Book Two: Cui Yingying Listens to the Zither by Night

Book Two: Cui Yingying Listens to the Zither by Night — Act II

Chapter 7

Act Two of Book Two: Cui Yingying Listens to the Zither by Night

(Madame Cui, Abbot Fa-cong, and Chang Kung enter together.)

Madame Cui: What can be done about this?

Chang Kung: I have a plan. First, we’ll need the abbot.

Abbot Fa-cong: I, an old monk, know nothing of fighting. Please, scholar, choose another man.

Chang Kung: Don’t panic. I’m not asking you to fight. Go out and tell that rebel: “Madame was originally going to send her daughter out to the general, but her father’s funeral rites are not yet complete. If there is a great clamor and she is frightened to death, that would be a pity. If the general wishes to take a bride, he should withdraw his troops an arrow’s flight away. Grant three days for the merit ceremonies to be fulfilled. Once she has cast off her mourning and changed into colorful robes, Madame will add a dowry and deliver the young lady to the general. If she were sent now without regard, her father’s funeral obligations would be violated, and it would also be unlucky for the general.” Go and tell him this.

Abbot Fa-cong: And after three days?

Chang Kung: There will be another plan then.

(Abbot Fa-cong calls toward the entrance.)

Abbot Fa-cong: Please, General, come out and speak!

(Sun Fei-hu enters with his soldiers.)

Sun Fei-hu: Send out Yingying at once!

Abbot Fa-cong: General, calm your anger! Madame has sent me to speak with you.

(The abbot repeats Chang Kung’s words.)

Sun Fei-hu: In that case, I give you three days. If she is not delivered then, I will see that every one of you dies, not a soul left alive. Go tell Madame that she should welcome such a good-natured son-in-law.

(Sun Fei-hu exits with his soldiers.)

Abbot Fa-cong: The rebel troops have withdrawn. But if she is not sent out in three days, we will all be dead.

Chang Kung: I have an old friend, Du Que by name, known as the White Horse General. He now commands a hundred thousand troops and guards the Pu Pass. If I send him a letter, he will surely come to our rescue. It is only forty-five li from here to Pu Pass. But the letter is written—how can it be delivered?

Abbot Fa-cong: If the White Horse General will come, what need we fear Sun Fei-hu? I have a disciple named Hui Ming. He is fond only of wine and fighting. If we ask him courteously, he will surely refuse. We must provoke him with words, and then he will go.

Chang Kung (calling out): I have a letter to send to General Du. Who dares to go? Who dares to go?

(Hui Ming enters.)

Hui Ming: I dare! (Sings:)

(Mode: Zheng Gong)

(Key Melody: Duan Zheng Hao)

I recite not the Lotus Sutra,

I bow not in the Liang Emperor’s Repentance,

I cast off my monk’s hat,

I strip off my cassock.

The killer’s heart stirs heroic courage—

My two hands grip tight the black-dragon-tailed steel staff.

(Gun Xiu Qiu)

It’s not that I’m greedy,

Not that I’m showing off—

Who knows what they call “sitting in meditation”?

I’ll take great strides and charge straight into the tiger’s lair and dragon’s pool.

It’s not that I’m eager for plunder,

Not that I’m a busybody—

These days, eating vegetable buns leaves my mouth so bland.

Five thousand men—no need to fry or stew them!

The hot blood in my chest will quench my thirst for now,

The heart in my lungs will satisfy my hunger—

What filth is there?

(Dao Dao Ling)

Gritty soup, broad noodles with extra trimmings,

Sour chives, rotten bean curd seasoned another way—

Ten thousand catties of black flour left to darken,

I’ll make those five thousand men into a filling for dumplings!

Don’t let it be delayed, yema ge!

The leftover meat I’ll dip in coarse salt.

Abbot Fa-cong: Scholar Zhang wants you to deliver a letter to Pu Pass. Do you dare to go?

Hui Ming (sings:)

(Tang Xiu Cai)

You ask me, little monk, whether I dare or not—

I report to the master: use me!

You speak of Fei-hu’s fame spread to the Southern Dipper—

That fellow is steeped in lust,

Deep in greed—

Truly hard to stomach!

Chang Kung: You are a monk. Why don’t you chant sutras and perform repentance? Why are you always fighting?

Hui Ming (sings:)

(Gun Xiu Qiu)

I can’t discuss the scriptures,

I’m too lazy to study Zen;

My cleaver’s blade is freshly tempered,

My iron staff bears not a speck of dust.

Others are neither monk nor layman,

Neither woman nor man—

They just eat their fill of vegetarian food and fool around in the monastery,

Caring nothing if the temple burns down like the Tushita Heaven!

For the sake of a man skilled in both letters and arms, a thousand li away,

Relying on this letter to aid the distressed and succor the poor,

I have courage and no shame.

Chang Kung: What if he won’t let you through?

Hui Ming: If he won’t let me through—rest assured! (Sings:)

(Bai He Zi)

Call a few little novices to bear the banners and canopies,

Strong lay brothers to shoulder staves and pitchforks—

You set the battle line and steady the monks,

I’ll crash through the spikes and scout the rebel camp. (Second Stanza)

At a distance, I stride wide and swing my iron staff;

Up close, I slash with my cleaver handy;

For the small ones, I lift them up and kick them with my toes;

For the big ones, I wrench them down and smash their skulls.

(First Stanza)

One glance—and the ocean churns with a gurgling sound;

One shake—and the mountain cliffs rumble and quake;

My feet stamp till the axis of the earth creaks;

My hands wrench till the Gate of Heaven splits with a crack.

(Shua Hai Er)

I’ve always been rash and reckless,

Never timid or trembling—

Tempered into boldness that never tires.

I’ve always cut through iron and snapped nails, holding fast to the end—

Not like you, touching flowers and grass with no resolve.

My hasty temper frightens everyone;

Risking my life, I wield my knife and sword—

What do I fear from reining in a horse or stopping a chariot?

(Second Stanza)

I’ve always bullied the weak and feared the strong,

Taken hardship but not sweetness—

Don’t you cover up for this marriage affair!

If General Du doesn’t drive back the weapons,

And Scholar Zhang vainly shoulders this romantic burden,

I’ll deceive him with dishonest words.

If things go wrong,

I’ll lose face entirely.

Hui Ming: Give me the letter. Wait for my reply. (Sings:)

(Shou Wei)

For me, beat a few rolls of the drum to boost my might,

Rely on the Buddha’s power to shout a battle cry!

Beneath the embroidered banner, far off, you’ll see your hero—

I’ll make those half-ten thousand rebel soldiers lose their courage!

(He exits.)

Chang Kung: Let the mistress and the abbot be at ease. When this letter arrives, good news will surely follow. We’ll “keep our eyes on the signal flags and our ears tuned for good tidings.” See: “A single letter swiftly sent; ten thousand crack troops arrive at once.”

(All exit.)