After Liangshan defeated and killed Gao Lian, the governor of Gaotangzhou (; present-day
Gaotang County,
Shandong) to rescue
Chai Jin,
Emperor Huizong appoints the general
Huyan Zhuo at the recommendation of Grand Marshal Gao Qiu, who is Gao Lian's uncle, to command an army to stamp out the stronghold. Huyan in turn asks for
Han Tao and Peng Qi to be his lieutenants. In the first clash with Liangshan, Huyan Zhuo and his two assistants run into a marathon fight with a succession of Liangshan warriors. Peng Qi comes to face
Hu Sanniang. Not knowing that the amazon is a good thrower of
lasso, Peng Qi is engrossed in parrying her sabres that he is caught off-guard when she hurls her noose. Blocked by Hu and
Sun Li, Huyan Zhuo could not rescue him. He sends out his cavalry consisting of groups of chain-linked armoured horses, which charge forth in combined ferocity. Overwhelmed, the outlaws hole up in Liangshan with the marsh as buffer as they work out a counter-attack. Brought before
Song Jiang, Peng Qi is moved by the warm respect accorded him by the Liangshan leader that he agrees to join the stronghold. When
Ling Zhen, an artillery officer specially sent on request by Huyan to come shell Liangshan with cannons, is also captured, Peng Qi succeeds in persuading him to switch allegiance.
Tang Long recommends that his cousin
Xu Ning could beat Huyan's cavalry with his expertise in hooked lance. After being trained by Xu, who is recruited through an elaborate trick, the hooked lancer squad of Liangshan fell the cavalry of Huayan routing his force. Captured, Han Tao also surrenders upon the advice of Peng Qi. ==Campaigns and death==