Scene 41: Delaying the Examination

Scene 41: Delaying the Examination

[Phoenix Pavilion] (The actor playing Miao Shunbin enters, leading attendants.) The borders are ablaze with war, a fearsome sight. How can the fish and dragons in autumn waters transform? The cassia blooms layer upon layer in the moon palace; who can pluck it from the clouds? (Together) The examination hall is tightly sealed. We take up the papers, scrutinize them carefully, and then report back. (Assembled Tang verses) "To forge the times, we await a master craftsman and a hero—Tan Yongzhi. Reach out your hand; do not hesitate to angle for the giant turtle—Li Xianyong. Repay the spring light, knowing there is a fitting place—Du Fu. In your writing, share the phoenix's feathers—Yuan Zhen." I, your humble servant, am Miao Shunbin. Because I once distinguished the quality of foreign treasures at Xiangshan, the Emperor specially ordered me to come to the capital to preside over the examinations. Owing to the incursions of the Jin troops, the Emperor personally held a court examination, asking the candidates which of the three strategies—peace talks, resistance, or defense—was most appropriate. The examiners from each hall have already selected the top papers, and an imperial decree commands me to conduct a detailed review. Upon reflection, appraising treasures is easy; appraising writing is difficult. Why? Because my eyes are originally like cat's eyes, no different from emerald, green glass, or crystal. Thus, whenever I see a true treasure, my eyes light up. As for writing, my eyes have never had any use for it. Yet now, I am acting on imperial orders and have no choice. Attendants, open the chest and present the papers from each hall. (Attendants take up the papers and present them. The actor playing Miao inspects them.) These papers are quite few. For now, let me take the three scrolls marked "Heaven" and see what they are like. First scroll: "The Emperor asks: 'Among peace talks, resistance, and defense, which is most appropriate?'" "Your subject respectfully replies: 'Your subject has heard that when a state negotiates peace with bandits, it is like a village elder mediating a dispute.'" Oh! If a village elder mediates a dispute and fails, it may end there; but if national affairs fail to reach peace, what can be done? The examiner of this hall proposed him as the top scholar—how unclear his thinking is! Let me look at the second scroll. This one advocates defense. (Inspects) "Your subject has heard that the Son of Heaven guards the state as a woman guards her chastity." This metaphor is too trivial. Now look at the third scroll. This one advocates resistance. (Inspects) "Your subject has heard that the Southern Dynasty fighting the Northern Dynasty is like the old yang battling the old yin." This is too peculiar. Yet, the Book of Changes contains the phrase "the battle of yin and yang."—Formerly, advocating peace talks was a mistake that ruined things under Grand Preceptor Qin. For now, let me select the one advocating resistance as first, the one advocating defense as second, and the one advocating peace talks as third. The remaining papers will be ranked in order.

[A Single Letter] (Miao) The papers are a mess of five colors. I fear there are too many with stale minds. In the end, they waste their ink grinding; not a single fine flower flows from their brushes. Here, the Dragon Gate of the examination is open without end, and all want to stir up a wave ten feet high from a foot of water. Yet it cannot be helped. This is the season of peach-blossom waves, and there ought to be one examination; but if the pond has no fish, what can be done! (Seals the papers.)

[Spirit's Staff] (Liu enters.) Amid the dust of battle, amid the dust of battle, rare talents gather. (Attendant) Scholar, you come at an unlucky time. The examination date has already passed. (Liu) Oh! The examination date has passed. Can my essay still be presented to the Emperor? (Attendant) Not present it? Are we waiting for you? They speak of heroes entering the snare—just as the hall is sealed and the papers submitted. (Liu) I fear there is no top scholar among them, brother. (Attendant) Not many—only three. (Liu) Ten thousand horses vie to be first, yet my thousand-li steed lags behind. Quickly report: a missing talented scholar, a potential top scholar, seeks an audience. (Attendant) This is the court waiting room. Prefects, magistrates, and officials from all prefectures and counties come here to beg for a supplementary examination for missing talents. (Liu) Elder brother, will you truly not report? (Weeps) Heaven! Elder Miao funded my journey to present treasures. I cannot suppress the shame of Bian He, tears streaming before the double-pupiled Shun. (Miao listens.) Gatekeeper! What place is this? Drag him in! (Attendant pulls Liu inside.) (Liu) I beg for a supplementary examination, hoping the honorable examiner will accept me. (Miao) Heavens! The imperial decree was for a personal court examination; the Hanlin Academy sent the sealed papers. Who dares accept another? (Liu weeps.) Your student traveled ten thousand li from Lingnan with his family. With no road left, I would rather dash my brains out on these golden steps. (Liu rises to dash against the steps; the attendant stops him.) (Miao, aside) This scholar looks like Liu. Truly a lost pearl from the Southern Sea. (Turning back) Scholar, step forward. Do you have an examination paper? (Liu) My paper is prepared. (Miao) Then I will provisionally allow you to take the examination, treating all equally. (Liu kneels.) A rare encounter in a thousand years. (Miao reads the question.) "Imperial decree: 'I ask you, numerous scholars: Recently it is heard that Jin troops are encroaching on the borders. Only the three strategies of peace talks, resistance, and defense are available. Which is most appropriate?'" (Liu kowtows.) I receive the imperial decree. (Rises.) (Attendant) Go to the eastern examination cell. (Liu writes his policy essay.) (Miao again inspects the earlier papers closely.) The first scroll advocates resistance, the second defense, the third peace talks. The one advocating peace talks probably does not suit the imperial will. (Liu submits his paper. Miao inspects.) Oh! In this humble examination hall, in a short time, he has written a thousand words instantly. Admirable, admirable. I cannot read it carefully in haste. Just tell me: regarding the three matters of peace talks, resistance, and defense, which one do you advocate? (Liu) Your student does not favor any one exclusively. Only after one can resist and can defend can one then negotiate peace. It is like a doctor using medicine: resistance is the exterior, defense the interior, and peace talks lie between the exterior and interior. (Miao) Excellent insight, excellent insight. Then what about the current situation?

[Horseshoe Flower] (Liu) As for today, the imperial carriage lingers and delays; it is said to be on a pleasure tour along West Lake in daylight. Because of the autumn osmanthus blossoms and the ten miles of lotus flowers, a border sorrow has been aroused. We only hope that man will halt his horse and cease war at Mount Wu. When can we recover the Yan and Yun territories? If we only negotiate peace, the petty court south of the river is a disgrace. If we resist and defend, let the imperial carriage draw a little nearer to the Central Plains. (Miao) Your words are reasonable, scholar.

[Previous Tune] (Miao) The sage ruler lowers the curtain to listen to counsel, wanting to gather in the net the weeping jade and the lost sea pearl. Over a thousand candidates presented their answers. Those who do not know the times or understand Heaven's will—how can they be Confucian scholars? Someone like you, with three-fifths of your words, points out the emperor's worries; with ten thousand words of policy, you examine all the empire's flaws. (Liu) I am a humble scholar from Lingnan. (Miao, in a low voice) I understand. Your fishing line has hooked the coral; I dare say you will capture the top honor this time. Scholar, go wait outside the Meridian Gate for the imperial decree. (Liu responds and withdraws. Aside.) This examiner is actually Elder Miao. To avoid suspicion, I dare not acknowledge him. "For now, I face the bright mirror and open my eyes, hoping only that the red-robed god nods in the shadows." (Liu exits.) (Miao) The papers have all been thoroughly reviewed. Attendants, follow me to present them. (Walks.) "Beneath the Silk-thread Pavilion, literary thoughts are still; within the Bell and Drum Tower, the water-clock's sound is long." Oh! What drum is that? (Urgent drumming from within.) (Attendant) It is the border-reports drum before the Privy Council building. (Horses neigh from within.) (Miao) Border alarm is urgent. What to do? What to do? (An actor playing an elderly Privy Councilor enters.) "The Calyx Pavilion in the Double City leads to the imperial carriage's auspicious signs. The Lotus Garden enters the border sorrow." (They meet.) (Miao) Have you come, honored sir, to report border affairs? (Councilor) Precisely. Have you come to present the examination papers? (Miao) Precisely. (Councilor) In today's affairs, precedence is given to urgency. I will presume to go first. (Councilor kowtows to report.) Your subject, Commander of All Troops and Horses under Heaven and Knower of Privy Council Affairs, humbly reports to my lord. (Voice from within) What is the report about?

[Dripping Beads] (Councilor) The Jin people, the Jin people are rumored to be about to invade. (Voice) Who is the vanguard? (Councilor) Li Quan, Li Quan comes to do battle. (Voice) Where have they reached? (Councilor) Reports say they have reached the Huai and Yangzhou regions. (Voice) Who can be dispatched to command and direct? (Councilor) There is Du Bao, currently Pacification Commissioner of Huaiyang. I fear the border passes may be lost at any moment; troops must be dispatched swiftly for reinforcement. (Miao kowtows to report.) Your subject, the paper-reviewing official Miao Shunbin, humbly reports to my lord.

[The Same Tune] The essays written at the palace examination have all been read, presented for the imperial perusal, presented for the imperial perusal to determine the top candidate. On an auspicious day, we await the proclamation of the successful candidates by the herald. The many officials at the palace hall have long prepared the Qionglin Banquet. (Inner voice) The reporting officials are to wait outside the Meridian Gate. (Minister and Grand Secretary rise together) (Grand Secretary) Honorable Sir, why have we heard of the Jin forces’ movements? (Minister) I dared not report this earlier. The Jin ruler’s purpose this time is solely to seize the beautiful scenery of West Lake. (Grand Secretary) Stubborn barbarians! West Lake is for all of us to enjoy together. If they seize West Lake, then Hangzhou will be completely useless. (Inner voice announcing) Hear the imperial decree: I govern the realm, distinguishing between urgent and routine matters, employing both civil and military measures. Now, Huaiyang is in crisis, so I order Du Bao, the Pacification Commissioner, to go and confront the enemy. There must be no delay. As for the proclamation of the successful candidates, it will wait until the war is settled, military preparations cease, and civil education is promoted. Inform all the scholars. Kowtow. (Minister and Grand Secretary kowtow, shout “Long live the Emperor,” and rise)

(Minister) The landscape of the watery regions has entered the war map. Cao Song (Grand Secretary) Day after day, the trailing robes of scholars flourish greatly. Du Fu (Minister) A man of talent naturally harbors ambitions that soar to the clouds. Qian Qi (Grand Secretary) But alas, the border defenses place greater importance on warriors. Du Mu