Li Zhong is a fictional character in ''

Water Margin ''Water Margin'' (''Shuihu zhuan'') is one of the earliest Chinese novels written in vernacular Mandarin, and is attributed to Shi Nai'an. It is also translated as ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' and ''All Men Are Brothers''. The story, which is ...

'', one of the

Four Great Classical Novels Classic Chinese Novels () are the best-known novels of pre-modern Chinese literature. These are among the world's longest and oldest novels. They represented a new complexity in structure and sophistication in language that helped to establish ...

of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Tiger Slaying General", he ranks 86th among the

108 Stars of Destiny The 108 Heroes are the main characters of the Ming dynasty classic Chinese novel the ''Water Margin'', which was written in the 14th century and usually attributed to Shi Nai'an. The heroes are divided into the 36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly ...

and 50th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

A native of Haozhou (濠州; around present-day Chuzhou,

Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...

), Li Zhong makes a living as he drifts around by teaching martial arts and performing fighting stunts in public for tips from onlookers and as a way to push his medicinal items. He is nicknamed "Tiger Slaying General" as he is muscular and looks like one who could kill a tiger.

Becoming an outlaw

Li Zhong becomes the first martial arts teacher of

Shi Jin Shi Jin is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Nine-Tattoo Dragon", he ranks 23rd among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Backg ...

when he is at

Huayin Huayin is a county-level city in Weinan, Shaanxi province, China. Prior to 1990, Huayin was regarded as a county. Huayin literally means 'to the north of Mount Hua Mount Hua () is a mountain located near the city of Huayin in Shaanxi P ...

County and is hired by Shi's father. Shi Jin eventually finds a far more competent teacher Wang Jin, a former imperial troops instructor. After killing constables sent to arrest him over his association with the bandits of Mount Shaohua, Shi leaves for Weizhou (渭州; around present-day

Pingliang Pingliang () is a prefecture-level city in eastern Gansu province, China, bordering Shaanxi province to the south and east and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the north. The city was established in 376 AD. It has a residential population of 2 ...

, Gansu) in search of Wang Jin. At Weizhou he comes to know Lu Da, a local garrison officer. The two run into Li Zhong when he is doing his usual roadside stunts show. Later Lu Da unwittingly boxes a butcher to death who had been blackmailing a woman for money after using a scheme to bed her. Hearing that, Li Zhong flees Weizhou. He passes by Mount Peach Blossom () in

Qingzhou Qingzhou () Wade–Giles: Tsing-chou, sometimes written as Ching-chow-fu, formerly Yidu County (Yitu) (), is a county-level city, which is located in the west of the prefecture-level city of Weifang, in the central part of Shandong Province, Chin ...

(in present-day Shandong), where Zhou Tong and his bandit gang set upon him to rob him. But Zhou is beaten, and in admiration of Li's fighting skill he offers his position to Li, who accepts it. Zhou Tong happens on the daughter of one Squire Liu, who lives near Mount Peach Blossom, and wants her to be his wife.. Although reluctant, the old man could not object. On the wedding night, when Zhou Tong reaches the bed in the bridal room in the squire's house, he is shocked to find a burly monk there, who gives him a good thrash. Zhou Tong escapes back to the stronghold and asks Li Zhong to get back at the monk for him. Li comes to Squire Liu's house and is surprised to find the guy to be Lu Da. Lu, after killing the butcher, has become a monk and adopted the Buddhist name Zhishen at the monastery on Mount Wutai to hide his identity. He is on the way to another temple in the imperial capital Dongjing (東京; present-day

Kaifeng Kaifeng () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China. It is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is best known for having been the Chinese capital during the No ...

Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...

) after being expelled from Mount Wutai for causing too many troubles. He passed by Squire Liu's house and had lied to the old man that he could persuade Zhou Tong to drop the idea of marrying his daughter. He then replaced the girl in the bridal room where he ambushed Zhou. To give

face The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...

to Lu Zhishen, Li Zhong tells Zhou Tong to drop the idea of marrying Squire Liu's daughter. Zhou Tong readily agrees. Lu Zhishen stays at the stronghold for a few days before resuming his journey.

Joining Liangshan

When the imperial general Huyan Zhuo is fleeing to

after being beaten in his military mission to stamp out the outlaws of Mount Liang, Liangshan Marsh, he passes by Mount Peach Blossom and puts up at an inn. His horse, a gift from Emperor Huizong of Song, Emperor Huizong, is stolen by the men of Zhou Tong that night. Mad at the loss, Huyan suggests to Qingzhou's governor Murong Yanda that he would help him wipe out the local bandits to redeem his defeat at Liangshan. Finding themselves no match for Huyan, Li Zhong and Zhou Tong turn to the outlaws of the nearby Mount Twin Dragons under Lu Zhishen for help. Concluding that Huyan is a formidable warrior, both strongholds approach Liangshan for assistance. Song Jiang leads a force to Qingzhou, where he captures and wins over Huyan. Li Zhong and Zhou Tong are absorbed into Liangshan along with the bandits of Mount Twin Dragons.

Campaigns and death

Li Zhong is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the

came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao dynasty, Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song dynasty, Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong of Song, Emperor Huizong for Liangshan. In the attack on Yuling Pass (昱嶺關; near present-day Zhupu Village, She County, Anhui) in the campaign against Fang La, Li Zhong and four other Liangshan heroes are shot to death by the archers of Pang Wanchun. Shi Jin, who leads them, also falls being shot by Pang himself.

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Zhong (Water Margin) 72 Earthly Fiends Fictional characters from Anhui