Jin Shengtan’s comments on Song Jiang’s crimes can be summarized into the following points: committing crimes as a bandit, knowing the law and breaking the law, overstepping one’s servants, writing anti-poems, being unfilial to his parents, and being arbitrary and authoritarian.
Crime 1: Song Jiang was a bandit in Huainan when he became a bandit in Liangshanbo. He wanted to serve the imperial court, but he had no way to escape, so he had to become a robber in Liangshanbo.
Crime 2: When Song Jiang was a police officer, he secretly released Chao Gai and others, but as an official, he knew the law and violated the law to condone the thieves.
Crime 3: A farmer should be a farmer well, and an official should be an official well. Farmers should not leave their fields when speaking, and officials should not stay away from the court when speaking. Although Song Jiang was in Yuncheng, But his name has been spread all over the world, which means that Song Jiang's words and deeds have gone too far, and he has been dissatisfied by the court.
Crime 4: Accepting bribes privately, blatantly killing people to silence others, small punishments and big warnings. But after drinking, he still wrote anti-poems on the wall of Xunyang Tower, "I don't know who is my enemy, I want to stain the river with blood." These are the four sins.
Crime 5: If Song Jiang wants to recruit talents, he must be looking for people who are filial to their parents. However, Song Jiang has not supported his own parents, so what right does he have to ask others? What an intolerable request.
Crime 6: There are many heroes in the green forest in Liangshan Bozhong. Among them, people like Lin Chong and Lu Junyi can be forgiven for turning into bandits. However, it is ridiculous for Song Jiang to want to serve the imperial court as a bandit. It has already been done.
Crime 7: Working together during a small gathering at Bailong Temple. In fact, it was all Song Jiang's arbitrary power. If they were not rescued from this gathering, everyone would die.