Hou Fang yu , Wu Ying ji and Chen Zhenhui were arrested at the bookstore, but luckily Su Kunsheng managed to escape. Seeing that the Donglin Party and Restoration Society members had either been arrested or had run for their lives, Su fumed with anger. He travelled by boat down the Yangtze River to Wuchang to seek help from Zuo Liangyu, the Marquis of Ningnan. Unexpectedly, though he had been requesting an audience in Nanchang for three days, the doorman continually refused to report his arrival to Zuo Liangyu.
On the third day, Su knew that General Zou Liangyu was drilling his troops on the shores of the Yangtze River. He therefore decided to block the road, stopping the General on his way back and to beg for an audience. However, Su waited until the moon rose but he still had not seen the general returning to his mansion. He became so impatient that he bought a jug of wine and drank alone at a restaurant by the riverside. Looking at the glimmering river in the light of the moon and feeling the fresh breeze of the spring night, Su Kunsheng was in such a poetic mood that he began to bang the table and chant poems.
The owner of the restaurant was frightened and hurriedly discouraged him from singing, “Sir, martial law is enforced and residents are prohibited from making a racket. It is no joking matter if you disobey military orders and sing songs so loudly at midnight!”
When Su Kunsheng learned from the restaurant owner that it was Zuo Liangyu who had enforced the curfew, he thought of a plan to meet the general. He left the restaurant, ran to the riverbank close to the drill ground and boisterously sang songs. Sure enough, the soldiers who patrolled the riverbank were quickly alerted. They ran over, caught him and sent him under escort to General Zuo Liangyu.
Before General Zuo was able to question him, Su said, “I came from Nanjing to seek refuge with you and deliberately disobeyed your military orders to seek your audience.” Then, he told Zuo Liangyu about Hou Fangyu’s arrest by Ruan Dacheng.
Zuo Liangyu replied, “Scholar Hou is an old friend of my family. Since you seek my help in this way, you must have a letter from Hou. Let me see it.”
Su Kunsheng replied, “Ruan Dacheng came with the imperial guards to arrest Scholar Hou the other day and he was taken away right on the spot. The incident happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, how could Hou have had time to calmly write a letter?”
Though General Zuo felt that Su Kunsheng’s story was believable, he was cautious not to trust anyone too easily. So he asked Liu Jingting to come out and identify the man. Liu was joyful to see his old friend but it worried him to see Su in this state. He told Zuo Liangyu, “This is my sworn brother. He is the top singer in the country, a most righteous person and a supporter of the Donglin Party. I guarantee that he tells the truth.”
General Zuo Liangyu rushed to show Su to a seat and asked him to recount what wrongdoings Ma Shiying, Ruan Dacheng and their servile followers had perpetrated in Nanjing city. By the time Su had finished his story Zuo Liangyu was shaking with anger. He said to Yuan Jixian, the governor of Jiujiang, and Huang Shu, the governor of Hunan and Hubei, “We fought on the battlefield and risked our lives in hope of recovering the lost territory of the great Ming Empire and rendering our service to the court. Nevertheless, the Emperor only trusts the treacherous and has persecuted the loyal and righteous. W hile generals and soldiers fought and died in battles, the Emperor and his court officials have enjoyed singing and dancing, they have indulged in sensual pleasures and have sold off titles and rank. The emperor was supposed to revive the Ming Dynasty but instead he has allowed it to perish. How can one not feel bitterly disappointed! Among the top court officials, only General Shi Kefa is loyal to the court but he is impeded by Ma Shiying and Ruan. How could I recapture the Central Plains of China all by myself ?”
Huang Shu said, “This country has declined because of a fatuous and self-indulgent Emperor, who was surrounded by treacherous officials. Now the country is faced with crisis, everyone should give priority to the survival of the nation and serve it accordingly. In my humble opinion, we should advance our troops and march to Nanjing to dethrone the feeble Emperor, dismiss the treacherous officials and crown a wise new Emperor.”
Zuo Liangyu answered, “I think that Governor Huang underestimates the complexity of the situation. The Manchu army is bearing down on our borders and we must join our forces to fight against the enemy together. If a civil war breaks out, the Manchu forces will take advantage of the chaos and invade our land. If that happens, we will be condemned by history.”
“Then, what do you suggest we should do, General Zuo?
“I suggest that I present a memorandum to the Emperor, impeaching Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng. The Emperor may see these two officials in their true colors and this will give him a chance to redeem himself and make a new start.”
Huang Shu objected to the idea. Instead he advocated overthrowing the Emperor. “In my opinion,” he said, “It is no use presenting a memorandum. Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng hold power in court and they are the Emperor’s favorites. How could you expect the Emperor to take our advice? We should issue an official denunciation of Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng. If they continue their perverse and evil policies, we will send troops to Nanjing!”
