且說姜鎧把守宮門。他派人到接官廳上，打聽有何人出去。不多時，回來說道：「就只二鼓之半，智統轄送出陸魯二人去未回。」姜鎧心內思忖道：「當初投誠時，原是歐陽春智化一同來的，為何他們做此勾當，他也在其內呢？事有可疑。」正在思忖，忽有人報道：「智統轄回來了。」姜鎧聽了，不分好歹，手提三截棍迎了上來；智化剛上臺階，不容分說，「嘩啷」的一聲，他就是一棍。智爺連忙將身閃開。剛剛躲過，尚未立穩，姜鎧的棍梢落地也不抽回，順勢橫著一掃。智化騰開右腳。這左腳。略慢了些，已被棍上的短棒撩了一下。這一棍錯過。若非智爺靈便，幾乎喪了性命。智化連聲嚷道：「姜賢弟，不要動手！我是報緊急軍情。」姜鎧聽了「軍情」二字，方將三截棍收住，道：「報何軍情？快說。」智化道：「此事機密，須要面見夫人，方好說得。」姜鎧聽說要見夫人，這必是大王有了下落。他這才把棍放下，過來拉著智化，道：「可是大王有了信息了麼？」智化道：「正是。為何賢弟見面就是一棍？幸虧是我，若是別人，豈不登時斃於棍下？」姜鎧道：「我只道大哥也是他們一黨，不料是個好人，恕小弟鹵莽。莫怪，莫怪。可打著那裡了？」智化道：「無妨，幸喜不重。快見夫人要緊。」二人開了宮門，來至後面。姜鎧先進去通報。
且说姜铠把守宫门。他派人到接官厅上，打听有何人出去。不多时，回来说道：「就只二鼓之半，智统辖送出陆鲁二人去未回。」姜铠心内思忖道：「当初投诚时，原是欧阳春智化一同来的，为何他们做此勾当，他也在其内呢？事有可疑。」正在思忖，忽有人报道：「智统辖回来了。」姜铠听了，不分好歹，手提三截棍迎了上来；智化刚上台阶，不容分说，「哗啷」的一声，他就是一棍。智爷连忙将身闪开。刚刚躲过，尚未立稳，姜铠的棍梢落地也不抽回，顺势横着一扫。智化腾开右脚。这左脚。略慢了些，已被棍上的短棒撩了一下。这一棍错过。若非智爷灵便，几乎丧了性命。智化连声嚷道：「姜贤弟，不要动手！我是报紧急军情。」姜铠听了「军情」二字，方将三截棍收住，道：「报何军情？快说。」智化道：「此事机密，须要面见夫人，方好说得。」姜铠听说要见夫人，这必是大王有了下落。他这才把棍放下，过来拉着智化，道：「可是大王有了信息了么？」智化道：「正是。为何贤弟见面就是一棍？幸亏是我，若是别人，岂不登时毙于棍下？」姜铠道：「我只道大哥也是他们一党，不料是个好人，恕小弟卤莽。莫怪，莫怪。可打着那里了？」智化道：「无妨，幸喜不重。快见夫人要紧。」二人开了宫门，来至后面。姜铠先进去通报。
Now, Jiang Kai was guarding the palace gate. He sent men to the reception pavilion to find out who had gone out. Before long they came back and said, “Only Commander Zhi. He saw Lu Bin and Lu Ying off halfway through the second watch and hasn’t come back.” Jiang Kai thought to himself: “When they came over to us, Ouyang Chun and Zhi Hua came together in the first place. If the others have pulled a trick like this, why wouldn’t he be in it too? There’s something fishy here.” He was still turning it over when someone reported, “Commander Zhi is back!” Without stopping to tell friend from foe, Jiang Kai seized his three-section staff and went out to meet him. Zhi Hua had only just set foot on the steps when, without a word of warning, there was a clatter of iron and Jiang Kai struck. Zhi Hua sprang aside. He had barely dodged the blow and had not yet found his footing when Jiang Kai, without drawing back the end of the staff from where it hit the ground, swept it sideways in the same motion. Zhi Hua leapt his right foot clear, but his left foot was a little slow, and the short staff at the end caught it a glancing blow. The stroke had all but missed; had Zhi Hua been any less nimble, it might well have cost him his life. “Brother Jiang, stop!” Zhi Hua shouted again and again. “I’m bringing urgent military news!” At the words ‘military news’ Jiang Kai checked his three-section staff. “What news? Out with it!” “It’s a secret,” said Zhi Hua. “I must see Madam Jiang in person before I can tell it.” When Jiang Kai heard that he wanted to see Madam Jiang, he thought this must mean there was word of the Great King. Only then did he lower the staff, come over and take Zhi Hua by the arm. “Is there news of the Great King, then?” “There is,” said Zhi Hua. “But why did you greet me with a blow, worthy brother? Lucky it was me. Anyone else would have dropped dead under your staff on the spot.” “I took you for one of their gang too, brother,” said Jiang Kai, “and never guessed you were a good man. Forgive my rashness. Don’t hold it against me, don’t hold it against me. Where did I hit you?” “No harm done,” said Zhi Hua. “Luckily it isn’t bad. What matters is to see Madam Jiang, and quickly.” The two of them opened the palace gate and went through to the back. Jiang Kai went in first to announce him.
姜夫人正在思念兒女落淚，自己橫了心，要懸樑自縊。聽說智化求見，必是丈夫有了信息，連忙請進，以叔嫂之禮相見。智化到了此時，不肯隱瞞，便將始末原由據實說出。「原為大哥是個豪傑，惟恐一身淹埋污了美名，因此特特定計救大哥，脫離了苦海，全是一番好意，並無陷害之心。倘有欺負，負了結拜，天地不容！請嫂嫂放心。」姜夫人道：「請問叔叔，此時我丈夫是在何處？」智化道：「現在陳起望，所有眾相好全在那裡。務要大哥早早回頭，方不負我等一番苦心。」姜夫人聽了如夢方醒，卻又後悔起來，不該打發兒女起身，便對智化道：「叔叔，是嫂嫂一時不明，已將你姪兒姪女交付武伯南武伯北帶往逃生去了。」智化聽了，急的跌足，道：「這可怎麼好？這全是我智化失於檢點。我若早給嫂嫂送信，如何會有這些事？請問嫂嫂，可知武家兄弟領姪兒姪女往何方去了呢？」姜夫人道：「他們是出後寨門，由後山去的。」智化道：「既如此，待我將他等追趕回來。」便對姜鎧道：「賢弟送我出寨。」站起身來，一瘸一點，別了姜氏，一直到了後寨門，又囑咐姜鎧：「好好照看嫂嫂。」
姜夫人正在思念儿女落泪，自己横了心，要悬梁自缢。听说智化求见，必是丈夫有了信息，连忙请进，以叔嫂之礼相见。智化到了此时，不肯隐瞒，便将始末原由据实说出。「原为大哥是个豪杰，惟恐一身淹埋污了美名，因此特特定计救大哥，脱离了苦海，全是一番好意，并无陷害之心。倘有欺负，负了结拜，天地不容！请嫂嫂放心。」姜夫人道：「请问叔叔，此时我丈夫是在何处？」智化道：「现在陈起望，所有众相好全在那里。务要大哥早早回头，方不负我等一番苦心。」姜夫人听了如梦方醒，却又后悔起来，不该打发儿女起身，便对智化道：「叔叔，是嫂嫂一时不明，已将你姪儿姪女交付武伯南武伯北带往逃生去了。」智化听了，急的跌足，道：「这可怎么好？这全是我智化失于检点。我若早给嫂嫂送信，如何会有这些事？请问嫂嫂，可知武家兄弟领姪儿姪女往何方去了呢？」姜夫人道：「他们是出后寨门，由后山去的。」智化道：「既如此，待我将他等追赶回来。」便对姜铠道：「贤弟送我出寨。」站起身来，一瘸一点，别了姜氏，一直到了后寨门，又嘱咐姜铠：「好好照看嫂嫂。」
Madam Jiang had been weeping as she thought of her son and daughter, and had hardened her heart to hang herself from a beam. When she heard that Zhi Hua was asking to see her, she knew there must be news of her husband, and had him shown in at once, receiving him with the courtesies due to her husband’s younger brother. Now that it had come to this, Zhi Hua would not hide anything, and told her the whole story from beginning to end, just as it was. “It was because my elder brother is a true hero,” he said, “and we feared he would bury himself here and stain his good name, that we made this plan on purpose to rescue him and bring him out of this sea of bitterness. It was all done in good faith, with no thought of harming him. If there is any deceit in it, if I have betrayed our oath of brotherhood, may Heaven and Earth not suffer me to live! Please set your mind at rest, Sister-in-law.” “May I ask, brother,” said Madam Jiang, “where my husband is now?” “He is at Chenqiwang,” said Zhi Hua, “and all our good friends are there with him. Elder brother must turn back soon; then all our pains will not have been in vain.” Hearing this, Madam Jiang was like one waking from a dream. But then she was filled with regret: she should never have sent her children away. “Brother,” she said to Zhi Hua, “your sister-in-law lost her head for a moment. I have already given your nephew and niece into the care of Wu Bonan and Wu Bobei, to flee for their lives.” Zhi Hua stamped his foot in dismay. “What are we to do now? This is all my own carelessness. If I had sent you word sooner, Sister-in-law, how could this have happened? Tell me, Sister-in-law, do you know which way the Wu brothers took the children?” “They went out by the rear gate of the stronghold and over the back of the mountain,” said Madam Jiang. “In that case,” said Zhi Hua, “I’ll go after them and bring them back.” And he said to Jiang Kai, “Worthy brother, see me out of the stronghold.” He stood up, took his leave of Madam Jiang, and limping at every step went straight to the rear gate of the stronghold, where he told Jiang Kai once more, “Take good care of your sister.”
好智化，真是為朋友盡心，不辭勞苦，出了後寨門，竟奔後山而來。走了五六里之遙，並不見個人影，只急的抓耳撓腮。猛聽的有小孩子說話道：「伯南哥，你我往那裡去呢？」又聽有人答道：「公子不要著急害怕。這溝是通著水路的，待我歇息歇息再走。」智化聽的真切，順著聲音找去，原來是個山溝，音出於下，連忙問道：「下面可是公子鍾麟麼？」只聽有人應道：「正是。上面卻是何人？」智化應道：「我是智化，特來尋找你等。為何落在山溝之內？」鍾麟道：「上面可是智叔父麼？快些救我姐姐去要緊。」智化道：「你姐姐往何處去了？」又聽應道：「小人武伯南背著公子，武伯北保護小姐。不想伯北陡起不良之心，欲害公子小姐。我痛加譴責。不料正走之間，他說溝內有人說話，彷彿大王聲音。是我探身覷視，他卻將我主僕推落溝中，驅著馬往西去了。」智化問道：「你主僕可曾跌傷沒有？」武伯南道：「幸虧蒼天憐念。這溝中腐草敗葉極厚，棉軟非常，我主僕毫無損傷。」鍾麟又說道：「智叔父不必多問了，快些搭救我姐姐去吧。」
好智化，真是为朋友尽心，不辞劳苦，出了后寨门，竟奔后山而来。走了五六里之遥，并不见个人影，只急的抓耳挠腮。猛听的有小孩子说话道：「伯南哥，你我往那里去呢？」又听有人答道：「公子不要着急害怕。这沟是通着水路的，待我歇息歇息再走。」智化听的真切，顺着声音找去，原来是个山沟，音出于下，连忙问道：「下面可是公子钟麟么？」只听有人应道：「正是。上面却是何人？」智化应道：「我是智化，特来寻找你等。为何落在山沟之内？」钟麟道：「上面可是智叔父么？快些救我姐姐去要紧。」智化道：「你姐姐往何处去了？」又听应道：「小人武伯南背着公子，武伯北保护小姐。不想伯北陡起不良之心，欲害公子小姐。我痛加谴责。不料正走之间，他说沟内有人说话，仿佛大王声音。是我探身觑视，他却将我主仆推落沟中，驱着马往西去了。」智化问道：「你主仆可曾跌伤没有？」武伯南道：「幸亏苍天怜念。这沟中腐草败叶极厚，棉软非常，我主仆毫无损伤。」钟麟又说道：「智叔父不必多问了，快些搭救我姐姐去吧。」
What a man Zhi Hua was, truly giving his whole heart for a friend and sparing himself no toil! Out of the rear gate he went and made straight for the back of the mountain. He walked a good five or six li without seeing a soul, until he was clawing at his ears and scratching his cheeks in his anxiety. Suddenly he heard a child’s voice: “Brother Bonan, where are we going?” And someone answered, “Don’t fret, young master, and don’t be afraid. This gully joins the waterways. Let me rest a little, and then we’ll go on.” Zhi Hua heard it clearly and followed the voices. It was a gully in the hillside, and the sound came from below. “Is that the young master, Zhong Lin, down there?” he called at once. A voice answered, “It is. And who is that up above?” “It’s Zhi Hua,” he answered. “I’ve come looking for you. How did you end up down in the gully?” “Is that Uncle Zhi up there?” said Zhong Lin. “Quick, go and save my sister!” “Where has your sister gone?” said Zhi Hua. Another voice answered: “I, Wu Bonan, was carrying the young master on my back, and Wu Bobei was guarding the young lady. Who would have thought Bobei would suddenly turn wicked and mean to harm the young master and the young lady? I gave him a sharp dressing-down. Then, as we went along, he said he heard voices in the gully, something like the Great King’s. I leaned over to look, and he pushed me and my young master down into the gully and drove the horse off to the west.” “Were you and your young master hurt in the fall?” asked Zhi Hua. “Thanks be to merciful Heaven,” said Wu Bonan, “the rotting grass and dead leaves in this gully lie very deep and wonderfully soft. Neither of us has a scratch.” Then Zhong Lin spoke again: “Uncle Zhi, don’t ask any more questions. Hurry and go and save my sister!”