Sunrise

[Liu Bei]

A follow on for Incoming Refugees

Liu Bei arose and did the usual morning procedure, washed his mouth, feet and bathed on this occasion. Xuande had a private chamber sweeped and tables and mats set up, so he could invite Sha Kuang and his companions to continue discussing what was brought up the previous night when they arrived. Three seats were set at the left side, and two to the right so that Ma Liang and Liao Hua could join the discussions.

Xuande then sent servants out to inform Sha Kuang, Lady Lin, Lu Shi, Ma Liang, and Liao Hua, that Xuande was ready to recieve them at the yamen. He also had breakfast prepared for them, which consisted of fruits and vegetables, from the surrounding areas.

[Sha Kuang]

Lu Shi had awoken early. He was not one for sleeping throughout the day, and the few hours he had slept was more than enough for him. Getting out of bed, he stretched and rubbed his eyes. He was going to check on Sha Kuang and Lin Chang, but the sounds of snoring from Kuang had let him know they would still be sleeping. So instead he figured he would sit outside for a bit to watch the sunrise.

Leaving the home, there was a table and two stone seats beside it. Sitting down, he looked up towards the sky. It was still relatively dark, but dawn was beginning to break and it was giving a very beautiful colour across the horizon. He had wished he had some paints to capture this scene, but he realized that even if he did, there would not be enough time to fully complete it. He decided to simply gaze at it's beauty.

A few hours in, a servant of Liu Bei's had appeared, and informed him that lord Xuande was awake and ready. Lu Shi nodded and thanked the man, and reaching into his sleeve pulled out a couple of coins and gave them to the servant. He then went inside the house and had noticed that Sha Kuang had woken up, and was hovering over the water basin, scrubbing his face and the sweat away from his body. Lin Chang was still sleeping, and probably would remain so for a while. She had taken the most night watches during their travels, and she appeared to not really have slept on the journey. She clearly was exhausted, and both Shi and Kuang while not really afraid of anything, feared her rage when she was awoken from slumber prematurely.

Sha Kuang had dressed in some nicer clothes, and they left a letter on the side table informing Lin that they had gone to see Liu Bei, and she could join them once she had woken up. There wasn't much to worry about leaving her sleeping alone; for one she was a great fighter and could handle on her own, and Tigersoul was sitting at watch by the door. He would have to die before a stranger could have any chance at getting entrance to the building.

The men shortly arrived at the Yamen, and while three people were expected they informed them of the situation and soon passed through to the private chamber to meet with Liu Bei.

Both men saluted Liu Bei, and then Sha Kuang spoke.

[Sha Kuang] Lord Xuande, I hope you will excuse Saira not being here. She had rarely slept during our travels, and is exhausted, so we let her remain sleeping. I don't think she will be away for long though but it's safer this way...

Lu Shi chuckled and then continued for Sha Kuang,

[Lu Shi] Yes, she tends to be very grumpy when she's awoken prematurely. I think even the gates of hell would not be able to withstand her when she rages like that.

[Liu Bei]

Liu Bei was standing near a window allowing the slight breeze of fresh air to sooth him, while he was casually looking over a map of the country which was hung against the wall. It clearly mapped the current state of the empire, marking every warlord's territory.

He was pondering his position in the empire, when Sha Kuang and Lu Shi entered. Xuande walked towards them and saluted in greeting, "Of course, you've had a long journey, it would be wrong for me to expect that all of you would be so rejuvenated. I trust the two of you had a good rest?"

Liu Bei smiled as he bade the two men be seated, assuming his own seat at the head of the hall Xuande called for tea, a couple of attendants soon appeared with the freshly made beverage, and pured everyone present a cup.

Xuande took a sip and let the warmth of the liquid sooth his body before he addressed Lu Shi, "Master Lu, last night you proposed rennovation in our city? How should we go about making this proposal work?" As Xuande finished talking the same two servants brought in and laid out fruits and a bowl of vegetable soup before the three men, to take the form of breakfast.

[Lu Xiang]

Zhuge Liang arose from his sleep, fortunately being allows to sleep through the events of last night he was completely in the unaware of the new arivals; well at least the ones of significance. Men and women came into Xinye by the day - but there was nowhere for them to live and many of them camped out in the streets to show their support to Liu Bei. Expansion would soon be imminent.

The dragon stretched his arms before sitting up from the floor where he had been sleeping, newly appointed as Advisor for Liu Bei he made quick work of preparing himself for his first full day of work; wrapping himself in his robes - grabbing his peacock fan and giving his large body one last stretch before walking outside to welcome the gracious morning before he was interupted by a man who waited outside for him.

"My lord, Breakfast is served.. if you would follow me."

Zhuge Liang rolled his eyes, no doubt it would be the second time that he had allowed his sleep to disgrace his lord with his rudeness and lack of manners. He bowed before the shorter man before following him. Embracing the lands around him, Liu Bei's vision was truly something to behold, the people flocked to him.. like flies to light. Zhuge Liang stroked his beard, still new of the job although he felt that him and his master had several years experience behind them.

"Lord Liu Bei awaits, please do enter."

The shorter messenger said to Zhuge Liang before bowing. Kongming clasped his hands thanking the man for leading him around the city, surely without him he would've got lost and shamed himself some more. He followed a little corridor before presenting himself to the breakfast company. Liu Bei and several other associates who Zhuge Liang had not yet met.

"Apologies for my lateness once again my lord, do not fret to awake me next time."

He laughed before bowing with the upmost of honour. Though he made a joke, it was one of friendly nature. He had no intentions of offending his lord. He awaited to be introduced or given orders by Liu Bei quietly fanning himself.

[Liu Bei]

Xuande raised from his mat, and welcomed Zhuge Liang with a bow, "Ah Kongming, I'm glad to see you're here early, please, sit." Xuande invited Kongming to sit on the first seat to his right.

After Kongming was seated, Xuande resumed his own place, and introduced the two sides, as he did the attendants laid breakfast out before Kongming, "This is Sha Kuang and Lu Shi, they arrived last night with more refugees from the Central Plains. Masters Sha and Lu, this is an advisor to the city, Zhuge Liang."

((I've had a severe case of lack of motivation to role play these past couple of days, so I apologize for this short post.))

[Sha Kuang]

Before Lu Shi could respond, another man had entered the room. Liu Bei arose to meet him, so both men did the same to greet him, and gave him a warrior's salute. Sha Kuang then said,

[Sha Kuang] Master Zhuge, it is a pleasure to meet you. Both I and my friend here arrived in the city last night, along with my wife who is currently still resting. I presume she'll be joining us eventually though.

They then both returned to their seats, and Lu Shi took a sip from the tea presented to him. For being a relatively poor city, the tea was made quite well. After his lips were now wet, he answered Liu Bei's question,

[Lu Shi] Well my lord, the people who arrived with us were considerably wealthy. They have sold off their estates to protect that wealth, as I've told you last night. Being that they are wealthy, they will not deign to stay in a poor city, and so I think some of them will move to Xiang Yang. But those people who move are of no concern to us. They were planning that from the start and this city will just be a resting place for them. However the ones who will stay are numerous. They have the supplies and the means to start building the infrastructure of the city. However as you know, nobody ever really gets a free lunch. What can induce these people to build up the city and repair the economy then?

He stopped and took another sip of tea and then continued,

From this situation it seems bleak... But there is a way to get these people to help you for free. For one, you can petition the Emperor for rewards for them, but that will not do well until such things are completed. Still they would be grateful to you on your behalf for that. But what I propose is to eliminate taxes on them until these buildings are completed, and then give them a year of the rate cut in half so that they can create some more capital. Your treasury will then grow, and they will make a profit which can then enable them to hire more workers from those who are already here. What do you think of this plan?

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Saira had been sleeping soundly, when the chirping of birds had awoken her. She looked around, and her husband and Lu Shi were nowhere to be found. However she had noticed the note on the table... They had already gone to see the governor without her. It was a good thing they didn't wake her she thought. Sure she was annoyed, but they knew her well enough that it was safer that way. Though she grumbled a bit... Sha Kuang had let her sleep with her regular clothes on still and now they were wrinkled. That would be no way to appear formally before a governor.

She went to where her bundle of clothes were, and picked out a simple but still elegant robe that would enhance her beauty. And while it did show off her curves, it still left lots for the imagination. She made her way over to the bath, and filled it up with water. Then she slowly put in the heated stones that were on a nearby brazier. Removing her clothes, she quickly stepped into the bath and soaked for a bit, and then scrubbing away the dead skin and sweat. After a few minutes of this, she got out and dried herself off with the cloths that were nearby and she put on her robe. She looked around for a mirror, but there wasn't any. So she would have to make due to the reflection of the water. She quickly put up her hair and went to the door of the building. Tigersoul was intently standing watch and she smiled. She patted him on his head, and then knelt down to look him in the eyes. There was a connection there that words did not have to be spoken. Then bolting the door shut, she made her way towards the Yamen with Tigersoul following close beside her.

[Lu Xiang]

Zhuge Liang bowed before making his way to a small table and kneeling down and clasping his hands upwards. He wore his traditional robes; and a large green headress.

"If my eyes do not deceive me, My lord. Then this is Lu Shi - the famed poet and writer. I am honoured to be in the presence of one such as skilled with words as you."

Zhuge Liang said, bowing his head towards the figure. Lu Shi was well-known for his works; even praised by the Emperor. Zhuge Liang was not a man of poetry - but it was something of the times, it was able to manipulate events and describe them effortlessly. Zhuge Liang praised men who wrote such treasures, however it wasn't for him.

"A sound plan, though the treasury is low now we should reform. Wipe the slate clean as Master Lu Shi suggests. If we can create well-made industries we will flourish within a couple of years. The people can assist us, build new means of income and support themselves and us; as we can them. Money-wise we are naughted. Our produce is poor and our people are suffering, if we endure these harsh years coming then will be rewarded for our troubles."

Zhuge Liang said fanning himself, knocking the air back and forth to his face. As the cool air breezed through his long black hair.

"Xiang Yang is of no doubt a rival city, Xinye cannot compare at the moment. I agree the more greedy and indulgent of folk will migrate there; but Liu Biao is also a man of the royal kinsmen. Our lands are extremely close to his which provides a good mound for trade and peace which we should exploit immediately. He lacks ambition like my lord and acts rashly with his officers. I doubt his trade will differ."

Zhuge Liang said laughing, if the neighbouring cities were rich - it only made Xinye easier to promote. They could oversell things, scam and abuse the prices. Once they were out of the rain cloud things could return to default however it would take a few years of hard work from all of them.