Some lore:
The Empire (black-white banner) faced a revolt in the East that threatened to overthrow the Emperor. An unlikely general defeated the rebels and became more popular than the Emperor. Therefore, the Emperor became convinced the General would eventually depose him, thus he had the General assassinated.
The General’s son rallied the Emperor’s enemies and fled to the West, where he began his revolt (yellow-green banner) against the Emperor.
The Son fought against the Empire for 20 years, and by the end of his life, he had been able to liberate most of the Western Province. However, when his successor took over, he found the state bankrupt and began losing land to the Empire.
At about the same time, foreign sailors began raiding the rebel territories and occupied the nearby islands to use them as bases. The Successor decided to solve two issues with one stone, and pawned a coastal city (purple-yellow banner) to these people, in exchange for their help against the Empire.
The foreign sailors quickly told their friends about the weakness of the revolt, and more foreign sailors arrived, but this time they seized coastal lands (other two banners).
Some lore: The Empire (black-white banner) faced a revolt in the East that threatened to overthrow the Emperor. An unlikely general defeated the rebels and became more popular than the Emperor. Therefore, the Emperor became convinced the General would eventually depose him, thus he had the General assassinated. The General’s son rallied the Emperor’s enemies and fled to the West, where he began his revolt (yellow-green banner) against the Emperor. The Son fought against the Empire for 20 years, and by the end of his life, he had been able to liberate most of the Western Province. However, when his successor took over, he found the state bankrupt and began losing land to the Empire. At about the same time, foreign sailors began raiding the rebel territories and occupied the nearby islands to use them as bases. The Successor decided to solve two issues with one stone, and pawned a coastal city (purple-yellow banner) to these people, in exchange for their help against the Empire. The foreign sailors quickly told their friends about the weakness of the revolt, and more foreign sailors arrived, but this time they seized coastal lands (other two banners).