Loricol
Capital of Hanga
March 10th, 2019
11:00 PM
For many years there have been talk of the imminent death of Emperor Jiang as the much beloved sovereign struggled to remain alive but alive he remained and continued his reign over the Celestial Empire. The passing of the First Son under Heaven would be a tragedy unto itself but the true thing that has the powerholders of Hanga whispering and posturing was the question of who would inherit that Jade Throne after his death. Prince Sun and Prince Zhide are twin brothers and the eldest of the Imperial family making both contenders for the Jade Throne and with no precedence of how to determine succession in this occurrence the situation is dire. Despite the fact Emperor Jiang still draws breath his mental faculties are not entirely with him making his pronouncement, when he does speak, hard to follow and decipher.
Prince Sun is known to be a deeply pious and learned man living a life of grueling religious discipline while also maintaining proper public appearances. While not physically intimidating Prince Sun has a calm and collected way to break anyone down always calling others to repent and praying with numerous members at court as well as with the poor and downtrodden he serves daily. A zealous man he seeks to maintain the integrity of the Hangian Orthodox Church and the moral well being of the people before all things making him popular with the influential Community of St. Basil and the faithful at large. The main fault that the critics of the Prince point to is his sheer idealism and detachment from reality as he concerns himself more with spiritual and religious matters rather than courtly ones so while Prince Sun may be a good and Godly man he will be a catastrophic Emperor.
Prince Zhide on the other hand is a loud and boisterous man who has taken to the arts of war and hunting with an equal zeal that his brother has taken to his religious studies. Proud and skilled with all manners of the martial field he is a proficient board gamer as well as battlefield tactician ruthlessly and efficiently crushing dissent in one of the southeast Asian tributary states. While efficient he is no monster emphasizing the need for national reconciliation around the Jade Throne and toleration regardless of race, creed, or culture. A brilliant administrator and admirer of the Hermetic Societies Prince Zhide enjoys widespread support among said Societies and the nobility at large. While efficient and result yielding Prince Zhide is a Machiavellian firmly believing that anything is justified if it brings about a more orderly, just, and free society this has led him to commit numerous acts that while they achieved their goal in the end scandalized the Imperial House Yang and the Jade Throne.
This was all on the mind of Chief Minister Hao Daijia as he sat in one of the many chapels that dotted the Imperial Complex, if he had to be honest the Imperial Complex was more a city within a city than a palace for the Celestial Court. His fingers mindlessly fidgeted with the chotki beads in his hands as he had long ago given up attempting to reach hesychasm tonight instead focusing on Earthly affairs. There was just so much that needed to be done and Daijia could not help but feel a little overwhelmed at the sheer volume of the task at hand, it was not just the potential succession crisis that had him up but the running of the Empire and wrangling the numerous Kings, Grand Dukes, Viceroys, Prince-Archbishops, and Lord Mayors into the single direction of the Jade Throne. With a long and deep sigh Daijia let out a simple prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, and Sovereign of all Mankind, save your people from themselves."
"Amen." A voice responded causing the Chief Minister to jump slightly before craning his head to reveal the Spymaster of Hanga dressed in his usual dark and nondescript robes, there was little fanfare and eloquence when one was a member of the Imperial Dragon Seal Guard but the respect they demanded more than made up for it. Daijia stood and bowed in respect.
"Spymaster Huang you honor me with your presence." Daijia stated differing to the man who was technically under his command but not everything was as it seemed on paper.
"As do you Chief Minister Daijia, as do you." Huang responded before gesturing to the unoccupied spot in the pew next to Daijia who let him in, Huang genuflected and crossed himself facing the alter as he entered. Silence held sway for a few uncomfortable moments for Daijia broken when Huang decided to speak. "I have heard of that the rumblings of the Celestial Court have made their ways into the common folk. Even the people on the streets are speaking in hushed tones about the coming death of our Emperor and what is to followed. Already the lords and republics are maneuvering to support their candidate for the throne and I fear that the Guard is being stretched thin maintaining order as is. Cracks are beginning to form your Excellency."
"Well yes this is disconcerning sir I hardly can say it is news for me. For months I have been hearing whispers and scheming among the Court and it was only a matter of time before the people began to mumble. Certainly you do not think anything worse than civil discontent will occur." Daijia retorted keeping his eyes firmly planted on the alter screen, an icon of the Blessed Virgin holding the infant Christ to be most exact.
"I do Chief Minister. The radical republicans are getting more vocal and some of the Boan kings in the north are speaking of another general uprising. The Jade Throne sits on shaky ground at the moment and a smooth transition is necessary for the continuation of our civilization, or else the barbarians will pick at our corpse for generations to come as we waste away. The image of the Imperial Family can not be compromised, you above all know the extent that we will go to ensure just that." Huang said staring holes into the side of Daiji's head as the other man fought the urge to gulp. He knew full well what would happened to those who threatened the image of the Imperial Family, his own brother was assassinated for attempting just that.
"Understood sir. I will preserve the Jade Throne with my life sir. A smooth transition will be done." Daiji said in the calmest voice he could muster before shrinking into the pew a bit when he felt the Spymaster grip his shoulder.
"Good, please do ensure that your Excellency. I do consider you a friend and would be highly disappointed if you proved a threat to the Dragon Seal." Then he let go of Daiji's shoulder before rising and leaving.
Sighing in relief Daiji slumped a bit, that damn Buddhist was going to be the end of him and he just knew it. Pushing himself up he knew exactly what he needed to do, increase security throughout the kingdoms held directly by the Jade Throne by making the military presence more potent. More soldiers, conscripts, retainers, mercenaries, everything they could afford seen and patrolling, especially among the semi-civilized barbarian outsiders who call Hanga home at the moment. No foreigner will interfere and House Yang will maintain the Mandate of Heaven till the Christ returns. With burning passion Daiji set off to work.