From ancient times to the present, the heroes of Liangshan have always aroused magnificent imagination. I have all heard of characters such as Song Jiang, Wu Song and Lu Zhishen in "Water Margin". There is a legendary story about Lu Zhishen that has caused widespread discussion about this illiterate hero, whether he finally chose to retire to find the pure land of the soul, or was completely erased by a great plan of Song Jiang?
Speaking of the heroes of Liangshan, the first thing that comes to people's minds may be their heroic deeds of angrily beating corrupt officials and fighting bullies. After conquering Fangla, the fate of the heroes of Liangshan took a dramatic turn. It is rumored that 36 of them were ready to enter the capital to receive the reward with great glory, but only 27 actually entered the capital. And those who stayed outside included important figures such as Wu Song, Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong.
Especially Lu Zhishen, a monk who has always been known for his straightforwardness and arrogance, gradually became disheartened after learning about the hypocrisy of the imperial court. He once expressed his heart to Song Jiang that he did not want to be an official, and only wanted a clean place to settle down. This voice has become more and more firm in the Liuhe Temple, where the wind eats and sleeps in the open air. As we all know, Lu Zhishen is illiterate, but at this time, he suddenly picked up a pen and wrote down the ode, what is going on?
We have reason to believe that this ode was not written by Lu Zhishen himself. Because Lu Zhishen's illiterate identity in history is well known to everyone. When he was on the run, even though he was standing in front of a wanted notice, he could only listen to others read it. This sudden literary work was probably written with the help of his close friends Lin Chong and Wu Song, or by a pre-prepared Elder Zhizhen.
What's even more puzzling is that Song Jiang is not surprised by this. He even invited important people to pay homage to Lu Zhishen, and held a grand ceremony for Lu Zhishen with great fanfare, as if he was seeing him off. They publicly distributed Lu Zhishen's mantle and the court's rewards, all of which seemed to be the last respect for the hero, but in fact they may be eliminating all traces of Lu Zhishen.
Lu Zhishen's so-called "sitting" ceremony was arranged by Song Jiang impenetrably. In a fire, no matter whether Lu Zhishen really passed away or had other hidden secrets, they were all turned into ashes in the end, leaving infinite conjectures for future generations. There is no way to verify the truth of this, but it is certain that Song Jiang's move does hide many mysteries. Did he use Lu Zhishen's wordless name to complete an elaborate disappearance magic? Is it to protect Lu Zhishen, or is it for other ulterior purposes?
The whereabouts of Wu Song and Lin Chong are also confusing. It is said that the two of them did not enter Beijing with the other generals, but chose to stay at the Liuhe Temple, an act that seems to coincide with Song Jiang's plan. Wu Song had not recovered from his war wounds, and Lin Chong was unable to move due to the recurrence of his old wounds, but was this really their own choice? Or was it another drama orchestrated by Song Jiang? These questions make people ponder.
Behind this, there may be hidden the foresight of Song Jiang and his team of think tanks. They knew that the court's rewards were limited, and that the larger the number of people, the smaller the pie. Reducing the number of people returning to Beijing seems to have become their only choice. Although this choice is cruel, it is also helpless under the power scheme. Song Jiang's wisdom and the city government were on full display at this moment, and he used his own way to ensure that the remaining heroes could receive more generous rewards.
This series of layouts and exclusions, although seemingly appropriate on the surface, undoubtedly cast a shadow on the heroic names of the heroes of Liangshan. Are their heroic deeds overshadowed by political calculations, and have their loyalty and sacrifice become mere dead letters?
Every time I think about these questions, I feel emotional. The ending of the heroes of Liangshan is not only their personal joys and sorrows, but also a profound historical lesson. They let us see the struggle between heroes and power, and also let us revisit the turbulent last years of the Song Dynasty.
The fate of Yangsan's heroes is full of drama and complexity. From their Top Gun uprising to their final reward or disappearance, every turn reflects the cruelty and helplessness of the era. Although we cannot fully uncover the truth of history, through the repeated chewing of these stories, we can understand the complexity and changeability of history more deeply. Liangshan heroes are not only a demonstration of courage and wisdom, but also a deep reflection on power, loyalty and sacrifice. Today, they are still worth remembering and thinking about by each and every one of us.