Tian Dan's Audience Hall - Chenggao

[Wokimo]

Haoqi sighed and looked even more forelorn, resigned to a fate that seemed to be taking him further and further from where he wanted to be in life in both a physical and metaphorical sense. He'd pledged his allegience to Tian Dan and he would not go against the King's wishes simply to satisfy his own desires, it was very much against his principles to act in such a way.

"Since you have decided, I can hardly disobey you. What would you have me do then, O King?" he said meekly but was struck by a sudden thought. "Has it to do with Qufu, perhaps? I heard the government there was lax and the Magistrate unfitted to rule."

Cai had a strong feeling that he was right in this assumption and would have been greatly pleased to find himself correct in assessing the inner thoughts of the King of Qi. His disappointment was not forgotten, but it was temporarily put to one side.

[Galagros]

RuffRydeR:

The guards formed an escort for the Lady Xia, her two maids, and her driver, before setting off through the better part of the city. When they arrived at the more heavily fortified administrative compound, a new set of guards took them inside the hall where the King, the Supreme Commander, and the Marshal had all gathered.

"Greetings, Lady Xia..." Tian Dan said curiously.


Wokimo:

Dan smiled and nodded ever so slightly. "It is indeed to do with Qufu. That retched Lao Yongrui has proven himself entirely inept, and the people are crying out for new leadership. I think that you will be just the man to swoop in and rescue them." After pausing for some dramatic effect, the King added, "I will even send a detachment of my own men to hearten and encourage yours."


[OOC: Sorry that my replies have been so sporadic, but all of my papers for college are due Nov.6 and Nov.24, so I have been quite busy.]

[RuffRydeR]

RuffRydeR:

The guards formed an escort for the Lady Xia, her two maids, and her driver, before setting off through the better part of the city. When they arrived at the more heavily fortified administrative compound, a new set of guards took them inside the hall where the King, the Supreme Commander, and the Marshal had all gathered.

"Greetings, Lady Xia..." Tian Dan said curiously.

"Greeting, milord. Thanks for the gracious welcome...One those underlings of your Highness in Jiaodong were too arrogant to give."

She bowed deeply, and her lips formed a more neutral line on her youthful countenance. After a respectful pause, she spoke,

"I'm glad to see your Lordship is well. After hearing of the news about this Yan coalition doing...well..."

She stopped, shrugged,

"Well, as a woman born of the Qi realm, I am dismayed this Yan...whatever sort of nation they are trying to form...would intrude upon rightful Qi territory. I do admit I thought their cause was admirable at first, when they were engaged in liberating the Yan realm from the rule of the Qin barbarians, but..."

She pauses, knowing she was discussing information she herself is unsure off. After all, political events related to her by advisors weren't exactly the most reliable, and the innocent young woman would take a while before she realized most such advice was twisted in some way for an advisor's political gain,

"Well, my own Supreme Commander is of the belief that they themselves are just a barbarian horde of northerners replacing the foreign westerners. I have no qualms with that on its own, but when they intrude upon the civilized lands of the Huaxia, it is too much! They have enough barbaric wilderness beyond the provinces to be happy. Must they turn our own civilized locales into pastureland as well? It is no wonder I am informed there is barely any building of note in Yan. They've begun the process there already!"

Then, once more pausing, she launches into the main purpose of her visit,

"Lord of the Qi kingdom, the noble realm those tactless Qin have divided into so called provinces of Jibei, Qi and Jiaodong, my purpose is twofold. None of my subordinates have made direct contact with this Yan coalition, though I have spoken to some members of it myself, in the past, back when it was not this arrogant, expansionist band. However, your Lordship, I presume, has spoken directly to them. Would you kindly relate to this Lady what your thoughts upon ithe people of Yan are? The burden of rulership has passed onto me from my bedridden Father so suddenly, that I have had less than ample time to learn this whole political business. I thought there couldn't be a better place to gleam the wisdom I need than that of a King's court...for I need the wisdom of a king."

Then, she stops, and speaks off her second request,

"As for my other reason, I've been informed my headstrong regent has assaulted the Yan incursions into Jibei, and he seeks to continue and bring to conclusion such action in the upcoming weeks. I'm rather miffed he acted on such without my input, but it is his prerogative, and it seems Lady Lu has come to assist him as well."

She waits for a moment, gauging the King's reaction to that name,

"I have heard tell that your Lordship, and my feisty friend have never gotten along too well, but it seems to me that a peaceful united Qi realm can only exist if either one eliminated the other, or some sort of agreement can be reached. Lady Lu is a dear friend of mine, and a woman who reminds me of myself, and she had kindly kept me out of harm during my first travels in Zhao province, while your Lordship is master of my homeland, and has my respect and devotion as a born citizen of His realm. I would not, nay, cannot seek the elimination of one, or the other. So...I humbly hope to put into motion some sort of arrangement to erase past wrongs, and to speed the peaceful reunification of Qi, as I myself have to strive for the union of Zhao."

Finishing, she bows again, and awaits nervously, the King's response. This courtly composure thing her tutors were trying to teach her was really, really hard. But at least she felt she was improving since her awfully casual visit to Wei. She was glad to see that kingdom form its own powerbase...and hoped eventually she would be able to fix the names. It shouldn't be too hard, what with the friendly terms she was on with the people of Wei. Ah, typical Qin backwardness. They would call the Wei lands both Zhao and Wei and call the Zhao lands Zhong Shan?

[Shadow]

Both Shang and Jun Min did all the necessary rituals and procedures due to a king before uttering out a word to Tian Dan. After they were done, Shang gave Tian Dan a bow in reverence of a superior.
"Yes, Liang has grown quite a bit since both Duke Xiang and I were in your presence." He said.
"Though, we have heard of your defeat in Jibei and surely word of ours in Huainan has reached Qi as well." Shang said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I've come to assure Qi that Liang will help defend it in it's time of need. We wish to count on our standing friendship and hope that Qi would do the same for us in a catastrophic event." He merely said, perhaps in hopes to spark something in Tian Dan.

[Wokimo]

Wokimo:
Dan smiled and nodded ever so slightly. "It is indeed to do with Qufu. That retched Lao Yongrui has proven himself entirely inept, and the people are crying out for new leadership. I think that you will be just the man to swoop in and rescue them." After pausing for some dramatic effect, the King added, "I will even send a detachment of my own men to hearten and encourage yours."

"Then as soon as this audience is complete, I will return to camp and muster my men. To be instrumental in the bringing of competant and benevolent government to Qufu might relieve this sense of failure I have carried in the wake of being driven from my home." Haoqi replied "Are there any other matters which you wish to discuss with me, Your Highness?"

[Radical Dreamer]

A small cavalcade of horses made its way through the rugged paths of Henan. An old warrior was sitting upon a worn carriage ushering the horses onward while a slightly-younger rider rode out beside, scanning the surrounding area for bandits.

Inside the open-air carriage a figure sat in quiet contemplation as the large wheels rattled beside them. They were dressed in fine silk robes which were loose enough to simply be absorbed in the fabric. Long, jade-colored hair flowed down the figure's back and spilled over their shoulders. As the sun hit the trees to the side of the road, the mysterious noble looked up with cold eyes and looked over the area before settling back on the cushions they were sitting on.

Tian Dan's capitol was before them, further down the road. The group had been traveling hard and the horses would enjoy the rest. They would have to find a place to rest first, though.

"Go to the palace," the figure in the carriage commanded. Without bothering to reply, the driver whipped the horses onward and entered the city with haste. Through the streets, through the market, past the rebuilt barracks; none of these things held attention from the noble for very long. Only when they reached the building itself did the figure show any emotion.

The young man, for that is what the noble was upon closer inspection, shuffled out of the carriage. His flowing robes stopped just short of the ground but the shoulders were still loose and the sleeves hid his hands from sight. Flanking him, his two war-hardened attendants followed dutifully up the stairs.

Shuffling up to the guards on duty, the young man slightly bowed his head causing his hair to side across his back. "I wish to speak with a representative of the Governor," the young man murmured. His voice was low and smooth, but it held a hint of disinterest and formality.

[Galagros]

RuffRydeR

The King listened to the Lady intently, wondering why she had come to visit. He winced noticeably when she mentioned him having any connections to the pretenders in Jiaodong. When she had finished with her rather long composition, Tian Dan began to respond as best he could.

"Fei Lak is a fool. He seeks quick expansion with little bloodshed; such a thing cannot occur. He was a fool to let me live after he caught me unawares in Jibei, and if I ever get the chance I will gladly teach him the error of his ways." The King paused to restrain himself and think through his next response. "It is true that Jibei and Jiaodong should both be in my hands, yet clearly they are not. I made the mistake of spreading my resources too thinly once, and I will not make it again."

Shadow

Tian Dan nodded and sighed at the mention of defeat. "Yes, the past few months were hard on us, but I still believe that Qi and Liang are among the strongest powers in the land. I heard that you were defeated because you underestimated your enemy; well, I was defeated because I did not believe a man like Fei Lak would dare to challenge me. Both causes can easily be avoided again in the future, but should it be necessary, a mutually beneficial arrangement regarding defense would be ensure victory."

Wokimo

The King nodded sternly. "Very good, then. I will inform one of my Generals immediately. When the battle is over, more instruction will be forthcoming. Qi shall be strong." With that, he turned his attention to another matter and Cai Xingzhe was free to leave.

Radical Dreamer

The guards' faces clouded over slightly. "Governor?" said one. "Do you, uh... mean the King?"

[Radical Dreamer]

Gao's head tilted to the side. Dan was calling himself a King? The young noble had met kings, had served kings, and had seen them reduced to nothing. Not a title he would personally want to have, but to each their own.

"Oh? King Dan is here himself? I thought he was on campaign," the young noble stated, covering his earlier mistake. "If he is here, and hasn't left an adjunct governor in his place, then I should like an audience with him."

[Galagros]

The guard stared worriedly at the so called 'young noble.' "And how should I announce you?" He had a feeling that this young man was going to stir up trouble, but he had a job to do.

[Radical Dreamer]

With a bow, Gao responded, "Hua Gao, former noble of Wei and Zhao, and former magistrate of Xujuan." He presented his former seal of office to the guard as added proof. "I have traveled far to meet your master, as I'm sure you can tell by my poor, travel-worn appearance." The young man motioned to his flowing hair and fine robes as evidence, but they didn't even look the smallest bit worn. Gao himself seemed quite annoyed with his state, though, but it would have to be good enough.