Chen Sheng's Audience Hall - Chen

[ann]

Crim

Chen She listened and said, "Yes, we shouldn't waste food on the minions of that bandit woman Yi Lian. Happily she should be taken care of soon. Have them brought in, bound, to hear the sentence pronounced. Perhaps they will plead and offer new information."

Orders were sent to have the prisoners brought, bound, to the audience hall of the King. Once they had arrived, the King nodded at Pan Dao, who, with his characteristic efficiency, had quickly penned an official sentence of death. Pan Dao stood and read the decree.

"The following vassals or officers of the known bandit leader Yi Lian, a self styled 'Marquis' are sentenced to death for their unlawful support of the depredations of their leader, that same Yi Lian, known by one and all as a leader of dishonorable mercenaries and vicious bandits who, among other crimes, destroyed the City of Huaiyin, destroyed the peaceful followers of Heavens Orchard, pillaged and invaded the city of Zhu immediately after that city had chosen a leader, one Jiang Chaoyun, employed the traitorous mercenary group Ravens Wind to pillage Changsha, and, most recently, for marching through Jiujiang against it's rightful King Xiang Jun and terrorizing the people of Shou Chun!" Pan Dao caught his breath and then, with an embarassed glance around said, "Oh, indeed, they are Ma Tan, Lin Pin, Cui Hao and Shen Ling."

He turned to the prisoners and said, "You will be killed by the slow process. However, should you provide useful information your death will be swift and less painful. Once you are dead, your heads will be sent to those puppet governments of the bandit leader Yi Lian from which you came."

Those in the room, including Pan Dao and the King himeslf, waited to see what sort of death the prisoners wished.

[Lin Xin]

Lin Xin

Pan Dao looked at the man oddly for a moment and then said, "Is this truly the purpose of your visit from such a distance? Surely you realize it is well known how that patron of Banditry, Yi Lian, has set up puppet governments throughout the lands who suffer under her, and her mercenaries, depredations? Zhi Cheng, is one such, as is Yi Tao, perhaps even a rebel, and Pang Ai is another. It is clear from her actions in giving your master Changsha that he is just another of those puppets of hers." He shrugged and said, "Was that all?"

Tong's furrowed brows was the only indication of any sort of irritation but he simply replied, "No, that is not the purpose of this visit. The Marquis of Yue sent me to establish a diplomatic relationship with the King of Chu. He hopes to be able to restore peace to the worn-torned southlands and see the mighty land of Chu as an integral piece to that peace."

[ann]

Pan Dao listened carefully. After Guan Tong finished speaking he looked thoughtfully at the emissary and said, "You understand that the King of Chu does not have any diplomatic relationship with Yi Lian and her vassals?"

His head cocked to one side he said, "There was peace in the cities ruled by Pang Li if what I hear from those stationed near the border is true. There was also peace in Zhu for a short time - before the bandits of Yi Lian broke that peace. Do you mean to say that your master wishes to throw off the control of the bandit woman?"

"If so perhaps you might consider ridding the land of Pang Ai and Yi Tao?"

[Xian]

Pan Dao nodded and said, "My master led me to believe that Ji Song's followers would remain somewhat separate from the administration of the province? Is that not the case?" Pan Dao wished to be sure he understood the situation completely. "How are you finding Chu thusfar?"

"While that is true," began the merchant, "It is more applicable to the activities of his confidante, the Iron Butterfly Yu Yinzi who is currently holding Longhuan as the Twilight Bazaar's base of operations here in Chu. As for me, I have chosen to help aid the sage's efforts in bringing good governance and prosperity to these lands through another path. The province is a beautiful one, and our combined efforts can only bring it more good fortunes I feel."

Bowing once more to the King representative, he added, "If it would then please Lord Chen, I ask that you allow me to serve in the administration alongside Master Ji and bring this vision closer to fruition."

[ann]

Pan Dao bowed and smiled. "We are most fortunate to have any of Ji Song's followers and students join us. I am sure quarters may be found for you near his, or, perhaps you would like to stay elsewhere?"

Mian Jujiang has joined Chen She!

[Xian]

"A set of rooms nearby would be most sufficient, yes. Please lead the way then, sir Pan."

(officer info posted!)

[Lin Xin]

Pan Dao listened carefully. After Guan Tong finished speaking he looked thoughtfully at the emissary and said, "You understand that the King of Chu does not have any diplomatic relationship with Yi Lian and her vassals?"

His head cocked to one side he said, "There was peace in the cities ruled by Pang Li if what I hear from those stationed near the border is true. There was also peace in Zhu for a short time - before the bandits of Yi Lian broke that peace. Do you mean to say that your master wishes to throw off the control of the bandit woman?"

"If so perhaps you might consider ridding the land of Pang Ai and Yi Tao?"

Tong smiled as he listened to Pan Dao. With a slight shake of his head, he replied, "If that is the King of Chu's concern, His Majesty can be assured that Marquis Lin keeps a very close watch on Pang Ai by maintaining a liaison officer in Zhu, ensuring the people are properly being taken care of."

"Also, I hope to clear up numerous misconceptions on the Lady Yi as well as Marquis Lin's association with her. I ask that you indulge me and allow me to explain."

Tong pauses as he waits for Dao's response or at least an implicit permission to continue speaking.

[ann]

Pan Dao looked surprised at the inability of this man to understand such basics. He sighed and said, "The people of Zhu were at peace, they chose a ruler themselves, this is the essense of the revolution. They were then attacked by Yi Lian who set up her own puppet government. You speak of them as if they were rescued from themselves - as if you were one of the Qin. You say Lin Xin maintains a liason? That he somehow overseas the city of Zhu? We know that city is Yi Lian's - or one of her puppets. Does this mean that Lin Xin is some sort of overseer for her?"

Pan Dao shook his head, "You may explain until the sun vanishes from the heavens but that will not make the King of Chu see peace where there is oppression, or a friend where there are only foes. If this Lin Xin wished to demonstrate that he was not a creature of this bandit woman then he would certainly rid the land of her puppets. Or, if he were too frightened to face her then he would, at a minimum, offer troops, arms or gold to those who did have the courage to deliver the people from her abuses."

Xian

Pan Dao bowed again, clearly pleased, and said, "Please follow me."

[Lin Xin]

Pan Dao looked surprised at the inability of this man to understand such basics. He sighed and said, "The people of Zhu were at peace, they chose a ruler themselves, this is the essense of the revolution. They were then attacked by Yi Lian who set up her own puppet government. You speak of them as if they were rescued from themselves - as if you were one of the Qin. You say Lin Xin maintains a liason? That he somehow overseas the city of Zhu? We know that city is Yi Lian's - or one of her puppets. Does this mean that Lin Xin is some sort of overseer for her?"

Pan Dao shook his head, "You may explain until the sun vanishes from the heavens but that will not make the King of Chu see peace where there is oppression, or a friend where there are only foes. If this Lin Xin wished to demonstrate that he was not a creature of this bandit woman then he would certainly rid the land of her puppets. Or, if he were too frightened to face her then he would, at a minimum, offer troops, arms or gold to those who did have the courage to deliver the people from her abuses."

Looking up at the clerk, Tong replied, "The Marquis Lin and Yi combined to rid Changsha of Qin-loyalists. Both Taishi Guang and Jiang Chaoyun rose to power with the support of those who wish to see a resurgent Qin. I'm not surprised that bit of news did not reach Chu as they were devious individuals who feared the power of the King's rebellion. In Jiujiang, the cult of Heaven's Orchard secretly supported the Qin as well, as shown by their reinforcement of Taishi Guang. The so called "bandits" that were operating in Changsha were, in reality, protecting the people from further Qin oppression and brutality. As you surely know, Clerk Pan, there is always two sides to every story. A wise man does not make a hasty judgement on a book's contents just by its cover. Marquis Yi's mistake was not keeping the King informed of the Qin threat in the south to justify her actions."

The envoy did not wish to divulge more information than was necessary. Thus, he did not further expound on the true relationship between Lin Xin and Pang Ai. The purpose of this mission was to gain Chen She's trust and give Yue freedom of operations in the south. More importantly, he must erode whatever little bond exists between the Xiangs and Chen She.

[ann]

Pan Dao's eyes widened as the envoy lied about Jiang Chaoyun. Clearly this man Lin Xin and his representatives were not to be trusted and, indeed, were brazen to an extent which seemed reckless. He schooled his features and said, "Surely there are often two or more sides to a story. However there is no side of the story of Zhu which resembles what you have told. Zhu was controled by Tai Pen, an old man, who had been there long but who had seen his influence lessen over the years. He was no longer strong enough to lead. Jiang Chaoyun had demonstrated skilled leadership in the region and had, as a result, drawn many supporters to himself among the leaders in Zhu. When Tai Pen felt his days drawing to a close, and after consulting with trusted advisors, he called Jiang to him to beg him to lead. Jiang consented and the city and it's leaders were revitalized. Until, of course, the bandit forces arrived to destroy all that."

He paused for breath, clearly irritated that he had been forced to waste time on a man foolish enough to lie about facts which were not in dispute - whose master apparently did not know the history of the people he'd conquered and now oppressed. After a moment he said, "Heaven's Orchard was peaceful and controlled by a religious man who, as it happens, had contact with the King of Chu, unlike the bandit woman and her puppets, your master and the others. He was not a Qin supporter but a supporter of the people. Though the King of Chu opposes the Qin he is wise enough to choose his fights and the time of them. Similarly, Heaven's Orchard wished to prevent the further depredations of the bandit woman and felt that she was even worse than the Qin."

Narrowing his eyes he finished by saying, "The King of Chu does not judge things by mere superficialities, he has in fact been following things closely. That neither the bandit woman nor her puppets have bothered to look beyond the end of their noses is not a fault of his, but of theirs."