As the first long-form novel written in classical vernacular, "Water Margin" played a crucial role in the development of Celestial Dynasty literature.
Taking the most widely circulated 120 Chapters as an example:
The first seventy Chapters of the story seamlessly introduce each hero with a smooth narrative, where each hero’s appearance is naturally integrated without a deliberate introduction of time or place, while telling the story without leaving any trace of seams.
Until the seventieth Chapter of the novel:
The Stone Tablet in the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness receives celestial omens, and the heroes of Mount Liang rank their seats.
All the previous clues converge into one line, merging into the sea, propelling the grand storyline forward.
And at this moment, on Blue Star.
As readers, like an endless stream, successively purchase "Water Margin" and begin reading, the first thought that occurs to many is:
This book is very much like "Journey to the West"!
Of course, not in terms of plot or theme similarity.
It’s mainly because "Water Margin" and "Journey to the West" are both narrated in classical style.
However, "Journey to the West" initially had two versions, and readers could choose a modern version.
Unlike "Water Margin", which only has a classical narration version, only some obscure and awkward rare phrases have been replaced by the System in a way that everyone can understand.
Reading a bit more deeply, this feeling in the readers becomes even more profound:
This book and "Journey to the West" indeed have many inherent similarities in content and structure!
For example, the 36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly Fiends mentioned at the beginning.
The same concept was accurately mentioned by Chu Kuang in "Journey to the West":
Zhu Bajie’s transformation is the 36 Heavenly Spirits, while Sun Wukong’s seventy-two transformations belong to the Earthly Fiends.
Reflecting the theory of the 108 demonic generals reincarnated at the start of "Water Margin" leads one to various associations and even reveries.
Could this be understood as...
Chu Kuang’s ambition for this book is to replicate the miracle of "Journey to the West"?
Realizing this, many readers’ reading attitudes changed, from pure mental enjoyment to a serious exploration while reading.
Under such exploration, the content of the story did not disappoint the readers.
When Garrison Major Lu punched town bully Western Pass, as the story direction was revealed, it also stirred the readers’ enthusiasm! Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on noᴠelfire.net
Gradually, some realized the intention of old rascal Chu Kuang:
The opening scene where Grand Marshal Hong releases 108 demonic celestial stars should be the greatest foreshadowing of the whole book, right?
The countless demonic generals and celestial stars, which one does Garrison Major Lu correspond to?
What role will the rising through the ranks due to cuju-playing, the high-ranking Grand Marshal Gao Qiu, play?
These answers are yet unknown, but the plot continues in the readers’ enjoyable reading, and those familiar stories from Celestial Dynasty spread the fragrance of words in this world.
Ruckus at Mount Wutai!
Ruckus at Peach Blossom Village!
Burning the Clay Pot Temple!
Uprooting the Weeping Willow!
Lu Zhishen travels freely and unrestrained, making people feel exuberant and thrilled!
Lin Chong is also drawn into this storyline of the rogue monk.
Misleadingly enters White Tiger Hall, the title of an instructor of 800,000 imperial troops cannot withstand simple framing and slander by a wastrel.
What kind of person is the Grand Marshal?
Seeing one part, we understand the whole; seeing one leaf, we know the deep autumn.
The story’s rising, turning, and concluding is without a trace; the plot flows smoothly, and characters are connected and pushed forward, with the fate of each character unconsciously gripping the readers’ attention.
Those who realized this have been deeply immersed, becoming readers who forget to eat and sleep.
And the fastest readers have already reached "Lin Chong ascends Mount Liang on a snowy night".
With a million-word book, although it’s hard to digest everything in just a day or two, reading through it is not a problem.
But the true takeoff of this book came on the second day.
Online in the starry sky.
A large number of readers, who have finished reading the entire text, sing praises!
Old rascal Chu Kuang, once again amidst praises, became Teacher Chu Kuang!
"Congratulations to Teacher Chu Kuang, for finally creating a work that can stand shoulder to shoulder with ’Journey to the West’, the same classical narrative style with equally lingering aftertaste, both are masterpieces!"
"Teacher Chu Kuang, mighty and domineering!"
"The book is indeed a rare good book, but those in the book who are called heroes may not truly be heroes. I think this is Chu Kuang’s depiction of the brutally bloody reality of ancient society."
"Am I the only one who thinks the book’s worldview is not correct?"
"That depends on the angle from which you read this book."
"I think it’s based on the reader’s psychological age; those with a younger psychological age are the happiest, seeing a chivalrous Mount Liang; adults might perceive a dark Mount Liang, full of sinister twists; I’m already fifty-eight years old, seeing ’Water Margin’ as a hell, where to survive, one has to become like a ghost, with no reincarnation nor liberation, forever trapped in this hell, so I am often grateful to live in the present era, but cannot forget those times, needing Chu Kuang to remind everyone in this way, history is always the best lesson."
"I think it’s not just a previous lesson."
"Even in the present, our world still bears the shadow of ’Water Margin’, where one must become wise and strong to live better, this truth holds at any time, any place, because in one of Chu Kuang’s books, there’s such a concept that I deeply agree with: where there are people, there will be a Jianghu."
"This is truly a remarkable book!"
"Seeing the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends fall in the battle against Fang La, it’s inevitable to feel heartbroken; seeing Wu Yong and Hua Rong hang themselves, tears unknowingly wet the cheeks; seeing Emperor Huizong’s tyranny, condoning corrupt officials, it’s hard to hold back a sigh, yet another classic Chu Kuang-style ending."