stNNES7: Worlds and Empires
- Thread starter North King
- Start date
A Basic Guide to the Tong Trading Cabal Part 2 Society
Tong society can be generally classified into two different categories, trade families and common people. However, class distinctions between the two categories are very blur, and distinctions within each category even more so.
A long time has passed ever since the trade families used the people's ignorance to stay in power. Even now, the people do not mind the trade cabal in power simply because they have a lot of freedom to do most things. Some scholars' description of the trade families as the ruling class are therefore inaccurate. While the trade families certainly represent the Tong people in most if not all situations, the commoners' opinions are usually heard through the family members who actively engage in social and economic activities with commoners. As a matter of fact, so much intermarriage has occured that almost every commoner is related to the trade family somehow.
Depending on their locality, the Tong people would either be farmers, traders or artisans - the latter two more often found in the cities and the former usually found in the villages. Of course, there are several exceptions to the rules and little half-acre plots of land are often farmed less than half a mile from the city centres.
In the next instalment, Tong economy...
Tong society can be generally classified into two different categories, trade families and common people. However, class distinctions between the two categories are very blur, and distinctions within each category even more so.
A long time has passed ever since the trade families used the people's ignorance to stay in power. Even now, the people do not mind the trade cabal in power simply because they have a lot of freedom to do most things. Some scholars' description of the trade families as the ruling class are therefore inaccurate. While the trade families certainly represent the Tong people in most if not all situations, the commoners' opinions are usually heard through the family members who actively engage in social and economic activities with commoners. As a matter of fact, so much intermarriage has occured that almost every commoner is related to the trade family somehow.
Depending on their locality, the Tong people would either be farmers, traders or artisans - the latter two more often found in the cities and the former usually found in the villages. Of course, there are several exceptions to the rules and little half-acre plots of land are often farmed less than half a mile from the city centres.
In the next instalment, Tong economy...
Now, history lesson over. Time for a proper story - I couldn't resist.
Trade Centre,
Guangzhou,
Tong Trading League
"Captains Ng Keng and Pek Wang (NK and north king in cantonese... ooooo i'm getting good at this.
), you are accused of the crime of cooperating with the Taiwanese pirates. What have you to say for yourself?" Lei Siu Pang looked really angry - he had good reason to be.
Both Captains were on their knees, shouting out. "Mr. Lei. We plead innocence. We have never even spoken with Taiwanese people!"
"Liars! Guards, beat them with sticks!"
Without mercy, the guards took six-foot wooden poles, stripped the captains and beat them as they cried out their innocence.
-----------
TWO DAYS EARLIER
Lei Siu Pang sat in his office looking at comminiques from Chu and Song. They had a way to get rid of the Nipponese pirates terrorising his trade ships. Perhaps he could rip them apart once they reached his waters. But what about...
"Mr. Lei?" it was his two favoured Captains, Ng Keng and Pek Wang at the door. He had sent them out for exploration missions, and they had returned with great spoils - and news of more pirates.
"Yes? Have a seat. What business have you here?" Siu Pang motioned at the chairs in his office.
"Sir, we have a plan to get rid of the Taiwanese pirates..."
------------
The floor of the audience hall was red with their blood. Ng Keng and Pek Wang were still claiming innocence. How could the two even think about doing such a thing?
"You still claim your innocence? I have members of your crew who can testify against you! If you confess now, your deaths will be merciful!"
More pleas of innocence.
Siu Pang glared at the two Captains, he called out, "Leftenant Chan Qi!"
In their current weakened state, the Captains looked up at the traitorous Leftenant. "You betrayed us! Traitor!"
And those words, coming out from instinct - was worth more than any extracted confession. The truth in those words couldn't be doubted. As the trade clan leaders stared at the Captain who had confessed to assisting pirates, they knew that they had their man.
"We will execute you by slicing in three days! Throw the two into the harbour jail!"
And the men were dragged out to be placed in the worst jail, close to the harbour.
------------
Harbour Jail,
Guangzhou,
Tong Trading League
The stench of sewage nearby was overpowering and the groans of prisoners made this place one which no one wanted to go. Ever. It has been two days since the Captains were put in jail - and in spite of the terrible conditions, they had healed very well due to the poultices and good food provided by the jailer.
The jingle of metal and footsteps told them the jailer was back - at the right time too.. The door opened and the jailer slid a bowl of poultice and food across - but he nodded his head at the same time. Ng Keng gave an apologetic look, the jailer nodded understanding. And the jailer saw black.
------------
Trade Centre,
Guangzhou,
Tong Trading League
"What do you mean they escaped!?" If Siu Pang was pissed two days ago, he was really really pissed now. The jailer lay prostate on the floor - quivering in fear.
Before anyone could respond, Captain Lao Hao Ming slammed the door open. "Mr. Lei! The traitor Captains have escaped! They took the two oldest ships, Kiong Si and Han Liu - but their crew seems to follow them. We have two traitor junks on our hands, possibly with a completely traitorous crew!"
A curse inadvertently left Siu Pang's lips. "Hurry, muster our Spearmen and Archers. Take the Hong Lun out. It's our newest junk. And catch up with them! Take this order scroll and read it to the army when you're on the ship."
"Sir, if I were to muster the army, they would be very close to Taiwan by the time we catch up.."
"Do it. And follow my orders. To. The. Letter."
Trade Centre,
Guangzhou,
Tong Trading League
"Captains Ng Keng and Pek Wang (NK and north king in cantonese... ooooo i'm getting good at this.
), you are accused of the crime of cooperating with the Taiwanese pirates. What have you to say for yourself?" Lei Siu Pang looked really angry - he had good reason to be.Both Captains were on their knees, shouting out. "Mr. Lei. We plead innocence. We have never even spoken with Taiwanese people!"
"Liars! Guards, beat them with sticks!"
Without mercy, the guards took six-foot wooden poles, stripped the captains and beat them as they cried out their innocence.
-----------
TWO DAYS EARLIER
Lei Siu Pang sat in his office looking at comminiques from Chu and Song. They had a way to get rid of the Nipponese pirates terrorising his trade ships. Perhaps he could rip them apart once they reached his waters. But what about...
"Mr. Lei?" it was his two favoured Captains, Ng Keng and Pek Wang at the door. He had sent them out for exploration missions, and they had returned with great spoils - and news of more pirates.
"Yes? Have a seat. What business have you here?" Siu Pang motioned at the chairs in his office.
"Sir, we have a plan to get rid of the Taiwanese pirates..."
------------
The floor of the audience hall was red with their blood. Ng Keng and Pek Wang were still claiming innocence. How could the two even think about doing such a thing?
"You still claim your innocence? I have members of your crew who can testify against you! If you confess now, your deaths will be merciful!"
More pleas of innocence.
Siu Pang glared at the two Captains, he called out, "Leftenant Chan Qi!"
In their current weakened state, the Captains looked up at the traitorous Leftenant. "You betrayed us! Traitor!"
And those words, coming out from instinct - was worth more than any extracted confession. The truth in those words couldn't be doubted. As the trade clan leaders stared at the Captain who had confessed to assisting pirates, they knew that they had their man.
"We will execute you by slicing in three days! Throw the two into the harbour jail!"
And the men were dragged out to be placed in the worst jail, close to the harbour.
------------
Harbour Jail,
Guangzhou,
Tong Trading League
The stench of sewage nearby was overpowering and the groans of prisoners made this place one which no one wanted to go. Ever. It has been two days since the Captains were put in jail - and in spite of the terrible conditions, they had healed very well due to the poultices and good food provided by the jailer.
The jingle of metal and footsteps told them the jailer was back - at the right time too.. The door opened and the jailer slid a bowl of poultice and food across - but he nodded his head at the same time. Ng Keng gave an apologetic look, the jailer nodded understanding. And the jailer saw black.
------------
Trade Centre,
Guangzhou,
Tong Trading League
"What do you mean they escaped!?" If Siu Pang was pissed two days ago, he was really really pissed now. The jailer lay prostate on the floor - quivering in fear.
Before anyone could respond, Captain Lao Hao Ming slammed the door open. "Mr. Lei! The traitor Captains have escaped! They took the two oldest ships, Kiong Si and Han Liu - but their crew seems to follow them. We have two traitor junks on our hands, possibly with a completely traitorous crew!"
A curse inadvertently left Siu Pang's lips. "Hurry, muster our Spearmen and Archers. Take the Hong Lun out. It's our newest junk. And catch up with them! Take this order scroll and read it to the army when you're on the ship."
"Sir, if I were to muster the army, they would be very close to Taiwan by the time we catch up.."
"Do it. And follow my orders. To. The. Letter."
MjM
Deity
You know how i love you so much North-King , well i'd love you more if you put my orders in the update 
Orders:
- Build 2 new towns , one about 60 miles south of Berlin , one about 80 or so miles south of our new town on the river ( i can post a map if you want )
- Keep expanding in all directions , but focus mainly on expanding into Denmark
- Build schools and temples to educate our people ( raise education )
- Send a envoy of 100 spear south west to the land of the Frankish Kingdom
thanks
Orders:
- Build 2 new towns , one about 60 miles south of Berlin , one about 80 or so miles south of our new town on the river ( i can post a map if you want )
- Keep expanding in all directions , but focus mainly on expanding into Denmark
- Build schools and temples to educate our people ( raise education )
- Send a envoy of 100 spear south west to the land of the Frankish Kingdom
thanks
Insane_Panda
Deity
An Unknown Merchant - Ibrahim Al-Zartawi, Unknown paints on canvas. ca. 1950 BCE.
PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL METROPOLITAN ART MUESEUM OF DAMOT
~~~
This work is one of the first portraitures done by a person who is assumed to be a street artisan. Found in the an old storage room, such portraits were popular with Merchants of Damot, whose egos were satiated by such wonderful tributes to themselves. Portraiture and art were quite popular within the metropolitan areas of the Mercantile Republic, and every wealthy tradesmen had a small collection - and in the cases of the Trade barons, huge collections. Much of the old private collections have been acquired by government curators, whose sole job are to collect art for the musuems.
Insane_Panda
Deity
That was done on the computer in a program called ArtRage by me
das
Regeneration In Process
Don't wait for anyone, NK. UPDATE ALREADY! All others had their rulers temporarily kidnapped by the polar bears while their nations hibernated for a century, and the rulers came back and all got back on track.
WarlordMatt
Emperor
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2002
- Messages
- 1,383
naziassbandit said:
Old joke from das's NES2 II; when a player's expedition into new land or something didn't get done in the update, das would blame it on roving polar bears.
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
In case I never mentioned before, the moderator is easily angered, and one of his pet peeves are people calling for an update, especially in his own NES. 
das
Regeneration In Process
It all started when that Britannian army was crusading in the snows of Canada against the local Scotian colonies (don't ask...) and the polar bears attacked the Brtainnian supply lines, preventing the Britannian army from making any gains that turn. For some odd reason all people I asked seem to think that I just forgot to put all that on the map...
Before the unification of Lapponia, the Lapps were a nomadic people who
moved as nature intended them to. When the nation was founded, there were no need for
relocation, now that the villages traded among themselves even more than they did before.
For the first few hundred years they stuck with the tradition of living in tents, though,
and it was only in late 1900 BCE that the concept of building stationary houses of wood was thought of by the Lapps.
This new way of building made for a more comfortable way of life, as it evaded the grim winter climate
in northern Scandinavia.
Most of the old tents were also overcrowded, allowing epidemics to spread quickly.
The first house of wood to be built was the Mansion, where the Princess and her children lived,
and was also the home of the Elders. It was not by far a mansion by todays standard,
but compared to the ordinary peoples cabins those days, it was very big and luxurious.
Not very long after the completion of the Mansion, all the tents in the big cities had
been replaced by little houses, and the citizens were overjoyed.
Wow, that was better than I thought it would be. Nothing compared to you guys, though.
Anyway, it might seem as a rather pointless story,
but I am intending for it to be part one of a fabulously exciting storyline involving many tears and massive bloodshed. ^^
moved as nature intended them to. When the nation was founded, there were no need for
relocation, now that the villages traded among themselves even more than they did before.
For the first few hundred years they stuck with the tradition of living in tents, though,
and it was only in late 1900 BCE that the concept of building stationary houses of wood was thought of by the Lapps.
This new way of building made for a more comfortable way of life, as it evaded the grim winter climate
in northern Scandinavia.
Most of the old tents were also overcrowded, allowing epidemics to spread quickly.
The first house of wood to be built was the Mansion, where the Princess and her children lived,
and was also the home of the Elders. It was not by far a mansion by todays standard,
but compared to the ordinary peoples cabins those days, it was very big and luxurious.
Not very long after the completion of the Mansion, all the tents in the big cities had
been replaced by little houses, and the citizens were overjoyed.
Wow, that was better than I thought it would be. Nothing compared to you guys, though.
Anyway, it might seem as a rather pointless story,
but I am intending for it to be part one of a fabulously exciting storyline involving many tears and massive bloodshed. ^^
das
Regeneration In Process
It was like a true city. The Madina-Maluk was actually a great palace, but it looked like a small city... though small cities rarely are as glorious. No, there were not many buildings in it... but those that there were could not be described in terms other then "magnificent".
And it still was under construction. Hordes of Phoenicean slaves were herded together to build it, yet the progress was rather slow.
Maluk Yusuf Midbari was sitting on a carpet (in the temporary palace) with his legs crossed. He was thinking about... something and none dared disturb him. He was their God, after all, and nobody wanted to suffer HIS wrath.
---
Merchants. They come from the Phoenicean colonies that are yet to acknowledge my rule, they come from Egypt and from Greece, some even come from the western realm of Ravenna. Ravenna... something concerned me about this power, I felt an urge to send forth his army to conquer it, I felt in it an ancient threat.
But I decided against it. What was happening with me, anyway?! I know nothing of it...
I know everything! I am all-seeing! I am the Baal! Ravenna is some another tiny city-state that will surrender without a battle if I choose to come there. But why should I waste my time at that silly village?
Instead, there were closer realms... realms that must obey me. North, east, south, west - all the corners of the world will one day obey me. One by one, they will fall. There is no stopping my army.
But where should I carry war to now?
(OOC: I LOVE creating suspense!)
And it still was under construction. Hordes of Phoenicean slaves were herded together to build it, yet the progress was rather slow.
Maluk Yusuf Midbari was sitting on a carpet (in the temporary palace) with his legs crossed. He was thinking about... something and none dared disturb him. He was their God, after all, and nobody wanted to suffer HIS wrath.
---
Merchants. They come from the Phoenicean colonies that are yet to acknowledge my rule, they come from Egypt and from Greece, some even come from the western realm of Ravenna. Ravenna... something concerned me about this power, I felt an urge to send forth his army to conquer it, I felt in it an ancient threat.
But I decided against it. What was happening with me, anyway?! I know nothing of it...
I know everything! I am all-seeing! I am the Baal! Ravenna is some another tiny city-state that will surrender without a battle if I choose to come there. But why should I waste my time at that silly village?
Instead, there were closer realms... realms that must obey me. North, east, south, west - all the corners of the world will one day obey me. One by one, they will fall. There is no stopping my army.
But where should I carry war to now?
(OOC: I LOVE creating suspense!)
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