Fei Lak's Audience Hall - Shanggu

[Phailak]

Lak frowned slightly, it seemed someone had once again forgotten to inform him on a potential prospect, yet this name seemed familiar.

"Master Chen, I am afraid I was not expecting you. Please, how may I help you."

The Prefect could not remember the name, it was in one of his numerous reports, he thought this man already was part of a force and his skill had made it so Lak would remember the name.

[ann]

((he's not famous yet - too young ))

Chen Ping bowed and looked around the room surreptitiously. He said, "I am sure I would remember if we had met. I am from Wei. I was had a position at a temple there and, after it was destroyed, I found a position with Zhao Yue. However, he did not have use for me and I wished to be somehwere my skills would be used."

Chen Ping bowed again and said, "I had heard of your rise here and thought a trip was in order."

[Phailak]

Lak looked at his guest, trying to get a measure of his talents.

"Well met Master Chen. Wei is close by, I invest a lot of my ressources in getting reports on all the talented men in the land. It seems then that you have an advantage over me in this discussion as you no doubt have gathered some intelligence on my capabilities."

The man had an obvious confidence that radiated about him.

"I have had some measure of success in the north despite an obvious lack of any talent myself, except perhaps an ability to discern those that can become pillars to the foundation we are attempting to build. You see Master Chen, I am a very ambitious man and it is no secret usually what my intentions are. It is perhaps my greatest fault."

Lak shrugged the confession away.

"It is obvious to me you are a man of great worth, not many can present themselves before me with such confidence and be a fraud. So therefore, I will assume you are talented. Tell me Master Chen, as a man from Wei, you are aware of the situation as it stands in the north, yes? Dai and Yan are secure for now, Changshan seems at peace. A struggle shall soon come about in Wei and Jibei seems ripe for a takeover from Lady Lu. Yan has seen a lot of bloodshed, some would have me use our armies to secure our holdings and build the province into something wonderful. Others press that we have signed multiple victories and that our army's morale is high and even the new recruits do well. You seem competent in both aspects of war and civil development, do you have advice for me?"

The Prefect's tone seemed to lack passion, but no one could miss the fiery passion in his gaze. Though from his words, this might seem a test to the young Ping, there seemed to be something deeper hidden in the Prefect's request for advice, as if he sought something specific not in his answer but in the way he would answer.

[ann]

Chen Ping was flattered to have someone who had acheived so much ask for his opinion. He thought for a moment and then said, "I can tell you of Wei of course, there is a new force rising there - where they came from I am not sure. I had asked Lord Zhao to allow me to seek that information using such skills as I have. However, Lord Zhao did not seem interested in my opinions." It was clear, as he spoke, that Chen Ping had something of a grudge about his treatement in Wei.

After a moment he said, "There is merit in both suggestions. But danger in pressing to quickly as well as in failing to follow through on prior successes. I think it best to strengthen your holdings while at the same time using covert means to guage the state of the country around you as well as manipulate events there to your advantage."

[Phailak]

Lak nodded, listening intently.

"It is as I had feared, it seems Zhao Yue is unfit to rule and should not be allowed to take Wei if he is incapable of following such important advice. His loss is another's gain. I am very pleased to see your thoughts mirror my own. Tell me Master Chen, if there is opportunity to move into Jibei, do you believe I should fear a reprisal from the King of Qi? I have already foreseen the need for a Master of intelligence, he has already paid much dividends, but he cannot do all the work himself."

Lak rose, requesting some reports.

"Master Chen, if you would indulge me."

He motioned for the young man to come over.

"I am told his Majesty Wu Chen is busy and having a difficult time in Zhao, despite Lu Ying's rush to come to his aid. The King of Qi has moved against Jibei while the southern power has moved into Zhao. If by some miracle, Lu Ying is victorious with her King, what kind of force do you expect to return in Jibei? If they lose, how quickly can the king of Qi claim Jibei, perhaps as quickly even as next turn?"

Lak shrugged.

"I have planned this whole disposition for a long time, that foolish Rebel surprised me with his incursion into my LAND! Yet now my force is literally stronger by 1000 soldiers while his 16000 lay in ruin, their blood staining Yan's precious soil."

The only time his tone indicated any kind of change was on the word land. The Prefect returned his attention to the map.

"I am not some foolish noble that sought an opportunity and is happy with petty decorations and little soldiers to move around a map. I would heed your advice, welcome you in my ranks, seek your strategies if they are good, be honest with you if they are not. Tell me Chen Ping, what will it take for you to join me in our ambitions? You must know I do not seek to bring peace to a province, or secure my name in the annals of history, or gain wealth with my armies. I look to spread my influence as far as it will go, because it is the only influence I know and trust to be just and right. I will not allow myself or those that believe in our cause to suffer another's ideal any longer. It is a dangerous path, I know, so choose wisely in your demands of me, for if I meet them, I expect you to do your utmost for me in return."

The Prefect's words could not be more forthright or honest. If it was sometimes a flaw he had in his dealings with others, he hoped it could be appreciated by those that gave their life or blood for him. Despite his serious words, the Prefect displayed his most brilliant smile of welcome to his guest as he considered his words.

[GreenFabre]

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<font color="green">Music In The Kijo's Head - "Memory" - Claymore</font>





<font color="green">The Bijin laid a soft gaze at the tall white gates of Shanggu.
Blue eyes watched their stoic beauty as clawed fingers caressed the letter in her hands.
She gave a sigh as her silky white hair waved in the soft cool breeze.
Thinking again about her twin sister's whereabouts.

- - - -

The Bijin hummed to herself as she smiled at little children passing by.
Two Bishōjos flanked her both sides as they casually approached the guards.

"We seek an audience with Liu Fang.."
One of the Bishōjo announced to them in a soft tone oozing with clarity.

"We also consent to your search.."
The other sang in continuity with the sweet voice of youth.

The Bijin nodded gently as she began to pull the massive axe in her back . . .






[Topic Entered Lo~‼]


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[tlenoi]

Wei Hong came to the city hall of Shaggu and greeted the guards.

"Hello, buddy! I would like to meet your lord. I could not pronounce his name. Anyway, this is the letter."

He showed the letter to the guard.

"I am consent to any search. Do it real quick then!"

[Mikal]

Greenfabre and tlenoi

The guards look over the two disparate groups, raising an eyebrow at both. As one guard went inside to let Fei Lak and Liu Feng both know they had visitors, the others took the weapons offered by everyone, making sure each was marked with a small piece of paper showing who owned what. In addition, each was searched seperately, to make sure no other weapons were hidden.
By the time this was all done (and if nothing was found), two groups of palace guards arrived, one to escort the trio to see Liu Feng, and the other to escort the young man into the audience halls.
OOC: Liu Feng being paged to the AH thread. Liu Feng to the AH thread, thank you.
Wei himself eventually arrived within the audience hall chamber, with Fei Lak, and his bodyguard, a massive man in golden armor and a serge cape, awaited him...

[Liu Kang]

Kijo and the Dark Side! ((OOC: Thanks Mikal , and if nothing else wants to be added by Greenfabe from their, im guessing your in the Audience Hall))

Liu Fang was an old and slightly crippled man, so by the time he arrived at the gates it would have taken a while. He therefore sent his friend Lu Fang to retrieve them and meet halfway in a simple sitting room where tea could be provided. "Lady Kijo, my friend Fang informed me you have a meeting with him, come with me..." He said, slightly hard to hear as a scarf covered his half burnt face...
However, by then Fang found a horse another had lent him and so he rode down to greet them himself, huffing and puffing as he was tired and not used to moving about too much. "I am sorry i sent you friend!" He said quite embarrassed not knowing of the Kijo's presence.
Upon actually turning to see the Kijo he was taken back a little at how fast she had arrived, "Ahh, welcome young one, I am glad you have come! Why dont we speak over a nice cup of tea, its cold out here..."

[GreenFabre]

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<font color="green">Music In The Kijo's Head - "Memory" - Claymore</font>

<font color="green">Her companions merely looked at each other in silence and gave a little smile.

The man had mistaken the mistress for her missing sister.

But then again, nobody knew the Bijin's real name. Much less about her very existence.

And so the Bijin simply nodded at the man just like the way her big sister would.
She would have to get used to this if she had any hopes to find her again.

"Fair enough.."
She said to the old man, mimicking the Kijo's booming voice.

And so the three companions sauntered their way along the halls, following the old man and his friend . . .




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