Scene 34: Blocking the Cliff

Scene 34: Blockade at the Rapids

(Enter Su Kunsheng, in the role of a painted-face comic.) North and South are split into a tripod of three powers; the Yangtze’s two banks raise two opposing armies. I, Su Kunsheng, to rescue Master Hou, urged General Zuo Liangyu’s army eastward, promising Censor Huang Shu and Governor He Tengjiao to raise troops on the same day. Today our ships anchor at Jiujiang; already I have informed Governor-General Yuan Jixian to assemble at Hukou and discuss plans to advance on the capital. Who could have guessed that Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng, hearing the news, would transfer Huang Degong to block us at Banji Rapids? Look how beacon fires rise on all sides—the situation is dire. Young Master Zuo Menggeng has gone to meet the enemy; I will follow the camp awhile to gather news. Truly: days when heaven topples and earth turns over; hours when dragons contend and tigers battle. (Exit.) (The stage is set with a crossbow platform and cannon mounts; iron chains stretch across the river.)

【San Tai Ling】 (Huang Degong, in the role of a bearded male, wearing armor, holding a double whip, enters with soldiers.) Northward campaigns and southern wars know no rest; neighbors and courtiers within are all enemies. I aim my cannon toward Jiangzhou, sending enemy ships fleeing with overturned armor.

I, Huang Degong, courtesy name Hushan, harbor a breastful of loyal indignation and a world-renowned martial name. With me, His Majesty Hongguang shall recover these ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains. Vexing are the two Lius, who lack the merit of arms and elbows; one man of the Zuo clan becomes a canker at heart. Now, bearing the military tally of Minister of Riverine Defense, Lord Ruan Dacheng, I am ordered to garrison Banji Rapids and block the rebel Zuo Liangyu. This is no trifling matter. (Calls out.) Where is my household general Tian Xiong? (Tian Xiong, in the role of a painted-face comic subordinate.) Here! (Huang Degong.) Quickly pass the order to all officers and men, great and small: heed my command. (Soldiers line up and shout.)

【Shan Po Yang】 (Huang Degong.) The iron-hard rebel chief who dares to coerce his sovereign; the swarming, disorderly swarm of subjects who refuse to obey their king; the feeble, pallid emperor without spirit; the clamorous, squabbling court officials fighting for their own doors. Only one camp of my troops guards the river, bracing for northern war-horses to come suddenly, when suddenly I hear word of tower-ships entering the river-mouth. Fierce troops with flying banners control the upper reaches; spears and halberds pass beacon-fire smoke to cut off the lower course.

(Huang Degong’s soldiers ascend the platform. Soldiers of Zuo Liangyu, in the role of miscellaneous characters, bearing white flags and wearing white garments, shout and sail forward. Huang Degong’s soldiers intercept and shoot at them. Zuo Liangyu’s soldiers retreat in defeat. Huang Degong’s soldiers pursue and exit. Zuo Liangyu, in the role of a young male, wearing armor, a white helmet, and plain white battle-robe, sits in his boat.)

【Qian Qiang】 Jie and Zhou who avenge private wrongs for treacherous ministers; painted-face clowns who flatter the benighted sovereign and mount the stage; Bo Yi and Shu Qi who learn to kowtow to the Northern Court; three pedigreed curs who bark at Yao at their master’s bidding. I stake my ten-thousand-year infamy—yet before the late Emperor I can bare my heart, hastening to rescue the Crown Prince from his wrongful plight. No shame: to play the hero to the bitter end. Hard to gather up: the surging, eastward-bound fleet, grand and blazing.

I, Zuo Liangyu, lead my army eastward only to cut down the treacherous ministers and rescue the Crown Prince. But alas, my son Zuo Menggeng seizes this pretext to attack cities and recklessly seek advancement. I have sternly rebuked him again and again, yet I fear the disorderly troops will tempt him, and in time he will commit some deed. For now, let us wait until we cross Banji Rapids, then slowly admonish him. (Su Kunsheng enters hastily.) Report, Generalissimo! This is terrible! Huang Degong has set up a blockade at Banji Rapids; our forward vanguard has already been driven back in defeat. (Zuo Liangyu, startled.) Is this so? Huang Degong is also a loyal and righteous man. How can he take orders from Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng, know only to support the new sovereign, and utterly disregard the orphaned six-foot heir of the late Emperor? Is this not hateful! (Calls out.) Attendants! Quickly see where the boats of Censor Huang and Governor He are moored, and invite them to come for consultation. (Attendants acknowledge and exit. Huang Shu, in the role of a bearded male, enters.) Generals and marshals follow the dust of discourse; wind and clouds point toward the banner of righteousness. I, Huang Shu, had just anchored my boat when the Generalissimo’s summons arrived. (He boards the boat. Zuo Liangyu greets him.) Zhonglin, you have truly come. Why is Governor He not here? (Huang Shu.) He turned back halfway. (Zuo Liangyu.) Why did he turn back? (Huang Shu.) He is originally from the same district as Ma Shiying. (Zuo Liangyu.) Let him go. We cannot blame him for that. (Asks.) Now, Huang Degong has blocked Banji Rapids, and the three armies cannot advance. What is to be done? (Huang Shu.) This is indeed worrisome. Let us wait until Lord Yuan arrives, then discuss it further. (Yuan Jixian, in the role of an elderly male, enters with attendants.) The wronged son harbors grievance; heaven is dark and drear. The solitary minister raises the standard of right; the sun shines bright. Here is Generalissimo Zuo’s great ship. Attendants, announce me. (Attendant reports.) His Excellency Governor-General Yuan has arrived at the ship! (Zuo Liangyu.) Quickly invite him aboard! (Yuan Jixian boards and greets him.) I have just returned from Wuchang to my office, reorganized the troops and horses, and am willing to follow with whip and stirrup. (Huang Shu.) For now, we cannot advance. (Yuan Jixian.) Why not? (Zuo Liangyu.) Huang Degong has blocked us with his army; our vanguard has already retreated in defeat. (Yuan Jixian.) Matters have come to this—even if we wished to stop, we cannot. Send someone quickly to persuade him. (Zuo Liangyu.) Jingting has already gone, and there is no one else to send. What can be done? (Su Kunsheng.) I have a passing acquaintance with him and am willing to offer my services. (Huang Shu.) Kunsheng is no less chivalrous than Jingting. Today, we may well rely on him. (Zuo Liangyu asks.) How will you speak to him?

【Wu Geng Zhuan】 (Su Kunsheng.) I will only say: when the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman waits by, and the onlooker will reap the profit. A hero’s every move must consider what comes before and after. Deep is the grace of the former master; a good rank and salary will come of itself. He has wronged his son, harmed his consort, and utterly forgotten old ties. To kill a man leaves only blood on both hands. Why come here to fight a kinsman’s battle?

(Yuan Jixian.) Well spoken. (Zuo Liangyu.) You must also make my mind clear. Let him understand that treacherous ministers must be slain, the Crown Prince must be rescued. When these two great tasks are accomplished, the court shall not be startled by so much as a speck of dust, and the people shall not be harmed by so much as a single hair. Why does he, knowing not great principle, recklessly block our way? (Huang Shu.) Exactly. That Huang Degong is but a common soldier, yet he knows how to repay his sovereign. Would we ever be willing to rebel against authority? Let him think carefully. (Su Kunsheng.) Yes, yes. I will go and say just that. (A messenger, in the role of a miscellaneous character, enters hastily.) Report, Generalissimo! Inside Jiujiang city, fires have broken out everywhere. The troops of His Excellency Yuan’s own command have themselves breached the city! (Yuan Jixian, startled.) How can troops of my own command have breached the city themselves? This is unbearable! (Zuo Liangyu, enraged.) Outrageous! There is no need to guess. This is my son Zuo Menggeng’s doing—he has made me a rebel minister. Enough! Enough! What face have I left to show east of the River? (He draws his sword to kill himself. Huang Shu grabs him. Zuo Liangyu seizes Yuan Jixian’s hand and stares at him.) Linhou, Linhou! I have wronged you! (He vomits blood and collapses into his chair. Su Kunsheng calls out.) Generalissimo, wake up! Generalissimo, wake up! (Yuan Jixian.) He does not answer. What can be done? (Huang Shu.) He must be seized by some evil influence. Quickly fetch cinnabar and pour it down his throat. (Su Kunsheng takes a bowl and tries to pour it in.) His jaws are clenched tight; I cannot get it in. (All weep.)

【Qian Qiang】 The star of the great general falls, huge as a peck-measure; the flagstaff snaps at the helm-tower. A hundred battles on the killing field—his spirit was bold; awe-inspiring, majestic, a single suit of armor. Now, for no reason, he dies beneath a window, his head preserved intact. His soul returns to the Coal Hill of the Forbidden City, to recount his hardships together—the sovereign weeping, his minister roaring.

(Attendants carry Zuo Liangyu offstage. Yuan Jixian.) The Generalissimo is dead. The troops of my command have scattered in an instant. That Zuo Menggeng has seized Jiujiang, leaving me with no way forward or back. If Huang Degong’s soldiers should attack, how shall I escape and hide? (Huang Shu.) We were originally arrested officials. Now, having lost the city, if we are taken to the capital, there will be no way to save ourselves. It would be better to turn back to Wuchang, join Governor He Tengjiao, and undertake a different enterprise. (Yuan Jixian.) You are right. (Yuan Jixian and Huang Shu exit hastily. Su Kunsheng stands dumbfounded.) Look at them—they have all scattered, leaving me, Su Kunsheng, alone to guard the Generalissimo’s corpse. How pitiful! Let me light incense and candles and offer a weeping sacrifice. (He sets up a table, lights incense and candles, weeps and bows.)

【Ku Xiang Si】 The hero, choked with rage, is dead; all men have gone. They have left behind an empty boat and a coffin. I am a riverside friend who summons his soul, but I cannot buy a single cup of wine.

Let me wait until his son comes to attend the funeral and the body is properly encoffined. Only then can I take my leave and go. For now, I must endure and keep watch. Truly:

The hero could not cross the River at Jiangzhou;

His soul loves the spring waves, stirring evening sorrow.

His eyes fill with green hills, but no place to bury him lies;

The slanting wind and drizzling rain beat against the boat’s prow.