The War that Could Never Be Won
The Shang Wars is probably the longest-running story written for my friends' reading pleasure. It is still ongoing at this point of time. Based on palace intrigues and wars within a crumbling empire in a Chinese setting, it is the story most readers believe I love the best. Of course, I have to say what every parent, despite evidence to the contrary, says, "I love all my children equally." I present the first instalment for my wider readers.
A story in the Shang Wars series.
Skirmishes had been going on for three years between the two armies. The Generalissimo watched with concern, flanked by his Aide-de-Camp. For these three years, the Shang battalion had gotten the enemy by its grip, only to be told each time by the Emperor to let them go. It was very frustrating, to see the wanton destruction wrought by an enemy that simply laughed at them each time they crossed the border. The troops were very tired of always having to deal with such an enemy, and the Generalissimo had been working very hard to bring up the army’s morale.
The Generalissimo knew that the Emperor was keen to preserve diplomatic ties with the enemy, despite the constant harassment from the other party at the borders. Time after time, he had sent communiques to the Emperor regarding the damage done by the raiding parties, and each time the Generalisimo had been told to hold his position and not pursue the enemy. He gritted his teeth as he remembered the smells of the burning flesh, the screams of agony of those being tortured. He was caught between obedience to the Emperor, and the need to protect the border towns. If only he was given permission to crush the enemy…
A piece of news came that day. One of his Generals had taken the initiative to attack the raiding party that just crossed the border. He had reported no victories, but succeeded in driving the raiding party back to their lands. He had restrained himself, knowing the Emperor’s orders, The Generalissimo nodded as he thought to himself. His General had done no wrong. The Aide-de-Camp knew what he needed to do. He immediately went to check on the wounded enemy troops and treated them, in case of possible diplomatic fallout.
The Emperor’s edict came quickly, admonishing the Generalissimo for not being in command of his men and letting them get out of control. He demanded that the Generalissimo apologise to the diplomat that was being sent at that moment from the border trading town. His Aide-de-Camp simply could not believe what he had just heard. That was the Emperor they had been serving for so many years?
Some said the Shang Empire could never fall. It had survived and prospered hundreds of years under the same diplomatic policy of appeasement. The Emperor had never trusted his troops, preferring to rely on spies he planted throughout the army. It had worked all these years. The Shang Empire would never fall.
A story in the Shang Wars series.
Skirmishes had been going on for three years between the two armies. The Generalissimo watched with concern, flanked by his Aide-de-Camp. For these three years, the Shang battalion had gotten the enemy by its grip, only to be told each time by the Emperor to let them go. It was very frustrating, to see the wanton destruction wrought by an enemy that simply laughed at them each time they crossed the border. The troops were very tired of always having to deal with such an enemy, and the Generalissimo had been working very hard to bring up the army’s morale.
The Generalissimo knew that the Emperor was keen to preserve diplomatic ties with the enemy, despite the constant harassment from the other party at the borders. Time after time, he had sent communiques to the Emperor regarding the damage done by the raiding parties, and each time the Generalisimo had been told to hold his position and not pursue the enemy. He gritted his teeth as he remembered the smells of the burning flesh, the screams of agony of those being tortured. He was caught between obedience to the Emperor, and the need to protect the border towns. If only he was given permission to crush the enemy…
A piece of news came that day. One of his Generals had taken the initiative to attack the raiding party that just crossed the border. He had reported no victories, but succeeded in driving the raiding party back to their lands. He had restrained himself, knowing the Emperor’s orders, The Generalissimo nodded as he thought to himself. His General had done no wrong. The Aide-de-Camp knew what he needed to do. He immediately went to check on the wounded enemy troops and treated them, in case of possible diplomatic fallout.
The Emperor’s edict came quickly, admonishing the Generalissimo for not being in command of his men and letting them get out of control. He demanded that the Generalissimo apologise to the diplomat that was being sent at that moment from the border trading town. His Aide-de-Camp simply could not believe what he had just heard. That was the Emperor they had been serving for so many years?
Some said the Shang Empire could never fall. It had survived and prospered hundreds of years under the same diplomatic policy of appeasement. The Emperor had never trusted his troops, preferring to rely on spies he planted throughout the army. It had worked all these years. The Shang Empire would never fall.
Comments
Post a Comment