Legend of the Red Sun Village

by Mark Swaine

  The Ministers agree, some with enthusiasm, others with lack of. Chung Denshi then gestures to the table, and a fellow Minister leans slowly forward. Yu-Huang listens to the Ministers begin their line of questioning regarding the Samurai, and they first inquire to the length of their stay and long term intentions. Kamui Li cooperates and the conversation carries on at length in a surprisingly civil manner. To watch the strangers converse in turn, one could almost be forgiven for mistaking the polite exchange of dialogue as trivial chit chat. Though the warm hospitality was not to last, and the further they dig, the more the interrogation soon turns to quips and condescending statements muttered in hushed voices. Glib remarks unintended for the ears of their guest, all said with crassness for their own amusement as they openly ridicule the Samurai with short scoffs, snorts and wheezes of laughter, all badly concealed by their long sleeves. Kamui Li realises they are mocking him and he stops chewing his food and wipes his mouth with a serviette before throwing a half-eaten chicken leg back onto his platter.

  Kamui Li stares intensely at the smirking Ministers with contempt, and their smiles slowly drop as their ridiculing is laid bare before the unamused Emperor. Witnessing the dearth of hilarity on Kamui Li's intently apathetic expression, an awkward silence ensues until Peng Shi mutters an additional insult to which they stare into their plates whilst silently laughing hard. The Emperor intervenes on Kamui Li's behalf by demanding silence, and the warning in his eyes also commands they cease of their belittling annotations. One could cut the atmosphere with a Wakizashi, until Yu-Huang requests of Kamui Li that he shares his tragic tale of how Emperor Kazuko met his fate at the hands of his own guardians. Kamui Li is hesitant to share his story of woe to these disrespectful fools, yet does so with disdain at the Emperor's further beckon. Kamui Li talks into the night and Chung Denshi listens greater than any other as the giant fruit bats flap with terroristic grace through the rows of grape trees densely crowding the castle vineyards. Kamui Li recounts his pain as the wolves howl their slow ghostly wail and sing a song of mourning to the luminous white moon hovering atop the windswept moors. A chill creeps into the hall; it crawls up the spines of the fearful and fills their minds with thoughts of self-preservation, and in their hearts, feelings of fear toward the mighty Samurai. The more they listened to the young Emperor slayer, the more they realise the level of threat they are under by sheltering the Samurai. While their protests are taken into account by the Emperor, they find their pleadings to cast them out futile. Chung Denshi strenuously concurs with his brothers and their reason, ultimately gaining their trust, with the exception of one. The Ministers despise the Emperor's favouring of the Samurai, and make it abundantly clear as a uniformed force they will never be trusted or accepted regardless of their noble intentions and previous heroic deeds. As tempers rise, Chung Denshi secretly fears the resolve of the Brotherhood whilst wondering how his own clergy can fall so far. What began as simple arrogance and distrust in the foreigners has been forged into something else; something darker consuming them one by one whilst reducing their faith to dust. A messenger boy suddenly runs into the main hall and hands Peng Shi a rolled up scroll. The boy whispers into Peng Shi's ear whilst looking at Kamui Li, and the stern faced Priest opens the scroll to read the urgent report. Peng Shi looks at the Emperor then passes the scroll around for the other Ministers to read.

  “You have formed an alliance with the trolls?” asks Peng Shi, both shocked and disgusted.

  General Arachie almost chokes on his food as he listens to the ludicrous suggestion, then he looks to Yu-Huang seeking verification. Yu-Huang nods and General Arachie's burrowed eyes veer away as he ponders upon the Emperor's strategic rationale.

  “We have a count of our dead, seventy five Priests perished in the attack, eleven of our brothers remain unaccounted for,” says Peng Shi plainly.

  “Seventy-five of our Brothers cut down by our own Jade army, and the Samurai, you... your people,” adds an elderly Minister pointing at Kamui Li with disdain.

  “What does the message speak of, what news of an alliance with the trolls?” asks Chung Denshi curiously.

  “A troll attempting to slay one of your Samurai has been seized by the guards. According to this beast, our wise and mighty Emperor has taken it upon himself to form an alliance with the beasts that dwell in the Kunlun Mountains,” says an angry Minister throwing the scroll across the table to Chung Denshi.

  “The Samurai, what name does he go by, does he live?” asks Kamui Li with anticipation.

  “Akio Ishikawa, he is badly wounded and being treated by Healers in the outskirts of the city,” informs Yu-Huang reading the scroll, “this message fails to recognise the troll by title, only by breed. So tell me, what is his name?” asks Yu-Huang strictly.

  “That is your reply?” scoffs Peng Shi. “You... brought these... disgusting murderous cannibals into the sanctity of lands and you ask only of the dirty beast's name. Explain this blasphemy!” shouts Peng Shi.

  “HIS NAME!” shouts Yu-Huang raising his voice rattling the table’s contents with his booming tone.

  Peng Shi recoils in his chair, stunned and silent with the other Ministers and too afraid to even scratch an itch or swallow their saliva.

  “Y-Yeman Ren,” stutters Peng Shi.

  “Where he is being held, where?!” shouts Yu-Huang with eyes of flickering light.

  “The Pits of Guàiwù,” says Minister Luó, nervously.

  “The Pits of Guàiwù!” shouts Yu-Huang. “Why! Why were they not incarcerated at Liumang prison until this misunderstanding has been resolved!” bellows Yu-Huang once more.

  “Warden Seto turned them away, n-n-no room,” says a Priest recoiling in his chair.

  “Never mind the troll, you know not of what you are doing... do you,” sneers Peng Shi.

  “Mind your tongue Priest,” says the General in low voice whilst reaching for a short dagger.

  “General, let him speak,” says Yu-Huang,

  “You are blind. Your lack of action will bring about the downfall of all of us, and your hesitance and lack of will to act will be the cause of our undoing. Many of our Brothers, including my Master, High Priest Jian-Heng, were slain needlessly this day while you stood by and... did... nothing,” says Peng Shi nervously and defiantly.

  Yu-Huang knows the boy is right, and instead of rising to his anger he accepts every word the young Priest says.

  “General Arachie, what are your thoughts on this matter?” asks Chung Denshi attempting to defuse the situation whilst adding another perspective.

  The General, surprised at the requested input swallows his food and thinks hard.

  “What happened to Jian-Heng was a tragic misfortune,” says General Arachie gathering some white rice on his chopsticks.

  “Tragic? Will you mourn for him?” asks Peng Shi condescendingly.

  “No,” replies the General before biting into a crispy spring roll.

  Peng Shi sneers at the General and is lost for words at his blatant honesty.

  “What of the foul trolls who have been our sworn enemy since the dawn of their filthy existence,” asks Chung Denshi.

  “‘Tis a wise and unexpected play fraught with hazard, yet strategically beneficial. With the trolls watching our blind spot atop the Kunlun Mountains, we shall be much better guarded,” replies the General.

  “Guarded? How did they guard us during the attack of the undead dragons... by tolling their bells?” asks Peng Shi.

  “If I had made this allegiance sooner their 'might and weapons' would have been put to better use in the cities where their strength would have aided us in ridding of the undead menace,” says Yu-Huang. “‘Tis because of our fear toward their kind, a fear which I myself have contributed to, is why they dare not fight alongside us. ‘Tis a fear I plan to eradicate to ensure their safety among us should I ever call them to war,” says Yu-Huang.

  “Apparently the former King of the Trolls shares not your sentiments regarding the fear of mortal men, otherwi
se he would not have dared venture amongst us whilst attempting to slay a soldier of the city, this Samurai, Akio,” complains Peng Shi.

  “Was Yeman Ren at least questioned?” asks Yu-Huang.

  “Yes, so was a treacherous a Jade soldier who also remains under armed guard, he will be put to death for his act of treason,” replies Peng Shi.

  “You will do no such thing, you have not the authority to detain a soldier of the guard, let alone decide the fate of my men. I will deal with this soldier myself,” says General Arachie warningly.

  “Yes General, we do possess the authority, ever since the Emperor failed to inform you of the unnatural beasts he invited into our domain. Unnatural beings we are charged with expelling and protecting the Emperor from... not you and your mindless sword shakers,” states a Minister at the far end of the table.

  “So far you have excelled in your duties,” replies the General before washing down his food with a long swig of cool water.

  “‘Twas not our lack of action that invited these unnatural beasts into this domain, nor do we possess the ability to control the dragons,” says Chung Denshi seeking reason.

  “This I promise every one of you, and you should heed my words with great care because I am only going to say this once. Should you take it upon yourself to put this soldier to death, you will follow without regard,” warns the General.

  “General, cease your threats,” says Yu-Huang sternly, “not the soldier, nor the troll will come to any harm, or there will be repercussions,” says the Emperor.

  “Dragons, trolls... Jiangshi's... foreign savages, all we but need is a Monkey Demon and we have enough freaks to hold a pantomime, we are a laughing stock before our foes,” says Peng Shi angrily.

  “I am not in possession of a Monkey Demon, a cowardly Priest will make a suitable replacement, take your pick they are in great supply Peng Shi,” sneers Kamui Li.

  “Enough!” shouts the Emperor looking between Peng Shi and Kamui Li locked in a deadly gaze. “Why did Yeman Ren enter the city and how did he go unnoticed?” ponders Yu-Huang aloud.

  “The troll claims he was passing by your birthplace, the Red Sun village, when a young girl came begging for his aid,” says Minister Dewei.

  “Thank the gods, Xunsu is alive,” smiles Yu-Huang in relief immediately sensing it was her.

  “The troll claims to have used a portal, the same portals created by you. What new magic do you behold?” asks Minister Máo.

  “The Bonsai portals are a means of transportation, a treasured gift from the Emperor of Japan, Master Kazuko,” says Yu-Huang.

  “Master Yu-Huang, with your... strange and unpredictable behaviour of late, these...portals, these strange and unheard of languages, your prolonged absences from the throne and now your allegiance with the trolls...” says Minister Tán.

  “...not to mention your revealing of the ancient arts of Wushu to the foreigners and allowing mere peasant warriors in the Jade Order the use of magic...” says Minister Luó cutting in.

  “Peasant warriors? The Jade army protect your way of life Priest; you will do well to remember that. My men are training as hard as they can to attain the skill of harnessing magic, others simply require more time,” says the General secretly referring to his own struggle to master the art.

  “It is just... some of us believe, that you have not been yourself of late,” says Minister Wén dovetailing his fingers together.

  “Some have even gone as far to say... you are not of rational mind,” says Minister Pān.

  “Heed your thoughts and mind your words Priest, do your simple and arrogant minds forget, WHO YOU ARE ADDRESSING!” bellows the General, knocking his tankard across the table whilst rising to his feet.

  Yu-Huang gestures to the General to calm himself and take his seat, and he does so whilst remaining alert throughout the remainder of the meeting. With so much disturbing information brought to light, the Ministers reek of anxiety, and as they give into their dread, the more worthless they begin to feel. Kamui Li can see it in their eyes and he can feel it in his gut, just as he did the day they stormed the bridge all those seasons ago. It was their fear of the unknown that claimed the life of the honourable Yoshio San. Kamui Li had seen this all before, and it is just as uncomfortable to watch now as it was when Emperor Kazuko's own Ministers turned on him. Kamui Li now knows it is only a matter of time before history repeats itself, and he must watch them ever closer now with the aid of his arthropod spies. The Ministers collect themselves; they attempt to save face by getting down to business, but their formal mannerisms fail to fool the fearless as they roll up their loose robed sleeves and fold them defensively against their chests.

  Scrutinising every word of Hisako-Hisa's threat, they quote endlessly about the destruction of the Empire of China; the downfall of the Huanghua city and the death of their Emperor at the hands of the ignorance and selfishness of the Samurai. They persist in their quoting; always quoting that of which they learned in their studies and never fully understood. Yu-Huang begins to wonder who had failed who, had he failed them, or are they as weak as he in his dwindling state. Or is it he who was to guide them all these years, to teach them what it means to have faith in others and one’s self, but how much guidance does one need to do the honourable thing by their fellow man whilst staying true to ones beliefs. But still, Yu-Huang feels responsible for their lack of faith, and still he wonders if their frail sense of morale can be strengthened somehow, in honour of those that raised him. Their long winded lectures seem to last for an age as they bellow in standing with their wagging index fingers raised high. Yu-Huang recalls the time when the Ministers of old concurred with his every belief and opinion regarding the safety and protection of the city and its occupants. It was only right they believed in his resolve, as it was their ways that had educated him to such a moral degree; the former generation of Ministers that had come to pass long ago; the ones that had taught him the values needed to rule supreme, qualities of which the current and late generation of Royal Ministers simply cannot grasp. Honour, courage and humility; morals of which the former Ministers had raised him on with each caring embrace, every fly of a kite on the wind charged moors and every word of sacred advice told with earnest and heartfelt meaning. The highest of standards that maintain his strength and principles that would supposedly act as guidelines for those that would stray, qualities of which Yu-Huang had encouraged this line of Priests to follow. Words that have fallen on deaf ears for far too long, efforts wasted on generations that care about nothing except themselves. Their stubborn power hungry minds offer no wisdom, and but for a handful, this generation of Priests are by far the most immature, naïve and close minded, and they wonder why he will not bestow upon them the curse of immortality. And yet, he still refuses to give up on them.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The safe-keeping and welfare of the Empire and its people is, and always has been, Yu-Huang's primary concern. But to convey this message across to his Priests would only result in the same old concurrence of nodding heads. Yu-Huang would spend hours discussing the best interests of his people with the first generation of Royal Priests, and they listened with joy, interest and enthusiasm. They were committed to their duty and their adopted son. They were like fathers to him; they were his guardians, and their guidance had prepared him for anything and everything. Or so he thought, for that one fateful decision he'd made long ago had sent ripples across a pond; a merciful decision shaped from love for his surrogate fathers. But these ripples in the pond have grown larger with every passing generation of Ministers. And as he contemplates telling them everything, today those ripples become looming colossal waves clashing violently against everything he has strived so hard to build. Yu-Huang desires so hard for these Priests to succeed in looking beyond the political madness of their responsibilities, so much so that he would even create opportunities for them to prove their worth, only to watch them fail by the standards of their predecessors at every turn. He wanted so hard, and waite
d for so long for them to approach a problem that would require the thoughts of a commoner, not as a tyrannical dictator ruling with an iron hand.

  These thoughts trouble the Emperor greatly, for should he be deemed incompetent or unfit to rule by the majority of the Houses of the Ministry before he has chosen a successor to the throne, they would overthrow him and rule absolute. This knowledge often saddens Yu-Huang, it saddens him to be so relieved of this knowledge; the relief of knowing that it is he who stands in the way of their rule. This condition should not bring him peace, but encouragement, even though a few High Ministers had proved capable of acting in his stead. But they themselves are not eternal and will perish in the blink of an eye, possibly to be replaced by a tyrant in the ranks. If only for one second could they stop, to stay this bidding of competition to win the favour of his good graces, perhaps they would realise they not need rule with an iron hand, and would slowly but surely gain goodwill and respect. Unfortunately for Yu-Huang, every generation of Priest are hand selected by the Brotherhood. Upon passing their tests of faith and loyalty and completing their studies of history, spirituality, basic magic, philosophy and the art of Wushu, they receive their fire brand of the Brotherhood. The second lineage of Ministers to serve the Emperor and the Huanghua city consisted of royal leaders, great warriors and Princes that would never be crowned King of their lands due to their line in their succession of the throne. But only men of faith, only those that displayed the potential to possess great wisdom were selected to create the first ranks of the brotherhood. They were the would-be Kings of Kingdoms, brought together to enforce the will of an Empire, leaders required to live long enough to guide the Emperor through his most crucial centuries. It was under their guidance that he made the harshest decision he would make during his rule; a decision he made out of compassion and mercy. It was a decision still secretly considered as blasphemy to this day by the current Ministers. And as time progressed through the early years of his adolescence, it was becoming more and more evident to Yu-Huang that their loyalties were becoming increasingly focused on that of the Ministry itself, as opposed to the city, its people and its leader. Yu-Huang recalls better days with the noblemen of the first counsel, when troubles and causes for concern were brought to his attention. He was always able to present a direct solution, and the Ministers saw to it that his will was carried out with immediate effect and the problem in question would disappear like the snow thawing under the first rays of spring. The Ministers of old never doubted their young Emperor for a second; after all, he was born with the Divine Light. He was born enlightened, hailed as the August Emperor of Jade, and destined to become a Demi-god.