[centre][img]http://i60.tinypic.com/6pchas.png[/img]

[h1][u]Warlords of China[/u][/h1][/centre]

[u]25/03/1910
Presidential Residence
Zhengzhou, Provincial Capital of the Republic
Henan Province, China[/u]

[b]'Before you stands a once loyal soldier of the glorious Republic of China.'[/b] The crowd muttered restlessly and with the occasional indignant shout. An officer paced back and forward as he spoke into a megaphone, the patriotic fervour in his eyes blazing for all to see. [b]'He served with honour against the hated Imperial tyrants, leading his men to victory in many battlefields. And yet! And yet when the Republic was at its weakest, he betrayed us all! General Feng Guozhang sought to usurp our great nation and turn our people against themselves.'[/b] A pair of uniformed soldiers dragged the prisoner forward, throwing him at the officer's feet. Feng's clothes were torn, his face bloody; the once mighty warlord had paid dearly for his treachery and the Republic intended to milk their one and only victory for all it was worth. An ornate sword was brought forward, offered up to the officer. [b]'With this blade do I send a message to all those who would see our mighty nation in ruins; all rebels will know his fate and fear our righteous retribution! [i]Long live the Republic![/i]'[/b]

[b]'I think our young Captain is enjoying himself...'[/b] From atop his viewing platform, President Yuan Shikai smiled mirthlessly as the blade fell to raucous applause. [b]'A clean cut. Shame, I had hoped to watch the old bastard suffer...'[/b] His companion's wooden smile turned somewhat queasy at the sight of all that blood and he turned away from the podium with visible disgust. [b]'Mr Feng's demise is a step forward President Yuan, but my benefactors will not be appeased by the head of just one warlord. Your nation is still too fractured to be of... assistance.'[/b] Yuan scowled and took a sip of his choujiu, giving the foreigner a sidelong glare. [b]'Patience, Ambassador. The provinces [i]will[/i] be recovered in time, provided that your support continues.'[/b] The other man rose from his chair and gave a short bow, although Yuan couldn't help but feel he was being subtly mocked. [b]'Of course, Mr President. I am sure that our friendship shall be a long and prosperous one, provided the forms are obeyed.'[/b] The President watched as he left, coattails swishing in the midday breeze. He recognised the veiled threats, the suggestion that perhaps his allies might find a new faction to patronise should the Republic fail to live up to their expectations. He couldn't allow that to happen.


[hr]


[u]30/03/1910
Xinbuzhen Dockyard
Haikou, Hainan Island
Hainan Peninsula, China[/u]

The docks were a hive of activity today, as hundreds of workers ran to and fro. The entire Hainan fleet lay at anchor, all thirteen warships. To many they were boxy, ugly, metal monsters, all function and no form. But to the right eye they were masterpieces of maritime engineering, the product of centuries of European naval warfare... [i]And one day, we shall surpass them with our own ingenuity.[/i] The [i]Yantai[/i] was especially beautiful, her lateral lines and smooth edges a feast for the eyes. She would only be in port for another week, a rare chance for her former Captain to tour the old girl. For Jiang Jiao-long, Admiral of the Southern Fleet and Governor of the Autonomous Province of the Hainan Peninsula, these were the only times he could truly relax, away from the mundane day to day running of a small state. And yet even here the bureaucrats hounded him... [b]'My Lord, I have the tax figures for this quarter for your review.'[/b] [b]'Governer-Admiral, I would like to review our education budget for this year; there are some discrepancies between the stated number and the funds we have received.'[/b] Admiral, Sir, My Lord... Sometimes it all seemed too much. A lesser man might have cracked under the pressure, but Jiang was used to administration; commanding a fleet in a second world nation could be every bit as complicated as running a city. He signed deeply, aware that he would get no rest until these issues were put to rest... He took his time to address each problem, giving his full attention to each in turn. It was several hours before he was finally finished with matters of state.

By the time he escaped the bureaucrats, the sun was already low in the sky and activity on the harbour had thinned out. With today's work finished and tomorrow waiting just a few hours ahead, Jiang took some time for himself. Atop the [i]Yantai's[/i] highest observation nest was his own secret spot, hidden away from the realities of life. From up here he could sit and smoke while thinking about the world, the state of his nation and how little he or anyone else could do to save it. China was a broken old man with a head of rotten teeth and limbs who sought to strangle his own throat... It didn't help that Jiang himself was one of those limbs. Then again, he wasn't as bad as some of the others... His eyes turned north-east, toward Guangdong and the fief of the self-styled Lord Hui Jinfu, a treacherous snake if there ever was one. Neither he nor Jiang had made any moves against one another and for his part the Admiral was happy to maintain the status quo. Perhaps it was time to start a dialogue with Hui... [i]In the morning,[/i] he decided. [i]The bastard can wait 'til the morning...[/i]