# The Story of the Loyalty of Ten-Teh, the Fisherman explained — Kai Lung’s Golden Hours > Chapter companion for Kai Lung’s Golden Hours by Ernest Bramah. ## What happens Ten-teh, a poor cormorant fisherman on the Upper Seng river, suffers under the oppressive rule of the usurper Fuh-chi. After being unjustly fined and stripped of his livelihood by a corrupt mandarin, he journeys to the capital to seek justice from the rightful Emperor Kwo Kam. There, he delivers a crucial message from the eleven villages, convincing Kwo Kam to send his entire army north to the Seng valley instead of west, a strategic move that proves decisive. Exhausted and fulfilled, Ten-teh dies in the Emperor's arms, having secured the loyalty of the villages and the success of the campaign. ## Themes in this chapter ### Loyalty and Betrayal Ten-teh's unwavering loyalty to the rightful Emperor Kwo Kam and the memory of Tung Kwei contrasts with the betrayal of officials who close cities against the Avenging Pure out of fear. ### Survival and Resilience Ten-teh endures poverty, injustice, and the loss of his livelihood, yet persists in his quest for justice and ultimately sacrifices himself for the greater cause. ### Justice and Injustice The corrupt mandarin's false pretext and fine exemplify injustice, while Ten-teh's appeal to the Emperor and the eventual restoration of Kwo Kam represent the pursuit of justice. ## Character check-ins ### Ten - teh The loyal fisherman who sacrifices his livelihood and ultimately his life to deliver a critical message to Emperor Kwo Kam, redirecting the army to the Seng valley. ### Kwo Kam The rightful Emperor, son of Tung Kwei, who leads the Avenging Pure and accepts Ten-teh's counsel, honoring him as a father. ### Fuh - chi The usurper who sits on the dragon throne, oppressing the land with violence and extortion until overthrown by Kwo Kam. ### Tung Kwei The enlightened Emperor whose reign ended in treachery; his son Kwo Kam is the rightful heir. ### Hoang A youth who trusted Ten-teh and would dive into deep waters fearlessly at his word, mentioned in Ten-teh's final speech. ## Key lines > Devotion to the Emperor⁠— The Five Great Principles Loyalty to the emperor is one of the five fundamental virtues. _Opening line establishing the theme of loyalty._ > To raise an eye before him was to ape with death, and a whisper in the outer ways foreran swift torture. Any sign of defiance or even a quiet word in public could lead to immediate execution or torture. _Describes the terror of Fuh-chi's rule._ > If two lean and insignificant carp encountered a voracious pike and one at length fell into his jaws, by what means would the other compel the assailant to release his prey? If two small fish meet a predator and one is eaten, how can the other force the predator to let go? _The headman's parable about the futility of seeking justice against a powerful oppressor._ > All, all to the north! Send every soldier to the north. _Ten-teh's final command redirecting the army to the Seng valley._ > Now is mine that peace spoken of by the philosopher Chi-chey as the greatest: ‘The eye closing upon its accomplished work.’ I now have the peace that comes from completing one's life's purpose. _Ten-teh's dying words, expressing fulfillment._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-loyalty-of-ten-teh-the-fisherman - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se/chapters