As it turns out, iron-pledge guarantees from long-dead emperors do not count for as much as everyone thought.

The outlaws return to their tried-and-true recruitment tactics, and take it maybe just a step too far.

In a shocking twist, the ancient Chinese legal system delivers some semblance of justice and punishes constable violence, and all it took was sleeping with the magistrate.

The Xie brothers’ relatives mount their jail break, and then we rejoin the Liangshan outlaws outside the Zhu Family Manor.

Some relatives embarrass you at weddings, some get into political arguments at the holiday dinner table, and some threaten to fight you to the death if you don’t help them break some cousins out of jail.

After getting a bloody nose in their initial attack, the Liangshan forces take another crack at razing the Zhu Family Manor.

Our heroes storm to the gates of the Zhu Family Manor, intent on teaching the people inside a lesson.

An act of petty theft quickly escalates into a grave insult against the Liangshan heroes, somehow.

Yang Xiong has a little heart-to-heart with his adulterous wife.

Things heat up in Yang Xiong’s house, and on the dead-end street behind it.

In between carving up pig carcasses, Shi Xiu sniffs out some shenanigans in his new household.

I recently did two interviews on other podcasts -- the Mandarin Slang Guide podcast and Journey to the West: The Podcast. 

A street brawl turns two strangers into bosom buddies.

Don’t drink on this trip? I’ll drink as much as I please, damn the consequences. Oh, here come those consequences.

Li Kui runs the full gamut of emotions in one day as he goes home to fetch his mother.

Song Jiang gets a little divine intervention in his flight from the law.

Song Jiang’s poor choices lead him to a strange, otherworldly encounter.

Nothing says “honor” quite like killing dozens of people who had nothing to do with your predicament, taking their stuff, and burning their town.

Things get even rowdier at Song Jiang and Dai Zong’s execution.

One day you are a respected craftsman making an honest living; the next day, some shady “deacon” shows up at your door with a lucrative gig for you …

In trouble for his drunken poetry, Song Jiang is forced into a crappy scheme to save his life.

While touring historical sites and indulging in fine drink and food, Song Jiang is driven by his misfortunes to write a few words.

Dai Zong introduces Song Jiang to his good friend Li Kui. Well, friend. More of an acquaintance really. I mean, a colleague. Actually, I don't usually hang out with him. Really.

Once again, we see how far money and reputation can carry a man, even when he's on his way to prison.

Like Uber, but for boats ... and the ferryman gives you a choice of meals, too.

Caught at his home, Song Jiang is finally brought to justice ... such as it is.

Song Jiang's Liangshan-bound cohort keeps growing, until he gets an unexpected message.

With admirers like these, who needs enemies?

Song Jiang’s bandit buddies run amok, and then give an enemy general the run-around.

A local lantern festival ignites a feud between Hua Rong and his boss.

Meet the heroes of Clear Winds Mountain, who turn unsuspecting passers-by into soup and abduct and defile women on their way to visit their parents' graves.

Wu Song continues acting like the worst pretend monk ever and gets himself first into some cold water, and then into some hot water.

On the run from the law, Wu Song finds religion, and then quickly finds a way to break all of its tenets.

Wu Song’s enemies just couldn’t leave well enough alone, and soon find themselves facing the consequences — pissed-off consequences.

After his beatdown of Jiang Menshen, Wu Song discovers he has a new fan.

Wu Song finally finds out what Shi En wants his help with, and devises a way to turn a mob war into a drinking game.

Wu Song receives the best treatment the ancient Chinese legal system has to offer, despite his effort to invite the worst.

Wu Song stops in at a tavern and gets all nitpicky about the food, like the teeniest bit of pubic hair in the bun fillings.

Wu Song is determined to get to the bottom of his brother’s death, by any means necessary.

The murderers’ coverup goes off as planned … until a certain someone gets back in town.

Wu Dalang catches his unfaithful wife in the act, and pays for it.

If you have questions about the how’s and why’s of this podcast, or my thoughts on podcasting in general, post them at the Ask Me Anything hosted by WhatPods on December 16 at https://whatpods.com/show-development/ama/john-zhu.

Armed with their 10-step plan, Ximen Qing and Mrs. Wang undertake Operation Seduction.

While Wu Song is away, someone keeps hovering around his brother's house, hoping to get a bit of something hot and steamy (no, not Wu Dalang's buns).

Wu Song's happy reunion with his brother hits a snag when his brother's wife is a bit too happy to see him.

Wu Song throws caution to the wind and goes big-game hunting with his fist.

Despite the best efforts of the Yuncheng County justice system, Song Jiang somehow slips through the hands of the law.

Does a multitude of wrongs make a right? We find out this week as an adulterer stands up to a crooked justice system as the authorities try to cover up for one of their own, who runs afoul of the law after being blackmailed by his cheating mistress.