84 replies to this topic

[MengTzu]

:SPOILERS:

Liu Tang, the Red-Haired Ghost; the Heavenly Different Star
天異星 赤髮鬼 劉唐

Abstract: One of the Ten Commanders of the Mount Liang Infantry. He approached the landlord Chao Gai about stealing the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing’s one-hundred-thousand guan birthday gift. When they were identified for the robbery, they fled to Mount Liang and took over.

Biography: Liu Tang first appeared in chapter 12. He was on his way to Cai Jing’s estate and spent the night in a temple. Lei Heng, one of the “police chiefs” of Hun Cheng County, arrested him (because he mistook him for a thief.) Ironically, the officers took decided to stop by Chao Gai’s estate, and so Chao Gai got to meet Liu Tang. Having found out that Liu Tang was there to see him, Chao Gai lied to Lei Heng that Liu was his nephew and Lei Heng let him go.

Liu Tang then informed Chao Gai that carts of treasures were about to be transported from Da Ming to Kaifeng – the Defense Commander Liang had gathered one-hundred-thousand guan worth of treasures, and was about to send them to his father-in-law, the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing, for his birthday. Chao Gai eventually got together an entire gang (see Wu Yong’s bio) and robbed the treasures. Their identities were later discovered, so they fled to Mount Liang and took over as new leaders. Chao Gai later sent Liu Tang to deliver a thank you letter to Song Jiang, the letter that Song’s concubine Yan Poxi later discovered (see Song Jiang’s bio).

Liu Tang was one of the earliest members of Mount Liang. He fought many battles and campaigns, before and after the amnesty. He was appointed one of the Ten Commanders of the Infantry. He was killed in the last campaign.

:END OF SPOILERS:

Edited by MengTzu, 09 August 2007 - 03:41 PM.

[MengTzu]

:SPOILERS:

Lei Heng, the Winged Tiger; the Heavenly Retreating Star
天退星 插翅虎 雷橫

Abstract: One of the Ten Commanders of the Mount Liang Infantry. One of the two “police chiefs” in Hun Cheng County. Helped Chao Gai escape when sent to arrest him for robbing the Imperial Tutor’s treasures. Killed a woman named Bai Xiu Ying over a quarrel. Exiled, was released by former colleague Zhu Tong, and fled to Mount Liang.

Biography: First appeared in chapter 12. He was one of the two “police chiefs” in Hun Cheng County: Lei Heng led the infantry division, and Zhu Tong led the cavalry division. He arrested Liu Tang (because he mistook him for a thief) and brought him to Chao Gai, who rescued Liu Tang. Chao Gai then gave Lei Heng some money. Angry at Lei Heng for arresting him and for taking Chao Gai’s money, Liu Tang chased down Lei Heng and had a sword fight, only to be broken up by Wu Yong.

Later, when Chao Gai was identified as a robber of the Imperial Tutor’s treasures, Lei Heng and his colleagues Zhu Tong were sent to arrest him. Lei Heng told Zhu Tong to attack Chao Gai’s estate from the front so he could catch him at the back, when his intention was be in position to release Chao Gai. Zhu Tong had the same intention, and convinced Lei Heng to attack from the front, and Lei Heng complied. Lei Heng yelled loudly as he attacked, with hopes of alarming Chao Gai so he could escape.

Much later – after the Mount Liang heroes had sacked the Zhu Family Village – Lei Heng was passing through Mount Liang one day and invited to a feast. Chao Gai tried to get him to join but he refused. Lei Heng went home and was coaxed by his friends to watch to some opera singer named Bai Xiu Ying perform. He went and watched, and when it came for time to pay, he realized he forgot his money. The singer Bai Xiu Ying’s father insulted him, and they got into a fight. Bai Xiu Ying was a mistress of the governor, and convinced him to arrest Lei Heng.

In prison, Lei Heng’s mother visited him and quietly scolded at the Bai Xiu Ying, but Bai overheard her, came in, and beat her. Trying to stop her, Lei Heng accidentally killed Bai. He was then exiled and was escorted by Zhu Tong, who then released him. He then fled to Mount Liang. He later tried to convince Zhu Tong to join Mount Liang (see Zhu Tong’s bio).

Lei Heng fought many battles and campaigns as a Mount Liang hero. He was appointed one of the Ten Commanders of the Infantry. He was killed in the last campaign.

:END OF SPOILERS:

[MengTzu]

:SPOILERS:

Li Kui, the Black Whirlwind; the Heavenly Killing Star
天殺星 黑旋風 李逵
Abstract: One of the Ten Commanders of the Mount Liang Infantry. A prisoner-turned-handyman at the Jiang Prefecture prison, where he met Song Jiang and became his loyal follower. Looked after Song Jiang when Song was sentenced to death and awaited execution. Helped rescue Song at the execution site and take revenge against Song’s accuser. and went to Mount Liang afterwards. On his way to bringing his mother to Mount Liang, four tigers ate his mother, and he killed them. Had many adventures throughout the novel.

Biography: First appeared in chapter 38. He was originally a prisoner at the Jiang Prefecture prison, punished for homicide, but the prison guard chief, Dai Zong, hired him as a handyman. He met Song Jiang and immediately became his loyal follower. Later, Song Jiang sentenced for execution for writing rebellious poems. Dai Zong was sent to deliver a letter from the governor to his father the Imperial Tutor, asking for whether to execute Song Jiang in the Jiang Prefecture or in Kaifeng. Dai Zong charged Li Kui with the task of taking care of Song Jiang. Later, at the execution, Li Kui helped the Mount Liang heroes rescue Song Jiang.

Afterwards, with the entire gang, he helped take revenge on Wang Wen Bing, who accused Song of writing rebellious poems. He then went to Mount Liang with the gang. He left the lair momentarily to fetch his blind mother. En route there, a highwayman claimed to be Li Kui and tried to rob him (by now, Li Kui was notoriously famous and feared). Li Kui, of course, defeated this imposter. The imposter, who was actually called Li Gui, asked for mercy and lied that he had to take care of his mother. Li Kui gave him money and let him go. When he later found him again and found that he was lying, he killed him, but his wife escaped.

Li Kui fetched his mother, but on the way back to Mount Liang, Li Kui went to find water and four tigers killed her. In anguish, Li Kui killed the tigers and were celebrated by the locals. One of the locals turned out to be the imposter Li Gui’s wife, and reported to the village elder (Li Kui was wanted for rescuing Song Jiang, with a hefty price on his head.) Li Kui was arrested. An officer named Li Yun the Blue-Eyed Tiger was to transport him to the prefecture, but Li Yun’s student, Zhu Fu the Smiling Tiger, was the brother of Zhu Gui the Dryland Alligator, who was a Mount Liang hero and sent to make sure Li Kui was okay. The brothers drugged Li Yun with food and rescued Li Kui. Li Yun woke up in time and fought with Li Kui, but Zhu Fu stopped them and convinced Li Yun to join Mount Liang as well.

Li Kui fought in many battles and campaigns, before and after the amnesty. He had numerous adventures, too many to be recapitulated here. He was appointed one of the Ten Commanders of the Infantry. His choice of weapons were the famous double axes. Despite his absolutely loyalty to Song Jiang, he was a vocal opponent of the amnesty, and often suggested that Song Jiang should overthrow the Song dynasty. He survived the last campaign and was appointed a position in the government. Later, when Song Jiang was poisoned with slow poison, Song Jiang gave the same poison to Li Kui to drink, fearing that Li Kui would avenge his death and destroy the “good name” the heroes had earned as loyal subjects of the state. After giving him poison, Song Jiang asked Li Kui what he would do if Song Jiang was murdered, and Li Kui answered that he would gather together forces and rebel, seeking revenge. Song Jiang then revealed that he had given Li Kui poison to drink, and Li Kui responded that in death and as a ghost he would still follow Song Jiang loyally like a soldier.

Li Kui is a character that is very difficult to like, but also very difficult to not like. His had a bad track record of excessive killing – the worst two incidents had to be 1) killing almost the entire Hu household, even though the Hu’s had a truce with Mount Liang, and 2) killing the young child of the Cang Prefecture governor, although it wasn’t clear if that killing was intentional. Fortunately, the powerful Master Luo (the Daoist priest Gongsun Sheng’s teacher) set him straight by punishing him with powerful magic. His record seemed to have improved somewhat after that.

But he was also hard not to like because of his truthfulness and sense of justice. Of all the heroes, he was the most likely to act entirely on impulses, fearing no one, holding back nothing. He was so fearless in his sense of justice that, when an imposter pretended to be Song Jiang and captured a young woman, he broke his friendship with Song Jiang, thinking that Song Jiang had done such an egregious thing. When he later found out that he was mistaken, he accepted death as a consequence. (Of course, Song Jiang wouldn’t kill him. He merely sent him to find and deal with the imposters as redemption.)

As stated, Li Kui had many adventures (many of which he went on with Yan Qing, the next hero), and was a source of much humor in the story.

:END OF SPOILERS:

Edited by MengTzu, 28 March 2008 - 03:42 PM.

[MengTzu]

Yan Qing, the Wanderer; the Heavenly Tricky Star
天巧星 浪子 燕青

Abstract: One of the Ten Commanders of the Mount Liang Infantry. A young servant of Lu Jun Yi when the latter was still a rich merchant in Da Ming. A highly intelligent young man and a master of wrestling and music. Had a heavily tattooed body. Had numerous adventures with Li Kui.

Biography: First appeared in chapter 61. When Lu Jun Yi was a rich man in Da Ming, Yan Qing was his young loyal servant. He was a master of various skills, including playing the flute and wrestling. His archery skills are debatable – throughout the story he had shown outstanding archery skills, and was a great hunter, but near the end of the story, the novel says that he was shooting at birds as he was beginning to learn archery – very likely a remnant from older editions of the novel: the novel had been edited and rewritten by so many people, so perhaps this little inconsistency was overlooked and became accepted by now. A possible explanation I can think of is that Yan Qing had a natural talent for archery but didn’t formally learn it until much later.

When Wu Yong pretended to be a fortune-teller and told Lu Jun Yi to go near Mount Liang to avoid a “bloody disaster,” Yan Qing and others pleaded with Lu not to go, and Lu of course refused to listen. While Lu was away in Mount Liang, the steward Li Gu took over Lu’s property and wife, and kicked Yan Qing out of the house. When Lu returned, Yan Qing warned him not to return home, but Lu insisted, only to fall into the hands of the government troops and arrested for rebellion. (See Lu Jun Yi’s bio, p. 2 of this thread). Lu was exiled to Sha Men Island, and Yan Qing rescued him en route, only to have him recaptured again. Yan Qing then tried to go to Mount Liang for help, and ran into Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu on his way. Shi Xiu attempted to rescue Lu but was arrested as well. Mount Liang was then involved in a series of arduous battles: the first Da Ming campaign, the battle with Guan Sheng, and the second Da Ming campaign. Yan Qing then settled in Mount Liang.

Yan Qing fought many battles and campaigns as a Mount Liang hero, before and after the amnesty. He also had many adventures with Li Kui. He was appointed one of the Ten Commanders of the Infantry. In order to obtain amnesty for the heroes, he had a meeting with Emperor Huizong’s mistress, the courtesan Li Shi Shi. Li Shi Shi fell in love with Yan Qing, but fearing that their romance might be known to the emperor and thus ruining his plan, Yan Qing swore sisterhood/brotherhood with Li Shi Shi to avoid further romantic possibilities.

Yan Qing survived all of the Mount Liang campaigns. After the last campaign, he bid farewell to Lu Jin Yi and left a letter for Song Jiang. He then became a hermit.

:END OF SPOILERS:

[shawn]

Anyone got any official records of this Song Shi that can be posted up here on CHF?

[MengTzu]

:SPOILERS:

Yang Xiong, the Sick Guan Suo; the Heavenly Firm Star
天牢星 病關索 楊雄

Abstract: One of the Ten Commanders of the Mount Liang Infantry. Started out an executioner. His wife had an affair with a monk. His sworn brother Shi Xiu killed the monk and compelled him to kill his wife. Fled to Mount Liang. Had a quarrel with the Zhu Family Village, leading eventually to a series of battles between Mount Liang and the Zhu Family Village.

Biography: Yang Xiong first appeared in chapter 44. He was an executioner in the Ji Prefecture. One day, he was surrounded by a group of hooligans, and a firewood salesman called Shi Xiu the Daring Third Brother helped him fight off the hooligans. Yang Xiong allowed Shi Xiu to stay at his house and manage his father-in-law’s butcher business.

Yang Xiong was a kind man. He allowed his wife Pan Qiao Yun to perform rituals to commemorate her late former husband. However, one of the monks, called Pei Ru Kai, had an affair with Pan. Shi Xiu found out and told Yang Xiong, who was indecisive. At night, Pan lied to Yang Xiong that Shi Xiu tried to seduce her but she refused. Enraged, Yang Xiong kicked Shi Xiu out of the house.

Shi Xiu wanted to prove his innocence and expose the adultery, and he killed Pei Ru Kai the monk and his assistant (who was an lookout while Pei and Pan did their thing). Having now convinced Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu convinced Yang Xiong to get his wife and her maid (who helped out her mistress in sending signals to Pei when Yang was out of the house) to go somewhere quiet, and there, Shi Xiu convinced Yang to kill them both. They then met the thief Shi Qian, and together they left for Mount Liang.

En route, they stopped at a tavern belonging to the Zhu Family Village. There, Shi Qian the thief stole a chicken and cooked it. This led to a confrontation. Yang Xiong and company claimed to be a brawl with the villagers, and Shi Xiu burned down the tavern. As they escaped, Shi Qian the thief was captured. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu first went to the Li Family Village for help, but after some confrontation between the Zhu and Li families, Li could not help them. So they went to Mount Liang and reported this, and Chao Gai was immediately enraged that they tarnished the good name of the Mount Liang heroes by stealing a chicken and associating themselves with Mount Liang, and ordered to have them both executed. Song Jiang, however, saw this as an opportunity to expand their influence, convinced Chao Gai not to execute them, and instead enter into open conflict with the Zhu Family Village. A campaign ensued, and the Mount Liang heroes won.

Yang Xiong fought many battles and campaigns as a Mount Liang hero and after the amnesty. He was appointed one of the Ten Commanders of the Infantry. He died of an illness during or after the last campaign.

:END OF SPOILERS:

[MengTzu]

:SPOILER:

Shi Xiu, the Life-Risking Third Brother; the Heavenly Wise Star
天慧星 拚命三郎 石秀

Abstract: One of the Ten Commanders of the Mount Liang Infantry. Worked as a butcher in his younger years and was a firewood salesman later. Became sworn brother with Yang Xiong. Killed the man with whom Yang’s wife was having an affair and compelled him to kill his wife. Fled to Mount Liang.

Biography: much of Shi Xiu’s brography is basically contained in Yang Xiong’s (see the post before this one).

Shi Xiu was instrumental in the defeating of the Zhu Family Village by acting as a very successful spy.

Shi Xiu was killed in the last campaign.

:END OF SPOILERS:

Edited by MengTzu, 09 August 2007 - 07:43 PM.

[MengTzu]

:SPOILERS:

Xie Zhen, the Double-Headed Snake; the Heavenly Violent Star
天暴星 兩頭蛇 解珍

Xie Bao, the Double-Tailed Scorpian; the Heavenly Crying Star
天哭星 雙尾蝎 解寶

Abstract: Two of the Ten Commanders of the Mount Liang Infantry. Xie Zhen and his brother Xie Bao were hunters. Got into a quarrel with the Mao family, was arrested, and was about to be killed. Their cousin, Gu Da Sao got together a group of people and rescued them from prison. Together they joined Mount Liang and helped them defeat the Zhu Family Village.

Biography: Xie Zhen and his brother first appeared in chapter 49. They were hunters charged with the task to kill a tiger. The tiger was shot by an arrow from their spring-bow trap, and rowed down hill into the Mao family’s backyard. The brothers went to claim the tiger, but Mao Junior had already taken it and claimed a reward. They had the brothers arrested and Mao Senior bribed to have them killed.

The Xie brothers had a cousin named Gu Da Sao, the wife of Sun Xun. The couple owed a tavern. Sun Xun had a brother named Sun Li, who was a military officer. Sun Li’s wife’s brother, Le He, worked in the prison, and found out about what happened to the Xie brothrers. Le He reported this to Gu Da Sao, and they got Sun Li to help them. Together they busted the jail, rescued the Xie brothers, and killed everyone in the Mao’s family. They then joined Mount Liang. At the time, the Mount Liang heroes were fighting with the Zhu Family Village, and so Wu Yong used this group as undercover (as the Zhu Family people thought that Sun Li was still a government officer), and with their help the Mount Liang heroes defeated the Zhu Family Village.

Xie Zhen and Xie Bao fought as a Mount Liang heroes and after the amnesty. They both used the “forks” in battle (these are large forks one can wield as weapons.) The brothers were appointed two of the Ten Commanders of the Infantry. They died in the last campaign.

:END OF SPOILERS:

[MengTzu]

The following are six of the Eight Commanders of the Navy. The reason that six are now mentioned and two are mentioned later is that the first six are part of the 36 major heroes (a.k.a. heavenly stars) and the other two are part of the 72 minor heroes (a.k.a. earthly stars).

:SPOILERS:

Li Jun, the Dragon in the Turbulent River; the Heavenly Long-Living Star
天壽星 混江龍 李俊

Abstract: One of the Eight Navy Commanders*. A ferryman around a Town named Jie Yang. Part of the group that tried to rescue Song Jiang from the execution site but that got there after the Moung Liang heroes and Li Kui already rescued him. Joined Mount Liang after helping Song Jiang took revenge. The de facto leader of the navy.

*Six of the Eight Navy Commanders were part of the 36 major heroes (a.k.a. Heavenly Stars). Two of them were part of the 72 minor heroes (a.k.a. Earthly Stars).

Biography: First appeared in chapter 36. A ferryman around Town Jie Yang. Together Li Jun and his friend the tavern owner Li Li were one of the “Three Tyrannies of the Yangtze River.” He had two followers, the Tong brothers, who were “salt-smugglers.” (In ancient China, salt was strictly state-owned, and private-owned salt was illegal.)

When Song Jiang was on exile to the Jiang Prefecture, he stayed in Li Li’s tavern and was drugged by Li Li there. Li Jun, on the other hand, had heard the news that Song Jiang was southbound from Shandong in the north and had been waiting for him for days to meet him. He went to the tavern just in time to stop Li Li from killing Song Jiang (Li Li had no idea he was Song Jiang.)

Later, when Song Jiang was running away from the Mu brothers, he was rescued by Zhang Heng, only to find out that Zhang Heng also wanted to kill him and take his money. Li Jun saved Song Jiang again by stopping Zhang Heng just in time. (The Mu brothers and Zhang Heng, of course, had no idea that he was Song Jiang.)

Later, when Song Jiang was about to be executed, Li Jun and the other heroes of Yangtze River went to rescue him, but by the time they got there, the Mount Liang heroes and Li Kui had already rescued Song Jiang. All the heroes together helped Song Jiang took revenge on Wang Wen Bing, the person who accused Song Jiang for writing rebellious poems. Li Jun then joined Mount Liang with the others.

Li Jun fought as a Mount Liang hero and after the amnesty. He was appointed one of the Eight Commanders of Navy, and was the de facto leader of the Navy. He survived all the campaigns. During the last campaign, he met the four fishermen/pirates and befriended them. After the campaign, he and the Tong brothers left the gang and joined up with the four men, and the seven of them left China and went overseas, eventually settling in Thailand. Li Jun then become a king in Thailand. (This appears to be totally fictional. There is no historical record of a Chinese Thai king named Li Jun.)

Zhang Heng, the Hotheaded Ferryman; the Heavenly Calm Star
天平星 船火兒 張橫

Zhang Shun, the White Fish in the Waves; the Heavenly Damaged Star
天損星 浪裏白跳 張順

Abstract: Two of the Eight Commanders of the Mount Liang Navy. The brothers were ferrymen on the Yangtze River, though Zhang Shun later became a fish market owner. Zhang Shun could stay under water for seven days. Zhang Heng almost killed Song Jiang when he was fleeing from the Mu brothers. Zhang Shun had a big fight with Li Kui and defeated him in water, and later met Song Jiang who tried to stop the fight. Zhang Shun organized a rescue team with the heroes of the Yangtze River to rescue Song Jiang. Joined Mount Liang after they helped Song Jiang took revenge in the Jiang Prefecture.

Biography: Zhang Heng first appeared in chapter 37, in which Zhang Shun was first mentioned. Zhang Heng and his brother Zhang Shun were together known as one of the “Three Tyrannies of the Yangtze River.” They were ferrymen on the Yangtze River, but when they have earned enough money, Zhang Shun became a fish market owner (Zhang Heng apparently blew it all by gambling, although Zhang Shun probably made his fortune by gambling too.) When Song Jiang was fleeing from the Mu brothers (See Mu Hong’s bio, page 4 of this thread), Zhang Heng rescued him with this ferry. However, Zhang Heng actually just wanted to rob Song Jiang and kill him. Fortunately, Li Jun stopped Zhang Heng in time. Having found out Song Jiang’s identity, Zhang Heng apologized (as there were very few heroes who did not respect Song Jiang) and told Song Jiang to bring a letter to his brother Zhang Shun in the Jiang Prefecture.

One day, while in the Jiang Prefecture, Song Jiang went to a restaurant with Li Kui and the prison guard chief Dai Zong. Song wanted some fresh fish, so Li Kui went to get some. The fishermen wouldn’t sell any to him because the owner, Zhang Shun, had not return, so Li Kui tried to take them by force. Zhang Shun returned just in time to have a fight with Li Kui, and was soundly defeated by Li Kui. Then Zhang Shun went on a boat and dared Li Kui to fight him there. Li Kui obliged, and Zhang Shun flipped the boat. Li Kui was no match with Zhang Shun in water, and was soundly defeated there. Song Jiang and Dai Zong stopped the fight and befriended Zhang Shun. Song Jiang also gave Zhang Shun his brother’s letter.

When Song Jiang was sentenced to death, Zhang Shun organized a rescue team with the heroes of the Yangtze River to rescue Song Jiang, although they got there after the Mount Liang heroes and Li Kui already rescued him. (The Yangtze River heroes team include Li Jun, Li Li, the Zhang brothers, the Mu brothers, the Tong brothers, and Xue Yong, the guy who performed martial arts and sold medicine in Mu’s town without their permission – see Mu Hong’s bio on page 4.) After helping Song Jiang take revenge on Wang Wen Bing, the person who accused Song Jiang of writing rebellious poems, they joined the Mount Liang gang.

Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun fought as a Mount Liang hero and after the amnesty. They were appointed Commanders of the Navy. In the last campaign, Zhang Shun was killed while trying to enter a city of Fang La as a spy. Zhang Heng later avenged his brother’s death by killing Fang La’s son, Fang Tian Ding, but he stated that he was not aware of doing so, and his body was apparently possessed by his brother when he killed Fang Tian Ding. Zhang Heng fell ill out of sorrow for his brother’s death, and later died.


Ruan Xiao Er, the Standing Jupiter; the Heavenly Sword Star
天劍星 立地太歲 阮小二

Ruan Xiao Wu, the Short-Lived Second Brother; the Heavenly Criminal Star
天罪星 短命二郎 阮小五

Ruan Xiao Qi, the Living Hades; the Heavenly Defeated Star
天敗星 活閻羅 阮小七

Abstract: Commanders of the Navy. Fishermen of the Stone Tablet Village near Mount Liang. Joined Chao Gai’s gang of robbers and helped rob the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing’s treasures. Helped Chao Gai take over Mount Liang.

Biography: First appeared in chapter 15. The three brothers were fishermen in the Stone Tablet Village, located along the Chen Yang River and downstream from Mount Liang. Although brothers, each had an unique personality. Ruan Xiao Er, the oldest brother, appeared calm and composed. Ruan Xiao Wu, the middle brother, appeared unruly. Ruan Xiao Qi, the youngest brother, had a hasty and straightforward personality.

The three brothers had been complaining that they couldn’t catch the big fish because the Mount Liang bandits caught them all (at that time, Wang Lun was the leader of Mount Liang.) Wu Yong the Intelligent Star used this predicament to convince them to join Chao Gai to rob the Imperial Tutor’s treasures. They did so, but when their identities were discovered, they fled to Mount Liang with the rest of the gang, and took over the lair.

They fought as Mount Liang heroes and after the amnesty. They were appointed Commanders of the Navy. The two older brothers, Ruan Xiao Er and Ruan Xiao Wu, were killed the last campaign, but Ruan Xiao Qi survived. At the end of the campaign, Ruan Xiao Qi was caught wearing Fang La’s royal robes for fun. As a result his appointment to a government post was taken away, and he went home to the Stone Tablet Village.

:END OF SPOILERS:

Edited by MengTzu, 28 March 2008 - 03:45 PM.

[shawn]

one-hundred-thousand guan

How much is guan worth in Kilograms or in gold or silver?

[thirdgumi]

Anyone got any official records of this Song Shi that can be posted up here on CHF?

There is the complete 25 history here (in Chinese): http://www.sinica.ed...ftms-bin/ftmsw3

[snowybeagle]

Anyone knows if there is any significance to two of the primary adulteress in the novel had the same surname "Pan"?

Did the author have some grudge against the Pan clan?

[MengTzu]

one-hundred-thousand guan

How much is guan worth in Kilograms or in gold or silver?

In Song's time, a coin has a hole through it, so that merchants can put a sting through a stack of coins and carry them. The word "guan" means "through," so may be it signifies the fact that they put a string through a stack of coins. So this is my pure speculation, with absolutely no supporting evidence whatsoever: a guan is probably a stack of coins with a spring through them, or probably a measuring unit that is worth such an amount. Again, pure speculation.

Edited by MengTzu, 10 August 2007 - 05:53 PM.

[MengTzu]

:SPOILERS:

Chai Jin, the Little Whirlwind; the Heavenly Noble Star
天貴星 小旋風 柴進

Abstract: One of the two treasurers of Mount Liang. A descendant of the Chai imperial family of the previous dynasty – the Latter Zhou. Provided assistance to many of the heroes. Was involved in a quarrel with the villain Gao Qiu’s relative, Gao Lian, and arrested. Rescued by Mount Liang heroes.

Biography: First appeared in chapter 9. Descendant of the Chai imperial family of the Latter Zhou dynasty, which was immediately before the Song dynasty. The last Chai emperor gave up the throne in return for imperial protection under the new Song dynasty – a special “iron scroll” was given by the Song emperors to the Chai family as a sign of protection, so that they could also present the scroll if they were brought into court and the emperors would help them and perhaps give them immunities. This was the reason Chai Jin had massive amount of wealth and could associate with all sorts of heroes (including criminals) without ever getting into trouble.

Chai Jin helped and sheltered various heroes in the novel: Lin Chong, Wu Song, Song Jiang, Zhu Tong, Li Kui. His house was almost a sanctuary for outlaws. But his prosperity did not last: the villain Gao Qiu, one of the commanders of the imperial army, had a relative called Gao Lian, who was the governor of the Gao Tang Prefecture. Gao Lian’s brother-in-law, Yin Tian Xi, wanted to possess Chai Jin’s uncle’s estate and gardens. Chai Jin’s uncle, Chai Huang Cheng, fell ill in anguish and devastation. Chai Jin brought along Li Kui (who happened to be staying in his estate at the time) to settle this issue. During the confrontation, Li Kui could not keep his temper down and killed Yin Tian Xi. Chai Jin told Li Kui to go back to Mount Liang and let him deal with the consequences, thinking that his “iron scroll” will save him, but he had left it at home. Gao Lian threw him into prison. (One might wonder if Gao Lian would have thrown him in jail anyway, even if Chai Jin had brought along the “iron scroll”.)

Song Jiang then led the Mount Liang heroes and, with the help of Gongsun Sheng’s magic, defeated Gao Lian (who also knew magic) and captured the Gao Tang Prefecture. They found out that a kind prison guard had kept Chai Jin at the bottom of a well to escape execution. The heroes lowered Li Kui down into the well to save Chai Jin.

Chai Jin was appointed one of the two treasurers. At the last campaign, he went undercover into Fang La’s camp and married his daughter. After the campaign, he gave up the government post he was appointed to and returned home to tend to his fields.

:END OF SPOILERS:

Edited by MengTzu, 10 August 2007 - 06:24 PM.

[MengTzu]

:SPOILERS:

Li Ying, the Soaring Eagle; the Heavenly Wealthy Star
天富星 撲天雕 李應

Abstract: One of the two treasurers of Mount Liang. Head of the Li Family Village. Neutral in the Mount Liang-Zhu Family conflict. Tricked into joining Mount Liang after the Zhu Family Village campaign.

Biography: First appeared in chapter 47. The head of the Li Family Village. Near Mount Liang, there were three villages: Zhu, Hu, and Li. The three were in alliance and each promised to protect the other two in the case of an armed conflict with outside forces. When Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu, and Shi Qian were on their way to Mount Liang, Shi Qian stole a chicken belonging to a tavern of the Zhu Family Village. This led to altercations and Shi Qian’s capture. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu asked Li Ying to help. Li Ying twice appealed to the Zhu’s, but they refused, and insulted Li Ying. Li Ying then led some of his “family troops” and fought with the Zhu’s, and was injured by an arrow from one of the Zhu’s, Zhu Biao. Unable to help Yang and Shi, Li told them to get help from Mount Liang. (See Yang Xiong’s bio).

After the Mount Liang forces had defeated the Zhu Family, Song Jiang and Wu Yong sent a group of the heroes to pretend to be government officers to arrest Li Ying for association with Mount Liang. Thus they tricked Li Ying and his household into joining Mount Liang.

Li Ying was appointed one of the two treasurers of Mount Liang. He survived all the campaigns. Seeing that Chai Jin gave up his government post and returned to a simple life, he also gave up his post and returned to tend to his fields.

:END OF SPOILERS: