1 Puppet King

In 1279, Kublai Khan, the 5th Great Khan of the Mongol Empire created the Yuan Dynasty, which bordered to Dai Viet in the South.

With his great ambition. Kublai Khan wanted to expand his empire southward since he has control many of the European's land in the west.

Having no interest to the north from the cold land and no resources, to the struggle of the Himalayas bordered with India, his only option at the moment was to invade the small nation of Dai Viet, with the size of one fiftieth of the Yuan compared at the time.

But as history shows, it was Dai Viet (Vietnam) Kublai Khan was facing.

Year 1285:

"My king, the ambassador from Yuan has come," a soldier announced.

"Let him in," said the king.

The ambassador walked in, with his chin up, smirking. He greeted the king without bowing.

"My greetings to you, king of Dai Viet" he said.

"Ambassador, does the Yuan not teach its servants how to behave before a highness?" the king frowned.

"Even though you are the king of Dai Viet, I am the ambassador of the Yuan."

"Huh? You.." he stopped, held the anger. "What is your purpose here?"

"I came here to send the words of the Great Kublai Khan, 'Champa, southward to Dai Viet has refused to send tributes to the Yuan. I ask for Dai Viet to let our army pass through to punish Champa, showing the greatness and the cost of going against the Great Yuan.'"

"This is absurd, I knew that the Champa did send tributes to Yuan, this must be a misunderstanding" the king tried to resolve the situation.

"King of Dai Viet!" the ambassador yelled angrily. "Are you saying that the Khan was wrong?" his face darkened, threateningly staring at the king as if he was nothing.

A brief silence went on,

"No, that is not what I meant," the king's hands clenched so much that blood dropped on the floor. He had never felt so humiliated and powerless before.

"Now then, your answer is needed in three days. You know what will happen if you refuse?" the ambassador continued.

"Yes," the king answered quietly, trying to hold himself.

"Farewell," The ambassador left.

The door closed after the ambassador walked out. Silently, the king ordered his maids to go out using his hands. Now, in the throne that many would risk their lives to have, the king felt lonely and defeated,

"King, haha, what a king I am that a mere ambassador can threaten me. If I was a wise king, that can make Dai Viet wealthy and strong, This day would never come. What a king I am, a puppet king."

That night, when the servants guide the ambassador to his place to rest.

"How can you Nam call this place a palace? Let me tell you, our king's garden is twice as big. Hahaha." He said. "Answer me, servants," he turned and looked at them. "Why do you desire to serve this small country? If you want, I can bring you back to setve Yuan?"

The head soldier, who is responsible for the ambassador security spoke,

"Ambassador, We'd rather be a ghost of the Nam than be a lord of North."