by C. T. Hsia
XIAO HE (smiles:) It wasn’t quite like that.
FAN KUAI: You appointed that starveling marshal for nothing! Had you appointed me, it would not have taken five years to destroy Chu—Xiang Yu would have fallen into my clutches like a baby. Now that the big picture is settled, we could let that pass. But that Han Xin is a weakling who scarcely had the strength to wring the neck of a chicken. When those two youths in the marketplace in Huaiyin made him crawl between their legs, crawl he did.20 What could he be good for? Why bother old Fan to bestir himself? All you need is a couple of able-bodied men to summon him here and then—k’cha!—in one fell swoop he would be cut in two. That would take care of all future troubles, isn’t that simple enough!
XIAO HE: Yet I do not dare to act without due deliberation. Guard: ask Zhang Liang to come here.21
FAN KUAI: That old fellow dithers even more. Let it be—send for him.
(MALE LEAD dressed as ZHANG LIANG enters.)
ZHANG LIANG: The name of this humble official is Zhang Liang, and my sobriquet is Zifang. A native of Hán, I came from a family that had, since my grandfather’s generation, served as ministers for five Hán rulers. The First Qin emperor, flouting all rightful conduct, destroyed the domain of Hán. In order to avenge the fallen kingdom, I became a follower of the Han king Liu Bang. When Qin collapsed, our domain of Hán was to be reinstated. Who would have thought that Xiang Yu would wipe out Hán again! That’s why I have been single-mindedly helping the Han king to go after Xiang Yu.22 Now the dust is settled and peace has been restored in the realm. The prime minister has requested my presence—I wonder what this is about. Well, I would have to go. Come to think of it, for me to assist in the founding of the Han dynasty was no easy matter! (Sings:)
[Xianlü mode: Touching Up Red Lips]
And all because books were burned and scholars were buried alive,23
Because punishments were heavy and corvée labor was rife,
Fury was fanned,
As all vied for power in the land.24
But now we have already established dominion for an enlightened ruler.
[River Churning Dragon]
Just consider: before I met with recognition,
I was but a fugitive fleeing what I could tell was Qin disintegration.
At long last peace reigns for the realm under Liu rule,
And I became chancellor for having been fortune’s tool.25
That being made lord of this Chenliu settlement
Is an improvement of my youthful Xiapi lot is evident.26
The Strategy of Master Yellow Stone I have pondered,27
Over the terrains of Lü Wang’s Art of War I have wandered.28
I have assisted the emperor in expeditions north and south,
And followed the various generals in their campaigns east and west.
Next to the autumn wind, I had our men sing Chu songs with abandon:29
Xiang Yu’s soldiers at Gaixia have long since been blown to oblivion.30
The one with double pupils, for all his soaring might,31
How could he emerge from an ambush on ten sides tight?
Unable to face again the Eastern Wu men he failed,
He fell on his sword by the Black River, as fate is unveiled.32
On the basis of one man’s ascendancy,
The entire realm suffers no more untoward expectancy. (Speaks:)
Here I am already. Guard: report that Zhang Liang is getting off his horse.
GUARD: Yes sir. (Reports:) Reporting to the Prime Minister: Zhang Liang has come.
XIAO HE: Invite him in.
GUARD: Please come in.
ZHANG LIANG (greets those present:) Prime Minister, what are we conferring about? Why did you ask me to come?
XIAO HE: Chancellor, I invited you to come because of only one thing: our concern about Han Xin. In the beginning I was the one who recommended him for office, but he now has too much power over the troops. I fear if in the days to come he is to harbor evil designs, I will be implicated as his recommender. How will I extricate myself then? That’s why I requested your presence at this special meeting. How can we get rid of him to forestall future disaster?
FAN KUAI: I reckon Han Xin was but a starveling of Huaiyin: what merit can he boast of? What is he good for? In my humble opinion, all we need to do is to send someone to fool him into coming here. Then it would be a matter of a simple execution—what is the big deal?
ZHANG LIANG: General Fan, you are mistaken! Han Xin brought peace and stability to the realm; the dynasty was founded on his achievements. The world knows of no offenses on his part, and if he were to be cut down, wouldn’t that greatly distress the people? Prime Minister: you must consider this carefully, do not act rashly! (Sings:)
[Oily Gourd]
Back then when together we rose to topple the Qin and take on the world,
It was all our doing: we the leaders civil and martial. (Speaks:)
Prime Minister, just think: (sings:)
Who dared to tangle with King Xiang’s horse and fight to the last?
Had that Han Xin refused to bid farewell to Chu,
This Han emperor would have been stranded in Shu.33
That’s why I held up one sheet of petition,
And you thrice offered recommendation
To have the altar built to honor the supreme marshal.
Isn’t it said that a noble man’s first resolve should be an untarnished marvel?
XIAO HE: Chancellor, but what merit may Han Xin claim? The eradication of Xiang Yu was due to the great good fortune of the emperor and the valor of all the generals. They drove Xiang Yu to fall on his sword by the Black River.
ZHANG LIANG: Prime Minister, how could you say that? If it were not for Han Xin—(sings:)
Now that the imperial abode is by mountains and rivers fortified,34
He must be hoping that a promotion is justified.
Instead you are going to have him cut down:
Haven’t you heard? Pervert justice35 and the people won’t be mollified.
I am not being facetious,
But you, Prime Minister, have to think beyond the specious:
Who was it indeed that overthrew Xiang Yu of Chu?
XIAO HE: I may lack talent, but having enjoyed the ruler’s emolument, I have to loyally defend his entitlement. Now Han Xin holds the seal as the king of three Qi regions,36 and he controls a hundred thousand crack troops, plus a hundred or so battle-tested generals. If something goes awry, what is to be done!
FAN KUAI: The prime minister is right. He is simply too powerful: if we don’t get rid of him, there is sure to be trouble.
ZHANG LIANG (sings:)
[Song of the God Nezha]
At first you wanted him,
And pushed him forward—moving the axis, moving the wheel.37
Then you feared him,
Flustered by his demand for a fief, you stepped on the lord’s heel.38
Now you suspect him
And would have him and his clan wiped out, eager his fate to seal.39
He should be receiving ten thousand bushels of grain as emolument,
Instead you are concocting a hundred spurious charges against his weal.
FAN KUAI: Han Xin was just a starveling—he was made marshal for nothing. What merit can he claim?
ZHANG LIANG: How could you not know his merit? In front of the Nine-Mile Mountain, his battle formation was what drove Xiang Yu to kill himself at Black River. Leaving this great achievement aside for the moment, let me list a few other things for your information. (Sings:)
[Sparrow on a Branch]
He struck Chen Yu
And showed strategic genius.40
He captured Xia Yue:
His plot was seamless.41
Didn’t he block up the River Huai
And cut down Long Ju at night?42
With a clever scheme, he seized Wei Bao,
Using force, he triumphed over the king of Qi.43
His ach
ievements are matchless in ages past and present!
XIAO HE: But it was the five lords who brought about Xiang Yu’s suicide!44 It had nothing to do with Han Xin! Why did you give him all the credit?
ZHANG LIANG: Prime Minister, this great confrontation at Gaixia in front of the Nine-Mile Mountain,45 could it have escaped you? (Sings:)
[Dodder]
The lay of the land at the Nine-Mile Mountain he did assess,
By the Eight Trigram formation, his troops he did press.46
All thanks to our Marshal Han who made himself the vanguard,
The five lords could rush to the spot for the end foretold,
And the one with double pupils is lured to take the Yinling Road.
Even though his black steed could break through the closing circles,47
What could he do when that day by the river no boats showed?
Have done! Have done! Han Xin accomplished all these great things, but even he is to be eliminated; how much more perilous it will be for someone like me! I would do better to take leave of the Son of Heaven, give up this purple robe and ivory tablet, and follow Master Red Pine and learn the Way.48 Wouldn’t that be great?
XIAO HE: Chancellor, you are mistaken! An official eats at a great hall and drinks wine bestowed by the emperor. How comfortable that life is! Turning things around, you want to abandon your official status and seek the Way. What for?
ZHANG LIANG (sings:)
[Golden Cup]
Henceforth I see through waxing and waning,
And figure out gaining and losing.49
Nothing compares to hiding in mountains and forests, leaving bells and tripods,50 being free of glory or shame.
Taking leave early of the dragon towers and phoenix chambers,
I abide only by this abode of meager name.51
Content to follow the path of the Hoary Four,52
I look back and the fate of Qu Yuan deplore.53
XIAO HE: Chancellor, can’t you see how halberds line up outside my gate, whose ornate patterns announce an exalted estate? Isn’t that impressive?
ZHANG LIANG (sings:)
Who cares for the halberds lined up outside your gate,
Or the patterns ornate announcing an exalted estate?
FAN KUAI: Prime Minister, didn’t I say that we shouldn’t involve him? He has no clue about anything. How are we to conclude this business?
XIAO HE: General Fan, no undue haste, please. Let the chancellor go back first, and we can discuss this further.
ZHANG LIANG: Forgive me, Prime Minister, I must now go to the mountains and cultivate the Way. (Sings:)
[Coda]54
Now I am leaping out of the arena of praise and blame,
And have wiped clean the record for making a glorious name.
My only goal is to cultivate the Way: from grains I refrain, till immortality I attain.
Free from want, free from care, all else but freedom I disdain.
Make no more mention of the dignities and insignia of office,
Think again: how much do they really amount to?
I cannot fail to heed the overturned carriage ahead: a warning for the next one in its stead.55
Seeing how Han Xin, the king of three Qi regions, will be the next victim,
I must turn withdrawal into my dictum
And let the myriad spirits support the emperor’s peacetime system.
FAN KUAI: Prime Minister, this is what I suggest: send a messenger to Han Xin to announce that the emperor, planning to travel in Dreamy Clouds Mountains, summons Han Xin back to court to act as regent. I figure Han Xin, greedy for more power, will surely answer the summons and come to court. At that point strip him of his seal as the king of Qi and have him arrested and executed. There is no chance that he will manage to escape. Have no fear!
XIAO HE: What a clever plan! After I have an audience with the emperor in the coming days, we will have a messenger bearing the decree summoning Han Xin to return to court. Then we will trump up some charge of rebellion, brand him guilty of the Ten Great Crimes, and have him put to death.56 That is all I can wish for. (Recites:)
On warm recommendation, he ascended the altars and built the Han dynasty.
His power over the troops is too great: we fear the reversal of his pliancy.
FAN KUAI (recites:)
The plan is set: we will root out future trouble,
Only then will Xiao He have proved his mettle.
ACT 2
(EXTRA MALE dressed as HAN XIN enters leading some SOLDIERS.)
HAN XIN (recites:)
I have led the great army ever since I ascended the altar.
I brought about Liu’s rise and Xiang’s fall; my fame cannot falter.
Had I not left the lowly position in Xiang Yu’s camp,
Who could have helped the emperor pacify the realm?
My name is Han Xin, and I hail from Xiaxiang in Huaiyin. I started out under Xiang Yu’s command as an aide bearing halberd and shield. Later, thanks to Xiao He’s recommendation, the Han king built a high altar and bowed to make me marshal. As the agent of the Liu house’s rise and of Chu’s destruction, I can boast of ten great achievements.57 Now the emperor is planning an excursion to Dreamy Clouds Mountains and is summoning me to return to court, where I will serve as regent. Now my adviser Kuai Tong has a good plan for everything, so I have requested him to come and discuss this matter.
SOLDIER: Kuai Tong, the marshal requests your presence.
(MALE LEAD dressed as KUAI TONG enters.)
KUAI TONG: My name is Kuai Tong, my sobriquet is Wentong, and I served under Marshal Han as adviser.58 I wonder why the marshal summoned me? I will have to go. Guard, report that Kuai Tong has come.
SOLDIER: Reporting to the Marshal: Kuai Tong has arrived.
HAN XIN: Send him in.
(They greet each other.)
HAN XIN: Kuai Tong, I send for you for this reason: Xiao He sent a messenger with a decree saying that the emperor, planning an excursion to the Dreamy Clouds Mountains, is summoning me to court to act as regent. I have asked you to come to discuss this: Should I go? Should I not go?
KUAI TONG: Marshal, you should not go. Recall how, after the collapse of Qin, Chu and Han struggled for supremacy and the outcome was uncertain. None could rival your mighty name, Marshal, as you destroyed Chu, brought Liu to power, and established the Han dynasty. You were made king of the three Qi regions and now hold the reins of military power. As the ancient saying goes, “He whose valor and schemes threaten the ruler is in mortal danger; he whose merit is greater than the realm is to rewards a stranger.” It refers precisely to this. If you go, Marshal, calamity will surely befall you. I beg you to consider this carefully. (Sings:)
[Zhonglü mode: Powdered Butterflies]
Back then when you as proxy king the three Qi regions pacified,
He honored you, but not in good faith, as the real king ratified.59
At long last bringing peace to the realm, reigning supreme and serene,60
Reaching the point when strife in the land is no longer seen
And clansmen no longer vent their spleen:
It is indeed no easy feat.
And now that the myriad domains have come to pay their respects,
Your overwhelming power over the troops he grievously suspects.61
[Intoxicating Spring Wind]
To what end did you the conflict with Chu transcend?
Why must the Han house on you depend?62
HAN XIN: Just consider: how I did exert myself to smite that overlord of Western Chu and establish the rule of our sage over the entire realm! Would his majesty betray me? Suppose I just make this one trip—what is there to fear?
KUAI TONG (sings:)
As the saying goes: In peacetime the former general is expendable.
How can you fail to fathom this principle? (Speaks:)
Marshal, as I see it, for all your great contributions you have ended up earning his suspicions. It would be better
for you to return your seal of office, take to the green mountains, and be free from care and want. Wouldn’t that be wonderful! (Sings:)
Even if you cannot bear to leave office,
You must plan ahead: take care
And guard your long-term welfare.
HAN XIN: Kuai Tong, but in my expeditions to the north and south, my campaigns to the east and west, I accomplished ten great things. How then can his majesty betray me?
KUAI TONG: Marshal, don’t go! If you do, you will certainly come to grief.
HAN XIN: Kuai Tong, you are mistaken! In the old days His Majesty shared his very clothes and food with me.63 With all these past acts of kindness, can he really turn against me? It is not possible.
KUAI TONG: Marshal, heed my advice, and you will come to no harm. (Sings:)
[Ascending a Small Tower]
Go and misfortune over puny luck will prevail,
Your utmost loyalty and exertion will be of no avail. (Speaks:)
Haven’t you heard the saying of the ancients? (Sings:)
Be imposing, yet not overbearing,
Be exalted, yet not toppling,
Be filled to the brim, yet not overflowing.64
Don’t be recalcitrant
And ignore my remonstrance.
Why must you still strive for fame and gain? (Speaks:)
If you do not heed my advice, (sings:)
You will surely die an ignoble death: everything will be in vain.65 (Speaks:)
Marshal, mark my word: follow the example of Fan Li and Zhang Liang.66 Make haste to leave behind your official title, and you will at least preserve yourself from harm.
HAN XIN: Kuai Tong, you are mistaken! Being an official is to be surrounded by servants and followers, wearing delicate silks and riding robust horses—what a glorious affair it is! Why would I, for no good reason, cultivate the Way, eating the seeds of pines and cypresses and sporting straw sandals tied with hemp strings? Why should I bear all these hardships?
