Chinese Name: Lu Junyi

Japanese Name: Gyokukirin Roshungi

Rank: 2nd of the 108 Stars of Destiny 

Nickname: Jade Qilin 

Lu Junyi was a wealthy, well respected official from the Northern Capital, Daming. He was highly skilled in the martial arts and was known to be unequaled when fighting with the cudgel and the staff.                                      

Chao Gai (see plate 14) had been killed by a poisoned arrow while the Liangshan bandits battled the Zeng Family (see plate 66 for details). Song Jiang (plate 107) became acting leader of Liangshan and decided to recruit Lu Junyi in order to boost moral. 

A plan was devised, and Wu Yong (plate 14) disguised as a fortune teller, went to Daming Prefecture. He performed a reading for Lu Junyi and informed him he would soon meet a very bloody end. Lu Junyi was shocked, and asked what could be done to avoid this fate. Wu Yong told him he needed to get out of trouble’s path by traveling 300 li (about 93 miles) to the southeast—this would lead him past Liangshan Marsh. His wife warned him about the dangers of bandits there, but Lu Junyi was confident, and readied himself for the journey. 

Nearing Liangshan Marsh, he came across a large army of bandits blocking the road, and he proclaimed it was his duty as a loyal servant of the emperor to kill as many outlaws as he could. He fought Liu Tang (plate 67), Li Ying (plate 69), and Mu Hong (plate 69) simultaneously while they tried to persuade him to join Liangshan. Lu Junyi eventually retreated but was captured by Zhang Shun (plate 99) while crossing a river. 

He was taken to Liangshan’s stronghold where, as their prisoner, he was treated very warmly for the next two months. He insisted he would never become an outlaw, and Song Jiang finally agreed to let him leave. He returned home, but his wife and head servant—who were having an affair—had told the authorities he’d defected to join the bandits. He was arrested as a traitor and sentenced to be executed. 

When Liangshan received the news of Lu Junyi’s arrest, they devised a plan to rescue him. Daming’s annual lantern festival drew large crowds which provided the perfect opportunity to sneak many of the bandits into the city disguised as merchants while the rest of the troops waited outside the city walls. The bandits set fire to the Blue Cloud Tower inside the city as a signal for everyone to attack simultaneously. They rescued Lu Junyi and captured his adulterous wife and servant, but their attack left the city decimated—5000 civilians and 30,000 soldiers had been killed. When they returned to the stronghold, Lu Junyi cut open the chests of his wife and servant, removed their hearts, and chopped their bodies into small pieces—he then joined with Liangshan.

Lu Junyi is depicted here as he is about to fight Liu Tang, Li Ying, and Mu Hong.  

Kuniyoshi recreation