Chapter Five: Hou Chaozong Writes a Letter to Stop the Advance — Jingting Delivers It to the Commander's Gate

Now it so happened that Hou Chaozong had an old friend named Zuo Liangyun. In years past, Zuo had served as a general under Hou Chaozong's father. His family was from Liaoyang, where they had held the rank of regional commander for generations. Through some offence he was stripped of his post and sent to Wuchang to manage grain supplies. There he had the good fortune to be discovered by the Military Commissioner Hou Xun, who plucked him from the ranks of common soldiers and made him a battle commander. Within less than a year he rose to the rank of General-in-Chief. Through campaigns in the south and north his merits earned him a marquisate, and with a strong army and well-fed horses he garrisoned the fortress at Xiangyang.

But because Li Zicheng's rebels had thrown the realm into chaos, the imperial court's coffers ran dry and the three armies lacked provisions. No strategy could be found to maintain supply. Seeing that his starving troops were on the verge of mutiny, Zuo Liangyun conceived a plan to march his army east to Nanjing to seek grain and to withdraw his forces from Hankou. Yet fearing that to move without imperial sanction would raise suspicions, he dared not act precipitously. He could only comfort his men day and night to keep their spirits from breaking. Though the march had not yet begun, word of it had already flown like the wind to Nanjing. Every civil and military official who heard the news was seized with terror. One man in particular — the Vice-Minister of War, Xiong Mingyu — had long known that Zuo Liangyun had served under Hou Xun. Learning that Hou Xun's son, Hou Chaozong, was presently lodging in Nanjing, he wished to ask Chaozong to write a letter urging Zuo to halt his eastward march. Knowing that Yang Longyou was on familiar terms with Chaozong, he sent Longyou to seek out Chaozong and beg him to write the letter.

Longyou, acting on Commissioner Xiong's instruction, came to find Chaozong. Arriving at the lodgings, he found Chaozong absent. Asking along the way, he learned that Chaozong was at Liu Jingting's house listening to a storytelling performance, and so made his way there.

Arriving at the door, he dismounted and walked straight in. He found Jingting holding a drum and clappers, in the midst of telling a story, while Chaozong sat to one side listening with rapt attention. Longyou called out loudly: "What hour of the day do you think this is? Still here listening to tales?"

Chaozong did not know what the matter was and asked anxiously: "Old Long, why are you in such a panic?"

Longyou said: "You don't know? Zuo Liangyun is leading his army eastward to seize Nanjing, and there are even signs that he has his eye on Beijing. The whole city is thrown into confusion. Even the Minister of War, Xiong Mingyu himself, is at a loss. He knows that you and I are close friends, and so he has asked me to come and appeal to you. I have heard that your honoured father was the patron and teacher of Lord Zuo. If he would send a personal note, it would surely turn Zuo back. I wonder what you think, brother?"

Chaozong replied: "A good deed like this — how could I refuse? But my father has retired from office and gone to live in the countryside. Even if he were willing to write, it may not have the intended effect. Moreover, with a round trip of two or three thousand li, how could it resolve the present crisis?"

Longyou said: "Elder brother has always called himself a man of gallantry and heroism. At a moment of such national importance, can you bear to stand idle? Why not write the letter yourself? It may avert the immediate danger. Later, when you have reported the matter to your father, he will surely not reproach you."

Chaozong brightened and said: "As an expedient measure, that is quite workable. Wait for me to go home and we can discuss it together."

Longyou urged him: "There is no time to waste. To send the letter this very moment may already be too late — there is no room for deliberation."

Chaozong then asked Jingting to fetch a sheet of fine writing paper and at once composed a letter of dissuasion. He handed it to Longyou and said: "You may pass it to Commissioner Xiong for any corrections he sees fit."

Longyou said: "No need for corrections — I will simply tell him what has been done. But now that we have the letter, the person who delivers it must be someone trustworthy and seasoned."

Chaozong said: "A reliable messenger is indeed essential. Where shall we find such a person?"

Just as the two men were pondering this question, Jingting rose to his feet and called out to them: "Master Yang, Master Hou — you need not trouble yourselves. How would it be if old Liu were to make the journey?"

Longyou said with delight: "If you, Elder Jing, are willing to go, that is perfectly splendid. The matter cannot wait — prepare your things at once. I will go back now and send travel expenses over. You must leave the city tonight without fail."

The three men parted with a bow. A lyric was composed in praise of Liu the Pockmarked's heroic spirit:

One letter written, a makeshift decree,

Relying on Liu — quick tongue and sharp wit —

To turn back that rough marshal's cavalry.

Ten thousand horses, a city's morning bell,

Guard well this fair river city under the hill.

Now Jingting packed Chaozong's letter securely, shouldered his travelling bundle, and set off — travelling by day and resting by night, pushing through wind and rain along the river. After several days of travel he could see Wuchang in the distance. Jingting said to himself with satisfaction: "I have reached the walls of Wuchang. Let me set down my bundle, open up my pack on the grass, change my boots and cap, and present myself properly at the commander's gate to deliver the letter."

He changed into his proper attire and walked without haste to the gate of the military headquarters.

He met the duty officer and gave him a bow, saying: "Will you please inform the Marshal that a messenger bearing a letter from Henan has come to see him."

The duty officer said: "At a time like this, what sort of letter could this be? Are you a deserter, or a spy for the bandits?"

Jingting replied: "If I were a deserter, why would I walk straight to the commander's gate? And if I were a spy, I would certainly not dare to appear so boldly out of thin air. I carry a confidential letter and must hand it to the Marshal in person."

Seeing there was indeed a letter, the duty officer dared not conceal the matter, and beat the drum to report to the Marshal. Zuo Liangyun immediately convened court and summoned the duty officer: "What military intelligence? Report at once!"

The duty officer replied: "There is no military intelligence — only a single messenger claiming to carry a letter, who wishes to deliver it in person before the court."

Zuo Liangyun gave the order to open the gates, instructing all the troops large and small to be on their guard. If it should be a bandit spy, they were to seize him at once. The messenger was told to advance on his knees.

Jingting saw the gate of the headquarters thrown open, weapons gleaming in dense rows. The duty officer held a command arrow and announced: "The letter-bearer shall advance on his knees!"

Jingting walked in with complete composure, not a flicker of fear in his countenance. When he reached the eaves of the great hall, he raised his joined hands toward the Marshal and said: "Marshal, your junior pays his respects!"

Zuo Liangyun thundered: "What manner of man are you, to be so insolent?"

Jingting said: "A commoner — how could I dare be insolent? I carry a confidential letter and have come especially to deliver it."

Zuo Liangyun asked: "Whose letter is this?"

Jingting replied: "It comes from the honoured Elder Hou of Guidé Prefecture in Henan, sent here in respectful greeting."

Zuo Liangyun said: "The Counsellor Hou is my benefactor and teacher. Who are you to bring this letter? And where is it?"

Jingting presented the letter.

Zuo Liangyun took it and glanced at it, then ordered the gates closed and invited Jingting to the inner hall, saying: "Honoured guest, please be seated."

Zuo Liangyun unfolded the letter and read it, then said: "The meaning of this letter is not entirely clear to me at first reading, but it is essentially urging me to hold fast to the frontier and not to move troops into the interior. May I ask your honoured name and what connection you have with Elder Hou?"

Jingting replied: "I dare not presume. My humble surname is Liu, and I go by the courtesy name Jingting."

Tea was thereupon brought in. As Jingting took his cup, Zuo Liangyun said to him: "You should know that this city of Wuchang — since Zhang Xianzhong's pillaging and burning — is nine parts empty. Although I hold the garrison here, we lack fodder and grain. The troops grow restless day after day, and I am no longer fully in control."

Jingting, stirred to indignation, said: "What kind of talk is that, Marshal? Since ancient times the troops follow their general — never has there been a case of the general following his troops."

Then he hurled his teacup to the ground.

Zuo Liangyun raged: "Such insolence! To fling a teacup to the floor!"

Jingting laughed: "How would your junior dare be insolent? I grew excited in talking, and my hand moved on its own."

Zuo Liangyun said: "Moved on its own? Can it be that you have no command over your own hand?"

Jingting replied: "If the heart is its own master, it will not let the hands run wild."

Zuo Liangyun was taken aback and said cheerfully: "Jingting speaks to the point. It is only because my three armies are in the grip of starvation that they act without asking anyone."

Then he said: "I had almost forgotten — someone, bring in the food quickly!"

Jingting rubbed his belly and said: "So hungry, so hungry!"

Seeing Jingting's manner, Zuo Liangyun urged his attendants: "Damnable servants, why do you not hurry?"

Jingting stood up and said: "I cannot wait any longer — I'll just go inside and eat." And he made to walk into the inner quarters.

Zuo Liangyun raged: "Where do you think you are going, into my inner chambers?"

Jingting looked back at him and said: "I am starving."

Zuo Liangyun shouted: "Being starved gives you the right to enter my inner chambers?"

Jingting laughed: "The Marshal knows from experience that when the hunger is desperate, one cannot help going inside — does he not?"

Zuo Liangyun burst out laughing: "Every word you say strikes at my weakness. What a master of argument you are! I cannot do without a man like you in my camp!"

He then asked: "Since you move in scholarly circles, you must have some remarkable talent — I should very much like to hear it."

Jingting said: "In my youth I had little schooling. I happened to read a few popular histories and began to perform them by improvisation. I was fortunate enough to receive the gracious praise of Commissioner Fan of Wuqiao and the late Prime Minister He of Tongcheng, and through them found my way into the company of learned gentlemen. I am truly abashed."

Zuo Liangyun said with pleasure: "I had no idea Jingting possessed such remarkable talent. Stay here at my residence — you may enlighten me morning and evening!"

How apt the saying:

With nimble tongue and flowing wit he came,

And stilled both daring heart and lion's mane.

What happened next, the following chapter will make plain.