Turn 3 News -- Year of the Tiger

Despite the many signs of the Empire's fragmentation, the people of the Empire remain committed to the ideal of Chi'in. One need look no further than the popularity of Shen Jiang's 'Our Family Have Lived Ten Thousand Years in One House' to see that the traditions, history and culture that make the Empire great will never be forgotten, and these times of strife shall surely be put behind us soon.

Nowhere is the spirit of the Empire stronger than in the Capital where dissatisfaction with the behaviour of the Provinces is steadily growing. Hundreds of patriotic citizens have formed spontaneous street gatherings to remind visiting merchants of the love the people of the Capital bear for the Empire, and to ensure that word spreads back to the very borders of Chi'in, that the neither a person, nor a country can cast aside their heart and yet live.

The delegation from the Empire of Chi'in has been forced out of the city of Siampan for reasons unknown. Merchants from the Empire dealing with the southern city have lately been turned away at the gates, and southern merchants in Chi'in are returning home with their assets.

Reasons given include the unstable political situation in the Empire and the weakness of the Imperial currency. Rumors of shadow-entities and cannibal cults having taken over the City of Gold and Ivory are superstitious foreign nonsense.

The Blue Squares, peasant rabble with ideas above their station, have rallied around a charismatic new leader. In proclamations made throughout villages in Wei and Shu, the Blue Squares have announced that the Dukes and the Companions do not have the Empire's best interests at heart, and someone who represents the people needs to sit on the Dragon Throne.

Large numbers of peasants are flocking to support this new candidate, inspired by promises of change and comforted by his lack of associations with the failing Shen Dynasty.

A notice posted in many of the Empire's port city's and delivered to Prefectural Governer's throughout Chi'in

The Ankytherine Republic, cognizant of the suffering of the people of Chi'in, offers its support to any who would accept. In these times of strife it would be our pleasure to provide loans of financial aid, medicines to salve the hurts of the people and advisers to assist with the many difficult decisions you may now face.

You need only look to the peaceful island city of Kong Dhao, where our aid has already been accepted, to see the benefits that we can provide the people of the Empire. The city prospers and its people are happy; we only wish that this state could be universal.

We know that the people of the Empire are strong, and need no charity, but it is the humble wish of the Ankytherine Republic to stand as a friend to Chi'in, and it is the duty of a friend to offer aid in hard times.

- Delegate Kallista Pelagius

The honourable Chen Wen Bo chief examiner of the Empire has offered a novel solution to the current problem of deciding upon an Emperor. He had published a ambitious plan for a set of exams which he claims will differentiate the wheat from the chaff and ensure the next Emperor is truly worthy to lead the empire into a new golden age. His plans for the exams are split into five parts and are as follows

The test of Wood (木 mù): The element of vitality will be governed by the ancestors. The candidate who can boast the greatest lineage (numeric length of a historical chain), with appropriate proofs in the records, is most fit for the mandate of heaven.

The test of Fire (火 huǒ): Whoever can bring the greatest military might under their command is surely fit to lead! Greatest is to be determined by number of men, impartial central bureaucrats shall perform the counting.

The test of Earth (土 tǔ): Administrative skill, the moderating influence. Determined by the Jin-Shi examination system.

The test of Metal (金 jīn): The element of purity will be tested by artistic statement. Each candidate is to submit a watercolour or poem that encompasses the spirit of Metal and how it relates to statecraft. These will be judged by a very senior administrator from the Ministry for the Preservation, Dissemination, and Protection of Imperial Culture and naturally he or she won't know which candidate submitted with work.

The test of Water (水 shuǐ): Each candidate is given an identical ship of the Imperial Navy to command. They will be given a period of one month to make it fit to sail and modify it as they see fit and then the ships will race along the Eastern coast of Chi'in. Personal attendance on the ship is not required, but an impartial member of the central bureaucracy is to be carried on each ship to ensure a lack of conflicts.

All citizens of the empire are invited to take part and may the best man or woman win.

Although he clearly understands the importance of finding a new Emperor, it is gratifying to see that chief examiner Chen Wen Bo has not forgotten the importance of the Central Bureaucracy. All members not yet qualified are required to take the Jinshi exam to ensure their time would not be better spent serving the Empire in some other way. Even those from the regional Bureaucracies have travelled to the Capital to prove themselves worthy of the title of bureaucrat. The most worthy of this first group of examinees have been given the title of Jinshi.

Those who have yet to sit the exam are assured that you do not have to achieve this outstanding level to work in the Imperial Bureaucracy. Although the first set of testing is complete, and some bureaucrats now seeking employment elsewhere, those who have yet to sit the exam may do so next year.

After more than two years the imperial seal has finally been found and placed within its proper location in the imperial treasury. The Seal was handed to the imperial treasurer by Bai Cong whom himself had been given the seal by an enterprising young man called Lai whom had apparently tracked it down. No sooner had this happened though than the ceremony was interrupted by magistrates arresting Lai for stealing the seal in the first place. Confusion reigned at this point but fortunately it was not enough to prevent the treasurer retreating to secure the seal within the vaults.

A further rumour that circulates a little later

Of course with the treasurer murdered the whereabouts of the seal is once again unknown I suppose what they say is true it will not long stay in the possession of anyone not bearing the mandate of heaven.

Over the past year it has been shown that the Imperial Treasury has been woefully incompetent with dealing with the new coinage, this may have something to do with the passing of the Treasurer, but the Empire needed someone to take charge of the situation, and no such person has. Many provincial businesses now will only accept their province's coinage. Surprisingly, it is only the navy that seem to be able to cope with the fluxuating value of the coins, the rest of the Empire is in shambles. Luckily Wa Kheng has stepped up, and all are grateful for his exchange houses, where, for a small fee, the currencies can be exchanged at the correct rates. We need someone on the ball like that to be next treasurer.

Extracts from Treasures and Symbols of the Empress and her Mandate a book suddenly enjoying considerable popularity amongst the nobles of Chi'in.

… the most important items of the imperial regalia are thus the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, the Dragon Throne, the Yellow Dragon Robe and lesser symbols such as the Hat of Twelve Rows.

Of these by far the most important is the famous Imperial Seal. Many believe that only the true empress may ever possess the Seal and that if the Seal is lost then so too is the Mandate of Heaven. The reverse of this position is less common, but still distressing common amongst the uneducated: that whoever possesses the Imperial Seal possesses the Mandate and is Empress. A more common but still incorrect position is that any order written by the Seal possesses the Mandate and must be obeyed as thought the Emperor's.

… the Yellow Dragon Robe is dyed a brilliant yellow, a colour reserved for the emperor for anything other than highlights. To wear the robe is therefore is as clear a statement of claim to the Dragon Throne itself as a proclamation from the temples.

… when the succession is in doubt or the Mandate of Heaven clearly lost, these symbols of Imperial power become truly important. To possess one, particularly the Seal, is to strongly suggest that one is favoured by the Jade Emperor. Possessing them all it is hard to imagine how such a woman could not be the true Empress of Chi'in.

Rumors are circling that the Emperor was survived by a secret son. Surely, placing this heir on the Throne would immediately restore the Mandate of Heaven and bring peace to our land.

If the rumours are true, the continuation of the Shen Dynasty would prevent any further calamities from befalling the beleaguered Empire.

Rumours such as these swirl through the Capital, along the Wall, and whenever Imperial soldiers are stationed. /

As Inspector of Dragon's Voice Ordinance my job takes me all over Chi'in and let me tell you the Ministry of War is all but gone. Oh, there's been no secret invasion. The Capital and Wall are still theirs and still defended, but everywhere else? Everywhere else the soldiers are loyal to the Duke and Duchesses. In Wu they don't even send my reports to the Capital any more, they go straight to the Carmine Citadel. In Wei on the other hand I am paid to send lies instead of truth.

The truth is there are only a few scattered garrisons still loyal to the centre, the rest have sided with the provinces. They still draw their pay, they still fill in their paperwork some of them, but if orders come they await the approval of the Duke's general or the Duchess's advisor.

It won't be long now before the Ministry of War is no more than a name on a building in the Capital.

The Duke of Wu is recalling all historical artifacts stored in the various museums and shrines of Wu, to aid in finding objects that would be useful for the war, and for objects significant to the Emperor and the Empire. He has let it be known that any who would aid him in uncovering Imperial Regalia would be welcome to take one of the wonders of his vaults. In the wake of the kidnapping of his daughter, security around the Carmine Citadel has tripled, and the artifacts remain secure there.

An earthquake recently struck the Capital, decimating many lesser or unreinforced buildings across the city. Worse, the wall is barely even a wall any more. Were it not for Duke Meng's incredibly quick response, the Capital would be left barely defended. His army is stationed around the city, watching anyone who looks like they might enter or leave.

During the earthquake, people also claim to have seen demons forcing their way through the earth, particularly a nasty one in a pink dress. The pink dress is debatable, but many have already been attacked by the demons, flayed across the countryside until they cannot run any more.

By order of the advisory committee on periods of mourning, authority as wielded by the subcommittee of the Capital and the subcommittee of Jinshi, all bureaucrats within the walls of the Imperial Capital are commanded to wear appropriate mourning dress for a period of not less than one half-day, or a period of equivalent pro-rata duration for those with exceptional contracts, in memory of the Lei Mei, The Imperial Treasurer, unless such mourning attire would interfere with the efficiency of bureaucratic personnel as outlined in schedule 35(d) of …

Reaction to the news.

• I heard she came out of the Treasurer's office, her hands red with blood and laughing.
  
• Really? My cousin's wife's brother met her and swears she couldn't even pick up a knife she's so frail.
  
• Not at all, you hear she's a jinshi? They teach them to kill with a quill. The knife's a cover-up so you don't hear that.
  
• But why would Three Laughing Sparrows want to kill the Treasurer anyway? They weren't even in the same division of the bureaucracy.
  
• One too many misfiled reports to the Hall of Records from the accountants and she went mad. Stabbed up the boss because she couldn't get the others.
  
• Wasn't she in the Department of Flowers? That's why they haven't executed her, I hear. She has to be presented to the Flower people before they can cut off her head.
  
• Nah, not Department of Flowers. It's the Order of the Kisimanti… Crisismemanthum… Yeah, flowers.
  

The Duke of Wu has recently marched troops across into Wei, burning down a town near the border. The duchess is in outrage, however officials for the Duke claim it was a known Triad area, and if the Duchess cannot keep the peace, and keep her problems within her own borders, the Duke of Wu will most graciously step in. Agents of the Duke of Wu managed to successfully recover his daughter in the town of Badong, much further inside Wei's borders.

The Duchess of Wei condemns the violent actions of Duke Meng of Wu which were presumably taken in retaliation to the kidnapping of his daughter. It should go on record that no-one from Wei was involved in her kidnapping and subsequent imprisonment, despite her being found on the premises of a Tea House in Badong. If any further acts of violence are perpetrated against innocent citizens of Wei the Province will be forced to retaliate.

The unofficial word is that Duke Meng kidnapped his daughter himself in order to have an excuse to launch an attack on Wei.

There has been conflict arising between the Navy out of Wei and privateers out of Shu. Both sides are demanding protection money from merchants in order to keep them and their cargo safe from the other side, though many do not know who to side with at this time.

• Shu and Wu been cursed by a plague, heaven has abandoned them.
• They say the Duke of Wu rewards those loyal to him with one thousand Imperial Mengs.
• That is nothing, the Duchess of Shu will give you 2000 Imperial Wangs if you defect.