Xiang Kai's Audience Hall - Dingtao

[R-Void]

"Look teacher! It's Dingtao city gate!!" Qiong Xiu yelled excitedly to his teacher whose horse he's been leading.

Ba sighed to his new 'pupil' overreaction, "That's right Xiu, that's Dingtao city gate."

This was the first time Qiong Xiu joined his teacher on an official duty, and he was very eager about it.

"Now keep your attitude modest Xiu, remember we are representing our kingdom." ordered Ba.

Xiu replied with a nod, reaffirmed his grip to his teacher's horse rein.

As the two passed the gate, Xiu could not hid his amazement. The bustling market, the number of people walking down the road, the nice structure of the building, as if the war that torn Yan and Jibei province happened in another time and place.

On the contrary Ba wasn't a little bit impressed. He had come to so many city before, he know that in this time of chaos the fire of war will sooner or later came down to this city. By that time all this prosperity will gone, like so many other prosperous city had suffer. Nothing is eternal, whether it is welfare or warfare.

The trip to the city audience hall felt so long due to the jammed road. Slowly the audience hall became visible, and they approached the gate.

As they stopped before the gate Xiu greeted the guards, "Good afternoon, We are delegation from Marquis Fei Lak of Yan. My teacher Luo Ba wishes an audience with the Grand Duke of Liang."

[Naxr]

RuffRydeR

OOC: sorry for late reply

Kai sat still with his hands at his sides as he watched and listened to her speak. Once she was finished, he immediately began to speak, "To be honest, I am quite surprised that you do not have much information on your southeastern neighbor," he ended with a smirk.

"First off, there is no need to persuade me of the wicked ways of the Qin, nor that I should lend my efforts to their downfall. They themselves have already persuaded me of those. As for taking action? Yes, this must be done, but with diligence. We mustn't be reckless, as many innocent lives are at stake, and have already been lost as well. I have had my own faults in this area, as I am sure you have heard. But I hope that I will not make the same mistake twice. So for the next few months, while war may be necessary, I hope to try for a more... diplomatic approach. So for this I am glad that you have come to speak with me, though I do believe that an envoy of Liang is currently in Yin at this moment," he chortled.

"Beyond this time frame, it is difficult to say as every month brings great changes to the landscape."

R-Void

A guard, presumably the captain, nodded, "Very well. My men will take care of your horses for the duration of your visit."

Assuming this is an acceptable arrangement, the guards take the horses to be fed while the guard who had spoken to them says to the two, "Come, follow me."

He leads them inside the audience hall, and soon after the three of them will find themselves in a grand room that is fairly populated with city ministers, garrison soldiers, and the like quietly discussing whatever business they have. The guard leads the two up to a point near the far end of the room about twenty paces from a dais, which carried a modest looking throne, on which sat a confident looking man. Beside him on either side stood a group of his elite guards, including his chief bodyguard, Dan Ro. The guard who led the two bowed to his lord before speaking, "Duke Xiang Kai, Luo Ba comes from Yan to speak for his lord Marquis Fei Lak with his student."

Kai nodded to his guard, thanking him. Then, looking toward the two visitors, he began, "So, what brings you this great distance south?" he asked with a serious expression.

[RuffRydeR]

"First off, there is no need to persuade me of the wicked ways of the Qin, nor that I should lend my efforts to their downfall. They themselves have already persuaded me of those. As for taking action? Yes, this must be done, but with diligence. We mustn't be reckless, as many innocent lives are at stake, and have already been lost as well. I have had my own faults in this area, as I am sure you have heard. But I hope that I will not make the same mistake twice. So for the next few months, while war may be necessary, I hope to try for a more... diplomatic approach. So for this I am glad that you have come to speak with me, though I do believe that an envoy of Liang is currently in Yin at this moment," he chortled.

"Beyond this time frame, it is difficult to say as every month brings great changes to the landscape."

"Yes, but if he is speaking to the Lord Regent, then he is speaking to a man distracted by the North...not the Qin. He's chasing barbarians where they are not, and not the ones we all know are there. But yes, I am quite happy you are taking a diplomatic approach to this as well. To be honest, I do not see why we need take more lands beyond the current boundaries of our state, nor why most anyone else should. Still, I do think the Qin are the one kingdom that cannot be approached diplomatically. Eventually, it will come to blows...I'd like at least some sort of timeline towards driving the Qin out of their unlawful occupancy of Henan, that I would know when I may make my preparations to assist finish by."

She smiled, and waited patiently for her fellow duke's response...

[R-Void]

A guard, presumably the captain, nodded, "Very well. My men will take care of your horses for the duration of your visit."

Assuming this is an acceptable arrangement, the guards take the horses to be fed while the guard who had spoken to them says to the two, "Come, follow me."

He leads them inside the audience hall, and soon after the three of them will find themselves in a grand room that is fairly populated with city ministers, garrison soldiers, and the like quietly discussing whatever business they have. The guard leads the two up to a point near the far end of the room about twenty paces from a dais, which carried a modest looking throne, on which sat a confident looking man. Beside him on either side stood a group of his elite guards, including his chief bodyguard, Dan Ro. The guard who led the two bowed to his lord before speaking, "Duke Xiang Kai, Luo Ba comes from Yan to speak for his lord Marquis Fei Lak with his student."

Kai nodded to his guard, thanking him. Then, looking toward the two visitors, he began, "So, what brings you this great distance south?" he asked with a serious expression.

Ba followed the protocol obediently, with Xiu told to keep silent and walk behind him.

As the Duke greeted him, Ba bowed deeply.

"Greetings Duke Xiang, I am here to represent my lord Marquis Fei Lak of Yan. My lord wishes to establish a good relationship between Yan and Liang, and to request your Grand Duke's wisdom."

[Lionheart]

Ba followed the protocol obediently, with Xiu told to keep silent and walk behind him.

As the Duke greeted him, Ba bowed deeply.

"Greetings Duke Xiang, I am here to represent my lord Marquis Fei Lak of Yan. My lord wishes to establish a good relationship between Yan and Liang, and to request your Grand Duke's wisdom."

"Ah hope ya don't mind mah sayin', Duke Xiang," came a voice from behind the envoy. From behind the doors to the audience chambers came Cavalry Attendant Ba Zhan, dressed in his battle armor, his sword at his side. "But ah just had ta say somethin' after comin' back from Yin not so long ago. Envoy from Yan...whatever ya name is...what makes ya think tha' we would want ta side wit' ya ovah our allies in Yin? We're friendly with Qi too, and then ya went and attacked them, too. Yer allied to th' Brotherhood, ain'tcha? Tha' makes ya allied wit' th' Qin, who we don't like over 'ere.

"And then there's all this stuff Ah've been hearin' 'bout how ya treat yer allies, and how yer diplomacy's been...well, craptastic, really. Considerin' Yan's past history an' their current alliances, what makes ya think that we should trust ya? What makes ya think tha' we should just bend ovah fo' ya and submit ourselves ta th' Brotherhood, like you blokes have? Ya seek our wisdom, eh? Yer boss don't seem ta have much o' it 'imself, he don't, so I guess that it makes sense tha' ya'll'd me lookin' fo' it from us.

"So 'ere's my wisdom: cut all ties ta th' Brotherhood. Stop th' war wit' Yin. Work on supportin' other states like Yin in th' war 'gainst th' Qin. That's 'bout all tha' Ah can give ya."

[Naxr]

RuffRydeR

Kai sighed, "At this point, it would be premature to try and figure anything out relating to an invasion of Henan. There is far too much instability on my own borders to even think of sending the Liang army that far away, and I have been told that you face perhaps greater challenges to the north. So I cannot give you any number as you request..."

R-Void and Lionheart

He watched as one of his generals entered and spoke his mind. While generally this sort of behavior would be punished, Kai let it pass and waited calmly for the envoy to responded.

[R-Void]

Ba smiled to the sudden entry and accusation of the general.

"I am sorry if my words were misunderstood, my lord did not seek an Alliance with Liang whatsoever. My purpose her was only to show a goodwill of my Lord."

Ba turned toward Duke Xiang Kai, "Grand Duke, I could argue with your mighty general's accusation all day, however I don't think that it serve us any good anymore. Such unwelcome, perhaps it is best that I leave."

While Ba could remain calm, Xiu wasn't. His hands started to tremble.

[Shadow]

"If you came to speak about something." Another man said from behind a column.
"Then speak it. Don't let he, who only sees the battlefield, bother you as you will make your lord look bad if you succumb to fear or anger so easily." He continued.
It was Xun Shang this time who appeared. He looked at Ba Zhan with an emotionless and somber stare before shifting to the visitors.
"Allies or no allies. Words are, but words. We can at least hear out the man before deciding to outright reject him." Shang said as he looked over towards Xiang Kai.

[Naxr]

He looked directly at the envoy, "Perhaps you can glean some wisdom from the words of the Supreme Commander as well. You say you seek to start a good relationship between Yan and Liang? Then attempt to do so. It would not serve that end to leave now. What do you have to say?"

[RuffRydeR]

Kai sighed, "At this point, it would be premature to try and figure anything out relating to an invasion of Henan. There is far too much instability on my own borders to even think of sending the Liang army that far away, and I have been told that you face perhaps greater challenges to the north. So I cannot give you any number as you request..."

"That's unfortunate. As for the challenge in the north, that is the regent's business. The army of Yin itself is not his to bother with, and I was hoping with your eminence's help, it would be enough for a campaign in the near future... Still, I thank you for your time, Lord Duke. It's good to see nobles who haven't let their rank get to their head. I've had some bad experiences with such others...Do let me know when you find your eminence is finally able to assist."

She bowed again, then waited to be dismissed.