PROLOGUE
It is 1655. The world colonial game is in full swing as the Kianese Empire of the west and the Syrixian Empire of the east compete for global power. Emperor Akbar IX orders the invasion of the neighboring Empire of Shei Ren, a small island nation with a dense population nearly free of disease and with wealth nearly matching Syrixia itself, all of its colonies included. However, Emperor Wei Gao is aware of the Syrixian threat. He calls the Imperial Council of advisors at Laoshan to help him decide the matter.
His main advisor, Dao Shunglang, advises him not to fight fire with fire, as the barbarians of the world outside Shei Ren, the Abode of Peace, preach. Instead, Shunglang advises the Sheirenese use tactics, assassins, saboteurs, and espionage to bring down the Syrixians. But, Gao has his own plans. The day is April 13. There are clear skies outside, and very little humidity. All seems fine across the tiny empire. Near the city of Chongpu, on the tip of the Chuzhao Peninsula north of Jinqi and east of Laoshan and Qinghai, the Syrixians prepare to make their landing.
They're nervous. However, their commander, Mukesh Dayani, tells them that Shei Ren is a nation of great wealth. Oils, spices, silks, diamonds, other precious metals, and more abound on the island. This switches morale from bad to good to overflowing. When Commander Dayani finally makes the landing, he expects opposition. He is met, however, with a surprise. Gao had decided to meet the Syrixian legions with nothing but a group of religious scholars and cooks, and invite the Syrixians to eat. He wanted to show the Syrixians that Shei Ren knew only peace.
It worked brilliantly. The Syrixians are dumbfounded. At first, some recommend they play it cautiously. Maybe these were warrior monks, or a different type of soldier. Others suggest that this was not what the Sheirenese had expected, as there were only scholars and cooks here, and said they should just charge. However Commander Dayani had heard about Shei Ren before. He eventually decides to take a small attachment of guards and talk to this group of Sheirenese that looked nothing like what the Syrixians thought they would look like.
It is 1655. The world colonial game is in full swing as the Kianese Empire of the west and the Syrixian Empire of the east compete for global power. Emperor Akbar IX orders the invasion of the neighboring Empire of Shei Ren, a small island nation with a dense population nearly free of disease and with wealth nearly matching Syrixia itself, all of its colonies included. However, Emperor Wei Gao is aware of the Syrixian threat. He calls the Imperial Council of advisors at Laoshan to help him decide the matter.
His main advisor, Dao Shunglang, advises him not to fight fire with fire, as the barbarians of the world outside Shei Ren, the Abode of Peace, preach. Instead, Shunglang advises the Sheirenese use tactics, assassins, saboteurs, and espionage to bring down the Syrixians. But, Gao has his own plans. The day is April 13. There are clear skies outside, and very little humidity. All seems fine across the tiny empire. Near the city of Chongpu, on the tip of the Chuzhao Peninsula north of Jinqi and east of Laoshan and Qinghai, the Syrixians prepare to make their landing.
They're nervous. However, their commander, Mukesh Dayani, tells them that Shei Ren is a nation of great wealth. Oils, spices, silks, diamonds, other precious metals, and more abound on the island. This switches morale from bad to good to overflowing. When Commander Dayani finally makes the landing, he expects opposition. He is met, however, with a surprise. Gao had decided to meet the Syrixian legions with nothing but a group of religious scholars and cooks, and invite the Syrixians to eat. He wanted to show the Syrixians that Shei Ren knew only peace.
It worked brilliantly. The Syrixians are dumbfounded. At first, some recommend they play it cautiously. Maybe these were warrior monks, or a different type of soldier. Others suggest that this was not what the Sheirenese had expected, as there were only scholars and cooks here, and said they should just charge. However Commander Dayani had heard about Shei Ren before. He eventually decides to take a small attachment of guards and talk to this group of Sheirenese that looked nothing like what the Syrixians thought they would look like.