Scene 46: Subduing the Bandits

Scene 46: Subduing the Bandits

(General in military garb with sword, leading troops onstage) Answering the call of wind and cloud, we guard the borders through the years. (Drums and war cries from within) (Sighs) See those tiger-roaring catapult stones shatter like thunder, and those wild-goose-wing blades dense as falling snow. Li Quan, Li Quan, you want to seize the realm—I am here.

Collected Tang Poems: "Who can untie the heavy siege with a laugh?"—Huangfu Ran; "For ten thousand miles under the Tartar sky, no bird flies."—Gao Pian; "Today, south of the sea gate, affairs unfold."—Gao Pian; "My head full of frost and snow, all for the art of war."—Wei Zhuang.

Since I, Du Bao, arrived at Huaiyang, I have met with war’s chaos. A lone city, trapped in this ring upon ring of encirclement. I can only dispatch troops and grain, raise the golden drums. No hope of returning alive; I hold my ground and trust to Heaven. Silently I sit in the watchtower, recalling the days after the Jingkang disaster. Gazing across the Central Plains, everything wounds the heart.

(To the tune “Jade Cassia Twig”) I ask Heaven: what does it mean? With the Three Lights, it does not distinguish Hua from Yi, but blows the stench of barbarians into the human world, turning the Central Plains into a wasteland of yellow sand? (Angry) Suddenly my cap lifts with rage—suddenly my cap lifts with rage—who has done this, made the rivers and mountains like this? (Sighs) The Central Plains are finished. The passes and rivers are trapped; my heart’s desires thwarted. I only wish to hold Yangzhou, to supply the Huai River. I see that Li Quan’s tens of thousands of troops—what difficulty would they have in breaking this place? Yet he advances and retreats hesitantly; there must be a reason. I have a plan to break the siege, but I regret there is no one to send as an envoy. (Drums from within)

(Messenger in plain clothes rushes on) "Where the feathered dispatches fly, no wild geese arrive; at the Ghost Gate, someone comes." How ridiculous. The siege is tight as an iron bucket, yet a scholar comes to seek patronage. I must report. Report, Your Excellency: an old acquaintance has come to call. (General) Could he be a spy? (Messenger) He says he is Scholar Chen from Nan’an Prefecture, Jiangxi. (General) How could such a pedantic Confucian fly in here? Invite him in at once.

(To the tune “Sichuan Silk Washing Stream”) (Scholar Chen enters) Banners and pennants add to the scenery—this is no Lantern Festival with drums and fireworks bursting. Where is His Excellency Du? (General comes out, smiling, to greet) Suddenly I hear of an old friend from a thousand li away—who is it? (Sighs) So it is you, sir, who have come. It startles me to tears. (Scholar) Your Excellency’s hair is all white. (Together) White heads we look at each other, you and I; after three years, we meet with furrowed brows. (They bow)

Collected Tang Poems: (Scholar) "White-headed, riding a donkey, with a cloth bag slung."—Lu Lun; (General) "An old friend meets me, recalling Shanyang."—Tan Yongzhi; (Scholar) "We parted at Hengtang, a thousand li and more."—Xu Hun; (General) "I mistake Bingzhou for my homeland."—Jia Dao.

(Scholar) I have heard, Your Excellency, that you are grieved by the news that your wife, the Lady, returning to Yangzhou, was killed by the rebel soldiers. (General, startled) How do you know? (Scholar) I, the student, was in the rebel camp and saw with my own eyes the Lady’s severed head; she and Chunxiang were both slain. (General weeps) Heaven! It stabs me to the heart!

(To the tune “Jade Cassia Twig”) She aided my rise in the examinations, worthy of the name—my wife, Lady Zhen. Called by imperial title, First Lady of the realm, she was to accompany me in establishing a line of double-loyal women. I think of my wife in her lifetime—I think of my wife in her lifetime—I weep in sorrow, I see her robes and cap before me. (General collapses in tears; attendants support him) (Scholar) My Lady, what has become of my Lady! You officers, won’t you all weep once? (All weep) My Lady! (General wipes tears angrily) Ah, how senseless! My wife was a court-ennobled lady; she died cursing the bandits—it was only right. How could I lose my composure for her and dampen the army’s spirit? As a commander, how can I heed private grief? Let sorrow come as it may, I will have no regrets. Scholar Chen, does the Gilt King have anything more to say? (Scholar) It is hard to say—he still wants to kill you, old sir. (General) Hah! What would killing me accomplish? I would kill him for the sake of the nation. (Scholar) If the student may advise, let neither side kill the other. (Draws the General aside and whispers) That Gilt King wants this city of Huai’an. (General) Hush! In the rebel camp, is there one seat or two? (Scholar) He and his wife sit side by side. (General, laughing) Then I am sure to break this siege. And you, sir, why have you come? (Scholar) Had you not asked, I almost forgot. Because the young lady’s grave was robbed, I have come especially to report. (General, startled) Heaven! What enmity does a skeleton in the tomb bear the bandits? It was all because of those treasures. Who was the thief? (Scholar) After you left, old sir, the Daoist nun took in a wandering rogue from Lingnan, Liu Mengmei, as her companion. He saw the goods and his heart stirred; one night he dug up the grave and fled. The bones were thrown into the pond. Therefore, I have come a thousand li to inform you. (General sighs) My daughter’s grave is dug up; my wife meets disaster. Truly: "Before the body returns to three feet of earth, it is hard to keep a hundred years of life; once it returns to three feet of earth, it is hard to keep a hundred years of the grave." Let it be. I only regret your good heart, sir. (Scholar) After I took leave of you, I have become even poorer. (General sighs) In the haste of the camp, I have nothing to give you. But I have a great task, and I ask you to undertake it. (Scholar) I am willing to serve. (General) I have long written a brief letter, intending Li Quan to disband his three armies. But there was no one to send. I trouble you to make the trip. Attendants, bring the letter and the gift money. If you can persuade Li Quan to submit, you may return to court and report to the throne; naturally, you will have a chance to rise. (Attendant brings letter and gift money) "A Confucian’s three-inch tongue, a general’s single sheet of paper." Here are the letter and gift. (Scholar) I accept the traveling expenses. But delivering this letter—I am truly afraid. (General) It is nothing.

(To the tune “Flowing Pomegranate Blossoms”) The army is an iron bucket, yet an envoy goes within it. With a brief note, to sue for peace. Scholar Chen, your sincerity can break through the bandits. Though he be a robber and a villain, he will also act as the moment dictates. (Scholar) I fear persuasion is not the business of a bookworm. (General) See how he opened the siege to let you in—his intent is clear. You, a scholar, are just the man to carry the letter. (Scholar) I rely on your honor’s single word, a Great Wall; this humble scholar borrows an eight-sided power. (Drums and music from within)

(To the coda “Epilogue”) The garrison flute speaks in haste amid the frontier. If you succeed, you will return to court and gain some favor. This letter may well be the first seal of defense for the Yangtze and Huai.

(General) "How many have returned from the war across the river?"—Liu Changqing

(Scholar) "The five-horse official waits by the stream for his guest aide."—Lu Lun

(General) "I trouble you, sir, to come from afar to visit."—Wang Jian

(Scholar) "The imperial favor will surely pity the withered scale."—Liu Changqing