[D2, ME, Closed] Men of Business

[Heichi Batsuda]

Heichi Batsuda waited calmly in the reserved area of the teahouse, his lips pursed as he turned the coming meeting over in his mind. This Ryoichi had been a good guy, but was he going to deal fairly with the Boar? Only one way to find out...

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Yasuki Ryoichi arrived promptly at the appointed time, wearing his best kimono. After removing his footwear at the door, he was shown in by a teahouse attendant.

"Heichi-sama," Ryoichi said, bowing low at the entrance to the private room. "Thank you so much for this invitation. I hope the Champion of the Boar has been doing well?"

[Heichi Batsuda]

"Better than some, Yasuki-san," the Boar bowed in return, then beckoned Ryoichi in. "Come, have a seat. I've chosen a green to get us started."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Entering at Lord Heichi's invitation, Ryoichi made his way to the table and took a seat where the Boar Lord had indicated.

"The conversation with you and your retinue last night was most pleasant," Ryoichi commented. "After the earlier formalities, it was nice to relax with some like-minded friends. It reminded me of how much the Boar and the Crab have in common."

[Heichi Batsuda]

Batsuda nodded. "There was a time when I thought much the same way. Now, I have no time to play young men's games."

He spread his hands. "We do share much, but there are certain impediments to the Boar's prosperity that the Crab do not share; I would like to see what can be done about alleviating them. Are you prepared to have that discussion?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

The Yasuki nodded solemnly. "I can certainly assist with that," Ryoichi said, with a small nod. "I would need to give my superiors the chance to approve any arrangement we discuss, but I know that they feel, as I do, that our relationship with the Boar Clan is of great importance."

[Heichi Batsuda]

Batsuda nodded. "I thought as much. And our relationship with the Crab is, of course, our most important one. We intend to preserve it as it is. Close and respectful."

He paused. "I take it that a change of relations is not in the Crab's interest, either, so let us turn to real matters. How much pressure are you guys getting on your western border?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"You refer to the Great Enemy?" Ryoichi inquired. "Well, our Champion's father and predecessor fell in battle against them only two years ago. So I'd have to say pressure from that direction must be considered a constant menace."

[Heichi Batsuda]

"I refer to them in part, and certainly I have Jade and Iron that could assist with that, if need be, but I am more interested in your extreme west at the moment. We have been getting pressure from bandits and raiders coming off the steppe in that direction. I'm curious if you guys are getting the same, and if we can work out a deal to address the issue."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Ah, I see," Ryoichi said, nodding. "I have not heard of bandit raids in our westernmost provinces, but then Northern Watch Castle is one of our strongest of strongholds, so the lands around it may not be very tempting targets for a raider."

"I'm certain that my masters would support the idea of increasing security in this sector, though. What sort of assistance were you thinking of?"

[Heichi Batsuda]

Batsuda grinned. "The heavily armed kind." A beat. "More seriously, there's two things. A detachment of Hiruma would be helpful. Doesn't have to be big, but we need to send a message to these guys and we need a little help doing it."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Heavily armed assistance is our specialty," Ryoichi said with a grin. "I'd need to talk to some people to make it happen, but I think it could be arranged. No one likes bandits, after all."

[Heichi Batsuda]

"Much appreciated." A pause. "And then there's the other thing. Ichiro Himari and I are working on a deal to increase trade volume between our clans, but we need access to the River of Gold to make it efficient. Now, I'd cut a deal with the Fox, but their ports aren't as secure as yours. Problem is, too many tariffs are going to make the arrangement cost-inefficient. You see where I'm going with this?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

The Yasuki looked thoughtful at this. "Tariffs are a burden for all commerce," he admitted. "I think it would be difficult to eliminate them entirely, as they help support the customs inspectors and border stations. But perhaps a 'most favored' status could be established... for those understood to be friends of the Crab Clan."

[Heichi Batsuda]

"I would think that, having the largest Jade mine in Rokugan, we just might find ourselves on that list."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Ryoichi chuckled. "You're certainly right about that," he admitted.

"You mentioned earlier that you could assist our defense against the Great Enemy with Jade and Iron? That would certainly be persuasive to my superiors. I understand Copper is plentiful in your mountains, too, if that's something you're able to share with your friends."

[Heichi Batsuda]

"Possibly, but we'd need to see the balance of the deal. Our needs extend a short distance beyond those things the Crab can provide, and I've got to have something for those folks, too." He frowned. "But show me sake and I can show you a little copper, or perhaps more Iron than I otherwise would."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"We would be glad to provide sake to our friends in the Boar Clan," Ryoichi assured him. "What other needs can we help with?"

[Heichi Batsuda]

"Well, we're low in fish, lumber, paper, and stone. Not huge quantities. I've got a little rice in addition to the Jade and Copper or Iron. Are you authorized to talk numbers, or are we still preliminary?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"We can supply some stone, and could use that rice," Ryoichi nodded. "And I've spoken with a Phoenix representative who said he had a surplus of both lumber and paper. If it's helpful, I can make an introduction - though of course Heichi-sama may have reliable contacts with them already."

"I'm authorized to talk about numbers," the Yasuki affirmed. "Subject to clan approval. But I think we can come to an understanding that my superiors would find acceptable."