Pei Xuan

Pei Xuan is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Iron Faced Magistrate's Clerk", he ranks 47th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 11th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Born in Jingzhao Prefecture (京兆府; around present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi), Pei Xuan serves as a kongmu (孔目; magistrate's clerk) under the local magistrate. He holds a reputation for being a stern but fair bureaucrat who always goes according to the book in enforcing court judgments against people regardless of their social status. He yields to neither threats nor bribes. As a result, he earns himself the nickname "Iron Faced Magistrate's Clerk". Apart from his legal expertise, he is also well-versed in swordsmanship and scholarly arts.

Pei Xuan's no-nonsense approach towards his job finally got him into trouble with corrupt officials, who falsely accused him of insubordination and bribed the magistrate to sentence him to exile at Shamen Island (沙門島; present-day Changdao County, Shandong). Along the way, when Pei Xuan and his escorts passed by Yinma River (飲馬川; in present-day Ji County, Tianjin), they encountered a bandit gang led by Deng Fei and Meng Kang. The bandits attacked the escorts and saved Pei Xuan, who felt so grateful that he decided to join the gang. As he was the oldest among the three, he became the overall leader of the gang.

Joining Liangshan

One day, when Dai Zong and Yang Lin pass by Yinma River, they meet the three bandit leaders and befriend them. After accepting Dai Zong's invitation to join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh, the three bandit leaders and their followers disguise themselves as soldiers and make their way to Liangshan.

Following the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny, Pei Xuan becomes Liangshan's de facto chief justice as he is put in charge of making decisions on rewards and punishments.

Campaigns

After the Liangshan outlaws receive amnesty from Emperor Huizong, Pei Xuan follows them on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory.

During the campaign against Wang Qing's rebel forces, Pei Xuan, Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian are captured by the enemy and imprisoned in Jingnan (荊南; around present-day Jingzhou, Hubei). Despite being tortured, they refuse to surrender and reveal information about the Liangshan forces. They are freed when Xiao Jiasui and others rise up and help the Liangshan forces defeat the rebels and retake Jingnan.

Pei Xuan is one of the few Liangshan heroes who survive all the campaigns, particularly the final one against Fang La's rebel forces. When the remaining Liangshan heroes return to the imperial capital to report their victory, Emperor Huizong grants them official posts and titles to honour them for their service to the Song Empire. Pei Xuan, however, declines his appointment and chooses to return to Yinma River with his friend Yang Lin.

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. 95. 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.