People born in the 70s like me are definitely familiar with the phrase "Master mathematics, physics and chemistry, and you'll be fearless wherever you go." This was one of the main reasons our parents and teachers used to trick us into studying hard. In the past decade, with the rise of the network economy, people have also exclaimed about the arrival of the "knowledge-capitalists." The so-called "knowledge-capitalist" refers to individuals who use advanced knowledge to invent wealth. As a result, China's richest person title has frequently rotated among some IT giants. The importance of knowledge is increasingly recognized by people, as the elder statesman also taught us that "scientific technology is the first productive force." However, at one point, the slogan "the more knowledge, the more counter-revolutionary; the less culture, the more revolutionary" spread across China, driving hundreds of millions of people into frenzy. Regardless of whether this statement made sense, we can assume it was the highest directive, absolutely accurate. What we want to do today is to determine who among the 108 outlaws of Mount Liangshan is the most counter-revolutionary and who is the most revolutionary, using the highest directive "the more knowledge, the more counter-revolutionary; the less culture, the more revolutionary" as the standard for evaluation.
We will follow the order and rank them individually. Let's start with the thirty-six celestial spirits (天罡).
1. Song Jiang: Without a doubt, Song Jiang is one of the more knowledgeable ones, with a high level of education. Song Jiang originated as a scribe, certainly requiring frequent writing, and his job as an official required expertise in legal jargon. Therefore, Song Jiang must be educated, with a relatively high level of education. His anti-poetry written on Xunyang Tower shows his proficiency, mentioning that he had studied classics since childhood and possessed strategic thinking. Today, he would likely have at least graduated from graduate school. However, if Song Jiang were a graduate student, he should have reached the county magistrate level. It is estimated that Song Jiang graduated from a third-rate university's Chinese department at the associate degree level, then through self-study and auditing, obtained a master’s degree in management. After becoming the leader of Mount Liangshan, some third-rate universities might invite Song Jiang to become a guest professor or dean of the business school.
2. Lu Junyi: Lu Junyi comes from a wealthy landlord family with the means for education. In the episode where Wu Yong tricks Lu Junyi, Lu Junyi writes down the hidden poem dictated by Wu Yong. Thus, Lu Junyi can write and has some education. However, his mathematical skills may surpass his literary abilities, given his role as a landlord needing to collect rent accurately. Despite being able to write, Lu Junyi fails to recognize Wu Yong's clumsy hidden poem, indicating his highest education level could only reach high school graduation.
3. Wu Yong: Wu Yong is a rural private teacher. Nowadays, teaching elementary school requires formal normal school graduation at the very least. Considering Wu Yong never composed any notable poems, his education level is judged to be normal school middle-level graduation. However, judging from Wu Yong's military strategy, he seems to have learned some tactics either through self-study or hobbies. If he did not take adult college entrance exams after starting work, his education remains middle-level graduation.
4. Gong Sunsheng: Gong Sunsheng is highly educated, graduating from the "Zixu Palace Divine Academy" in Erxi Mountain, obtaining a bachelor's degree. After planning the capture of the birthday tribute convoy, he joined Mount Liangshan. Following Song Jiang's seizure of military command authority, Gong Sunsheng returned to his mentor Luo Zhenren to pursue a master's degree until the battle of Gaotangzhou. The battle against Gao Lian was Gong Sunsheng's doctoral thesis defense. Winning decisively, Gong Sunsheng naturally earned his master's degree. After the campaign against Liaozhou, Gong Sunsheng chose to return to Erxi Mountain to study under Professor Luo Zhenren for a doctorate, eventually successfully obtaining a "Doctorate in Daoism." Given Luo Zhenren's status as a leading figure in Daoism and a contemporary grandmaster, Gong Sunsheng's doctorate holds more value than others'. Nevertheless, Gong Sunsheng graduated from a specialized divine academy, unlike regular unified enrollment universities, which deserves attention.
5. Guan Sheng: Guan Sheng can read, as mentioned when Xuan Zan recommended him to Cai Jing, stating that Guan Sheng had "read military books since childhood." Zhang Heng saw Guan Sheng reading military books late at night, indicating a high level of education. Considering Guan Sheng's extensive family education, he received good education from a young age, so he must have graduated from a prestigious military academy's combat command department at the undergraduate level.
6. Lin Chong: Lin Chong wrote letters himself, once before exile and another after overthrowing Wang Lun. He also inscribed poetry at Zhu Gui's inn during his snowy night escape to Mount Liangshan, showing a high standard of poetic composition. From his daily actions, Lin Chong exhibits good upbringing, revealing that his family provided at least up to high school education. After graduating from high school, Lin Chong joined the army, demonstrating excellent personal military qualities, thus being sent to military academy, graduating and returning to the army as a martial arts instructor.
The essay continues similarly analyzing each character's educational background and cultural literacy based on their roles and descriptions in the story.
Finally, summarizing all the characters' education levels:
- Graduate students (2): Gong Sunsheng, Chai Jin
- Undergraduates (5): Guan Sheng, Lin Chong, Chai Jin, Dong Ping, Yan Qing
- Junior college (2): Song Jiang, Yang Zhi
- Vocational high school (6): Wu Yong, Hua Rong, Wu Song, Dai Zong, Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu
- High school (2): Qin Ming, Hu Yanzhuo
- Junior high school (2): Zhu Tong, Zhang Shun
- Elementary school (5): Qin Ming, Hu Yanzhuo, Zhang Qing, Mu Hong, Li Jun
- Semi-literate or no diploma (12): Lu Zhishen, Suo Chao, Liu Tang, Li Kui, Shi Jin, Lei Heng, three Ruan brothers, Zhang Heng, Jie Zhen, Jie Bao
Among the semi-literate or those without diplomas, nine are pure illiterates: Li Kui, the three Ruan brothers, Liu Tang, Shi Jin, Zhang Heng, Jie Zhen, Jie Bao. They account for one-fourth of the celestial spirits group. According to the saying "the more knowledge, the more counter-revolutionary; the less culture, the more revolutionary," these nine should be the most resolute revolutionary group on Mount Liangshan. Since one-fourth of the population constitutes a relative minority, the eventual path of surrender for Mount Liangshan was inevitable.
In conclusion, while the elder statesman's words weren't entirely wrong—Li Kui, the three Ruan brothers, and Liu Tang are acknowledged as relatively determined revolutionaries, and Shi Jin joined the revolution early as a pioneer—the saying "the more knowledge, the more counter-revolutionary; the less culture, the more revolutionary" isn't completely incorrect.
Lastly, the leader with the highest academic qualifications is undoubtedly Gong Sunsheng. With Professor Luo Zhenren as his doctoral supervisor, Gong Sunsheng spent his entire life learning, eventually becoming a great scholar like Luo Zhenren. Because Gong Sunsheng had the most knowledge, he was unwilling to fight against Fang La and was the first to leave the revolutionary group of 108. Reflecting on his previous retreats to Erxi Mountain for further studies, disregarding the cause of rebellion on Mount Liangshan, it becomes evident that his revolutionary will was not very firm.
(Note: A friend asked why it's "Qingshan University" instead of "Liangshan University." There's a historical reference. Professor Xu Yan, a doctoral supervisor in the Department of Strategic Research at the National Defense University, recounted a story about General Xu Haide: In the spring of 1934, Xu Haide defeated two enemy regiments with fewer than 2000 troops in Geceng Mountain in Anhui. Captured enemy strategist Liu Shuchun was puzzled and asked Xu Haide directly, "Commander, which session of Huangpu Military Academy did you attend?" Xu Haide replied, "I didn’t listen to lectures in Baoding nor enter the gates of Huangpu. I graduated from 'Qingshan University'!")