Zhao Provincial Roleplay

[ann]

For roleplay in Zhao.

[Marquis Black]

"I still don't understand why we had to come all this way just to stupidly watch some city, Ahcong."

Rui smiled easily as he allowed Qiao An to pour him another cup of wine. Together with his best friend, Lu Ning, and his favourite serving girl, Rui had insisted on traveling all the way to Julu in neighbouring Zhao province for what seemed to be a simple picnic on the northern plains. It wasn't too bad, all things considered. He had a parasol up to keep away any overbearing light, and his clothing was kept from the ground by a straw mat. Their horses had been tied to wooden posts they had driven to the ground, and all in all, it was a damned nice day out.

"The best things in life tend to be the simplest, Jirang," Rui admonished him gently. "You see a city, but I see beauty."

The younger man scoffed as he kicked at the ground, loosening something white and launching it in the air. "You just wanted to come see where the Qin Empire finally died," he corrected his friend and charge.

Rui smiled into his cup. "I don't deny it," he admitted. "But all war merely serves the purpose of ushering eras of peace. The Qin died here, yes, but now their bones will nurture the earth and allow for a flourishing harvest."

"A chilling analogy," Ning commented idly, waving away the offered cup from An. "Does this mean you'll go to Xiang Yu?"

Rui shook his head. "Xiang Yu has the right methods, but the wrong goal," he analyzed. "Maybe if he changed his mind, I might consider it," he added before gulping down the cup's contents and giving a satisfied sigh. "An, another."

"Yes, Master." The cup was quickly refilled as Rui kept his gaze on the verdant fields surrounding Julu.

"Then the King of Han?" suggested Ning.

At this, Rui paused, actually thinking it through. "I don't know enough about Liu Ji to make a decision," he admitted, lowering his cup from his mouth. He then shot Ning an amused smile. "Why so anxious to find me a lord, Jirang? Don't you like these little trips?" he teased his friend.

"Your honourable father and mother wanted you to make use of your talents, Ahcong," Ning chided him. "Not waste them by going on these frivolous tours."

"I am most certainly not being frivolous!" Rui said with exaggerated offense before settling down and giving his friend a conniving smile. "I'm just waiting."

"For what?" asked Ning.

Rui spotted something white in front of his mat and smiled up at his friend as he poured the cup's contents onto it, splashing the skull and wetting the ground around it. "For the day the next Qin Shi Huang appears before me."

[Cao Chao]

"So this is Julu," muttered Zhiwen, as he gazed upon the city where the armies of Qin had been broken by the might and ferocity of the Hegemonic King of Western Chu. "Not as impressive I had imagined it to be . . ." Shaking his head, the man tried to imagine the hundreds of thousands of men that had fought on the plains before the city and the hundreds of thousands that ultimately perished. He imagined what he could have done if he had been present upon the battlefield, trying to picture himself as a ranking general leading his men into battle. While he had nothing but distaste for the Qin and their methods, he uttered a silent prayer for those who had died . . . especially the two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers that had been betrayed by their masters and then massacred at the express order of Xiang Yu. Whatever their crimes, brave and loyal soldiers did not deserve such a fate.

Espying three individuals eating nearby in the wilds, the general guided his horse towards them. As he neared the trio, he clasped his hands together and bowed politely. "Greetings," he hailed in a friendly tone. Trying to strike up a conservation, he continued. "A bit warm weather for January isn't it? A lot warmer than what I expected when I left Linzi to come here."

[Marquis Black]

"So this is Julu," muttered Zhiwen, as he gazed upon the city where the armies of Qin had been broken by the might and ferocity of the Hegemonic King of Western Chu. "Not as impressive I had imagined it to be . . ." Shaking his head, the man tried to imagine the hundreds of thousands of men that had fought on the plains before the city and the hundreds of thousands that ultimately perished. He imagined what he could have done if he had been present upon the battlefield, trying to picture himself as a ranking general leading his men into battle. While he had nothing but distaste for the Qin and their methods, he uttered a silent prayer for those who had died . . . especially the two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers that had been betrayed by their masters and then massacred at the express order of Xiang Yu. Whatever their crimes, brave and loyal soldiers did not deserve such a fate.

Espying three individuals eating nearby in the wilds, the general guided his horse towards them. As he neared the trio, he clasped his hands together and bowed politely. "Greetings," he hailed in a friendly tone. Trying to strike up a conservation, he continued. "A bit warm weather for January isn't it? A lot warmer than what I expected when I left Linzi to come here."

Rui smiled as he heard the sound of hooves coming nearby and privately noted that Ning, as was his duty, had already begun slowly moving his hand towards his bow. It wasn't anything against the newcomer, of course, just a force of habit from having to watch over the comparably feeble Rui.

Emulating the newcomer's friendliness, Rui raised his cup in greeting. "Indeed so, mister horseman!" he greeted. "An excellent day for a day's outing, don't you think?"

Figuring that the more the merrier, Rui gave his serving girl An a knowing glance. "An, a cup for the gentleman rider, if you please."

The pretty girl nodded submissively. "Of course, master," she replied before carrying out her order and presenting the cup to the newcomer. "Daren, for you."

[Cao Chao]

Rui smiled as he heard the sound of hooves coming nearby and privately noted that Ning, as was his duty, had already begun slowly moving his hand towards his bow. It wasn't anything against the newcomer, of course, just a force of habit from having to watch over the comparably feeble Rui.

Emulating the newcomer's friendliness, Rui raised his cup in greeting. "Indeed so, mister horseman!" he greeted. "An excellent day for a day's outing, don't you think?"

Figuring that the more the merrier, Rui gave his serving girl An a knowing glance. "An, a cup for the gentleman rider, if you please."

The pretty girl nodded submissively. "Of course, master," she replied before carrying out her order and presenting the cup to the newcomer. "Daren, for you."

Zhiwen hopped off of his horse. Inclining his head politely, he took the cup and downed its contents in one gulp. Wiping the corners of his mouth with the corners of his robe, he spoke. "Thank you kindly," he said, as he returned the cup to the pretty girl. "I am Yi Zhiwen of Qi," he said, introducing himself. "I am at the moment without occupation, though my uncle sincerely believes that I am capable of leading men on the battlefield."

Gesturing towards the plains before Julu, he continued. "I came to see the terrain and layout of the field where the famed battle took place . . . The Qin under Zhang Han were broken here, betrayed by their masters in Xianyang and incapable of facing the seemingly righteous fury of Xiang Yu. The blood and corpses of hundreds of thousands litter these fields." Shaking his head, he heaved a sigh. "So many former slaves conscripted from across the Middle Kingdom turned into soldiers by Zhang Han . . . dead because of Xiang Yu."

[Marquis Black]

Zhiwen hopped off of his horse. Inclining his head politely, he took the cup and downed its contents in one gulp. Wiping the corners of his mouth with the corners of his robe, he spoke. "Thank you kindly," he said, as he returned the cup to the pretty girl. "I am Yi Zhiwen of Qi," he said, introducing himself. "I am at the moment without occupation, though my uncle sincerely believes that I am capable of leading men on the battlefield."

Gesturing towards the plains before Julu, he continued. "I came to see the terrain and layout of the field where the famed battle took place . . . The Qin under Zhang Han were broken here, betrayed by their masters in Xianyang and incapable of facing the seemingly righteous fury of Xiang Yu. The blood and corpses of hundreds of thousands litter these fields." Shaking his head, he heaved a sigh. "So many former slaves conscripted from across the Middle Kingdom turned into soldiers by Zhang Han . . . dead because of Xiang Yu."

Rui nodded idly at Zhiwen's explanation of his intentions. "Unreal, isn't it?" he asked knowingly. "Looking at this place now, you wouldn't think there are hundreds of thousands of bones now nourishing the earth."

He extended his cup hand and had An pour him another drink. "But I find your words interesting, Master Yi," he continued, still smiling as he looked out towards the plains. "You talk of Qin slaves, but also cast doubt on the Hegemon King of Chu's righteousness in striking down the Qin..." he cast a knowing glance at the man. "Implying you have no love for the Qin and you have your doubts about our current ruler. So if not Qin or Xiang, whom do you think is righteous enough to rule this land?"

It was at this point that Ning coughed loudly, bringing Rui's attention to his friend, who mouthed the word name at him, almost exasperatedly. Flushing at the discourtesy he had unwittingly shown, he smiled apologetically at Zhiwen, rubbing his nape as was his nervous tic. "I apologize, you gave me your name but I did not give you mine. I am Bai Rui, of Henei," he introduced himself. "The big lug with the bow is Lu Ning, a friend of mine, and this pretty little thing," he motioned to An, who blushed but kept her head down humbly. "...is Qiao An."

[Cao Chao]

Rui nodded idly at Zhiwen's explanation of his intentions. "Unreal, isn't it?" he asked knowingly. "Looking at this place now, you wouldn't think there are hundreds of thousands of bones now nourishing the earth."

He extended his cup hand and had An pour him another drink. "But I find your words interesting, Master Yi," he continued, still smiling as he looked out towards the plains. "You talk of Qin slaves, but also cast doubt on the Hegemon King of Chu's righteousness in striking down the Qin..." he cast a knowing glance at the man. "Implying you have no love for the Qin and you have your doubts about our current ruler. So if not Qin or Xiang, whom do you think is righteous enough to rule this land?"

It was at this point that Ning coughed loudly, bringing Rui's attention to his friend, who mouthed the word name at him, almost exasperatedly. Flushing at the discourtesy he had unwittingly shown, he smiled apologetically at Zhiwen, rubbing his nape as was his nervous tic. "I apologize, you gave me your name but I did not give you mine. I am Bai Rui, of Henei," he introduced himself. "The big lug with the bow is Lu Ning, a friend of mine, and this pretty little thing," he motioned to An, who blushed but kept her head down humbly. "...is Qiao An."

"Master Bai, Sir Lu, Miss Qiao," he greeted, one by one.

"Time is unforgiving as always," he stated with a shrug, almost as if he wasn't sure about what he was saying. "I'm not much of a scholar," he said, bowing his head apologetically, "My uncle always said that while I had the brains to be a leader, I had barely any for learning the intricacies of philosophy and history. Much of what I know about these subjects were beaten into my thick skull by my uncle and my tutors . . ." In an almost wistful tone, he stated, "I daresay, I have learned quite a bit."

"I cannot argue against the fact that a reckoning was due against Qin for the sufferings the six kingdoms experienced in the united Middle kingdom," he stated with a shrug, "My family has a personal vendetta against Qin Wang family of generals. My father perished in the brief bit of fighting before King Jian surrendered Linzi and the kingdom. But as my uncle would say, revenge would consume you like a fire until there is nothing left. The way Xiang Yu murdered two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers and later his sack of Xianyang has lost him the goodwill of the people. A man so brutal and ferocious is unfit to rule . . . only deserving to be controlled and ruled over."

"In sharp contrast, there is Liu Bang, the King of Han," he stated, brightening somewhat, as he enjoyed changing to something a bit more pleasant. "His progress from Chu to Yong and Sai shows that he is a humanitarian. Whereas Xiang Yu is known for creating the conflagration that caused Xianyang to burn for days, Liu Bang showed clemency. He will go far . . . if is given the men and materiel to further his cause."

[Marquis Black]

Rui nodded along, his expression pensive as he finally put the cup aside and rested his hands on his thighs, his gaze suddenly far away. "Some might argue that such a beast would be a useful tool for unifying the land," he suggested idly. "And that these brutal tactics would serve to quickly usher in a new era of peace, one where the people would value what they have earned more."

"Jifang," he continued, nudging his head in Lu Ning's direction, "knows more about fighting than I ever will, so he helps me fill in my understanding with the perspective of those who actually fight battles in the lord's stead. From what I gather, would it not be best for the people to have a quick, but brutal war than a long one, drawn out in the name of courtesy?"

His gaze dropped to the ground before the mat, where the skull he had washed with wine still lay.

[Cao Chao]

Rui nodded along, his expression pensive as he finally put the cup aside and rested his hands on his thighs, his gaze suddenly far away. "Some might argue that such a beast would be a useful tool for unifying the land," he suggested idly. "And that these brutal tactics would serve to quickly usher in a new era of peace, one where the people would value what they have earned more."

"Jifang," he continued, nudging his head in Lu Ning's direction, "knows more about fighting than I ever will, so he helps me fill in my understanding with the perspective of those who actually fight battles in the lord's stead. From what I gather, would it not be best for the people to have a quick, but brutal war than a long one, drawn out in the name of courtesy?"

His gaze dropped to the ground before the mat, where the skull he had washed with wine still lay.

"Brutality will only engender hatred and anger," stated Zhiwen with a grimace, "When you ask the people of Zhao what roils their blood with regards to the Qin, they will answer with five words - Changping and Handan. Changping saw Bai Qi massacre four hundred thousand surrendered Zhao soldiers, allowing only less than three hundred young soldiers to return to Zhao. Handan saw the capital and the crown jewel of Zhao sacked. The city today is but a mere shadow of its former self."

"In some ways, yes, but in many ways, no," replied Zhiwen, shaking his head. "The brutality of the Qin bought them a decade maybe slightly more of control over the Middle Kingdom . . . and even then there were numerous assassination attempts and widespread discontent amongst the populace. As soon as Zheng of the Qin fell ill and died, chaos and turmoil engulfed the Middle Kingdom. It has so far been shown that Xiang Yu is capable of conquering the Middle Kingdom, but he has convinced no one that he is able to hold it."

[Marquis Black]

A dark shadow crossed Rui's expression at the thought of the Qin, but he quickly suppressed his own anger towards them in favour of cold rationality. "One might suggest that Qin Shi Huang focused too much on unifying the land and not enough on legitimizing his hold," he argued. "Had the First Emperor decided perhaps to utilize peaceful methods after his enthronement, rather than rely on brutality throughout his reign, then perhaps Qin would not have fallen so easily."

"Brutality in times of war, nurture in times of peace..." he spoke almost as if reciting from some scholarly work. "...you could say they are the twin wings of a true hegemon. Sadly, not a one seems to exist in this war-torn land," he said regretfully. "If I could find this next Qin Shi Huang...I would certainly serve them, while guiding them to the way of nurture for when my time is done."

He shook his head then, as if clearing his mind from any burdens, and smiled at his guest. "What about you, Master Yi? What sort of master are you seeking?"