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 Post subject: Economic Conditions in the Empire
PostPosted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:28 pm 
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Taxes are collected in autumn, after harvest. Stipends are disbursed afterwards, before or after winter season, depending on domain, but suzerains in Great Clans usually pay out before winter courts. The following conditions reflect the realities of the Tax Year 499.

Economic Conditions come in 5 variations:
Quote:
Significantly Worsened: -50% of your original stipend
Worsened: -1 koku
Largely Unchanged: base stipend
Improved: +1 koku
Significantly Improved: +50% of your original stipend


Imperials: Largely Unchanged
Miya activism in improving infrastructure of Imperial lands outside Clan jurisdiction and an infusion of skilled professionals schooled in the Colleges into the Imperial Bureaucracy have offset any kind of difficulty the Emerald Champion may have had with collecting Imperial taxes this year, which in the end weren't that bad. Commandeering of some of the Tortoise assets helped as well. However, the expenditures are high and those related to creation of the Imperial Explorers and the buildup of the Imperial Navy have largely consumed those gains.

Crab: Worsened
The mounting infighting between opium cartels has compromised usually robust Yasuki gains from opium retail, while the bombing of Sunda Mizu Mura and the theft of rice stockpiles from the Friendly Traveller Village have strained Crab finances. In addition, Tenburo insisted on securing a special war preparation budget with retaliation against the Crane in mind. The Kaiu had to cut on some of the infrastructure projects and naval expansion so as to not go under even deeper.

Crane: Improved
The tentative naval truce between the Crane and the Mantis has let the Daidoji to bounce back on coastal shipping, and fill in some of the void left by the crackdown on the Tortoise. The harvest across the Crane lands was generally good, despite some heavy rains at the height of the monsoon season. In addition, somewhat paradoxically, the defections of many Kakita have decreased the amount of due stipends for that particular family, leaving more at disposal. And Tanaka has been willing to shore up the support for himself within the Clan and has paid out more.

Dragon: Largely Unchanged
No calamity or extraordinary luck have influenced Dragon income, but the steady improvements in agricultural infrastructure and trade in minerals and steel products have led to modest gains. However, those were not given out as increased stipend, being stored for whatever purpose Togashi Imura has in mind.

Lion: Improved
The extensive Lion farmlands have brought bountiful harvest, and there was no war to finance in 499, so the Lion have found themselves rich despite largely repressing trade across its territory, with just a few exceptions. To impress on his vassals that the old ways in governance are as good as the new ones, Akodo Toru decided to share whatever of the surplus was left after paying Imperial taxes and securing a war chest for 500.

Phoenix: Significantly Worsened
Phoenix economy has struggled because of the refugee crisis and the mysterious harvest grab the Isawa committed that caused the very crisis. Shiba Sawayanagi had to make many cuts while keeping robust military posture vis-a-vis potential Lion incursion. The Phoenix may have received some outside aid to fend off insolvency and stipends were paid with some delay once the Champion ascertained there are not many Isawa left in his service to be provided for, but those are very lean years for the Phoenix, and everyone has to give up a few.

Scorpion: Largely Unchanged
The gains from farmlands and trade have been robust, and the Scorpion opium cartel has got the upper hand amid increasing rivalries in that market. However, either Bayushi Hajioki has decided to be thrifty or he must have funneled the gains elsewhere, for no-one has seen an improvement in their pockets. The semi-official version is that the funds are mostly going into the continued construction of Shosuro Kaneie's pet project on the western borders of Scorpion territory, a relatively new trade hub on the River of Gold, the so-called Journey's End City.

Unicorn: Largely Unchanged
There are limits to which both Khans could have distributed economic incentives to woo various parts of the heterogenous Unicorn Clan to join their respective banners, and they have largely been reached. The [Redacted] is a single most significant drain on funds despite both the maritime spice trade via Anisrana and the haraj (tribute) from Medinaat al-Salaam steadily flowing in. To sate the awakened desires of many a Unicorn to have lavish lifestyles new sources of income must be found, negotiated or claimed through conquest.

Badger: Largely Unchanged
Ichiro Kakeguro has decreed that the amount of caravans allowed to purchase Badger ores are reduced, but he has also disproportionately taxed the Fureheshu of the West Hub on their sizeable fortunes earned from sumai bout wins. The wider consequences notwithstanding, the stipends have been paid as usual.

Boar: Improved
The demand for quality weaponry from many Great Clans has increased as preparations for war continue, and the Boar have expanded production to respond to the rising demand, reaping steady benefits. Heichi Batsuda has decided to motivate and reward his loyal vassals, offering slightly higher stipends.

Centipede: Significantly Improved
For the small Clan the meteoric rise to significance in Imperial politics that has occurred largely because Moshi Noriko has been named the headmistress of the Imperial Naval College and is being wedded to one of the heirs of the Miya daimyo has brought significant monetary gains. Their commercial quarter in the Dragon's Guard is rapidly expanding as they have sheltered some of the Tortoise operations, and the various favours they are now showered with in expectation of future gains have awarded Moshi Aizu many assets to invest. And invest she has, empowering her vassals to ride on the momentum and make a larger imprint on the Empire, though some speculate this is all still done for the sake of her Phoenix cousins.

Fox: Worsened
The self-imposed quarantine of the Kitsune Mori has kept many caravans away, though forest products are still being quietly sold to the outsiders, and if the stories about the Fox involvement in the Sparrow Trail are true they have their lifeline there. Still, Kitsune Hashibi has decided to reduce the stipends concluding her vassals don't have many opportunities to spend them anyway.

Mantis: Largely Unchanged
After cessation of raids on Crane shipping the year has been bleaker, but for the Mantis any cooldown in soaring gains is considered bleak. Ryoshida has deep pockets regardless, but he has decided that his captains are not doing well enough given the enabling circumstance of the Tortoise being in trouble so he has withheld all premiums to sharpen his vassals' appetites for profit.

Sparrow: Largely Unchanged
There are some troubles related to the sustainability of the existing opium trade schemes but the Sparrow have been thriftier than many give it to them and have deep reserves in case their fortunes turn. So far, Suzume Masako has decided to send the signal that business is as usual.

Tortoise: Worsened
While it has been affecting only a part of their very diversified assets, the Tortoise have taken a heavy hit from the Imperial campaign to cut them down to size after Muhaki Genjiko's defiance. While it may be manageable in mid-term, the liquidity drop is being felt and so the stipends have been reduced for the time being.



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