«12. . .8,1588,1598,1608,1618,1628,1638,164. . .8,2698,270»
OOC: Neat.
"Keep up, or get left behind!"
The mercenary's rough voice could barely be heard over the roaring waterfalls as the group of multi-national adventurers trekked through the jungles of Anjobar, the gruff merc leader hacking down foliage with his machete to lead the way. The group consisted of a mere 15 fortune seekers hoping to find valuable artifacts or riches in the ancient ruins of Anjobar. Not a soul among them believed in the rumors of the so-called 'Snake-Men of Anjobar'; the mythical witch-folk that stalked the jungles of the country said to be demon-cavorting descendants of the survivors of some ancient genocide. Rumors, hearsay, myth. Not in thousands of years had any evidence of their existence been proven, and as far as anyone was concerned Anjobar was nothing but jungle and ruin.
As the treasure hunters came upon a clearing in the woodlands they stopped to rest. It was a good spot: surrounded by tall trees and larges rocks that made it defensible, easy access to a nearby stream for water, and nice flat terrain to set up tents and a fire. As the gun-for-hire took a sip from his canteen, one of the other expedition members - a middle-aged, fair-skinned and dark-haired woman - approached him.
"Davis, this is as good a spot as any to set up camp."
The mercenary leader nodded at the woman's suggestion. He agreed, it was the perfect spot.
"Alright, unpack the gear and set up camp for the night."
The others followed the instruction and began setting up the tents and making a campfire while the mercenaries set up a defensive perimeter to keep a look out for hostile wildlife. By the time they finished the Sun was already setting and the adventurers began to prepare to bed. They had a big day ahead of them tomorrow, exploring the nearby ruins in hopes of finding something - anything - of value. Some of the expedition members gathered around the fire to share stories to pass the time before night finally set in.
"Aren't you guys worried at all about how everybody who goes to Anjobar never returns? I mean, I'm not saying I believe the stories of the Snake-Men but, well..."
"Predators, probably. Lots of 'em in the wilds, don't matter what kind. Jungles, forests, highlands, the ocean, et cetera. Or maybe diseases, like malaria. Could've walked into some kind of trap or unstable ruin like idiots. Maybe a storm wrecked their boats? Pirates? Who knows. Plenty of things could've happened. No one's ever proven there were any Snake-Boys out here."
"Snake-Men. Besides, just because no one's ever proven it doesn't mean it isn't true."
"Alright, smart guy! Then where are they? No huts, no villages, no sign of any civilization that isn't over a thousand years old and they're definitely not living the empty ruins - so where are they? The sky? Pfft!"
The discussion didn't last much longer. Though some were skeptical, none of them truly believed there were any 'Snake-Men'. Turning in that night, Davis made sure to set up a guard shift to keep a look out for wild animals that might have been attracted to the camp by the smell of dinner. The first few hours of night were uneventful, though the guards couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched. In fact, it never left them. From the moment the boat docked there had been an eerie presence among them. These mercs weren't superstitious types, but the feeling nagged at them regardless. Yet every time they investigated, they found nothing. Maybe it was the ruins? The stonework was everywhere, emblazoned with intricate carvings and paintings depicting various scenes - some of which were quite brutal. Even as the mercs swapped spots when it came time for the guard shift they couldn't shake that uneasy feeling they were being watched, and for some of them the feeling was strong enough that it took them a while to get to sleep.
Davis awoke a little earlier than he'd have liked. It was only 4:55 judging by his watch, and it'd be a little while until sunrise. But he drank too much beer last night and nature was calling. Try as he might, he couldn't find the damn latrine they had dug. He scoured the area before giving up and deciding to relieve himself on a nearby bush instead. The urge to piss had been so strong that with relief came a feeling of bliss that the merc greatly welcomed. It was only when he had finished zipping up his pants that he saw it: a bush up on a hill not far from him, directly in front him. There was something strange about it but he couldn't place it. He stared at it for a few minutes before it donned on him.
It wasn't a bush.
Slowly, the man who had covered himself leaves and branches rose to a standing position - looking down on Davis with a hateful glare, his amber eyes burning a hole in the mercenary's very soul. Davis froze for a moment, but out of instinct began to reach for his holster only to find it empty. It was only then he remembered he left his sidearm in the tent. Clearing his throat, he starting thinking. The man before him came with hostile intent. It was obvious just by the man's eyes, the only part of him that was visible. It was then he remembered the combat knife in his boot. He reached for it slowly, wondering if he could make the distance. He'd been working on his aim. Now it was time to put his skill to the test. Luckily his lower body remained mostly concealed by the brush. He moved slowly, hoping that from the distance the bushman wouldn't notice him reaching for something.
The man hadn't moved even though Davis knew that he knew that Davis had noticed him. What was he waiting for? The merc to make his move? He retrieved the knife without issue or, apparently, notice. He was ready. Davis whipped his arm up, knife in hand, and was about to throw it when he saw the man's arms move with frightening speed. He wasn't sure what the man had just done, but he felt a sharp prick in his neck. The he noticed the wooden tube in the man's hands, which he held right underneath his eyes right where his mouth would be.
Davis' body began to feel heavier. He began to lose his balance. The knife in has hand fell from his grip and into the dirt. Bringing his hand to his neck, he plucked a dart from his throat. As he stared at it his eyes grew heavy and he began to see bright, vibrant colors jumping out at him right before he fell to the ground and lost consciousness. When he finally awoke it was broad daylight. Noon, judging by the height of the Sun. He jolted awake, panicking as he searched for his knife. It was nowhere to be found. Quickly he rushed back to camp, only to find a gruesome sight.
The camp had been butchered. Bullet casings littered the ground, bodies were piled near the tents with one poor sap face down in the nearby stream. At least one merc had been hung from one of the nearby trees, apparently while he was still alive judging by his bulging eyes and the hands clasped firmly around the noose clamped around his neck. Most of the bodies had been apparently gutted with several organs missing, and some corpses had been decapitated entirely with the severed heads now adorning pikes littering the camp. Davis looked around the camp in horror, noticing that not everyone who had been at the camp was there. Perhaps they fled into the jungle, or perhaps they had been captured. He made the decision to leave Anjobar now. He turned to go to his tent, only to be met by Assemakke and her mischievous smile. Before he could react she had plunged her dagger into his gullet.
Davis fell to the ground as he clenched his open wound, looking up at the inhuman sight. Assemakke had been busy since taking over this new host body. Her hair had grown back and the tattoos that had once adorned her body were not completely gone. Her skin was a pale blue now, giving her an otherworldly look that fit her nature. She looked at the mercenary playfully as the Snake-Men of Anjobar began to surround him at the grisly sight of his expedition's brutal destruction.
"You shall feed us."
She said in her true, demonic voice before kneeling down and plunging her dagger into his chest before carving a hole into it and ripping out his still-beating heart. The sight of this vital organ in her now bloody-palm was the last thing Davis saw before the darkness took him at last, putting him out of his misery.
It was probably for the best he hadn't been alive to watch her eat it.
Imperial Proclamation of Friendship and Cooperation
Fifth Month 24, 2020 (geng-zi), year of the Rat
To the peoples and governments of the world:
On this day, the Middle Kingdom extends the hand of friendship and cooperation to all the peoples of the world—irrespective of geography, culture, customs or beliefs.
The Imperial court, under the benevolent and wise guidance of our venerated Huángdì, seeks to share with the world the Middle Kingdom's prosperity and peace, in hopes of enriching all of mankind.
To this end, the Middle Kingdom humbly encourages all interested parties to express their interest, so that permanent formal diplomatic missions are exchanged and diplomatic channels established. In much the same vein, trade missions are also welcome to explore the many commercial investment opportunities in the Middle Kingdom for businesses; inexpensive labour, land, capital, and minimal government regulation can be lucrative to multinational businesses.
May this initiative blossom into a new era of humanity, wisdom and prosperity!
The Lenspherian Armored Bureau has been tasked by the Committee of Defense to investigate Lenspherian armored when compared to modern threats. Three different companies are being tasked with developing new Lenspherian solutions based off previous combat data. Taking into account armor loses facing Germania, Japan and Vespergale, a these three new battle tanks will compete and replace the 1980's era Soviet style tanks prevalent in the Armed Forces of Lenspheria.
So far the companies involved is the National Ordinance Foundation with the Type-90x, IronDoor Technologies with the Type-10x and Gilgamesh Dynamics with the KX Gun Carrier, Tank.
Aggressive Foreign Media Campaign
Following the Imperial Proclamation of Friendship and Cooperation yesterday, a series of global advertisements and public relations articles promoting foreign investment and tourism in the Middle Kingdom was launched. These promotional pieces are appearing across all media formats—from the radio to the television to social media—across the world.
An authorised spokesperson for the imperial government has issued a statement confirming that this publicity is a part of a heavily sustained media strategy, with the campaign expected to run for many years. The spokesperson also stated the aim of the campaign: to court a global audience's appreciation of all that the Middle Kingdom has to offer the world.
Further analysis of the many promotional pieces suggests considerable time, thought, effort and investment going into the marketing campaign. All across the world, the Middle Kingdom appears to have spared no expense in hiring the best marketing and market research firms years in advance to produce hyper-localised content to be consumed at the community-level—and on social media, often tailored down to the individual, wherever enough data is available.
While the campaign aims to promote travel & tourism and attract foreign private investment the primary long-run goal will always be to proliferate the Middle Kingdom's soft power across the world.
Mlg gaming and Artarum
To the Empire of Zhongwangguo,
This is a formal cease and desist request by the Palatinate of Umbræn. The Palatinate has neither approved nor requested the blatant spread of foreign propaganda across it's medial outlets. No authorization for any actions was provided by the Palatial Government and is therefor categorized as cyber espionage under Palatial Order #335. The Palatinate strongly urges the Empire to respect the sovereignty, autonomy, and integrity of the Palatinate and the other independent nations of Terra.
In the interest of peace and friendship between the human Empire of Zhongwangguo and the Palatinate of Umbræn, we strongly advise the Imperial Government to negotiate with foreign governments before publishing advertisements in their nation as more isolationist and aggressive nations may see such actions as provocation and may respond with martial, political, or economic threats to the Empire.
With Regards,
Kæssindria Inatoliou
Mistress of the Exterior
OOC: Not sure how possible worldwide broadcasts are, nothing in the AoD seems to be connected and each nation seems to operate it's own intranet services with corresponding social media and whatnot.
Umbraen and Island Zero
OOC: Don't ruin my fun, Spaceman!
Diplomatic Missive to the Empire of Zhongwangguo:
The Empire of Veradax formally invites the nation of Zhongwangguo to dispatch a foreign mission to meet with Veradacian Officials in the capital city of Xoysa. Matters up for discussion will be limited to trade for the foreseeable future, at least until an embassy exchange can occur. A flight plan and the appropriate codes will be attached to this message to gain safe access to Veradacian Airspace and the appropriate escort to Xoysa International Airport.
Signed,
Ms. Tula Hai
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
OOC: How am I supposed to survive if I can't ruin peoples' fun?
To whom it may concern,
The Artarumen Empire welcomes the Middle Kingdom to the international stage, and is eager to develop the relations between the two great realms of Artarumen Empire and the Middle Kingdom. It is evident to the Artarumen Government that Artarumen business will be greatly interested in the valuable interactions the Middle Kingdom has to offer, and it is equally obvious that there is a potential for great cultural exchange between our two countries on the basis of respect and understanding.
Therefore, in order to extend this sentiment into practicality, the Artarumen Empire would like to extend its formal recognition of the Middle Kingdom, and is open to discussion and negotiations on many topics, especially in regards to joining the stable and secure international order provided by the International Monetary Fund, the International Assembly, and the International Bank for Development, among other institutions.
Thus, the Artarumen Empire would like to extend its request to establish permanent embassies between itself and the Middle Kingdom, with an authorised ambassador to deliver his charge d'affaires from His Imperial Majesty Lothar I to the Huangdi. The Artarumen Empire, as stated previously, is most eager to start this relationship which will no doubt be a prosperous and mutually beneficial one.
Regards,
Spencer Lowenthal
Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Middle Kingdom wishes to issue an official apology to the Palatinate of Umbræn for launching a media campaign in that country to promote travel & tourism and investment opportunities in the Middle Kingdom, without being compliant with Palatial Order #335.
During the process of bringing the multinational media campaign together, the Middle Kingdom explored a vast range of potential hurdles to overcome. One of them was the legality of the campaign in the jurisprudences of targeted countries. Together with our partners—marketing firms, law offices, data analytics firms, and various other consultancies—in the countries we planned to launch our campaign, we set out to ensure all local legal obligations were met.
It is for this reason that we wish to apologise for any shortcomings concerning launching the media campaign in the Palatinate of Umbræn. The campaign in the Palatinate of Umbræn is temporarily suspended, while the imperial government and its partners in this campaign work to remedy all unmet legal obligations, including compliance with Palatial Order #335.
OOC: With respect to all forms of media, the campaign is to be run locally, through paid advertisements to local publishers, studios, press, etc. Social media campaigns consist of both paid and earned advertisements, with the paid portion going once again to the social networks, bloggers, podcast producers, etc. operating in the country where that type of media is consumed.
To reiterate: the campaign is hyperlocal, with media produced in the same countries where they are consumed. This is done in the hopes of avoiding legal, cultural, traditional, technical and other problems that might arise. It is also much more effective than if a one-size-fits-all approach is taken.
But to clarify, I hope it is clear that I am not trying to take away agency from other roleplayers with respect to the control of this campaign. This is all supposed to be easy to opt-out of if so desired. If anyone prefers this campaign not be run in their country, for whatever reason, I would be more than happy to oblige.
Dear Deputy Prime Minister For Foreign Affairs Spencer Lowenthal,
It is a great privilege and honour to write to you today.
In the Middle Kingdom, we have a saying: "家和万事兴". This means, "A peaceful family will prosper". The Artarumen Empire's benevolence in extending the hand of friendship helps make the international community peaceful, bringing the world prosperity. It is an admirable gesture. I extend the Huángdì's personal gratitude to His Imperial Majesty Lothar I, and on behalf of the Middle Kingdom, I thank you.
The imperial government gratefully accepts the offer of exchanging diplomatic missions. The ambassador's arrival will be celebrated with fanfare. Any day that helps build the cornerstones of friendship is deserving of commemoration.
The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs will at once explore the finer details of joining the International Monetary Fund, the International Assembly, and the International Bank for Development. The Middle Kingdom is very interested in joining any institution that encourages dialogue and promotes commercial and cultural ties globally. It is therefore very important to the imperial government to ensure it is fully prepared to join these institutions and contribute to their success.
The Middle Kingdom values our new path towards securing a better future for both our peoples. May it enrich the future generations that come long after us.
Regards,
Ming Lin
Senior Secretary of Minister of Foreign Affairs
Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dear Senior Secretary of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ming Lin,
The Middle Kingdom's enthusiasm in endeavouring to establish a multilateral international order governed by laws, norms, and negotiation are worthy of admiration and respect of the utmost degree. It is for this reason that the government of the Huangdi has already earned the respect of the Artarumen Empire. In order to better facilitate the Middle Kingdom's assessments of these international institutions, the Artarumen Empire is prepared to do its part to allow the dissemination of the necessary information from these institutions to the Middle Kingdom.
To put it briefly, the International Assembly functions largely as a forum for international diplomacy and negotiation, allowing countries to take to the table as opposed to going for their armed forces in instances of disagreements, which we believe is responsible for the largely untapped trade potential between nations, and the subsequent lack of a standard of living, at least, a standard of living far below that befitting the dignity of humanity. Therefore, the International Assembly functions as the diplomatic and political arm of the prospective stable international order.
The International Monetary Fund strives to prop up failing economies through sound economic advice and low-cost loans to member nations, as a lender of last resort. Rejecting the rigid orthodoxy of neoliberal thinking, the IMF envisions itself to be open to alternative economic policies, specifically refocusing on Keynesian economics and government spending where such policies are deemed more beneficial. With these instruments, as well as its task of gathering and publishing economic data about member countries, it aims to provide for a transparent economic arena, therefore making capital movement and investment far more easier. Thus, the IMF provides the financial and economic foundation of the stable international order, in the belief that a more interdependent world is a more prosperous, peaceful, and stable world to live in.
Finally, the International Bank for Development seeks to provide low-cost loans and earmarked aid to developing nations in order to eliminate the vast gaps in development between the developed nations and the underdeveloped countries. Today, all of the beneficiaries of the IBD are former members of the Artarumen Realm, the former Artarumen overseas empire. This is an undertaking to ensure that a lack of stability and the existence of conflict can be alleviated and eliminated, allowing these countries to join the rest of the world in its prosperity.
For the time being, the members of these institutions are members of the Artarumen Commonwealth, that is, the former colonies of the Artarumen Realm which have, throughout 2019, were granted independence in accordance with prolonged negotiations and the agreements reached in their conclusion. It is the utmost desire of the Artarumen Empire to see another like-minded nation to join the international framework being constructed that is wholly independent of the Artarumen Commonwealth, so that a new, better, and more dignified international order may be pioneered with the like-minded.
Regards,
Spencer Lowenthal
Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister of State for the Foreign Office
OOC: I should say that the name of the "International Assembly" is 100% subject to change, as there is already an II Wiki page with the same name, and I'm not quite certain how to differentiate a new one neutrally. Therefore, I may go with "International Forum" or something along those lines. I'm most certainly open to suggestions, just, no Latin. No "Terra". It's cringey.
OOC: With the assumption that this is a UN style organization, I'll give you some ideas to help in the naming process.
- Transnational Assembly of Nations(TAN)
- Forum of Independent Nations(FIN)
- International Commons
- Commons of Sovereign States(CSS) or (CS2)
- Forum of Federated States(FFS) or (F2S)
- Assembly of Sovereign States (ASS) or (AS2)
- Transcontinental Forum
- Assembly of Glorious States (AGS)
- Assembly of Glorious Empires (AGE)
If you need more, I can certainly make more. Though I am interesting in how this will work and what participation will be like, even though I probably already know the answer.
Lionsmarchk, Mlg gaming, and Artarum
What Does it Mean to be Artarumen?
by Richard Gerald Forester
Liudan Times, 17 July 2020
The essence of Artarumen nationhood has not been in debate ever since it was conceptualised. Indeed, there has largely been a consensus, both among the intellectual elite as well as the common folk of the Empire as to what Artarumen nationhood constituted. For centuries, and indeed, especially for the last two centuries, it has been a nativist outlook, based upon a conceptualisation of a fit, capable, educated, white-skinned, Artarumen Christian person, one who took his faith in his God seriously and laboured to the betterment of his nation. In addition, one could not become Artarumen: one was born, and only born, to be Artarumen, and Artarumen blood was - in some circles, still is - thought to be pure and uncorrupted by "other races".
Yet, when thought about retrospectively, we can see that this conceptualisation did not grant itself even to the most basic form of citizenship. Naturally, the aforementioned conceptualisation of Artarumen nationality did not exclude women from it - how does a nationality exclude women? - but still, women in Artarum still do not have the most basic rights of citizenship: voting and running for office. Do our women not labour and pay taxes correspondingly? In practice, the Artarumen nation all but ignores its women, dismissing any and all criticisms of this state of affairs under a nebulous, blanket generalisation of "socialism". To be sure, socialism is an abhorrent ideology that seeks only to disestablish the traditions and values that hold Artarum together, its agents merely tools for domestic and foreign threats, but it is wrong to dismiss rightful concerns for fear of facing them.
Furthermore, we must face this question of Artarumen nationhood with even more urgency in these days, when the overseas Empire has all but dissolved, and as a consequence, there are thousands of non-white, non-Christians who are potential Artarumen citizens by law. Do we disregard the rule of law and rule through arbitrary decisions only to cling onto outdated racial concepts of the past which have long been debunked by science, or do we adhere to the rules that we ourselves have permitted to be crafted, and accept these people as Artarumen citizens? If so, then how shall Artarumen nationality be defined?
Dear readers, I have no answer for this question. None of us do, I believe, for we have never thought of this question. We have never had a public debate regarding the nature of Artarumen nationality, and what it means to be Artarumen, but instead, have simply accepted the status quo as it was shaped in the upper political spheres. However, in the face of the new world we are facing, it is our task, readers, as citizens of the Empire, to consider but for a moment our identity, and how we conceptualise it in relation to our nationality and our citizenship. Can we truly go on without giving universal suffrage, to all citizens of the Empire, without regard for their race, religion, and gender? And if we do continue as such, with only one fourth of the population being enfranchised, what does that say about the entirety of the Artarumen psyche and nationality as a whole?
These questions must be asked, and they must be asked now, as we embark upon a new world, under a new government, under a new way of thinking. For perhaps the first time in Artarumen society, a massive debate must be had, and we as a society must come to an understanding about who we are, and what it means to be Artarumen. Otherwise, we risk blindly wandering about in a world full of monsters, monsters that our Navy is ill-prepared to defend us against and our science too material to bulwark us.
As always, your letters in response are appreciated and worthwhile to read.
Standing before Asta, Queen of Vespergale and Princess of the Celestial Empire, were two male Celestials, one in the form of a Lamia, and one in the form of a Fevoran. Their beautiful features reflected the noble lineages of their descent, and their dignified and deferentially graceful bearing reflected their distinguished service to the Celestial Dynasty. Though both were adorned in the resplendent robes of Celestial high officialdom, the Lamia who first proceeded to bow and kiss the hand of his master was specially adorned. He was the Duke Maoyi, ennobled both by Asta and her divine father, the pioneer of Celestial-Vespergalian relations, and the Viceroy over all the Empire's interaction with Vespergale. The formal expression from Maoyi's dark blue eyes did not entirely obscure his affection for the Celestial Princess, the darling of the Celestial Empire.
The Fevoran-formed official, meanwhile, bowed his head respectfully to the Duke, before he also knelt before the Queen and kissed her hand in the Vespergalian custom. This Celestial, though perfectly practiced in form, was not so perfect a master as Maoyi in the art of retaining independent nobility in subservience, marking him the junior of the two in age and learning, though not especially so in learning. He was Liu, the son of a Celestial baron, and formerly a close attendant to Queen Asta's elder brother, Leng, the Crown Prince of the Celestial Empire. His own hair and eyes were in the middle of the spectrum between Asta's own bright yellow and a brown, marking his as a nobility distantly related to the Dynasty's own breed. He, likewise, adored the only daughter of their divine Huangdi.
No doubt Asta was already acquainted with the two of them, but Maoyi nonetheless formally introduced the pair to Her Celestial Highness, including their own ranks, and that they were privileged to have been assigned by her holy brother and most divine father to serve her.
Pearlescent made a small but very unladylike sound. Shield simply swallowed hard, then cleared his throat.
The two Equestrians exchanged a glance. Both looked slightly nauseous.
"Ah... I... see," Pearlescent said eventually. "I've never eaten meat before... This certainly was an interesting new... uhh... e-experience."
Shield said, "I guess we can't do much for now. We'll just have to wait for Ponies greater than us to decide on the best course of action... If the time comes, I'm prepared to fight for Little Miss and an Equestria free from the tyranny of corrupt nobles who treat their subjects as nothing but fuel for their twisted rituals."
Pearlescent nodded.
"I'm willing to fight against Imperatrix Twilight's regime as well," she said. "If you have any books on magical combat or other potentially useful subjects, I'd like to study them and prepare myself for the war."
Twilight was silent for a good two or three minutes. The Equestrian ruler seemed fascinated by the propaganda film currently playing, particularly the different worlds that were shown. Perhaps she was wondering about the possibility of one day extending her own rule to the stars?
Eventually she spoke.
"That's all I ask, Abbess. We understand that this is a confusing situation. It certainly is to us. But if our visit and the information we've provided can avert a terrible misunderstanding and unnecessary loss of Equine life, then it all turned out well in the end... Just remember, we are still bound to this one world of ours. For us, putting it to the sword or the flame is not an option. That's why we have to be very careful when dealing with magical threats like a rogue High Unicorn. I trust in your ability to safely and peacefully deal with Lady Pearlescent."
"And I look forward to seeing my beloved daughter again," Duke Silver said while bowing his head humbly to the Abbess. "Even if it takes years of therapy, I will see to it that she will regain her sanity and can resume her training to master her talents. If she decides to return to you after that, I will not oppose her decision."
Professor Rainy Gloom said, "As for her bodyguard, the Earth Pony Shield Wall... He is most likely just an innocent victim in all this. I've heard he is very devoted to Lady Pearlescent and would follow her to the end of Tartarus. But there's a good chance that in her paranoia and insanity, she has been subtly manipulating his mind through magic. If it's not too much to ask, I'd like to examine him and remove any potential control spells from his mind. Until then, I suggest you keep an eye on him. And it would be best if you separated him from her."
Twilight gave the Abbess a small smile.
She said, "I think we've said everything we came here to say, Abbess. Unless there's something else you want to discuss with us, we shall take our leave."
Black chuckled. “Well believe it or not, New Everfree is not loaded with books on magic. We’re not a fancy regiment like those ones from Wittenland. Our tactics use mechanised forces with artillery support.” Distantly they could hear the basilisk fire again as the Major smiled. “Like that.” He looked to the bishop as Humble glanced out a window at the new group of refugees and his priests as they attended to them. “Thank you for your time, Bishop. The service is still on for next Sunday?” Maple asked as he got Pearlescent and Shield on their hooves again.
“No, there’s nothing else. May the Sisters guide your path, Imperatrix.” Rising told Twilight as the Equestrians started to leave. Members of the Trottingham regiment escorted the Imperatrix and her companions back to the front gate, watching them board their chariot and take off. Inquisitor Heartstrings also watched them leave from her office, focusing on Duke Silver and… did he just look at her? Lyra’s breath caught in her throat. Her window was only one-way, the other side disguised as just blank stone but she could’ve sworn the Duke had locked eyes with her. “Must be a trick of the light.” She murmured to herself as she went to reread his daughter’s transcripts.
Welcoming First Ambassador in Decades to the Middle Kingdom
The Artarumen ambassador to the Middle Kingdom arrived in the capital city of Beijing on Sunday and was welcomed by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be entertaining the ambassador and the ambassador's family to a weeklong tour of the Middle Kingdom, during which time Ministry of Foreign Affairs minders will act as tour guides. This should help the ambassador better understand the cultural backdrop of Chinese society. At the end of the tour, the ambassador will be gifted with 58-year-old aged raw (sheng) pu-erh tea from the Huángdì personal tea stores—a great honour.
Once all personnel attached to the Artarumen diplomatic mission arrive in the Middle Kingdom and complete similar cultural-focused centred tours, the Imperial government will host a series of networking events aimed at making meaningful and helpful social connections between the diplomatic mission staff on the one hand, and Imperial government officials, powerbrokers and influential plutocrats on the other hand. These connections are expected to kickstart a deep working relationship between the two countries as they work together towards the betterment of all mankind.
Once the embassy is open, one of the first orders of business for the Imperial government will be to request information on the international institutions the Artarumen Empire has invited the Middle Kingdom to join. This information will be invaluable to the latter as the Middle Kingdom prepares to broaden its international responsibilities and contribute its fair share to the international community.
Artarumen Ambassador to the Middle Kingdom, Sir Roald Walthorpe, Expresses Gratitude
Upon arriving in the capital city of Beijing with his wife and two children, Sir Walthorpe immediately expressed his pride at being granted the privilege of serving as ambassador to Artarum's newest international partner. Moved by the hospitality of his hosts, Sir Walthorpe voiced his gratitude at his hosts, and stated his eagerness to start working in the embassy in Beijing. He received his gift of pu-erh tea in elation, gifting in turn an antique carved bone horn from the 11th century to be delivered to the Huangdi.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has similarly welcomed the ambassador of the Middle Kingdom to Liudan today, where the embassy will be located, and is being prepared according to the specifications of the Middle Kingdom. While the language difference is expected to present an issue for the short-term, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has invested in large-scale language courses for the personnel expected to be working with the Middle Kingdom, in order to ensure smooth communication as well as fostering a mutual feeling of respect and trust based on being able to communicate in the same language.
Prime Minister Anthony Bishop has applauded the contacts between Artarum and the Middle Kingdom, referring to the newly burgeoning relationship as "potentially the most fruitful partnership Artarum has had to date", and an "historic moment that should be tended to as one would tend to a delicate garden". Foreign Secretary Lowenthal expressed his enthusiasm in working with his counterparts, and also stressed that Artarumen-Middle Kingdom relations had "the potential to be very fruitful, if both sides moved dynamically".
The State of the Imperial Economy
Generally, the Imperial government does not interfere in the production, modification and distribution of resources in the Middle Kingdom. The merchanting class is encouraged to make investments that they believe will be most profitable to them, based on the principles of demand and supply. Similarly, local provinces and communities are given the autonomy they need to enact economic policies most beneficial to them. This level of economic freedom has led to the prosperity and economic diversity that the empire has benefited from for centuries.
However, this significant level of economic freedom should not be mistaken for the central Imperial government's lack of economic power—both de jure or de facto. In particular, the economic control that the Huangdi personally wields is boundless and is often exercised to benefit his person, as well as members of his Court loyal to the Imperial Family. There is no greater example of this than Huangdi assigning his favoured subjects to administer plots of fertile land home to "gushu" (translating to "ancient tree") tea bushes, with a sizeable portion of profits generated from the lucrative trading of tea from these lands going to the administrator.
The eunuchs, Imperial government bureaucrats charged with running the Middle Kingdom on behalf of the Huangdi, also administer the Imperial Household's extensive estates as part of their duties. These estates enrich the local economies of nearby communities by producing high-paying jobs for the local workforce, acting as tourist attractions, and trading with local farmers and merchants.
The role of central banking also plays a significant part in the stewardship of the Imperial economy. Economists in the central bank benefit from a great deal of autonomy in directing monetary policy independently from other branches of the Imperial government. Indeed, only the Huangdi has the power to overrule the central bank; however, the Huangdi trusts the institution and almost never interferes with its duties.
Finally, the Imperial government benefits from decisive fiscal policy. A group of economists employed by the Imperial government are given the discretion to research, enact and oversee the Middle Kingdom's fiscal policies, with the eunuchs enforcing these policies in a bureaucratically responsible way.
«12. . .8,1588,1598,1608,1618,1628,1638,164. . .8,2698,270»
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