The Dragon Roars: A KMT Quest

[nachtingale]

The Dragon Roars: A KMT Quest


"Decades of futile effort have not dampened my bold aspirations to save the nation. Instead, my heart grieves at the suffering of the Chinese people."
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen​

The old man watched with bleary eyes as the men, no, his men marched across the barren desert of the Northwest, faces darkened physically from the ash and soot of war, unable to be cleaned as they continued to beat their hasty retreat from the enemy, who seemed to appear from all directions simultaneously, with little warning.

He looked at the people who now followed him, faces of men and women who hailed from every corner of China, from the Tibetan Mountains to the Yellow Sea, from the Pearl Delta to the Mongolian Steppe, which once bore that youthful spirit of the revolution, now downcast and ever the more homesick. Soldiers whose worn boots and dirty uniforms, clothes and equipment which seem to have impossibly aged decades in four short, yet bloody years.

Between the columns, refugees coalesced amidst the ranks of the soldiers, seeking protection from the bandits which roamed the lawless countryside and eager to escape the retribution from the coalition armies for having ever affiliated themselves with the revolution, whether willingly or not. He grimaced at the thought. The revolution has devoured, it would seem.

Yet even then, the looks of despondency intermixed themselves with those of grim determination. Men and women who still smiled as bright as ever when the uprising began, whose optimism He himself still believed he shared, warmed his heart like gasoline to a waning campfire.

"Sir, we must continue on." A voice gently reminded from behind him, he looked back towards one of his young lieutenants, a spritely fellow from Shanghai if he was not mistaken.

"Indeed we must, let us go."

As he left, the old man gave himself one last glance towards the banners which marched slowly towards his general direction, the bright sun across a blue field shined brighter than ever, even with the mud and grime it now adorned.

Sun Yat-Sen's Revolution had only just begun.​

---

A Brief Summation of Recent Chinese History

It has been 4 years since the Jiachen Uprising successfully sparked the revolutionary wave which swept across China, making a mockery out of the idolatrous Taiping Kingdom and the corrupt Qing. The weakness of the Qing government due to the previous Fourth Opium War meant that the Guangxu Emperor only had three or so armies at his disposal to respond to the revolutionary threat. Newly trained forces and cadets had quickly defected during the initial wave of nationalistic fervor fomented by the Tongmenhui and so, the Qing ordered the First Army under Yuan Shikai to engage the Republicans while the Guangxu Emperor withdrew north. The Taiping state, corrupt and unstable and now without British support, crumbled alongside the Manchurian dynasty.

Our Republican forces were on the verge of victory, the gates of Beijing so dearly close, when Russian forces stormed in from Manchuria in 1906. Their conflict with the Japanese had been brought to a conclusion by Qing intervention in their favor, followed by the signing of the Sino-Russo alliance. The Qing and Russians repulsed the Republicans with Yuan Shikai taking over the regional command. In 1908, intervention by France, Germany and Britain in backing a Han revolt in Fuzhou further sealed the fate of the Taiping, forced into the Qin mountains and the Sichuan valleys. Republican forces, defeated by foreign intervention, would be forced to withdraw westwards where the friendly Ma houses welcomed their arrival.

The timely assemblage of the involved powers at the Conference of Hong Kong would, at the very least, signal an end to official armed conflict, as all eyes now turned towards the concerning growth of the syndicalist insurrection in the United States. Yet that does not mean peace for the Chinese people, as raids across borders, political intrigue and backstabbing as well as economic warfare are all commonplace and it is only a matter of time before a crisis may blow up in the region…​

---

A/N: This is a quest based off of an old concept my friends and I once discussed as a GSRPG, of a world not to dissimilar to ours, yet different in many ways, so called the "King's Shilling Timeline". And so, now I have decided to bring it to life as a nation quest instead! Enjoy.

 

[nachtingale]

The Republic of China in 1908

***

The National Situation is Critical
The Stability of the State is Perilous
The Economic Situation is Bad and Worsening
The Internal Legitimacy of the Republic is Decent but Declining
The Foreign Legitimacy of the Republic is Questionable
The Army is Fanatically Loyal and Battle-hardened but Murderous

The Ma Families are Loyal
The Mood of the Left Faction of the KMT is Murderous
The Mood of the Right Faction of the KMT is Despondent
The Legislative Yuan is Riotous
Sun Yat-sen's Health is Excellent with no signs of decline

***

There is currently no ongoing conflict in China.

With the retreat of the Republican forces into the Northwest, we find ourselves in a critical situation, as though the failure of the Revolution's complete goals have created a stir within our own ranks, that we have not been completely annihilated is but a small blessing for the continued blooming of the Nationalist project.

Yet now with the revolution left incomplete, we must now look to consolidate our current gains. But where do we start?

[Pick 2] (Additional Options will appear after this vote.)

[] [The Internal Situation] Bandits, deserters and mercenaries still roam the de jure territories of the Republic of China, we must deal with this immediately if we are to show ourselves to be the rightful liberators of these lands.

[] [The Party Situation] The Kuomintang has been a quarrelsome bunch even in the best of times, though tempered with nationalist fervor, the debate rages on between the disciples of Marx and Smith. If the Republic is to survive, we must endeavor to heal this divide one way or the other before it consumes us all.

[] [The Economic Situation] The Northwest has never been a bountiful land, the Gobi desert and general geographic position leaving it a poor choice for easy economic development. And yet, it is all we have left, and we cannot afford to be picky at this time. If the Republic is to survive and thrive in its current circumstances, we must ensure that we have the industries to propel ourselves even further beyond.

[] [Chinese Diplomacy] Our friends are few even within our own backyard. Though we may have shed blood with each other, perhaps our connection as fellow peoples of China will be able to ameliorate some of the fractured states to cooperate with us.

[] [Foreign Diplomacy] Though the Republic's borders have been recognized through the ceasefire negotiated at Hong Kong, our legitimacy in the eyes of the world still teeters on the brink, with each competing Chinese faction claiming themselves to be the sole ruler of the entire whole of the nation. Though we may claim to be the true successor to China, we should seek to establish formal relations with the rest of the world to enforce this claim.

[] [The Military Situation] Though the National Revolutionary Army maintains its fervent nationalism and loyalty to the state, its leadership remains restless as it wishes for the revolution to be continued immediately, calling for blood at every opportune moment. Though we admire their passion, it is perhaps somewhat concerning, and should be a matter taken quite seriously, less it jeopardize our democratic ideals.

 

[nachtingale]

Spoiler: Winning Votes

[X] [The Internal Situation]
[X] [The Economic Situation]

And now for the options for what to do before we enter the next turn.

---

Of all the wrongs of the world, it is perhaps the most sickening offense for one to seek to harm and injure the meek and defenseless, to see your fellow person, and think not first to show kindness, but instead furious barbarity for some meager individual benefit. Yet the the strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. For what recourse do the weak themselves have against the mighty?

That is what must be answered, now and immediately with no argument, for the betterment of the people as a whole. The ineptitude and overextension of the administrations of the former monarchs over these lands are now at display for the KMT to see, as people of all walks of life turn to any and all means of securing for themselves a decent living, even violence.

Now, as the years have gone by, that administration has only steadily declined, ensuring that the anti-Qing and anti-Taiping sentiments remain one of the strongest in all of China. With authority non-existent save for what the Ma families could maintain in their own small fiefdoms - though some wonder how much of that authority lays in their own involvement in more insidious business ventures, but that is for another time perhaps - it is now up to the Republic to maintain at least the thin veneer of control and good governance.

The question is now for what the Republic should do to address these issues, and even here there are arguments and squabbling, though they remain thankfully confined to madhouse debates within the Legislative Yuan, still safely tempered by the continued presence of the political heavyweight, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Yet the question remains,

To Whom Should We Turn To?​

Song Jiaoren's Proposal​	Wang Zhaoming's Proposal​	The Generals' Proposal​	Chen Qimei's Proposal​
The steady voice of those aligned with the Right Wing of the Party and a close associate with the good Doctor since his time in Japan, he calls for the establishment of a constabulary force, not too dissimilar to the law enforcement now in-vogue with Europe and the West, which would become an additional arm of the state, albeit one that would execute a far more lighter touch upon it's citizens than the soldiery. They argue that it should fall on the Party to begin lightening it's dictatorial grip on the state allow for civilian institutions to be formed and flourish. This would no doubt strengthen our foreign legitimacy.	The Left Wing of the party, who have voiced their own proposal for what is to be done. The young yet charismatic Wang Zhaoming calls for the establishment of communal "People's Militia" not too dissimilar to the Red Guards seen now in the UPU, with all the baggage from which that particular association with the name now brings. No doubt a promising program, it would reduce the burden placed on the Republic's young administration considerably, allow for a well-trained cadre of reservists to be built up, and smooth any tensions that any new authority would have to face with the local peoples otherwise.	The most expected source, the ever loyal generals Huang Xing and Cai E have jointly proposed to simply bypass the entire debate by sending the National Revolutionary Army to decisively crush the criminal element within the Republic. This has the potential to be the most straightforward of the options, as the NRA is ready and able to assist in the stabilization of the internal situation, with the equipment, experience and morale to back them up. No doubt, this would also serve to temper their most bloodthirsty cries for expansion.	The... novel proposition laid forth by some of our comrades, who once hailed from the same green forests as the criminals who now stalk the Northwest. Chen Qimei, the Shanghai criminal, claims to have some connections with the largest of the outfits which terrorize the countryside, and would be more than eager to help convince his fellows to tone down their criminal activities within the Republic, sending them and their cohort elsewhere. Such a proposal would guarantee a rapid return to law and order, alongside even acquiring a host of connections through the Chinese criminal underground, spread across the nation like a spider's web.
This would no doubt rankle the feathers of the left, concerned of being subject to oppression by this new institution, no doubt to be staffed by the literate upper-class supporters of the Party. The military too are concerned with the proposal, as it would begin a process of weening away state control from the military and towards the civilian Yuan instead.	The right would no doubt be incensed, calling this a preparation for an inevitable communist coup. The military would be tentatively approving of this program. However, this will likely take some time to be completed.	This would continue to empower the military apparatus. The Yuan would no doubt be quite furious at the dismissal of civilian propositions Furthermore, whilst the military is very motivated, they are few in number and would leave our borders weakened. Who knows if our enemies will remain content with their current holdings...	Associating ourselves with literal criminals should be the last thing the Party needs right now, when our legitimacy is already so delicately balanced in the eyes of the people. Furthermore, this may have unintended consequences for future political crises by allowing the criminal element within the halls of our government.

---

Furthermore, there is the question of how to address the dilapidated state of the Northwestern economy. Decades of mismanagement and a general disinterest in the region has led to a severely underdeveloped and agrarian economy, where the world seems to have frozen itself in time to a past long forgotten. Thankfully, we managed to evacuate some of the revolutionary workshops and machineries during our great retreat, yet it surely pales in comparison to the might and wealth of Shanghai.

But it is here, where the march of industry has never reached, where we must began to sow the seeds of the revolution once more.

We have enough material and funds to focus on one aspect of the Republic's economic development for now, so choose wisely.

[] [Agriculture] Whilst the Northwest remains a barren desert for the most part, there still remains some fertile land that the Republic may utilize to begin cultivating agricultural surpluses. This will guarantee some semblance of food security for us and our people, and most importantly restabilize food prices, keeping our economy nice and healthy for the time being.

[] [Lanzhou] So, we may have been lying somewhat when we said that the Northwest was completely agrarian. The Ma-controlled city of Lanzhou is a promising little town, with a small but vital industrial region that is one of our main suppliers of anything remotely resembling the industrial age and all its glory. Though small, we could choose to focus our efforts on expanding it, serving as a nice foundation for continued industrial developments elsewhere in the Republic.

[] [Infrastructure] Railways? There are not even roads in these lands, the only semblance of an intentional pathway being the dirt tracks used by local merchants and traveling convoys. Even the bare minimum of effort placed in maintaining several vital pathways through the Republic could enable us to move with far more speed in response to external threats. This would also allow for civilian traffic to improve somewhat.

[] [Arsenal] The Revolution demands more weapons, weapons for the people, for the army, for exporting the cause to neighboring states. Yet we have little in terms of depth when it comes to engaging in a long, attritional war befitting of the current industrial era. As we saw during the disastrous rout at the gates of Beijing, if we cannot guarantee each soldier ammunition to last for more than a day, then we are truly lost. We will invest in expanding the Lanzhou industrial area too, but for the purposes of military, rather than civilian development.​

---

Please do not vote by plan.

 

[nachtingale]

End of Turn 1


(Left) Prospective members of a particularly zealous unit in training. (Right) One of the first tractors in the Northwest, so called "红牛一", a national treasure.
​

The Legislative Yuan rages in debate as the proposals are submitted, the elected members of the honorable council watching with thinly disguised disdain towards the two generals, peacocking as they were with their gaudy dress uniforms, offering their generous aid to the solution. It was rather good that they left utterly humiliated, with not a single delegate in the chamber even dignifying themselves with a response towards the thinly-veiled threat, a carte blanche for the military to enforce their own regime upon the Republic.

What would be of particular surprise to the delegates however, was the enthusiasm with which the proposal brought forth by Wang Zhaoming would receive, convincing even sympathetic landowners and intellectuals from Song Jiaoren's own bloc towards the establishment of the citizen's militia force. With Dr. Sun Yat-Sen promising non-interference in matters of the assembly, the motion would pass in a clear supermajority, propelling the left wing further up the ranks of the KMT.

And a program it would be, the so-called "People's Militias" were projected to raise as much as 150,000 new reservists initially at all times, whilst armed only with small arms and melee weapons, they would no doubt be effective in responding to local banditry with haste and speed. Furthermore, as a token appeasement to the concerns of the army losing control of much of it's stockpiles gathered in the retreat, these units would be formed into regular army troops in times of war, further increasing the strength of the Republic's defense.

The ambitious project would begin making it's way through the Republican-controlled territories of the Northwest, to remarkably eager reception. The Northwest having been faced with particular neglect by the ancient powers, the prospect of their personal autonomy for self-defense being respected no doubt enticed the isolated region and it's peoples, raising the Party in the eye's of the people. Furthermore, with a surprising amount of pre-existing militia forces found and documented, it seems that our estimates for a longer program may be somewhat pessimistic, with the earliest completion of the project now estimated to end around 1913, depending on the circumstances.

However, the leftist program has certainly raised some eyebrows, both within China and further abroad as the supposed "rot" of syndicalist and communist agitation grows further afield. That, however, is not much concern to us as of yet, as many outside of the Republic view the revolution to be a failure unlikely to happen again.

[People's Militia Program Complete around Turn 6]

On the other hand, the refocusing of our efforts towards agrarian improvements has certainly done much to improve our legitimacy further, with the Republican government able to report a healthy harvest this year for the citizenry. Though it will certainly take some time for a stable harvest to be guaranteed in it's completeness, our intensive efforts in this field have already bloomed magnificently. Some concern has been lobbied at the fact that it took some time for the bill to pass through the legislature, stalled out by industrialist elements of the Yuan as they argued for a redoubling of effort in expanding Lanzhou as a proper industrial city, but they were swiftly sidestepped and the program would be enshrined with a sizeable majority.

Many have raised an eyebrow towards the fact that, with our focus towards agrarian matters, that a chief reason for the perpetual hunger which plagued the Northwestern populace lay with the fact that many farmers, for what we assume to be for the benefit of their own livelihoods, have begun to induct themselves into the opium trade, large portions of arable land sucked up by the planting of this cash crop drug. A concerning matter which should be addressed relatively soon with official policy from the Party. Yet for now, we must have some guidelines at least, for how to deal with this matter in terms of our agricultural policy.

[] [Ban] The opium trade has long been an insidious one, bringing death, destruction, and misery to untold millions of our Chinese compatriots. A drug so cultivated by the Western powers as to leave us so fractured and weakened, and one which we should endeavor to excise immediately. We will immediately begin the process of destroying as many fields as possible, which would significantly improve our food situation in the interim and dealing the first blow to the opiod colossus. However, this would be massively unpopular amongst the agrarian populace, still reliant on the crop as a source of revenue. (Opens up new options next turn)

[] [Neutral] Whilst an evil trade, it is one with which we simply cannot deal with in the present time. We should focus on more important tasks before answering this socioeconomic dilemma, though still nominally encouraging farmers to increase food production. (Opens up new options next turn)

[] [Approve] The opium trade is indeed insidious, however it is one which we may benefit off of tremendously by encouraging it's growth, increasing the Republic's revenue severalfold when paired with our agrarian focus. This would massively increase our economic options, allowing us to pursue more directions of development with fewer financial stresses placed on our government. This would, however, make way for continued social disorder, and may somewhat hamper our food production drive. The good Doctor is also strongly against this line of advance, and will likely brook no argument for it. (Opens up new options next turn)

Whatever the case, it will take some time for the agrarian improvements to take root.

[Agrarian Reforms Complete by Turn 4]​

---

The Republic of China in 1909

***

The National Situation is Dangerous
The Stability of the State is Perilous but Improving
The Economic Situation is Bad but Stable
Food Security is Bad but Improving
The Internal Legitimacy of the Republic is Decent
The Foreign Legitimacy of the Republic is Questionable and Declining
The Army is Fanatically Loyal and Battle-hardened but Murderous

The Ma Families are Loyal
The Mood of the Left Faction of the KMT is Content
The Mood of the Right Faction of the KMT is Despondent and Furious
The Legislative Yuan is Chaotic
Sun Yat-sen's Health is Excellent with no signs of decline

***

There is currently no ongoing conflict in China.

The borders remain calm, save for the occasional raid by Taiping, and more recently warlord forces from the East. Whether this is due to the diligence of the NRA, their ineptitude, or the calm before a storm is a matter for public debate.

***

[Pick 2] (Additional Options will appear after this vote.)

[] [The Internal Situation] The program will take some time to develop, and we may choose to change our focus at any time, though this may not be advised for the sake of internal coherency.

[] [The Economic Situation] Whilst agricultural developments continue apace, we may choose to change our focus at any time, though this may not be advised for the sake of internal coherency.

[] [The Party Situation] The Kuomintang has been a quarrelsome bunch even in the best of times, though tempered with nationalist fervor, the debate rages on between the disciples of Marx and Smith. If the Republic is to survive, we must endeavor to heal this divide one way or the other before it consumes us all.

[] [Chinese Diplomacy] Our friends are few even within our own backyard. Though we may have shed blood with each other, perhaps our connection as fellow peoples of China will be able to ameliorate some of the fractured states to cooperate with us.

[] [Foreign Diplomacy] Though the Republic's borders have been recognized through the ceasefire negotiated at Hong Kong, our legitimacy in the eyes of the world still teeters on the brink, with each competing Chinese faction claiming themselves to be the sole ruler of the entire whole of the nation. Though we may claim to be the true successor to China, we should seek to establish formal relations with the rest of the world to enforce this claim.

[] [The Military Situation] Though the National Revolutionary Army maintains its fervent nationalism and loyalty to the state, its leadership remains restless as it wishes for the revolution to be continued immediately, calling for blood at every opportune moment. Though we admire their passion, it is perhaps somewhat concerning, and should be a matter taken quite seriously, less it jeopardize our democratic ideals.

[] [The Legislative Yuan] Moody, incoherent, and fiesty, the legislature is perhaps the most violently verbal stage China has ever had the opportunity to bear itself witness to. Though it brings much legitimacy to the Republic in the eyes of liberals throughout the world, perhaps we should endeavor to make it more, compliant.

[] [Elections!] What is a Republic without democratic elections? Though it may take much time for such an event to be organized, and likely take away valuable resources that we must needs afford for other national projects, we must surely commit to the ideals of the Revolution set forth by the Tongmenghui and Kuomintang's proclamations. But there remains much to be asked, who is eligible? What system should we look towards? Oh the many questions for a young Republic...

---

Please do not vote by plan.

 

[nachtingale]

Spoiler: Winning Votes

[X] [Neutral]
[X] [The Military Situation]
[X] [Chinese Diplomacy]

---

As the agrarian reform continues in the background, the question of the opium epidemic has been dealt with remarkable... silence. The Legislative Yuan clearly showing little interest in touching the volatile question with a ten-foot pole, the agrarian reform program would opt to try it's best to ignore the plant's existence for now, trying their best to circumvent the issue when pressed and encouraging the growth of food products with as much tact as possible. A minority of the legislature would advocate for an immediate blanket-ban on the poppy plant, putting forth the case for a harsher hand against the criminal backbone of the country as a continuation of said policy. Though they would attempt to court the approval of Doctor Sun Yat-Sen, whose vocal opposition to the product has been well-documented in his personal capacity, he would refrain from commenting on the matter, allowing the problem to go unanswered.

***

The Bravest of the Brave, The Soldiers of the Republic.
​

For the Legislative Yuan's part, they would be brought to focus on a different matter entirely, that of the question of the military's concerning radicalism. The Party does not deny that it possesses within itself a most potent of radicalism, and would certainly be branded as such by the world at large. However, the chief proponents of the National Revolutionary Army have increased their violent rhetoric to unforeseen heights, speaking of the "purity and sanctimony of the Revolution that must be preserved with a bloody sacrifice" like some sort of Chinese Jacobin Club, Huang Xing their own Robespierre as he speaks platitudes to eager and captive audiences in the barracks and training fields. Though some question whether or not this may merely be due to the embarrassing snub the military has suffered, it is still no doubt a delicate question that must be solved.

As a compromise, the Legislature is willing to offer an olive branch to the military by offering them some substantive benefits. This will inevitably come at some political cost to the civilian government, but it may or may not be a necessary one, given the circumstances. It should also be noted that with Sun Yat-Sen's unifying presence and reputation, the NRA will likely not take much drastic action against the Republic. But who knows if the Doctor shall remain with us forever...

What Should We Do?

Institutionalize the NRA's Political Powers​	A drastic option would be to make official government policy the intervention of the military in Republican matters during times of significant political upheaval. This would greatly satisfy the military apparatus and serve as a vital safeguard to the principles and spirit of the Revolution should the Republic fall to more unsavory characters.​	This would make the Legislative Yuan extremely nervous and weaken the civilian government in the process. Furthermore, allowing for such extreme measures to be taken may have unintended consequences to our legitimacy should they occur.
Turn a Blind Eye to NRA Incursions​	For quite some time now, we have been made aware of the NRA's unauthorized attacks launched beyond the Republic's borders and into the territories of the other successor states. While they claim that this has been a measure intended to disrupt foreign invasions, the loot they return with suggests otherwise. We could choose to allow these attacks to go-on unimpeded, which would serve as an effective pressure valve for some of the NRA's worst tendencies whilst serving to keep our enemies on the defensive. Furthermore, the additional funds that may come from these raids would certainly improve our economic capabilities.​	This would almost certainly permanently wound our relations with neighboring Chinese states, damaging our foreign legitimacy and making our diplomats jobs somewhat more difficult. It would also serve to increase the chances of a rapid escalation into a full-scale war with one of our neighbors.
Prepare for a Military Campaign​	The military has been chomping at the bit to bloody their teeth in the cause of expanding the Revolution, so why not use that to our advantage? By publicly promising to launch a new campaign in the near future, we would be able to immediately cow the NRA into obedience.​	Such a bold promise must be answered rather quickly, and we would have about 5 years to prepare for this campaign. Should we fail to honor our pledge, the consequences of such a bold-faced lie would be dire indeed...
Purge the NRA​	As brutal as it may be, perhaps a good crackdown would serve us well? This would permanently subordinate the military under the civilian government, silencing their political rancor for good and greatly pleasing the Legislative Yuan. Furthermore, it would also serve to significantly increase our legitimacy in the eyes of the world and of our people. ​	This would decimate the officer corps of the NRA, most of them politically motivated, leaving our army disorganized and directionless for some time.
Do Nothing​	Perhaps it would be better for us to simply turn a blind eye to the military's increased radicalism, as it is still, for the most part, aimed towards our foreign enemies. Furthermore, it would greatly improve the morale of the average NRA trooper, a rare currency in the Chinese world today. ​	There is the risk of the military continuing to outpace the Party, and who knows when their gazes will turn inward in their blind rage?

***

The Diplomatic Situation will be included in a second part.

 

[nachtingale]

The Concert of China

***

The nation, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Thus it was written, thus it has ever been. The Jiachen uprising has ended in abject failure, our ultimate goal in uniting the Chinese people under one banner extinguished under imperialist might. The thin veneer of unity within the subcontinent, shattered like porcelain, the people scattering like the wind as instability rocks the entire region. However, the Republic survives, and thus the Revolution shall survive with it.

With our national strength weakened, it is now time for us to consolidate and regroup, biding our time until the next opportune moment for the Revolution to take root. Pushed forth by the national hero, President Sun Yat-Sen, the Republic has been pushed to seize any opportune advantages that it may have, diplomatically or otherwise, to secure itself a place in the world before it is swallowed whole by the vultures which surround it from without, and within.

The Foreign Ministry needs guidance, however, a solid policy for how the Republic aught to act in the diplomatic arena. This may also include a variety of foreign tactics more... unsavory to good company, whether it be agitating the people into revolt once more, or whether to contact the darker elements of society. The world is, as they say, your oyster.

It is recommended that, for the sake of clarity (and my sanity), that specific policy for each nation be divided into their own separate plank if needed.

***

A guideline of general relations and issues between the Chinese powers:

***

Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace: Hated by all the other Chinese states, a feeling which is reciprocated by the Kings of Chengdu and most especially towards the Republic of China for it's role in the Kingdom's fracturing. It's attention is currently pivoted towards the continued incursions from nominally French territory by local warlord troops. Additionally, it is quite furious with the Tibetan seizure of Western Xikang.

Xin Han: It possesses a surprisingly cordial relationship with the Republic, being the first other Chinese nation to have recognized our state at the Conference of Hong Kong. Duan Qirui is more concerned with the Taiping's radical Christian doctrine as of late, and is noted as being significantly more lenient towards Kuomintang activities within his nation than elsewhere. However, the Xin Han are subservient to British goals in the region, and will not go against what their masters say.

Great Qing: A state despised by both the Xin Han and the Taiping, though both for different reasons. They are extremely anti-Republican, though they are quite involved in the encouragement of a national unification movement. The Guangxu Emperor is noted to be quite young, and though the Empire currently favors cooperation with the Russian Empire, he also maintains regular contact with the Japanese government. Additionally, the Empire continues to attempt to court Yuan Shikai into submitting into the Qing fold, viewing Beijing of vital importance to their goals.

Beijing Clique: Yuan Shikai is an enigma, not in the sense of his identity or personality, but in that his true allegiances remain difficult to ascertain. Through unofficial channels, there have been some signals of him favoring the Republican cause, all the while still maintaining his title as the Qing's Imperial Regent in Beijing.

Jin Clique: Yan Xishan is unlikely to fold to anyone unless he feels directly pressured, but has shown willingness to cooperate with the Republican cause in some occasions.

Jiangnan International Settlement: The settlement retains it's political neutrality no matter what happens in China, refusing to involve itself within warlord politics. It is very willing to do business to any and all customers.​

Tibet: Mostly concerned with preserving it's independence, it has no real territorial ambitions beyond it's current borders, with the exception of their "ancestral" claim to Xikang, an ever-present source of friction with the Heavenly Kingdom.

Shandong Clique: The Dogmeat General remains a pet of Berlin, and resoundingly refuses to submit to anyone but himself.​

Shaanxi, Suiyuan and Yulin Cliques: The three bickering warlords of the Shaanxi Region, their constant knife fights amongst each other leave them with little regard for the world outside of their small bubble.

KMT Presence (Ranked from Strongest to Weakest): Jiangnan International Settlement, Guangdong, Xin Han, Beijing, Shangdong, Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace, Yunnan, Great Qing. Ranging from industrial unions, rural/urban intelligentsia and peasant leaders, most of these branches suffer from continued political infighting due to the fractured state of the Party.

The Opium Trade: Of great issue to the Taiping and Xin Han, they are willing to cooperate with the Republic on this matter to ensure the trade is clamped down upon.

***

There is a 500 word limit. Not expecting much but go nuts.

***

Please vote by plan. 24 Hour Moratorium is in effect.​

 

[nachtingale]

"President Bryan Secures Miraculous 2nd Term Amidst Civil Unrest."

• November 6th, 1908 ; The New York World.

"Hyndman Declares Final Trial of Traitorous Rightists in London."

• January 3rd, 1909 ; Justice.

"Congo Reform Administration Teeters on Bankruptcy Amidst Donation Freeze; Companies See Financial Opportunity."

• January 20th, 1909 ; The Economist.

"President Bryan Pledges Federal Troop Deployment Amidst Pittsburgh Strikes."

• February 21st, 1909 ; The Gazette Times.

"Bonapartist Infighting Causes French Parliamentary Deadlock as Budget Appropriations Bill Fails for Sixth Week in a Row."

• March 1st, 1909 ; Le Petit Journal.

"Wilhelm II Declares New Anti-Qing Ostasien Policy; Reichstag to join in lockstep."

• March 5th, 1909 ; Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.

"Guangxu Emperor Reportedly Missing from Government; Rumored Sighting in Pusan."

• April 12th, 1909 ; North China Daily News.

"Xin Han Parliament's New Economic Stimulus is an Opportunity for British Investors."

• May 5th, 1909 ; The Financial Times.

"Tsar Nicholas II Promises Naval Expansion Bill amidst Budgetary Shortfalls; Experts Befuddled."

• May 25th, 1909 ; Moskovskiye Vedomosti.

"Syndicalist Forces Decisively Rout Bourgeois Troops at Pittsburgh."

• June 12th, 1909 ; Industrial Worker.

"President Bryan to meet with Edward VII in Ottawa; Says 'Syndicalist Threat Must be Contained'."

• June 25th, 1909 ; Evening Star.

"President Debs Founds the Union of American Socialist Republics after New York Triumph."

• July 4th, 1909 ; The People.

"Taiping Heir, Hong Xiuquan II, Seen Walking into Residence of Prime Minister Katsura Tarō."

• August 11th, 1909 ; The Asahi Shimbun.

"Prime Minister Witte Shoots Down New Naval Appropriations Bill; French Investors Breath Sigh of Relief."

• September 20th, 1909 ; Le Journal.

"Former President Roosevelt Assassinated by Defecting Colored Troops."

• October 11th, 1909 ; Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"Syndicalist International Welcomes UASR Delegates to Stockholm Conference; Europe Mortified."

• October 26th, 1909 ; Le Petit Parisien.

"First Workers' Congress of the UASR Assembled in Chicago; Constitutional Assembly to Follow Shortly."

• November 4th, 1909 ; The Industrial Worker.

"Edmund 'the Reformer' Morel Resigns from CRA, Cites Conflict with Board of Directors as Main Cause."

• November 25th, 1909 ; Berliner Tageblatt.

"Guangxu Emperor Returns to Suspicious Court, Claims to Have Gone on Holiday in Korea."

• December 15th, 1909 ; North China Daily News.

---

A/N: trying out something based off of @StarMaker764's TLM system, do give some feedback if I should continue this for the following years.

 

[nachtingale]

End of Turn 2



Sun Yat-Sen, The Revolutionary Orator.​

Public debate around the military's increasingly radical turn continues, with their calls for blood and revolution receiving ever more attentive ears amongst the populace, their growing ranks like a facsimile of the terrible sans culottes, ever more strengthened by the publications and speeches given by NRA officers at every street corner in the capital city of Lanzhou. The Legislative Yuan, growing ever concerned, would turn once more to the good Doctor, forever remaining at the helm of the revolution as always, to prevent the situation from spiraling further out of control.

And prevent he would, as he would appear in front of the Legislative Yuan's assembly hall in Lanzhou on the 15th of January, precisely 5 years after the initial Jiachen Uprising. Having gone through much consultation with the Republican government, President Sun Yat-Sen would boldly proclaim to the assembled crowd that the KMT would continue it's task as the helmsman of the revolution, promising to expand the Revolution with as much haste as possible so as to "effectuate the end of the century of humiliation, and to bring forth the next century, a Chinese Century!". However, he continued, it would take some time for the Republic to be prepared for such an enormous endeavor, and that proper consultation with the military, alongside their necessary cooperation with the government, would be vital in ensuring that such a campaign would come to fruition soon.

The public would carry within itself an electric energy after the speech, as all eyes turned towards the President with hope for the future. Scrambling to give a response to the sudden public statement, General Huang Xing and the NRA would immediately move to applaud the President's "revolutionary spirit", scaling back some of their more egregious activities as the political winds now turn towards the Party. The statement would also serve to settle the rancor of the common soldiery, finding themselves now walking in lockstep with the Father of the Revolution towards a new, united future.

Words, however, are cheap. Blood and bullets are not. We must prepare accordingly to make sure the latter are not wasted freely.

[War Options Unlocked]

---

Republican Diplomats Escorted to Nanjing by Xin Han Guards.​

A busy time for the Foreign Ministry this year, as President Sun's own personal blessing has pushed the matter of the state's diplomatic conduct at the forefront of Republican debate, it would become extremely vital for a coherent and standardized doctrine when dealing with our fellow Chinese neighbors. Given the chaotic times we now find ourselves in, this is especially poignant, especially with the military greatly agitated over the Jiachen Revolution's failure.

The venerable diplomat, Wu Ting-Fang, would therefor push for a comprehensive plan of alignment and organizing within the Republic itself. Given his previous service as an excellent diplomat for the Qing in foreign service, it seemed only fitting when the President would appoint him as Minister for the Republic's Foreign Affairs.

His first remarkable act would be the arrangement of a meeting between Xin Han and Republican delegates to discuss several matters of great import between the two statelets. A cordial and productive session, as the main issues of the opium trade and the increasingly radical strain of Taiping Christianity becomes more and more of a concern to both sides of this specific aisle. With little actual disagreement, both sides would agree to ratify a treaty to contain the spread of the poisonous product, enforcing for the first time a unified response to the opiod epidemic plaguing China. Though it is up to both sides to enforce it, it is still a promising beginning...

Meanwhile, efforts would be made by the Party to begin directing and channeling discontent inside of the Xin Han towards the strengthening of party cadres within the Ottawa-aligned state. Already, new strike actions and anti-government activities would be drafted and planned by the mostly autonomous cells, working to the Republic's benefit. Conversely however, the same autonomy would lead way to vicious infighting, doing much to obstruct these efforts as the emboldened left-wing of the local parties would see themselves engaged in deadlocked meetings with rightist and criminal elements of the interstate organization.

As part of a broader diplomatic strategy, Wu Ting-Fang would also begin courting neighboring countries as a means of containing the Taiping Kingdom's expansionist ambitions. A smattering of states would be invited to discuss the matter of an alliance to contain and perhaps stabilize the anarchic region controlled by the Christian rulers of Chengdu. The Xin Han and Jin Clique for their parts would only agree to a verbal agreement of assistance if the Taiping attacked Lanzhou, but remained mum on any further commitments to the alliance.

However, Tibet would speak much more approvingly of an alliance with the Republic, the nationalistic Dalai Lama concerned by political pressure from Calcutta and Chengdu respectively. However, they would demand assurances that the Republic would drop any and all claims to Tibet and Xikang as a prerequisite to said alliance. Our diplomats remain convinced that we could press our advantage and force the Tibetans to drop their claims on Xikang, however this would be very risky and would likely sour our relations with Lhasa for quite some time.

Pick One Option Only.

[] Agree to Tibetan Demands: This would guarantee ourselves an alliance with Tibet. However, the KMT and the military would be furious with this compromise.
[] Drop Claims on Tibet Only: Reduces chances of an alliance with Tibet. The KMT and military will both be unsettled by this decision.
[] Reject Tibetan Demands: Extremely unlikely chances of an alliance with Tibet.

On the anti-Qing Front, our diplomats would be far more successful with their gambits in courting our eastern neighbors. The Jin Clique would remain stubborn as ever, only offering even more verbose platitudes when pressed on the matter by our delegates. It is safe to say, however, that they are unlikely to agree to any pact with the Qing, either.

The Beijing Clique on the other hand, would present itself as a far more strange partner for our relationship, with Yuan Shikai proclaiming his "ever passionate love" for the Republic, the Revolution and it's ideals. He promises that, should the opportune moment present itself, that he would gladly forsake the false title given to him by the Qing and embrace the Republic immediately, folding his state and Beijing with it into the Republican state. Though an incredulous claim, our diplomats are somewhat positive that half of that was not the Grand Protector blowing smoke out of his own ass.

---

Kaiser Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany.
​

In a surreal turn of events, our diplomats in Shandong would find themselves accosted by a far larger entity than we had expected. The German Empire, long noted for it's general anti-Asian attitudes even harsher than the regular Imperialist fair, had made an abrupt turn of face with the declaration of it's new Ostasien policy. Seemingly targeted at the Russian puppet in Manchuria, it has no doubt benefited us greatly as the German Empire seeks allies in the region to oppose St. Petersburg's wrath, with little other options other than the Lanzhou government to turn towards.

Now, with the full backing of it's Mitteleuropa sphere, Berlin offers the Republic major concessions in exchange for our support of German interests in the region. Chiefly, serious military hardware and training that would transform our army into an even more potent force, alongside the expansion of the German East Asian Railway system into the Republic. Furthermore, the German diplomats would also be willing to offer assistance in the buildup and development of the Republican economy, pumping Gold Marks and technical aid into the mining and industrial sector that would considerably hasten our own projects should we accept.

However, not all it is not all roses and sunshine, as Berlin demands considerable concessions to be made in exchange for these large concessions. Chiefly amongst them, that 40% of all Republican exports be reserved for German markets only, alongside the basing of Imperial German troops to safeguard the railway connections that are so zealously guarded within the subcontinent due to their rarity. They assure us that troop deployments would be quite limited, as the German Empire has it's own security concerns to worry about in Europe first.

Our diplomats now turn to us to decide, what shall we do?

[] Accept.
[] Reject.

---

 

[nachtingale]

The Republic of China in 1910

***

The National Situation is Dangerous
The Stability of the State is Perilous but Improving
The Economic Situation is Questionable but Improving
Food Security is Questionable but Improving
The Internal Legitimacy of the Republic is Decent
The Foreign Legitimacy of the Republic is Questionable but Improving
The Army is Fanatically Loyal and Battle-hardened but Aged

The Ma Families are Loyal
Party Unity is Fracturing
The Mood of the Left Faction of the KMT is Content
The Mood of the Right Faction of the KMT is Despondent and Furious
The Legislative Yuan is Chaotic
Sun Yat-sen's Health is Excellent with no signs of decline

***

There is currently no ongoing conflict in China.

Something rumbles in the East, as the Golden Cup drinks with the Sun and spurns the Bear.

***

[Pick 2] (Additional Options will appear after this vote.)

Spoiler: Options In-Development

These are options that are currently being developed on based on votes from previous turns.

[] [The Internal Situation] The program will take some time to develop, and we may choose to invest in it even further or, though this may not be advised for the sake of internal coherency, change our focus at any time.

[] [The Economic Situation] Whilst agricultural developments continue apace, we may choose to invest in it even further or, though this may not be advised for the sake of internal coherency, change our focus at any time.

[] [Chinese Diplomacy] As the Chinese political situation slowly develops, perhaps we should change our thinking and policies moving forward when it comes to dealing with our fellow Chinese peoples.

[] [The Party Situation] The Kuomintang has been a quarrelsome bunch even in the best of times, though tempered with nationalist fervor, the debate rages on between the disciples of Marx and Smith. If the Republic is to survive, we must endeavor to heal this divide one way or the other before it consumes us all.

[] [Foreign Diplomacy] Though the Republic's borders have been recognized through the ceasefire negotiated at Hong Kong, our legitimacy in the eyes of the world still teeters on the brink, with each competing Chinese faction claiming themselves to be the sole ruler of the entire whole of the nation. Though we may claim to be the true successor to China, we should seek to establish formal relations with the rest of the world to enforce this claim.

[] [The Legislative Yuan] Moody, incoherent, and fiesty, the legislature is perhaps the most violently verbal stage China has ever had the opportunity to bear itself witness to. Though it brings much legitimacy to the Republic in the eyes of liberals throughout the world, perhaps we should endeavor to make it more, compliant.

[] [Elections!] What is a Republic without democratic elections? Though it may take much time for such an event to be organized, and likely take away valuable resources that we must needs afford for other national projects, we must surely commit to the ideals of the Revolution set forth by the Tongmenghui and Kuomintang's proclamations. But there remains much to be asked, who is eligible? What system should we look towards? Oh the many questions for a young Republic...

[] [The Opium Trade] The worst epidemic to plague the national people, we should endeavor to do all that we can to deal with this problem immediately, less it plague us further. This will require an immense amount of effort no matter what we choose to do, but will no doubt be fruitful in the end, regardless of our choice.

[] [War] We must fulfill our promise, one way or the other. But we for such an audacious campaign, so soon after the Conference of Hong Kong, preparations must be made so as to ensure that we emerge victorious in such a conflict. Furthermore, a target must be chosen for the NRA's wrath. (May vote for this twice to signify increased effort).

[] [Slavery] Legally speaking, the only state in China to have ever legislated a ban on the horrendous practice has been the Taiping state. In actuality, the practice continues unabated as instability and chaos plagues the Chinese region. It will take quite some effort to root out this practice, and it has been rumored that our Ma allies have been engaging in these activities as well...

---

Please do not vote by plan.

 

[nachtingale]

A Den of Thieves


The Two Upcomers, Wang Zhaoming (Left) and Jiang Jieshi (Right).
​

Much can be said regarding the state of the Kuomintang as a revolutionary organization, ever the most successful of our sort since the Hyndmanist usurpation of the British monarchy in '04. A source for effective change, reform and revolution in the fractured landscape of China, it has continued to be an inspiration to other Chinese national and revolutionary movements, alongside receiving broad support from the Chinese people.

As a political party, however, the KMT stands as one of the most fractious and quarrelsome organizations in the world, with little means of bettering itself. With an eclectic group of nationalists, conservatives, landlords, socialists, anarchists and militarists all huddled under the banner of Sun Yat-Sen's party, ever loyal to the revolutionary hero in times of crisis, yet always eager to bloody the nose of each other in a bid to secure lasting power and legitimacy should the KMT ever fracture as a unified revolutionary party. This has often lead to significant hassle in the Legislative Yuan amongst squabbling members of the body, delaying and continuing to drag out legislation even for our already advancing programs.

The situation in the streets is even worse, with tensions simmering between the leftist and rightist wings of the KMT, both within the Republic and abroad as both sides eagerly await for something to give way. Critical funds and material being sapped away for pointless inter-faction squabbles, all while the people watch with ever the more concern as it seems that even the compromising and popular Sun Yat-Sen cannot completely discipline his own people.

As the crass KMT anarchist Wu Zhihui put it best, "The party pigs squeal for slop, whilst the people want for such luxury."

Now that the question would finally come to Sun Yat-Sen's attention, what is to be done?

Support the left wing of the party?​	Support the right wing of the party?​	Support the militarists?​	Crack down on party factionalism?​
This would strengthen the leftist segments of the Party. Sun Yat-Sen's approval would also greatly increase the chances of their political programs being passed in future legislative sessions.	This would strengthen the conservative segments of the Party. Sun Yat-Sen's approval would also greatly increase the chances of their political programs being passed in future legislative sessions.	The militarists would bring a cohesive third element into Party politics, weakening the left-right divide and mending the party with aggressively nationalist policies and reforms.	With Sun Yat-Sen commanding broad political and popular support, this would permanently halt any and all party factionalism during his rule as the Republic's President, weakening them both. Internal stability will also increase.
The right-wing of the party will be incensed with the further empowerment of their rivals. Furthermore, the left might be emboldened enough to attempt something drastic...	The Party leftists will be angered by the empowerment of their rivals. The right-wing will also demand some drastic changes to government policy as a concession.	This would once again reopen the topic of the NRA's role in politics, angering both left and right wings of the Party. Furthermore, the militarists may become a thorn in our side with their aggressive posturing.	This will likely infuriate the Party in it's entirety, and Sun Yat-Sen will have to tread carefully to ensure that he is not usurped by any political misfortune.

Please Pick 1.