(D9, MM) Running while carrying the mountain

[Soshi Eiji]

The servants had been running correspondance between the the Crane and Scorpion houses with ever increasing speed. At last the baton, in a form a a very large scroll, was handed off to Eiji. While the Crane might move while not blowing out a single candle, the Lion were not afraid to RUN when it was called for, and it was definitely called for now.

There was definitely a sense of urgency when Eiji presented himself at the champion's quarters. This treaty would have a major impact upon the future, and he would not see it lost because he had dawdled.

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Bayushi Kaguya was in her office. The corpse was gone(!), and she seeped to be laying out a set of dark clothing and some sharp objects on a table.

"Soshi-san. What riches have you brought the clan today?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Bayushi Kaguya was in her office. The corpse was gone(!), and she seeped to be laying out a set of dark clothing and some sharp objects on a table.

"Soshi-san. What riches have you brought the clan today?"

He bowed deeply but quickly, before laying the treaty out on the desk, rather than alongside the sharp implements.

"Bayushi-ue is well informed indeed. I would classify securing enough rice to see our investment project in the Shinomen Forest become a reality in a single treaty, riches indeed."


The Crane clan agree to send (3 units) of silver and (11 units) of rice to the Scorpion clan. In exchange, the Scorpion will provide the Crane (1 unit) of Dye, (2 units) of Gold, and (4 units) of jade.

Additionally, the Scorpion will provide medical assistance to the Crane to ensure that their lands are spared the wrath of Jurojin's servant, should she visit (Medical tech item).

Furthermore, the Asahina family and the Shosuro family will consult and cooperate on plague readiness and disease treatment to spare future generations the wrath of Jurojin's servant whenever possible. To begin such cooperation, the Asahina family are invited to send a research delegation to the lands of the Shosuro family for a two month residency.

To commerate this momentous occassion, two marriages will seal this exchange:

Bayushi-ke no kashin Irie Miki will marry into the Crane to Asahina Kyoko and Doji Machiko will marry into the Scorpion clan to Soshi-ke no kashin Soshi Kyoko.

Finally, the Doji family are invited to send a group of artists to a prestitious holding of the Scorpion, the details of which are to be finzalized as the wedding negotiations are finalized."

He was no merchant, but even Eiji was pretty sure that securing rice equally to nearly half of the Scorpion's entire harvest for the year was a big deal.

"It is a lot to take in, Bayushi-ue, but the Crane wish to present this treaty to the court today, which is contigent upon your agreement and the agreement of their delegation head."

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Kaguya pours over the treaty for a moment, then looks up.

"Who is this Doji Machiko? Will she survive?"

[Soshi Eiji]

"She's serving in the Crane delegation at this court, Bayushi-ue, so she's at least proven herself competent enough to serve the Crane in such a manner." he said, before swiftly moving on to the next point. No need to dwell on the Scorpion's own delegation issues.

"I did my best to outline to the Crane what the situation was for the person chosen for this marriage. I impressed upon them the strength and skill marrying into the clan in this position would require, and they put her forward."

Additionally, the Crane suggested that as a matter of nature, Soshi-sama would need a consort to produce an heir. They defer to us in this matter. We can name someone who is able to do more than serve one night, but instead serve Soshi-sama as an additional asset to secure her position. It does give her a numerical advantage over other choices."

He shrugged slightly.

"There is no guarantee that any of us will not find ourselves suddenly in the court of Emma-O at any given moment. We've explained the situation, and the Crane have trained her. Whether that is enough or not to guarantee her survival, I cannot say."

[Bayushi Kaguya]

"One hopes that the Crane were not careless in their choice. I do take your point about the third party. Getting a loyalist close to the heart of that issue would be best, I think."

[Soshi Eiji]

"One hopes that the Crane were not careless in their choice. I do take your point about the third party. Getting a loyalist close to the heart of that issue would be best, I think."

Eiji nods.

"And should the worst happen, there will be no question of bloodlines of other clans." he added with a shrug.

"I don't like thinking of things from the standpoint that they won't work, but it's wise to consider worst cases alongside best cases."

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Bayushi Kaguya nodded slowly. "I agree. Strongly. Which raises the question as to who will be of assistance to my son if I should be killed."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"A very important question, Bayushi-ue. We've seen the chaos already of what happens when one is unpreprepared for Emma-O's strike. Of course, Bayushi-ue has an entire clan who venerate loyalty to choose such a person from. But there are those whose interpretation of 'Loyalty' are twisted in ways that Akodo-no-kami never intended." he agrees.

He thinks on a the question for a moment.

"If we were to limit the scope of our consideration to those who are in attendance at this court, and even FURTHER limit it to my own impressions of those people, I would think that Bayushi Ken would be the best choice."

He nods.

"If nothing else, Bayushi Ken should be chosen to lead the delegation in the case that Bayushi-ue is unable to approve treaties and perform the other functions of a delegation head." he offered.

[Bayushi Kaguya]

The mask is impassive.

"Quite a ways down the list." She traces the kanji for "Ryusei" on the desk in front of her. "One never knows when one is marked until one slips and falls. But I mean to have things in readiness. And I mean to avenge and to be avenged, if it should come to that."

She looks up at Eiji.

"Will you be going to Shiro Soshi in the summer?"

[Soshi Eiji]

If Eiji could've grabbed one of Kaguya's knives and driven it through the Ryusei kanji, he would've. But as grabbing a knife, even for wonderful dramatic effect, in his champion's presence would likely have been his last decision, he had to settle for frowning and nodding at the tracing.

"Quite possibly, Bayushi-ue. I'm still somewhat settling in to the demands of my new clan. I thought that I might be sent to speak to one of the Lion houses about whatever the clan needs to be spoken about to them, but..."

He shrugged.

"I go wherever the clan decides it can best utilize my talents."

[Bayushi Kaguya]

"Hmm...it would be good to have eyes on what Michiko does, but that can be arranged elsewhere. Perhaps it would be better that your talents be channeled as you suggest. I should not consider you an operative, but a diplomat. A trusted one."

She looks up. "Was there anything else, Soshi Eiji?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nods.

"A couple of things, Bayushi-ue. A trade proposal and a discussion with the Crab that would benefit from your input. As for the trade proposal, it is as Bayushi-ue predicted with the Dyes, someone is mostly certainly willing to make us a deal:

The Tortoise clan will provide:
(5) tea, (3) sake,
(2) silver

Scorpion provide:
(10) dye

"Slightly more tea than we strictly require and the silver is mostly a hedge should the Crane deal fall apart, we are expecting a good fight in court, and should they not be able to push it through, well as we said, it's better to be prepared."

[Bayushi Kaguya]

"What do the Tortoise want with all that dye?" Her brow creased. "Izumi thinks she can make more deals out the back door with our dye. Do we care? I am not sure..."

[Soshi Eiji]

"I would assume that is her intention with the Dye, Bayushi-ue. But I am uncertain whom she intends to sell it to. The Crab claim their needs for the season are met, the Dragon got their Dye from the Fox, the Crane's need for Dye was but (1) unit, and the Lion and Phoenix claim to have nothing of interest...well at least as far as trade goods go. It seemed more prudent to trade while we still could, and diversify our surpluses rather than find ourselves the ones with a boat full of dye and nowhere to go with it." he explained.

[Bayushi Kaguya]

"Do the Lion and Phoenix have anything of interest to us that is not a commodity?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nods.

"The Lion certainly do, they have researched a new pottery technique increasing their ability to mass produce earthenware leading to more rice production. The Phoenix...are probably worth revisiting. With the flow of goods in court, the situation may well have indeed changed since we completed the negotiation for paper." he admitted.

A small shrug.

"Priorities are definitely shifting as the court progresses. In the beginning, everyone was fixated most on what shortages their clan was facing. This is relatively understandable, if you are dying of hunger, all of your energy is focused on obtaining food rather than how to live as an even more honorable samurai. Thus it has been with the trade negotiations. I spoke with passion on the importance of the medical supplies we gathered. And while everyone agreed that it was important to protect themselves from the wrath of Jurojin's servant, when asked what they would be willing to trade for something that could save lives, they collectively looked at their balance sheets and said 'Well, while it IS nice, I might need this trade good to trade to someone else for their trade good."

"Shortsighted perhaps, but no one wished to be remembered as the person who traded their clan's wealth for a warehouse of medical supplies they didn't end up needing while their artisans were unable to meet their expected quotas for lack of raw materials."

He raised a finger.

"Now the Crab, on the other hand, have met all of their shortfalls. Every single one. And so now their attitude shifts from 'How can we meet these shortfalls?' to 'What can we gain with our surpluses? ' But it takes two to trade, so when they offer to trade, say construction projects, they meet the same wall that I did when offering our medical supplies."

"Thus we have begun discussing what else we might be able to offer them for their expertiese in constructing a mine, be it support for a new emerald magistrate settlement, or expanding their embassy presence in Ryoko Owari or...

He bowed.

"My apologies, Bayushi-ue, in my enthusiasm to make sure you are completly and throughly informed, I fear I may have overexplained." he said, realizing he had shifted from concise status report to full-blown court debate on the nature of trade.

[Bayushi Kaguya]

"Turning one's nose up to medicine is not a wise maneuver. I am disappointed in those clans that have chosen to do so. But I take it that the tide is changing a bit, so perhaps it is not the end. Perhaps there are Minor Clans who also need dye. The Boar have been reticent of late. But otherwise, I see no reason not to permit Izumi to play her game with the others, if she wishes to."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji couldn't help but smirk a bit.

"Children often do, Bayushi-ue. They should have listened to their mothers, if you don't take your medicine, you wont grow up big and strong." he said with a shake of the head.

"But it is as Bayushi-ue says, we're through the introductions of this story of winter court, and we're building to the climax."