Beowulf: Yeah, this intermission was just a fill in.
The Executer: Very perceptive...as you shall see.
morningSIDEr: Yes indeed. A nice climactic battle might indeed rely on both those things!
Dewirix/Beowulf/AdamClason: Heh, I never saw the Sopranos, so I don't entirely get it.
However, yes, it was probably just as well that Channing was a rogue. You don't want that sort of nutter in an official position!
I'm also interested at this point in getting feedback for future on the following things, which will hopefully make things more enjoyable for you and me:
- Rapidity of updates; my sig says once every two days, but it's usually once a day. Is that too often or OK?
- Plotline; Is it better to have Talena directly influencing rulers or just being caught up in events happening around her?
And once again, a big thank you to all readers, those who post and others who read. If you ever have comments, questions, complaints etc let me know publically or privately.
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TIANSHUN II PART 1
China found itself in dire straights in the aftermath of the war with Pegu. Despite facing an enemy far smaller than them, the Chinese armies had suffered terribly in the jungles of South-East Asia, losing men in equal part to desertion, guerrilla warfare and endemic diseases. It is said that over half those who invaded did not come back, or were so crippled they were lost to the Emperor. Considering that over one hundred thousand soldiers had been involved this was a massive blow.
Rebellions sprung up, being a mix of both angry peasants and nationalists eager to have their demands heard. However, for now at least, through vigorous levying and application of gold the Emperor’s armies were able to put down rebellions. However, for every one that was crushed another two would appear!
Tianshun himself was a studious, amicable though not especially brilliant leader. The main reason for his success was that he had the employment of several powerful ministers, who guided him from behind the scenes.
XXX
11/11/1507
A cold wind blew down from the north, and the boat clipped between the choppy waves in a jerky fashion. The wind and spray soaked those on deck and dribbled water down between the decks and into the hold.
It was not weather and conditions that inspired enthusiasm or joy, and especially not for Talena. With chilly water dripping onto her no matter what she did she was angry, made even more so by her helplessness. For more than two months they had journeyed by ship from the Bay of Bengal, around Malaya, past Indo-China and up the coast of the Ming Empire itself. It had been a long voyage, and especially for her, chained up below decks, never allowed freedom for even a moment. Truly Cade and his mysterious boss thought she was dangerous.
And yet, he hadn’t been unkind to her, talking to her when she felt like company, giving her food and opening the hatch above to let in light and air. However, he wasn’t stupid enough to release her, and nothing Talena had done had helped her escape.
As the ship tacked into port in the cold, windy, yet sunny sky, he came down again to see her. He smiled pleasantly at her.
“We’ve almost arrived. You will be taken to see my boss, who will judge you in the name of the Emperor. Now Talena, I hope you’re not going to make this difficult.”
Talena glared at him. “You’re the one who’s kept me chained up for two months! I could have come on board as a guest.”
Cade shrugged. “I’m not a fool. You value your independence, don’t trust me, and are practically immortal. All those things make you very difficult to contain. Do I really have to get a dozen men down her to hold you down while you’re untied?”
She sighed. “I’m sick of being tied up! I’ll co-operate, I want to know who this boss of yours is anyway.”
Cade reached into a sack and pulled out a set of handcuffs. They were of strange design, looking proto-modern, and yet made with contemporary techniques.
“Did you make these in this time?” she asked.
“Not personally. Thankfully Professor Channing knows a thing or two about practical creation of objects. And after all we’ve had a century, all the resources of the east and all the manpower we’ve needed.” He held them up. “Now turn around.”
Talena sighed again and offered her right wrist so it could be unlocked from the iron ring riveted to the wooden deck. Then, without resistance she turned and let him secure her wrists behind her back.
“Thank you. Now come on, we’ve docked.”
As they disembarked, with Talena at the head and Cade behind her, they passed between a row of Chinese soldiers in perfect ranks. Each one of them carried a long musket like firearm, as well as swords by their side.
“Isn’t that a little unfair?” Talena asked.
“For the enemy, perhaps. But why fight fair?”
As a professional soldier, she acknowledged the fact with a shrug.
At last they came to a large temple set near the dock. More guards lined the path up, and at the top were a set of bronze doors which were opened.
Inside was a short corridor to a simple wooden chair under a canopy sat a man. As Talena approached the man sitting at the chair rose and stepped forward. Dressed in plain robes of grey he might have been, but there was no hiding his identity to a stunned Talena.
It was Colonel Henry Hauritz. “Well, Captain, it’s been a while. Do join me....”
Henry Hauritz