Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 313 Acting in Accordance with Etiquette
Outside the hall, there was a high platform specifically used to punish actors who failed their studies. Before the punishment was carried out, drums and gongs were beaten to attract onlookers. This served two purposes: firstly, to signify their abandonment by the public, and secondly, to warn and discourage other actors.

The place was already crowded with people, and after this incident, people quickly gathered around to watch the spectacle. Before long, at least a thousand male and female performers had gathered outside the hall.

The drunken drummer was dragged onto the platform and continued to shout. He only calmed down after the magistrate struck him in the ribs with a stick. The magistrate then announced his crimes to the crowd and laid him on a wooden frame before whipping him with a stick.

This drummer seemed to be quite famous in the Tai Le Department. Many of the actors watching below seemed to recognize him and couldn't help but start discussing him.

Zhang Dai, who was supervising the execution at the entrance of the hall, noticed this scene and turned to a musician to ask, "What is the name of this drummer? And what is the matter with the incense offering?"

"Reporting to Zhang Xielu, this disciple's name is Lei Sibao. He is just a drummer in the Imperial Music Bureau. In the past, when his skills were excellent, he often visited famous residences and considered himself to be favored. He was addicted to drinking and his skills gradually deteriorated. In the year of the Eastern Feng Festival, he failed the art examination and was unable to accompany the emperor. He regrets this and is always resentful."

The music master recognized the drummer and pointed to the Taiyue Doctor who had been scolded earlier, saying, "Taichang musicians often form sworn brotherhoods, and the leader is called a 'Xiangtou' (incense head). The leader is either the one with the best skills or the one with the most power. These two men both joined Liu Bao's Xiangtou brothers. Dr. Xu once studied under him. Lei Sibao probably felt that Dr. Xu was not qualified to test his skills, so he got angry. It wasn't that he intended to offend the music master."

"Changru" refers to male actors who served in the imperial palace and accompanied the emperor. For example, Huang Fanchuo, the actor who mocked Zhang Yue for having the strength of Mount Tai in front of the emperor, belonged to the category of "Changru".

Such people are quick-witted and humorous, so they can often serve at the emperor's side and are therefore more likely to gain his favor. They naturally belong to the top tier among actors, and other actors flock to their ranks, forming a powerful social group. The groups of actors under the Taichang and Jiaofang were composed of these large and small social groups.

Zhang Dai had heard of such organizations before. His family's Pure Land Temple sold insurance by promoting it through various incense societies in the West Garden and Shangyang Palace. However, he did not expect that the members of these incense societies would be so arrogant as to disregard even the supervising officials and the rules and procedures of the temple administration, directly criticizing Zhang Dai, the Assistant Director of Music, for interfering in the conflicts within their incense society.

"Who is this Liu Bao? How could he allow his sworn brother to act so arrogantly?"

If the matter had nothing to do with him, Zhang Dai wouldn't bother to get involved. But now that even a mere entertainer dared to provoke him while drunk, he couldn't simply ignore it.

“Please calm down, please calm down. We actors formed this society simply to learn from each other and help the weak and needy. We have no intention of bullying others by relying on our power. Brother Liu, the head of the incense shop, has always advised us to study diligently and treat others with respect. Lei Sibao’s arrogance is not due to the head of the incense shop’s influence, but because his family has its own strengths.”

When Dr. Xu of Tai Le heard Zhang Dai's rather unfriendly tone when he asked about their incense master, he hurriedly stepped forward and kowtowed, saying, "This Lei Sibao is like an old clam that has produced pearls. All the women in his family are clever and charming, and one of them has even been favored by your esteemed household. That's why he has such an arrogant attitude and looks down on everyone!"

Hearing two conflicting accounts in such a short time, Zhang Dai couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the sheer size and power of the Taile Department. He didn't bother to investigate which account was true, but simply ordered, "After the caning, put this man in shackles on the platform. He may not be released until after sunset!"

After saying this, seeing that it was still early, he ordered another group of actors to be brought in to continue the examination.

According to information obtained by the clerk Zhao Ling, his colleague, the assistant music master Ma Lizheng, had been sent to coordinate with the Imperial Workshop and the Imperial Household Department to replenish the musical instruments because the Music Hall was short of them. He probably wouldn't be back for several days.

Therefore, Zhang Dai planned to focus on supervising the students' studies for a few days to get a general understanding of the artistic skills of the actors in the Tai Le and Gu Chui departments, and then learn about other matters after Ma Xielu returned.

He continued to supervise the students' studies here, while the commotion outside did not diminish.

The drummer, Lei Sibao, received ten solid lashes, which sobered him up. He became much more docile and stopped making a fuss. However, when he saw that he would be paraded in a cangue after the lashes, he couldn't help but cry out, "I know my sins, I know my sins, please forgive me!"

This guy was arrogant and unruly, and he wasn't well-liked among the actors. Seeing his misfortune, some of the actors in the crowd clapped and laughed, saying, "What does Lei Sibao think he is? He even dared to drink alcohol on the day of his lesson! He's been punished today. If you want to get away with it, why don't you offer your newly raised daughter to the music master? Maybe you'll get leniency!"

"Bullshit! The women in my household are only fit for royalty. Who ordered this scoundrel to come and extort them?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Sibao flew into a rage, shouting with a mixture of resentment and pride: "Anyone who thinks they can use their official power to force me to bow down and obediently offer up women for them to play with is delusional and blind! Just you wait, a benefactor will come to my rescue! If I think I can get away with this then, it won't be so easy!"

Hearing Lei Sibao's shouts and curses, the actors around the platform also started to yell and jeer. Some continued to mock Lei Sibao for being stubborn and refusing to admit his mistake.

However, some people believed Lei Sibao's story. After all, the musicians in the Taichang Temple were not lacking in beauty and talent, and it was true that officials would use their power to force those musicians to contribute voluntarily.

The soundproofing inside the hall was quite good, while the outside was noisy. Zhang Dai was unaware that someone had already spread rumors about him outside. While supervising the actors' studies, he also finished writing the letter he was going to send to Wang Jun.

He had just put down his pen when he looked up and saw a subordinate official from the Ministry of Personnel hurrying in. He then asked, "Is there something you need?"

"Minister Xue has summoned Zhang Xielu to the hall to instruct him on matters," the official stepped forward and said respectfully.

Zhang Dai had spent most of the day supervising the students' studies and had also gained some understanding of the Taile Department's supervision over the past period. Now that he was being summoned again, he felt more confident and walked out of the main hall towards the front office.

As he passed the execution platform, many of the actors below had already dispersed, but those who remained looked at him with strange eyes.

Zhang Dai didn't take this to heart. Although he hadn't known these people for long, he could sense that their way of thinking was very different from that of ordinary people.

These musicians were all of low social status, but they did not have a clear understanding of it because their daily lives were relatively isolated and they had little contact with the outside world.

These people often participated in various court ceremonies and grand banquets, and felt that their knowledge and experience were superior to others. Among them, those who were outstanding in appearance and talent were especially sought after by high-ranking officials and nobles, and their mentality became increasingly arrogant.

This lack of self-awareness was more pronounced among the court musicians of the Imperial Music Bureau than among those of the Imperial Music Academy, because the latter were more aware of the true nature of their profession—entertaining people with their art. While the court musicians of the Imperial Music Bureau were of low social status, they were still officially employed, accustomed to the system of equal distribution of income and not directly involved in the entertainment industry. Consequently, they received less feedback from their environment and were more detached from society.

Zhang Dai was merely a minor official with some supervisory power, not a high-ranking official like the Grand Music Master or the Assistant Grand Music Master. He had no intention of taking any action to change the prevailing atmosphere; as long as these people didn't provoke him, they could be dealt with leniently even for minor mistakes. But if someone wanted to be a troublemaker like Lei Sibao, he certainly wouldn't let them get away with it.

It was past noon by then, and many officials in the temple had already left early. There were also fewer people inside and outside the office. After Zhang Dai entered the office, he bowed to Xue Tao and said, "May I ask what business you have with me, Junior Minister?"

What did you just do?

Xue Tao looked down at Zhang Dai and asked in a deep voice.

"This humble official supervises classes at the Imperial Music Bureau, and the lesson records are as follows."

As Zhang Dai spoke, he presented the textbook with both hands.

Xue Tao ignored the lesson book and stared directly at Zhang Dai, saying, "I heard you used caning in the back hall? Do you know the standards for using torture to govern the masses? All musicians in the Imperial Music Bureau must diligently participate in ceremonies, especially those accomplished musicians. Their skills are invaluable. Unless it's a serious offense, they shouldn't be subjected to torture. If someone is injured or their career is damaged, it's difficult to make amends. You're a new official, eager to establish your authority, but you shouldn't abuse torture. Go and release that person immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai immediately frowned, and after a moment's thought, he said, "I have kept all your teachings in mind, Shaoqing. Yesterday you may have been new, but today you are old. How can you be so eager to establish your authority? Shaoqing knows what crimes this criminal has committed, so why do you insist that he should not be punished?"

The reason the state establishes laws of punishment and reward, and creates the five wooden implements, is to clearly distinguish right from wrong and to ensure fair rewards and punishments. Even high-ranking officials are not exempt from the laws of the state, let alone mere actors! Is it acceptable to value the arts of actors over the law? Your Excellency has given me a reckless order; please forgive me for not obeying!

"How dare you insult your superior like this! Whose laws are you following?"

Xue Tao was taken aback by Zhang Dai's firm stance. After a moment of stunned silence, he flew into a rage and slammed his fist on the table.

"The Grand Master of Ceremonies is the head of rites and music. If the Junior Minister upholds the rites, he is the superior official. If not, I shall follow the rites in making choices and act accordingly. What the rites permit, I shall do diligently."

While saying this, Zhang Dai inwardly sighed that the Crown Prince's father-in-law was really incompetent. Damn it, he was glaring at me and acting tough over a drunken actor. What a face-saving thing it would be if he won.

"You arrogant brat! In my eyes, what are you any different from an actor? Do you really think that with Minister Cui protecting you, I wouldn't dare punish you?"

Xue Tao's face grew even uglier, and he pointed at Zhang Dai angrily.

“My training is different from that of actors. I was appointed as the Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices by imperial decree after passing the imperial examination. If you think I am no different from an actor, you should reflect on your actions.”

Seeing his exasperated appearance, Zhang Dai calmly cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency is in charge of the affairs of the temple, and I am also one of your subordinates. If Your Excellency wishes to punish me, you need not ask me. I will accept it humbly and dare not say anything."

(End of this chapter)