Yingdala

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Noble Families Militarize After Government Passes Bill to Localize Military
23 May 5616

KAIZHOU – Multiple reports across the nation have confirmed an unprecedented increase in arms spending and private soldiers from some of the more powerful noble families, in particular, those from the central provinces. Observers say this is a quiet militarization that threatens to unravel the tenuous balance of imperial harmony.

House Liang of Hazhou, House Chen of Mudanwan, and House Wu of Tiaxi, are among those said to be enlarging estate militias "for east defense and ritual preservation." Critics, however, charge that those forces are employed to intimidate tenant farmers and neighboring rivals in a climate of growing rural tension.

"The laws of heaven dictates say the nobles be the defender, not the conqueror," Lady Zhen Miaohua of ??? said in a rare public statement. "When the swords start to outweigh the scrolls, we are close to ruin." When asked whether the Chancellery would enforce the Imperial Militia Restriction Act, which limits non-imperial troop numbers, the Defense Minister declined to comment. People in southern townships say there are more and more checkpoints and there are rumors that people are being forced to work in noble armories.

Nobles who are militarizing claim that the sole purpose for doing so is to bring "law and order in uncivilized areas of the Empire," while also pointing out the economic and security benefits of their actions. However, many Yingdalans have growing concerns over these recent developments. When asked what this would mean for themselves and their family, middle class and low class Yingdalans are tooting the same horn. 

"I fear that we're entering a time like in the old days where local commanders extorted the common people for rice, sons, and materials," said one man who lives in Tiaxi. "This is not what we signed up for." Others are concerned about the increased grain tax revenues being used to fund this endeavor, while others say that this is a disaster waiting to happen.

Scholars are also in-step with commoners, but for different reasons. "I'll tell you what can go wrong," said a Professor of Imperial and Governmental Science. "With the localization of military personnel to noble banner armies, loyalty to the Celestial Throne will dwindle leading to the rise of noble autonomy which will shift the boundaries of our nation for a generation if not stopped."