Li Mei sat in her new abode - an Empress's abode. Draped in fineries and silks and golds. Trivial, gaudy things, yet she grew to like them. An Empress must have only the finest of all in the world. Now if only she could be the Empress.

It was a hard thing - Burma had defied their treaties, poking holes in them as if they meant nothing. Even worse, when she pointed out their misdeed, they accused her and her nation of being the dishonorable one.

She had been a diplomat before, and she was a diplomat still. But now the entire burden of the nation was upon her. Advisers, Ministers and Generals bickered and arbitrated, occasionally deciding issues in her absence. And making messes for her to tend to. Chaos, utter chaos. The Ascended Fathers would be displeased, just as she was.

She could not help but feel she was responsible for the discord in her court. She did not have the answers. The Treaty of Almaty and the Indonesian Accord were difficult to forge, and there were many times of great uncertainty. Cursed uncertainty, that an Empress shouldn't be allowed to endure. She made sacrifices every night, bones to Those Beyond, so that they may speak. And yet, night after night, the bones returned as bleached as they came in. There were no answers.

And then, just hours before, she came to a realization. The lack of answers was itself an answer.

Do nothing.

True Taoism.

The Burmese were a mere mosquito next to a mighty dragon. Should they become irritating, they would be crushed, but simple buzzing was nothing to trifle oneself with. There would be no army raised. She would not fight for some rocks in the Southern Sea.

Even so, the dishonest actions of the Burmese could not be ignored. They crafted the treaty, and inserted the very clause that they exploited at the last moment. One could not help but think they inserted this loophole on purpose. And to exploit it was barbaric and shameful in and of itself.

Enough pondering, enough doubt - she had her answer. She just prayed to Tian that it was the right one.

Li Mei picked up her brush and began her decree. That would be all she would do.

To all Leaders of all Nations in all realms:

I am Empress Ji Li Mei, Chosen Daughter of Great Yu, Queen of the East, Ascendant Golden Dragon of the Yangtze River, and Esteemed Sovereign of Mighty Zhou. I speak on behalf on all my people when I say that the Emperor of Burma is a treasonous slime.

Our recent experiences with the Burmese Nation have left a sour taste in our mouth, and have no doubt been noticed on an international level. In short - whether or not the treaty has been violated is besides the point. The Burmese Emperor and his regime has conducted itself with extreme lack of integrity - betraying the trust we put in them when we set aside our differences at the end of the Tiger War.

We warn all members of the world not to deal with the Burmese, for their Emperor will almost surely go back on his word. At the very least, treat any dealings with these people with extreme caution, and ensure that there is no way for them to take advantage of your trust.

As such, I denounce the Emperor of Burma! He is vile, and should be ashamed of his recent actions. We will not declare war over these minor islands in the Yellow Sea, though we continue to believe that the Burmese Government has violated the treaty that it signed. But we will pursue more rigid policy on Burma.

And to the Burmese Emperor: We will not declare war, and in China we still know the meaning of honor. But you have earned my personal ire. You should not sit easy.