Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

Li Han smiled and thought it made sense. Even if it came down to family lineage, none of the other generals from the Tang Dynasty could compete with Luo Yanzhi.

Their ancestor was also one of the most powerful fighters in the Tang Dynasty. Luo Cheng, known as the "Silver Spear Junior Guardian," once faced five rebel kings alone. Luo Cheng directly killed four of them: Wang Shichong, the King of Luoyang; Zhu Can, the King of Nanyang; Gao Tansheng, the King of Baiyu; and the King of Songyi and the Duke of Menghai. The only one who escaped was Dou Jiande, the King of Xiaming. This is the legendary "Locking Five Dragons in One Day."

Even in the novel "The Complete Story of Yue Fei", when Yang Zaixing and Luo Yanqing went to listen to the storytelling, Yang Zaixing had to admit that his ancestor was not as good as Luo Yanqing's ancestor. The reason was that Luo Yanqing said that his ancestor, Lord Yang, with seven sons and eight tigers, one golden sword and eight spears, could not protect himself at the Double Dragon Meeting on Jinshatan Beach, while Luo Cheng alone locked down five dragons and defeated all the heroes in the world.

“My cousin has been practicing with a gun since he was a child. His marksmanship is really amazing, and he’s also very proud. I think if he came to Liangshan, he would definitely have to fight your chieftain. If he can’t beat him, he might not be convinced!”

"Golden-faced Buddha," Qin Zhi said.

Li Hanxiao was utterly exasperated. This habit was not good. In the world of outlaws, one had to be a cut above the rest to be respected. The problem was that his opponents were getting stronger and stronger, each one more formidable than the last. Li Hanxiao's martial arts skills were starting to fall behind!

Suddenly, Li Hanxiao seemed to remember something, and raised an eyebrow, asking "Golden-Faced Buddha" Qin Zhi with a delighted expression, "Oh, right, Brother Qin Zhi, I remember your Qin family seems to have learned the Luo Family Spear, right? Tell me first, so I can be on guard!"

Li Hanxiao recalled reading in "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties" that after Qin Qiong, Qin Shubao, recognized his relatives in Beiping Prefecture, the two cousins, Qin Qiong and Luo Cheng, taught each other martial arts. Luo Cheng taught Qin Qiong the Luo family spear, and Qin Qiong taught Luo Cheng the Qin family mace.

The two agreed to teach each other martial arts without keeping it a secret along the way. Luo Cheng swore that if he did so, he would die a horrible death, riddled with arrows. Qin Qiong swore that if he did so, he would not have a good end and would die spitting blood!

After the two brothers swore an oath in the garden, Luo Cheng concealed the last three moves of the Luo Family Spear Eighteen Styles—the Returning Spear, while Qin Qiong concealed the last move of the Qin Family Mace—the Let-Go Mace.

In the end, their vows came true one by one! Luo Cheng's horse got stuck in the muddy river, and he died with ten thousand arrows piercing his heart, leaving no trace of his body. Qin Qiong lived to be nearly seventy years old, when the King of Bo Liao rebelled. In order to compete with Yuchi Gong for the commander's seal, Qin Qiong fought in the Golden Palace, lifted a stone lion, and died spitting blood. It truly proved the old saying, "There are gods three feet above your head, and retribution is indeed cyclical."

Therefore, one should be kind and honest, and one should not make solemn oaths lightly!

"My ancestors definitely learned the Luo family spear technique, but by my generation I only know the general outline. The Luo family spear technique originated from the Jiang family. Back then, Jiang Wei once fought Zhao Yun in the Northern Expedition with his amazing spear technique. Later, Luo Yi married Jiang Guizhi, a direct descendant of Jiang Wei, and learned the Five Tiger Soul-Severing Spear of the Jiang family. He improved the Luo family spear technique himself, which is how the Luo family spear technique came into being. Later, Luo Zhang's two sons, Luo Chang and Luo Ying, inherited the Luo family spear technique. Then Xue Gang rebelled against the Tang Dynasty, and the two brothers joined the camps of Li Xian and Li Dan respectively, which eventually led to the split of the Luo family spear technique lineage."

"Later, Luo Jian inherited the Plum Blossom Spear, while Luo Hongxin inherited the complete Luo family spear technique. Their deeds became a legend in the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, making the Luo family spear technique shine again. My cousin only knows the Plum Blossom Spear. If you ask who has ever broken the Plum Blossom Spear, it would only be Li Cunxiao, the Thirteen Protectors of that time. His move of turning the horse and lifting the spear broke the Plum Blossom Spear and the Luo family's Returning Spear."

Qin Zhi, the "Golden-Faced Buddha," began to delve into historical matters and started to analyze in detail the story of the Plum Blossom Spear offered up.

"The problem is, I don't know how to do the 'turning horse and lifting the spear' move either. Li Cunxiao is long dead, where am I supposed to find him?"

Li Han smiled bitterly a few times.

"It's said that the 'reverse spear' technique was created because Li Cunxiao's Yuwang spear had a unique shape that could hook the spearhead. It was because of this that the Thirteen Protectors were able to defeat the Luo family's spear technique. I'm wondering if your Chief Li's three-pointed double-edged sword, with its two outward-curving tips, is also like two small hooks, could it also be used when my cousin used the 'reverse spear' technique..."

Qin Zhi's words inspired Li Hanxiao. Yes, his weapon, the three-pointed double-edged sword, had a unique shape and the ability to hook and lock the enemy's weapon. If he could successfully lock Luo Yanzhi's spearhead, he wouldn't be afraid of losing to him.

However, although Li Hanxiao was no longer afraid of the Luo Family Spear's "Returning Spear" move, he was still somewhat afraid of the other moves. So, taking advantage of the free time that night, Li Hanxiao still asked "Golden-Faced Buddha" Qin Zhi to demonstrate the Luo Family Spear to him, even if he was not good at it, Li Hanxiao could at least understand it.

The fact that Qin Zhi, the "Golden-Faced Buddha," was able to fully demonstrate the Luo Family Spear technique to Li Hanxiao proves his loyalty and devotion to Li Hanxiao. After all, he had followed Li Hanxiao through life and death several times and had witnessed what kind of person Li Hanxiao was.

He showed the Luo family spear to Li Hanxiao and told him about its weaknesses, hoping that his cousin Luo Yanzhi would come to Liangshan with him.

In his view, Li Hanxiao was someone worthy of loyalty and destined for great things.

The next morning, the group set off again, traveling at a brisk pace. They were almost at the Wild Cloud Ferry. No pursuers had caught up with them. It was likely that Zhu Ruxian, after learning the situation, hadn't figured out who Li Hanxiao and his group were, and that he couldn't catch up with them anyway.

However, Li Hanxiao saw a village, and it was quite a large town. It seemed like there should be a doctor there, so he simply led everyone to an inn to look for a doctor and see if there was anyone there.

However, this "one-zhang-black" figure was too conspicuous, so it attracted a lot of attention when entering the town.

Upon arriving at the inn, Li Hanxiao helped An Daoquan down from the carriage and settled him in a guest room. He then asked the innkeeper if there was a doctor in town.

"Well...there are pharmacies in town, but no doctors who can treat patients...but..."

Seeing the shopkeeper hesitate, Li Hanxiao pressed him for details, and the shopkeeper replied, "However, a young itinerant doctor came a couple of days ago, but he was practically penniless. I suppose his medical skills..."

The shopkeeper's meaning couldn't be clearer: he didn't mean to look down on itinerant doctors, but if this doctor had fallen so low as to be penniless, then his medical skills probably weren't very good...

After all, doctors make a living by treating and saving lives. If you are truly skilled in medicine, you should be able to earn money. Why would you be in such a sorry state?

Li Han listened and pondered for a moment. He thought that the quality of the medical skills probably had nothing to do with whether he was down on his luck or not. He should try to find him first, and if it didn't work, he would just give him a little money to get rid of him.

So Li Han smiled and asked the shopkeeper to call the young man over. Although the young man was dressed in a long robe, it was covered with patches. However, despite the tattered clothes, he maintained a dignified appearance and was quite handsome, thin and delicate.

"I have seen the guest, but I do not know what ailment the guest suffers from?"

"It's not that I'm ill, come with me!"

Without wasting words, Li Hanxiao led the young man directly to An Daoquan's room and said to An Daoquan, "I've found a doctor. I don't know if he'll suit your taste. Take a look!"

"Come."

"Miracle Doctor" An Daoquan said something and beckoned the young man over, then told Li Hanxiao to lift the shirt off his left arm.

But on that forearm, there was already a rotting wound, with decaying flesh covering it.

"Look at this rotting wound, how should we treat it..."

An Daoquan asked the young doctor.

"If we had time, we could find maggots to eat the rotten flesh, but as things stand now, this wound probably won't last that long. If we don't remove the rotten flesh quickly, I'm afraid I'll lose my arm."

The young doctor stepped forward, examined the patient carefully, and finally spoke.

"If you don't use datura, what else can you use to stop the pain of cutting flesh?"

"Miracle Doctor" An Daoquan continued to ask questions.

"Hmm... the pain from the acupuncture..."

The young man pondered for a moment, then spoke.

Which acupoints should be selected?

"Hmm... Hegu, Yunmen, Neiguan, Lieque..."

As the young man pondered, he named the acupoints, and Li Hanxiao noticed a hint of approval and appreciation in the eyes of the "miracle doctor" An Daoquan...

Li Hanxiao could understand a little of what they were saying. It was acupuncture anesthesia, which could effectively reduce pain symptoms and alleviate physiological dysfunction by stimulating corresponding acupoints.

"Whose apprentice are you? Who taught you medicine?"

An Daoquan asked again.

"It is my father."

The young man replied.

"Your method of applying acupuncture to relieve pain is quite similar to that of a senior practitioner. Are you surnamed Pang? Who is Pang Anshi to you?"

An Daoquan's gaze remained fixed on the young man, not moving an inch.

"It is my father. I am Pang Xiarong. Judging from your tone, are you perhaps acquainted with my father before his death?"

The "miracle doctor" An Daoquan sighed and said, "We're more than just acquaintances. Your father and I were close friends despite our age difference. He once instructed me in the Bian Que Divine Needle Technique..."

"So it's Uncle Shi. May I ask your name?"

Upon hearing this, the young man immediately knelt down and inquired.

"I am An Daoquan from Jiankang Prefecture..."

"So it's Uncle An. I've heard my father mention Uncle An's name before. My father said that after he passes away, the greatest doctor in the world will be Uncle An. I didn't expect to meet you here. Alas, why are you covered in injuries, Uncle An?"

Then Pang Xiarong realized what was happening and couldn't help but ask a question.

It turns out that Pang Xiarong's father was Pang Anshi, who was known as the "King of Medicine in the Northern Song Dynasty".

Pang Anshi, courtesy name Anchang, self-styled Qishui Daoren, came from a family of physicians. He was intelligent and studious from a young age, possessing a photographic memory and superb medical skills. He was quick to help patients in their time of need and practiced medicine without seeking personal gain. He often allowed patients to stay at his home and personally cared for them until they were cured and sent away. In his later years, he consulted various schools of thought and combined his personal experience to write the six-volume "Treatise on Febrile Diseases". He supplemented and developed Zhang Zhongjing's ideas. Its outstanding feature was its focus on explaining febrile diseases and advocating the distinction between febrile diseases and typhoid fever. This was a major development in the study of exogenous diseases.

It is worth mentioning that this person was also highly respected by the people of the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) and the outlaws. This was because when Pang An was only 20 years old, his medical reputation had spread throughout the Jianghuai region. He loved reading and never put down his books, even when he was sick or in the cold. When he heard of any rare books, he would buy them with great eagerness. He was chivalrous and loved cockfighting, dog racing, polo, gambling, music, and so on.

He treated patients regardless of their social status, providing them with lodging and food, and showing respect to the elderly and kindness to the young, as if the illness were his own. If a patient was beyond cure, he would tell them the truth and not treat them further. Even when patients brought money to express their gratitude, he would not accept it all. His medical ethics were exemplary. He was especially fond of befriending people from the martial arts world and had treated many heroes of the martial arts community for free. Therefore, his name was highly respected in the martial arts world.

"Sigh... You don't know about my affairs... By the way, how did you end up wandering the world and becoming a bell-ringing doctor? With your father's skills and reputation, you could have opened your own clinic and been practicing medicine, and it would have been bustling with customers!"

An Daoquan knew the Pang family's medical skills very well. Even if Pang Xiarong in front of him had only learned three-tenths of his father's skills, he would still be a first-class doctor. How did he end up in this desperate situation of working as a doctor in the martial arts world, penniless?

"Uncle, mentioning this really brings tears to my eyes!"

When Pang Xiarong spoke of this matter, she couldn't help but shed two lines of tears.

It turned out that after his father, Pang Anshi, died, he left behind a clinic for the three siblings to make a living. Among the three siblings, the eldest brother did not learn medicine but was rough and fond of martial arts. Only he and his younger sister learned medicine and practiced medicine, so they lived in peace.

Then one day, government officials suddenly arrived, saying that the imperial court was building a road on the site of their hospital to transport precious stones, and all the buildings along the road had to be demolished.

The siblings naturally argued with these officials, but these officials and clerks under Zhu Mian who were in charge of the Flower and Stone Tribute didn't care about such things. They were a bunch of scoundrels who had committed countless crimes, so why would they listen to reason? It turned into an ancient forced demolition!

Pang Xiarong's elder brother was a martial arts practitioner with a fiery temper. He immediately started fighting with these bastards. And you know what? His martial arts skills were definitely not wasted. He killed three officials on the spot.

Killing an official in charge of the Flower and Stone Tribute was a serious crime at the time, which resulted in the three Zhu siblings being surrounded and arrested by countless officials. Their family's traditional Chinese medicine clinic was demolished, and the three siblings scattered and fled. Pang Xiarong escaped on her own, while her eldest brother and younger sister escaped together.

He had been on the run for more than three years, without any news of his elder brother and younger sister. He dared not go to the city to work as a doctor, as his medical skills could not earn him a decent living. Fearing capture by Zhu Mian's henchmen, he could only work as a traveling doctor in the countryside.

However, in general, in the countryside, people basically don't have money to see a doctor. In addition, he couldn't bear to see poor people suffer. Often, if he earned fifty copper coins but saw people suffering, he would give away all fifty copper coins. That's how he ended up like this!

It's only because his medical skills are superb that people don't beat him up for his medical skills. If he were a quack, he probably wouldn't be alive now; he would have been beaten to death long ago.