Xiao Rang

Xiao Rang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 46th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 10th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar".

Background

Xiao Rang is a scholar from Jizhou (in present-day Hengshui, Hebei). He excels in calligraphy and holds a reputation for his ability to imitate the handwriting of the four most famous calligraphers in his time (Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu and Cai Jing). He is nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar". Besides achieving success in the field of scholastic and literary arts, Xiao Rang is skilled in martial arts as well. He is a close friend of the Liangshan outlaws' chief strategist, Wu Yong.

Becoming an outlaw

Song Jiang is arrested and imprisoned in Jiangzhou (present-day Jiangxi) after writing a poem advocating rebellion against the government when he was drunk. Dai Zong follows Wu Yong's instructions and travels to Jizhou to seek help from Xiao Rang and bring him to Liangshan. Jin Dajian is also invited to join Liangshan as well. Xiao Rang helps the outlaws forge a letter in the handwriting of Cai Jing, while Jin Dajian carves an official seal from Cai Jing to be stamped on the letter. In the letter, Cai Jing asks his son, Cai Jiu (governor of Jiangzhou), to have Song Jiang escorted to the capital city to await further action. The outlaws will then ambush the convoy and rescue Song Jiang along the way.

Initially, everything goes as planned and even Cai Jiu is unable to tell the difference between his father's and Xiao Rang's handwriting. He believes that the letter is genuine until Huang Wenbing spots a mistake with the seal that Jin Dajian had carved and he exposes the fraud. Cai Jiu is furious and he orders Song Jiang and Dai Zong to be executed immediately. Wu Yong had realised the mistake earlier and the outlaws storm the execution ground and rescue Song Jiang and Dai Zong in time.

Campaigns

Xiao Rang becomes the chief secretary of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly. He is tasked with writing the rules and regulations of Liangshan. Sometimes, he is also in charge of overseeing the construction of buildings and defences on Liangshan. The emperor sends Grand Marshal Gao Qiu to lead an army to eradicate the outlaws. The outlaws score a major victory over the imperial forces by destroying Gao Qiu's entire fleet of battleships and capturing him. Gao Qiu promises to help the outlaws convey their desire to be granted amnesty to the emperor and he is released.

Xiao Rang and Yue He follow Gao Qiu back to the capital as Liangshan's envoys. However, Gao Qiu breaks his promise and has both of them imprisoned in his residence. Dai Zong and Yan Qing rescue them later. Xiao Rang follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Wang Qing campaign, Xiao Rang, Jin Dajian and Pei Xuan are captured by the enemy general Liang Yong. They are subjected to torture but they refuse to surrender. Liang Yong's subordinate turns on him later and kills him. The three of them are released.

After Wang Qing's defeat, the emperor orders the Liangshan heroes to destroy the rebel forces led by Fang La in the Jiangnan region. One day before the start of the campaign, Xiao Rang is summoned back to the capital city and he does not participate. He stays in Cai Jing's residence and becomes Cai's private secretary and scribe.

Notes and references

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 93. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.