In his first encounter with Liangshan, Huyan Zhuo loses Peng Qi, who is captured by Hu Sanniang and won over by Song Jiang. Huyan then sends out his special cavalry consisting of groups of armour-clad horses linked by iron chains. The combined might of the horses charging forward overwhelms the force of Liangshan. Song Jiang and his men hole themselves up, protected by the marsh, to work out how to beat the cavalry. Meanwhile, Huyan requests the court to send Ling Zhen, an artillery officer and cannon maker, over to shell Liangshan. Ling's cannons hit the far shores of the marsh, striking fear among the outlaws. Liangshan sends some of its best swimmers to lure Ling into the marsh and seizes him. Ling too joins Liangshan, succumbing to Song Jiang's warm treatment.