Chinese Name: Yu Baosi 

Japanese Name: Kendōshin Ikuhōshi

Rank: 105th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: God of the Dangerous Road 

Yu Baosi led a gang of bandits robbing travelers on the roads in Qingzhou. His alliance with the Liangshan bandits came about after he stole 200 of their horses and took them to the Zeng Family Village, Zengtou. The Zeng Family had become great enemies of Liangshan’s when their village martial arts instructor, Shi Wengong, killed Liangshan’s leader, Chao Gai (see plate 66 for details). 

Having already harbored a desire to avenge Chao Gai, and with many of their horses now stolen from them, Song Jiang (plate 107) mounted an attack on Zengtou. In the initial battles, two of the Zeng sons were killed. Grief stricken, their father wrote a letter to Song Jiang pleading for a truce. Song Jiang agreed, so long as they surrendered Yu Baosi to Liangshan—the Zengs accepted his terms.

When Yu Baosi was delivered to Liangshan, Song Jiang offered him the opportunity to join their ranks and be forgiven for stealing their horses, but, he must agree to help them deceive the Zeng Family. Yu Baosi agreed and was sent back to Zengtou. He told the Zeng Family the Liangshan stronghold had been surprised and attacked by Imperial forces, and he had managed to escape in the chaos. He added that now would be the ideal time to strike against Song Jiang and his bandit army since they were in great disarray.   

Meanwhile, the Liangshan camp was emptied, and the men all hid themselves in ambush. When the Zeng forces arrived and found no one there, they knew they had been deceived and tried to retreat, but it was too late—the hidden Liangshan soldiers attacked and slaughtered them to a man. Meanwhile Song Jiang sent a large battalion of his men to siege the unsuspecting and largely unprotected village of Zengtou.

At Zengtou, Liangshan troops shot cannons at the city walls, and charged forward killing anyone who crossed their path. Zeng senior hung himself when he realized his village was doomed, and every remaining member of the Zeng Family—regardless of age—was killed. Shi Wengong, the village martial arts instructor, was captured and taken back to Liangshan’s stronghold, and the bandits retrieved their stolen horses and looted the village of all it’s valuables and grain supplies. 

Back at Liangshan, a ceremony was held in honor of Chao Gai. Shi Wengong’s heart was cut out and Song Jiang offered it as a sacrifice to the spirit of Chao Gai. Song Jiang made good on his word and Yu Baosi was admitted to their ranks. 

Isaac Nichols original