[centre][img=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/China_Qing_Dynasty_Flag_1889.svg]
[b]The Empire of the Great Qing[/b]
[i]An Edict of the Qing Imperial Government[/i][/centre]

By the Grace of Heaven, His Imperial Highness Prince Gong of the First Rank issues the following edict extraordinary on the behalf of The Present Emperor Above.

It is a regretful circumstance that the Russian Empire should have penned their signature to the disdainful Treaty of Constantinople, but altogether it is one that is admittedly not surprising. One merely has to look at the history of the Russian Empire's dealings with our own civilisation, let alone their encounters with the other peoples of the Orient, to see that this is merely the result of their unchecked ambition in dominating all within reach.

Since the days of the establishment of the Great Qing have we been in contact with the settlers of Russia journeying afar, but it can not be said these encounters were the most pleasant. Repeatedly did disturbances arise due to the impropriety of the Russians, as they flagrantly trespassed into the ancient homelands of our people in an attempt to settle their own homes there. They brought with them the latest weaponry as they attempted this disgraceful act of thievery, and it was only due to the successful victories won by the reigning Emperor Shengzu that such infringements came to an end. Although it was hoped by the Emperor that peaceful relations could now flourish between our peoples, this was not to last.

Indeed, it was during a time of great distress to the Qing Dynasty that the Russians saw fit to begin their old tricks and encroach upon the very same land in which they had coveted before. As our brave soldiers were battling with a rebellious heathen in the south, the Russian military entrenched upon the banks of the Amur. We were faced with no choice but to settle this matter at ransom. Although the Great Qing attempted to have simple negotiations based on politeness and respect as is the common courtesy, it would seem that Russia had a different idea of what construed good diplomatic protocol. The firing of artillery and cannon were common throughout the entire duration of our discussions, in a deliberate attempt to strike fear into the hearts of the innocent. Our diplomats could not fight swords with pens, and were compelled to sign away the land in order to save the lives of the many Chinese who to this day reside there in an atmosphere of terror. 

Only a few years onwards from those days was the revelations of the Treaty of Constantinople discovered. Although the world was promised peace at the unveiling of this treaty, the signatories had chosen to blindly mislead us. The Great Qing, as much as we favoured a conciliatory stance with the powers of the Occident, was in shock and disgust at the secret 'sphere of influences' that had been revealed. It was at the behest of the Tsar that the Orient - a land of countless civilisations, ideals and philosophies - was designated as nothing more but yet another region of the Russian Empire. Evidently, the banks of the Amur had not been enough to satisfy the desires of this man. 

Time and time again have the Russians proven their untrustworthiness and shown a longing in subduing the Orient for themselves, whether it may be the homeland of our people, the islands of Japan, the nomads of Central Asia or the Muslims of the Caucasus. The declaration of their sphere is nothing less than the Orient shall become nothing less than the personal realm of the Tsar if his ambition is not stopped. The eyes of the Tsar may look upon the entire continent hungrily, but the Great Qing can not idly stand by any further and allow the relentless greed of the Russians to continue terrorising the east.

[b]The Great Qing shall therefore loyally stand by our allies in the Eternal Vigil in championing the sacred sovereignty of the Orient. We hereby declare a state of war between the ever eternal Celestial Empire and the barbarous Tsar of Russia.[/b]