Chinese Literature

The proverb says: An earthen pitcher will sooner or later be broken over the well. And as a rebel, Commander Fan was guilty of the greatest crime against the state. While the government was occupied with other affairs and had no armed forces to spare, he was safe; but after those famous generals Chang Shuo, Yueh Fei, Chang Tsun, Wu Chieh and Wu Ling inflicted one defeat after another on the Tartars, the empire began to be more stable; and during the winter of the year that Emperor Kao Chung moved his capital to Hangchow and started the era of Shao Hsing, Prince Han Shih-chung was ordered to lead one hundred thousand troops to exterminate the rebels. How could Commander Fan stand up to Prince Han? He had to withdraw into the city of Chienchow, while Prince Han encamped outside the wall and laid siege to the city.

Now Prince Han and the tax-collector Feng had been friends in the northern capital; and when the prince led his troops against the rebels he knew that Feng, as an officer in Foochow, must understand local conditions. In those days commanders of an expeditionary force often carried blank commission forms which they could fill up when they found local talent; so Prince Han made Feng his chief of staff, and they came together to the camp outside Chienchow to direct the attack.

Inside the city, meantime, weeping and wailing sounded day and night; and though Commander Fan made several attempts to break out, he was beaten back each time. When the situation was desperate, Yumei said to her husband:

“T have heard that a loyal subject does not serve two masters and a chaste woman will not take a second husband. When I was captured by the rebels, I meant to kill myself; but you rescued me and made me your wife, so I am yours. Now that the imperial army is besieging us, the city will soon be taken; and when the city falls, you, as a member of the rebel party, will not be spared. I would like to die before you. I couldn’t bear to see you executed.”

She drew the sword at the head of the bed to kill herself, but Young Fan hastily stopped her, took away the sword and comforted her, saying:

“IT never wanted to join the rebels, but now I have no way to clear myself. Jade and stone will be consumed in the same fire: I haye resigned myself to fate. But you are the daughter of an official and a captive here—you will come to no harm. All Prince Han’s officers and men are northerners like you. You speak the same dialect, and when they see that you come from their part of the country they will treat you well. You may even meet some old friend or relative who will pass on the news to your father, so that you can join your family again. Life is very dear; why throw it lightly away?”

“If my life is spared,” said Yu-mel, “TI shall never marry again. If I am captured by the soldiers I will kill myself rather than lose my chastity.”

“Knowing your noble resolution, I can die content,’ replied Young

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