Yang Chun - Background

Background

Yang Chun is from Jieliang, Puzhou (present-day Yongji, Shanxi). The Water Margin describes Yang Chun as a man with a lean build and long skinny arms. Despite his appearance, Yang Chun possesses great strength and excels in martial arts. He wields a long saber in combat. He is nicknamed "White Flower Serpent".

Yang Chun becomes one of the leaders of a bandit group on Mount Shaohua together with Zhu Wu and Chen Da. The local government is afraid of them. Once, the stronghold lacks provisions and the bandits decide to raid and loot the nearby Huayin County for supplies. They have to pass by Shi Jin's village along the way. Zhu Wu has reservations about the attack as Shi Jin has a reputation for being a powerful fighter and he may stand in their way. Chen Da ignores Zhu Wu's warning and leads his men to attack Shi Jin's village. He is defeated by Shi Jin and captured.

Zhu Wu and Yang Chun travel to Shi Jin's village and plead with him to release Chen Da. Shi Jin is moved by their strong sense of brotherhood and he releases Chen Da. The three bandit leaders become friends with Shi Jin and they often visit and send gifts to each other. The hunter Li Ji discovers Shi Jin's relationship with the outlaws and he reports to the magistrate for a reward. The magistrate sends soldiers to surround the village and arrest the four men. Shi Jin burns down his village and joins the three outlaws in fighting their way back to Mount Shaohua.