Sun Family

The Sun (Chinese: 孫, pinyin: Sūn) Family is a noble family from the Kingdom of Shui in Jiangnan. They have a long martial history dating back to the Sixteen States Period in the First Era after the collapse of the Feng, before they were conquered by the Kingdom of Wen from Zhongbu. They maintained a strong presence in the Imperial government until the fall of Wen, and the Four Kingdoms Period began. They remained unbeaten on the battlefield during the Four Kingdoms Period, being offered sovereignty of their own land if they surrendered, and would be free to expand into Namyueh.

On three occasions, during the Fan, Sui, and San Dynasties, the Sun Family and the forces of Shui were called upon by the various Emperors to quell invasions and rebellions. The Emperors relinquished Heaven's Mandate to the Sun each time, and the Sun would be free to select the next ruling Kingdom, never choosing themselves.

The Sun Family is renowned for their military prowess and willingness to accept foreigners who might add to their might. All family members are expected to serve in at least two campaigns of expansion as recruits, and only on proving their leadership abilities are they allowed into the court. Shui is home to the Academy of Advanced Warfare, which is taught by members of the Sun Family who reached the rank of Colonel by merit. Soldiers and officers who display a keen mind or spirit for warfare are married into the family, in hopes to strengthen their line even further.

Following the incursions of the Horde of the Heavenly Sky, the Guan Dynasty requested their aid, being sent to fight in Zhakria and against the Akaashputra to the South.

## History

### First Era

#### Rise to Prominence

The Sun Family draw their roots from their ancestor Xue, the first grandson of Feng Emperor Rendi (Shen Jia). Xue was named Prince Sun of Shui in Jiangnan, and began building a family there with his three wives, Lady Yan, Lady Li, and Lady Shu. By the time of the Feng's collapse, the Sun Clan had reached two hundred members. Patriarch Sun Yu declared himself King of Shui during the Twelve Warring States Period, going to war to secure his lands. He wrote several dozen treatises on martial arts and tactics that gave Shui a handed advantage in the fighting. These would be compiled by his nephew, Sun Rui into the Sun Doctrines, which became required reading for would-be court officials, and eventually all military officers regardless of rank.

Though their strategies helped them secure win after win, the Kingdom of Wen with their vast resources eventually conquered Shui. The Sun were rewarded for their insight into the arts of warfare and in recognition of their valiant defense, the Shu Emperor Zhuzi positioned them in his court as military advisors.

### Second Era

#### Northern Invasions

In the reign of the Fan, the Sun Family were mostly ignored, free to pursue their own ambitions as they established a powerful trade empire and produced the finest soldiers in the realm. Rucheng raids had increased in the North, and the weaker states struggled to fight them off. The Rucheng, under the leadership of Chanyu, launched a massive invasion that seized large swathes of land from Shande. Furthermore, a monsoon struck the Eastern coasts, preventing the professional troops in Zhongbu a chance to counter the invasion. The Sun clan provided assistance to the Tianxia forces and helped hold the line until the Xia'nou leader Ehesugan defected and beat the Rucheng back, allowing the Sun forces to ambush Chanyu and kill him.

Sun Da entered the Capital in Lucheng and delivered Chanyu's head to Wuji. Sun Da and Wuji held games at the Capital for two months, competitions for go, chess, wrestling, sword dancing, and rhetorical debates included.

#### Fall From Grace

As Shu's rule began to decline in the face of the White Face Rebellion, three factions within the court vied for control of Emperor Luzhan (Huang Zu). Sun patriarch Ji moved back to Shui and began mounting a defense against the oncoming war, declaring his Kingdom's independence. Ji played a neutral role in the war, taking advantage of opportunities to expand the territory as each faction requested assistance.

When Ren Liu, King of Er had Luzhan assassinated and usurped the throne, Chu Peng declared himself Emperor of Bai, and Luzhan's nephew Huang Cai declared himself the Emperor of Dong-Shu, beginning the Four Kingdoms Period. Sun Ji continued his policy of letting the other Kings play into his favor, but a sudden heart attack ended his reign and put his son Bu in charge of the clan.

Bu was favored by the court, but disliked among the military officials. The court urged him to proclaim himself Emperor Yunlong of Shui, and take a more proactive approach in the war. Shortly after his coronation, the King of Er Ren Liu subdued the Kingdoms of Bai and Dong-Shu, and turned his sights on the new usurper. With little support from the military, Shui was quickly defeated, Sun Bu was boiled alive, and the family that supported his claim executed as a show of force against rebellion. The martial side of the Sun clan was allowed to rule autonomously, but were threatened to never raise their sword in defiance of an Emperor again.

#### Return to Glory

Sun Fu, Bu's younger sister and a prominent tactician, came to power in the clan, and began a Southern expansion campaign into the undeveloped Namyueh region and into Yueh lands. The vast resources recovered on the expeditions, as well as the experience gained by Shui troops brought in a golden age that would last for six centuries. Yueh troops were included into Shui's ranks, and Fu married a prominent chieftain named Lê Ngọc Quan. They changed the family crest to a Phoenix to symbolize the dawn of a new era.

Shui would once again become the single most powerful Kingdom, but always remembered Ren Liu's threat and never involved itself in the affairs of the rest of the Empire.

#### Western Invasions

Li succeeded Er, and after 247 years of peace. Attacks from the Rajna Empire forced a response from Li Emperor Langzi. With their lands a likely next target, the Sun Family began mobilization, and were prepared to request permission from Langzi to march into the Empire's lands in Namyueh when he surrendered the Mandate to them for their assistance. Shui troops marched into Namyueh, and routed the invading Rajna in under a year and forcing their collapse.

King Sun Zi had grown fond of a Kongren strategist named Liu Mao, who had demonstrated a sharp mind and fearsome courage. Zi selected Mao as the next Emperor, and married his son to Mao's daughter, and began the reign of San.

#### Sun Yuan's Rebellion

Sun Yuan, a cousin of Shui King Sun Tang, had founded a mercenary band with his closest friends and moved to the State of Fan in the far North. After serving military interests of King Su Liang, Yuan staged a coup and had Liang's entire family executed, and had their heads sent to the San Emperor Donglu as a declaration of independence. Because of San's close ties to the Sun, Donglu requested Tang's aid, as Yuan was a far greater threat than the Empire could handle alone.

Sun Tang's court wasn't decided on the matter, thinking that this would be the time to seize the Mandate themselves. Tang had all officials cast a vote on the course of action, and then executed the officials who voted to join Yuan, their heads sent to the rebel king as a warning to surrender. Yuan, confident the Fan troops could hold out against the Shui, executed Tang's envoy and his party.

Bitter fighting broke out, and quickly turned into a stalemate. Troops loyal to the officials that Tang executed defected in the dead of night, replenishing Fan's losses with more well trained and disciplined troops. Shui troops would launch attacks into fortified positions, but would be driven back, while Fan troops would deploy sorties against Shui siege equipment. The tide finally turned with the arrival of Zhang Gao, Princess of the State of Guan, bearing the sigil of the Azure Dragon, a symbolic choice to show the plan to fuel the Phoenix of Shui. Her troops rivaled those that remained under Tang's command, effectively doubling the strength of the Imperial forces engaged in the conflict.

In the day before an assault on the city of Fan, the sky darkened and the soldiers witnessed the Flame of Heaven, accompanied by a bright aurora. Viewing it as a show of Heaven's will, Sun Yuan slit his throat and the Fan troops surrendered four years after fighting began. Sun Tang took Zhang Gao as his wife.

### Third Era

The decimated Sun family returned to the Kingdom of Shui and returned to their trade and martial lifestyle, using the experience gained against Yuan's Rebellion to further adapt their strategies.

With the sudden invasion of the Horde of the Heavenly Sky, Guan Emperor Zhaoyue has requested the Sun Family's assistance once again. Their current patriarch is Sun Qian, the Marquis of Shui. Other notable family members are his brother, Sun Mo, General Who Conquers the West, his son Sun Jiang, General who Holds the South, and his niece Sun Qi, General of the Agile Cavalry.