Mad over the loss of the valuables, which are his birthday gift to his father-in-law Cai Jing, Grand Secretary Liang Shijie of Daming Prefecture orders Jizhou, which encompasses Yuncheng, to quickly track down the robbers. Jizhou's authorities soon find clues and send constables to arrest the group in Chao Gai's house. However, with help of the magistrate's clerk Song Jiang and the two chief constables Zhu Tong and Lei Heng, Chao Gai gets away with Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng and Liu Tang. They take refuge in the house of the Ruan brothers. There Wu Yong sets a plan that lures the constables who come for them into the marsh. Unfamiliar with the place, the pursuers are mown down by the robbers. The group then seek refuge in Liangshan Marsh.