The Water Margin is usually evaluated as a novel that positively reflects and praises the peasant uprising. Of course, some basic purposes of the Water Margin described in the novel are indeed the same as those put forward by the peasant uprising in history, but on the other hand, it should be noted that the characters and stories in Water Margin are basically artistic fiction. It can be said that apart from the name "Sung River" and the framework of anti-government armed activities, it has little to do with the events of Sung River Uprising in history. The basis of this novel is mainly the "talk about capital" of street literature. In the process of its popularization, it is first restricted by citizens' interest. The authors of the novel, Luo Guanzhong and Shi Naian, also lived in Hangzhou, the most prosperous city in the southeast of China at the end of Yuan Dynasty, and their treatment did not change the original street nature of the Water Margin story. Therefore, the composition of Liangshan hero is "the grandson of Di Zi, who will become an official if he is rich". The personality of Liangshan hero more reflects the life demands of citizens. First of all, we should pay attention to these basic characteristics.

From the perspective of feudal rulers, Liangshan heroes can only be regarded as "thieves". In order to publicly praise such "thieves" and be accepted or even loved by the society, we must first put forward an explanation for their behavior that at least conforms to the traditional concept of society to some extent (even if this explanation is not complete and sufficient), and give these heroes a moral quality that is generally recognized by the society. On this premise, to describe their struggle. The slogan written on the apricot yellow flag in Liangshan Park and the principle of "loyalty and righteousness" advertised on the plaque in Liangshan Parliament Hall are the moral premise established by the author for Liangshan cause.

Under normal circumstances, the supreme will "heaven" above human power is always interpreted as protecting the court; Tao, as the abstract sum of reasonable political principles and moral principles, is also exclusive to the ruling class. On the other hand, China's cultural tradition has always admitted that when there are serious political problems in an era, the behavior of the regime itself may also be "against the sky". In this case, at least in theory, it makes sense that another force has come out to "do justice for heaven."

"Loyalty and righteousness" is the basic moral principle of Liangshan hero's action. As a complete concept, it belongs to the category of traditional morality. In particular, "loyalty" is first and foremost manifested as loyalty to the emperor and the court, and even the armed resistance of Liangshan rebels to attack the city and plunder the land is interpreted as the performance of "loyalty"-"kill all cruel and corrupt officials and be loyal to Zhao Guan". In fact, Liangshan does not advocate "loyalty", but this kind of power has been suppressed by the main "loyalty" power represented by Song Jiang, which eventually led Liangshan army to the road of submission to the court. The moral creed of "loyalty" is not only a boundary that the author can't cross, but also a guarantee for the establishment and spread of this novel in feudal times.

The premise of "doing justice for heaven" and "loyalty" has cast a layer of moral justice on Water Margin. On this premise, it does contain many things consistent with orthodox ideas, not only the court's "loyalty" to the emperor, such as the demand for clean politics and the hatred of "adulterers and adulterers". But the Water Margin, on these premises, also contains many things that are completely inconsistent with orthodox ideas. The novel not only profoundly reflects the social reality, but also reflects the people's energetic life ideals, especially in the street society.

This novel, which takes the society in the late Northern Song Dynasty as the historical background, reveals the social dark phenomenon, which is actually of universal significance in the feudal autocratic era. The first official figure in the novel is Gao Qiu, a street scoundrel who is deeply loved by the emperor because he is good at playing football. In less than half a year, he rose to the high position of Qiu in the palace, and from then on, he tried to be brave with his "official's son" and did all kinds of evil. At the beginning of the text of the book, it is written that the central government is in a "top-down chaos", and there are a large number of corrupt and tyrannical local officials, such as Cai Jiu, Murong, He Taishou, etc., who are all protected by the former. In this context, Zheng Tu, Ximen Qing, Jiang Menshen, Taigong and other bullies have emerged. It is the first time to expose the dark side of society so widely with the birth of the novel.

Under the banner of "doing justice for heaven", the author enthusiastically affirmed and praised the resistance and revenge of the oppressed. Liangshan heroes didn't do this for the sake of justice. Most of them were victims of society's "no way". Song Wu wanted to avenge his brother, but he couldn't sue him, so he took revenge. After being framed by Zhang Dujian, his blood spilled on the Yuanyang building. Lin Chong forbeared and despaired again and again in his predicament. He finally got revenge in the mountain temple and went to Liangshan on a snowy night. In order to get back a tiger they shot, the bully Mao Taigong sent Jie Zhen and Jerbo to death row, which triggered Gu Dasao's prison robbery. It turned out to be in Dengzhou ... Although Li Kui jy was constantly reprimanded by his "brother" Song Jiang, the author made him shout again and again to completely overthrow the court. It can be said that the people's right of resistance and revenge has never been forcibly extended as in Water Margin.

The water margin is full of loyalty and righteousness, and another name is Legend of Heroes (engraved with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms). For ordinary readers, it is the heroic temperament in the novel that attracts them most. After all, everyday life is mediocre. In the face of powerful evil forces, it is the choice of ordinary people to submit to humiliation and avoid injustice. But people don't want this. They are idealized figures in the legend. They are brave or resourceful, or have power, but they are open-minded, aboveboard and aggressive, which is their characteristic. For example, Lu is keen on being attacked, "the mord opens a dangerous road, and the sword kills the rough people"; Song Wu declared: "I've always wanted to fight tough guys who don't understand morality. If I see that the road is rugged, it is really a knife and a gun, not afraid of death! " It was really heroic and exciting. It's just a plot that has nothing to do with social contradictions, such as the black whirlwind fighting white stripes in the waves, the monk pulling the weeping willows upside down, and the tiger fighting in Jingyanggang, Song Wu. Similarly, due to the unrestrained personality, strength and emotion of the protagonist, it gives people a feeling of vitality and relaxation. In the dirty and difficult real world, these legendary heroes give readers great psychological satisfaction.

While flaunting loyalty, Water Margin affirmed the power of money, praised an ideal of free life based on full material enjoyment, and showed a strong market consciousness. Classical, Song Jiang, Lu Junyi, Chai Jin and other figures with cohesion and appeal in the novel mainly rely on their wealth and their ability to "help the poor generously". In Liangshan, "righteousness" is realized through "wealth". If there is no wealth to be sparse, the cohesion of Song Jiang and others in the group will not exist. Behind the "righteousness", the author intentionally or unintentionally wrote about the power of matter. The motivation of many heroes to go to Liangshan is also related to material enjoyment. For example, Wu Yong persuaded the Ruan brothers to join the rebellion in order to "make everyone happy all their lives." It is almost the mantra of Liangshan heroes. Of course, this can not only be understood as the satisfaction of appetite, but the author undoubtedly realizes that a free and happy life is first directly manifested in the full possession of material.