FIVE KINGS (The Five Kings)

Chapter 68

Tomorrow......

The Prince is going home.

All the young kings each brought their soldiers to take Prince The home. Among them King Cee and King We have delivered over the border of We.

When King Couw Seng Ong got word The King did not want to participate in the meeting of the kings, of course King Couw was very excited. He wished he could pull back The King to his side. King Couw immediately sent an envoy to meet Sin Houw while carrying valuable items to bribe Sin Houw. King Couw says he intends to continue his friendship with the country

Sin Houw was indeed very greedy, he accepted King Couw's bribe. Then he found King The and said that King Couw wanted to be friends.

"Hamba is sure that soon King Cee will invade The land" said Sin Houw. "If not King Couw won't be able to deal with it."

"Is that right?" the King said.

"Right, my Lord, if my Lord subdues Couw it is according to Emperor Ciu's message. If my lord does not immediately take a verdict, then King Cee and Couw will be enemies of The land" Sin Houw said.

The dorna minister's insistence had succeeded, King The Bun Kong ordered Sin Houw to secretly deliver the parcels to the land of Couw.

In the 26th year of the reign of Ciu Hui Ong, King Cee Hoan Kong had invited the unionized kings to come and crash into The country, they immediately besieged the city of Sin-bit.

It happened that Sin Houw was in the land of Couw, after hearing news The country was being run over by the troops of Cee and his friends, Sin Houw faced King Couw Seng Ong for help.

King Couw immediately gathered all his ministers to discuss the matter.

"When King Cee was about to declare war on Siao-leng, King Khouw Bok Kong died in his camp, so King Cee was very sorry for him. Thus among the kings, King Khouw was the most familiar with King Cee" Chu Bu said. "If my lord attacks the land of Khouw, surely King Cee and the others will come to his aid. Thus the siege of The land will loosen itself."

King Couw agreed on Chu Bun's suggestion, King Couw directly led his army to attack the Khouw state.

When King Cee Hoan Kong and the others got word that King Khouw was besieged by the Couw army, they released the siege of The country to help Khouw's country. But when they and the army reached Khouw's land, the army of Couw had already retreated.

Sin Houw of Couw returned to the land of The. He considers him to have been a great meritor and hopes to be raised in his rank. But Sin Houw was disappointed that King The was silent. Being extremely upset and prying Sin Houw often let out inappropriate words.

The following year in the Cun season, King Cee Hoan Kong and his comrades again invade The country.

One of Tan's country commanders, Wan To Touw was named, because he knew King The had freed himself from the union with King Cee, and listened to the incitement of Sin Houw. Wan To Touw wrote a secret letter sent to Khong Siok, which read:

"Sin Houw was a lick to King Cee, so he got the gift of corporate land in Houw-lo, now he licked to King Couw, to make your King forget about virtue and violate obligations, like deliberately looking for danger to harm the people of the country and damage the region itself. If King Tay-hu is willing to kill Sin Houw, I can assure you that there is no need to fight for sure Cee's army will be pulled back."

The king recalled that because he did not want to hear the advice of Khong Siok, Cee troops and his friends had twice attacked his country. He was very sorry and turned to be furious at Sin Houw, his minister.

Soon he called Sin Houw facing.

"You said only King Couw could fight King Cee and his friends, now that Cee's army has returned. Where's King Couw and his soldiers you said you wanted to help?" said The King furiously.

When Sin Houw was about to speak out to convey his reasoning, King The had already summoned the executioner to drag and behead Sin Houw.

Then Khong Siok while carrying the letter of King The and the head of Sin Houw faced King Cee to ask for peace.

King Cee Hoan Kong already knew the wise minister of The Khong Siok. King Cee was willing to accept peace and believe in the words of this wise minister.

One day King Cee invited all the kings to gather at Leng-bo. But when The King got the invitation, he was somewhat doubtful. He felt still bound by Emperor Ciu's invitation, hence he did not dare to come gather at Leng-bo. But to not make King Cee suspicious he just sent his son named Si Cu Hoa to represent him to attend the meeting.

It turns out that Si Cu Hoa is an ungodly child, he always strives to get the throne of his father. He had repeatedly asked Siok Ciam, Khong Siok (also called Louw Siok) and Su Siok to get rid of his father's sons. But all the benevolent ministers always advised him.

"The Prince should be devoted to my Master's Father" Khong Siok said. "Because even the King is very dear to my Lord."

"It is true, if you are devoted to the throne, it will definitely be handed over to my Master" Su Siok said.

But because Si Cu Hoa was already very eager to occupy the throne of his father, the advice of the three ministers was not well received, instead he hated the three of them.

When Si Cu Hoa met King Cee Hoan Kong, he begged that he could talk alone with King Cee Hoan Kong.

"Hamba wants to talk about an important matter, so the other servant begs to withdraw" Si Cu Hoa told King Cee.

When the plea by King Cee was granted and they were alone, Si Cu Hoa began to speak.

"The Council was managed by three ministers. They are Siok Ciam, Khong Siok and Su Siok" Si Cu Hoa said. "When my father left the meeting, it was because of the incitement of the three Tay-hu. If my Master can get rid of those three ministers, and I'm willing to give up The country. I am quite content to be a civil servant of The."

"I agree, but have to wait for time" said Cee Hoan Kong. "I'll negotiate with my minister first."

"All right," said Si Cu Hoa.