Frank Owen

“ Their standard of living was high. They were splendid fighters, brave, loyal, able to stand long marches, and excess exertion without fatigue. In battle they could easily subdue Duke Bonimet. A braggart is like a gaudy kite flying, backed up by a rotten string that may snap at any moment. Had any of the Supreme Beings who dwelt in the College of Immortality been braggarts? Lao Tzu, Confucius, Mencius, Mohammed, Christ, Buddha, Nestorius? Disciples of their doctrines lived in harmony at Changan under the gracious, tolerant Emperor Ming Huang. ”

“ A wise Emperor knows his troops; he holds to him the hearts of his people. Before his footprints, his subjects bow down in reverence. Such an Emperor was Ming Huang, Emperor of all China. His Palace at Changan sprawled over many thousand mows, that is, including the gardens, but then gardens always have been considered the most important rooms in Chinese homes whether they are hovels or palaces. No hut too small to shelter at least a few flowers. And so it was that the Imperial Palace at Changan wound in and out among fragrant gardens like a colorful dragon. ”

“ The storehouses of Chang Shou-kuei were within the earth. The farmers went out with reverence into the fields. Their bare feet dug into the warm, new-turned soil as though they were taking root. From the earth they drew strength, these men who were as strong as oak trees. ”

“ All knowledge can find a resting place in China. It can be boiled in the cauldron of reflection and the dross drained off. Men, not walls, make a city. An army of only one traitor is large enough to overthrow the largest kingdom. A country can be conquered on horseback, but it cannot be governed on horseback. An Empire is firm when the conquering Emperor dismounts and walks among his people, when he chooses his generals as much for their steadfastness as for their might."
Chang Shou-kuei remained with bowed head. ”

“ All the maidens wore flowers twined in their hair, in accordance with the wishes of the Poet-Emperor, who was attuned to the rhythm of beauty whether it was in art, in poetry, in music or in the dancing of a girl with flower petal cheeks. Fantastically, he chose his generals only if they were good poets, and stranger still, the poet-generals scanned the enemy and found little difficulty in bringing them into tune. Understanding easily overcame brute force, as it must always do eventually. And yet Ming Huang hated war. ”

“ Sometimes, when a regiment of his soldiers on horseback left to put down a border uprising, he stood on the crest of the hill upon which was terraced the gardens of the palace and watched the speed at which the horsemen tore their way into the heart of distance. Though a conqueror, he was opposed to war, and yet he knew that as long as there are men there will be wars. But even when the last war is over, there will still be China. ”

“ When he had paid his farewell respects to Chang Shou-kuei, he hastily withdrew and went at once to his palace. He caused the doors of the great hall which had been converted into a treasure-chamber to be secured because he did not wish to be disturbed. It was needless precaution. Never would he be disturbed again, for every last one of his people, even the aged, the crippled and the young with all their horses, their dogs, their falcons, their pigs, had followed the caravan of Chang, the Conqueror. In all the city not a single living creature remained except Duke Bonimet, General of All Men. ”

“ Now Chang was a craven figure, he wished to bow at the feet of Duke Bonimet. Yes, Chang Shou-kuei was a craven but he was a craven who controlled vast stocks of food and was the lord of great wealth. Later, after certain festivities were over, Duke Bonimet would seize all the food he needed. For if a man be hungry, he who can appease that hunger will control the man. And it had been long since his people had feasted to excess. A well-fed army takes many prisoners but loses no battles. No man of earth stood in a more enviable position than Duke Bonimet. ”

“ Meanwhile the story-tellers spread their absurd tales, carrying them to extremes beyond their instructions. But Chang Shou-kuei did not stop them. When an army is at peace, though ready for war, then is the garrison strong. Without any undue commotion, the men of the army drilled in small groups, and since they wore no uniforms, no decorations, few there were who realized they were fighting men. Sometimes, battles are more easily won by soldiers who are not crushed under the weight of their equipment and medals. Too many decorations are like too many sweets at a meal. ”

“ A nation to flourish in the sun cannot be under the thumb of one man, even though it be a Celestial thumb on the hand of "The Son of Heaven." Ming Huang, greatest of Emperors, knew this and was influenced by it. In his court were poets, artists and musicians. Among the poets were many generals who were not puppets who danced to the strings and tune of a master. They were able to lead and reason independently. When faced with a severe test, they were equal to it. Witness the case of General Chang Shou-kuei, on the occasion of the attack on Bishbalik. ”

“ Nor, for that matter, can it be denied that as a lover he left nothing to be desired. History tells that he had so many lovely fragile women eager to do his command, he found it hard to select a partner for a night's repose. Therefore all his maidens twined flowers in their hair. They walked gracefully through the garden, and their breath was like perfume. Then into the garden would come Kao Li-shih. He would release a swarm of butterflies from a bamboo cage. ”

“ He gave orders that his soldiers were to assemble, in uniform, but without war equipment. While he waited, he mused, "Kingdoms cannot spring up over night like bamboo reeds and retain permanence. An artist cannot draw a picture on the air and expect it to remain. The tiger stalking his prey does not growl; the general stalking his victims does not rattle his armaments. The tiger, growling, does so to keep up his courage. The strutting of a general is for the same reason. Though Duke Bonimet appears well-armed there is weakness somewhere in his equipment. ”

“ Truly, it seemed that with the appointment, the Emperor, under his great seal had given him a grove of characters and a page of diamonds. It was an experiment extremely palatable. Nevertheless, he refused to permit pleasure to gallop away with common sense. He had an important work to do. He was very devout in his appreciation of the twenty-first Ode of the Chi-king: 'Heaven created man, but not in order that man should rashly use the privilege of life.'
As was natural under this new plan of living, the soldiers of Chang Shou-kuei grew sleek and strong. ”

“ States won in that manner never become welded to the Empire. They watch for weak moments, when disaster stalks in some distant part, then they strike and break away. In history, China will be great, because if my wishes are followed through the ages, conquest will be a weapon only used against the oppressors in order to help tire oppressed. ”

“ I made him repeat it over and over again, until I too could quote it. 'Live neither in the present, nor in the future, but in the Eternal. . . because nothing that is embodied, nothing that is conscious of separation, nothing that is out of the Eternal, can aid you. . . within you is the light of the world. . . . Read the Larger word of Life? I am not sure that I know how to interpret it, but it has undoubtedly a certain beauty, perhaps truth. The greatest civilization, the one that survives the longest, will be the one in which education is as universal as a cooking-pot. ”

“ This method of selection was called "Butterfly Luck" or "Butterfly Fortune." The maiden about whose head the butterflies swarmed, was the night's companion. Together they would remain until the moon melted into the dawn. ”

“ Meanwhile she banished Kao Li-shih from the Imperial Palace. His temper was too violent; or could it have been because he was opposed to despotism? It is hard to cow a man six feet tall and with tremendous power, even though that power does not include the art of reproduction. A man does not need a beard to stand up for righteousness.
So Kao Li-shih was sent from the Court in disgrace. However, he was brought back when eventually Ming Huang came into power by the abdication of his father Li Tan, who had been named heir by Wu How. ”

“ He must attack somebody, lest his army decide to attack him. A general may overcome his enemies but he is constantly at the mercy of his men. Duke Bonimet will have to strike quickly, for his men evidently are desperate for food. ”

“ Duke Bonimet was exceedingly pleased, for the dragon was the emblem of the Emperor. It augured a brilliant future for him. Five had always been a magical number. At night five planets appear in China skies. Five tints are to be found in nature. And there are five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, water. So on endlessly. Even in direction, five points are recognized; East, West, North, South and Center, and Chang Shou-kuei by his action recognized the Center as Duke Bonimet. ”