Balance of Power (ATTN: Cantigny)

[Khemia]

The Republic of Yujin may have been a loose assortment of disparate states who under normal circumstances may have been at each other throats, but under the Federal government they were obliged to symbolically nod to a higher, unifying power which presented the oriental state with a singular face on the world stage. That face was embodied within four buildings within the capital of Zhenjing - a city which was split between the Federal government and the Quan Clique. The border between the two was difficult to define, it was difficult to determine which roads delineated the boundary of the Federal district and the warlord faction which taxed the denizens of the capital and made contributions that maintained the integrity of the Federal military. More Quan soldiers patrolled the streets than Federal troops as the Cannie delegation was driven via motorcade from their embassy to the administrative offices that housed the Republic's diplomatic corps. Their drab grey dress uniforms bore resemblance to outdated, post-War uniforms; their vigilant, hawkish eyes scrutinized the subdued citizenry for any possible slight against the stability of the State.

A capital of a Republic in name only, Zhenjing bore an air of oppression and corruption and malaise. Bitter eyes of merchants and shoppers alike glared back resentfully at the diplomat that hid behind the tinted windows, their disdain fettered only by the rifles and boots visible at every corner. Then, suddenly, the hatred and spite dissipated; an awkward quiet gripped this segment of the city. Once white marble, now stained by years of exposure to pollution, starkly rose from the clean grey concrete below, hardly trodden on by the denizens of the city. It seemed as though the motorcade had passed some sort of invisible boundary - the convoy had passed into the Federal Quarter. Demarcated more by a near absence of businesses and residences and population than by any fences or material construct, the Federal Quarter seemed to be more a ghost town occupied by the odd bureaucrat or platoon drilling along the spartan sidewalks.

The vehicles stopped in front of a quiet building, the sloped roofs typical of older Yujin architectural styles, and the men and women within were welcomed into the halls by sharp uniforms, crisp salutes, and polished boots. A level of professionalism unseen outside the Federal Quarter could be seen here as regimented men went about their various duties like unquestioning ants. The room where the Cannie ambassador was to meet with the President was opened before them, and within awaited one man; flanked by several aides whose voices at once silenced with the foreigners entry.

The man was Yang Wuyi, President of the Republic and the Meng Yuan - the Assembly of the Union of the Provinces of Yujin. He was a yiyuan, or representative, of the Quan Clique, and was elected into office by receiving majority support over his rivals. In his case, he had carried 8 of the 21 votes, being backed by the Quan and Ying Cliques and several members of the Xianbei in exchange for hollow promises and fattened pockets. Mr Yang was a shrewd man, but quite intelligent and well spoken. Easily able to speak for himself, nonetheless a translator was present to assist in any lingual and cultural nuances that were beyond him. Any slight, regardless of how small, would be noted - but the goal of this particular meeting was not to be offended by such slights. Instead, both sides knew that this meeting was simply of convenience; a creature of concern sought to roam unchecked, and that simply could not be allowed to come to pass. Lines were being drawn, spheres established, and the President of Yujin knew that both sides had something to gain from this meeting. Mr Yang rose for his counterpart and nodded his head politely, signalling for the other to sit in the fine, antique chairs which bore intricate carvings of mythical creatures.

 

[Thaumantica]

"Dare say Yeardley, check your dress tag!" Stephen Gunning peeped as the Cantigian motorcade passed a row of Quan soldiers, "If you told me our uniforms were made in Yujin, I wouldn't be surprised one bit" he said.

Mister Gunning wore an eerily similar dress uniform to that of his Yujiner counterparts, though his own regalia denoted him as a properly Cantigian gentlemen, complete with affixed awards earned as an Officer to the Foreign Service of the Grand Covenant. Yeardley Smallhorn was his bucking attache, some twenty-eight years of age, and completely paranoid by the prospect of being surrounded by so many yellow foreign men. "Lord Officer, I can assure you my dress uniform was prepared in Vesper," Miss Smallhorn replied, "The Foreign Office gathers textiles from the same source as our Grand Force, the great Province of Perdition, Lord Officer" Yeardley said, carefully inserting the man's title at both the start and end of each statement.

Upon meeting their contact from the capital, Mister Gunning nodded in reciprocation, and saw to it that Miss Smallhorn was seated before taking his own antique chair. In Touzen he had learned to bow properly, and his attache was known to curtsy as properly as any Engellexic woman, though the Lord Officer was pleased to part with that precedent entirely; in Vesper Yang Wuyi would not be seen as an equal, and here in Zhenjing Mister Gunning could not hope to be seen as anything resembling an equal.

"We are profoundly grateful for this opportunity to advance Covenant relations with the Republic of Yujin, and would like to express our gratitude by presenting you with these gifts . ." Mister Gunning began, "A vinyl recording of the Saint Cloud Children's Choir performing your national anthem, our national anthem, and an original piece dedicated to the peace and prosperity of our two proud nations.". Miss Smallhorn extended the covered record, decorated by illustrated scenes of Yujin on the one side, and images of Cantignia on the other. "Additionally, our Lady Chancellor Veronica North has been so kind as to express her regret for not attending this meeting in person by asking the Foreign Office to deliver this second gift . ." the Lord Officer said, silently ordering Miss Smallhorn to give Yang Wuyi a photo of the Grandfather Clock that would be delivered to him at the time and place of his choosing. "The Lady Chancellor hopes that this time piece can express our respect for your nation's long history, and indicate that we look forward to a measured future of in tune success with your Proud & Patriotic Peoples."

 

[Khemia]

Yang Wuyi looked over the items with a toothy smile, his eyes admiring the artwork on the vinyl, and wondering where he could place the clock without it contrasting too much with the furniture. The gifts were quaint, more valuable symbolically than materially, a fact which slightly enamored Yang as he considered the gift he had prepared as well. He signaled his own attendants to bring in the packages. Two, small wooden eggs presented themselves upon a silver platter before the Cannie delegate, and Yang gestured to them.

"Here are two gifts that will grow as the relationship between our two states grows. The one on the left," he stated as the servant gestured to the wooden egg painted in white with blue floral decorations, "a seed of the Dawn Redwood, a tree once thought extinct in Yujin, but one which is resilient and grows quickly; a symbol of the strength and youthful vigor of Cantigny from the heart of Yujin. And, within the egg on the right, I present to you méi, a seed of the plum tree as the symbol of Yujin, a tree that can withstand a thousand years and yet still blossom with a beauty that inspires legends. I hope that these two trees can grace the soils of your country and grow together as the relationship between our two nations."

"Now," he said as the attendant made himself scarce, "we have business to attend to. I imagine the reason for this visit is quite important to the interests of the Covenant, so I should inquire as to how I can accommodate you." He leaned back in his chair and allowed his fingers to toy with the wirey beard that dropped from his chin.

 

[Thaumantica]

Mister Gunning and Miss Smallhorn thanked their host graciously for the two intensely fascinating wooden eggs, both considering how these seeds might fit comfortably within the Vesper Botanical Gardens alongside some previous centuries worth of such exchanges with Engellex, Montelimar, and Suionia.

"We would like to emphasize how distant our nations are, geographically speaking, yet how potentially close we could be economically," the Foreign Officer said, "If we could find solutions to shipping and manufacturing gaps that separate our markets, our economies pose to profit from our stimulated cordiality," Stephen Gunning suggested with his green, trusting eyes. Mister Gunning possessed a optimistic disposition, and projected a naivety that made him priceless in the eyes of the Chief Foreign Officer in Vesper, Harriet Fauconberg.

"What tariffs currently exist should be examined, altered, and in some cases eliminated to promote an agreement of free trade," he said with a great reciprocated smile. "That is the primary purpose of our meeting here today, though we are generally receptive to alternative suggestions to the course of our international dialogue.".

 

[Khemia]

Mr Yang continued to stroke his wispy goatee as the big-nosed white man spoke before him. As he did this, his eyes turned to look to the white marble of the floor, upon which a red circular carpet was underneath; each strand of fabric caught his attention as he explored the proposal. It seemed a simple matter, but that was why he had to give this extra consideration. The innocent look of the man across the table from him belied his governments true intentions, he knew. Cantigny maintained a stronger economy and a stronger, more centralized government. Reducing tariffs did nothing to cut back on subsidies, and the Cantignian government would have an easier time supporting their domestic producers to compete in Yujin markets, as well as maintaining access to cheaper delivery systems.

At face value, the proposal itself was not advantageous. But still, there was more at stake here than economic ties. If played right, this was the start of a connection between Zhenjing and Vesper that could evolve in the future, a proposition with the potential to deliver fruit. Afterall, one would not buy a worthless vinyl record by itself, it was the rewards that lay in the future that warranted the purchase.

"Hǎo, hǎo," he said after the moment of thought, suddenly realizing that the Cannie delegate might not actually understand him, despite the simplicity of the words. He switched back to the Cannie's own tongue, which he spoke in a thick accent, "Yes, we can agree to some cut backs. Luckily, I've spent some time reviewing these matters already, and can tell you that cutting some tariffs shouldn't be a problem. I think we can entirely eliminate tariffs on the imports of electronic and automobile parts, and cut back tariffs on things like agriculture, lumber, and steel by..." he spun his mustache between his fingers, "forty percent." He was cautious to go any lower, knowing that only the Zhi and Ying had the economic capacity to be benefit from any steeper reductions, and Yujin was not in the position to export electronics or automobile parts, so the tariffs themselves only served to escalate prices for Yujiner consumer and Cantignian companies alike.

"We'd also like to encourage foreign investment; any foreign companies looking to expand into Yujin which meet certain criteria can expect to enjoy certain benefits," he continued, waving over a different attendant, "Tea?"

 

[Thaumantica]

"Of course sir, the both of us will partake in a spot of tea," Mister Gunning replied before Miss Smallhorn could even think about offending their hosts by passing on their kind offering. For a guest to take the host's tea in old Engellex meant assured safety and protection within their domain, and was often served at the start of any meeting to put all parties minds at ease.

Stephen rested his hands comfortably atop the Officer's Cap he had earlier placed upon his lap, nodding and mouthing their words: 'Hǎo, hǎo,'. "Building our trust with the powers that be within Yujin is important to us in Vesper, and I can assure you that we are not ignorant to the order which composes Yujiner stability as a nation, and as the premier power in the East," he said to encourage the man's ego to swell, "You'll find that Vesper's ambitions are ever implarian-centric, what business we conduct on the continents is to preserve our discrete seclusion from continental Europe. If businesses choose to invest in foreign markets, inflicting minimal overseas impact is our modus operandi; what four cliques in Yujin do, so long as a reasonable prosperity prevails, is not the concern of my foreign office."

"Discrete seclusion," Miss Smallhorn parroted from the foreign officer's peripheral. "Yes - we are always dreaming of home," Gunning said with his particular smile, "Whatever comes of the Great Engellexic dispute of Boliatur, the Covenant will look to commit or withhold our assets in a way that serves Yujiner stability, or as we say, the 'True Peace'."

 

[Khemia]

President Yang nodded at the Cantignian diplomat, drinking the tea from the vibrant white and blue ceramic cups that had been made in Yujin for centuries. These particular cups were expensive antiques, and he was careful not to sip loudly from them. "I like you, Mister Gunning. You keep in mind the interests of your nation, yet you are concerned for the stability of others. A wise policy; the ripples of conflict in Toyou will surely travel across the Implarian and, indeed the world."

"You know this, as do I. Nowhere do we feel the threat of Boliatur stronger than here, in Yujin. A long history of conflict exists between Nokanawa and Zhenjing, and a brittle peace exists between these two pearls of the East. Now, Boliatur agitates the rebels in Seora and Ying, and seeks to fan the flames of war across Toyou. Xiong Qirui feels, and the Meng Yuan agrees, that it may only be a matter of time before this conflict spreads."

"We are, however, unable to take action ourselves. We simply do not have the capacity to do so," the President let out of a mild sigh filled with frustration as he spoke. "The Republic of Yujin is willing to do what it can to assist in containing the 'Republic of Boliatur', so long as we have the ability to."