"Go, I'm sure you have much business waiting," Luo Jie dismissed. He looked at her only briefly, focusing on Gan Guangli.
There might be more for her to say to this man before the summit, but for now, she had other matters to attend too. Ling Qi bowed once more, and took her leave, following a Luo attendant back out of the partially complete compound, past the lounging hounds the artificially grown treeline.
There, Ling Qi remained on the path, not flying since her destination wasn't too far. She returned to the center of Imperial construction, the housing being built onto the ruins of the Hui bunker. There, she passed the workers, and spoke to the attendant at the steps which lead down into the ruin proper, gaining entry.
It was very different than she had saw it last. The shape and structure was there, but the stone had been rendered meticulously clean, and the stone sanded or smoothed to remove all signs of its previous owners. She felt the auras of soldiers now bunked in the empty barracks, saw the work of formations carvers, adjusting, erasing, and manipulating the arrays already in place to perform the new functions that would be needed. Further down where the spiders had once laired, there were no longer any corpses, not even the empty shell of the greatest of the spiders, dead before they had arrived.
Ling Qi had no doubt that it had been harvested for anything which still retained even a dreg of power. At the bottom though, she found her destination, the once sealed room of Hui Peng, the mad corpse Immortal she and Xia Lin had slain. And there in that emptied room, whose walls were still covered in scribbles and graffiti she found the man she was meeting with. Cao Chun stood facing away from her, resting his weight on the cane planted on the ground in front of her. He seemed to be examining the interior of the small room.
There was another person as well. A young man she had glimpsed once at the crafting tournament. Jin Tae, she thought. Cao Chun had mentioned that he was taking him on as an apprentice. It showed in his black robes and the featureless white mask he wore on the side of his head, where it could be easily slid into place over his face.
"Vileness clings here despite everything," Cao Chun said as she approached. "Those who refuse to accept the impermanence of men are among the most vile and destructive foes. You did well in destroying this infection, Baroness."
"I cannot claim the entire credit," Ling Qi said modestly, stopping and clasping her hands in a respectful gesture she bowed at a moderate angle.
"The young Xia. Also promising," Cao Chun said. He turned to face her, his cane tapping upon the ground. "I am satisfied with the security here. Though these barbarians of yours are being allowed to observe from the shadows. They are watched."
"It is not easy, according to my seniors. These crow men are quite skilled," Jin Tae said cheerfully. Hearing him speak for the first time, his voice was smooth and clear, with a tint of sharp accent.
Cao Chun glanced at him, and the young man tilted his head forward, chastised.
"I have spoken to one of these," Ling Qi said. "I believe I understand their trepidation. The General is intimidating."
Cao Chun considered this. "I have not detected any attempt to penetrate any secure location, this is why I only offer you warning."
Ling Qi nodded, acknowledging. "On that matter, I intend to speak with them later today, and gather some preliminary information. To that end I intend to ask that our work crews and perhaps our guard detail to speak with theirs, so that neither of our preparations cause accident or misfortune."
He gave her an assessing look. "I will review the information shared. We cannot compromise our defenses."
"I understand, Sir Cao," Ling Qi said. "I think it is better for our security if neither the barbarians or ourselves surprise each other. And I am confident in the General."
She had no doubt about that woman's killing power, whereas the greater cultivator brought by the White Sky did not feel so fatal.
"There is some sense in that, I think sir," Jin Tae offered. "We should only share information equivalent to what we are given of course."
Cao Chun furrowed his brows. "I will think on this. Consider information on geomantic plans for the work crews approved. I have observed that these barbarians understand them already, if with less refinement than our own experts."
"Thank you sir," Ling Qi said, bowing again. While the Ministry of Integrity might not technically have legal authority over such changes without sending back to the Empress for a decree, openly flouting their authority would just lead to bad blood, or worse, such a decree actually being made. "With that out of the way, may I ask why you requested this meeting?"
He gave a small nod, rapping his cane once on the ground. "As my impetuous student implied there are other agents providing less obvious security. I must oversee and coordinate, as well as provide my own expertise. This limits my time."
"You wish for another avenue of communications than directly seeking you out?" Ling Qi considered.
"For large matters, You should still seek me, Baroness," he said crisply. "But for small matters, yes. Apprentice Jin."
There was a certain emphasis on 'apprentice' reminding the young man of his position, regardless of family?
"Yes, sir?" Jin Tae said, straightening up.
"You will be my direct liaison with the Cai Heiress and negotiating team. Baroness, as the liaison of the Cai, I will leave him in your care," Cao Chun said. "Familiarize yourselves. I must continue to examine the formation array core. I have already detected seven information hazards against long term subversion, atop those already found by the work teams. I suspect there will be more, given the makers."
Ling Qi glanced at the younger man and bowed. "Sir Cao. Good fortune in your seeking."
Jin Tae offered his own bows, a deep one to his master, and a minimal one to her as he stepped out. "Baroness Ling, I hope that we can speak fruitfully."
"I as well," Ling Qi said politely, dipping her head in his direction as they left the old agent to his work, crossing back across the cavern floor to the stairway that had been set up. "May I ask for your understanding of this summit, in your own words?"
She didn't know enough about him. If most of her information toward Cao Chun was going to filtered toward him, that couldn't stand. The Jin were the dukes of the Alabaster Seas. They had minimal relations with the Emerald Seas. She knew they were mercantile, somewhat like the Bao, but much more heavily invested in shipbuilding and shipping. They controlled all ports on the mainland Empire, save for a single city in the Thousand Lakes.
"I see," he said. He really was very handsome. Though his voice was warm, his manner was sterner and more serious than Meng Dan's. "This operation seeks to defuse an additional front of the war against the tribes of these mountains. Who have fallen roughly into three 'factions' or confederations. Your target is aligned with a foreign group much further south, in the plains of ice beyond the mountains. These foreigners control their barbarians to such a degree that you are negotiating directly with them."
Ling Qi considered him as she spoke, observing his face as they climbed the stairs. He laid out his points swiftly and with confidence. She also noted some of his choices of words. "I would word it differently. The White Sky Confederation and their Polar Nation appear invested in fully integrating the CLoud Tribes who have joined them. These tribes are mostly those furthest from the empire who reside in the harshest peaks."
"How ambitious of them," Jin Tae mused.
"Oh, you don't believe they are puffing themselves up?" Ling Qi prodded.
"Possible. I have at least heard credible reports of true civilizations beyond the Empire's shores though. So I would rather not assume. Regardless, I have studied the maps. These folk are too far distant to mount a credible military campaign against, should they stay in the southern foothills of the wall." he replied, looking her in the eye. They reached the top of the stairs, facing each other in the room there. "And it seems their most likely military option against us is unleashing their auxiliary tribes with support in the form of equipment and safe infrastructure."
Ling Qi hadn't quite considered it that way, but inferior talismans were generally a weakness of the Cloud Tribes, and their camps were considered their only real strategic vulnerabilities. "I'm glad that you are considering things in such a clearheaded way."
"It is an interesting little puzzle. It is enjoyable to turn over scenarios in the mind, isn't it?" he said. "Regardless. I do believe your approach is correct. There is no profit to be found in war with them at the present."
She nodded. That was probably the most helpful position she could hope for from the Ministry and the capital. If he were more supportive she would honestly be suspicious. Although perhaps that was a consideration of his? She liked to think no one was actively looking to sabotage things, but of all present the Jin did have the most conflicts with the Bai and the Xuan, the Cai's allies in the Empire.
"I think that War in the Wall will not be helpful anytime in our lifetimes," Ling Qi said. "Which is why I do this. The longer an association goes, the more sturdy it becomes, no?"
"I think that might be a little simplistic, but not outright wrong," Jin Tae replied, crossing his arms. In the end, kingdoms and Empire's compete with those next to them, and some must lose so that others can win. It is because they are too far and out of competition with the Empire that I have some confidence in this. Should the borders come closer, or transport formations development advance, this may change."
That was sincere, she thought. "Not outright wrong."
He chuckled. "But as you said. That is not the foreseeable future."
Ling Qi considered him. She would have to keep him 'in the know' on some level to satisfy Cao Chun and the ministry presence, but how did she want to handle that?
[ ] Take a close approach, allow him into the decision and planning loop of most of their actions. Keep him close, and maybe, just maybe outright convince him that you're right.
[ ] You can't be fully sure of Jin Tae's intentions, given his family and work. Keep communication professional and arms length. There is too much to risk here
