Warlords: Strategic Conquest
Your kingdom rests on a solid foundation. The masses find you agreeable. Your government workers like you. You are respected by both your soldiers and the Buddhist temple. Even your treasury is healthy. However, in order to make good on its potential, a solid foundation requires expansion. You are not very knowledgeable in the art of war nor of administration, so the best way for you to grow your influence is to create alliances with other warlords.
There are three possible types of alliances you can make: the Arraigned Marriage, an unofficial and informal understanding that each party will wed their children to the other's, and which is usually ignored outside of the enjoined kingdoms; the Peace Agreement, an internationally recognized edict where the parties agree never to attack each other nor each other's allies, and furthers peace; the Military Alliance, an internationally recognized edict where, in addition to never attacking each other nor each other's allies, each party also provides troops and other military aid to the other as needed, and tends to increase involvement in war and violent conflict.
Securing alliances will earn you much prestige and bring you closer to your goal of uniting China. Your two biggest rivals whom you will need to win over are General Nahru to the north and Governor Toleron to the east. Besides Nahru and Toleron, there are also less powerful warlords nearby who may help or hurt your quest depending on your relations.
One day, an emissary from a faraway land visits your court.
"I bring a message from Prince Yevgeni of Russia. He has not had any diplomatic relations with any Chinese politico, and would like you to be the first. He invites you to his court to experience one of Russia's famous winters.
"Many big cultural events are about to happen. The New Year's celebration is legendary. Russians don't just celebrate from the 31st to the 1st- but from the 31st all the way to January 10th. No liver is safe!
"Will you join the Prince at his court?"
Your foreign policy advisors have informed you of this Prince Yevgeni. The prince is known as a good natured and naïve goofball who likes to have a good time. His father is the ruler of the kingdom of Russia, to the north of Mongolia and west of the barren wastelands.
Russia has never meddled with the affairs of China. Perhaps the Prince would wish to begin a new policy one day when he himself ascends to the throne.
Do you visit Prince Yevgeni, who has little political influence as of now, or ignore him and meet with two nearby warlords, Lord Kahn and Duke Dizen, who have more influence in China and are able to provide more immediate assistance? If you decline the prince's offer he will not make the same offer again.