Save ourselves a little face,
Say no more of this disgrace.
Chang: We had better go, too. It has all been a waste of effort.
[Exeunt Chang, Shen, K’ou, and Cheng.]
Pien and Ting: Don’t worry, Fragrant Princess. We’ll explain everything to His Honour Yang, and nobody will trouble you again.
Fragrant Princess [bowing]: Thank you, thank you!
Ting:
Matchmakers like butterflies and bees:
Fragrant Princess:
They swarm at my window to disturb my peace.
Pien:
None can ever touch your fragrant heart.
Fragrant Princess:
But where is he from whom I had to part?
[1] Weaving Maid and Oxherd are star lovers, condemned to a single annual meeting across the Milky Way.
SCENE 18
THE RIVALS STRUGGLE
1644, FIFTH MONTH
Hou [enters and recites]:
Victory and defeat are as uncertain as a game of chess:
What the next move should be I dare not say.
But the Yangtze cannot be allowed to cut off north from south;
Here in midstream we swear to recover what is lost.
[Speaks]: Recently I drafted a letter for His Excellency Shih, and in the heat of the moment I stated Prince Fu’s three cardinal sins and the five reasons against his succession to the Throne. But now he is Emperor, and Ma Shih-ying has become Prime Minister. All those who escorted his chariot have been promoted to high office. Though His Excellency Shih is also a member of the cabinet, he has been sent to command the army north of the river. Their purpose was to brush him aside, but he does not care. On the contrary, he is glad of a chance to grapple with the bandits. I am proud to help him, for I admire his courage and loyalty more and more. Today he has invited the commanders of the four outposts to confer about the strategic defence of the river. . . . where is the steward?
Servant [entering]: Oh, Master Hou, so you have arrived. Let me announce you.
Shih K’o-fa [enters and sings]:
I stand firm on the banks of the river.
Amid the leaping of dragons and roaring of tigers,
I forget my aging body and whitening hair . . .
[Speaks]: Brother Hou, the commanders of the four outposts will soon be here for the conference. At last there is hope of uniting our armies and avenging His Majesty.
Hou: That is encouraging, but General Kao Chieh, who garrisons Yangchow and Tungchow, poses something of a problem. He has been very arrogant, and his troops are unruly. The three other garrison generals are often incensed at his behaviour. Everything should be done to placate them at today’s conference, for their disputes will only benefit the foe.
Shih: This is good advice. I’ll do my best to pacify them.
Steward: The drums are beating at the gate. The generals of the four garrisons have arrived.
[Exit Hou. A flourish of drums and trumpets. Guards enter and stand at both ends of the stage. Enter the four generals Kao Chieh, Huang Te-kung, Liu Tse-ch’ing, and Liu Liang-tso, in full armour.]
Generals: Though the northern capital lacked a stout defender, a great statesman-general commands the left of the Yangtze. [Entering the hall, they salute Shih.] Greetings to the Commander-in-chief!
Shih: Generals, I bid you welcome.
Generals: [standing at both sides of the platform]: We await Your Excellency’s orders.
Shih: As Cabinet Minister in command of the armies, I have been authorized to direct the general strategy. By His Majesty’s decree, all officers in this area are my subordinates.
Generals: Aye, aye.
Shih: You generals of the four garrisons are not mere officers, but noble earls. I am aware of the impropriety of giving you subordinate seats, but it is important to proceed with the conference as quickly as possible.
Generals: Your Excellency is too courteous.
Shih: As Commander-in-Chief, I order you to be seated.
[The four generals bow and obey. Kao promptly takes the seat of honour. Huang frowns at him.]
Shih [sings]:
Protected by noble rivers on every side,
This region is of high strategic importance.
Battle formations can be massed like heavy clouds,
With clustered hosts numerous as the willow branches.
Our iron-mailed cavalry will roar in the wind as they gallop forth:
The whizzing arrows of our infantry will startle the rushing tide.
We should try to emulate the great strategists of yore,
And reform the nation with a single heart.
Your portraits, in full armour,
Will soon adorn the Hall of Fame.
Huang [angrily]: I don’t wish to cause trouble, but this Kao Chieh was only a bandit who surrendered to us. By what superior merit does he take the seat of honour?
Kao: I was among the first to be promoted after my surrender. Besides, I am the most advanced in age, and could not sit below you.
Liu Tse-ch’ing [to Kao]: This is your own garrison area, whereas we are guests. How can a good general betray such ignorance of etiquette?
Liu Liang-tso: His head is swollen after revelling in the luxuries of Yangchow. But it should be our turn now.
Kao: If ever you dare set foot in Yangchow, I might yield my seat to you.
Huang: So you think I dare not? [Rising]: Will the brothers Liu join me? I shall fight a duel with him. [Exit.]
Shih [to Kao]: You should not offend the majority. Let us try to be more modest.
Kao: I would rather die than yield to their arrogance.
Shih: You are wrong in this. [Sings]:
How brave you four generals appear!
The recovery of the northern capital depends chiefly on you;
You should be like brothers, fighting shoulder to shoulder.
Why gnash your teeth about a chair?
Dignity and decorum are thrown to the winds.
One, eyes glaring, starts a battle in a quiet room;
Another, blazing with rage, stirs a storm from tranquil waters.
Long before your valour shines forth in battle,
Already your talons are in each other’s flesh.
Since such hot-blooded youths have been promoted,
His Majesty’s decree is laughed to scorn.
[Speaks]: I did not expect you brave generals to behave to foolishly. I called this conference with the highest hopes. Now they are cold as ashes. Alas, I have no alternative but to send the three other generals back to their posts until further notice. [To Kao]: Since this is your district, I appoint you Commander of the Vanguard. Hearing of this extra duty, the others may be less jealous.
Kao: Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
[Shih writes his order and hands it to Kao. A hubbub sounds from backstage. Kao walks out of the camp without a word. In the meantime Huang and the Liu brothers enter shouting with drawn swords. Kao Chieh meets them.]
Kao: Heaven and sun above! How dare you shout and shake your swords at me. Is this a mutiny?
Huang: No, but we want your life.
Kao: We are still before the gate of our Commander-in-Chief. Have you forgotten who you are, you savages? [Huang and both Lius advance to kill Kao, who runs into the gate calling]: Help, help, Your Excellency!
[Huang and the Lius fight their way into the camp, still shouting and cursing.]
Shih [standing astonished, sings]:
I fancied the northern cavalry had come to attack us,
So fierce the cries for blood;
Yet the war is inside our own camp.
When we should be united, our ranks are torn by discord.
An evil plant has taken root,
Which bodes ill for this campaign.
It is easier to quell bandits than to pacify quarrelsome generals.
[Speaks]: Ask Master Hou to come here. [Steward goes to call him.]
Hou [entering in haste]: W
hat now, Your Excellency?
Shih: I want you to exert your skill in appeasing the turbulent officers, so that my order is carried out. Here it is in writing. Take it and expound it to them.
Hou: I obey. [Takes the order with him and leaves the camp, saying]: Greetings, Your Excellencies. The Commander-in-Chief has charged me to explain to you that in spite of the new succession to the throne, the mission of punishing the bandits still lies before us. This is a time when we should grasp our spears and prove our patriotism. No personal grudge should interfere with our purpose. When the central plain is recovered, an Imperial banquet will be given to celebrate the victory. Naturally, the seats will be arranged according to court etiquette. Those with the finest record in the campaign will be the most highly honoured. Now that we should devote all our energy to the struggle, this is no time to grumble about points of punctilio. Please be reasonable. Since Earl Kao Chieh’s garrison is in this area, he will stay here to command the vanguard. Earl Huang and the two Earls Liu will return to their garrisons until further notice. The discipline of the army must be maintained. To preserve the dignity of command, there will be no leniency for offenders. Such is the order.
Huang: We only want to kill that wretched brigand. We have no intention of breaking discipline.
Hou: To threaten the life of a general in our own camp is an intolerable breach of discipline.
Liu Tse-ch’ing: In that case, we shall give no further alarm to our Commander. We shall withdraw for the present.
Huang: But tomorrow we shall beard Kao Chieh in his den. To avenge the country is a noble duty; but personal revenge demands immediate action. [Exeunt.]
[Hou re-enters the camp and reports to Shih.]
Hou: The three garrison commanders retired after hearing the order, but they are determined to continue the feud.
Shih: How can we curb them? [Pointing at Kao Chieh, sings]:
General Kao, you are responsible for this mischief.
Why be so blinded with false pride?
By grabbing the seat of honour,
You have drawn jealous swords against you.
No tongue, however eloquent, can restrain them;
Till my throat were dry, I could not shout them down.
The future is ominous:
Our mission is endangered.
Kao: Never mind, Commander-in-Chief. I shall settle accounts with them tomorrow. Then all the cavalry under their command will be brought under mine. United, I shall lead them to victory. The recovery of the central plain will then be an easy matter.
Shih: You talk without sense. The bandits are reported to be crossing the Yellow River. General Hsü Ting-kuo at the front is unable to hold out against them. He has been sending urgent messages for reinforcements. I had called this conference to discuss our defence of the river. How can I muster enough troops in time, when you are all fighting among yourselves?
Kao: The three of them are against me only because Yangchow is wealthy and flourishing. They are jealous and want to seize it for themselves. Why should I yield to oblige them?
Shih: This is even more absurd. [Sings]:
As one against three,
You will be crushed like an egg under a mountain.
All yours are the twenty-four bridges of Yangchow,
The flutes playing on moonlit nights;
But they too would like to stroll on your Sui embankment,[1]
Boast of the bygone glories of your gardens.
Who would not choose Yangchow for his personal heaven?
I only fear that their envy, by tomorrow,
Will drown the torrent of your river in murderous cries.
[Speaks]: Alas, so be it! I have racked my brains to no purpose. Brother Hou, I shall have to count on your ingenuity.
Hou: Perhaps we should wait before making a decision.
[Exeunt Shih and Hou. Drums and trumpets resound. The gate is closed.]
Kao: I am as brave as any man. Why should I wait to be slaughtered without striking a blow? Tomorrow I shall muster my troops on the Yellow Dyke for the counter-attack. [Recites]:
Like dragons and tigers we fight to prove our prowess.
Instead of exchanging wine-cups, we cross swords.
I shall not stop to consider the fortunes of war:
Even if my head be struck off I shall not yield.
[1] One of the glories of Yangchow, built during the Sui dynasty, 589–618, which unified China when it overcame the Ch’en, last of the “southern dynasties.”
SCENE 19
THE PACIFICATION ATTEMPT
1644, FIFTH MONTH
[General Huang and both Generals Liu with attendants and soldiers enter shouting. They are armed to the teeth and carry banners.]
Huang: Brothers, we shall have to be cautious. I have heard that Kao has mustered his troops to attack us at the Yellow Dyke. Let us split into three columns and advance in serried ranks.
Liu Liang-tso: I have not brought enough soldiers, so I had better just challenge him and leave it to you to support me.
Huang: My strongest champion T’ien Hsiung is absent, so I will take the second column and ask Liu Tse-ch’ing to head the main column.
Liu Tse-ch’ing: Agreed. Forward march! [Exeunt shouting.]
Kao Chieh [entering with armed guard]: Men, take up your positions and await the foe.
Scout [entering]: Your Excellency, the foe are advancing towards us.
Liu Liang-tso [enters with a big halberd, shouting]: Come out, old Kao! Let us see who is the better warrior!
Kao [waving his spear]: Cease bragging, upstart booby!
[A fight ensues to the beating of drums.]
Kao: Catch him alive, boys. [Soldiers join in. Exit Liu.]
Huang [entering with a pair of whips, to Kao]: Knowing my strength, you should kneel and beg for your life.
Kao: I never liked that phiz of yours. Now I shall chop your head off. [Drums are beaten. The fight continues.] Join the battle, boys!
Huang [angrily]: A general should fight a general, a trooper a trooper. That has always been the rule. But an old brigand like you knows nothing of rules. I withdraw. [Exit, defeated.]
Liu Tse-ch’ing [entering with a pair of swords, followed by soldiers]: Cease bragging, Kao Chieh. I too have soldiers. Let us fight a full-fledged battle.
Kao: I’m known as the Heaven-upsetting Hawk, and am utterly fearless. Fight any way you please, but kill, kill, kill!
[A general melee ensues. Hou enters and walks up to an adjacent peak, his guards beating gongs. The battle ceases. All look up to him.]
Hou [flourishing his arrow of command]: His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief’s orders! This rioting among the armies of the four garrison generals amounts to open mutiny, and the Commander-in-Chief assumes full blame for it. He bids you come and kill him at his own headquarters, whereupon you may go to Nanking and loot the palace. You need not fight here and endanger the lives of harmless citizens.
Liu Tse-ch’ing: This is no mutiny. We merely wish to punish Kao as he deserves. After settling this matter, we shall report to His Excellency.
Kao: As Commander of the Vanguard, I am no rebel. Since the others came to kill me, I was compelled to fight in self-defence.
Hou: You have disobeyed orders by fighting among yourselves, and you should all be considered rebels. A memorial to that effect will be sent to His Majesty. If you have anything further to add, you may say so in His Majesty’s presence.
Liu Tse-ch’ing: His Majesty was raised to the Throne by us, and the Commander-in-Chief was appointed by His Majesty. Since our disobedience of this order has been interpreted as rebellion against the Emperor, we should kneel in chains before His Excellency and plead for pardon.
Hou: What has General Kao to say?
Kao: I’m His Excellency’s slave. Let my disobedience be punished as he thinks fit.
Hou: Then the two other garrison commanders should come to headquarters and apologize.
Liu Tse-ch’ing: The other two
were defeated. They have returned to their garrisons.
Hou: No personal grudge should exist between the generals in control of neighbouring areas. Why should you pay attention to others’ intrigues? Now come before the Commander-in-Chief and await his verdict. [Hou descends from his peak, accompanied by Liu and Kao.]
Hou: Here we are at headquarters. You generals please wait outside while I announce you. [Exits and re-enters, saying]: Hear the Commander-in-Chief’s order: This quarrel among the four garrison generals was a serious breach of discipline, but since it was provoked by General Kao’s disregard of etiquette, he should be the first to apologize. The matter will thus be settled without a court-martial. [Sings to Kao]:
General, think for yourself.
Punishment means disaster;
Your only course is to shoulder a load of thorns
And bow in contrition.
Kao [furiously]: Though I am a close subordinate of the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency asks me to apologize instead of offering me his protection. I am too mortified to do so. Enough, enough! This can only mean that His Excellency has no further use for me. I shall lead my troops independently across the river. [Sings]:
I cannot endure such cruel humiliation.
I shall cross the great river
And my deeds will shake the world.
[Calls]: Soldiers, follow me! [His soldiers enter with banners and leave the stage, shouting.]
Liu: Alack, alack! If he crosses the river, his numerous henchmen on the other side will join him. They will return with reinforcements to attack us. I had better warn the other garrison generals so that our troops are ready to meet him on the spot. [Sings]:
How foolish of him to fly off in such a tantrum!
Even the Yangtze could not wash away his shame.
Surely he must return to do more violence. [Exit Liu.]
Hou: An unexpected crisis — how can I resolve it? [Sings]:
Mountains and streams slip and slide —
How to rebuild this land?
Men’s hearts split apart like loosened tiles,
As they forget old friendships.
[Gazing south, he says]: Kao Chieh has really become a rebel. [Sings]:
Proudly he crosses the river,
His banners disrupting its flow
The Peach Blossom Fan Page 16