ZealousThoughts
The Wanderer
- Location
- United Kingdom
Wu Peifu
"The Jade Marshal"
Marshal of the Eastern Banners
Marshal of the Western Banners
High Admiral of the Beiyang Fleet
Leader of the Greater Zhili Clique
- The Purchase Of The Dragon - Having seen the efficiency of naval superiority in the evacuation of Canton (even if ultimately the militia sent were lost), Wu has learnt respect for the possibility of Naval Support on any coastal campaign and the importance of Naval Superiority should any coastal cities come under siege. To that end he will reach out to his contacts in Britain, France and America and look towards the purchase of more modern ships that the powers might be marking for decomission. This will look towards purchasing older ships comparative with the Japanese to avoid seeming any real threat but will allow the Beiyang Fleet to be expanded and cemented as the premier naval power in China. Alongside this Wu shall also look to arrange for the hiring of trainers for this newer, larger set of vessels and the push particularly will be for the purchase of a Pre-Dreadnought (Something in the Formidable through King Edward VII Class Range).
- Strength Is In Bending.....And Not Breaking - The complaints and sulks of the Little Tiger of Jehol to the North in reaction to the Jade Marshal utilising solid economic theory to ensure that the predatory industry of Jehol didnt dominate China have led to the Emperor calling a meeting in the Capital. Always a leal subject and knowing his actions were merely preemptive to ensure that the modernised industry of China would not be focused solely along the border with a Japanese puppet, the Jade Marshal was happy to attend. Having utilised the possibility of the meeting to push his further agenda, Wu shall arrange a strong propaganda campaign throughout the Central Plains and the Greater Zhili Clique that the meeting is the pre-cursor to the appointment of a Pricy Council-style Triad of Prince Chun, Wu Peifu and an unnamed third. This will also go hand in hand with the expectation that a clear framework towards full integration of the Qing state with all current positions of Warlords being offered the choice of preserving their Imperial Titles Or take a position as Governor of the Province they were an independent Warlord for at the time of the meeting with the Emperor. To this end, Wu will make it obvious he is willing to be the impetus to push for this knowing that Zhang Xun and his Clique are also interested.
- To Grow Industry The Central Plains Must Be Protected - Wu and the Greater Zhili Clique will begin to build and provide funding for investment in further industry moving inland from the Greater Zhili holdings in the North and Nanjing in the South. To aid in this in the South, Nanjing will be utilised and in the North the port of Tianjin. From these locations rail lines and improved roads will be started to link to the countryside and cottage industry throughout their province. Where possible the jobs available in manual labour for this undertaking will be advertised throughout Qing and the stories of wealth the average man has managed to attain in the Great Ports will be spread far and wide. A message of safety and cities not geared solely towards feeding a bloated army.
- A Sprinkling Of Pride Goes A Long Way - In line with Wu's ongoing 1:2 rule (for every twice that the Little Tiger raises more troops that he cant afford then Wu will expand his forces once in a manageable fashion), Wu will undertake a new recruitment campaign with a difference, advertising the education in reading and writing that NCOs and those who rise in the ranks will get. Advertising the uniform and pay that soldiers recieve regularly without relying on other Warlords to have enough money to pay. Advertising the United Banners as the Emperor's undefeated protectors and the elite of the Imperial Army. This will entail a 60,000 man expansion of the United Banners in total. Fang and Zhang Xun instructed to raised 10,000 men each, Zhili Province to raise 25,000, Nanjing 10,000 and the Western Banners 5,000. The key thing here will be twofold, emphasising the chance to serve the Jade Marshal and through him the Empire and second the painting of a life in the military as a true service to the nation that will reward them.
- Absolute Bureaucratic Rule - Recognising the position of any absolute ruler as being transitional at best due to the limitations of a human life span and knowing that to make a system of rule into an insitution then an edifice must be build to support it the focus within the Greater Zhili will be the beginnings of an absolute bureaucratic monarchy. In the initial phases this will involve the transition of educated veterans of Wu's armies into bureaucratic roles throughout his territory. As well as this shall be the ability for vetted educated individuals to be appointed to the roles of local governance within the Greater Zhili. The goal of this is to expand the number and size of those holding power within the Clique and increase the number of people with a vested interest in continuing the system as opposed to that of the more......fluid government structures to the South. Alongside this will be the expanding of existing schooling systems and to support this, Wu will send out letters to the European churches and religions and state that the opportunity to reside in his territory will remain only a long as they open schools alongside. This opportunity will be extended to existing religious structures within the Greater Zhili as well as hiring trade specialists from Europe and America to open trade schools to help feed growing industrial demand.
- The Nanjing Fleet - River gunboats are to be purchased to protect the Yangtze and two corps of men raised to be trained as water based cavalry to be the initial spearhead in any future conflict that might occur with the south.
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