Marlakcor

Marlakcor, also known as Tianxia locally, is the northeastern continent of Qirsyllviar.

Four Holy Cities
Government: Theocratic Elective Monarchies Heads of State: Four Masters Heads of Government: Four Masters Legislatures: none Demonym: n/a Currency: n/a

The Four Holy Cities, also known as Sige Sheng Cheng (四個聖城), are a quartet of religious city-states spread around Marlakcor. Although in four separate locations around the continent, and are mostly autonomous from one another, the four cities are considered a single state.

Deeply religious states, the holy cities are controlled by a religious order that pledges faith to the Divine Beasts of Tianxia, and each houses a main temple dedicated to one of the four to represent their cardinal direction. As Huaxia expanded in every direction, they spared any threat of conquest or vassalization, as not even the huangdi dared to threaten the sanctity of such holy places.

The eastern and western cities were also spared conquest of vassalization by Rome and Yamatai when the two empires formed Serica Provinciae and Morokoshi respectively. Despite the former's usual policy to impose their religion on conquered or visited lands, Rome respected the eastern city's neutrality and honored the sanctity of a holy place, and Yamatai gave the same courtesy to the western city.

Although mostly autonomous from one another, the four masters, the leaders of each city, meet every year, taking turns to host the meeting in each of the four cities over the course of four years.

Empire of Huaxia
Capital: Jiaju Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Huangdi Heads of Government: Huangdi & Zaixiang Legislature: None Demonym: Huaxian Currency: Jiaozi, Guanzi, Huizi, Jinlong, Yinhu, Tongying, Tiegui

The Empire of Huaxia is the dominant, and largest, state on Marlakcor. Huaxia is often internally known by whichever dynasty is currently ruling it, while the common name for the country remains prevalent.

It occupies much of the continent, controlling northern and western Shenzhou (the central subcontinent), most of Manzhou (the northern lands of Jiangshan, the western subcontinent), and the whole of Liao (the northern continent). In the Zhongyuan Provinces, the capital regions, it borders Zhonghua to the south, and shares borders with the Roman Serica Provinciae on Shengfen Island and on Qiu Island. Via the Mu Jingling Peninsula, it borders Jingling to the south, and on the western continent, the Xifang Regions, it borders Raimei to the south and Yamato-Morokoshi to the west.

To the east, it and shares maritime borders with Daludao. In the northwest it shares maritime borders with the island empire of Joseon, from whom it conquered most of the western continent, and the Empire of Tibet to the north, from whom it conquered most of the western half of northern continent. The eastern half of the continent was once controlled by the Khaganate of Khitai, whom resisted Huaxian expansion until its final breath.

Huaxia also shares maritime borders with three of the four island city-states: In the north, beyond Gui Bay, Huaxia shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Bei Haigui. In the Zhuhong Sea to the south, Huaxia shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Nan Niao. To the east, in the Bay of Xiaolong of southern Qiu Island, via what territories Huaxia still controls after the wars with Rome, Huaxia shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Dong Long.

Huaxia is also the suzerain of Tibet, forcing them to surrender base sovereignty in the face of the ferocity of the Huaxian Imperial Army & Navy and threats of invasion. At one point it held the now-defunct Kingdom of Daludao as a suzerainty as well, but it has since been conquered and renamed Serica by Rome.

Huaxia spared the four Holy Cities from conquest or vassalization, as not even the Huangdi of the time dared to threaten or desecrate the sanctity of such holy places. All this is a result of the Huaxian Wars of Conquest (a collective term for the many wars of expansion Huaxia has fought throughout its history.).

On the western border with Yamato-Morokoshi stands the Great Wall of Manzhou. This massive fortification of 25m-high stone walls, fortresses, and castles, which runs along the entire length of the Morokoshi-Huaxian border. This wall far surpasses Zhonghua's Mulan's Wall, which was built for similar reasons against Rome.

History
An unnatural creation with thousands of years of reliable history, what became Huaxia was originally a collection of quarreling kingdoms in what is now the Zhongyuan Region some 5000 years ago. There were eleven major states and several minor states under vassal hegemony of a few of the major ones.

Modern scholars agree that the events that led to the founding of the Huaxian Empire began following the collapse of what is known to history as the Mo dynasty into the various states at the end of an era historians call the Summer & Winter Period (夏季和冬季). The previous recorded dynasties prior to Mo were, in practice, just fragile hegemonic alliances under the lordship of a stronger state. The Mo dynasty, a kingdom of magic ruled by magicians, was the first kingdom to exercise centralized authority over the rest of the kingdoms, and lasted longer than any dynasty in Huaxian history. In its initial founding, Mo held supreme authority over the other kingdoms; however, during the final century of its reign, the Mo dynasty lost control over the constituent kingdoms as the poor first experiments and attempts at bureaucracy cost the king and his court their authority, and the loss of influence cost the central authorities its control over the rest of the kingdoms. While the Mo dynasty didn't actually collapse until near the end of the ensuing period of civil war, the instability triggered the beginning of an era of near constant warfare, shifting alliances, and brief periods of peace between conflicts; a period of chaos and civil war known to history as the Warring States Period. About a hundred years later, a warlord known to history as Lan Zheng (藍政): styled Zhugong (主公), a general from what was then the Kingdom of Tian, usurped control of the kingdom in a military coup d'état, overthrowing the inept and complacent wang (king) and the Zhi family, becoming wang himself. Lan Zheng Wang then led his followers to conquer all of Tian's rivals, thus founding the first imperial dynasty of newly-named Huaxian Empire under the rule of the Tian dynasty with himself as the first Huangdi (皇帝/Emperor). He is known in history as Tian Shou Huangdi (天首皇帝), and a thousand years after his death he was posthumously honored with the temple name Chuangjian Huangdi (創見皇帝). His conquests ended the Warring States Period and the Summer & Winter Period in one stroke and began the Early Imperial era.

The early imperial dynasties up to the Sang dynasty, only ruled areas of the modern-day Zhongyuan Region. Later dynasties from the Rao dynasty onward began expanding Huaxia beyond its cradle of civilization. In the subsequent Huaxian Wars of Conquest, which lasted hundreds of years with varying periods of peace, Huaxia expanded in every direction and grew into one of the largest and wealthiest empires on Qirsyllviar. (It is outclassed only by Yamatai in the latter aspect)

The empire is currently under the rule of the Cui dynasty, run by the Sun clan, which took power roughly sixty years before present day after overthrowing the collapsing Nao dynasty and reconquering the state of Huo Bing, a northern secessionist kingdom. Cui is the latest of many dynasties that have ruled all or part of Huaxia.

The empire has a chaotic history of various pretender dynasties, breakaway states, or usurpations by rebellion or coup d'état, and many other types of crises besides. For example, the Tong dynasty, the semi-legendary first organized dynasty, prior-founding Huaxia, collapsed and was usurped by the Cong dynasty only twenty-six years after its inauguration, which began the cycle for a successive change of dynasties.

The reason for the constant changes of dynasties and wars is all in part due to a dynastic cycle influenced by a religiopolitical concept known as the Mandate of Heaven, a philosophical concept of the circumstances under which a ruler is allowed to rule (see the two links to the wikipedia articles for the full explanation on both concepts). The concept dates back to the Re dynasty, the first dynasty of the Summer & Winter Period.

Not all of the dynasties came to power by violence: Sometimes power was peacefully handed over to a new dynasty when the previous dynasty's final huangdi abdicated in favor of a favored person or named such a person as his sole heir. This was usually done if the reigning huangdi felt that he was going to inevitably pass on without leaving a valid heir (such as a son, nephew, cousin or brother), so that a power vacuum was avoided. This was also done if it was believed that the incumbent dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven and had been granted to a new dynasty. Another way was, if he did die without a valid heir or naming one, one of the highest ranked members of the government (often by election) would establish a new dynasty to fill the power vacuum before any sort of chaos could ensue. But civil wars were still a common occurrence in the latter instance, especially so if the nearest relatives of the last huangdi (such as a nephew, cousin or brother) made claims to the throne.

Founders of several dynasties were descendants of great heroes from Huaxian history and/or folklore; i.e, Chajing Han (茶晶汗), patriarch of the Chajing clan during the Summer & Winter Period, was the founder of the Gao dynasty during said era. He and his direct family were allegedly descendants of Xiangrikui Gongchen, the first lunaculus of Marlakcor.

Alongside the successive change of dynasties, Huaxia has also fractured into separate independent states and rival dynasties as a result of wars of succession, rebellions for independence, or other crises many times in the past. Huaxia's territorial control of Manzhou never reached all the way across the continent to the western sea; its armies stretched too thin by that time, it stopped its conquests roughly eight-hundred miles from the westernmost coast of the continent. Instead, it vassalized the native kingdoms to use as buffer states.

A few hundred years before present day (during the Ting dynasty), Huaxia lost its western vassals and control of its westernmost territories to the Yamato conquerors during Yamatai's Invasions of Marlakcor (4010AFZ – 4100). In the wake of the Third Yamato-Huaxian War (4100AFZ – 4112), the Great Wall of Manzhou was constructed to prevent any further expansion eastward by the Yamato into the western continent. The wall took nearly a century to build, and it has so far fulfilled that purpose, save for very brief occupations of various fortresses at various periods during several wars throughout its history. The last official war was fought from 4516 to 4523.

Huaxia also lost the former Kingdom of Daludao as a suzerainty, along with some of its southeastern territories, when the Roman Empire invaded and conquered Daludao, renaming it Serica. Despite these flaws and a recent decline in power, it maintains its status as Marlakcor's dominant empire, a title rivaled by both Zhonghua and Yamatai.

Armed Forces
Huaxia maintains the largest known armed forces on Qirsyllviar, but the empire's sheer size, and constant threat of rebellions and foreign incursions in the outer territories furthest from Xiazhou – the capital region – causes it to be spread thin.

Government & Politics
Huaxia ia an imperial hereditary monarchy ruled by a Huangdi (皇帝/Emperor), and the heir apparent is titled Taizi (太子/Crown Prince).

Important female titles include the Huanghou (皇後/Empress) and the Huang Taihou (皇太後/Empress Dowager), both of whom control the imperial harem and can exercise a great degree on the politics of Huaxia, mainly through the Huangdi, if given the chance. Both also control the huogong (后宮/imperial harem), yet the huang taihou generally has more power over it than the huanghou.

The next highest poltical office beneath the huangdi is the Chengxiang (丞相/Chancellor).

Throughout Huaxia's history the power of the huangdi and the bureaucracy has constantly fluctuated. Sometimes the huangdi had all the power while the bureaucrats had limited or no power; other times the huangdi and the bureaucrats shared the power, creating a checks and balances system on each other; and sometimes the power of the huangdi was curtailed, leaving the true power in the hands of the bureaucrats, the chengxiang, a regent or some other person while the huangdi was a ceremonial figurehead.

Succession of the huangdi is generally straightforward. Often the eldest son of the huangdi, whether he is from the huanghou or a qie (concubine), is appointed the Taizi, yet this is not always so. If the huangdi feels that his eldest son is not up to the task, a younger son or a nephew, brother or cousin can be appointed Taizi instead. Generally, while there is only one huanghou at a time, the huangdi's huogong of many dozens of qie, often result in there being any number of children to choose from. Yet, if the huangdi dies without appointing a successor, the huang taihou generally has the sole right to appoint one of the late emperor's surviving sons or relatives to the position. Most often the successor chosen in this fashion is a minor, thus the huang taihou serves as regent over the government. Other times, responsibility for appointing a new ruler from among the deceased hunagdi's relatives falls to the government, generally the chengxiang.

The event a new ruler can not be appointed huangdi in a timely fashion, the late-huangdi's various relatives generally tend make claims to the throne, resulting in heated – and often deadly – strife to fill the power vacuum and even wars of succession in the extreme cases.

As a religious leader, the huangdi also bears the title of Tianzi (天子/Son of Heaven). While anyone can found a dynasty and claim the imperial title, the title of Tianzi is only conferred upon by the high priests to the true ruler of the realm; i.e. the one who is believed to have the grace of the gods and been granted the Mandate of Heaven, usually huangdi who rule a unified dynasty or succeed in ending a period of disunity. The title is hereditarily passed on through the heirs of the dynasties until it is believed that the Mandate is lost, only bestowed upon again to the one it is believed has attained the Mandate of Heaven.

Poltical Divisions
Huaxia today is divided into sixteen zhou (provinces). Those are in turn divided into several jun (commanderies), when are further divided into three or four xian (counties).

Confederation of Jingling
Capital: Toron's Grove Government: Hegemonic Confederated Elective Absolute Tribal Monarchy Head of State: Syl-Tynajar (fem. Syl-Tynajil) Head of Government: Rinv Legislature: High Council Demonym: Jinglinese Currency: Bloom

The Confederation of Jingling is a large confederated Wood Elven tribal kingdom occupying the dense Conglin Jungles in southern Shenzhou, the central subcontinent of Marlakcor.

It borders Zhonghua to the east, Huaxia to the north via the Mu Jingling Peninsula, and shares maritime borders with Raimei to the west across the Conglin Sea.

Jingling is a collection of nearly two hundred autonomous tribal chiefdoms pledging fealty to the king, and therefore isn't wholly united. Consequently, internal conflicts, ranging from inter-clan disputes to all-out-war, are a common occurrence.

Empire of Joseon
Capital: Goguryeo Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Taewang Head of Government: Taewang Legislature: Jegug Uihoe Demonym: Joseonite Currency: Mun, Yang, Won

The Empire of Joseon is an island nation occupying the island of the same name in the northwest corner of Manzhou, the northern lands of Jiangshan, the western subcontinent of Marlakcor. It shares maritime borders with Morokoshi of Yamatai to the south and Huaxia to the east.

Once controlling great swathes of the northern half of the western continent, down to at least the central regions of Manzhou, Joseon, the homeland of the Seomin people, was once the dominant nations on western lands of Marlakcor, and seemed primed for ultimate domination before Huaxia invaded. As a result of the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, Joseon was reduced to the island from whence it originated. Unlike Tibet and now-defunct Daludao, Joseon managed to stave off the threat of invasion and retain full sovereignty.

Empire of Nanyue
Capital: Sanoigon Government: Hereditary Absolute Monarchy Head of State: Vuong Head of Government: Vuong Legislature: none Demonym: Nanyese Currency: Van

The Empire of Nanyue is a monarchical island nation, occupying the tropical jungle island of the same name, in the Chidao Sea of southern Marlakcor. It shares maritime borders solely with Raimei to the west.

Empire of Raimei
Capital: Hekireki Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Raikō-tei (雷光帝) Head of Government: Raikō-tei Legislature: None Demonym: Raimese Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho

The Empire of Raimei (雷鳴), sometimes known as the Thunder Empire to countries outside Marlakcor, is a large monarchical state in southwestern Marlakcor, occupying much of Manzi, the southern lands of Jiangshan, the western subcontinent of Marlakcor.

Raimei borders Morokoshi to the west, Huaxia to the north via the Isthmus of Caihong, and shares maritime borders with Jingling to the east across the Conglin Sea, and Nanyue to the southeast via its island territories in the Chidao Sea, and Siam to the south across the Keiyrti Channel.

Raimei was once part of Yamato-Morokoshi, and therefore sovereign territory of Yamatai, until a rebellion led by one renegade clan, the Sanda clan, established the new independent empire, which took ten years of war, now known as the Raimese War for Independence (4235AFZ – 4245), to achieve.

Raimei remains at odds with Yamatai, and have fought several wars with the empire since its founding, but careful diplomacy has prevented the empires from outright destroying each other. The Sanda clan still rules Raimei to this day.

As an empire made up of lands that were formerly part of Siam, Raimei has it's own unique culture that is a blend of both Hayato and Siamese culture.

State of Renyu Dao
Capital: Yai Government: Elective Absolute Monarchy Head of State: Patriarch/Matriarch Head of Government: Patriarch/Matriarch Legislature: Council Demonym: Renyan Currency: Jinlong, Yinhu, Tongying, Tiegui

The State of Renyu Dao (人魚島) is an island nation occupying the island of the same name in the Chidao Sea of southern Marlakcor, sharing maritime borders with solely Zhonghua.

Renyu Dao is a nation where merpeople live alongside humans in harmony. Renyu Dao was originally founded when a clan of humans got washed up on the shores, and have lived alongside the merfolk together in harmony from then on.

When Zhonghua expanded to their waters, they at first signed a treaty to come under Zhonghuan sovereignty, but pulled out of the confederacy less than a year later. The separation wasn't welcomed at first, leading to a brief military confrontation, but Zhonghua's government caved in and drew back within weeks.

Kingdom of Shayuwei Dao
Capital: Shaqi Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Wang Head of Government: Wang Legislature: None Demonym: Shayu Currency: Jinlong, Yinhu, Tongying, Tiegui

The Kingdom of Shayuwei Dao (鯊魚尾島) is an island nation on the southern half of the island of the same name in the Sinolatin Sea off of Shenzhou in western Marlakcor. The kingdom shares borders with the Roman provinces of Serica to the north, to whom it is a suzerainty.

Shayuwei Dao was once in full control of the island upon which it resides. As Zhonghua expanded, Shayuwei Dao rejected all offers to join the expanding confederacy and even managed to repel an invasion when negotiations with one regime turned hostile. After the only war it ever fought with Zhonghua, Shayuwei Dao experienced a golden age of prosperity due to the soon established trade and military alliance that followed a change of management to both nations. However, this ended with the invasions of Rome.

When Rome exerted its control of western Marlakcor, Shayuwei Dao was no exception to the ever opportunistic Roman Empire. After losing almost half the island to the invaders, Shayuwei Dao signed a submissive peace treaty with Rome, retaining nominal sovereignty while still a vassal of the empire.

Kingdom of Siam
Capital: Thonburi Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Rama Head of Government: Rama Legislature: None Demonym: Siamese Currency: Dok Chan, Pod Duang, Namo

The Kingdom of Siam is an island nation, occupying the island of the same name, off the southern coast of Manzi, the southern division of Jiangshan, in southwest Marlakcor. Siam shares maritime borders solely with Raimei to the north across the Keiyrti Channel.

It once occupied great swathes of the southern portion of the western continent, once stretching to the Isthmus of Caihong, at one time bordering Huaxia, but invasions by Yamatai and the Yamato-Saimese War (4120AFZ – 4131) led it to recede from the mainland as Yamatai established Morokoshi.

When the Sanda clan rebelled against Toyotomi rule a century later, separating from Morokoshi and establishing the Empire of Raimei, Siam managed to diplomatically stay out of the conflict, and fostered a trade relationship with both empires. Since then, it has served also a diplomatic medium between the two empires.

Empire of Tibet
Capital: Lhasa Government: Hereditary Absolute Monarchy Head of State: Tsenpo Head of Government: Tsenpo Legislature: None Demonym: Tibetan Currency: Tangka, Srang, Skar

The Empire of Tibet is an island nation, occupying the mountainous tundra island of the same name in the Sea of Hanleng in northern Marlakcor, off the northwest coast of Liao, the northern subcontinent. It shares maritime borders solely with Huaxia to the south.

Tibet was once one of nations dominating the high mountains and tundras of the northern continent before Huaxia invaded, the other being the now-defunct Khaganate of Khitai. Tibet once controlled the western half of the northern continent, up to the isthmus separating Gui Bay from the Gulf of Shule, while the Khaganate of Khitai controlled the rest of the eastern half. These two powers fought for land and power on-and-off for nearly five centuries before Huaxia invaded.

As a result of the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, Tibet was reduced to the island from whence it originated, while Khitai has ceased to exist. Tibet has since become a suzerainty of Huaxia in the face of the ferocity of the Huaxian Imperial Army & Navy and the threat of invasion.

Being a cold country of mostly tundra and mountain, similarly to the northern mainland, Tibet has only a small amount of fertile land for farming and is mostly dependent on the sea and imports for food, but has a large economy thanks to rich mining on the island and elsewhere.

While still in a tense diplomatic relationship with Huaxia, Tibet also maintains the rights to mine certain areas within Huaxia's borders on the northern mainland, in exchange for Huaxia receiving 25% of the profits as tribute annually.

Hegmonic Confederation of Zhonghua
Capital: Luoyang Government: Hegemonic Confederated Parliamentary Quasi-Federal Hereditary Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Zuigao Tongzhi Head of Government: Zhengfu Buzhang Legislature: Canyuan Demonym: Zhonghuan Currency: Jiaozi, Guanzi, Huizi, Jinlong, Yinhu, Tongying, Tiegui

The Hegemonic Confederation of Zhonghua, also known locally as Dongnan Baquan Banglian (東南霸權邦聯/Southeastern Hegemonic Confederation), or simply The Southeastern Kingdoms, is a large state in southeast Shenzhou, the central subcontinent of Marlakcor. It borders Huaxia to the north, and the Wood Elven kingdom of Jingling to the west. It also shares borders with the Serica Provinciae of Rome to the north, the border marked by Mulan's Wall. Down south, it shares maritime borders with the island Nation of Renyu Dao, which was briefly part of the confederacy before it seceded in favor of retaining independence. It also holds sovereignty over the archipelagic state of Long Qundao (the western half of the Dragon Islands) in Maritymir.

On the northern land border with Huaxia and down and northwestern coast, spaced varyingly (mostly between ten to twenty miles), are a series of fortresses and castles that defend the empire from invasion. The ones along the border with Huaxia were built in the aftermath of the last great war with Huaxia. The ones along the northwestern coast are relatively recent constructions. When Huaxia solidified its grip on the Laoying Peninsula, the fortifications were constructed down the northwestern coast. The final fortress, dubbed Bianjie Castle, situated almost right on the border with Jingling, also serves as one of several border crossing points between Zhonghua and Jingling. The northernmost of these fortresses is Qingwa Castle, which is also the westernmost fortress along the northern border fortifications.

To the east along the border with the Serica Provinciae of Rome stands Mulan's Wall, named for Li Mulan, the legendary female general who spearheaded the defense of Zhonghua during the Roman Invasion, and also led the recapture of much of the occupied territories before the wall's construction, and served as the wall's architect. These massive fortifications of 25m-high stone walls, fortresses and castles, which runs along the entire length of the border and took nearly ten years each to build, were constructed to prevent any further invasion by Rome. Mulan's Wall was built some centuries later in the wake of the Roman Invasion of Zhonghua. Mulan's Wall, blocks any further invasion by sea via some other fortifications along the coasts beyond the wall's end points, known respectively as Xiang-xi Castle and Nanchao Watch.

The wall has fulfilled its purpose throughout its existence.

History
The area that eventually became Zhonghua was originally a collection of independent kingdoms, city-states and tribes struggling for land and dominance. But in the face of Huaxian aggression and expansion during the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, many of the northern states banded together to resist the expansion of Huaxia, eventually becoming a confederated state.

However, the wars with Huaxia were met with repeated defeats on the battlefield, and Zhonghua was pushed back until it was ultimately defeated and fully annexed.

Much of modern Zhonghua (mostly the north and central area; Huaxia never reached very far south) remained under Huaxian rule for centuries.

During the Six Dynasties & Twelve Kingdoms period that followed the collapse of the Mei dynasty of Huaxia, the lands that became modern Zhonghua broke away from Huaxia to form a pair of rival dynasties and were never recovered. Said dynasties are known to history as the Hang and Sang, two of the kingdoms counted among the twelve kingdoms of said period.

During said period, two nobles who were descendants of former Zhonghuan rulers found a chance to revolt, now known to history as the Red Dragon Rebellion, and set up their own empires. By the time the period ended, the Hang and Sang empires were firmly entrenched and conquered up to the edge of Jing bu Xibei (what is now northwestern Zhonghua).

The first true peace treaty ended with Huaxia still in control of Jing bu Xibei.

While originally two empires fighting for the same thing, when the conflicts with Huaxia ended they quickly turned on each other and warred for dominance in the region, even while members of their centralized governments were fighting for control of them. Their governments grew unstable from constant infighting and soon collapsed into many dozens of independent kingdoms, dukedoms, counties and city-states struggling for land and dominance. Eventually some concurrence was reached and a directorial confederation, in which all lords have equal say, was set up. However, the directorial confederation eventually turned hegemonic, with the Kingdom of Lan taking the lead role as hegemon of Zhonghua under the title of Zuigao Tongzhi.

A few centuries after the peace treaty that left Huaxia in control of Jing bu Xibei, Huaxia descended into chaos during the civil war taking place during the transition between the Xiu and Ting dynasties (known in Huaxia as the Six-Year War (六年戰爭/Liu Nian Zhanzheng)), Zhonghua seized the chance to reconquer the region from Huaxia, and did so with minimal resistance, achieving its modern northern and western borders. Aside from that, Zhonghua has mostly avoided taking advantage or getting involved in Huaxia's near-constant internal strife.

Even while going to war with Huaxia on and off for years, they turned their attentions toward expanding west and south, uniting many other states and tribes under their banner through treaty and conquest, eventually expanding into northern Maritymir. Zhonghua remains at odds with Huaxia to this day, and the two powers go to war almost every other decade for one reason or another. Its relations with the Wood Elves of Jingling are cold too, but diplomacy has avoided too many wars.

Zhonghua eventually lost some of its northeastern territories to Rome. While Zhonghua anticipated an invasion when Rome all but defeated Huaxia, it was still unable to resist the ferocity of the Imperial Roman Army in the initial invasion, despite years of preparation. This changed when a female warrior, known to history as Li Mulan (李木蘭), came to prominence. Li Mulan, an ethnic Haiyuan noblewoman of Huaxian birth, had been taken as a war slave by a Roman officer during the invasion. During her time as a slave – after learning their language – she learned all about Roman war tactics both from watching the battles from afar and from listening to the Roman commanders talk. After managing to escape, she disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Zhonghuan army. Her determination and mettle, along with her knowledge of Roman war strategies, allowed her to quickly rise through the ranks until she became a general.

Once a general, Mulan took charge of an army and her widely successful anti-Roman tactics allowed her to turn the tide of the war, culminating when she fully defended against the Roman army in a decisive battle that changed history forever, now known to history as the Battle of Qiuling Pingyuan. Mulan's true gender was accidentally exposed not long after, but her loyal troops defended her from any punishment. The Zuigao Tongzhi of the time – known to history as Chang Guizhou (常規週) – was so impressed with her and her record that he let her retain her position and rank. Mulan then led another successful campaign that saw the reclamation of much territory before a peace treaty ending the war was signed.

Governance & Politics
The head of state is the Zuigao Tongzhi (最高統治), the main hegemon of the nation. The incumbent Zuigao Tongzhi holds the rulership of his kingdom concurrently. The title is held for life and at first the Kingdom of Lan held the position of hegemon. There were attempts early on to make it hereditary, but when the first holder died there was no clear heir. And so, the next Zuigao Tongzhi is elected from the rulers of one of the kingdoms or the heir to the kingdom of the previous holder when the incumbent one dies.

The head of the government of Zhinghua is the Zhengfu Buzhang (政府部長), but the office is mostly ceremonial in practice and holds little actual power.

The legislature of the confederacy is the Canyuan (參院), which is divided into the Shangyuan (上院) and the Xiayuan (下院), the upper and lower house respectively. Representatives to the Shangyuan are directly appointed by leaders of the poltical divisions, and higher level states are permitted more representtives in the Shangyuan. Representation in the Xiayuan is determined by population, which is determined by a nationwide census taken every twenty years.

Political Divisions
Zhonghua is divided into many territories termed one of several things depending on the rank held upon accession to the confederation.

Kami Islands
Capital: Aki no Machi Government: Imperial Appointed Magistracy Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai Head of Government: Bugyō Legislature: High Council Demonym: Kamio Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho

The Kami Islands Kuiki is an archipelagic state owned by Yamatai in the Sea of Shinko in the northwestern waters of Marlakcor.

Morokoshi
Government: Hereditary Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho

Morokoshi the the collective term for the Ryōiki (regions) and Bundans (Chapters) of the Yamato Empire on Jiangshan, the western subcontinent of Marlakcor, taking up great portions of both Manzhou and Manzi, and two large islands between them.

The easternmost lands of the empire, Morokoshi borders Huaxia and Raimei to the east, and sharing maritime borders with Joseon to the north. It was first established as a result of Yamatai's Invasions of Marlakcor (4010AFZ – 4100), which in turn sparked the First Yamato-Huaxian War (4010AFZ – 4019). Over the course of the conflicts, Yamatai conquered the states referred to as the Western Kingdoms, which included some of Huaxia's vassals, and the much of Huaxia's western territories. The Third Yamato-Huaxian War (4100AFZ – 4112) ended with Morokoshi's furthest northern and eastward expansion into the westernmost parts of the western continent, and resulted in the construction of the Great Wall of Manzhou by Hauxia, preventing any further expansion. Yamatai instead turned its attentions to the southern lands, and several wars with Siam over several generations led to the conquest of the entire southern portion of the western continent.

Some time after, Morokoshi then experienced an insurrection in the southeast by Yamato settlers, led by the Sanda clan, rivals of the Toyotomi clan, which led to the Raimese War for Independence (4235AFZ – 4245), and the establishment of the separate Empire of Raimei. Morokoshi remain at odds with Huaxia and Raimei, yet has managed to secure a relatively peaceful existence in Marlakcor.

Like the main empire in Fuso, Morokoshi are divided into several Ryōiki ruled by an appointed Sōtoku (総督) pledging fealty to the Tennō of Yamatai, and smaller Bundans (分団) ruled by Chiji (知事). Some clans and daimyōs are from Fuso, whether by immigration or land grants. Other daimyōs, particularly the western ones, are more local compared to the clans of Fuso, as the majority are descendants of families that cooperated, and even helped, the invading Yamato Imperial Armies during Yamatai's Invasions of Marlakcor; many even adopted Yamato customs and traditions, and even their religion, to varying extents.

Samui Shima
Capital: Fuyumachi Government: Imperial Appointed Magistracy Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai Head of Government: Bugyō Legislature: High Council Demonym: n/a Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho

Samui Shima Kuiki is an island owned by Yamatai in the Sea of Kori Bing. Residing in the far northern waters of Marlakcor, it is the northernmost land of the empire. Being so far north, Samui Shima is immensely cold.

Suisho
Government: Hereditary Feudal Monarchy Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai Currency: Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho

Suisho is the collective name of the easternmost lands of Fuso and the empire proper in the western waters of Marlakcor. Suisho was also the name of one of the states of the Fourteen Kingdoms Period that preceded the Two Hundred Years' War. When the wars broke out, not even Suisho was spared the chaos and also fell apart during the Warring States Period. Suisho was one of the last group of islands to fall to imperial rule in the final stages of the Age of Conquest period before a period of peace ensued.

Suisho served as the launchpad for the mainland invasions that began the First Yamato-Huaxian War (4010AFZ – 4019).

Serica Provinciae (Rome)
Government: Imperial Appointed Viceroyalties Head of State: Augustus of Rome Heads of Government: Proconsuls & Vicaruses Legislatures: none Demonym: Seres (also others, varying by province) Currency: Aureus, Denarius, Sestertius, Dupondius, As

Serica is the collective name of the is a colonies & provinces of the Roman Empire in Marlakcor, occupying a cluster of islands and a part of the mainland in eastern Marlakcor on the west side of the Sinolatin Sea. Serica shares borders with Huaxia to the north and west, and Zhonghua to the south in western Shenzhou, the central subcontinent. Via Qiu Island, Serica also shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Dong Long. And on Shayuwei Island, Serica borders the kingdom of the same name, which is now a suzerainty of the Roman Empire.

Serica occupies the island of Daludao (the easternmost island), most of the Island of Shengfen (the land closest to the mainland) save for the western peninsula and just beyond it, along with a cluster of islands in between them. Northward, it occupies the two southern peninsulas of Qiu Island, separated by territory still controlled by Huaxia. Serica also controls parts of the mainland just south of Shengfen, namely the Pingfang and Tuoyuan peninsulas and some lands just beyond it. But the mainland territories end at Mulan's Wall, which was built to stall any further Roman expansion into the mainland. Serica also occupies the northern portion of Shayuwei Island.

The island of Daludao was formerly known as the kingdom of the same name, which was a suzerainty of Huaxia following the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, Serica was established as a result of the Roman Conquest of Daludao.

Notes & Trivia

 * The demonym for people from Marlakcor is "Marlakcese".
 * Becuase of how the Chinese language – which the Tuzhu language "Shijieyan" is based on – works, the title "Huangdi" (皇帝/Emperor) is both singular and plural.
 * Marlakcor and Tianxia come from two separate sources:
 * Marlakcor, the foreign exonym for the continent, originated from the Shijieyan phrase "Maran la kecheng o ren" (罵人啦課程哦人), which roughly translates as "Oh course people curse it", which was then shortened to Marlakcor. Historians and linguists believe this happened due to a miscommunication between translators at some point in the past.
 * Tianxia (天下), the local endonym for the continent, which roughly means "all under heaven", came from the historical belief that the farthest shores of the continent and those of the closest islands, were the edge of the world.
 * TJQ & TJH are the initials used for the common era and prior era, respectively, of the Luan Calendar, while AFZ & BFZ are the initials used for the common era and the prior era of the more widely used Solramese Calendar. Furthermore, there is a 421-year difference between the dates.
 * Marlakcor is divided into three subcontinents, Shenzhou (神州), Liao (遼), and Jiangshan (江山). Shenzhou is the central, and largest, subcontinent divided between Huaxia, Zhonghua and Jingling. Liao is the northern subcontinent, fully controlled by Huaxia; and Jiangshan is the western continent, divided between Huaxia, Yamatai, and Raimei.
 * Shenzhou is further divided into three regions: Zhongyuan (中原), the land occupied by Huaxia; Dongnan (東南), the land occupied by Zhonghua; and Conglin (叢林), the land occupied by Jingling and partially by Huaxia.
 * The northwestern part of Dongnan, the part past the narrowest area of Zhonghua's territory, is sometimes referred to as Jing bu Xibei.
 * Liao is further divided into western and eastern regions known as Yuan (猿) and Khitai respectively. They are divided at what is known as the Guixiong Corridor (鬼雄), the narrowest region of the subcontinent.
 * Jiangshan is further divided into northern and southern regions known as Manzhou (滿洲) and Manzi (蠻子) respectively. They are divided at the Isthmus of Caihong (彩虹), the narrowest point of the subcontinent.
 * the body of water on the west side of the isthmus is known as Dolgolae (돌고래) Bay, which is a part of the Yazuishou (鴨嘴獸) Sea further westward.
 * Within the space between northern and southern Shenzhou is a body of water known as the Zhuhong (朱紅) Sea.
 * The northern sea between Shenzhou and Jiangshan is known as the Qingshui Sea (清水), which deviates northward into the Sea of Jingyu (鯨魚) to the west and the Sea of Xaio (曉) to the east.
 * The Sea of Udeung separates Jiangshan from Liao.
 * The Sea of Xaio, followed by the Xiong (熊) Sea separate Shenzhou from Liao. The Sea of Xiao and the Xiong Sea are separated from each other by the Shumiao (樹苗) Strait, the narrowest point between them.
 * The southern sea between Shenzhou and Jiangshan is known as the Conglin Sea.
 * The Qingshui Sea and the Conglin Sea are divided by what's known as the Yinghao Strait, the narrowest point between them.
 * The island of Siam is sometimes considered part of Jiangshan, but modern cartographers still dispute this.
 * The southernmost waters of Marlakcor above the Grand Line is the Chidao (赤道) Sea.