Kung Xian's Audience Hall - Ji

[King Tao]

The search was quick, but as through as could be. The messenger was led to the Audience Hall. Inside the Audience Hall was Kung Xian on his throne, holding Golden Phoenix, with Ru Gi next to him. But instead of guards and advisors surrounding the throne, there were all of Kung Xian's officers, all glaring at the messenger as the guard said, "Lord Kung Xian, a messenger from Li Lang."

[Marquis Black]

The Xiongnu warrior returned the glare offered by Kung Xian's officers in equal force. There was obviously no love lost between them. Still, the bearded warrior had a mission to fulfill, and as he had promised to fulfill it on his honour, he would be damned if he let his feelings get in the way. So, turning his full attention to Kung Xian, the warrior put one hand on his hip and adopted a stance worthy of any confident warrior.

"My master has sent me to inform you, Kung Xian, that your terms for meeting him are unacceptable," he told the ruler. "Considering that there is no reason that you will not capture him and kill him, or worse--turn him over to Fei Lak and his merry band of sycophants, he refuses to meet with you unless it is performed on neutral ground, between Ji and Luzhou."

The warrior then raised his hand and seemed to consider the cleanliness of his nails before continuing. "Of course, he also sends his thanks for sparing his men's lives. It was an unusual show of clemency from an otherwise murderous Coalition."

[King Tao]

Kung Xian faked a surprised look and said, "Me catch and kill him? What have I've ever done to make him feel that way? I have never raised a finger against him, yet he raised a sword to my neck just cause I choose to be allied to his enemies." Kung Xian rolled his eyes and said, "And there's that one rude little bastard he sent to barter with me, threatening to kill my friend here because I was against forfeiting his family heirlooms. Your lord is angry at Lord Fei Lak for killing a friend of his, yet he'd attack a neutral force and threaten to kill of the leader's friend because your lord loss? Kinda hypocritical, don't you think?"

[Marquis Black]

Kung Xian faked a surprised look and said, "Me catch and kill him? What have I've ever done to make him feel that way? I have never raised a finger against him, yet he raised a sword to my neck just cause I choose to be allied to his enemies." Kung Xian rolled his eyes and said, "And there's that one rude little bastard he sent to barter with me, threatening to kill my friend here because I was against forfeiting his family heirlooms. Your lord is angry at Lord Fei Lak for killing a friend of his, yet he'd attack a neutral force and threaten to kill of the leader's friend because your lord loss? Kinda hypocritical, don't you think?"

The warrior yawned at the ruler's retort. It was going just as his Chief had foretold. "Hypocritical?" asked the warrior gruffly. "Well, I suppose that depends. Tell me, oh great Kung Xian, if my lord had not attacked Ji, would you have sent troops to defend Shanggu?" he asked, a fierce grin creeping onto his face.

"What I can say about hypocrisy, Kung Xian, is that allying with a force, and then claiming neutrality is hardly neutral. In fact, it sounds to me more like a shield of cowardice, aimed at diverting the attention of a potential enemy towards your stronger partner," he mused out loud. "I wonder if that was your aim? To have us butcher Fei Lak enough to have your forces easily take Shanggu?"

"It wouldn't surprise the Chief, of course," continued the warrior airily. "We've been musing that concept for some time now. After all, no self-respecting warlord would hide behind a shield of neutrality when that's not his aim at all!"

"But I'm off the point now," he said dismissively. "I came here to see whether or not at least one member of this ridiculous Coalition is civilized enough to have a discussion on neutral ground. Or is it that all Chinamen are so equally barbaric?"

[King Tao]

All of Kung Xian's officers reached for thier weapons as the messenger spoke. Kung Xian motioned and said, "Sheath them. So your lord wonders if I'd go to aid Shanggu? Simply put I would have, they agreed to help protect me when I was weak, it wouldn't be honorable to abandon them when I came across some power. You barbarians do know what honor is, right?"

Not waiting for an answer Kung Xian continued, "Your lord claims to be a virtuous one, but then tell me, why would he send a messenger to me who would blantedly insult me in my palace? Your lord claims to be brave, then why send a messenger at all? Better to die a martyr than live a coward. Oh, and a few generals of mine were wondering, did Li Lang cut off Bei Lu's testicles after killing him? I mean, Bei Lu had more strength and bravery in his left nut than your lord has in his whole body." All of Kung Xian's officers started laughing and the old king smirked.

Kung Xian stands up and said, 'I would have considered meeting your lord but uh.... how do I put this? I don't trust him. Should he show up alone, then I'd go to meet him, but I doubt he'd have the courage to do that...'

[Marquis Black]

All of Kung Xian's officers reached for thier weapons as the messenger spoke. Kung Xian motioned and said, "Sheath them. So your lord wonders if I'd go to aid Shanggu? Simply put I would have, they agreed to help protect me when I was weak, it wouldn't be honorable to abandon them when I came across some power. You barbarians do know what honor is, right?"

Not waiting for an answer Kung Xian continued, "Your lord claims to be a virtuous one, but then tell me, why would he send a messenger to me who would blantedly insult me in my palace? Your lord claims to be brave, then why send a messenger at all? Better to die a martyr than live a coward. Oh, and a few generals of mine were wondering, did Li Lang cut off Bei Lu's testicles after killing him? I mean, Bei Lu had more strength and bravery in his left nut than your lord has in his whole body." All of Kung Xian's officers started laughing and the old king smirked.

Kung Xian stands up and said, 'I would have considered meeting your lord but uh.... how do I put this? I don't trust him. Should he show up alone, then I'd go to meet him, but I doubt he'd have the courage to do that...'

"Honour, you say?" snorted the warrior. "Please. Chief Li has shown more civility than the whole of the Coalition combined. His only offense to you idiots was refusing to join your merry band of sycophants, and even then, he politely sheltered your envoys until they insulted him and his family. Within his own home!" exclaimed the warrior. "As if you Chinamen couldn't fall lower!"

"And if you decided to aid Shanggu, then my Chief has no reason to excuse himself before you," sneered the warrior. "You were going to aid our enemies, and we stopped you from doing so--in turn crushing that pathetic rabble you so arrogantly call an army," he added. "The blood we shed on these fields are little price to pay to put you in your place."

The warrior then gave a mocking bow. "But thank you for clarifying our position, Kung Xian. You were never neutral to begin with. You cowardly hid behind your mantle of neutrality, while you plotted to kill my Chief. We have nothing to excuse ourselves for. You wish to continue this war? Do so. The hordes awaiting on the steppes eagerly await your arrival."

"Just one favour, though," he asked then, suddenly. "Please bring better soldiers than you fielded last time? It was hardly a sporting match."

[osiris]

A man could be seen on the horizon. He was a riding a horse and wearing beautiful blue and white armor, which shined in the sun. He approached the guards fot eh audience hall, dismounted and handed over his sword. "Hello, I am Baixa Zhen, here to have an audience with lord Kung. I have no other weapons on me and submit to any searches."

[King Tao]

The guards bowed and one of them said, "Lord Baixa, our lord is expecting you." With that the guards would lead Baixa Zhen to Kung Xian's throne room. Inside the throne room was Kung Xian, Ying Kan, Ru Gi, Jie Hai, Zhuang Gi, and Kung Xian's two sons. Kung Xian smiled when he saw Baixa Zhen and said, "Baixa Zhen, I am glad you could come on short notice. You remember Ying Kan and Ru Gi. The others are my sons, Lu and Tai; and two more friends, Jie Hai and Zhuang Gi."

[osiris]

He bowed in each of their directions then rose and said, "You expect me, then you must know of what I come to say. It has been too long, too long that the land remains divided, that Yan has been ravage by rival lords and barbarians. It is time that we unite. So," He knelt, "Lord Kung, will you join Fei Lak, will you join him with your people, and help all in the Yan province repair its and their broken interests?"

[King Tao]

"No," Kung Xian answered, "I fear that I cannot stay in Yan, it isn't the same place I remember. But I will leave the safety of my people to you and Fei Lak."