Podcasts by Water Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the Marsh
A Chinese classic, retold in English: This podcast is an English retelling of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin (水浒传, aka Outlaws of the Marsh). It aims to tell the story in a way that is more accessible to audiences who are not already familiar with the novel or Chinese culture and literature in general.
Further podcasts by John Zhu
Podcast on the topic Geschichte
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Announcement: ”Investiture of the Gods” Launched from 2022-10-17T04:30
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
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Water Margin 128: Possessed from 2022-03-28T04:00
Song Jiang gets a heaven-sent opportunity, while the rebel emperor gets some help of his own.
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Announcement: End-of-Podcast Q&A from 2022-03-27T14:44:34
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. On...
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Water Margin 127: Losses from 2022-03-21T04:00
Song Jiang gets another mixed bag of heartbreaks and victories.
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Water Margin 126: Lake from 2022-03-07T04:00
One of the naval chieftains undertakes a dangerous nighttime mission.
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Water Margin 125: Outlaws from 2022-02-28T04:00
A few of our heroes run into some guys who remind them of how they used to be.
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Water Margin 124: Grief from 2022-02-21T04:00
Song Jiang encounters more victories and more losses as his army pushes south.
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Water Margin 123: Crossing from 2022-02-07T04:00
A fortuitous encounter on the river sets up a cunning plan by Song Jiang.
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Water Margin 122: Rebels from 2022-01-31T04:00
To occupy his gang's minds with something other than rebellion, Song Jiang volunteers to go put down a rebellion.
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Water Margin 121: Geese from 2022-01-24T04:00
Lu Zhishen revisits his old haunts, while Song Jiang waxes poetic about the most Confucian birds.
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Water Margin 120: Peace from 2022-01-10T04:00
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.
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Water Margin 119: Zodiac from 2022-01-03T04:00
On the brink of total victory, Song Jiang runs into a string of unexpected setbacks.
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Water Margin 118: Formations from 2021-12-27T04:00
Song Jiang and the Liao commander's son engage in a battle of the nerds.
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Water Margin Supplemental Episode 006: Travel from 2021-12-20T04:00
A look at the who, what, where, why, and how of Song Dynasty travel.
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Water Margin 117: Canyon from 2021-12-13T04:00
Lu Junyi finds himself stuck between a rock and more rocks.
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Water Margin 116: Defection from 2021-12-06T04:00
An envoy from the Liao tries to convince Song Jiang and his men to join the Great Resignation.
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Water Margin 115: Conquest from 2021-11-29T04:00
Despite a few hiccups, our heroes stay on the offensive against the Liao.
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Water Margin 114: Merit from 2021-11-15T04:00
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.
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Water Margin 113: Sale from 2021-11-08T04:00
The bandits begin their new life as law-abiding subjects by selling off their loot.
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Water Margin 112: Amnesty from 2021-11-01T04:00
The imperial court hopes the third time is the charm when it comes to making nice with the bandits.
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Water Margin 111: Audience from 2021-10-18T04:00
Yan Qing offers a little eye candy to the emperor's mistress in exchange for her help.
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Water Margin 110: VIP from 2021-10-11T04:00
The bandits roll out the red carpet, and you won't believe who's coming to dinner.
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Water Margin 109: Deceit from 2021-10-04T04:00
Prospects of peace ride on the all-important question: Is that a comma or a period?
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Water Margin 108: Burned from 2021-09-20T04:00
YOU SUNK MY BATTLESHIP! (And torched my fleet and killed my generals and burned my camp and …)
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Water Margin 107: Coverup from 2021-09-13T04:00
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?
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Water Margin 106: War from 2021-09-06T04:00
The hawks at court get their way, as a huge imperial force descends on Liangshan.
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Water Margin Supplemental Episode 005: Monastery from 2021-08-30T04:00
A dive into the minutiae of monastic life.
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Water Margin 105: Wine from 2021-08-23T04:00
We secretly replaced our heroes’ imperial wine with swamp water. Let’s see if they … oh crap they totally noticed!
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Water Margin 104: Wrestling from 2021-08-16T04:00
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.
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Water Margin 103: Heads from 2021-08-09T04:00
Li Kui and Song Jiang wagered heads, and heads they shall have.
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Water Margin 102: Ghosts from 2021-07-26T04:00
On his way home after spreading holiday cheers in the capital, Li Kui decides to do some good deeds for civilians.
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Water Margin 101: Capital from 2021-07-19T04:00
Song Jiang goes to the capital to partake in the holiday festivities, and a little extracurricular activity.
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Water Margin 100: Prayer from 2021-07-12T04:00
Our heroes pray to heaven for a sign, and heaven answers in the most literal way possible.
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Water Margin 099: Stoned from 2021-06-28T04:00
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.
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Water Margin 098: Spears from 2021-06-21T04:00
From attacking innocent towns to abducting women whose family you just slaughtered, it’s another honor-filled adventure for the heroes of Liangshan.
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Announcement: Interview on Asian Fantasy Fiction Podcast from 2021-06-18T00:52:48
Check out my recent conversation with Jeremy Bai, a translator and writer focusing on Chin...
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Water Margin 097: Truce from 2021-06-14T04:00
The bandits and their despised foes parley for peace.
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Water Margin 096: Nemesis from 2021-05-31T04:00
Our heroes get back to settling some old scores and unfinished business.
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Water Margin 095: Aftermath from 2021-05-24T03:00
The imperial court prepares a retaliatory strike against Liangshan, while Li Kui goes rogue.
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Water Margin 094: Festival from 2021-05-17T03:00
The bandits try one more time to spring Lu Junyi from jail, aided by some galaxy-brain holiday planning from the authorities.
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Water Margin 093: Healer from 2021-05-03T03:00
To have friends come from afar, is it not a joy? If your friend is here to recruit you to Liangshan, then no.
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Water Margin 091: Saber from 2021-04-19T03:00
The bandits find themselves in trouble when a descendant of the god of war comes knocking on their door.
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Water Margin 090: Solo from 2021-04-05T03:00
A daring rescue runs into the obstacle of not having Google Maps.
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Water Margin 089: Haggle from 2021-03-29T03:00
Lu Junyi’s jailer discovers that there IS such a thing as having too much money shoved in your face.
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Water Margin 089: Haggle from 2021-03-29T03:00
Lu Junyi’s jailer discovers that there IS such a thing as having too much money shoved in your face.
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Water Margin 088: Betrayal from 2021-03-22T03:00
Lu Junyi discovers that there IS such a thing as too much feasting.
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Water Margin 087: Trap from 2021-03-08T03:00
Lu Junyi decides to take a road trip, and everyone’s got a bad feeling about it, except him.
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Water Margin 085: Disrespect from 2021-02-22T03:00
No sooner had our heroes put down one group of upstarts did they discover another group that’s just asking for it.
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Announcement: Roundtable on Translated Chinese Fiction Podcast from 2021-02-15T03:00
Hey everyone. This is a quick programming note to let you know that I recently participated in a round...
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Water Margin 084: Loan from 2021-02-08T03:00
Song Jiang flags down a passing court official and very nicely asks for a favor.
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Water Margin 083: United from 2021-02-01T03:00
Huyan Zhuo gets another crack at the Liangshan bandits, and a whole gaggle of other outlaws.
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Water Margin 082: Assemble from 2021-01-25T03:00
Huyan Zhuo's simple quest for revenge turns into three side quests against leveled-up enemies.
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Water Margin 081: Search from 2021-01-11T03:00
Xu Ning chases after his lost property and actually catches up with the thief.
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Water Margin 080: Armor from 2021-01-04T03:00
The outlaws run up against a formidable foe and decide they need to “recruit” some more help.
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Water Margin 079: Well from 2020-12-28T03:00
After a successful siege, the bandits in search of the man they had come to save.
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Water Margin Supplemental Episode 004: Food from 2020-12-21T03:00
A look at food and drinks during the Northern Song.
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Water Margin 078: Sorcerers from 2020-12-14T03:00
Li Kui gets put in timeout and learns a lesson about messing with Daoist priests.
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Water Margin 077: Magic from 2020-12-07T03:00
Li Kui finds himself up to his neck in Daoist shenanigans.
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Water Margin 076: Immunity from 2020-11-30T03:00
As it turns out, iron-pledge guarantees from long-dead emperors do not count for as much as everyone thought.
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Water Margin 075: Child from 2020-11-16T03:00
The outlaws return to their tried-and-true recruitment tactics, and take it maybe just a step too far.
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Water Margin 074: Punished from 2020-11-09T03:00
In a shocking twist, the ancient Chinese legal system delivers some semblance of justice and punishes constable violence, and all it took was sleeping with the magistrate.
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Water Margin 073: Sack from 2020-11-02T13:55:28
The Xie brothers' relatives mount their jail break, and then we rejoin the Liangshan outlaws outside the Zhu Family Manor.
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Water Margin 072: Family from 2020-10-19T03:00
Some relatives embarrass you at weddings, some get into political arguments at the holiday dinner table, and some threaten to fight you to the death if you don’t help them break some cousins out...
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Water Margin 071: Rematch from 2020-10-12T03:00
After getting a bloody nose in their initial attack, the Liangshan forces take another crack at razing the Zhu Family Manor.
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Water Margin 070: Maze from 2020-10-05T03:00
Our heroes storm to the gates of the Zhu Family Manor, intent on teaching the people inside a lesson.
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Water Margin 069: Chicken from 2020-09-21T03:00
An act of petty theft quickly escalates into a grave insult against the Liangshan heroes, somehow.
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Water Margin 068: Offal from 2020-09-14T03:00
Yang Xiong has a little heart-to-heart with his adulterous wife.
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Water Margin 067: Rendezvous from 2020-09-07T03:00
Things heat up in Yang Xiong’s house, and on the dead-end street behind it.
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Water Margin 066: Swine from 2020-08-24T03:00
In between carving up pig carcasses, Shi Xiu sniffs out some shenanigans in his new household.
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Announcement: 2 Podcast Interviews from 2020-08-23T17:18:43
I recently did two interviews on other podcasts. The first is the Manda...
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Water Margin 065: Brothers from 2020-08-17T03:00
A street brawl turns two strangers into bosom buddies.
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Water Margin 064: Rescue from 2020-08-10T03:00
Don’t drink on this trip? I’ll drink as much as I please, damn the consequences. Oh, here come those consequences.
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Water Margin 063: Imposter from 2020-07-27T03:00
Li Kui runs the full gamut of emotions in one day as he goes home to fetch his mother.
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Water Margin 062: Scrolls from 2020-07-20T03:00
Song Jiang gets a little divine intervention in his flight from the law.
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Water Margin 061: Starlord from 2020-07-13T03:00
Song Jiang’s poor choices lead him to a strange, otherworldly encounter.
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Water Margin 060: Slaughter from 2020-06-29T03:00
Nothing says “honor” quite like killing dozens of people who had nothing to do with your predicament, taking their stuff, and burning their town.
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Water Margin 059: Raid from 2020-06-22T03:00
Things get even rowdier at Song Jiang and Dai Zong’s execution.
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Water Margin 058: Fake from 2020-06-15T03:00
One day you are a respected craftsman making an honest living; the next day, some shady “deacon” shows up at your door with a lucrative gig for you …
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Water Margin 057: Crazy from 2020-06-01T03:00
In trouble for his drunken poetry, Song Jiang is forced into a crappy scheme to save his life.
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Water Margin 056: Poem from 2020-05-25T03:00
While touring historical sites and indulging in fine drink and food, Song Jiang is driven by his misfortunes to write a few words.
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Water Margin 055: Ox from 2020-05-18T03:00
Dai Zong introduces Song Jiang to his good friend Li Kui. Well, friend. More of an acquaintance really. I mean, a colleague. Actually, I don't usually hang out with him. Really.
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Water Margin 054: Name from 2020-05-04T03:00
Once again, we see how far money and reputation can carry a man, even when he's on his way to prison.
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Water Margin 053: Ferry from 2020-04-27T03:00
Like Uber, but for boats ... and the ferryman gives you a choice of meals, too.
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Water Margin 052: Exile from 2020-04-20T03:00
Caught at his home, Song Jiang is finally brought to justice ... such as it is.
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Water Margin 051: Father from 2020-04-06T03:00
Song Jiang's Liangshan-bound cohort keeps growing, until he gets an unexpected message.
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Water Margin 049: Siege from 2020-03-23T03:00
Song Jiang’s bandit buddies run amok, and then give an enemy general the run-around.
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Water Margin 048: Arrows from 2020-03-09T03:00
A local lantern festival ignites a feud between Hua Rong and his boss.
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Water Margin 047: Kindness from 2020-03-02T03:00
Meet the heroes of Clear Winds Mountain, who turn unsuspecting passers-by into soup and abduct and defile women on their way to visit their parents' graves.
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Water Margin 046: Trouble from 2020-02-24T03:00
Wu Song continues acting like the worst pretend monk ever and gets himself first into some cold water, and then into some hot water.
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Water Margin 045: Religion from 2020-02-10T03:00
On the run from the law, Wu Song finds religion, and then quickly finds a way to break all of its tenets.
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Water Margin 044: Revenge from 2020-02-03T03:00
Wu Song’s enemies just couldn’t leave well enough alone, and soon find themselves facing the consequences — pissed-off consequences.
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Water Margin 043: Admire from 2020-01-27T03:00
After his beatdown of Jiang Menshen, Wu Song discovers he has a new fan.
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Water Margin 042: Drunk from 2020-01-13T03:00
Wu Song finally finds out what Shi En wants his help with, and devises a way to turn a mob war into a drinking game.
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Water Margin 041: Prison from 2020-01-06T03:00
Wu Song receives the best treatment the ancient Chinese legal system has to offer, despite his effort to invite the worst.
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Water Margin 040: Meat from 2019-12-30T03:00
Wu Song stops in at a tavern and gets all nitpicky about the food, like the teeniest bit of pubic hair in the bun fillings.
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Water Margin 039: Justice from 2019-12-16T03:00
Wu Song is determined to get to the bottom of his brother’s death, by any means necessary.
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Water Margin 038: Skeletons from 2019-12-09T03:00
The murderers’ coverup goes off as planned … until a certain someone gets back in town.
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Water Margin 037: Cuckold from 2019-12-02T03:00
Wu Dalang catches his unfaithful wife in the act, and pays for it.
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Announcement: Ask Me Anything on Dec. 16 from 2019-11-20T03:00
If you have questions about the how’s and why’s of this podcast, or my thoughts on podcasting in general, post them at the Ask Me Anything hosted by WhatPods on December 16 at
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<h5 class="card-title"><a href="/podcast/water-margin-podcast-outlaws-of-the-marsh/water-margin-036-hookup/">Water Margin 036: Hookup</a><small> from 2019-11-18T03:00</small></h5>
<p class="card-text"><p>Armed with their 10-step plan, Ximen Qing and Mrs. Wang undertake Operation Seduction.</p></p>
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<h5 class="card-title"><a href="/podcast/water-margin-podcast-outlaws-of-the-marsh/water-margin-035-plot/">Water Margin 035: Plot</a><small> from 2019-11-11T03:00</small></h5>
<p class="card-text"><p>While Wu Song is away, someone keeps hovering around his brother){kind=link}
Water Margin 034: Wife from 2019-11-04T03:00
Wu Song's happy reunion with his brother hits a snag when his brother's wife is a bit too happy to see him.
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Water Margin 033: Beast from 2019-10-21T04:00
Wu Song throws caution to the wind and goes big-game hunting with his fist.
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Water Margin 032: Guests from 2019-10-14T04:00
Despite the best efforts of the Yuncheng County justice system, Song Jiang somehow slips through the hands of the law.
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Water Margin 031: Crime from 2019-10-07T04:00
Does a multitude of wrongs make a right? We find out this week as an adulterer stands up to a crooked justice system as the authorities try to cover up for one of their own, who runs afoul of th...
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Water Margin 030: Gold from 2019-09-23T04:00
An evening that starts with Song Jiang being offered a big bag of gold goes horribly awry.
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Water Margin 029: Grateful from 2019-09-16T04:00
As our bandit friends herald the dawn of a new age of prosperity, we check in with their acquaintance back in Yuncheng County.
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Water Margin 028: Fracas from 2019-09-09T04:00
The last time Lin Chong vented, he cut off three heads. How many will he chop off this time?
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Water Margin 027: Swamp from 2019-08-26T04:00
Somebody forgot to explain to our heroes that "Lend me your ears" is only a figure of speech.
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Water Margin 026: Leak from 2019-08-19T04:00
Which member of the Yuncheng County legal system is NOT trying to help Chao Gai escape? Raise your hand. Anyone? Anyone?
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Water Margin 025: Search from 2019-08-12T04:00
A tip from his no-good brother puts a down-on-his-luck investigator on the scent of Chao Gai and company.
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Water Margin 024: Refuge from 2019-07-29T04:00
If you can’t beat them, join them. Yang Zhi embarks on his life outside the law with a little dine-and-dash action.
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Water Margin 023: Heist from 2019-07-22T04:00
Yang Zhi's approach to convoy duty: Try to rest before I tell you? That's a whipping. Try to get on the road before I tell you? That's a whipping. Look at me funny? That's a whipping. Complain a...
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Water Margin 022: Lure from 2019-07-15T04:00
Wu Yong reels in some eager helpers for Chao Gai's planned heist.
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Water Margin 021: Fish from 2019-07-01T04:00
Chao Gai sends a confidant to a fishing village in search of a few good men with no compunctions about theft.
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Water Margin 020: Gift from 2019-06-24T04:00
Our story shifts to rural village life, which apparently includes receiving uninvited visitors from near and far, some of whom hit you up for food and wine in the middle of the night while other...
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Water Margin Supplemental Episode 003: Money from 2019-06-19T04:00
A quick look at currencies, income, and living expenses during the Northern Song.
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Water Margin 019: Knife from 2019-06-17T04:00
It slices. It dices. It probably shouldn't be sold on a busy street in the capital. But wait, there's more!
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Water Margin 018: Pledge from 2019-06-03T04:00
Lin Chong really wants to join the bandits on Liangshan, but the initiation is murder.
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Water Margin 017: Water from 2019-05-27T04:00
Meet the new Lin Chong, stabber of hearts, remover of heads, and burner of old men’s beards.
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Water Margin Supplemental Episode 002: Buddhism from 2019-05-22T04:00
A look at the growth of Buddhism during the Northern Song and the religion's relationship with the imperial government.
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Water Margin 016: Fire from 2019-05-20T04:00
Just as Lin Chong starts to settle into his new life at the penal colony, his past pays him a visit.
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Water Margin 015: C.R.E.A.M. from 2019-05-06T04:00
Lin Chong finds out first-hand that cash really does rule everything around you, especially when you’re caught up in the ancient Chinese legal system.
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Water Margin 014: Forest from 2019-04-29T05:00
Shady backroom deals, morally flexible guards, and a stretch of dodgy woods: Things are not looking good for Lin Chong.
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Water Margin 013: Stabbed from 2019-04-22T05:00
Lin Chong buys a shiny new toy, and then discovers he got sold out.
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Water Margin 012: Sh*t from 2019-04-08T05:00
We see how the "throw Lu Zhishen into a fecal pond" plan turns out, and then watch as he turns pest removal into a Strongest Man event.
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Water Margin 011: Sins from 2019-04-01T05:00
A couple duels, a few corpses, and a big fire. Just another day on Lu Zhishen’s trip to the capital.
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Water Margin 010: Journey from 2019-03-25T05:00
Lu Zhishen unexpectedly runs into an old friend. Well, a friend. More of a passing acquaintance, really. What do you call someone you don't mind stealing from?
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Water Margin 009: Berserk from 2019-03-11T05:00
Lu Zhishen meets an old man in need and offers to use his monk training to help the guy out. Wait, what monk training?
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Water Margin 008: Monk from 2019-03-04T04:00
Lu Zhishen's new monastic family comes to the sobering realization that they just accepted a hard-drinking, mean-punching, latrine-spurning public-health menace into their midst.
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Water Margin 007: Buddha from 2019-02-25T04:00
On the lam after committing murder, Lu Da first runs into an old friend, and then runs into religion.
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Water Margin 006: Minced from 2019-02-11T08:11:51
Shi Jin makes a new friend, and we explore the question on everyone’s mind: Exactly what DO you do with minced pork fat?
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Water Margin 005: Party from 2019-02-04T04:00
Shi Jin and the bandits from the nearby mountains make it a Mid-Autumn Festival to remember.
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Water Margin Supplemental Episode 001: Cuju from 2019-01-30T03:00
A quick look at the ancient Chinese game of football that allowed Gao Qiu to break into government service.
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Water Margin 004: Pupil from 2019-01-28T04:00
Wang Jin turns a one-night farm stay into a nice little gig by knocking his host’s son on his butt.
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Water Margin 003: Ball from 2019-01-14T04:00
How do you rise up to be the future ruler's right-hand man? Certainly not through brilliance or hard work.
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Water Margin 002: Demons from 2019-01-07T06:00
The capital is facing a crisis, and the only hope is basically the 12th-century Chinese equivalent of Anakin Skywalker from "The Phantom Menace." Ugh.
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Water Margin 001: Introduction from 2019-01-01T01:24:44
An overview of the podcast and an introduction to the Water Margin, aka Outlaws of the Marsh, one of China’s great classic literary works.
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