Campaigns
Yan Qing joins the Liangshan outlaw band together with his master. He becomes one of the leaders of the infantry after the Grand Assembly and participates actively in the battles between Liangshan and imperial forces. He develops a close friendship with Li Kui as well.
On one occasion, Yan Qing travels to Tai'anzhou (in present-day Shandong) accompanied by Li Kui to challenge an arrogant big-sized wrestler named Ren Yuan. Ren Yuan had been the wrestling champion of the East Sacred Mountain Temple fair for the past two years. Yan Qing defeats the burly Ren Yuan, but Ren's men quickly move to seize the trophies. A crowd stampede ensues and Li Kui is recognized by some of the spectators. Upon hearing Li Kui's name called out, soldiers pour into the temple. Yan Qing and Li Kui are then rescued at the temple gate by Lu Junyi and a small group of outlaws. However, Li Kui returns alone to the inn get his axes and then goes on a killing spree. All of the outlaws have escaped by the time a larger group of soldiers arrives.
Song Jiang hopes that the government will grant the outlaws amnesty and provide them with opportunities to serve the nation. He sends Yan Qing to make contact with Li Shishi, a prostitute whom the emperor frequently visits. Li Shishi quickly becomes enamored with Yan Qing, but Yan subtly resists her sexual innuendos to ensure that his mission is not compromised. He wittingly asks to become her sworn brother, thus successfully forestalling her romantic ambitions. The emperor makes a surprise visit on the same night and Li Shishi tells him that Yan Qing is her cousin. After entertaining the emperor with ballads, Yan Qing claims that he has escaped from Liangshan. He speaks on the outlaws' behalf and explains why the previous attempts at amnesty failed. The emperor then writes him an official pardon at the insistence of Li Shishi. Afterwards, Yan Qing and Dai Zong visit Marshal Su Jin, who further aid the outlaws in their appeal for amnesty.
Yan Qing follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces and makes great contributions. He is one of the few lucky survivors after the Fang La campaign. Uninterested in a civil career and afraid that Song Jiang will refuse him permission to leave, Yan Qing slips away from Song's army on the way back to the capital. Yan Qing leads a reclusive life until the end of his days.
In many popular depictions, Yan Qing and Li Shishi become lovers and abscond to parts unknown after the Fang La campaign.
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Famous quotes containing the word campaigns:
“That food has always been, and will continue to be, the basis for one of our greater snobbisms does not explain the fact that the attitude toward the food choice of others is becoming more and more heatedly exclusive until it may well turn into one of those forms of bigotry against which gallant little committees are constantly planning campaigns in the cause of justice and decency.”
—Cornelia Otis Skinner (1901–1979)