Before King Cheng, later First Emperor of Ch'in, reached the age of 22 and coronation, Ch'in was ruled by two factions: one headed by Premier Lu Pu-Wei, guardian and also the actual sire of the young King, and the other by Lao Ai, the Queen Mother's paramour. After the coronation, Lao Ai attempts a coup d'etat and is executed. The Queen Mother is confined to her quarters and her two sons by Lao Ai are put to death. Lu Pu-Wei, who had recommended Lao Ai to the Queen Mother, was poisoned.
Act III: The Conspirators
Scene: The Audience Hall in Hsien Yang Palace.
Time: One year after the coronation of King Cheng of Ch'in, later First Emperor of Ch'in (237 B.C.).
Dramatis Personae: King Cheng
Wang Wan: New Premier of Ch'in, successor to Lu Pu Wei.
Cheng Kuo: An irrigation expert from the Kingdom of Han, builder of the famous Cheng Kuo Canal in the Kuan Chung Plain in Ch'in.
Li Sze: A courtier of Ch'in, later appointed Ting Wei (Defender of the Court equivalent to Supreme Judge). He was made Premier by the Second Emperor of Ch'in.
Yu Liao: A commoner from Da Liang, capital of the Kingdom of Wei, later appointed Kuo Wei (Defender of the Country, equivalent to Chief of Staff).
Crown Prince Fu Sao: About six years old, eldest son of King Cheng.
Queen Mother: Dowager Queen of Ch'in, greatly aged as compared with Act II. She looks haggard and her hair has turned gray.
Mao Chiao: A n envoy from the Kingdom of Chi, later Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince Fu Sao of Ch'in.
Chao Kao: Chief Eunuch and Keeper of the Imperial Seal.
Gen. Huan Yi: A Ch'in general, who after defeat by Chao's General Li Mu, seeks asylum in the Kingdom of Yen under the false name of Fan Yu Chi.
Li Shuei: Water Conservation Chief, grandson of Li Ping who built the famous Li Tuei canal in the province of Chu.
Shao Fu: The treasurer of Ch'in.
Prince Cheong Wen: One of the two princes who put down the Lao Ai coup d'etat.
Other civilian and military officials, eunuchs and other attendants.
Stage Setting: Upstage center is the throne on a dais. There is an ivory balustrade and pillars at the four corners. Behind the throne is a large marble screen and in front of it a footrest in the shape of a sprawling tiger. Silk curtains veil the upstage left and right entrances leading to ante-rooms. The downstage left and right entrances lead to the colonnade outside.
The Curtain Rises
From offstage comes the clanging of bells. Two eunuchs enter from downstage right. Each holds a copper incense burner in two hands. The hall is quickly filled with vapor and the aroma of cassia and orchid. The eunuchs exit. The clanging stops and music is heard. Civil officials file in from the entrance at downstage right while military officers enter from downstage left. Each civil official holds a hu (three-foot writing tablet) before his breast and each military officer wears a sword. In front of the dais, they stand in two rows facing each other, the civil officials on the left and the officers on the right. The officials all stand at ease conversing while waiting for the King's arrival.
OFFICIAL A: (Looking around.) How come I don't see that omnipresent eunuch?
OFFICIAL B: You mean Chao Kao?
OFFICIAL A: (Contemptuously.) Who else! He is the most influential person in our court now. An alien! I wonder why His Majesty always trusts damnable aliens.
OFFICIAL C: (Chipping in.) Speaking of aliens, His Majesty has just appointed a ceremonial official from the Kingdom of Chi as the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince Fu Soo.
OFFICIAL A: (Peevishly.) An alien to teach the future King! His Majesty must be out of his mind!
OFFICIAL C: I heard that the envoy from Chi has persuaded His Majesty to release the Queen Mother and welcome her back to Hsien Yang. That's how he got his present post: as a reward for his advice.
OFFICIAL B: He must be a very courageous man. He ought to know that His Majesty has had twenty-seven officials clubbed to death because they spoke for the Queen Mother.
OFFICIAL A: I wonder how he did it. OFFICIAL C: He reproached our King. OFFICIALS A & B: (Surprised.) He reproached His Majesty!
OFFICIAL C: That's right. He said to our King: When you killed your stepfather by tearing him to pieces, people said you were jealous. When you killed your two small brothers, people said you had no heart. When you clubbed your censors to death, people said you were as cruel as the tyrants Chieh and Chou. When you imprisoned your mother, people said you were not filial. How do you expect your people to support you? All the world will criticize you and your kingdom soon will go to pieces like a broken tile.
OFFICIAL A: My gracious! Did His Majesty get angry?
OFFICIAL C: No, he admitted that he was wrong. He even embraced the envoy. Hush! His Majesty is coming. (The music becomes softer. From offstage comes the sound of wooden wheels on a cobbled pavement. Everyone on the stage stops talking and stands at attention. Rhythmic footsteps are heard. Enter the King and attendants. The imperial party mounts the dais. The King sits on the throne and his attendants stand at each side. The music stops as soon as the King is seated. All officials turn to the King and bow deeply.)
OFFICIALS: (In a chorus.) Long live Your Majesty! (The King nods acknowledgement. A ceremonial official steps out.) CEREMONIAL OFFICIAL: (To the whole court.) If you have any reports to make, please step forward. (Chou Ching-cheng, Master of Archers, steps out and bows to the King.)
CHOU: Your servant, Chou Ching-cheng, Master of Archers, takes great pleasure in reporting to Your Majesty that we finally have renovated our weapons with IRON!
KING: Completely!
CHOU: Yes, Your Majesty. With the new attachment on the bow, an arrow can penetrate two persons bound together.
KING: How did you find out?
CHOU: I used prisoners as targets.
KING: (Smiles.) When do you suggest we should use our enemies as live targets?
CHOU: (Excited.) Now, Your Majesty. Now is the right time. The wheat is ripe in the fields. Even if we fail to seize any territory from the other kingdoms, we can reap a good harvest.
KING: In that case we shall tryout the new weapons on our immediate neighbors. Which one first? Chao or Han? (Before Chou has time to answer, Premier Wang Wan, first man in the row of civil officials, steps out and bows to the King.)
WANG: Your Majesty, I would like to suggest a more cautious policy. The five kingdoms—Chu, Wei, Chao, Han and Yen—are allies. Attack one and the other four will come to its aid.
KING: That's the very reason we must take the initiative. If we don't attack them, the allies will attack us.
WANG: Still we must have some justification, without which even the mightiest army may not win.
KING: Of course we have a justification. We were attacked twice by the allied forces within the past ten years. Don't we have any right to retaliate?
CHOU: Your Majesty is perfectly right. Besides weapons made of iron rust easily.
KING: (To the whole court.) Shall we have war?
MAJORITY: (Tightening their fists.) Yes, we want WAR! WAR! WAR! (Prince Cheong Wen steps out and bows to the King.)
CHEONG WEN: Your Majesty, I have to call your attention to all the spies the allies have planted in our country. We must get rid of them before we can wage a major war.
KING: Thank you, my good cousin. I almost overlooked this vital problem. Do you have any suggestion of how to comb them out?
CHEONG WEN: The most effective way is to expel all aliens from our country, especially those who hold government positions.
KING: (Slapping his thigh to emphasize his concurrence.) A wonderful idea! A wonderful idea! You are the one after my own heart. I'm going to issue an order expelling all aliens from my kingdom. (To eunuchs.) Get the learned men here, at once! (Exit one eunuch. To the three officials still standing before him.) Return to your posts. (The three obey. Gen. Huan Yi steps out.)
HUAN YI: (Bows.) Your Majesty, may I ask a question?
KING: Of course, General Huan Yi.
HUAN YI: How can we wage a major war with three hundred thousand of our soldiers engaged in building an irrigation project?
KING: Oh, yes, that irrigation project in the Kuan Chung Plain. What's the name of that expert from the Kingdom of Han?
HUAN YI: Cheng Kuo.
KING: That's right. How long has he been at it?
HUAN YI: Over a year now. Rumor has it that he was sent here by the King of Han to propose this gigantic project in order to dissipate our manpower.
KING: (Excited.) So that we won't be able to wage any major war in the meantime. (Angrily.) That man must be a spy!
HUAN YI: I've no doubt Cheng Kuo is a spy. Day before yesterday he came to Hsien Yang and called on me, asking me for five hundred thousand more men and a corresponding number of tools.
KING: Is he still here in Hsien Yang?
HUAN YI: Yes. In fact he is right outside the palace gate. I told him that I had to ask Your Majesty's permission and he'd better come to explain the situation to Your Majesty himself.
KING: Good! Bring him here.
HUAN YI: (Taking a small silk scroll from his breast pocket.) Your Majesty, please take a look at this. (Hands the scroll to a eunuch.) It's Cheng Kuo's letter to the Premier of Han. I had the messenger waylaid. Nothing important in it. He just said that he wishes to return to the Kingdom of Han right away. (The King reads the scroll while Gen. Huan Yi bows and exits. After reading, the King puts the message into his sleeve pocket with a wry smile.)
KING: (With a sweeping glance of the entire court, his eyes seek out the treasurer.) Mr. Treasurer. (The treasurer steps forward and bows.) How much do we need to sustain an expeditionary force of one hundred thousand men?
TREASURER: The military expenses for an expeditionary force of such a size, Your Majesty, will amount to a thousand taels of silver per day.
KING: Why that much!
TREASURER: For an army of one hundred thousand soldiers we need at least one thousand chariots, one thousand leather-covered wagons, a hundred thousand sets of panoplies, and ample provisions. They have to be carried over long distances. One thousand taels of silver a day is a conservative estimate. (The King looks displeased.) But our coffers, fortunately, are full of gold, enough to sustain such an expeditionary force for several years. Besides, we can always levy higher taxes.
KING: (Happy.) Good! Good!
TREASURER: (After some thinking.) Your Majesty, there is something that worries me.
KING: What is it?
TREASURER: Our food situation.
KING: With the new harvest coming, it shouldn't be a problem.
TREASURER: Even with the new crop, our granaries will not be full.
KING: (Upset.) Very discouraging news! TREASURER: Your Majesty, please remember that we had a most serious drought seven years ago and the very next year locusts flew in from the east so that they almost darkened the sky. Our people had to live on borrowed grain. Ten months later the allied soldiers of the five kingdoms attacked us at Shou Ling. Although they were repulsed, many of the wheat fields were destroyed. Since then we have had a series of local wars, border incidents, revolts and lately the construction of this irrigation canal in the Kuan Chung Plain. All these have made heavy calls on our granaries. Besides, we have to let the earth rest one out of every three years, otherwise it will become barren. (The King by now is upset and impatient. With a wave of his sleeve, he dismisses the treasurer.)
KING: (Impatiently.) All right, all right! You talk like an old woman! (The treasurer blushes and retreats.) Sorry, Mr. Treasurer, I'm in a very bad mood. (A pause.) Please let me have your report on how to standardize our coins as soon as possible.
TREASURER: Yes, Your Majesty. (At this juncture Gen. Huan Yi comes in, followed by Cheng Kuo, the irrigation expert.)
HUAN YI: (Bows to the King.) Your Majesty, Cheng Kuo, the irrigation expert, is here.
CHENG KUO: (Bows.) Your humble servant Cheng Kuo wishes Your Majesty long life.
KING: At ease. (A pause.) I learned that the late King of Han valued your service very much. He even invited you to ride in the same carriage with him. I wonder what brought you here. (With a sly look.) Was it because you love Ch'in more than Han?
CHENG KUO: (Blushing) The late King of Han was a good king and he treated me well. But Han is a small kingdom and its financial condition is not sound. I found that I had no chance to practice what I have learned in my native country. That is why I came here.
KING: You have a good reason there. Now please tell me how far you have gone with the irrigation project.
CHENG KUO: We are now near Hu Kou at the west side of Chian Hoh Lake.
KING: How much longer will it take for you to complete the whole project?
CHENG KUO: Another year and a half, Your Majesty.
KING: (Displeased.) Why that long? Are you by any chance delaying it on purpose?
CHENG KUO: Your Majesty, it is a gigantic project. Fortunately, due to the perfection of iron tools, progress has been greatly accelerated. Otherwise it would take even longer.
KING: (Skeptical.) Don't try to fool me. The total length of the canal is only three hundred li. Why should it absorb so much manpower and take so long?
CHENG YUO: (Patiently.) It's not a simple canal, Your Majesty. (Taking a silk scroll from his sleeve.) May I explain it to Your Majesty in detail again. (About to mount the dais.)
KING: HALT! The penalty for coming up the dais without my permission is DEATH! (Cheng Kuo stops abruptly. Taking Cheng Kuo's letter to the Premier of Han from his sleeve he throws it in Cheng's face.) You've been in clandestine correspondence with an enemy kingdom. You are a spy! (To Gen. Huan Yi.) Gen. Huan, take this spy away and execute him outside the palace gate NOW. (Cheng Kuo, hearing his death sentence, holds his head high and laughs. His unusual reaction startles everyone.) Why do you laugh when you know you are going to die?
CHENG: Death will come as a relief. My mind has been tortured ever since I came here.
KING: (Sarcastically.) Don't tell me that your conscience has been bothering you while spying on a host country that treats you so well.
CHENG: I was worried because I was doing something to help instead of to hinder Ch'in in its design for conquest.
KING: What do you mean?
CHENG: Your Majesty, forgive me for saying so, Ch'in's enmity to the allied kingdoms is common knowledge. Throughout the past ten years, you've been preparing for war. But may I ask how much grain you have stored up for this purpose?
KING: It's none of your business.
CHENG: Your granaries are only half full. Your grain will not supply an expeditionary army of five hundred thousand men for eight months.
KING: Spy! Spy! Take him away! Kill him! (Gen. Huan Yi is about to lay hands on Cheng Kuo. Premier Wang Wan stops him.)
PREMIER WANG: (To the King.) Please, Your Majesty, there is truth in what Cheng Kuo has said. Please let him finish what he wants to say before you kill him.
KING: (To Cheng Kuo.) All right, say what you want to say and be quick about it.
CHENG: (Bows.) Thank you, Your Majesty. You know perfectly well that no matter how strong and brave your soldiers are, they cannot fight on empty bellies. (Everyone, including the King, nods.) This irrigation system on which I'm working will relieve you forever of your worries about the food supply. It will provide a constant water supply independent of nature. Besides, river water is much richer than rain water. The four million mou of farmland in the Kuan Chung Plain will have two crops a year, to yield a total of forty-eight million piculs of grain, more than half the total yield of your entire kingdom. (Everyone in court is impressed except Gen. Huan Yi.)
HUAN YI: Your project is a good one but you'll still have to die. We'll get someone else to do it.
KING: That's right. (His eyes sweep the civil officials standing at the left of the dais.) Where is the Water Conservation Chief? (Water Chief Li Shuei steps out and bows to the King.) Li Shuei, I want you to take over the job of constructing the irrigation system in the Kuan Chung Plain. (Without replying, Li kneels down and removes his official hat, puts it on the ground, kowtows. The King is annoyed.) What are you doing this for? Are you resigning?
LI: Yes, Your Majesty, I'm not capable of carrying out your assignment.
KING: You mean you cannot do it?
LI: No one in Ch'in can do it except Cheng Kuo. In fact, I would go so far as to say that no one else under the sky can. So if Your Majesty kills Cheng Kuo, you are doing more harm to Ch'in than to Han. (The King looks perplexed. Then he suddenly stands up. With firm steps he steps off the dais. He takes Cheng Kuo by both arms.)
KING: First of all, I must apologize to you for the harsh words I have said to you. (With a half smile.) However, you couldn't expect me to be civil to a suspected spy.
CHENG: (Moved.) It's I who owe Your Majesty an apology.
KING: (Putting on his best appearance of benignity.) Then you are forgiving me. Are you still willing to work for Ch'in?
CHENG: (With emotion in his voice.) Your Majesty, believe it or not, I'm an honest man. (After a pause.) I cannot say I'm still willing to work for Ch'in.
KING: (Displeased, drops his hands, which all the while have been on Cheng's arms.) Why not?
CHENG: (Calmly.) Because I'm still loyal to Han… (Pause. The King's face is flushed with suppressed anger. Officials nervously await the outburst of anger from the King. But The King keeps his temper. Cheng Kuo's eyes sweep the faces around him, then he continues.) However, I shall complete this project for you to the best of my knowledge and ability. (Relief is expressed on everyone's face. Even the King manages a smile.)
KING: I always admire an honest man. (To Li Shuei, still kneeling.) Li Shuei, I'm glad you prevented me from making a grave mistake. (Calling a eunuch.) Come here and put Li Shuei's hat back on. (A eunuch helps Li put on his hat.) Please rise. (Li gets up and bows to the King.)
LI: Thank you, Your Majesty.
KING: (To Cheng Kuo.) I will give you full authority to proceed with this project. (Seriously.) But beware, your life is in my hands. I shall pay you well but you'll have no freedom to move about beyond the assigned area. Your every movement will be closely watched. However, when this project is completed, your merit will be forever remembered by the people of Ch'in because I'm going to name that canal after you. It will be called CHENG KUO CANAL.
ALL OFFICIALS: (Nodding their heads, in a chorus.) The Cheng Kuo Canal.
CHENG: (Moved almost to tears.) Thank you. I am most grateful, Your Majesty.
KING: (To General Huan Yi.) General Huan, please see that Cheng Kuo gets everything he needs.
HUAN: Yes, Your Majesty.
KING: All of you may go now. I'm tired. The morning court is adjourned. (While the King and Cheng Kuo were talking, three men had entered from downstage left. They now step forward to bow to the King.)
KING: Ah, the three learned men! I almost forgot. (General Huan Yi, Cheng Kuo and Li Shuei bow to the King and withdraw. The officials file out. At each of the two downstage entrances eunuchs hold huge trays between them. Some of the officials leave their tablets on the trays as they exit. Meanwhile, the King and the three learned men are engaged in conversation. All the eunuchs and maids stand behind the King.)
KING: I want you to draft a proclamation ordering aliens to leave the country. (Pause.) And a declaration of war on the Kingdom of Han.
LEARNED MAN: May I ask what justification we shall give for expelling the aliens and the moral ground for waging war against Han?
KING: (Anger flaring. In a loud voice.) Are you asking me to write them for you? I pay you well because people say you have brains. Apparently you are just rice barrels. (Pause.) Let me have the drafts before noon tomorrow or leave my service, all of you. Now get out! (The three exit. The King is still angry.) Silverfish! All seventy of them! Good for nothing but chewing the books! (As the King moves toward the ante-room through the upstage left entrance, the music resumes. His attendants follow. The stage is empty and the music fades away. Enter Li Sze and Yu Liao.) .
LI: This is the Audience Hall.
YU: (Looking around.) I can see that you have an ambitious King.
LI: How do you know? You haven't even met him.
YU: I don't have to see a person to know him. The place he stays, the books he reads, those he befriends are all clues to a person's character.
LI: What makes you thing that our King is ambitious?
YU: With his royal coffers bulging with gold, his Audience Hall is not lavishly decorated. He must have far-reaching plans. A man who aims high is apt to neglect his immediate surroundings.
LI: (Slapping Yu's back.) Very keen observation. He is ambitious and he works hard. Every night he reads memoranda until the small hours of the morning. (Music and commotion are heard from offstage.)
LI: Must be some important person coming.
YU: Could it be the King?
LI: The sound comes from outside. (Chao Kao rushes in.)
CHAO: Where is His Majesty?
LI: The morning session is over. His Majesty has returned to the inner palace. (A commotion is heard from offstage.) Must be some important person coming.
CHAO: Is His Majesty still in this palace?
EUNUCH: His Majesty is in the ante-room changing his attire.
CHAO: Tell His Majesty that the Queen Mother is coming.
EUNUCH: (Surprised.) The Queen Mother is coming here!
CHAO: Yes, yes, please hurry. She will be here before you have time to move. (Eunuch leaves in a hurry.)
LI: (To Chao.) How do you find Her Majesty?
CHAO: (Shaking his head and sighing.) Entirely changed! I was shocked. She looks old and haggard.
LI: Old and haggard
CHAO: With gray hair.
LI: With gray hair!
CHAO: And wrinkled.
LI: Oh no!
CHAO: Worse still, she is no longer herself.
LI: What do you mean?
CHAO: She often mumbles. Sometimes all of a sudden, and for no reason at all, she pulls her hair and shrieks.
LI: How can she be received by His Majesty in such a state?
CHAO: She is not always like that. Most of the time she is normal. In fact she is much better since I told her that His Majesty had decided to welcome her back to Hsien Yang. (Music is louder. Four eunuchs and four maids-in-waiting enter, heralding the arrival of the Queen Mother. She is supported by two maids. The music stops as the Queen Mother enters. She looks sick and has aged at least twenty years since her last appearance in Act II. A eunuch hurriedly goes to the ante-room and brings out a chair. The Queen Mother sits down.)
CHAO: (Goes to the Queen Mother and bows.) Your Majesty. (The Queen Mother smiles faintly. Only when she smiles can a lingering trace of her old charm be seen on her now wrinkled face. Unconsciously, as of old, she smoothes her gray and lusterless hair with a shaky hand. Li Sze is apparently shocked by the physical changes that have come over the Queen Mother. He stares at her for a moment, then realizing his bad manners, he blushes and lowers his eyes.) His Majesty is in the ante-room changing his attire. He will be out soon to welcome you. (The Queen Mother nods. Li Sze goes up to the Queen Mother and bows. The Queen Mother nods again in recognition of his courtesy. The music starts again, this time from another direction. The King appears in ordinary attire, followed by attendants. Also shocked by what he sees, the King stands stunned for moment not knowing what to say.)
CHAO KAO: (Trying to break the ice. To Queen Mother.) Your Majesty, look who is here. (The Queen Mother looks up. She smiles absent-mindedly, then slowly recognition comes. Her expression changes and tears roll down her cheeks.)
QUEEN MOTHER: (Choked with emotion.) My son! (The King rushes to her.)
KING: My mother! (He kneels by her side.) I'm ready to forgive and forget everything that has come between us. I'm going to honor you just as I did before.
QUEEN MOTHER: Thank you, my son, I'm so happy to be with you again.
KING: I'm sorry for what I have done to you. Please forgive me.
QUEEN MOTHER: I deserve the ill treatment, and maybe more. I am a woman full of sin. (Pause.) But I can't forgive you for killing your young brothers. (Her lips tremble.) They were such innocent, harmless little boys .... (Sobs. Blood rushes to the King's face. He stand up abruptly. Everyone is nervous.)
CHAO: (Coming to the King's rescue.) Your Majesty, Li Sze has something to report to you.
LI: (Taking the hint. Bows to the King.) Yes, Your Majesty, I've found a rare treasure for you.
KING: (Puzzled.) Really? Where?
LI: Here. (Pointing to Yu Liao. Yu goes up and bows to the King.)
CHAO: (To eunuchs.) Fools! Bring in some seats. (Exit four eunuchs to the ante-room upstage right. To maids.) Her Majesty is tired. Prepare the ante-room and let Her Majesty rest for a while before going to the Sweet Spring Palace. (Two maids lead the way and two others help the Queen Mother to get up and leave the stage through the entrance at upstage left.)
LI: (Presenting Yu Liao.) Your Majesty, he is the treasure I have found for you. He has mapped out plans for Ch'in's domination of all lands under the sky. (Li's words thaw the frost on the King's face. The eunuchs bring in the seats. The King sits down.)
KING: Please be seated, both of you. (Both Li and Yu sit down. Taking a good look at Yu.) Your costume tells me that you are not a native of Ch'in.
YU: I'm from Da Liang, capital of the Kingdom of Wei.
KING: (Suspiciously.) Ah, I dare say your coming to Ch'in will be a great loss to Wei.
YU: (Sensing the sting in the King's tone.) I came here because I could not stand the class discrimination in my own country. Your Majesty, to tell you the truth, I'm from a family of lowly birth.
KING: (Feeling easier now.) You'll find no discrimination in my country. We even had a merchant as premier for twelve years. YU: That's why I am here, to offer my services to Your Majesty.
KING: (Gives Yu an intense look, stands up and bows to him.) You honor Ch'in by your illustrious presence. Please let me have your advice.
YU: (Taken unawares by the King's unusually polite behavior, quickly stands up and returns the bow.) Your Majesty, I'm unworthy of such honor. (The King sits down.)
KING: Please move your seat closer to mine so that I can hear you better. (Yu moves his seat and sits down.)
YU: As Your Majesty knows, the world has been torn to pieces by feudal lords and petty kings for more than two hundred years. Internal strife and wars have engulfed the people in chaos. The only way to save the world is to weld all these contending states into one empire. During the past five years, I have traveled through all the seven kingdoms. After a month's stay in your honorable country, I've come to the conclusion that Ch'in has the best chance of uniting the world and restoring peace and order.
KING: (Proudly.) You must have found out that my armories are filled to the ceiling with weapons made of iron and our coffers are full of gold, we have myriads of chariots and horses, innumerable brave generals and thousands upon thousands of strong soldiers, all ready to go into battle at a moment's notice. The only thing we need now is a good strategist, (Eyeing Yu slyly.) and you may be the very person I have been looking for.
YU: (Smiles.) I am a strategist but not in Your Majesty's sense of the world. Reliance on military forces alone is the lowest form of strategy.
KING: (Puzzled.) How can you fight without using armed forces?
YU: (Smiles again.) With Your Majesty's consent, I would like to make our talk confidential.
KING: (With a wave of his sleeve. To his attendants.) All of you leave and close the doors. Admit no one during my conference with this gentleman. (Chao Kao and all the King's attendants bow and exit. Li Sze stands up but Yu tugs at his sleeve and Li sits down again. After the attendants are gone, the King pulls his seat still closer to Yu.) Now, may I have your advice?
YU: Your Majesty, I am against waging war on any kingdom now.
KING: (Suspiciously.) Many people have advised me against waging war and they all gave good reasons. May I have yours?
YU: The Six Kingdoms, in their present state of disunity, are weak and meek. They are so frightened by Ch'in's growing power that they have even tried to disparage each other to gain Ch'in's favor. Each appeases Ch'in in its own way. But if Ch'in should invade anyone of them now, they may bury their petty jealousies and misunderstandings and unite against Ch'in. The stronger Ch'in's military pressure, the stouter will be their unity. That was how Chih Po, Fu Cha and Min Wang met defeat in the past.
KING: (Nodding.) You have a point. (Pause.) Well, what is the best way to conquer the world?
YU: The best way, Your Majesty, is to set an example of good government, let people of the other kingdoms see how our people enjoy peace, security and prosperity. Thus people everywhere will renounce their own countries and flock to Ch'in voluntarily. Eventually all the six kingdoms will collapse and Ch'in will be able to rule the world without shedding a single drop of blood.
KING: (Lukewarm.) How long will it take to achieve this aim?
YU: Twenty to fifty years.
KING: (Disappointed. Rises brusquely, with a shake of his sleeve to express his intention of terminating the conversation.) Mr. Yu Liao, I am afraid you have come to the wrong person to offer this stratagem. I have no patience to wait for fifty years.
LI: (Desperate.) Mr. Yu, this is not the stratagem you told me about.
YU: (Also stands up.) I shall offer the other stratagem when His Majesty is in a more receptive mood. (Yu bows to the King and is ready to leave. Li forces Yu to sit down.)
LI: (To the King.) He has a wonderful plan up his sleeve, Your Majesty, please have patience and hear him through.
KING: (Bows to Yu Liao.) Forgive me for being so impatient. I beg you not to give me up but to teach me as you would teach a pupil. (Moved by the King's modesty, Yu returns the courtesy. Seeing that Yu is softened by his apology, the King pulls Yu's sleeve and both of them sit down again. Smiling humbly.) What is the other stratagem you have told Li Sze?
YU: This stratagem is less humane and entails bloodshed, but it will score a much quicker success.
KING: (Eagerly.) Let me hear it! Let me hear it!
YU: This method is by infiltration and alienation. Handpick some cunning men. They must be alert, shrewd, eloquent and at the same time ruthless. Arm them with lots of gold and extra sharp daggers. Send them to our target countries in various disguises, to do two things: to induce corruption in high places and to incite discontent among the people. To the greedy, offer gold; to the sensual, beautiful women; to the ambitious, promise of power; to the idealists, promises of morality. For those who oppose us there is the dagger. When the target countries are rotten within, it's time to use the armed forces. Victory will be as easy as pushing down a decayed wall or pulling up a tree eaten by worms.
KING: (Deeply interested. Kneels down before Yu.) You are sent by heaven to help Ch'in. (Yu, taken aback by the King's action, hastily kneels and then helps the King to his feet.)
YU: (Kneeling.) Like the silkworm giving up its last thread of silk before it dies, Yu Liao, your humble servant, will offer his services to Your Majesty until he breathes his last.
KING: (Helping Yu to get up.) For me you are as the rain to the scorched earth. I shall appoint you my Chief of Staft. From now on you will be treated as my equal. You will wear the same kind of dress I wear, eat the same food and stay in the palace with me.
YU: (Bows to the King.) I don't even dare to think of being accorded such honor and I shall feel greatly ill at ease. I am most grateful for Your Majesty's appreciation of my capability, which has not been recognized by the King of my own country.
KING: I like this stratagem very much. How long will it take to achieve our aim?
YU: About ten to fifteen years. We must not make a move until success is certain. (Bows to the King.)
KING: Of course. Of course.
YU: Is fifteen years too long?
KING: No, no. I must learn to be patient. How much gold do we need to launch this scheme in all the six kingdoms?
YU: I should say about three hundred thousand taels.
KING: That's not much. I shall place this amount at your disposal. Do you need an assistant?
YU: Yes. In fact what I need is not an assistant but someone to execute the whole scheme, because I myself lack the ruthlessness that is so essential to success.
KING: Can you recommend someone?
YU: Yes, and I don't have to look far. (Pointing to Li Sze.) Here he is.
KING: (Expressing his approval with a smile.) I shall say you and I are in complete accord. Li Sze is an extraordinarily capable man. That's why I have kept him on whereas all the others recommended by the ex-premier Lu Pu Wei were liquidated. (To Li.) Are you willing to take this job?
LI: (Quickly kneels down.) Yes, Your Majesty, I feel so honored.
KING: (Helps him up.) I shall appoint you the Supreme Judge.
LI: (Unable to suppress his pleasure.) Thank you, Your Majesty.
YU: (Bows to the King.) Something else needs to be done. We must use every means to alienate relations among the six kingdoms. As Your Majesty knows, it is much easier to deal with one kingdom rather than with six of them at once.
KING: (Slapping his thigh with glee.) That's right. That's right. Now please tell me which one of the six shall we deal with first?
YU: The kingdom of Chao.
KING: Why Chao?
YU: Because Chao has a very famous general, Li Mu. He probably would become the commander-in-chief of the allied forces in case of war. We must get rid of him.
KING: How?
YU: By using Kuo Kai.
KING: Who is Kuo Kai?
YU: An official of Chao. By flatteries he curried the favor of both the late King and present King of Chao. We can bribe him to work for our interests.
KING: How do you know he can be bribed?
YU: Because he once accepted bribery from the Kingdom of Wei. He traduced General Lien Po and caused the old general to be exiled. (Some commotion is heard from offstage. A child's voice shouts: "I want to see my grandmother. I want to see my grandmother.")
KING: (Stands up.) It sounds like the voice of Fu Soo. (Shouting to the eunuchs outside.) Let the Crown Prince in. (Fu Soo comes in. He is about six years old.) FU: (Anger in his voice.) Father, the eunuchs at the door wouldn't let me in.
KING: My son, they were merely carrying out my order.
FU: You forbade me to come in?
KING: No, not you. (Fondly.) You look well in your new dress.
FU: I wear it to show my grandmother. Eunuch Chan told me grandmother is here. (Looking around.) Where is she?
KING: Your grandmother is taking a rest now.
FU: (Impatient.) When can I see her? People say she is very, very beautiful.
KING: (Not knowing what to say to his son. After a long pause.) Well, my son. She is no longer young. (Mao Chiao, the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, enters.)
MAO: (Bows to the King.) Long live Your Majesty.
KING: (Displeased with him.) You ought to teach the Crown Prince not to get excited so easily.
MAO: Yes, Your Majesty. (Stands aside.)
KING: (To the Crown Prince.) Go to the colonnade outside and play there for a while. I shall send someone to fetch you as soon as your grandmother wakes up.
FU: (Cheerily.) All right, father. (Capering and singing as he runs out.)
KING: (To Mao.) I want you to warn the people serving the Crown Prince not to mention anything about his grandmother. She is not in full possession of her faculties. Better that he doesn't see her.
MAO: (Bowing to the King.) Yes, Your Majesty. (The Queen Mother suddenly appears at the upstage left entrance. Everyone on the stage looks at her with trepidation. Her hair is in disarray and she looks distraught.)
QUEEN MOTHER: (Her voice faltering.) I heard ... I heard a child's voice, a very familiar voice. Where is he? (Two maids appear from behind the Queen Mother and assist her. Li and Yu quickly stand up. Li moves a seat for the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother sits down and the two maids stand behind her. The King claps his hand and Chao Kao and several eunuchs enter. The King inclines his head toward the Queen Mother. Chao, understands that the King wants him to take the Queen Mother away.)
CHAO: (Walking toward the Queen Mother, bows.) Your Majesty, the Sweet Spring Palace is ready. I'm here to escort you there.
QUEEN MOTHER: Not now. Wait a while. I want to see that boy who was here a few minutes ago.
CHAO: (Feigning ignorance.) What boy?
QUEEN MOTHER: A boy with a voice very familiar, very familiar. I distinctly heard him.
CHAO: (Trying to change the subject.) Ah,Your Majesty, I almost forgot. Here is the gentleman who is responsible for your coming back. (Chao beckons to Mao Chiao to come near. Mao walks to the Queen Mother and bows.) Your Majesty, may I present to you Mao Chiao, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. He persuaded His Majesty to welcome you back.
QUEEN MOTHER: (As if waking up from a dream. She smooths her hair and smiles.) Thank you, esteemed and virtuous man. Your great courage has righted the wrong, made good the ruined, stabilized the Kingdom of Ch'in, and brought my son and me together again. I am forever grateful.
MAO: I am unworthy of such praise. I just... (Suddenly Crown Prince Fu Soo rushes in but is taken aback when he sees a white-haired old woman instead of the beautiful image in his mind.)
QUEEN MOTHER: (Her face turns white and her voice trembles at the sight of the Crown Prince.) I didn't... I didn't know you were still living....
FU: (Scared.) Father, what is she talking about? (The King's face is red with anger and embarrassment, but he does not answer.)
QUEEN MOTHER: (To Crown Prince.) Don't you know me? I'm your mother. Well, (She laughs a little.) I forgot that I've changed a lot. (She smoothes her hair again.) My hair has turned gray. Come here. Let me hold you in my arms again. You don't know how much I missed you and your brother. (The Crown Prince hesitates a little. Seeing no evil intention in her eyes, he rushes up to her before the King can stop him. The Queen Mother lifts him onto her lap, holding his head against her bosom, tenderly. She bursts into tears.) I missed you terribly, terribly. Where is your brother? Where is your brother?
FU: (Puzzled.) Which one?
CHAO KAO: (Coming near the Queen Mother.) Your Majesty, this is Crown Prince Fu Soo, your grandson.
QUEEN MOTHER: (Suddenly comprehending.) Oh, yes, my grandson. Oh, yes, how foolish I was, expecting the dead to come back alive. (She cries again.)
FU: (Sympathetic.) Please, grandmother, please don't cry!
QUEEN MOTHER: (Smiling through tears.) You are a good boy. You look just like your young uncle. (Examining his hands.) Such soft dimpled hands! (Passing her fingers through his hair.) Such satin-like hair! (She touches his hair.) Such a funny nose! (The prince smiles.) Such an innocent smile! (Then her hand moves to his neck. A look of madness comes into her eyes. Her face turns pale and her lips tremble.) Such a thin fragile neck! One slight push of a knife and the head will fall. It will bounce and roll on the floor! (The Crown Prince is frightened. He struggles free of her grasp and the King quickly takes him in his arms. The child is trembling.)
FU: (With shaking voice.) Father, why does grandmother want to kill me? (The Queen Mother stands up, completely mad. She yells and shrieks and pulls her hair.)
QUEEN MOTHER: (Pointing to the King.) Murderer! Butcher!
KING: (Outraged. To the maids.) Take her away! Keep her in the Sweet Spring Palace! (The Maids support the fainting Queen Mother as she leaves by the downstage right exit. The King puts down the Crown Prince.)
KING: (To Mao Chiao.) Remember, the Crown Prince will not be allowed to see his grandmother again. I'll hold you responsible. They must not meet, even by chance.
MAO: (Bows.) Yes, Your Majesty.
KING: (To all present.) What you have just seen is strictly a private affair of the royal household. It must not be repeated outside.
EVERYONE: (In chorus.) Yes, Your Majesty.
KING: I want you to swear it.
EVERYONE: Yes, Your Majesty.
KING: (To one of the eunuchs.) Have a dog killed and bring a dish of its blood here.
EUNUCH: (Bows.) Yes, Your Majesty. (Exits the eunuch.)
KING: (To Mao.) Take the Crown Prince back to the East Palace, then come back here.
MAO: (Bows.) Yes, Your Majesty. (Mao takes the dazed Crown Prince by the hand and leads him away through the downstage exit on the left.)
KING: (To Li and Yu.) I'm going to the ante-room to rest for a while. I want both of you gentlemen to wait for me here.
LI & YU: (Bowing.) Yes, Your Majesty. (The King leaves through the upstage exit on the left, followed by Chao Kao and attendants. Li and Yu are left alone on the stage. Both sit down.)
YU: (Talking to himself.) I must leave before it's too late.
LI: (Puzzled.) What do you mean?
YU: (To Li.) After taking the oath, I'm going to leave Ch'in.
LI: You cannot be serious.
YU: I am. I have to leave right away, before the King announces my appointment.
LI: I don't understand you. You moved mountain and sea to have your ability recognized by our King. Now that you have attained the goal, you want to back out.
YU: Li Sze, my friend, I want to be very frank with you. I don't like what I've just seen. Besides while talking to the King; I made a careful study of his features and build. His Majesty has a humped nose, wide eyes and protruding shoulders like an eagle's. On top of everything, he has a hyena's voice. This kind of person is often very callous and has the heart of a tiger. When in difficulty he is humble and meek; when he has had his way, he will not hesitate to devour his benefactors. I am only a commoner. Yet he treats me with such submissiveness. I'm afraid when this king of Ch'in succeeds in dominating the world, all the people under the sky will be reduced to slaves. Serving him is like nursing a hyena. I cannot stay.
LI: (Worried.) But you are putting me on the spot. The King will be furious if you leave without letting him know.
YU: You may say that you don't know anything about it.
LI: The King will be angry with me anyway. Please stay.
YU: I'm sorry, but I have to leave before it's too late and while I am still a free man.
LI: If you must go, I'd leave with you.
YU: (Shaking his head and smiling.) I advise you to stay. You have a good career ahead of you. One day you may become the prime minister.
LI: (Elated.) You are joking?
YU: I'm serious. But keep in mind this warning of mine: Look back over your shoulders often when you are forging ahead. Be sure there is enough room behind for you to retreat.
LI: (Puzzled.) I don't quite understand.
YU: He who knows contentment will not suffer disgrace; he who knows when to stop will not incur danger.
LI: Now I understand. Thank you very much for your advice. (Pause.) I still don't think you should walk out like this. Think, His Majesty even knelt down before you!
YU: No. My mind is already made up. (Taking a silk scroll from his sleeve pocket.) Here is the map I showed you yesterday. I spent three years drawing it. I offer it to you as a parting gift. It will contribute toward your advancement.
LI: (Overjoyed. Taking it.) Thank you, thank you ever so much. (Pause.) Still I don't think I am capable of executing your plan without you. (Re-enter the King and his attendants. The King takes one of the seats and the attendants line up behind him. Li and Yu bow to the King. The King nods in acknowledgement. A eunuch comes in holding a brass dish with both hands.)
EUNUCH: (Kneeling before the King and raising the brass dish over his head.) Your Majesty, I've brought the dog's blood.
KING: Now I want everyone present to take the oath. (Li, Yu, Chao Kao and the eunuchs dip their forefingers into the dish and smear the blood on their lips. They then form a semi-circle before the king. Eyeing them.) Where is Mao Chiao, the Grand Tutor? (A eunuch leaves the stage through the downstage left exit. His voice is heard from offstage. "Ah! The Grand Tutor is coming. Grand Tutor, please hurry, everybody is waiting for you to take the oath." Li Sze goes up to the King. While Yu Liao is distracted by the noise outside and not looking, Li whispers something to the King. The King nods and smiles. Li quickly and quietly goes back to his former position. Enter the eunuch and Mao Chiao. Mao bows to the King.)
MAO: I'm sorry I'm late. It took me quite some time to pacify the Crown Prince. He was very upset.
KING: All right. Take your oath with the others. (Mao also smears blood on his mouth. The King stands up, takes the dish of blood and pours it on the ground. With upturned face.) Whatever divinity who happens to be passing overhead, please bear witness to our oath.
EVERYONE: (In chorus.) If we disclose what we have just seen here, we shall be stricken dead by thunderbolt. (The King sits down. Everyone bows to him. The semi-circle is dispersed and the attendants resume their former positions.)
KING: (Pointing to Yu Liao.) Mr. Yu Liao, I wish you to take another oath. (Yu looks puzzled.) I want you to swear that you'll not leave Ch'in without my permission. (Yu stares at Li Sze. Li turns his face away.) Mr. Yu Liao, please swear.
YU: (Resigned.) I swear that I'll not leave Ch'in without the permission of the King of Ch'in...
KING: Or?...
YU: Or die an unnatural death.
KING: (Embracing Yu.) I am the dragon, you are the clouds. Without the clouds, the dragon cannot fly in the sky. (To the King's ardor Yu remains passive and expressionless. The King feels the chill and drops his arms. Li Sze walks in front of Yu and bows deeply.)
LI: Mr. Yu, I thank you for your consent to stay. (Li again bows to the King.) I congratulate Your Majesty for naming such a capable man to be Chief of Staff.
KING: (To his attendants.) Get one of the learned men here. I want him to draft an announcement right away. (A eunuch leaves. Li takes out the silk scroll Yu gave him and hands it to the King. The King sits down and unrolls the scroll. His face brightens.) Marvelous! Wonderful!
LI: That's how the Ch'in Empire will look after Your Majesty has unified the world.
KING: Wonderful, wonderful! (Pointing to the map.) What are these lines?
LI: (Looking at the map.) They are highways.
KING: (Pointing to another part of the map.) What are these lines?
LI: Waterways and canals.
KING: What is this long crenellated line?
LI: That is the Great Wall to separate the northern barbarians from our celestial empire.
KING: It is a very long wall. At least ten thousand li.
LI: In some places, we can use the existing walls built by the Kingdoms of Yen, Chao, Wei and Chi.
KING: Still, it's a stupendous job. We'll discuss it later. (Enter the eunuch and a learned man.)
EUNUCH: (Kneels before the King.) I met the learned man on his way here. (The learned man bows to the King.)
KING: I want you to draft an announcement appointing Mr. Yu Liao as my Chief of Staff.
LEARNED MAN: Yes, Your Majesty. But may I first present to Your Majesty this draft. (Producing some bamboo tablets from his sleeve.)
KING: (Without taking them.) What are they about?
LEARNED MAN: Doesn't Your Majesty remember? This is the proclamation requiring all aliens to leave Ch'in. (Proudly.) We finished the draft very quickly.
LI: Really? In that case, both Mr. Yu and I will have to leave Your Majesty's service.
KING: (Takes the tablets and gives them to the eunuch standing nearest him.) Burn them!
LEARNED MAN: (Aghast.) Why, Your Majesty?
KING: (Definitively, word by word.) I've changed my mind.
CURTAIN
(To Be Continued)