Chang Sha Palace

[Zhuge Liang]

"A position where we can both be of great benefit to Shu? I'm sure that it can be arranged." Zhuge Liang smiled at his old friend "After all, the greatest mind under heaven has just offered his allegiance to Shu."

Kongming placed ruffled the feathers of his fan with his fingers. He was very happy to see his greatest friend alive and well, specially now that he joined Shu. "There's no need for apologies, you did well in not announcing your arrival by your name. In these dangerous times it's better if we remain anonymous most of the time. Specially when traveling alone."

[Pang Tong]

"I am relieved that I am welcome here even at such short notice." Pang Tong leaned his head back to look at the sun for a few moments before returning his gaze to Zhuge Liang, "I can only now imagine what our enemies might think to see the Dragon and the Phoenix united against them on the battlefield."

"But, I digress, I have heard that Liu Bei welcomes all sorts of men into his service personally, I would be indebted to you if you could help arrange such a meeting.

[Ding Feng]

About 6 miles away from Chang Sha, a general and his army were encamped along the riverbank. The general, a man of medium stature swiftly made his way onto a raised platform in front of troops arranged in lines. He looked among the faces of all of them, and in a confident tone he spoke to them.

"I am going to be heading into Chang Sha today, and it's not really wise for all of you to come with me, so I'm going to be heading alone save for Lieutenant Fan Kuai coming with me. It will simply be better this way. I assume none of you will have problems while I'm gone."

He then dismissed the troops, most of them going off in groups to their tents or to the waterline. Watching them off, and quickly making his way to his tent, he said to Fan Kuai,

"Get yourself ready. Remove your sword and armour, and we'll make our way to Chang Sha. I want to see what Liu Bei thinks of me when I am not appearing in splendour in armour and a horse and troops at my back. If he truly is what men claim him to be, he will appreciate someone simply coming to serve him."

So he lifted up the flap of his tent, and after putting away his cuirass and weapon, on their respective stands, and then put on a simple robe of a pale dusty orange colour. He then went to check up on Fan Kuai, and once he was ready they made their way towards Chang Sha on foot.

It took them around 2 hours to get there from walking at a decent pace. They mingled in with the crowd entering and exiting the city, and were generally unobstructed. Once within the city, and having some brief but useful chitchat with the populace, he managed to find out what area Liu Bei had made his headquarters.

Seeing as how the day was still young, both of them believed it would be best to simply head there right at that instant. So they thanked the elderly man for giving them directions, and went on their way, and in a short while they were in front of the palace. There were guards and officials milling about the place, but they waited a bit just to see how things were done about the place. Some commoners had asked a guard if they could enter the palace to make a petition, and it seemed to work, so looking slightly in the direction of Fan Kuai, who nodded to show his agreement, they both walked to the same guard as before and said,

"Excuse me sir, but we would like to seek entrance into the palace, there are some things we would like to ask of him."

[Zhuge Liang]

"Think nothing of it, old friend. Lord Liu Bei will be happy and honored because of your presence." Kongming said as he led his fellow strategist to the Palace.

"Our enemies will stand no chance against your strategies, I can assure you that." Zhuge Liang never considered himself to be a great master of strategy, instead he allowed his actions to speak for himself.

[Liu Bei]

(Bleh Post, directed at Ding Feng.)

As the day wore on, many of the ministers left the hall, and Liu Bei felt more at ease. He slid down on his side and rested on his bed-throne, a mass of blankets at his feet. His eyes closed and he thought about the day. The room was -- more or less -- quiet, through the whispers of the remaining ministers Liu Bei heard soft steps approaching him. Soft, calculated steps.

"Lord Xuande, there is somewhere to see you." A familiar voice said through the darkness.

Liu Bei opened his eyes, he was still on his side, another one? He thought almost wishing to dismiss him. The odd Ba Zeng was a mere ten paces away, his hands folded behind his back; an inviting smile on his face. His attire, Bei thought, should've been a guard uniform; but he was merely wearing a clean, gray robe with an unfamiliar 'Zen' marking on his chest.

"Ba Zeng...?" Bei was about to ask about his attire, when he concluded he'll ask later.

"Yes, Milord?"

Liu Bei did not even think about asking the man's name: "Send him in." Liu Bei hadn't bothered to sit up either, he merely thought to himself who was next to show up before him.

[Ding Feng]

Waiting for a few minutes, and then Ding Feng and Fan Kuai were led into the palace, though he did not really look around at any of the furnishings or what not. He had no real care for frivolous things like that. He simply followed the courtier to where Liu Bei was. He entered quietly, and looked at the man laying on his side.

He didn't bow, though he did make a salute placing his right fist in his left palm and nodded his head slightly, and then spoke.

"Lord Liu Bei, I am not from Chang Sha. In fact I'm not from anywhere close by, however I had heard you were a good judge of talent and so I wished to present myself to you to hear your thoughts. That is, if you are willing."

Fan Kuai himself was not really paying attention, staring off into space. However as due to the habit he picked up from doing this exact sort of thing throughout his life, he merely nodded in agreement to what was being said. His face also showed no real signs of his mind wandering, rather is showed that he was a quiet individual, keeping his thoughts and words to himself.

[Liu Bei]

Liu Bei was laying peacefully on his bed-throne, sipping at some tea, when two men had entered. The lord thought to give him some respect, and sat up straight. Then he got a look at the man in front of him.

Firstly, he did not bow, just saluted. Perhaps he was a soldier, Bei then noted consecutively that the man's body was scarred. The man had introduced himself as being an outlander, of sorts, Liu Bei guessed. He hadn't gone into specifics. Nor in fact, mention his name. His clothes were -- more or less, rags -- but that hadn't bothered Liu Bei.

Bei, himself was in rags with his brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei when they had risen a volunteer army against the Yellow Turbans. Now he lived in an elaborate palace with everything he could desire. The man had mentioned Liu Bei to be a good judge of talent, now where could he have heard that from? Bei wondered if this man knew Xin Fai. Perhaps. For that reason, he would allow the man to be un-named for now.

"If there is a talent you so wish to demonstrate, please do not hold back." Liu Bei said in an inviting voice, he hadn't bothered to introduce himself, as his mystery visitor hadn't himself. Liu Bei kept his cool and calm demeanor as he watched the visitors.

[Lao Jun]

Lao Jun glanced about Chang Sha as his steed, Ju Feng, advanced at a walking gait. It was lively and colorful, a healthy city. What one would expect of a just ruler’s capitol. Looks could be deceiving, though, as Jun knew all to well. The villain Cao Cao had deceived many before he revealed his true colors, even the great Yuan Shao. Was Liu Bei also a deceiver? Could Jun be making the wrong decision? He closed his eyes exhaled slowly. Now was not the time for doubt. He had made up his mind. He would not sit and despair any longer over the defeat of the Yuan and the destruction of his clan. Cao Cao would pay for his crimes, and Lao Jun would have a hand in it. If he could no longer do that in the name of Yuan, then he would need to do it in the name of another, and according to all he’d heard, Liu Bei seemed like that other.

He gazed up to the heavens. “Father, Lord Shang, I’ll make up for my failures to you. I promise.”

Further strengthened in his resolve, Jun continued onward with renewed confidence. As he neared the palace, he received several stares. Though clad in full armor and riding a steed, no men marched behind him and no attendants beside him. He had nothing and no one but what rested on his horse. Even so, he carried himself proudly. There was no slouch or slump in his posture, and his gaze was sharp and alert. When he reached the palace gates, he halted Ju Feng’s advance and dismounted, his armor clattering as he landed. He strode forward and bowed his head respectfully to the guards in greeting.

“Greetings. I am Lao Jun, former vassal to the late Lord Yuan Shang, favored son of the late Lord Yuan Shao. I humbly request an audience with your Lord Liu Bei, so that I may offer myself to his worthy cause.”

He again inclined his head in respect, not intending to raise it until he received an answer. When you were a guest in the city of someone who was not your lord, even the guards must be treated with utmost respect.

[Nevermore]

((You said I could randomly enter... if you find this post inconvienent, or inaccurate, please delete it. I have a backup.))

I stuck the end of my stave into the ground, leaning upon it as much as I could. My bones had become weak with fatigue. In my ever-growing age it was becoming steadily harder to travel across the countries like I once did in my spring years.

"There it is," I said quietly to myself as I turned my heterochromatic eyes upon the city of Chang Sha. I stared intently at it for a while before I pushed myself up off of my stave to stand on my own two feet again. I had come here on a mission to save these people. In my predictions I had forseen a famine befalling the land, taking a heavy and dastardly toll. I had set out immediately, travelling almost non-stop to reach this place in order to advise the people that they must leave, and hopefully the Emperor himself.
"I must continue... it's not much farther," I muttered under my breath as I continued towards the capitol. The haunting thought of the denizens not heeding my words weighed heavily upon my conscience; the lives lost from their arrogance even more. I continued down the road beaten flat by a million feet before mine, all the while wondering what the outcome would be of my trip here. But that was always the thought, wasn't it?

Every time I had a prediction, it came down to who was willing to believe me. In my advanced age many people marked it to the insanity and disillusions of an old man. Every time I had a prediction, the haunting thoughts of the possible repercussions clouded my mind, often making me fall into a reality of my own as if I was experiencing it myself.
I shook these thoughts from my mind as I continued down the road, ever so slowly approaching the city.

[Ding Feng]

(Two minor nitpicks Mikey, the robe Ding Feng is wearing is not rags, it's just simple and unadorned. i.e. no embroidery (the colour dusty orange being this). Second, how can you see scars on his body when it's covered up by clothes?)

He smiled, and quickly thought up an interesting occupation for himself and Fan Kuai. His mind raced through a number of things, but then he realized it would be best to demonstrate something he was not good at, simply to see Liu Bei's reaction. So he flicked out his sleeves and then said.

"Well Lord Liu Bei, I am a masseur. My name is Ding Feng, and this is my apprentice Fan Kuai.Since I have your approval to demonstrate my talent, would you so kindly lay on your stomach? I have learned many techniques to relax the muscles. Seeing the state of war our country is in, being relaxed is not such a bad thing and will keep your spirits up. I assure you that once I'm finished you will feel like a completely new man."

Ding Feng then patiently awaited his host's response, but began to wonder how he could make this work. He knew relatively nothing about being a masseur, other than they gave people massages. He was torn between actually trying his hand at it, or deliberately making mistakes, and shortly made up his mind. He was going to choose the one which was easier to get out of trouble, and make a joke about it.

[Liu Bei]

(Eh, disregard my lazy attention to detail Aaron )

Liu Bei frowned when Ding Feng finished, he wondered to himself, why would someone like this man seek him out to show his talents? It was weird, perhaps he needed some vindication? The guards tensed up at the proposal, obviously it was quite dangerous. Liu Bei did not believe for a second that this man was an assassin, but he knew his guards wouldn't have allowed Feng to message him without spears at Feng's neck.

Liu Bei quietly took a sip of tea.

Oh well, he paused between another sip. "Absolutely not," He took another sip of tea. The ministers -- who were paying attention -- grinned at Feng's defeat, surely he couldn't be serious, to get that close to Lord Xuande!

Liu Bei placed the cup down"I must pay for such a service, what is your usual fee, Ding Feng?" Liu Bei acted nonchalant when he knew his guards would be flabbergasted, that feeling empowered him quite. He smiled.

~

The guards at the front gate looked up at Lao Jun, the wondered if he knew where the stables were, probably not. The guards said a greeting, one of them offered to escort Jun's horse to the stables, whilst the other led him up the steps to the main hall.

[Lao Jun]

Lao Jun thanked the guard who started to take Ju Feng to the stables and followed the other to the main hall. He couldn’t help but tense as he neared the entrance. It had been generations since a Lao had needed to seek out a lord to serve, after all. Even if he was confident in his decision, it was still very possible that he may not be accepted by Liu Bei at all. After all, a man of his reputation must surely have had hundreds offer their lives to his cause. He could not accept everyone.

As the guard discreetly led Lao Jun into the room, the first thing Jun noticed was that Liu Bei was attending to other guests. Upon appraisal, the guests appeared to be dressed simply, apparently of a lower class. That Liu Bei was still willing to see them was perhaps a good sign. Then, he turned his attention to Liu Bei himself. He was not a physically impressive man, for what it mattered, but seemed to have a dignified face. Lying on his throne, he appeared to be very relaxed, or at least calm. Interesting.

Taking a seat out of the way in the back of the room, Lao Jun watched with interest as he patiently waited for his turn to speak with the lord.

[Ding Feng]

"A fee... Well, I only do this to survive. I have no wish for monetary gain, what I ask from people is merely a meal and somewhere to stay during the evening. If you wish for something more, that is your own doing and I will not try to force your hand. I will graciously accept whatever it is you decide. Now, we should begin."

He first rubbed his hands together quickly, to warm them up. This wasn't a deep tissue massage, in fact it probably wouldn't even qualify for a real massage at all. First he prodded near the base of Liu Bei's neck with his index fingers, and then pinched Xuande's shoulders, twisting each a little. Clearly Liu Bei would be able to tell this was not a real massage. Ding Feng hoped however, that his little idea was going to work, and that Bei would not be so offended.

[Nevermore]

At last. I had made it. The trip had taken longer than I first expected, but that was merely because my legs couldn't carry me as fast as they once could.

I stumbled into the city, breathing heavily with exhaustion as I weighed myself down on my stave once again, catching my breath. I took my hand and grabbed the rim of my green, gold-trimmed hood, taking it down. My long hair, now silver with age, cascaded out and hung down to my shoulders. I looked around for a while at the bustling city streets, hoping that someone here would believe me.
Perhaps... I should try out infront of the palace first. Perhaps the Emperor will see me... I thought as I started through the town, making my way to the exquisite palace.




Within a few minutes I had reached the palace and scouted out a place to preach. It was a rectangular stone area with a roof supported by pillars. In the middle sat a garden with numerous flowers and plants.
"People of Chang Sha!" I exclaimed at the passerbys, my voice booming deeply despite my weathering. "I bring you tidings of a plague... a famine that shall grip this land in it's claws!" I continued to shout, noticing that some of the people had stopped to listen, though most of them continued on their daily lives as if I wasn't there at all. "I beg your indulgence... please, heed my words! Depart immediately from this city for your lives! There is not much time left! This calamity will sweep across the land and destroy everything in the blink of an eye! Your crops, your cattle... you city shall fall to pieces!"
As I continued, more and more of the people listening to my started to leave, muttering harsh words under their breath. I sighed heavily and closed my eyes, handing my head at their arrogance.

(('sokay...?))

[Gongsun Chao]

The young noble approached the gates of his Lord's palace with a message for the guards. Chao dismounted his steed and spoke to one of them.

"Greetings, Sir. A honorable man surnamed Xiao will be passing through soon in order to seek employment with the Lord Liu. May you inform the Lord that I recommend him for employment, as he is said to possess many virtues similar to those of the Lord himself. Also..."

Chao begins to say something about the size of his Standard, but stops himself. He resolved to speak with the warrior when he met him, but he chose not to relay that part of the message through the guards. He allowed the "Also" to lead into a different topic.

"Also, I thank you for keeping our great Lord safe. May the Heavens smile upon the good work you do."

Chao gave them a kind smile before departing.