"My siblings believe I am a bureaucrat. It's an image I am happy to foster. Let them think of me as a mere administrator and scribe. That way my true power remains hidden from them and our greater enemies."
- —Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, Lord of the Central Provinces and the Jade Court[4]
Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, also called the "Master of the Meteor Winds," is the lord of the Central Provinces of Grand Cathay whose capital lies in the great trading city of Shang-Wu.[1]
A member of the family of Cathayan Dragons that rules over the Celestial Empire and one of the children of its Dragon Emperor and Moon Empress, Yuan Bo serves his father's empire both as its chief bureaucrat in command of the empire's Jade Court, with the title "Administrator of the Realm," as well as in a more active role as the Dragon Emperor's primary spymaster and enforcer, known as the "Emperor's Executioner."[1]
History[]
"Those in other nations may deny it, but all mortals desire control. To be controlled, that is. Why else would they conjure those Northern Gods that obsess over dominating the very creatures that brought them into being?"
- —Prince Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, ruler of the Central Provinces of Grand Cathay[4]
Origins[]
Yuan Bo is one of the rulers of Grand Cathay, an immortal Cathayan Dragon and powerful spellcaster, who can shapeshift into Human form like all of his kind to deal with his family's mortal subjects. From the trading city of Shang-Wu, Yuan Bo rules the Central Provinces of Grand Cathay, a relatively safe region of rich farmland, where many great rivers and roads of the empire intersect.[2] Yuan Bo is the lord of the Jade Court, which holds equal sovereign power with the Dragon Emperor's ruling Celestial Court in the realm and does much of the day-to-day administrative work of the empire.[4]
As a potent spellcaster, Yuan Bo also leads the Court of Celestial Sorcerers. His power and central authority often leads those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Celestial Empire to mistake the Jade Dragon for the actual Emperor of Grand Cathay. For his part, Yuan Bo is happy to be regarded as a mere bureaucrat, administrator and scribe, as this allows him the freedom to conduct his spymaster duties in private.[6]
Banner of Yuan Bo and the Jade Court, the army of Grand Cathay's Central Provinces, as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.
The Jade Dragon is the architect of the plans that carry out the Dragon Emperor's will, and not even the other Cathayan Dragons can see all the strings he pulls. Part of this grand manipulation involves governing the Cathayan Astromancers of the Celestial Court, whose magic is integral to the scheme's success. It is said that not a single wizard practises their magic within the empire without the knowledge of the Jade Dragon, and after the Celestial Dragon himself, none of the other Cathayan Dragons are as adept at manipulating the Elemental Winds of the Aethyr.[4]
Yuan Bo is seen by the other Cathayan Dragons as trustworthy and reliable, if a little dull, and it is for this reason that the Dragon Emperor has named him "Administrator of the Realm," giving him the task of turning the great wheels of the powerful bureaucracy that keeps the empire of Grand Cathay functioning, as well as enacting the edicts of the Dragon Emperor and ensuring they are disseminated and enforced across the land.[1][2]
The Jade Dragon's brother, Zhao Ming, the Iron Dragon, has little respect for these edicts, in particular those stating that alchemy is not imperially-sanctioned magic. This is a source of frustration and worry for Yuan Bo, who views unsanctioned magic as insidious and dangerous to the Celestial Empire and its people.[2]
Defence of Nan-Li[]
"In the south, Li Dao squabbles with the Monkey King over the Mountains of Heaven as he has since the dawn of time. To the east, Elves from beyond the Jade Sea prey upon the cities of the coast, while in the west, Zhao Ming's madness deepens further with every year that passes. Be assured, Miao Ying, there is no region of the empire that could not benefit from my stewardship."
- —Yuan Bo, Administrator of the Realm
Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, Administrator of the Realm and lord of the Central Provinces of Grand Cathay in his Human form.
During the Dragon Emperor's absence from Grand Cathay, a large army comprised of Daemons of the Chaos God Tzeentch, known as Chi'an Chi in Cathay, marched on the city of Nan-Li in the Northern Provinces. Chaos Cultists were everywhere in the city, infiltrating the garrison and populace through the use of sorcery.
During this time, unaware of the events in the city, the Storm Dragon Miao Ying arrived in Nan-Li with her younger brother Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, and both proceeded to take an expensive tea together. Their tea leaves came from the Celestial Mountains near Weng Chang, and were only able to be picked and properly prepared by Wu-Xing monks. The Storm Dragon claimed that the water came from the springs of Shanlong. While the Dragon siblings were at tea they learned of the Chaos invasion proceeding in the province, to which Miao Ying, the ruler of the Northern Provinces, was strangely indifferent.[5]
Yuan Bo noticed this and several other odd behaviours of his older sister, and, suspecting what had happened, eventually tricked what was actually a shapeshifted Tzeentchian Daemon, the infamous Changeling, into revealing itself by making a small, insolent hand gesture towards an inferior rank of Cathayan servant, a form of disrespect his true sister would never have tolerated from him, but which her impostor ignored. When The Jade Dragon made clear that the Daemon's ruse had been penetrated, the Daemon revealed its true form and fled, even as several dozen Chaos Cultists emerged from behind the curtains of the tea shop, armed with crossbows and daggers. After parrying several magical strikes from the Daemon as it fled, Yuan Bo transformed into his Cathayan Dragon form, slew the cultists and erupted out of the tea shop's building.[5]
Meanwhile, the Dragon-blooded Shugengan Lord Jingyi Bo took command of the Jade Dragon's forces as they prepared to move against the Chaos forces assaulting the province. The army was comprised primarily of Peasant Long Spearmen and Cathayan Peasant Archers militia forces. A few regiments of Jade Warriors and Celestial Dragon Guard marched with them as well, but the force was primarily a peasant conscipt army drawn from Nan-Li.[5]
The Dragon-blooded general rode atop a war horse, flanked by a Zhangu War Drum. The battlefield where they would meet the Tzeentchian forces was a landscape defined by rice paddies. Jingyi Bo was certainly nervous in the face of a Daemonic invasion, but believed his lord Yuan Bo was equal to the challenge.[5]
When the battle began, things went poorly for the Cathayans at first, and their army was pushed all the way back to the outskirts of the city, their Crane Gunners harassed by Champions of Tzeentch riding atop Discs of Tzeentch and Furies that swept down and slew any peasants exposed in the open on the streets of Nan-Li. It was at this moment that Yuan Bo entered the battle, ordering the Crow-men among his forces to give chase to the shapeshifting Daemon who had impersonated his sister and now commanded the Chaos forces. In his Draconic form, the Jade Dragon proceeded to eliminate the rest of the Chaos army, dispersing its cohesion and sending most of the remaining Daemons wailing back into the Realm of Chaos.[5]
The true Storm Dragon arrived in Nan-Li five days later, for she had been busy defending the Great Bastion from the Hung barbarians. As peasant work crews repaired ditches and rice paddies around Nan-Li, and Jade Lancers hunted down any of the surviving Chaos Warriors and Chaos Marauders that had fled into the countryside, Miao Ying met with her brother.[5]
The Jade Dragon Yuan Bo, Administrator of the Realm, as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.
She railed against Yuan Bo for almost losing an important city to the Great Enemy, as being fooled by a powerful Daemon was a grave mistake indeed. They walked to where Jingyi Bo was holding the prisoners taken as captives during the battle against the forces of Chi'an Chi. Jade Warriors held the Northmen barbarians in a line tied together by a rope.[5]
The Storm Dragon was about to suggest interrogating the captives, but, faster than anyone could see, Yuan Bo's magical sword Dragon's Fang sang from its scabbard and decapitated the nearest prisoner. The Jade Warriors took their master's intent and then fell on the remaining prisoners, splattering blood from the dying captives on the garments of the shocked Storm Dragon. There would be no mercy for the servants of the Ruinous Powers in Nan-Li.[5]
As the prisoners were put to the sword, Yuan Bo addressed his sister. He reminded Miao Ying that the city of Nan-Li was under her protection, and indeed would have fallen to the Changeling if not for the intervention of the forces of the Central Provinces. However, he assured her that their father would no doubt forgive his favorite child so long as Miao Ying showed the Celestial Court a "modest token of contrition." The proud Storm Dragon bowed her head to Yuan Bo and agreed.[5]
Wargear[]
"Chaos is anathema to harmony and so we must fight it with every measure of our flesh and soul. You shall give your lives willingly if required, for the Dragon Emperor and Moon Empress must preserve and ensure that harmony is kept in balance."
- —Decree of Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, Master of the Meteor Winds[4]
- Armour of the Dragon's Gaze - Through the many jade eyes adorning Yuan Bo's armour, he can see all and exert his will upon his subjects through his regentship.[4]
- Dragon's Fang - Exquisitely crafted from one of the Celestial Dragon Emperor's own teeth is the weapon of his executioner, wielded by the Jade Dragon with strength and authority.[4][5]
Canon Conflicts[]
Leofric Carrard, a knight of Bretonnia set off on the Grail Quest. He travelled far and wide, journeying to lost lands and encountering many strange and wonderful things.[3]
In distant Grand Cathay he slew the Jade Dragon of the Emerald River and saved the wives of what he thought to be the Dragon Emperor Zhang-Jimou from decapitation at the hands of the Executioner Cult of the Jade Pearl.[3]
Given the age of the novel Guardians of the Forest, published in 2005, from which the story of Leofric Carrard is taken, these events now conflict with current canon concerning the nature of Grand Cathay monarchy and government. However, it is also revealed in Guardians of the Forest that the mystical paths of Athel Loren allowed Leofric to travel through time. He even encounters his past self while searching for his wife as a Grail Knight. It is therefore possible that these events take place in an alternate timeline.[3]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
In Mandarin Chinese, the Jade Dragon's name, Yuan Bo (元伯) is written with the characters 元 (yuán - "the eldest; first, primary; great") and 伯 (bó - "the eldest brother; lord"), which can be translated as "Eldest Brother" or "Foremost Lord," which reflects his status as the chief bureaucrat and a senior authority figure in the Celestial Empire.[7]
Sources[]
- 1: The Secrets of Grand Cathay - a Roundtable with Andy Hall - Ben Barrett, Total War Blog, Oct 14, 2021
- 2: Full Interview With Warhammer 3's Lead Writer Andy Hall - Total War Warhammer 3 - Lorebeards Podcast October 12, 2021
- 3: Guardians of the Forest (Novel) by Graham McNeill
- 4: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
- 5: Master of the Meteor Wind (Short Story) by David Guymer
- 6: Total War Blog - Shadows of Change: Introducing Yuan Bo
- 7: Reddit - Chinese name translations for all confirmed Cathayan Dragons