The Complete Tale of the Xue Family Generals

Emperor Taizong of Tang dreams that a foreign general is pursuing him. At a critical moment, a young general in white robes appears to save him. Xu Maogong studies the stars and finds that they match the emperor’s dream. He predicts that war will break out in the east, and that the young general in white will not only rescue the emperor but also lead an army to Liaodong to quell the rebellion.

After his family falls into ruin, Xue Rengui attempts suicide but is saved by Wang Maosheng. The two become sworn brothers. His sworn brother introduces him to the Liu household as a hired hand, where he meets Liu Yinhuan. She takes special care of Xue Rengui, and over time they fall in love. Her elder brother and sister-in-law disapprove of his behavior and report him to her father, who flies into a rage and drives them away. The two meet again in another place, and the lovers are finally united. Xue Rengui later meets Zhou Qing, and the two enlist together, hoping to make something of themselves.

However, the narrow-minded treacherous minister Zhang Shigui frames Xue Rengui, changes his name to Xue Li, and buries him among the army cooks. Although Xue performs one extraordinary feat after another, Zhang Shigui’s son-in-law, He Zongxian, claims all the credit. It is only after Xue Rengui saves the emperor that the truth comes to light. Zhang Shigui is sentenced to death, and Xue Rengui is ennobled as a prince.