228 Real Power (1/2)
Deep within the Immortal Palace, through unused halls and behind unopened doors, was hidden a special room. Only a select few knew of its location, even among the high-ranking officials of the Immortal Capital. On most days, the room would be left abandoned. Yet today, seven figures had met around the ancient stone table for a meeting as secret as the spot they had met in.
”Brother Acalan, you have arrived late.” Prime Minister Zyaton sat at the head of the table, with five others seated around him. All of them were old men, all of them draped in expensive cloths, and all of them great scholars of the Empire, as was the man who had just arrived.
”This master has many matters of his own to attend to, Zyaton. The last meeting of scholars took place less than a moon ago, so why do you call the council together once more? And do not pretend it to be a matter of importance. Nothing of note has happened in the empire, or this master would be informed before anyone here.”
While the old man left his snarky comments, he took a seat among his peers, one of them with a mischievous grin on his face.
”If Brother Acalan is upset already, then brother truly will be displeased once he learns of Brother Zyaton's reason to call for the meeting,” the grinning scholar said.
”What is it then? What could be so important to call everyone here?” Acalan asked as he reached for the tea that already sat prepared for him.
”Today, all the great scholars of the empire have been called together because one of Chutwa's eastern lords has approached this official with a peculiar request,” Zyaton began his explanation.
”Something big enough to call together the Scholar's Council?” Acalan huffed as he sipped his tea.
”The request itself is not a large matter, but its implementation breaks with current Chutwa laws and traditions. Thus, it requires approval from the entire council first.”
”Then what is there to discuss?” Acalan huffed and cracked his cup as he smashed it onto the stone table. ”The traditions need to be respected, and this master has his own work to attend to!”
”However, the issue is minor, and the laws broken are such that no one would ever know. Even more, if the matter is handled the right way, it would be to great benefit to the entire empire.”
Since Acalan only glared in response, another scholar sighed and chimed in.
”Brother Zyaton, please tell everyone about the details of this request. This master is eager to know.”
With a thankful nod to his brother, the prime minister continued.
”A few days prior, a foreign nation has arrived on the empire's shores, eager to beg the Emperor so they may become one of his tributaries.”
”So let them,” the scholars replied. ”The law has never prevented any lesser nations from entering beneath the glorious shadow of the empire, has it?”
”No, it has not,” Zyaton confirmed. ”However, they want more than just pay tribute. They want to officially trade with the empire.”
”Ridiculous!” Acalan shouted as he jumped up. ”Zyaton, you spent moons blocking my motion to introduce Medala as a new tributary to the empire, yet now this council discusses some unknown country's application, and even grants them special treatment!? Do these foreigners believe they deserve to be treated as equals!? In the history of the immortal dynasty, no foreign lands have been allowed such an exalted status!”
”Brother Acalan, please calm yourself,” the prime minister sighed. It was true that Medala's request for tributary status had been put on hold, but only because Acalan had refused to pay the bribes that would be customary for such a case. Zyaton suspected that Acalan had pocketed most of the tributes from Medala for himself instead, but for now the prime minister would pacify his brother and forget about his greed. After all, Zyaton needed support for his motion as well.
”Brother, once this issue is cleared up, the council can also discuss Medala's new status in today's meeting. Please don't consider this a slight against brother.” He watched with cold eyes as Acalan sat back down, still in a huff. Only then did Zyaton continue.
”As for the foreigners, they will not be treated as equals. How could they? They are just barbarians who wish to bask in the glow of the empire. They do not plead for any more than the status of a tributary. However, they want the right for free traders from their lands to trade with the empire in a private fashion, in one specific port of the empire. While this request breaks with tradition somewhat, it should be a minor issue. Already, private traders come and go along the empire's borders all the time, we would simply formalize such action in this one instance.”
”Even so, their actions go against established law. How could we let them?” Acalan insisted.
”Before Brother continues, he should observe the products they wish to transport into the empire, and judge their value for himself.”
”Ha, what could some barbarians possibly have to offer that Chutwa's lands or people could not provide?”
”Brother Acalan should please inspect them for himself,” Another of the scholars said as he handed Acalan several small objects.
”And what are these toys?” he asked, as he held up a mess of gears, ticking and clicking away.
”To this scholar, it was introduced as a watch the foreigners have built from metal,” Prime Minister Zyaton explained.
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”What an abhorrent mess of noise and movement. There is no elegance to this primitive construction, is there? Why not simply use a water clock? The masterful devices of the empire are far more accurate and don't produce such an infernal noise,” Acalan claimed.
”If nothing else, it makes for a novel toy,” Zyaton argued, before a smirk stole itself onto his face. ”Somehow, the foreigners thought they could impress the mighty Empire with these little tricks. However, the value of their submission lies in the other products they brought along.”
Again, the helpful scholar brought the rest of the objects in front of Acalan, and introduced them one by one.
”Glass as clear as water, and rare dyes in large amounts. Would the empire not benefit greatly from such treasures?”
”Impossible. How could barbarians produce something of such value, when even the crafters of the Empire have not achieved similar feats,” and incredulous Acalan asked. Zyaton was eager to explain.