Yue He

Last updated
Yue He
Water Margin character
First appearanceChapter 49
Nickname"Iron Whistle"
鐵叫子
Rank77th, Music Star (地樂星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Infantry scouting leader of Liangshan
OriginJailer
Ancestral home / Place of originMaozhou (present-day Changyi, Shandong)
Names
Simplified Chinese 乐和
Traditional Chinese 樂和
Pinyin Yuè Hé
Wade–Giles Yüeh He

Yue He is a fictional character in Water Margin , one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Iron Whistle", he ranks 77th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 41st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Contents

Background

The novel depicts Yue He, a native of Maozhou (茅州; present-day Changyi, Shandong), as good-looking. Talented in music, able to play many kinds of instruments and sing well. He is also skilled in martial arts and makes a good spy. His sister is married to Sun Li, the garrison commandant of Dengzhou (登州; in present-day eastern Shandong).

Becoming an outlaw

One day Yue He, a jailer in the Dengzhou prison, is put in charge of the new prisoners Xie Zhen and Xie Bao. The hunter brothers have been arrested for smashing up the house of one Squire Mao after failing to find a tiger they shot that had fallen into the old man's garden. In fact, the squire and his son had already sent the tiger to the prefecture office to claim the reward.

Yue He sympathises with the brothers, knowing they would be murdered in prison. Besides, he is related to the Xies, his brother-in-law Sun Li being the brother-in-law of Gu Dasao, a cousin of the hunters. Gu's husband is Sun Xin, Sun Li's younger brother.

Yue He takes the news about the Xies to Gu Dasao and Sun Xin, who pressures Sun Li to join in their rescue plan. They also involve the bandits Zou Yuan and Zou Run. Yue He lets Gu Dasao, who pretends to be sending food to the Xies, into the jail. He then frees the brothers who are locked on a stone bed while Gu causes commotion in the compound. Meanwhile Sun Li breaks into the prison with the rest. After pulling off the rescue, the group killed the Mao family and flees to join the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh.

Before going up to the stronghold, Sun Li volunteers to infiltrate the Zhu Family Manor, which Liangshan has failed to take in two offensives. As Sun Li has learnt combat from the same teacher as Luan Tingyu, the martial arts instructor of the manor, he wins the confidence of the Zhus. Yue He, together with Gu Dasao, Sun Xin, Zou Yuan, Zou Run and the Xie brothers, goes on a rampage inside the manor, taking it by surprise, when Sun Li gives his signal. The fall of the Zhu Family Manor is a huge contribution by the group before their acceptance into Liangshan.

Campaigns

Yue He is appointed as one of Liangshan's scout leaders after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. When Grand Marshal Gao Qiu attacks Liangshan with a massive military force, he is defeated and captured. But the outlaws frees him after he promised to help them secure amnesty from Emperor Huizong. Yue He and Xiao Rang go with Gao to the capital Dongjing as Liangshan's representatives to meet the emperor. However, Gao detains them in his residence and reneges on his promise. Yan Qing and Dai Zong later breaks into Gao's house saving the two.

The outlaws eventually receive amnesty due to help from the courtesan Li Shishi and other court officials. Emperor Huizong sends them on military campaigns against the Liao invaders and other rebel forces on Song territory to atone for their crimes. Yue He participates in the first three expeditions.

Before the fourth starts, which targets the rebel Fang La, the emperor summons Yue He back to Dongjing. It turns out that a prince consort has heard of Yue He's musical talent and wants him to be his minstrel. Yue spends the rest of his life in the house of the prince.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Song Jiang</span> Chinese historical figure

Song Jiang was a Chinese historical figure who led an armed rebellion against the ruling Song Dynasty in the early 12th century. His band marauded over a region straddling the present-day Chinese provinces of Shandong and Henan. They eventually surrendered to the Imperial Court. The historical Song Jiang was turned into a fictional character in Water Margin, which became one of the four famous Classic Chinese Novels. He is the central figure in the book, and the leader of the 108 Heroes who come together as bandits in Shandong's Liangshan Marsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huyan Zhuo</span> Fictional character in Chinese literature

Huyan Zhuo is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Double Clubs", he ranked eighth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits (天罡), the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Li Kui (Water Margin)</span> Water Margin character

Li Kui is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Black Whirlwind", he ranks 22nd among the 36 Heavenly Spirits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peng Qi</span>

Peng Qi is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "General of Heavenly Vision", he ranks 43rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and seventh among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Han Tao is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories", he ranks 42nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and sixth among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chai Jin</span>

Chai Jin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Whirlwind", he ranks 10th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dai Zong</span> Water Margin character

Dai Zong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Magic Traveller", he ranks 20th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xie Zhen (Water Margin)</span>

Xie Zhen is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Double-headed Serpent", he ranks 34th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xie Bao</span>

Xie Bao is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Twin-tailed Scorpion", he ranks 35th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hu Sanniang</span>

Hu Sanniang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Ten Feet of Blue", she ranks 59th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 23rd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Sun Li (<i>Water Margin</i>)

Sun Li is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Superior to Yuchi", he ranks 39th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and third among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Gu Dasao is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Female Tiger", she ranks 101st among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 65th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xiao Rang</span>

Xiao Rang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar", he ranks 46th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and tenth among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Jin Dajian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Jade Armed Craftsman", he ranks 66th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 30th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shi Qian</span>

Shi Qian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Flea on a Drum", he ranks 107th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 71st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Sun Xin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Yuchi", he ranks 100th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 64th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zou Yuan</span>

Zou Yuan is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Forest Emerging Dragon", he ranks 90th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 54th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zou Run</span>

Zou Run is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Single Horned Dragon", he ranks 91st among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 55th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Wang Ying (<i>Water Margin</i>)

Wang Ying is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Stumpy Tiger", he ranks 58th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 22nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

References