Peking Lihong

Borys · March 25, 2007, 04:03:16 AM

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Phoenix
Posted: Dec 29 2006, 12:37 PM

Hegemon
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The Forbidden Palace, April 14th 1904

"Your Majesty, I'm not so sure this was wise..."
The Empress Mother and her Grand Secretaries were alone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony after the audience. The Grand Secretary of Feudatory Affairs, Lin Peide, looked worried when he said it, but any further comments were silenced by the icy glare his monarch shot at him.
"Not wise ? You think I made this up at the spur of the moment ?"
But it was Lei Weihui who interrupted: "Her Majesty has been thoroughly briefed about these yang quizi customs and we have discussed this particular one in detail. I see nothing wrong with indulging in some foreign dabbling..."
"But the insult !!" Lin Peide cried out.
"No insult at all. Unless you wish to see it as one." his colleague pointed out. But the Empress Mother was angry now and when she once more bestowed a withering look at the hapless Grand Secretary his colleagues backed away a bit. He too. Yet then she started to smile that little smile the men have come to know and dread. She was angry indeed. When she looked sweet like that you'd better hold on to your head.
"You of all should understand, my dear Grand Secretary Lin, that we are not alone in this world. But you deal with all the peoples who live here in the Middle Kingdom, who know their proper place. We are dealing with yang quizi who have swarmed all over the world now. What do you do with a swarm ? Do you exterminate it ? There's just too many of them. Do you attack it ? You'll be swarmed. Do you allow it to take over your food basket and have the picnic without you ? No. You set up a diversion close-by, to lure them away of your own food and keep them happily occupied elsewhere.
And don't tell me we're superior in both numbers and morality. We may be one of the oldest civilizations on this world, and our people may number as many as the stars in the night-sky, but these strangers are growing so fast they will dwarf us in the near future if we do not watch out. And they have no millennia-old culture to keep them in check. They'll take what they want and Harmony In The World be damned !" Her eyes glowed, the men just stared at her. They weren't used at their monarch being so eloquently abreast on international affairs. Figurehead ? Nope. Ruler.
"You remember what the New Swiss -" the expression came out of her mouth with an angry hiss, like a snake's, "- have done. They didn't need to come by the millions, they simply mowed our own millions down, like so many locusts. We may have invented most of what is used today, but they are inventing now and inventing well.
No. We must remember that there are many kinds of yang quizi out there. That some are worse than others. That these others can be tamed and kept friendly. That we can use them against their brethern if needs be. You can't cast all demons out of the world, but you can at least employ some of them to protect you. And that is exactly what I'm doing right now... charming them into submission if you will, but keeping them befriended and happy. Giving in to their quaint little customs and making sure close ties exist that we can call upon in times of need.
Just look at what is happening now with the Eastern Kingdom... swarmed, attacked..."
Liaing Tung-yen of the Foreign Office, thankful with the change of subject, chimed in: "What shall we do with them Your Majesty ? They are asking for help..."
"Ah the ungrateful brats ! Wanted to do without parental guidance did they ? Wanted to do things their way, no need for the old geezers to meddle, stand on their own two feet and ancestors be damned... and now they cower and beg !"
The Grand Secretaries looked at her with new-found admiration. Ah, there stood a worthy successor of The Empress Dowager who was formidable in her own right.
" So, when they finally find out what it means to rule in the world do they find they don't like the taste of having enemies and fights. So typical for infants... they think they could do things the adult way and but they get their noses bloodied they come crying back to momma..." The Empress Mother actually looked disgusted. "We've barely recovered from the New Swiss aggression and now we should send our ships to the other side of the world to help them ? The other side, mind you, which they chose so as to be as far away from us as possible in the first place ? Brats !!" She threw her arms in the air in exasperation. "Oooohh ! Let them grow up !!"
But Kang Yi of the Board of War shook his head. "We should at least do something ? They are our kin after all... And I'm sure Your Majesty's Motherly Heart must be going out to their plight..."
She looked at him but he shrugged: "We could at least start planning and preparing. The winter was harsh, the people need something to do in order to get their minds off it."
She looked at the Grand Secretaries of Finance and Works in turn, who both nodded their assent. "Very well. If we can afford it. You three can start planning. Liaing, start drafting a letter to their "Empress". We'll go over it after I have fitted my new... ahh... "uniform" and had a ride in it."
The Grand Secretaries bowed. But she saw that Lei Weihu had looked angry when she said that. "You still don't agree do you ?"
He nodded curtly.
"Well, I happen to think it's a quaint but charming custom."
"But the clothes ! They look ridiculous !"
"Not as ridiculous as the "skirts" their women wear, because those "skirts" need "corsets". You've never seen it but I tried it out once. Now that was ridiculous ! I looked like an hourglass and my late lustrous Aunt, may She look down upon us with favour, nearly laughed Her head off."
"But that ugly hat... that horrible skull on it..."
"Sound military thinking." She looked at the Grand Secretary of War who nodded. "It is meant to disgust or frighten the enemy. Quite the idea really. And don't forget they've made me titular head of one of their most ferocious regiments. I, for one, consider that a compliment. Now go and be useful. My ride awaits."
As the Grand Secretaries shuffled out she stared after them with a little frown on her lovely face. I may look like a doll, she mused, I may even dress like a doll. But I'm not. And they underestimate me still. Good. Such nasty surprises I have for them and those that continue to think like them...
She didn't cackle, but she did rub her hands together with quiet glee. Revered Ancestor Aunt was right. This... is fun !

In the meanwhile, current events...

April 1904, near the Korean border

Chang never thought much. You didn't when you were a simple peasant and toiled for your daily bread in the Manchu highlands. But he was the leader of the village and so right now he had to think of ways to make that city-bred official understand that it simply was not possible. In the end he tried to adopt a reasonable tone, so as not to offend the pampered scholar who clearly couldn't find his backside without a lantern: "There IS a mountain in the way, Your Honour. A big one. That's what mountains are: big. There is a reason why the border goes around it, My Lord. This unworthy thinks it has to do with size." The peasant gestured at the offending landscape feature, a ridge between 2 mountains. "That is what I think you would call "an obstacle", My Lord. As in: it's in the way. And it's bloody big, pardon my Korean."
But the official only gazed at the sheaf of paper in his hands. "We must get through it. The plan calls for a straight line between those 2 mountains."
"And how does Your Exalted Lordship plan to remove a mountain, if this insignificant worm may ask so ?" the peasant grovelled. This was going to be something to remember for posterity.
"Ah, mud-crawler, that is the secret of my profession." the official replied loftily. "Great progress has been made and you will soon see how we can move the very mountains themselves. The Peace Canal will be dug. Peace will be ensured. That is all you need to know."
The peasant shrugged and went back to his field. Sometimes you just couldn't understand those learned people, he mused, and you'd better leave them alone in the gentle care of their retainers.
Next day the village was roused by huge thunders and a great shaking they have never felt before. Bits and pieces of the mountain ridge started to crumble. The canal -if it couldn't be dug- was being blasted.

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Borys
Posted: Dec 29 2006, 01:02 PM

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Peking, 15th April
Note from Habsburg Embassy

As the Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand is also an inhaber of a Hussar regiment, he will be happy to don the relevant uniform at the nearest opportunity. The donning of the uniform - if desired - could be observed by a designated servant of Her Majesty.


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Phoenix
Posted: Dec 29 2006, 01:18 PM

Hegemon
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Peking, April 15th
Note from The Forbidden City to the Habsburg Embassy

His Highness the Erzhertog is cordially invited for a ride to the country side with Her Most Serene Imperial Majesty and retinue tomorrow at noon.
Be sure to be in uniform.

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swamphen
Posted: Dec 29 2006, 06:41 PM

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QUOTE (Phoenix @ Dec 29 2006, 12:37 PM)
Next day the village was roused by huge thunders and a great shaking they have never felt before. Bits and pieces of the mountain ridge started to crumble. The canal -if it couldn't be dug- was being blasted.

"There is no overkill..."
biggrin.gif

Borys · March 25, 2007, 04:03:40 AM

Phoenix
Posted: Jan 11 2007, 10:30 AM

Hegemon
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The Hall of Supreme Harmony, middle of June 1904

"They WHAT ??"
Peace shattered, harmony scattered, and the Grand Secretaries bowed under the gale-force of Imperial Displeasure.
"The New Swiss Demons are getting paid by the Eastern Kingdom for their thieving...", Lin Peide of the Feudatory Affairs Office sighed.
"Those ungrateful brats ! Ancestor-shaming vermin ! Shrivelled worms crawling in dog dung ! How DARE THEY ?!"
"It seems," Liaing Tung-yen of the Foreign Office tried to soothe his Empress, "that they haven't learned the lesson their Elders have so painfully learned, Oh Most Imperial Majesty, despite my office and Lin's efforts to educate the wayward children in matters of demonology and our warnings not to consort with the fiends."
"And no matter how much I would want to see those ingrates to get their comuppance once the fiends throw off their masks and allow their true evil nature to shine through," the Empress Mother grated between clenched teeth, "the thought that those demons will sully blood of our blood, kin of our kin... that they will reap the riches there which they couldn't get here... Ooohhh !!!" Lovely tiny fists were clenched in mid-air and waved about with exquisite elegance as Imperial Anger stalked off.

Their work done for the day, the Grand Secretaries filed out of the Hall.
"Whew," Lin Peide wiped his brow, "that went smoothly. Just."
But the irrepressible Kang Yi of the Board of War grinned at his colleagues of Feudatory Affairs and Foreign Office: "Your territory boys ! Not something I have to worry about. At least she didn't declare war right now right there !" With admiration: "You're becoming quite adept at keeping The Imperial Temper in check."
"But what are we going to do about this situation ?" Liu Kun-yi of the Board of Civil Appointments asked.
"At least the restless idiots and upstarts did do one thing right when they chose to get away of the Middle Kingdom," Lin Peide sighed, "they put an entire ocean between themselves and us. It's not worth the trouble getting our ships and troops there at the moment. But the future might prove.. aahh... instructive."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In the meanwhile, current events... June 1904, a factory somewhere in Shanxi...

"How many dead ?"
"62 so far My Lord. We're still waiting for the wind to disperse the rest of the fumes from the second building. But the coolies have been counted, I think we still have some 90-ish missing but we'll know by tomorrow evening."
"And the wounded ?"
"Gruesome. Burned alive. From the inside."
"And you said it was an accident...", the mandarin sounded not exactly accusing but the plant official was feeling very nervous and did his best to deal with the situation. He fidgeted: "we have tried to produce as exactly according to the specifications as these unlettered coolies could. But some must have made a mistake and provided bad mixture..."
"Get me those coolies !" the mandarin barked.
"Uhm... they're dead My Lord."
"Get me what they were working on then !"
"That'd kill us My Lord."
"Exactly why I want it, you lout !!"
"B-b-b-b-ut butt-t..."
"There have been experiments on protective gear. You'll just have to find out whether they work now, won't you ?"

Triple-woven silk coated with resin did seem like a good idea at the time. But when the surviving coolies tried to take the sticky gear off, they encountered one tiny itty-bitty personal problem:
"R-R-R-R-R-I-PPPPP !!!" Ouch.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Zhei Kuai Yu Zhei Fen
The Fast and The Furious - Wet Feet Division..

Captain Gao entered Prince Ching's office and bowed to the elderly engineer. "You sent for me oh Revered Elder ?"
"Sit down impertinent youth. We are finally going to make some interesting progress with turbines."
"Interesting ? Don't let Captain Liu hear that Master. You know what he thinks of 'interesting'..."
"Oh, not that kind of interesting. But see here, we are going to entertain a visitor. A yang quizi from over the big ocean." Gao's eyebrows shot up. "Apparently his government has decided it would be a good idea to teach us the technology so that we can build faster ships."
"Follow the money..." the captain mused.
But Prince Ching chuckled: "Oh no, follow the Nation's interests instead my youngling ! His country is going to do nasty things to other people and we might benefit from the repercussions. But we must make the proper preparations for this guest and colleague. So, what I want you to do is drop all the schedules we had for the next 6 months, especially for Liu, I want him to stay out of the hospital for a chance. You, Wu and Liu will be standing by: when the first engines are ready I want you three to test them. And these won't blow up in your faces... these yang quizi have proved they work."
Captain Gao smiled when he remembered exactly what Prince Ching was referring to. He was lucky to have survived his engines blowing up and the resulting shrapnel turning his ship into a sieve, but Captain Liu almost got cooked alive in his engine room. His fellow captain had a knack for getting into trouble instead of out of it.
The Prince continued to speak: "I'll have all of the old plans stacked neatly by my desk, I'm sure the yang quizi engineer will be able to point out my little mistakes in them."
"Will he be able to read them ?"
"Ah grashopper, we engineers have an universal language !" the elder prince replied loftily.

Much later...
"What's this supposed to be ? A diagram ?" Charles Parsons muttered. Bad enough it was that these slant-eyes won't use proper letters to write with, but what the heck was this a drawing of ?


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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 11 2007, 10:48 AM

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Beijing Lihong, Peking Gazette

QUOTE
Cycle 76, year Jia-chen, month 5, day 24 (July 7th 1904)
From the Bingbu Yamen

HONORABLE RETIREMENT OF WORTHY SHIPS

The Board of War has decided, in its infinite wisdom, to retire the following aging ships-of-war:
the QH Anguo ("Pacifies the Country)
the QH Mingxiong ("Bright Hero")
Both ships have been a gift from the much respected Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg for whom they have previously sailed under the names of "Frithjof" and "Hildebrand" before joining our Valiant Fleet. They have distinghuished themselves during the fierce battles against the New Swiss Demons.
Because of their most honourable past the Board of War has designated them not to be sent to the scrappers, but instead to have them transferred to Wuhan, to rest there forever as a symbol of Valiant Friendship and Martial Courage. Both ships will be installed as musea, and the Deutsches Kaiserraich Brandenburg will be asked to provide prime examples of Deutsches Martial Prowess for the permanent exhibitions.

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Desertfox
Posted: Jan 11 2007, 12:33 PM

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ummm Phoenix, we are still at war. We might not be fighting due to Geography but we never actually called a ceasefire.

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Maddox
Posted: Jan 11 2007, 01:51 PM

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Newsflash.

The still ruling Brownshirts on the Japanese Islands are glad there is no more fighting.

Colonel Pranger in Korea is glad the MK only is digging the canal and blasting mountains, not invading.

Taiwan and Hainan are still weary about it all.

And no New Swiss troops are left on Middle Kingdom soil. The last ones got evactuated just after the Taal volcano disaster and are now in Japan, doing their soldier duties there.

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Desertfox
Posted: Jan 11 2007, 02:09 PM

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So that leaves the New Swiss in Hawaii who are to far away to do anything! biggrin.gif

It's like if New Zealand and Poland where at war, they can't do anything but point and grumble! tongue.gif

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 10:16 AM

Hegemon
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One does simply not negotiate with demons, on peril of the welfare of one's immortal soul.

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Borys
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 10:22 AM

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OOC
Speaking of peace treaties and trafficing with daemons - Austria the Peace Maker was brokering a treaty between the French and the Manchus. But as an important element of French governance disapeared in the sertao, I suppose that talks are suspended ...

Borys

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Desertfox
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 10:26 AM

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He, he, I wonder what I did to deserved that reputation. After all, I only defended my territory and kidapped the Emperor (which was returned unharmed). I wasnt the one cutting of prisioner fingers or skinning people alive. wink.gif Well maybe wipping out human wave attacks with machine guns qualifies.

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Maddox
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 11:17 AM

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Actualy Borys.
The involvement of the Habsburgers in Brazil did taint their credibility to France, so the talks are suspended, but Prince Pu Lun still is working on it.

OOC, no messages from Phoenix on further work about this potential peace is done. So I'm eagerly awaiting what direction it will take.

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Borys
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 12:41 PM

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OOC
sniff - the Fluttering White Dove of Universal Happiness is misunderstood ...

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 01:04 PM

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+++
Prince Pu Lun fondly stroked the soft white bird and wondered what the fuss was all about. They actually taste nice with a bit of garlic...
+++

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Borys
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 01:13 PM

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OOC
LOL!
When visiting Canton some 15 years ago I put a good dozen or two of doves under my belt.
Yum!
Sadly, they claimed not to have Dragons (dogs) or Tigers (cats) on the menu.
Borys the Insatiable Orifice

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swamphen
Posted: Jan 16 2007, 08:39 PM

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QUOTE (Phoenix @ Jan 11 2007, 10:48 AM)
Because of their most honourable past the Board of War has designated them not to be sent to the scrappers, but instead to have them transferred to Wuhan, to rest there forever as a symbol of Valiant Friendship and Martial Courage. Both ships will be installed as musea, and the Deutsches Kaiserraich Brandenburg will be asked to provide prime examples of Deutsches Martial Prowess for the permanent exhibitions.

"Brandenburg would be most honoured to provide a supply of trinkets reflecting the glorious martial past of Prussia, to be placed in the museums memorialising the mutual friendship between the Reich and the Great People of the Middle Kingdom."

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 17 2007, 03:48 PM

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Cycle 76, year Jia-chen, month 6, day 20
(August 1st 1904)

The Lifànyuán-Yamen (Office of Feudatory Affairs), in concordance with the Bìngbú-Yamen (Board of War), have decided to act swiftly and decisively regarding the matter of Dutch Indo-China. While the Dutch yang quizi have clearly deserted their responsibility for the welfare of the people entrusted to them, and knowing how the French yang quizi would again throw away those poor people to the mercy of strangers, we see no other way to restore Harmony and Peace in the region but by interfering directly.
Thus the 4 new corps of the New Army have been ordered to stop their exercizes around Kunming and proceed directly into Indo-China. The new corps at Zhanjiang has likewise been ordered to travel at best speed through Nanning. All corps are ordered to keep the peace and protect the people. Likewise, ships will be diverted towards the coastline in order to assist the army.
Missives will be sent towards the various Embassies and Powers explaining the situation. The Middle Kingdom wishes to stress however that this is no war or annexation, but simply making certain that an area of peace abounds around the borders we currently have recognized as being practical. After all, the entire world is subject to the Middle Kingdom, and we feel an obligation to ensure Harmony in the world. Now that France is obviously too occupied by events at the other side of the world to bother seriously about the Indo-Chinese, and thereby showing how they have stretched their forces too thin, thus proving that the Middle Kingdom way of governing with leniency by allowing a certain independence is the best, we must sweep -and keep- clean our doorstep.

OOC We are talking about 250.000 men here. smile.gif These corps have been created last year and sent to the one region at Chinese borders that we were still worried about because too close to the French. Maddox knows.

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Desertfox II
Posted: Jan 17 2007, 05:23 PM

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This is going to get interesting. Siam has 50,000 troops ready to move in with another 50,000 in reserve. And France will certainly act. A Chinese-French showdown could prove really interesting, with NS supporting (of all people) France. Siam could get stuck in a tricky situation, being very friendly to both China and NS, wanting to reclaim its lost lands, but in no position to fight anyone.

Borys · March 25, 2007, 04:04:16 AM

Borys
Posted: Jan 17 2007, 05:55 PM

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QUOTE (Phoenix @ Jan 17 2007, 10:48 PM)
OOC We are talking about 250.000 men here. smile.gif These corps have been created last year and sent to the one region at Chinese borders that we were still worried about because too close to the French. Maddox knows.

OOC
Ahoj!
I will accept that they are full strength as:
- they were on manouvers (you add reservists to units for the Summer Manouvers)
- they were kept at readiness in a "trouble likely" zone, and it is was common for such units to have above average peacetime establishment
http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/inforg1.html
Scroll down to the bottom - the table shows the differences between peacetime "normal" and "border area" infantry company - 100 or 125 men. In wartime company size grew to c.250, regardless of starting number.
- China is different smile.gif and reservists live in huts with within shouting distance of the barraks or something like that biggrin.gif

BTW - active peacetime units composed of conscripts are still fully capable of operations, although at half their size mobilized size.

So IMO it is fully plausible for you to send 150,000 men imediatelly, without mobilizing (i.e. putting on a war footing) those units.
Or you could simply keep some corps in border areas at wartime status, simply paying the higher upkeep cost.

Is Siam mobilizing? Quietly or otherwise?

Borys

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Desertfox II
Posted: Jan 17 2007, 06:22 PM

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Siam has already quietly mobilized two full Armies (corps), the rest are at full alert, but have not been fully mobilized.

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Borys
Posted: Jan 17 2007, 06:29 PM

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OOC
Thank you.
Borys

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Ithekro
Posted: Jan 17 2007, 09:44 PM

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July 4, 1904

The Kingdom of Rohan, its ruler being of sound mind, will not involve itself in an affair of Asia that does not require or request its assistance. Our failure between the New Swiss and the Middle Kingdom will remain until such time as the Dragon Throne feels the Horse-lords have redeemed the respect they once held in what was once called the "New Lands" to the West.

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Maddox
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 01:22 AM

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OOC

The Corps Phoenix is deploying are new corps, and these are at full strenght in manpower, as they are still in training.
I keep this in mind and adjust moral and other potential modifiers if or when these get a real fight. These corps have a core of veterans of the recent New Swiss/ MK war, but most are fresh peasants and Koelies trying to improve their living. Better be a soldier, than a mudworking peasant, or a koelie dragging rails or casting iron ingots.

Also, the Indochinese/MK border was untill JLdog took over on that border a hotspot of gloryhounds and bigots. On both sides.

Since Desertfox started with Siam his first actions were to start rebel groups in Indochina, and I don't see any reason why these actions would be restricted to French soil only.
At the same time, and this is in the newsroom, he activated the Siamese army to watch for the ideal moment to grab land back .

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Borys
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 02:03 AM

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OOC
QUOTE
Better be a soldier, than a mudworking peasant, or a coolie dragging rails or casting iron ingots.

This is exactly the opposite of the Chinese attitude smile.gif
"You don't waste good steel on nails, you don't waste good men on soldiers"
To the Chinese soldiers are absolute failures in normal life, below night soil collectors.
But as this is a Manchu Empire, then these corps might be composed not of dregs of Chinese society, but of the cream of various tribesmen smile.gif

QUOTE
Since Desertfox started with Siam his first actions were to start rebel groups in Indochina, and I don't see any reason why these actions would be restricted to French soil only.

Why am I not surprised by this smile.gif
I immediatelly smelt a rat, err, a desert fox in this biggrin.gif

QUOTE
At the same time, and this is in the newsroom, he activated the Siamese army to watch for the ideal moment to grab land back .

I missed it. So sorry!

Borys

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 08:36 AM

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OOC
Note that a border crossing is never easy nor swift, for all parties involved. There are mountainous regions to be considered, never an easy passing by those, and the distances as well. Not everybody will be travelling at the same speed once on the march, depending on pockets of resistance and the terrain. I doubt they can catch a train once over the border either. Does somebody have a table with marching distances somewhere ?
I have to deploy some troops by ship to the coast as well. This will be so the opportunity to crack down on pirates in the Gulf of Tonkin, it has the naval officers straining at the ends of their leashes with eager anticipation.

About the cannonfodd-euh-soldiers:
After the MK-NS war there were quite a lot of peasants and coolies who preferred to go back home again, sick of the violence and death of a battlefield. But plenty of youngsters, with glory in their eyes, decided to try their luck in the army and stayed on, or were lured by the end of the war and not knowing the horrors never went home to the daily hard work again. Especially with the famine many a young man traded the insecurity of peasant life for the security of soldier life. Either way he is still a slave, but as a soldier he can at least have some fun and be paid for it too.
Society is slowly changing. But if it is for the better ?

About the officers:
Young Manchu nobles sought to make their names history, preferably not the kind inscribed on tombstones thank you very much, and young Han nobles saw the army as one of the few opportunities -shy of becoming a scholar/government official- for advancement.
At least, that is my explanation.

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Desertfox II
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 09:12 AM

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Can you expect anything less? biggrin.gif The support for the rebels is also in the news something about "Operation Daisy Cutter", plus that 1/2 LBP for "other" purposes!

While it was aimed primarly against France, since Siam has no major quarrle with the Dutch, Im pretty sure the rebels spread all over the place, they do have quarrles with the Dutch. Note that it is not possible to trace the rebels back to Siam, they use ex-NS weapons that can be traced to Japan, however Siam is the primary suspect even if you cant pin anything on it.

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Borys
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 09:37 AM

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OOC
Ahoj!
Marching distances?
Here you are:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...showtopic=67366
For my advance across the roadless, hilly and wooded Parana I am using a 10 miles a day gauge. It could be forced, of course, but for short periods.
Reading the linked thread should explain everything.

And the quoted distances are without contact with enemy.

And more mustachioed hunks for Her Highness smile.gif
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k132/sab...-Hongroise2.jpg
Borys

This post has been edited by Borys on Jan 18 2007, 09:40 AM

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Borys
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 09:43 AM

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It is fuly possible to use groups of the most motivated soldiers to march ahead, losing contact with HQ. Such small groups could make 15 miles a day even across bad terrain - but the main body - with wagons, artillery, supplies, HQ, cable, field temple, etc. cannot move faster than 5-10 miles a day.

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 10:32 AM

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Initial deployment of troops:

New Army Infantry corps of 45.000 men in Kunming to Lao Cai by train to push towards Hanoi.
New Army Infantry corps of 45.000 men in Kunming to Lao Cai by train to push towards Hanoi.
New Army Infantry corps of 45.000 men in Kunming to Than Thuy.
New Army Infantry corps of 45.000 men in Kunming to Bao Lac.
New Army Infantry corps of 45000 men in Zhanjiang via Nanning to Sheikouguan.

Bordered Blue Banner army "Xianglanqi" 60.000 men (2 infantry corps) in Chengdu, transported with train to Kunming, to proceed to Nam Cum. ( Pure Manchu corps, veterans of the NS war)

New Army Infantry division of 22.500 from Guangzhou to be transported from Hongkong, escorted by Coastal Battleships QH Wenlong (Cultured Dragon) (ex-French) and QH Yunlong (Cloud Dragon) (ex-French) and Torpedo Boats QH Haifeng (Sea Phoenix), QH Haique (Sea Sparrow), QH Haihong (Sea Ray), QH Haisha (Shark) and QH Haigui (Sea Turtle) from Zhanjiang to Mong Cai.

Railguns are being deployed along, but some of the rails have to be reinforced in order to make them fit for that kind of heavy transport.

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Borys
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 12:03 PM

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OOC
Some problems:
1 - The Kunming-Hanoi Railroad does not exists. This part of the line was completed in 1910. Construction of this stretch began in 1903. Construction was said to be "difficult".

2 - The Kunming-Hanoi Railroad is narrow gauge, 1000mm, to this day. The break of gauge is not a problem for troops or supplies. They can walk over or be repacked onto the other rolling stck. However, I have never heard of railroad guns on narrow tracks, only on Standard 1435mm or Russian Gauge 1524mm.

3 - Kunming was connected with the rest of the Chinese railroad network in 1966. Before that its only rail connection was through Vietnam.

Borys


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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 12:31 PM

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Then what was on that map you showed me in my infrastructure thread ? A link dating from the '80s from Yunnan to Hanoi and Kunming lies in Yunnan. You have me confused now...

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Borys
Posted: Jan 18 2007, 01:54 PM

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Ahoj!
The map in that link shows the situation in 1935.

If we assume - for lack of better map - that in 1904 you have the 1935 network (with the North-South link), then you would be able to use the Kunming-Hanoi RR, as it was completed in 1910 OTL.
However, your rail guns (brak of gauge apart) are in Canton.

I am not sure if we will find a better map, but RR progress can be followed on other maps, like here:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/n_china_1912.jpg

Will look for map of south.

ADDED LATER:
I found something, for the 1900-1949, no idea what is the date of the RR there.
http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atl...%20map%2001.htm
Interestingly, it shows a N-S link which, if the tiny 1935 map is correct, woudld place THIS map in the 1937-49 period.

ADDED EVEN LATER:
1930, I think ...
http://map.huhai.net/82-83.jpg

1936:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...ld_map_1936.jpg

East China, 1918:
http://www.earnshaw.com/shanghai-ed-india/tales/maps/ocm.htm

1911, bit confusing, must zoom in and navigate:
http://cartweb.geography.ua.edu:9001/Style.../view-dhtml.xsl

East China, 1912 and 1925:
http://east.cyxa.net/map/china12.gif
http://east.cyxa.net/map/china13.gif

No more ...
Borys

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 19 2007, 08:10 AM

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If I have railroads there, and if the Indo-Chinese have railroads, it would be in utmost primitive conditions. I'd say I might do troops transports in the Middle Kingdom proper, moderately, and from the border onward most would have to travel by normal road and/or river anyway but for the railguns I have indeed to construct an entirely new line for their transport. Interesting nah ?

Maddox estimates that the progression of my troops into Indo-China may take almost a month to get to Hanoi if they use the good old-fashioned bipedal locomotion system or whatever they can get (and keep) floating.
Specially selected troops might press onward though. Have to write it out.

Borys · March 25, 2007, 04:05:20 AM

Phoenix
Posted: Jan 26 2007, 12:52 PM

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August 7th

Kang Yi, Grand Secretary of the Bingbu Yamen (Board of War) and Prince Su, his Chief of the Naval Department, kow-towed in front of the Dragon Throne and the smaller throne next to it that was slowly starting to be known as the Tiger Throne. The august but petite occupant of the latter piece of priceless furniture stared impatiently at both men, urging them silently on to begin their explanations before Imperial Impatience would get the chance to transform into Imperial Wrath.

"Your Most Imperial Majesty," Kang began, "with the Dutch yang quizi suddenly leaving the premises, we have initiated the Leap for Indo-China that will enable us to get a stronger hold on the region while still ensuring Peace and Harmony to abound. The time is more than ripe: the French yang quizi are fully occupied by matters on the other side of the world and dare not deviate their troops lest they be stretched too thin. The Siamese are stirring, claiming lands they lost to the French, but can be expected to take more than is their due, and this is a sentiment to be stepped on as strongly as possible before it becomes a habit. It was the mind of Lin Peide of the Lifanyuan Yamen that chaos would ensue if this be allowed to happen. Liaing Tung-yen of the Tsungli Yamen wholly concurs with our colleague's assessment of the situation. They have so advised Your Most Imperial Majesty, permission to proceed has been Graciously granted, and thus orders have been immediately cut to send our troops into the region and pacify it."

He walked over to a map, indicating the borders of the former Dutch Indo-China and gestured: "In a way it has been a most fortunate decision to establish the forming and training of most of our new New Army Infantry Corps around Kunming. This way we were able to send an immediate force of 2 corps (90.000 men) to cross the border and proceed towards Lao Cai. From there on they will move on towards Hanoi and the Lowlands, that is the "Lowlands Spread".
Another New Army Infantry corps (45.000 men) has moved over to Than Thuy and yet another one to Bao Lac, but they are to spread over the mountains. And the Bordered Blue Banner Xianglanqi are traveling by train from Chengdu to Kunming and then proceed to Nam Cum. All these forces are known as the "Highlands Spread"."

The Empress Mother nodded sharply. The Bordered Blue Banner was a veteran corps from the New Swiss War, Manchuria's pride.

"Next we ordered a fifth New Army Infantry Corps of 45.000 men that was stationed near Zhanjiang to travel by train to Nanning and from there on to march towards Sheikouguan. These forces are the "Side Spread".
A New Army Infantry division of 22.500 men from Guangzhou has been transported from Hongkong, escorted by 2 Coastal Battleships and 5 Torpedo Boats to Mong Cai. The ships then proceeded towards Hong Gai and Hai Phong. They are called the "Wet Spread".
We would want to deploy Railguns but a different railroad gauge is getting us into trouble there. If we want to bring Railguns into the area we must construct our own railroads for them. Which we are doing. The least we can do for the natives is to open up their land for trade and transport.
And that in total is the land-based approach."

He waited for his Monarch to voice any questions or objections, but she sat attentively regarding the board and she only nodded him on.

"Now we have the sea-based approach. Here... 3 main forces and objectives.
- The "Leaping Tiger" is the swiftest and in a way the most decisive: from the port of Macau to the ports of Hong Gai and Hai Phong already sailed the task force of one Armoured Cruiser, our most modern and biggest Coastal Battleship, a Coastal Defense Ship, and 8 Torpedo Boats. They took with them the Green Standard Army of Guandong (3000 men) as a policing force. Their objective was to open up the 2 most important ports that will lead us towards Hanoi. They have succeeded in their objective ! And the Torpedo Boats are now mining the harbours and channels.
- The "Coiled Snake" will travel furthest and we estimate it will take them one week to reach their objective, which is the port of Vinh. From Fuzhou one Coastal Battleship, 5 Torpedo Boats and 5 Dolphin Torpedo Boats will escort the Green Standard Army of Fujian (3000 men) to that port in order to hold it. We will mark Vinh as our furthest objective until events dictate otherwise. No need to anger the French.
- The "Crouching Dragon" is by far the largest transport of troops by sea. From Hangzhou one Armoured Cruiser, 2 Coastal Battleships and 5 Torpedo Boats will escort approximately half of the Plain White Banner Zhengbaiqi, we estimate some 40.000 men in total, to Hong Gai, Hai Phong and eventually towards Vhin. This will take them at least 2 weeks..."

"Why not the entire Banner ? Are they not 90.000 men strong ?" Her Imperial Majesty demanded.
"Indeed, Most Gracious Lady," Kang bowed, "but it is difficult to have them transported all at once. We simply can't muster enough transport ships in order to bring them all at once. It is difficult enough already to have them transported by train towards the port of Hangzhou, but to find enough machine-powered junks ?"
"We can always send the rest afterwards," Prince Su chimed in, "we want to have enough troops in place in order to present all other parties with an accomplished fact, but it doesn't mean we have to depopulate our armies in order to do so. The region is not so large anyway."

Kang continued: "10.000 men of the Plain White Banner will be left in Hong Gai, 10.000 in Tanh Hoah, 10.000 in Cau Giat and the last 10.000 in Vinh. That should deter any nations feeling adventurous. Depending on the landing-speed of the troops this might take a few days longer than the 2 weeks we foresee.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In the meantime... elsewhere...

6th August
- morning - After loitering outside of the treacherous maze of islands, waiting for light to come, the torpedo boats of the Leaping Tiger raced through the narrow channels - trusting in their shallow draught - to the port of Hong Gai; the disembarked company of Sea Soldiers vented the frustration of the wet and cold night spent on the little boat's decks on the local coolies - who were incentivated by rifle butt and flash of gold coin to recoal the "killing claws" of the Force as fast as possible. All important port offices were taken and manned by the Manchu Marines. In the afternoon the TB's left, racing towards Hai Phong where they set up shop.

- morning +1h - The cruisers of the Leaping Tiger force approached Hai Phong. After unsuccessfully signaling Hoan Chau station with request for pilot, the squadron crept towards the harbor, 20 miles away. They crept along, preceeded by one of the torpedo boats, guided by a coerced junk master from Canton who had plied this route for 20 years or so. The man had been promised a bag of gold for getting the cruisers to the port, and without hitting any rock. And a hanging if he had failed. After 3 hours the cruisers arrived at the harbor mouth and anchored, trusting on thier launches to bring the soldiers ashore. Commandeering some local vessels sped up the process and by evening some 3000 fierce Manchus were in charge of the town.

Communication with the local elite was established. In writing. Neither side knew the other's language, but the characters for ideas were the same. The starting point for mutual understanding was established - the Three Nays Policy - "no loot" "no rape" "no tribute" - demanded cooperation from the local notables, such as information and assistance in keeping the peace.

The Coiled Serpent force was well on its way, whereas the Crouching Dragon was still days away.

The Mountain Hawks, spurred by a telegraph on the evening of the 3rd, were creeping across the gullies of the mountains. Small units of volunteers, the Cunning Foxes, with nothing but rifles, sleeping mats and a small bag of rice, were slithering across dew-covered tracks and making much better time than the Main Body. One silver coin for every day they made it to Hanoi before the main force, one gold coin extra for every week was a good incentive. The Lion Fang platoon of regiment 7 from New Army Infantry corps 23 had made an incredible 55 miles - before the war with the New Swiss these had all been coolies ...

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Desertfox
Posted: Jan 26 2007, 01:51 PM

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Do you have the SS reports for the new ships? Only thing for China in the Encyclopedia are the older Coastal battleships.

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 27 2007, 10:59 AM

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Yes, profound laziness from my part has hitherto kept me from posting all the files. Maddox had a stern talk with my humble person on the subject. The matter will be rectified.
However, there are some ships' stats that will not be posted since they are très beaucoup classified.

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Desertfox
Posted: Jan 27 2007, 08:26 PM

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Thanks much appreciated.

The Dolphins I assume are Submarines, the barges...planning on invading someone?


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Maddox
Posted: Jan 27 2007, 09:01 PM

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Maybe the Dolphins are just 500 tons torpedoboats.
The MK likes the ships in nice parts of the HBP's.

And the barges. Let us say so.

IC, the few opportunities a Yang Quizi has seen a barge, it looked like a pontoon with a few machine guns and a very tiny funnel. The lack of speed or manouverability is obvious.

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Desertfox
Posted: Jan 27 2007, 11:36 PM

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Well NS saw a torpedo boat "sink" just before two of her CBs where struk by torpedoes and one sunk. And I do have my own submarines, so putting two and two together...

Those "barges" are strange. Wonder what China plans to do with them.

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Ithekro
Posted: Jan 28 2007, 12:57 PM

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OOC:

Considering the Chinese use to have gigantic Junks, or perhaps sailing castles back in the day when they actually tried some exploring, I don't imagine size for a barge would be much of a problem. Moving it with steam might be a problem, but it is rumored that they managed to get around the world, to the Americas, the the Mediterranian, even to the east coast of the United States and Canada. As I said rumors...I don't know if anyone has proof of any trips farther than southern Africa.

Borys · March 25, 2007, 04:05:28 AM

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Maddox
Posted: Jan 28 2007, 01:12 PM

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The few reports of the barges come from Macao or Hong Kong, what is left of those 2 cities after the Taal Volcano explosion.

What is seen of the MK barges is a small low pontoon, fitted with 6 of the heavy 25mm machineguns with splinter shields the Middle Kingdom is using on anything that floats.
The freeboard seems about .5 m

1 report mentions seeing one jury rigged with a sail.

The French secret service thinks it's a cheap replacement for the way larger river monitor or a way to replace the armed junks the Middle Kingdom army uses on the rivers.

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Borys
Posted: Jan 28 2007, 04:44 PM

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OOC
http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/china.htm

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Phoenix
Posted: Jan 30 2007, 08:01 AM

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OOC

Zheng He's fleet was rumoured to contain giant ships, see here for instance.

In his interesting book "1421: The Year China Discovered America" Gavin Menzies claims that Zheng He with is massive Chinese fleet of huge junks and support ships made a two-year circumnavigation of the globe, with extensive exploration of the Americas, nearly a century before Magellan and Columbus. (More on that here and here, website here.) The problem is that the records of his last 2 voyages have been destroyed by the then reigning Emperor's orders. We will never know for sure...

Interesting bit from Wikipedia:
According to the Chinese chronicles, Zheng He commanded seven expeditions. The 1405 expedition consisted of 27,800 men and a fleet of 62 treasure ships supported by approximately 190 smaller ships. The fleet included:

* "Treasure ships", used by the commander of the fleet and his deputies (nine-masted, about 120 meter (400 ft) long and 50 m (160 ft) wide). (Some reached up to 600 feet long) The treasure ships weighed as much as 1,500 tons.
* "Horse ships", carrying tribute goods and repair material for the fleet (eight-masted, about 103 m (339 ft) long and 42 m (138 ft) wide)
* "Supply ships", containing staple for the crew (seven-masted, about 78 m (257 ft) long and 35 m (115 ft) wide).
* "Troop transports", six-masted, about 67 m (220 ft) long and 25 m (83 ft) wide).
* "Fuchuan warships", five-masted, about 50 m (165 ft) long).
* "Patrol boats", eight-oared, about 37 m (120 feet) long).
* "Water tankers", with 1 month supply of fresh water.

In essence the Chinese stopped sea-faring by the end of the 15th Century in the Real World.
In Navalism they at least stopped development of maritime science (the "current" science being perfect as it is since you cannot surpass the Ancestors in knowledge and ability) but the merchants continued to ply their trade and keep sea-faring alive and bobbing. Zheng He had delivered great success and honour, yet internal troubles on the mainland forced the Emperors to ignore the navy as "costly" and "frivolous". It was dealt a significant -even killing- blow by the Great Disaster which wiped out much of the Islands later in the century and in effect destroyed what was left of the Grand Fleet (and the merhants' fleets too). The Isolationism of the later Emperors mandated that ships with more than 2 masts were forbidden, this at least explains why the EK could have been colonized even though they didn't venture far anywhere else.
Full military use has been re-invented a couple of decades ago, until then merchant junks were considered just troop transport.

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Borys
Posted: Jan 31 2007, 03:55 PM

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Peking, Late Summer, 1904

Maximillian was pleased to have obtained a private audience with the Empress. This would make it easier for him to convey the delicate position Austrian diplomacy was in. He thought he had noted a certain likin of the Empress for hussar uniforms (she had been seen several times riding in her Inhaber unfirm, a sign of great favour for Habsburgs) so he decided to wear his newest Hungarian uniform http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/gallery/sorsich.htm.

- "My country fully supports the actions of the Manchu's in North Indochina. And marvels at the sage restraint shown in retaking Lost Territories. However, my country cannot, to use my illustrious brother's expression - "blare out" - that position. We feel that it would jeopardize the Habsburgs precarious position as intermediaries in the sadly suspended Franco-Manchu peace talks."

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Phoenix
Posted: Feb 5 2007, 07:44 AM

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In the meantime... near Tianjin...

Wu Bai flogged his horse mercilessly. A few Li more and he would be in the fisherman's village where he had hired a boat. Now if that fisherman would do as he promised and set his boat out to sail and meet that merchant that was sailing to the Eastern Kingdom, all would be Well. He would be a rich man.
He furtively glanced over his shoulder. Still no sign of pursuit. Good. Travel by horse was far slower than by train, but at least they wouldn't know where he was going, they would find it hard to catch him indeed ! He grinned.
But his smile faded. How had it come so far ? Why have things turned like this ? Father would be terribly disappointed, he knew. And Grandfather -ah the ingrate fossil !- would have a fit. I hope he chokes on it and finally passes on to the ancestors where he can rot in peace. Too old to live, too misery to give his filial progeny their rightful due, too cankarous a character to acknowledge the genius of his best grandson and so it had come to this.
He had become a thief.
Well, not a thief exactly, the fugitive mused, after all it was not as if he had stolen anything. Not really stolen. More like... aaahh... found misplaced funds that could be turned towards far more profitable endeavours when in the right hands. And maybe he was responsible for those funds to have been misplaced in the first part, but that didn't mean he had stolen it, it was merely ... uhmm... back-pay. Yes that was it ! The wages he should have earned had that idiot superior of his not been such a fool and denied him his due -and higher- rank. he knew he had passed that exam. He could not have failed it. His superior was just jealous of his quiet administrative genius and had acted out of spite.
He glanced over his shoulder again, but still no tell-tale cloud of pursuit. Would he dare spare his mount a bit and go slower for a while ? Nah. "Be there at sunrise", the fisherman had said, "need to catch the tide". He'd better make sure he would be in time. And so he spurred on his exhausted steed.

Wu Bai arrived at the silent sleepy village just before dawn. Shortly after midnight he had been forced to succumb to the inevitable and let his horse rest for a few hours. But the poor beast had done well by his master and he gently patted the foaming neck, "be there in a moment and you can have grain to fill your belly". Leaving the beast behind he didn't like, but he couldn't take it with him, and he had arranged for the fisherman to keep it in payment. They would take good care of such a priceless worker animal.

The fisherman waited for him at the seaside, on a wooden pier. Wu Bai gave over the reins to a boy that must be one of the man's sons, took his packs of its back, and strode towards the rickety boat. "We sail now ?" he asked its owner. In answer the fisherman jumped into his boat and cast off the moorings.

Just away from the coast a line of smoke heralded the imminent presence of a vessel, and for a moment Wu Bai thought it was the merchant he had hoped to catch. But then the lines of the vessel became clear and to his dismay it turned out to be a vessel-of-war. This was not good.
And it was not good at all. The torpedo boat hailed the fishing boat and it turned out they were looking for him. Apparently someone must have been talking, otherwise how could they have found him so quickly and easily ? Wu Bai could not help but cry when he was shackled and taken down below.
The captain of the vessel soon came to brag about his catch and indeed someone had talked: the merchant himself had turned him in for a lovely sum. Double paid, first him and then the government. How dare he !

Wu Bai's return to Beijing was in disgrace. Shackled, clad in rags, displayed like a criminal in an open carriage that rumbled over the cobblestones, and people regarding him with cruel curiosity.

No cruel curiosity awaited him at the yamen. It was far worse. His superior was there. And -oh horror !- the Grand Secretary of the Board of War himself. Who wasn't exactly looking all too pleased.
The charges were read out to him: he had abused his authority at the Board of War and issued an order to upgrade the army with better equipment, then pocketed the money intended for that, and left the capital in a great hurry without explanation but with the money. The case was clear and he was guilty as sin. But there were aggravating circumstances... with the Peace-effort in Indo-China the army and its funds were under extra stress, and the discovery of the embezzlement had attracted Imperial Notice. And Imperial Wrath.
Which had at first descended upon the ultimate responsible, Lord Kang, who was standing present with a none too-friendly expression on his face. He had ordered an investigation and all evidence pointed towards a certain clerk Wu who had suddenly left his position, whereabouts unknown.
So now, as Grand Secretary Kang informed Wu in no uncertain terms, Imperial Wrath has to be appeased and an appropriate punishment should be meted out to the culprit. "Feel honoured worm," the Grand Secretary snarled at him, "for you will be the focus of Imperial Attention for a very intense short time indeed. The rest of your life really, but Her Majesty has demanded it should be prolonged to the best possible limit under the circumstances. She cares about Her army you see..."
"Língchí !", he suddenly hissed at the hapless prisoner. "You will appear in pieces in the Afterlife, to the eternal shame of your Ancestors !"
Then, standing upright and bearing the full dignity of his office once more: "The Death of a Thousand Cuts. Fit only for traitors. But with an added extra: not the merciful stab into the heart at the end for you. Oh no, you will be coated with honey. Then staked out close to an ants' nest."
Wu Bai fainted.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

August 30th 1904
Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City, Beijing

Grand Secretary Lin Peide kow-towed before the Tiger Throne. "I bring news of the Viet Nam, Your Most Serene Imperial Majesty..."
The regal but petite figure on the throne nodded for him to continue.
"We have reached all of our objectives. All cities of importance have been taken, border patrols have been established, the ports under our control. The citizenry is calm, despite a few hotheads here and there. But once they have benefitted from the Benign Imperial Rule they will certainly see wisdom and behave.
It is fortunate that their society's structure so closely resembles our own. There won't be much changes neccessary in order to integrate them into Imperial Bureaucracy."
His brow furrowed. "There is however one minor flaw. There seems to be a would-be emperor... someone called Hàm Nghi, supported by none other but Siam and someone called Kolonel Kurtz."
"Sounds New Swiss to me !" hissed the Empress Mother with supreme vehemence. "But I wonder why the Thai would meddle... are they not content with the poor sods of Laos they first invaded some 2 hundred years ago and then sold to the French and could now take back without even one shot fired in anger ? Do they wish more into their greedy paws ? They'd better steer clear of Chinese protectorate... we do intend to protect our own."
"But about this would-be emperor Your Majesty..." Peide continued.
"Oh, buy him. Give him a throne, crown him King, but let him understand that We only strive to see Harmony and Peace abound in the World, to protect those weaker against the devils that will otherwise devour them. He will pay tribute of course, all of our Kings do. But he can choose: live his life in luxury and with honours govern his people, or die a wretched rebel in the mud with the blood of his children on his hands."

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Desertfox II
Posted: Feb 5 2007, 10:08 AM

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Ouch!!! And the Anahuac are considered cruel...

Note: Colonel Kurtz is not affiliated with anyone, certainly not the Vietnamiese or the Thai, he is a former NS SAF operative now operating on his own...

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Ithekro
Posted: Feb 5 2007, 12:34 PM

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The Anahuac are cruel as they do these things to people who have done nothing but maybe be of another faith or peoples. At least Wu here had committed a crime.

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Desertfox
Posted: Feb 5 2007, 01:02 PM

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True. Hmm didn't the Austrians reinstate the Inquisitions...

http://www.bereanbeacon.org/history/persec..._auto_da_fe.htm

Borys · March 25, 2007, 04:05:55 AM

Phoenix
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 07:12 AM

Hegemon
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In the meantime... last days of September 1904... "Ah such a nice Autumn..."

Prince Pu Lun's residence in Vienna

"Your Higness, an unexpected honour..."
"Admiral Geon, the honour is entirely mine, to meet with such a distinghuished warrior..."
Prince Pu Lun escorted his guest to the dining table. "I have the best of my country set for your gastronomical delight, Admiral."
"Aaahh... the pleasures of civilisation. After the mines I can really appreciate the finer table Your Highness."
"You do look... fit, Admiral. Mines ? Did they really ?"
Grunt. "The Premier did. He wanted to hide his mistakes, but I have friends in high places and he couldn't dispense with my talents entirely. It was however an... 'interesting time' you could say."
"In my country that's a curse."
"Don't I know it ?"
The Admiral seated himself at the table and started to sample the delightful delicacies. "But you didn't invite me for some social banters solely Your Highness ?"
"Indeed," Pu Lun smiled, "Your 'Friends in high places' have been rearing their ugly heads again and one of them whispered your name into my ear."
"i have little service to offer you I'm afraid. My haydays are over politically."
"I doubt it. You delivered faithful service and were rewarded with treachery."
The French Admiral made sushing motions."Don't say that too loud !"
"Why ? The man hasn't been heard of for months now, has he ? No newspaper snippets, no audiences... he left for Brazil and then... nothing. I heard your government is quite the bit worried these days."
"Hmm. There is indeed no news at all from the Elysée. And it might explain why I am allowed to serve again."
Picking up a goblet of wine Pu Lun assured him: "Anyway, you are the man I want to speak to. You have a military mind, you know this part of the world now, and we can be certain you will do your best to redeem yourself. We all serve best when we feel the hand of the executioner caressing our backs."
The Admiral swallowed. He obviously didn't like that metaphore. Pu Lun smiled in his goblet.
They ate in silence for a while, savouring the exquisite dishes and delicate beverages. When the meal was over the Prince invited his guest over to a more comfortable setting, with divans and a small table covered with sweets, fruit and drink. Then he resumed his talking.

"You know of the sudden changes regarding Indo-China."
The Admiral sighed: "Yes, can't say I'm happy about it though."
The Prince shrugged: "Such are the workings of fate I'm afraid."
"I thought the Middle Kingdom was not expansionist ?"
"We aren't."
Admiral Geon snorted in disbelief: "Go and tell thàt to the Vietnamese !"
"But we aren't. Truly. It was your country that invaded a bit of real estate that used to belong to mine. Viet Nam was a protectorate of the Middle Kingdom, part of our feudal system, until we allowed them to become independent and rule themselves. Such is our Benign Rule in this World. But then your people came along and enslaved them. We had to set matters right... we're protecting them again and allow them to grow strong enough again to take care of themselves. Such is our way."
The Admiral glanced at the Chinese nobleman: "You really believe all that ?"
The Prince shrugged. "It might surprise you... but I do. Do not forget that I was raised a Confusionist. You should read his works when you can. I have an excellent translation if you want."
The Admiral waved: "Maybe some other time. But go on, you were explaining something."
"Ah yes. As of now we control the north of Indo-China, we stopped at the port of Vinh."
"Why there ?"
"We didn't feel it was necessary to go further. We are polite after all. And besides, we didn't want to take territory that has never before been ours to begin with. After their independence from us the Viet Namese conquered South Indo-China. We never did."
The Admiral nodded and the Prince continued: "I have been talking with several representatives of your country. You are the latest in a long line. And each of them I sent with the same message: the Middle Kingdom wants Peace and Harmony to abound in the World. We have been seeking for a Peace Treaty for years now. We remain wary of your conquering ways, but we know that eventually we must exist in the same world. Hence... peace."
"Oh yes !", the Admiral grinned grimly, "certainly now that my country is over-occupied with matters in Brazil..."
The Prince smiled in return. "Forge the iron when it's hot."
"And pester the Frenchmen when there's fewer of them."
"Compared with my people there will always be fewer Frenchmen."
"Hmm, yes, the 'throw another million at the front'-approach."
"But," the Prince continued, "We would think the issue of North Indo-China is foregone. Possession is nine-tenth part of the law, as your people would say, and we intend to hold it. But we leave the rest to you, knowing that your presence has a calming influence on the hot-heads down south."
"And Laos ?"
"The Siamese have a historical claim to it, albeit flimsy. Let them keep the jungle on the rocks. We have no claim there. Unless the Laonese wish our protection, but I doubt it. They do not have the cultural and historical connection with us the Vietnamese have."
"You wish to draw the border at Vinh ?"
"Vinh at our side and Ha Tinh at yours, a no-man's land in between. No troops stationed there, only police forces to keep trouble at bay. Very stern approach towards smugglers and pirates. Extremely stern approach towards opium-traders. All trade between our countries to happen between those two cities and nowhere else."
The Admiral couldn't help but be fascinated by part of the sentence: "That 'extremely stern approach' ? What do you mean by that ?"
"Oh, we usually decapitate all traders, sellers and users of opium."
"Isn't that a bit harsh ?"
"Not where I come from. Would you prefer them to be flayed alive, salted and then laid out in the sun ?"
Admiral Geon tugged at his collar. He'd tried the stuff once.
"Only those caught red-handed Admiral," the Prince smiled benignly.

"I'll see what I can do for your proposal Your Highness," the Admiral said at the door when the Prince was seeing him out.
"All I could expect Admiral, from a warrior who knows the best wars are the ones never fought."
"Didn't Napoleon say that ?"
"He might have. But Sun Tzu certainly did and he lived 1.500 years before your Great General."
Prince Pu Lun smiled when he saw the Admiral climbing into his carriage and ride off.
All in all a good evening's work.

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Phoenix
Posted: Feb 13 2007, 12:33 PM

Hegemon
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The Fast and The Furious - Fly-By Division..

"Most Noble Lord, I have a cunning plan..."
"Speak We. What has that crazy mind of yours come up with this time ?" Weng He asked wearily. He didn't want to get rid of this young man who could occasionally come up with really good ideas, but he feared this was not going to be one of those since his underling was standing there with far too bright eyes and a most eager stance... and his dark suspicions proved true.
"This worthless worm has devised a way to deal with airships, My Lord and Commander ! Yes, my humble efforts to come up with a counter-measure against airships, for surely we have built some but others are doing the same..."
Weng He waved away the ramblings. "Get to the point cricket."
"We can train certain predator-birds to ravage the air-sacks. Surely, with huge rents the lifting gasses will escape and the enemy is doomed."
The Engineer put a wary hand over his eyes. "How would a mere bird attack a behemoth in the sky ?"
"There are some that are so ferocious about their territories, they attack whomever approaches, with disregard for size. We can attach razors on their claws and they can be trained for the distinctive shape of airships..."
"Will they see the difference between our own airships and the enemy's ?"
The young man hesitated, but only for a hear-beat: "Uhm... no. But then, we only use them when we have no airships of our own in the air eyh ? Will work faster than trying to put some vessel of our own up and aims better than a gun. It's by all means a self-aiming weapons-system !"
Weng He looked at his advisors, who looked most unhappy, and then he turned back towards his eager minion: "Well then, go find some of those birds and train them. Show me the results when they're ready." The advisors looked shocked at that.
Grovelling the young man showered his Master and Overlord with many thanks and well-wishes, then he jumped up and happily went about his new task.
Weng He turned towards his advisors again: "You think it has no merit ?"
They all shook their heads.
"Well, it has merit, but not what you would expect. You still have much to learn about this kind of work I guess." He looked grim. "No doubt there are spies about, and I would expect at least one cretin to try and sell what he knows to a foreign pay-master. And that is why I keep complete idiots like We in my service. His ideas may be completely wrong and frankly he's insane, but they will work in one way that nobody would think of: it confuses the enemy to no end."
He turned and walked away, but then looked over his shoulder with a wry grin:
"And you may never know... it might work after all..."

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Phoenix
Posted: Feb 15 2007, 10:50 AM

Hegemon
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The Fast and The Furious - Fly-By Division..

The man stared out of the window.
Finally, after years of bickering, they had given him glass panes for windows. And he liked the view from his new office too. There was a sense of accomplishment in his weary heart when he gazed at the magnificent hangar being built to shelter the first two operational sémi-dirigibles. He sighed. So many years had passed, and he still was like a bird in a gilded cage...
The factory had been building a new prototype, bigger, more majestic, but he doubted the materials would support the hulk. He had voiced his misgivings to Weng He, but the Chinese engineer had shrugged his shoulders in a gesture he had learned from him and muttered: " We will see." Since only coolies were manning the prototypes until one was really sure of their safety the Chinese didn't bother with any bad outcomes, save for the cost of materials lost and equipment broken. The man didn't really approve of this. But who was he to change the customs that have sprung up from millennia of institutionalised serfdom ? He sighed again. His father now, the good man had really cared about his workers before the terrible accident that crippled him, and had sought always to lighten the work-load for them with clever innovations and incidentally had gotten far more rich than his peers in the process. The man wondered how his family was doing. Would they have mourned him long ?

Weng He was satisfied. The huge prototype was finished and ready for its first flight. The coolies manning it were well-instructed and everything was ready. He gave the signal for the flight to commence. Those new "movie-camera's" freshly sent from Beijing were going to record it for posterity and he struck a grand pose when they swivelled towards him, then back towards the rising air-ship.
The monstrosity rose gracefully into the air, motors humming thriftily. It glided upwards and forwards with the grace of a swan and a slight breeze riddled the balloon's surface.
Riddled ? But that shouldn't...

When the fires were finally extinguished the bodies were counted and the grim tally reached the engineer: all had perished. Weng He ordered an extensive search for the surviving cloth and frame, to be examined for any clues. One of the "camera-men" approached him with the offer to view the "films" as soon as they were developed and he agreed immediately. Who could have thought the "films" could turn out to be useful for his research after all ? He resolved there and then to have all of his tests filmed.

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Phoenix
Posted: Feb 17 2007, 04:11 PM

Hegemon
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October 14th 1904

The sentry guarding one of the entrances to the city of Vinh wasn't feeling too well. He didn't know whether it was that infamous fish-sauce the Viet Namh liked so much, or that last dish of fried shrimp, but somehow his entire system was revolting to something. He slumped against the wall next to the gate and started coughing violently.

The Lieutenant didn't look too happy. He read the last report and sighed. Then he took up a brush, wetted his ink-stone, took a sheaf of paper, and started writing a dispatch:
QUOTE
Cycle 76, Year Jia-Chen, Month 9, day 6

My Lord Commander,
Seven more men have fallen ill today. We have lost 4 of the 5 from yesterday. The total of dead is now 87 and many men are feeling not well. The illness is a mystery, the doctors think it might be a flu, but they really don't recall any kind of flu where a victim coughs up so much blood. They do warn that it is most contagious, so I ordered my troops to remain in their barracks, and when they have to patrol to remain aloof of the populace and not have contact with anyone at all. Orders have been given to the locals to stay away from the troops and to practice caution when dealing with strangers. Orders have been given to quarantine ships, especially foreign ships, and their crews to stay on board.
This lowly servant awaits Your further orders.

Lieutenant Wen Cai
Green Standard Army of Fujian
Posted in Vinh, Viet Namh

Answer:
QUOTE
From the Bingbu Yamen, yamen in Hanoi, Viet Namh
Cycle 76, Year Jia-Chen, Month 9, day 15

Lieutenant Wen,
The orders you have given have been the right action. A recommendation on your file has been sent to Beijing.
A general order has been sent out to all corps and armies:
Keep your troops separated from the populace and isolate the ill. Isolate villages and quarters where people are ill. Isolate the ships likewise. This disease must run its course and so far nobody has ever come up with a cure for the flu. Strict separation is the only way to deal with it.
Strict cleanliness of person and living quarters is of the utmost importance, as is the complete eradication of any vermin.
Proper medication and reinforcing substances will be distributed.

Li Heming, Secretary
The Bingbu Yamen, Hanoi.