A Little Trouble in Big China - A Chinese Warlord Quest

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The Qing Empire has fallen. Yuan Shikai has passed. The National Protection War is nearing its...
1916

Dadarian

The King of Queen's
Location
Queen's on the Shore
The Qing Empire has fallen. Yuan Shikai has passed. The National Protection War is nearing its end. Alas now, behind closed doors, the entire nation churns as individuals try to create and grasp movements in which to ride to power. The future of China, indeed, maybe of all of East Asia, is in your hands! Welcome to A Little Trouble in Big China.

This game is a civil war quest which has rules of my own making. Improving from my previous Mexican quest, each turn your questing ballot will be divided into two parts. The first half will focus on which individual you are giving your support too. The second part then allows you, the player, to write a plan, however brief or complicated you desire, about how the individual you support should act over the course of the turn. This promotes discussion, debate, and participation in the player base.

Each half of the ballot will be weighted in different ways. Votes of support will all be weighted as a whole, wherein even an individual who has the least amount of support can still have some support. That said, plans will be voted in a more traditional absolutist way, where only the plan with the most votes will become the plan that is applied to the individual in question.

The only explicit goal for this quest is that it will stay firmly within the bounds of China's interests, and that the game will end when a singular individual secures permanent control of all of China (think Mao after the KMT fled to Taiwan).

I greatly look forward to QMing this quest, and hope that all of you have an equal amount of fun playing.

Support: Chiang Kai-shek
Plan: Secure control of Manchuria through provoking a fight between Russia and Japan by staging a false flag operation meant to enrage both against one another.



1916


The death of Yuan Shikai has had a great impact on the future of China. Shikai's imperial dreams are no more and the anti-monarchist southern warlords are already parading their victory for all to see even as fighting continues on the front. However, there is still so much work to be done. The Japanese support for the Republicans has secured them occupation of parts of Manchuria and the Coast, important steps necessary for the Japanese Emperor to enforce his unfair Twenty One Demands. As well, the imperialist Western powers also continue to mock the power of China, as Russian troops guard Manchurian railroads and British gunboats travel up and down the Yellow River. Shikai may be dead, but there are many more obstacles to overcome, even as infighting threatens to break out as rivalries arise.


Who do you support?


Cai E: Yunnanese Warlord who heads the Republican army and noted military genius.

Tang Jiyao: Yunnanese Warlord who fought for the Republicans, in control of Yunnan, and ambitious general.

Long Jiguang: Ho Warlord who was formerly loyal to Shikai, but now controls much of Guangdong independently. Noted victor in Guangxi Province.

Duan Qirui: Han General and statesman formerly under Yuan Shikai, one of the favourites to take over leadership from the late Shikai.

Li Yuanhong: Han General and statesman formerly under Yuan Shikai, one of the favourites to take over leadership from the late Shikai. Noted conservative.

Xu Shichang: Han statesman and Shikai loyalist. Civilian. One of the favourites to take over leadership from the late Shikai.

Zhang Zuolin: Han General in Manchuria and noted monarchist. Enemy of Duan Qirui.

Lu Rongting: Zhuang General who fought with the Republicans after suddenly breaking from Shikai in 1913. Leads the Guangxi Clique.

Du "Big-Eared Du" Yuesheng: Han mob boss who has a controlling interest in Shanghai and worked with elements of the Republicans. Ties with elements of the Chinese National Party.

Wu Peifu: Han General formerly under Yuan Shikai.

Sun Yat-sen: Han Revolutionary and leader of the Chinese National Party. Founder of the Chinese Republic.

Ma Anliang: Hui Warlord and General in defacto control of all Muslims in NW China and of the province of Qinghai. Noted reactionary.

Yang Zhengxin: Han General in charge of the Muslim province of Xinjiang. Noted monarchist.

 
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Support; Cai E:
Plan; Confucius Dreaming:
As the beginner of Yuan's downfall and most effective anti-Yuan general, Cai E is the natural leader and foci of the disparate and chaotic constitutional forces. Rally the southern generals to the banner of Chinese Republicanism.
 
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[X[ Zhang Zuolin: Han General in Manchuria and noted monarchist. Enemy of Duan Qirui.
 
[X] Sun Yat-sen
[X] Plan Creating a power base : The Guomindang shall take steps to secure the areas around Canton while also creating the first nucleus of the National Revolutionary Army. Considering Comrade Sun's frail health all efforts must be made to create a chain of succession should the worst happen. Contacts must also be made with other Republican factions in order to coordinate our efforts against the Imperialists.
 
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[X] Support: Zhang Zuolin.
[X] Plan: Gain support of fellow Shikai loyalists and Chinese National Party members to strengthen the political unity of China.


Reasoning:
As much as I love democracy and freedom for the people, it's a slippery slope that can easily give way to in-fighting, tyranny, or making China into a bigger puppet for the Western Powers.

We can't let the KMT take power nor Mao. We also need to have a strong central government before allowing all of the freedoms that come from a democracy since Japan and the Westerners can use that against us, plus we need a easy way to rally people and have a popular national government.

The best way to do this is establish a limited or constitutional monarchy that has a large amount of power in times of crisis. (starting to sound like the KMT).

Basically my idea is simple. Have a strong central authority for now, once china is unified and all outside threats have been dealt with then we can establish democracy and capitalism with chinese characteristics.

DEMOCRACY, NATIONALISM, PEOPLE'S WELFARE.
 
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Zhang Zuolin is Japanese puppet, though his son has promise. I personally can't bring myself to vote for any but Sun Zhongshan. Plus his fashion sense is way ahead of the rest of this lot.

[X] Sun Yat-sen
 
[X] Support: Zhang Zuolin.
[X] Plan: Gain support of fellow Shikai loyalists and Chinese National Party members to strengthen the political unity of China.


Reasoning:
As much as I love democracy and freedom for the people, it's a slippery slope that can easily give way to in-fighting, tyranny, or making China into a bigger puppet for the Western Powers.

We can't let the KMT take power nor Mao. We also need to have a strong central government before allowing all of the freedoms that come from a democracy since Japan and the Westerners can use that against us, plus we need a easy way to rally people and have a popular national government.

The best way to do this is establish a limited or constitutional monarchy that has a large amount of power in times of crisis. (starting to sound like the KMT).

Basically my idea is simple. Have a strong central authority for now, once china is unified and all outside threats have been dealt with then we can establish democracy and capitalism with chinese characteristics.

DEMOCRACY, NATIONALISM, PEOPLE'S WELFARE.

[X] Zhang Zhoulin

Plan: Basically what BurningLaugh said, but with even more opioid abuse and monarchism. Avoid the democracy though, Zhang Zhoulin was a noted authoritarian who was actually an illiterate peasant at heart (no joke, he actually couldn't read) so him supporting any form of democracy is kinda out of his character. If we live long enough to see Zhang Xueliang come into power though, that's a whole 'nother story.
 
[X] Sun Yat-sen
[X] Plan Round Table Reality Show: Invite all the Warlords to a single neutral site, and hold a meeting to decide how to proceed with the ruling of China from that day onwards among all the power movers. Have the media, as in newspaper reporters and film crews and stenographers recording everything that happens, to ensure that any fallout that happens from any walkout or bad thing happening will be fact based, not Trumpland fantasy propaganda.
 
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[X] Sun Yat-sen
[X] Plan Creating a power base : The Guomindang shall take steps to secure the areas around Canton while also creating the first nucleus of the National Revolutionary Army. Considering Comrade Sun's frail health all efforts must be made to create a chain of succession should the worst happen. Contacts must also be made with other Republican factions in order to coordinate our efforts against the Imperialists.
 
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[X]Sun Yat-sen
[X] Plan Round Table Reality Show: Invite all the Warlords to a single neutral site, and hold a meeting to decide how to proceed with the ruling of China from that day onwards among all the power movers. Have the media, as in newspaper reporters and film crews and stenographers recording everything that happens, to ensure that any fallout that happens from any walkout or bad thing happening will be fact based, not Trumpland fantasy propaganda.
 
Sun Yat-Sen is a complete meme and a Japanese stooge.

Zhang Zuolin is Japanese puppet, though his son has promise. I personally can't bring myself to vote for any but Sun Zhongshan. Plus his fashion sense is way ahead of the rest of this lot.

[X] Sun Yat-sen

The irony of this post is too much.
 
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Sun Yat-Sen is a complete meme and a Japanese stooge.



The irony of this post is too much.
Do you have a paper or something to the contrary indicating this that I should read? Sun Zhongshan spent his fair share of time in Japan due to being frequently expelled from China, it's true, and he did fundraising there as well, but my understanding was that he had substantially less in the way of blatantly Japanese influencers in his government or tendency to roll over at their word. If you understand this differently due to something that's escaped me then I'll be eager to give it a look.
 
Do you have a paper or something to the contrary indicating this that I should read? Sun Zhongshan spent his fair share of time in Japan due to being frequently expelled from China, it's true, and he did fundraising there as well, but my understanding was that he had substantially less in the way of blatantly Japanese influencers in his government or tendency to roll over at their word. If you understand this differently due to something that's escaped me then I'll be eager to give it a look.

Sun is essentially bankrolled by Japanese interests; the only reason he's still relevant is the protection of Japanese actors.

Zhang Zoulin, bless his little heart, is likely a monarchist but at least he can deal with the Japanese on a more equal footing than the fugitive Sun. There's certainly no evidence that he ever "rolled over" to Japan by the current time.

Zhang's son is still in education and probably an opium addict, hardly promising.
 
[X]Wu Peifu

Wu Peifu stands as one of the more talented generals in China at the time will look to arrange for his own advancement in the fall of Yuan Shikai, he will use his links to such prominent people as Cao Kun and Feng Guozhang to build an alliance built around their joint prestige throughout China.
 
Sun is essentially bankrolled by Japanese interests; the only reason he's still relevant is the protection of Japanese actors.

Zhang Zoulin, bless his little heart, is likely a monarchist but at least he can deal with the Japanese on a more equal footing than the fugitive Sun. There's certainly no evidence that he ever "rolled over" to Japan by the current time.

Zhang's son is still in education and probably an opium addict, hardly promising.
My impression was that Sun Zhongshan was getting support from more of the progressive strains of Japanese society, versus Zhang Zuolin in the unenviable position of having to be next to the Kwantung Army such that the sorts of influence they were getting were entirely different beasts.

Granted, I'm heavily influenced by what I've read about all parties doing in the future from this point so I should probably take a step back and read further into the immediate time.

Man, I wish we could be Yan Xishan though.
 
[X] Support: Long Jiguang
[X] Plan: Southern Tiger

Whereas historically Long Jiguang fled from the south towards Beijing, TTL he shall remain in his historic powerbase of Guangdong, refusing to flee from Sun Yat-Sen. Relying on his lieutenant Ye Ju, Long Jiguang will rule from the city of Canton (Guangzhou) and cement his influence at the head of a Guangdong Clique, inviting support from anyone willing to oppose Sun Yat-Sen. Likewise, he will recognize whatever Beiyang authority is established, remaining fairly neutral in regards to national politics.
 
[X]Sun Yat-sen
[X] Plan Round Table Reality Show: Invite all the Warlords to a single neutral site, and hold a meeting to decide how to proceed with the ruling of China from that day onwards among all the power movers. Have the media, as in newspaper reporters and film crews and stenographers recording everything that happens, to ensure that any fallout that happens from any walkout or bad thing happening will be fact based, not Trumpland fantasy propaganda.

@Warer @Opifex-Plebian @StarkDemise @Exterminatus @minerva-n-memes
 
[X]Sun Yat-sen
[X] Plan Creating a power base : The Guomindang shall take steps to secure the areas around Canton while also creating the first nucleus of the National Revolutionary Army. Contacts must also be made with other Republican factions in order to coordinate our efforts against the Imperialists.
 
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I'm gonna be honest, does anyone expect these generals to abandon their armies and strongholds to attend Uncle Sun's Tea Party?
 
Have the media, as in newspaper reporters and film crews and stenographers

As much as I hate to say it, there was pretty much no media in China at this time as virtually everyone was either illiterate (peasants) or just didn't care enough to learn how to read (see: Zhang Zhoulin). The Warlord Era was definitely a Trumpland paradise, as it was pretty much a 20 year long era of egotism, self-promotion, incompetence, chaos, and the constant seizing of power.
 
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