As Chao Gai's dying wish was that whoever avenged his death would succeed him, Lu Junyi by right should replace Song Jiang, who has been acting chief. Lu vehemently declines the offer. It is decided that whoever conquers first the prefecture assigned to him - Dongping for Song Jiang and Dongchang for Lu Junyi - would be made chief. Song wins the contest as Lu comes up against a tough warrior Zhang Qing at Dongchang, who hurts a number of Liangshan heroes with his stone-flinging skill. Dongchang is finally taken but Song is now the undisputed leader, who anyway is preferred by most of the Liangshan heroes. Lu is made Liangshan's second-in-command. That remains his position after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly.