帕布莉卡第二本 一封书信阻刀兵 ACT II Word and Sword
第一出 抚兵
【点绛唇】〔副净、末扮二将官，杂扮四小卒上〕
旗卷军牙[1]，
射潮弩发鲸鲵怕[2]。
操弓试马，
鼓角斜阳下。
俺们镇守武昌兵马大元帅宁南侯麾下[3]将士是也。
今日点卯[4]日期，元帅升帐，
只得在此伺侯。
〔吹打开门介〕
【粉蝶儿】〔小生戎装，扮左良玉[5]上〕
七尺昂藏，
虎头燕颔[6]如画，
莽男儿走遍天涯。
活骑人，
飞食肉，
风云叱咤[7]。
报国恩，
一腔热血挥洒。
建牙吹角不闻喧，
三十登坛众所尊；
家散万金酬士死，
身留一剑答君恩[8]。
咱家左良玉，表字昆山，家住辽阳[9]，世为都司[10]，只因得罪罢职，补粮昌平。幸遇军门侯恂，拔于走卒，命为战将，不到一年，又拜总兵之官。北讨南征，功加侯伯；强兵劲马，列镇荆襄[11]。
〔作势介〕看俺左良玉，自幼习学武艺，能挽五石之弓，善为左右之射；那李自成、张献忠几个毛贼，何难剿灭。只可恨督师无人，机宜错过，熊文灿、杨嗣昌既以偏私而败绩，丁启睿、吕大器[12]又因怠玩而无功。只有俺恩帅侯公，智勇兼全，尽能经理中原；不意奸人忌功[13]，才用即休，叫俺一腔热血，报主无期，好不恨也！
〔顿足介〕罢，罢，罢！这湖南、湖北，也还可战可守，且观成败，再定行藏[14]。
〔坐介〕
〔内作众兵喊叫，小生惊问介〕辕门之外，何人喧哗？
〔副净、末禀介〕禀上元帅，辕门肃静，谁敢喧哗。
〔小生怒介〕现在喧哗，怎报没有！
〔副净、末〕那是饥兵讨饷，并非喧哗。
〔小生〕！前自湖南借粮三十船，不到一月，难道支完了？
〔副净、末〕禀元帅，本镇人马已足三十万了，些须粮草，那够支销。
〔小生拍案介〕呵呀！这等却也难处哩。
〔立起，唱介〕
【北石榴花】
你看中原豺虎乱如麻，
都窥伺龙楼凤阙帝王家；
有何人勤王[15]报主，
肯把义旗拿？那督师无老将，
选士皆娇娃[16]；
却教俺自撑达[17]，却教俺自撑达。
正腾腾杀气，
这军粮又早缺乏。
一阵阵拍手喧哗，
一阵阵拍手喧哗，
百忙中教我如何答话，
好一似薨薨白昼闹蜂衙。
〔坐介〕
〔内又喊介〕
〔小生〕你听外边将士，益发鼓噪，好像要反的光景，左右听俺吩咐。
〔立起，唱介〕
【上小楼】
您不要错怨咱家，
您不要错怨咱家。
谁不是天朝犬马[18]，
他三百年养士不差，
三百年养士不差。
都要把良心拍打，
为甚么击鼓敲门闹转加？
敢则要劫库抢官衙。
俺这里望眼巴巴，
俺这里望眼巴巴，
候江州军粮飞下。
〔坐介〕
〔抽令箭掷地介〕
〔副净、末拾箭，向内吩咐介〕元帅有令，三军听者：目下军饷缺乏，乃人马归附之多，非粮草屯积之少。朝廷深恩，不可不报；将军严令，不可不遵。况江西助饷，指日到辕[19]，各宜静听，勿得喧哗。
〔副净、末回话介〕奉元帅军令，俱已晓谕三军了。
〔内又喊叫介〕
〔小生〕怎么鼓噪之声，渐入辕门，你再去吩咐。
〔立起，唱介〕
【黄龙犯】
您且忍枵腹[20]这一宵，盼江西那几艖[21]。
俺待要飞檄金陵，俺待要飞檄金陵，
告兵曹转达车驾[22]，许咱们迁镇移家，
许咱们迁镇移家。就粮东去，安营歇马，
驾楼船到燕子矶边耍。
〔副净、末持令箭向内吩咐介〕元帅有令，三军听者：粮船一到，即便支发。仍恐转运维艰，枵腹难待；不日撤兵汉口，就食[23]南京；永无缺乏之虞，同享饱腾[24]之乐。各宜静听，勿再喧哗！
〔内欢呼介〕好，好，好！大家收拾行装，豫备东去呀。
〔副净、末回生介〕禀上元帅，三军闻令，俱各欢呼散去了。
〔小生〕事已如此，无可奈何，只得择期移镇，暂慰军心。
〔想介〕且住，未奉明旨，辄自前行，虽圣恩宽大，未必加诛；只恐形迹之间，难免天下之议。事非小可[25]，再作商量。
【尾声】
慰三军没别法，
许就粮喧声才罢，
谁知俺一片葵倾向日花[26]。
〔下〕
〔内作吹打掩门，四卒下〕
〔副净向末〕老哥，咱弟兄们商量，天下强兵勇将，让俺武昌。
明日顺流东下，料知没人抵当。大家拥着元帅爷，一直抢了南京，就扯起黄旗，往北京进取，有何不可。
〔末摇手介〕我们左爷爷忠义之人，这样风话[27]，且不要题。依着我说，还是移家就粮，且吃饱饭为妙。
〔副净〕你还不知，一移南京，人心惊慌，就不取北京，这个恶名也免不得了。
〔末〕纷纷将士愿移家，
〔副净〕细柳营中起暮笳；
〔末〕千古英雄须打筭，
〔副净〕楼船东下一生差。
〔众下〕
注释：
[1]旗卷军牙：牙即牙旗，是军前大旗。旗卷军牙，形容军前大旗在风中卷动。
[2]射潮弩发鲸鲵怕：传说五代时吴越王钱曾经率领五千弓弩手，射退海潮。这里借来形容左良玉军队的威武。
[3]麾下：部下。
[4]点卯：古时官府办公从卯时开始，吏役都要在这时按名册点验，称作点卯。这里指军队里的点名报到。
[5]左良玉：明末临清人，字昆山。早年在辽东与清军作战，以骁勇得侯恂所识拔。
[6]虎头燕颔：旧时相家以为贵相。《后汉书·班超传》：“相者（班超）曰：生燕颔虎颈，飞而食肉，此万里侯相也。”
[7]风云叱咤：叱咤，怒声。
[8]“建牙吹角不闻喧”四句：借用唐刘长卿《献淮宁军节度使李相公》诗句。建牙，武将出镇，登坛，拜帅。
[9]辽阳：今辽宁省辽阳县。
[10]都司：官名，在明初职权很大，掌握一省的军政大权。
[11]荆襄：今湖北省一带。
[12]熊文灿、杨嗣昌、丁启睿、吕大器：都是明末人，曾担任较高军职，并都统率过左良玉。
[13]“奸人忌功”二句：根据侯方域《宁南侯传》，崇祯时，朝廷曾命侯恂督师，后因有人从中挑拨，不久被免官。
[14]行藏：出处。
[15]勤王：以兵救援王室。
[16]选士皆娇娃：意说挑选的兵士都像娇弱的女子，不能作战。
[17]撑达：元明方言，本是漂亮、老练的意思，这里意为支持。
[18]犬马：封建时代臣对君的卑称。
[19]辕：辕门，是军营的大门。
[20]枵（xiāo）腹：空腹。
[21]艖：小船。
[22]告兵曹转达车驾：兵曹即兵部；车驾代指皇帝。
[23]就食：移兵到屯粮的地方去吃粮。
[24]饱腾：士饱马腾，形容军队供应充足，士气高扬的气象。
[25]小可：轻易。
[26]葵倾向日花：葵花向日，用来比喻臣子对君主的忠心。
[27]风话：疯话。
Scene 1 The Army
(Enter two officers followed by four soldiers.)
Officers(Singing to the tune of Rouged Lips):
Our flags and banners waft in flight;
Our arrows would put whale and fish in fright.
When our cavaliers bend the bow,
The sun would sink to hear our bugles blow.
We are officers and soldiers under General Zuo Liangyu.
By his order we are going to hold a manoeuvre today.
(The bugles blow and the camp gate opens.)
(Enter General Zuo Liangyu in military array.)
Zuo(Singing to the tune of Pink Butterfly):
Hero of seven feet,
As tiger and swallow as fleet,
I’ve conquered as far as the border.
Riding on horse,
I’ve beaten hostile force,
With wind and cloud at my order.
Serving the State with might and main,
I would shed blood over the plain.
Blowing my bugle,under flags in flight,
At thirty,I arrive at generalship’s height.
Sparing no gold for gallant soldiers slain,
To serve the crown my sword will ever remain.
I am General Zuo Liangyu of a military family.Once degraded for offense against my superior,I was then promoted to the rank of general by Marshal Hou Xun(father of Hou Chaozong).After northern and southern expeditions I have won victory on victory and I am now ennobled governor of Jingzhou and Xiangyang.Having learned military arts since my youthful days,I can bend a strong bow without much effort and shoot with my left or right arm.Now Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong rose in revolt,all our commanders-in-chief suffered defeat on defeat.Our victorious Marshal Hou is no longer in service.What can I do with my courage and strategy which seem useless under wrong leadership?(Stamping his feet)If necessary,I could advance or retreat from Hunan and Hubei.It would depend on the situation.(Sitting down)
(Soldiers’shout from within)
Zuo(Startled):How can such a tumult rise within the camp gate?
Officers: There is no tumult within the camp gate,general.
Zuo (Angry):Can you not hear the uproar of the soldiers?
Officers: It is the hungry soldiers who shout for food.
Zuo: I have just asked Hunan to transport thirty shipfuls of food supplies.Could they be eaten up within a month?
Officers: Now you have three hundred thousand soldiers under your command,general.The thirty shipfuls of food are not enough for one month.
Zuo(Striking at the table):Alas!What can I do?
(Standing up)
(Singing to the tune of Pomegranate):
Behold!Tigers and pards run wild in Central Plain,
Invading royal domain with might and main.
Who would come to the rescue of the crown,
Erecting royal banners in the town?
No veteran general in command,
No soldier but a new hand.
O with such troops against the foe how can I stand?
The foe will come in speed;
Of food we stand in need.
They come with hue and cry.
What can I do in reply?
I seem to see a swarm of humming bees far and nigh.
(Sitting down)
(Soldiers’shout heard from within)
Listen to the shouts!Would the soldiers rise in revolt?Officers and men,listen to my orders.
(Standing up)
(Singing to the tune of Mounting the Attic):
Do not complain of me!
Do not complain of me!
Who from service to the State can be free?
It has provided for us three hundred years.
It has provided for us three hundred years.
Can we not defend its frontiers?
Why should the rebels beat the drum in mutiny?
Would they plunder the royal treasury?
Don’t soldiers know I’m waiting with longing eyes,
Do they not know I’m waiting with longing eyes
For ships from Jiangzhou loaded with food supplies?
(Sitting down again.)
(Giving order by throwing an arrow on the ground.)
Officers(Picking up the arrow and reading the order):
By order of General Zuo,officers and soldiers should wait for the food supply which would come from Jiangxi in a few days.
(Soldiers’shouts again heard from within.)
Zuo(Singing to the tune of Golden Dragon):
You can’t but suffer hunger one more day;
Food supply would come from Jiangxi without delay.
I’ll send a message to the minister of war
To station our army around the east food store,
To station our army around the east food store.
Officers(Reading the order of General Zuo): By order of General Zuo,our army should have ample supply of food from Jiangxi.For fear of delay,our army may be stationed around the food stores in the Southern Capital so that we may suffer no more hunger.
Soldiers(Shouting from within): Bravo,bravo,bravo!Let us get ready to go eastward around the food stores in the Southern Capital.
Officers(To General Zuo): Would you please listen to our report:on hearing your order,the soldiers give three cheers and go back to their barracks.
Zuo: What can I do but send a message to the minister of war!(Meditating)Wait a minute!If my army should march eastward on the Southern Capital without imperial authorization,it might incur blame though not punishment from the imperial court.So I must reconsider the matter.
(Singing the Epilogue):
My army can’t be pacified
Without my promise that food would be supplied.
Who knows I have used all my power
But only like a sunflower!(Exit.)
(The camp gate closed with trumpets and drumbeats.)
(Exit four soldiers.)
First Officer: Our army garrisoned in Wuchang is the strongest in the empire.If we sail our warships eastward to the Southern Capital,no force would dare to resist us on our way.If we occupy the Southern Capital under the orders of our General,who could prevent us from erecting a dragon flag and marching on the Northern Capital?
Second Officer(Waving the hand): But our general is loyal to the empire,so we should not talk about insurrection.I think it would be better for us to be stationed in the Southern Capital around the food stores so that we might suffer no more hunger.
First Officer: The occupation of the Southern Capital would excite alarm.Even if our army did not march on the Northern Capital,could it be free from blame?
Second Officer:Officers and soldiers would eastward go.
First Officer:At twilight in the camp the bugles blow.
Second Officer:A hero should think it over at least.
First Officer:Before he sails his warships to the east.
(Exeunt.)
