The province of Tu Zen lay like a quiet patchwork of green on the maps of the Earth Kingdom: a medium–sized province, south–east of Omashu, sharing a border south of Si Wong State. It was a place noted for its forests and broad agricultural plains that fed thousands. To those who prized drama and war, Tu Zen might have seemed almost insultingly ordinary. To those who loved soil and seed, it was everything.
Tai Lung and his crew arrived by a narrow river that curled east of Kyoshi Island in the south, a waterway that ran its slow course between Gao Ling and Zhou. Their ship slid into the province like a careful animal into a clearing, and when it docked Tai Lung stepped ashore at the head of his small party with Vice Captain Han at his shoulder.
"The City of Tu Zen was a relatively small Earth Kingdom city. Since it was conquered ninety years ago," Han said as they walked "there has been no real rebellion, no attempt to resist the Fire Nation. The people here are farmers. Many have never raised a weapon in their lives. And that was long before the war had started a hundred years ago."
Tai Lung listened patiently then asked "Is anything special about this city?"
Han's mouth tilted. "None. It's one of the most boring places to be in. But it is not the same story for the nearby forest. It has always been known as a forest of spirits. People around here don't dare approach it, they fear angering the spirits dwelling among the trees."
Tai Lung's gaze sharpened with something like interest. "So there are spirits in the forest we can meet?"
Han hesitated. "I am not sure. As far as I am aware our army marched through the forest decades ago and we encountered no wrath or spirits." He paused, then added in a lower tone half admonition, half jest "But not long ago we heard news that some of our soldiers were attacked by spirits and stripped of everything except their underwear."
"You think it is the work of spirits or bandits?" Tai Lung asked.
Han gave an approving smile. "Bandits. I do believe spirits could get angry and vengeful, but the state of our soldiers matched the work of bandits more."
Their conversation cut short with a sound that could have been the wail of some small, affronted beast, a man's voice shrieking: "My cabbages!!"
Both Tai Lung and Han stared toward the commotion. They found an Earth Kingdom merchant in the square, wild–eyed and wailing over a heap of ruined vegetables on the stones. Cabbages lay trampled, leaves scattered like injured birds.
Next to the ruined heap stood another Earth Kingdom man, looking unrepentant, and at his side a Koala Sheep was happily munching what remained. The man's manner was brisk, dismissive. "They are just a few cabbages," he said. "Don't cause trouble over them."
"Just cabbages? JUST CABBAGES!! HOW DARE YOU?" the merchant screamed in fury and pain. The cabbages merchant became angrier by the moment that it seemed he was on the verge of attacking the man.
Unexpectedly, Han moved toward them "Cai!! calm down," he said, his voice laced with the sort of patience that comes from having settled more quarrels than a man could remember.
The merchant, who had been seething a moment before, stopped completely. His face, fierce one breath earlier, turned bright and eager. He pointed a finger at the Koala Sheep's owner and cried, "Mr. Han! They destroyed my cabbages and acted as if they had done nothing. Off with their heads! They must be punished."
The other man stood shocked, blinking as the sudden call for capital punishment. "Are you crazy?" he spluttered. "You want to kill me because my Koala Sheep ate a few cabbages? Sir, this man is crazy!!" His hands fluttered, helpless, angry and afraid now.
Tai Lung had moved closer by then, watching with an amused, quiet interest. He saw the merchant's face, saw the ridiculous inflamed grievance that had turned a man into a small volcano. "That's an excessive punishment," he observed, "but it is fair to be paid for the price of your ruined cabbages."
Tai Lung's eyes focused on the man with the Koala Sheep.
"Pay the merchant for the loss you caused him," Tai Lung continued.
The man retorted, "Pay him? They are rotten cabbages!!"
"It doesn't matter," Tai Lung said. "He owns them and had a price for them. You destroyed them and you have to pay. If you don't, we can consider other physical punishments."
Color drained from the man's face. He reached into his purse, paid the merchant grudgingly, and left with his head bowed.
Yet the merchant's glare did not soften. Even after receiving his coin he continued to scowl hatefully at the man who had fed his sheep. Han shook his head with weary amusement. "Cai, you are getting more ridiculous by the day. Now you are asking to kill for cabbages? What next, one life per cabbage?"
Cai replied, for the likes of him, one cabbage worth more than his entire life," the merchant snapped back, for a moment it looked like these words coming from convention instead of anger..
Han sighed. Tai Lung, intrigued, asked, "A friend of yours?"
Han's answer was careful. "I wouldn't say we are friends, but you could call him a friend of your father."
Tai Lung had not expected his father to be drawn here in some random local tangle. The merchant, hearing Han's words, focused on Tai Lung , then as if struck by lighting, his face brightened. "You must be Admiral Lung's son! How is your father? Is he around? I have information for him!!"
"No, Father is not here," Tai Lung answered, "What news do you have? We can deliver it back."
Cai's eyes darted about the square. He lowered his voice until it was almost a hiss. "Let's talk elsewhere, too many eyes and ears here." Without another word he turned and began to thread his way away from the crowd..
Tai Lung glanced at Han. The man's expression had gone suddenly serious; a motion of the head was all the invitation Tai Lung needed. Together they followed the merchant to a tucked–away corner. Cai looked around again, lips drawn tight, as if ensuring that no one listened, then leaned in.
"I have important information," he said. "The forest nearby is full of Fire Nation deserters and traitors."
Tai Lung's brow creased. "How do you know that?" he asked.
Cai's mouth hardened. "I have my own resources. But the information is absolutely true. Recently your soldiers were attacked and stripped by them." He glanced toward Han as if to make certain the words landed.
"Do you know how many we are talking about?" Han inquired.
"A little over twenty," Cai replied.
Tai Lung considered it for a heartbeat, then said, simply, "We can check it while we are here. I wanted to go into the forest anyway"
Then he shifted the conversation. "So, that's how you know my father. You are a spy for our nation?"
Cai's face reddened at the suggestion. "Of course not. I am an Earth Kingdom citizen." He spoke the words confidently, prideful even.
Tai Lung paused at that, then inclined his head. "I see."
Cai's fingers curled, a twitch of indignation rising. "You!! I am not a traitor! I will not accept such an accusation!" His voice had climbed a pitch; his hands were visibly clenched.
"I didn't say anything but you are indeed a traitor," Tai Lung told him bluntly.
"Your face spoke for you," Cai snapped back. "No; I am no traitor. The Earth Kingdom betrayed me! You don't know even a fraction of the crimes and acts of hate they have done against me through the years. This is all for the grievances they have given me." Toward the end his voice cracked; his fists squeezed so tightly the knuckles went white and his eyes shone with unchecked tears.
For a moment Tai Lung said nothing. At last his tone shifted, softened. "What have they done to you?" he asked.
Cai's head bowed as though recalling the worst things imaginable to humans. He spoke as if recounting a nightmare he could not wake from. "Over and over they destroyed my cabbages and I could only watch helplessly. I begged for justice but no one cared, they even laughed at me. Only the Fire Nation, good men like your father, and you stood for my cabbages." His voice was small, but redolent with a conviction so absolute.
Tai Lung could not hide his astonishment at the absurdity he was hearing. Cai saw the look and, as if to seal the truth of his grievance, nodded quickly. "Yes. It was that bad. For years I lived to see my cabbages get destroyed. None of these fools can see the beauty and wisdom of the cabbage, but I do. I will take revenge for every destroyed cabbage!" He said the last words with a terrible, trembling earnestness.
Tai Lung inclined his head once and then smiled. "I won't take more of your time. Go back to your cabbages."
Cai brightened as if released from a spell. "Good luck with the traitors," he said, earnest again, and bowed in the strangest sort of respect. "Send my greetings to your father."
Tai Lung turned to Han. The man's expression had broken into a grin and then the grin became laughter, sudden and loud.
"Your face was priceless!" Han said as he laughed.
"That man is crazy," Tai Lung said at last, a faint amusement threading his words.
"Maybe," Han admitted, still smiling, "but his information is always spot on. He knows things that no one should. He's better at gathering news than our best spies and informants. Your father calls him the Cabbage Bender, the greatest spy in the world."
For an instant, Tai Lung's amusement curdled into reflection. His gaze drifted, thoughtful and oddly solemn.
Han noticed and frowned. "You're thinking about the deserters, aren't you?"
"No," Tai Lung said slowly. "I'm thinking about the cabbage lunatic."
Han blinked. "What?"
Tai Lung folded his arms, his tone unexpectedly serious. "Some spiritual masters can form deep connections with the universe. What if that man's love for his cabbages became so strong, so absolute, that it forged a bond between him and them? All things are connected, Han. If his devotion was powerful enough, perhaps he found a way to… communicate with them."
There was a long pause. Then Tai Lung looked at Han with utter sincerity and said, "Maybe he isn't the Cabbage Bender… but the Cabbage Messenger."
Han stared at him, mouth slightly open. "He's just a crazy man and your father was joking, Captain! You're thinking far too much into this!"