Post Archive
Region: The Roleplay Chessboard
[list][B]腕前と威信! Udemae to ishin!
[I]Meiji 25, Kōki 2552[/list]
[I]As the Emperor and senior genrō welcomed Alexio I of Brazil in Tokyo City, Prime Minister Yamagata Aritomo ordered the mobilization of His Majesty's Imperial Navy composed of a Standing Fleet of 48 warships strong with the establishment of a temporary formation, in this case an expeditionary force destined toward the formal annexation of Jeju Island into the Empire (Jeju Shuppei) based on the 1874 punitive expedition into Taiwan, an early victory for the fledgling Imperial Navy and a reaffirmation of the need for Japan to maintain a strong and sophisticated Naval force to extend regional influence.
Mobilizing a force of 900 rikusentai naval landing troops across 7 warships apart of the Saishū tanken-tai (Jeju Expeditionary Fleet) all amassed at the Third Naval District headquartered in Sasebo, the wooden decks of Japan's French-engineered Matsushima-class protected cruisers were vibrant with white Imperial Navy uniforms dotting the forward bow in the shadow of her gargantuan 320mm (13 in) Canet gun. The sailors performed sets of synchronized arm, leg, and body stretches in repitition as per daily routine whilst the Imperial Navy Band played "Gunkan kōshinkyoku" (Man-Of-War March) a famous patriotic gunka song dedicated to the Navy and her newfound 4,300 ton displacement cruisers. The nearby dock filled with exuberant civilians watching the fleet as lead ship IJN Itsukushima 厳島 begins edging out of the dock, beginning it's journey through the Sasebo breakwater accompanied by IJN Matsushima 松島 and IJN Hashidate 橋立 in tow, the "Three Views of Japan" cruisers serving as head flagships of the outgoing Fleet. Waving hats and small flags, the civilians gracefully aided the launch of the Jeju Expeditionary Fleet with a boost of morale and nationalistic fervor.
Sailing en flute, the unprotected cruisers IJN Chiyoda 千代田, IJN Takao 高雄, IJN Yaeyama 八重山, and IJN Chashima 千島 carried the bulk of the landing troop garrison as avisos for the expeditionary force. With their menacing monitor-like appearance, the Three Views cruisers act as heavy escorts to face whatever it might be that opposing forces could potentially launch in retaliation. Considering however the lack of a Korean Navy to feasibly defend Jeju Island solidified a dominant Japanese victory, with this cockiness spreading like a virus across the Japanese sailors manning their stations like a well oiled -and disciplined- machine. Imperial sailors aboard Itsukushima 厳島, the Fleet's lead ship, began to boastfully sing the Naval gunka, "Umi Yukaba", the youthful robust voices of the sailors singing a capella in unison carrying throughout the vessel, reaching every compartment and section of her. With coal-dirtied uniforms and faces, the voices carry as far down as the engine and boiler compartments, with sailors managing an array of steam boilers and pressure gauges.
[List]"Umi yukaba / Mizuku kabane /
Yama yukaba / Kusa musu kabane/
Okimi no / he ni koso shiname /
Kaerimi wa seji"
--
"At sea be my body water-soaked,
On land be it with grass overgrown.
Let me die by the side of my Sovereign!
Never will I look back."[/list]
[I]The relatively short journey to Jeju quickly adjusted the sailors attitude as the isle was spotted on the horizon with the Korean mainland only some miles further in the distance. Upon the approach, Kaigun-chūjō Itō Sukeyuki initiated the order to fortify her bridge in preparation for engagements with both enemy vessels and coastal defense fortifications.[/I]
Vice Admiral Itō Sukeyuki: "Hashi o kyōka shīte kudasai!"
[I]Immediately following this order, sailors at auxiliary stations rushed up from the lower decks and bunk quarters with as many bed rolls as they could carry, rolling and fastening them together, blanketing them onto the outer walls of the bridge as a reinforcement against splinter fragmentation created when wooden decks are impacted by naval artillery, an Imperial Japanese Navy tradition adopted after maritime warfare experiences in the punitive expeditions of the mid-1870s against the Beiyang Fleet under the Qing.[/I]
[list][ https://iili.io/JXiE8v.jpg ][/list]
[I]The Sankeikan (Three Views ships), all cruisers of the Matsushima class, sailed parallel with each other with the four small cruisers seeking protection between them. With Kaigun-chūjō Sukeyuki further ordering full steam ahead, the gunners, loaders, and observers stationed within the three cruiser's 320mm main battery compartments got to tedious work preemptively loading and aiming the 13 in Canet guns, which in and of itself is a process lasting up to an hour. As the fleet ascends ever closer, the sailors hastily stuff a variety of sponges, rammers, and priming irons down the bore, cleaning and prepping the barrels for fresh powder and shot. Meanwhile, the some 11 QF 4.7-inch and 6 Hotchkiss QF 3 pounder Naval guns mounted along the ship's starboard and port beams were simultaneously readied for action in a flurry of white Navy uniforms delivering shells of 47mm and 120mm caliber throughout the gunnery deck. The Naval guns placed on a rotating axis for faster and more accurate aiming and fitted with blast shields to protect gunnery operators. Before long, a spotter for a 120mm gun managed to make out a vessel off the starboard bow in his binoculars.[/I]
Yontōsuihei Aichi Kondo: "Ugen senshu ni fune ga mitsukarimashita! Yaku 1, 300 mētoru no han'i!"
["Vessel spotted off the starboard bow! Range of about 1,300 meters!"]
Kaigun-shōi-kōhosei Hideto Shimizu: "Bunrui no shurui o oshietekudasai!"
["Please identify the type of classification!"]
Yontōsuihei Aichi Kondo: "Hai! Sukūnā-kyū no tsuri taipudearu to mitome rareta fune, sā!"
["Yes sir! Vessel identified as schooner class fishing type, sir!"]
[I]Midshipman Shimizu pauses a moment, peering through his own binoculars at the lone schooner from an observation port above the gunnery compartments.[/I]
Yontōsuihei Aichi Kondo: "Go chūmon omachi shīte orimasu!"
["We await your order, sir!"]
Kaigun-shōi-kōhosei Hideto Shimizu: "Utanaide! Kyaputen ga kare ni totte nani ga yoi ka shītte irunara, kare wa watashitachi no jama o shinaideshou."
["Hold fire! If it's captain knows what is good for himself, he will pull out of our path."]
[I]Up above, in the bed-roll reinforced command bridge of Itsukushima, Kaigun-chūjō Sukeyuki employs full target fixation on the light vessel, a plan to increase speed and overall chances of collision with the target in effort to force it's capitulation and movement. Though the intentions of those on board the schooner were unknown, the Kaigun-chūjō was stunned at the fishing boat's determination to remain moored as the 4,300 ton Itsukushima barrels down on it. Mere meters from impact, the lone vessel exploded revealing itself as a fire ship, or a ship filled with combustibles deliberately set on fire and steered into an enemy fleet, in order to destroy ships, or to create panic and make the enemy break formation. The schooner fireship's premature combustion caused a roaring explosion of deafening proportion in the Jeju coastal waters, sending wood splinter fragments and a mushroom cloud of smoke and water into the sky. Save for the destruction of any ships, the fireship's activation did manage to successfully break the Fleet's formation, forcing Itsukushima and her escortee unprotected cruisers to come about, straying them north.[/I]
Shamalistan, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Woraniana, Jocheon, Austrian Provinces
Upon the acceptance of invitation to be received personally by the Yongliang Emperor in Beijing, a two-man delegation was sent on behalf of the Empire of Japan, Marquis Masato Omura and Prime Minister Yamagata Aritomo to discuss the opening of formal relations between the two Empires of the Far East. The Imperial delegation departed from Kure on the heavy protected cruiser Unebi 畝傍 destined for the post-Jin Revolution Han mainland, rumored to be much different than under their Qing predecessors. Expected to arrive within hours, the Japanese delegates take in the Sea of Japan, touring the vessel and taking in the mainland from Unebi's 24 cm K L/35 main gun battery observation deck.
Additionally, a small sub-flotilla spearheaded by lead ship IJN Naniwa 浪速, a 3,700 ton heavy cruiser of the Naniwa-class and 4 torpedo boat escorts, each displacing 54 tons, departed from the Fourth Naval District headquartered in Maizaru with orders to secure the Liancourt Rocks lying between Korea and Japan, just miles west of the Oki Islands, this coming as a secondary measure to the current Imperial expedition to Jeju Island to effectively secure the Sea of Japan.
Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar
| Upon the arrival of the Japanese delegation in Tianjin, the Marquis and the Prime Minister as well as their staff are met by soldiers constituting a unit of the Yongliang Emperor's personal guard detail. The head of the guard detail leads the Marquis and the Prime Minister onboard a horse-drawn carriage centered in the middle of a massive convoy of military details including some 450 soldiers carrying the flags of the Empire of Japan and the banner of the Zhengyi Dynasty. The day-long procession takes the Japanese representatives to Beijing, where they are shown the utmost hospitality by local government officials. The Prime Minister and the Marquis are given the finest sleeping quarters in an upstate inn located not far from the Forbidden City. Here, they are fed and allowed to bathe before retiring for the night. |
| Early in the following morning, they are awoken by soldiers of the Emperor's guard unit who awaken them by knocking on their door. After being allowed to change into day clothes and being fed a breakfast of wheat noodles and tofu pudding, the two ministers and their entourage are taken to the Forbidden City. After passing Tienanmen Square and entering the Tienanmen Gate, solely the Prime Minister and the Marquis are allowed further passage into the complex, with their entourage being allowed to rest underneath the Tienanmen. After passing through the Meridian Gate and the various palaces leading to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, they are allowed entrance into the aforementioned palace where they find, in its center, the Throne Room. Sitting on the dragon throne, in imperial Han robes, is the Yongliang Emperor. |
Cherokee Confederates, Not Xav, Sadar
Before any formalities are formally exchanged, Mr. Omura and Prime Minister Aritomo deliver a respectful bow at an intermediate incline, as customary toward foreign dignitaries. Mr. Masato Omura, a staunch industrialist and businessman, is dressed in a three piece suit and bowtie. Unlike him, Minister Aritomo is in uniform, his medals and honors breasted upon him and a guntō at his side.
Masato Omura: "It is an honor to be received by you, Emperor. I perceive these negotiations will fair far better than those attempted to be brokered with the warlord thugs of your Qing predecessors. On behalf of the Empire of Japan and her humble people we hope to broker true peace here today. To make history today."
Shamalistan, Sadar
[list][list]𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙂𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝙊𝙍𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙉 𝙋𝙐𝙍𝙂𝙀
| Within the Throne Room alongside the Emperor are his two most personal bodyguards, a handful of court eunuchs, and a translator. The Yongliang Emperor does not speak directly to the two Japanese representatives, but instead into the ear of his translator, who relays to them his words as exactly as possible. |
Yongliang Emperor: "Yes, I am most pleased with your presence here in my Palace, standing before me today. With the Great Qing now removed, the chance for China to truly prosper has presented itself, as gifted upon us, the Celestial Empire, from the God of Heaven. There is much to discuss, and much to make up for, especially regarding Japan's newly cemented presence in the Chinese sphere- in Korea and, most recently, upon the soil of Jeju Island, which I have been made aware of was subject to an invasion by Japanese maritime forces."
Cherokee Confederates, Sadar
[sup]MARCH, 1891[/sup]
THE CIVIL WAR: PART 3
[sup]BUCHAREST, KINGDOM OF ROMANIAMORNING[/sup]
____
| It had been less then a week since the Bucharest Workers Committee, originally made up of rioters, protesters and the unemployed, had taken complete control of the city, and had forcefully killed, imprisoned and pushed out any government influence. King Carol I, once he was told what happened, was in complete shock, he did not fathom, or believe such a thing would happen. Indeed, the entire world was shocked at the sheer quickness of the take-over, perhaps it said less about the strength of the Bucharest Workers Committee, of which there was little, and more about the weakness and dysfunctionality of the Kingdom of Romania, as a government, and a system. The Bucharest Workers Committee was still only semi-organized, many of its members met at the Bucharest Town Hall and elected a leader, and worked out the finer details, but still, the majority of the people involved were only involved by name, they had no linkage to the actual organization, though the Secretary of the Bucharest Workers Committee was working to change that. Regardless, at the least, around 40,000 to 60,000 of the citizens of Bucharest were armed, around 10,000 or so had some sort of military experience, and even so, there were plenty of young men that could easily be recruited onto their side, so manpower was not exactly the issue, rather, the issue was arming them, and continually supplying needs such as food, gunpowder, and ammunition. |
| The leaders of the Bucharest Workers Committee figured they had to continually expand, and more notably, expand to the coastline, that way they could receive support from foreign nations that could support the rebel group. It was unknown what, or if, any nations would support the group, after all, they were rebelling against a monarch, and such a precedent would naturally be worrying to the Tsar in Moscow, the Sultan in Constantinople, and the King in Vienna. So, it was to be safely assumed such support from its immediate neighbors was unlikely. However, the United States, Brazil and other nations would possibly support them, and for any supplies to reach them, they would need some coastline so naturally it was decided that they would attempt to seize the coastline in the future. |
____
[sup]IASI, KINGDOM OF ROMANIAMORNING[/sup]
____
| After the takeover of Bucharest by rebels, King Carol I, what remained of Parliament and of course the Military set up shop in Iasi, Kingdom of Romania, it was far away from Bucharest and provided safety, not only this, but it was near Russia, only a couple dozen or miles or so, meaning, if any attempt was made to takeover the city it was possible they could receive support from Russian monarchists and soldiers. King Carol I and his generals began planning a take over, they sat in a large room, and they discussed plans, while sipping tea, eating lavish cakes and gorging themselves in pork, beef, veal and lamb. While the generals and the King discussed, 4 guards were also in the room, armed with rifles, ensuring that no one was to touch the King, his generals or his servants. |
[list]
[sup]| GENERAL BUKONIV: | Well, the most obvious path to retake Bucharest would be to simply besiege the city, till it bleeds, then slowly make our way deeper and deeper into the city.[/sup]
[sup]| KING CAROL I: | Does the geography not look easy? Shouldnt we simply go headfirst and take it?.[/sup]
[sup]| GENERAL BUKONIV: | We would have to invade from the north, there is a large, and wide river, in northern Bucharest, so it would be better to besiege it and invade from the south, but that would take time and some fighting to secure the area.[/sup][/list]
| One of the guards, suddenly, pointed his rifle directly at King Carol I, firing 3 or 4 shots into his chest and head, the other guards began firing at the guard who shot the King. Both were dead instantly. The generals stood shocked. King Carol I had just been assassinated by a member of the Royal Guard, the closest military unit to the King. Ferdinand, his son, would have to take over the reigns now. The civil war was heating up. |
____
Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Not Xav, Sadar, Austrian Provinces
[List]Yamagata Aritomo: "I can confirm this subject as true. It was seen fit by the Imperial Diet and myself as Prime Minister, and most importantly, His Majesty, Emperor Meiji-taitei himself. It is only the necessary balancing of power as your Jin Revolution sparked a power vacuum. Only a foolish Empire would not react, don't you concede?"
Masato Omura: "While we confirm it, ultimately it is our aim to negotiate, as stated, a necessary balance of power. To be clear and direct, we can continue to be tense and hostile, which ultimately is counterproductive toward the removal of European influence in the Greater East Asia Proper. However an alternate suggestion is that we draw up our spheres here. Declare our borders."[/list]
Shamalistan
[list]____[/list]
| Emperor Alexio I listened to the Emperor speak, then turned his head to the translator, who said it in Portuguese, then responded. |
[list]
[sup]| EMPEROR ALEXIO I | "May it be known, that it is an honor to visit this grand nation, and that the Empire of Brazil shall assist in anyway it can to assure Japan's continual modernization" [/sup]
[/list]
| The translator waited a few moments before speaking in Japanese. |
[list]
[sup]| TRANSLATOR | "Kono sōdaina kuni o hōmon suru koto wa meiyodeari, Burajiru no teikoku wa tonikaku Nihon no keizoku-tekina kindai-ka o hoshō suru tame ni sore o tasukeru koto ga dekiru koto o she iru kamo shiremasen" [/sup]
[/list]
| Emperor Alexio I thanked the emperor, then bowed for the gift. |
Cherokee Confederates
Yongliang Emperor: "Before anything of this sort happens, the creation of a 'balance of powers', ... I believe the more pressing matter is securing international legitimacy before the eyes of the nations of the world. The Jin Revolution is far from finished, and our new dynasty continues to stomp out insurrections by loyalists and warlords left over from the era of the Great Qing across our nation. I have sent similar missions such as that which was sent to you to seven other great nations of the world, and await for them to come to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. You, being the first to arrive, can set a precedent for forging a new path within Asia by recognizing the legitimacy of the Jin Revolution and of the Zhengyi Dynasty."
Cherokee Confederates
Masato Omura: "The legitimacy of the Zhengyi Dynasty and it's Revolution were made apparent by our response and voyage here to the Forbidden City, your Grace. Let it not be mistaken that the Imperial delegation approaches the throne with humility and respect foremost."
Yamagata Aritomo: "The Jin Revolution has now morphed to clean up operations across the Han mainland of warlords and other recalcitrants, what are we to make of this other than that you managed to overthrow a dynasty already reaching the climax of it's capabilities, and the height of it's already fragile ruling days?"
Shamalistan
Emperor Meiji: "As I celebrate the 24th year of my reign, we colloquially commemorate 24 years of modernization and advancement through industrialization and our own adaptations of new and revolutionary technologies never before seen, possessed, or faintly imagined by the Japanese people. In our advancements we find it appropriate to share our technologies and blend our economic wealth into a core military-economic alliance to be rivaled by none other."
Woraniana
[sup]| EMPEROR ALEXO I | "I fully agree with such a notion. The Empire of Brazil and the Empire of Japan must have a close, eternal, and effective alliance that would rival any other. We both are similar in many ways, we are emerging powers, with highly ambitious goals, it's only right we create an alliance. Brazil has much to offer Japan and Japan has much to offer Brazil. I'd like to first start proposing that poor emigrants from your nation, rather then go to the United States, Australia or other nations, come to Brazil, where they would be treated with respect and as equals, as that is my personal guarantee, unlike in other nations, where racism and prejudice is high, wages are low and working conditions are poor."[/sup]
Cherokee Confederates
Emperor Meiji: "This is ideal, provided Japanese migrants would be provided land to live and cultivate. Despite exponential industrial advances much of Japan's population still provide our food through traditional farming methods passed down generations."
Masato Omura: "Perhaps this could grow into a larger opportunity to expand business, if Japanese migrants could cultivate on behalf of a joint Brazilian-Japanese fruit and produce corporation that would manage production. If interested, I could produce the initial investments, your Grace."
[list]
[sup]| EMPEROR ALEXO I | "Japanese immigrants will be provided 50 acres each, so if a family of 5 immigrants, they would be given 250 acres, for example. A Brazilian-Japanese fruit and produce cooperation is acceptable, this would allow for the immigrants to not only work together, produce fruit and produce more efficiently but also pull a profit. Though, surely, many immigrants might prefer to work in the city as artisans or factory workers, they tend to pay well."[/sup]
Cherokee Confederates
[sup]APRIL, 1891[/sup]
THE CIVIL WAR: PART 4
[sup]BUCHAREST, WORKERS STATE OF ROMANIAMORNING[/sup]
____
| The Kingdom of Romania looked strong, it was in a good position to defeat the Bucharest Workers Committee, however, the assasination of King Carol I, and a virtually unknown King, King Ferdinand I coming into power not only stirred heads across Romania but also certain units of the military, though there werent many. Defections by officers, and the soldiers they commanded would bring a swift end to the Kingdom of Romania. What remained of the wealthy and nobility had already fled to various locations in Europe such as Russia, Austria-Hungary and even Greece. There was simply no one with the effort or care to prevent the collapse of the Kingdom from happening. Within a few weeks of his assasination, small towns to large cities quickly fell to sporadic rioters, rebel officers and the ever growing Bucharest Workers Committee, which now sported 100,000 men, though they were mostly untrained. |
| In Bucharest, a man by the name of Luca Cristian, addressed the Bucharest Workers Committee outside, surrounded by 1000s of supporters. Cristian was the Secretary of the Bucharest Workers Committee, which is the highest office in the committee, and the one which held the most power. Most of Romania had fallen, and the committee was now firmly in control of the country. Today, would be a declaration, that would very well shock the entirety of Europe and send shockwaves throughout noble and monarchical circles. |
[list]
[sup]| LUCA CRISTIAN | Today, is a magical day indeed. [/sup]
[/list]
| He paused for dramatic effect and claps and chants roared throughout the crowd. |
[list]
[sup]| LUCA CRISTIAN | The the Bucharest Workers Committee, no longer exists. [/sup]
[/list]
| The roar quelled to a silence. |
[list]
[sup]| LUCA CRISTIAN | Today, we declare, the Workers State of Romania! [/sup]
[/list]
| The crowd roared. |
[list]
[sup]| LUCA CRISTIAN | The feudal and noble society is abolished! [/sup]
[/list]
| People broke into chants of abolished! abolished! |
[list]
[sup]| LUCA CRISTIAN | The government responds to the working classes only now, never again shall we bow to landowners. Carol and Ferdinand are NO LONGER the largest landowners in the nation, for we take that land back, and repeal the Royal Estate Act! [/sup]
[/list]
| The crowd exuberantly roared in agreement, this was by far the loudest they had ever been. Secretary Luca Cristian waved to the crowd and stepped down from the podium and reentered the newly pronounced Committee Building. Today, the Kingdom of Romania no longer exists, only the Workers State of Romania. |
____
Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Austrian Provinces
[sub]Play me on repeat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptl4pT7Fl1Y
or don't i'm not your mom[/sub]
[sup][list]January 1892[/sup]
Left faction of SPD split with the Social Democrat Party over
disagreements regarding Romania. the formation of the
Spartakusbund announced.
[sub]Die linke SPD-Fraktion spaltete sich mit der Sozialdemokratischen Partei wegen
Meinungsverschiedenheiten in Bezug auf Rumänien. Die Bildung des Spartakusbundes
wurde angekündigt.[/list][/sub]
___
[sup]HQ OF THE SPD MORNING[/sup]
Within the headquarters of the SPD the Chairman of the SPD, August Bebel and the leader of the Far left faction, Walther Herwig are locked in debate on what to do regarding Romania
___
|The SPD has been debating amongst itself on what to do regarding Romania. At first people weren't sure what to do but as the hours passed it seemed obvious that the room was split down the middle between not doing anything, and fully assisting the the Bucharest Workers Committee. |
Nearly a full day has passed since the debate has started and no progress towards making an actual decision has happened. Many are tired and would just like this to be over so they can go home to their families.
[list]Walther Herwig, Leader of the Left Faction "...abandoning the workers of Bucharest would be akin to abandoning the ideals of Marx itself! What is the point of following moderatism when the regime we are under isn't and has no qualms with firing on us like common miscreants? I say now is the time for action, not words! What we should be doing is sending the Bukarester Arbeiterkomitee german weapons sold on the black market, hell even volunteering to fight alongside them ourselves."[/list]
[list]Many in the room grumble in agreement. Many also boo him.[/list]
[list]Chairman August Bebel "Herr Herwig, with all due respect as a fellow member of the SDP, I say that clearly you fail to understand that the moment the Kaiser learns that we might be illegally smuggling weapons to the Bukarester Arbeiterkomitee and sending volunteers to fight alongside them, they'll crush us completely. They'll use everything in their arsenal to make sure we're not a threat. We're already an illegal organization, I can't imagine what they'll do to us when they learn we're actively committing treason against the Kaiser. He wouldn't hold back, you know how emotional that little man can get. "[/list]
[list]Again, the room gives a mixed reaction, split down the middle.[/list]
[list]Walther Herwig "What makes you so sure we'll be found out? We haven't been discovered so far. Even if we are hunted and destroyed then we will be martyrs for the Marxist cause! If we are to be hunted by Reise-kaiser then the proletariat will rise up twice as large and three times as ferociously as before! We cannot abandon Bucharest, even if they fail with our help we'll still be following our ideals, to do nothing is to be spineless. suggesting to sit by and not do anything to assist the proletariat of Romania is the single most cowardly thing I've heard from a fellow socialist in a long time."[/list]
[list]This was getting nowhere, Herwig was far too stubborn to compromise. He got up from his seat and dusted off his suit.[/list]
[list]Walther Herwig "Then we have nothing more to discuss. Clearly the SPD doesn't have the best interests of the proletariat in mind. Anyone who feels the same way I do follow me. "[/list]
[list]All of the Left faction, more than half the room and then some would leave along with him.[/list]
|A few days later the Spartacus League would be founded by Walther Herwig. In a weeks time the Spartakusbund would be sending weapons to the Bucharest Workers Commitee, as well as sending a couple thousand men as volunteers, including Walther Herwig. At the moment he is only a young revolutionary, but eventually he'll become one of the most important figures in German history.|
___
[sup]GOTT MIT UNS![/sup]
___
Cherokee Confederates, Sadar, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
[list][sup]April, 1891[/sup]
Romanian Question
[sup]AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, BUDAPEST, ORSZÁGHÁZ [/sup]
___[/list]
| The Emperor-King, Franz Joseph, sat at a large table along with eight other people. They sat within the large gothic palace that nestled the waters edge, the National Assembly building. As everyone got situated and served their beverage of choice His Majesty stood and everyone followed suit. He made a slight nod with his head and everyone bowed and sat back in their seats. |
[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] Hello, I have gathered you all here today as the situation in Romania continues to escalate. I assume you all have heard about the Bucharest Workers Committees recent and quick capture of the Romanian capital of Bucharest. We need to decide what we need to do here and now, that is why I invited all of the Hungarian Governors, my Prime Minister, and Oleksander Barvinsky, Governor of Ruthenia. You are all on the frontline of this civil war and will be the most affected by todays actions. Now Teofil Fabiny has the floor.[/sup][/list]
| The Prime Minister motioned to a servant. The servant stepped out of the room for a second and came back holding a large easel with a terrain map of the Balkans region. |
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER TEOFIL FABINY:[/sup][sup] I believe our best course of action would be a direct assault on Bucharest, and to reinstate the Romanian Royal Family. We need to stop this before we have spillover into Hungary. We use two infantry divisions leaving from Brașov to meet an artillery division form our larger mobilization from our large base in Sibiu. From Sibiu, we are sending two infantry divisions, one cavalry division, and one artillery division. The division from Sibiu will move South-East to board riverboats going down the Olt River getting off above the city of Slatina. They will seize the city of Slantina as a base of operations on the other side of the Carpathian Mountains. After the capture of Slantina, one-thousand troops will stay behind but the rest of the division will move east and cross the Vedea River. Once they cross, the divisions will split, with the artillery division going North-East to meet with the divisions from Brașov and the infantry and cavalry divisions moving to position themselves South of Bucharest on the other side of the Argeș River. While the Sibiu divisions are moving in the aforementioned plans, the infantry from Brașov will move South tell they hit the Dâmbovița River, from where they will ride it West of Târgoviște. They will leave the river and seize the city of Târgoviște to have a garrison close enough for both the divisions from Brașov and Sibiu to fall back to that is on the same river as Bucharest. One-thousand infantry will be left to control the city as the rest of the division gets back on Dâmbovița River ride it South-East until they are halfway between Târgoviște and Bucharest where they will make camp and wait for the arriving artillery from Slatina. Once the artillery arrives the division will move following the river to bombard the settlements in North Bucharest on the more developed side of the Dâmbovița River. This part of the city is cradled by two rivers so this is the only access point that is fully accessible by land. The bombardment will draw the militia to the North-West part of the city and fortify their developments on the Northside of the river leaving the less developed South rather unprotected. When the Bombardment starts the Sibiu division should start crossing the Argeș, their crossing of the rivers on the way to South Bucharest should go rather unimpeded as more attention is focused on the North-West. They will then move in to seize the land South of the Dâmbovița securing the bridges so troops from the North can not reinforce. Then we will try to starve out the militia in the North as we send troops from our larger garrison in Novi Sad down the Danube. They will be disguised as a series of trade ships. The militia will either give in before reinforcements come or we will use the reinforcements to siege the North and liberate the city.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]GOVERNOR GYÖRGY BERNÁDY:[/sup][sup] This is all fine and dandy, but the people Seklerland are afraid of this spilling over. They want assured safety and protection against pillaging. I know rebels would have to pass through the Carpathians, but there are major cities that follow the valleys bringing the rebellion to cities like our capital.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER TEOFIL FABINY:[/sup][sup] We are going to use our remaining forces in Seklerland and Transylvania to protect our major cities on our side of the Carpathians. Then if rebels attack any small villages our troops can move out from there.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]GOVERNOR OLEKSANDER BARVINSKY:[/sup][sup] In Ruthenia, we arent worried about spillover, we are worried that the peasants will revolt like in Romania. They are treated so badly that fifty-thousand die each year. If this fails they will see that they can successfully revolt too. I know if this goes wrong we will reorganize and hit them harder and put out the rebellion, but in that time I can assure you that the large Ruthenian peasant population will revolt.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER TEOFIL FABINY:[/sup][sup] I have no power in Austria so I will have His Majesty answer this.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] This mission will succeed, but we will fortify major cities in Ruthenia to assure their safety if in the small chance that any peasant revolts do indeed happen.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]GOVERNOR AUREL POPOVICI:[/sup][sup] Instead of putting the royal family back on the throne why dont we just annex the lands or put a Habsburg on the throne? There are many Transylvanians that would like to be united with their Romanian brethren.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER TEOFIL FABINY:[/sup][sup] We would never be able to annex the land without Russian intervention and we do not want to go to war. As for putting a Habsburg on the throne, that would only be a last resort if there would be no more in the Romanian line of succession. We can create strong allies with Romania if we just help them in our time of need. [/sup][/list]
[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] If everyone has said anything they have wanted to say, we shall adjourn this meeting. We need to get our soldiers moving as fast as possible. Everyone, thank you for your time, you may return back to your states. We will keep you informed on the progress of our mission whenever we receive information from the frontlines.[/sup][/list]
| The governors stood and bowed to His Majesty before exiting the room. Even though this meeting was held the troops had already been on the move. Both divisions should board boats on their respective rivers any second now. His Majesty knew what had to be done and this meeting was but a formality to his governors. As soon as he heard word of the capture of Bucharest he had already sent troops from Budapest so they wouldnt lag so far behind the front lines. This entire mission relied upon the reinforcements not being discovered by Ottoman officials and that the militia could not hold out forever, they would have to eventually run out of supplies, be it ammo or basic necessities. |
[list]___[/list]
Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Concorrdia, Sadar, Woraniana
[list][sup]February 1892[/sup]
THE PEARL DELTA
[sup]Shamalistan - Anglo Channel relations[/sup][/list]
[list][list]The British Government recognizes the new imperial dynasty in China as now holding the mandate of heaven, for the chinese people. A trade delegation has been dispatched from Hong Kong to Peking to meet and continue trade relations in the pearl delta. Hong Kong is a Crown colony of the United Kingdom and maintained an administration roughly modelled after the Westminster system. The Letters Patent formed the constitutional basis of the colonial government and the Royal Instructions detailed how the territory should be governed and organised.
___
[/list][/list]
Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces, Nederlandsrijk
[list]February 1891
[sup]_______________[/sup]
ATTACK ON JEJU ISLAND
[sub]제주도 공격[/sub]
[sub]Jeju Island, South Cheolla Province, Empire of Korea
제주도·전라남도·대한제국[/sub]
[list]···[/list][/list]
| The Japanese attack had taken the small, undefended island by surprise. The island communities had for long strongly detested the Japanese because of entrenched xhenophobia, frequently requesting that the increasing number of Japanese traders leave the island before. But they also detested the central government of Seoul, whose high taxes on rice and past edicts prohibiting their travel to the mainland had done much to harm the island's loyalty to the mainland. Some 200 rather well-trained members of the Imperial Korean Army were stationed on the island, at a dilapidated fortress near Jeju City. They were complemented by 90 policemen - A force that had seen combat and blood before, as several rebellions on the island had been crushed since roughly 1862. On the fateful day of the Japanese invasion, as ships were spotted, the unprepared military had to face either the dishonor, and likely execution, associated with their surrender or vacation of the premises; or the unlikely defense they could put up with. Mainland reinforcements were not to be expected, as even the knowledge of the attack would take several days, and up to a week, to reach the Emperor's ears. However, the lack of a viable Navy even eluded the top commander of the island's garrison. |
[list]| Jeju Military Commander, Gim Tae-sul : | "Foreign vessels have been spotted. They are aiming their guns at us; their presence is not planned. We must conclude to an invasion. Man defensive positions and send word to the Mainland that we are under attack!"[/list]
| The aide to the commander left in a hurry. All around the fortress, the men, wearing disparate blue uniforms or white fatigues, manned the positions. Most firearms were obsolete and of Dutch or French origin; cannons, however, were somewhat more evolved as they consisted of Chinese-inherited Hong'ipo, Jungpo and Sopo cannons, all designed after relatively recent and powerful Dutch cannons. As the fireship served its purpose and splintered the invading forces, the artillery was finally ready. |
[list]| Gunnery Sergeant Bak Kyeong-hwa : | "Aim at the undefended ships! On my command... Fire!"[/list]
| A slew of massive explosions rocked the island, as the city's inhabitants realized what was occurring and started to flee the premises. In a hurry, 100 well-built men were selected to serve as a local militia - A total of 390 men would therefore be tasked with the defense of the island. Antique Hwach'a anti-personnel multiple rocket launcher artillery organ guns were placed at key points overlooking the rocky beaches where the invaders were expected. The infantrymen prepared their firing line. |
Cherokee Confederates, Shamalistan, Sadar, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces, Nederlandsrijk
| In his response, the Yongliang Emperor seems to pass over the Prime Minister's disparaging remarks. |
[list]Yongliang Emperor: "If that is how I should interpret your presence within my throne room, then I gladly welcome your recognition of our new dynasty. I will concede this, in private, that the inspiration for our movement was the striking success of the Japanese Restoration within the Empire of Japan. Although the Chinese and Japanese nations have conflicting interests, particularly in Korea, the failure of the Tongzhi Restoration compared with the success of the Japanese Restoration has proven to me, conclusively, that as Japan has historically borrowed and learned from China, it might not be unwise for China to borrow and learn from Japan. As you have centralized and modernized your state, so to do we wish to centralize and modernize China, to do away with the inefficient ways of old while replacing them with a modern system which respects tradition and our identity. Japan has managed to do this much better than the Qing, and to me, the Qing's failure to do this is what proved to me that they no longer possessed the Mandate of Heaven.
Therefore, with your recognition, I have secured a key goal of my new dynasty. However, surely, recognition is not the only affair which we have to discuss..."[/list]
Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Woraniana
| The Anglo trade delegation dispatched to Beijing is met by a rather unceremonious fanfare compared to the Japanese delegation which had preceded it some days earlier. Nonetheless, the same level of hospitality is given by the Chinese government and its authorities, and they are given the highest class conditions amid there stay overnight before their meeting with the Yongliang Emperor. The day of their meeting, the British emissaries are escorted through the Tienanmen Gate to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, finding the Yongliang Emperor upon the Dragon Throne. The Yongliang Emperor, awaiting for a bow from the British delegates, remains silent. |
Teujira, Woraniana
[list][sup]GOVERNOR ANTONIO GANDOLFI:[/sup][sup] Yes, I hope so as well. My Government wants better relations with the Ethiopian people. Now, the current disagreement comes as part of Article 17 of the treaty in question, specifically the matter about Ethiopia meeting with Foreign Governments. We apologize for any confusion. The point we wanted to make was that as an African nation, Ethiopia could be taken advantage of by other global powers, and as a friend of Rome, we did not want something like that to happen. My government believes that Ethiopia should be able to have its own foreign representation, but just to apprise us on any events as they occur, in case help or mediation is needed. [/sup]
___[/list]
Teujira, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup][sup] Thank you, I will arrange for former Prime Minister to make the apology when I arrive back in Rome. I am sure my Father will give his thanks to you for your diplomacy and the Emperor for his understanding. The idea of an Adriatic economic alliance is interesting to say the least. Italy has been working on industrializing and expanding our current economy, which could be helped by this new en devour. While I am sure the government would not be opposed to the idea, it could be difficult to get through Parliament. With Italian claims on Trentino and Trieste, it puts increased stress on any attempt to pursue closer ties with Vienna. Further the war between our two countries in 1866 is still remembered by the population. To really achieved greater cooperation, we would have to address our mutual claims, but for the moment, I think this economic alliance is something we should establish between our two nations. [/sup]
___[/list]
Teujira, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
[list]ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴍᴇɴᴇʟɪᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɪ: "ይህ ንጉሠ ነገሥት አካል ከውጭ አካላት አካላት ጋር ተገናኝቶ ተጋጭቷል ፡፡ እርስዎ የባዕድ አገር ሰዎች ሊያታልሉን በሚፈልጉበት ጊዜ ማወቅ እንደማንችል ይሰማናል"
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱʟᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴀʀᴇɢᴀᴡɪ: "This Imperial body has met and clashed with foreign entities for generations upon generations. The Emperor states that Ethiopia has no need for Italo meddling or supervision, the Ethiopian Empire is more than capable in the field of diplomacy. We restate that the 17th Article simply gave us the option of Italo aid in the matter of diplomacy, not an obligation."
Teujira, Concorrdia, Hindia Timur Raya
[sup]GOVERNOR ANTONIO GANDOLFI:[/sup][sup] These are changing times that we live in and while my govenment is not asking for supervision, we are merely asking for notice of major diplomatic events. It would really just be a formality, but it helps appease certain members of the government in Rome. [/sup]
___[/list]
Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana
[pre]The Bear and the Eagle:
PART 1[/pre]
[list]1 February 1892[/list]
[list]Winter Palace, Petrograd, Sankt-Peterburg Oblast, Russian Empire[/list]
| The German Empire was truly one of the worlds great powers. A nation of over 40 million, heavily industrialized, heavily militarized, a colonial power. As Russians ambitious industrial development plan was underway, collaboration with a nation like Germany could present several benefits if only a few issues could be resolved. Namely the issue of Russian influence in the Balkans, an issue of chief importance for Petrograd in the region marred by tensions. A new German ambassador to Russia had been appointed on the ascendancy of the newest Chancellor, and Tsar Alexander III was committed to creating an ally for himself out of this new representative. As Russia was in the process of perhaps the greatest industrial undertaking to date, German expertise could provide much needed technical skill and capital for the development of Siberia.
The German ambassador is received at the most wondrous and decadent Winter Palace in Petrograd. The sprawling green-and-white estate on the frozen Neva River is littered in thick sheets of immaculately white snow, with only the tallest shrubbery and trees of the Imperial Gardens emerging from the sometimes 3-4ft piles of snow. The palace was detailed in 24k gold leaf, literally consuming over a metric ton of gold to design, which was still very visible in the suns light. Said to hold 1,886 doors, 1,945 windows, 1,500 rooms and 117 staircases, all Russian government ministries are headquartered in or maintain an office within the Winter Palace. Much of the Tsars court and extended family resides within its expansive halls, and the walls are adorned with portraits of Romanovs from years past.
Saint Georges Hall, the Romanov throne room, is distinctly decadent in design. Immense pillars of white marble are seperated by wall height windows, above are priceless crystal chandeliers hang from the ceilings appearing to be dripping with gold and crystal. The hardwood floors had been designed in a Greek key style, and ode to their Byzantine faith. Hanging on the far wall is the Byzantine eagle, styled in gold silk and bearing the Romanov coat of arms, on a Venetian red banner. In front of the banner is the Tsars throne, itself emblazoned with the same eagle. Tsar Alexander III sits on his golden throne, wearing the legendary Great Imperial Crown of Russia and his navy blue military uniform complete with its many medals and sky blue sash. He sits holding the diamond encrusted Imperial sceptre and orb, a symbol of both Christs and the Romanovs rightful dominion. He is flanked on both sides by his Imperial court, filled with ministers and nobles from across the vast expanses of Russia. Nobles of Russian, Malorussian, Byelorussian, Pole, Finn, Tatar, Kartveli, Baltic, and quite literally hundred of nationalities were among the Tsars court. The Metropolitan of Moscow stood at his immediate left, while Tsarevich Nicholas stands at his immediate right. The German ambassador is escorted by the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, known for their distinct bright red traditional Cossack costume and black Hussar style busbies. 7 Cossacks Prussian step on either side of the German ambassador, presenting their lever-action Winchester rifles as they enter the presence of the Tsar and the Imperial family.
Tsar Alexander III had prepared a set of gifts for his guest. A Cossack shashka (a Cossack light sabre) with a decorative handle covered in priceless gems is presented as a gift to ambassador. The escort halts and ports and orders their arms before coming to rest, the command officer comes forward to announce the appearance of this much welcomed guest before the court. Unlike the other Cossacks, he instead wears a standard officer visor cap bearing the Romanov lesser coat of arms. He is distinguished: a man of maybe 40 years, bearing a long greying brown beard. As the commanding officer of the regiment, he was drawn from Don Cossack Platov clan. |
[list]Podkhorunzhiy Yaroslav Romanovich Platov:
"Presenting Lord Ambassador Joseph Ferdinand von Eichendorff-Puttkamer of the German Empire to the court of, By the Grace of God, His Imperial Highness, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod; Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Chersonese Taurian, Tsar of Georgia; Lord of Pskov and Grand Prince of Smolensk, Lithuania, Volhynia, Podolia, Finland; Prince of Estland, Livland, Courland, Semigalia, Samogitia, Belostok, Karelia, Tver, Yugorsky land, Perm, Vyatka, Bolgar and others; Lord and Grand Prince of Nizhny Novgorod, Chernigov, Ryazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Belozersk, Udorsky land, Obdorsk, Kondia, Vitebsk, Mstislav, and all of the northern countries Master; and Lord of Iberia, Kartli, and Kabardia lands and Armenian provinces; hereditary Sovereign and ruler of the Circassian and Mountainous Princes and of others; Lord of Turkestan; Lord of the Kongo; Heir of Norway; Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, and Oldenburg, and others, and others, and others, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich of House Romanov."[/list]
| The Tsar now awaited the presentation of the credentials of the new ambassador, before they would be excused for a private meeting. He offered a welcoming grin to the Prussian visitor, himself being of maternal German descent. The entire court awaited the actions of the esteemed guest. |

Cherokee Confederates, Teujira, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list][list]𝙎𝙐𝘽𝘿𝙐𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝙉𝙂𝙊𝙇𝙎
𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟐 - 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐧, 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐢[/list][/list]
| After passing through Manchuria and forcing the submission of the Manchu clans with practically no resistance and crossing into the Mongolian Steppe, the 1st Field Army have stumbled upon a land entangled in civil division in the wake of the Jin Revolution. Across Mongolia, various Mongolic clans have begun to engage in clan wars, particularly along historic borders and divisions utilizing traditional Mongolian military tactics such as a heavy emphasis on cavalry. While the clans of Inner Mongolia such as the Ordos have submitted to the Yongliang Emperor and the Zhengyi Dynasty, groups such as the Buryat have taken the political chaos in the rest of the Empire to press for independence from Chinese rule. Unwilling to declare full statehood, the clans have instead fallen into a state of warring, with the 1st Field Army ordered to intimidate or fight the Mongols into submission. |
| The 1st Field Army, having arrived in the Mongol capital of Da Kulun back in mid-January, have spent two weeks gathering information and securing the fealty of local leaders in the area. Beginning in February, however, with the weather warming and the Mongolic tribes growing increasingly violent in their skirmishes, the 1st Field Army begin to strike. From their camp north of Da Kulun, four battalions of the 1st Field Army numbering 240 men each march upon the village of Onon, made the stronghold of the Buryat people. Following the outbreak of the Jin Revolution, many of the isolated Buryat tribes have slowly unified in the area around the settlement at Onon, in the heartland of the Buryat lands in China. |
| The arrival of the imperial soldiers, dressed in their khaki uniforms and armed with relatively modern firearms, immediately shakes the village to their core. In the more far-flung reaches of the Chinese Empire, such as Mongolia, the sudden disappearance of Qing officials and soldiers due to their recall to other areas of the Empire throughout the Jin Revolution was left unexplained, and to many, the new army's arrival almost mirrors that of a foreign invasion. Various Buryat soldiers draw their weapons on the approaching army formation, but are held back by their elders and various warlords, aware of the Jin Revolution. The Buryat Kurultai leaves a yurt at the center of the village and approach the commanding officer of the specific army group at their doorstep, Fang Guanting. Various Chinese soldiers scramble throughout the town and establish defensive positions, putting themselves at the ends of dirt paths and behind tents. Fang Guanting, riding atop his steed, looks down upon the various Buryat elders. He speaks through a translator. |
[list]Fang Guanting: "Good day to you all. I am Fang Guanting, commanding officer of the 4th Battalion of the 1st Field Army of the Army of Heaven. I have come here today upon the orders of the Yongliang Emperor to put down this insurrection, preferably through words rather than direct military action. The Yongliang Emperor does not come in the name of violence and oppression, but of peace and strength. The army you see before you is just a small portion of the Yongliang Emperor's fearsome army, and beyond the hills to the southwest, there are more than ten times the amount of soldiers you see here, with cannons and horses.
Balzhinima Urzhin: "The tribes of the Buryat have no need to pledge fealty to a foreign emperor. The people of Buryaad have renounced the rule of the Qing. We have even established a kurultai where we have begun to govern our own affairs and decide our own policy. We have no need for foreign interference, and have no desire to bow to foreign lordship. Our people are not engaged in an insurrection, but are merely living our lives in accordance to our traditions as our ancestors have before us."
Fang Guanting: "The failure to recognize the sovereignty of the Yongliang Emperor is treason in the eyes of the law of the Great Zhengyi. Therefore, the army of the Great Zhengyi has explicit orders to put down this insurrection. We do not wish to use violence against you and your people, however defiance of imperial sovereignty in such a manner will force the Army of Heaven to employ military force. The Great Zhengyi will promise you protection, autonomy, and development. We shall stop the infighting among the Mongolic people, your own people, and bring civilization to this land. While we come with guns and horses, we also come with food, literature, money, and the guarantee of a better life should the Buryat simply swear fealty to the Yongliang Emperor. Therefore, I leave you with some few minutes to make your choice."[/list]
| The kurultai leaders step back in discussion, and talk in hushed whispers among themselves in their native tongue. Meanwhile, Fang Guanting and his other officers pull back in their own discussion, mostly regarding how best to dispatch the Buryats should they fail to recognize the sovereignty of the Yongliang Emperor. After nearly three minutes of discussion, the kurultai leaders, led by Balzhinima Urzhin, step forward. |
[list]Balzhinima Urzhin: "The kurultai will recognize the sovereignty of the Yongliang Emperor over this land and its people, conditionally."
Fang Guanting: "What conditions would you propose?"
Balzhinima Urzhin: "If what you say is true, that the Yongliang Emperor will provide Buryaad with protection, this protection must extend to the other tribes who live in this area. Additionally, we demand that the Buryat Kurultai be allowed to continue to exist to govern the affairs of our people under the sovereignty of the Yongliang Emperor. If these conditions can be agreed to- that the Buryat people be allowed to live our lives in peace as we have done for so many generations- then yes, the kurultai will pledge allegiance to the Yongliang Emperor, and the Great Zhengyi."[/list]
| The young officer thinks. |
[list]Fang Guanting: "Let us take 15 of your finest warriors to accompany us along our campaign. They will not be put in danger, but will be trained in our style, shown our tactics and our strategies, equipped with our equipment, and allowed to view battles from right behind the front lines with the officers. When we return, in roughly a year's time or more, if your warriors are impressed enough by the might which the army of the Great Zhengyi wields, then you must unconditionally pledge fealty to the Emperor and to the Great Zhengyi. We will provide you with part of the spoils of war, and with experience and leadership which your people lack in their tribal infancy. If we return, in roughly a year, and your soldiers are not impressed, than the Yongliang Emperor will agree to a conditional lordship over the Buryats. The Emperor will personally welcome the kurultai to the Forbidden City, and give audience to the leaders of your people."
Balzhinima Urzhin: "You propose an honorable offer. Therefore, I agree. We shall gather our finest warriors, and they shall depart with you. Should you fail to keep them safe, then we shall ensure that the army of the Great Zhengyi is slaughtered wherever they rear their heads in our land."[/list]
| Both men, nodding in an agreement of understanding, turn around with their companions and head opposite ways. Fang Guanting and the other officers establish themselves at an encampment outside of the village, while the kurultai summon fifteen of the most skilled warriors of their clans to the central yurt to inform them of the agreement. After a couple hours, the fifteen warriors join the 1st Field Army, and are dressed in the spare blue khaki uniforms of a regular infantryman. A detachment of 25 1st Field Army soldiers are left in Onon alongside rifles, bayonets, Zhengyi flags, plentiful rations, and other supplies with orders to defend the garrison and ensure the Buryats are compliant with imperial decree in the meantime. Upon introducing the Buryat warriors to their new arrangements, the 4th Battalion packs up its gear and marches out of the town back into the Steppe. |
______________
| After leaving Onon and rejoining the rest of the 1st Field Army, the 4th Battalion and the rest of the army begin their march through the alpine forests of northern Mongolia to complete their next objective, pacifying the Darkhad. Centered around the city of Mörön, the Darkhad peoples have proven to be aggressive to not only the groups loyal to the Yongliang Emperor, but other groups fighting for independence as well. Only some thousand in number, the majority of the Darkhad people have taken to raiding other tribal groups throughout Mongolia, and have proven themselves to be a threat. Deciding to make an example of the Darkhad, Field Marshal Ma Anliang has ordered that a third of the Darkhad fighting age male population be taken as conscripts into the 1st Field Army, with the rest forced into unconditional submission or slaughtered if submission is not achieved. The 1st Field Army sets off early in the morning just days after the temporary submission of the Buryat, and begin the five day march to Mörön. |
| Upon arriving, the 1st Field Army sets up its artillery guns in the hills outside of the town. They march into the town, the officers parading on their horses, before being met by the local authorities. Ma Anliang, through use of a translator, introduces himself, and simply asks that the local leaders accompany him and the other officers to the hills. Taking them up to the hills, he shows them the 1st Field Army's five artillery guns- within an hour, the officers and the leaders are back, with the local leaders quickly agreeing to pledge fealty to the Emperor. After pledging their submission and obedience to the Yongliang Emperor, Field Marshal Anliang captured a couple hundred of the village's young men, taking them into his army to serve in support roles for the rest of the campaign. Securing the surrender of the Darkhad without incident, two battalions of soldiers are sent out into the various areas around Mörön, as well as into the Darkhad Valley, to announce to the Darkhad communities isolated outside of Mörön of the submission of their people. Within a few days, everyone is accounted for, and with their objective in Mongolia secured, the 1st Field Army gathers their equipment, rallies the troops, and set out for Tangnu Wulianghai, the farthest reaches of the Great Zhengyi. |
Cherokee Confederates, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list]ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴍᴇɴᴇʟɪᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɪ: ጽሑፉ አማራጭ ነው ሲል በግልፅ ሲገልጽ ለጣሊያኖች ይህንን ማስታወቂያ ለምን መስጠት እንዳለብን አልገባኝም ፡፡ ታሪክን ለመከለስ እየሞከሩ ነው ፣ መንግስት አንቶኒዮ?
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱʟᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴀʀᴇɢᴀᴡɪ: "I fail to see why we should give the Italians this notice when the article clearly stated that it was optional. Are you attempting to revise history, governor Antonio?"
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Well that is great news to hear. I will discuss this with His Majesty the Emperor-King and we can meet again to discuss the terms of such an economic alliance. I believe we should meet in a months time in the city of Florence. By then the Emperor-King and I should have discussed what he wishes to see in our two countries future. I am sure that we can get our side of the agreement through parliament even though there are many elites that still see the region of Lombardy-Venetia as rightfully Austro-Hungarian, but I believe we will be able to sway them if they know that we can still see the benefits of the riches that our land once held. I believe that we have had a very beneficial meeting today, but I have other matters to attend to today. If there is nothing else that you would like to bring up we can adjourn our meeting.[/sup][/list]
Shamalistan
[list][sup]PRINCE VICTOR EMMANUEL:[/sup]"Yes, i think meeting in three months time is a good idea. Florence is a beautiful city and I'm sure my father would be open to going to such a meeting. Thank you for the refreshments."[/list]
Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
Woraniana
[list][list]𝙎𝙏𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙀𝘿
𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟐 - 𝐄𝐫𝐳𝐡𝐞𝐲, 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐧𝐮 𝐖𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐢, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐢[/list][/list]
| The frontier of the Chinese Empire. |
| In the remote forests and woodlands of the land of the Linzhong Baixing - "people who live in the woods", the isolated communities of the natives are a far cry from the splendor of Beijing, or even the majesty of the Mongolian Steppe to the south. |
| The isolated mountains and forests of the border march, even in spring, is inhabited only by those born here, and those with the determination to settle it in the pursuit of its vast natural resources. |
| In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, due to treaties signed with the Russian government and colonial policies of Saint Petersburg, the sparsely populated forests of Tangnu Wulianghai became slowly inundated by Russian merchants, traders, and hunters all looking to exploit the land, nominally held by the Qing, and its natural resources such as timber, ores, and minerals. The Guangxu Emperor, as part of his failed initiative to strengthen the Qing Dynasty, had ordered a small Qing army to travel to the border region to disperse the Russian population there and reinforce the Qing's territorial claims to the region. This garrison, headed by Qing general and Huai Army leader Song Qing, had been dispatched in the earliest weeks of 1890, garrisoned themselves outside of the regional hub of Chadan, a predominantly Russian settlement located in the heart of the Tangnu Mountains and got to work dispersing Russian fishing settlements, displacing Russian colonists, and closing Russian mines in the region. So isolated from the rest of China, the Qing garrison in Chadan was completely unaware of the events of the Jin Revolution that the 1st Field Army's advance into Tangnu Wulianghai has come with the news that the garrison, almost still completely intact, still exists within Tangnu Wulianghai, now rebased near the small fishing village of Erzhey, directly east of Chadan. Their march into the woodlands of Tangnu Wulianghai is met by villagers completely unaware of the fall of the Qing and its replacement with the Great Zhengyi, fearful of who they perceive as foreign invaders. The 1st Field Army, in its entirety, directs their advance away from Chadan and instead towards Erzhey, where they intend to find the Qing barracks and force it to surrender. |
| Very early in the morning of the 12th of April of 1892 in the Western Calendar, the first reconnaissance units reach Erzhey. Coming directly from the southeast, they encounter the village on the northern bank of the Malyyenisei River, with a small Qing garrison on the southern bank. Made entirely of logs, a wall forms the outer layer of the barracks, with a variety of buildings of varying sizes within the walls. Smoke billows from chimneys, a sign of habitation. The Qing banner very distinctly still flies over the camp, its yellow almost in the early morning sun. The horsemen fall back to inform the main army of the existence of the Qing camp, at which point Field Marshal Anliang orders the 1st Field Army to surround the camp. The 1st Field Army breaks apart, forming a circle in the woodlands surrounding the fort. Around 10 AM in the morning, the Field Marshal makes himself known to the Qing garrison as he, General Fang Guanting, and other officers and high-ranking soldiers approach the gate to the camp on horseback. The Qing garrison, armed primarily with spears and muskets, assembles on their side of the gate, with watchmen atop the gate escorting Song Qing to a safe vantage point. |
| The fifty 1st Field Army soldiers present at the gate, merely a fraction of the 40,000 total soldiers partaking in the campaign, sit atop their steeds staring down the watchmen before Song Qing himself appears directly over the gate. An old man of nearly seventy two years of age, he is clearly frail, but renowned as one of the best commanders fielded by the Qing this century. He looks upon the soldiers of the Great Zhengyi, before speaking down to them in a weakly Mandarin. |
[list]Song Qing: "This is a camp of the military of the Great Qing! By the order of the Guangxu Emperor of the Great Qing, I demand that you present to me who you are and why you have come upon our camp."
Field Marshal Anliang: "Song Qing, my name is Ma Anliang, Field Marshal of the 1st Field Army."
Song Qing: "Ma Anliang... āi yā! What news do you bring? What banner is this that you fly, which bears the characters of our language but not of our Empire?"
Field Marshal Anliang: "Song Qing, I bear orders from the Yongliang Emperor asking for you and your garrison to surrender."[/list]
| Song Qing looks around, stroking his beard in a manner implying a moment of perplexion before a serious look dawns upon his face. |
[list]Song Qing: "The Yongliang Emperor? What has become of the Guangxu Emperor?"
Field Marshal Anliang: "The Guangxu Emperor? ... You really don't know, Qing? You haven't heard?"
Song Qing: "In our two years here, we have heard very little of the situation beyond the local area. We also have yet to receive orders to come back, and have not been resupplied in months. We have been living off the land with the generosity of the people here. Please, tell me of the Guangxu Emperor?"
Field Marshal Anliang: "Aisin Gioro Zaitian was removed from the throne following the Jin Revolution, seven months ago. He has been in internal exile in Manchuria since then, as with the rest of the Aisin Gioro."
Song Qing: "The Jin Revolution? What treachery do you speak of?"[/list]
| The Field Marshal stumbles upon his words, trying to figure a way to describe it without stepping upon the old general's toes. The old general, heavily in denial, looks upon the Field Marshal with disgust. |
[list]Field Marshal Anliang: "Just days into the year of Jin, a large revolutionary movement began which sought to overthrow the Great Qing due to their failure to successfully claim the Mandate of Heaven in recent decades. This movement was successful in its overthrow and our leader, the Yongliang Emperor, has taken the throne and proclaimed the Great Zhengyi Dynasty. My men and I are on campaign to secure the surrender of various warlords and local peoples at the frontier, and enforce the sovereignty of the Yongliang Emperor over these remote territories. We have explicit orders from the Emperor-"
Song Qing: "This 'Yongliang Emperor' is not the true Emperor, but merely a usurper as I see it. The Great Qing are the true rulers of this Empire, and to come here to tell me that a revolutionary movement has overthrown the rightful Emperor is to come here to slap me in the face. The Great Zhengyi, this new dynasty has called itself"
Ma Anliang: "That is correct, your excellency."
Song Qing "Mhm.... Anliang, I have served for the Great Qing for over fifty years of my life. I have spent the majority of my life in the service of our Emperors, fighting against the enemies of our Empire where I am needed. I have spent two of those years on campaign in the forest leading my men to defend the sovereignty of the Great Qing and to defend our borders from foreign invaders, and you tell me nearly a year later that my own brothers in arms whom I have served with grew impatient and overthrew the Empire I have devoted my life to? And in doing that, you demand that I surrender my garrison?"
Field Marshal Anliang: "This is imperial decree, Qing. I understand that this may be a lot to process at the moment, but the reality is that the Mandate of Heaven has been given to the Great Zhengyi to rule with the Yongliang Emperor as the sole leader of our Celestial Empire. The Great Qing have overseen China's decline- already, the Great Zhengyi have commanded the respect of ten thousand nations abroad and have brought the barbarian invaders to know their place once more. Your efforts in the service of the Great Qing may have been misguided, but there were not without their merit, and you commend respect in the heart of the Yongliang Emperor. That is why we have come here in peace in the middle of our military expedition, to bring you home once more and to utilize your skills for a glorious and heavenly task worthy of a leader such as yourself. Therefore, Qing, I ask that you open the gates, that we may come and sit as brothers. We have food in our wagons and glory further down the trail, both of which we possess more than enough of to share with you and your men- the Yongliang Emperor only asks that you lay down your arms and recognize the state of affairs."[/list]
| Anliang's steed rears as he awaits a reply. Song Qing looks out into the distance, then up at the Qing banner as he responds slowly, almost timidly, but with a great deal of respect in his voice. |
[list]Song Qing: "Anliang... perhaps one day, you shall understand loyalty. I know you, and I know that you defected from the side of an insurrection to fight for the Great Qing when it proved opportune, and now I know that you have defected from the side of the Great Qing to join another insurrection once that proved opportune. I have no desire to join your ranks, be it that your ranks be comparable to little more than brigands with medals, and I refuse to lay down the arms of my men without explicit permission from the Emperor of the Great Qing, especially to order my men to lay down their arms to a usurper. We will remain faithful to the orders given to us by the Guangxu Emperor until we are ordered otherwise by the proper authority. With that, I bid your rebellion the best of luck in the future, and ask that you depart at once."[/list]
| Annoyed, Anliang and his other officers fall back into the woods, unsuccessful. The fifty-some men engaged in the negotiations as well as a couple hundred other soldiers enter the town after forging the river, engaging in discussions with the locals and ensuring their submission to the Yongliang Emperor. After some interactions and negotiations with the locals of Erzhey, Anliang retreats to the woodlands, where he discusses with his senior officers how best to force the last Qing garrison to surrender without incident. The idea of bombarding the fort with the 1st Field Army's cannons is brought up, but dismissed due to the terrain; blockading the fort is discussed, but deemed too time-consuming; a direct assault through the use of ladders at the fort's rear is also discussed, but ultimately dismissed in favor of a plan to burn the fort down, and apprehend the fleeing Qing soldiers as they exit the compound. Two nights pass as the Zhengyi soldiers rest and recharge, with other smaller units being sent out on other missions to disperse Russian migrant camps and force the submission of local villages, until the day of the attack arrives. |
| Throughout the day, the Zhengyi soldiers make torches and other flammable objects while also performing standard duties such as cleaning their rifles and training in their drilling formations. As the day turns to night and the sun sets below the trees and, eventually, the horizon, Field Marshal Anliang prepares to set his plot into motion. Sixty five highly-qualified soldiers are selected to sneak around to the river behind the back of the camp while on log rafts, equipped with various torches. The torches will be thrown from the rafts into the camp from behind, where they will ignite the fort and send the Qing soldiers running out of the front gate, into the waiting arms of the Zhengyi. Some hours after nightfall, the rafts are sent out into the river and the main army group begins to stealthily approach the main gate. |
| Following some difficulties, the torches are thrown into the camp where they quickly turn into a blaze. The weary Qing soldiers, unable to put out the massive blaze, begin to scramble, some climbing over the walls and jumping into the river where they are captured by the helmsmen of the rafts. However, after failing to put out the fire, the first Qing soldiers rush out of the front gate, where they are quickly captured by Zhengyi soldiers as prisoners. A couple dozen Qing soldiers are captured at the gate, and nearly two dozen captured in the river or seen swimming to the other side, however of the hundreds-strong garrison in the fort, a large majority choose to stay and burn rather than be captured. The soldiers inside, predominantly Manchu members of the Qing's Eight Banners forces, have a special loyalty to the Guangxu Emperor and the Aisin Gioro family; with their Empire collapsed, they see no place for themselves in a new China, and choose instead to die an honorable death in the service of their empire. The screams of the dying echo out into the night for hours until the last screams die down and the fire begins to put itself out. By dawn, all that is left is smoldering ruins and 74 prisoners of war. Song Qing is nowhere to be seen. |
| After regrouping in the morning, the prisoners are forced into the ranks of the 1st Field Army among logistical roles, joining other de facto prisoners of war such as the Darkhad prisoners taken back in the Steppe. The camp, left to burn in its own ashes, is hardly even inspected by the Zhengyi soldiers, instead choosing to pass it by and continue on their march towards Chadan. The last bastion of the Great Qing, burned to the ground, seemingly fulfills the Yongliang Emperor's promise: from the ashes of the Qing, all of China will work for Great Zhengyi. |
Teujira, Czabalkia, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana, Jocheon, Austrian Provinces
The German Ambassador takes the gift graciously and presents his letter of credence to the Tsar. He then bows respectfully.
[/list]Deutscher Botschafter Joseph Ferdinand von Eichendorff-Puttkamer
"Thank you, I greatly appreciate the gift your majesty. The Winter palace truly is magnificent, a symbol of the greatness of the House of Romanov. Shall we begin our meeting?"[/list]
Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana
ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴍᴇɴᴇʟɪᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɪ: ስለ እኛ ያስባል? ምክንያቱም እኔ እየሳቅኩ ስላልሆንኩ ይህ ዓይነት ቀልድ ነው ፡፡ ኤርትራን ወረረብን እና ወረድንከው ፣ ይህ የጣሊያንን ሰው የሚንከባከበው መንገድ ነውን?
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱʟᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴀʀᴇɢᴀᴡɪ: Care about us? Is this some sort of joke, because I am not laughing. You invaded and took Eritrea from usa, is this an Italian way of caring for someone?
Not Xav, Hindia Timur Raya
[list][sup]April, 1981[/sup]
HUNGARIAN INTERVENTION PART 1
[sup]ROMANIA[/sup]
___[/list]
| As the Hungarian armies entered the Romanian cities and claimed that they were to be occupied for the Romanian Crown many booed the soldiers and threw trash and rotten food. In the city of Târgoviște, the firing of bullets into the air seemed needed to call down most of the populous. Unlike Slatina, the city wasnt as rich and filled with businessmen and nobles that supported the Royal Familly. In Târgoviște some of the supporters of the Workers State of Romania who occupied the city fired off into the crowds of soldiers with what little ammunition that they had. Before soon all of the rebels in the city were rounded up and thrown into the local jail. |
[list][sup]MAJOR OCTAVIUS POPESCU:[/sup][sup] You are all disgraces to the country that you call home. When it falls upon tough times you rebel and just throw it into more turmoil. Do you think that a revolution would bring back your economy? Do you not see the neighboring countries all sending troops to put your country back together? Your people through it through so much disarray that the foreign powers had to intervene to put it back together. You disgust me. You disgrace the Romanian name."[/sup][/list]
| The major spits onto the rebels in the cell as he turns to walk away. The yelling of the rebels fill the room until a few words cut through the air. |
[list][sup]REBEL:[/sup][sup] How can you speak on behalf of the people of Romania, you arent Romanian, you havent experienced our hardships. Youre just an elite from the other side of the Carpathians how can you understand what we have gone through? "[/sup][/list]
| The major stops in his tracks and turns around to the cell. He motions to his soldier to open it and to bring him the person who just spoke. The major grabbed the rebel and brought his knee to the rebels stomach. The rebel fell to the ground in pain. The major took his shoe and rubbed it against the rebels head. |
[list][sup]MAJOR OCTAVIUS POPESCU:[/sup][sup] Do you just assume things in the Austro-Hungarian Empire are better. Hundreds of thousands of people die from famines and you revolt when your king just wants more land during a recession. You may be the backwater of Europe, but your king doesnt treat your lands like an overseas colony that he can treat the people however he wants. Though instead of revolting against my people I decided to actually do something about it rather than causing the deaths of my own people. Do you know how many Romanians have died as a result of what you and others in your group have done? You are a parasite in your society. You claim these ideals and to help the people, but you only cause more pain."[/sup][/list]
| The major releases his foot and allows the rebel to stand up. The soldier grabs the rebel to put him back into the cell. |
[list][sup]MAJOR OCTAVIUS POPESCU:[/sup][sup] No, dont put him back in the cell. Bring him round back and shoot him like the dog he is."[/sup][/list]
| The major walked out of the jail as the man screamed and pleaded for his life. Hopefully, this display would be enough to shut up the other rebels in the cells, make the jobs for the soldiers staying there easier. The major made his way to his troops on the riverside and made his preparations to go South to Bucharest. If everything were to go right he and his troops should reach their destination two days time and so should the division from Slatina.|
[list]___[/list]
Teujira, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana
[list][list]April, 1892
AN ATJEH PROBLEM
Masalah Atjeh | Een Atjeh-probleem
___[/list][/list]
Part One
[pre]| It was an ordinary day in Banda Atjeh, people seemed to be farming, some were cycling right in front of the Dutch East Indies colonial office. On this hot afternoon, the peasants in the fields wipe their sweat, and return to work. Suddenly the peasants turned their faces towards the Dutch East Indies colonial office, a car just stopped, and someone looked out of the car. He was Colonel Van Der Fijk, the governor appointed by the central colonial government to take control of the Atjeh region. Suddenly, 10 people are rushing out from the bush, holding a shotgun in their hands, the colonel guards swiftly aimed their guns at these 10 people.|[/pre]
[list][sup]ACEHNESE REBEL: "Hands up, colonists! Move your stupid government to the other region! Atjeh shall free! You're taking our recourses that supposed to be ours!"[/sup][/list]
[pre]| Fierce fighting ensued between the colonel guards and the rebels, luckily, a shotgun shot by one of the rebels missed and hit the colonel's car. The others is shot in their legs, They are now groaning in pain.|[/pre]
[list][sup]COLONEL VAN DER FIJK: "Okay, what do you want now, natives? Free you? Do you think that getting freedom is as easy as flipping a coin? If you thinks so, then you're stupid. Bring this guy in prisons, Jacob.[/sup][/list]
[pre]| When the Colonel turn around, someone stood up and shouted at the colonel, with difficulty he tried to reach for his weapon but failed, his hand being trampled by a guard.|[/pre]
[list][sup]ACEHNESE REBEL: "What did I want? I ask you back then, WHAT DID YOU WANT? Stealing our spices and pretending that we're dogs? Of course, your stupid Government oppressed us for a long time! My grandfather fought the damn Dutchman, my father fought the goddamned Dutchman, and now, it is my turn, but I already know, who is the Dutchman I'm dealing with.[/sup][/list]
[pre]| Colonel is now stepping towards the rebel and look down a little, the guards while holding the other rebels, also pointing their weapons at him.|[/pre]
[list][sup]COLONEL VAN DER FIJK: "Stop pretending that we're treat you like a slave! In fact, we still give you all the foods! Take on the bright side, come on your family it's still alive, isn't it? Tell me, what makes you feel that way. And if you say that you already now what Dutchman you deal with, then step out! Our Government is different compared to the past colonial government, you know? We're selling your spices and goods is for your life too! The money that you're earn is from us! From the selling spices things, trade! We didn't hate you, in fact we still have hearts, compared to the other region in the Dutch East Indies, You should be grateful.[/sup][/list]
[pre]| The Acehnese Rebel then struggled and jumped on the colonel's car, the guards immediately aimed their weapons at him while the other rebels were handcuffed.|[/pre]
[list][sup]ACEHNESE REBEL: "You're caring us? Pfft, it's not true at all! Your men always charge us, rudely, towards us! It's the other side of Dutch East Indies that maybe you don't know about it! The Dutch should step off our Motherland! Netherlands should die! Matilah Nederland! Atjeh shall free-.."[/sup][/list]
[pre]| Suddenly the chatter stops. After a threatening movement by the Rebel, a guard subsequently shot him down. The gun sound surprised the peasants and the civilians who are walking and stand near him.|[/pre]
[list][sup]GUARD: "I'm sorry, he's threatening the Colonel, he put a knife and intended to kill the colonel. Colonel, are you all right?"[/sup][/list]
[pre]| Colonel then grunts and stood up with difficulty with the help of the guards.|[/pre]
[list][sup]COLONEL VAN DER FIJK: "I'm alright, he deserves to get it. Bring those rebels to the prison, now, And this poor guy to the grave. Jacob, set my schedule to Batavia, I need to meet the Governor-General![/sup][/list]
[pre]| The Guards take the rest of the rebels and bring them into prison, while the dead Acehnese Rebel is taken away to the cemetery. Meanwhile, Colonel walked into his office and wiping his hands on his shirt and holding his head while circling his desk. In fact, the Atjeh Merdeka or Free Atjeh movement had long undermined the Dutch East Indies government in Banda Atjeh. In calculations, there have been at least 15 soldiers killed during this past week, and the plan, the Colonel would visit the Dutch East Indies Colonial Office in Batavia to then be forwarded to the Dutch central government.
The government hopes that this Aceh rebellion problem will not be a problem that leads to war.|[/pre]
[list][list][list]____[/list][/list][/list]
Conservativalina, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces, Nederlandsrijk
Post self-deleted by Woraniana.
[sup]AUGUST, 1892 | 2 R$[/sup]
𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕱𝖎𝖓𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖎𝖆𝖑 𝕵𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖓𝖆𝖑
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[sup]URBANIZATION AT ALL TIME HIGH AS AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT DWINDLES.[/sup]
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Following numerous laws, bills and official orders coming out of the Imperial Government and Emperor Alexio I, together billed as The Great Industrialization, urbanization is at an all time high in the Empire of Brazil as 1000s of people flock to the cities due to dwindling agricultural employment. The reasoning for this would be first the mechanization of many of the traditional agricultural jobs, though, the primary killer was the seizing of small plots and combining them into larger plots to be administered by large private companies, hence increasing efficiency and reducing the need for employment. And so, people have flocked to the cities and the coasts. In 1890, 76% of the population lived in rural areas, and only 24% of the population lived in cities and today, in 192, that proportion is 61% vs 39%. Rio De Janeiro, São Paulo, and other cities have benefited the most from this surge, as factores and built from the grounds, there seems to be a steady and constant supply of willing men and women to take such jobs.
However, this does not come without issues, there is currently a housing crisis in all major cities in Brazil due to the rapid migration from rural areas to urban areas. Emperor Alexio I announced a major plan to build affordable housing utilizing traditional Portugese Architecture, build parks, expand and construct public transport services and establish services such as fire departments, police services, and more to ensure all cities in the Empire are up to the highest standards. It is expected public transport systems shall imitate London, and more specific the London Underground train service. Other influences include the New York City Subway which was first erected in the 60s.
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[sup]EMPEROR ALEXIO I ANNOUNCES PLANNED CAPITAL IN CENTRAL BRAZIL, AND A NEW PLANNED CITY IN ANGOLA.[/sup]
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Emperor Alexio I, in a speech addressing the General Assembly announced that his Imperial office will plan and construct a brand new planned capital in Central Brazil, and a planned city in Angola. This announcement was met with shocks, but Alexio I proceeded to explain the decision to move the capital to a planned location in central Brazil. First, central Brazil lacks any major population center and is rural, second Brazil is very coastal and Alexio I believes that industrializing the center of Brazil is vital, and third off, a planned capital would lessen the effects of the large scale migration to the coasts. In Angola, the planned city would serve a similar purpose but also promote more urbanization as Luanda is far from able to be able to cope with any sort of urbanization as it is high underdeveloped. Alexio I also stated that the name of the 2 cities would be decided at a later date, though some have suggested that the capital may be called Sao Alexio.
The planned capital would be designed using Palladian architecture. The center of the city would be a long stretch of grass known as Pedro II Park on one end would be the Imperial Palace, and on the other end, the General Assembly. On the long sides of the grass would be the ministries and other government offices, all in Palladian architecture. On the other sides of all the buildings would be roads which would lead into various areas of the capital, whether it be for residential purposes, business purposes or industrial purposes. The one constant throughout the city would be its architecture and art. The plan calls for well over 5000 marble, bronze and copper statues, all in a classical, traditional style. The largest statue would be at the center of Pedro II Park, and quite obviously, be a statue of Pedro II, which will stand at 150 feet. The planned city in Angola would sport a similar style.
[spoiler=LOCATION OF PLANNED CAPITAL]http://prntscr.com/sprq11[/spoiler]
[spoiler=LOCATION OF PLANNED CITY IN ANGOLA]http://prntscr.com/sprqix [/spoiler]
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Not Xav, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Austrian Provinces, Nederlandsrijk
[sup]JULY, 1891[/sup]
THE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES: PART 1
[sub]VARIOUS, WORKERS STATE OF ROMANIAMORNING[/sub]
____
| The swift overthrow of the Romania monarchy, the assassination of King Carol I, and the subsequent execution of all heirs to the throne sent shockwaves throughout Europe. The Workers State of Romania was a stark warning that the abuse of the working class can and will end in revolution. However, Austria-Hungary invaded, and successfully took over 2 border towns, and they were now nearing Bucharest, additionally it was highly likely the Russians would too invade the Workers State. The Workers Army, which had a size of roughly 130,000 and 20,000 trained soldiers had to prepare. It was decided that buildings large trenches would be the most effective method to stave off any invasion. Every able man, woman and child would begin digging trenches, and every man, woman and child would immediately be armed, and trained with basic skills. The most able would begin receiving full training by officers. Though it was unlikely very many would be able to receive proper training. The trenches would be manned by people armed with rifles, pistols. There would also be mortars, artillery and Maxim Guns. |
[spoiler=LOCATION OF TRENCHES]
http://prntscr.com/sqfkrg
[/spoiler]
____
[sub]BUCHAREST, WORKERS STATE OF ROMANIAMORNING[/sub]
____
| The Secretary of the Workers State of Romania, Luca Cristian, sat silently in his study. On a simple wooden table would be tea in a jug, nothing fancy, and next to it, a bowl of soup made with greens and vegetables that were available in the market. Overall, it was a start difference from what would be served with the King, many types of luxury teas from India and Ceylon, cakes, meats, and other things. This was simple food, peasant food, yet, it was good hearty food. Secretary Luca Cristian was thinking silently, waiting for his Minister of War to arrive to discuss the status of the Workers State of Romania. Overall, he was feeling very stressed, he had little sleep and you could tell. The Minister of War, Markus Pilay entered the small study, greeting him. |
[list]
[sup]| MINISTER OF WAR MARKUS PILAY: |[/sup][sup] "Mr. Secretary, sorry for keeping you waiting."[/sup]
[sup]| SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN: |[/sup][sup] "No, worries, please, sit down."[/sup][/list]
| Secretary Cristian poured the Minister a cup of tea, and plated up some of the soup. |
[list]
[sup]| MINISTER OF WAR MARKUS PILAY: |[/sup][sup] "You know the situation, I don't need to repeat it."[/sup]
[sup]| SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN: |[/sup][sup] "I suppose."[/sup]
[sup]| MINISTER OF WAR MARKUS PILAY: |[/sup][sup] "I have a proposal, to protect national security."[/sup]
[sup]| SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN: |[/sup][sup] "What would that be?"[/sup]
[sup]| MINISTER OF WAR MARKUS PILAY: |[/sup][sup] "Round up every Russian, German and Hungarian speaker, and kill them, its likely many of them are spies, and they should be killed to protect the Workers State. However, I need your permission"[/sup]
[sup]| SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN: |[/sup][sup] "Kill them all."[/sup]
[sup]| MINISTER OF WAR MARKUS PILAY: |[/sup][sup] "So be it, we'll begin tomorrow."[/sup]
[/list]
| The Minister of War would inform all units, soldiers, and officers, police departments and more to arrest any Russian, Hungarian or German speaker and kill them, under the pretense that they are spies and to be executed as soon as possible. The following day, hundreds were arrested and executed. |
____
Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Austrian Provinces, Nederlandsrijk
The Government of Italy is appalled at the violent and inhumane action taken by the false Romanian leadership in Bucharest. Rome pledges its full support to the European coalition against these violent communist, usurpers.
Not Xav, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
ATJEH REBELLION: PART 1
[sup]Bandung, West Java[/sup]
___
[sup]Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger Building.[/sup]
___
| Joannes van Heutsz arrives and comes out from the horse carriage he looks up and sees the KNIL headquarters in Bandung and suddenly a young soldier comes running towards him |
[list]
JOANNES: "Calm down boy what's the matter!"
SOLDIER: "Sir his Majesty King William the Third has called you to Antwerpen! He wants you to come immediately he already sent a ship for you in the port of Cirebon, the reasons for the invite is unknown, sir I suggest you better get going now!"
JOANNES: "Your right I should get going."[/list]
| Joannes gets back in the carriage and orders the driver to take him to the Bandung railway station where he will book a ticket to Cirebon and get on the ship to Antwerpen |
25 DAYS LATER
| Joannes gets out of his carriage in into the lawn of Paleis op de Meir which is now the royal palace of house orange Nassau, the palace was said to be owned by Napoleon himself and tsar Alexander the first of Russia also lived there Joannes is very nervous as he met the king before when the second offensive was started against the Atjeh fanatics and he is not a man you should anger but what Joannes did not know is that the king is suffering from kidney problems and has selected Adolphe his 17th cousin once removed to be king, Adolphe is also the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Joannes walks towards the Paleis op de Meir and once he is close a butler opens the door and lets him inside. |
[list]BUTLER: "His Majesty is expecting you so let's hurry."
JOANNES: "Okay can you show me where his Majesty is currently."
BUTLER: "Of course come with me."[/list]
| Joannes follows the butler through the stairs towards the king's office and the butler advised him to be cautious and not be easily intimidated. Joannes enters the room and sees a bald man with a large beard looking out the windows, his desk is filled with papers and a globe on the left side |
[list]JOANNES: "Your Majesty you asked for me?"
KING WILLIAM III: "Ah van Heutsz I was expecting you, come sit down you must be very tired coming here."
JOANNES: "Not at all your majesty the ship was very comfortable."
KING WILLIAM III: "I am glad to hear it now let's drop the formalities and get down to business, I suppose you have heard of the attack on colonel van der fijk"
JOANNES: "Yes, your majesty it was a very troubling incident."
KING WILLIAM III: "well I want you to go there conscript 8 thousand troops into the east Indies army, train them and reinforce the security I am also bringing some reforms that Cornelis hordijk has done nothing to improve the east Indies if you succeed in quieting down the Atjeh rebellion then you will be made the new governor general I have high hopes for you and if you were to fail then you will be sent to Surinam were you will stay until you die understood?"
JOANNES: your generosity is greatly appreciated your majesty, and yes I understand
KING WILLIAM III: "I really hope you understand because the klootzakken from the estates general want my head on a pike!"
JOANNES: what? Your majesty are you sure?
KING WILLIAM III: "yes I am sure! Led by that Flemish scoundrel Jules de burlet, this is his chance to overthrow me! The estates general have changed the people's view of me! Now they see me as a demented old man!"
JOANNES: I see I will not fail you, your majesty
KING WILLIAM III:: "good because we will supply you with all the equipment you need, you should get going to Atjeh then"
JOANNES: thank you for the time your majesty[/list]
| Joannes gets up from the chair leaves the king's office and the palace and heads down to his carriage and orders the carriage driver to take him to the port Joannes boards the ship he came in and is headed for banda Atjeh. |
Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
[sup]NOVEMBER 18, 1892 | 4 UBSP[/sup]
The Bolivar Times | English print
_____
[sup]TRANS-BOLIVAR RAILROAD REACHES COMPLETION! URBANIZATION TO INCREASE AS THOUSANDS FLOCK NORTHWARD![/sup]
_____
In light of the recent election of Ernesto Suarez, a well-respected Bolivarian statesman and veteran of the War of Bolivarian Sovereignty (UBS-Brazilian War), to the seat of President of Gran Colombia, additional funding has been dedicated to the improvement of the nation's infrastructure. This increase in public-works funding allowed for the completion of the Trans-Bolivar Railroad (TBR) today and never before in history have the main regions of the UBS been so connected. "Now enjoying a new degree of connectivity brought by this sprawling rail, upon which construction began in 1836," said President Suarez at the TBR's completion ceremony today, "we, the people of Gran Colombia, have taken yet another grand step on the path of national progress [...] For we are the pride of the Liberator and it is our sacred duty to continue his legacy and continue to build this land into the prosperous haven it was intended to be. Let this Trans-Bolivar Railroad help us in achieving this great endeavor." These remarks were met with thunderous applause from the bulk of those present at the ceremony and, despite their growing suspicion of President Suarez for his alleged Centrist leadership methods, even some hardline Conservatives joined in the applause.
Although celebrations for the TBR's completion subsided just hours ago, thousands of ambitious, additional youth from the south have taken it upon themselves to travel north for urban sectors along the new railroad. This influx was likely prompted by the desire of many to escape the fire-stricken forests of the Ecuador Region. Another reason could be the rise in mob activity in and around Quito in the aftermath of the Peruvian War of Succession- a growing issue that many have urged Bogota to address. Whatever the reason is, the fact of the matter is that a large portion of southern youth have begun migrating to urban hubs in the northern states, leaving southern women and children vulnerable to mob violence. Although many in the northern sectors see the recent influx as a positive occurrence, southern senators' approached the President today requesting immediate action not only to quell local mob violence but also to rejuvenate the working class in and around Quito. In response, President Suarez stated that "[he] will think it over with his advisory" and the southern senators' anxieties continue to soar through the roof.
_____
[sup]A BRIDGE BETWEEN WORLDS? ADDITIONAL TRADE AND DIPLOMATIC CONNECTIONS LIKELY ON THE HORIZON![/sup]
_____
After observing the tremendous wealth being shipped through the Straits of Malacca during his recent travels to the Far East, a man by the name of Marius O'Bean thought of a groundbreaking idea: the construction of a canal through the northern arm of the New Grenada Region. According to O'Bean, his "Golden Canal" through Panama will expedite maritime travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and will allow the United Bolivar States to attract additional trade and investments from abroad- all-the-while making a hefty profit in the process. O'Bean is a prominent architect, inventor, and part-time philosopher in Medellín, although he was born in Darien Province to an Irish-American blacksmith and a local, Latin peasant woman. Even with his humble beginnings as a lowly farm-boy, this man has made quite the name for himself in his local city and recently attracted the eyes of Bogota for his ingenuity displayed in improving nearby plumbing and irrigation systems. O'Bean met with the UBS Trade Minister today in Bogota and, by the looks on their faces afterwards, the meeting went swimmingly. When approached by members of the associated press, Trade Minister Lopez happily announced that "construction of O'Bean's great 'Golden Canal' will begin early next year" and noted that "foreign funds will be much appreciated."
On the matter of attracting additional trade and investments from abroad, both the Trade Ministry and Foreign Ministry have signaled their preparations for commercial and diplomatic expansion across the globe. This comes after President Suarez called for "a national modernization effort to move [the UBS] towards industrial and military parity with the European powers" in his annual Midyear Address. This being the case, leaders of nations of major interest have been individually invited to Bogota for talks at their soonest convenience. Apparently, in the invitations, it was noted that the UBS looks forward to building mutually-beneficial bridges between itself and nations with which it deems to be "moving in the desired or at least a similar direction of the United Bolivar States." The new modernization effort is largely contingent on these nations' cooperation with the UBS and President Suarez is hopeful that his ministries' requests will not be in vain.
_____
[Spoiler=COVERT: Leaders are invited from these foreign entities]
The British Empire (Anglo Channel)
The United States of America (Vancordia)
The German Empire (Teujira)
The Empire of Austria-Hungary (Austrian Provinces)
The French Empire (Francia Napoleonienne)
The Dutch Empire (Nederlandsrijk)
The Dutch East Indies (Hindia Timur Raya)
The Kingdom of Italy (Concorrdia)
The Zhengyi Dynasty of China (Shamalistan)
The Empire of Japan (Cherokee Confederates)
[/spoiler]
Teujira, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana, Nederlandsrijk
[list]A PAW IN THE FACE:

Смерть нашим Врагам![/list]
[pre]15 April 1891 A.D. (Gregorian)
1 Апреля 1891 г.н.э. (Юлианский)
In the 11th Year of the Reign of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of All Russia Alexander III of the House of Romanov (Regnal)
[/pre]
[list]Novocherkassk, the Don Cossack Host, Russian Empire[/list]

| The Russian Empire was becoming a bustling nation as quite literally millions were finding work laying vast tracks of rail, stringing wires to electrical poles, land excavating, or other construction projects across the empire. But threats to this new Russian society were arising it seemed at every turn. The peasant proclamation of a so called Workers State of Romania in the Danubian region, indignant Arab slave traders in the Congolese interior, and liberal democrat academics spreading dissident ideas across Russia. It was time to use his two favorite attack dogs: The Cossacks and the Okhrana.
Orders were sent from Petrograd to the Don Cossack Host, travelling partly by telegraph and partly on horseback across the industrializing Pale of Settlement. By the 1st of April directives are finally received by Ataman Pavel Vyacheslavovich Turchaninov, the elected head of the Don Cossacks. Plans are made to collect two Don Cossack cavalry divisions and dispatch them west, across the Danubian river at Unghazi, and then to Iasi. Iasi had been the capital of the Moldavian Principality for centuries and, although Bucharest was lost, a Romanian state based in Iasi would have control of a historic cultural capital. The Don Cossacks would seek to take control of the Cetățuia, Galata, and Copou hills to establish defensive positions for cart mounted 107 mm field guns. The force would be composed of 25,000 Don Cossacks total, split in two units of 12,250 armed with M1886 Winchester repeaters, some Berdan bolt action rifles, and carrying shashkas on their waists. After establishing a base of operations, one Don Cossack division would break immediately for Bucharest to enforce the Brasov Division of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Despite their mutual animosity, Tsar Alexander III recognized the mutual threat they both faced with the rise of a peasant led socialist republic and was committed to crush it brutally. The Paris Communes brutal destruction had clearly not been enough to dissuade the international proletariat, but his actions now would certainly do so for centuries to come. It would take roughly 2 days before the Don Cossacks would reach Iasi, immediately seeking to establish order there or combat socialist forces. Despite the Romanov opposition to the Workers State of Romania, many young Russian intellectuals had come to gravitate towards far left ideologies like communism and anarchism. Among these are a young Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (younger brother to the Marxist terrorist and assassin of Tsar Alexander II, Alexander Ulyanov), the renowned Marxist theoretician Georgi Plekhanov, Vera Zasulich, Leo Deutsch, Pavel Axelrod, Julius Martov, Gleb Krzhizhanovsky, Anatoly Vaneyev, Josef Piłsudski, Julian Marchlevsky, Adolf Varski, Leon Jogiches, Rosa Luxembourg, Alexandra Kolontai and many other Marxist and socialist revolutionaries in the capitals of the Russian Empire. Many of these figures had been members of the Emancipation of Labor Marxist group and would later join the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party. It would be roughly 1,100 total Russians who would make the journey to Romania to serve alongside the revolutionary committees.
Facing threats never before seen and on the unceasing insistence of Chairman of the State Council and Viceroy of the Russian Kongo, Nikolai von Bunge, Tsar Alexander III dismisses the aging Baron Ivan Logginovich Goremykin from the position of Minister of Internal Affairs. In his place, von Bunge recommends the 29-year-old Prince Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin. The son of the General Arkady Dmitrievich Stolypin (former Governor of Eastern Rumelia and Commander of the Kremlin Guard) and maternal grandson of Prince Mikhail Dmitrievich Gorchakov (Governor of Warsaw), Pyotr Stolypin was as political connected and financially established as a Russian could be. Having been raised and educated between Dresden and the Moscow, Stolypin was fluent in 6 languages and a natural diplomat. Most supremely he was an excellent and effective organizer, someone who had displayed magnificent skill as an administrator in Byelorussia. As a personal family friend of the Romanovs, and of the Tsarevich Nicholas, Tsar Alexander III was placing a great deal of trust in the hands of young Pyotr. Right away, Stolypin gets to work countering several threats to public safety within the empire. Okhrana offices would now be established in every municipality with a population greater than 24,000. Every foreign embassy of the Russian Empire would now maintain an Okhrana attaché office to monitor the revolutionary activities of Russians abroad and at home. As the administrator of Grodno, Stolypin has amassed police records on nearly every male resident, he now wished to do the same with the Empire and all of Her Subjects. The main goal of the Okhrana is to identify and neutralize any and all anti-monarchist, pro-socialist, and pro-separatist activists. Limited by their times, but still innovative, the Okhrana will employ a number of tactics to penetrate anti-government movements. Infiltrating of groups with undercover agents, conducting mass raids during underground meetings, and interrupting thousands of mail and telegraph communications whenever possible.
While socialist revolutionaries would continue to be deported to katorga labor facilities in Siberia, less threatening liberal activists would now be deported to the Kongo Protectorate to serve their sentence in the service of colonial authorities. This was to serve two purposes: constitutional liberals presented the greatest threat to Tsarist power and commanded the greatest support from the middle classes, they would also provide a steady stream of ideologically sympathetic administrators to capitalists trying to extract wealth from the colony. While officially sentences would be in the service of several katorga facilities, in reality those convicted lighter political crimes would be serving as Kongolese Territorial Force officers, Mine and Farm Overseers, Construction Foremen, and other skilled and technical employees. So many upper and middle class liberal youth will be deported to the Kongo Protectorate, that many parents talk of their children going on years abroad to Africa as a sarcastic joke. The sentences also aim to bind these young men to the Kongo, turning them into longer term colonists who will send for brides back in Russia as they find careers in colonial expansion. Many young delinquents, of ages 17 to 19, are also sent to serve sentences in the Kongolese Territorial Force. Of these delinquents is one, Artsan Vahreyevich Gasparyan, a 17-year-old serial thief from the Armenian trading center of Alexandropol (today Gyumri). Artsan had landed himself a 5 year sentence for robbing trading caravans between Armenia and Georgia, but his story was for another time.
Lastly would be the Arab slave traders, who were now posing a security risk to Russias most arguably important holding, and its sole overseas possession. Tensions had been brewing since 1886, when a local Zanzibar-Arab slave trader called Tippu Tip attacked a Russian colonial fort near Stenli Falls (named for Welsh explorer Henry Morton Stanley). The fort was defended by two Russian officers, eighty Dagestani and sixty local militiamen and after a four-day siege, the defenders ran out of ammunition and fled, abandoning the fort. Initially, the authority of the Russian Crown was relatively weak in the eastern regions of the Kongo, and no counter attack was made by Petrograd. In consequence, Tippu Tip began to move more men into the Kongo, including several Arab slaver captains and also some Kongolese leaders, such as Gongo Lutete. In early 1887, Henry Morton Stanley arrived in Zanzibar and proposed that Tippu Tip be made governor of the Stenli Falls Oblast in the Kongo Protectorate. Both Alexander III and Barghash bin Said agreed and on February 24, 1887, Tippu Tip accepted. Tippu Tip agreed to submit to colonial authority and to allow a Russian Resident attaché by his side to help him govern this territoryinspired by the indirect rule governance system used by the British Empire and in the Dutch East Indies. The borders of his territories were the Aruwimi and the Lualaba River. Additionally Tippu Tip was to redirect his ivory trade through the Russian Kongo, to the ports located at the Atlantic Ocean and he was to assist Tsar Alexander III s forces in their expeditions to the Upper Nile, to help further expand his territories. Soon after making this deal, it became apparent that Tippu Tip was not inclined to accept colonial capitalist authorities and considered himself more of a vassal than a state official, allowed to do as he pleased, within certain boundaries. Furthermore, Tippu Tip did not have absolute authority over the eastern Kongo region, but was considered as a first among equals. Other major slave traders like Rumaliza, the strongman of Lake Tanganyika, considered his deal with the Russian Crown to be treason. Rumaliza abolished the Russian Imperial flag and swore loyalty to the red flag of the sultan of Zanzibar.
In March and April 1891, Tippu Tip's son Sefu bin Hamid began to lead various attacks on Kongo Protectorate personnel in the eastern Kongo, including ivory trader Raiko Klavansent by the Kommercheskiy sindikat Katangi to 'acquire' ivoryand Prince Yuliy Voronstov, who had been confiscating ivory by force from several powerful Arab traders. These expeditions played a huge role in uniting the slave and ivory traders in the region, in the fight against their common enemy, the Russian colonists.In 1891 The Times reported that, during further explorations in the Kongo, Klavan was captured and killed, his head stuck on a pole. Relations were further strained when Rashid ben Mohammed, Tippu Tip's nephew and resident Arab leader in Stenli Falls, refused to assist in the investigation of Klavans death. Gongo Lutete also led actions in the east at this time. The Territorial Force, under Baron Alexei Kolokoltsov, are sent to Katanga to resupply the trading post of Lofoi, and establish new outposts on his path. During this mission, the Territorial Force crossed paths with the soldiers of Gongo Lutete captured by Tippu Tip as a boy, after winning his freedom he became the leader of the Batetela and Bakusu tribes. Gongo Letete was heading to Kasay in the west, to pick up weapon supplies from Angola, in an attempt to strengthen his position in the Lomani region. After several skirmishes throughout April 1891 with the better equipped Protectorate forces of Kolokolstov and Voronstov, Ngongo Lutete decided to make a deal with the Russian authorities. On the 29th of April he switched sides and joined the Territorial Force - other native leaders like Pania Mutomba before him and Lupungu, chief of the Songe at Kabinda shortly thereafter, also had joined the Territorial Force. Now with the backing of several local warlords, the colonial authorities would have greater assistance from locals with great command of the terrain and its people. |
Val Verde-, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana, Nederlandsrijk, Liga Iberica
[list][sup]GOVERNOR ANTONIO GANDOLFI:[/sup][sup] No it was not a joke. I see you wish to reiterate past disagreements between our two countries. You have the right to represent yourselves to other powers. Now let's sign the treaty and we can be done with this mediation to move on to better realtions. [/sup]
Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana
[list][sup]July, 1892[/sup]
ROMANIAN INTERVENTION PART 1
[sup]Wallachia, Romania[/sup]
___[/list]
| Scouts returned back to the city of Slatina on horseback out of breath carrying wounded men. The army was boarding boats on the Olt River preparing their decent South to the Danube. |
[list][sup]SCOUT:[/sup][sup] I need to speak to the Major. We have sighted rebels fortifying just south of the city."[/sup][/list]
| A large man riding his horse made his way down a ramp off of a nearby boat. He rode towards the Scout stopping abruptly in front of him. |
[list][sup]MAJOR FLOREA:[/sup][sup] If what you said is true then we must set out now to get ahead of any further fortifications. We must stop the artillery from moving out on their own. We cannot suspect that their fortifications only lie here but intensify as they get closer to Bucharest. We will instead bring the artillery with us and send a small infantry, North along the Argeș, and attack their line from behind while an infantry from Brașov attacks from the front. Then the artillery can join the Brașov division and we can continue with plans from there, but we will have to do this during the night. If we were to do it during the day they could relay information that troops were coming from the South and our plan would be completely destroyed."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]SOLIDER:[/sup][sup] But Major, if they are fortifying South of here, wont we be sitting ducks on the river? What will stop them from attacking us and destroying our vessels?"[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MAJOR FLOREA:[/sup][sup] You, scout, what kind of fortifications did you see?"[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]SCOUT:[/sup][sup] They were constructing dugouts, trenches to fight us from. They didnt have high grade military equipment, mostly poormans huntingrifles."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MAJOR FLOREA:[/sup][sup] Well then it will take them a while to actually dig out the trenches, and their focus will be on digging. We will disguise ourselves as fleeing Romanian refugees. We will have to keep all horses and artillery below deck to avoid suspicion, but if we were to be discovered we will have snipers positioned throughout the ships to pick off those surrounding us."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]SOLIDER:[/sup][sup] As for the message to the Brașov division?"[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MAJOR FLOREA:[/sup][sup] Tell them that there is heavy fortifications to their south as they are closer to Bucharest. They will need to disregard their previous plans to sail South directly on the Dâmbovița and instead need to help our smaller division and the can push through on the Argeș. They will then move behind the Romanian fortifications and move to bombard the North-East of the city as was previously planned."[/sup][/list]
| A group of three men on horses rode to the East to send the message to the Brașov division. They should make it in half a days ride while the Sibiu division moves South on the Olt River. They leave during the light of day while the Brașov division will move during the night to converge on the Romanian fortification along the Argeș. From there the plan to liberate Bucharest will continue as planned. |
[list]___[/list]
Val Verde-, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana
PLAY ME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzxQeDWZMl0
[list][list]~ 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 ~
| ᴀʟ ᴍᴀʟ ᴛɪᴇᴍᴘᴏ, ʙᴜᴇɴᴀ ᴄᴀʀᴀ |[/list][/list]
|[sup]The 15th of February, 1891, Sonora Hermosillo. In the dusty streets of Hermosillo are filled with travelers, traders, and salesmen. All looking for ways to make money, but the individual we will be observing is no vagabond or trader, he is a Rural, or a government dog depending on who you ask. This individual is named 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐃𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚, born May 8th, 1864 to Maria de la Vega. A humble peasant woman from Cuernavaca who was impregnated by a passing soldier during the war with France. She was charmed by the soldier and became pregnant with his child, but since she didn't marry the soldier her father considered her a whore and kicked her out of the house. From there she was forced to work at the local Hacienda of the state governor. The governor often forced himself upon her many times. Eventually, she gave birth to Jorge, but with his birth, she was kicked out of the hacienda because the governor thought Jorge was his son. Once again homeless she and Jorge returned back to her parent's house, while Maria's parents were not kind to her, they did take pity on the boy thus allowing them to move back in.[/sup]
[sup]Unfortunately, Maria would fall victim to cholera in the summer leaving Jorge without a mother and Jorge's father never came to claim his son, assuming he even survived the war. From then on Jorge was raised by the fist of his drunkard grandfather, who took it upon himself to beat his grandson and work him hard in the fields. By the age of 14, Jorge ran away from home and but with no money or relatives he ended up joining a gang of banditos who stole goods from caravans. There in those hills, he became a killer, liar, and a thief. Eventually, he and his gang were captured by the Army in 1875 put up against the firing squad for their crimes. However, Jorge was made an offer of a lifetime. Become a state-employed Rural or face the firing squad, the choice was easy for Jorge. He left that prison a new man with a whole new perspective on life. He took up bounty hunting as a rural which employed his skills as a former bandito, gaining him quite the reputation in the south. But in these times, Jorge has come from the south to Hermosillo Sonora, to get his hands on high Yaqui bounties with many other rurals from the south.[/sup]
Imgur pictures for the scene: https://imgur.com/a/Kyi4MHF
[sup]It's 11:00 AM and Jorge alongside his mule, Dolores, walk the markets of el Centro de Hermosillo looking for a specific bar frequented by rurales. He walked around for a while until he finally stumbled across the bar. He hitches dolores to the post right outside the seedy establishment, as he approaches the entrance and suddenly a person is thrown out by the bartender.[/sup]|
[list][list]Bartender Uriel
Sacate a la chingada! Maldito parasito, aqui no se da pulque gratis!
[sup](Get the f*ck out! Dam parasite, we don't give out free pulque here!)[/sup]
Vagrant
Ya güey! Te dije que te pago lunes!!! Es cuando me pagan, no seas malo!
[sup](stop d*mbass! I said I'd pay you Monday! That's when they pay me, don't be bad!)[/sup]
Bartender Uriel
Me vale! Tu ya debes desde semanas pasadas hijo de puta! Nuca velves maldito parasito!
[sup](I don't give a dam! You own me weeks past you son of a whore! Never return dammed parasite!)[/sup][/list][/list]
[sup]The vagrant now on the floor, inches away from Jorge's feet looks up at him. Finally noticing his presence. The bartender also notices Jorge, but his expression is one of frustration. The vagrant grabs Jorge by the pants and begins begging for him to pay his tab. Jorge unamused kicks the vagrant in the face and proceeds to the entrance. The bartender impeeds his entrance before he can get in.[/sup]
[list][list]Bartender Uriel
Hey hey, tu eres un rural cierto? If so then you'd better be on your best behavior! Already had enough of you rurales causing a ruckus in my cantina for one day!
[sup](Your one of them rurals right?)[/sup]
Jorge de la Vega
No se preocupe don. You se como comportarme...
[sup](Don't worry sir. I know how to behave....)[/sup][/list][/list]
[sup]The Bartender rolls his eyes and steps back into the cantina. Jorge following steps inside, once in he scans the scene. The cantina is full of Rurales who arrived since yesterday, all drinking and conversing amongst themselves. Jorge makes his way to a lone table in the corner and takes his seat. The bartender walks up to him to take his order.[/sup]
[list][list]Bartender Uriel
Alright what can I get you today?
Jorge de la Vega
You have avena?
Bartender Uriel
Avena? This is a cantina, not a restaurant. It's either tequila, pulque, or water.
Jorge de la Vega
I don't like alcohol so get me a cup of water.
Bartender Uriel
You don't like alcohol? Entonces que aces en una cantina?
[sup](Then what are you doing in a cantina?)[/sup]
Jorge de la Vega
Scouting out the competition of course.
Bartender Uriel
What, these other rurales? I thought you all worked together like a f*cking pack of vultures.
Jorge de la Vega
Most rurales do in fact work in units, usually lead by self-declared captains or sergeants. Some of us, however, like to work alone, it's better that way too. Don't have to share earnings, don't have to deal with assh*les, and best of all don't have to drag dead weight.
Bartender Uriel
I guess that makes sense in your line of work...you happen to know any of these bastards?
Jorge de la Vega
Hmmm...you see that tall fat man, his name is Garcia Canizares, or better know as el Cerrdo. He leads a large rural unit and is a self-declared captain. So everyone refers to him as Capitan Cerrdo. Before you ask, no, he doesn't get angry if you call him Cerrdo, quite the opposite in fact. He gets more offended if you refer to him by his real name.
Bartender Uriel
Hmph, you seem to know each other. Are you amigos or something?
Jorge de la Vega
No, I actually despise him. I only know him because we crossed paths a couple of times in the south. The thing about Cerrdo is, he's an ex-bandito. The man was charged with robbery, murder, extortion, abduction, rape, and some say even cannibalism. The only reason he walks amongst the living is that he proved himself very useful to the government in hunting down other bandits. Word of advice, keep your wife or daughters hidden while he's here.
Bartender Uriel
Noted. Who else do you know here?
Jorge de la Vega
You see that little runt sitting next to Cerrdo? His name is Pulga, he's an opportunistic little parasite that jumps from unit to unit, and by the looks of it, he's made himself comfortable with Cerrdo. My advice, don't leave valuables lying around. Someone else you should be wary of is el Sargento. Sargento runs a pretty big group of rurales, last time I heard he had a headcount of 30 rurals, most of which are ex-military. Sargento is also ex-army, unlike most other rurales who are ex-banditos or civilians, the man fought the French during their invasion and is even considered a war hero back in his home state. The man, however, is a massive assh*le and operates more like a military officer then a rural. Another familiar face in here is that well-dressed b*stard over there. His name is Felippe Magdaleno or Gallo. He works alone most of the time but sometimes he gets with a unit, the only reason he works alone most of the time is so that he can get a bigger pay. Gallo is a greedy hijo de puta, always likes to dress himself up in the finest clothes. I hate to admit it, but the man has style. Sitting next to Gallo is De la Rey. De la Rey always works with someone, rarely will you see him alone. He's got good eyes and his real talented with a rifle. The man can shoot you from miles away without even trying, a bit arrogant but not without reason. And finally, that lonely gringo sitting over there is Tatu. Know one knows where he came from, but he's friendly and keeps to himself, though his Spanish is barely understandable.
Bartender Uriel
I take it you've crossed paths with these people before?
Jorge de la Vega
Preety much, Tatu being the exception since he sticks up here in the north and I'm from the south. Now about that water bartender...
Bartender Uriel
Mierda, sorry for the delay allow me to get you a cup![/list]
CONTINUED IN PART 2
Val Verde-, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana
ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴍᴇɴᴇʟɪᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɪ: ጣልያን እራሷን በዲፕሎማሲዋ ውስጥ ጣልቃ እንዳትገባ ወይም እንደማያስገድድ ሙሉ ዋስትና እፈልጋለሁ ፡፡ በስምምነቱ 17 ኛ አንቀጽ እንደተመለከተው ፡፡ ቃልዎ አለኝ?
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱʟᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴀʀᴇɢᴀᴡɪ: I want an absolute guarantee that Italy will not interfere or force itself into our diplomacy. As stated by the 17th Article of the Treaty. Do I have your word?
Hindia Timur Raya, Woraniana
[sup]URBAN & HOUSING MINISTRY | MINISTÉRIO URBANO & HABITACIONAL[/sup]
[sub]JANUARY, 1893 | JANUARY 1893[/sub]
____
ALEXIO I APPROVES PLAN FOR NEW CAPITAL!
[sub]THE PLAN IS RELEASED AND THE NEW CAPITAL IS NAMED SÃO PEDRO.[/sub]
| Alexio I announced that the planned capital now has detailed plans and would be named Sao Pedro after Emperor Pedro II. This was met with praise by both sides of the aisle and the general public. Emperor Alexio I went into detail about the new planned capital and additionally handed out detailed plans to members of the press, general assembly, and more. These plans were extensive and praised by Architects and Urban theorists. Alexio I stated that the capital would be the center for transport, governance and the interior of the Empire of Brazil. The hope was, that the capital would help connect the interior to the coasts, greater economic integration with the whole of the land of the empire and server and a transshipment hub for agricultural goods while the coasts would remain dominant in industry. The plan is as follows. |
____
PART I OF SAO PEDRO PLAN
[sup]THE CENTRAL COURT.[/sup]
____
| The central court is where all roads lead to in Sao Pedro. The central court is a large strip of grass cut in a style similar to that seen in Cambridge University. On the flanking edges of the court would be various ministries, on the long end would be the Imperial Palace and on the other end, the General Assembly. The central court stretches for 3 miles and is a quarter mile wide. People will not be allowed to step on the grass. In the middle of the court would be a large, 120 foot statue of Emperor Pedro II, the statue itself is only 90 feet while its pedestal comes in at around 30 feet. The court is bordered by cobblestone sidewalks which lead to the statue and the various ministries, and buildings. Some of the buildings on the court and short descriptions of them are as follows: |
[list]
[sup]IMPERIAL PALACE[/sup]
[sup]The Imperial Palace will be the residence of the Emperor of Brazil. The palace will be constructed using Palladian Architecture and sport well over 250 rooms. The palace will have a square footage of 200,000.[/sup]
[spoiler=Photograph]https://imgur.com/a/UDX5UiJ[/spoiler]
[sup]GENERAL ASSEMBLY[/sup]
[sup]The General Assembly Building will house the General Assembly, its members, their offices, and the General Assembly Guard. The building also sports and is designed with Palladian Architecture. .[/sup]
[spoiler=Photograph]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Wanstead_-_intended_design.jpg[/spoiler]
[sup]DEFENSE MINISTRY[/sup]
[sup]The Defense Ministry building will house all the operations pertaining to the Armed Forces except the Navy which will continue to operate from Rio De Janeiro due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. .[/sup]
[spoiler=Photograph]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Wanstead_House_as_built.jpg[/spoiler]
[/list]
| The facades of the buildings that face away from the Central Court will face 4 large boulevards that in one way or another connect with every other road in Sao Pedro. One road shall be named Alexio I Blvd, another Pedro II Blvd, Another road Amazonia Blvd and another Barbosa Blvd |
____
Teujira, Val Verde-, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya
[sup]JULY, 1891[/sup]
THE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES: PART 2
[sub]BUCHAREST, WORKERS STATE OF ROMANIAMORNING[/sub]
____
| Days had passed since the Workers State of Romania approved the arrest and execution of all Russian, German and Hungarian speaking individuals, under the pretense that they were likely spies. Hundreds of individuals were rounded up and sent to the central square in Bucharest where they were publically executed. People suspicious of others would tackle them, and hold them at knife's point forcing them to speak a foreign language, those who didn't know one and thus current speak it, were often killed. Indeed, it was a tense, and brutal time in Bucharest. But above all, this was survival. Austrian troops were advancing on Bucharest and it was likely the Russians were to join in on this crusade to topple the Workers State of Romania and reinstall a monarch in some shape or form. However, the people of Bucharest and the entire Workers State of Romania were tough, and they were willing to fight to the last man to defend their homeland, and newfound freedom and security. And so, when Secretary Luca Cristian told them to go dig trenches, they marched away from Bucharest, shovels in one hand, rifles in the next, and they dug, and they dug. Some fainted, some had muscle pulls, some died of exhaustion, but no one was willing to back down and head back to Bucharest, their only desire was to dig the trench, wider, and wider, deeper, and deeper, so no man could cross, no Austrian could cross and no Russian could cross. Albiet, there simply wasn't enough manpower to complete most of the planned trench lines, so they opted for a smaller trench that surrounded Bucharest and around 30 miles out from it. Even so, they would try to build the original plan, though, it was all but likely to never be completed and most certainly fail. |
| Inside the office of the Secretary of the Workers State of Romania, sat Luca Cristian and his adviser. They ate stale, and crunchy bread. They sipped weak tea and coffee, and globbered spoonfuls of soup which contained various veggies, and some salted pork. Luca Cristian and his adviser sat in silence for most of the meeting, they were hungry as they skipped breakfast and the previous night's dinner. Finally, Secretary Cristian spoke. |
[list]
[sup]SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN:[/sup][sup] "I think, we made a mistake, concerning the arrest and execution of all foreign speakers, it seems, inhumane, and fairly ineffective."[/sup]
[/list]
| His adviser wouldn't respond till his stomach finished his soup, tea and bread. |
[list]
[sup]ADVISER:[/sup][sup] "I agree, its not working, and we're becoming savages, end the policy."[/sup]
[sup]SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN:[/sup][sup] "Tonight it ends, I think perhaps we provoked the international community by doing so, we have been made to look like the bad guy. The Defense Minister is an idiot for suggesting such a thing in the first place."[/sup]
[sup]ADVISER:[/sup][sup] "I'll inform the military and the people of the Workers State as soon as I leave concerning the change of policy, and why we did it."[/sup]
[sup]SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN:[/sup][sup] "Excellent."[/sup][/list]
| In a sense, there was an aura of defeat among the pair, they knew at heart, that their chances of fending off the Austrian Army were glum, they knew at heart that their chances of fending on the Russian, were glum. They didn't know if they could pull off a miracle, a military victory to go down in history as one of the finest ever, a victory to be looked at for centuries and admired, but they knew such a concept was far off, and near-impossible. Nevertheless, they had to try to achieve that. It was their only chance, their only hope, the only way to retain this future. |
[list][sup]ADVISER:[/sup][sup] "I'm off to inform everyone that there shall no longer be executions or arrest of foreign speakers or nationals, good day to you, we shall meet tomorrow."[/sup]
[sup]SECRETARY LUCA CRISTIAN:[/sup][sup] "Indeed we shall, have a lovely evening."[/sup][/list]
| And so he left. |
____
Val Verde-, Shamalistan, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Hindia Timur Raya, Austrian Provinces
Post self-deleted by Shamalistan.
[list][list]НАША НАЦИЈА - OUR NATION - NAA NACIJA
[list][sub]An Excerpt from Nationalist Author Velizar ivanović's Essay, "Our Nation", as published
April 1893 - Belgrade, Empire of Serbia[/sub][/list][/list][/list]
| ALL SERBIA IS ONE NATION. |
| The fundamental truth regarding the existence of the Serbian Empire, is that all of the Serbian nation must be ruled directly by the Emperor of the Serbs, and that our national goal shall never be completed until every last Serbian community on this continent is freed from foreign occupation and subjugation. This, more than anything else, is the goal of the existence of the Serbian Empire, and the Serbian people must ensure that our Emperor works tirelessly, with the support of our Russian brothers, to accomplish this goal. |
| The successes of our own revolution and that of the Bulgarians and the Romanians establishes the guarantee that the Slav is mightier than his oppressor but that, above all else, Serbians are given God's blessings to seek independence from our oppressor. The Turk and the Austrian who subjugate all Serbs everywhere are weaker than the hand of a single Serb. Combine the strength of each Serb living within Serbia legally and Serbia naturally and put that strength against all the strengths of the empires which divide us and keep Serbia impoverished and subjugated, and you would find that Serbia would overnight conquer its enemies, gain the respect of its allies, and free all of our people, uniting all Serbia into one nation. |
| ... |
| The Serbian nation is not simply split in two as we see on the map, but into many different parts- there is the Serb land which has been declared internationally as the recognized lands of the Serbian Empire, then the Serb land which we know to be Serbian but over which, tyrants have flown their flag, which are recognized as Vojvodina, Kosovo, Metohija, Sanjak, Bosnia, the lands of Mantasir, and so on, and then the land which our brotherly Slavs live in, which we define as part of the greater Serbian community- the lands of the Croats, the Slovenes, the Bulgarians, and the Serbian Macedon. Our Nation will not be unified until, at the very least, the lands which we know to be Serbian which have been occupied by the oppressor are liberated wholly and unified under the Serbian flag. Beyond that, Our Nation must strive to create and foster an independent community of Yugoslav nation states, led by Serbia, to fend off our continued occupation by the oppressor. Until then, the revolutionary struggle of our forefathers in the last century shall never be complete, and it falls to us to continue this struggle. Any Serb who wishes to be worthy of the title of Serb must devote themselves to this struggle- from the poorest of farmer to the richest of nobleman. Each and every Serb has a part to play, and those who refuse to play it must be shunned into action. |
| This is a generational conflict. The struggle of the Serb against the oppressor is as old as the oppressor's empires, but the Serb's grand history is even longer, and shall shine even brighter in the years to come. |
| ... |
| Any man who is entrusted with the crown of the Emperor of the Serbs must be held accountable by those he governs, and by all Serbs everywhere ... ...it is the responsibility of the Emperor to do numerous things: to expand Serbia's political borders to meet its natural borders; to establish Serbia as a leader of the Yugoslavs; to develop Serbia's economy and industry and enrich the Serbian people; to continue to ensure close ties with our Russian brothers, who were our biggest ally in the fight for establishing a Serbian Empire, and cultivating the ties between our people and their people; and, most importantly, preserving the cultural and religious identity of the Serb in a world where we are surrounded on all sides by the Muslim Turks and the German Catholics, and use the flame within the heart of every Serb to sweep away our enemies in a great inferno. |
| -------- |
| Velizar ivanović(a pen name for an anonymous nationalist and essayist)'s newest release, Our Nation, is first printed and circulated by groups of Serbian nationalists throughout Belgrade. The passionate writings of ivanović's ideals regarding the Serbian national identity create a firestorm which captures the imagination and nationalism of every patriotic Serb, spreading radical ideas of nationalism throughout the Empire until eventually, Serbs in both Serbia proper and the Montenegrin territories are at a minimum familiar with ivanović's essay. So great is the impact of the essay, published first in April 1893, that within mere days of its initial print, newly-enthroned Emperor Alexander I is presented a copy of the essay. Nationalist groups on the streets begin to hand out free copies of the essay to anyone they meet. Nationalism is on the rise within the Serbian Empire. |
Val Verde-, Not Xav, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
[sub]Play me: https://youtu.be/E__Q4mmPKLY[/sub]
[pre]The Life of Artsan
PART 1[/pre]
[list]7 July 1892
Territorial Force Barracks, Stenli Falls, Grand Protectorate of the Kongo, Russian Empire[/list]
| Life in the Kongo was easier for whites than blacks, but for penal military units life varied. There were the political criminals, almost exclusively constitutional democrats (kadets) and agrarian social democrats called narodniks. These were typically more educated, middle or upper class Russian young adults who descended from well to do families. Being as their families were politically connected, these young men were used as unpayed skilled labor and managerial staff for Russian capitalists in the Kongo Protectorate. Many would go on to secure longer term positions in the companies they served, treated is an apprenticeship under unpleasant circumstances. Then there were the common criminals, serving in делинквентные полки/delinquent regiments, these included young men ages 17-19 convicted of thievery, loitering, illegally departing rural stations (former peasant communities which Russian citizens were still legally bound to), bootlegging vodka (vodka was legally only permitted at Romanov sanction vodka distilleries), or gambling.
Immediately racial and class distinctions were created in the colonial environment. Russian colonial authorities, free white Russian officers, and prisoners from well off families remained the dominant class in the colony. Enlisted men, missionaries, civilian colonists, political prisoners from middle class families, and civilized Africans (those who adopted Russian names, Russian language, Russian religion, and served 5 years in the Territorial Force) formed the bulk of the colonial population. The lower class was then any and all native Congolese with limited privileges for colonial troops, and delinquent units composed mostly of ethnic minorities from metropolitan Russia. Delinquent units, due to lower social status and ethnicity, were deemed more disposable and therefore used as frontline troops in the ongoing Interior War with Arab slave traders. The units always staffed by North and Eastern European warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, with Congolese, Caucasian, and Turkic-Tatar subordinates. The white officers are taught to intentionally divide their subordinates and prohibit natives and Asians (Caucasians and Turkic-Tatars) from fraternizing and instil rigid discipline in all troops.
The 7th of July was a different day that most, but only for the Slavic commanding officers of the Zemlya Company of the 5th Delinquent Battalion. The battalion had been deployed to the Kongo in May 1891, with all of its members having sentences of no less than 2 years and no more than 6 years. They had been involved in roughly 6 confrontations with Arab warlords, fighting battles in Nyangwe and Kasongo seeing an unprecedented of 129 days of combat against vastly outnumbering slave armies. The troop was hardened, and this Ivan Kupala Day would see particularly brutal pranks being played by Slavs against their Asian and black subordinates. The night before was particularly raucous for the military outpost, as the 7 Slavic officers of the company forced their men to stoke bonfires in the sweltering nighttime heat while serving them rice-distilled vodka and fried Russian dumplings. The enlisted men lived on a diet of rice and the meat of wild animals they could catch in the bushland. The 87 or so Congolese soldiers were relegated to a servant class for the officers: bringing them food and drink on command, fanning them like Grand Princes in the Imperial Court, or tending to the maintenance of the fort. The companys Asians, considered more capable than the blacks, had been used to provide entertainment instead of their usual patrols of the bushlands.
The Azeris, Chechens, Avars, Turkestanis, Tatars, and other Muslims were used for mounted patrol in the 10 or so miles surrounding the fort. Armed with single-shot Berdan rifles, they mostly lazily roamed the jungle with their rifles slung over their shoulders and their pipes blowing big stacks of Turkish tobacco smoke in their mouths. They were forced to retrieve a bodily part for each native they shot, to prove that ammunition had been in fact spent. The Armenians, Circassians, Ossetians, Abkhaz, and Georgians were kept on the fort to reinforce their officers main position, and apparently also to entertain their officers. There were 12 trusted Asians (called so because they descended from Christian or Rus-allied Caucasian peoples). They consisted on 3 Armenians (Artsan, Asbed, and Sipan), 1 Circassian (Dzudze), 2 Ossetians (Niqala, and Kazbek), and 6 Georgians (Vladimer, Movsoum, Avto, Alexei, Pavle, and and Zviad). They all spoke broken to moderate Russian, punctuated with prison slang.
Artsan Vahreyevich Gasparyan had been serving with the Zemlya Company since deployment, having only been 17. He was convicted of thievery, having been caught robbing a postal wagon in Alexandropol hoping to find valuables. To avoid a stretch in prison, and dreaming of adventure in Africa, Artsan jumped at an opportunity to serve his 3 year sentence in the service of the Kongolese Territorial Force. He quickly became disillusioned with his life of service, living day to day as a grunt for Russian masters. But a year of back breaking work had taken its toll, and an old proverb only a Caucasian and conquer a Caucasian was going to be fulfilled once again. |
[list]8 July 1892
03:00 AM[/list]
The commanding officers had all finally fallen asleep. The 3 Armenians had provided the entertainment all night and were now sat round the dwindling fire. They smoked from pipes and stared up at the stars, enjoying a few moments of ease while almost the entire company slept in the fort just hear them. Despite the absence of the sun, it was still at least 86 F (30 C) degrees and 100% humidity. The air was thick, and the sweat clung the clean shaven faces of the three men. They were all classically Armenian in appearance, black haired and brown eyed with a golden tan from so many days in the Congolese sun. Asbed was particularly large, standing at 6 ft 4 inches, but Artsan and Sipan were of average height and build. They sat in conversation, speaking in their native Armenian. |
[list]Private Artsan Gasparyan:[/list]
"I swear if I have to play when we were at war again, Ill kill them all."
[list]Private Sipan:[/list]
"If I sing another Russian song Ill be sick, I will never touch a balalaika again when I leave here."
[list]Corporal Asbed:[/list]
"Good luck ever leaving here. If were not dead of disease of exhaustion by this time next year, Ill be surprised."
[list]Private Artsan Gasparyan:[/list]
"The humidity is what does it, I cant keep running through the jungle when I cant breathe."
[list]Private Sipan:[/list]
"Our officers dont care, they treat us worse than the colonials it seems."
[list]Private Artsan Gasparyan:[/list]
"For all those northerners were the same as the natives, Armenia is no less a colony than the Kongo."
[list]Corporal Asbed:[/list]
"Maybe one day Ill show these bastards wha- Shh..."
| While theyd been talking a pale faced figure had made their way from the fort to the tree line close by them, an obvious friendly. While initially curious, the sound of a water stream hitting grass quickly explained the unknown friendlys presence out there. Quickly after, the sound of crunching grass under riding boots follows behind the first and another presumed officer is now urinating in the bush as well. Unfortunately for the three Armenians, Asbed was just ridiculous largely and his white skin shone in the moonlight. Sergeant Shevchenko stood on the left, he was a small man of 5 foot 5 with a wiry frame and sweat soaked dirty blonde hair that clung to his forehead always. He was commonly called the blue-eyed devil by the African soldiers, and his cruelty was limitless against all those he considered inferior to himself. He had taken the liberty of burning the blankets of all the non-whites as his Ivan Kupala prank. On his right was Senior Warrant Officer Yatsenko, a red haired Ukrainian from Kharkiv who deserted his post in Vladivostok and was deported to the Kongo as punishment. Yatsenko was bitter and hated himself and his men, forcing them into the worst of fighting conditions without care. Both officers noticed Asbeds skin laying in the ground and stumbled over to check out what the issue was, both still drunk from the nights celebrations. The two officers carry their S&W Model 3 revolvers extended, ready to fire if they come across an animal of some kind. |
[list]Sergeant Shevchenko:[/list]
"Hey! Get on your feet! Get out of the bush!"
| Asbed, Sipan, and Artsan all pop up from the grass and stand at attentio. Shevchenko throws one hand up in annoyance and Yatsenkos eyes narrow in anger. They both holster their handguns. |
[list]Senior Warrant Officer Yatsenko:[/list]
"Ah, you were right Shevchenko, just some animals in the bushes. Youre all lucky we didnt shoot you black asses (a derogatory term for Caucasians) thinking you were natives come to kill us."
[list] 3 in unison:[/list]
"Yes, commanders, our apologies."
[list]Sergeant Shevchenko:[/list]
"Maybe we can soak (kill) one of them? See if it doesnt get the others in line."
| Shevchenko removes his revolver from his holster again and waves it lazily at the 3 men in question. Sipan swallows hard, but Asbed and Artsan were street youth who dont flinch when a weapon is pointed their way. Asbed however, drops his gaze, never being one for conflict with the officers after having received the rank of Corporal. Artsan looks right at Shevchenko, breaking discipline and puffing out his chest at the superior. |
[list]Senior Warrant Officer Yatsenko:[/list]
"Little Artsan wants to be tough? I will gut you here and leave you for the lions if you dont return to attention right now."
| Yatsenko backhands Artsan, causing him to stagger backward before regaining his balance. Yatsenko and Shevchenko watch on and Artsan spits and fires back with a retort of his own. He now finally had an opportunity to kill his enemies, and his street instincts kicked in before anything else. He responds in Russian, heavily accented. |
[list]Private Artsan Gasparyan:[/list]
"You think I take orders from two salo-eating kholkols (Ukrainians)? Guess again!"
| In a flash Artsans hand shoots out and grabs the barrel of Shevchenkos pistol, twisting and disarming the officer. With the hammer already in position, Artsan turns fires a shot immediately into the chest of Yatsenko. An experienced gun fighter, Artsan sets his sights back on Shevchenko and draws the hammer back again. He yells in Armenian as Sipan and Asbed pick their rifles up and train them on Yatsenko and Shevchenko. Asbed, having performed dozens of armed robberies, kneels by Yatsenko and removes his revolver from him. |
[list]Private Artsan Gasparyan:[/list]
"Alright boys, were doing this! Sipan take their ammunition! Asbed go get us full canteens from inside!"
[list]Sergeant Shevchenko:[/list]
"Ill kill you all when were through here! Theres nowhere for you to run in this god forsaken continent where I wont kill you!"
[list]Private Sipan:[/list]
"Shut your trap, Ukrop."
| Sipan lifts his rifle and fires directly at Shevchenkos head, causing him to fly backward from the force of the 10.75x58mm round hits him point blank. Asbed rushes toward the fort with his rifle in his hands, but he instead diverts towards 2 horses left outside for night patrols. He quickly unties them, leaping on top of one brown horse and taking hold of another black horse. Their saddles usually carried canteens on them, due to the sheer intensity of the heat. As Asbed returns on horseback another shot rings out of nowhere. Sipan grabs for his chest as an awakened soldier fires a shot at what he assumes to be attacking natives. Artsan returns fire and Sipan drops his rifle, collapsing on the grass next to the two officers. |
[list]Corporal Asbed:[/list]
"Lets go, leave him! We have no time hop on!"
| Artsan is determined, he grabs Sipan and throws him over the backend of the horse. Before mounting the horse himself, he fires another shot from his revolver into Yatsenkos head just to be sure. The men had no idea what theyd be doing or where they would be going, but theyd just committed a double murder, double hijacking, and deserted. There mustve been a way to return to Armenia from where they were, but for now they would enjoy their newfound freedom as two hordes and 3 young Armenians rode into jungle. |
Teujira, Antagarichh, Val Verde-, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Jocheon, Austrian Provinces
[list][list]Late 1891, post diplomatic meeting
[sup]ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴀʀ ɢɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ[/sup]
𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍[/list][/list]
|After the successful meeting between Ethiopia and Italy, peace was finally established between the two nations with the signing and ratification of the Treaty of Wuchale. With the 17th Article corrected, Ethiopia now holds absolute diplomatic independence thus solidifying the African nation a sovereign state, free from the clutches of European colonialization. Menelik now emboldened, seeks out new diplomatic bonds with different European powers. With hopes of securing new technologies to create his vision for a modern Empire. But one thing must happen, and that is the complete centralization of all power in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is divided into various local kingdoms and for Menelik to centralize power, he must find ways to get these smaller kingdoms to submit to his authority. For these small kingdoms all present security risks to the Empire. his biggest threat by far is Ras Mengesha Yohannes, son of Yohannes IV. Former Emperor until he was ousted by Menelik during the war with the Sudanese Mahdists. Seeking to settle the score, Mengesha is gathering an army to challange the authority of Menelik.|
Teujira, Antagarichh, Val Verde-, Concorrdia, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
[list]
[sup]JULY, 1892[/sup]
UNITED KINGDOM GENERAL ELECTION
[sub]BRITISH EMPIRE, LONDON MORNING[/sub]
____
[/list]
| 1892 was a year of great political upheaval in the United Kingdom, it was to be a vital election for all sides, and would see the rise of radicalism over both sides of the isles. The reasonable, and moderate men in the Conservative Party, such as Marquess of Salisbury and the reasonable, moderate men in the Liberal Party such as William Ewart Gladstone, had all but passed away. Opening the aisle for radicals, different ideas, extremism and strange political and ideological combinations. In the Conservative Party, traditionally anti labor, elected Archie Loyd as their new leader. He was 44 years old and was born in British India, and represented the Abingdon constituency, which was just west of the City of London. He was more sympathetic to labor movements, and their ideals, while being intensely nationlist, pro unionist, and anti home rule. Also known for his intense rhetoric concerning Irish nationalism and its independence and home rule movements. Another notable aspect of him is that he supports unionization and incorporation of culturally english territories such as New Zealand, and Newfoundland. On the opposing side, the Liberal Party chose Farris Smith, an older man, as their leader. He more or less kept the policies of the Liberal Party intact, which were still popular. The Irish Parliamentary Party had split into the Irish National Federation and the Irish National League. The split occurred due to Charles Stewart Parnell refusing to resign as leader due to his involvement in Divorce Proceedings with a certain individual. It was not expected to change the political landscape in Ireland much, and it was expected to continue to elect pro home rule parties, other than the constituencies in the northeast. |
| The 1892 General Election was to take place over a few weeks, from July 4th to July 26th. The election was fiercely contended and there were some blurred lines in terms of policies. Archie Loyd would come out in favor of many policies typically seen as a Liberal, such as free education and a small reduction in factory hours (albeit only an hour.) Loyd was also in support of free education being extended from girls and boys aged 5 and 12 to 5 and 16, with the 4 years after 12 being half days with reduced hours so that they would still be able to engage in factory work, or any other type of employment they should need to take. Loyd was condemned by Irish Nationalists, and many 1000s in Dublin would march against him due to his views, and most controversially, his support of peoples from across the empire, such as Canada and Australia, to begin migrating to Ireland. In exchange, said migrants would be paid a lofty sum of Pound Sterling, and gain dozens of acres of land to farm. In any case, the election began, and worked smoothly, for weeks, British citizens headed to the polls and casted their votes. No abnormalities were reported, despite the intensity of it, and the high degree of partisanship of it. The results of the election are as follows: |
[list]____
[sup]UNITED KINGDOM GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS, 1892[/sup]
[sup] CONSERVATIVE & LIBERAL UNIONISTS: 393
LIBERAL PARTY: 191
IRISH NATIONAL FEDERATION: 72
IRISH NATIONAL LEAGUE: 9[/sup]
____[/list]
| The election results notably sent shockwaves through Ireland, who worried for their future, and the future of their ambitions: most notably, Home rule, and Irish independence. Archie Loyd was made Prime Minister, and he notably stated: The era of treating the Irish with special status ends, theyll be treated just as any other place in the United Kingdom, which means if someone from London wishes to move to the Irish countryside and start a farm, he may do so, if someone from Hong Kong wishes to move to the Irish city of Dublin and start a business, he may do so, if someone from Cape Town wishes to move to western Ireland and grow wheat and raise cattle, he may do so!. Tensions in Ireland have risen as a result, but Archi Loyd went onto say: Ireland is very unproductive economically, theres plenty of land, very little people, very little industry, we need to flood it with immigrants and form it into an economically productive area of the Empire, and I have no doubt that will occur. |
| Moving onto foreign policy, Prime Minister Archie Loyd stated: British dominance of the globe is fading, we cannot allow that to happen, a world dominated by Britain, is a world that is safe, economically sound and simply more mannerful. The German Empire, for example, is quickly catching up to us on a variety of areas, we cant let that happen, we must squash the Germans, we must squash the Russians, and we must protect our allies. We must continue to push for technological innovation, and protect that technology, we must protect our assets and we must retain our dominance over industries such as steel. The weakness of the former Prime Minister is over, we will no longer submit, we will only press forward and aggress. |
[list]____
Teujira, Val Verde-, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces
Germany Plans "Restoration of Order" in Romania.
[sub]Deutschland plant "Wiederherstellung der Ordnung" in Rumänien.[/list][/sub]
___
[sup]Germany[/sup]
Germany joins in the Intervention against Romania
___
| The Kaiser is in his planning room with the Chancellor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense. They are discussing what to do with Romania, both the Russians and the Austrians are intervening and Romania is killing every German in the country. They needed to do something. Usually in meetings like this there would be servants sending them food to eat while they talked but this was not an ordinary meeting. on the table was a massive map of romania, and on the side of it were many wooden pieces representing various types of units. on the far left wall was a large walk in closet containing multitudes of maps to be used in a situation like this, the map on the table was made by the *Kaiserliches Institut für Kartographie*, a prominent partially state owned Cartography Company that supplies the government and most of Germany with its maps. At the head of the table sat the Kaiser, and to his immediate left and right were the Chancellor and Minister of war respectively with the foreign minister sitting next to the chancellor on the right, however he wasn't in the room, he was receiving a letter. |
| In Romania, the Government had overthrown the Royal government and instituted a proto-communist government. After getting things in order the Romanian government ordered all Russian, Hungarian and German peoples to be slaughtered by the state in mass pogroms, however they failed to realize that'd infuriate the nations preparing to intervene, and stopped but news of that wouldnt reach the Germans until it was too late, when they'd already be in Romania, The nations intervening were obviously the Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and soon the German Empire. Those who know what has happened in Romania are infuriated, and aren't going to hold back when Germany enters Romania. |
Kaiser Wilhelm II von Hohenzollern: "...We can't just let Romania get away with what their doing to fellow Germans, we have to intervene. Both Russia and Austria are intervening as well."
Kriegsminister Walther Reinhardt: "Yes but we don't even know where the Austrians or Russians are invading from, surely it'd be a good idea to ask the Austrians if they're fine with us intervening in their sphere, we don't want to step on their toes do we?"
Kaiser Wilhelm II von Hohenzollern: "Who cares if we step on their toes? Its not like they could ever strike at us and succeed, they'd likely collapse before they reach Leipzig! It'd be like a cripple attacking a seasoned soldier and expecting the cripple to win."
Coincidentally just as the kaiser finished his sentence the Außenminister (foreign minister) entered the room with relevant information. He was a relative of the soon to be general Hugo Axel von Kanitz
Außenminister Joseph Theodor von Kanitz: "I have just recieved a letter from the Austrians. Its regarding Romania and an intervention. They suggested that we invade through Wallachia to secure their supply lines. We'd take trains from Timisoara move to the city of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, seize it then move Craiova, then split to take Giurgiu and Pitesti, then join them in the seige of Bucharest. Does that sound adequate to all of you?"
They all nod affirmatively. The Kaiser stood up as they did
Kaiser Wilhelm II von Hohenzollern: "Well that wasn't very long of a meeting was it? only 5 hours of arguing this time instead of all damn day like before. All of you see to it that those plans are put into action and expanded upon. Eventually i will join the soldiers in the war directly. What Kaiser wouldn't after all? Good day"
"He exited the room, his decorative imperial cape billowing behind him as he walked"
___
[sup]GOTT MIT UNS![/sup]
___
Antagarichh, Val Verde-, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Aarkanglia, Woraniana
[list][list]ОЧИ НА САНЏАКУ - EYES ON SANJAK - OČI NA SANDAKU
[list][sub]15 May 1893 - Belgrade, Empire of Serbia[/sub][/list][/list][/list]
| Alexander I, Tsar of the Serbs, has only recently overthrown the regency ruling in his place. Prince Alexander had only been twelve when his father, Milan I, had abdicated and retreated into private life in Paris and his mother, Empress Consort Natalie, reigned as regent. Since Milan's abdication in 1889, the growing Alexander I has become increasingly involve in Serbian nationalist policies, partly due to the influence of the People's Radical Party in the National Assembly. Inspired by an increasingly vocal Serbian nationalist movement, and emboldened as a teenager, the sixteen year old Emperor has overthrown the regency, declaring himself of age, and establishing full control of the state affairs which come with the position of Tsar of the Serbs. |
| When his father had been allowed to assume the title of Tsar of the Serbs with Russian aid following the Serbian Wars for Independence of 1876-1878, the position of Tsar had been used within Serbia for nearly 600 years. The Serbian victory in the two consecutive wars enabled Prince Milan I to elevate Serbia from a mere Principality to a Kingdom and, almost immediately afterwards, an Empire upon the Kingdom of Serbia's unification with Crna Gora. Milan I's efforts to unify the Serbian people, and his enthronement as Tsar of the Serbs, has helped to provide legitimacy to the cause of Serbian nationalism especially following generations of foreign enslavement and occupation. Milan I's liberalizations in the wake of his enthronement has created a Serbian Empire split by factional and political divides, however, and young Alexander I has been left to rule a nation muddled in the impracticality of constitutional democracy under a monarchy. As Tsar of the Serbs, and taught from a young age by nationalists his role as the leader of the Serbian people, Alexander I has become emboldened to lead his people to continue the national struggle for Serbian independence. |
| Geographically, the Serbian Empire is split into two pieces- Serbia Proper and Crna Gora. Crna Gora, known externally as Montenegro, consists of the coastal regions of the Serbian Empire surrounding Lovćen, the Black Mountain, with its main port in the Bay of Kotor. Serbia Proper, consisting of the former territories of the Kingdom of Serbia, lays farther inland and includes the imperial capital and the majority of the nation's largest villages, almost all of the nation's industry, and most of the nation's farmland. Both halves fall under the jurisdiction of the imperial government in Belgrade, however for all intents and purposes, Crna Gora and Serbia act independently of one another in domestic affairs due to largely one reason alone- Ottoman occupation of Sandak. Sandak, a geographic region located between Serbia and Crna Gora, has continually been occupied by the Ottoman Empire even following the decisive victory of the Serbs in the Wars of Independence, allowing the Ottoman Empire to effectively split the Serbian Empire in two. Alongside Metohija, Kosov, and Vojvodina, Sandak is one of the key areas touted by even moderate nationalists as rightful part of the Serbian Empire, often moreso than the other three due to its importance in linking the two halves of the current Empire. As Serbian nationalism has grown increasingly strong in the wake of the chaos in Romania, the assumption of full imperial power by Alexander I, and Russia's efforts to embolden Serbia's national stance against the Ottomans, Tsar Alexander I has become infatuated with the idea of conquering Sandak and uniting the two halves of the Empire into one. |
| With his eyes on Sandak, and with the backing of the National Assembly and the radically nationalist Radical People's Party, Tsar Alexander I has begun secret meetings with Serbian statesmen and officials regarding discussions for the invasion of Sandak, with Russian support, before the end of the year or sooner. Although Serbia's infrastructure is far from backwards, it is also far below the standards of western Europe, and any mobilization of the Imperial Serbian Army would take months to oversee. However, with popular support slowly rallying around the cause of taking Sandak, Tsar Alexander I orders a meeting with Prime Minister Lazar Dokić, Minister of Defense Dragutin Franasović, Generals Petar Topalović, Đoko Ević, and Milojko Lejanin among others, and a Russian military attache representing the Russian military garrison in Crna Gora. In the meeting, Tsar Alexander I puts forward the motion for a declaration of war against the Ottomans- the Prime Minister agrees to get it put through to the National Assembly, and the Defense Minister guarantees the mobilization of the Imperial Serbian Army in preparation for a declaration of war in both Serbia proper and Crna Gora. Additionally, Russian military support against the Ottoman Empire is assured, guaranteeing Serbia will not rush into conflict alone. |
| The details of the 15 May meeting are kept an open secret in the Imperial Palace and the National Assembly building, but ultimately those within the government and the Imperial Serbian Army are all at least somewhat aware of the need of the Serbian government to act upon the desires of the Serbian people to unite Mother Serbia. The children of Mother Serbia discuss the need for war in the streets openly, emboldened by the slow takeover of the People's Radical Party of the National Assembly and the rumors of its influence on young Tsar Alexander I, and many nationalists cry for war. The Imperial Serbian Army, numbering around 76,000 soldiers, is drastically smaller than its opponent, but with victory having already been secured against the Ottomans, the nationalist cry remains strong and steady as the secret plans for war are slowly enacted. However, until the National Assembly puts forward and passes the declaration of war, nothing remains certain. |
Val Verde-, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list][sup]March, 1891[/sup]
ITALIAN MEETING
[sup]Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy[/sup]
___[/list]
| In the gardens of the Italian palace overlooking the entirety of the palace and the city that was built along the Arno River. The Count and the King walked the gardens reminiscing about their times working together when the count was diplomat to Rome. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] It has been such an honor to be back in your presence once again. Let us move onto the matters that we met here for. I am sure that your son filled you in on our conversation in Vienna."[/sup][/list]
| The count slowed his pace and approached a nearby bench overlooking the fountain of Neptune. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] I briefly mentioned an economic alliance between our two nations and that is why we met. I want to hear your take on the free movement of people and trade between our two nations and the possibility of opening that up to other nations in our sphere of influence. I believe with our ease of cooperation between our nations and others we can catch up to the economies and technological advancements of those in the West."[/sup][/list]
[list]___
[spoiler=Mentions]Concorrdia[/spoiler][/list]
Teujira, Antagarichh, Not Xav, Concorrdia, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[sup]MAY, 1893[/sup]
THE LIONS MEET THE EAGLE.
[sub]BRITISH EMPIRE, LONDON MORNING[/sub]
____
[/list]
| Prime Minister Archie Loyd had thrusted himself onto the international community with aggression, and boldness not seen in a leader of the United Kingdom in a long time. The United Kingdom also had seen the rise of alliances across Europe, and fully realized the need to engage, and form alliances with powerful partners in Europe. Traditionally, Russia had been an ally with the United Kingdom, but tensions in India and Central Asia and their newly formed alliance with the German Empire shattered any possibility of it continuing, as well as friendly relations. Prime Minister Archie Loyd considered Austria-Hungary, France, and Italy to be the most prominent and likely matches for an alliance. He would invite Austria-Hungary leaders to London for a meeting, with the goal of establishing an alliance. Prime Minister Archie Loyd however was weary such an alliance could prematurely force the British Empire into a war, whether it be due to a civil war, or war with the Romanians, or war with the Serbians. Albeit, he didn't see any of those reasons as a hindrance, and believed such conflicts could be won within weeks or months, so he wasn't worried, though, if the Russian Empire was to get involved, then perhaps there would be some issues, so as long as the navy was kept strong it was to be okay in Loyd's eyes. In London, a simple set up was chosen, the Austrian delegation would arrive and Prime Minister Archi Loyd was there to meet them, and give a greeting. |
[list]
[sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD |[/sup][sup] "Welcome to London."[/sup]
[/list]
| Let the games begin. This was to be a highly important meeting for the Prime Minister, and his general strategy abroad, it had to go right, it'd have to go perfect, and an official alliance between the 2 countries had to be achieved. Nevertheless, only time would tell whether or not this was the right move, or the wrong move. |
[list]
____
[spoiler=MENTIONS]
[/spoiler]
Teujira, Antagarichh, Val Verde-, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Austrian Provinces
[list][list]ЦОНСЦРИПТИОН - CONSCRIPTION
[list][sub]19 June 1893 - Rača, umadija District, Empire of Serbia[/sub][/list][/list][/list]
| As rumors of militarization have turned into the mass movement of imperial soldiers across the country, the Imperial Serbian Army has also started a mass conscription drive across the empire for random Serbian men, aged between 16 and 35, capable of fighting and selected by lottery within local provincial capitals. In total, only 16,000 men across Serbia are to be drafted, drilled, and trained before being put into front line combat units, bringing up the Imperial Army's numbers from 76,000 to 92,000- constituting some 3.66% of the total Serbian population, a sizable force to be sure. With the mass conscription across the nation of thousands of men, the Tsar is forced to make a radical decision to continue successful management of farms and, unprecedentedly, offers small grants to farms where either the patriarch or a lead male family member has been drafted. However, still a very rural country, conscription does not happen overnight and in some towns such as Rača, conscription occurs suddenly and out of the blue. |
[list]Miran Krsmanović: "Papa! The army men are here!"
| Miran, Konstantin Krsmanović's youngest son, gazes in awe from the kitchen window as a small detachment of soldiers in yellow-tinted khakis walk through the path leading from the commercial district of town through the Krsmanovićs' fields and up to their small estate. Konstantin, far older than the age of conscription, is immediately taken aback in fear- they aren't here for him, but his son. |
[list]Konstantin Krsmanović: "Miran, go to your room! The men have to talk for a little while now."
Miran Krsmanović: "But papa, I would like to see the army men up close!"
Konstantin Krsmanović: "No, you must go to your room now, or else I will get the belt."[/list]
| The boy lets out a defeated sigh before saying yes in shame and leaving the kitchen to go to his room, taking his Ćevapi and lepinja flatbread with him. Konstantin looks out the window before stepping outside onto the front porch, where he awaits as the imperial soldiers approach him. The four soldiers, Berdan rifles slung over their shoulder, approach with friendly demeanor, with one carrying a small letter most certainly addressed to Konstantin's son regarding his conscription into the Army. The four men stop right in front of Konstantin, and greet him with handshakes. |
[list]Sava Jović: "Mr. Krsmanović, is it?"
Konstantin Krsmanović: "Konstantin, yes. What brings you to the farm?"
Sava Jović: "Well, my name is Sava Jović, I am a member of the 12th Battalion of the Third Army of the Imperial Serbian Army. We're here today bearing news of your son's conscription into the Imperial Serbian Army as per the proclamation of the Ministry of Defense with the approval of the National Assembly. Mr. Krsmanović, is your son currently home? If so, may we speak to him?"
Konstantin Krsmanović: "My son?"
Sava Jović: "You.... you do have a son, correct?"
Konstantin Krsmanović: "I have multiple, but the one you are looking for is not here."[/list]
| Sava looks down at a small piece of paper as the other soldiers casually shift their position, adjusting their rifles. |
Sava Jović: "Then, Mr. Krsmanović, can you tell me where Boidar Krsmanović is currently located?"[/list]
| Konstantin looks down, mildly scared. |
[list]Konstantin Krsmanović: "Boidar ran away years ago, Mr. Jović. Now I ask, with due respect, that you leave. It's a sensitive topic to me."[/list]
| He staggers back through the door and into the house, reaching to shut the door before the soldier puts his hand in the way, preventing the door from being closed. He invites himself into the house, pushing Konstantin back further. |
[list]Sava Jović: "Mr. Konstantin, the letter that Comrade Aleksić is holding is signed by the Emperor, the Minister of Defense, and Governor Darković. If you are being sincere about your son's disappearance, then surely you wouldn't mind if we look for him around your property?"[/list]
| Giving into defeat, Konstantin simply breaks down and cries. Shaken by the sight, the four officers enter the house and search around, the sobbing of the old man echoing through the small estate. They find nothing beyond the ordinary- Konstantin's wife, fifteen year old son ivko, seven year old son Sreten, and another room with no one in it. Stepping in, they find the room filled with war iconography and, importantly, photos. After some snooping, the soldiers make a discovery- a small diary, signed by Slavomir Krsmanović, Kapetan in the Imperial Serbian Army. They read through the diaries, finding the last entry to be made on 21 November 1885 - in the immediate middle of the Serbo-Bulgarian War. Searching for a closet, they find Slavomir's blood-stained uniform. Suddenly, the father's resistance makes sense, and the soldiers feel a little worse than when they had arrived at the estate. Nonetheless, slightly phased but with a mission, they continue to search the house, where they find 22 year old Boidar in his room. |
[list]Sava Jović: "Boidar Krsmanović?"
Boidar Krsmanović: "You people? Why are you here?"[/list]
| After explaining to the young man his conscription, he begins to violently berate them in an attempt to drive them the house, speaking in terms insinuating the blame of his elder brother's death falls on them personally. After breaking down in front of the officers, he sits back upon his bed and, after much thought, signs the letter stating he will report to barracks in a week's time. After securing the signature, the men silently head back out of the house, giving a salute to the father of the fallen as they leave. |
Val Verde-, Not Xav, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Austrian Provinces
[list][sup]March, 1893[/sup]
UNEXPECTED MEETING
[sup]Royal Palace Madrid, Madrid, Spain[/sup]
___[/list]
| The prior election for Senate resulted in a Liberal majority and with the 1893 Spanish general election being held on Sunday, 5 March 1893, to elect the 6th Restoration Cortes of the Kingdom of Spain, the Liberal Party had gained a majority in both houses. All 401 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election. Though even though the Republic Fusion coalition was made specifically for this election, they had only one 32 seats, winning 13 more than before. Even though the Kingdom was one of the many constitutional monarchies of Europe, it was far from democratic because of the Kings role in the system of the turno. Under the turno, the incoming government would first be chosen by the king and would then "make" the election, ensuring victory. After a period in office, it would then be the turn of the opposition. The key to the system was the link between the minister of the interior, the provincial civil governors, and the local bosses, caciques. These caciques in most constituencies would instruct their clients on how to vote. With the Conservative Party being the prior party in power it was now the Liberal Partys time, and the Republican Party was angered by this corruption that ruled their country. Though there was nothing they could do about it. They had to just sit and watch as the Queen Regent gave her speech to the people from the balcony of the royal palace. |
[list][sup]QUEEN REGENT ARCHDUCHESS MARIA CHRISTINA:[/sup][sup] It is with the utmost honor that I appoint Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, leader of the Liberal Party, as my Prime Minister. He served for my late husband and he was my first Prime Minister after my husbands death. In good faith, I believe with his help we can continue our continental stability and to help bring peace with the people of our colonies. With his guidance, I believe that we can bring peace to our brethren overseas. Now a few words from our new Prime Minister."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER PRÁXEDES MATEO SAGASTA:[/sup][sup] Hello my fellow Spaniards, from Cuba to the Balearics, I wish to serve all of you. I dont want to just serve those who live here in Iberia, but I want to dedicate my work to all of you across the empire. I am a public servant, I shall serve for you. With the Spanish Liberal Party at my side, we shall continue the time of prosperity we find ourselves in."[/sup][/list]
| While the Prime Minister continued to give his speech in the plaza stood Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla, leader of the Republican Party. After listening to the first few minutes of the Prime Ministers speech he could not stand much more and left to a nearby balcony overlooking the palace gardens. |
[list][sup]MANUEAL RUIZ ZORRILLA:[/sup][sup] He claims that we are in a time of prosperity and stability, but over 300,000 have died in revolutions in Cuba alone, not taking in the countless lives lost in the Philippines. While the government is decided by quid pro quos, how can we prosper while the people are in this illusion of power? The only time we truly prospered was back in 73."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PABLO IGLESIAS[/sup][sup] You say a time of revolution and political strife was the only time we truly prospered?"[/sup][/list]
| Zorrilla jumped being startled by the sudden presence of the man that appeared next to him. Had he been listening the whole time, he thought to himself. The man gave him a smirk and continued to smile. |
[list][sup]PABLO IGLESIAS[/sup][sup] Sorry to startle you, I am Pablo Iglesias. It is a great pleasure to meet you again. I dont know if you remember me but-"[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MANUEAL RUIZ ZORRILLA:[/sup][sup] No, no, I remember you, your the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. It was a pleasure to debate with you the last time we met."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PABLO IGLESIAS[/sup][sup] Ah, yes, well you were quite well. But what you were saying, do you believe what you said?"[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MANUEAL RUIZ ZORRILLA:[/sup][sup] I stand by my word, if the people are not the ones truly in power, then we shall never prosper."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PABLO IGLESIAS[/sup][sup] Then I think we have some overlap of ideals."[/sup][/list]
| The two continued to have a lengthy discussion about the future of Spain and what they could do as a united coalition the next time elections came around. One topic of discussion that came about was the peoples revolt in Romania. |
[list][sup]MANUEAL RUIZ ZORRILLA:[/sup][sup] It is a shame that the people wished to bring change to their corrupt government and now many more corrupt leaders wish to impose their ideologies upon the people of Romania. If the people wished to rule themselves then they should be allowed to rule themselves. Its a shame that there is nothing we can do."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PABLO IGLESIAS[/sup][sup] Speak for yourself."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MANUEAL RUIZ ZORRILLA:[/sup][sup] Whatever do you mean?"[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]PABLO IGLESIAS[/sup][sup] I really shouldnt be telling anyone but some friends of mine and I have a plan to help the Romanian people. We purchased a large trading ship in Barcelona. We plan on loading it with the best equipment the peseta can buy. We are trying to arrange a drop off in Constanța, then supply troops along the Danube. We are a little short on funds and a little money from the Republican Party wouldnt hurt."[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MANUEAL RUIZ ZORRILLA:[/sup][sup] Well I would have to speak with our treasurer but I think we can make an agreement."[/sup][/list]
[list]___
[spoiler=Mentions]Conservativalina[/spoiler][/list]
Antagarichh, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Well, I am glad to be back. I Hadnt been back since 1870 when I was secretary of embassy, here in London. A lot has changed in 23 years. Good change, this city has really grown. I wish to see this kind of growth in Vienna and the other capitals throughout our empire, truly remarkable."[/sup][/list]
| A servant appears behind the count carrying several bags of luggage. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Sorry, for all the luggage. After our meeting, I plan on staying in London for a while. There are many colleagues I havent seen in a good while that I would like to see again."[/sup][/list]
| The count shooed the servant away, leaving to wherever the count would be staying for his time being. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Now shall we get to the real reason I came here? We have a lot we could discuss."[/sup][/list]
[list]___[/list]
Woraniana
[list][B]CORSU, E SEMPRE CORSU!
[I]April 1893, Corsica at a glance[/list]
[I]After decades of departmentship under the French Empire, a sudden series of legislation, followed by a gradual education reform to fit that of France sparked ethno-nationalist sentiment among Corsicans who deemed the legislature as a method of control over Corsica, compared by many to tactics employed against colonial possessions. The latest legislation, a firearm control measure, enacted almost exclusively against Corsica as it is the only department allowing private ownership of firearms, rocked the island's populace as the legislative measure doubled as a military expedition to enforce the law and confiscate weapons village by village. Traditional Corsicans out-right rejected the legislation, prompting many to take their arms and flee into the mountains in preparation for French presence, being branded by the Empire as "bandits and brigands" to be dealt with accordingly.
Petru Giacometti, one of the most elusive bandits in Corsica, sparked a revival of Corsu nationalism when he, in an act of defiance against French Law, took several hundred firearms, 135 men, and hiked up Mount Rotondo. There, Giacometti established a "cumunità libera" or "free community" in the Corsican wilderness with the intention of resisting French colonial occupation forces and the preservation of Corsu culture, tradition. Claiming his free commune to be an independent entity from the French hegemony, Giacometti defied the Empire on both local and federal level with an absence of taxes coupled with a barter system and subsistence cultivation. Describing Petru and his free commune as "Anarchist brigands", the French State demonized the men as "murderers, thieves, and scoundrels" whom in actuality were revolutionaries of the Corsu nationalist revival. Their goal, an independent Corsica free of the Francosphere and it's war machine's heavy conscription of Corsu men, taking away the young man power from the crop field dotted countrysides of Corsica, a staple of the island nation's economy alongside it's growing French-funded port infrastructure and maritime facilities in Ajaccio, Bastia, and Porto-Vecchio, among other locations still under construction.
Before long, Petru's community grew as hunters, gunslingers, and plainsmen found homage with the clan, erecting lodge-type structures with a log wall to surround under construction, intent on forming a compound of fortress-like proportion on Mount Rotondo to cement their remote community percepted as high above the reaches of the French military mission landing in Ajaccio. Giacometti had specific lodges built for work space, mainly for the ideal preparation and loading of ammunition for various black powder pinfire cartridge revolvers, hunting rifles, and double barrel shotguns of Lefaucheux manufacture. Despite possessing several hundred high caliber firearms, the free commune still finds itself at a disadvantage against the recently adopted smokeless powder firearms of the French military.[/I]
Teujira, Czabalkia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana, Jocheon, Liga Iberica
[list][sup]JUNE, 1893[/sup]
A CHANGE FOR IRELAND.
[sub]BRITISH EMPIRE, LONDON MORNING[/sub]
____
[/list]
| Prime Minister Archie Loyd had an issue just above his head, a threat to the British Empire and a threat to the unity of Great Britain and Ireland: The Irish. However, he also saw Ireland as an opportunity, it had a great expanse of land, plenty of room for millions of people and could easily industrialize and assist Great Britain in increasing its population, industrial might and overall prowess. Prime Minister Archie Loyd worked with similar minded advisers to craft the Ireland Industrialization and Migration Act. The act naturally was highly controversial, though virtually the entire Conservative Party supported it. The response from Irish Nationalist and Home Rule parties was one of worry, concern, and defiance. After all, if the act is to passed, Ireland may very well stop being majority Irish, which wasn't necessarily the goal of Prime Minister Archie Loyd, he simply wanted Ireland populated, industrialized and urbanized to catch up with the rest of the United Kingdom. The Act after a few days of debate was voted upon by Parliament, and successfully passed, though it was among partisan lines with every Conservative voting for the bill and every Liberal party member voting against it, as well as all Irish related parties. The following morning, newspapers had big bold headlines stating things such as a "A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR IRELAND.", "HOME RULE BECOMES A DISTANT DREAM" and more. The response in Ireland was one of fury, worry, concern, defiance and even rebellious activity. |
| The Ireland Industrialization and Migration act does many different things and has many facets. One facet is the migration portion of the bill. First off, it offers 20 pound sterling, 70 acres and basic farming equipment to anyone who wishes to migrate to Ireland as a farmer, the second offer is a house, constructed in Victorian architecture, in a city, in which the family or person is expected to work in a factory, shipyard and so on. Orphans, which total up to 220,000 in the British Empire, will all be moved to Ireland, and educated there in boarding schools which are to be constructed using Victorian architecture. Additionally, children from large poor families will be given the option to go there, where they can be fed, and educated for free. In total, the children migration schemes would increase the population of Ireland by roughly 300,000. The other offers, which are aimed towards migrants from places like Canada, Australia, Cape Colony, and places in Europe could also be expected to increase the population by another 200,000 to 500,000. It is also possible, migration from Great Britain to Ireland could increase its population by a million. Loyd also opened up the possibility of "non-whites" migrating to Ireland, mostly anglicized non-whites from India, Egypt and other various colonies. However, these migration schemes could possibly be outmatched by the sheer number of people wishing to migrate to Ireland due to work opportunities. |
| The second facet of the Ireland Industrialization and Migration Act would be the transformation of its economy, and a focus on Industrialization. In named multiple cities which would come to be known as "Industry Cities", which is where Irish industry was to be centered on. The first city would be Dublin, the second, Belfast, the third, Cork, the fourth, Limerick, and the fifth and final, Galway. All cities would see government funding to construct factories, steel plants, and more. Some notable planned aspects would be the Dublin Shipyards which would have the capacity to construct 80,000 tons at any given time, another aspect would be the Belfast Shipyards, which would have a capacity to construct 60,000 tons at any given time. Steel and Pig Iron production would also get a special precedence in Ireland. Additionally, the United Kingdom would heavily invest in railroads to connect these Industry Cities, as well as overall infrastructure to better connect Ireland and have new boom towns pop up. |
| In Ireland, the response overall was one of fury. Prime Minister Archie Loyd expected there to be some sort of uprising, and if not there, more instability, as a result he ordered the British Army to relocate upwards of 60,000 troops to Ireland to "settle", and of course, prepare and quash any uprisings. Archie Loyd was not going to allow Ireland to gain independence, or home rule. The rebelliousness of the Irish, in the end, forced him to take drastic action with the migrations, he'd simply squeeze the Irish in there own land till they were nothing more then a minority, and of course, a stronghold for the Conservative and Liberal Party, and as a result, weakened Irish parties. |
[list]
____
Antagarichh, Val Verde-, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Aarkanglia, Liga Iberica
[list][list]~ 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐩 ~
| ᴀ ᴅɪᴘʟᴏᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇxɪᴄᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴋ |[/list][/list]
[sup]CONTEX: The border between Mexico and Belize was difficult to explore because of its remote location, specifically for the Mexican territory. Because of the region's sparse population, the British colony of British Honduras, now Belize, was able to occupy the region. However, Mexico did not recognize British possession of the territory until the late nineteenth century. The Mexican government wanted to diminish, and eventually end, arms smuggling from Belizean Maya supplied by rebels during the Caste War, which prolonged the situation. As a result, the government of Porfirio Diaz created a Federal Territory which had previously belonged to the State of Yucatan. They later formed the Territory of Quintana Roo and decided to negotiate with the British government to finally fix the common border.[/sup]
[list][I][pre]This letter is an official invitation to United Kingdom diplomats to the Mexican capital, Esperanza, to discuss the pressing issue of the Mexican-British Honduran border. The Mexican government will be represented by Ignacio Mariscal, as Minister Plenipotentiary. Who in turn will be discussing the issue of British arming of the Mayan insurgents in Yucatan, creating an official border between the Republic and the British Colony, and economic cooperation between the respective nations.[/pre]
-𝒮𝒾𝑔𝓃𝑒𝒹, 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑒𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓉𝑒, 𝑅𝒶𝓂ó𝓃 𝒞𝑜𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓁[/list]
Antagarichh, Woraniana
| The Count was lead into a Victorian style house and eventually a large library where tea, cakes, and sweets were arranged. At the time, such treats were expensive and lavish. |
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD:[/sup][sup] I thought we could have a productive discussion in a place like this away from the hussle and bussle of London."[/sup][/list]
| He poured the Count tea. |
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD:[/sup][sup] An alliance... What are your initial thoughts?"[/sup][/list]
| He took a sip of tea. |
Sadar
| Lord Chevron Lloyd was chosen to head to Mexico to begin discussions concerning the border. A small fleet, only 3 ships, and of those ships only a single one being military in nature (A small ironclad boat) was sent. Lloyd was fluent in Spanish and frequently was sent to Madrid, Argentina and Chile to discuss economic relations, this was to be his first time being sent to deal with a border issue, and in a broader context: British-Mexican relations, which recently were seen as very important, not only due to the potential for a co-beneficial economic pact but also the great number of resources, and economic potential in Mexico, which could help fuel the continued dominance of British Industry. |
Antagarichh, Sadar
[list][list]~ 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐩 ~
| ᴀ ᴅɪᴘʟᴏᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇxɪᴄᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴋ |[/list][/list]
[I][sup]Awaiting at thee Port of Veracruz, Governor Teodoro A. Dehesa Méndez awaits with his entourage for British diplomat Lord Chevron Lloyd. To welcome him to Mexico and introduce him to his escort to Esperanza, lead by Colonel. Carlos Magales with an attachment of Mexican rurales.[/sup]
Antagarichh
| The count gave a rise of his eyebrows and he took a long drink from his cup of tea while mulling over the idea in his head. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Well alliances always sound enticing, but the devil is in the details. It all would matter on the conditions of the alliance. Who we would be willing to go into war with and who we agree to stay impartial on your behalf. My initial thoughts would be that Britain is a major importer of Hungarian wheats and other foods to feed the large populations within your cities, and securing the mutual protection of both nations would be beneficial to both parties. Though yet again, the devil is in the details[/sup][/list]
| The count then reached for a scone placing it on his plate where then he proceeded to take a bite. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Oh how I missed these British pastries. Every now and then Ill get them shipped home, but they are never the same as fresh ones. Give my compliments to your pastry chef when you do see him, but beware, I might have to steal him from you and bring him home.[/sup][/list]
[list]___[/list]
| Lord Chevron Lloyd and his fleet would arrive, he'd exit the boat and walk towards the Governor. |
[list][sup]| LORD CHEVRON LLOYD: |[/sup][sup] "Good morning, Governor."[/list][/sup]
| He'd offer a handshake. |
| Prime Minister Archie Loyd had a Parker fountain pen with him, with a gold nib, as well as a notebook, he'd jot various notes when the Count spoke, and in between, take a sip of tea. |
[list][sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD: |[/sup][sup] Of course, it depends on the details. Securing our defense, most notably from the Germans and Russians, is very necessary. And, of course, healthy economic relations wouldn't hurt at all.[/sup][/list]
| Prime Minister Archie Loyd took a bite of the pastry. |
[list][sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD: |[/sup][sup] Your welcome to send a chef here to be trained by him, Mark Southsmithem, he's always on the hunt for apprentices.[/sup][/list]
| He'd notion to a servant to bring more fresh pastries. |
Sadar
[I][sup]Governor Méndez extends his hand as well. The Colonel and his soldiers salute the lord as well.[/sup]
[list]{Governor Méndez} [I]"Welcome to Mexico Lord Chevron! The people of Veracruz welcome you to our humble little country, I have been assigned to introduce you to your escort to the capital, Esperanza. Your escort is Colonel Carlos Magales, he will be your guide and protection while on the railroad to Esperanza."
Woraniana
[list][list]~ 𝐀 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐒 ~
[list]ᴠᴀᴍᴏꜱ ᴀ ᴠᴇʀ ᴀ ᴇꜱᴛᴏꜱ ᴠᴇᴄɪɴᴏꜱ[/list][/list]
[I][pre]Mexico slowly industrializing and making its own progress, has sent its diplomat Ignacio Mariscal to see the current events in Gran Colombia and establish some diplomatic bonds with other Latino American nations.[/pre]
Aarkanglia, Woraniana
As the Austro-Hungarian Empire seeks to grow its international influence to make up for its lack of colonies, a diplomatic envoy from Vienna leaves for South America. They will be traveling to the country of the United Bolivar States to talk about the future investments of Austria-Hungary.
Aarkanglia, Woraniana
| Shortly after arriving at port just outside Caracas, the Mexican diplomat is paraded through crowded streets towards the northernmost station of the TBR. For numerous crowds had gathered to welcome the northerner, whom they regarded as a brother and sympathizer to Bolivar's cause. The elaborate carriage in which both Mariscal and the UBS Foreign Minister reside passes by numerous flag-adorned buildings in the heart of Caracas's wealthy-urban sector before finally reaching the local rail-station. Once the carriage comes to a complete stop, the foreigner's door is opened from the outside by a uniformed member of the Venezuelan Regional Guard- a specially trained sect of the UBS military tasked with maintaining peace on a local level throughout the Venezuelan realm -and is escorted past a crowd of flag-waving citizens and into the first cabin of the train nearby. After about ten minutes of preparations, and once both Ignacio Mariscal and the Foreign Minister take their seats, the Liberator Locomotive begins to steadily advance along the TBR track. As it does so, the UBS Foreign Minister turns his attention from the passing buildings outside and to his distinguished guest before beginning to speak in Spanish- his natural language. |
[sub]FOREIGN MINISTER CARLOS IMMANUEL: "Welcome to the United Bolivar States, Representative Mariscal. I am Carlos Immanuel, foreign minister of this great and sprawling land, and it is a great honor to be having you here today. Now, down to business. I assume you've heard of our recent initiatives. Earlier this year, construction of a new canal began as scheduled and, with it, our nation hopes to facilitate trade and draw in more investment. To that end, I feel that our great nations, sharing many similarities, should better support one another in future endeavors and work to ensure mutual prosperity in days to come. Do you not feel the same?"[/sub]
Sadar, Woraniana
| The count set his tea down and moved closer to the edge of his seat, showing more intrigue to the conversation than there was before. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Well as you know the Germans have been our close ally since 79. Though we allied to protect each other from the threat of the Russians in the East and suddenly without reason they allied our enemy without consulting us. We are losing faith in their ability to hold an alliance if they suddenly go allying with the people that we are supposed to be protecting each other from. We stayed loyal to our German allies unlike the Russians when they left the Germans for the French, and if they think it is a logical choice then I dont think we can rely on them anymore. I mean they are allied with the same people that see Alsace-Lorraine as French for Petes sake! While we were sitting twiddling our thumbs when we got offers from other great powers for the assurance of our security, we sat back because we cared about our German allies, but they show a blatant disregard for us when they are in the same position![/sup][/list]
| The count stopped for a brief second calming himself down, returning back to his calm demeanor. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] None the less they are still our ally and the Austro-Hungarian people will not stoop to their level of disrespect of their allies. It would weaken our relations if we are seen as untrustworthy on the international level. As of right now we can simply agree that we can help you in a war against Germany, though we can say as per our alliance with Germany if any other great powers were to attack the German Empire, excluding Russia, we shall stay neutral. This stipulation was a part of the agreement of the alliance between the Austro-Hungarians and the Germans. Though if matters continue to worsen between Germany and us I can come back and we could perhaps change it to mutual defense. As for any other threats to our empires the Austro-Hungarians can say we will create a mutual defense agreement. Britain is a large trade partner of ours and we see it necessary to secure that trade. Britain is a great force and we see an alliance with them as very beneficial to your country.[/sup][/list]
| The count then reached for another pastry eating it in delight. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] As for your other offer, I will have to take you up no questions asked.[/sup][/list]
[list]___[/list]
Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list][list]БОГ И ЗЕМЉА ПРОТИВ ТУРКА - GOD AND COUNTRY AGAINST THE TURK
[sub]October 1893 - Belgrade, Empire of Serbia[/sub][/list][/list]
| Following months of mobilization, Tsar Alexander I and his ministers have decided that, as winter begins to set in, the formal declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire should be presented to the Sultan. With the Serbian Army now having swelled to over 92,000 men, and with guarantees of Russian assistance, the imperial government has become convinced of its ability to fight the Turks out of Sandak and Kosovo. The Serbian Imperial Army is prepared for battle as the Tsar, the Prime Minister, and other key ministers draft a declaration of war with the assistance of the National Assembly. This declaration is put through the legislature and passed on 13 October and is immediately signed by the young Tsar, with a copy being made, signed, and sent to Constantinople on horseback. With the declaration of war, Tsar Alexander I leaves the National Assembly and retreats back to the Royal Palace where he will oversee the first few days of the campaign. |
[list][list]BATTLE OF NOVI PAZAR
October 13-20, 1893[/list][/list]
| Over the ensuing next week, two battalions of Serbian troops primarily armed with Russian Berdan rifles and supported by thirteen Russian 87mm M1877 light field guns are mobilized from within Crna Gora's northern border to make an assault on Novi Pazar, in tandem with four battalions supported by 16 87mm M1877s from within Serbia proper. The two Montenegrin battalions, consisting of 850 soldiers each and the Serbian battalions, also consisting of 850 soldiers each, are tasked with besieging the Ottoman garrisons within the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, the most key area separating Crna Gora and Serbia from one another. The Serbian detachment, led by General Predrag Gojković, is to surround the city of Novi Pazar from the north while the detachment from Crna Gora, led by General Dabiiv Brkić, shall besiege it from the south. The mountainous terrain surrounding Novi Pazar makes passage with artillery nearly impossible beyond the main roads, therefore both armies follow main roads leading to Novi Pazar on their advance. These two forces are backed by cavalrymen, roughly 510 for each force. |
| Although, through the occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has maintained a de facto occupation of Sandak and the city of Novi Pazar, the Ottoman garrison within the area is the primary concern of the Serbian Armys movements. Diplomatic cables are sent to Austria-Hungary informing them of the offensive upon Novi Pazar and Serbias non-intention to agress against Austria-Hungary. |
[list][list]BATTLE OF VUČITRN
October 16, 1893[/list][/list]
| While this force spearheads an assault on Novi Pazar, the main force of nearly 42,000 soldiers stationed in southern Serbia prepare for an assault on Kosovo, Metohija, and Vardar Macedonia. Of the 42,000 soldiers on campaign into the south, 13,000 of them along with over 60 guns form a spearhead into Kosovo. This army, commanded by General Radomir Kuzmanović, has specific orders to engage the Kosovar Army of the Ottoman Army in a series of handpicked battles on the path to Prishtina, the largest city in Kosovo and Metohija and the former capital of the Kosovo Eyalet before capital status was given to Skopje. General Radomirs army moves against the Ottomans, setting up a massive camp at Vučitrn, a small town just past the Serbian-Ottoman border. General Radomir makes his camp overlooking the stone bridge in the towns south, one of the oldest bridges in the area. |
| Encamped here at Vučitrn, the Serbian army awaits for the Ottoman forces to move to engage them, most likely across the Sitnice River in the fields to the south of the town. A force of 180 cavalry are dispatched to scout out for the Ottoman forces, riding south through Dalak and Bokosh all the way to Obilić, just north of Prishtina. |
[list][list]ADVANCE ON SKOPJE
October 14-20, 1893[/list][/list]
| A further 22,000 Serbian soldiers and 72 guns, under the command of General Radojko Tomić, march south from the border into Vardar Macedonia. Only fifty miles separate General Radojkos army camped near Vranje from Skopje, the capital of the Kosovo Eyalet situated within Vardar Macedonia. Radojkos 22,000 soldiers depart from their camp at dawn on October 14, just following the declaration of war. Over the next six days, Radojkos army starts its march towards Skopje, with cavalry units always scouting a couple miles ahead of the main unit to search for any Ottoman forces awaiting their advance. |
Val Verde-, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
| While the Count gave his remarks, he jotted down notes, as he had been doing. Prime Minister Archie Loyd guessed the form of alliance was fair enough, it was safe, nor not too brash given their current circumstances. He figured, it was reasonable enough to accept, thus the 2 nations were in a form of an alliance. |
[list][sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD: | [/sup][sup] The German's are untrustworthy, they continue to arm, they are destroying any idea of a balance of power in Europe, and their sole intention is the complete domination of Europe, they care for nothing else. Russia, like Germany, sole goal is the domination of Europe. They are evil, an alliance of evil, and only the sane can prevent them. The United Kingdom, will join this alliance with you, Austria Hungary. I agree to your terms, it seems we are now in an alliance.[/sup][/list]
| He sips his tea. |
[list][sup]| LORD CHEVRON: |[/sup][sup] Thank you for your warm welcome, and your care for my safety..[/sup][/list]
Sadar
(Skip to the meeting?)
[list][sup]October, 1893[/sup]
SERBIAN AGRESSION
[sup]VIENNA, AUSTRIA[/sup]
___[/list]
| Upon hearing about the Serbian invasion of Sandak His Majesty the Emperor-King Franz Joseph was made aware of the situation, and he and his ministers met to discuss the situation. |
[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] I am sure you are all aware why I gathered you all here today. The Serbians are moving troops are moving into Sandak wishing to seize the land to unite their territories. They say that they wish no aggression upon us.[/sup][/list]
| A man shot up in his seat in a sudden anger from the last words the Emperor-King had said. |
[list][sup]MINISTER OF WAR EDMUND VON KRIEGHAMMER:[/sup][sup] No aggression, that is preposterous! We have more than 4,500 troops garrisoned in Sandak. They just want to seize the land for Serbia while all of our troops are caught in the crossfire.[/sup][/list]
| The man across from him casually sipped on his cup of tea remaining calm and collected waiting for the minister to calm down to speak in turn. |
[list][sup]DIPLOMAT AGENOR MARIA GOŁUCHOWSKI:[/sup][sup] Not to mention we are responsible for the safety of the Muslim population from the Orthodox Serbians.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] And this is why I gathered you all here. We need to take action to protect the people that we promised to keep safe. I wanted your opinions on how we should respond to the Serbians.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]MINISTER OF WAR EDMUND VON KRIEGHAMMER:[/sup][sup] I say we use our large garrisons in Novi Sad and Timișoara to quickly take their capital and attack major forts in the North. In the South, we use our large amount of forces in Kotor. That is our second-largest naval base and a large military base. We will use our Navy to bombard their coast. Our troops will take the only navigable routes to seize the city of Niksic and follow the coast to Lake Skadar. After they get to their respective locations they will both move in to seize the city of Podgorica. While in the West we use our troops in Sarajevo to reinforce our troops in Sandak. They will hold the region from Serbian control while our troops continue to move in from the North and South. As for the Russians, I say-[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]DIPLOMAT AGENOR MARIA GOŁUCHOWSKI:[/sup][sup] Whoa, hold on for a second. It is not in our interest to go into a full-scale war. I say we just use the same troops you mentioned but in a more efficient way. From the North, we will create a blockade along the Sava and Danube. We will then blockade the South with our Navy. The only way trade will get into Serbia is through Bulgaria who wouldnt assist them. We will still reinforce our troops in the Sanjak, and prepare troops on our borders to assure our safety. While we put even more troops with the current ones on the Russian border. They will make entrenchment along the border. This will be a perfect time to test the newly made machine guns by Skoda. I say we also heavily invest in the company to create many more weapons to supply our military. We will create a fall backline along the Carpathians. If the Russians break the front line we can hold there and prevent any further expansion into our lands. We should also blockade the Strait of Otranto to prevent any expansion into the Adriatic.[/sup][/list]
| The Emperor-King sat in his chair thinking of the best course of action. It was a full minute or two before he actually said anything. |
[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] Edmund, you are my trusted minister for this exact situation, but your plan is just too aggressive. We can not be seen as an aggressor by the international community, and this plan allows us time to prepare. I dont want to shed any unnecessary lives. If we are able to deescalate the situation without going to war, I believe that is the best course of action. Thank you all for your time, we need to start the preparations as soon as possible.[/sup][/list]
| Everyone stood, bowed to the Emperor-King, and left the room, though Agenor stayed behind to discuss further matters with His Majesty. |
[list][sup]DIPLOMAT AGENOR MARIA GOŁUCHOWSKI:[/sup][sup] What would you like me to say to the Serbians?[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]EMPEROR-KING FRANZ JOSEPH:[/sup][sup] Any invasion on Sandak will be seen as a declaration of war. We wish to deescalate the situation but if Serbia sees it fit to go to war with our Empire, got to war they shall.[/sup][/list]
[list]___[/list]
[list]North of Serbia[/list]
| 5,000 strong infantry divisions each leave from Novi Sad and Timișoara being accompanied by 1,000 strong cavalry divisions for each city. They are equipped mostly with Mannlicher M1890 Carbines and are supported by 30 15 cm Mörser M 80s, 10 from Novi Sad and 20 from Timișoara. The divisions from Novi Sad will be called the Sava Army, while the divisions from Timișoara will be called the Danube Army. They will be responsible for creating fortifications along the rivers that make the Serbian border they are named after. 50,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry along with 5 river monitors make their way from Budapest to reinforce the Serbian border.|
[list]Sandak and Bosnia[/list]
| The three main garrison cities of Pljevlja, Sjenica, and Novi Pazar will be on high alert and prepare for mobilization at a minutes notice. The minor garrisons will prepare their 1,000 infantry troops and 150 cavalry troops, while the larger garrison of Novi Pazar will prepare their 2,500 infantry and 300 cavalry. The smaller garrisons will fortify with their 5 15 cm Mörser M 80s and Novi Sad with 10. While the divisions are preparing, a 5,000 strong infantry leaves from Sarajevo to reinforce the Sanjak. They will also be accompanied by 1,000 cavalry. In Bijeljina 2,000 infantry and 350 cavalry will fortify the Serbian border assuring the Serbs could not cross the Drina River. |
[list]Kotor[/list]
| 3 Kaiser Max-class, 4 Erzherzog Ferdinand Max-class, 5 Schichau-class, 1 Kaiser Franz Joseph I class, and 2 Panther class leave their port in Kotor and move to blockade the Serbian coast and the Strait of Otranto. 5,000 infantry and 450 cavalry move to fortify the coast to the East and the passage to the Northwest evenly. |
[list]Russian Border[/list]
| 100,000 infantry troops and 25,000 cavalry move to fortify the Russian border. They are given shovels, axes, and a large supply of wood to create entrenchments along the Russian border. They are given 25 Salvator-Dormus M1893 machine guns along strategic points in front of important cities such as Kraków and Lviv. Along the front line, there will also be 100 15 cm Mörser M 80s. 50,000 infantry troops and 10,000 cavalry will make fortifications along the Carpathian and Sedety mountain ranges. They will be equipped with 25 Salvator-Dormus M1893 machine guns as well. |
[list]Skoda Works[/list]
| The Austrian government has invested 22 million crowns of their military budget into Skoda Works to continue development on their machine guns and other military equipment for the Austro-Hungarian Military. It is expected to make at least 100 more Salvator-Dormus M1893 machine guns within the month to supply the entrenchments. |
[list]___[/list]
Czabalkia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
| Despite Austria-Hungary's initial refusal to reach out to the Serbian government after declaring aggressive mobilization against Serbia, Tsar Alexander I has sent a message addressed to the Austro-Hungarian government through proper diplomatic channels regarding discussions between the two empires focused on resolving the core issue at the matter of Austro-Hungarian aggression towards Serbia in support of the Ottoman Empire. The message, signed off personally by the Tsar, is written directly to the Austro-Hungarian Emperor. |
[list]To, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, Franz Joseph I,
[list]I am writing to you, as an Emperor to another Emperor, to discuss Austro-Hungarian mobilization against Serbia.
In accordance with our declaration of war against the Turkish Ottoman Empire, forces of the Imperial Serbian Army have begun the process of launching various offensives into Serbian lands occupied by the Ottoman Empire- this includes Southern Serbia, Vardar Macedonia, Kosovo, Metohija, and the area being used a pretext for aggression against Serbia, Sandak. The current Serbian mobilization against the Ottoman Empire is exclusively that- a mobilization against the Turkish aggressor which has invaded and occupied both Slav and Austro-Hungarian lands for generations before our time. You know as well as I do that they will continue to occupy our lands for generations to follow if we do not punish them for their subjugation of Europe.
It is important to note that the Serbian Declaration of War against the Ottoman Empire is not an aggressive war, nor a defensive war, but rather a declaration of war by the Empire of Serbia to launch a liberational war and to unite Serbian territory which was unjustly retained by the Ottoman Empire in the wake of the Serbian Wars for Independence. Additionally, this declaration applies exclusively to the Ottoman Empire and the Empire of Serbia and does not involve or even mention any other political entity beyond these two imperial states.
The Serbian offensive into Sandak has, no doubt, prompted Austro-Hungarian mobilization which will also undoubtedly be used to invade Serbia and potentially even Russia. The consequences of an invasion of Serbia or Russia should speak for themselves, and I truly hope for the prosperity of your own state that you recognize the disastrous consequences provoking war with either of the Russo-Serbian Empires could have for the Empire of Austria-Hungary. There is no victory to be found in intervening in a Serbian-Ottoman War for Austria-Hungary. Where victory is to be found, however, is in discussions.
I am aware that the diplomatic message which I sent to you informing you of our intention to target specifically Ottoman targets in the disputed territory of Sandak was discarded by your government without reply. This saddens me greatly, as it gives Serbia and all of Serbia's allies the implication that Austria-Hungary does not desire discussion and peace, but blind conflict for the short-term gain of the state. What I know of your imperial government is that it is one of proper thinking, and ignoring the Serbian government's prior attempts to reach out and establish dialogue has given the impression that Austria-Hungary has ignored rational thinking in its decision to mobilize with almost certain intent to aggress upon Serbia and Russia. However, I will not allow a single fault to lead to war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, which is why I have written this handwritten letter addressed to you. I have forgiven the error of ignoring Serbia's previous communique- if this is ignored, the international community will be made aware of Austria-Hungary's refusal to make peace before going to war.
This issue which has arisen over Sandak and the Serbian offensive against Sandak and Novi Pazar has arisen from a matter of international dispute and the legality of the ownership of Sandak and Novi Pazar. As it stands, forces of His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty's army occupy Sandak as they do Bosnia, however unlike Bosnia, this occupation is solely military in nature, not political, and does not fall under the Condominium of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Therefore, while Austro-Hungarian soldiers are stationed in Sandak and Novi Pazar, the ownership of Sandak is legally that of the Ottoman Empire as the Sanjak of Novi Pazar and, as such, is recognized internationally by the Empire of Serbia and other nations as the legal territory of the Ottoman Empire. It is because of this de jure ownership of the Sanjak of Novi Pazar by the Ottoman Empire that, in a legal perspective, the invasion of this polity by the Imperial Serbian Army does not represent aggression against Austria-Hungary, and why our previous assurances of Serbian neutrality towards Austro-Hungarian occupational forces in Novi Pazar hold merit. The Empire of Serbia vehemently disagrees with the occupation of Novi Pazar and, in accordance with international law, does not recognize the area as belonging to the government of Austria-Hungary, but does recognize the physical presence of Austro-Hungarian soldiers, thus our message of peace in light of the offensives undertaken into occupied Serb land.
Our offensives against the Ottomans will continue, and this will include an offensive into the Sanjak of Novi Pazar as internationally recognized territory of the Ottoman Empire; however, I as the Tsar of the Empire of Serbia am giving my assurances that all Austro-Hungarian presence within the Sanjak of Novi Pazar will be respected and left completely untouched and unharmed by the Imperial Serbian Army so long as the Austro-Hungarian Army does not put itself in harm's way, or support the Ottoman garrisons within the Sanjak. Additionally, this letter serves as a formal invitation for any Austro-Hungarian delegation sent by Your Imperial Majesty's government to Belgrade to personally meet with me and members of my government to discuss, at length, the situation, and hopefully resolve the issue at hand.
Novi Pazar should not be the hill upon which the Austro-Hungarian Empires dies. There are far greater issues at hand, and other enemies worth fighting. The Empire of Serbia and its allies are not those enemies. Serbian land is not that hill.[/list]
With Respect,
His Imperial Majesty, Tsar of the Serbs Alexander I[/list]
Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list]Acosts to the Budding Tsar of the Serbs, Alexander I,
[list]It is in my fault and my administrations to fail to remember that you are not even in your twenties, we fail to lengthen our reasoning for protecting our people as you must not be as informed as a more experienced ruler. My apologies.
Let me just read through the letter you sent to me and address some of your larger shortcomings. To start with our current mobilization of troops is not to invade Serbia or the Russians. We mobilize our troops to assure Austro-Hungarian safety and to blockade Serbia from any foreign trade. This is an attempt to deescalate the situation without having to lose unnecessary lives. You said the consequences of invading Russia or Serbia speak for themselves, but the consequences of invading the Sanjak already speak for themselves as of right now the only resources you have are within your country.
You said that we did not reply to your diplomatic message, but we did. We said any invasion on Sandak will be seen as a declaration of war. We wish to deescalate the situation but if Serbia sees it fit to go to war with our Empire, got to war they shall. I have no idea where you got the idea that we did not respond even though we did. You said you have forgiven us for not responding, but you are the ones who blatantly disregarded what we said. You say that you will make our refusal of peace talks aware to the international community if we ignore this letter, but it is you who are blatantly ignoring us, from attacking a region that has more than five-thousand Austro-Hungarians. We are making sure that our allies from Rome to London are receiving copies of your backward threats to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We had one simple request to assure that you do not mistakenly kill Austro-Hungarian lives but it seems that you do not care.
You speak of Sandak being solely the territory of the Ottomans, which it is, but this is where your novelty of ruler and lack of international know-how comes in. You fail to recognize our role in the region. We are internationally recognized as responsible for the safety of all the Muslims that live in the Sanjak and the safety of more than five-thousand troops. You may say that you wish to say stay neutral to Austria-Hungary and recognize the presence of our soldiers, but there is no merit behind it. You can not simply invade the region without having our troops caught in the crossfire. That just isnt how war works.
You say that you will continue your invasions into the Sanjak of Novi Pazar and give insurance that our troops will not be harmed if they do not put themselves in harms way. That sounds like a lazy excuse to claim that our troops were in harms way when they are garrisoned in some of the largest cities throughout Sandak.
We are responsible for the lives of our soldiers and the citizen Muslims that are throughout the Sanjak. I stand by my prior statement. You leave the Sanjak of Novi Pazar alone or it will be seen as a declaration of war on Austria-Hungary and we will have to defend ourselves at all means necessary.
It will not be the fall of Austria-Hungary, but the complete obliteration of the lands once known as Serbia. We are willing to receive a Serbian delegation in Budapest to continue peace talks, but if you continue your invasion you would leave us no choice.
Do not let your transgression be the last footnote of the Serbian nation-state. I see you as a nation that is capable of so much, it would be a pity if the world lost a nation with so much potential.
[/list]
In Regards,
His Majesty Francis Joseph the First, by the Grace of God Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, King of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, and Lodomeria, Illyria, King of Jerusalem, Archduke of Austria, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Cracow, Duke of Lorraine, of Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Bukovina, Grand Prince of Transylvania, Margrave of Moravia, Duke of Upper and Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Guastalla, Oświęcim, Zator, Ćeszyn, Friuli, Ragusa, Zara, Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Gorizia, Gradisca, Prince of Trent, Brixen, Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and in Istria, Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, Lord of Trieste, of Cattaro, and over the Windic march, and Grand Voivode of the Voivodship of Serbia.[/list]
Teujira, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
The Kingdom of Spain wishes to remain on good terms with the countries which used to be its colonies. To remain on good terms with the United Bolivar States a Spanish delegation from Cuba departs for Bogota. The Spanish delegates depart to talk to representatives from the United Bolivar States and to discuss further development into the once Spanish colony. They see the land as rich in natural resources and see it as a good trade partner to the lands of Cuba and wish to strengthen ties with the nation.
Aarkanglia, Woraniana
[list][sub]Le Quotidien Impérial[/sub][/list]
[list][sub]L'Empire Français[/sub][/list]
[list][sub]Édition mai 1893[/sub][/list]
Dans l'Empire
EMPEROR NAPOLEON PROMISES TO CRACK DOWN ON CORSICAN BANDITRY
[sup]Toulon, France | The French Empire[/sup]
[list][sup]14 May 1893[/sup][/list]
In a short speech given at the rebuilt Tuileries Palace, Napoleon IV ensured the media that the imperial government has begun preparing plans to crack down on crime developing in Corsica, the ancestral homeland of the Bonaparte family. Recognized as part of integral France, recent months has brought a surge of often violent crime on the island with very little response from the French government, thus far invested in colonial affairs along Africa's Western Coast but, His Imperial Majesty today explained, this meager response is to be met with a crackdown by both law enforcement and the French military if needed.
The speech, regarding the establishment of an insurrectionist community on the island led by Petru Giacometti, included His Imperial Majesty's promise "to completely destroy armed insurrection and reassert the totality of the rule of law on Corsica". French law enforcement officials, acting on the order of His Imperial Majesty, have been instructed to arrest anybody attempting to join the insurrectionists upon Mount Rotondo and turn them over to an imperial court to face justice for the crime of treason. His Imperial Majesty has stated that he will additionally consider weighing military response to the establishment of Monsieur Giacometti's commune should the insurrectionists "refuse to hand themselves over to the proper authorities".
In Toulon, a force of 150 French soldiers have been prepared to depart from Toulon's naval base for Corsica as a show of strength in the face of the insurrectionists and a warning of what will come should the commune not be dismantled from within. Citing the Paris Commune as an example of the fate awaiting insurrectionists, His Imperial Majesty threatened the total destruction of the Commune and stated that treachery against the nation will not be tolerated by his government.
Dans les Colonies
TROOPS, MERCHANTS FLOCK TO THE RICHES OF THE IVORY COAST
[sup]Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire | The French Empire[/sup]
[list][sup]17 May 1893[/sup][/list]
Today marks the arrival of the last of four ships commissioned by the French government to sail to Abidjan, the colonial capital of Côte d'Ivoire, to bring further numbers of troops, merchants, and colonists to the Ivory Coast. Since the establishment of the Ivory Coast as an official colony of the French Empire, moving it up from its position as an overseas protectorate, the imperial government has overseen the voyage of four ships to Abidjan carrying hundreds of Frenchmen and Imperial soldiers with the goal of settling the new colony and bringing French law, order, and economics. Along with soldiers and settlers, Catholic missionaries given the blessing of His Imperial Majesty Napoleon IV and of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII have been sent to Côte d'Ivoire as with other French possessions in Africa and Asia to bring and preach the Catholic religion to the black natives living deeper inland away from French settlements and more civilized native locales.
In total, the most recent four expeditions have brought 450 French infantrymen to Côte d'Ivoire alongside at least 2,000 settlers. Among these settlers are entrepreneurs and other businessmen, especially hunters and explorers, who have been given permission by His Imperial Majesty Napoleon IV to settle the Ivorian colony to utilize the region's resources for economic gain of both the colony and the Empire: primarily, these businessmen and other colonists will be expected to farm cocoa and coffee, as well as hunt and sell ivory from elephants and rhinoceroses. In return for settling the colony, the Imperial Government has promised the full protection of colonial settlements and economic property through use of both the Grande Armée and the French Foreign Legion.
The Ministry of the Colonies, now placed in charge of oversight of the colony on behalf of Emperor Napoleon IV, has stated that it will pursue the economic development of Côte d'Ivoire to the best of its ability, recognizing the inherent natural resources and value of the colony.
Cherokee Confederates, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
| The Austrian delegation arrives in Bogota and are greeted upon exiting their carriages. |
[list][sup]LEOPOLD BERCHTOLD:[/sup][sup] It is a pleasure to be here in Bogota today. It is a very nice change from the cold setting in back home. I havent been on vacation for a while since I joined the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Service earlier this year. It will be a nice change of scenery. Now shall we go somewhere a little more cooler to have our discussions?[/sup][/list]
Aarkanglia
[list]To, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, Franz Joseph I,
[list]If the government of Your Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty was sincere in regards to return diplomatic discussions, then no doubt the letter sent on the behest of my government with my signature upon it would have been met with, at the least, a letter in return with the signatures of members of Your Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty's signature upon it, not with a blockade and an embargo. This is not the action of a nation confident in both its power and responsibility, but of a frail and weakly afraid of its weakness, and afraid of its neighbors. The actions of Austria-Hungary; namely, premature and aggressive militarization, unjust and total embargo of the Empire of Serbia, and belligerent threats against both Serbia and Russia, has shown that the genuine national interests of the Balkan people are within your heart, but merely, the ability to tread upon the geographic and ethnic neighbors of the Austro-Hungarian people. Everything which has been said to me in your previous letter has convinced me of this and, to be frank, is quite incriminating as far as a case against yourself and your Empire. Austria-Hungary's response to my letter was to ignore it as a sign of good will and good faith towards the Austrian people, and instead respond with aggression and militarization. These are not the signs of a good and competent leader, but rather, the hallmarks of an autocrat drunk with power and so convinced of his own strength as to abandon the etiquites of leadership in favor of barbarism and violence.
It is fair to assume, from what has been said, that the Austro-Hungarian Empire does not truly respect the rule of law for if they would, the Sanjak of Novi Pazar would not even be under dispute between Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. The occupation of Novi Pazar by Austria-Hungary is simply the use of aggressive power by an aggressive power, and threats of war against Serbia and its allies is doing nothing but to weaken the case you have made of your desire to protect Austria-Hungary's national interests. Austria-Hungary is no defender of Muslims or of any people besides Austrians and Hungarians- otherwise, the name Austria-Hungary-Slovenia-Croatia-Galicia-Northern Serbia-Slovakia-Czechia-Romania-Ruthenia-Ukraine-Poland-Italy or some derivative thereof would be the name of the Habsburg Empire. Your Empire does not represent the interests of the people that it governs as, otherwise, it would solely consist of Austrian lands and Hungarian lands. I cannot take seriously a man who claims to be the defender of any nationality who oppresses entire nations and people groups and continues the legacy of that oppression which has been handed down to him from generations past.
You are entirely responsible for the lives of your soldiers, and so to force them into a conflict solely between Serbia and Serbia's allies and that of Serbia's oppressor is a negligent waste of Austrian life and Austrian blood. Sweet words of Serbian potential following threats of "obliterating" lands formerly known as Serbia mean nothing to me, my people, or my allies, and show that you truly are scared of the Serb nation.
However scared you are of the Serbian Empire, I nonetheless welcome fully a delegation to Belgrade. I think it is important to discuss the future of Novi Pazar during joint Austro-Serbian ownership, and where to proceed once the Ottomans have been removed from the region at large. Listen, and understand; there is much more to be gained from collaborating and overseeing the removal of the Turk from Europe than there is from sending our soldiers to fight and kill each other over Ottoman land.[/list]
Sincerely,
His Imperial Majesty, Tsar of the Serbs Alexander I[/list]
Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[sub]TRADE MINISTER RICARDO LOPEZ: "Yes of course Señor Berchtold. Right this way."[/sub]
| The Austrian delegation is led up a flight of steps and inside the Trade Ministry building before them. Great granite pillars would be spread about the interior and the polished, red, marble floor of the main hall would glisten as the party of delegates are escorted across it. After ascending yet another flight of steps and passing through a portrait-filled hall, the representatives are escorted into the Trade Minister's private study and lounge. As the last of the foreigners file into the room, Lopez invites them to sit while pouring himself some coffee. Once his cup is filled and all the men are seated, the Trade Minister, with coffee tray in hand, makes his way towards the seats. He then places the coffee tray atop a table in the center of the ring of chairs and takes his seat. There would be enough mugs on the table so that, if they wished, everyone present could partake of the warm coffee. |
[sub]TRADE MINISTER RICARDO LOPEZ: "Ah, welcome to Gran Colombia, dearest guests. Feel free to treat yourselves to some coffee- it's locally brewed. You all have traveled far to get here and my cohorts and I are flattered that the Austrian government took enough interest in our great nation to send a delegation. These are pivotal times, my friends, and the UBS finds itself on the brink of further greatness. Earlier this year, construction of a magnificent canal in the northern arm of New Grenada began. With it, this nation hopes to attract additional trade and foreign investors. That is the main reason I asked you here today and it is my hope that by the end of these talk we can reach some favorable agreements. But, forgive me, I'm getting ahead of myself- I forgot to ask about recent happenings in your nation! How has your realm been as of late?"[/sub]
Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
| The count stood from his seat getting ready to leave and to go to the house that has been set up for him while the two were having their discussion. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] Thank you for your time Prime Minister Loyd. I feel like we have made great headway in the relations of our two nations.[/sup][/list]
| All of a sudden a servant burst into the room asking for the count immediately outside in the hall. The two talked outside the room for just a few minutes before the count returned. |
[list][sup]COUNT GUSTAV KÁLNOKY:[/sup][sup] It seems that an opportunity to test our new-found alliance has come upon us. The Serbs are invading Ottoman lands where we have over 5,000 men stationed. As you know as well we are responsible to protect the Muslim minority from the genocidal Serbians as well. I have a series of letters from a correspondence between His Majesty and the Tsar of the Serbs. Are you willing to help us in our noble cause?[/sup][/list]
[list]___[/list]
Woraniana
[list]Acosts to the Budding Tsar of the Serbs, Alexander I,
[list]It seems you still fail to actually comprehend what goes on around you. I see it as a waste of my time to try to explain the geopolitics of your home region when you dont understand how they work into the grander systems of Europe. I will not continue to justify my actions when you ignore my reasonings along with sensationalizing actions that are basic procedures in times like these. Your lack of inexperience and knowledge is not my problem.
You say I have no respect for the rule of law as the Sanjak wouldnt be contested lands, though even in my prior letter I said I dont see it as Austro-Hungarian, but it just shows your incompetence when my troops are in that land because of the Congress of Berlin. It is international law that puts my troops there and you just say that it is an aggressive use of power.
As for my diplomats, I will not put them into harms way in a city on the Hungarian-Serbian border. If you truly wish to have diplomatic discussions you will send a delegation to Budapest where it is far from any possible skirmishes.
As for my signature, I didnt know you were a fan of mine. I didnt know you wanted my autograph, so I shall grant your request. See it as a diplomatic gift.[/list]
In Regards,
His Majesty the Emperor-King, Franz Joseph I XOXO[/list]
Woraniana
| The Austrians each pick up a mug of the coffee and take some sips to their delight. |
[list][sup]LEOPOLD BERCHTOLD:[/sup][sup] Thank you for your hospitality, the coffee is extremely delicious. As for our realm, I do not know if word has reached here yet, but the situation with our neighbor to the South, Serbia, continues to reach. This has caused a lot of worry through our empire through their alliance with the Russians and the Russians recent alliance with our ally the Germans. That means much of the funds that we would be loaning to you are now going to efforts to secure our borders. Though I am one of if not the richest man in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I am sure I could fund you some to get started on your project. Those at home have even said they will heavily fund your venture after the situation deescalates. Though that is only if you were to pledge allegiance to us if our situation were to escalate. That means you would support us militarily, here in the Americas, in exchange for funding your venture. This loyalty to us would even encourage us to fund any ventures you have in the future.[/sup][/list]
| The diplomat reached over and had another long sip of his coffee. |
[list][sup]LEOPOLD BERCHTOLD:[/sup][sup] Truly delicious, I could see myself buying some plots of land here to farm some coffee and trade it back home. Either that or buy some stocks in some of your preexisting coffee companies, truly delicious.[/sup][/list]
| Prime Minister Archie Loyd set down his tea. |
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD:[/sup][sup] Defending Muslims certainly would get you any points with European powers, you can't say that publicly.[/sup][/list]
| Prime Minister Archie Loyd stands up. |
[list][sup]PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD:[/sup][sup] A war with Serbia means a war with Russia, which means a war with Germany. This will be a fight for our lives indeed if it occurs. You will have full British support against Serbia and Russia. I can't say for certain if the Germans will enter, but if they do, we shall squash them.[/sup][/list]
[list][sup]OCTOBER 23, 1893[/sup]
𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕯𝖆𝖎𝖑𝖞 𝕿𝖊𝖑𝖊𝖌𝖗𝖆𝖕𝖍.
[sub]𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫.[/sub]
____[/list]
WAR RAGES IN THE BALKANS.
[sub]Will Great Britain be forced to join the war?[/sub]
LONDONIn the Balkans, Serbia has begin an offensive into Novi Pazar, an area in which Austria-Hungary has interests in. Austria-Hungary stated that if Serbia continues to push into the territory then it will consider it a declaration of war, potentially triggering the entry of Russia into the war, and due to the recent Austro-British alliance, the triggering of the British Empire entering the war as well. Other nations, such as the German Empire, France, and Italy are in a grey area, as to whether or not they will join or not. It's believed, due to the ties between Germany, and Austria-Hungary and Russia, its likely neutrality would be their best option. As for France, it's also believed they would not interfere, though they do have close ties to the Russian Empire. Italy is also a grey area, while they are in an alliance with the Austro-Hungarians, its unknown whether or not they shall act upon it and provide assistance. It should be noted, Tsar Alexander III has not engaged in any conflict under his reign, so its also possible, that he will simply not interfere, but naturally that would be a violation of the close ties between Serbia and Russia, so its likely he will have to be forced into War anyway. Such a war would have major complications for the entirety of Europe, which is rapidly industrializing. It could potential slow it down in Austria depending on the front line, but perhaps not Russia, due to their centers of industry being far from the frontlines, though, money would be sparse to continue to push for industrialization, unless, France happens to finance it, in which it does have the capabilities to do so. The British Empire has concerns on what a Russian victory could mean to the balance of power in Europe, in which, it could tip in favor of the Russians depending on how much they desire to annex, and the absence of Austria-Hungary as a nation.
The United Kingdom, is in an alliance of Austria-Hungary, which means, if requested by the nation, the British Empire would have to join the war effort against Serbia, then likely, eventually against Russia. The British Parliament was briefed today by the Foreign Secretary concerning the potential war, and then later briefed by War Secretary on what a potential conflict could look like, and what will be required by the armed forces, and the navy, to ensure victory, or at the least, an inconclusive result. Prime Minister Archie Loyd gave a statement to the Daily Telegraph stating: "While, it will be a shame, going to war again, we will have to stand by our alliance, and assist the Austrians. However, I also don't know how large this war may get, it very well may be a small conflict with the Serbs, but at the same time, it could be a wider conflict with us facing the Russians. In any case, we must, while time allows, begin preparing for the most disastrous scenario so that we can be prepared for all the possible situations. I am glad the British Parliament will approve of a major hike to naval and army spending, and recruiting. And most notably, the rampant construction of new battleships, our navy must be able to face every threat, and be able to take on multiple navies if need be." The British Parliament did go on to approve the measures, and a new naval building program, which expands on the 1892 program, it increases the planned number of Majestic-class battleship's from 9 to 16.
[list]____[/list]
Sadar, Zanbala Prz
[list][sup]NOVEMBER, 1893[/sup]
1893 EMERGENCY NAVAL ACT.
[sub]BRITISH EMPIRE, LONDON MORNING[/sub]
____
[/list]
| With Europe collapsing into war, Prime Minister Archie Loyd has announced the 1893 Emergency Naval Act, which aims to rapidly increase the size of the Royal Navy, prioritize Royal Navy ships, seize ships currently being produced for foreign navies and rapidly develop new naval technology. The Act is as follows. |[list]
𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟑 𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐓
NOTING the rapidly deteriorating situation in Europe.
RECOGNIZING the strategic importance of a strong, and large Royal Navy.
AFFIRMING the two power standard.
PROPOSES the following act:
I. British shipyards currently constructing the original order of the Royal Sovereign-class battleships and the additional 7 ordered in October shall prioritize their completion over all other orders. The additional 7 order shall be cut. Increased manpower constructing the ships is mandated. 2 shifts shall be set up for their construction, Daytime shift, and the Overnight shift. The overnight shift will see their wages boosted by 10%. 6 Royal Sovereign-class battleships will be complete by the end of 1893. The remaining 2 orders shall see new completion dates of: January, 1894, February 1894.
II. Majestic class battleships shall take precedence in future battleship construction. The original 3rd battleship shall not be redesigned into HMS Renown, and shall continue to be built as a Majestic Class battleship. The same shift, and mandated precedence as seen in I shall apply to these ships. 12 Majestic class battleships shall be ordered. Room will be made available in shipyards so that all will be laid down by January, 1894. It's believed the average time to produce one vessel is 24 to 30 months.Thus, all ships shall be commissioned into the Royal Navy by July, 1896.
III. Foreign naval vessels being constructed in British shipyards shall be seized. Refunds must be issued.
V. 24 new first-class protected cruisers shall be designed and ordered. The design shall effectively be a smaller version of the HMS Renown. The Cruisers shall employ Harvey Armour, with a similar Armour scheme to the Renown (scaled and proportioned for the design and needs). The ship shall be 6500 tons, employ 4 × BL 10-inch (254 mm) guns10 × QF 6-inch (152 mm) Mk II guns, 12 × QF 12-pounder guns, 12 × QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, 5 × 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes, and be constructed within 20 to 24 months. They shall be delivered within 1896 to 1897.[/list]
| The act was successfully passed. |
[list]____[/list]
Val Verde-, Czabalkia, Sadar, Zanbala Prz
[list][sub]Le Quotidien Impérial[/sub][/list]
[list][sub]L'Empire Français[/sub][/list]
[list][sub]Édition janvier 1894[/sub][/list]
NAVAL POWER ACT OF 1894 PASSED THROUGH IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
[sup]Paris, France | The French Empire[/sup]
[list][sup]16 January 1894[/sup][/list]
Only months after the United Kingdom passed the "Emergency Naval Act of 1893" through its own legislature, the French Imperial Parliament has near unanimously passed its own act entitled the Naval Powers Act of 1893. Written completely by His Imperial Majesty Napoleon IV with the assistance of Minister of the Navy and four leading French admirals of the Mediterranean and Overseas Fleets, the Act has provided increased budget for the upkeep of the French Navy as well as signing off on other amenities to further support the development of the Imperial Navy as a preeminent world maritime power. The goal of the Naval Powers Act, as expressed in its opening statements, is "to recognize the importance of the French Navy as France's arm beyond France" and "to provide a means for the advancement of the French Navy in the face of foreign arms development". Contained within the Act are the following provisions:
[list][list]I. The French shipyards Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, Arsenal de Brest, and any other shipyards of the French Empire tasked with the construction of ships designated by the Imperial Navy as "battleships" shall be ordered to prioritize the construction of these ships as completely and quickly as possible. The French Government shall oversee a gradual pay raise of 25% of the salary of all shipbuilders working on projects designated as "battleships" over the next month following the passage of the this Act, which will remain in effect so long as said shipbuilders work upon "battleship" projects.
II. The Port of Mers El-Kébir in Algeria shall be expanded upon to accommodate and provide for outstanding modern warship designs, specifically ships designated as "battleships". The French Government shall create a public enterprise, the Office français algérien de construction et de surveillance maritime(French Algerian Maritime Construction and Supervision Board). This enterprise shall be tasked with assisting in the construction of future warship projects.
III. All construction of ironclad-type ships is hereby suspended as per the authority of this Act. All resources which have been designated for use on the construction of ironclads shall be reappropriated for use upon battleship projects as well as protected cruisers. All current ironclads which have been laid down but not completed are to be redesignated and reconstructed into miscellaneous cruisers.
IV. An additional six Linois-class cruisers shall be constructed on top of the originally planned three; an additional six Friant-class cruisers shall be constructed on top of the originally planned three; an additional four Descartes-class cruisers shall be constructed on top of the originally planned two; an additional seven D'Assas-class cruisers shall be constructed on top of the originally planned three; the French government holds the right to order shipyards to construct further ships of any class of cruiser or battleship in the event of national emergency per the authority of this Act. These cruisers must all be laid down within the next four years, by January 1898, in order of class and when each class was initially scheduled to be laid down.
V. The Imperial Navy and all associated French shipyards must prioritize the rapid construction and deployment of armored cruisers and will be provided an increased budget to allow for the repairing and maintenance of cruisers.
VI. The battleship projects regarding the construction of the battleships Jauréguiberry, Masséna, Bouvet, Carnot, and Charles Martel are recognized as holding key importance to the strength of the French Empire and the Imperial Navy, and are therefore ordered to receive paramount interest and focus by the organizations entrusted with their construction. All five battleship projects must be completed and laid down before August 1896. The organizations entrusted with the construction of these battleships are entitled to the use of supplies previously designated for the construction of ironclad-type ships, and through the authority of this Act, are entitled to the right to request the French government appropriate supplies from other projects both public and private in nature to ensure the completion of these projects as swiftly and thoroughly as possible.
VII. The Ministry of the Colonies has been entrusted with establishing key coaling and maritime refueling and resupply stations in the colonial cities of Nouakachott, Dakar, Port-Gentil, Djibouti, Mamoudzou, Mahajanga, Saigon, Hai Phong, Cayenne, and Pointe-à-Pitre.
VIII. The annual budget of the Imperial Navy shall be increased by 7% of the previous year's budget, taking into account expenditure. This budget increase of 7% based upon the naval budget of 1893 shall remain based upon that number until further government decision is made separate of this Act.[/list][/list]
Antagarichh, Sadar, Zanbala Prz, Woraniana
[list][sup]JANUARY, 1894[/sup]
THE NEW ARMS RACE.
[sub]BRITISH EMPIRE, LONDON MORNING[/sub]
____
[/list]
| Prime Minister Archie Loyd threw a couple dozen papers on the ground, he was furious, not because of anyone else, but his own gambles had seemingly failed to prevent a Naval Arms race, if anything, the Emergency Naval Act, the 1889 Naval Act, and the Spencer Programme, which was supposed to be a deterrent against rival navies, had instead, acted as a point to support further naval construction and arming in other countries. In the room was the Prime Minister, the War Secretary, and the First Lord of the Admiralty, who was in charge of the Royal Navy. They were sitting, cups of tea strewn about along with various cakes, and snacks. France had recently passed Naval Power act of 1894, which increased their production of battleships and cruisers, a direct response to the 3 naval bills passed by the British Parliament over the past years. This meeting aimed to develop a response to that. |
[list][sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD: | "So well, I suppose we have to order more Majestic Class Battleships then? No?"[/sup]
[sup]| WAR SECRETARY HENRY PETSFIELD | "It would seem so, Yes."[/sup]
[sup]| ADMIRAL J. SMITH : | "Perhaps, we think longterm instead."[/sup][/list]
| The Admiral shuffled through the papers thrown on the ground till a a sheet was found. |
[list]
[sup]| ADMIRAL J. SMITH : | "There's a proposal for a new all-big-gun battleship which incorporates some new technology. Notably the new 12 inch gun, steam turbines and quick-fire guns. It's designed specifically to destroy battleships."[/sup]
[sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD: | "I don't understand, what's the difference? We already use quick-fire guns, and while we haven't any steam turbines on our battleships, we have used guns larger then that before, sometimes even 4 at a time."[/sup]
[sup]| ADMIRAL J. SMITH : | "Mr. Prime Minister, we usually only put a few of the largest guns on a battleship, along with 5 or 6 other guns that progressively get smaller. This would incorporate 8 12 inch guns, and 2 13.5 inch guns, along with 24 QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns. That, Mr. Prime Minister, has the power of perhaps 3, maybe 4 battleships."[/sup]
[sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD: | "The catch?"[/sup]
[sup]| ADMIRAL J. SMITH : | "You'll have to wait till 1896, more likely 1897"[/sup]
[sup]| PRIME MINISTER ARCHIE LOYD: | "Build it."[/sup]
[/list]
| The specifications for the HMS Poggers are as follows. It's naming coming from James T. Poggers. |
[list]
[sup]POGGERS CLASS BATTLESHIP[/sup]
[sup]DISPLACEMENT: 17,230 TONS
LENGTH: 459 FT
INSTALLED POWER: 15500 KW, 16 BOILERS
PROPULSION: 2 STEAM TURBINES, 4 SHAFTS
SPEED: 22 MPH
COMPLIMENT: 700
RANGE: 7000 MILES
ARMAMENT:
- 2 x BL 13.5-INCH NAVAL GUN
- 8 x BL 12-INCH NAVAL GUN MK VIII-2 (REDESIGNED LINING AND SHOULDER)
- 24 x HOTCHKISS QF 3-INCH GUN
ARMOUR:
- BELT: 4-10 IN
- DECK: 1-3 IN
- BARBETTES : 410 IN
- TURRETS: 4-12 IN
- CONNING TOWER: 11 IN
- BULKHEADS: 7 IN
LAY DOWN DATES: 2 IN MARCH 1894, 3 IN MAY 1894
COMPLETION: 2 IN MAY, 1897, 3 IN JULY 1897[/sup][/list]
| Each ship will cost roughly 1.2 million pounds. |
Sadar, Zanbala Prz
|[I]Ignacio before answering the Minister, chooses his words carefully. The main reason for Mexico sending its diplomat in the first place was to actually meet European diplomats, Bolivar itself was an only second priority and Ignacio was only instructed to simply get information on the Canal. He chose his words and gives his response while stroking his chin.|
[list][pre]Secreatary Ignacio Mariscal:[/pre] [I]𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘚𝘦ñ𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰?
[list]{Governor Méndez} Of course señor, it is our utmost pleasure to have you here. Here, let us make our way towards the train station. It will at least take a good 8 hours for you to arrive at Esperanza. Allow these soldiers to mount your luggage into the carriage and please step in good sir.
Woraniana
[list][list]December 1891, 40 miles from Addis Ababa
[sup]ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴀʀ ɢɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ[/sup]
𝐀 𝐃𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄[/list][/list]
[I][pre]For the honor of my father and myself, I challenge his majesty to battle. I Ras Mengesha Yohannes, rightful air to the throne have assembled a strong army to challenge your illegitimate dynasty. If his majesty refuses then I will simply march down to your new city and burn it to the ground. If his majesty has the courage to face me then I await thee at the west side of Lake Tana. To show my honor and complete loyalty to the Empire, I will not involve any outside forces in this dispute, I trust you will do the same. We must settle this matter like an elder settles disputes in the village. Involving foreigners is a risk but a lack of foresight. Both of us in some respect fought against the European invaders, so naturally, we must keep this conflict from evolving into a large scale war. If God is to side with his majesty then I will stand down with my armies, but if God stands with me I expect the same cordial respect from you.[/pre]
[list]ꜱɪɢɴᴇᴅ, ʀᴀꜱ ᴍᴇɴɢᴇꜱʜᴀ ʏᴏʜᴀɴɴᴇꜱ[/list]
|This was the letter that started it all. A declaration of war on Menelik's imperial dynasty, not hesitating Menelik gathered his army and began his march towards Lake Tana, located in the Begemder region. Miles away from Addis Abba, a convoy of infantry, calvary, and wagons marched towards their destination. Emperor Menelik and his cousin Ras Mäkonnen, traveled on horseback conversing with one another about the up and coming battle with Mengesha. Without a doubt, Menelik could not risk allowing Mengesha to rise up against him for Menelik needed the north secure from any possible threats from the Italians. Even if diplomatic relations were rebuilding, the Italians could not be trusted. Menelik feared that allowing Mengesha to run wild would only result in a large scale civil war, thus Mengesha had to be crushed in a decisive single battle.|
[list][pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre] {Mengesha has finally shown himself for the snake he is! How dare he put the Empire in this position, does that fool not realize how delicate the situation is for us?}
[pre]Ras Mäkonnen[/pre] {He probably does your highness which is why he chose to rise up. I have no doubt that the Italians are behind this little revolt of his, they probably want to weaken us, and then conquer Ethiopia.}
[pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre] {if the Italians truly seek to conquer us then they will find themselves on the tip of our swords. God will guide my Army and Mengesha will face justice for this treason!}
[pre]Ras Mäkonnen[/pre] {Might I make a suggestion your highness?}
[pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre] {Yes, go ahead Ras Mäkonnen.}
[pre]Ras Mäkonnen[/pre] {I recommend that we take a more relaxed position once Mengesha is defeated. Killing him could result in Tigray uprisings and we don't need that, best we grant him a salary, and perhaps allow for his titles to remain. He is after all promising not to spark a nationwide war.}
[pre]Emperor Menelik II[/pre] {You do make a sound point Ras, but I will only show him mercy if he humbles himself and bows before me when the dust is cleared. If not then my blade will fall heavily on his head.}
Czabalkia, Sadar, Woraniana
Post self-deleted by The Rexist Rijk.
Post self-deleted by The Rexist Rijk.
Post self-deleted by The Rexist Rijk.
[list][sup]January, 1894[/sup]
MILITARY REFORMS
[sup]AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE[/sup]
___[/list]
| With the current situation in Europe escalating the Austro-Hungarian diets have passed a new bill on government spending, military procedure, and education. The bills name is the Unification and Development of the Royal Armed Forces Act of 1894. Its main goals are to make the military consolidated, mandatory conscription, and to separate the budgets of the Army and the Navy and at the same time increasing them. |
[list][sup]Unification and Development of the Royal Armed Forces Act of 1894[/sup]
[list]An act to make the official language of the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces Army Slavic; to enforce mandatory conscription of all those who turn of age to vote; to increase the number of arms for the army; to separate the military budgets between the two branches of the Army and Navy; to increase the infrastructure and might of the Austro-Hungarian Navy; to increase the current military budget of 262 million by 200 million. [/list]
[list]Articles of Said Act:[/list]
[list]I. All troops that are not in active duty shall be taught the pidgin language of Army Slavic. They shall become fluent in this new language as it is the only language that shall be allowed to be spoken professionally in the military. The teaching of the language shall also extend to all state schools where they. shall be taught the language. Starting in the first year of primary and following said generation of students tell all grades are being taught the language. [/list]
[list]II. All those of voting age and eligible to vote will have to serve a mandatory year of service within the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces. This alludes to men of the age of twenty-one. Though they can be exempt if they are in school, as a student or teacher, though His Majesty can remove this exemption. [/list]
[list]III. 50,000 more machine guns will be ordered from Skoda Works encompassed by the prior investment into the company along with 300,000 Mannlicher m95s, a more advanced design of Mannlichers semi-automatic rifle. [/list]
[list]IIII. The current military budget shall be separated and apportioned between the branches of the military as seen fit. As of the two branches not sharing a budget no more the taking of funds designated to one branch from another will be deemed illegal unless approved by His Majesty himself. [/list]
[list]V. The shipyards of Trieste and Pula shall be increased to double capacity while the ports of Rijeka and Zadar shipyards will be constructed to be comparable with those of Trieste and Pula. The construction of 5 Royal Sovereign Battleships shall take top priority, along with the fast track of the current Monarch-class ships and 10 more shall be ordered. In the cities of Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest 10 Danube-class River monitors shall be ordered for each city. [/list]
[list]VI. The military budget shall see a general increase of 200 million Krones being divided equally between the two branches. Therefore because of this, the taxes of those in University, be it student or professor, shall see an increase in 5%. [/list]
[list]___[/list]
[spoiler=Danube-class]Danube-class River Monitor
Displacement: 448 tonnes
Length: 54 m
Beam: 9 m
Draught: 1.2
Installed power:
1,200 ihp (890 kW)
2 Yarrow boilers
Propulsion: 2 Triple-expansion steam engines
Speed: 10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement: 77 officers and enlisted men
Armament:
2 × 120 mm (4.7 in)/L35 guns (1 × 2)
2 × 66 mm (2.6 in)/2 × machine guns
Armour:
Belt and bulkheads: 50 mm (2.0 in)
Deck: 19 mm (0.75 in)
Conning tower and gun turrets: 75 mm (3.0 in)
[/spoiler]
Val Verde-, Sadar, Zanbala Prz
Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.