Zhu Fu

Zhu Fu is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 93rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 57th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Smiling Tiger".

Background

Zhu Fu is Zhu Gui's younger brother. He runs a tavern and does not join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh as early as his brother. He learnt martial arts from Li Yun before.

Saving Li Kui

When Li Kui goes home to fetch his mother to Liangshan, Song Jiang is worried that Li Kui's fiery temper might bring him into some trouble, so he asks Zhu Gui to watch over Li secretly. As Song Jiang expected, Li Kui runs into some trouble and is captured in a trap set by Squire Cao. Li Yun leads some soldiers to escort Li Kui to the county office.

Zhu Fu discusses with Zhu Gui on how to rescue Li Kui. They agree that they cannot free Li Kui by force because they are no match for Li Yun in a fight, so they have to save Li Kui by trickery. The Zhu brothers prepare food and wine spiked with drugs that will cause any person who consumes them to be temporarily unconscious, and then wait along the road for Li Yun and his men to pass by. When Li Yun and the convoy escorting Li Kui arrives, the Zhu brothers pretend to congratulate them for capturing Li Kui and serve them the drugged food and wine. Li Yun and his men are hungry and thirsty after travelling a long distance so they consume all the food and wine without suspecting anything.

When Li Yun and the soldiers are out cold, the Zhu brothers free Li Kui, who proceeds to kill all his captors except Li Yun. Just when he is about to kill Li Yun, Zhu Fu stops him and tells him that Li Yun is a good man. They then leave. When Li Yun regains consciousness, he catches up with them and fights with Li Kui, but is stopped by Zhu Fu, who manages to convince him to give up serving the corrupt government and join the outlaw band at Liangshan.

Campaigns and death

Zhu Fu is placed in charge of brewing wine for Liangshan after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by Emperor Huizong. During the campaign against the rebel leader Fang La, he remains in Hangzhou to take care of his brother, who has fallen sick, and does not participate in the remaining battles against Fang La's forces. He and his brother both die of illness before the Liangshan heroes emerge victorious over Fang La.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 185. 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.
• Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.
• Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
• (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China. KOEI, 1989.