Chapter Fourteen: Rescuing His Friend — Kunsheng Meets the Marshal; Delivering the Manifesto — Jingting Falls into Peril

It is told that Chen Dingsheng and the other two men, at Ruan Dacheng's instigation, were taken by the Chief Military Command and sent to the Embroidered Guard's tribunal for interrogation. Fortunately the presiding judge of the Embroidered Guard, Zhang Yaoxing, refused to fawn upon the powerful villains, and did everything in his power to clarify the case and conduct a fair examination, so that the three men were not classed among treasonous partisans. Su Kunsheng, having learned the situation clearly, was determined to rescue all three from prison, and as he made his way back he turned the matter over and over in his mind. When he returned to the bookshop, he sat thinking: "Every man at court today is a creature of that villain Ruan — who could possibly secure their release?" He thought left and right, and suddenly it came to him: the Marquis of Ningnan, Zuo Liangyu, was a close friend of young Lord Hou. Why not travel through the night to Ningnan and appeal to him for help? That might offer some hope. At once he gathered his things, left the bookshop, and set off for Ningnan.

Within a few days he arrived at Ningnan. For three days he could find no way to gain entry, and wandered the streets each day at leisure. One day he saw Marshal Zuo conducting a great drill on the river, and having no recourse, found a wine-tower and pretended to drink, waiting for the marshal to finish his drill and return to camp so he might find an opportunity to seek an audience. As it turned out, from the morning hour of Chen he waited all the way until nightfall without any sign of movement. When the bright moon had risen in the east, the Left army at last returned to camp. He then resolved to sing aloud, so that when the marshal passed he might be drawn by the sound and thus enable a meeting. He had just begun to sing when the marshal's mounted retinue was heard drawing near, and he sang out all the louder. Zuo Liangyu came riding alongside Yuan Jixian, Huang Shu, and others. As they passed beneath the wine-tower and heard the singing resonating clearly above, they all reined in their horses and asked: "In this time of martial law, who is that singing up in the tower? Bring him down at once!" The soldiers obeyed, went up the stairs, put him in chains, and brought him down to kneel before the horses. Zuo Liangyu asked: "Were you the one singing just now?" Kunsheng kowtowed and said: "I had no way to seek an audience with the marshal, and in desperation dared this at the risk of my life — singing so that I might come before your face!" Zuo Liangyu barked: "Military discipline is strict — you have extraordinary nerve! Where are you from? Take him to the yamen for proper questioning."

Before long they arrived at the yamen and dismounted, and the three men sat down together. Yuan Jixian said: "The man who was singing should be dealt with promptly." Liangyu then ordered the singer to be brought forward and asked: "Where do you come from, that you dare sing in the middle of the night? Tell me truthfully." Kunsheng said: "I have come from Nanjing specifically to seek you, my lord. Having no means of entry, I deliberately broke the law so I might stand before you." Liangyu asked: "What is your reason for seeking me?" Kunsheng then wept and told his story: "A treacherous minister in the capital has been rounding up those he calls partisans, and for no reason has thrown Lord Hou Chaozong into prison. I have come especially to seek the marshal's audience — in the name of your old friendship, to lead your troops forward, purge the court of these villains, destroy the whole gang of traitors, and rescue young Lord Hou. I would be eternally grateful." Liangyu said: "Hou Chaozong is the son of my benefactor — do you have a letter from him?" Kunsheng kowtowed: "On that day, Ruan Dacheng himself led the bailiffs to arrest and imprison them on the spot. There was no time to write a letter." Liangyu said: "With only your word to go on, how am I to believe you?" He thought for a moment and said: "I have an idea — there is an old acquaintance of young Lord Hou in my staff. Let me ask him to identify you, and then we shall know whether it is true." He called out: "Please ask Master Liu to come out."

Jingting, hearing himself summoned from the hall to identify someone, walked out at a leisurely pace and said: "Let this old fellow see who it is." At the sight of Kunsheng he was greatly startled: "Why, it is my sworn brother Su Kunsheng! Where have you come from?" Then, turning to Zuo Liangyu, he said: "This is Su Kunsheng from Henan, a master singer — everyone knows him." Liangyu then bade Kunsheng rise and take a seat, and asked: "Tell us, how did young Lord Hou come to be imprisoned?" Kunsheng told the whole story from beginning to end, then added a bow: "I only beg that the marshal send a letter of rescue without delay — no matter that I have come so far to ask." Liangyu, hearing this, was furious: "Brothers Yuan and Huang, you see the state of the court — is it not hateful?" Yuan Jixian said: "And there is more: I am told that the late emperor's old consort, Lady Tong, came wandering in search of recognition, but Ma and Ruan refused to acknowledge her. Instead they have hidden away their own chosen women in preparation for imperial selection, hoping to establish a marriage connection with the palace — is this not enough to make one's blood boil?" Huang Shu added: "And there is still more — the crown prince of Chongzhen, heir to seven years of imperial instruction, recognized by court officials and tutors with solid evidence, has been thrown into solitary confinement. Every heart burns with rage; everyone wishes to hack Ma and Ruan to pieces as an offering to the late emperor."

Liangyu, hearing all this, grew more furious still: "We have shed our blood on the frontier with one purpose — to serve the court faithfully. Yet men of such villainous ilk are trusted and embraced, upright men are put to death, offices are sold every day, music and dance fill the halls. A ruler who should be leading a restoration governs entirely like a man who would ruin the dynasty! Though Lord Shi, the cabinet minister, remains loyal, he too is hamstrung from within by Ma and Ruan and can do nothing but follow their lead. Left to my single pair of hands, how can I recover the Central Plains? Enough, enough! There is no other way — I must compel the ruler to right this wrong." He turned to Yuan Jixian with a bow: "Linhou, please draft a memorial impeaching Ma and Ruan for deceiving the throne, for ruining the country, for setting aside the true empress, and for imprisoning the heir apparent — those several great crimes. And I need also a manifesto." He turned to Huang Shu with a bow: "I must trouble Zhonglin to draft that as well — declaring that I am sending forth troops for a punitive campaign, to leave them nowhere to hide."

The two men took up their brushes at once, and in no time the memorial was finished and the manifesto complete. All signed their names above, and orders were given to make fair copies immediately — the troops would march the very next day. Yuan and Huang said: "Anonymous writings have been raining down on the capital; Ma and Ruan have men collecting and burning them as fast as they arrive. Moreover, they have long since given secret orders to General Du Hongyu at Anqing to fortify the river approaches in anticipation of our forces. When this manifesto arrives, do you think they will simply let it pass? If sent through the regular post it will certainly be burned; if sent by messenger, the man is more likely to die than to arrive alive. What are we to do?" Jingting stepped forward from where he had been standing nearby: "For a task like this, let this old fellow make the journey." The assembled men cried in admiration: "This Master Liu is truly of the school of Jing Ke! We should send him off in the white robes and cap of a man going to his death." Jingting said: "What is so precious about this old life? I ask only to accomplish the marshal's business." Liangyu was greatly pleased and ordered: "Bring wine! Let me offer him a toast." All raised their cups together. Jingting drank the response toast and stood, then turned to Kunsheng: "I must trouble my brother to keep the marshal company for now. I shall pack my things and depart at once." He took up the manifesto and his bundle, made his farewells, and set off. Truly:

A man of valor bears the manifesto forth with righteousness;

a mighty commander rouses his wrath and moves his troops.

Now it is told that Liu Jingting, acting in the cause of justice and fearing neither life nor death, set out for Nanjing to deliver the manifesto. He departed from Zuo Liangyu, shouldered his pack with the manifesto within, and made his way toward Nanjing. Within a few days he reached the capital. That day happened to fall on the nineteenth day of the third month — the anniversary of the Chongzhen emperor's death. By imperial decree all officials were gathered outside the Taiping Gate to hold a memorial service with ritual offerings. Ma Shiying and his party performed the rites and then wept ostentatiously for a while. Suddenly a man came rushing up in mourning clothes, crying bitterly: "Your Majesty, your Majesty! Your dynasty fell and your family was destroyed, and all because of that pack of petty Donglin men. Now they have all gone to submit to the northern court, leaving behind us few loyal ministers — and yet today you still think to receive our weeping. Why, until your very death, could you not be made to understand?" Ma Shiying, recognizing Ruan Dacheng, could not help but find him contemptible, and reached out to pull him aside: "Master Yuan need not grieve so deeply — rise and make your bow with the others." Ruan pretended to wipe his eyes and then greeted the assembled company.

When the officials had dispersed, Shiying and Dacheng went to see the peonies and arrived to dismount at the garden gate. They had just walked into the garden and were about to set out refreshments and drink to the flowers when a runner came in, knelt, and reported: "The Marquis of Ningnan, Zuo Liangyu, has submitted a memorial directly to the Transmission Office, and the Grand Secretariat has forwarded this enclosure for your review." Shiying took it and read it, his face falling in alarm: "Ah, this is terrible — this is the very memorial impeaching us. In this document we are charged with seven great crimes, and the emperor is urged to punish us at once. How infuriating!" Another man came forward holding the manifesto and reported: "This document was brought by a messenger, who is now being held in the outer chamber."

Shiying opened and read it, and found it was a manifesto calling for the punishment of them both. Horrified, he said to Dacheng: "This document is a manifesto calling for our heads — the language within is extremely harsh, and before long troops will come to take them. What are we to do?" Dacheng, hearing this, trembled from head to toe: "Terrifying, terrifying! Other matters can be managed, but this — this has no solution!" Shiying said: "Are we simply to stretch out our necks and wait for him to come and cut them?" Dacheng thought a moment and said: "The only way is to summon the three garrisons of Huang and Liu as quickly as possible to march and intercept." Shiying said: "But if the northern troops cross the river, who is left to resist them?" Dacheng leaned close and whispered: "When the northern troops come, what is there left to resist? There are only two options — either run, or surrender." Shiying heard this and it dawned on him: "A sensible precaution. A great man of action would sooner kneel before the northern horsemen than risk the southern rebels' blades. My mind is made up — dispatch the military orders to call up the three garrisons at once. I must trouble Master Yuan to go in person." Dacheng readily agreed: "After taking leave of you, honored teacher, your student will set out immediately." Shiying said: "Wait — there is one more thing I must say in private." He leaned to Dacheng's ear and said: "The Grand Secretaries Gao Hongtú and Jiang Riguang have long leaned toward the rebel faction — they have already been dismissed. As for Zhou Biao and Lei Yanzuo, who remain in prison, I fear they may act as an internal support — it would be best to execute them early." The villainous Dacheng said: "Most fitting!" He made to leave, then Shiying spoke once more: "Wait — what shall be done with the messenger who brought the manifesto?" Dacheng deliberated briefly: "Let us not be rash. I think Huang's and Liu's three garrisons are no match for Zuo's troops. If we execute the envoy now and are later defeated, how shall we face them? It is better to send him to the Chief Military Command prison under detention, to await the capture of Zuo Liangyu before a final decision." Shiying nodded: "Quite right." They exchanged bows and parted. Truly:

Leave a trace of mercy now,

and there will be a face to show when the day of reckoning comes.

As for what happened next — hear the following chapter for the resolution.