Intriguing novel, and one of the last classics to be written in the "old style" of Chinese narrative.
When Learning saw this clearly, he could not help exclaiming, “Those
damned scoundrels! See, the boat may sink at any moment, and yet
instead of trying to save it and bring it quickly to the shore they are
maltreating innocent people. It makes me furious.”
“There is no need to worry,” said Intelligence, “for the boat is now
only two or three miles away, and when it reaches the coast we can go
on board to remonstrate with them.”
Just as he was speaking, however, they suddenly saw some people on
the boat being killed and thrown into the sea, and at the same time the
course was changed and the boat headed east again. Learning, stamping
with rage, fumed, “So many innocent lives on board — isn't it a pity
that they should perish at the hands of a few sailors?” Then after a
moment's reflection he added, “But fortunately there happen to be a
number of fishing boats at the foot of the mountain. Why shouldn't we
jump into one and go there to kill those sailors and replace them by
others, so saving the lives of the people on board? That would be a
good deed and give us great satisfaction.”
“Although this plan is good,” said Intelligence, “it is rather rash,
and may be impracticable. What do you think, Lao Can?”
Lao Can laughed. “It is a very wonderful plan,” he said to Learning,
“only I would like to know how many regiments you are going to take
with you?”
“How can you be so flippant?” said Learning angrily. “Those people
are desperate. We must save them at once. Of course we three must go.
Where can we find so many regiments of men?”
“In that case,” rejoined Lao Can, “since there are over two hundred
sailors on the boat, if we three want to kill them, I am afraid we
shall be killed ourselves and will never succeed. What do you think?”
After a little thought Learning decided that he was right, so he
said, “Then what would you do? Would you just watch them being killed?”
“I do not think the people in charge of the boat are necessarily
wicked,” replied Lao Can, “but there are two reasons why the situation
has become so desperate. Firstly, those people on the Pacific can only
live in a pacific manner; when the sea is calm they can guide their
boat with ease, but their nature is such that when they encounter
storms they become demoralised. They were not prepared to meet a storm
today so they have all been thrown into the greatest confusion.
Secondly, they do not possess a compass, for ordinarily when the
weather is fine they follow the old tradition and steer by the stars in
the sky, without making serious mistakes regarding their direction;
this is what we call 'depending upon heaven for existence'. But now
they have run into this bad weather when the sun and stars are hidden
by clouds, so they have nothing to rely upon. It is not that they don't
want to do well, only they do not know the direction, and so the
further they go the more mistakes they make. The best plan now would be
to follow Learning's suggestion and take a fishing boat to catch them
up; for since their boat is heavy and ours is light we shall certainly
overtake them, and once we have overtaken them we can give them a
compass so that they will know the direction and be able to set their
course. Then we should also tell the captain the difference in the art
of navigation during storms. Once they listen to us there is no reason
why they shouldn't reach the coast directly.”
“What Lao Can says is quite right,” said Intelligence, “and we had
better go about it quickly. Otherwise the people in that boat are
certainly doomed.”
As they were speaking the three descended from the pavilion and
ordered their servants to look after the baggage. Then, empty-handed
but for their most accurate compass, measuring instruments and the
other instruments necessary for navigation, they went down to the
harbour at the foot of the mountain where the fishing boats were
moored. They chose a swift boat, hoisted the sail and headed out to
sea. Luckily there was a north wind, so whether they went east or west
they had the wind at their side to facilitate sailing.
Adventure
