Chinese Name: Cai Qing

Japanese Name: Isshika Saikei

Rank: 95th of the the 108 and Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Stalk of Flower

Cai Qing worked as a jailor and assistant executioner at the prison in the city of Daming. He was the younger brother of Cai Fu (plate 79) who was the chief warden and executioner at the same prison. He received his nickname, “Stalk of Flower”, for always wearing a flower in his hat.

Cai Qing and Cai Fu were put in charge of guarding Lu Junyi (plate 68) while he awaited execution. The Liangshan bandits had been sieging the city to try and rescue Lu Junyi as they considered him a very valuable asset and wanted him to join their ranks. Not wanting to anger Liangshan’s leaders, the Cai brothers did their best to take excellent care of Lu Junyi while under their supervision.

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Liangshan’s strategist, Wu Yong (plate 14), had devised a plan to rescue Lu Junyi during the city’s annual lantern festival. The large crowds drawn to the festival provided the perfect opportunity to sneak many of the bandits into the city disguised as merchants. The rest of the troops waited outside the city walls, and the Blue Cloud Tower inside the city was set on fire as a signal for everyone to attack simultaneously.

When the time came, Cai Fu assisted Liangshan’s outlaws in breaking Lu Junyi out of the prison while the city was being sacked. Cai Fu and Cai Qing then followed them back to the bandit stronghold, and knowing they would be implicated in the escape, the two brothers joined with the legions at Liangshan Marsh.

Cai Qing is shown in this diptych (plates 79 and 80) deflecting an arrow in battle, back to back with his brother Cai Fu as they escape Daming Prefecture.

Isaac Nichols Original