The Fourth Fall - Chapter 27 preview

The negotiating venue for the meeting of the three kingdoms was not an enclosed building of wood or a spirit instrument of temporary construction but an overly large tent, fields of force and strategically located fires burning along merrily within to provide warmth to the participants during the occassional cold spring nights. Chambers within the tent were partitioned away as necessary by strategically hung cloth, the enchantments within the cloths creating impenetrable barriers of privacy.

Today, on this first day, the massive tent itself was completely clear of such obstructions. Located in the center of the tent itself was a singular table, so massive that it could fit all the major personages that would be involved in the negotiations themselves. No chairs or other comforts were offered to the attendants, cultivators and guards who hovered in the background.

It had taken till the middle of the afternoon for the entrances to be completed, the necessary ceremonies and announcements and music marking the passage of time in agonizingly slow minutes. Now, finally, the official observances were over and the next step had begun, one that was of greater interest to Wu Ying and those within.

For now, it was the ritual presentation of gifts.

Once more, Wu Ying had formed a tight chain so that he could speak with his friends. This time around, he wielded his aura and the wind with firm control, utilising his dao and chi to the utmost to ensure they could not be overheard. Not that he intended to speak at all, what with his presence right behind the Fourth Prince as his titular guard.

No, the channels of conversation were for his friends and allies further back, for Fa Yuan who understood the intricacies and the language of bequests. Not that every gift was particularly interesting, or subtle in its intentions.

"From the Marquisse of the Northern Marsh," the First Prince of Wei was intoning, his uncle beside him as he waved a hand at the glass acquarium that was placed by their servants before the King of Cai. "A rare sub-species variant of the golden koi, bred from his own gardens. We understand that King Cai is building a new palace and has plans for a magnificent gardens. One hopes that His Majesty will be able to enjoy the palace and his pets."

A smile, a nod, appreciative words.

"A foo dog, protector of palaces and kingdoms. I understand there will be a tomb of ancestors built for the King's forebearers. Raised well, the foo will guard the masoleum to its dying day, centuries from now." The tiny foo dog, only a few months old, was brought forward on a leash. It turned its maned head from side-to-side as it regarded the surroundings, wise and large eyes taking in the personages. It's leash was handed over to the King, the man brightening for a moment as he regarded the creature before it was handed away.

"This painting is by late Elder Siew of the Rice and Bread Lakes. It has been in the Imperial treasury for six hundred years, the placcid and enriching work creates a tranquil mind if one meditates upon it. Supposedly, a dozen of his students managed Heavenly breakthroughs to later stages as they studied it."

The Wei had a theme, a not unsubtle hint of what they wanted from this negotiation. What they felt their counterparts should do, and they were careful to ensure their offerings reflected it. No cultivation goods, unless they were for the lower levels. Works that were delicate or required a place of longstanding and security to enjoy, weapons of war and other such items non-existent.

On the other hand, the Shen offered a wider range of goods, though they backed up a similar theme to the Wei. Just in another way.

"A treatise on the production and development of farmland, to make better use of water flow via distant water sources, utilised by farmers in the southern region of the Shen," the First Prince of the Shen said, gesturing at the document - beautifully illustrated, penned and bound - as it was unrolled. "We have, of course, mundane copies for distribution to your personnel."

"A note, drawing upon stockpiles of food, purchased and enroute to your kingdom from a variety of northern kingdoms." This one, Wu Ying paid a little more attention to. After all, he had some hand in this, he and Yang Mu having worked together to develop the merchant connections, the purchase of foodstuff from the wetter, less drought ridden northern states to move excess foods downwards. Even going so far as to tap into some kingdom stockpiles. "Enough for two hundred wagonloads of rice, wheat, millet and soybeans."

This gift roused a degree of consideration and excitement that other, more illustrous gifts had failed. Wagonloads of food that could feed a populace - or an army, perhaps - was of greater excitement than parades of jewelry, furniture and other cultivation instruments or documents it seemed. The letters of commerce were received with deep bows from the Ministers flanking the King who went so far as to incline his head as well.

The King of the Cai, Cai Meng De, was a soldier in both dress and demeanour. Though he wore robes of state, they were darkened and threaded with dark gold and platinum, a scalemail work of excquisite quality worn beneath the entire set-up. He carried a massive dao by his side, a weapon that even sheathed rung through the spirit realms with its presence, a cutting tool that had long soaked itself in the fluids of war and destruction.

A big man, like the battle lord that he was supposed to be. Instinct told Wu Ying that the body, the figure before him was only partly true - an extension of the dao that consumed his aura, that strained even now to take over the tent. If not for the quiet contention of the other Nascent Soul cultivators, it would have dominated the surroundings. He was a conqueror, a ruler, one driven to consume all -and his body, a warlord's body - had been reshaped to suit the purpose.

Long hair, bound in tight weaves, a beard that had been threaded and carefully oiled. Not too long, such that one could easily grasp it, but manicured and well kept and glossy as befit his station as king. Enchanted scalemail, enchanted weapon, even the cloak and boots and belt, all magical instruments crafted by the greatest of their people. They shone with unrestrained power, much like their owner, with nary a portion devoted to anything but death and destruction and protection of the one who would bring such tragedy with his coming.

Staring at the man who spoke, so casually, who accepted present after present with quiet equanimity, Wu Ying could not help but wonder, how peace could even be envisioned with him. Cai Wen Ding was a taotei in human form, his hunger for new lands, new territory and the people within unending. There would not, could not, ever be an end to his need.

He could not envision it, but he was not the Princes. He was no member of the government, no architect of the negotiations or the greater strategy that saw the development of kingdoms. Perhaps there could not be any final peace, but if the man were diverted to other lands, for a few years, a few decades; perhaps it was enough. Though his own hunger was unending, his armies and his men were not. The King of Cai had bled his land, his conquered lands, dry. His armies were weary, his populace depleted. More years of war might harden his armies, but the core, their numbers could only shrink.

Or perhaps not. Give him enough victories and he might conquer enough new land, purchase enough slaves to fill his armies, staff his farms and maintain his infrastructure. Given enough time, some of his men might ascend further, become more than just Core Formation cultivators.

The farmer within Wu Ying, seeing the rot of the King of Cai desired to weed it now. Tear out the choking grasp of the hungry, invasive plant before it killed all others. Nevermind that it might be drain the earth of resources before long, nevermind that one could place wooden walls to block its progress rather than struggle to uproot it. This was a problem that needed dealing with, and his hand itched to act immediately.

But he was only, in the end, a farmer. He could cultivate his gardens, understand the growth and flow of simple things like that. The management of a kingdom was greater than he could envision, that he had been taught. His choice, his desires, were the choices and actions of a man whose only responsibility was to himself and his family. Perhaps, at best, his village.

An attack now, a failed battle would see the upset of thousands of fates, perhaps even millions. The loss of the King of Cai would upset the delicate balance of nations, see armies from neighboring kingdoms flooding in to take control of the freed lands. The destruction of a kingdom was never simple, the ramifications greater than a plant removed.

No matter how noxious.

As another gift was brought in on a platter of steel and iron, the King turned his gaze towards Wu Ying. He met the wind cultivator's gaze, something dark and ferocious gleaming in the gaze, something hungry and eager. A challenge, as though he had sensed Wu Ying's own thoughts, his own desires. And then, the Prince was speaking, and his gaze turned back.

"... robes made of Frozen Moth Silk, a particular blend by our court weavers that is cool in the summer and warm during the winter, such that one is always comfortable. It's lightness is such that one would not even notice wearing it, even as the smoothness caresseses one's flesh like your favorite courtesan's flesh."

More gifts. And all the while, Fa Yuan murmured, totaling up the numbers, highlighting reactions. Or she should have.

"Nothing. Still bored. They were more excited about the chest of gold, which I fear they intend to take to finance their wars. There's maybe a slight reaction to the paints by the guard in the back, and one of the Ministers is mildly interested in the robes; but it's all too mild. We might as well be negotiating with monks."

And that was the reason for the variety, the careful offerings that had been planned between each group. If not for the fact that they had not wished to even hint at the idea of war had the idea of passing on weapons been shot down. Yet, it was clear, the Cai were all of a single mind. Which...

"It's unusual. This is where Yang Mu would be useful. In the future, we'll need her to see what she can find. Maybe some of the others have sensed more," Fa Yuan continued. "There is, there should be, more variance. It's as though they are all of the same mind, and that should not be."

Even their own kingdom, their own Sect, were made of factions. Such single-mindedness, such fanatacism, was unusual. Strange and disturbing, especially among cultivators. For such a singularity of purpose, it spoke of dao's that had been twisted perhaps, or cultivation techniques that were forbidden. Heretical works that linked one to another, like dual cultivation, but more closely linked. And imbalanced.

"Connections. We really do need her, don't we. Did she not catch a glimpse, when they were coming?" Wu Ying asked, doubt running through him now.

"She never said." Not that Fa Yuan needed to tell him that. He had been in on that conversation after all. He understood that his lover might wish to confirm matters. Her dao, her understanding, it was still nascent. She was still growing to grasp the reins of her enlightenment. The distance had been far, and what he suspected now, what she might have to confirm - he doubted she had time to set-up the necessary means to tell.

Perhaps someone else might know. His gaze shifted, rested on his Sect Head, on the Patriarch's on his side. The old men, his seniors in matters of cultivation. Again, Wu Ying felt keenly his lack of experience, his youth. Compared to the weathered old men, who had seen so much and studied so greatly, he was a neophyte. Powerful, but like a child with that power.

Time passed, with no hints, though he spent his time watching. Listening. The gifts from their kingdoms came and went, packed away. The Cai took center stage, their gifts on display. The first, chests of gold and silver, jewels pouring out of them in large winnows of glitter and glory.

"Paltry. Especially for an opening offer. Gold and jewels carry no significance, require no thought and offer little sacrifice on their parts. For an opening gift, it is at best, acceptable," Fa Yuan's lips worked. "What this means will depend on the next to be offered."

Wu Ying nodded a little, and he could detect minor notes of annoyance among the gathered personages. Not among the higher level cultivators - at least not physically - for they had mastered their physical responses most of them. For among those in the lower stages, those who had pushed forward only via the intake of pills and spirit stones, their reactions were less guarded. Even among the higher cultivators, flickers in their aura and microexpression changes were just as telling.

Chests of gold and jewels were taken away after ritual and cold thanks were offered. Cai Meng De gestured again, and the next set of gifts were pulled forth. This caused an audible sussuration among the watchers as they stared at the latest gifts to arrive.

"These are just a few of the hundred such works that we have prepared. The others are outside," another gesutre to where wagons were rolling out of the distant fort, tarps overlaid over the contents to shield them from weather. "and will be delivered to your people. The Cai have long been famed for our crossbows, for the distance and strength of our ranged units. In hopes of finding equal ground with our valued allies of Shen and Wei, we offer this small gift."

The man's eyes glittered with humor, as though he had found much to be amused by. As he pondered the reason, Fa Yuan was speaking, musing out loud.

"Weapons of war. An interesting choice. It could be a sign that the warlike Cai are seeking to divest themselves of their warlike ways, an indicator of their willingness to take part in the peace process full-heartedly. It could be a subtle threat, that they have sufficient stores of weapons and armour to conduct war if matters fail." A small smile graced her lips. "More subtlety in this than one would have expected, I see."

Now, Wu Ying was seeing the Princes looking at one another, as they handled the weapons. Even without touching them, he could tell that these were superlative weapons. They utilised multiple levers and cranks, were made of powerful spirit bone and hide and tendons, such that they might be strung tighter than ever. A weapon of war, to be used by mortals to kill cultivators.

"Ah, I see the shape of their plans." Fa Yuan murmured. "They seek to split us. See how he gifts the crossbows to us as a whole. Desirable weapons, but who takes them and in what proportions? He does not offer enough for more than one unit, and so we must fight over it."

Crossbows were kept, one each for the First Prince by their side. Unstrung, uncocked, of course. A small number of bolts, exquisitely crafted were set beside them in the wooden boxes that the initial crossbows had been gifted to them. Wu Ying's wind returned, answering a question he had.

"No bolts. They offer crossbows without bolts," he murmured, adding to the information and assessment Fa Yuan was creating.

She nodded, and they watched as more gifts were presented. Next were another hundred suits of armour, magnificently made, burnished and without the kingdom's own insignia. After that, a single balista, a weapon of war meant to destroy walls and pin cavalry or a single cultivator alike. Then, following that, a magnificent steed, a spirit beast that had been raised by the Cai themselves. It stoood at the Core Formation stage at least, a creature whose every movement, every line spoke of its noble ancestry and the care taken in its breeding and training.

That caused a sussuration, a mark of interest among all the Princes. Desire sparked in their eyes as they stared at it, hunger for the creature, to own the magnificent steed for their own. This was a gift worthy of Princes and kingdoms, and all too clear it was only a single item, offered to the joined group before them.

"Weapons of war. Gifts of conflict. And a wedge, intent on being driven between us." Fa Yuan exhaled, gently. "Now we see the shape of the coming conflict."