It was evening at the Earth King's palace as the king threw a lavish party for his royal peers. Most of the party-goers were the Earth King nobility with a handful from the Council of Thirteen and from the Water Tribe. King Kuei sat at the head table, slightly elevated as to provide him a view above everyone and the center of attention. Princess Iroha and Princess Fuyou sat near the king, though discreetly out of sight, with a simple bamboo screen that they may see through the slits and hear everything. In their world it is improper for the king's women to be gazed upon by other men.
"Why haven't the servants served anything yet, I'm hungry!" whined Fuyou.
"Chief Minister Li Su wishes to make a speech," replied Iroha.
"Can he not give his speech after I've eaten? I am bearing the king's child and I need food."
Iroha visually measured her younger companion. she would not deny that she is hungry as well, but she believes it is because of the child and as a mother it is up to her to teach her children first lesson; discipline. Children should grow up in a disciplined but nurturing environment, but it starts with the parent.
"Please bring some fruit," commanded Iroha to the servants.
"Yes Your Royal Highness," the female servants attending the princesses curtsied and obeyed.
As Iroha waited for the fruit, she tried to make small talk with the female guests. She noticed that most of them were younger than she, while the older guests were well shaped and beautiful; but there simply pretty young things and not all clever. So she was reduced to making not very intelligent conversation. In her boredom she summoned her Airbending without moving and focused her attention to the main chamber and started eavesdropping. She could hardly ignore the eccentric King Bumi as he was conversing with the King of Hakuma.
"How are things in Hakuma?" asked Bumi in casual politeness.
"Everything is alright I suppose," said the other though his attention without making eye contact with Bumi, his eyes wandered about the room.
"I hear that you have been having some trouble with the people. Perhaps you need some advise."
"And what sort of advice other than crush them when they rebel?"
"They are rebelling for a reason. In a way you are king because of the people allow it."
The Hakuma paused and grasped his meaning as he shook his head back in mockery, "Ha! I am their king! Why would I need the people's consent? I should be the one to tell the people what to do and not the other way around!"
"It takes more than rightful authority to become king."
"No, it is not. I am their king because of my father was king, and his father, and his father before him. I am king because the Heavens made me born a king. It is by divine right that I am fated to be king. To oppose their king is to oppose God and the Heavens."
"We hold this truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," whispered Bumi.
"What?"
"Make love to the people, just as you make love to your women," said the mad king.
"The people?" snorted the arrogant king. "The people are bunch of rabble. The only way to govern them is by force and my invincible army. Afterall, it is far easier for a king to be feared, than it is to be loved." As he took a sip from his goblet he muttered, "I don't need a crazy fool to tell me how to run my country."
"Indeed...a country needs such men," Bumi said softly and then quietly left the impudent boy.
A pleasant chap that king from Hakuma, sarcastically thought Iroha to herself and continued to focus on King Bumi as he made his way across the room to make small talk with a few other guests. He stopped when he came to Dong Zhuo, the handsome attendant from the King's Ten Attendants, and General Fong of the Council of Five.
"Where are all of the women?" asked Dong Zhuo.
"They are in another room my lord," answered the handsome attendant.
"What are they doing there? They should be entertaining us."
"The king has entertainers who will be dancing during the feast. Princess Fuyou and Princess Iroha are both pregnant so they have to make do being a hostess to our wives."
"Oh, very well then. Ah King Bumi," said Dong Zhuo jovially and went to say a very bad joke. "How are things in Omashu? The noms are not stealing you blind are they?"
"Quite the opposite. Every day they bring the most interesting things to sell in the markets. Silly things really that no one can afford. They even tried to sell what they call an automobile."
"What is an automobile?" frowned Fong.
"A horseless carriage. It only needs a driver. But it's very loud, breaks too easily, very difficult to operate, and it's not very fast."
The handsome attendant chuckled. "Trust the noms to take a good idea and come up with something absurd."
"It will never catch on. Give me an ostrich-horse any day of the week," grinned Dong Zhuo.
"It probably took a mad genius to come with something like that. Right now, it is another toy of the rich," said Bumi.
"For now, they have to make do using those abominable machines called locomotives. They make the horrible noise and they foul the air with their smog. They're more trouble than they are worth. You will never see one of those in my holdings."
"Yes, but while our country moves at a pace of a cart, they move like the wind," replied Bumi.
Dong Zhuo and Fong fell silent for a pungent moment.
"But our country can ill-afford such things. It will be too expensive for us to build railways across the entire empire. Besides, I do not see the need for such things when we can simply expand our traditional stone trains, why fix something that is not broken?" the handsome attendant recovered.
"Quite so," Dong Zhuo nodded with approval.
"But what if the Air Nomads attack us?" asked Bumi.
"They wouldn't dare," replied Fong.
"Just for the sake of argument that Kanto attacks us now. They have more railways so they can move men and supplies wherever they need them faster than we can. They have telegraph wires criss-crossing their country and linking themselves with their allies; news spreads through the Air Nomads countries within hours not days with a horse and rider. Can we say the same here in the Earth Kingdom?"
Fong frowned at Bumi and then eyed a wooden spear that held by an ornate terra cotta statue (not for burial purposes!). The movement caught the attention of a room full of curious eyes, as Fong slowly started bending the spear against its will. Reddening in the face the burly general continued to exert himself as the spear started to splinter and then gave a sharp crack as the spear shaft snapped in two.
"If the Air Nomads foolishly dare attack us, we will do this to them," Fong tossed the broken spear onto the ground at Bumi's feet.
"Your strength is impressive general. Our soldiers will learn a great deal from you," commented the king of Hakuma from across the room.
"General Fong is so strong!" squealed one of the young girls effectively breaking Iroha's concentration.
As everyone settled down Iroha turned to gauge her husband's reaction. He was not watching the exchange, rather he was involved in a serious discussion with one of his Ten Attendants, the weasel faced one. The way Kuei grabbed his goblet and drank to gain liquid courage told her everything. She was tempted to eavesdrop on her husband's conversation but decided not to.
"My lords and ladies, dinner is served," announced the butler prompting people to sit down. Chief Minister Li Su stood in the middle of the room to address Kuei.
"Your Imperial Majesty, I have taken the opportunity to have the chefs prepare a feast in Your Honor. Grown from the virgin fields of the Earth Kingdom, and sweet meats from exotic beasts from the entirety of the empire. When my lords look upon the plentiful bounty that the Earth Kingdom has to offer, let all talk of famine and strife in Our Lord Emperor's Dominion end."
As the footmen and the valets paraded the food, in front of the guests who were visibly delighted in the sight of exotic foods. Seawood grout from Chameleon Bay; garlic naan bread with lamb curry, goat curry, and chicken curry from the Central Earth Kingdom; steamed barbecue pork buns covered with custard and honey from the North; sea bass, coy, and unagi from the West. All these food and more that were served were to impress the guests.
And after the food was served, the master entertainers came out dancing and playing exotic music for the nobility. Each dance was different and each one with different musicians and entertainers. There were belly dancers, folk dances, traditional music of Ba Sing Se. Each performance showcasing the cultural diversity of the empire. For that night all cares and worries of the world evaporated.
Meanwhile, a soldier rode up to the palace grounds driving his ostrich-horse as hard and as fast he could.
"Halt!" shouted an Imperial Guard captain, as his guardsmen leveled their spears.
"I have an urgent message for the king!"
"What is it?"
"There is rioting in the streets!"
"Why didn't you go to the Council of Five and tell them?"
The soldier stared at the guard wide-eyed and then shouted angrily, "General Han and General Kong are away training troops in Chang-An, General Song is in the East rebuilding the navy, General what's-his-face was captured by the rioters, and General Fong is in the palace!"
"Don't you take that tone with me soldier! Do you know who I am?"
"Yeah an Imperial Guard who is stuck on his high horse!" the soldier shot back. "Why don't you make yourself useful and tell the king the sky is falling!" With that the soldier turned his mount and galloped away.
"God damn that man," swore the imperial guard. I will find out who is and make him pay for his insolence, he thought as walked into the palace. As he drew closer to the sounds of music, laughter, and aroma of fine foods he was greeted by Li Su.
"What is the matter?" demanded Li Su.
"I must report to the Emperor that there is rioting in the streets in the lower levels of the city. The general led his troops to stop the rioters but he has been captured himself," the guardsman bowed.
"Hmm. Good work. Resume your post and make sure no else enters the palace. Remember your duty, protect your emperor with your life."
"Yes sir!" the guardsman bowed lower and left.
"Rioting in the streets," Li Su thought aloud as his colleagues gathered around him.
"We must send soldiers to restore order," suggested the large attendant.
"But the general has been captured by the rioters, how embarrassing for the Council of Five that one of their own had been overtaken by a group of rabble," mused Li Su.
"But this is serious, if one of our generals was captured this may only emboldened the rioters, it may even become a full-blown rebellion."
"Yes, I know. But who shall we send? Ah, we'll send General He Jin."
"Are you sure, you're going to send a corporal instead of a general?" asked the large attendant.
"He is the lord protector of Ba Sing Se. He will serve his purpose, even if you will drag him by his queue."
General He Jin, was an old man who had served in the Great War in his youth as a soldier. He is also the brother to the Empress Dowager He Ji, making him uncle to Earth King Kuei. When his sister married Kuei's father, the Ten Attendants made He Jin the general of the Earth King's Imperial Guard Battalion even though he was just a corporal. When the old man received his orders he was in his night gown enjoying a game of go. He was so surprised that he had overturn the board and quickly sprung into action and had his lieutenants summon the entire battalion. But the imperial guard were slow to assemble which even a casual observer would have noticed.
"Why are you men so slow? You are the emperor's honor guard!"
"General," one of the captains said sheepishly, "We are trained soldiers of course with strict standards, but our role is a ceremonial one. Please be patient."
"Harumph," grunted He Jin, not bothering to conceal his scowl.
It took an hour for the battalion to assemble.
"All right, we have orders to stop rioting in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se. The rioters are civilians, not soldiers. You shall aid the police, break up the mob, and capture any looters that you see. Now, move out," ordered He Jin.
The appearance of the Imperial Guard had an immediate. As the emperor's personal bodyguards were there to put an end to the chaos. And it was under General He Jin's capable lieutenants that the rioting stopped. But the destruction and the bloodshed that was caused to restore order was very troubling as the streets were flowing with the blood of innocents.
"Attack! Break them up!" shouted He Jin.
"General!" said a guardsman. "The rioters have set up barricades up ahead in the town square. They are waving the Kanto flag there."
"How many men do we have there?" asked He Jin to his lieutenant, Yuan Shao.
"Not enough, I believe it would be wise to withhold our men until we have enough to break through."
"Hmm. But we should act swiftly and without mercy before the enemy have time to prepare as well."
"But sir, they are not our enemy. They are civilians."
"They are waving the Kanto flag in the heart of Ba Sing Se so that makes them rebels. Now follow my orders like you're supposed to. In fact, you lead them."
"Yes sir," bowed Yuan Shao as he rode toward the barricades that the guardsman had indicated. If I can get the rioters to back down, there will be no need for senseless bloodshed, Yuan Shao thought. When he had arrived he was greeted with shouts of insults, jeers, and obscene gestures from the people at the barricade.
"Citizens of Ba Sing Se. By imperial decree you are to return home and remain in your homes. Disband or you will be regarded as rebels! This is your first and last warning!"
"FUCK YOU!" a voice shouted and a glass bottle flew past Yuan Shao's head.
"I will not repeat myself! Disperse or suffer the consequences!" Yuan Shao shouted as a phalanx of guards ran up behind him and he saw the crowd visibly flinch. Wordlessly he held up his hand and shot it forward as though he was throwing something. In a few short moments the air was filled with screams and shouts, and the clanging of clashing steel as the guardsmen stormed the barricades. Yuan Shao watched as the fighting became a bloody melee. He debated with himself if he should throw more men into the fray. But the matter was decided as he saw the guardsmen being pushed back.
"Lieutenant, kindly ask General He Jin for more men. Guardsmen! Hold them!" Yuan Shao shouted as he drew his sword and charged forward. The presence of a splendid looking officer on his mount was an impressive and frightening sight. Witnessing Yuan Shao's bravery and bravado the guardsmen rallied and with the arrival of another company, the guardsmen were able to exploit the breakthrough.
"Sir, the rebels are on the run, they are scattering into the slums, should we pursue?" asked guardsman who bowed with his hand and fist together to Yuan Shao.
"No. Arrest their ringleaders. Without their leader, their followers will become like frightened sheep and scatter to the wind." Yuan Shao said as he trotted away from the bloody scene made his way back to General He Jin. The streets now filled with soldiers and guardsmen as they cleared the streets, and arrested anyone still out on the streets after curfew.
"Sir," saluted Yuan Shao to He Jin, "the rebels have been defeated and their ringleaders rounded up."
"Good work. Now execute the prisoners."
"Sir?" Yuan Shao asked in confusion.
"They are rebels, they are to be executed at once."
"Surely we should take them alive to face the king's justice," Yuan Shao tried to reason.
"They will be killed anyway."
"I am sorry sir, I cannot give such an order."
He Jin did not answer right away instead he ordered one of the lieutenants to do the deed. He then ordered the leaders' families to be present at their fathers' execution. Yuan Shao watched as the mothers and daughters wept as the sons were made to watch. The young mens' eyes were simmering with rage. The condemned men were rounded up in a stockade and made to dig their own graves; their movements were slow and their eyes were downcast resigned to their fate as it were. Soldiers stood guard over them and by the fence to prevent escape or rescue.
"General. If we kill these men out of hand it would fan even more dissent. Under the circumstances mercy would be a wiser decision," said Yuan Shao.
He Jin simply stared at Yuan Shao as all eyes were staring at the two to see what would happen.
"Mercy? All my mercy was beaten out of me long ago Yuan Shao. Execute these men this would teach them a lesson not to create disorder," said the old general.
"You're a meanie!" shouted a small voice.
All eyes darted to a small child clutched to her mother's leg.
"You're meanie for hurting daddy!" the child was now sobbing, her mother trying to quiet the child with great urgency. "Please don't hurt daddy, I was hungry and I wanted food, please don't hurt mommy and daddy!" The little girl now wailing into her mother's dress.
"My lord general," said Yuan Shao, "the only lesson that you will teach this child is to hate the Earth Kingdom. Please spare these men."
He Jin scowled.
"At least...imprison them for a few days and release them on good behavior," Yuan clasped an open palm onto a closed fist and bowed his head to his superior officer.
He Jin eyed the young men who had piercing green eyes, which reminded him fierce tigers stalking their prey, waiting for the moment to kill their quarry. The same eyes that he had seen in his comrades in his youth when they fought so fiercely against the Fire Nation; back then they half-starved peasants, armed with only bamboo spears, straw sandals but they still had the unshakeable urge to kill Fire Nation. It was so strong then he could have sworn that he could tasted their bloodlust.
"Very well...arrest them," said He Jin and Yuan Shao immediately carried out the order.
"Good work general," said Li Su when General He Jin returned and gave them a brief overview of his actions while glossing over the gory details.
"The city is back under our control and things should be quiet for some time," he concluded.
"And you have done away with the troublemakers?" asked the large attendant.
"We-I had decided that it was best to allow the looters to go free rather than take their lives."
"YOU INCOMPETENT FOOL! What made you think that you had the authority to do that!" shouted Li Su. "You will round up them and execute them!"
"Sir, we had thought-"
"We did not give you your command to think you old fool!"
"Yes, I am fool. But even a child could see that we were in the wrong."
"What a weak excuse! You are charged with the defense of the king and the city, and you have allowed looters to walk away with not so much as a whipping?!" this time it was the weaseled face attendant who spoke up.
"The people were starv-"
"That is none of your concern! Your concerns should only be of military matters!"
"It becomes a military matter if our country cannot even feed our people! If you cannot see reason, then I shall appeal directly to the emperor!" He Jin shouted back.
"Sirs," the handsome attendant verbally stepped in. "The lord general is right, the food riots in our city is a serious matter. In Hakuma there are whisperings of rebellion who plot to overthrow their king, and I fear that if left unchecked the Earth Kingdom will be embroiled in one one day."
"We shall crush them with overwhelming force!" proclaimed the large attendant.
"Indeed we shall, but how long and how far can we continue to crush rebellions? The Earth Kingdom is starving and the economy is on the brink of collaspe."
"Then what do you propose?" demanded Li Su.
"We should be prepared for war, in fact we should march on all of the colonies now with or without the colonists' cooperation," said the large attendant. "Food prices are now at unacceptable levels."
"How would we get enough money to pay for it? We barely collect enough taxes as it is," the weasel face attendant said.
"So then root of our problem and the solution for all of our ills is economics. If we cannot grow enough food, then we shall simply have to import it," said the handsome attendant. "And if we are running out of money, then we shall have to borrow money."
"From whom?" asked the weasel faced attendant.
The handsome attendant paused before saying, "ANCO and the Fire Nation." The room fell silent for a few moments as the attendant's words sunk in.
"That would make us look weak," said the large attendant. "Why not simply take what we want?!"
"It will be costly-"
"We may run out of everything! Food! Money! Weapons! But we have loyal citizens as we have for centuries!"
"Minister Li Su, our people are on the brink. The Air Nomads overthrew their Khan simply because he raised taxes, do you believe that the Earth People will balk at an emperor when they are starving?" asked the handsome attendant.
Li Su was silent, for months, General Fong had been urging the Earth King to send out the army and attack the members of ANCO. But the king is too weak willed to give such an order, for fear that the Fire Nation would support the member nations of ANCO if they resist. This is despite the fact that His Majesty's Secret Service have informed him and his ministers that the Fire Nation, and the Water Tribes would not act if the Earth Kingdom invades.
In addition many of the bandits have been bought off because of the increased military budget. The Air Nomads led by Lord Shingen and others are the only serious threat. But they are disorganized and are not united. Kanto would likely do nothing as they do not have the naval capacity to project their power beyond their coast, nor can they invade the Earth Kingdom given the Great Desert that acts as a great natural barrier. They would have to contend with the military governors of Sunpu and Sendai who are still loyal to the emperor who share Kanto's border. The Earth Kingdom can simply march their armies west to the colonies with little hinderance.
As for the Air Nomads' train lines and telegraph wires; they are only useful if they are built. Kanto has the most extensive rail network and the most telegraph wires connecting their country; but none of the other Air Nomad countries can say the same. Even the Air Nomad countries that have Fire Nation colonies only have enough that suited the colonists' commercial interests.
There is also the economic benefits of declaring war now. Blacksmiths have become idle and would welcome more work to pound iron into steel weapons and armor. Men who have abandoned their farms and brought their families to the cities can join the army; doubtless emperor cannot pay them all in coin but they can be paid in land instead, especially land that the Earth Kingdom will conquer. The lords and nobles of the Earth Kingdom would likewise benefit from this arrangement as they would get a greater share. This would also allow him, Li Su to know who are friends to the emperor and who his enemies are.
More importantly, it would dampen social unrest. The Council of Thirteen had been useful in that regard as they have rallied the faithful against the evil ashmakers from the Fire Nation, and have helped kept social order by urging the people to be obedient and law abiding. News of heroic battles and victory would give the people a sense of purpose and uplift spirits of collective achievement; pitting themselves as one people against foreigners. And talk of social ills, allegations of corruption, the noisome newspapers, and political dissent, and troubling talk of separatism from the empire would become unpatriotic even treasonous. The Earth Kingdom needs to remain together. The empire must be preserved. The Air Nomads must be beaten into submission. War will be in the best interests of the Earth Kingdom.
"I shall speak to the emperor. It is about time that direct and firm action be taken," said Li Su.