by Brian Thomas
Master Tanyeu seated himself cross-legged in front of Guang, his swordmaster taking up position behind him, mirroring the stance of Guang’s own swordmaster. For a moment they merely regarded each other curiously, having never met face to face before. Guang marvelled at their meeting now, after such an extended period of aggression between the two Houses and his own temerity in agreeing to it. They both gave brief bows of the head, each anxious to give nothing away in the courtesies which could unintentionally cause insult at this early stage. Guang waited patiently, Master Tanyeu had initiated the meeting so it was for him to open the discussion.
“I trust the location is satisfactory for you Master Guang? I understand that Snow is a most satisfying purveyor of the esoteric arts in this House.”
Guang mentally winced at the disclosure of his association with Snow being known to Master Tanyeu. A truly accomplished courtesan but a weakness if his rather frequent appreciation of her skills were too widely known. Nevertheless, it was an expected level of intelligence for a master of Tanyeu’s renown. His own spies were no less efficient. “I am sure she is no less adept than Falling Star of the House of the Lapping Stream.” Guang was pleased to note the barely perceptible eye movement at the mention of Falling Star, Tanyeu’s own favourite courtesan with whom Master Tanyeu also, no doubt, had thought his association unknown to anyone else.
Master Tanyeu gave a small appreciative smile, opening his palms upright. “It is clear we have our respective sources. It is also clear no one person can know all the secrets others would prefer kept secret, no matter how adept one’s spies.” Guang bowed in recognition of this statement, though remained reluctant to speak until he knew the purpose behind the meeting. Master Tanyeu continued cautiously. “But if civilised gentlemen of sophistication and complementary resources were to share what they knew, it seems to me that both the sharing parties could benefit substantially.”
Guang forced his features to remain still, his breathing shallow. Show nothing, he thought cautiously. “It is true that astute men would benefit greatly from new knowledge not generally known. But in sharing how could such gentlemen know the information they received was not already known to them, for which they may have offered up knowledge of great value in return?” What was Master Tanyeu’s purpose, what did he wish to learn? What could Guang offer in exchange to learn what he wished? More importantly, how could he trust the information he received from Master Tanyeu. “An astute gentleman would also value his self-reliance and trust his own sources above another’s. How could such men have the confidence to act on another’s information?” Guang was careful to keep his tone reasonable. He was treading carefully so as not to cause insult but the question was plain enough. How could they trust each other?
Master Tanyeu nodded with a slight frown in recognition of the problem, suggesting tentatively. “Civilised gentlemen might progress slowly. Discussing minor items of no great import and perhaps disclose knowledge of small value to them personally, possibly enabling another to verify what they believed to be accurate but of which they could not be certain. Civilised men might commence with subjects that were of common interest, avoiding areas which might be contentious. Over time, civilised gentlemen would be astute enough to value such a relationship and develop confidence in it from the evidence of what had gone before. I believe that we are civilised gentlemen, Master Guang. Perhaps we could experiment and see where such an idea might take us?”
Guang, though his features were immobile, knew his eyes would be betraying both his surprise and interest. Master Tanyeu was moving the conversation forward very quickly, suggesting they shared information here and now! Flattery to one side they both knew that neither could trust the other. The slightest opportunity would have either of them leaping to take advantage.
Nevertheless, the prospect was alluring and something of this must have shown for Master Tanyeu continued before Guang’s initial interest could wane. “Perhaps I could start a conversation and you might offer your own comment?” Guang neither agreed nor disagreed, unable to walk away but unwilling to offer something which could be used against him. Master Tanyeu ignored Guang’s hesitance. “Returns from the silk trade seem poor this year again, perhaps poorer than the last season. This is surprising is it not?” Master Tanyeu deliberately looked away from Guang, signalling to a kneeling servant to pour tea from a steaming pot to one side.
Guang almost jumped at the casual statement. His factors had been reporting that collections of raw silk had been less than expected from the province, though their earlier expectations had been for a higher yield this year. Tanyeu must be referring to his own yields as Guang was only now receiving reports from his factors and he did not believe Master Tanyeu could know this information before he had heard it himself, no matter how good his spies.
If Master Tanyeu’s yields were down as well as his own and more importantly lower than he had expected, this was indeed useful information. Guang looked up and saw Master Tanyeu was watching him patiently but it was obvious he wanted a reply before he continued. Guang forcibly overcame his reluctance to divulge information. “I have not yet received all of the reports from my factors but it would indeed appear that yields will be less than expected.” Guang took a swallow of tea, almost choking at freely offering information to a rival house. Though having taken the first step he found it became easier. “Less than last year, despite good weather and no blight during the season. It is, as you say Master Tanyeu, a curious thing but something I had thought confined to my own estates.”
Master Tanyeu nodded sagely in encouragement. “I was curious as to why this should be and I have taken steps to find out more. One of the villages outlying my province, delivering a sharp decline on the previous year, was found to have held back some of their produce. Such a thing is to be expected but the volume was such that it could only be for trade.”
Guang was shocked at the disclosure and immediately wondered if the villages he usually collected from were holding back production, declaring less than they had actually produced. He would check as soon as he returned. “A deplorable situation but what would be the purpose? Only you have the license to procure silk in your own and your bordering provinces, as I do in mine.”
Master Tanyeu cradled a small porcelain cup in his fingertips, careful of his long nails. “I have thought much on this. Each Great House over the years has specialised around the terms of their licences. Without direct competition we have profited greatly but as the trade has grown the Sun Palace have looked jealously at the profits they are not party to. If they were to issue licences to themselves they could take a much greater share of the profits, which historically have been the sole preserve of the Great Houses.” Master Tanyeu frowned as he thought through the problem, if there was indeed a genuine problem beyond their conjecture at this point. “This would cause certain confrontation, on an issue in which all the Great Houses would surely unite against the emperor. To avoid such a direct confrontation the Sun Palace may have issued licences to an aspiring House to trade beyond its traditional realms, to act as its agent. Either way, I suspect our historic monopolies are being stolen from under our noses, whilst we are being stymied from extending our own trading aspirations.”
Guang frowned in concentration as he thought on what Master Tanyeu had said. “Would the emperor risk uniting the Great Houses against him on such an issue?”
Master Tanyeu maintained a blank set of features as he replied. “I know nothing and can only speculate. Of course, one’s speculation turns to those with the motive and power to perpetrate the deed. In the meantime I have tasked my people to find out what they can.” Master Tanyeu looked meaningfully at Guang. “Of course, two Great Houses might learn more than one on its own and both could benefit if they agreed to share such information.”
Guang, unable to think how passing information to Master Tanyeu would disadvantage him and how knowledge from Master Tanyeu could be useful, nodded. “I am willing to share all information I receive
on this matter with you. And you will do the same?”
Master Tanyeu nodded. “A bargain is made, I will pass all information I learn of this matter to you and you will pass all information you learn of this matter to me.”
Guang sealed the bargain with the ritual response “A bargain is made.” They both nodded to each other, neither of them missing the historic relevance of their two Houses making a bargain, the first in generations. Thinking the meeting over Guang prepared to depart, when Master Tanyeu spoke over his cup. “A good start to what I believe will be a valuable new relationship between our Houses Master Guang.”
Guang relaxed back into his seat again. “Indeed Master Tanyeu. You think there may be other opportunities?” Was this the meat of it then, the real reason behind the meeting?
“Perhaps there is a subject you wish to raise with myself Master Guang.”
Ah, Guang thought. It was his turn to offer something to Master Tanyeu. Well why not; the result might be quite interesting. “I understand the emperor has dispatched a considerable force in search of his nephew’s murderer, the Temple priest who had been the nephew’s former guardian.”
Master Tanyeu nodded. This was interesting gossip but old news. “A force of ten thousand imperial soldiers from the emperor’s own Scorpion guard was despatched a few months ago. I had anticipated reprisals against the Temple but no such action seems to have been taken.”
Guang was pleased Master Tanyeu did not seem as well informed on this issue as himself. He would give this morsel in trade for the earlier warning from Master Tanyeu. “General Aidi has commanded a further four battalions from the surrounding provinces to close in on the province from its external boundaries, making the small village where the murder took place the epicentre. In theory, they will all meet at this village if they do not discover the priest along the way.”
Master Tanyeu could not prevent his eyebrows rising in surprise. “A hundred thousand men, surely a great many, even to apprehend the murderer of the emperor’s nephew.”
Guang tried hard to keep any smugness from his voice. “Indeed, especially as they will be drawing on the additional aid of the Great Houses in and surrounding the province where the murder took place. I myself have added over five thousand men to general Aidi’s force, as a token of my support in the emperor’s endeavour.” Guang took a sip of his tea before continuing. “Though, I suspect there may be more to the search than just the capture of the murderer. The emperor’s guards are also pursuing the villagers where the incident took place and asking the most curious questions of those that have, or may have, come into contact with them during their flight.”
Guang drew the moment out, Master Tanyeu’s interest obvious. “Their questions seem to focus around birds and bird song or birds being taken by the villagers. I have heard a reference to the incident being linked to prophecy close to the emperor’s House, which would explain the high number of soldiers being involved and the obvious importance the emperor places on it.”
Master Tanyeu was leaning forward slightly, unable to restrain telling signs of his curiosity. “Do you know anything of this prophecy? If it commands the emperor’s attention to such an extent it could be important to all of us as well but for different reasons.”
Guang was also excited at his news and checked the impulse to follow Master Tanyeu’s lead and lean forward in his own eagerness. “I know nothing of the prophecy but given the interest in birds and bird songs there must be some connection to this and the prophecy. I have heard another curious thing, which on its own would mean nothing but together with this causes me to believe they are connected. A new song is sweeping through the province where the murder took place, probably beyond it now, about the murder of the emperor’s nephew. I understand it is an old peasant tune with new lyrics which mock the emperor’s nephew and the emperor’s attempts to capture the rogue priest, his murderer.”
Master Tanyeu showed his surprise that such a thing could happen, would be allowed to happen, but failed to see the connection. When he caught Guang’s expression he asked. “There is more?”
“The peasants are calling this new song the Chicken Song.”
Master Tanyeu was bemused. “…and the significance of this is?”
Guang sat back. “I have thought a good deal about this in the last few days. For the emperor to have committed the resources he has implies there is more to the incident than a simple murder of a minor relative.” Guang ticked off the next points carefully against his fingers. “We all expected the emperor to demand our assistance in destroying what was left of the Temple, but no, instead he invites them to the Sun Palace, including them in his sphere of most intimate advisors. There is a rumour regarding a prophecy, which affects the emperor’s House, the emperor’s men question people about birds and bird song just as a song about a bird which mocks the emperor rages through the peasantry and across the land. These incidents cannot be unconnected.”
Master Tanyeu was frowning at the news. “I cannot believe the emperor has allowed such a song to continue, the loss of face…but it is only a song. Surely they cannot be connected.”
Unable to restrain his enthusiasm Guang leaned forward, pleased to demonstrate his superior knowledge to Master Tanyeu. It would all be common gossip shortly but for the moment it remained a tasty morsel. “It is a curious thing but the more the emperor’s men have attempted to still the song, the more popular it becomes. When the emperor’s guards first heard of it they went to the town where it was being sung. A town of six thousand people and they burned it to the ground. Over a thousand were put to the sword or burned in their homes.” Tanyeu was nodding at the punishment, seemingly proportionate, as Guang turned his palms upright. “The Great House of Wah which owned the town was outraged and demanded to know why their town had been torched by the emperor’s guard. They were told it was in punishment for a lack of respect shown the emperor in allowing the song to be sung. Rather than quell the song it instead increased people’s interest in it. I believe a further three villages were burned to the ground and many more killed, before the Great Houses which owned them threatened to defend against the imperial soldiers if any further action was taken against them. It is now so ubiquitous in the provinces that every village in the Wing-Ho province would need to be burned to quell it and still it spreads outwards, as quick and relentless as the wind to bordering provinces.”
Master Tanyeu sat back considering what he would do if his own tied villages and towns were to be systematically burned to the ground by the emperor’s soldiers. He would resist. The villages and their peasantry were the source of his wealth. Without their crops and other produce his estates would be driven into famine and his house in to penury. An example was one thing but multiple clearings would become catastrophic and it was fortunate for the Great House concerned that it had a daughter linked to the emperor through marriage, probably preventing an escalation.
As he came to this decision he realised Guang had been watching him carefully for his reaction before he continued. “As with the issue raised by you earlier Master Tanyeu, it is something that would unite the Great Houses against the emperor. I believe it very nearly came to battle, possibly including twenty thousand men on each side before the emperor’s soldiers were drawn back from the conflict to continue with their search. No further villages have been punished and the song continues to spread. But now it has the added interest of the emperor’s soldiers’ resentful but seemingly impotent reaction to it. I have begun to wonder if the bird’s song the emperor’s men are questioning people about is not actually a bird song but a song about a bird, this Chicken Song, and the confusion arising due to the ambiguous nature of prophecy.”
Master Tanyeu was thinking furiously. “This is speculation rather than knowledge?”
Guang leaned back before responding a little defensively. “Some of it is fact which I have uncovered and some supposition on my part. However, it would seem to fit well. Though how to use it to advantage not knowing the
actual prophecy I cannot determine.”
Master Tanyeu was sitting as still and focused as a snake waiting to strike at its prey before venturing thoughtfully. “Perhaps we do not need to know the actual prophecy to benefit from it.”
Guang was fascinated to see his previous adversary face to face, pondering the problem just as he had earlier and couldn’t help but prompt. “How so Master Tanyeu?”
“The cause for our mutual Houses’ conflict in the past was the river port of Sung-Lo. Both Houses expended great resource warring against each other to secure the town, only to see it annexed by the emperor to the empress’ previous House, the House of Wah, in settlement of the dispute. My House’s interest in this port has diminished over the generations as we developed alternative shipping points but I understand it would still be of value to your own House?”
Guang was cautious as he confirmed. “Of course.”
“The reason it has been safe over the years is because any attempt on your part to take it would be countered by my House. Similarly, if I attempted to recover it your own House would seek to prevent me.” Master Tanyeu was cautious as he committed his thoughts to words. “If I were to agree with you I would not interfere with an attempt by you to take Sung-Lo, would I have your agreement not to interfere if I were to take Sung-Hi, further north but also in Wing-Ho province and House Wah domain? If we could agree this between us and mount simultaneous campaigns against the Wing-Ho province they would have to defend on two fronts and in that House’s current state would probably lose both. If we were to make the appearance of fighting each other, while ensuring we conduct all such fighting in the Wing-Ho province so that neither of us suffers material damage within our own provinces, deliberately drawing the emperor’s attention to the conflict, he would have no choice but to intervene. But with his preoccupation and military placements as they are he would not have the resource to intervene in his own favour. His priority would be to end the conflict quickly. I am sure he would demand an end to the conflict with territorial gains as they stood and we would each be better off.”