Story one:

The year is 1500 BC. China boasts of eleven burgeoning and wealthy mega-metropolises, a flourishing culture, and a mighty military equipped with the most advanced technology of the day. Under the twenty years of Emperor Han Shien Di’s leadership, Han dynasty had grown into an empire that inspired the awe and fear of its neighbors. All roads led to the Louyang, China’s magnificent capital.

However, the year 1500 BC is also a year of great trouble for Emperor Han Shien Di and his government. True that China was rich and powerful, and its reputation had spread far beyond its own boarder. Yet, there is always that ambitious someone who wants to do the impossible and outdo what Emperor Han Shien Di had done. That someone is Alexander the Great of Greeks.

An ambitious leader, he wants to build a world-encompassing empire that incorporates China, India, and Germany. If successful, Alexander would have in effect unified the entire continent under his rule. Yet, Alexander is not a man who lets his idealism precedes rational calculus. He understood the challenge he was facing. The Han dynasty China has a solid political and economic structure cemented by the enlightened Emperor Han Shien Di. To tear apart China, he would have to destroy what makes China strong. What make China strong is the emperor himself, and the great reforms and institutions that he has created with the help of his competent imperial advisors. To destroy it was a task definitely easier said than done.

Emperor Han Shien Di understood Alexander. Merchant-spies had sent back reports of Alexander personality profiles as well as the great work he has done in his own kingdom. Emperor Han Shien Di knew Alexander to be a man of great ambition, intellect and pragmatism.

When he was younger, Emperor Han Shien Di would have welcomed such a formidable foe as Alexander. Yet at his old age, the emperor does not wish for such challenge not because time has washed away his competence and gallantry. Rather, it is for the more honorable reason that a challenge between two emperors essentially boils down to inevitable warfare that would only mean loss of lives, something that the emperor has seen too much during his long reign.

Emperor Han Shien Di called in one of his most trusted imperial advisor, Han Shing, to consult on the Greek matter.

Emperor: Your fear has come true, and I regret not having listened to you before. Merchant-spies have sent words that Alexander is in the process of a major military re-deployment. From initial observations, it seems that this young king is shifting the concentration of his army to the Greek-German boarder. Alexander wants to attack Germany.

Han Shin: And you believe in such a reports?

Emperor: Are you saying that my merchant-spies are wrong?

Han Shin: No, but that your merchant-spies have been deceived, which is forgivable since they have limited opportunities from which to observe the real nature of what goes on in Greece.

Emperor: Elaborate

Han Shin: All under heaven knows of your merchant-spies. Germans, Indians and Grecians know that their countries are populated by these Chinese spies, although they do not know the particular individuals. Yet they dare not shut off commerce with China and forbid entry of Chinese into their kingdoms, for such an act would no doubt evoke your wrath. Therefore the only thing they could do is to deceive your merchant-spies so that they can sent back to you inaccurate information, and misguide your decisions.

Emperor: Then what do you think is the real intention of Alexander’s shifting his army to the Germany-Greek boarder?

Han Shin: To create the delusion that Germany and Greek is about to go to war with each other, and cause us to drop our vigilance at the boarder. And when opportunity comes, Germany and Greek will catch us by surprise.

Emperor: And what should be the proper solution?

Han Shin: Looking at the world map, it is obvious that Germany lies between India and Greek while China is right below both Germany and Greeks. If we can convince Indians to move their troops to the Germany-Indian boarder, then Germany would have second thoughts about going to war against us. Second, if we move our own military to the China-Germany boarder, then Germany would essentially be surrounded by all three kingdoms. Although Greeks is in name an ally, but being surrounded from all three sides, two of which are potential hostile enemies, would create enough psychological duress. If we can do something that make the Germans doubt the Greek’s sincerity in this alliance, then we would easily dissolve the German-Grecian alliance.

Emperor: Excellent! But how exactly should we carry out the plan?

Han Shin: First, we must convince the Indians to move their troops. The king of India is not a man of insatiable material desire or worldly comfort, so bribing him with lavish gifts would have no effect. In fact, this king is an enlightened one who dutifully administers his empire, and understands the need to restraint from entertainments and leisure. However, willingness to devote oneself to the task of administration doesn’t automatically translate into a powerful empire if the king is incompetent. Although the king is not foolish, he also is not particularly skilled in the art of political administration or in the judgment of human characters. His success as a king up to now rests completely on his having a loyal, equally devoted, and more importantly, competent advisors. The king has unconditional trusts for his advisors, so that to get India to move the troops to where we desired it to be moved, we must start with his advisors.

Emperor: Merchant-spies based in India has sent back reports of three royal Indian advisors with detailed information. Of the three, Prime Minister Gandhi wields the most influence. We should work on him.

Han Shin: Indeed. Tomorrow, I will set for Delhi and use the pretext of a marriage proposal between your Princess Wen Chen with Prince Abha of India to meet with the prime minister. India will reject this marriage proposal for sure because Prince Abha has already been engaged with Princess Jaleh of Persia. But that is of no significance as long as I can meet with the prime minister. From there on, I can re-direct our conversation to the matter of military re-deployment.

Emperor: Excellent. I will order for preparation of your departure tomorrow as well as of gifts to show our sincerity. And when you come back, we can discuss the second part of our strategy, which is to dissolve the German-Grecian alliance by creating tension or mistrust between them.

Han Shin: And I will dwell my mind on this matter while traveling toward India.

Emperor: However, Han Shin, be sure to not let harm come to the prime minister even if that is the only way to accomplish our goal. I have read reports on him, and the prime minister truly is a noble man of great intellect and benevolence.

Han Shin: But my emperor, to be rid of someone as competent as this prime minister would be to reduce the number of talented advisors in India. It is only to our advantage that this is done.

Emperor: No, to get rid of someone as noble as this prime minister would be to increase the probability of allowing someone less noble to fill the power vacuum left by the prime minister’s absence. The ramification is unthinkable if whoever succeeds the prime minister is another Alexander. I do not wish for any more war than the one I have on hand already.

Han Shin: You are indeed farsighted and wise.

To be continued

Red=China
Green=Germany
Purple=Greek
Gray=India

The palace that houses the king of India and his royal family is lofty and grand, ornamented by statues and wall-sculpting that reflected an artistic accomplishment easily rivaling China’s. Nevertheless for all its artistic grandeur, this what is to Han Shin an alien-looking architecture made the gigantic edifice somewhat intimidating, such a sentiment arising undoubtedly from purely lack of familiarity with this radically different culture. But this is a problem that would quickly be solved upon some period of adjustment.

That length of adjustment was considerably shortened by the very genuinely friendly reception that was held for Han Shin upon his arrival. Prime Minister Gandhi held Han Shin’s hand, and gave him a tour of the part of palace that was accessible to the minister himself. Following the tour was a long session of captivating entertainment consisted of exotic and delightful wine and food, and court dances accompanied by mind-entraining music. The prime minister himself treated Han Shin as if they were old friends who have not seen each other for decades.

Han Shin was deeply touched by such warmth, yet he constantly reminded himself of the reason for his being here. It was certainly not vacation.

On that night of Han Shin’s arrival, the Chinese imperial advisor, now taking on the role of a diplomat, was escorted to his own chamber. Though tired, Han Shin did not want to sleep, for he had not have a chance to speak to the Indian prime minister of the reason of his arrival. Avoiding drowsiness, Han Shin went out to take a walk in the garden at the somewhat chilly hour, letting the breeze and fresh air refresh his brain to facilitate his thinking.

He was thinking of how to approach the subject of marriage proposal, to act slightly disappointed upon receiving the inevitable rejection, to re-direct the conversation to the matter of military re-deployment and formation of an Indian-Sino alliance.

His thinking was however interrupted by the sound of footsteps that came from behind. Turning around, Han Shin saw the Indian prime minister himself. Before Han Shin was given the chance to bow in show of respect, the prime minister signaled for him to follow. In a few minutes, Han Shin was led away from the eastern part of garden where he was just strolling and to another part of the garden that was populated by trees. The garden began to turn maze-like when the prime minister stopped.

Gandhi: I do not know why your emperor has sent for you here, but I know it is definitely not about the marriage proposal. Come clean with me and tell me what is really on your mind.

Han Shin tried hard not to let his face betray his surprise. Of all the things that the minister could have said, it had to be this! How did the minister know about the marriage proposal? More importantly, how did the minister know that this marriage proposal is not the real reason for his coming to India?

Gandhi: Do not be surprised that I know about the marriage proposal. When I was still a young man, I was a merchant. I frequented China and had the opportunity to learn your people’s culture and language. On more than several occasions, I have been given the chance to observe a typical Chinese wedding ceremony. When I saw the gifts you have brought with you, I recognized them to be gifts used in wedding related occasions. This is why I know you are here for marriage proposal between my prince and your princess. However, I also know your not actually here for the marriage proposal. The proposal is just a pretext to something else more important.

Han Shin: And what draws you to that conclusion?

Gandhi: Because in the past several days before you arrived at India, I have heard words from my old merchant friends that Germany and Greek is in the process of forming an alliance. Yet geopolitical logic dictates that this alliance is formed against China, not India, because India does not share a common boarder with Greek. Without a common boarder, a military alliance involving Greek is meaningless. And just as soon as I have reached this conclusion, you show up. Your country has the most extensive merchant-spy network in the world. You no doubt have heard of this alliance. This is why I know your being here is not really about the marriage proposal, but about international politics.

Han Shin bowed to Gandhi, his respect for the minister having multiplied many folds in the passage of only several seconds in which the minister made his explanation.

Han Shin: China’s merchant-spies have great opinion of you, and now I see that their opinion is more than amply justified. Yes, it is true that I am not here to speak about marriage. In China, we know of the impending wedding between your prince and the princess of Persia. I am here to speak about international politics as you have guessed. But before I explain myself, I wish to know why we could not have spoken about this matter back in the eastern garden.

Gandhi: To quote from a Chinese proverb, “there are ears behind the wall”. Where we are standing now, I know for sure that nobody can hear us.

Han Shin: Very well. I am here to inform India of a very great danger that will soon swallow up your kingdom if you do not react fast enough. You were right to think that the alliance between Germany and Greece was formed against China, but you were wrong to think that this alliance was not formed for the purpose of an invasion against India.

Gandhi: How so?

Han Shin: An invasion against China would, if successful, lead to China’s partitioning, with half being given to Germany, and the other half given to Greece. The half of China given to Germany could add to her more resources with which to be used on an invasion against India. Even if Germany decides not to attack India, the partitioning would nevertheless add more power to Germany. That addition of power would be a great threat to your country always. You have only need to look at the map to know how significantly Germany can dwarf India if the partition was to happen.

Gandhi: That is assuming that Germany and Greece won’t fight a war against themselves in trying to get the biggest share of spoil of war. But more importantly, what you said assume that China would loose the war in the first place. Would your country that is undisputedly the greatest power in all under heaven loose?

Han Shin: At the very best, China will be severely weakened if we do not loose.

Gandhi: And so will Germany and Greece. And if all three of you are weakened, is not that the most favorable scenario for India?

A sense of desperation began to surface as Han Shin realized that what the minister said makes only too much sense. It is in fact in India’s interest that the conflict between China and the Germany-Grecian alliance be played out so that India can reap the fruit of patience and prudence after the three warring kingdoms weaken themselves from the war. Yet Han Shin could not find any good reason to counter Gandhi’s argument.

After several seconds of silence, and after Gandhi had observed Han Shin’s abortive attempt to find a counter-argument, Gandhi decides that it is time to end the conversation.

Gandhi: It is late. Let me consider this matter a little more, and we can talk a little more tomorrow.

Han Shin wished to say more, yet he could not find anything to say that would help his cause. Reluctantly, he bowed and walked back to his guest chamber. Han Shin would not be able to sleep for the rest of the night. He MUST find a way to get India to re-deploy her troops.

Han Shin woke up in the middle of the morning. Typically, he would have woke up much earlier. But he did not sleep well last night, having been occupied with figuring out how to convince the prime minister to move Indian army to the India-German boarder. The task is much harder than he had originally imagined because he had totally underestimated the intellect of those in the Indian government.

Han Shin walked around his guest chamber and saw a map of the known world. Elegantly drawn using the most advanced cartographical technologies of the day, the map showed the two continents, one on north, the other on the south. The southern continent is the one that sits India, Germany, Greece and China, and the northern continent locates Persia and England. The vast size of the mighty Persian empire is truly daunting. In fact, it is not all unlikely that what kept Persia from invading any of the kingdoms in the southern continent was the Hamilisian Sea that divides the two continents. If the world geography have been changed just slightly a little in a way that give a bridge between these two continents, the entire southern continents would feel have felt Persia’s wrath long ago.

Han Shin stared at the map, and something begins to dawn on him. The Indian prime minister was wrong to think that it is in the best interest of India that China, Germany and Greece becomes weakened through war. And the reason is because of Persia.

Persia=blue
England=yellow

The next day, Han Shin seized the first opportunity he has to meet up with Gandhi.

Han Shin: Yesterday, you have said that it is only in India’s interest that China, Greek, and Germany become weakened through a war. However, you have made that conclusion on a very dangerously untrue assumption.

Gandhi: What is it that I have missed?

Han Shin: You have neglected the Persian factor. That the Persian army has not made any attempt cross the Hamilisian Sea and invade the southern continent was due only to the fact that it is impossible to establish a foothold anywhere on the southern continent. However, the weakening of Greek, China, and Germany would make this issue a non-issue. Second, a weakened Germany and Greece would make the Persian invasion an easy task. Persia then can easily establish itself as the dominant power on this continent. It is only a matter of time. Tell me. What do you prefer? A southern continent that includes India and three other equally strong powers to combine force and confront the Persian threat, or to let Persia march her army right into your own backyard unchallenged?

Gandhi’s face showed an expression of a person who has just been enlightened as he listened to Han Shin. Indeed, he had completely factored out Persian’s response to events on the southern continent and was, as a result, led to the erroneous assumption that the impending war between China and the Germany-Grecian alliance would be good for India. Upon even more careful thinking, Gandhi begins to suspect the real intention of union of Prince Abha of India and Princess Jaleh of Persia. Is this union simply a way to tie India’s hand? Certainly, if a wedding should occur between the royalties of both India and Persia, then the two countries would be considered “families”. India will be expected to support Persia in her actions or at least not to object. This means that India will not even be able to prevent Persian army’s entry onto the southern continent short of using outright force.

Gandhi: You are right. I must confess great ignorance and lack of farsightedness on my part when I have made the conclusion that I have made last night. The current balance of power on the southern continent must be preserved if we want to keep the Persian army at bay. However, what idea do you have?

Han Shin: The best way to preserve the current balance of power on the southern continent now is to ensure that no war breaks out at all. The German and Greeks would not dare an attack on China if they were acting alone. It was only this alliance that gave the two the courage to attack China. However if the alliance can be dissolved, then peace would be preserved. And if peace were preserved, current balance of power would also be maintained.

To dissolve the alliance, India simply has to move her army to the India-Germany boarder. This will make the Germans think twice about invading China. Furthermore, if China also begins to move its troops to the Sino-German boarder, then Germans would be surrounded by India in the west, China in the south, and Greek in the east. This will create enough stress for Germany. Yes, it is true that Greek is an ally, but it is also true that this alliance is formed only recently. Therefore no significant time has passed that has given this alliance any chance of cementing this relationship. Trust between the two is minimal. If we can exploit this lack of trust and somehow dissolve the alliance as a result, then combined with India’s army at the German boarder, peace can definitely be bought.

Gandhi: Excellent! I will see to it that the matter of military re-deployment be carried through. But how should we exploit the lack of trust to dissolve the alliance?

Han Shin: That is a task that you may leave to my government. All you have got to do is to move the Indian army. And you will have saved the entire southern continent from a great disaster.

Gandhi smiled. It was so easy. A simple re-deployment of army would be sufficient to check the possibility of a war between three kingdoms and an invasion from Persia. Gandhi admired the plan. Moreover, he admired the person who created this strategy. China’s sudden rise two decades ago under the leadership of Emperor Han Shien Di has always been a mystery to Gandhi, for he never understood how the emperor was able to bring about such a miracle for the fortune of his empire in such a short time. Looking at Han Shin, now he understands why.

Han Shin returned to Louyang ten days after he had left India. The mission that took him to India was successfully executed, and now he had only to worry about the second stage of the plan, which was to dissolve the alliance between Germany and Greece. However, it is absolutely imperative that Emperor Han Shien Di begins to move the bulk of the Chinese army to the Germany-China boarder as a show of sincerity so that India would carry out her promise.

The re-deployment was quickly made, and India had also kept their part of the promise. Germany is now surrounded on all three sides. Three days after Han Shin had came back from India, the Emperor Han Shien Di asked for his presence for consultation on the proper course of action to realize the second stage of the strategy.

Han Shin: I have given much thought on this matter for the past several days and have come up with an idea. It has always been the case that when two countries are about to go to war, commercial activities between the two countries always visibly decrease. And when relations between two countries are good, commercial activities between them visibly increase.

News of the impending war between China and the German-Grecian alliance has not reached to the public yet, and therefore has not made any impact on the level of commerce between the two nations. However, this will change soon as merchants begin to realize what is going on.

Before the realization of war becomes prevalent, we must act fast and convince the Chinese merchants that war would not happen. In fact, if we can encourage an increase in the inter-kingdom commercial activities between Greek and China, and between India and China, this would create the delusion that relation between India, Greek and China has improved. At the same time, we must discourage Chinese, Indian, and Grecian commerce with Germany. If we accomplish this, and couple this delusion with the very real fact that Germany has already been surrounded by all three kingdoms’ armies, then the German-Grecian alliance that is already suffering from lack of mutual trust would quickly dissolve.

Emperor: Good thinking! Encouraging commerce between India and China is an easy matter for all I have to do is decrease tariff. In fact, I should decree a drastic reduction in import tariff from Greek and India, but leave tariff import from Germany unchanged. This alone should generate substantial increase in inter-kingdom commerce between China, India, and Greek.

Han Shin: Moreover, we should order our merchant-spy to tap into their Grecian and Indian networks and through word of mouth convince the Grecian and Indian merchants that relations with China have improved substantially and that opportunities to profit by doing business in China is immense. This will encourage the Grecian and Indian merchants to come to China. Furthermore, our merchant-spy based in Germany should begin to spread rumor about impending war between Germany and a grand coalition comprise of India, China, and Greek. Then order these merchant-spy to begin to leave Germany in great number, convincing other Germany based Chinese merchant who are not affiliated with our merchant-spy system to do the same. If this is done, the delusion would have been created. And when this happens, the Grecian-Germany alliance would be dissolved.

Emperor Han Shien Di laughed happily at this strategy. The art of deception has always been a talent of the Chinese people. In fact, the great military strategist Sun Tzi said that the art of war is the art of deception. Whoever can conceal truth and create delusion most successfully will win any war and battles. This military principle had never stopped to extricate the Chinese from trouble with foreign kingdoms, and this time it is no exception.

Han Shin’s strategy worked miraculously. Exactly one month after, German diplomat arrived at Louyang, wishing for a meeting with Emperor Han Shien Di. His mission to China was to deliver to the Chinese emperor of Germany’s goodwill. The clever Emperor Han Shien Di ordered for construction of fifty horse-carts modeled on those that would be used by Grecian diplomats. These “Grecian” horse-carts were put in plain sight of the German diplomat, causing the German diplomat to believe that Greek really has been secretly contacting China. Moreover, that there were FIFTY “Grecian” horse-carts (as opposed to Germany’s fifteen) indicated that Greek has brought much more gifts to China than Germany. In an effort to please the Chinese emperor and outdo the Grecian, the German diplomat made excessive concessions. And with that, the German-Grecian alliance is forever dissolved.

In the process of writing more stories now. But before I go on, I am just wandering if people actually are reading it and enjoying what I wrote? If so, I'll continue. If not, there's no point of my wasting the forum's webspace. Feedbacks are appreciated :) Thanks for your patronage HEHEHE

I enjoyed it, you don't hear about the political side of things enough. Although you may have commited blasphemy by solving a conflict through diplomacy instead of war. :)