The Chinese, People of the Lake

[spacedragonblue]

Bei peered across the large lake from his reed boat. Behind him, roughly a hundred other similar craft followed. They were the Chinese, last in a long line of nomads who lived along the shores of "Mother of Waters", as the glittering expanse of water was called.

Their lives were hard ones, tied to the ebb and flow of the fish stocks, the flocks of birds, the sweet roots that popped out of the ground in spring. Winters were very harsh, close as their homeland was to the icy edge of the world. Seasons flitted by in an endless cycle. Some years the Chinese feasted, others they starved. Through it all, they had no real homes, building temporary camps on the lakeshore or, more unusually, on mats of reeds made into floating islands.

Lately, however, this lifestyle tied so directly to the bounty at hand and the fercy of the elements was coming to an end. The climate was warming. For the first time in living memory, winters that once tarried into April ended in March. The land grew many plants in a profusion of colors and numbers not seen before. As this great awakening happened on land, the opposite happened in the water. The fish stocks crashed. Every day, the Chinese people grew weaker and weaker. The Grand Council, called only in the most dire circumstances, had convened a few months ago. Bei, the young leader of the Tang clan, had stood up, his voice raised against the murmur of voices.

"Friends, we live in a tumultuous world," he began an torchlight flickered on his grim face, "and it has been apparent for some time now that the ancient ways are dying. A new era, an era that can lead us to great glory, is upon us. That era lie not in the ailing waters we love. This new age will be...an age on land!"

Debates raged long into the night, but as the sky brightened overhead and the fires began to dim, an accord was reached. The Chinese would splt. Some would take their chances in the East, land far from the lake and unknown to all. Bei would lead the rest to the Western shores, where fertile feilds waved in the wind. China's time had arrived.

 

[ShadowWarrior]

I love the introduction!!!!!!! Keep going!!!!!!! And don't make us wait too long for the follow ups!!!!!!!

 

[spacedragonblue]

More later tonight, hopefully

 

[spacedragonblue]

The Western Chinese looked with pride at the beautiful new city that was taking shape around them. Beijing, or "Bei's Capital" as the new city was called, had in just a few years become the bustling home of 10,000 people. Every imaginable job was found in the city: Construction worker, fisherman, farmer, official, teacher, scribe and so on in an endless procession of humanity.

On the first day of the new year, greeted with fireworks and parades, a council of advisors was callled at the palace. Bei sat in in ornately carved chair, and was bedecked in rich clothing befitting the special occasion. He sighed to himself slightly. It had been a nightmare appointing the people gathered around him. Every clan had jockeyed for the right to have one of their own at the young leaders side, as it was widely expected he would be crowned emperor in a few years. Now the men and women filed in, red and gold robes swirling about their legs, more than one with a smug smile on their face.

There was much to discuss, so the meeting got started right away. Liu, a wizened old man known far and wide for his way with words, and the domestic advisor, stood up.

"Highness, there is reason for optimism throughout the land. The cornfields south of the city have been farmed and appear to be well on their way to a good harvest. The forests provided large quantities of nuts and game. The fish stocks have rebounded a little, but the average person still can no longer afford them due to their small numbers. The city, as you can see, is growing quickly, and I have submitted a street plan for your review. Other than that, all is well. Soon settlers might set forth to found a second city, but we are not at that stage yet."

A burly man of about fifty, stubble dotting his face, rose and glared at the assembled.

“That’s all well and good, but meanwhile our nation is a sitting duck. Our lone troop of warriors are days away, blundering about the wilderness like children. Barbarian hordes could traipse up to this very room and slit our throats. Meanwhile, what of our brothers in the East? No word of them for over 5 years! Our second military priority is to send out some warriors to bring them back. We need more people, and it would be the easiest way to get them. We cannot abandon our own brethren!”

The meeting went on like this for hours. An Lee, a beautiful, graceful woman, and science advisor, kept bothering Bei to have the sages research the technique of hunting. Mai, religious advisor, recommended Bei hold great ceremonies and animal sacrifices to forestall the wrath of the spirits. Every person in the room had an endless list of things to be done, money to be allotted to.

As the sun grew fiery red over the growing city, messengers raced to the warriors up north. They carried instructions to find the Eastern Chinese. Little did the warriors know they would not only find them, but also the first great threat Bei’s budding empire would face.