BirdNES 3: When Worlds Collide

[Ninja Dude]

To: The Ming Emperor, Wise Emperor of all of China
From: Humble Sho Shin of Ryukyu, Vassal of the Ming

Great Ming Emperor, I would like to propose an alternative to your decree, if I may. While cutting off trade with Japan will most certainly punish the Japanese people for their insolence, it could have disasterous effects to your great empire and its inhabitants. Cutting off trade would encourage the illegal operations the wokou already engage in. While your decree may discourage honest and just individuals from conducting trade, I believe there will always be scum who will try to find ways around the law. Former merchants will soon join pirates, and the seas will become a hostile ocean of enemies.

Therefor, I have thought up a solution that can benefit us both. Trade with Japan is banned with all countries, unless goods travel thurogh the Ryukyu Islands, are inspected, and properly taxed. From there they may be brought to its destination, marked by a seal of approval. Ryukyu will be able to regulate trade and ensure goods get to where they are supposed to be. Tarrifs on goods going to Ming China will be considerably low when compared to that of other tariffs.

In short, this will allow us to focus more on piracy, regulate trade, and still properly punish those who do not wish to follow the laws set out by you. Please consider this alternative solution to this most troubling problem.

 

[das]

From: Ioann Vasilyevich, Great Prince of Moscow, Master of the Entire Rus
To: King Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Sovereign of the Kalmar Union

We are happy to hear from You so quickly and hope that You are well. Already, Our armies are preparing to march upon Finland, for We have received no news of the rebel offering You penance; pray do write to Your loyal subjects there so that they make their loyalty apparent by not impeding Our armies but rather supporting them in whatever way You see fit as We make war upon Your enemies.

As to the matter of the Hanse, know that in Our land, most merchants need to pay five percent in order to be admitted to the markets; this will now also apply to the Hanse merchants. It seemed to Us at first that You intend to tax them even as they pass through Your lands and seas; however, We have become sure that You did not intend that, for even though that is Your right as a Sovereign, it would be difficult to impose such a tax; but to make them pay for trading or for staying in Your ports would be only wise and also fair, for could those traders ever have made any profits if not by Your sufferance? Would they not fail if Your tolerance were to be withdrawn from them? And do they not therefore owe You a part of their profits from their trading in Your markets and their stopping at Your harbours?

As to Our embassy to the western lands; indeed, with Your gracious permission We have been able to easily send envoys to Our brothers in the west, and bring them such gifts as they deserved. If all goes well, they should be persuaded to join us in the God-blessed efforts to curb the greedy and impudent merchants, who shall then have no recourse but to accept the wisdom and justice of true Sovereigns who tower far above their petty avarice. Even now, We eagerly await the replies of those western rulers; if their envoys choose to travel through Your lands, We ask that You assist them in reaching their destination quickly, for this is a matter of mutual import to all the Sovereigns who love righteousness.

As to Your son, We shall be only happy to have Our daughter Eudoxia marry into such a honourable and admirable family as Yours when she comes of age. But on a related matter, We know not only of Your son but also of Your daughter, Elisabeth; and We shall be honoured to become her father-in-law if she were to marry Dmitriy, Our grandson, who shall in due time inherit Our throne[1]. If she inherits Your grace and Your wisdom, surely there would be none better suited to be the Great Princess of Moscow, and besides few things could bring our two realms closer still other than such a marriage.

OOC: [1] Take that as you will and remember that in OTL, Ivan III had changed his designated heirs often enough before writing his final will. But the situation here is already subtly different in several ways. Just don't consider this an OOC spoiler, and remember that no official decision on this matter has been made in Moscow; just this letter to the King of Denmark, a trusted ally but nonetheless a foreign ruler.

 

[Diamondeye]

To: Ioann Vasilyevich, Great Prince of Moscow, Master of the Entire Rus
From: King Hans of Denmark, Sweden and Norway and under God

It is with sincere pleasure that We read your last letter, and We are honored by having friends as wise and sincere as You. We thank You for Your advice on the taxation of the Hanseatic merchants - one must be careful as to use the right wording, so that not even the most speculative of them can find a way to "miusunderstand" one's words. We will immidiately rephrase the draft and raise the fee to five percent.

We would be honored if Your daughter, Eudoxia, would marry Our firstborn son, once she comes of age, of course. We can discuss this in detail later. We are also honored that You have offered the hand of Your to-be heir to Our daughter, Elisabeth. We will immidiately talk to her and tell her the good news. We are assuming that the marriage between Dmitriy and Elisabeth will be in Your lands, so We suggest that You arrange the wedding when it suits you, and when Elisabeth has come of age.

We look forward to meeting You in person at the marriages, for You are clearly a brilliant leader, an honest man, and a good friend of Us.

With the best of wishes,

Hans of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and under God.

 

[Nordstream]

To: The Ming Emperor, Wise Emperor of all of China
From: Humble Sho Shin of Ryukyu, Vassal of the Ming

Great Ming Emperor, I would like to propose an alternative to your decree, if I may. While cutting off trade with Japan will most certainly punish the Japanese people for their insolence, it could have disasterous effects to your great empire and its inhabitants. Cutting off trade would encourage the illegal operations the wokou already engage in. While your decree may discourage honest and just individuals from conducting trade, I believe there will always be scum who will try to find ways around the law. Former merchants will soon join pirates, and the seas will become a hostile ocean of enemies.

Therefor, I have thought up a solution that can benefit us both. Trade with Japan is banned with all countries, unless goods travel thurogh the Ryukyu Islands, are inspected, and properly taxed. From there they may be brought to its destination, marked by a seal of approval. Ryukyu will be able to regulate trade and ensure goods get to where they are supposed to be. Tarrifs on goods going to Ming China will be considerably low when compared to that of other tariffs.

In short, this will allow us to focus more on piracy, regulate trade, and still properly punish those who do not wish to follow the laws set out by you. Please consider this alternative solution to this most troubling problem.

To Sho Shin of Ryukyu

The Secretariat has relayed your message to the Son of Heaven. The wise and glorious Hongzhi Emperor has considered your message and in his infinite wisdom has decided to grant mercy against those who defied him. The Honzhi Emperor appreciates the advice of wise men for wisdom is a commodity in short supply. Your plan is however not agreeable.

The Honzhi Emperor has alternatively decided that the Imperial Decree is temporarily lifted. For a period of five years the Son of Heaven shall allow tribute to continue as before by the Japanese, the port of Ningpo will remain open, and passports will not be revoked. For a period of five years the Son of Heaven will carefully observe the situation. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshizumi has five more years to take action against the wokou.

Upon the completion of five years the most enlightened Honzhi Emperor shall thence decide upon his action. Let Ashikaga Yoshizumi keep in mind that while our wisdom is infinite our mercy is not and let him act accordingly.

Signed
Kao Fan, Chancellor of the Secretariat
Loyal Servant to the Son of Heaven

 

[Ninja Dude]

To: Kao Fan, Chancellor of the Secretariat
From: Sho Shin, King of Ryukyu

Bring my words of thanks and gratitude to your most wise and great emperor.

To: Ashikaga Yoshizumi of Japan
From: Sho Shin, King of Ryukyu

The Ming Emperor has given you five years to help us correct this wokou problem. Might I suggest we begin cooperating with one another on this matter?

 

[Birdjaguar]

To: Ashikaga Yoshizumi of Japan
From: Sho Shin, King of Ryukyu

The Ming Emperor has given you five years to help us correct this wokou problem. Might I suggest we begin cooperating with one another on this matter?

OOC note: If Vanguard does not respond in public or private to diplomacy by the end of the week, I will NPC Japan and reply.

 

[Milarqui]

From: King John II of Portugal
To: His Holiness Il Papa Innocentus VIII, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain

We wish for you, His Holiness, to arbitrate in the dispute for the lands discovered at the other side of the Atlantic Ocean between the Christian Nations of Spain and Portugal. We wish for, at least, equal ownership between both of our nations, half for Portugal and half for Spain, based on the fact that it was us the first to discover said new lands, but the Spanish kings wish for a surreal, unappropiate and unequal deliver of lands on no grounds, with three quarters going to Spain and only one quarter for Portugal. We wish for you to state that Portugal has as much or even more rights to the new lands than the Spanish, although we will accept your decision whether it might be against our wishes.

Signed,
King John II.

 

[Diamondeye]

OOC: BeeJ, I need a reply from Sture... That is an NPC, right?

 

[The Strategos]

Pêro da Covilhã had arrived in Ethiopia in 1490 and had so impressed Eskender that the Emperor refused to allow him to leave. But based on Covilhã’s extensive knowledge, he sent emissaries to Spain and France bearing gifts in hopes of diplomatic ties.

Do these emissaries have anything to say, or have they even arrived?



To: King John of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
From: Charles VIII, Emperor of France

Forgive us, we pray, for not writing to you before now. For this neglect is not caused by indifference on our part, but rather the work of the state, which presses down upon us as Atlas’ burden. How we have a longing to be like Joshua, and stop the sun in its course, that we might have more time to write and receive letters from my most glorious brothers, as well as fulfill all the functions of the state!

But when we heard of your own troubles, our heart sorely grieved within us. For has not God given you everything in the north, so that even foul-tempered Boreas obeys your will? Therefore when the Northmen raise their hands against you, are they not raising their hands against God? Therefore, we confess ourselves baffled, unable to know whether it is because they have been touched by Luna’s hand, or whether they have been possessed by some malevolent demon. Thus we do not know whether we should counsel you to send physicians or priests to heal them. But we know you are a wise lord, who will punish and give mercy as is right.

We ourselves greet you with our own hand. Though the gifts we have sent are unworthy of such a great king[1], accept them we pray, so that when you look upon them, you may think of us. Our beloved greets you. The nobles of our realm greet you. Some merchants have accompanied our letter, accept them we pray as you would accept us. If you send any reply, know that we will accept your messengers as we would accept you. We shall pray for the peace and prosperity of your realm. Farewell.

[1]100 in gifts



To: Great Prince Ioann
From: Charles, Emperor

We accept your bows to us, and are delighted that thereby you have shown your acceptance to our claims, lawfully transferred to us by the former Emperor of Constantinople. Know that we shall our traditional responsibilities with regards to your lands seriously, less by our inattention your land suffers. However, we recognize that the burdens of state as well as our unfortunate distance from your most welcome presence, makes this task difficult. Therefore, we will listen to your advice on this matter, and see whether it pleases us or not.

We shall eagerly await your response, knowing it will be full of wisdom as it will come from you. Such high esteem we hold you that we wrote this in our own hand, accept it as our own soul. We greet you and your most excellent family. We shall pray for you, brother, pray also for us, that we may live together in filial harmony. Farewell.

 

[Diamondeye]

To: Charles VIII, Emperor of France
From: King Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden

We understand that You are a busy lord and has not seen time to write to Us until now. We, too, would like to stop the sun in its course, that We might have all the time We would like to write letters to friends. Imagine the blessing of not aging!

But We digress. We gratefully accept your gifts, which We will spend most wisely. We, neither, know what has affected the Northsmen that they hold grudges against us, but with hard work and the help of friends, We are sure that any demon can be deprived from it's hiding and sent back to the hell where it belongs.

We will gladly welcome trade with the French, and We will accept Your envoys as We would accept You. With Our own hand, we thank you for your kind words and ways, and We send greetings from Our nobles, Our family and Our people.

The best of wishes,
Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and under God.

 

[Birdjaguar]

To: Sven Sture
From: King Hans of The Kalmar Union and under God

Sven Sture,

We send this envoy to avoid further disputes among The Union. Know that We have the loyalty of the Norwegian Nobles to your north, and the Danish court here, to your west. We have also tied bonds with the Rus, and they are ready to assist Us, should you be as unwise as to take the wrong action.

Thus, We present you with the following ultimatum:
If you surrender your crown to Us, King Hans of Denmark, and accept the coronation of Our first son, Christian, as earl of Sweden, We shall avoid further reprisals, your court and life shall be spared, as well as the lives of those who have sworn fealty to your crown, as they will then have sworn fealty to Our crown.

If you choose to act otherwise, We will see no alternative to subjugating your court and followers. The armies of Denmark, Norway and Russia will in unition march on your court.
You will not be spared and neither will any nobles in your court. Furthermore, the population of all Swedish Fiefs where resistance is met will be decimated.

The fate of yourself and your people lie with this choice, so choose wisely.

King Hans of the Kalmar Union.

To: King Hans of The Kalmar Union
From: Sven Sture,

Sweden will be free. If you would see the fields of Sweden run with blood, then send your armies from Denmark, from Norway and from the heartless east. Plunge your nation into civil war and you bear its bitter fruits for all time.

Or, call off your dogs and let us work as brothers to build two nations where once there was one and two prosperous people where once there was one.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Do these emissaries have anything to say, or have they even arrived?

The mission and message of the Ethiopian emmisaries is up to Yui108. He should post them or send pms.

 

[Birdjaguar]

To: Ashikaga Yoshizumi of Japan
From: Sho Shin, King of Ryukyu

The Ming Emperor has given you five years to help us correct this wokou problem. Might I suggest we begin cooperating with one another on this matter?

To: Sho Shin, King of Ryukyu
From: Ashikaga Yoshizumi of Japan

The Emperor of the Japans would gladly assist the Lord of the Ryukyu to control the unruly pirates of Western Sea. We will listen to any plans that you or even the Emperor of the Ming might suggest for this endeavor.

 

[Ninja Dude]

To: Sho Shin, King of Ryukyu
From: Ashikaga Yoshizumi of Japan

The Emperor of the Japans would gladly assist the Lord of the Ryukyu to control the unruly pirates of Western Sea. We will listen to any plans that you or even the Emperor of the Ming might suggest for this endeavor.

The Emperor has informed us that you are to build more ships, so that we may combat the pirates. Their bases are on your western shores, and should be no match for your noble forces. We'll guard the Ming's coast, and protect trade routes as you deal with the bases. As long as you strike true and defeat the pirates in their bases, victory is guaranteed. Thank you for your assistance in this most important matter.

 

[Luckymoose]

From: King John II of Portugal
To: His Holiness Il Papa Innocentus VIII, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain

We wish for you, His Holiness, to arbitrate in the dispute for the lands discovered at the other side of the Atlantic Ocean between the Christian Nations of Spain and Portugal. We wish for, at least, equal ownership between both of our nations, half for Portugal and half for Spain, based on the fact that it was us the first to discover said new lands, but the Spanish kings wish for a surreal, unappropiate and unequal deliver of lands on no grounds, with three quarters going to Spain and only one quarter for Portugal. We wish for you to state that Portugal has as much or even more rights to the new lands than the Spanish, although we will accept your decision whether it might be against our wishes.

Signed,
King John II.

TO: João II, King of Portugal and the Algarves
FROM: Fernando II and Isabel, King and Queen of Spain and Sicily

Dear friend, you as much as we, are a man of God. Do not let petty differences on our parts keep you from the truth. Spain is the ideal Catholic kingdom, and as such his grace has, with divine wisdom, chosen Spain to rule this 'new world' and to spread the true faith to it's inhabitants. If Portugal wishes to contest our rights, as appointed by our Lord almighty, then perhaps interference on part of the holy see is necessary to guide your judgment. The outcome has already been chosen, our father in heaven speaks with the pope, who will with the guiding light of the trinity decide on earth what is already decided in heaven.

 

[Diamondeye]

To: Sven Sture
From: King Hans, rightful ruler of Denmark, Sweden and Norway

We have decreed that any ursurper against Our crown can redeem themselves by swearing an oath of fealty to Us. Any among your court that may choose to do so, will be forgiven their past sins against the Kalmar Union, and shall be taken under the wings of the King once more. I will also extend this mercy to any man, woman or child that serves you. If you choose this path, we can build a glorious nation in the north together.

We hope that you and your men see that We are forced to find another solution should you fail to do this - unity among the lands of the north will be a boon to us all.

King Hans, righteous ruler of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

 

[Birdjaguar]

To: Sven Sture
From: King Hans, rightful ruler of Denmark, Sweden and Norway

We have decreed that any ursurper against Our crown can redeem themselves by swearing an oath of fealty to Us. Any among your court that may choose to do so, will be forgiven their past sins against the Kalmar Union, and shall be taken under the wings of the King once more. I will also extend this mercy to any man, woman or child that serves you. If you choose this path, we can build a glorious nation in the north together.

We hope that you and your men see that We are forced to find another solution should you fail to do this - unity among the lands of the north will be a boon to us all.

King Hans, righteous ruler of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

We will swear fealty to come to your aid in times of need, but Sweden will determine its own fate and solve its own internal problems on its own. And should our very nation be at risk from those beyond our borders we will expect Denmark and her legions to come to our aid.

 

[The Strategos]

To: King John of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
From: Charles VIII, Emperor of France, Brittany, Burgundy, Naples, and All Those Lands Which We Hold By Right

Our most noble brother, with greatest joy did we receive your letter to us, a joy which could only be outdone if you yourself stood in our presence. For we greeted and entertained your messenger as if it were your own person, so that Telemachos’ treatment of Athena seems rude compared to our hospitality.

Such is the nature of our friendship, strengthened by many fair gifts and fine words, that we feel emboldened to ask a boon of you. Our men of the sea travel far and wide to bring to our table that which is most precious from other lands. Thus, they even venture to far Rus, where, it is reported to us, fur is so plentiful that the animals rain from the sky, and our brother Ioann reigns.

Therefore it is with greatest sadness that Boreas’ winged feet brings us news of wars and rumors of wars. For we fear for our beloved sons, that they be struck by Mars far-flung spear. Therefore we beseech you to protect them, as with Athena’s scaly aegis, so that they return safely to our bosom. But if we think too highly of you (God forbid!), and you are not able to protect our merchants, allow us, we pray to have our mighty fleets supply and repair at your ports. Then we will guard what is our own so that we shall lose nothing of what is entrusted to us.

We ourselves write these things as a loving brother, respond in kind also, we pray. The one by whose hand we send this, entertain as you would us, just as we entertained your own messenger. We and all our court greet you. Farewell.

 

[Diamondeye]

To: Sven Sture
From: King Hans, righteous ruler of Denmark, Sweden and Norway

We regret to inform you that We cannot accept your proposal. Surely, you have not been so blinded by the will for personal gain that you do not see the need of Scandinavia under a single crown?

Unless you accept and surrender your crown to Us, We must unfortunately take act against you.

To: Charles VIII, Emperor of France, Brittany, Burgundy, Naples, and many more lands held by right.
From: King Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Noble brother, We are glad that You have treated Our messenger well, and You can rest assured that We will do the same to Yours.

We understand Your concerns about the trade through the Skagerrak, but We are hesitant to allow foreign navies in Our Own waters. Nevertheless, We have a pact with Your brother, Prince Ioann, that allows his navies to pass through Our waters unscathed. If it is furs from Rus You wish for, We are convinced that You need merely talk to Your Brother, Ioann, and ask Him to send his ships bound for Your harbors. This will save Your merchants both time and worries, and We hope it is a just solution to Your request.

Know that this letter is written in Our own hand, as if to a loving brother. We pray that it arrives to You fast and that You cherish its content,

King Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

 

[fantasmo]

Spoiler :

In Bruges, the dyak Ivan Volk and his retinue received the audience of Philip, the son of the Emperor Maximilian. They bowed and passed on the bows of the Great Prince and the entire Russian land, and gave gifts, and held such speech: "The Great Prince Ioann greets you and your puissant father, having always been a close friend and ally of the German kings and emperors of the God-blessed lineage of Habsburgs. We have been sent here to bring you his bows and his gifts, and also his humble suggestion that you should allow Russian merchants to trade in the cities under your governance as any other foreign merchants or perhaps with some additional privileges; for already, many Russian goods arrive here, yet the ones to profit most from them are neither our Great Prince nor you nor your father, but the greedy and frivolous merchants of the Hanse. If you were to accept this, it would not only spread and reinforce your well-deserved fame as a wise and just ruler, and not only would increase your wealth and the wealth of your loyal subjects in this land, but would also humble the proud and insolent cities of northern Germany as the Great Prince once humbled Novgorod, and would eventually force them to repent their sins and become your loyal subjects in deed and not just in jest as they are now."

They also mentioned Elena, the eldest daughter of the Great Prince Ioann - a new Helene like that of Troy, except inasmuch as where the pagan Helene brought strife, the Christian Helene would fortify the love and friendship between the two mightiest sovereigns in the Christian World. Elena Ivanovna had truly come into her own by this age, as had Philip; surely they will be a great and glorious couple, especially since, as is widely known, the Russian princess has been unshakably in love with Philip for years now despite having only ever seen his portraits and heard his descriptions.

Also, the dyak and his assistants used the opportunity to hire willing masters of various arts (mainly the gunsmiths, bladesmiths and armourers, but also shipwrights, book printers, weavers and painters) to come to the Moscow court from Flanders, as per the Great Prince's command.

Great Prince Ioann,

Spread the word to your subjects, Bruges is open to them independent of the Hanse, and they enjoy the protection of the Duke of Burgundy and the Holy Roman Emperor. Further, my father has given his blessing to the match of myself, and your daughter, Elena Ivanova. I look forward to her arrival in Bruges, and hope that this will mark the beginning of a lasting friendship between Austria and Muscovy.

Yours,

Philip IV Habsburg, Duke of Burgundy, Governor of the Low Countries