Beichen Empire

Biodata

History

Founding and expansion

Beichen Country began under Qi Sha, who built its early power and became the empire’s first empress. Tantai Lin, long celebrated in official accounts as the founding emperor, took the throne three years after Qi Sha and Po Jun died and began changing the empire’s history and collective memory 656 713 1611 1745.

The empire expanded from Beichen Star to other habitable planets as its population and interstellar technology grew. At its height, it held fifty-four habitable planets 633.

Secession and constitutional reform

About a thousand years before the main events, an imperial succession crisis weakened central control. The Nance, Wenren, and Zolun families rebelled on Southern Cross Star, Da Zang Star, and Baimu Star, establishing three separate nations. Over the following centuries, defeats reduced the empire to five habitable planets; Marshal Huo Yushen’s later victories forced the rival nations to negotiate peace 633 1397.

More than five hundred years before the main events, the Cabinet, Senate, and military forced the royal family to relinquish part of its political power and accept a constitutional monarchy 79 191.

Zerg war and dissolution

As the Zerg overran the other nations, Southern Cross Star sought incorporation into the Beichen Empire. Crown Princess Tantai Jing accepted its return, then declared a state of war and placed the empire’s six habitable planets under military control 1100 1121.

After Emperor Tantai Hongyuan’s death and a disputed succession, Tantai Zijun ascended the throne and declared war on the Zerg. She later appointed Xia Chujian Grand Marshal of the Southern Conquest 1482 1499 1791. Following Tantai Zijun’s death, Xia announced the abolition of the imperial system and the establishment of the Beichen Republic 1805.

Government and society

• Division of power: Under the constitutional monarchy, the Imperial Family shared political authority with the Cabinet, Senate, and military. The Senate held legislative and representative powers, while the Emperor retained final authority over military officer appointments 191 1075 1371.
• Limits on imperial authority: Extermination of a clan required Cabinet and Senate approval; action against a senior military officer also required military approval. The Constitution applied to the Emperor and could be invoked to challenge an edict 360 1193.
• Succession: Marital children could inherit regardless of gender, with age determining their order; illegitimate children had no inheritance rights 79.
• Nobility: A vacant title could be granted for sufficient military achievements or election to the Senate. The Quan, Zong, and Su grand-ducal families received special protections during Tantai Lin’s accession 150 1745.
• Capital residency: Beichen Star residency permits were restricted to citizens and higher ranks. Commoners could visit on travel permits but could not ordinarily settle there 22.
• Education and loyalty: Schools across the empire held a daily oath to the reigning Emperor. High-school students across its five major planets used the same college entrance examination and cutoff scores 79 549.

Military and security

• Interstellar forces: The empire fielded interstellar fleets, including a Fifth Interstellar Fleet rebuilt during the Zerg war. Its wartime forces used starships and mecha 1791.
• Special Security Bureau: The bureau answered only to the Emperor and entered a dormant state during a change of imperial power 1430.
• Royal Inner Guard: The guard maintained a network security division that jointly protected the national college entrance examination website with the Special Security Bureau 549.

Symbols

• Royal emblem: An anchor beneath a shining North Star, a star said to have vanished from the Beichen Galaxy’s sky 79.
• Name: “Beichen” means “North Star” and later became associated with emperors and the throne 656.