The Beautiful Twilight
The Empire, the Eternal Empire, stands at the door of the domain of the God of Death. The Yun Dynasty, appointed by Heaven as The Guardian of Her Chosen Realm, now fights to maintain her heavenly duty. For more then a thousand years, the Empire has stood in the way of famine, of pestilence, of unending war and of chaos. Now? If the Dynasty falls, so shall our civilization. Yun General Zhou Yu
He, General Zhou Yu, sat in quite an uncomfortable chair as he observed the proceedings that were occurring in front of his eyes. If not for the discomfort he felt, he would not have believed the words and sight he was both hearing and seeing. Such talk went against the grain of what he had been taught against childhood, it was shocking. It only confirmed his opinion of the majority of bureaucrats, timid, coward and weak. He quivered with anger and rage but he summoned his restraint and discipline, he was a General, not a common soldier.
Your Majesty, the only path I see is the one of peace and conciliation. Any other paths would only lead to the greater suffering of your people, can you stand the bloodstains of millions upon your hands? Your Majesty has the choice to end all that, and simply accept the demands of General Fang Lizhi and those of the coastal cities. Then, unified and strong once more, we can easily crush our southern foes.
But Prime Minister, surely you do not believe in the words youve just uttered? He glanced at his nominal superior on his left in surprise; General Li Fang had a reputation for not interfering or at all commenting on anything non-military. If General Li of all people had voiced a voice of opposition, he should do so as well.
I agree with General Li. The large majority of our armies have yet seen battle and it was only the surprise of the coastal cities that allowed them to gain such a quick advantage over us. We can still easily crush them if we take this golden opportunity to do so. General Fang, the coastal cities, and the rebellions are but the extremities of the Empire, the core remains loyal.
It was brave of him, perhaps too brave. Instantly, everyone looked at him. Everyone. It wasnt exactly pleasant but he firmly stood his ground.
Do you fear blood so much Ministers, that you shirk from it even when it is the only course left? If we were to negotiate with General Fang and the rebels, who next? You think our neighboring state will admire weakness or even see it? It is a sign of weakness, that the Yun Empire cannot even keep her own home in order. They will invade.
Then what Minister? The Telcari would the least of our concerns, Haijon, Zhanda, the western nomads will see our situation as weaken and will invade. Then what you wonder? Fang and the rebels will rise up again and fight us. What the barbarian thinks aside, what will the subjects of His Imperial Majesty say? His loyal, faithful subjects whom still cling to him for protection! Are we to abandon them to the clutches of our foes?
He waited for the inevitable retort from the powerful and talkative Prime Minister, and as he calmed down, he realized the extent of what he had just said. He had questioned not only the Ministers advice, but his mind as well, a terrible feeling of dread came to his stomach, knew he would regret it. Yet, to his surprise, other voices were raised, coming to his support. They looked to the Emperor, the ever so young Emperor, what was he? Naught but in his early twenties, he was the Emperor.
With a crystal clear voice, one of sure confidence and strength considering the weight of Heaven and the Yun Dynasty upon his shoulders, he decided the verdict.
Negotiation is out of the question, military preparations will be taken.