What is the relationship between the famous novelist Shi Naian in the early Ming Dynasty and Luo Guanzhong?

Shi Naian, a native of Xinghua, Jiangsu, was a famous novelist in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. In order to avoid being called up by Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, Shi Naian lived in seclusion in Huai'an until the end of his life and was buried locally at the age of seventy-five. Decades after Shi Naian's death, his descendants Shi Wenyu prospered their family, so they moved his grandfather's tomb to another geomantic treasure land and buried him at Xiluo Lake in Baiju Town. Scholar Wang Daosheng was asked to write an epitaph for his grandfather.

The biggest mystery between these two people is who is the author of "Water Margin". Most people think that Shi Naian wrote "Water Margin" and Luo Guanzhong wrote "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms". How can there be so much doubt in something so simple and clear? However, in recent years, academic circles have raised questions about the real author of "Water Margin", and even speculated that the place where "Water Margin" is most popular is actually Luo Guanzhong's hometown, Dongping, Shandong. The local tour guide even pretended to be a gimmick and publicly explained Luo Guanzhong to tourists. He is the author of "Water Margin". What is going on?

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the author of "Water Margin" has been much talked about. There are three theories circulating: one is that Shi Naian created it independently; The second is created by Luo Guanzhong, Shi Naian is his pseudonym; the third is jointly created by Shi Naian and Luo Guanzhong. However, the currently recognized author of "Water Margin" is Shi Naian, because this is always stated in primary school textbooks in my country.

The academic circles have long overturned the inherent conclusion and believe that "Water Margin" was actually written by Shi Naian and Luo Zhongzhong. The first seventy chapters of the book were written by Shi Naian. The last thirty chapters were supplemented by Luo Zhong, and it is also said that Luo Guanzhong organized and edited the text of Shi Naian's completed novel.

At present, the above statement is relatively influential in academic circles, because after combining the writing style and writing characteristics of "Water Margin" and "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", they have similar approaches but similar results.