Zhang Qing (The Gardener)

Zhang Qing (张青), not to be confused with Zhang Qing (张清) the 'Featherless arrow', is also a character in the "Water Margin".

Zhang Qing was from Mengzhou. He had a weird-looking face and thin facial hair. He once worked as a gardener in Guangming Monastery and once got into a violent quarrel and killed the monks in the monastery in a fit of anger, then burnt down the monastery and became an outlaw at Shizipo. Once, he tried to rob an old man but was defeated by the old man in combat instead. The old man recognised his talent in martial arts and brought him home with him and taught him martial arts. Also, Zhang Qing married the old man's daughter, Sun Er Niang.

Zhang Qing and his wife opened a tavern at Shizipo in Mengzhou, luring unsuspecting traders into the tavern for a drink, and then killed them and robbed them of their valuables, under the pretext of running an honest business. Also, they made buns with human flesh fillings from the people they killed, and sold them to the customers. Zhang Qing made friends with several other heroes around the country and became quite well-known, earning himself the nickname 'Gardener' (菜园子).

Once, Lu Zhishen passed by Shizipo after having seeing Lin Chong safely to Cangzhou, and was knocked out by the drugged wine he took from Sun Erniang. Luckily, Zhang Qing arrived back on time and saved Lu from his fate. Then, they became sworn brothers. Wu Song also passed by Shizipo on his way to exile to Mengzhou, but he was more wary of the dangers and did not fall for Sun Erniang's trick. He pretended to be knocked out by the drugged wine and had a fight with Sun Erniang, defeating her easily. Zhang Qing also arrived home on time and stopped the fight. Then, Zhang became sworn brothers with Wu Song too. Wu Song fled to Shizipo for refuge after killing the evil Jiang Zhong and Governor Zhang. Zhang Qing and his wife disguised him as a travelling monk, then saw him safely to Erlong Mountain to join Lu Zhishen.

Lu Zhishen, Wu Song and the other heroes on Erlong Mountain wrote a letter to Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang, inviting them to join their band on Erlong Mountain, which they agreed. Later, after the battle of Qingzhou, Zhang Qing and his wife followed the other heroes back to Liangshan to deliver justice on heaven's behalf.

Zhang Qing became in charge of hearing news from customers in a tavern which he ran near Liangshan and played an important role in receiving guests-of-honour and imperial envoys to Liangshan. After the heroes had been granted amnesty by the emperor, Zhang Qing followed them on their campaigns against the Liao Tartars and southern rebels, making great contributions to the imperial court. Sadly, Zhang perished in the battle of Wengzhou during the Fang Xi campaign.