FIVE KINGS (The Five Kings)

Chapter 91

”Don't, don't you kill him,” Kong-sun Ci said. ”Chin there is a big country, we take the king must be his people so hate us, especially if we kill the king, surely the people become increasingly anxious to us, maybe Chin will retaliate to Cin, he said, it will be even more powerful than Cin's retaliation on Chin.”

”I mean not only kill Chin Hui-kong, but we also lift Kong-cu Tiong Ji in his place,” Kong-cu Ci told Cin Bok-kong. ”If we kill the evil one and replace it with the good one, surely the people of Chin will be grateful to us. Why should they have a grudge against us?”

”Kong-cu Tiong Ji is a wise man, his father and his brothers he loves. When his father died, he expected nothing. I doubt, would he accept to be King of Chin, even though we killed his brother I Gouw? There's no difference who we pick up there. Had Tiong Ji been willing to become King of Chin, he would have been hostile to us too, the land of Cin because his brother died at our hands. Even my Master made my Master's good service disappear.” said another.

”Then throw him out, imprison him or return him to his land, among the three choices, which one is better?” ask Cin Bok-kong.

”Promising him is just torturing someone, for the good of the country Cin, what good is it? Expelling him there will definitely be a commander or minister who will welcome him back. Servant think, better return him to his country.”

”Thus do not make it in vain if our time and energy are wasted only.”

”I mean I'm not returning him for free. First we ask him to give up five of your towns east of the Hoang-ho river, and ask his son, Prince Gi, to be made a guarantee in our land. We just made a deal. Thus the lifetime of Chin Hui-kong did not dare to do anything to Cin. The kingdom fell on his son. We treat Prince Gi, until the turtun-down King Chin submits to Cin!” said Cu Song.

”Cu Song opinion is really good!” said Cin Bok-kong while laughing.

Immediately he ordered his men to take Chin Hui-kong and placed in the palace on Leng-tay-san mountain, guarded by a thousand people.

When the order of King Cin Bok-kong was about to be executed, it was suddenly seen coming upon a group of palace slaves dressed in mourning clothes.

King Cin Bok-kong was surprised, he thought that nothing had happened to his empress.

Just now he wanted to ask, that palace slave had already gone out of his voice.

Just now King Cin Bok-kong was about to ask. The boys already said.

”At Hu-jin's order we were told to meet my Lord!” said the slaves. ”Hu-jin says Thian has brought down the disaster, until King Chin and Cin are hostile. Now that King Chin has been taken captive, Hu-jin is embarrassed. If my Master does not forgive King Chin, then he just wants to die. It's up to my lord!”

Hearing the testimony was not the surprise play of King Cin Bok-kong.

”Now what does Hu-jin do?” ask Cin Bok-kong.

”Since hearing the news of King Chin being caught, he was immediately dressed in mourning” said the slave, ”he walked out of the palace, went up to Cong-tay's attic and stayed there. At the foot of the attic he piled dry firewood. When Hu-jin and her son went up and down, they passed by the dry wood pile. If King Chin arrives, Hujin and her son will kill themselves. This he said for the sake of his love for his brother, King Chin!”

”O, good thing Cu Song forbids killing King Chin!” said Cin Bok-kong. ”if not, Hu-jin must have perished.”

Immediately he ordered the slaves to take off their mourning clothes, he told them to go home,

”Tell on Hu-jin Bok-ki, soon I will deliver King Chin.” Cin Bok-kong said.

So the slaves went home to report.

King Chin Hui-kong was detained on Mount Leng Tay-san not long ago, one day Kong-sun Ci met him, he asked King Chin for health.

”Actually the mayor of Cin wants to kill you, but since the Empress of My King wants to kill herself if you die, then you are released. But on condition that you hand over the five cities you promised first, and guarantee us Prince Gi. You can go home!”

King Chin Hui-kong was overjoyed, he thanked the generous King Cin, immediately he ordered Kiok Kip back to Chin, to inform Lu I Seng of the terms of his return.

Upon receiving the news, Lu I Seng came to the land of Cin to meet King Chin Bok-kong, he handed over a map of five cities and over population data, and, the buildings and foodstuffs in the five cities, as well as Prince Gi, were handed over as collateral.

”But why didn't Prince Gi come?” ask King Cin Bok-kong.

”Because between the authorities of Chin belu agreed all, then while Prince Gi lived first in Chin,” said Lu I Seng. ”As soon as my King returns, Prince Gi will be here soon!”

When King Bok-kong asked the incompatibility among the Chin magnates, Lu I Seng answered.

”On this issue there are two opinions, there are those who want to appoint Prince Gi as the successor of King Chin, there are those who hope King Chin is released,” said Lu I Seng.

Chin Bok-kong nodded in understanding. Immediately he ordered Beng Beng Si to set the boundaries of five cities, and put a commander and an army to guard them. Later King Chin was placed on the border with the status of Great Guest.

After all, King Cin Bok-kong ordered Kong-sun Ci to deliver Lu I Seng and King Chin Hui-kong back to his country.

For two months Chin Hui-kong was a prisoner in the land of Cin. Among his ministers who were miserable all came home, except for Kek Sia who due to illness had died in the country of Cin.

As Chin Hui-kong was nearing Kang-ciu town, Prince Gi took Ho Tut, Kiok Peng, The Keng, Ngo Sek, Su-ma Swat and Put Te out to greet.

King Chin Hui-kong when he saw The Keng immediately became very angry, he remembered when his train was mired in the mud, The Keng did not want to help him, so he was caught, Immediately he called The Keng facing, he said, after he was fiercely beaten Keng The would be put to death.

Ngo Sek and Kek Pouw Touw beg for mercy, but Nio Yu Bi who is also annoyed at The Keng, because when almost King Cin Bok-kong almost caught, the, The Keng tells him to help King Chin Hui-kong, so King Cin escapes.

Chin Hui-kong decided Keng The should be put to death.

After Chin Hui-kong was in the palace, he ordered Prince Gi to come with Kong-sun Ci to the land of Cin, King Chin requested that Touw Gan I be sent to Chin to be buried.

On one day......

King Chin Hui-kong told Kiok Peng that he was worried that Tiong Ji was invading his country,

”Then we better kill Tiong Ji,” Kiok Peng proposed.

”Who is ordered for the task of killing him?” ask King Chin Hui-kong.

”Put Te only,” says Kiok Peng.