Zhi Cheng's Audience Hall - Jiangcheng

[Lin Xin]

Zhi took a labored breath for a moment, before giving a thin smile in return to his bow. "I see... If that is the nature of your master's request then I wouldn't think of denying it," returned her firm answer to the diplomat. "It is no accident that the former Marquis Yi Lian entrusted this area to me... as it is a key strategic point, the southern gateway to the flank of Huainan. And I still remain bound to that mission to ensure the safety of the province, even if my friend has since passed from this mortal coil. It seems as though your master also feels likewise... and so should the orders for reinforcements be given once again by Jiang Sei -- as I am certain they will before the leaves have fallen from the trees -- I would be honored to have the Duke Lin's substantial forces march alongside my own. And if Yue is ever threatened... I would gladly offer my aid to you in return."

The woman sighed deeply a moment, before continuing: "Though I grant you this luxury... I do have some lingering questions of my own concerning the Duke's recent activities which impact our security situation, specifically those involving the remnants of the Qin..." The way Lady Zhi said the name was with both a reverence and a deep sadness apparent.

The warrior nods in appreciation. "We thank you, Lady Zhi, and promise Yue's support should Huainan or Wu shall ever need it. As for the Qin, what questions do you have?"

[Numinous]

The warrior nods in appreciation. "We thank you, Lady Zhi, and promise Yue's support should Huainan or Wu shall ever need it. As for the Qin, what questions do you have?"

The frail minister considered a moment, and straightened in the chair she sat upon. Her sad tone continued, though it was now more muted. "I have received intelligence that recently some Qin dignitaries have been seen visiting the Duke of Yue, and combined with recent announcements regarding the death of Ying Fusu leave me deeply troubled as to what this may mean for Wu's future."

Prefect Zhi turned her head to look out the windows a moment and muse aloud: "I was once a humble servant of the Legalist administration, but since the schism in the ruling dynasty and the resulting burning of my noble family's home in Xianyang in the great fire, I have sought to distance myself from the regime. An alliance with Lin Xin's forces may reverse that trend, if I am forced to participate in the feud that continues even now with Ying Jianglu's ascension in Han..."

She then refocused on Aoi in front of her. "There is also the fact that though your Lord stands with Wu and Huainan in mutual defense matters, the bandit Huan Chu and fellow Prefect Fu Tong are staunchly anti-Qin and our nominal allies. If your nation is aligning closer to the Emperor's edicts, it will only be a matter of time before he forces you to war in these lands." She sighed once. "While I have my own personal disagreements with both of the local warlords, I do not wish to disrupt the status quo just yet..."

[Lin Xin]

The frail minister considered a moment, and straightened in the chair she sat upon. Her sad tone continued, though it was now more muted. "I have received intelligence that recently some Qin dignitaries have been seen visiting the Duke of Yue, and combined with recent announcements regarding the death of Ying Fusu leave me deeply troubled as to what this may mean for Wu's future."

Prefect Zhi turned her head to look out the windows a moment and muse aloud: "I was once a humble servant of the Legalist administration, but since the schism in the ruling dynasty and the resulting burning of my noble family's home in Xianyang in the great fire, I have sought to distance myself from the regime. An alliance with Lin Xin's forces may reverse that trend, if I am forced to participate in the feud that continues even now with Ying Jianglu's ascension in Han..."

She then refocused on Aoi in front of her. "There is also the fact that though your Lord stands with Wu and Huainan in mutual defense matters, the bandit Huan Chu and fellow Prefect Fu Tong are staunchly anti-Qin and our nominal allies. If your nation is aligning closer to the Emperor's edicts, it will only be a matter of time before he forces you to war in these lands." She sighed once. "While I have my own personal disagreements with both of the local warlords, I do not wish to disrupt the status quo just yet..."

Aoi nodded as the Prefect spoke. "Your concerns are valid," the warrior said with a sigh. "It is true that Qin pup Huhai sent a delegation to Yue. The Duke currently is holding the envoy, as well as the 'Imperial Inspector' while he gauges the Qin's true intent. This, by no means, is not an indication of support. However, you must understand Yue's position. We have made numerous attempts at peaceful negotiations with Jiujiang and Chu, yet the destruction of Yue is still their focus rather than our true enemy to the west. They are assisting the Qin by causing strife and turmoil within the rebellion. Chen She is not the leader this country needs...or deserves. With that realization, the question must be asked, who then?"

Aoi is being more honest than necessary, for he is just a simple warrior. His mission is to just secure permission for Yue to pass through Wu should Huainan require assistance. This discussion has gone beyond his realm of expertise.

[Trendkill]

Two men approach the guards stationed before the entrance of Zhi Cheng's audience hall. One of them, a battle hardened figure in armor carrying a sword, steps forward and, after bowing, introduces himself. "Greetings, I am Han Liao, formerly of Duke Lin Xin's force and a warrior by trade. This," he says with a gesture to the other man, "is Zú Yǒuzhù, of the same former affiliations, and an experienced blacksmith. We have come to speak with the Lady Zhi regarding the possibility of employment." He readily hands over his sword and of course submits to a search.

[357yangzhou]

Zú Yǒuzhù holds out his bag with his smithing tools, "You may search at will," he says.

[Numinous]

Ro Aoi

The Prefect nodded. "A most... difficult question we all face. I do not know who shall rise up... but for now I must worry about protecting the lands that the late Lady Yi Lian tasked me to watch over. To decide the fate of the empire is yet beyond me... but Heaven may yet smile upon the Duke before all is over."

Folding her hands in her lap, the pale woman leveled that haunting gaze at the envoy. "My apologies for digressing... Will there be any other business to discuss today, sir Ro?"

Han Liao & Zú Yǒuzhù

The guard on duty bowed to the two men. "I am Colonel Ka Zhong, and I welcome you both to Jiangcheng. This is certainly unexpected, but I will of course take you to see the Prefect with minimal delay. "A few of the men-at-arms on watch conducted the searches and made sure the weapons and tools were treated carefully and with respect deserving of their ally's officers.

Once the formalities were done with, Ka escorted them into the Prefect's mansion, a rather imposing structure that sat in the center of the coastal town. Large windows afforded a good view of the sea and rivers surrounding, and the decor was kept remarkably clean and spartan. Despite the goodly amount of light, there also existed many shadows farther inside that lend a somber and subdued air to the center of the Legalist government. The audience hall itself appeared more like a cloistered study than a royal chamber as a thin and frail woman sat upon a bronzed antique chair in its center, several Qin books strewn about a nearby desk while a handful of guards looked on impassively. The Prefect Zhi Cheng was as the rumors in town spoke of her -- a ghostly palor matched with a sanguine pair of eyes that seemed at once both warm however distant.

She straightened up as the two were guided into the room, giving a quick bow of her head and spoke in a quiet voice. "Warriors of Yue, it is an honor to play host to your visit. I had not received word of a diplomatic delegation from the south coming again, though... what, then, brings you to Jiangcheng?"

[Trendkill]

Han Liao & Zú YǒuzhùShe straightened up as the two were guided into the room, giving a quick bow of her head and spoke in a quiet voice. "Warriors of Yue, it is an honor to play host to your visit. I had not received word of a diplomatic delegation from the south coming again, though... what, then, brings you to Jiangcheng?"

"We thank you Colonel Ka," responds Liao as the search is completed. Making their way to the mansion he eagerly takes in the sights, impressed by the cleanliness and order maintained throughout the grounds. Once in her presence and, after bowing reverently before Zhi Cheng, he takes the liberty of answering first. Despite his being somewhat awe struck by the demeanor and the appearance of the Lady sovereign, he manages a smile before saying in a sincere tone, "Actually my friend and I have parted ways with the Duke of Yue. Our reason for coming is simple, we wish to offer our services to you, should you have need of them. I am Hán Liáo, formally a Colonel under Lin Xin, and this is my friend Zú Yǒuzhù, a talented blacksmith."

[Numinous]

"Actually my friend and I have parted ways with the Duke of Yue. Our reason for coming is simple, we wish to offer our services to you, should you have need of them. I am Hán Liáo, formally a Colonel under Lin Xin, and this is my friend Zú Yǒuzhù, a talented blacksmith."

The white-robed minister raised her eyebrows a moment as he mentioned quitting from his former master's regime before arriving here. "While I am of course in great need of men of ability in my administration in this time of war, and would gladly give you refuge if you seek it... I find the fact you've so suddenly departed Lord Lin Xin's service at this moment most curious. Especially yourself, Han Liao was it? You were mentioned among his most trusted aides in a report my diplomats filed following their last visit. What has caused this change of heart in you and your companion, if you do not mind my asking...?"

The Prefect was indeed shaken out of her previous funk by this line of questioning, as the demeanor of the reserved woman was now wide awake and the mind sharpened like a keen sword. Lady Zhi seemed to be hanging on his response, wondering if it happened to confirm any of her own lingering doubts and fears of what was going on in Yue in recent months.

[Trendkill]

The white-robed minister raised her eyebrows a moment as he mentioned quitting from his former master's regime before arriving here. "While I am of course in great need of men of ability in my administration in this time of war, and would gladly give you refuge if you seek it... I find the fact you've so suddenly departed Lord Lin Xin's service at this moment most curious. Especially yourself, Han Liao was it? You were mentioned among his most trusted aides in a report my diplomats filed following their last visit. What has caused this change of heart in you and your companion, if you do not mind my asking...?"

The Prefect was indeed shaken out of her previous funk by this line of questioning, as the demeanor of the reserved woman was now wide awake and the mind sharpened like a keen sword. Lady Zhi seemed to be hanging on his response, wondering if it happened to confirm any of her own lingering doubts and fears of what was going on in Yue in recent months.

He listens intently to Lady Zhi and seems reassured at first by her statement that she did need men to help her kingdom prosper. His face however takes on a somber note as she begins questioning the reasons for his departure and he pauses before letting out a shallow sigh. She was of course justified in asking, as he had expected it long before hand, but a small part of him had hoped it would not come up. He raises eyes his eyes to meet hers before saying, "Well I cannot speak for Yǒuzhù here, but as for myself, I am hesitant to portray my former liege in a negative light, for he had always been most generous to me over the past months. My reasons for leaving were two fold actually, the first of which being his employment of bandits and mercenaries. You see I was once a criminal, but swore to my dying mother that I would give up that life. I know that people deserve second chances, but the sort he recruited seemed unwilling, or even unable, to depart from their former ways. As I told him we are only as good as the company we keep."

He pauses a moment before continuing. Though he wasn't the smartest person, he knew the significance of his words at this moment, and so seemed to take his time in choosing them as best he could. Once decided he goes on to say, "Formerly, when he and I started out, he claimed to be an enemy of the former dynasty, a factor that was most important to me. I was there when a delegation from the Qin arrived and informed him that he would henceforth answer to some sort of inspector, effectively placing himself under their authority. He did not command me to expel them from his court, nor did he openly rebuke their directives, inclining me to believe that he was entertaining thoughts of shifting his allegiance to the Qin."

He glances to his companion momentarily as the difficulty of his choice displayed heavily on his face. Turning back to meet the gaze of Lady Zhi he goes on to add, "I believe that his rise to power has caused him to compromise his early ideals. I cannot claim to know the inner workings of his mind, for I am but a simple warrior. But when I left, I spoke to him of my issues, especially regarding the Qin, and he did not dare to deny it. The first offense I might have been able to justify, for as I said before I too was a bandit. But to allow those tyrants into his kingdom and not to have stood by his word, was rather unbearable."

He lowers his gaze to the floor as he finishes speaking, all too aware of the possible outcome of these simple truths. In an effort to subdue the possible diplomatic harm this may cause he finally adds, "I do not blame him entirely, and as I said he was always compassionate and provided well for his officers. I cannot begin to comprehend the choices someone in his position must make, and can only assume the burdens are heavy indeed. So rather than to judge him or to challenge his choices, I thought it better to merely go my own way."

[Numinous]

The woman listened intently, then gave a labored sigh once he had finished recounting his tale. It was certainly as she had thought. Zhi however quickly recovered her composure and gave a reserved nod. "I see... I certainly thank you for your candor on this topic, sir Han. I have been struggling to make sense of these recent events you describe as well, and what it may mean for the future of our relations with the Duke... the situation has become much more complex, at what is an already difficult time for us all here in the south."

She then paused a moment, and finding it prudent to match his tale with one of her own, spoke again in an even and measured tone. "I am unsure how much you know of my own history, but... I myself was once a well-learned, if reclusive, Qin Legalist scholar. Though even I in my seclusion could not ignore the slow failure of the state, which was made obvious when the Ying brothers feud resulted in my home of the old capital being burned to the ground. The books you see here are all that remains of my family's expansive archive..." Lifting a thin arm towards the shelves, Zhi's voice hardened and became more strained. "The state I once served, however, no longer exists. I want no part of this accursed feud nor will I acknowledge the authority of Emperor Huhai's inspectors any longer. His regime has become corrupt, and no good laws flow from such a sovereign as he... and as a result, the state and its people will continue to suffer until a true uniter -- rather than divider -- emerges from the disorder."

Her burgundy eyes drifted back towards the visitor now, as a studied gaze ran over the strong man's features, trying to gauge his ability and honesty. "Though I hold the rule of law and its unbiased tenets of reward and punishment in high regard and have done my best to combat the banditry prevalent in Wu... do not think that my justice is blind. I know when it is the economic circumstance, rather than the heart of a man that causes him to tread down the path of the highwayman and brigand." Her pale face then stretched into a wan smile. "Your great regard for the value of your own word and that of your master shows me that you are not a criminal any longer... but merely a man who needs the proper venue to apply his skills for the greater whole. If you believe that such a chance can be found here, and not with the Duke of Yue, then I am more than happy to give you the means to tread that different path..."