Chinese Name: Lü Fang 

Japanese Name: Shō’onkō Ryohō

Rank: 54th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Little Marquis of Wen

Lü Fang had been a traveling medicine vendor but lost all of his capital in a bad venture. Having no money to return home, he became the leader of a bandit gang on Mount Duiying and took to robbing travelers. His use of the halberd was exceptional and he soon became famous for defending Mount Duiying against all attackers.

Hearing of Lü Fang’s unmatched skill, Guo Sheng (plate 29) decided to challenge him for control of Mount Duiying. Lü Fang offered to relinquish one of the two mountains in his territory to him, but Guo Sheng refused and demanded they fight for complete control. They battled for ten days without either side gaining the upper hand or acquiescing defeat. 

Song Jiang (plate 107), Hua Rong (plate 28), and the bandits of Mount Qingfeng were traveling to relocate their stronghold and join forces with Chao Gai (see plate 14) and his army of brigands at Liangshan Marsh. As they were passing by Mount Duiying, they came upon two groups, each with one hundred mounted men. One of the groups was led by a warrior dressed all in red, the other by a warrior all in white. As the two leaders charged to meet each other in combat, battle drums sounded like heavy thunder rolling off the mountain.

They had been fighting for thirty bouts, and as they charged out to fight again, the two flags on their halberds became intertwined and they could not break them free. Seeing this, Hua Rong took his bow and shot an arrow which cut through the flags and released the halberds. Both groups of bandits let out a loud cheer at the impressive display of archery skill. Lü Fang and Guo Sheng stopped their fight and rode forward to meet this skilled archer. Hua Rong and Song Jiang introduced themselves and immediately the two combatants dropped their weapons, dismounted, and kowtowed to them in deep respect—their fame as heroes was well known throughout the land. The leader in red introduced himself as Lü Fang, and the leader in white as Guo Sheng. 

Impressed by the skills of both men, Song Jiang suggested they call a truce. The two bandit leaders agreed and a feast was prepared. After two days of eating and drinking, Song Jiang suggested they unite their forces and journey to Liangshan to join the bandits there under Chao Gai. Lü Fang and his gang, and Guo Sheng and his gladly agreed, so they packed up their camps and departed for Liangshan Marsh.  

Plates 29 and 30 form a diptych depicting the battle between Lü Fang and Guo Sheng. 

Kuniyoshi recreation