Gao Qiu

Gao Qiu is a character that hails from the 14th Century Chinese novel The Water Margin. He is a fictionalized version of the corrupt chancellor of Emperor Huizong during the Song Dynasty and the main antagonist of the story.

History
Gao Qiu began as a street urchin in Kaifeng, where he met the future emperor, Prince Duan, by luck. He impressed him with his skill at a ball game, a hobby shared by the prince. This would lead to Gao Qiu becoming a favourite of Prince Duan.

Upon the prince's ascension to become emperor, Huizong appoints Gao as Grand Marshal, using corruption, ruthlessness, and manipulation to take vengeance against those who had previously offended him and incriminate innocent civilians (some of whom would eventually become members of the Liangshan outlaws due to injustice). He would frequently urge the emperor to send in forces to get rid of the outlaws, although more often than not the outlaws would emerge triumphant, so much that several imperial officers would defect to the join the outlaws.

Out of frustration, Gao Qiu decides to personally lead an attack against the outlaws, which ended up with him getting captured. Although several bandits desire to have Gao executed out of retribution for the injustice they faced, Song Jiang spares him because he wants Gao to help them secure amnesty from the Emperor. Gao fakes agreement and breaks his promise once freed.

To Gao Qiu's disappointment, however, the outlaws are granted pardons and appointed to serve the empire against the rival Liao Dynasty and Fang La. After their campaigns, Huizong rewards the surviving outlaws by awarding them with titles. However, Gao and his fellow officials, envious of the former outlaws, poison Song Jiang. Song kills Li Kui with the same poison in fear of him tarnishing the name of the outlaws forever by rebelling against the empire out of vengeance.

In the final chapter of the book, the ghosts of Song and Li appeared in the emperor's dreams, telling him about their unjustified murders. Although the emperor orders an investigation, nothing comes to place since the envoy who gave the poison to kill Song Jiang died mysteriously (presumably killed by Gao). Hence, Gao Qiu and his fellow officials get away scot-free.