The "18 Warriors of Sui-Tang Transition" () are fictional legendary heroes who lived during the Sui and early Tang dynasties. The concept of the 18 Warriors was first introduced in the traditional historical novel Shuo Tang. The warriors' rankings are based on their martial arts skills and physical strength. Some of them are based on historical figures, such as Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin, while others were invented as folk heroes, such as Luo Cheng and Yuwen Chengdu.
Ranking The exact rankings are disputed, partly because the novel Shuo Tang only ranks 13 of the 18 warriors. In order, the 13 ranked by the book are: Li Yuanba () Yuwen Chengdu () Pei Yuanqing () Xiong Kuohai () Wu Yunshao () Wu Tianxi () Luo Cheng () Yang Lin () Wei Wentong () Shang Shitu () Xin Wenli () N/A N/A N/A N/A Qin Shubao () Yuchi Gong () Shan Xiongxin ()
The identities of the five unnamed warriors are often disputed. Among the characters mentioned in the book, several possible figures include Yuchi Gong (), Wang Bodang (), Cheng Yaojin (), Hua Gongyi (), Liang Shitai (), Han Qinhu (), Ma Shumou (), and Cao Yanping (). Other historical or fictional characters from the Sui and early Tang dynasties are also potential candidates for this list, such as Zuo Tiancheng (), Lai Hu'er (), Luo Shixin (), Hou Junji (), Wang Junke (), Wang Bo (), and Lu Mingyue ().
The most popularly accepted version of the list includes Cao Yanping, Lai Hu'er, Liang Shitai, and Zuo Tiancheng as warriors 12 through 15, and Yuchi Gong as warrior 17.
Characters
Li Yuanba
In the novel In Shuo Tang, Li Yuanba () is portrayed as the most powerful and skillful warrior of his time. He is the fourth son of Li Yuan, the founder of the Tang dynasty. Li Yuanba possesses extraordinary physical strength, exemplified by his weapons: a pair of golden hammers weighing 400 jin(236.1 kg) each. With Li Yuanba's assistance, Li Yuan not only defeated the Turks, but also easily captured the capital city of Chang'an after his rebellion. However, Li Yuanba is not known for his intelligence and can be quite foolish. His teacher had instructed him never to kill anyone who wielded a Golden-Tang (a spade-like weapon) in battle. Despite this, in two separate battles, Li Yuanba kills Wu Tianxi and Yuwen Chengdu, both of whom used Golden-Tangs. After killing Yuwen Chengdu, Li Yuanba is caught in a thunderstorm. Annoyed by the lightning and thunder, he throws his heavy hammers into the sky to strike the clouds. When the hammers fall back to the ground, one of them strikes and kills him.
Archetype There are two inspirations for the character of Li Yuanba. The first is Li Xuanba (), the historical third son of Li Yuan, who died young. Li Yuanba's name and social identity are derived from Li Xuanba. The second is Li Daoxuan (), a renowned general of the early Tang dynasty. Li Yuanba in the novel shares many similarities with Li Daoxuan in history: both are skilled martial artists, great generals, and royal-family members who died young.
Yuwen Chengdu
In the novel In the novel, Yuwen Chengdu () is the elder son of Yuwen Huaji, a politically powerful figure in the Sui dynasty. Before Li Yuanba gained prominence, Yuwen Chengdu was considered the strongest warrior. His weapon is a Golden-Tang, weighing 200 kg. He is so formidable that most opponents flee at the mere mention of his name. In the Battle of Siming Mountain, Yuwen Chengdu single-handedly fights against Wu Yunshao, Wu Tianxi, and Xiong Kuohai for an entire day, ultimately defeating them. Though generally regarded as a hero, he is negatively influenced by his family, especially his father, Yuwen Huaji, who kills Yang Guang, the emperor of the Sui dynasty, in a military rebellion. Yuwen Chengdu is eventually killed by Li Yuanba during the Battle of Lintong Pass following the rebellion.
Archetype Yuwen Chengdu is based on Yuwen Chengji (), the historical son of Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Chengji is notable primarily because of his father. After the military rebellion, Yuwen Chengji was killed by Dou Jiande, along with his father, Yuwen Huaji, his uncle, Yuwen Zhiji, and his younger brother, Yuwen Chengzhi (), who was the inspiration for Yuwen Chenglong () in the novel. The only surviving member of his family, Yuwen Shiji (), eventually became a high-ranking officer in the Tang dynasty.
Pei Yuanqing
In the novel Pei Yuanqing () is considered the third strongest warrior of the period. Before Li Yuanba gained widespread recognition, Pei Yuanqing was the only warrior who could challenge Yuwen Chengdu. He is the third son of Pei Renji (), the general in charge of the troops stationed at Shanma Pass. Like Li Yuanba, Pei Yuanqing gained fame at a young age and is renowned for his physical strength. His weapons are a pair of silver hammers, each weighing 150 kg. He and his father and brothers are ordered to attack the rebel army at Wagang Fort (). Pei Yuanqing easily defeats dozens of Wagang warriors, including some notable figures on this list, such as Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin (see below). However, he and his family are later framed by another general and, with no other options, surrender to Wagang Fort. Pei Yuanqing is killed by a fire attack during the Battle of Linyang Pass.
Archetype Pei Yuanqing is based on the historical figure Pei Xingyan (), who, like Pei Yuanqing in the novel, was a young general in the Sui dynasty. The real history of Pei Xingyan and his father, Pei Renji, closely mirrors the story in Shuo Tang. Both father and son were renowned generals. They were ordered to attack Wagang Fort but failed and subsequently surrendered to the rebel army. Later, Pei Xingyan became one of the four major cavalry officers at Wagang Fort. After the rebellion at Wagang Fort ended in internal conflict, Pei, along with Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao, joined another rebel army led by the warlord Wang Shichong. However, they soon realized that Wang Shichong was an ineffective leader. Cheng and Qin defected to Li Yuan's army, but Pei and his father were unable to escape and were later sentenced to death by Wang Shichong.
Xiong Kuohai and the Wu Brothers Xiong Kuohai, Wu Yunshao and Wu Tianxi are three entirely fictional warriors in the novel of Shuo Tang. Xiong Kuohai and Wu Tianxi do not have any basis in real history. Wu Yunshao's historical basis is disputed.
Xiong Kuohai Xiong Kuohai () is a famous brigand in the Taihang Mountain area. His story has two main renditions. One version says that he uses a pair of axes, while another version says that his weapon is a heavy iron stick. Although he is a brigand with smuggling routes in the mountains, he helps poor and homeless people near the camp of his brigand troop. He meets the general Wu Yunshao in Taihang Mountain and is persuaded to join the government army to fight for the country. However, several months after that, Wu Yunshao rebels for his family (see below). As a result, Xiong Kuohai loses his path to join the official military. Later, in Xiangzhou (), the cruel general Ma Shumou begins kidnapping and devouring children. The governor of Xiangzhou, Gao Tansheng ( in the book, or in real history), despises this heartless behavior. Gao Tansheng finds Ma Shumou and argues with him, but Ma sends Gao to jail.
Learning of this, Xiong Kuohai leads his brigand troop to Xiangzhou and kills Ma Shumou. Then, he persuades Gao Tansheng to rebel. After that, more rebellions against the cruel emperor, corruption of local governments, and the endless war against Goguryeo Koreans and Turks spring up all over the country. When Emperor Yang Guang is travelling to Jiangdu, 18 major rebellion forces gather on Siming Mountain to ambush him. There, Xiong Kuohai, along with Wu Yunshao and Wu Tianxi, fight against Yuwen Chengdu for a whole day. With the help of Pei Yuanqing, they nearly defeat the emperor's military. However, Li Yuanba helps the emperor and saves his life (this is before Li's family's rebellion).
Years later, the central government wants to put down all the rebellions at once. Emperor Yang Guang asks Yang Lin to hold a martial arts contest in Yangzhou to attract warriors to that city. Their plan is that during the test, the warriors would fight and potentially kill each other. Then Yang Lin would close the city gates to trap the surviving warriors. After that, the emperor's forces would use bombs and fire to kill the survivors. The first half of the plan works: many warriors, including Wu Yunshao, are killed in the battle. However, Xiong Kuohai is late for the contest. When he arrives at the gate of Yangzhou, the heavy portcullis is just beginning to drop. He suddenly realizes that he has to stop the closing gate or the remaining warriors will die. He runs under the heavy portcullis and holds it aloft until the surviving warriors escape from Yangzhou. Then, he collapses and dies beneath the gate.
Wu Yunshao In the book, Wu Yunshao () is the son of a notable official Wu Jianzhang (), whose ancestor was said to be Wu Zixu. He uses a long spear as his weapon, and could also wield swords. After learning that former Emperor Yang Jian was actually killed by current Emperor Yang Guang, Wu Jianzhang derides the current emperor for his cruel, illegal and immoral actions. Yang Guang is annoyed and sentences Wu Jianzhang and his family to death. Fortunately, Wu Yunshao is staying with his troop in Nanyang Pass, but his family in the capital are killed. Wu Yunshao rebels without hesitating to avenge his family and overthrow the emperor. Emperor Yang Guang orders Han Qinhu, Yuwen Chengdu, Xin Wenli (See Below) and Shang Shitu (See Below), all great warriors, to attack Nanyang Pass. Wu Yunshao's troop defeats Han Qinhu, Xin Wenli and Shang Shitu, but cannot challenge Yuwen Chengdu. Wu sends his assistant, Jiao Fang, to ask for help from his cousin, Wu Tianxi.
Before Wu Tianxi reaches Nanyang Pass, Yuwen Chengdu breaks through the defenses, forcing Wu Yunshao to flee to Li Zitong, a local warlord in Shouzhou (). Later, with Wu Yunshao's help, Li Zitong becomes one of the major forces fighting against the Sui dynasty. During the martial arts contest in Yangzhou, a foreign warrior called Zuo Xiong kills Wu Yunshao with a mechanism hidden in Zuo's horse's tail. Some people argue that Wu Yunshao might have a historical source in Yang Xuangan, who had a notable social status but rebelled after his father, Yang Su's, death. However, Yang Xuangan was killed as soon as his rebellion failed.
Wu Tianxi Wu Tianxi () is the cousin of Wu Yunshao. His weapon is similar to Yuwen Chengdu's Golden-Tang, but slightly less heavy. Unlike Wu Yunshao's notable social status, Wu Tianxi is a brigand in Tuoluo Village. When Wu Yunshao is attacked by Yuwen Chengdu, his assistant, Jiao Fang, asks Tuoluo for help. Wu Tianxi then leads his troop to Nanyang Pass. However, when they traverse Taihang Mountain, they are stopped by Xiong Kuohai. Neither of them know the other's relationship to Wu Yunshao. They fight on Taihang Mountain for several days, until they both see Wu Yunshao as he flees. Wu Tianxi and Xiong Kuohai become acquainted, and after Wu Yunshao starts to fight for Li Zitong, Wu Tianxi also joins them. On Siming Mountain, the Wu brothers and Xiong Kuohai defeat Yuwen Chengdu with help from Pei Yuanqing. However, they are easily defeated by Li Yuanba the next day. When Wu Tianxi is travelling to Yangzhou for the martial arts contest, he meets Liang Shitai (see below), who is the assistant officer in Li Yuanba's troop. Liang and Wu had some conflicts, so they start to fight. Liang is killed, which infuriates Li Yuanba. Learning that Liang was working for Li Yuanba, Wu Tianxi is shocked. He tries to apologize to Li Yuanba, but it is too late. Li Yuanba quickly catches up to Wu Tianxi at the Tianchang Pass. During the ensuing battle, Li Yuanba is victorious, killing Wu Tianxi.
Luo Cheng
In the novel