Chinese Name: Xie Bao

Japanese Name: Sōbikatsu Kaihō

Rank: 35th of the 108 Stars of Destiny 

Nickname: Twin Tailed Scorpion 

Xie Bao and his brother Xie Zhen (plate 100) were hunters from Dengzhou and were the best in the region. They were both of large builds, over seven feet in height, and had dark complexions. They had no parents and neither were married. Their preferred weapon was the trident.

The Xie brothers, had been unjustly arrested and the warden at the prison had been bribed to have them killed before they could stand trial. When their cousin Gu Dasao (plate 50) found this out, she and her husband Sun Xin (plate 49) recruited Zou Run, as well as several other family members and friends, and devised a plan to rescue the Xie brothers from prison. During the jail break, the prison warden as well as several prison guards were killed, and the Xie brothers and their rescuers fled to join with the Liangshan bandits (see plate 47 for story details).

Chinese Name: Zou Run

Japanese Name: Dokukakuryū Sūjun

Rank: 91st of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: One-Horned Dragon 

Zou Run and his uncle Zou Yuan (plate 86) led a small gang of bandits on Mount Dengyun. They were about the same age, fond of gambling, and were both tall and well built. Zou Run was an impetuous fighter who would head-butt his opponents. One day he missed and butted a tree instead, causing it to splinter and fall to the ground. From then on he was known as the, “One-Horned Dragon”. 

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Lu Junyi was being held prisoner in the city of Daming while awaiting execution (see plate 68 for story details). The Liangshan bandits had devised a plan to rescue him during the city’s annual lantern festival. The large crowds drawn to the festival provided the perfect opportunity to sneak many of the bandits into the city disguised as merchants. Zou Run, Xie Bao, and the rest of the bandit troops waited outside the city walls. The Blue Cloud Tower inside the city was set on fire as a signal for everyone to attack simultaneously. The plan was a success and Lu Junyi was rescued. In the process, the city of Daming was destroyed, with nearly 5000 civilians and 30,000 soldiers killed. 

Xie Bao and Zou Run are shown here in disguise waiting for the signal to attack the city. Xie Bao is dressed as a hunter holding his game and Zou Run is disguised as a lantern seller. 

Kuniyoshi recreation