[Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:14 am

"My plan is just as I've told you Zibin, we hack through the northenr brush until we find him, kill him, and assimilate how many of his men that we can, I thought you knew the steps to this dance by now?"
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Ladki96 » Thu Sep 21, 2017 4:27 am

Wenchang looks confused. "Why this rush to recruit more men? And the Bull is so fearsome, why not approach me for help? Two platoons would be better for it is sure to be a beehive of banditry there, and getting rid of him would be safe for the village, as well as the roads which would fall under my duty." He shakes his head. "It doesn't make any sense for him to be so lax when considering the security of the village. Well, I'm coming along, whether Junyou likes it or not. Give me some time to gather my men. And I suppose I could recruit some dutiful people along the way too, if they are interested." ^^
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Fri Sep 22, 2017 5:23 am

As all the preparations to leave are underway, Dewang turns to Junyou.

"I have some news that I fear you won't like. Wenchang is most insistent on following along."
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Last edited by Kivutar on Sun May 20, 2018 2:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Fri Sep 22, 2017 6:08 pm

"I've never thought highly of the man but I had no idea he was that foolish. Our path lies over high mountains, across fordless rivers, black marshes, and through forests thick as palisades. What part of that sounds like a sensible excursion for a horse? The Gentlemen of the Hills and Streams are not called such on a trifle, they are experienced climbers, foragers, and scouts. Even if he left his horses behind, his men are not suited to our line of work, the Bull would hear their panting and whinging from a mile off, not to mention that they'd slow us down in the first place. Go tell him from me that if he insists on exceeding his brief, I won't be held responsible if he falls foul of an avalanche or some other damned nonsense. At any rate, you had best go tell him quickly, we depart shortly."
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Fri Sep 22, 2017 10:17 pm

"Do I look like a messenger?" Dewang grumbles. Really, these men are army officers, not quarreling children. At least, when they refuse to speak to each other, they aren't fighting.

Nevertheless, he relays Junyou's points to Wenchang, who reluctantly admits their truth.
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Last edited by Kivutar on Sun May 20, 2018 2:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Fri Sep 22, 2017 11:56 pm

Junyou's men leave early the next morning, headed north along the mountain road until they reach the first village whereupon they turn northwest into the hills along the forested paths.

Back in Hangu Captain Dang is reading over the letter Liang Ju had given him about the bandit chief's location. With him is his wife, Lady Chou, who assuages his concerns.

"Why would they send this letter to Liang Ju?" the captain asks, concerned. "He is just a lieutenant, and has no authority to launch a pursuit if this scale."

"Perhaps the Administrator sees some promise in this young officer, my dear," Lady Chou says while massaging her husbands shoulders. "If so this could be excellent for your own advancement. You are his superior so you must get out in front of this and claim responsibility for nominating your subordinate for such prestigious assignments."

The captain considers this with a frown. "But then he may upstage me and cost me my own advancement," he complains.

His wife laughs, "Didn't the Sage say 'waste not good iron as nails, nor good men as soldiers'? If so then it is a wise officer who allows his subordinate to shine and a wise leader who will reward you for promoting this skilled man. Governor Ding is righteous and wise, is he not? So then he will surely see that it was you who made Liang Ju into such an asset."

Convinced, the captain nods, "Yes, of course. I will speak with Colonel Song about him at once."
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:37 am

In the hills

It isn't long before Liang Ju and his Gentlemen of the Hills and Streams arrive at the first hill village on their circuitous route to the capital.

At first the people are cautious and seek to bar their doors but soon someone notices the fact that they wear uniforms and carry banners as they march. And of course, simply being able to march is enough to show they are not common thieves.

By the time they get to the village center the headman is there to greet them.

"Greetings, noble sir," he addresses Junyou, "how can this poor village assist our great governor?"

Back at Hangu

Over the next several days rumors continue to abound. They are not helped by gossip from the merchants who come from the east who say that rebels have been seen in the Wei valley with their yellow scarves and flags going from village to village in the wastes and woods.

At some point Captain Dang speaks with Colonel Song about Liang Ju as well but nothing seems to come of it until the end of the week when Captain Dang calls Wenchang to attend him.

"Wenchang, the Colonel takes these reports of rebels very seriously and I have volunteered your platoon to escort the tax collectors to Ye and then return here at once."
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Ladki96 » Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:33 am

"Yes Captain Dang, at once sir." The lieutenant salutes and makes preparations to leave. He wonders if the Bull has been dealt with by now.
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Last edited by Ladki96 on Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:53 pm

Junyou answers the headman. "The governor has heard reports of seditious activity in these hills, including but not limited to harboring bandits and giving aid and comfort to rebel agents. Don't bother denying it, neither of us were born yesterday and neither I nor the governor care one whit for how in heaven's name you have scraped together your millet here in the past. What matters now is that we have your full cooperation. I should hope that I need not tell you the consequences otherwise."
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:29 pm

Junyou and Dewang
The headman goes pale and bows, "Of course, we would never dream of resisting the governor's commands. What must we do to comply?"

Wenchang

Early the next day the carts are filled with rice and coin, both copper and silver, and the caravan is ready to head east to the regional capital of Ye where the taxes will be handed over to the magistrate before being sent on to their destination according to the orders of the Imperial Court.

There are a dozen men minding the oxen and asses that pull the carts and Wenchang's two dozen cavalry finally have a chance to range out into open terrain. By the end of the first day they are out of the hills and in the wide, fertile plains of Wei.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Cpt._Funkotron » Wed Sep 27, 2017 1:59 am

"Firstly, you will supply my men with warm food and dry shelter. Unless you have a barracks or a teahouse hidden away behind one of these barns, your homes will have to suffice. Secondly, tomorrow morning you will present me your..." he hesitates, doing a rough headcount of the surrounding hovels "...5 fittest men. If I am pleased with what I find, they will have the honor of volunteering into the Imperial army. If I do not like what I find, we shall have no other option but to remain your guests until I am satisfied, do I make myself clear?"
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Ladki96 » Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:15 am

Wenchang has the caravan surrounded in a tight circle by ten soldiers. He has five men leading in the front of this group, five more following in the back, and the remaining five fanned out to spot trouble from afar. He could send out more scouts but he dislikes leaving the carts without much protection, and he figures he would see any enemy coming from a mile off on the plains.

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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Thu Sep 28, 2017 12:37 am

Dewang pays fairly little attention to Junyou's blustering at the headman. Instead, he makes his way to the village temple.

He had once been a priest. Not a very good priest, but then again he wasn't a particularly good quartermaster either, and that seemed to be going quite well.

The priests are his kinds of priests, that is to say, well supplied with liquor. Once a few cups have gone down, he starts an extemporaneous speech about their sacred duty to the Son of Heaven and other such lofty ideas that were still rattling around in his head somewhere. It's rubbish, he thinks, but it seems to go over rather well.

Once the priests begin making sufficient patriotic noises, he takes his leave politely and goes off to see how Junyou is making out.
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Last edited by Kivutar on Sun May 20, 2018 2:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Fri Sep 29, 2017 2:23 am

Dewang and Junyou

Each village is much the same as the first though word has spread ahead of them through the hidden paths and narrow lanes unfit for a company on the march, even if they do know the terrain well.

After nearly a dozen villages their ranks have begun to swell and Dewang is busy getting his files in order with only a travelling desk. With the week almost out they camp at the final village along their planned route. They have enlisted 103 recruits but when they hold roll call the next morning they have only 99 new recruits.

On the positive side they only have 100 spears with with to equip them. On the bad side Dewang is certain his records are correct and no one saw anyone deserting.

So they take a few minutes to search the perimeter and find nothing but Dewang stops at a small house built into a hillside No one seems to be home and when the men enter they quickly find a tunnel in the rear of the structure that goes for a dozen yards before emerging in a cluster of stones behind a copse of trees.

Recent footprints say it has been recently traveled.

Wenchang

The plains are an easy ride and they can see for several li* in each direction. Its five days to Ye as the oxen plods so there is plenty of time to run the horses and give each rider a chance to scout. For the first three days it is sunny and the nights are clear. In the mornng the mist swirls in the roadside ditches due to the elevated surface and burns of quickly.

But on the fourth morning, though the night was much the same as the past one, the mist clings to the road and lays heavy across the plains. It makes no difference to the oxen who simply plod along, slightly damper and more foul smelling than usual. Horses are slower though and riders more cautious as well as close together. It is impossible to see more than 100 bu and at that distance a horse and rider is but a shadow in the fog.

*Just over a third of a mile or half a kilometer. The modern li is defined as exactly 500m
**A bu is 1/300th of a li.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:41 am

While Junyou is finalizing plans with his soldiers, Dewang pulls out several scrolls, searches his bags for various odd ingredients, and performs some peculiar motions while muttering to himself.
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Last edited by Kivutar on Sun May 20, 2018 2:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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