Is “Grand Preceptor Han Zhongyan sought imperial amnesty for Han Cunbao and the Liangshan heroes” true?
According to the 'History of Song: Biography of Han Zhongyan', it is recorded that 'When Emperor Huizong ascended the throne, he was summoned as Minister of Personnel and appointed as Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs'. In the early Chongning era, he was dismissed from his post and demoted. By the third year of Daguan (1109), he had already retired with the title of Grand Master of the Palace and died. When Gao Qiu attacked Liangshan, Zhongyan had long been deceased. 'Water Margin' Chapter 79 writes that after Han Cunbao was captured and released, he returned to the capital to visit his uncle, saying, 'It turns out this Han Cunbao is the nephew of Han Zhongyan. Zhongyan was the Grand Preceptor of the state, and all court officials were his disciples.' He then entrusted Zheng Juzhong to plan the amnesty, which is purely fictional.
In the official history, Han Zhongyan had already passed away in the third year of Daguan, while the novel fictionalizes his planning of amnesty for the Liangshan rebels during the battle.
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