Chapter 6
Rebellious patriot
From the distant hills, a squad of soldiers escorted a dozen individuals into the ethnic market. The villagers hesitated, recognizing familiar faces, then stirred into a commotion:
- Not long ago, you lamented the ruin of your livelihoods, barring your doors and refusing to step outside. Yet now, what cause has brought such joy upon you?
- Why are you following the soldiers?
The questions mounted, voices resounded through the ethnic market, setting the gathering astir. Those who had just arrived laughed with great mirth. Among them, an aged elder glanced at the Grand Chancellor:
- The Grand Chancellor arranged everything…
All eyes turned at once to the Grand Chancellor. Murmurs spread as people speculated and questioned one another. Thiet Nam's nerves were stretched tighter than a drawn bowstring, driving him to madness at the endless jesting. The heat within him burned away all thoughts in his mind. The Guardian of Justice faced the troublemaker squarely:
- Cease this roundabout folly!
The Grand Chancellor replied with indifference:
- You lose your patience, grow angry, and refuse to wait—then who is truly to blame?
The elder waved his hand, signaling for Thiet Nam to cease his rebuttal. He then pulled back a rattan chair, leaned leisurely against its back, stretching his weary body, and spoke slowly:
- Do not interrupt. Let the other side finish speaking!
The venerable elder spoke with composure:
- A week ago, a stranger set up a gambling den in the ethnic market, drawing many to participate. They became an eyesore to us, and we wished for the soldiers to eradicate them completely. Yet, no action was taken. Instead, on the second day, they drove us out and expanded their gambling establishment. That night, the village elder summoned his relatives, asking us to gather at his house to discuss the matter. He warned us to remain quiet, lest alert the enemy. Little did we expect, the Grand Chancellor was already waiting for us at the elder's house—alongside several gamblers...
The lengthy account did not incite rage as the story of the Grand Chancellor and the gamblers had. The crowd exchanged glances, first at Thu Do, then at Thiet Nam. Listening to the elder's words, Thiet Nam silently painted the scene in his mind—the details vivid as though he were witnessing the events unfold before his eyes.
The Grand Chancellor handed each person a pouch before tilting his chin to signal them to open it. The crowd hesitantly loosened the drawstrings and gasped upon discovering hundreds of strings of coins inside. They glanced at the gamblers, then secretly at the Grand Chancellor, their faces brimming with confusion.
The Grand Chancellor smile:
- This money is meant to compensate for your losses in recent days. Hmm… The amount of money is too much, doesn't it?
The Grand Chancellor furrowed his brows, scratched his back indifferently, and remarked:
- Consider it next week's sales profits. Whatever is lacking, I will compensate tenfold.
Each pouch contained a fortune beyond what one could earn in months. None cast a second glance. The venerable elder tied the pouch securely and returned it to the Grand Chancellor before kneeling and solemnly declaring:
- Grand Chancellor, I cannot accept this!
The others followed suit, returning pouches and kneeling upon the ground. These were mere common folk, yet they dared to defy the Grand Chancellor's command. The Grand Chancellor, amused, asked:
- Oh? Why?
The elder clenched his fists, struggling to compose himself, before pointing directly at the gamblers and firmly stating:
- I refuse to indulge greed and allow their reckless gambling to run rampant!
Those accompanying him responded in unison, their gazes fixed upon the band of gamblers. Yet, the gamblers merely clapped in admiration, leaving the scene steeped in bewilderment. The Grand Chancellor curled his lips into a subtle smile, seemingly approving of the villagers' decision, deepening the crowd's confusion. The Grand Chancellor, his tone ice-cold, issued a sharp warning:
- Are you implying that I condone gambling?
Terrified, they crouched low, not daring to lift their heads:
- We… would never dare…
The Grand Chancellor offered smile, gesturing for them to rise, and they timidly obeyed.
- The village elder guarantees your honesty and integrity. Throughout this time, you have proven your ability to conduct yourselves with righteousness. Today, you confirm that I have chosen wisely.
Struggling to grasp his cryptic words, they exchanged puzzled glances, shaking their heads in uncertainty. Summoning courage, the venerable elder asked:
- What do you mean by that?
The Grand Chancellor ordered a gambler to answer:
- We are the imperial military. The Grand Chancellor ordered us to disguise ourselves as commoners and establish gambling houses. His directive was to seize the bazaars from honest traders and then offer compensation. Only those of true integrity would know to keep such secrets.
The crowd stared at the Grand Chancellor in sheer astonishment. A soldier then spoke:
- The imperial court forbids gambling, yet those who (pretend to) establish gambling houses are left unpunished, drawing the real gamblers seeking profit. I predict that tomorrow the scoundrels will cause havoc. We shall withdraw and let them run amok.
Frowning deeply, the elder cautiously inquired:
- Grand Chancellor, under peaceful circumstances, why resort to such tactics?
The Grand Chancellor smile and replied:
- There exist those whose patriotism reaches the point of madness. The nation is life itself. Life, family, loved ones, love, and honor. He would sacrifice everything for his country. The interests of the nation mean everything to him. He stops at nothing to ensure its peace and strength. From the smallest troubles to the greatest calamities, he cleans up the aftermath at all costs, heedless of the risk to his own life. Do you believe such a person exists?
The assembly burst into brief laughter at the imaginary figure conjured by the Grand Chancellor, then swiftly knelt to offer their apologies. Only the venerable elder vaguely grasped the implicationa:
- Are you searching for that man?
The Grand Chancellor gave a slight nod, motioning for them to stand. Thu Do clapped his hands thrice in praise before declaring:
- I devised this scheme solely to lure that person into appearing. Upon arriving in Lang Chau and witnessing such repulsive disorder, he is certain to quell the chaos.
Rubbing his hands together, the Grand Chancellor flashed a sly smile.
- The prey will take the bait.
The venerable elder observed that Thu Do possessed a cheerful disposition—completely unlike the Grand Chancellor, whose face was always shrouded in gloom. His "friendly demeanor" subtly eased the crowd's fears.
Once the Grand Chancellor had finished speaking, the venerable elder cautiously asked:
- Grand Chancellor, what if that man never reveals himself in the end? How should we respond?
Thiet Nam focused with utmost intensity, illusions seeping into his mind. Suddenly, the image of Thu Do smirking at the venerable elder from the past appeared before him. The scene, wavering between reality and illusion, flashed before his eyes but vanished at once. Yet Thu Do's words still echoed, as though the old man were replying to him:
- If he does not appear within a week, I shall restore order myself.
The vision dissipated, and Thiet Nam awoke abruptly, snapping back to reality. He then heard the Grand Chancellor announce:
- Hear me, villagers! All losses shall be compensated with gambling earnings.
Supporters of the Grand Chancellor's decision were many, yet voices of opposition were equally strong. Someone in the crowd shouted:
- Grand Chancellor, we cannot accept such filthy money!
Another person chimed in:
- Yes! This money has been tossed into the skirts of harlots—stinking and sullied. We cannot accept it!
The crowd was clamoring in dispute when the blunt remark tickled their ears, causing laughter throughout the ethnic market. Thu Do cleared his throat a few times, then picked up a gold ingot and tossed it into the distant midden.
- Whether clean or tainted depends on human.
He spoke slowly:
- If you commit unlawful acts, can your money ever remain pure?
Next, he picked up another gold ingot, carefully wiping it clean, ensuring that every stain was erased. He continued:
- If this was earned through sweat and tears, and the wicked bought your goods, does that make their money tainted?
The Grand Chancellor polished the gold ingot until it gleamed brilliantly, and declared:
This gold is a reward for your guys labor and diligence!
A moralizing discourse enlightened the hearts of the villagers. None lingered on or despised things external to themselves, yet all acknowledged them as indispensable and gladly accepted what they rightly deserved. The Grand Chancellor brushed the dust off his hands, then looked toward Thiet Nam and asked:
- And you? What kind of reward does a Rebellious Patriot seek?
Trung Hieu had remained silent until now, suddenly speaking up in a mocking tone:
- Patriotism is unconditional. If one must be rewarded for loving his nation, then it is an insult to a patriot.
The Grand Chancellor clapped his hands—each applause spaced apart by a long pause—before laughing in mock admiration:
- Ah, I nearly forgot… he truly is a rebellious patriot!
The Grand Chancellor, his wife, and their subordinates all burst into laughter. However, Thiet Nam remained indifferent to this celebration of a successful hunt. Calmly, he reminded the Grand Chancellor:
- Grand Chancellor, how do you intend to deal with the prostitutes and gamblers?
Today marked the final day of the one-week deadline—at last, all waiting had yielded its rightful outcome. The rebellious Patriot had devoted himself entirely to resolving the matter. The Grand Chancellor could not suppress his amusement, teasing this one-of-a-kind "Guardian of Justice."
The elder shrugged and stated:
- Cut off the fingers of the gamblers. As for those who have harmed the people, exile them; if the crime is too grave, beat them to death. The prostitutes shall be sent to the camp for restoration of dignity—those who truly reform shall be allowed to return home and live as commoners. But should any return to their old ways, I shall let them live out the life of a moth in the night…
Through encounters and conversation, Thiet Nam gradually came to understand that the Grand Chancellor possessed countless schemes—each one bizarre and beyond imagination. He had no interest in how the Grand Chancellor punished the harlots, yet curiosity compelled him to tentatively ask:
- What do you mean by "living the life of a moth in the night"?
After days and nights of relentless contemplation, the Grand Chancellor finally found the "Patriot." No one was more elated than he. This overwhelming joy misled many into thinking that the old man would now forgive those spoke recklessly and disregarded hierarchy.
The man whose power overshadowed the realm instantly grew furious; his ruddy face suddenly darkened to a demonic gray-black. His cold eyes pierced sharply into Thiet Nam. Moments before, the Grand Chancellor's eyes shone brightly, as if capable of speech and laughter; now they were opaque white, devoid of pupils, chilling like an abyss.
Silence.
All fell silent. Tran Thi Dung stood motionless, having witnessed countless times her husband's anger rising to the sky, yet the wife had never seen this terrifying expression before.
Silence enveloped the space, as if strangling everything within.
Thiet Nam's spirit was firmly drawn into those strange eyes. The more he struggled, the more he felt imprisoned in a labyrinth of darkness. His bewildered mind fought fiercely to conquer his fear of the dark. That fear stirred memories of past suffering.
Back then, every time he misbehaved, his strict father would mercilessly lock him in a pitch-dark chamber. Darkness became his nightmare. As an adult, Thiet Nam committed an unforgivable mistake, and since then, the nightmare had relentlessly followed him, tormenting his soul.
The nightmare surged upon him too swiftly for any defense. The illusion shackled Thiet Nam's reason, conjuring the hallucination that the Grand Chancellor could see through his thoughts and uncover the secrets he had long buried.
Thu Do carefully examined every expression on Thiet Nam's face. That overwhelming terror was consuming him entirely. Sweat drenched his body, and his legs were on the verge of collapse. The Grand Chancellor neither wished nor intended to strip Thiet Nam of his dignity. He slowly closed his eyes, recalling the fleeting image of a repentant plea. That brief expression made the Grand Chancellor vaguely sense that Thiet Nam was not seeking forgiveness from him—but from someone else.
Thiet Nam's heart suddenly clenched. His breath became erratic, as though he had just escaped from the depths of hell. In that moment, as his consciousness was enveloped and trapped within illusions, it happened and vanished just as swiftly as the Grand Chancellor's blink.
The formless fear transformed into an indistinct sensation—as though the cheerful and humorous 'Grand Chancellor' and the menacing Thu Do were two entirely different beings.
One was a mortal, the other—a monster with an unfathomable soul. He could be devoured by this monster at any time—not just his spirit, but his very flesh. Yet, the shadow of fear had not yet dissipated, and he was temporarily unable to look anyone in the eye. Trung Hieu furrowed his brow, stepped forward, patted Thiet Nam on the shoulder, and half-jokingly, half-concerned, said:
- Hey, brother, what kind of beast bit you this time?
Thiet Nam gradually calmed down. He lowered his head and respectfully apologized to the Grand Chancellor, hoping to divert everyone's attention:
— I was terribly rude just now. My apologies!
He gently patted Trung Hieu on the shoulder to thank him for helping cover his emotional lapse. The dark-skinned man exhaled and glanced at the Grand Chancellor. The elder glared at Trung Hieu for daring to jest with him, but Trung Hieu remained utterly nonchalant, as though nothing had happened. He blinked as the Grand Chancellor continued to stare him down, then the elder scratched his temple, deep in thought, and said to Thiet Nam:
- Now what kind of reward should I give you? Tsk... it's a tough decision indeed.
Thu Do deliberately shifted the topic, guiding the crowd into an enthusiastic discussion about rewards. Thiet Nam gave a subtle nod, inwardly grateful—the Grand Chancellor had helped him escape the scrutiny of the crowd. The old man lifted the corners of his mouth, acknowledging Thiet Nam's sincerity.
- Silent for so long, Patriot?
Thiet Nam offered a faint smile:
- I'm just a Guardian of Justice. I dare not call myself a patriot!
The Grand Chancellor turned solemnly toward the bazaar square, his voice resolute:
- Every imperial court needs meddlesome men! For the world will never run out of troubles to trouble the Guardians of Justice!