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To Establish Peace - A Romance of the Three Kingdoms Quest

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Swift tally time.
Adhoc vote count started by Gaz on Sep 24, 2018 at 6:47 PM, finished with 527 posts and 17 votes.
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Vote Closed!
Adhoc vote count started by Gaz on Sep 25, 2018 at 2:50 PM, finished with 529 posts and 18 votes.
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Xinshen Town II
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    • [X] Refuse to hand over your prisoner, and come back tomorrow.

    Although you are somewhat tempted to see if Liang Zhen will have better luck than you in persuading the guards, you eventually decide to give in for now. After all, it had been a long day of travelling, and you imagine that spending much longer arguing with the guard captain would likely just end up causing a scene. If Leng Jun was a petty a prefect as Xu Tong suggested, you can assume it would take any kind of slight to give him an excuse to cast you in irons or banish you from the town. With a deep breath and sigh of defeat, you bow to the guard.

    "If his lordship is truly too busy, then I dare not disturb his work, sir." You say with a polite tone. "I shall withdraw for now and come back tomorrow morning. I must insist, however, that I personally hand over the criminal to Prefect Leng. I shall keep him in my own custody until his lordship is ready to see me."

    The officer looks to you and scratches his chin. "Hmph." He eventually grunts, "I suppose so. Make sure you keep a close eye on him, however. If you allow a dangerous criminal to be set loose on the streets of Xinshen, then there wil be severe consequences. Likewise, ensure that your entourage there causes no trouble during your stay."

    "Yes, of course. I assure you, I have no intentions of allowing him to escape." You offer another bow, "Please inform the Prefect that I shall return in the morning."

    Zhu Fang gives the guards a scowl before you return to the others. You explain what happened, and how stubborn the guards were being.

    "I see. I fear this may be some rudimentary ruse from the Prefect, to prevent you from seeing him." Liang Mi suggests thoughtfully. "It is possible that he will keep his doors shut until you give up and either leave town or hand over the bandit to his guards."

    "Hmph, so he can steal all your credit, brother!" Liang Zhen pipes up, "He knows that if word gets out that you are fighting crime in the valleys, the people will rally to you rather than support his cause! He's too lazy and incompetent to do anything about the lawbreakers himself, but he's also too scared of what'll happen if you get too popular!"

    "Yeah, he's a coward." Zhu Fang nods to Liang Zhen. "Too busy to see us? My arse he is! You know what I think? I think he doesn't even give a crap about the bandits...hell, he's probably in league with 'em! Somethin' smells rotten if you ask me. Not only does he let brigand scum attack innocent people, but he also shuts the door on your brother when he comes offerin' help?"

    "Oh, perhaps he may be taking a cut of whatever loot is stolen? In exchange for not properly upholding the laws?" Liang Zhen wonders, looking to Zhu Fang.

    Liang Mi raises a finger to her chin. "That would be incredibly risky for a man of his position. Being corrupt or bad at his job is one thing, you are suggesting practical treason against the Empire. If he were found out, he and his entire family would be executed as traitors to the Han."

    You raise a hand, "We ought not to jump to any conclusions. Besides, this is hardly the best time or place to discuss such matters."

    "Indeed." Xu Tong agrees, "I suggest we retire for the evening and see what tomorrow brings. I have already arranged accommodation for us. A distant cousin of mine, Ji Luo, will allow us to stay in his manor near the northern wall of the town. He and his family are currently away from town, as are most of his servants, but those who remain will treat us like honoured guests. His home is ours, for as long as we remain in town."

    "Sounds good to me!" Zhu Fang grins, "Could do with a nice comfy bed tonight! After ridin' all day, my back is killin' me..."

    Liang Zhen gives him a sly smirk, a hand on her hip. "Oh? The mighty warrior is in agony after just a few hours of riding? Such a pity, I would have thought you were made of sturdier stuff."

    "H-hey, you can't give me that crap, you sat in a fancy carriage all day! With cushions!" The hotheaded youth protests. You Liang Mi hastily step in before they start bickering again, and before long the group is heading to the home of Xu Tong's cousin. Along the way, you find somewhere to have your horses stabled and looked after, agreeing to pay once your business in the city is over.

    As promised, the town manor of Ji Luo is fully available for your use, and is easily large enough to house your entourage. Just as Xu Tong said, most of the house's servants are away, but those left have been instructed to treat you as if you were of their master's own clan. Indeed, you overhear several of the serving staff speak your father's praises and they all seem to hold you in high regard.

    You find a room to keep your prisoner, and instruct some of your men not only to keep an eye on him, but also ensure he is fed. By the time you have fully settled in, the sun has begun to set over the city. It appears you have the evening to yourself. Although you do feel somewhat tired after your long day, perhaps you could make use of this free time? In addition, your sisters and Zhu Fang are on hand as well with nothing to do - if you have any preperations to make for tomorrow, they could certainly be able to try and assist you. Xu Tong is busy ensuring Ji Luo's servants meet your needs as well as organising your guards, but the others do seem to be free...

    You have some options to make. Liang Shu, Zhu Fang, Liang Zhen and Liang Mi are all available should you need them for a task.

    [] Rest up for the night to be ready for tomorrow.
    [] Have Liang Shu talk to someone (Cannot include anyone sent on a task, can include Xu Tong)
    [] Have someone gather information in the city regarding the current situation, the Prefect, etc (Up to three characters can be chosen for this task)
    [] Send someone to spread word of your arrival in the city and your good deeds as well as big up your father's legacy (Up to three characters can be chosen for this task)
    [] Have someone spread rumours about the Prefect's ineptitude and alleged corruption (Up to three characters can be chosen for this task)
    [] Write in? Any action I deem reasonable enough will be allowed. As you only have an evening free, anything too complicated or time consuming will not be approved.

    Please vote in Plan Format Only. Each character can only be chosen for a single action. Also, you can assume that all characters sent on a task will have a few guards or so with them as well for protection. If multiple characters are chosen for the same action, it will be assumed they will be working together.
     
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    • I guess I'll give making a plan a shot. Note that the plan is subject to change.

    [X] Plan First Impression
    -[x] Have someone gather information in the city regarding the current situation, the Prefect, etc (Liang Shu, Zhu Fang)
    -[x] Send someone to spread word of your arrival in the city and your good deeds as well as big up your father's legacy (Liang Mi, Liang Zhen)
     
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    Wouldn't Zhu Fang be the best one to gather information in the city? He's a commoner and can blend in better with the townsfolk than us or our sisters. Plus, why would we send HIM to spread OUR good deeds and our father's? He's more likely to talk about himself than us or our father.
     
    King50000 said:
    Wouldn't Zhu Fang be the best one to gather information in the city? He's a commoner and can blend in better with the townsfolk than us or our sisters. Plus, why would we send HIM to spread OUR good deeds and our father's? He's more likely to talk about himself than us or our father.
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    A good point. While not a subtle person by any standards he does what none of our family can: fit in as a commoner
     
    King50000 said:
    Wouldn't Zhu Fang be the best one to gather information in the city? He's a commoner and can blend in better with the townsfolk than us or our sisters. Plus, why would we send HIM to spread OUR good deeds and our father's? He's more likely to talk about himself than us or our father.
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    Fair enough. The vote plan's been changed.
     
    [X] Plan First Impression
    -[x] Have someone gather information in the city regarding the current situation, the Prefect, etc (Liang Shu, Zhu Fang)
    -[x] Send someone to spread word of your arrival in the city and your good deeds as well as big up your father's legacy (Liang Mi, Liang Zhen)
     
    [X] Plan Shopping for Influence and Material
    -[x] Have Liang Shu talk to important people in town who knows your father and try to drum up their support and friendship
    -[x] Liang Zhen came here to shop right? Have her do just that but also listen in to the pulse of the marketplace, make friends with the merchants, remind them of your father and know the price of essential supplies and suppliers.
    -[x] Have Liang Mi meet the town's scholars, other intellectuals and low-level government functionaries to know the state of rulership under the current prefect and try to LOOK for discontent in their ranks and things that we may be able to use against said prefect.
    -[x] Zhu Fang should meet the town commoners and workers try to gather information or other useful facts which may be used against the prefect. He is also to tell the people on how he met Liang Shu and the depradations of the bandits in the outlying countryside.

    @Gaz how's these as write-ins?
     
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    butchock said:
    [X] Plan Shopping for Influence and Material
    -[x] Have Liang Shu talk to important people in town who knows your father and try to drum up their support and friendship
    -[x] Liang Zhen came here to shop right? Have her do just that but also listen in to the pulse of the marketplace, make friends with the merchants, remind them of your father and know the price of essential supplies and suppliers.
    -[x] Have Liang Mi meet the town's scholars, other intellectuals and low-level government functionaries to know the state of rulership under the current prefect and try to LOOK for discontent in their ranks and things that we may be able to use against said prefect.
    -[x] Zhu Fang should meet the town commoners and workers try to gather information or other useful facts which may be used against the prefect. He is also to tell the people on how he met Liang Shu and the depradations of the bandits in the outlying countryside.

    @Gaz how's these as write-ins?
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    Most of it is good, but as a heads up, the town market will be closing up before long due to how late in the day it is, so Liang Zhen's action may have limited effects.
     
    [X] Plan First Impression

    There isn't enough time left in the day for the Shopping and Material plan. Save all that for tomorrow.
     
    I won't be able to respond today for RL reasons, so the vote will be open for another day.
     
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    On Merchants - In Brief
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    • rx915 said:
    What would that mean for merchant families?
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    Merchants in China could get extremely wealthy - even more so than some members of the "Shi" social class the Liang family are in. They were able to harness great wealth and influence but were always treated with suspicion and mistrust, by scholars and commoners alike. Whilst nobles provided leadership and were scholarly, and farmers worked hard on the fields and were also the common source of drafted labour and soldiers, and crafters were praised for their skills, merchants were not considered to contribute to society in any way. They were also stereotyped as being self serving and ambitious. Still due to their wealth and influence they could sway considable social power beyond their low status, and it wasn't unusual to find merchants at the tables of the social elite. Of course without traders, society wouldn't function, they were absolutely neccisary to the country.
    To answer your question, people would probably whisper about a single noblewoman meeting with families of merchants and would wonder what her agenda was.
     
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  • Informational
    • Gaz said:
    Merchants in China could get extremely wealthy - even more so than some members of the "Shi" social class the Liang family are in. They were able to harness great wealth and influence but were always treated with suspicion and mistrust, by scholars and commoners alike. Whilst nobles provided leadership and were scholarly, and farmers worked hard on the fields and were also the common source of drafted labour and soldiers, and crafters were praised for their skills, merchants were not considered to contribute to society in any way. They were also stereotyped as being self serving and ambitious. Still due to their wealth and influence they could sway considable social power beyond their low status, and it wasn't unusual to find merchants at the tables of the social elite.
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    Certainly worked for the Mi brothers. If we did make good friends with one, they can help with future ventures when we need funding.
     
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