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The Heroic Adventures of Qin Shubao
from Forgotten Tales of the Sui

A Chinese Historical Novel by Yuan Yuling
Translated by Robert E. Hegel

2024
xxxii + 588 pages
ISBN 978-962-7255-50-5

Order

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction xiv
A Note to the Reader xxix
List of Prominent Characters xxxi
Preface to Forgotten Tales of the Sui 2
Chapter 1 In a Plot to Depose the Heir, the Prince of Jin Wins Glory
A Fount of Chaos Stanched, Li Yuan Incurs Enmity		 5
Chapter 2 Believing Slander, the Sui Emperor Deposes His Crown Prince
Fabricating a Prophecy, Zhang Heng Endangers Li Yuan		 20
Chapter 3 In Jizhou City, a Stalwart Makes a Strong Commitment
On Hawthorn Ridge, the Duke of Tang Encounters Brigands		 35
Chapter 4 On the Highway Qin Shubao Saves the Duke of Tang
In a Temple Lady Dou Gives Birth to an Heir		 50
Chapter 5 Young Lord Chai’s Performance with Swords Wins Him a Mate
Constable Qin Suffers a Delay in Getting His Documents		 63
Chapter 6 Governor Cai Bestows Timely Rewards and Punishments
Innkeeper Wang Turns Two-Faced, Blowing Hot and Cold		 76
Chapter 7 Treated Foully While Pawning Truncheons at Three Virtues Lane
Horse-Trading at Two Worthies Manor, He Meets a True Stalwart		 88
Chapter 8 Entering a Tavern, He Happens to Meet an Old Acquaintance
Paying Off His Food Bill, He Takes the Road Back Home		 102
Chapter 9 Taoist Priest Wei Hosts a Visitor in the Temple of the Eastern Peak
Squire Shan Accommodates a Traveller at the Manor of Two Worthies		 116
Chapter 10 Fan Jianwei Braves the Snow to Follow His Tracks
Squire Shan Presents Gold and Makes a Gift of Disaster		 132
Chapter 11 A Group of Constables Stirs Up Trouble in Honey Locust Forest
A Good Fellow Enters the Luzhou Yamen All Tied Up		 144
Chapter 12 Once Sentenced, He Is Exiled to the Youzhou Region
In the Fight Ring He Makes a Name in Virtuous Village		 157
Chapter 13 Zhang Gongjin Transfers His Ward to the Yuchi Brothers
Qin Shubao Is Escorted in Custody to Commander Luo		 169
Chapter 14 Seeing Her Nephew Causes Lady Qin Great Sorrow
Bypassing His Father, Young Lord Luo Observes the Drill		 181
Chapter 15 Courageous Qin Qiong Displays His Truncheon Skills to Convince the Armies
Young Luo Cheng Assists with His Bow by Shooting Down an Eagle		 192
Chapter 16 Commander Luo Writes a Letter to Governor Cai
Qin Shubao Repays Ms Liu with Silver		 206
Chapter 17 Shan Xiongxin Urges Qin Shubao to Go Home
Commander Lai Sends Congratulations to Duke Yang of Yue		 218
Chapter 18 Qi Guoyuan Whistles Up a Gang on Mount Shaohua
Qin Shubao Leads the Way into the Temple of Received Blessings		 228
Chapter 19 Commandant Chai Retains Them in the Shrine to Repay Virtue
Servant Tao Takes Him through the Guangtai Gate		 238
Chapter 20 A Heroic Receiving Official Reads His Complexion
On the Kick-Ball Field the Lord’s Son Flaunts His Wealth		 249
Chapter 21 Qi Guoyuan Enjoys Himself on the Ball Field
Commandant Chai Takes Friends to View Lanterns		 261
Chapter 22 Women of the Capital Stroll in the Moonlight to View the Lanterns
Young Lord Yuwen Relies on His Position to Indulge His Lust		 272
Chapter 23 An Old Woman Loses Her Daughter and Cries Injustice
Outraged, Good Fellows Stage a Righteous Deed		 282
Chapter 24 Harbouring Incestuous Desires, the Crown Prince Is Bewitched
Committing Regicide, Yang Guang Usurps the Throne		 295
Chapter 25 The New Emperor Flaunts His Pride and Extravagance
The Common Folk are Confronted with Devastation		 307
Chapter 26 Creating Two Hundred Li of Wonderful Scenery from Mountains to Sea
In Sixteen Courtyards Imperial Concubines Compete in Splendour		 309
Chapter 27 Cheng Yaojin Finds No Place to Sell His Bamboo Rakes
You Junda Sets His Mind on Stealing the Imperial Silver		 311
Chapter 28 In Long Leaf Forest a Highwayman Reveals His Name
In Qizhou City the Governor Appoints a Constable		 323
Chapter 29 Shan Xiongxin Hastily Sends Greenwood Arrows
Cheng Yaojin Kicks Loose a Willow Board		 335
Chapter 30 Qin Shubao Makes a Progress Report and Receives a Lashing
Jia Runfu Receives Guests and Raises Suspicions		 346
Chapter 31 At a Banquet Cheng Yaojin Confesses to the Robbery
At the Lamp Qin Shubao Burns Up the Arrest Warrant		 356
Chapter 32 The Assembled Stalwarts Pay a Visit to Wish the Crane’s Longevity
The Old Lady Receives Salutations and Drinks from a Brimming Goblet		 368
Chapter 33 Li Xuansui Connects with Commander-in-Chief Lai
Chai Sichang Petitions Governor Liu		 378
Chapter 34 At Niu Family Market He Exerts Himself to Root Out an Evil
In Suiyang City Straight Talk Violates a Taboo		 392
Chapter 35 Over a Cup of Wine Xu Shiji Discusses Heroes
At a Chance Meeting Qin Shubao Finds an Extraordinary Fighter		 406
Chapter 36 The Sui Ruler Leads an Expedition to a Tributary State
A Vice Commander Pays Respects to a Virtuous Stalwart		 419
Chapter 37 Qin Shubao Takes the P’ae River by Strategy
Lai Hu’er Fights a Great Battle at P’yŏngyang		 430
Chapter 38 Yuwen Shu Plots Revenge for His Son
Commander Lai Saves a Stalwart with Force		 434
Chapter 39 Wang Bo Instigates Gangs that Create Havoc in Shandong
Zhang Xutuo in One Day Destroys Four Bandits		 437
Chapter 40 Victorious Although Outnumbered, He Achieves His Goal
The Guest Becomes Host in the Zhu’e Victory		 440
Chapter 41 Yang Xuangan Seals His Fate by Ignoring Counsel
Li Xuansui Evades Disaster by Disparaging Wealth		 445
Chapter 42 Shubao Makes a Plan to Save a Close Friend
Yuwen Cleverly Frames an Upright Man		 448
Chapter 43 Zhang Xutuo Hurries a Secret Memorial to Clear Shubao
Luo Shixin Rebels in Shandong to Protect Mother Qin		 454
Chapter 44 He Meets Shan Xiongxin Again at Tile Ridge Fort
Zhang Xutuo Dies Honourably in Xingyang Commandery		 460
Chapter 45 Commemorating Zhang Xutuo, He Meets Li Mi
Attacking Luoyang Again, He Takes the City Granary		 474
Chapter 46 Jia Runfu Cleverly Wins Over Pei Renji
Xu Maogong Takes the Liyang Granary by Strategy		 482
Chapter 47 By Slaying Zhai Rang, Duke of Wei Becomes Sole Hegemon
By Smashing Wang Shichong, Shubao Establishes Great Merit		 488
Chapter 48 The Duke of Tang Rises in Rebellion at Jinyang
The Li Clan Assembles Troops in Hu County		 492
Chapter 49 Li Mi Forms an Alliance with the Duke of Tang
Qin Shubao Makes an Effort to Rescue Li Jing		 496
Chapter 50 Yuwen Huaji Murders the Ruler at Jiangdu
The Duke of Wei Fights Fiercely at Yongji		 509
Chapter 51 Wang Shichong Monopolizes Power and Slays Yuan Wendu
Cheng Yaojin Fights Hard to Rescue Pei Xingyan		 513
Chapter 52 Wang Shichong with Cunning Scheme Defeats the Duke of Wei
Li Mi Changes Allegiance and Dies at Xiong’er		 516
Chapter 53 Qin Shubao Loses His Master and Joins the Zheng
Cheng Yaojin Decides to Surrender to the Tang		 519
Chapter 54 Pillaging East of the River, Bandit Liu Wuzhou Launches an Invasion
Fighting at Meiliang, Qin Shubao Establishes Great Merit		 532
Chapter 55 With Jingde’s Surrender, Peace Is Restored in Hedong
When Li Yi Is Rescued, Brothers Are Reunited		 539
Chapter 56 Luo Shixin Lifts Up Wang Xuanying by His Lance
Yuchi Jingde Stabs Shan Xiongxin with a Spear		 542
Chapter 57 The Prince of Qin’s Army Besieges Luoyang
The King of Zheng Seeks Relief from the Ruler of Xia		 545
Chapter 58 The Prince of Qin Guards the Strategic Town of Hulao
Dou Jiande Is Captured at the Si River		 547
Chapter 59 Abandoned by His Aides, the King of Zheng Submits
To Demonstrate Deep Feelings Shubao Cuts His Thigh		 550
Chapter 60 Twin Evils Removed, Prince of Qin Takes His Rightful Throne
With Honours for a Hundred Battles, Qin Qiong Becomes a Noble		 560
Translator’s Afterthoughts 565
Appendix: Historical and Legendary Persons Referred to in the Text 577