Chapter 8 Concubine
Meng Jian, who witnessed Wu Lang and participated in a series of battles during that period, wrote a book in his later years, "Fuping Chronicles." The book was privately printed in the Gengchen year of Shaoxing, and the inscription reads "Guo Xuan Shu Si, Chengdu, Sichuan." It was well-bound. However, its language was vulgar and its content was disorganized, and it has long been out of print. The "Miscellaneous Notes" chapter of the book records the following events:
"After Fuping, Wuliyan annihilated 180,000 elite troops from Shaanxi and announced his intention to capture Zhang Gong. A donkey was offered as a reward. Wuliyan's army reached Fengxiang, and Wu Lang arrived at Heshangyuan, where they assembled their troops and set up a fortress... Wuliyan sent soldiers to persuade them to surrender, but Wu Lang scolded his mother... In the fourth year, Zongbi attacked Shu. The Song army was well-organized. Wu Lang led Wang Xi into the Jin camp, and Zongbi fled. Wu Lang captured his maids and concubines, and ten people were rewarded for their contributions... Wang Jun led his army to block the enemy's rear, and the Jin fled, taking many of their maids and concubines with him."
If this is true, it proves that the military orders issued by Wu Lang and his soldiers did not include the crime of "raping someone else's wife or daughter." The book's chapter "Humanity" also states: "Observing the people of the world, the law is fickle, the principles are impermanent, the virtues are foolish and old, and the Tao is like an infant. Those who are not fickle, old, or impermanent are like Wu Lang."
Besides Wu Lang, the Shu people and Meng Jian continued to uphold legal principles, praising virtue, and living their own lives, speaking of the path they could not return to. After returning from Huaide Army, Shaanxi, and Gongzhou, Meng Jian brought back his fifth concubine, Tian. Tian was from Fengxiang and had given birth to the third son before even entering the family. In the year of Guichou in the Shaoxing reign, the third concubine, Ma, gave birth to the fourth son. The fifth concubine, Luo, gave birth to the fifth sister, and the following year, the sixth son. During this period, Meng Jian married the sixth concubine, Hu. Locals said Hu was as beautiful as a lotus, like Chu Erniang in her youth, and comparable to the eleven Huarui ladies. However, Hu was born into a prostitute family and, for unknown reasons, was unable to bear children. Meng Jian's first wife, Xu, fell seriously ill that year and was nearing death. It was also from this time that the second wife, Han, stopped crying and laughing. The fifth concubine, Tian, said Han was old, and with enough food for the upper mouth, the lower mouth was no longer hungry. The third concubine, Ma, and the fourth concubine, Luo, said she was acting pretentiously, preparing to take over the eldest concubine's position. The sixth concubine, Hu, said the second concubine was afraid of getting too old-fashioned. Her maid told me that she had been in menopause since the Waking of Insects. The third and fourth concubines, Ma and Luo, giggled and passed on the news to Han. Han, wanting to punish the sixth concubine, first punished her own maid, Jiang Qinniang, blinding one of her eyes. Jiang Qinniang threatened to sue the authorities. With Meng Jian's consent, Liu Xiucai, the head of the court (then the accountant), allocated fifty strings of cash as compensation to Jiang Qinniang. Liu Xiucai, having made great contributions in settling the matter, was brought back to the court by Meng Jian. Liu Xiucai, the head of the court, wanted to set fire to the evil within his home and ordered his maid, Sun Liu Sanniang, to burn wormwood in front of each concubine's door. Sun Liu Sanniang seized the opportunity to search the rooms and confiscate the concubines' hidden possessions. She discovered the wife's jewelry in the snail box belonging to the third concubine, Ma. The maid belonging to the fourth concubine, Luo, hid brown shoes meant for the courtyard worker, Li Jing. The fifth concubine, Tian, had ten liang of poppy in her gauze closet, along with a bottle of rice water containing a man's hair. Later, Liu Xiucai, the steward, verified that it wasn't rice water, but Meng Jian's semen. The sixth concubine, Hu, had no forbidden possessions, but her dressing case contained 125 pieces of red, blue, and green jade jewelry, 100 more than the other wives and concubines. Liu Xiucai, the steward, confiscated the concubines' belongings and punished them one by one according to family rules.
As a result, all but the sixth concubine, Hu, who had no sons, dared not speak out. The third concubine, Ma, the fourth concubine, Luo, and the fifth concubine, Tian, were all furious with Liu Xiucai. They asked, "The second son is also a concubine, so why don't you investigate her?" Liu Xiucai then led his granddaughter, Liu Sanniang, to investigate Han. They found a letter from Han's cousin in Shifang County, Hanzhou. The letter explained that Han's cousin had been promoted to county lieutenant and sent his sister fifty kilograms of Shifang bacon, a local specialty, and fifty ounces each of black and white tea. Liu Xiucai was from Shifang County and had seven brothers who worked as farmers there. Upon seeing the letter, fearing that his brothers would be reprimanded by the county lieutenant, he quickly apologized to Han and shifted the blame for the investigation into Han's courtyard onto the sixth concubine, Hu. Seeing Liu Xiucai's defection, the third concubine, Ma, the fourth concubine, Luo, and the fifth concubine, Tian, each resorted to cunning tactics, complaining to Meng Jian in person or by letter. They complained that the housekeeper liked to have the maids massage his feet and comb his beard, and if he wasn't severely punished, he would bully his slaves. Liu Xiucai, sensing the women's viciousness, became fearful again and went to ask Han to intercede for him. Han refused, and instead ordered him to leave the Meng household as soon as possible. Liu Xiucai had no choice but to leave.
At this time, Meng Jian was in Changzhou and Hezhou. Upon hearing that Liu Xiucai had retired and had not tried to retain him, he returned home at the end of the year, bringing with him his seventh concubine, Yao. This was the Jiayin year of the Shaoxing reign. Yao gave birth to the seventh son in the autumn, and the ninth sister in the Yimao year. Two years before the ninth sister's birth, Meng Jian married two more women: Ren and Peng. Ren gave birth to the eighth son, who died at one hundred days old. Peng also bore no children, similar to the sixth concubine, Hu.
After Liu Xiucai, the custodian, left the Meng family, Han sought a new custodian and asked her uncle, aunt, distant cousins, and her sister-in-law and sister-in-law to help find one. She eventually found seven, and Han interviewed each one before appointing the next village chief. This village chief's surname was Pi, and he was somewhat well-known in Pi County. According to Meng Jianzhi's cousin Meng Zhao, Pi had passed the provincial examination, was knowledgeable about law and organization, had served as a sergeant in the government, was skilled in accounting, and had an understanding of business. His father was a tea merchant... However, Pi's knowledge of law and accounting wasn't the reason he was chosen. With his high nose and long eyebrows, Pi resembled Han's first love. Meng Jianzhi's cousin Meng Zhao further stated that Han had remained unmarried at thirty because she had secretly pledged her life to that lover.
When Pi Baochang first arrived at the Meng household, he oversaw housework, hiring, and the division of labor. He wasn't in charge of the accounts, except for the occasional check. One night, Han requested a tortoise soup. The maid, Yuan Da Niang, bought a tortoise and asparagus cochinchinensis and went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients. Seeing Yuan Da Niang dissecting the tortoise, Pi Baochang explained that he knew how to make the soup with scallions, ginger, and yam, and took over the job. He then brought the soup to Han's room, where he warmly inquired about her well-being. Han, moved as if she'd seen an old friend, spoke with her until morning. A laundry worker overheard their conversation and reported it to the third concubine, Ma.
According to the "Meng Bai Family Chronicle," Meng's servant Sun Liu Sanniang reported that Pi Baochang and Han Shi were having an affair. However, their affair didn't begin that day. The laundryman reported the matter to the third concubine, Ma Shi. Ma Shi replied that while they weren't officials, they were from a family steeped in tradition and respect, and how could such a vile act be tolerated? Ma Shi didn't act immediately because, at that point, the two hadn't yet engaged. Anticipating that they would eventually engage, Ma Shi decided to continue observing and keep the matter quiet for the time being.
Sun Liu Sanniang claimed that Han's affair with Pi Baochang was intended to seize control of the family finances. Later, the third concubine, Ma, also became involved with Pi Baochang to seize power from Han. Ma used Han's affair with Pi Baochang to blackmail Pi Baochang, then engaged in an affair with him, hoping to enrich herself and persuade him to praise her son, Silang, in front of Meng Jian. However, this miscalculated, and Ma was first reported to the police. The first to learn of her affair with Pi Baochang was the fifth concubine, Tian. Tian informed Dalang, son of Meng Jian's first wife, and instigated him to catch them in the act. Dalang, eighteen years old and newly appointed head of the household, was unsure how to punish them, so he went to the third concubine, Ma, to appeal. Ma burst into tears, saying that she had been wronged by having to sleep with that vile man because she missed her husband, Meng Jian. She said, "When I slept with that vile man, he always called me 'Master.'" She began to flirt again, saying she missed the master's "yang lock." Ma said the yang lock was a family heirloom, and only the head of the family could have it. Then, she attached herself to Dalang. Sun Liu Sanniang said that Dalang had had affairs with the third concubine, Ma, and the seventh concubine, Yao, but that he actually loved the ninth concubine. Sun Liu Sanniang said that the ninth concubine had said it herself, and that Dalang did have a yang lock.
The fifth concubine, Tian, complained to Dalang, and the third concubine, Ma, resented Tian. However, this hatred soon faded, as the fifth concubine, fearing further escalation, surrendered to Ma. Ma's forgiveness of Tian stemmed from another incident. By then, Erlang, born to Han in the Yisi year of the Xuanhe reign, was already thirteen years old. Erlang, born to a concubine, was eloquent, fond of the spotlight, and fond of reading strange and bizarre stories. Meng Jian favored Erlang over Dalang, often taking him out to eat and socialize. Erlang was able to spin one thing into another. For example, while discussing food and drink with his peers, they mentioned mutton stew and mustard with zheergen. Erlang then remarked that Huizong loved Baihao tea, and then Huizong remarked that the rocks on Wansui Mountain were smoking and that ghosts and immortals were hidden among the beasts. The peer, embarrassed, said, "You're talking about expensive things. Let's talk about less expensive things." Erlang replied, "A gentleman worries about the Way, not poverty." While visiting the medicine market with his father, Erlang saw a group of accountants asking questions and gossiping about everything, while he sat quietly. When someone came over, he suddenly said, "Practicing benevolence does not mean death," leaving everyone confused. As the conversation unfolded, he talked about ghosts and immortals, ghost marriages, and the ghost stories of Qingcheng Mountain. Coming from the mouth of a thirteen-year-old, no one took these words seriously, believing him to be knowledgeable. However, his third concubine, Ma, his fourth concubine, Luo, and his seventh concubine, Yao, all said Erlang was telling the truth. Ghosts do exist in the world, for real. A person from our family (Meng Tie) was once missing, and he must have been abducted by a ghost and taken to the underworld. With nothing else to do, the third, fourth, and seventh concubines, Ma, Luo, and Yao, went to Erlang to discuss ghosts. They told stories ranging from black hair floating in the backyard lotus pond to a young girl in red running around in the brothel. Then, they went back to Erlang's room and said that the missing person had originally lived there.
That autumn, Erlang died in the backyard. His body was found with his eyes wide open, his fingers stretched out like bird claws, and his face dark blue. An inspection by the yamen officials revealed that he had died of shock. Han sent a letter to Meng Jian while she and Pi Baochang handled the funeral arrangements. After the funeral, a family meeting was held, with all fifty members of the family gathered. Ma, the third concubine, and Luo, the fourth concubine, revealed that they had seen a woman in red wandering around Erlang's room before his death. Pi Baochang found two feet of red silk in Yao's room. Meng Jian was furious and wanted to divorce Yao. Yao, reluctant to part with her children, told him the silk was a frame-up by Ma, the third concubine, and Luo, the fourth concubine. Meng Jian wanted to keep her, but Ma, Luo, and Pi Baochang refused. He threatened to leave. Yao, the seventh concubine, declared, "Once my master leaves, I'll jump into the river." Meng Jian cursed her, "Go away!" Unexpectedly, Yao disappeared that night. Three days later, a yamen runner arrived, reporting that a female corpse had been found by the Pi River, fifteen miles north of the city. Pi Baozhang went to identify Yao's body. After this, Meng Jian stopped speaking to his third and fourth concubines, Ma and Luo. His fifth and sixth concubines, Tian and Hu, who had no involvement in the incident, enjoyed two months of favor. Two months later, Meng Jian left home again, taking with him a box from a corner of the storeroom.
It was said that this chest was a family heirloom. The Meng family had two rules. First, the chest belonged to the head of the family and had to be passed down personally by the head to the next head. The son who received the chest and its contents could succeed him as head of the family. Second, the Meng family's property could be divided, but the family business could not. This meant that Meng Jian's business could ultimately be inherited by only one son.
When the fifth concubine, Tian, saw the box being taken away by the official, she worried that her son, Sanlang, would not inherit the family business, and she became increasingly critical of him. To avoid his mother, Sanlang often visited Luo's courtyard to visit his fifth sister. Over time, the two developed an incestuous relationship, which was discovered by Han. Sanlang was beaten and suffered a seizure. Tian begged Pi Baochang and Han not to tell the official. Pi Baochang agreed, but Han refused. Han explained that Sanlang had already suffered from epilepsy, but how could a patient inherit the Meng family business? Han immediately sent letters to Changzhou and Hezhou to inform Meng Jian. However, the messengers she sent to Changzhou and Hezhou failed to find Meng Jian. For the next four years, people sent from the Meng family to various parts of Sichuan to search for Meng Jian, but to no avail. A person sent from the Meng family to Shifang County in Hanzhou encountered Xiao Liu, the son of Liu Xiucai, the governor of the court. Xiao Liu said that he had met Meng Jian in the Bingchen year (in Shaoxing), and that he was from Hezhou, not Hanzhou. Xiao Liu said, "My master said that the woman's heart is not mine, so I cannot promise her."
When these words reached Han's ears, it was like a loud slap in the face. From the first year of the Jingkang period to the second year of the Jianyan period, Meng Jian had not returned home often for eight years. After his wife's death, Han and Pi Baochang were in charge of household affairs, which sometimes failed to convince everyone because Han was also a concubine. Han wanted to be his wife, but Meng Jian disagreed. After Yao jumped into the river and died, Han said that Yao was "as cheap as public property." This had two meanings. One was to curse Yao for participating in the plan of Ma Luo and Erlang, and frightening Erlang to death. The other was to imply that she should not continue to be a concubine. Meng Jian still refused to let Han be his wife. Tian, the fifth concubine who gave birth to Sanlang, showed off her power at home and ordered Pi Baochang to propose to Sanlang the daughter of an official. Han scolded her and said to Meng Jian, "The fifth concubine is a mother who has a bad son. You can either take a wife, anyone will do, a yellow dog or a black cat will do. Or you can give the third concubine Ma, the fourth concubine Luo, and the fifth concubine Tian to others, and leave the child to me to raise." Meng Jian still refused. Han wanted to return to her parents' home. Meng Jian said, "You swore to be with me until we die together, how can you just leave like that?" Han said, "The King of Hell doesn't mind a ghost being thin, and the debtor will first collect the debt from the creditor. So I'm not only losing my son, but also the bill." Meng Jian turned and walked away. Now that Han heard this, knowing that her chance of becoming a wife was over, her desires subsided. Han no longer longed to be a wife, but instead feared that Meng Jian would marry another woman and bring her back as his wife.
Speaking of women outside, Meng Jian had more than ten. Wherever he went, he would either go to a Jinchang pharmacy or a brothel. After three to five months of flings, they parted ways, some never seeing each other again, like Guan Shisimei from Chongjing Pavilion in Yongchuan, Changzhou. Some gave birth to children, like Shuangjing, a lay Buddhist from Tianxinwo, Rongde County (Zigong). The elder sister bore Meng Jian a son, while the younger sister a daughter. There were six such children in total, raised by different women in different places. Han didn't know, and neither did the women confined to the Meng family compound. Those who didn't know didn't care, because a domesticated bird was always nobler than a wildcat. The family's strict rules and regulations could keep Meng Jian from marrying again, but nothing could restrain his feet. Meng Jian was like a horse, his heart led by his feet. He didn't escape those rules and regulations, not because he lacked courage, but because he hadn't run far enough.
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