Cao Zheng

Cao Zheng is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Knife Wielding Demon", he ranks 81st among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 45th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Cao Zheng is a butcher from Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the imperial capital of the Song Empire. Due to his excellent skills in butchery, he earns himself the nickname "Knife Wielding Demon". He also learnt martial arts from Lin Chong before when the latter was still the martial arts instructor of the imperial guards.

On one occasion, Cao Zheng travelled to Shandong to start a business. However, his business failed and he could not afford the expenses for his journey home, so he decided to settle down there and marry a local woman. He runs a tavern near Yellow Soil Ridge (黃泥崗; believed to be somewhere in present-day Yuncheng County, Shandong) with his wife.

Becoming an outlaw

After Yang Zhi fails his mission to escort a convoy of valuables to Dongjing, he deserts his group out of fear that he will be punished for his failure. He wanders around in despair and arrives at Cao Zheng's tavern. When he tries to leave without paying for his meal, Cao Zheng attempts to stop him and they get into a fight. Impressed with Yang Zhi's combat skills, Cao Zheng breaks off the fight and asks for his opponent's name. The two men then introduce themselves to each other, and make peace and become friends.

Cao Zheng recommends Yang Zhi to join an outlaw band based on the nearby Mount Twin Dragons (二龍山). When Yang Zhi is approaching the mountain, he meets Lu Zhishen, who tells him that the outlaw chief Deng Long has refused to let him join the band. Yang Zhi and Lu Zhishen then head back to meet Cao Zheng, who devises a plan for them to seize control of the outlaw stronghold on the mountain.

Lu Zhishen pretends to be drunk and gets tied up by Cao Zheng and Yang Zhi, who bring him to Deng Long in exchange for a reward. Deng Long is so pleased that he lets them enter the stronghold. Just then, Lu Zhishen breaks free, catches Deng Long off guard and kills him. The three men then seize control of the outlaw stronghold and become the new leaders of the outlaw band. Cao Zheng and his fellow outlaws from Mount Twin Dragons later join the larger outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh.

Campaigns and death

Cao Zheng becomes the chief butcher of Liangshan after the 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He is in charge of overseeing the slaughtering of cattle and poultry. He follows the Liangshan heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory after they received amnesty from Emperor Huizong. He is killed by a poisoned arrow at the battle of Xuanzhou (宣州; present-day Xuancheng, Anhui) during the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces.

References

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Ichisada, Miyazaki (1993). Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu (in Japanese). Chuo Koronsha. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Keffer, David. "Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary". Poison Pie Publishing House. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Li, Mengxia (1992). 108 Heroes from the Water Margin (in Chinese). EPB Publishers. p. 163. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.