Great River Gang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Great River Gang (大江帮)
Affiliation	Subordinate organization of Dushan Fortress 37
Occupation/Role	Martial arts gang and the leading power among Linjiang Prefecture's Three Great Gangs 9
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

The Great River Gang controls four counties in southern Linjiang Prefecture and holds Linshui City, the prefectural seat. Control of the city gives it financial and official influence that helps it compete with the Iron Boat Gang and Salt Gang, despite holding no territorial advantage over either rival. 9

Its headquarters is a vast, walled complex outside Linshui City, described as the size of a small city. Only gang members reside there; disciples seeking entertainment or commerce travel to nearby Linshui City instead. 8

The gang recruits youths through harsh elimination tests. Prospective members must stand motionless under the scorching sun for two hours; only forty to fifty of 270 candidates endure the assessment that admits them as outer disciples. 2 3

New outer disciples are housed separately from official members and cannot leave their courtyard without permission. They receive ample meals, while recruiter Wang Jingyuan promotes the prospect of wealth, status, silver, and women in exchange for future contributions to the gang. 3

The gang's concealed link to Dushan Fortress is not known to ordinary members. Golden Eagle Envoy Wang Zhen later reveals that the Three Rivers Saber, Dark Cloud Saber, and Riptide Saber Technique were created by him and are practiced only by Dushan Fortress and the Great River Gang. 37

Organization

Leadership hierarchy

Rank	Position in the gang
1	Gang Leader
2	Four Protectors
3	Four Grand Hall Masters
4	Seven Branch Leaders
Middle management	Xiangzhu, below Grand Hall Masters and above Branch Leaders
Lower officers	Chief Officers and Subordinate Officers 14

The Great River Three Heroes—Young Master Yun, Young Master Peng, and Young Master Meng—are not formal high command, but their standing is comparable to that of Protectors, Hall Masters, and Branch Masters because they may contend for succession to the Gang Leader. 18 19 21

Four halls

Hall	Function and standing
Elite Hall	Reserved for elites and specialized in assassination and killing; considered a reserve for the upper echelons. 8
Great River Hall	The gang's backbone and future middle-management pool, positioned between the Elite and Bright Saber Halls. 8
Bright Saber Hall	The largest and lowest-status hall; recruits who fail to meet training standards are assigned here for dangerous, laborious work such as escorting, patrolling, and guard duty. 8
Assassination Hall	Specialized in assassination and killing. 8

Great River Hall members receive ten taels of silver per month and begin assignments as minor leaders. New members are issued waist tokens, two uniforms, a private room, a steel long saber, and an advance of ten taels of silver. 8

Martial arts training

The gang offers instruction in saber, sword, fist, and leg techniques through martial arts instructors. Recruits may learn one or multiple available techniques, with mastery and aptitude determining later recognition. 5

Its foundational internal cultivation method is the Three Rivers Heart Method, an eight-level art attributed to the gang's founding ancestor. New recruits are taught only its first three levels; the remaining levels require meritorious service. Passing the technique outside the gang is forbidden and punishable under gang rules. 5

• Three Rivers Saber — One-star mid-grade saber art with five forms: Rushing Waves, Galloping Waves, Ebbing Waves, Surging Waves, and Furious Waves. 5
• Dark Cloud Saber — One of the three saber techniques taught to recruits. 5
• Riptide Saber Technique — One of the three saber techniques taught to recruits. 5

Merits and rewards

The gang distinguishes between Minor Merits and Great Merits. Members may exchange merits for items including martial arts manuals. 21

Contributing martial arts manuals can yield exceptional advancement: Lin Xiao receives three Great Merits for submitting the Yang Sha Scripture and another for Yang Sha's death, along with promotion to Xiangzhu of Great River Hall's Sixth Branch. 14

Territory and Operations

The gang's principal conflicts concern control of the Linjiang River and its waterways. Its Song'an Branch lies where the Lin River meets the Qingshui River: the Lin River upstream is Great River Gang territory, downstream is Salt Gang territory, and the Qingshui River belongs to the Iron Boat Gang. Clashes in this area occur almost daily. 16 18

Song'an is the gang's strongest branch outside the headquarters. It is a riverside water village extending more than a hundred meters into the river, with over a dozen large ships and dozens of smaller vessels. Experts from headquarters, including two Protectors, are stationed there year-round. 18

The three gangs maintain an agreement allowing vessels that safely pass the Song'an river junction to continue downstream without attack. Great River Gang patrols inspect vessels: ships flying its flag may pass, while unmarked vessels are stopped; government ships cannot be intercepted. 19 21

During a major river clash, the Iron Boat Gang and Salt Gang jointly encircle the Great River Gang fleet. Great River Gang forces, including Lin Xiao's patrol warship, move to reinforce the trapped fleet. 22

Notable Members

• Li Daoqi — Manager/Steward who oversees new-recruit training, teaches the Three Rivers Heart Method, and assigns recruits to halls. 5 8
• Wang Jingyuan — Plump recruiter who encourages new disciples with promises of wealth and status. 3
• Gu He — Great River Hall middle manager and Subordinate Officer who introduces new members to the hall. 8 14
• Zhuang Jing — Great River Hall Master; an archer who joins the pursuit of Yin Sha. 11
• Su Youyu — Head of the Elite Hall. 11
• Qi Kun — “Fist Swordsman,” one of the Four Great Protectors; stationed around Song'an and aids the wounded Lin Xiao. 18 21 24
• Young Master Yun — One of the Great River Three Heroes; targeted by the Yin Yang Twin Evils at Tianxiang Tower. 10
• Shi Zhongyu / Young Master Peng — One of the Great River Three Heroes and a contender in the succession struggle. 18 19 21
• Zhang Dayuan — Branch Master of Song'an. 18
• Wang Zhen — Golden Eagle Envoy of Dushan Fortress and creator of the gang's three saber techniques. 37

Major Incidents

Tianxiang Tower attack

Yin Sha and Yang Sha, the Yin Yang Twin Evils, target Young Master Yun for a Salt Gang bounty of 100,000 taels. The confrontation devastates Tianxiang Tower and prompts a gang-wide distress response; hundreds of Great River Gang members surround the building. 10 11

Elite Hall Master Su Youyu and Great River Hall Master Zhuang Jing lead the pursuit after Yin Sha breaks out. Although ordinary gang members repeatedly attempt to block her escape, she defeats them and evades the search. 11 12

Yang Sha reward

After Yang Sha's death, Lin Xiao presents Yang Sha's head and the Yang Sha Scripture to the gang. The contribution earns him four Great Merits and elevates him to Xiangzhu of Great River Hall's Sixth Branch. 14

Iron Boat Gang ambush

The Iron Boat Gang intercepts Lin Xiao shortly after his departure for Song'an, apparently seeking to obtain the Yang Sha Technique. Lin Xiao concludes that a high-ranking informant within the Great River Gang leaked his movements. 16

Lin Xiao kills Iron Boat Gang Protector Lan Xinghe in the encounter, then arrives at Song'an with Lan's head. The act establishes his reputation within the branch. 17 18

Internal succession conflict

The Gang Leader's successor has not been decided, and the Great River Three Heroes are eligible contenders. Young Master Peng sees Lin Xiao's growing strength and achievements as a potential threat. 19 21

After Shi Zhongyu is implicated in collusion with the Iron Boat Gang, his reputation declines within the gang, though no conclusive evidence is available. The Gang Leader strips him of command over his Song'an subordinates after Lin Xiao is injured in the river conflict. 24 26

Lin Xiao's departure

Lin Xiao seeks the Gang Leader position but learns that succession requires support, money, and overall strength, while the old Gang Leader already favors another successor. He leaves the Great River Gang to strengthen himself, intending to return after two years. 25 26