[quote=@ClocktowerEchos]
[@Rare] I hate to say this but someone else already claimed Shandong (the area you want) before you :\

[@Chairman Stein] Nice NS although I will ask that Ma actually convinced everyone to put down their traditional bows and swords and pick up a rifle? I find that unlikely as I'm fairly certain that there would be die hard traditionalists and conservatives who would refuse to pick up a gun.
[/quote]

Oh I am sure that many of the Tibetan and Mongol chieftains kept to their ways, however I will admit I overlooked mentioning it. The main point of the 'Rise to Power' section was that he was able to bring them in under his more decentralized monarchy. In a combat/war situation I imagine the armies of the Clique would mostly consist of nearly Horde like mass cavalry mixed with more modern rifled infantry and cavalry in a smaller number.