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A Second Sunrise: Taiwan of 2020 Sent Back to 1911

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Arashi Zaros said:
And now that we already deal with the 'alliance' enemy, what plan you have forward aside from wrap it up and write new story ? (since I feel aside from write some topic if there are no more main plot next and are begin to lacking interesting/entertain chapter idea, then it better to give it open ending rather than continue but bloated there)
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I'm probably going to keep it going, since there is a whole interesting world to see in the aftermath, not just warfare.

The story is less about a single overarching plot and more about seeing how the world reacts to a point of divergence that rapidly changes from our own.

From culture to science to entertainment to just how the average person's live improves, there is a lot in this world that can be written about.

Music, economics, entertainment, civil rights, global cooperation, climate, nuclear proliferation, socialism and fascism in various forms, sports, transportation, logistics, gaming, communications, and of course space travel.

Take economics, for example. It may seem boring at first, but I can write a whole chapter about preventing a global liquidity crisis in the aftermath of the war.

Then, I can talk about the social ramifications of that crisis because a good chunk of the population is probably pissed at the banks for said crisis.

After that, I can do a whole section on people switching to credit unions out of a distrust for big banks and how that encourages a more community-oriented economic outlook.
 
Nice. Finally we get to my favorite parts of kingdom building stories, the cultural invasion.

I'm a sucker for random people POVs on these kind of stories.
 
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Lights, Camera, Action!
  • Sidestory
    • Boston Cinema, Boston, Massachusetts, 29 October 1915

    When it came to business, Joseph Patrick Kennedy knew a good investment when he saw one.

    Be it banking, real estate, or stocks, he knew what worked and what didn't. Even if he didn't, he had over a century of knowledge to work from.

    Film was no exception, and he had been one of the first to see its potential when it came across the pacific as part of a diplomatic endeavour.

    While yes, Edison and so many others had been making movies for over a decade, a man like Joseph Kennedy knew these were anything but that.

    The kinetoscope and the accompanying kinetophone were all well and good, but these modern movies simply blew them out of the water. The kinetophone was still in its infancy, yet these modern movies could handle sound and dialogue in real time.

    Edison had raised a fuss, of course, but Kennedy's persistence (as well as a few greased palms and a fair amount of money) were all he needed to ensure that his own modern equipment would arrive on time.

    And arrive they did, along with the salesman who'd sold it in the first place.

    "The converters should prevent any electrical issues," the uptimer American man promised. "Between this and the solar panels, you should have more than enough power your movies throughout the day."

    "Of course," the Bostonian agreed. "And the movies?"

    "There are a decent selection. Romance, Action, Mysteries, Drama, Animation, and Documentaries are included in the package."

    "In English, right?"

    "'Course they are. Even vetted them to make sure they don't cause any problems down the line."

    United Artists Headquarters, Beverly Hills, California, 8 January 1916

    "And to think," Sydney told his brother, "You would have stayed silent for so many more years!"

    "The circumstances have changed," Charlie told his brother. "And so have the means."

    "That they have," Griffith agreed, before glancing at the cameras they had purchased. "That said, not everyone can handle the transition."

    Griffith had a point, as much as the Chaplin brothers didn't want to admit it. Some people simply didn't have the voice for talkies, and they knew it.

    "Show, don't tell," Mary Pickford countered, and motioned to one of the musical montages on screen. "Literally, in their cases."

    All eyes turned to Douglas Fairbanks, who knew all too well why they she had said that.

    "I have my weaknesses," he admitted, "But I have my strengths as well. You all can handle the talking, and I can handle the action."

    "Some of the greatest scenes in future cinema need no words," Sidney agreed. "You'll have your niche. Don't you worry."

    National Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, 24 August 1917

    "Can we go again?" Tyler asked his father. "It was so much fun!"

    "You've seen all the movies they have to offer," Marcus Wolff told his son. "Every single Star Wars movie, and the Indiana Jones trilogy. Twice."

    "They're fun movies," Tyler answered, and Marcus had to agree. "And they have new animations coming soon!"

    "Oh alright," Marcus relented. "But you need to keep up your studies if you want to watch another. Deal?"

    "Deal!"

    "Pókemon Movies Accused of Immoral Values," The Daily Mail, January 1918

    When one thinks of the Japanese animated series that has swept the nation, "Immorality" was not the first that came to mind.

    While the wardrobes are risqué at times, the fact remains that the series is little more than the logical conclusion of the youth adventure stories that so many of us enjoy.

    Some, however, have begged to differ, including one Mr. Hamish Kensington, a Conservative MP from London, who argues that the series of children's animations promotes "immorality in every regard."

    "One need only look at the entire logic of the universe," said the parliamentarian during an interview. "The narrative promotes such baseless theories as evolution that will almost-certainly poison our children's minds. Nevermind the outfits some of these people wear! So many young women dress as women of the night, rather than adventurers!"

    "It is the brutality of animal fighting" Mr. Kensington argues, "that is the crux of the issue. Creatures are captured and then forced to battle for their owners' amusement."

    In response, several in favor of the animations have pointed out that Mr. Kensington not only misunderstood the plot of the animations, but they also pointed out that said man is also an avid fox hunter.

    Tokyo, Japan, 24 July 1919

    The four young men were having the time of their lives at the back-to-back features of Rurouni Kenshin.

    Ryota and Toru enjoyed the fight scenes, while Tomoya watched it for the plot.

    Takahiro, for his part, had been the one who'd convinced them to stay around long enough to listen to the music during the credits, and the other three had almost laughed at him.

    That was, at least, until they heard it all. Rather than the more atmospheric music that accompanied the scenes, these closing songs were loud, emotional, and fast-paced.

    And the other loved it, just as he'd told them they would.

    Moscow, Russian Empire, 1920

    Vasily Vladimirovich Ivanov had not been one for national pride.

    He'd fought with General Brusilov in Vladivostok, been captured by the Chinese, and then watched in horror as Prime Minister Diterikhs nearly plunged the country into civil war.

    But today? Today, he had seen the great epic Peter the Great in theaters, and it was more than he could have hoped for.

    While yes, the Russian government had handed out tickets and had invested heavily into the production, the fact remained that this was a good movie.

    If anything, it was inspirational, with how it showed the protagonist's fight to bring Russia into the future and turn the Motherland into a modern state.

    Was it propaganda? Absolutely.

    That said, it did make him feel a bit better knowing that a better, more-modern Russia was possible.
     
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  • Sidestory
    • ChrisProvidence said:
    "It is the brutality of animal fighting" Mr. Kensington argues, "that is the crux of the issue. Creatures are captured and then forced to battle for their owners' amusement."
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    TBH, this has been the thing that kind of turned me off to coming back to Pokemon over the years. It does seem like a weird messaging thing. But I don't begrudge people who like it. It's silly cartoons so it's not all that worth getting worked up over.

    norm2434 said:
    Not even Hentai, just the average anime will do
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    His head would explode.
     
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    Things Nanjing Accord Personnel Are No Longer Allowed to Do (Part 2)
  • Informational
    • CaptainYumYum said:
    if he thinks pokemon is immoral wait until someone shows him hentai. Poor fella will have a stroke
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    norm2434 said:
    Not even Hentai, just the average anime will do
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    Vadrigos said:
    His head would explode.
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    Things Nanjing Accord Personnel Aren't Allowed to Do Part 2

    51. Export pornography to downtimer markets.

    52. Export hentai to downtimer markets. No, seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you?!

    53. Steal artifacts from the British Museum that weren't stolen. Seriously, it's not that hard.

    54. Do not tell religious fundamentalists in occupied territories that "Yes, we are godless sodomites."

    55. HTC has provided you with a phone to use translation apps, control drones, and share intel. Stop playing Pokémon GO while you're on-duty.

    56. Sharing culture with downtimers is encouraged. Singing "Come Out You Black and Tans" at Irish Unionist POWs does not count as that.

    57. Marines have actual landing craft now. You do not need to "Ram them into the shore like they did in 1911."

    58. Cultural exchanges are good. Mixing Russian vodka with French wine does not count as that.

    59. Supporting local businesses in occupied territories is a good idea. Spending your paycheck on Czech beer is not a good idea.

    60. No, the reason we didn't bomb the breweries was not because "We wanted to save them for later." They were civilian targets that posed no threat.

    61. Why is there graffiti of CTRL+ALT+DEL's "Loss" painted everywhere our forces advance to?

    62. Crayons are to be distributed to local children. Not fed to our marines.

    63. "The 6th Marine Division's commander ate a crayon when he enlisted" does not mean they are edible. General Chen still regrets that to this day.

    64. "The Emu War" does not give you permission to shoot them with your .50 caliber machine gun. We have better ways of dealing with them.

    65. "Psychological Warfare" is a genuine tactic that should be used accordingly, not to "Fuck with the enemy troops."

    66. No, we aren't going to start exporting opium to the British, even if "It would be really funny."

    67. Custom paint jobs are good for morale, but please stop painting Astolfo on the CNS Yushan's CIWS. General Chen stopped thinking it was funny after the third time.

    68. "No, Canadian provinces considering joining the United States does not mean you don't have to occupy it in the meantime."

    69. Drones are for reconnaissance. Not aerial racing.

    70. "Downfall" may be on the list of approved films to be shown in Germany, but you have to show the whole film. Not just the Hitler rant.

    71. No, we don't pay the British in tea. Stop asking.

    72. No, we don't pay the British in opium, either.

    73. Unit pets are adorable, but you need to fill out the paperwork for every single one of them. Yes, Michael, that includes the Welsh sheepdog puppy you adopted.

    74. The Chinese bureaucracy is a vital part of our government, but that does not mean you can describe China as "What if the DMV ran an entire country?"

    75. Isekai is a genre of anime, not an explanation of how Taiwan was sent to the past.
     
  • Informational
    • Vadrigos said:
    TBH, this has been the thing that kind of turned me off to coming back to Pokemon over the years. It does seem like a weird messaging thing. But I don't begrudge people who like it. It's silly cartoons so it's not all that worth getting worked up over.
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    i agree. But it also leads into a slippery slope. I also don't like violence, but i'm still gonna watch Rambo. It's more about the intent of the media. And the intent of pokemon certainly isn't to promote animal cruelty.
     
    ChrisProvidence said:
    64. "The Emu War" does not give you permission to shoot them with your .50 caliber machine gun. We have better ways of dealing with them.
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    As an Australian i can say that it won't matter. We ran out of ammo and had to retreat, less the godless hoards of emu overrun our positions.

    we came to accept the inevitable, become one with nature. If a spider enters your house it is now a tennant and you must name it and add it to the lease.
     
    Vadrigos said:
    TBH, this has been the thing that kind of turned me off to coming back to Pokemon over the years. It does seem like a weird messaging thing.
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    Eh, at least in the anime pokemon are very clearly sapient. And, at least where the protagonist is involved, doing what they do entirely of their own free will. And anyone that would try to make them do otherwise is portrayed as the bad guys.

    So it's closer to boxing matches than dog fighting.
     
    Political Capital
  • Sidestory
    • Wu-Fong Residence, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    "Okay," Shannon said again, before fixing up her headset. She needed both hands free if she was going to paint. "Why are you asking me this?"

    "Because your wife's busy," Li told her over the phone, "Plus, Michael and Aki are spending time with their kids, and I'd feel guilty about taking that from them."

    "Don't you have anybody else you can talk to about this? Surely you have to have at least one other friend you can trust, right?"

    "Actually, you four are some of the only friends I have."

    "Wow. No offense, Marty, but that's kinda sad."

    "I meant friends I can trust, Shannon. Plus, Sun and Huang are more colleagues than anything else."

    "Ken Ma?"

    "Busy rebuilding Singapore."

    "Wang Jingwei?"

    "Yeah… people still call him a 'Hanjian.'"

    "Ambassador Lea?"

    "One, he's American. Two, he's kind of gone off the deep end ever since the war started with his whole weirdo pseudo-race war theory."

    Marty, what the hell are you talking about?

    "Yeah… He wasn't happy about us allying with Japan. And he was pissed when we declared war against Britain."

    "Right. So, I'm the only person you trust enough to bounce ideas off of?"

    "Pretty much."

    "So, what's this about, anyways, Marty?"

    "Political capital."

    "Come again?"

    "Political capital. It's a fancy way of saying 'How much shit we can get away with.' And right now, we're drowning in it."

    "Yeah? I mean, we just won a global war, Marty. The KMT is stronger than ever."

    "Yeah, that's the thing," he told her. "All of the KMT is stronger than ever."

    You just love your lectures, don't you, Marty?

    "So the KMT is still the largest party in China with over a supermajority in votes in both houses," she figured. "Because we're in a giant tent that basically encompasses the entirety of the political spectrum besides some fringe and regionalist parties?"

    "More or less. The KMT has enough seats in the Assembly to make Putin's United Russia or the Japanese LDP look like posers."

    "And with the victory, the KMT's power would be entrenched… both the good and the bad."

    "Precisely. Sure, this is Sun's party, but it's also the party of your father, as well."

    Shannon groaned. "Don't fucking remind me."

    "Sorry. But it's true. The KMT is the party of modernity and technology, but it's also the party of worker suicide, cheap mainland labor, and good old-fashioned corruption."

    "Yeah," she told him. "I know."

    No shit, I know. I grew up in that world.

    There's a reason I left it.

    "So," Marty offered, and she knew that tone. Her friend wanted to sell her something, but she didn't know just what it was. "What are you going to do about it?"

    "I have some connections to help out whistleblowers." Which was a fancy way of saying that she still had people on the inside whom she'd point in the right direction. "Let's just say that they know where to go."

    "No buried bodies?"

    "Not yet," she figured, while still figuring out just what he was getting at. "For fuck's sake, Marty, stop with the cryptic stuff. We're on the same side, and you know it."

    "Sorry. Force of habit."

    "I know," she sighed. "Rachel's the same way. So I'm going to do what I do with her and just ask you up front what this is about."

    "I know where all the dead bodies are, Shannon."

    "Okay, better. Wait, when you mean 'dead bodies,' you mean that as a metaphor, right?"

    "Most of the time. Long story short, I'm sitting on a powder keg of info that would be damaging to a whole lot of influential people if it leaked. Corruption, exploitation, and literal dead bodies."

    "How big a barrel are you talking about?"

    "Enough to explode damn near most of the KMT or catch them with the shrapnel."

    "Including…"

    "Yes, including him."

    Good.

    "I'm in."

    "You are? I mean, Rachel told me you would, but I thought I'd have to give you this grand lecture about duty and fucking your dad over."

    "Yeah, well, I was already doing that. So, how deep does this go?"

    "Well, it's not everyone. Take the military, for example. Sure, there are some generals that are selling guns and ammo to the triads on the black market, but there are just as many who aren't."

    "Like Mike, right?"

    At least I hope so.

    "Mike is an exception, since he literally believes that he will go to Hell if he does corrupt shit and threatened to shoot anyone who hurt innocents. Mostly because of the first thing."

    Oh thank goodness.

    "He truly is one of a kind, isn't he?"

    "Kinda? Sure, he's definitely the only Catholic general in the military, but there are others who are clear of corruption. There's Cai E, who lives up to his legendary reputation of course."

    "He's the one who fought Yuan in the Lost History, right?"

    "Right. Honestly, the majority of generals are like him: Professionals who have a code of conduct that they follow. Guys like Mike just take it to the extreme."

    "So, who's the kind of general who's corrupt? Jiang Jieshi?"

    "Actually no. Ever since he learned about his Lost History self, Jiang has stayed as far from politics and corruption as humanly possible out of fear of making the same mistakes."

    "Huh. Well, that's an improvement."

    "It sure is, Shannon. And that's the good news: Most of the military is pretty clean, all things considered. Turns out not having a warlord era is a good way to keep corrupt assholes out of your ranks."

    Because you don't need them.

    "So it's mostly politicians and businessmen?"

    "Yeah."

    "Like who?"

    "Well, I can tell you who it isn't," Marty told her. "Sun's pretty clean. Same with Wang Jingwei, of all people."

    "Him?"

    "Yup. Turns out he's been scared shitless of turning into his Lost History self, so he has been doing everything he can to salvage his reputation with Sun's help."

    "I guess that's one way to do it," Shannon figured. "But for all the corrupt politicians and businessmen, how does that work?"

    "The usual. Kickbacks, ties to the triads, graft, covering up abuses, and bribery. Same with a lot of businesses, but I guess you can add 'Exploiting cheap mainlander labor and poor working conditions.'"

    "So what happens next?"

    "I compile it and then send it through the right channels," Marty figured. "People get busted and volun-told to retire, and the KMT and China both end up better-off."

    Well, if there was ever a time to purge corrupt members of the government, now was as good a time as any.

    "This could destroy the KMT," she warned. "No amount of political capital can save them if the sheer amount of corruption is high enough."

    "Then it's a good thing we have rank-choice voting."

    "Even if it was designed so KMT factions didn't wipe one another out and lose to the fringe candidates?"

    "Especially when it's designed to prevent that, Shannon. God knows we'll need it if they actually do implode.
     
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  • Sidestory
    • ["Sorry. But it's true. The KMT is the party of modernity and technology, but it's also the party of worker suicide, cheap mainland labor, and good old-fashioned corruption."]
    And now we finally see any mention about china problem here, so far if reader haven't read to this one they would think china seem to not even have any corruption and 'corporation' incident, although this is a bit of 'tell' style, so hope some more chapter show the POV of some people who either in the corruption scene or victim of them here to give more idea of situation (mostly at the place it happen rather than just simply told like this side chapter)
     
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    getting the corrupt assholes out is good. Especially now after the war. Sometimes assholes are tolerable during war, if only because there are more immediate concerns. But they can really screw over a recovery effort.
     
    ChrisProvidence said:
    Wu-Fong Residence, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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    Oh boy, I sure do love living in a free and transparent democracy with several different competing parties!

    No, seriously, what is it with Asia and one-party states? Even the democracies have them!

    By the way, if the Kuomintang still follows the OTL Three Principles of the People ideology, has it left the political tutelage phase? Was it ever even a thing thanks to the rapidity of the revolution and uptime influence?
    In a more general manner, how different is the KMT from its OTL counterpart(s)? What happened to the pre-ISOT political parties of Taiwan, the modern KMT in particular?

    Speaking of the KMT, hopefully Wang Jingwei gets a better end than he did IRL. His biography reads like a classical tragedy: a popular hero who fights against an authoritarian and corrupt regime to secure the legacy of his mentor only to end up as the very thing he fought, rightfully hated by his people for as long as he will be remembered. For the most part, it seems that he hasn't had much success in dissociating his name from his counterpart from OTL; hopefully that'll change, he seems like a genuinely nice person.
    Apparently Wang Jingwei isn't actually his real name, it's Wang Zhaoming; Wang Jingwei is his pen name from the pre-revolutionary period. Changing his name could be a good way to dissociate himself from his counterpart, but I'm not sure how helpful that would actually be.
     
    The talk of famous downtimers has me curious. How's Mao been doing? Last we heard from him, he was in the army under an assumed name. He'd be around 30 or so, right? That's time for a few promotions, especially considering how for all his faults he's a genuinely excellent military man.
     
    SirKaid said:
    The talk of famous downtimers has me curious. How's Mao been doing? Last we heard from him, he was in the army under an assumed name. He'd be around 30 or so, right? That's time for a few promotions, especially considering how for all his faults he's a genuinely excellent military man.
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    Airborne Special Services Company field commander who fought his way through Indochina, Indonesia, India, North Africa, The Balkans, Central Europe, and finally Britain.

    He's a good soldier, but like Chiang, the Lost History has basically made him stay as far away from politics as humanly possible.
     
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    There are two paths for historical Chinese figures in Second Sunrise:

    1. Stay as far away from politics as humanly possible so you can't screw up.

    2. Put 110% into everything you do so people stop calling you a traitor.
     
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