Xiao Rang

Xiao Rang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar", he ranks 46th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 10th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Xiao Rang is a scholar from Jizhou (濟州; around present-day Jining and Heze, Shandong). Highly skilled in calligraphy, he holds a reputation for his ability to imitate the handwriting of the four most famous calligraphers of his time: Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu and Cai Jing. His talents earn him the nickname "Sacred Handed Scholar". He is a friend of Wu Yong, the chief strategist of the outlaw band based at Liangshan Marsh.

Becoming an outlaw

When Song Jiang is living in exile in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), he gets drunk on one occasion, writes a seditious poem on a wall, and forgets about it when he becomes sober. Huang Wenbing, a petty official, discovers the poem and reports it to Cai Jiu, the governor of Jiangzhou. As a result, Song Jiang gets arrested and thrown into prison. Unsure of how to handle Song Jiang's case, Cai Jiu orders Dai Zong to deliver a letter to his father, Imperial Tutor Cai Jing, to seek his advice.

Instead of delivering the letter, Dai Zong heads to Liangshan Marsh to seek help from the outlaws, who regard Song Jiang as their ally. During this time, Wu Yong suggests that they forge a letter in Cai Jing's name to order Cai Jiu to have Song Jiang escorted as a prisoner to the imperial capital to await further action. With Dai Zong's help, Wu Yong recruits Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian to help in forging the letter. Xiao Rang, who is skilled in imitating famous persons' calligraphy, writes the letter in Cai Jing's handwriting; Jin Dajian completes the picture by carving an official seal similar to Cai Jing's, and stamps it on the letter.

After Dai Zong returns to Jiangzhou with the fake letter, Cai Jiu initially does not sense anything amiss. However, Huang Wenbing spots a critical mistake in the letter and exposes the fraud. A furious Cai Jiu then orders Song Jiang and Dai Zong to be executed in public. Nevertheless, Wu Yong had realised the mistake after Dai Zong left, and had instructed the Liangshan outlaws to make their way to Jiangzhou. Just as Song Jiang and Dai Zong are about to be beheaded, the Liangshan outlaws show up, storm the execution ground and save them.

Life at Liangshan

Xiao Rang becomes the chief secretary of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Although he is mainly in charge of drafting the rules and regulations for Liangshan, he is sometimes tasked with overseeing the construction of infrastructure and defence works at Liangshan.

When the Song imperial court orders Grand Marshal Gao Qiu to lead government forces to attack Liangshan, the outlaws defeat the government forces in the marshes around Liangshan and capture the Grand Marshal alive. Song Jiang speaks to Gao Qiu about the outlaws' desire to seek amnesty from the Song imperial court and be given opportunities to serve the Song Empire. After Gao Qiu pretends to agree to speak to Emperor Huizong on their behalf, the outlaws release him and send Xiao Rang and Yue He to accompany him to meet the emperor. However, Gao Qiu breaks his promise and orders Xiao Rang and Yue He to be confined in his residence. However, the outlaws have a backup plan and they send Dai Zong and Yan Qing to save Xiao Rang and Yue He.

Campaigns

Despite some setbacks on their quest for amnesty, the Liangshan outlaws eventually receive official amnesty from Emperor Huizong, who grants them their wish to serve the Song Empire by sending them on campaigns against the Liao invaders and other rebel forces on Song territory. During the campaign against Wang Qing's rebel forces, Xiao Rang, Jin Dajian and Pei Xuan 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.

Before the Liangshan heroes leave for their final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Emperor Huizong summons Xiao Rang back to Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the imperial capital. As a result, Xiao Rang does not participate in the last of the campaigns, which cost the lives of about two-thirds of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He remains in Dongjing and serves as a private secretary to Cai Jing for the rest of his life.

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. 93. 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.