Qi Provincial Roleplay

[King Tao]

"My father said everyone goes to Linzi alive." Baihu stated to Zu Shi. "His orders are above any wishes you may have, and his orders were clear to me. They live. If they are going to go to Qi, we might as well have them in one piece and in good shape so that there is no accusation of unjust treatment."

[alexoren]

Alexandrus nodded to his cousin as he pulled out a small short sword that was sheathed at his waist. He walked over to the two that had agreed to join his cousin Zhefu's forces. He kneeled down and slashed their binds carefully and assisted them to stand. He pointed over to a few of the doctors and some soldiers who would then be told to carry them to a seperate tent to be healed as much as is possible at this time being.

He walked back over to Baihu and nodded at him. "Now what cousin?"

[King Tao]

"You are to go with the others, save their leader, and watch over the doctors with some of your men as the prisoners are tended to." Baihu replied to his cousin. He motioned for four guards to go to Qing Bu and said, "The leader will be kept in another tent overnight... tomorrow we leave for Qi." The guards escorted Qing Bu to the other tent that Baihu had set aside for the man, Baihu following them to make sure his orders were followed to the letter. In the tent were three doctors and nearly a dozen other soldiers. "You'll be well tended..." Baihu told the man, "You'll also be well watched..." He walked to the entrance of the tent and said, "There's a lot of people in this camp that would rather see you dead than allow you to reach QI alive... you'll find out I am not one of them." He looked around at the soldiers and doctors then back to Qing Bu, "These men are loyal to me and my father... they are part of my personal guard. They have orders that only myself and the other designated guards are allowed to see you... I have the cooks who prepare my meal making you some food as well... they have no clue its being made for you, but I'll have one of my guards bring you the food when it's ready. If you wish to speak with me, tell one of the guards... they know where I am and how to get ahold of me..." Baihu sighed then left the tent to go to his own quarters.

The following morning was greeted with messengers being sent to the tents of Alexandrus, Zu Shi, Guan Sho, Fa Shi, and the other Qi commanders from Baihu. They were told to prepare to leave, they were to be out of the army camp before the sun passed its peak in the sky, their only protection being Baihu's personal guard and a few soldiers from the forces which came with them. The prisoners who surrendered were kept up front with Alexandrus and Niu Gongzhu while the ones who didnt (again save their leader) were kept in an barred carriage that had a dozen men surrounding it. Qing Bu was bound at the wrists while riding atop a black mare and flaked by six soldiers as Baihu (also flanked by six soldiers) rode behind him. The trip was long and lasted a few days, but by the time they reached Linzi, the men were more than happy to see their home and capital of the land they protected. They rode through the streets of Linzi where they were celebrated as heroes for defending their lands from the Chu invaders, and the people booed and shouted insults at Qing Bu, only to get an angry stare from their Crown Prince. Baihu took this moment to ride up next to Qing Bu and talk to him, "Don't let them bother you... given enough time and enough service to my father and they shall celebrate you as a hero and see you as such... but please refrain from insulting my father or the men who serve him... it'll make me trying to keep you away from the executioner's blade a lot easier..."

When the large group reached the Palace, Baihu rode to the front and quickly dismounted his horse. While everyone was busy getting ready for Zhefu's ultimate trial of the prisoners, Baihu rushed to the top of the palace steps to greet his father with an embrace for their long time apart and the joy of a successful campaign.

[Mikal]

And Zhefu was there to welcome him, his arms wide in greeting for an embrace with his son. As he walked down the steps, his personal guard exiting and taking their appointed places, another figure appeared. A woman, with a coldly beautiful face, not seen before within Qi. She was flanked by guards of her own, wearing uniforms different then that of Eastern Chu.

The masked Duke looked upon his son with admiration in his eye.

"You have captured them all, Baihu? I am honored with this largess... Those who have joined us are integrated, I hear. They are welcomed to our forces... forces which I believe will be added towards soon. Even now a grand pavilion is being built upon the borders of Qi and Zhao, for a most monumental affair. And your prisoners, especially Qing Bu, shall be the guests... and gifts, of honor. Do you not agree, my bride?" he turns towards the woman, waiting for her to speak.

[Oro]

"Oh yes. It shall be most monumental, a grandiose occasion." Wen Luan replies, a sly smile on her face. Flanked by her bodyguard, Tie Niangzi and a fair number of Zhao guards, Luan brought a hand to her mouth and snickers in bemusement.

"Wait until they get a load of us~ ... dear."

[Mikal]

"Indeed, indeed. But the moment is almost upon us. The treaties await our marriage, and our seals." He turns to Baihu.

"You have come just in time. We were going to head to the pavilion soon, but with you and your prisoners, we will be able to give this event what it truly deserves. Are you and your men ready to travel a little further?"

[King Tao]

"We have traveled far..." Baihu stated, dazed by the announcement of his father marrying the stranger, "But we can still travel further... Just point the way and we'll march."

[Mikal]

"We have traveled far..." Baihu stated, dazed by the announcement of his father marrying the stranger, "But we can still travel further... Just point the way and we'll march."

"The Qi/Zhao border, son. Where we had previously discussed placing a fortress. Now, there is a pavilion, created in the name of peace. Many of the courtiers and minor officials are there, with the treaty papers. They can serve as the magistrate for the prisoners trials.."

With that, Zhefu quickly took charge. The newly arrived group, as well as those from Zhao, departed from the city of Linzi, traveling the roads of Qi towards Zhao, where, upon the border, a grand edifice had been built quietly over the last two months.

Where once a military building may have been placed there, now a house of peace and worship to the gods and heavens was there, a trading post, inn, and meeting place for travelers between the lands. Staffed by guards from both Qi and Zhao, its quick construction and beautiful lines bespoke both the ability and drive of the builders of Eastern Chu.

As the days passed, Zhefu and his bride would make their preparations, and the guests would be invited. Zhefu hoped that some would attend more than others, but then in these times who knows what could occur?

But before the wedding would come the trial....

The men who served under Qing Bu who had not joined Zhefu were quickly tried and condemned, all set for execution, unless Zhefu or his bride wished for special dispensation.

Qing Bu would have quickly followed their fate, but Zhefu was surprised to see he had a witness who wished to speak for him...

[King Tao]

Baihu walked into the designated meeting room where Qing Bu would be tried for either death or life flanked by ten of his guards. He ordered his men to stay near the exit as he walked forward and gave a curt bow to his father and started speaking, "Father and officials of Zhao and Eastern Chu, I am here to speak on behalf of the man we hold as prisoner here today, the man you all call Qing Bu. I have been told a great many of you wish for him to share the same fate as the rest of his comrades: quick execution. I instead plead for him to be spared and offered enlistment into the ranks of Eastern Chu under my command. I now not of all this man's atrocity's, but I know that he, like many of us, is a man who was just following orders and although they were obviously some poor choices, he did them in the name of his Lord. But before I continue, I'll have my men bring in the man in question..." He looked to his guards and gave a nod which signaled two of them to open the doors they had just entered through, allowing six more guards to enter followed by Qing Bu, who was still bound with his hands behind his back. Baihu looed to his father and said, "You told me if they offered to surrender, bring them to you. This man asked for parley with me, I was there with Weiqi and my wife when he asked to be allowed to surrender. He ultimately didn't surrender because I couldn't promise him the ability to retain his command of his soldiers, which as a former commander, I can understand. He wished not to be parted from his army and have someone else use them as fodder for the cavalry or the arrows of another army, but rather lead the men who would have followed him to their deaths. Can you really fault the man for that?"

[Mikal]

"For that? No. But what of his actions against Qi when we tried to keep peace with Chu? When he led the forces that ravaged our land, not just now, but earlier this year?

"And does he not serve the man whom wishes to destroy everything we have here? Are his words sincere, or self serving? So to, must those who know of him speak, such as the esteemed Tian Rong," Zhefu said, inclining his head towards the Prince of Qi. He turned towards Qing Bu.

"Plus, what of the rumors of a force matching that of Qing Bu's, led by a tattooed man, who is reported to have somehow entered the province of Chu itself, under the eyes of Xiang Yu, and killed the Son of Heaven. What of that?"