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Wu Yong is a fictional character in ''
Mad over the loss of the valuables, which are his birthday gift to his father-in-law Cai Jing, Grand Secretary Liang Shijie of Song Jiang
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...
and the two chief constables Water Margin
''Water Margin'' (''Shuihu zhuan'') is one of the earliest Chinese novels written in vernacular Mandarin, and is attributed to Shi Nai'an. It is also translated as ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' and ''All Men Are Brothers''.
The story, which is ...
'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels
Classic Chinese Novels () are the best-known novels of pre-modern Chinese literature. These are among the world's longest and oldest novels. They represented a new complexity in structure and sophistication in language that helped to establish ...
in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Knowledgeable Star", he ranks third among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny
The 108 Heroes are the main characters of the Ming dynasty classic Chinese novel the ''Water Margin'', which was written in the 14th century and usually attributed to Shi Nai'an. The heroes are divided into the 36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly F ...
.
Background
The novel portrays Wu Yong as having a fair and handsome face and a long beard – typical features of learned and sophisticated men in Chinese literature. When Wu Yong is an ordinary teacher in a village school inYuncheng County
Yuncheng () is a county in the southwest of Shandong province, China. It is the northernmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Heze. It borders the Yellow River and Henan ( Taiqian County and Fan County) to the north, Liangsha ...
, he is already likened by some to Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang ( zh, t=諸葛亮 / 诸葛亮) (181 – September 234), courtesy name Kongming, was a Chinese statesman and military strategist. He was chancellor and later regent of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. He is r ...
and Chen Ping, two famous strategists of the Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...
, for his astuteness and wit. He is hence nicknamed "Knowledgeable Star".
Robbing the convoy of birthday gifts
Wu Yong first appears in the book when he watchesLei Heng
Lei Heng is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 25th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Liangshan heroes, and is nicknamed "Winged Tiger".
Back ...
, a chief constable of Yuncheng, fight the vagabond Liu Tang
Liu Tang is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Red Haired Devil", he ranks 21st among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Backgro ...
from his village school. Liu has come from afar to ask Chao Gai
Chao Gai, nicknamed "Pagoda-Shifting Heavenly King", is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is not one of the 108 Stars of Destiny because he dies before the Grand Assembly of ...
, the headman of Dongxi Village, to partner him to hijack valuables in transportation to the Grand Tutor Cai Jing
Cai Jing (1047–1126), courtesy name Yuanchang (), was a Chinese calligrapher and politician who lived during the Northern Song dynasty of China. He is also fictionalised as one of the primary antagonists in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four G ...
in the imperial capital Dongjing. But he was tied up by Lei's patrol group while sleeping drunk in a temple because he looked suspicious. Chao Gai tricked Lei to release Liu when the group came to take a rest at his manor. But Liu is embittered and caught up with Lei to demand the money that Chao has given him as compensation for causing him much trouble. Wu Yong, who is a friend of Chao, steps forth to intervene when he senses Lei is about to lose. Chao comes to the scene and puts an end to the fray.
Taking Wu to his house, Chao Gai discloses Liu's proposal. Wu suggests roping in the three Ruan brothers as the current team is too small. He goes to the fishing village where the fisherman brothers live, pretending that he has come to buy fish from them. Step by step he coaxes them to reveal whether they are unhappy with their poverty and want a change. When he is sure that the brothers are disgruntled and detest oppression by officials, Wu reveals his real purpose in calling. The Ruans welcome the invitation. The team at last comprises seven people, with Gongsun Sheng
Gongsun Sheng is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Dragon in the Clouds", he ranks fourth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Desti ...
, a Taoist priest, joining in.
Wu devises the hijack plan, which involves Bai Sheng, a loafer who has once received help from Chao Gai. Bai poses as a wine seller while the seven disguise themselves as date merchants, with Yellow Mud Ridge identified as where they would strike. Bai crosses the ridge carrying two buckets of wine when Chao's group and the gift-escorting party led by Yang Zhi are resting there in the shades of trees away from the blazing sun. Yang forbids his men, who are extremely thirsty, to buy any wine from Bai out of caution. Then Chao's group buy a bucket from him. Liu Tang pretends to want a free scoop from the second bucket. As soon as he has had a sip, Bai snatches the ladle from him and pours the remaining wine, now laced with drug, back into the bucket. As both buckets seem safe, with Liu looking all right, the soldiers badger Yang Zhi to allow them to have the remaining bucket. Yang relents and even he himself takes a sip. Once they become numb in their limbs and fall over, the seven men cart away the valuables.
Becoming an outlaw
Mad over the loss of the valuables, which are his birthday gift to his father-in-law Cai Jing, Grand Secretary Liang Shijie of Song Jiang
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard", he ranks 12th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Desti ...
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
Mount Liang (, often referred to in Chinese as ) is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong, China which rises to 197.9 metres above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 Heroes in the classic Chinese novel ''Water Marg ...
.
Wang Lun
Wang Lun (; died 1 November 1774) was the leader of the White Lotus sect in Shandong province, China in the 1770s. He preached a millenarian philosophy, emphasizing the imminent coming of the Buddha Maitreya.
A martial arts master and self-tau ...
, the leader of Liangshan, is unwilling to accept the group, fearing they would usurp his position. Sensing that Lin Chong
Lin Chong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Panther Head", he ranks sixth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits. In some folk tales derived from the novel, he is said t ...
, who has joined Liangshan earlier but has been cold-shouldered, resents Wang, Wu Yong instigates him to kill the leader. Chao Gai is then elected the new chief of Liangshan, with Wu Yong taking second position. Then, Wu deploys the men of Liangshan in a battle that wipes out the soldiers sent from Jizhou to eliminate them.
All his time at Liangshan Wu Yong is the band's chief strategist. He uses his wiles to force several heroes prized by Liangshan, such as Lu Junyi
Lu Junyi is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Jade Qilin", he ranks second among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. In some Chi ...
, Xu Ning
Xu Ning is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Gold Lancer", he ranks 18th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Background
Th ...
and Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard", he ranks 12th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Desti ...
, to join the stronghold. His astuteness helps Liangshan clinch victory in many military conflicts.
Death
Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng are appointed as Liangshan's top strategists after the108 Stars of Destiny
The 108 Heroes are the main characters of the Ming dynasty classic Chinese novel the ''Water Margin'', which was written in the 14th century and usually attributed to Shi Nai'an. The heroes are divided into the 36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly F ...
came together in what is called the Grand Assembly, but Wu apparently enjoys higher standing.
Wu Yong assists Song to become Liangshan's chief after Chao Gai died, although Chao's last word is that his successor is whoever captures the person who killed him. Lu Junyi seizes Shi Wengong, the killer of Chao, but he faces widespread opposition apparently engineered by Wu. In the end Lu takes second position after Song.
Wu Yong is sceptical about Song Jiang
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...
's quest for imperial amnesty, but he casts his lot with him nevertheless. Without his support, Song could not have sold the idea to the rest. Following amnesty from Emperor Huizong, the Liangshan outlaws are sent to beat back invaders of the Liao Empire
The Liao dynasty (; Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 916 and 1125, ruled by the Yelü ...
and put down rebel forces in Song
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...
territory. Wu Yong's resourcefulness helps Liangshan win many battles.
Wu Yong is one of the few Liangshan heroes who survive the campaigns. He is awarded an appointment at a prefecture for his contributions. One night, Song Jiang and Li Kui appear in his dream, telling him that they have been poisoned by corrupt officials in the imperial court. Wu Yong travels to Song's grave in Chuzhou (楚州; present-day Huai'an
Huai'an (), formerly called Huaiyin () until 2001, is a prefecture-level city in the central part of Jiangsu province in Eastern China. Huai'an is situated almost directly south of Lianyungang, southeast of Suqian, northwest of Yancheng, alm ...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its c ...
), where he meets Hua Rong, who has had a similar dream. Overcome with grief, they hang themselves from a tree near the grave.
References
* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wu, Yong 36 Heavenly Spirits Fictional professors Fictional characters from Shandong>Daming Prefecture orders Jizhou 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 clerkSong Jiang
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...
and the two chief constables Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard", he ranks 12th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Desti ...
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
Mount Liang (, often referred to in Chinese as ) is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong, China which rises to 197.9 metres above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 Heroes in the classic Chinese novel ''Water Marg ...
.
Wang Lun
Wang Lun (; died 1 November 1774) was the leader of the White Lotus sect in Shandong province, China in the 1770s. He preached a millenarian philosophy, emphasizing the imminent coming of the Buddha Maitreya.
A martial arts master and self-tau ...
, the leader of Liangshan, is unwilling to accept the group, fearing they would usurp his position. Sensing that Lin Chong
Lin Chong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Panther Head", he ranks sixth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits. In some folk tales derived from the novel, he is said t ...
, who has joined Liangshan earlier but has been cold-shouldered, resents Wang, Wu Yong instigates him to kill the leader. Chao Gai is then elected the new chief of Liangshan, with Wu Yong taking second position. Then, Wu deploys the men of Liangshan in a battle that wipes out the soldiers sent from Jizhou to eliminate them.
All his time at Liangshan Wu Yong is the band's chief strategist. He uses his wiles to force several heroes prized by Liangshan, such as Lu Junyi
Lu Junyi is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Jade Qilin", he ranks second among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. In some Chi ...
, Xu Ning
Xu Ning is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Gold Lancer", he ranks 18th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Background
Th ...
and Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard", he ranks 12th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Desti ...
, to join the stronghold. His astuteness helps Liangshan clinch victory in many military conflicts.
Death
Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng are appointed as Liangshan's top strategists after the108 Stars of Destiny
The 108 Heroes are the main characters of the Ming dynasty classic Chinese novel the ''Water Margin'', which was written in the 14th century and usually attributed to Shi Nai'an. The heroes are divided into the 36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly F ...
came together in what is called the Grand Assembly, but Wu apparently enjoys higher standing.
Wu Yong assists Song to become Liangshan's chief after Chao Gai died, although Chao's last word is that his successor is whoever captures the person who killed him. Lu Junyi seizes Shi Wengong, the killer of Chao, but he faces widespread opposition apparently engineered by Wu. In the end Lu takes second position after Song.
Wu Yong is sceptical about Song Jiang
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...
's quest for imperial amnesty, but he casts his lot with him nevertheless. Without his support, Song could not have sold the idea to the rest. Following amnesty from Emperor Huizong, the Liangshan outlaws are sent to beat back invaders of the Liao Empire
The Liao dynasty (; Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 916 and 1125, ruled by the Yelü ...
and put down rebel forces in Song
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...
territory. Wu Yong's resourcefulness helps Liangshan win many battles.
Wu Yong is one of the few Liangshan heroes who survive the campaigns. He is awarded an appointment at a prefecture for his contributions. One night, Song Jiang and Li Kui appear in his dream, telling him that they have been poisoned by corrupt officials in the imperial court. Wu Yong travels to Song's grave in Chuzhou (楚州; present-day Huai'an
Huai'an (), formerly called Huaiyin () until 2001, is a prefecture-level city in the central part of Jiangsu province in Eastern China. Huai'an is situated almost directly south of Lianyungang, southeast of Suqian, northwest of Yancheng, alm ...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its c ...
), where he meets Hua Rong, who has had a similar dream. Overcome with grief, they hang themselves from a tree near the grave.
References
* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wu, Yong 36 Heavenly Spirits Fictional professors Fictional characters from Shandong