House of Chen

Madam Min sat on a packing case down at the water's edge. On her lap, she had the lid balancing carefully on her knees. A broken inkstone was on the right hand side of this makeshift desk, whilst a pile of assorted papers sat infront of her. She was making lists of all of the items that were washing up around them.  It was clear they had come from Chenxi itself,  and had probably been taken from the merchants stores. She catalogued according to the presumed source; milliners, tailors, jewellery, hardware. Eventually, this would return to Chenxi and kick start the town once more, at least she hoped it would. Min feverently hoped the owners had abandoned their properties before they had been looted. If not they, were most likely dead.  She shuddered at the thought.  She had already catalogued bottles and flagons taken from her own cellars. Glasses, although broken, we're boxed up and kept. The glass could go back and be reblown, hopefully. Ornaments and associated para...

 They saw the banners first, swirling and bouncing to the rhythm of the men as they loped along. Xin smiled at Bǎo, they had caused mischief and mayhem to the forces who occupy  their capital and now part of the Twin Hammers was coming. General Li proudly rode at the front, a smile radiating across his face as he caught sight of the mercinaries. Holding his hand up, the army came to a stop, and General Bǎo approached. "Good to see you. Good journey down? Lost many?" General Li shook his head, "We lost about fifty but they lost a batallion. We left them there for the carion feeders and a warning to any we missed, we mean business, we take no prisoners." He grinned. "Their discipline was poor, their training even less."  "So General," Bǎo responded as General Li dismounted, "Let's head to where we are camped out and speak there. How many are there of you in total, because our established base is only big enough for us?" "I've...

 Old man Chen's body was wrapped in a shroud. There would be no funeral procession, no pyre,  no rights of passage one would normally grant the dead. Second Master had specifically asked he be buried in wasteland where no one would mourn him - not that they would. "The grave diggers are here, Sir." an orderly bowed out of respect to the House Keeper.  "Send them in, the body is ready." Two men entered the room, looking around at its finery, cap in hand with a partial stoop in submission to the grandeur which surrounded them. "He is ready for you. You understand the instructions?"  They nodded, almost salivating at the riches this body might hold. "Here is your fee, now please, carry out the instructions as agreed."  They nodded greedily, and scooped up the old man quickly. "We will get this to our cart. Thank you for doing business with us." And with that, Old Man Chen began his final journey to some wasteland on the outskirts of Sh...

 "Thank you for granting me this audience, and I am hoping after this meeting, we can part amicably with some trading initiatives in place between our provinces. Having sampled your fayre this past week. I am certain there is much trade here." he then reiterated, "We and the other provinces I represent, would be very interested in." Second Master paused and taking a deep breath, began his explanation and apologies for what had been the underlying cause of the war, the aggression between neighbours and the drawing in of others in the fight.  He spoke candidly, not glossing over any of the sordid detail regarding his father. He tentitively gave his views on the reason behind Commander Zhang's hatred towards Chen and the understandable abhorrence of the senior Mu family. "So, gentlemen, I am not attempting to ask for forgiveness for my father's actions, but I am asking for this sorry episode to have a line drawn beneath it. We are the offspring of this man...

  "I've just received a communication from the High Council. They are willing to listen to your request and have asked you to appear before them next week. That gives us a full seven days in which to get to know my city." Poon looked over to Second Master,  who was standing looking out the window. He was enjoying the hubub of the city, the smells, the noise, the entertainment it offered. Turning, he smiled at Poon. "You are, indeed, a great friend and it is an honour to have had the time to get to know you." Poon smiled, "and you, likewise. Now, let us enjoy this tea and once enjoyed, let us partake of the market stalls. I would like to introduce you to our local fare." The two men smiled at each other and sat to enjoy the freshly brewed white tea, a speciality of the area.    Zumò and the others waited for the trading boat to leave Chenxi harbour. It was laiden with goods destined for Mudon, the capital of Mu province.  This was not about to happen. Z...

 The Chen household had been a hive of activity since the visit of Second Master. Old man Chen had not settled. He was erasable, prone to bouts of violent temper,  extreme agitation, followed by further bouts of uncontrolled shouting, and screaming at people. He'd then retreat into melancholic tantrums, screaming for his wife to come to him, throwing objects around the room, then hurrying to pick up the pieces, begging her to forgive his outbursts. He was generally unhinged, even by his recent standards. His physicians did their best, but he refused to take the medication, scattering the medicine bowls across the floor, their contents spilling out over the carpets. A herbalist was brought in and after surveying his behaviours, created a potion which could be burnt and, was strong enough to calm an elephant.  " Master," she bowed to the physician in attendance, "this incense is strong, and will calm the most unsettled of minds. Once the incense had taken effect, may I...