The Ultimate Rising Star of Liangshan

When Pan Jinlian was cornered in an alley by Ximen Qing and harassed, with no way to escape, she realized that continuing to give in would only make things worse. That night, she had a secret meeting with Wu Dalang and proposed a “playing dead” scheme, using Ximen Qing’s guilty conscience to stage an elaborate charade. Wu Dalang was frightened at first, but decided to trust his wife for the sake of peace in the long run.

On a deserted island, Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian discover crude facilities and a few crop seeds left behind by early pirates or refugees.

When Song Jiang proposes surrendering to the imperial court, Wu Song, Lin Chong, Lu Zhishen, the Ruan brothers, and other staunchly opposed comrades lose heart. Remembering the suspicious circumstances surrounding Wu Dalang’s “death,” or learning through special channels that he may still be alive, they decide to lead the brothers willing to follow them out to sea in search of a new path, eventually reuniting with Wu Dalang and his wife on the island.

Using the talents brought by the Liangshan heroes, including craftsmen, sailors, officers, and scholars, they establish a new system unlike those of the Song and Jin dynasties. For example, they form a “Senate” for collective decision-making, implement “distribution according to work,” value craftsmen’s skills, and build a disciplined, well-equipped “Marine Corps.”

The Song court and the Jin discover the threat posed by this emerging maritime power and launch a joint attack, only to be routed by the island nation’s army, which has advanced artillery and tactics.