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أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا وَلِيُّ ٱللَّٰهِ

Teujira, Shamalistan, Woraniana, Areuloia

Post self-deleted by Not Xav.

Wallahi

Teujira, Not Xav, Woraniana

Nosotros Venceremos!

Teujira, Shamalistan, Woraniana

Post by Woraniana suppressed by Wascoitan 007.

Woraniana

"Tell me, infidel, have you ever experienced the 3 shoe beating?" - Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph

Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav

Post by Zanbala Prz suppressed by Wascoitan 007.

Zanbala Prz

Hey hey virgins

Teujira, Antillian, Shamalistan, Woraniana

Post by Shamalistan suppressed by Wascoitan 007.

Shamalistan

As the founder of the Roleplay Chessboard, I hereby enact my founder privileges to post MORE than one OOC post on the RMB, and do hereby state the following:

Long life and prosperity to the Roleplay Chessboard, but more importantly, long life to glorious leader Kim Jong-Il!

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Antillian, Czabalkia, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

D O W N W I T H T H E T R A I T O R S U P W I T H T H E S T A R S

Shamalistan, Woraniana

[list][list]𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙌𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝘼𝙄𝙇𝙐𝙍𝙀 𝙏𝙊 𝙈𝙊𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙉𝙄𝙕𝙀

[sub]𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟎 - 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠[/sub][/list][/list]

| The Great Qing - the ruling dynasty over all of China and its conquered territories, themselves a conquering tribe of the Jurchen peoples, known better in the modern day as the Manchus or the red-tasseled Manchus. Since the year 4332 in the Chinese Calendar, or 1636 AD, the conquest dynasty of the Qing has ruled over an increasingly fragile China, an Empire slowly being torn apart by external factors. Since 1839, the foreign prestige of the Chinese nation has grown increasingly smaller as more and more powers overseas have disrespected the Dragon Throne, sending weapons of war to Chinese shores and forcing the Qing Emperors into various 'unfair treaties' regarding territorial concessions and leases, unfair free trade, drug smuggling, and other matters of foreign policy which has stripped China of its long-standing status as the undisputed master of the universe and, in some ways, of its own independence as a nation, now beholden to the wills of various foreign leaders who use these unfair treaties to chip away at the Qing's possessions and subvert the dynasty's subjects with their foreign goods and drugs. The current emperor, the Guangxu Emperor, has reigned over the Dragon Throne since 1875 himself under the auspices of Emperor Dowager Cixi, mother of the former Tongzhi Emperor and mastermind of Chinese court politics and the Imperial political structure as a whole. |

| The Empress Dowager Cixi, aunt of the Guangxu Emperor, has essentially led Chinese politics since 1861 when the Xianfeng Emperor, of whose she had been a concubine, died. Her son, the Tongzhi Emperor, soon took the throne with very little influence, being little more than a young boy at the time of his father's death. Under the guide of Empress Dowager Cixi, the young Tongzhi Emperor launched a project known as the Tongzhi Restoration, a series of reforms launched in an attempt to modernize Qing China to, ultimately, set in motion a set of events which would undo the effects of the unfair treaties and the general dynastic decline of the Qing. The Restoration would be a failure, and the Tongzhi Emperor would die at just age 18, forcing Empress Dowager Cixi's hand. Breaking the traditional conventions of royal succession in China, Cixi installed her nephew as the Guangxu Emperor in 1875, and he has ruled over all China since, never too out of reach of Empress Dowager Cixi's watchful eye and guiding hand. One thing which Empress Dowager Cixi has made sure of, however, is that the Self-Strengthening Movement which was started as a part of the Tongzhi Restoration has continued into the modern day. Despite the death of the Tongzhi Emperor, the Self-Strengthening Movement has remained as a testament to the efforts of the Restoration. |

| Alas, the Self-Strengthening Movement's initial prospects and momentum have collapsed into a stagnant crawl. In the thirty-odd years since the beginning of the Self-Strengthening Movement, the high hopes of modernizing the Qing Empire and restoring China to its former glory have fallen short of doing much of anything beyond quelling revolts, certainly a positive, and hardly anything long-lasting beyond that. In the past two decades, the Self-Strengtheners have been able to improve on China's railway infrastructure and telegraph systems, but a lack of real social reform and military reform has left Chinese society lagging behind the West and that of its neighbors such as Japan. Formerly seen as Center of the Universe, that centralism around Chinese leadership in Asia has completely disappeared as China struggles to hold even itself together. Additionally, the lack of military reform has left the Eight Banners completely in the dust compared to the ever-encroaching Europeans, and the rising powerhouse of Meiji Japan. It additionally let anti-Qing activists in Korea, a tributary state of the Chinese Empire, to break away following a Japanese-backed coup launched by Kim Ok-gyun. The Joseon Dynasty, formerly one of China's supporters, has since become independent of the tributary system and has as such no longer supported China financially or diplomatically, placing its bets more or less behind Meiji Japan, probably the biggest blow to Chinese prestige since the Wars of Humiliation with the British in the 1830s up straight into the 1860s. The concessions granted to the West, while certainly a massive blow to the Qing, was not as devastating as losing Korea to a wave of pro-Meiji sentiments. |

| As such, China stands alone in the universe it once mastered, the Mandate of Heaven growing ever weaker. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Vancordia, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Francia Napoleonienne, Jocheon

[sub] [ THE NEW EMPEROR:[/sub][sub] PART 1 ][/sub]

[sub]DECEMBER, 1889[/sub]

[pre][ P A Ç O I M P E R I A L — B R A Z I L ][/pre][sub][pre][ PEDRO II, THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL WAS

A LEADER WITHOUT INTEREST IN KEEPING

THE IMPERIAL SYSTEM ALIVE AND WELL AS

THERE WAS NO MALE HEIR TO THE THRONE

HIS YOUNG NEPHEW, ALEIXO, WAS THE

OLDEST MALE OTHER THEN PEDRO HIMSELF

IN THE ROYAL FAMILY. HE ARRIVES AT THE

PALACE TO CONVINCE HIM TO ABDICATE IN

FAVOR OF HIMSELF, A TAUNTING TASK INDEED. ][/pre][/sub]___

[ Alexio, born in 1860 to Princess Maria Amelia and her husband, the archduke of Austria. He was fairly young, at 30, but was fairly smart and witty. While his parents lived in Austria, he was sent to study and be raised in Rio De Janerio. His parents weren't exactly the type to care about their children. Once 16 he went to study at the naval college in Rio and subsequently joined the Imperial Navy. He didn't have the physique to keep up but his commanding officers agreed he was "intelligent" and "had the brains to lead ships". He left the Navy when he turned 23 he was married to Maria Aleja, a daughter of a wealthy Brazillian businessman. He continued his studies at the University of Dom Pedro II, founded in 1867. Today, 1890, Alexio assisted his uncle, Pedro II, in running the country and effectively took over most the control, though Pedro II was still the emperor. He successfully pushed through and passed Lei Áurea, which freed all slaves, and forced slaveowners to begin paying wages to them. ]

[ Alexio, sporting a clean black suit and nothing more entered the Paco Imperial, home of the emperor. He had a simple demand in mind, become Emperor. Pedro II had lost interest and did not care to keep the Imperial system alive, currently it was fairly unpopular with some and revolts were brewing, though the majority still lauded Pedro II as a hero and wished to see him continue as well as the Imperial system. Alexio sat down on a Victorian couch and a maid bought he tea and cakes. He was sipping the tea when Emperor Pedro II walked him, he immediately stands up. ]

[list]

[sup][ EMPEROR PEDRO II: ][/sup][sup] "Nephew! Alexio! What brings you here!"[/sup]

[/list]

[ The 2 shake hands and proceed to hug, it was not acceptable to do this to the Emperor but the 2 were fairly close, after all Alexio was the one assisting him in leading the nation. ]

[list]

[sup][ ALEXIO: ][/sup][sup] "I shall be blunt Uncle, and not coat this in sugar. I think you should abdicate the throne and declare me Emperor. Brazil needs leadership, it needs someone motivated, it needs someone to keep the country together so we can continue our rapid expanse."[/sup]

[/list]

[ Pedro II remained silent, he sat down on the couch and sipped the tea. Alexio did the same, though there was clearly eagerness in his eyes to hear his response. ]

[list]

[sup][ EMPEROR PEDRO II: ][/sup][sup] "I see, I see."[/sup]

[/list]

[ Alexio remained quiet, he knew Pedro II enough to know him saying "I see, I see" mean't he was thinking and would have a proper response soon enough. He was older now, so he wasn't has sharp, punctual or witty, he needed time to think so that his response wouldn't be unclear, muffled, or confusing. Alexio did nothing but sip his tea, eat his cake and occasional stand up to look out the window. ]

[list]

[sup][ EMPEROR PEDRO II: ][/sup][sup] "I think, that, you are right, and that you becoming Emperor is for the best. Though I'd like to hear what you plan on doing, you must have reasons."[/sup]

[sup][ ALEXIO: ][/sup][sup] "Brazil can be a power Uncle, it truly can, look at our navy, 5th largest in the world! but look at our people, poor and under-educated! I've been to Britain, I see what they're doing, they have these large factories and mechanical machines that are producing all sorts of interesting goods, we need to do what they are doing, we must keep up and we cannot fall behind you see."[/sup]

[/list]

[ Pedro II tried to look interested, but you could tell he already blanked out ]

[list]

[sup][ PEDRO II: ][/sup][sup] "I see. Well then, I believe it is time to begin writing my abdication speech and its high time you begin your coronation speech."[/sup]

[sup][ ALEXIO: ][/sup][sup] "Of Course Uncle, thank you for trusting me."[/sup]

[/list]

[ Pedro II smiled ]

___

[sub]JANUARY, 1890[/sub]

[pre][ S A I N T S E B A S T I O N C A T H E D R A L — B R A Z I L ][/pre]___

[ Saint Sebastian Cathedral, the traditional place where the Emperor's of Brazil are coronated. People packed the Cathedral, many notable faces were there from foreign leaders, to former Emperor Pedro II, and the wife of Alexio. The Archbishop went towards Alexio, would crouched down on his knees. In the Archbishop's hand was a elaborately decorated Crown with jewels, emeralds, diamonds and more. The Archbishop breathed deeply then spoke the following words: ]

[list]

[sup][ ARCHBISHOP: ][/sup][sup] "Receive the Crown of the Empire, that by the hands of us bishops, though unworthy, is imposed upon your head , in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; and know that it signifies the glory of holiness, honour, and righteousness, and do not ignore that by it you become a partaker in our ministry; so that, just as we are in the internal forum pastors and rectors of souls, so be you in the external forum a sincere worshiper of God and a strenuous defender assisting the Church of Christ against all adversities; and may you show yourself to be a useful trustee and a profitable ruler of the Empire that God has given you and committed to your government by means of our blessing as placeholders of the Apostles and with the aid of all the saints; so that, ornamented with the jewels of the virtues, and crowned with the reward of everlasting happiness, you may have among the glorious athletes a glory without end with our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, in whose Name and place you believe to govern, Who lives and rules, one God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.[/sup][/list]

[ The Archbishop placed the crown on Alexio, and with that he was now Dom Alexio I, Emperor of Brazil, Angola, and the Mid Atlantic Islands. ]

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Francia Napoleonienne, Jocheon

[list][sub]The New York Times[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The United States of America[/sub][/list]

National

INDIAN LANDS RECLAMATION ACT LEGISLATION PASSED; HIGH TRIBAL COUNCIL FORCIBLY REMOVED BY US TROOPS

[sup]The White House, Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]January 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation passed by Congress known as the Indian Lands Reclamation Act that formally nullified and extinguished all Native American claims on former tribal lands now occupied and in use by the United States Government. This is in response to the formation of the Confederation of Native American Tribes in the Indian Territory in retaliation to the continued American attacks on Native American villages and repeated violations of treaties between several native tribes and the United States Government. Federal Troops in the Indian Territory have begun forcibly removing native tribes off lands that once were ancestral tribal land in order to transition the land to federal use. The High Tribal Council, that was seated in the small town of Anadarko was forcibly removed by Federal Troops after they refused to give in to demands and to comply with the Indian Reclamation Act. Following this, numerous attacks on Federal forts began as the US 6th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Fort Yuma, in Yuma, Arizona suffered repeated attacks by Apache Indians. Despite this, the 6th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Maj. Thomas R. Beckett was able to repel the Native attack on the Federal fort.[/sup]

National

FEDERAL TROOPS REPEL NATIVE AMERICAN RAID ON FORT RENO; CONFEDERATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES DISBANDED

[sup]El Reno, Indian Territory | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]January 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]The US 9th Cavalry Regiment repelled a Native American Indian attack conducted by Southern Cheyenne and Southern Arapaho tribes in retaliation for the Indian Lands Reclamation Act. The regiment was supported by a battery of four Hotchkiss mountain guns. However, the regiment suffered numerous casualties and deaths following the attacks. Other Native American attacks occurred on several US forts across the Indian Territory with little to no success. The Confederation of Native American Tribes was promptly disbanded following the attack on Fort Reno due to infighting and forcible removal from their government seat in Anadarko. Days after the attack on Fort Reno, the United States Army launched a retaliatory strike on Southern Cheyenne and Southern Arapaho villages in the Indian Territory. Several civilians were killed in the attack along with many others wounded. The US Government has also increased military presence in the Indian Territory in order to prevent a major Native American insurrection movement from taking place. The US 2nd Infantry Regiment, led by Maj. Elias Johnson disarmed a group of Native American militia members in Arizona.[/sup]

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Jocheon

[list][sub]The United States of America[/sub][/list]

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW AGE

[list][sup]January 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]The Civil War was America's bloodiest and most divisive conflict in all of American history, pitting the Union Army and the United States of America against the Confederate Army and Confederate States of America. The war resulted in the deaths of more than 620,000 people, with millions more injured and the South left in ruins. 25 years later, in the year 1890, the Civil War is still fresh in the minds of many citizens across the country. 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln led the United States in an age of turmoil and uncertainty, an age where families were ripped apart by allegiances and brother went against brother. The nation endured its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis it had ever seen. But Lincoln, preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the U.S. economy. His legacy is remembered as the United States' martyr hero, and he is consistently ranked as the greatest U.S. president. The aftermath of the Civil War, led to an era where the American people could heal, The Reconstruction Era. It was time of recovery and healing, and social change. 13 years later, the effects of the Reconstruction Era could still be felt and seen everywhere in the United States. But those were the dark years and periods in American history. Now, the United States arose from the smoke and ash of the Civil War to become the prominent nation it had once dreamed of before. The United States is ever growing and ever changing. Industrial capitalism and free-market capitalism dominate the market as the US gradually grows into a superpower. Most people now look back at the Civil War as the war that changed America forever. But those were dark times, now, the United States ever more pushes forward away from the dark years of the Civil War and into a new era and beginning. But the legacy of those who fought in the Civil War will forever be in the history books and the minds of the American people. To quote Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address, “That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” [/sup]

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Jocheon

[sup]JANUARY, 1890[/sup]

[sup]MINISTÉRIO NAVAL | NAVAL MINISTRY[/sup]

STATUS AND FUTURE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMADA

[sub]EMPEROR ALEXIO I ANNOUNCES MAJOR NAVAL REFORMS[/sub]

__

Emperor Alexio I, to say it short, was a navy man, he grew up with the navy, he trained with the navy, and he served the navy. This wasn’t much of a surprise, the Imperial Armada was always a staunch supporter of the monarchy, unlike the army, in which Alexio I had various ideas to quell their rebelliousness. Overall, the Imperial Armada was doing very good for itself, it was the strongest navy in the western hemisphere, it had the respect of the European powers and sported a list of naval victories dating back to the 1820s. However, the Empire of Brazil had very large responsibilities, it had a vast south-atlantic empire that required a powerful navy to defend it, from Rio De Janerio, to the South-Mid-Atlantic Islands (or the Ilhas Do Meio Sul) and all the way to Angola, which joined the Empire 25 years after independence to the dismay of Portugal and the United Kingdom. It was expected Portugal would attempt to secure Angola fully but a populus which supported joining the Empire, Pedro II’s popularity in Angola and the stronger Imperial Armada prevented Portugal from seizing the territory. Currently, the Armada is made up of these ships:

[list]

[sup]IMPERIAL ARMADA, 1890[/sup]

[sup]RIACHUELO, BATTLESHIP - 5,700 TONS

AQUIDABA, BATTLESHIP - 5030 TONS

SETE DE SETEMBRO, BATTLESHIP - 2174 TONS[/sup]

[sup]TAMANDARE, CRUISER - 4430 TONS

TRAJANO, CRUISER - 1414 TONS

ALMIRANTE BARROSO, CRUISER - 2000 TONS

IMPERIAL MARINEHERO, CRUISER - 736 TONS [/sup]

[sup]SOLIMOES, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

JAVARY, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

PARA, MONITOR - 490 TONS

RIO GRANDE, MONITOR - 490 TONS

ALAGAOS, MONITOR - 490 TONS

PIAUI, MONITOR - 490 TONS

CEARA, MONITOR - 490 TONS

SANTA CATHERINA, MONITOR - 490 TONS[/sup]

[sup]MAROJO, GUNBOAT - 430 TONS[/sup]

[spoiler=OOC Note]

This is an incomplete list of major surface combatants based on an incomplete list which can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_Brazilian_Navy#Historic_ships. It can be assumed there are more.

[/spoiler][/list]

This leads us to the primary problems with the Brazilian navy, while the nation had an experienced group of naval engineers which gave the Empire the ability to design and build its own ships (mostly at the Rio de Janeiro Navy Arsenal), major surface combatants were rarely built there, with the largest ship being the Tamandaré Protected Cruiser at 4500 tons. Alexio I recognized the importance of a domestic shipbuilding and naval technology industry, and thus this would be his priority when dealing with the navy. Alexio I also believing that this advance would assist in industrializing the nation. Currently Brazil had 2 primary shipbuilding arsenals: Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro and Arsenal of Navy of the Ilha das Cobras. Alexio planned to begin construction of the largest shipbuilding plant ever constructed in Brazil, it will be located in Vitoria and have the capacity to build 1 ship of up to 25,000 tons, 2 ships of up to 20,000 tons and 6 ships of up to 15,000 tons all at the same time, construction on the first 3 segments was expected to be complete within 3 years, and then the other building segments within 6 years. Alexio I’s next challenge was to replace much of the aging fleet with new ships to compliment the 2 crown jewels of the Imperial Navy: the Aquidabã and the Riachuelo, both of which were large battleships at over 5000 tons.

Alexio I had a few problems however, first off funding, second off Brazil had never designed anything of this magnitude, thus the Empire needed a partner to create a mutual relationship concerning this. He dispatched Aika Liyazaki, Alexio’s advisor on Asian affairs and one of the few Japanese-Brazilians to Tokyo to work on a deal with the Japanese Empire to co-develop and produce a series of large battleships for each other navies. Thankfully, the deal was agreed upon by the Japanese and a partnership was established to produce battleships. The following specifications were agreed upon:

[list]

[sup]JP-BR NO.1 BATTLESHIP, AKA “PEDRO II CLASS BATTLESHIP” IN BRAZIL[/sup]

[sup]

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Cherokee Confederates, Woraniana

DISPLACEMENT: 13,000 TONS

LENGTH: 391 FT

INSTALLED POWER: 6000 kW (18x BOILERS)

PROPULSION: 2x STEAM ENGINES

SPEED: 16 MPH

COMPLEMENT: 502

ARMAMENT:

- 3x 300 mm NAVAL GUN

- 10x 150 mm NAVAL GUN

- 15x 100 mm NAVAL GUN

- 8x 50 mm NAVAL GUN

- 4x 457 mm TORPEDO TUBES

ARMOUR: 8in BELT ARMOUR [/sup]

[/list]

Alexio I opted to order 4 of these ships, with their completions to be slated for 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899. This was only the first step in the process, Alexio I also established the “Richaelu Naval College” which would teach naval engineering, military engineering and other naval related topics to assist in training the next generation of Brazilian naval engineers and designers. He also established the Imperial Gun Company or IGC, which would develop domestically built naval guns for the navy, they’d initially develop smaller, high quality guns (50 mm to 100mm) but would advance to larger guns (300 mm) by 1896. Additionally the Imperial Engine and Machine Company (IEMC) was established to begin researching engines, and mechanical machines to advance Brazil in this area as well.

___

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar

[B]海の覇権!• UMI NO HAKEN!

[I]23rd year of Emperor Meiji's reign, Kōki 2550

[I]Iwakura Tomomi's submission of the document entitled, "Opinions Regarding Naval Expansion" to the daijō-kan in 1882 marked the beginning of end of Japan's Army-based military, outlining a set of viewpoints that would seek the appropriate allocation of resources on naval expansion from a coastal defense navy into a blue water naval force as reflected by the esteemed colonial empires of Europe, a hallmark Japan strived to have, one of great prestige regionally and internationally. Further upon Tomomi's humble suggestion, an increase on Japan's natural resources like, sake, tobacco, and soy, could provide substantial financial support toward the proposed naval growth.

In May 1883, an eight year, multi-faceted naval expansion project was approved for a planned 32 warships, with it the intended tax hike on select domestic resources for export. Unforeseeable, the tax hike failed to raise enough tax revenue to cover project and maintenance costs overall. Overseas advances in naval technology increased the costs of purchasing large components of a modern fleet, so that by 1885 cost overruns had endangered the entire 1883 plan. Additionally, an increase in costs coupled with unsubstantial domestic tax revenues boiled concern and political tension overall in Japan regarding funding naval expansion as some hardline militarist cliques favored a strong Land-based military.

The subsequent failure of the tax increase plan to provide adequate revenue funding necessary for naval expansion effort soon produced lengthy discussions and political pressure, instigating the Imperial Government, with support from His Majesty, Emperor Meiji of Japan, to approve measures to issue public bonds in early 1886 with the idea of providing the necessary funds for the Navy. As first term public bonds were issued by May, they proved a major success as the public bought triple the initial estimate, securing ¥16,642,300 by the end of 1886. In early 1887, Emperor Meiji followed suit with a personal donation of ¥300,000 incorporated with the activation of a fund to which other citizens could donate money for naval expansion. Between March-September 1887 the naval collection raised ¥2,000,000 to help assist naval port development and warship purchases.

Among the public interest and popularity in the growing naval industrial complex in Japan, wealthy nobility and industrialist aristocrats incorporated their share toward the naval program with Prince Shimazu and Prince Mori, the former daimyōs of Satsuma and Chōshu, respectively, each donating ¥100,000, Iwasaki Yataro of Mitsubishi shipbuilding and his eldest son, Hisaya, each providing ¥50,000; Kawasaki Hachiroemon of Kawasaki banking and shipbuilding providing ¥50,000 and Hara Rokurō, president of the Yokohama Specie Bank, donating ¥50,000. These donations provided funds to cover purchases as well as the cost overruns associated with the construction of Kure and Sasebo naval stations.

With existing heavy vessels in the Imperial Japanese Navy, assembled in Japan with British and French parts and armaments, Japan sees itself at a current disadvantage against the 7,335 ton German battleship-equipped Qing Navy across the sea, outclassing the largest Cruiser in the IJN by at least 3,200 tons. If met at sea, the fast and mobile cruiser and torpedo boat-composed Imperial Navy would find itself more agile albeit outgunned, as higher caliber battleships could sink multiple smaller ships in a single volley. Although Japan has largely abandoned foreign reliance on Naval technology since the invent of a domestic prismatic powder in 1886 and the resignation of the French Military Mission in the Empire, the [nation=long]Woraniana[/nation] approached Japan with ideas of a co-designed Battleship, of which it became of interest to the daijō-kan to allocate recently raised revenues from the explosion of public bonds for Military fundraising, toward the joint Brazilian-Japanese project, the first ever of its kind in both Empire's histories. With growing security concern from the Imperial Qing with both it's hostility and internal instability, the dājokan values the Brazilian Empire, too a fledgling power coming to rise, as an invaluable partner in the Western Hemisphere.[/I]

Teujira, Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Woraniana, Jocheon

[list][sub]The New York Times[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The United States of America[/sub][/list]

National

WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY UNVEILS NEW WINCHESTER RIFLE

[sup] New Haven, Connecticut | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]January 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]The Winchester Repeating Arms Company unveiled the new edition of the Winchester Model 1890, a slide-action repeating rifle. In the late 1880s, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company asked John Browning to design a replacement for the Model 1873 rifle, since the rim fire version of the Model 1873 had never achieved any great popularity. On June 26, 1888, a patent for the new design was issued to John and Matthew Browning. Under this patent, Winchester created the second repeating slide action .22 rifle ever successfully developed and manufactured, being narrowly edged out by the Colt Lightning small frame carbine. The Model 1890 is a slide action, top ejecting rifle with an 18-inch magazine tube under the barrel. It has a 24-inch octagonal barrel, a plain walnut stock, and an overall weight of approximately 6 lbs. Calibers for the rifle include .22 Short, .22 Long, .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Rimfire. The Model 1890 will only feed the round specific to that gun (e.g. a Model 1890 stamped ".22 Short" on the barrel will not feed .22 Long, .22 Long Rifle, or .22 WR. The first model has a solid frame, a case hardened receiver, and a fixed rear sight. The rifle is ideal for shooting galleries. Approximately 15,000 of these were produced between 1890 and 1892. Approximately 15,000 of these will be produced at the end of the year and to 1892. Already, many have gone into production as many gun shops have stocked their shelves with the new models of Winchester 1890.[/sup]

National

UNITED MINE WORKERS UNION (UMW) FORMED

[sup] Columbus, Ohio | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]January 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]A new labor union known as the United Mine Workers was officially formed today in Columbus, Ohio after the merger of two earlier groups, the Knights of Labor Trade Assembly No. 135 and the National Progressive Miners Union. It was modeled after the American Federation of Labor (AFL). It was formed in response to the culmination of decades of effort to organize mine workers and people in adjacent occupations into a single, effective negotiating unit. Coal was one of the most highly sought natural resources, as it was widely used to heat homes and to power machines in industries. The coal mines were a competitive and dangerous place to work. With the owners imposing reduced wages on a regular basis, in response to fluctuations in pricing, miners sought a group to stand up for their rights.

The UMWA listed eleven points as the union's goals:[/sup]

[list][sub]- Payment of a salary commensurate with the dangerous work conditions. This was one of the most important points of the constitution.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Payment to be made fairly in legal tender, not with company scrip.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Provide safe working conditions, with operators to use the latest technologies in order to preserve the lives and health of workers.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Provide better ventilation systems to decrease black lung disease, and better drainage systems.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Enforce safety laws and make it illegal for mines to have inadequate roof supports, or contaminated air and water in the mines.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Limit regular hours to an eight-hour work day.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- End child labor, and strictly enforce the child labor law.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Have accurate scales to weigh the coal products, so workers could be paid fairly. Many operators had altered scales that showed a lighter weight of coal than actually produced, resulting in underpayment to workers. Miners were paid per pound of coal that they produced.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Payment should be made in legal tender.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- Establish unbiased public police forces in the mine areas that were not controlled by the operators. Many operators hired private police, who were used to harass the mine workers and impose company power. In company towns, the operators owned all the houses and controlled the police force; they could arbitrarily evict workers and arrest them unjustly.[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]- The workers reserved the right to strike, but would work with operators to reach reasonable conclusions to negotiations.[/list][/sub]

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

[list][list]ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 1890

[sup]If one is not in a hurry, even an egg will start walking.[/sup]

𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒[/list][/list]

|[sup]From the chaos of the Zemene Mesafint, the British Expedition to Abyssinia, and the subsequent Italian invasion of Eritrea, the petty kingdoms within Ethiopia now find themselves facing the possibility of colonial subjugation. Italy, seeking a colonial presence in Africa, invaded Ethiopia and following a successful conquest of some coastal regions, forced the Treaty of Wuchale upon Shewa (an autonomous kingdom within the empire), creating the colony of Eritrea. Due to significant differences between the Italian and Amharic translations of the treaty, Italy believed they had subsumed Ethiopia as a client state. The misunderstanding, according to the Italians, was due to the mistranslation of a verb, which formed a permissive clause in Amharic and a mandatory one in Italian. In the Amharic version of the treaty, Article 17 states that “His Majesty the King of Kings of Ethiopia can use the Government of His Majesty the King of Italy for all treatments that did business with other powers or governments.” According to this version, the Emperor of Ethiopia is granted a choice and is not mandated to use the Italian government to conduct foreign relations. The Italian version stated that Ethiopia was obliged to conduct all foreign affairs through Italian authorities, in effect making Ethiopia an Italian protectorate, while the Amharic version gave Ethiopia considerable autonomy, with the option of communicating with third powers through the Italians. Menelik II was not in favor of this and rejected protection from Italy.[/sup]|

|[sup]Since his time as the King of Shewa, Menelik has had to fight his way to become the Emperor. Having been the prisoner of Tewodros II who conquered Shewa, and had him transferred to his mountain stronghold of Magdala. There Menelik was treated as more of a guest than a prisoner, Tewodros even granted his daughter hand to Menelik who accepted her hand in marriage. Upon Menelik's imprisonment, his uncle, Haile Mikael, was appointed as Shum of Shewa by Emperor Tewodros II with the title of Meridazmach. However, Meridazmach Haile Mikael rebelled against Tewodros, resulting in his being replaced by the non-royal Ato Bezabeh as Shum. However, Ato Bezabeh in turn then rebelled against the Emperor and proclaimed himself Negus of Shewa. Although the Shewan royals imprisoned at Magdala had been largely complacent as long as a member of their family ruled over Shewa, this usurpation by a commoner was not acceptable to them. They plotted Menelik's escape from Magdala; with the help of Mohammed Ali and Queen Worqitu of Wollo, he escaped from Magdala on the night of 1 July 1865, abandoning his wife, and returned to Shewa. Enraged, Emperor Tewodros slaughtered 29 Oromo hostages then had 12 Amhara notables beaten to death with bamboo rods.[/sup]|

|[sup]When returning to his Shewa homeland, Bezabeh attempted to raise an army against him. But his attempts failed, as Bezabeh was a mere commoner who was put into power by the Emperor. Many warriors flocked to Menelik's side and deposed of Bezabeh. Once again in the seat of power, Menelik declared that he would one day rule the whole of Ethiopia, but due to his familiar bond with Tewodros, he spent years simply passive and plotting until Tewodros died in the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia, where Tewodroa committed suicide rather than be captured by the angloid dogs. Yohannes IV would be crowed as Emperor to the disdain of Menelik. So much so that Menelik refused to send his army to aid Emperor Yohannes IV in the war against Mahdist Sudan. In that war, Yohannes died in the Battle of Gallabat, naming his son Mengesha Yohannes Emperor. Menelik during this time had been building himself a network of support amongst Ethiopian nobles and kings which paved the way for his victory against Mengesha Yohannes. In the end, Menelik was able to obtain the allegiance of a large majority of the Ethiopian nobility. On 3 November 1889, Menelik was consecrated and crowned as Emperor before a glittering crowd of dignitaries and clergy by Abuna Mattewos, Bishop of Shewa, at the Church of Mary on Mount Entoto. The newly consecrated and crowned Emperor Menelik II quickly toured the north in force. He received the submission of the local officials in Lasta, Yejju, Gojjam, Welo, and Begemder. Now in the year 1890, Menelik the II Emperor of Ethiopia fresh of the Wuchale Treaty must tread carefully as Italy is slowly preparing to attack once more, when? Who knows, but one thing is for certain, the battle will decided the fate of the Lion of Judah...[/sup]|

Cherokee Confederates

Woraniana

Vancordia

Shamalistan

Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Woraniana, Heizhenzhu

[sup]JANUARY 1890[/sup]

[sup]THE REVOLT: PART 1[/sup]

THE KINDLING OF A FLAME

___

[pre][ J A M A I C A — K I N G S T O N ][/pre][ Jamaica was a peculiar state in a peculiar situation. The nation had received independence, with the pretense of intensely close ties to the London, after slavery was outlawed across the empire, which came as a shock to the wealthy English landlords. The landlords created a system where large landowning english males who owned slaves were eligible to vote, in which only around 3000 or so actually qualified. The other english males were typically delegated to military service to keep order while the others were delegated to office or artisan jobs. However, by far, the majority of the population was African, and more specifically, African slaves. Which were roughly 85% of the population. These slaves were undoubtedly treated horribly, but not to the point of death as the slave trade was effectively outlawed overseas. Slaves were expected to work 12 hour days in farms and living in small, unsanitary wooden houses with dirt floors, often with many other families. Slaves were also expected to reproduce and have at least 6 to 9 children, as many of the child slaves died within the first 12 months due to lack of medical care, proper nutrition and sanitary conditions. However, agricultural products coming out of Jamaica were very cheap and very plentiful so much of the world turned a blind eye. ]

[ Educated, free africans were very rare and in many cases, did not exist at all. However, in this year, a single one did happen to live in Jamaica: Matthew Garvey, he couldn’t be enslaved by the landlords for a simple reason, he possessed Mexican citizenship, and kept in frequent contact with the government there as to ensure that they knew he was still free, if the communication stopped, they would know something happened. Nevertheless, Garvey was still discriminated against and wasn’t allowed in white establishments, which was all establishments so he opted to live in the rural areas, only rarely going to major cities. Today, however, he was in Kingston, seeking to find some old friends, who were slaves, but most notably, former soldiers who were forced to serve in the Army. It was early morning, the sun was not even up, he did this so he would not have to constantly prove his citizenry, and even so, the threat he would be killed or captured was still unnaturally high. He reached a large mansion, inside was one of the many wealthy landowners of Jamaica, however the man would not be looking to enter inside the Mansion, rather the dilapted wooden huts on the other side, which were locked up. Picking locks thankfully were fairly easy, so within seconds he was inside, around 60 people were in this particular hut, it smelt rancid. ]

[list]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] “I am looking for Paul.”[/sup]

[/list]

[ There was silence until one man, with a fairly large build, raised his hand. ]

[list]

[sup][ PAUL LAUREN: ][/sup][sup] “Long time no see, old friend..”[/sup]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] “I’ll be quick, let us speak outside for a moment..”[/sup]

[/list]

[ The pair walked outside. ]

[list]

[sup][ PAUL LAUREN: ][/sup][sup] “I trust you’ve finally found us a way out of here.”[/sup]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] “Sort of, but more important, I’ve made a discovery.”[/sup]

[sup][ PAUL LAUREN: ][/sup][sup] “Go on then!”[/sup]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] ”Near my house, around 20 miles north, there’s a small plantation, only 10 english or so, but 300 slaves.”[/sup]

[sup][ PAUL LAUREN: ][/sup][sup] “Those are common though, how is this a discovery?”[/sup]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] ”First off, it's isolated, very isolated, second off there’s various storehouses with guns, cannons, and plenty of gunpowder.”[/sup]

[sup][ PAUL LAUREN: ][/sup][sup] “You’re looking to take it over I take, kill the english, all of them, and free those slaves.”[/sup]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] ”There must be at least 150 able bodied men, we’d have a tiny army, but it's a start if we can raid other small plantations. ”[/sup]

[/list]

[ Garvey stopped speaking for a moment and reached into his large sack, pulling out around 8 or 9 large of loaves of wheat bread, baked just a few days ago. ]

[list]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] ”You’ll need this bread, tomorrow you and everyone else is getting out of here, walking through the woods, 50 mile trek at least, to my house, then we’ll take the plantation.[/sup]

[sup][ PAUL LAUREN: ][/sup][sup] “Excellent, and I take we’ll have plenty of space of 400 at least?.”[/sup]

[sup][ MATTHEW GARVEY: ][/sup][sup] ”We will, and guns for at least 4000.[/sup]

[/list]

[ And thus the kindling was set, and they were ready to begin nurturing the flame. ]

___

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz

Post by Kroraina suppressed by Woraniana.

Kroraina

its ya India

[list]January 1890

Korea's Uncertain Future[/list]

| Six years have passed since the Gapsin Coup and three years since the War of Isolation. In a single decade, a series of events have culminated in the end of the Korean submission to the Chinese Imperial tributary system. In 1884, a clique of young reformists who had travelled to the rapidly-modernizing Japan in the years before, headed by Kim Ok-gyun of the Enlightenment Party, succeeded in a palace coup, aided by Japanese soldiers and mercenaries. Several conservative officials affiliated with Queen Min, King Gojong's spouse, had been eliminated. The Queen, leader of a powerful clan in favor of the Qing and opposed to Japanese encroachment, had lost the favors of her husband, who proved himself sensible to the arguments of the young reformists. As Japanese troops swiftly expanded their presence in Korea and took the Qing garrison by surprise, King Gojong - Now titled Emperor - Proclaimed the Korean Empire a few months after the Gapsin Coup, in 1885, Korea's official independence from China. However, Kim Ok-gyun's faction, now in power, lacked the experience and connections to emulate the same developements they had witnessed in Japan, and soon, public resentment against the quick reforms and the wide opening to Western thought and ideas gave way to renewed support for Queen Min. Without leaving the shadows, she organized a coup, starting the brief War of Isolation in 1887 - A rebellion mainly taking place in Seoul with a Korean soldiers and the agricultural south of the Empire with militias, and quickly quelled by Japan's modern army. |

| 1887 ended the Enlightenment Party's grand dreams. In 1889, now more mindful of social harmony, Emperor Gojong nominated a more mature statesman, Prince Min Young-hwan, a blood relative of Queen Min, yet still in favor of the same kind of progressive reforms advocated by Kim before him. For a year, Prince Min has focused on crafting a new progressive establishment, one centered around the Independence Club's ideas of national independence. The Prince sees in Japan the new ruler of Asia, but among his faction, some are wary of their continuing encroachment, and would rather look north, to Russia. Queen Min, in exile in China since her failed coup, also shares such an idea as she witnesses the failure of the Qing to follow Japan's path and prove a viable alternative. |

| Thrown into the midst of modernity in just a few years, the once-isolated Kingdom stands with few resources, an Army just capable enough to repress local revolts, and without a unified will to further modernize. Without a doubt, the challenge facing the new Prime Minister is a daunting one. |

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

[list][sub]Le Temps[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The French Empire[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]May Edition[/sub][/list]

Nationale

EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH CELEBRATES PORCELAIN JUBILEE - LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR

[sup]Paris, France | The French Empire[/sup]

[list][sup]May 1890[/sup][/list]

Today marks the official vicennial anniversary of the coronation of our most glorious and holy emperor, Charles-Louis Jean-Baptiste Napoléon Bonaparte, long may he reign. Our emperor took to the newly completed Eiffel Tower in the Champ de Mars to address the nation on the direction of the country. A crowd of thousands gathered in the park to hear the emperor speak.

| Napoleon IV | "Frenchmen, on my coronation I found division reigning amongst all the authorities of this nation. While the legacy of my late father lives on, so too do his sins and the failures linger even in death. France was a nation in decline. Like the Roman Empire falling to barbarians, a mere shadow of its former self. I have battled civil unrest, pretenders and usurpers to the throne, threats at home and abroad, and we have all come out stronger for it. I have come to you now, with guidance from the very heavens themselves, to forge France into a true world power, like we once were.

I rule this most blessed nation, elected by you and ordained by God, to represent the democratic ideals that have governed France for nearly a century, and to to represent the legacy of the great Napoléon I, who had sprung, armed, like a phoenix from the ashes, a silver lining of the terrible French Revolution. Like my ancestors before me, my ascension to power came through the ashes of the crushing defeat of the traitorous Paris Commune. This, my countrymen, is my promise to you. Together, we will usher in a new golden age for France, we will defeat all of our enemies, and we will take back what is rightfully ours."

Nationale

EIFFEL TOWER COMPLETED - TALLEST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD

[sup]Paris, France | The French Empire[/sup]

[list][sup]May 1890[/sup][/list]

Famed engineer Gustave Eiffel has completed his company's newest building, truly a landmark architectural achievement. The newly dubbed "Eiffel Tower" is measured to be the tallest man-made structure in all of human history. Truly, this is a testament to the ingenuity of the French as well as the holy mandate of our emperor, for surely such a magnificent creation could not have been completed were it not with the blessing of God himself.

The 324 meter tall structure stands in the Champ de Mars in Paris, and has surpassed the Washington Monument in America as the tallest structure in the world. Gustave Eiffel, the tower's creator, is the same engineer who crafted the metal for the Statue of Liberty that we sent to our American friends merely a few years ago. The tower features a lift to carry visitors to its highest observation deck, and several restaurants on its lower decks.

Nationale

FIRST MAY DAY CELEBRATION IN PARIS

[sup]Paris, France | The French Empire[/sup]

[list][sup]May 1890[/sup][/list]

May 1 marks the first official celebration of May Day, an international workers holiday, in Paris. Festivities occured in the streets of Paris and people exchanged lilies of the valley, as is customary. The tradition is borrowed from the Americans, as a celebration of all workers worldwide, and of those in France who maintain our glorious nation.

Several traitorous communard agitators were apprehended by police for trying to incite troublemaking on the celebration. All loyal citizens of France are asked to be on the lookout for the telltale signs of red triangular lapel pins, and report suspicious activity to the National Guards.

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Heizhenzhu

[sup]FEBRUARY, 1890[/sup]

[sup]MINISTÉRIO DA EDUCAÇÃO | MINISTRY OF EDUCATION[/sup]

SWEEPING REFORMS TO EDUCATION IN BRAZIL

[sub]EMPEROR ALEXIO I ANNOUNCES A PLAN TO COMBAT ILLITERACY[/sub]

__

Brazil, an emerging power, an undisputed naval power and a growing economic power had a looming threat over its head: illiteracy and lack of a stable education system, it also lacked any major higher education institutions or establishments. Pedro II was someone who cared greatly for education but failed to truly fix the system and rampant illiteracy. Only 20% of the population of the Empire of Brazil could read or write, meanwhile its former colonial master, Portugal, has upwards of 80% of their population with the ability to read or write. Alexio I, someone who has constantly been through schools, going to a boarding school from 4 to 16, then joining the naval college from 16 to 20. He also frequently visited Europe, from Austria-Hungary, to Portugal and the occasional visit to the United Kingdom, he very much understood the importance of a strong education system and high literacy. Naturally there were various issues with the prospect of educating Brazil, it was still a rural nation, while there were major urban centers. Additionally, cost and funding was an issue, though Alexio I believed that his education bet would pay off to the point he’d put Brazil into debt.

Alexio I worked with advisors, experts and academics in Brazil to begin forming a plan to transform the education system in Brazil to a modern one seen in the likes of Europe. Alexio I revealed his plan to the newly elected General Assembly and newly elected Prime Minister: Zacarias de Góis e Vasconcelos, member of the Progressive League (This shall fully roleplayed soon along with the electoral reforms.). The General Assembly eagerly passed the plan which was praised as “comprehensive, encompassing and (hopefully) effective.” However the opposition party, the Conservatives, feared it was too expensive, and would threaten stability by creating a “class of educated anti-monarchical young men and women.” Alexio I scoffed at such claims however. In terms of Higher Education, the “Education Act of 1890” would create the first universities in Brazil, 4 in total with different specializations. The universities would mostly be created from existing elements, but re-organized and built on new campuses. The founding dates would be considered the date of founding of the primary institution the University originated from as shown in the following:

[list]

[sup]POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO, 1792 | ENGINEERING, MATH, PHYSICS, SCIENCES[/sup]

[sup]THE IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY AT SAO PAULO, 1822 | HUMANITIES, LAW, MEDICINE[/sup]

[sup]THE FORTALEZA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 1857 | ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, PHYSICS, SCIENCES[/sup]

[sup]THE IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY AT LUANDA, 1890 | ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, PHYSICS, SCIENCES, HUMANITIES, LAW, MEDICINE[/sup]

[/list]

The universities would be generously funded and various wealthy Brazilians would contribute to their endowments so that the universities could hold their own weight. The university would be free to middle class, and poorer Brazilians but full tuition would be charged to the wealthy (unless their families had contributed before.) With that, Higher Education in Brazil had begun and was in full swing, all 4 Universities would begin operation in 1894, after construction had completed at their campuses, in which all 4 would be based on traditional, classical, architecture with a note of traditional Brazilian styles; the preferred style at the time of the founding. However, Alexio I knew that most Brazilians would not end up going to a university, institute of polytechnic school, rather they would go for their initial education at the first and secondary level, thus this was to be his priority in terms of his own personal focus.

Alexio I figured that, he should not bother with trying to educate adults, it would be an expensive prospect and overall unneeded, rather he was to begin educating all children, and mandating that they all attended school starting from the age of 6 to the age of 16, in which case the brightest children would be allowed to continue studying for free till the age of 18, then they would be able to attend University. Alternatively, they could attend a vocational school and prepare for factory, farming or other vocational work. There would be 2 types of schools: Boarding School, which would be for rural and poorer children so that the latter are raised and educated in a safe, proper environment and the former do not have to travel dozens if not hundreds of miles to attend school. The second type of school would be “local schools” in which Children would travel to that school 5 times a week, these would primarily be located in urban centers and towns with sufficient numbers of children.

Topics to be learnt in these schools would be reading and writing Portuguese, as well as reading some of the greatest works that were written in Portuguese or translated to Portuguese (40 books were chosen in total), sciences such as biology, chemistry and agricultural sciences, basic engineering and mechanical topics, basic math and algebra (with students getting the options to go further). Additionally, art and drawing classes would be taught; and government classes which would teach the importance of the monarchy and democracy. All children, regardless of race would be required to attend to school up till the age of 16 starting from the age of 6, additionally, as all slaves were recently freed, all newly freed children would have to attend school, but would be required to attend boarding schools to learn “traditional manners of Brazilian society”, though Alexio I stated he did not blame the children or their parents for the mannerisms of the new slaves. The new education system would begin educating students gradually until all children were enrolled, mostly likely by 1893 to 1895.

___

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Heizhenzhu

[list][sub]The New York Times[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The United States of America[/sub][/list]

National

CHICAGO SELECTED TO HOST COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION

[sup]Chicago, Illinois | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]February 1890[/sup][/list]

[sub]The city of Chicago is celebrating today after they won the bid to host the World's Columbian Exposition. The city is preparing for the Columbian Exposition which will take place May 1, 1893 and close on October 30, 1893. John Wellborn Root, Daniel Burnham, Frederick Law Olmsted and Charles B. Atwood has been appointed by the city government to design the layout of the fair and the city setting. Burnham and his colleagues theorized what a city should be. They plan to follow Beaux Arts principles of design, namely neoclassical architecture principles based on symmetry, balance, and splendor. Many prominent architects will design its 14 "great buildings". Artists and musicians will be featured in exhibits and many will also be made into depictions and works of art inspired by the exposition. The exposition will cover 690 acres (2.8 km2), featuring nearly 200 new (but deliberately temporary) buildings of predominantly neoclassical architecture, canals and lagoons, and people and cultures from 46 countries. More than 27 million people are expected to attend the exposition during its six-month run. Chicagoan billionaires and financiers Charles T. Yerkes, Marshall Field, Philip Armour, Gustavus Swift, and Cyrus McCormick, offered to finance a Chicago fair. What finally persuaded Congress was Chicago banker Lyman Gage, who raised several million additional dollars in a 24-hour period, over and above New York's final offer by New York's financiers J. P. Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and William Waldorf Astor, among others, pledged $15 million to finance the fair if Congress awarded it to New York. [/sub]

[sub]Construction in Chicago has already begun as many are prepared and ready for the influx of people from all over to travel into the city. The exposition corporation and national exposition commission settled on Jackson Park and an area around it as the fair site. Daniel H. Burnham was selected as director of works, and George R. Davis as director-general. Burnham emphasized architecture and sculpture as central to the fair and assembled the period's top talent to design the buildings and grounds including Frederick Law Olmsted for the grounds. Already, Jackson Park has been cordoned off by local police to clear the street from any obstruction to the construction and full completion of the several attractions for the World’s Fair. The Exposition's offices will be set up shop in the upper floors of the Rand McNally Building on Adams Street, the world's first all-steel-framed skyscraper. Davis's team has organized the exhibits with the help of G. Brown Goode of the Smithsonian. The Midway was inspired by the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition, which included ethnological "villages".[/sub]

National

CHERRY CREEK CAMPAIGN OCCURS IN ARIZONA TERRITORY; TWO SOLDIERS AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR

[sup]Globe, Arizona Territory | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]March 1890[/sup][/list]

[sub]The Cherry Creek Campaign, conducted by the US military, occurred today in the Arizona Territory after a small group of Apaches killed a freight wagon operator, near the San Carlos Reservation, and was part of the larger Apache campaign, beginning in 1889, to round up Apaches who had left the reservations. The American army fought a skirmish with the Apaches near Globe, Arizona, at the mouth of Cherry Creek, which resulted in the deaths of two hostiles and the capture of the remaining three. Two men received the Medal of Honor for their service during the campaign. On March 2, 1890, a group of five "drunken" Apaches killed a wagon driver named Herbert and stole two large horses, about ten miles west of Fort Thomas and the San Carlos reservation. At the time, Fort Thomas was home to Troop K of the 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant Powhatan Clarke, a Medal of Honor recipient who fought in Geronimo's War. Sergeant Alexander Cheatham, I Troop, 10th Cavalry, led reinforcements, a wagon and several mules, packed with food, to the expedition from San Carlos after a nighttime march of forty-five miles. A veteran of the American Civil War, and over twenty years on the frontier, Sergeant Cheatham was able to track Lieutenants Clarke and Watson's men over rugged desert and mountain terrain in the dark. The expedition finally caught up with the Apaches in a canyon of the Salt River on March 7, approximately 200 miles from Fort Thomas and about thirty miles northeast of Globe. After entering the canyon, the terrain became very rough so the hostiles killed their horses and continued fleeing on foot. For the same reason the Apache scouts were ordered to dismount and go ahead of the cavalry to try and draw the hostiles into battle. [/sub]

[sub]The pursuit through the canyon was so dangerous that at some points the scouts had to lie down and crawl through the narrow passages to trace the hostile Apaches' footprints. The cavalrymen waited down at the river to water the horses but, at about 12:00 pm, the scouts made contact with the fugitives, near the mouth of Cherry Creek. Lieutenants Clarke and Watson heard the firing from the river and immediately they proceeded towards the sound. Clarke recalled that he felt "a calm chill looking for a live Indian with a gun down in one of these great canyons." Not long after that, the cavalrymen were under fire and they assisted the scouts in trapping the hostiles within a "three-sided tangle of boulders." The Apache fugitives put up a "hard fight" but were eventually forced to retreat into a "shallow cave" as the expedition surrounded and moved in on their position. In the cave the hostiles were safe from direct fire so "one of the sergeants, an excellent shot," began "firing against a rock almost in front of their cave, thereby splatter[ing] lead and splintered rock in their faces." When the soldiers and the scouts closed within fifty yards of the cave's entrance, they prepared to make a charge but the Apaches decided to surrender, having lost three killed or wounded out of five men. Sergeant William McBryar of the 10th Cavalry, Sergeant Rowdy of the Apache scouts, and Sergeant James T. Daniels of the 4th Cavalry were awarded the Medal of Honor. McBryar received his for "coolness, bravery and marksmanship," he and Rowdy were the last Medal of Honor recipients for service during the Apache Wars. [/sub]

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Heizhenzhu

[sup]FEBRUARY, 1890[/sup]

[sup]MINISTÉRIO DOS ASSUNTOS INTERNOS | MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS[/sup]

1890 CENSUS OF THE EMPIRE OF BRAZIL

[sub]RESULTS OF THE 1890 CENSUS.[/sub]

___

Started by Pedro II, every 20 years the Empire of Brazil conducts a census which reveals the population of the Empire of Brazil, including its overseas Providences such as Angola, and the south-mid-atlantic islands.

___

[sup]1890 CENSUS OF THE EMPIRE OF BRAZIL, ANGOLA AND THE ILHAS SUL DO ATLÂNTICO[/sup]

[sup]TOTAL POPULATION OF THE EMPIRE: 25,874,013

POPULATION OF MAINLAND BRAZIL: 22,242,640

POPULATION OF ANGOLA PROVIDENCE: 3,431,373

POPULATION OF ILHAS SUL DO ATLÂNTICO: 200,012[/sup]

[sup]FREE VS SLAVES: 25,874,013 VS 0 (PREVIOUSLY 16,352,246 VS 3,135,616)[/sup]

[sup]WHITES (EUROPEANS): 44%

BROWNS (BI-RACIAL): 32.4%

BLACKS (AFRICANS): 14.6%

INDIANS (NATIVES): 9%[/sup]

[sup]LITERACY RATE: 15%

ELIGIBLE VOTERS (ALL MALES OVER 16): 41.4% [/sup]

___

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Heizhenzhu

Post self-deleted by Shamalistan.

[list]PLAY ME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTeTaiaTsE8[/list]

[list][list][list]~ 𝐄𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐨 ~

[sup]𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙷𝙰𝙿𝙿𝙴𝙽𝚂 𝙸𝙽 𝙼𝙴𝚇𝙸𝙲𝙾, 𝚄𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙻 𝙸𝚃 𝙳𝙾𝙴𝚂[/sup][/list][/list][/list]

[sup]From the disaster of the Mexican-American War, the Reform War, and the Franco-Mexican War, Mexico was under constant warfare throughout the early and mid-1800s. The Mexican-American War resulted in the loss of Texas, Arizona, and California. Years later in 1857 Mexico imploded into a civil war of Liberals vs. Conservatives. The war devastated Mexico, forcing the nation to take massive loans from Britain, Spain, and France. Unable to pay its debts Mexico was invaded by all three countries. Britain and Spain left, but France remained in Mexico for they had great ambitions to expand their influence in the Americas. The French at the behest of the conservatives brought an Austrian Duke named Fernando Maximiliano to rule over Mexico as its new Emperor. For 5 years bloody years, Mexican Republicans led by President Benito Juárez fought against the French and their Mexican collaborators. The war would come to an end in 1867 when Republican forces captured Querétaro. On 11 May, Maximilian resolved to try to escape through the enemy lines. He was intercepted on the 15th of May. Following a court-martial, he was sentenced to death. Many of the crowned heads of Europe and other prominent figures (including liberals Victor Hugo and Giuseppe Garibaldi) sent telegrams and letters to Mexico pleading for Maximilian's life to be spared, but Juárez refused to commute the sentence. He believed he had to send a strong message that Mexico would not tolerate any government imposed by foreign powers. Maximilian was executed on 19 June (along with his generals Miguel Miramón and Tomás Mejía) on the Cerro de las Campanas, a hill on the outskirts of Querétaro, by the forces loyal to President Benito Juárez, who had kept the federal government functioning during the French intervention. Mexico City surrendered the day after Maximilian was executed, thus ending the war.[/sup]

[sup]With the war over and peace at long last returning to Mexico, the future seemed secured with Benito Juárez at the helm as President of the Mexican Republic, but alas peace was only momentary. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori, or simply Porfirio Diaz was a war hero of Mexico. He had been fighting under the liberals for years, he fought against the conservatives in the civil war in his native state of Oaxaca, he fought against the French under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza and had a hand in the famous Battle of Puebla, Mexico's great victory over the French when they first invaded, Díaz had advanced to the rank of general and was placed in command of an infantry brigade. From there he built himself a reputation of military excellence, he was even asked by Imperial Forces to join them when he was captured several times throughout the war, he refused every time. Benito noted Porfirio's loyalty and after the war promoted him to the governor of his home state in Oaxaca. However, it was not long before Díaz was openly opposed to the Juárez administration since Juárez held onto the presidency. As a Liberal military hero, Díaz had ambitions for national political power. He challenged the civilian Juárez, who was running for what Díaz considered an illegal subsequent term as president. In 1870, Díaz ran against President Juárez and Vice President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada. The following year, Díaz made claims of fraud in the July elections won by Juárez, who was confirmed as president by the Congress in October.[/sup]

[sup]Even after this political defeat, Porfirio remained determined. He launched the Plan de la Noria on 8 November 1871, supported by a number of rebellions across the nation, including one by General Manuel González of Tamaulipas, but this rebellion failed. In March 1872, Díaz's forces were defeated in the battle of La Bufa in Zacatecas. Forcing Diaz's to flee back to his home state and hide in the mountains. It seemed that Porfirio would end up as another power-hungry thug in the history books of Mexico, but fate had different plans for him. Juárez would die of natural causes on 9 July 1872, Lerdo became president. No longer able to invoke his anti-reelection cause, Porfirio accepted an amnesty from Lerdo. Allowing him to "retire" to the Hacienda de la Candelaria in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, rather than his home state of Oaxaca. In Veracruz, Diaz's entered politics once again in 1874, Díaz was elected to Congress from Veracruz. Opposition to Lerdo grew, particularly as his militant anti-clericalism increased, labor unrest grew, and a major rebellion of the Yaqui in northwest Mexico. Diaz saw an opportunity to plot a more successful rebellion, leaving Mexico in 1875 for New Orleans and Brownsville, Texas with his political ally, fellow general Manuel González. Lerdo attempted to get Diaz back by offering him a position as ambassador to Europe, but Diaz refused the offer. With Lerdo running for a term of his own, Díaz could again invoke the principle of no re-election as a reason to revolt.[/sup]

[sup]On the 10th of January 1876 under the Plan of Tuxtepec, which initially failed. Díaz fled to the United States once again. Lerdo was re-elected in July 1876 and his constitutional government was recognized by the United States. Díaz returned to Mexico and fought the Battle of Tecoac, where he defeated Lerdo's forces in what turned out to be the last battle. In November 1876, Díaz occupied Mexico City, and Lerdo left Mexico for exile in New York. Díaz did not take formal control of the presidency until the beginning of 1877, putting in General Juan N. Méndez as provisional president, followed by new presidential elections in 1877 that gave Díaz the presidency. Although the new election gave some air of legitimacy to Diaz's government, the United States did not recognize the regime. It was not clear that Díaz would continue to prevail against supporters of ousted President Lerdo, who continued to challenge Díaz's regime by insurrections, which ultimately failed. To win US recognition Diaz paid $300,000 to settle claims by the U.S. In 1878, the U.S. government recognized the Díaz regime and former U.S. president and Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant visited Mexico.[/sup]

[sup]During his first term in office, Díaz developed a pragmatic and personalist approach to solving political conflicts. Although a political liberal who had stood with radical liberals in Oaxaca (rojos), he was not a liberal ideologue, preferring pragmatic approaches towards political issues. He was explicit about his pragmatism. He maintained control through generous patronage to political allies. In his first term, members of his political alliance were discontented that they had not sufficiently benefited from political and financial rewards. In general, he sought conciliation, but force could be an option. "'Five fingers or five bullets,' as he was fond of saying." Although he was an authoritarian ruler, he maintained the structure of elections, so that there was the façade of liberal democracy. His administration became famous for the suppression of civil society and public revolts. One of the catchphrases of his later terms in office was the choice between "pan o palo", bread or the bludgeon that is, "benevolence or repression." Díaz saw his task in his term as president to create internal order so that economic development could be possible. Diaz also applied this pragmatism to his foreign relations with the United States. His policy became the policy of "defensive modernization", which attempted to make the best of Mexico's weak position against its northern neighbor. Attributed to Díaz was the phrase "so far from God, so close to the United States."[/sup] [sup]When election times came around, Diaz would keep his promise of no reelection and handpicked his successor, Gen. Manuel González, who also soon dissatisfied him. Therefore, in 1884 Díaz ran for the presidency again and was elected. Díaz secured his power by catering to the needs of separate groups and playing off one interest against another. He won the mestizos’ support by supplying them with political jobs. The privileged Creole classes were cooperative in return for the government’s noninterference in their haciendas and for positions of honor in the administration. The Roman Catholic Church maintained a policy of noninvolvement in return for a certain degree of freedom. The Indians, who formed a full third of the population, were ignored. Now the regime enters the year 1890, and the future seems bright for the Diaz regime, however the ever-growing gap between rich and poor may prove fatal the regime in the future.[/sup]

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Heizhenzhu

[sub]READ PART 1 HERE[/sub]

[sub] [ THE NEW EMPEROR:[/sub][sub] PART 2 ][/sub]

[sub]APRIL, 1889[/sub]

[pre][ P O R T O F R I O — B R A Z I L ][/pre][sub][pre][ ALEXIO I, THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL HAD

NEVER SET FOOT OUTSIDE OF BRAZIL AS

THE NEW EMPEROR, HOWEVER, HE HAD

DECIDED TO GO THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA WITH THE INTENT OF ESTABLISHING

CLOSER RELATIONS, CLOSE TRADE TIES

AND MORE. HE HAD NEVER BEEN IN SUCH

A POSITION BEFORE. BUT THE JAGUAR WAS

ABOUT TO MEET UP WITH THE BALD EAGLE ][/pre][/sub]___

[ Alexio I, effectively speaking, had no direct foreign affairs experience. He had never conducted himself outside of Brazil in such a manner, he had never negotiated grand alliances, or complex trade deals. He had, however, read about them, he had seen his uncle, former Emperor Pedro II conduct such affairs as well as his parents in Austria. This would be a very large challenge for him in any case. Alexio I wanted to seek a trade deal with the United States, discuss European influence in the Americas and other general topics concerning the Brazilian-American relationship. He was, in a way, desperate for the American President to see the Empire of Brazil and the United States as equal partners. Though, he wasn’t sure if that part would actually happen. In any case, he needed to project Brazil as an up and coming world power, a threat to the relative authoritarianism and absolutism of Europe. He wasn’t exactly going on behalf of what he wanted but rather what the newly elected General Assembly and President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) wanted, he was thankful however, that the progressive views of the President of the Council of Ministers and the General Assembly aligned with his views. ]

[ Alexio I, would attempt to project the Empire of Brazil as equals with the United States through its Navy, which was the strongest in the western hemisphere and 4th or 5th largest in the world, and it was his intention to keep Brazil’s navy at that level, and continue to grow in power until it rivaled Mother Britain itself. Alexio personally would be on a steamship, but would be escorted by various naval vessels, which was more a less a fleet. He said his goodbyes to the 1000s of people at the port, waving, he said goodbye to his wife and son, then finally goodbye to former Emperor Pedro II, who stated he knew he would do an excellent job. And thus the fleet departed for the United States. In the fleet was the following: ]

[list][sup]RIACHUELO, BATTLESHIP - 5700 TONS

AQUIDABA, BATTLESHIP - 5030 TONS

SETE DE SETEMBRO, BATTLESHIP - 2174 TONS

SOLIMOES, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

JAVARY, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

TAMANDARE, CRUISER - 4430 TONS

[/sup][/list]

[ During the voyage to Washington DC, Alexio I did little except read and study various books on the United States, and books concerning Metternich. He wasn’t the most fluent person in American history, or what it desires, so he figured this was an excellent use of his time. After some weeks, they had arrived. ]

___

Vancordia

___

[sup]"You shall do an excellent job, Alexio" - EMPEROR PEDRO II[/sup]

___

[spoiler=OOC Note]

After discussions with Vancordia we decided it was more realistic for this meeting to occur via other means rather then a visit by Emperor Alexio I himself. This roleplay is voided but I will keep it up for your reading pleasure.

[/spoiler]

Cherokee Confederates, Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Heizhenzhu

[spoiler=Disclaimer and OOC Note] Due to an unfortunate discovery of historical references pertaining to state visits and international foreign trips made by the President of the United States which from reference declares, that ”In the 19th century, American social convention made international travel by the incumbent president taboo (though foreign travel by former presidents was acceptable). Domestic travel was regarded as a welcome opportunity for presidents to talk with the people who had elected them, but foreign travel was seen in an altogether different light. The general public did not want their president mingling with royalty, visiting grand palaces, or exchanging bows with kings and queens.[1] This taboo was broken in the early 20th century, as policy makers at the federal level began to reevaluate the nation's role in international affairs.” As garnered from Wikipedia, the President of the United States of America did not really host state visits as often as it is now with the modern age, as it was considered taboo and out of place for a leader to visit the USA and vice-versa during the 1890s, thus in discussion with Woraniana visit by Alexios has been null and voided. However, a diplomatic meeting will take place instead of a formal state visit.[/spoiler]

[list][sub]The United States of America[/sub][/list]

[sup]State, War, and Navy Building, Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]April 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]Secretary of State James G. Blaine was an American statesman and Republican politician who represented Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1863 to 1876, serving as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875, and then in the United States Senate from 1876 to 1881. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for President in 1876 and 1880 before being nominated in 1884. In the general election, he was narrowly defeated by Democrat Grover Cleveland. Blaine was one of the late 19th century's leading Republicans and champion of the moderate reformist faction of the party known as the "Half-Breeds”. Blaine was born in the western Pennsylvania town of West Brownsville and after college moved to Maine, where he became a newspaper editor. Nicknamed "the Magnetic Man", he was a charismatic speaker in an era that prized oratory. He began his political career as an early supporter of Abraham Lincoln and the Union war effort in the American Civil War. In Reconstruction, Blaine was a supporter of black suffrage, but opposed some of the more coercive measures of the Radical Republicans. Initially a protectionist, he later worked for a reduction in the tariff and an expansion of American trade with foreign countries. Railroad promotion and construction were important issues in his time, and as a result of his interest and support, Blaine was widely suspected of corruption in the awarding of railroad charters, especially with the emergence of the Mulligan letters; these allegations plagued his 1884 presidential candidacy. As Secretary of State, Blaine was a transitional figure, he was an excellent diplomat and Blaine was a pioneer of tariff reciprocity and urged greater involvement in Latin American affairs. Nevertheless, he had scheduled a diplomatic meeting with the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, Luiz Alveoli, a Brazilian diplomat representing the Empire of Brazil. [/sup]

[sup]The Royal Carriage that was carrying His Excellency, stopped in front of the State, War, and Navy Building. The structure was built between 1871 and 1888 in the French Second Empire style. It was designed by Alfred B. Mullett, Supervising Architect. Patterned after French Second Empire architecture that clashed sharply with the neoclassical style of the other Federal buildings in the city, it was generally regarded with scorn and disdain from both the American public and some political officers and higher-ups. Much of the interior was designed by Richard von Ezdorf using fireproof cast-iron structural and decorative elements, including massive skylights above each of the major stairwells and doorknobs with cast patterns indicating which of the original three occupying departments (State, Navy, or War) occupied a particular space. The total cost to construct the building came in at $10,038,482.42 when construction ended in 1888, after 17 years. Nonetheless, an aide-de-camp, who was waiting for the carriage arrived, stepped forward and opened the carriage door, allowing for the Brazilian diplomat to step out. [/sup]

[list]

[sup][AIDE-DE-CAMP TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE: ][/sup][sup] "Welcome, Your Most Esteemed Excellency to the State War and Navy Building. Please follow me, the Secretary is awaiting your arrival."[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]The aide-de-camp then walked inside the lavishly decorated building and walked past the intricately designed halls to the Secretary of State James G. Blaine’s office. A few minutes pass and they finally find their way at the office, to where the aide-de-camp opened the door, [/sup]

[list]

[sup][AIDE-DE-CAMP TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE: ][/sup][sup] "Mr. Secretary, the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States from Brazil, Luiz Alveoli, has arrived."[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]The aide-de-camp stood aside and Luis walked in. They quickly shook hands and did the basic greetings as then they began to discuss matters of importance. [/sup]

TAGS:

Woraniana

Cherokee Confederates, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

[sup]UNITED STATES - WASHINGTON DC[/sup]

___

After saying basic greetings, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States Luiz Alveoli, or simply the Envoy Alveoli, took a seat at the chair

[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "Thank you for the welcome, We have much to discuss and hopefully we can hit every note"[/sup][/list]

He took a sip of tea.

___

Vancordia

Cherokee Confederates, Vancordia, Sadar

Woraniana wrote:[sup]UNITED STATES - WASHINGTON DC[/sup]

___

After saying basic greetings, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States Luiz Alveoli, or simply the Envoy Alveoli, took a seat at the chair

[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "Thank you for the welcome, We have much to discuss and hopefully we can hit every note"[/sup][/list]

He took a sip of tea.

___

Vancordia

[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "Of course, of course, sir. Now, I might say, the United States is practicing the policy of isolation. We'd rather not involve ourselves in foreign affairs of other countries and get involved in petty squabbles between faraway nations. The American public doesn't to want have their boys die in some unnecessary war between two foreign nations when they can just deal with it themselves. However, we will act if necessary if a foreign power, specifically from Europe, were to establish colonies or harass any nation within the Western Hemisphere as per the Monroe Doctrine or were to attack the United States and it's people. I'm sure you understand our position. "[/sup][/list]

Cherokee Confederates, Woraniana

Vancordia wrote:[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "Of course, of course, sir. Now, I might say, the United States is practicing the policy of isolation. We'd rather not involve ourselves in foreign affairs of other countries and get involved in petty squabbles between faraway nations. The American public doesn't to want have their boys die in some unnecessary war between two foreign nations when they can just deal with it themselves. However, we will act if necessary if a foreign power, specifically from Europe, were to establish colonies or harass any nation within the Western Hemisphere as per the Monroe Doctrine or were to attack the United States and it's people. I'm sure you understand our position. "[/sup][/list]

Alveoli, an experienced diplomat with a quick hand, jots down various notes pertaining to the comments made by the American.

[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I understand the American position and its isolationist values, Mr. Secretary, but also understand that the United States could benefit from Brazilian-American cooperation for many reasons. I do not doubt the American ability to squash European Powers... On land that is. You see, your navy cannot defeat a modern European navy at moment, in fact, the Imperial Navy is the 5th largest in the world, and most powerful in the western hemisphere. If, Britain for example, were to involve itself in the affairs of the Americas, I do not think you'd be able to stop it. On your own that is. I understand that, you are isolationist and prefer to not involve yourself in others, or squabbles but I believe joint-naval exercises in the Atlantic sends a powerful message to the Europeans, and prepares our navies for joint action against them. I hope you won't reject so soon, and rather take some thought to this proposal, however if you do reject it on the spot, I do humbly understand why, Mr. Secretary."[/sup][/list]

Cherokee Confederates, Concorrdia

[list][B]帝国議会誕生!• Teikoku gikai tanjō!

[I]Meiji 23, Kōki 2550[/list]

[I]Corresponding with the official signing of Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kenpō on February 11, 1889, the daijō-kan was to be replaced after political funding scandals and other inter-political tensions marred the long-standing dājokan. Japan's first European-esque legislative body inspired partly by the German Reichstag and partly by the British Westminster system, Teikoku Gikai, or the Imperial Diet, which is made up of two Houses, a House of Representatives (Shūgiin) and a House of Peers (Kizoku-in). In relative similarity to the British House of Lords, the Kizoku-in is made up of high-ranking nobility, largely former daimyō that now held noble titles and lordships. Contrarily, the Shūgiin is an elected house, though the absence of universal suffrage in the Empire limits electoral participation to those of high prestige and status, both within the Imperial Japanese Military, as well as in Japan's merchant growth and industry.

With the ratification of the Meiji kenpō, an additional body was established, the long-arm of the Emperor, or the genrō. Regarded as an oligarchic council of retired elder statesmen and militarists, otherwise known as "Nihon no sōshi-sha" or the "founding fathers of Japan", all substantial proprietors of Japan's modern development, Itō Hirobumi; President of the Kizoku-in, Count Kuroda Kiyotaka; Former Prime Minister and Vice Chairman of the Hokkaido Development Commission, Ōyama Iwao; Third Minister of War and a founder of the IJA, Marquis Inoue Kaoru; politician and statesman, Marshal-Admiral Marquis Saigō Tsugumichi; Admiral of the Navy, Prince Matsukata Masayoshi, Count Yamagata Aritomo; Incumbent Prime Minister and Field Marshall, Prince Katsura Tarō; General of the Army, and Duke Saionji Kinmochi.Beside Saionji Kinmochi, all the genrō are from medium or lower-ranking samurai families, four each from Satsuma and Chōshū, the two former domains that had been instrumental in the overthrow of the former Tokugawa shogunate in the Boshin War.

To become law or bill, a constitutional amendment had to have the assent of both the Diet and the Emperor. This meant that while the Emperor could no longer legislate by decree he still had a veto over the Diet. The Emperor also had complete freedom in choosing the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, as mandated by the Meiji kenpō. The Teikoku gikai was also limited in its control over the budget, though the Diet could veto the annual budget, if a new one was not approved then budget of the previous year continued in force. With legislative initiatives already rolling out of the Diet building in Hibiya, Choyuda-ku, Tokyo, the largest matter on every Japanese mind is finally settling the matter of the controversial, yet strictly necessary, naval expansion efforts.[/I]

[list][B]富國強兵 • Fukoku kyōhei

[I]Meiji 23, Kōki 2550[/I][/list]

[I]With the embrace of Western economic thought and the idea of a market economy, Meiji rulers pulled Japan from an archipelago of ever-warring feudal clans and warlords into a strong, modern example of what the East had to offer given the necessary assistance and sheer force, emerging from Tokugawa-Meiji transitional period as an eager industrialized nation with a strong, well-disciplined, and capable Army and emerging Navy on par with European counterparts. At the very least, Japan achieved all necessary functions to project it's influence as a regional and colonial Empire. With Yamagata Aritomo, the Father of Japanese militarism, serving as incumbent Prime Minister the Empire is in no better state politically to expand it's influence across the seas as it has before with the Imperial Japanese punitive expedition to Taiwan in 1874, a pristine example of shifting Japanese foreign policy away from quelling local rebellion and exporting influence and safe-guarding peace within her regional sphere.

Realizing the scarcity of allies within the Imperial regional sphere, including a decline of European support and assistance toward Japanese military development overall, the Empire's military elite opened itself toward an emerging middle power across the globe, the Brazilian Empire. Throughout history, Japan remained heavily reliant on European assistance to maintain it's military, economic growth and eventually it's unsurpassed prowess on battlefield, both domestically and abroad. Despite reputation however, the Imperial Diet and the Emperor understood well that lone-wolf foreign policy destroys Empires, this very idea laying the groundwork for the emerging thought amongst the Japanese political elite of encouraging military, economic, and technological cooperation with the world's middle and emerging powers in contrast to the powers of Europe, this ideal coined, "Shiya o hirogeru" or "Expanding the Horizon".

Many zaibatsu and horizontal keiretsu, including Mitsubishi, Sumitomo Group, Ishikawajima Shipbuilding & Engineering Corporation, Mitsui, and Yasuda zaibatsu (Fuji Bank), among others, of the Meiji oligarchy seen the Empire of Brazil ripe with investment opportunity to expand corporate and industrial operations, a fruitful opportunity for extensive economic growth across both Empires. The companies ever growing and supported by the former daimyō whom astutely invested their pensions into Japan's emerging industry leaders. Despite multiple telecommunique's between Tokyo City and São Paulo, Woraniana, the two nations government's had never officially met and for Prime Minister Yamagata Aritomo it was a mission to secure a meeting with Alexio I, personally extending an official invitation to Tokyo City to mark the formal commencement of "Shiya o hirogeru".[/I]

Shamalistan, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Heizhenzhu

Post self-deleted by Vancordia.

Woraniana wrote:Alveoli, an experienced diplomat with a quick hand, jots down various notes pertaining to the comments made by the American.

[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I understand the American position and its isolationist values, Mr. Secretary, but also understand that the United States could benefit from Brazilian-American cooperation for many reasons. I do not doubt the American ability to squash European Powers... On land that is. You see, your navy cannot defeat a modern European navy at moment, in fact, the Imperial Navy is the 5th largest in the world, and most powerful in the western hemisphere. If, Britain for example, were to involve itself in the affairs of the Americas, I do not think you'd be able to stop it. On your own that is. I understand that, you are isolationist and prefer to not involve yourself in others, or squabbles but I believe joint-naval exercises in the Atlantic sends a powerful message to the Europeans, and prepares our navies for joint action against them. I hope you won't reject so soon, and rather take some thought to this proposal, however if you do reject it on the spot, I do humbly understand why, Mr. Secretary."[/sup][/list]

[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "As I said before, Your Excellency, it depends on whether or not the American people would rather involve themselves with other nations affairs other than our own, but unfortuantely the American public would rather mind their own business than involve themselves in unnecessary squabbles of farway nations. And it also comes down to the United States Government and they too would rather keep to themselves then involve the country in unneeded problems across the ocean. However we wil act accordingly to defend our own interests in the Western Hemisphere. But, on behalf of the American public, I must reject your offer for a joint-naval exercise. Business on the other hand is a different issue. Many corporate American businessmen value Brazil for its vast sugar imports as does your country value American oil from monopolies such as Standard Oil by John D. Rockefeller. I'm sure he'll be happy to invest in the oil boom for Brazil and for other burgeoning Brazilian oil companies. "[/sup][/list]

Cherokee Confederates, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

Vancordia wrote:[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "As I said before, Your Excellency, it depends on whether or not the American people would rather involve themselves with other nations affairs other than our own, but unfortuantely the American public would rather mind their own business than involve themselves in unnecessary squabbles of farway nations. And it also comes down to the United States Government and they too would rather keep to themselves then involve the country in unneeded problems across the ocean. However we wil act accordingly to defend our own interests in the Western Hemisphere. But, on behalf of the American public, I must reject your offer for a joint-naval exercise. Business on the other hand is a different issue. Many corporate American businessmen value Brazil for its vast sugar imports as does your country value American oil from monopolies such as Standard Oil by John D. Rockefeller. I'm sure he'll be happy to invest in the oil boom for Brazil and for other burgeoning Brazilian oil companies. "[/sup][/list]

Alveoli jotted some more notes, then took a sip of tea. His expression, was blank following the rejection; clearly he was an expert at poker.

[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I see, I see. I must say, I believe you are making a mistake, however I respect your decision, I understand you have other obligations, including the general public and the President of the United States. So let us move on to business, and trade then. I know the United States hasn't the best history with trade deals, most notably the United Kingdom, however I believe Brazil can be a strong economic partner to you, and American business. Brazil is packed with natural resources and is fruitful in agricultural products, but at the same time, we wish to industrialize and modernize. Most notably, in steel production and other manufactured goods. So yes, to say it bluntly: We want a trade deal. To respond to your point on oil, I would most appreciate Standard Oil searching for oil, I don't believe we have very much on land but there are occasional reports of oil the surface on the Atlantic ocean off the coast of Rio De Janerio and Sao Paulo, though I do not believe any method yet exists to extract such oil. However, in any case, we will greatly appreciate the import of oil from your nation to light out lamps."[/sup][/list]

Cherokee Confederates, Vancordia, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz

Woraniana wrote:Alveoli jotted some more notes, then took a sip of tea. His expression, was blank following the rejection; clearly he was an expert at poker.

[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I see, I see. I must say, I believe you are making a mistake, however I respect your decision, I understand you have other obligations, including the general public and the President of the United States. So let us move on to business, and trade then. I know the United States hasn't the best history with trade deals, most notably the United Kingdom, however I believe Brazil can be a strong economic partner to you, and American business. Brazil is packed with natural resources and is fruitful in agricultural products, but at the same time, we wish to industrialize and modernize. Most notably, in steel production and other manufactured goods. So yes, to say it bluntly: We want a trade deal. To respond to your point on oil, I would most appreciate Standard Oil searching for oil, I don't believe we have very much on land but there are occasional reports of oil the surface on the Atlantic ocean off the coast of Rio De Janerio and Sao Paulo, though I do not believe any method yet exists to extract such oil. However, in any case, we will greatly appreciate the import of oil from your nation to light out lamps."[/sup][/list]

[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "Of course. And I'm sure Mr. Cyrus McCormick Jr., a financier and owner of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, will appreciate investing in the Brazilian agricultural center and allow for numerous shipments of his famed harvesting machines to assist Brazilian farmers." [/sup][/list]

Vancordia wrote:[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "Of course. And I'm sure Mr. Cyrus McCormick Jr., a financier and owner of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, will appreciate investing in the Brazilian agricultural center and allow for numerous shipments of his famed harvesting machines to assist Brazilian farmers." [/sup][/list]

[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I see, that sounds wondrous, our agricultural industry would greatly be improved by such a purchase. Let us get into the nitty gritty of this trade deal then? The Empire of Brazil proposes 0 tariffs on all sugar, coffee, rubber and tropical agricultural products. Not only will this lower the cost for American consumers but heighten profits for Brazil. As to what we can offer America: 0 tariffs on oil, iron ore, and machinery. I think this a very beneficial deal to both parties, and consumers in both the United States of America and the Empire of Brazil. I think you must consider it, and bring it up with the President. "[/sup][/list]

[list][sub]The New York Times[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The United States of America[/sub][/list]

National

OKLAHOMA ORGANIC ACT LEGISLATION PASSED; OKLAHOMA BECOMES ORGANIZED INCORPORATED TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES

[sup]The White House, Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]May 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation passed by Congress known as the Oklahoma Organic Act that formally created the organized incorporated territory of Oklahoma. Congress rejected the Five Civilized Tribes’ and Confederation of Native American Tribe’s argument for a State of Oklahoma and a separate State of Sequoyah. On May 2, 1890, the Oklahoma Organic Act was passed officially creating Oklahoma Territory, which initially excluded lands occupied by the Five Civilized Tribes, but reorganized the legal system of Indian Territory, providing for a mechanism to consolidate Oklahoma and Indian Territories.[/sup]

[list]

[sup] "The purpose of the Organic Act was to begin the process of creating a state and forming a government, while still allowing time to divide the property of the Five Civilized Tribes and transfer the property from communal to individual ownership."[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]The Oklahoma Organic Act has specifically extended civil and criminal Arkansas laws over the Indian Territory. Historically, non-Indians were not allowed in Indian Territory and the Federal Court in Ft. Smith, Arkansas had jurisdiction over Indian Territory. Arkansas recognizes the doctrine of Riparian water rights, based on English common law, and generally accepted in the eastern part of the United States.[/sup]

[sup]For the Oklahoma Territory, the laws of Nebraska were to prevail. Water rights in Oklahoma Territory and the western United States, water rights were generally allocated under the principle of prior appropriation. The organic act created several Federal District Courts, both in the Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory. The act also preserved Indian court civil authority by stipulating that "and any person residing in the Territory of Oklahoma, in whom there is Indian blood, shall have the right to invoke the aid of courts therein for the protection of his person or property, as though he were a citizen of the United States: Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to give jurisdiction to the courts established in said Territory in controversies arising between Indians of the same tribe, while sustaining their tribal relations"[/sup]

[sup]The Oklahoma Organic Act provided for a mechanism for Indian tribes to allocate their communally held land to individual tribal members, and to distribute unallocated property to non-Indians. A Land patent, or "first-title deed" would be granted to both tribal members, who received allotments, and to homesteaders who, after a period of time, claimed and improved (or in some cases purchased for $1.25 per acre) the homestead lands via a Land run.[/sup]

[sup]Two sections in each Oklahoma Territory township were to be reserved, in the form of a Land grant, as public school lands, with money from land leases to be used to pay for public education. [/sup]

[sup]Section-line roads to provide access to land parcels, were to be maintained on each side of every one-mile-square section throughout the territory. This requirement does not apply to the Osage Reservation.[/sup]

[sup]Members of an Indian Tribe, who were not already citizens, could apply to become citizens of the United States.[/sup]

[sup]In an effort to entice Indians of Indian Territory to accept their land allotments, it was provided that upon acceptance of an allotment, the Indians were declared to be Citizens of the United States. "Provided that the Indians who become Citizens of the United States under the provisions of this act do not forfeit or lose any rights or privileges they enjoy or are entitled to as members of the tribe or nation to which they belong." Despite this, however, existing railroad easements were to remain in effect. Railroads were also given the right to "cross, intersect, join or unite it railroad with any other railroad now constructed or that may hereafter be constructed at any point upon its routes"[/sup]

[sup]Under the Oklahoma Organic Act, the United States Federal Government now has complete and full authority/jurisdiction over the newly incorporated territory. "Congress may at any time hereafter change the boundaries of said Territory, or attach any portion of the same to any other State or Territory of the United States without the consent of the inhabitants of the Territory hereby created: Provided, That nothing in this act shall be construed to impair any right now pertaining to any Indians or Indian tribe in said Territory under the laws, agreements, and treaties of the United States, or to impair the rights of person or property pertaining to said Indians, or to affect the authority of the Government of the United States to make any regulation or to make any law respecting said Indians, their lands, property, or other rights which it would have been competent to make or enact if this act had not been passed"[/sup]

[sup]Many citizens are now flocking to the newly formed territory as many homesteads are sporadically popping up across the Oklahoma Territory. Reservations in the new territory were then opened to settlement in land runs as Federal Troops have been dispatched from numerous forts in the territory to help assist in defending new settlers and homesteaders as reports of retaliatory strikes upon American citizens and US troops in former tribal territories located now in the newly formed Oklahoma Territory. Seven counties were defined upon the creation of the territory. Although they were designated by number, they became Logan, Cleveland, Oklahoma, Canadian, Kingfisher, Payne, and Beaver counties. The city of Guthrie has been established as the territorial, executive and legislative capital for the Oklahoma Territory. The Organic Act provided for a complete organization of the Territory, defined the functions of the territorial government, placed limitations upon the acts of the legislative assembly, as well as that of the territorial officers. It also designated the town of Guthrie as the territorial capital.[/sup]

[sup]Congress provided for the creation of a legislative branch elected by the people, but the executive and judicial branches of the territories were selected and appointed by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. The appointees included a governor, a secretary, three federal judges and a marshal. President Benjamin Harrison appointed George Washington Steele, a Republican from Indiana, as the first territorial governor.[/sup]

National

5-STORY SKYLIGHT CLEVELAND ARCADE OPENS IN CLEVELAND, OHIO

[sup]Cleveland, Ohio | The United States of America[/sup]

[sup]The Arcade in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, is a Victorian-era structure of two nine-story buildings, joined by a five-story arcade with a glass skylight spanning over 300 feet (91 m), along the four balconies. At a cost of $867,000 the Arcade opened on Memorial Day. The Arcade was built by Detroit Bridge Co., run by Stephen V. Harkness. Designed by John Eisenmann and George H. Smith, the Arcade is one of the few remaining arcades of its kind in the United States. Modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II located in Milan, the Arcade comprises two nine-story towers with a skylight, 100 feet (30 m) high, made of 1,800 panes of glass spanning over 300 feet (91 m). The construction was financed by John D. Rockefeller, Marcus Hanna, Charles F. Brush and several other wealthy Clevelanders of the day.[/sup]

[sup]The Arcade is a cross between a lighted court and a commercial shopping street. The building is a complex of three structures: two nine-story office buildings facing out to Euclid and Superior Avenues, connected via the five-story iron-and-glass-enclosed arcade. The Richardsonian arched entrance along Superior Avenue is original, but the Euclid Avenue front was remodeled in 1939 by the firm of Walker and Weeks. The level of the Superior Avenue entrance is about 12 feet (3.7 m) lower than the Euclid entrance, so that there are two bottom arcade floors, joined by staircases at each end. Since Euclid and Superior avenues are not parallel, a passage leads, at a 23-degree angle, off the Euclid entrance to a rotunda at the southern end of the Arcade.The arcade itself is a 300-foot (91 m)-long covered light court, ringed by four levels of balconies, which step back above the Euclid Avenue level. The vertical lines of the columns, rising nearly 100 feet (33 m) to the glass roof, create a spacious domed interior. It is one of the earliest indoor shopping malls in the United States with thousands of people shopping at its numerous markets and stalls that it has to offer. [/sup]

Not Xav, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

Woraniana wrote:[list]

[sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I see, that sounds wondrous, our agricultural industry would greatly be improved by such a purchase. Let us get into the nitty gritty of this trade deal then? The Empire of Brazil proposes 0 tariffs on all sugar, coffee, rubber and tropical agricultural products. Not only will this lower the cost for American consumers but heighten profits for Brazil. As to what we can offer America: 0 tariffs on oil, iron ore, and machinery. I think this a very beneficial deal to both parties, and consumers in both the United States of America and the Empire of Brazil. I think you must consider it, and bring it up with the President. "[/sup][/list]

[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "Of course. I'll put it up with the President, but the government, especially the Republicans, are planning on putting out a protectionist bill to protect American trade interests. Representative William McKinley is pushing for a protectionist bill that will average duty on imports to almost fifty percent, an act designed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. The Democrats strongly condemn and oppose this idea but as a Republican myself, I deem it is necessary to protect our goods from foreign competition. But I will be willing to put your offer up for the President, although it is unlikely he will consider it."[/sup][/list]

Post by Shamalistan suppressed by Woraniana.

Shamalistan

walk it like i talk it

Teujira, United States Of Argentina

Post by Flavius Domains suppressed by Woraniana.

Flavius Domains

Nobody claimed the Ottomans, right?

Teujira

Post self-deleted by Shamalistan.

[sup]MINISTÉRIO ECONÔMICO | ECONOMICS MINISTRY[/sup]

[sub]JUNE, 1890 | JUNHO DE 1890[/sub]

____

THE GREAT INDUSTRIALIZATION!

[sub]EMPEROR ALEXIO I AND PRIME MINISTER JOSE PARANHOS REVEAL NEW PLAN.[/sub]

| The Empire of Brazil, from the mainland to the Mid Isle's to Angola have traditionally have an economy based on agriculture, and certain raw materials. There was some industrial activity, most notably shipbuilding and textiles, but there was not a large amount of diverse economic activity. Emperor Alexio I, having studied in Britain and Austria, has seen first hand how the rapid industrialization of the economy and the creation of a class of consumers. The Emperor and his counterpart Prime Minister Jose Paranhos knew very well if they wanted to see through their plans to form and mold Brazil into a world power, with a strong, frightening navy they would have to, at the same time, create Brazil into an economic power of equal importance to its general respect and military. Alexio I and Jose Paranhos worked with experts, the Progressive League, the ruling part of the General Assembly and the various Providences of Brazil to create a plan to rapidly industrialize Brazil, mechanize farming and urbanize the country as well as heighten the amount of immigrants coming into the nation to build its consumer base. |

| One of the most important commodities in the world at the moment would be iron products such as pig iron and its derivative product: steel, which was crucial to shipbuilding, machinery, buildings, railway and more. Emperor Alexio I knew Brazil was far behind on that front, however, the nation did have some serious advantages including its abundance of Iron Ore which outmatched every nation on Earth. In fact, some experts believe the Carajas Mine is the largest iron ore mine in the world. The basic plan was to have Brazilian iron and steel industries based in the north and centered in Sao Luis. Railway networks, that have not already been built, would be built between major iron mining centers, and major areas which consume iron. The Empire of Brazil also managed to reach a deal with the United Kingdom to use the Bessemer Process, now possessing the technology to craft steel, the Empire of Brazil would invest heavily in steel and pig iron production. Emperor Alexio I set a target goal of 15 million tons of pig iron by 1905 and create the capacity to produce 25 million tons of steel if need be. |

| Textile manufacturing was already a larger industry in Brazil with 50 establishments employing over 3,000 workers. Emperor Alexio would heavily invest in this industry as well, wanting 200 establishments with 12000 employees. This industry could be lucrative and be cheaply exported thanks to Brazilian cotton, which is one of the largest products Brazil produces. Manufactured Goods is also a point for interest, Emperor Alexio I placed an import tax of 40% on all manufactured goods coming into Brazil to trigger the start of industrialization in that area. Another area of concerns was Chemicals, which Brazil would also invest in. The most important factor however would be a recent deal with the United States to import machines to mechanize Agriculture, which would free up millions and force them to move to the cities. Additionally, 10 or so large Brazilian food and agriculture companies would be allowed to eat up family run establishments and single plots to increase efficiency. The goal of this was to end subsistence farming in the Empire of Brazil and create new economic opportunities for people in the coasts such as factories and much more. |

| Another important front was electrifying, installing sewage systems, installing water systems and public transportation system like trams in every single city in Brazil to increase living standards and further industrialize the nation. Meanwhile in Shipbuilding, which was already an important priority, 2 state run shipbuilding ports would be created near Sao Paulo and Sao Luis, each with an upwards capacity of constructing 60,000 naval tonnage at a time, with both projects slated for a 1894 completion. Meanwhile in Angola, a smaller scale project would be undertaken near Luanda with a capacity to construct up to 30,000 tonnage at any given time. |

____

[spoiler="The Empire of Brazil will stand as a force in this world" ― EMPEROR ALEXIO I]

[/spoiler]

Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Anglo Channel, Jocheon

[list][sub]The New York Times[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The United States of America[/sub][/list]

National

SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT LEGISLATION PASSED

[sup]The White House, Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]July 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation passed by Congress known as the Sherman Antitrust Act that formally outlawed trusts — monopolies and cartels — to increase economic competitiveness. As a means to regulate interstate commerce, the law is a broad and sweeping attempt to address the use of trusts as a tool for placing the control of a number of key industries into the hands of a limited number of individuals. The Sherman Act broadly prohibits (1) anticompetitive agreements and (2) unilateral conduct that monopolizes or attempts to monopolize the relevant market. The Act authorizes the Department of Justice to bring suits to enjoin (i.e. prohibit) conduct violating the Act, and additionally authorizes private parties injured by conduct violating the Act to bring suits for treble damages (i.e. three times as much money in damages as the violation cost them). Over time, the federal courts have developed a body of law under the Sherman Act making certain types of anticompetitive conduct per se illegal, and subjecting other types of conduct to case-by-case analysis regarding whether the conduct unreasonably restrains trade.[/sup]

[sup]The law attempts to prevent the artificial raising of prices by restriction of trade or supply. "Innocent monopoly", or monopoly achieved solely by merit, is perfectly legal, but acts by a monopolist to artificially preserve that status, or nefarious dealings to create a monopoly, are not. The purpose of the Sherman Act is not to protect competitors from harm from legitimately successful businesses, nor to prevent businesses from gaining honest profits from consumers, but rather to preserve a competitive marketplace to protect consumers from abuses.

The Sherman Antitrust Act was proposed in 1890 by Senator John Sherman from Ohio and was passed as 15 U.S.C. §§ 1-7. he bill Sherman proposed was largely derivative of a failed bill from the previous Congress written by Senator George F. Edmunds, which Sherman had amended during its consideration. Until 1888, Sherman had shown little interest in the trust question but it was rising in the national consciousness, and Sherman now entered the fray. The revised bill Sherman proposed was simple, stating that "[e]very contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal". The bill further prescribed criminal penalties for any person who monopolizes trade. In debate, Sherman praised the effects of corporations on developing industry and railroads and asserted the right for people to form corporations, so long as they were "not in any sense a monopoly".[/sup]

[sup]The bill passed the Senate by an overwhelming 52–1 vote and passed the House without dissent. President Harrison signed the bill into law on July 2, 1890. When Harrison signed the Act, he remarked, "John Sherman has fixed General Alger." Sherman was the prime mover in getting the bill passed and became "by far the most articulate spokesman for antitrust in Congress". The Act was later criticized for its simple language and lack of defined terms, but Sherman defended it, saying that it drew on common-law language and precedents. He also denied that the Act was anti-business at all, saying that it only opposed unfair business practices. Sherman emphasized that the Act aimed not at lawful competition, but at illegal combination. [/sup]

[sup]The Sherman Act is divided into three sections. Section 1 delineates and prohibits specific means of anticompetitive conduct, while Section 2 deals with end results that are anti-competitive in nature. Thus, these sections supplement each other in an effort to prevent businesses from violating the spirit of the Act, while technically remaining within the letter of the law. Section 3 simply extends the provisions of Section 1 to U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.[/sup]

[sup]Section 1:[/sup]

[list]

[sup]Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal.

[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]Section 2:[/sup]

[list]

[sup]Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony.

[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]Congress claimed power to pass the Sherman Act through its constitutional authority to regulate interstate commerce. Therefore, federal courts only have jurisdiction to apply the Act to conduct that restrains or substantially affects either interstate commerce or trade within the District of Columbia. This requires that the plaintiff must show that the conduct occurred during the flow of interstate commerce or had an appreciable effect on some activity that occurs during interstate commerce.[/sup]

[sup]A Section 1 violation has three elements:[/sup]

[list]

[sup](1) an agreement;

(2) which unreasonably restrains competition; and

(3) which affects interstate commerce.[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]A Section 2 monopolization violation has two elements:[/sup]

[list]

[sup](1) the possession of monopoly power in the relevant market; and

(2) the willful acquisition or maintenance of that power as distinguished from growth or development as a consequence of a superior product, business acumen, or historic accident.[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]Section 2 also bans attempted monopolization, which has the following elements:[/sup]

[list]

[sup](1) qualifying exclusionary or anticompetitive acts designed to establish a monopoly

(2) specific intent to monopolize; and

(3) dangerous probability of success (actual monopolization).[/sup]

[/list]

[sup]The US Government is now forcibly cracking down on such companies and monopolies who violate the Sherman Antitrust Act and will result in the breakup of said company or monopoly with many challenging the law. [/sup]

National

IDAHO ADMITTED AS THE 43rd STATE IN THE UNION; WYOMING BECOMES 44th STATE IN THE UNION

[sup]Boise, Idaho | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]July 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup]The Territory of Idaho or what is now known as the State of Idaho has been admitted as the 44th State in the Union with the former territorial governor, George L. Shoup, becoming the 1st state governor for Idaho. The former territorial capital of Boise has transitioned to becoming the executive, legislative, and judicial seat for the state with the city serving as the official state capital. [/sup]

[sup]When President Benjamin Harrison signed the law admitting Idaho as a U.S. state on July 3, 1890, the population was 88,548. Willis Sweet, A Republican, is the first congressman, representing the state at-large. Meanwhile, the Territory of Wyoming or what is now known as the State of Wyoming is also celebrating today as it too has also been admitted into the Union as the 44th State. The name was used by Representative J. M. Ashley of Ohio, who introduced the Ashley Bill to Congress to provide a "temporary government for the territory of Wyoming". The name "Wyoming" was made famous by the 1809 poem Gertrude of Wyoming by Thomas Campbell. The name is derived from the Delaware (Munsee) name xwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat", originally applied to the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.[/sup]

[sup]After the arrival of the railroad, the population began to grow steadily in the Wyoming Territory, which was established on July 25, 1868. Unlike Colorado to the south, Wyoming never experienced a rapid population boom in the 19th century from any major mineral discoveries such as gold or silver.[/sup]

[sup]Inclusion of women's suffrage in the Wyoming constitution was debated in the constitutional convention, but ultimately accepted. The constitution was mostly borrowed from those of other states, but also included an article making all the water in Wyoming property of the state. Wyoming overcame the obstacles of low population and of being the only territory in the U.S. giving women the right to vote, and the United States admitted Wyoming into the Union as the 44th state on July 10, 1890. [/sup]

National

NAVY ACT PASSED, US NAVY ANNOUNCES CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BATTLESHIPS

[sup]Capitol Building, Capitol Hill, Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland | The United States of America[/sup]

[list][sup]July 1890[/sup][/list]

[sup] Congress passed legislation today known as the Navy Act which authorized the construction of three new modern battleships, the USS Indiana, USS Massachusetts, and USS Oregon, followed by USS Iowa which the construction will be completed in 1893. This comes after a request made in 1882, on the recommendation of an advisory panel, the Navy Secretary William H. Hunt requested funds from Congress to construct modern ships. The request was rejected initially, but in 1883 Congress authorized the construction of three protected cruisers, USS Chicago, USS Boston, and USS Atlanta, and the dispatch vessel USS Dolphin, together known as the ABCD ships. In 1885, two more protected cruisers, USS Charleston and USS Newark which was the last American cruiser to be fitted with a sail rig, were authorized. Congress also authorized the construction of the first battleships in the Navy, USS Texas and USS Maine. The ABCD ships proved to be excellent vessels, and the three cruisers were organized into the Squadron of Evolution, popularly known as the White Squadron because of the color of the hulls, which was used to train a generation of officers and men. [/sup]

[sup]Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan's book The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783, published in 1890 At the momentous impact on major navies around the globe. In the United States it justified Expansion to both the government and the general public. With the closing of the frontier, geographical expansionists had to look outwards, to the Caribbean, to Hawaii and the Pacific, and with the doctrine of Manifest Destiny as philosophical justification, many saw the Navy as an essential part of realizing that doctrine beyond the limits of the American continent.[/sup]

[sup]In 1890, Mahan's doctrine influenced Navy Secretary Benjamin F. Tracy proposed the United States start building no less than 200 ships of all types, to which Congress agreed and thus passed the Navy Act. The United States Navy says that the 200 ships will be fully completed by mid-to-late spring of 1897 and already construction has begun. Two Kearsarge-class battleships and three Illinois-class battleships have already been completed which brought the U.S. Navy from twelfth place in 1870 to fifth place among the world's navies, trailing behind the naval powers of Germany, Britain, and Brazil. [/sup]

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Anglo Channel, Woraniana

[sup]JUNE 1890[/sup]

THE GERMAN EMPIRE: A SUMMARY

[sub]DAS DEUTSCHE REICH: ZUSAMMENFASSUNG[/sub]

___

[sup]DEUTSCHES KAISERREICH, BERLIN — NOON[/sup]

Kaiser Wilhelm is in his palace in Berlin, ruminating

on Germany's rise, and what its future will be.

___

[sup] | Germany was nary 20 years old and it had already accomplished quite a lot. Its rise was meteoric and one man in Germany was set on that rise continuing to its 'natural' conclusion, Germany becoming the hegemon of Europe, and finally getting "its place in the sun". That man was Kaiser Wilhelm II von Preußen. | [/sup]

| In 1871 the Kingdom of Prussia had won the Franco-Prussian War, a war set into motion masterfully by the Iron Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, in such a way that forced the french into being the aggressors. It forced the Southern German states of Baden, Württemberg, Bavaria and Hesse-Darmstadt into an alliance with Prussia, and the camaraderie the German soldiers felt in the war resulted in pro-German unification sentiments rising rapidly in the regions. By the war's end these regions would join the Kingdom of Prussia in creating the German Empire. Germany won battle after battle in France and hoped to capture Napoleon IIIrd in battle but he evaded capture. Soon though, Prussia was dictating terms to the French, and eventually the German Empire was proclaimed not in Berlin but in the Palace of Versailles in Paris. Such an act was humiliating to the French, not only had they let a nation right on their border be able to rival them but now they had proclaimed their empire in the capital of France. They had also taken Alsace-Lorraine in the war, that is incredibly humiliating in and of itself, for an arrogant man who thought of himself as Napoleon 1st's equal to be beaten so badly. |

| The Kaiser pondered on this, on Germany's relatively quick victory in the Franco Prussian War. His mind then leapt to the Austro-Prussian War. The war that directly resulted in Prussian Hegemony in Germany and the conditions necessary for a unified Germany to even become a plausible reality. During this era, in reaction to the triumphant French nationalism of Napoleon IIIrd had, and the genuine feeling of solidarity expressed during the Romantic era, resulted in German nationalism becoming a far more present force. There were two ideas for German unification, one for a Small Germany excluding Austria and one for, Kleindeutschland and Großdeutschland respectively, and the pragmatic need to realize Kleindeutschland was a reason for the war existing. Otto von Bismarck is also another very large reason for the war's existence. One might say the largest reason but that's still debated. Otto von Bismarck still to this day says that the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War and the declaration of the German Empire were a part of a massive master plan created by him. The war was the most important wars in Prussia's history, if she won she'd become the hegemon of Germany but if she lost, Austria would punish Prussia dearly for attempting such a thing. Luckily for Kaiser Wilhelm, Austria was and has been for a long time an incompetent mess of a country, he hopes one day they'll get onto that but he doubts it. |

| The Kaiser wants Germany to take its rightful place as one of the great powers. It is arguably one of the most powerful nations in Europe, yet its being denied many of the rights of a great world power. Britain and France hold and claim territory across the globe, even the Netherlands holds vast territories across the world, a nation Germany could easily wipe off the map in a week if it tried. Germany has been and is being denied all those possessions because of how new of a nation it is. The kaiser wants to rectify this and balance the playing field, and make Germany the equal to the other great powers. In his mind, Germany is only seeking what is rightfully theirs. In the coming years The Kaiser will realize exactly what Germany needs to fulfill this distant dream but for now that's all it is. A dream, an ideal for Germany to work towards bringing about. |

____

[sup]GOTT MIT UNS![/sup]

____

Cherokee Confederates, Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Anglo Channel, Woraniana

Vancordia wrote:[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "Of course. I'll put it up with the President, but the government, especially the Republicans, are planning on putting out a protectionist bill to protect American trade interests. Representative William McKinley is pushing for a protectionist bill that will average duty on imports to almost fifty percent, an act designed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. The Democrats strongly condemn and oppose this idea but as a Republican myself, I deem it is necessary to protect our goods from foreign competition. But I will be willing to put your offer up for the President, although it is unlikely he will consider it."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]| ENVOR LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I understand.. however, tell me this, does America produce Coffee? I don't believe so, nor does it has the ability to do so. Moving on, what about Sugar? I do not believe the United States produces any sugar. Or what about tropical agricultural products? I don't believe the United States produces any of these, except, Oranges, which can be taxed if need be. And finally, Rubber, I do not believe the United States makes any rubber. The matter of the fact is, this deal is designed for both of us to continue our protectionist tariff's but allow us to import certain things neither of us can produce. The bottom line? Our consumers and businesses have access to cheaper products, now is that not something that you and I can get behind? Can we not get behind cheap products for our consumers? Imagine all the American companies that use rubber, or all the bakeries that use sugar, they either get more profit or the consumers get a cheaper product. This is a common sense deal, and quite frankly Mr. Secretary it would be a grave, a very grave, mistake to not at the very least put it up for a vote in the United States Congress. So, let us make a deal here Mr. Secretary, lets try and get this passed, I will work the General Assembly to ensure its passage and your administration, provided the President agrees, works with Congress to get this passed."[/sup][/list]

Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Anglo Channel

Woraniana wrote:[list][sup]| ENVOR LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] "I understand.. however, tell me this, does America produce Coffee? I don't believe so, nor does it has the ability to do so. Moving on, what about Sugar? I do not believe the United States produces any sugar. Or what about tropical agricultural products? I don't believe the United States produces any of these, except, Oranges, which can be taxed if need be. And finally, Rubber, I do not believe the United States makes any rubber. The matter of the fact is, this deal is designed for both of us to continue our protectionist tariff's but allow us to import certain things neither of us can produce. The bottom line? Our consumers and businesses have access to cheaper products, now is that not something that you and I can get behind? Can we not get behind cheap products for our consumers? Imagine all the American companies that use rubber, or all the bakeries that use sugar, they either get more profit or the consumers get a cheaper product. This is a common sense deal, and quite frankly Mr. Secretary it would be a grave, a very grave, mistake to not at the very least put it up for a vote in the United States Congress. So, let us make a deal here Mr. Secretary, lets try and get this passed, I will work the General Assembly to ensure its passage and your administration, provided the President agrees, works with Congress to get this passed."[/sup][/list]

[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "As I said before, Your Excellency, it all depends on the Federal Government. Now, the Senate and the House of Representatives are both under a Republican majority so I doubt it will be passed. I doubt it would even get passed the House let alone the Senate. Like I said, the Republicans, are planning on putting out a protectionist bill to protect American trade interests and the President is willing to sign off on it. But as I said, I will put the offer up for the Congress and the President but its very highly unlikely that they'll consider it."[/sup][/list]

Zanbala Prz, Anglo Channel, Woraniana

[list][sup]June, 1890[/sup]

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN LIBERALIZATION

[sup]AUSTRIA, VIENNA, SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE[/sup]

___[/list]

| Franz Joseph entered the Stallions Room, dining room, filled with noblemen from major cities across the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The room once filled with the talking of many men instantly grew silent as they stood and turned their attention to the Emperor-King. After all the men bowed in what seemed like unison, Franz motioned for them to take their seats and joined them at the head of the table. |

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] "Gentlemen, I have decided to join you for dinner today to tell you of the news. I have been working with my Prime Ministers and with much push back from both sides we have come to an agreement. It took the understanding that with compromise that no individual group wins but we will benefit in the future as a whole. We have agreed on the terms of the new Federal Monarchy."[/sup][/list]

| Murmurs grew in the room. Nobles asked their neighbors if they had knowledge of the talks or what this new government would mean. Joseph sat there for a minute as people fervently asked him questions until Kálmán Tisza stood from his seat and the noise that filled the room instantly silenced. |

[list][sup]FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGARY KÁLMÁN TISZA:[/sup][sup] "Does this mean that you will interfere with the sovereignty of the Hungarian state? The state that I stepped down from just last month after I brought it back from the mountain of debt and helped the land prosper?"[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] "No, nothing of the sort will be done. We will not impose on the sovereignty of any state other than the transfer of some territories to keep all sides happy. The Dual Monarchy will stand. Now it is important to tell you that none of this is yet set in stone. This still has to pass in the Austrian and Hungarian diets. I just wanted to tell all of you before the news hits the press."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGARY KÁLMÁN TISZA:[/sup][sup] "So what will these new governments if put in place look like?"[/sup][/list]

| Joseph motions to a servant to the table. The servant rushes over to Joseph’s seat and pulls out a scroll. Upon unraveling it, a map of the Austro-Hungarian Empire can be seen. Although it looks unfamiliar to many of the noblemen as if random borders were cutting up the states. |

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] "Fifteen states, nine Austrian, six Hungarian, one semi-autonomous region of Bosnia Herzegovina, and the autonomous region of Novi Pazar. These states where specifically designed to guarantee that large areas of different ethnic groups are represented in this new government."[/sup][/list]

| Many were surprised to hear the inclusion of Bosnia Herzegovina and especially Novi Pazar. A Czech man stood up and walked over to Joseph. A worried look across his face as he stood in front of Joseph. |

[list][sup]BAN KÁROLY KHUEN-HÉDERVÁRY:[/sup][sup] "Is this an annexation of the Ottoman territory?"[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] "Oh no, it is only in name, there is no formal annexation. We do after all have military occupation over both territories and administration of Bosnia Herzegovina. These territories having a proper place in our government creates a sense of unity in these regions as well, especially if we were to ever formally annex them into our empire."[/sup][/list]

| The Ban looked back towards the map being held by the servant. He walked closer to the map and stared at it with confusion. His jaw moved side to side as his mind mulled over his chagrin. |

[list][sup]BAN KÁROLY KHUEN-HÉDERVÁRY:[/sup][sup] "Wait, if the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia is now a state will I still have my position as Ban, even more importantly does this mean a complete overhaul of the constitution? I mean it is called the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, it is constitutionally defined as a separate political nation."[/sup][/list]

| Joseph motioned to another servant holding a large leather briefcase. They walked up to Joseph’s side and sat the briefcase on the table and opened it up before walking to the back of the room again. He reached into the case and pulled out a large stack of papers and set them on the table. |

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] "After tonight’s dinner, the diets will receive news of the new constitution that lies in front of me right now, and I can assure you that it will pass. A total overhaul of the government will be in effect not too long from now. We need reforms to keep the people happy, and I can assure many of you in this room right now will not have much power but in name. Though I hope you understand what must be done to keep our Empire whole. It is time that you realize that you do not own these people, I do, and it is in my best interest that they do not revolt like they did back in forty-eight. So in my best interest it is to break our conservative streak and to liberalize like the people want me to. In the end, they are the ones who fight for our great nations, and they are the ones who almost took it away."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]BAN KÁROLY KHUEN-HÉDERVÁRY:[/sup][sup] "Is this how you are treating us in our last moments of power. We have been loyal subjects of the crown and now you throw us to the side, like yesterday’s paper?"[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] ”Many of you will still stay wealthy prominent members of society. You can all run for seats in the diets or even become elected leaders of the states. It may seem that I am being rude to you, but I am just telling you the truth of the future. The truth is harsh, but it is through my bluntness is my appreciation for all of you. I didn’t want you to be blindsided by what the future holds, because you all are my trusted friends and advisories. Now let us have one night of pure fun and bliss before our great countries change for the future."[/sup][/list]

| Joseph reached for his wine glass and stood up from his seat raising his glass. All of the other noblemen followed suit, standing up and raising their glasses. Joseph cleared his throat and spoke to them as a group for the last time that night. |

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] ”To the future. May our Dual Monarchy prosper and for the sun to never set on the Habsburg Dynasty!"[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]NOBLEMEN:[/sup][sup] ”To the future!"[/sup][/list]

| They drank from their glasses and sat back down. The dinner continued long throughout the night, filled with friends talking and drunken men laughing to their hearts content. It would be the last time for many to be in the presence of the Emperor-King. Their titles someday becoming obsolete. Many of their names would fade away in history, being a footnote of the grand story of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. |

[list]___[/list]

Teujira, Val Verde-, Vancordia, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Anglo Channel, Woraniana, Heizhenzhu

[list][sup]JUNE 1890[/sup]

THE RISE OF THE SULTAN

___[/list]

| It was Sultan Abdulhamid's first year in office, being that he was among the last of his kind. A generation of strongmen and warriors. Times were changing in Europe and Asia, and everyone knew about it, and exploited the Ottoman's weakness for personal gain, and for that, the Sultan was mindful. |

| He had examined a map detailing the location of his once-great empire, now on a decline. The lands in the Balkans had seceded violently, and unrest still loomed in the region, mainly due to the intoxicating sentiments of nationalism. To the Sultan, it was but chest-puffing and saber-rattling, and instead had plans for reform. In the middle of the night, he had called a team of his advisors and set a plot to reform the stagnating empire. |

| The men arrived, dressed in suits and each sported a maroon fez on their heads, with varying amounts of facial hair. |

[list]| Abdulhamid: | "Friends, I am quite...distraught as of late by how the recent losses in territory have occured. I was even more enraged to hear that the Habsburgs have disputed our claim to Bosnia-Herzegovina, as they soldiers stationed in our borders. While a number of my colleagues are of the opinion that changes are not necessary..."[/list]

| He sighs, his own thoughts hitting him with slow-motion-shock. |

[list]| Abdulhamid: | "However, I am of the opinion that change for the empire is crucial if we are to retain not only the territorial integrity of the empire, but our own power."[/list]

| Advisors begin to chat amongst themselves for a brief moment before one, a portly man with a baggy suit, eyeing the Sultan with suspicion. "And what exactly do you plan to change? Our empire has survived this long. What is wrong with it?" |

| The Sultan almost laughed, wondering why he still kept the man alive. "Firstly, the system of tributaries and taxation is outdated. This is 1890, and it would be nothing but a benefit to adapt to accommodate the needs of the imperial subjects, particularly in the Balkans." |

| He paused to sit up. |

[list]| Abdulhamid: | "From what my foreign minister tells us, we have but to look to Britain and Germany, who have the blueprints to a modern economy. Should be accept, then the Empire's economy may have a great deal of growth potential. Much of our infrastructure projects across the empire are done by European companies. Because the people will be less likely to rebel, the regional leaders will now be incentive to source local labor and local companies. It will put money into the pockets of the commoners."[/list]

| Advisors begrudgingly agree, as the economy was in desperate need of reform. |

[list]| Abdulhamid: | "Secondly, we must make social reforms. we shall abolish the system of tributaries and vassal states, and instead make all lands Ottoman Vilayets, integral parts of the country. In these times of nationalism and tension in the Balkans, our resources must be pooled in to not only ensure the territorial integrity, but also harmony of our Empire. Spread the word that the Ottoman state is not yet lost, men." [/list]

| They had risen, bowing unanimously. While some left with a glimmer of hope in their old eyes, others had an air of a vindictive sneer. Nevertheless, the Sultan had plans. He had an Empire to preserve. |

Teujira, Val Verde-, Vancordia, Shamalistan, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Anglo Channel, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[list][sup]June, 1890[/sup]

THE SUN NEVER SETS

[sup]BRTISH RAJ IN Anglo Channel[/sup][/list]

[list][list][list]Since the 1600s, the British have in one way or another guided the destiny of the Indian subcontinent. Here in the British Raj, the crown jewel of imperial power and authority, in her majesty's provinces, Queen Victoria was crowned Empress of India, a title only fit for Raj rule. Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne overseeings the Raj as her majesty's Governor-General. The administration of the Raj was set up as followed:

The imperial government in London, it provided for a cabinet-level Secretary of State for India and a fifteen-member Council of India, whose members were required, as one prerequisite of membership, to have spent at least ten years in India and to have done so no more than ten years before. Although the Secretary of State formulated the policy instructions to be communicated to India, he was required in most instances to consult the Council, but especially so in matters relating to spending of Indian revenues. London controlled the Raj's military, economic and diplomatic assets, guns for a matter are banned beyond British raj military regulars.

In Calcutta, the Governor-General remained head of the Government of India and now was more commonly called the Viceroy on account of his secondary role as the Crown's representative to the nominally sovereign princely states; he was, however, now responsible to the Secretary of State in London and through him to Parliament.

At a local level, for provinces: Assam, Bengal, Burma, Central Provinces and Berar, Madras, Punjab, United Provinces, each had a chief administrative officer that reports to the Viceroy of the Raj and London. Princely states exist beyond direct Raj governing but remain in check as puppets of British authority, free to conduct peaceful domestic policy as they please.

The population of the territory that became the British Raj was 100 million by 1600 and remained nearly stationary until the 19th century. The population of the Raj reached 255 million according to the first census taken in 1881 of India. Studies of India's population since 1881 have focused on such topics as total population, birth and death rates, growth rates, geographic distribution, literacy, the rural and urban divide, cities of a million, and the three cities with populations over eight million: Delhi, Greater Bombay, and Calcutta.

Queen Victoria nears the start of a new century and the empire's future, standing to guard with the largest navy in the world, ready to welcome friend and foe to conduct trade or battle. A recent footnote, the British government has granted Brazil access to the bessemer process, many in London prepare to witness a Western hemisphere dominated by not just one American power, but two.

___

[/list][/list][/list]

Saanangi, Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Val Verde-, Aprosian Empire, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[list][sup]July, 1890[/sup]

ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS

[sup]WIENER ZEITUNG[/sup]

___[/list]

[list]| The Austro-Hungarian government sent Count Gustav Kálnoky, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. The Count was sent to the African nation in an Austro-Hungarian attempt to establish foreign relations. This newly established relation is thought to be the first in line of a new foreign policy. It is believed that the Empire is expanding its influence to non-colonized powers in an effort to grow its influence overseas, not through military strength and the colonization of people in distant lands, but through diplomacy. |

| This new foreign policy is thought of as the compromise between the highly liberal anti-colonial Hungarian government and the very conservative pro-colonial Austrian government. This policy is being set by his majesty the Emperor during this time of governmental change, while there is no one to oppose him. |

| The Emperor seeks to also expand this policy to the Balkans. He wishes to help these neighbors grow and develop. This is an effort to help their infrastructure become more independent of their past ruler and back to the European homeland. For these nations to have an ally to guarantee their safety from their prior domineering ruler. Quoting a statement by the Emperor-King, “The Balkans are European and belong to the Europeans that live there.” |

| In other news, the votes of the people will be fully counted by the end of this month. In these elections, there are a vast amount of different ideologies. Due to these sudden elections, with little to no time to campaign, the existing political parties created by nobles are in disarray. Many of the socialites in running are prominent members of the communities, many of them large business owners. We will see in the future advisors of the Emperor-King not being the nobles as they were before, but the wealthy business owners and job suppliers of the Dual Monarchy. We will not know how the factions of the diets will form, anyone can take power in the diets at these times. This will be the first time in our history that we will see the people have direct control over the fate of our government. |[/list]

[list]___[/list]

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Aprosian Empire, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

Austrian Provinces wrote:[list][sup]July, 1890[/sup]

ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS

[sup]WIENER ZEITUNG[/sup]

___[/list]

[list]| The Austro-Hungarian government sent Count Gustav Kálnoky, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. The Count was sent to the African nation in an Austro-Hungarian attempt to establish foreign relations. This newly established relation is thought to be the first in line of a new foreign policy. It is believed that the Empire is expanding its influence to non-colonized powers in an effort to grow its influence overseas, not through military strength and the colonization of people in distant lands, but through diplomacy. |

| This new foreign policy is thought of as the compromise between the highly liberal anti-colonial Hungarian government and the very conservative pro-colonial Austrian government. This policy is being set by his majesty the Emperor during this time of governmental change, while there is no one to oppose him. |

| The Emperor seeks to also expand this policy to the Balkans. He wishes to help these neighbors grow and develop. This is an effort to help their infrastructure become more independent of their past ruler and back to the European homeland. For these nations to have an ally to guarantee their safety from their prior domineering ruler. Quoting a statement by the Emperor-King, “The Balkans are European and belong to the Europeans that live there.” |

| In other news, the votes of the people will be fully counted by the end of this month. In these elections, there are a vast amount of different ideologies. Due to these sudden elections, with little to no time to campaign, the existing political parties created by nobles are in disarray. Many of the socialites in running are prominent members of the communities, many of them large business owners. We will see in the future advisors of the Emperor-King not being the nobles as they were before, but the wealthy business owners and job suppliers of the Dual Monarchy. We will not know how the factions of the diets will form, anyone can take power in the diets at these times. This will be the first time in our history that we will see the people have direct control over the fate of our government. |[/list]

[list]___[/list]

[sup]August,1890[/sup]

AUSTRIAN MEDDLING IN ITALIAN SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

[sup]PARLAMENTO ITALIANO[/sup]

___[/list]

[list]| In February of 1887, the Kingdom of Italy entered into the Triple Alliance with the Empires of Germany and Austria-Hungary. A stipulation of the agreement was that in "accepting the principles of consultation and mutual agreement with Italy on any territorial changes initiated in the Balkans or on the coasts and islands of the Adriatic and Aegean seas." Vienna has violated this part of the treaty by initiating new administration in Bosnia without consulting Rome on the matter. |

| Additionally, the Conference of Berlin two years prior in 1885, laid out the boundaries of each sphere of influence for the Great Powers of Europe. While Austria was in attendance at the conference, they did not lay any claims on the African continent. Vienna has extended their influence in Ethiopia without informing Rome or any of the Great Powers. The Italian Government expressed that this action clearly shows indifference to the agreement and threatens the stability of every European colonial empire. While it is solely diplomatic relations, the Austrian government never merely intended to only establish diplomatic relations. |

| In response to these actions, Rome has reached out to the governments of France, Francia Napoleonienne, Britain Anglo Channel, and to the Kaiser in BerlinTeujira for help to respond to Vienna. Ultimately, Rome would like the Count recalled and negotiations opened on new claims of territory. Further, Italy has sent the Duke di Gaeta, Enrico Cialdini, to Montenegro and Count Camillo Benso di Cavour to Greece to open as well as increase diplomatic relations with Italy. The Prime Minister and the King were reported having many meetings about the subject, taking these actions as necessary steps to preserve Italian influence. |[/list]

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Flavius Domains, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Jocheon, Heizhenzhu, Austrian Provinces

[list][sup]August, 1890[/sup]

IRRATIONAL ITALY

[sup]WIENER ZEITUNG[/sup]

___[/list]

| The following is from an interview with his majesty Franz Joseph |

[list][sup]INTERVEIWER:[/sup][sup] “Your majesty the Italian Government has made a lot of allegations against you. Let us start with their first allegation. They say you violated the part of the stipulation of the Triple Alliance for Italian membership. How do you respond to that?" [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “Well the stipulation was about, and I quote, ‘territorial changes." They even said that themselves, but they later went on talking about how a change in administration is a violation of the stipulation. Now tell me when administration and territorial change are the same thing. Not even to mention that I made no administration change, they were changed only in name. If they are talking about how we have administrated the region for the past twelve years based on what was agreed at the Congress of Berlin, well I say they are about twelve years too late.” [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]INTERVEIWER:[/sup][sup] “Okay, well let’s talk about there second point of disagreement. They say the recent diplomatic mission is a threat to every European colonial empire and that you never merely intended to establish diplomatic relations. What is your take on that?" [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “Well first of all, if a mere Austro-Hungarian diplomatic mission is a threat to your colonial empire, there are a lot of other problems you need to address, and maybe the Italians have some, as they are the only ones who see a single Transylvanian man as a threat to their colonial empire. As for their other point, what else would we be doing other than establishing diplomatic relations? Am I going to somehow undermine his government by making a deal with the Ethiopians to kick the Italians out of Africa, no that is crazy to even think that. We don’t have the kind of navy to even think about fighting Italy abroad, our navy is mainly for coastal defense. Maybe the Italians thought that we were going to smuggle large amounts of arms either through British or Italian territory to give to the Ethiopians. I mean what in the world would we be doing there other than establishing diplomatic relations! You would have to be senile to think that we have the ability to do anything more. Also, when do I have to go through Italy or any other Great Power when I want to establish relations with a nation. Both I and Ethiopia are sovereign nations, and saying that we have to go through other nations to talk to each other is an encroachment on our sovereignty. I mean they imply that we are violating the Berlin Conference, but Italy’s encroachment on Ethiopian sovereignty is in direct violation of the Treaty of Wuchale, where Ethiopia gave them their territory in the Red Sea for the recognition Ethiopian sovereignty. So if anyone is breaking any agreements, it is the Italians.” [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]INTERVEIWER:[/sup][sup] “Wow, riveting stuff, and what about the Italians reaching out to the other Great Powers in Europe to respond to your actions, calling for you to return Count Gustav Kálnoky, and new negotiations on territory?" [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “I do believe that the Great Powers of Europe should meet, we should all meet to talk about the sensationalization of basic government reforms, the diplomacy between two nations, and the encroachment on the sovereignty of fellow nations. As for Kálnoky, his current objective will not falter. As we will not allow the Italians to bully us into submission. As for the negotiations of the territory, I do not know if they are referring to Africa or the Balkans, but let me say this here and now, as of right now we have no plans on expanding our borders.” [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]INTERVEIWER:[/sup][sup] “And do you have any reaction towards Italian diplomacy in the Balkans?" [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “No, and do you want to know why, because they are all sovereign nations. It is their right to freely communicate with each other, and as I just recently said ‘The Balkans are European and belong to the Europeans that live there.’ I have no right to stop them from doing that, but I do say that it is our duty to guarantee each other’s sovereignty when threatened without reason at all costs.” [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]INTERVEIWER:[/sup][sup] “Well that is all the planned questions I had, do you have any closing statements?" [/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “If a dog is aggressive it is our duty to muzzle it to protect our fellow friends from being viciously attacked, with the offenses to my country, and others, I say it is about time that we put a muzzle on this dog before anyone else gets hurt.” [/sup][/list]

[list]___

[spoiler=Mentions]Concorrdia

Francia Napoleonienne

Anglo Channel

Teujira

Not Xav[/spoiler]

[/list]

Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

[sub]READ PART 1 HERE[/sub]

[sub] [ THE NEW EMPEROR:[/sub][sub] PART 2 ][/sub]

[sub]APRIL, 1889[/sub]

[pre][ P O R T O F R I O — B R A Z I L ][/pre][sub][pre][ ALEXIO I, THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL HAD

NEVER SET FOOT OUTSIDE OF BRAZIL AS

THE NEW EMPEROR, HOWEVER, HE HAD

DECIDED TO GO THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN IN

ASIA WITH THE INTENT OF ESTABLISHING

CLOSER RELATIONS, CLOSE TRADE TIES

AND MORE. HE HAD NEVER BEEN IN SUCH

A POSITION BEFORE. BUT THE JAGUAR WAS

ABOUT TO MEET UP WITH THE SHIBA INU ][/pre][/sub]___

[ Alexio I, effectively speaking, had no direct foreign affairs experience. He had never conducted himself outside of Brazil in such a manner, he had never negotiated grand alliances, or complex trade deals. He had, however, read about them, he had seen his uncle, former Emperor Pedro II conduct such affairs as well as his parents in Austria. This would be a very large challenge for him in any case. Alexio I wanted to seek a trade deal with the Japan, discuss European influence in the Americas and other general topics concerning the Brazilian-Japanese relationship. He was, in a way, desperate for the Japanese Emperor to see the Empire of Brazil and the Japan as equal partners. Though, he wasn’t sure if that part would actually happen. In any case, he needed to project Brazil as an up and coming world power, a threat to the relative authoritarianism and absolutism of Europe. He wasn’t exactly going on behalf of what he wanted but rather what the newly elected General Assembly and President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) wanted, he was thankful however, that the progressive views of the President of the Council of Ministers and the General Assembly aligned with his views. The most notable thing Alexio I sought with Japan, was strong naval and naval technology cooperation, to ensure each others navies could grow large. ]

[ Alexio I, would attempt to project the Empire of Brazil as equals with the Japanese Empire through its Navy, which was the strongest in the western hemisphere and 4th or 5th largest in the world, and it was his intention to keep Brazil’s navy at that level, and continue to grow in power until it rivaled Mother Britain itself. Alexio personally would be on a steamship, but would be escorted by various naval vessels, which was more a less a fleet. He said his goodbyes to the 1000s of people at the port, waving, he said goodbye to his wife and son, then finally goodbye to former Emperor Pedro II, who stated he knew he would do an excellent job. And thus the fleet departed for the Japan. In the fleet was the following: ]

[list][sup]RIACHUELO, BATTLESHIP - 5700 TONS

AQUIDABA, BATTLESHIP - 5030 TONS

SETE DE SETEMBRO, BATTLESHIP - 2174 TONS

SOLIMOES, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

JAVARY, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

TAMANDARE, CRUISER - 4430 TONS

[/sup][/list]

[ During the voyage to Tokyo, Alexio I did little except read and study various books on the Japanese Nation, and books concerning Metternich. He wasn’t the most fluent person in Japanese history, or what it desires, so he figured this was an excellent use of his time. After some weeks, they had arrived. ]

___

Cherokee Confederates

___

Cherokee Confederates, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

[list][list]2ɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴀʏ, 1890

[sup]A fool and water will go the way they are diverted.[/sup]

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃[/list][/list]

|[sup]The blooming flower of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, a city recently founded back in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II. Menelik, as initially a King of the Shewa province, had found Mount Entoto a useful base for military operations in the south of his realm, and in 1879 he visited the reputed ruins of a medieval town and an unfinished rock church that showed proof of the medieval empire's capital in the area before the campaigns of Ahmad ibn Ibrihim. However, the immediate area did not encourage the founding of a town for lack of firewood and water, so settlement actually began in the valley south of the mountain in 1886. Initially, Taytu built a house for herself near the "Filwoha" hot mineral springs, where she and members of the Showan Royal Court liked to take mineral baths. Other nobility and their staff and households settled in the vicinity, and Menelik expanded his wife's house to become the Imperial Palace which remains the seat of government in Addis Ababa today. The name changed to Addis Ababa and became Ethiopia's capital when Menelik II became Emperor of Ethiopia. The town grew by leaps and bounds. But the atmosphere is tense and Emperor Menelik has received a letter from the Italians detailing the Treaty of Wuchale. The most troubling aspect of the treaty was that Ethiopia was obliged to conduct all foreign affairs through Italian authorities, in effect making Ethiopia an Italian protectorate.[/sup]|

[list][pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre]

"They want us to what?

[pre]Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde[/pre]

"As stated by the 17th article of the treaty your majesty, “His Majesty the King of Kings of Ethiopia must make use of the Government of His Majesty the King of Italy for all business dealings he had with other powers or governments.”

[pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre]

This is ridiculous, we might as well let the Italians march over here and plant their dam flag! I did not agree to this...the original treaty clearly stated that we had the OPTION to conduct our foreign relations through the Italians!

[pre]Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde[/pre]

It is clear now your majesty, that the Italians had no intention to respect our sovereignty. This has all been a ploy to indirectly control us!

[pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre]

So it seems...Habte, get some ink and a feather. I will be sending them my response now.

[pre]Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde[/pre]

Yes your majesty............ready when you are.

[pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre]

[sup]"Between individuals as between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace. When the treaty of friendship and trade between the Kingdom of Italy and the Empire of Ethiopia signed in the camp of Uccialli May 2, 1889, and ratified by us on September 29, 1889, it was my understanding that Italy would respect the sovereignty of the Empire. This attempt to force us to engage our diplomacy via the authority of Italy is directly violating the 17th article of the treaty. Until his Majesty King Umberto I of Italy corrects this violation of the treaty, I King of Kings of Ethiopia, Menelik the II will not sign the treaty. - Signed, Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia" End quote Habte. Now send the letter to Massawa...now we wait for them to respond.[/sup]

[pre]Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde[/pre]

[sup]It will be done, your majesty.[/sup][/list]

[spoiler=Mentions]Concorrdia

Francia Napoleonienne

Anglo Channel

Teujira

Not Xav[/spoiler]

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, The Jordanian State, Concorrdia, Sadar, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Vancordia wrote:[list]

[sup]| SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES G. BLAINE: |[/sup][sup] "As I said before, Your Excellency, it all depends on the Federal Government. Now, the Senate and the House of Representatives are both under a Republican majority so I doubt it will be passed. I doubt it would even get passed the House let alone the Senate. Like I said, the Republicans, are planning on putting out a protectionist bill to protect American trade interests and the President is willing to sign off on it. But as I said, I will put the offer up for the Congress and the President but its very highly unlikely that they'll consider it."[/sup][/list]

| He takes a sip of tea before responding. |

[list][sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] Well I do not see what the United States is protecting, its robust sugar cane farming?[/sup][/list]

| Envoy Alveoli chuckles. |

[list][sup]| ENVOY LUIS ALVEOLI: |[/sup][sup] Anywho, moving on: I've noticed recently, the United States is rejecting more and more immigrants yearly, due to certain laws passed by your congress, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, and naturally, many of these Immigrants who will inevitably be rejected will still end up at your doorstep, in which you have to reject them and send them back. I'm here to propose an agreement that would see the United States send these immigrants to the Empire of Brazil, and naturally, we would fund such excursions. I think this a highly co-beneficial deal." [/sup][/list]

Sadar, Austrian Provinces

Post by United States Of Argentina suppressed by Woraniana.

United States Of Argentina

Is Argentina, Chile and Uruguay open? Also do I have to be in the WA to RP

[list]June 1890

American Investors Arrive in Korea![/list]

| Prince Min Young-hwan had convinced Emperor Gojong to metaphorically open Seoul's gates to dozens of American investors, that Min had specially come into contact with through the help of a small number of envoys dispatched to the United States. Gojong and his Court remained wary of inviting foreigners in Korea; not because of xhenophobia or Luddite sentiments, but for a very political reason: Just a few short years after the quick modernization initiated by Kim Ok-gyun had miserably failed and resulted in a civil war prompted by a reactionary fringe in the military & population, legitimately angry at the corruption that seemingly seeped through every echelon of their royal government, it was deemed perhaps a little too early to open the gates. Beyond that mere fact, foreign presence was coming to be resented for reasons of self-esteem. However, the Prince and his affiliates in the Independence Club touted the benefits of the US investors, especially for Seoul, which was set to enter a dash to the future: First, bringing electricity to the Imperial Palace; next, establishing a small network to begin building a waste treatment system, modern sewage, and eventually expand electricity to stores and government buildings in the capital, were all planned projects to be completed within the next few years. |

| These grand tasks would be accomplished through the creation of co-owned US-Korean companies like the newly-founded Seoul Electric Company, as well as US companies. The Edison Company would bring electricity to the palace by year's end; meanwhile, vast plans to equip Seoul with a state-of-the-art streetcar network by 1894 is in the works while the Prince and his advisors are starting to mull over the idea of equipping the country with railtracks, with potential companies in Japan, the US, or Europe, aiding in construction and management. |

Vancordia, Sadar, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[sup]ELECTION COMMISSION | COMISSÃO ELEITORAL[/sup]

[sub]FEBRUARY, 1890 | FEVEREIRO DE 1890[/sub]

____

EMPIRE OF BRAZIL ELECTIONS, 1890!

[sub]EMPEROR ALEXIO I REFORMS ELECTIONS, PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE WINS VICTORY.[/sub]

Alexio I, was fairly a progressive and liberal Emperor, much like his predecessor Emperor Pedro II, however Alexio I was more so, and wanted to revert some of the changes made to how elections are conducted in Brazil. Until the year 1881, elections in the Empire were mandatory, meaning all eligible voters had to vote. There were also changes to Literacy, which required that all voters be literate, which crippled voter turnout to a mere 0.8%. Additionally the people only chose the top 3 candidates, then the Emperor was to select one of these candidates. There was also a income requirement, however practically everyone met this as it was extremely low. Despite all this, it should be noted elections in the Empire of Brazil were fairly progressive and liberal, even compared to the liberal and rich european nations and the United States. It should also be noted, that Women were not allowed to vote in any capacity.

Emperor Alexio I wanted to change this to make elections in Brazil more democratic and fair, in his view at least. He utilized his executive, and all reaching authority to enact the “Electoral Reforms of 1890”, which were in advance of the upcoming 1890 elections in February, just 2 months after his coronation to the position. The reforms were met with praise from progressives, liberals and certain suffragists while some criticism arose from conservatives and traditionalists. The reforms can be read here:

[list]

[sup]THE ELECTORAL REFORMS OF 1890[/sup]

[sup]SIGNED, ALEXIO I[/sup]

[sup]1. ELECTIONS ARE MANDATORY, ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS MUST VOTE.

2. ALL MEN OVER THE AGE OF 16 ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

3. ALL LITERATE WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 24 ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

4. THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST VOTES IS ELECTED, THE EMPEROR CAN NO LONG CHOOSE FROM THE TOP 3 CANDIDATES.

5. ALL FORMER REGULATIONS THAT CONTRADICT THIS REFORM ARE HEREBY REPEALED.

[/sup][/list]

With that reform, the election season was kicked into high gear, with the most notable contenders being the Progressive League led by José Paranhos and the Conservatives led by Hermes da Fonseca. However, with the new reforms, the leader in the race was very obvious: The progressive league. The reasons were simple, the majority of the electorate was now poor, working males, which naturally leaned towards the Progressive League, who were pro worker. The elections occurred on February 9th, and was a holiday, everyone eligible to vote was expected to vote.

RESULTS OF THE 1890 IMPERIAL ELECTIONS.[/B]

[sub]FEBRUARY 9TH | FEVEREIRO 9TH DE 1890[/sub]

____

The election went smoothly according to the Election Commission, who stated that perhaps only "1% to 3% of the vote had malicious, or illegal origins", which is actually a record for the Empire of Brazil.

[list]CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

[sub]PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE: 192 SEATS

CONSERVATIVES: 55 SEATS

REPUBLICANS: 2 SEATS

SOCIALISTS: 1 SEAT

[/sub]

IMPERIAL SENATE

[sub]PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE: 31 SEATS

CONSERVATIVES: 15 SEATS

REPUBLICANS: 3 SEATS

SOCIALISTS: 1 SEAT

[/sub][/list]

The Progressive League won clear majorities in both the Imperial Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and their leader José Paranhos would be elected to President of the Council of Ministers, or which was today known as the Prime Councillor, of the Council of Ministers. The election will undoubtedly lead to sweeping reforms in numerous areas to help the Brazilian economy grow and industrialize and, with the party being pro-monarchy, Alexio I's vision of a strong, all powerful navy realized.

____

The Jordanian State, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

Post self-deleted by Shamalistan.

Post by United States Of Argentina suppressed by Woraniana.

United States Of Argentina

Shamalistan wrote:[list][list]𝙌𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼𝙍𝙈𝙄𝙀𝙎 𝘾𝙍𝙊𝙎𝙎 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙔𝘼𝙇𝙐 𝙍𝙄𝙑𝙀𝙍

[sub]𝟐𝟕 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟎 - 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫[/sub][/list][/list]

| By the decree of the Guangxu Emperor, Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army has been ordered to begin an "exploratory campaign" into Korea. Justifying the campaign under the excuse of "permission from the Korean government" thanks to exiled Queen Min's permission to force the Korean government to pay tribute, Qing soldiers have started forging the Yalu River from camps within Qing borders, arriving at various places beyond the border- chiefly, Manpo, Chosan, and Sinuiju. |

The jap needs to step in or at least Russia

[list][list]𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙅𝙄𝙉 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙊𝙇𝙐𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉: 𝙋𝙏. 𝙄

[sub]𝟏𝟒 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟏 - 𝐓𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢𝐧, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠[/sub][/list][/list]

| After months of planning, the time has come. |

| The Beiyang Army- one of the Qing's attempts at modernizing its fractured and backwards military into a modern style- had been created and stationed in Tianjin ever since 1884 when Joseon Korea fell victim to a coup which saw its allegiance switch from the Qing to Japan overnight. Under the command of warlord Yuan Shikai, the Beiyang Army has been at the forefront of Qing military developments, taking the legacy of the Huai Army and applying it to modern equipment. However, while the Beiyang Army is certainly the best equipped army within the Qing Dynasty, no doubt exists that the Beiyang Army still lags behind that of the Empire of Japan, an up-and-coming regional power within Asia, and far behind the national forces of the European Empires the Beiyang Army was created to emulate. |

| However, the rather naive Guangxu Emperor has been ignorant of this and, in his hubris, has ordered the Beiyang Army to prepare for an expeditionary campaign over the Yalu River into Korea to secure tribute from Seoul. While Yuan Shikai, a loyalist ally, has prepared his army to follow this order, many junior officers in the Beiyang Army have realized that this campaign could lead to all-out war with Japan and the destruction of the Beiyang Army. These officers, led by Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang, have already been extremely dissatisfied with the Guangxu Emperor's apparent unwillingness to use the weapons of the West against them, and have all agreed in common consensus that provoking war with Japan would prove to be a suicidal testament to the Qing Dynasty's naivety. Meetings had already taken place.... |

[list][list][sub]𝟐𝟗 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟎 - 𝐓𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢𝐧, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠[/sub][/list][/list]

| Fourteen officers stand gathered around a table. Snowfall has accosted the land, turning the port city white. Within the candlelit room of the officer's barracks, the various junior strategists sit, eat, and drink. The air is jovial but the tone of voice among all deathly serious. |

[list]Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Therefore, friends, if the Manchus truly have lost the Mandate of Heaven, then it is the responsibility of the citizens which the Qing govern to take it from them and give it to its rightful claimant."[/list]

| Across the table, another officer takes a drink of Baijiu from a glass before putting it on the table. |

[list]Feng Guozhang: "You speak of treason, Zhen-Kang."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "I speak no treason for it is I who speak what is the will of Heaven. We cannot be blind to it any longer- the Qing have lost the Mandate of Heaven. They are not fit to rule. That is why China has been ripped apart by barbarians who come to our shores from Daqin and make us their subjects. That is why every time the Qing have tried to develop China, they have failed. Not only are they incapable of governing, Heaven is providing us a clear sign that it will not allow China to develop until the Qing are overthrown."

Feng Guozhang: "What you say may be true, Zhen-Kang."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "What I say is true, Guozhang. You just need to realize it."

Yinchang: "This is treason, and I will not stand for it, Zhen-Kang. The Qing's setbacks are due simply to bad luck and misfortune. To say that the Qing have lost the Mandate of Heaven does not explain, in the slightest, why the Qing still rule this land!"

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Previous efforts to replace the Qing have failed, I will agree. The rebellions of the past three decades, though, lacked national motivation and, themselves, were not given the Mandate of Heaven. The motivations behind the Taiping Rebellion and the other revolts were all improper. The result of success against the Qing in those wars would have spelled the end of this land as their alternatives were all more naive than the Guangxu Emperor's current path for China. However, I believe that Heaven has bestowed upon us the unique chance to strike against the decrepit regime which now rules China, and to establish a state greater than what the Qing have provided us. Gentlemen, we are the most well-armed and well-trained fighting force in all China. We are renowned throughout the world for our potential and our prowess and our leadership. It is each and every one of you who makes the Beiyang Army the force which keeps the Qing Dynasty alive. Perhaps, instead of using our power to serve the Qing and preserve China's decline, we should use it to rid ourselves of the Qing, reclaim the Mandate of Heaven, and restore China to glory. This land is in need of honor. We are an honorable lot of men, and the soldiers who fight under us are ten thousand times as honorable as we are. While the Qing watch our homeland decline and are willing to give up our neighborhoods and resources to the foreigner, we fight and die for this land. My fellow officers, do you not see that we have been called to a divine and honorable purpose?"[/list]

| Silence among all except the cold winter's wind beyond the walls. An officer stands up. |

[list]Ma Anliang: "Zhen-Kang, your ideas for our land are admirable. If we decide to support your in this endeavor, what comes after victory in the field of battle against the Qing? What follows the Qing?"

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Anliang, when we find victory against the Qing, we shall claim the Mandate of Heaven and establish an Empire which will not only dwarf the grandeur of the Qing, but ensure that the name of the Dynasty which has ruined China is forgotten about only unless spoken about with disdain in remembrance for how its corrupt and incompetent leaders lost the Mandate of Heaven and let our nation fall to the foreigner. We shall establish a righteous Empire, one based on the principles of the righteous dynasties which have come before the Qing, based on the ancient teachings of our ancestors and on the divinity of our nation above all others. We shall retake our rightful place as the Empire at the Center of the Universe and, through respecting the teachings of our ancestors while utilizing the technology of the present, we shall forge a dynasty which will make all those which have come before look small in comparison. We shall use the modern structure of the Beiyang Army as a guiding principle for the establishment of a modern Chinese state, and shall ensure that never again must we kowtow to the Emperors of foreign lands, but that they will kowtow to the Son of Heaven."[/list]

| Again, silence. |

[list]Feng Guozhang: "And who do you believe to be the Son of Heaven, Zhen-Kang?"

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "The strongest."[/list]

Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[sup]MINISTÉRIO NAVAL | NAVAL MINISTRY[/sup]

[sub]JANUARY, 1891 | JANEIRO DE 1891[/sub]

____

ALEXIO I APPROVES FURTHER NAVAL EXPANSION!

[sub]EMPEROR ALEXIO I, FOLLOWING MOVES BY THE UNITED STATES, WILL APPROVE NAVAL EXPANSION.[/sub]

The United States had announced that they would begin building new ships and improving their navy, the Empire of Brazil, which up to this point at least had the most powerful navy in the western hemisphere and one of the largest and most respected in the world.The Head Councillor, in private discussions with the Emperor, also agreed that further naval expansion was needed to protect its interests and its territory. The Empire of Brazil ordered the Armada to begin working with the Armory in Rio de Janeiro to design a battleship similar to the Richaelu, so much so that Engineers and Designers would look to it for the primary design, and essentially copy it, then enlarge it to an extent to speed up the design phase and get the ships constructed as fast as possible. Its newfound partner in East Asia would also be welcomed and invited to join the project.

The specifications of the new battleship, now known as “Amazonia Class Battleships”, as as follows:

[list][sup]AMAZONIA CLASS BATTLESHIP[/sup]

[sup]TYPE: IRONCLAD BATTLESHIP

DISPLACEMENT: 7000 TONS

INSTALLED POWER: 5500 HP

RANGE: 10,000 KM

COMPLEMENT: 401

ARMAMENT:

- 4 x 240 MM GUNS

- 8 x 120 MM GUNS

- 8 356 MM TORPEDO TUBES

[/sup][/list]

The Empire of Brazil has planned to build 4 of these battleships with completion dates to be slated at 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1897. The Empire of Brazil has also inquired with British shipbuilders to be 2 of 4 of the battleships which allows for the delivery dates for each pair of ships to be delivered in 1894, and 1895 respectively. Emperor Alexio I has praised the much needed move as a step to retain Imperial naval dominance in the Western Hemisphere, and retain the respect the navy had gained through the years.

____

[spoiler=[sup]”The Imperial Armada is the beating heart of the Empire of Brazil,

which stretches from Rio de Janiero to Luanda, coast to coast,

it’s only separation being the mighty Southern Atlantic Ocean”

- PEDRO II[/sup]]OOC: This post will be updated depended on the response from the United Kingdom[/spoiler]

____

Shamalistan, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

[list]___[/list]

[list][sup]January, 1891[/sup][/list]

CORRIERE DELLA SERA

[sup]ROMA - WIEN[/sup]

[list]___[/list]

Crown Prince Arrives In Austria

| After continued rising tensions between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire Austrian Provinces, King Umberto I has dispatched the 22 year old crown prince HRH Victor Emannuel III, who is also known as the Prince of Naples, to Wien to meet with the Austrian Emperor, Franz Joseph I. While the Crown Prince’s journey has been dubbed a private royal venture, so such information about the meeting remains unknown to the public, it is expected that the Crown Prince will talk about Ethiopia, the balkans, and how to cool the inflammatory remarks coming from both nations.... |

Prime Minister Crispi Resigns

| In Rome today, there was a changing of the old guard as Prime Minister Francesco Crispi, leader of the ruling liberal party, announced his resignation as the 11th Prime Minister of Italy. Crispi’s resignation comes as a shock to many as it was unexpected. Citing personal health reasons for his imptomt departure, it is rumored that he has recently suffered a nervous episode and because of his current handling of the Austiran crisis, was asked to leave by the King. In his place, Interior Minister Giovanni Nicotera will become Prime Minister. Nicotera has been one of the more successful ministers of the interior and is in charge of some preliminary hearings into suspected corruption with the Bank of Rome…. |

Ethiopia Refuses Treaty of Wuchale

| In a new turn of events in Italian East Africa, Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia Zanbala Prz has refused the treaty, stating in a letter to His Majesty the King that, “forcing us to engage our diplomacy via the authority of Italy is directly violating the 17th article of the treaty. Until his Majesty King Umberto I of Italy corrects this violation of the treaty, I, King of Kings of Ethiopia, Menelik the II will not sign the treaty.” Many in the Italian Government, including the King, were surprised by this announcement because Article 17, which states that Ethiopia was obliged to conduct all foreign affairs through Italian authorities, has always been agreed upon till this point. In response, the Government is sending diplomats, led by Colonial Governor Antonio Gandolfi, to Addis Ababa to try and resolve the dispute, as the treaty was meant to establish friendship and foster trade. However, in case things do not work out, the army is sending a force consisting of four brigades, totaling 17,978 troops with fifty-six artillery pieces under the command of General Vittorio Dabormida. There will also be more troops mobilizing in Italy…..|

[spoiler=Mentions]

Francia Napoleonienne

Anglo Channel

Teujira

Not Xav[/spoiler]

Teujira, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[list][sup]January, 1891[/sup]

ITALIAN MEETING

[sup]AUSTRIA, VIENNA, SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE[/sup]

___[/list]

| Winding through the many halls of the palace, the Prince of Naples was lead up the stairs to one of the palace’s many balcony rooms, overlooking the palace gardens. Upon the servants opening the doors an unexpected face could be seen. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Welcome to the royal palace come come have a seat."[/sup][/list]

| The count motioned to a seat next to him as he took a seat himself. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “I am sorry for this unexpected surprise, I know you expected a meeting with His Majesty. Though he had more pressing matters to attend to, he is creating a new government after all. He didn’t want to waste any of your time, and since it just so happened that I just returned from my diplomatic mission, he thought it would be best if I were to speak to you. I have much knowledge about the matter at hand. I assure you I will not waste your time."[/sup][/list]

[list]___

[spoiler=Mentions]Concorrdia[/spoiler][/list]

Teujira, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

Austrian Provinces wrote:[list][sup]January, 1891[/sup]

ITALIAN MEETING

[sup]AUSTRIA, VIENNA, SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE[/sup]

___[/list]

| Winding through the many halls of the palace, the Prince of Naples was lead up the stairs to one of the palace’s many balcony rooms, overlooking the palace gardens. Upon the servants opening the doors an unexpected face could be seen. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Welcome to the royal palace come come have a seat."[/sup][/list]

| The count motioned to a seat next to him as he took a seat himself. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “I am sorry for this unexpected surprise, I know you expected a meeting with His Majesty. Though he had more pressing matters to attend to, he is creating a new government after all. He didn’t want to waste any of your time, and since it just so happened that I just returned from my diplomatic mission, he thought it would be best if I were to speak to you. I have much knowledge about the matter at hand. I assure you I will not waste your time."[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

| The Crown Prince was indeed surprised as he had not expected the Count to be back in Vienna, nor expecting to meet him instead of the Emperor. No matter though, because he could still accomplish his tasks without being ferried through different parts of the Palace waiting for a window of time to meet the Emperor. Victor sat at the table across from the Count, briefly admiring the gardens around them. |

[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “Thank you Count Kálnoky, and yes it is an unexpected surprise however not unwelcome. Thank you for meeting with me. I wanted to talk about our current state of, how should I put it, heightened relations. But first, how was your trip to Ethiopia? I’m sure you've seen how they've just rejected our treaty. "[/sup][/list]

[list]___

[spoiler=Mentions]Austrian Provinces[/spoiler][/list]

Teujira, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Concorrdia wrote:| The Crown Prince was indeed surprised as he had not expected the Count to be back in Vienna, nor expecting to meet him instead of the Emperor. No matter though, because he could still accomplish his tasks without being ferried through different parts of the Palace waiting for a window of time to meet the Emperor. Victor sat at the table across from the Count, briefly admiring the gardens around them. |

[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “Thank you Count Kálnoky, and yes it is an unexpected surprise however not unwelcome. Thank you for meeting with me. I wanted to talk about our current state of, how should I put it, heightened relations. But first, how was your trip to Ethiopia? I’m sure you've seen how they've just rejected our treaty. "[/sup][/list]

[list]___

[spoiler=Mentions]Austrian Provinces[/spoiler][/list]

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Ethiopia is a beautiful country, its rolling hills remind me of a more arid version of my birthplace in Transylvania. Though it is a shame what happened with the treaty. I remember a fair amount of Italian from my time of Secretary of Embassy in Rome. When I heard the controversy of the treaty I asked to read a copy of it. Obviously, I can’t read Amharic, but I had a trusted friend translate the text to German for me. The confusion was an obvious mistake made when translating languages. I have seen this before within the Empire due to our many linguistic groups. Though when these happen we have to realize that what the other party agreed to was not your side, but what they understood. If you force them to agree on what your part of the agreement says, then it is no agreement at all. I am sure you understand. If I were you I would realize the mistake on our part a be a man of my word and impose the treaty the Ethiopians agreed upon. After all, if one can not follow through on their word then they can not be trusted."[/sup][/list]

| A servant appears brandishing a platter full of meats and cheeses. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Oh no I had my filling of Ethiopian cuisine, but I am sure the young Prince would like some."[/sup][/list]

| The servant sets the tray on the small table that divides the two and disappears back into the palace. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “It isn’t like there was a major mistake. It was just a small matter upon conducting foreign relations in one section of the treaty. I am sure it wouldn’t hurt you to impart the basic freedom of speaking to other countries to the Ethiopians. If it meant that your government would stay true to their word, it is a small price to pay for nations to see you as trustworthy."[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

Teujira, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

Austrian Provinces wrote:[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Ethiopia is a beautiful country, its rolling hills remind me of a more arid version of my birthplace in Transylvania. Though it is a shame what happened with the treaty. I remember a fair amount of Italian from my time of Secretary of Embassy in Rome. When I heard the controversy of the treaty I asked to read a copy of it. Obviously, I can’t read Amharic, but I had a trusted friend translate the text to German for me. The confusion was an obvious mistake made when translating languages. I have seen this before within the Empire due to our many linguistic groups. Though when these happen we have to realize that what the other party agreed to was not your side, but what they understood. If you force them to agree on what your part of the agreement says, then it is no agreement at all. I am sure you understand. If I were you I would realize the mistake on our part a be a man of my word and impose the treaty the Ethiopians agreed upon. After all, if one can not follow through on their word then they can not be trusted."[/sup][/list]

| A servant appears brandishing a platter full of meats and cheeses. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Oh no I had my filling of Ethiopian cuisine, but I am sure the young Prince would like some."[/sup][/list]

| The servant sets the tray on the small table that divides the two and disappears back into the palace. |

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “It isn’t like there was a major mistake. It was just a small matter upon conducting foreign relations in one section of the treaty. I am sure it wouldn’t hurt you to impart the basic freedom of speaking to other countries to the Ethiopians. If it meant that your government would stay true to their word, it is a small price to pay for nations to see you as trustworthy."[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

| The Prince took some small pieces of cheese before speaking. |

[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “It is a pretty country from what i have seen in pictures, although I have never been myself I hope to visit someday. We have just completed a new railway in Eritrea from the port of Massawa to the capital in Asmara. I have also heard of plans to build more local infrastructure to boost agricultural exports and other various ventures. However, our exploits in East Africa are put in jeopardy with this treaty business. I meet with representatives from the Foreign Office, who explained to me the translation mix up of a few words, which is what the whole mess is about. I'm sure some arrangement will be reached so that the Ethiopians can have the basic freedom of speaking to other nations, but we do worry that with out proper guidence other nations will take advantage of the Ethiopian conditions. We don't want them being unfairly treated.[/sup][/list]

Teujira, Woraniana

[sup]DEFENSE MINISTRY | MINISTÉRIO DA DEFESA[/sup]

[sub]FEBRUARY, 1891 | FEVEREIRO DE 1891[/sub]

____

PARLIAMENT APPROVES OF ARMY REFORM ACT!

[sub]EMPEROR ALEXIO I APPEASES THE USUALLY UNDERFUNDED ARMY.[/sub]

The Army, in recent times, had been underfunded, understaffed, and poorly organized so much so that a coup was threatened in 1889, stopped only by the prospect a new young monarch ascending to the position of Emperor, and the former Emperor Pedro II publicly stating the possibility of a coup, and the disastrous effects if said coup would actually occur. With that, and public support low, the coup never occurred. Nevertheless Alexio I showed his Machiavellian side and purged 2500 members of the army, entirely those who were opposed to his rule and supported the coup, these men were sent to perform hard labor in a high level prison camp in the Amazon Rainforest. Additionally, numerous public figures who supported such a coup, or republicanism, were brutally beaten, threatened and told they would suffer the same fate as the members of the Army who opted to the coup. In any case, Alexio I knew that what remained of the Army could easily be loyal to him, he replaced much of the staff in the Military College with loyalists, as well as high level positions in the army. Even so, many of the people, and young fresh recruits and cadets that joined the army would too be sent to brutal camps in the Amazon once it came out that many of them discussed and supported a military dictatorship while at the Military college. In total, 14,000 Army-men were sent to work in Amazon Prison Camps, where they would likely die.

What was left of the Army, was inexperience, very young recruits who were reinvigorated with love of Monarchy and what was left of the experienced officers and commanders. Alexio I, the General Assembly and the President of the Council Of Ministers began work on an Army Reform act to appease it, ensure loyalty to the Emperor, and ensure it could be ready face any threat if need be. With that, the Army Reform Act was born. Alexio I saw the army as a way to create industry, invigorate technological advancement and gain prestige across the world, thus he thought the military could work in favor for the Empire. The act had broad reaching effects, the first major effect was how the army was structured. Typically, the army had '2 lines', the 1st line was the smaller, but well equipped and highly trained army while the '2nd line' was made up of militias, amateurs and whatever had to be pulled together when the threat of war was on the shores of the Empire. The Army reform act transformed the structure into the following (NAME - # OF TROOPS - HEADQUARTERS):

[list]

[sup]STRUCTURE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY[/sup]

[sup]FIRST IMPERIAL ARMY, 12,000 TROOPS — RIO DE JANERIO

SECOND IMPERIAL ARMY, 30,000 TROOPS — PORTO ALEGRE

THIRD IMPERIAL ARMY, 10,000 TROOPS — CAMPO GRANDE

FOURTH IMPERIAL ARMY, 30,000 TROOPS — FORTALEZA

FIFTH IMPERIAL ARMY, 45,000 TROOPS — LUANDA

SIXTH IMPERIAL ARMY, 3,000 TROOPS — ILHAS SUL DO ATLÂNTICO

THE IMPERIAL RESERVE ARMY, 120,000 TROOPS — RIO, SAU PAULO, LUANDA[/sup][/list]

The next major move in the Army Reform Act was the creation of the School of Military Engineering and Technology, which was apart of the Military College. The school would teach engineers and designers with the aim of creating a domestic industry for weaponry like cannons, artillery, machine guns, rifles and more, this would hopefully give the Empire of Brazil a sense of self efficiency concerning the Army and further industrialize the nation. The overall goal was to make the army self-sufficient with quality weapons by 1905.

____

Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

[list]

[sup][ FEBRUARY, 1891 ][/sup]

[sub][pre][ ELISABETA PALACE ― KINGDOM OF ROMANIA ][/pre][/sub] —[/list]THE CIVIL WAR: PART 1

| A elderly gentleman, tall and scruffy, walked into a study, sporting mahogany bookshelves filled with novels, academic journals, biographies and more, in any case it was an extensive collection. At the center of the study was a small, hand-carved coffee table, on it was traditional cakes, baked fresh in the morning and multiple varieties of tea, imported straight from the British Raj and colony of Ceylon. He sat down at the opposing table, not daring to begin pouring the tea with King Carol I entering so as they could begin their discussion concerning a proposal in Parliament, which is considered to be highly important to the King, and his overall wealth and wellbeing. It took longer then expected but eventually King Carol I ambled in, he wore a plain suit, a variety of medals, not that he earned them, and a cashmere hat. The elderly gentleman arose from his seat immediately and saluted the King. The King offered a handshake and he shook it firmly. The pair sat down, and the elderly gentleman began pouring the tea and plating up for the 2 of them, the King opting for the vanilla and macadamia cake and the other opting for plain old traditional Romanian cake, the type you'd find in a middle-class grandmother's house. |

[list]

[sub]| THE PRIME MINISTER: |[/sub][sub] "I know you are very adamant parliament passes the royal estate act, but understand not only is it highly unpopular but parliament isn't so sure we should sacrifice such wealth and grant it to you, it can pass if I need it to, but, the question is, which I place upon you, should it pass? should we actually do this? I am not so sure."[/sub][/list]

| The King took a sip of tea before responding. |

[list]

[sub]| KING CAROL I: |[/sub][sub] "I understand your concern, but let us look at other monarchs, do they not have large royal estates? do they not hold grandeur wealth? Look at Victoria, does she not own the entire continent of India? Yet, all I ask for, is a mere royal estate, and to become the largest landowner in the nation, as is my birthright."[/sub]

[sub]| THE PRIME MINISTER: |[/sub][sub] "I suppose, you are asking me to get the act passed through Parliament?"[/sub]

[sub]| KING CAROL I: |[/sub][sub] "Precisely."[/sub]

[/list]

| The Prime Minister stayed silent for a few moments, sipping his tea, and eating his cake. He knew at heart this was a grave mistake on the part of the King, especially with the recent economic recessions hitting the world's nations. The people of Romania were in dire need, and the focus had to be placed on them, not filling the King's pockets with a royal estate. |

[list]

[sub]| THE PRIME MINISTER: |[/sub][sub] "Are you sure?."[/sub]

[sub]| KING CAROL I: |[/sub][sub] "Yes, go on now, back to the Parliament building, get it passed.."[/sub]

[/list]

| The 2 men shook hands, and the Prime Minister returned to his domain, he had an unpopular bill to push through Parliament, but nevertheless he knew it would earn him some sort of reward, or wealth. |

[list]—[/list]

[list]

[sup][ FEBRUARY, 1891 ][/sup]

[sub][pre][ BUCHAREST ― KINGDOM OF ROMANIA ][/pre][/sub]—[/list]

| The small eatery was busier then usual, it typically catered to workers who spent 12 hours in the factories daily, and today was no different, except it was certainly louder, and more packed. Men cowered around those with newspapers as they yelled the headline aloud: Parliament grants King Carol I a royal estate; becomes largest landowner in Romania. While this went on, Romania was in recession, not a major one, a recession nevertheless, some were the same, some lost their jobs, and a few lost everything. In any case, the King and Parliament passed such a law at a very wrong time. |

[list]

[sup]| MAN #1 |[/sup][sup] "Who knew the Parliament was so thick headed?"[/sup]

[sup]| MAN #2 |[/sup][sup] "You'd think they'd least wait, and help out us normal folks first."[/sup]

[sup]| MAN #3 |[/sup][sup] "They don't care"[/sup][/list]

| More men began to crowd around the man with the newspaper, asking him to yell the headline, again, and again, and again. |

[list]

[sup]| MAN #1 |[/sup][sup] "I suppose you're right, they don't care."[/sup][/list]

| The tinder was set, and the spark went flying, but would it catch? |

[list]—[/list]

Teujira, Val Verde-, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

[list][list][list]~ 𝐄𝐥 𝐕𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐚 ~

[sup]𝙲𝚊𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚕𝚘 0: 𝙴𝚕 𝙿𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚎 𝚕𝚊 𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚊[/sup][/list][/list][/list]

[sup]The year 1891, a new year for Mexico, another year of the Porfirian state. What is the Porfirian state? The Porfirian state is a nickname for the current Mexican regime, led by his excellency the President of Mexico, Porfirio Díaz, and his political/social elite the "Científico's". The Científico's were a circle of technocratic advisors to President of Mexico Porfirio Díaz. Steeped in the positivist "scientific politics", they functioned as part of his program of modernization at the start of the 20th century. With them Díaz created a formidable political machine, first working with regional strongmen and bringing them into his regime, then replacing them with jefes políticos (political bosses) who were loyal to him. He skillfully managed political conflict and reined in tendencies toward autonomy. He appointed a number of military officers to state governorships, including General Bernardo Reyes, who became governor of the northern state of Nuevo León. A prime example of Díaz's ability to project power in these rural areas of the nation was via the infamous rural police, the Rurales, or Guardia Rural ('Rural Guard'). A mounted rural police force, ironically founded by President Benito Juárez in 1861 and expanded by President Porfirio Díaz. The rurales were placed under the Ministro de Gobernación and specifically tasked with providing mounted patrols for rail and road links, escorting gold and other valuable shipments, providing support for the Federal Army when called upon, and ensuring security when local elections were held. But in reality, the rurales had a reputation of ruthlessness and efficiency. They killed and arrested before asking questions, and got away with it too. It should also be noted that the rurales were often recruited from bandit groups giving them even more of a thuggish reputation amongst the locals.[/sup]

Val Verde-, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Aarkanglia, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Concorrdia wrote:| The Prince took some small pieces of cheese before speaking. |

[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “It is a pretty country from what i have seen in pictures, although I have never been myself I hope to visit someday. We have just completed a new railway in Eritrea from the port of Massawa to the capital in Asmara. I have also heard of plans to build more local infrastructure to boost agricultural exports and other various ventures. However, our exploits in East Africa are put in jeopardy with this treaty business. I meet with representatives from the Foreign Office, who explained to me the translation mix up of a few words, which is what the whole mess is about. I'm sure some arrangement will be reached so that the Ethiopians can have the basic freedom of speaking to other nations, but we do worry that with out proper guidence other nations will take advantage of the Ethiopian conditions. We don't want them being unfairly treated.[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Well that is very nice to hear. Now let us talk about the more pressing matter at hand. The sensationalization by your government of the actions of Austria Hungary. It was stated by the Italian government that we violated a stipulation of the agreement of Italy into the Triple Alliance, that we threaten the stability of European colonialism, called a trusted ally someone who is undermining your government through diplomatic relations, and then you called a meeting with other European Great Powers to form a response against our government without us being at the table for discussions. You probably have seen His Majesty’s response in the Wiener Zeitung. It is very concerning when a trusted ally belittles our government and then tries to form a coalition against us to condemn our actions, which I remind you which is a major invasion of our sovereignty."[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

Zanbala Prz, Woraniana

[list][list]𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙅𝙄𝙉 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙊𝙇𝙐𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉: 𝙋𝙏. 𝙄𝙄

[sub]𝟏𝟒 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟏 - 𝐓𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢𝐧, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠[/sub][/list][/list]

| Four hundred Qing soldiers of the Beiyang Army, led by a conglomerate of junior officers, appear suddenly throughout Tianjin. Armed with various bolt-action rifles and wearing the most modern Qing uniforms, the soldiers arrive from their main barracks within the city completely under the nose of their commanding officer, Yuan Shikai, who is taken off guard by the sudden and unauthorized deployment. The soldiers bear the markings of the Beiyang Army but with all markings of the Qing removed, with patches torn out and emblems completely stripped from their uniforms and weapons. Instead, the army flies a distinctly unique flag- a banner comprised of a red stripe, a yellow stripe, a blue stripe, a white stripe, and a black stripe in descending order. The flying of this five-colored flag, alongside flags bearing Chinese characters spelling out Divine Army of Restoration send a message that the soldiers in the streets are definitively, defiantly on their own, standing in opposition to the Qing's generalship and their own officers. |

| The rebel soldiers scatter throughout the portions of the city not occupied by British and French occupiers, raising their colorful flags throughout the city. The four hundred men comprise the majority of the Beiyang Army's main garrison within the actual city limits, but thousands of other soldiers still unaware of the rebellion remain beyond the direct city limits in the surrounding communities. After becoming aware of the situation, Yuan Shikai orders that the rest of the Beiyang Army prepare their gear to march in and capture or destroy the rebels. However, unprepared for such a sudden insurrection, the mobilization will take days- buying the rebels precious time to proliferate throughout the city, raise their flags, and spread their message. Only limited conflicts occur throughout the city where Qing officials and members of the Eight Banners attempt to fight back against the rebels but, poorly trained and improperly equipped, the Qing officials are easily defeated wherever they resist the rebels. |

| Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang, declared "Guide of the Divine Army of Restoration" due to his leadership, organizes the mutiny to capture key infrastructure as well as major bridges leading into and out of the city upon the first day of the revolution. The Divine Army soldiers capture telegraph posts, key junctions leading into and out of the city, post offices, and local municipal buildings. The resistance is minimal, and casualties on both sides almost non-existent. By day's end, the 400 mutinying infantry hold a majority of the city's key infrastructural and industrial landmarks. |

| At sundown, Zhen-Kang and three other key Divine Army officers gather within a public market in the middle of the port district of Tianjin. They are surrounded by nearly thirty soldiers armed with rifles and lined in a neatly-organized formation in front of the three officers. Zhen-Kang, having prepared a speech, stands upon a platform made of emptied boxes in front of a recently formed crowd of onlookers, all rather confused at the chaos. Zhen-Kang, experienced with public speaking due to his previous work as a Qing government official, stands atop his platform holding a stack of papers with his handwritten speech in his right hand, emphasizing his monologue with his left. |

[list]Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Citizens of Tianjin! And through you, all citizens of China!

Today is a momentous day in the long history of our imperial nation.

Today, a series of events have been set in motion which will mark the beginning of a new era in our history.

Today, we have taken the first steps on the long march to the future.

Today, four hundred members of the Beiyang Army and fourteen officers in command of his army have decided in unanimous agreement that the time has come where we, as the armed servants of the Chinese nation and people, must use our arms to turn against our rulers in a popular and Divine struggle.

These actions are not without merit.

For over fifty years and more, what has been occurring within China is nothing more than the ultimate crime- the failure of leaders who occupy the Dragon Throne to properly lead our Divine Empire and fulfill their Divine Rights to the people of China. The Aisin Gioro Dynasty which took control of China many ages ago has proven that, over time, it has become concerned only with its own decadence and degeneracy, casting aside the needs of our state and our people. The Imperial State which the Qing has for so long pretended to be is dead. Instead, the Qing Dynasty today is little more than a pawn being manipulated by the imperialist nations of the West. Instead of adapting to modernity and keeping China at the leading forefront of civilization, successive Emperors in this century have used the absolute power of leadership entrusted in them by the Mandate of Heaven to improve their own grandeur and involve themselves within the frivolities of courtly life. As the Emperor and his puppet-master Cixi continue to spend massive portions of the Chinese treasury on improving the imperial palace, they have left other state institutions to rot. This neglect of the responsibilities of power, alongside the Qing Dynasty's obvious failures to catch up with the foreigners who now come to our shores with new and powerful technology, can mean only one thing definitively- that the Qing Dynasty has, gradually and over time, lost the Mandate of Heaven, and that it is now the divine destiny of the people of China to depose the Qing, and for the proper leader to step forward and claim the Mandate of Heaven as Emperor of our Universal Empire.

We remember the failure of the Tongzhi Restoration to bring about modernization and centralization of the Chinese state. We remember the failure of the Self-Strengthening Movement to enhance the Chinese position to a place on par with the new existential threat promoted by western colonialism. We remember the humiliations of the treaties which have seen pieces of China gradually torn from the Heavenly Empire's bosom and handed to a variety of external powers who now subjugate China and divide it into unjust "spheres of influence". We remember how the Qing so violently killed millions in the Taiping War. Additionally, we know how the Guangxu Emperor was preparing for a military expedition to Korea which, if overseen, would have knowingly lead to an unwinnable war against the Empire of Japan. Regardless of personal opinions on Korea's disobedience to the Heavenly Empire, provoking a war with Japan for a sense of personal validation, knowing that even our most advanced armies are badly lacking in supplies and equipment, proves the incompetence of the Qing to properly lead our nation in the modern day.

Therefore, in unanimous agreement, over four hundred soldiers and fourteen officers renounce our loyalty to the Qing and, today, announce the formation of the Divine Army of Restoration. Our Divine Army of Restoration shall emulate the strategies and organization which the Qing has for so long refused to emulate, and shall form the building blocks of a modern Chinese state as we wage a holy war against the Qing. We come from all walks of life, all nationalities, all religions, however we fight for one goal- the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and their replacement with a new dynasty, the proper claimant to the Mandate of Heaven. We do not believe in sectarian division. We do not believe in political dialectics. We solely fight for the preservation of the Chinese people and the Chinese way of life. We solely fight for you.

As we wage our struggle, we will employ the use of force only when resistance is given to us. We shall not turn our blade or our gun upon innocent civilians or the officials who work for this failed dynasty. We do not seek battle, but we know battle will come to us, therefore we are prepared to fight. However, when we must fight, we will show mercy. We do not fight people, but instead, we fight a dynasty. If the dynasty is willing to submit without a fight, then there shall be no fight. However, as long as the Qing unjustly cling to power, we shall fight.

I, Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang, have been appointed as the Supreme Commander of the Divine Army of Restoration by the other thirteen officers as well as the 400 brave and honorable men now entrusted under my command. As such, I will ensure that the Divine Army of Restoration acts honorably against all those who oppose us, minimize casualties as much as possible, and bring about a swift end to this decrepit dynasty. Wherever the flag of the Divine Army of Restoration goes, be not afraid, for where that banner flies peace and prosperity shall follow soon behind. For now, we require your full cooperation, your full support, and most of all, your loyal support in our aims.

We ask all those who are capable to pick up arms and join our cause. The citizens of Tianjin must come together under one banner and fight a united struggle against the Qing. You, the citizens of Tianjin, have more experience than any else of what Qing leadership brings- internal decline, foreign intervention, and loss of spiritual health. Therefor, the citizens of Tianjin must serve as the core of our new army as we begin our brave and honorable struggle to rejuvenate China and ensure that the Mandate of Heaven is given to its proper claimant. The Qing is weak, and while their soldiers are loyal, they shall be swept aside with ease by the divine wind which carries us forward against our enemies, the destiny of all China riding with us all the while.

May the Heavens bless you, and may the Heavens ensure victory for the Divine Army of Restoration!"[/list]

| Zhen-Kang's fiery speech rallies the citizens of Tianjin, people who over the most recent decades have felt first hand colonialism. Tianjin, with the approval of the Qing Emperors, has become home to a variety of foreign concessions belonging to the British and French Empires. Therefore, Zhen-Kang's anti-colonialist message resonates strongly among many locals. The officer and the rest of the fourteen men in charge of the Divine Army of Restoration make their headquarters in the Beiyang Army's headquarters within the city, where over the night, hundreds of locals come to enlist in the Divine Army of Restoration. |

Teujira, The Jordanian State, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

Austrian Provinces wrote:[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Well that is very nice to hear. Now let us talk about the more pressing matter at hand. The sensationalization by your government of the actions of Austria Hungary. It was stated by the Italian government that we violated a stipulation of the agreement of Italy into the Triple Alliance, that we threaten the stability of European colonialism, called a trusted ally someone who is undermining your government through diplomatic relations, and then you called a meeting with other European Great Powers to form a response against our government without us being at the table for discussions. You probably have seen His Majesty’s response in the Wiener Zeitung. It is very concerning when a trusted ally belittles our government and then tries to form a coalition against us to condemn our actions, which I remind you which is a major invasion of our sovereignty."[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “Yes, we did see your Emperor's rather inappropriate remarks towards our country that sounded like they came from a warmongering general rather than an leader of a major European power, but I digress. As you may have seen, the former Prime Minister resigned due to health reasons. The true reasons was that he had taken an aggressive stance towards your country's actions in Ethiopia, which he views as Italian territory. His actions were not those of the majority of his party and not representative of my father's current position. Despite our differences, we hope to work with our alliance partners and do not wish for increased hostilities based on some rash, lewd remarks. The proposed, intervention, wasn't pressed by our government, the usage of the treaty was overstretched at best, and we did not touch your sovereignty. "[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

Teujira, Shamalistan, The Jordanian State, Austrian Provinces

[list][list]𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙅𝙄𝙉 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙊𝙇𝙐𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉: 𝙋𝙏. 𝙄𝙄𝙄

[sub]𝟐𝟕 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟏 - 𝐓𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢𝐧, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠[/sub][/list][/list]

| With the proclamation of the Jin Revolution by the Divine Army of Restoration, an increasing amount of the city of Tianjin has become engulfed in revolutionary fervor. Growing from 400 army mutineers to a massive united army of nearly 1,300 civilians and soldiers, the Divine Army of Restoration's campaign against the Qing has sparked national sentiments, creating other uprisings to rapidly develop throughout the Qing Dynasty- particularly in Wuhan, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Uliastai, and farther reaches of the Qing's possessions including Huijiang and Tangnu Wulianghai. Workers and other army mutineers from the regular Eight Banners forces have taken up arms, primarily swords and spears, in defiance of Qing rule. While none of these other uprisings have been as politically successful as the Tianjin Mutiny, they have all presented a unique opportunity for Zhen-Kang and the other Divine Army generals- the opportunity to turn this localized mutiny into a true national revolution. However, despite the national ramifications of the mutiny, an existential threat still hangs over the Tianjin Mutiny's fate- the loyalist section of the Beiyang Army. |

| The 400 Beiyang Army soldiers who initiated the Tianjin Mutiny only comprise a small faction of the 24,000 soldiers selected to serve in the Qing's first real modern army. The other roughly 23,600 soldiers, not includes those who have defected in the days since the initial mutiny, have still remained encamped throughout northern China, known as Beiyang(北洋) under the command of Qing general Yuan Shikai. Caught off guard by the mutiny of the junior officers in the city, Yuan Shikai's forces have been scrambled without preparation or proper training to take on the Divine Army of Restoration, having to divert their plans from the secretly-prepared Korean Expedition to now quelling the Tianjin Mutiny within China's own borders. In the outer city limits of Tianjin and at various military encampments beyond, some 12,000 Beiyang soldiers are typically stationed. Since 15 February, 3,000 of these soldiers have been prepared personally by Yuan Shikai for a march on Tianjin to quell the Divine Army of Restoration. Shikai has been given a simple order by the Guangxu Emperor regarding the matter- force their surrender, or kill them all. |

| Early in the morning of the 27th of February, just weeks after the start of the mutiny, an army of 3,000 personally led by Shikai prepare to enter Tianjin by crossing various bridges spanning the Longfeng River from the north. Leaving before dawn, the Qing soldiers march through the streets leading to the bridge equipped with single shot muskets from various western countries, essentially in microcosm representing the disorganization of even the most modern army of the Qing. Regardless, the large expeditionary force crosses over the Longfeng River at dawn, with various Qing warlords leading the forces mounted atop their steeds. At the very front of the army crossing the bridge is Yuan Shikai himself, wielding a sword. |

| Shikai, himself, has proven himself to be one of the most efficient leaders in what has become an increasingly incompetent feudal China. One of the only leaders to properly utilize the Self-Strengthening Movement for the Qing's gain, he has worked his way in a few short years to become one of the youngest preeminent commanders of the Chinese Army, and a personal favorite of the Guangxu Emperor. Nonetheless and in spite of his personal successes organizing a modern army in the form of the Beiyang Army over the past three years, Shikai has himself had to deal first hand with the arrogance of the Qing dynasty and has made his displeasure known; while the fourteen founders of the Divine Army of Restoration had not publicly disclosed this, they were made aware of the Guangxu Emperor's plans to invade Korea by an almost defeated sounding Shikai, their commanding officer, who also revealed his own acknowledgement such an attack would be a suicidal effort due to its inevitable provocation of Japan, Korea's new provider. As the Beiyang Army had been manipulated to serve as the defenders of the dying Qing, Shikai has been made their sacrificial lamb. The Divine Army's leadership have been aware of this for some time. |

| As Shikai's forces cross the bridges, they are met by soldiers and peasants of the Divine Army of Restoration. Standing among the ranks of the Divine Army is Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang, the zealous founder of the Divine Army. Standing in his dusty officer's uniform with his sword in hand, he orders his men to lower their rifles and put their swords and spears to their sides. Shikai orders the same of his men and the two met face to face, Shikai on horse and Zhen-Kang on foot, in the street as both armies look on. Some 160 Qing soldiers stand behind Shikai, standing in rank and file and spanning the whole length of the bridge while spilling out on both sides of it. Opposite of the Qing soldiers is the hodgepodge militia of the Divine Army of Restoration, no more than forty in number. |

[list]Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Shikai."

Yuan Shikai: "Zhen-Kang."[/list]

| Zhen-Kang, as a gesture of kindness, takes of his hat and bows to Shikai, his senior in rank. |

Yuan Shikai: "Your gesture of kindness is not typical of rebels."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Well, to see the Divine Army of Restoration as a typical rebel force would be an incorrect assessment of what this movement is."

Yuan Shikai: "And what is this movement, Zhen-Kang, if not an army of rebels?"

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "This movement is a military, political, and spiritual effort, Sir."

Yuan Shikai: "What you have done is waged an arm struggle against the Qing Dynasty and the Guangxu Emperor. Words will not hide your motive."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "I do not hide my motive. We are a military, political, and spiritual movement engaged in an armed struggle against the Qing. The Qing have failed to ensure China's preeminent spot within the Universe, and have lost the Mandate of Heaven. What the Divine Army of Restoration is doing is simply fulfilling the will of Heaven. I believe, Shikai, that you among all others should know of the failures of the Qing."

Yuan Shikai: "There have been failures, yes. But does the Beiyang Army not show how the Qing Dynasty is striving towards self-preservation and national advancement? Does this army not prove that the Qing are aware of the national needs?"

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Shikai, the Qing did not create the Beiyang Army. You created the Beiyang Army. Do not forget the proverb that 'opportunity knocks at the door only once', Shikai. Opportunity knocked with the Tongzhi Restoration and the Self-Strengthening Movement and you alone were the only one to open the door. You created the Beiyang Army- the Qing were going to send it in a suicidal expedition to Korea where we would all get killed by the Japanese. We already have enough problems with the barbarians of Europe- must we also now provoke conflict with Japan?"

Yuan Shikai: "This may be true, but the failures of the Self-Strengthening Movement were not due to the Qing alone."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "This is true- it can also be blamed on the regional officials who they allowed to run these programs into the ground. Regardless of how deep you wish to go down this well, you will still find that the root of the problem has been and always will be the Qing. They are antiquated and have no grasp on the modern world. While they prepare us to go fight and die in Korea against the Japanese, they spend countless tons of gold from the imperial treasury to expand upon the Summer Palace. Do you think the Guangxu Emperor has any regard for the lives of you and the men you command, Shikai? You are entrusted with the lives of the men you command, not the defense of Empress Dowager Cixi's new palace. You know an attack against Japan would have been suicide- you said so yourself to us in private."[/list]

| Shikai does not retort. |

[list]Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "There is no solution to the Qing problem beyond their swift and immediate removal. The potential of our nation without the Qing is ten thousand times greater than our nation with the Qing lording over us and using us as mere pawns in their courtly games. We are not like the armies of Daqin or Dongyang. We are the army of Tianxia- the rightful army of Tianxia, not the fragmented Eight Banners. Where the armies of Daqin and Dongyang seek to come to our lands to enslave our people and steal our land, the Divine Army of Restoration comes of this soil and this blood to protect what the Qing have not and to defeat, decisively, the forces of Daqin and Dongyang when the time is right. Where the Qing Army have failed we have succeeded, and the people of China stand with us. Is this not proof that the Qing have lost the Mandate of Heaven?"

Yuan Shikai: "The Beiyang Army ultimately represents what the Qing is capable of. Your mutiny shows a lack of faith in China's future, as you have rebelled against the Beiyang Army through your desertion. Believe me when I say, Zhen-Kang, that I hold reservation towards your band of merry men fighting for some dream of a new China. I do not believe, Zhen-Kang, that your army will be able to keep together what the Qing have worked so hard to build. However, I believe that you have made your point- ultimately, although the Qing may be capable of great things, that is through the actions of men more capable than the Emperors who now reign based on a policy of arrogance and self-serving action. You may be correct when you say that the Qing have lost the Mandate of Heaven, and as a spiritual man, I seek only what Heaven desires. Therefore, Zhen-Kang, I offer to you my sword as a sign of peace between the Divine Army of Restoration and the Beiyang Army ... conditionally."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "And what are those conditions, Shikai?"[/list]

| Yuan Shikai dismounts from his horse, startling the Beiyang Army behind him. He walks over to Zhen-Kang, unsheathing his sword and holding it close to his chest. |

[list]Yuan Shikai: "Should I surrender my army, you must agree that not one of my men be punished by your army, and either allowed to willingly join your ranks, or disperse to their homes."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "I have made clear many times that the Divine Army of Restoration shall not use force unless attacked. Additionally, the blood of the Divine Army of Restoration and of the Beiyang Army the same- as we are one, to hurt one man under your command would be to hurt both our army and your army. No, we shall let your men join or let them disperse so long as they surrender their arms."

Yuan Shikai: "Additionally, you must realize that if I am to surrender, it will mean my execution should I return to the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, Zhen-Kang, I ask that you allow me to join your army and lead the Divine Army of Restoration against the Eight Banners. My tactical and strategic knowledge and leadership will ensure that none of us are captured and executed, as it will ensure that we win this revolution swiftly."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Your ego is almost as big as the epaulettes on your uniform, Shikai, but I will agree, so long as you recognize our pre-existing organization of command."

Yuan Shikai: "I can agree to that."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Then yes, you may be allowed to join our ranks."

Yuan Shikai: "Lastly, if you surrender, I need to be assured that we will not go about attacking the same powers you have expressly stated the Qing allowed to disgrace our country."

Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "When the time is right, our army will strike against the barbarians. For now though, Shikai, our goal is solely the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the spiritual rejuvenation of the Chinese people."[/list]

| Shikai the Opportunist, having smelled blood in the water, has decided to cast his bets with the Divine Army of Restoration. His own motives exist, certainly, such as co-opting the militia for his own gain, however such plans of grandeur rely on his decision now. Silently and slowly, he hands his sword over to Zhen-Kang, who takes it, in both of his hands, bows before it, and hands it back. A sudden cheer erupts from the ranks of the Divine Army of Restoration as Yuan strides back to his horse and orders his men to drop their weapons and move forward. |

| Over the next hour, the 3,000 Beiyang Army soldiers arriving in the city are informed of their surrender and are processed by the Divine Army of Restoration who takes their weapons and identifies them before either embracing them in their ranks or letting them go home. Many of the Beiyang soldiers, recognizing the likelihood of punishment should they return and motivated by the ideals of the Divine Army, decide to join the ranks of Zhen-Kang's militia, joining the mutiny. Shikai, for his part, had almost been personally moved during his short debate with Zhen-Kang. The ideals of the Divine Army of Restoration more or less line up with those within Shikai's heart and despite his loyalty to the Qing, a fresh start for the Chinese nation would represent Shikai's ability to climb to the top of a new Chinese Empire, something unavailable in the Aisin Gioro's stranglehold on China and the imperial court. Affirming the popularity of the sentiments of the Divine Army of Restoration, the Beiyang Army begins the slow process of surrender to the Divine Army of Restoration throughout the day. A surrender likely to take place over a month or more, the new victory for the Divine Army of Restoration represents to many a truth in Zhen-Kang's statements: that, perhaps, the Qing truly have lost the Mandate of Heaven. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, The Jordanian State, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[list][list]March, 1891

[pre]Setting the record[/pre][/list][/list]

|This is an invitation to Italian diplomats on behalf of his majesty, the king of kings, Emperor Menelik the II. In the meeting, we will discuss the subject of Article 17 of the Treaty of Wuchale. To clear the record and correct the Italian mistake made in this treaty. A imperial guard will be dispatched to serve as both protection and guides to the Italian diplomats.|

Concorrdia

Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Zanbala Prz wrote:[list][list]March, 1891

[pre]Setting the record[/pre][/list][/list]

|This is an invitation to Italian diplomats on behalf of his majesty, the king of kings, Emperor Menelik the II. In the meeting, we will discuss the subject of Article 17 of the Treaty of Wuchale. To clear the record and correct the Italian mistake made in this treaty. A imperial guard will be dispatched to serve as both protection and guides to the Italian diplomats.|

| Eritrian Governor-General Antonio Gandolfi arrives at the Royal Palace, with an Italian military escort, to discuss the Ethiopian misunderstanding of the treaty with his majesty Emperor Menelik II.|

[list][sup]GOVERNOR ANTONIO GANDOLFI:[/sup][sup] “ Your Majesty, it is an honor. Thank you for the Royal escort and welcoming us to Ethopia."[/sup][/list]

___[/list]

Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Concorrdia wrote:[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “Yes, we did see your Emperor's rather inappropriate remarks towards our country that sounded like they came from a warmongering general rather than an leader of a major European power, but I digress. As you may have seen, the former Prime Minister resigned due to health reasons. The true reasons was that he had taken an aggressive stance towards your country's actions in Ethiopia, which he views as Italian territory. His actions were not those of the majority of his party and not representative of my father's current position. Despite our differences, we hope to work with our alliance partners and do not wish for increased hostilities based on some rash, lewd remarks. The proposed, intervention, wasn't pressed by our government, the usage of the treaty was overstretched at best, and we did not touch your sovereignty. "[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Inappropriate remarks, wasn’t pressed, overstretched, didn’t touch our sovereignty, do you not understand our situation? His Majesty’s response to your government was appropriate for our current situation. First, your Prime Minister makes allegations out of thin air. He didn’t just stretch the truth he completely made up false allegations. And it doesn’t matter if the proposed intervention was pressed by your government or not, the Great Powers were still reached out to. Reaching out to the Great Powers to form a response against my government is an encroachment on our sovereignty, especially when that response is because of our administration of Bosnia and to stop our conducting of foreign affairs. That is basically making us a protectorate under the Italian Crown because we didn't go through you first. Never the less we want to lessen the situation as well. His Majesty said that he will ignore all pass aggressions if your father, the King, were to publicly give a formal apology to the Austro-Hungarian government on behalf of the actions of the Prime Minister.” "[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

Not Xav, Woraniana

Post self-deleted by Concorrdia.

Austrian Provinces wrote:[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Inappropriate remarks, wasn’t pressed, overstretched, didn’t touch our sovereignty, do you not understand our situation? His Majesty’s response to your government was appropriate for our current situation. First, your Prime Minister makes allegations out of thin air. He didn’t just stretch the truth he completely made up false allegations. And it doesn’t matter if the proposed intervention was pressed by your government or not, the Great Powers were still reached out to. Reaching out to the Great Powers to form a response against my government is an encroachment on our sovereignty, especially when that response is because of our administration of Bosnia and to stop our conducting of foreign affairs. That is basically making us a protectorate under the Italian Crown because we didn't go through you first. Never the less we want to lessen the situation as well. His Majesty said that he will ignore all pass aggression if your father, the King, were to publicly give a formal apology to the Austro-Hungarian government on behalf of the actions of the Prime Minister.” "[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “You talk about stretching the truth, alleging that this would make Austria-Hungary an Italian protectorate is far from anything that could ever be achieved, despite the claims from some of the far-right nationalists in our country. Nationalists who are, at present, not a threat to Vienna or Rome. A public apology from our King, on behalf of a resigned, disgraced former Prime Minister to a nation that many citizens view unfavorably? It would be a national embarrassment for the government and the King in the eyes of the people. It would make Italy appear weak in the eyes of the other Great Powers. That is simply not possible.” [/sup]

| The Crown Prince paused as a servant came and cleared the small platter of food away and refilled the beverages of both men. |

[sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “My father and the government would however be open to giving a public show of support for the new system of government the Emperor is working hard to implement. Working so hard that he could not make this meeting. It would help give it some legitimacy and earn favor of the Italian citizens living in your new states of Trieste and Trentino. It could also help to earn the support of other Great Powers. To have a nation that is perceived as your rival support your new form of government." [/sup]

___[/list]

Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Concorrdia wrote:[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “You talk about stretching the truth, alleging that this would make Austria-Hungary an Italian protectorate is far from anything that could ever be achieved, despite the claims from some of the far-right nationalists in our country. Nationalists who are, at present, not a threat to Vienna or Rome. A public apology from our King, on behalf of a resigned, disgraced former Prime Minister to a nation that many citizens view unfavorably? It would be a national embarrassment for the government and the King in the eyes of the people. It would make Italy appear weak in the eyes of the other Great Powers. That is simply not possible.” [/sup]

| The Crown Prince paused as a servant came and cleared the small platter of food away and refilled the beverages of both men. |

[sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “My father and the government would however be open to giving a public show of support for the new system of government the Emperor is working hard to implement. Working so hard that he could not make this meeting. It would help give it some legitimacy and earn favor of the Italian citizens living in your new states of Trieste and Trentino. It could also help to earn the support of other Great Powers. To have a nation that is perceived as your rival support your new form of government." [/sup]

___[/list]

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “You aren’t perceived as a rival. You are our ally of almost nine years now. What we are having right now is no rivalry, it is just tense times between two allies, every country experiences this with an ally eventually. As for I stretching the truth, I never said that an Austro-Hungarian Protectorate could be achieved, but your government’s representative tried to make something along those lines by garnishing support of the Great Powers. His Majesty is only asking for an apology, for the heinous acts committed by a representative of your government. I am not allowed to negotiate for anything less, but I am allowed to get the apology at all means necessary. Maybe I should go back to Ethiopia and create something more than diplomatic relations, or maybe I should leave the Triple Alliance and bring Germany with me, we could just restore our last alliance, leave you to the Frech. After all, that is why you joined the alliance after you lost your North African ambitions to the French you feared losing more to them and sought our protection. I mean, your government doesn’t benefit us very much militarily, instead of having our back in the event of Russian invasion you agreed to stay neutral. Maybe we should leave you to the French, I doubt they would be as generous as us."[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

Woraniana

Austrian Provinces wrote:[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “You aren’t perceived as a rival. You are our ally of almost nine years now. What we are having right now is no rivalry, it is just tense times between two allies, every country experiences this with an ally eventually. As for I stretching the truth, I never said that an Austro-Hungarian Protectorate could be achieved, but your government’s representative tried to make something along those lines by garnishing support of the Great Powers. His Majesty is only asking for an apology, for the heinous acts committed by a representative of your government. I am not allowed to negotiate for anything less, but I am allowed to get the apology at all means necessary. Maybe I should go back to Ethiopia and create something more than diplomatic relations, or maybe I should leave the Triple Alliance and bring Germany with me, we could just restore our last alliance, leave you to the Frech. After all, that is why you joined the alliance after you lost your North African ambitions to the French you feared losing more to them and sought our protection. I mean, your government doesn’t benefit us very much militarily, instead of having our back in the event of Russian invasion you agreed to stay neutral. Maybe we should leave you to the French, I doubt they would be as generous as us."[/sup][/list]

[list]___[/list]

[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “I'm not going to insult the intelligence or our dignity by responding to those threats. Threats I hope a negotiator has the authority to carry out, because a threat is only worth its weight if the accuser is willing to act on them. You want an apology, fine. The former Prime Minister can make the apology as a former head of government, and current member of parliament. The Crown will not be strong armed. We want to work with your government, but we will not work with ultimatums.” [/sup]

___[/list]

Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[sub]PLAY ME: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vstQHuqf590&feature=youtu.be[/sub]

[list]TSARISM OF THE 20TH CENTURY:

A MODERN POWER WITH RUSSIAN CHARACTERISTICS[/list]

—

[pre]13 January 1890 A.D. - 12 January 1891 A.D. (Gregorian)

1 Января 1890 г.н.э. - 31 Декабря 1890 г.н.э. (Юлианский)

In the 10th Year of the Reign of His Imperial Majesty, Tsar Alexander III of the House of Romanov (Regnal)

[/pre]

—

| Tsar Alexander III was privately the world’s wealthiest man, owing to his private ownership of the entire Russian Congo and all of it’s extensive resources, thousands of acres of land across the empire, and the private ownership over all of the Empire’s oil fields. By far the largest single nation on the planet, Russia’s immense territory and population were wasted by the incompetent leadership underneath him.

Russia was grossly underdeveloped compared to the Great Powers of Western Europe, it lagged desperately behind the nations with which it was competing for global dominance. The nation was now finally making progress in the way of industrialization, Russia had been properly modernizing since the abolition of serfdom in 1861, but nobles dependent on serfs for power had made significant gains in their attempts to arrest modernization efforts. Tsar Alexander III now had plans to drag his Empire kicking and screaming into the modern world by 1900, creating a new Russia for the 20th century. Looking to the dreams of perhaps his greatest ancestor, Tsar Peter the Great, he now aimed to close the gap in industrial and military development with Great Britain and France in a decade’s time. The complete and total political subjugation of Russia to the Tsar would now be paramount, and his closest allies would be vested with immense power to do his bidding from the Pale of Settlement, beyond the Ural Mountains, and down to the Congo. In order to do so he would have to follow the example of perhaps his most infamous predecessor, Tsar Ivan the Terrible, unleashing his own Oprichnina-style power grab in the face of his defiant subordinates.

The families closest to the Tsar (Demidov, Yusupov, Kropotkin, Vorontsov, Tolstoy, Kurakin, Potyomkin, Sheremtev, Dolgorukov, Pushkin, Baryatinsky, Gagarin, Uvarov, Orlov, Lvov, and others tied intimately with the Romanov dynasty) would form a pool from which Tsar Alexander III and his advisors would draw a new class of military commanders, industrialists, academics, and civil servants. The age of sprawling aristocratic landholdings was over, the future would lay in industry, the families closest to the Tsar would be charged with its rapid expansion.

As Ivan the Terrible had his Oprichniki, an effective secret police committed to centralizing power within the his hands, Tsar Alexander III would have his Okhrana (literally ‘the Guard’, used for the Department for Protecting Public Security and Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs / Департамент охраны общественной безопасности и порядка Министерства внутренних дел) behind him. After the assassination Tsar Alexander II by socialist revolutionaries, the Okhrana expanded it’s offices to Warsaw, Petrograd, Moscow, and Kiev with support offices for Siberia located in Novosibirsk and Vladivostok. Their personnel was expanded to 5,200 and they were given permanent support by the Imperial Special Corps of Gendarmes, numbering 12,000 personnel garrisoned at Okhrana offices within the Empire. The Okhrana and the Imperial Special Corps of Gendarmes will work to forcibly arrest anyone who comes into contradiction with the Tsar Alexander III’s new industrialization policy.

This policy is formally announced by Imperial Ukaz on 17 January 1890 (Julian), titled “The Imperial Policy on Development and Political Economy” is published in conjunction with the Imperial Petrograd Academy of Sciences. Expanding on state ideology for the first time since the promulgation of the Official National of Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality in 1833, Tsar Alexander III wished to expand upon centralizing nature of the doctrine. Four ministries were to play key roles in the further development of the Russian Empire: the Ministry of Trade and Finances, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of War, and Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Trade and Finances was now charged with developing a powerhouse capitalist economy as was seen in Britain, Germany, and the now rising United States among others. The Second Industrial Revolution had been raging in Russia, but it was now given the full support of the Russian government, who would be assisting the process with an iron fist. Millions of Russian peasants had been liberated from serfdom in 1861, only to remain in a life of agriculture service in the employ of their former feudal lords. This workforce would now be put to work embarking on Russia’s most ambitious development program in history. Alexander III’s Ministry of Trade and Finance would commit to funding the laying of 30,000 telegraphic wires by 1900. The All-Russian Telegraphic Company is established, forcibly funded by nobles who’s land the lines will be built on, will be staffed with crews of serfs who’s taxed income will be in part used to line the pockets of nobles who will serve as a new class of investors for Tsar Alexander’s capitalist dream. All government buildings within Eurasian Russia were to now be connected by a wide web of telegraph lines, which would finally ensure directives from Petrograd

could reach any corner of the Empire in a moments notice. Of the 30,000 planned miles, 20,000 would be devoted to state and military activities while 10,000 would be devoted to commercial activities.

Next would come the Russian railways. There were currently 30,595 km of track in the Russian Empire, below even what an island nation like Great Britain had built. The Ministry of Trade and Finance would now commit to building an additional 30,000 km of track before decades end. The Trans-Caspian, Trans-Siberian, Trans-Aral, Trans-Kraina (with hubs in Tallin, Riga, Warsaw, Minsk, Kiev, Odessa, Sevastopol), and Aleksandriya-Svatoy Vladimirsk (connecting the IRL Congolese port of Mitaba with IRL Kinshasa) railways are to be built with haste. The His Majesty’s Imperial Russian Railway Company is created and given a railway monopoly over European Russia, while the Imperial Russian Rail Service will operate in Asian Russia and the Congo. Investors will once again be drawn from the nobility, who’s serfs will be requisitioned and employed on railway crews. In order to electrify this great mass of railways, the Russian government sets a target production of 9 billion kWh annually by 1900. To fuel this, 30 regional natural gas and coal fuelled power plants and 10 hydroelectric power plants are to built mostly within European Russia. These plants will not only provide badly needed electricity to power Russia’s military, but will dramatically improve the lives of millions of Russians who currently live in 17th century living standards.

Within the same decree, Tsar Alexander III establishes Grand Protectorate of the Congo under the supervision of Chairman of the State Council of the Russian Empire, Nikolai von Bunge. Bunge, being a ideologically driven capitalist, goes about creating a plan to drain the Congo of its resources for the benefit of Russian capital. Nikolai von Bunge is to serve as the Namestnik (Viceroy or Viceregent) of the Congo Protectorate, with three ministers of finance, the interior, and foreign affairs beneath him. Each ministry is headed by a Secretary General (Генеральный секретарь) who is obligated to enact the policies of the sovereign (represented by his Namestnik) or else resign. Below the secretaries-general are a series of bureaucrats of decreasing rank: directors general (генеральные директора), directors (директора), division chiefs (начальник отдела) and bureau chiefs (начальник бюро). The ministries are to be based in the colonial capital of Aleksandriya, staffed year round by Russian civil servants. The Congo is to be split into 14 Oblasts, then into smaller administrative districts, uniformly headed by persons of Rus’ ancestry. Traditional Congolese elites will continue to manage the interior of the nation, paying tribute to Russian authorities. Despite this, all land deemed “not in use” (which effectively constituted all lands in the Congo by Russian standards) is to be considered exclusive lands of the Russian Tsar, including all of its resources and fruits. Any direct trade by Congolese subjects with third parties, that is by circumventing the Imperial Russian government, are thereby banned. In exchange for enforcing this in the Congolese interior, traditional elites would receive the backing of Russian authorities in the form of rifles, hand guns, and manufactured goods not found within Africa. Colonial authorities go so far as to provide exotic brides to African tribal chiefs and Arab slave traders (another traditional authority in the Congolese interior, out of the reach of Russian colonial power), taking indigenous women from the Central Asian steppe and arranging Russian-style bride shows to arrange their marriages to traditional authority figures.

In exchange for Russian weapons, local elites would assist in violently coercing men, women, and children to work in the Congo’s profitable rubber, ivory, mining, and agricultural industries. A number of companies are to be established in the Russian Congo by Russian Princely families. They are given mandates over various Congolese Oblasts and permitted to enforce Imperial will at any costs. Congolese will be prohibited by law to sell items to anyone but the state; and required to provide state officials with set quotas of rubber and ivory at a fixed, government-mandated price and to provide food to the local Russian officials. Collectively, these measures forced the natives to deliver all ivory and rubber, harvested or found, to state officers thus nearly completing Tsar Alexander III’s complete monopoly of the ivory and rubber trade in the Russian Congo. The Congolese Territorial Force is officially formed out of the Russian Imperial Guards who had previously enforced Russia’s colonial claim, forming a 1,400 strong regiment of to enforce the rule of law within the colony. Each soldier receives a Berdan single-shot rifle, and a bullwhip as their only means of enforcing order and to enforce harsh rubber, ivory, and food quotas. In essence, the Congolese Territorial Force act as overseers on giant rubber and ivory slave labor operations. In the early months of 1890, the territorial force embarks on a brutal campaign of terror and repression against the natives. Using a combination of direct action and collaboration with tribal elites, a cycle of torture, pillaging, enslavement, and murder become commonplace. At the port of Aleksandriya, Congolese are forced to work 14 hour days to build a new port for the proposed African Fleet of the Russian Imperial Navy. Thousands of Congolese are forced to work on backbreaking heat while the excavation of expansion of the desired area begins, while others are committed to building the infrastructure required to further exploit their own homeland. The construction of Romanov Palace on the Congo River at Aleksandriya will come to be a focal point of Congolese hatred in years to come.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of War would form the foundation for the Tsar Alexander’s new Russia. There were no institutions more regimented and efficient than the security apparatuses, which had come to be consolidated beneath those two ministries. While Russia maintained the world’s largest land army and third largest navy, they had fallen drastically behind the West in reality. The performance of the Russian military in the Russo-Turkish War demonstrated the inability for the vast peasant armies, which had served Russia’s needs for centuries, could no longer pose a true military threat to a nation like France or Britain in a time of open warfare. Efforts underway to improve the Imperial Russian Army and Navy’s capabilities were now finally being taken with sincerity. The Imperial Russian Army announces that it will adopt the M1891 Mosin-Nagant bolt action rifle and Nagant M1895 revolver as it’s standard issue rifle and side arm for Imperial Russian Army regiments. An exception is made for Imperial Life-Guards regiments and Cossack Calvary regiments, whom Petrograd will arm with indigenously produced Winchester M1886 repeater rifles chambered in .45-90. The production of indigenous field artillery pieces, namely of 152 mm and 76 mm caliber, to the tune of 4,000 units by 1900. In addition to the current Baltic, Pacific, and Black Sea fleets, the Imperial Ministry of War announces plans to create a permanent Atlantic Fleet to defend Russia’s interests in the Atlantic Ocean and Africa. To be composed of 80 warships total, the Atlantic Fleet will be based from the colonial port of Aleksandriya. The Ministry of War further announces an effort to reach a total of 200 vessels (namely torpedo boats, submarines, monitors, armored frigates, protected/armored cruisers, torpedo boat destroyers, and battleships), almost twice the current inventory of 112 vessels.

Lastly, the Ministry of Education announces a new literacy program for all conscripts. While illiteracy has plagued Russia society, making its disadvantages increasingly known as literacy becomes the norm in Western Europe, plans are now announced to remedy this issue. Conscripts and active personnel of the Imperial Russian Army will now receive a basic education alongside their basic training, being taught to read using politically correct materials and Russian Orthodox religious materials. This simple policy, although not truly comprehensive enough, will increase the Russian literacy rate at a time when Russia is starved for academics. Additionally, the University Statute of 1884 is reversed and the University Statute of 1863 is restored to encourage university enrolment once again. The Most Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Education jointly begin a policy of “African evangelism”, encouraging recent graduates from Russian seminaries and theological faculties to serve 2 years as missionaries in the Congo. Religious zealots are seen by the Russian government as perfect colonists, who will establish thriving communities for further white settlement through their proselytizing.

The stage was now set, but only time would tell if Tsar Alexander III and his cabinet of advisors could get Russia on the path to greatness again. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Val Verde-, Shamalistan, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Concorrdia wrote:| Eritrian Governor-General Antonio Gandolfi arrives at the Royal Palace, with an Italian military escort, to discuss the Ethiopian misunderstanding of the treaty with his majesty Emperor Menelik II.|

[list][sup]GOVERNOR ANTONIO GANDOLFI:[/sup][sup] “ Your Majesty, it is an honor. Thank you for the Royal escort and welcoming us to Ethopia."[/sup][/list]

___[/list]

Emperor Menelik II bows his head slightly to greet the Italian governor, he motions his guards to withdraw from the room leaving him and his translator to speak to the Italians. The Emperor speaks and the royal translator Aregawi translates for the Governor.

[list]ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴍᴇɴᴇʟɪᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɪ: "ደስታዬ የእኔ ገዥ ነው ፡፡ ይህንን ስህተት ዛሬ ማረም እንደምንችል ተስፋ አደርጋለሁ…"

ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱʟᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴀʀᴇɢᴀᴡɪ: "The pleasure is mine Governor. I hope we can correct this mistake today and make everlasting peace between the nations."[/list]

Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Concorrdia wrote:[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] “I'm not going to insult the intelligence or our dignity by responding to those threats. Threats I hope a negotiator has the authority to carry out, because a threat is only worth its weight if the accuser is willing to act on them. You want an apology, fine. The former Prime Minister can make the apology as a former head of government, and current member of parliament. The Crown will not be strong armed. We want to work with your government, but we will not work with ultimatums.” [/sup]

___[/list]

[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] “Well His Majesty only said that I had to get a formal apology from your government, he heavily applied your father, but I think I can make him understand why I took you up on your offer. He doesn’t realize the importance of the Italians to our Empire, he doesn’t have the same experience with the Italians as I do. You are an important trade partner and if we truly worked together we could see technological advancements and our economies surpass those of continental Europe. Not to mention our militaries truly working together are a force to be reckoned with. Anything I have said past the current agreement hasn’t been talked with His Majesty, but I can guarantee anything I am saying from here he will agree with. We trust each other and understand what needs to be done to further the empire. I believe that we and Italy should form an economic alliance to guarantee the safety and economic prosperity in the Adriatic. I even thought of possibly including the Ottomans to ensure safety and to increase our trade. I haven’t brought this idea up to anyone yet because I wanted to hear the Italians take. I didn’t want to fill His Majesty’s mind with the impossible if the Italians were not interested in the first place. With your help, we could make the Adriatic a world trade hub.[/sup][/list]

Concorrdia, Woraniana, Nederlandsrijk

Post self-deleted by Nederlandsrijk.

Post self-deleted by Nederlandsrijk.

Woraniana wrote:[sub]READ PART 1 HERE[/sub]

[sub] [ THE NEW EMPEROR:[/sub][sub] PART 2 ][/sub]

[sub]APRIL, 1889[/sub]

[pre][ P O R T O F R I O — B R A Z I L ][/pre][sub][pre][ ALEXIO I, THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL HAD

NEVER SET FOOT OUTSIDE OF BRAZIL AS

THE NEW EMPEROR, HOWEVER, HE HAD

DECIDED TO GO THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN IN

ASIA WITH THE INTENT OF ESTABLISHING

CLOSER RELATIONS, CLOSE TRADE TIES

AND MORE. HE HAD NEVER BEEN IN SUCH

A POSITION BEFORE. BUT THE JAGUAR WAS

ABOUT TO MEET UP WITH THE SHIBA INU ][/pre][/sub]___

[ Alexio I, effectively speaking, had no direct foreign affairs experience. He had never conducted himself outside of Brazil in such a manner, he had never negotiated grand alliances, or complex trade deals. He had, however, read about them, he had seen his uncle, former Emperor Pedro II conduct such affairs as well as his parents in Austria. This would be a very large challenge for him in any case. Alexio I wanted to seek a trade deal with the Japan, discuss European influence in the Americas and other general topics concerning the Brazilian-Japanese relationship. He was, in a way, desperate for the Japanese Emperor to see the Empire of Brazil and the Japan as equal partners. Though, he wasn’t sure if that part would actually happen. In any case, he needed to project Brazil as an up and coming world power, a threat to the relative authoritarianism and absolutism of Europe. He wasn’t exactly going on behalf of what he wanted but rather what the newly elected General Assembly and President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) wanted, he was thankful however, that the progressive views of the President of the Council of Ministers and the General Assembly aligned with his views. The most notable thing Alexio I sought with Japan, was strong naval and naval technology cooperation, to ensure each others navies could grow large. ]

[ Alexio I, would attempt to project the Empire of Brazil as equals with the Japanese Empire through its Navy, which was the strongest in the western hemisphere and 4th or 5th largest in the world, and it was his intention to keep Brazil’s navy at that level, and continue to grow in power until it rivaled Mother Britain itself. Alexio personally would be on a steamship, but would be escorted by various naval vessels, which was more a less a fleet. He said his goodbyes to the 1000s of people at the port, waving, he said goodbye to his wife and son, then finally goodbye to former Emperor Pedro II, who stated he knew he would do an excellent job. And thus the fleet departed for the Japan. In the fleet was the following: ]

[list][sup]RIACHUELO, BATTLESHIP - 5700 TONS

AQUIDABA, BATTLESHIP - 5030 TONS

SETE DE SETEMBRO, BATTLESHIP - 2174 TONS

SOLIMOES, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

JAVARY, MONITOR - 3700 TONS

TAMANDARE, CRUISER - 4430 TONS

[/sup][/list]

[ During the voyage to Tokyo, Alexio I did little except read and study various books on the Japanese Nation, and books concerning Metternich. He wasn’t the most fluent person in Japanese history, or what it desires, so he figured this was an excellent use of his time. After some weeks, they had arrived. ]

___

Cherokee Confederates

___

[I]Upon the arrival of the Brazilian fleet to the port of Tokyo City, the bustling city found the event a spectacle, with common fishermen and market merchants gathering and gawking upon the Brazilian flagship. Upon the sound of cleeted Army boots the crowd quickly dispersed, a square formation of dark navy blue uniformed soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army accompanied by an envoy of the Emperor's trusted advisors, among them, industrialist and businessman Mr. Masato Omura. The formation leader sternly barking orders.[/I]

[B]Imperial Guard: "Kōtei no goei e no michi o tsukurou!" [Make way for the Emperor's Guard!]

[I]As the crowd broke up, the Imperial envoy meets His Majesty of the Empire of Brasil, Alexio I, at the port docking terminal with the formation of IJA troops standing at arms. Leading the Brazilian Monarch up to the bustling city streets, the soldiers present a horse-drawn stagecoach for a pleasant journey to the Emperor's Palace. While riding, the scenes of Tokyo City were a shining example of modernized civilization as rectangle-beamed telecommunication poles carried electrical cables across the city, black smoke emitted from nearby factory smoke stacks, and soldiers marched upon paved streets.

The stagecoach arrived at the Imperial Palace after some time through the busy streets of Tokyo, Alexio I and Mr. Omura exiting together and met by another contingent of the esteemed Emperor's Guard to lead them to the main throne room.

Upon arrival, Emperor Meiji is sat within a veiled throne surrounded by his genrō advisors. Mr. Omura before anything, bows in respect of His Majesty Emperor Meiji, and proceeds to present Japan's most esteemed guest.[/I]

Masato Omura: "Heika, may I present His Majesty Alexio I of the Empire of Brazil."

[B]Emperor Meiji: "Nihon e yōkoso. Anata no tabi ga tanoshī monodeatta koto o negatte imasu."

[B]Masato Omura: "The Emperor welcomes you to Japan, he hopes your journey was pleasant, Your Majesty."

Zanbala Prz

Cherokee Confederates wrote:[I]Upon the arrival of the Brazilian fleet to the port of Tokyo City, the bustling city found the event a spectacle, with common fishermen and market merchants gathering and gawking upon the Brazilian flagship. Upon the sound of cleeted Army boots the crowd quickly dispersed, a square formation of dark navy blue uniformed soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army accompanied by an envoy of the Emperor's trusted advisors, among them, industrialist and businessman Mr. Masato Omura. The formation leader sternly barking orders.[/I]

[B]Imperial Guard: "Kōtei no goei e no michi o tsukurou!" [Make way for the Emperor's Guard!]

[I]As the crowd broke up, the Imperial envoy meets His Majesty of the Empire of Brasil, Alexio I, at the port docking terminal with the formation of IJA troops standing at arms. Leading the Brazilian Monarch up to the bustling city streets, the soldiers present a horse-drawn stagecoach for a pleasant journey to the Emperor's Palace. While riding, the scenes of Tokyo City were a shining example of modernized civilization as rectangle-beamed telecommunication poles carried electrical cables across the city, black smoke emitted from nearby factorily smoke stacks, and soldiers marched upon paved streets.

The stagecoach arrived at the Imperial Palace after some time through the busy streets of Tokyo, Alexio I and Mr. Omura exiting together and met by another contingent of the esteemed Emperor's Guard to lead them to the main throne room.

Upon arrival, Emperor Meiji is sat within a veiled throne surrounded by his genrō advisors. Mr. Omura before anything, bows in respect of His Majesty Emperor Meiji, and proceeds to present Japan's most esteemed guest.[/I]

Masato Omura: "Heika, may I present His Majesty Alexio I of the Empire of Brazil."

[B]Emperor Meiji: "Nihon e yōkoso. Anata no tabi ga tanoshī monodeatta koto o negatte imasu."

[B]Masato Omura: "The Emperor welcomes you to Japan, he hopes your journey was pleasant, Your Majesty."

[sup]MAY 1889[/sup]

THE KOI MEETS THE JAGUAR

[sub]EMPIRE OF JAPAN, CITY OF TOKYO — EVENING[/sub]

____

The Brazilian fleet, nicknamed the "Iron Fleet" arrived at the city of Tokyo. Emperor Alexio I had seen various photographs, paintings and ink drawings of Tokyo, but these were from far earlier times. He was immediately impressed at the progress the Japanese had achieved. Following various rituals, Emperor Alexio I laid eyes on Emperor Meiji. He immediately bowed before responding to his words.

[list]

[sup]| EMPEROR ALEXIO I |[/sup][sup] "Thank you for the warm welcome, the journey was very much pleasant."[/sup]

[/list]

Emperor Alexio's personal translator, who also happened to be one of 2 Portuguese-Japanese translators in the world, responded in Japanese.

[list]

[sup]| TRANSLATOR |[/sup][sup] "Atatakaku omukae itadaki, arigatōgozaimashita."[/sup]

[/list]

Emperor Alexio I refrained from offering a handshake, unsure if it was socially acceptable to do so.

____

Cherokee Confederates, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

Post by Taramerica suppressed by Woraniana.

Taramerica

Hello. I am just passing through and am trying out this region to see if I like it.

Aarkanglia

[list][sub]Le Temps[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The French Empire[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]May Edition[/sub][/list]

Nationale

FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION DISPATCHED TO AFRICA

[sup]Marseille, France | The French Empire[/sup]

[list][sup]May 1891[/sup][/list]

Companies from our nation's foreign legion have been sighted gearing up and departing for Africa from the port of Marseille not long ago. The Emperor has given no announcements that the nation is going to war, but anywhere the foreign legion goes, glory for France is sure to follow. We look forward to seeing what honor they will bring to our blessed nation.

There are conflicting rumors currently circling the deployment. Some believe they are going to keep the peace in our northern African colonies, while others believe there may be some sort of foreign intervention on the horizon. Only time will tell, and we eagerly await the return of our brave troops from the deserts and jungles of Africa.

Nationale

EIFFEL TOWER BRINGING VISITORS FROM FAR AND WIDE

[sup]Paris, France | The French Empire[/sup]

[list][sup]May 1891[/sup][/list]

The beautiful and recently-completed Eiffel Tower, the tallest man-made structure in the world, has been standing tall over Paris for nearly a year now, and citizens everywhere agree that its majesty is unmatched. Sightseers, from all over the globe, of which there have been a noticable uptick, have come to visit and gaze upon its blessed form. The lift is now fully operational six days a week, the restaurants have been gaining excellent reviews, and photographs of the tower are sure to spread its beauty to architectural admirers all over the world.

Nationale

EMPEROR NAPOLEON III VISITS MASS IN PARIS

[sup]Paris, France | The French Empire[/sup]

[list][sup]April 1891[/sup][/list]

Our blessed emperor, Napoleon III, long may he reign, has recently graciously appeared at the Easter mass being held in the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, to speak to the congregation and give it his blessing as emperor. The Archbishop of Paris was also in attendance. At this article, the emperor graced the crowd with a short sermon, followed by the archbishop. Anyone in attendance could attest to the divine energy that filled the room, most surely a sign that our emperor has been ordained by god himself to lead this great nation.

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Czabalkia, The Jordanian State, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Jocheon

[sup]FEBRUARY 1891[/sup]

THE CIVIL WAR: PART 2

[sup]BUCHAREST, KINGDOM OF ROMANIA—NIGHT[/sup]

____

| It was night, however, it wasn’t a quiet night, far from it in fact. Well over 45,000, mostly factory workers, miners and the unemployed, had gathered in the streets to protest The Royal Estate Act, which gave King Carol I an estate, thus making him the largest landowner in Romania, it wasn’t that people were opposed to such a proposition, but they were shocked the Parliament and the King would pass it at a time like this: a recession. 1000s were unemployed, many of those who were already poor went even more hungry than they already were and jobs were fairly hard to find. There was also a general feeling that Romania was stagnating on the global stage, not that it had the resources, population or economy to become a power, but at the very least do good for its citizens, yet this was not happening, and no one, not King Carol I or Parliament was trying to change, or do, anything about that grave fact. And so, when the Royal Estate Act was passed, people were angry, they cowered around anyone with a newspaper to get the news, and once they heard, anger bubbled over. |

| King Carol I was not in Bucharest, but rather a luxurious palace around 20 miles north, though people weren’t exactly aware. So, when night fell, 1000s took to the streets, chanting anti-Parliament and anti-King slogans. It was fairly peaceful at first until crowds overwhelmed Police and Military warehouses, gathering and distributing rifles, ammo, gunpowder and more. And suddenly, there weren’t 1000s of protesters and rioters, but rather 1000s of armed civilians. They marched to the Parliament building, though it was empty, and absolutely destroyed it, they threw bricks at it, they smashed the windows, they coated it with gunpowder and they burned it to the ground. They marched to the Bucharest Palace, the residence of the King while in the city, and they did the same thing to it, killing any guard, officer or soldier that stood in their way. Bucharest was ablaze. |

___

[sup]BUCHAREST, KINGDOM OF ROMANIA—NIGHT[/sup]

___

| It was now morning, King Carol I slept soundly in his chamber, unaware of the events that took place in Bucharest the night before. He woke up as usual, got dressed, and his barber and personal care staff cleaned him up, shaved his beard, combed his hair and made him look presentable. He served breakfast within the chamber, his wife was allowed to join him. Breakfast consisted of veal, pork, and chicken sausages, eggs, steak, custard, cakes and other expensive items. After this breakfast, he went into his study, for his daily briefing, which never lasted more then a few minutes due to his general disdain for them. He sat down on a wooden chair, made by hand by artisans in France, and sipped tea, shipped fresh and directly from high quality farms in Kashmir, and Ceylon. A short man entered in, his personal assistant, and he was to give the briefing, he seemed solemn, shaken, and almost scared. The King noticed his facial expression but thought nothing of it, perhaps he was sick, or perhaps his wife cheated on him, or perhaps he was simply tired. |

[list]

[sup]| PERSONAL ASSISTANT: |[/sup][sup] "Good Morning, your majesty"[/sup]

[sup]| KING CAROL I: |[/sup][sup] "Good Morning, take a seat, have some tea."[/sup]

[/list]

| The Personal Assistant poured himself a glass of the stronger tea, and took a sip. |

[list]

[sup]| PERSONAL ASSISTANT: |[/sup][sup] "Shall I begin?"[/sup]

[sup]| KING CAROL I: |[/sup][sup] "Go ahead."[/sup]

[sup]| PERSONAL ASSISTANT: |[/sup][sup] "Last night, in Bucharest, around 55,000 protesters took to the streets, the burned down the Parliament building, your palace, they killed 1000s of soldiers and officers, and took control of the city. They lack organization, but a group known as the "Bucharest Workers Committee" claims to be in control of Bucharest. In short, this Kingdom no longer has direct control of Bucharest, and we must take it back.[/sup]

[/list]

| The King said nothing, he sipped he tea, and responded a whole minute later. |

[list]

[sup]| KING CAROL I: |[/sup][sup] "Is this a joke?"[/sup]

[sup]| PERSONAL ASSISTANT: |[/sup][sup] "No sir, this Kingdom is in a civil war."[/sup]

[/list]

| And with that, the war had begun. |

___

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, The Jordanian State, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces

[sup][list]MAY 5th 1891[/sup]

German Stations along dar es-Salaam - Tabora Trade Route raided,

Pro-German Tribes near the Central Trade route attacked.

[sub]Deutsche Stationen entlang der Handelsroute dar es-Salaam - Tabora überfallen,

pro-deutsche Stämme in der Nähe der zentralen Handelsroute angegriffen.[/list][/sub]

___

[sup]DEUTSCHES KAISERREICH — NOON[/sup]

The central trade route within German Ostafrika has been continually attacked all last week by hehe raiders, and reports are just coming in of pro german tribes that accepted german supremacy have been systematically attacked looted or otherwise destroyed.

___

| On the first of May Kaiser Wilhelm received an extensive report on new happenings in Ostafrika, specifically regarding the central trade route running straight through the center of Ostafrika. Most of the stations built along the caravan route were raided, with the newest built completely destroyed. Multiple tribes in south central Ostafrika that have accepted German rule have also been attacked by the Hehe Tribe. An easy way for other tribes to distinguish this is that pro German tribes flew the German colonial flag, a symbol of them accepting German hegemony in the colony. Most are only mostly battered but a few have been completely destroyed by the Hehe. The Colonial administration has already entered into negotiations with Chief Mkwawa of the Hehe but they have not gone anywhere and that is unlikely to change. |

| The Kaiser has decided to task Generalleutnant Hugo Axel von Kanitz with ending this. He is the cousin of prominent conservative Saxon politician Georg von Kanitz. He is a member of the moderately prominent von Kanitz noble house in Saxony. According to his peers he is a good leader, a brilliant commander and overall a man of above average intelligence regarding the art of war. The Kaiser also reportedly promised to make him the first colonial governor of Ostafrika and promote him to general if he succeeds. |

| Along with Generalleutenant von Kanitz the commander of the Ostafrika Schutztruppe, Emil von Zelewski will accompany him. Not much is known about the man other than he is of Kashubian descent in west Prussia and served in the 99th Infantry Regiment in the past. One other thing known about him is that he is not considered a very competent man, in fact he is one of the few reasons the natives rose up in revolt in Coastal Ostafrika in 1888, due to an intercultural conflict regarding Von Zelewski, a dog, a mosque and a sultan's governor. The Kaiser believes if he lets only Commander von Zelewski lead the punitive expedition it'll be destroyed entirely. To be entirely honest not much people have faith in Herr Zelewski. |

___

[sup]GOTT MIT UNS![/sup]

____

Cherokee Confederates, Conservativalina, The Jordanian State, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz

Woraniana wrote:[sup]MAY 1889[/sup]

THE KOI MEETS THE JAGUAR

[sub]EMPIRE OF JAPAN, CITY OF TOKYO — EVENING[/sub]

____

The Brazilian fleet, nicknamed the "Iron Fleet" arrived at the city of Tokyo. Emperor Alexio I had seen various photographs, paintings and ink drawings of Tokyo, but these were from far earlier times. He was immediately impressed at the progress the Japanese had achieved. Following various rituals, Emperor Alexio I laid eyes on Emperor Meiji. He immediately bowed before responding to his words.

[list]

[sup]| EMPEROR ALEXIO I |[/sup][sup] "Thank you for the warm welcome, the journey was very much pleasant."[/sup]

[/list]

Emperor Alexio's personal translator, who also happened to be one of 2 Portuguese-Japanese translators in the world, responded in Japanese.

[list]

[sup]| TRANSLATOR |[/sup][sup] "Atatakaku omukae itadaki, arigatōgozaimashita."[/sup]

[/list]

Emperor Alexio I refrained from offering a handshake, unsure if it was socially acceptable to do so.

____

Emperor Meiji: "Kono kenkyode kyōryokuna teikoku o hōmon shīte itadaki arigatōgozaimasu. Gunji-teki meisei ga kyūsoku ni takamatte iru yōroppa igai no kuni no kunshu o mukaeru koto wa kōeidesu. Otagai no kyūjō o makotoni rikai dekiru no wa, yūro kengai no watashitachi dakedesu. Watashitachi no mawari no sekai ga tsuneni korera no gaiken de watashitachi o oikoshite ita jidai no kōgyō-ka to kindai-ka no tatakai. Ima, hon'nosukoshi no ma, watashitachi wa karera no chikara to eikyō reberu ni chikadzuite imasu."

[Thank you for visiting this humble and powerful empire. It is an honor to welcome monarchs from countries other than Europe, where military fame is rising rapidly. Only we outside the Eurozone can truly understand each other's plight. The struggle of industrialization and modernization in times when the world around us always outpaced us in these regards. Now, in a fraction of the time, we are approaching their levels of power and influence.]

Emperor Meiji paused as an Imperial Guardsman approached Alexio I welding a Guntō sword, a military sword issued to Army officers after 1869, upon the defeat of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and restoration of Imperial rule to Japan. The sword being bestowed upon the Brazilian Monarch as a token of friendship and good faith between the two rising Empires. With a deep bow of great respect, the Guard presents the sword.

Masato Omura "The Emperor wishes to start this meeting with a gift for you, Your Highness. The gifting of a military sword by the Emperor himself is a rare honor in Japanese military tradition, soldifying military cooperation between our vast Empires, as you now own a weapon bearing the Emperor's Chrysanthemum, a proof mark of the Emperor's personal property."

Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

[list][list]𝘿𝙄𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙀 𝘼𝙍𝙈𝙔 𝙊𝙁 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙏𝘼𝙆𝙀𝙎 𝘽𝙀𝙄𝙅𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼𝙏 𝙇𝙊𝙉𝙂 𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙏

𝙌𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙮 𝙄𝙨 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣, 𝙏𝙤 𝘽𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝘽𝙮 𝘼 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘿𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙮

𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙕𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙮𝙞!

𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙧!

[sub]𝟏𝟒 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟏 - 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐢 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚[/sub][/list][/list]

| Just twenty two minutes short of noon, a battalion of nearly three hundred soldiers force their way into the Forbidden City. With their entrance, the Qing Empire has died. |

| After a long summer of campaigning across the nation and securing the formation of a united front with other mutinies and uprisings across China, the Divine Army of Restoration has managed to defeat the Eight Banners and their defenses around Beijing, entering the Chinese capital weary from the long fighting but nonetheless enthusiastic from their victory. Under the direct command of Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang, the Divine Army of Restoration's First Battalion enters the Forbidden City without a fight, the guards ordered by the Guangxu Emperor to surrender their arms and allow the rebels to enter the Palace. Reserved and respectful, the First Battalion locks down the Palace of Heavenly Purity as the Guangxu Emperor, sitting upon the Dragon Throne, is discovered and taken into custody. The Divine Army soldiers take the Guangxu Emperor, the Empress Xiaodingjing and, unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Cixi. While the Guangxu Emperor and his family are taken into custody without incident, some of the soldiers spit on Cixi who, to them, symbolizes the peak of the Qing's insolence and incompetence. The Emperor and Empress as well as their immediate family are escorted out of the palace and into Tienanmen Square, surrounded by thousands of Divine Army soldiers mostly wearing Beiyang Army uniforms. The Guangxu Emperor and the Empress Xiaodingjing are publically stripped of all but their underwear and forced to change into civilian robes, while the Empress Dowager Cixi is privately taken to the top of the Tienanmen by various soldiers and eight of the fourteen founders of the Divine Army of Restoration. There, she is made to watch as the Qing banner is lowered and replaced with the flag of the Divine Army of Restoration and as the Guangxu Emperor and the Empress Xiaodingjing are loaded into a horse-drawn cart under the watchful eye of various soldiers, to be sent on internal exile to Manchuria. |

| Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang and the seven other founders, standing triumphantly on the Tienanmen, look over the rows upon rows of soldiers standing in the Square before them with Empress Dowager Cixi standing next to them, flanked on all sides bar front by soldiers with breech loading rifles. Already, throughout her Empire, other groups had risen up and overthrown the Qing before ultimately pledging allegiance to the Divine Army of Restoration, with the last real independent rebel movement, the Shanghai Republican Movement, agreeing to join the Divine Army's united front against the Qing following in-person negotiations at Shanghai between Republican leader Yeung Ku-wan and Shen Xuan-Zhen Kang in the middle of June. Upon uniting the disparate rebel groups under one banner, the Divine Army of Restoration was able to put all of its focus on capturing the heavily defended Beijing, a goal which has now been accomplished. |

| Unbeknownst to most of the other rebel forces throughout the country, Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang had decided many months ago that following the overthrow of the Qing, the Divine Army of Restoration's victory shall herald the beginning of a new dynasty with himself reigning as the Yongliang Emperor. To placate the Republicans and get their support for a new dynasty, Zhen-Kang had ensured the Republicans during his meeting with the "Four Bandits" in charge of the Shanghai Republican Movement that the Great Zhengyi would be a responsive regime, understanding that listening to the needs of the citizens is one of the most important tenants of the Mandate of Heaven and knowing that failure to do so would mean the Republican armies would go from an uneasy alliance with the Zhengyi to waging another war of resistance against this new dynasty. Beyond this simple promise, Zhen-Kang had also agreed to appoint Yeung Ku-wan as Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet, essentially making Ku-wan one of the most important political figures in the new empire and ensuring that a voice of republican values would be involved in imperial decision-making. With the political structure of the Zhengyi Empire finalized, all that truly remains is declaring the Empire, and with Beijing secured, Zhen-Kang stands before thousands within Beijing to declare its foundation. |

[list]Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "Brave soldiers and allies of the Divine Army of Restoration!

On the Sixth Day of the Year of Jin, four hundred soldiers who had been hand selected for their merit, skill, and ability launched the beginning of an all-encompassing heavenly movement. These brave four hundred soldiers, taking up arms in defiance of the Aisin Gioro Clan, liberated the city of Tianjin and declared for the whole nation to hear with one brave voice echoing through the wind: 'We are the Divine Army of Restoration - We are the defenders of the Chinese tradition and the Chinese people - We shall ensure that the Mandate of Heaven is fulfilled!'

The Jin Revolution which began on that day expanded swiftly beyond that day. Four hundred soldiers grew to four thousand, then forty thousand, and so on and so on until the Divine Army of Restoration formed a truly national united front standing in opposition to the decrepit Qing, which have stood by so helplessly as foreign invaders land upon our soil, claim and occupy our towns, and exploit our people. In the last one hundred years, we have seen the loss of territories and tributaries which make up the natural boundaries of our nation- Outer Manchuria, Macau, Hong Kong and Kowloon, Taiwan, Annam, Nanyang, and other areas which are part of our universal and divine Empire have been stripped away while the Qing have sat back and signed unfair, unequal treaties with the barbarians.

Victory, at first, was a distant hope. But now, we stand here today before the Gate of the Heavenly Palace to proclaim that we have, due to the destiny of Heaven, won victory!"[/list]

| There is an uproar of applause from both the fighters and the civilians within the crowd, the soldiers throwing their rifle-laden hands in the air in a display of victory. |

[list]Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "After months of tireless fighting across China against the incapable and incompetent dynasty of the Qing, the Divine Army of Restoration has achieved victory in the field of battle. Our struggle was not without its casualties, as regrettably, some forty two thousand of our own died, on top of an additional hundred thousand of our brothers who took up arms in futility against the destiny of Heaven in support of the Guangxu Emperor. On top of this, due to the underhanded tactics of the Qing and their generals, countless dozens of thousands of Chinese citizens, our brothers and sisters, have died across the nation due to starvation, exposure to the elements, or murder for sympathizing with our movement and providing to our national cause. The deaths of our brothers and sisters have served to motivate us to find absolute victory, and we have. However, in their spirit, we must also find forgiveness against those who have spilled their blood.

The Divine Army of Restoration's goal is not to brutalize those who have watched as China has declined in the past century in the name of justice, but instead to restore China to its imperial majesty. The fires of conflict which have now burned for eight months throughout the Year of Jin have burned down the failed institutions which continued to enable the Great Qing to reign over our land and turned the Qing Dynasty to ash. From that ash, all of China must work to create in its place a Holy dynasty. In this regard, the Divine Army of Restoration shall lead this new charge and organize our multi-faceted struggle as a nation towards our main goal of restoring China's imperial honor and might. Today, in the eternal capital of the Chinese nation, we therefore proclaim the establishment of the Dynasty of the Great Zhengyi."[/list]

| Once again, the soldiers let a triumphant cry of victory out. Alongside these shouts, there is the shout of the traditional proclamation of 'Wú huáng wànsuì, wànsuì, wànwànsuì!', meaning 'May my Emperor live and reign for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!' |

[list]Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang: "There is still much more work to be done within our struggle. The Jin Revolution has been undertaken not without consequences, with much left to be rebuilt and many of our brothers and sisters who must still be made sure of the legitimacy of our new Empire. However, the swift and total overthrow of the Great Qing should, if nothing less, serve as proof to all those who have doubted our goals and our struggle that the Qing did not possess the Mandate of Heaven, and that the Divine Army of Heaven's capture of the eternal capital of China has shown conclusively that it is in the souls of all who have fought alongside the Divine Army of Heaven where the destiny of our nation lies.

As the Guide of the Divine Army of Restoration, it has been made apparent to me long ago that should our movement prove victorious in its struggle for the revival of the nation, that the proper claimant of the Mandate of Heaven would be myself. Therefore, from this day forward, I shall assume the title of the Emperor of China, and will arrange for a coronation as soon as possible, only after the political situation elsewhere throughout the Empire is resolved, our territory secured, and the last vestiges of the dead hope of the Great Qing either forced into submission, or peacefully surrendered. Regardless of ceremonies, as the Son of Heaven, I have been vested with the honor and the responsibility of fulfilling the Mandate of Heaven to serve as the one true leader of our Celestial Empire. Utilizing this position and the power of absolute governance that comes with it, I will begin laying the foundation for a new, modern government based upon the proud traditions and culture which has been forged by our ancestors for thousands of years, undoing the detriments which the Great Qing's policies have caused for our nation.

Our work is not done, but as we move forward into a new era in our ancient and imperial history, let us not focus on what we have lost in the past, but strive to march steadfastly into the future with a spirit of determination. We alone stand tall and proud in the center of the universe, victorious, and on the path towards renewing our Celestial Empire. Through our past actions and in our future actions, we shall prove that China, our proud imperial nation at the center of the Universe, will continue to lead the world. Let our struggle and our victory show that the God of Heaven continues to renew his faith in China as the lord of Tianxia, that it is our continued universal destiny to rule at the center of the Universe, and that it is within the hearts, minds, and spirits of every Chinese of all of our empire's nations that China finds its strength and will continue to find its strength for ten thousand years more.

Brothers, we must not grow too boastful in our victory, for unmitigated pride breeds sloth, for sloth breeds decadence, for decadence leads to improper leadership and disgrace in the eyes of Heaven. Instead, we must use our pride to work and toil and strive towards the cohesion and advancement of our Heavenly Empire and never lose sight of the divine nature of our purpose. We stand central to all worldly affairs and must show this in our deeds, in our thoughts, and in all facets of life both physical and spiritual. The glorious and imperial nation of China must no longer be oppressed with its mighty and splendorous people content to watch as it is eroded. Let us strive in our thoughts and our deeds to better the state and the nation, so that we may guide this world for ten thousand years to come!"[/list]

| The soldiers and civilians in Tienanmen Square continue to shout cries of Wansui as the Yongliang Emperor steps down from his central post. In his place, three other officers- Feng Guozhang, Duan Qirui, and Ma Anliang- spend various time giving speeches to the crowd below, all while Empress Dowager Cixi is held in place and forced to watch, sweating nearly to the point of fainting in her fanciful imperial robes. After Ma Anliang's speech, the final of the four main speaches, Empress Dowager Cixi is taken to the center of Tienanmen Square by the soldiers guarding her and is knelt in the middle of the square- the thousands of army soldiers breaking into two groups, splitting down the middle forming a circle where the Empress Dowager kneels. The four soldiers in charge of her, having been given orders to execute her following the day's ceremonies, promptly begin to read from a note handwritten by the Yongliang Emperor. |

[list]Han Zemin: "The woman before you is former Empress Dowager Cixi! Under her repressive hand, Chinese territories ripped away from the nation were reaffirmed as foreign territory; the military budget was squandered and spent instead on remodeling her summer palaces; the Tongzhi Restoration and the Self-Strengthening Movement were purposefully failed to cling to Cixi's preferences for her own prosperity and her familial tradition over the strength of the nation; the divine and sovereign position of Emperor of Heaven, a position with Cosmic and Universal importance, was suppressed and used for political and personal gain of the former Empress Dowager; the international position of China was left to rot, our imperial prestige disgraced, and the name of the Celestial Empire soiled.

For these grave and treacherous offenses, former Empress Dowager Cixi has been marked for death. Let the death of the former Empress Dowager send a message to all peoples of China that our grand and mighty Empire is a divine entity, and that above all, disgracing its existence and abusing it for personal gain shall result in what can only be described as Divine Punishment. While the rest of the Great Qing's royalty shall be spared this fate, the crimes of the former Empress Dowager have been decided as being so great and heinous in nature, that the only appropriate punishment is that of death by execution. Let this stand as a testament to the divinity of the nation of China."[/list]

| With that, the soldier folds up the note, slips it into an internal pocket in his uniform, and takes out a small revolver. He pushes the barrel of the gun at the base of the skull, and unceremoniously dispatches the aging noblewoman. As her body falls face forward onto the square, one last cry of Wansui is let out by the crowd. This last act of military violence decisively ends the Jin Revolution, and heralds in the beginning of the Zhengyi Dynasty. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Sadar, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces, Nederlandsrijk

[list][list]𝙎𝙊𝙇𝙄𝘿𝙄𝙁𝙔𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝙔𝙉𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙔

[sub]𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟏 - 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐢 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚[/sub][/list][/list]

| In the days after the proclamation of the Zhengyi Dynasty, word of its establishment spreads quickly throughout the territories of the former Qing Dynasty. The Yongliang Emperor's address, transcribed to paper and spread from the coast to the farthest reaches of the Muslim Frontier, has been heard by most all Qing subjects besides the most isolated villages and communities in the tall crests of China's mountains and deep inland of China's jungles. While the Divine Army of Restoration's reach has become all-encompassing, many of the revolts which had been spawned as a result of the Mutiny in Tianjin at the beginning of the Jin Revolution were unaware of Shen Xuan Zhen-Kang's plot to crown himself as Emperor of China, so the announcement of the replacement of the Qing with the Zhengyi has come as a shock to many pockets of the Divine Army of Restoration throughout the Empire. Beyond the coastal regions of northeastern China, control of the Divine Army of Restoration has essentially fallen to local warlords, military and/or political leaders who had launched their own peasant and labor uprisings before swearing fealty to the Divine Army of Restoration. These local warlords, particularly in central and western China, have reacted to the establishment of the Zhengyi in various different ways, from embrace to outright defiance. While the Qing have been completely defeated, the Yongliang Emperor's struggle for dominance of China shall continue, now against the warlords. |

| Sitting on the Dragon Throne, the Yongliang Emperor the other top military leaders of the Divine Army of Restoration proper hold a meeting at the behest of the Emperor regarding the necessary steps to take against warlordism and, as seen in the areas beyond Mongolia, outright separatism. Over the course of a day, the Yongliang Emperor orders his officials to prepare a field army of the Divine Army of Restoration, comprising of about 40,000 soldiers, to be sent on a tour across China to solidify the rule of the Zhengyi within China. The 40,000, handpicked for their skill and experience in battle and their devotion to the cause of the Restoration of China, are selected by the fourteen leading officers of the Divine Army of Restoration. Over the coming weeks, these 40,000 men are organized into modern infantry divisions and assigned the name of the "1st Field Army of the Army of Heaven". They are equipped with the most modern firearms and cannons available to them, dressed in the most intact battle uniforms, and are given items and iconography such as flags, religious statues, and copies of the Emperor's victory speech hand-printed into various languages of the Chinese nationalities alongside their supplies of food, water, and ammunition. Accompanying the 1st Field Army is a military band, the military band which had been formed to accompany the Beiyang Army of the Qing Dynasty. |

| The objectives of the 1st Field Army are made clear- a cross-country expedition across China, heading in a circle around the exterior borders of the empire in a counterclockwise direction. Starting from Beijing, the 1st Field Army shall head into Manchuria, then cross the Mongol Steppe to visit and occupy Da Kulun, the capital of Qing Mongolia. After encamping in Mongolia and securing the submission or defeat of the various Mongolic tribal warlords claiming ownership of the area, the 1st Field Army shall move to Tangnu Wulianghai, the last true bastion of Qing troops within China. So extremely isolated and geographically ill-defined, the Field Army has explicit orders to secure the surrender of the Qing garrison in the frontier, disperse Russian settlers, and plant the flag of the Zhengyi Dynasty at Wuliyasitayi, the capital of the frontier. |

| After the campaign in the north, a march from Wuliyasitayi to Dihua, the provincial capital of Huijiang(Muslim Frontier). Huijiang, a very loosely controlled area in the far western fringes of the Chinese Empire, has fallen under the control of two specific warlords, Ma Haiyan and his Kansu Braves, and Ma Dahan, with his army in control of not only Huijiang but of parts of Gansu as well. Upon defeating the armies of Ma Haiyan and Ma Dahan, the Field Army will march through the mountains into Tibet. Upon reaching Chengguan, the provincial capital of Tibet, the 13th Dalai Lama will be made to swear fealty to the Yongliang Emperor and the flag of the Empire raised over Potala Palace. After marching through Southern Tibet and then into southern China, the Field Army will march to Shanghai, meeting up with another auxiliary army who will make a march straight down the coast from Tianjin to Shanghai during the 1st Field Army's long expedition. Then, the 1st Field Army and the Auxiliary Army shall unite in Shanghai and travel back to Beijing, where they shall attend the coronation of the Yongliang Emperor upon their arrival. |

| Four months are spent preparing the 1st Field Army of the Army of Heaven. Importantly, to expand upon the creation of the first modern Chinese army unit, the Yongliang Emperor takes the opportunity to promote the other fourteen founders of the Divine Army of Restoration to various positions of generalship which had not previously existed in the Qing military- Ma Anliang, Yinchang, Feng Guozhang, and Cao Kun are promoted to Field Marshal; the rest are promoted to the rank of General. Specifically for this expedition, Ma Anliang is entrusted with the command of the 1st Field Army, while Yinchang shall command a secondary auxiliary army group which will follow the 1st Field Army's advance only four days behind the main army to provide for logistical support if needed. In these four months, while the new imperial government is established, the 1st Field Army is supplied, trained, drilled, and properly organized in the western style. They are equipped with an assortment of breech loading rifles, single-shot rifles and bolt action rifles consisting of the bulk of China's modern firearm arsenal, intended to display to all those who encounter them on their expedition of the modernity and efficiency of the Zhengyi Dynasty and its army and to intimidate the warlords who they encounter into a surrender. |

| The 1st Field Army sets out on 21 December 1891, in the midst of winter. All the soldiers are tired from months of non-stop fighting, but motivated following their victory and devoted in their loyalty to the Yongliang Emperor due to his astute leadership in the Jin Revolution. In order to monitor the expedition's success, the Yongliang Emperor arranges for a massive trans-continental messaging system to be arranged, consisting of various riders on horseback in different locations spanning the whole Chinese Empire. As the expedition continues its path across China, the Yongliang Emperor will only ever be, at most, two weeks behind their progress. However, the Yongliang Emperor sends out this expedition with not only his best wishes, but also confidence in his knowledge that his soldiers will be victorious. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Sadar, Woraniana

[list][list]𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙈𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙂𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙉𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏

[sub]𝟐𝟖 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟏 - 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐢 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚[/sub][/list][/list]

| One week after the departure of the 1st Field Army from Zhengyi Beijing, the Yongliang Emperor has ordered a collection of various officers, political leaders, and other important figures in China from around the country to the Forbidden City, where they find a city once again full of life even amid the destruction. While debris from the Siege of Beijing still lay beyond the Imperial Palace, within the Forbidden City the delegates and figures find the imperial grandeur always envisioned when thinking of the Chinese Empire. The five-colored flag of the Zhengyi Dynasty flies high and proud above Tienanmen and Tienanmen Square, as well as over the Zhongnanhai, the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Meridian Gate. As they are processed by the Emperor's guard unit and taken into the Forbidden City, they find that all Qing iconography and artwork has been completely stripped and replaced with much older Ming as well as Han, Song, and even some rare later Tang items and artifacts. |

| Following the arrival of over 140 people, the Yongliang Emperor summons them to the Palace of Heavenly Purity just after noon. Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity they find the Dragon Throne, with the Yongliang Emperor seated firmly on it. The massive Throne Room is adorned with tables containing thousands of Wén worth of food from all the regions of China, prepared especially for the delegates. They are seated at tables based on where they come from and their importance in the new Chinese Empire, with the royal family seated next to the Dragon Throne, the founders of the Divine Army of Restoration and soon-to-be Prime Minister Yeung Ku-wan being seated below the throne, and various other figures seated beyond them stretching towards the end of the room. Still sitting on the throne, the Emperor lifts his arms as he speaks to the delegates. |

[list]Yongliang Emperor: "Esteemed statesmen of the Zhengyi Dynasty, let me give thanks to you all for coming to Beijing, at great cost of your own, on my decree. Today is to be a day of great and lengthy discussion, for today we must forge a path for the organization of our new dynasty and where we all shall fall into place as we restructure our Celestial Empire. For now, though, eat, for your trips have been long and our struggle arduous. We have earned the meal."[/list]

| All of the people in the room give a bow and state Wansui in unison before eating. The feast goes on for nearly two hours, the Yongliang Emperor hardly eating anything at all, instead simply watching silently as his guests eat. After the last of the food is gone, court eunuchs clear the tables and the room grows to a silence once again. |

[list]Yongliang Emperor: "Now that we have eaten and our bellies been filled, we find ourselves in the proper state of mind to make discussion.

Gentlemen, the Great Zhengyi will not make the mistakes of the Great Qing.

The Great Qing, in their decadence and decrepitude, neglected the absolute power of governorship given to them through the Mandate of Heaven, and instead used their absolute power for self-interested causes. In no one more than former Empress Dowager Cixi was this made apparent, and through dispatching her, I wished to show a message that the Great Zhengyi will not tolerate those who scuttle the future of China to advance their own future. Her death was the only death of any of the ruling elite of the Great Qing that I found necessary, for it was her who represented in its entirety the worst elements of the Great Qing, and her who put the nail in the coffin for their dynasty. Now, it has become apparent that we have been given the Mandate of Heaven, and that I, as Emperor, have been entrusted by Heaven to lead our Celestial Empire.

The absolute power of the Emperor in China is of divine origin. Therefore, I will not allow the position of the Son of Heaven to be subject to external manipulation, as the Tongzhi and Guangxu Emperors did. The position of Emperor must be respected and revered, as this is the very foundation of our culture, our traditions, and our spirit. As the Son of Heaven, it is solely the Emperor's job to use the Mandate of Heaven to govern the people wisely, fairly, and properly and ensure that our Empire continues to lead the world in all manners possible. As the Emperor Yongliang, I will reign with a firm and steady hand, absolute in its convictions but forgiving in its nature. The divine hand of the Emperor shall plant the seeds now which shall lead to China's future prosperity, and I will not allow court politics to get in the way of this.

However, a good Emperor cannot run his country without the advice and the assistance of his subjects. Therefore, as the most powerful figures across China who have recognized the divinity and legitimacy of the Great Zhengyi and the sovereignty of the Yongliang Emperor, the job of assisting me falls upon you. You are to be my closest allies in this world, and to be the men who spearhead China's growth and development under my rule in the immediate years. Without your assistance, undoing the failures of the Great Qing will be impossible. If we wish to reclaim our place as masters of our divine destiny and of the world, then we must also move forward into the future rather than hang onto the past. Our new government must be founded in modernity, with great respect for our ancestors and their traditions. We must not abandon our culture and our heritage in the pursuit of the future, but instead, harness our great and imperial legacy and use it to work towards the creation of a China which rules over this world.

To this end, you all shall serve the inaugural position in key and important spots in government. My brothers-in-arms, the Field Marshals and Generals before you as well as Field Marshal Ma Anliang and Field Marshal Yinchang who are out on campaign in the service of the Empire, you will all be given exclusive peerage for your service to the Empire. You shall be made Grand Dukes of the First Rank, underneath only myself, the Crown Prince, the Grand Princes of the First Rank, and the Duke Yansheng. As Grand Dukes, you will be expected to hold Imperial Governors accountable to imperial mandate, and use your position to honor and glorify the Emperor and our Celestial Empire. Below you shall be the Grand Marquesses of the First Rank, including the Marquis of Extended Grace. Below them shall be the Grand Barons of the First Rank, Counts of the First Rank, Viscounts of the First Rank, and Barons of the First Rank, and then lastly the Grand Marshals of the First Rank, military leaders of extreme prowess- Yuan Shikai and Jiang Guiti preeminently among the Grand Marshals. These titles of nobility, which we take from the traditional titles of nobility of King Wu of Zhou, will all be hereditary and serve as the foremost nobles in the Empire. This system of peerage shall reward those who are faithful to our divine destiny, but can be revoked by the Emperor should a nobleman fail to uphold his position within that destiny.

All who have been assembled in this room shall be noblemen, for it is you who have proven most capable and most loyal to the Great Zhengyi. In due time, an Imperial Examination shall be held across the Empire in the style of preceding dynasties, based upon our great and proud tradition of valuing merit and ability in public servants. Men and women over the age of 15 shall take this examination, and all those who place a sufficient score recruited into the first generation of public servants within the Great Zhengyi. This will be a costly and hard process, but in the end, it is the hope of myself as the Emperor that by sticking true to our traditional method of selecting public officials based on their intelligence and merit that we shall prosper. As nobility, I intend for you all to work with local officials and imperial governors to ensure that every able-bodied person take this examination, once the time comes around. Until then, it will be your job and the job of the imperial governors, whom I will select in due time, to govern in my name. I trust you all to be more than capable of this."[/list]

| No one dares speak in front of the Emperor without permission. |

[list]Yongliang Emperor: "Beyond this, in roughly a year's time, the 1st Field Army of the Army of Heaven will have completed their expedition across the Empire, pacifying revolts and securing the loyalty of local forces and local rulers. Once they have returned, the Divine Army of Restoration will be dismantled and instead replaced with a proper national army, the Army of Heaven. I have organized for the establishment of six armies within the Army of Heaven, all based upon the geographical areas of our empire and the ethnic distributions on the frontiers. The Army of Heaven shall consist of the Beiyang Army, the Nanyang Army, the Huazhong Army, the Taiwan Army, the Huijiang Army, the Xizang Army, and the Menggu Army. Each Army shall be allotted to the control of a Grand Marshal of the First Rank, for the Grand Marshal shall not be a hereditary position, with Grand Marshals instead being selected by the Emperor upon the death of the previous Grand Marshal. Each Grand Marshal will be responsible for organizing these armies, selecting candidates for generalship within their army, and leading them in combat. While the Army of Heaven shall serve as the standing army of the Great Zhengyi, as Son of Heaven, I hold direct responsibility and authority over the Army of Heaven. I will exercise this as I see fit, and final decision in all military affairs in both peacetime and wartime fall upon me. If a Grand Marshal mismanages his Army or intends to use his Army in defiance of the Mandate of Heaven, he will be punished- severely.

Imperial governors will be selected in the coming months as the regions of the Empire are pacified and local warlords brought to heel. Alongside imperial governors, I will be forming an imperial cabinet, which will be comprised of various noblemen and important social figures from all across the Empire. The Imperial Cabinet will be my trusted advisers, and will serve as direct representatives from the people of China to the Emperor. At the center of the Imperial Cabinet shall be the Prime Minister, who shall mediate between the Emperor and the Imperial Cabinet. I have chosen Yeung Ku-wan to serve as the first Prime Minister of the Great Zhengyi, which is why he sits among the Grand Dukes.

The dynasty of the Great Zhengyi shall be one founded upon order and the rule of law, as well as the fundamental principles of Chinese civilization and the divine nature of the power of the Emperor. What I have established, in regards to the formation of the government of the Great Zhengyi, shall serve to ensure that the Emperor's rule shall be absolute and effective, and that the Son of Heaven will not be lead astray by those closest to him as happened with the Guangxu Emperor. I trust that you all will serve in your positions as the building blocks of a new China properly, with the utmost respect and appreciation for both the state and the people.

There will be more to discuss, and discuss we shall in the coming days. Arrangements have all been provided for you in Beijing for the next two weeks, should discussions continue for that amount of time.

Glory to the Great Zhengyi!"[/list]

| Everyone in the audience lets a shout of "Wú huáng wànsuì, wànsuì, wànwànsuì" out in unison, stating clearly "may my Emperor live and reign for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand ten thousand years". With that, the delegates are dismissed and the throne room left empty besides the Yongliang Emperor, his wife, the Crown Prince and Grand Princes of the First Rank, and some eunuchs. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Woraniana, Jocheon

Intro Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLmzFjICKqc

[list][list]~ 𝐄𝐥 𝐕𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐚 ~

ᴄᴀᴘɪᴛᴜʟᴏ 1: ʟᴀ ᴀᴍʙɪᴄɪᴏɴ ᴅᴇ ʟᴀ ᴘᴀᴢ[/list][/list]

[sup]La Esperanza, el capital de la República Mexicana. In the Palacio Nacional, President Porfirio Diaz discusses current events in the nation with Secretary of State Ramón Corral, one of the científicos who worked within the Diaz regime, a man most notable for his political service as the Governor of Sonora. There he made a reputation for himself by having a hand in the capture of the Yaqui chief, Cajemé. Both men sat opposites of one another in a small study room, drinking pulque and discussing the matter of the Yaqui Rebellion and the railways.[/sup]

[list][pre]Presidente Porfirio Diaz[/pre] So then, I take the Yaqui 'indios' have calmed down?

[pre]Secretary of State, Ramón Corral[/pre] Si señor Presidente, those Yaqui's should be no problem to our enterprises in Sonora now. With Cajemé dead they are without leadership and direction, those indios may still try to harass the rail lines and such, but the Federal Army with the Rurales should have no problem mopping up what's left of the Yaqui insurgents. It is safe to say that peace and order have at long last come to the north.

[pre]Presidente Porfirio Diaz[/pre] There will be peace once the Yaqui have pushed back into the dam mountains. I won't have any more indio insurgencies, I've had enough having to contend with the Maya's in the Yucatan. I don't need even the slight chance of another Yaqui uprising, the sake of our ever-growing economy demands it!

[pre]Secretary of State, Ramón Corral[/pre] Should we deploy more troops in Sonora then?

[pre]Presidente Porfirio Diaz[/pre] No, we don't need to increase the size of the northern command. Rather...we will deploy more Rurales in Sonora. Tell General Luis E. Torres to put out enticing bounties for Yaqui bandits. I'm sure in a matter of weeks more Rurales will flood into the state and clean up what's left of the Yaqui.

[pre]Secretary of State, Ramón Corral[/pre] Cheers to that señor Presidente. I'm sure now that we can proceed with the railway constructions to connect with the Yankee's.

[pre]Presidente Porfirio Diaz[/pre] Absoluetly, the progress of the nation must not be stopped for anything or anyone. If these dam indios refuse to assimilate to the modern times then they will be left behind in the dirt...

[list]END SCENE[/list][/list]

[list][list]~ 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚, 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨 ~[/list][/list]

|[sup]Determined to put an end to the Yaqui insurgents, Presidente Diaz sends a telegram to General Torres with instructions to set up high paying bounties on know Yaqui leaders. General Torres is also ordered to clear out any Yaqui settlements that obstruct the railways with punitive force. In the midst of February, Federal soldiers raid Yaqui settlements within the valley of the Río Yaqui, raping and pillaging the inhabitants. While Yaqui tribesmen attempted to resist the Federal Army, the overwhelming firepower of the Federal Army crushes all resistance. By the 29th of February, only 5 Yaqui villages remain hidden within the valley but for how long can they remain hidden from the Federales? To add the flame, Rurales from around the nation came pouring into Sonora. Murdering Yaqui's indiscreetly and with absolute prejudice. No one is spared and the river valley runs high with the blood innocence, leaving an eerie silence that consumes the valley...[/sup]|

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, The Jordanian State, Not Xav, Woraniana

[list][sup]December, 1890[/sup]

A NEW GOVERNMENT

[sup]AUSTRIA, VIENNA, SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE GARDNE GLORIETTE[/sup]

___[/list]

| The famous gloriette which stood on top of the garden of the Schönbrunn Palace overlooked the entire city of Vienna. It is the site where His Majesty would have breakfast many of his days. Though today it was filled with seventeen people, fifteen of them filling positions that have never existed before, voted by the people. Joseph Franz gathered all of the newly elected governors, both Austrian and Hungarian, together for what would be the first time, and the last time, that the governors of both kingdoms would be all together. |

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “Gentlemen I have gathered you today as you are all part of a new era in Austro-Hungarian history. The people chose you to represent them in the upper house of the diet. The time of German Socialites of specific criteria filling the upper diet or no more. Now it is you, fine gentleman, from all over the Empire that fill this very room. Now have fun and talk among yourselves. These are going to be the people that you are going to spend many of your waking hours debating and making deals with."[/sup][/list]

| Once His Majesty was finished speaking a man motioned him to come over to his table towards the back of the room. Joseph made his way through the tables of newly elected officials, shaking hands and making quick small talk, slowly but surely making his way to the table at which the main continued to wait for him. |

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MICHAŁ BOBZYŃSKI:[/sup][sup] “Sorry to bother you Your Majesty."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “No, no it is fine I was going to make my way back here anyway. What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MICHAŁ BOBZYŃSKI:[/sup][sup] “Well, it isn’t anything big, but I thought you said that we couldn’t bring our wives. My little żona was so heartbroken when I had to tell her that she couldn’t meet you in person. If my żona couldn’t meet you why does he get to bring his wife?"[/sup][/list]

| He then pointed to Václav Klement who was sitting across from him at the table with a woman sitting to his left. Klement suddenly jumped in his chair, caught in surprise about the sudden accusation. While the woman’s face suddenly turned a bright shade of red. |

[list][sup]GOVERNOR VÁCLAV KLEMENT:[/sup][sup] “No, I’m married to my work! I don’t know who she is, I thought she was your wife."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MICHAŁ BOBZYŃSKI:[/sup][sup] “No, she is too young to be my wife but she looks around the same age as you. If she isn’t your wife than what is she doing at this table? Could it be that her husband stepped away?"[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MARIA STONA:[/sup][sup] “Stop speaking like I am not here, and I am no one here is my husband, my husband is at home in Morovia! I am Maria Stona, Governor of Moravia. How dare you assume I am only a wife and not your equal. I got voted by the people to represent them."[/sup][/list]

| Bobzyṅski suddenly let out a series of loud uncontrollable chuckles. He laughed so hard that his eyes teared up. After a moment he calmed down and wiped away his tears. |

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MICHAŁ BOBZYŃSKI:[/sup][sup] “I’m sorry, for losing my composure, but a woman governor, that is absolutely prosperous. Who put you up to this, because I have to congratulate them that is truly a funny joke."[/sup][/list]

| Stona stood up walked over to the side of the table in which Bobzyṅski sat and slapped him across his face. |

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MARIA STONA:[/sup][sup] “How dare you! I am no joke, I threw my name into the polls and rallied support in Morovia. I am as much of a governor as you."[/sup][/list]

| Bobzyṅski stood and rose his hand in the air readying to backhand Stona before Joseph moved himself in between the two glaring down Bobzyṅski. Joseph pulled the girl away from Bobzyṅski and guided her back to her seat. He grabbed her glass of wine and set it in her hands. |

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “Now everyone let’s just set back for a set and take a deep breath. I don’t want a rumble to occur in my newly formed government."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MICHAŁ BOBZYŃSKI:[/sup][sup] “How could she, a women, be a governor? We just gave universal suffrage and now women are in government? Women can’t even vote, let alone create policies."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MARIA STONA:[/sup][sup] “Yet, we had Arduchess Maria Theresa who helped raise our economy, unify our lands, made our military something to marvel at, and that is just the start of it. She was a great leader and I think you could learn a thing or two from her."[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]GOVERNOR MICHAŁ BOBZYŃSKI:[/sup][sup] “Your Majesty how did this even happen, legally how could a woman run for government?"[/sup][/list]

[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] “It was an oversight in our new constitution. We never specified the gender of who could run. When I heard the news of a woman running we didn’t want to kick her out of the race. It would look badly upon us. We just thought that there was no way that men would vote for a female candidate, and after she would lose the race we would just amend the constitution. I never was informed that she actually won. Though she is as legitimate as everyone here, heck I’d say more than everyone with her chances of election. Anyhow you can still make it where she can’t hold her position, but I think it is too late now. You Maria Stona will set precedence for all women in your term as Governor. If you do well, who knows, maybe one-day women could vote, possibly even Minister-President, but if you fail I can guarantee you women will be seen as incompetent in our nations’ political matters for the foreseeable future. I wish you luck for the fate of millions and their prosperity lies in your hands, don’t mess up."[/sup][/list]

| With those words His Majesty spent enough time at this table and needed to go mingle with his other governors. He left her on those words, she would be a name to forever be remembered in Austro-Hungarian history. It is guaranteed that her name will not be loved by all, there will be many who see that name as a tyrant to the political process no matter what she does. She will either bring a new era to the Austro-Hungarian Empire or set it back to the 18th century. |

[list]___[/list]

Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, The Jordanian State, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Woraniana

[list][list]𝘾𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘼 𝙀𝙓𝙏𝙀𝙉𝘿𝙎 𝙄𝙏𝙎 𝘾𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘼𝙇 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘾𝙃 𝘼𝘾𝙍𝙊𝙎𝙎 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙂𝙇𝙊𝘽𝙀

𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟐 - 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐢[/list][/list]

| The astounding success of the Jin Revolution, the Great Zhengyi have been left with an empire in need of serious maintenance. Beyond the coastal regions of northern China, where the Jin Revolution began, the nation has descended into warlordism as various local military figures establish blocs of control in their native regions, and past China's borders, the issue of gaining international legitimacy as the successors to the Qing remains a top priority. With the establishment of the Army of Heaven and its "Grand Imperial Expeditionary Campaign" through the various border regions and factional territories throughout China providing the Zhengyi the upper hand in internal affairs, beyond that the international recognition issue has loomed over the heads of the Yongliang Emperor, the newly formed Imperial Cabinet, and most of the top leaders of the new Empire. |

| As the 1st Field Army continues its march into the Mongolian Steppe through January, the Yongliang Emperor and the Chinese Foreign Minister(蠻族事務帝國專家, lit. Imperial Expert on Barbaric Affairs) begin work on putting together foreign missions to various countries: eventually, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, the Benelux Union, the Kingdom of Italy, and the United States of America are chosen as nations necessitating a foreign mission. Over a two week period, adequate translators and negotiators are taken from the former ranks of the Qing's foreign affairs elite and given specific points of interest for the various nations. They are sent out at once: two 15-man delegations are sent to the Franco-British concessions in Tianjin, a 20-man-delegation is sent to Tokyo, a 14-man delegation is sent to Batavia, ten-man delegations are sent to Herbertshöhe, Midway Atoll, and Vladivostok, and lastly, five-man delegations are sent to Somalia and Vienna. |

| The delegations all leave from the Forbidden City on the same day- January 21st. The first to arrive are the delegations to Anglo Channel, Francia Napoleonienne, Cherokee Confederates, and Not Xav, arriving only a couple of days after the other by boat, rail, or horse. Upon arriving at the various foreign cities, the delegations do not request to meet with foreign emissaries there but, instead, offer foreign delegates an invitation to travel to the Forbidden City to meet with the Yongliang Emperor in person, as soon as possible for the foreigners. With the arrival of his own foreign missions, the Yongliang Emperor awaits word from the first four nations contact is established with. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Not Xav, Sadar, Woraniana

[list]January 1891

[sup]_______________[/sup]

CONNECTING THE EMPIRE

[sub]제국 연결[/sub]

[sub]Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Empire of Korea

서울·경기도·대한제국[/sub]

[list]···[/list][/list]

| After the arrival of American investors seven months ago, the face of the capital had already started to change, if only yet because of the multiplication of works throughout the city. For the Western New Year, celebrated by the many foreign traders and diplomats, the Imperial Palace had been lit up with electricity for the first time - Although no grand celebration was given, the Emperor preferring his isolation to mingling with outsiders. However, a small party was given by the progressive Independence Club, where many educated and forward-looking officials, traders, and scholars had held a small feast along with US and Russian diplomats, all in Western fashion. Other works throughout the city were progressing. The sewage system was set to be completed by 1892, over 300 electric streetlights by that same year, and a streetcar network by 1894, which will greatly facilitate the movement of workers. The latter two projects were to be undertaken by the Seoul Electric Company, a US-Korean co-owned company founded last year, and the flagship of two to three other US-Korean businesses now working to modernize the capital. Prince Min Young-hwan, now the architect of Korean modernization thanks to his influential position as Prime Minister of Emperor Gojong, had decided to broaden the scope of those efforts from the capital to the provinces, declaring to the Independence Club's newspaper: "The Imperial Capital will enlighten the way to modernity. The Provinces will follow, even from the farthest reaches of the Empire, with strict discipline for the betterment of our realm". One small railway and two large "trunk routes" were set to be finished by 1900, for freight and passenger travel alike. |

| As with the rest, the methods of modernization were heavily influenced by Japan's own developement of railways. The first railway line will connect Seoul to the nearby port town of Inchon, home to a large community of Chinese merchants and Korea's international gateway to world trade for one decade - Seoul being landlocked, albeit close to the sea. Its opening is scheduled to take place in 1895, and will be Korea's first railway. Flows of traders, workers, officials, but also imported and exported goods, will now travel the short distance between the two cities in a much faster fashion than before, and with accrued capacity. Two other lines will be completed by 1898 and will criss-cross the nation from north to south, linking the northern provinces' bountiful mineral wealth to the south's agriculture and large port town of Pusan in South Gyeongsang Province. The Seoul-Pusan line, the most important one, will be known as the Gyeonbu Line. The second line, from Seoul to Uiju in North Pyeong-an Province, will be named the Gyeongui Line, and will connect with the Amnok [Yalu] River and Sinuiju, and therefore tie the Chinese Empire with the capital. Such an investment is viewed as paramount, and shall greatly increase the centrality of Seoul, which will now be the core of Korean trade by gathering all trade from Pusan, Korea's door to Japan, and Uiju, Korea's door to China, in addition to the raw materials and agricultural goods, all of which will arrive at the large Yongsan Station. In Seoul, these materials will be sold or transformed, and then exported via the nearby port city of Inchon, soon also tied with Seoul by rail. To complete this modernization, Prince Min Young-hwan has decided on the opening of a Manufacture District in Seoul, to centralize warehouses and production. Its construction is set to be finished by 1895. |

| Prince Min's [Prince Min Young-hwan is a relative of the exiled Queen Min, however not part of her clan] plans for modernization have been greeted with enthusiasm by the new guard of Korean modernizers. He is widely perceived as an adroit statesman, and is often seen in Western dress, with a hairstyle and beard closely resembling that of European monarchs. In Seoul, a new wave of interest has greeted Western and Japanese literature and political philosophy in the same manner as fashion. However, much of that enthusiasm has yet to reach Emperor Gojong, who, despite his immense powers, has seemed out of touch with many of the recent developements, mainly giving his assent to the projects, including businesses with foreign participation, proposed to him by Prince Min. Similarly, the Army, which has yet to be modernized, or the provinces, remain markedly more conservative. The current modernization, with the large financial costs associated to it, is one that has also encouraged foreign encroachment: The Gyeongui Line & the short track to Inchon will both be built and operated by an American company, the Korean Railway Company, which has been given concessions in mines in the north, notably in zinc, anthracite, copper, nickel and iron, which represent the largest mineral ressources of Korea. The Gyeonbu Line is set to be built and operated by the Japanese Government Railways. Costs for construction are expected to remain low, as the local workforce will be recruited and paid in coupons and will work in very dire conditions. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces

Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.