272 Beijing Opera Performers - Li Pei - Number 118

Li Pei

Beijing Opera - "Fallen Horse Lake"

Li Pei with a red pointed three-tile face is the bandit Chief of Fallen Horse Lake in the list-opera of the same name. Magistrate Shi Shilun is kidnapped by bandits, who turn him over to Li Pei, bandit chief at Fallen Horse Lake. Li Pei wants to kill him, but his son, Li Dacheng, who has once been generously treated by the magistrate, resolves to save him. To gain time he suggests to his father that the magistrate be executed in a ceremony honoring greenwood heroes who died at his hands. When his father assents, he hides the magistrate in a cave, then secretly sends word of his whereabouts to Huang Tianba. Huang and He Lutong, another law officer, sneak in and free the magistrate; He Lutong arrests the bandit chief after a scuffle in the Lake.