In the 1700s, the Porous Empire was expanding.

But not through the traditional means… of war and of blood.

They were expanding via surplus. Buying out their neighbors land from underneath them and ushering in a new age of technological innovation.

Most neighboring states quickly complied. Why wouldn’t they?

They would make outrageous demands – which were always met.

Until one day they came upon a state which demanded nothing.

The Governor, Lopt, told them “We shall not sell our land to you, there is nothing more valuable than that”.

Lopt held his ground for weeks. He was offered jewels, power, government positions, but he turned them all down.

That was… until the Boy King of Porous arrived.

He told Lopt that he would fulfill any request, as long as they received their land in return.

The alternative would be the complete annihilation of Lopt and his people.

So Lopt complied and asked for one thing – “One kernel of corn” this year. 2 kernels of corn the next year. 4 the following, and so on and so forth.

The young king laughed and shouted “Fine! Your request is granted. Have your petty kernels”.

The next day, a servant showed up with one kernel in his hand.

He kept coming by every year until the 6th year – When he brought the corn in a small coin bag.

Dropping it at on the ground he laughed “This is what you exchanged for your land for?” and promptly left.

On the 12th year, the servant came with a larger bag weighing in at just over 1lb.

On the 18th year, a new servant came, this one two 40lb bags of corn over his back.

The year after, two servants came. 160lbs of corn total.

As the years progressed, the corn started coming by the truckload.

On the 25th year, 5 tons of corn arrived.

By this time, Lopt had grown old and had watched the wealth of Porous Empire slowly deteriorate over the years.

Their mines overmined.

Their oceans overfished.

Their fields over-tilled.

On the 29th year, the corn came by train. One rail car.

By the 35th year, there were 60 rail cars filled with 5350 tons of corn.

The corn didn’t pile up though. Lopt began selling it back to the nation, enriching himself and his people.

On the 39th year, 85,000 tons of corn were delivered in 950 separate rail cars. 6 separate trains were required.

Then, on the 40th year, only one train car arrived.

Out of it stepped an old and wizened king King of Porous, now in his early 50s.

He told Lopt that he couldn’t send the corn this year. There just was not enough.

In exchange for breaking his promise, he returned the land and left defeated.

Lopt knew one thing the boy king didn’t: The power of time.

With enough time, something as small as a kernel of corn can grow large enough to defeat an empire.