the Journey to the West immediately came to mind.

Tang Seng’s father, after becoming the top scholar and taking office locally, was killed by river bandits, his body sunk into the river. The bandits then impersonated Tang Seng’s father, taking in his wife and assuming his position as an official.

This story isn’t original to Journey to the West; it first appeared in the Taiping Guangji under the tale of Cui Weizi. That story, set during the Tang dynasty’s Tianbao era, tells of a Cui official who suffered a fate similar to Tang Seng’s father.

This adaptation wasn’t baseless; river bandits along the Yangtze and Huai rivers had been recorded since the Tang Zhen Guan period. After the An Shi Rebellion, they openly looted tribute and grain ships, killing officials traveling between the capital and the Jianghuai region—even ambushing and killing chancellors.

No wonder the Tang people were so fearful that such stories were created.

Du Mu once submitted a memorial to Li Taiwei describing the savagery of these river bandits:

“…Whether three ships or two, with a hundred men or fifty, when ready to plunder, they would kill merchants and travelers…”

At the end of the Tang dynasty, figures like Wang Xianzhi, Huang Chao’s uprising, and the infamous Caizhou army were all intertwined with these Jianghuai river bandits.

By the Song dynasty, though the bandits had somewhat restrained themselves, they still frequently appeared along the Yangtze and Huai rivers, killing and robbing before sinking the vessels to leave no trace.

After hearing Tang Jiu’s words, Huang Haoyi was frightened and said, “This is too serious. You’re just a soldier; you can’t speak recklessly.”

Tang Jiu replied, “Scholar Huang refuses to listen. Scholar Zhang and I are going!”

Zhang Yue, now dressed, said to Huang, “Tang Jiu was once a capture envoy, having crossed more bridges than the roads we’ve traveled. Brother, we must heed his orders all the way; Huang, don’t argue. Let’s just follow instructions.”

Huang Haoyi nodded, reluctant to say more.

Tang Jiu said, “Hurry and dress. Don’t alarm the others. Wake up with me, and don’t make a sound unless instructed.”

While dressing, Huang asked, “Should we inform the captain and Commander Yu?”

“We’ll ask after we’re dressed. If we alert everyone at once, the bandits will notice,” Tang Jiu said.

Zhang Yue nodded and woke Ma Wu, while Huang Haoyi roused the servant boy. As for his two side soldiers and personal guards, they were upstairs last night drinking and gambling with Commander Yan Yu, so they weren’t sleeping together.

All dressed and having quickly packed essential belongings, they left.

Zhang Yue’s heart swirled with emotions. Previously, traveling along the Qu and Qiantang rivers, he often saw thousands of people armed with blades and shields made of leather or wood, carrying banners, patrolling the countryside by day, or causing disturbances. Everyone knew these were “vegetable-eating demons” and kept strict watch.

Yet Tang Jiu seemed unfazed, drinking and sleeping all day. Huang Haoyi often mocked him for it.

But when the boat reached the Jianghuai region, Tang Jiu still drank but frequently patrolled the deck.

Like tonight—though a bright moon hung high, not a dark and stormy night—by the fourth watch, Tang Jiu was wide awake, waking everyone to warn of an approaching ship: the feared river bandits.

Though Zhang Yue was about 60-70% skeptical, it was his first journey with no experience. Caution could never be too much, but recklessness could be fatal. So he heeded Tang Jiu’s warning and roused the reluctant Huang Haoyi.

They all left the cabin and headed to the starboard side, finding the boat anchored midriver under a bright moon, the water well lit. No sign of bandits or their vessel—only a small firewood boat hanging alongside.

Huang Haoyi said, “Am I being tricked? Coming here in the middle of the night…”

But Tang Jiu said, “Load your gear and get off the ship.”

They disembarked.

Huang Haoyi exclaimed, “Isn’t this abandoning ship? Shouldn’t we inform the captain and Commander Yu?”

“We’ll notify them after we’re ashore,” Tang Jiu said sternly. “If Huang doesn’t get off, we’ll go first. I think I heard oars dipping.”

Huang Haoyi shuddered and scrambled onto the firewood boat with the servant boy. Soon, Ma Wu followed.

Only Zhang Yue and Tang Jiu remained on the main boat.

Zhang Yue said, “I’ll inform the captain and Commander Yu before we move. We’ve been on this ship long enough not to abandon them.”

“Tang, there’s only this small firewood boat. Six or seven people aboard, any more and it’ll sink!” Tang Jiu said.

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Yue said, “At least let me say something. Leaving just like this—how can I…”

A whistle suddenly pierced the air, and Zhang Yue’s face changed.

From the port side, the sound of paddling grew louder. Suddenly, the entire boat tilted westward, and the sound of feet stomping on the deck rang out.

“It’s too late!”

Tang Jiu’s expression hardened. He grabbed Zhang Yue and leapt off the ship.

Just as Zhang Yue was about to fall into the small boat, he caught hold of a rope, slowing their descent, and both landed in the firewood boat.

“Cut the rope!” Tang Jiu shouted fiercely.

Ma Wu raised his heavy blade and severed the rope, then pushed the boat in the opposite direction.

A piercing scream rose—the helmsman’s voice.

Inside the boat, Zhang Yue suddenly recalled how cold it had been crossing the river before, and how the helmsman had given him a bowl of warm wine.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yue hastened to grab an oar and paddle.

Huang Haoyi, Ma Wu, and the servant boy, previously shaking with fear, saw Zhang Yue’s actions and quickly grabbed oars to row.

The boat shot forward like an arrow.

Tang Jiu smiled slightly, resting his foot on the boat’s edge, watching the ship they had just left.

Chaos erupted aboard the main ship.

“River bandits!” someone shouted.

Heavy objects splashed into the river.

Zhang Yue kept his head down, unwilling to look back, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. Yet he gripped the oar, rowing steadily toward the shore.

…

The night passed.

Two of the Wu family’s ships sank. The remaining three repelled the bandits but were all holed beneath the waterline and had to be beached along the riverbank.

Zhang Yue, Tang Jiu, and the others rowed their boat to Wu Anshi.

At a reed-covered shore, over a hundred people stood guard, armed with bows, arrows, and swords. Their presence startled Zhang Yue and the others as they approached.

Only after Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi appeared did the guards allow them to come ashore—still wary.

Shaken from the previous night’s ordeal, Zhang Yue and Huang looked dazed.

Seeing them, Wu Anshi appeared as frightened as a startled bird. But when he recognized Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi, he leapt from the earth mound and rushed to embrace them.

“I’m so glad to see you both!” he said.

Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi were just regaining their composure.

Recalling last night’s encounter, Huang couldn’t help but break into loud sobs.

Zhang Yue was speechless.

“I heard yesterday that your ships sank. I feared you were lost. Losing two close friends like you—I didn’t know how I’d explain it to my father and the elders in Jiangdong once I returned to the capital. But to see you here again—it’s truly a blessing. I don’t know how to express my joy,” Wu Anshi said, wiping his tears.

Zhang Yue sensed the sincerity behind these words. Unexpectedly, this seemingly spoiled second-generation son cared deeply for them. This surprised him.

He clasped his fists and said, “Thank you for your concern, Wu. All is well, except… except…”

Wu Anshi noticed and asked, “Yes, Tang, what about Commander Yan Yu and Captain Zhang?”

Before Zhang Yue could answer, Tang Jiu bowed and said, “Last night when the bandits came, we fled in panic. Commander Yu and Captain Zhang fought fiercely. I fear…”

Zhang Yue blushed hearing this.

Wu Anshi sighed, “Commander Yu and Captain Zhang have served my father for years. Their fate was sealed. I don’t know how I’ll face my father upon returning. But at least, Tang and Huang, you survived! And this brave warrior here has been by Tang’s side all along.”

Zhang Yue said, “Wu, this is Tang Jiu. He was once an arrest envoy but was exiled here due to a crime. Now he’s accompanying me to the capital. Had he not risked his life to save us last night, I and Brother Huang would surely be dead.”

Tang Jiu was surprised. Having served in the government for years, he didn’t expect Zhang Yue to mean such praise.

He thought Zhang Yue might blame him.

Instead, Zhang Yue didn’t hold it against him and even recommended him to Wu Anshi, giving him a chance to redeem himself.

Wu Anshi said, “A true hero. Tang and Huang are my good friends. You saved their lives and thus saved mine. Please accept my deepest bow!”

He then bowed deeply.

Tang Jiu hurried forward to kneel and help him up.

“No, no, Wu, you’re far above me. I’m just a disgraced exile. I dare not accept,” Tang Jiu said.

“Nonsense! A hero who saved my friends is my sworn brother from now on!” Wu Anshi insisted, remaining bowed.

Tang Jiu was deeply moved.

Seeing Wu Anshi’s sincerity, Zhang Yue was touched too. Though he knew Wu’s actions were partly to win favor, flattery still contained genuine feeling. Moreover, Wu Anshi had shown such loyalty despite his own troubles—Zhang Yue could no longer view him as just an ordinary friend.

Huang Haoyi felt the same.

As Zhang Yue’s gaze shifted, he noticed two women wearing veiled hats standing beside Wu Anshi. One of them seemed to be looking directly at him. Though separated by a sheer curtain, Zhang Yue could feel it subtly.

Unconsciously, his face flushed slightly.

PS: Had a bit to drink, so the writing was slow. This chapter is rather intense for the New Year, but the danger has passed.

Finally, wishing everyone a happy New Year, may all your wishes come true, and may you enjoy a joyful celebration!