The tragic death of His Imperial Majesty Tennō Hajimari I the Glorious, Emperor and Heavenly Sovereign of Japan and all else under Heaven, Suzerain over the Vassal Kingdom of Ryukyu, over the Tributary Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and the Philippines, and over the Tributary Confederacy of Gaya, Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō of the Imperial Japanese Army, Daigensui-Kaigun-Taishō of the Imperial Japanese Navy, during a covert operation in the lands occupied by the vile Mongol Hordes created a temporary disturbance in the normally orderly Japanese government. During an emergency, 36-hour session of the Grand Council of State, where the coronation of His Imperial Majesty Tennō Hajimari II the Pious, Emperor and Heavenly Sovereign of Japan and all else under Heaven, Suzerain over the Vassal Kingdom of Ryukyu, over the Tributary Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and the Philippines, and over the Tributary Confederacy of Gaya, Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō of the Imperial Japanese Army, Daigensui-Kaigun-Taishō of the Imperial Japanese Navy, was being planned, and the unexpected return to Japanese lands of Her Ladyship Daimyō Hōjō Masako, daughter of the late traitor who fled to the irrelevant city-state of Harbin after his pathetic coup attempt was thwarted, was being processed, a gaudily-dressed foreigner sauntered into the Grand Council Chambers of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, clearly taking advantage of the momentary disarray the Imperial Guard currently found itself in. The gaudy foreign man introduced himself as Käryorttau Citre, an accredited member of an international merchant' association based in the far Western city of Kucha. This Trader Citre said he was impressed with the vast stores of high-quality sea salt and hooded, voluminous robes of dark colouring and excellent craftsmanship, and offered to establish a permanent trading outpost in the Heavenly Empire of Japan, connecting Japan to the Traders' wider trade network. After a brief deliberation, His Serene Highness Daimyō Shiba no Tadazane the Wise, Kampaku to His Imperial Majesty Tennō Hajimari, Daijō-Daijin of the Heavenly Empire of Japan, chairman of the Grand Council of State, agreed to Trader Citre's proposal, and promised that more in-depth negotiations would follow as soon as the coronation of the new Emperor was finished, and the return of Hōjō Masako was dealt with.