(D8, LM) Tea after and before the storm

[Soshi Eiji]

Having survived yet another briefing (Probably), Eiji assembled the tea service for his incoming guest. It would have been nice to have wrapped up negotiations with the Crab to save him a briefing and perhaps speed up his court aspirations, but unless he was going to split himself in two with a legendary Shosuro technique, there was a hard limit on the number of things he could accomplish in a day.

[Hiruma Daichi]

Splitting yourself in two was probably not a good way to survive. Though that might just be Daichi's thought process, as he was certainly not a ninja.

A scratch at the door announced his arrival, daichi taking a small step back after to await the scorpions arrival.

[Soshi Eiji]

Splitting yourself in two was probably not a good way to survive. Though that might just be Daichi's thought process, as he was certainly not a ninja.

A scratch at the door announced his arrival, daichi taking a small step back after to await the scorpions arrival.

Daichi was shown in to the room furthest in the embassy from the champion's quarters that was polite to receive visitors in.

"Ah, good morning, Hiruma-san. I hope this day finds you well indeed. I've arranged for some tea and some light snacks if you..."

Bap bap bap went the door.

With a puzzled look, Eiji opened the door to reveal a short, balding, gap-toothed servant with a crooked nose who thrust a pile of papers in his face.

"Here's the report, Scorpion-sama!" the man said.

"Ah...thank you." Eiji said, taking the papers, and closing the door once more.

"My apologies for the interruption, Hiruma-san. With the recent uproar in court, I asked for an audit of our clan's resources. It was supposed to arrive before you did, but it's been a busy morning . My apologies." he said, putting the papers face down on the table to make ready with the tea.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Good morning, Soshi-san." Daichi greeted the Scorpion with a polite bow, pausing a moment later as the servant came in with the paperwork.

"That's perfectly understandable." The Crab replied with an understanding nod. "With multiple people moving in different directions for these deals, keeping a close eye on things is commendable." Luckily the Crab had Yasuki to take care of those matters, so it was a simple thing to get the information.

[Soshi Eiji]

"Good morning, Soshi-san." Daichi greeted the Scorpion with a polite bow, pausing a moment later as the servant came in with the paperwork.

"That's perfectly understandable." The Crab replied with an understanding nod. "With multiple people moving in different directions for these deals, keeping a close eye on things is commendable." Luckily the Crab had Yasuki to take care of those matters, so it was a simple thing to get the information.

"My thanks, Hiruma-san, I hope you do not find it a great affront if I look at these swiftly while the tea brews. We do, after all, intend to discuss trade, I want to make sure that there are no misunderstandings." he offered.

Assuming there were no objectiions, he flipped to one particular page he was greatly interested in. There was much frowning at the offending page.

I am going to chase down that servant for an explanation. he vowed.

But the tea was ready and he had a guest, so he put the papers back facedown to resume his duties as a good host.

"So, time has passed with since we had dinner with Agasha-san, and yet the Crab continue to pass trade deal after trade deal, Hiruma-san. I do hope that there is something still we can help you with."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Not at all Soshi-san." He replied easily, relaxing into his seat as the other man went through the paperwork.

"There are a few things." Daichi admitted as the conversation turned to the matter at hand. "Though not so much in strictly trade goods. There were a few other things we had some interest in that you mentioned though."

"The information I think you called it, and perhaps that medicine. Though I admit you may be able to get a better deal for that elsewhere."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Not at all Soshi-san." He replied easily, relaxing into his seat as the other man went through the paperwork.

"There are a few things." Daichi admitted as the conversation turned to the matter at hand. "Though not so much in strictly trade goods. There were a few other things we had some interest in that you mentioned though."

"The information I think you called it, and perhaps that medicine. Though I admit you may be able to get a better deal for that elsewhere."

Eiji nods.

"Both are still on the table, Hiruma-san. The medicine is a difficult one, of course. Certainly no one would refuse it were it offered, but no one seems to be able to bring themselves to agree what a fair trade for it is. As we discussed, it may save many lives....or none at all if traded to the wrong person. Might I ask what the Crab are offering, if not strictly trade goods?" he said taking a sip of his tea.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Some of them I have mentioned before, the armor our Kaiu make is some of the finest in the Empire for example. Any warrior would be happy to own a suit of it and we are willing to have a set made for your clan. There is also the matter of the work the Kaiu can do on more practice things. The making of a castle, the construction of roads to possibly avoid pirate plagued water, Construction of a mine on a vein of ore your clan has located. The possibilities are many and varied."

He picked up his cup and took a sip. "There is also our clans support if there is a specific course of action the Scorpion are pursuing in court. Or a particular trouble you are having. Honestly it depends a lot on what you are interested in."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Some of them I have mentioned before, the armor our Kaiu make is some of the finest in the Empire for example. Any warrior would be happy to own a suit of it and we are willing to have a set made for your clan. There is also the matter of the work the Kaiu can do on more practice things. The making of a castle, the construction of roads to possibly avoid pirate plagued water, Construction of a mine on a vein of ore your clan has located. The possibilities are many and varied."

He picked up his cup and took a sip. "There is also our clans support if there is a specific course of action the Scorpion are pursuing in court. Or a particular trouble you are having. Honestly it depends a lot on what you are interested in."

Eiji nodded considering.

"Hmmm. a gift of Kaiu armor is a mighty one indeed for an individual, but a new mine would certainly be welcome for many years down the road for the entire clan. We do have a couple of scholars left willing to do research and the medicine as well. I don't think we have any pressing business to present before the court....as for problems the Crab could help with, I'd have to consult with the delegation about that."

He looked consideringly at the Crab.

"Have you any thoughts about what this coming summer will look like?" he asked.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"We do have some interest in both of those." Daichi said with a nod. "So, it seems we have some room to deal there, it's just a matter of working through the details as it were." He picked up his cup of tea and took a sip.

"We do have some thoughts there, not least of which is to secure peace with our northern neighbors, not that we expect anything but peace on that front. But proper assurances made here will let us concentrate on our duty to the south. Other than that, we are most interested in stability. Trade helps keeps out soldiers' bellies full and brings us the Jade we need for our duty. If that it stymied, then our duties become that much more difficult."

"As to how" He likely meant who here. "That can be accomplished we are still uncertain but there are certain directions we are leaning."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"I think peace with the Crab is in the best interests of the Empire....but it's best to officially take war off the table with a treaty, I think. After all, when a weakness exists, there will be those who consider striking at it. Better to remove the temptation entirely." he offered.

"As for securing trade, we've certainly moved to make our rivers well policied with the aid of the Mantis. But perhaps Hiruma-san has some of assurance in mind we can make to help ensure trade flows interrupted to the Crab?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"The Crab would welcome such a treaty. As well as a marriage or two to better bind it if that's in the interest of your clan." Daichi replied with an easy smile.

"We have doing what we can to increase our own naval forces at this court, we are also at work with the Crane on a treaty to help maintain safe trade along the coasts. That you have been working with the Mantis to help guarantee the safety of goods on the river of gold is great news as well. Though I do wonder if you have tried consulting the fox whose lands sits between that of our two clans and on the river of gold?"

"My own idea had been coordinated patrols between our two clans with promises of rest and resupply in each other's territories. But with your deal with the Mantis, I believe that might not be necessary. So, I may have to shift my thoughts in other directions."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"Although, truth be told, using the Mantis on our river pirate problem really is like swatting a fly with a tetsubo." he mused. "The fly will definitely be dead, but perhaps we needn't have swung at it quite that hard. Perhaps we could divert some of that force to something that would benefit both of our clans?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Perhaps." Daichi replied thoughtfully. "I did have a stray thought that might benefit from some extra manpower and the cooperation of both our clans and perhaps more. Though I don't know how feasible it is as I think we'd perhaps need the aid of the Seppun or Miya to gain any traction there."

"To my understanding there is a fork in the River of Gold that feeds into the Lake of Cherry Blossom Snow. It's located in what I believe is Imperial lands North of the Lands of the Fox, South of the Scorpion, and East of the Crab. I think this might be a good location for a settlement of sorts. A place for magistrates to gather and strike at the pirates that plague the river and a place for clans to mingle and trade. A way to put a more permanent pressure on the pirate threat in the area outside the lands of our clans.

"Though such a venture might be a difficult one to manage, and there are likely better ways you could have the Mantis aide you."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Perhaps." Daichi replied thoughtfully. "I did have a stray thought that might benefit from some extra manpower and the cooperation of both our clans and perhaps more. Though I don't know how feasible it is as I think we'd perhaps need the aid of the Seppun or Miya to gain any traction there."

"To my understanding there is a fork in the River of Gold that feeds into the Lake of Cherry Blossom Snow. It's located in what I believe is Imperial lands North of the Lands of the Fox, South of the Scorpion, and East of the Crab. I think this might be a good location for a settlement of sorts. A place for magistrates to gather and strike at the pirates that plague the river and a place for clans to mingle and trade. A way to put a more permanent pressure on the pirate threat in the area outside the lands of our clans.

"Though such a venture might be a difficult one to manage, and there are likely better ways you could have the Mantis aide you."

Eiji considered the Crab proposal.

"Hmmm, so you envision a new settlement on Imperial lands, one controlled by the office of the Emerald Magistrate then? While river pirates are typically envisioned as a problem for local authorities, one could make the case that they are crossing clan borders with impunity, and thus fall under their charter." he said thoughtfully.

"I would rate such a plan as ambitious, but not outside the realm of possibility. Such a settlement would need to be supplied by the three clans adjacent to make it a truly neutral haven. We wouldn't want it to be a bone of contention between the clans when it is meant to for the betterment of all of them. Ideally you'd want the buy-in of the Otomo family as well, but perhaps it would suffice if you were to get the Emerald Champion to, well, champion the idea?" he suggested.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"You certainly have a better way of putting my stray idea to words." Daichi replied with a soft chuckle. "One would also note that the proximity of such a place could prove a boon to the three Minor clans in the area. Putting an Imperial presence in the area would also help their own trade, both with each other and the Great Clans."

"So it could be that if well received we could count of their voices to help champion the matter."

"It is ambitious as you said though and would certainly need support from many places to come to fruition. So, it might be something that takes years not a season to accomplish. If your clan would even be interested in such a thing."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"I believe we would definitly want to be involved in the project as much as we could. Security in our waterways is definitely important to us. " he agreed.

"As it is written, 'the journey of a thousand li begins with but single step.' An entire settlement is a large thing to accomplish, especially on imperial lands. People don't just simply appear when you build houses. If the throne wanted it done, it could be done, but perhaps it is better to think of this in stages." he offered.

"We discuss the settlement, but we propose a well fortified manor for the emerald magistrates as a starting point. Some place where they can rest, manage their communications, bring in people for interviews, that sort of thing. Without a village, the supplies for it will still need to come from the surrounding clans. Then in following seasons, should it prove effective, we can expand it. As it grows it will become more efficient to build permanent support housing about it and eventually pehaps reaching the level of a castle."

He nods.

"We just need to secure agreement for the manor, something I'm confident with the Crab's support could be accomplished within a season."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"That would be the proper way to go about it." He agreed with a nod. "Small steps." Jihen had mentioned that he was fairly certain.

"I do believe we could accomplish that too, all things as they are currently." He mused thoughtfully. "Though I assume much like me you will need to get the approval of your clan first. After that if the talks go well, we approach the Emerald Champion himself. or perhaps the Otomo instead, as well as the Miya? As it could serve as a good resting spot in their own duties"

[Soshi Eiji]

"All three, I think. If they're going to say no in private, they're definitely going to say no in public. Better to identify the naysayers before we get to the floor rather than after. The Otomo daimyo does certainly seem to take great delight in the word no, through few support his objections. Approaching him beforehand and trying to get him on board gives us the chance to turn an enemy into an ally." he suggests.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"All three it is then." Daichi confirmed with a nod they would need permission to broach the subject but that was probably just a matter of course. "Would there be any among them in particular you would prefer to approach? Or should we do so as a group?"