Tong Wei
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Tong Wei (童威) is a character in the epic Chinese tale Water Margin.
Tong Wei was from Xunyang, and sold salt for a living. He was an excellent swimmer and boatman as well. Thus, he earned himself the nickname 'Cave-emerging dragon' (出洞蛟).
Tong Wei and his younger brother Tong Meng went around selling salt and eventually settled down together with Li Jun in Li's home. Once, Song Jiang was exiled to Jiangzhou and passed by Jieyang Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, Song Jiang rested in Li Li's inn. Li Li had Song Jiang knocked out by the drugs in his wine but Li Jun and the Tong brothers appeared in the nick of time and rescued Song.
After Song Jiang had left Jieyang Mountain, he went further on to Jieyang Town. There, he offended Mu Chun and the Mu brothers were after his life. He fled to the riverbank and boarded Zhang Heng's pirate vessel by accident. Zhang Heng tried to force Song Jiang off his vessel in the middle of the river but Li Jun and the Tong brothers appeared once again in the nick of time and stopped Zhang.
After the Liangshan heroes stormed the execution ground in Jiangzhou, there sought refuge in Bailong Temple on the riverbank and were besieged by government troops. Li Jun, the Zhang brothers and the Tong brothers appeared with boats and ferried the Liangshan heroes back to Liangshan.
Tong Wei became one of the leaders of the Liangshan navy and 72 Earthly Fiends. After Song Jiang had obtained amnesty from the emperor, Tong Wei followed the Liangshan heroes on their campaigns against the Liao Tartars and southern rebels, making great contributions. During the Fang La campaign, Tong Wei followed Li Jun and sneaked into Suzhou, and acted as spies from within, allowing the Liangshan heroes to conquer Suzhou with ease.
Tong Wei and his brother were the few lucky surviving heroes after the campaign against Fang La and made their way back to the capital city to receive official posts. Li Jun and the Tong brothers refused to accept any official post despite their contributions, so Li Jun feigned sickness and the Tong brothers remained with Li to 'take care' of Li Jun. In the end, Li Jun and the Tong brothers sailed far out into sea and it was said that they reached Siam eventually. Li Jun became the King of Siam while the Tong brothers became Li's subjects.
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