Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1890 — The Adventure of Tse-I-La. [ARTICLE]

The Adventure of Tse-I-La.

Far inland, to the north of Tonkin, stretches the broad province of Kouangli. In this region, whose inhabitants still retain much of their Tartar origin, the more recent doctrine of Lao-Tsen has not yet been able to exterminate the general belief in the Poussahi, the popular genii of olden times. Thanks to the fanaticism of the country bonzes (priests) this form of superstition still flourishes, its vigor increasing relatively with the distance from Pei-Tsin, or as we call it, Pekin. One of its leading features is a firm belief in the direct intervention by its gods in all matters of state and public welfare. A recent viceroy of this immense imperial dependence was the governor Tche-Tang, who succeeded in earning for himself the reputation of a cunning, greedy and most cruel despot. How he succeeded in escaping the vengeance of a thousand deadly foes and, though imperilled by the universal hatred of his subjects, in closing his term of rule in comparative peace this tale will show. One day, some ten years before his death, Tche-Tang gave audience in the Hall of Honor of his palace. He was seated on a throne of ebony marvelously inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gold, his chin resting on his hands, his sceptre lying across his knees. Behind and overshadowing his throne rose a colossal statue of Fo, the god “not to be expressed.” Upon the steps in front of the throne stood his body-guard, clothed in their uniform of black skin and coat of mail, and armed with lance or bow or glittering axe. /kt his right hand stood his favorite executioner, a grim and herculean figure. Tche-Tang’s cruel looks wandered about the crowd which stood around him, mandarins, princes of his own family, and high officials of his court. Their faces were expressionless and blank. The viceroy, fully conscious that he was hated by all and surrounded by possible assassins, looked suspiciously upon each group whose members talked together with hushed voices. Uncertain as to whom it would be most advisable to make an example of, perpetually astonished in himself to find that he still lived, he still sat dreaming, taciturn and threatening. A curtain was suddenly thrust aside and an officer, dragging a young man after him, entered the hall. The youth, who was of striking beauty, was clad in a simple robe of silk, girdled at the waist with a silver belt. When before TcheTang he humbly prostrated himself at his feet. “Son of Heaven,” said the officer at a sign from the viceroy, “this young man, by his own statement, is but an obscure citizen, called Tse-i-la, and yet, heedless of the Slow Death, he boldly asserts that he has been sent upon a mission to your Highness by the immortal Poussahs.” “Speak,” said Tche-Tang. Tse-i-la rose to his feet. “Mightiness,” he said in a calm and even voice, “I am fully aware of the fate which awaits me, if I cannot prove .my words. Last night, by means of a vision, the Poussahs singled me out for their especial favor, and entrusted me with a secret almost beyond the conception of mortal mind. If your Highness will deign to listen to it, you will at once recognize its divine source for the knowledge of it will awake in your being a new sense. By its virtue you will at once acquire the marvelous gift of reading—with closed eyes, and in the space which separates the eye-ball from its lid—the very names written in letters of blood of all those who may be plotting against your throne or life at the exact moment, too, when the infamy first enters their mind. So then you will be forever protected against surprise and live on in peace and full security. I—Tse-i-la—-swear in the name of Fo, whose image overshadows us, that the magic attribute of this secret is exactly as I have described.” At the close of this extraordinary statement a stir ran through the whole assemblage and then deep silence followed. For once the usually impassive faces were moved by a vague suspicion. Each man looked intently at the young stranger who could thus, without a sign of fear or faltering, claim the possession of a divine secret. Several tried to smile and assume an air of contemptuous disdain, but the effort was beyond them and, instead, they grew pale and trembled. All this Tche-Tang was quick to notice. At last one of the princes, doubtless to conceal his own uneasiness, cried out: “We are listening to a fool who is drunk with opium 1” Then the mandarins spoke, in an effort to reassure themselves: “The Poussahs grant their inspiration ohly to the most aged and wisest of the bonzes!” And one of the ministers: “It is for us to decide, and at uu.e, ■whether the secret, of which this young man claims he is possessed, is worthy of being submitted to our rule!.” To which an officer, in his anger, added: “In all likelihood this fellow has his

dagger ready to strike our Master at the moment when his eyes ” His words were interrupted by a general shout of “Let him be arrested!” Tche-Tang stretched towards Tse-i-la his jewelled sceptre, and said, impassively: “Continue.” Quite unconcernedly, and moving, as he spoke, his little fan of ebony, Tse-i-la went on: “If any torture could induce Tse-i-la to betray this secret by revealing it to any other than his Sovereign, I will affirm that the Poussahs who, though invisible, hear our every word, have ill-chosen their interpreter. No, Princes, lam not drunk with opium, my looks surely deny that I am mad. and I have no weapon about me. This, only, will I add. If I am content to run the risk of the Slow Death it is because I am convinced that such a secret will gain the reward of which it is worthy. You alone, oh! Highness, shall decide whether I deserve the price I ask. The gods having made me noble by their inspiration you shall grant me your daughter, the beautiful Li-tien-Se,- the insignia of a prince of mandarins, and fifty thousand bangs of gold.” As he pronounced the words “bangs of gold,” an almost imperceptible flush rose to Tse-i-la's cheek, which he concealed by a movement of his fan. The exorbitance of the demand provoked much laughter among the courtiers and aroused the wrath of the viceroy, whose pride and avarice rose up in sudden revolt. A cruel smile passed over his lips as he gazed at the young man, who boldly continued: “I await from you, Lord, your royal oath, in the name of Fo, the avenger of perjury, that, according as you may find my secret a substantial truth or a chimerical idea, you will grant me either the reward I ask or such form of death as may seem good in your eyes.” Tche-Tang arose. “The oath is given,” he said; “follow me.” Some moments later, in a gloomy vault lighted by the dim rays of a single lamp, Tse-i-la, securely bound to a stake, was face to face with Tche-Tang, who stood some paces from him. The viceroy was alone, his back towards a heavy iron door, his right h ind resting on a carved dragon’s head which projected from the wall, and whose single eye seemed to be watching Tse-i-la. The bright green of Tche-Tang's robe came out in strong relief against the dark background; the light, though dim, was reflected a thousand times from his collar of precious stones, but his face, catching the shadow of the lamp, was almost invisible. In this vault far underground, they were secure from listening ears. “Speak on,” soid Tche-Tang. “Sire, I am a disciple of the famous poet Li-tai-pe. As the gods have gifted you with power, so have they bestowed genius upon me ; true, they have in my case added poverty but only as a means of I quickening my intellect. 1 have thanked | them daily for so many favors, and have lived a peaceful and contented life, until one evening, through the silvery moonlight, I espied upon the lofty terrace of this palace, your daughter, Li-tien-Se. Since that night my studies have been neglected, and as for her, I have an inward feeling that she too has felt the dawning of a passion. Wearied with longing, preferring rather the most frightful death to the torment of living without her, I determined by some heroic act. and with a subtlety which is almost divine, to raise myself, O, Majesty, to the level of your daughter, Li-tien Se!” Tche-Tang. doubtless by some sudden movement of impatience, pressed his hand heavily upon the dragon’s eye. A double door, facing Tse-i-la, parted and rolled silently back, exposing to his sight the interior of another dungeon. Three men, clothed in skins, stood motionless around a brasier in which were heating the implements of torture. From the roof a thick silken cord hung down, and below it glistened a small and round steel cage, with a single circular opening. Tse-i-la, as he well knew, was looking upon the awful machinery of the Terrible Death. After being exposed to excruciating torture by tire, the victim, with one wrist tied* by the silken cord, was suspended in the air, the other hand, extended behind his back, was bound to the foot of the opposite leg. The cage was then placed around his head, fastened securely to the shoulders, and two large and famished rats Were placed inside it. The executioner then gave a swinging motion to the unfortunate wretch, and left him alone, save for the ghastly companions of the cage, and in utter darkness. At the sight of this horror, wffiich might move the strongest man, Tse-i-la said, coldly, “You forget that no one, save yourself, was to hear what I have to say.” The doors were closed again. “Your secret ?” muttered Tche-Tang. “My secret. Tyrant! It is this: that my death will bring about your own. this very night!” said Tse-i-la, a fierce light in his eyes. “My death ? Do you not understand that it is for that alone those whom we left above are longing ? Will it not prove the emptiness of my promises ? How they will gloat, and revel in their murderous hearts over your disappointed credulity! Will it not be the signal for your downfall ? Emboldened by your disappointment, seeing impunity before them, why longer restrain their bitter hatred ? Summon your executioners ! I shall be aveng.d ! But this I know: that you already feci that if I perish, your own life is only a matter of a few hours, and that your children strangled, according to the custom of our people, will quickly follow you; and—and Li-tien-Se, your daughter, the flower of flowers will become the prey of your assassins. “Ah, if you were but a wise prince! Supposing, on the other hand that you were at once to return to them, bearing on your face the signs of a mysterious and all-powerful knowledge, surrounded by your body-guard, and your hand upon my shoulder; that seated on your throne, and .having with your own hand clothed me in a prince’s robes, you were to summon the sweet Li-tien-Se—your daughter and my bride—and that having formally betrothed us, you should order your State Treasurer to count out to me the fifty thousand golden liangs; I swear that, beholding this, all of your courtiers whose daggers are now half-drawn against you. would fall at your feet, trembling and subdued. Never again, in all the future,

would they dare to harbor a single treacherous thought. Think upon this’ You are known as one whom it is hard to move, well versed in Oriental lore and mysteries. Surely then, it can be Jto mere empty fable chat, within a few moments’ space, could change your whole appearance into that of one who has learned some sacred truth! Again, you who are notorious for your cruelty, allow me to live! You, whose cupidity is a bye-word, shower your gold upon me! Your paternal love amounts to arrogance, and yet, at a word, you bestow your daughter upon me, an unknown, humble stranger! What doubt could possibly remain in your courtiers’ minds ? In i what should the value of a secret message * sent from heaven consist, if not in the belief of those around you that you alone possess it ? I have kept my word; the rest depends upon yourself. As to the money and the dignity, I despise them both. My demanding them was simply to establish further proof amongst those who know your character so well, of the incredible value of my imaginary secret. Tche-Tang, the Viceroy, I, Tse-i-la, bound by your orders to this post and in the presence of the Terrible Death, do now exalt thp glory and enlightenment of the wise Li-tai-pe, my Master! I declare to you, in all truth, the wisdom of the policy I now dictate. Let us return to your court—your own face stern, but r adiant. Publicly give thanks to heaven. Threaten to be, for the future, without a particle of pity. Order fetes and illuminations for the pleasure of the people and in honor of Fo (to whom, indeed, 1 owe the inspiration of this divine ruse). I myself will depart to morrow. In some distant province, thanks to your grant of money, I shall live in perpetual happiness with the chosen of my heart. The diamond button which wmuld betoken my rank as mandarin, I shall not take away. My ambition lies not in that direction. I believe solely in harmonious thoughts and deep studies which outlast all princes and all dynasties; being a king in their immortal Empire, why should I aspire to be a prince in yours ? Are you not convinced that the gods have given me as strong a heart and as much intelligence as those who surround you possess ? lam more acceptable then in the eyes of a young girl than one of your own dignitaries. Ask Li-tien Se, my beloved, if I do not speak the truth. When she looks into my eyes, I dare swear what she will say. As for yourself, O! Viceroy, you will reign in peace, protected by this superstition, and, moreover, should you see fit to temper your rule with justice, fear will be changed into love for your strengthened throne. In that is the secret of all kings and rulers ■worthy of [ the name. I have none other to impart Ito you. Ponder my words; choose and l announce your choice. I have spoken.” Tse-i-la was silent. Perfectly motionless, Tche-Tang ap- ; peared for some moments to he lost in i meditation, his figure casting a dark I shadow on the iron door. Presently he advanced towards the young man and laving a hand on either shoulder gazed searchingly into his eyes as if to read his very soul, and as if himself overcome with a thousand indefinable sensations. At last, drawing his sword, he cut the thongs which Bound Tse-i-la; then, i throwing his own royal* collar about the ; youth’s neck, he said*: “Come.” Mounting the dungeon steps, he laid i his hand upon the cloor beyond which were light and liberty. Dazed by his sudden fortune and the triumph of his love, Tse-i-la gazed at the royal emblem. “What! This too?” he murmured. “You have been slandered, vilely slandered ! It is worth more than the fortune you have promised me. What does this gift mean, your Highness! For what is it a recompense ?” “For your insolence,” scornfully answered Tche-Tang. as the sunlight streamed through the open door.—The Epoch.