Water Margin: When Warriors Clash with Politicians

Water Margin: When Warriors Clash with Politicians

Editorial Board

Dear readers, whether you are deeply familiar with Water Margin (《水浒传》)—also known as Outlaws of the Marsh or All Men Are Brothers—or just beginning to explore it, you may have heard people say that this classic is “full of politics.” At its heart, the novel portrays the honor, destiny, and choices of 108 vigilantes who rise against corruption. In this article, we will explore the conflicts between the Liangshan heroes and the politicians of the Song dynasty, unpacking the ideologies and logic on both sides. We will then open the floor to discussion: whether the Liangshan heroes have the capacity to reform a corrupt imperial court, and if so, how?

Q1: Is Corruption the root of the storyline in the Water Margin?

Yes and no. Many heroes choose to go to Liangshan because they are set up by the corrupt officials and end up being outlaws; that’s why they need a shelter for protection. Nevertheless, Liangshan is more than a shelter for the outlaws; it is a place where people deserve a second chance to fulfil their life purpose, use their talents to do good deeds, and earn a better living that they could not have by being a struggling lawful citizen under the rule of the imperial system poisoned by corruption. That is how Liangshan bandits justify their illegal gathering by raising the slogan of “pluck out the bad branches of the olive tree” for the emperor. That is why some Liangshan heroes are not interested in pleading for a pardon from the imperial court, as they view Liangshan as an enchanting escape from the disappointing or toxic reality. 

This also explains why corrupt officials used every trick during the pardon-granting process. After all, many of the Liangshan heroes are the very scapegoats of their corruption. Now, those same scapegoats have raised a banner that exposes the “bad apples” rotting within the imperial system.

Q 2: Why do Liangshan heroes seem vulnerable when they clash with corrupt officials?

The Liangshan heroes uphold honor, justice, and loyalty—whether to their brotherhood or to the emperor—while politicians pursue nothing but fame and wealth. These opposing ideologies create two very different arenas, each governed by its own rules. In the arena of the Liangshan heroes, victory depends on martial skill, battlefield experience, sharp strategy, and above all, compassion for one’s brothers. By contrast, the arena of the corrupt officials thrives on conspiracy, propaganda, and deception—misleading the emperor with half-truths and false accusations, or sowing discord among rivals to gain advantage. Once the Liangshan bandits accept imperial pardon and take lawful positions in the court, they are dragged into this political arena, forced to play by the rules established by the politicians, which is why they often fall short when confronting corruption.

This vulnerability helps explain a long‑standing debate among readers: why do the Liangshan heroes abandon their slogan of “cleansing corruption for the emperor” once they are granted pardon? To explore this question further, this article will also offer three additional possible explanations.

(1) Liangshan heroes are newly appointed civil servants who barely have official titles or authority, which leaves them with limited resources and connections to stand against the corrupt but powerful officials. 

(2) From the perspective of the officialdom, the Liangshan heroes remain nothing more than bandits with a shameful past, one that no imperial pardon can truly erase, just as the “criminal inscriptions” on their faces can never be washed away. This lingering stigma leaves them feeling disrespected in the imperial court, undermining their confidence to challenge corrupt officials who hold higher ranks and greater influence.

(3) Some Liangshan heroes would rather live as timid civil servants with official rank than as free outlaws condemned to exile. For them, the imperial pardon feels like “mission accomplished.” They prize the security and prestige of an official position more than the uncertain, but free-spirited, justice-oriented lifestyle. And that is why, once pardoned, they often lose the motivation to continue fighting corruption.

Q3 (for open discussion): What if there were a Liangshan hero who was not only a martial artist but also politically savvy? How would he protect his brothers from the persecution of corrupt officials after they received the imperial pardon?

(1) Hire an experienced lawyer as a strategist to gather evidence of the corrupt officials’ wrongdoings. This would include, but not be limited to: how they framed the Liangshan heroes, how they deceived and manipulated the emperor with partial evidence, how they persecuted commoners for personal gain, and how they bribed high officials of the Liao state, who sought to invade the territory of the Song dynasty.

(2) Find allies in the imperial court by any means necessary, even through bribery, which is all too common in the political environment of the Song dynasty. The Liangshan heroes need powerful officials on their side to counterbalance the corrupt ones, ensuring that the emperor could hear arguments from both camps and make an impartial decision.

(3) Don’t forget to maintain the crucial relationship with Li Shishi, the emperor’s favored courtesan. Li has a crush (maybe more than a crush) on one of the Liangshan heroes, which is why she becomes a strong advocate in front of the emperor while Liangshan pleads for a pardon. Therefore, why not continue to use her influence to remind the emperor that corrupt officials are poisoning the country from within? 

(4) Raise once more the slogan of “Defying Corruption, Defending Justice.” Let the emperor see that the Liangshan heroes’ actions are not rebellion, but the nurturing of a strong olive tree—planted for the sake of the Song dynasty itself. In doing so, they awaken both civil servants and commoners, stirring them to recognize the poison of corruption and to join the fight against it.

Q 4 (for open discussion): Do the hot‑blooded Liangshan heroes take on a “mission impossible” when they raise the banner of “Defying Corruption, Defending Justice”?

Karl Popper argues in his book, The Open Society and Its Enemies, that people who seek power are often mediocre or venal because a healthy society shouldn't ask "who should rule?" but rather "how do we prevent bad rulers from causing too much harm?" Mediocre people are drawn to power because they believe they have a unique, indispensable role in bringing about this "perfect" society. They see themselves as the rightful rulers, and their pursuit of power is driven by a misguided sense of self-importance rather than genuine competence.

The real history of the Song dynasty proves that Emperor Huizong (宋徽宗, 1100–1126), the very ruler to whom the Liangshan heroes swore allegiance, was a mediocre monarch. Though he was a gifted painter, calligrapher, and poet, he was equally known for his love of luxury and indulgence. Corruption flourished under his reign, weakening the regime to the point that he and his successor (his son Emperor Qinzong 钦宗) were captured by the Jurchen‑led Jin dynasty in 1127, an event remembered as the Jingkang Incident (靖康之变). As historical fiction, Water Margin portrays the Song emperor as a pushover, a ruler who lacked clear judgment when faced with conflicting advice from his ministers. Whichever voice whispered into his ear first was often the one that won his approval.

Furthermore, Karl Popper argues that Venal people are attracted to power for selfish reasons, such as personal gain and the ability to control others. They are interested in a system that offers unchecked authority and avoids the accountability and criticism found in an open society. Obviously, the “venal people” in the Marter Margin are the corrupt officials seeking personal interests by robbing the country and persecuting the weak. 

Popper’s argument shifts the focus from finding an idealized, "best" leader to creating institutions that can remove flawed leaders without violence. Popper advocated for an "open society," which is characterized by critical rationalism and piecemeal social engineering. In this model, the desire for power itself becomes a red flag, as a truly capable and humble leader would be more focused on addressing tangible issues and serving the public good within a system of checks and balances, rather than on seizing absolute control.

Dear readers, do you think it is possible for the Liangshan heroes to reform the corrupt system in the Song Dynasty? What would a balanced and harmonious society look like in your imagination, the one where people deserve a second chance to exercise their talents and free will under a just system?