Hong San

Biodata

Background / History

Training and Life in Glittering Sand

Hong San studied under Dong Tianming from childhood. His master taught him martial skills, military strategy, and how to understand people, but approached moral instruction through stories rather than fixed rules. His guiding lesson was to follow one’s heart. Hong San was exceptionally gifted and particularly favored, yet his shamelessness deeply frustrated his teacher 82 213 268 286.

After being rescued at sea by a Glittering Sand merchant ship, Hong San entered Viscount Samuel’s service. He taught the viscount’s son combat skills and helped train soldiers. He also tried mercenary work, guard duty, soldiering, and farming, eventually deciding that serving others offered the easiest and most comfortable life 77 82.

Despite his useful position, Hong San endured contempt from nobles, soldiers, and other servants. His conspicuous kowtowing initially disgusted Kang De, who nevertheless accepted him as a guide and attendant after recognizing the hostility surrounding him 76 77 145.

Tina’s Mission and the Refugee Association

Following the destruction of Glittering Sand, Princess Tina entrusted Hong San with the Crimson Scroll and a letter. He was to deliver them to Goth’s Grand Duke, or bury them if Goth had fallen. Believing Kang De dead, Hong San also maintained a spirit tablet and burned offerings for him 140.

While traveling west through Goth, Hong San encountered refugees fighting bandits. The bandits attacked him as well, forcing him to fight; he killed their leader and helped rout them. The refugees’ heartfelt gratitude affected him profoundly, since he was accustomed to humiliation rather than being called a benefactor 141.

Hong San organized the refugees using his master’s neglected teachings. He armed selected fighters with captured equipment, used wagons and narrow terrain to defeat another bandit attack, and later seized a bandit camp before ambushing its returning occupants. His growing group attracted Cathayans, Goths, merchants’ donations, and further displaced civilians. Its members established a mutual-aid association—the Heaven and Earth Society—and elected him mountain lord 141 156.

The group eventually settled in Valentan at the mayor’s invitation. Hong San understood that the welcome came with an expectation: his followers would help defend the city against the elves. Overwhelmed by responsibility and the ambitions of subordinate leaders, he begged the unexpectedly returned Kang De to take him away 140 141 144.

Battle of Valentan

Hong San brought Kang De into the Heaven and Earth Society as its strategist, presenting him as his martial uncle and using the name Dong Zhuo. Although he repeatedly tried to escape leadership, Hong San could no longer abandon the people who depended on him 145 150 156.

Mayor Nick’s demands placed sixteen hundred of the Society’s people under a battlefield quota. The militia subsequently suffered devastating losses in an ambush arranged by Nick. Hong San risked his life pulling panicked militiamen out of enemy fire and later confronted the mayor where they had died 150 166 169 173.

Kang De pushed him to turn his knowledge into a practical defense plan. Hong San investigated the city’s forces, studied possible reinforcements, assessed Nick’s strategy, and fought beside Kang De during the siege 173 177 183 186.

When Society members joined a scheme to surrender Kang De to the elves, Hong San recognized their willingness to discard loyalty and dignity for survival as a reflection of his former self. He rejected them and returned to help Kang De force Nick’s cooperation 213.

His decisive choice came when he returned to protect the Society despite its betrayal. Believing its members could become better because he himself had changed, Hong San refused evacuation, threatened to kill himself rather than let Kang De forcibly remove him, and declared that he would never kneel again after one final farewell. He subsequently fought until his ordinary spear broke and his strength nearly failed, physically resisting an advancing elven shield wall to protect those behind him 220 221.

Kang De’s Adviser

After the battle, Hong San pledged himself to Kang De. He explained that he wanted to follow him because of his compassion, and hoped to leave fewer people in the world to suffer 226 227.

Hong San immediately took on postwar planning: battlefield salvage, negotiations over elven remains, contact with Goth’s court, and the establishment of a military headquarters. He also encouraged Kang De to publicize the victory, cultivate local support, and maintain deterrence rather than immediately attack another elven army 226 227.

His administrative work, reassurance of civilians, and dealings with provincial elites attracted foreign attention. A dragon think tank concluded that his transformation represented the emergence of talents he had possessed all along 426.

He also became a diplomatic representative, receiving elven envoys and escorting Tagelise and Elandil. When questioned about returning to Cathay, he answered that he would go wherever Kang De went. Concerned about a mysterious enemy, he later sent his master a coded request for advice 254 273 286.

Confrontation at Maple Leaf Palace

When Goth’s nobles and officials demanded the arrest of Kang De’s followers, Hong San used artillery demonstrations and the threat of bombs beneath the audience hall to prevent their seizure. He shot a particularly vocal noble with an anti-materiel rifle, revealing a ruthlessness far removed from his usual restrained manner 547.

Hong San demanded safe passage for Tina and Kang De’s followers. Tina instead accepted confinement in Maple Leaf Palace in exchange for the others’ freedom. Hong San positioned his forces near the southern gate, maintained a route to the palace, and prepared to break the gate open for the Elf Expeditionary Force if necessary 547.

Distant Harbor and Later Service

Hong San arrived in Distant Harbor with 126 selected recruits from Valentan and helped plan the city’s administration and West Goth’s development. During economic stabilization, he demanded resumed production, controlled prices, and public order, while offering indebted nobles low-interest loans and temporary debt relief 581 582.

During the Broken Isles evacuation, he organized airfield construction, resettlement, volunteer protection, and separate arrangements for wealthy refugees. He also proposed using newspapers, radio, reporters, and video to explain the rescue and spread their ideals 615.

Dong Tianming’s arrival tested Hong San’s vow against kneeling. Although moved to tears, Hong San straightened his knees and greeted his master with a deep bow instead. Dong Tianming was astonished that Kang De had accomplished the change he himself had failed to bring about 645.

After the destruction of the deep-sea behemoth, Kang De ordered Hong San to establish an ordnance and research center and recruit scholars to study the Broken Isles’ spoils. By the Arcane Council negotiations, he was publicly recognized as acting mayor, Kang De’s most trusted right-hand man, and the prospective chief minister of his shogunate 662 757.

Hong San later advised cooperation with the Empire against the Star Palace, arguing that the emperor genuinely sought Kang De as a trusted heir. He and Kang De reaffirmed their commitment to fight together as Distant Harbor mobilized against the Council rebels 859.

Appearance

Hong San has yellow skin and black hair, with Cathayan clothing and a hairstyle that distinguish him from the surrounding mainlanders 76.

• Eastern dress: In Glittering Sand, his Cathayan-style clothing was made from locally produced fabric. Kang De suspected that the presentation reflected someone else’s preferences rather than homesickness 80.
• Changed bearing: After Valentan, his appearance and manner changed markedly. Elandil described his courteous composure as concealing the edge of a drawn blade 268 426.
• Usual demeanor: He commonly stands half a step behind Kang De with a clear, restrained smile 547.

Personality

Initially, Hong San values comfort and survival above dignity or ambition. He openly regards service as preferable to exhausting or dangerous employment, expertly flatters superiors, and tolerates humiliation without taking it to heart. His treatment of the beggar Lister—whom he kicks before Kang De intervenes—shows how little sympathy he initially extends to the powerless 77 82 83 145.

Leadership exposes a compassion that his former lifestyle had concealed. Unlike the Society’s ambitious officers, he has little interest in glory or advancement and cares about the lives of both Cathayan and Goth followers. Their trust frightens him because he understands his limitations and the difference between defeating bandits and facing a regular army 144 156.

His transformation does not make him naïve. Hong San recognizes ingratitude, selfishness, and manipulation, but chooses to protect people because he believes they can change. After Valentan, he becomes composed and self-respecting without losing his ability to read others or his willingness to use intimidation 213 220 227 254.

With Kang De, he is loyal, discreet, and increasingly playful. He avoids prying into unexplained powers and private matters, yet freely teases his lord about romance. His loyalty also includes difficult advice and a willingness to act ruthlessly against threats to Kang De’s followers 254 425 547 859.

Abilities & Skills

Cathayan Martial Arts

Hong San is a trained martial artist whose subtle techniques and sharp instincts are particularly suited to battlefield fighting 77 186.

• Uses a spear and shield to guard Kang De’s flanks and cover weaknesses in his aggressive fighting style 186.
• Can identify attacks from behind and coordinate nearly simultaneous defensive actions with Kang De 186.
• Teaches combat skills and assists in training soldiers 77.
• Has limits of stamina and equipment: prolonged fighting exhausts him, and his spear breaks during the defense of the refugees 221.

Internal Cultivation

His master’s internal cultivation method allows him to recover through meditation 179.

• Brief, periodic meditative sessions can substitute for sleep sufficiently to relieve fatigue 179.
• He remains energetic after spending nearly an entire night monitoring the fighting 179.
• He assesses Kang De’s bones and pulse before explaining that his age and established foundation would make learning the method painfully slow 179.

Military Strategy and Command

Hong San applies his master’s teachings to troop organization, terrain, intelligence assessment, and siege defense 141 177 179 194.

• Organizes inexperienced refugees into coordinated spear, bow, fire-spear, and sling groups 141.
• Uses wagon cover, confined terrain, surprise attacks, and ambushes against bandits 141.
• Evaluates reinforcement schedules, fortifications, magical support, and the risks of disclosed plans 177 194.
• Recognizes that strategy requires concrete knowledge of weather, terrain, personnel, and available forces—not merely ingenious schemes 179.
• Identifies greenskin vehicles as potentially transformative and is encouraged to develop tactics around them 194.

Administration and Economic Policy

Hong San manages supplies, personnel, reconstruction, and political relationships 156 426 582.

• Keeps control of the Heaven and Earth Society’s money and grain while delegating routine work to trusted followers 156.
• Handles postwar affairs, cultivates provincial contacts, and reassures civilians 426.
• Uses credit concessions and debt relief to support production and price stability 582.
• Coordinates evacuation infrastructure, refugee accommodation, and volunteer safeguards 615.

Diplomacy and Psychological Insight

His ability to read expressions and adapt his conduct develops from servile flattery into effective leadership and diplomacy 77 141 268.

• Remembers followers’ names and family circumstances, strengthening personal trust 141.
• Maintains courtesy under elven contempt and questioning 273.
• Uses threats, incentives, and reputational pressure to obtain cooperation 213 547.
• Advises Kang De on negotiations, political legitimacy, public communication, and alliance-building 226 227 427 859.

Knowledge and Technical Assessment

Hong San retains specialist information from his master and can analyze unfamiliar techniques and weapons 286 287 291 426.

• Reconstructs a hidden threat from fragments of Dong Tianming’s drunken recollections 286.
• Explains the potential functions of Phoenix Vision from his master’s records; he does not possess the ability himself 287.
• Analyzes an axe technique’s strength requirements, throwing sequences, and compatibility with an off-hand ranged weapon 291.
• Recognizes firearms’ endurance advantage over powerful archery: firing requires far less exertion than repeatedly drawing a bow 426.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Spear and shield — His principal battlefield equipment during Valentan; one ordinary spear breaks during his final defense of the refugees 186 221.
• High-ranking battle badge — Issued by Nick and used to secure freedom of movement during combat 183.
• DV camera — Used to record events during the disturbance surrounding the attempt to hand Kang De to the elves 212 213.
• Anti-materiel rifle — Given to him by Kang De and used to kill a noble during the palace confrontation 547.
• Crimson Scroll and Tina’s letter — Temporarily entrusted to him for delivery to Goth’s Grand Duke 140.
• Healing potions, elven items, and spell scrolls — Supplies he selects for Kang De, including mental and physical recovery potions, stealth equipment, and three interrogation-spell sets 241.

Relationships

• Kang De — Lord, benefactor, close friend, and moral example. Their relationship develops from distrust and reluctant companionship into sworn loyalty and strategic partnership after Valentan 77 220 227 757.
• Dong Tianming — Childhood master. He prizes Hong San’s extraordinary talent but despises his former lack of dignity; their reunion reveals how thoroughly Hong San has changed 213 268 645.
• Princess Tina — Entrusts him with the Crimson Scroll and later secures his followers’ freedom by remaining under confinement. They subsequently represent Distant Harbor together in negotiations 140 547 757.
• Heaven and Earth Society — The refugee association that elects him mountain lord. Its dependence initially overwhelms him, but protecting its members becomes central to his understanding of humanity 141 144 220.
• Mayor Nick — Initially welcomes his refugees to Valentan, then exploits their manpower. Hong San confronts him over their deaths and later helps compel his cooperation 141 169 213.
• Song Baoyi, Chen Honghu, and the Society’s other leaders — Ambitious subordinates whose faction-building undermines his authority. Hong San retains financial control and eventually rejects the surviving leaders’ attempt to sacrifice Kang De 144 156 213.
• Leona — Ally during Valentan’s defense. Hong San works with her on planning and logistics and occasionally teases Kang De about her attitude toward him 173 177.
• Elandil — An acquaintance of Dong Tianming who knew Hong San before his transformation and recognizes the emergence of his long-suppressed talent 268.

Notable Quotes

“They can become better. Because I used to be just like them.” 220

“Please don't lose faith in humanity.” 220

“Master above, your disciple Hong San has learned to be human today.” 220

“I wish only to follow at Your Highness's side and leave fewer people in this world to suffer.” 227

Trivia

• Hong San keeps his promise never to kneel again even when reunited with Dong Tianming, substituting a deep, hands-cupped bow 645.
• His friendship with Kang De becomes the subject of circulating poems and staged plays in Distant Harbor 757.
• His Continental Common Language is initially described as even more fluent than his Zhendan Language 77.