Chinese Name: Huang Xin 

Japanese Name: Chinsanzan Kōshin

Rank: 38th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Suppressor of the Three Mountains 

Huang Xin was a highly skilled military officer from Qingzhou who was in charge of defense of the prefecture. There were three mountains in the Qingzhou Prefecture: Mount Qingfeng, Mount Lianglong, and Mount Taohua. These three mountains were the major stronghold locations of all the bandits in the region. Huang Xin got his nickname “The Suppressor of the Three Mountains”, because he vowed to capture all the brigands who resided there.  

Huang Xin and his soldiers were tasked with escorting Song Jiang and Hua Rong to Qingzhou Prison (see plate 25 for story details). Along the way they were intercepted by Song Jiang’s allies, Wang Ying and his bandits of Mount Qingfeng. Huang Xin attempted to fight the three leaders of the outlaw gang, but his defeat became imminent and he was forced to retreat. Civil magistrate Liu Gao, who was instrumental in Song Jiang’s arrest, had been traveling with the escort party and was captured and killed. Song Jiang and Hua Rong then traveled with their rescuers to the bandit stronghold at Mount Qingfeng.

When the Governor of Qingzhou heard news of Huang Xin’s defeat by the bandits of Mount Qingfeng, he sent officer Qin Ming (plate 27) and an army of 500 soldiers to attack the Mount Qingfeng bandits’ stronghold and recapture Song Jiang and Hua Rong. During the fray, the bandits lured Qin Ming to a trap. As he was chasing them, his horse fell into a hidden pit dug on the path leading to the stronghold, and Qin Ming was captured. Instead of killing him, the bandits manipulated him (see plate 27 for details) into joining them, then asked him to try and persuade officer Huang Xin to join them as well. Qin Ming travelled back to Qingfeng Fortress, and was able to convince Huang Xin to renounce his former life and join with him at Mount Qingfeng.  

Fearing the governor would retaliate with even greater ferocity, Song Jiang suggested the bandits of Mount Qingfeng relocate to Liangshan Marsh and join with the bandit force there led by Chao Gai (see plate 14). Everyone agreed to the plan and they packed up the stronghold and journeyed to Liangshan. 

Plates 25 and 26 form a diptych of Huang Xin squaring off to fight Wang Ying.

Kuniyoshi recreation