Li Peng's Audience Hall - Yangdi

[Ren Zhe]

"Ah Zhe, I don't know half of what goes on around here, but I'd be glad to join you and Ah Deng if I can help you guys out. My stay in Lousang was only enjoyable because there are excellent guys like you around, so I should hope Yueyang will be the same."

He followed Mi Zhe to see Li Peng, and promptly greeted him with a salute.

"Hello there, Prefect Li. I'm called Liu Changyu. You might not remember, but I've been staying at your village for a while. The reason I'm here is...well...My parents sent me out of the house so I can stop being a useless bum and find a job. I've been doing odd jobs in Lousang for a while, but I heard from Mi Zhe and Chen Deng that you're now the new leader of this city, and I thought I might be able to lend you a hand. I'm almost as handy as Mi Zhe with a sword, and I can probably probably match Chen Deng in weaponsmithing, so let me know if there's a place for me here."

[Lurking Tyranny]

"You wish to defend my holdings for me, eh?" said Li Peng. "I'll admit you have a point about the difficulty of having eyes in every place I currently control. It's important for my men to remain here and secure the city." Peng stroked his chin in thought.

After a few seconds he seemed to have made up his mind. "Very well, Mousha zhe, I will accept your arrangement: one hundred coins a month in exchange for your men defending what I possess. But I have two conditions for you. First, if this city alone comes under attack, I request your aid here as well. And second, you must not harm any of the populace in areas I control. I will not fault you for your attack on Hongmen, but if you repeat such acts on my territory, you can consider our bargain null."

Peng directed a messenger to approach Mousha zhe with a small bag of coins, and a small scroll with the terms quickly scraweled out on them. "If you agree, make your mark there and this advance payment will be yours."

If Mousha zhe inspects the bag he will find 50 gold worth of coins.

"These terms are agreeable." The mercenary leader said without fanfare. He didn't like Hongmen being brought up. While he did not regret sacking the town, for it was necessary to keep his men paid for an content, it did remind him of his shameful existance. "Now that we are gainfully employed no citizen of your domain will need fear us."

Bèigùde Shòu looked down on the messenger as he approached. He needed to pull back on the reins of his horse, as it instinctively moved to bite the nearing stranger. Reaching down Shòu snatched the scroll and a brush from the servant. With a quick stroke of his wrist he formed a slash where he thought his mark would be needed. He could only read a little and did not often write. He could however count quite well.

Looking through the bag he gave a gruff snort and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "This will serve this time. We will show our worth." He tied the small bag of gold to his belt. "In future months we will require all the coins up front, or I can not guarentee my troops availability."

[Taishi Ci]

Ren Zhe

"You are a smith?" said Li Peng, somewhat shocked. "Excellent! We will have need of men with such talents here. I would be happy to give you a job with my administration. Mi Zhe should be able to show you some living quarters that you can stay in."

Lurking Tyranny

Li Peng nodded in agreement. "You can expect full payment for the next months, so long as the bargain is maintained. If you have any more questions, you may ask them now. Otherwise, I wish you luck with your task."

Li Peng gives 50 gold (from his own pocket) to Beigude Shou.

[Lurking Tyranny]

"No." He said simply as he cast a glance backwards over his shoulder. "The mercenaries of Móushā zhě are on the job. Your lands will be guarded, be it from rebels, imperials, or bandits."

He yanked on the reins of his horse and turned the animal around, though he did not yet leave. Looking up again he called out. "We will speak again." He then led his horse into a gallop and began riding down the streets of the city.

[SwissStopwatch]

"...Whatever it is I do..." He said, as he looked the new city head over, perhaps taking one more measure of he man who'd managed this rise to power. "I suppose you might benefit from knowing what it is I do that you might be interested in, so I'll be quick and direct about it. I have some influence and fame around here, as you might know, but, that's not something you need help with. I am capable of many things, but my greatest talent, and what I gather you -do- need help with, is running your territory well, and making it productive. In other words, gathering the funds you'd need for whatever ambitious projects you might have a mind to pursue."

"It might be that you yourself have some talent for that, but. I'm rather learned and experienced as far as matters of government are, and very much capable of ensuring that those who live and work in a city pay their governor what he's due. There aren't many better than I am at this, and you'll absolutely need someone like me working for you if you want to be able to do much more than you already have. Well?"

[Taishi Ci]

Lion

"So how 'bout it? As long as th' money's good, and the chance at fame and fortune is there, I'll be more than happy."

"Of course. I'll be sure to pay you well enough, and as long as you stick with me, you'll go far. Consider yourself one of my officers."

Swiss

"Haha, sorry if I offended you, Master Wan Zhai," said Peng. "So, you're an expert at managing territory? I have been looking for someone who is able in that field. If you're offering yourself for the job, then I'd be only too happy to hire you. Can you start right away?"

Post in the OI thread.

[Lionheart]

"Of course. I'll be sure to pay you well enough, and as long as you stick with me, you'll go far. Consider yourself one of my officers."

For the first time in this audience, Ba Zhan bowed low. "A'ight, Li Peng. You can count on me."

Ba Zhan has joined the ranks of Li Peng!

[Ren Zhe]

Ren Zhe

"You are a smith?" said Li Peng, somewhat shocked. "Excellent! We will have need of men with such talents here. I would be happy to give you a job with my administration. Mi Zhe should be able to show you some living quarters that you can stay in."

"K, awesome. I look forward to working with you all."

He saluted again before departing. Well that was easy. His first non-sucky job too. This could turn out really nice...

I can haz join nao.

[Kontiki]

Early in the afternoon, a poorly dressed man made his way to the administrative center of Yueyang. His clothes complimented his disheveled hair, and unkempt beard.

Wei Quande: I am Wei Quande, a chief of one of numerous autonomous villages in the district...

In contrast with his shabby appearance, he had a pleasant, if only barely noticeable, odor about him.

Wei Quande: ...and I seek an audience with District Manager Li Peng.

[Yen Ai]

"May I ask why we're visiting this one? And no, 'because we're close' doesn't count, because I've seen you go halfway acrost China for even the simplest of things."

"Ha. ha... Honestly? Because the letter gets to the point. No abstract recruitment pitch, no lengthly speeches.. I work well with people who don't beat around the bush."

And so it was that Chen Tan and Qiao Mi entered YueYang, with six guards in tow. Tan was cleaning his glass eye as he spoke with Mi, oblivious or not caring of the looks he got for it.

As he approached the semi-gate leading to where he was supposed to meet, he popped the eyeball back in before speaking to the guards. "I was told by your master Li Ping that he wishes to aquire my services. Is he here?" Mi was barely paying attention now, scribbling away a note on a parchment draped over her arm.