且說北俠智化二人商議已畢，方才安歇。到了次日，鍾雄將軍務料理完時，便請北俠智爺在書房相會。今日比昨日更覺親熱了。閒話之間，又提起當今之世誰是豪傑，那個是英雄。北俠道：「劣兄卻知一個人，惜乎他為宦途羈絆，再也不能到此。」鍾雄道：「是何等人物？姓甚名誰？」北俠道：「就是開封府的四品帶刀護衛展昭字熊飛，為人行俠尚義，濟困扶危，人人都稱他為南俠，敕封號為御貓。他乃當世之豪傑也。」鍾雄聽了，哈哈大笑，道：「此人現在小弟寨中，兄長如何說他不能到此？」北俠故意吃驚道：「南俠如何能夠到此地呢？劣兄再也不信。」鍾雄道：「說起來話長。襄陽王送了一個罈子來，說是大鬧東京錦毛鼠白玉堂的骨殖，交到小弟處。小弟念他是個英雄，將他葬在五峰嶺上，小弟還親身祭奠一回。惟恐有人盜去此壇，就在那墳塚前刨了個梅花塹坑，派人看守，以防不虞，不料遲不多日，就拿了二人：一個是徐慶，一個是展昭。那徐慶已然脫逃。展昭弟也素所深知，原要叫他作個幫手，不想他執意不肯，因此把他囚在碧雲崖下。」北俠暗暗歡喜，道：「此人頗與劣兄相得，待明日作個說客，看是如何。」
且说北侠智化二人商议已毕，方才安歇。到了次日，钟雄将军务料理完时，便请北侠智爷在书房相会。今日比昨日更觉亲热了。闲话之间，又提起当今之世谁是豪杰，那个是英雄。北侠道：「劣兄却知一个人，惜乎他为宦途羁绊，再也不能到此。」钟雄道：「是何等人物？姓甚名谁？」北侠道：「就是开封府的四品带刀护卫展昭字熊飞，为人行侠尚义，济困扶危，人人都称他为南侠，敕封号为御猫。他乃当世之豪杰也。」钟雄听了，哈哈大笑，道：「此人现在小弟寨中，兄长如何说他不能到此？」北侠故意吃惊道：「南侠如何能够到此地呢？劣兄再也不信。」钟雄道：「说起来话长。襄阳王送了一个坛子来，说是大闹东京锦毛鼠白玉堂的骨殖，交到小弟处。小弟念他是个英雄，将他葬在五峰岭上，小弟还亲身祭奠一回。惟恐有人盗去此坛，就在那坟冢前刨了个梅花堑坑，派人看守，以防不虞，不料迟不多日，就拿了二人：一个是徐庆，一个是展昭。那徐庆已然脱逃。展昭弟也素所深知，原要叫他作个帮手，不想他执意不肯，因此把他囚在碧云崖下。」北侠暗暗欢喜，道：「此人颇与劣兄相得，待明日作个说客，看是如何。」
Now, when the Northern Hero and Zhi Hua had finished their discussion, they went to bed at last. The next day, as soon as Zhong Xiong had dealt with the business of the stronghold, he invited the Northern Hero and Zhi Hua to join him in his study, and he was even warmer toward them than the day before. As they chatted, the talk turned again to who in the world today were the bold spirits, and who the true heroes. “I do know of one man,” said the Northern Hero, “but it’s a pity: he’s tied down by an official career, and he could never come here.” “What sort of man is he?” asked Zhong Xiong. “What is his name?” “He is Zhan Zhao, styled Xiongfei, a Sword-Bearing Guard of the fourth rank at the Kaifeng yamen,” said the Northern Hero. “He lives by the code of the gallant and holds to what is right; he helps those in need and rescues those in danger. Everyone calls him the Southern Hero, and the Emperor has given him the title of Imperial Cat. He is the bold spirit of our age.” Zhong Xiong roared with laughter. “That very man is in my stronghold right now, brother. How can you say he could never come here?” The Northern Hero made a show of surprise. “How could the Southern Hero ever get here? I’ll never believe it.” “It’s a long story,” said Zhong Xiong. “The Prince of Xiangyang sent me a jar, saying it held the bones of Bai Yutang, the Sleek Rat who raised the uproar in the Eastern Capital, and handed it into my keeping. Since he was a hero, I buried him on Wufeng Ridge, and I even made an offering at the grave myself. For fear someone would steal the jar, I had plum-blossom pits dug in front of the grave and set men to guard it against mishaps. As it turned out, before many days had passed we caught two men: one was Xu Qing, the other Zhan Zhao. Xu Qing has since escaped. Zhan Zhao I too have long known by name, and I meant to make him one of my right-hand men, but he flatly refused, so I’ve had him locked up below Biyun Cliff.” The Northern Hero was secretly delighted. “He and I get on rather well,” he said. “Tomorrow let me go and try to talk him round, and we’ll see what comes of it.”
智化接言道：「大哥既能說南俠，小弟還有一人，也可叫他投誠。」鍾雄道：「賢弟所說之人為誰呢？」智化道：「說起此人也是有名的豪傑。他就在臥虎溝居住，姓沙名龍。」鍾雄道：「不是拿藍驍的沙員外麼？」智化道：「正是。兄何以知道？」鍾雄道：「劣兄想此人久矣！也曾差人去請過，誰知他不肯來。後來聞得黑狼山有失。劣兄還寫一信與襄陽王，叫他把此人收伏，就叫他把守黑狼山，卻是人地相宜。至今未見回音，不知事體如何。」智化道：「既是兄長知道此人，小弟明日就往臥虎溝便了。大約小弟去了，他沒有不來之理。」鍾雄聽了大樂。三個人就在書房飲酒用飯，不必細表。
智化接言道：「大哥既能说南侠，小弟还有一人，也可叫他投诚。」钟雄道：「贤弟所说之人为谁呢？」智化道：「说起此人也是有名的豪杰。他就在卧虎沟居住，姓沙名龙。」钟雄道：「不是拿蓝骁的沙员外么？」智化道：「正是。兄何以知道？」钟雄道：「劣兄想此人久矣！也曾差人去请过，谁知他不肯来。后来闻得黑狼山有失。劣兄还写一信与襄阳王，叫他把此人收伏，就叫他把守黑狼山，却是人地相宜。至今未见回音，不知事体如何。」智化道：「既是兄长知道此人，小弟明日就往卧虎沟便了。大约小弟去了，他没有不来之理。」钟雄听了大乐。三个人就在书房饮酒用饭，不必细表。
Zhi Hua took up the thread. “Since Big Brother can talk round the Southern Hero, I know another man I could bring over to us as well.” “And who might that be, worthy brother?” asked Zhong Xiong. “He’s a famous bold spirit too,” said Zhi Hua. “He lives at Wohugou, and his name is Sha Long.” “Not Squire Sha, who captured Lan Xiao?” said Zhong Xiong. “The very same,” said Zhi Hua. “How do you come to know of him, brother?” “I’ve wanted that man for a long time!” said Zhong Xiong. “I even sent someone to invite him, but he wouldn’t come. Later I heard that Heilang Mountain had fallen, and I wrote to the Prince of Xiangyang telling him to win the man over and have him hold Heilang Mountain himself: the right man for the place. I’ve had no answer yet, so I don’t know how things stand.” “Since you know of him, brother,” said Zhi Hua, “I’ll go to Wohugou tomorrow. If I go, I can’t see any reason he won’t come.” Zhong Xiong was overjoyed. The three of them drank and dined there in the study; there is no need to go into all that.
到次日，智化先要上臥虎溝。鍾雄立刻傳令開了寨門，用小船送出竹柵，過了五孔橋。他卻不奔臥虎溝，竟奔陳起望而來。進了莊中，莊丁即刻通報。眾人正在廳上，便問投誠事體如何。智爺將始末原由說了一遍，深贊鍾雄是個豪傑，惜乎錯走了路頭，必須設法將這朋友提出苦海方好。又將與歐陽兄定計搭救展大哥與沙大哥之事說了。蔣平道：「事有湊巧，昨晚史雲到了，他說因找歐陽兄，到了茉花村，說與丁二爺起身了。他又趕到襄陽，見了張立，方知歐陽兄丁二弟與智大哥俱在按院那裡。他又急急趕到按院衙門，盧大哥才告訴他說，咱們都上陳起望了，他從新又到這裡來。所以昨晚才到。」智化聽了，即將史雲叫來，問他按院衙門可有什麼事。史雲道：「我也曾問了。盧大爺叫問眾位爺們好，說衙門中甚是平安。顏大人也好了。徐三爺也回去了，諸事妥當。請諸位爺們放心。」智化道：「你來得正好。歇息兩日，即速回臥虎溝，告訴孟焦二人，叫他將家務派妥當人管理，所有漁戶獵戶人等，凡有本領的，齊赴襄陽太守衙門。」丁二爺道：「金老爺那裡如何住得許多人呢？」智化笑道：「劣兄早已預料，已在漢臯那裡修葺下些房屋。」陸彬道：「漢臯就是方山，在府的正北上。」智化道：「正是此處。張立盡知。到了那裡，見了張立，便有居住之處了。」說罷，大家入席飲酒。
到次日，智化先要上卧虎沟。钟雄立刻传令开了寨门，用小船送出竹栅，过了五孔桥。他却不奔卧虎沟，竟奔陈起望而来。进了庄中，庄丁即刻通报。众人正在厅上，便问投诚事体如何。智爷将始末原由说了一遍，深赞钟雄是个豪杰，惜乎错走了路头，必须设法将这朋友提出苦海方好。又将与欧阳兄定计搭救展大哥与沙大哥之事说了。蒋平道：「事有凑巧，昨晚史云到了，他说因找欧阳兄，到了茉花村，说与丁二爷起身了。他又赶到襄阳，见了张立，方知欧阳兄丁二弟与智大哥俱在按院那里。他又急急赶到按院衙门，卢大哥才告诉他说，咱们都上陈起望了，他从新又到这里来。所以昨晚才到。」智化听了，即将史云叫来，问他按院衙门可有什么事。史云道：「我也曾问了。卢大爷叫问众位爷们好，说衙门中甚是平安。颜大人也好了。徐三爷也回去了，诸事妥当。请诸位爷们放心。」智化道：「你来得正好。歇息两日，即速回卧虎沟，告诉孟焦二人，叫他将家务派妥当人管理，所有渔户猎户人等，凡有本领的，齐赴襄阳太守衙门。」丁二爷道：「金老爷那里如何住得许多人呢？」智化笑道：「劣兄早已预料，已在汉臯那里修葺下些房屋。」陆彬道：「汉臯就是方山，在府的正北上。」智化道：「正是此处。张立尽知。到了那里，见了张立，便有居住之处了。」说罢，大家入席饮酒。
The next day Zhi Hua was to set off for Wohugou first. Zhong Xiong at once gave orders to open the stronghold gate, and had him taken in a small boat out through the bamboo wall and past the Five-Arch Bridge. But Zhi Hua did not head for Wohugou at all; he made straight for Chenqiwang. When he entered the manor, the manor hands announced him at once. The others were all in the hall, and they asked how his offer of service had gone. Zhi Hua told them the whole story from beginning to end, and spoke highly of Zhong Xiong as a true bold spirit: it was a pity he had taken the wrong road, and they must find some way to pull such a friend out of the sea of bitterness. He also told them the plan he had made with Brother Ouyang to rescue Brother Zhan and Brother Sha. “As luck would have it,” said Jiang Ping, “Shi Yun arrived last night. He says he went looking for Brother Ouyang at Mohua Village and was told he had set out with Second Master Ding. So he hurried on to Xiangyang and saw Zhang Li, and only then learned that Brother Ouyang, Second Brother Ding and Brother Zhi were all with the Inspector. He hurried on to the Inspector’s yamen, and there Brother Lu told him we’d all gone to Chenqiwang, so he set off again and came here. That’s why he only got in last night.” When he heard this, Zhi Hua had Shi Yun called in and asked him whether anything was the matter at the Inspector’s yamen. “I asked about that too,” said Shi Yun. “Master Lu sends his regards to all you gentlemen and says all’s quiet at the yamen. Lord Yan is well again, too. Third Master Xu has got back, and everything’s in good order. You gentlemen needn’t worry.” “You’ve come at just the right time,” said Zhi Hua. “Rest for a couple of days, then hurry back to Wohugou and tell Meng Jie and Jiao Chi to put reliable men in charge of the household, and to send every fisherman and hunter who has any skill to the Governor’s yamen at Xiangyang.” “How can Lord Jin’s place house so many people?” asked Second Master Ding. Zhi Hua laughed. “I saw that coming long ago. I’ve already had some houses put in repair over at Hangao.” “Hangao is Fang Mountain,” said Lu Bin, “due north of the prefecture.” “That’s the place,” said Zhi Hua. “Zhang Li knows all about it. When they get there and see Zhang Li, they’ll have somewhere to live.” With that they all took their seats at the table and drank.