Sha Tianguang (simplified: 沙天广, traditional: 沙天廣, pinyin: Shā Tiānguǎng, jyutping: saa1 tin1 gwong2) was the leader of Ehu Gou (恶虎沟 — Èhǔ Gōu, “Evil Tiger Gully”) and a member of the seven provinces green forest alliance (七省绿林 — Qī Shěng Lǜlín) who supported Yuan Chengzhi as the martial arts alliance leader in Sword Stained with Royal Blood.
Biography
Leadership of Ehu Gou
Sha Tianguang was the leader of Ehu Gou (恶虎沟 — Èhǔ Gōu), a bandit stronghold that was part of the seven provinces green forest alliance. As a bandit leader, Sha Tianguang would have commanded a significant force and maintained influence in his region.
The Mount Tai alliance meeting
Sha Tianguang participated in the Mount Tai alliance meeting (泰山盟主大会 — Tàishān Méngzhǔ Dàhuì), where martial artists from seven provinces gathered to elect a leader for their alliance. During this meeting, Sha Tianguang demonstrated his support for Yuan Chengzhi and played a role in advocating for the green forest heroes to raise the banner of righteousness and rebel against the corrupt Ming government.
When some martial artists, such as Meng Zheng (孟铮), opposed the idea of rebellion, Sha Tianguang worked with Jiao Gongli to help Yuan Chengzhi mediate the conflicts and resolve disagreements. Together, they recommended Yuan Chengzhi as a candidate for the alliance leader position.
Supporting Yuan Chengzhi
After Yuan Chengzhi’s confrontation with Yuzhenzi at Mount Tai, Sha Tianguang supported Yuan Chengzhi’s election as the leader of the seven provinces martial arts alliance (七省武林盟主 — Qī Shěng Wǔlín Méngzhǔ). This support demonstrated Sha Tianguang’s recognition of Yuan Chengzhi’s martial arts abilities and his commitment to the alliance’s goals.
Assisting Yuan Chengzhi
Sha Tianguang continued to assist Yuan Chengzhi in various operations. He escorted Yuan Chengzhi to Baoding Prefecture (保定府 — Bǎodìng Fǔ) to help resolve a misunderstanding with Meng Bofei (孟伯飞), demonstrating his loyalty and willingness to help Yuan Chengzhi maintain relationships with other martial artists.
During the incident involving the Poria and Shouwu Pills (茯苓首乌丸 — Fúlíng Shǒuwū Wán), Sha Tianguang witnessed Yuan Chengzhi’s ability to mediate conflicts, this time between Gui Xinshu and his wife Gui Erniang and the Meng family. This further demonstrated Yuan Chengzhi’s diplomatic skills and Sha Tianguang’s role as a witness and supporter.
Later adventures
Sha Tianguang continued to accompany Yuan Chengzhi on various adventures, including the expedition to reclaim an island near Brunei that had been colonised by the Dutch. During this journey, the group encountered a storm, and Sha Tianguang worked with other heroes to help the group survive and overcome the challenges they faced.
Personality and character
Sha Tianguang was characterised by his loyalty to Yuan Chengzhi and his commitment to the ideals of the green forest alliance. His support for raising the banner of righteousness and rebelling against the corrupt Ming government demonstrated his sense of justice and his willingness to take action against oppression.
His role in mediating conflicts and supporting Yuan Chengzhi’s leadership showed his diplomatic abilities and his understanding of the importance of unity within the alliance. Sha Tianguang’s continued support for Yuan Chengzhi throughout their adventures demonstrated his loyalty and reliability as an ally.
Relationships
Allies
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Yuan Chengzhi — The protagonist of Sword Stained with Royal Blood, whom Sha Tianguang supported as the leader of the seven provinces martial arts alliance. Sha Tianguang remained a loyal ally throughout their adventures.
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Jiao Gongli — The leader of the Golden Dragon Gang, with whom Sha Tianguang worked to support Yuan Chengzhi’s candidacy for alliance leader.
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Other green forest heroes — Sha Tianguang was part of the seven provinces green forest alliance, working alongside other bandit leaders and martial artists who supported Yuan Chengzhi.
Legacy
Sha Tianguang’s story represented the role of bandit leaders in the jianghu who, despite their unconventional backgrounds, could be committed to justice and righteousness. His support for Yuan Chengzhi demonstrated that martial artists from various backgrounds could unite under a common cause.
His character exemplified the values of loyalty, justice, and unity that were important in the jianghu, and his role in supporting Yuan Chengzhi’s leadership showed how individual martial artists could contribute to larger movements for change.
Sha Tianguang’s participation in the Mount Tai alliance meeting and his continued support for Yuan Chengzhi highlighted the importance of leadership and unity in the martial arts world, showing how heroes from different backgrounds could work together toward common goals.