Hellenica Sinica

Part One: Flight from Oppression
221 BC - The King of Qin, Ying Zheng, united all of the seven kingdoms that comprised China under his iron hand. His brutal policies made him unpopular for peasants, nobles and Confucian scholars alike.

213 BC - As Ying Zheng's reign become more and more unpopular, scholars harshly criticized his policies. Infuriated, Ying Zheng ordered that the Confucian classics be burned and the scholars be buried alive. At this year, Liu Bang, a peasant decided to flee from the grip of Qin Empire. Many more peasants, disgruntled soldiers and Confucian scholars, including Huang Jin, an educated young scholar joined him in his flight. He brought along him countless books of Classics which his colleagues smuggled before being burned.

210 BC - After years of wandering, a strong wind from the west blew strongly against them. The wind ceased to blow and it revealed an abandoned city. This city was build by Alexander the Great during his campaign to the East to serve as beacon for the spreading of Greek culture in the region but was abandoned in his death at 323 BC. Liu Bang and his men explored the city and Huang Jin reported that "there are no inhabitants here, other than these scrolls with strange writtings". They were at the fringes of the once mighty Persian Empire. With no inhabitants left in the city, Liu Bang declared the city was theirs and began establishing their own settlement inside its walls. They called the city Xi Feng, in chinese West Wind. Liu Bang in turn, was made the king of the city. Quickly, Xi Feng was revitalized and its inhabitants prospered

Part 2: The Melting Pot of Civilizations
209 BC - After estblishing their settlements, Liu Bang turned his attention to the ruins of the city. He uncovered numerous text but he was unable to read them. He summons Huang Jin the scholar and asked if he could read the text. Huang Jin replied "the thoughts of these strange writings and carvings are buried. There is only one place where we could find their meaning...further west."

208 BC - Huang Jin and Liu Bang's son Liu Ying began their journey into the western world. They travelled to Persia and further west into Egypt. In Alexandria, they learned to speak Greek, the language written in the texts. They journeyed further, into Greece. Huang Jin was amazed when saw the great intellectual wealth of the west that he thought of adopting the Greek language while maintaining their native tongue and their culture. In Athens, they befriended a man of great intellect, Apollodorus of Pergamum who joined them in their return trip.

204 - 171 BC - The people of Xi Feng adopted Greek culture. At this time, the scrolls that were recovered years ago were translated into Chinese. The Iliad, the Odyssey and other Greek literary works were translated to Chinese. Abandoned temples which were already standing were renovated. Liu Bang also built a library to house the Greek texts as well as the Chinese Classics.

Part 3: The Beginning of the Road to Conquest
170 BC - Liu Bang expanded Xi Feng's control on regions bordering the Parthian Kingdom of Persia. He then declared the establishment of the Han Kingdom with Xi Feng as its capital.

168 BC - Liu Bang died at the age of 88, leaving the throne to his son Liu Ying. Liu Bang was given an imperial name, Emperor Gaozu of Han.

167 BC - Inspired by the stories of the Great Conqueror Ya Li (Alexander the Great). Liu Ying drew up plans to conquer Persia. He restructured his military force, adopting both Greek and Chinese tactics and weapons. Siege crafts were developed and also new weapons.

165 BC - The Han Kingdom annexed the Hindu Kush and the Indus river valley west of Persia. The Indus River would become the bread basket Liu Ying's Kingdom. Cities of Gaofu (in Kabul) and Da Yuan (Fergana) were founded.

161 BC - Mithridates, the King of the Parthian Kingdom of Persia saw the prosperity of the Han Kingdom in his northeastern border. He sent an emissary to Liu Ying demanding that the Han pay an annual tribute of 1000 talents of gold. Liu Ying responded by challenging the Mithridates to a proxy duel. He replied to his letter "choose one of your strongest men to challenge one of ours. If he wins you can take our tribute, if our champion wins then I take half of your kingdom. But if you don't yield to this pact, swords will be sharpened and trumpets shall roar across the skies." Mithridates rejected Liu Ying's offer and prepared his army for war. He said "my army shall trample the Han kingdom like grass."

160 BC - The Parthian Army marched into Han. Their plan is to seize the Indus Valley and later advance into Gaofu and Xi Feng. The Han army however used the terrain to their advantage. Before the Indus, the Parthians would have to pass through the Bolan Pass (near the Indus). Upon reaching the Bolan Pass, the Parthians were surrounded and Han forces attacked them. Mithridates narrowly escapes death but thousands of his soldiers die and many more were taken prisoner. Mithridates returned to Persia emptyhanded.