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Wu Qinglie

Wu Qinglie

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Wu Qinglie (simplified: 吴青烈, traditional: 吳青烈, pinyin: Wú Qīngliè, jyutping: ng4 cing1 lit6) was a martial artist and one of the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River during the late Song Dynasty. As a member of this notorious group, he served Wanyan Honglie and was involved in the attempt to capture Temüjin during the confrontation at the cliff.

Biography

Service to Wanyan Honglie

Wu Qinglie and his fellow Four Ghosts of the Yellow River were trained by Sha Tongtian and hired by Wanyan Honglie as the prince’s personal strike force. Their combination of lightness skill, shield manoeuvres, and specialist weapons made them more useful than conventional troops whenever Wanyan Honglie needed a discreet but deadly detachment.

Attempt to capture Temüjin

When Wanyan Honglie ordered the capture of Temüjin, Wu Qinglie and his three companions rushed up the mountain using their qinggong skills. They deflected the arrows shot by Zhebie and Bo’orchu with soft shields, but were ultimately hurled down the slope by Ke Zhen’e, who broke their formation one by one.

Battle at Niujia Village

Wu Qinglie reappeared in Niujia Village with his trademark pursuit spear, using the “Swallow Returns to the Nest” thrust to hem Guo Jing in. Guo Jing trapped the spear tip and dragged Wu Qinglie into his own men, slamming him unconscious against a fellow Ghost. The incident exposed his poor adaptability once opponents neutralised his weapon’s reach.

Ambush of the Mongol envoys

Following Niujia Village, Wu Qinglie joined the attack on Tolui and Zhebie’s envoy party on behalf of the Jin court. Guo Jing broke the ambush and the Four Ghosts scattered; Wu Qinglie’s final fate is uncertain, with later accounts simply noting that he fled with Wanyan Honglie back towards Zhongdu.

Personality and traits

Loyalty to employer

Wu Qinglie demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Wanyan Honglie, willing to undertake dangerous missions to capture Temüjin and protect his employer during their escape.

Professional mercenary

As a member of the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River, Wu Qinglie operated as a professional mercenary, willing to work for various employers who could pay for their services.

Practical approach to conflicts

Wu Qinglie’s approach to conflicts reflected his practical nature and his focus on achieving concrete results rather than pursuing abstract principles or moral considerations.

Martial arts abilities

Qinggong skills

Wu Qinglie possessed excellent qinggong skills, allowing him to rush up the mountain quickly and evade arrows shot by skilled archers like Zhebie and Borchu.

Pursuit spear technique

Wu Qinglie’s signature weapon, the pursuit spear (追命枪), emphasised lightning-fast thrusts that transitioned into hooking motions to drag opponents off balance. He often paired the spear with a collapsible soft shield so that the hook, shaft, and shield formed alternating lines of attack and defence. Early serial chapters describe the weapon as an iron spear, whereas later revisions changed it to a wooden haft to stress that his strength lay in speed and coordination rather than brute force.

Defensive techniques

He was skilled in using soft shields to deflect incoming arrows, demonstrating his defensive martial arts abilities.

Combat coordination

Wu Qinglie’s effectiveness was enhanced when fighting alongside his fellow Four Ghosts of the Yellow River. Their coordinated attacks and mutual support made them a dangerous group, especially when each Ghost’s specialised weapon (blade, spear, whip, or axe) filled a specific role in the formation.

Relationships

Four Ghosts membership

Wu Qinglie’s closest relationships were with his fellow Four Ghosts of the Yellow River: Shen Qinggang, Ma Qingxiong, and Qian Qingjian. They worked together as a team and supported each other in various missions.

Wanyan Honglie

Wu Qinglie was employed by Wanyan Honglie and demonstrated loyalty to the Jin prince, protecting him during their escape from the battlefield.

Behind the scenes

Wu Qinglie’s character represents the professional mercenaries who operated in the jianghu during the late Song Dynasty, willing to serve various masters for payment. Successive editions of The Legend of the Condor Heroes adjusted minor details about him—most notably the material of his spear and the choreography of Guo Jing’s counters—to emphasise his role as a quick yet ultimately outclassed antagonist.

See also