Chapter Three:I Am A Conqueror And Will Always Be One
517 AC
It has been months since the Holy Council has been restored and there has not been news of Dino. Toyimotai is very curious of what happened and one night he even had a nightmare see two people burning in flames! One of them was Dino, the other one was himself! Toyimotai felt the fire and the wrath of the flames in his physical body and soul. Because of the nightmare, Toyimotai began reading books that held legends about demons. Toyimotai even refused to show up at council meetings just to study about demons. After reading so much, Toyimotai found something that freaked him out. It talked about people having nightmares seeing themselves being burned by the flames of Hell. The reading eventually mentally forced Toyimotai to go to the east to find Dino. Without informing the Council, Toyimotai brings an army of 10,000 elite troops to the east to look for Dino. When the council found out about Toyimotai's actions, Gerald ordered Azar to lead an army of 5,000 Knights to enter the east and find Toyimotai. However, none returned....
-The Holy Council assumed that they are dead and had to begin rebuilding so that they can catch up with the Northern Kingdom.
532 AC
Elder Gerald dies of old age and Liu Gao takes over as Elder. Elder Liu Gao is the first and only elder who originated from the north.
-King Huang Fu Di have a meeting with Liu Gao and asks Liu Gao to surrender all of the central plains to him. Liu Gao was angry and refused. Liu Gao stated "You were once my superior and almighty, I bowed down to you like an inferior. Today, I have risen as a superior and your equal. Although I am a northerner, my loyalty to my friend Gerald never ends, and I am happy to live with these people of the Central Plains."
King Huang Fu Di told him "Do you really think the people of the Central Plains are truly loyal to you? Do you really trust these Councilers who hold so much power? A northerner can never be friends with the people of the Central Plains. They hate us gravely because of what I did to their almighty Marcus, and we hate them to death for Marcus' dishonesty in breaking our peace treaty and slaughtering countless peasants while they march towards Ping Jing! How could you befriend these bastards?" King Huang Fu Di was very angry and left the diplomatic meeting.
533 AC
Elder Liu Gao was assassinated and Sarius of Praven takes over as Elder.
537 AC
King Huang Fu Di stopped fighting the south for 30 years and he is now 70 years old. King Huang Fu Di wishes to conquer most if not all of the central plains before he dies. Although it was an excellent opportunity for King Huang Fu Di to invade the central plains during the Holy Civil War, King Huang Fu Di spent most of the time bringing harmony to the people so that they will favor him forever even after death.
King Huang Fu Di sees war with the Holy Council as a good opportunity as well for many reasons. The Holy Council's Elder Sarius is foolish and does not care much about politics, the missing of Toyimotai meant that the Holy Council lost a sword, shield and all of its armor.
-King Huang Fu Di breaks off the peace treaty and orders General Zhao Ming to lead a massive army of 100,000 to the central plains for a military campaign, a campaign to conquer all! Within the 100,000 were many talented officers, lieutenants and captains ready to fight to the death!
Elder Sarius stayed in Veluca enjoying pleasure and ignoring political issues. The council was very angry at Sarius and they worried that the Northern Kingdom will annihlate the Holy Council if nothing is done!
538 AC
General Zhao Ming does not expect to fail in his mission and he marches his 100,000 from Ping Jing to besiege Uxkhal which is tightly defended. The counciler who govern Uxkhal were Liu Wei, son of Liu Gao. Zhao Ming remembers Liu Gao who was one of his friends. Zhao Ming challenges Liu Wei to a duel which Liu Wei accepts. Zhao Ming defeats Liu Wei, knocked him off his horse and captured him. Liu Wei was brought into Zhao Ming's camp. Zhao Ming ordered good wine and good food to be made for Liu Wei. Liu Wei does not understand what Zhao Ming wants. Zhao Ming told Liu Wei that he has not seen his father Liu Gao for decades and asks how he is. Liu Wei did not know how Zhao Ming knew his father. Zhao Ming tells Liu Wei that Liu Gao was once a general of the Northern Kingdom, and a good friend of his but he left the North for the sake of friendship. Liu Wei told Zhao Ming that his father was assassinated by an unknown assassin.
General Zhao Ming had tears falling out of eyes and asked Liu Wei where his father was buried. Zhao Ming asked Liu Wei who does he think assassinated his father. Liu Wei replied "I... do not know.." Zhao Ming said "Your father only took over as Elder for only a few months and he was killed, has he offended anyone?" Liu Wei replied "It must be Sarius!! It was him! That bastard! It must be him! He always argues with my father, and because there were only two candidates after Elder Gerald died, Sarius being one of them he would easily seize the title of Elder just from my father's death!" Zhao Ming asked "Then why do you continue to serve under these dogs? Your father was born in the north. Born as a northerner, he will die as a northerner. Northerners can never live with the people of the Central Plains. You are also a northerner!" Liu Wei did not know what to say. General Zhao Ming at the age of 65 kneeled down to Liu Wei crying "Your father was my best friend! Please return to the Northern Kingdom and serve them well! I do not want my best friend's family name to go down in history as a traitor to the North!" Liu Wei tries to rise Zhao Ming back on his feet replied "Please get up, you must not kneel! If I go to the north, would I not be regarded as a traitor?!" Zhao Ming told him "No, your father died a terrible death! How can avenging your father be treacherous?!" Liu Wei made the decision and bowed down to General Zhao Ming with eyes full of tears crying "General!!! I will serve under the Northern Kingdom with all my life!! My father! I must avenge him!!"
Liu Wei ordered the gates of Uxkhal to open up and surrendered to General Zhao Ming. Liu Wei served as Zhao Ming's Lieutenant-Captain. Liu Wei went to visit his friend Gorio in Dhirm, son of Elder Gerald and Governor of Dhirm. Liu Wei persuaded Gorio to surrender to the Northern Kingdom telling Gorio that Sarius sent assassins to kill his father. Liu Wei told Gorio that he has surrendered to the north and became Lieutenant-Captain of General Zhao Ming. Gorio saw Zhao Ming's massive northern army and Liu Wei's central army. Gorio could not refuse and he also did not like Elder Sarius.
539 AC
The news of the surrender of Gorio and Liu Wei spread throughout the lands. King Huang Fu Di summoned these two vassals to Chang Shang to meet the two. King Huang Fu Di rewarded the two with gold. The old King was growing old and told Liu Wei that he predicted the death of his father and tried to save him but failed. Liu Wei and Gorio became Generals of the Northern Kingdom. Although old, Huang Fu Di was still a genius who knew how to use people well. Huang Fu Di also asked Gorio and Liu Wei about the Holy Council's government, politics, culture, economy, weapons and every single information so that he may use it to improve the Northern Kingdom's power and influence. It can also be used to earn the hearts of the people of the Central Plains. Huang Fu Di wrote everything in a book including all the difficulties he has encountered in his life and everything that is required to be an efficient ruler. The Old King presented this book to his son, Prince Huang Yun who will eventually succeed him.
-When the council members heard the news of Gorio and Liu Wei's surrender, they bursted in rage and fear. The two High Councilers with the most authority, Counciler Palot and Counciler Gavin had enough of this madness, brought an army of Holy Swordsmen and bursted into Elder Sarius' chambers. The two Councilers and their army of Holy Swordsmen could not believe what Sarius was doing at this time of chaos! Elder Sarius had twenty women on his bed forcing them to give him pleasure. When Sarius saw Palot and Gavin, Sarius ordered their deaths! The Holy Council did not obey, and Palot and Gavin bursted in anger and screamed "Kill them all!!!!!" The Holy Swordsmen charged at the large bed and slaughtered all the women. The Holy Swordsmen stabbed Sarius simultanously with their swords and then Palot beheaded him. Gavin ordered Sarius' corpse to be hanged on the wall of Veluca.
General Zhao Ming remained in western central plains building up his army and defenses and Liu Wei and Gorio tried to bring the people's loyalty away from the Holy Council and towards the Northern Kingdom.