(D7, Court) Am I Boaring you?

[Soshi Eiji]

"Heichi-sama. This one is Soshi-ke no kashin Miura Eiji. This seems like a particularly lucky day to make your acquaintence. Might we converse a bit?"

[Heichi Batsuda]

"Heichi-sama. This one is Soshi-ke no kashin Miura Eiji. This seems like a particularly lucky day to make your acquaintence. Might we converse a bit?"

"Certainly," he replies in his deep, pleasant voice. "In fact, I was hoping to do just that."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Certainly," he replies in his deep, pleasant voice. "In fact, I was hoping to do just that."

Quite the smooth voice that.

Eiji bowed.

"Fortuitious indeed. There is no end of topics one can choose to discuss with the fleeting moments one spends at this court. Perhaps Heichi-sama would care to suggest one?" he inquired.

[Heichi Batsuda]

"What about the River of Gold? I have a proposal that might well make it live up to its name."

[Soshi Eiji]

"What about the River of Gold? I have a proposal that might well make it live up to its name."

Eiji smiled a bit.

"It's been a good year for our miners bringing gold to our jewellers. But as it's written (probably by the Mantis), the only thing better than gold is more gold. What did you have in mind, Heichi-sama?" he asked, curious where this was going.

[Heichi Batsuda]

"I want to increase the volume of traffic on the river by lowering tariffs for ships traveling between Boar and Badger lands. If the tariffs are lower by about 20%, more merchants from our territories can afford to make the journey, increasing your net intake. I've also got Tea, Iron, and Weapons to exchange for Lumber, Dyes, and Fish."

[Soshi Eiji]

"I want to increase the volume of traffic on the river by lowering tariffs for ships traveling between Boar and Badger lands. If the tariffs are lower by about 20%, more merchants from our territories can afford to make the journey, increasing your net intake. I've also got Tea, Iron, and Weapons to exchange for Lumber, Dyes, and Fish."

Eiji nodded.

"Well tea and iron are definitely both of interest to us, Heichi-sama, and we have had a good year for lumber. I like the idea of the tarriff relaxation. I'm sure you've got a lot to attend to this court, so what's your best offer for (5) lumber?" he asked.

[Heichi Batsuda]

"For five lumber, I can do 2 tea, 3 Iron. I can do less tea for more Iron, if necessary, but I can't go the other way. I'd give my remaining 2 Iron for 2 Dyes as well."

[Soshi Eiji]

"For five lumber, I can do 2 tea, 3 Iron. I can do less tea for more Iron, if necessary, but I can't go the other way. I'd give my remaining 2 Iron for 2 Dyes as well."

Eiji nodded.

"That's a pretty fair deal, Heichi-sama. While I'd like that extra iron, we just don't have the Dyes to trade for it, so unless you're willing to give it up for something more intangible like some information, or a good marriage deal, I might have to leave that extra 2 iron with you." he agreed.

[Heichi Batsuda]

He raised an eyebrow. "A marriage deal? Well, I can't say that you aren't easy on the eyes, Soshi-san, but we have only just met, and I have already married. Perhaps we can compare slates."

There's my son, Batsuda II, Heichi-ke no kashin Kanaoka Nobu, a living legend of the Twilight Mountains, and Heichi-ke no kashin Tsukamoto Kei, who manages agricultural production.

[Soshi Eiji]

He raised an eyebrow. "A marriage deal? Well, I can't say that you aren't easy on the eyes, Soshi-san, but we have only just met, and I have already married. Perhaps we can compare slates."

There's my son, Batsuda II, Heichi-ke no kashin Kanaoka Nobu, a living legend of the Twilight Mountains, and Heichi-ke no kashin Tsukamoto Kei, who manages agricultural production.

Eiji chuckled good naturedly at the joke.

"Hmmm, not sure if any would be a favorable match. Of course, it matters if they're marrying out or in. I assume while Heichi-sama is well blessed by the fortune of fertility, he'd prefer his legendary son stay in. And I assume that Kei-san's role in your clan is quite important."

He considered the matter.

"Hm, Perhaps Shosuro-ke no kashin Takemitsu Toru? He's a young man from a prominent merchant patron family in Ryoko Owari if you're looking to make connections there." he suggests.

[Cearnach]

"That would be helpful, I think," Batsuda nodded his agreement.

[Soshi Eiji]

"That would be helpful, I think," Batsuda nodded his agreement.

"Well then," Eiji said getting out his writing implements.

"The Scorpion will provide the Boar 5 lumber.

The Boar will provide the Scorpion 2 Tea and 3 Iron

The Scorpion and the Boar agree to a 20% reduction in tariffs for river traffice between Boar and Badger lands

Shosuro-ke no kashin Takemitsu Toru will wed into the Boar clan, marrying Heichi-ke no kashin Tsukamoto Kei."

"Do I have the right of it, Heichi-sama? I'll need to have my champiion look it over, of course."

He glances over at the Lion tearing into the Dragon.

"And I'd like to make sure it's all in order before that."

[Heichi Batsuda]

"That looks like the deal we've made, hai."

[Soshi Eiji]

"That looks like the deal we've made, hai."

Eiji smiled.

"Most excellent, Heichi-sama. I'll get this before the delegation head for approval, and then before the court as quickly as I can. With luck, we'll be enjoying the sumai competition with all our business between each other concluded."

[Heichi Batsuda]

Batsuda nodded, his attention momentarily arrested by something in the Imperial section of the galleries, but he shook his head and got back in the game.

"Hai, Soshi-san, I must say that I am looking forward to seeing Kashiwado at work. I understand he is something of a fierce one."

[Soshi Eiji]

Batsuda nodded, his attention momentarily arrested by something in the Imperial section of the galleries, but he shook his head and got back in the game.

"Hai, Soshi-san, I must say that I am looking forward to seeing Kashiwado at work. I understand he is something of a fierce one."

Eiji looked somewhat intrigued.

"Indeed? I must confess, I have not gotten to see him compete. I'm sure any chosen to perform before the Imperial Winter Court will be of the finest quality of the Empire, of course. But when two sumai grapple, one must win and one must lose, such is often the way of life."

He tilted his head a bit.

"I would have thought the match Ichiro-sama was really anticipating would have been Onomatsu's. Or perhaps Ichiro-sama is so confident in the result of that match it holds little interest for him?" he said.

It'd not like he HAD to support his fellow Boar, but Eiji suspected that a win for the Boar in the ring would reflect well on their clan.

[Heichi Batsuda]

"Heichi-sama," he said quietly, his eyes flashing a bit. "And Onomatsu is a fine wrestler and proud we are of him, but it has been a fallow year for the southern division. The North is set to dominate."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Heichi-sama," he said quietly, his eyes flashing a bit. "And Onomatsu is a fine wrestler and proud we are of him, but it has been a fallow year for the southern division. The North is set to dominate."

Eiji excuted a quick apologetic bow. Quick, not because it was insincere, but because it needed to be.

For some reason, his player just could not keep boar and badger straight. Even when the Heavens themselves smacked him on the head, he couldn't remember them Almost like in every other timeline they didn't exist and he refused to acknowledge them.

"My apologies, Heichi-sama. I was trying to recall something about Tsurugizan, and I mispoke, uttering his name rather than yours." he offers, sincerely apologetic about his own error. Some Ikoma he was, couldn't even keep the Boar straight.

"I trust Heichi-sama's opinion on the relative strength of the divisions. However, I will hold out hope for Onomatsu. I do enjoy stories where one gives it their all against long odds and overcome them. May it be so for Onomatsu." he offered.

[Heichi Batsuda]

Batsuda nodded slowly, the slight forgiven. "It would be nice, indeed."