Many years ago
Despite the fresh loss of an eye, a proud general of the Earth Kingdom, steadfast patriot and indomitable warrior, walked atop the gatehouse of a newly reclaimed city. His armor, a resplendent mosaic of shimmering scales, bore the austere hues of his ancestors, while a long pheasant feather trailed from the helmet, marking him as a man apart.
"I will not part with this banner!" the last Fire Nation soldier bellowed, his defiance undimmed by the carnage around him. Across the battlements, the walls brimmed with the slain, Firebenders sprawled where they had fallen, bodies draped over the stone like discarded embers. Near his feet, a luckless comrade lay lifeless, skull caved in from both sides, a testament to the merciless swing of twin maces. Thus, a grim reminder that honor clutched too tightly means little to those who seek only vengeance.
With a single motion, the Earth Kingdom general seized the banner bearer with one hand and cast the young soldier from the battlements. The fiery insignia tumbled with him, plummeting into the dirt below, sullied and broken, swallowed by the very earth it had once sought to subjugate.
A roar erupted from the ranks below. Tens of thousands of elite Earth Kingdom soldiers, hardened by war and unbowed by adversity, bellowed their triumph in deafening unison. Their glorious counterattack defied reason, it was nothing short of a miracle. To stand against an enemy twenty times their size and emerge victorious was a feat too great to ignore.
And so, they chanted his name.
"Xiang Ji! Xiang Ji! Xiang Ji!"
This lone general, a great bane of the Fire Nation's conquest, is also a man who led them to impossible victories. His lineage traced back to an ancient warrior clan, famed for producing the mightiest champions across millennia. And his strength is naturally legendary, able to lift massive steel cauldrons unaided despite lacking the gift of bending. And in his piercing gaze, the rare double pupils bore testament to a divine ancestry, a trait whispered to be the mark shared by an ancient warlord who nearly took over the Earth Kingdom.
Yet, beyond all such trivialities, one truth set him apart from all others. He had never lost a battle. Not once. To his soldiers, it was as if the spirits themselves had placed their favor upon him. And so, they called him the Hegemon King.
"Xiang Ji! Xiang Ji! Xiang Ji!"
Lifting his golden maces, each glimmering with a faint, otherworldly violet glow, Xiang Ji allowed himself a moment to bask in the fervor of his men. Then, with a voice like rolling thunder, he spoke words that would be etched into the annals of history.
"Sons of the Earth Kingdom!" His cry resounded through the battlefield. "To those Ashmakers, they rue this day!"
A deafening cheer erupted, a chorus of soldiers exulting in triumph. Not only have they reclaimed a vital city, but countless enemy soldiers had also been captured, their rout turned into utter humiliation.
"Look at this city," Xiang Ji continued. "This is but the first step in reclaiming our nation's lost honor. With steel and blood, we shall take back all that is ours. The soil, the forests, the mountains that have stood since time immemorial. No longer shall we bow before foreign flames!"
A wave of fervent cries met his declaration.
"The banner of the jade and gold shall rise once more," he vowed. "Flying proudly against the western winds of the Mo Ce Sea. And with the Avatar at our side, we shall sate our shared sorrows, cleanse the stain of this century-long humiliation, and relive the glories of wise kings and righteous sovereigns!"
His voice reached a crescendo, an unrelenting force that seized the hearts of his soldiers.
"Mark my words! Soon, we march westward! We shall reclaim the stolen lands of our forebears! The great city of Taku, laid to ruin by our enemies, shall rise again. We will rebuild its austere splendor ten times over! Silk shall flow like rivers! Our people shall know prosperity once more!"
The army's exultation thundered across the battlefield, a sound so mighty it seemed to shake the very heavens. Many among them had only heard tales of Taku, the jewel of Earth Kingdom prosperity, destroyed by the Fire Nation's relentless expansion. But now, with the Firelord defeated and the Avatar victorious, there is nothing to stop them.
"From this day forward, let the world know the Earth Kingdom does not lack heroes!" Xiang Ji roared, his maces gleaming in the twilight. "Never again shall foreign tyrants encroach upon our lands!"
His final cry rang out like a war drum, inciting them all to join him in this great endeavor.
"Long live the Earth Kingdom! Long live the Avatar!"
And from the throats of thousands, the refrain echoed like an oath to the heavens.
"Long live the Earth Kingdom! Long live the Avatar!"
...
A while has passed since that speech, and the ink from the chroniclers have just dried.
Xiang Ji strode into the tent, a heavy steel cleaver resting in one hand. Before him, ten Fire Nation teenagers trembled, paralyzed by the dread of what this man, this towering beast of the Earth Kingdom, might do to them. Though Ba Sing Se had fallen before, not even the loss of their grand capital could quench the indomitable spirit of its people, a harsh truth these reckless youths had learned the hard way. Now that the capital has been reclaimed, Earth Kingdom armies from the countryside resurged, soldiers and volunteers alike relentlessly pursuing any soldiers from the Fire Nation that wishes to flee.
"So, you came here because of songs and stories," the general mused, his tone devoid of amusement as he regarded the juveniles still clad in their Fire Nation armor. "I see your parents neglected to teach you morality, failing to instill the simple lesson that theft is wrong. But no matter, I do not expect you to grasp such difficult concepts. Besides, I have been meaning to test this newly sharpened blade."
The teenagers are now pale with terror. Some wept openly, while one had already disgraced himself, trembling legs betraying feeble courage with soaking pants.
Xiang Ji raised the cleaver with a measured grace, preparing a mighty swing meant to sever all ten at once.
"And so, I will send you back to them, to teach them the consequences!"
The blade fell.
Yet, instead of heads rolling upon the dirt, the metal chains binding them split apart, frayed ends curling toward the floor. Relief flooded their faces, though they dared not rejoice too soon.
Still trembling, they were swiftly ushered out of the tent by heavily armored Earth Kingdom soldiers, herded toward a modest wooden cart. Some had fainted the moment the ropes were cut, and their limp forms had to be carried out.
Xiang Ji watched them, his expression unreadable. "Now then," he said as they were loaded onto the cart. "Do you understand what comes next?"
It felt almost like a mentor addressing his students, if only his pupils weren't too petrified to respond. Seeing their stupefied silence, the general exhaled a sigh, his features softening slightly. He even gave one of the boys a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Go back to the Fire Nation," he instructed, almost embarrassed to be stating the obvious. "Do something useful for your families. Farm. Fish. Something honorable."
A few of them nodded, whether in agreement or sheer terror. Regardless, had they encountered another general, their fate might not have been so merciful.
Nearby, a far more comfortable carriage awaited its passengers. Women clad in crimson garments climbed aboard, their movements careful as they carried their meager belongings, medical kits and instruments among them. Physicians, caught in the chaos of battle during one of the general's ruthless ambushes, had been unharmed despite the storm of boulders and arrows that had rained down around them.
"Thank you for ensuring our safe return," one of them said as she passed him.
In response, Xiang Ji pressed his hands together, performing the traditional fist-and-palm salute, a rare display of respect. This war had turned men into beasts, yet even amidst the carnage, there are those whose thankless work remained above savagery.
Their exchange was made all the more significant by the news that had recently reached them, the Fire Nation has a new monarch. With Ba Sing Se liberated previously, remnants of the Earth Kingdom's army are rallying to reclaim key cities. After a century of suffering, the war is finally drawing to a close.
Still, battles remained to be fought. The Earth King himself now led a vast host, their forces bolstered by new machines of war. Nearly all of the Earth Kingdom had been reclaimed under the banner of the golden coin, save for the western lands, stolen by the Fire Nation long before their infamous extermination of the Air Nomads. Thus, in Xiang Ji's eyes, the final victory does not solely belong to his people, but to all those who suffered, no matter where they are from.
As the last of the physicians boarded, the general gave a nod of farewell. "May peace prosper between our peoples," he declared.
The woman paused, one foot still upon the carriage step, before offering a bow in return. But before she could disappear into the safety of the carriage, a voice called after her.
It was the general again. Despite his commanding presence and towering stature, words did not seem to come easily to him at this very moment.
"B-be safe," he uttered, awkward yet earnest.
The physician smiled, inclining her head. The road to the Fire Nation is long. Even with a heavy cavalry detachment escorting them to the western shores, they would still have to brave the Mo Ce Sea.
"So, uh… do we also get carriages?" one of the teenagers asked hesitantly.
The general, adjusting with remarkable speed, replied flatly. "No, we are out of carriages. It was either you or them."
A chorus of groans followed.
"Don't worry, I think you will manage," he added. Of course, the general conveniently did not mention the rain and hail that might plague the journey.
As the wooden cart and carriage finally departed, disappearing into the winding road ahead, there was no triumph in the general's expression. Although he ordered an elite platoon of cavalry, it did not bring ease.
He lifted a hand to his bandaged eye, fingers grazing the wound beneath. Infection is a constant threat, yet he paid it little mind. His lieutenant, however, was not so easily distracted.
"General Xiang," he said bluntly. "You know full well they will face disgrace upon return."
Xiang Ji said nothing.
"Are you truly naive enough to believe their families will welcome them? To the Fire Nation, honor is as vital as breathing. They will be lucky if they are merely disowned or disinherited." The lieutenant then gestured toward the departing carriage. "As for them, they may very well be killed by kin on the simple suspicion that their purity has been compromised by those they deem lesser."
Those words were not without merit. In every reclaimed settlement, the pattern was the same. Soldiers of the Fire Nation abandoned their female physicians and children, as though discarding burdens that might hinder their retreat. Such cowards, for all their vaunted honor, were effortlessly cut down when Earth Kingdom cavalry crashed into their scattered ranks. Any stragglers that refuse to yield will perish with their topknots still attached to their heads.
And now, with their Fire Lord dethroned and a friend of the Avatar occupying the imperial seat, their once-mighty empire is crumbling beneath the weight of its own sins. The previous encirclement to trap the local Fire Nation forces were simply too much even for the most stubborn. Their honor meant nothing without food and morale.
"But I will not deny them their longing for home," Xiang Ji said, tone tempered with something akin to sorrow. "Nearly every man under my banner, myself included, can trace their lineage to the western lands, the same lands that were lost when the invaders first set foot upon our shores. That is why I refuse to allow others to suffer our plight."
At last, Earth King Kuei sought to reclaim those territories, rectifying a grievous wrong inflicted during the age of Roku's negligence. The current Avatar and the newly enthroned Firelord had pledged to return the stolen lands, a promise that heralded the dawn of a long-awaited peace. A return to the harmony of old, before war had sundered the four nations.
Then came the voice of defiance.
"Surrender now, you wretched filth, and Firelord Ozai shall be merciful!"
The shout belonged to a grizzled Fire Nation soldier, one among many languishing in the heart of this very city. He, like his compatriots, remained ensnared by delusions of a war already lost, clinging to the notion that their sovereign's downfall was mere fabrication, propaganda spun to break their resolve. Such arrogance, sharp as a blade, rendered them poor houseguests, and the spiteful manner did little to endear them to their captors.
Yet, guarding and feeding over two hundred thousand prisoners was no trivial feat, even for a benevolent commander. General Xiang Ji, despite his temperance, found patience tested not by these prisoners of war, but by the collaborators among them. These are traitorous Earth Kingdom subjects who had served the Fire Nation with fervor surpassing that of the invaders themselves, bowing to statues of a foreign king with greater respect. He had slayed some of the most formidable warriors of the Fire Nation, yet no battlefield glory had prepared him to confront such treachery.
"General," his lieutenant addressed him, voice laced with restrained ire. "I humbly request permission to discipline the one who dares disturb our peace. Nothing severe, just some light flogging to remind him of his place."
Flogging is indeed a very light punishment, much gentler than the more gruesome options. Sometimes, one has to wonder why humanity even took time to invent more horrifying ways to torture each other.
Watching carefully, temptation creeped onto the general's face, but the sense of duty managed to dispel rash thinking.
"I forbid it," Xiang Ji declared, his command met with visible dismay. "No harm shall befall those under my custody. Is that understood?"
The lieutenant offered no words in reply, only a begrudging nod. The Fire Nation prisoners were indeed fortunate, for Xiang Ji is a man of restraint, perhaps striving to emulate the humble rebel king who had ushered in the first golden age of the Earth Kingdom.
As they made their way back to camp, the air was thick with the scent of wine, mingling with the damp earth and the ever-diminishing stock of millet and rice. Each passing day saw their food supplies dwindle, with alcohol being the only solace to maintain morale.
"The prisoners grow restless," the lieutenant muttered. "Some attempted to scale the ditch our Earthbenders carved to hold them. Why must we tolerate such ungrateful wretches when we could simply—"
"No life shall be taken without my word," Xiang Ji interrupted, his voice weighted with finality. Though he masked his displeasure, the subordinates could not mistake the warning in his tone. "Reinforcements and provisions will arrive. Soon enough, we shall have enough to sustain both our forces and the prisoners. When we march west, our path shall be unimpeded."
Arriving at the general's tent, they entered. A map lay unfurled upon the table, detailing the routes westward. His officers gathered, awaiting the next phase of their campaign. Although the war is as good as won, this doesn't mean they wouldn't be needed to uphold the peace.
"His Majesty and General How will need us in the west," Xiang Ji stated, his gaze tracing the inked lines. "Though the situation in Yu Dao is precarious, I have no doubt the Avatar shall mend the rift and see that the promise to our people is honored. However, based on report from the ravens, more soldiers may be needed there. We must march with haste. Priority must be placed on the safety of the city's citizens."
Strangely, communication seems to be somewhat slow, vague even. Nevertheless, the general emphasizes the need to journey westward to aid their king.
A scoff came from one of the officers. "A band of rabble does not warrant our concern."
Xiang Ji did not answer immediately. Instead, he handed the man a letter, a report from Earth Kingdom units in the western lands.
"These rabble have already breached Yu Dao's gates," Xiang Ji elaborated. "With a battering ram unlike any we have seen. If the situation is left in the hands of the incompetent, we may soon face open rebellion. Our duty remains unchanged, to safeguard the lives and property of the innocent from those who would exploit this unrest."
"General," the lieutenant intoned gravely. "I trust you have not lost sight of friend and foe. The Firelord is young, vain and insecure. He is desperate to solidify his reign with a decision that may once again bring war to future generations. If there are valiant souls willing to reclaim the western lands, why do you stand in their way?"
Though he bore no ancestral ties to the disputed territory, the lieutenant's unease was palpable. His superior's magnanimity, in his eyes, is a dangerous indulgence. Yet, any trace of cynicism was swiftly dispelled by the ever-benevolent Xiang Ji, who implored that the Earth Kingdom has people of all kinds. Did the wise kings of the past not incorporate their former nomadic enemies into the world's most formidable cavalry? Didn't the royal court of Ba Sing Se also make peace with the ancient rival civilizations, which eventually merged and formed what is Earth Kingdom today? If those who came from the Fire Nation insists on living on the western lands, why not simply continue their lives as newest subjects of the nation?
"I am well aware," the general replied, his voice measured yet resolute. "That those who now inhabit those lands share the same blood as the invaders. But we shall make no distinction. As with all Fire Nation civilians we encountered, they shall be treated not as enemies, but as citizens of the Earth Kingdom. Thus, be protected and subjected to our nation's law. Within our borders, they will be shielded from the scourge of rebels who would seek to shatter the peace."
A voice, rich with amusement, cut through the tension. It almost made the general and the officers unsheathe their weapons, too engrossed in their planning to notice the extra visitors within the room.
"Now that is a most gratifying sentiment!"
Seated within the tent, a robed figure lounged in the general's chair. It is an Earth Sage, flanked by two eunuchs. In his hand clutched a silken scroll, an object that instilled more fear in this nation's greatest generals than their enemies.
"Behold, the Imperial Edict!"
Silence fell as Xiang Ji and his officers knelt, fists pressed into open palms, demonstrating their fealty. With a flourish, the minister unrolled the parchment, his voice ringing with authority. It is clear that this is an emissary from Ba Sing Se, a representation of the Earth King himself. Thus, all loyal subjects must demonstrate respect akin to being in the sovereign's presence.
"By the Will of the Heaven, and the summons of the Imperial Edict, His Majesty Kuei extends his gratitude for General Xiang's loyal service to the throne. In the spirit of conciliation and to appease the concerns of Firelord Zuko, the Harmony Restoration Movement is hereby annulled. The western lands shall be gifted to the rightful people who have settled there, and their lives shall not be uprooted. I, Earth King Kuei, with the Avatar's blessing, benevolently decrees that the Fire Nation shall maintain residence and trade within these lands. For peace and prosperity in the long run benefits both our peoples. I, the Earth King, believe Firelord Zuko will be happy with this arrangement. His Majesty hereby announces."
A bead of blood welled beneath Xiang Ji's clenched fists, seeping into the fabric of his sleeves. Each word felt more painful than any physical wounds inflicted by swords and spears.
The sage rolled up the edict with practiced grace, satisfied with this historic decree. "General Xiang, accept the edict."
Yet, before Xiang Ji could move, a voice rose in protest.
"Preposterous!" one soldier barked, who is also Xiang Ji's siege officer. "Why must we yield to an oath-breaker? If that half-burnt brat doesn't want to give it back, we will just march there and take it! If the king decrees, the whole Earth Kingdom shall march with us and finish the job!"
The Earth Sage barely spared him a glance. "Your objections are irrelevant. The decree is final."
The edict's veiled message unmistakably commands General Xiang to cease all expeditions westward, territories wrested from their original inhabitants during Roku's era. Despite the clamor of protest, the Earth Sage remains indifferent to those he deems uncultured. After all, the literati must embody grace and refinement, unlike the battle-hardened men clad in armor.
With a smirk, he turned back to kneeling Xiang Ji. "You are most welcome, General Xiang. His Majesty is most benevolent. As a token of his favor, he offers you a retired maid from the royal palace. A considerate gesture, as it is known you have yet to marry."
A long pause stretched between them before Xiang Ji finally spoke. "Your name, Earth Sage? What have you been doing all these years in service of the nation?"
The robed man smiled. "I am Chin Hui, devoted servant of His Majesty's will." Upon mentioning the Earth King, he performed the specific hand gesture required from ministers and generals whenever the name of their sovereign is included in conversation,
Xiang Ji's eyes darkened. "Curious. We share the family names of past warlords, yet only one of us seems worthy of his forefather's legacy."
The sage's expression faltered, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
"How dare you show such disrespect to an emissary of His Majesty!" Chin Hui accused vehemently. "Do you have any idea how tirelessly men like me have worked to preserve peace between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation? Scholars of like mind have toiled relentlessly, striving to mend the wounds inflicted by the military's recklessness!"
"The Earth Kingdom does not suffer for lack of strength among its people," the general declared, rising steadily from the ground. "But weakness such as yours has infested every dynasty since my ancestor's defeat. How many wars have we lost because the royal court saw fit to behead its finest generals, only to replace them with simpering creatures who know nothing of victory?" He pointed toward the two eunuchs lingering at the back of the tent, their sleeves drawn up in a feeble attempt to conceal their faces, like thieves caught red-handed. "At the onset of this war, we lost Han Tui, then Taku, and then Garsai. If the doddering fools in the capital have simply acted in haste, the enemy wouldn't have already entrenched themselves deep within our lands!"
"Watch your tongue!" Chin Hui spat, his frail fingers quivering. "Such treason warrants the extermination of your entire clan!"
If the words were meant to cow him, they failed. Xiang Ji had faced horrors beyond measure, the charred remains of villages, the wailing of the bereaved, the smoldering ruin of a century-long war. What threat did a child-king in Ba Sing Se truly pose?
"It seems the dynasty's lineage has yet again produced an unworthy heir," Xiang Ji murmured, as if weary of the realization.
"Recant your rebellious intent and plead for mercy before the throne!" Chin Hui demanded, his fury evident in every word. "His Majesty is righteous and noble, he has forged peace with the Fire Nation, something you and your ilk could never achieve! The treaty with the Fire Nation is ordained by the Avatar himself!"
Xiang Ji considered that final statement, his thoughts momentarily wandering. It felt as though the spirits of all the Earth Kingdom soldiers and their Water Tribe allies who had perished in this century-long war were reaching out from beyond the afterlife, their grievances echoing through the ages. Perhaps they too longed for a living representative to bear witness to their frustrations, a champion who would heed their silent pleas far more than a weak king or a childish Avatar.
"Watch your tongue, Xiang Ji," Chin Hui warned, his voice steely. "You may plot to overthrow His Majesty and threaten the fragile peace between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, but think carefully. If the Avatar himself can rise above petty grievances to honor this peace, why can't you? His Majesty and the Firelord are favored by none other than the Avatar! And the one who can kill the Avatar has not yet been born!"
There was another long pause between them. Even the mightiest warriors throughout history acknowledged their own mortality, understanding that their fleeting existence was but a drop in the ocean compared to the will of a deity who could command the elements to quell any opposition. In most stories, mortals do not triumph over gods.
But not a single one of those stories said it was impossible.
"No," Xiang Ji murmured, the quiet admission heavy with realization. He is not strong enough to contend with the Avatar's will. "But when they are, not even the graves of our enemies will be safe. This so-called peace, bought by ceding land to the invaders, is a disgrace to the millions who have been slaughtered, women and children included. It is not merely an insult to the Earth Kingdom, but a slight to all those beyond our shores who also suffered at the hands of unchecked ambition! If the absentee Avatar chooses to conveniently forget them, then I will gladly carry the wishes of the dead!"
In a single, fluid motion, Xiang Ji swung the cleaver in his hand, severing the Earth Sage's head with brutal precision. The two eunuchs, startled by the swift violence, froze in horror. The general's final act had sealed his rebellion, the royal edict now stained with Chin Hui's blood.
As the eunuchs made desperate attempts to flee, the lieutenant drew a jian, silencing any potential witnesses to what had transpired.
"General!" one of the officers cried, a tremor of realization coursing through his voice as they all understood the magnitude of this treachery. "What have you done?"
Blood stained Xiang Ji's hand, the crimson hue stark against the pale backdrop of his skin. Without a word, he tore the imperial edict in two, an act so unimaginable for a servant of the throne, it seemed to echo a defiance of the very foundation that upheld the monarchy. It wasn't long before whispers spread like wildfire among the soldiers outside the tent. Once again, the deadly intrigue of the royal court had claimed its latest victims, casting its shadow upon another esteemed general who dared to defy the hollow whims of the incompetent fools that cowered behind their fortress walls.
"I will not force any of you to join me," Xiang Ji declared, voice steady but heavy with the weight of treason. "If my march towards Ba Sing Se is alone, so be it. Any of you who wish to remain loyal to the throne and preserve your lives, may present my severed head to the monarch. If you do so, I will not resist."
An oppressive silence settled over the tent. Battle-hardened soldiers, men who had fought in countless campaigns, whose bodies bore the scars of war, stood motionless. They longed to reclaim the lands their ancestors had once called home, to restore their birthright. But as the old adage goes, even the mightiest dynasties can fall from Heaven's favor, especially those that betray their most loyal servants.
There was no turning back now. With two hundred thousand more mouths to feed, history would inevitably cast these rebels in a grim light, condemning them as either victims of starvation or subjects of execution. Regardless of how the scholars might distort the truth, the revolt would forever be marked as a failure, one swiftly quelled by generals still loyal to the throne of Ba Sing Se. In life, the so-called Hegemon King would not fulfill his dream of reclaiming the west, but a form of consolation was at least achieved.
"Lieutenant," Xiang Ji commanded, this time without hesitation. "Let us present the new Firelord with a coronation gift. Lighten his burden by reducing two hundred thousand mouths to feed."