Tyranny of Steel

For well over a decade, perhaps even two, the Ming Dynasty had been waging a civil war. And through it all, the Reich had been funding and supplying the loyalist faction with the tools they needed to win.

Of course, this was easier said than done, and due to both infighting and corruption. Not only had the Ming Dynasty suffered repeated setbacks, but several of the succeeding emperors had met their untimely demise. By now, only a distant relative of the once mighty Emperor Zhu Wudi sat upon the throne, and he was a young boy no older than eight.

Perhaps out of the wisdom of his advisors, or simply intelligence beyond his years, Zhu Feng designed that he would accept international aid in this dispute, and turned to his long-time allies of the Joseon Dynasty for their military prowess.

The Joseon Troops flooded into the war-torn country of Ming China and put an end to the rebellious faction with their superior arms, most of which had been purchased from the Reich. The various warlords and challengers to the throne had been apprehended, and were now kneeling in the city of Beijing, waiting for their emperor's judgement.

Feng gazed upon the men who had caused his Empire to bleed with a look of sheer scorn in his youthful, and beady eyes. As he narrowed his brows before issuing the decree which would end this civil war once and for all.

"Today, I, Emperor Zhu Feng, who has been chosen by the heavens to lead the Ming Dynasty, shall pass my sentence. All of you, who have spilled the blood of our people for years on end, are guilty of the most heinous of crimes, and shall hereby be sentenced to death!"

The executioners stepped forwards with swords in hand, as they began to behead the warlords, and the other challengers to the throne one by one. By the time the last severed head filled the basket, the people who watched the scene unfold broke out into a cheer.

A new era of peace had been established with this act, and though the Emperor was young, he clearly had several advisors who were at the very least competent enough to end a war which had ravaged their lands for decades.

Unbeknownst to the Ming public, the entire scene was being recorded by reconnaissance drones, which had been operated by the German Military, who were displaying the end to the war throughout the entirety of the Reich.

It was a particularly gruesome scene, but the end of the civil war in China marked the end of hostilities around the globe. For the first time in a very long time, the world was in a state of peace. One which was brought on by the rise of the German Reich, and its global hegemony.

Kaiser Hans von Kufstein was immediately accosted in public by journalists as he exited from the Reichstag, where he had just given a speech to the parliament. He had only just seconds ago been informed about the developments in the Ming Dynasty, and yet he had already mentally prepared a statement in his mind knowing that this exact situation would unfold.

"I am aware of the ongoing developments in the Ming Dynasty, and I would like to congratulate the Young Emperor on both his victory, and his wisdom. If he should wish to reopen his borders and establish trade with the Reich once more, we would be more than willing to do so. After such a devastating conflict, we believe that it would be entirely possible to help rebuild what has been destroyed. That is all I have to say on the matter. Now please, I am running late for my next appointment."

Hans was not dressed in his ceremonial regalia. Such trappings seemed almost primitive to the man. And as much as his father liked to dress up like a 19th century nobleman, Hans himself cared little for the intricate attire. He preferred a much more simple, and comfortable three piece suit. Which he wore without honors or distinctions, despite having earned many through his years of service to the Reich.

By now, Hans was nearly forty years old, his children were in their teens and twenties, and yet he still looked like a young man no older than thirty. Today was his daughter's sixteenth birthday, and he had already missed the early celebrations by performing his duties to the Reich.

He had promised the girl that he would be there for her big day, and yet he was absent thus far. Thus, he did not hesitate to have his Leibgarde clear a path through the swarm of journalists so he could get into his car. Which took him back to the Royal Palace, where his family lie in wait for him.

Hans had not followed his father's example, instead he had as many children with his wives as possible. After all, with modern medical technology, it was damn near impossible for them to die in childbirth. A luxury Berengar didn't have. By now, he had ten children with each of his wives. The youngest of which were still in their single digits, while the oldest were in their twenties.

Also, unlike his father, Hans had spent the majority of his time with his family, allowing the many institutions which his father had built to run the nation in his stead. Very rarely would Hans have to personally interfere in matters of rulership, and when he did, he was treated with the utmost respect.

The fortune which his father had built for their family was larger than ever, and each child who became an adult received their own estate somewhere throughout the fatherland. But the Royal Palace, which was now one of many which the von Kufstein family owned, was reserved for the Kaiser, and his immediate family who were still underage.

Thus, when Hans entered the home which he had grown up in, he could only smile as he was greeted by several of his children, as well as his five wives. All of which were enormously happy to see the man.

The daughter in question, who was having her sixteenth birthday today, was a beautiful young woman by the name of Hildegard, and in many ways resembled her mother, Anne, and her aunt Henrietta.

She had previously been pouting throughout her birthday celebrations, believing her father had broken his promise, until she heard the door open and saw the man's figure enter the doorway. Naturally she glomped the man, and kissed him on the cheek as she welcomed him home.

"Daddy's home!"

Hans simply chuckled as he swung around the room with his daughter, who was now a grown woman, before placing her down on the floor gently. She was wearing a gorgeous dress for the birthday ceremony, as well as a stylish tiara. After all, she was a princess, on today she wanted everyone to remember that.

As a doting father, Hans petted the girl's silky blonde hair before asking a question in a haughty tone. One which made the girl incredibly embarrassed.

"You don't think that I would forget my baby girl's big day, would you?"

Hildegard flushed in embarassment, and looked down at her toes with a look of guilty on her face, which only further endeared her to her father. He then grabbed hold of her hand, and let her into the palace grounds, knowing that was where the real celebration was.

When he arrived, Hans witnessed the spectacular display he had arranged for his daughter's sixteenth birthday, which included everything from snacks, a private carnival, and entertainment in the form of two men engaging in armored combat.

For whatever reason, the young generation was currently fascinated with the way the world was before Berengar had arrived to change it. And thus one of the most popular sports in the Reich right now was Armored Combat, where two men would dress in 15th century armor and battle with blunt weapons for the entertainment of the crowd.

Because it had been less than a hundred years since the days Knights reigned supreme on the battlefield. Historical European Martial Arts had survived the transition fully intact. With many of the old knights and man at arms teaching the new generation their ways, so that they could fight for sport.

Hans gazed down at his daughter's lovely smile and asked her a single question while her glistening azure eyes gazed upon the contest of prowess between the two "knights".

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Hildegard blushed, and looked away from her father, while muttering something so low that Hans thought perhaps he had misheard it.

"I am now that you are here, daddy...."

Hans simply smiled and petted the girl's head once more before shifting his gaze back to the fight between the two armored opponents. He was only a boy when the age of Knights and Swords had come to an end. Brought to ruin by his father's own hand.

And while the younger generation may fascinate about the nobility of a bygone era, Hans knew that the world was much better of now than it had been in those hard and bloody days. He was just glad that his children would never have to experience what it was like when he was born.