Great Liang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Great Liang (大梁)
Alias(es)	Great Liang Dynasty; Liang Country
Type	Dynasty / nation
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 103

Administrative Geography

Division	Known structure
National level	The dynasty includes the Imperial Capital, sixteen provinces, and three major border strongholds. 127
Provincial level	Jiangnan Province includes Raozhou, Huizhou, and Quzhou Prefectures. 103
Prefectural level	Raozhou Prefecture governs eleven counties. 103

History

Great Liang was founded roughly three centuries before the current story, following the collapse of the corrupt Great Chu Dynasty. Its Founding Emperor raised a rebellion against the old dynasty, the patrician families, and the Demon Race; in five years, he unified the land and established Great Liang. 103 183

Before founding Great Liang, the Founding Emperor studied martial arts in Han Country under its Grand Tutor. Han Country supplied resources to several rebel forces, intending to cultivate factions that could later be used to seize Great Liang's territory and resources. 183

After the dynasty's establishment, Han Country massed a million troops at the Black River and sought to seize the Sanxingdao region. The Founding Emperor confronted them with three hundred thousand Great Liang Martial Artists and threatened to send Great Liang's Martial Artists into Han territory in groups of one hundred if war began. Han Country ultimately withdrew. 183

Great Liang spent its first century removing foreign-backed forces within its territory, then another century fighting demons. Its period of genuine stability began only in the most recent century. 197

Founding Emperor

The Founding Emperor originated from the Yan Imperial Dynasty and arrived in the Cloud Marsh Land before overthrowing the previous dynasty. He subsequently modeled Great Liang's Martial Path Mountain after the one connected to his homeland. 296

The royal family conceals the Founding Emperor's origin and enemies in the Yan Imperial Dynasty to protect Great Liang from being drawn into his personal conflicts. 296 336

Government

Great Liang's royal family follows the Founding Emperor's principle that “Great Liang belongs to its people, not the royal family.” The royal house normally does not interfere in governance and intervenes only when the court's principal departments cannot resolve an issue. 296

Institution	Responsibility
Imperial Court	Governs local officials and civil administration. 296
Martial Arts Administration Department	Oversees Martial Arts Halls and martial affairs throughout Great Liang. 103 296
Military Department	Manages Great Liang's military camps. 296
Royal Family	Acts as a final decision-maker in matters beyond the three departments' ability to resolve. 296

National Alerts

• Twelve bell tolls — signal a major crisis that may concern Great Liang's survival; the Founding Emperor ordered that they be relayed through the entire territory. 263
• Fifteen bell tolls — signify danger of national annihilation. 263

Martial Path Policy

The Founding Emperor established the Martial Arts Administration Department and opened access to martial arts techniques to all citizens of Great Liang. Earlier dynasties had restricted techniques and cultivation resources to the royal family and powerful clans. 103

Great Liang's system uses Martial Arts Halls, Martial Academies, provincial selection, and imperial examinations to give Martial Artists from different backgrounds advancement opportunities. The imperial examination is regarded as the most influential and fairest route for Martial Artists and commoners to rise further. 127 249

The dynasty's policy does not eliminate differences in family resources, but it prevents wealthy families from holding absolute control over martial advancement by imposing limits tied to realm and physical capacity. 249

Martial Academies

The Founding Emperor established Martial Academies to cultivate Great Liang's Martial Path talent, initially using resources acquired through foreign connections. The Joint Martial Academies were later placed under Great Liang's management. 183

Great Liang's broad access to martial arts has produced a large and continuous pool of Martial Artists. While other nations may sustain their strongest experts longer through other methods, Great Liang relies on successive generations of new Martial Artists. 140

Demon Policy

Great Liang does not permit the Demon Race to exist within its territory. The Founding Emperor also ordered that knowledge of demons be restricted among common people, while those affected by demon-related matters could be sent to guard the frontier. 103 183

The dynasty formerly prohibited Martial Artists from using Demon Race bloodlines. After the Founding Emperor's death, the court loosened that restriction after many Martial Artists argued that refining Demon Race bloodlines was distinct from colluding with demons. 203

Major Conflicts

Northern Border War

The Northern Border Demon Race launched a full-scale invasion, causing ten thousand casualties among Great Liang Martial Artists and prompting the court to ring the twelve bells. 263

The Zhenbei Army eventually annihilated the Northern Border Demon Race, securing Great Liang's northern frontier. The victory prompted celebrations and ancestral rites across the dynasty. 337

War with Han Country and Zheng Kingdom

Han Country opposed Great Liang's campaign to eradicate the Northern Border Demon Race, pressured other countries to blockade Great Liang, and later escalated to open conflict. 290 341

Han Country and Zheng Kingdom attempted to exploit the awakening of Lihuo, intending to devastate Great Liang's south while attacking from multiple directions. Great Liang issued a nationwide proclamation of war in response. 339 341

Yan Imperial Dynasty Sects

After envoys from the Yan Imperial Dynasty halted the war between Great Liang and Han Country, sects from the Yan Imperial Dynasty began claiming territory in the Nine Kingdoms. 353 363

Great Liang refused to yield Soaring Cloud City to the Profound Nether Sect. Its First Rank Martial Artists, Pei Qingming, and later Lin Chen resisted the sects' pressure. 363 364

The resulting negotiations formed the Martial Path Alliance, with Great Liang as its leader. The alliance accepted Great Liang's demands for non-interference in its internal affairs and for the cultivation of local talent. 368

Notable Figures

• Founding Emperor — Founder of Great Liang; opened martial cultivation to common citizens and established its foundational policies. 103 183
• Kong Qifeng — Head of the Martial Arts Administration Department; advocates for Great Liang's young Martial Artists and protects their opportunities to join outside sects. 413 473
• Pei Qingming — The acknowledged greatest Great Liang genius of the past three hundred years; defended Great Liang against Han Country and Yan Imperial Dynasty sects. 290 363
• Lin Chen — Great Liang Martial Arts Student Exemplar whose achievements repeatedly elevated national morale, prestige, and access to sect opportunities. 206 414 473
• Fang Funan — Duke Dingnan and Duke of Lihuo; helped defend Great Liang's southern interests during the Lihuo crisis. 337 348

Influence of Lin Chen

Lin Chen left his name on Martial Path Mountain seven times, breaking Great Liang's two-hundred-year record. The Martial Arts Administration Department named him the Great Liang Martial Arts Student Exemplar, and his recognition spread across every prefecture and county. 206

His victories over foreign geniuses boosted Great Liang's morale during the conflict with Han Country. His standing also contributed to the growing prestige of the dynasty's Martial Path. 315 332

After Lin Chen reached the top of Martial Path Mountain, sects across the East Sea Region proactively recruited young Martial Artists from Great Liang. This removed the need for Great Liang to exchange its limited Xiantian Energy merely to secure opportunities for youths such as Meng Xing. 473

Lin Chen's later victories brought sufficient prestige that several other kingdoms sought to merge into Great Liang. 424

Trivia

• Great Liang's founding wish is expressed on a white jade stele: “May all the people of my Great Liang be like dragons, and the Martial Path flourish.” 200
• The Founding Emperor's decision to open martial arts to commoners was considered extraordinary because it weakened the traditional monopoly of imperial and aristocratic families over cultivation. 103
• Great Liang's historical resilience is often attributed to its ability to win the loyalty of ordinary citizens and young Martial Artists rather than relying solely on powerful families. 183