Xue Rengui’s Eastern Campaign in Plain Language

Xue Rengui’s Eastern Expedition is one of China’s best-known popular novels. It tells the story of Xue Rengui, an outstanding hero of the Tang dynasty. Written in the traditional chapter-based format, the book is rich in content and easy to understand, making it well worth reading. Broadly speaking, Xue Rengui’s life forms the main thread, while his eastern campaign provides the backdrop. Xue Rengui began as an ordinary commoner who enlisted in the army and was relegated to the kitchen troops. Although he repeatedly won extraordinary victories, all his achievements were claimed by He Zongxian, the son-in-law of the treacherous minister Zhang Shigui. Only after Marshal Yuchi Gong investigated the matter again and again was the truth finally revealed. Zhang Shigui was punished, and Xue Rengui was made Prince of Pingliao, bringing the story of the eastern campaign to a close. Though Xue Rengui’s Eastern Expedition does include supernatural elements, it has many merits. Its portrayals of several major characters are particularly successful, vividly capturing Yuchi Gong’s loyalty and courage, Cheng Yaojin’s recklessness, and Xue Rengui’s martial skill and intelligence. Especially noteworthy is the story of Liu Jinhua, who suffers for giving Xue Rengui clothes, then later sacrifices everything and breaks with class conventions to marry him in a ruined kiln. This is an act of defiance against the traditional Chinese marriage system of the time, making it all the more remarkable.