The kingdom of Tianxia located on the south of yellow river, ruling over the east of mainland China. From the Bohai sea to the Yellow sea, with its boundaries touching the grasslands. Tianxia became the ultimate power under Emperor Zhou an excellent statesman, militant and benevolent ruler. He was stern a tyrant towards corruption and fraud. In his court he did not practice leniency against offenders. Under his reign scholars, merchants, and framers flourished. New reforms were made to regulate taxation and trade customs. The borders expanded to incorporate smaller regions. His Iron Wall of soldiers protected borders from neighbouring states. Along the trading routes guards were posted, maintaining fair trade and protection from bandits.
This ideal state of paradise were the subjects did not fear the rule but glorified it. This glorious state fell to it's ruins when emperor Zhou's brother grew greedy of the throne. He was able to form a group of people equally greedy as him. As shrew he was his subordinates matched his tactics. Corrupt ministers who were forced to resign, underhand earning unfair trading merchants hoarding the goods who could not make a dime out of the strict trade regulations, bandits of the Mountain Clan, exiled nobles, any greedy bureaucrat formed a union to dethrone emperor Zhou.
At the time when Emperor Zhou's heir apparent of was away from the capital on his first expedition with military general Qin. The youngest prince was only seven years old, was send to Guan Yin Monastery as he was poor of health accompanied chief royal tutor and advisor of the court. At this circumstance of neither crown prince nor the youngest prince being present in the capital was ideal for a storm to upsurge. Finally in the dead of the night the coup d'état initiated.
The Golden Dragon Throne Hall of the palace was decorated with enormous glaring and sneering eight dragons spiralled on eight pillars representing eight directions. One all seeing dragon on the wall behind the Emperor's throne. Its gaze as if staring into your very soul, no matter where you stand it's gaze would follow you, running a chill down the spine of the spectator. It is at this hall the the court is held. Late in the evening Emperor Zhou was reviewing reports accompanied by his brother, chief royal eunuch and other assisting royal eunuchs, palace attendants and royal guards. It was unusually quiet in the palace, even the wind through the windowsill could be heard. The silence before the raging as the storm. An unexpected turn of events unfolded.
Away from the palace city, at the inner city lines of the Dongling capital was already under siege by rampant bandits. Fire broke out within the city, burning watch towers and military strongholds. The wails of the subjects did not reach the Bailing Palace. Out of no where swarm of navy blue masked swift warriors flooded the Golden Dragon Throne Hall. Royal guards took no time to station themselves between their Emperor and the unknown foe. A pause…, before each pounced on another! Emperor Zhou instead of evacuating to a safe place, took out his sword and engaged in close combat. His moves were swift but rustic, it had been a while since he locked in combat, his muscle memory locked in while he was cornered by five enemies. Struck and blocks, one attack after another. Emperor Zhou couldn't help but think who could be behind this treachery.
'The court had been was stable for years, none of the conquered lands would react now, no not in this manner. If these assassins had entered the palace unnoticed by the patrolling soldiers, then. This. Is. Surely. The handy work of a man on the inside.' As he was deep in in thoughts, a brief glance outside he saw a horrid sight, fire erupted far in his capital, right under his nose, smoke filled the corners of his land. Raged he roared like a lion, slashing everyone on sight. The Golden throne was covered in red, screams echoed in the hallways, shadows of active combat reflected on window panes, clanking of swords, candle flickering. When all of a sudden Emperor Zhou stumbled and spat blood. He balanced himself on one knee and stabbed his sword on the floor to hold ground. Dizzy as if the throne room was revolving, he turned around looking for help, desperately searching the room for assistance, only to find his brother taking one step after another slowly but firmly, ascending and then he turned around and seated himself on the throne.
Emperor Zhou fell on the ground as he faced the ceiling. That is when he recalled…, the tea that was served by his blood brother, was poison. He never suspected. Before he closed his eyes he reminisced his deceased wife, the Empress, his two sons the crown prince at the expedition and the youngest at the monastery. His only relief was that neither of his son's had to witness their father's death. Emperor Zhou looked to his right at the main entrance of golden dragon throne room and saw his loyal servant, royal eunuch Dai as he was rushing to the emperor. Emperor blinked three times at Eunuch Dai, and he halt his steps, as emperor held a stern stare at him lasting ten counts before closing his eyes peacefully. That, signal was enough for royal eunuch to send messages to Emperor Zhou's retainers to safe guard his children. Royal eunuch kowtowed to his deceased Emperor before rushing to the corridor that held drums and beat them in a rhythmic pattern. Enemy soldiers got hold of royal eunuch Dai and dragged him towards the self proclaimed emperor and forcefully made him kneel.
Chancellor Xu one of the biggest backing of Emperor Zhou's brother for staging this coup, stood proud beside the new casting of the Emperor. He could have rosed to the ranks of prime minister had it not been for the deceased emperor who stripped him of his hereditary titles. And instead chose a boy still wet behind his ears. This Chancellor Xu could not tolerate, with a new Emperor on the throne he could command his will, and get back all the riches that was once his own. Orchestrating this unrest was just the sweet beginning of his rise to power, his diabolical smile said it all.
"Why is it that you beat drums rather than assisting your fallen emperor? What is it your scheming?" Chancellor Xu addressed the knelt Eunuch Dai, with a tone of suggestion and doubt.
Eunuch Dai replied, "Drums strummed in this pattern indicate the fall of the emperor to the entire capital." As he spoke, amidst the dark grey smoke engulfing the city, merging with the moonless night sky, a dimly white smoke emerged the city skyline. Like a gleam of hope, against anarchy. The soldiers at the four directional watch towers signalled with this white smoke to the entire city of Dongling the news of the fallen emperor.
Chancellor Xu questioned, "What happens after?"
Silence. Wails erupted the streets, at the loss of their emperor, they feared their future. Emperor Zhou's retainers shed a single tear in silence before they started to disperse and take action for the next course.
Emperor Zhou build an intricate secret network with his utmost trusted persons, so when his time comes, they will continue to take care of his people in his absences. On the surface they did not have any close connection with one another. They were neither colleagues nor relatives. Each worked independently for independent goals which in return resolved the public domain seamlessly. Only the emperor and his sons knew of this network. It was not a tradition passed to emperors, this was clearly designed when an unjust ruler takes the throne. These retainers will proof to be a thorn on the side of the new emperor.
Every soul within the palace swarmed into the throne room. Seeing the royal eunuch kneeling they all followed the same and like domino one after the another all knelt. Seeing this enormous gesture of submission the chancellor and the man sitting on the throne did not pursue Royal eunuch further.
Chancellor Xu in a loud thundering voice, "ALL HAIL THE NEW EMPEROR, EMPEROR TAIZONG!
"Long live the Emperor!" in one unison, everyone bowed down.
From here on begins the rule of emperor Taizong.