[3rd POV]
The Emperor of Tibet.
Songtsen Gampo, son of Emperor Songtsen Namri.
That was the name of the ruler of the Tibetan Empire. He was famously known for his keen intellect since he was young and he was the only Emperor in the Tibetan history whose reign was absolute without the nobles or major clans sharing any influence.
His words were the law of the land.
His voice was a supreme command.
His belief was the Empire's belief.
His goal was the goal of the Empire.
He was crowned with the title "བོད་ཀྱི་སྤྱི་བོ་ རྒྱལ་པོ"
Which roughly translated to 'The personification of Tibet.'
Even amongst all of the previous Emperors of Tibet, he was remarkable and would definitely go down in history just because of the achievements he had made in his 50 long years of living.
Unifying the many tribes and clans of Tibet, claiming absolute sovereignty of the Empire, introducing reforms in agriculture, his victories against impossible odds in battle and many more. These were just some of his achievements.
But even such an exceptional ruler was having a headache when it came to the Supreme General of China.
Tai Lung.
He was here, in the second largest city of Tibet.
A question rampaged in the mind of the Emperor moment he got the report.
'Why?'
Why was he here? Was he going to attack and destroy the city like he did back in China? Was he going undercover to get more information?
Or was he sending a message again? Something like 'Make a move against China if you want the city gone. I dare you.'
It was the greatest strategic move you can make against someone who is trying to invade your Empire.
A strategy the Emperor of Tibet never saw coming.
Everything happened so fast, a few days ago Tai Lung was sighted on the borders of China, wiping out a small portion of the Tinetan army but even before he fully dealt with the aftermath, he got news like this.
He felt a massive headache coming.
He should've put the cities in a lockdown. He should've stationed more soldiers in the city of Shigatse. He should've...he should've...he should've...
So many things he should've done. But none he did because he had never faced an enemy like Tai Lung before.
Sure, he had to go up against Tai Lung 20 years ago in their last invasion of China but during that time, Tai Lung was still mortal, he still had limitations.
The only reason Tai Lung was able to repel the invasion was because he used the terrain as an advantage and employed multiple ploys and battle tactics to distract them. And it was also because that invasion was merely a test by the Emperor, to collect information for latter wars.
So Tai Lung back then was strong but was still at believable strength.
But now, that mortal warrior had gone up in power and he could only describe as godly. As the Emperor, he was in direct contact with the spies in China and the stories he got from his spies were something that made him nervous even a country away.
To deal with 100,000 soldiers was something the Emperor would be able to accomplish with ease. But to deal with a person with the stregth of 100,000 soldiers was something he hadn't even considered.
It was like a game of chess, where even if you can deal with two bishops, two rooks and the pawns, you need a different set of skills and a different realm of insight to deal with one queen.
"What should I do?' He muttered to himself in the silence of his room. He had not notified anyone else of the report as he found no need to.
His advisors and his ministers would only lead him in the wrong direction. Those arrogant cunts would never be able to wrap around their head how one person can be so superior.
They would probably demand the army of Shigatse to capture Tai Lung. Easy.
The Emperor need no such stupidity at the moment. What he needed was a time for himself, so that he mah devise a plan he could use against Tai Lung.
He must come up with a plan.
At this point, many people in his situation would wonder why he must fight back. Why does Tibet need to take over China so desperately? Why fight at all, against a seemingly impossible enemy?
Was it greed? Was it pride?
No, such sins could never push a soul as far as the Emperor was willing to go.
It was for the Empire, the only thing Songtsen Gampo considered to be bigger than himself. He was doing everything for the Empire.
Tibet was situated in the middle of two powerhouses, China and India. These two countries and the Empires within them could take over Tibet in a heartbeat.
The only reason Tibet had existed for thousands of years was that China was obsessed with itself and being fragmented into different kingdoms and India had no interest in meddling with other countries.
In short, it was because of them.
Tibet had existed for this long only because these two counties had no interest in it. Tibet did not even have power over her own fate. It was due to luck which had spanned over a thousand years, that Tibet still even exist.
But for how long?
How long would Tibet survive?
Not for long, he reckoned. With the unification of China and with Samudra Gupta's growing ambition, if Tibet did not fall during his lifetime, it will in the next generation.
It will be the end of the Empire. The time they run out of their luck.
He could already envision the future. A dark future for the Empire where it was robbed of its identity and was forced to become a part of either country.
Where their individuality, their independence and their culture were stolen away because they were not strong enough to preserve it. A time when Tibet was no longer an Empire but a mere part of a bigger Empire.
A time when even their own history becomes a mere part of a grander history.
Thier people, no longer being called Tibetans. For such Empire would no longer exist.
For the future of the Empire, Tibet could either fight and win or fall and get swallowed by the strong.
.
.
He shall do it.
Only he could do it.
If he failed, there would be no more chances. He knew the workings of Chi and how it could expand one's lifespan to live for thousands of years. Tai Lung would only grow stronger as he lived for hundreds of years and the impossible would become even more impossible.
So he must be the one to do it.
He must save the Empire and secure its future.
Tibet needs to become a stronger and bigger Empire.
But for that, the Emperor must face an enemy he considered to be the closest thing to god.
He must kill Tai Lung.
He could never win in a contest of stregth and power, he had no impressive kung fu or was blessed with the power of chi, but he would use everything the universe had given him.
He would devise a plan that could lead him to victory against impossible odds.
He will do it.
For Tibet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author : A small insight on the enemy and their goals.