>>5332437"It is not all doom and gloom. All you need to do is to simply survive what the world brings down upon you in order to breakthrough the tribulations that come your way. The more tribulations you survive, the more likely you will be rewrite the status quo, and thus the will of the heavens. As with the Defiant, so will you."
"How do you know all of this?" asked Jeraha. "It's hard to believe what's coming out of your mouth, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense."
"When you serve society as a civil servant for 4 decades and have read and watched "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", you tend to develop a good grasp of the big picture in where the world will be headed. Demographics, politics both foreign and domestic, economics and security. My home country of China afterall is no stranger to such periods of upheaval."
"And while I do still believe that she is unfit to bear the weight of such a burden, I am not above lending council to one who wishes to learn how to shoulder and survive such responsibilities. "
"Ms. Peng..." said Jeraha reaching out an open hand that the sage took for a handshake. "Thank you for your time. I'll see what I can do to move you up on the Defiant's appointment list. Got any last minute advice before I see you out?"
"If you are keen on rebuilding civilization and maintaining the Defiant's empire, then you will need to accept the flaws and fate that come with an Imperial state. Spread my message and gather council, Forge new networks, mobilize a milita if need be. But above all else reinforce the ties that bind civilization together for the coming storm. You are one of the many who guards and takes care of the fires of civilization. One who keeps the hearth warm for the Defiant to rest her weary head, and one who has built a port to shelter many in the storms to come. Guard it well, from threats within and without."
Peng Ching stopped just before the door.
"Farewell, Governor Jeraha. Until we meet again."
As the Sage exited the office, she began singing in a foreign language that's strangely earthbound yet alien. "蜀道之難...難於上青天...[The trail to Shu is hard, steeper than climbing to Heaven]"
cont.
