Chen Sheng's Audience Hall - Chen

[Xiang Zhuang]

Chen She was impressed by Xia Xi's behavior - it was very gratifying to be treated as a King. Often he felt that those around him didn't really do so. Pan Dao did of course, but, since the betrayal of Wu Chen - who hadn't been the first betrayer - Chen She felt the plotting swirling around him. General Niu was a fighter of course, and it showed.

"Of course General! Please, both of you join me for some refreshment." Ordinarily, old She would have waggled his eyebrows and called for wine but the behavior of his visitor from the North had been uplifting so he merely nodded to a servant and knelt at a low table, motioning for his guests to join him."

Xia Xi rose at the King's suggestion. He wasn't quite sure if he should say anything at this point, or what to say, so he kept it short. "Thank you, glorious King." At this, he also knelt at the table at whatever seemed the appropriate place.

[ann]

Chen She looked at the magistrate and said, "So, you stand between the two portions of my Kingdom it would seem I should know something of you and where you stand."

He took some wine for himself and indicated that his guest and General Niu should join him.

[Xiang Zhuang]

Chen She looked at the magistrate and said, "So, you stand between the two portions of my Kingdom it would seem I should know something of you and where you stand."

He took some wine for himself and indicated that his guest and General Niu should join him.

This was the painful part that Xia Xi wasn't looking forward to, but knew would be asked. He didn't go to the wine as indicated, thinking it would diminish the seriousness of what he was about to say. Still knelt behind the desk, he said, "I have governed in Yin as a Qin official. I bear the cords and the seal given to me by the Chief Minister Zhao; the eunuch." He slowly reached into his robe to remove his loose cords, and also the seal he had. "To come into power in Yin as a rebel to Qin would have created a distrust I was unready to fight, and I had done too little until now to consider approaching you, my King. After all, you are the progenitor and leader of this movement to oust Qin. I had achieved nothing before I came to Yin that would give you any cause to believe in my own efforts."

He continued to face down, unwilling to look at the King while he spoke. "I am a man of Qi, but did not find the King of Qi worthwhile of service, so instead desired to make my way west toward your own. But I had heard rumors that the province of Yin was not united behind any force. In doing so, I saw the perfect opportunity to both serve your cause and perhaps show myself of some worth. After being made the magistrate of Puyang, I marshaled forces to first take Zhaoge, then unite all of the province under my banner. These cords that I carry were instrumental in this; after all, it was the Qin themselves who divulged to me how to unseat the loyal Qin officials. And because I still claim to care about these ranks, they continue to allow me to exist in Yin. But now that Yin has been united behind me, it will freely side with whoever I side with. And from the start, my desire has been to serve you."

He pushed the cords and seal he bore forward on the table. "There is little I can provide in evidence of my intentions. However, I surrender to you my rank today. It is something that Qin gave me, and something I care nothing about expect as a tool. If you desire them, you can do whatever you will with them. My forces are not large, and my land not vast, but I have done what little I could to try and support your cause, my liege. I have come here secretly if it is your desire for me to keep up this charade of Qin support. But, now that I have achieved something, I would not continue to act without professing my loyalty and revealing to you my plan as it has been thus far." He thought to say more, but instead, realized he had already said too much. He was not even sure how the King would react to all of this.

[Cao Chao]

A massive convoy of several hundred armed men approached the city of Chen. Mounted upon a fine warhorse at the head of the column, Xiang Liang surveyed the city that served as the capital of the self-declared King of Chu. His eyes narrowed at the thought, before brushing it from his mind. Indicating for his men to set up camp outside of the city walls, the patriarch of the Xiang family rode towards the gates of the city flanked by his two nephews, Xiang Yu and Xiang Zhuang.

Folding his arms across his chest, he spoke. "I am the patriarch of the illustrious Xiang family of Chu, Liang. I have come to speak with His Highness, the King."

[ann]

XZ


Chen She listened carefully to Xia Xi as he sipped his wine. He had been somewhat unsure of what this meeting would bring but he was not dissapointed. He did not take the proffered seal but, when Xia Xi had finished speaking looked to General Niu to see if he had anything to add.

Placing his cup on the table he said, "I do not know how familiar you are with my early life and the story of how I came to be here," he motioned around at the rather grand room as if it were quite an odd place for him to be.

"If you are then you will know that I have sometimes found myself in tight positions and have had to develop many interesting and varied skills in order to survive those positions." He grinned as if sharing a great joke with those around him and then went on, "And, so far, I have survived."

He took up his cup and, after motioning for it to be filled again, said, "We seem very different, you and I, but I think we are not. I think you might be in a tight spot and I think you will survive." Raising his cup and drinking he said, "I hope you think as well of my chances!"

CC

A guard captain allowed his eyebrows to move slightly before schooling his features. He said, "Of course, all visitors must submit to a search. I'm sure you understand."

[Xiang Zhuang]

Xia Xi continued to look down as the King spoke, as if he were unsure about what the response would be. As the King seemed to receive his words well, Xia Xi started to smile, and when the King compared himself to Zhenfeng, he raised his head. With a slight nod, he reached for the wine and drank, feeling that now there was no chance of his meeting ending poorly. He said, "You honor me too much by this comparison, my King." He took another sip. "If you believe that I will survive, then I can hardly think less of yourself, considering the power that you now wield! I dare believe only the Qin has any power commensurable to your own. But the Qin lacks any true leadership. If it were not for the Qin's prior hold on the land, I would not give them a chance in respect to you."

((Pardon me if I'm being a bit vague about some things; I'm unsure if this RP is pre-Zhao King or post-Zhao King, so I'm just avoiding the subject all-together.))

[Cao Chao]

A guard captain allowed his eyebrows to move slightly before schooling his features. He said, "Of course, all visitors must submit to a search. I'm sure you understand."

Xiang Liang nearly sneered at the man's tone. Who was this little peon to dare tell a member of the illustrious Xiang family to submit to a search!?! But the patriarch paused, taking a deep breathe to calm his temper. He dismounted smoothly from his horse.

"Do what you must," he stated quietly with the grave dignity of a nobleman deigning to have the dirty hands of peasants sully his person. He gestured curtly for his two nephews to remain outside of the city and take charge of the encamping retainers.

[ann]

Xia Xi

((Yeah - I thought you'd arrived just before so I was going with that))

The King nodded and said, "I suspect we understand one another well! And perhaps in future we could assist you various problems which might arrise and you could assist us as well. It is difficult when the lands we are administering are separated. I'm sure you understand. It is inevitable that various people will travel in those lands you administer and it is good to know that you support our cause!"

Xiang Shmiang

The Guard stifled a sigh. He had heard many impressive things about the Liang family but, in person, they seemed much like the arrogant bandit leaders who had been strutting around causing trouble in recent years. He motioned for some men to search the group and a thorough search was made, weapons confiscated and stored in the guardhouse.

The Guard, schooling his features, called for an attendant to lead the family to the King's audience hall.

The cowering attendant, who had heard who he led, perhaps satisfied the family's need for subservience. In any case he led them through the building to the audience hall. Guards were stationed regularly and they were announced in the Audience hall.

Chen Sheng, the King of Chu, was seated on a raised dais with several officers. The room was filled with guards. The King of Chu waited for the three men to approach and kneel on the mats below the dais.

[Cao Chao]

The Guard stifled a sigh. He had heard many impressive things about the Liang family but, in person, they seemed much like the arrogant bandit leaders who had been strutting around causing trouble in recent years. He motioned for some men to search the group and a thorough search was made, weapons confiscated and stored in the guardhouse.

The Guard, schooling his features, called for an attendant to lead the family to the King's audience hall.

The cowering attendant, who had heard who he led, perhaps satisfied the family's need for subservience. In any case he led them through the building to the audience hall. Guards were stationed regularly and they were announced in the Audience hall.

Chen Sheng, the King of Chu, was seated on a raised dais with several officers. The room was filled with guards. The King of Chu waited for the three men to approach and kneel on the mats below the dais.

Casting a disgusted look at the guardsman, Xiang Liang submitted himself to a search, while his two nephews returned to the encampment. When it was done, Xiang Liang, with the grace of a nobleman, entered the audience hall. He cast glances here and there, noting his surroundings.

When they arrived before the King of Chu, Xiang Liang knelt with one knee on the ground. Bowing his head low, he spoke. "Your Highness, I am Xiang Liang, son of the Chu general Xiang Yan, patriarch of the Xiang family. I have come to offer my services to the King of Chu."

[ann]

Xiangs

The King smiled slowly though his eyes narrowed slightly. He said, "You and your family are well known in Chu and your service here will mean a great deal to the soldiers and people of Chu."

He motioned for Xiang Liang to rise and had wine and a tray of roasted meats brought in.

"I understand you have men camped outside the city. Shall we have accomodations made ready for them in the city's garrison?"