'The wind most oft the hugest pine tree grieves'

[flemmings]

Yesterday's 31_days prompt. Lucky it's so bloody cold out there. I may even catch myself up at this rate.

The wind most oft the hugest pine tree grieves:
The stately towers come down with greater fall:
The highest hills the bolt of thunder cleaves.
--Sir Phillip Sydney, after Horace II:10

I have many talents. I don't at all mind saying it; false modesty was never one of my weaknesses. I can conduct an army to victory and converse with hostile ambassadors; I can smooth a king's temper and spot a clever underling; I can prepare a good meal with my own hands and amuse small children. (And those last two, let me say, are quite as useful as the others. Maybe more. Men think with their bellies more than their heads, and it's amazing what children pick up from the adults around them. That's why one cultivates women too. You talk to the people who are everywhere but are never supposed to speak. They'll tell you everything you need to know.)

Military strategy, political strategy, assessing the strength of an army or an opponent and finding where both conceal their weak points-- that's what a king's counsellor does. But the thing is to enjoy yourself doing it, and oh! how few counsellors can manage that. I think you do, in your own way. I probably wouldn't be talking like this to you otherwise.

It's a game, you see. If you start thinking it's serious, you're lost.

(Of course, if more people realized it's a game, *I'd* be lost. One has to be outside, doesn't one? Well, yes, of course all foreign counsellors are outsiders basically, but I mean outside even the assumptions of our own class.)

You don't agree? Come now. What does it matter in the long run whether Wu allies itself to Yue or subdues it utterly? They're much of a muchness in the long run- Wu and Yue, Fu Chai and Gou Jian. Certainly I'll argue the point if you want me to, but I'll argue that alliance is best. Killing people-- killing their families, destroying their temples, driving them from their land-- that gets you only hatred and long-lasting grudges and a desire to kill you in turn. I had enough of that in my youth, and it's made me careful about who I offend and how I offend them. You'd think my esteemed colleague might have taken the lesson to heart as well, but did he? Of course not.

Or maybe he did. Wu Zi Xu doesn't really enjoy his position as chief minister, I've observed. He has no interests, no hobbies, no human interactions except for those that further his plans for Wu. Well, yes, statesmanship can be a hobby, I don't deny it, but that's not what stirs Wu Zi Xu's heart. Forget the 'loyal servant of Wu' image that he spreads about so assiduously (or has his underlings spread about for him. I've never been able to decide which.) You only have to listen to him for five minutes to see what it is.

Hatred. Hatred is the thing that brings fire into his eyes and energy to his soul; hatred is all he had to live for when he lost everything as a young man in Chu, and now it's what keeps him warm in age. Ping of Chu is long-dead and long-humiliated. I'm not big enough to consume all his bile. Wu Zi Xu needed a new enemy, a great enemy, and Yue is close to hand. So now he lives to hate Yue and make Yue hate him.

Naturally it's my job to stop him, as much as I can. Balance, you see. Balance is what it's all about. One can't enjoy oneself reasonably in the middle of violence and chaos, and enjoyment is what life is for.

You think me frivolous. I can see it in your eyes. Call it frivolity if you like. But I'll tell you something, my friend. I'm a soldier as well as a courtier, which you'll agree is more than you can say? Yes. I've seen both sides of service. When you go into battle you know you may well be dead before the sun sets. That doesn't stop generals from going into battle. No, wait, I'm not finished. It's this-- when a counsellor walks into the morning audience, it's no different. He may be dead before he walks out. It's not safer, being an advisor. The danger is just less intense-- more spread about, so to speak. Instead of five hours of face-to-face combat when an arrow may fly straight through your eye and into your brain, it's twenty-four hours of behind-your-back politicking when your enemies may be poisoning the king against you or your rival preparing a false charge with plenty of supporting evidence, or maybe the king is testy and tired of your voice and doesn't want to hear it another moment.

That's it, you see? Death is everywhere, for all men. It will come, likely sooner than later, for you and me as much as for the generals and common soldiers. Doesn't that put things into perspective? Yes, yes, of course the future of our countries matters-- one doesn't rate them at nothing, one takes the necessary risks to further the king's policies and doesn't complain. But since we're probably heading for the gallows as we do it, doesn't it make sense to enjoy ourselves along the way? Our soldiers drink and sing the night before battle. I've never notice them to fight any the less ferociously for that. I enjoy my table and my ladies and my objets d'art (and I thank you for this one-- it's truly magnificent and I shall treasure it always.) That doesn't make me any less able to advise any king who asks for my opinion.

And I shall, of course, speak to my king on the matter of yours. No, no, don't mention it; I'm always happy to make myself useful to my friends.

Comments

[nekonexus.livejournal.com]

You may yet tempt me into an active interest in this Woxin fandom.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

You need a DVD player and the Woxin DVDs, and I at present do not have the latter and you will shortly not have the former. But come those snowy January nights above College Park...

[paleaswater.livejournal.com]

Oh, do you have an all-region player now?

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

No, but nekonexus is going to lend me theirs while they move so I can try it out/ buy my own.

[paleaswater.livejournal.com]

My mom has an old one which I think is also all-region. She just bought a new dvd player, so I can ask her to bring the old one next time she goes back to VA and ship it off to you, if you think the customs won't try to stop it or charge some ridiculous import fee. Will be sometimes early next year because I don't think she's going back to VA again this year.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

I think Customs will stop it and charge some ridiculous import fee. Region-frees are pretty cheap these days and my investment advisor currently has me liquid enough to sail a ship. I can hit him up for the requisite $50 if needs be, but thank you for the offer.

[incandescens]

Looking at it, I can see Bo Pi that way: he was never specifically aiming for some greater goal, he was just moving along and upwards in the ranks of the courtiers. Lovely piece.

[feliciter.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reminding me why I found Bo Pi's actor's portrayal the second most interesting (not sympathetic, or attractive, or compelling - interesting) after Uncle Ming.

Killer last line, as usual.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

How odd. This was written partly to find a rationale for Bo Pi's incomprehensible behaviour, since being fictional and not real he needs to have motivation: and since, as incandescens says, he really does seem to just go with the flow, intent on enjoying life, amassing riches, and staying on everyone's good side. He's the one who has no driving purpose that I can discern and a tendency to look conscious and guilty that tried my patience more than a little.

[paleaswater.livejournal.com]

I guess Bo Pi was supposed to illustrate how small incremental steps by people who genuine mean well can add up to something disastrous. I think the writers had a purpose for him, but he got away from them a little. But really one of the most interesting characters in the series.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

I think Bo Pi meant well in that he didn't actively mean ill, or not much. Plots for the sake of plotting, and possibly to keep himself psychologically separate from WZX, who's another man-eater. But remember that the whole demanding Xi Shi plot was his idea, and he did it for no purpose I can see but to make mischief. If you're working for Yue, work for *Yue* for heaven's sake. Don't go undermining its king for sheer shits and giggles. An honest advisor is one who stays bought.

[paleaswater.livejournal.com]

In a weird way I think he was always convinced that he was loyal to Wu. He was benefiting himself by helping Yue because he thought they weren't much of a threat anyways, and they could help him take WZX down a notch or two. That's why he actually came back to Wu at the end. He genuinely felt that he was devoted to Wu and in particular to Fu Chai.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree that he thought he was loyal to Wu generally, and that in fact he was loyal to Fu Chai personally. I could still do a piece where Bo Pi decides he's tired himself of temporizing and shabby double-dealing and wants to do the clear honest thing for once in his life. So he comes back, which puts him in danger of starvation if nothing else, and agrees to go see Gou Jian and negotiate terms, which actually puts him in danger of death.

But I still think it was reluctance to leave his king in the lurch that brought him back. Living on when Fu Chai himself was in danger was his sticking point, the thing he couldn't do.

[feliciter.livejournal.com]

Hmm...IMHO his actor conveyed Bo Pi's motivation i.e. Bo Pi's welfare, very well. He's a politician, not a statesman.

So two things come to mind right now (perhaps intended by the writers for dramatic effect/humanize the character +/- historical accuracy), which struck slightly jarring notes: shedding tears for WZX, and returning to Wu instead of running away after his failed aid mission to the other states.

tendency to look conscious and guilty

I can't decide if it's the actor's default expression (he even looks sneaky when moved, and also in another modern drama -also with Uncle Ming- where he had a similar, but much smaller part), or if the director was trying to play it up.

As paleaswater says,the writers had a purpose for him, but he got away from them a little.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

He's a politician, not a statesman

Yes. Yes I see. Approach it in modern terms and it makes sense, since we've had nothing but politicians for as long as I can remember.

See, I thought the Bo Pi actor didn't look like that at all in Rainbow (I forget the chinee title- my heart flies, more or less) where he was equally as sly-cunning, and I kept being kerblonxed by this shy friendly man coming out with these inexcusable demands. Unless that's the one you're thinking of? ^_^

I think everyone got away from the writers except Uncle Ming, who didn't need to: he's the one they were writing for.

[feliciter.livejournal.com]

I don't recall much of Rainbow, so you're probably right. He was almost as unctuous and ingratiating, though not quite as obviously as Bo Pi, in Black Hole (literal translation) - where he got his comeuppance from Uncle Ming (as an embittered decent man turned mob boss) after betraying both sides.

everyone got away from the writers except Uncle Ming, who didn't need to: he's the one they were writing for.

Oh yes. And he'd make the role his own, even if they hadn't been :D

[paleaswater.livejournal.com]

Winter Solstice is where he had the major role as the detective investigating a major corruption case at the bank where Uncle Ming works. He still had that expression of I know something that you don't, and I think it would be very amusing if you tried to. Why is it I don't remember him in black hole anymore?

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

That is Bo Pi, sharp with blurred outlines ... if that makes sense.

[rasetsunyo.livejournal.com]

I think you've got Bo Pi down pat.