The Secret Treasure

The Secret Treasure

There was once a rich country called Staten where the people had everything imaginable. Many great cities were built, and new businesses were started to make useful products. But the Emperor of Staten was very greedy. He believed that Statens could have anything they wanted. So the emperor put together the greatest army that had ever been formed. He filled his army with the most intelligent and hardworking people in Staten.

His generals trained their troops very well, and the army built very powerful weapons that no other country could ever defeat. One day a report came to the emperor that the most valuable treasure in the world was hiding in a far-off land called Greenport. The emperor summoned his generals and ordered them to bring him the secret treasure. The generals were happy to help the emperor. They had heard that Greenport was very small and weak.

Greenport's army was not very well-trained and its leaders were simple monks. Instead of building great cities, the leaders of Greenport spent their days praying. So one general and a small army went to Greenport to get the treasure. When they arrived, the Great Monk of Greenport came out to greet them. The general demanded that the Great Monk give him the secret treasure. “ I cannot give it to you, ” said the monk, “ but I can share it with you. I hope that will please you. ”

The general did not even reply to the monk. He called his men to attack Greenport and find the treasure. So the Great Monk and all the other monks of Greenport began to pray. After a fierce battle, many Statens and Greenporters were dead. Instead of fighting more, the general sailed back to Staten to tell the emperor what had happened. The emperor was angry. How could his army be defeated by praying monks?

But he was determined to get the treasure, and he decided to send a larger army. When the new army arrived, it demanded that the monk give the treasure to the army. But the monk shed a small tear and spoke the same words, “ I cannot give it to you, but I can share it with you. I hope that will please you. ” Once again the general called his men to attack Greenport and find the treasure. But once again the monks prayed and the Statens failed.