The world map in 1070 a.d.:
Since I was now the new head of the Persian Army, I was invited to a military presentation by the truthsayers. I was told that some scientists would show the latest research in military technology. So I was guided to some military training yard. A proud young officer came to greet me and told me something about the great thing he would be allowed to show me. At my side were two scientists, which seemed quite nervous.
Then the officer mounted on a horse and took some sort of strange looking stick in his hand. He rode towards a small hill, behind which a funny looking thing with red and white circles was installed. As soon as he reached the hilltop, last thing I remember was a great explosion. When I took my hand of my face and dared to glace around, the horse, the officer and the hill were gone. Left was a black smouldering crater with the red and white thing standing directly behind it
I just wanted to tell the two scientists that I really was impressed (although I couldnt see directly the military profit in blowing up this hill
), when they started to shout at each other:
I told you to take less of the powder!
No, it is all your fault, the shell wasnt strong enough
Before I could ask them what they were talking about, the head scientist came over to us and told me that the cold buffet is open now. Of course I skipped the questioning and went over immediately, because everybody knows, that it is most important to be the first at any buffet.
Later I got explained by one of the truthsayers, that the red and white thing is quite commonly used as some Targeting Trainings Device (TTD)
When I was asked to see the same presentation two weeks later, I immediately said yes, because last time it was quite impressive. This time, a pale and shaking officer came to greed me, mounted on the horse, took the stick (the scientists called shooting-stick), rode towards the crater (which somebody had filled up with earth) a small banging sound could be heard, the TTD shook a little and that was it.
I was quite disappointed, but since the two scientists where actually jumping up and down and seemed very pleased with what was going on, I kept I to myself (and decided that scientists must be somehow related to wise men and that it would be best to avoid contact with both groups).
Some time later, one of the truthsayers told me that Dschingis is waiting in my office. He also informed me, that Dschingis wants me to help him in his war against Russia, which wasnt going very well. Dschingis so far had already lost 4 or 5 cities to Kathy and his empire was reduced to 4 cities in 1100 a.d.
1100 a.d. North-East Asia
The truthsayers advised me to refuse this plea for help, because we shouldnt attack Kathy (besides, I would never attack Kathy) and Dschingis left Persepolis quite annoyed
Only two days later, I received a letter from Kathy, that she is very very angry, because I refused to give her some Persian sheep. When I asked the truthsayers about it, they said to me, that it was in one of the papers I signed last week and that I did well and that Persia is no subject for blackmailing
I still didnt know why the truthsayers told me only some weeks later to accept Qin`s plea to help in his war against India, because I always thought that Qin was actually winning this war. He had already taken the first Indian city and was conducting raids all over the Indian subcontinent. But the truthsayers explained to me, that this is all a trick by Ashoka and that the Chinese are in great danger and that we must help them. So I accepted Qins plea in 1085 a.d. and directed most of our troops towards India. Only the remaining swordsmen and elephants were left in East Europe because the truthsayers said they would be to slow to travel to India (additionally they kept babbling about something like securing our border to Russia).
When Ashoka founded Liberalism in 1100 a.d., the truthsayers told me, that now I have the proof of how dangerous Ashoka really was. Althoug I didn`t know what Liberalism exactly was, I never the less ordered the troops to advance in Indian territory in 1115 a.d., and, thanks to my superior warfare tactics, we encountered absolutely no resistance (even no enemy troops...). Kalkutta, an Indian borderland city towards Persia, with two lonely groups of longbow men as defenders, was taken without any losses. In fact, only troops that were encountered in India were some Chinese troops (in great danger
) pillaging the land. In the year 1130 a.d. we finally equipped some of our knights with the shooting-sticks and I ordered the advance on Delhi.
This was also the year, when we met Monty. He seemed quite powerful, but hopelessly outdated in technology, so the truthsayers advised me to just ignore him (what was quite difficult to me, because I alwas had the feeling that his impressive skull-hat was staring at me..).
India, 1130 a.d. :
see you soon,
Snaaty
