New Dynasty

Biodata

Power Progression

History

Great Yu's collapse and the loss of its Imperial Seal caused regional County Town's Azure Qi to lose Kyoto's regulation, prompting powerful families and local forces to proclaim their own states. In Gaoyuan, Zhang Ming chose the name New Dynasty, with Guo Si interpreting “new” as the rejection of the former dynasty's accumulated ills and the creation of renewed order. 214 215

The New Dynasty was formally established through a Heaven Worship Ceremony in Gaoyuan City. Zhang Ming's declaration was followed by auspicious clouds and rosy radiance across Gaoyuan, Yan Yun's other counties under his rule, and the grassland tribes and royal courts under his command. The resulting County Town's Azure Qi marked the birth of its national fortune. 216

After defeating the northern six provinces, the dynasty controlled Yan Yun and the Northern Grasslands, while maintaining Gaoyuan as its capital due to its proximity to the still-fragmented grasslands. The Heavenly Mystery Lineage initially rated the state Lower B, then provisionally raised it to Lower A after its northern victories. 227

When the Six Nations and the Heavenly Mystery Lineage moved against it, the New Dynasty openly unified the Northern Six States. Its administrative offices entered the new territory to stabilize local conditions, while unrest was suppressed under strict orders. 247 248

After repelling the Six-Nation Allied Army, Western Rong, and Eastern Di, the dynasty began its Central Plains campaign. Shi, Yuan, Zhu, Qi, Wu, and Ke States fell over the following four months, bringing all former Great Yu territories under New Dynasty rule. Kyoto was then selected as the new capital for its central location and existing urban infrastructure. 259

Governance and Institutions

• The dynasty governed through strict laws and a complete system; beggars, gangs, and other grassroots criminal organizations were not permitted within its territory. 233
• Its policies were notably harsh toward aristocratic and powerful families, while being comparatively lenient toward merchants, craftsmen, and common people. 234
• Civil officials were recruited through examinations requiring study of The Way of Investigating Things. 234
• Feng Weiqi identified the lack of an open system for supervising officials as a long-term governance concern; Zhang Ming regarded his proposals as useful. 240 241
• Following imperial unification, the state established specialized ministries including the Ministries of Technology, Talismans, Artifact Refinement, Pill Refinement, Manufacturing, Dao, Confucianism, Transportation, and Commerce. 260
• Zhang Ming created eight-lane official roads linking all twenty-eight provinces and ordered the construction of canals up to one hundred meters wide where terrain allowed. 260

National Fortune

The New Dynasty's National Luck Azure Sea links Zhang Ming to the thoughts of subjects who revere the state. Through it, he can perceive hopes, petitions, and cries for justice, though directly processing the enormous volume of thoughts causes him severe mental pain. 216

• National fortune shows a natural affinity for Zhang Ming as the dynasty's founder, becoming more pronounced when he enters Gaoyuan City. 239
• National fortune points can be expended as high-grade energy; Zhang Ming used them to accelerate his thinking and analyze Daoist scriptures, spells, and supernatural abilities. 229
• The Heavenly Mystery Lineage identified the dynasty's abnormal national-fortune fluctuations and concluded that it was consuming national fortune for a hidden undertaking. 246 247
• Zhang Ming received an insight that a National Fortune Dragon of 100,000 zhang would allow comprehension of 10% of the Human Dao Law, while one million zhang could permit full comprehension. 260

Armed Forces

• Giant War Cavalry — The dynasty's elite force became renowned throughout Great Yu after the northern campaign, prompting other factions to form comparable elite legions. 227
• War Knights Corps — Zhang Ming began military reforms and accelerated the formation of War Knights with Old Daoist Sun's assistance. 213
• Wind, Forest, Mountain, Fire — A four-part Military Formation Technique used to enhance the army's strength, will, coordination, and battlefield performance. 250 251
• National Fortune Augmentation — Near county towns, Zhang Ming can combine the County Town's Azure Qi, his cultivation, spells, supernatural abilities, and military formations to increase ordinary soldiers' strength sixty- to eightyfold. 259
• Rune weapons and constructs — One year after imperial unification, Rune Airships, Rune Fighter Jets, and Rune Mechs were publicly visible in Kyoto. 261

Relationships

• Temujin Zhang Ming — Founder, sovereign, and later emperor; his leadership, cultivation, and use of national fortune drive the dynasty's expansion. 215 216 259
• Guo Si — Senior adviser who supported the dynasty's founding, interpreted its name, and was entrusted with Gaoyuan's defense during Zhang Ming's absence. 215 228
• Batumen — Key military supporter from the Azure Wolf Tribe and a participant in the decision to found the state. 215 206
• Old Daoist Sun — Talisman Cultivator adviser who assists with military reforms, intelligence, and dealings with the Heavenly Mystery Lineage. 213 220 228
• Heavenly Mystery Lineage — Hostile Daoist organization that reassessed the New Dynasty's threat level, investigated its national fortune, and rallied other states to weaken it. 227 246 247
• Confucian scholars — A divided group whose members debated whether the dynasty's merit-based system and anti-aristocratic policies merited support. 234

Notable Quotes

“Wherever I rule, I shall establish the nation through justice, soothe the people through benevolence, and together pursue an age of flourishing prosperity, together build a realm of lasting peace!” 216

“I swear to devote all my strength to putting the people first, governing the state by law, guiding the people through virtue, and striving to forge a new era.” 259

Trivia

• Only the emperor may name a fortune dynasty; otherwise, part of its fortune would be divided away. 215
• At its founding, the New Dynasty had a population of slightly more than three million, yet its National Fortune Dragon was described as nearly one hundred zhang long. 216