The Three Brother

The scent of agarwood and cedar dominates the austere, low-lit courtroom.  Loud voices shouted in the debate.

 On the left, the generals lined up behind Grand General Mulu and Kun Bian, the Crown Prince.

 Meanwhile, the officials and ministers stood in a long line right behind the Prime Minister and Kun Quan, the Third Prince.

 Duke Kuan sat on the throne with his eyes closed.  He listened to his crown prince without really caring.

 He remembered what his old brother said when he was in the same position as this thirty years ago. Just like Kun Bian, his brother shouted and scared the ministers.

 "We have to help the Han! By helping them, they will return our lost land!"  said Bian.

 General Mulu spoke up, "Crown Prince was right. This is our chance to take the city easily. They offered five cities, half the number of our cities they captured. Please, Duke, consider it."

 "Brother Bian, listen."  With a loud voice, Kun Quan tried to get everyone's attention.  "The Han has always initiated attacks on Kun. They are the ones who want our territory, not the Ning."

Bian was about to scream, but his uncle prevented him.  It seemed Mulu wanted to hear Quan's reasons for supporting Ning.

 "Ning offered money as well as a trade agreement. With a lot of money, we can prosper and buy more combat equipment. In the future, not only five, but we can take back ten of our cities from Han."

 Prime Minister Cao bowed.  "Servant agrees with Third Prince. Ministers all agree with Prince. We must look ahead. Helping Han is like giving them knives to stab us in the future."

General Mulu, ridiculous Prime minister, "I see. We have to look far ahead. I heard that your deer hide trading business is booming. Maybe with Ning's help, you can sell more deer hide to other regions."

Prime minister Cao pointed his finger at Mulu.  He snapped at his staff.  "I'm willing to give up all treasures to defend our territory. Duke Kuan, please don't believe in malicious slander."

Ministers and generals began to accuse each other, and a split in the court of Kun was inevitable.

Duke Kuan let out a long breath.  He missed his Big Brother's strength.  If he were still alive, he would scream once, and everyone would be silent.

Before the meeting began, Duke Kuan ordered the guards to let Bian go to the main hall, through the path that passed through Han's envoy's pavilion.

Duke Kuan also ordered the guards to guide Quan through Ning's envoy's pavilion.

 As expected, both princes supported the envoy's proposal. Duke didn't know what Quan and Bian were promised by the envoys.

"The second prince has arrived!"  Eunuch's voice echoed through the main hall.

 Immediately Duke opened his eyes, welcoming his beloved child with a smile.  He hoped that Lan would be able to give his opinion, but no, Lan chose to remain silent, standing in the ranks of the officials.

 "Father, Brother Lan has arrived. Now how about we make a decision?"  requested Quan.

 Duke Kuan waited for what Lan would say, but the young man fell silent without even daring to look back.

 "Kun Lan, my son. Did you already know about the proposals from Ning and Han?"

"Yes, Father."

 All eyes were on Lan.  They waited for Lan to answer.

Duke Kuan hoped his son would answer differently from his two older brothers.

However, Lan replied, "I will follow whatever decision is made at this meeting."

Duke Kuan sighed and closed his eyes. His body was pushed back as if he had lost his spine.

"The meeting is over. I will decide in three days. Everyone disperses."

Bian interrupted, "But—"

Duke Kuan rose from his throne and immediately left the throne.

Eunuch shouted, "The meeting is over. Duke Kuan left the throne room."

Duke stopped beside the eunuch.  "Order the three princes to meet me at the ancient garden."  Then the Duke and his guards left.

Duke always called his children there when they wanted to discuss serious matters.

The ancient garden was a large lake surrounded by forest, with a pavilion in the middle.  Four bridges connected the gazebo.

 Duke Kuan stood in the pavilion, watching the reflection of his aged face in the orange lake water.

He saw a reflection of the tired face of a man barely eighty years old. The Duke was now thin, with a long, white noodle-like beard. 

He felt his end was near.  His last regret was failing to trust his brother. For the sake of the seat of Duke, he took his brother's life. Actions that haunt him to this day.

Duke squeezed the gazebo rail. "Bian, Lan, Quan, I don't want you guys to suffer the same fate as me."

"Father, are you calling us because you want to join an alliance with Han? Great!" Bian's loud laugh blared.

Without even turning his head, Duke knew his sons had arrived.

The three of them saluted while bowing.  Seeing the seriousness on the Duke's face, they closed their mouths tightly.

 "I ordered Bian to pass in front of the Han pavilion and Quan to pass through the Ning pavilion so that you could witness how disgusting those sycophants are. But instead, you are supporting them."

"Father, Han made a reasonable offer. They will return five–"

"Shut up!"  Duke Kuan was so angry that his face turned red, and his hands clenched into fists.  "Lan, tell me, what happened to you when you passed two envoy pavilions? Don't hide anything from us. Don't be afraid."

"Okay, father. My brothers, so just now…." Lan told Bian and Quan everything.  "... That's how they offered me the support of becoming a Duke."

In a rage, Bian hit the pillar supporting the gazebo.  "Fuck! He promised to support me!"

Quan also seemed embarrassed.  "Ning is two-faced…."

Duke Kuan nodded with a smile seeing his two children starting to understand what he was trying to convey.

Duke pulled Bian's hand, Lan, then Quan. 

 "You are brothers—my children. If you can't trust each other, then you will be destroyed. As a leader, do your best for Kun. Trust me, and the other Dukes will enjoy watching you killing each other."

Duke's sentence brought them to tears.

Duke Kuan continued speaking.  "Think about everything carefully. The day after tomorrow, I'm waiting for your answers. Remember, no matter what happens, stay together. Trust each other, decide, unite as one, for one goal."

 "Yes, Father!"  the three said almost simultaneously.

 "Remember, Kun came first. Put our differences for our Dukedom." 

 ****