[Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

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

Postby Ladki96 » Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:50 pm

A tiring journey behind them, and now they're free for the moment? What would you do?


Sleep, duh.

-The soldiers are given a couple of days off (<3) and the brothers settle in. The children have long since been collected from Ye and left under the care of the five teachers (and Governor Liu) in Ji.

-Baozi and Wenchang write to their families, updating them on their situation.

hello great parents

We did a lot of war shit but we're okay! I'm in Jinyang to get monies. Sorry, I'll try to make it home during the holidays.. I'm totally eating well. My tent is 100% clean. How are you? tc

ur filial son

-Dewang visits the secretaries and they're like, can we get your autograph. Okay not really. But it's clear the people are in a good mood. The rebellion has been dealt a great blow, and the Bingzhou army has performed excellently, so they expect rewards. Rumour has it Ding Yuan may be made High Minister and his son-in-law will take over as Governor.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:36 am

The day of the audience comes and while no official word has reached the city from the Imperial Capital at Luoyang word at court is that the Minister of War, Huangfu Song, has recommended Ding Yuan to be Minister of Works for his leadership and skill defeating the rebels. If true it is a stunning honor, but already it brings fearful whispers and questions.

What will become of Lu Bu? Will the fiery warrior be made a governor? If not then what sorrows will his unrealized ambitions unleash? Few think he would be happy to follow his adopted father to the capital as an assistant and none expect he would receive a ministry of his own.

What also is to be done with the sorcerer, Du Zhiteng? He has proven his mastery of the Tao rivals that of the Yellow Turban leaders. They say he communes with the gods themselves and that with but a soft word he can command the skies and waters. Other tales of necromancy and prophecy spread alongside these stories though they are not as widely believed. In general the courtiers think Master Du should leave administration to the scholars and return to his religious duties.

As for the other heroes of the rebellion there is nothing but awe at the martial prowess of Wei Yan and the military lore of Mao Xu. Some say that Mao Xu is as masterful as Bai Qi and note that 白色 (Baise) sounds similar to 宝子 (Bao Zi) and has the same meaning as 白起 (Bai Qi). Others scoff at such thinking as in the area where Mao Xu was born the words are not so similar. Those who place more credence in the generals over the scholars compare Wei Yan to Lu Bu, and while they acknoweldge the former has far to go to match the latter they refer to him as 一百枪 (Yibai Qiang, 'one hundred spears') in contrast to Lu Bu who is said to be worth 1,000 soldiers.

How much of that gossip matters to the Governor is unclear, but the three brothers have plenty of time to hear it as they wait to be called into the hall.

It is midmorning when the clerk summons them and they take their seats among the other courtiers, officials, advisors and attendants. A few moments later Lu Bu Arrives to take his seat at the head of the officials and soon after the Governor takes his place facing them all at the front of the hall.

Business begins with administrative matters for the capital and the state of the province. Suggestions are made about the harvests and what taxes are due as well as what improvements to prioritize. It is nearly noon once the discussions conclude and the governor decides to distribute additional food to the masses until spring when they will begin improving irrigation in the northern commanderies.

Next comes the announcement of gifts, honors, titles and appointments.

Ding Yuan reveals the Emperor has made him a Marquis of one county and appointed him 'General Who Restores the Land'. No mention of ministries is made.

Lu Bu is awarded the taxes of half a county for ten years for his service and is official given the title 'General of Flying Cavalry' by the Emperor.

Lesser gifts are forthcoming for other military officers according to their rank such as Zhang Yang, Hou Chen, Wei Xu and Song Xian. These presents consist of bonuses equal to their yearly salaries in the form of fine silks, impressive horses, masterfully crafted weapons and other finery.

Wei Yan is among those who receives a large bonus including a letter from the Court acknowledging him as the legal and rightful possessor of the Golden Sabre of Yan.

Mao Xu is given the office of Magistrate over the fishing port He Qu in Xi He Commandery. There is some grumbling about this as he is not a long time official in Bingzhou but Chief Secretary Lu slams his fist on his desk before rearing up to glare at the malcontents,

"Can you ingrates not see the Imperial Seal on this appointment? Who dares impune the wisdom of the Emperor!" It is not a question, but a challenge and the discontent ceases.

Baozi is allowed two appointments of county officers as well as clerks of his choosing in addition to the 600dan salary of a magistrate.

Du Zhiteng is not called out for any special honor or gift, he receives only the 1 half year bonus given to all quartermasters and other military clerks.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Ladki96 » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:38 pm

The brothers spend the winter in the capital and set out for Hu Qu after the new year/spring festival.

Spoiler: show
Image

And oh boy, what a lovely town awaits them! You got:

Image

1) cruel cops!
2) local bandits!
3) terrible living conditions!
4) angry spirits!
5) poor fishing catches in the last few years!
6) miserable citizens!
-and much more!

Baozi Image

"Okay, so we are going to fix... all of that. (Just after a little bit of nepotism.)"

County Officer 1: Du Zhiteng (Master of Rites
County Officer 2: Wei Yan (Garrison Commander

1) cracks knuckles Smack some sense into them
2) Find them and then smack some sense into them (after building up a good force ofc!)
3) Uhhh I'm sure as the socio-economic condition improves this will fix itself for the most part /o/ till then temporary shelter/rations can be provided to the families in the direst situations? in return for work or smth
4) The "communer with the gods/commander of the skies and waters" can deal with this, right? :P
5) Probably has to something to do with 4) so let's see how that goes but if it isn't straightened out, set up protected areas in which the little ones can grow to maturity and fish elsewhere/import for now ^^
6) free hugs? ok ok, resolving other issues is what we meant. totally

Baozi says no to nonsense!

"My farm has had a good bounty this year. Here is your gift! Bring the whole cart in, bois! By the way, my neighbour has been bothering me a lot about "extending my borders" and "misbehaviour." Could you set that jackass straight?"

"Well uh I already have enough to eat, thank you, and also you should file an official complaint and then I'll look into the matter and hear from your neighbour too and all that jazz."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Baozi also uses half his salary to rebuild the temple. Something about "inappropriate luxury" and "filial devotion" or whatever. Don't ask.

Dewang Image

Xian Kun

RBs! Pack your stuff and get here yesterday! Yeah, with the kids. It's all worked out. I have some space for a proper school now. Laters!

Du Zhiteng
Teacher, Leader, Legend

"It's pretty good land. Just a little run-down. Anyway a dream told me to rebuild Huangdi's temple here so that's what I'm gonna do."

"You say construction, I say physical training. It's all good, we'll help!"

WenchangImage

"Why should we help with that?"

"a)It will help you, b)I said so and c)I'll break you if you don't?"

"Oh."

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

Postby Scarik » Sat Jul 13, 2019 7:33 pm

The task of resettling Dewang's students is the least of the worries in the fishing region of Hu Qu. The county is a collection of tiny hamlets along the river spread over a few dozen li with what could, perhaps, be called a village in the middle. It is where the magistrate's court is located, and it stands out sharply against the the rough homes of the people with its stone walls and tiled roofs.

The village has several docks and piers stretching out into the water while the other clumps of homes have only stakes pounded into the earth where they tie their boats in storms. In fair weather they simply pull them ashore and turn them upside down to keep out the rains.

Away from the river there are only a few homesteads and isolated families who make their living as woodsmen, fishing and digging shellfish in the marshes.

The county itself is a rough triangle pointing south. It follows the river north as its western border while its east tracks northeast along some mountains, though no one goes so close as to reach them given the trackless marshes that surround them on all sides. The northern edge of the county is the road that leads to the larger town of Xi He which serves as the main settlement of the commandery*.

As for the local govnerment it is a textbook example of what the Yellow Turbans cited as their reason to rebel: inefficient, inattentive and corrupt. The soldiers are worse than bandits, outlaws at least have to flee after their crimes. Furthermore, it is worth noting, Liang Ju is from this county and these men were not seen as fit for his own corrupt designs.

Wenchang makes sort work of reforming them with several thrashings and enough lashes to remind them of their filial duty to the State. Over the next week all of the ringleaders and many of the men slink away into the night with as much equipment and wealth as they could carry leaving no more than a handful of trained soldiers and Wenchang's loyal cavalry left to defend the area from what will surely be more bandits.

Some are caught and put to the sword, but even still the armories are depleted and the granaries and warehouses empty by spring. It will be a struggle to collect the taxes and still leave enough for the people to eat in the coming year.

Morale at least is high. The people respond eagerly to their new magistrate, though he is unlike any official they have met before. His quiet, reserved nature cannot hide his towering intellect and so while his policies are adored, the man himself seems to make people nervous.

With good spirits it is easy for Baozi to institute his reforms and civic projects using corvee labor. Even those too young and old to be drafted volunteer to help rebuild the temple. Dozens of young men and women volunteer to join the militia as well, eager to take up arms for when their former oppressors return so they can thrash them worse than Wenchang did the first time.



*Administrative regions go county < commandery < province.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby CarrieVS » Tue Aug 06, 2019 1:09 am

After the survey of the county has finally been completed it is clear that things are not so bad as had been feared. But it will certainly be necessary to improve its productivity if the ledgers are to be balanced without driving the region into even greater ruin. And in Hu Qu, productivity means fishing.

Fortunately, with labour being one of the few things in ready supply, it's not too difficult to see to its being applied in the right places, and with the right people in charge who know where to site a fishpond and how to construct a weir. With that and everything else they have been trying, and luck, if Baozi and his brothers can hold things together for this year, prospects should start to look up.

The greatest difficulty with that is the deserters from the garrison. With the central settlements so depleted by past mismanagement, the county's only hope of remaining solvent is that the outlying areas are in good condition, which makes them richer as well as easier pickings, and the influx of new bandits know just how few trained men Wenchang has at his disposal. Recruits who barely know how to hold a spear yet are no remedy and by the time they are ready to mount any kind of serious offensive it may be too late.

There must be a solution, but before Baozi can devise a strategy with a chance of success, they begin to hear rumours of a strange pair of wanderers. Two men, both wearing yellow scarves, are said to be defending the people around the edges of Hu Qu from bandits. One wielding only the spear of a common soldier, the other with a jian and, curiously enough, always an umbrella.

"I want to meet these strangers," Wenchang announces.

"I think it would be best to find them," Baozi agrees. "If they are rebels trying to rouse the people again, they must be stopped, and if they are not, we're indebted to them, and we should certainly thank them and try to persuade them to stay."

"You shouldn't go alone, Wenchang. I'll come with you," Dewang insists.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Tue Aug 06, 2019 3:21 am

Home in Hu Qu

Of all the difficulties Baozi has faced in Hu Qu so far, none are so formidable as Elder Liao. There are a dozen elders who represent the largest families of Hu Qu county and among them they claim leadership of every household though there is some dispute about which branch some houses belong to.

The Liao family is not the largest, nor even the oldest of the families though Liao Jue (Elder Liao) is surely the oldest man for a hundred li. According to county records he is 105 years old though to speak or walk with man makes it hard to think he is more than 70.

He always carries a knotted, elm staff though he has no need of a cane, but he does enjoy long walks to visit family in the outlying hamlets and check up on his great-great-great-grand children. The staff serves well to chase off any animals (four-legged or two!) who mistake him for an easy meal. Apparently, just last year, Elder Liao came across three bandits and gave them such a thrashing that they renounced crime and became fishermen to placate the old man.

Liao Jue is a man who has no fear of ruffians nor does he shy from calling them what they are. The last magistrate, Guo Si who is now prefect of the commandery, had Elder Liao beaten on several occasions for his audacity and disrespect, but after the fourth such event the people protested and threatened to riot. The Elder bears the scars of his whippings proudly.

As for the Eldersof Hu Qu county there are:
Hu Yan: The head of the largest family who take their name from the land they have lived in since at least the time of the First Emperor.
Qiu Hu: eldest cousin of the Qiu. His family branch is the main one.
Qiu Tao: Youngest of the Qiu branches but also the wealthiest. Their compound has stone walls and a dozen buildings though only one is 2 stories.
Qiu Zhihao: Called Western Qiu as they are the only clan to have homes on both sides of the Yellow River. The land there is not strictly part of Bingzhou but is administered by Hu Qu county because of the familial connections.
Gao Wei: The Gao are swamp folk and quite resistant to outsiders. Gao Wei is elder of the southern branch and rarely comes to town.
Gao Hua: Hua is more personable than Wei, but still protective of his family's land and distrustful of the Liaos.
Xiang Shi: The Xiang are the smallest clan, no more than a dozen households, and they are also the most secluded high in the hills where they make their living as foresters and hunters.
Xu Huan: Makers of the best wine in the commandery, Elder Xu is a master vintner and brewer who knows the secrets of all grains and molds.
Dai Jia: The Dai Clan also makes wines but their true skill is in cheese made from the milk of their hardy sheep. The meat of the creatures is quite poor by contrast.
Zhong Yijun: "Zhong make good wives and poor husbands" is the saying in Hu Qu. They are know for a meek temperament which the other clans value in women yet disdain in men. They are the most active in helping at the temple.


Out on the Land

While Baozi manages the county from the magistrate's court Wenchang and Dewang, with a few cavalry escorts, leave the comfort of their homes for the rough, wet, humid, cold at night, hot by day, swamps of Hu Qu county's backwoods.

A good rider with a fast horse along the main road (barring flooding or excess mud) can cross Hu Qu county from east to west in one day. In the rough tracks toward the southeast though it takes weeks if its even possible at all.

Naturally that is where the stories of the two Youxia have come from and so Dewang and Wenchang trudge through the marshes where they must rely on the taciturn and secretive Gao families to show them the way. Its clear the locals harbor resentment toward the previous magistrate and they are not at all interested in helping the new regime catch their local heroes.

But after two weeks of basically being sent to get lost something begins to change. While Captain Wei's ire is apparent at the wasted time Master Du seems to be having an effect. It is then that, rather than finding the Youxia, they are found by the wanderers.

They do so just outside a collection of Gao households at the edge of a trackless wetland beneath the towering Black Mountains. The pair are a dozen yards off on a low rise with a deep ravine between them and the imperial officials. Both men wear yellow scarves (the same as the rebels the previous year) and wide hats that mask their faces.

The spearman is tall and strong looking and has a padded breastplate with bits of iron sewn into it for additional protection across the gut and the other carries an exquisite umbrella that Dewang recognizes immediately as belonging to Tang Feng Zibin. The voice that follows is unmistakable.

"Greetings, Master Du, I hear you have been looking for me."

The spearman stays a step back and betrays no motion or sound.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Wed Aug 07, 2019 7:07 pm

Dewang hadn’t expected to see their former acquaintance here, but he is hardly shocked. You never really knew with Zibin. He isn’t sure if it makes him think better or worse of the man.

“Such formality, old friend!” he calls back.

Zibin looks to his companion for a moment then answers, "Perhaps we are too formal, Dewang, but it has been a long time and you are now a hero of the Han, and I am a rebel."

"The people here have been calling you a hero,” answers Dewang, with the barest hint of a question.

"So I hear, but this one is but a humble wanderer in the service of heaven. You give them hope that the gods will favor this place again when the temple is restored."

He sounds sincere enough. Zibin, of all people!

Beside him, Wenchang has been peering at the spearman, and suddenly he explodes. “Liao Chun! How dare you show your face here!”

On the opposite side, Yuanjian grips his spear menacingly, though he does not yet attack.

“Younger brother! We are here to keep the peace, not start fights!” hisses Dewang. He seldom actually addresses either of his brothers as “younger brother,” but there are times when he is privately pleased that he can. Wenchang grumbles, and settles for glowering silently across the ditch.

At “younger brother,” Zibin’s head tilts inquisitively, and Dewang can picture the slight raise of his eyebrows. No matter - it was not a secret.

Zibin entirely ignores the unpleasant interruption, however, and the two of them circle each other with pleasantries for altogether too long before exchanging some sort of story.

It seems that, after he and Wenchang had left, Zibin had served under Cao Cao in the army of Huangfu Song. “Good men, both of them,” he says, shaking his head. “But they are tigers lead by serpents. I was tired of war.”

Two of us, then.

“So I went north,” continues Zibin. “I met Yuanjian, here. We fight crime and corruption, wherever we see it.”

“So do we,” says Dewang hastily. Zibin pauses for a moment, and Dewang guiltily remembers a certain conversation in a teahouse ages ago, but Yuanjian comes to the rescue.

“Doubtless,” he says. “We would rather you took up the call of the Yellow Sky and joined us in overthrowing the tyrants. But if you will not - well, at least you are not a greedy pig of an official, Dewang. As long you and your brothers are not like Guo Si and his robbers, we will content ourselves with picking off the bandits here.”

It’s as much a threat as a promise, but it is fair. Dewang nods. “Why here?” he asks. Yuanjian sidesteps the question, and tells his story instead. After he had escaped - he is thankfully vague - his wounds had become poisoned, and he had very nearly died. Luckily Hua Tuo had saved him, and in gratitude, he had changed his name from Chun to Hua.

Dewang is wary for a moment. The doctor had deceived them about the Huis, and he still has no idea why or what the truth was. But that probably had nothing to do with Yuanjian - for one thing, he could not have met the man till some time afterwards.

"It must be difficult to live in this remote place,” he says. “Are you in need of anything?" He isn’t sure what kind of peace offering he can make.

Zibin shakes his head, and Yuanjian looks a little discomfited. “It would be better if Liao Jue did not know I was here.”

Of course. Dewang had not made that connection before, but it fits. He would not like to be Yuanjian, if the formidable Liao patriarch were to find him. "I can be discreet, and Wenchang will be as well,” he says, smiling.

“Hrffdshhnnnnk,” says Wenchang.

“You are welcome to pray in the temple at any time,” says Dewang. “And, of course, we too are fighting the bandits. If you run into trouble, we will do our best to help you.”

Zibin and Yuanjian seem to accept this, and the four of them part ways courteously. Well, the three of them do, and Wenchang parts without excess rudeness.




“Bad enough that the miscreant escaped once,” growls Wenchang.

“Infuriating,” agrees Dewang.

“And now he taunts us, when we are in no place to arrest him! When we cannot, in decency!”

“Look at the sunny side,” says Dewang. “They’re doing us a favour and no harm, and we need all the help we can get.”

I wonder how they met, he thinks idly. Coincidence?
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Sun Aug 11, 2019 5:24 pm

Image

The construction of the temple is slow, but steady. Dewang and his apprentices are busy with their duties as teachers, and Dewang with his priestly duties as well. Life is relatively quiet.

The nearby Tree of Life has been on Dewang’s mind, ever since it appeared in his dream. One sunny day, he takes his apprentices and approaches it, examining it for any hint of the extraordinary.

“It’s just a tree,” says Bitong, then pauses.

“It is, but it isn’t,” says Fuli, laying her hand on the bark.

Dewang looks up at the green foliage. It seems restless, as if the wind stirring its branches originates somewhere in the heartwood. He closes his eyes, remembering how every breeze and whim has shaken him…

“Master Du?”

Xufeng is looking at him, his eyes narrower than usual. “How old is this tree? I was talking to one of the grandmothers, here, and she said the sapling appeared almost thirty years ago…”

Dewang nods.

Bitong kicks at a dry stalk, still trapped in the dirt under them. “It must have sucked all the water from these shrubs.”

“Yes,” agrees Dewang, without looking at him.

Cuiying is examining the leaves. “It seems healthy. Plenty of silkworms feeding on it. And there’s fruit, even this late.” There is, indeed. Xufeng pops one into his mouth.

“It’s yours, isn’t it?” says Zaitian, frowning in confusion. “I mean, it’s a tree, but when I look at it I think of you, Master Du…”

“It’s a tree,” says Dewang.

“But it can’t be an ordinary tree,” says Xufeng, prodding the tart berry with his tongue.

“Nothing is ordinary-” begins Dewang, but they are interrupted. Fuli has been silent the entire time, resting her head against the trunk. Suddenly, soundlessly, she collapses. Her brother catches her, and Dewang and the others crowd around anxiously.

She seems to be in a deep sleep, and her breathing and pulse are steady. But she doesn't wake, no matter what they do. They carry her to the temple and lay her down on a blanket, then hover, helplessly, all that afternoon and evening. Zaitian runs down to the town and comes back dragging the drunken old apothecary, who looks Fuli over, pronounces her asleep and them crazy, and storms off.

None of them leave the temple that night, sleeping on and off in snatches. Dewang stays beside her with Cuiying, praying desperately. For all he or the spirits can tell, she is simply asleep. Bitong paces up and down beside them, muttering. Xufeng withdraws by himself into a corner, his head on his knees, and Zaitian stretches his lanky frame across the doorway, as if he were guarding it from who knows what.

Finally, as the blue dawn light begins to shine in, Fuli stirs. They bring her water and help her sit up, but she seems entirely healthy. Shaken, but healthy.

“What did you see?” asks Dewang. She doesn’t need to ask what he means

“I saw the tree growing,” she says, and hesitates.

“And then?”

“It kept growing. I was underneath it, and it blocked out the sun, all the light… it was like night, underneath. The roots were spreading outwards, too, until they reached here. One of the roots got under the staircase at the front, and pushed up a stone... “

She falters again.

“Then what happened?” asks Dewang gently.

“Then it was struck by lightning,” she whispers. “And it burned. For days, it seemed. By the end, it was a hollow shell, and the temple was covered with ashes.”

There is a long silence.

Dewang takes a breath. “I see,” he says. Then he looks around, the faces of his apprentices pale in the faint light.

“If any of you wish to leave,” he says, carefully, “best to do so now.”

None of them move. Dewang shakily rises to his feet, and walks out, unsure of where he is going, but better to be anywhere than there.

Cuiying looks at Fuli, who shakes her head slightly.

“We can’t, can we? Not now.”

Cuiying nods in agreement. “The children need us. He needs us.”

Bitong goes out and sits heavily on the steps outside.

Xufeng opens his palm, and a warm yellow flame springs up. The anteroom feels a little less oppressive.

“Fuli, what you saw…” he says, the light dancing on his face, “dreams don’t always mean what you think. Who knows.”

“I’m not scared,” says Zaitian stubbornly.

“You’re lying!” calls Bitong, from the outside. Cuiying goes out and softly sits beside him.

Zaitian folds himself into a surprisingly small knot, leaning against a pillar beside Fuli.

“He rescued us, didn’t he?” he says to Xufeng, pleadingly. After he got us captured, thinks Xufeng, but he doesn’t say it out loud.

Instead, he says, “Anything can happen, especially in times like these. We chose to follow him, and he’s taught us. I want to keep learning.”

“I’m staying if you are,” says Zaitian, and Xufeng smiles.

“So,” says Bitong, after a few moments of silence. “You have your sister to think of. Why are you staying?”

“Why are you?” answers Cuiying.

Bitong snorts and throws a pebble down the stairs. “The same reason I took this position. The same reason I haven’t left yet.”

“And that is?”

“Seems less pointless than anything else.”

“And you have my sister to think of,” says Cuiying quietly.

Bitong whirls around. “Cuiying I- I never, I swear-”

“It’s all right,” says Cuiying. “I know.”

Bitong puts his face in his hands. “I should go. For so many reasons.”

“We’d all rather you stayed,” says Cuiying, touching his shoulder.

“Oh, I’ll stay,” says Bitong, shaking his head. “I just, ugh.” He stands up. “I’m going to find Master Du.”

“Why?” asks Zaitian, appearing suddenly in the doorway. Xufeng kicks him from just behind. Bitong looks past them nervously, but Fuli is still sitting quite far off, motionless on her blanket in the shadows.

“I’ll go find him,” he repeats, and runs off down the steps.
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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."

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

Postby Scarik » Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:35 am

Harvest

No one expects the central inquisition!

The Chief Secretary's inspection is only a surprise in the sense that no advance notice was sent. When Lord Lu's party was sighted by the patrol a rider rushed back to inform Magistrate Mao that Lu Bu would be arriving later that day. For a corrupt official that might be barely enough time to make things look good. For Baozi it is an agonizing wait for the social occasion that a guest entails.

Lu Bu arrives just after midday with a party of some twenty attendants and guards. Among them is Zhang Liao Wenyuan who, despite being no more than 16, is an expert horseman with a keen mind for military arts.

With his peacock feathers trailing behind him as he canters to the gate of the court he comes to a quick halt and leaps easily from the saddle to land before Baozi.

"Ah, Mao Baozi," he says taking the much smaller man's arms in greeting, "You seem well and it is good to see you. I'm sure a man of your intellect has already guessed my reason for coming, so let my clerks see your records while we discuss matters of state."
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby CarrieVS » Thu Aug 15, 2019 9:16 pm

Baozi doesn't flinch as the tall warrior leaps down in front of him, in the flamboyant, dramatic way that Lu Bu does most things. But when he greets him it is a couple of moments before Baozi can do more than stare.

He collects himself, and manages to say "Zhuzi, show Lord Lu's clerks everything they need to see." A moment too late it occurs to him that perhaps he should have said to offer them refreshment, but then he chides himself mentally: his assistant will certainly look after them as appropriate to their position without being instructed like a child: his command of the social graces is rather better than Baozi's own.

Once he has welcomed the Chief Secretary into the court and the formal pleasantries are out of the way he isn't sure what to say but waits for Lord Lu to speak. Matters of state??
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Fri Aug 16, 2019 8:45 pm

Lu Bu essentially whisks Baozi along in his wake as he enters the court, breezes through the audience chamber and then alights on a seat by the window in an informal manner while his feathers rustle gently in the early autumn breeze.

Their entourages are left behind and dismissed with a wave of the Chief Secretary's hand leaving Mao Xu alone with the greatest warrior ever to have lived.

"Tell me, Baozi, how does the magistrate's chain weigh on the neck of a man renowned for his humility?"

Outside, in a slight daze at the speed of the departure, Wenchang is approached by the extraordinarily young cavalry soldier.

He bows with his hands clasped, "Captain Wei, I am called Zhang Liao Wenyuan. I have wished to meet you since the I first served under you guarding the supply trains between Ye and Ping Yuan."
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby CarrieVS » Sun Aug 18, 2019 12:08 am

"It... is not an easy task." Baozi says, not without hesitation. Then he hurries to add, "But I am honoured to serve as best I can."

Lu Bu nods, "Of course, this is a poor county, it must be quite difficult to manage."

While not untrue, the challenge of how to solve Hu Qu's problems is not what weighs heavily on him about the office. But he must not correct Lord Lu, nor seem to complain about his lot or appear to be incapable of his job. Whatever relief it might be to leave behind the daily succession of audiences and hearings, he could not bear the shame of being dismissed for incompetence.

"I hope that it can be improved in time, if the bandits and deserters can be kept from driving it to ruin," he answers. He had best not mention the Youxia - it is a risk to leave them at liberty, and Baozi is quite sure that the General will see only one solution to the potential problem. That would not do - for now, the two Yellow Scarves are the lesser of two evils.

Lu Bu frowns and shifts forward a little on his chair. "Deserters? Now that is a problem I did not expect. What has Wenchang done about this disaster in discipline?"

For several moments Baozi can only stare, frozen like a rabbit beneath the shadow of a hawk. What a foolish thing to say, how could he not have known better? Simply "bandits" would have been perfectly true - they were little better even before they abandoned their service. But after an agonising pause he collects himself enough to reply, speaking a little too fast as if that would make up for his hesitation.

"Discipline was indeed very poor before my brother took up his post, and he was quick to correct it. But not all of the men were willing to submit to his correction, so those who were not fit to serve as soldiers fled. We have had no more desertions in some months, but their replacements are not yet fully trained."

The Chief Secretary appears to relax at this explanation. "That is good. Discipline must be strict or soldiers are no different than bandits. When they are caught they must be given the harshest punishments."

Baozi tries without great success not to let his relief show, and waits in silence for any more questions his guest might have.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Ladki96 » Tue Aug 20, 2019 9:09 pm

Wenchang's worry at his younger brother's interrogation is interrupted by a familiar person from the Chief Secretary's retinue. He is dressed like an ordinary secretary but his muscled body under the robes tells a different tale. Wenchang racks his brain but the boy saves him the effort.

He bows with his hands clasped, "Captain Wei, I am called Zhang Liao Wenyuan. I have wished to meet you since the I first served under you guarding the supply trains between Ye and Ping Yuan."


Ah, yes. The heavy storm, and then that battle... Wenchang tries not to think of that day. "I don't remember a Zhang Liao. I remember the youngest boy in our company who fought more bravely than some of his seniors, who distinguished himself on the fields of Ping Yuan," he smiles.

The officer looks surprised. "I didn't think you would remember. There were many good soldiers that day."

"Among whom you must surely be included."

Zhang Liao smiles and bows. "My lord is too kind. I shall endeavour to be worthy of your praise."

Wenyuan's talent is being wasted in secretarial work. But what can he do about it? The boy would hardly be eager to work in a remote fishing town. Well, no harm in asking.

"We need someone to head the new recruits in the infantry. Think you could make men out of some village boys?"

Zhang Liao's face lights up. "I would be honoured to!"

GMs giving gifts? Something is up >.> <.<
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Sun Aug 25, 2019 5:27 pm

Lu Bu stands up to leave, his peacock plumes waving as he turns his head sharply to look at Baozi.

“There is one other thing. You know of course that a sorcerer may not hold a public office.”

Baozi’s heart skips a beat. Of course he knows of that law but he had never thought of it like that. But how can the Chief Secretary know? No-one except Dewang and Wenchang knows. He opens his mouth to say something but can’t think what.

“So you will dismiss Du Zhiteng from his position.”



“Baozi, what on earth did he say to you? I wouldn’t think much of it, whatever it is.” Dewang hopes that this is true, but if something truly terrible had happened, he probably would have heard of it in the few hours since Lu Bu had left the court.

“He said…” Baozi looks at the floor. There is a pause of too many moments, and then the words all come out too quickly while Dewang stares at him. “He said that sorcerers cannot hold office - I thought, I thought he knew about me, somehow. But then he said it was you. I’m sorry. I thought… you held a position before so I thought it must not matter - I thought you must have had an exemption.”

Dewang pauses for a moment, taking this all in. He’s not terribly shocked, and although it’s unpleasant to lose his position… being an official had started to weigh on his mind sometimes. But right now, he can’t let Baozi work himself into a state.

“General Lu can’t see any further than those feathers of his,” he says. “There is no way he would ever find you out. And about me - don’t worry about it. It isn’t your fault.” Then, more anxiously, “Did he say I have to leave?”

“Leave… the temple? Of course not, there is no law against priests being sorcerers. Of course you will still oversee the temple - and the school. I mean, as long as you still want to. It is only the official position I am to dismiss you from. I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry,” says Dewang. “You had nothing to do with it. I can manage.”



“Sorcerer? Our brother did nothing but serve the Emperor in the war! He is no rebel!” Wenchang shouts. “One word from you and I’ll go bring back Lu Bu’s head.”

“You will do nothing of the sort,” says Dewang. “You would die, and even if you didn’t, we would all be called rebels.”

Wenchang glowers, but he can’t disagree with that.



Dewang finds Cuiying and Fuli at the entrance when he returns to the temple. They don’t ask questions - they don’t have to. He tells them the truth.

Cuiying is outraged, though Fuli looks at Dewang’s face for a moment and says nothing, waiting for him to speak. Cuiying suggests everything from reasoning with Lu Bu to petitioning the Emperor, but Dewang shakes his head.

“No use in any of that,” he says. “The worst thing I can do is draw more attention. If they decide to go further, what will happen to the school?”

Cuiying hadn’t thought of that, and he looks even more horrified. “But- we can’t do nothing!”

“We won’t,” says Dewang. “We keep doing what we are doing. I don’t have to leave. And, well, there has to be a Master of Rites, doesn’t there?”

“And we’ll be under whatever close-minded fool they’ll approve,” says Cuiying bitterly.

“We would if my brother weren’t in charge of the appointments,” he says. “Cuiying, what if you were to be Master of Rites?”

“Me?” Cuiying gasps, considers it for a moment, then shakes his head. “I don’t have the learning for it, or the skill. But Fuli, Fuli you could do it-”

Fuli is startled, for the first time. “I can’t take advantage of this injustice to Master Du,” she says.

“No, Cuiying is right,” says Dewang. “Better you than anyone else - and I know you are suitable. As do you.”

Fuli takes a deep breath. “I’ll do it, then. But I can’t profit off it. The temple construction has to continue.”

“I can’t ask-” says Dewang, but Fuli shakes her head. “Heaven can.”

Dewang nods slowly.



“Miss Xian?” says Baozi. “Of course, you know who’s most suitable. I just wish…”

“Baozi,” sighs Dewang. “I’m the one who’s brought trouble to you.”

”Nonsense,” Wenchang grumbles. “Your sorcery has always been an advantage. If these fools at the state don’t recognise that, that’s on them.”

Dewang waves a hand dismissively. “The state. Who knows what happens between one day and the next.”

Perhaps at one time, Wenchang would have countered Dewang’s statement. If one could not trust one’s rulers, what would be the point in submitting to them? Society existed for a reason, at least that was what he had been brought up to believe. But lately, he seemed to constantly question everything around him. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. Liao Chun was a rebel and a traitor, yet was helping to maintain the peace, and the actual authorities like Guo Si were content to leave people miserable.

“The state… knows nothing.” Wenchang says. “People in positions seem to have no idea how the common people suffer or worse, do not care. Baozi is a rare case. Perhaps it is as they say, that the corrupt court officers have poisoned the Emperor’s mind.”

This is definitely not the old Wenchang. Dewang looks at him for a moment, then changes the topic. “I saw you with one of Lu Bu’s soldiers. The young one. What was that about?”

“Ah, he was one of the soldiers assigned to my cavalry force for the battle at Ping Yuan.” Wenchang unconsciously tightens his hold on his sword. “Uh, his talents were being wasted in Lu Bu’s office, so I decided to ask him to be captain of the infantry. I hope that is alright.” He looks at Baozi.

“Oh… of course,” says Baozi. “You know how to select your men.”

“And if he’s any good, better to keep him away from Liang Ju,” adds Dewang. “Now, let’s not talk about anything unpleasant tonight, hmm?”
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby CarrieVS » Tue Oct 01, 2019 8:29 pm

When Lu Bu leaves, the brothers get down to business. Baozi does his utmost to bring order and prosperity to the fishing town, and Wenchang continues building up the defence forces.



Relieved of even the light duties of the Master of Rites (except when Fuli needs help, of course; the girl is bright and knowledgeable for her years, but the post bears more responsibility than she has had thus far), Dewang nonetheless finds his hands full with the school. The children are all growing older, and some seem quite promising. Dewang continues to instruct his apprentices in the art of sorcery, and now a few of the gifted youngsters have lessons of their own.

As winter approaches, Dewang sends a message to Zibin and Yuanjian. The bandits will doubtless decrease their activities in the cold, and the woods will be no place to live in a few weeks. He’s not sure if they will come, but they appear at the gates of the temple grounds one evening a few days later.

They settle in more easily than he’d imagined. Zibin even helps with the school, demonstrating his beautiful calligraphy to the children. The long winter evenings pass fairly companionably, as the three of them sit up discussing and sometimes arguing about philosophy and religion over tea. It’s usually tea now, these days.



Baozi makes one of his regular visits to the temple and school. Li Yu jumps up at the sight of him and bows respectfully.

"Have you been studying hard, Yu?"

"Yes, Shifu." He doesn't say much but he looks happy as he follows Baozi. It is cold but bright as they head outside to a space Baozi had settled on earlier: out of the way but with enough room. Li Yu looks up at him wide-eyed, equal parts excited and nervous, when he sees the two wooden swords his teacher has secreted there.

Baozi takes one of the mock blades, reverses it, and holds out the hilt to the little boy. Yu starts to reach for it, then remembers himself and switches hands.

Baozi smiles, "Fencing isn't like writing. You can fight with your left hand if you prefer it - it will be a little different, but many swordsmen won't know how to counter it, so it can be a good thing."

Yu puts the wooden weapon into his left hand, and seems to stand a little more confidently. But his face falls at Baozi's next words.

"So you want to learn to fence? Are you sure? It isn't easy."

Yu lets the practice sword's point drop to the ground as he takes a nervous half-step back. But he nods determinedly and says, almost in a whisper, "Yes, Shifu."

"Alright. Strike me." The child doesn't move, except to look up with a shocked expression. "It is not like you to be disobedient, Yu. Strike me."

Li Yu makes a hesitant attempt to hit his teacher with his wooden sword. Of course, he winds his arm back and shows exactly where he means to strike, besides that he is clearly holding back. By the time he has brought the stick-blade to where Baozi was, swinging wide and chopping as though with a sabre. Baozi is a few inches beyond the child's reach.

He smiles. "Good boy. You see it will be a long time before you need fear doing me any harm in practice. Again."

This time, anticipating the quick evasion, Yu strikes more confidently - signalling the blow just as clearly. Baozi does not move. There is not much strength in the boy's skinny arm and no technique to make up for the lack. It smarts for a few moments but in truth is nothing compared to what he was used to by the time he was Yu's age, sparring with his elder brother.

Yu drops his sword and covers his face in horror.

"Even if you are never in a real fight, you will have many, many bruises while you are training. You will have to learn not to mind. Do you want to learn?"

"Yes, Shifu." It is almost inaudible.

"Then stand still." He takes up the other wooden sword. It's not a hard blow: hardly more than the boy's own, on the meat of his thigh where it will do no harm. It might not even bruise. Yu is unused to it and gasps at the sting, but he stays where he is and doesn't cry.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Shifu." There is a hint of confidence in his voice this time.

"Good. Next time, you will try not to let me strike you." But first he has to be taught to grip the sword correctly. And then some fundamental principles of the jian.

"If you want to chop like a cook with a cleaver, you must go to Captain Wei and ask him to train you in the dadao." The little boy looks silently appalled at the idea. "With the jian you thrust, or cut." He demonstrates the principle of each against his hand with the blunt wooden blade. "Then if your blade is sharp you will not need great strength to cut deep."

Baozi takes the child through a very basic drill, modified a little for the opposite hand, until Yu is beginning to tire. He is too completely lacking in skill to say whether he shows any talent yet, but he listens and doesn't often have to be reminded once taught something.

“That is enough for today. Go on now.”

Yu runs off. Baozi watches him go and then, no longer concentrating on the lesson, he notices a feeling of being watched. He turns quickly, and sees a figure standing in the shadow of a small tree that has grown up close to the temple. He is making no move, and Baozi relaxes very slightly. It is a moment before he recognises Liao Chun - Liao Hua as he is now, and then he tenses up again. What should he possibly say? He manages at least not to gape in surprise, but for too many moments he simply stands staring at him.

A long moment passes, and then Liao Hua speaks. "Such times, when a child his age must learn to fight."

“It will be years before I put metal in his hand. But he will be a better swordsman for starting young.”

Liao Hua nods at that, and Baozi gets the sense that he knows it well from experience. "And why is the magistrate of this town teaching him?"

Because he saw himself in the shy little boy. Because by now he has come to love him dearly. “My Elder Brother wanted very much to see to these orphans’ education. I would have helped teach them all, but I... I do not know how to teach a class.” Do not dare would be nearer the mark. “But this one caught my eye and I have been teaching him what I can.”

"Then you are a better magistrate than most," says Liao Hua drily.

“I... It is generous of you to say so.”

"I might say, it is generous of you not to kill us, or report us, or at least throw us out. Why not?"

“You’ve made yourselves useful.” Baozi says simply. “It would have done more harm than good to be rid of you. Given that you don’t seem inclined to try to avenge yourself upon us. I might ask you too, why not?”

"If I did and failed, what would happen to my family here?" says Liao Hua. "And if I succeeded, that would be a poor way to repay your brother."

“True. But then, if one was so inclined, one could argue that a winter’s shelter was but fair repayment for defending this county. And you are hiding from your family, surely because you disobey your elders.” Baozi’s tone is mild, a question rather than a remonstrance. But he watches the man’s reaction carefully. There is the barest flicker of surprise in Liao Hua's eyes before he responds, after just a fraction of a second's pause.

"Strange though it may seem, there are higher powers in the universe than Elder Liao," says Liao Hua gravely.

“You mean Zhang Jue and his brothers?”

A shadow seems to pass over Liao Hua's face. "So I thought."

Baozi isn’t quite sure what he had expected to get out of him with that, and has even less idea how to continue. The pause drags on for nearly a minute before Liao Hua puts an end to it by taking his leave.



Come the spring, reports begin to trickle in of a great increase in attacks by bandits in the north of Hu Qu. Some of the accounts are clearly of Niu Mu’s Mountain Vixens, but most are probably the remnants of the deserters. Something must be done, and by now the training of the new recruits is well under way.

Wenchang takes a hundred of their best men, and his young officer, and goes north for a fortnight to fight the bandits. Baozi advises him to hunt down the former garrison in particular, and not to fight the Vixens unless they have to. Meanwhile, the youxia leave as quietly as they came, heading north as well, intent on continuing their task of the previous year.

While it is impossible to get rid of them entirely, especially since most of them are supposedly soldiers, they learn several hard lessons at the hands of Wenchang and his men.


Thumbs all round please, genuine joint production. Special callout to Kiv who wrote Yuanjian's part.
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