Tianmei

Tianmei (6258-6328) was a Cedarinian military and political leader who rose to prominence during the beginning of the Hundred Years of Blood. A member of the Houzhu Dynasty and theoretically thus the true heir to the Cedarinian throne, his family was expelled from political life following a coup in 6238 that killed his grandfather. Despite early difficulties, he managed to reclaim his family's control over the empire. Inspired by neo-Aidisese ideals, he was arguably the last Kensalan leader to seriously - and almost successfully - re-establish the Kensalan state, albeit along liberal lines. Due to his success in these wars, often against numerically superior enemies, he is generally regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of all time and his campaigns are studied at military academies throughout much of the world. His political achievements, while often overlooked in comparison to his military capabilities, are no less remarkable, and although he ultimately failed in re-establishing a united Kensalus, he is considered to have laid the foundations for Kensalan prosperity in the modern era. For this, he is hailed as a hero throughout Kensalus, even in countries and cultures he warred against.

He was crowned Emperor twice in his lifetime: first in 6292, and again in 6315 after his enemies forced him into exile six years earlier. His first reign saw his initial, and only partially successful, attempts to liberalize Cedarinian society. Under his direction, Cedarin saw its greatest period of expansion in several centuries, and he was able to quell reactionary rebellions throughout the empire. The growing power of Cedarin alarmed several powers, including Genais and Aidis, and Tianmei duly went to war with several of these states, the closest Arteran came to total war since the days of the Great Wars. These wars also saw the beginning of the Hundred Years of Blood as a proxy war for the forces for and against Tianmei. Regardless, after an initial streak of victories, Tianmei was decisively defeated by a daring Aidisese invasion of northern Zajiang. He was subsequently forced into exile by conservative elements of the imperial court, but returned to power in 6315. Learning from his mistakes, he acted much more cautiously in international affairs, but pursued a much more aggressive liberal policy at home, hoping that a stable, Senatorial monarchy would invite the sympathy of the southern states. However, the other world powers would have none of this, and they launched several wars against Tianmei yet again; he was decisively defeated at the Battle of Shuilu, and afterwards he quickly abdicated and fled to Zajiang, where most of his followers had fled. Many of the Zajiangese now welcomed him as one of their own. He spent the last years of his life as a Zajiangese general, before retiring in 6325; he was even offered the (newly declared) crown of Zajiang, but he deferred this to his third son Xuegao. He spent the rest of his life in Jodai, where he died in 6328.

A detailed account of his funeral in the Don Holden Times concluded with an observation: "The contrast between that which preceded the funeral carriage and that which followed it was striking indeed. Before it went old Kensalus; after it came new Kensalus."

Family Origins
Tianmei was born in 6258 at his family's residence in Xing Quan, the eldest son of Prince Lochuo who was the second (and eldest surviving) son of Emperor Jinli III. His mother was XXX, a Keintapan refugee noblewoman. In fact, Tianmei was only 1/8 Cedairninian; he was 5/8 Keintapan and 1/4 Genaisese. His father also was highly mixed-race, having a characteristically non-Cedarinian appearance, being 1/4 Cedarinian, 5/8 Genaisese, and 1/8 Keintapan. Despite being a direct heir of Jinli III, because of their foreign blood, Tianmei's family's claim to the throne - and their very existence as a part of the imperial family - had been repudiated by much of the bureaucracy and other members of the imperial family, and it was likely that Jinli III himself, who was only 1/2 Cedarinian, was assassinated by his full-blooded half-brother and successor Yusho I. Yusho I, in 6241, effectively banished the young prince Lochuo and his two full-blooded brothers Gadai and Jishen by stripping them of their royal titles on trumped-up charges of corruption. They were, however, conferred lesser titles of nobility; Lochuo became the Baron of a small hamlet in southwestern Cedarin, Wangzuguo. By Tianmei's birth, Lochuo managed to barely keep the family afloat through several business ventures. Life for Lochuo's family, however, was far from luxurious and most scholars agreed that despite their noble titles, they lived a lifestyle much closer to that of a typical educated middle to upper-middle class family of the time. This potentially could have had an influence on Tianmei's later sympathy to the middle and lower classes, as well as his ability to effectively deal with them.

Throughout his lifetime, Lochuo was constantly seen as a champion of the moderates and liberals who were sidelined and oppressed under Yusho's reign. Lochuo himself leaned towards conservative ideology, but many moderates and liberals saw him as their best hope for a successful coup or revolution against Yusho. Ultimately, Lochuo and his brothers refused to participate in politics, fearing their involvement would endanger their families and assets. Lochuo, however, clearly developed sympathy for the moderates and liberals who constantly pestered him, particularly later in his life. He imparted his open-mindedness, practicality, and survivability onto his children, as well as a sympathy - if not adherence - towards liberal ideals.

Siblings
Tianmei had one older brother, Shaju (b. 6256); two younger brothers, Dai and Leiwu (b. 6258 and 6266); and one younger sister, Meili and Tianyi (b. 6258 and 6264). He also had three younger half-brothers, Jinsho (b. 6263), Senggou (b. 6266) and Hoyan (b. 6267), as well as one younger half-sister, Meixiao (b. 6270). Tianmei had good relations with all of his siblings throughout his lifetime, and they proved to be some of his most capable and loyal subordinates.

Tianmei was especially admiring towards his eldest brother, Shaju, who was reputedly the most intelligent and capable of the brothers, and highly devoted to their fathers' desire to not only reclaim the imperial throne but also re-establish Cedarin as a world power. Shaju died young, in 6272. It is almost certain that he was assassinated in Guanxing while he and Tianmei were visiting a friend. Later in his lifetime, Tianmei attested to how his brother, through some quick thinking, sacrificed his life for Tianmei.

Early Childhood
Tianmei sickly and asthmatic as a child, often forced to stay at home for weeks at a time due to illness. However, he was precocious, active, and unusually intelligent for his age, taking great interest in military history and literature from early on. He also enjoyed horseback riding and practicing with his father's rifle and sabre, in part to combat his poor physical health.

He attended the pretigious Wuzo Academy near his hometown, where his good grades and charming, polite personality earned him acclaim and popularity, although his constant laziness irritated many, particularly his father.

The death of Shaju in 6272 affected Tianmei deeply, as Tianmei had looked up to his older brother as a source of inspiration for much of his life (and until his death). Shaju's death made Tianmei the heir to his family's fortunes, and instilled in him a great sense of duty, forcing him to abandon his previous personna of lazy brilliance, and adopt one with more initiative and command. He took his role as his father's heir seriously, and began to partake in his father's financial operations.

Education at the Kubai Academy
In 6273 marked the ascension of a new emperor, Yusho II. Yusho II, though more autocratic than his father, feared retribution from those sympathetic to Lochuo as well as liberals and moderates. Ultimately, the young monarch was much more cautious than his father (some argue indecisive), knowing that the death of his eldest son did not go well with Lochuo. He sent condolences to his cousin, paid for the upkeep of Shaju's shrine, lent some financial assistance, and even publically - though indirectly - apologized for his father's usurption of the throne. Still, Yusho was no fool, and he knew he had to watch Lochuo closely. Yusho In the winter of that year, he demanded Lochuo send some of his children to Kubai over as hostages, specifically Tianmei and Tianyi. The two were widely known as Lochuo's favorite children (being the most intelligent and precocious), and it seemed that Yusho wanted to prevent Lochuo from attempting any maneuvers against him. His act was not unprecedented, as forcibly keeping a vassal's hostages as a precaution was prominent during several period throughout Kensalan history.

Lochuo was unsure of how to proceed at first; he knew Yusho's goals were anything but altruistic, but feared that defiance might set off a civil war, as a few moderate and liberal bureaucrats and army generals told Lochuo they would be willing to support an insurrection. According to legend, Tianmei resolved to go to Kubai as a hostage in order to protect his father and the family assets; he told his father that in the case that his safety or life were compromised, his younger brothers would be capable heirs to the family legacy. Lochuo, ultimately unwilling to gamble away not only his whole family but the security of the country, followed Tianmei's suggestion and allowed him and Tianyi to go to Kubai.

At Kubai, Tianmei enrolled in the most prestigious Kubai Academy; despite his family's middle-class level of income, his father believed in giving his son a superior education. Tianmei, intelligent as ever, was one of the top students in the school. Tianmei and his sister stayed at a small apartment on the eastern side of town, constantly watched by the Cedarinian secret police. It was during this time the two formed a strong bond that would last for the rest of their lives; Tianyi, like her brother, was also a precocious and intelligent child, aware of the situation she and her brother were in, as well as the reasons for their separation from the rest of the family. Tianmei would also befriend several other prominent figures as well of similar age, including the future emperor Yusho III and his maternal cousin, Yama, who Tianmei was believed to have had a romantic relationship with at the time. Yusho II was unsurprisingly enraged that his children and nephews and nieces would befriend Tianmei, and attempted more drastic measures to discourage them from meeting with the boy. However, even though his attempts, which included stricter surveillance on the school as well as severe threats to his own brothers (the fathers of some of Tianmei's friends), managed to keep the children apart to some degree, it did little to sway the goodwill between them. Rumors even circulated that Yusho III vowed to abdicate the throne to Tianmei once his father died, although Tianmei's diary suggested that nothing of that sort ever happen, and Yusho III's hints at doing so were quickly rebutled by Tianmei. A more serious and plausible threat to Yusho III would have been a marriage between Yama and Tianmei, which, in his eyes, could not only increase Tianmei and Lochuo's legitimacy but also lose him the support of his indecisive, reluctantly supportive brother, Yama's father, Senchan, a successful modernizing general who owned several estates near the Aidisese border. However, at the same time, Yusho realized that any move against Senchan would be risky, given that Senchan had a large following among moderate conservatives. He did, however, encourage Senchan to seek other suitable husbands for Yama.

Father's Death
Lochuo's sudden death in late 6274 forced Tianmei to complete the rest of his education - expected to have taken two years - within the span of half a year because his family was quickly running out of funds. Yusho, sensing opportunity, forced Lochuo's former business associates to disown Tianmei; he also managed to use the severely weak legal system to seize much of Tianmei's assets by instigating several dubious claims of corruption and illegal dealing on the part of Lochuo.

After Tianmei's quick graduation, although technically prohibited from leaving Kubai without official permission, Lochuo's uncles managed to move him and Tianyi out of Kubai with unofficial approval and support by a few of Yusho's more sympathetic ministers so that Tianmei could resolve any remaining issues with his father's inheritance and assets. At first, Yusho agreed to do so for an unstated limited amount of time, accepting that Tianmei was now the new Count.

Soon after, in 6275, Gadai died from overdrinking; his death was quickly followed by that of Wu Dufan, another popular moderate minister. Following the death of three prominent moderate figures within less than a year, the moderate and liberal government factions splintered into three groups. Yusho, sensing yet another opportunity, stripped Tianmei of his nobility; although a number of moderates and liberals objected, they feared any retaliation, since there was no major figure who could lead a possible insurrection. Ultimately, the move clearly weakened the unrpoven Tianmei's claims to legitimacy, and moderate and liberal support for a restoration of Tianmei's lineage decreased as he and Jishen were seen as too weak in the face of Yusho's attempts. Yusho, bolstered by weakness in liberal and moderate fervor, attempted to enact even more authoritarian measures, a number of moderate and liberal bureaucrats were purged from Yusho's main government on trumped up charges, for instance. Freedom of speech was severely limited as well.

Meanwhile, Tianmei was still allowed to stay at home, but his loss of nobility meant that he and his family were much more susceptible to any move on Yusho's part. Jishen, much more cautious and meticulous than either of his brothers, realized that the situation against Tianmei and the rest of the family was dire; he knew from his family's contacts and friends inside the imperial government that Yusho was growing increasingly tyrannical and paranoid, and that the ultra-right-wing faction in the court was growing stronger and stronger. He and Tianmei managed to sell off the remaining assets of the family and moved the remaining capital to various banks in Genais and Aidis through some contacts.

As Jishen predicted, Yusho's paranoia got the better of him, and he feared an insurrection by moderate generals and bureaucrats under Tianmei's banner. They debated about going to Genais, but they eventually decided against this when the pro-Cedarinian conservatives, closely aligned with Yusho, won the Genaisese gubernational elections in late 6275. They also ruled out Aidis, firstly fearing that an escape to Aidis would instigate an international crisis, secondly because they were wary of Aidis' own political instability, and thirdly because they knew Yusho had a considerable spy network in Aidis. Eventually, Jishen and Tianmei decided that the best course of action was to escape to the Athlian desert, which, while legally under the jurisdiction of several states including Cedarin and Aidis, was de facto ruled by de facto independent tribes and transnational mercantile and criminal organizations.

Essentially, as it had been since the world collapse of the 57th and 58th centuries, Athlia was more or less a lawless frontier region serving as a buffer between the Aidisic and Kensalan worlds. Several of Lochuo's business contacts dominated trade routes going through a few small oases in the eastern parts of Athlia, and the family also had an unofficial alliance with the Musiyam tribe (due to a positive history with Tianmei's grandfather, the Emperor Jinli III). Ultimately, Jishen and Tianmei spent the end of 6275 and beginning of 6276 preparing for an escape to the oasis village of Haytmar, the de facto capital of the Musiyam.

Self-Exile in Genais
In the winter months of early 6276, Tianmei and his family escaped to Yuhan. Although they managed to confuse and foil Yusho's agents up until then, they were almost apprehended several times; according to legend, Tianmei and Tianyi were once seprated from the group and were lost in a snowstorm, and both nearly died of the cold before reaching their destination, the monastery of Aise. However, after continuing their journey from there, the party - which included several former soldiers loyal to Tianmei and moderate ideology - was at last ambushed by Yusho's forces. A skirmish ensued, but Tianmei and his family were able to defeat Yusho's party; however, the battle left several dead, including his brother Dai; Dai's twin, Meili, was injured and her wound quickly became infected. She died two weeks later in Tianmei's arms, mere miles from the border with Genais. According to legend, as she died, she vowed with her brother that if he were willing to return to Cedarin one day and restore the family's honor, she would ensure that he would become Emperor.

The deaths of Dai and Meili affected Tianmei deeply, but sadly, it would not be the last time Tianmei's life was beset by tragedy.

When Tianmei and his family arrived in Genais, they were warmly greeted by the government, who allowed them a small pension and property near the capital of Dosois. Their reasons were not entirely altruistic; as Tianmei and Jishen knew, the Genaisese were hoping to use them as tools to internally weaken Cedarin. However, despite the deaths of Dai and Meili, Tianmei's time in Genais was considered a relatively peaceful time of his life. Far from the dangers posed by Yusho, Tianmei could return to study. He joined the University of Dosois, where he studied history and military science. During his exile, he occasionally exchanged letters with Yusho III and Yama back home through Yin Jiwei, the Cedarinian ambassador to Genais. The letters revealed a young man who was coming to terms with recent tragedies and gaining newfound determination and optimism in life; Tianmei hinted that he would attempt to return to Cedarin one day (to fulfill his promise to Meili) when the political climate was stabler, preferably, of course, when Yusho III was on the throne.

In 6279, a more favorable climate did emerge with the sudden and unexpected death of Yusho II, who died as the result of choking on a fish bone. Upon ascending the throne, Yusho III immediately attempted to lift many of his predecessors' many measures, including the re refuse nobility

Physical Appearance and Cultural Affiliation
Due to Tianmei's mixed and largely foreign ancestry, his actual physical appearance as well as his cultural affiliation has been a matter of considerable controversy. Within his lifetime, even though his devotion to Kensalus is undoubtful, he had showed clear signs of fondness for Genaisese, Zajiangese, and Athlian culture. These, along with his constant travels during his earlier years, led some to doubt his loyalty to the Kensalan peoples.

Regardless, concerning his physical appearance, sources from the time are wholly inconsistent, particularly with regards to his hair color and facial structure. While there are several surviving photographs of Tianmei, these photographs, being all black and white, do not clearly demonstrate his hair color. He was known to have died his hair darker in order to reinforce his image as a true, non-light haired Kensalan, but it is unclear how light his hair was to begin with.

Relationship with Sisters
Tianmei was especially fond of his sisters, trusting them above all else, and this caused much controversy in his lifetime because of his constant public displays of affection for them and public perception that he spent more time with them than his own wives. Historians believe that an incestuous relationship between Tianmei and one, or some, or even all of his sisters is highly unlikely, but not impossible. His affection for his sisters was, after all, quite unusual, and taken into consideration with his pro-Aidisese tendencies, it would not be unsurprising.

Regardless of the academic view on the issue, this has not prevented later media to present the theory as truth. While various media posit different relationships with different sisters, the one Tianmei is most often assumed to have had an incestuous relationship with was Tianyi, his favorite sibling. Although they had a tempestuous relationship during their early childhood, they grew much closer during their years as Yusho II's hostages. Throughout Tianmei's lifetime, Tianyi never left his side, and served as his most trusted bodyguard and aide-de-camp. She was often the only person allowed into his personal room, and he often jokingly referred to her as his third wife. Historians argue that an incestuous relationship is unlikely as Tianyi was also said to have a very close relationship with her husband Fuweng, but any academic research has been largely ignored by storytellers from as early as Tianmei's life.

While slanderous portrayals of Tianmei and his sister(s) were as prevalent as Tianmei's early reign, the first serious literary portrayal of an incestuous relationship between Tianmei and Tianyi, written four decades after his death, occurred in Kan Pudo's historical epic novel, Summer and Winter. Although Tianmei and Tianyi were one of many major characters, they were heavily implied to have been romantically involved. The most well-known portrayl of their relationship, however, is from the film