China
Sio did not like most of the other nations that communications had begun with. Most of them were led by either religious, arrogant, or leaders with simply too much time on their hands arguing about land that theyve not even seen yet aside from the maps from that Italian Calumbei*. Arrogant bastards, the land had its own spirit they should know. Even though according to some scholar guy New China as Buddhist, it was really a mix of the old beliefs. Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism combined together, the Chinese Way. Praying to the ancestors, respecting the elements of nature, as well as reflecting upon ones purpose and actions in life to become a better person those were things that the Chinese followed. Not just plain Buddhism as that scholar with the very weird name of Von Dunkalhei* had said before being viciously put in a cage then lowered in to the water. The Chinese Ways were truly beyond the sophistication of anyone to understand, most Chinese themselves did not understand the True Way, for what is life but a lesson passed from the elderly to the young? Sio was drawn away from this thinking by a knock on the door
.
After ordering the servants to open the door, General Ling Wa stepped in.
My Lord, I have chosen the men required for the voyage to the faraway empire. I ask that you inspect them as well as prepare for the tribute needed.
Ahh yes, Sio thought to himself, the Empire under the Beautiful Empress had come asking for tribute, with people fluent in Chinese. Perhaps the legendary Admiral of the Han Dynasty had indeed survived
..
Bring the tea as well as some of the salamanders and the other goods I told you before.
Was that really his voice ordering Ling Wa to bear tribute to another nation? The times had fallen hard on him even if his family had survived the trip perfectly. It was landing that destroyed his family, his wife had drowned leaving him alone to raise their son. Born in Guangzhou 4 years before the Times of Trouble he was now 8 year old and was becoming the perfect son. In philosophy and religion he absorbed it all like a sponge, at 8 he was already a master swordsman using the sword that he had brought over given to him in a gift from his Father. However, he had one flaw really
. That was that he was way too friendly, trusting, a trait for an Emperor or Ruler could mean death. He would give his life to a friend that he knew would give his life for him. A word from Ling Wa broke his train of thought and to the matter at hand.
General, the Empress of this Empire is rumored to be the most beautiful women in the world, will you and your men stand up against it?
Sio, I killed my own wife when it was proven she was a spy for the enemy, and have you ever heard of the Manchu Female Warriors? Beauty, with equally dangerous weaponry, many of them have died at my hands after their attempt to revolt against your father. Beauty is a weapon that Ive learned to ignore, and for the other men I will vouch for them. Their love of their arts and crafts is beyond obsession. We will return in one seasons time.
Good Sailing, or as our French Neighbor say it, Bon Voyage.
General Ling Wa left later that day and Sio went out to inspect the new holdings around a river. The river was broad and moved slowly downhill, reminding him of the Huang He back home. Already, he had ordered what carpenters there were idle to build irrigation systems to feed running water to the farms to that rice could be more abundantly harvested. Then calamity or what seemed like calamity to the empty fields struck. With the rumors of new fertile lands near the river, thousands of Chinese rushed to take the land along the river for absolutely free with limitations to the estate size u could claim. In no time, the river valley was completely filled with farms producing crops for the greatness of China and to the testimony of Chinese efficiency. Hearing about the amble supply of metals in the mountains to the north, he ordered a great expedition to claim it for the Empire.
Sio then declared Those who stand in our way or attempt to block our passage to the mountains to the North can be considered our enemy, and certainly not our friends.
A new year had begun
who knew what The Heavenly Spirit had in store for those that defy its laws
*wrong spelling is deliberate to better fit chinese vocabulary, also i know i commited heresy by killing someone with the name of von dunkelheit, but i couldn't think of another name for stalin...