Chinese Name: Hao Siwen

Japanese Name: Seibokukan Kakushibun 

Rank: 41st of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Wild Dog

Hao Siwen was from the town of Pudong in the Shaanxi province. His mother had become pregnant with him after being visited by a celestial god in a dream. He grew up to be very skilled in military drill, but despite his divine origins, had not accomplished anything of note. 

Hao Siwen was sworn brothers with the much more reputable Guan Sheng (plate 70). Guan Sheng had been called upon by Prime Minister Cai Jing to help protect the city of Daming against the Liangshan bandits who were sieging the town to rescue Lu Junyi (plate 68). Guan Sheng brought Hao Siwen along as a lieutenant to afford him the opportunity to live up to his potential. 

Guan Sheng decided to attack the stronghold at Liangshan Marsh to force the bandits to abandon their campaign against Daming in order to defend their territory. The tactic worked, and Song Jiang (plate 107) pulled a large faction of the Liangshan army back to their home base. 

During the battle at Liangshan, Huyan Zhuo (plate 55) went to Guan Sheng and told him he wanted to defect from the Liangshan army and return to fight for the Empire. It was a ruse though, and Huyan Zhuo led them into an ambush. Hao Siwen, Guan Sheng, and many of their soldiers were captured.  Song Jiang treated them with warmth and hospitality and invited them to join their ranks. Moved by Song Jiang’s kindness—as well as being too disgraced to return to Daming—Hao Siwen, Guan Sheng, and their troops, joined with Liangshan. 

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Suo Chao (plate 73) had been recovering from an injury he’d received while also fighting against the Liangshan bandits in the defense of Daming. When he was informed that Guan Sheng and his men had defected and joined with Liangshan, he decided to return to the battle field. Hao Siwen and several other Liangshan bandits then lured him into a trap in the deep snow where he was captured as well. 

Hao Siwen is depicted here luring Suo Chao and his horse to the snow pit trap where he is captured, although in the novel it is Li Jun (plate 61) and Zhang Shun (plate 99) who lure him into the trap. 

Kuniyoshi recreation