Red Sorghum

affairs!’
    ‘Then who do you think we ought to turn the country over to after we drive out the Japanese?’
    ‘That has nothing to do with me. All I know is that no one would dare take a bite out of my dick.’
    ‘What would you say if the Communists were in charge?’
    Granddad snorted contemptuously out of one nostril.
    ‘How about the Nationalists?’
    He snorted out of the other nostril.
    ‘That’s what I say. What China needs is an emperor! I’ve got it all figured out: struggles come and go, long periods of division precede unity and long periods of unity precede division, but the nation aways falls into the hands of an emperor. The nation is the emperor’s family, the family is the emperor’s nation. That’s why he governs so benevolently. But if a political party is in charge, everybody’s got his own idea, with Grandpa saying it’s too cold and Grandma complaining about the heat, and everything’s all fucked up.’
    He reined in his dappled colt and waited for Granddad to catch up. Then, leaning over secretively, he said, ‘Commander Yu, I’ve been reading
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
and
Outlaws of the Marshes
since I was a kid, and I know them like the back of my hand. The seat of my courage is as big as a hen’s egg, but unfortunately I don’t have a wise leader to serve. I used to think Black Eye was one. That’s why I left home, to join upwith him and do something worthwhile before I got married and settled down.
    ‘Who’d have guessed that he was as stupid as a pig and as dumb as an ox, short on courage and long on bullshit? All he cares about is his little plot of land in Saltwater Gap. Our ancestors had a saying: Birds perch on the best wood, a good horse neighs when it sees a master trainer. After thinking it over, I’ve concluded that in all of Northeast Gaomi Township you, Commander Yu, are the only true leader. My comrades and I demanded that Black Eye bring you into the society. It’s what they call “inviting the tiger into the house”. When you’re one of us, if you can sleep on firewood and drink gall, like the famous king of Yue, you’ll gain everyone’s sympathy and respect. Then I’ll wait for a chance to get rid of Black Eye and nominate you to replace him. With a change in the ruling house, discipline will be tightened. Once we bring Northeast Gaomi Township under our control, we’ll move north and occupy Southeast Pingdu Township and Northern Jiao Township, then unite all three areas.
    ‘When that’s done, we can set up our capital in Saltwater Gap under the flag of the Iron Society, with you in command. From there we’ll send our forces in three directions, taking Jiao, Gaomi, and Pingdu counties, annihilating the Communists, the Nationalists, and the Japs. With the three capitals in our hands, we can set up our own nation!’
    Granddad nearly fell off his horse. He looked with amazement at this handsome young man who was bursting with ideas of statehood, and his insides ached with excitement. Reining in his horse, he tumbled out of the saddle and, since it didn’t seem appropriate to kneel before Five Troubles, reached up, grabbed his sweaty hand, and said in a tremulous voice, ‘Sir! Why couldn’t I have met you before this? Why did it take so long?’
    ‘A leader shouldn’t talk like that. Let’s put our hearts and minds together to do something really important!’ Five Troubles said with tears in his eyes.
    Black Eye, who was more than a li ahead of them, reined in his horse and shouted, ‘Hey – are you two coming or not?’
    Cupping his hand over his mouth, Five Troubles yelled,‘We’re coming! Old Yu’s girth broke. We’re fixing it now!’ He turned to look at Father, who was sitting bright-eyed on his horse. ‘Young Master Yu,’ he said, ‘we’ve been discussing serious matters. Don’t breathe a word of our conversation to anyone!’
    Father nodded vigorously.
    Granddad felt more clearheaded than ever before in his life. Five Troubles’ words were a rag that had wiped his heart clean, until it shone like a mirror; finally, he could see the purpose of his struggles, and he uttered something that even Father, who was sitting in front of him, didn’t hear clearly: ‘Heaven’s will!’
    Alternating between a gallop and a trot, the horses arrived at the banks of the Black Water River at noon. That afternoon they left the river behind them, and as night was about to fall, Granddad rose up in the saddle to gaze out at the Salty