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Sheng China wrote:

Zixin sat silently, considering Deraj's question. What did he have in mind? The question ran through his head like an echo bouncing off the walls of his skull. He had been so frustrated before arriving to the Obelisk that he did not think of a way to actually get what he wanted. Looking into the fire next to them, Zixin mulled over a several thoughts in his head quickly as he unconsciously rubbed his top lip with his forefinger. It was then that he noticed that the flames of the fire they enjoyed were not from coal or wood. He had to them reason that they had to be from gas. That was when the answer dawned on him. Gas was the answer.

Pulling his hand away to reveal a pleased smile to Deraj, "Oil." Zixin stated plainly to start. "Oil is what I have in mind."

He nods to himself agreeing with his own words as he explains, "Despite many in the world trying to move away from oil dependency, it is still in fact a greatly needed resource. Sheng Arabia contributes to over 75% of the Empire's petrol reserves and production."

Pulling himself forward in his seat and resting his elbows on his knees, he presses the tips of his steepled fingers to just below his bottom lip, "If I can gain control of just a fraction of the oil fields, I can vastly expand my buying power. With dramatically increased wealth and stewardship over such an important life line to Sheng industrial output and consumer consumption, I would be taken seriously as a crucial player in the Imperial Court. Capable of holding my own and wielding power in my own right. Even the Grand Empress, as mighty as she is, could not ignore me then." A twinkle of confidence returned to the young man's eyes as he thought of the scheme growing in his mind and especially its possible result.

The same twinkle though disappeared when he sighed heavily in frustration, "It is all just outside my reach. I can feel my fingertips almost touch, I am so close. The oil fields of the Yemen region are inland. Just north/northeast of the city. Exerting control over those fields would start my consolidation of the oil production in Arabia. However...I am restricted to Aden's city limits."

Zixin apurtply stands and begins to pace back and forth in the space just behind his chair like a tiger in a cage; frustrated and confined. "I have tried offering my management of the area with my resume as governor of Aden. Denied for supposed inexperience. I have tried bribing the native tribes and sheikdoms that control the territory into working with me. I was denied and nearly exposed to the Imperial Court for treachery. My agents are watched when they leave the city. I am boxed in!" He announces angrily gripping the back of his chair and looking at Deraj.

The anger and frustration that contorted his pretty face into a teeth baring snarl, melt away looking a Deraj. His eyes plead with him as he says, "I know what I need. It just outside my reach! What do I do?"

The Emperor watched the young man rant as he paced about the room. It was amusing to see the youth fritter about in anger and frustration. Deraj wondered if he looked like this in his own youth so very long ago now. More than Deraj would ever admit.

When Zixin finally pleaded to him with earnest desperation in his eyes, Deraj suppressed a wicked self satisfied smile by placing his steepled forefingers against his lips. He thought over the situation for a few moments as he continued to watch the anxiously waiting young chinese prince.

Deraj hummed with a smirk that he allowed Zixin to see. The deviant mind of his had thought of a scheme. Drawing his hands away and still sporting his smirk Deraj explained, "Well, my dear prince, I think we have an exploitable course of action that is staring us right in the face."

He gestured for Zixin to sit again where Linus is quick to refresh both the Prince's and then the Emperor's drinks. "Thank you, Linus." Deraj says before returning to Zixin, "What is Sheng but a colonizer? What are the local Arabs, but the colonized? What are the Arab states but selfish self serving entities much like the Sheng Empire is."

Deraj then snaps his fingers. In short order, Linus returns with a cigarette in the end of a long thin holder and presents it to Deraj who places the mouth of the holder between his lips. Linus snaps open a gold plated lighter and burns a red cherry onto the end of the cigarette. Deraj takes a long drag before letting out a plume of smoke in a satisfied sigh. "Thank you again, Linus." Deraj purrs happily. Linus bows his head before disappearing as quickly as he had appeared. Taking another drag and letting it seep into his lungs, Deraj speaks through the billowing smoke escaping his lips, "The Arabs, like any group under boot, are prideful of their self identity and self worth. The Chinese, like any colonizer, is so full of itself in its own pride that it is blind to happenings under their boot."

"The situation in Sheng Arabia, I imagine, is a tenuous detente between several disgruntled players. Start pulling the threads of the tapestry and it frays, pulls, and tears. We will be the thread pullers." Deraj chuckles in the haze of the cigarette smoke, "Well more accurately, I will be the thread puller and you'll sit and look innocent as you tell me the best threads to pull."

Tapping the cigarette holder, Deraj knocked the ashes into the ashtray on the table next to his chair. Taking another drag of the cigarette Deraj continues, "I think I will have operatives of mine slip into the countryside and stir up local rivalries. Local rivalries will escalate into open conflict." Deraj swirled the liquor in his drink before taking a long sip. "This will put a dent into the oil flow for the Empire. However, it will be small enough that your Governor General will not likely be interested in devoting their own forces to deal with it. Especially in light of the high level alert that I have heard has been decreed across the Empire for the perceived threat in South America. Battle readiness against foreign invasion trumps local dustups."

The Emperor then gestures to Zixin with a smirk, "This is where our prince in shining armor comes in."