FIVE KINGS (The Five Kings)
Chapter 17
By tomorrow......
King Tan Soan Kong and Tio Cu, two kings have arrived. While Coa Ai-houw, even though he felt hurt to King Couw, had fallen to King Couw, but he came to the meeting of the Young Kings.
The four Young Kings who saw King Cee coming did not bring his army, they immediately withdrew their war chariot about twenty li away.
It was the end of the month of Ji-gwe (the second month of Lunar), but the invited Young Kings had not been gathered in all. King Cee became less happy, he negotiated with Koan Tiong.
”Young Kings invited many who have not come,” said King Cee Hoan Kong, ”what better we change the meeting time. We have to wait until they get together?”
”The proverb says: Three people alone can be a union. Now there were four Young Kings coming. This amount cannot be said for a bit,” Koan Tiong said patiently. ”If My Lord changes the time of his meeting, this breaks the promise and takes away their trust. Especially if it has been awaited but still has not come as well. That means ignoring Emperor Ciu's orders! If from the beginning the young King disobeyed this order. How later?”
”How good, do we directly make a union or just make a meeting?” ask Cee Hoa Kong.
”The minds of the Young Kings have not united yet, let us see if they have all gathered. If they do not disband, only then can the union be held,” said Koan Tiong.
King Cee agreed. He promised to do what Koan Tiong said.
At the beginning of Sha-gwe month (three months Lunar), the air was bright at that time. Gleefully the five-nation Young King gathered at the bottom stage.
”Because the Government Council of Emperor Ciu had long been ignored by the Young Kings, there was a lot of chaos and rebellion. Now I have received Emperor Ciu's order to gather all the Young Kings. Meaning to restore authority ”Ciu” Royal Council. So today I propose that someone be appointed to be the leader of all the Young Kings. He who will hold great power to take care of the government that must be run throughout this country.”
After King Cee said so, there was soon a negotiation. But the Young Kings felt doubt. They're all confused. If they appoint King Cee, but the descendants of King Song have the title Kong (hertog), while King Cee only holds the title Houw (graaf/prince). According to the semestinyam rules of King Song who is of a higher degree and entitled to become a leader. Instead if they raised King Song, but King Song had just become king. While the position he obtained precisely thanks to the help of King Cee. Then King Song would definitely not dare to occupy a higher position than King Cee, his helper.
So after being weighed away for so long, King Tan Soan Kong got up from his seat and said, ”About His Majesty Ciu Li Ong's decree to gather the Young Kings, His Majesty has handed over this matter to Cee-houw, since it should be Cee-houw who was appointed as the head of the union?”
All the Young Kings confirmed King Tan's remarks, no one disputed King Tan's opinion.
King Cee Hoan Kong repeatedly wanted to surrender, but did not stop him being appointed their leader.
Then the Young Kings entered the upper level stage. King Cee became the head, the second King Song-kong, the third King Tan-houw, the fourth King Coa-houw and the fifth King Ti-cu. After marching orderly and fixed, bells and drums sounded. First they perform a traditional ceremony. They were facing towards the residence of Emperor Ciu. Then each other saluted like fellow beloved brothers.
Meanwhile, Tiong Sun Ciu came with a letter of agreement. He knelt to read the covenant which sounded like this:
”On this day, Cee-houw Siao Pek, Song-kong Gi Wat, Tan-houw Ci Kiu, Coa-houw Hian Bu and Ti-cu Kek, Ti-cu, by obeying the decree of His Majesty Ciu Li Ong had gathered in Pak-heng, and each other promised to jointly support the Ciu Royal Council, he said, help a weak country and lift up a fallen country; if anyone breaks this treaty, all the states will fight with it.”
