Zhao Provincial Roleplay

[Cao Chao]

"Your uncle wants only what is best for you," Rui noted patiently. "And some of his advice to you is wise indeed. You are a capable general, Jianwei, and anyone with sight can attest to that. However, a little bit of wisdom, of judgment, would make you a legend among men," he added. "He probably knows that you will unlikely be a diplomat, or a scholar, but he probably wishes you showed more restraint."

He then gave his friend a half-hearted glare as he spoke of becoming a terrible autocrat. "The reason they fell to such depths, Jianwei, is because they refused to listen to good advice," he reminded his friend. "You listen to me, don't you?" he asked wryly. "And I listen to others. If we do terrible things, Jianwei, it will be for the greater good, not to satiate our lust for vengeance, as those men did."

"Maybe, maybe not," replied Zhiwen with a shrug, a bit dismissive of Bai Rui's views about his uncle's influence on his life. "Regardless of his wishes and what he wants from me, I'll go down my own path . . . like I usually do. Perhaps I'll end up being what he wants me to be . . . perhaps I'll be something wholly different. It makes no difference for me as long as I end up somewhere. Perhaps we'll restore Qi . . . or perhaps something wholly different will appear. Whatever happens, I'm sure that I'll be able to see plenty of battles."

"I only listen to you and heed your advice when I want to," he replied with a cheeky grin, "Now all you have to do is make sure that your advice is the one that I want to hear and adhere to." Slapping Bai Rui lightly the back, the young general shook his head with a bit of amusement, subconsciously glad that he had managed to divert away from what was really . . . his worst fears.

[Marquis Black]

Rui humphed indignantly at his friend's casual, yet obviously joking dismissal of him. "At least you've had sound judgment to know when to listen, then," he noted before leaning back to look up at the blue sky.

"Word has it that Zhefu has captured Chenggao and Dicheng," he informed Zhiwen suddenly. "The Imperial Court's silence in this troubles me," he admitted. "In either case, it means he now has double the resources he had a month ago, and this bodes ill for us and our goals."

He then smiled. "Whatever you become, Jianwei, I'll be sure to keep you from falling into the abyss," he then reassured his friend. "That's my job, not yours."

[Cao Chao]

Rui humphed indignantly at his friend's casual, yet obviously joking dismissal of him. "At least you've had sound judgment to know when to listen, then," he noted before leaning back to look up at the blue sky.

"Word has it that Zhefu has captured Chenggao and Dicheng," he informed Zhiwen suddenly. "The Imperial Court's silence in this troubles me," he admitted. "In either case, it means he now has double the resources he had a month ago, and this bodes ill for us and our goals."

He then smiled. "Whatever you become, Jianwei, I'll be sure to keep you from falling into the abyss," he then reassured his friend. "That's my job, not yours."

"Silence does not mean that they are not prepared to act," replied Yi Zhiwen, shaking his head, explaining his thoughts on the matter. "The Prime Minister of Chu, Fan Zeng, is a cold, calculating sort. As a result, I believe that silence bodes more ill for Qi than any widespread proclamations damning their actions ever will. It will be interesting though . . . to see what actions Chu takes when they finally overtly react to the news. I am sure that one of the Chu generals will be aching for the opportunity to stretch their legs again . . . though I am not sure if anyone else takes the Qi threat as seriously as we do."

"No, it's my job, not your's," replied Zhiwen, heaving a sigh, "Like Sunzi wrote in his Art of War: 'know yourself, know your enemy, never know defeat. How can I know the darkness within? I must plumb the depths of my soul and understand just where I stand or there will be hell to pay when the time comes . . ."

[Marquis Black]

"Or such silence could mean that Xiang Yu has become unwilling to defend his title of Conqueror," Rui refuted. "Prime Minister Fan is just that: a Prime Minister. The breadth of his actions depend on the favor of Xiang Yu, and if the tiger has become pup, how can Prime Minister Fan do anything of value against Qi?" he theorized. "Either way, there is only one real way to seek out such answers: we must go to Chu ourselves and find out whether the Hegemon King's fangs have rotted away, or whether he is simply bidding his time."

Motioning for the carriage driver to turn the carriage to leave, Rui then addressed Zhiwen. "There are different kinds of darkness, Zhiwen," he told his friend, for once calling him by his given name. "Killing soldiers is one of them. Killing hundreds of thousands of surrendered troops is another," he referred to the bloody massacre carried out by Xiang Yu. "Perhaps you are capable of the latter; perhaps you are not."

"But Zhiwen, are you sure you want to see the depths of the Dark Art of War?" he asked, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Do you really think your conscience could take it?"

[Cao Chao]

"Or such silence could mean that Xiang Yu has become unwilling to defend his title of Conqueror," Rui refuted. "Prime Minister Fan is just that: a Prime Minister. The breadth of his actions depend on the favor of Xiang Yu, and if the tiger has become pup, how can Prime Minister Fan do anything of value against Qi?" he theorized. "Either way, there is only one real way to seek out such answers: we must go to Chu ourselves and find out whether the Hegemon King's fangs have rotted away, or whether he is simply bidding his time."

Motioning for the carriage driver to turn the carriage to leave, Rui then addressed Zhiwen. "There are different kinds of darkness, Zhiwen," he told his friend, for once calling him by his given name. "Killing soldiers is one of them. Killing hundreds of thousands of surrendered troops is another," he referred to the bloody massacre carried out by Xiang Yu. "Perhaps you are capable of the latter; perhaps you are not."

"But Zhiwen, are you sure you want to see the depths of the Dark Art of War?" he asked, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Do you really think your conscience could take it?"

"That is unlikely," replied Yi Zhiwen, vigorously shaking his head at Bai Rui's words. "The Hegemonic King is still a tiger, a powerful tiger that will maul any who presume to cross him with swipes of his powerful claws or with bites from his terrible jaws. The only possibility for this silence is if Fan Zeng has yet to inform the Hegemonic King of the issues in Qi. Once he knows, those in Qi will be in for something nasty."

"I know the depths of the dark possibilities with the Art of War," replied Zhiwen, turning to regard Bai Rui with his sharp eyes, "Sunzi used a number of the techniques in his early campaigns that helped Wu nearly annihilate Chu some three hundred years ago. The story of how the small Yao Li sacrificed his wife and mother, as well as his own right arm to get close enough to assassinate the powerful Prince Qingji is well known. The same goes for Jing Ke's utilization of the former Qin general, Fan Wuji's head to get close enough to try and assassinate Qin Shi Huang. If needs be, I am sure I would be able to utilize the Dark Art of War . . . though to what depths I will go is another matter entirely."

[Marquis Black]

"But two of a whole bag of tricks," Rui noted as Zhiwen gave two historical examples he was familiar with. "And it is those tricks which are deepest in the bag that I am most familiar with," he informed his friend. "The Dark Art of War isn't something to trifle with on occasion, Zhiwen, and now that you are in the limelight, you mustn't so easily discard your reputation," he warned. "Not if you want the Yi Clan to be a beacon of strength and wisdom."

"I, on the other hand, don't mind if people know me as a demon," he said with a chuckle. "Heaven gave me only a limited time on this plane, and so I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach my goal." He glanced sidelong at Zhiwen. "That is why, where your conscience stops you, I will keep going."

[Cao Chao]

"But two of a whole bag of tricks," Rui noted as Zhiwen gave two historical examples he was familiar with. "And it is those tricks which are deepest in the bag that I am most familiar with," he informed his friend. "The Dark Art of War isn't something to trifle with on occasion, Zhiwen, and now that you are in the limelight, you mustn't so easily discard your reputation," he warned. "Not if you want the Yi Clan to be a beacon of strength and wisdom."

"I, on the other hand, don't mind if people know me as a demon," he said with a chuckle. "Heaven gave me only a limited time on this plane, and so I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach my goal." He glanced sidelong at Zhiwen. "That is why, where your conscience stops you, I will keep going."

"I know the deepest and darkest secrets of the Dark Art of War," replied Zhiwen, turning his attention back to the city, "But I am not sure that some of our new comrades are ready to plumb such the depths of despair and human suffering. Perhaps they will be . . . one day, but for the time being, it is best if we used only those tricks on the surface first before utilizing something so dark as to transform us to heartless bastards who are the scum of the earth."

"Let my uncle be that beacon of strength and wisdom," replied Zhiwen, shaking his head, returning his attention to Bai Rui, "I am not my uncle . . . I merely wish to do what I can to ensure that the Yi clan thrives and expands in this age of incessant warfare. If it means that we resort to underhanded machinations, deception, and guile, then so be it."

[Marquis Black]

"I know the deepest and darkest secrets of the Dark Art of War," replied Zhiwen, turning his attention back to the city, "But I am not sure that some of our new comrades are ready to plumb such the depths of despair and human suffering. Perhaps they will be . . . one day, but for the time being, it is best if we used only those tricks on the surface first before utilizing something so dark as to transform us to heartless bastards who are the scum of the earth."

"Let my uncle be that beacon of strength and wisdom," replied Zhiwen, shaking his head, returning his attention to Bai Rui, "I am not my uncle . . . I merely wish to do what I can to ensure that the Yi clan thrives and expands in this age of incessant warfare. If it means that we resort to underhanded machinations, deception, and guile, then so be it."

"Yet your uncle has no heirs, and as time passes, that likelihood may fade away," Rui pointed out. "While you are young and still quite capable. Why else do you think he tries to steer you down the path he thinks correct? You are his heir, my friend, whether you like it or not," he added with a smile. "If you don't like it, then you'd best find him a bride capable of giving birth, or else you really will be forced to walk the straight line."

"As for our comrades, it is of no matter," Rui said dismissively. "Better that they revolt against such tactics, or else I would really be worried for our future. All that matters is that when the darkness passes, the light shines away the shadows."

[Cao Chao]

"Yet your uncle has no heirs, and as time passes, that likelihood may fade away," Rui pointed out. "While you are young and still quite capable. Why else do you think he tries to steer you down the path he thinks correct? You are his heir, my friend, whether you like it or not," he added with a smile. "If you don't like it, then you'd best find him a bride capable of giving birth, or else you really will be forced to walk the straight line."

"As for our comrades, it is of no matter," Rui said dismissively. "Better that they revolt against such tactics, or else I would really be worried for our future. All that matters is that when the darkness passes, the light shines away the shadows."

"My uncle is only thirty-three years of age," replied Zhiwen, shaking his head, "I am sure that he will find an heir for himself if he does not sire one . . . If anything, it is likelier to be you than me. Though I share the Yi name, I am hardly an intellectual. I am a soldier like my father and my ancestors before him. Furthermore, I am not that much younger than my uncle. I will not live long to enjoy my uncle's inheritance . . . Combined with the fact that I will be frequently on the battlefield, it is even likely that I will die before he does."

"Given the circumstances, we must be of one heart," stated Zhiwen, regarding his friend closely, not understanding why he did not have the foresight in such a matter, "A rejection of our usage of dark tactics could prove devastating. Surely you understand the ramifications if that happens."

[Marquis Black]

"Yet your uncle has no heirs, and as time passes, that likelihood may fade away," Rui pointed out. "While you are young and still quite capable. Why else do you think he tries to steer you down the path he thinks correct? You are his heir, my friend, whether you like it or not," he added with a smile. "If you don't like it, then you'd best find him a bride capable of giving birth, or else you really will be forced to walk the straight line."

"As for our comrades, it is of no matter," Rui said dismissively. "Better that they revolt against such tactics, or else I would really be worried for our future. All that matters is that when the darkness passes, the light shines away the shadows."

"My uncle is only thirty-three years of age," replied Zhiwen, shaking his head, "I am sure that he will find an heir for himself if he does not sire one . . . If anything, it is likelier to be you than me. Though I share the Yi name, I am hardly an intellectual. I am a soldier like my father and my ancestors before him. Furthermore, I am not that much younger than my uncle. I will not live long to enjoy my uncle's inheritance . . . Combined with the fact that I will be frequently on the battlefield, it is even likely that I will die before he does."

"Given the circumstances, we must be of one heart," stated Zhiwen, regarding his friend closely, not understanding why he did not have the foresight in such a matter, "A rejection of our usage of dark tactics could prove devastating. Surely you understand the ramifications if that happens."

"On the contrary," Rui rebutted. "To be able to wield the path of nurture and the path at darkness in harmony is the mark of a true hegemon," Rui lectured. "If we were all darkness, how would we be different from Qin Shi Huang?" he asked. "And if we were all kindness, how would we be able to survive amongst a sea of ruthless enemies?" he posited. "A balance of both is required, and thus not everyone can support the same path, lest the balance be destroyed."

"Let our comrades walk the path of nurture," he told Zhiwen. "Where we destroy, they will sow. Do not the most fertile lands grow where ash and blood are spilled, after all?"