The Mandate of Heaven

"If Earth is the realm of mortals, then Mars is the realm of the Gods."

— First Emperor Xia Yong-Jin

Overview

The Mandate of Heaven is the preeminent power in Tharsis, and one of the few institutions on Mars resembling a functional nation-state. Based out of one of Mars's largest cities, New Gyeongju, the Mandate of Heaven exerts a great amount of control over the Kasei Delta and a moderate amount of influence over all territory north of the Loch Marineris. The Mandate of Heaven was one of the first true factions to emerge following the Collapse, and they have had a notable impact on post-collapse history and society.

Ruled over by an Emperor, the Mandate of Heaven offers its citizens relative safety from the lawlessness of Mars, although the cost is, to some, great. Although not necessarily authoritarian, residency in the capital requires all citizens to be implanted with basic tracking chips, which allow the government to track all citizens within the city. This greatly aids the enforcement of law and order, yet many object to what they consider to be extremist methods to control the populace.

History

The Mandate of Heaven was originally founded by Xia Yong-Jin a few decades after the events of The Collapse in the lawless city of New Gyeongju. Although the People's Public Security Force, a remnant of pre-collapse society, had managed to contain some semblance of order for some time, rampant banditry had brought a severe food shortage upon the populace. Disgruntled, Yong-Jin led a protest with his fellow workers outside the main government building, which eventually descended into violence. Rousing the citizens of New Gyeongju, Yong-Jin would eventually become the spokesperson and de-facto leader of the 'Divine Revolution.'

Whilst hooked into the Cybernet, Yong-Jin would apparently experience an interaction with the Great Divine, a mystical being residing within the Cybernet. This being informed Yong-Jin that he was destined for greatness, and he was promised immortality in return for becoming the being's worldly servant. Immediately thereafter, Yong-Jin would declare himself the First Emperor of the Mandate of Heaven, promising safety and spiritual immortality to all those who accepted his words and dogma.

The Mandate of Heaven would enact strict rationing as it built a strong military, the first anti-bandit campaign being conducted two years after its establishment. After around a dozen anti-banditry campaigns, the Mandate of Heaven would find itself in an unusually stable position, with refugees flocking to its capital over the next century or so.

As of current, the Mandate of Heaven stands tall and proud in a sea of chaos and uncertainty. Not without its issues, it is perhaps Mars's greatest chance at once more unifying and moving past the terrible Collapse. Yet still, unknowns remain, and no Emperor has set foot outside the White Palace in decades. Still, the cogs turn, and the machine rumbles, as history moves on relentlessly.

Government

The Mandate of Heaven is de jure an Absolutist Monarchy under the Emperor, although de facto it functions more as a Theocratic Bureaucracy of sorts. A Chairman, appointed by the Emperor, manages and leads the bureaucracy whilst acting as a liaison between the Emperor, the Council, and the common people. The Chairman has the prestigious privilege of being permitted unrestricted entry into the White Palace, a heavily guarded and extravagant compound protected by the Mandate's finest warriors and most advanced automatic defense systems.

The White Council acts as the state legislature, debating policy whilst aiding the Chairman in any and all matters of state. Those sitting on the White Council may be appointed certain duties, such as commanding the Revolutionary Divine Army or overseeing the economic activity. Councilmen are elected by residents of the Capital, each representing a district of the city. As of current, there are 31 Councilmen.

Economy

The Mandate's economy heavily revolves around two main pillars. The first is manufactured goods, as New Gyeongju is perhaps one of the only urban areas still capable of mostly-automated mass production. Although raw resources are often in short supply, the mere fact that the city can produce relatively advanced weapons, cybernetics, and so forth gives it a considerable advantage over similar institutions.

The second pillar constitutes cybernetics and advanced technologies. Cyberdokters are a common sight in the streets, and many of the city's richest residents have some involvement in cybernetic production, installation, or maintenance. Moreover, the city is perhaps the only producer of advanced technology across the entirety of Mars, and although production is severely limited in scale, it is still much better than all other major settlements.

As a center of trade, the Mandate also holds a great degree of economic influence. Apart from bartering for goods, the most reliable way to do business is to use the state-issued Yon.

Military

The Mandate's primarily military formation is the Revolutionary Divine Army, a volunteer force made up of over 1,000 soldiers who owe their complete loyalty to the Emperor. Equipped with combat cybernetics and advanced weaponry, the army primarily focuses on combatting banditry, although recently they have increasingly had to deal with increasingly confident rivals across the Chryse Gulf.

The RDA has access to not only ground vehicles, but a limited amount of aerial transports, giving it a massive amount of mobility. This, combined with the economic prowess of the Mandate, has allowed the Mandate of Heaven to become one of the first nation-states of post-collapse Mars.

Capital: New Gyeongju
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Power Structure: Divine Bureaucracy
Head of State: Emperor Wi Yong-Jin
Head of Government: Chairman Shi Yimu
Currency: Yon
Population: 29,000 (Estimate)