Scene 29: Raiding the Society

Scene Twenty-Nine: Raiding the Bookshop

(Phoenix Pavilion) (The actor playing the bookseller Cai Yisuo enters) My bookshop is named "Two Gourds," ten thousand volumes await sale. What stuff fills the rooms, carted and ox-hauled, mingling the scent of books with the stench of coin. Merchant and scholar both, I fear only a Qin Emperor's great search.

I am Cai Yisuo, bookseller of Three Mountains Street in Jinling. In all the realm, no abundance of books surpasses ours in Jinling; among Jinling's bookshops, none outnumber those on Three Mountains Street; and on Three Mountains Street, no bookseller's scale matches mine. (Pointing) Look—the Thirteen Classics, the Twenty-One Histories, the Nine Schools and Three Religions, the Hundred Philosophers, stale examination essays, novel tales—stacked high fill boxes and cram shelves, ranged low and high line the shops and connect the floors. Not only do I trade north and south, accumulating ancient and modern, but I also rigorously annotate and cleverly select, carefully carve and expertly print. I, Cai Yisuo, reap both the profit of selling books and the merit of spreading writings; let him be a Presented Scholar or a Provincial Graduate, when he sees me he bows with clasped hands—how splendid! (Laughs) This year is the year yiyou of the provincial examination. A great grace edict has been proclaimed, opening the civil service to select scholars. The memorial of Qian Qianyi, Minister of Rites, has been approved, to urgently rectify the style of essays and illuminate the new governance. My humble shop is the leader among bookstores, so I must hire several famous masters and experts to select and compile new chapters anew. Today I am inside editing and criticizing; let me paste up the cover pages early. (Pasting covers) Fashion follows the master's hand; essays match the examiner's intent. (Exits)

(The male lead and the painted-face actor, carrying traveling bags, enter)

(Water Red Flower) (Male lead) In those years, mist and moonlight filled the Qin Pavilions, dreams were endless; the flute's sound is no longer as before. The man is separated by the Silver River for many autumns; letters are hard to deliver; who can save me from lovesickness? (Calling) Brother Kun, we have traveled a thousand li for the tryst with Fragrant Lord. Who would have thought she was selected for the palace, with no news at all; last night we returned disappointed; and fearing someone might follow, we moved early. But I wonder where it is quiet, where we can stay longer and inquire for news. Waiting for her poem on a red leaf, I'll grow white-haired in youth. Could this happy meeting end in this life, ye luo?

(Painted-face) I see human feelings have changed, and the court's affairs daily worsen; moreover, the great men in power daily weave nets to frame upright gentlemen, settling old scores. Better to avoid their edge for now and inquire about Fragrant Lord's news at leisure. (Male lead) You speak rightly, but in the neighboring prefectures, I have no other acquaintances; only my good friends Chen Dingsheng living in Yixing and Wu Ciwei in Guichi. It would be a pleasant thing to go visit old friends instead. (Walking)

(Same Tune) Old friends often near the water's gulls, scorning princes and lords, flicking dust from sleeves in the red world. The chess game at Chang'an brings endless sorrow; buy a lonely boat, head south to seek misty peaks. (Painted-face) We've arrived at the bookshop arcade on Three Mountains Street. The crowd is thick; better hurry along. (Hurrying) Beware the jackals in the road, officials and caps like monkeys. The thorns and brambles of Three Mountains, the waters wildly flow, ye luo.

(Male lead, pointing) This is Cai Yisuo's bookshop. Dingsheng and Ciwei often stay here; why not ask them for news? (Stopping to look) On that pillar is pasted a new selection's cover; let me look. (Reading) "The Revival Society's Literary Opening." (Looking again) These small characters on the left say "Jointly printed examination papers of renwu and guiwei years"; on the right, "Newly selected by Messrs. Chen Dingsheng and Wu Ciwei." (Happily) Could the two of them be staying here now? (Painted-face) Let me ask. (Calling) Where's the shopkeeper? (Clown enters) Greetings. Want to buy some books? (Male lead) No. I want to inquire about someone. (Clown) Whom? (Male lead) Have the two gentlemen Chen Dingsheng and Wu Ciwei arrived? (Clown) They are inside now; let me invite them out. (Clown exits) (The secondary male lead and the young male lead enter together, greet each other) Ah! So it's Brother Hou of the Society. (Seeing the painted-face) Brother Su Kun has come too. (They bow to each other) (Secondary male lead asks) Where have you come from? (Male lead) From my hometown. (Young male lead asks) When did you enter the capital? (Male lead) We only arrived yesterday.

(Jade Hibiscus) Beacon fires fill the prefectures and districts, north and south we've marched with the army; sighing at morning in Qin and evening in Chu, for three years we've relied on Liu. Returning, who remembers the lean prince? Again I visit Qinhuai's lowered curtain hooks. Lingering long, I ask about the peach blossoms of former travels; this river town, this year, is not as gentle as before.

(Asking the secondary male lead and young male lead) You two brothers are here, again presiding over selecting essays? (Secondary male lead, young male lead) You flatter us.

(Same Tune) Jinling's old building for selecting essays, we share a couch with good friends; facing the red and yellow ink, brush and inkstone, an enterprise for a thousand autumns. The Six Dynasties' decline must now be saved; let the style of essays reopen to Han, Liu, Ou, and Su. To be passed down, gather all the Donglin men; then will it be known that our Central Plain's Revival Society is attached to the pure stream.

(A voice from inside) Please, gentlemen, come inside for tea. (Secondary male lead, young male lead) Coming. (They invite the male lead and painted-face inside)

(A servant in livery enters with a visiting card) My master, Ruan Dacheng, has been newly promoted to Vice Minister of War; specially granted a python robe and jade belt, by imperial command to defend the Yangzi River. Today he comes to Three Mountains Street to call on guests; I must go ahead. (The actor playing the supporting role of Ruan Dacheng, wearing a python robe and jade belt, with an arrogant air, enters in a sedan chair, accompanied by servants holding umbrellas and fans)

(Vermilion Slave) (Supporting role) The outrunners in black lead the way; the high carriage sways, canopy and fan shake together. Look who sits in the seat of honor—it is that Han Xin of old, who once crawled between another's legs. (Servant reports) Please, Your Honor, halt the sedan chair; deliver a card to Censor-in-Chief Yue. (Servant delivers the card) (Supporting role halts the sedan chair) Order the attendants, no need to clear the road; let the commoners all come and look. (Fanning himself loudly) I, Master Ruan, today am graciously granted the python robe and jade belt, riding in a grand sedan to call on guests. That pack of Donglin petty men, now under imperial orders to be seized and searched, have vanished without a trace. (Laughs) Now it shows who is honored and who is shamed, smoothing the furrows from my brow.

(Looking at the bookshop) On that pillar is pasted a cover, with the words "Revival Society" on it; call the servant to tear it off and let me see. (Servant tears off the cover, delivers it to the supporting role to read) "The Revival Society's Literary Opening. Newly selected by Chen Dingsheng and Wu Ciwei." (Angry) Ha! The Revival Society is the Donglin's later offshoot, in the same faction as Zhou Biao and Lei Yanzuo; the court is searching for them, and you still dare to keep them here to select books. This bookseller is extremely audacious. Halt the sedan chair quickly! (Sedan chair set down) (Supporting role descends from the sedan chair, sits in the bookshop, and orders) Quickly summon the ward officer. (Servant shouts) Where is the ward officer? (Painted-face playing the ward officer enters hastily, kneels) Reporting to the great master, what are your orders for this humble officer?

(Same Tune) (Supporting role) This bookshop defies the law, colluding with the young thugs who lead the Revival Society. Under orders now to search for the rebel faction, you must trace the vines and seek the roots. (Ward officer) No need for the great master to worry; this humble officer is extremely skilled at making arrests. (Entering, he seizes the clown and brings him out) The criminal Cai Yisuo has been arrested. (Clown kneels and reports) This humble man, Cai Yisuo, has committed no crime. (Supporting role) You printed this "Revival Society's Literary Opening"—no small crime. (Clown) These are the examination papers from provincial and metropolitan halls; every year a selection must be printed for the exams. (Supporting role, shouting) Bah! The search for rebel factions is underway, the laws are strict; you harbor them to select books, and still dare to talk back. Confess quickly. (Clown) It has nothing to do with this humble man; the gentlemen came themselves, and are now inside selecting books. (Supporting role) If they are inside, keep a close watch; let not one escape. (Clown acknowledges and exits) (Supporting role speaks privately to the ward officer) Searching out rebel factions is the sole duty of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Quickly send a report, let their constables make the arrests. Summon the mounted police to reopen the prison; laugh that Yang and Lian are now done for again.

(Ward officer) Yes. (Hurries off) (Supporting role mounts the sedan chair) (Male lead, secondary male lead, young male lead pull at the sedan chair, shouting) What crime have we committed, to be placed under guard? Sir, do you not fear Heaven, Earth, ghosts, and gods? (Supporting role, smiling faintly) I have not offended you; why stir up public anger? (Bowing with clasped hands) May I ask the honorable names and titles of you gentlemen? (Young male lead) I am Wu Ciwei. (Secondary male lead) I am Chen Dingsheng. (Male lead) I am Hou Chaozong. (Supporting role, slightly angry) Oh! So it is the three of you! Today you all come to recognize me.

(Picking Silver Lamp) With a dignified face, beard long as a broom; with a lofty spirit, chest high as a dipper. (To the young male lead) At the Confucian sacrifice, how was it that Ruan the Secretary of State was deemed unfit to handle the vessels and offerings? (To the secondary male lead) At the borrowing of the play, why did you make me, of the Swallow Letter, a fool on the spot? (To the male lead) How shameful! I supplied the dowry, only to have you fling the skirt and hairpin away.

(SHENG) You are Ruan Huzi, and today you have come to take revenge. (MO, XIAOSHENG) Good, good, good! Let’s drag him outside the court and recount his past conduct. (FUJING, with a feigned laugh) Don’t be hasty; you’ll have your say. (Pointing) Look, who is that coming? (FUJING exits in a sedan chair) (Enter FOUR RUNNERS in white boots, as ZAJU) (Shouting wildly) Which one is Cai Yisuo? (CHOU) I am he. Why ask for me? (ZAJU) We are sent by the emperor; lead us quickly to arrest someone. (CHOU) Who is to be arrested? (ZAJU) The three scholars: Chen, Wu, and Hou. (SHENG) No need to arrest us; we are all here. Speak your business. (ZAJU) Please come to the yamen to talk about it! (They throw chains on the three and drag them off) (CHOU, left alone on stage) What kind of account is this? (Calling) Brother Su, come quickly! (Enter JING, as Su Kunsheng) What has happened? (CHOU) Terrible, terrible! It would be bad enough if they took the two gentlemen compiling the anthology, but they’ve taken Master Hou as well. (JING) Is such a thing possible?

【The previous tune】 (Together) Grimly they hold the ropes in hand, swiftly they seize men and rush off; Little Fushe has no Donglin Party to save them, while new Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng follow in the footsteps of Cui Chengxiu and Tian Ergeng. How worrisome! A foolish ruler and corrupt ministers, settling private scores under public pretext.

(JING) Let’s follow them and find out the true news, so we can think of a way to rescue him. (CHOU) Indeed. Let’s see where they put him, so I can deliver meals morning and evening. (CHOU) The courts and markets seethe with grievances and feuds, (JING) The world is left to the worries of a man of Qi, (CHOU) In this panic, who can save us from the calamity of book-burning? (JING) Only Zuo Liangyu, the Marquis of Ningnan, remains.