Turn 6 News - Year of the Snake

There shall be peace in our time! Peasant and noble alike rejoice at the peace brokered by the Son of Heaven's cousin, Shen Sun Quian. The following terms were agreed upon in exchange for peace,

• His Imperial Majesty will marry the Khan's daughter Kubilai, and the Khan will henceforth be known as “Father of Emperors”
• The Empire will pay an annual tithe to the tribes of the north in the form of silver and food.
• The prefectures along the Wall in Wu are given over to the Khan's most loyal captains.
• The northern tribes are given lands in the Imperial Capital for the construction of an Embassy. These lands will be those on which the North Wall of the City was built, which will be torn down and not rebuilt.
• The Order of the Black Lotus is to disband and will be outlawed. Members of the Black Lotus are given an amnesty for the next few months: surrender and suffer exile or be sentenced to death.

In exchange, the Khan will:

• Withdraw his armies beyond the Wall (except for those granted land in Wu).
• Renounce his claim to be the new Son of Heaven and honour Shen Ye Zi as such.
• Offer the Emperor the support of his armies to restore peace.

Kubilai, Blossom of the North, has made the journey to the Imperial Capital for the impending Imperial Nuptials. The Great Khan, Father of Emperors, has made his way to the Capital along with his great host to be present at this most momentous of occasions. The army is camped outside the walls. Nobles complain about the smell, but Imperial Merchants have been doing brisk trade with the Northmen.

Evidence published by the Magistrates office has conclusively shown the extent of Duchess Cao Lu's entanglements with the triads of Wei. The Three Dragon triads, once the scourge of the Province have now been almost entirely dismantled by the Magistrate's office.

There has been no rebuttal from the Queen of Wei. Indeed since her marriage to King Yinchang Fu Mo, she has not been seen at all. Rumours in the court of Wei say that her husband may have executed her once her criminal activities were confirmed, but no body has been displayed.

Read out by the soldiers of Zhushen Yu throughout Wu as they labour to rebuild what was destroyed in the scorched earth policy implemented by the Imperial Army.

”… and so I bear a great responsibility for troubles visited upon the people of Wu. For in defence of the Empire, you hardy, strong people have often sacrificed much. Once again, when trouble has come to Chi'in, the people of Wu have had to bear so much, and for some of the ills here I am surely responsible…

”… thus hope that the Imperial Army and I may help in the rebuilding of the province, for it has been dear to me a long time. Whenever campaigning over the Wall, it was a great pleasure and relief to return to the land and people of Wu and so I hope that we can help restore it once again…

”… as I have helped and protected Wu before, so I promise to continue to do and even though the gravity of the situation may have demanded drastic action, with time and toil the Empire shall rebuild its most cherished land…”

It is not just Zhushen who contributes to the rebuilding of Wu. Yu Min contributes money and rebuilds towns and Gui Huaidan's contribution is considerable. The Tribune of the People Lan Hou seems to have some role in affairs, but many nobles decry him as a rabble-rouser more interested in stirring the peasants to riot than rebuilding.

Three Laughing Sparrows, Gatekeeper of the Scrolls, has once again been implicated in the death of an Imperial Treasurer. Functionaries describe a running battle through the corridors of the Imperial Bureaucracy, as Sparrow and members of the College of Exorcists slew the Treasurer in cold blood.

Ripples of shock have spread out through the Bureaucracy and forced everything to a grinding halt, as clerks and officials worry about the fate of the Nation.

“Of course, it was a great honour to be addressed by the King, but it was more than that- everything he said made sense; what has Heaven done for us?”

“I've burned joss every week, even though it means less food on the table for my boys, but has anything good come of it. No! It's been disaster after disaster. The Jade Emperor's done no more for us than the fake emperor in the capital.”

“Course I'll still give to my ancestors, I know they look out for me. Keep me and mine safe, and after all they're family. But I'm damned if I'm going to waste another Cao on the gods.

According to the Phoenix, Supreme Tribune of Wu and Wei, the Firsts of the Emperor, Zhong Yi and Long Pike, have been enforcing the Emperor's will in Wu. While Zhong Yi, the left fist, has been gleefully repressing the populace with mastery of arms, the exalted Long Pike has presented a more benevolent side of the Emperor's Rule. While Zhong Yi enforces Imperial Will by force and fear, Long Pike has been using mercy and compassion. The terror inspired by the Dread Zhong Yi has cowed vast swathes of the peasantry who cry out for salvation.

The vile villain Zhong Yi's actions in Wu have served to turn a significant section of the populace against the rule of the Emperor, even as Long Pike works tirelessly to ensure their safety. Rumour has it that the two fists of the Emperor even violently clashed over the best manner of enforcing Imperial Will.

By order of His Imperial Majesty Shen Ye Zi

The Thrice-Blessed Immortal Order of the Black Lotus are hereby disbanded with immediate effect. The Empire now having no use for the dishonorable practice of assassination, those in the service of the Black Lotus are commanded to present themselves to the magistrates within the next three months, where they will be charged to leave the Empire for a life of exile.

Any who disobey this order, failing to present themselves within the alloted time, will be judged guilty of treason to the Empire and subject to summary execution.

Earlier in the year
Wanted: Shen Chao Yang
Crime: Murder of wife, Yue-Feng

Last seen in company of tipsy associate, fleeing from justice. Rewards offered for information on the whereabouts of either.

A description and crude drawing are given

Later in the year
Shen Chao Yang successfully arrested. The criminal claims to be his brother, but the justice system is ignoring such a flimsy excuse - the two men look exactly the same. Execution to take place early this year.

The vast wealth of noble Gui Huaidan has been expended in the most noble way imaginable. He has not endowed temples that he might be praised in the next life, nor has he raised statues so that his name should not be forgotten amongst the living. Instead he has exhausted his silver upon rebuilding the Imperial Army, much ravaged in recent wars. Now its soldiers march with pride, with full bellies and sharp new swords. The Glorious Administrative General Gui Huaidan has rebuilt the defences of the empire and shown his devotion and willingness to act as shield to the Son of Heaven.

There is a new drug making the rounds in the black market - Xizizi, guaranteed to make you happy and calm. Stressed? Unhappy? People shouting at you? One dose of Xizizi, and your problems are sure to fade to insignificance. The wealthy and noble in particular are rumoured to be taking heavy doses of this drug.

There are also rumours of some nobles being found dead, exhibiting symptoms of poison, nobles rumoured to be particularly enamoured with the new drug on the market. Others have been chasing things that aren't there, falling off rooftops and drowning in rivers in the process. While few have exhibited symptoms of poisoning, many seem to be hallucinating to varying degrees - it seems the most likely explanation for recent scandals in the palace with lesser nobles and their children.

Traders from the East have reported a great procession of boats dressed in mourning colours, heading west towards the mainland. Occultists report that a large number of Eastern spirits are accompanying the fleet, some singing prayers for the dead, whilst others have angrily attacked ships flying Imperial colours.

The Ministry of Rites have yet to comment on the occurrence, but officials in Wei have readied the public to evacuate their communities should they find themselves in the path of this procession.

Some days before the meeting of the Chrysanthemum Order more news arrives.

Multiple sources in Wei confirm that the Terracotta army has appeared lining the road between the Eastern shore and the great temple of Damao Shan. The enchanted soldiers appear to have been dressed in exquisitely tailored funeral garb, and appear to be maintaining a solemn vigil along the roadside and block anyone from venturing onto the route.

The night of the meeting.

Terracotta soldiers have stormed into Damao Shan and secured the temple. The priests have not been harmed but have been unable to move the clay warriors.

Ominous stormclouds have been drifting across Chi'in, shadowing entire towns as they pass over. Even the heavy rains aren't always enough to put out the fires from the fierce lightning strikes. Buildings, forests, silk and other crops have burned, but the storms have yet to heavily strike a more densely populated area. It's only a matter of time before that changes…

Proclamation in the Capital. Yinchang Fu Mo, self proclaimed King of Wei, has been slain by brave soldiers of the Emperor!
The vile traitor to the Empire, a demon foul beyond compare, was dragged from his hiding place and destroyed.
Such is the fate of all those who oppose the Empire.

Gossip in Wei
“They call our king a demon but I hear they sent a horde of monsters to slay him. Apparently he had a thousand guards and they slaughtered every one of them and ate their souls.”

“I heard that the King had an ironclad pact with the Khan. Declared himself a proper vassal and everything, and the Khan said he'd defend us from harm. Can't imagine he's going to be happy about his loyal subject getting assassinated.”

Word from the Khan's camp is that the Northern Warlord is in a fearful rage following the news of Yinchang's assassination. What this will mean for the Imperial marriage is yet unknown.

“They say the Phoenix is coming from Wu to take care of us now. We've had too many lies and tricks played by the people of the Capital, but the Phoenix is one of us, and she forced them to acknowledge that we can't be treated like this!”

The Phoenix does appear to now rule in Wei, apparently with the full support of Xan Yi and his magistrates.

The Imperial Priesthood seems to have instigated a brutal repression campaign against the Cult of Ravana. Numerous meetings have been interrupted by members of the college of exorcists doing some strange right to the speakers.

Despite this rumours now run rampant that the cult has found it's messiah and thousands are flocking to listen to this man speak.

Apparently the Imperial Seal has been lost again; yet another error by the treasury!

The Mandate is surely lost now; the Emperor has been on the throne for two years, yet still Heaven's face is turned away.

Apparently the key to immortality is a facemask made of the Horse God's dung

This leaflet claims the Ankytherines have a novel way of deciding a person's profession: a machine spins around a bit and then forces you to shovel ox-dung for the rest of your life.

As you are entering the Manse of the Chrysanthemum Order, Keeper Lu takes you aside. First he explains that you are forbidden to leave without the permission of either himself or the Emperor. The news he is about to relay cannot spread and the guards have been ordered to execute any who attempt to leave without permission.

The daughter of the Khan and Blossom of the North, Kubilai, bride-to-be of the Emperor has been murdered. She has been slain in the most brutal fashion possible in the chambers assigned to her in the Imperial Palace. She was torn apart and in the mouth of her head was stuffed a black lotus flower. Other even less subtle clues have been left in the blood-drenched room.

If the Khan learns of this then there will be war and no-one can expect mercy or honour to sway him.