Book 2 - Chapter 2 – Mutual Deception (1/2)
Book 2 Chapter 2 – Mutual Deception[1]
Carried under Du Fuwei’s arms, the two boys really covered about a hundred li that day Before daybreak they have arrived at Xin’an County [Luoyang, Henan]
This county is one of the two thriving big cities along the Yangtze River Because the fire of war has not reached this place, coees fled here to seek shelter, the city was bustling with noise and excitement
With hands behind his back and a face that did not show any expression, Du Fuwei led the way It was not clear whether he felt e him due to his demonic appearance, or whether he was proud of it
Kou Zhongbefore he hastened his steps toward Du Fuwei “Die!” he called, “Aren’t you supposed to go back to Liyang to beco over there? Perhaps there are people who took advantage of your absence to rise in rebellion!”
Du Fuwei said indifferently, “Good boy, you’d better speak a couple of words less Otherwise, if other people hear it, I would have to kill theue Pretending to be scared he returned to Xu Ziling’s side and said in a low voice, “Li Dage was right Die is not a good material for soer to kill, and don’t kno to buy the hearts of the people”
Du Fuwei turned his head around to glower at hidid not dare to continue
Du Fuas about two cun taller than the two boys, plus he earing a tall hat; walking a the crowd, he really looked like a crane in a flock of chicken, very conspicuous
The three of theest restaurant in town The restaurant was ja to find an e the heavens Du Fuwei pulled a water aside and stuffed two strings of zhu coins [1 zhu = 1/24 of a tael] into his hand God kno the waiter conjured up his ht away the waiter led them to an empty table next to a , and respectfully asked them, three ‘father and sons’ to sit down
After ordering tea and some appetizers, Du Fuwei only took a sip of tea, and then he stopped and looked at the two boys devouring their food With an indifferent tone he asked, “Who said I don’t kno to buy the people’s heart?”
Kou Zhong replied in low voice, “If Die kne to buy the people’s heart, you would not go around forcing people into service, to enlist your troops by force; as a result those who saw it are terrified”
Du Fuas incredulous, “What does a kid like you know? There’s a coht now Die can barely scrape alike a pauper If I am not careful, even my family property can be lost Where can I find the capital to buy the people’s heart?”
Kou Zhong shook his head and swayed his noggin, “If Die kne to buy the people’s heart, you would dress your children to look like great heroes, so that when you toot your horn about co the world, o brothers, will follow good ol’ Die delightfully, and even help you conquering the world It would beon fear to control us, and thus hareniality between us, father and sons”
Xu Ziling could not endure it, he nearly spurt the delicious pastries out of his htly countenance, he hurried covered his nored the oled and said, “Die, you, Senior, should not be angry; sincere advice is always unpleasant to hear The reason the muddle-headed ruler is calledto listen to sincere advice Die, if you only want to be a gangster leader, naturally there won’t be any problem, but if you want to be the world’s leader, noyou are to listen to criticis the wise’, ‘encouraging free airings of different views’ Only then would people not call you ‘just anotherto him with a blank expression on his face
He started his career byneck] friendshi+p with Fu Gongyou, rass and weeds/uncultivated land] and becaion’s overlord of the underworld Later on he led his troops to seek shelter under wang Bo of Changbai Mountain And then he broke away fro the Huai River, never suffered any defeat Right now even Liyang had fallen into his hands, his reputation shook the world But he had never had anybody dared to repri from a kid’s mouth, whose smell of histo hi kept calling hirace; therefore,had not finished; he ate and talked at the same time, “Die, your martial art skill is so foru is not your lance at Du Fuwei’s expression, he let out a ‘huh?’ and then continued, “Could it be that your son kissed the wrong butt? Why does Die’s expression beco Life’, you are going to kill your children to shut our er! Or perhaps you could seal our mute acupoint, so that we cannot make any noise Hee hee! Actually, iseyes swept around, he noticed that Kou Zhong constantly increased the volume of his voice He shook his head with a wry s other people’s attention to save you, it’s just a wishful thinking All you are doing is just adding a few more lives to take”
Suddenly he reached down under the table to pinch Xu Ziling’s thigh As soon as he exerted strength to his five fingers, Xu Ziling was in so much pain that he had to spit the culinary delicacy in hisraised his hands in mock surrender and said, “Die is stillWei to rescue Zhao’ [to relieve besieged ally by attacking the hoers] and ‘make declaration for the east but strike to the west’, I really cannot ward off Die, please bepower truood”
Du Fuas still a bit at a loss His biggest probleht noas not the ti hand, he said drily, “Froiggled and coughed, trying to stifle his laugh, but in the end he tossed his head back and roared in laughter Only then did he lower his head and munched busily
Du Fuas so furious he nearly blew his lungs But since he did not say that they h, he felt embarrassed to punish thelance and both s the restaurant, with ba strolled leisurely behind Du Fuwei Froainst each other; their mind seemed to be free frole word, Du Fuwei headed for the ht two horses; he had the two boys rode together in one horse with a strict warning, “If you are still daydrea one eyeball from each of you Are we clear?”
The two boys nodded their head deferentially; their appearance ue with the the hile he followed behind thealloped along the official road Xu Ziling let the horse speed along without trying to rein it at all
Seeing that Du Fuas lagging behind at least five zhang away, Kou Zhong whispered in Xu Ziling’s ear, “This is bad, if we let this evil man takes the treasure underneath the E will definitely bla’s back, “Just now at the restaurant I tried to attract other people’s attention If so our e can seize the opportunity to escape”
Xu Ziling understood his intention, so he said with a sigh, “He is so forh he is cruel and overbearing, he is actually a good person At least until now he has not beaten us yet We’d better give the ‘Secret to Long Life’ to him first, and then we’ll see whether he would really take us as his sons When he becomes the emperor in the future, won’t we becoht not to kill yizi!” [foster child; ‘yi’ here hteous army’ I mentioned earlier, also same character in ‘yiqi’]
Based on previous experience with Fu Junchuo, the boys knew that even though they were separated by a few zhang, it would be hard to conceal anything fro knitted his eyebrows and said, “Ay! Just before her death Niang told us about the secret of opening the treasure-trove, soht backward, three turns two spins; did you hear her clearly? See’s death was so tragic, I cried so hard thatsaid that if we fail to know the secret of how to open the door, even if we get into the Temple on’t find the entrance to the treasure-trove?”
Inwardly Xu Ziling praised Kou Zhong’s ingenuity “Of course I re to take us as his sons, otherwise he would kill us to shut ourFortunately Niang taught us the technique to break our main artery; worst case scenario we immediately co pretended to be horrified, “You host Du can be considered a rare talent, as long as he does not have any son yet, hetalents like us to be his heirs; at least he could use us to ad, he is a really big fool [orig hed and added, “Ay! But you were right too, if he deal with us ruthlessly, if he gives us even half a slap on the face, ill immediately kill ourselves, to teach that evil tyrant Dad a lesson, instead of obtaining the treasure, he will be crushed to death when the while E thewas afraid Du Fuwei ,” he busily said, “Hepretended to look back, he saw Du Fuwei lowering his head, so he knew their brilliant scheme was successful; thus he promptly shut his mouth, while in his heart he was so pleased with hiht now
By dusk that day, the three of the town called Nanzhi Du Fuwei found a small inn, but he only booked one room And then he took the two boys to a small restaurant nearby to have dinner His manner was a lot more ‘benevolent’ than before
From the dozen or so tables, only half were occupied The patrons appeared to be local ‘the haves’
The three chose a quiet table on the corner After ordering food and drink, slowly and casually said, “Since the two of you are obedient, you are now allowed to talk”
Kou Zhong lightly kicked Xu Ziling’s leg under the table He heaved a sigh and said, “Whatever Die, the Senior, is unwilling to hear, you ht as well tell us plainly, so that your sons will not offend you by breaking your taboo, but will seal our lips instead”
[1] title chapter original: you hoodwink me, I cheat on you
Chapter 2, Part 2