Due to the wide circulation of film and television works, some of the characters in famous works are also well known to the general public. Whether you like literature or not, you will understand. Among them, the characters in "Water Margin" are even more eye-catching.
There are many characters in "Water Margin", but each one is vividly portrayed. Among them, there are countless heroes and good men, and there are several protagonists, and this one occupies no small space. He is Jingyang Gang's tiger Wusong.
Takematsu
Wu Song's length in Water Margin is quite large. For example, beheading Ximen Qing, drunkenly beating Jiang Menshen, blood washing Mandarin Duck Tower and so on. We all know that "Water Margin" looks as if it is a real historical allusion. But we all know that this is just a novel, not a canonical history.
But some of the historical figures in it are historically real. And the Wu Song that I want to talk about today is one of them. Based on the archetypal characters of history, Shi Nai'an portrays the image of the tiger hero Takematsu. So what kind of character is Wu Song's historical prototype?
The real Wusong hometown in history is also from Qinghe County. Since childhood, he has been good at martial arts, and he has also practiced a good martial art. After that, he made a living as a street performer, and in that era, he lived a relaxed life. Until one time, when Wu Songyong was selling art in Kinmen. His life took a turn.
Takematsu
Gao Quan, the prefect of Hangzhou, who passed through Yongjinmen, took a fancy to Wu Song's ability, and Wu Song was very dignified, so he was sent by Gao Quan to be on an errand. Wu Song is also very interesting, seize this opportunity, and work very hard. Soon, Wu Song achieved the position of elevation through his own efforts and became the right and left arm of the high power.
Wu Song knew that his current wealth had his own efforts. But it is even more inseparable from the appreciation and promotion of the prefect's high power. Otherwise, no matter how hard you try, you will only be a street performer, and you will have a rich life today. Therefore, Wu Song obeyed Gao Quan and became a confidant of Gao Quan. Therefore, in the eyes of everyone, Wu Song is a high-power faction.
Takematsu
However, according to historical records, Gao Quan was a clean official with a straight temperament, so he also offended many high-ranking officials. We all know that in that era when traitors were in charge, such people could not be mixed. Sure enough, the latter high power was dismissed. As a confidant of the high power, the newly appointed prefect naturally did not retain it. So Wu Song was put forward to the government, although he had resentment and unwillingness, but he still had no choice.
The new prefect was named Cai Feng( 蔡鋆) and was a figure with a strong background. He was the son of Taishi Cai Jing. Because of the strong background, Cai Xun's behavior is also more unscrupulous. During his term of office, all kinds of harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes and miscellaneous taxes, as well as exploitation methods, made the local people miserable and complained. Even so, the people could only endure. Because no matter how they resisted, they could not fight the forces behind Cai Xun. But the people secretly gave Cai Xun the nickname "Cai Hu".
Takematsu
Wu Song was originally a good young man with a great sense of justice. Seeing the evil deeds of the new prefect, Wu Song was also angry. Coupled with the resentment of being driven out of the palace by Cai Hu before, Wu Song moved his thoughts to eliminate harm for the people. So he began to step on the spot, find the right time, hide near the Cai Mansion and prepare to attack and kill Cai Hu. When he saw Cai Hu appear, a stride rushed forward with several knives. The defenseless Cai Hu was killed by Wu Song before the guards could react.
When the guards reacted, they rushed up. Wu Song was eventually outnumbered and captured by the guards. Wu Song was put in a cell and subjected to all kinds of torture equipment. After being tortured to death, he died tragically in prison. It was based on this plot that Shi Nai'an wrote about Wu Song's feat of fighting the tiger. Writing that Wu Song killed Cai Hu is that Wu Song killed a real tiger.
Takematsu
The local people in Hangzhou were very moved to know that Wu Song had been killed because of the dog killing officer. So the people spontaneously collected the body of Wu Song and erected a tombstone for Wu Song by the Xiling Bridge. The inscription is "Tomb of Wu Song of Song Yishi". Later archaeologists discovered this tombstone in Hangzhou, which revealed the true cause of death of the historical prototype Wu Song.
Although Wu Song, the prototype of history, died a lot, he died because he killed a big corrupt official. To the people is a veritable hero. It is more beneficial to the people than the hero of the tiger.
Takematsu
But such a heroic and good man eventually died tragically in prison, which is lamentable. Shi Nai'an may not be able to see such an ending. Therefore, Wu Song in the Water Margin, the ending is not like this. Although he lost an arm due to Bao Daoyi's plot. However, when Fang La returned victoriously, Wu Song chose to become a monk. Because of this, Wu Song was able to live until his eighties and die.
The ending of Wu Song in the Water Margin was already much better than most of the 108 generals of Liangshan. Do you prefer the real Wusong prototype in history, or the image of Wusong in the Water Margin? Feel free to leave a message and tell us your opinion.