Yue He

Yue He is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Iron Whistle", he ranks 77th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 41st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

The novel describes Yue He as a handsome-looking gentleman from Maozhou (茅州; present-day Changyi, Shandong). A talented musician, he not only plays many instruments but also sings very well. He is good in gathering information and assessing situations. He also learns martial arts from Sun Li, who married his sister.

Becoming an outlaw

Yue He works as a jailer in Dengzhou (登州; in present-day eastern Shandong). At one point in time, he is in charge of watching over the Xie brothers (Xie Zhen and Xie Bao), who have been wrongfully arrested and sentenced to death. He sympathises with the Xie brothers, who are also his distant relatives. He informs their cousin Gu Dasao and her husband Sun Xin (Sun Li's younger brother) about their peril. Gu Dasao pressures Sun Li, who is also Yue He's brother-in-law, to join them in rescuing the Xie brothers. The bandits Zou Yuan and Zou Run also join them. Yue He helps them by serving as their point of contact in the prison. After they successfully save the Xie brothers, the whole group leave Dengzhou and travel to Liangshan Marsh to join the outlaw band there.

Campaigns

Yue He becomes one of Liangshan's infantry scouting leaders after the 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. When the corrupt official Gao Qiu leads imperial forces to attack the outlaws, he loses in battle and ends up becoming Liangshan's captive. The outlaws release him after he promises to help them convey to Emperor Huizong their wish to be granted amnesty. Yue He and Xiao Rang accompany Gao Qiu as Liangshan's representatives to meet the emperor. However, Gao Qiu breaks his promise after returning to the capital and imprisons Yue He and Xiao Rang in his residence. Yan Qing and Dai Zong later break into Gao Qiu's house and save them.

The outlaws are granted amnesty eventually with the help of the courtesan Li Shishi and other officials. Emperor Huizong allows them to go on military campaigns against the Liao invaders and other rebel forces on Song territory as a way to atone for their past transgressions. Yue He follows the Liangshan heroes on these campaigns and makes great contributions.

Before the Liangshan heroes are about to leave for their final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Emperor Huizong summons Yue He back to the imperial capital Dongjing so Yue He does not participate in the campaign. It turns out that a prince consort has heard of Yue He's singing talent and he wants Yue He to be his minstrel. Yue He leads a happy life for the rest of his days in the prince consort's residence.

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. 155. 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.