Characters in The Deer and the Cauldron

The Deer and the Cauldron features a vast cast of characters from various factions and organizations, including the Heaven and Earth Society, Mystic Dragon Order, and Qing Dynasty. The story explores themes of loyalty, deception, and the intersection of politics and personal relationships through the adventures of its cunning protagonist.

Wei Xiaobao and family

Wei Xiaobao (韦小宝 – Wéi Xiáobǎo) – witty, sly, and illiterate protagonist who becames an influential figure by sheer luck and wit
Wei Chunfang (韦春芳 – Wéi Chūnfāng) – Wei Xiaobao’s mother and a prostitute Luzhun Brothel

Wei Xiaobao’s wives

Mu Jianping (沐剑屏; Mù Jiànpíng) – Mu Jiansheng’s younger sister and a princess of the House of Prince Mu, the second youngest and most naïve of Wei Xiaobao’s wives
Fang Yi (方怡; Fāng Yí) – Liu Dahong’s disciple, servant of the House of Prince Mu, Wei Xiaobao’s second wife
Shuanger (双兒; Shuāngér) – servant of the Zhuang family of Huzhou, He Tishou’s disciple, Wei Xiaobao’s bodyguard, and youngest and most loyal wife
Su Quan (苏荃 – Sū Quán) – Hong Antong’s former wife, Wei Xiaobao’s oldest wife and most adept in martial arts
Princess Jianning (建宁公主 – Jiànníng Gōngzhǔ) – Kangxi Emperor’s younger sister, most violent of Wei Xiaobao’s wives
Zeng Rou (曾柔 – Zēng Róu) – Disciple from Wangwu School, Wei Xiaobao’s most polite and cultured wife
Ake (阿珂 – Ākē) – daughter of Chen Yuanyuan and Li Zicheng, kidnapped and raised by Princess Changping, Wei Xiaobao’s most beautiful wife

Wei Xiaobao’s children

Wei Shuangshuang (韦双双 – Wéi Shuāngshuāng) – Wei Xiaobao’s firstborn daughter with Princess Jianning
Wei Hutou (韦虎头 – Wéi Hǔtóu) – Wei Xiaobao’s secondborn son with Ake
Wei Tongchui (韦铜锤 – Wéi Tóngchuí) – Wei Xiaobao’s thirdborn son with Su Quan

Qing Empire

Kangxi Emperor (康熙皇帝 – Kāngxī Huāngdì) – Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
Empress Dowager (太后 – Tàihòu) – Kangxi Emperor’s stepmother

Imperial court officials

Oboi (鳌拜 – Áobài) – One of the Four Regents who govern the Qing Empire when the Kangxi Emperor was still a child
Prince Kang (康亲王 – Kāng Qīnwáng) – A distant cousin of the Kangxi Emperor
Songgotu (索额图 – Suǒétú) – Sonin’s son who serves as Vice Minister of Personnel, First Class Imperial Guard, and Grand Secretary, Wei Xiaobao’s sworn brother
Batai (巴泰 – Bātài) – Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Zhonghe Hall
Wei Zhouzuo (卫周祚 – Wèi Zhōuzuò) – Grand Secretary of the Baohe Hall
Mishan (米思翰 – Mǐsīhàn) – Minister of Revenue
Duikana (对喀纳 – Duìkǎnà) – Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall
Du Lide (杜立德 – Dù Lìdé) – Grand Secretary
Tuhai (图海 – Túhǎi) – Grand Secretary
Mingju (明珠 – Míngzhū) – Minister of War
Jelken (折尔肯 – Zhé’ěrkěn) – Vice Minister of Rites
Daerli (达尔礼 – Dáěrlǐ) – Secretary of the Hanlin Academy
Moluo (莫洛 – Mòluò) – Minister of Justice
Li Wei (李蔚 – Lǐ Wèi) – Grand Secretary
Isangga (伊桑阿 – Yīsāng’ē) – Minister of Personnel
Li Lei (李雷 – Lǐ Léi) – Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Baohe Hall
Tong Guogang (佟国纲 – Tóng Guógāng) – First Class Duke and Han commander of the Bordered Yellow Banner, the Kangxi Emperor’s maternal uncle
Ledehong (勒德洪 – Lèdéhóng)
Feng Pu (冯溥 – Féng Pǔ)
Wang Xi (王熙 – Wáng Xī)
Huang Ji (黄机 – Huáng Jī)
Wu Zhengzhi (吴正治 – Wú Zhèngzhì)
Zong Deyi (宗德宜 – Zōng Déyí)
Adam Schall von Bell (汤若望)
Ferdinand Verbiest (南怀仁)

Imperial guards

Duolong (多隆 – Duōlóng) – Supervisor of the Imperial Guards and close friend of Wei Xiaobao, survives Wei’s reluctant assassination attempt to save besieged Heaven and Earth Society members
Ruidong (瑞栋 – Ruìdòng) – Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Guards nicknamed “Undefeated Iron Palm”, killed by Wei Xiaobao after being sent by Mao Dongzhu to assassinate him
Chaerzhu (察尔珠 – Chá’ěrzhū) – Cavalry commander of the Plain Yellow Banner
Zhang Kangnian (张康年 – Zhāng Kāngnián)
Zhao Qixian (赵齐贤 – Zhào Qíxián)
Shi Laoliu (施老六 – Shī Lǎolìu) – Killed by Mao Dongzhu
Xiong Laoer (熊老二 – Xíong Lǎoèr) – Killed by Mao Dongzhu
Ge Tong (葛通 – Gě Tōng) – Killed by the Wangwu Sect members
Captain Gua (瓜管带 – Guā Guǎndài) – Killed by Chen Jinnan
Shi Song (史松 – Shǐ Sōng) – Nicknamed “Black Dragon Whip”, killed by Wei Xiaobao while trying to arrest Mao Shiba
Fuchun (富春 – Fúchūn) – Cavalry officer
Ajichi (阿济赤 – Ājìchì) – Vanguard commander
Commander Tai (泰都统 – Tài Dūtǒng) – Vanguard officer

Eunuchs and palace maids

Hai Dafu (海大富 – Hǎi Dàfù) – Fifth class eunuch and deputy supervisor of imperial kitchen, Kongtong School martial artist investigating Consort Donggo’s death on Shunzhi Emperor’s orders, killed by Mao Dongzhu
Xiaoguizi (小桂子 – Xiǎoguìzǐ) – Young eunuch under Hai Dafu, killed and impersonated by Wei Xiaobao
Eunuch Wu (乌公公 – Wū Gōnggōng) – In charge of the imperial study
Wen Youdao (温有道 – Wēn Yǒudào) – Eunuch serving in the imperial study
Wen Youfang (温有方 – Wēn Yǒufāng) – Eunuch serving in the imperial study
Pingwei (平威 – Píngwēi)
Ruichu (蕊初 – Ruìchū) – Mao Dongzhu’s personal handmaiden
Dong Jinkui (董金魁 – Dǒng Jīnkuí) – Eunuch serving as Mao Dongzhu’s messenger, killed by Wei Xiaobao

Defectors from Tungning

Shi Lang (施琅 – Shī Láng) – Naval officer who defected to Qing
Lin Xingzhu (林兴珠 – Lín Xīngzhū)
Hong Chao (洪朝 – Hóng Cháo)
He You (何佑 – Hé Yòu)

Heaven and Earth Society

Chen Jinnan (陈近南 – Chén Jìnnán) – Founder of the Heaven and Earth Society
Wu Liuqi (吴六奇 – Wú Lìuqí) the Iron Beggar – Member of Beggars’ Sect
Mao Shiba (茅十八 – Máo Shíbā) – Outlaw who helps Wei Xiaobao
Feng Jizhong (风际中 – Fēng Jìzhōng) – Imperial spy within Heaven and Earth Society

Lodge Masters

Cai Dezhong (蔡德忠 – Cài Dézhōng) – Master of Lotus Lodge
Fang Dahong (方大洪 – Fāng Dàhóng) – Master of Hongshun Lodge
Ma Chaoxing (马超兴 – Mǎ Chāoxīng) – Master of Jiahou Lodge

Kingdom of Tungning

Zheng Keshuang (郑克塽 – Zhèng Kèshuǎng) – Ruler of Tungning
Feng Xifan (冯锡范 – Féng Xīfàn) the One Sword Thrust That Draws No Blood – Zheng’s martial arts master

Mystic Dragon Order

Hong Antong (洪安通 – Hóng Āntōng) – Cult leader
Xu Yunting (许雪亭 – Xú Xuětíng) the Green Dragon Emissary – Brush technique specialist
Zhang Danyue (张淡月 – Zhāng Dànyuè) the Black Dragon Emissary – Dual sword specialist
Yin Jin (殷锦 – Yīn Jǐn) the Yellow Dragon Emissary – Glib-tongued member
Taoist Wugen (无根道人 – Wúgēn Dàorén) the Red Dragon Emissary
Wei Xiaobao as the White Dragon Emissary – Replacing Zhong Zhiling
The Fat Monk (胖头陀 – Pàngtóutuó) – Poisoned member
The Thin Monk (瘦头陀 – Shòutóutuó) – Mao Dongzhu’s lover
Mao Dongzhu (毛东珠 – Máo Dōngzhū) – Palace infiltrator

Wu Sangui’s associates

Wu Sangui (吴三桂 – Wú Sānguì) the Prince Who Pacifies the West – Rebel leader
Wu Yingxiong (吴应熊 – Wú Yìngxiōng) – Wu Sangui’s son
Xia Guoxiang (夏国相 – Xià Guóxiāng) – Wu Sangui’s chancellor
Ma Bao (马宝 – Mǎ Bǎo) – General under Wu Sangui
Yang Yizhi (杨溢之 – Yáng Yìzhī) – Loyal Qing officer serving Wu Sangui
Balangxing (巴朗星 – Bālǎngxīng) – Wu Sangui’s bodyguard

Foreign powers

Tsardom of Russia

Sophia (索菲亚 – Suǒfēiyà) – Russian regent
Golitsyn (高里津 – Gāolǐjīn) – Principal minister
Tolbuzin (图尔布青 – Tú’ěrbùqīng) – Russian general

Mongols

Galdan (葛尔丹 – Gé’ěrdān) – Mongol prince
Hantiemo (罕帖摩 – Hǎntiēmó) – Galdan’s envoy

Tibetans

Sangye (桑结 – Sāngjiē) – Dalai Lama’s guardian
Bayan (巴颜 – Bāyán) – Trusted lama
Hubayin (呼巴音 – Hūbāyīn) – Sangye’s junior

Huashan School

Gui Xinshu (归辛树 – Guī Xīnshù) the Invincible Divine Fists
Gui Erniang (归二娘 – Guī Èrniáng) – Gui Xinshu’s wife
Gui Zhong (归钟 – Guī Zhōng) – Gui Xinshu’s son
Feng Nandi (冯难敌 – Féng Nándí) the All Prestigious – School leader

Scholars and others

Lü Liuliang (吕留良 – Lǚ Líuliáng) – Scholar
Hu Yizhi (胡逸之 – Hú Yìzhī) the Hundred Victorious Saber King
Zha Yihuang (查伊璜 – Zhā Yīhuáng), also known as Zha Jizuo (查继佐 – Zhā Jìzuǒ) – Scholar from Haining
Third Young Mistress Zhuang (庄三少奶 – Zhuāng Sānshàonǎi) – Matriarch of the Zhuang family