Luo Cheng

Luo Cheng one of the 18 Warriors of Sui-Tang Period are 18 legendary and fictional heroes living in Sui Dynasty and early Tang Dynasty. The concept of 18 Warriors was first mentioned in the traditional historical novel Shuo Tang. The ranking of those 18 warriors was based on their skills in Martial Arts as well as their physical strength. Some of them somehow have historical archetypes such as Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin while others are created by authors of folk stories such as Luo Cheng and Yuwen Chengdu.

Luo’s family had special skills and tactics in using spear; similarly, Qin’s family has special skills in using Jian, (a type of prism-shaped weapon, generally a combination of sword and short stick). One day, they decided to teach each other their special skills in private. Luo said that he would teach all he knew to Qin; otherwise, he would die under arrows. Qin told Luo that he would also teach all he knew, or he would be killed by a heavy object. Ironically, Luo Cheng kept his last and the best spear tactic, the Huimaqiang (Make a fake retreat, and then suddenly stab back to the enemy when he or she is approaching from behind). At the same time, Qin Shubao also kept his last and the best Jian tactic, the Shashoujian (Also make a fake retreat. When the enemy attacks from the back, Qin would reach out the Jian on his right hand back to ward off the enemy’s weapon, and then suddenly turn around and beat the enemy with another Jian on his left hand). They thought no one knew. However, Luo Cheng was finally killed by arrows in a battle.