[center][h2] [color=ed1c24]The Xian Clique [/color][/h2][/center]
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[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PpvxMoMeTQ][b]Our Empire is emblazoned by light[/b][/url][/center]

With great hesitancy, the Clique allowed the white religions from the west to preach their works in Beiqling. Though they were forbidden, largely for their own safety, from preaching outside of the urban centers of Xian. The agricultural regions, which occupied most of Xian, were strongly devoted in their belief of the Divines that kept the world in balance and order. Encroaching on this faith would only cause greater unrest in the slowly recovering villages of the nation.

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[i]Missionaries from the Soroyan colonies with Xianese citizens in Changtan, circa 1903[/i][/center]

In the northern provinces, the fledgling state of Nasong continued to house what the Clique's intelligence believed were Imperial supporters turned anarchists against the new Republic. This tension resulted in continued raids by the bandits into villages, often ones populated by the constantly relocated and harassed Hmu minority. The height of this tension came in November of 1902 when entire Hmu communities were put to the sword and their villages turned to ash. The Xian state reacted immediately and the border situation with Nasong was tightened. For the rest of the 1902 year and into 1903 the new border patrols continued to face conflict with the rebels in the region. In spring of 1903 the clashes came to head when Xianese troops chased the attackers across the border and put a small band of them to the sword. This unauthorized border crossing was seen as Xian pushing her claims on Nasong and inciting unrest against the state. Though Xian continues to deny these claims.

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[i]Xianese soldiers on the border with Nasong, circa summer of 1903.[/i][/center]

With the rising issues between the northern Shogun and the fledgling state of Basai bringing in the powers from the west, it too was time for Xian to step into the frey. Though not officially joining the conflict, Xian mobilized her forces late in the winter of 1903 and marched to the border with Basai in January. For the rest of the year two armies were placed upon the border and plans were drawn to fit the flowing order of battle between the two states. If given the order, the armies of Xian would march across the border to defend Basai against the growing monarchist threat to Faresia.

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[i]Major General Lang Shao-Ren, the Lion of Ta-meng, and his general staff on the Basai border, circa 1904.[/i][/center]