Huang Xin

Huang Xin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Guardian of the Three Mountains", he ranks 38th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 2nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Huang Xin is a military officer from Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong). A highly skilled warrior, he specialises in swordsmanship and his weapon of choice is a sword called "Sword of Death" (喪門劍). He earns himself the nickname "Guardian of the Three Mountains" after he once boasted that he can defeat the outlaws based on three mountains in the Qingzhou region: Mount Qingfeng (清風山), Mount Twin Dragons (二龍山) and Mount Peach Blossom (桃花山).

Becoming an outlaw

When Song Jiang is wrongfully imprisoned by Liu Gao, the official in charge of Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong), his friend Hua Rong, who serves as a military officer in the fort, goes to the prison and frees him by force. After Liu Gao reports the incident to the Qingzhou regional government, Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou, orders Huang Xin to lead troops to Qingfeng Fort to assist Liu Gao in dealing with Hua Rong. Huang Xin believes Liu Gao's account, pretends to offer to help Liu Gao and Hua Rong mediate their conflict, and invites Hua Rong to a meeting. When Hua Rong shows up, Huang Xin and his troops ambush him and capture him. They also capture Song Jiang.

While escorting Song Jiang and Hua Rong back to Qingzhou, Huang Xin and his troops come under attack by the Mount Qingfeng outlaws, who are friends of Song Jiang. Huang Xin fights the three outlaw chiefs – Yan Shun, Wang Ying and Zheng Tianshou – and manages to hold them off until he sees that he is outnumbered, and decides to retreat to Qingfeng Fort.

Upon learning of Huang Xin's defeat, Murong Yanda orders Qin Ming to lead more troops to Qingfeng Fort to reinforce Huang Xin and eliminate the outlaws. However, Qin Ming ends up being captured by the outlaws, and has no choice but to join them after they impersonate him and trick Murong Yanda into believing that he has joined the outlaws. Qin Ming then volunteers to go to Qingfeng Fort to persuade Huang Xin, who has learnt martial arts from him before, to surrender and join them as well. Convinced by Qin Ming's words, Huang Xin opens the fort gates and allows the outlaws to enter and kill Liu Gao and his family in revenge. After the battle, Huang Xin follows the outlaws to Liangshan Marsh, where they join the larger outlaw band there.

Campaigns

Huang Xin becomes one of the scouting generals of the Liangshan cavalry after 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. 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.

Huang Xin is one of the few Liangshan heroes who survive the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces that took the lives of about two-thirds of the 108 Stars of Destiny. To honour Huang Xin for his service to the Song Empire during the campaigns, Emperor Huizong reinstates him as a military officer in Qingzhou. Huang Xin gladly accepts his appointment and returns to Qingzhou.

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. 77. 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.