The Uncharted Jungles, North of Greece...
Captain Jeong Jung-bu tredged through the dense jungles with his unit, it was a small group of talented scouts assembled for this exploratory party. The Captain was quite disappointed with his post; he thought for sure after the victory over the Aztecs he would be made a General and would be in command of his own brigade. Neither of these things occured, and here he was; far beyond civilization travelling alongside a unit of Spartan Phalanxes. He had made friends with General Anaximander of Sparta, who followed the Korean Scouting unit, although the Spartan mission was not divulged.
"This Jungle is excruciating, I don't know how the Mayans deal with it!" said Captain Jeong Jung-bu, chopping down a thicket of growth.
"It keeps your fighting arm prepared" General Anaximander said, happily chopping down the growth "We should be through this jungle soon Captain, fear not."
"I fear nothing Spartan." Jeong replied "I'm just a little angered that I got this detail, I was second only to General Han Gong in the raid against the Aztec strong-hold. And this is the thanks I get? Our unit is hardly capable of fighting barbarians, let alone any civilized enemies we encounter."
"Well Captain, Korea has no enemies I am aware of." General Anaximander replied.
"Not yet at least, word has it we are heading towards Oldonian lands, but there are barbarians everywhere. Or at least that's what they reported to us." the Korean captain remarked "Although, who knows what to believe?"
"You know, at least you weren't treated like General Han, I hear he was shipped off on some boat ride. And the rumors are that he was sent with Sejong's personal hit man!" Anaximander said, Captain Jeong stopped dead in his tracks.
"Wait, how did you hear this?" he asked.
"From my runner, you know we Spartans are excellent runners, the Athenians would say they are-"
"I don't care about that General!" Jeong said "Are you telling me Sejong is going to have Han Gong killed?"
"First of all, for the record I am not telling you anything, but if I was I'd say I wasn't sure. All I know is the guy who killed Gang Jo is travelling with General Han, Kim something, its hard to pronounce your names, to be honest I try and avoid saying your name." the Spartan General said.
"Wow, poor Han Gong" Captain Jeong said "Well, there isn't much we can do about it, huh..."
Seoul...
Foreign Minister Hae Mosu stormed into the Emperor's chambers. Sejong told him he would meet with him over a month ago and hadn't got around to it. Hae was feeling increasingly left in the dark about all matters of state, and this bothered him greatly. Two guards quickly approached him as he entered "Emperor, I must speak with you, it is of the utmost urgency!"
The guards held up spears to the Foreign Minister's face "Guards, stop, that is no way to treat our Imperial Minister" they quickly lowered their spears "Minister Hae, I am disappointed in you, the way you address your Emperor, not even a bow?"
"I apologize your excellency" Hae said, bowing to the Emperor "I too have been slighted, you have been neglecting your foreign affairs!"
"Guards, please leave" the Emperor said as the guards dutifully bowed and left the chambers "Now Hae, what is so damned important that you would barge in here and nearly have your head taken off?"
"Your majesty, it is the message we sent to Greece to be translated. It comes from a land called Rome, from a Consul Lucius Junius Brutus my lord."
"Well Minister, what does it say?" the Emperor asked.
"Here you are sir, it should be the full translation..."
"...Hmmm, what a ridiculously aggressive tone!" the Emperor said "So what am I supposed to say to this? I don't know where this Rome is!"
"Sire, they seem to consider a non-response a type of aggressive response. I suggest we reply to this missive."
"And where do we bring it? How did we get it?"
"A runner sir, we don't know of his origins or any such information. We weren't aware of the contents of this message until almost a month ago," Hae explained.
"And where is this Rome?" Sejong asked.
"I am not sure your excellency, the Oldonians say it is to the east, the Maya say it is to the north but I am not sure they know for sure. Perhaps the Greeks know, but they have been cold lately when it comes to diplomacy." Hae explained.
"This is confoundingly ridiculous Minister!" Sejong exclaimed "Very well, we will give these Romans their response. You draw something up, something to the effect of we recognize their government, blah blah blah, but we will not be sending emissaries to their little summit. We don't know where they are, and we are currently mapping that region. There is a Captain Jeong Jung-bu, but he does not have authority to make any arrangements for Korea, so if he does happen to attend the meeting he will have no ability to make deals. He may not even make it in time, there is no telling where he is."
"Very well sire, how will I get this message to the Romans?"
"That I can not tell you, perhaps ask the Greeks. If they transalted this missive they probably know where to send it. In fact, write it up and I will personally ask Alexander. I am leaving for Greece in two days, so I will expect it ready by then."
The Port of Seoul...
"Wow, quite unebelievable!" Kim Jong-seo said, staring at the large frame of the ship "It looks like they are almost finished!"
General Han Gong was not nearly as excited, he truly believed Kim Jong-seo was there to assassinate him on the ocean voyage. It would be the perfect way to get away with it, and his body could be easily disposed of "Yes, quite lovely" the General said.
"Are you alright General?" Kim asked "You've been in deep thought since our meeting? Is something the matter?"
"No, not at all, I'm nervous for this voyage. Who knows what fate may come to us?"
"That's part of the fun General" Kim said slapping the General's back "Its a mystery, and the tales we will have. If we come back that is!"
"Of course" General Han Gong said "If we come back..."
Captain Jeong Jung-bu tredged through the dense jungles with his unit, it was a small group of talented scouts assembled for this exploratory party. The Captain was quite disappointed with his post; he thought for sure after the victory over the Aztecs he would be made a General and would be in command of his own brigade. Neither of these things occured, and here he was; far beyond civilization travelling alongside a unit of Spartan Phalanxes. He had made friends with General Anaximander of Sparta, who followed the Korean Scouting unit, although the Spartan mission was not divulged.
"This Jungle is excruciating, I don't know how the Mayans deal with it!" said Captain Jeong Jung-bu, chopping down a thicket of growth.
"It keeps your fighting arm prepared" General Anaximander said, happily chopping down the growth "We should be through this jungle soon Captain, fear not."
"I fear nothing Spartan." Jeong replied "I'm just a little angered that I got this detail, I was second only to General Han Gong in the raid against the Aztec strong-hold. And this is the thanks I get? Our unit is hardly capable of fighting barbarians, let alone any civilized enemies we encounter."
"Well Captain, Korea has no enemies I am aware of." General Anaximander replied.
"Not yet at least, word has it we are heading towards Oldonian lands, but there are barbarians everywhere. Or at least that's what they reported to us." the Korean captain remarked "Although, who knows what to believe?"
"You know, at least you weren't treated like General Han, I hear he was shipped off on some boat ride. And the rumors are that he was sent with Sejong's personal hit man!" Anaximander said, Captain Jeong stopped dead in his tracks.
"Wait, how did you hear this?" he asked.
"From my runner, you know we Spartans are excellent runners, the Athenians would say they are-"
"I don't care about that General!" Jeong said "Are you telling me Sejong is going to have Han Gong killed?"
"First of all, for the record I am not telling you anything, but if I was I'd say I wasn't sure. All I know is the guy who killed Gang Jo is travelling with General Han, Kim something, its hard to pronounce your names, to be honest I try and avoid saying your name." the Spartan General said.
"Wow, poor Han Gong" Captain Jeong said "Well, there isn't much we can do about it, huh..."
Seoul...
Foreign Minister Hae Mosu stormed into the Emperor's chambers. Sejong told him he would meet with him over a month ago and hadn't got around to it. Hae was feeling increasingly left in the dark about all matters of state, and this bothered him greatly. Two guards quickly approached him as he entered "Emperor, I must speak with you, it is of the utmost urgency!"
The guards held up spears to the Foreign Minister's face "Guards, stop, that is no way to treat our Imperial Minister" they quickly lowered their spears "Minister Hae, I am disappointed in you, the way you address your Emperor, not even a bow?"
"I apologize your excellency" Hae said, bowing to the Emperor "I too have been slighted, you have been neglecting your foreign affairs!"
"Guards, please leave" the Emperor said as the guards dutifully bowed and left the chambers "Now Hae, what is so damned important that you would barge in here and nearly have your head taken off?"
"Your majesty, it is the message we sent to Greece to be translated. It comes from a land called Rome, from a Consul Lucius Junius Brutus my lord."
"Well Minister, what does it say?" the Emperor asked.
"Here you are sir, it should be the full translation..."
To: All the civilized nations of Terra (part of his speech made to the people)
From: Lucius Junius Brutus and the Senate and People of Rome
Let all men know: Rome is free from its tyrants! We call all peoples of sound mind and civil nature to follow our example and shed themselves of their kings and unlawful masters!
We announce a bright new age of unity and freedom! May an empire of peace spread across the world. The gods look upon our endeavor with favor, with Jupiter and Romulus on our side who is against us? Yes brothers we are free and let us swear never to let the scourge of kings or dictators who would be kings to stain Rome's reputation. We must be ever watchful against all such beasts among men. Such wicked wolves who see all others as sheep.
The law and only the law shall be a limit to the freedom of Roman citizens. Any consul any general who seeks power in Rome must recognize this.
We now ask that the governments of the world recognize the New Roman government as legitimate and to send their representatives to our capital, any refusal to do so will be seen as a desire to restore the Monarchy or its Tyrannical offspring the Dictatorship , and will be considered grounds for war.
From: Lucius Junius Brutus and the Senate and People of Rome
Let all men know: Rome is free from its tyrants! We call all peoples of sound mind and civil nature to follow our example and shed themselves of their kings and unlawful masters!
We announce a bright new age of unity and freedom! May an empire of peace spread across the world. The gods look upon our endeavor with favor, with Jupiter and Romulus on our side who is against us? Yes brothers we are free and let us swear never to let the scourge of kings or dictators who would be kings to stain Rome's reputation. We must be ever watchful against all such beasts among men. Such wicked wolves who see all others as sheep.
The law and only the law shall be a limit to the freedom of Roman citizens. Any consul any general who seeks power in Rome must recognize this.
We now ask that the governments of the world recognize the New Roman government as legitimate and to send their representatives to our capital, any refusal to do so will be seen as a desire to restore the Monarchy or its Tyrannical offspring the Dictatorship , and will be considered grounds for war.
"Sire, they seem to consider a non-response a type of aggressive response. I suggest we reply to this missive."
"And where do we bring it? How did we get it?"
"A runner sir, we don't know of his origins or any such information. We weren't aware of the contents of this message until almost a month ago," Hae explained.
"And where is this Rome?" Sejong asked.
"I am not sure your excellency, the Oldonians say it is to the east, the Maya say it is to the north but I am not sure they know for sure. Perhaps the Greeks know, but they have been cold lately when it comes to diplomacy." Hae explained.
"This is confoundingly ridiculous Minister!" Sejong exclaimed "Very well, we will give these Romans their response. You draw something up, something to the effect of we recognize their government, blah blah blah, but we will not be sending emissaries to their little summit. We don't know where they are, and we are currently mapping that region. There is a Captain Jeong Jung-bu, but he does not have authority to make any arrangements for Korea, so if he does happen to attend the meeting he will have no ability to make deals. He may not even make it in time, there is no telling where he is."
"Very well sire, how will I get this message to the Romans?"
"That I can not tell you, perhaps ask the Greeks. If they transalted this missive they probably know where to send it. In fact, write it up and I will personally ask Alexander. I am leaving for Greece in two days, so I will expect it ready by then."
The Port of Seoul...
"Wow, quite unebelievable!" Kim Jong-seo said, staring at the large frame of the ship "It looks like they are almost finished!"
General Han Gong was not nearly as excited, he truly believed Kim Jong-seo was there to assassinate him on the ocean voyage. It would be the perfect way to get away with it, and his body could be easily disposed of "Yes, quite lovely" the General said.
"Are you alright General?" Kim asked "You've been in deep thought since our meeting? Is something the matter?"
"No, not at all, I'm nervous for this voyage. Who knows what fate may come to us?"
"That's part of the fun General" Kim said slapping the General's back "Its a mystery, and the tales we will have. If we come back that is!"
"Of course" General Han Gong said "If we come back..."
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