Liao Ming was born in 1905, the son of an imperial official; he grew up loyal to the Qing dynasty even after its overthrow in 1912. This loyalty, which his father instilled in him before his death in 1922, enabled him to join the imperial family’s loyalists as a spy. Since Liao was not Manchu, he accepted this role—which he would have found dishonorable under different circumstances—with great joy. In 1929, while he was hoping for a more honorary position should the Qings return to the throne, he was given the mission to accompany Princess Yunhe on a trip to Shanghai to gauge the intentions of Westerners and the various Chinese factions present there.
Liao Ming has a sharp mind and is unwaveringly loyal; he is also athletic and skilled in hand-to-hand combat, though he lacks experience with firearms.