The Silk Road

[Radilo]

Uicheon, Dragon of Heaven, the Khanate Period, Palace of the Tiger Emperor
anno domini 1271

Marco Boulo landed in Uicheon bearing what he had. Which was, frankly, nothing, except a few gold trinkets and promises... plus the ability to summon whatever riches the west was hiding from the east. He had managed to solicit a conference with the emperor, Tigrum, or more accurately, his mother, the She-Tiger of Heaven, as the emperor was only two years old.

Marco was use to the aristocratic ways of Radila and her dependencies, but brought into the magnificent throne room of the most eastern @Tianlong Empire, he felt naked as a babe. Enthroned before him was a scarlet robed woman in her early thirties, swaddling, in bright saffron, a giggling toddler.

"Your highness," he started, anxiously, "It saddens me that to learn that your husband has so recently died..."

"Neither you nor your republic," she interrupted, "were cause for his death, instead it was the cruel force of nature. This world, though magnificent, is full of heartache. And whether Jew or Gentile, or under the light of Heaven or in the Darkness, we endure that world."

Marco, perhaps unwisely, approached the throne. Out of his pocket, he took a small leather ball.

"I was a boy once, your highness, and I liked to play with silly things."

He gave the smiling toddler the ball, which the little saffron robed one proceeded to oogle at and giddily tossed up and down. His mother struggled to contain her smile.

"I have been told that you mean to discuss trade between our people and yours."

"Yes, your highness, I mean to utilize this most adorable munchkin as a means to expand our trade networks and to procure safe passage in a very unsafe region."

The She-Tiger smirked, "you have children, Marco?"

"I wish I did, but my times at sea and on horseback would keep me from them, I have nieces and nephews, but I am as yet a happy bachelor. My apologies, your highness for going on about..."

"No offense taken, Don Marco, I asked. I will send for my chancellor and then you can discuss all mater of economics."

The little boy lobbed the ball at Marco, who lobbed it back, smiling. "It will be a pleasure to deal with a monarch as adorable as you, and as wise as your mother." The She-Tiger smiled.

 

[Imimoya]

Uicheon, Republic of Tianlong, Imperial Palace
anno domini 2022

On the polished floor of the west wing of the Imperial Palace, a rapid succession of small steps echoed within the great hall. A room that was previously the private residence of the palace servants, in the time of the republic was transformed into a museum complex that contains all the objects owned by the imperial family.

Little hands and a pig nose, so it appeared because the child pressed his face against the display case. The infant had stopped in front of the Children's Imoperators' toy exhibit. Inside the museum exhibitor, there was a very damaged leather ball, with a label that reported: Gift of the famous explorer, Marco Boulo, to the future Celestial Emperor Tigrum.

An adult hand took the child by the hand and pushed him away from the display. "Fu Jia, don't touch the glass or the guide will get angry, now come back with the other students." The woman of about 35, who was probably his teacher, looked at the child and took him with her.

 

[Radilo]

Uicheon, Dragon of Heaven, the Khanate Period, a local market
anno domini 1276

"As much as you can find. I'll take every scrap."

It was music to Fu's ears, a low-born silk merchant, he was getting fabulously wealthy off of Germanian and Frankish addiction to silkwear. The Raddilan across the table from him was Raul Chinteri, who, he assumed, was also making a decent profit from their simple exploits. A navigator on Boulo's expedition, he'd managed to weave his way back into his family's cloth business, having built up contacts in Uicheon.

"Their demand seems insatiable," Fu interjected.

"If you could charge me more, I could blame market forces..."

"Ha--I'd get reamed by the authorities... you know how much they monitor that*."

"I've never been above bribe," Raul said. Fu snorted. "We can't even keep it in stock," Raul continued, "do you know of anyone else who may be selling it?"

"No. Not at the volumes your asking, and certainly not to be exported."

"They care more about control than money."

"Maybe... or maybe they see it more as a long-term protection. But regardless, I think with this shipment we've maxed out this season."

Raul nodded. "Maybe... or you think there would be any way around this?"


*as one would assume, silk manufacturing is a carefully guarded secret and its sale and export is highly regulated.

 

[Radilo]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

Foreign Minister August Barnapola made his way, briskly, up the embassy steps. It was a stiff competition for which embassy in Nuovo Porto was the most elaborate, as it had become a bit of a contest between nation-states to have the most impressive. One serous contender was that of the far eastern Democratic Republic. @Tianlong was the Most Serene Republic's oldest and most consistent ally. Many political cartoons had depicted the Lion of St. Mark as a cat resting on the lap of a large Dragon, to symbolize the two nations' relationship.

The Republic of Tianlong's embassy was an impressive mix of eastern and western styles. It was both imposing and welcoming; the edifices were decorated by eastern and western dragons playing. Intwined was the Lion of St. Mark, the playful target of both wyverns.

And as feline pride dictated, the most Serene Republic was relucent to formally ask for help building up its port and other necessary infrastructure. The World Belt Initiative was an opportunity for the Serene Republic, but for many Senatorial Families, it was a direct challenge to their rule--or rather their short-term prestige.

August had swallowed enough of that bullshit, and, realizing the necessity, had reached out to his counterparts at the Tianlong embassy. He had a few specific requests. The main priority was building a seawall around the old city of Radila. But that had always been a vanity project for Senatorial Families, though their money was, by necessity, often dedicated elsewhere.

"The expansion and maintenance of the main port is our biggest ongoing expense," the Foreign Minister explained to the Ambassador, "if this were to be considered a key part of the ongoing Belt Project, we could has out the specific details at a later time. I know the Senate's slow response time is frustrating, but, as you know, democracy can be indecisive from time to time."

 

[Imimoya]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

Ambassador Yuan Daiyu welcomed into her private office foreign Minister August Barnapola. Yuan Daiyu is a woman with a pearly complexion, clearly young for the important role she held. A particular detail was the physiognomy of her face, not entirely Asian, probably one of her two parents was not of Tianlong origin, but Western. The woman made the foreign minister, August Barnapola, sit in front of her and let him speak. Daiyu had been in this role for a few months, and as much as she was used to arguing with politicians, it was always an event of some importance to see Radila's Foreign Minister show up with a short notice.

As the minister spoke, the ambassador gave instructions that Gong fu cha, simply the tea ceremony, began. The Tianlong tea ceremony is a real cultural tradition, which involves all the phases of the preparation of the drink, from the choice of objects, to the preparation, to the serving, up to enjoying the tea, all gestures and rules based, it is assumed, on ancient traditional methods of preparation.

The tea chosen for the occasion came from the mountains of the northern tianlong hinterland, a tea with a strong flavor and an intense red color. Westerners loved tea with a strong aroma and flavor.

"Mr Barnapola, your requests are more than understandable and we understand the nature of bureaucracy and democracy, slow systems yes but the best we have. But let me ask you, if I'm not too indiscreet, after all you wouldn't have gone all those steps to ensure a positive response as much as you could have sent a simple letter to the TIB*. What does the Lion want from the Dragon of the East?"

*Tianlong Investment Bank

 

[Radilo]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

"Ms. Yuan, sending a letter to the TIB would be a public act. And that's our chokepoint right now. We can afford to build anything we want, but when we put it up for appropriations, senators howl about cost. When I suggested we invite an investment to install that desperately needed seawall around la Città, they caterwaul about selling off a piece of our identity or some related bullshit. The elected senators who have all of the power are bad enough, but what are the real logs in this jam are the prideful selected senators, those rotten aristocrats, who have no actual ability to stop legislation, who seem to be setting the example."

He took out a flask and took a swig of grappa.

"But that's only the above board debate. Gallia-Germania is a clusterfuck and our glorious Navy is not actually in a position to fend off the cruder powers who we have had to smile at. What we need is a military arrangement, the Dome project, that's been hyped is something we want in on... but outright joining an alliance means we sacrifice our official neutrality... and on, and on, and on... so M thinks that finding a backdoor is essential. Being the "lap cat" to Tianlong is also unacceptable to the uselessly prideful, again why I am being discrete."

There was a long pause. He took another swig.

"We thought about asking for "help" with fixing up the port. And then, discretely switching out the money for the seawall with more fashionable appropriations. But, from what the engineers tell me the cost to update the port will be nowhere near as expensive as building the seawall. So the accounting trick won't work. And legislative oversight would make damn sure of that, a slide of hand would have to be pretty exact."

He took one more pause and a swig.

"So what I am asking of you, is to find a way we can make this into like a joint venture to refurbish the port and build the seawall... sell it as some symbolic thing, like some of your marketing already has. The Banca della Città's Board of Governors are onboard--though they could not make a formal gesture on their own for the reasons I've stated above. There have been some in Radilo who have been afraid of succumbing to the influence of "far eastern money," as if we haven't been from the beginning. We can find a way to preserve a magnificent city, refurbish a port, and secure an alliance... without looking like that's what you're doing. Give me a verbal agreement from TIB, we trust you, and the Board of Governors can release a statement affirming the new investments--or rather make a formal, public request to the effect. Whatever the difference is we will more than make it up to you, I promise, but that can, mercifully, be hashed out in a quite place, among bureaucrats."

 

[Imimoya]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

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The ambassador at a steady pace, like an atomic clock, was savoring her red tea while listening to her host.

"If I may be honest, I got to read the papers regarding the sea barrier project. Undoubtedly a spectacle of civil engineering. But at an exorbitant cost, which could put a small nation in crisis, we are talking about figures that could be around 8 billion Euromark, if not more. With so much money, a fourth fleet could be built in Tianlong."

"While the restructuring of the port is easily explained and could also lead in the long run in return on investment. The marine barrier to protect the city, would have no economic return to Tianlong, at least, not a direct return as in the case of the port, with an increase in commercial activities. Under normal conditions, we would have asked for very consistent written guarantees."

The young lady stood up placing her teacup on the lacquered wooden pot. She opened a drawer in his desk where there was a local newspaper in Barnapola native language. She took it and put it on the desk with the first page facing the Minister: "Fuga dal Forum Europeo"

"Today the conditions are far from being defined normal, Gaul-Germany is now lost, and the strong have tore the weak to shreds, devouring territories or replacing governments with puppets without free will. With these conditions, the independence of Radila's Most Serene Republic and his freedom became fundamental for Tianlong and his project of The World Belt. I will contact Minister Liao Jianhong and he will ensure that the TIB approves the allocation of the funding while keeping the maximum reserve on the issue, to appease the spirits of your internal policy."

The young woman sits back in her seat, in front of her cup of tea.

"Minister August Barnapola do not get me wrong, this is not a gift, we are building our fourth fleet, do not waste the opportunity that has been given to you today, other nations would sell us entire cities for this amount. Today I am satisfied with your word for the unique relationship that our two countries have."

 

[Radilo]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

August nodded, "draft language will be submitted in the next few days. As usual, it will be sufficiently vague and hard to follow. But the lawyers for TIB should make quick work of it. Any changes--they can discuss. I assume there will be a few."

He finally sat down, across form the younger woman. His, to that point, neglected cup of tea was downed in one gulp.

"I'm sorry, Daiyu, I've been terribly neglectful of ceremony. The last few weeks have been a clusterfuck. I've been drinking a lot more than I should. All that aside. I appreciate all of this, the Serene Republic appreciates all of this. Whatever is loaned shall be repaid in full... I've always been told how money is the driver of the Republic... that that drive was always our strength. Any weakness was born of something other than greed--pride for example..."

Noticing the younger woman had finished with her tea, but hadn't yet refiled her cup he motioned for her to pause. She had a bit of a curious look on her face, as he took her teacup and filled it with grappa from his flask. He also filled his own.

"I will go back to the Prime Minister and let her know about what we agreed to. She will be able to knock some foolish skulls into understanding the necessity of this whole project. To your health and to friendship," he raised his teacup.

"To friendship," she smiled a bit and clinked. She quickly downed the harsh, homemade liquid. Trying to avoid scrunching her face, she maintained her smile.

 

[Imimoya]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

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Ambassador Yuan Daiyu sat in her office in a historic building in the capital of Radilo. From her window the grand canal could be observed, an office like this on the real estate market would have cost an astronomical sum. It was yet another sunny day in the small but great republic of Radilo.

Yuan, sitting in front of her Tianlong-made laptop, picked up the handset of the desk phone on her right and began typing a local phone number. The white receiver on his ear began to produce the typical sound of the call, afther a voice on the other side answered; "Pronto?"

"Foreign Minister Barnapola, we should meet for a tea in my office, are you free this afternoon?" @Radilo

 

[Radilo]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

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Ambassador Yuan Daiyu sat in her office in a historic building in the capital of Radilo. From her window the grand canal could be observed, an office like this on the real estate market would have cost an astronomical sum. It was yet another sunny day in the small but great republic of Radilo.

Yuan, sitting in front of her Tianlong-made laptop, picked up the handset of the desk phone on her right and began typing a local phone number. The white receiver on his ear began to produce the typical sound of the call, afther a voice on the other side answered; "Pronto?"

"Foreign Minister Barnapola, we should meet for a tea in my office, are you free this afternoon?" @Radilo

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Sala del Collegio (Foreign Minister's office), Doge's Palace ​

Anno domini 2022

Despite his being outranked by the Prime Minister and Doge, the the Foreign Minister did enjoy the most elaborate and grandiose office of any politician in the Republic... possibly anywhere. After the various entities where responsible for the Most Serene Republic's international relations were streamlined into a single ministry during the reforms of the 19th century, the elaborately decorated 15th century reception hall, the Sala del Collegio, served as the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry. As it was intended to impress Foreign diplomats, it was much more gaudy than the relatively plain Capitan Generals office. True, when heads of state visited, it was the Doge who sat there, but during a normal workday--it was for the Foreign Minister.

"Yes, I'd be happy too. I'm heading to Propontis in a few days, if you haven't heard... so a meeting would be wise. I'll stop by after lunch.

2:30 PM

After a lovely, mostly liquid, lunch, Minister Barnapola walked the rather short distance from St. Mark's Square to the Tianese Embassy. He waved to the security who quickly let him in.

Knowing the building fairly well, he made his way to the Ambassador's office.

"Pleasure again, Daiyu. Don't worry, Maria* wouldn't stop giving me shit calling her by her family name."

The Ambassador smirked and shook her head, "you're a lot."

"That's what my wife says... and my kids," he said as she started prepping the tea. "I can't imagine that there will be too much mystery in the relatively topics you wanted to discuss."

"Any hypothesis you suggest probably isn't too far off," she said quickly straining out the tea leaves.

As she poured the tea into two small tea cups, Barnapola continued, "by the way Emanuel appreciates the support. Though I'm sure it'll take some stress off your end."

*Chancellor Xi Maria, the leader of the Green Party, who is a Tianèla (a mixed race Radilan-Tianese), the Foreign Minister has a habit of calling her "Xi" instead of "Maria," her given name, in informal settings. He has also made the same mistake with the Tianese ambassador in the past.

@Pelasgia
@Tianlong

 

[Imimoya]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

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"Honorable Barnapola, I have never expected you to call me in our own way, after all, as you use to say; When in Tibur, do as the Tiburans do.*" The ambassador replied to her interlocutor by pouring the brewed tea into her cup.


"I have heard of your journey to Pelasgia, therefore, I take this opportunity to start the dialogue without further delay. Tianlong needs the services of the Lion.

You may have recently read in the newspapers that the oil market in Toyou has gotten out of control, a situation on which Pelasgia is doing everything to make it worse for us.

We have no concrete evidence of their direct market manipulation, but we are full of circumstantial evidence. We believe that "the strict controls on ships in the direction of Tianlong" as well as problems with local unions, have been aggravated by the local authorities, in order to raise prices and increase the profit margin following our choice to divert two routes. of the World Belt Initiative on shorter routes. Routes that had only been temporarily diverted to the Strait of Propontis due to the conflict started by the Gothic Pact.

If we consider that Pelasgia has now joined the Association of Petroleum Producing States, where only the members of the Gotic Pact are present at the moment, then we can only come to one conclusion, the Pelasgian government will do nothing to calm prices.

Here it is up to the Lion to intervene. Uicheon doesn't care how you get it or where from, we are sure you will find an original way to get it and deliver it to us."

*“Quando sei a Roma, fai come i Romani” medieval expression attributed to Sant'Ambrogio

 

[Radilo]

Embassy of the Republic of Tianlong, Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2022

The Foreign Minister took his cup of tea and sipped on it. "Thank you Ambassador, I always try to be respectful... except when I mean to offend."

They smiled at each other for a moment.

"I have been briefed on the situation, and we have arrived at the same conclusions. We will work to address this in whatever way we can. Whatever amount of bribery and skullduggery we need to do, we will."

He paused and took a breath in. "It will be tense. I know that already. It will need to be the Lion who they see, not the Dragon's pampered housecat. Which means I need to bring up all of the things that will make them uncomfortable first. To ignore these topics would signal fear and suggest that our placidity betrays a purpose other than self interest."

He wasn't sure it was the Ambassador that he was trying to reassure with that explanation.

"But we will do what we must to make it so. The prosperity of the Most Serene Republic depends on the prosperity of the Celestial Republic. What we will make clear to them is the prosperity of the Meridian Sea, and of their Empire--is also ultimately dependent on it too."

 

[Imimoya]

Nuovo Porto
anno domini 2023

It was a warm winter day in Radilo, the Minister of the Interior of the Most Serene Republic was sitting in his favorite bar along one of the city's canals. Yuan Daiyu, ambassador of Tianlong, sat in front of the Minister, her face was known by the security of the minister, therefore they were not alarmed by her presence, after all the young lady loved to enjoy the city and it was not uncommon to find her around the city.

As they sipped their coffees, the two started talking about the beauty of the city and its crystal clear waters, a way to break the initial tension. Then, the conversation turned to the relations between their two countries and finally to the real reason for the unexpected visit of the Tianlong diplomat.

The Italian diplomat started talking about Radilo's importance to Tianlong, stating that the two countries had many things in common, such as a love of food and culture and not accepting abuses by foreign powers.

Tianlong's diplomat continued his speech once he noticed the Minister's keen interest in the speech.

"We are planning a military mission to the colonies of the Tarusa Empire in the South. We are aware that the prolongation of the crisis unilaterally started by the Empire can no longer be tolerated. We also know that Radilo has an pending account with the Empire for the issue of the Republic of Eugenia and the respective ethnic group now a refugee in your country." explained the diplomat Yuan Daiyu. "We are aware that Radilo has a fundamental weight within the CETO and believe that your support can be crucial to achieving our goals of restoring international law in the Central South."


The Tianlong diplomat shifted in his chair, ready to provide further information if Radila requested it. “Our main objective is to restore the right of the European Forum to the areas occupied by the Empire, allowing the resumption of the trade of crude oil in the area in neutral hands. For now we should leave out of the equation HFE which seems to suffer its alliance to the Tarusa Empire." he explained.

 

[Imimoya]

Valetta
CETO military base, anno domini 2023

It was a rainy day on Valetta Island, a dark sky that was ironically perfect for the occasion. The command of the military base which was once synonymous with unity between two continents, decided to organize a farewell ceremony between the units of Tianlong and the Republic of Radila. In the central square of the base, in front of the HQ, where the CETO flags used to fly free in the southern wind. Today they were wet from constant rain.

The Tianlong Republic marching band

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, although foreign, it was suitable for the ceremony that was taking place. The music accompanied the lowering of the five-color flag of the Tianlong Republic from the pole of the military base for the last time. The dark sky, the constant rain, the rhythmic step of the soldiers on parade to greet their colleagues, were the last moments of an alliance that was about to end.

A tianlong officer climbed the wooden steps of a makeshift stage where there was a lectern at the top. He greeted his colleagues and began speaking into the microphone.

"I would like to thank the people of Radila for their hospitality over these years, no other people have treated us like brothers other than those of Radila. And even if today, adverse circumstances force us to separate, know that a part of you will follow us beyond the columns of Propontis. Your ideas and your strength of spirit will be our companions in the sea of silk. Know that you still have friends beyond the Proponitis Strait, today is not a goodbye, it's until we meet again."