Beijing Lihong

[Phoenix]

Begin of January 1908
Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City, Beijing

The Grand Secretaries gathered for the usual before-dawn audience when their revered Empress-Mother stormed into the Hall and slammed Her August Imperial Person on the smaller throne besides the Dragon Throne.
"The news," she growled. Clearly the Most Serene Majestic Temper was not in a good mood this day.
Kang Yi of the Board of War kow-towed. "We are still making advance on the isles, Your Most Serene Imperial Majesty," he reported, "but the Demons came up with a novelty..."
Her eyes flashed and an Imperial Hand fluttered towards the hapless Grand Secretary to continue without delay.
"They are using the Green Cross symbol, the one that signals wounded and medication are being transported, in order to bring food to their starving troops on the isles. At first we didn't object, since our most Benevolent Country has signed treaties to the effect of respecting that ensign when it flutters from a ship. And the populace on those isles are starving after all."
"So, no doubt the Demons are working fiendish deeds with a symbol meant to be innocent."
"Indeed Most Gracious Liege. First one ship... Then a second..."
"Let me guess," his Empress purred with a nasty little smirk, "they've set up a regular ferrying system ?"
"Uhm yes. And they are importing more food than ever before during peace-time."
"What are your counter-measures ?"
"We are hailing the ships, as is our right, boarding them and then impounding all the excessive foodstuffs. Leaving only what is sufficient for infants so to speak."
"And our vessels are doing what with the foodstuffs ?"
"Feeding the fishies, Oh Most Benevolent Liege."
The Empress-Mother beamed: "Never be it said that the Middle Kingdom isn't generous towards all of its subjects."

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Peking Gazette, Beijing Lihong

Cycle 76, Year Ding-Wei, Month 11, day 29
January 2nd, 1908

DEVILS ABUSING GREEN CROSS FLAG

The Bingbu Yamen has informed us that the newest outrage of the New Swiss Yang Quizi is to abuse an internationally agreed-upon symbol of truce and medical succour in order to feed their starving troops on the isles of Hainan and Taiwan.
A request was received by the Bingbu Yamen a short while ago for New Swiss ships bearing the Green Cross ensign to deliver medications to the beleaguered troops and evacuating the wounded. This was of course graciously allowed, in line with international treaties signed to that effect.
But soon it became clear what nefarious intents the Demons were trying to carry out as more and more ships carrying this Green Cross ensign were signalled and there even appeared to have been set up a regularly service several times a week. Our valiant naval officers grew suspicious and soon orders were given and carried out to board and inspect these vessels.
Truth to tell no weapons and fresh troops were found aboard, yet the amount of food greatly outnumbered the few meager medications transported and our ships' captains rightly impounded the foodstuffs and had them thrown overboard. As one Captain remarked to this humble reporter: "We aren't pirates or thieves. We won't take to sell or keep. We just make it impossible for them to use it now or in the future."
They did however leave some foodstuffs aboard, "what is needed to feed infants" it was said.
And we are left again in stunned astonishment to the low depths these Demons are wont to go in search of their evil deeds to be done.

[Phoenix]

January 8th 1908

Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City, Beijing

As usually the Grand Secretaries convened in the Hall of Supreme Harmony for their daily very-early-in-the-morning audience with Her Most Serene Imperial Majesty, but this time Kang Yi of the Board of War had brought along a few of his highest-ranking generals and admirals. Her Most Serene Imperial Majesty wanted a war-report, and this time Kang Yi was not willing to take the gale force of Her Wrath on his own. Let the sabre-rattlers and twisting squids take it for once, he thought grimly, as the young aide of one of the generals scurried past and handed his master some documents.
"Ah, Jiang Zhiqing," that general smiled, "thank you. You may stay with the others now, in the lesser hall."
The young man bowed and left.
He was certainly fast enough to miss the Grand Entrance of his Empress.
Who regally planted her Imperial bottom on the lesser throne and gestured for the audience to begin.
As Kang Yi made his report he noticed the beginnings of an Imperial Frown forming on the Imperial Fore-head. So he was quick enough to introduce his generals and admirals and let them talk themselves into certain oblivion.
Apparently they sought to swamp the impending Imperial Temper Tantrum with figures and forecasts, but Kang Yi knew his Empress quite well by now and knew she wouldn't be fazed by statistics. Ever the practical female she would remember the hard facts and descend on the cost and results, not be swayed by heroic tales and impressive accounts. As he stood there, listening to his (technically) subordinates babbling on he noticed the doors to the lesser hall were ajar, and certainly several pairs of ears were listening. He smiled. Maybe the younger officers had an inkling history was to be written today, but he doubted they would anticipate the storm to come. Which should be... about... now.
"Several months, a hundred ships, tens of thousands of warriors, and you can't - even - take - TWO - ISLANDS !!??"
Oh dear.
Several thuds indicated the High Generals and Admirals had gone into instant prostrations. Or fainted. But the Grand Secretary had been there, done that, and for some reason he felt relieved that this time he had been smart enough to invite lightning rods.
As the generals and admirals kept stammering on about the deviousness of demons and other such evil mishaps the situation only grew worse. They had underestimated the problem, that was for sure, but now it was up to them to formulate a solution. And clearly they were too stunned right now to do so.
Somebody else seemed to have been thinking the same thing as Kang Yi, for suddenly the doors to the lesser hall burst open and the young officer he had seen earlier stormed through. Before anybody could react he had flung himself on the floor before his Lady Liege in a proper kow-tow and spoke in anger: "They were too conservative. They wouldn't believe the devils would keep more troops on the islands than the islands could provide for. They wouldn't listen to reports that the enemy could have so many supplies, and even through the blockade could still deliver."
The eunuchs were distressed, muttering about "scandal" and fluttering their hands in horror on such a blunt breach of etiquette. The generals and admirals were fuming, angry at the young upstart who dared accuse his elders so, but the Empress-Mother looked intrigued.
"What would you do then, grashopper ?" She inquired mildly. Kang Yi held on to his sleeves. This could become interesting.
Unfazed the young officer answered his Empress: "I would send at least 4 more corps to each island."
"But the generals told me we don't have so many forces left to use without weakening our position in the entire Middle Kingdom."
"Then create them."
"We need them now." She was actually beginning to enjoy this exchange. "The troops need to be outfitted, trained..."
"Then create the new corps, let them replace existing corps, and send those !" the youngster snarled in exasperation.
"Do you have any idea of the cost involved, grashopper ?" She smiled now.
"Yes, Your Most Serene Imperial Majesty, I do ! The numbers haunt my dreams. But surely you know how much a war costs ? How much a prolonging of this war will cost ? Surely it is better to swallow the bitter pill now than ground it up and try to take it with a bottle of wine ?" It began slowly to dawn upon him what he was doing and he started to pale.
But the Empress Mother was smiling broadly now and waved angry eunuchs and guards away with her hands. "So hear the truth from the mouth of children !" She gestured at the now-prone-again trembling young man: "There lies a sincere soldier who is sickened by the reluctance of his elders. Do not punish him, he is merely doing his duty to his country and the world !"
She rose from her throne and looked angrily at the generals and admirals: "Your reluctance has cost us dear already. One of you has already been punished for such." All of them blanched and started to sweat. "Unfortunately we can't afford to have the entire staff decapitated..." They started to breathe again. "But you will take this young grashoppers advice. You will create the new corps, you will order existing corps to move over to the islands, you will take those islands." She sat down again.
"And you will promote this grashopper. What is his name ?"
"Jiang Zhiqing, Your Most Serene Imperial Majesty..."
"Well-chosen... Purity of Intentions."


for the curious, search in Wikipedia for the name of that young officer and do not choose "Water Margin" but the next name... ;-)

[The Rock Doctor]

Nice...doesn't solve the naval problem, though.

[Phoenix]

Letter from His Highness Prince Pu Lun to The Most Venerable Docteur Henri Dunant

Januari 31st 1908

Most Venerable One,

It is with greatest regret that the Middle Kingdom must report the sinking of a hospital ship bearing the Green Cross near Taiwan on January 27th when it struck a mine. Although it was in service of the New Swiss Demons it served a Worthy Purpose.
Since the Green Cross has not yet been established with a proper Director and Headquarters this humble servant turns to Your Venerable Seniority for dealing with this matter. We feel that proper procedures must be set up and this may serve as a precedent.
Was the ship in question paid for by the Green Cross and being one of the belligrent parties involved should the Middle Kingdom make a donation to the Green Cross in order to compensate this loss of materials and personnel ?

I remain with respectful obedience for Your answer.

Prince Pu Lun, Envoy for the Middle Kingdom in Vienna, Austria

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Letter from Docteur Henri Dunant to His Highness Prince Pu Lun of the Middle Kingdom, Envoy in Vienna

February 3rd 1908

Your Excellency,

I must regret to decline any claim as to be a director of any sorts of the Green Cross, however France is trying to have this organized properly and I devote my humble experience to this cause.
But as Your Excellency so succinctly mentioned in Your letter proper procedures should be set up. I have made the necessary inquiries as to this matter.
The hospital ship in question did not belong to the Green Cross, nor has this organisation been engaged in any activity in the Pacific by the New Swiss Government. They do as they please but it is not with the cooperation of the Green Cross. Hence you do not need to pay compensation to this organisation.
However, we could use Your nation's generosity and hope a small donation will find its way towards our organisation. Maybe a local representative in Beijing would be in order so as to facilitate the organisation of the Green Cross in the Middle Kingdom ?

Yours sincerely,
Henri Dunant, Dr. Med.

approved by Maddox