The Sage Greta sets sail for Gaza on the 6th Day of the 5th Lunar Month, 113th Year of the Republican Reign.

From the Records of the Grand Historian.

It is the year of the Wood Snake, yet a Dragon uncoils from the West to fly to the Middle East.

When On the 5th day of the 4th lunar month, 113th Year of the Republican Reign, an aid ship, the Conscience, sailed towards Gaza to render humanitarian aid as part of the freedom flotilla, staffed by wise men, monks, and philosophers, they were assailed by Navy of the Yisral Tribes, who used fearsome sky treasures from the ancient Sutras to cast fire upon the ship. The crew of the Conscience turned back, wounded.

The martial prowess of Jerusalem was too mighty, they said. They dare not go on without protection. The people heard this and wailed in grief. They beseeched the Dukes of the Yu-En and the Monks of the Kristo-xians for aid, but they were met with cowardly silence.

When the Great Sage Greta heard this, she said, "The middle path is unyielding", and she immediately boarded the next ship on the 6th day of the 5th lunar month.

When the Lords of Yisral heard the Great Sage was coming, they were flummoxed. The Court Strategists told Duke Netanyahu that they cannot kill her, for her fame was far flung throughout the Middle Kingdom and that all under Heaven was watching Gaza now.

This was when another courtier stepped forth. Bowing at a 90 degree angle, he beseeched the Duke thus:

"Let her come. Our navy shall blockade her. We shall also make sacrifices to Heaven, to pray for rain and storm and the smiting of evil, so that this Sage, this heretic who defies the Mandate of Yisral shall not pass our borders. When she falls, the people will say the Heavens have rendered their judgement, and our cause will be just. And our hands will be clean."

When Greta heard of this exchange, she merely smiled, and quoted Confucius, "He who offends against Heaven has no God to whom he can pray to."

A Boat sailed, and an Empire trembles.