Before leaving, Chancellor Van Geyte ordered military advisor Von Falkenhausen to commence the restructuring of Asia, while British Colonial Forces ceded control of Indochina to the German Empire.
The following events too place November 3rd, 1944, Beijing, China
For the season, the weather was unusualy warm and humid. Indeed, the setting sun had risen again: The sky was blue and spotless, as the sunlight bore down upon Beijing, the soon-to-be capital of China. German, British and Chinese forces had spread themselves all across China to exterminate all remnants of collaborationists, Mao-supporters and warlords, as prisons filled up with the corrupt kleptocrats of previous regimes, Japanese generals and Communists. China was finally united.
It was a joyous day, and Von Falkenhausen was glad to be a part of it. He had recently been appointed General-Governor of Asia, and was put in charge of reforming Asia after the fall of the Japanese Empire. The man smiled, happy to be able to return to China after all those years.
“Sir?”
“Feel free to call me Alexander” Von Falkenhausen, who was usually a stiff autocrat, felt unusually fullhearted today and turned towards his assistant that had just arrived.
“Alexander, I’ve got reports from Sinkiang and Manchuria that all remaning collaborationists have been cleaned out. British aircraft are already en route from Delhi to begin airlifting supplies to the areas hit hardest by the war.”
Von Falkenhausen clasped his hands together “Excellent news. I’ve got everything set up here, when is Chiang arriving?”
“I think that’s him sir” the assistant replied, pointing at a car that came swirling down a heavily cratered road.
Chiang Kai-Shek had returned to his capital city as a victor. After years of civil war, opression and corruption, his power had been consolidated. At last, his dreams had come true: China was one. The Chiang Kai-Shek that exited the car looked nothing like the fatigued resistance fighter Van Geyte and De Nil encountered over a year ago. The war in Asia had been bloody and long, but the Channel Pact was victorious at last. Chiang once again resembled the man destined to unite the Chinese people: He had exchanged his looted Japanese uniform for a flawless Chinese Ministerial suit, and arrived in Beijing clean-shaven.
Chiang and two escorts exited from his aged transport, as Von Falkenhausen approached the men.
“Chiang Kai-Shek, welcome to Beijing!” Von Falkenhausen reached his hand towards the Chinese generalissimo, who hesitated to accept the greeting.
“Why would I shake the hand of a decadent, Western Imperialist?”
Von Falkenhausen lowered his hand, at a loss by the sudden change of tone in Chiang’s voice.
Chiang smiled “Just kidding”, and the men laughed and patted eachother on the back.
“I see your long absence has not affected your sence of humour, Chiang”
Chiang grinned “Although I must say that there certainly are more favourable types of government than the ones in exile, I feel that it is time to forget the past and focus on the future. It is good to see you back in China, Von Falkenhausen”
“It is good to be back” Von Falkenhausen responded. Indeed, he had grown fond of Chiang’s ideas serving as a military advisor for the Kuomintang in the 30’s. Unfortunately, after the Japanese overran Shanghai Von Falkenhausen was expelled from Asia, and forced to return to Germany. He had not heard of Chiang ever since, right until this day.
“Everything is set up for you. Have you prepared a speech?”
Chiang nodded “This speech I have prepared long ago, when a day like this was nothing but a distant dream.”
“Aah, the audacity of hope” Von Falkenhausen commented “Let us go”
“Where to?”
“Tiannanmen Square. Your people have gathered to celebrate their victory, and it is time their leader came to claim his righteous place.”
The men stepped into a German vehicle, left off for Tiannanmen.
The Republic of China. That would be the new name of Chiang’s country. Kai-Shek’s Kuomintang had allied themselves with the Channel Pact, and helped the Germans and the British drive the Japanese out of Asia. With the Japanese Empire conquered, it was time for another country to take her place as the ruling power in Asia. China would be this country. After the arrival of the Channel Pact, the Rising Sun that had ruled of Asia for nearly four decades was replaced. The symbol of the new Asia would be the white sun, blue sky and red earth.
The new flag of the United Republic of China, compared to the old Kuomintang Flag.
Chiang exhaled deeply as he overlooked the cheering crowd on Tiannanmen Square. Von Falkenhausen, who accompanied him on the stage, handed him the microphone
“This country is yours.”
“No.” Chiang responded. “It is not mine. It belongs to us. To the Chinese, to you and me and them. China belongs to us all”. The Generalissimo turned towards the crowd and began his speech
“My brethren, rejoice!” Chiang yelled at the top of his lungs, spreading his arms towards his people. The crowd cheered and raised their fists towards Chiang Kai-Shek, their righteous leader.
“We have won this war! We have suffered greatly, but in the end victory is ours. Stand by me, men and women of China, and let us work together to rebuild our country. To rebuild our FUTURE!” Chiang paused for a while as parts of the crowd began singing lines from the Chinese anthem
“Obliged to be trustworthy; obliged to be loyal.
With one heart and one virtue,
We carry through until the very end. Lead on, comrades! Vanguards ye are.
Hold fast your aim”
“For over forty years, China has walked a dark path: Corrupt warlords ruled our beloved nation, while the Communists spread across our beloved nation like a disease of the heart. The vile Japanese invaded us, stripped us of our freedom, took away our land, our honor! Just as you, I too am ashamed. I too have been humiliated, I too have suffered your pain, brethren. But as I stand here today, I have but one question for you: What remains?”
“What remains of the Empire of the Rising Sun!? There is nothing, but ash! Rejoice, brethren, as Japanese cities lie in ruins, trampled over by the mighty Pact. They too have seen the potential of our country, and have promised to aid us. But, will we answer them? What must China do? Will we stop here, and rest? Or will we continue fighting, against the decadent allies that supported our Japanese opressors?”
The crowd responded in unison, raising large Channel Pact banners into the air “Zhong guo yao ji xu zhan dou! Zhong guo yao ji xu zhan dou! Zhong guo yao ji xu zhan dou!”
“THEN WE WILL FIGHT!” The crowd cheered “We will raise an army of millions, an army the world has never before seen. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our German and British brethren, as we push into the lands of the corrupt Americans and their wicked allies. When the final battle is fought, when the final bullet is shot, when the last flag has been raised, China will be there. And we shall be there as conquerors! No more will we face defeat, and humiliation. From now on, China will know VICTORY!”
The crowd responded “Victory! Victory! Victory!”
Chiang spread his arms one last time, and yelled towards the blue sky “LONG LIVE THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF CHINA!”. His voice echoed all across Beijing through hundreds of speakers, as the jubilant crowd danced and cheered and raised their flags into the air, proclaiming a New China.
Von Falkenhausen looked at Chiang and grinned. It was indeed a beautiful day.