TIANSHI, THE WARRIOR EMPRESS

A BRIEF HISTORY

In a land of myth, at a time of peace, there were once great, once brave and once feared people in history.

Tranquil was never to be heard of and the people of China enjoyed the nation thriving I'm trade, commerce and political strength.

The country was united under one dynasty, the PAN DYNASTY which prevailed for 100 years.

The ruling Emperor GONG ZHOU later suffered from small pox and died at the age of 65 and passed down the throne to his forty year old son GONG MING.

Gong Ming who was a very determined warrior immediately began to expand the empire at the expense of the nation's toothless neighbours and allies.

Gong Ming's strength increased and with time, he became popular among the people that they started to worship him.

Gong Ming's pride got the best of him that he confiscated the sacred religious lands of the peoples and wanted to relocate the Monks so he could erect temples in his own worship.

Gong Ming was not successful, most people were loyal to the gods and they demanded that their lands be retained.

The Emperor refused and sent out a decree, the people could not worship him as a god unless he was the only god.

Chaos started when he began by breaking the temples near his capital around the great hall and persecuting all the monks, priests and people who rebelled.

This started to barely endear the Emperor to the people that it became the first stroke in what would ultimately become a fatal design.

Rebellions still rose but the Emperor did not stop the sacrilege and further went on to crown himself Emperor of the Heavens, King descended of the gods and proclaimed himself the only deity.

The people were thrown into rage and struck at once but were no much compared to the Emperor's armies that had been well equipped and fed.

The Emperor rewarded his soldiers handsomely and his victory forced many to rebels to flee the country in exile and crush the hopes of a rise of any rebellion in the near future.

The Emperor had consolidated his reign over the realm that he started burning, hanging and guillotining all those who were later caught in ploys to overthrow him.

Five years into his reign, his two sons and four daughters were travelling North towards the boarder when a few soldiers of the vassals held them hostage and beheaded them.

The Emperor received the heads of his children in a sack.

The Emperor was furious and immediately marched to the Vassals and killed their governors before he returned heartbroken.

He married a fifth wife and also had twenty concubines but none could give birth to a child hence he alone stood between the throne and his nephew.

What he had done in violation of the religion had annoyed the gods who took away his children from him and were determined to ruin him.

The Emperor did not care as long as he got what he wanted, when he wanted it and where he wanted it.

After ten years of misery five of which since the Emperor's children had died, there was still no news of an heir and the Emperor was now fifty years.

The people received the Prophecy that spoke of the end of the dynasty.

" THE HEAVENS SHALL REWARD HIS TYRANNY WITH FALL, HIS VANQUISHED SHALL LURK IN FEAR NO MORE, BLOOD SHALL RIVAL FOR HIS THRONE, HIS DYNASTY SHALL FALL INTO THREE AT THE HANDS OF HIS OWN. " The Prophecy stated.

After a while, that same year, his fifth wife conceived after a long time of waiting for an heir for the throne and she gave birth to triplet sons.

The Emperor was afraid of the Prophecy and he could not let his sons live if they would rival for the throne that could only hold one of them.

The Emperor decided to let the boys grow up and he would pick up the best and name them his heir.

The boys later grew strong and courageous and coped up with one another exhibiting the same discipline, wisdom and skill that it became clearer, the best of the three was GONG XIANG, The third born.

The elder two were about to be assassinated but survived and learnt of their father's intentions.

Gong Ming's plan was foiled and his two sons ganged up on him and murdered him.

The Emperor was never the people's favorite that he lacked a proper burial because his sons were immediately at war for the throne.

He died before naming his heir and the twenty year olds took advantage of the situation to rival.

Gong Xu who was the eldest claimed to be the heir with the better claim while Gong Tie the second had the support of the people after he undid his Father's religious reformation and restored the ancient faith and invited the refugees back from exile.

Gong Xiang had the support of the ministers and this gave him the solid foundation on which he gained the protection of the army.

Gong Xiang won over the capital and after ten years of war, it was clear to his brothers that they could not have it.

The two moved to the parts of the North and the West that had weak defences and captured them to establish their own dynasties.

They dishonored their brother and made it clear they would never bow down to him and this became known as the time of the three thrones.

War continued amongst the three brothers and their descendants for two hundred years hence the Prophecy had come to pass.

The once united China was under three divided dynasties and war prevailed in that Crisis.

The end of the Pan dynasty was the greatest tragedy to befall the nation and as for Gong Ming, he was never laid to rest as his corpse rot and he did not live to see his sons fight over the throne so terribly.