Lein Imperial Office for the Outer Kingdoms

The Imperial Office for the Outer Kingdoms (Itrani: Sabo Nagusa Tatorimi ne-i-Taitere) is an agency formed during the reign of Tairazun Sora berAthain ne-i-Lein, to manage the Outer Kingdoms. As such it was responsible for liaison and coordination between the centre of Imperial power, and the respective Lein kings in the foreign lands, aiding them and obtaining tribute as necessary.

Background

The creation of the Office was necessitated by the massive expansion of the Lein Empire during the campaigns of Tairazun Sora, known as the Ordering of the World. The creation of so many kingdoms overseas, comprising a Tranon ruling class over native peoples, obviously made a coordinating agency necessary, and such an office was created in Sora 35. Originally under the aegis of the Lein Imperial Ministry for War, the office was soon seen as taking on major tasks too big for a Ministry; as a result, 3 years later, Sora decreed that the office be made an Ordained Office on par with the Ministries and the Palace Administration.

Tasks and Organisation

While the Lein Dynasty in its homeland claims ultimate suzerainty over the Outer Kingdoms, it does not include them in its administrative divisions, and the ministries do not attach permanent sections responsible for the kingdoms. Instead the Office is in charge of sending requests for manpower and officials to the other ministries, who comply with the requests by sending staff over to the kingdoms for training and other temporary duties. By edict, the Office is not allowed to demand that officials stay in the kingdoms for more than four years.

More importantly, the office serves the purpose of conducting information between the kingdoms and the Empire. Given the distances involved, this is not an easy task; but the Office is nonetheless expected to give a report at least once every two months regarding the kingdoms. It accomplishes this by making use of a rotation system, wherein a group of officials is landed every now and then in the kingdoms and the previous group of officials immediately returns to the Empire to make their reports.

To fulfill its many roles the Ordained Office is subdivided into several offices, the more important ones being:

• Lein Office of External Tributes, aimed at the coordinating of tribute from the outer kingdoms, as well as gifts from the Empire to the kingdoms.
• Lein Consulate for the Outer Kingdoms, responsible for monitoring the conduct of the kingdoms, preventing and mediating disagreements between them, and supporting their efforts at diplomacy with local peoples. It also helps regulate the rulers of those kingdoms, acting as advisors.