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Title: Shen of the Sea - A Book for Children
Author: Chrisman, Arthur Bowie
Language: English
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[Cover Illustration]
_This book was awarded the John Newbery Medal by the Children’s
Librarians’ Section of the American Library Association, for the most
distinguished contribution to American Children’s literature during the
year 1925._
SHEN OF THE SEA
_A Book for Children_
BY
ARTHUR BOWIE CHRISMAN
“_Author of The Wind That Wouldn’t Blow_”
Illustrated with over Fifty Silhouettes
BY
ELSE HASSELRIIS
[Illustration]
NEW YORK
E. P. DUTTON & CO., Inc.
Copyright 1925 by
E. P. DUTTON & CO., INC.
Copyright renewal 1953
by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
————————
_Thirty-fifth Printing November 1966_
Printed in the U. S. A.
To
V. T. S.
This Book
Is Dedicated
[Illustration]
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I have heard
That the Plain of Fat Melons
Is more than flat.
It is hollowed like a bowl.
And my purse
Was quite as flat.
Then the _Philadelphia North American_,
And _What To Do_, of Elgin,
Bought some of my stories—
Paying good round money—
Which the baker was quick to take from me.
Furthermore,
These papers
Have given permission
To put the stories in a Book.
And the Book
Is open before you.
The _North American_,
And _What To Do_,
Have been as kind to me
As Wu Ta Lang was
To the red cherry tree.
And I thank them—
Not once—but twice—
And twice that—
More times than there are leaves
In Hu Pei Forest.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Ah Mee’s Invention...................... 1
Shen of The Sea......................... 16
How Wise were The Old Men............... 32
Chop-Sticks............................. 51
Buy A Father............................ 65
Four Generals........................... 79
The Rain King’s Daughter................ 100
Many Wives.............................. 115
That Lazy Ah Fun........................ 129
The Moon Maiden......................... 144
Ah Tcha The Sleeper..................... 159
I wish It would Rain.................... 173
High as Han Hsin........................ 189
Contrary Chueh Chun..................... 206
Pies of The Princess.................... 220
As Hai Low kept House................... 235
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Oh, no, not at all. He was very careful not
even to think of a dragon. He was a weighty
elephant—amid the cabbages................. 5
Then he seized the plaques and flung them
from him................................... 13
We are the Shen, demons of the sea........... 21
So the seventh demon sped away taking the sea
with him................................... 30
It was the howl of a wolf.................... 36
Meng Hu could imagine a knife at his throat.. 42
The king crawled under his throne............ 62
The house of Weng Fu was luxurious in the
extreme.................................... 69
He kept his forehead tight-pressed to the
floor...................................... 77
The king and his generals gazed across the
river...................................... 90
More and more sad came the music............. 95
At that same hour a basket was found in the
garden..................................... 103
So Chai Mi sat beside the river and sewed and
wept....................................... 107
Of course, they wore hideous false faces..... 111
The first portrait he painted was that of
Ying Ning, a monstrous ugly maiden......... 123
“Broooomp”................................... 137
Doctor Chu Ping beamed upon him; “Ah Lun, my
pearl, my jade, my orange tree, it is
discovered”................................ 142
By look and action he was a maiden........... 148
A whanging of wings that lifted . . . Up
. . . Higher . . . Swifter................. 151
When Ah Tcha had eaten his Evening Rice, he
took lantern and entered the largest of his
mills...................................... 162
How could she make beds when her hair needed
burnishing?................................ 175
Tiao Fu snatched up her little-used
embroidery scissors. Snip, Snip, Snip...... 178
“. . . And cut leaf-shaped pieces”........... 182
Han Hsin raised a bridge from island to
mainland................................... 191
“I—I—I—am hungry,” stammered Han Hsin........ 198
Prince Chin Pa tried in vain to hold his
followers.................................. 202
Therefore—upon his donkey—the contrary
husband started for Tsun Pu................ 209
It was a well-plucked traveler who returned.. 213
This nice large one is for your dinner....... 225
He made a V of the bowstring................. 244
The royal generals . . . knelt before Hai Low
and bumped their heads in the dust......... 251
SHEN OF THE SEA
[Illustration]
SHEN OF THE SEA
AH MEE’S INVENTION
“A shamelessly rainy day, my honorable Brother Chi.”
“That is truth, esteemed Brother Cha. It rains perfectly hard. There
will be plenty of leisure in which to beat the children.”
Ching Chi was merely quoting an old Swa Tou saying. Every one knows that
on rainy days old and young are crowded, arm against elbow, in the
house; often to get in each the other’s way—and misunderstandings are
likely to arise. Then the bamboo is brought into play—and there are
wailings. That is how the Swa Tou saying originated. When Ching Chi used
it, he did so in fun, and, no doubt, to make talk.
But Ching Cha thought that his brother was speaking with earnestness.
His face, made glum by the rain and by secret troubles, brightened at
such a pleasing prospect. “Ho. Leisure to beat the children? What an
utterly excellent idea. I, myself, will cut bamboos for your hand. Ah
Mee is the one to beat. He played at being a mad wild elephant—oh, so
perfectly wild, and with such trampling—in the midst of my _huang ya
tsai_ patch.”
Ching Chi seemed altogether astonished. His face showed that he thought
Ching Cha must be overstepping the truth. “What? What do you say to me,
honorable Brother Cha? Ah Mee playing wild elephant in your cabbage
patch? But I thought that I told him, emphatically, to break no more of
your cabbages.”
“It is no blemish upon my lips. It is the truth,” said Ching Cha, sullen
and hurt because Chi disbelieved. “He played elephant in my cabbages.
Come and I will show you.”
“Oh, no.” Ching Chi shook his head. “It is raining far too hard. I’ll
speak of the matter again to my son.”
Ching Cha adjusted his _wei li_ (rain hat) the straighter and shuffled
off through the downpour. As he went he muttered something that sounded
like “_Wou ton meng_.” If that is what he really said, he called Ching
Chi a stupid old noddy.
But Ching Chi merely laughed. He had no intention of beating Ah Mee, his
“pearl in the palm,” his son.
Now whether Ching Chi was right or wrong is a pretty question. Some
persons answer it one way, and some, another. But there is no question
about this. . . . Ah Mee was terrible. If anything, he was as bad as
that lazy Ah Fun, son of Dr. Chu Ping. Here is their only difference. Ah
Fun never did what he was told to do. Ah Mee always did what he was told
_not_ to do. But he did it in such manner as to leave a loophole. He
always had a perfectly good excuse. Take the matter of his uncle Ching
Cha’s cabbage patch. . . .
Only a day or so before, Ah Mee had pretended that he was a fierce and
furious dragon—a _loong_. As a fierce and furious dragon, he threshed
this way and that through Uncle Ching Cha’s very delectable
cabbages—causing much hurt. Ching Chi, the parent, told Ah Mee never
again to play dragon in Uncle Cha’s cabbages. “Ah Mee, you must never
again play dragon in your honorable uncle’s cabbage patch. If you do, I
shall speak to you most sharply.” And Ah Mee said, “Yes, sir,” and
obeyed. He pretended to be a ferocious wild elephant. He didn’t play
dragon again. _Oh, no. Not at all. He was very careful not even to think
of a dragon._ He was a weighty elephant—amid the cabbages.
[Illustration: Oh, no, not at all. He was very careful not even to think
of a dragon. He was a weighty elephant—amid the cabbages.]
Ching Chi, the fond parent, lived with his wife—her name is
forgotten—and the son, Ah Mee, and a little daughter, in a neat house
that stood in the Street of The Hill Where The Monkey Bit Mang. Ching
Chi was a carver of wood, and ivory, and jade. His bachelor brother
Ching Cha who lived next door, did scrivening—wrote things with a
blackened brush upon parchment and paper—and the wall, when he had no
paper. Some people said they were stories, but certainly they brought in
no money. As for that, neither did Ching Chi’s carvings bring in any
money. Yet Chi was a good carver. His designs were artistic, and his
knife was obedient to the slightest touch. From an inch block of ivory
he could carve seven balls—one inside the other. Howbeit, Chi was
neither famous nor wealthy. Instead of carving pagodas and trinkets for
sale in the bazaars, he spent most of his time in carving toys for Ah
Mee—who promptly smote them with an axe, or threw them in the well, or
treated them in some other manner equally grievous.
For six months Ching Chi worked to carve a dragon. When finished, the
_loong_ was a thing of beauty. In the bazaar it would, perhaps, have
fetched a bar of silver from some rich mandarin. But fond Ching Chi gave
it to Ah Mee. And Ah Mee, tiring of it after five minutes of play,
hurled it through the paper-covered window.
Are windows made to be broken? Are toys fashioned only to be thrown
away? Certainly not. Papa Chi wagged a finger at Ah Mee and he spoke
thus, “Ah Mee, most wonderful son in the world, you must not throw your
dragon through the window into the back yard again. What I say, that I
mean. Don’t throw your dragon into the yard any more.” Having said, he
proceeded with his work, carving beautiful designs upon teak-wood blocks
. . . for Ah Mee’s pleasure.
And Ah Mee said, “Very well then, _Tieh tieh_ (Daddy), I won’t.” He
proceeded with his work—which was to pile carven teak-wood blocks high
as his not-so-long arms could reach. There was one block covered with so
much exquisite carving that it gave little support to the blocks above.
For that reason the tower wavered and fell. Ah Mee promptly lost his
temper. Made furious beyond endurance, he seized the offending block and
hurled it through a paper-paneled door.
Who will say that Ah Mee was disobedient? He had been told not to throw
his toy dragon through the window. But had his father, Ching Chi, told
him not to heave a _block_ through the _door_? Not at all. Ching Chi had
said nothing about blocks, and he had pointed his finger at the window.
Nevertheless, Mr. Ching felt almost inclined to scold his son. He said,
very sternly, “Ah Mee. . . .”
“Whang. Bang. Bang,” came the sound of sticks on the door frame.
Crash—the door flew open. In rushed stalwart men, dressed in the King’s
livery, and bearing heavy staves. “Oh, you vile _tung hsi_ (east
west—very abusive talk), you murderer,” screamed the men. “Are you
trying to assassinate your King? What do you mean by hurling missiles
into the King’s sedan as he is carried through the street? Answer,
before your head falls.”
But Ching Chi was unable to answer. He could only press his forehead to
the floor, and tremble, and wait for the quick death he expected.
Meantime, Ah Mee pelted the King’s men with various large and small
toys—including a hatchet.
King Tan Ki, seated comfortably in a sedan chair, was being carried
through the Street of The Hill Where The Monkey Bit Mang. He had no
thought of danger. Peril had no place in his mind. The street seemed a
street of peace. When lo—from a paper-covered door there came a large
missile, striking a slave and falling into the King’s lap. Instantly the
body-guard rushed to the terrible house and battered in the door. But
King Tan Ki felt more curiosity than alarm. He examined the object that
had so unceremoniously been hurled into the sedan. At once his interest
was quickened. The King knew good carvings—whether they came from old
masters, or from hands unknown. Here was a block carved with superlative
art. Tan Ki wished to know more of the artist who carved it.
Ching Chi was still kneeling, still expecting instant death, when the
King’s chamberlain rushed in. The Chamberlain uttered a sharp order. The
body-guards grasped Ching Chi and hastened him out of the house, to
kneel at the King’s sedan. Ah Mee fired a last volley of broken toys at
the retreating chamberlain. . . . Not especially nice of him, perhaps,
but then, no one had forbidden it.
Fortune had smiled her prettiest upon the house of Ching Chi. King Tan
Ki was immensely pleased with the old engraver’s work. The odds and ends
of toys that had been fashioned for Ah Mee, now graced the palace. There
they were appreciated. Every day Ching Chi worked faithfully, carving
plaques and panels and medallions for the King. He was wealthy. Upon his
little skull-cap was a red button. He was a mandarin, if you please.
Only mandarins of the highest class may wear ruby buttons on their
caps. . . . And Ah Mee was worse than ever.
To say it again, for emphasis, Ah Mee was worse than ever—if possible.
He dabbled in all the hundred-and-one varieties of mischief. All day
long it was “Ah Mee, don’t do that.” “Ah Mee, don’t do the other.”
“Don’t. Don’t. Don’t.” Papa Ching was so tired of saying “Don’t” that
his tongue hurt every time he used the word. Occasionally he changed his
talk and said the opposite of what he really meant. Thus he would say,
“That’s right, little darling, fill papa’s boots with hop toads and
muddy terrapins, and that will make papa happy.” Or, “Pray take another
jar, my precious. Eat all the jam you possibly can. Six jars is not at
all too much.” For Ah Mee doted on jam. It was a passion with him. He
started the day on jam, finished the day on jam. Every time a back was
turned, his fingers sought the jam pot. Indeed, rather frequently he ate
so much jam that there were pains . . . and the doctor.
Ching Chi took a bird cage from the wall and hung it on his arm. (In
that land when gentlemen go for a stroll they usually carry their pet
larks, instead of their pet _chous_.) At the door he paused and said to
Ah Mee: “Little pearl in the palm, please refrain from too much
mischief. Don’t [there it was again] be any worse than you are really
compelled to be. Of course, it’s quite proper for you to put arsenic in
Mother’s tea, and to hit baby sister with the axe again. And you may
burn the house if you feel so inclined. . . . I want you to have plenty
of innocent fun. But don’t [again] be bad. For instance, don’t, I beg of
you, don’t get in those jars of jam any more.”
Off went Ching Chi with his lark singing blithely.
Ah Mee was quite puzzled. “Don’t get in the jars of jam.” How in the
world _could_ he get in the little jars? It was silly. He was much
larger than any one of the jars. But perhaps _Tieh tieh_ meant not put a
hand in the jars. That must be it. Ah Mee made a stern resolve to keep
his hands out. Not so much as a finger should go in those jars. . . .
Obedient Ah Mee arranged several of his father’s carven plaques on the
floor, and tilted a jar. The plaques were beautifully decorated flat
pieces of wood, somewhat larger than dinner plates. They made reasonably
good dishes for the stiff jam. Surrounded by little mountains of jam, Ah
Mee sat on the floor and . . . how the mountains disappeared. Really, it
was fairish tasting jam.
When Ching Chi came home and discovered his carvings smeared with black
and sticky jam, that good soul fell into a passion. First he screamed.
Next he howled. _Then he seized the plaques and flung them from him_,
flung them with all his strength. Flinging seems to have been a family
failing.
[Illustration: Then he seized the plaques and flung them from him.]
Ching Chi was weeping for sorrow, and howling with rage when his brother
Cha entered the room. The quick eyes of Brother Cha soon saw that
something was amiss. He gazed at the wall where the plaques had struck.
He gazed at the jam-coated plaques. Then he too howled, but with joy.
“Oh, Brother Chi,” he shouted. “You have chanced upon a wonderful
invention. It is a quick way for making books. What huge luck.” He led
Brother Chi to the wall and pointed. “See. For reason of its jam, each
plaque has made a black impression on the wall. Every line of the
carving is reproduced upon the wall. Now do you understand? You will
carve my thoroughly miserable stories upon blocks of wood. Ah Mee will
spread black jam upon the carven blocks. Then I will press the blocks
upon paper, sheet after sheet, perhaps a hundred in one day. . . . With
the laborious brush I can make only one story a month. With the
blocks—I can make thousands. Oh, what a wonderful invention.”
Ching Chi carved his brother’s stories upon wooden blocks. Ah Mee spread
the jam thickly—only pausing now and then for a taste. Ching Cha
pressed the blocks upon paper, sheet after sheet. . . . There were the
stories upon paper—all done in a twinkling, and with little expense.
The poorest people in the land could afford to buy Ching Cha’s most
excellent stories.
Thus was invented _Yin Shu_ (Make Books) or, as the very odd foreign
demons call it in their so peculiar language—“Printing.” Ching Chi, his
brother Ching Cha, and Ah Mee, all had a hand in the invention. As a
matter of exact truth, Ah Mee had two hands in the invention (or in the
jam), so he is generally given all the credit. His monument reads, “Ah
Mee, the Inventor of Printing.”
[Illustration]
SHEN OF THE SEA
Kua Hai City stands on a plain in northern China. The plain is called Wa
Tien, and it is very smooth and fertile, giving many large melons. . . .
Life there is good. The plain is likewise extremely low. Any reliable
geography will tell you that Kua Hai is below sea level. And that, I
know, is a fact, for I, lazily seated in my garden, have often gazed at
sailing ships, large-eyed—wide-staring-eyed junks as they fetched into
the Bay of The Sharp-Horned Moon, and to view them I had to raise my
eyes. It is very true. I had to look up, as one looks up to behold the
sky-hung eagles of Lo Fan.
I had as often wondered if the sea ever broke through its restraining
walls and flooded Kua Hai. A storm coming down from the northeast would
most likely thrust billows to overtop the wall. So I said to my
gardener, Wu Chang: “Wu Chang, did fishes ever swim up the Street of A
Thousand Singing Dragons? Did the sea ever come into Kua Hai?” Wu Chang
paused in his scratching among the _hung lo po_ (the radishes). Since
thinking it over, I am inclined to believe that he welcomed an
opportunity to change from the working of his fingers to the working of
his tongue. “Once, and once only, Honorable One, has the sea invaded Kua
Hai. But it can never do so again. Chieh Chung was fooled once, but he
was far too clever to be fooled twice. He buried the bottle, perhaps in
this very garden, for who knows? He buried it so deep that no ordinary
digging shall discover it. And so, the sea may look over the walls of
Kua Hai, but it may not enter.”
“Indeed?” said I. “And pray, who _was_ this Chieh Chung? And what was in
the bottle?”
Such astounding ignorance gained me a look of compassion from old Wu
Chang. “The Honorable One is surely jesting. He, of course, knows that
Chieh Chung was the first King of Wa Tien.”
“Oh, to be sure,” I interrupted. “It was Chieh Chung who
invented—hum—er radishes.” That was a guess, and a miss.
Wu Chang corrected me. “Not radishes, but writing. A mistaken thing to
do, in my opinion. But beyond doubt he did a great service when he
bottled the water demons. Ho. Ho. Ho. He bottled the demons as if they
were melon pickles. Ho. Ho. Ho.”
“Sit here in the shade, Wu Chang,” said I. “So Chieh Chung pickled the
water demons—and then what?”
“Not pickled, Honorable One, bottled. Chieh Chung bottled the demons.
Ho. Ho. Ho. . . . You must understand that in those days the plain
hereabouts was much lower than it is now. It had not been built up. And
the sea was much higher in those days, for then there were no heavy
ships to weigh it down, and flatten it. The sea was very high
then-a-days, far too high for its breadth. On every side the land held
it back, and it was retarded and had no freedom of motion. So the Shen,
the demons of the sea, got them together and took thought. They said:
‘Our sea is far too small. We must have more room. We are mighty, are we
not? Then let us take some land and occupy it, so that our sea may
expand.’
“Accordingly, the water demons swam along the coast, seeking land to
conquer. They passed the shores of Fu Sang without stopping, for that
region is high and mountainous. They passed the region of San Shen Shan,
for in that place lives the powerful land demon named Hu Kung. The water
demons were in no great haste to gain Hu Kung’s hatred. They passed
without a second glance. But when the Shen swam up to Kua Hai, it was to
rejoice. The demons looked over the wall; they smiled down upon Kua Hai
and said, ‘This land we shall take for our beloved sea. It is low, and
suited to our purpose. Rightfully it is ours. Yes, we shall take Kua
Hai, and all the vast plain hereabout.’ But the ocean demons were
possessed of decency. They did not dash over the walls, calling on their
sea to follow, and so drown all the people of Kua Hai. Demons though
they be, the Shen that time had mercy in their hearts. While the night
dew lay upon the fields of Wa Tien, those demons, to the number of
seven, made their way into Kua Hai. There they waited in the garden of
the palace.
“When King Chieh Chung, who ruled over Wa Tien, took him to the garden
for an early morning stroll, he discovered the demons waiting. He knew
at once they were no ordinary men. Not once did they _kou tou_ (knock
their heads on the ground) as men should do. Nor did they look like the
men of Wa Tien. Their mouths were wide mouths, like those of codfishes.
Their bodies were covered with iridescent scales. Nevertheless, Chieh
Chung permitted the Shen to approach. ‘What manner of men are you?’
asked the King. ‘And what is your pleasure?’
“‘We are the Shen, demons of the sea,’ answered the seven. ‘We are Shen
of the ocean, and we come to claim our own.’ ‘And what is that?’ asked
the King, smiling tolerantly upon them, though in truth he felt more
like weeping, for he knew what would be the answer.
[Illustration: We are the Shen, demons of the sea.]
“‘We have come to possess ourselves of the city and all the low plain
that surrounds it. It is our right, and our might—we mean to have it.’
Then Chieh Chung’s heart dropped down to a level with his sandals. His
heart was weighted as if with millstones, as if weighted with Mount Tai.
Long he stroked his beard, pondering, grieving, praying. And the water
demons danced in the dew. Jubilant were they, flinging their toes high,
spattering dewdrops upon the palace roof, and singing the terrible song
of the ocean.
“Finally the King answered. ‘Shen,’ said he, ‘what time do you grant me?
Kua Hai is a large city. In it are half a million souls. It will be
moons and moons before I can count my people safely upon the Mountain of
The Yellow Ox.’ One of the demons was shaking a _pai shu_ (shaking a
cypress tree) so that its dew fell upon him and upon his companions, for
already the sun was up and they were beginning to feel the day and its
dryness. ‘What time?’ said the Shen, taking his answer from the _pai
shu_. ‘We shall give you until this tree is in flower. Have all your
people gathered upon high ground when this _pai shu_ blossoms, for at
that time we shall lead the sea upon Wa Tien, and the sea shall stand
three _li_ deep above your palace. That is our answer. And now we must
go for the sun has lit his fire.’
“The Shen made a move as if to depart, but no sooner were they out of
the shadows than they halted abruptly, murmuring in displeasure. And
small wonder. The sun had dispelled the dew and there was no moisture
upon the land. A water Shen cannot exist where there is no moisture. In
that respect he is like the _yin yu_ and the _shih pan_ (fishes). So the
Shen turned to Chieh Chung and said, ‘Is there water here, O King, where
we may spend the day hours?’ ‘There is little,’ said Chieh Chung; ‘I
dare say too little for your purpose. But in such quantity as it is, you
are welcome.’ He pointed to a crystal bowl in which burgeoned a sacred
lily. There was water in the bowl, water surrounding the lily bulb. Too,
there were stones in the bowl—blue lapis lazuli, and green jade, and
yellow topaz (precious stones, as befitted a palace garden), for that is
the way sacred lilies are grown—in bowls filled with water and pretty
pebbles. ‘You are quite welcome to it,’ reiterated the King. The Shen
shook their heads half in despair. ‘It is too little,’ groaned they,
‘far too little.’ ‘But,’ said Chieh Chung, ‘you are demons—hence
magicians. Why do you not make yourselves smaller? Why not change
yourselves into red _hung pao shi_h and recline in the bowl amid the
lily roots? I am sure you would make handsome rubies. Beyond a doubt, my
courtiers would say “Ah” and “How lovely” and admire you greatly when
they saw you. Of a certainty, you would make resplendent gems, dazzling
and superb.’ ‘Well,’ agreed the Shen, somewhat dubiously, ‘we shall try
it. If you have no more water it is the only thing we _can_ do.’ And so,
in a twinkling the Shen were gone, and seven beautiful rubies appeared
in the crystal bowl.
“‘How lovely,’ said Chieh Chung—and deliberately winked at the cypress
tree, first with one eye and then with the other. He went to a cabinet
that stood in his chamber, and from the cabinet took a bottle fashioned
out of _fei yu_ (a cloudy jade). And the bottle had a wide mouth. Into
it Chieh Chung poured water. Returning to the lily bowl, he quickly took
therefrom the seven red _hung pao shih_ and dropped them into the jade
bottle—closing the mouth securely.
“‘Now,’ exulted the King, ‘my city is saved. My people may walk in
security and without fear. The seven water demons are in my keeping, and
please Heaven may they never escape my hand.’ And in his joy, King Chieh
Chung ordered that ten thousand catties of rice be given to the poor.
“Weeks lengthened into months. Lengthened the months to years. Still
languished the water demons in the clouded jade bottle. Still broke the
sea on Kua Hai’s walls—but did not enter. Chieh Chung added to his
kingdom and ruled with beneficence. His name was heralded throughout the
length of the world. Not by the spear, but by wisdom he added to his
dominions. Peoples of far-distant regions came seeking to place
themselves under the rule of Chieh Chung—wisest and best.
“At length came ambassadors from Wei Chou, yes, even from distant Kou
Pei, offering to give their allegiance to Chieh Chung. Ah, but that was
a great day, a day of all proud days. The ambassadors were a hundred for
number, haughty mandarins all. There was a great stir about the palace,
you may well believe, retainers rushing hither and thither to provide
food and drink and entertainment for the foreign great men.
“A foolish servant, ransacking cupboard and closet for what victuals and
drink he could find, came upon the dusty jade bottle that stood in Chieh
Chung’s cabinet. ‘Ah,’ said the servant, trying to peer through the
cloudy jade. ‘Beyond a doubt, here is something of rare excellence. This
will do for the highest of the mandarins, for the red-button mandarins
with peacock feathers. It rattles—rock candy in it.’ And the foolish
one removed the stopper. A thousand pities he was not stricken dead
before the seal was broken.
“Chieh Chung came into the chamber and saw what had happened. For a
moment he was stunned. Then, ‘Let me have the bottle.’ The bottle was
empty, all save for a bit of water. ‘They are gone,’ said the King. ‘The
Shen have escaped. But even so, I may baffle them, for they promised
with binding oaths not to take my kingdom until the _pai shu_ blossoms.
And—in this region the cypress tree never blossoms—it _never_ comes
into flower.’ The King smiled in spite of himself.
“Meanwhile, the water demons, having escaped from the bottle, hastened
through the palace toward the garden. They were very angry—were those
demons, gnashing their teeth with a noise like that of waves lashing a
rock-guarded coast. They were determined on vengeance.
“The Wei Chou ambassadors were encamped in the palace garden. Their
servants had been washing garments, brilliant-hued garments such as the
wealthy and noble of that land wear. The garments had been hung on the
cypress tree to dry. And there the garments hung when the water demons
appeared. The tree was aflame with color. Instantly the Shen raised a
great shout. ‘Come billow. Come ocean.’ They shouted in triumph. ‘The
_pai shu_ blossoms (the cypress tree blooms)’—for they thought the
garments were flowers—‘and our promise is ended. Kua Hai is ours.’
“Fathoms deep, roaring, grinding, relentless, the sea swept over Kua
Hai, buried the city, buried the plain. The water demons raced before
it, calling it on. They who had been the people of Kua Hai rode upon
white-crested billows—without life—drowned. Out of all the vast
population perhaps a thousand escaped. And among those who escaped was
the King.
“Chieh Chung sat under a pine tree on the mountain, grief-stricken,
heartbroken, gazing upon what had been a city, and now was sparkling
sea. Hour after hour sat the King, grieving and thinking, meditating a
way to regain his country. Now and then the seven water demons appeared
before him, mocking, splashing him with spray.
“One day, having meditated long, Chieh Chung arose and shouted
exultantly: ‘I have it. I know how I shall regain my city. I shall go
immediately and put the plan in writing, while it is fresh in my mind.’
Having said, he walked to the little hut that served for his palace and
sat down at a table to write. On the table stood a crystal bowl, with a
lily, and with green, blue, and yellow stones.
“Chieh Chung sat writing meaningless stuff upon parchment. All the while
he kept an eye on the crystal bowl. Lo. There appeared seven red stones
at the root of the lily. The demons had come to spy upon the King’s
writing. They had come to learn his plan, and so triumph over him. But
they, unwittingly, were giving themselves into bondage again. For Chieh
Chung quickly thrust them into a bottle and sealed it against all
escape. Six of the demons he thus imprisoned. The seventh, who was a
small fellow, Chieh Chung threw back into the sea. ‘Go,’ said the King,
‘and take your sea with you. Take your sea, and never trouble me again.
Else I shall most certainly destroy your six brothers. It is a warning.’
[Illustration: So the seventh demon sped away taking the sea with him.]
“So the seventh demon sped away, taking the sea with him. Then did Chieh
Chung descend to Kua Hai and build up the city, people coming in from
far countries. Once more the city was inhabited, and the land was more
rich, by reason of its flooding.
“And the six Shen, the six water demons are buried deep, in a jade
bottle—perhaps under this very garden.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
HOW WISE WERE THE OLD MEN
With the first splash of ink it should be stated that this, the story of
Meng Hu, is not intended for those who disbelieve in signs and portents.
Such persons will merely say “Pish” and “Tush” together with other
hurtful remarks, and remain unconvinced and scornful. But the
open-minded—they are the people. They will nod their heads in
understanding.
So. The history of Meng Hu, a merry rascal and a clever.
Upon the night that Meng Hu was born, in the house of his father Hao
Shou, in the village named Two Roads Meeting, which stands at the foot
of Mount Chieh Man (meaning: “Do not hurry—it is tremendously steep”),
in Ping Shan Province, there happened many queer and unseemly
happenings. A pack of wolves came down from Mount Chieh Man, and,
leaping into Hao Shou’s pigsty, carried off a well-fattened
red-and-black pig, for which Hao Shou had been offered eighty
cash—every one good. Between the howling of the wolves and the
squealing of the red-and-black pig, all Two Roads Meeting Village was
aroused.
The excitement had scarcely subsided when Hao Shou’s pet monkey, for
some reason best known to himself and the Shen of mischief, entered the
house where Hao Shou’s fowls roosted. The disturbance thus created
caused Two Roads Meeting Village again to leap from bed.
Only an hour later a tiger, which some coolies were carrying as a gift
to the King, escaped from his cage, and with much roaring pounced upon
Hao Shou’s amiable white cow. There was no more sleep in Two Roads
Meeting Village that night. And no wonder.
Now the village called Two Roads Meeting was much like any other
village, in that it housed some extremely wise men—men who knew
everything about practically everything. These men gathered and wagged
their beards much. Some of them said: “It is a sign, an omen. Hao Shou’s
son, born in the midst of last night’s disturbances, will gain his
fortune by the agency of animals. With the help of animals he,
undoubtedly, will become King. . . . He may even become mayor of our
excellent village.” Other wise men, however, said to the first: “Do you
fellows live in a well? (You don’t know much of the world.) To be sure
it is an omen—but _mei chi_ (a bad one). The son of Hao Shou will be
done to death by animals. Mark our words.” Then the old men of the two
parties fell to fighting and forgot all about Meng Hu, son of Hao Shou,
the innocent cause.
Having lost his pig, his cow, and many of his fowls, the father of Meng
Hu found himself a pauper. He who had been rich was now poor. Worse
still, a suit was brought by the tiger’s owner. The great beast had been
gored while pulling down Hao Shou’s sinful white cow, and its owner sued
in a court for damages. Being unable to pay, Hao Shou went to jail—and
lucky he was to escape with his miserable life. For the tiger was being
sent, a gift, to the King.
Thus beset by poverty, the boy Meng Hu was no sooner able to walk than
he was bound over to a herder, who immediately put him to work. It was
Meng Hu’s duty to watch over a flock. Early every morning he drove his
sheep into the green hills, watching over them throughout the day, and
with night’s coming, marshaled them back to the lowland fold. It was
lonesome work, very. Meng Hu had no companions with whom to play and
chatter. The solitude oppressed him. He sometimes thought that his mind
must surely break—insanity would claim him. A flute, such as the other
shepherds used to beguile away loneliness, was beyond his means to buy.
But he must have something, must do something.
[Illustration: It was the howl of a wolf.]
While thinking of a plan to amuse, he became aware that he was making
strange noises in his throat. He opened his mouth. A long, weird howl
echoed between the hills. It was the howl of a wolf—yet it came from
the throat of Meng Hu. It came without effort; a perfect wolf cry. The
boy was quite as surprised as were his sheep. He went away from the
flock to a secluded valley, where he could practice the cry without
harm. “Ow-w-w-w-wh,” and again “Ow-w-w-w-w-wh.” The sound was
terrifying. Any gray leader of a pack might have been proud of it.
At last Meng Hu grew tired of making wolf howls. He tried his voice at
imitating the calls of other animals. A cow—“Am-oo-ooh.” Sun-awakening
rooster—“Cockadoodledoo.” A tiger; Meng Hu gave the buzzing sound of
pleasure, the open-mouthed roar of anger, the coughing “woof” of pain.
He found it easy to give the various calls of _hou erh_ (the monkey). He
squealed in a manner most pig-like. He imitated the “Onkee Onkee” of his
master’s donkey. He gave the neigh of a horse.
Day after day Meng Hu practiced in the hills, imitating the calls of
many animals, usually in a low voice so that his sheep would receive no
fright. Lonesomeness no longer oppressed him. He had a toy more
entrancing than a lute with ivory bands. He was wolf, and tiger, and
clucking biddy by turns. He knew all cries of the wild.
A train of coolies trudged along the road below. Meng Hu, seeing them,
thought to have great fun. He placed his hands trumpet fashion to his
mouth and gave the wolves’ hunting song: “Ow-w-w-w-wh.” Instantly the
coolies flung down their burdens and ran as fast as men can run to the
village. Those scary fellows had no wish to help fatten a
famine-maddened wolf. Naturally, their fright lent great powers to their
imaginations. Not only had they heard the wolf—they had seen him—as
large as the Emperor’s battle horse. And the flock owners had better see
about their sheep. A dozen sheep would be only a trifling morsel for
that huge beast. This large—holding their hands high in air.
How the village hubbubbed with excitement. Such a collection of spears
and scythes and warlike jingals as rushed to the wolf-haunted hills.
When Meng Hu saw half of the village’s population drawing near in a
glorious gleam of weapons, he realized what had happened. Beyond a
doubt, he would be questioned. Had he seen the wolf? They would ask him
that. No—he hadn’t _seen_ the wolf, but most certainly he had heard it.
Perhaps the beast was hiding in the thicket. Then hunt for it. That
would prevent suspicion.
The villagers came up to find Meng Hu bravely poking with his staff in
the bushes. Oh, but they praised him. “See,” said the villagers, “brave
Meng Hu all alone hunts the wolf. How courageous is Meng Hu. His heart
is as bold as the heart of Mi Tze—he who pulled the King’s beard.
Valiant Meng Hu is an added honor to the Village of Two Roads
Meeting—renowned for its heroic men.”
Meng Hu said nothing—just then. When alone, he brayed like a donkey. It
was so funny, so laughably ridiculous. He had fooled the wisest men of
Two Roads Meeting Village.
For the next several days Meng gave the villagers plenty of violent
exercise. He had them come puffing up the hill at all hours.
“Ow-w-w-w-w-w-wh.” One long-drawn-out howl was sufficient to set scythes
and spears in motion.
But the villagers were not so gullible as one might think. They had
eyes. Why was it that they never _saw_ the wolf? Never a glimpse could
they catch of the rogue. And there were no tracks to be found. Suspicion
dawned. Could it be that someone was making sport of Two Roads Meeting
Village? Several men hid in the bushes. Meng Hu was seen to climb a rock
that overhung the lowland. He raised his hands to form a trumpet.
“Ow-w-w-w-w-wh.” The wolf.
“Oho,” said the men, of whom the flock owner was one. “Aha. So it was
you all the time.” They rushed upon Meng Hu and gave him a good taste of
bamboo sauce, which is served upon the back, and sounds “Swish, thump.
Swish, thump.” The flock owner then paid Meng what few cash were due and
bade him, “_Chu pa_ (Away with you). And don’t dare ever to return.
_Hsiao tsai tzu_ (You young animal).”
Meng Hu called to his heels for assistance. He ran and ran, till the
hills were far behind. Every now and again he murmured sadly: “How wise
were the old men. They _said_ that an animal would be my downfall. A
wolf. A mock wolf was my undoing.”
The lowland was a pleasant country, with here and there a ripening
field, and here and there a forest. Young Meng stood at the edge of a
wood, casting about for a bed to serve him the night. A clatter of hoofs
broke the silence. Some twenty men or more dashed into view. From their
weapons and general swashbuckling appearance Meng knew them to be
robbers. And knowing—he swiftly clambered up a tree.
The robbers halted and gazed about them right and left. Their chieftain
said: “I thought I saw a man here. If you find him, kill him, for the
people hereabouts are fierce enemies. Ho. . . . What’s That in Yonder
Leafy Tree?”
Meng Hu could imagine a knife at his throat. He shook the tree with his
trembling. Nevertheless, his wits worked faithfully. From his lips came
the scolding chatter of _hou erh_ (the monkey). It was exceedingly well
done. The robber chieftain laughed. “Only a monkey—and what vile names
he seems to call us. Ho. Ho. Ho. Only a silly monkey.”
[Illustration: Meng Hu could imagine a knife at his throat.]
Meng Hu tossed down a ripened fruit from the tree—that being the way of
all monkeys. The fruit spattered its juices in the chieftain’s eyes.
“What a sweet-tempered old brute,” complained the chief. “Hurry on.
We’ve no time to waste with a monkey.”
The robbers rode deeper into the forest and under a spreading tree
dismounted. Meng Hu, now feeling that he was a match for forty robbers,
followed the trail and spied upon the camp. He saw the knaves divide
their booty—gold and jewels flashing in the firelight. There were bales
of rich silk; brocades and moires—all rich stuffs. The eyes of Meng
popped with amazement. He wished that some day he might own such
treasure. But why not own it at once—why wait for _some_ day? Could
there be any way to take it from the robbers? He shut his dazzled eyes
and thought.
The night was at its most eerie hour—the hour when whitened ghosts
appear—when the _yao mo_ (the ghosts that have no chins) appear. A
monkey chattered in frantic warning. The robber chief awoke and said to
his men: “Do you hear that sound? Monkeys always make such alarm when
danger is near. That monkey warns us—a tiger is near. Get to your
horses.”
Before the thieves could mount their horses, the horror-striking, the
flesh-chilling roar of a tiger filled the forest. Instantly the horses
dashed away. Shrieking with fear the brigands followed. Three roars
emptied the camp. Six roars emptied the forest. Between roars Meng Hu
found breath enough to murmur: “How wise were the old men of the
village. They _said_ that an animal would bring me my fortune. A tiger.
A pretty tiger am I. Ho. Ho. Ho.” And he roared again for good measure.
Morning’s glow was still faint in the east when Meng rounded up the
horses. Those that had strayed too far he ignored. No telling when the
robbers would return. Besides, the boy had plenty, in all conscience. As
blithe as any bobolink he bobbed up and down, pounding the road toward
Chang An, the capital city.
The fortunate fellow settled down in a comfortable mansion and converted
his goods into gold as rapidly as possible. To put the merchants in
better humor and make them more disposed to buy his silks and jewels,
Meng Hu often howled and mooed and cackled. He gave the buyers much
entertainment. His strange antics became the talk of Chang An City.
The upshot was that Lui Tsung, Mightiest King, heard of the youth who
made such marvelous noises. His Majesty sent a courier bidding Meng Hu
appear in the square that fronted the palace, there to entertain. Meng
promptly appeared, bringing with him a tiger robe, a calf skin, a wolf
hide, and other disguises. He intended that the performance should seem
very real. And so it was, at first. As a wolf, he frightened three
soldiers into running. His bawling was so true to life that an old
peasant rushed to the square, declaring that he recognized the voice of
his lost calf, and would someone lend him a rope. Oddly enough, the
tiger mimicry created no astonishment. It caused neither laughs nor
screams. Meng Hu was surprised. Had he not thrown fear into the robbers’
very marrow with his tiger noise? Roaring furiously, he rushed at a
soldier. The soldier merely yawned. Roaring ten times more furiously,
the “tiger” sprang at Lui Tsung, The Mighty King. . . .
Now, of course, Meng Hu was merely a peasant boy. He knew nothing of
royalty and its ways. But, is ignorance ever an excuse? Never. Meng Hu
should have known better than to spring at his Monarch, and to tooth the
royal robes. His Majesty gasped and beckoned to a captain of the guard.
“Seize this audacious person and imprison him. Hold him until I can
think of an utterly new punishment to fit his crime. He merits something
more severe than mere sword or fire.”
With such delightful prospects to ponder, Meng Hu languished behind lock
and key. Over and over he moaned: “How wise were the old men. They
_said_ that I would meet my death because of an animal. A tiger. A
tiger. _Ai ja_ (Alas).” Though extremely downcast, yet he kept a faint
hope. His mind fabricated numerous schemes for escape. He had noticed
that the Queen seemed extremely fond of a ridiculous little yipping
Chou. (The scamp; with his noise he had frightened the poor dog in a
manner most scandalous.) While thinking of the Chou, he hit upon an idea
that promised much.
Directly after the new guards had been posted, Meng Hu began to yelp
dismally. His yelping was enough to bring tears of pity to the soldiers’
eyes. It was distressing. Presently a voice said: “O soldiers, my dear
little dog is locked up, and I don’t know where. Hasten and open all the
doors.” That voice was the Queen’s voice. Every soldier of the guard
recognized it. Every soldier hastened along the corridor—slip slap,
slip slap—opening doors. One and all they hastened to free the Queen’s
dear little pet Chou.
The Queen’s voice commanded that the doors be opened. Yet, at that very
moment the Queen was in a sedan chair, several miles away, taking her
evening ride. Perhaps Meng Hu could have explained the mystery—had he
waited. But there was no waiting. The guards had not finished opening
the farther doors when Meng crawled away. He didn’t even pause to thank
the guards. Their kindness went unrewarded.
To the wall. To the gate. Toward the Great Wall galloped Meng Hu. The
night cloaked his hurry. No one hindered. No one pursued. Over the
mountain—a mile to go. There stood the Great Wall—there the gate.
There lay safety.
Meng paused for a breath and turned in his saddle. Far behind appeared a
streak of light. That would be a torch—and a King’s man bearing it.
They were pursuing—upon the King’s swift horses. Then hasten. Speed. To
the gate.
Away galloped Meng Hu. . . . The gate was before him. . . .
Closed. . . . Closed. _Ai ja_. His escape was blocked by the ponderous
gate. He would be captured. He would be killed, and alas for it. Ai yu.
The gate was closed for the night. It would not be opened till morning
came. No ten bags of gold could open it before the morning dawned. Not
even a royal order could open it.
The warden of the gate slept peacefully.
“Cockadoodledoo.”
The warden turned in his quilt.
“Cockadoodledoo.”
The warden opened his eyes. “Can it be so late?”
“Cockadoodledoo.”
“Heigho. Morning already—and—what a noisy fowl.”
“Cockadoodledoo.”
“Yes, it must be morning. Time to open the gate, so that the early
caravans can pass.”
“Cockadoodledoo.”
The key clicked in the lock. The heavy hinges groaned.
Clatter, clatter of hoofs that were urged.
“How wise were the old men of the village,” murmured Meng Hu. “They
_said_ that an animal would save my neck some day. A rooster. What a
toothsome fowl am I. Ho Ho. Ho.”
He laughed as his horse took the open road.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHOP-STICKS
What is better than roast duck with sweet ginger dressing? Is
anything—anything—in the world and all, superior? Two roast ducks—as
Ching Chung said—are more to be desired? Ah, of a certainty. Two. Two
roast ducks, with _hong keong_ dressing, and _ling gow_, and _jung yee_,
and _tou ya_, and _yu chien_ (the very fine tea that grows only in three
gardens of Ku Miao), and—but really that’s enough for any dinner. More
might mean misery.
Those were the dishes that Cheng Chang prepared with matchless
perfection. Those were the dishes that Ching Chung ate with the utmost
gusto. Cheng Chang, the very fine cook, and Ching Chung, the extremely
appreciative master. They were old bachelors, those two worthies. Little
Cheng Chang and large Ching Chung were foot-free, funny, and forty.
Cheng Chang came within an inch of being a dwarf. He was only a mere
trifle taller than his own willow-wood ladle. Why, he was nearly as
short as Wu Ta Lang, who, as you’ll remember, when standing under his
cherry tree could not reach the limb, and when on the limb could not
touch earth.
Beyond a doubt, Cheng Chang was little—but . . . how he could cook. He
was ugly—but . . . how he could cook. He tied his queue with a leather
string—but . . . how he could cook. He taught his own grandmother how
to roast eggs—and that’s something few men could do.
Ching Chung was the master. He was a tremendous person. He was nearly as
large as Ho Lan, the giant, who, one day when stretching, burned his
hand on the hot red sun. Surely no one could ask for more proof that
Ching Chung was quite large. And how the man could eat. He worked hard,
from crow of cock till the owl said “Time for bed.” And how he could
eat. Four roast ducks at a sitting . . . how he could eat. But his voice
was so powerful that it often shook the pots from Cheng Chang’s stove.
Then there was nothing to eat.
Ching Chung frequently complimented Cheng Chang upon his so glorious
cookery. He would say to Cheng Chang: “Cheng Chang, this roast duck is
simply _tou ming_. If I were king and you my cook, I would make you
Governor of Kwang Ting, where the best ducks grow.” And Cheng Chang
would say: “To the Gracious Master I offer my no-account thanks. I
sorrow that my terrible cooking is not better.” Or, again, Ching Chung
would say: “Cheng Chang, this exquisite roast duck has infused me with
new strength. One more morsel, or maybe two, and I could conquer the
world.” And Cheng Chang would reply, “It is nothing, Honorable Master.”
Strengthened and made bold by Cheng Chang’s roast duck and perhaps by a
sip of the stuff called _sam shu_ (which is fire and madness in a
bottle), Ching Chung one day went a-courting. Before a body could say
“_Chang wang li chao_” (about the same as “Jack Robinson”), the
beauteous lady, Li Kuan, was pledged to be Ching Chung’s bride. Whereat,
the happy groom to be, who had always proclaimed that a bachelor’s life
was the only life, promptly changed the burden of his song and declared
that all old bachelors should be boiled in rancid bean oil and used as
candles to lighten the darkness. And, no doubt, he was very right.
Said master to cook: “Cheng Chang, why don’t you follow the excellent
example that I have set and take unto yourself a bride? There’s Pang
Tzu, a buxom lady, and wealthy. Why not marry Pang Tzu?” So Cheng Chang
answered, “Very well then, Honorable Master; I’ll do as you advise.” And
he did.
With Ching Chung married and Cheng Chang wed, both of the old bachelors
were husbands, and their lives were changed, utterly. For marriage is a
most peculiar thing. It promotes the fortunes of some men. Other men go
from bad to worse. The wedding bell has two tongues. One tongue speaks
good; the other, evil.
Consider the case of Ching Chung. His wife had no wealth whatsoever. But
her fifth cousin was a general in the royal army. The general came to
visit, riding a handsome donkey, and wearing his two swords. He tasted
the roast duck (cooked, mind you, by Cheng Chang), upon Ching Chung’s
table, and instantly took a great liking for Ching Chung. He thought his
host a most hospitable and excellent man. Nor was he wrong. (But Cheng
Chang had cooked the duck.)
It was no time till Ching Chung received a commission in the royal and
brave army. He became a general. Before one could say “_Chang wang li
chao_,” he won a great victory. . . . And, the king having died
meanwhile, Ching Chung was placed upon the throne. There he was—upon
the throne—a king. And hail to King Ching Chung.
On the other hand, consider Cheng Chang, the cook. Poor Cheng Chang. He
was afraid of his wife. Horribly afraid. His wife had but to whisper
“Chang,” and Chang trembled like jelly, spilled on the king’s highroad.
His wife had but to say “Cheng Chang,” and Cheng Chang fell upon the
floor. It often happened that his wife said “Chang,” just as the poor
man seasoned a duck on the stove. Then Cheng Chang would tremble, and
drop in too much salt or garlic or ginger, and the dinner would be
ruined. Frequently Cheng Chang had to throw away a dozen ducks, before
he dished up one that was really excellent. Of course, his own purse had
to pay for the loss. Almost before one could say “_Chang wang li chao_,”
the timid Cheng Chang was a pauper. A lucky thing for him that his wages
were raised as soon as Ching Chung became King.
How remarkable are the tricks played by fate. She gives the wheel of
life a turn. What was top becomes bottom. Strangely enough, what was
bottom—becomes top. The once mighty eat humble pie. The once lowly sit
upon gilt chairs, drinking _yu chien_ from cups of egg-shell porcelain,
and eating birds’ nests. Cheng Chang was at the bottom. And fate gave
the wheel a whirl.
The wife of Cheng Chang went to visit her three brothers, who conducted
a large go-down in Ning Poo. The art of cookery, so nearly lost to Cheng
Chang, once more thrilled in his finger tips. A pinch of this. A mite of
that. A dash of something else. Cheng Chang cooked as he had never
cooked before. The roast duck that he served up for King Ching Chung
was—was—was—. There are many words in the language of men, but not
one of them can describe the duck that Cheng Chang presented his King
and master, Ching Chung. Sublime, delicious, perfect—those words are
weak and unable. Away with them. The duck must remain undescribed. But,
oh, what a duck it was. King Ching Chung ate half of it. Perhaps he ate
a trifle more than half. He kept his gaze upon the platter. He said
neither “Good,” nor “Bad.”
Cheng Chang lingered near by to receive the praise that he felt was due.
But the praise was slow in forthcoming. The wondering cook began to fear
that he had dropped in too much _chiao fen_. Horrors. Horrors twice.
Suppose he had? He deserved to be killed.
King Ching Chung laid his knife aside. He placed his fork in company. He
raised his eyes and gazed at Cheng Chang. For a full minute he gazed. He
questioned, “Cheng Chang, did you cook this duck?” Poor Cheng Chang.
Down he went, kneeling three times. Each time he knelt, his head rapped
the floor thrice. “Yes, most gracious and forgiving Majesty, I cooked
the duck. I, Cheng Chang, alone am guilty. Oh, have mercy.” He could
almost feel the headsman’s sword.
Steadily for another minute the monarch stared. Then he spoke. “You did,
did you? Well, all I can say is this. The man who cooked this duck
should be King. And, by the teeth of the bobtailed dragon who brings
famine, I am going to make him King. I shall abdicate and appoint him to
rule in my stead. Arise, King Cheng Chang, ruler of the universe—and
the best cook that ever roasted a duck.”
So soon as Cheng Chang’s wife heard of her smaller half’s good fortune
she hurried back to the palace. With her she fetched the three brothers,
feeling sure that King Cheng Chang would appoint them to high places. If
he wouldn’t, _she_ would. She had things planned to the last detail. One
brother was to be keeper of the royal and full treasury. What a clever
idea. He had the largest pockets. Another brother was to be Governor of
Kwang Ting. The third was to be made Commander-in-chief of the royal and
never-run army.
At breakfast, the eldest brother mentioned his desire. “Oh,” said King
Cheng Chang, “I can’t make you keeper of the treasury. I’ve already put
in a man who has no hands.” “Well, what appointment have you saved for
me?” “For you? Let’s see. You can be Ambassador to Ho Chung Kuo.” (A
far-off country—America, in fact.) “Indeed?” screamed the Queen’s
brother in terrible rage. He took his knife from his mouth and lunged at
the King. . . . Only a remarkable quickness of foot saved King Cheng
Chang.
His Majesty, very properly, was much displeased at such unseemly
behavior. Who wouldn’t be? “I shall have your eldest brother beheaded,”
he told the Queen. “Indeed?” said the Queen. “Then I shall beat you.” So
that ended that. He was little and she was large. There was no
beheading.
At dinner the Queen’s second brother remarked in a casual tone: “It’s an
exquisite day, isn’t it? I hope it will be this pleasant when I am
inaugurated Governor of Kwang Ting.” “You? Governor? I have appointed
Ching Chung to be Governor of Kwang Ting. You can be constable
at. . . .” “Indeed?” screamed the would-be governor in an ungovernable
rage. He seized his fork and rushed at the King. Fortunately a mat
slipped from beneath his feet. His fork tore a deep furrow in the floor.
The monarch escaped injury.
Nevertheless, King Cheng Chang was highly indignant. Surely that was his
kingly right. He said to the Queen, “I shall have your brother
be. . . .” The Queen interrupted, “If you do, I shall beat you.” She
rather had him there. The King crawled under his throne. The subject was
closed, and the headsman’s sword was unstained.
Supper had barely begun when the Queen’s youngest brother, a huge brawny
yokel, remarked that he had already purchased his uniform and would take
over the army to-morrow. The King was taken back. “You command the army?
Huh. I shall make you Minister to Yin Yung.” (A place twenty thousand li
distant at the ships sail.) “Indeed?” roared the Queen’s brawny youngest
brother. Clutching his soup spoon he leaned across the table and struck
at King Cheng Chang, “Swish,” with all his might.
[Illustration: The King crawled under his throne.]
Thanks to him who made the table, he made it of generous width. The
Queen’s youngest brother could not quite reach across it. His murderous
spoon merely parted the King’s beard. It was a most atrocious deed,
meriting extreme punishment, but it caused no actual pain. Its main
effect was upon the King’s dignity. But this time His Royal Mightiness
said nothing of the headsman. He imagined that his wife would most
likely raise objections. No. The King said nothing of punishment.
Instead, he rewarded the Queen’s youngest brother, appointed him
director of the Imperial Gunpowder Factory, with a bed in the
factory. . . . And gave him six pounds of smoking tobacco.
The three attempts upon his life worked havoc with Cheng Chang’s nerves.
When eating breakfast, he could never look at a knife without
shuddering. Seated at dinner, each time he touched a fork cold chills
raced down his marrow. At supper, he could scarcely eat because of the
spoon. Each glance at the spoon wrought from His Majesty a groan of
dread.
So King Cheng Chang did a most wise thing. He abolished knives and forks
and spoons. He ate his rice and duck with the aid of two harmless,
delicate, little sticks. There was nothing about the sticks to inspire
uneasiness. They were incapable of hurt.
The little sticks used by King Cheng Chang were called Chop-Sticks. Chop
means good.
Naturally enough, all the people in Cheng Chang’s kingdom soon were
using chop-sticks. They wished to do as the King did. People are like
that. Chop-sticks became, first, fashionable, then, universal. Every one
used them.
Wherefore, today King Cheng Chang is remembered not for his roast
duck—which was heavenly, and gained him the throne—but for his
chop-sticks—which are wood, mere wood.
BUY A FATHER
The Street of Wang’s Broken Tea Cup lies between Seven Thieves Market
and the long wharf where ship bottoms from all the world (and, as some
say, the moon) discharge their varied cargoes. Queer sights are so
excessively common there that the Phoenix bird lighting a match to his
feathers would, probably, excite only ordinary interest. Nevertheless,
the people _do_ possess eyes, and they _are_ provided with ears. Now and
again they can be made to open those eyes, and sharpen those ears into
eager hearing. The ridiculous, in especial, rouses their attention.
There was the wit-wandering beggar, Weng Fu, as an instance.
Weng Fu walked in the Street of Wang’s Broken Tea Cup, bearing a great
bundle of bamboo switches upon his back, and shouting
thunderously. . . . “Who’ll buy? Who’ll buy? What young man wishes to
buy him a father?” Whereat, several persons gathered, laughing. “I, Weng
Fu, will sell myself as a father to any young man for only five cash.”
The crowd and the laughter increased. “Who’ll buy a pretty father? An
orphan may have me for only one cash. A most excellent father I’ll be to
my son. I promise to beat him twice each day. Of every hundred cash he
earns I’ll take only ninety-nine and he may keep one. I’ll even let him
sleep upon warm ashes in the bed-stove. Ho—young men, come buy—come
buy.”
The shopkeepers left their stalls unguarded as they gathered round Weng
Fu to mock and express their not-flattering opinions. “Surely,” said
they, “this is the oddest fellow we have had in a long while. He must
think our young men are silly as Ko Chih, who scrabbled in the deep snow
of January, searching for plums. Ho. Ho. Ho. Was there ever anything
more ridiculous? A pretty father he would make. Pretty indeed.” A crowd
of boys assembled to have sport with the fantastic beggar. “Here, most
honorable Father—here is five cash, and I will be your dutiful son.” A
richly dressed youth held out some money to Weng Fu. But when Weng Fu
grabbed at it, the boy shut his hand and ran away swiftly, cackling in
well-pleased laughter. After him plunged the greedy beggar, his tattered
clothing flapping like strings on a scarecrow. A bystander put out a
foot. The old man tripped heels over head in the deep black mud. Then
the crowd slip-slapped on, mildly interested in a fight between Wan the
hunchback who had only one leg, and a blackamoor who had no arms.
The boy Ah Tzu, an orphan, approached Weng and tugged to assist him. The
beggar’s rags tore away by the handful. A train of laden donkeys labored
down the street. “Ho. Good man, you must get out of this,” shouted Ah
Tzu, pulling. “The donkeys will shred your flesh from the bones. Come.”
“Will you buy me for a father?” “Certainly. Now see if you cannot
arise.” Ah Tzu pulled manfully, and the contrary old beggar moved his
limbs in helping. The two staggered aside just in time to avoid being
trampled. “Where shall we go—Father—where is your house?” asked Ah
Tzu. “In the Street of The Place Where The Cow Lost Her Horn,” answered
Weng Fu. “And don’t walk so fast, my son, else I shall beat you.”
The house of Weng Fu was luxurious in the extreme. A goat could have
leapt through any one of a dozen holes in the walls. The roof was made
of straw, so thin that the rain demon, Yu Shih, laughed at it, and the
stars peered in nightly. There was no _kang_ (bed-stove), no table.
Chairs were lacking. For furniture it had a heap of bean straw in a
corner, a dozen bricks in another corner, a cupboard on a wall—thus was
the house of Weng Fu furnished.
[Illustration: The house of Weng Fu was luxurious in the extreme.]
Weng Fu sat upon the earthen floor and bade Ah Tzu do likewise. “My
son,” said the beggar, “this is your future home—and excellent it is.
This is your home—provided you prove worthy. But I warn you, I am hard
to please. A son of mine must be as prompt as Ching Chi, as devoted as
Wei Sheng, as brave as Meng Feu. Faithful and honest must my son be. You
must ask no questions and do as I say. Otherwise, I shall beat you, and
turn you out in the street. . . . Open the cupboard and bring me a
bundle of straw.” Ah Tzu obeyed. His new father continued: “Braid this
straw into a pair of sandals. Work swiftly and have them finished by the
time I return. And give me what money you have so that I may purchase
food.” Ah Tzu turned over his tiny bag of money. Then his fingers worked
nimbly, braiding the straw.
Weng Fu returned in a very few minutes. His face was purple. His voice
pitched high. “What? _Ya shu_ (idle rascal). Are you not finished? Well,
you shall get no dinner till you complete the sandals.” With that he put
down a silver tray and began to eat. On the tray was roast duck. There
was celery and tea-soaked eggs and rice and bean sprouts and brine-aged
cabbage and almonds and garlic and many another dish of equal goodness.
Weng Fu’s teeth clicked busily. Every few seconds he grunted his
satisfaction. Ah Tzu braided straw.
The silver tray was emptied long before Ah Tzu completed his task.
Finally, “Here, my father, are the sandals, and I hope they will be to
your liking,” Weng Fu gazed. “They are not very well braided. But
perhaps in time you will learn. Reach in the cupboard and get a bean
cake for your dinner.” Ah Tzu searched in the cupboard and found a
small, hard, dry bean cake. “Here, give me half of it,” ordered the
queer father. “I am still hungry.” The old fellow took at least
three-fourths of the cake—all but a portion that had been nibbled by
mice. Then he put on his new sandals, took up the tray and departed. “Do
not go out,” he admonished Ah Tzu. “Stay here and guard the house
against thieves.” The door closed behind him. Just what a thief could
have desired in that house would be hard to decide. Nevertheless, Ah Tzu
stayed close at home, that night, and the following day, and the night
that came after.
During the second night three men came to the door and tried to gain
entrance, saying that they must have gold. Ah Tzu fanned about him so
earnestly with a cudgel that all three were piled in a heap on the
threshold. They went away limping and howling, one holding his hands to
his pate, as if troubled with _nao tai teng_ (as if troubled with head
aching badly).
The next day saw Weng Fu’s return. He asked Ah Tzu many questions, and
Ah Tzu answered them. But the boy showed no inquisitiveness about the
large bandage round Weng Fu’s head, nor did he ask questions about
Weng’s bundle. The beggar finally opened his bundle and from it took
food. He shared the food with his son—and this time he himself ate
little. This time Ah Tzu had sufficient.
When the meal was finished, the beggar again opened his bundle and
disclosed garments such as very young babies wear. “Put on these
garments, my son. They will make you look many years younger. And I,
seeing my son so young, will feel the years drop from my shoulders and
be again in the prime of my manhood—at least ten years younger.” Ah Tzu
did as he was told. “_Cha, Tieh tieh_ (Certainly, Papa).” On went the
small garments. “Now, Ah Tzu, we’ll go for a walk. Here is a calabash
for you to rattle.”
They went into the street. Ten steps and a crowd gathered. Such jeering.
Such laughter. “Ho. Ho. Ho. Here is old _back of the hands turned down_
(a beggar) and his infant son. What a pretty baby. _Tieh tieh_, has your
baby cut his teeth?” Ah Tzu rattled his calabash and tried hard to keep
from blushing. Weng Fu sauntered on in utter unconcern. When they
reached Seven Thieves Market, all shopkeepers boarded up their stalls,
thinking a mob had come to plunder.
At home once more, Weng Fu produced more food and told Ah Tzu to eat.
Then he cupped his hand to his ear as if listening. “I thought I heard
someone shout my name. There it is a second time.” He dashed out. At the
door a bag fell from his girdle. The bag flew open and from it rolled
rubies and pearls, to a value of at least ten bars of gold. Ah Tzu
called to his father, but receiving no answer, he hastily gathered up
the baubles and hid them.
Night came, but with it no father. When the moon had been set for an
hour, a noise brought Ah Tzu to his feet. The thieves? Let them come.
The boy was expecting some such visitation. He had a stouter club and a
kettle of hot water in readiness. . . . There was little short of murder
done in the Street of The Place Where The Cow Lost Her Horn. Ah Tzu had
eaten strengthening food that night. Though he wore the clothes of an
infant, that is no sign that his arm was the arm of an infant. Such
howling.
Old Weng Fu merely grunted when he received the bag of rubies and
pearls. Counting them he said, “I thought there were fifty large
pearls.” And he gazed keenly at Ah Tzu. If he expected to see a guilty
flush, he was disappointed. “I did not count them, my father. All that I
found I put in the bag.” The beggar grunted. “So—here is the missing
one. . . . But perhaps there were fifty-one. Look outside the door. You
may find another.”
As Ah Tzu sifted the earth, his nostrils told him of a smoke. Even as he
straightened up Weng Fu rushed from the house. No need to yell “Fire.”
Flames were darting like dragons’ tongues out of the thatch, out of the
walls. The old beggar ran in a circle, screaming: “Now what shall I
crack nuts on? What? What? Oh. Oh. Oh. Ah Tzu, my son, get me the brick
that lies on the floor in the northeast corner. The brick. The brick.”
Ah Tzu thought it strange that his father should set such high value on
a brick. But strange or not strange, an order was an order—to be
obeyed. Shielding his face with a sleeve he entered the house. Wisps of
burning straw fell upon him. Smoke seared his eyes. Smoke griped his
throat, periling his life. Straight he went to the farthest corner. He
stooped. A quick dash. He was safe, beyond the door. Ah Tzu’s task had
been accomplished. He handed to his father a brick . . . a worthless
yellow brick . . . a chipped and fissured brick. For that he had been
made to risk his life.
Weng Fu spoke no word of praise. He did not so much as look at Ah Tzu.
Only a close observer could have noticed that his lips quivered ever so
slightly. Finally he said: “I have one more errand for you, my son, then
you may rest. See—I have lost the string that bound my queue. Go you to
the Emperor and ask His Majesty for an old ribbon. Tell the Emperor you
wish to borrow a queue ribbon for Weng Fu, the beggar.”
Sadly troubled, Ah Tzu hastened toward the palace. He had every reason
for thinking that his impudent request would gain him not a ribbon for
Weng Fu but a rope for his own neck . . . and death for Weng Fu.
It was the hour when Shang Tien Hao, The Emperor, sat in public
audience. Any citizen might approach the throne. The aspen leaves never
tremble so violently as Ah Tzu trembled, kneeling before his monarch.
With much stammering, he stated the business that brought him. All the
time his forehead was tight pressed to the floor.
[Illustration: He kept his forehead tight-pressed to the floor.]
Strangely enough, the Emperor made no beckon to the executioner.
Instead, he smiled and said: “No, my son, I sha’n’t give you a ribbon
for old Weng Fu. He no longer exists. However, I shall give you ribbons
a-plenty and fine clothing for your own wear. You must learn that I,
being without heir, dressed as a beggar and wandered the streets to find
me a son brave as Meng, pure as Pao Shu, and devoted as Wei. Such I
found in you. No longer are you Ah Tzu, the orphan. Henceforth you are
Lieh Shih—hero—and beloved son of Shang Tien Hao, The Emperor.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
FOUR GENERALS
Prince Chang petitioned his father, the King. “My Honored Parent, give
me permission to make a journey throughout the kingdom. I would learn
how the people live, and note wherein they are contented and
discontented. Thus I shall be prepared against the time when I ascend
the throne.” The King nodded approval. “Your plan is good, my son. I
shall immediately order that new gold tires be put upon the royal
carriage, and summon ten troops of cavalry to guard you.” But the prince
would not listen to such arrangements. “Oh, no, sire, I mean to go alone
and in disguise. Instead of the carriage, a stick will serve for my
vehicle. Instead of the troops, that selfsame stick will guard me.”
Whereat, the King was greatly troubled, and the prince was put to much
argument before he won his point. “Then do as you wish, my only and much
beloved son,” said the King, grudgingly. “But it behooves you to observe
extreme care. Disorder is rife in all the provinces. Go, and may your
stick be as strong as the magic mace of Sun How Erh.”
“Farewell, my royal father.”
“Farewell, my noble son.”
Now it must be remembered that Prince Chang was no graybeard. In years
he was nearing thirteen. Is it, after all, such a great wonder that
homesickness caused his heels to drag, and his eyes to need the
kerchief? He had walked all of twenty li. That, he began to imagine, was
journey enough for the present. To the edge of Hu Pei Forest he
continued. At the edge of the forest he stopped. The woodland was so
dark . . . so dark. The wolves howled “Oo-o-o-o-o-wh—We starve.” And
such a futile little stick with which to enter the forest of Hu Pei.
“Oo-o-o-o-owh.” What wolves. . . .
The prince had turned his face toward home when a merry voice hailed
him. “Ho. Brother, I’m glad you are come. Tell me if my fiddle be in
tune.” A comical fellow hopped down from a stump and chinned his fiddle
while Prince Chang stared. “Eek. Eek. Eeek.” “How does it sound, little
brother?” “I dare say it——” But the fiddler was not waiting for an
answer. His bow arm fell to sawing while his legs and voice joined in
the tune—“A beggar asked the King to dine.” And that’s a foolish song.
Prince Chang thought he had never before heard or seen anything so funny
by half. The more he laughed the greater his need for laughter. Such a
comical beggar and how he could play and sing.
From one end of Hu Pei Forest to the other Prince Chang laughed while
the beggar capered and fiddled. No wolves at all appeared. Homesickness
was a thing of the past—forgotten. “Let me give you a copper cash,
merry stranger,” said Chang, when they came to a Y of the road. “Not
now,” said he of the fiddle and bow. “I judge you are poorer than I.”
“Indeed?” laughed the prince. “When I am King (he forgot himself there),
I shall reward you handsomely.” “Ho. Ho,” shrieked the beggar. “When you
are King. When you are King, I’ll accept a reward. Make me a general in
your army.” “It shall be done,” said Chang. “What is your very nice
name?” “My pitiful name is Tang—Tang, the fiddler. Farewell, my little
King, who rides a bamboo horse.” So, they parted, both merry.
Sad to relate, Prince Chang’s merriment was to be of brief duration. A
band of robbers sprang up from the roadside and surrounded him,
pummeling him without mercy—all striking at one time. They took his
stick and his clothing and the little bag of coins that hung from his
neck. They left him in the road for dead. A sorry ending, that, to his
journey. . . .
Shortly, another traveler chanced by, and he was a man of warm heart. He
revived Prince Chang and took him on his shoulder, carrying him to a
village. There he set out food and clothing and bade the prince ask for
what more he desired. Chang was deeply thankful. “How can I ever repay
you?” “_Ya ya pei_ (Pish tush),” said the man. “It is nothing. What is a
bit of food? And what is a gift of clothing? Besides, you must know that
I am a tailor and will charge my next customer double. ‘A tailor—a
rogue,’ says the proverb.” “I do not believe it,” exclaimed Chang, “and
when I become King——” (There he forgot himself again.) “Ho. Ho. Ho,”
roared the tailor. “When you become King. Ho. Ho. When you are King, you
may reward me. You may make me a general in your army.” “It shall be
done,” declared Chang. “What is your honorable name?” “Wang is my
miserable name. Wang, the tailor. Farewell, and good luck be with you,
my future King.” So they parted, merrily enough—each laughing at the
excellent jest.
Prince Chang continued his journey. For three days he saw no man of
flesh and bone, nor came upon a dwelling. At the end of the third day he
was weak and unsteady from hunger. His stick broke beneath his weight
and he lay beside the road, waiting for death to come. Instead of death,
there came a shepherd with sheep and goats. The shepherd picked up Chang
and saw that the boy was far spent. It was quite plain that hunger had
used him evilly. Promptly the quick-witted fellow slung Chang on his
shoulder and carried him off to a cave. Milk in bottles of leather hung
on the cavern walls. Also, there were cheeses. Chang was made to drink
of the milk—a little at first—only enough to moisten his throat. With
the return of strength, he drank greedily, completely emptying a
goatskin. And the emptier the bottle grew, the more he thanked the
shepherd. “You have done me a great service,” said Chang. “If I had
money I——” “_Ya ya pei_ (Pish tush),” said the shepherd. “It is
nothing. I fed you with no thought of reward.” “Nevertheless,” declared
Chang, “when I am made King I——” The shepherd was like to strain his
throat with guffawing. “Ho. Ho. Ho. When you are made King. What a merry
chap you seem to be. Very well, when you are King you may reward me.
Make me a general in your army. Ho. Ho. Ho.” “I shall. I shall.” The
prince was emphatic. “What is your honorable name?” “My paltry name?
Most folk call me Mang—Mang, the shepherd. And here, you must carry
some food with you, for the nearest house is thirty li distant. Take
this cheese—and may good luck be your companion, my King of the
wandering road.”
Burdened as he was, Prince Chang made slow work of getting over the
mountain. He had begun to think seriously of dropping the cheese when a
troop of soldiers clattered up the road behind him. “How fortunate,”
said Chang. “Here are my father’s soldiers. They will take me on their
horses to the next village.” But the soldiers halted with a “Who are
you, and what brings you here?” queried most fiercely and with scowls.
The prince stammered that he was sometimes called Chun, a most
unfortunate invention, for Chun was the name of a local bandit. The
soldiers’ frowns turned to pleased smiles (there was a reward offered),
and the captain said: “So you are Chun, and you have just robbed some
poor person of a new suit and a cheese. Off with his head, my braves.”
Chang now saw that he was indeed in a tangle. A bold face seemed the
only escape. He put on a stern look, saying: “How dare you execute men
without a trial? Do you not know that I am Prince Chang, son of your
noble King?” The captain bowed in mock humility. “Your Highness seems
large for such a tender age. I happen to know that King Yen Chi’s eldest
son is only two years old. Let your swords drink, men.”
The terrible truth was made plain to Chang. He had wandered across the
border of his father’s kingdom. He was in a neighboring and hostile
country. . . .
The swords were lifted to strike, when—swish—came an arrow. After it,
quickly, another, and another. Each found its mark. For each arrow a
soldier crumpled. The others dug heels in their horses galloping
pell-mell for their lives.
A stalwart youth stepped out from a pine. “You had better go quickly,”
he said to Chang. “The border of our own country lies a full mile back.”
“I thank you with all my heart,” declared Prince Chang, “and shall
reward you fittingly when——” “When you are King?” finished the other.
“I heard what you said to the soldiers, and wondered at your daring.
Very well. Make me a general when you become King, and that will be
ample reward.” “It shall be done,” vowed the prince. “What brave name do
you bear?” “Name? Oh, you may call me Lang. Lang, the very indifferent
archer. And now you must go, for more soldiers will come, and my arrows
are few.”
Prince Chang was not long returned from his journey when the King passed
away in an illness. Immediately the crown was placed on Chang’s brow,
and all the people burned much incense of _la ka_ wood, crying “Hail.”
And almost with their next breath they shouted “_Kou chou_ (The Enemy).”
An enemy was marching upon Ku Hsueh. The new King had barely seated
himself upon the heighty throne before he found it necessary to see
about raising an army. There were two great troubles with the old army.
It was dwarfish small and it boasted more generals than bowmen. Of
course, the generals never fought. They did nothing but plan—usually
what they’d have for dinner, and which sword they’d wear to the King’s
next reception. Yet, King Chang added more generals to the army.
The first complaint raised against King Chang by his people was that he
had added four more generals to the army. His new generals were named
Tang, Wang, Mang, and Lang—though doubtless, such information is hardly
necessary. They were old friends of the King. The four arrived at the
capital in time to see a huge army of hostiles encamp on the far side of
the river that bordered the city. By great good fortune, the river was
past fording, so holding the enemy in check. The King and his generals
gazed across the river. Said he: “It is easily seen that the enemy has
twenty men for every one we muster. What are your plans?” Of all his
generals, only Wang seemed to have so much as the shadow of a plan. Wang
said, “Give me all the tailors in the city, and all the cloth stored in
the royal go-downs.” “Take them,” said King Chang. “If you don’t, the
enemy will.”
Throughout the night General Wang and his tailors slaved needle and
thread. The click of thimbles made a continuous humming sound. The
hostiles on the farther shore heard, and wondered what strange warlike
engines King Chang might be preparing.
With day’s coming, Chang moved all his troops—he had only a thousand.
The thousand men marched in parade along the river’s brim. Their
uniforms were old and dowdy. The words, “We are brave,” that adorned
their tattered jackets seemed a poor and weak boast. They were
ragamuffins. They marched as if weary. The enemy jeered.
[Illustration: The king and his generals gazed across the river.]
But, lo. The first thousand had no sooner disappeared than another
thousand circled past the river—stepping smartly, smartly uniformed in
cloth of gold, the words “Very brave” embroidered upon their fronts. The
enemy was not so quick to jeer.
Following the second thousand came a thousand men in trig red uniforms.
Upon their breasts were broidered “Extremely brave.” They stepped it
briskly, shouting dares across the river. The enemy replied with little
heart.
Another thousand followed. Jade green uniforms clothed them.
Rumbledumblededum sang their drums, and their steps kept perfect time.
Upon their breasts were the words “Still braver,” and upon their lips
great threats. The enemy said little.
Now came men in crow’s-wing black. Upon their breasts were the words
“Braver by far.” Their taunts were hard to bear. Yet, the enemy remained
silent.
A thousand men in pink, the same number in blue. Came white-clad men and
orange-clad men. Violet uniforms replaced uniforms of brown. . . . The
enemy thought it hardly fair. King Chang, evidently, had a million
soldiers. . . . How could they fight against a million? The tents came
down and the enemy vanished.
General Wang continued to sew until the last hostile disappeared. He and
his tailors were terribly tired. But the thousand soldiers were even
more tired. All day long they had marched and changed uniforms, then
marched again. They had changed from red to green, to black, to every
color in the spectrum. They were color blind and weary. But King Chang
merried much and blessed the day that had sent him General Wang, the
tailor.
In a month or so King Chang’s happiness turned to gloom. The enemy had
learned of Wang’s clever trick, and resolved to march again. The army of
Chang was scarcely larger than before. To come off victorious each man
would have to whip a dozen of the enemy. There was no time to increase
the royal army. And the enemy lay on the other side of Ku Hsueh River,
waiting for the waters to lower.
King Chang rode with his generals to the river. Said he: “There lies the
enemy. The depth of the river lessens with each minute. Who has a plan?”
Some of the generals stroked their beards. Others twisted their
mustachios. All wrinkled their brows. Not one of them parted his lips.
“Come. Come, my doughty generals. Have you no plan? General Tang?” Tang
bowed his head the three times required by law and courtesy. “Sire, with
your permission, I have a small scheme that may serve.” “_Chen hao_
(Very good); spare no expense. Draw on the treasury for whatever you may
desire—silk, tailors, fans, or false faces—anything except more
soldiers, for soldiers we have not.” “Then, please, Your Majesty,” said
Tang, “may I ask you to sign an order on the treasury for one ounce of
pine resin.” Then the King thought Tang jesting. His first impulse was
to strike off his head. Instead of doing so, however, he signed the
order for two cents’ worth of resin.
At night General Tang sat upon a crag that towered above the river. He
fondled his precious violin. A little breeze sprang up at his back. Tang
the general was no more, but Tang the musician lived and thrilled. Bow
swept strings with a magic sweetly sad. The breeze caught up the melody.
The river was its sounding board. The soldiers on the farther shore
turned in their blankets to listen. Than home there is no spot
dearer—and the violin sang of home. More and more sad came the music.
The musician wept. Across the river ten thousand eyes grew moist. The
soldiers wept and were unashamed. Why had they left their warm
hearthstones—to die in an alien land? Fierce resolve faded, and a
longing took its stead, a longing for home and the loved ones it
sheltered.
Morning saw the hostile camp deserted. Soldier after soldier had stolen
away in the darkness, thinking only of home. Not one remained to
threaten Ku Hsueh City.
[Illustration: More sad and more sad came the music.]
King Chang assembled his generals and spoke high praise of Tang. Then he
discussed the need of preparation for the future. He knew very well that
the enemy would return. “Have any of you, my trusty generals, a plan for
humbling the enemy in his next invasion?” General Mang, the former
shepherd, voiced a plan. “I would suggest that all horses be replaced by
lean sheep of the mountain.” General Lang, the archer, said, “I would
suggest that all cases at law be settled by trial with bow and arrow.”
“So be it,” said the King, “I grant both requests.”
The enemy soon marched upon Ku Hsueh in greater numbers than before.
Grasshoppers in the August fields were never thicker. It was plain that
only a miracle could save the city. All eyes were turned to General
Mang, turned beseechingly, and rather doubtfully. Could a mountain
shepherd save Ku Hsueh?
That night the question was answered. Mang herded his sheep in a
tremendous body toward the enemy camp. At the proper moment he raised a
great din and startled the animals into flight. Through the camp of the
enemy they rushed, and instantly the camp was confusion. The soldiers
had fared none too well on their march. They were hungry. And here was
good food to be had for the catching. Away went sheep. Away went
soldiers. Thoroughly frightened, the lean-limbed sheep sped their
fastest. Thoroughly desirous, the hungry soldiers followed at their
fastest.
While the camp was empty, Mang and a score of daring men darted from
tent to tent. In their hands were torches. Behind them rose a flare of
ever-spreading flame. “To roast their meat when they catch it,” said
Mang. The wind was a helpful friend, scattering brands with a will. The
destruction was soon finished. What had been a white encampment became a
red and rolling flame. The tents were burned, and the spears and the
bows. Nothing was spared. A thoroughly discomfited enemy stole away from
Ku Hsueh that night.
So far, General Lang had done nothing of a warlike nature—nothing at
all—unless stepping upon the toes of a citizen be considered warlike.
Lang had done that. Naturally, the citizen was incensed. He wished to
see justice done and went to a court of law. The judge said: “Take this
bow and shoot five arrows in yonder target. He who shoots best has the
right on his side.” The young citizen shot first, and his marksmanship
was poor to say the least. Whereupon, Lang drew the bow. Oddly enough,
his aim was no better than that of the citizen. With that the judge
declared the suit undecided and set a future date for its retrial.
General Lang left court well pleased. The young citizen went home to
spend many hours in practice with bow and arrow.
Thereafter the courts were flooded with lawsuits. From morn till night
the bow strings twanged. It appeared that all the men of Ku Hsueh had
grievances to be settled. And they who were wise spent much time in
archery practice ere they went to court. Many became quite expert with
the bow and arrow. . . .
King Chang impressed all of them into his army. At last he had a large
force, a force that would give pause to any foe. Long the King waited
for his enemy’s return. But he waited in vain. Spies had watched the men
of Ku Hsueh at practice with the bow. They sent messages that Ku Hsueh
was prepared. So the country was troubled no more by alarms of hostile
armies.
Thus, without loss of a man, was the kingdom saved for Chang, by Wang,
Tang, Mang, and Lang—a thousand years ago all this, but very learned
men still dispute as to which was the greatest, Lang, Mang, Tang, or
Wang—which of the four generals.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE RAIN KING’S DAUGHTER
The people of Shen Su were starving. A famine blighted all the land.
Rice swamps yielded only empty husks. The millet fields were barren. The
_ti tan_ patches, for all their blossoms, produced no earth eggs—no
potatoes. The _chu_ groves gave no tender stalks. . . . And the people
starved.
Every astrologer and wise man in the kingdom was summoned to King Ta
Lang’s palace. “Tell us, wise men, why we starve. Why is food denied
us?” Thus the King questioned the graybeards, and they, the learned,
consulted their charts, and sand trays, and crystal globes. One said:
“The Shen of Falling Water, Yu Shih, is angry. We have burned no incense
to him within a year.” “It is a rat. A rat is eating our food,” said
another. The others, for the most part, echoed approval. “Yes,” said
they, “it is a rat.”
“A rat? Where is the rat?”
“There, the mountain. The mountain we have called Che Chou.”
King Ta Lang gazed in a line with their pointed fingers. At first, he
saw merely a mountain. A longer look disclosed that the mountain was
shaped like a crouching rat. “Trap the rat, and Shen Su will once more
abound with food,” declared the wise men.
“Yes, we must kill the rat,” said King Ta Lang. “Ho, you carpenters,
construct a giant _mu mao_ (wooden cat) in the path of this terrible
rat.”
A huge wooden rat-trap was built at the end of the mountain. Yet, the
famine continued. Food became more and more scarce. The wise men
announced that the trap was not properly built. The rat would not enter.
They advised that a spear be thrust through his heart. Forthwith, King
Ta Lang ordered that a great spear be driven through the heart of the
mountain. A spear would surely kill the rat. But not so. Beneath the
earth of the mountainside was flint-iron hard flint. A thousand soldiers
thrusting could not drive the spear deeper than its point.
While the soldiers struggled vainly to pierce the flinty core, a little
blaze leaped from dry pine needles. Their iron had brought sparks from
the stone. The little blaze leaped from the needles to a bush, and from
the bush to a tree. Then it was a large blaze. Soon a whole acre of
mountainside blazed fiercely. The soldiers ran away. At first, they were
badly frightened, thinking the King would be angry. But the King said:
“That is splendid. Why didn’t my wise men think of it? The rat will be
grandly singed. Ho. Ho. Ho. He will be burned to his death.”
There was good reason for thinking as King Ta Lang thought. The fire
spread up and down till the whole mountain blazed. The mountain was a
solid wall of flame, and above it spread a vast sea of smoke. Only an
extremely hardy rat could live through such intense heat and suffocating
fumes.
Now there is no telling why the heavens opened. Perhaps the heat of
blazing Mount Che Chou burned a hole in the sky. Perhaps the Rain Shen,
Yu Shih, imagined the people had burned incense to his honor. However
that may be, it is certain that the heavens _did_ open. Upon burning
Mount Che Chou, the rain leaped down in cataracts and the lightning
played continuously. Over the plains of Shen Su also the waters fell,
but there the rain was gentle, though persistent.
For seven days the skies dripped. Then, the grass was green as jade. The
cattle filled their so-loose coats. Quick-growing vegetables sprang up
in every garden. There was life. All the people of Shen Su said: “The
rat has been singed by the fire. The rat has been drowned by the waters.
His head has been cleft by the lightnings. Now he is dead and cannot
steal our food.” And that was their belief. “The rat is no
more—therefore, we have food and life.”
[Illustration: At that same hour a basket was found in the garden.]
While the rain still plashed on the roof tiles, new life came to the
palace. A son was born to King Ta Lang. At that same hour a basket was
found in the garden. In the basket was a tiny girl. No one had been seen
to place the basket. Here was mystery. Again King Ta Lang summoned his
soothsayers. He wished to learn what the coming years held in store for
his son. Further, he wished to learn the past as well as the future of
that chubby little girl so mysteriously cradled in his garden.
The wise men consulted book and glass and table. All in good time Ta
Lang learned that his son must be named Tou Meng (Give Thanks) and that
he would remain great so long as he remained thankful. The girl must be
named Chai Mi (Enables Us to Live). Chai Mi was a daughter of the Rain
King, Yu Shih, who had given her to become the wife of Tou Meng.
King Ta Lang was well pleased. Evidently the rain monarch meant to be
friendly. Prince Tou Meng and the wee Princess Chai Mi were betrothed by
royal decree. They played with the same golden calabash. They drank from
the same porcelain bowl. Each cried because of the other’s terrible
misfortunes—toes will get bumped and favorite toys go astray, even in
the royal nursery. Each laughed when the other was gay. In short, they
played and laughed, and bickered and made up, much like brothers and
sisters the wide world over.
Quickly sped the years. The prince added inch after inch to his stature.
The height of the princess increased in proportion. If she was not so
tall, she seemed equally strong and daring. She played ball with the
prince. She climbed trees and rode donkeys. She could place her arrow in
the target’s eye, and she could swim where few would venture. More, the
princess could ’broider, and sew, and dance most gracefully—not in the
depraved and shameless manner of today; she danced the olden dances. And
Chai Mi was a discreet maiden. She took good care not to excel Prince
Tou Meng. If the prince’s arrow struck the second ring, then her arrow
came no inch closer to the mark. When swimming, the prince always won
his races by the slightest margin. They were often in the water, those
two. The river Lan cut its swift way through the palace grounds. Each
summer day it felt the strokes of Chai Mi and Tou Meng.
In the river, Princess Chai Mi found a roll of parchment, written upon
with characters she did not know. She took it to the King. Then there
was excitement intense, with soldiers gathering from all directions. For
the letter that the river had given to Chai Mi was a secret letter
written by an enemy. It disclosed that the enemy was marching on Shen
Su. “Here,” said the wise men, “is fresh proof that the king of rains is
our friend. He has disclosed our terrible enemy’s perfidy.”
[Illustration: So Chai Mi sat beside the river and sewed and wept.]
The drums sounded a continuous call as King Ta Lang mustered his army.
Prince Meng buckled on a sword that dragged the earth. But Chai
Mi—sewed. “You cannot go, Thousand Pieces of Gold,” they told her. “You
have done more than well in discovering the danger, but you cannot
fight.” So Chai Mi sat beside the river and sewed and wept, while the
sound of drums grew fainter and fainter.
Then there was silence. Shen Su City was peopled only by women. Not only
the women wept, but the skies. For three days it rained without ceasing
and the river Lan became fat with much water; too large for its bed. It
rose above its banks and there was no crossing. Its voice was loud,
threatening—the voice of Yu Shih, master of waters, shouting defiance.
Down to the river by cover of night hurried a silent army. At the
water’s edge it halted. No mortal man could dare that snarling current
and live. No soldier with spear and shield could hope to swim such a
maddened torrent. And boats, there were none—Yu Shih had torn them from
their ropes, had carried them down to the sea. The army must wait. Let
it rest in the mud and await Yu Shih’s permission to cross.
When day came, the women of Shen Su City beheld an immense army on the
river’s far side. It was the hostile army that King Ta Lang had marched
to intercept. Beyond a doubt, the King had taken a wrong road. The enemy
had eluded him, slipped past him unseen. Only Lan River in flood
prevented the hostiles from entering Shen Su. And the river could sink
as suddenly as it rose.
Now when King Ta Lang marched away, he went in haste and lightly
burdened. All heavy armor was left behind, all heavy spears and shields.
This was known to the Princess Chai Mi. She thought of the empty armor,
thought of the long-shafted spears. With men to hold them, those spears
could save the city. But—there were no men—only a few who were unable
to march.
However, there were women, many of them badly frightened, some who were
calm and unafraid. Chai Mi quickly made known her plan. Then Shen Su
City awoke from its silence. Hammers clashed on armor, making the rivets
secure.
In the enemy camp appeared a man who knew no fear of the river. He swam
the raging Ho Lan and drew himself up on the other shore. Girdling his
waist was a rope. The rope was soon tied to a willow stump. After that
the passage was much easier. One at a time, bearing only their bows, the
enemy crossed. Their chieftain, to set an example, was among the first.
Thus, by aid of the rope, a number of the enemy swarmed over. They felt
perfectly safe from attack. Their information was that Ta Lang had taken
all his soldiers with him. Shen Su would be an easy prey. Five hundred
men should be sufficient. And that many had crossed the river.
[Illustration: Of course, they wore hideous false faces.]
From Shen Su City marched a thousand braves, clad in glistening armor,
bearing those tremendously long spears called _chang chiang_. Of course,
they wore hideous false faces. That was the custom of all eastern
soldiers. Behind the spear bearers marched a thousand archers. The wall
of Shen Su suddenly bristled with spears, a thousand more. The enemy
could not retreat. There was the river to hinder. To advance seemed
utter folly. What effect could little arrows have on weighty armor? And
how could five hundred prevail against six times and more their number?
To surrender seemed the only course, and that is what they did. But it
was grievous hard. Their leader was of royal blood. No worse disgrace
could have been his lot.
Those on the shore beyond were made to cast their weapons in the river.
With their royal leader a prisoner, they dared not disobey, for fear he
would be slain. Their captors looked quite capable of such action. The
crestfallen enemy had no faintest dream that those captors were . . .
girls . . . led by Chai Mi. How could they know? The deceit was well
concealed. An ancient little tailor did the talking, and he, proud of
his chance to swagger, talked with a terrible voice—violently
threatening. But Chai Mi, resplendent in the King’s golden armor, told
him what to say. And the other maids clashed their spears upon the river
stones, as if angry at being deprived of living targets.
King Ta Lang in his swan-shaped sampan was crossing Lan River when he
heard of Chai Mi’s stirring deed. He could scarce believe his ears. The
couriers vowed that they spoke no exaggeration. Convinced at last, the
King said: “Then Chai Mi has done us a great service. She shall receive
honors without stint.” But the King’s chief general was more than
jealous because Chai Mi had succeeded where he had failed. This general
said, “Has Your Majesty forgotten the law?”
“What law?” asked King Ta Lang.
“The law made by your illustrious ancestor, Liu Ti. The law of Liu Ti
says that no woman may put on the habiliments of a King. Death is the
penalty for so doing. The maiden put on Your Majesty’s armor.”
The King heard with grief. He said: “That is truth. There is such a law,
and laws, good or bad, must be enforced. By the law of my noble
ancestor, the maiden Chai Mi must lose her head by the sword.”
And the jealous general said, “Here is a death warrant for your
signature.”
Now whether the King would really have beheaded Chai Mi, no man can say.
His boat suddenly disappeared beneath the waters and was seen no more.
The wise men said that he had excited the wrath of Yu Shih, Master of
Waters, and father of the maiden. That may, or may not, be true. Again,
no man can say.
But this can be said, without fear of dispute. King Meng and his Queen
ruled over Shen Su for many a year, and there was neither flood nor
famine—only a great tranquillity.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
MANY WIVES
This is the story that Kung Lin tells, hour after hour, in the peaceful
shade of Bell that Rings Often Temple. The people have relish for Kung
Lin’s favorite story and give him much money. The tattered old fellow
sometimes receives as much as five cents—in a single day. So
outrageously fortunate is Kung Lin, the teller of tales. He does no work
of any kind whatsoever, merely sits in the shade and talks, and hears
the tinkle of coins in his bowl, and hears the people saying: “It is
well told, Kung Lin. Here is some money—and I hope you find it as good
as your story.” Not all makers of yarns find such sympathetic hearers.
As the story is given by Kung Lin, there once lived a maiden named
Radiant Blossom, and she was still more lovely than the loveliest
maiden. The face of Radiant Blossom was shaped like a seed of the melon.
It was regularly oval, wide at the brow, small as to chin. The maiden’s
eyebrows were like a leaf of the willow. Her eyes resembled the heart of
an apricot. Her lips in color made cherries seem pale. Her feet were
three-inch golden lilies. And when she walked she swayed as a poplar
sways in summer zephyrs.
Furthermore, she was skilled in embroidery. Her fingers coaxed sweetest
music from flute and lute. Her voice had its only rival in a fountain of
the palace, where water plashes on tuneful silver keys. A brief
description, this, but even so—where within the Province of Many
Rivers, journeying by boat of two sails, or three, could one look for a
maiden to surpass Radiant Blossom, daughter of Ming Chi, red-button
mandarin and proud?
Hear now of the reigning Emperor, Wong Sing. That illustrious monarch
was having a fine time in the ruling of his realm. He dined in heavy
armor and slept with a saddle for pillow. It was war here, and battle
there, and fighting in between. A dozen of his generals were in revolt.
No sooner was a rebellion put down than two new ones, and worse, took
its place. And there was trouble elsewhere—outside the empire. Fierce
Barbarians, led and inspired by their haughty chieftain, Wolf Heart,
grew every day more impudent and threatening. Wolf Heart openly boasted
that with the coming of pleasant weather he intended to leap his horse
over the Great Wall. Is it any wonder that Wong Sing’s noble beard soon
took on a hue like that of the lime which boys splash on fences?
But Wong Sing was no weakling monarch, to lose his crown and his head,
saying: “It was willed by the Fates. What else could I do?” He called in
a fearless old councillor known as Ching Who Speaks Only Enough. Said
the Emperor: “Good Ching, although you are ever up to your ears in a
book, perhaps you have heard of my numerous troubles—a new one, I
think, every day. What, wise Ching, is the cure?”
Ching Who Speaks Only Enough replied, “Marriage.”
The Emperor raised his eyebrows. “Marriage?” He could hardly believe it.
“Marriage to put down rebellion?” A pause. “Huh.”
Ching repeated, and a trifle louder, “Marriage.”
Still the Emperor doubted. “What? Marriage? Will marriage cause Wolf
Heart to sheathe his sword? Marriage to tame the Barbarian? It is
foolishness. But surely I misunderstand your words.”
But indeed he did not. And there was only one word. “Marriage.” That was
all the advice most mighty Wong Sing could get from word-stingy old
Ching Who Speaks Only Enough.
However, is not enough always enough? Is not a word to the wise like
melon seeds planted in fertile ground? A little study soon convinced the
puissant Wong Sing that old Ching had given good advice. Immediately he
acted upon it. He wrote to every mandarin of any consequence within the
bounds of his empire. The letters are too long to quote, but the sum of
them was this: “I, Wong Sing, Ruler of the Earth, and the Moon, and
three-fourths of the Sun, will consider it a favor to receive your
beauteous Thousand-pieces-of-gold in marriage.”
Every mandarin replied by sending to the palace a daughter. No magic
could have stopped the rebellions quicker. Revolt was at an end. Could a
rebel leader, no matter how determined, continue to rebel, when all of
his colonels and majors and half of his captains were fathers-in-law to
the Emperor? It was impossible. The fighting was over in a twinkling.
Marriage had done it.
For months came damsels to the royal palace. And what damsels they were.
Short and tall, lean and stout, young and old, perfect beauties and
perfectly horribles, they came and came and came. It is hard to number
them with exact figures. Some histories say that five thousand maids
came to Wong Sing, his wives to be. Others vow to ten thousand. But why
quarrel over a difference of a few thousand wives. The point is that
they were numerous. Wong Sing was out of pocket several tons of gold for
the construction of a wing to the palace for housing them all. Probably
fifteen thousand was the correct figure.
Surely, the worst guesser in the world would in time conclude that the
beautiful Radiant Blossom was among the Emperor Wong’s twenty thousand
wives. Of a certainty she was. Radiant Blossom came to the palace in the
month of Ripening Apricots. It was midwinter before she so much as
glimpsed her lord and master, the Emperor. And then she saw him only for
a moment, at a distance.
For Wong Sing was very like the old man—or was it a woman—who lived in
a sandal—or whatever it was. He had so many wives he scarce knew what
to do. And is it any wonder? Imagine a staid and settled old bachelor’s
sudden gain of five or thirty thousand—or more—wives. Poor Wong
admitted a few dozen of them to a reception, and in less time than it
takes to tell, all of the palace physicians were busily binding ice to
his fevered brow. They thought his mind was shattered.
After that experience the Emperor was more careful. He summoned the
court artist, one Loh Yang, and said: “Loh Yang, I desire you to paint
truthful portraits of all my wives. When the paintings are finished,
bring them to me, that I may decide which maid is most beautiful. Her I
shall take as my really truly bride.”
Now Loh Yang was an artist of ability, and no denying. But he was a
scamp and a half. The first portrait he painted was that of Ying Ning, a
monstrous ugly maiden. But Ying Ning was quite rich—and liberal. She
gladdened Loh Yang’s dishonest palm with gold. And he portrayed her as
marvelously beautiful. Of all Loh Yang’s paintings, the portrait of Ying
Ning is most sightly. Yet she was the very ugliest of Wong Sing’s many
wives.
By and by it came Radiant Blossom’s turn to sit for a portrait. Loh Yang
suggested that for a moderate weight of gold—say ten pounds—he could
make his brush fairly outdo itself. Radiant Blossom refused, with
indignation. “Bribe you? To paint me as I am not? Never.” Loh Yang
begged for pardon. He seemed extremely penitent. He vowed that he would
do his best work. But when the portrait was finished, it was enough to
frighten the blind. The shameless rascal had made of lovely Radiant
Blossom a gruesome crone, a witch, a slattern. Upon beholding it, the
Emperor covered his eyes with a sleeve. “Horrors. Horror of horrors.
Remove it instantly. Go. Go. Take it away. Such repulsive ugliness.”
It is a mere waste of words to add that Radiant Blossom was Not chosen
to be Wong Sing’s own, really truly, and well-beloved bride.
[Illustration: The first portrait he painted was that of Ying Ning, a
monstrous ugly maiden.]
The braggart Barbarian chief failed of his promise to leap over the
Great Wall. Knowing that Wong Sing’s armies were united and staunch,
Wolf Heart boasted no more, and his impudence was hushed. He thought it
just as well to keep the peace. And when Wong Sing doubled-doubled his
armies, the Barbarian sent thick letters in which every line told of his
long-felt love and respect for the Emperor. He had the audacity to ask
Wong for a wife—from the Imperial Palace. Of course, that was purest
impudence, in a way, though Wolf Heart probably thought that he was
being extremely nice.
The Emperor read in amaze. For a moment it seemed that his face would
burst into flame, so red it got. Then he smiled. “A wife? To be sure I
will send him a wife. Chancellor, what is the name of that maiden whose
picture is so terrible? Radiant Blossom? Bid Radiant Blossom prepare for
a long journey. I am sending her to the Barbarian to be his wife. Ho.
Ho. Ho. What a jest. I should like to hear Wolf Heart’s rage when he
views her. Ugh. I shudder when I think of that horrible crone.”
The maiden Radiant Blossom heard her sentence without the faintest stir
of emotion. There came no pallor to her cheeks. No tremble moved her
lips. Seemingly, it mattered not at all to her. And while the other
maidens wept for her fate, she smiled and brushed the string of her
lute, humming, “Butterfly that pleasured yesteryear.”
A few hours more and Radiant Blossom was seated in a gilt and lacquered
sedan chair, borne by poles on the shoulders of royal slaves traveling
in haste toward the setting sun. Poor Radiant Blossom, hastening into
exile, pressing toward her doom, to become the bride of a vandal. Not
dew, but tears from the darkness descended. The nightingale’s song was a
sobbing of pity. The very trees that lined the road soughed deep
despair. To the river. To the river, where on the farther shore waited
Wolf Heart, the slaves hurried through the night.
His Majesty, Wong Sing, dressed him in rough clothing, and by another
highway made even greater speed to the river. He wished to be near when
the Barbarian greeted his bride. He wished to gloat over Wolf Heart’s
surprise and furious resentment. Expecting a youthful and lotus-like
maiden, how the Barbarian would rave to behold a withered hag. His
Majesty, The Emperor, expected to receive more than a little pleasure to
pay him for the adventure.
The light sedan that bore Radiant Blossom sped down to the river. A
flower-hung sampan was waiting. The slaves put down their burden. Oars
splashed. The shore sprang back. The swifting current was deep
beneath. . . .
Did the curtains of the gilt sedan flutter aside?
Was it a spirit that glided so quickly from the royal sedan?
A slave shouted warning. His cry was taken up by the others. The oars
stopped short in stroke. Torches flared. The boat listed heavily on its
side as men swarmed to the railing. They talked in frightened squeaks.
“Where?” squeaked one. “There,” from another. And “I see nothing.” “She
is gone.” “Drowned.” “The river took her to be his bride.” “Drowned—and
our necks will pay.”
Wolf Heart uncovered his wrath in all its blackness. He spoke with such
fury that Wong Sing became frightened, and offered to send another
bride—a dozen brides. The Barbarian refused to accept brides. He
demanded gold—much of it. Gold, he said, could not leap into the river.
And even if it did leap from a boat it would not necessarily be lost.
For that matter, a maiden may leap from a boat and not necessarily be
lost. Radiant Blossom had passed her early days in the Province of Many
Divers. Her home had been a river. She knew the waters as a friend.
Having leaped from the boat, Radiant Blossom permitted the river to hide
her for long. Deeply she swam and the clouded current was a veil. At
last, when she knew that the torches were far behind, she arose. The
night was another veil.
To the hut of a fisherman went Radiant Blossom. She received coarse
clothing that made of her, in look, a different maiden. Thus clad, she
journeyed to the home of her father.
Some time later a portrait was brought to His Majesty, The Emperor Wong
Sing. The portrait was that of a beautiful maid. It bore no words. Wong
Sing offered much gold to any person who could tell him the name of one
so beautiful. The maiden would make him a superlative wife. He wished to
find her. But he never did.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THAT LAZY AH FUN
Doctor Chu Ping was a good man. He was clever and industrious, and wore
his pigtail long. No one knows why he was cursed with such an indolent
offspring as that lazy Ah Fun. Perhaps the vice was inherited, with a
skip, from Grandfather Chu Ping Fu. They do say in Lao Ya Shen that
Grandfather Chu Ping Fu was too lazy even to burn yellow paper on New
Year’s Eve, or to beat a copper pan in order to scare away the demons.
But no matter about Chu Ping Fu. Let nothing more be said of him. Not
Chu Ping Fu, but his graceless grandson is herein to be held up for
scorn.
That lazy Ah Fun—for such everyone called him—was nothing if not a
sluggard, and so he had been from the cradle. What a shameless creature
he was—a snail—a lame snail at that. Dr. Chu Ping sent him with a
bamboo tube of brick dust to the house of Chang Chi, where Mrs. Chang
lay sick with a fever, and greatly in need of the medicine. And did Ah
Fun hasten on his errand? No. A thousand times, no. He dawdled. He took
his own, his very own time, that lazy Ah Fun. Poor Mrs. Chang, may she
go to a good reward, was three days dead and in her paper coffin before
Ah Fun finally arrived with the medicine that was meant to save her.
Now that is but a single instance, and a sad one, of the way in which Ah
Fun was wont to dilly and to dally. Here is another illustration. Dr.
Chu Ping despatched his son to the pasture land, there to find the cow
and fetch her home for milking. Dr. Chu Ping knew the boy’s habit, so he
sent him when the sun was highest, at noon, in order that he might get
the cow home before darkness came. But Ah Fun went nowhere near the
pasture. He sat in the shade, playing the noisy game of “guess fingers”
with a comrade in idleness. And when night came, he went to the yard of
Low Moo, his next-door neighbor, and drove the Low cow into his own
yard. It was so much easier than walking way down to the pasture land
for his own cow.
Dr. Chu Ping had milked the cow and the cow had kicked the bucket over
before Low Moo came in tears, declaring that he had been greatly wronged
and that Ah Fun should be whipped with a bamboo. The other neighbors
gathered round, and without exception they said: “That lazy Ah Fun; he
is no good. He should be beaten.” But the doctor said that Ah Fun meant
no harm—he was merely too tired to go to the pasture, and that some
day—(here he thumped vigorously on the bucket, rum tum tum—one always
makes a noise to scare the demons, when saying complimentary
things)—some day Ah Fun would be a very famous man, and have a monument
half a li in height, covered with much carving to tell his praise.
Then the neighbors said “Humph,” and the way they said it was with the
corners of their mouths turned down, sneeringly. Clearly, they
disbelieved. And one said, “There was never a hyena that didn’t think
his own son fairer than the King’s child.” The good doctor laughed
heartily at that. He turned to Ah Fun and said (pounding on the bucket):
“Ah Fun, treasure of my miserable heart, take you the bucket, and going
to the well, fetch us home some water, for there is no milk, the
terrible cow having kicked it over. Hence we can have only water with
our Evening Rice. And be sure, my chiefest comfort, (rum dum, went the
bucket), to rinse the bucket thoroughly, twice at least.”
So Ah Fun took the _shui tung_ (the bucket), and pretended he was going
to the well. But the well was a li, a third of a mile distant. The ditch
was only a few steps distant. That lazy Ah Fun stopped at the ditch and
filled his _shui tung_. He came home with a bucket half full of green
ditch water. And in the water was an old shoe, a discarded shoe, a shoe
that someone had thrown away as wornout and utterly useless. Nor had the
bucket been rinsed.
But Dr. Chu Ping, instead of scolding Ah Fun, scolded the excellent
people of Lao Ya Shen, saying: “This town is getting very very bad. One
cannot walk decently and in peace from the well to one’s house, but that
some scamp must toss an old shoe in the water bucket.” What a deluded
man was that Dr. Chu Ping.
When the spring rains were at their heaviest, Dr. Chu Ping was called
from this house to that house to visit the ailing. The rains caused much
sickness, and the doctor was out at all hours, no matter how foul the
weather. In consequence, he was more often wet than dry, and the wetness
worked against his health. One night he came home dripping water from
every thread of his garments, and his teeth were chattering, upper
against lower. He crawled upon the _kang_, which is both stove and bed,
saying, as well as he could: “Ah Fun, my blessing most cherished, build
a fire under the _kang_. Your so miserable old father has a chill that
no doubt will end his wholly useless existence. Build a tremendous fire,
Ah Fun, my precious jewel. _Ai ya_, I am cold and ill.”
Ah Fun tore a few leaves of paper from a medicine book, and inserting
them under the _kang_, struck fire to them. Then he resumed his play.
After a while Dr. Chu Ping raised the quilt from his head and hoarsely
whispered, “I—I—I am still shivering, Ah—Ah Fun. M—m—more
w—w—wood.” Ah Fun looked about, but he saw no firewood. And he was too
lazy to go in search. However, the doctor’s gold-crested cane stood in a
corner. Well, why not? It was bamboo. It would burn. Into the _kang_
went the cane, and right pleasantly did it crackle. But after a time Dr.
Chu Ping again uncovered his head and begged weakly, “M—m—more
w—w—wood, Ah—Ah Fun!” Once more Ah Fun looked round the room. There
was positively no firewood in sight. However . . . upon a shelf lay half
a hundred bamboo cylinders, tubes that contained medicines. In one
bamboo was cuttlefish-bone. In another was _ko fen_ (powdered oyster
shell). The doctor had used that on old Mrs. Fuh Lung’s rheumatism, with
good effect, too. In a third were salt and _chieh tzu_. A fourth held
_chen pi_ and _shih hui_ (orange-peel and lime). The fifth contained
_chang nao_ (camphor, and ashes) . . . all good medicines and valuable
indeed.
But . . . what did Ah Fun do? He chucked the first bamboo tube into the
_kang_, and the tube crackled as the flames bit through. Presently, he
cast in the second tube. Followed the third and fourth. Tube after tube,
medicines and all, went into the _kang_, atop which lay Dr. Chu Ping.
Now it so happened that the fiftieth tube contained _huo yao_—(_the_
medicine)—and _huo yao_ is made of sulphur, saltpetre, and
charcoal—those three, the very three that combine to make Gun
Powder—as we call it—nothing less.
Dr. Chu Ping lay upon the _kang_, all a-twitch with the chill that had
worsted him. His son, Ah Fun, threw into the _kang_ a large tube of _huo
yao_. The fire crackled smartly, eating the tube. . . . Then. . . .
“BROOOOMP.”
Oh, that terrible Ah Fun. He has blown up the bed-stove. To say nothing
of his honorable father.
[Illustration: “Broooomp.”]
It was raining heavily, but just the same Mrs. Low Moo came out and
upbraided the doctor unmercifully for coming down in, and utterly
havocking, her patch of _huang ya tsai_ (her tender, pretty cabbages).
She told him her every thought upon that subject, with such words as
“_Hun chang tung hsi_ (Stupid, blundering old thing you).” But Dr. Chu
Ping merely gazed sheepishly at the destroyed cabbages, and at the hole
in the room through which he had been blasted, and murmured, “Kai tan
(Ah me, what a pity).”
And again came the other neighbors, the very kind people who loved Dr.
Chu Ping and wished to help him in his troubles. These well-wishing
neighbors came and said: “Beyond a doubt, that boy is to blame.
Honorable doctor, why do you not break many stout bamboos upon the back
of that boy—that lazy, good-for-nothing Ah Fun? He will be the disgrace
of, and the death of you yet.” But Dr. Chu Ping rubbed his shoulder and
said: “What? Beat Ah Fun? Why he is a good boy and a comfort. He just
built me an excellent fire in the _kang_.”
Then the doctor limped into his house and awoke Ah Fun, asked him what
had happened. Ah Fun, though he was bad—goodness knows, terribly
bad—yet was truthful. Reluctantly, we must give him credit for that. He
told of all that had happened: how he placed tube after tube in the
_kang_—being unable to discover any firewood—and how the last tube had
exploded, hurling his father through the roof.
Dr. Chu Ping wrinkled his brow till it was all hills and hollows. He
pulled his long and neatly braided hair in a highly meditative manner.
He felt first his right shoulder, then his left shoulder. He rolled his
eyes upward to the limit of their travel. He gazed at the hole in the
roof, where still fluttered a fragment of clothing on a jagged edge. He
rolled his eyes downward and scrutinized the ruined _kang_. He felt of
his two ears that still reverberated with the enormous explosion. Then
he spoke. “My son,” said he, “it strikes me that we are on the verge of
a great discovery. One of those medicines—though gracious knows which
one—seems to be more than a medicine. It is good for something
else—though dear knows what. Perhaps to grow wings, so that men may
fly. It certainly enabled me to fly. We must make more medicines, and
experiment.”
The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the
compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written. Beginning
at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr.
Chu studied the first formula. “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,”
so he read. The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified
proportions. The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was
placed in a fire. For an hour Dr. Chu Ping stirred the fire and fanned
it into furious blazing. Nothing but much heat and much smoke resulted.
There was no noise and no flying. Clearly, the combination of pepper,
alum, and toad claws was quite worthless—except in the treatment of
scarlet fever, for which it is intended. The doctor made a careful
writing of the experiment and turned another page.
Next came oyster shell and ginseng. Worthless that, also. Shark fins and
turmeric. Dr. Chu Ping marked that likewise worthless. So the
experimenting continued, day after day. It took a great deal of time.
The doctor was a most thorough man, as well as brilliant. One couldn’t
find a more thorough or brilliant in all Kiang Su, or Kiang Si, or even
in Kuang Si. Methodically he tried his medicines in the fire—by one and
one he tried them—and thus he came to the mixture _huo yao_, which, to
repeat, is sulphur, and saltpetre, and charcoal, and which the Fan Kwei,
or Foreign Devils, with their white faces call Gun Powder. Dr. Chu Ping
placed a long tube of _huo yao_ in the fire. He leaned over it, fanning
vigorously. For a moment the tube lay on the coals, sizzling and
swelling, seeming to gather its breath for a supreme effort. . . .
Zzzzzzz. . . . Zeeeee. . . . BROOOOMP.
And up went Dr. Chu Ping.
Now it so chanced that a moment before the explosion, old man Low Moo
was milking his cow. A moment after the explosion, he was _not_ milking
his cow. He was running for dear life in a northerly direction. His cow
was running for dear life in a southerly direction. And Dr. Chu Ping
sprawled upon the flattened bucket and the smashed stool, where he had
fallen.
The doctor came to in five minutes. Old Mr. Low Moo came back in half an
hour. The cow has never since been seen. It is doubtful if she will ever
return.
No sooner did Dr. Chu Ping revive than he hobbled into the house, where
Ah Fun sat calmly playing with a _pan pu tao_, a little toy man who has
round feet, and always regains an upright position, no matter how often
he is knocked over. “What happened, my father?” asked Ah Fun. Dr. Chu
Ping beamed upon him. “Ah Fun, my pearl, my jade, my orange tree, it is
discovered. _Huo yao_ is the great medicine. And it is good for scaring
demons. Old man Low Moo, as everyone knows, is possessed of a demon—and
he was frightened horribly. And his unkind cow, which is guided by at
least four and twenty demons, has been frightened completely out of the
country. There can be no doubt—_huo yao_ is a frightener of demons.
And, you and I are the discoverers. Oh, my precious one, we shall be
famous. A thousand thousand years from now men will still use _huo yao_
to scare the demons.”
[Illustration: Doctor Chu Ping beamed upon him; “Ah Fun, my pearl, my
jade, my orange tree, it is discovered.”]
And that was a very good prediction. _Huo yao_ is still placed in tubes,
little paper tubes, and the fuses are lighted, and “Sput,” “Sput.” The
firecrackers explode and a thousand demons tremble and flee, reviling
the names of Ah Fun and Dr. Chu Ping, who invented Gun Powder.
[Illustration]
THE MOON MAIDEN
King Chan Ko was more than a monarch. He was one of the best soothsayers
in all the discovered world, having studied under no less a master than
the famous Chai Lang. Even the most sceptical, then, will admit that
Chan Ko as a geomancer must have stood far above the average. Chai Lang
was particular in the selection of his pupils.
Once each week, at its beginning, His Majesty was accustomed to cast the
signs, so that he might know what to expect. Thus, if rain was due on a
Wednesday he was forewarned, and fore-umbrellaed. And if war was
predicted for Friday, he was forearmed and ready to give two blows for
one. He knew of the third flood a whole week before it happened, and,
you may be sure, had a palatial boat provisioned and ready—laden with
rice and musical instruments—a good three days before the waters came.
Rather unexpectedly, it became imperative for King Chan Ko to take horse
on an urgent journey. Despite the call for great haste, he refused to
make one step before casting the signs—though to do so made necessary
an hour’s labor. On his plane Chan Ko scribed the three circles with
their bisecting lines. He drew the sun, moon, and stars in their
relative places, gazed for a moment . . . and groaned. “_Ai yu,_” and
“_Hai ya_.”
Well might he groan. There was no error in the work. No other reading
was possible. Upon the following night a dragon would swoop down from
the moon and carry off the Princess Yun Chi. That was the reading, and
there could be no doubting its truth. It may be imagined that gray hairs
made quick appearance in the monarch’s beard. His journey was highly
necessary. No postponement could be arranged. Yet, the Princess Yun Chi,
his daughter, was well beloved and not to be given up so long as sword
had temper and javelin was sound of shaft. But—who was to wield sword,
who to thrust javelin? Who indeed? Who if not the four score and ten
valiant young princes of the realm, who even then deplored a dearth of
daring deeds to be performed. No sooner the thought, than King Chan Ko
summoned the princes into audience. Briefly he described the peril that
threatened—told of the dragon’s cunning, of his strength that increased
with every blow, given or received. Not a pleasant picture King Chan Ko
drew—at first. But when in conclusion he stated the reward, every
prince in the chamber drew sword, and wished that the dragon might come
forthwith. For, said Chan Ko, “If all of you together slay the _loong_,
then if she so pleases, the princess may make her choice of you. But if
any prince, unaided, slays the _loong_, then I say to you that such
victorious prince and none other shall wed the Princess Yun Chi.”
There was such a clanking of armor that the magpies clustering the
palace roof made off on wing. There was such a testing of newly strung
bows that the sky rained arrows for a whole day.
Prince Ting Tsun, as comely warrior youth as ever twirled sharp steel,
took to himself a notion that his sword alone must blood the dragon. He
can hardly be censured. Anyone is likely to be greedy when a royal
princess is in danger, and her hand awaits an heroic defender. But Ting
Tsun, with his bravery mixed sagacity. To himself he reasoned thus:
“Suppose I do succeed in killing the moon dragon? Will his infuriated
brothers not come seeking vengeance? Without doubt they will. My only
hope is to slay them all—now—and their ruler with them. Then the
danger will be removed forever, and I can eat rice in comfort, without
the need of a sword on the table. I must kill all of the moon _loongs_.”
With such an ambitious plan in mind, Prince Ting Tsun visited a sewing
woman and had her make him a cloak precisely like that worn by the
Princess Yun Chi. He shaved his promising beard and put whiting upon his
cheeks, painted his eyebrows, and practiced a willowy walk. All in all
he made a fairish pretty maiden, and quite deceiving to the eye.
[Illustration: By look and action he was a maiden.]
When the sun had snuggled down behind the mountains, Prince Ting Tsun
walked in the palace gardens, taking those paths most favored by the
princess. He fondled the delicate wistaria. He touched his face to the
wide expanded roses. Beneath the purple flowered paulownia he paused in
rapture. By look and action he was a maiden, taking her pleasure in the
flowers.
Out of the calm evening air came a mighty and horrendous whistling roar.
No need to tell the prince its cause. In his early days he had heard
silly nurses attempt such a whistling, trying to frighten him into being
“a good boy. If you don’t, the _loong_ will get you.” He had laughed at
the affronted nurses. But now . . . his face was crinkled with grim
lines, serious lines that spelled determination. Not a trace of laughter
there. The whistling changed to a hissing. The air became noxious with
hot breath. Four tremendous, padded talons enfolded Prince Ting Tsun. A
scream of terror. A whanging of wings that lifted. . . . Gone. . . .
Vanished.
A scream of terror? No, that is not true. It was a scream of mock
terror. Can you think the prince was frightened? Prince Ting Tsun? He
screamed merely to make his deception doubly sure. The prince to casual
gaze was a maiden, and maidens are supposed to scream when snapped up by
a dragon. Small blame to them for that.
Up. . . . Higher. . . . Swifter. . . . Up through the uncharted, the
star-littered spaces, swept Prince Ting Tsun, borne by the dragon. The
wind shrieked past him. Higher, still higher. The little stars twinkled
above. Higher. . . . The little stars twinkled below. The air grew thin
and cold. Prince Ting grew faint, for his breathing was of no
consequence. There was no air to breathe. There was nothing but space
and star-dust.
The _loong’s_ mouth went wide in a whinnying whistle. From close by came
an answer. The prince opened his eyes. He saw a tapering streak of
flame. On earth he would have named it “comet.” But stretching his eyes
wider, he perceived that it was merely another dragon, its fiery breath
trailing, far spread.
[Illustration: A whanging of wings that lifted . . . Up . . . Higher
. . . Swifter.]
Other _loongs_ appeared; Ting Tsun imagined that he must be approaching
their lair. He prayed that his arm might be strong.
With another scream the dragon folded his wings and dropped lightly upon
a silvery plain. The journey was done—the moon under foot.
The dragon King ruled in a subterranean palace. The entrance was merely
a shining smooth hole, but the interior was luxury itself, with brocaded
tapestries and jade floorings and translucent moonstone ceilings. In the
throne room knelt Ting Tsun before the King—for he still played the
part of a maiden. He knelt as if seeking mercy.
“Her beauty is not what I expected,” growled the King. “Take her away.
Perhaps another day she will seem fairer. Let her food be sesame and
coriander seeds. Ugh. What a clumsy walk.”
Prince Ting Tsun sat on a couch, turning in his mind a plan by which to
vanquish his captors. The stillness was dissolved by a music of moving
silks. A smiling damsel bowed before His Highness.
“Oh, I am glad to see that you do not weep like the others. Are you a
princess from the earth, or from _chin hsing_ (venus)?”
“From the earth,” replied Ting Tsun, but he forgot to gentle his voice.
The Moon Maiden shrank back.
“You are _not_ a princess,” she accused.
“No, I am not a princess. These garments are a deceit. I _was_ Prince
Ting Tsun, when upon the earth. Now, I am Chang Pan—your slave.”
The Moon Maiden was quickly reassured and entered into talk with Ting
Tsun, or humble Chang Pan, as he then called himself. She told the
prince that she had lived with her parents on the far side of the
moon—until the dragons came. Now she had no parents. And when the feast
season of Brightest Light arrived the dragon King (Chao Ya, his name)
would make her his bride. She knew the number of dragons—twenty-eight,
one for each night in the month, and there was never more than one home
at a given time. They could be slain only with the dragon King’s
sword—a weapon that could slay the King himself. But—and the hopes of
Prince Ting fell as she spoke—the King always kept the sword fastened
at his waist. Yes, the _loong_ King sometimes slept, but never more than
once a day, and never for more than a few minutes. When? Just as the
moon went down.
So Ting Tsun in his spotless maiden garb came upon the King asleep, and
snatching up the monarch’s sword, awoke him and slew him. The blade had
not yet done its sweep when it cleft the skull of a dragon who should
have been guarding his King from harm.
The prince rejoiced at his success, howbeit rather modestly. His task
had but started. There was many a chance for disaster. Death might lurk
in a faltering blow, a lagging step, a momentary closing of the eyes.
By day the prince slept. By night he kept his post at the palace
entrance. As each _loong_ came crawling into his lair Prince Ting Tsun
reached its heart with the dragon King’s sword. One thrust for each
_loong_. One thrust each night, until a month had passed. In such manner
His Valiant Highness destroyed the whole vile brood. His plans had
carried through to triumph. Now he was free to return home and claim for
his own the Princess Yun Chi. And a happy day it would be. He was happy
now . . . oh, extremely happy. . . . Why shouldn’t he be happy? . . .
the prince argued stoutly with himself. Yet his argument was not
convincing. He would be compelled to leave the Moon Maiden. So his
reasoning was hollow. He was not happy. He was sorrowful. He had grown
fond of the Other World Princess.
But he must return to his own country. King Chan Ko had promised his
daughter to whosoever should slay the dragon. In taking up battle,
Prince Ting had given agreement to the terms. He was betrothed to the
Princess Yun Chi.
The Moon Maiden was asleep when Prince Ting went to say good-bye. He
would not wake her. He would go at once—after a last sad look. The
sleeping princess stirred in her sleep and murmured. For another instant
the royal youth paused. He heard his name murmured. He heard
more—enough to amaze him, to weaken his will almost to the changing
point. A moment more of listening, and Prince Ting Tsun must inevitably
have remained upon the moon. But he would hear no more. He rushed from
the palace, ashamed of his weakness, yet thrilled with pride.
The moon hung low above the eastern ocean when Ting Tsun made his
fearsome leap. He descended in the cushioning waters, and so took no
hurt. Fortune was with him in that leap. A vessel, manned by venturesome
explorers, chanced upon him. Otherwise, the spot where he fell must have
been his grave, for ships are years apart in that faraway region. The
sailors drew him aboard their junk and treated him with every respect.
It was quite clear in their minds that he must be a god—certainly, he
could be nothing less than a great magician.
When the ship touched at Ma Kao, Prince Ting Tsun was the first to step
ashore. He found the city celebrating, burning much colored paper to the
ruler of Married Happiness, feasting and making music. Accosting a
stranger, he asked the cause of such jubilation, explaining that he had
only that moment arrived from a far country.
The stranger answered: “We celebrate a marriage, your grace; Prince Yen
has taken the fairest bride in all the world. From what country do you
come?”
“Whom did Prince Yen marry?” asked Ting Tsun.
“Why, the Princess Yun Chi, of course. What country did you say?”
“Indeed?” exclaimed the prince. “And I came from the moon.” Leaving the
fellow with eyes popped and mouth agape, he hastened on. He was
compelled to hasten. His feet would keep step with his tumultuous heart.
So the Princess Yun Chi was married. King Chan Ko had broken his word.
Far better if Prince Ting had remained upon the moon. Upon the moon was
one who. . . .
Pausing only for momentary snatches of sleep, Prince Ting journeyed the
straightest road to Kwen Lun Mountain. On this mountain lived, and
lives, the friendly mother demon, Si Wang, a magician of great power. To
her Prince Ting gave his necessary oath, and in exchange received his
desire—wings feathered from the pinions of a Phoenix.
The way is long. The way is steep. But hearts must be served. With wings
unfaltering, Prince Ting Tsun cleaves the sky. Between the earth and the
lighted moon his shadow may be seen—nearing the silvered plain, and the
palace, and the princess. . . . Prince Ting Tsun returning to his Maiden
of the Moon.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
AH TCHA THE SLEEPER
Years ago, in southern China, lived a boy, Ah Tcha by name. Ah Tcha was
an orphan, but not according to rule. A most peculiar orphan was he. It
is usual for orphans to be very, very poor. That is the world-wide
custom. Ah Tcha, on the contrary, was quite wealthy. He owned seven
farms, with seven times seven horses to draw the plow. He owned seven
mills, with plenty of breezes to spin them. Furthermore, he owned seven
thousand pieces of gold, and a fine white cat.
The farms of Ah Tcha were fertile, were wide. His horses were brisk in
the furrow. His mills never lacked for grain, nor wanted for wind. And
his gold was good sharp gold, with not so much as a trace of copper.
Surely, few orphans have been better provided for than the youth named
Ah Tcha. And what a busy person was this Ah Tcha. His bed was always
cold when the sun arose. Early in the morning he went from field to
field, from mill to mill, urging on the people who worked for him. The
setting sun always found him on his feet, hastening from here to there,
persuading his laborers to more gainful efforts. And the moon of
midnight often discovered him pushing up and down the little teak-wood
balls of a counting board, or else threading cash, placing coins upon a
string. Eight farms, nine farms he owned, and more stout horses. Ten
mills, eleven, another white cat. It was Ah Tcha’s ambition to become
the richest person in the world.
They who worked for the wealthy orphan were inclined now and then to
grumble. Their pay was not beggarly, but how they did toil to earn that
pay which was not beggarly. It was go, and go, and go. Said the ancient
woman Nu Wu, who worked with a rake in the field: “Our master drives us
as if he were a fox and we were hares in the open. Round the field and
round and round, hurry, always hurry.” Said Hu Shu, her husband, who
bound the grain into sheaves: “Not hares, but horses. We are driven like
the horses of Lung Kuan, who . . .” It’s a long story.
But Ah Tcha, approaching the murmurers, said, “Pray be so good as to
hurry, most excellent Nu Wu, for the clouds gather blackly, with
thunder.” And to the scowling husband he said, “Speed your work, I beg
you, honorable Hu Shu, for the grain must be under shelter before the
smoke of Evening Rice ascends.”
[Illustration: When Ah Tcha had eaten his Evening Rice, he took lantern
and entered the largest of his mills.]
When Ah Tcha had eaten his Evening Rice, he took lantern and entered the
largest of his mills. A scampering rat drew his attention to the floor.
There he beheld no less than a score of rats, some gazing at him as if
undecided whether to flee or continue the feast, others gnawing—and who
are you, nibbling and caring not? And only a few short whisker-lengths
away sat an enormous cat, sleeping the sleep of a mossy stone. The cat
was black in color, black as a crow’s wing dipped in pitch, upon a night
of inky darkness. That describes her coat. Her face was somewhat more
black. Ah Tcha had never before seen her. She was not his cat. But his
or not, he thought it a trifle unreasonable of her to sleep, while the
rats held high carnival. The rats romped between her paws. Still she
slept. It angered Ah Tcha. The lantern rays fell on her eyes. Still she
slept. Ah Tcha grew more and more provoked. He decided then and there to
teach the cat that his mill was no place for sleepy heads.
Accordingly, he seized an empty grain sack and hurled it with such exact
aim that the cat was sent heels over head. “There, old
Crouch-by-the-hole,” said Ah Tcha in a tone of wrath. “Remember your
paining ear, and be more vigilant.” But the cat had no sooner regained
her feet than she changed into . . . Nu Wu . . . changed into Nu Wu, the
old woman who worked in the fields . . . a witch. What business she had
in the mill is a puzzle. However, it is undoubtedly true that mills hold
grain, and grain is worth money. And that may be an explanation. Her
sleepiness is no puzzle at all. No wonder she was sleepy, after working
so hard in the field, the day’s length through.
The anger of Nu Wu was fierce and instant. She wagged a crooked finger
at Ah Tcha, screeching: “Oh, you cruel money-grubber. Because you fear
the rats will eat a pennyworth of grain you must beat me with bludgeons.
You make me work like a slave all day—and wish me to work all night.
You beat me and disturb my slumber. Very well, since you will not let me
sleep, I shall cause you to slumber eleven hours out of every
dozen. . . . Close your eyes.” She swept her wrinkled hand across Ah
Tcha’s face. Again taking the form of a cat, she bounded downstairs.
She had scarce reached the third step descending when Ah Tcha felt a
compelling desire for sleep. It was as if he had taken gum of the white
poppy flower, as if he had tasted honey of the gray moon blossom. Eyes
half closed, he stumbled into a grain bin. His knees doubled beneath
him. Down he went, curled like a dormouse. Like a dormouse he slumbered.
From that hour began a change in Ah Tcha’s fortune. The spell gripped
him fast. Nine-tenths of his time was spent in sleep. Unable to watch
over his laborers, they worked when they pleased, which was seldom. They
idled when so inclined—and that was often, and long. Furthermore, they
stole in a manner most shameful. Ah Tcha’s mills became empty of grain.
His fields lost their fertility. His horses disappeared—strayed, so it
was said. Worse yet, the unfortunate fellow was summoned to a
magistrate’s _yamen_, there to defend himself in a lawsuit. A neighbor
declared that Ah Tcha’s huge black cat had devoured many chickens. There
were witnesses who swore to the deed. They were sure, one and all, that
Ah Tcha’s black cat was the cat at fault. Ah Tcha was sleeping too
soundly to deny that the cat was his. . . . So the magistrate could do
nothing less than make the cat’s owner pay damages, with all costs of
the lawsuit.
Thereafter, trials at court were a daily occurrence. A second neighbor
said that Ah Tcha’s black cat had stolen a flock of sheep. Another
complained that the cat had thieved from him a herd of fattened
bullocks. Worse and worse grew the charges. And no matter how absurd, Ah
Tcha, sleeping in the prisoner’s cage, always lost and had to pay
damages. His money soon passed into other hands. His mills were taken
from him. His farms went to pay for the lawsuits. Of all his wide lands,
there remained only one little acre—and it was grown up in worthless
bushes. Of all his goodly buildings, there was left one little hut,
where the boy spent most of his time, in witch-imposed slumber.
Now, near by in the mountain of Huge Rocks Piled, lived a greatly
ferocious _loong_, or, as foreigners would say, a dragon. This immense
beast, from tip of forked tongue to the end of his shadow, was far
longer than a barn. With the exception of length, he was much the same
as any other _loong_. His head was shaped like that of a camel. His
horns were deer horns. He had bulging rabbit eyes, a snake neck. Upon
his many ponderous feet were tiger claws, and the feet were shaped very
like sofa cushions. He had walrus whiskers, and a breath of red-and-blue
flame. His voice was like the sound of a hundred brass kettles pounded.
Black fish scales covered his body, black feathers grew upon his limbs.
Because of his color he was sometimes called _Oo Loong_. From that it
would seem that _Oo_ means neither white nor pink.
The black _loong_ was not regarded with any great esteem. His habit of
eating a man—two men if they were little—every day made him rather
unpopular. Fortunately, he prowled only at night. Those folk who went to
bed decently at nine o’clock had nothing to fear. Those who rambled well
along toward midnight, often disappeared with a sudden and complete
thoroughness.
As every one knows, cats are much given to night skulking. The witch
cat, Nu Wu, was no exception. Midnight often found her miles afield. On
such a midnight, when she was roving in the form of a hag, what should
approach but the black dragon. Instantly the _loong_ scented prey, and
instantly he made for the old witch.
There followed such a chase as never was before on land or sea. Up hill
and down dale, by stream and wood and fallow, the cat woman flew and the
dragon coursed after. The witch soon failed of breath. She panted. She
wheezed. She stumbled on a bramble and a claw slashed through her
garments. Too close for comfort. The harried witch changed shape to a
cat, and bounded off afresh, half a li at every leap. The _loong_
increased his pace and soon was close behind, gaining. For a most
peculiar fact about the _loong_ is that the more he runs the easier his
breath comes, and the swifter grows his speed. Hence, it is not
surprising that his fiery breath was presently singeing the witch cat’s
back.
In a twinkling the cat altered form once more, and as an old hag
scuttled across a turnip field. She was merely an ordinarily powerful
witch. She possessed only the two forms—cat and hag. Nor did she have a
gift of magic to baffle or cripple the hungry black _loong_.
Nevertheless, the witch was not despairing. At the edge of the turnip
field lay Ah Tcha’s miserable patch of thick bushes. So thick were the
bushes as to be almost a wall against the hag’s passage. As a hag, she
could have no hope of entering such a thicket. But as a cat, she could
race through without hindrance. And the dragon would be sadly bothered
in following. Scheming thus, the witch dashed under the bushes—a cat
once more.
Ah Tcha was roused from slumber by the most outrageous noise that had
ever assailed his ears. There was such a snapping of bushes, such an
awful bellowed screeching that even the dead of a century must have
heard. The usually sound-sleeping Ah Tcha was awakened at the outset. He
soon realized how matters stood—or ran. Luckily, he had learned of the
only reliable method for frightening off the dragon. He opened his door
and hurled a red, a green, and a yellow firecracker in the monster’s
path.
In through his barely opened door the witch cat dragged her exhausted
self. “I don’t see why you couldn’t open the door sooner,” she scolded,
changing into a hag. “I circled the hut three times before you had the
gumption to let me in.”
“I am very sorry, good mother. I was asleep.” From Ah Tcha.
“Well, don’t be so sleepy again,” scowled the witch, “or I’ll make you
suffer. Get me food and drink.”
“Again, honored lady, I am sorry. So poor am I that I have only water
for drink. My food is the leaves and roots of bushes.”
“No matter. Get what you have—and quickly.”
Ah Tcha reached outside the door and stripped a handful of leaves from a
bush. He plunged the leaves into a kettle of hot water and signified
that the meal was prepared. Then he lay down to doze, for he had been
awake fully half a dozen minutes and the desire to sleep was returning
stronger every moment.
The witch soon supped and departed, without leaving so much as half a
“Thank you.” When Ah Tcha awoke again, his visitor was gone. The poor
boy flung another handful of leaves into his kettle and drank quickly.
He had good reason for haste. Several times he had fallen asleep with
the cup at his lips—a most unpleasant situation, and scalding. Having
taken several sips, Ah Tcha stretched him out for a resumption of his
slumber. Five minutes passed . . . ten minutes . . . fifteen. . . .
Still his eyes failed to close. He took a few more sips from the cup and
felt more awake than ever.
“I do believe,” said Ah Tcha, “that she has thanked me by bewitching my
bushes. She has charmed the leaves to drive away my sleepiness.”
And so she had. Whenever Ah Tcha felt tired and sleepy—and at first
that was often—he had only to drink of the bewitched leaves. At once
his drowsiness departed. His neighbors soon learned of the bushes that
banished sleep. They came to drink of the magic brew. There grew such a
demand that Ah Tcha decided to set a price on the leaves. Still the
demand continued. More bushes were planted. Money came.
Throughout the province people called for “the drink of Ah Tcha.” In
time they shortened it by asking for “Ah Tcha’s drink,” then for “Tcha’s
drink,” and finally for “Tcha.”
And that is its name at present, “Tcha,” or “Tay,” or “Tea,” as some
call it. And one kind of Tea is still called “Oo Loong”—“Black Dragon.”
[Illustration]
I WISH IT WOULD RAIN
It rains and rains in Kiang Sing. And then it rains some more. No sooner
is one cloud past then another comes treading on its heels. By day and
by night the raindrops patter, and _ko tzu_ from his lily pad croaks
“More rain. More rain.” Old men going to bed wear their _wei li_ (rain
hats), instead of tasseled nightcaps. Many young people have only a hazy
idea as to what the word “sun” means. Pour and beat and drizzle, drizzle
and drive with the gale. And that is Kiang Sing.
Three reasons are given by the people of Kiang Sing for their extremely
weepy climate. Some say that the _shen_ Yu Shih, who lords it over the
clouds, lives near by on the Daylight Mountain. Others are firm in their
declaration that Moo Yee, the mighty archer, and a naughty fellow
withal, shot the sky above Kiang Sing full of arrow holes. Naturally, a
sky full of arrow holes is bound to leak. There are still others, and
very learned folk among them, who declare that Mei Li weeping for her
lost hero, Wei Sheng, is responsible for the torrents. Dear only knows
which is the correct theory. It may be that all three are to blame. The
only certainty is that Kiang Sing has a very heavy rainfall, and that
Tiao Fu lived there and learned to love wet weather. . . . _To love it?_
She hated it.
Tiao Fu was a very pretty maiden—no gainsaying that. She had the most
wonderful black long hair in all Kiang Sing. But beauty was her one and
only possession. She had no skill with the needle, whether to sew or
embroider. Her cooking was more than a disgrace. When her fingers
touched the _pi pa_, that usually sweet-toned instrument gave out a
demon’s wail. She could not even smooth a quilt on the _kang_. The beds
were all hills and hollows. How could she make beds when her hair needed
burnishing? She scarce knew which end of a broom was meant for the
floor. How could she sweep when her hair required glossing? New matting
would cover the floor’s disarray. Tiao Fu smoothed her hair and dreamed
of the time when she would marry a rich mandarin and be carried in glory
away from Kiang Sing and its terrible rains. The hateful rains of Kiang
Sing.
[Illustration: How could she make beds when her hair needed burnishing?]
No wonder her father, Ching Chi, became so poverty-stricken. Gradually
his fortune slipped away until his only property was the large and
poorly furnished, extremely ill-kept house in which he lived. Even so,
this house when viewed from the street appeared superior to its fellows.
It was the handsomest and most considerable _yamen_ in Pin Jen Village.
The size and appearance of the _yamen_ accounts for what happened. One
fiendish night, in a mighty drumming of rain, there came a more noisy
drumming of maces upon Ching Chi’s door. “Open, in the King’s name,”
commanded voices outside. Forthwith Ching Chi flung open the door. He
beheld runners dressed in the royal livery, and in their hands the
gold-banded staves of their authority. “Prepare to receive and entertain
the illustrious person of Ho Chu the King. His Most Gracious Majesty
will arrive _sha shih chien_ (within a slight shower’s time). Therefore
prepare. It is a command.”
Far from entertaining royalty, old Ching Chi had never so much as
glimpsed a King. Heart and knees failed him utterly. He could only
grovel upon the floor and mutter weakly of his unworthiness. Tiao Fu,
however, was not so deeply affected. A King? Let him enter. Say what you
please, kings are mortal men. No food in the house? _Ya ya pei_ (Pish
pooh). And the tradesmen refused all credit? What of it? No tradesman in
his senses would refuse a bargain. And what would the bargain be?
Tiao Fu snatched up her little-used embroidery scissors. Snip. Snip.
Snip. Down fell a cataract of her long black hair. Snip. Snip. Again and
again. The hair that was her vanity lay upon the floor. Her lustrous
hair—sacrificed—to make a feast for the King. Hastily donning her
father’s _wei li_, she dashed from the house. There was no trouble in
making a bargain. The tradesman’s first offer was almost within reason
and Tiao Fu had no time to wrangle. She bartered her hair for cooked
fowls and rice and all that goes to make a dinner.
[Illustration: Tiao Fu snatched up her little-used embroidery scissors.
Snip. Snip. Snip.]
King Ho Chu arrived betimes. The weather despite, he was in good spirit.
He was such a considerate and jolly monarch that he soon had old Ching
Chi at perfect ease. The dinner was a delight to eye and tongue. It was
the best meal that had been served in Ching Chi’s home for many a moon.
And Tiao Fu’s hair bought it.
After the cups were turned down, King Ho Chu inquired about his horse.
To reiterate, he was a most considerate sovereign. He wished to feel
sure that his steed was housed from the rain, and shoulder deep in a
well-filled manger. Ching Chi beamingly affirmed that the horse had been
provided for, lavishly. What else _could_ he say? However, he would make
sure, doubly sure, by going to the stable again.
Of course, the poor horse had not a mouthful. There was not so much as a
wisp of hay in the stable, not so much as a bean, or a stalk. Ching Chi
was sunken in weepy despair when the girl Tiao Fu appeared with a
matting from her bedroom floor. It was a newly made matting, of bright
clean straw. Tiao Fu tore it into shreds and filled the manger heaping.
Thus was the King’s horse supplied with food—food none too nourishing,
but food nevertheless.
There are many channels through which kings may receive news and rumors
and tittle-tattle. What with the secret police and the mandarins who
wish to gain favor and the—the sparrows—the royal palace keeps well
informed. (Besides, one historian takes several pages to prove that Tiao
Fu possessed a tongue and could use it to her advantage.) However that
may be, the news spread. Within a day King Ho Chu learned how the maid
Tiao Fu had provided a feast at the expense of her hair. He learned all
about the shredded matting, and his laughter shook the throne. He
bestowed more than a passing thought upon Tiao Fu of the quaintly bobbed
locks—the maiden a thousand years ahead of her time. And having
thought—he acted. He said to the Minister of Domestic Affairs, “Prepare
a room with hangings of orange-colored silk.” To the Minister of the
Treasury he said, “Bestow a dozen or so bars of gold upon the mandarin
Ching Chi.” The Minister of Matrimony received his command, “Arrange me
a wedding with the maid Tiao Fu, of Kiang Sing.” So all things were
arranged and came to pass.
King Ho Chu was well pleased. Old Ching Chi was the happiest man living.
The maid Tiao Fu was quite content—for a space. She had gowns of
gorgeousness undreamed. She had slaves to kneel and knock their heads
whenever she beckoned. She had priceless jewels and food of the rarest.
Incidentally, she had in the King a doting husband. She had
everything—everything—except rain. . . .
Is it not hard to believe that Tiao Fu grew homesick for the rains of
Kiang Sing? It is a strain upon belief, yet it is true, indubitably.
Tiao Fu longed for the rains of her drenched and soggy much be-drizzled
Kiang Sing. Did the King present her with a new necklace—she threw it
petulantly away, exclaiming that she wanted rain—“Oh, I wish it would
rain,” said Tiao Fu. “Why don’t you make it rain?” “Then I will,” said
the King. He installed a myriad high-spouting fountains, at no slight
drain to the treasury. “Are you pleased, my beauteous Tiao Fu?” “No,”
fretfully. “It is not like the rains of Kiang Sing. Why are the trees
not green? The trees are bare and brown. Oh, I wish it would rain—a
green-bringing rain.”
[Illustration: “. . . And cut leaf-shaped pieces.”]
The trees might very well be bare and brown. Winter’s greedy fingers had
stripped them thoroughly. King Ho Chu gazed at the barren limbs for a
lengthy period before his mind hit upon a scheme for bringing back the
green. At length he summoned the royal tailor and to him said: “Take
many bales of green-colored silk and cut leaf-shaped pieces. Dip the
pieces in wax; then sew them upon those bare branches. And use such
artistry that no eye can discover they are not true leaves. _Tsu po_ (be
quick).” The _cheng i_ (make clothes) hastily employed all the city’s
master workmen, some cutting and many sewing. Overnight the trees took
on a color. Indeed, the tailor went beyond his orders, for on the peach
trees he sewed lovely pink blossoms. And some blossoms he tacked to the
ground—as if in their ripeness they had fallen.
For a few days Tiao Fu was in somewhat better humor. Once she actually
smiled. But all too soon those few days were over and her crossness
returned. “What now, my pearl of southern seas?” said the King. “Have
the leaves lost their freshness? Do they no longer please?” “Oh [pout],
it isn’t the leaves. They are quite homelike. It’s the wind that I miss.
I long to hear the shrieking wind of Kiang Sing, hurling its rain
against my lattice. Oh, I wish it would rain.”
Poor King Ho Chu was hard put. Wind? Wind? . . . By the uprooted pine
tree of Mount Tai, how was he to produce the wind. A good half
hour—sixty minutes in that land—passed before he had an inspiration.
Again he called for the royal tailor. “Procure,” he told the tailor,
“many bales of the stoutest silk. Then place some of your brawniest men
outside yonder lattice, and have them rip the silk, tear it into
strips—with all the noise possible.” With which King Ho Chu entered the
treasury to see how his gold was dwindling.
Huge-armed stalwarts stood outside Tiao Fu’s window. Their hands
clutched the woven silk. A pull. “Sh-r-r-r-r-iek. Pull. Sh-r-r-r-iek.”
For two days the brow of Tiao Fu was smooth and untroubled. She actually
spoke kindly to the King. He, poor soul, didn’t hear it. He was too busy
wondering what the next task would be, and how expensive.
Scarcely a hundred bales of silk had been torn when Tiao Fu hurled her
crown across the room and began to weep. “My dear, what’s the trouble?
What _is_ the trouble?” questioned Ho Chu. “Is the wind too violent?”
“Oh, no. The wind is natural enough, and it pleases me. I miss—oh, how
I _do_ miss the rumbling thunder of Kiang Sing, and the fall of
lightning-shattered trees. I miss them and oh, I wish it would
rain—real rain.” The tears fell faster with each word.
Now King Ho Chu had a tremendous army encamped on the palace grounds. He
summoned General Chang and explained matters—with an order. No sooner
ordered than accomplished. The soldiers in their heaviest shoes marched
ponderously beneath the latticed window. “Boom. Boom. Bru-u-u-um.
Bru-u-u-um. Bru-u-u-u-ump.” And how do you like our thunder? Little
drums and great, they rattled and roared. “Rap-p-p. Boom. Boom. . . .”
In endless line the soldiers marched. One day. Two days. Three days.
Four. Some of them slept while the others marched. Boom. Boom. Boom. The
sun on their spears blazed and flickered—the lightning. By night there
were flashing fires.
It is gratifying to relate that Tiao Fu was moderately pleased. Her
appetite returned and the tears were withheld. She spoke to the King
with kindness—several times. All might have gone well had not some
malcontents down Kan Su way started a rebellion. Off went the
army—General Chang waving his sword, and the smallest drummer boy
thumping with glee. That was at midnight.
The dawn was at its breaking when beacons along the line of march flared
up. “Halt” was the signal. The army halted. Again the beacons flared.
They spelled the word “Return.”
Tiao Fu was not so well. She longed for the roll of the drums to remind
her of Kiang Sing’s thunder. What could the poor King do but recall his
army? The rebellion in Kan Su continued merrily. And General Chang, who
was an old-time soldier, expressed his opinion—rather explosively—to a
sympathetic staff officer. But never mind that. Let the drums sound.
When the rebellion spread to Kan Si, the King felt that things had gone
quite far enough. It was time to teach those rebels a lesson. Away went
the army again.
A whole day passed and no return order was signaled. Night came and the
army tramped onward. . . . A pillar of flame shot up from a hilltop. It
was a beacon. “Return,” said the beacon. “Not I,” said General Chang;
“I’ve had enough of the Queen’s whims. Besides, it’s raining right now.
Forward. March.”
The army entered Kan Su and there encountered the rebels. It is better
that the fight go undescribed. Here suffice it to say that if so much as
one rebel escaped, he took pains to keep the fact secret. There is no
mention of him in the books.
General Chang was jubilant. Surely the King would be highly pleased. The
King—good gracious—King Ho Chu, himself, on a breathless steed,
stumbled across the battlefield. “Why didn’t you return?” panted the
King. “I—I—I——” stammered General Chang. But the King said more.
“The Tartars swooped down just a few hours ago, carrying off my Queen,
raiding my treasury (though it was empty), and forcing me to flee for my
life. They carried off the Queen.”
“How terrible,” exclaimed General Chang, looking into his sleeve. “And
my army is so tired that it can’t march a step—besides the roads will
soon be _pu neng chu_ (can’t go) with the rain.”
[Illustration]
HIGH AS HAN HSIN
Han Hsin was not at all high as to stature. He was short, short as a day
in the Month of Long Nights. But as a leader of bow-drawing men, his
place is high. As inventor of the world’s first kite, he rose very high
indeed, and that accounts for the saying, “High as Han Hsin.”
The night that saw Han Hsin’s birth was no ordinary night. It was a
night of fear and grandeur. The Shen who places the stars in the sky had
a shaking hand that eve. His fingers were palsied and could not hold.
Star after star dropped down toward earth, and the people prayed and
wept, the while they exploded firecrackers. It’s a sinister sign when
the stars tumble out of the sky. This the people knew. Therefore, they
trembled.
But, amid the falling stars, was one that rose, as if the Shen had
tossed it, as if the Shen had thrown it high. One large star mounted
higher and higher the while its companions fell. Wise men, astrologers,
they who scan the heavens, said: “The stars that fall—are mighty men
who die. The star that rises—that is the star of a future great
man—born this night.”
The wise men of the village kept careful watch over Han Hsin. He had
been born on the night of the Rising Star. They thought perhaps he might
be the ward of the Star. They watched closely for signs to strengthen
their belief. But for some years Han Hsin disappointed them. He rattled
his calabash in an extremely ordinary manner. There was no hint of
greatness in the way he bounced a ball. Yet the astrologers held to
their faith and watched—and finally were rewarded.
There came a rain, not a hard rain, nevertheless a wetting rain,
sufficient to drive the villagers under shelter. But Han Hsin remained
in the open where quick drops pelted. A foolish villager noticed him and
said, laughing: “Look you at our future great man. He knows not enough
to seek cover from the storm. Ho. Ho. Ho. How wise.”
[Illustration: Han Hsin raised a bridge from island to mainland.]
An old astrologer said: “Hush, _Chieh Kuo_ (Dunce), do you not see that
the youth makes a bridge? Come with me.” They went closer to have a more
complete view. The flowing water had formed a little island in the
street. Upon the island were many ants. As the water rose, the island
grew smaller—and the number of ants grew smaller, many being swept away
to their death. Han Hsin raised a bridge from island to mainland. The
ants quickly discovered his bridge and crossed to safety. “It is a
sign,” said the old astrologer, “_Chi li_ (a good omen). He has
befriended the ants. The ants will remember. Some day they will do him
an equal service—helping him to become great.”
Han Hsin discovered in the King’s paved road a hatchet of better than
fair metal. None of the villagers could prove ownership. Little Han was
permitted to keep his treasure. Quite soon a spirited chopping was
heard—steel ringing upon stone. A foolish villager said: “Look. Han
Hsin uses his fine hatchet to chop the old millstone—thus demonstrating
his great genius. Ho. Ho. Ho. He uses valuable edged steel to chip
stone.”
The old astrologer said, “Hush, _Sha Tzu_ (Imbecile), come with me, and
behold.” A wornout millstone lay at the edge of the road. Through the
hole in its center grew a bamboo tree. The hole was small. Already it
hindered the tree’s growth. Retarded as it was, the bamboo could never
reach a full growth. Han Hsin belabored the stone till it split in two
pieces. Then there was plenty of room for the tree. There was nothing to
“pull its elbow.”
“That is good,” asserted the astrologer. “He saves the bamboo from
death. Some day the bamboo will reward him—help him to become great.”
Shortly afterward, the astrologer gave Han Hsin a note of recommendation
to the King. Han went to the King, seeking employ. He wished a command
in the army. But His Majesty was in a sulky mood and would not see the
boy. Therefore, Han continued his journey into Chin Chou, a neighboring
country. He went to the ruler, Prince Chin, and exhibited his note. The
prince read—and laughed. “You are too small to serve in my army. My
soldiers are giants, all—very strong. You—are _Ko Tsao_ (Little
hopping insect). No.” Han solemnly declared that his strength was that
of a river in flood, and begged for a trial. “Well, if you are
determined,” said the prince, “take my spear and raise it above your
head.” The prince’s spear was solid iron from point to heel, and longer
than the mast of a sea-venturing junk. Furthermore, it had been greased
with tiger fat to prevent rust. Han grasped the spear to raise it. His
fingers slipped. Down crashed the heavy weapon. “Take whips and lash him
out of the city—clumsy knave that he is,” Prince Chin roared in a great
voice—angrily. The spear had missed His Royal Person by the merest
mite.
An old councillor spoke. “Your Highness, surely it cannot be that you
intend to let the rogue live? He will some day return with an army to
take revenge.” “Nonsense,” said the prince. “He is no more than an
ant—and idiotic besides. How could such a fellow secure an army?”
“Nevertheless, I fear the ant will work your downfall. He must be
killed.” The councillor insisted. He argued so strongly for Han’s death
that, rather than hear more, the prince consented. “It is useless. But
do as you wish. Send a squad of horse to overtake him and fetch back his
head.”
When Han Hsin beheld the soldiers approaching at top speed, there was no
doubt in his mind as to what harsh errand brought them. He knew they
intended to have his head. But Han, having lived so long with his head,
had become fond of it, and preferred to keep it on his shoulders. But
how? How could it be saved? There was no escape by running. There was no
place to hide. The boy must use his wits.
Hastily tying a cord to his bamboo staff, he threw the staff into a
tiny, shallow puddle of water that lay beside the road. The soldiers
galloped up to find him seated on the bank—fishing—and weeping. “And
what ails you, simpleton?” a soldier asked. “Have you lost your nurse?”
Between sobs Han answered, “I am hungry and I can’t catch any fish.”
“What a booby,” said another soldier. “He fishes in a puddle no larger
than a copper cash.” “Look,” said yet another, “he throws in the pole,
and holds the hook in his hand. What a _chieh kuo_; as foolish as Nu Wa,
who melted stones to mend a hole in the sky.” “Do you suppose this is
the creature we were told to kill?” He was answered: “Nonsense. Prince
Chin doesn’t send his cavalry to kill an ant. Spur your horses.”
When the troops returned and reported their lack of success, there was
much talk. The councillor raged, offering to resign. He was positive
that so long as Han Hsin lived the government would be in danger. He was
bitter because the troops had mistaken Han’s cunning for imbecility.
Merely to humor the councillor, Prince Chin mounted a horse and galloped
away with his troops.
Han Hsin put his best foot foremost, hurrying toward the border. He
longed to trudge the turf of his own country once more. It was not that
homesickness urged his steps. Han felt reasonably sure that his friends,
the soldiers, would shortly take the road again. The next time they
might not be so easily deluded. Therefore, he hastened. But it was
useless. His own country was still miles distant when he beheld the dust
of men who whipped their horses.
It is not pleasant to have one’s head lopped off. At times it is almost
annoying. Han thought quickly. Near by was a melon patch. The melons
were large in their ripeness. Upon a huge striped _hsi kua_ the boy sat
him down and wept. The tears coursed down his cheeks, and his body shook
with sobbing. Undoubtedly, his sorrow was great.
[Illustration: “I—I—I am hungry,” stammered Han Hsin.]
Prince Chin stopped his steed with a jerk. “_Ai chi_—such grief. Are
you trying to drown yourself with tears?” “I—I—I am hungry,” stammered
Han Hsin. “Hungry? Then why don’t you eat a melon?” “I would, sire, but
I’ve lost my knife. So I must s-s-starve.” The prince was well assured
that he had met with the most foolish person in the world. “What? Starve
because you have no knife? . . . Strike the melon with a stone. . . .
Such a dunce. It would never do for me to behead this fellow. The Shen
who watches over imbeciles would be made angry.” A trooper slashed a
dozen melons with his sword. Surely, a dozen would save the idiot from
starvation. Oh, what an idiot.
Han Hsin sat on the ground, obscuring his features in the red heart of a
melon as the prince and his men departed. His lips moved—but not in
eating. His lips moved in silent laughter.
Han Hsin bothered no more Kings with notes setting forth the argument
that he had been born under a lucky star, and so deserved well. Quite
casually, he fell in with King Kao Lin’s army. He received no pay. His
name was not on the muster. He hobnobbed with all the soldiers and soon
became a favorite. The boy had a remarkable memory. He learned the name
of every soldier in the army. Further, he learned the good and bad
traits of each soldier, knew who could be depended upon and who was
unreliable. He knew from what village each man came, and he could
describe the village with exactness. All from hearing the soldiers talk.
A fire destroyed the army muster-roll. Han Hsin quickly wrote a new
list, giving the name of each man, his age, his qualities, his parents,
and his village. King Kao Lin marveled. Shortly afterward, he added
Han’s name to the list—a general.
Prince Chin made war upon King Kao Lin. He marched three armies through
the kingdom, and where the armies had passed there was desolation, and
no two stalks of grain remained in any field. Han Hsin moved against the
smallest of the three armies. The enemy waited, well hidden above a
mountain pass through which Han must march. It was an excellent
ambush—there was no other passage. The mountain was so steep no man
could climb it.
Han caused his soldiers to remove their jackets and fill them with sand,
afterward tying bottom and top securely. The sand bags were placed
against a cliff, to form a stair way. Up went Han and his men, to come
upon the enemy from behind and capture the whole army—cook and general.
The second hostile army retreated to the river Lan Shui. It crossed the
river, then burned all boats and bridges. So safe from pursuit felt the
hostile general, he neglected to post sentries. Instead, he ordered all
the men to feast and make pleasure. Han Hsin ordered his men to remove
the iron points from their spears. The hollow bamboo shafts of the
spears were lashed together, forming rafts. Armed only with light bows
the men quickly crossed Lan Shui River and pounced upon their unready
enemy. The feast was eaten by soldiers other than those for whom it had
been intended.
Prince Chin led the third and largest army. He had far more braves than
Han commanded. There could be no whipping him in open battle. In
strategy lay the only hope. Han Hsin clothed many thousand scarecrows
and placed them in the battle-line—a scarecrow, a soldier—another
scarecrow, another soldier. In that manner, to all appearance, he
doubled his army. Forthwith, he wrote a letter demanding
surrender—pointing out that since his army was so much larger than Chin
Pa’s, to fight would be a useless sacrifice.
Prince Chin took long to decide upon his course. So long it took him
that Han grew impatient and sat down to write again. While he wrote, a
strong wind broke upon the camp. The papers on Han’s table were lifted
high in air. Higher and higher they swirled, higher than an eagle—for
the Shen of Storms to read. Han’s golden knife, resting on a paper, was
lifted by the wind, transported far over the foeman’s camp.
Immediately an idea seethed in the leader’s mind. If a small piece of
paper could carry a knife, might not a large piece carry the knife’s
owner? Especially, when that owner happened to be not much more weighty
than a three-day bean cake? It seemed reasonable. Again the little
general took spears from his soldiers. The iron points were removed and
the long bamboo shafts were bound together in a frame. Over the frame
was fastened tough bamboo paper in many sheets. Away from prying enemy
eyes, the queer contrivance was sent into air. It proved sky-worthy,
lifting its maker to a fearsome height. Thus was the _feng cheng_
invented. Thus was the kite, little brother of the aeroplane, invented
by Han Hsin.
[Illustration: Prince Chin Pa tried in vain to hold his followers.]
The night showed no moon. Not a star had been lighted. The wind blew
strong, with an eerie whistling. It was such a night as demons walk
about their mischief, and honest men keep under their quilts. Out of the
sky above the enemy camp came a great flapping sound. Could it be a
dragon? All eyes peered upward through the darkness. . . . Two red eyes
appeared. . . . Nothing more could be seen. . . . Only the two evil
eyes. A voice came from the sky. “Return to your homes,” boomed the
voice. “The battle is lost. Return to your homes, ere they too are
lost.” The men of Chin shook with their fear. The Shen of the sky had
spoken. They had heard his voice. They had heard the flapping of his
wings. They had seen his red and terrible eyes. How could the men of
Chin know that the words they heard were uttered by Han Hsin? How could
they know that the flapping was caused by a man-made thing, later to be
named “_feng cheng_” (kite)? And how could they know that the eyes were
mere bottles filled with insects called “Bright at night (Fireflies)”?
The men of Chin could not know. They loosened the ropes of their
tents—and the tents came down.
Prince Chin tried in vain to hold his followers. No longer followers
were they. They were fugitives, fleeing to their homes. Only a few
hundred remained true to their prince. Doubly armed with the weapons
that had been thrown away, they ascended a steep and rocky hill, there
to make their last great fight.
But Han Hsin had anticipated just such action, and had prepared for it.
Unseen, he had slipped through the enemy lines and climbed the hill.
With a brush dipped in honey he wrote words upon a stone. As he wrote,
came hungry ants. The ants came—to aid—and to feast. Soon the stone
was black with a crawling multitude.
Prince Chin scaled the hill to its summit. Ten thousand swords could not
dislodge him from those rocks. He would make the enemy pay a red price
for success. . . . His gaze fell upon the rock. . . . He saw a host of
ants forming characters that read “The Battle is Lost.” His men also
beheld, and they said, “The ant is wisest of all animals. Let us crawl
in the dust, for we are conquered.”
So, Han Hsin victored over the three hostile armies. His country was
invaded no more. In time it became really his country, for he ruled
it—as a King—ruled it well. But now his wise rule is forgotten. He is
remembered as the man who first made kites.
[Illustration]
CONTRARY CHUEH CHUN
The most contrary man that ever drew a full dozen breaths was Chueh
Chun, living in Tien Ting Village, thirty minutes by donkey, by up and
down very bad road, north of the Great Wall, the far-famed Chinese Wall.
Queer Chueh Chun had been named Ma Tzu by his honorable parents. He had
been named Ma Tzu, which means Face Rather Ugly. He, himself, changed
his name to Chueh Chun, which means Absolutely Beautiful.
The good people of Tien Ting Village lived tidily in made houses, above
ground. Chueh Chun lived in a cave, a deep and winding fox den, below
ground. Such of the neighbors as were permitted by law to wear hats,
wore little round hats, on their heads. Chueh Chun wore hats on his
feet. Moreover, he wore straw hats in winter, fur in summer. On his head
perched an ancient sandal. He pretended that the arrangement was
excellent. The sandal shaded his eyes, yet permitted his head to remain
cool.
The neighbors when going upon long journeys commonly rode their shaggy
mountain ponies. Chueh Chun when setting forth on an arduous trip—say
fifty miles—was most likely to walk. But to go from his fox lair home
to the nest of his speckled hen, he invariably rode a little donkey.
Yu Yuch Ying, aunt to Chueh Chun, willed her obstinate nephew thirty
thousand cash, just when his purse was at its flattest. The neighbors
gathered round Chueh Chun to congratulate and envy him. Said they: “What
a fortunate person are you, dear Chueh Chun. The thirty thousand cash
that your late lamented Aunt Yu Yuch Ying left will set you up in noble
style. A most opportune windfall was that. Plenty of luck you have.”
But Chueh Chun nodded his head. He always nodded his head to show that
he differed. “Quite the contrary,” said Chueh Chun, “I fear me,
honorable neighbors, that my aunt’s bequest is an ill thing altogether.
It is luck the worst. Thirty thousand cash are so heavy that I shall be
compelled to make at least two trips to fetch them. Besides, the beggars
will be annoying me without let-up from break of day till I break their
heads. And think of thieves. The money will bring me ill, I am sure.”
And Chueh Chun laughed heartily, for that was his way of expressing
sorrow.
However, Chueh Chun’s excellent wife knew how to manage him. She said:
“Quite right. If I were you, I wouldn’t dream of going for the fortune.
And I wouldn’t once think of riding the donkey, not once.” And she spoke
as if she meant her words.
Therefore—upon his donkey—the contrary husband started for Tsun Pu,
where his beloved aunt had lived and left riches. Immediately outside
Tien Ting Village the traveler was forced to cross a river. The current
was swift and it washed the hat-shoes from Chueh Chun’s feet. Down the
stream swirled the hats, with their owner in splashy pursuit. The
neighbors, who had gathered to bid old Contrary a fine journey, were
loud in lamentation over his loss. They exclaimed, beating their
breasts: “Oh, Chueh Chun, we are so sorry that you have lost your
hat-shoes, so utterly sorry. With our eyes we weep for you and cry
‘alas.’ What terrible luck. It is demon-sent luck in truth.”
[Illustration: Therefore—upon his donkey—the contrary husband started
for Tsun Pu.]
But Chueh Chun paused in his splashing and answered them: “Why, no. I
dare say it is not bad luck at all. Quite the opposite, my esteemed
neighbors, it may be very fortunate indeed.” He wept to show that he was
well pleased.
Meanwhile, the onward swept hat-shoes disappeared from view. Chueh Chun
raced along the bank, calling, and anxiously scanning the water for a
trace of his lost property. The neighbors, too, hurried after, one
leading the donkey. Rounding a willow-draped elbow of the river, Chueh
Chun stumbled over a boat that had drifted ashore. He fell headlong and
heavily, his chin plowing a prodigious furrow in the sand. Up panted the
neighbors, shouting: “Alas, likewise alack. What woe. Such woe. Poor
Chueh Chun, how we ache for you. Our own bones pain out of sympathy.
What a horrible calamity.”
Chueh Chun stretched out a hand to pick up his two hat-shoes, drifted
against a willow bough. Said he, rather indistinctly because of the sand
in his mouth: “Nothing of the kind, greatly respected neighbors. My fall
was most beneficial, for it placed me nearly atop my lost shoes.
Otherwise I might never have found them.” He sobbed to prove his joy.
It is doubtful if the others heard. They, inquisitive fellows that they
were, had hands and eyes and tongues busy as they investigated the boat
that had caused Chueh Chun’s downfall. Lifting a drab and unpromising
rain-cloth, they discovered underneath a cargo of precious tribute
silks—only the best—stuffs such as are sent in tribute to His Majesty,
The Emperor. There were bales of silk and sewn garments of silk. There
were reds and greens and purples, brown and black and gold. Orange,
blue, and pink, they surpassed the rainbow in vivid hue. “How
marvelous,” gasped the neighbors. “Your fortune is made, Chueh Chun.
What stupendous good luck. We who have always been your truest friends,
aiding you with turnips and money in time of need, now rejoice with
you.”
Chueh Chun nodded. “I must beg leave to disagree on that,” was his
contradiction. “It is no very good luck. I would sooner have stepped on
a fretful tiger. Really, it is terrible—finding this boat.”
The neighbors squinted eyes at each other and spoke. “A pity that you
won’t take of the find. Howbeit—good for us. We can make profitable use
of these things.” They were silly to say that.
Chueh Chun promptly loaded his donkey with silks, a burden worth, even
in a beggars’ market, double or more the thirty thousand cash left by
his aunt. He donned a most sightly lilac-colored coat and departed.
Thus with his donkey laden and his own back resplendent, Chueh Chun
fared onward toward Tsun Pu. Scarce had he gone two li when a band of
brigands espied him. “There goes old Chueh Chun,” said a brigand. “He is
too poor to rob. That donkey of his is older than my own dear
great-grandfather, and possesses a most deplorable temper.” But the
robber chief spoke. “Nonsense, you shallow pate. Look at his lilac robe.
Look at the silks upon his beast. We could scarcely have better fortune
though we opened sacks within our noble Emperor’s treasury.” So the
robbers fell upon Chueh Chun and stripped him of his stuffs. His donkey,
his robe, his purse, all they took.
It was a well-plucked traveler who returned to Tien Ting Village and
related his misadventure. The villagers, to a man, sympathized greatly.
“Our hearts go out to you, most excellent Chueh Chun,” they condoled.
“Undoubtedly, you have suffered. How you must grieve. And we also
grieve. It is all pleasure swept away.”
Stubborn Chueh Chun could not agree. Said he: “Who knows but that it was
good luck? Had I continued through the mountains I might have been
killed by falling rocks. Think of that. Beyond doubt the robbers saved
my life. Yet you, my supposed friends, say it was bad luck.”
[Illustration: It was a well-plucked traveler who returned.]
Early next morning, Chueh Chun’s ancient donkey returned to the village.
She had broken loose from the brigands and ambled home with all her load
of silks intact. How the neighbors rejoiced. A person might easily have
thought that the little donkey belonged to them, so jubilant were they.
“Oh, Chueh Chun, awake,” they screamed. “Here is your donkey, all hearty
and hale—with not so much as a yard of silk missing. What wonderful,
wonderful luck.”
Chueh Chun said: “I’m afraid, good gracious yes, it’s very bad luck. No
good can come of this. It’s unfortunate as can be. Alas. Alas.” Nor was
he far wrong. That very morning, while ministering to a wound upon the
donkey, that sinful little beast kicked with such violence as to break
her master’s leg. The somewhat inquisitive neighbors gathered, as bees
gather to the blossoming beans. “Oh. Oh. Oh,” they screamed. “What is
the matter? Did the shameless donkey kick our handsome neighbor?”
“Truly, she did,” laughed Chueh Chun. “So hard that I think my leg has
come apart.” And as he thought, so it was. He could not walk.
The neighbors redoubled their wails, asking each other, “Is not that the
extreme height of ill fortune?”
“Not at all,” denied old Chueh Chun, perhaps a trifle grumpily. “In my
opinion it may be a blessing. It, no doubt, will save me from something
worse. Besides, it convinces me that my donkey is very strong, despite
her age.”
By darkest midnight the Khan of the warlike Tartars, with fifty thousand
men, swooped down to raid such villages as had, rather foolishly, been
built outside the Great Wall. Tien Ting suffered. Every able-bodied man
was taken prisoner. Only the very young, the extremely ancient, the
lame, the blind, and the bedridden were left in their homes. Chueh Chun
was one of those thus spared. Lameness and age were in his favor. By
torchlight a toothless, grinning old neighbor dropped into Chueh Chun’s
cave to say that the danger was no more. “The Tartars are gone, my
admirable friend, Chueh Chun—and so are all of our young men, and our
goods, even to house chimneys. I think you and I are about the only ones
spared. How fortunate we are.”
“It may be all very fortunate for you,” put in Chueh Chun, “but as for
me, I have a feeling that things could be much better, and still be not
so good. I wish the Tartars had carried me into captivity astride my own
poor lost donkey.” For, of course, his donkey was gone again.
With the dawning, His Majesty, The Emperor Ching Tang, entered the
village to learn of its losses. He was told that all of the men, save
half a dozen, Chueh Chun among them, had been carried off. “Why wasn’t
such a one taken?” asked the Emperor. He was told: “A cripple for ninety
years and a day.” “Why wasn’t Chueh Chun taken?” asked the Emperor.
“Because, Noble Majesty,” answered a villager, kneeling three times and
knocking his head on the ground thrice with each kneeling, “because,
most gracious light of the sun and beauty of the moon, lord of the earth
and sea and sky, Chueh Chun was kicked by his own donkey, and I well
remember his saying at the time that it was extremely fortunate his leg
was broken—a blessing—those were his words. And they were true.”
“What say you?” thundered the Emperor “A blessing—to be crippled? Why
then this Chueh Chun must have known beforehand that the Tartars were
coming to carry away my people. He must have known it, and knowing, gave
us no warning. Bid this traitorous fellow appear. Soldiers—go.
Headsman—draw your sword.”
Fortunately, Chueh Chun’s wife heard the Emperor’s command. Swiftly she
ran home. As she entered the cave Chueh Chun sneezed. “Kou Chu.” The
sneeze led to an excellent idea. Said the wife: “Aha. Aha,” with much
emphasis. “You were out in your boat on the river last week, and now you
have a cold.” Adding with proper severity, “Don’t you dare go near the
river again. Do you hear?” She knew very well what would happen. “My
husband—come back.”
Lame as he was, Chueh Chun promptly left the cave and got into his boat.
The good wife smiled and screamed, “Don’t row with such vigor.”
Soldiers ran to the bank of the stream and called, “Come back.” And
louder they shouted, “Come back.” That was extremely foolish of them.
They should have said, “Go on.”
Contrary to the last, Chueh Chun sat the wrong way in his boat and rowed
for dear life.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
PIES OF THE PRINCESS
Three plump mandarins hid behind a single tiny rose bush. The chancellor
crawled under a chair. All courtiers fell upon their chins, and
shivering, prayed that soft words might prevail.
For no slight reason did they shiver and hide and pray. King Yang Lang
was angry. And he was an old-fashioned monarch, living in the long ago.
Nowadays, any greasy kitchen lout may tweak a King’s beard, and go forth
to boast of his bravery. But then-a-days, Kings were Kings, and their
swords were ever sharp.
King Yang Lang was such a ruler—and more angry than is good to see. His
face was purple, and his voice boomed like a battle drum. “Keeper of the
Treasury, has all my gold been used to make weights for fishing lines?”
Time after time the treasurer knocked his head against the paving. “Most
Glorious and Peaceful Monarch, your gold is so plentiful that seven
years must pass before I can finish counting the larger bars—ten years
more for the smaller.”
That was rather pleasant news. The King’s voice lost some of its
harshness. “What of ivory? Has all my ivory been burned for firewood, a
pot to boil?”
The treasurer continued to knock his Head. “Supreme Ruler of The World
and The Stars, your ivory completely fills a hundred large and closely
guarded vaults.”
The King hadn’t dreamed that his wealth was so vast. His voice was not
more moderately furious as he asked: “For what reason have you disposed
of my jade? Do you mean to say that my jade has been used to build a
stable for donkeys?”
Tap, tap, tap, went the treasurer’s head on marble paving: “Oh, Powerful
Potentate, the store of green jade grows larger each day. Your precious
white jade is worth more than green, and gold, and ivory combined. It is
all quite safe, under lock and key and watchful spears.”
The King was astonished and put in somewhat better humor. His voice was
no louder than thunder as he again questioned the treasurer. “Then why,
tell me why is my daughter, the Princess Chin Uor, not given suitable
toys. If the treasury holds gold and ivory and jade, why is my daughter
compelled to use toys of common clay?”
The treasurer could not explain: “Monarch whose word compels the sun to
rise, we have pleaded with the wee Princess Chin Uor. We have given her
a thousand dolls of solid gold, with silver cradles for each, cradles
set with rubies—and the dolls have eyes of lustrous black pearl. For
the princess we have made ivory cats, and ivory mice for the cats to
catch—two thousand of each. For the princess we have fashioned from
jade, lovely tossing balls, wonderful dishes, and puppy dogs that bark
and come when called. Yet, the princess ignores these things . . . and
makes mud pies—Mud Pies. Mightiest Majesty, I do not know why, unless
it may be that the princess is a girl, as well as a princess.”
A trifle relieved, King Yang Lang passed into the garden. Beside the
river bank he found his daughter, the Princess Chin Uor, or Princess
Many Dimples—for that is the meaning of Chin Uor. Nurses standing near
kept watch upon wheelbarrows spilling over with golden dolls. But Chin
Uor had no thought for such toys. Her royal hands shaped the tastiest of
mud pies. Very pretty pies they were—made of white clay.
The King said: “Littlest and most beautiful daughter, the golden dolls
are longing for your touch. Why do you not please them? It is not seemly
for a princess to dabble in clay. Then why do you make pies?”
The princess had a very good answer ready. “Because, Daddy, I want to
make pies. This nice large one is for your dinner.”
The King was so shocked that he could say nothing more. Mud pies for a
King’s dinner? Such nonsense. His Majesty was scandalized at the
thought. He departed in haste.
But the Princess Chin Uor smiled and kneaded more and more pies. And
when she had made enough she placed them in a wheelbarrow and trundled
them to the palace.
And now the story changes. Far away to the west, in a mountain named
Huge Rocks Piled, the famous dragon, Oo Loong, made his home. This
fierce dragon was a creature of consuming greed. He was ever hungry and
anxious to dine. A rabbit or an elephant—nothing was too large, nothing
too small. A turtle or a jellyfish—nothing was too hard, nothing too
soft. A man he considered fine eating. Boys he liked somewhat better.
Girls? Girls were far superior to boys—in the dragon’s opinion.
[Illustration: This nice large one is for your dinner.]
Much sorrow this ferocious _loong_ had created in His Majesty’s kingdom.
A reward of one hundred silver pieces had been offered for the dragon’s
horns, two hundred for his ears. Magicians had worked charms to slay
him—only themselves to be slain. Hunters had loaded their jingals with
yellow paper, and had fired where the dragon was thickest, fired where
he was thinnest—only to be eaten—their guns with them. Made angry by
the loss of so many people, King Yang Lang marched an army into the
Mountain of Huge Rocks Piled. And the army was well armed with thumping
drums and fifes and smoking guns.
Then the dragon became doubly furious and ferocious. To punish King Yang
Lang, he resolved to visit the palace. That, he knew, would cause the
army to be withdrawn. Accordingly, at the hour of deepest slumber,
darksome mid of night, he prowled round Yang Lang’s palace, seeking
entrance. He had no easy task. Upon the King’s door were pictures, also
the word “Chi,” written in gold. And so that door was well protected.
The Queen’s door likewise was dragon proof. It was covered with whole
sentences taken from the black book of Hu Po, master magician. The door
that led to where Princess Chin Uor slept was made strong by magic words
and symbols. More of Hu Po’s sorcery. Useless to prowl there. Dangerous
to prowl there. The dragon was a knowing beast and prudent. The signs
were against him. Hence, he tarried not, but crawled down the hallway in
leaving.
A wheelbarrow stood in his path. He could not pass to the right. To the
left he could not pass. Nor could he leap over the obstruction. But the
dragon was not one to be baffled by such a weak and wooden contrivance.
His huge mouth opened and his white hot breath rushed forth. In a
twinkling the wooden barrow vanished. Like a butter cake dropped upon
the summer sun it melted, burned to a cinder of nothingness.
Now the wheelbarrow thus destroyed was property of the little Princess
Chin Uor. In it had been golden dolls, dolls of the princess. The dolls
were dolls no longer. Under the dragon’s fiery breath they changed to a
pool of liquid gold. The hard gold became soft and flowing.
In the barrow had been pretty mud pies, pies of the princess. Under the
dragon’s burning breath they were changed to discs of stony hardness.
The soft clay took on a hardness as of flint. The princess had wished
her pies to dry. And her wish had been granted.
Next morning, the palace, from presence room to pantry, buzzed with
excitement. Oo Loong had dared intrude within the royal dwelling. It
could not be doubted. He had left his footprints in the molten gold, and
the gold, in hardening, had preserved his tracks.
Witches and wizards came to make more able charms. Messengers galloped
away to summon the distant army. The King raged and roared. Said His
Majesty: “Let that reprobate dragon return, if he dares. If he dares,
let that reprobate dragon return.” The courtiers trembled and gasped:
“Pray may the wicked _loong_ never return. Never, never return.” But
little Princess Many Dimples played with her pies and was happy. Her
pies had been baked to a queen’s taste—or rather to the taste of a
princess. Beside the river she worked faithfully in wet white clay. Such
beautiful pies. “I do hope that the nice _loong_ will return,” said
Princess Chin Uor. “He is such a fine oven. I shall make a hundred more
pies for his baking.”
Pie after pie. Even the nurses helped. Instead of saying, “Please, will
your Royal Highness not play with this lovely doll?” they said, “Please,
is this one rounded enough?” and “Please, shall I scallop the edges a
trifle deeper?” and “Shall I imagine that this one contains cherries, or
radishes?” or whatever it may be that makers of pies would say in a
royal kitchen. So, a hundred pies were made and wheeled to the palace.
In reality, they numbered a hundred and one, but the odd one was so
thick that it must be called a cake. Howbeit, that is not so important
as you might think.
Night followed day—a habit that most nights have. The soldiers
slept—as they had been ordered not to do. The hour approached when
clock hands point to the highest sky. Midnight came, and with it the
mountainous mountain _loong_. Unseen by those whose duty was seeing, the
dragon entered King Yang Lang’s courtyard. And there he was perplexed
and paused. The King’s door was a hodgepodge of magic signs, plastered
with yellow paper. Vain to think of entering there. The Queen’s door was
upside down—best charm of all. To think of entering was vain. The door
that led to Princess Chin Uor’s sleeping chamber was written thick with
words to still a dragon’s heart, circles to dizzy his head. Say what you
please, the witches and wizards had done good work upon that door. Their
charms were written with clearness and force. The _loong_ dared not take
a second glance. He felt his limbs grow weak. Wisely hastened he from
the spell-guarded threshold.
Now in the reign of the Emperor Ming, a crazed and knavish fellow, known
to the world as Wing Dow, invented a contrivance called by him
“Look-through-the-wall,” but which we of today call a “Window.” His
invention gave the Emperor Ming a severe cold, and Wing Dow came within
a sword’s width of losing his ears—but more of that later. Here it is
necessary to say only that Look-through-the-walls became popular, and
many such were to be found in King Yang Lang’s palace. In the Princess
Chin Uor’s room were many wing-dows (or windows), and—hard to
believe—those wing-dows were unguarded either by charm or by apple wood
beam, which is as good as a charm. Could the dragon pass by such a fine
chance? Could he pass the wing-dow and not have a try? When he had come
with purpose to do harm? It is easy to imagine the thing that happened.
And yet not so easy as may seem.
The dragon’s lumpish head entered the wing-dow. His deer horns, his
rabbit eyes, his snake tongue, all entered, and easily enough. A
ponderous sofa-cushion foot he placed upon the window ledge. . . .
Crash, and smash, and clatter. . . .
The nurses awoke and screamed, “Save us.”
The Princess Chin Uor awoke and said, “Shoo.”
Soldiers in the courtyard awoke and lighted green fires as they smote
their drums, saying: “Come if you dare. Help. Help.”
The dragon was already awake—awake to the danger. Promptly he vanished.
Such noise he could not abide.
King Yang Lang came with a golden torch. Greatly he was pleased that the
_loong_ had been routed.
But Princess Chin Uor was far from pleased. Indeed, she was fretful.
From the floor she took a sliver of flint-hard clay. “My pies are all
broken. All. All are broken,” mourned Princess Many Dimples. “I had
placed them in the wing-dow. And the dragon knocked them down and broke
them.” And beyond doubt so had he done. There were the pieces.
Still the King remained cheerful. His little daughter’s sadness passed
unnoticed. His Majesty said: “Your pies, my daughter, are excellent
food—let no one deny it—but even better are they to give warning of
the dragon’s nearness. Your pies have provided me with a wonderful idea.
Hereafter we need have no more fear of the _loong_. . . . Ho. General.
Awaken your soldiers again. Let them march to the river.”
For a week the King’s army did no other labor than make mud pies. And
liked it. The pies were given heat in giant ovens, were baked into stony
hardness. Then they were placed throughout the palace, in windows, upon
tables, chairs, upon chests and shelves, high and low and everywhere.
Even on the chimney tops were rows of glistening pies. The slightest
misstep by a prowling dragon would have caused a din most tremendous.
The royal dining table was a shining whiteness, covered with mud pies.
So numerous were the pies of the princess that no room remained for
food. But that was no cause for worry. The King merely ordered that his
rice be placed upon a baked clay pie. Mandarins who visited the palace
were much surprised at what they saw—a King eating from common clay.
Nevertheless, their own tables were soon covered with Princess Chin
Uor’s pies. For the King, of course, set all fashions.
And so, we modern peoples speak of our plates and cups and saucers as
“China.” China? Is it? Yes, and no. China is merely our way of
pronouncing Chin Uor. Our plates are merely thin copies of Princess Chin
Uor’s pies.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
AS HAI LOW KEPT HOUSE
After weary years of saving, a few cash each calendar, Hai Lee removed
from the mountains, where nothing ever happens, and bought a tiny house
that stood near Ying Ling toll road, which is the King’s road, and where
strange sights are seen. In that region the people have a saying, “He
who lives on the King’s road has seen the whole world.”
With him the newcomer brought his little brother, Hai Low. Hai Low was
to keep house, while Hai Lee worked in field and forest. The new house
was no larger than two by twice, and poorly furnished. Nevertheless, Hai
Lee and Hai Low imagined it to be grand. For they had always lived in a
mountain cave.
Many times Hai Lee cautioned his brother to take good care that no harm
came to their magnificent house. And Hai Low promised faithfully to
guard. His eyes would be unblinkingly open. Have no fear.
Upon the very first day, as Hai Low kept house, a fox dashed under the
flooring. A band of hunters soon appeared. The hunters said, “We hope
you enjoyed a tasty dinner.” That by way of greeting. “Our fox has
hidden beneath your house. He is a very damage-doing fox, and we desire
his ears. For permission to dig we will thank you a thousand times—and
more if the fur be of good quality.”
Hai Low thought of his brother’s warning. Whereupon he replied to the
hunters: “Your digging might injure the house, and my honorable brother
has told me to keep all harm away. Therefore, excellent huntsmen, I
must, in sorrow, give you no. Dig you cannot, for the house might fall.”
With soft voices the hunters wheedled. Hai Low said no. With harsh
voices the hunters blustered and threatened. Hai Low said no. Money the
hunters offered. Hai Low said no. His mind was fixed and nothing could
move it. No once. No twice. No thrice. And again no. The hunters
departed. The fox remained. And Hai Low believed he had done well for
his first day of housekeeping. He imagined that his brother would praise
him.
The opposite came to pass. Hai Lee frowned. “That was wrong and stupidly
done, Small Brother. A little digging could have given no hurt. The fox
is an evil enemy. He will catch all of our fowls, even to the last
speckled hen. We must get rid of that scamp. If any more hunters
come—tell them to dig.”
Upon the next day, as Hai Low kept house, he beheld two men with
crossbows. In joy he rushed to greet them. With much bowing and scraping
he said: “I hope that your rice was well cooked, and you had plenty of
it. Will you not come to the house and dig?”
One of the men said, “This fellow reminds me of the way Wu Ta Lang got
out of the cherry tree—it was quite simple.” But the other, who was
more crafty, squinted an eye to say, “Be quiet.” Then, using his tongue,
he spoke to Hai Low: “For nothing else we came. With all our hearts will
we dig. Only open the door. Our rice was well cooked.” He entered the
house and began to tear up stones from the hearth. Hai Low said, “Do you
not think the fox will be alarmed and try to escape through the hole by
which he entered?” The hunter replied: “A wise question, truly. What
shall we do? Can you not sit with your back to the entrance? Then the
fox will be unable to depart.” Hai Low readily agreed to aid. He went
outside and sat with his back to the wall. The hunters struck many blows
upon the hearth, laughing all the while. Presently they each said, “Oh,”
and stopped digging. “Have you got it?” asked Hai Low. “We have,” the
elder huntsman answered. “We have it in a sack. How fortunate that you
invited us in. Our digging was most successful.” He was greatly pleased.
The other hunter seemed equally as well pleased. Hai Low, too, was
delighted. A very fine thing he thought it that the fox had been
captured. He felt sure that his brother would speak words of praise.
But such was far from being. Hai Lee tossed a sack upon the table and
said, “Oh, my Little Brother, a sad mistake you made this day. Not
hunters, but thieves were those men. Not a fox, but all of our money
they carried off in the sack. By chance alone, I regained it. But such
good luck rarely happens a second time. Now heed my words. Never again
permit strangers to enter the house. Never.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, the door shook with a great knocking.
The boy peeped from a window. He beheld an old man, beating the door.
Said Hai Low: “I hope you relished your dinner—but you must go away. My
brother says that I am to admit no strangers. Go away. You cannot
enter.”
The old man remarked, in a loud tone, that Hai Low spoke nonsense. “Open
the door that I may enter, you who deserve a bamboo upon your back. Is
this any way to treat your own flesh and blood?” Hai Low repeated his
command. “You cannot enter. Go away hurriedly—else I shall pour hot
water.” He tilted a kettle and began to pour. Whereupon the old man took
to his heels, for the water steamed, hot from a fire. Hai Low was well
pleased with himself. Beyond doubt, he would receive great praise from
his brother.
But Hai Lee came home in a huff. Angry, dismayed, was the big brother.
“Oh, you wrong-doing Little Brother, you have ruined our future. The man
whom you chased away was Grandfather Hai Ho, wealthy and about to make
us his heirs. Now he says he will leave us not so much as one cash, not
one. For pity’s sake, Small Brother, be more tactful. We have another
rich grandfather. When the next stranger comes, ask him if he is your
grandfather, before you pour heated water.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, the door rattled and banged. Someone
wished to come in. At least, it seemed probable. Hai Low peered from a
window. He beheld a man, well dressed and round, at the door. Behind the
impatient one were many slaves. At once Hai Low thought of his other
rich grandfather. Said he: “I hope your rice was served on a golden
dish. Are you my grandfather?”
“What?” roared the stranger. “What? What impudence were you saying?” Hai
Low used a full breath to shout, “I asked, are you my grandfather. My
Grandfather.” At that the large stranger tottered. His slaves made a
tremendous breeze with fans, seeking to revive him. Still fanning, they
carried him away. Hai Low was somewhat puzzled. And puzzled he remained
until his brother came home.
The brother was frightened, likewise angry. “Oh, dear me, Small Brother,
why were you so rude to the Governor? You have insulted the Governor,
and will be lucky if you escape with your life. Even if you are not
beheaded, you will have to pay a fine of a thousand large coins. All
because of your foolish questions. I beseech you, don’t ask visitors any
more questions. Don’t open your mouth to a stranger.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he chanced to glance at the stable. The
stable door was open. Before the boy could close it, a stranger came
out, leading Hai Lee’s fine donkey. Hai Low began to imagine that
mischief was being done. Thrice he opened his mouth, but each time he
remembered his brother’s instruction to ask no questions. So he remained
silent. The donkey was soon saddled. Away it went, with the stranger
astride.
When big brother returned home for Evening Rice, he spoke harshly to Hai
Low. “Goodness, gracious me, Very Small Brother, you will ruin us yet.
Now you’ve let a rogue take my trotting donkey, and only by a lucky
accident was I able to recover the beast. Really, your housekeeping is a
bad thing altogether. Never let another stranger approach the stable. He
might take our milking cow. If another stranger goes near the
stable—shoot him.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he sat upon the door step. In his hand
he clenched a bow. Again and again he glanced toward the stable. No
person should take the milking cow. Not without regret. Beware, rogues,
or suffer.
A traveler came down the road. He was a rich man and wore a hat that was
high and covered with feathers. It was such a hat as the wind demons
love for a toy. A sudden breeze lifted the traveler’s hat and whirled it
fast and far. It came to earth in front of the stable. Of course, the
stranger followed it, running, to the stable door.
Hai Low remembered his brother’s command. He made a V of the bow string.
His hurried arrow went seeking a mark. The traveler gave up all thought
of recovering his hat. Down the road he dashed madly, shouting that he
had been killed. However, he was a traveler, and travelers are noted for
stories hard to believe. Hai Low sat on the steps and had practice with
his bow. No man should take the milking cow, without taking an arrow
also. A thief had best wear clothes of iron.
[Illustration: He made a V of the bowstring.]
When Big Brother Hai Lee came home, his voice was doleful. “Oh, Brother,
my Brother, you have put us into vast trouble. Why on earth did you
shoot an arrow into the traveler’s quilted coat? He is a foreign
ambassador and says that his country will instantly declare war upon us.
Think of the sadness your act will cause. I beg of you be not so rash in
future. The next time you see a stranger lose his hat, don’t shoot.
Instead, be polite, and chase the hat.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he noticed a great company of men
approaching. Gong beaters led. Behind them came carriers of banners;
tablet men; keepers of the large umbrellas; warriors; more gong
musicians; fan carriers; incense swingers—a long procession it was. Hai
Low knew that it must be the marching train of a truly great man. He
hoped that he might behold the high and mighty one. And so he did. As
the gilded sedan chair was borne past, a breeze threshed its curtains. A
hat soared out of the sedan. Carried by the wind demons, it rolled
across turnip patch and radish. Hai Low dashed away in chase. He thought
himself being polite and useful—to rescue the great one’s hat.
Alas, a hundred bludgeon men and spear wavers rushed after him. They
shouted that he must stop and be killed for his sin. Hai Low had no idea
why they wished to slay him. Neither had he the faintest idea of
stopping. He lifted his heels with such rapidity that he gained a
thicket three leaps ahead of the foremost warrior men. In the heavy
growth of briers and bushes he was safe, for he knew the tangle in all
its winding ways. To follow was folly.
When late, the boy reached home, he found his brother waiting. Hai Lee’s
despair was shown in tears and quavering words. “Oh, Brother of mine, I
fear that your life is worth less than a withered carrot. Why did you
lay hands upon His Majesty’s right royal hat? Do you not know that death
is the penalty for so doing? Soldiers have sought you high and low. If
they find you—I cannot bear to say what will happen. Now please have
regard for my words, Little Brother. Go into the house, and crawl under
a bed—and stay there. Stay there.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he kept it beneath a bed. So still he
lay that a mouse took a nap at his side. Soldiers came and emptied the
pantry, eating and drinking as only King’s men can. None of them thought
to glance under the bed. And that was just as well—just as well for Hai
Low. It was for him that they had come to search.
Soon after the soldiers had departed, an odor of burning filled the air.
The house was afire. Hai Low coughed, but he dared not crawl from his
shielding bed. He had no doubt the fire had been set in an effort to
rout him from hiding.
The door flew open and in rushed big brother Hai Lee. Hai Lee flung
water upon the flames, then pulled little brother from beneath the bed.
He was greatly exasperated. “My word and all, not very large Brother,
would you let the house burn and not fling a bucket? The soldiers were
gone. Why didn’t you arise and douse the flames? Now hear what I speak,
Little Brother. The next time you see flames—pour on water. Pour on
water.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he chanced to gaze down the road. A
brisk fire burned in the open. With two filled buckets the boy hastened
to obey his brother’s order. In no time he wetted the fire out of
burning.
Scarce had he entered the house when Big Brother Hai Lee entered. Hai
Lee had his tongue on edge for scolding. “My very own Brother, why must
you be always at mischief? What in all the green earth and the blue sky
made you throw water upon that fire? A traveler was boiling his
rice—and you with water put out his fire. It was outrageous. Now then,
to atone for your impishness, take this stick of dry wood to the
traveler so that he can boil his rice. And, as you give him the stick,
be sure to apologize. Ask for pardon.”
Away went Hai Low at his fastest, bearing a huge bamboo. The traveler
beheld him, and promptly mounted a horse. Many robbers made misery in
that region. The traveler had gained saddening experience of them. He
imagined that Hai Low must be a robber—else why did the fellow wave a
long bamboo? So the traveler put heels to his horse and galloped. But
Hai Low was not to be left far behind. He followed swiftly, shouting
words that mean stop, wait, hold on, tarry. And the more he shouted, the
more determined grew the traveler never to stop until he had found
protection in a camp of soldiers.
Several young men let curiosity lead them to follow Hai Low. They wished
to discover why he pursued the traveler. As they raced through a
village, other men joined. Another village gave a dozen more. A town
furnished twice as many. Soon Hai Low had an enormous crowd at his
heels. Dust hung above in a blinding curtain. The trample of feet and
the excited shouts could be heard for distant miles. More dust and more,
more men and more. At first they asked, “What’s it all about?” Later,
“Catch him,” and “Kill him,” they cried.
Hai Low had long since lost sight of the fast fleeing horseman. But he
reasoned that the traveler would enter Ying Ling, the capital city.
Hence, he too, leading his curious host, entered Ying Ling. He was
determined to do as his brother had bidden.
Now it chanced that King How Wang was a most unpopular ruler. Threats
had been made against him. A prince from the north was said to be
raising an army of rebels. Hence, when King How Wang beheld Hai Low’s
approach at the head of a vast army, he imagined Hai Low to be the
northern prince. Hai Low’s curious rabble he thought a rebel army. So
thinking, he called for his horse. . . . And what became of him no one
can say. He vanished, for good and all.
The royal generals, instead of ordering a fight, promptly knelt before
Hai Low and bumped their heads in the dust. Said they, “We bow unto our
new King.” The palace soldiers said, “Hail to our new King.” And the
breathless mob shouted, “Long live our new King.” The crown was placed
upon astonished Hai Low’s head. The mace of authority was placed in his
hand. And “Hail,” and “Hail,” and “Hail.”
[Illustration: The royal generals . . . knelt before Hai Low and bumped
their heads in the dust.]
Thus did Hai Low, in chase of an unknown traveler, become King upon a
throne. His days of housekeeping were ended. And so is the book . . .
ended.
[Illustration]
THE END
TRANSCRIBER NOTES
Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where
multiple spellings occur, majority use has been employed.
Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer
errors occur.
Illustrations have been relocated in some instances to enhance
text flow and remove broken paragraphs.
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