Emperor of China

The Emperor of China (also EoC) claims the Mandate of Heaven to rule the Middle Kingdom. In 1444, Ming starts as the reigning emperor.

Introduction

Any non-subject nation belonging to either the pagan or eastern religion groups can claim the Mandate by declaring war using the “Take Mandate of Heaven” casus belli which becomes available if they neighbor the current emperor and don't have a truce with them. Aside from the claim to the Mandate, the CB also grants −50% province warscore cost and −50% aggressive expansion to all provinces in the China super-region.

Successfully taking the Mandate gives its holder permanent claims on all of the China super-region, cores on provinces Beijing, Nanjing and Canton, the Celestial Empire special government, and unlocks the mandate and meritocracy mechanics. In addition, the EoC gets 2 unique CBs: “Force tributary state” and “Unify China”. Also, New Imperial Dynasty modifier is added for 25 years which gives

• +60.0 Yearly tax income
• +15% Manpower recovery speed
• +20 Land force limit
• −10% Land maintenance modifier
• +0.05 Mandate growth modifier
• −0.10 Monthly devastation

The Emperor of China will never allow colonizers to charter a trade company, giving a −100 "Too powerful" modifier when trying to buy a province.

It is hard to switch out of the Celestial Empire government while being the EoC. All nation formation decisions and events that would normally change government are either disabled or may be taken, but will not change government type. If the existing emperor converts outside of the pagan or Eastern religion groups, the title is still retained.

Upon losing the emperorship, a nation will lose the Celestial Empire government, be forced to change its level 1 reform, and incur the effects of the “Mandate of Heaven lost” modifier for 20 years:

	−10%	Discipline
	+50%	Stability cost modifier
	+10%	National unrest
	−50%	Goods produced modifier
	+50%	Fire damage received
	+50%	Shock damage received
	+50%	Liberty desire in subjects
	−1%	Yearly legitimacy
	−50%	Mercenary manpower
	−50%	National manpower modifier

During the 20 years, the nation cannot reclaim the mandate.

Mandate

Mandate is a measure of how legitimate the emperor's rule of China is viewed. It scales from 0 to 100, and gives the following modifiers, scaling linearly with malus converting to bonus at 50:

Mandate	Low mandate	50	High mandate
Effects	At 0 mandate: −50% Goods produced modifier +50% Fire damage received +50% Shock damage received +5% National unrest −50% Mercenary manpower −50% National manpower modifier +30% Subject Liberty desire -2 Yearly Meritocracy	No effect	At 100 mandate: −2.50% National unrest +10%.00 All estates Loyalty equilibrium −0.05% Monthly war exhaustion

Upon gaining the emperorship, Mandate is set to 60. Mandate is affected by the following yearly modifiers (although displayed and applied monthly in-game):

• +0.24 per point of stability.
• +0.03 per state with prosperity.
• +0.15 per 100 development of tributaries.
• -10.0 per 100 development of stated provinces with 100% devastation, scaling with degree of devastation.
• -0.36 every five loans.

Mandate is also affected by the following monthly modifiers:

	Traditions	Ideas	Bonuses	Policies
+0.10	—	—	Full Court	—
+0.05	—	Chinese idea 6: Son of Heaven Dai Viet idea 6: Thuan Thiên	—	—
+0.03	—	Great Shun idea 7: Claim to the Mandate	—	—

• +0.05 for Emperor with humane personality
• +0.05 for 25 years for new Chinese Emperor
• +0.05 with the celestial reform "Elevate Tributary Relations"
• +0.05 when fighting a war with "Unify China" CB
• +0.05 until the end of the game as reward of Manchu mission "The Mandate of Heaven"
• +0.05 until the end of the game as reward of Siamese mission "Take the Mandate"
• +0.03 for 20 years as reward of Korean mission "Tame the Dragon"
• +0.03/+0.05 for holding The Forbidden City (only with )
• -0.05 for Emperor with petty personality
• -0.05 for not owning and controlling Beijing
• -0.05 for not owning and controlling Nanjing
• -0.05 for not owning and controlling Canton
• -0.3 during "Unguarded Nomadic Frontier" disaster
• -0.3 during "Empire of China in Name" disaster
• -0.1 during bankruptcy
• -1 at 100 corruption

One-time modifiers to Mandate include:

• +5 for winning a defensive war with the Take Mandate of Heaven CB.
• +25 for ending "Empire of China in Name" disaster
• +20 for ending "Unguarded Nomadic Frontier" disaster
• -10 for declining a Call to Arms from a tributary.
• -20 for triggering "Unguarded Nomadic Frontier" disaster
• -25 for triggering "Empire of China in Name" disaster
• -80 for passing a reform.

There are also many events that affect Mandate.

Celestial Reforms

The emperor may pass various Celestial Reforms to better govern China. All of the reforms give some Bonus to the current Emperor and many also give modifiers to their subjects. The Emperor does not gain these Boni.
Passing a reform requires at least 80 Mandate, and lowers Mandate by -80 as well as stability by -1. The reforms can be passed in any order, though unlike the Holy Roman Empire's reforms, there is no special reward for completing all of them. If a new nation takes the Mandate, all reforms are lost and Mandate is reset to 60.

• Effects of Celestial Reforms:

Reform	Conditions to enact	Emperor	Tributaries	Description
Introduce Gaituguiliu	At least one of: Eunuchs has at least 60 loyalty Corruption is less than 1	+0.5 Yearly meritocracy	+1 Possible advisor	The Native Chieftains in remote prefectures, also known as Tusi, are hereditary rulers of local minorities, these leaders might seem useful now and then due to their ties with the locals but have frequently proven to be a risk for regional stability in long-term. By slowly replacing them with regular officials appointed by the central government maintaining tranquillity on a regional level will become easier.
Reform Seaban		+1 Diplomat +5% Trade efficiency		The seas and oceans bring trouble: piracy, smuggling, sometimes even the usurpers hide themselves behind the waves and tides, but maritime trade also brings fortune and discovery. In order to let the wealth and new innovations into our great realm, we should reform our Seaban regulations.
Delegate Zongdu	At least one of: Has at least 35% crown land ownership Ruler's administrative skill is at least 5 All of: Has a level 3 Treasurer advisor Has at least 7 government reforms	−0.05 Monthly autonomy change	−25% State maintenance	The vastness of our realm is utmost and unparalleled, however, regulating this is arduous. Hence let us create the position of Zongdu, a viceroy overseeing more than one province. They will be directing the provincial affairs as the Emperor's representative, so that the less crucial matters don't have to be reported to the Forbidden City.
Establish Lifan Yuan	At least one of: Gains at least 10 military power per month National focus is set to Military Ruler's military skill is at least 6	+10% Nobility loyalty equilibrium −10% Core-creation cost	−20% Autonomy change cooldown	To manage the numerous subjects and lesser states from outlying regions within and beyond the imperial border, the Ministry of Rites is now deemed to be insufficient and inappropriate. We shall establish an office that focus on the dealing with them.
Reshape Bureaucracy	Has at least 65% crown land ownership	+1 Monarch administrative skill	−5% All estates influence modifier	To re-arrange the Guanzhi - bureaucratic ranks is not only to make a mere symbolic break with the incompetent dynasty who precedes us: by retuning the political structures of the Empire, our power will be concentrated and our regime will grow solid like a golden fortress with boiling moat.
Elevate Tributary Status	Has at least 8 Celestial Reforms	+0.05 Mandate growth modifier −33% Liberty desire from subjects development The Emperor may convert their Tributaries into Vassals at the cost of Mandate		The Celestial Empire is overlord over several tributary states which acknowledge our superiority. While most barbarians will remain foreign to our ideals, other tributaries strive to come closer to the greatness of Heaven. It is the duty of the Emperor to elevate those who appease us the most.
Codify the Single Whip	Has the celestial reform “Delegate Zongdu” At least one of: Has completed the mission “Single Whip Law” Has completed Economic Ideas Has at least 7 government reforms	+25% Income from vassals +10% National tax modifier	−0.05 Yearly corruption	By codifying the Single Whip law we will insert its legal precedent into our nation's judicial code.
Rein the Factions	At least one of: Has at least 90% crown land ownership Absolutism is at least 75	+2.5% Administrative efficiency −5% All estates influence modifier	+5 Maximum absolutism	The various factions within our realm run rampant, clutching their pearls upon being demanded to contribute and further applying pressure to receive favors and influence in exchange for corruption. We must put an end to this lest we risk the Empire falls in turmoil.
Civil Registration		−5% Development cost −20% Autonomy change cooldown	+10% National tax modifier	A system aimed at keeping track of all our subjects within our realm, in a way to improve the standard of living of all those under our banner.
A Silver Standard	Has the celestial reform “Codify the Single Whip” Inflation is less than 1% Is not running a deficit At least one of: Gains at least 10 administrative power per month Ruler's administrative skill is at least 5 National focus is set to Administrative	−10% Monthly gold inflation modifier +0.05 Yearly inflation reduction	−0.25 Interest per annum	The introduction of the Single Whip law has definitely improved our taxing efficiency. However, we must take precautions and combat potential rampant inflation.
Kanhe Certificate	At least one of: Has completed Trade Ideas Has a Colony subject Has at least 4 merchants National focus is set to Diplomatic	+1 Merchant +10 Merchant trade power	+5% Trade efficiency	An imperial declaration aimed at empowering our merchants at home and abroad, while simultaneously allowing our subjects greater exclusive access in our markets.
New Keju Formats	At least one of: Has enacted the “The Examination System” government reform Has completed Administrative Ideas At least one of: Ruler's administrative skill is at least 4 Gains at least 9 administrative power per month	+10% Reform progress growth +0.03 Mandate growth modifier	+5% Governing capacity modifier	This reform aims at refining the process behind the selection of candidates and potential bureaucrats during the Imperial Examination. Introducing new formats of tests and increased standards will certainly benefit our administration.
Inclusive Monarchy	Stability is at least +1 At least one of: Has completed Humanist Ideas Has at least (unrecognized string “harmony” for Template:Icon) 80 harmony Has a level 2 Theologian advisor	+1 Maximum tolerance of heathens +1 Tolerance of heathens	+1 Tolerance of heathens	Our domain is all-encompassing, and our subjects are many in numbers. As such, we must display the perfection and tolerance as exhibited by the heavens themselves and aim at creating a tolerant society that treats its people with dignity and compassion.
§OPromote Bureaucrats§!	Mutually exclusive with the celestial reform “Promote Generals”	+10% Clergy loyalty equilibrium +1 Tolerance of the true faith	+5% Clergy loyalty equilibrium	The soul of our nation rests within our bureaucratic procedures. By empowering and favoring our bureaucratic minds over those of militant stance, we will settle struggles of power that may take place internally, in the future.\n§YMutually exclusive with the 'Promote Generals' reform§!\n
§OPromote Generals§!	Mutually exclusive with the celestial reform “Promote Bureaucrats”	+10% Nobility loyalty equilibrium +0.5 Yearly army tradition	+5% Nobility loyalty equilibrium	Those who lay their life down to secure our freedom, need be praised more than cushy bureaucrats who delegate endlessly on procedures and are trapped in endless red tape.\n§YMutually exclusive with the 'Promote Bureaucrats' reform§!\n
Unify Asian Markets	Has the celestial reform “Reform Seaban” Has the celestial reform “Kanhe Certificate” At least one of: Has completed the mission “Improve the Haijin Policy” or “Repeal the Haijin Policy” Mercantilism is at least 50 Ruler's diplomatic skill is at least 6 At least one of: Has completed Trade Ideas Trade accounts for at least 35% of national income Home trade node: Is the highest valued trade node in the world Our country is the strongest trade power in this node	+1 Merchant +5% Goods produced modifier	+10% Global trade power	By unifying access to all the markets we have influence in, our merchants will enjoy profits beyond their wildest dream, furthering our influence and increasing the size of our treasury.
Reform the Army	Gains at least 10 military power per month At least one of: Army tradition is at least 60 Army professionalism is at least 40%	+10% Movement speed −25% Regiment drill loss	+0.25% Yearly army professionalism	An Empire of our size needs able and brave men to protect it. However, having courage and valor are not enough in today's affairs. The need for a widespread standing army, reformed and powerful will play a vital role in maintaining our powerful position.
Popularize the Banners	At least one of: : Has at least 25 banner regiments Cavalry Combat Ability is at least 0.4	+50% Cavalry to infantry ratio	−10% Cavalry cost	The Banner army has served us dutifully, delivering blows to our enemies and securing crucial victories. If we are to maintain their top form and discipline, we must reform and improve them, or they will be at risk of decadence.
Study Foreign Ships	Navy tradition is at least 50 At least one of: Has at least 50 heavy ships Has completed Naval Ideas Has completed Quality Ideas	+10% Heavy ship combat ability	−5% Ship cost	Foreign ships hold many secrets when it comes to master shipwrights and architectural design. It would be wise to issue a reform across our nation and instruct our ship builders to study them in great detail.
Tributary Embassies	All of our Tributary subjects have less than 50% liberty desire At least one of: Has completed Diplomatic Ideas Has completed Influence Ideas Has at least 50% crown land ownership Ruler's diplomatic skill is at least 5	+25% Monthly favor growth modifier +1 Diplomatic reputation	+1 Diplomatic relation	Communication with all countries that pay tribute to our banner is vital as a deterrent of violence and better communication. To that end, it would be wise to enact a reform and fund official embassies across our sphere of influence.
New World Expeditions	Has at least 1 explorer Has at least 50 light ships	+1 Colonist	+10 Global settler increase	The new world holds many exotic goods, commercial opportunities and expansion paths aimed at cementing our power. It would be wise to invest imperial influence in issues pronouncements, instructing officials to focus on studying these strange locations beyond the horizon.

Note: The Reshape Bureaucratic Ranks reform doesn't set a minimum of 1 for rulers, but directly increases their administrative stat by 1. Due to the way ruler stats are calculated, it gives a 3/16 (18.75%) chance of getting a 6 ruler.

The cost of converting a tributary to a vassal with Elevate Tributary Relations reform is 40% of the tributary's development. Thus a Tributary that has more than 250 total development cant be turned into a vassal.

Meritocracy

Meritocracy takes the place of legitimacy (or its equivalent). It represents the efficiency of the imperial bureaucracy.

Scaling linearly from 0 to 100, it gives:

Meritocracy	0	50	100
Effects	−50% Foreign spy detection +25% Advisor costs -25% Reform Progress Growth +0.1 Yearly corruption	No Effect	+50% Foreign spy detection −25% Advisor costs +25% Reform Progress Growth

Meritocracy has a base annual decrease of −2. Low Confucian harmony also decreases it, up to −2 per year at 0 Harmony. It is increased by hiring talented advisors, at +0.25 per skill rank per year, e.g. +1.25 for one level 3 advisor and two level 1 advisors. Like other government mechanics, meritocracy may be increased by 10 by spending 100 military power (requires ).

The following ideas and policies also increase yearly meritocracy:

	Traditions	Ideas	Bonuses	Policies
+1.50	—	Holy Roman idea 1: The Imperial Throne	—	—
+1.00	Andean traditions Imperial German traditions Israeli traditions Majapahit traditions Montferrat traditions Norman traditions Roman traditions Tarascan traditions Trebizond traditions Venetian traditions Württemberger traditions	Aachen idea 2: Imperial Free City Adalite idea 2: A Monarchical Imamate Afghan idea 6: Institutionalized Loya Jirga Air idea 3: Legacy of Tin-Hinan Angevin idea 7: Rule of the Plantagenet Arakanese idea 1: Mrauk U Dynasty Ardabili idea 7: Shahs of Iran Asakura idea 5: Seventeen Clan Code Ashanti idea 4: The Golden Stool Ashikaga idea 2: Defenders of the Imperial Court Athenian idea 1: Dominus Athenarum Augsburger idea 1: Augusta Vindelicorum Aztec idea 2: Sustaining the Gods Baden idea 2: Legacy of the House of Zähringen Bahmani idea 6: Bahmani Primogeniture Baluch idea 3: Khan of the Baloch Bavarian idea 1: Institute the Everlasting Succession Beloozero idea 3: Strengthen Local Lineages Beninese idea 1: Curb the Uzama Berg idea 1: The Heirs of Lotharingia Betsimisaraka idea 6: Royal Justice Bohemian idea 2: Elective Monarchy Bolognese idea 2: Bentivoglio Family Bosnian idea 2: Per Aspera ad Astra Brazilian idea 7: Seat of the Empire Breton idea 1: Legacy of Breton Independence Bulgarian idea 7: Third Rome Caucasian idea 5: Highland Khans Cebu idea 2: Chola Legacy Chinese idea 6: Son of Heaven Cirebonese idea 1: Negara Gede Clevian idea 2: Cleves and Mark Colonial idea 1: Founding Fathers Cossack idea 2: Cossack Hetmanate Dahomey idea 1: Children of the Panther Dai Viet idea 6: Thuan Thiên Daimyo idea 3: Honor the Ancestors Deccani Sultanate idea 1: Legacy of the Bahmani Sultanate Delhian idea 7: The Throne of India Ethiopian idea 2: Negusa Negast Franconian idea 1: The Duchy Restored Frankfurter idea 7: Freie Stadt Frankfurt Garhwali idea 5: Source of the Ganges Garjati idea 2: Ancient Mandalas Gelre idea 3: Defiance of Foreign Rule Golden Horde idea 1: Legacy of the Golden Horde Gond idea 6: Ancient Roots Great Qing idea 4: Bogda Khan Gujarati Princedom idea 6: Ashapura Mata Hamburger idea 2: Burgher Republic Hatakeyama idea 6: Unify the Clan Hawaiian idea 2: Repurposing the Ali'i Nui Hindustani idea 4: The Peacock Throne Hojo idea 1: Legacy of the Kamakura Shogunate Holstein idea 7: Danish Protest Pigs Hosokawa idea 1: Kanrei Ilkhanid idea 1: Restored Ilkhanate Iwi idea 7: The Maori King Movement Jerusalem idea 1: Crown of Thorns Jolof idea 6: Wolof Griots Kaffan idea 5: Strengthen Ties With the Ethiopian Church Kamilaroi idea 5: Matrilineal Lineage Karamanid idea 7: True Heirs of the Seljuk Empire Khorasani idea 4: Dynastic Chronicles Kikuchi idea 3: Aso Shrine Kilwan idea 2: Shirazi's Legacy Kitaran idea 1: Legacy of the Gods Kuban idea 6: Ndop Statue Kurdish idea 6: Legacy of the Kurdish Dynasties Ladakh idea 6: A Kingdom United Lan Na idea 1: Legacy of Mangrai Lanfang idea 1: Free Elections Larrakia idea 4: Dowed Latin idea 1: Emperor of Constantinople Liège idea 3: Religious Devotion Luban idea 2: Royal Village Shrines Luccan idea 7: The Jacobin State of Lucca Lunda idea 2: Perpetual Kingship Mainzian idea 4: Saint Hildegard of Bingen Malaccan idea 6: Dualat Malagasy idea 2: Zafivolamena Manchu idea 4: The Later Jin Manipur idea 3: Kingdom of the Meitei Mazovian idea 6: Sejmy i Sejmiki Mesoamerican idea 5: Ritual Bloodletting Moldavian idea 4: Hospodar of Moldavia Moluccan idea 2: Shared Cultural Heritage Montenegrin idea 1: Legacy Of Diocleia Mossi idea 1: Rialé and Yennenga Muiscan idea 7: Consuetudinary Law Mushasha idea 5: A House United Mutapan idea 4: Spokesman before the Dead Mysorean idea 2: Patronize Kannada Literature Neapolitan idea 7: The Lazzaroni and the Monarchy Northumbrian idea 1: Secure Percy Rule Novgorod idea 3: Ivan's Hundred Odoyev idea 1: Heirs of Chernigov Offaly idea 6: A Family Affair Oirat idea 3: The Four Oirats Orissan idea 2: Servitor of Jagannath Oyo idea 2: Oduduwa Mythos Pagarruyung idea 3: Istano Basa Palawa idea 2: Dual-Identity Pegu idea 6: Buddhist Kingship Perugian idea 4: Perugian Signoria Pisan idea 5: Anziani del Popolo Polotskian idea 2: Heritage of The Rus' Provençal idea 2: Revive House of Anjou Rajputana idea 7: Monumental Architecture Rassid idea 4: A Unified Rassid State Romanian idea 4: Latin Island Rothenburg idea 3: The End of the Line Ruthenian idea 1: The Mother of Russian States Ruthenian idea 1: The Mother of Russian States Rûmi idea 3: Shahanshah Samoan idea 5: Tatau Samtskhe idea 1: Atabegs of Samtskhe Savoyard idea 7: Savoyard Legitimacy Scottish idea 6: Basilikon Doron Semien idea 5: Gideon Dynasty Shan idea 6: Shan Chronicles Shirvani idea 1: The Khalwati Order Sindhi idea 1: Enduring Samma Dynasty Sistani idea 6: Chronicles of Sistan South Indian idea 5: Patronage of Great Temples Sukhothai idea 6: Ramkhamhaeng Stele Swabian City-State idea 6: The Thorn of the Empire Swedish idea 1: Kung och Riksdag Telugu idea 5: Legend of Prataparudra Thüringian idea 1: The Partition of Leipzig Timurid idea 4: Chagatai Literature Transoxianian idea 7: Chagatai Literature Tripuran idea 1: Rajmala Tsutsui idea 5: The Southern Capital Tumbuka idea 3: Healthy Priest Kings Tyrone idea 2: The O’Neill Mór Veronese idea 1: Three Households Alike in Dignity Vindhyan idea 7: Candella Legacy Wallachian idea 6: Boyar Regime Welsh idea 4: Unbennaeth Prydain Yi idea 6: Renovate the Skyward Tombs Zambezi idea 5: Centralizing the Mbona cult	American ambition Anhalt ambition Barbary Corsair ambition Canadian ambition Dithmarscher ambition Imagawa ambition Irish ambition Italian (minor) ambition K'iche ambition Kanem Bornuan ambition Maravi ambition Ormond ambitions Russian ambition	—
+0.50	Bamberger traditions	Bukharan idea 1: Jochid Patrimony Colognian idea 4: Prime Minister of Cologne Cypriot idea 1: King of Jerusalem Georgian idea 1: Bagrationi Dynasty Great Shun idea 7: Claim to the Mandate Jurchen idea 2: The Queue Kiwi idea 1: Maori Seats Utrecht idea 2: Ex Cathedra Yarkandi idea 4: Empower the Khojas	—	Administrative-Aristocratic: The Licensing of the Press Act
+0.25	—	—	Full Court	—

Decrees

Meritocracy may be spent on decrees, providing a powerful empire-wide bonus lasting for 10 years. Activating a decree costs 20 meritocracy and only one may be in effect at any given time.

List of decrees:

Name	Effect
Expand Palace Bureaucracy	−10% Development cost −10% Core-creation cost If the mission "Cornerstone of an Empire" was completed by siding against the Eunuchs, additionally gain: −20% Advisor cost
Conduct Population Census	+25% National tax modifier −10% States governing cost If the mission "Reform Civil Administration" was completed by siding against the estates, additionally gain: +1 Monthly administrative power
Promote Naval Officers	+10% Morale of Navies +10% Ship durability
Increase Tariff Control	+25% Provincial trade power modifier +10% Domestic trade power
Improve Defense Effort	+25% Fort defense −10% Fort maintenance
Boost the Officer Corps	+10% Infantry combat ability +25% Reinforce speed
Fund Education Centers	−10% Technology cost +25% Instution spread
Proclaim Dynastic Name	+0.05 Mandate growth modifier +10% All estates' loyalty equilibrium
Issue Great Warnings	−0.10 Yearly corruption −10% All estates influence modifier
Announce Six Ordinances	−2 National unrest −10% Liberty desire in subjects
Publish a Sacred Edict	−5 Years of separatism −0.05 Monthly karma +25% Religious harmonization speed
Promote Taoist Studies	+25% Average monarch lifespan +10% Shizu loyalty equilibrium
Appoint New Eunuchs	−15% Advisor costs +10% Eunuchs loyalty equilibrium
Spur Trade Cooperation	+50% Innovativeness gain +25% Reduced trade penalty on non main trade node
Reinforce the Inner Guard	+33% Foreign spy detection +20% Improve relations
Issue New Seals	−5 Minimum autonomy +0.05 Monthly autonomy change

AI behaviour

At peace, AI will prioritise on either tax income or provincial trade depending on the percentage of income from each type. The next most likely choice is “Expand Palace Bureaucracy”. At war, AI is more likely to choose “Boost the Officer Corps”. The likelihood of choosing “Boost the Officer Corps” or “Improve Defence Effort” increases significantly if AI considers itself in an important war. The least likely choice is to increase Ship durability although it becomes more likely if AI's navy tradition is above 50.

Decisions

id

Repair of the Great Wall

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Parts of the Great Wall are in dire need of extensive repair. In its current state it doesn't offer sufficient protection for our northern provinces.

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Potential requirements The ‘Leviathan’ DLC is not enabled The country: is Ming, Qing or has enacted the ‘Celestial Empire’ government reform. owns Taiyuan (693), Hejian (695), Baoding (696), Datong (697), Lanzhou (699), Xi'an (700), Yumen (707), Alxa (709) and Beijing (1816). does not have the modifier “Reparations of the Great Wall”. If the country is AI-controlled, then it: can not be a custom nation.	Allow The country: has a ruler with a military skill of at least 5.
Effects The country: gets the modifier “Reparations of the Great Wall” for the rest of the campaign with the following effects: +25% fort defense, +10% fort maintenance.

id

Construct the Forbidden City

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The Forbidden City will be a glorious national monument, increasing our prestige and promoting stability.

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Potential requirements The ‘Leviathan’ DLC is not enabled The country: is Manchu, Ming, Qing or has enacted the ‘Celestial Empire’ government reform. has its capital in Beijing (1816) or Nanjing (1821). does not have the modifier “The Forbidden City”. If the country is AI-controlled, then it: can not be a custom nation.	Allow The country: is not at war has hired a level 3 statesman or has a ruler with an administrative skill of at least 3. either the faction system is disabled or the Bureaucrats faction is in power. has a stability of +3. has at least 1 year's worth of income in its treasury. has at least 50 administrative power.
Effects The country: loses ducats equal to 1 year of income. loses 50 administrative power. gets the modifier “The Forbidden City” for the rest of the campaign with the following effects: −10% stability cost modifier, +0.5 yearly prestige.

Missions

With Domination, many nations who become Emperor of China will have special Emperor of china missions.

Disasters

Unguarded Nomadic Frontier The rise of a powerful Horde on our borders is casting a grim shadow over our pretentions to possess the Mandate of Heaven. If the realm is to prosper we must pacify the Nomad Frontier.

Empire of China in Name While we have succesfully secured the title of Emperor over the Chinese our Empire is one that scarcely includes any Chinese. If we are to be seen as anything but a foreign emperor we will need to integrate the Chinese as part of our government.

Strategy

The below is one of many player suggested strategies for Emperor of China. Bear in mind, due to the dynamic nature of the game, it may unfold differently for other players.

Being Emperor of China

Manage Mandate

The Mandate system confers steep penalties when below 50 Mandate. With 1.29, having less than 50 Mandate after the Age of Discovery will advance progress for the "Crisis of the Ming Dynasty" disaster.

Before patch 1.29, non-tributary neighbors (e.g. Russia) of the Emperor of China would cause a loss of Mandate. Much of the gameplay as the Emperor of China involved budgeting remaining tributaries (as opposed to revoking them, say, before a conquest) vs non-tributary neighbors. This can include painstaking feeding of border provinces to vassals for the sole purpose of keeping a certain large would-be neighbor away as well as confining to isolated islands when colonizing. As of patch 1.29, non-tributary neighbors no longer reduce Mandate. Thus, the Emperor of China is free to expand without worrying about coming into contact with a large neighbor resulting in near instant loss of Mandate.

It is important for an Emperor to keep the provinces of Beijing, Nanjing and Canton under control at all times, because not having them reduces Mandate by 0.05 per month for each. Likewise, for a new Emperor, it is critical to take over those provinces as soon as possible. If the Age of Discovery has passed, a potential Emperor should capture all 3 provinces before claiming the Mandate.

If the Emperor is large, nearby small countries will agree to become tributaries diplomatically. Bigger tributaries confer larger benefits. However, large countries will not agree to become tributaries without war. Thus, nurturing strong tributaries from early on is often worthwhile.

If the Emperor starts bordering a steppe horde with over 300 development (e.g. Manchu), Mandate will drop drastically as a result of the Unguarded Nomadic Frontier disaster, unless the player has more than 25% warscore / a truce / tributary status / alliance with the horde in question.

Tag switch resets the EoC reform progress as well as resetting Mandate to 60. That can be a way to handle temporary Mandate loss that spans decades in certain situations.

Highlights of benefits (Decrees and Celestial Reforms)

Early game, +25% tax income is a significant boost to the emperor's economy. It mitigates the reduction in income from local autonomy and unaccepted culture (if the emperor's primary culture is not Chinese).

Mid to late game in single-player, -10% core creation cost from “Expand Palace Bureaucracy” which adds to another -10% from “Establish Lifan Yuan” is an integral aspect of being Emperor of China. Obtaining these modifiers is one of the only ways to reach or come close to the maximum -80%. Without them, it is questionable whether it is worthwhile being hamstrung by the Mandate mechanics (pre-1.29).

Patch 1.29 introduces the "Crisis of the Ming Dynasty" disaster; progress for this disaster is advanced whenever Mandate is less than 50 after the Age of Discovery. This must be taken into consideration when analyzing the costs vs. benefits of enacting Celestial Reforms once the Age of Discovery is over.

Another strength of being Emperor of China is reduced unrest. Unrest reduction is often further enhanced by religious modifiers for nations in the region with Confucian or Buddhist religions. This perhaps resonates with real history in which many dynasties of the Chinese Empire ascribed paramount importance to social stability and provides flavor to the game.

Defeating Emperor of China

If the attacking country can cause the current Emperor of China to quickly lose the Mandate, the Emperor will be greatly weakened militarily (taking up to +50% damage during combat) and will become vulnerable to conquest.

A possible pre-1.29 strategy is to voluntarily become the tributary of Emperor and then conquer all other tributaries (because tributaries can attack each other without Emperor being involved). Then, the country can revoke its tributary status, causing a relentless loss of Mandate to start. If a country is a Steppe horde with at least 300 development, the Emperor may get the disaster Unguarded Nomadic Frontier. Additionally, an Oirat player can, through the Tumu Crisis event chain, occupy Beijing and the rest of Northern China to not only take land, but also cause devastation which can drop the mandate greatly.

The Emperor is most vulnerable after enacting a Celestial Reform, when it won't have more than 30 mandate.

Purposely stopping to be the Emperor of China

It is possible for Ming to get rid of the title of Emperor of China (becoming a normal Monarchy) by purposely losing the Mandate.

This can be done by disbanding the entire army, so that the neighboring countries would assume that Ming is weak. Eventually one of the neighboring countries would declare a war with "Take Mandate of Heaven" casus belli. Then Ming can end the war as a loss, offering "Take Mandate of Heaven" in the peace terms.

Losing the mandate causes 20 years of serious penalties. But in the early game Ming is unchallenged both militarily and economically, so it can wait it out without being threatened by anyone. Rebellions can be avoided by increasing autonomy.

As of patch 1.29, non-tributary neighbours no longer drain an Emperor's mandate, significantly reducing the downsides of being emperor. This means that unless the player desires a unique challenge, there is almost no reason to get rid of the imperial title. The Mandate of Heaven should still not be claimed until the player can maintain both Mandate (especially with the possibility of the "Crisis of the Ming Dynasty" disaster after the Age of Discovery) and Meritocracy at acceptable levels.

Footnotes

Mechanics

Customization

Nation designer • Random New World

Ages and Institutions

Ages • Institutions

Innovativeness and Technology

Innovativeness • Technology

Defense

Fort • Zone of control