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@whatguts - Yup. The name of the AAR, after all, is "The Middle Republic"
@everyone - thanks for following this
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The Far East in Uncertainty
The Company has relocated the administration centre, and built up a new head-office palace down south, in Guangzhou. The Board of Directors, both Executive and Managing Council have ruled out the choice of rebuiling the old one from scratch. The Changsha suggestion was made by the Executives that the country will be administered better from Changsha with its rivers. The other suggestions were Guangzhou and Nanchang. The rural agricultural MDs wanted the later and the urban manufacturing MDs, the former. The stalemate was broken by the Governor-General, von Falkenhausen, asserting that Guangzhou was well defended by AOG troops and the city is the most suitable for being the Company's capital.
New technology become available to the Company to improve its rule with new machines to administer, new equipments for its troops and artillery to fight any KMT insurgencies, and an improvement on its supply system to be less vulnerable to the insurgents.
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After the open attack of the capital back in February 12, the KMT decided to descend to the underground again to avoid unneeded confrontation with the AOG. But that doesn't mean the KMT was lax on non-military activities.
News came in from their KMT officers secretly stationed in friendly Shangqing that the Mongol threat was greatly exaggerated or that the Mongolians seem to have a change of heart. Its progress on creating an alliance with the Tibetans didn't produce fruit, and tension between Mongolia and the Ma Clique didn't escalate to war.
According to the KMT informants in the Legation Cities, the government was reshuffled and appointed Triad bosses within the council.
Away from the Eastern coast and moving towards the west lies the Yunnan Clique. The feudal state is experiencing infighting with the rebellion of the so-called Baoshan warlords. The conflict was quick and the rebel warlords were squashed.
The Russians, who also need to look after since they have interests in the Far East, are now experiencing another civil war. Truly an unstable country that'll give the Nationalists some breathing room.
Wrangel's Syndicalist dilemma was exploited by Kolchak who ruled the Republic of Transamur by invading the Siberian lands after receiving the green light from Tokyo. Wrangel didn't back down on the provocation and declared war.
From up North in Shangqing, whom have cordial relations with, received news again from our KMT officers. A group of refugees managed to cross the border from AOG. The situation may be average at first, but from inspecting the refugees, one of the families claimed to be descendants of the Zhu Clan of the Ming Dynasty, carrying with them an 8 year old child, Zhu Rongji, who has legitimate claim to the Dragon Throne. With a check on the family tree data, it was verified that the claims were indeed true. This alarmed the KMT officers there, not wanting another Imperial family contending for China. But in the end, the intelligence officers' worries were gone as the ever fanatic Millennials dismissed the value of the Zhu family and treated them as everyone else. The Zhu family were conscripted.
Six months after the Black Monday shows that the unemployment is high. It seems that the balanced approached did helped alleviate the rising rate but isn't enough to decrease it. Germany and Middle Europe is still in crisis.
The Japanese government declared martial law when the Niigata Riots weren't contained but spread.
But the most important of all came from Qing. Informants have sent news that the emperor have ordered the expansion of the military, saying explicitly that “we must regain our lost territories”. The expansion is wholesale but the emphasis was put on the cavalry with a focus on speed and manoeuvrability.
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Nice pace of events in the Far East so far. Surprising to see Khan von Sternberg turning into a pussy. More Far East trouble on the next update "Breaking the Bowls".
Note:Corrected an error where both agricultural and manufacturing MDs both chooses Nanchang.
@everyone - thanks for following this
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The Far East in Uncertainty
The Company has relocated the administration centre, and built up a new head-office palace down south, in Guangzhou. The Board of Directors, both Executive and Managing Council have ruled out the choice of rebuiling the old one from scratch. The Changsha suggestion was made by the Executives that the country will be administered better from Changsha with its rivers. The other suggestions were Guangzhou and Nanchang. The rural agricultural MDs wanted the later and the urban manufacturing MDs, the former. The stalemate was broken by the Governor-General, von Falkenhausen, asserting that Guangzhou was well defended by AOG troops and the city is the most suitable for being the Company's capital.
New technology become available to the Company to improve its rule with new machines to administer, new equipments for its troops and artillery to fight any KMT insurgencies, and an improvement on its supply system to be less vulnerable to the insurgents.
---------------------------------
After the open attack of the capital back in February 12, the KMT decided to descend to the underground again to avoid unneeded confrontation with the AOG. But that doesn't mean the KMT was lax on non-military activities.
News came in from their KMT officers secretly stationed in friendly Shangqing that the Mongol threat was greatly exaggerated or that the Mongolians seem to have a change of heart. Its progress on creating an alliance with the Tibetans didn't produce fruit, and tension between Mongolia and the Ma Clique didn't escalate to war.
According to the KMT informants in the Legation Cities, the government was reshuffled and appointed Triad bosses within the council.
Away from the Eastern coast and moving towards the west lies the Yunnan Clique. The feudal state is experiencing infighting with the rebellion of the so-called Baoshan warlords. The conflict was quick and the rebel warlords were squashed.
The Russians, who also need to look after since they have interests in the Far East, are now experiencing another civil war. Truly an unstable country that'll give the Nationalists some breathing room.
Wrangel's Syndicalist dilemma was exploited by Kolchak who ruled the Republic of Transamur by invading the Siberian lands after receiving the green light from Tokyo. Wrangel didn't back down on the provocation and declared war.
From up North in Shangqing, whom have cordial relations with, received news again from our KMT officers. A group of refugees managed to cross the border from AOG. The situation may be average at first, but from inspecting the refugees, one of the families claimed to be descendants of the Zhu Clan of the Ming Dynasty, carrying with them an 8 year old child, Zhu Rongji, who has legitimate claim to the Dragon Throne. With a check on the family tree data, it was verified that the claims were indeed true. This alarmed the KMT officers there, not wanting another Imperial family contending for China. But in the end, the intelligence officers' worries were gone as the ever fanatic Millennials dismissed the value of the Zhu family and treated them as everyone else. The Zhu family were conscripted.
Six months after the Black Monday shows that the unemployment is high. It seems that the balanced approached did helped alleviate the rising rate but isn't enough to decrease it. Germany and Middle Europe is still in crisis.
The Japanese government declared martial law when the Niigata Riots weren't contained but spread.
But the most important of all came from Qing. Informants have sent news that the emperor have ordered the expansion of the military, saying explicitly that “we must regain our lost territories”. The expansion is wholesale but the emphasis was put on the cavalry with a focus on speed and manoeuvrability.
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Nice pace of events in the Far East so far. Surprising to see Khan von Sternberg turning into a pussy. More Far East trouble on the next update "Breaking the Bowls".
Note:Corrected an error where both agricultural and manufacturing MDs both chooses Nanchang.
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Hey, a wimpy Sternberg is excellent news for you! I'd be happier than a KMT general with an AOG businessman's severed muscles as a decoration on his uniform.
It's strange to see the Mad Baron be... well, sane.
I'm guessing the next chapter is related to the Rice Bowl politics?
I'm guessing the next chapter is related to the Rice Bowl politics?
Add me to the list of people amazed by Sternberg's sudden sanity.. On one hand it's good as he won't turn into a gigantic blob, like I've seen a few times; on the other, Qing won't have to deal with him for now, which is bad for you... I guess it's wait and see
Alrighty! Time to resume this AAR.
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Breaking the Bowls
The war between Kolchak and Wrangel was caused by the renegade generals in Siberia who are used to the relative autonomy from Kerensky's ineffective administration and now dislikes Wrangel's new iron rule. Kolchak have offer a better option for the generals and wanted to defect to his side. Wrangel's dream of a tightly knitted Russia was abandoned in favour of pragmatism due to its war with the Syndicalists. Wrangel have given the decree to establish a Siberian assembly and a separate Siberian army, in the condition that they recognise and follow the Russian government and its laws. The Siberian generals betrayed Kolchak, and accepted the offer. Wrangel now have created a buffer state against Kolchak and his Japanese masters, and the rebel generals were satisfied.
Five months later, through the bitter season of Autumn and Winter, the Russians and Siberians are doing badly against Kolchak's small republic and Japan. But the fight isn't over yet for Wrangel.
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The Legation Cities (or Treaty Ports) were a collection of independent cities along the Chinese coast, established for trading with foreign nations. The cities are autonomous from Beijing, or any Chinese states, or any outside powers. The neutrality and the independence of these cities are guaranteed by local and world powers. The Legation council and the city councils, holds little power on its economy and society. All in all, the Legation Cities are the Classic Liberals' wet-dream.
Initially, the Treaty Ports enjoyed abundant prosperity, both through legal and illegal means. But with the Black Monday, the cities' economies crashed, income on all sectors went down with a notable exception on smuggling. The underground of the Legation Cities (aka the Triads) have grown since the country's establishment, breeding corruption and more Triad power in the land. With the effects of Black Monday, the Triad gain enormous power within the city councils and the Legation council, and the KMT informants confirmed such rumours.
Tu Yueh-Sen, the head of one of the most powerful Triads and also the Prime Minister, have made contacts with the Yakuza in Japan who also hold power in their government. With the Yakuza's influence and the access of the Treaty Ports' wealth, the Japanese government went into an alliance with the Legation Cities. This violated the agreement of the ports' neutrality between the powers. The other powers only given verbal complaints but they also revoked their guarantees on the Legation Cities, which rocked the confidence of the non-Japanese foreign traders and investors in the area, hurting the already battered economy in the process.
The violation of the Legation Cities' neutrality have created uncertainty in the economy and some non-Japanese foreign investors and traders have pulled out to escape the inevitable Japanese monopoly on the Treaty Ports. The downturn created more damage on the economy that's battered by the Black Monday. Riots have flared on the cities, and the Japanese embassy was under attacked by the rioters. Tokyo responded by sending Imperial troops in the cities to quell the riots.
The government feared the entrance of these foreign troops, have ordered the city constabularies to evict the Japanese troops. The expedition was ordered not to back down on the constabularies forcing a showdown between the two new allies. The Legation troops and constables after a few skirmishes fled before the Imperial troops. With the help of the Triads usurping the Legation government, Tokyo made one step further and take over the cities. An almost bloodless coup. The control of the Legation Cities were given to the Triads with Tokyo as their overlord.
After the consolidating of their power, the Triads ambitiously wanted to spread their influence and criminal network into AOG. The latter already a long victim of Triad smuggling, made an unprecedented move. The governor-general von Falkenhausen, through the means of a mediator, have made contact with the leader of the KMT's underground army, Sun Li-Gen, to cooperate on defeating the mob, he claims “for the good of the Chinese people”. Despite opposition on both sides, Sun Li-Gen agreed with the arrangement on cooperating but for only this operation.
Both AOG and KMT are working independently but jointly decided their roles and the goals of the operation. By the end of October 1936, Operation Sleeping Dogs [heh!] was an astounding success, with Triad powers destroyed in AOG lands. The Triads suffered heavy losses, mostly finance and materials, that they give up on the ambition of expanding into AOG and reverted back to Legation-to-AOG smuggling, but that became even more difficult with AOG tightening the security of its borders.
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The Niigata riots have spread throughout Japan, and Tokyo responded by, unsurprisingly, extending the Martial Law from just Niigata to the entire Japan.
The Korean nationalists exploited the discord in Japan and made preparations for an armed revolt. Korean agents have approached the Legation Cities, and Australasian Confederation for military aid. Both declined. Only after approaching Beijing that they got what they wanted. The Dragon Throne agreed to send weapons and other materials to the Korean nationalist movement. Beijing was more than happy to dump its outdated equipments elsewhere.
The Japanese have sent more troops to the Korean peninsula, and ordered Kolchak to initiate a crackdown on the Korean population in Transamur. The thrall obey his master.
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“24th of December 1936
The Company is digging its own grave. Since last month, 15th of November 1936, they have revoked the Iron Rice Bowl policy, ending the job security of thousands of thousands of people employed by the Company. According to our informants in Guangdong, even now, the unemployed is rising and never seem to stop. We keep receiving complaints that people try to find other jobs, only to be fired shortly afterwards, resume finding another one, and repeat. Our political commissars are very busy on helping the people in any way. I'm sure that the Governor-General can see this too, and might done something to alleviate this, but he's not in control. This was the wish of the shareholders.
Several factories have closed in Hechi, Jiangmen, and Kaili. The people are getting frustrated. Our ranks flourished with men disillusioned with the Company, and Chinese Nationalism and Republicanism sentiments are buzzing. The KMT secretly sponsored numerous illegal trade unions throughout Southern China, and the AOG is working intensively to smash them.
Riots broke out on several areas but were suppressed by the AOG troops. My subordinates kept on begging for us to take action. I said “No. We are not ready yet”. I keep telling them that. AOG control is still strong and our forces are still weak. This is suicide. Time is on our side. We will prevail soon.
But for now, We are invited to a feast by several prominent Christian members of the KMT. Somehow Madame Sun thinks its important to have good relations with members of the western religions (Islam and Christianity) against this growing anti-foreign sentiment.
As they say in their customs, Merry Christmas.
- Sun Li-Gen”
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Breaking the Bowls
The war between Kolchak and Wrangel was caused by the renegade generals in Siberia who are used to the relative autonomy from Kerensky's ineffective administration and now dislikes Wrangel's new iron rule. Kolchak have offer a better option for the generals and wanted to defect to his side. Wrangel's dream of a tightly knitted Russia was abandoned in favour of pragmatism due to its war with the Syndicalists. Wrangel have given the decree to establish a Siberian assembly and a separate Siberian army, in the condition that they recognise and follow the Russian government and its laws. The Siberian generals betrayed Kolchak, and accepted the offer. Wrangel now have created a buffer state against Kolchak and his Japanese masters, and the rebel generals were satisfied.
Five months later, through the bitter season of Autumn and Winter, the Russians and Siberians are doing badly against Kolchak's small republic and Japan. But the fight isn't over yet for Wrangel.
----------------------
The Legation Cities (or Treaty Ports) were a collection of independent cities along the Chinese coast, established for trading with foreign nations. The cities are autonomous from Beijing, or any Chinese states, or any outside powers. The neutrality and the independence of these cities are guaranteed by local and world powers. The Legation council and the city councils, holds little power on its economy and society. All in all, the Legation Cities are the Classic Liberals' wet-dream.
Initially, the Treaty Ports enjoyed abundant prosperity, both through legal and illegal means. But with the Black Monday, the cities' economies crashed, income on all sectors went down with a notable exception on smuggling. The underground of the Legation Cities (aka the Triads) have grown since the country's establishment, breeding corruption and more Triad power in the land. With the effects of Black Monday, the Triad gain enormous power within the city councils and the Legation council, and the KMT informants confirmed such rumours.
Tu Yueh-Sen, the head of one of the most powerful Triads and also the Prime Minister, have made contacts with the Yakuza in Japan who also hold power in their government. With the Yakuza's influence and the access of the Treaty Ports' wealth, the Japanese government went into an alliance with the Legation Cities. This violated the agreement of the ports' neutrality between the powers. The other powers only given verbal complaints but they also revoked their guarantees on the Legation Cities, which rocked the confidence of the non-Japanese foreign traders and investors in the area, hurting the already battered economy in the process.
The violation of the Legation Cities' neutrality have created uncertainty in the economy and some non-Japanese foreign investors and traders have pulled out to escape the inevitable Japanese monopoly on the Treaty Ports. The downturn created more damage on the economy that's battered by the Black Monday. Riots have flared on the cities, and the Japanese embassy was under attacked by the rioters. Tokyo responded by sending Imperial troops in the cities to quell the riots.
The government feared the entrance of these foreign troops, have ordered the city constabularies to evict the Japanese troops. The expedition was ordered not to back down on the constabularies forcing a showdown between the two new allies. The Legation troops and constables after a few skirmishes fled before the Imperial troops. With the help of the Triads usurping the Legation government, Tokyo made one step further and take over the cities. An almost bloodless coup. The control of the Legation Cities were given to the Triads with Tokyo as their overlord.
After the consolidating of their power, the Triads ambitiously wanted to spread their influence and criminal network into AOG. The latter already a long victim of Triad smuggling, made an unprecedented move. The governor-general von Falkenhausen, through the means of a mediator, have made contact with the leader of the KMT's underground army, Sun Li-Gen, to cooperate on defeating the mob, he claims “for the good of the Chinese people”. Despite opposition on both sides, Sun Li-Gen agreed with the arrangement on cooperating but for only this operation.
Both AOG and KMT are working independently but jointly decided their roles and the goals of the operation. By the end of October 1936, Operation Sleeping Dogs [heh!] was an astounding success, with Triad powers destroyed in AOG lands. The Triads suffered heavy losses, mostly finance and materials, that they give up on the ambition of expanding into AOG and reverted back to Legation-to-AOG smuggling, but that became even more difficult with AOG tightening the security of its borders.
--------------------
The Niigata riots have spread throughout Japan, and Tokyo responded by, unsurprisingly, extending the Martial Law from just Niigata to the entire Japan.
The Korean nationalists exploited the discord in Japan and made preparations for an armed revolt. Korean agents have approached the Legation Cities, and Australasian Confederation for military aid. Both declined. Only after approaching Beijing that they got what they wanted. The Dragon Throne agreed to send weapons and other materials to the Korean nationalist movement. Beijing was more than happy to dump its outdated equipments elsewhere.
The Japanese have sent more troops to the Korean peninsula, and ordered Kolchak to initiate a crackdown on the Korean population in Transamur. The thrall obey his master.
----------------------
“24th of December 1936
The Company is digging its own grave. Since last month, 15th of November 1936, they have revoked the Iron Rice Bowl policy, ending the job security of thousands of thousands of people employed by the Company. According to our informants in Guangdong, even now, the unemployed is rising and never seem to stop. We keep receiving complaints that people try to find other jobs, only to be fired shortly afterwards, resume finding another one, and repeat. Our political commissars are very busy on helping the people in any way. I'm sure that the Governor-General can see this too, and might done something to alleviate this, but he's not in control. This was the wish of the shareholders.
Several factories have closed in Hechi, Jiangmen, and Kaili. The people are getting frustrated. Our ranks flourished with men disillusioned with the Company, and Chinese Nationalism and Republicanism sentiments are buzzing. The KMT secretly sponsored numerous illegal trade unions throughout Southern China, and the AOG is working intensively to smash them.
Riots broke out on several areas but were suppressed by the AOG troops. My subordinates kept on begging for us to take action. I said “No. We are not ready yet”. I keep telling them that. AOG control is still strong and our forces are still weak. This is suicide. Time is on our side. We will prevail soon.
But for now, We are invited to a feast by several prominent Christian members of the KMT. Somehow Madame Sun thinks its important to have good relations with members of the western religions (Islam and Christianity) against this growing anti-foreign sentiment.
As they say in their customs, Merry Christmas.
- Sun Li-Gen”
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This jingoistic Japan displeases me. It is simply not in the best interest of China!
That's right! Japan is a tributary state of the Middle Republic, and should remain so!
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The Changsha Revolution
A year after the Berlin Stock Market Crash, the situation still looks dark and uncertain. The German industry only recovered for a minuscule degree. The news of a major bank declaring bankruptcy due to Berlin refusing to intervene didn't help the outlook of the world. Many predicted that this is the beginning of the end of Germany's short-lived hegemony. The Middle Republic would have to steer the ship with utmost care if they choose the capitalist route. Syndicalist elements in the KMT were, after all, purged a long time ago.
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Since Wrangel's coup d'etat after the assassination of Kerensky, the Wrangelists faction in Russia have solidify their power by removing opposition through legal means, cloak-&-dagger, or via Wrangel's paramilitary force known infamously as the “Black Cloaks”. His distinct ideology was a first in history, a mix of Left and Right politics, several political scientists have remarked that it is quite similar to the America First Party in the United States. Wrangel was official called as “the Vozhd” (meaning, Leader), informally called as “the Boss”. But for better or for worse, Wrangel surprised his own clique by proclaiming himself the new Tsar of Russia, and order the preparations of his coronation, despite the fact that the Wrangelists have consistently showed distaste on the monarchy which symbolises elitism and the long oppression of the Romanovs. The Wrangelists begrudgingly supported the wish of their boss, and soon Tsar Peter I became the Autocrat of All Russia, and establish the Wrangel dynasty.
The crown of the Tsars
In the far edge of the world, Australia is in deep discontent in its internal affairs. Strikes, riots, public assassinations, and public inquisitions, an environment of fear and hostility is pushing the country to its breaking point. The Germans saw a window of opportunity in the troubling discord, and sponsored a coup to flip the confederation to her side. The Germans succeeded in placing a friendly government, in the process, disrupting the balance in the Pacific. The Entente lost a valuable asset in the Far East.
In North America, the USA is in a full-blown civil war. War against the Syndicalists (CSA), the Federalists (USA), and the Firsters (AUS) have erupted across the Eastern half of the States. On the Western edge, the states seceded and created the Pacific States of America, and Hawaii become an independent country.
The Jingoist Japanese exploited the civil war and landed its Imperial troops in Guam under an undeclared war. The Federalists responded with nothing.
The American domination in the Far East continues to crumble. When the Philippine government, loyal to the Americans, learnt the fall of Guam, they quickly declared their independence. Some were worried about the early independence of making the country vulnerable to another foreign invasion, especially the KMT-friendly Liberal faction called, the Rizalists. However, the KMT diplomats in Manila took the news with delight. A Western power expelled from the Far East!
The Philippine army was then ordered to seize the American weapons and supplies dumps that were left behind after the American's swift withdrawal. The Federalists couldn't do anything regarding the situation.
The new fragile republic received its first test with a Syndicalist uprising near the capital. The uprising was greatly influenced by the Bharitya Commune in India, and the CSA in the States. Rebellious warlord army officers, supported by Syndicalist-affiliated paramilitary of farmers and workers, stormed Manila. But the initial success was quickly overturned by the larger loyal elements of the army when they surrounded the rebel forces and crushed them. Both of the two largest parties, the Nationalist Party (ruling party) and the Rizalistas (pro-KMT Liberals) applauded the army. This ends the significant influence of the Syndicalists in the country, as the KMT diplomats reported.
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Back in China, dissent keeps on growing as the unemployment gradually rose. The crisis have spread up north in Qing-held lands where the Company owns large amounts of assets. The discontinue of the Iron Rice Bowl practice made the Emperor unpopular to the people despite him nothing to do with it. And in coincidence, Pu-Yi's royal marriage to his second wife was scheduled during this turbulent times. The people went in outrage on how could they have this lavish ceremony whilst the common man suffers. The KMT took this development and inflamed it with pro-KMT propaganda.
By April 1937, the crisis continues to grow with one third of AOG lands were unemployed. Many of these unemployed people were migratory workers, moving from one job to another with uncertainty riding on one's back. Skirmishes between KMT rebels and AOG troops became more frequent. Illegal KMT-sponsored trade unions sprang up to fight the oppression of the Company. However, the managing council of the Board of Directors called it a good news that the Company's broke even, and went from a deficit into a surplus boosting the confidence of the shareholders. The governor-general, and the executive council was not entirely pleased with the Company's attitude.
In the western lands of AOG, the warlords of Yunnan began to raid the AOG lands. Which adds up to the growing discontent among the population in southern China.
The German colony-port of Qingdao reached boiling point, and has revolted against its occupiers. The provinces of Qingdao and Yantai were liberated by the rebelling mob. Foreigners in the colony fled with haste to escape the inevitable butchery, replicating the old Boxer rebellion. A warlord state, the Qingdao Clique, was established. The Qing didn't intervene for the fear of Germany's reaction on stepping onto her lands, and also it's a way of saying "Serves you right" to the Germans.
The news of the Qingdao uprising giving a sense of euphoria to the people in AOG. Pressure from both the people and KMT party members for a decisive course of action convinced Sun Li-Gen to green light the long awaited operation. They have thoroughly prepared for this. They're confident that they won't fail this time.
The Fourth Revolution
End of Chapter
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From here on, I'm now playing as the Republic. Now that the Republic is here, the pace of the story will change on the next chapter, Rise of the Kuomintang, with the focus will be on battles and stuff instead of outside events.
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Didn't expect the Qingdao uprising. Very nice touch, considering a China for the Chinese is your goal.