Chapter 4
“What I've just told you are Huan league's formation process and, current state of things,” Ding said, rubbing the dirty mustache under his nose. He continued, “Soon Han Empire* will terminate and our time will come.”
“Then is General Tian going to accede the throne next?” Liu Bei asked.
“No, General Tian doesn't have any thoughts like that,” Ding replied to Liu Bei's surprise.
“Then who will be the next monarch to reign?” Liu Bei further inquired, curiosity lingering in his voice.
“I can't tell you that, until you join our league,” Ding teased.
“I will join... But I must have my mother's permission,” Liu Bei also replied, telling a half-truth.
“Hmm,” Ding stroked his chin arrogantly and continued. “It doesn't matter. In any case, the sovereignty is something we mustn't forget to discuss with the Mongol tribe,” he remarked indifferently, but such an answer stunned Liu Bei.
“What? Why must the Chinese throne be discussed with foreign Mongols?” Liu Bei asked quizzically.
“Hehehe, that affirms that you don't have much experience,” Ding said with a condescending smile and continued, “Think about it. If we didn't have someone supplying us with military funds and weapons, we couldn't have changed the world in such a short period of time.”
“Then, there was a foreign support behind the Huan league...” Liu Bei thought aloud. Ding ignored Liu Bei and continued.
“Such is why we don't lose even if we fight government troops. Without doubt, the new age will come in no time. How about that? In such a time, this is why you should join our league to attain greatness...” his words trailed off, for he presently saw a group of his comrades riding towards them.
“Hey, over here!” Gao shouted and soon a group of horsemen dismounted in front of them.
“Captain Ding! Here you were,” Quao, a stout Huan said. He seemed to be the leader of the horsemen.
“You are late,” Ding said, looking slightly annoyed.
“Sorry, we were looking for some puppy that purchased tea from Luoyang's crew,” Quao said apologetically. Deep down inside, Liu Bei trembled silently. Quao paid one insincere glance at Liu Bei and added, “We thought Chief Chang would be pleased with such a gift.”
“So, what kind of person was he?” Ding inquired.
“I didn't see him, so I'm not really sure either. But according to Chen, he apparently presented quite a bit of dignity and grace with his manners,” Quao answered indifferently, but his leader seemed to have been affected by his words. With an interrogating eye, Ding briefly scrutinized Liu Bei. Liu Bei flinched aback.
“Could he possibly be the one?” Ding inquired his subordinate, pointing one finger at Liu Bei.
“Sir?” Quao seemed to be confused.
“We captured him – while the sonny was running away from the estuary,” Ding said with a slight chuckle.
“All right. I will confirm that right away,” Quao said, and Chen was brought to him in an instant. Chen's sneaky stained eyes wandered everywhere. The moment his eyes met Liu Bei's, he immediately looked away and gave a malicious grin under the shadows. He was Qian's cook, but Liu Bei did not know that. His clothes reeked of fish smell.
“What do you need, sir?” he said, revealing his sickeningly yellow teeth.
“Is this the man who purchased tea from Luoyang?” Quao inquired.
“Y-yes. This is the man. But how in the world is he here?” Chen returned the inquiry. Ignoring the crooked cook, Ding turned to Liu Bei.
“Hey, young friend. Have you?” Ding held out his hand.
Liu Bei was still.
“Here, we're going to give it to General Tian. Hand it over when I'm asking nicely,” Ding insisted, a deceivingly humoring tone in his voice.
Liu Bei still did not move.
“Why the hell are you not saying anything?!” Gao shouted in his face.
“Out with it! If you're not quick enough, we'll beat the devil out of you!” the rest of the gang bawled.
‘I sweated blood; toiled and moiled for a year to please mother with this... and I hand it over to these villains after all?’ Liu Bei felt his blood rush. In the meanwhile, the time was still passing and the Huans were still barking.
“This kid, more hard-nosed than we thought,” Gao sneered.
“Well, his attitude will change after we spank him some,” Quao scoffed as he stroke Liu Bei with his sword hilt. Liu Bei fell on the ground with a scream. Other Huans joined in and commenced whipping. Although he could barely see in his pain, Liu Bei feared them robbing him of the tea more than his own bones breaking. In his agony, he caught a glimpse of the monk, peeking from the gate of the temple. The old sage's words rushed back to his conscience, and rang as clearly as a morning bell in his brain.
‘Do you understand? You are the one who will drive the darkness away and return the light to this world. You must hold your life dear until the time comes!’
For some premonition he couldn't explain, Liu Bei could not help but feeling all those words were true. The monk wasn't just another religious fanatic who had lost his sanity after hunger and war. And if his words were true... Then Liu Bei had one mission before the season came for blooming. That was...
‘To survive!’
Liu Bei promptly got up. He undid the prince's sword by his side and offered it to Ding.
“Master Ding, I bought that tea for my mother. I will present you this sword instead, so please permit me to have the tea with me,” he requested.
“Ah yes, I was gazing at this sword for some time as well,” Ding smirked. “I will be relaxing for a while now, so you guys are free to do whatever you want,” he got up and walked away, not paying a single glance at Liu Bei.
“Hehehe... hand it over now. Even General Tian can't get tea so easily, a greenhorn like you having it is unheard of,” Gao said. In their cruel smiles, Liu Bei found no mercy but saw that his resistance was futile.
“Here you are,” Liu Bei said, handing the earthenware over.
“Ah, only if you handed it over so meekly from the start...” Gao sneered and summoned his subordinates. “We're going to rest in this temple tonight. Prepare dinner and put this brat in that warehouse by the pond for now.”
Strong hands seized Liu Bei. They tied up his hands behind his back, and led him to the storage. The warehouse was dark and damp, but with a single window, through which the moonlight peeked in. As they carelessly threw him in, a dark voice said, “We will decide what we are going to do with you tomorrow morning. Sweet dreams until then, sire!” Then he was locked up.
‘What a wreck,’ Liu Bei thought. Why did he ever come to buy that darned tea? To make his mother happy. Instead, there will be tears in her eyes after tomorrow morning. There were numerous other ways to be filial to his mother. Why...?
While he was conversing with himself, he heard something being lowered into the open window. Looking up, he saw an unleashed dagger. His heart leaped at the sight. He worked on the ropes, and presently they were cut up. He let himself out the window, and within a minute or two, he was outside the warehouse. In pale moonlight, a familiar figure stood. It was none other than the monk, who was still looking as poised as ever.
“Sir!” Liu Bei exclaimed gratefully.
“Shh, they will hear you. Hurry!” the priest said hastily.
“Thank you so much,” Liu Bei whispered. The monk nodded and pointed to a five-storied pagoda behind the bushes, not too far away. Soon four feet were running amidst the shrubs, veiled by the night. It was not too long before they reached the ancient stonework. Heavily breathing in his old and weary body, the ascetic opened the door to the interior. “Please wait here for a moment,” he said as he left Liu Bei wondering.
It wasn't long before Liu Bei heard the regular beating of hooves on the ground, slowly approaching from inside. The rhythm got clearer and a white noble steed presented itself at the door, led by a beauty clad in silk. She seemed to be of blue blood. Behind her was the monk, his eyes sparkling with hope and determination.
“Sir, what's going on?” Liu Bei inquired.
“Master, if you consider my rescue a kindness, take this lady and run away from here,” the monk said.
“...?”
“If you ride about a league to the north, you will find a river. There should be troops stationed by the riverbank. This lady is Fu Yung**, the daughter of Lord Hong in this area. You should know by now, but the Huans' burned the castle during their raid, and killed the lord. All other family members were murdered. Luckily, I could take care of Lady Fu Yung until now, but... Please, I beg you, bring her until you come to the riverside. The officials should take care of the rest,” the monk implored.
“Of course, sir. I will escort her there,” Liu Bei said.
“Oh, thank you so much. I can feel at rest with that,” the monk said, his face shining brightly. As if to steal his finally-found peace of mind, there came a roar from the direction of the temple. Liu Bei could hear things like “The kid ran away!” and “He can't have gone that far yet.” The rest were muffled in shouts and neighs. Not losing a moment, Liu Bei led Lady Fu Yung to the saddle.
“Let us be off, lady,” Liu Bei spoke in urgency but the monk stopped him.
“Tarry a little. You mustn't act heedlessly or you will be captured. I will go up to the pagoda and see which direction they're coming from.”
The monk quickly climbed up the stairs with his tired feet. What a day for a weary old man. But he had a mission to accomplish. He reached the fourth story and peered out, commanding the full view of the area. He saw the gang coming from the temple, surging with the brightly-lit torches. He looked to the sky and saw the Polaris shining in north.
“Young Master, ride to the direction I'm pointing,” he said, pointing to the ever-hopeful Polaris.
“What about you, sir?” Liu Bei asked.
“I am now just a plain old man. I don't have anything left to do or to be ambitious of. I can't continue this anymore – this miserable cycle of life, daily hunting lizards and rats for meals. Lady Fu Yung can be safe now. Also, I found a person like you, to whom I can leave all my hope,” the monk said gleefully and added, “Come, do not tarry and ride swift! On you go, to north!”
“Farewell, Master,” Liu Bei said, drawing in the reins. The white horse neighed, and it disappeared into the night.
“Oh, what a gallant sight!” the monk cried and raised his hands up in the air.
Behold, behold!
The treacherous clouds scatter
And the Star shines brightly.
He rides upon a white horse,
Striking the yellow bands.
The true Saviour has come, behold!
The old priest shouted at the top of his lungs, and with last remaining bits of strength, he threw himself out the pagoda. His body crushed the ground, but there lay a peaceful smile upon his lean face.
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* Han Empire is one of the ancient Chinese dynasties. Refer to Wikipedia for more details.
** Fu Yung is written 芙蓉, and it means ‘a lotus.’ I used Cantonese instead of Pinyin for this, because it sounded prettier.
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