In Le dynasty, an army had many merits and was appointed being a duke. Duke had much power in country and he also had an area to rule, there was Phu Thi. All people who lived in Phu Thi had to obey him following all his rules. People who went cross his mansion gate had to get down their horses and downed their heads. Anyone who made him satisfied would be punished. Though people in that area didn’t need to pay taxes, he forced them to serve him and his family fully. Whatever Duke wanted no one dared to refuse.
When Duke died, he left eight sons. Though his sons weren’t mandarin as him, they inherited his father’s area and course, they had power to rule it. Except the eighth boy who was just twelve years old, the other had more bad behaviors than their father. They ordered people to feed them that they didn’t eat in their home but to eat at whoever’s home they wanted. They always sent their servants to people’s house and requested them to cook a feast on next day when they came.
Every year, people used did a ceremony to show their reverence to God. On that day, they ordered people to set to feasts, one was set on God’s altar and the other was set on a table which was placed in the hall of temple. While girls were dancing, men were drumming and others stood on their knees downing their heads, they sat on table between the others and God’s altar enjoying dishes on table. When the ceremony finished, people went out eating outside while they still sat in the hall drinking.
But, that was not all. They used to send servants to family of the girl they liked and requested all people, except that girl, to go out. After that, they came and did whatever they wanted with the girl. If anyone dared to refuse he or she would be beaten by their guards. Therefore, many people were beaten and also many girls were forced to do things they didn’t wanted and early enmity flared up inside them.
That’s right people didn’t scare them or their guards but they scared the king thinking that all they did would be reported. But, fear couldn’t prevent them long time. After many times discussing, they decided to kill them.
“Enough! We have to feed eight boys, serve them nice clothes and besides, we have to gift our daughters. I can not stand up anymore.” Said one of elders, “No one can live if they still live”.
The day taking place ceremony was coming. Instead of discussing how to hold the ceremony, people planned to kill them who they called eight evils. As the previous times, almost people went out as the ceremony finishes and only few people stayed to serve them Guards also went out finding the way to tables which were prepared for them and started drinking. The plan was killing them in silent so they didn’t want to make noise. They severed the guards as much as wine they could drink. When all of guards were so drunk, they would act. All things happened as their plan. While guards outside bent down on tables, two kungfu masters who were appointed to serve them started. They only needed chopsticks, pushed them through ears of boys who were sleeping on table because of drinking so much. When they were going to kill the seventh, the eighth suddenly woke up. He screamed, running toward the gate. He opened the gate and called helps. As fast as him, a kung fu master was right after him. He caught on his neck, raised him up and threw him down on ground lightly as a frog. He nearly killed the eighth but elders prevented him.
“Wait! Wait!” said an elders, “We only punish bad guy and this boy is too young he has never done a bad thing. We need to forgive him”.
Fastly, a discussion happened. Almost people supported the elder, forgiving the eighth. Then, all of them made their way to his mansion, bringing away things in the mansion.
The eighth and an old servant escaped as people were busying to steal things from his house. The servant had been one of rebels who had fought against royals but they were destroyed by Duke. Duke didn’t kill him he brought him to his mansion and treated him as an underling. Therefore, he was very grateful and always wanted to repay. At last, he happily had chance to do that, saving the last son of his master.
They went toward the servant’s hometown, Muong’s land. After fifty and five days, they arrived to Muong’s land. The servant and his family treated the eighth very well. They kept the name of the eighth in secret that no one living in Phu Thi could find him. Years later, the eighth followed a doctor who was known as the greatest doctor in that area. The doctor taught him secretive treatment methods he had found out for many years. Few years later, name of the eighth, of course it was a fake name, was brought to whole the area he was as famous as his master, the doctor. Many patients found him and course they were cured. Though the illness they had was serious or they weren’t cured after many times going to other doctors, they all were cured when they found the way to him.
Meanwhile, mother of recent king had cough. Many doctors had come, brought rare medicines but her illness didn’t decrease. The more doctor came, the more king felt disappointed and sad. At last, a mandarin who ruled Muong’s land came and told the king about young doctor in his area. Immediately, the king sent people to Muong’s land to invite the doctor to castle. It was amazing that the doctor only needed some strange leaves to cure mother of king. The king was very happy he promised that he would give the doctor anything he wanted. The doctor, the eighth, grabbed the chance. He told the king his secret story that was about: who his father was; how his brothers died and the crime the people in Phu Thi had done and at last, what he always wanted was revenging.
“My king, the power king, what I want now was only revenging for my brothers, my family.” He said, “I want to punish the people by my way. Hope you give me the chance, my power king”.
The king owed a favor so he agreed. He gave the eighth and decree and five hundreds soldiers to go with him.
In an early morning when people in Phu Thi were sleeping, they were woken up by loud noises of drums. When they woke up, they realized that they were rounded by elite soldiers. Soldiers tied each person then brought all of them to the hall of temple. A mandarin emerged from crowd of soldiers. He read the decree of the king.
“All of you have done a serious crime killing sons of your duke that no one can forgive you. I, the king of this country, king of you give the last son of your duke, the eighth power to punish all you. He has full power to kill anyone he wants. That is my will and no one was allowed to refuse”.
The mandarin walked backward to crowd of soldiers after he finished reading. Then, the eighth appeared front eyes of them, the people who were trembling because of fear.
“Everyone, listen. Anyone of you has ever thought about the day I come back and revenge. Anyone of you has ever thought about your fate after you dare to kill your master. All of you have to for your crime.” He said, “I am not cruel but that can’t prevent me to revenge. Therefore, one hundred people’s lives will pay for one of my brothers and the rest of people will be released”.
The shout of soldiers, the cry of people were mixed which created terrible sounds covering whole the area. People were escorted to top of a hill to execute. It was so lucky that a mandarin appeared with some soldiers asked to meet the eighth. The mandarin was no one but Hoang Tin Hau who was following king’s order traveling through whole the county and checking law enforcement on entire country.
“I think you should stop. It is so serious. So many people will die because of your decision.” Said Hoang Tin Hau, “I need you to wait until my messenger come back after he reports the thing to king”.
“You can not prevent to me. King gave me full power to kill those people and this is his decree”, said the eighth, showing decree of king.
“Course, he could give you the decree but he just heard things from you and didn’t hear anything from people in here. I am his messenger so my duty is to let him know whole story”. Hoang Tien Hau raised one of golden swords which were give to very few people who was very wise and really trusted by the king and people who have the sword could be on behalf of the king, “This case needs to inquire carefully. Who dares to stand up me, I will the person”.
“Soldier!” shouted Hoang Tin Hau.
“Yes sir”, replied all soldiers.
“Untie all people here.” he said, “I will inquire each of them”.
People were happy when they were saved. They told Hoang Tin Hau all difficulties they had to stand up when eight son of Duke ruled them that were also the reason they killed them. After that, Hoang Tin Hau sent a soldier to bring his letter to the king. After days, the soldiers came back with a decree which transmitted king’s will to them he canceled the decree he gave to the eighth.
People burst into happiness and sent hearty thanks to him. On other side, the eighth felt unhappy but he couldn’t do anything he strode away from the area.
THE END
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