Laibao (Common: 賴堡, Yonggan: ''Laibuse'') is a fortified town in the Northern Earth Kingdom. It is nominally in the West Shuizu State, but it has been controlled by the nationalist government of Yonggan State since the annexation of the region in 90 AG. The urban population is about 2,700.

=== Geography and History ===
Laibao is named after a general of the Western Tu, Lai Zhenzu (賴貞素, c.1750 - 1626 BG), who founded a fortified outpost there in 1703 BG to guard the Shanbei province from incursions by Alarame nomads. Over time, the outpost developed into a town with its own non-military economic activity. As the Yonggan arose as an offshoot from the Alarame and became more settled, they became a majority of the population. Ganjinese merchants established a factory there in the Younger Gong dynasty, for trade and protection. 

Laibao is located at the northeasternmost reliably-navigable portion of the Elephant-Bird River, with the core of the settlement being about six meters up a gentle slope from the high water mark. It is surrounded by farmland and pasturage, with some surviving boreal forest. 

The settlement is centered around the original outpost of General Lai, which now contains the yamen, a public hall, and a shrine. Connected to it are the Ganjinese factory, which now contains a number of businesses, an inn, bathhouse, and winehouse all owned by the locally-prominent Jian (簡) family. Their family compound now connects to the old factory. The old town of Laibao surrounds this fortified core on the three non-river sides of the settlement, and is protected by the Aora Wall, a wood-and-earth defensive structure with a stone portion that extends down to the river and protects the docks. Outside of the Aora wall is a more sprawling development mostly built after the Ri dynasty. 

About half of the inhabitants of Laibao are Yonggan, and two-thirds of them are of the Aora clan. The second largest Yonggan clan is the Jala. Both of these clans originate in the area. Formerly, a substantial number of the Nara clan lived in Laibao, but they were exiled after the Earth Kingdom Civil War. Most of the other inhabitants are Zhongzu, but they divide themselves as "Veteran Families," "Old Families," and "New Families." Old families have Zhongzu surnames and often have some Ganjinese or Yonggan blood, and were established in the region before the Civil War. New Families are those who came afterwards and who do not fall into the third group, the Veteran Families.

The Veteran Families are the descendants of settlers who were veterans of the Royal Earth Army's campaign against the supporters of Qin the Conqueror, and who were awarded land in Yonggan Country by the Earth King for their service in the North. Much of the land provided for the veterans and their families came from the lands of the rebellious nobles who had supported Qin, who maintained vast tracts of land as hunting preserves; these lands were given to be cleared and planted. However, in more densely populated areas, the Hao Ting administrators found themselves taking possession of various businesses and urban properties [[Avatar/Nara Pale of Banishment|from the Nara clan]], and these were given out to higher-ranking veterans or those with related skills in lieu of arable land.

When the Yonggan nationalist forces annexed portions of Shanbei Province in 90 AG, the Hao Ting official in charge (a county magistrate) surrendered the garrison without a battle in exchange for a bribe and safe conduct of the Royal troops back to Shanbei. This deal was facilitated by the Jian family, who retained their extensive income from properties and businesses in Laibao under the new administration.

The Nationalist government has built a post office and public school in Laibao since coming to power. The new magistrate installed by the nationalists, Shan Aora Boqin, is generally appreciated as even-handed and prudent. Less popular has been the restoration of effective taxation; though the official tax rate is now lower than it was under the Shanbei Province administration and corrupt officials are less able to shake down its inhabitants for bribes, it is also no longer possible to pay off corrupt yamen workers to radically reduce one's tax assessment. For example, the Jian family went from paying thirty two taels and an unknown amount of bribes to a hundred and thirty-seven taels in 94 AG.

Lately, a large number of workers on General Yi's canal project to link the Elephant-Bird and Otter rivers have visited Laibao. Although this work is being done with the blessing of the Nationalist authorities, and many local earthbenders from Yongganguo have been hired on to the project, it is not popular with most of the established population. They complain of noise, unruliness, and lecherous behavior by the workers toward locals. After an incident where a foreman of the canal project and two workers were sentenced to flogging by the magistrate for drunkenly burning down the Laibao boatyard, the magistrate was reprimanded by the Nationalist authorities and instructed to make reasonable accommodation to the workers in the name of maintaining relations with General Yi and the agreement concerning the future use of the canal. Since then, he has not been keeping them in check as much as the majority of locals would prefer and their behavior has become more brazen.

=== Economy ===

The economy is moderately diversified. The basis is fishing and agricultural support (implements for farming and forest product collection, etc.) Formerly, there was a small boatbuilding industry, but the wooden equipment of the boatyard was burned down accidentally in 95 AG and it is yet to be rebuilt. In keeping with its position at the farthest navigable part of the Elephant-Bird river, the town has some services targeting travelers, such as an inn and stables.

More recently, cheap entertainment establishments, including brothels and winehouses, have been introduced to serve canal project workers. Most are operated by enterprising locals.