Cao Zheng

Cao Zheng is a butcher from Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the imperial capital of the Song Empire. Due to his sleek skill in slaughtering and cutting up animals, he is nicknamed "Knife Wielding Demon". He has learnt fighting skill from Lin Chong when the latter was the martial arts instructor of the imperial troops.

Failing in a business endeavour in Shandong, Cao Zheng has no money to return to Dongjing and settles down in Shandong, where he marries a local woman. He runs an inn not far from Yellow Soil Ridge (黃泥崗; believed to be somewhere in present-day Yuncheng County, Shandong) with his wife.

After being robbed at Yellow Soil Ridge of the valuables he was escorting to Dongjing as birthday gifts for Grand Tutor Cai Jing, Yang Zhi deserts the escort party for fear he would be punished. He wanders in despair and comes to Cao Zheng's inn. When he, penniless, tries to leave without paying Cao Zheng's wife for his meal, Cao rushes out from the kitchen to block him. As they fight, Cao suddenly breaks off recognising that Yang is no ordinary man. He is delighted to learn that the man is Yang Zhi, who is known to be a highly-skilled fighter.

Cao Zheng recommends Yang Zhi join the outlaw band at Mount Twin Dragons (二龍山) in Qingzhou. When Yang is approaching the hill, he runs into Lu Zhishen, whom he fights to a standstill. They then inquire each other's identity. Lu, who is running away from persecution by Grand Marshal Gao Qiu for having rescued Lin Chong, tells Yang that Deng Long, the chief of Mount Twin Dragons, would not accept him and has barricaded the only way up the hill. The two head to the inn of Cao Zheng, who proposes a plan to gain entry into the stronghold.

Lu Zhishen pretends to be drunk and is tied up by Cao Zheng and Yang Zhi, who bring him to Deng Long in exchange for a reward. Deng is so pleased that he lets them come up the hill. Upon seeing Deng, Lu Zhishen breaks free and hacks the surprised leader to death. Lu and Yang Zhi take over the stronghold. Cao Zheng joins them by and by.

Imperial general Huyan Zhuo flees to Qingzhou after being beaten in his mission to stamp out the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh. He suggests to Qingzhou's governor Murong Yanda that he would help him wipe out the local bandits to redeem his defeat by Liangshan. Finding Huyan a formidable warrior, the bandits of Mount Twin Dragons and Mount Plum Blossom, who are the general's targets, approach Liangshan for help, which sends a force under Song Jiang to Qingzhou. After the capture and surrender of Huyan, the bandits of Mount Twin Dragons, including Cai Zheng, are absorbed into Liangshan.

Cao Zheng is appointed as the chief butcher of Liangshan after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He is in charge of the slaughtering of pigs, cattle and poultry. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.

In the battle of Xuanzhou (宣州; present-day Xuancheng, Anhui) in the campaign against Fang La, Cao Zheng is killed by a poisoned arrow.

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Miyazaki, Ichisada (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. 163. 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.