The Curly-Bearded Stranger

" When Emperor Yang of Sui went south to Jiangdu, he left the Minister of Works, Yang Su, to hold the western capital. Yang Su was proud, and the age was coming apart, and he had decided that no man alive matched him in power or in weight of name. He lived like a king. When ministers came to speak with him and callers came to pay their respects, he received them sprawled across a couch, propped up by beautiful women, ranks of maids arrayed at his side — a subject aping a throne. In his last years it only worsened. He no longer knew what he was carrying, nor had any thought of shoring up a state that was starting to fall." "When Emperor Yang of Sui favored Jiangdu with a visit, he ordered the Minister of Works, Yang Su, to guard the western capital. Yang Su was arrogant and highborn, and because the times were disordered, he held that none in the realm equaled him in power and lofty repute. He kept himself in extravagant luxury, with ceremony beyond that of a subject. Whenever nobles came to speak or guests came to call, he never failed to receive them squatting on a couch, made beautiful women hold him up, and had waiting-maids arrayed about him, rather usurping the manner of the ruler. In his final years this grew worse; he no longer knew the burden he bore, nor had any heart to shore up what was tottering."

"One day a commoner in plain cloth came to lay bold strategies before him. His name was Li Jing. Yang Su received him sprawled as always. Li Jing stepped forward and bowed. \"The realm is in chaos and heroes are rising to contend for it. You are a great minister of the imperial house — your whole mind should be on gathering in men of talent. You ought not to receive your callers sprawled on a couch.\" Yang Su composed his face and rose, and made his apology, and was so taken with the talk that he accepted the man's plans and let him go. All through Li Jing's argument, one of Yang Su's singing-girls had stood before them, a red whisk in her hand, watching only him. When he had gone she leaned over the rail and asked the clerk, \"That gentleman who just left — his rank, his lodging?\" The clerk told her. She said it over under her breath, and went." "One day Li Jing, later Duke of Wei, came as a commoner in plain clothes to present extraordinary strategies, and Yang Su received him squatting as before. Li Jing came forward and bowed: \"The realm is in chaos and heroes rise in contention. You, a great minister of the imperial house, should make it your mind to gather in the bold and worthy; you ought not to receive guests squatting.\" Yang Su composed himself and rose, apologized, and was greatly delighted with the talk; he took up the strategies and withdrew. While Li Jing was displaying his eloquence, one singing-girl of surpassing beauty stood before them holding a red whisk, watching only Li Jing. After he left, the whisk-holding girl leaned at the railing and asked the clerk, \"That departing gentleman-scholar — what is his rank? Where does he lodge?\" The clerk answered in full; she recited it and left."

"Li Jing went back to his lodging. In the last watch before dawn came a low knock at his door. He rose and asked who it was. Outside stood a figure in a purple robe and a traveler's hat, a bag slung from a staff over one shoulder. \"Who are you?\" \"I am the Red Whisk of the Yang house.\" He hurried her inside. She let the fur fall and lifted off the hat — a girl of eighteen or nineteen, and lovely. Bare-faced, in a painted robe, she bowed to him; startled, he bowed back." "Li Jing returned to his inn. In the first part of the fifth watch he suddenly heard a soft knocking at the door, and rose to ask. It was a person in purple clothes wearing a hat, a bag hoisted on a staff. Li Jing asked, \"Who?\" The reply: \"I am the Red Whisk girl of the Yang household.\" Li Jing quickly brought her in. She took off the fur and removed the hat — a lovely woman of eighteen or nineteen. Bare-faced, in a painted robe, she bowed; startled, Li Jing bowed in return."

“The world already has its master now. What would staying win me?”

"\"I have served Minister Yang a long time,\" she said, \"and I have watched a great many of the world's men pass through his hall. None of them was you. The dodder-vine cannot grow alone; it needs a tall tree to climb. So I have run away to you.\" \"Minister Yang holds enormous power in the capital,\" Li Jing said. \"What of that?\" \"He is a corpse still drawing breath — nothing to fear. His singing-girls know he will come to nothing, and many have already left; he scarcely troubles to chase them. I have thought it all through. Do not doubt me.\"" "She said: \"I have served Minister Yang a long time and have seen many of the world's men, and none like you. The dodder-vine does not grow alone; I wished to entrust myself to a tall tree, and so I have come running to you.\" Li Jing said, \"Minister Yang's power is great in the capital — how can this be?\" She said, \"He is a corpse with only lingering breath, not worth fearing. His singing-girls know he will accomplish nothing, and many have left; he does not much pursue them. I have reckoned it in full detail. Please have no doubt.\""

"He asked her surname. \"Zhang.\" Her place among her sisters. \"Eldest.\" Her skin, her bearing, her speech, her temper — she was a creature out of heaven. Li Jing had never dreamed of winning such a woman, and his joy came braided with fear. For days he could not settle; the feet of the watchers never stopped outside his door. When at last he heard that a search was being made — though not, it seemed, a hard one — he dressed her in a man's riding clothes, and they threw the door open and rode. They would go to Taiyuan." "He asked her surname. \"Zhang.\" He asked her order among the sisters. \"Eldest.\" Observing her skin, her bearing, her speech, and her disposition, she was truly a being of heaven. Li Jing, not having expected to gain her, grew all the more glad and afraid; every instant he was uneasy, and those who spied at the door never rested their feet. After several days, hearing the sound of pursuit — though its intent was not severe — he put on bold men's dress, mounted, and they pushed open the door and left, meaning to return to Taiyuan."

"They stopped at an inn at Lingshi. The bed was made and meat was near done in the stove. Zhang stood combing out her hair, which fell all the way to the floor, while Li Jing brushed down the horse. A man rode up on a lame donkey — middling in build, his beard red and curling. He flung his leather bag down by the fire, pulled up a pillow, lay back, and watched her comb. Li Jing's temper flared, but he held himself and kept brushing. Zhang studied the stranger's face. One hand in her hair, with the other, hidden behind her body, she signaled Li Jing to keep still, and finished her combing fast. Then she smoothed her robe, stepped up, and asked his surname. \"Zhang,\" said the man on his back. \"I am a Zhang as well,\" she said. \"Then I must be your sister,\" and she bowed at once. \"Which are you?\" \"Third.\" \"And you, sister?\" \"Eldest.\" He was delighted. \"Today I have the luck to meet a little sister.\" She called across the room, \"Li — come and pay your respects to Third Brother!\" Li Jing hurried over and bowed, and the three of them sat down together." "They halted at an inn at Lingshi. The bed was set and the meat in the stove nearly cooked. Zhang, her hair so long it swept the ground, stood combing it before the bed while Li Jing was grooming the horse. Suddenly a man of middle build, red-bearded and curly, came riding a lame donkey; he threw his leather bag before the stove, took a pillow, and reclined, watching Zhang comb her hair. Li Jing was furious but had not resolved what to do, and went on grooming. Zhang studied his face closely; with one hand gripping her hair and the other, screened by her body, she waved a signal to Li Jing not to be angry, and hastily finished. Then she gathered her robe, came forward, and asked his surname. The reclining guest answered, \"Surname Zhang.\" She replied, \"I too am surnamed Zhang; I must be your younger sister,\" and bowed at once. She asked, \"Which in order?\" \"Third.\" \"And you, sister?\" \"Eldest.\" He said gladly, \"Today I am fortunate to meet a younger sister.\" Zhang called out from across the room, \"Li-lang, come and bow to Third Brother!\" Li Jing hastened to bow, and then they sat in a circle."

"\"What meat is that?\" he asked. \"Lamb — it should be done.\" \"I am starving.\" Li Jing went out and bought sesame cakes. The stranger drew the dagger at his belt, carved the meat, and they ate; when it was gone he chopped the scraps and tossed them to the donkey, quick about it. \"From the look of you, Li, you are a poor scholar,\" he said. \"How did you come by a woman like this?\" \"Poor I may be, but I am a man with something in him. Anyone else, and I would say nothing. You ask, so I will hide nothing.\" And he told the whole story. \"Then where are you bound?\" \"To take shelter in Taiyuan.\" \"Just so. I thought she was not a woman you could have won on your own.\"" "\"What meat is boiling?\" he asked. \"Lamb; it should be done by now.\" The guest said, \"I am very hungry.\" Li Jing went out and bought sesame cakes. The guest drew the dagger at his waist, cut the meat, and they ate together; when finished, he chopped the leftover meat and fed it to the donkey, very quickly. The guest said, \"By your bearing, Li-lang, you are a poor scholar. How did you obtain so extraordinary a woman?\" He said, \"Poor though I am, I too am a man of purpose. To anyone else I would not speak, but since you ask, I will hide nothing,\" and he told the whole cause. The guest said, \"Then where will you go?\" \"To take refuge in Taiyuan.\" He said, \"So. I said she was not one you could have gained by yourself.\""

"\"Any wine?\" \"West of the innkeeper there's a wineshop.\" Li Jing fetched a measure. When it had gone round once, the stranger said, \"I have a little something to go with the wine. Will you share it with me, Li?\" \"I would not dare refuse.\" He opened the leather bag and drew out a man's head, and a heart and liver. He put the head back, sliced the heart and liver with his dagger, and they ate them together. \"This was the most faithless man in the world,\" he said. \"I carried the grudge ten years. Today I finally had him, and now it is set down.\"" "\"Is there wine?\" \"West of the host is a wineshop.\" Li Jing fetched a peck of wine. After it had gone round, the guest said, \"I have a little something to go with the wine. Can you share it, Li-lang?\" Li Jing said, \"I would not dare refuse.\" Then he opened the leather bag and took out a human head together with a heart and liver; he put the head back in the bag, cut the heart and liver with his dagger, and they ate them together. He said, \"This man was the most faithless in the realm. I bore the grudge ten years, and today at last I have taken him; my resentment is discharged.\""

"\"By your face and frame, Li, you are a true man. Do you know there is a remarkable man in Taiyuan?\" \"I know one I take — foolishly, perhaps — for the real thing. The rest are only generals and ministers.\" \"His surname?\" \"The same as mine.\" \"His age?\" \"Coming on twenty.\" \"And now?\" \"The favorite son of the regional commander.\" \"That may be the one. But I must see him. Can you arrange it, Li?\" \"My friend Liu Wenjing is close to him. Through Liu it can be done. But what is your purpose, brother?\" \"A reader of the sky's ethers says a strange aura hangs over Taiyuan, and sent me to look for it. When you ride out tomorrow, what day will you reach the city?\" Li Jing counted. \"On such a day.\" \"The morning after you arrive, wait for me at Fenyang Bridge.\" With that he mounted the donkey and rode. He went as if he were flying; when they looked again, he was gone. Startled and glad both, they said at last, \"A staunch man does not deceive. There is nothing to fear,\" and they whipped their horses on." "\"By your form and bearing, Li-lang, you are a true man. Do you also know that there is an extraordinary man in Taiyuan?\" \"I once knew a man I foolishly take to be a true man. The rest are only generals and ministers.\" \"What surname?\" \"The same as mine.\" \"How old?\" \"Nearly twenty.\" \"What is he now?\" \"The beloved son of the regional commander.\" \"It seems to be he — but I must see him. Can you bring about one meeting for me, Li-lang?\" \"My friend Liu Wenjing is on close terms with him; through Liu Wenjing it can be arranged. But what does my brother intend?\" \"A watcher of the ethers says there is a marvelous aura in Taiyuan, and has sent me to seek it out. When you set out tomorrow, on what day will you reach Taiyuan?\" Li Jing reckoned: \"On such a day I should arrive.\" \"The day after you arrive, at first light, await me at Fenyang Bridge.\" Having spoken, he rode off on the donkey. His going was like flight; when they looked back he had vanished. Both startled and glad, after a while they said, \"A staunch man does not deceive others; there is nothing to fear,\" and they hurried on with the whip."

"On the appointed day they entered Taiyuan and met him again, to everyone's joy. Together they went to the Liu house, where Li Jing told Liu Wenjing a small lie: \"A skilled physiognomist wishes to see the young lord — send for him.\" Liu had always thought the young man extraordinary, and hearing there was a face-reader to see, he set out wine at once and sent for him. Before long Li Shimin arrived — no proper gown, no proper shoes, an open fur thrown over him — his spirit blazing, his look unlike other men's. The curly-bearded stranger sat silent at the foot of the seats, and at the sight of him the fight went out of him. After a few rounds he rose, drew Li Jing aside, and said, \"That is the true Son of Heaven.\" Li Jing carried the word to Liu, and Liu was gladder than ever, and sure of himself." "At the appointed time they entered Taiyuan and indeed met again, to great gladness, and went together to the Liu household. They falsely told Liu Wenjing: \"There is a skilled physiognomist who wishes to see the young lord; please send for him.\" Liu Wenjing had always held Li Shimin to be remarkable, and hearing that a guest was good at physiognomy, he quickly set out wine and invited him. Presently Li Shimin arrived — without proper robe or shoes, an open fur over his shoulders — his spirit exuberant, his appearance beyond the common. The curly-bearded man sat silent at the end of the seats, and seeing him, his heart died. After several rounds of wine he rose, beckoned Li Jing, and said, \"He is the true Son of Heaven.\" Li Jing reported it to Liu, and Liu grew the more pleased and self-assured."

"Once they were outside, the stranger said, \"I am eight or nine parts sure. But my Daoist brother must see him too. Go back to the capital, you and your sister. At noon on such a day, look for me at the wine-tower east of the horse-market. If you see this donkey below it, and a lean mule beside it, then he and I are both upstairs. Come up.\" And again he left them, and again they agreed." "Once outside, the curly-bearded man said, \"I am eighteen or nineteen parts in ten sure of it. But my Daoist brother must see him too. You and your sister should return to the capital. At noon on such a day, seek me at the wine-tower east of the horse-market. Below it will be this donkey and a lean mule — that means my Daoist brother and I are both up there. When you arrive, come up.\" He parted from them again, and Li Jing and Zhang assented once more."

"When the day came they found the two mounts below, gathered their robes, and climbed. The stranger sat drinking with a Daoist. Glad to see Li Jing, he called them to sit, and the wine went round a dozen times. \"In the chest downstairs there are a hundred thousand cash,\" he said. \"Find some deep, hidden place and settle your sister there. Then meet me again at Fenyang Bridge, on such a day.\"" "When the day came they found the two mounts, gathered their robes, and climbed the tower. The curly-bearded man was drinking with a Daoist; seeing Li Jing he was startled and glad, called them to sit, and they drank a dozen or more rounds. He said, \"In the chest below the tower there are a hundred thousand cash. Choose a deeply hidden place and settle your sister there. On such a day, meet me again at Fenyang Bridge.\""

"They came on the appointed day, and the Daoist and the stranger were already there. Together they called on Liu Wenjing, who was at his chessboard; he rose, bowed, and talked with them. Soon he sent off a hurried note inviting Li Shimin to come and watch the game. The Daoist played; the stranger and Li Jing stood by. Then Li Shimin came in, and his brilliance struck the room. He made a long bow and took his seat — clear and bright in spirit, a wind seeming to rise through the whole hall, his glance flashing. The Daoist looked at him once and was stricken. He swept up the stones. \"The game is lost — every stone of it. Lost right here. Extraordinary. There is no saving it. What more is there to say?\" He broke off the game and asked to leave. Outside, he told the stranger, \"This world is not your world. Look for another; you may still win there. Take heart, and put this out of your mind.\"" "They arrived as appointed, and the Daoist and the curly-bearded man had already come. Together they called on Liu Wenjing, who was then playing chess; he rose, bowed, and spoke with them. Before long, Liu Wenjing sent a flying letter inviting Li Shimin to watch the game. The Daoist played at the board; the curly-bearded man and Li Jing waited at the side. Presently Li Shimin came, his brilliance startling; he made a long bow and took his seat, his spirit clear and bright, wind rising through the whole room, his glances dazzling. At one sight of him the Daoist was stricken; gathering up the chess pieces, he said, \"This game is wholly lost! To lose the game right here — how strange! There is no way to save it! What more is there to say?\" He ended the game and asked to leave. Once out, he said to the curly-bearded man, \"This world is not your world. You may plan for it elsewhere. Strive on; do not take it to heart.\""

"Then they went into the capital together. \"By my reckoning you will reach home on such a day,\" the stranger told Li Jing. \"The day after, come with your sister to a little house in a certain lane, and call on me. Your sister has come to you with nothing to her name; I would have my wife pay her respects, and we can sit and talk at our ease. Do not hold back.\" With that he sighed and went." "Then they entered the capital together. The curly-bearded man said, \"Reckoning your journey, Li-lang, you will arrive on such a day. The day after you arrive, you and your sister may come together to a small house in a certain ward-lane and call on me. Your sister is destitute, bare as a hung chime-stone; I wish to have my wife pay her respects, and to discuss matters at leisure. Do not hesitate.\" Having spoken, he sighed and departed."

"Li Jing rode hard and soon reached the capital, and he and Zhang went to the place — a small plank door. They knocked. A man answered and bowed. \"Third Master has had us waiting for Li and the lady a long while.\" He led them through gate after gate, each grander than the last. Forty maids stood ranked in the courtyard; twenty menservants brought Li Jing into the eastern hall. Everything in it was rare beyond telling — the caskets and dressing-cases, the mirrors and hair ornaments, nothing that belonged to the mortal world. When Zhang had been dressed and adorned, they were asked to change their clothes, and the clothes too were marvels. Then a voice announced, \"Third Master comes!\" — and in came the stranger, in a gauze cap and open fur, moving like a dragon and a tiger, delighted to see them. He called his wife out to bow to them, and she too was a being out of heaven. Then he led them to the central hall, to a feast no prince's house could have matched." "Li Jing spurred swiftly on and soon reached the capital, and went with Zhang to the place — a small plank door. They knocked, and one who answered bowed and said, \"Third Master has ordered us to await Li-lang and the lady this long while.\" He ushered them through layered gates, each grander. Forty maidservants stood arrayed before the courtyard; twenty menservants led Li Jing into the eastern hall. The hall's furnishings were rare and precious in the extreme; the abundance of caskets, dressing-cases, capped mirrors, and hair ornaments was not of the mortal world. When their washing and adornment were done, they were asked to change clothes, and the clothes too were rare and precious. When this was finished, word was passed: \"Third Master comes!\" Then the curly-bearded man came in a gauze cap and open fur, with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, and greeted them gladly. He urged his wife to come out and bow — she too was a being of heaven. Then he led them to the central hall, where the spread of the feast was such that even a prince's house could not equal it."

"The four of them dined. Then twenty women came and made music before them — food and song as if let down from the sky, tunes no mortal ever wrote. When the eating was done and the wine went round, servants carried out from the east of the hall twenty stands, each draped in brocade. When the cloths were drawn away, there lay only ledgers and keys." "The four dined together. Then twenty female musicians performed before them; the food and the music seemed to descend from heaven, tunes not of the mortal world. When the meal was done, the wine was passed. The household carried out from the east of the hall twenty stands, each covered with brocade cloths. When these were set out and the cloths all removed, they proved to be account-books and keys."

"\"This is the whole reckoning of my wealth — treasure, goods, and coin,\" the stranger said. \"All of it I give to you. Here is why. I meant to make my own bid in this world — twenty, thirty years of dragon-war, perhaps, to build something of my own. But the world already has its master now. What would staying win me? The Li of Taiyuan is the true lord. In three or five years he will bring the realm to peace. You, Li, with your rare gifts, serving a clear and peaceful sovereign, giving him all your heart, will rise as high as any subject can. And your sister, with her heaven-given grace and her uncommon arts, will share her husband's honors and ride in the robes of state. It took your sister to know you, and it took you to raise her up. The worthy come into their own by degrees, and their meeting keeps its appointed hour — when the tiger roars the wind gets up, when the dragon climbs the clouds gather; none of it is chance. Take what I give and spend it on the true lord; help him build. Strive. And ten years and more from now, some thousands of li to the southeast, a strange thing will happen — that will be my hour. On that day, you and your sister may pour out wine toward the southeast, and wish me well.\"" "The curly-bearded man said: \"These are the full count of my treasures, goods, and coin. All that I have, I give entirely to you. Why? I meant to seek an enterprise in this world — perhaps twenty or thirty years of dragon-war to build up some small achievement. But now there is already a lord; what would remaining accomplish? The Li family of Taiyuan is the true heroic lord. Within three to five years there will be peace. You, Li-lang, with extraordinary talent, serving a pure and peaceful lord and exhausting your heart in good service, will surely reach the summit of a subject's rank. Your sister, with her heaven-sent form and her matchless art, sharing her husband's nobility, will flourish in carriages and robes. Without your sister none could have recognized you; without you none could have raised your sister. The rising of sage and worthy proceeds by stages, and the meeting comes on time — the tiger roars and wind arises, the dragon soars and clouds gather; truly it is not by chance. Take my gift to aid the true lord and support his enterprise; strive on! After this, in ten years and more, some thousands of li to the southeast, there will be a strange event — that will be the season of my success. You and your sister may pour a libation of wine toward the southeast to congratulate me.\""

"Then he had the household boys bow to them in ranks. \"Li and the lady are your masters now,\" he said. And with his wife, and one servant behind them, he mounted and rode away. A few steps, and they were gone from sight." "Then he ordered the household boys to bow in rows, saying, \"Li-lang and the lady are your masters!\" Having spoken, together with his wife and followed by a single servant, he mounted and rode off. Within a few steps, they could no longer be seen."

"Li Jing took the house and became a great man, and with that fortune he helped Li Shimin build the dynasty and set the realm in order. In the tenth year of the Zhenguan reign, when Li Jing had risen to be Left Vice-Director and Grand Councilor, envoys from the southeastern tribes came to report: a thousand sea-ships, a hundred thousand men in armor, had entered the Kingdom of Fuyu, killed its king, and taken the throne; the country was at peace under its new lord. Li Jing knew in his heart that the curly-bearded stranger had won his kingdom. He went home and told Zhang, and with full ceremony they poured out wine toward the southeast, and bowed, and wished him joy." "Li Jing took possession of the house and became a great and wealthy man, and with it he had the means to aid Li Shimin in founding the dynasty, and so set the realm in order. In the tenth year of Zhenguan, when Li Jing had risen to the office of Left Vice-Director and Grand Councilor, the southeastern tribes came to report: \"A thousand sea-ships and a hundred thousand armored soldiers have entered the Kingdom of Fuyu, killed its ruler, and set up a new one. The country is now settled.\" Li Jing knew in his heart that the curly-bearded man had succeeded. He went home and told Zhang, and with full ceremony they congratulated him, pouring a libation toward the southeast and bowing in prayer."

"So you see: the rise of the man Heaven has chosen is nothing a mere hero can hope to seize — let alone a man who is not even a hero. For a subject to plot rebellion is a mantis lifting its arms against the wheel of a rolling cart. Our imperial house holds its blessing for ten thousand generations; is that an empty thing? And some say the Duke of Wei's own art of war was half of it handed down from the curly-bearded stranger." "So we know that the rise of the destined man is not what a hero may hope for — still less one who is no hero at all. A subject who wrongly schemes for rebellion is but a mantis's arms against a rolling wheel. Our imperial house's blessing endures for ten thousand generations — is this an empty thing? Some say: the Duke of Wei's art of war was half of it transmitted by the curly-bearded man."

虬髯 The original Chinese · honored as an artifact

隋煬帝之幸江都也，命司空楊素守西京。素驕貴，又以時亂，天下之權重望崇者莫我若也，奢貴自奉，禮異人臣。

Opening lines, classical Chinese · 傳奇 · Tang chuanqi, via 太平廣記 Taiping Guangji