The Peach Blossom Fan

by K'ung Shang-jen

  The hero is dead of indignation, his people all dispersed.

  There is only an empty boat to serve as his coffin.

  I invoke his spirit by the river,

  But where can I find wine for the sacrifice?

  [Speaks]: I shall have to wait for his son to return before performing the burial service. I cannot abandon him here. [Sings]:

  The hero failed to pass the river fortress.

  His spirit hovers o’er the waves as dreary night draws on.

  Green hills are all around, but he has no burial place,

  While wind and rain beat on his empty boat.

  [1] There was a sort of freemasonry between men from the same province.

  [2] Coal Hill, north of the Forbidden City in Peking, was an artificial hill, constructed with the earth taken from the moats, which was intended to guard the Imperial palaces against evil influences from the north. The Ming Emperor Ch’ung-chen is said to have hanged himself from an ancient sophora tree on this hill, when Peking was captured by Li Tzu-ch’eng’s rebels in 1644. Though the truth of this account has been challenged, the stone tablet which was erected in 1930 reads: “In respectful memory of the Emperor of the Ming who, remembering his ancestors, chose suicide on this spot rather than to fall into the hands of his enemies.”

  SCENE 35

  CALL TO BATTLE

  1645, FOURTH MONTH

  [Enter Shih K’o-fa in ordinary clothes and wearing a white felt cap.]

  Shih [sings]:

  Two years the horns called men to battle,

  Armed riders daily clashed and reared.

  Now all have fled, not one old comrade

  Notes the swift greying of my beard.

  [Speaks]: All my efforts to recover the lost lands of the North failed to develop a single effective plan. Huang Te-kung and the other generals lost a thousand li of the Yellow River plains when they moved south at the dictates of Ma Shih-ying and Juan Ta-ch’eng. Now comes a report that northern troops advanced into the Huai region on the twenty-first of this month. With less than three thousand under my banner, how am I to stop their progress? Once the Huai region falls there can be no defence of the capital, and the Ming dynasty is doomed. In my distress, I pace the ramparts to observe and to reflect. [Enter servant with lantern to guide him. Shih sings]:

  In private guise, I walk the city wall

  In the late watches when the world’s asleep.

  Birds whistle from their roost;

  The watchman strikes his wooden block;

  And here behind the screening wall, I listen.

  [He stops to listen, and hears a complaining voice from offstage.]

  Voice: The northern troops have entered the Huai region, without a living soul to oppose their presence; and those of us still here, just a handful of men, are left with the impossible task of defending Yangchow. Our general must be a real simpleton!

  Shih [nodding his head, and speaking to himself]: You don’t understand. [Sings]:

  This loyal little band of ours

  Will prove a new Great Wall of stout defence.

  [He listens again.]

  Second Voice: This is the end! The general cares nothing about us, he’s already given in to the northern troops. Why don’t we get out while we can? Why hang on here waiting to die?

  Shih: Ha! Surrender, that is what’s in their minds! How to deal with that? [Sings]:

  If the word “surrender”

  Blocks the word “defender,”

  Then Yangchow has few moments left.

  [He listens again.]

  Third Voice: Surrendering is only a last resort. We can kill and plunder and then get out. The only question is, how long can we hold on?

  Shih: Ai-ya, I had no idea it had reached this pass. [Sings]:

  I start with alarm,

  My fiery heart suddenly clamped in ice.

  I must go back at once,

  Not wait for dawn,

  But muster my men this night.

  [He hastens off. Signal guns fire offstage. Enter four soldiers.]

  Soldiers: This is the twenty-fourth day of the fourth month, and there’ll be no drill today. Why are they firing the signal cannon on Plum Blossom Ridge? Come on, let’s find out. [They hurry off. Enter Adjutant with lantern and arrow of command.]

  Adjutant [recites]:

  Clouds mass above the river,

  Urgent orders fly by night.

  [Shouts]: Field Marshal’s orders: All troops to muster on Plum Blossom Ridge for instructions.

  [Troops form up. Shih K’o-fa, in armour and flanked by banners, mounts platform.]

  Shih [recites]:

  Horns sound the rally, as the moon

  Soars to its zenith, and stars begin to fade.

  [Speaks]: Adjutant! Reports from the north are critical. Huai city has fallen. We in Yangchow guard the gateway to the Yangtze region — if anything goes wrong here, the capital will be in peril. Pass the word at once to all units, to guard their posts with every man, day and night. Death penalty for all malcontents!

  Adjutant: Sir! [He relays the orders to listeners offstage. There is no response.]

  Shih: Why this silence? Adjutant, repeat the orders and tell them to acknowledge.

  [Adjutant does so, but there is still no response.]

  Shih: Still no response: sound the drum roll and repeat the orders.

  [Adjutant does so; still no response.]

  Shih: We are faced with mutiny and desertion. [Stamps his foot.] How can Heaven permit this! [Weeps and sings]:

  I call on Heaven; Heaven is silent still.

  How can I meet this final threat

  Against the shattering of my army’s will?

  [Speaks]: Most wretched Shih K’o-fa! [Sings]:

  Shorn of comrade or companion,

  My sole reliance these three thousand men,

  And each intent on making his escape!

  Have I no choice now but to make a banquet

  Of this land I hold, and summon the invader?

  [He beats his breast and says]: Ah, Shih K’o-fa! To what avail is your lifelong loyalty now, what use the industry of all your years? [Sings]:

  I weep for my ancestors,

  I weep for my countrymen.

  [He cries aloud.]

  Adjutant: Take care for yourself, sir, your tears will not save the country now. See — the skirts of your armour are drenched with tears. [Alarmed]: Ha, here is blood! Bring a lantern! Sir, you are soaked in blood! How is this?

  Shih: The blood is from my eyes. [Sings]:

  I have wept until my tears are all of blood.

  Adjutant [shouts]: You generals, come up and look — you will see that our Field Marshal has shed tears of blood!

  Three Generals: It is true! Tears of blood! [They kneel.]

  First General: The saying goes: “A thousand pay-days for an hour of action.” We are no better than beasts if we fail to serve our Emperor now.

  Second General: If our cowardice has caused such suffering to our Commander, let us not look to Heaven for support.

  Third General: Death comes to all soon or late: the important thing is to die well. So be it: today this worthless life of mine goes to the defence of Yangchow for Marshal Shih!

  Adjutant: Well said! And death by slow execution awaits all who waver!

  Shih [gives a great laugh]: For this I bow in gratitude! [He prostrates himself, but they raise him to his feet.]

  Generals: We are unworthy of this!

  Shih: Hear my command: one thousand men to advance against the enemy, one thousand to guard the city, one thousand to patrol outside.

  Generals: Sir!

  Shih: If the advance against the enemy fails, withdraw to the city wall.

  Generals: Sir!

  Shih: If the defence of the city wall fails, fight street by street.

  Generals: Sir!

  Shih: If street fighting fails, hand-to-hand combat.

  Generals: Sir!

  Shih: If close combat f
ails — death.

  Generals: Sir!

  Shih: You well know that one who surrenders can never again rise from his knees; one who deserts can never again look behind him. Let there be no further craven thought or word, if you are true companions of Shih K’o-fa.

  Generals: Sir!

  Shih: Your response makes further orders unnecessary. Now shout our war-cry thrice, then to your posts. [All raise three shouts and exit. Shih claps his hands and laughs]: Wonderful! If we succeed in guarding Yangchow, we lock the north gate of the capital! [Sings]:

  Dust of battle everywhere,

  But here’s a city will not yield.

  Midnight tears from blurred old eyes

  Against a host will hold the field.

  Illustration: Three generals: “It is true! Tears of blood!”

  SCENE 36

  FLIGHT FROM DISASTER

  1645, FIFTH MONTH

  [Enter two Eunuchs and two Palace Maidens with lanterns, escorting the Emperor Hung-kuang, who is in ordinary clothes and on horseback.]

  Emperor [sings]:

  Water-clocks tell me the hour is late.

  Through the winds of night I ride,

  Where candles gutter by palace gate.

  [Speaks]: Since I came to the Dragon Throne, I have been harried from one refuge to another, and now the northern armies have crossed the Huai River and are invading Yangchow. Messages from Shih K’o-fa tell of a critical situation and panic among his forces. My ministers Ma Shih-ying and Juan Ta-ch’eng have gone into hiding, and the prospects for sustaining this revival of the Ming Empire seem very faint indeed. “Of all possible stratagems, the best is escape.” I have left the palace behind, and issued orders to open the city gate. If I can only slip out of Nanking, I shall find security somewhere. [Sings]:

  Streets of the capital silent now;

  As I pass below the Phoenix Terrace,

  The fate of my consorts grips my heart.

  [Calls]: Order my consorts to make haste, or they will be trapped! [Sings]:

  A melancholy flight for them,

  Lutes cradled in their arms,

  And tears like falling pearls!

  [Emperor hurries offstage. Enter, equally swiftly, Ma Shih-ying, also on horseback.]

  Ma [sings]:

  The defences of the Yangtze are broken,

  The capital faces disaster;

  High offices go cheap, but there’s none to buy!

  [Speaks]: On presenting myself for the dawn audience, I discovered that His Majesty had fled. What else but flight remains for his Minister? [Sings]:

  Quickly now don rustic guise;

  Skulking out of Chicken Street,

  Let me meet no hostile eyes!

  [Pointing behind him, Ma says]: This bevy of beauties and these ten cartloads of treasure represent my modest possessions. I hope to save them from seizure by my enemies. Hurry along there!

  [Enter two concubines on horseback, followed by coolies pushing carts.]

  Concubines and Coolies [calling back]: Coming!

  Ma [sings]:

  Stay close to me, beloved consorts,

  And dearest household goods!

  [As the convoy circles the stage a crowd of rioters enter, brandishing sticks and shouting.]

  Rioters: Ha, here’s the traitor Ma Shih-ying who has filched the last penny from our pockets! Where are you off to with your women and your riches? You’ve taken them far enough!

  [The rioters knock Ma Shih-ying to the ground, strip him of his gown, and run off with the women and the treasure. Juan Ta-ch’eng enters on horseback.]

  Juan [sings]:

  The defence of the Yangtze was a lucrative post,

  But who desires it once the killing starts?

  I fling my warrant down into the river!

  [Speaks]: I’m on my way; but I wonder whether Ma Shih-ying has fled too, or whether he is planning to surrender? [His horse stumbles over the prostrate Ma] Oh, here you are! What are you doing down there?

  Ma: I wasn’t fast enough. I was trapped by rioters who robbed me of all I had and left me lying here.

  Juan: So that’s what happened. My own baggage is somewhere behind me. I hope that doesn’t get stolen. [Sings]:

  Just to amass a handful of goods,

  A pretty girl or two,

  Costs a high price in public obloquy!

  [Speaks]: I must see what has become of it.

  [Enter more rioters, armed with sticks. They carry bundles and are hustling a group of girls along with them.]

  Rioters: These are the ill-gotten gains of Juan Ta-ch’eng. Come on, let’s share them.

  Juan: You scoundrels, how dare you lay hands on my property?

  Rioters: You are Juan Ta-ch’eng? Good, you came just at the right moment. [They knock Juan down and strip him of his robe.] Let him keep his miserable life, but on we go to Breeches’ Bottom in Chicken Street. We’ll burn his house down for him. [Exeunt.]

  Ma: Oh, my back’s broken, I can’t get up.

  Juan: I’ll keep you company, they’ve broken my arms.

  Ma and Juan [sing]:

  What a mess! What a mess!

  Victims of their vulgar fists

  Here we languish in distress!

  [Enter Yang Wen-ts’ung on horseback, wearing his official robes and followed by porters bearing his baggage.]

  Yang: Today is the tenth of the fifth month, an auspicious day for me to begin the journey to my new post as Governor of Soochow. I have left my paintings and calligraphy scrolls in the Plum Fragrance Tower, with instructions for Lan Ying to bring them to me at his convenience, so that I shall not be overburdened with baggage.

  Porters: Please hurry, Your Honour.

  Yang: What’s the matter?

  Porters: There are rumours that the northern forces are near at hand, and the Emperor and his ministers fled the capital tonight.

  Yang: Amazing! Let us get away from the city at once! [He urges on his horse, but it rears and refuses to move.] What’s this, why does my horse rear and jib? You men, what’s this?

  Porters: There are two corpses in the way.

  Ma and Juan [moaning]: Oh! Oh! Help! Help!

  Yang: They’re not dead yet. Who are they?

  Porters: It looks like Their Honours Ma and Juan.

  Yang: Ridiculous, how could that be? Oh, oh, it really is! [He dismounts.] Heavens, how could this have come about?

  Ma: I was stripped of all I possess by rioters, all they left me was my life.

  Juan: I came to his rescue and met with the same fate.

  Yang: Where are your retainers?

  Ma: I suspect they made off with their share of the loot.

  Yang: Help them up at once, you men, and find some clothes for them. [The porters help Ma and Juan to dress.] Fortunately I have a spare mount; why don’t you share it and we’ll leave the city this instant?

  Ma and Juan [now mounted, clinging to each other, recite]: Two friends, one horse, knees together, lacking clothes, will freeze together! [Exeunt.]

  Porters: You shouldn’t travel in their company, Your Honour. If we fall in with their foes, we’ll suffer too.

  Yang: Very true. I spy another rabble of rioters. We had better make ourselves scarce.

  [Yang and his porters hide at the side of the street. Enter K’ou Pai-men and Cheng T’o-niang, dishevelled.]

  K’ou and Cheng together [singing]:

  The terrace filled with song,

  The dancers’ skirts a-swaying;

  Deep in the night the gaiety goes on.

  [They greet Yang]: Your Honour Yang, what are you doing here?

  Yang: Ah, it’s K’ou Pai-men and Cheng T’o-niang. Why are you both out in the streets?

  K’ou: We were performing in the palace when suddenly the drinking stopped, the lamps were dimmed, and eunuchs and palace ladies began rushing about in confusion. We didn’t wait to be dismissed.

  Yang: Where is Fragrant Princess?

  Cheng: She left with us, but with feet
so tiny she couldn’t keep up with us, so she hired a palanquin and went off in that.

  Yang: Has the Emperor left the city then?

  K’ou: Shen Kung-hsien and Chang Yen-chu are behind us, they will know what is happening.

  [Enter Shen, in tatters and clutching his drum, and Chang, dishevelled and cap in hand.]

  Shen and Chang together [singing]:

  On the Imperial revels at their height,

  The snorting war-steeds of the North descend.

  Are we to hold them off with pipe and drum?

  [They greet Yang]: Your Honour Yang! It’s a long time since we met.

  Yang: Why are you in such dire distress?

  Shen: You haven’t heard? The northern troops have crossed the Yangtze, and tonight the Emperor fled the capital.

  Yang: Where are you heading for?

  Chang: To our homes, to await developments and see if we can’t keep our heads.

  Cheng: My sister and I need not worry; we’re off to our house to make ready for our new clients.

  Yang: Clients, at a time like this!

  Cheng: You should realize, sir, there’s a lot of money to be made from an army camp. [Sings]:

  One camp fares badly, one does well,

  But we have always a song to sell.

  [Exit singing-girls and musicians.]

  Yang: This is a dismal prospect. They saw the Emperor’s flight with their own eyes. I must hasten to collect my belongings from the Tower of Plum Fragrance and hurry home to my native village at once. [He mimes the act of journeying, and sings]:

  Streets full of fleeing rabble,

  Prince and ministers wandering apart,

  Where can we find an issue from these troubles?

  [He mimes arrival and says]: Here is Mistress Li’s abode. [Dismounts and hammers on the gate]: Open up! Open up!

  Lan Ying [rushing in]: Who is it this time? [Opens the gate.] What brings you here, Your Honour?

  Yang: There’s desperate news of the northern troops, His Majesty and the Court have scattered in all directions, and there’s no more governorship of Soochow for me! [Sings]:

  Now to bundle books and zither,

  Change these clothes for plain apparel,

  Take a sampan up the river!

  Lan: So that’s how it is. Fragrant Princess just came back with the news that the Court had fled. Fragrant Princess!