Yan Shun

Nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger", Yan Shun has reddish brown hair, a yellowish beard, round eyes, long arms, and a wide waist. Good in martial arts, especially in the use of sabre, Yan Shun is a trader from Laizhou (萊州; around present-day Yantai, Shandong) who turns to banditry after suffering losses. Assisted by Wang Ying and Zheng Tianshou, he leads a group of outlaws at Mount Qingfeng (清風山; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong).

When Song Jiang is going to Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; near Mount Qingfeng) to take shelter under his friend Hua Rong, running from the law after killing his mistress Yan Poxi, he comes by Mount Qingfeng and is captured in a trap by the bandits. They intend to kill him and use his heart to make soup. Just before he is sliced up, Song Jiang sighs loudly, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like this?" Surprised to hear the name of the man he admires for chivalry, Yan Shun stops the knife and inquires. After confirming Song Jiang's identity, the three bandit chiefs quickly free him, apologise to him and treat him as an honoured guest.

As they drink, Wang Ying, who has a weakness for pretty women, takes leave to intercept a convoy crossing Mount Qingfeng that consists of a sedan chair, which apparently carries a woman. Finding the woman pretty, Wang wants to rape her. When the woman says she is the wife of Liu Gao, the governor of Qingfeng Fort, Song Jiang feels obliged to persuade Wang to let her go as Liu is the colleague of Hua Rong, the fort's garrison commandant. Yan Shun supports his view and pressures Wang to comply.

On the Lantern Festival night, Song Jiang, who is then living in Hua Rong's house, goes outdoor to enjoy the celebrations. Liu Gao's wife spots him and lies to her husband that Song has abducted and tried to rape her. Believing his wife, Liu orders Song Jiang arrested. After Hua Rong saved Song by force, Liu Gao seeks help from Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou, which oversees Qingfeng Fort. Huang Xin, who is sent to handle the matter, lures Hua to a feast and captures him while Liu has re-arrested Song Jiang as he tried to sneak to Mount Qingfeng.

When Huang Xin is escorting the two prisoners back to Qingzhou, the bandits of Mount Qingfeng, led by Yan Shun, waylay him, rescue the two prisoners and kill Liu Gao. The bandits later defeat an army sent from Qingzhou led by Qin Ming and seize Mrs Liu after breaking into Qingfeng Fort. Wang Ying again intends to keep Mrs Liu, but is prevented by Song Jiang and Yan Shun, who decisively kills the woman for the apparent fact that she is wicked and deceitful. He nearly clashes with Wang, who is placated after Song Jiang promised to find him a pretty wife. As Qingzhou is likely to send a larger force, Song Jiang suggests that the group decamp to join Liangshan Marsh. Yan Shun is thus absorbed into the larger band.

Yan Shun is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. 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 Black Dragon Ridge (烏龍嶺; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town, Jiande, Zhejiang) in the campaign against Fang La, Yan Shun faces Shi Bao, one of Fang's best warriors who wields a spiked mace. After Ma Lin fell at the hands of Shi, Yan gives his all to avenge his comrade but is fatally smashed by the latter.

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