Chapter 73: Director Ruan

"Yesterday the Military Office issued two horses. Of the five we had before, two are no longer fit to ride, so the mounted couriers can still only field five men."

Pang Yu leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed, listening to He Xianya across from him.

"Magistrate Yang also said the yamen is far too short on horses. The relay posts to Anqing are intermittent, messages travel slowly, and he told every office to think of solutions. The yamen originally had a hundred and thirty horses. During the civil unrest, the good ones were all lost. Of the fifty-odd left, most are barely usable — twenty at most can be ridden. The rest can pull carts, but they walk very slowly and may not keep pace with the others. The worry is they'll fall behind and delay receiving the official. So these past few days, while every office is busy preparing for the handover, they've also been borrowing horses from city merchants, thinking that when receiving the official they'll have to go all the way to the county boundary south of Liantan. Without horses, it would be quite grueling."

"Our horses are not to be lent out privately." Pang Yu spoke while still resting. "The county gentry also have to go to the Jieting Pavilion. Where would so many horses come from to lend out?"

"Magistrate Zhang of the Punishment Office has already come to ask. The archivist from the Archive Repository also came to borrow. This subordinate told them to wait for the squad leader's return to decide."

"The Punishment Office we have to lend to, and we have to be very polite about it." Pang Yu opened his eyes. "Zhang Changyu made some silver from this round of interrogations and is straining at the bit for the new magistrate to arrive. The Document Receiving Office is the same. In short, all those who've lost influence lately are hoping for the new official to take office. We can't afford to offend any of them."

"Then that makes two horses here. With Mr. Yu's, which was agreed on early, that's three. Second Brother, you ride one yourself, and we must at least keep one for Clerk Tang. Judging by the timing, he might make it back. If there's no horse for him when he returns, it would put Clerk Tang in a difficult spot."

Pang Yu tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. "You think things through thoroughly. Then don't rush to agree with the Archive Repository. Just say we don't have enough for our own use."

"Understood. Second Brother, if you plan to send a few more men to Anqing Prefecture, the others will have to go on foot." He Xianya lowered his voice. "Wang Chaofeng is about to leave for Anqing."

"Is that item prepared?"

"Prepared. Wang Chaofeng borrowed a cart from the Six Hundred Zhang Patrol Office. I bribed the groom. The moment they reach Anqing Prefecture, we'll know Wang Chaofeng's lodgings."

Pang Yu stood up, tilted his head, and glanced through the doorway at the opposite side. Several men from the Runner Squad squatted listlessly under the dripping eaves. Lately, the Runner Squad had been squeezed hard enough by Pang Yu — not only had four positions been snatched away, but they'd also lost jurisdiction over the Eastern Market and Xiangyang Gate. Wang Dazhuang looked rather downcast and dusty.

Pang Yu withdrew his gaze and asked, "Is Wang Dazhuang going around everywhere scraping together silver?"

"That is indeed happening. I hear he even went to Granary Keeper Yuan. Do you want me to go warn Yuan Granary Inspector?"

Pang Yu thought it over, then shook his head. "Let him borrow. We focus on the new magistrate's business. These two days, report some robberies to the Document Receiving Office — in the direction of Liantan and Guache River. The Document Receiving Office will naturally report it to Yang Fangzao. If the territory is not peaceful, then when the time comes we can use that as a pretext to go to Anqing to receive the official."

"Understood. If Wang Chaofeng goes to Anqing, should this subordinate also..."

"If he goes, then you go too, and handle that matter well. We can't compare with the Six Offices. Right now, the primary fight is against the Runner Squad. We must not be careless."

He Xianya nodded repeatedly.

Pang Yu picked up an invitation from the desk and smiled. "I still have to pay a visit to Ruan Dacheng. But he's changed the location again. Originally he said to go to the Zhongjiang Society, now it's to his villa. Does he think I'm not qualified to attend the literary society? Third Brother, tell me, should I still go?"

He Xianya frowned in thought. "Ruan Dacheng is a man obsessed with an official career. His reputation in Jiangnan scholarly circles is poor, but the Tongcheng gentry still associate with him quite a bit. His changing the location isn't necessarily a slight against you, Second Brother. I hear that Fang Shengyu, Pan Yinglou, Wu Daoning, and that whole group within the Zhongjiang Society are all moving to Nanjing. The Zhongjiang Society probably won't hold meetings anymore."

"So many people are leaving?" Pang Yu asked in surprise. "As far as you know, who else is going?"

"Over on that side, He Ruchong, Wu Yingqi, Ye Can — all those of high prestige are leaving. Then there's Fang Kongzhao, who's also let slip his intention to go. I hear the Fang Family is already packing their luggage. Once these few major families leave, most of the others have some kinship ties with them, so many will follow. The brokerages in the city have seen a surge of estates and properties up for sale. The Tongcheng scholarly world is withering. The Ze Society, Yunlong Society, Zhongjiang Society — none of them can keep going."

"The gentry are all heartbroken. Hmm, if every family is selling off land and houses... tell Liu Ruogu to put our land deeds and house deeds up for sale too. Let the market glut further, keep pressing down the prices those gentry can get. Press hard. When the time is right, we'll go bottom-fishing." Pang Yu picked up the invitation and smiled. "Sounds like Ruan Dacheng will most likely leave too. He and the Fang Family are old family friends, and he and Mace Bingdeng are cousins. With all those people gone, how lonely he'd be staying behind."

He Xianya shook his head. "This subordinate has made inquiries these past few days. According to the servants of various families, Mace Bingdeng and Ruan Dacheng have already fallen out. The year before last, when Fang Yizhi returned from his study tour in Jiangnan, he said they needed to distinguish moral tone, and pulled Mace Bingdeng, Fang Wen, and others away from the Zhongjiang Society. That's how the Ze Society and Yunlong Society came to be. There's been some estrangement between Ruan Dacheng and Fang Yizhi ever since, but Ruan Dacheng and Fang Kongzhao still interact as usual."

Pang Yu paused in thought for a moment, recalling what Fang Yizhi had said about studying in Jiangnan. "Was it because Fang Yizhi heard certain opinions at the Restoration Society that he came back wanting to distance himself from Ruan Dacheng?"

"It's said that at the Restoration Society he met the children of Wei Dazhong. The Wei family has always maintained that Wei Dazhong's death originated from Ruan Dacheng's scheming. Here in our Tongcheng, whether among the scholarly circles or in commoners' homes, there are those who say Zuo Guangdou was also killed by Ruan Dacheng. It's not entirely baseless rumor. Zuo Guangdou's sons have had no contact with Ruan Dacheng for years. You have to understand, back in the day, Ruan Dacheng and Zuo Guangdou were allies standing together in the Capital."

"So that's how it is." Pang Yu sighed, recalling what Fang Yizhi had told him privately yesterday — that Fang Wen's wife was Zuo Guangdou's daughter. No wonder Fang Wen also withdrew from the Zhongjiang Society.

From what he'd observed these past days, intermarriage among the Tongcheng gentry was extremely complex. Fang Yizhi's wife was Pan Yinglou's daughter. Sun Lin's wife was Fang Yizhi's younger sister. Sun Lin's elder brother Sun Jin was a Censor, and his wife was Zuo Guangdou's niece. Zuo Guangdou's daughter married Fang Yizhi's paternal uncle Fang Wen. Fang Yizhi's younger brother Fang Qiyi was betrothed to a daughter of the Zhang Bingwen family, and Zhang Bingwen's wife was Fang Kongzhao's younger sister.

Though the web of connections looked intricate, one point was very clear: marriages had to be between families of matching status. Especially for principal wives, the match absolutely had to be within the same social stratum.

For an ordinary person to break into this circle was a matter of extreme difficulty. Fortunately, through the dramatic effect of quelling the unrest, Pang Yu had successfully established ties with the scholarly world. Though the relationship was very superficial, he had taken the hardest first step.

"Then I shall still go to the Ruan residence and see whether Ruan Dacheng is leaving or not."

He Xianya licked his lips. "I rather hope Ruan Dacheng doesn't leave."

"Why?"

"His household has a theater troupe. Every time he comes from Huaining to stay in Tongcheng, he brings the troupe with him. Lots of people wait outside his compound walls just to listen."

"Jade radiance, cold light, the night moon empty — the sound of flowers idly falls on Dongting's wind. Clouds part, stars and moon float o'er the mountain hall — the Queen Mother comes seeking the five-colored dragon."

In the front courtyard garden of the Ruan Family villa south of the city, a woman stood on the stage and had just finished singing a Southern Tunes piece. The lingering notes still echoed through the courtyard.

"Excellent! The seventh act closes with Jitang verse. Note this down — the Yiyang Tune still sounds best. If I haven't specified otherwise, use the Yiyang Tune for all."

Ruan Dacheng rose to his feet and addressed the rest of the troupe below the stage. "Today's rehearsal of this seventh act was better than before. But it's a pity the Sheng Role isn't here. When we left, I told you all clearly — once the unrest was settled, you could return to the residence. That dog of a talent must have misheard where to go. Everyone rest a while. We'll continue rehearsing the eighth act shortly. The eighth act is 'Bewildering Maze,' the longest act. All of you, pull yourselves together."

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to Pang Yu, who stood behind him. "I've kept Pang Xiaoyou waiting. I had originally wished to invite Pang Xiaoyou to join a literary gathering, but today none of the society members could spare the time, so I invited Pang Xiaoyou to sample the opera instead. I hope Pang Xiaoyou does not mind."

Pang Yu quickly bowed. "I did not wait in vain. Just now my eyes were opened wide. Now I know that Ruan Xiansheng is not only zealous for public good, but also brilliantly talented in literary grace — even the opera lyrics are so exquisitely arranged, beyond words."

Ruan Dacheng stroked his great beard with some pride. "A trifling skill, nothing more. It's just that this old man is not afraid to display his clumsiness before others, and over the years has found some kindred spirits. I wonder if Pang Xiaoyou understood clearly what you just saw?"

Pang Yu hesitated. "Just now I only heard half an act. It seemed to be about a maid called Spring Cherry, on the night of the Upper Lantern Festival, wanting to take her young mistress ashore from a large boat. But I don't know what came before or after."

Ruan Dacheng's eyebrows lifted. He warmly took Pang Yu by the sleeve and led him forward toward the study, speaking as they walked. "This work is titled Spring Lantern Riddles. It is this old man's new composition from last year. It tells of a Tang Dynasty scholar named Yuwen Yan, who, while accompanying his father to a new post, had their boat moored at Imperial Mausoleum Station. It happened to be the lantern fair of the Upper Lantern Festival. While disembarking to sightsee, he chanced upon Wei Yingniang, the daughter of the West Sichuan Military Commissioner. This young lady, together with her maid Spring Cherry, was disguised in men's attire. Together with Yuwen Yan, they guessed the lantern riddles correctly. The temple keeper bade the two drink together and leave a written memento. Who would have known that when boarding their boats, the wind rose and the boats shifted, and the two boarded the wrong boats by mistake. Yuwen Yan was mistaken for a thief and thrown into prison. The Yuwen family, believing him dead, departed in grief — but took Wei Yingniang, who had boarded the wrong boat, and adopted her as a goddaughter."

Pang Yu said in amazement, "Brother Ruan, this plot design is quite ingenious. Using the lantern riddles as a matchmaker is especially captivating. What ultimately became of Yuwen Yan?"

By now the two had reached the study door. Ruan Dacheng shook his head mysteriously. "For that, Pang Xiaoyou will have to watch slowly later to understand the flavor within."

Pang Yu asked in surprise, "Could it be that it can be finished rehearsing today?"

"That, I'm afraid not." Ruan Dacheng sighed. "It's our own household troupe. They had originally rehearsed it to proficiency. Who would have known that when the civil unrest came, one Sheng and one Dan fled. Now the Dan has returned, but the Sheng has still not been seen. If Pang Xiaoyou wishes to finish watching it today, you can only read this old man's script."

Pang Yu understood. The Ruan Family must have been badly frightened at the time. But Ruan Dacheng usually spent much of his time residing in Huaining. Though he came to Tongcheng often, his dealings with the common people were limited, so he had not drawn the rioters' attention.

The study was much the same as the Fang Family's, even a bit more austere than Fang Yizhi's study — probably because this place was merely a villa and not Ruan Dacheng's permanent residence.

Pang Yu lifted his eyes and looked around. The walls were covered with calligraphy and paintings. What best matched his aesthetic taste was a landscape painting on the left wall. The scroll's lines were simple, its style expressive and ethereal. On the painting was also inscribed a poem: "Autumn mountains, temple bells stilled — all senses touched are few. Stepside herbs stand quiet — the grass insects' hum is faint. Through the empty forest, dew sounds fall — at the pool's dawn, stars are seen to fly. In this moment, form, spirit, shadow — why trouble to discern right from wrong."

The poem and painting enhanced each other — ethereal and graceful, with a hint of Chan meaning. Pang Yu saw the signature was Baizi Woodcutter and couldn't help looking at Ruan Dacheng.

Ruan Dacheng narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Baizi Woodcutter is this old man. Because I ordinarily live at the foot of Baizi Mountain. The poem is this old man's writing, but the painting is someone else's. Ruan does not possess such brush strength, nor do I ever falsely claim to excel in both poetry and painting. Unlike some scholars — utterly empty of ink in their chests, devoid of poetry and learning in their bellies, possessing only the skill of soliciting favors, yet forming cliques to praise one another. This old man is a Presented Scholar of the Wanli years. The scholars of those days did not conduct themselves so. In twenty years, the world's morals have declined to this point. Laughable, lamentable."

Pang Yu had not expected him to launch into such a speech. It sounded like he was scolding the Ze Society, but from what Pang Yu had seen in his previous contact, the scholars of the Ze Society were all talented, and though they were not close to Ruan Dacheng, they had not yet torn off all pretense of civility. So it probably wasn't the Ze Society. But he had no idea who Ruan Dacheng was cursing this time.

In Pang Yu's view, the landscape poem on the wall already possessed a high level of artistic quality. If one looked only at the poem, one would surely think the poet was a man of transcendent refinement and lofty vision. But the moment one lowered one's gaze slightly and saw the big-bearded Ruan below the scroll, glaring and cursing, that ethereal mood instantly vanished without a trace.

On the desk were also many thread-bound poetry manuscripts. Not knowing how to play along with Ruan Dacheng's cursing, Pang Yu simply picked up one manuscript and leafed through it idly.

But as soon as he opened it, he saw a doggerel poem: "The barley in the sandy fields is ripe — in the sandy fields, the households weep. Yesterday the Prefecture runner came on a great barge — holding a document, he frightened me to death..."

Ruan Dacheng's eye caught the page, and his expression immediately turned awkward. He was a man of poetic and literary grace; all his associates were scholars and gentry. In their eyes, yamen runners and constables were all shameless, contemptible characters. Cursing runners a few lines in a poem was perfectly normal — it showed one's concern for the common people's suffering, seized the moral high ground, and he had never once thought it inconvenient for others to see. How could he have known that today a yamen runner head would come and sit in his study? And by the worst luck, he had flipped right to this doggerel poem. Wouldn't Pang Yu think Ruan Dacheng was pointing at a monk and cursing a bald man?

Pang Yu was not the slightest bit embarrassed. It was just that this poem and the vision on the wall were worlds apart — one would never imagine they came from the same person. He smiled at Ruan Dacheng. "Ruan Xiansheng's heart is with the common people, which makes me admire you all the more."

"This old man merely moves brush and ink. Pang Xiaoyou risked his own life to quell the civil unrest alone — that is truly what it means to have one's heart with the common people." Ruan Dacheng hastily deflected with a platitude and handed over another volume. "This is the script for Spring Lantern Riddles. I've heard that Pang Xiaoyou can read and write — reading a play script should be no trouble for you."

Pang Yu seized the chance to swap in a different script. He flipped through it very quickly. It was filled with poems and lyrics, and every act was bookended by "Jitang" verses — all in the style of Tang poetry. To Pang Yu, they all showed remarkable literary grace. Every character's lines, every action, every expression was clearly annotated.

Moreover, the plot of this Spring Lantern Riddles was indeed ingeniously intricate and full of twists. After finishing it, Pang Yu couldn't help but see Ruan Dacheng in a new light. This man, starting from nothing, served simultaneously as Poet, playwright, director, producer, and stage manager. He even funded the troupe himself. Sometimes he had to step on stage in minor roles, and he often sang the opening Jitang verses himself. His Haiyan Tune and Yiyang Tune were both perfectly enunciated. Truly, he was the foremost talent in the late Ming entertainment world.

Pang Yu touched his nose, feeling that Ruan Dacheng was simply born in the wrong era. If he had been born in Pang Yu's time, with Ruan Dacheng's talent, winning Best Screenplay or Best Director would have been effortless.

Just then, someone entered through the door. Ruan Dacheng stood up and introduced him to Pang Yu. "This is my good friend Pan Cilu, also Mizhi's father-in-law. He has come today to help this old man rehearse the play."

Pang Yu hurriedly offered a greeting. The man looked quite young and very capable — you wouldn't guess he was already old enough to be Fang Yizhi's father-in-law. Although Pang Yu had never met Pan Cilu, he had heard the name several times. Pan Cilu's real name was Pan Yinglou. His family residence had been burned down by Wang Guohua's men during the Civil Unrest.

Pan Yinglou's mood seemed unaffected by the Civil Unrest. He exchanged a few polite words with Pang Yu, then urged Ruan Dacheng to continue the rehearsal.

Ruan Dacheng said to Pan Cilu, "Next is Act Eight. You play the Fumo Role Role Role first."

"Fumo Role Role Role it is. Or should I just play the Sheng Role as well?"

"How can old men like us play the Sheng Role? Wouldn't we just make fools of ourselves?"

Pan Cilu said, displeased, "That Sheng Role actor isn't coming. Are we supposed to skip his lines every time we get to them? Then what's the point of rehearsing?"

Ruan Dacheng sighed helplessly, when suddenly he heard Pang Yu beside him say, "Then allow me to help out and play the Sheng Role."

……

"The Dan Role sings the closing lines of Act Seven first, so the next part can connect properly!" Ruan Dacheng directed from below the Stage, holding a script.

The woman on stage began by taking two slow steps, then chanted, "Spring Cherry, the scenery on the shore is truly lovely. Look."

Ruan Dacheng then recited the epilogue and Jitang verse closing Act Seven, transitioning into Act Eight.

"Spring Lantern Riddles, Act Eight. Enter the Fumo Role Role Role as the Temple Attendant."

Pan Yinglou, playing the Fumo Role Role Role, stepped forward and sang, "The First Full Moon's lantern-moon is bright as frost, accompanying the blaze of Incense Offerings. A peal of thunder echoes along the spring river. Village folk come to fulfill their vows, prayer flags hung, paper money fragrant."

This connected directly to Wei Yingniang's earlier lines, as if the audience were following her gaze toward the scenery on the shore.

Ruan Dacheng came out again to recite the Jitang poem: "On robes of firewood smoke, embroidered spring departs; on hidden mountain books, small seal script characters. The bright moon comes of itself and goes of itself; I know not where to mourn the Lady of the Xiang."

He recited with extreme earnestness. The moment he finished, he waved his hand, and a crowd of extras swarmed onto the Stage, pretending to wander about in all directions. Since there were so many, quite a few weren't even from the troupe — they were Household Slaves from the Ruan Family, pressed into service as walk-ons.

Once the extras had taken the stage, Ruan Dacheng turned to Pang Yu and raised a hand. "Enter the Sheng Role, Pang Xiaoyou!"

Pang Yu was playing the male lead, Yuwen Yan. He had joined a drama club back in university, but this was his first time playing the lead role, and with such a heavy part, he naturally felt a little stirred. Script in hand, he mounted the stage and loudly declaimed, "The crowd is so dense. I might as well stand for a while in a less crowded spot beneath the corridor. That would be best."

Then he stepped onto a stool, pretending to stand beneath a winding corridor. The extras shouted in unison, "Look, the lantern dancers are coming!"

Another group of miscellaneous characters came on stage, playing the dragon lantern, little ghosts, Zhang Sheng, Facong, Hongniang, and the like. As usual, they were all extras — household servants, Maids, and old women from the Ruan family.

Seeing Ruan Dacheng signaling again, Pang Yu quickly found his line and loudly said, "Look, another group of lantern-viewers is coming."

The Dan Role actress, playing the female lead Wei Yingniang, came on stage dressed in men's clothing, accompanied by a Maid. This woman wasn't particularly good-looking, but her strength lay in how beautifully she had mastered the vocal style.

The group of extras from earlier now picked up lanterns and moved from the right side to the center of the stage.

One of them shouted loudly, "We are the lantern riddle tellers! All you gentlemen and officials watching the lanterns, hear me! My lantern riddles this year are different from usual. They are a few common sayings, each cluing the name of a person from ancient or modern times. If you guess correctly, take this string of Copper Coins as your prize. If you guess wrong, you pay us the same number of coins as on this string. Please, give them a guess!"

While they were speaking, Pang Yu had already checked the script. As soon as the man finished, he stepped forward to the lantern and struck a pose as if carefully studying the riddle.

Ruan Dacheng's face lit up with delight. Pang Yu joining the rehearsal allowed Spring Lantern Riddles to proceed smoothly. Not only did Pang Yu have a perfect grasp of the rhythm, but his expressions and movements were also highly fitting. Moreover, Pang Yu's image matched the character design in Ruan Dacheng's mind quite well. Watching his work take shape once more, and growing ever closer to his vision, Ruan Dacheng was naturally overcome with Excitement.

The extra, holding the lantern, loudly said to Pang Yu, "Would this young gentleman care to guess which person's name these four lines refer to? 'Not a bamboo tube, yet lacks its right side; still a donkey, yet lacks its right side. Beneath your lordship's right eye grows a pine tree; the young lady's cherry lips are never perfectly round.'"