Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Bai Sheng (白胜, Bạch Thắng) is a fictional character in the classic Chinese novel Water Margin (Shui Hu Zhuan). Known by his nickname ‘Daylight Rat’ (Bái Rì Shǔ), he is one of the 108 Heroes of Liangshan, ranked 106th and designated as the Earth Exhaustion Star (地耗星). Unlike the elite warriors of the Liangshan band, Bai Sheng starts as a gambler and a local vagrant in Huangni Gang. His primary significance in the narrative is his instrumental role in Chao Gai (晁盖, Tiều Cái)’s master plan to hijack the ‘Imperial Birthday Gift’—a massive cache of valuables intended for Minister Cai Jing (蔡京, Thái Kinh).
Role in Water Margin
‘A gambler by trade and a rat by nature, he proved that even the humblest of men could shake the foundations of an empire.’
Bai Sheng is famously recruited by Wu Yong (吴用, Ngô Dụng) to assist in the daring heist at Yellow Mud Ridge. He disguised himself as a wine merchant, using a drugged bottle of spirits to incapacitate the guards protecting the treasure. While he was later captured and tortured by the authorities, his refusal to betray his comrades initially, and his eventual escape from prison, cemented his entry into the Liangshan brotherhood. Despite his lack of martial prowess compared to leaders like Lu Junyi (卢俊义, Lư Tuấn Nghĩa) or Guan Sheng (关胜, Quan Thắng), he served as a scout and a specialized operative during the later campaigns.
Bai Sheng — Historical & Literary Timeline
Chapter 16
The Heist of the Imperial Birthday Gift
Bai Sheng acts as the undercover merchant, successfully drugging the guards and allowing the seven heroes to seize the wealth.
Chapter 17
Imprisonment and Escape
After being tracked down by He Tao (何涛, Hà Đào), Bai Sheng is captured and subjected to torture, eventually leading to his imprisonment and subsequent rescue by the Liangshan forces.
Chapter 119
The End of the Road
During the final campaign against the rebel leader Fang La (方腊, Phương Lạp), Bai Sheng falls ill and passes away, marking the tragic decline of the Liangshan heroes.
Key Relationships
- Chao Gai (晁盖, Tiều Cái)
- The chieftain of the original group who organized the theft of the birthday gift, providing Bai Sheng with his path to outlawry.
- Wu Yong (吴用, Ngô Dụng)
- The strategist who identified Bai Sheng as the perfect pawn for the wine-drugging plot at Yellow Mud Ridge.
- He Tao (何涛, Hà Đào)
- The government official who led the investigation into the stolen birthday gift and ultimately apprehended Bai Sheng.
