In the Water Margin
Zhang Qing is the sixteenth hero of Liangshan, born under the star Tianjie (天捷星). He commands the garrison of Dongchang, and his weapon is a pouch of fist-sized stones that he throws from the saddle without ever missing. A stone needs no feathers to fly true, hence his nickname, the Featherless Arrow (没羽箭). His two lieutenants are just as unusual: Gong Wang throws spears and Ding Desun throws a trident.
When Song Jiang and Lu Junyi draw lots after Chao Gai's death, Lu Junyi draws Dongchang and runs straight into Zhang Qing. Lu loses battle after battle until Song Jiang, having already taken Dongping, comes to help, and even then Zhang Qing's stones keep the whole army at bay. Wu Yong finally takes him with a trap baited with grain, and Song Jiang breaks an arrow to swear that no one will avenge themselves on him. Zhang Qing repays him by recommending Huangfu Duan, a master horse doctor. In the 120-chapter edition he later marries Qiongying, a woman warrior who throws stones as well as he does. He dies with Dong Ping at Dusong Pass in the war against Fang La.
Key episodes
Fifteen captains in a row. One after another, Liangshan's generals ride out and are struck from the saddle. Xu Ning is hit between the eyes, Huyan Zhuo on the wrist, and the list grows to fifteen before the day ends. Song Jiang can only watch.
The grain boats. Wu Yong sends grain carts along the road and loaded boats down the river. Zhang Qing seizes the carts, then rides to the bank to take the boats too, and Liangshan's water fighters capsize him into the river and drag him out bound.
The broken arrow. Many of the men he hurt want his blood. Song Jiang snaps an arrow in two and swears that whoever harms him will die like it, and Zhang Qing kneels and joins the band.
