- Pronouns
- He/Him
Maybe, maybe not. However, the only way I could see the prime minister fucking up even more now is if the Emperor asked for his resignation and he refused.
A Second Sunrise: Taiwan of 2020 Sent Back to 1911
- Thread starter ChrisProvidence
- Start date
- Original Modern Post-1900
- Location
- India
What is the extent China wish to extend their claim in Russia?
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
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- He/Him
Outer Manchuria and Sakhalin.
The former was ceded in the Unequal Treaties of 1858 and 1860, while the latter is sparsely populated.
That, and people running for their lives out of fear that the Chinese might enact reprisals for the mass murder a decade ago.
Which, if we're being honest, there are probably some who would. They'd probably get mowed down by their own M2 machine guns in the process, but that would be after the damage has been done.
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
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Especially since this is pre WW2 reforms Japan.
At this point, the Emperor would probably be the only one who could convince Katsura to step down.
Fellow Human
Verified Roado Rolla
Thoughts on social development differential? I imagine Taiwan being too liberal to the rest of the world, as Sweeden compared to some backwards country now.
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ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It depends on the country.
Lord Cheddar actually made a good point that the Radicals in France, Italy, and South America would be the most open to the New Chinese's liberal values, as those parties tend to have a lot of influence in 1911. Couple that with the socialists and the proto-globalists, and it is possible that both countries could be open to New China.
Meanwhile, South American Radicals would probably be even more open to New China, though the US would probably object if they try to build up these countries due to the Monroe Doctrine.
Of course, this largely deals with issues such as suffrage and the like, though I don't imagine it would be too much of an issue, if for nothing else than there being bigger fish to fry.
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
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No promises, but their anger is mainly focused on the Tsar himself instead of the institution of the monarchy as a whole.
Of course, the Generals would have a lot of influence in any constitutional monarchy.
Chapter 32: Peace and Quiet (Or Lack Thereof)
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
San Francisco, California, 2 November 1911
"Extra! Extra!" the newsboy cried out, "Read all about it! Chinese Revolutionaries defeat Russians and Japanese in Manchuria! Thousands captured by soldiers from the Island of the Future!"
Huang De handed the boy a few coins for the paper, then looked at it. After all, it was the closest he'd ever get to China. Sure, Chinatown was a little slice of China on its own, but he had never actually been to China for over thirty years.
After all, travel from China tended to be a one-way trip. Or at least it would have, had it not been for the Chinese Exclusion Act. Ever since that day, any hope of being reunited with his family had been dashed against a rock.
Still, he had kept in touch with his family through letters, and they seemed to be doing well for themselves, or at least as well as he could hope. Cousin Wen had found work in Manila as a banker, while Aunt Min had just become a grandmother.
But Cousin Wei? Huang shook his head.
Cousin Wei was the firebrand of the family, and he could never keep his mouth shut. Last Huang had heard about him, Wei had run off to join the Tongmenghui, or at least that's what his letters had told him.
And with the Revolution over there, he had no idea if his cousin was still alive. Headstrong as he could be, Huang still loved his cousin more than anything else in the world, ever since they were children.
The very thought that he may be dead, whether at the hands of the Japanese, Chinese, or Manchus, horrified him, and he prayed each night that his family would survive.
But if these reports were to be believed, then there was a good chance that Cousin Wei was still alive.
Not only that, but he wanted the Revolutionaries to win. Huang wasn't a rich man, not by any means, but he had given donations to the Tongmenghui when they'd come to San Francisco. Now, he wasn't a fighter by any means, but he believed in the cause.
Still, the thought of a free China fascinated him, and the Island of the Future even moreso. Ever since he arrived here, there were Americans who treated him like he was a lesser-man, somebody they needed to "civilize." The "White Man's Burden," as Kipling called it, compelled them to act as such.
Sure, they probably had the best of intentions, but he didn't like being condescended to. And that was before most of the white people talked slowly because they thought that he couldn't speak English.
So to hear that there was an island of people just like him who were more advanced, more modernized, and more "civilized" (to use the term he'd come to loathe so dearly) than any civilization on the planet filled him with pride.
Truth be told, he hoped that this island, which had joined the Tongmenghui in their rebellion, would succeed. Not out of cultural posturing or fantasized revenge against the white people who looked down on him, but out of hope.
Hope that one day, those people who talked down to him would see him not as some backwards savage to be uplifted, but as an honest man who was just as capable as he was.
After all, if the most advanced society on the planet was an island full of Chinese people, then it would spit in the face of every single person who believed in the White Man's Burden.
As he folded up the newspaper and walked off to the laundromat, he couldn't help but smile at the thought that China could be the most "civilized" nation on the planet.
Now that he thought about it, he would like to go there, one day. After all, it was an entire island from the future. Who wouldn't want to visit it?
I should answer Wei's letter. I hope he's okay.
Oh, who am I kidding? He's too stubborn to die.
Manila, Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, 3 November 1911
Looking back at it all, Emmanuel Tsu never thought that he would come back to the Philippines. Sure, marrying Laura meant that he was no longer TNT, but there was the reason his family fled to the United States in the first place.
Family rivalry. He didn't like to talk about it, even with his wife.
For her part, she seemed to be fitting in just fine. Being able to speak tagalog certainly helped her, and the fact that she could play the guitar.
As far as his family was concerned, those were two out of three requirements for anyone the Tsus wanted to marry. Of course, the whole atheist thing caused a bit of a stir once that slipped out, but the family had learned to accept it, so long as she respected his beliefs.
"And as long as she makes you happy, anak," he remembered his parents telling him. And if they were anything to go by when he and Laura sailed off from Kaohsiung, that was enough to make them happy.
It was funny, now that he thought about it. Because his ancestors told him the exact same thing.
And like his parents, they'd gotten along well with her, if the crowd of Tsus listening to her sing and play the guitar was anything to go by.
As for him, he'd picked up the daily newspaper to see if there was any update on the war in China.
Chinese Republicans Make Rapid Advances, Push Into Russia… Huh.
Sure, he supported the Revolutionaries, but this was personal for him. After all, Laura's brother was one of the foreign volunteers who'd signed up. Turned out he had a friend from Rojava who'd convinced him.
So for her sake, he would read the newspaper every morning and walk to the telegraph office before work, just to make sure that she never got that dreaded message.
And sure enough, she had gone one more day. Emmanuel himself breathed a sigh of relief at the news, or in this case lack of news, about his brother-in-law.
That, coupled with the news that the NRA had made it all the way to Harbin and Vladivostok meant that, God willing, most of the fighting was over.
But it was the news that the IJA invasion force had been obliterated that put a smile on his face.
Good riddance.
Sure, China was still at war with Japan, but Japan would hopefully collapse in on itself or finally get the message that imperialism wouldn't work this time around.
Honestly, I'll take either, if it means my family stays safe.
Like most Filipinos, he loved his family. Sure, they were a great help at expanding their power tools business to the other provinces, but they were family first.
They'd welcomed him and Laura in with open arms, just as he was sure they would for his parents, if they had been able to make the journey.
Here's hoping they live longer, this time around. If World War II is avoided, then maybe they won't have to live under the occupation?
But that was all hypothetical.
Right now? He was going to listen to his wife's beautiful singing with his great-grandparents.
Outskirts of Pyongyang, Provisional Republic of Korea, 8 November 1911
"Ready!" Park shouted. The soldiers held up their weapons.
"Aim!" Then they took aim.
"Fire!" And fired a volley into the convicted collaborators, sending their bodies crumpling to the ground.
Blood pooled around the corpses of the now-dead Koreans who had been accused and convicted of working for the Japanese.
Or at least people they had managed to convict of being collaborators. Through all the chaos, he'd made sure there was at least some order once they'd rounded up prisoners.
Granted, said order was basically sentencing anyone to death who could be proved to have worked for the IJA (or worse, the Kempeitai), but some sense of order was better than outright lynch mobs.
And for what it was worth, they only executed those who had substantial eyewitness testimony against them or outright evidence. And even then it was mainly those who worked with the Kempeitai.
Or at least he hoped they were people who worked for the Kempeitai.
It wasn't a perfect system, of course. Not when they were mainly relying on testimony due to tangible evidence being scarce at the moment.
Park didn't have enough time to complain, though. Not when the Japanese were retreating.
"Never interrupt your enemy is making a mistake" was what he'd learned while training under the 66th, and he doubted Chen would make an exception here. That, and "Always offer the enemy an out."
Okay, knowing him, Park figured that the Chinese colonel would probably say "Charge through the lines with your M60 tank and encircle them in mobile warfare, then offer them an out."
Too bad we don't have any tanks.
Or cars.
Or horses… wait, I don't know how to ride a horse.
No, as a largely-infantry force, he and his men were content with watching the Japanese ships pull away from the harbor. Sure, they could, in theory, attack the Japanese as they pulled back to the harbor, but their mission was simple.
Put an end to the Japanese occupation.
Sure, that meant that they could kill every single Japanese soldier and collaborator they could get their hands on, that would cost more men and resources than he would like to lose.
Besides, that wasn't his job. Technically.
No, his job was to get rid of the Japanese.
And if they wanted to do his job for him, well, he wasn't about to object.
Occupied Vladivostok, Occupied Territory, 12 November 1911
All things considered, this had to be one of the most successful operations Michael Chen ever done. Not only had the Russians surrendered, but the locals had been fairly cooperative, all things considered.
Admittedly, "Fairly cooperative" in this context meant, "Too busy packing up and preparing to screw off to Chita before the Chinese decide to get revenge for Blagoveshchensk and start marching people off the ice."
Sure, he had tasked Rachel with informing the population that no, they would not be harmed and would have their property and lives protected under his watch, but that didn't do much to discourage their fears.
Though when Li told him about what happened during the Boxer Rebellion, including the outright massacre at the hands of cossacks, it did make sense. The people remembered what happened, just as they remembered the Honghuzi siding with the Japanese during the Russo-Japanese War and the subsequent hatred they had for the Russians.
Honestly, I can't blame them. If I massacred five thousand Chinese people, then had to live with bandits who hated me so badly that they sided with the Japanese, I would also be scared for my life if a group of heavily-armed Chinese people annihilated my army and marched up to the front gates of my hometown.
Still, if current company was anything to go by, that wasn't everyone in Vladivostok. Or the Far East, for that matter.
"It will be much emptier when they are gone," Yurii Hlushko told him. "Seems the audiences will be much smaller at the theater."
Hlushko was an odd sight for Chen. Sure, there were bound to be some Russian citizens who could speak Chinese, but he didn't think that a lot of them would stick around.
Or be Ukrainians, not Russians.
In fairness, he kind of skimmed that part of the briefing Li had given him. History wasn't really his forte, but Chen could learn quickly enough.
Still, they managed to hit it off pretty well once Chen found out he was a draftsman. Or at least as much
"You know, you still have your chance to leave," he told Hlushko. The Ukrainian engineer shook his head, "Really?"
Hlushko shrugged. "You did promise to protect our rights to speak our language and put an end to Russification."
I mean, yeah, of course I did. Why the Hell wouldn't I?
"Besides," the Ukrainian told him, "You all seem like decent enough people. Very good at killing, though. Scarily good."
"Tell me about it. So, all of you guys are sticking around?"
"As in, Ukrainians?" Chen nodded. "For the most part, yes. You'd be surprised at how far respect and a lack of chauvinism can go, Chen."
"So, what are you going to do then? You know, if China re-annexes the territory."
"Same thing I was doing before. Engineering by day, theater by night."
"Sounds like a plan. In Ukrainian, right?"
"Of course, Chen. You know, if you stick around, you might pick up a word or two."
"Besides the profanities?"
Now that? That got a chuckle out of Yurii.
"That's the first step, Mykhailo."
Assembly of the Nobility, Irkutsk, Irkutsk Governorate, Russian Empire, 8 November 1911
To say things were tense would be an understatement, a fact that was not helped by the armed escort that had flown in with him on helicopters.
Though that was to be expected. Upon Sazonov's arrival in Irkutsk, the two sides had agreed to negotiations and a ceasefire.
Of course, said ceasefire largely boiled down to, "The Republic of China's Air Force will stop bombing the Trans-Siberian Railroad," now that the Chinese had stopped their advancement into Siberia itself.
Still, Song Jiaoren had his own work cut out for him once he'd arrived with the Chinese delegation and their armed escort.
The negotiations were to be done in this ornate building, far away from the gathering crowds around the landing zone, or the Russian and Chinese soldiers working to maintain order.
And so far, it had been going without a hitch.
Obviously, the first issue at hand was the growing humanitarian crisis that came from the damage to the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
"It is clear," Sazonov began, "That the potential starvation and freezing of civilians in the Russian Far East is entirely due to the Chinese attacks on the bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
"In addition," the Russian foreign minister continued, " as successor to the Qing Empire, the Republic of China is in violation of Article 25 of the Hague Convention of 1907, stating that the "attack or bombardment, by whatever means, of towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings which are undefended is prohibited."
"The Chinese delegation objects to this accusation," Song replied, "The destruction of multiple bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway was an attack on a military target in response to the Russian invasion of Manchuria, Xinjiang, and Mongolia. Moreover, the use of the Trans-Siberian Railway to transport troops into the Far East classifies it as a military target."
"Furthermore," Song continued, remembering what notes he had been given beforehand, "Article 25 primarily covers attacks on undefended settlements and residences, not infrastructure. However, the Provisional Republic of China has acknowledged the side-effects of the conflict, and we are willing to assist the Russian government with food, fuel, and reconstruction of the various bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway as a sign of good faith."
"The Russian delegation… accepts these terms," Sazonov relented. All things considered, it did provide an immediate solution for the incoming humanitarian crisis, which meant fewer people would starve and freeze to death. "And the issue of prisoners of war?"
"All prisoners of war have been treated in accordance with Articles 4 to 20 of the Annex to the 1899 Hague Convention. They have been cared for accordingly, and the republic of China is ready to repatriate them to the Russian Empire post haste."
"Very good. And civilians?"
"Civilians have also been treated in accordance with international law. Despite our assurances as such, many Russian civilians have fled from Chinese-held territory to Russian-held territory during the occupation of Outer Manchuria. As such, we have provided supplies and offered safe passage to any and all who would leave, along with their possessions."
"I see… That is much appreciated." From the sound of it, even Sazonov had thought the Chinese would enact reprisals for the Boxer Rebellion. And there almost were, had the Marines not intervened in time. "The Russian delegation acknowledges the Republic of China's assistance and offer of safe passage."
And with that issue, the first day of negotiations had been adjourned. Both delegations returned to their respective quarters: Sazonov and the Russians to their hotel, while Song and the rest of the Chinese delegation returned to their helicopters and flew back to Urga for the night.
As he climbed aboard the helicopter, he planned to get as much sleep as he could on the ride back.
Tomorrow would be another day of negotiations, and he had a feeling it would be a long day.
"Extra! Extra!" the newsboy cried out, "Read all about it! Chinese Revolutionaries defeat Russians and Japanese in Manchuria! Thousands captured by soldiers from the Island of the Future!"
Huang De handed the boy a few coins for the paper, then looked at it. After all, it was the closest he'd ever get to China. Sure, Chinatown was a little slice of China on its own, but he had never actually been to China for over thirty years.
After all, travel from China tended to be a one-way trip. Or at least it would have, had it not been for the Chinese Exclusion Act. Ever since that day, any hope of being reunited with his family had been dashed against a rock.
Still, he had kept in touch with his family through letters, and they seemed to be doing well for themselves, or at least as well as he could hope. Cousin Wen had found work in Manila as a banker, while Aunt Min had just become a grandmother.
But Cousin Wei? Huang shook his head.
Cousin Wei was the firebrand of the family, and he could never keep his mouth shut. Last Huang had heard about him, Wei had run off to join the Tongmenghui, or at least that's what his letters had told him.
And with the Revolution over there, he had no idea if his cousin was still alive. Headstrong as he could be, Huang still loved his cousin more than anything else in the world, ever since they were children.
The very thought that he may be dead, whether at the hands of the Japanese, Chinese, or Manchus, horrified him, and he prayed each night that his family would survive.
But if these reports were to be believed, then there was a good chance that Cousin Wei was still alive.
Not only that, but he wanted the Revolutionaries to win. Huang wasn't a rich man, not by any means, but he had given donations to the Tongmenghui when they'd come to San Francisco. Now, he wasn't a fighter by any means, but he believed in the cause.
Still, the thought of a free China fascinated him, and the Island of the Future even moreso. Ever since he arrived here, there were Americans who treated him like he was a lesser-man, somebody they needed to "civilize." The "White Man's Burden," as Kipling called it, compelled them to act as such.
Sure, they probably had the best of intentions, but he didn't like being condescended to. And that was before most of the white people talked slowly because they thought that he couldn't speak English.
So to hear that there was an island of people just like him who were more advanced, more modernized, and more "civilized" (to use the term he'd come to loathe so dearly) than any civilization on the planet filled him with pride.
Truth be told, he hoped that this island, which had joined the Tongmenghui in their rebellion, would succeed. Not out of cultural posturing or fantasized revenge against the white people who looked down on him, but out of hope.
Hope that one day, those people who talked down to him would see him not as some backwards savage to be uplifted, but as an honest man who was just as capable as he was.
After all, if the most advanced society on the planet was an island full of Chinese people, then it would spit in the face of every single person who believed in the White Man's Burden.
As he folded up the newspaper and walked off to the laundromat, he couldn't help but smile at the thought that China could be the most "civilized" nation on the planet.
Now that he thought about it, he would like to go there, one day. After all, it was an entire island from the future. Who wouldn't want to visit it?
I should answer Wei's letter. I hope he's okay.
Oh, who am I kidding? He's too stubborn to die.
Manila, Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, 3 November 1911
Looking back at it all, Emmanuel Tsu never thought that he would come back to the Philippines. Sure, marrying Laura meant that he was no longer TNT, but there was the reason his family fled to the United States in the first place.
Family rivalry. He didn't like to talk about it, even with his wife.
For her part, she seemed to be fitting in just fine. Being able to speak tagalog certainly helped her, and the fact that she could play the guitar.
As far as his family was concerned, those were two out of three requirements for anyone the Tsus wanted to marry. Of course, the whole atheist thing caused a bit of a stir once that slipped out, but the family had learned to accept it, so long as she respected his beliefs.
"And as long as she makes you happy, anak," he remembered his parents telling him. And if they were anything to go by when he and Laura sailed off from Kaohsiung, that was enough to make them happy.
It was funny, now that he thought about it. Because his ancestors told him the exact same thing.
And like his parents, they'd gotten along well with her, if the crowd of Tsus listening to her sing and play the guitar was anything to go by.
As for him, he'd picked up the daily newspaper to see if there was any update on the war in China.
Chinese Republicans Make Rapid Advances, Push Into Russia… Huh.
Sure, he supported the Revolutionaries, but this was personal for him. After all, Laura's brother was one of the foreign volunteers who'd signed up. Turned out he had a friend from Rojava who'd convinced him.
So for her sake, he would read the newspaper every morning and walk to the telegraph office before work, just to make sure that she never got that dreaded message.
And sure enough, she had gone one more day. Emmanuel himself breathed a sigh of relief at the news, or in this case lack of news, about his brother-in-law.
That, coupled with the news that the NRA had made it all the way to Harbin and Vladivostok meant that, God willing, most of the fighting was over.
But it was the news that the IJA invasion force had been obliterated that put a smile on his face.
Good riddance.
Sure, China was still at war with Japan, but Japan would hopefully collapse in on itself or finally get the message that imperialism wouldn't work this time around.
Honestly, I'll take either, if it means my family stays safe.
Like most Filipinos, he loved his family. Sure, they were a great help at expanding their power tools business to the other provinces, but they were family first.
They'd welcomed him and Laura in with open arms, just as he was sure they would for his parents, if they had been able to make the journey.
Here's hoping they live longer, this time around. If World War II is avoided, then maybe they won't have to live under the occupation?
But that was all hypothetical.
Right now? He was going to listen to his wife's beautiful singing with his great-grandparents.
Outskirts of Pyongyang, Provisional Republic of Korea, 8 November 1911
"Ready!" Park shouted. The soldiers held up their weapons.
"Aim!" Then they took aim.
"Fire!" And fired a volley into the convicted collaborators, sending their bodies crumpling to the ground.
Blood pooled around the corpses of the now-dead Koreans who had been accused and convicted of working for the Japanese.
Or at least people they had managed to convict of being collaborators. Through all the chaos, he'd made sure there was at least some order once they'd rounded up prisoners.
Granted, said order was basically sentencing anyone to death who could be proved to have worked for the IJA (or worse, the Kempeitai), but some sense of order was better than outright lynch mobs.
And for what it was worth, they only executed those who had substantial eyewitness testimony against them or outright evidence. And even then it was mainly those who worked with the Kempeitai.
Or at least he hoped they were people who worked for the Kempeitai.
It wasn't a perfect system, of course. Not when they were mainly relying on testimony due to tangible evidence being scarce at the moment.
Park didn't have enough time to complain, though. Not when the Japanese were retreating.
"Never interrupt your enemy is making a mistake" was what he'd learned while training under the 66th, and he doubted Chen would make an exception here. That, and "Always offer the enemy an out."
Okay, knowing him, Park figured that the Chinese colonel would probably say "Charge through the lines with your M60 tank and encircle them in mobile warfare, then offer them an out."
Too bad we don't have any tanks.
Or cars.
Or horses… wait, I don't know how to ride a horse.
No, as a largely-infantry force, he and his men were content with watching the Japanese ships pull away from the harbor. Sure, they could, in theory, attack the Japanese as they pulled back to the harbor, but their mission was simple.
Put an end to the Japanese occupation.
Sure, that meant that they could kill every single Japanese soldier and collaborator they could get their hands on, that would cost more men and resources than he would like to lose.
Besides, that wasn't his job. Technically.
No, his job was to get rid of the Japanese.
And if they wanted to do his job for him, well, he wasn't about to object.
Occupied Vladivostok, Occupied Territory, 12 November 1911
All things considered, this had to be one of the most successful operations Michael Chen ever done. Not only had the Russians surrendered, but the locals had been fairly cooperative, all things considered.
Admittedly, "Fairly cooperative" in this context meant, "Too busy packing up and preparing to screw off to Chita before the Chinese decide to get revenge for Blagoveshchensk and start marching people off the ice."
Sure, he had tasked Rachel with informing the population that no, they would not be harmed and would have their property and lives protected under his watch, but that didn't do much to discourage their fears.
Though when Li told him about what happened during the Boxer Rebellion, including the outright massacre at the hands of cossacks, it did make sense. The people remembered what happened, just as they remembered the Honghuzi siding with the Japanese during the Russo-Japanese War and the subsequent hatred they had for the Russians.
Honestly, I can't blame them. If I massacred five thousand Chinese people, then had to live with bandits who hated me so badly that they sided with the Japanese, I would also be scared for my life if a group of heavily-armed Chinese people annihilated my army and marched up to the front gates of my hometown.
Still, if current company was anything to go by, that wasn't everyone in Vladivostok. Or the Far East, for that matter.
"It will be much emptier when they are gone," Yurii Hlushko told him. "Seems the audiences will be much smaller at the theater."
Hlushko was an odd sight for Chen. Sure, there were bound to be some Russian citizens who could speak Chinese, but he didn't think that a lot of them would stick around.
Or be Ukrainians, not Russians.
In fairness, he kind of skimmed that part of the briefing Li had given him. History wasn't really his forte, but Chen could learn quickly enough.
Still, they managed to hit it off pretty well once Chen found out he was a draftsman. Or at least as much
"You know, you still have your chance to leave," he told Hlushko. The Ukrainian engineer shook his head, "Really?"
Hlushko shrugged. "You did promise to protect our rights to speak our language and put an end to Russification."
I mean, yeah, of course I did. Why the Hell wouldn't I?
"Besides," the Ukrainian told him, "You all seem like decent enough people. Very good at killing, though. Scarily good."
"Tell me about it. So, all of you guys are sticking around?"
"As in, Ukrainians?" Chen nodded. "For the most part, yes. You'd be surprised at how far respect and a lack of chauvinism can go, Chen."
"So, what are you going to do then? You know, if China re-annexes the territory."
"Same thing I was doing before. Engineering by day, theater by night."
"Sounds like a plan. In Ukrainian, right?"
"Of course, Chen. You know, if you stick around, you might pick up a word or two."
"Besides the profanities?"
Now that? That got a chuckle out of Yurii.
"That's the first step, Mykhailo."
Assembly of the Nobility, Irkutsk, Irkutsk Governorate, Russian Empire, 8 November 1911
To say things were tense would be an understatement, a fact that was not helped by the armed escort that had flown in with him on helicopters.
Though that was to be expected. Upon Sazonov's arrival in Irkutsk, the two sides had agreed to negotiations and a ceasefire.
Of course, said ceasefire largely boiled down to, "The Republic of China's Air Force will stop bombing the Trans-Siberian Railroad," now that the Chinese had stopped their advancement into Siberia itself.
Still, Song Jiaoren had his own work cut out for him once he'd arrived with the Chinese delegation and their armed escort.
The negotiations were to be done in this ornate building, far away from the gathering crowds around the landing zone, or the Russian and Chinese soldiers working to maintain order.
And so far, it had been going without a hitch.
Obviously, the first issue at hand was the growing humanitarian crisis that came from the damage to the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
"It is clear," Sazonov began, "That the potential starvation and freezing of civilians in the Russian Far East is entirely due to the Chinese attacks on the bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
"In addition," the Russian foreign minister continued, " as successor to the Qing Empire, the Republic of China is in violation of Article 25 of the Hague Convention of 1907, stating that the "attack or bombardment, by whatever means, of towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings which are undefended is prohibited."
"The Chinese delegation objects to this accusation," Song replied, "The destruction of multiple bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway was an attack on a military target in response to the Russian invasion of Manchuria, Xinjiang, and Mongolia. Moreover, the use of the Trans-Siberian Railway to transport troops into the Far East classifies it as a military target."
"Furthermore," Song continued, remembering what notes he had been given beforehand, "Article 25 primarily covers attacks on undefended settlements and residences, not infrastructure. However, the Provisional Republic of China has acknowledged the side-effects of the conflict, and we are willing to assist the Russian government with food, fuel, and reconstruction of the various bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway as a sign of good faith."
"The Russian delegation… accepts these terms," Sazonov relented. All things considered, it did provide an immediate solution for the incoming humanitarian crisis, which meant fewer people would starve and freeze to death. "And the issue of prisoners of war?"
"All prisoners of war have been treated in accordance with Articles 4 to 20 of the Annex to the 1899 Hague Convention. They have been cared for accordingly, and the republic of China is ready to repatriate them to the Russian Empire post haste."
"Very good. And civilians?"
"Civilians have also been treated in accordance with international law. Despite our assurances as such, many Russian civilians have fled from Chinese-held territory to Russian-held territory during the occupation of Outer Manchuria. As such, we have provided supplies and offered safe passage to any and all who would leave, along with their possessions."
"I see… That is much appreciated." From the sound of it, even Sazonov had thought the Chinese would enact reprisals for the Boxer Rebellion. And there almost were, had the Marines not intervened in time. "The Russian delegation acknowledges the Republic of China's assistance and offer of safe passage."
And with that issue, the first day of negotiations had been adjourned. Both delegations returned to their respective quarters: Sazonov and the Russians to their hotel, while Song and the rest of the Chinese delegation returned to their helicopters and flew back to Urga for the night.
As he climbed aboard the helicopter, he planned to get as much sleep as he could on the ride back.
Tomorrow would be another day of negotiations, and he had a feeling it would be a long day.
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Uh, was that a group of uptime soldiers summarily executing Korean collaborators?
Seems pretty dubious tbh. Being a collaborator doesn't necessarily merit an execution and there's basically no time pressure the uptime forces are under that would merit an expedited judgement. Shooting someone on what sounds like solely he said, she said is kinda morally bankrupt
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The way I wrote it, it was local recruits who went after collaborators who worked for the IJA or Kempeitai.
As in, when they landed, the uptimers recruited and armed locals, and they were the ones enacting reprisals.
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ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Good point. Added that to the narrative. It helps add some well-needed nuance.
Would somebody like Park want a full-on tribunal? Yes.
But at the same time, there isn't really any Korean government around at the moment, let alone a court system.
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Catching Up With Aki
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Ishigaki Island, Taiwan Province, Republic of China, 9 November 1911
Once again, Higa Akira was alone again. Ever since Michael and Rachel had left, there wasn't much to do on Ishigaki, besides running around.
What was it that Michael called it? PT?
Still, she had ways to keep herself busy, whether it be helping her father with the administration or teaching the children on the island.
Sure, she didn't have much of a formal education, but as her father put it, she was the "Closest we have" to a teacher.
For their part, the children seemed to like all the new equipment that'd come with the islanders. Sure, they enjoyed the playground equipment and the soccer balls, but what they really enjoyed were the movies she played on the projector.
That, of all things, was how she kept their attention. And as far as she could tell, it worked.
Still, she couldn't spend all her time teaching or running, so she began learning to use the internet on Michael's tablet.
And if she was being honest, it astounded her. So much information at the tips of her fingers, and people just acted like it was an everyday occurrence!
Well, not everybody.
There were those who sought to collect all the information on the internet into a single database and compile it for the world to access.
"Project Capsule" was what they called it. Apparently it was headed by one of the universities in Taipei, and it had thousands of volunteers sifting through the internet and submitting any new information that they could find.
It started off with one person uploading the entire contents of an entire website called "Wikipedia." Apparently it was a sort of internet encyclopedia?
Anyways, it all started from there.
An entire avalanche of data was uploaded, from articles to records to movies, music, and images. To her surprise, there were even uploaded copies of video games, whatever those were.
She had played her part, scouring websites and uploading all the books Michael had downloaded onto his tablet for her.
While she might have been alone, she had something to do this time around.
That was, however, until the tablet started ringing, and Michael's phone number appeared on the screen.
Akira pressed the green button, and a familiar voice came through.
"Hey, Aki, can you hear me?"
"Michael?" Her eyes practically lit up. "Where are you?"
"Vladivostok."
"What?"
"Long story. Anyways, we just got the cell tower set up, and I managed to get reception. So I thought I would call up my favorite islander."
"It's good to talk to you too," she told him. "So, how are you? Is everything alright?"
"Aki, I'm fine. Really tired, but fine. You?"
"Busy. Been teaching the kids around the island and helping out with Project Capsule."
"That's the internet archive one, right?"
"Yes. I uploaded some of your books for the archives."
"Cool. Thank God copyright law kinda doesn't exist anymore."
"…What kind of law?"
"Long story. Anyways, how are the movies?"
"Those? They're great! I hooked up the projector to the tablet and played 'Black Panther' last night."
"Did you like it?"
"Yeah. It was interesting. It kind of reminded me of Taiwan, once I read an article about it."
"Huh? What's up?"
"Wakanda."
"Okay… I don't get it, Aki."
"Wakanda is a secluded but technologically-advanced nation in Africa, which is often seen as backwards in your time. It shows Africans being just as, if not more advanced, than their white counterparts."
"Okay…"
"Not only that," she continued, "But Wakanda also uses their technology to help less-advanced people by the end of the movie."
"Yeah, I remember that. So, I guess you liked the movie?"
"Oh it was beautiful, Michael. But there was something else I noticed."
"Yeah?"
"Wakanda is basically Taiwan, isn't it?"
"…What."
"Okay, Michael. When people in 1911 see Asia, what do they think of?"
"Colonies, backwardness, and a lack of scientific advancement?"
"Exactly. And what is Taiwan?"
"A technologically-advanced civilization in Asia that is just as, if not more advanced, than the Europeans or Americans in almost every sense… Oh."
"Do you see it now?"
"Yeah. Taiwan… is Asian Wakanda."
"Exactly!"
"You know, Aki, that wasn't something I ever thought I would say in my life."
"It makes sense though, right?"
"Oh it makes more sense than it has any right to. Still sounds crazy, though."
"Yes. Yes it does, Michael. So, do you think they'll follow through with it?"
"Follow through with what? Sharing our technology with the world to help less-advanced people?"
"Yes."
The line went quiet for a moment while he thought about it.
"Probably. Depends on the technology."
"It doesn't sound so crazy now, does it?"
"Sorta… Aki?"
"Yes?"
"Taiwan really is Asian Wakanda, isn't it?"
Once again, Higa Akira was alone again. Ever since Michael and Rachel had left, there wasn't much to do on Ishigaki, besides running around.
What was it that Michael called it? PT?
Still, she had ways to keep herself busy, whether it be helping her father with the administration or teaching the children on the island.
Sure, she didn't have much of a formal education, but as her father put it, she was the "Closest we have" to a teacher.
For their part, the children seemed to like all the new equipment that'd come with the islanders. Sure, they enjoyed the playground equipment and the soccer balls, but what they really enjoyed were the movies she played on the projector.
That, of all things, was how she kept their attention. And as far as she could tell, it worked.
Still, she couldn't spend all her time teaching or running, so she began learning to use the internet on Michael's tablet.
And if she was being honest, it astounded her. So much information at the tips of her fingers, and people just acted like it was an everyday occurrence!
Well, not everybody.
There were those who sought to collect all the information on the internet into a single database and compile it for the world to access.
"Project Capsule" was what they called it. Apparently it was headed by one of the universities in Taipei, and it had thousands of volunteers sifting through the internet and submitting any new information that they could find.
It started off with one person uploading the entire contents of an entire website called "Wikipedia." Apparently it was a sort of internet encyclopedia?
Anyways, it all started from there.
An entire avalanche of data was uploaded, from articles to records to movies, music, and images. To her surprise, there were even uploaded copies of video games, whatever those were.
She had played her part, scouring websites and uploading all the books Michael had downloaded onto his tablet for her.
While she might have been alone, she had something to do this time around.
That was, however, until the tablet started ringing, and Michael's phone number appeared on the screen.
Akira pressed the green button, and a familiar voice came through.
"Hey, Aki, can you hear me?"
"Michael?" Her eyes practically lit up. "Where are you?"
"Vladivostok."
"What?"
"Long story. Anyways, we just got the cell tower set up, and I managed to get reception. So I thought I would call up my favorite islander."
"It's good to talk to you too," she told him. "So, how are you? Is everything alright?"
"Aki, I'm fine. Really tired, but fine. You?"
"Busy. Been teaching the kids around the island and helping out with Project Capsule."
"That's the internet archive one, right?"
"Yes. I uploaded some of your books for the archives."
"Cool. Thank God copyright law kinda doesn't exist anymore."
"…What kind of law?"
"Long story. Anyways, how are the movies?"
"Those? They're great! I hooked up the projector to the tablet and played 'Black Panther' last night."
"Did you like it?"
"Yeah. It was interesting. It kind of reminded me of Taiwan, once I read an article about it."
"Huh? What's up?"
"Wakanda."
"Okay… I don't get it, Aki."
"Wakanda is a secluded but technologically-advanced nation in Africa, which is often seen as backwards in your time. It shows Africans being just as, if not more advanced, than their white counterparts."
"Okay…"
"Not only that," she continued, "But Wakanda also uses their technology to help less-advanced people by the end of the movie."
"Yeah, I remember that. So, I guess you liked the movie?"
"Oh it was beautiful, Michael. But there was something else I noticed."
"Yeah?"
"Wakanda is basically Taiwan, isn't it?"
"…What."
"Okay, Michael. When people in 1911 see Asia, what do they think of?"
"Colonies, backwardness, and a lack of scientific advancement?"
"Exactly. And what is Taiwan?"
"A technologically-advanced civilization in Asia that is just as, if not more advanced, than the Europeans or Americans in almost every sense… Oh."
"Do you see it now?"
"Yeah. Taiwan… is Asian Wakanda."
"Exactly!"
"You know, Aki, that wasn't something I ever thought I would say in my life."
"It makes sense though, right?"
"Oh it makes more sense than it has any right to. Still sounds crazy, though."
"Yes. Yes it does, Michael. So, do you think they'll follow through with it?"
"Follow through with what? Sharing our technology with the world to help less-advanced people?"
"Yes."
The line went quiet for a moment while he thought about it.
"Probably. Depends on the technology."
"It doesn't sound so crazy now, does it?"
"Sorta… Aki?"
"Yes?"
"Taiwan really is Asian Wakanda, isn't it?"
Last edited:
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Next chapter might take a while, so have a short story where my characters come to the same realization that I had about Second Sunrise Taiwan while I was going for a walk.
Asian Wakanda.
Asian Wakanda.
The Treaty of Irkutsk (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Treaty of Irkutsk
This article is about the 1911 treaty between the Russian Empire and the Republic of China. For the Treaty between the Republic of China and Japan, see Sino-Japanese Armistice of 1912
The Treaty of Irkutsk is a treaty that formally ended the 1911 Russo-Chinese War. It was signed on 11 November 1911 after negotiations from 8 November to 10 November at the Assembly of the Nobility in Irkutsk.
Background
The Russo-Chinese War of 1911 was fought between the Russian Empire, an international power that, despite their defeat in the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War, was still an international power with one of the largest armies in the world, and the Republic of China, a nation that was currently in the midst of the 1911 Chinese Revolution and a concurrent Japanese intervention in Southern Manchuria.
Despite fighting two international powers at once, the Chinese Revolutionaries were reinforced by the Republic of China Armed Forces from Taiwan, who had been mysteriously transported to 1911 during the Great Journey of 1911.
After a rapid advance through China Proper during the 1911 Summer Offensive by the National Republican Army, the Imperial Russian Army announced their intervention into the regions of Xinjiang, Mongolia, and Northern Manchuria. The expeditions into Xinjiang and Mongolia were decisively defeated by the National Revolutionary Army at the Battle of Urumqi and the Battle of Urga, respectively, with the Russian forces either killed or captured.
The Zheltorossiya Intervention Force, led by General Aleksei Brusilov, faced minimal resistance in Northern Manchuria as they occupied the region, with Harbin used as the de-facto regional capital.
In response to this intervention, the National Revolutionary Army launched several air assaults on vital railway bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway south of Lake Baikal. These attacks, coupled with subsequent attacks on the ferries used to cross Lake Baikal, effectively cut off the Zheltorossiya Intervention Force under General Brusilov from reinforcements and supplies. This also had the unintended consequence of cutting off the Russian Far East from the bulk of its supply of fuel and food, leading to an impending humanitarian crisis.
By October, the National Revolutionary Army engaged in a rapid offensive against the joint Japanese-Qing forces in a series of battles throughout southern Manchuria, culminating in the defeat of the Japanese-Qing forces in the Battle of Changchun and the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor,.
After a brief operational pause, the National Revolutionary Army began the Northern Manchurian Offensive in mid-October 1911, which resulted in the complete annihilation of the majority of the Zheltorossiya Intervention Force. However, General Brusilov was able to retreat with survivors to the city of Vladivostok to defend against a siege.
However, Chinese attacks on the still-unfinished defenses of Vladivostok, including the use of thermobaric weapons against the city's primary land fortifications, left Brusilov in a precarious position. This, coupled with the shortage of fuel and food in the city of Vladivostok itself, led to the Russian commander agreeing to a negotiated surrender with Colonel Michael Chen of the 66th Marine Brigade.
Upon receiving news of the defeat in Vladivostok on 2 November 1911, popular support for the Zheltorossiya Intervention plummeted, and there were fears of a repeat of the 1905 Revolution across the Russian Empire. In response, the Tsar sent a telegram to Irkutsk to the Chinese forces, requesting an immediate ceasefire so that terms could be negotiated in Irkutsk.
The National Revolutionary Army accepted these terms, and a ceasefire began on 4 November 1911. During this time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Sazonov traveled eastwards to the city of Irkutsk, while Chinese diplomat Song Jiaoren was selected by Provisional President Sun Yat-Sen to negotiate on the Chinese side. The Assembly of the Nobility was agreed upon as the site of negotiations, though the Chinese were allowed to fly in an armed escort to the meeting.
The Irkutsk Conference
The two delegations met on 8 November 1911 at the Assembly of the Nobility in Irkutsk. Despite the Russian offers of a local hotel for the Chinese delegation, the Chinese delegation declined, preferring to fly their delegation to and from Irkutsk in UH-60 Blackhawks from their base in Urga.
Although the Tsar had initially instructed Foreign Minister Sazonov that Russia was to give no territorial concessions or reparations, declassified documents report that the looming threat of a mass famine and the fuel shortage in the Russian Far East had greatly weakened the Russians' negotiating position. In contrast, the Chinese government was demanding that Russia cede the territory gained in the 1858 Treaty of Aigun and the 1850 Treaty of Peking, given the two's status as Unequal Treaties.
A total of three sessions were held in the city of Irkutsk During the first session, the Chinese and Russian delegations were able to negotiate a resolution to the impending humanitarian crisis, as well as a transfer of prisoners of war between the two countries.
However, the second session was largely unproductive, with the Russian delegation holding a hardline stance against the transfer of territory and war reparations, while the Chinese delegation demanded the ceding of all territory gained in the 1858 Treaty of Aigun and the nationalization of all Russian-held assets in Manchuria.
The third session led to an agreement in which the Chinese government would purchase the Russian railroads in Manchuria at a reduced price, the transfer of the Aigun and Peking treaty territories as well as Russian Sakhalin, and a three-month grace period under which any and all Russian civilians would be escorted out of the ceded territory with their possessions to the Russian city of Chita.
In addition, Russian forces were to withdraw their presence from Chinese soil in perpetuity unless they were formally invited by the Chinese government, as well as acknowledge the Republic of China as the rightful successor to the Qing Empire.
Furthermore, Russia was to renounce any and all claims to Sakhalin as well as the Aigun and Peking Treaty Territories in perpetuity, while the Chinese agreed to assist in the reconstruction of the bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway that had been collapsed during the conflict.
The Treaty of Irkutsk was signed on 14 November 1911. The treaty was ratified by the Provisional Government of the Republic of China on 15 November 1911 and in Russia on 1 December 1911.
Aftermath
The signing of the treaty undid most of the Unequal Treaties negotiated between the Russian Government and the Qing Empire and confirmed China's position as the preeminent power in Asia. As the first foreign treaty signed between the Republic of China and a foreign power, the Treaty of Irkutsk is seen as the first step in undoing the Unequal Treaties that the Qing had signed in the previous century, as well as the beginning of what many historians call the "Chinese Century."
The treaty also ensured the end of Russia's expansionist ambitions in Asia, and was not received well by the Russian populace. While the population was already unhappy about the string of defeats during the Northern Manchuria Campaign, the peace terms were seen as a great humiliation of Russia. Though the Tsar had initially insisted that General Brusilov was directly responsible for the loss of the Russian Far East territories, this only served to further inflame tensions, leading to the New Year's Mutiny of 1912.
Conversely, the Chinese population was ecstatic. News of the Treaty of Portsmouth was received with great fanfare in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Beijing, and Nanjing, among other cities, while the treaty itself, as well as the Sino-Japanese Armistice of 1912, legitimized the Republic of China in the eyes of many Chinese.
Chinese historians, including Dr. Akira Chen and Dr. Martin Li, agreed that the signing of the Treaty of Irkutsk was the moment that the Republic of China established itself as a nation and a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Stab-In-The-Back Myth
The Russian defeat and humiliation in the Treaty of Irkutsk, coupled with the rapid defeats suffered by the Russian Military, led to the formation of a "Stab in the Back" myth among Russian civilians and soldiers in the immediate aftermath.
First published in Letter by an Anonymous Soldier, which was circulated among soldiers in Moscow, this Stab-In-The-Back Myth argues that the Tsar, not General Brusilov, was to blame for the failures in the Russo-Chinese War.
Citing the lack of manpower devoted to the campaign, as well as the lack of food, equipment, and fuel stockpiles in the region, the letter argued that, had the Tsar supplied General Brusilov and the Russian Far East with sufficient manpower and supplies, the Russian forces would have successfully seized Xinjiang, Mongolia, and Manchuria from the Chinese and defended Amur, Primorskaya, and Sakhalin Oblasts.
The letter goes on to place the blame at the feet of Tsar Nikolai II, though the author does not shy away from placing blame on several other groups in the Russian Empire. Said groups include (but are not limited to) the Jews, Socialists, Trade Unionists, Muslims, and non-Russian ethnicities within the Russian Empire.
It is speculated that these groups were chosen due to the role socialists and trade unionists played in the organizing the protests, as well as the fact that many protests occurred in areas of high concentrations of Jews, Muslims, and non-Russian ethnicities.
This sentiment would rise to prominence in the New Year's Mutiny of 1912, and it would continue to influence Russian society and Russian policy throughout the 1910s and 1920s. Historians cite the works of Russian officer Boris Savinkov as how the Stab-In-The-Back Myth truly entered mainstream Russian discourse, though it is unlikely that Savinkov himself penned the original Letter by an Anonymous Soldier.
See also
This article is about the 1911 treaty between the Russian Empire and the Republic of China. For the Treaty between the Republic of China and Japan, see Sino-Japanese Armistice of 1912
The Treaty of Irkutsk is a treaty that formally ended the 1911 Russo-Chinese War. It was signed on 11 November 1911 after negotiations from 8 November to 10 November at the Assembly of the Nobility in Irkutsk.
Background
The Russo-Chinese War of 1911 was fought between the Russian Empire, an international power that, despite their defeat in the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War, was still an international power with one of the largest armies in the world, and the Republic of China, a nation that was currently in the midst of the 1911 Chinese Revolution and a concurrent Japanese intervention in Southern Manchuria.
Despite fighting two international powers at once, the Chinese Revolutionaries were reinforced by the Republic of China Armed Forces from Taiwan, who had been mysteriously transported to 1911 during the Great Journey of 1911.
After a rapid advance through China Proper during the 1911 Summer Offensive by the National Republican Army, the Imperial Russian Army announced their intervention into the regions of Xinjiang, Mongolia, and Northern Manchuria. The expeditions into Xinjiang and Mongolia were decisively defeated by the National Revolutionary Army at the Battle of Urumqi and the Battle of Urga, respectively, with the Russian forces either killed or captured.
The Zheltorossiya Intervention Force, led by General Aleksei Brusilov, faced minimal resistance in Northern Manchuria as they occupied the region, with Harbin used as the de-facto regional capital.
In response to this intervention, the National Revolutionary Army launched several air assaults on vital railway bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway south of Lake Baikal. These attacks, coupled with subsequent attacks on the ferries used to cross Lake Baikal, effectively cut off the Zheltorossiya Intervention Force under General Brusilov from reinforcements and supplies. This also had the unintended consequence of cutting off the Russian Far East from the bulk of its supply of fuel and food, leading to an impending humanitarian crisis.
By October, the National Revolutionary Army engaged in a rapid offensive against the joint Japanese-Qing forces in a series of battles throughout southern Manchuria, culminating in the defeat of the Japanese-Qing forces in the Battle of Changchun and the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor,.
After a brief operational pause, the National Revolutionary Army began the Northern Manchurian Offensive in mid-October 1911, which resulted in the complete annihilation of the majority of the Zheltorossiya Intervention Force. However, General Brusilov was able to retreat with survivors to the city of Vladivostok to defend against a siege.
However, Chinese attacks on the still-unfinished defenses of Vladivostok, including the use of thermobaric weapons against the city's primary land fortifications, left Brusilov in a precarious position. This, coupled with the shortage of fuel and food in the city of Vladivostok itself, led to the Russian commander agreeing to a negotiated surrender with Colonel Michael Chen of the 66th Marine Brigade.
Upon receiving news of the defeat in Vladivostok on 2 November 1911, popular support for the Zheltorossiya Intervention plummeted, and there were fears of a repeat of the 1905 Revolution across the Russian Empire. In response, the Tsar sent a telegram to Irkutsk to the Chinese forces, requesting an immediate ceasefire so that terms could be negotiated in Irkutsk.
The National Revolutionary Army accepted these terms, and a ceasefire began on 4 November 1911. During this time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Sazonov traveled eastwards to the city of Irkutsk, while Chinese diplomat Song Jiaoren was selected by Provisional President Sun Yat-Sen to negotiate on the Chinese side. The Assembly of the Nobility was agreed upon as the site of negotiations, though the Chinese were allowed to fly in an armed escort to the meeting.
The Irkutsk Conference
The two delegations met on 8 November 1911 at the Assembly of the Nobility in Irkutsk. Despite the Russian offers of a local hotel for the Chinese delegation, the Chinese delegation declined, preferring to fly their delegation to and from Irkutsk in UH-60 Blackhawks from their base in Urga.
Although the Tsar had initially instructed Foreign Minister Sazonov that Russia was to give no territorial concessions or reparations, declassified documents report that the looming threat of a mass famine and the fuel shortage in the Russian Far East had greatly weakened the Russians' negotiating position. In contrast, the Chinese government was demanding that Russia cede the territory gained in the 1858 Treaty of Aigun and the 1850 Treaty of Peking, given the two's status as Unequal Treaties.
A total of three sessions were held in the city of Irkutsk During the first session, the Chinese and Russian delegations were able to negotiate a resolution to the impending humanitarian crisis, as well as a transfer of prisoners of war between the two countries.
However, the second session was largely unproductive, with the Russian delegation holding a hardline stance against the transfer of territory and war reparations, while the Chinese delegation demanded the ceding of all territory gained in the 1858 Treaty of Aigun and the nationalization of all Russian-held assets in Manchuria.
The third session led to an agreement in which the Chinese government would purchase the Russian railroads in Manchuria at a reduced price, the transfer of the Aigun and Peking treaty territories as well as Russian Sakhalin, and a three-month grace period under which any and all Russian civilians would be escorted out of the ceded territory with their possessions to the Russian city of Chita.
In addition, Russian forces were to withdraw their presence from Chinese soil in perpetuity unless they were formally invited by the Chinese government, as well as acknowledge the Republic of China as the rightful successor to the Qing Empire.
Furthermore, Russia was to renounce any and all claims to Sakhalin as well as the Aigun and Peking Treaty Territories in perpetuity, while the Chinese agreed to assist in the reconstruction of the bridges along the Trans-Siberian Railway that had been collapsed during the conflict.
The Treaty of Irkutsk was signed on 14 November 1911. The treaty was ratified by the Provisional Government of the Republic of China on 15 November 1911 and in Russia on 1 December 1911.
Aftermath
The signing of the treaty undid most of the Unequal Treaties negotiated between the Russian Government and the Qing Empire and confirmed China's position as the preeminent power in Asia. As the first foreign treaty signed between the Republic of China and a foreign power, the Treaty of Irkutsk is seen as the first step in undoing the Unequal Treaties that the Qing had signed in the previous century, as well as the beginning of what many historians call the "Chinese Century."
The treaty also ensured the end of Russia's expansionist ambitions in Asia, and was not received well by the Russian populace. While the population was already unhappy about the string of defeats during the Northern Manchuria Campaign, the peace terms were seen as a great humiliation of Russia. Though the Tsar had initially insisted that General Brusilov was directly responsible for the loss of the Russian Far East territories, this only served to further inflame tensions, leading to the New Year's Mutiny of 1912.
Conversely, the Chinese population was ecstatic. News of the Treaty of Portsmouth was received with great fanfare in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Beijing, and Nanjing, among other cities, while the treaty itself, as well as the Sino-Japanese Armistice of 1912, legitimized the Republic of China in the eyes of many Chinese.
Chinese historians, including Dr. Akira Chen and Dr. Martin Li, agreed that the signing of the Treaty of Irkutsk was the moment that the Republic of China established itself as a nation and a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Stab-In-The-Back Myth
The Russian defeat and humiliation in the Treaty of Irkutsk, coupled with the rapid defeats suffered by the Russian Military, led to the formation of a "Stab in the Back" myth among Russian civilians and soldiers in the immediate aftermath.
First published in Letter by an Anonymous Soldier, which was circulated among soldiers in Moscow, this Stab-In-The-Back Myth argues that the Tsar, not General Brusilov, was to blame for the failures in the Russo-Chinese War.
Citing the lack of manpower devoted to the campaign, as well as the lack of food, equipment, and fuel stockpiles in the region, the letter argued that, had the Tsar supplied General Brusilov and the Russian Far East with sufficient manpower and supplies, the Russian forces would have successfully seized Xinjiang, Mongolia, and Manchuria from the Chinese and defended Amur, Primorskaya, and Sakhalin Oblasts.
The letter goes on to place the blame at the feet of Tsar Nikolai II, though the author does not shy away from placing blame on several other groups in the Russian Empire. Said groups include (but are not limited to) the Jews, Socialists, Trade Unionists, Muslims, and non-Russian ethnicities within the Russian Empire.
It is speculated that these groups were chosen due to the role socialists and trade unionists played in the organizing the protests, as well as the fact that many protests occurred in areas of high concentrations of Jews, Muslims, and non-Russian ethnicities.
This sentiment would rise to prominence in the New Year's Mutiny of 1912, and it would continue to influence Russian society and Russian policy throughout the 1910s and 1920s. Historians cite the works of Russian officer Boris Savinkov as how the Stab-In-The-Back Myth truly entered mainstream Russian discourse, though it is unlikely that Savinkov himself penned the original Letter by an Anonymous Soldier.
See also
- Russo-Chinese War of 1911
- Stab-In-The-Back Myth
- Letter by an Anonymous Soldier
- Song Jiaoren
- Sergei Sazonov
- Sino-Japanese Armistice of 1912
- The Nanjing Convention of 1913
- Sick Man of Eurasia
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The Qing claim to the Sakhalins does seem kind of suspect given a wiki glance seems to make it sound like they basically just ran roughshod over the native inhabitants. Though I guess there's really no better alternative for them given the islands only other options are Imperial Japan
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Yes to all three.
No spoilers, but it won't be a one-for-one parallel with the Nazis.
So you won't see concentration camps like the Nazis did. But you could see things like increased Russification, purges, pogroms, and the Tsarist version of the gulags.
Personally, I think it would be kinda lazy to just do a repeat of Nazi Germany but in Russia, so this will be its own version of evil.
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Katorga is the name typically given to the Tsarist predecessor to the gulags.
ChrisProvidence
Time Traveling Unequal Treaty Destroyer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
From what I can tell, the Qing mostly demanded tribute from the locals. However, it was officially ceded during the Treaty of Peking.
Well, the Qing gave up any claim to the island as part of the terms. Since the territories gained from the Treaties of Aigun and Peking were returned in the Treaty of Irkutsk, Sakhalin would come with it.
That, and there really isn't any way for Russia to administer the island short of sailing around the world, and the only other option being Japan.
Who China is also at war with.
- Location
- San Francisco
Oh wow, suddenly a certain game's choice of naming seems even more silly than it already did.
(Singularity, for the uninitiated.)
The Stab-in-the-back myth actually originates from, and was popularised by, the Imperial German Army and conservative forces in Germany in the last months of WW1. Mostly as a way to cover their asses as German High Command knew that the real 'culprit' was for the loss of the war and the armistice was themselves, since they essentially ran Germany as a military dictatorship and accepted the armistice contrary to the (very delusional) Kaiser's wishes.