Warlords: Three Kingdoms

Looking at Fan Zeng with a carefully neutral expression on his face.

"In regards to Ma Su and North Liang I can confidently say I have more than enough forces under arms to stop any advance he might wish to take into Yin. The problem with myself sending a campaign into Henan is the lack of a true route from Zhaoge into the province of Henan. While I can marshal 10,000 myself it has come to light that recently certain people had been spreading rumours that I had been judged a traitor in this meeting and executed and with only we three aware of it this is somewhat troubling as to how that rumour might be started.

Either way as I am sure you are aware Prime Minister any campaign I might make into Henan would be one which I would be set at an immediate disadvantage due to this and as such it would be much more provident for my Lady Zhu to lead her own forces south, with my assistance of course, due to the situating of her city upon an easy supply route into Henan province and her own declaration that her forces are greater in size then mine, this would seem to me to be the more prudent course.

As you no doubt know Lord Fan, unless Lady Zhu here can bring more than 32,000 thousand soldiers to the field any campaign would be a long duel stage one, with the problems of supply any force I sent would have this would doom any campaign to failure, and as such I recommend that the Lady Zhu should be the one to head this campaign."

"The problem of logistics is not so complicated as you both make it sound." Said Fan Zeng rather calmly. "Though the city of Xiuwu is along the route to Henan, it is a simple matter for Lady Zhu to allow your forces to march around the city's garrisons and into Henan, fully supplying you as well as lending her own forces for the invasion." The Prime Minister had one of the clerks lay down a rough drawn map of Chu and it's surrounding provinces.

"The sooner such an operation can be begun and completed, the better, for not only will the resistance to such a plan be weaker, but Yin will also be unified sooner." Fan Zeng turned to Lady Zhu. "Lady Zhu, do you wish to move your base of operations into Henan. If that is acceptable to you, we can alter the situation as such."

Fan Zeng then traced his finger along the map. "If neither of you are up to this task however, there are others who can be counted on to bring Henan under Chu's juristiction. The King is not so concerned with a unified administration in Yin as you two both are. If you are both content with your current holdings we can leave it at that."

Dai wu moving to henan?...in exchange of working with the man for a while? That would be an acceptable compromise. Though she would hate that part greatly, atless it would likely save Yin from Ma Su.

Lizhi: Helping Dai Wu here take Henan in exchange for his holdings in Yin would be an acceptable proposition.

Though by the sound of it, it seemed Dai Wu was trying to reverce the propositions. That wasent somthing she would realy like to do, behing a native of Yin. It seemed like he was trying to use the suply as an escape for it. But then the prime minister himself mentioned it wouldnt be a problem

Lizhi: For the suplys, i had mentioned the dificultys if whe where to act alone or with the cort help that an army leaving from Xiuwu would have been easyer. But if my forces are to act as reinforcements and suply line then it would pause no problem.

When mentioned that the sooner it would be done the bether, she had to agree, if they where allowed to build up there forces it would only make it that much harder to win.

Lizhi: I have to agree that the sooner this would be done, the bether. As for moving to Henan, i belive it may not be the best thing. As mentioned, Ma Su and Dai Wu are at war, as such...he couldnt provide full suport and defend his city at the same time. And even if Ma Su didnt attack during the battle in Henan, his army would be weakened during the battle, wich might be seen as by him as the best time to strike.

She paused a brief moment, while her reason was true she didnt mentioned that one other reason she didnt whanted to leave was simply that she was attatch to Yin and its people.

Lizhi: as oposed to your first proposal, in wich it would split them from one another, preventing future conflict between the two and hopefully apeased them both.

Dai Wu shrugs his shoulders once simply.

"I refuse to leave my province as has already been said, it seems that we shall have to accept that Yin shall stay split. I am unwilling to leave the land of my birth even if my home city is in the hands of another. Also, as you have declared my actions in Liang as being no breach of my vassal hood to the Hegemon King might it be possible for yourself to settle Ma Su down and have him withdraw his declaration of war? As things stand he has technically declared war on the Hegemon King through myself as I am still a vassal of the King.

With the fact that a peace between myself and Ma Su shall be declared by the Prime Minister I see no reason why I should not stay in Yin and assist Lady Zhu in a campaign into Henan, as she has already stated, she is better prepared and better armed for this campaign and as such with her leading the forces and spearheading them herself it greatly increases our chances of success. For reasons of pure logic, it seems obvious to me that if this campaign into Henan is to succeed only she can bring this through to conclusion. As such my proposal to support her efforts in Henan remain, but I shall not leave Yin.

So, will not your better armed, trained and larger army not be the one most suited to any campaign lady Zhu? Do you deny now your claims that yours is the more ready army? That you have sent spies into my city, an act which is tantamount to declaring war, with myself being a fellow vassal of the Hegemon King? How else would you be able to compare our armies.....however that is beside the point. You have already stated your military is more able and a such yours should be the force to move into Henan."

It seemed that he was mearly trying to get her out of Yin. Under other circumstance, she might have been more open to it if orders from the court. But considering the level of trust she had in the man that would be her reinforcement.

Lizhi: And same gose for me, i am from Yin myself.

She gave out a sigh, she always praised herself from behing honest, and never hid anything from the court. And so she opted to openly admit things.

Lizhi: the mains reasons i do not wish to leave Yin is that it is my home. And leaving it would mean trusting Yin to you. Who alredy has endanger its safety. And quite frankly, i have to admit that i wouldnt feel confortable having a man who would work with bandits to rob people, as reinforcements.

Dai Wu shrugs at her discomfiture.

"As has already been stated by the Lord Fan Zeng all possible things which could be considered wrong within Liang have been forgiven by the court. In regards to my assisstance on your campaign that is assured through my loyalty to my King and my proximity to Chu.

So, will not your better armed, trained and larger army not be the one most suited to any campaign lady Zhu? Do you deny now your claims that yours is the more ready army? That you have sent spies into my city, an act which is tantamount to declaring war, with myself being a fellow vassal of the Hegemon King? How else would you be able to compare our armies.....however that is beside the point. You have already stated your military is more able and a such yours should be the force to move into Henan.

I shall provide all the troops I may, as you have rightly identified I dont even match the numbers which are an optimistic guess on Henan being 15,000 I believe was your guess. As I say, my help would be assured and my caring for our home province definite."

Lizhi: forgiven by the court dosent mean it is by Ma Su. As for your insurances of assistance, as mentioned it is a hard one to belived. As i said, i find it hard to trust one that works with thiefs.

She found it somewhat funny to hear him now trying to use the fact that her army was superior as an excuse for her to be the one to move. And even more that the only way she could know about his army status would be to spy him.

Lizhi: I will not deny my claims, and as for how i could know the diferences of forces. Spys arnt needed when one can use reports of the raids you made and compare that to there own forces. And as for the fact that my troops would be bether suited to battle, it mathers very little if they are combine with your own. As such that argument of yours that it should be my own force that moves to Henan, dosent stands.

She remained silent a moment, lost in thoughs. She hated the fact that she might be moving but it was the wish of the court, and she was loyal. She then gave a sigh partialy in resignation.

Lizhi: Well...if its the courts will...i shall do it.

It was obvious that just saying these, but she wouldnt do it so freely.

Lizhi: But if i where to do this, i would keep my curent holdings in Yin untill Henan is secured. And as for you taking care of Yin...youd bether, or i will take it back from you.

She realised he would likely take that as a treath, but she didnt care. He was alredy forcing her to move out of her home, that if he did ever endanger it again she wouldnt care how he would try to explain things. She would take it back.

Dai Wu laughs aloud at the woman's words.

"Ah but the point remains, if Ma Su was to choose to continue said war against me when I am forgiven by the Prime Minister and by extension the King he would be warring with the King? That is a singularly unwise proposal, as the Hegemon King is a great general and the forces of Ma Su would be like chaff before his armies. I dont think you understand my stance Lady Zhu, as I have stated several times now if my King requests me to aid you, which he does, I would be a fool to refuse.

As to your holdings in Yin I believe the point was for you to assault into Henan with all your forces and your officers hence relinquishing your holdings in Yin as you obtain them in Henan, thus allowing me to consolidate Yin with a minimum of effort while you do the same in Henan."

Lizhi: some dont always do what is the wisess things.

It seemed he would have her leave everything in the hopes he lives up to his nds of the bargin. When it be easy to just wait for her to leave and strike and ttake her now empty city. Or to help her only get one city then leave her to fend for herself.

Lizhi: yes that was part of the original idee, along with you behing the one to move. So you changed somthing to that idee, so did i.

Did he realy though she would leave everything behind, with no form of garentee that he would kep his words?

Lizhi: And you wouldnt get it for minimum effort, you would with none at all. And keeping them untill i have Henan will only help me make the transitions, since i would be forced to move away from my home and away from those im on friendly terms. And it would also serve as some garentee of your suport.

She knew he would again try and claim his loyaty to the king, but it didnt stop her from not trusting his words.

Lizhi: and before you repeat your claims to be loyal to the king, its easy to say anything, but saying somthing dosent make it true.

She though of the perfect exemple for this.

Lizhi: like i could say that, im a 7 feet giant who could crush a mans head with my bare hands. Dose my saying this make it any true?

Dai Wu chuckles aloud.

"You are a seven footed giant? A ridiculous claim. What you seem to have forgotten is that Yin borders the province of Chu, the homeland of the Hegemon King's strength, were there reason to doubt my loyalty, which there isn't except in your own ruminations then the very proximity of Yin to the greatest armies of Chu is more than enough to keep any lord loyal. What makes my statement true is fact, I have honour, I own lands directly adjacent to the King and I have repeatedly brought to him proper tribute and loyalty as much as you have. You have no claim that you are more loyal than I other than the rantings of a man in Liang who grew jealous that I was able to send forces to aid in the subdual of rebels within Liang before he could happy as he seems to be sat in his cities.

Stop with these stupid accusations and stupid examples of yourself being a giant and face reality and hard fact. Your dislike for me is nothing more than anger that I stand in the way of you uniting Yin and now that it is pointed out that you are best suited to serve the King by taking Henan you procrastinate and baulk, saying I am not trustworthy. Yet the Prime Minister ways my loyalty enough as I assume does the King why simply cannot you?"