Li Yun (Water Margin)

Li Yun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Green Eyed Tiger", he ranks 97th of the 108 Stars of Destiny and 61st of the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

The novel describes Li Yun as a man with a broad face, thick eyebrows, a red beard and green eyes. A highly skilled martial artist specialising in sabre movements, he is capable of taking on dozens of opponents at the same time. His appearance and fighting prowess earn him the nickname "Green Eyed Tiger". He works as a constable in Yishui County, which is in present-day Linyi, Shandong. He also briefly instructed Zhu Fu in martial arts before.

Becoming an outlaw

When the outlaw Li Kui falls into a trap and gets captured by Squire Cao and his men, the magistrate of Yishui County sends Li Yun to lead a group of 30 soldiers to Squire Cao's residence to escort Li Kui back to the county office.

Zhu Fu and his brother Zhu Gui are secret members of the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh which Li Kui is also a member of. After discussing how to save Li Kui, the Zhu brothers realise that they cannot free him by force because they are no match for Li Yun in a fight. They prepare food and drinks spiked with drugs that will cause any person who consumes them to become temporarily unconscious, and wait along the road for Li Yun and his convoy to pass by.

When Li Yun and his convoy show up, Zhu Fu pretends to congratulate his former master for his success in capturing a wanted outlaw, and serves them the drugged food and drinks. Having travelled a long distance, Li Yun and his men are rather hungry and thirsty so they finish all the food and drinks without suspecting anything. When they are out cold, the Zhu brothers free Li Kui, who kills everyone in the convoy except Li Yun. Just as he is about to kill Li Yun, Zhu Fu stops him and tells him that his former master is a good man. Li Kui thus spares Li Yun and leaves with the Zhu brothers.

Li Yun regains consciousness after a while, swiftly catches up with them, and starts fighting with Li Kui. Zhu Fu stops them and tries to persuade Li Yun to give up serving the corrupt government and join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh. Li Yun reluctantly agrees because he knows that he will be executed for failing his mission if he returns to the county office.

Campaigns and death

Following the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny, Li Yun is put in charge of overseeing infrastructure and construction works at the outlaw stronghold at Liangshan Marsh. 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.

During the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Li Yun is assigned to attack the enemy at Shezhou. He encounters Wang Yin, one of Fang La's key lieutenants, during the battle. Although he manages to corner Wang Yin, he ends up putting himself into a disadvantageous position because he is on foot while his opponent is on horseback. He eventually gets trampled to death by Wang Yin's horse.

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. 197. 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.