Meeting with Gongsun Zan

[Xian Ye]

Xian frowned as he watched the disgusted looks the more fanatical soldiers when they heard he was meeting with an enemy commander. Quickly sending them back to guard the supply-depot, Xian motioned his peasants to construct a crude meeting place, little more then a tent, and to put half of the supplies they'd taken inside. Now...To wait. At last his path was unfolding for him. Muttering to himself "He who Dares, Wins. He who Hesitates, Dies. You hesitate too much Zhang Bao, you and the rest of the Yellow Turbans. I shall not die with you, I'm happy to say." Moving to the floor, Xian started to wait, staring out at the northern mountains.

[Zhou Yu]

The army of Gongsun Zan was heard before it was seen as 800 riders shock the earth as his white horsemen approached the meeting place with General Xian. They were all heavy armed in case of a trap or a trick. It would not be the first time with the Yellow Turbans. At the head of the advance force of riders two figures could clearly be see one was a large man in pure white armour who rode with amazing skill. Riding at his side was a more petite figure in purple/pink armour who rode if anything even better than he. From the sight of the troops and these riders the force could only be that of the Gongsun.

Gongsun Zan and his younger cousin Li Ling drew up there horse before the force of cavalrymen as they rode onto the flat plains around the supply depot. Gongsun Fan was strangely absent from the party, still back in Bei Ping and sick in bed where he should be. Li Ling bit her lip as she looked at the Yellow turbans in wonder. She had never seen the rebels before and had almost childlike notions about them. Gongsun Zan did not as he held out a hand and gestured for her to follow his lead.

“I am Gongsun Zan of Bei Ping. Where is this General Xian Liang iv heard so much about from my younger brother Fan.” He demanded, getting right to the point as he always did. He could be as blunt as a well used executioners axe some times. Li Ling giggled as he looked around at the rebels wondering if they were all as bad everyone told her.

[Xian Ye]

Xian's eyes opened as he felt the ground move, and he heard the silence of an army coming to a halt. Quikcly standing and moving outside of the meeting place, He saw the final approach of Gongsun Zan. Bowing to him, He stepped infront of his own forces and replied "I am General Xian, Lord. I'm pleased your brother speaks well of me, He is a most capable warrior. Now, would you please come in? The supplies I promise are inside as well, I shall even leave my sword outside if you would feel safer that way." Xian rested his hand on his sword, prepared to remove it if he must.

[Zhou Yu]

Gongsun Zan shook his head as he stepped forward Li Ling just a half step behind him toward the large tent. His cavalrymen stayed although the horses pawed the ground becoming nervous as they sensed that same emotion in there riders.

“I am the lord of the Gongsun you may keep your sword warrior I fear not.” Gongsun Zan declared walking past him and into the tent. Li Ling smiled at her cousin usual boldness. She gave the Yellow Turban general a searching look before skipping into the tent herself. Gongsun Zan was busy looking around and checking the supplies that were piled inside he seemed satisfied by what he saw.

“I am Zan and this is my cousin Li Ling. Now General would you tell me why you want to meet me hear and offer to return supplies you only so recently fought so hard to obtain?” He said making introductions and he gestured to Li Ling who politely curtsied. He looked at the yellow Turban command with stern unreadable eyes.

[Xian Ye]

Sparing the Han Cavalry a brief glance, Xian turned and followed Zan into the then, wathing in amusement as he checked the supplies himself. He bowed to Li Ling when she was introduced, as was common courtesy, before turning back to Zan. He moved so he was standing near the entrance, looking out at the sheer difference in quality of his men, and the Han soldiers. Taking a second to gather himself, He quietly replied "I was so sure, when I joined the Way of Peace, that they wanted peace. After facing your brother and seeing the fanaticism of their followers, my own men, as they tried to litterally tear the enemy apart, some being near death and trying to fight on, It's no better then the Han. The Han itself is a dieing horse, Giving it's power with impunity to those who have no right to it, only titles and lands that were neither earned or deserved. I saw honor in your brother, for he fought to protect the people's rights, so I wanted to meet his lord. I wanted to see if you are a man I could follow, without the disgust I feel for the Imperial dogs and the Zealots. So far, I am impressed." He turned to face Zan, as he finished.

[Zhou Yu]

Zan look around and decided to remain standing as did Li Ling as they heard out Xian Liang. It made a bit more sense now that he was offering to return their supplies if he had become disillusioned with the way of peace. As it was ironically called Gongsun Zan preferred to call it the way of pillage. He had little respect for the Yellow turbans and less for their leaders. However he could accept that good and worthy men had become trapped in their web of lies. It would not do to paint them all with the same brush as Zhang Jiao and his brothers. He was considering his response when Li Ling surprised him by speaking first.

“The Han is just a way for the strong to abuse the weak and justify it at the same time. They lost their way a long time ago but perhaps putting your faith in religious fanaticism that calls for blood is no better.” She said speaking her mine and her high minded views. Gongsun Zan shrugged she was right and now he did not need to say it at least. Although it galled him deeply it was clear that the Han was a failing relic even without the Yellow Turbans it would soon tear itself apart. The yellow turbans were just another symptom of the same illness.

“I am a man of honour I will tell you that much and I see no honour in the Yellow Turban path and neither in blindly following the Han. I will cut out my own path as the Gongsun have always done.” Zan said deciding that summed up his position as well as Li Ling had. She looked at him with a faint smile and he shrugged again. Although he had heard good things from Fan he had yet to make up his mind about his Yellow Turban general.

[Xian Ye]

Xian watched Li Ling carefully as she spoke, trying to decide if she was lieing to try and trap him or if she spoke her own views. Xian thought to himself while deciding his answer, about how Gongsun Zan seemed to have his own honor, while still remembering the people. So far, This was the only Lord he could stand to have, and even respect. Turning back to Zan, He bowed slightly once more as he spoke. "Then, Lord Zan, if you will accept my sword, I shall serve you until I die, into Hell and back if necessary."

[Zhou Yu]

Gongsun Zan considered the Xian Liang offer of service. If what his younger brother had said was true then he was indeed a skilful warrior and he needed such men. If he was also an honourable man then it was twice as good an offer. He doubted the man would offer to serve him in fact if he was not the sort of man that he wanted.

“Let me fight him and see if he is worthy.” Li Ling said quickly looking at the Yellow Turban general intently. It was clear she was just excited however rather than expressing any kind of dislike for him. Zan mealy shock his head either way whoever won he lost.

“He went threw enough rounds with Fan if he wasn’t good enough he would not still be standing here.” Zan said smiling as he saw Li Ling was looking disappointed. He would be careful if he was Xian at the moment.

“I accept your service General Xian Liang. Although I wonder if some of your men would accept me as there lord?” He asked thinking back to the reports of fanatic zealots that had done most of the killing.

[Xian Ye]

Xian smiled at Li Ling's eagerness, thinking that after he had his rematch with Fan he'd gladly take her on. His smile faded as Zan mentioned his men, his mind drifting to the fanatics who followed him only because the Zhang's had commanded them to, the rest of his men being loyal to him. He'd known that he might have to execute them, He'd actually been hoping more of them would have died against Fan and his men. "Some of my men won't, they're fanatically loyal to the Way of Peace, but the majority of my men are loyal to me, not the foolish Zhang's. The fanatics will need to be...dealt with, but the rest shall follow my decisions. If I might be so bold, Lord Zan, Would you leave a couple of your men to help me train my own? Right now they're strong, but most of them have little to no training." Xian stuck his head out of the tent afterwards, waving one of his Marauders over and issueing a quiet command that all of those who were loyal to the Way of Peace and not him be gathered and watched until he was done with Lord Zan.

[Zhou Yu]

Gongsun Zan moved to the flap of the tent and took a analytical look at General Xian’s men. He had to agree with his assessment that they need much training. It was what came from drafting masses of ill equipped peasants most of there were not good for much more than dying. There were the cannon fodder of the Yellow turban armies. Such tactics were disgusting and dishonourable although he could see the effectiveness of them. If they had the skill of his men then his younger brother would have been overrun in moments. He would not have any men in his forces unless they at least knew how to fight properly.

“Very well Xian I can see your men are in dire need of training. I will leave some of my riders here to train them and send my brother Fan to assist as well once he recovers from his bout of illness.” Gongsun Zan said turning away from the flap of the tent. He wondered what they would do about the fanatics although he could guess Xian’s meaning. Such men could only be dealt with in one way. It also might help patch up relations between them and the people of Xiang Ping.

[Xian Ye]

"Thank you, My Lord. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must deal with those who won't follow us, and get my men to a proper area for training. If you need me, I'll be around Xiang Ping, Lord Zan." Xian quickly bowed to Zan, and slightly to Li Ling, before leaving and heading to where his men had gathered all the zealots of Zhang Jiao, drawing his sword as he went. Standing infront of them, He watched as they realized they were going to die, and they started to struggle, trying to escape their fate. With a quick movement of his sword it started, and soon it was over, leaving a few of his men with some minor injuries but little else. Turning to his men, He ordered them to gather the rest of the supplies and move out, They needed to be properly trained to impress their Lord Gongsun Zan. Mounting his own horse as it was brought to him, Xian waved once to Zan, before moving out.