Lu Junyi - Background

Background

The Water Margin describes Lu Junyi as nine chi tall, with sparkling eyes and a deity-like appearance. He is a wealthy squire from Daming Prefecture (in present-day Handan). He is also highly skilled in martial arts, especially in the use of the staff. He is arguably one of the best fighters in the entire novel, the others being Guan Sheng, Lin Chong, Wu Song, Lu Zhishen, Shi Wengong, Fang La's generals Wang Yin, Shi Bao and Deng Yuanjue, Tian Hu's generals Bian Xiang and Sun An, and Wang Qing's generals Mi Sheng and Du Po. His reputation and charisma earns him the nickname "Jade Unicorn", as well as the right to become the second-in-command of the Liangshan outlaws after the Grand Assembly even though he is one of the last few to join the Liangshan cause.

Song Jiang intends to recruit Lu Junyi after the death of Chao Gai to boost Liangshan's fame and possibly inspire others to join the Liangshan cause. Wu Yong conjures a scheme to lure Lu Junyi out of Daming Prefecture. He disguises himself as a Taoist priest and pays a visit to Lu Junyi at the latter's residence. He is accompanied by Li Kui, who pretends to be Wu Yong's mute assistant. Wu Yong knows that Lu Junyi is superstitious and he predicts an upcoming disaster for the latter. He says that Lu Junyi will face a violent death within 100 days and his family will die. Lu Junyi believes Wu Yong and asks Wu to help him avoid the disaster. Wu Yong advises Lu Junyi to leave Daming Prefecture and head southeast for beyond 1,000 li. Before leaving, Wu Yong also reads a poem for Lu Junyi, who writes it on a wall in his house. Four Chinese characters that read "Lu Junyi rebels" are hidden in the lines of the poem (see below for more information).