Lin Han nods at the messengers report.  'Ah yes, so our friendly foreign ambassador has returned for yet another chat,' the crown prince thought to himself.  Turning to one of his 'trusted' amongst the imperial guard, he motioned with a hand for the captain to follow him.  Once in the hallway alone, he remarks in hushed tones, "You know to make certain no one... unnecessary is party to these conversations."
	"Hai, Lin-sama," the guard replies with a nod.
	With a charismatic smile veiling his inner thoughts, Lin Han replies, "I have the utmost confidence in your discretion."
	Walking in silence to the meeting room, the only sound is the swishing of the crown prince's robes, as he contemplates the turn of events.  'I still don't know what he *wants*...  There had been excessive troop movements for an extended period to the north.  No conflicts, but close enough to be easily noticed by the outposts near the border.  Almost certainly a scare tactic.  He claims to only want free passage for a fairly small force to Sailo, and that he'd prefer to take the 'less defended' border.  The official sources all seem to agree that Sailo's border to their lands is more heavily defended recently, but I checked through my own sources and they disagree.  Does he really think I don't know that...  But still, whether he knows I know or not, I need to know what he's after.  A captured prisoner of importance is the claim.  And it checks out, but that can't be all.  Otherwise why the route through here, which obviously is a ploy of some sort,' goes Lin-sama's mental monologue.  He sighs, reaching the door to the room.  Pausing, looking from guard to guard, between the two guard posted beside the door, he recognizes them, and smiles, 'The captain does his job.  He's still usefull for a time.'
	Turning back his thoughts to the problem at hand he thinks, 'I have to agree.  With his alliance, certain avenues do... open up.  And, without accepting, I can't learn anymore details to attempt to figure out what he's after.'  Opening the door, he strides in.

	The room is opulently decorated, yet lacks any suitable furniture or place to recline or rest.  The crown prince had always thought it more suitable to keep those he deals with more on edge.  Smiling kindly, and with a submissive bow, Lin Han remarks, "It is a pleasure to deal with you again, my good sir."
	The foreign ambassador smiles in return, nodding his head, "You have no need for humbleness.  It is an honor that the crown prince himself will deign to speak with me."
	"Well, it is ever of importance to treat our northern friends with the respect they're due.  Though, if you would be so kind, then I would greatly appreciate if you would supply me with a name to address you by."
	"There is no need at present I fear, however I must come to the point.  Last time we discussed certain business, and now you have had time to think over it..."
	Lin Han nods, "The grain shipments for the... unruly provinces of ours, the 'elimination' of certain problems."  He turns, "You offer much.  Though I must refuse certain eliminations...  no matter how distanced, I'm still too visible."
	The man nods as well, "You're wise.  There's little enough time to wait anyway.  I assume this means you'll be agreeing."
	"With conditions.  The troops must not be 'troops,' bandits perhaps, whatever you deem to work.  My country knows nothing of this."
	"Understood."
	"You're to submit your planned route.  You understand that I can't simply let troops wander about our lands."
	"I would do the same in your situation.  And I have brought such plans assuming you'd make this request."
	Turning back, Lin Han nods. "So I suppose it is an agreement."
	"Yes, a pleasure doing business with you."
	"It has been, may our relationship prove long and profitable to us both."
	"Indeed," replied the ambassador, eyes glinting.

	Turning to leave, Lin Han plans what his next steps are to be, 'I must investigate his route.  He wants something in Hokkan as well, and is probably dishonest about his goals in Sailo as well.  His troops will need watching as well, but the borders.  They should be fortified as well... but subtly.  But with the grain to bribe those three provincial leaders, I will strengthen my support base.  And those two troublesome... 'idealistic' sorts taken out of the picture, my rule when the old man finally leaves this world will be even stronger.  There are still factions to deal with... but closer day by day, I only hope the old man dies soon enough not to try my patience, but late enough to deal with the problems.'
	The crown prince's footsteps echoed down the hallway as he returned to his quarters.


	Eyes half closed in thought, head slightly bowed, the crown prince of Hokkan made his way back to his chambers, after concluding the meeting with the foreign ambassador.
	'I could have refused...' he thinks to himself, 'However, if it would be problematic if they tried to force the issue.  And even if they don't take that tact, then they would just try some other trick or manipulation.  Better to deal with the trap that I know is there, and attempt to understand it, than deal with a complete unknown.  Whatever they're truly after, they won't try overt force, they want some level of subtlety.  But what do they want... information, sabotage...'
	"Lin-sama!"
	Snapped out of his train of thought, Lin Han turns around, slightly perturbed by the interruption, to see one of the 'loyal' members of the guard standing before him.
	Bowing, the guard closes the door to the crown prince's chambers, and informs him, "I've made a cursory first inspection of the route.  There seems to be little of interest along it.  Only one town is within a six hour ride of the route.  One of the border towns along the Sailo border, Kikaku, it's a moderately sized village, handles some trade with Sailo, but little else of note.  I'm working on a more detailed analysis of the route."
	"Very well then, you're dismissed," responds Lin Han.  Thinking to himself, 'I hadn't requested that yet...  he's sharp, and has initiative. He's usefull, yet dangerous.  I must keep an eye on him.  Then again, the captain of the guard has been around a little too long, knows a little too much.  He might make a good replacement, before becoming too much of a risk.'




	Days later, the crown prince is bowing as he takes leave of the emperor's presence, Lin Han thinks to himself, 'Having to bow and scrape to this senile old bag of bones...'  All the while, a pleasant smile upon his outer facade.  Having left the imperial chambers, he adds in thought 'At the very least, his health does seem to be slipping.  Perhaps I haven't that much longer to wait and bide my time.  Unfortunately, there are still a few who would cause me trouble, but then again, it will be easier to manage them from the throne itself I suppose.'
	'My main problem is still that bargain with the ambassador...'
	Summoning the guard who had begun the investigation of the proposed route, the crown prince inquires as to his progress.
	"Well, as far as the town of Kikaku goes, there seems to be little of import."
	"Inform me anyway."
	"Well, your majesty, Kikaku is essentially the smallest 'trade town' situated along our border with Sailo.  Politically the town is essentially inactive, there have been no strong courtiers with heavy influence or vested interest there.  They have certainly felt how lean a year this has been, but their situation is not disastrous, and they're certainly better than many in the area.  What else... the town houses a small shrine.  Not much else of interest."
	Lin Han nods, contemplatively, "Anything else along this route?"
	"Only a minimal number of roads seem to be crossed.  None of them of any importance.  I've checked, to what degree I can from the palace, for anything from a forgotten abandoned town, to even a cave along the route.  Nothing we know of and have mapped.  Of course, in addition to this I have organized a few units to explore the path itself, and will report whenever news arises."
	"You are dismissed."




	When the news arrived later that week, Lin Han's eyes widened in amazement, "So the emperor, has finally passed on."
	The advisor nodded, "It is perhaps for the best."
	Nodding, sympathy in his voice, the crown prince responds, "He was in terrible pain..."  While his thoughts were like a blur, 'Soon, I will finally take my place as the emperor of Hokkan-koku...  There's so much that needs to be done, I need to...'
	"We must head to the shrine now, to prepare for his burial, and your coronation."
	Nodding, Lin Han agrees, "Yes, the shrine."
	'The shrine... shrine...  Genbu, the guardian god of Hokkan.'
	In a sudden whirlwind of thought, the connection to his long missing son is made.  'Lin Jie... Tomite.  Genbu.  Shichiseishi and Miko... protecting the country...  Of course! The shrine at Kikaku.  If the ambassador has any untoward plans towards Hokkan, he'd have to somehow neutralize the divine protection...  How, I don't know but...  it must be linked to the shrine.  But by now it's too late...  It has to be the shrine...'