話說白臉專諸馬俊，打開書信一看，立刻顏色改變。鐵面天王鄭雄就問：「賢弟什麼事？緣何這般景況。」馬俊說：「了不得了。兄長你看看，這是八句偈語。」鄭雄接過一看，上寫的是：
话说白脸专诸马俊，打开书信一看，立刻颜色改变。铁面天王郑雄就问：「贤弟什么事？缘何这般景况。」马俊说：「了不得了。兄长你看看，这是八句偈语。」郑雄接过一看，上写的是：
Now, when Ma Jun, the White-Faced Zhuanzhu, opened the letter and looked at it, the colour drained from his face at once. Zheng Xiong, the Iron-Faced Heavenly King, asked him, “What is it, brother? Why do you look like this?” “This is terrible,” said Ma Jun. “Look at it, elder brother. It’s a gatha of eight lines.” Zheng Xiong took it and looked. This is what it said:
為救行人秉義俠，惹起是非亂如麻。群賊大眾齊聚會，各逞強霸入官衙。前來劫牢反過獄，今夜難免到汝家。馬俊若不速防備，全家老幼被賊殺。
为救行人秉义侠，惹起是非乱如麻。群贼大众齐聚会，各逞强霸入官衙。前来劫牢反过狱，今夜难免到汝家。马俊若不速防备，全家老幼被贼杀。
To save a traveller you played the gallant,and stirred up a quarrel as tangled as hemp.Now the whole bandit pack has gathered,and flaunting their might they stormed the yamen.They came to raid the jail and break out its prisoners;tonight they will surely come to your house.Ma Jun, if you do not make ready at once,your household, old and young, will die at the bandits’ hands.
鄭雄看罷說：「濟公他老人家，未卜先知。賢弟你打算怎么樣呢？」馬俊說：「這件事，可不大好辦。」鄭雄說：「楊兄長，素常你們三位，做何生理？」楊明說：「我們在外面保鏢為業。未領教尊駕貴姓？」馬俊說：「真是，我也忘了，這是我拜兄，他姓鄭名雄，名號人稱鐵面天王。」楊明說：「久仰久仰。」馬俊說：「楊兄長，你們三位既是保鏢，我今天有一事奉求。」楊明說：「什麼事？」馬俊說：「你看濟公這封信，我前者得罪綠林的賊人，今天賊人要來殺我滿門家眷。我這裡人單勢孤，求三位可以拔刀相助，不知意下如何？」楊明接信一看，心中明白。自己忖度了半天，說：「馬大官人，這件事我可不敢從命，又不知是哪路的賊人。要是玉山縣的一路人，我要出頭，許我一攔就完了。倘若西川路的賊人，不但我管不了，他等認準了我，且要跟我為仇。」馬俊一聽，說：「我久聞楊兄長是慷慨人。揮金如土，仗義疏財，在外面行俠仗義，剪惡安良，故此今天才敢直言奉懇。不然，你我今天才算初會，也不敢求兄長分神。」楊明說：「在下也不敢俠義自居，無非是常常愛管閒事。你我彼此一見如故。既是馬大官人不嫌，我可從命。但有一節，晚上你叫人預備照鍋煙子，我等把本來面目遮住，倘有認得的人，丟不下臉來動手。」馬俊說：「是。那倒好辦。你我商量商量，怎么預備。」楊明說：「你家裡可有多少家人？」馬俊說：「我家裡連長工佃戶打雜到更夫都算在內，共有百餘人。」楊明說：「好。你都把他們叫來，我有話說。」當時馬俊叫家人去把家眾齊集。楊明一見，汰去幼弱，除去老者，先得六十人，都是年少力壯的。楊明向眾人說：「你們大官人得罪了綠林人，今天晚上有群賊來明火執仗，你等可願意齊心努力，護庇你家主人？」眾家人同聲一口說：「我等情願跟賊人一死相拼！」楊明一聽，知道馬俊平日待人寬厚，才能大眾同心。楊明說：「你等把內宅收拾出來，叫夫人、老太太、小姐俱搬出空房去，不要點燈。後院有多少房？」馬俊說：「後院也是四合房。」楊明說：「既然如此，你等各執兵刃，在南屋裡藏著，點上燈，把門扣上，聽外面我一喊嚷，你等各執兵刃齊出。不用你等拿賊，只仗你等助威。」家人各自點頭答應。楊明說：「馬大官人，你同鄭爺在北上房收拾好了，把兵刃預備在手底下等候。我三個在東配房屋裡，西配房鎖上。」馬俊一聽楊明調度有方，心中甚是佩服。立刻叫家人安置。當時吩咐擺酒，大眾吃喝完畢，天已掌燈。馬俊這才帶領楊明眾人，來到內宅。眾家人皆在南屋裡，馬俊同鄭雄在北屋裡，收拾落座，把兵刃放在手底下。楊明、雷鳴、陳亮都用鍋煙子把臉抹了，在東配房屋中一坐，開著門，往外瞧著。等有二更以後，忽見由房上躥下一個人來。頭上是透風馬尾，身上穿三叉通口寸帕夜行衣，周身骨鈕寸絆，胸前羅漢股絲絛，雙拉蝴蝶扣，皂緞子兜襠禈褲，藍緞襪子，打花繃腿。倒衲千層底，魚鱗靸鞋，手中拿著一口刀。跳下來東張西望，見東配房開著門，賊人邁步就要上台階。楊明抖手一鏢，正打在賊人嘴裡，雷鳴趕出來一刀，就把賊人殺了，也不知賊人是誰。剛把這個賊一殺，就聽見北房上有人說話：「了不得，咱們合字給人把瓢摘了！」賊人說：「好馬俊，你敢跟我們綠林中作對，今天將你家中刀刀斬盡，劍劍誅絕。合字上！」只一句話，北房上也是人，南房上也是人，東西房上也是人。眾賊人往下就跳。有一個賊人，叫雙刀無敵李泰，過來就奔東房。東房楊明看見，這才一聲喊嚷：「好賊，竟敢明火執仗！」跳出房外。到院內一看，四角房上賊人不少。
郑雄看罢说：「济公他老人家，未卜先知。贤弟你打算怎么样呢？」马俊说：「这件事，可不大好办。」郑雄说：「杨兄长，素常你们三位，做何生理？」杨明说：「我们在外面保镖为业。未领教尊驾贵姓？」马俊说：「真是，我也忘了，这是我拜兄，他姓郑名雄，名号人称铁面天王。」杨明说：「久仰久仰。」马俊说：「杨兄长，你们三位既是保镖，我今天有一事奉求。」杨明说：「什么事？」马俊说：「你看济公这封信，我前者得罪绿林的贼人，今天贼人要来杀我满门家眷。我这里人单势孤，求三位可以拔刀相助，不知意下如何？」杨明接信一看，心中明白。自己忖度了半天，说：「马大官人，这件事我可不敢从命，又不知是哪路的贼人。要是玉山县的一路人，我要出头，许我一拦就完了。倘若西川路的贼人，不但我管不了，他等认准了我，且要跟我为仇。」马俊一听，说：「我久闻杨兄长是慷慨人。挥金如土，仗义疏财，在外面行侠仗义，剪恶安良，故此今天才敢直言奉恳。不然，你我今天才算初会，也不敢求兄长分神。」杨明说：「在下也不敢侠义自居，无非是常常爱管闲事。你我彼此一见如故。既是马大官人不嫌，我可从命。但有一节，晚上你叫人预备照锅烟子，我等把本来面目遮住，倘有认得的人，丢不下脸来动手。」马俊说：「是。那倒好办。你我商量商量，怎么预备。」杨明说：「你家里可有多少家人？」马俊说：「我家里连长工佃户打杂到更夫都算在内，共有百余人。」杨明说：「好。你都把他们叫来，我有话说。」当时马俊叫家人去把家众齐集。杨明一见，汰去幼弱，除去老者，先得六十人，都是年少力壮的。杨明向众人说：「你们大官人得罪了绿林人，今天晚上有群贼来明火执仗，你等可愿意齐心努力，护庇你家主人？」众家人同声一口说：「我等情愿跟贼人一死相拼！」杨明一听，知道马俊平日待人宽厚，才能大众同心。杨明说：「你等把内宅收拾出来，叫夫人、老太太、小姐俱搬出空房去，不要点灯。后院有多少房？」马俊说：「后院也是四合房。」杨明说：「既然如此，你等各执兵刃，在南屋里藏着，点上灯，把门扣上，听外面我一喊嚷，你等各执兵刃齐出。不用你等拿贼，只仗你等助威。」家人各自点头答应。杨明说：「马大官人，你同郑爷在北上房收拾好了，把兵刃预备在手底下等候。我三个在东配房屋里，西配房锁上。」马俊一听杨明调度有方，心中甚是佩服。立刻叫家人安置。当时吩咐摆酒，大众吃喝完毕，天已掌灯。马俊这才带领杨明众人，来到内宅。众家人皆在南屋里，马俊同郑雄在北屋里，收拾落座，把兵刃放在手底下。杨明、雷鸣、陈亮都用锅烟子把脸抹了，在东配房屋中一坐，开着门，往外瞧着。等有二更以后，忽见由房上蹿下一个人来。头上是透风马尾，身上穿三叉通口寸帕夜行衣，周身骨钮寸绊，胸前罗汉股丝绦，双拉蝴蝶扣，皂缎子兜裆禈裤，蓝缎袜子，打花绷腿。倒衲千层底，鱼鳞靸鞋，手中拿着一口刀。跳下来东张西望，见东配房开着门，贼人迈步就要上台阶。杨明抖手一镖，正打在贼人嘴里，雷鸣赶出来一刀，就把贼人杀了，也不知贼人是谁。刚把这个贼一杀，就听见北房上有人说话：「了不得，咱们合字给人把瓢摘了！」贼人说：「好马俊，你敢跟我们绿林中作对，今天将你家中刀刀斩尽，剑剑诛绝。合字上！」只一句话，北房上也是人，南房上也是人，东西房上也是人。众贼人往下就跳。有一个贼人，叫双刀无敌李泰，过来就奔东房。东房杨明看见，这才一声喊嚷：「好贼，竟敢明火执仗！」跳出房外。到院内一看，四角房上贼人不少。
When Zheng Xiong had read it, he said, “Ji Gong, that venerable man, knows things before they happen. What do you mean to do, brother?” “This is no easy matter to handle,” said Ma Jun. Zheng Xiong said, “Brother Yang, what line of work do you three follow, as a rule?” “We make our living out on the roads as escorts,” said Yang Ming. “And may I ask your honoured name, sir?” “Of course, I forgot that too,” said Ma Jun. “This is my sworn elder brother. His surname is Zheng and his name Xiong, and people call him the Iron-Faced Heavenly King.” “I’ve long heard your name,” said Yang Ming, “long heard it.” “Brother Yang,” said Ma Jun, “since you three are escorts, I have a favour to ask of you today.” “What is it?” said Yang Ming. “See this letter from Ji Gong,” said Ma Jun. “Some time ago I offended the robbers of the greenwood, and today they are coming to kill my whole family. I have few people here and no strength to speak of. I beg you three to draw your blades and help me. What do you say?” Yang Ming took the letter and read it, and he understood. He turned it over in his mind for a long while, then said, “Lord Ma, I don’t dare take this on. I don’t even know which band of robbers it is. If it’s the Yushan County lot and I step in, maybe a word from me will stop them and that will be the end of it. But if they’re robbers from the Xichuan Circuit, not only can I not handle them, once they’ve marked me they’ll make me their enemy too.” When Ma Jun heard this, he said, “I have long heard that you are a generous man, Brother Yang: you throw gold about like dirt and scorn wealth for the sake of what is right, and out in the world you do gallant deeds, rooting out the wicked and keeping good folk safe. That is why I dared ask you plainly today. Otherwise, since you and I are meeting for the first time, I would never presume to trouble you.” “I wouldn’t dare call myself a gallant,” said Yang Ming. “It’s only that I’m always poking my nose into other people’s business. You and I took to each other like old friends at first sight. Since you don’t think the less of me, Lord Ma, I’ll do as you ask. But there’s one thing. Tonight, have someone get pot soot ready. We’ll hide our own faces with it, because if anyone there knows us, we wouldn’t have the face to fight them.” “Yes,” said Ma Jun, “that’s easily done. Let’s talk over how to prepare.” “How many people do you have in your household?” said Yang Ming. “Counting everyone, from the hired hands, tenant farmers and odd-job men down to the night watchmen,” said Ma Jun, “more than a hundred.” “Good,” said Yang Ming. “Call them all here. I have something to say to them.” Ma Jun at once sent servants to gather the whole household. When Yang Ming saw them, he weeded out the young and weak and set aside the old, which left him first of all sixty men, every one young and strong. Yang Ming said to them, “Your master has offended the men of the greenwood. Tonight a pack of robbers is coming with torches and drawn weapons. Are you willing to stand together and do your utmost to protect your master?” The servants answered with one voice, “We’ll fight the robbers to the death!” Hearing this, Yang Ming knew that Ma Jun must always have treated people generously, or they would not all have been of one heart. Yang Ming said, “Clear out the inner quarters. Have the mistress, the old lady and the young lady all move out and leave the rooms empty, and don’t light any lamps. How many rooms are there in the back courtyard?” “The back courtyard has rooms on all four sides too,” said Ma Jun. “In that case,” said Yang Ming, “each of you take a weapon and hide in the south rooms. Light the lamps and fasten the doors. When you hear me shout outside, all of you come out together with your weapons. I don’t need you to catch the robbers, only to make a show of strength.” The servants each nodded and agreed. “Lord Ma,” said Yang Ming, “you and Master Zheng settle yourselves in the main room on the north side, with your weapons ready to hand. The three of us will be in the east side room. Lock the west side room.” When Ma Jun heard how well Yang Ming laid out his plans, he was full of admiration, and at once had his servants make the arrangements. Then he ordered wine set out, and by the time they had all finished eating and drinking, it was already time to light the lamps. Only then did Ma Jun lead Yang Ming and the others into the inner quarters. The servants were all in the south rooms. Ma Jun and Zheng Xiong were in the north room, settled in their seats with their weapons laid ready to hand. Yang Ming, Lei Ming and Chen Liang had all smeared their faces with pot soot. They sat in the east side room with the door open, watching outside. Some time after the second watch, a man suddenly dropped down from the roof. On his head was a ventilated horsehair scarf. He wore night clothes with a three-pronged open collar, fastened all over with bone buttons and inch-long loops, and across his chest a twisted silk cord tied in a double butterfly knot. He had on black satin trousers gathered at the crotch, blue satin socks, patterned leg wraps and fish-scale slippers with thousand-layer soles stitched on the reverse, and he held a sabre in his hand. When he had jumped down, he looked this way and that. Seeing that the east side room’s door was open, the robber stepped forward to go up the steps. Yang Ming flicked his hand and loosed a dart that struck the robber right in the mouth, and Lei Ming rushed out and killed him with one stroke of his blade, without even knowing who the robber was. They had only just killed this one when they heard someone on the roof of the north room say, “This is bad! One of us Joiners has had his ladle plucked!” And a robber said, “Ma Jun, you scoundrel! You dare set yourself against us of the greenwood? Today we’ll put your whole household to the blade, every last one, and wipe them out by the sword. Joiners, go!” At that one word, there were men on the roof of the north room, men on the south roof, men on the east and west roofs, and the robbers all came leaping down. One of them, Li Tai, the Matchless Twin Blades (Shuangdao Wudi), came straight for the east room. When Yang Ming in the east room saw him, he gave a shout at last: “You rotten robbers, you dare come with torches and drawn weapons!” He leaped out of the room. When he looked about the courtyard, there were plenty of robbers on the roofs at all four corners.