Sanshu

**Sanshu** (Three Tree) is the heart of industry in the Northern Province. The current Magistrate is Chu Tongzu.

## Background

> "Rice was meant for consumption and wolves would fight and die, but the greatest trees would continue to grow long after both were gone."
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Sanshu City and its surrounding areas are ruled by some of the wealthiest clans and sects in the north, split into three major factions: The Eastern Prosperity Alliance, The Western Treasures Union, and the Golden Highlands Coalition. The real heart of industry is the Trading Square where everyone gathers to buy and sell goods since all the warehouses of Sanshu's industries, whether it be mining, fishing, farming or production, are located outside of the city.

The city itself is neatly ordered with colorful curved roofs and stunning architecture sitting amidst a carefully modeled network of artificial ponds and canals. Full of ornate bridges and spiraling walkways, their are many elegant pagodas, artistic manors, and massive Cassia trees blooming in every color.

Only affluent families, officials, and guards live inside the city, and anyone who doesn't own a home or isn't sponsored by someone who does must vacate the city at night; a tall order when the smallest of manors is worth millions in gold. The guards and civil servants are treated like second-class citizens, subjected to strict rules on how to behave and where they're allowed to go when not on duty. Those evicted each night are forced to live in exposed hovels, about an hour's walk south from the city next to Trading Square.

Further down the Xiangmi (Fragrant Rice) River, peasants work like dogs in every facet of industry, hoping to master a trade or be promoted to a position of power and earn themselves enough coin to move into Jiu Lang (Nine Wolves), the sister city of Sanshu to the southeast. Styling themselves as 'self-supporting and autonomous', it's all an illusion carefully crafted by those in power to keep the masses from rebelling. Those in Jiu Lang fight among themselves to elevate their positions, hoping to earn a place inside Sanshu, a vicious chain. From village to Jiu Lang and then over to Sanshu, that's the goal of every common worker, and none would ever reach it.

## The Council of Three

The Council of Sanshu is made up of the three aforementioned factions and are able to hold control over the city's designated seat of Imperial power, the Magistrate position. With the wealth at their disposal, they're able to Champion unrivaled Martial Warriors during the challenges. In this way, the previous Magistrates' shaped the city into a city only for the wealthy while the commoners were evicted into hovels exposed to bandits and beasts. Each faction is further bolstered by their own personal armies to match threats internally and externally.

## Bandits

There are three prominent bandit groups with former Imperial Army soldiers in their ranks, with at least a former Major in each: Butcher Bay Bandits, Crossbone Corsairs and Azure Ascendants. Smaller bandit groups have been bought out by the Council to aid them in their machinations to further their ambitions.

The larger bandit groups stay away from military shipments, some lingering honor from their days of service but are a constant thorn in the side of the Council.

## The Battle for Sanshu

A series of events leading to an all out war in the city of Sanshu where the Butcher Bay Bandits invaded thanks to the help of traitors within the city. The ensuing battle lasted for a few days against the resistance of loyal city guards, the Army, the Bekhai, Crossbone Corsairs, Mother's Militia and Azure Ascendants. The Coalition joined the fray alongside the Butcher Bay Bandits to take control of the city but were met with opposition from the Alliance's mercenaries. Eventually, the leader of the rebellion, Yo Ling, was killed by Bastard Liu and the remaining rebels fell or fled.

### After the Battle for Sanshu

The Alliance seized control of the Council and its assets under the leadership of the newly instated Lieutenant Marshal Chao Yong. While the nobles ran away for calmer seas with their riches, the Magistrate worked tirelessly to avoid a full-scale Purge across the region.

## Trivia

* Sanshu was named after the pilgrimage to the Sacred Sanshu Grove where the three Sacred trees stood southwest of the City.
* The story says the Mother planted three saplings and nourished them with her tears, in commemoration for those who died in the wars against the Father and his Defiled. It’s said her tears continue to cycle through the lakes and rivers, sometimes healing those who come to pray.
	+ The guardian turtle of Ping Yao is rumored to have drank a single drop in her infancy, resulting in her massive growth and power, guarding the city for centuries.
* More than half the supplies for the Northern Bridge are produced in Sanshu.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 131
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 132
3. ↑ Chapter 133
4. ↑ Chapter 167
5. ↑ Chapter 143