The Story of Hong Gildong (7 page)

All the monks bowed to him with their palms together and praised his generosity.

Gildong then left the place quickly and returned to the bandit village, where his men happily welcomed him back.

The next day, he had the twenty
seok
of white rice sent to the temple with a notice that read as follows: “This is sent from the household of High Minister Hong to the government office with an official announcement of the gift.”
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When the rice arrived at the temple, all the monks gladly put it in storage and prepared spirits and delicacies for the promised day of the guest's return.

Gildong summoned the bandits and addressed them. “I will head back to the temple tomorrow, where I will arrange to have all the monks restrained. Take advantage of that moment to do all that I command without fail.”

The bandits assented and went forth to await his order.

When Gildong returned to Haein Temple with tens of his followers, everyone came out to wait upon him.

Gildong questioned the senior monk. “Some time ago I sent you white rice and asked that you prepare spirits and a feast. What is the status of that?”

The monk answered him. “All is ready, so we await your pleasure.”

Gildong spoke. “I have heard that the scenery at the back of the temple is magnificent, and I intend to enjoy the view in your company throughout the day. So bring out every monk of this temple without leaving anyone behind.”

The monks never suspected that a hidden plot was in motion. And they dared not disobey him, so they all gathered together, high and low, young and old, and went out to a green valley behind the temple. There they picked out a suitable spot and sat down in rows.

Gildong addressed them. “I will pour your drinks first.”

He bade them all to drink and enjoy themselves in feasting with him, with no thought of high or low status among them. All the monks expressed their awed gratitude as they drank two or three cups of spirits. At this point, Gildong stealthily took some sand out of his sleeve and put it in his mouth before taking some food. When the monks heard a crunching sound coming from his mouth, they were shocked and began to fearfully apologize to him.

Gildong displayed great anger as he spoke out. “All I wanted was to enjoy myself with you, without distinguishing monks from laymen, yet you thought so little of me that you dared to prepare my food in such an unsatisfactory manner. How disrespectful this is.”

With those words, he loudly ordered his servants to tie up all the monks. “I will go to the government office and report the reason for my action here. And then I will see about dealing with this matter with utmost seriousness.”

His servants ran among the monks and bound them all up
tightly with arrowroot vines. The monks still had no idea that this was part of a plan that was now rapidly unfolding. Even with all their strength, they dared not resist as they were too disoriented by the sudden turn of events. They could only think to beg for forgiveness.

In that moment, all the bandits who had been hiding in the area received word that the monks had been restrained, so they rushed into the temple, searched out its treasures, and began to carry out the plunder as if it belonged to them. It was only then that the monks realized the trick they had fallen for, but they could hardly intervene with all their limbs tied up. They could only follow what was happening with their eyes and scream out their frustration with their mouths.

At this time, a temple servant who was carrying some dishes from a side chamber saw a horde of bandits coming into the temple and opening up its storehouse to transport its goods on horses and cattle. He climbed over the temple wall and ran to the town of Hapcheon, where he reported to the local magistrate that hundreds of outlaws were stealing the temple's property. The startled magistrate mobilized all the servants and citizens of the town, old and young, and ordered them to catch the criminals at Haein Temple.

The bandits finished loading all the treasures on horses and cattle and were about to head for a narrow mountainside path when Gildong spoke to them. “Take the big road to the south, and do not worry about it.”

His men spoke out in dismay. “We fear that government soldiers will catch us there when they arrive, as they soon will.”

Gildong laughed out loud and replied, “You are like little children who could not possibly understand my deep stratagem. Have no fear. Once you go out the temple's entrance, take the big road south. I will make sure that the approaching soldiers head north.”

After the bandits heard him out, they all rushed down the big road southward. Gildong returned to the temple, where he put on the robe and hat of a monk and climbed on top of a high
hill. From there, he could see thick dust raised by a multitude of soldiers who were approaching like a great wind while shaking heaven and earth with the noises of their drums, horns, and war cries.

Gildong shouted at them, “Soldiers, do not head south, for the bandits have gone north. Go after them on the northward path to catch them.”

He lifted the sleeve of his robe and pointed toward the small path. The soldiers heard the monk's words, saw him indicate northward, and followed his direction.

Gildong left the hill only then to guide the bandits on. Once they were on their way, he discreetly used his magic to transport himself to their lair, where he ordered the bandits who had stayed behind to go and welcome their returning comrades.

After a time, they all arrived with thousands of horses and cattle, and they all prostrated themselves before Gildong to give him thanks. “General, not even a supernatural spirit could fathom your strange magic and marvelous powers.”

Gildong laughed and replied, “As a true man making his way in the world, I would not have dared to take on the position of your leader if I did not possess such talents.”

He then commanded spirits and food to be brought and invited the men to partake in them, which brought them much joy. The next day, he organized a great feast, after which they took account of all the treasures they had stolen, which turned out to be enormous in value. He then distributed rewards to his men and created the name of Hwalbindang
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for their village.

He addressed all the bandits. “We will go forth across the eight provinces of Joseon
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and seize wealth that was ill-gotten, but we will also help the impoverished and the oppressed by giving them goods. And we will do so without ever revealing our identities. We will go after the powerful who obtained their riches by squeezing the common people and take away their unjustly gained possessions.”

At this time, the soldiers of Hapcheon County traveled for tens of
ri
through the northward path in search of the outlaws, but
they could find no trace of them. When they realized that there was nothing they could do, they returned to the government office and informed the astonished magistrate of their failure.

The magistrate sent a report to the office of the provincial governor. “Hundreds of criminals came out of nowhere and attacked Haein Temple in broad daylight and took away all its treasures. I sent out soldiers, but they could not find them. I am reporting this news to request that you dispatch the police to apprehend them.”

The provincial governor was startled by the report, so he forwarded it to the king himself, who became worried and sent out a pronouncement across the eight provinces. “Whether you are a nobleman or a commoner, if you catch these outlaws I will reward you with great wealth and make you the lord of ten thousand households.”

The pronouncement created a great stir as all those who read it aspired to catch the criminals.

One day, Gildong summoned his men and addressed them. “Whatever happens, we must not forget that we are still people of this country. When the time comes, we will do whatever is necessary to demonstrate our loyalty. We may be outlaws living in a mountainside hideout, but we will not commit acts of treason by stealing the property of the common people or inflicting harm on them. Nor will we take treasures being sent to the capital or money and grain being collected by the government.
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From now on, all members of Hwalbindang
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will abide by our great laws, and those of you who engage in unrighteous deeds will be dealt with through military law. So make sure none of you bring such guilt upon yourself.”

All the bandits acquiesced to his command as one.

Several months passed before Gildong summoned them again. “Now that our storehouse is empty, I mean for us to go to the administrative center of Hamgyeong Province
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and take the grain and arms out of its warehouse. Travel there individually, steal discreetly into the citadel, and hide within until a fire is set outside the south gate. When the governor, his officials, and other people
leave the citadel to deal with the fire, take advantage of their absence to locate the grain and arms and carry them out. But do not touch a single piece of property that belongs to the common people.”

Then Gildong and sixty of his men went forth, dressed in disguises. On the third watch
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of an appointed night, he went to the south gate of the citadel and ordered his men to gather dry straw and make a massive pile. They then set it on fire. As light from the flames soared into the sky, people rushed about in agitation, not knowing what to do.

At this moment Gildong went to the governor's hall and shouted out, “The royal tomb
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is on fire. The officials and guards there have all perished, so I bid you to put out the fire quickly.”

When the governor was awakened by those words, he became terrified. He hurriedly got up and saw the firelight reach the sky, so he summoned all the servants and everyone else in the citadel, men and women, young and old, and led them to the tomb, leaving not a single guard at the storehouse. Gildong led his men as they opened up the building, loaded the grain onto horses and cattle, and left through the north gate of the citadel. He then used his magic to decrease the distance between them and their village, so that after riding all night they reached their destination just as light dawned in the east.

Gildong addressed the bandits. “We have committed a criminal act that will be reported to the capital, so they will surely come after us. I worry that when they fail to catch us, innocent people will be blamed and executed. If that were to happen, we would be responsible. To prevent such a course, I will write up a notice that reads ‘The grain and arms in the storehouse were stolen by Hong Gildong, the leader of Hwalbindang,' and display it on the gate of the Hamgyeong Province administrative center.”

All the bandits were shocked to hear those words. “General, why would you invite misfortune upon yourself?”

Gildong laughed and replied, “Do not worry, my soldiers. I have a plan to evade capture, of course. So stop arguing and do as I command.”

The bandits' concern was not allayed, but they dared not disobey him. They took the notice he had written and waited until darkness fell before they put it up on the gate. That night, Gildong fashioned eight human figures out of straw and cast a magic spell that imbued each of them with a spirit. At once, the eight straw men sprouted arms and began talking loudly as they transformed themselves into eight Gildongs. As they joined their maker in speaking chaotically among themselves, none could tell which among the nine was the true Gildong.

All the bandits laughed and applauded. “The general possesses marvelous magical skills that not even a supernatural spirit could fathom.”

Gildong gave each of the eight straw Gildongs five hundred men to command and ordered them to go forth to the eight provinces. After they fitted themselves with traveling clothes and equipment and went on their way, Gildong lay down to rest at Hwalbindang. The straw men themselves could not tell which among them was the true Gildong.

Meanwhile, the governor of Hamgyeong Province returned from putting out the fire and was met by a soldier in charge of guarding the storehouse, who hurriedly reported to him, “While the citadel was empty, thieves took all the grain and arms in the storehouse and left.”

The astounded governor immediately mobilized his soldiers and sent them after the criminals, but there was no sign of them anywhere.

Suddenly, a soldier from the north gate reported to him. “Someone put up a notice on the gate.”

The governor read it and spoke out. “There is an outlaw by the name of Hong Gildong in Hamgyeong Province. Go forth and apprehend him.” He also sent a report to the central government.

The king reacted by speaking out. “I will reward whoever catches Hong Gildong.”
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And he ordered another pronouncement to be put up on all four gates of the capital: “I will grant
great wealth and the lordship of ten thousand households to whoever captures Gildong.”

Gildong remained at Hwalbindang while his straw men led bandits in each of the eight provinces. They traveled from one town to another, stealing gift treasures,
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sending dirt and pebbles flying at their pursuers until they could not see or breathe, and opening up the doors of storehouses to take away grain and riches. Stories of such deeds spread quickly among the people, so that they could hardly sleep at night from anxiety.

Official reports from all eight provinces arrived at the capital. “The outlaw known as Hong Gildong transports himself by summoning a wind spirit and flying about on a cloud. He has taken treasures from high officials in every town. The situation has become extremely serious, but no one seems capable of catching him. So we beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter and see about apprehending him at last.”

The king finished reading and became greatly concerned. When he reread the reports more carefully, he realized that the dates and times of the outlaw's activities were identical in all eight provinces, which worried him even more.