Chapter VIII A Hopeless Dilemma

THE eunuch said to Chin See : " His Majesty
desiring again to see the writing of Master
Yang, has commanded me to gather up the
fans. May I have yours also ? "

Chin See began to cry, saying : " Unhappy being
that I am, I thoughtlessly wrote a companion verse
under what the Master had written for me, and now
it proves my death warrant. If His Majesty sees it
there will be no chance of escape. Rather than die
under the arm of the law, I would prefer to take my
own life. When I am dead, may I trust you for the
burial of my body ? Please have pity on me, and see
that my poor remains are not left to the mercy of the
ravens."

The eunuch replied : " Why do you, a literary
secretary, say such things as these ? The Emperor is
kind and ready to take a liberal view of everything.
He would never regard this as a serious offence. Even
though he should be angry I will use my office to
placate him ; follow me."

Chin See then followed the eunuch, who left her
outside the palace while he went in alone. His Majesty
looked at the compositions in order till at last he
came to Chin See's fan, where he found someone else's
verses just below Master Yang's. He wondered what
it could mean and asked the eunuch. The eunuch said
in reply : " Chin See told me that, never dreaming
of your Majesty's asking to see them again, she had

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boldly written this just below the poem on her fan,
bringing upon herself a sentence of death. Her pur-
pose now is to take her own life, but I urged her not
to do so and brought her here."

The Emperor read what was written and it ran as
follows :

" The rounded fan, like the shining moon,
Calls me back to the light that was dimmed so soon.
I never had thought through my tears and pain.
That a day would come when we'd meet again."

When his Majesty had read it through, he said :
" Chin See must have had some experience in the
past that this refers to. She is highly gifted in her
writing and worthy of praise." He then told the
eunuch to call her.

As she came in she bowed low in the court, and
confessed her favdt.

His Majesty said : " K you teU me the truth I will
forgive your deadly sin. To whom do you refer in
this verse ? "

Chin See bowed again and said : "How can I
dare to hide anj^thing from your Majesty after what
I have done ? Before my home was destroyed,
Master Yang, on his way to the Government examin-
ation, passed in front of our house. Unexpectedly we
saw each other, and on his writing a love song to me,
I composed a reply and sent it by a messenger, pro-
posing marriage. He accepted it and so it was decided
upon. The other day in the Hall of the Fairies, while
in waiting on your Majesty, I saw him again and
knew his face, but he did not see me. Your unworthy

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servant, thinking of what had passed, foolishly wrote
this verse which has found me out. I deserve to die
a hundred deaths."

His Majesty, sorry for her sad experience, said :
" Can you recall the love song that brought about
your engagement of marriage ? "

Chin See then wrote it out and presented it to him.
He said to her : " Though your fault is a grievous
one, still, because you have wonderful ability and are
so greatly loved by the Princess Nan-yang, I forgive
you. Be thankful for my clemency, and give your
whole heart and attention to the service of the
Princess." He then gave her back the fan, which she
received, and after thanking him again she withdrew.

On the same day Prince Wol returned from the
home of Justice Cheung and told the Emperor that
Yang's future was decided, and that he had already
sent his marriage presents.

At this the Empress Dowager was very much dis-
pleased, and said : " Master Yang has already been
advanced to the rank of Minister of State, and must
know the laws and traditions of the Government.
How can he be so determined to have his own way ? "

The Emperor replied : " Yang So-yoo may have
sent his marriage gifts, but that is not the same as
having completed the marriage ceremony. I am
sure that if one reasons with him, he will not fail to
listen." So the next day Minister Yang was sum-
moned to the palace, and he at once appeared.

The Emperor said : "I have a sister who is un-
commonly gifted, and, apart from yourself, I know
of no one who could be a suitable mate for her.
Prince Wol has already conveyed to you my wishes,

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but I hear that you decline and offer as an excuse the
fact that you have already sent your marriage gifts to
the house of Justice Cheung. Evidently you have not
thought the matter over carefully. In olden days
when a choice of Imperial daughter-in-law was to be
made, sometimes even a wife was chosen, not to
speak of one simply betrothed. One ancient king
spent a whole life of regret thinking of the women
who refused his conmiand. My idea is that we are
not just the same as the nation at large. We are the
parents of the people, and therefore what binds the
people does not necessarily pertain to us. Even though
you should break oflf your engagement with Justice
Cheung's daughter, she could easily find another
opportxmity. As you have not yet celebrated the
marriage, in what way can you be said to have broken
the law of human deportment ? "

Yang humbly bowed and said in reply : " Your
Imperial Majesty has not only not punished me, but
like a father with his son has kindly and gently
admonished me. I thank you most sincerely for this.
I have nothing to say further except to add that my
circumstances are not like those of others. I am only
a poor literatus from a distant part of the coimtry.
I had not even a lodging when I first entered the
capital. By the kindness of Justice Cheung I escaped
the loneliness that beset me. Not only have I sent the
marriage gifts, but I have taken the place of son-in-
law to Justice Cheung, and also I have already seen
his daughter's face, so that we are as good as husband
and wife. That the marriage ceremony was not already
performed was due simply to the fact that there were
so many affairs of State to see to, and that I have had

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no opportunity to bring my mother up to the city.
Now, fortunately, since the outside States are pacified
and there are no longer fears for the Government,
your humble servant intended to ask a short furlough
to return home to bring his mother, choose a day, and
have the marriage performed, when unexpectedly
your Majesty's commands have come to him and he
is alarmed and knows not what to do. I know that if
I obeyed out of fear of punishment, Cheung's
daughter would guard her honour safe till death, and
never marry elsewhere. But if she should lose her
place as wife would this not be reckoned a flaw in
the reign of your Imperial Majesty ? "

The Emperor replied : " Your ideas are most
correct and good, and yet, if we speak according to
the actual conditions of the case, you and Cheung's
daughter are not really husband and wife. Why should
she not marry elsewhere ? My wish to decide this
marriage with you is not only in order to place you
as a pillar of the State and so reward you, but also to
please the Empress Dowager, who is greatly taken
with your bearing and commanding gifts, and does
not leave me free to act as I might wish."

Still Yang emphatically declined.

The Emperor said : " Marriage is a very import-
ant matter and so cannot be settled by a single con-
ference ; let us have a game of go and help to pass the
time."

His Majesty then ordered a eunuch to bring a go-
board, and they sat down. Emperor and Minister, to
try their skill. Only when the day grew late did they
cease to play,

Yang returned home, and Justice Cheung met him

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with a very sorrowful countenance. Wiping his eyes
he said : " To-day a command came from the Em-
press Dowager to send back to you your marriage
gifts, so I passed the order on to Cloudlet and they
are now in the park pavilion. If we think of it from
our side, it puts us two old people in a very pitiful
plight. I might bear it, but my old wife is overcome
by it and has been rendered ill, and is now uncon-
scious and unable to recognise her friends."

Greatly upset by this, Yang turned pale and was
unable for an hour or so to say anything in reply. At
last he said : "If they realise the unfairness of this,
and if I memorialise the Government against it with
all my heart, will they not heed ? "

The Justice waved his hand in opposition :
" Master Yang, you have already run counter to the
Imperial orders. If you petition against it I fear for
the results ; you may be severely punished. Your
only way is to submit. Besides, too, under the circum-
stances your living here at the park pavilion will be
embarrassing, so if you can find a suitable place else-
where you had better move."

Yang made no reply but went into the Park Pavil-
ion, and there was Cloudlet with tearful face and
broken voice, who offered him the marriage gifts.
" As you know," said she, " I was ordered by the
young mistress to wait on your lordship. I have been
kindly treated and am grateful to you, but the devils
have been jealous, and men have looked askance at our
happiness, so that all has come to naught ; and the
marriage expectations of the young lady are hope-
lessly ended, I, too, must bid you a long farewell,
and return to my mistress. Is it God, or Mother

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Chin See's Fear : Cloudlet says Farewell

A Hopeless Dilemma

Earth, or devils, or men who have done it ? " Her
sobs and tears were most distressing.

" I intend to petition His Majesty," said Yang,
" and I am sure he will listen. But even though he does
not, when once a young woman has yielded her con-
sent, her following her husband is one of. the first
laws of nature. How can you possibly leave me ? "

Cloudlet replied : " Though I am only of the
lower classes, still I have heard the sayings of the
Sages and am not unaware of the Three Relation-
ships [29] that govern a woman's life. My circum-
stances, however, are peculiar and different from
those of others. I played from earliest years with the
young lady and was brought up with her. All
thoughts of difference in station were dropped, and
we swore a solemn oath to live and die together, to
accept the fortunes of life with the glory and shame
that might come to us. My following the lady is like
the shadow following the body. When once the body
disappears, how can the shadow play a part alone ? "

Yang answered : " Your devotion to your mistress
is most commendable, but your lady's person and
yours are different. While she goes north, south,
east, or west as she chooses, your following her, and
at the same time attempting to render service to
another, would break all the laws that govern a
woman's existence."

Cloudlet said : " Your words prove that you do
not know the mind of my mistress. She has already
decided to remain with her aged parents. When they
die she will preserve her purity, cut off her hair, enter
a monastery and give herself up in prayer to the
Buddha, in the hope that in the life to come she may

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not be born a woman. I, too, will do just the same as
she. If your lordship intends to see me again, your
marriage gifts must go back to the rooms of my lady.
If not, then to-day marks our parting for life. Since
I have waited on your lordship I have been greatly
loved and favoured, and I can never repay, even in a
hundred years, a thousandth part of all your kind-
ness. It has turned out, however, different from what
we had anticipated, and we are come now to this dire
extremity. My one wish is, that in the life to come
I may be your faithful dog or horse, and may show
my devotion to you. Please, noble Master, may all
blessing and happiness be yours." She turned away
and wept bitterly. A moment later she stepped from
the verandah, bowed twice and entered the women's
apartments.

The Master's heart was greatly disturbed, and all
his thoughts were in confusion. He looked up at the
sky and sighed long and deeply ; he clasped his hands
and drew hopeless gasping breaths, saying : " I must
petition His Majesty with all my heart." So he wrote
out his memorial, which was full of earnestness, and
ran thus :

" The servant of your Imperial Majesty, Yang
So-yoo, bows low and prostrates himself in the
dust as he offers this memorial. In deepest rever-
ence he would say. The Primary Laws [30] are the
foundation stone on which your Imperial Majesty's
Government rests, and marriage is the first of
these laws. If once we lose its right relation all
prosperity for the State ends, confusion and dis-
order must follow. If we fail to exercise care in

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A Hopeless Dilemma

regard to this fundamental matter, the house
affected by it will not long endure. Matters of State
prosperity rest here also. Therefore the Sages, and
the specially enlightened ones, thought carefully of
this in the governing of a country, and regarded the
correct observance of the Primal Laws as the most
important thing of all, and considered that in a well-
ordered house marriage was of greatest importance.
" Your humble servant had already sent his
gifts to the daughter of Justice Cheung, and
already had become a member of his household.
After this had been accomplished, he is, by your
gracious command, unexpectedly and unworthily
chosen as the Imperial son-in-law. At first he was in
doubt, and finally he was reduced to great distress
and fear. He fails to see that the decision of your
Imperial Majesty and the approval of the Govern-
ment is in accord with the established laws of
ceremony. Even though your humble subject had
not sent the required gifts, still his social position is
so inferior and his knowledge so circumscribed,
that these alone would disqualify his being chosen
as the Imperial son-in-law. Also he is already the
son-in-law of Justice Cheung, and though the
whole Six Forms [31] are not yet completed it is the
same as an accomplished marriage. How can Her
Highness the Crown Princess ever bow to one so
low as he, and how can your Majesty let pass so
improper a proceeding without close investigation ;
or permit so grave a breach of form without search-
ing inquiry ? Alas, a secret order has come forth
making null and void that part already accom-
plished and commanding the return of accepted

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

marriage gifts, a thing that your humble servant
could never have dreamed possible. The petitioner
fears that on his account the Goyemment of your
Majesty may suffer permanent loss, and the laws
that rule society will be hopelessly damaged ; that
in high places truth will be forfeited, and that in
low places violence and wrong-doing may result.
He earnestly prays that your High Majesty will
stand by the rock on which the State rests, reverse
the order that has gone forth, and set your humble
servant's heart free."

The Emperor read the memorial and showed it to
the Empress Dowager. The Empress was very angry,
and ordered the arrest of Yang So-yoo, but the
various officers of the Government used their united
efforts against such a proceeding. The Emperor him-
self said : "I think it would be going too far to
arrest him, but the fact that the Empress Dowager is
so angry renders it impossible for me to forgive him
out and out."

Several months went by and the Empress did not
recognise Yang or show any signs of yielding. Justice
Cheung, too, was under a cloud, so that he closed his
doors and saw no one.

At this time the Tibetans, with an army of a
hundred thousand men, made a sudden invasion into
China proper, and took possession of certain cities
and territory. The advanced outposts had come as far
as the Bridge of Wee, so that the capital itself was
in great confusion. The Emperor assembled his
ministers and conferred with them. They replied :
" The soldiers of the capital do not exceed a few

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A Hopeless Dilemma

thousands, and those of the provinces are far away
and out of reach. Your Majesty therefore ought to
leave the capital for a time, make a wide circuit east-
ward, muster all the soldiers from the various districts
and set matters right."

The Emperor could not decide, but said : " Among
all my retainers Yang So-yoo is the most resourceful
in the way of plans and proposals, and has excellent
judgment. I have found him the very soul of wisdom
heretofore. The three States that we returned to order
and submission were brought so by his merit." He
then dismissed the assembly and appealed to the
Empress Dowager. " Let us forgive So-yoo, call him
and ask what plans he would suggest."

So-yoo was called, and said : " In the capital are
the tombs of the Imperial ancestors, and the palaces.
If your Majesty were to turn your back on them, the
people would be greatly disturbed. At such a moment,
if a powerful enemy were to enter the city, it would
be exceedingly hard ever to dislodge them. In the
days of Tai-jong (627-650 a.d.), the Tibetans, along
with the Mohammedan tribes, marshalled a million
men or so and attacked the capital. At that time the
forces in the city were not equal to the present, but
with his cavalry. Prince Kwak Cha-heui drove them
off and defeated them. My powers and gifts are not
in any sense equal to those of Kwak's, but with a few
thousand good soldiers I can settle accounts with
these invaders, and so repay a little the great favours
accorded me by your Imperial Majesty."

The Emperor at once appointed Yang as Generalis-
simo , and allowed him to set out from the barracks with
thirty thousand troops to attack the Tibetan army.

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Yang said the word of farewell, drew up his army
and encamped near the Bridge of Wee. He drove back
the vaniguard of the enemy, and took prisoner Prince
Choa-won, so that the enemy were thrown into con-
fusion and many troops hid therriselves or ran away.
He followed up this advantage at once and fought
three battles, beating the enemy badly, killing about
thirty thousand men and taking eight thousand horses.
From this place he sent a memorial of his victory to
the Emperor.

His Majesty was greatly pleased, ordered his return,
and appointed for each general gifts according to his
merit.

The message sent by His Excellency ran thus : " I
have heard it said that the Imperial troops are ever to
be depended on. I have heard it also said that troops
who always win think lightly of the enemy, and are
not anxious to take advantage of special moments of
weakness or hunger. This is a mistake. I cannot say
that the enemy is not strong, or that they are not well
equipped in arms. They have rebelled against their
sovereign, and we ought to await only the moment of
their greatest disadvantage to make our final attack.
Their condition grows less favourable for them
daily. It says in the Book of Wars : ' Labour hard to
strike the enemy in the moment of his hardest labour.'
One who fails to conquer then will fail simply
from lack of skill. Already the enemy is broken and
on the run. Their weakness is evident. All the dis-
tricts along the way have abundant provision piled
up for us, so that we have no fear. The wide plains
and broad valleys are at our service, and the enemy
has no place in which to pitch his camp. If we follow

A Hopeless Dilemma

them sharply with fast cavalry we can make them
completely ours. But if your Majesty rests now with
a partial victory our best opportunity will be lost.
To cease from the attack is not good policy in your
servant's opinion. My wish, with your gracious per-
mission, is to set the troops at once in motion, follow
into the enemy's camp, burn them out, and make
sure that not another armed man will cross the
border, or another arrow be shot at us, and so remove
from your Majesty all anxiety."

The Emperor read this memorial and was greatly
struck by the wisdom of it. Hfe advanced Yang to the
rank of Chief Commissioner and Minister of War.
He gave him his own sword, bow and arrows, em-
broidered belt, white flag and gilded battle-axe, and
wrote out a command mustering further troops from
north, east, and west.

Yang So-yoo received this, bowed his thanks
toward the palace, selected a propitious day, made
the necessary sacrifices and then set out. His disposi-
tion of the army was according to the ancient Six
Laws [32], and his arrangement of the camp accord-
ing to the Eight Diagrams [33]. All were under strict
discipline. Like rushing water they went forth and
straight as the splitting bamboo. In a few months the
lost territory was recovered and Yang's main forces
had arrived at the foot of the Chok-sol Mountains. A
strange sign occurred there. A great whirlwind
appeared in front of his horse and broke into the
camp and passed by. On this the Master cast the
horoscope and learned that the enemy would attack
his forces with great vigour, but that in the end he
would be victorious.

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He pitched his camp under the lee of a mountain,
and scattered about it caltrops and " Spanish riders "
to keep off the enemy. At this time the General was
seated in his tent with a lighted candle before him,
reading certain military dispatches, while the guards
outside had already announced the third watch
of the night. Suddenly a cold wind extinguished the
light of the candle and an eerie chill filled the tent.
At this moment a maiden stepped in upon him from
the upper air, and stood before him with a glittering
double-edged sword in her hand. The General,
guessing her to be an assassin, did not quail before
her, but stood his ground sternly and boldly asked :
" What kind of creature are you, and what is your
intention coming thus into the camp by night ? "

She said in reply : "I am under command of King
Chan-bo of Tibet to have thy head."

The General laughed. " The superior man," said
he, " never fears to die. Take my head, will you not,
and go ? "

Then she threw down her sword, bowed low,
and said in reply : " My noble lord, do not be anxious ;
how could your servant ever dare to cause you fear ? "

The General then raised her up, saying : " You
have come into the camp with a sword girded at your
side, and now you say you will not harm me. Pray,
what is your meaning ? "

" I would like to tell you," said she, " all my past
history, but I cannot do so in a moment."

Then the General asked her to sit down and inquired
of her : " Your ladyship, not fearing the terror of my
forces, has come seeking me. There must be some
beneficent purpose in your mind ; tell me, please."

ISO

A Hopeless Dilemma

The lady made reply : " Though I am called an
assassin, yet really I have no heart for anything of
the kind. I will tell your lordship exactly what my
mind meditates." She got up, lit the lamp again,
and came close to the general and sat down. He
looked at her. Her cloudlike hair was fastened with a
golden pin. She wore a narrow-sleeved outer coat
with a military jacket underneath, embroidered with
stone and bamboo designs. She wore phcenix-tail
shoes and at her belt hung a dragon sword. Her face
was bright like rose petals with dew upon them. She
opened her lips, which were red as the cherry, and
spoke slowly in tones like the oriole, saying : " Your
servant came originally from Yang-joo county,
where for generations we have been subjects of the
Tangs. I lost my parents when young, and became
a disciple of a woman who was a great master in
sword-drill ; she taught me her art. My name is Sim
Nyo-yon, commonly spoken of as the Swallow.
Three years after learning the science of the sword,
^ learned also that of metamorphosis — to ride the
winds, to follow the lightnings, and in an instant to
travel a thousand li. Several of us were taught, and
we were all about alike in our sword skill, but when
the teacher had some special enemy to destroy or
some wicked person to kill, she invariably sent one
of the others to do it. She never sent me. I was angry
at this, and asked : ' We all alike have followed our
teacher and have been taught the same lessons, yet I
alone have made no return to you for your kindness.
Is it because my skill is poor and I could not be
trusted to carry out the will of my mistress that you
fail to send me ? '

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

" The teacher then said : * You are not of our race.
Later you will hear the truth and be made perfect. If
I were to send you as I do the others, to kill and to
destroy, it would for ever mar your virtue. For this
reason I do not send you.'

" I asked again, saying : ' If that be so, then of
what use is my practising sword drill ? '

" The teacher replied : ' Your appointed mate lives
in the Tang kingdom, and he is a great and noted
lord. You are in a foreign land and there is no other
way by which you can meet him. By means of my
teaching you this insignificant craft you may come
face to face with your special affinity. In your search
you will enter a military camp of a million men, and
among the swords and spears you will find him. The
Emperor of the Tangs, I know, is to send a great
general against the Tibetans, and King Chan-bo has
issued a proclamation calling for assassins who are
ready to destroy this appointed leader. Do not miss
the opportunity to descend from the hills. Go at
once to Tibet and show your skill with the swords-
men of that country. On the one side you can save
them from the danger that the Tangs threaten, and
on the other you can meet your Master.'

" I received the commands of my teacher and went
at once to Tibet, tore off the notice that I found on
the city gate, and carried it to the king. He called me
and allowed me to try my skill with others. In a few
minutes I had struck off the top-knots of more than
ten persons. The king was greatly delighted and
chose me, saying : * When you bring me the head
of the general of the Tangs, I will make you my
queen.' Now that I have met your Excellency I find

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A Hopeless Dilemma

that my teacher's words have come true, and my
desire is to join those who wait on you and share a
part in your life. Will you consent ? "

The General, greatly surprised and delighted,
answered : " Your ladyship has already spared this
head of mine that was doomed, and now you wish to
serve me. How shall I repay you ? My wish is to bind
you to me by the endless contract of marriage."

Thus they plighted their troth. Around the tent the
glitter of swords and spears served for candle light,
and the sound of cymbals for the festal harp. This
marriage hall within the warlike enclosure was a
happier one than was ever that of shimmering silks
or embroidered screens.

From this day forth the General fell a victim to
the fair one and took no account of officers or men.
Days passed thus, when Sim the Swallow said : " A
military camp is no place for women. I fear that I
shall hinder the movement of the troops, so I must

The General replied : " But your ladyship is not a
common woman ; I hope that you will stay and
teach me some special craft or science that pertains
to war so as to defeat these rebels. Why should you
leave me ? "

" Your lordship," said Swallow, " does not need
me, but with your power will easily destroy the
haunts of the rebel. Why should you fear ? Though
I came forth by order of my superior, yet I have not
said my farewell to her, so I shall go back to my
teacher in the hills and await your return to the
capital. By and by I shall meet you there."

The General asked : " After you are gone, in case

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Chan-bo sends another assassin, how shall I defend
myself ? "

Swallow said : " Though there are many assassins
they are not my equals, and if your lordship accepts
me as your devoted one all danger is dispelled."
She then felt at her belt, drew forth a jewel, and gave
it to him, saying : " The name of this is Myo-ye-wan,
a pin that King Chan-bo wore in his head-dress.
Please send a messenger to him with it saying I shall
return no more."

The General inquired further : " Have you no
other matters to suggest ? "

Swallow said : " On your way ahead you will pass
a place called Pan-sa-gok where good drinking-
water will fail you. Make all haste to dig wells when
there, so that the soldiers may not die of thirst."

He desired to ask further questions, but Swallow
gave a leap into the air and was gone . The General then
called his officers to him and told them of her coming.
With one accord they said : " Your Excellency's
luck is like that of the gods, and your power to
affright the rebels is by means of angels who come
to help you."

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