Jiaoxi Provincial Roleplay

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Krimzon
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Re: Jiaoxi Provincial Roleplay

Post by Krimzon »

January 205

The Duke could hear the panicked screams in the distance as he marched his army towards the ruined city, with horses hooves clicking against broken cobbles. For months Yi Guang had heard reports of The Sinners Brigades atrocities in Liang and Jiaoxi. The city of Changyi was reduced to rubble, with sections and districts falling into ruin. He had ridden there himself with a regiment of his own personal army. Although he was a hard man, used to death, he never had encountered such utter desolation, on a scale he had never known. This was an enemy with no concept of honour, who fought for greed and destroyed cities to crush the will of the people. The Duke stepped towards the snorting mount of his aide. A stallion, fast and black as night. "Dismount" he snapped. "Enter the city on foot." "Yes, your grace." the man said immediately, swinging his legs over and jumping down to the grass.

As Yi Guang mounted in his place, finding the saddle still warm, the aide stood back and bowed. Yi didn't look at him, already turning the animal and digging in his heels. The hooves clattered on the stone as he trotted away. Around him, the fearful people were revealing themselves. Candles and torches appeared in the windows and burned in the hands of men as they came out to stand in the street and shout questions to each other. None of them knew anything. More than once, they stumbled and fell as they tried to avoid the accompaniment of guards. The palace was not far away. The army poured into the city to man the roads and keep back the gathering crowds. Yi Guang smiled indulgently as his entourage wended their way through the streets towards the audience hall. "There is much potential here." Yi said, shaking his head in wonder. Men and women continued to venture into the street in the vain hope that the silver clad warrior rode as a savior, and not as a conquerer.

There had been riots when the garrison left, with crime running wild in the streets. Some of the criminals must have been like savage dogs, barely held in check by the threat of King Zhefu's men. Yi Guang tried to clear his mind, to concentrate on the problem of getting the column of soldiers and supply carts through the city at night. He had placed bowmen along the line, with orders to shoot into the crowd if they were attacked. If that failed, spears would hold the mob at bay long enough to enter the palace, he was almost sure. Either way, it would be viscous and he could take no pride in the planning.

As the days bled on it was clear that the people of Changyi knew little of the threats of the Middle Kingdom and even the sellers of news had little information. Duke Yi Guang had seen to it that the gossipmongers to his presence were kept quiet and, if their arrest disturbed those who looked for such signs. The celebration festival had gone ahead perfectly with all its usual gusto, mad with drink and noise and light. The Duke's city of Changyi grew quiet in the hours before dawn of the third day, though it was more from a surfeit of food and drink than any fear of another raid. As the sun had set, Duke Yi Guang mounted a platform to be seen by the heaving crowds, and a thousand dancers. He had stood with his feet bare, showing his humility before the people as thousands chanted praises, the sound crashing across the damaged city. Despite its ruin, the city gleamed like a jewel, a myriad of flames lighting pinpricks of light across the horizon.

This was the beginning of something new. Whatever the future held, he would meet it with his head raised and his weapon drawn. He would struggle to the end and, if he fell against his enemies, it would be a life well spent. Part of him felt a pang at the thought that he had no other reason to keep him grounded, but he cursed the weakness. He had made his own life as his cousins had made theirs. If he was swept up in the winds of greater events, that would be his fate. He could not defend against everything. For now, Duke Yi Guang would make preparations for his rule with the repair of Changyi, the great capital of Jiaoxi province.
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