Author: John Zhu

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.

On the lam after committing murder, Lu Da first runs into an old friend, and then runs into religion.

Shi Jin makes a new friend, and we explore the question on everyone’s mind: Exactly what DO you do with minced pork fat?

Shi Jin and the bandits from the nearby mountains make it a Mid-Autumn Festival to remember.

A quick look at the ancient Chinese game of football that allowed Gao Qiu to break into government service.

Wang Jin turns a one-night farm stay into a nice little gig by knocking his host’s son on his butt.

How do you rise up to be the future ruler’s right-hand man? Certainly not through brilliance or hard work.

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.

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.

A reflection on this four-year ride, and a glimpse of things to come.