Pre-Update
403 BCE 24th year of Emperor Zhou Weiliwang
Year of the Wood Tiger
Zhou Weiliwang looked at his hands. The same hands that had thrown the symbolic stick and sealed his orders. Wei Si, Zhao Ji and Han Qian were now Dukes of their states. Yet another sign that his empire was falling apart, and it had been since the start of the Chunqiu The Spring and Autumn. After ruling the Zhou kingdom for twenty-four years, he would have expected to be able to regain some of the glory of the dynasty. Instead, all he had been doing was ascend the steps to the Temple of Heaven every year. For what purpose? He prayed for a good year ahead, but who would benefit in the end? The dukes, and all they gave was a nominal tribute with which to maintain Luoyang. A curse left his lips that the eunuchs around him could not catch.
The Dukes around him were itching for land, and overstepping his authority. The Three Jins were busy with their own problems right now, Qin had been busy expanding their power base, the other states generally at each others throats and the evil Qu devils thought that they were the ruling dynasty. Blasphemers. Shu Ba and Yue wanted a piece of the great Middle Kingdom and while it was good that they wanted to assimilate with the glorious Chinese culture, the emperor was not sure if the other states will take their growth kindly.
Lu was busy showing off their intellect but perhaps that was a mistake. Even now, the states are poised to tempt Lu scholars to work with them instead of Lu and only time will tell how this would work.
Nonetheless, the last year had been relatively peaceful and it could portend to a good future for his reign. Never had he experienced such a lapse of fighting, such relaxation, and he hoped that
The clatter of steps told him a courtier was running, very quickly.
What the hell does he
want?
Your Majesty, you must see this!
The next five minutes were a blur. The courtiers panicked expression was about the only thing Zhou Weiliwang remembered as he ran, following the courtier to the bell-room. In it, the nine bronze bells of sovereignty were held the symbol of Zhou power over the Middle Kingdom. As the emperor neared the room, he could hear the deep resonance of the bell. No one could have hit the bell and left such a lasting sound, it could only mean that chaos was imminent.
Zhou Weiliwang sighed. He had been too quick to assume that his kingdom will be at peace. The vibrating bells only meant one thing the lull has ended.
Zhanguo Shidai has begun.
OOC Notes
Back during this time, citizens of states can be found working for other states so that means if you dont give your generals and people what they like, they may just leave you and serve another state. For example, Mo Zi served Lu although he was from Song.
This is the normal phase now. Please pop in orders by Wednesday, US Time.
Let the games begin.
Alex - I meant Wu, your (Yue's) capital city.
NPC Diplo
from Das' polar bears
to all of China
We are the polar bears. Resistance is futile. You shall be polar-commandoed. Please put this on your sig to show that you've been polar-commandoed.
