text: [Themes: historical, war]
  
  Treasury: 125 yuan {-75}
  Army: Small (-25)
  Masses: High
  
  Workers: Low (-25)
  Buddhists: Low {-50}
  
  You travel to the mudslide devastated community and distribute donations. Sunburned peasants give you wide gap-toothed grins as you walk among them. Some applaud when you grab a two-handed saw and help remove a tree toppled over the middle of a road.
  
  Word spreads of your leadership during the relief effort. The populace now believes that you share their priorities and values. You become the people's favorite throughout the South.
  
  Your citizens now work together with your police to ward off infiltrators. Neighboring warlords no longer bother sending saboteurs or assassins to your realm. As a result your small Army's morale temporarily spikes.
  
  Your Treasury adviser reports that, although your Treasury has been dramatically reduced, you still possess just enough yuan to make the fiscal investment that will ensure you do not go broke. The Buddhist temple chastises your lack of piousness, but otherwise does not frown upon you for tending to your people. Some government professionals complain about not getting a raise, but most remain optimistic and continue to work for your benefit. They even finish construction on a castle, a sturdy, gated structure that will serve as your residence and enhance your capital's defenses.
  
  You listen to news from faraway lands. The northern empire of General Nahru is experiencing internal turmoil and the General is barely holding onto his own life. He will not pose any threat to you, at least for now. Your other main rival, President Min, has been seen traveling East in your direction. He reportedly met with several minor warlords nearby. Other warlords had been skirmishing back and forth among each other, but none had acquired enough power to be worth your time.
  
  While the chaos in China has been wearing on the populace, hope has not been lost. The people long for a capable leader who will bring peace and create a sound economic environment. They say they would be willing to secede from their kingdom and join such a leader if one were to emerge.
  
  Your next move...
  
  Treasury: 125 yuan {-75}
  Army: Small (-25)
  Masses: High
  
  Workers: Low (-25)
  Buddhists: Low {-50}
  
  > gain the respect of foreign citizens by becoming a member of the Buddhist Temple (-50 yuan)
  Treasury: 25 yuan {-75}
  Army: Small (-25)
  Masses: High
  
  Workers: Low (-25)
  Buddhists: High
  
  You donate a large chunk of funds to the temple. The high monks are overjoyed by your generosity and invite you to the nearest monastery for a lavish conversion ceremony. Facing a bronze idol of Buddha and lit red candles, you chant newly learned Buddhist hymns alongside monks in saffron colored robes. The monks compliment your devotion and spread word of your piousness far and wide.
  
  Citizens throughout China approve of you. Unfortunately, you are not yet powerful enough to attract immigrants to your kingdom. They remain subjects of other warlords. You return home.
  
  Upon arrival, you hear to your surprise that President Min and his allies have marched their armies to a position a few miles outside your castle. "No rest for the weary," you mutter to yourself.
  
  Your militia knocks on every door rallying citizens to help defend your city. The next day, Min and his allies unfurl a large white banner half a mile away from your castle. It reads:
  
  "Astute Governor Toleron, we offer you a proposition. If you relinquish your claim to China and open your castle gate, we will spare the lives of everyone inside. Otherwise we will have no choice but to lay siege to your castle. At that point, we will no longer show mercy."
  
  You keep your gate closed. They stay true to their word and blockade your castle. Weeks pass, but your citizenry's faith in your guidance keeps their spirits high. The attacking force, on the other hand, begins to lose cohesiveness. One warlord cites your small Army and insists on launching a full scale attack on your walls. Another advocates a long-term siege, using their pooled advantage in resources to wear you out, taking years if need be. Another has citizens back home pushing for more attention to other matters and would rather call off the attack completely. President Min is unsure of what to do. He is not quite prepared for actual bloodshed, thinking originally that his larger forces would induce your surrender. On the other hand, resigning so easily would be a bitter pill to swallow. After much bickering and deliberation, they halfheartedly send their troops to attack your walls.
  
  Foot soldiers carrying rope ladders charge at your parapets. Your archers respond with barrages of burning arrows. Many attackers expire before reaching your walls. The ones who do encounter dense fire as they climb up their ladders. Some fall to their doom when your warriors cut through their rope. Those who manage to reach the top meet ferocious resistance from everyone stationed inside. Sparks fly between clanging swords while crimson blood flows readily over the battleground.
  
  Your ranks gradually shrink, but for each of your warriors killed in battle, the invaders lose five of theirs. Without a strong leader, the remaining attackers outside your castle lose their resolve and give up. Remnants of the invading force disperse, to the cheers of your triumphant defenders.
  
  Warlords all over China learn of your improbable victory. Many now think so little of President Min that he will never wield much diplomatic influence again. Unfortunately, your outlook is no brighter. Raising your workforce's wages without first improving cash flow has depleted your funds. You will not be able to keep both your Workers and Army.
  
  You allocate your remaining resources to your military since it keeps you safe. Soon, your professionals desert you, leading to inefficiency throughout your kingdom. Your castle falls into disrepair, military supplies dwindle, and rations become scarce.
  
  When General Nahru regains control of his forces and leads one million troops to your castle a couple of months later, your city is already at half-strength. Unlike President Min, General Nahru's army is stout and well trained. They surround your castle and quickly overwhelm your defenses. All of your troops eventually die in battle.
  
  As you meet for the last time with your most trusted advisers in your throne room, General Nahru's commandos barge inside without warning. They forcefully bind you and your advisers' hands behind your backs. You are then all led blindfolded to a gravelly patch of soil outside. Haunting regrets and pleasant memories slowly float into your mind.
  
  "Ready."
  
  "Aim."
  
  "Fire!"
  
  Your spirit leaves its arrow-riddled body before your head hits the ground.