The Rise of Champions

History has forever been shaped by great men and women, those brave enough to build vast empires out of regional backwaters, or cowardly enough reduce the largest empires the pathetic shadows of their former selves. This timeline will change the leaders of two great nations, sending each one on a vastly different path than they went in Our Timeline. In each nation, I will try to demonstrate the effects of this leadership, with narratives about everything from empire ending battles to daily life in the 8th century, I will try to cover as much relevant information as I can, and probably some Irrelevant information as well. Without further ado, my two Points of Divergence are:

First Point of Divergence
Han China, 5 AD • As Rúzi Yīng, already 13 years old, begins to come to age, Wang Mang, the acting Emperor, sees this as his last chance to slaughter the child and claim the throne for himself. Eventually, he decides against killing Rúzi and instead decides he is content to forfeit his position as emperor in favor of a lesser position on the royal court. However, as soon as Rúzi comes to power as his first order to kill Wang, as revenge for an uncle's death. With the newly crowned Emperor at its head and no competition, Han China starts on a path towards prosperity and expansion for centuries to come.

Differences in Han China

  • Without Wang Mang to throw the nation into civil war, the Han dynasty never experiences the war that split it into two, and is thus able to remain stable and expand

  • With a stable political system and a large population base, starting in 57 AD, Han China expands rapidly across Asia, taking over Southeast Asia, Tibet, and other tribes, eventually building a huge empire spanning much of Asia,

  • Han China Remains a superpower for more than a thousand years, and as a result it is one of the first nations to colonize The Americas(Known in this Timeline as Atlantis)


Second Point of Divergence
Rome, 270 AD • After his ascension to the Roman throne, Aurelian makes his massive attempt to reunify his shattered empire by leading an attack against the Gallic Empire. After an early defeat, he is quickly killed by a mutiny from his disgruntled army. His replacement, Fabius, quickly proves himself incompetent as his armies lose massive swaths of land to both the Gallic and Palmyrene Empires. Even as Fabius’ grip on the nation is weakened, the army, and consequently the nation, continue to fall apart. Although by 274 AD, Diocletian manages to take power, the damage is already done and Roman Empire is in tatters.

Differences in the former Roman Empire

  • Split into three nations, Rome is never fully reunified, though the Roman Empire eventually manages to defeat and annex the Palmyrene Empire

  • With a smaller population and a more stable government, Rome never collapses, and like Han China is able to colonize the Americas

  • As a result of competition for influence in Germania between Rome and Gaul, Germania is split into hundreds of states, some under Roman Influence, others controlled by Gaul
 
Chapter One: Dawn of an Empire

Han China, AD 5

Rúzi Yīng, now the official emperor of Han China, walked across one of the many gardens in his vast palace. Despite being only fourteen years old, he was tall, almost 5’ 4.” He had dark eyes, and a hard line for a mouth, almost permanently set into a frown. He carried a ceremonial sword with him, but unlike his predecessors, he knew how to,use it. In addition to the obvious, had a certain trait to him that could perhaps be best described as “Menace.”

As he walked, another figure melted into stride beside him. If Rúzi could be described as menacing, the new arrival would have to be completely and totally terrifying. He was only slightly taller than the Emperor, but had a timeless face, with hard, unforgiving black eyes the most notable feature. He was well muscled, and carried himself in a way that was somehow lazy, attentive, and intimidating all at once.

When he finally spoke, the voice was quiet and precise, with and edge of iciness and threat. “Apparently the rumors are true,” he announced bluntly, with no prelude. Rúzi blinked, but kept walking, turning a corner on the path the pair were walking on.

The emperor paused for several seconds before replying. “Sarćratā, the palace is full of rumors. You’ll have to be more specific.” Of course, Rúzi knew exactly what rumor his personal assistant - and personal assassin - was talking about, but he always used caution when talking to men as dangerous as him.

“You know exactly what rumor I’m talking about.” Sarćratā said in a somewhat patronizing tone. The man was one of the few who, or perhaps the only, person who was regularly able to get away with infractions such as these. Both men continued walking while Sarćrata waited for a response from the young emperor. When response came, he sighed and continued. “Fine. As it turns out, Wang Mang is responsible for the death of your uncle.”

“Are you sure about this?” Rúzi inquired lightly, trying to contain his excitement. Wang was his only enemy, left in the court, and any excuse to kill him would be appreciated greatly. However, he needed confirmation before he could go through with the execution. And of course, he needed to do it publicly, to avenge his uncle in the best way possible.

“If I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t tell you” Sarćratā said, with a hard touch to his voice. “Everything I tell you is true, and I will always check the facts myself” He concluded, almost snapping at the child.

“Very well, I trust you Sarćratā” Rúzi replied, hardly noticing the man's apparent anger. “Any other news I should know about before we go ahead with the execution. I’d specifically like to know whether any nobles particularly hate me, and also how the census went.”

“Well, we were able to do better than the census in 2 Ad. 60 million citizens of your empire total, and perhaps a million are suited for military service. More if we need them, but we probably won’t. As for the royals, I know Chīn Hēnzí has no love for you.” Sarćratā intoned.

The pair fell into silence as they reached the central fountain, both of them stopping to admire the fountain and the flowers around it. Rúzi seemed perfectly willing to watch the water fountain, while his companion seemed slightly less at ease, awaiting a response to his report and double checking to make sure no one was within ear shot.

“Anything else?” Rúzi asked, breaking the silence and putting his companion at ease

“Not really. Though I suppose it would be worth noting that here in Chang’an we have the highest birth rate, followed by the Korean provinces.”

“Ah. In that case, we should try to increase the population elsewhere, or make the Koreans as Chinese as possible.”

“Neither task should be especially difficult.” The two lapsed back into silence, as Rúzi considered the information he had been delivered, while Sarćratā stood uneasily, considering what the emperor would do.

Eventually, Rúzi spoke, ending Sarćratā’s unease. “So about the population. we should start sending out people to recruit soldiers. we have enough people for a million man army, so we should make one.”

Somewhat taken aback by his master bluntness, It was Sarćratā’s turn to question. “Are you sure? A million men can only get you so far. And besides, what would we conquer? Our Empire is already difficult to control.” Realizing he was on thin ice, Sarćratā quickly tried to backpedal “but not for…”

“I understand the risks” the young emperor cut him off. “It might be hard for me to control all the new land, which is why I will set up semi-autonomous provinces. As for the new territory, land to the North and South of us is ours for taking, No? And later, Tibet, and maybe even further. Maybe my Armies will fail, and so will I, but at least I will have tried.”

“Very well” the emperor's assassin replied. “I will send recruiters out immediately. And as for Wang Mang and Chīn Hēnzí?”

A thin smile spread across Rúzi’s still boyish face. “Kill them both for conspiracy against me, and in Wang Mang’s case, for killing my uncle. I want them both dead by sunset, and with that unpleasant business out of the way, we can begin planning our conquests.”

“Understood” Sarćratā melted back behind Rúzi and out of sight to complete his assignment. With his observer gone, the emperor allowed himself to grin widely. His power across the empire would soon be secured, and fro there… well the possibilities were endless.​
 
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