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The History of the World VII . . . .

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  • All thru England, stories abound regarding other tribes met and dealt with, whether friend or foe. Stories of religion, friendship, war, strife, even alliance. But nobody has made a concerted effort to tell the English story from the English perspective.

    Who ruled England in the days of yore? What alliances kept her safe, who are England’s ancient friends and enemies and why? More importantly, who are England’s new friends and enemies? How did England come to follow the one true faith of the Arabs?

    All these questions Myles Long, historian to the Man, yearned to chronicle. It was no accident that Myles was Royal Historian, a coveted position many aspired to hold due to easy access to a good life of food, wine, and women. So Myles used his influence and famous lineage to garner the post for himself. Being a proud descendant of such famous English Worker/Visionaries as James the Sugar Noodle had its privileges. They were the driving force behind the early jungle clearing and road building projects established by the English rulers of yesteryear. This enabled future generations leeway to pursue other government sponsored improvement projects aimed at promoting health and happiness. These legendary figures were so much a part of English lore, that their descendants hold these positions to this day, adopting the famous names upon assumption of duties. Thus, James the Sugar Noodle lives on, at least in name, forever. Other legends of Olde England, such as the great warrior Peter the Schlong Crosser, protected the new land from beasts and marauding hordes. The land was rich with resources and drew unwanted attention. Places such as the Schlong Delta of the Greater and Lesser Wet Schlong rivers held the key to prosperity and the Schlong Crosser kept the region safe as if in a protective sheath.

    Authors note: It should be noted here that many of the names of people and areas were given, according to legend, by the mystical figure of MMC, first ruler of England. These names have been ingrained in the English psyche since time immemorial. However, some modern English have started to entertain the notion that the names all have phallic references and are demanding “proper” names befitting a modern society. It is this authors opinion that we must retain our history, what little we know of it, and if the legendary MMC happened to be a little phallically inclined, what’s the problem?

    But where to start the history, the past is unclear and not easily deciphered? Some things are known and, even though they don’t address the start of civilization in England, are important to chronicle.

    The religion of the Arabs had made its way to England many years ago. And while it was not clear if it was a welcome spread of faith or done on the sly to achieve certain goals by the Arabs, what is clear is that it became the officially recognized religion of England and the people were overwhelmingly pleased by this fact. The Arabs had not tried to impose any policy nor provide any support of note to England at first. As founders of the faith and fathers of the religion of Judaism, they remained distant and isolated from England. However, time passed and that trend had been reversed, with trade and religious dialog being passed back and forth in a constructive manner. England found themselves drifting towards a more religiously oriented society, religious scholars debated and taught and the faith of the people grew. And while still officially secular, England was a Jewish nation.

    England had its share of ups and down, its share of aggressive and passive rulers, its share of successes and failures. In its early days as a nation, England had been at war with two countries, or so it has been told. They were the Carthaginians and the Vikings. While it is unclear exactly how this came about, it seems that in the distant past, the Carthaginians provoked the English ruler, Conq I, by founding a city in what was, is, and always will be English land. This fact has been handed down thru the generations and as such is inviolate to any good Englishman. For reasons unknown to England, the Vikings decided to join the Carthaginians in their unlawful and unjust land grab and attacked England. But the power of the English, in their just and righteous fury, repelled the invaders, or so the legend goes. Even after the defeat it was clear that the Carthaginians continued to covet what is England’s, as evidenced by the troop build ups outside of Southampton. What is unclear at the time was whether the Vikings were supporting the Carthaginians still. Up to that point, England has adopted a defensive posture and hoped that sanity would prevail and hostilities would end. An era of peace and prosperity for all three nations was the sincere hope of all English citizens. England hoped for the best, but planned for the worst, in that dark point in history. It was told that uncounted numbers of Axemen were trained and ready to defend the Motherland.

    England also had good friends in these ancient times. The Kushrena had been allies for some time and England had fair trade with them. England had also opened its borders to many nations of Terra, being a peaceful and open society. With the wars, that openness was being tested however. Many people believed that vital information could be passed to England’s enemies for their gain by any “friends” traveling thru the land. Many of the people also had distrust of nations following false faith and exerted much pressure to break ties with these idolatrous peoples. The feeling at the time was that England should only trust brothers and sisters of Judaism.

    It is 1AD now and Myles thought it was a wonderful time to be alive and to be a historian. Great things were afoot and while the job of chronicling the events up to this point have been hard, the job of continuing the history will be paramount.
    Non Serviam

    Comment


    • "Is it finished yet?" Samudra-Gupta asked his servants.
      "No you highness, it's not finished yet, a couple more days they expect."

      Hours passed.

      "Is it finished yet?" Samudra-Gupta asked again.
      "No mylord, they expect that they need a few more days"

      Hours passed again.
      Samudra-Gupta's powers flowed away, great pain suffered his body.
      "Is it already finished?" he asked once again.
      "No my friend", Lala Lajpat Rai answered. "It's not finished yet, but we can go and take a look at it now!"

      Both men left the palace while the elder one, the leader of the Indians, was leaning on the younger man. One would think that they would be father and son, but that's not true. They didn't even feel like father and son. They were friends, despite the age difference.

      Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the young preachers of Krishnianity and Samudra-Gupta loved to listen to his wisdom. They oftenly came together to think about Krishna, the dogma's and the teachings of the faith.
      Through the years Samudra-Gupta and Lal Lajpat Rai became close friends. Now, in the last days of Samudra-Gupta Lala Lajpat Rai was the only close to him who was still allowed to visit him.

      Samudra-Gupta would die soon. Everybody knew this. They people wispered it in the streets. The birds kept silence to not disturb the rest of their leader.

      Two men were walking through Rho-Delhi. One climbed on a horse and helped the other one to climb on it. They left with great speed.

      From far the people of Marble-City saw them coming. "Who's coming overthere?" the guard asked the travelers. "It's our leader, Samudra-Gupta" Lala Lajpat Rai said. The gates opened and they entered the city. "Is it finished yet?" Lala Lajpat Rai asked the guards. "Almost! Almost!" they answered him.

      The horse ran through the streets, people backed out to let the horse pass. "Is it our leader?" they whispered to each other. All people followed the horse, till they entered the grand square of Marble City.

      There it was, the huge church for Krishna. Samudra-Gupta found his strength again, was able to step from the horse and stand erected before the Church of Nativity. "It's finished" he whispered!
      "Exactly on the place where I met Maryh and Krishna the first time"
      Tears flowed from his eyes. "It's finished, and I may live to see it! May all krishnians from all the corners of the earth always come to Marble-City to worship Krishna! The city will be renamed into 'Krishnai' he declared", then his breath stopped and he passed away, in front of the Cathedral.

      Lala Lajpat Rai entered the palace when he returned in Rho-Delhi. He cried for 2 weeks. Then he sent bodes to the allies of India to confirm that he would honor and live up to all pacts made by Samudra-Gupta the great.

      Samudra-Gupta, founder of Krishnianity, builder of the Church of Nativity. May his name never be forgotten.
      Formerly known as "CyberShy"
      Carpe Diem tamen Memento Mori

      Comment


      • Temple bells ring throught the Kingdoms of Kushrena and Arabia as "King Sulayman" and "Princess Esmerelda" are wed. Many a joyus celebration is held thoughout the two kingdoms, as the future diplomatic relations between both lands seems bright. King Conquer the 45th`s heart is heavy as he gives his favorite daughter away in matrimony.....to bring about a lasting peace.

        Now the Kings household seems empty as his oldest daughter is away at shool most of the time learning her queenly duties. It is time to look for a wife for the King.

        Comment


        • Sulayman Builds the Temple

          Sulayman gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. He took a census of all the aliens who were in Arabia, after the census his father Dawud had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. He assigned 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working.

          Then Sulayman began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father Dawud. He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

          The foundation Sulayman laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard). The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the building and twenty cubits high.

          He overlaid the inside with pure gold. He paneled the main hall with pine and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. He adorned the temple with precious stones. He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

          In the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.

          He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

          In the front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits long, each with a capital on top measuring five cubits. He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains. He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.

          When all the work Sulayman had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father Dawud had dedicated—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God's temple.

          Sulayman's Prayer of Dedication

          Then Sulayman stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Arabia and spread out his hands. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Arabia and spread out his hands toward heaven. He said:

          "O Lord, God of Arabia, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant Dawud my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

          "Now Lord, God of Arabia, keep for your servant Dawud my father the promises you made to him when you said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Arabia, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.' And now, O Lord, God of Arabia, let your word that you promised your servant Dawud come true.

          "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Arabia but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Arabia, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

          "When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
          "Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

          "Now arise, O Lord God, and come to your resting place,
          you and the ark of your might.
          May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
          may your saints rejoice in your goodness.

          O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.
          Remember the great love promised to Dawud your servant."

          When Sulayman finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Arabs saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

          "He is good;
          his love endures forever."
          Captain of Team Apolyton - ISDG 2012

          When I was younger I thought curfews were silly, but now as the daughter of a young woman, I appreciate them. - Rah

          Comment


          • Sulayman's Wives

            King Sulayman loved many foreign women besides The Conqueror’s daughter—Vikings, Choson, Romans and Bulgarians. And he loved too the pagan queen of Sheba, the once pagan enclave in Arabia. Because of their union, Sheba converted back to the faith of their fathers and became Jewish. However the other wives were from nations about which the Lord had told the Arabs, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Sulayman held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Sulayman grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of Dawud his father had been. He followed Krishna the god of the Indians, and Buddha the detestable god of the Choson. So Sulayman did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as Dawud his father had done.

            On a hill east of Mecca, Sulayman built a high place for Odin the detestable god of the Vikings, and for Buddha the detestable god of the Choson. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.

            The Lord became angry with Sulayman because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Arabia, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Sulayman to follow other gods, Sulayman did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Sulayman, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates."

            The Rise of `Abdu'l-Muttalib

            Then the Lord raised up against Sulayman an adversary, `Abdu'l-Muttalib the Ishmaelite, from the royal line of Yarob. During the years of the House of Dawud, `Abdu'l-Muttalib’s tribe were put in charge of tending to the the Kaaba. He was one of Sulayman's officials, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.

            Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Sulayman had built the supporting terraces and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of Dawud his father. Now `Abdu’l-Muttalib was a man of standing, and when Sulayman saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

            About that time `Abdu’l-Muttalib was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country, and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. Then he said to `Abdu’l-Muttalib, "Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Arabia, says: 'See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Sulayman's hand and give it to you.. I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Krishna the god of the Indians, Buddha the god of the Choson, and Odin the god of the Vikings, and have not walked in my ways, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my statutes and laws as Dawud, Sulayman's father, did.

            "'But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Sulayman's hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of Dawud my servant, whom I chose and who observed my commands and statutes. I will take the kingdom from his son's hands and give it to you. I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Arabia. If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as Dawud my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for Dawud and will give Arabia to you. I will humble Dawud's descendants because of this.'"

            Sulayman tried to kill `Abdu’l-Muttalib, but `Abdu’l-Muttalib fled to Bulgaria, and stayed there until Sulayman's death.

            Sulayman's Death

            Sulayman reigned in Mecca over all Arabia forty years. Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Dawud his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.

            Rehoboam went to Mecca, for all the Arabs had gone there to make him king. When `Abdu’l-Muttalib son of Hashim heard this (he was still in Bulgaria, where he had fled from King Sulayman), he returned from Bulgaria. So they sent for `Abdu’l-Muttalib, and he and the whole assembly of Arabia went to Rehoboam and said to him: "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you."

            The king answered the people harshly. He said, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions." So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to `Abdu’l-Muttalib son of Hashim.

            When all Arabia saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:
            "What share do we have in Dawud,
            what part in Jesse's son?
            To your tents, O Arabia!
            Look after your own house, O Dawud!"
            So the Arabs went home.

            King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Arabia stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. So Arabia rose in rebellion against the house of Dawud.

            When all the Arabs heard that `Abdu’l-Muttalib had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Arabia.
            Captain of Team Apolyton - ISDG 2012

            When I was younger I thought curfews were silly, but now as the daughter of a young woman, I appreciate them. - Rah

            Comment


            • EIGTH SESSION 260 AD

              India(Gandhi) - CyberShy
              Egypt(Ramses) - condor223
              Vikings(Ragnar Lodbrok) - LzPrst
              China(Qin Shi Huang) - KunojiLym
              Choson(Wang Kong) - Deity
              Inca(Huayna Capac) - AI/Francois
              Kushren(Napoleon Boneparte) - Conquistador45
              England(Victoria) - Glohithia
              Celts(Brennus) - Levi_the_Oracle
              Arabs(Saladin) - OzzyKP
              Carthage(Hannibal) - Rykoffe
              Rome(Julius Ceasar) - AI
              Bulgaria(Cyrus II) - Toni


              Session 8 Number of Cities (since session 7)

              Choson - 8 (+1)
              China - 8
              Inca - 7
              Bulgaria - 7
              Vikings - 6
              England - 6
              Celts - 6
              Arabs - 6
              Egypt - 6
              Rome - 5 (+1)
              Kushren - 5 (+1)
              Carthage - 4
              India - 3




              I got the save from Toni:
              Attached Files
              Captain of Team Apolyton - ISDG 2012

              When I was younger I thought curfews were silly, but now as the daughter of a young woman, I appreciate them. - Rah

              Comment


              • Session 8: 26 turns
                Formerly known as "CyberShy"
                Carpe Diem tamen Memento Mori

                Comment


                • For 200 years, the Han flourished. The Romans were content to leave the Chinese alone, and neighbours like the Inca, Bulgeria and Egypt had florishing trade relations with the Empire as well. To the west, Ri Ben slowly grew in stature, though there was as yet much undeveloped swampland to be cleared. A local dialect, in particular, sprang up among the natives around Shangdu. The natives were called the Ainu, and the language was Nippon.

                  But as a sprawling empire with no proper code of law and lacking a unified currency, corruption ran rampant across China. Thus it was that in 1 AD, a single event shook the Han Dynasty to its foundations, and laid the seeds for its eventual demise. Wang Mang was the prime minister when Emperor Ai passed away, leaving a 5 year old child as heir. Up till that point, Wang Mang had been known to be an able administrator, so it was a simple matter for him to convince the population that the Han had lost the mandate of heaven. In 8 AD, Wang finally 'accepted' the mandate, and became emperor of a new dynasty, the Xin.

                  This dynasty was to prove even more shortlived than the Qin before it. In 20 AD, the Yellow River changed its course, destroying the livelihoods of thousands of peasants. Many saw this as a sign that Wang Mang had wrongly upsured the Han, and rebellions broke out everywhere. In the end, Wang Mang died as the rebel troops stormed Anyang in 23 AD. The Han Dynasty was reinstated, and the capital was moved to Luoyang. This was to become known as the Later Han Dynasty, as opposed to the Earlier Han prior to 1 AD.

                  From then on, the Han Dynasty went into a slow decline. The Imperial court, increasingly, became the playground of the enunches, scrambling to curry the favor of the weakening emperors, and pushing their own agenda with extreme ruthlessness. Finally, in 220 AD, another fateful event occured, one that finally signalled the death knell for the ailing dynasty. None at the time, however, realized it.

                  Comment


                  • 220 AD, near Shanghai, the county of Zhou

                    An imperial edict had been posted on a stone wall near a mounment to Liu Bang, first Emperor of the Han, calling for all able-bodied men to join the fight against the upsurers of the Yellow Turbans. A crowd of people had gathered in front of the poster, and there was much talking and debate among them. Standing a little way apart, but likewise reading the poster, was a man tall in stature, with a straw hat masking most of his other features.

                    The man sighed, and shook his head slightly. Then suddenly a rasping voice behind him cried, "Sir, why sigh if you do nothing to help your country?"

                    Turning quickly he saw standing there a man about his own height, with a bullet head like a leopard's, large eyes, a swallow pointed chin, and whiskers like a tiger's. He spoke in a loud bass voice and looked as irresistible as a dashing horse.

                    "What is your name?" asked the first man, as he turned fully around.

                    "Zhang Fei is my name," replied the other. "I live near here where I have a farm; and I am a wine seller and a butcher as well; and I like to become acquainted with worthy people. Your sighs as you read the notice drew me toward you."

                    Taking off his straw hat, the first man replied, "I am of the Imperial Family, Liu Bei is my name. And I wish I could destroy these Yellow Turbans and restore peace to the land, but alas! I am helpless."

                    Zhang Fei grinned. "I have the means," he said. "Suppose you and I raised some troops and tried what we could do."

                    This was happy news for Liu Bei, and the two betook themselves to a nearby inn to talk over the project. As they were drinking, a huge, tall fellow appeared pushing a hand-cart along the road. At the threshold he halted and entered the inn to rest awhile and he called for wine.

                    "And be quick!" added he. "For I am in haste to get into the town and offer myself for the army."

                    Liu Bei looked over the newcomer, item by item, and he noted the man had a huge frame, a long beard, a vivid face like an apple, and deep red lips. He had eyes like a phoenix's and fine bushy eyebrows like silkworms. His whole appearance was dignified and awe-inspiring. Presently, Liu Bei crossed over, sat down beside him and asked his name.

                    "I am Guan Yu," replied he. "I am a native of the east side of the river, but I have been a fugitive on the waters for some five years, because I slew a ruffian who, since he was wealthy and powerful, was a bully. I have come to join the army here."

                    Then Liu Bei told Guan Yu his own intentions, and all three went away to Zhang Fei's farm where they could talk over the grand project.

                    Said Zhang Fei, "The peach trees in the orchard behind the house are just in full flower. Tomorrow we will institute a sacrifice there and solemnly declare our intention before Heaven and Earth, and we three will swear brotherhood and unity of aims and sentiments: Thus will we enter upon our great task."

                    Both Liu Bei and Guan Yu gladly agreed.

                    All three being of one mind, next day they prepared the sacrifices, a black ox, a white horse, and wine for libation. Beneath the smoke of the incense burning on the altar, they bowed their heads and recited this oath:

                    "We three, though of separate ancestry, join in brotherhood here, combining strength and purpose, to relieve the present crisis. We will perform our duty to the Emperor and protect the common folk of the land. We dare not hope to be together always but hereby vow to die the selfsame day. Let shining heaven above and the fruitful land below bear witness to our resolve. May heaven and man scourge whosoever fails this vow!"



                    They rose from their knees. The two others bowed before Liu Bei as their elder brother, and Zhang Fei was to be the youngest of the trio. This solemn ceremony performed, they slew other oxen and made a feast to which they invited the villagers. Three hundred joined them, and all feasted and drank deep in the Peach Garden.

                    Comment


                    • The Period of the Three Kingdoms is reckoned by some to have begun in the year 220 AD, when the Yellow Turbans rose up against Han authority. Zhang Jiao, together with his two younger brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, had founded a Taoist religious sect in the province of Shandong. As healers, they saw the harshness of the world from seeing the peasants - either abused by the local government, or too hungry from the heavy taxes. They were steeped in the ways of mysticism; indeed, Zhang Jiao was said to be a sorcerer and styled himself as the "Great Teacher". The sect propagated the principles of equal rights of all peoples and equal distribution of land. Since all three of the brothers were healers, they spread it easily by telling their patients to spread it amonst the peasants.

                      The Yellow Turbans conquered much in the early years of the rebellion, but when the Han sent out a distress call, gaining the aid of many talented people in the process, the lack of ability of Zhang Jiao's generals showed. The Yellow Turbans, however, were still a strong threat until the death of Zhang Jiao, when, due to a lack of a good leader, it imploded on itself. The last of the Yellow Turbans were crushed in 234 AD

                      However, in sending out the distress call, the Han had unwittedly brought together the key players in the drama which was to follow. From the ancient homeland of the Han emperors came Liu Bei, distant relative of the imperial family, who had just sworn a pact of brotherhood with Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. From the lands of the ancient warring state of Chu came Sun Jian, a proud descandant of that ancient lineage. From Anyang came Cao Cao, a minister in the imperial court and of a minor line of dukes, but who made up for the lack of prestige with sheer intellect, cunning, and ambition. And in Luoyang itself, Dong Zhuo became prime minister, and thus the de facto ruler of the Han Dynasty. Together, they crushed the Yellow Turbans, but as Dong Zhuo's avarice and cruelty became ever more apparant, many broke ranks with him, and formed up in opposition to the warlord. The leader of this opposition was Yuen Shao, former deputy to Dong Zhuo.

                      Comment




                      • 40 years before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Heavenly Gardens, or Tian Yuan, were finally completed in Anyang. This coincided with the completion of public works in all the major cities. The year 180 AD was also considered to be an especially auspicious year, and so it was that a population boom took hold all over China. Many of that generation were to play key roles in the turmoil that was to follow.

                        240 AD was significant for a very different reason. Sun Ce had just suceeded Sun Jian as ruler of the Kingdom of Wu, and the first thing he did was to completely scrape the imperial Han project that was even then nearing completion. The destruction of the would-be Temple of Heaven, or Tian Tan, was for ever afterwards lamented as a great loss to Chinese culture. But Sun Ce had very different goals in mind. He ordered the building materials sold as scrap, and immeadiatedly proceeded to recruit the very best and brightest of military minds to join his side. Thus it was that, from his base in Changan, he struck out to become the second most powerful of the Three Kindgoms - second to the Kingdom of Wei, led by the wiley Cao Cao. Liu Bei, the weakest of the three warlords, established his base in Ri Ben, now known as the Kingdom of Shu. The partition of China was complete, and all three warlords laid claim to be the true heir to the Han Dynasty, which was now reduced to a lone emperor under Cao Cao's custody.

                        How did it come to this?

                        Comment


                        • In the year 234 AD, one of the warlords under Yuan Shao, Wang Kuang, attempted to attack Dong Zhuo's forces at Heyang Ford; however, Dong Zhuo responded by keeping Wang's forces occupied with a squad of decoys while sending an army of elites upstream around the bulk of Wang's forces to attack from behind. The battle ended with Dong Zhuo victorious, practically eliminating Wang's forces.

                          Nonetheless, Dong Zhuo became concerned about the coalition, and proposed to move everyone - the court and civilians - from Luoyang and Anyang to the western Shanghai, leaving only him and his military behind to defend against the coalition. This was met with criticism within the court, but Dong silenced the opposition by deposing anyone who spoke against him. Implementing his proposal on April 9th, he had his soldiers raze Luoyang to the ground, confiscate from the rich, all while hassling the civilians to the west. He also ordered Lü Bu, his foster son, to raid from ancient tombs and burial mounds for their treasures. 5 days later, Anyang suffered the same fate. It was said later that "the count of the innocent dead was beyond measure".

                          To the south, Sun Jian joined with Yuan Shao's half-brother, Yuan Shu, as part of the anti-Dong coalition. Marching out from Pun Yue, he advanced on Anyang, where Dong had established a stronghold. As Sun defeated Dong's forces again and again, though, someone told Yuan Shu that if Sun Jian defeated Dong Zhuo and took over the capital, he would not be controllable anymore. The doubtful Yuan Shu then ceased the food supply to Sun Jian. Sun Jian rode the hundred odd li from Yangren to Luyang in the night to see Yuan Shu, whereupon he said to the latter, "I put myself to danger in battle, first to remove the rebel (Dong Zhuo) for the country and second to avenge the deaths of your kinsmen (Yuan Shu's uncle was killed by Dong Zhuo). I have no personal grudge against Dong Zhuo. Yet you could believe slanderous talks and suspect me!" The words put Yuan Shu to shame and he immediately ordered the food supply to be delivered.

                          Sun Jian then led his forces to Dagu, the fortified pass guarding Luoyang to the south, 90 li away from Luoyang. Dong Zhuo himself came out to fight amongst the Earlier Han tombs, but he was defeated and fled to Mianchi and Shan, west of Luoyang. Sun Jian then continued to march into Luoyang, where he met and routed the forces of Lü Bu. Settling in, Sun Jian ordered his men to reseal the tombs of former emperors that were excavated by Dong Zhuo. There, in a well south of Luoyang, Sun Jian found the lost Imperial Seal, symbol of the Mandate of Heaven - and kept it for himself.

                          Sun then sent part of his force north to Luoyang, threatening Dong Zhuo's defence positions. In response, Dong Zhuo ordered his generals to fortify his position around Anyang, and then led his own troops away to Ji. Having repaired the imperial tombs, Sun Jian led his army back to Pun Yue. The former capital of Anyang was now abandoned by both contending forces.

                          Despite Sun Jian's successes, the coalition did not act upon them due to poor communication and coordination among the warlords. Eventually, the warlords turned their attention from Dong Zhuo back to themselves: instead of uniting together to fight against a common enemy, the warlords bickered among themselves and plotted to expand their own territories.

                          First, Han Fu, in charge of provisions, became jealous of Yuan Shao's leadership role and gradually stopped transporting supplies to the coalition, hoping the coalition would break apart. However, Han Fu's officer Qu Yi rebelled and defeated Han Fu. Qu Yi then joined Yuan Shao. Because of this incident, Yuan Shao saw the need to secure his supply source and plotted to seize Han Fu's territory. He made a secret pact with Gongsun Zan, where Gongsun would attack Han Fu while Yuan Shao brings his soldiers into Han Fu's territory. Unsure of Yuan Shao's intentions, the frightened Han Fu handed his lordship of Jizhou over to Yuan Shao.

                          Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, though they are half brothers (or cousins, depending on the source), did not trust each other. Eventually, Yuan Shao sent Zhou Ang to attack Sun Jian, who was returning to Yuan Shu from Luoyang. Zhou Ang surprised Sun Jian's camp in Pun Yue and captured it, to which Sun sighed: "Together we raised loyal troops to save the nation. Now the rebels and bandits are almost destroyed, and yet each can act like this. Whom can I work with?"

                          Yuan Shu sent Gongsun Zan's half-brother, Gongsun Yue, to help Sun Jian retailiate against Zhou Ang. Although the battle was won, Gongsun Yue was hit by a stray arrow and died. Gongsun Zan held Yuan Shao responsible for his death, and declared war against Yuan Shao, leading to the Battle of Jieqiao soon afterwards.

                          By now the coalition had fallen to internal strife, and continued to exist in name only. For the next year, there would be no action against Dong Zhuo by the warlords of the east while Dong Zhuo sent the occasional army east to attack Zhu Jun, whose land Dong's men killed and plundered in.

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                          • It turns out that Dong Zhuo's downfall would not be from the coalition but from within his ranks instead.

                            Since attacks from the south had ceased, Dong Zhuo returned to his tyrannical rule in the court of Luoyang, which he rebuilt at lavish cost. He had installed all members of his clan and relatives by marriage in high-ranking offices, even his infant sons were enfeoffed as marquises and played with gold seals and purple tassels. Dong Zhuo had also grown more intolerant to desent; his officers would be killed on the spot at the utterance of the slightest offense. Eventually, court officials Wang Yun, Huang Wan, Shisun Rui, and Yang Zan, feeling insecure, plotted to assassinate Dong Zhuo. They managed to persuade Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo's foster son and bodyguard, to join their cause, because Dong Zhuo once threw a hand-axe at him, but more importantly, because he had an affair with one of Dong's chambermaids. That chambermaid was Wang Yun's foster daughter, Diao Chan, and later hailed as one of the Four Beauties of China.

                            In 22 May 236 AD, Dong Zhuo was on the way to an assembly in his lavish chariot when Li Su stepped up and stabbed Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo cried out for his son, but saying "This is an imperial order," Lü Bu delivered the fatal blow. Dong Zhuo's relatives were subsequently executed while Dong Zhuo's body was left hanging in the streets. The official guarding the corpse lit a wick in Dong Zhuo's navel and it burned for days on the fats of the corpse.

                            Shortly after his death, many loyalists of Dong Zhuo, such as Fan Chou, Guo Si, Li Jue and others escaped, believing that their loyalty will be considered treason. Hearing of their appeal for pardon, Wang Yun, who took control of the government, said, "Of all the people who should be forgiven, these are the exceptions". Feeling outraged, they waged war with Wang Yun, only to have the Imperial Army and Lu Bu foiling them, after many defeats, the loyalists decided to change their tactics in battle.

                            In one battle, Fan Chou and Li Jue were diversions to subdue Lü Bu into fighting, and then all the other loyalists would take over the castle. The plan worked, as Lü Bu retreated soon after the castle was breached, and Wang Yun was killed.

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                            • What goes on in the world scribe? Haakon Asaval, King of the Bjoergyn and all its nearlying lands, gazes upon the small man preoccupied with a leather hide covered with markings.

                              -My King, the Inca have declared war on the empire which is rumoured to lie somewhere in the far south, known to us only by travellers' mention. Eh-khut I believe it is called, or similar. The Incan leadership has fallen and warlords have taken control of the land. Yet, the nobleman Fransiski the Jaguar will likely win out and we believe from his reputation that he is of a more peaceful nature.

                              Further south and west China is shaking itself again and again as different tribes and rulers ally and break apart again and again. We are yet uncertain of who will be in control at the end, but as trade has not been disrupted, we have not wished to interfere.

                              The Bulgarians have still not allowed our exploring expedition of archers to enter and the barbarians of Rome block off their other paths. They feel inclined to return home. China is too turbulent to risk travelling in, except for our merchant ships, and the borders of nations not friendly towards us block all other possibilities of exploration. There is little use for a garrison of archers so far from home if they cannot discover new lands, or so say many noblemen here at home.

                              Furthermore, we have heard that the legendary lands of Arabia have constructed magnificent structures, truly unique. Many of our people would like to travel to these lands to see them, but the English, the Romans and the Bulgarians have as I mentioned blocked off all traders, explorers and pilgrims.

                              And finally, we have developed a way of organizing the affairs of the King and his relationship to everyday details in a systematic and professional way, letting scribes and such deal with minor issues. We hope to implement this system with your approval at our first opportunity.


                              -Thank you scribe. Let the following orders be sent out to my people. We will implement the system you mentioned, I have too many people milling about the palace requesting audiences, much that could be taken care of by others.

                              Second. Send open letters to Bulgaria and England that we wish to open negotiations to establish trade and peaceful relations. I want you to clarify the strength of our interests in this matter.

                              Thirdly, approach a warlord of China that would be willing to give us favorable trading conditions and in return for military and political support.

                              And last. Build me a fleet and an army. Too long has the Vikings been seen as a 2nd rate military power. This will not do any longer. We shall build longboats and triremes and soldiers that will send terror in to the hearts of faraway nations at their mere mention. It is time we garnered the respect we deserve.

                              Now go and do my bidding!


                              The King leaves his palace and walks to the Great Temple where he gets himself stoop drunk and repeatedly laid. It is good to be the King.
                              Diplogamer formerly known as LzPrst

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                              • The Battle of Jieqiao or Battle of Jie Bridge was a military engagement fought between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan in 235 AD, at the beginning of the civil wars in China leading up to the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was the first significant clash of arms between the rival warlords in the contest for dominion of the northern provinces. Neither warlord came out of it with the upper hand, but after the subsequent protracted struggle, Yuan Shao managed to gain it.

                                Gongsun Zan, seeing he could gain victory during this era, decided to secure himself. He established a capital city at Ji, where he built many large towers on top of many mounds where he and his generals lived. There were ten mounts around the city and the towers had iron doors with huge grain supplies for Zan to use to live out the civil wars of his country.

                                Zan decided to let his troops out his fortress fight for themselves thinking they would see the only option they had was to fight hard. However, instead they killed their generals and surrendered or died easily while fighting. In time Yuan Shao's army reached the gates of Yijing, but the city withstood several attacks from the Yuan army for years till 238 AD.

                                Gongsun Zan sent his son Gongsun Xu to request help from the bandits of Heishan in the Taihang Mountains. The idea was to attack Jizhou and cut off Yuan's line of retreat forcing him to abandon the siege. The first stages of the plan went well with Zhang Yan agreeing to help Zan but after that the plan changed to saving Ji. With 10,000 men on the way Zan sent a message to his son telling him to lay an ambush of 5,000 elite cavalry on low ground north of the city. They were then to signal Zan to charge out of the city with his troops, planning to surround Yuan Shao's troops.

                                Unfortunately Yuan Shao's troops caught the messenger and laid their own troops in ambush. The Yuan forces then signaled Zan, routing his unit and forcing him back into the city. Yuan's troops followed up their success by digging tunnels under the city and then supporting them with beams which they later torched. The tunnel went into the center of the city and its collapse caused Zan's towers to begin to collapse as well. Accounts state that Zan killed his family, but vary on to whether he committed suicide by self-immolation or was murdered before he was burnt along with his tower.

                                Henceforth, only one warlord stood between Yuan Shao and complete dominion of the northern provinces. That warlord was Cao Cao. Indeed, from 235 AD onwards it had become increasingly clear that there would be a confrontation between the two warlords for dominion of the north sooner or later. In such an eventuality, the position of Guandu would become of strategic importance. It was close to Guilin Lake and lay directly on the route to Luoyang. Cao Cao was the first to recognize its importance and in the autumn of 238 AD, he moved forces there and prepared fortifications. The next year, Liu Bei defected from Cao to his rival Yuan Shao. Yuan took the opportunity to mount a campaign in the south and in the first month of 239, his vanguard attacked the garrison of Liyang, 80 li north of Guandu. The commander at Liyang, Yu Jin, signalled to headquarters the approach of Yuan Shao. Cao Cao immediately regrouped his troops and stationed 20,000 men at Guandu in preparation for a decisive battle in the near future.

                                Soon Yuan Shao's main army arrived, boosting his numbers to 110,000, including 10,000 cavalry. His general Yan Liang attacked Cao Cao's fort of Baima. Under the advice of Xun Yu, Cao Cao led a battalion northwards. But this maneuver proved to be only a feint, and as soon as Yuan Shao drew troops from Baima to counter Cao's attack, Cao Cao retreated and struck east to relieve Baima. In the ensuing battle, General Yan Liang was killed and the Yuan troops disastrously routed. After this Cao Cao prepared to abandon the fort and evacuated the residents south. Taking advantage of the situation, Wen Chou and Liu Bei, leading 6,000 light cavalry, were sent from the Yuan camp in pursuit. But again, Cao Cao anticipated his opponents' move and had prepared a snare. Horses, equipment and other valuables were discarded and as the enemy troops broke ranks to loot, they were smashed by six hundred elite cavalry. In the chaotic slaughter, the commander Wen Chou was killed. Thus, in the opening moves, Yuan Shao had lost two of his great leaders and his army's morale had plummeted.

                                In the aftermath, he reorganised his forces and Liu Bei was sent out to attack Runan, and expose Cao Cao's flank. Ever the strategist, Cao Cao recognised this and wary of fighting under disadvantageous circumstances, commanded a general withdraw to Guandu. At the same time, Cao Ren and Yu Jin were sent to harass the enemy rear. Orders were given for administrators to govern leniently to offset any chance of civilian disruptions in the rear. In the eighth month the Yuan army pushed to Yangwu, directly north of Guandu, and began construction on earthen fortifications. The Cao army also began reinforcing their own defences. Both sides harassed each other with rudimentary seign equipment without effective result. To break the stalemate, it was suggested to Yuan Shao that he use his superior numbers to his advantage and outflank the enemy to attack Xuchang. Yuan, however refused, preferring to wait for the food supply in the Cao army to run out.

                                Indeed the grain was falling short in Cao Cao's granaries and he considered a withdrawal. Such a situation called for immediate action. Shock troops were dispatched to burn Yuan Shao's grain carts, forcing him to send out for relief food supplies. In the tenth month, Chunyu Qiong's ten thousand-strong force returned with large reserves of grain and lodged around twenty kilometres from the main Yuan camp, in a place called Crow's Nest. The wisdom of such a position was questioned by adjutant Ju Shou, who argued that there were too few troops to guard such an important resource as grain. A defection soon after from Yuan Shao's ranks alerted Cao Cao to this weakness and he seized the opportunity. Leaving the main camp in the hands of Cao Hong, a force of 5,000 elite infantry was led by Cao Cao himself into enemy controlled territory.

                                Travelling rapidly under the enemy banner at night and feigning to be Yuan's reinforcements, Cao Cao besieged Chunyu Qiong's supply camp, burning it along with much of Yuan Shao's grain. At such a time of emergency, Yuan Shao refused to send his main forces to relieve Chunyu's defenders, as his commander Zhang He urged him to do. Instead he chose to send a smaller force of light cavalry, whilst attacking Guandu with the bulk of his army. By dawn, Wuchao had fallen to the furious attack and Cao's victorious soldiers then proceeded to defeat the small relief force. At Guandu, Yuan Shao failed to break through and army morale dropped sharply in knowledge of the capture of food supplies. Zhang He and Gao Lan surrendered and their battalions burned their weapons. Cao Cao seized the day once more and attacked when the enemy was at its weakest. 70,000 of Yuan's force was destroyed and he lost countless provisions, escaping over the Yellow River with little more than 800 horseman.

                                The victory was a decisive one; Yuan Shao no longer provided a serious threat to Cao Cao's ambitions and he died a dejected man the next year. Unlike Yuan Shao, Cao knew the value of tactical withdrawals. On the strategic level he could understand and anticipate his opponent's moves and took calculated risks to counter them. The victory of Cao Cao over superior forces lay in his capacity for superior planning and processes on tactical and strategic levels. He rendered his inferior numbers irrelevant with the use of disruption and dislocation. In short, dislocation is the art of cancelling out the enemy's strength. Instead of having to fight a hostile force on its own terms, the friendly force avoids any combat in which the enemy can bring his might to bear. In contrast, Yuan Shao had none of this brilliance and has often been criticised for not heeding the reasonable suggestions of his senior advisers. Certainly this was an important part of his defeat. If Yuan had recognised the importance of the grain supply and taken appropriate measures as his counselors advised, the outcome could have been very different. The Battle of Guandu will forever be testimony to the fact that superior numbers do not always gain victory.

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