Lin Xin's Audience Hall - Panyu

[Nash]

Zu Pi shrugs, he didn't really have any real job to do elsewhere, so he wasn't about to fight his way out of temporary imprisonment.

Zu Pi: Of course...do you, uhh...want to read the Supreme Commander's official communique, first?

[Lin Xin]

Zu Pi shrugs, he didn't really have any real job to do elsewhere, so he wasn't about to fight his way out of temporary imprisonment.

Zu Pi: Of course...do you, uhh...want to read the Supreme Commander's official communique, first?

Xin gestures to one of his attendants to take the Supreme Commander's official communique. "Just hand it to my assistant good Master Zu. I shall read it and summon for you should I require anything. Thank you."

[Trendkill]

Following his tying up of a few loose ends Liao makes his way to the Audience hall and, after greeting the guards he had come to know and respect so well, enters the chamber of Lord Lin. From the look on the veteran warriors face one could tell that he bore the weight of the world upon his mighty shoulders. Bowing low before the master he had served with utter devotion, he then raises his eyes to meet that of Xin's before saying in a solemn, almost regretful tone, "Lord Lin, I have come to tender my resignation." He then places his rank insignia on the steps at Lin Xin's feet, in addition to the sword he had been loaned, and then backs away before continuing. "I hope you understand that I appreciate your generosity in hiring a lowly soldier such as I, and that your kindness will never be forgotten. But, as you know from our first meeting, I have sworn to turn over a new leaf. I left my my past as a bandit behind me when I first entered your chambers, and although I am far from being a man of virtue, I am compelled to at least try to make up for my mistakes."

His eyes lower to the ground at his feet as he draws in a deep breath. He bore no ill will toward the man whom he believed, at least at one time, shared his aspirations. But now, after months of war and political affairs, Liao was hard pressed to find the man who he had once admired so. Raising his eyes to once again meet with Xin's he says, "We are only as good as the company we keep, and I held to blind faith while observing your hiring of mercenaries and brigands, despite my having severe reservations. Perhaps I could lhave learned to accepts this, over time. But now you harbor a member of the Qin and, from what I have heard, you now intend to ally yourself with that wretched host of miserable tyrants. A development that I can no longer support."

He closes his eyes and raises his face skyward, as if uttering a prayer in his mind. Then opening them he concludes by saying, "I am a simple man, uneducated and brash, this I know. But I have always guided myself by my heart. Though it pains me to part ways, I must do what I feel is right. When I first joined with you there were but a few of us. But now you have gained the services of great men from across the realm. So no longer do you have need of one so limited in ability as I, and can now rest assured that you have great success in my absence."

((Han Liao has left the forces of Lin Xin.))

[Lin Xin]

Following his tying up of a few loose ends Liao makes his way to the Audience hall and, after greeting the guards he had come to know and respect so well, enters the chamber of Lord Lin. From the look on the veteran warriors face one could tell that he bore the weight of the world upon his mighty shoulders. Bowing low before the master he had served with utter devotion, he then raises his eyes to meet that of Xin's before saying in a solemn, almost regretful tone, "Lord Lin, I have come to tender my resignation." He then places his rank insignia on the steps at Lin Xin's feet, in addition to the sword he had been loaned, and then backs away before continuing. "I hope you understand that I appreciate your generosity in hiring a lowly soldier such as I, and that your kindness will never be forgotten. But, as you know from our first meeting, I have sworn to turn over a new leaf. I left my my past as a bandit behind me when I first entered your chambers, and although I am far from being a man of virtue, I am compelled to at least try to make up for my mistakes."

His eyes lower to the ground at his feet as he draws in a deep breath. He bore no ill will toward the man whom he believed, at least at one time, shared his aspirations. But now, after months of war and political affairs, Liao was hard pressed to find the man who he had once admired so. Raising his eyes to once again meet with Xin's he says, "We are only as good as the company we keep, and I held to blind faith while observing your hiring of mercenaries and brigands, despite my having severe reservations. Perhaps I could lhave learned to accepts this, over time. But now you harbor a member of the Qin and, from what I have heard, you now intend to ally yourself with that wretched host of miserable tyrants. A development that I can no longer support."

He closes his eyes and raises his face skyward, as if uttering a prayer in his mind. Then opening them he concludes by saying, "I am a simple man, uneducated and brash, this I know. But I have always guided myself by my heart. Though it pains me to part ways, I must do what I feel is right. When I first joined with you there were but a few of us. But now you have gained the services of great men from across the realm. So no longer do you have need of one so limited in ability as I, and can now rest assured that you have great success in my absence."

((Han Liao has left the forces of Lin Xin.))

Xin listens as he attempted to hide the pain and sadness of Liao's words. Gritting his teeth, he nodded to his former Colonel when the warrior finished speaking. "I understand your concerns," the Duke of Yue said. "However, don't forget that you were once a bandit and brigand as well. Everyone deserves a chance to redeem for the mistakes they have made in the past...including even the Qin."

"I cannot and will not stop you from leaving," the ruler continued with a sigh. "Know that you have served with distinction and honor and can discard whatever ghosts that might still haunt you. I bid you farewell my friend and wish you good fortune, wherever your new path may lead you."

A small tear streamed down the Duke's face. Not even bothering to wipe it, he just sat there, thinking, perhaps, that he was the one that had strayed off the path...

[Trendkill]

Xin listens as he attempted to hide the pain and sadness of Liao's words. Gritting his teeth, he nodded to his former Colonel when the warrior finished speaking. "I understand your concerns," the Duke of Yue said. "However, don't forget that you were once a bandit and brigand as well. Everyone deserves a chance to redeem for the mistakes they have made in the past...including even the Qin."

"I cannot and will not stop you from leaving," the ruler continued with a sigh. "Know that you have served with distinction and honor and can discard whatever ghosts that might still haunt you. I bid you farewell my friend and wish you good fortune, wherever your new path may lead you."

A small tear streamed down the Duke's face. Not even bothering to wipe it, he just sat there, thinking, perhaps, that he was the one that had strayed off the path...

Liao watched and listened to Lord Lin with an emotionless face, intentionally trying not to let Xin's words deter him from his choice. He closes his eyes and looks down when reminded of his former ways, all too aware of his past. Once Xin finished Liao looks again upon his now former Lord and, witnessing his tearful expression, seems visibly shaken as well. He reminds himself of the certain actions taken by one man present on the battlefield and his conduct before a group of prisoners. He was after all there, though not in the tent, but it did not take long for word to reach him behind the front lines. Steeling himself once again he says, "I thank you again for the time that I have had in service to you, and shall never forget it. I swear that I shall not raise my sword against you or your people, so long as I may live."

With that he gives one last bow before exiting the building and mounting his horse, which he had previously loaded with his personal effects that morning.

[357yangzhou]

Zú Yǒuzhù looks at the guards as he passes by on his way into the Audiance Hall of Duke Lin Xin. No weapons does Yǒuzhù carry, and his torso is coverd in a thin cloth short robe. His eyes are distant as he crosses the threshold of the doorway. He walks to the foot of the Dukes throne, and bows. "Lord Duke, I have come today to resign. That which I hoped to accomplish has been achieved, though not through my hands. I am of no significance. Others have come to you, more skilled than I, and I am of little use compared to them. I wish you success in your endevers," Zú Yǒuzhù finishes and waits for the Duke to speake.

[Lin Xin]

Xin just shakes his head as he thinks to himself, What's with all the resignations lately? And where did Zhong Ce disappear to?

Looking sadly at Zu, the Duke of Yue asks, "What makes you say such a thing? Will you now abandon all of our hard work now that we have achieved so much?"

Standing up, he walks up to his friend while continuing, "And you are wrong, Yǒuzhù. We are all equally significant. Am I insignificant because I was not at the battlefield in Changsha? We all have our parts to play and you are our Master Smith."

[357yangzhou]

Yǒuzhù looked at the duke and said, "Lord Lin, Xin...If I may be so bold, Gronchi is a better smith than I, and even General Long can create the same items as I; at the same price!" Yǒuzhù looked to the heaven as he thought about the last thing he said (((OOC: Hint to admins, uh that is just ludacriss))). Yǒuzhù leveled his gaze back on Lin Xin and said, "I'm pleased with the victory, M'Lord, but even though you were not on the field you controlled it. General Long and the others carried out your plans for the battle, and what happened to Colonel Han in the secound engagement. Was his efforts so inadiquit that he was not allowed to finnish the battle?" Yǒuzhù felt himself drifting close to insulting the Duke, and so he bit the inside of his bottom lip. "I appologize sire, that was uncalled for," Yǒuzhù said as he shook his head. "I came here to serve a specific perpose, but things have changed. The Yue are not together and you are spreading away from those that are your people. Now I hear about an inspector from the Qing being housed here... I'll just say that our designs are differant, and that differance is to much to breech. You have officers now that can serve the perposes that I have. Some of them are rather unsavory, in my opinion, but they are more skilled than I. It isn't as if I will be missed." Yǒuzhù spilled out.

[fireshade]

To those who waited, it may have seemed like an eternity since the envoy had delivered his message for Meng Tian. Eventually, though, a body of soldiers appeared on the road to Lin Xin's capital bearing the devices of Qin and proclaiming their leader as Wei Quan, Prefect of Han. Upon reaching the gates, the main body stopped and three men continued forward to speak with the guards.

"Inform the Duke that Prefect Wei Quan and associates have arrived with the approved honor guard to discuss matters on behalf of Supreme Commander Meng Tian."

[Zhudi]

fireshade

Upon hearing the words of the envoy, the guards at the gate quickly sent a messenger up to the governor's mansion. Within ten minutes, a group of riders returned bearing the banner of the Duke of Yue and the Marquis of Changsha. An elderly gentlemen, dressed in fine court robes walked forward to the gate and bowed deeply to the visitors.

He said to the three men, "Greetings honored sirs. My name is Sha Zukang and I am the Chief Diplomat for Marquis Daisuke Aramaki of Changsha. The honorable Duke Lin Xin has become very ill and is unable to hold audiences at this time. He has requested that my master, Marquis Daisuke Aramaki, come to the capital for this month and administrate the kingdom in his stead while he recovers from his illness. Please come this way if you still wish to continue."

Sha Zukang then proceeded to order the guards to open the gates and let the visitors with their escorts into the capital.