The founder of the previous Dynasty was a sorcerer of unusual power and craftiness. It is said that he was a shepherd who was favored by the Moon Goddess. Madly in love with the stripling youth, she taught him magic lore which he learned eagerly. After slaying a great white serpent (or in other versions, being gifted a sword from a river serpent), he rose to fame and preeminence in his locality. At that time Liangyu was divided into many petty kingdoms, all with differing customs and tongues. Having gathered a following, he proceeded to swiftly conquer the nearby princedoms-- and then slowly but inexorably weld them into one realm.
The kingdoms or lords who submitted to him willingly and quickly were allowed to keep the bulk of their domains as his vassals. Those who resisted, he wiped out and replaced with loyal retainers or relatives. Much of the captured bronze arms and armor were melted down to create twelve bronze statues placed along the borders of his realm. It is said that the king could see and hear through these statues much of what went on within his kingdom and along its marches.
He began a thorough process of unification, standardizing laws, measurements, weights, and rituals throughout the kingdom. Nobles and bureaucrats were required to use the king's speech in their official duties and their visits to the court. The king is also credited with taking the first steps toward establishing a standardized writing system, although scholars are divided on this. What is more certain is that many magic-users, diviners, village elders and shamans were killed at this time. Partly this was to wipe out previous customs to make way for those of the king's new idealized culture, partly it was to prevent the rise of potential rivals to his power. In this way much of the early oral history and traditions of this area were lost.
Toward the end of his reign, he caused a great tomb complex to be built, either hollowing out a mountain or construction an artificial one. The main chamber was filled with a scale model of his kingdom, complete with rivers and lakes of liquid mercury. Upon his death he was entombed within a magnificent sarcophagus at the center, crafted of silver and ivory. High in the ceiling above a great round mirror was set. It is said that the Moon Goddess views his tomb through this mirror. Other efforts, less unearthly, were taken to keep the place secure. Tripwires connected to loaded crossbows guarded narrow passages, and an army of undead warriors patrolled ceaselessly the main thoroughfares. With all set, the architects of the complex were also entombed within and the entrance sealed.
Due to the fear in which he was held, the Liangyese avoided speaking his name after his death. (This remains a customary taboo for all Liangyese kings after passing.) Because of this, and a lack of written records from that time, the sorcerer's true name remains unknown. A wide variety of titles and euphemisms have been used to refer to him, but the two most common are "The Unifier" and "The Potency".
