Zhu Wu

Zhu Wu is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 37th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 1st of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Resourceful Strategist".

Background

The Water Margin describes Zhu Wu as a handsome man with blazing eyes and a long beard. He dons a Taoist's garments and carries a fan made of crane feathers. Zhu Wu is well-versed in military strategy and the deployment of battle formations. He earns himself the nickname "Resourceful Strategist".

Zhu Wu is a native of Dingyuan, Chuzhou, Anhui. He leads an army of outlaws on Mount Shaohua together with Chen Da and Yang Chun. Even the local government is afraid of them. Once, the outlaws are short on food supplies and decide to attack the nearby Huayin County for resources. They have to pass by Shi Jin's village along the way. Zhu Wu has reservations about the attack as Shi Jin has a reputation for being a powerful fighter and he may stand in their way. Chen Da ignores Zhu Wu's warning and leads his men to attack Shi Jin's village. Chen Da is defeated and captured by Shi Jin.

Zhu Wu and Yang Chun travel to Shi Jin's village and plead with him to release Chen Da. Shi Jin is moved by their strong sense of brotherhood and he releases Chen Da. The three outlaw leaders become friends with Shi Jin and they often visit and send gifts to each other. The hunter Li Ji discovers Shi Jin's relationship with the outlaws and he reports to the magistrate for a reward. The magistrate sends soldiers to surround the village and arrest the four men. Shi Jin burns down his village and joins the three outlaws in fighting their way back to Mount Shaohua.

Joining Liangshan

Later, Lu Zhishen goes to invite Shi Jin, Zhu Wu, Chen Da and Yang Chun to join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh. He learns that Shi Jin has been captured by Prefect He and attempts to rescue Shi but fails and he is captured as well. Zhu Wu notifies the Liangshan outlaws who come to the rescue. After the victory, Zhu Wu, Chen Da and Yang Chun follow the outlaws back to Liangshan.

Zhu Wu becomes one of the military strategists of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly. He and Gongsun Sheng are put in charge of managing and identifying battle formations. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. He usually accompanies Lu Junyi as his advisor, whereas Wu Yong accompanies Song Jiang. He is one of the few lucky survivors after the Fang La campaign, which took the lives of many heroes. He does not follow the survivors back to the capital. Instead, he decides to follow Gongsun Sheng and Fan Rui to study Taoism for the rest of his life.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 75. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Buck, Pearl. All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell Ltd, 2006. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Zhang, Lin Ching. Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House, 2009. ISBN 978-7506344784.
• Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China, page 97. KOEI, 1989.
• (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
• Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.