Huyan Zhuo‘s name is brought up when the Song imperial court discusses how to quell the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh after they defeated and killed Gao Lian, the prefect of Gaotangzhou. Grand Marshal Gao Qiu, who is the cousin of Gao Lian, recommends Huyan to Emperor Huizong, saying he is the man for the job. Huyan is summoned from his military post at Runing Commandery (present-day Runan County, Henan) to the imperial capital Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan). The emperor appoints him the chief commander of the mission, with Han Tao and Peng Qi as his lieutenants. He also receives a black brawny stallion from the emperor.