Editing Mothfolk (section)

===Tanji II and the Rise of the Merchants===

With no present threats to the mothkin upon the death of Michika, the advent of Tanji II, a wealthy silk baron, was the first not marked by some foreign strife.

Tanji II was unhappy with the way the colonies had separated from the Daimyo's power, and made several efforts to diminish the authority of the Zaibuto by stationing official troops and spreading pro-unification propaganda. This effort had moderate success, and as long as Tanji II ruled, the Zaibuto remained as auxiliary fighters.

With his kingdom back under his influence, the Daimyo patroned art and business, especially in the capitol. As described by halfling advisor Ceagan: "Their emperor was a lover of all arts, finding war and even politics distasteful, but devoting his private funds to the enrichment of his people's culture."

Calligraphy, painting, the furnishing of old wings, and the construction of beautiful ornate clothing grew in his patronage, and these things had one class benefit above all: the merchants. Silk and wings were easy to come by, but the precious metals, especially the gold dust that was used to embellish wings, as well as fine timber and ink from the Benayans, fueled their trade. Tanji II continued the mercantile taxation of his predecessors, rather than increasing it accordingly, and so the merchants quickly grew wealthy.

And with wealth came power, as the merchants used their funds to hire Zaibutos as private soldiers, as well as procuring a permanent seat in the royal court as a station of the Daimyo.

This power would be held until the second War of the Silk, but, even after the influence of Tanji II, their wealth would remain.