崔猛，字勿猛，建昌世家子。性剛毅，幼在塾中，諸童稍有所犯，輒奮拳毆擊，師屢戒不悛；名、字，皆先生所賜也。至十六七，強武絕倫。又能持長竿躍登夏屋。喜雪不平，以是鄉人共服之，求訴稟白者盈階滿室。崔抑強扶弱，不避怨嫌；稍逆之，石杖交加，支體為殘。每盛怒，無敢勸者。惟事母孝，母至則解。母譴責備至，崔唯唯聽命，出門輒忘。比鄰有悍婦，日虐其姑。姑餓瀕死，子竊啖之；婦知，詬厲萬端，聲聞四院。崔怒，逾垣而過，鼻耳脣舌盡割之，立斃。母聞大駭，呼鄰子，極意溫卹，配以少婢，事乃寢。母憤泣不食。崔懼，跪請受杖，且告以悔。母泣不顧。崔妻周，亦與並跪。母乃杖子，而又針刺其臂，作十字紋，朱塗之，俾勿滅。崔並受之，母乃食。母喜飯僧道，往往饜飽之。適一道士在門，崔過之。道士目之曰：「郎君多凶橫之氣，恐難保其令終。積善之家，不宜有此。」崔新受母戒，聞之，起敬曰：「某亦自知；但一見不平，苦不自禁。力改之，或可免否？」道士笑曰：「姑勿問可免不可免，請先自問能改不能改。但當痛自抑；如有萬分之一，我告君以解死之術。」崔生平不信厭禳，笑而不言。道士曰：「我固知君不信。但我所言，不類巫覡，行之亦盛德；即或不效，亦無妨礙。」崔請教，乃曰：「適門外一後生，宜厚結之，即犯死罪，彼亦能活之也。」呼崔出，指示其人。蓋趙氏兒，名僧哥。趙，南昌人，以歲祲饑，僑寓建昌。崔由是深相結，請趙館於其家，供給優厚。僧哥年十二，登堂拜母，約為弟昆。踰歲東作，趙攜家去，音問遂絕。崔母自鄰婦死，戒子益切，有赴訴者，輒擯斥之。一日，崔母弟卒，從母往弔。途遇數人，縶一男子，呵罵促步，加以捶扑。觀者塞途，輿不得進。崔問之。識崔者競相擁告。先是，有巨紳子某甲者，豪橫一鄉，窺李申妻有色，欲奪之，道無由。因命家人誘與博賭，貸以貲而重其息，要使署妻於券，貲盡復給。終夜，負債數千；積半年，計子母三十餘千。申不能償，強以多人篡取其妻。申哭諸其門。某怒，拉繫樹上，榜笞刺剟，逼立「無悔狀」。崔聞之，氣涌如山，鞭馬前向，意將用武。母搴簾而呼曰：「唶！又欲爾耶！」崔乃止。既弔而歸，不語亦不食，兀坐直視，若有所嗔。妻詰之，不答。至夜，和衣臥榻上，輾轉達旦，次夜復然。忽啟戶出，輒又還臥。如此三四，妻不敢詰，惟慴息以聽之。既而遲久乃反，掩扉熟寢矣。是夜，有人殺某甲於床上，刳腹流腸；申妻亦裸尸床下。官疑申，捕治之。橫被殘梏，踝骨皆見，卒無詞。積年餘，不堪刑，誣服，論辟。會崔母死，既殯，告妻曰：「殺甲者，實我也，徒以有老母故，不敢泄。今大事已了，奈何以一身之罪殃他人？我將赴有司死耳！」妻驚挽之，絕裾而去，自首於庭。官愕然，械送獄，釋申。申不可，堅以自承。官不能決，兩收之。戚屬皆誚讓申。申曰：「公子所為，是我欲為而不能者也。彼代我為之，而忍坐視其死乎？今日即謂公子未出也可。」執不異詞，固與崔爭。久之，衙門皆知其故，強出之，以崔抵罪，瀕就決矣。會卹刑官趙部郎，案臨閱囚，至崔名，屏人而喚之。崔入，仰視堂上，僧哥也。悲喜實訴。趙徘徊良久，仍令下獄，囑獄卒善視之。尋以自首減等，充雲南軍，申為服役而去；未期年，援赦而歸：皆趙力也。既歸，申終從不去，代為紀理生業。予之貲，不受。緣橦技擊之術，頗以關懷。崔厚遇之，買婦授田焉。崔由此力改前行，每撫臂上刺痕，泫然流涕。以故鄉鄰有事，申輒矯命排解，不相稟白。有王監生者，家豪富，四方無賴不仁之輩，出入其門。邑中殷實者，多被劫掠；或迕之，輒遣盜殺諸途。子亦淫暴。王有寡嬸，父子俱烝之。妻仇氏，屢沮王，王縊殺之。仇兄弟質諸官，王賕囑，以告者坐誣。兄弟冤憤莫伸，詣崔求訴。申絕之使去。過數日，客至，適無僕，使申瀹茗。申默然出，告人曰：「我與崔猛朋友耳，從徙萬里，不可謂不至矣；曾無廩給，而役同廝養，所不甘也！」遂忿而去。或以告崔。崔訝其改節，而亦未之奇也。申忽訟於官，謂崔三年不給傭值。崔大異之，親與對狀，申忿相爭。官不直之，責逐而去。又數日，申忽夜入王家，將其父子嬸婦並殺之，黏紙於壁，自書姓名；及追捕之，則亡命無蹟。王家疑崔主使，官不信。崔始悟前此之訟，蓋恐殺人之累己也。關行附近州邑，追捕甚急。會闖賊犯順，其事遂寢。及明鼎革，申攜家歸，仍與崔善如初。時土寇嘯聚，王有從子得仁，集叔所招無賴，據山為盜，焚掠村疃。一夜，傾巢而至，以報仇為名。崔適他出；申破扉始覺，越牆伏暗中。賊搜崔、李不得，擄崔妻，括財物而去。申歸，止有一僕，忿極，乃斷繩數十段，以短者付僕，長者自懷之。囑僕越賊巢，登半山，以火爇繩，散挂荊棘，即反勿顧。僕應而去。申窺賊皆腰束紅帶，帽繫紅絹，遂傚其裝。有老牝馬初生駒，賊棄諸門外。申乃縛駒跨馬，銜枚而出，直至賊穴。賊據一大村，申縶馬村外，踰垣入。見賊眾紛紜，操戈未釋。申竊問諸賊，知崔妻在王某所。俄聞傳令，俾各休息，轟然噭應。忽一人報東山有火，眾賊共望之；初猶一二點，既而多類星宿。申坌息急呼東山有警。王大驚，束裝率眾而出。申乘間漏出其右，反身入內。見兩賊守帳，紿之曰：「王將軍遺佩刀。」兩賊競覓。申自後斫之，一賊踣；其一回顧，申又斬之。竟負崔妻越垣而出。解馬授轡，曰：「娘子不知途，縱馬可也。」馬戀駒奔駛，申從之。出一隘口，申灼火於繩，遍懸之，乃歸。次日，崔還，以為大辱，形神跳躁，欲單騎往平賊。申諫止之。集村人共謀，眾恇怯莫敢應。解諭再四，得敢往二十餘人，又苦無兵。適於得仁族姓家獲奸細二，崔欲殺之，申不可；命二十人各持白梃，具列於前，乃割其耳而縱之。眾怨曰：「此等兵旅，方懼賊知，而反示之。脫其傾隊而來，闔村不保矣！」申曰：「吾正欲其來也。」執匿盜者誅之。遣人四出，各假弓矢火銃，又詣邑借巨砲二。日暮，率壯士至隘口，置砲當其衝，使二人匿火而伏，囑見賊乃發。又至谷東口，伐樹置崖上。已而與崔各率十餘人，分岸伏之。一更向盡，遙聞馬嘶，賊果大至，繈屬不絕。俟盡入谷，乃推墮樹木，斷其歸路。俄而砲發，喧騰號叫之聲，震動山谷。賊驟退，自相踐踏；至東口，不得出，集無隙地。兩岸銃矢夾攻，勢如風雨，斷頭折足者，枕藉溝中。遺二十餘人，長跪乞命。乃遣人縶送以歸。乘勝直抵其巢。守巢者聞風奔竄，搜其輜重而還。崔大喜，問其設火之謀。曰：「設火於東，恐其西追也；短，欲其速盡，恐偵知其無人也；既而設於谷口，口甚隘，一夫可以斷之，彼即追來，見火必懼：皆一時犯險之下策也。」取賊鞫之，果追入谷，見火驚退。二十余賊，盡劓刖而放之。由此威聲大震，遠近避亂者從之如市，得土團三百余人。各處強寇無敢犯，一方賴之以安。
崔猛，字勿猛，是建昌一個世家子弟。他性情剛強，從小在私塾裡，只要別的孩子稍有冒犯，就揮拳毆打，老師多次告誡，他也不改。他的名和字，都是老師給取的。到了十六七歲，他的力氣和武藝已經無人能比，還能撐著長竿，躍上高大房屋的屋頂。他喜歡替人伸張正義，因此鄉里人都很敬服他，來訴說冤屈、請求幫助的人，擠滿了臺階和屋子。崔猛壓制強橫的人，扶助弱小的人，不怕招來怨恨；誰稍有違抗，他就用石頭和棍棒一起打過去，把人的肢體打殘。他大發脾氣時，沒有人敢勸。只有母親能讓他消氣，因為他對母親很孝順。母親把他狠狠責罵一番，他連聲答應，聽從教訓，可一齣門就忘了。鄰居家有個兇悍的媳婦，每天虐待婆婆。婆婆餓得快死了，兒子偷偷給她東西吃；媳婦知道後，百般辱罵，聲音傳遍了四鄰。崔猛大怒，翻牆過去，把她的鼻子、耳朵、嘴唇和舌頭全都割掉，她當場就死了。母親聽說後大吃一驚，把鄰居的兒子叫來，盡力安慰照顧他，又把一個年輕婢女嫁給他，事情才平息下來。母親卻氣得流淚，不肯吃飯。崔猛害怕了，跪下來請求母親責打自己，並說願意悔改。母親只是哭，不理他。崔猛的妻子周氏也跪在他身旁。母親這才拿棍子打了兒子，又用針在他胳膊上刺出一個十字，塗上硃紅，讓印記不再消退。崔猛一一承受，母親這才吃飯。母親喜歡給僧人、道士飯吃，常常讓他們吃個飽。恰好有個道士來到門前，崔猛從他身邊經過。道士看著他說：「公子身上兇暴蠻橫的氣太重，恐怕難有好下場。積德行善的人家，不該有這樣的事。」崔猛剛受過母親的訓誡，聽了這話，恭敬地說：「我自己也知道，只是一見到不平的事，就苦於剋制不住自己。如果努力改正，或許能免去災禍嗎？」道士笑著說：「先別問能不能免去災禍，請先問問自己能不能改。你只管下狠心約束自己；只要還有萬分之一的指望，我就告訴你一個免死的辦法。」崔猛一向不信用法術消災的事，笑了笑，沒有說話。道士說：「我本來就知道你不信。不過我說的辦法，不像巫師那些法術，做了也是一件大善事；即使不見效，也沒有什麼妨礙。」崔猛請他指教，道士便說：「剛才門外有個少年，你應該好好結交他。即使你犯了死罪，他也能救你的命。」說著叫崔猛出去，指給他看。原來那是趙家的孩子，名叫僧哥。趙家是南昌人，因為年成不好，鬧了饑荒，便寄居在建昌。崔猛從此與他們親密往來，請趙家住進自己家裡，供給得十分優厚。僧哥當時十二歲，進堂拜見崔母，與崔猛結為兄弟。過了一年，到了春耕時節，趙家舉家離開，從此斷了音信。自從鄰居媳婦死後，崔母對兒子管教得更嚴，有人來訴說冤屈，她就把人趕走。一天，崔母的弟弟去世，崔猛陪母親去弔喪。路上遇到幾個人綁著一個男子，一邊喝罵著催他快走，一邊用棍棒打他。看熱鬧的人堵住了道路，轎子無法前進。崔猛問是怎麼回事，認識他的人爭著圍上來告訴他。先前，有個大鄉紳的兒子某甲，在鄉里橫行霸道，見李申的妻子漂亮，想搶到手，卻苦於沒有辦法。於是他讓家人引誘李申賭博，借錢給他，收取高額利息，又要他在借據上寫明拿妻子作抵押；錢輸光了，就再借給他。一夜下來，李申欠了幾千錢；過了半年，本錢加利息一共三萬多錢。李申還不起，某甲就帶著許多人，強行把他的妻子搶走。李申到他門前哭訴，某甲大怒，把他拖去綁在樹上，鞭打、刺割，逼他寫下永不反悔的字據。崔猛聽後，怒氣像山一樣湧起，揮鞭催馬向前，打算動手。母親掀開轎簾叫道：「哎！你又要這樣了嗎！」崔猛這才停下。弔喪回來後，他既不說話，也不吃飯，只是呆坐著，兩眼直直地看著前方，像在生氣。妻子問他，他也不回答。到了夜裡，他穿著衣服躺在床上，翻來覆去，直到天亮；第二夜還是這樣。他忽然開門出去，卻又很快回來躺下。如此反覆了三四次，妻子不敢問，只能害怕地屏住呼吸，聽著他的動靜。後來，他出去很久才回來，關上門，便睡熟了。那一夜，有人把某甲殺死在床上，剖開肚子，腸子流了出來；李申的妻子也赤身死在床下。官府懷疑李申，把他抓來審訊。他無端遭受酷刑，腳踝的骨頭都露出來了，始終沒有招供。過了一年多，他實在忍受不了刑罰，只得屈打成招，被判了死刑。這時崔母去世了，等母親入殮後，崔猛對妻子說：「殺某甲的人，其實是我。只是因為還有老母親，不敢說出來。如今母親的喪事已經辦妥，怎麼能讓別人替我承擔罪過？我要到官府去領死！」妻子大驚，拉住他不放，他扯斷衣襟，走了出去，到公堂上自首。官員驚愕，把他戴上刑具送進監獄，放了李申。李申卻不肯出去，堅持說人是自己殺的。官員無法判定，就把兩人一起關了起來。親戚們都責備李申。李申說：「公子做的，正是我想做卻做不到的事。他替我做了，我怎麼忍心坐看他死？如今就當公子沒有來自首好了。」他始終不改口，堅持與崔猛爭著認罪。過了很久，衙門裡的人都知道了實情，硬把李申放出去，讓崔猛承擔罪責，眼看就要處決。這時，負責複核刑獄的趙部郎來巡察審查囚犯，看到崔猛的名字，便讓旁人退下，叫他進來。崔猛進去，抬頭看堂上，竟是僧哥。他悲喜交集，把實情全都說了。趙部郎來回踱步，想了很久，仍讓他回監獄，卻囑咐獄卒好好照料他。不久，以自首為由，把他的罪減了一等，發往雲南充軍，李申跟著去服侍他。還不到一年，崔猛就得到赦免，回了家，這些都是趙部郎盡力促成的。回家後，李申一直留在崔家，替他料理家業。崔猛給他錢，他不肯收。他對爬竿和搏擊的技藝頗有興趣。崔猛待他優厚，替他娶了妻子，又給了他田地。崔猛從此努力改掉過去的行為，每當摸著胳膊上的刺痕，就忍不住流淚。因此鄉鄰遇到事情，李申總是假託崔猛的意思出面調解，不再向他稟告。有個王監生，家裡十分富有，各地無賴兇惡之徒，都在他家進進出出。縣裡富裕的人家，多遭他們搶劫；誰得罪了他，他就派強盜在路上把人殺掉。他的兒子也荒淫兇暴。王監生有個寡居的嬸母，父子兩人都與她私通。妻子仇氏多次阻止，王監生便把她勒死了。仇氏的兄弟到官府告狀，王監生行賄託人說情，反把告狀的人判成了誣告。仇氏的兄弟滿腔冤憤，無處申訴，便來找崔猛。李申把他們拒之門外，叫他們走了。過了幾天，有客人來訪，恰巧沒有僕人在，崔猛就讓李申燒水泡茶。李申默默走出去，對人說：「我和崔猛不過是朋友。我跟著他遠行萬里去充軍，不能說沒有盡到情分。他卻從未給過我工錢，還把我當下人使喚，我實在不甘心！」於是憤然離去。有人把這話告訴崔猛。崔猛驚訝他竟變了心，卻也沒有多想。李申忽然到官府告狀，說崔猛三年沒付工錢。崔猛十分驚訝，親自到公堂與他對質，李申氣憤地爭辯。官員認為李申沒有道理，責打後把他趕走。又過了幾天，李申忽然夜裡潛入王家，把王監生父子和那個嬸母全殺了，在牆上貼了一張紙，親手寫下自己的姓名。等官府追捕時，他已經逃走，毫無蹤跡。王家懷疑是崔猛指使，官員卻不相信。崔猛這才明白，先前那場官司，是李申怕殺人的事連累自己，才故意鬧的。官府向附近各州縣發文，追捕得很緊。正遇上闖賊反叛朝廷，這件事便擱置下來。等到明朝滅亡，改換了朝代，李申帶著家人回來，仍與崔猛像從前一樣要好。當時地方上的盜匪聚整合群，王監生有個侄子叫得仁，召集叔父招攬過的無賴，佔據山頭做強盜，燒殺搶掠各個村莊。一天夜裡，他們全夥出動，以報仇為名來到崔家。崔猛恰好出門在外，李申直到賊人打破大門才發覺，翻牆出去，藏在黑暗中。賊人搜不到崔猛和李申，就擄走崔猛的妻子，搜盡財物離開。李申回來時，家裡只剩一個僕人。他憤怒至極，把繩子截成幾十段，短的交給僕人，長的自己帶著。他囑咐僕人越過賊巢，爬到半山，用火點燃繩子，分散掛在荊棘上，隨即回來，不要回頭。僕人答應後就去了。李申見賊人都在腰間扎著紅帶，帽子上繫著紅絹，便也照樣打扮。有匹老母馬剛生了小馬駒，賊人把它丟在門外。李申拴好小馬駒，騎上母馬，嘴裡含著枚，悄無聲息地出發，直奔賊巢。賊人佔據了一座大村莊，李申把馬拴在村外，翻牆進去。只見賊人來來往往，手裡的兵器還沒放下。李申悄悄向他們打聽，得知崔猛的妻子在王某那裡。不久，有人傳令，叫各人休息，眾賊轟然應聲。忽然一個人報告說東山有火，眾賊一起望去，起初還只有一兩點，後來漸漸多得像星星一樣。李申裝作喘不過氣，急聲喊道，東山有敵情。王某大驚，整好裝束，帶著眾賊出去。李申趁機從他們右邊溜過，轉身進了裡面。見有兩個賊人守著帳篷，就騙他們說：「王將軍忘了佩刀。」兩人爭著去找。李申從後面砍過去，一個賊人倒下；另一個回過頭來，李申又把他砍死了。接著背起崔猛的妻子，翻牆出去。他解開馬，把韁繩交給她，說：「娘子不知道路，只管放開韁繩，讓馬自己走就行。」母馬惦記小馬駒，飛快地跑起來，李申跟在後面。出了一個狹窄的山口，李申把自己帶的繩子點燃，到處掛好，這才回家。第二天，崔猛回來，覺得受了奇恥大辱，氣得渾身躁動，坐立不安，想單槍匹馬去剿滅賊人。李申勸住了他，召集村裡人一起商議，眾人都很害怕，沒有人敢答應。反覆解釋勸說，才找出二十多個敢去的人，卻又苦於沒有兵器。恰好在得仁一個同族人家裡，抓到了兩個奸細。崔猛想殺他們，李申不肯，讓那二十個人各拿一根木棍，整齊地站在他們面前，然後割掉兩個奸細的耳朵，放他們回去。眾人埋怨說：「我們只有這樣的兵力，本來就怕賊人知道，你反倒給他們看。要是他們全夥殺過來，整個村子都保不住了！」李申說：「我正是要他們來。」他把窩藏賊人的人抓來殺了，又派人四處借弓箭和火銃，還到縣裡借了兩門大炮。傍晚，他帶著壯士們來到山口，把大炮安在正對通路的地方，讓兩個人藏好火種，埋伏在那裡，囑咐他們見到賊人才開炮。又到山谷東口，砍下樹木，放在山崖上。隨後，他和崔猛各帶十多個人，分別埋伏在山谷兩邊。一更快結束時，遠遠聽到馬叫，賊人果然大批趕來，前後相連，絡繹不絕。等他們全都進了山谷，眾人便把樹木推下山崖，截斷他們的退路。不一會兒，大炮轟響，喧鬧和慘叫聲震動山谷。賊人急忙後退，互相踩踏；到了東口，出不去，擠得沒有一點空隙。兩邊的火銃和弓箭同時射來，猛烈得像風雨一樣，被打得斷頭斷腳的人，橫七豎八地堆在溝中。剩下二十多人，直跪著求饒。崔猛和李申便派人把他們綁好，押送回村，隨後乘勝直奔賊巢。守巢的賊人聽到訊息，紛紛逃走，兩人搜取他們的物資，帶了回來。崔猛大喜，問李申放火的計策是怎麼想出來的。李申說：「在東邊放火，是怕他們往西追；用短繩，是想讓火快些燒完，怕他們派人探查，發現那裡沒人。後來在谷口放火，是因為那裡很窄，一個人就能守住；他們即使追來，見了火也一定害怕。這些都是臨時冒險想出的下策。」他們提來賊人審問，果然賊人曾追進山谷，見到火光，就驚慌地退回去了。那二十多個賊人，全都被割掉鼻子、砍去腳，然後放走。從此崔猛和李申威名大振，遠近躲避戰亂的人，像趕集一樣來投奔他們，聚起了三百多人的鄉團。各處強盜都不敢來侵犯，這一帶靠著他們得以安寧。
崔猛，字勿猛，建昌世家子。性刚毅，幼在塾中，诸童稍有所犯，辄奋拳殴击，师屡戒不悛；名、字，皆先生所赐也。至十六七，强武绝伦。又能持长竿跃登夏屋。喜雪不平，以是乡人共服之，求诉禀白者盈阶满室。崔抑强扶弱，不避怨嫌；稍逆之，石杖交加，支体为残。每盛怒，无敢劝者。惟事母孝，母至则解。母谴责备至，崔唯唯听命，出门辄忘。比邻有悍妇，日虐其姑。姑饿濒死，子窃啖之；妇知，诟厉万端，声闻四院。崔怒，逾垣而过，鼻耳唇舌尽割之，立毙。母闻大骇，呼邻子，极意温恤，配以少婢，事乃寝。母愤泣不食。崔惧，跪请受杖，且告以悔。母泣不顾。崔妻周，亦与并跪。母乃杖子，而又针刺其臂，作十字纹，朱涂之，俾勿灭。崔并受之，母乃食。母喜饭僧道，往往餍饱之。适一道士在门，崔过之。道士目之曰：「郎君多凶横之气，恐难保其令终。积善之家，不宜有此。」崔新受母戒，闻之，起敬曰：「某亦自知；但一见不平，苦不自禁。力改之，或可免否？」道士笑曰：「姑勿问可免不可免，请先自问能改不能改。但当痛自抑；如有万分之一，我告君以解死之术。」崔生平不信厌禳，笑而不言。道士曰：「我固知君不信。但我所言，不类巫觋，行之亦盛德；即或不效，亦无妨碍。」崔请教，乃曰：「适门外一后生，宜厚结之，即犯死罪，彼亦能活之也。」呼崔出，指示其人。盖赵氏儿，名僧哥。赵，南昌人，以岁祲饥，侨寓建昌。崔由是深相结，请赵馆于其家，供给优厚。僧哥年十二，登堂拜母，约为弟昆。逾岁东作，赵携家去，音问遂绝。崔母自邻妇死，戒子益切，有赴诉者，辄摈斥之。一日，崔母弟卒，从母往吊。途遇数人，絷一男子，呵骂促步，加以捶扑。观者塞途，舆不得进。崔问之。识崔者竞相拥告。先是，有巨绅子某甲者，豪横一乡，窥李申妻有色，欲夺之，道无由。因命家人诱与博赌，贷以赀而重其息，要使署妻于券，赀尽复给。终夜，负债数千；积半年，计子母三十余千。申不能偿，强以多人篡取其妻。申哭诸其门。某怒，拉系树上，榜笞刺剟，逼立「无悔状」。崔闻之，气涌如山，鞭马前向，意将用武。母搴帘而呼曰：「唶！又欲尔耶！」崔乃止。既吊而归，不语亦不食，兀坐直视，若有所嗔。妻诘之，不答。至夜，和衣卧榻上，辗转达旦，次夜复然。忽启户出，辄又还卧。如此三四，妻不敢诘，惟慴息以听之。既而迟久乃反，掩扉熟寝矣。是夜，有人杀某甲于床上，刳腹流肠；申妻亦裸尸床下。官疑申，捕治之。横被残梏，踝骨皆见，卒无词。积年余，不堪刑，诬服，论辟。会崔母死，既殡，告妻曰：「杀甲者，实我也，徒以有老母故，不敢泄。今大事已了，奈何以一身之罪殃他人？我将赴有司死耳！」妻惊挽之，绝裾而去，自首于庭。官愕然，械送狱，释申。申不可，坚以自承。官不能决，两收之。戚属皆诮让申。申曰：「公子所为，是我欲为而不能者也。彼代我为之，而忍坐视其死乎？今日即谓公子未出也可。」执不异词，固与崔争。久之，衙门皆知其故，强出之，以崔抵罪，濒就决矣。会恤刑官赵部郎，案临阅囚，至崔名，屏人而唤之。崔入，仰视堂上，僧哥也。悲喜实诉。赵徘徊良久，仍令下狱，嘱狱卒善视之。寻以自首减等，充云南军，申为服役而去；未期年，援赦而归：皆赵力也。既归，申终从不去，代为纪理生业。予之赀，不受。缘橦技击之术，颇以关怀。崔厚遇之，买妇授田焉。崔由此力改前行，每抚臂上刺痕，泫然流涕。以故乡邻有事，申辄矫命排解，不相禀白。有王监生者，家豪富，四方无赖不仁之辈，出入其门。邑中殷实者，多被劫掠；或迕之，辄遣盗杀诸途。子亦淫暴。王有寡婶，父子俱烝之。妻仇氏，屡沮王，王缢杀之。仇兄弟质诸官，王赇嘱，以告者坐诬。兄弟冤愤莫伸，诣崔求诉。申绝之使去。过数日，客至，适无仆，使申瀹茗。申默然出，告人曰：「我与崔猛朋友耳，从徙万里，不可谓不至矣；曾无廪给，而役同厮养，所不甘也！」遂忿而去。或以告崔。崔讶其改节，而亦未之奇也。申忽讼于官，谓崔三年不给佣值。崔大异之，亲与对状，申忿相争。官不直之，责逐而去。又数日，申忽夜入王家，将其父子婶妇并杀之，黏纸于壁，自书姓名；及追捕之，则亡命无迹。王家疑崔主使，官不信。崔始悟前此之讼，盖恐杀人之累己也。关行附近州邑，追捕甚急。会闯贼犯顺，其事遂寝。及明鼎革，申携家归，仍与崔善如初。时土寇啸聚，王有从子得仁，集叔所招无赖，据山为盗，焚掠村疃。一夜，倾巢而至，以报仇为名。崔适他出；申破扉始觉，越墙伏暗中。贼搜崔、李不得，掳崔妻，括财物而去。申归，止有一仆，忿极，乃断绳数十段，以短者付仆，长者自怀之。嘱仆越贼巢，登半山，以火爇绳，散挂荆棘，即反勿顾。仆应而去。申窥贼皆腰束红带，帽系红绢，遂傚其装。有老牝马初生驹，贼弃诸门外。申乃缚驹跨马，衔枚而出，直至贼穴。贼据一大村，申絷马村外，逾垣入。见贼众纷纭，操戈未释。申窃问诸贼，知崔妻在王某所。俄闻传令，俾各休息，轰然噭应。忽一人报东山有火，众贼共望之；初犹一二点，既而多类星宿。申坌息急呼东山有警。王大惊，束装率众而出。申乘间漏出其右，反身入内。见两贼守帐，绐之曰：「王将军遗佩刀。」两贼竞觅。申自后斫之，一贼踣；其一回顾，申又斩之。竟负崔妻越垣而出。解马授辔，曰：「娘子不知途，纵马可也。」马恋驹奔驶，申从之。出一隘口，申灼火于绳，遍悬之，乃归。次日，崔还，以为大辱，形神跳躁，欲单骑往平贼。申谏止之。集村人共谋，众恇怯莫敢应。解谕再四，得敢往二十余人，又苦无兵。适于得仁族姓家获奸细二，崔欲杀之，申不可；命二十人各持白梃，具列于前，乃割其耳而纵之。众怨曰：「此等兵旅，方惧贼知，而反示之。脱其倾队而来，阖村不保矣！」申曰：「吾正欲其来也。」执匿盗者诛之。遣人四出，各假弓矢火铳，又诣邑借巨砲二。日暮，率壮士至隘口，置砲当其冲，使二人匿火而伏，嘱见贼乃发。又至谷东口，伐树置崖上。已而与崔各率十余人，分岸伏之。一更向尽，遥闻马嘶，贼果大至，繈属不绝。俟尽入谷，乃推堕树木，断其归路。俄而砲发，喧腾号叫之声，震动山谷。贼骤退，自相践踏；至东口，不得出，集无隙地。两岸铳矢夹攻，势如风雨，断头折足者，枕藉沟中。遗二十余人，长跪乞命。乃遣人絷送以归。乘胜直抵其巢。守巢者闻风奔窜，搜其辎重而还。崔大喜，问其设火之谋。曰：「设火于东，恐其西追也；短，欲其速尽，恐侦知其无人也；既而设于谷口，口甚隘，一夫可以断之，彼即追来，见火必惧：皆一时犯险之下策也。」取贼鞫之，果追入谷，见火惊退。二十余贼，尽劓刖而放之。由此威声大震，远近避乱者从之如市，得土团三百余人。各处强寇无敢犯，一方赖之以安。
崔猛，字勿猛，是建昌一个世家子弟。他性情刚强，从小在私塾里，只要别的孩子稍有冒犯，就挥拳殴打，老师多次告诫，他也不改。他的名和字，都是老师给取的。到了十六七岁，他的力气和武艺已经无人能比，还能撑着长竿，跃上高大房屋的屋顶。他喜欢替人伸张正义，因此乡里人都很敬服他，来诉说冤屈、请求帮助的人，挤满了台阶和屋子。崔猛压制强横的人，扶助弱小的人，不怕招来怨恨；谁稍有违抗，他就用石头和棍棒一起打过去，把人的肢体打残。他大发脾气时，没有人敢劝。只有母亲能让他消气，因为他对母亲很孝顺。母亲把他狠狠责骂一番，他连声答应，听从教训，可一出门就忘了。邻居家有个凶悍的媳妇，每天虐待婆婆。婆婆饿得快死了，儿子偷偷给她东西吃；媳妇知道后，百般辱骂，声音传遍了四邻。崔猛大怒，翻墙过去，把她的鼻子、耳朵、嘴唇和舌头全都割掉，她当场就死了。母亲听说后大吃一惊，把邻居的儿子叫来，尽力安慰照顾他，又把一个年轻婢女嫁给他，事情才平息下来。母亲却气得流泪，不肯吃饭。崔猛害怕了，跪下来请求母亲责打自己，并说愿意悔改。母亲只是哭，不理他。崔猛的妻子周氏也跪在他身旁。母亲这才拿棍子打了儿子，又用针在他胳膊上刺出一个十字，涂上朱红，让印记不再消退。崔猛一一承受，母亲这才吃饭。母亲喜欢给僧人、道士饭吃，常常让他们吃个饱。恰好有个道士来到门前，崔猛从他身边经过。道士看着他说：“公子身上凶暴蛮横的气太重，恐怕难有好下场。积德行善的人家，不该有这样的事。”崔猛刚受过母亲的训诫，听了这话，恭敬地说：“我自己也知道，只是一见到不平的事，就苦于克制不住自己。如果努力改正，或许能免去灾祸吗？”道士笑着说：“先别问能不能免去灾祸，请先问问自己能不能改。你只管下狠心约束自己；只要还有万分之一的指望，我就告诉你一个免死的办法。”崔猛一向不信用法术消灾的事，笑了笑，没有说话。道士说：“我本来就知道你不信。不过我说的办法，不像巫师那些法术，做了也是一件大善事；即使不见效，也没有什么妨碍。”崔猛请他指教，道士便说：“刚才门外有个少年，你应该好好结交他。即使你犯了死罪，他也能救你的命。”说着叫崔猛出去，指给他看。原来那是赵家的孩子，名叫僧哥。赵家是南昌人，因为年成不好，闹了饥荒，便寄居在建昌。崔猛从此与他们亲密往来，请赵家住进自己家里，供给得十分优厚。僧哥当时十二岁，进堂拜见崔母，与崔猛结为兄弟。过了一年，到了春耕时节，赵家举家离开，从此断了音信。自从邻居媳妇死后，崔母对儿子管教得更严，有人来诉说冤屈，她就把人赶走。一天，崔母的弟弟去世，崔猛陪母亲去吊丧。路上遇到几个人绑着一个男子，一边喝骂着催他快走，一边用棍棒打他。看热闹的人堵住了道路，轿子无法前进。崔猛问是怎么回事，认识他的人争着围上来告诉他。先前，有个大乡绅的儿子某甲，在乡里横行霸道，见李申的妻子漂亮，想抢到手，却苦于没有办法。于是他让家人引诱李申赌博，借钱给他，收取高额利息，又要他在借据上写明拿妻子作抵押；钱输光了，就再借给他。一夜下来，李申欠了几千钱；过了半年，本钱加利息一共三万多钱。李申还不起，某甲就带着许多人，强行把他的妻子抢走。李申到他门前哭诉，某甲大怒，把他拖去绑在树上，鞭打、刺割，逼他写下永不反悔的字据。崔猛听后，怒气像山一样涌起，挥鞭催马向前，打算动手。母亲掀开轿帘叫道：“哎！你又要这样了吗！”崔猛这才停下。吊丧回来后，他既不说话，也不吃饭，只是呆坐着，两眼直直地看着前方，像在生气。妻子问他，他也不回答。到了夜里，他穿着衣服躺在床上，翻来覆去，直到天亮；第二夜还是这样。他忽然开门出去，却又很快回来躺下。如此反复了三四次，妻子不敢问，只能害怕地屏住呼吸，听着他的动静。后来，他出去很久才回来，关上门，便睡熟了。那一夜，有人把某甲杀死在床上，剖开肚子，肠子流了出来；李申的妻子也赤身死在床下。官府怀疑李申，把他抓来审讯。他无端遭受酷刑，脚踝的骨头都露出来了，始终没有招供。过了一年多，他实在忍受不了刑罚，只得屈打成招，被判了死刑。这时崔母去世了，等母亲入殓后，崔猛对妻子说：“杀某甲的人，其实是我。只是因为还有老母亲，不敢说出来。如今母亲的丧事已经办妥，怎么能让别人替我承担罪过？我要到官府去领死！”妻子大惊，拉住他不放，他扯断衣襟，走了出去，到公堂上自首。官员惊愕，把他戴上刑具送进监狱，放了李申。李申却不肯出去，坚持说人是自己杀的。官员无法判定，就把两人一起关了起来。亲戚们都责备李申。李申说：“公子做的，正是我想做却做不到的事。他替我做了，我怎么忍心坐看他死？如今就当公子没有来自首好了。”他始终不改口，坚持与崔猛争着认罪。过了很久，衙门里的人都知道了实情，硬把李申放出去，让崔猛承担罪责，眼看就要处决。这时，负责复核刑狱的赵部郎来巡察审查囚犯，看到崔猛的名字，便让旁人退下，叫他进来。崔猛进去，抬头看堂上，竟是僧哥。他悲喜交集，把实情全都说了。赵部郎来回踱步，想了很久，仍让他回监狱，却嘱咐狱卒好好照料他。不久，以自首为由，把他的罪减了一等，发往云南充军，李申跟着去服侍他。还不到一年，崔猛就得到赦免，回了家，这些都是赵部郎尽力促成的。回家后，李申一直留在崔家，替他料理家业。崔猛给他钱，他不肯收。他对爬竿和搏击的技艺颇有兴趣。崔猛待他优厚，替他娶了妻子，又给了他田地。崔猛从此努力改掉过去的行为，每当摸着胳膊上的刺痕，就忍不住流泪。因此乡邻遇到事情，李申总是假托崔猛的意思出面调解，不再向他禀告。有个王监生，家里十分富有，各地无赖凶恶之徒，都在他家进进出出。县里富裕的人家，多遭他们抢劫；谁得罪了他，他就派强盗在路上把人杀掉。他的儿子也荒淫凶暴。王监生有个寡居的婶母，父子两人都与她私通。妻子仇氏多次阻止，王监生便把她勒死了。仇氏的兄弟到官府告状，王监生行贿托人说情，反把告状的人判成了诬告。仇氏的兄弟满腔冤愤，无处申诉，便来找崔猛。李申把他们拒之门外，叫他们走了。过了几天，有客人来访，恰巧没有仆人在，崔猛就让李申烧水泡茶。李申默默走出去，对人说：“我和崔猛不过是朋友。我跟着他远行万里去充军，不能说没有尽到情分。他却从未给过我工钱，还把我当下人使唤，我实在不甘心！”于是愤然离去。有人把这话告诉崔猛。崔猛惊讶他竟变了心，却也没有多想。李申忽然到官府告状，说崔猛三年没付工钱。崔猛十分惊讶，亲自到公堂与他对质，李申气愤地争辩。官员认为李申没有道理，责打后把他赶走。又过了几天，李申忽然夜里潜入王家，把王监生父子和那个婶母全杀了，在墙上贴了一张纸，亲手写下自己的姓名。等官府追捕时，他已经逃走，毫无踪迹。王家怀疑是崔猛指使，官员却不相信。崔猛这才明白，先前那场官司，是李申怕杀人的事连累自己，才故意闹的。官府向附近各州县发文，追捕得很紧。正遇上闯贼反叛朝廷，这件事便搁置下来。等到明朝灭亡，改换了朝代，李申带着家人回来，仍与崔猛像从前一样要好。当时地方上的盗匪聚集成群，王监生有个侄子叫得仁，召集叔父招揽过的无赖，占据山头做强盗，烧杀抢掠各个村庄。一天夜里，他们全伙出动，以报仇为名来到崔家。崔猛恰好出门在外，李申直到贼人打破大门才发觉，翻墙出去，藏在黑暗中。贼人搜不到崔猛和李申，就掳走崔猛的妻子，搜尽财物离开。李申回来时，家里只剩一个仆人。他愤怒至极，把绳子截成几十段，短的交给仆人，长的自己带着。他嘱咐仆人越过贼巢，爬到半山，用火点燃绳子，分散挂在荆棘上，随即回来，不要回头。仆人答应后就去了。李申见贼人都在腰间扎着红带，帽子上系着红绢，便也照样打扮。有匹老母马刚生了小马驹，贼人把它丢在门外。李申拴好小马驹，骑上母马，嘴里含着枚，悄无声息地出发，直奔贼巢。贼人占据了一座大村庄，李申把马拴在村外，翻墙进去。只见贼人来来往往，手里的兵器还没放下。李申悄悄向他们打听，得知崔猛的妻子在王某那里。不久，有人传令，叫各人休息，众贼轰然应声。忽然一个人报告说东山有火，众贼一起望去，起初还只有一两点，后来渐渐多得像星星一样。李申装作喘不过气，急声喊道，东山有敌情。王某大惊，整好装束，带着众贼出去。李申趁机从他们右边溜过，转身进了里面。见有两个贼人守着帐篷，就骗他们说：“王将军忘了佩刀。”两人争着去找。李申从后面砍过去，一个贼人倒下；另一个回过头来，李申又把他砍死了。接着背起崔猛的妻子，翻墙出去。他解开马，把缰绳交给她，说：“娘子不知道路，只管放开缰绳，让马自己走就行。”母马惦记小马驹，飞快地跑起来，李申跟在后面。出了一个狭窄的山口，李申把自己带的绳子点燃，到处挂好，这才回家。第二天，崔猛回来，觉得受了奇耻大辱，气得浑身躁动，坐立不安，想单枪匹马去剿灭贼人。李申劝住了他，召集村里人一起商议，众人都很害怕，没有人敢答应。反复解释劝说，才找出二十多个敢去的人，却又苦于没有兵器。恰好在得仁一个同族人家里，抓到了两个奸细。崔猛想杀他们，李申不肯，让那二十个人各拿一根木棍，整齐地站在他们面前，然后割掉两个奸细的耳朵，放他们回去。众人埋怨说：“我们只有这样的兵力，本来就怕贼人知道，你反倒给他们看。要是他们全伙杀过来，整个村子都保不住了！”李申说：“我正是要他们来。”他把窝藏贼人的人抓来杀了，又派人四处借弓箭和火铳，还到县里借了两门大炮。傍晚，他带着壮士们来到山口，把大炮安在正对通路的地方，让两个人藏好火种，埋伏在那里，嘱咐他们见到贼人才开炮。又到山谷东口，砍下树木，放在山崖上。随后，他和崔猛各带十多个人，分别埋伏在山谷两边。一更快结束时，远远听到马叫，贼人果然大批赶来，前后相连，络绎不绝。等他们全都进了山谷，众人便把树木推下山崖，截断他们的退路。不一会儿，大炮轰响，喧闹和惨叫声震动山谷。贼人急忙后退，互相踩踏；到了东口，出不去，挤得没有一点空隙。两边的火铳和弓箭同时射来，猛烈得像风雨一样，被打得断头断脚的人，横七竖八地堆在沟中。剩下二十多人，直跪着求饶。崔猛和李申便派人把他们绑好，押送回村，随后乘胜直奔贼巢。守巢的贼人听到消息，纷纷逃走，两人搜取他们的物资，带了回来。崔猛大喜，问李申放火的计策是怎么想出来的。李申说：“在东边放火，是怕他们往西追；用短绳，是想让火快些烧完，怕他们派人探查，发现那里没人。后来在谷口放火，是因为那里很窄，一个人就能守住；他们即使追来，见了火也一定害怕。这些都是临时冒险想出的下策。”他们提来贼人审问，果然贼人曾追进山谷，见到火光，就惊慌地退回去了。那二十多个贼人，全都被割掉鼻子、砍去脚，然后放走。从此崔猛和李申威名大振，远近躲避战乱的人，像赶集一样来投奔他们，聚起了三百多人的乡团。各处强盗都不敢来侵犯，这一带靠着他们得以安宁。
Cui Meng, courtesy name Wumeng, was the son of an old family of Jianchang. He was hard and unbending by nature. As a boy at the village school, whenever another child gave him the slightest offence he would lay into him with his fists, and no amount of warnings from the teacher could cure him. Both his name and his courtesy name were given him by that teacher. By sixteen or seventeen he was strong and skilled at arms beyond compare. He could vault onto the roof of a great house with a long pole. He loved to right wrongs, and so the local people all looked up to him; those who came to lay their grievances before him filled his steps and crowded his rooms. Cui put down the strong and lifted up the weak, and did not care whose hatred he earned. Anyone who crossed him in the least was set upon with stones and staves until he was crippled. When he was in a rage no one dared reason with him. Only he was a devoted son to his mother, and when she came his anger melted. She would scold him up and down, and he would say yes, yes, and promise to obey, and forget it the moment he was out of the door. Next door lived a shrewish woman who abused her mother-in-law day after day. The old woman was starving to death, and her son slipped her something to eat. When the wife found out she cursed and railed in every way she knew, so loud that the whole neighbourhood heard. Cui was furious. He went over the wall and cut off her nose, her ears, her lips and her tongue. She died on the spot. His mother was horrified when she heard. She sent for the neighbour’s son, did everything she could to comfort and compensate him, and gave him a young maid of hers for a wife, and so the matter was dropped. But she wept in anger and would not eat. Cui was frightened. He knelt and asked her to beat him, and told her he was sorry. She wept and would not look at him. Cui’s wife, Mrs. Zhou, knelt beside him. At last his mother beat her son, and then pricked a cross into his arm with a needle and rubbed red into it, so that it would never fade. Cui submitted to it all, and only then did his mother eat. His mother liked to feed Buddhist monks and Daoists, and often filled them to bursting. One day a Daoist was at the gate as Cui went by. The Daoist looked him over. “There is a great deal of violence and fury about you, young sir,” he said. “I fear you will not come to a good end. A house that has stored up good deeds should not have this in it.” Cui had just been disciplined by his mother, and when he heard this he spoke with respect. “I know it myself. But whenever I see a wrong, I simply cannot hold myself back. If I try hard to change, might I escape it?” The Daoist smiled. “Never mind whether you can escape it. First ask yourself whether you can change. You must master yourself with all your might. If there is one chance in ten thousand, I will tell you a way out of death.” Cui had never in his life believed in charms and exorcisms. He smiled and said nothing. “I knew you would not believe,” said the Daoist. “But what I have to say is nothing like a sorcerer’s tricks. Doing it is a great virtue in itself, and even if it does no good, it will do no harm.” Cui asked him to go on. “There was a youngster outside the gate just now,” he said. “Make a close friend of him. Even if you commit a crime worth death, he can save your life.” He called Cui outside and pointed the boy out. It was a son of the Zhao family named Sengge. The Zhaos were from Nanchang; a bad harvest had brought famine there, and they were living as strangers in Jianchang. From then on Cui made the boy his close friend. He invited the Zhaos to lodge in his house and provided for them generously. Sengge, who was twelve, came into the hall and bowed to Cui’s mother, and the two pledged themselves brothers. The next year, when the spring ploughing came round, Zhao took his family away, and nothing more was heard of them. Ever since the neighbour woman’s death Cui’s mother had watched her son more strictly than ever, and anyone who came to him with a grievance she sent away. One day, when her younger brother died, Cui went with her to the mourning. On the way they met several men leading a man on a rope, shouting and cursing at him to hurry and beating him with sticks. The onlookers blocked the road, and her sedan chair could not get through. Cui asked what was going on, and those who knew him crowded round, each eager to tell him. It seemed that a certain Jia, the son of a great official family, who lorded it over the whole district, had had his eye on Li Shen’s wife, a pretty woman, and wanted her for himself, but had no way of getting her. So he had his servants lure Li into gambling. They lent him money at a heavy rate of interest, made him write his wife into the bond as security, and when the money was gone lent him more. In a single night he owed several thousand cash; in half a year, principal and interest came to more than thirty thousand. Li Shen could not pay, and Jia sent a crowd of men to carry off his wife by force. Li went and wept at his gate. Jia, enraged, had him dragged off and tied to a tree, flogged and stabbed and cut, to force him to sign a paper swearing he would never go back on the deal. When Cui heard this his anger rose up like a mountain. He whipped his horse forward, meaning to use force. His mother lifted the curtain of her chair and cried, “Ha! At it again, are you?” Cui stopped. After the mourning they went home. He neither spoke nor ate, but sat stock-still staring straight ahead, as if something angered him. His wife asked him what was wrong; he did not answer. That night he lay on the bed in his clothes and tossed and turned till dawn, and the next night the same. Suddenly he opened the door and went out, but came straight back and lay down again. This happened three or four times. His wife did not dare ask, but lay holding her breath and listening. Then he was gone a long while before he came back, closed the door, and slept soundly. That night someone killed Jia in his bed, slitting his belly so that his guts spilled out. Li Shen’s wife lay naked and dead beneath the bed. The magistrate suspected Li Shen and had him arrested and put to the question. He was cruelly tortured until the bones of his ankles showed, but he confessed nothing. After more than a year he could bear the torture no longer and confessed falsely, and was sentenced to death. Then Cui’s mother died. When she had been laid in her coffin, Cui told his wife, “It was I who killed Jia. I only kept quiet because my old mother was alive. Now that the great duty is done, how can I let another man suffer for my crime? I am going to give myself up and die.” His wife, aghast, clung to him; he tore his robe free and went, and confessed in the magistrate’s hall. The magistrate was astonished. He had Cui put in irons and sent to prison, and ordered Li released. Li would not have it, and insisted the crime was his. The magistrate could not decide, so he held them both. Li’s relatives all reproached him. Li said, “What the young master did is what I wanted to do and could not. He did it for me. How could I sit and watch him die? You may as well say today that he never came forward.” He kept to his story without wavering and went on disputing with Cui. In time everyone in the magistrate’s office knew the truth. They forced Li out and made Cui answer for the crime, and he was close to execution. Just then an official sent to review death sentences, a Board secretary named Zhao, came on circuit to examine the prisoners. When he reached Cui’s name, he sent everyone out and called Cui in. Cui came in and looked up at the bench: it was Sengge. Torn between grief and joy, he told him the whole truth. Zhao turned it over for a long time; then he sent Cui back to prison, but told the jailers to treat him well. Soon, because he had given himself up, his sentence was reduced by a degree and he was sent to serve as a soldier in Yunnan. Li went with him as his servant. Before a year was out an amnesty brought him home. All of this was Zhao’s doing. After they came back Li stayed with him for good and managed his affairs for him. When Cui offered him money he would not take it. He took a keen interest in pole-climbing and the fighting arts. Cui treated him generously, bought him a wife and gave him land. From then on Cui worked hard to change his old ways. Whenever he stroked the tattoo on his arm, the tears came. So when the neighbours had some trouble, Li would settle it himself in Cui’s name, without telling him. There was an Imperial Academy student named Wang, of a very rich and powerful family, whose gate saw scoundrels and ruffians from every quarter coming and going. Many well-to-do families in the county were robbed; anyone who crossed him, he sent bandits to kill on the road. His son was as lecherous and violent as he was. Wang had a widowed aunt, and father and son both slept with her. Wang’s wife, Mrs. Qiu, tried more than once to stop him, and he strangled her. Her brothers took him to court, but Wang bribed and pulled strings, and it was the accusers who were punished for false charges. With no way to right the wrong, the brothers came to Cui to lay their grievance before him. Li turned them away. A few days later a guest arrived, and as there happened to be no servant at hand, Cui told Li to make the tea. Li went out without a word, and told people, “Cui Meng and I are only friends. I followed him ten thousand li into exile; no one can say I did not do enough. He has never paid me a wage, yet he works me like a menial. I won’t stand for it!” And he went off in a temper. Someone told Cui. Cui was surprised he had changed so, but thought no more of it. Then out of the blue Li brought a suit against him, claiming Cui owed him three years’ wages. Cui was amazed. He went to face him in court himself, and Li argued with him angrily. The magistrate found against Li, had him punished and threw him out. A few days later Li got into Wang’s house by night and killed father, son and the widowed aunt alike. He pasted a paper on the wall with his own name written on it. When they went after him he had fled without a trace. The Wang family suspected Cui had put him up to it, but the magistrate did not believe it. Only then did Cui understand that the lawsuit had been meant to keep the killing from falling on him. Warrants went out to all the neighbouring prefectures and counties, and the hunt was hot. Then the rebel Chuang rose against the throne, and the matter was dropped. When the Ming fell and a new dynasty came in, Li brought his family home and was as close to Cui as before. In those days local bandits were gathering in bands everywhere. Wang had a nephew, Deren, who rounded up the ruffians his uncle had kept, seized a mountain and turned bandit, burning and plundering the villages. One night the whole band came down, saying they had come for revenge. Cui happened to be away. Li only woke when they broke down the door; he went over the wall and hid in the dark. The bandits searched for Cui and Li and, failing to find them, carried off Cui’s wife, swept up the valuables, and left. When Li came back there was only one servant left. In a fury, he cut a rope into several dozen pieces, gave the short ones to the servant and kept the long ones himself. He told the servant to go past the bandits’ lair, climb halfway up the mountain, light the ropes and hang them here and there on the thornbushes, then come straight back without looking round. The servant went. Li had noticed that the bandits all wore red sashes round their waists and red silk tied to their caps, so he dressed the same way. There was an old mare that had just foaled; the bandits had left her outside the gate. Li tied up the foal, mounted the mare, and rode out without a sound, straight to the bandits’ den. The bandits had taken over a large village. Li tied the mare outside it and climbed over a wall. The bandits were milling about in a great crowd, still under arms. Li quietly asked some of them, and learned that Cui’s wife was with Wang. Soon an order came down for everyone to rest, and they roared their answer. Suddenly someone reported fire on the eastern hill. The bandits all looked: at first only one or two points of light, then as many as the stars. Li, panting, shouted that there was an attack from the eastern hill. Wang, much alarmed, armed himself and led his men out. Li took his chance, slipped out on their right, and doubled back inside. Seeing two bandits guarding the tent, he told them, “General Wang has left his sword behind.” The two of them hunted for it. Li struck from behind and one fell; the other turned round, and Li cut him down too. Then he carried Cui’s wife on his back over the wall and away. He untied the mare and handed her the reins. “You don’t know the way, madam. Just give the horse her head.” The mare, longing for her foal, galloped off, and Li followed. Coming out through a narrow pass, Li lit his ropes and hung them all about, and then went home. The next day Cui came back. He took it as a great disgrace and was in such a fury he could not keep still; he wanted to ride out alone and wipe out the bandits. Li talked him out of it. They called the villagers together to make a plan, but they were all too frightened to answer. After Li had reasoned with them again and again, some twenty men were willing to go, but they had no weapons. Just then they caught two spies in the house of one of Deren’s clansmen. Cui wanted to kill them, but Li would not allow it. He had the twenty men line up before the spies, each holding a bare stick, then cut off the spies’ ears and let them go. The men grumbled: “With soldiers like these we should be afraid of the bandits finding out, and instead you show us to them! If the whole band comes down on us, the village is lost!” “I want them to come,” said Li. He seized the man who had hidden the spies and put him to death. He sent men out in every direction to borrow bows and arrows and muskets, and went to the county town to borrow two big cannon. At dusk he led the men to the pass, set the cannon squarely across the way, and had two men lie in hiding with the match concealed, telling them not to fire until they saw the bandits. Then he went to the eastern mouth of the valley, felled trees and set them on the cliff top. After that he and Cui each took ten or so men and lay in wait on either side. Toward the end of the first watch they heard horses neighing in the distance. Sure enough, the bandits came in force, in an unbroken line. When they were all in the valley, the trees were pushed down to cut off their way back. A moment later the cannon went off, and the uproar and howling shook the hills. The bandits fell back in a rush, trampling one another. At the eastern mouth they could not get out, and packed together until there was no room to move. Muskets and arrows poured in on them from both sides like wind and rain, and the ditch was heaped with men whose heads were cut off and legs broken. Twenty-odd were left, kneeling and begging for their lives. They were tied up and sent back under guard. Following up the victory, Cui and Li went straight on to the lair. Those guarding it fled at the news, and they gathered up the bandits’ stores and came back. Cui was delighted and asked Li what the fires had been for. “I set fires to the east so they would not chase us west. The ropes were short so they would burn out quickly, in case they sent scouts and found no one there. Then I set them at the mouth of the valley: the pass is so narrow one man can hold it, so if they did come after us, they would see the fires and be afraid. They were all poor makeshifts for a desperate moment.” They questioned the captured bandits: they had indeed chased as far as the valley, seen the fires, and turned back in alarm. The twenty-odd bandits all had their noses and feet cut off and were let go. After this their name was feared far and wide. People fleeing the disorders flocked to them from near and far, as to a market, and they raised a local militia of more than three hundred men. No bandits anywhere dared attack them, and the whole region owed its peace to them.