Decius vs King Mu of Zhou

Decius, a Roman senator and general, was proclaimed emperor by the Danubian legions. He marched into Italy and defeated Philip the Arab at the Battle of Verona, where Philip was killed, securing Decius's position as sole emperor.

Decius led a military campaign against the Goths who had invaded the Danubian provinces. He initially achieved some successes, driving the Goths back, but the campaign was hampered by logistical issues and the plague.

Decius issued an edict requiring all Roman citizens to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and obtain a certificate (libellus) proving compliance. This triggered the first empire-wide persecution of Christians, who refused to sacrifice, leading to widespread arrests, torture, and executions.

Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus were killed in battle against the Goths at Abritus (modern Bulgaria). They were ambushed in a swamp by the Gothic king Cniva, making Decius the first Roman emperor to die in battle against a foreign enemy.

King Mu conducted extensive military campaigns against the Quanrong and other western tribes. These campaigns extended Zhou influence into the western regions and secured the borders.

According to legend, King Mu traveled to the mythical Kunlun Mountains to meet the Queen Mother of the West. This journey became a famous tale in Chinese mythology, symbolizing the king's quest for immortality and exotic lands.

King Mu is credited with reforming the Zhou penal code, introducing more detailed punishments and fines. This reform aimed to make the legal system more systematic and less arbitrary.