Ryusei had business to bring before his Champion, and while watching the Dragon Clan Champion duel would make for a good story...

He had his duty.

So he attended his Clan Champion as the day began.

He came upon Shiba Higashime just as she was wiping her face from her morning exercise.

"Shigi-san. What can I do for you?" she asked as she tossed the towel to a waiting servant.

Ryusei bowed, as was appropriate, and then answered.

"I have preliminary agreements with both the Lion and the Crane for your consideration, Shiba-ue. I should note that neither one appears to be equipped to supply the dyes we're after, so I will be canvassing the Minor Clans next... the Lion agreement is fairly straightforward, the Crane.... well. They're the Crane."

"A planning people, fond of projects." She sounds fondly exasperated. "Why not begin with the Lion? It sounds efficient."

"The Lion can not only fulfill our formal need for copper, they can fill two thirds of the extra requested by the Elemental Council. They are also prepared to provide a certain... literary service. They either expose someone's... deficiencies, or they can exalt virtues. Personally, Shiba-ue, I favor the latter, but the decision is ultimately yours. In exchange, they would like [4 units] of paper and [5 units] of lumber. Th proposed marriage to seal the agreement would see our Asako Kenichi married into the Lion. His time here as a hostage had allowed him to gain some familiarity with the Lion Clan, and he has a good relationship with the Ikoma."

He bowed.

"If you wish for reciprocal marriage, or have any issue with the proposed arrangement, I shall endeavor to carry out the changes you require."


--
Plain text OOC:

Lion: trade 7 copper and art service

Phoenix trade: 5 lumber and 4 paper

Marriage to seal it, Asako Kenichi marries into the Lion.

"Given the current circumstances, I think this marriage is probably the best we can hope for. It limits the possibility of exposure to political contagion from a more substantial connection to a Lion house. And anyway, the copper is too good to risk a renegotiation."

She considered for a moment. "The art service is interesting. One of Sanae's little novels, I imagine."

She considered it for a moment.

"How to deploy it is a tiny problem, but I am sure that we will think of something."

Ryusei bowed again.

"I likewise considered that ceding a hostage to the Lion by marriage removes the leverage his position offered them. While lumber and paper have proven valuable commodities this season, our supply is sufficient that I considered the trade for the copper and the added literary service justified it."

"I think your judgment was entirely sound. Now, shall we turn to the more complex of our southern friends?"

"The Crane proved remarkably light on commodities we actually need- particularly in the weak of the agreement with the Dragon. But they can finish off our silver requirement. And they, too, desired paper- more paper than we need silver. And perhaps after having been frozen out of the market for so long, they were quite keen on marriages. I had thought perhaps Kamiki Arashi-sama might find a good husband in Egawa Ureo-sama, and join the Doji Family. And we would accept Saito Tatsuo-san into the Isawa as husband to Tsukamoto Keiko-san. The Crane would also work to convince Doji Minehime-sama to send Asahina Junpei to visit Kyuden Isawa sometime in the next year, which would fulfill another of the Elemental Council's requests. In that sense, it is in lione with our earlier arrangement with the Scorpion."

He paused.

"Less formally, they would also agree to back our library proposal- with some conditions. The Crane would desire some measure of input- a Crane overseeing any literary or performing arts subsection. I told them I would ask."

--
OOC Plain Speech:

Phoenix Trade:
4 paper
Asako-ke no kashin Kamiki Arashi to wed Doji-ke no kashin Egawa Ureo and join the Crane.


Crane Trade:
1 Silver
Asahina-ke no kashin Saito Tatsuo to wed Isawa-ke no kashin Tsukamoto Keiko and join the Phoenix.
Attempt to convince Doji Minehime to send Asahina Junpei to visit Kyuden Isawa sometimes in the next year
Crane Support for the Phoenix Imperial Library project

"Hmm...Lord Asako will not object to meeting a few more pretty Doji boys. It will keep him busy. Why not? I am somewhat less keen on Orimitsu's request for Asahina Junpei. He is entirely too cheery for my taste, but then he will be in Kyuden Isawa, and if he keeps them occupied for a few weeks, that will probably be all the better for the Empire."

She shrugged.

"Let the deal stand."

"Very good, Shiba-ue."

Another bow. You got a lot of practice bowing at this level of politics.

"I will have to start canvassing the Minor Clans for the remaining needs, and might see if a second agreement with the Crab offers to make up any of the shortfall- especially as our first was purely a trade arrangement with no direct political overtones."

"Very well. This Dye situation is getting tiresome. I am hearing everyone asking where they can be found."

"When the Crane mentioned needing some, I was... momentarily taken aback, Shiba-ue. But clearly, it is simply a matter of asking the right questions in the right places. I will endeavor to do so."

Lady Shiba nodded her agreement. "There is nothing else for it, I am afraid."

"I might begin with the Tortoise or Mantis, unless Shiba-ue has a stronger suggestion?"

"I do not. I would merely..." she clenches her jaw. "...take care around Kasuga Izumi and Moshi Akane. Their methods are somewhat different from the others."

He nodded.

"I will watch out for..."

Deceitful criminal scum.

"... questionable methods."

"Hai, precisely, and if something should occur, I expect that you will inform me so that I may put an end to their activities."

"Of course, Shiba-ue."

Given what lawlessness had done to his beloved older brother, Ryusei had little difficulty adhering to Higashime's hard line.

"Excellent. Well, then, if there is nothing else, I bid you to carry the Fortunes." She gave a firm nod of respect.