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[hr][hr][h1]IMPERIAL REPUBLIC OF FUSO[/h1]
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Fusan Diplomat Sekigahara Tosu, assigned to Qingstao
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[i]	"Its quite remarkable really, this massive empire to our nation's west. The Qingsdao Domain is a nation millions strong and a million times larger than Fuso, but yet it remains like old Fuso. It is very much still in the past, I can count the number of factories I've seen on one hand and the trip here has shown my what a difference proper roads make compared to unpaved paths to my back.

	However, despite its backwardness, you can feel the air of tradition going against the thumping of the modern mechanical heart of the world. The old still wear garments of yesteryear while the young dance around to and fro in suits and dresses, surely causing quite the shock no doubt. Many of the people here are friendly when I met them, the officials who had welcomed me to their homeland gave me quite the warm welcome. However, I cannot be blind to the difference between them and the commoners, a tour of their dedictant capital was rich and full of wealth and splendor, halls lined with fine art and beautiful scrolls. But I couldn't help but feel like my new friends were attempting to hide me away from all the ills of their nation; during the tour I was rarely met by a window with good view of the city and those I did were often shadowed by curtains or artfully placed masterpieces of pottery.

	I sent Fukioha to explore the rest of the city as I took a tea break with one of their representatives who told a tail of how his son had been educated in the University of Meiji, studying the fine points of politics and government. Later, when Fukioha came back later that night and met me in my quarters, my suspicions where true. For all the splendor that wished me to focus on, I had instead focused on the cracks in their walls. He had snooped around a few bars, talked to some street vendors and looked at their rarely printed news paper. Something was amiss, the people were unhappy and I could see why. For as strong of an empire the Qingsdao were in the past, it was all faded glory as the people suffered from high taxes to feed unending projects and spending. Most of the people couldn't even read from what Fukioha told me, shops either had simple language or had resorted to pictures!

	Amongst other things, it was clear that the people wanted the luxuries found else where in the world like in Fuso, but with such a small amount of factories, working at such low optimization and an inefficient government, they were upset at the system, angry I'd wager. It seems that all it would take is for one more thing to go wrong and the nation would turn on itself, but that might work in our favor. You see, I recently heard that the Soroyans had attempted a blockade on the few ports of the Domain, limiting its already uncommon import for goods. I propose that we send them additional goods from our own factories to help their situation, we will be able to win over both the commoners and the officials should we be able to solve their goods crisis. We might even be able to assist in industrializing them thus creating a powerful and dependable ally. Should the situation grow dire however, I assume the war hawks in the senate will propose that we "assist" friendly factions with whatever methods they deem necessary."[/i]

[right]- Letter to the Emperor from Tosu regarding the Qingsdao situation[/right]