Han Shuai Tiao is a biaoke, a member of the Jianghu Biaoju - a professional protection agency that provides armed escorts for travelers and merchants and their cargo, and also provides bodyguard services to protect the homes and persons of the wealthy and powerful.

Although from the same social class as the bandits, highwaymen, and robbers he provides protection against, he has the private backing of several powerful officials who owe his discretion a favour and in return watch his back.

黃河遠上白雲間， 一片孤城萬仞山。
羌笛何須怨楊柳， 春風不度玉門關。

Where a yellow river climbs to the white clouds,
Near the one city-wall among ten-thousand-foot mountains,
A Tartar under the willows is lamenting on his flute
That spring never blows to him through the Jade Pass.

王之渙 Wang Zhihuan
(from the 唐 詩 Tang Shi - 300 Tang Poems)