Chinese name: Pei Xuan 

Japanese Name: Tetsumenkōmoku Haisen 

Rank: 47th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Iron Faced Clerk

Pei Xuan was a magistrate’s scribe in the Jingzhou Prefecture who was known as being an upright and incorruptible official. He is described as having a noble appearance, and was very skilled at fighting with a sword in each hand. 

Pei Xuan was convicted and banished to Shamen Island after a covetous prefect made false accusations about him. He was assigned a military escort, and on their way to his exile, passed through the Yinma Valley where they were waylaid by a gang of 300 bandits led by Deng Fei (plate 43) and Meng Kang (plate 42). The bandits killed the soldiers and freed Pei Xuan. Deng Fei and Meng Kang were so impressed by Pei Xuan’s character, they requested he become their new leader. Pei Xuan accepted the honor and under his leadership the bandit gang grew to 500 men and 300 horses. 

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Yang Lin (plate 52) and Dai Zong (plate 97) were passing through Yinma Valley when they encountered Deng Fei and Meng Kang. Yang Lin and Deng Fei had been in the same bandit gang five years earlier but had not seen each other since. Upon recognizing Yang Lin, Deng Fei invited the two men to meet their leader, Pei Xuan. Yang Lin and Dai Zong accepted and followed them to their stronghold. Introductions were made and a feast was held. While they ate and drank, Dai Zong told their hosts about the strength of the Liangshan bandits and the honor of their leaders—Chao Gai (see plate 14) and Song Jiang (plate 107)—adding that, if they wished, he was certain they would be considered a valuable addition to the Liangshan Marsh stronghold. Pei Xuan, Deng Fei, and Meng Kang unanimously agreed, and they packed up their stronghold and traveled to Liangshan Marsh where they were welcomed into the fold. 

Plates 41, 42, and 43 form a triptych depicting Deng Fei and Meng Kang rescuing Pei Xuan from his military escorts. Pei Xuan is shown here flipping over a dead soldier killed by Deng Fei and Meng Kang.

Isaac Nichols original

Chinese Name: Meng Kang

Japanese Name: Gyokuhankan Mōkō

Rank: 70th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Jade Flagstaff 

Meng Kang got his nickname, “Jade Flagstaff”, because of his unusually large size. He’d been a boat builder for the Song Court, but had to flee after killing his overbearing supervisor. 

Meng Kang met Deng Fei (plate 43)—the leader of a small gang of bandits—at Yinma Valley, and joined with him and his men. Later, they intercepted a military escort transporting the honorable Pei Xuan (plate 41) to exile. They killed the soldiers and freed Pei Xuan. 

Meng Kang and Deng Fei were so impressed by Pei Xuan’s character, they requested he become their new leader. Pei Xuan accepted the honor and under his leadership the bandit gang grew from 300 men, to 500 men and 300 horses. 

Plates 41, 42, and 43 form a triptych depicting Meng Kang and Deng Fei rescuing Pei Xuan from his military escorts. Meng Kang is shown here dispatching one of the soldiers. For details on how they eventually joined with the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh see plate 41. 

Isaac Nichols original 

Chinese Name: Deng Fei 

Japanese Name: Kaganshungei Tōhi

Rank: 49th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Fiery Eyed Beast 

Deng Fei was a skilled fighter, especially with the chain. He was the original leader of the bandit gang at Yinma Valley. He later teamed up with Meng Kang (plate 42) who was on the run from the law after killing his supervisor. 

Deng Fei and his bandits saved the honorable Pei Xuan (plate 41) from the soldiers escorting him to exile at Shamen Island. After his rescue, Deng Fei and Meng Kang were so impressed by Pei Xuan, they requested he become their new leader. Pei Xuan accepted the honor and under his leadership the bandit gang grew from 300 men, to 500 men and 300 horses. 

Plates 41, 42, and 43 form a triptych depicting Deng Fei and Meng Kang rescuing Pei Xuan from his military escorts. Deng Fei is shown here dispatching one of the soldiers. For details on how they eventually joined with the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh, see plate 41. 

Isaac Nichols original