In the Water Margin
Guan Sheng is the fifth hero of Liangshan, born under the star Tianyong (天勇星). He is a direct descendant of Guan Yu, the god-like general of the Three Kingdoms, and the novel makes sure the reader sees it: a face the colour of a ripe date, eyes like a phoenix's, silkworm brows and a green-dragon crescent blade, the weapon that gives him his nickname, Great Blade (大刀). For all that pedigree he is stuck in a minor post as a patrol inspector in Pudong, reading military classics in his spare hours.
His chance comes when Song Jiang lays siege to Daming to rescue Lu Junyi. An old friend, Xuan Zan, recommends him to Grand Tutor Cai Jing, and Guan Sheng is given an army. Instead of marching to Daming, he strikes straight at the Liangshan stronghold itself, forcing Song Jiang to break off the siege and hurry home. Captured in the end by a trick, he is treated with such courtesy that he joins the band with his two lieutenants, and at the grand assembly he heads the Five Tiger Generals of the cavalry. After the war against Fang La he is made garrison commander of Daming, where one day, riding home drunk from drill, he falls from his horse and dies of the injury.
Key episodes
Besieging Wei to save Zhao. Guan Sheng's opening move copies a famous stratagem of the Warring States: threaten the enemy's home and the siege lifts itself. Wu Yong sees it at once and Song Jiang withdraws by night. In their first clash Guan Sheng holds off Lin Chong and Qin Ming together, and Song Jiang, admiring him and wanting him unharmed, calls his two generals back.
Huyan Zhuo's false defection. Huyan Zhuo rides alone into Guan Sheng's camp one night, claiming he is a loyal officer trapped among the outlaws and offering to lead a raid on Song Jiang's tent. Guan Sheng believes him. In the dark the gongs sound, the ambush rises and hooked poles drag him from his saddle.
The Water and Fire Generals. When Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo, masters of flooding and fire attacks, march on Liangshan from Lingzhou, Guan Sheng asks to meet them. He takes Shan Tinggui in battle and, rather than storm the town, goes in person with almost no escort to talk Wei Dingguo into surrender. Both join the band.
