Great Liang Dynasty

The **Great Liang** (大梁) Dynasty is ruled by the Li Family. It's territory is similar to modern day China. Its capital city is Beijing.

## Emperors

In chronological order:

* **Taizu 太祖** - Emperor Taizu founded Great Liang
* **Wu 武**- Emperor Wu (Gu Yun's Grandfather) --- As the emperor will pass without having any male issue, he formally adopts a Li son from a branch family, therefore continuing the Li dynasty. During his reign, he founded the Black Iron Camp.
* **Yuan He 元和** - Emperor: Yuan He
* **Long An 隆安** - Emperor: Li Feng 李丰
* **Tai Shi 太始** - Emperor (Regent): Li Min 李旻
* Emperor: Li Zheng

Every Emperor in Ancient China would change the name of their reign (国号) in each dynasty. It is also used as the Emperor's title. For example, Long An refers to Li Feng's reign, and Long An Emperor would refer to Li Feng.

## Relationships

### Northern Barbarians (18 Tribes)

The Barbarians are an alliance of 18 tribes led by a King, and its territory stretches across the entire Northern border of the Great Liang dynasty. They have a long history of enmity stemming from centuries of wars. Before the Great Liang Dynasty started focusing on military steampunk technology, both kingdoms were fairly evenly matched. The Northern Barbarians had fiercer warriors, but the South Han Chinese had great generals. After Emperor Wu's founding of the Ling Shu Institute and the Black Iron Camp, the military of Great Liang far outmatched the Northern Barbarians - which was very hard for them to accept.

The former King lost decisively in a battle against 30 of the Great Liang's Heavy Armors and was crippled for the rest of his life.

Their territory is found north of today's Great Wall of China. It's naturally mountainous and also partially covered by the Gobi desert, which makes it a fairly inhospitable land to live in. Due to constant droughts, they have constantly eyed the more fertile plains of Great Liang to prevent starvation. Due to its natural landscape, it is also rich in ziliujin.

They are likely a mix of Göktürks, Xiongnu, Mongols, Manchurians. It's important to note that Ancient Chinese believed themselves to be the centre of the world, and considered everyone else who were not like them to be *barbarians.* It's not a true reflection of the 18 tribes being barbaric nor culturally backward.

### Dong Ying

Today's Japan, Dong Ying and Great Liang have a polite relationship on the surface, but both countries do not like nor trust each other. Dong Ying is shown to be an opportunistic kingdom and will provide any side of the war with military support if they believe there is a benefit for them. Their specialty is naval warfare as they are located on a cluster of islands near the Northeast of Great Liang.

## Trivia

* Priest incorporated today's map (and knowledge) into this story, while *ziliujin* cannot be found in Great Liang, today, crude oil can be found today in China in the exact areas that *ziliujin* can be found. One of the areas being the land of the Northern Barbarians (today part of China), and the Northwestern land of *Xinjiang*, where Gu Yun was based near for many years. These regions were not part of most ancient dynasties, and were conquered over the years.

## References

1. ↑ We're not given his name, except that he was a conqueror who expanded the borders, founded Lingshu Institute and the Black Iron Camp.
2. ↑ Chang Geng has always considered himself as only a temporary emperor, almost like a regent, and had made it clear he intended to pass the throne back to Li Feng's main bloodline in time.
3. ↑ Crude oil is often discovered in deserts. Source
4. ↑ Various "tribes" along the Eurasian Steppes