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Post by ieshima on Sept 16, 2020 19:39:08 GMT -6
The Kaiser appears to have stumbled upon some friends where previously there were only enemies. With evidence that Austria-Hungary no longer wants to be the lesser of the two Germanies, it is understandable that Berlin is seeking allies to gain some commodity of vengeance upon China. But, and though I can only speak for myself, I cannot believe that even my father could have seen this day coming. France, Germany, and Russia, brothers in arms in the crusade against the Yellow Peril.
-Herbert von Bismarck, Prince of Bismarck, February 18th, 1907
Excerpts from China: A Study of Asian Civilization, Volume 12, Chapter 1: The Middle Republic
The Chinese withdrawal from Korea marked a low point for the Empire in the first decade of the 20th century, and can be regarded as the end of an era of growth and expansion. Before this, the Chinese Republic had largely been characterized by its meteoric rise from a backwards, archaic kingdom on the verge of collapse to a thriving nation embracing the newest technologies and making a place for itself on the world stage. This remarkable accomplishment was then culminated in the defeat of Germany, its effective European counterpart in terms of sudden and rapid dominance, in the 1st Sino-German war. This is what many historians deem to be the pinnacle of the Early Chinese Republic, as the economic expansion, technological catchup, and international influence garnered by the successful end to the war effectively established the Republic as the seventh so-called ‘Great Power’ on the planet. However, the Korean Expedition and its resultant failure, coupled with the downturn in international standing and the shakeup in internal political dominance, which followed so closely on the heels of the victory over Germany provides a telling point at which China truly became a ‘Great Power,’ with all that said title entails.
What many people do not realize is that regardless of the continued power wielded by one of the great states, these states are nations as well, and suffer from defeat and setback just as the minor players do. If they did not, then Alexander’s Empire would still span from Macedonia to the Indus valley, rubbing shoulders with Rome, the Khanate, and Egypt. It is the ability of a truly powerful nation to take such a setback, to be defeated, and simply carry on without any major upset being inflicted upon them. This is why Germany, despite losing the war, still retained its status as one of the Great Powers: the defeat did not harm them to a point from which they could not recover. The loss of Tsingtao and the myriad Pacific holdings, and the embarrassment caused by their loss, did nothing to change the fact that Germany still possessed the largest and most capable army in Europe, which was where its true power stemmed from. France and Russia could, and did, diplomatically mock Germany for losing to what had been the world’s punching bag, but they were not foolish or daring enough to risk taking advantage of that defeat when reminded of the fact that Prussian regulars could be in Paris or St. Petersburg within a month, simultaneously should the need arise.
Now, had the Chinese defeated the majority of the German army in the war, then it is very likely that the Prussian state would have been replaced by another up-and-coming superpower. Similarly, had the debacle that was the Korean Expedition permanently harmed China to the point where it was left irreparably weakened, then it is very likely that the Republic would have lasted for a mere eight years, yet another failed regime in the endless cycle that was Chinese history. Because it did not, because China came out of 1906 with a substantial net-positive despite its setback, the defeat only served to cement the Empire’s status as a Great Power. However, just as with all setbacks, it did not emerge unscathed.
China was facing a serious set of potential problems going into 1907, any one of which could result in another war with another Great Power. By attempting to take over Korea, China had angered its two closest rivals: Russia and Japan. Both nations had bad-blood with the Empire, the 1898 Russian Expedition and the 1st Sino-Japanese war respectively, and both saw Korea as being within their sphere of influence. Understanding this, Japan and Russia had made concerted efforts to ensure that the nominally independent Korean kingdom became as dependent as possible upon their support and goodwill. The Chinese attempt to subvert their efforts and steal what they saw as their rightfully deserved prize assured that both powers focused on the new threat, even going so far as to put aside their own grievances between each other in order to do so. Individually, China could have easily defeated either power’s military forces with few problems. Japan couldn’t land an army on the mainland without first clearing the seas, and their fleets were severely outnumbered by China’s better equipped navy. Conversely, Russia shared a land border with China, but due to the inhospitable nature of central Siberia, it was just as difficult for them to invade overland as it was for Japan. But if both worked together, the combined Russian and Japanese fleets would overwhelm the Chinese battleships, and the Chinese army would struggle to fight a two-front war against a pair of equally capable opponents. However, this was the smallest of the three concerns facing China.
A far larger problem was arising in Europe, where France and Germany were rapidly approaching a similar level of understanding regarding the Far East. Germany was still bitter about their defeat and the loss of their colonies, and the Kaiser was not a man to let insults towards his personage go lightly. Similarly, France was reeling from the economic blow delivered to their colonies in Indochina, and many in the republic were calling for a military intervention. Germany and France also had political reasons to draw attention away from their failings. With their loss during the war and a violently suppressed popular uprising stemming from it, many of the smaller member states of the German confederation were starting to question if subservience to Berlin was truly worth their time. Likewise, the French government, and the military in particular, were finally starting to recover from the international embarrassment that was the Dreyfus Affair, and were eager to shift the populace’s attention onto anything else. Furthermore, Great Britain’s blossoming relationship with China was a particular sticking point for both nations.
France had little reason to trust Britain, which had been a long-term rival and foe for centuries, and with London’s endearment to Peking becoming more and more obvious, the fledgling Entente Cordiale, which both nations diplomats had poured their souls into, quickly fell apart under the strain, and the mutual distrust that had faded in recent years came roaring back with a vengeance. Germany, for their part, was finally waking up to the fact that building a navy on a scale large enough to give the dominant naval power pause, while simultaneously rebuffing multiple offers of a formal alliance from said dominant power, was probably not going to endear anyone in Britain to their side, and Berlin quickly began searching for the few neighbors that they hadn’t yet offended or alienated. Luckily, with cross-channel relations having taken a turn for the worse, France was also in the market for new allies. While neither party could forgive the other over their shared history, both were willing to temporarily overlook the glaring issue that was Alsace-Lorraine and come to an agreement that something had to be done over China’s growing influence and power. However, this was still not the largest threat that China was facing.
No, the largest threat that China was facing, and one that was, quite literally, causing international upheaval in a scale to rival Krakatoa, was the fact that all four nations, Japan, Russia, France, and Germany, were starting to openly discuss and give serious consideration to a formal alliance with the sole goal of restricting China.
To state that diplomats and politicians in Peking, and to a similar extent, London, were panicking over this would be gross understatement. The unification of four traditional enemies over a single issue, with potential for a lasting diplomatic agreement to that effect, would immediately change the balance of power on the world stage. While China was capable of handling each of the four states in an individual conflict, a war against all four of them was sure to end against their favor, and with increasingly concerning reports coming from Europe it was looking more and more likely that that was exactly what was going to happen. For Britain, it was far, far worse than anything that could have been imagined. For decades, the Royal Navy had secured British dominance over the seas by way of the Two-Power Standard, a simple policy that stated that the Navy must equal or outnumber the next two largest navies combined. While the United States, which had remained blessedly neutral during the Korean affair, now had the undisputed second largest navy, the prospect of four of the other Great Powers joining together in alliance pushed the Two-Power Standard out the window. Britain could fight France and Russia. Britain could fight Japan and Germany. It could not fight all four at once, not without risking the possibility of losing the war or its naval dominance, and with a period of externally imposed isolation descending around the British Isles, King Edward the VII ordered the final step taken.
On New Year’s Day, 1907, a series of telegrams between the British Home Office in London and the British embassy in Peking gave authorization to Head Ambassador John Jordan to open channels with the government of the Guangxu Emperor with the intention of creating an alliance of mutual defense. This overture of alliance was seen as a godsend for Shikai, whose attempts to entice France and Russia back to the table had been firmly rebuffed. Recognizing that path as hopeless, the President met with Jordan within hours of receiving the offer and agreed to begin negotiations immediately, under conditions of strict secrecy. Liang Qichao, the master diplomat who had helped orchestrate the Treaty of Calcutta, was quietly ordered to end his personal visit to the United States and proceed to Britain as fast as possible. Likewise, British diplomats were dispatched to China to support Jordan. The prospect of two simultaneous groups conducting negotiations on the same issue in two different locations did lead to the expected confusion and arguments, with efforts from the Union opposition in the Commons and Lords nearly sinking the effort on one occasion. Many in the opposition saw the alliance as a reversal of much of their work, as it had been a Union government that had overseen the Entente Cordiale and the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, both of which had now collapsed under the new Liberal government. Thankfully, the Peking side of the negotiations resolved many of the issues, proposing that the new alliance borrow heavily from the wording and details of the Anglo-Japanese one.
This suggestion was excepted, and not a moment too soon. Lord Lansdowne, one of the Union opposition leaders and one of the treaty’s fiercest opponents, leaked the details of the negotiations to the press, destroying the veneer of secrecy that the two governments had hopped to preserve until the signing. This announcement did little to derail the progress, as the majority of the concerns had been resolved, but it enflamed the continent. For many in Paris, Berlin, and Moscow, this was a confirmation of what they had feared and suspected, and the preliminaries of their alliance escalated from friendly musing to negotiations of their own. But at that point it was to late to prevent the Chinese and British from finalizing their efforts, and on January 31st, 1907, the Anglo-Sino Alliance was formally signed into being. Unbeknownst to everyone, it was the beginning of something far bigger, and far more destructive, than anyone could anticipate.
The Peking Signatories
The Anglo-Sino Treaty of 1907
Article 1: The High Contracting Parties, having mutually recognized the threats posed by outside parties upon their independent powers, economies, territories, and trade, declare themselves to be uninfluenced by aggression towards each other in the interest of mutual protection and agreement, and shall ensure this lasting accord continues.
Article 2: Barring the encroachment of an outside power within the region, the first signatory, His Majesty’s United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, formally cedes any and all claims or interests in the recognized territories of the second signatory, His Imperial Highness’ Constitutional Republic of China, and formally rescinds any and all claims or interests within the regions and territories of Tibet and the assorted archipelagos and islands of the Chinese territories in the Carolines, Marianas, Marshalls, and New Guinea, and formally recognizes the Chinese claim to the island and territories of Taipei, the territories of Manchuria and Mongolia, and recognizes the Kingdom of Korea and its associated lands and territories as falling under the uncontested area of influence of the second signatory.
Article 3: Barring the encroachment of an outside power within the region, the second signatory, His Imperial Highness’ Constitutional Republic of China, formally cedes any and all claims or interests in the recognized territories of the first signatory, His Majesty’s United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and formally rescinds any and all claims or interests to the regions and territories of the British Raj of India, the states and colonies of British Malaya and British Borneo, the territories of British Papua, the British Solomons and colony of Fiji, and the dominions of Australia and New Zealand, and further formally recognizes British control of the cities and territories of Hong Kong and Weihaiwei in perpetuity.
Article 4: Both signatories hereby pledge unconditional support of the other should either party become involved in conflict with an outside power.
Article 5: Both signatories hereby pledge to not enter into any agreement with an outside power to the prejudice of this alliance
Article 6: Both signatories hereby pledge to communicate frankly and fully with each other when any of the interests affected by this treaty are in jeopardy
Article 7: This treaty shall remain in force for five years and then at one years’ notice, unless notice was given at the end of the fourth year.
Authors note: Great Powers
RtW and RtW2 both focus around the player nation and six other competing nations, with effectively everyone else on the planet being a nonissue. While it would be fun to have other, minor nations in the game it would be far to easy (and hilariously broken) for the player to intentionally become involved in wars with these minor powers, sweeping aside their navies and raking up hundreds of thousands in reparations and territory. With that caveat, it highlights probably the second largest reason why there are only six other nations in a given campaign: it would be far to easy to snowball. Of course, the largest reason is probably that adding in minor nations would take so much effort and time to do so that the dev-team (which is about five guys and a slightly energetic cat on a good day) would most likely go on strike. So why have I chosen this to talk about?
Well, by not adding in more than six opposing nations the dev-team unintentionally (unless this was completely intentional on their part) recreated the real-life idea of Great Powers in the game. While everyone is, or should be, well aware of a what a great power is and the effect that they can have on the world, it would be remiss of me to not explain. A Great Power is a nation-state that is internationally recognized as having the ability, expertise, and power to exert its influence on a global scale. Now, there are several levels to this idea: Superpowers, Potential Superpowers, the aforementioned Great Powers, and the Least of the Great Powers. A Superpower is a nation-state that largely dominates most or all of the world through its influence, and usually there is only one, or at most two or three, superpowers in existence at any one time. Currently in the real world, the USA is widely regarded as the only true superpower, though some claim that Russia or China are superpowers as well. A step below Superpower is the Potential Superpower. These are nations that are one the cusp of becoming superpowers, but either aren’t there yet, or aren’t recognized as such. This is were most rankings put Russia or China. Then you have the lowest of the greats, the Least of the Great Powers. This is normally the spot where superpowers go to die, as most occupants of this title are on their way out as an influential member. This can be flipped, with the newest Great Power taking this spot, often bumping the previous holder out of the Great Power club in doing so. Most rankings put Italy in this spot, though I have seen India, Turkey, Spain, and Sweden listed as other contenders.
This style of ranking translates really well to RtW and RtW2, as the various nations tend to fill these slots nicely. Britain is obviously the starting Superpower, with the USA beginning as a Potential and then graduating to a full Superpower some time in the 1920’s, often relegating Britain to Great Power status in the process. Then you have France, Germany, and a shaky Russia populating the ranks of Great Power, with the player nation often fitting in here as well. It would take a serious defeat, and repeated wars, to kick one of these nations out of the running. The unwelcome title of Least of the Great Powers generally falls to Japan, Austria-Hungary, Italy, or Spain, with Russia often being reduced to an equal footing by late game and the player nation occasionally ending up here as well, especially if someone is playing as Italy, Austria-Hungary, or, God help them, Spain.
Now, in Dragons Roar, Britain is the singular Superpower, with the USA in a Great Power/Potential Superpower slot as the mid-game “lets print capital ships like Chuckie-E-Cheese coupons” slush fund comes into play. I would then put France, Germany, and China in the roll of Great Power, as I am roughly on par with them and any war we would get into would be fairly equal, though France is the more powerful of the two for me to fight due to the fact that they have bases in the Pacific and Germany doesn’t. Japan and Russia are competing for Least of the Greats at this point, as I could take both of them in a fight with minimal concern’s, though Japan’s “free hit on most of your fleet” attack at the start is a bit concerning. This helpfully gives me a personal scale of who I can fight, ranging from “I can take this guy’s lunch money” to “waking up in the hospital with most of my bones looking like powdered sugar.”
Hopefully I didn’t scare you off with that wall of text, and what I was trying to convey came across mostly clearly.
On a further note, I want to take the time to thank garrisonchisholm , akosjaccik , thefleetofoceans , and mycophobia for your support and condolences. It really means a lot guys. Thanks.
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Post by ieshima on Oct 1, 2020 20:06:47 GMT -6
A new age is upon us, gentlemen. A toast, to our new friends and allies. May our nations never falter, and may our mutual enemies find themselves alone and unguarded. To victory! -Kaiser Wilhelm II, Frankfurt, May 27th, 1907
Kiel, Imperial Germany, June 29th, 1907
It was a gorgeous day on the sun drenched shores of Kiel Bay, the gentle breeze coming in from the east blowing cool air across the crowded shoreline and patios filled with visitors and spectators, the ladies dressed the latest fashions of Paris and Vienna while the men strutted in uniforms and pressed suits. The hotels were packed, as was the gigantic Hamburg America liner Amerika, and the waiters danced around the guests, silver trays and snow-white towels in hand. It was final day in Kiel Week, the Kaiser’s answer to the Crowes Week races in Britain, but it was more than a seven-day span of racing and pleasant company. It was a celebration of new friends made and old rivalries put away, and of the snubbing of London and Peking. For just a few weeks prior, France, Russia, and Germany had signed an alliance of mutual aid.
It was a singularly historic occasion. The three nations had spent much of their histories at each other’s throats, and wars had been waged or threatened between them several times. But with the new partnership between Britain and China, the three empires agreed to put aside their hatred in favor of a new target. And so, on the 27th of May, the Kaiser, the Czar, and the President all met in Frankfurt to sign the Treaty of Frankfurt. By doing so, each power pledged their support of each other should a threat from Britain or China arise. The notable absence of Italy and Austria-Hungary was a cause for concern, as both powers had historically been Germany’s allies. But a recent war between the two, which saw France aid the Austrian’s in defeating Italy on land and sea, had left Rome and Vienna far more interested on the Mediterranean and each other than events in the Far East, with the result being that neither nation was represented in Frankfurt that day. But such issues mattered little to the partygoers lining the shores of Kiel Fjord. They were there to celebrate, to enjoy themselves and the fine weather, and to watch the final, longest race of the week.
Kiel Week was the largest regatta event on the continent, and this year was its 25th anniversary. A week of parties and events and speeches, with visits to the Kiel shipyards where guests could watch as the workers drove rivets home on the hull of the dreadnought Schleswig-Holstein, Germany’s response to the British Prince of Wales and Chinese Hebei. The might of the German fleet was on display, as were visiting ships from France and Russia. Seventeen battleships in total lay at anchor, with the dozens of smaller cruisers and destroyers clustered around them, flying the Tricolor, the Reichskriegsflagge, and St. Andrews Cross. But today the attention was on the fjord itself, with all eyes on the Bülk Lighthouse at the mouth of the harbor. The light marked the final stretch of the grueling final race, and word had just reached shore that the combatants were rapidly approaching the marker, the message blinking down from Count Zeppelin’s LZ3 as she droned overhead.
The Strait Race was the last, longest, and most challenging of all the races at Kiel week, forcing the competitors to sail in the tight waters of the Straits of Denmark. Setting off from Kiel, the racers would have to sail across the bay, around the Danish island of Ærø, up past neighboring Langeland, then far east, deep into the Smålandsfarvandet, before turning round and making their way down the Great Belt and back to Kiel, with the finishing line at Laboe point just past the Bülk Light. While its length of just under 200 miles was tiny compared to some races, its tight waters, dangerous shoals, and quick maneuvering meant that even the vaunted America’s Cup race was quickly being overtaken as the premier inshore race. With the massive draw of the 25th anniversary, and the equally large draw of the treaty celebrations, this was the largest Strait Race on record, with over one hundred yachts having entered. Some would not finish, as accident or groundings were common, but someone would be taking home the cup. And many native Germans were hoping it would be the Kaiser’s own Meteor II.
The Kaiser was an avid yachtsman and had commissioned the massive British-built cutter specifically to beat his Uncle’s Britannia. The subsequent win had driven King Edward VII from racing entirely, while the Kaiser went on to enter his prized yacht in dozens of other races. The massive spread of canvas that she could put up meant that Meteor II could out speed any competitor in the open ocean, and with dab hand of skipper Bobby Gnomes at the helm, she was a fierce opponent to beat. That did not mean that rivals weren’t willing to step forward, and as the first boats came over the horizon, Meteor was fighting for first with an American yacht, the equally large Tiger. The rush to the shoreline was wild, with spyglasses and binoculars flying as the cameramen began to ready their equipment for the final photos of the day.
The Bülk Light was rapidly nearing as Gnomes kept a death grip on the wheel. Meteor was heeled far to starboard; the rest of the crew balanced on the port side rail to shift her weight and keep her balanced. Less than a hundred yards away, and just ahead on her starboard, was Tiger, heeled just as far over with the American’s crew eying them with fear and excitement. Both boats were fighting the same wind from the east, risking turning turtle in the shallow waters to gain those few extra feet that would mean victory or defeat as their white sails grabbed the gusts and their keels dug deep into Kiel Harbor. And just as they started to come abreast of the light, cheering crowds on the shore frantically waving the red, white, and black of Germany, a strong wash pushed them even further and suddenly Meteor was pulling ahead, foot by foot, while the panicked crew of the Tiger began pointing and scrambling at their gains. Gnomes, still grasping the wheel, let a wild, indulgent grin take his face as he doffed his cap to his opposite on the opposition.
It was a shout from his crew that whipped his head around, just in time to see another yacht, blood red sails nearly kissing the water in the gusts, rocket past them. The new leader was heeled to far over for him to see the captain or crew, and Gnomes had no clue which maniac was crazy enough to risk everything by pulling such a stunt. They were only a few feet from flooding their sails, a strong swell more than enough to sweep over the canvas and capsize the boat. But it didn’t happen, and as the camera flashes began to litter the shore as the three boats passed the light, the newcomer began to right and pull into a commanding, comfortable, and unchallenged lead. The crowd on the shore had been whipped into a frenzy by the sudden upset, and cheers and boos filter across the water as they made their opinions on the matter known. Gnomes could only watch, angerly, helplessly, as the red-sailed challenger crossed the line at Laboe, coasting to a neat and tidy stop just past the clubhouse.
But if he, and the crowds on the shore, were angered by his loss, then they were enraged when the dragon and pearl of China unfurled itself from the victor’s masthead.
The Strait Race, June 29th, 1907, the three finalists, Tiger, Meteor II, and Hong Lang as they pass Bülk Light
Authors Note: Schedule, School, and Sailing
So, it turns out that my professors only teach parttime as an escape from their regular job as demons working to torture the world. Four projects, all due within a week of each other. Plus a loaded work schedule thanks to one of my coworkers quitting unexpectedly and the rest of the team having to cover his shifts. Apologies for the small chapter, and the lateness of this. I fear that until things start to calm down, or until I begin to get a lid on this madness, posts will be every other Wednesday instead of every Wednesday.
That said, I really hate Wikipedia sometimes. Kiel Week is the single largest sailing event on the planet, with millions of attendees and thousands of boats. Yet not one, not one, race or its course is listed on that site. Or on Kiel Week’s site. Or anywhere online for that matter. But, if needs must, an excuse to snub the Germans yet again is more than welcome, so the Strait Race does not actually exist. But if it did, it would probably be one of the most challenging races, as the tight quarters and shoals make the Denmark Straits a hazard on a good day, so putting a few hundred yachts racing each other in there would make things, shall we say, interesting.
I should mention that none of the three nations: France, Russia, or Germany, have announced the “Alliance to curtail Player” yet, but with tensions so high I figured that it is a given at this point. Thank God for Britain.
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Post by ieshima on Oct 2, 2020 17:55:18 GMT -6
garrisonchisholm - It probably stands to reason that any dev-team needs at least one cat, if for no other reason than to fall asleep on the keyboard while you are working. akosjaccik - I think that encapsulates my thoughts on the matter quite well. Seeing's as I am several years ahead in the game than what i am writing, i won't spoil things, but i distinctly remember (and if my notes can be trusted) looking at the tension bars and panicking a little. In other, more depressing news, i am so sorry to here about the troubles with your own AAR. In all honesty, your work is hands down some of the most amazing effort and detail i have ever seen. Here's hoping that the issues get resolved soon. ryan201 - Thank you for the kind words. I was struggling to find something to write about that was more than "Holy cow, don't let war break out now or i'm screwed" for the tenth time when this event jumped out of my notes. I figured that it would be an excellent filler chapter, and an excuse to put the focus somewhere other than Asia. As for Japan, what you need to remember is that a lot of Japan's influence, reputation, and clout at this point in time came from its crushing victory over Russia in 1905. But since Japan and Russia never duked it out over Manchuria in this timeline, Japan is relegated to second best of the Far East powers, and would be seen by most of Europe as the little kid who wants to play with the older kids at the party. Beyond that, Japan is clearly in the "Least of the Great Powers" role here, with the smallest fleet and economy. The big boys would probably see them more as a negative than as a benefit at this stage. thefleetofoceans - Welcome to the Far East, my good captain. I am sure that you will represent the Crown in an excellent manner befitting such a position. mycophobia - While a war between 6 out of the 7 Great Powers would be nasty for all sides, i'm confident that with Blighty's help we can kick their can. That does not mean i want to risk the possibility of losing any ships, especially since they take 30+ months to build, and consume most of my treasury while doing so. I have zero intentions of letting this AAR go down with out a fight, and i have made some progress in resolving some of my trouble today. Here's to hoping that chapter 18 goes out next week or the week after on time.
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