Wang Ying (Water Margin)

Wang Ying, a good fighter with a short stature, is depicted as having sparkling eyes. His height is not specified in the novel, but some readers estimate that he is no taller than 1.5 meters. Wang transports passengers as a coachman for a living. One day, he finds the valuables of some customers so tempting that he robs them. He is later arrested. But he escapes from jail and becomes a bandit leader on Mount Qingfeng (清風山; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong) under Yan Shun. Zheng Tianshou later joins them.

When Song Jiang, on the run after killing his mistress Yan Poxi, is going to Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; near Mount Qingfeng) to take shelter under his friend Hua Rong, he passes by Mount Qingfeng and is captured in a trap by the bandits. The outlaws want to use his heart to make soup. Just as he is about to be sliced up, Song sighs loudly, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like this?" Surprised to hear the name of a person he greatly admires for chivalry, Yan Shun stops the killing in time and inquires. After confirming Song's identity, the three chiefs free him, offer their apologies and treat him as an honoured guest.

While they are drinking, Wang Ying, who covets pretty women, leaves the feast midway to intercept a group coming by Mount Qingfeng that includes a sedan chair, which apparently carries a lady. Finding the woman attractive, Wang takes her to the stronghold and intends to rape her. Just then the others come to his room. When the woman says she is the wife of Liu Gao, the governor of Qingfeng Fort, Song Jiang feels obliged to save her as Liu is the colleague of Hua Rong, the fort's garrison commandant. Wang reluctantly agrees to release her.

On the Lantern Festival night, Song Jiang, who is then living in Hua Rong's house, goes outdoor to enjoy the celebrations. Liu Gao's wife spots him and lies to her husband that Song has abducted and almost raped her at Mount Qingfeng. Believing his wife, Liu orders Song Jiang arrested. After Hua Rong rescued Song by force, Liu seeks help from Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou, which oversees Qingfeng Fort. Huang Xin, who is sent to handle the matter, lures Hua to a feast and captures him. Meanwhile, Liu has re-arrested Song as he tried to sneak to Mount Qingfeng.

When Huang Xin is taking Song Jiang and Hua Rong back to Qingzhou, the bandits of Mount Qingfeng waylay the convoy, rescue the two prisoners, and kills Liu Gao. The bandits later defeat an army sent from Qingzhou led by Qin Ming and seizes Mrs Liu after breaking into Qingfeng Fort. Wang Ying again intends to keep Mrs Liu, but is prevented by Song Jiang and Yan Shun, who kills the woman whom they believe would cause harm to Wang. Song promises to find Wang, who nearly clashed with Yan, a more suitable woman to be his wife. As Qingzhou is likely to send a larger force, Song Jiang suggests that the group decamp to join Liangshan Marsh. Wang Ying is thus absorbed into the larger stronghold.