Water Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the Marsh

Marking a decade since I started doing this.

Hi everyone. I want to let you know that I have posted the first episodes of Investiture of the Gods on the Chinese Lore Podcast. If you are not yet subscribed to that show, go to chineselore.com. You will find links to the show on various podcast platforms and on YouTube, as well as links to find me on social media and to review and support the show. If you like the podcast, a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts would be much appreciated. As always, thanks for listening!

Wrapping up the Water Margin Podcast and revealing my next project.

A number of our heroes are suddenly stricken by mysterious bouts of rheumatism, while others face something even worse.

Song Jiang continues his journey back to the capital, but how many of his brothers are coming with him?

I will be part of a panel of Asian podcasters on Podbean’s Storytelling Podcast Week Live show on May 24 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. See outlawsofthemarsh.com for the registration link. See you there!

Fang La makes a desperate last stand against the Song forces.

With the end of the campaign within reach, Song Jiang’s forces converge on the rebels’ palace.

Eager to avenge more slain comrades, Song Jiang charges headlong into trouble.

Song Jiang suffers setbacks on land and water, but his enemy isn't doing any better.

Song Jiang gets a heaven-sent opportunity, while the rebel emperor gets some help of his own.

Hey everyone. We are rapidly approaching the end of the Water Margin Podcast, with just 7 episodes to go. It’s been an incredible journey and I am grateful for all your support along the way. Once we finish the narrative, I plan to do one last episode to wrap up the podcast, talk about future plans, and answer any questions you may have about the Water Margin. So if you have questions, go ahead and start sending them to me at john@chineselore.com. If you want to wait until the narrative is over and you know how it all turns out before sending in questions, that’s ok, too, as I will probably wait 2-3 weeks after the end of the narrative before posting the wrap-up episode. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks as always for all your support.

Song Jiang gets another mixed bag of heartbreaks and victories.

One of the naval chieftains undertakes a dangerous nighttime mission.

A few of our heroes run into some guys who remind them of how they used to be.

Song Jiang encounters more victories and more losses as his army pushes south.

A fortuitous encounter on the river sets up a cunning plan by Song Jiang.

To occupy his gang's minds with something other than rebellion, Song Jiang volunteers to go put down a rebellion.

Lu Zhishen revisits his old haunts, while Song Jiang waxes poetic about the most Confucian birds.

The Middle Kingdom overfloweth with Sinocentrism as Song Jiang and company bring to heel the barbarians who reside in the desolate desert outpost of [checks notes] Beijing.

On the brink of total victory, Song Jiang runs into a string of unexpected setbacks.

Song Jiang and the Liao commander's son engage in a battle of the nerds.

A look at the who, what, where, why, and how of Song Dynasty travel.

Lu Junyi finds himself stuck between a rock and more rocks.

An envoy from the Liao tries to convince Song Jiang and his men to join the Great Resignation.

Despite a few hiccups, our heroes stay on the offensive against the Liao.

After their untimely run-in with an embezzling government representative, Song Jiang and company are under pressure to deliver some quick results in their opening battle against the Liao.

The bandits begin their new life as law-abiding subjects by selling off their loot.

The imperial court hopes the third time is the charm when it comes to making nice with the bandits.

Yan Qing offers a little eye candy to the emperor's mistress in exchange for her help.

The bandits roll out the red carpet, and you won't believe who's coming to dinner.

Prospects of peace ride on the all-important question: Is that a comma or a period?

YOU SUNK MY BATTLESHIP! (And torched my fleet and killed my generals and burned my camp and …)

You just lost 60,000 men on your campaign? What are you going to tell the emperor? Wait ... not telling him is actually an option?

The hawks at court get their way, as a huge imperial force descends on Liangshan.

A dive into the minutiae of monastic life.

We secretly replaced our heroes’ imperial wine with swamp water. Let’s see if they … oh crap they totally noticed!

After delivering justice on heaven's behalf in his usual manner at the fair, Li Kui dabbles in a more comical delivery of justice at a nearby county.

Li Kui and Song Jiang wagered heads, and heads they shall have.

On his way home after spreading holiday cheers in the capital, Li Kui decides to do some good deeds for civilians.

Song Jiang goes to the capital to partake in the holiday festivities, and a little extracurricular activity.

Our heroes pray to heaven for a sign, and heaven answers in the most literal way possible.

Liangshan sets its sights on another town that was just minding its own business, but a local general gives the bandits a literal bloody nose.

From attacking innocent towns to abducting women whose family you just slaughtered, it’s another honor-filled adventure for the heroes of Liangshan.

Check out my recent conversation with Jeremy Bai, a translator and writer focusing on Chinese fantasy genres.

The bandits and their despised foes parley for peace.

Our heroes get back to settling some old scores and unfinished business.

The imperial court prepares a retaliatory strike against Liangshan, while Li Kui goes rogue.

The bandits try one more time to spring Lu Junyi from jail, aided by some galaxy-brain holiday planning from the authorities.

To have friends come from afar, is it not a joy? If your friend is here to recruit you to Liangshan, then no.