Clan Jaun-Jaun had won, the Avars had been united. The crafty leader of the Clan had won a great battle between Clan Asina and Clan Kandik, and forced the defeated to bow. With the defeat of the two strongest, and the others weakened by their own personal wars, they too were forced to submit.
The Avars were not as divided by Clan rivalaries as they were before. The Avars have been united under the power of Khagan Bakun, the former Chieftan of Jaun-Jaun. The rivalaries still bleed, underneath the surface of the Steepe nation. Clans still fought amongst themselves, and there was a general distrust of each other. Still, the Clans followed the will of the Khagan, after all, he united them, surely he could bring greater glories, greater....conquests.
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The nights were cold on the steepe. A person would kill to find a warm place to sleep, surrounded by sheeps wool on a felt hammock. In fact, some did. The lands of the Avar nation were generally a lawless area, were only personal honor upheld the peace. A-na-kuei pulled his leather clothes tighter to his body, cold in the night air.
Enough daydreaming... he thought.
I have to get to the camp.
A-na-kuei jolted his horse from its resting state telling it to move on. The horse snorted, its breath hanging in the chilly night air. The horse continued on the well trodden path, but, A-na-kuei knew better. The night was not kind on the steepe. Whether it was a wild animal, or a crazy raider hoping to catch a way ward trader off gaurd.
Spirts know how many raids there have been on the "Silk" road since those Shu came. he thought. Those fools have no respect for the forests and fields.
Although, we are richer now.
Shaking himself out of his wandering thoughts, A-na-kuei continued his journey, trying to keep an eye out for any threat that might befall him. He travelled for another hour before he reached his destination, the village of Clan Kuei. The last son of former Kuei Chieftan had returned to claim his birthright, and he would fight the Khagan until his Clan was given what was owed.
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"Khagan, must we do this?" asked Yayu, brother to the Khagan. He was seated in the Khagans tent, as where several other of the Khagans realatives and trusted advisors. The Khagan looked sharply at his brother before answering. "You doubt my judgement?" Yayu stayed silent, ashamed at his vieled reprimand.
"Sir, no disrespect, but is it wise to try and claim the entirety of the Silk road from the other clans? It is making us rich enough now, and if we attempt to conquer it, wouldn't that just disrupt it?" asked the Khagan's General, Bayan. The Khagan smiled at that point, rather than be deterred by it. "We are Avars, what we take, is ours by right. It is the law of the steepes."
Bayan frowned, not understanding, "I understand that sure, but if we disrupt it, we won't make as much money." A snort came at this statement, coming from the religous authority in the Khagan's circle, Hatar. "Foolish boy, you should remember that gold is not everything, the spirts are not metal and gems, they are forests and plains, beasts of the Earth and Air. Gold is not what matters here." Sage nods accompied that statement, muttering of encouragement and agreement following the wise mans spoken rebutal.
Sputtering in anger, Bayan opened to make a retort before being cut off by the Khagan. "Both are right, but both are wrong." Confused looks followed this statement as both sides supporters tried to figure out what the Khagan meant by the statement. Continueing on as if nothing was wrong, the Khagan spoke once more, "It is true that with our Conquests we will disrupt the Silk route, but we will gain land, land which would be ours by law of the Steepe. By the laws of the Spirts. With our new aqquistions, the Silk road will flourish even more, and we can charge more for our protected route. We will gain both land, and eventually wealth from this. Therefore, both of you are correct in your fashion."
Numerous confused expersions become understanding smiles as the Khagan explained his plan, and it was met with apporval on all sides. The Khagan then turned to a gaurd before speaking, "Fetch me an ambassador. I have a proposition for the Jade Empire."
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To be continued..... (meaning I'm going to edit a bit more stuff here tommorrow when I feel like it)