Yu Baosi

Yu Baosi is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "God of the Dangerous Road", he ranks 105th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 69th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Yu Baosi is nicknamed "God of the Dangerous Road" because of his big and tall stature. He makes a living by leading a bandit gang of about 200 men who rob unwary travellers on the roads in Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong).

Joining Liangshan

Duan Jingzhu once brought a famous steed called "Jade Lion" from the north and wanted to present it to Chao Gai, the chief of the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh. However, Yu Baosi and his men rob him of the "Jade Lion" and 200 horses, present them to the Zeng Family Fortress, and then take shelter under the Zengs.

When Chao Gai learns about what happened, he turns furious and decides to personally lead Liangshan forces to attack the Zengs, who have already been provoking Liangshan for quite some time. However, he dies after being hit by a poisoned arrow fired by Shi Wengong, the martial arts instructor of the Zeng Family Fortress.

Song Jiang, who becomes Liangshan's acting chief after Chao Gai's death, leads the outlaws to attack the Zengs and defeat them in battle. When Zeng Nong, the Zeng family patriarch, tries to make peace with the outlaws, Song Jiang agrees provided that the Zengs agree to the following terms: tie up Shi Wengong and Yu Baosi and hand them over; and return the "Jade Lion" and the 200 horses. Zeng Nong fulfils all the conditions except handing over Shi Wengong. Song Jiang later manages to convince Yu Baosi to join the outlaw band and serve as their spy in the Zeng Family Fortress. With Yu Baosi's help, the Liangshan outlaws succeed in capturing the fortress and avenging Chao Gai.

In a later chapter, when the outlaws are attacking Dongping Prefecture (東平府; present-day Dongping County, Shandong), Song Jiang sends Yu Baosi and Wang Dingliu as Liangshan's envoys to meet the prefect of Dongping Prefecture and demand his surrender. Dong Ping, the general in charge of Dongping Prefecture's armed forces, asks the prefect to execute Yu Baosi and Wang Dingliu. The prefect refuses because he is afraid of antagonising the outlaws. However, he still orders his men to beat up Yu Baosi and Wang Dingliu and throw them out of the city. The outlaws later manage to defeat the government forces and capture Dongping Prefecture.

Campaigns and death

Yu Baosi becomes the chief flag bearer of Liangshan for his big stature after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. 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, Yu Baosi is slain by an enemy warrior Du Wei at the battle of Qingxi County (清溪縣; present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang).

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. 213. 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.