Huang Xin
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Huang Xin (黄信) is a character in the epic Chinese novel, Water Margin.
Huang Xin was from Qingzhou, where he served as a general. He was exceptionally good in martial arts, which earned him fame throughout Qingzhou. Once, he boasted that he could subdue the outlaws on Qingfeng Mountain, Erlong Mountain and Taohua Mountain. Thus he earned himself the nickname 'Suppressor of Three Mountains' (镇三山).
Once, the governor of Qingfeng Fort, Liu Gao, captured Song Jiang. Governor Murong of Qingzhou sent Huang Xin to escort Song back to Qingzhou. Huang Xin believed Liu Gao's words that Hua Rong was planning to betray him, so he tricked Hua to a banquet under the pretext that he wanted to resolve the conflict between them. Halfway during the banquet, Huang Xin's soldiers ambushed Hua Rong and captured him.
With the two prisoners, Huang Xin made his way back to Qingzhou. Along the way, Yan Shun, Wang Ying, Zheng Tian-shou and the bandits from Qingfeng Mountain attacked Huang Xin. Huang Xin could not resist all three men at the same time so he retreated. The Qingfeng bandits then rescued Song Jiang and Hua Rong. Later the Qingfeng bandits also captured Qin Ming, who agreed to join the band. Qin Ming had taught Huang Xin martial arts before, so he managed to persuade Huang Xin to join the band as well. With Huang Xin's help, the heroes conquered Qingfeng Fort and killed Liu Gao with his family, then fled to Liangshan for refuge.
Huang Xin became one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry and 72 Earthly Fiends. After Song Jiang had obtained amnesty from the emperor, Huang Xin followed the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao Tartars and rebels. He was one of the few lucky surviving heroes after the campaigns, and took up his official post again in Qingzhou as a reward.
