Economic Matters

by Rusty Priske

Editing and Development by Fred Wan

Doji Sesshu clucked under his breath as he checked the manifest. His eyes darted up to the merchant who stood before him. “These prices are exorbitant.”

The merchant lowered his eyes respectfully. “My apologies, Doji-sama. There is great hardship in the land just now. It makes it very difficult to obtain the items needed to fight a war. I assure you that I am quoting the best possible prices. My own profit is very small, so I can better serve the glory of the Crane.”

Sesshu smiled mirthlessly. “I am quite sure. These are the same prices you are offering the Crab, then?”

The merchant looked shocked. “I would never sell such things to the Crab, my lord! I know that it is the Crane who are my friends! Why would I jeopardize that by selling to their enemies in a time of war?”

“Besides, you would not want to risk your best market, right Fat Boy?” Even though the merchant went by the name Fat Boy, it sounded more like an insult coming off the samurai’s tongue. “I would not even be buying these if some of our own supplies had not been destroyed. Luckily you were there to fill the void, is it not?”

Fat Boy nodded. “As you say, Doji-sama.”

Sesshu nodded. “Have everything delivered as promised and you will be paid your ridiculous fees.”

The merchant nodded again. “Thank you Doji-sama. The delivery will need to be made at night, to avoid unwanted attention.”

Sesshu’s eyes flashed. “Why is that, Fat Boy? Is there something you have forgotten to mention? Are these goods stolen, perhaps?”

The merchant put up his hands, trying to quell the Crane’s anger. “No, my lord! Not at all. I am an honest businessman. I do not deal in anything outside the boundary of the law. It is because I am an honest businessman that I need to do business like this. Ever since the change in leadership among the magistrates, they have become increasingly active in what they call ‘investigations.’ We are constantly being stopped and searched for no reason.” Fat Boy’s faced twisted into a grimace. “I believe they are being ordered to monitor goods that are transported to the Crane. In order to deliver the goods, I am being forced to give ‘gifts’ for the ‘favor’ of being allowed to continue my business. If this continues, I will be forced to raise prices, and I am sure neither of us wants that.”

Sesshu looked him up and down before saying, “Bring it at night then. If I discover that you are lying, I will hand you to the magistrates myself.”

•

Fat Boy paced in his warehouse, looking over the stacks of crates, marked in a code known only to himself. A raid right now would be a disaster and there had been increased scrutiny of late. It would not do to be found with much of the product in this warehouse.

“Is the deal done, Fat Boy?”

The merchant bowed quickly as the burly Mantis entered. “It is done, Yoritomo-sama.”

Yoritomo Utemaro smiled. “Good. Have you removed all of the Lion markings from the goods?”

“I have.”

“Good man. It simply would not do for the Crane or the Crab to know where their supplies originated. Now, you have divided the goods in the manner I directed?”

Fat Boy cocked his head. “I did, Yoritomo-sama, but I have to admit that I am confused by it. At your request, I struck a deal with the Crab that involved very little profit while claiming the same for the Crane, when in reality the prices to the Crane were quite high. Despite this, you have told me to provide the best quality supplies to the Crab, while giving the worst material to the Crane. Some of this equipment is barely serviceable.”

Utemaro eyed the merchant. “This equipment is for the ashigaru. The Crane cannot be bothered to notice the fate of the peasantry.”

“Well, it would seem that you have taken a side in their war.” He hurriedly added, “This is of no concern to me, other than where it threatens my well being. I risk much treating the Crane in such a fashion. If they discover this duplicity I will be in grave danger.”

“The Crane will be more interested in the loss of face in being seen as having been out-negotiated than they will be at their ashigaru being ill-equipped. You are being well compensated for your risk, Fat Boy. I know that you are only bringing this up to try and increase your fee, but I will have none of it. If you want your koku, now and in the future, you will do what we ask.”

Fat Boy suppressed a sigh. “Of course, Yoritomo-sama.”

Utemaro scowled. “And if the Crane come out of their courts and towers and claim to understand strength, I’m sure the Crab will show them the error of their ways. If we help that along at all, well, the Crane reap what their haughty attitudes sow.”

•

Shosuro Adeiko waited for a moment before waving her hand to her subordinate magistrates at the corners of the buildings. She waited to see that they had passed the signal on to those out of her line of sight before flinging open the door to the warehouse and striding in. “Under the authority of the Emerald Champion and the Emerald Magistrates, I will search this premises! Do not attempt to flee, as there are samurai at each exit.”

“Why would I flee? I have nothing to hide.” Yoritomo Buntaro walked over to meet the magistrate, a frown imprinted on his lips.

“We have reason to believe otherwise.”

“As you have had many times over the past weeks. It seems to me that the Emerald Champion does not trust the Mantis. Your actions seem more disruptive than truly investigatory. What you are doing is not trying to uphold the law. You are merely harassing honest businessmen.”

Adeiko smiled the way a snake might smile at a mouse. “If there is any honesty here, it is mere happenstance, Yoritomo. This is a place of business only in that your business is piracy and smuggling.”

“It is ever the curse of my clan to be branded with such lies. You have my sympathies, magistrate. You really do. You have to spend your time following these false accusations against my clan, when really you have just become a political arm. Did you hope to do something constructive when you became a magistrate?”

Adeiko motioned to the other magistrates. “Open them all. You know what you are looking for.”

Buntaro shook his head. “I would ask you to not break too much in the search, but I know that my request would be ignored. All I have in this warehouse are legitimate shipments to the Lion. They are marching to war, if you hadn’t heard. They have great need just now.”

“A need that you more than willing to fill, no?”

“Why would I not be?”

“Considering the previous Mantis warehouse I was at this morning featured supplies being sent to the Unicorn. You are selling goods to both sides. That makes you a war profiteer, lower than even than the merchants with which you associate.”

“Because war is a horrible blight on Rokugan, correct, magistrate?” Buntaro laughed dryly. “Come now, Shosuro-sama. War is inevitable in Rokugan. Peace is just the time to regroup. Our society runs on war. This is true from the upper reaches of the Imperial Court, to the lowest heimin. Providing the means to conduct that war is not just good business, it is instrumental in allowing the empire to operate. We are more vital to Rokugan than the magistrates are.”

Adeiko sneered. “The courts to the heimin? Which end do you find yourself on, Yoritomo?”

Anger flashed across Buntaro’s face. “There are limits, Shosuro.”

One of the other magistrates walked up to Adeiko and spoke quietly. He handed her a small bundle. “What is this? Tabi?”

Buntaro grinned. “An army on the march needs to keep its feet warm.”

“But these are nearly threadbare.”

“An army on the march must make do with what it can get.”

“You disgust me.”

“That’s a shame, Shosuro. I really thought we were going to become friends.”

Adeiko snarled and waved to the other magistrates before turning on her heel and leaving the warehouse.

•

Tsuruchi Etsui looked at the three sets of papers he had sitting in front of him. The candlelight flickered across his face as he mulled them both for long minutes. Finally he picked one up and carefully lit it on the candle flame. He placed the burning paper on the floor and waited until there was nothing left but ash. Then he repeated the process with the second. Once there was nothing to separate the two, he swept the ashes into a small bag, which he carried to an open window where he released the ash into the wind.

Once he was satisfied that no indication of his activities remained, he tucked the third paper into his obi. Then he slid his shoji screen open and waved the two samurai patiently waiting for him, into his chamber.

“Report.”

Yoritomo Utemaro spoke first. “It is as you asked, Etsui-sama. We have allowed the Crane to finance the supplies for both themselves and the Crab, while ensuring that they get the worst of those supplies.”

Buntaro continued. “We have done the same for the Lion and the Unicorn. The support of the Mantis has been given, but what will we do when the Crane and Lion find out what we have done? I cannot believe that it will remain secret for long. At least with the Crane we have an extra level of deniability, but after the recent raids by the magistrates, we cannot pretend that the Lion shipments do not come from us.”

Etsui pursed his lips. “It should not matter. If we have helped the Unicorn defeat the Lion, their anger should not be a concern. More importantly, by the time either the Lion or the Crane have the time to turn their attention to the Mantis, there will be a new Emperor on the throne. If it is Lord Naizen, nothing they can do will be a threat. If it is not, well, we will have to deal with many things, depending on who sits on the throne. This will not be our greatest concern.”

“And what of Jimen? There is no question that he has turned his attention towards us. Why? What draws the attention of the Emerald Champion?”

Etsui sighed quietly. “It has come to my attention that some force works against us in this matter. It seems that Jimen has been given some information outlining some … inconsistencies on our shipping manifests. Who this is and why they are doing it is still a mystery. I would have guessed the Crane, but they are otherwise occupied.”

Utemaro grunted. “We have avoided magistrate scrutiny many times. This time will be no different.”

“We can but hope,” Etsui said. “Naizen-sama is offering some measure of support to the Emerald Champion in hopes of deflecting his interest. One of my kinsmen, Tsuruchi Kazushi, has been ordered to hunt down and eradicate any pirates operating along the coast. All in the Emerald Champion’s name, of course.”

Utemaro chuckled. “Interesting. Jimen does not seem the sort to be so easily fooled, however.”

“Jimen seems the sort to appreciate such layered deception,” Etsui said. “We shall see what becomes of it. If Naizen-sama believes this will help assuage the matter, then who are we to question it?”

Buntaro shrugged. “I will do as commanded. I only hope that if the Lion discover what I’ve done, someone will be there to assist me.” He shook his head. “I do not relish the notion of being the one to start a fight with the Lion.”

“The Lion started this,” Utemaro corrected. “When they began usurping our holdings in Mura Sabishii Toshi, they started this.”

“And the Mantis will finish it,” Etsui said calmly.

•

Once the two Yoritomo departed, Etsui gazed out the window. He thought of the note he had safely tucked away and wondered if this Susumu could do what he said and divert Jimen’s attention away from them.

More importantly, what would the price be, in the end?