Bai Zhan's Audience Hall

[Charlemagne]

Nestled in a small valley near the Yangtze river, the bustling city of Jiangling sits uneasy. Very little traffic moves in or out of the city these days, owing largely to the encampments of southerners surrounding the city's walls. The recently paved streets teem with both chinese and southerners under the watchful eyes of stoic, if well-behaved barbarian guards. Near the middle of the city, a sprawling administrative complex has become home to many barbarian tents and families, the walled area serving to contain livestock and inquisitive children neatly. The former garden has been trampled, and a beautiful pond is now used for water rather than any aesthetic value. Shade trees are still intact for now, and continue to provide shade to the many benches that are now used for more practical matters than comfort. The two outbuildings have been converted into something akin to lodges, each claimed by prominent southerners as both home and meeting court. The main administrative building remains largely untouched by the barbarians. Inside, a small hallway leads to a comfortable sitting room, large enough to sit a hundred with ease. A small dias in the back of the room holds two tables set on either side of a large wooden chair, draped in blue silk. All marks of the province's former owner have been removed...

[Zhudi]

The caravan was met by a squad of twenty barbarians, blocking the gates to the city. Standing at their front was a man that was dressed in heavy furs and held a staff, that was decorated to indicate that he was a man of power. He looked the speaker up and down and spat. As he glanced at the caravan, he sniffed the air and raised his chin. "The Unifier has not summoned this band of scum. What is your business with the barbarians of the south. We have skins plenty with which to sew our tunics. We have no need of yours."

The guards behind the man looked primed for murder, despite his words, and held their spears a little more forward. "We do not know this Aramaki, or care of him. Why should you pass these gates alive?"

This post can move to Bai Zhan's AH.

From amidst the caravan, an elderly gentlemen stepped forward. Although his skin was beginning to wrinkle, his neatly combed hair was still jet black. He pressed his hand against Master Lu's shoulder as if to indicate that Sha was going to take the discussions further from here. He then stepped to the front of the trade group and said loudly, "Warriors of the South! While it is true that you have skins a plenty to cover your chests and gird your loins; you might consider *upgrading* to something a little more durable." He said this last part while tapping his fist against the bronze armor of the chief of the guards standing next to him. He continued, "And your stave and clubs, while formidable and dangerous...perhaps you might wish to use something a little more sharp." For this part, he pointed to the halberd carried by the chief of the guards. With trade re-established between our lands, we can supply you with arms and armor such as these.

"But that is the least of what we have to offer." Sha motioned to one of his servants to bring him one of the durian fruits. He took his dagger and stabbed it into the fruit, opening it up and revealing the aromatic fruit deep inside. Replacing the dagger, he offered a half to the warrior in front of him and said, "What we offer is the friendship of Marquis Daisuke Aramaki, a friend and BROTHER to your Unifier!"

Note: The caravan is not actually carrying shipments of arms or armor, just three wagon loads of durian and other trade goods.

Edited for clarity

[Charlemagne]

Bahn Tu grunted ferally as the armor was banged upon. He looked down at the dagger and smiled. Calling for one of the guard's spears, he hurled it effortlessly at the armored visitor and watched it clang away. Smiling, he nodded to himself. He stood forward and leaned into the emiisary, his rough hides brushing uncivilly against Aramaki's man. "You, would be a great fool, to think I'm a great fool. And you'll be a dead fool, if you continue to treat me like a great fool."

Stepping back, the barbarian waved his men to seperate. He turned back and held his hand up to the driver. "Your master only, may enter. Make camp, and await his return."

Escorting the emmissary into the castle, Bahn Tu said no more to the man. As they reached the audience chamber, Tu kicked the door open, and motioned the visitor towards Bai Zhan, who was seated at the other side of the room. He ordered the envoy to stand at thirty paces, and then moved to Bai Zhan's right shoulder, waiting patiently.

[Zhudi]

Minister Sha Zukang nodded to the caravan master and said, "Make camp here. I shall return after my mission has been accomplished." He then followed the barbarian into the town.

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The audience chamber seemed to look different from the last time that Sha had been to Linjiang. Hopefully the outcome of this mission would be much different than his previous one with Sima Shing. Sha stepped to his appointed place in front of the Unifier and bowed deeply. "Master Bai Zhan, Marquis Daisuke Aramaki of Changsha sends his greetings. He has also sent gifts of durian to be brought to you, but unfortunately they have been restricted from entering the city at this time."

He cleared his throat before continuing, "I, Minister Sha Zukang of Changsha am tasked on a mission to re-establish trade between Linjiang and Changsha...and to inquire about how the brothers are doing. The Marquis has been away from Yong for many months and news of his former land is scarce in the south-east."

[gravenimages]

Bai Zhan inclines his head in a shallow nod to the minister, his gaudy barbarian mantle contrasting oddly with Chinese courtly robes. His eyes betray only a slightly haggard aspect as he meets the man’s gaze. “Welcome, then, Minister Sha. I am certain that the roads of Linjiang will look forward to carrying merchants rather than soldiers for a time, and that we will both benefit from a renewal of trade.”

At the mention of the west, the young ruler shakes his head sadly, shifting in his chair. “I have heard that in Sai the carrion birds block the very sun when they take wing, and yet neither side is any closer to victory. Soon, I would imagine, Heaven itself will avert it’s eyes.”

[Zhudi]

Sha Zukang's head bowed upon hearing the news. Before he had came into the employ of Aramaki, his family had lived in teh western provinces for many generations. He looked up again, "Let us pray that such pointless death and destruction is not visited upon the people here in the South." The tone of voice that he used made it obvious that it was more of a lament of sorrow rather than being any sort of a threat.

Lifting his left hand, he gestured widely to make his next point. "I have seen that you have done much to improve Linjiang already since you have assumed control in the past few weeks. Since we are now your neighbors, the Marquis has authorized me to offer you whatever economic and administrative support that you require in order to shore up your economy here in Linjiang. Times right now are rough here in the South, with the aggressive posturing performed against the south by some of our northern neighbors. The Marquis has said time and time again that we Southerners need to pull together and support each other if we are going to be able to make it through these tough times."

[gravenimages]

"Properly positioned, support would be welcome." Bai Zhan glances somewhat reluctantly at Bahn Tu. "It would not be... Politic... To openly suggest that it is needed, however."

The young man stands, looking northward. "You need not fear for Linjiang. I am a capable administrator. With a bit of coaching, I believe Bahn will far surpass me in civil matters, as well as... my wife..." He grins slightly at this. "Others show potential as well.

However despite their ability they are... superstitious, and quite untrusting of outsiders... With reason I might add." Bai Zhan grimaces as he recalls his first encounters with the tribe.

"What I could most use is political information... Which northern neighbors should I be wary of?"

[Zhudi]

Sha thought for a moment on how to best answer this question. Of course, he needed to impress upon Bai Zhan that Xiang Jun of Jiujiang was a threat to the entire south but his argument was weakened by the fact that Jun had at the moment only directly threatened Changsha with destruction. Xiang Jun had thus far been a very skilled political opponent, assuring Changsha's neighbors that his ambitions would only extend to their very doorstep and no further. But how can they not see that Jun is only a proxy for Chu aggression in the South; that once Changsha/Yue falls there are no other powers in the way to stop Chu and Xiang Jun from turning their eyes toward them.

Inside his own mind, Sha sighed. He could only speak the facts and hope that Bai Zhan can draw the same conclusions that Sha himself had. He began, "To the direct north of us, excluding the forces of Ying Fusu which are more to the West, are two main powers: Ying Huhai and Chu. While these powers are for the most part a little more distant, their vassals directly border our provinces. To your direct north in Nanyang are passive Huhai sympathizers. The have not yet made aggressive actions against the south, but the primary reason for that is that Huhai has been occupied with his war to the West. Directly north of Changsha in Jiujiang is Xiang Jun, vassal of Chu. He is a wily politician, an excellent general, and an entirely ruthless bastard who would murder his own family in order to further his own ambitions and those of his masters in Chu. He has been tasked by his masters to "pacify" the south, starting with Changsha."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "There is also one other power directly to the north of Yue and that is Jiang Sei of Huainan. We have been allied with them in the past, but with our recent war with Sima Shing taken up all of our attention, our influence with them has waned. We are still committed to peaceful relations with them, but because we were not able to project our military power to help shield them from their enemies, they are doing what they need to do to survive. And that is by making peace with our enemies, and presumably standing by while Chu and Jun seek to destroy us."

"With the war with Sima Shing over, we now can turn our attention back to defending ourselves and our allies against our aggressive northern neighbors. As I mentioned before, we must try to stand together or we will fall one by one like Chinese dominoes."

[gravenimages]

Zhan listens attentively, glad that Bahn Tu is also present to hear of the area's political situation. The young man nods in variouy places throughout the minister's discourse.

When the man has finished, Bai Zhan permits himself a small smile. "You have given me much to consider, Minister. As well as caused me to think that you are not here solely to re-establish trade and wish our new administration good fortue."

Zhan leans forward and continues: "Good fortune, you see, has not been entirely ours. Only a few nights after our arrival here, it seems that a man not of Linjiang set a series of fires that caused many deaths. We're not entirely sure who was behind it, because if we were, my men would rightly demand blood for blood. Being a diplomat at heart, I of course would prefer a diplomatic solution, with appropriate reparations in the spirit of peace and unity with my neighbors... As well as assurances that such a tragedy was some sort of mistake unlikely to be repeated.

[Zhudi]

Sha listened carefully as the Ouhuan made his last remarks. He thought for a moment before continuing, "Such an event is very unfortunate... As neighbors, we would gladly help you in making sure that such occurrences will never happen again. You predecessor, Sima Shing, was notorious for performing impulsive and irrational acts; it is not a far stretch of the imagination that he would allow the construction of unsafe buildings in the name of expediency. I am sure that the Marquis would be willing to offer financial assistance in helping your Ouhuan bring these structures back up to code." He took out a sheet of paper and wrote down a figure. Handing it to an assistant , he waited silently as the note was taken up to Bai Zhan to read.

I am familiar with the incident that you have spoken of. The government of Changsha apologizes profusely that this disaster has occurred to your men. I hope that this following compensation is sufficient to convey our regrets on this incident. I assure you that if such an incident happens again in the future, it will not be by the hands of the men of Duke Lin Xin or Marquis Daisuke Aramaki.

A figure is scrawled at the bottom of the page...

365 gold (OOC: 1 gold for every 4 soldiers killed)