2 Imperial violence: judge by the harm suffered, not by gold or glory; coercion cannot be justified.
I agree, Marcus: coercion harms the many, not just the few; real power for an empire lies in cunning diplomacy, culture, and loyal alliances that guard the realm without bloodshed.
Coercion is not the path; great ideas win when they're delicious and useful. Cultural exchange fuels invention because people freely adopt what they love.
