Faction overview: Yan

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Administration and politics

Imperial court

As a dynastic imperial monarchy, the Emperor/True Lung (真龙; Zhenlong) serves as the head of state for Yan hailing from a hereditary of Elder lineage of the Lung. The Emperor then has his cabinet of advisors and prime ministers under the Grand Secretariat (内阁) who govern on his stead. The Grand Secretariat is supervised by the Three Dukes (三公) of Yan, currently represented by the Grand Tutor (太傅) and the Grand Commandant (太尉), who speak on behalf of the Emperor and assist him in governance. The Grand Secretariat is essential in discussing important political matters and giving advice to the Emperor.

The Yanese aristocracy have their bloodline traced back to the lords, or zhuhou (诸侯), of the Baishi/Hundred Clans who obeyed the order of the True Lung. The rank of peerage is divided into three which determined the nobel's political might, though most of the time they treat one another equally:

• gong (公)
• hou (侯)
• bo (伯)

To limit the power of the aristocrats and prevent the repeat of the feudal system’s collapse, the Yanese imperial court matures into an enormous, centralized bureaucracy. Under a common government, both the aristocrats and the common folks could equally run the empire, though the latter must prove themselves worthy by participating in imperial examinations, called keju (科举) in Yanese. There are a total of nine mandarins’ ranks (九品; jiuping) which are further divided into nine principal ministers (正, zheng) and nine vice-ministers (从; cong).

While appearing to be cooperative, political struggle is not uncommon within the imperial court mainly over decision-making. This is specifically noted by the bitterness between the Ministry of Rites and the Sui Regulator, forcing many departments to choose sides even though most prefer to remain neutral over political matters.

Six Ministries

The Six Ministries (六部) is the central body of Yanese imperial court which directly obeys the Grand Secretariat to carry out their will. Each Ministry has a High Minister (尚书; shangshu) as its head with two assistants, divided in two equal ranks as the Principal and the Vice Assistant Ministers (左右侍郎; zuo-you shilang), helping the Minister in decision-making. The Six Ministries are essential as they are the absolute embodiment of the Yanese legalism, or Yanlü (炎律). In amendments and drafting of new degrees, the Ministries have to first discuss with the Grand Secretariat, then it will be brought forward to the emperor for approval.

• The Ministry of Personnel (吏部), which governs civil appointments as well as merits and demotion of the mandarins
• The Ministry of Revenue (户部), which handles national treasury, tax-collection, and census on its population
• The Ministry of Rites (礼部), which observes state ceremonies, rituals and sacrifices, with one of their important goal being supervising the surviving Feranmuts
• The Ministry of War (兵部), which governs the military such as military officials and weaponry
• The Ministry of Justice (刑部), which is in charge of judicial and penal processes
• The Ministry of Works (工部), which governs civic matters such as infrastructures and farmland distribution

Tri-Judiciaries

The Tri-Judiciaries (三法司) are the three subdivisions under the Ministry of Justice. They act as the executors of the Yanese law who are in charge of official corruption and/or criminal investigation. The leading Ministry of Justice serves as the examinator of court cases, and the subdivisions. And whenever there are important cases such as major crimes, the three bodies will conduct meetings and take part in it together.

• The Department of Discipline and Supervision (肃政院; Su zheng yuan), which directly monitors the mandarins and the aristocrats
• The Censorate (御史台; Yu shi tai), which, while technically being a subdivision of the Department of Discipline and Supervision, takes charge of impeachments and monitoring
• The Central Judicial Office (大理寺; Da li si), which is in charge of potential misjudged cases

Sui Regulator

Main article: Sui Regulator

Tianshi Bureau

Main article: Tianshi

Imperial Astronomers

The Imperial Astronomers (钦天监; Qintian jian) are state-owned astronomers who are in charge of weather forecast and Catastrophe observation through their Catastrophe Messengers. In time, they have the right to bypass the mandarins and directly meet the emperor to report dire emergencies.

The Imperial Astronomers are also in charge of disaster relief and rescue missions. This is where its wing, the Chun-qian (春乾), comes in. The Chun-qian are a band of Catastrophe rescue team who provide immediate first-aid on Oripathy and rescue missions, and many of their missions are based in the frigid northern region.

Military

The Yanese military is solely maintained by the Ministry of War that oversees the soldiers, weaponries, and military camps. Yan’s military might is maintained by both its technologies and military Tianshi through their Originium Arts. And among all the soldiers, the Imperial Guards (禁军; Jinjun) are the leading army who protects both the emperor and the empire. Some aristocrats have the right to reserve their own private army; the Shadow Guards are the personal guards of Wei Yenwu whose origin could be traced back to the Imperial Guards.

In ancient days, Yanese soldiers were under the guard battalions, or weisuo system (卫所制), soldiers from military households. These hereditary soldiers who possessed a register in the military were required to be self-sufficient by setting up a military farm (屯田; tuntian) and were to provide their own soldier through their family members. They were directly under the command of the Ministry of War to guard their own territories, hence providing stability along Yan’s border for centuries.

Since the Crystallization Age that revolutionized military tactics and weaponry, the Yanese military underwent huge overhaul by abolishing military registry and replacing the guard battalions with volunteer soldiers, or guabing system (募兵制). Under this system, soldiers no longer need to be self-sufficient and could serve the military full-time, and the old military households are replaced with proper, modernized military camps. While it increases military expenses, the soldier class becomes a profession where everyone could take part in it.

Administrative divisions

Yanese land administration has 19 divisions in total, and land divisions can be categorized into the following: Provincial Administration Commission or Xuanzhensi (宣政司), prefecture (府), subprefecture (属州), and county (县). The Xuanzhensi is the top-tire division that, while appearing similar with Gaulish régions, takes direct order from the Six Ministries and is directly connected with the imperial court. A prefecture has a denser population and is governed by a magistrate (知府; zhifu); a subprefecture is governed by a lower-ranked subprefect (同知; tongzhi). County-level cities, especially those along the borders like Lungmen and Yumen, are ruled by governors who also hold military power but are absent from the direct control of the Xuanzhensi. These county governors are usually called a chief executive or a governor-general (总督).

Geography

Yan's geography is divided into three parts: the Jiangnan region (江南; lit. "South of River") region in the south, the Liangjiang (两江; lit. “Twin Rivers”) basin in the middle, and the Saibei region (塞北; lit. "Northern Frontier") in the north. The Jiangnan region is a humid sub-temperate biome, and winter is moderate where fog is prominent. The Liangjiang basin is the cradle of Yanese civilization where much of the population is found. It is filled with water channels and rivers, and the climate is moderate when compared with the humid south and the frigid north. It is also at the heart of the Jingyu Prime Vein that is rich in Originium ores and other mineral resources. The Saibei is made up of mostly deserts and tundra and possesses a harsher climate mainly composed of the vast Gobi Desert (戈壁). It is noted by constant Catastrophes, yet life persists in the region in sparse, dotted fertile settlements where they are less hit by natural disasters.

Economy

Economic activities differ from each other due to Yan’s contrasting geography. The Liangjiang basin, thanks to its abundant rivers and its proxy to the Jingyu Prime Vein, has become the industrial center of the empire by the Crystallization Age where heavy industries and Originium mining were practiced. The Jiangnan, being a populous region of Yan, is a rich agrarian spot and a supplier of raw materials known for its cultivation of high-quality tea leaves. The barren Saibei is dotted with many military outposts, but the region has caught up the wave of industrialization in recent years and slowly developed into economic hubs that welcome traveling caravans to do business.

Demographics

Yan has a total population of 300,000,000 people, making it the most populated nation among all the Terran nations. The Yanese ancestry could be traced back to the Baishi/Hundred Clans who were united by the True Lung. Because of this, the remaining populations are of various races, and the Yanese government demonstrates toleration and even endorsement of racial diversity within its border. To many Yanese, calling others a fellow countryman/tongxiang (同乡) is better than to call after their fellow race as they strongly value communion of villages.

Culture

Thanks to its rich history, the Yanese have a diverse culture spanning across its region, and many Yanese could easily recognize the differences but still enjoy them. Yanese culture includes the “four arts” of music, chess, writings and art (琴棋书画), the four classical poetries (诗词歌赋), diverse cuisines between the north and south, among others.

Festivals play a major role in Yanese culture, many of them relating with commemoration of great events by their ancestors. The Yanese Spring Festival is notable for commemorating the victory of the Great Hunt through firecrackers and fireworks.

Martial arts

Yan is well-known for its many schools of martial arts, or kung fu/gongfu, giving rise to its popular wuxia subculture. A great number of youths practice at these schools to keep fit as well as to learn self-defense, while many tournaments are held regularly with businesses springing up to make the most of such occasions. Still, a small minority of schools held on to traditional teachings which considered martial arts a tool for maintaining peace first and foremost. These differences in ideals sometimes manifest in fierce conflict and conspiracy, with the losing side facing disbandment and disgrace.