Fukanggan (simplified: 福康安, traditional: 福康安, pinyin: Fúkāng’ān, jyutping: fuk1 hong1 on1) was a powerful Manchu noble and general in Side Story of the Flying Fox. He was said to be the illegitimate son of the Qianlong Emperor and held a high position in the imperial court. He organized the Wulin Leader Conference (天下掌门人大会) with the intention of creating discord among martial artists and eliminating them as a threat to the imperial court.
Biography
The Wulin Leader Conference
Fukanggan organized a grand martial arts tournament known as the Wulin Leader Conference, ostensibly to select a chief leader to manage the martial arts world. However, his true intention was to gather all the martial artists in one place and eliminate them, thereby removing a potential threat to the imperial court.
The conference attracted martial artists from various schools across China, all competing for the position of chief leader. However, Hu Fei and Yuan Ziyi saw through Fukanggan’s scheme and worked to disrupt the conference.
Relationship with Ma Chunhua
While passing through the Shang Family Castle, Fukanggan encountered Ma Chunhua, the beautiful daughter of Ma Xingkong, the master of the Feima Armed Escort. He became infatuated with her and arranged a secret meeting. The two began an affair, and Ma Chunhua became pregnant with twin sons.
For Fukanggan, Ma Chunhua was merely a casual romantic encounter during his travels. However, for Ma Chunhua, this relationship changed her entire life. After their encounter, Fukanggan left, and Ma Chunhua eventually married her senior martial brother Xu Zheng, though her husband knew the children were not his.
Later events
Years later, Fukanggan sent Shang Baozhen to bring Ma Chunhua and her sons to Beijing. Ma Chunhua believed she would finally be reunited with her lover and live a life of luxury, but she was unaware that Fukanggan’s mother, the Prime Minister’s wife, had ordered her execution to protect the family’s reputation.
At the Wulin Leader Conference, Cheng Lingsu used her poison techniques to poison the gathering, framing Fukanggan and Shi Wanchen for the deed. Hu Fei eventually exposed Fukanggan’s scheme, and the conference ended in failure.
Personality
Fukanggan was depicted as sophisticated and elegant on the surface, but selfish, ruthless, and scheming beneath. He was skilled in political manipulation and used his position and power to achieve his goals. He was willing to use people for his own purposes and showed little regard for the consequences of his actions.
Relationships
- Ma Chunhua (Lover): The woman with whom he had a brief affair, resulting in the birth of twin sons.
- Ma Chunhua’s sons (Sons): His twin sons with Ma Chunhua, though he showed little interest in them.
- Prime Minister’s wife (Mother): His mother, who ordered Ma Chunhua’s execution to protect the family’s reputation.
- Hu Fei (Enemy): The young hero who exposed his scheme at the Wulin Leader Conference.
- Yuan Ziyi (Enemy): The Buddhist nun who disrupted his conference.
- Cheng Lingsu (Enemy): The poison expert who framed him for poisoning the conference.
Legacy
Fukanggan represents the corrupt and manipulative nature of the imperial court. His scheme to eliminate the martial arts world demonstrates the court’s fear of organized resistance and its willingness to use deception and violence to maintain control. His treatment of Ma Chunhua illustrates how the powerful can use and discard others without regard for the consequences.