Chinese (Age of Empires IV)/Mastery

Civilization	Technology tree		Mastery

From the engineering feat of the Great Wall of the finely tuned chemistry of gunpowder, China's mastery of warfare ensured centuries of unbroken dynastic rule. Its ingenious inventions were the awe of the Middle Ages, forever cementing china as one of the great forces of technological progress in human history.

Building Blocks

Accrue 1500 resources and have a population of 15 before the Feudal Age (II).

Rewards

• Chinese Scout Portrait
• Fun Fact: A Unique Architecture

Fun Fact: A Unique Architecture

The desire to create large interior spaces led to architectural innovations that gave traditional Chinese buildings their distinctive shapes. The "dougong" system of interlocking brackets spreads the weight of roof beams, so that fewer interior pillars are required. This way, rooms can be divided by light fabrics of even left entirely open.

State Revenues

Collect 250 Gold in tax with an Imperial Official before the Castle Age (III).

Rewards

• Sickle Sigil
• Fun Fact: Paper Money

Fun Fact: Paper Money

As Chinese commerce flourished under the Song Dynasty, merchants and tax collectors had to carry ever weightier hauls of coins. But with improvements in printing techniques, the world's first paper money was introduced. Its lighter weight solved the haulage problem, but its ease of production would soon cause problems with inflation and counterfeiting.

Chinese Novice

Win a game as the Chinese.

Rewards

• Zhuge Nu Repeater Crossbow Portrait
• Fun Fact: Mu Guiying

Fun Fact: Mu Guiying

The legendary Song Dynasty general, Mu Guiying, is said to have made her reputation as a shrewd military leader when she discovered a way to defeat the "Heavenly Gate Formation". Rather than charge this unbreakable formation head-on, she destroyed the enemy's supplies, quickly starving them into submission. Her prize: to choose her own husband.

A Storm of Bolts

Produce 20 Zhuge Nu and use them to defeat 30 enemies.

Rewards

• Chinese Siege Portrait
• Fun Fact: Repeating Crossbow

Fun Fact: Repeating Crossbow

When facing a raid on their village, medieval Chinese peasants had an ingenious weapon to hand. The Repeating Crossbow could fire off a rapid volley of poison-tipped bolts as the enemy closed in. Although short range and low in power, the sheer number of bolts fired could be enough to repel the invaders.

Expansion Villages

Construct 2 Villages and achieve a Population of 100 before the Castle Age (III).

Rewards

• Chevron Banner Pattern
• Fun Fact: Town Planning

Fun Fact: Town Planning

Ancient Chinese cities were carefully organized into what we would recognize as a grid system. But converse to modern cities, public buildings were at the outskirts and private dwellings in the center. A system of concentric walls and gates prevented those without the proper permission from entering the inner sanctums.

Note: Although the wording of the mastery level is somewhat unclear, in order to progress the player must not only raise their population limit to 100, but also fill up 100 population space.

Imperial Supervision

Supervise the production of 30 military units with an Official.

Rewards

• Chinese Worker Portrait
• Fun Fact: Scholar-Officials

Fun Fact: Scholar-Officials

The position of Imperial Scholar-official was a prestigious post. Qualifying men were appointed to service by the Emperor himself. This perceived prestige resulted in stark social divisions among Chinese families. A whole strata of wealthy elite families raised their sons for one key event: taking the civil service entrance exam.

Chinese Apprentice

Win 2 games as the Chinese.

Rewards

• Provider Monument
• Fun Fact: The Thirty-Six Stratagems

Fun Fact: The Thirty-Six Stratagems

Ancient Chinese proverbs were often used as military strategies, providing generals with sage wisdom in the midst of battle. They ranged from how to crush a weak enemy, to luring a strong enemy into a weak position. And if all else failed, the 36th stratagem advised retreat: "Run away to fight another day."

Shared Wealth

Generate 500 Gold in tax at buildings affected by the Imperial Academy's increased tax revenue.

Rewards

• Chinese Grenadier Portrait
• Fun Fact: A Prized Crop

Fun Fact: A Prized Crop

During the Song Dynasty, new strains of rice were developed that could ripen quickly and survive in drought conditions. Quick-ripening rice was ready for harvest within months, allowing a second crop to be planted and harvested in the same year. As production boomed, so did the power of Central China.

Path of the Spirit

Construct the Spirit Way Landmark and research all technologies within it.

Rewards

• Recurve Bow Sigil
• Fun Fact: A Legendary Blade

Fun Fact: A Legendary Blade

The "Moon Blade" or "Guandao" was a traditional Chinese pole weapon. It carried almost mystical status, said to have been invented by a legendary Chinese general who easily wielded its hefty weight. Over time, its blade was made ever heavier, and the ability to handle it became an arduous entry test for the military.

Iron Cannons

Defeat 40 enemies with siege engines from the Astronomical Clocktower before you lose 20 of your Clocktower siege engines.

Rewards

• Chinese Firelancer Portrait
• Fun Fact: Astronomical Clock

Fun Fact: Astronomical Clock

Song era scientists made huge leaps in the Chinese understanding of celestial mechanics. This knowledge, along with advances in engineering technology, was poured into the magnificent water-powered astronomical clocktower in Kaifeng. It displayed the time, date, phase of the moon, and even the positions of the planets.

Chinese Adept

Win 5 games as the Chinese.

Rewards

• Chinese Gunpowder Portrait
• Wu Zetian Monument
• Fun Fact: Live Fire

Fun Fact: Live Fire

Alongside other surprising tactics, the Chinese sometimes used an unusual delivery method to bring fire upon their enemies. Live animals, such as birds and oxen, were laden with fireballs or delayed incendiaries and sent into enemy territory. The confusion and destruction they wrought weakened the enemy, making them ripe for attack.

A Thunderous Onslaught

Defeat 50 enemies with infantry of cavalry units equipped with Gunpowder weapons.

Rewards

• Empress Liu Portrait
• Star Sigil Frame
• Fun Fact: The First Firearm

Fun Fact: The First Firearm

The Chinese Fire Lance was the predecessor to all firearms. The discovery of gunpowder quickly led to flamethrowers and explosive weapons that confused and terrified China's enemies on the battlefield. The Fire Lance is said to have been the only Chinese weapon that the Mongols truly feared.

Seven Stories

Generate 1500 of each resource type (Food, Wood, and Stone) from your Pagodas.

Rewards

• Nest of Bees Portrait
• Fun Fact: Pagoda Lore

Fun Fact: Pagoda Lore

Pagodas of the Song Dynasty were thought to be imbued with supernatural properties. But early wooden pagodas could succumb to natural disasters, and their demise was considered a judgment on some recent human failing. Often rebuilt later in stone, these hardier structures were hoped to bring better fortunes.

The Red Scarf

Achieve a Landmarks Victory while in the Ming Dynasty.

Rewards

• Emperor Hongwu Portrait
• Fun Fact: Defense By Flame

Fun Fact: Defense By Flame

The Chinese not only used incendiary weapons to attack their enemies, but also in defense of their cities. Traction trebuchets were loaded with barbed fire balls - spiky, flaming projectiles that would hook into the wooden struts of the enemy's siege towers and continue burning, with luck, until the towers collapsed.

Chinese Master

Win 10 games as the Chinese.

Rewards

• Hand Cannon Sigil
• Nest of Bees Monument
• Fun Fact: The Child Emperor

Fun Fact: The Child Emperor

After more than three centuries of rule, the Song Dynasty came to an end at the hands of the Mongols. In a desperate attempt to keep the dynasty alive, the seven-year-old Zhao Bing was installed as emperor. But his ill-fated reign lasted less than a year. Hunted down by the Mongols, he met an early end.