Book 13 Chapter 4 – Stealing Openly Robbing Stealthily

Because it was noon, the lower level of Dongjia Restaurant was packed; it was so crowded that it was impossible to even squeeze a needle through it.

Kou Zhong was back to the same old stuff; he whispered Lang Feng’s name in the waiter’s ear. The waiter immediately became reverent and respectful, as he led them to a comfortable lounge on the wing of the third floor of the restaurant.

Kou Zhong sat down by the window. Looking at the boats coming and going along the Luo River below, he sighed and said, “This is the benefit of having power; just by touching the edge a little bit, we can be a cut above others.”

Ba Fenghan laughed and said, “No matter how noble and virtuous you are calling yourself, you cannot deny that those so-called noble and virtuous must have powerful support behind their back; otherwise, how could they be noble and virtuous?”

Seeing Xu Ziling was staring at him in displeasure, Kou Zhong quickly surrendered. “I was just taking advantage of the little convenience power can bring,” he said, “I will never bully other people, or make an attempt to take away the justice that power brings. Ha!”

Ba Fenghan laughed and said, “Comparatively speaking, Zhong Shao and I are somewhat boorish, unlike Ziling who is suave and aloof.”

Xu Ziling smiled wryly without saying anything.

Kou Zhong’s spirit greatly aroused, he said, “Now the struggle between Wang Shichong and Yang Dong has reached stalemate, we can set it aside for the time being. Hey! As for the Jade Annulus of He Clan, ha! Ziling, you’ve got to help me.”

“Why did you ask Ziling only?” Ba Fenghan wondered, “Why not me?”

Stunned, Kou Zhong replied, “Ol’ Ba, you have nothing to do with this matter, why would you gamble your life away with me? It is precisely because I consider you my brother that I do not wish to implicate you. Aren’t your own trouble still too much?”

Xu Ziling also looked at Ba Fenghan in consternation.

Whether it was Ning Daoqi or Shi Feixuan, both were formidable opponent that no one would dare to provoke. If Kou Zhong were not in such a critical juncture between success and failure, he would not have even dreamed of offending them.

But now he simply had no choice.

Ba Fenghan was speechless for half a day. After sweeping the two boys with his gaze, his sharp eyes gleamed with some kind unusual emotion, as he spoke slowly, “It’s because I love to hang out with you, two kids. Moreover, the more I hang out with you, the more I feel the excitement, satisfying my interest; all because we share similar background and childhood years. The ones I hated the most are those people from respectable schools and big clans. I loathe those Jianghu school and sect people who think of themselves as supreme beings even more. Therefore, I helped you dealing with Changshu Mou the other day. I just can’t stand that kind of people, who believe themselves infallible, with their condescending, overbearing attitude.”

A short pause, and then he continued, “The ones I admired the most are true hero who, not having anything at all, bring about epoch achievement. Supposing Li Shimin and you two were in each other’s shoes, would he be able to obtain your achievements? I just cannot stand by idly and watch this kind of thing. Ha! Challenging Ning Daoqi or perhaps Shi Feixuan would be the thing I want to do. How could I, Ba Fenghan, miss this kind of golden opportunity?”

Greatly delighted, Kou Zhong said, “With Ba Xiong’s assistance, we, two brothers, are like a tiger that has grown wings.”

With a wry smile Xu Ziling said, “I always have a nagging feeling that something isn’t right. When all is said and done, Shi Feixuan is simply striving for the benefit of the people under the heavens …”

Ba Fenghan coldly interrupted him, “Ziling is too obstinate. Only by asking those few questions, how could she decide whether certain person would make a good emperor? Furthermore, I always feel that only someone with poverty-stricken background would be qualified to be a good emperor. Those who understand the people’s pain and difficulties very well would have the zeal to get rid of the people’s pain and difficulties.”

Kou Zhong slapped the table and shouted with praised, “Han Shao said it well. Emperor Qin and Emperor Gaozu of Han are a good example. The former was born of aristocracy, the latter was born of common people [lit. plain cotton clothing]. Which one was the good emperor, is an indisputable historical fact. Ha!”

Staring at him in displeasure, Xu Ziling said, “So you are sure you will be a good emperor?”

“What do you think?” Kou Zhong asked in return.

Xu Ziling was left speechless.

His eyes shone, Kou Zhong said, “I have come to the point that even if I know perfectly well that I am going to throw away my life, I simply cannot turn around. To vie over the world, one must be completely unscrupulous. Just like Han Shao said, even if Tianhuang Laozi [the old emperor of heaven], Taishang Laojun [title of respect for Lao-tze, the founder of Taoism], Rulai Fozu [Tathagata Buddha] are standing on the road, I must kick them out of my way. The Jade Annulus of the He Clan, we simply must obtain. Otherwise, if it fell into Li kid’s hand, it would be tantamount to forcing him to rebel against his old Die and his older brother.”

“It would be best if Shi Feixuan already gave the Jade Annulus of the He Clan to Li Shimin,” Ba Fenghan said, “Snatching it away would be a bit easier.”

His gaze fixed on Xu Ziling, Kou Zhong said, “Are you or are you not willing to help me? Don’t forget. Hee! One lifetime two brothers!”

Other than smiling ruefully, what else could Xu Ziling do?

Ba Fenghan said, “Now we must investigate clearly whether the Jade Annulus of the He Clan is in Li Shimin’s hand or not before making our move.”

“That is extremely simple,” Kou Zhong said, “If Li Shimin obtained the Jade Annulus of the He Clan, he would immediately depart Luoyang in secret. Therefore, as long as we closely watch his movements, we would obtain our clues.”

Ba Fenghan’s eyes shone with cold rays. He said, “I heard that Li Shimin has obtained the teachings handed-down by Li Yuan himself, so he really know a thing or two, plus the capable people working under him are numerous. If we cut him off along the way, we would lose our advantage. Therefore, stealing will be the better strategy, robbing openly would not be an effective strategy.”

Heaving a sigh of relief, Xu Ziling added, “If we do not need to rob the jade annulus from Shi Feixuan’s hand, we still have the hope to succeed.”

Kou Zhong wrapped his arm around Xu Ziling’s shoulder and pulled him closer as he spoke in great delight, “Ling Shao, what you said has given me much comfort. In my opinion, there is 90% chance that Shi Feixuan would favor Li Shimin. This guy’s outward appearance easily beat the long-haired-like-a-ghost Li Mi, or perhaps the wily-old-fox Wang Shichong. Too bad I have not stuck out my head, so that that Li kid is under no threat of competition at all.”

Bursting out laughing, Ba Fenghan said, “Speaking of tooting his own horn, nobody in the world can come close to you. All right! Enough chitchat. Leave the duty of watching Li Shimin closely to me. He has some connection with Dong Ming Pai, we’ll meet again tonight between the you [10th earthly branch, 5-7pm] and xu [11th earthly branch, 7-9pm] hours, and then we’ll decide what to do next.”

This moment the waiter arrived with food and drink. Ba Fenghan took a steamed bun and left without saying anything.

Chapter 4- Part 2

While gobbling up the food, Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Who could have thought that that Ba kid is such a true friend; it is really unexpected.”

Heaving a deep sigh, Xu Ziling said, “We have not found Yucheng and the others; aren’t you worried?”

Kou Zhong put down his bowl, empty with no single rice remained, and said with a wry smile, “In this kind of thing, worrying is not worth a fart. Fortunately the four of them have received our hand-down teachings, so the Heaven helps the worthy. Who knows, perhaps as soon as we go down the stairs, we’ll see them eating. Let us go to the agreed meeting place and then the outcome will become apparent.”

Xu Ziling said, “Do you remember that man called Xu Xingzhi? Didn’t you agree to meet him in Luoyang?”

Kou Zhong nodded, “Of course I do,” he replied, “This man is a natural talent in commanding the army. I already left some markings at the appointed place. When he sees it tomorrow morning, he will be waiting for me at the specified place. Let me, Zhong Shao, do the work, and you, Ling Shao, set your heart at ease.”

And then he added, “I have neither likes nor dislikes toward that Li kid, so fighting him face to face is not a big deal. But we have been brothers with Li Jing; this is what gives me headache.”

Xu Ziling was silent for half a day. He quietly thought that whatever resentment he had against Li Jing, in the end it would be difficult for him to have any malicious intention toward him. Thereupon he said dejectedly, “As long as you promise me one thing, I will help you get the Jade Annulus of the He Clan wholeheartedly.”

“As long as it is reasonable and fair, how could I not promise you?” Kou Zhong guardedly replied, “You just have to help me in this. If Li kid can’t even defend the Jade Annulus of He Clan, it would greatly change Shi Feixuan and Ning Daoqi’s impression on him.”

“You must never underestimate the enemy,” Xu Ziling crossly said, “Li kid is well versed in both literature and martial art [or civil and military]. No matter how you look at it, he is superior to us, not inferior. It’s just that he falls short of you in the craftiness department. Once we are not careful, the boat will capsize in the ditch.”

Kou Zhong smiled and said, “He is as cunning as I am, but it is possible that he is not as flexible and pragmatic as us. We need to be intentionally unintentional. Especially since this is Wang Shichong’s territory. Currently Wang Shichong and me are like honey to the bee. I only need to move a finger, Li kid may forget of leaving Luoyang alive.”

And then his eyes flashed a deep, cold murderous intent, as he spoke in heavy voice, “Li Clan without Li Shimin is just like a tiger without sharp claw, sharp teeth; any viciousness is gone. Do you understand?”

Forcing a smile, Xu Ziling said, “That is precisely my condition. Li kid exposed his whereabouts because of me, so you must not use this opportunity to kill him. If you want to kill him, you must wait for the next opportunity.”

Kou Zhong was stunned for half a day. Finally he sighed and said, “One lifetime two brothers; what can I say? Very well! I will face him on the battlefield in the future; whoever lose will have nobody to blame.”

And then he took out a roll of silk map from his bosom, removed the bowls, chopsticks and other things away from the table, and spread out the map, saying, “I’ll let you take a look at this treasure. If after reaching Guanzhong, Zhanliang, Fengyi and the others are able to give me a sheet of similar thingy, nothing could be better than that.”

Ban Zhanliang, Niu Fengyi, and Zha Jie, three men were the three Inner Hall Masters of the Shuanglong Bang [twin-dragon gang, Book 6 Chapter 12,