Volume One, Chapter Sixteen: Drinking Deeply Night After Night to Discern True Nature

The things Liu Huer brought were seven or eight severed heads. Four of his henchmen followed him, each carrying two heads. The heads appeared freshly severed; blood still dripped from them. Some faces bore wide-open eyes frozen in terror; others showed swollen eyes and broken noses, clearly beaten before death. Some had closed eyes but open mouths, suggesting they cried out for mercy at the moment of their demise.

Those drinking in the valley gradually fell silent, the once lively atmosphere turning eerily quiet. Li Shandao, rising to greet Liu Huer, glanced at the heads in astonishment and asked, "What is this?" Then realization dawned on him. "Could it be...?"

Liu Huer replied, "This is to let Erlang know—the ones who robbed your wine and meat a few days ago have been found. These heads belong to those scoundrels. The mountain code is clear: 'Those who bully their own kind shall be beheaded.' These thieves dared to break this rule, and they even robbed you—unforgivable. They have just been brought to the court to face the mountain code. Erlang ordered me to bring these for you to see."

Though the bandits had robbed wine and meat and beaten Zhang Fusheng, they hadn’t killed anyone, and Zhang Fusheng suffered no serious injuries. The greatest loss was simply stolen provisions; logically, their crime did not warrant death. Yet before Li Shandao, Wang Xuda, and the others lay seven or eight mutilated, grotesque heads—lives lost over mere wine and meat. Their faces paled.

Even Cheng Potai, who loudly demanded revenge after the robbery, and the beaten Zhang Fusheng turned pale upon learning the fate of these heads. The mountain code’s eight "behead" decrees were daunting enough, but now, seeing the bloody heads in person was even more chilling. This code wasn’t mere words—it was enforced with deadly seriousness.

Liu Huer said, "Erlang is meticulous; before executing the code, he questioned these men. They all confessed."

"How were they found?"

Liu Huer explained, "After robbing the wine and meat, they surely wouldn’t abstain from drinking and eating. That night, Erlang sent people to inquire throughout the camp. This afternoon, they learned that on the night of the robbery, these men returned very late with the smell of alcohol and grease on their breath—highly suspicious. Erlang then ordered me to arrest them. Before any interrogation, they confessed."

"Truly, Erlang is sharp as a needle."

Liu Huer smiled. "Erlang commands over ten thousand men in the camp, a mix of fish and snakes. Many are loyal and honorable, but some are treacherous scoundrels. If Erlang were unaware, he wouldn’t mention it. But any thief bullying their own kind, once known to Erlang, is dealt with harshly—not just these few who robbed you. Even if it were Erlang’s own men, he would not spare them."

Li Shandao said, "Discipline among the troops must be strict and just. Erlang’s actions are proper."

Liu Huer said, "You’ve seen the heads, Erlang. I’m off to report back."

Li Shandao invited, "Though it’s humble wine and simple dishes, Brother Liu, if you don’t mind, why not share a few bowls with us?"

For Wang Xuda, Chen Jinger, Luo Zhong, and their men, Li Shandao’s provisions were generous—there was meat and wine. But Liu Huer was a trusted retainer of Xu Shiji. Even in the mountains, just mentioning Xu Shiji’s name evoked respect; his daily meals were more refined than these simple offerings. To him, this was truly "muddy wine and thin dishes."

Had Xu Shiji not held Li Shandao in regard, Liu Huer would not have accepted even two bowls of wine when Li Shandao invited him on the night of the robbery. Moreover, Liu Huer had matters to attend to and had to report to Xu Shiji, so he politely declined, saying, "There’s plenty of time ahead, Erlang. We’ll drink more then. Erlang awaits my report; I must not delay."

With a few henchmen carrying the heads, Liu Huer left the valley. At the entrance, he paused briefly and joked with Li Shandao, "Almost forgot something!"

"What is it?"

Liu Huer said, "Erlang, just this morning you returned to the valley, and Erlang received a letter. Hei Tan escorted my master to the camp yesterday; he should arrive tomorrow. Erlang says that when the master arrives, you should go meet him."

Li Shandao said, "Master Xu is already on his way? Good, good. When he arrives, I will certainly pay my respects."

After Liu Huer left, Li Shandao returned to the valley, followed by Wang Xuda and the others. Earlier, Wang Xuda had no chance to speak, but now Luo Zhong clicked his tongue and said, "They were killed just for robbing some wine and meat?"

Wang Xuda, who had been drinking with Jiao Yanlang these past nights and was already somewhat tipsy, now felt sober. He grinned and glanced at Li Shandao’s expression, saying, "They deserved it! The master is right— the mountain code forbids bullying one’s own kind. These thieves broke it; how could they not be punished? Xu Erlang’s actions are perfectly justified!"

Chen Jinger said, "We must tell our men tomorrow! Not a single rule of the ten mountain codes can be broken!"

Wang Xuda said, "Yes, we must never bring trouble to the master!"

What nonsense! It sounded like they cared for Li Shandao, but also seemed like they were preparing to ask for leniency should they ever break the code themselves. Li Shandao laughed heartily, waved his hand as if to dismiss the topic, and said, "Let’s keep drinking!"

In the past few nights, drinking lasted until near dawn, but tonight ended early, before midnight, wrapping up abruptly.

...

The next morning, Li Shandao arrived at Xu Shiji’s residence as usual, awaiting orders. The day before had been bright and sunny, but in the early hours, a wind rose. By morning, the wind ceased, but clouds piled over the mountaintops, turning the sky gloomy with rain imminent.

The guards at Xu Shiji’s gate, familiar with Li Shandao, let him in without notification. Outside, Li Shandao saw a man bare-chested, wearing only cotton trousers, lifting a stone weight. Approaching, Li Shandao bowed slightly. "Erlang, still training your strength."

The man lifting the stone weight was Xu Shiji himself. Clothed, his figure was unremarkable; bare-chested, his broad shoulders and stout build appeared solid, though not as muscular as Shan Xiongxin or Gao Chounu. A belt of black hair crossed his chest, evidence of his strength.

Xu Shiji had once been a reckless youth. Four or five years ago, at just fourteen or fifteen, he had a feud with a man in Weinan County—nothing major, just mutual dislike leading to fights. Soon after, that man was found dead in a remote area outside the county, stabbed multiple times in the chest and abdomen, with his throat cut. Rumor had it Xu Shiji was the killer. Without evidence, the case was dropped.

This youthful recklessness lingered despite his later scholarly pursuits, and his early fondness for martial arts persisted. Interestingly, it was precisely because of this that he and Shan Xiongxin became fast friends, sharing a kindred spirit.

The stone weight likely weighed thirty to forty jin (approximately 15-20 kilograms). Xu Shiji held it with his right arm half-bent against his abdomen, gripping it with his left hand, lifting rhythmically. His chest and arm muscles bulged with each lift. After more than ten repetitions, completing his daily goal of a hundred lifts with each arm, he set the weight down, took a soft towel from Liu Huer, wiped sweat from his brow, and replied, "If I skip training for a day, I feel restless all over."

"Erlang, your perseverance is admirable—rain or shine, you train daily. I can only admire you."

The wind picked up again, cool and damp, rustling the pear tree’s leaves in the courtyard.

Xu Shiji set the stone weight under the tree and turned back. "Erlang, let’s go inside and talk."

Raindrops began to fall; Xu Shiji glanced up at the sky.

Li Shandao, not bare-chested, noticed the rain slightly later and exclaimed, "It’s raining!" He asked, "Master, I heard from Brother Liu last night that Master Xu is on his way to the camp and should arrive today. Now that it’s raining, should I go meet him?"

Xu Shiji said, "I’ve already sent someone down the mountain to fetch my father. Erlang, come inside; I have something to discuss with you."

Inside, they took their seats, host and guest. Xu Shiji wiped sweat from his body with the towel and said, "Have you been hosting nightly drinking sessions these past few days with the hundred men assigned to you?"

"Yes."

"Why is that?"

"You ask because, Master?"

"Yes. Though the camp doesn’t forbid drinking, these hundred men were just assigned to you. It’s natural to provide some wine and meat to get acquainted. But why every night for several nights in a row?"

"You ask about this! Master, my drinking with them is not for nothing."

Xu Shiji smiled and said, "Explain."

With no one else present—just Xu Shiji, Li Shandao, and Liu Huer—Li Shandao spoke frankly and laughed: "As you said, the hundred men were newly assigned to me. I don’t know them well yet. Since they’re my subordinates, I must understand them first before planning discipline and training. But how to get to know them quickly? Slowly? That’s too slow. So I thought of drinking. There’s a saying: ‘One’s character is revealed by their drinking, and their nature by their gambling.’ You drink too, Master—you know that after a few drinks, a person’s true nature shows. Whether they’re straightforward, sticky, cunning, or honest—you can’t see all, but at least most of it becomes clear. So these past nights, I arranged wine and meat to drink with them."

Xu Shiji laughed, turning to Liu Huer: "Huer, is this right? Did I guess correctly?"

Liu Huer replied, "Yes, Master, your insight is uncanny."

Li Shandao asked, "Master has already guessed my reason for hosting these drinking sessions?"

Liu Huer said, "Though there were rumors in the county that Erlang was frivolous, Master sees otherwise. Therefore, Master is sure that Erlang’s nightly gatherings are not mere drinking but have another purpose."

"Such subtle thoughts all read by Master!" Li Shandao chuckled.

Xu Shiji said, "I’ve never heard ‘character revealed by drinking’ before, but there’s some truth in it. Erlang, after several nights, have you come to understand the temperaments of the hundred men assigned to you?"

"Drinking at night, gambling and competing by day, observing how they lift stones and measure distance—Master, I’ve learned much about their temperaments and abilities."

Xu Shiji asked, "What do you plan next for their discipline and training?"