Longfeng Baochai Yuan

Longfeng Baochai Yuan is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was first serialised between 25 June 1964 and 15 May 1966 in the Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao. The novel is the second part of a trilogy, and is preceded by Datang Youxia Zhuan and followed by Huijian Xinmo.

Plot

Previously in Datang Youxia Zhuan, Duan Guizhang and Shi Yiru arranged for their respective children to be married if they were of opposite sexes. A pair of ornamental hairpins, the Dragon and Phoenix Precious Hairpins (龍鳳寶釵), were kept by both sides as a token of this agreement. The Duans kept the Dragon Hairpin while the Shi family kept the Phoenix Hairpin. Shi Yiru committed suicide to prevent himself from being a burden to his rescuers when he was held hostage by the ruthless warlord An Lushan; while Duan Guizhang died in the Battle of Suiyang. Duan Guizhang's wife, Dou Xianniang, survived the battle but died of illness not long later. Duan Guizhang and Dou Xianniang's son, Duan Keye, was raised by Nan Jiyun's widow, Xia Lingshuang. Shi Yiru's daughter, Shi Ruomei, was renamed "Xue Hongxian" and adopted by Xue Song, a general under An Lushan. Xue Song later surrenders to the Tang government and becomes the jiedushi (military governor) of Luzhou.

When Duan Keye turns 16, Xia Lingshuang relates his parents' story to him, passes him the Dragon Hairpin, and tells him to find his missing fiancée and marry her. At the same time, Xue Song betroths Hongxian to the eldest son of Tian Chengsi, the treacherous jiedushi of Weibo, who is trying to intimidate Xue into helping him. When Tian Chengsi sends a convoy of betrothal gifts to the Xues, Duan Keye and the outlaws on Golden Rooster Ridge ambush the convoy and rob the gifts. Out of curiosity, Duan Keye breaks into Xue Song's residence and encounters Hongxian. A fight breaks out and they develop a strong misunderstanding since Hongxian is unaware of her true parentage. Hongxian's adoptive mother reveals the truth to her daughter later. To repay her adoptive parents' kindness, Hongxian breaks into Tian Chengsi's house and steals a box from his bedside. Unknown to her, Duan Keye also infiltrates Tian Chengsi's residence that night and his misunderstanding with Hongxian deepens when he mistakenly thinks she is helping his enemy. After Tian Chengsi withdraws his forces from Luzhou, Hongxian leaves her adoptive parents and assumes her true identity as "Shi Ruomei." Shi Ruomei encounters her childhood friend, Nie Yinniang, and Mou Shijie, the young master of Fusang Island. The three of them travel to Golden Rooster Ridge to find Duan Keye.

Tie Mole, the protagonist in Datang Youxia Zhuan, has become a highly skilled and respected hero in the wulin (martial artists' community) for his chivalrous actions. He is nominated by his peers to be the chief of the wulin, but faces competition from Mou Shijie, who, despite being a relative newcomer, also has high prestige in the wulin. Tie Mole wishes to maintain friendly relations with Mou Shijie and pacify those who were previously allied to his rival, Wang Botong, so he gives up the position to Mou. When Tang government forces attack Golden Rooster Ridge, Duan Keye wrongly accuses Shi Ruomei of being a spy and causes her to leave in anger. Nie Yinniang resolves the misunderstanding by telling the truth to Duan Keye, who regrets and leaves to find Shi Ruomei and try to patch up with her.

Shi Ruomei is attacked by a group of soldiers after she leaves Golden Rooster Ridge, but is saved by Dugu Yu, a youxia. While Shi Ruomei is recuperating in Dugu Yu's place, Dugu Yu's sister, Dugu Ying, does not know that Shi is actually a woman in disguise as a man and falls in love with Shi. Shi Ruomei leaves the Dugus and goes to Chang'an to find Nie Yinniang. On the other hand, while searching for Shi Ruomei, Duan Keye runs into Shi Siming's daughter, Shi Chaoying, and is captured. Shi Siming wants to force Duan Keye to join hm in rebelling against the Tang Empire but Duan refuses. Shi Chaoying is actually an apprentice of Xin Zhigu, the ex-lover of Kongkong'er. She develops a crush on Duan Keye but Duan does not like her and she eventually gives up on him and turns to Mou Shijie. Duan Keye finally reunites with Shi Ruomei and they resolve their past differences and become lovers.

Qin Xiang, a Tang general, organises a Heroes' Gathering for members of the wulin to attend. Unfortunately, he is framed by treacherous court officials and thrown into prison. Tie Mole, Duan Keye, Shi Ruomei and others who attended the gathering run into trouble but are saved by Kongkong'er and Princess Changle. Tie Mole finally avenges his father by slaying Yang Mulao, a villain who murdered his father. Meanwhile, Mou Shijie becomes more ambitious and wants to dominate the wulin. He abandons his lover, Nie Yinniang, and contacts Shi Siming's remnants in preparation for a rebellion against the Tang Empire, but his plan fails. He feels dissatisfied so he tricks his uncle, Mou Canglang, a reputable and powerful martial artist, into helping him. Mou Canglang fights with Duan Keye, Kongkong'er and Xin Zhigu and injures them. However, after discovering the truth, he regrets listening to his wicked nephew and sides with Duan Keye and his friends instead.

Mou Shijie's hypocrisy is revealed during another Heroes' Gathering and everyone turns against him. He eventually commits suicide and Tie Mole becomes the new leader of the wulin. Just then, Duan Keye is captured by Shi Chaoying, who is pregnant with Mou Shijie's child, because she intends to use Duan as a hostage to protect her child. Shi Chaoying retreats to Ekeqin Temple in the western regions and stays there for more than seven months. Shi Ruomei locates Duan Keye after a long journey and the couple is reunited, while Shi Chaoying commits suicide after giving birth to a son. Duan Keye and Shi Ruomei are married at the end of the novel, thereby fulfilling the agreement made by their parents.

Characters

Main characters

• Duan Keye (段克邪) is Duan Guizhang's son and Kongkong'er's junior.
• Shi Ruomei (史若梅), also known as Xue Hongxian (薛紅線), is Shi Yiru's daughter and Duan Keye's fiancée.
• Fang Pifu (方辟符) is Abbess Miaohui's nephew and Bu Anqi's apprentice.
• Nie Yinniang (聶隱娘) is Nie Feng's daughter and Abbess Miaohui's apprentice.

Other characters

• Kongkong'er (空空兒) is a highly skilled thief and martial artist, and a student of Zanglingzi.
• Xin Zhigu (辛芷姑), nicknamed "Heartless Sword" (無情劍), is Kongkong'er's wife.
• Chu Pingyuan (楚平原) is Chu Chongguo's son.
• Yuwen Hongni (宇文虹霓) is Yuwen Fuwei's daughter. She became the queen of the Shituo Kingdom (師陀國).
• Xia Lingshuang (夏凌霜) is Nan Jiyun's wife.
• Du Baiying (杜百英), nicknamed "Golden Sword, Green Bag" (金劍青囊) and "Little Zhuge" (小諸葛), is the strategist of the outlaw band at Golden Rooster Ridge.
• Tie Mole (鐵摩勒) is a famous martial artist who succeeds Mou Shijie as leader of the wulin.
• Zhang Bolong (張伯龍) is the deputy chief of the Beggars' Sect in Luzhou (潞洲).
• Chunmei (春梅) is Shi Ruomei's maid.
• Nie Feng (聶鋒) is the defending official of Bowang City (博望城) and Xue Song's cousin. He is a formidable swordsman.
• Wang Yanyu (王燕羽) is Wang Botong's daughter and Zhan Yuanxiu's wife.
• Zhan Yuanxiu (展元修) is a famous youxia and Zhan Feilong's son.
• Yuchi Bei (尉遲北) is a Dragon Cavalry Commandant (龍騎都尉), deputy commander of the Imperial Guards (羽林軍), and a descendant of Yuchi Gong.
• Yuchi Nan (尉遲南) is a Tiger's Teeth Commandant (虎牙都尉) and Yuchi Bei's younger brother.
• Qin Xiang (秦襄) is a commander of the Imperial Guards, Dragon Cavalry Commandant, and a descendant of Qin Qiong.
• Mou Canglang (牟滄浪) is the master of Fusang Island (扶桑島) and a powerful martial artist. He is Mou Shijie's uncle.
• Xin Tianxiong (辛天雄) is the leader of the outlaw band at Golden Rooster Ridge (金雞嶺).
• Bu Anqi (卜安期), better known by his pseudonym "Mirror Polishing Old Man" (磨鏡老人), is the teacher of Tie Mole and Fang Pifu.
• Li Tian'ao (李天敖), nicknamed "Iron Crutch Li" (鐵拐李), is the leader of seven outlaw bands in Jibei.
• Dong Zhao (董釗), nicknamed "Iron Arm, Golden Saber" (鐵臂金刀), is a respectable elderly martial artist.
• Gai Tianhao (蓋天豪) is the leader of the wulin south of the Yangtze River and a follower of Mou Shijie.
• Xiong Juyuan (雄巨元) is the leader of outlaw band on Mount Funiu (伏牛山).
• Tu Hu (屠虎),　nicknamed "Butcher" (屠夫), is Li Tian'ao's deputy, and one of the "South and North Two Saber Fighters" (南北二刀客).
• Li Peng (李鵬) is the leader of the outlaw band on Mount Tongbai (桐柏山), and one of the "South and North Two Saber Fighters".
• Han Wei (韓維), nicknamed "Cold Faced Tiger" (冷面虎), is a bandit.
• Wan Liutang (萬柳堂), nicknamed "Rocks the Riverbank" (威鎮河朔), is an elderly martial artist.
• Chang Gan (常淦), nicknamed "Equivalent to Zhuan Zhu"　(賽專諸), is an elderly martial artist from Mengzhou (孟州).
• Lü Hongchun (呂鴻春), nicknamed "Divine Archer" (神箭手).
• Lü Hongqiu (呂鴻秋), nicknamed "Soul Trapping Bell" (攝魂鈴), is Lü Hongchun's younger sister.
• Dugu Yu (獨孤宇) is Dugu Ying's elder brother.
• Dugu Ying (獨孤瑩) is Gongsun Daniang's apprentice.
• An Dingyuan (安定遠) is a Tiger's Teeth Commandant, and the fifth best fighter among the Imperial Guards.
• Huo Duhu (霍都護) is a highly skilled archer among the Imperial Guards.
• Huangfu Song (皇甫嵩), nicknamed "Divine Dragon of the Western Mountain" (西嶽神龍), is one of the "Three Strange Beggars" (三異丐).
• Wei Yue (衛越), nicknamed "Mad Beggar" (瘋丐), is one of the "Three Strange Beggars".
• Jiao Gu (焦固) is the chief of the Beggars' Sect and an apprentice of Che Chi.
• Shi Qingyang (石清陽), nicknamed "Divine Palm Heroic Beggar" (神掌丐俠), is Jiao Gu's junior.
• Yang Zhenxiong (楊振雄) is the deputy leader of the Beggars' Sect branch in Chang'an.
• Xu Hui (徐輝) is one of the Four Elders of the Beggars' Sect.
• Yue Shan (樂山) is a Beggars' Sect member.
• Li Guangbi (李光弼) is a Tang general.
• Huankong (幻空) is the abbot of Ekeqin Temple (鄂克沁寺) in Qinghai.
• Zhuomulun (卓木倫) is a prince of the Xi tribe (奚族).
• Gai Tianxian (蓋天仙) is Gai Tianhao's younger sister and Zhuomulun's wife.
• Jin Qinghe (金清和) is Jin Dingyue's son.
• Long Chengxiang (龍成香) is Xin Zhigu's most senior student.
• Princess Changle (長樂公主) is the daughter of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and Gongsun Daniang's apprentice.
• Yang Dalei (楊大雷) is the leader of the outlaw band at Yinma River (飲馬川) and Mou Shijie's follower.
• Li Huaixian (李懷仙) is Shi Siming's follower who later surrendered to the Tang Empire.
• Chu Sui (褚遂) is Wang Botong's deputy.
• Chu Baoling (褚葆齡) is Chu Sui's granddaughter.
• Zhan Bocheng (展伯承) is Zhan Yuanxiu and Wang Yanyu's son.
• Han Zhan (韓湛) is a master of dianxue techniques and Tie Mole's father-in-law.
• Han Zhifen (韓芷芬) is Han Zhan's daughter and Tie Mole's wife.
• Tie Zheng (鐵錚) is Tie Mole and Han Zhifen's son.
• Tie Ning (鐵凝) is Tie Mole and Han Zhifen's daughter.
• Sang Shigong (桑石公) is one of the 72 island lords in the Eastern Sea. He ranks first of the "Seven Demons of the Eastern Sea" (東海七妖).
• Saxiangbei (薩香貝) is a princess of Yikezhaomeng (伊克昭盟) and Saba's daughter.
• Lushi (盧石) is the second best wrestler in Yikezhaomeng.
• Bashan (巴山) is the best fighter in Yikezhaomeng.
• Saba (薩巴) is the king of Yikezhaomeng.
• Qututong (屈突通) is Tuoba Xiong's escort, and the second best fighter among the Uyghurs (回紇).
• Nan Xialei (南夏雷) is Nan Jiyun's eldest son.
• Nan Chunlei (南春雷) is Nan Jiyun's second son.
• Nan Qiulei (南秋雷)　is Nan Jiyun's daughter and third child.
• Nan Donglei (南冬雷) is Nan Jiyun's third son and fourth child.
• Huanmie (幻滅)　is the abbot of Ekeqin Temple.
• Huanji (幻寂) is Huanmie's junior.

Antagonists

• Mou Shijie (牟世傑) is a fourth generation student of Qiuran Ke, and leader of the wulin.
• Shi Chaoying (史朝英) is Shi Siming's daughter and Mou Shijie's wife. She is also Xin Zhigu's apprentice.
• Xue Song (薛嵩) is the jiedushi of Luzhou (潞洲), and Shi Ruomei's adoptive father.
• Tian Chengsi (田承嗣) is the jiedushi of Weibo (魏博).
• Yang Mulao (羊牧勞), nicknamed "Seven Steps Chasing Soul" (七步追魂).
• Kou Mingyang (寇名揚) is Tian Chengsi's follower.
• Bo Lie (柏烈) is Kou Mingyang's deputy.
• Hao Peng (郝鵬) is a bandit.
• Feng Zhenyu (鳳振羽) is a bandit.
• Yuwen Chui (宇文垂) is Jiao Gu's eldest student.
• Jingjing'er (精精兒) is Kongkong'er's junior.
• Puyang Hou (濮陽侯) is Jingjing'er's follower.
• Liu Wenxiang (柳文湘), nicknamed "Cloud Dreams Human Devil" (雲夢人妖).
• Xi Bingda (奚炳達) is Jingjing'er's follower.
• Zhao Ganlü (趙趕驢) is the deputy leader of the Beggars' Sect branch in Chang'an.
• Shi Yuan (石垣) is the leader of the Beggars' Sect Xing Hall (刑堂).
• Han Jie (韓介) is a Beggars' Sect member.
• Ma Ji (馬冀) is the most senior of the Beggars' Sect Four Elders.
• Shi Chaoyi (史朝義) is Shi Siming's son and Shi Chaoying's elder brother.
• Lingjiu Shangren (靈鷲上人) is the master of the Mount Ling Sect (靈山派).
• Qingmingzi (青冥子) is Lingjiu Shangren's eldest student.
• Du Fuwei (杜伏威) is the Major of Nine Cities (九城司馬).
• Wu Weiyang (武維揚) is a Dragon Cavalry Commandant and Inner Palace Guards commander.
• He Lianbo (赫連勃) is one of the 72 island lords of the Eastern Sea, who ranks fourth of the "Seven Demons of the Eastern Sea".
• Tuoba Liao (拓跋遼) is one of the 72 island lords of the Eastern Sea, who ranks fifth of the "Seven Demons of the Eastern Sea".
• He Lanmeng (賀蘭蒙) is the　lord of Mimo Island (秘魔島), who ranks third of the "Seven Demons of the Eastern Sea".
• Yixin (乙辛) is a Uyghur warrior.
• Tuoba Yuan (拓跋元) is a Uyghur prince and Tuoba Xiong's elder cousin.
• Tuoba Xiong (拓跋雄) is a younger brother of the Uyghur king.
• Wuwang (無妄) is a Tibetan martial artist.
• Wujiu (無咎) is a Tibetan martial artist.
• Quli (曲離) is the best fighter among the Uyghurs.

Characters mentioned by name

• Nan Jiyun (南霽雲)
• Zhang Xun (張巡) was the governor of Suiyang. He died in the Battle of Suiyang.
• An Lushan (安祿山) is a rebel warlord who proclaimed himself "Emperor of Great Yan" (大燕皇帝).
• Duan Guizhang (段珪璋)
• Tian Mazi (田麻子) is a bandit from Yinma River.
• Wang Botong (王伯通) was a former leader of the wulin.
• Shi Yiru (史逸如)
• Madam Lu (盧夫人) was Shi Yiru's wife.
• Linghu Zhang (令狐彰) is the jiedushi of Huazhou (滑州).
• Abbess Miaohui (妙慧神尼) is the teacher of Nie Yinniang and Shi Ruomei.
• Zanglingzi (藏靈子) was the teacher of Kongkong'er, Jingjing'er and Duan Keye.
• Li Yang (李陽) is the official in charge of Zhihe (治河).
• Yuchi Gong (尉遲恭) was a general in the early Tang dynasty.
• Li Shimin (李世民), Emperor Taizong of Tang (唐太宗).
• Shan Xiongxin (單雄信) was a general from Wagang Fort (瓦崗寨).
• Qin Qiong (秦瓊) was a general in the early Tang dynasty.
• Qiuran Ke (虯髯客) was the founder of Fusang Island and a formidable martial artist.
• Tie Kunlun (鐵崑崙) was the leader of an outlaw band on Mount Yan (燕山) and Tie Mole's father.
• Dou Lingkan (竇令侃) was a former leader of the wulin and Tie Mole's godfather.
• Li Jing (李靖) was Qiuran Ke's friend.
• Li Yuan (李淵), Emperor Gaozu of Tang (唐高祖).
• Liu Wenjing (劉文靜) was Qiuran Ke's friend.
• Kang Banhou (康班侯) is a Tiger's Teeth Commandant.
• Du Fu (杜甫) was a poet.
• Li Bai (李白) was a poet.
• Gongsun Daniang (公孫大娘) is a powerful swordswoman.
• Li Shi'erniang (李十二娘) is Gongsun Daniang's eldest student.
• Gu Dahao (谷大豪), nicknamed "Agile Armed Divine Fist" (通臂神拳), is Dugu Yu and Dugu Ying's uncle.
• Che Chi (車遲), nicknamed "Wine Beggar" (酒丐), is one of the "Three Strange Beggars".
• Zhuanlun Fawang (轉輪法王)
• Wei Xijie (韋錫傑) is a Beggars' Sect member.
• Shi Siming (史思明) is a rebel leader.
• An Qingxu (安慶緒) is An Lushan's son.
• Guo Ziyi (郭子儀) is a Tang general, and the Prince of Fenyang (汾陽王).
• Hahehan (哈合罕) is the chief of the Xi tribe.
• Huo Daye (霍大野) is a Beggars' Sect branch leader.
• Linghu Chao (令狐潮) is a general under Shi Siming.
• Wu Zetian (武則天) was the Empress Regnant of Great Zhou.
• Di Renjie (狄仁傑) was the chancellor during Wu Zetian's reign.
• Zhan Feilong (展飛龍) was Lingjiu Shangren's junior, and a villain.
• Wang Bo (王勃) was a poet
• Jin Dingyue (金鼎岳) is the chief of the 13 escort agencies in Chang'an.
• Li Heng (李亨), Emperor Suzong of Tang (唐肃宗).
• Yang Guozhong (楊國忠) was the chancellor during Emperor Xuanzong's reign.
• Li Longji (李隆基), Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (唐玄宗).
• Li Tiezheng (李鐵錚) is an outlaw leader.
• Long Teng (龍騰) is an outlaw leader.
• Princess Taiping (太平公主) was Wu Zetian's daughter.
• Chu Chongguo (楚充國) is the duhushi of Anxi (安西).
• Yuwen Fuwei (宇文扶威) is a prince of Shituo Kingdom.
• Chu Liang (褚良) is Chu Sui's son and a bandit leader on Mount Funiu.
• Lei Wanchun (雷萬春) is Nan Jiyun's junior.
• Songtsän Gampo (松贊幹布) was the ruler of Tibet.
• Princess Wencheng (文成公主) was Emperor Taizong's daughter who married Songtsän Gampo.
• Guangde Fawang (廣德法王)
• Tuoba Chi (拓跋赤) is a Uyghur general and Tuoba Yuan's father.