Re: Character Impression **Some Spoilers** (Episodes 44+)
Howard Cheung (hhcheung@uclink4.berkeley.edu)
Sat, 5 Aug 2000 23:12:19 -0700
The following are counterfactual arguments, but I think they are worth
discussing
If Yang really did fire at Brunhild in the Battle of Vermillion, the
universe would have lapsed back into instability. For the Empire, the death
of Prince Loengramm would probably fragment the newly consolidated, reformed
oriented administration Riehard had work so diligently to establish. For
the Alliance, a tactical victory at Vermillion would prolong the quasi
democracy and perpetuate the corrupted political system in Heinasein. In
both case, the overwhelming majority of people in universe would probably
suffer.
In the aftermath of the ninth battle in Iserhon Circuit (a brilliant battle
that resembles the ingenuity of King Henry V and his English longbowmen in
the Battle of Agincourt), Yang did receive an agreement to parley, or
negotiation depending on how optimistic you are, from Emperor Riehard.
However, I would speculate that unless Yang die, long-lasting peace between
the Empire and the "Alliance" was not sustainable. Yang was too prominent,
both as a military genius and an avatar of democracy, in the views of the
admirals in the Empire. As long as Yang lived, he would always be regarded
as the only man capable of challenging the Loengramm dynasty. My guess was
that as soon as Riehard died, as he did a year later, Obeinstein would push
for the total elimination of Yang and his faction in order to consolidate
Kaiser Alexander's power.
I would farther argue that Riehard and Yang must die in order to make way
for an era of peace in the universe. Both men, especially Riehard, were
aberrations in a stability environment. Their greatness were enshrined in
battle fleet and star system, not parliament and public forum. If they did
live through the peace ensured, Riehard would probably lust after worthy
opponents to do battle with, while Yang would be too darn lazy and honest to
be an effective politician. In an more abstract analogy, both Riehard and
Yang existed only for battles. Since both of them represented the chaotic
saga, the death symbolically ended the brief period of intensive conflicts
between the "Alliance" and the Empire. In short, the transition of Riehard
and Yang to Empress Hilda/Kaiser Alexander and Julian/Fredericka was a
temporary respite between two antagonistic political systems. It is ironic
that after 100 years of massive military mobilization, billions of lives
lost, and incalculable amount of resources wasted, the subsequent
strategically balance in the universe was exactly the same as when Ale
Heineseen had just landed in Heinesein after his 50 years journey in space.
H. Cheung
----- Original Message -----
From: Justin Ho
To:
Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2000 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: Character Impression
> >From: "Howard Cheung"
> >Reply-To: logh@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
> >To:
> >Subject: Re: Character Impression
> >Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2000 20:33:22 -0700
> >
> >
> >Ultimately, its Yang's own characters that enable him to become a true
> >hero.
> >Despite numerous foibles, he presents himself as the paragon of
> >professional
> >soldier in a democratic society. Whatever his personal opinions are,
Yang
> >follows the orders from his military AND civilian superiors regardless to
> >how incompetent they are. Most important of all, Yang refuses to
eliminate
> >internal oppositions and rectify the strategic advantages his nemsis
> >Emporer
> >Riehard has by overthrowing the elected government. Instead of claiming
> >the
> >moral high ground of revitalizing the corrupted society, Yang forsakes
> >expedience and ambition by defending the same political institution that
is
> >set to destory both Yang and the Alliance itself. In the end, Yang Wenli
> >is
> >brilliantly portoryed in LoGH as the champion of a unadulerated and
> >abstract
> >ideal.
> >
> >
> >H. Cheung
> >
>
> You said it best. However hadn't Yang accomplished his objective after
> the Battle of the Corridor and it was the Terra Cult sticking its meddling
> hands in that dragged the conflict out further?
>
> Although if you think about it, if supply base Cockrane hadn't made the
> decision he did, or Yang had been just a little faster giving that fire
> command at the end of the Battle of Vermillion, things might have been
very
> different.
>
> Justin
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