North of the Shan hills lies the land of their allies, the Xin. The Xin capital, Zei Shufang, lies at the terminus of the Great Road, the trade route that brings goods from the distant west. Access to this trade route has made the Xin wealthy, earning them the envy and ire of the Huo kings and many of the feudal nobility. The former King had been making plans to move his capital to Xin and take control of it directly at the time when the Shan started their rebellion. The Xin were not eager to have their ancient liberties infringed upon, so it seemed natural for them to join the Shan. The alliance has prospered, and they continue to do a brisk trade (with hefty markup), despite catering to a smaller number of provinces.
The Xin stand out. Brown and red hair are common, a mark of their mixed ancestry. The laws of the marketplace govern their conduct. The quiet stall sees no traffic, so Xin tend to be loud, outgoing, and shamelessly self-promoting. Whereas in the rest of Liangyu even nobles are expected to be reserved and self-deprecating, a Xin commoner will begin listing all of his skills and accomplishments within moments of meeting you. He will constantly be mentioning people he knows who could get you a really good bargain on this or that. And he will keep bringing these things up at every opportunity.
Like his pride, a Xin man wears his passions openly. Lamentations of sorrow or boisterous declarations of love are given with drama and earnestness. He is also quick to lash out with word or hand if he feels slighted. But his anger passes just as quickly, and he will soon be laughing and buying the next round of drinks. A Xin seems to have little thought of revenge or resentment. When pressed on this, he may shrug and say "Grudges earn no gold." Or he may laugh and say "If it's a fight you want, just wait till I'm a god. Then we'll have a proper match."
And here lies another oddity about the Xin, their view of the afterlife. It seems to be a matter of perspective. While a pious Shan's view of the Bright Courts centers on his deified ancestors, the Xin is fixated on his own future apotheosis there. Both are theologically correct (at least, according to the ancient traditions), but the two attitudes could not be more strikingly different. A Xin's entire life is thought to be a grand journey toward a glorious enthronement.
Perhaps it is this self-assurance which makes them so ostentatious with regards to appearance. They wear exotic furs and expensive fabrics worked into bold patterns of varied hues. Jewelry is also popular, the gaudier the better. It doubles as wealth storage, at least for those strong or nimble enough to keep hold of it. There are plenty of quick hands eager to relieve them of the burden.
Thieves of all stripes are a constant problem here. Most work in highly organized networks, each with its own chieftain who plans heists and protects underlings with bail and bribe. In return he takes a fixed cut of the loot. Lone wolves do crop up occasionally, but they rarely last. It is a difficult thing to dodge both criminals and the law, particularly when they work so well together. Of course, you could always hightail it for the desert, but you'd better have a faster horse than the gendarmerie.
The introduction of western horses has changed life for the Xin. Liangyese horses tend to be small, best used in teams to pull wagons or chariots. The new horses being imported are stronger and swifter, allowing for the the development of true cavalry. The Xin have taken to them quickly, riding into combat wearing bright silk over bronze armor and yelling piercing war cries. Fearless and energetic, Xin warriors have made a name for themselves both as soldiers in the war and as caravan guards along the Great Road.
The Xin have profited greatly from the war, both in plunder and the arms trade. It is rumored that some of them are playing both sides by selling to the enemy, hoping to drag the war out as long as possible. This is hotly denied and would be a major scandal if it could be proved.
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