CONTACT BETWEEN CATHAY/NIHON AND THE EMPIRE

The Great Library arguably houses the largest collection of Imperial records in Erdreja, but it
seems that very little interest was displayed in Cathay or Nihon. They knew that the nations were
there; they did not seem to want a relationship, either diplomatic or mercantile.

At first, the Empire was interested in consolidating their hold on the lands they ruled at the end of
the Elder War and then in expanding from Albion into Caledonia and Cymrija and further in
Teutonia from their south Teutonian holdings.

They only made three treaties with foreign powers that we are aware of. The first is perhaps the
most famous, the Line in the Snow treaty with the ruler of northern former elven-territory, Odin.
That he and Tebron I despised each other is no secret. It set the borders of the Empire at the
Caledonian/Albion and Norscan/Teutonian border (both rather vague lines in those days – the first
was in mountains, the second the Great Forest of Teutonia). The second is a treaty making Lantia
a 'protectorate' of the Empire, and the third is a trade treaty with the Aegyptian Empire.
Geographically, the Imperial Heartlands and the Aegyptian Empire were separated by a relatively
small strip of sea, and yet the first recorded contact between Aegyptus and the Empire was in
25AF. Given the distance between the furthest edges of the Empire of Man and Cathay, it is
perhaps not astonishing that there was no official contact.

We now know that some elves from the Kingdom of Aquillias made it to the shores of Cathay
during the time of the elven Four Kingdoms1, and this contact was apparently vague but not hostile.
We also know that some of the Aquillans found their way to Cathay across the seas following the
destruction of their kingdom during the Elder War, probably going some way to confirming the
Cathayan wisdom in maintaining a fundamentally closed border.

Imperial records regarding Cathay are sparse to say the least, but there are a couple of intriguing
fragments amongst them -

From the Gryphon Knights – the legion tasked with maintaining ritual circles – there is a report that
one of their number, with a member of the Warlock Legion, visited a circle in Cathay. Which one is
not recorded in the documentary fragment. The report states that the circle was sealed as they
arrived, and that a legate of the Gryphon Knight's abilities to control circle seals was not effective.
There were ologs around the circle, and after an uncomfortable silence in response to the
Warlock's hailing of those outside the seal, one of the ologs, “dressed sumptuously if strangely”
sent them back to where they had come from “without words – literally, only a gesture. They were
not overtly hostile, and we never felt that we were in danger, but we were not welcome, that is
clear.” A subsequent attempt to return was not successful – they found themselves 'bounced' to
the next nearest circle outside of Cathay, an apparently alarming experience as the travellers found
themselves in full Imperial regalia in Rus, very definitely a country on the wrong side of the Line in
the Snow. Common sense duly prevailed and they returned to Malkarn unscathed.

A letter from an Enforcer of rank to an unknown recipient indicates that the idea of bothering
Cathay any more than strictly necessary was considered untenable.

[...]understanding that to a hammer everything looks like a nail, I can see why you
would think this was a potentially good idea. Norsca is not such a threat however that
'controlling northern Cathay so we can encircle Norsca and limit its threat forever' is not
even worth considering. We have no idea what the Cathayans can do, but we do know
that our own Gryphon Knights can't override their circle control, and there is already an
enormous wall between it and Rus. Do you plan to have your legion dig a tunnel

The culture of the Aquillans encouraged exploration and the expansion of horizons.

W22-0017 Ryoshi Ichinose

 beneath it, or simple knock it down? Just no. Absolutely not. We'd be better off just
invaded Rus. Which, I'm sure, the Empress will only consider should the threat from
Norsca become something we have to worry about.

It seems that there was a little trade back and forth between some settlements on the far north-
eastern coast of Teutonia and the west coast of Cathay, but such records as we have that mention
this also mention that the north-east of Teutonia was only occasionally under Imperial control, and
it is not known if this was official on the Cathayan side of things.

In modern times, however, there was definite contact between the Empire of Man and the
Cathayan Empire, as shown in the following treaty.

Being a Treaty of Peace and Relations between the Glorious Jade Empire of Cathay
and the
Mighty Empire of the West

The Great Jade Emperor Qui of Cathay has decreed that the Jade Empire should once again open
the great stone gates and make friends with the West. He expresses a desire to hear your stories
and learn more of your legends and Ancestors. He wishes you to send him gifts of your sweet
foods, your fine drinks and your crafts of clever artifice. In return he offers you the promise of
wisdom, civilisation and trade in both goods and learning.

Upon the signing of this treaty, both the Jade Emperor Qui and the Emperor Joshrum II agree to an
immediate cessation of all hostilities between the empires, and their provinces and protectorates.

Neither the Jade Emperor Qui, nor Emperor Joshrum II shall wage war on, nor occupy, any land
that the other holds or protects- either directly or that are held by their vassals and dependants.
Furthermore neither the Jade Emperor Qui nor Emperor Joshrum II shall offer aid, assist or offer
succour, nor haven to the enemies of the other.

Trade will be allowed to flow between the Empires with agreed and reasonable tariffs, duties and
restrictions. All such sanctions can be negotiated at any time between the Bureaucracies of both
Empires.

Trade will be allowed only at designated trade posts in both Empires and goods will be clearly
labelled with their Empire and province of origin or manufacture and carry appropriate paperwork.
Any goods not bearing such marks nor with corresponding papers will be considered contraband
and can be seized by either Empire and the traders of these goods treated as criminals and
punished according to the laws of the Empire in which they are caught and their goods seized.

The Glorious Jade Empire recognises and will adopt as legal tender the coin of the Bank of Erdreja
and recognises the right of the officials of this guild to sign paperworks regarding trade goods,
tariffs and duties in the West. The Jade Emperor and the Bureaucracy recognises the Guild of
Commerce and the Bank of Erdreja as its representatives in the West. The Bureaucracy of Cathay
authorises the diplomats and ambassadors of the Guild of Commerce and the bank of Erdreja to
negotiate all matters of trade with the Empire of Joshrum II on their behalf while these goods
remain in the West. When goods cross the border into Cathay, all paperwork and goods must be
handed over to the correct officials within the Bureaucracy of the Jade Empire.

W22-0017 Ryoshi Ichinose