The Mercantile Guild

The Righteous Guild of Weavers, Dyers, and Merchants deals with trade and resources within the Empire, ensuring the continued prosperity of Chi'in. They represent the many barterers and vendors of the provinces, who between them have access to great and varied stock, ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. The Mercantile Guild also facilitates trade on a wider scale between and within the various provinces.

It is, of course, known that the Emperor rules over all lands, with all over countries being vassal to it. Therefore, it would be most improper to trade with these other states, and Chi'in instead accepts tribute from them, the exact nature of which is determined by the Mercantile Guild. But the Emperor is often generous, so occasionally in return for this tribute a gift will be given, again to be determined by the Mercantile Guild. Of course, as actual trade between the Empire and subservient nations is forbidden, any unscrupulous merchants attempting unsanctioned commerce are vigorously hunted and justly punished by the Guild.

The Mercantile Guild is composed of hundreds or thousands of smaller companies who have banded together in order to protect their interests. These days, merchants who aren't members of the Guild are nowhere to be found in the Empire. The Mercantile Guild has tradehouses in each of the three provinces and the Imperial Capital, the largest of which is in Xiang Geung due to its excellent port.

The Mercantile Guild zealously recruits skilled administrators to manage its trading routes, strategists and mercenaries to fend off pirates and bandits, and spies to sabotage their rivals.

The Office of the Weavers and Dyers controls trade in the Empire's most important good: silk. Bad silk harvests have often spelled the death of entire villages, and good ones have made more fortunes than can be counted. Throughout the Empire, silk is needed everywhere, from bandages for wounded soldiers to Imperial ceremonial robes. The Office is made up of a myriad tradesmen and merchant princes, with an ever-shifting network of alliances and partnerships and bitter rivalries. Members of the Office often do whatever it takes to advance themselves, and there is therefore no shortage of need for men and women willing to work outside the confines of Imperial law for financial compensation.

The Office of Mines controls the exploitation of the Empire's numerous mines, the production of iron for the soldiers, gold for the artists, and jade for the sorcerers and priests. Unlike the Office of the Weavers and Dyers, the Office of Mines is tightly organised, controlled, and regulated by the Imperial Bureaucracy.

The East Empire Company was set up recently in order to establish a mercantile presence in the East, and acquire its wealth for the Empire (and to a lesser extend, for the merchants who move the goods). Difficulties with navigation and harassment by malevolent spirits have started to take their toll on the Guild's presence, and many are whispering that the profit is not worth the cost.

Head of the Guild, representing the interests of merchants to Chi'in, and answering directly to the Imperial Treasurer, Shuo Xi has lead the Empire to great prosperity. It was his stocks that lasted the Empire through the last famine, while other nations starved, his medicines so readily available during the last sickness. It is said he plans for anything, to the degree that some say he can see the future. He has never lost any game of strategy.

A person who is much sought after, Shrewd Ox has a great reputation. It is said that they can find anything, for a price. Rumour has it that even the Emperor has called upon their talents. Other folk be warned, Shrewd Ox does not speak of how the item is acquired, and sometimes the prices can be very unusual.