Chapter 19: The Steppe Controversy
(Khan Timur III alongside his regent Tugan a Eunuch of the Mongolian Court)
Foreign Intervention would not be the end of the Mongol Story. With the Eastern Roman Empire now committed to propping up the Mongol State the Balance of Power in Eurasia had been shattered in a single, swift stroke. The Mongols, like the east african Kings before them had found the Byzantine Sphere to be a great boon. Byzantine Traders had all but Eradicated or otherwise stopped the rampant Opium Trade, Greek Industries as per the various Greek-Mongol treaties were now providing not only Weapons but railroad supplies to the Mongol Regency.
Meanwhile the Russians and Chinese who had previously enjoyed a peace of thier own terms in Asia found thier dominance being threatened by a third Partner. The Byzantines had proven in the past to be Practical and willing to work with powers such as Malaysia and Kosalla in the past. The Chinese especially had found themselves diplomatically Isolated, with Malaysia in the south still bitter over the loss of Pegu. Things were only getting worse on the Diplomatic field as new Technological and Ideological innovations in Europe had begun to cause unease and uncertaintly within the Chinese Administration.
New Imperial sentiments had been growing in the Holy Roman Empire for years. Between Reich -Gebäude and the Yellow Prince's reforms in Japan the Holy Roman Empire had once again become the nation to Aspire to. While Wu still fielded a larger military, and Industry and for all intensive purposes remained the top power in the world, the Holy Roman Empire had surpassed both Indian Economies, suppressed it's Italian and Japanese minorities and perhaps more worrisome, had emboldened many Nationalistic elements within both Monarchist and Liberal members of the government.
Once the Austrian Reichsrat was once more reshuffled in 1854 to be almost 40% Yellow 40% Black and 20% Conservative these Nationalistic Elements finally found an opportunity. The Yellow Prince, Ferdinand had returned from Japan temporarily both to meet with his supporters and the Imperial Family. Ferdinand had become hardened and more experienced in the Daimyo revolt and while he remained both economically and socially liberal, had grown to develop a strong militaristic and Nationalistic stance, one that some would say bordered on authoritarian.
In an Address to the Reichsrat Prince Ferdinand would later deliver his "Mission to Civilize" speech. Stating that House Anniona and Austria had a duty to bring civilization to the darker corners of the world. Speaking of his experience in his success in modernizing the Japanese administration and calling for a new Era of expansion for the Empire. A wave of New, Benevolent Imperialism, one that existed both to benefit the mother country as much as it brought western values and civility to the still foreign powers of the East.
Naturally the Wu administration had need to worry. Weeks after Ferdinand's speech, Chancellor Wagner had declared "Empire Building" to be a great success and announced several new priorities for Imperial Foreign Policy. Titled "Benevolent Imperialism" the new priorities focused an extensive research effort into Africa, and also the colonization and exploration of the Siberian, Antarctic and North American Wilds. Though what truly worried the Wu, was the new Imperial Hardline stance against the Chinese.
Wagner's new policies called for a massive Tariff on all Chinese produced goods in Japan, Korea and Imperial colonies and Imperial affiliated countries. While not significant alone, Empress Victoria of Russia later would agree to join Russia and its allies into the system for a few concessions, namely an extension of the Tariffs to Include Mongolia and the Eastern Roman Empire. Wagner Agreed, and later Westphalia, Sweden, Occitania, Columbia and the Imperial Dominions of Japan, Afrika and California also joined under the aptly named Imperial System.
The Consequences however were drastic. Russia specifically which had become reliant on many Chinese Industries as a cheap alternative to Imperial Imports which are often more expensive found itself in everything but severe economic collapse. The Russian Panic of 1855 quickly spread to many smaller economies such as Sweden and Westphalia who quickly left the Imperial System lest thier own economies fall with Russia. The Chinese of course did not benefit either, Chinese surplus previously set aside for export had begun to pile up and prices fell dramatically. The Chinese Parliament responded in kind. On January 24th 1855 Chinese Government officials burnt nearly a million crates of Textiles. Later in the year in April the Chinese Government bought another million in tea and food exports under the pretense of Military expense. With Prices still falling many merchant marine companies in the South China sea turned to smuggling to bypass Imperial Tariffs as well as Chinese export taxes.
The Panic of course hit hardest in Russia. Namely in the Steppe regions near the Mongolian border. The Russian Steppe had always been economically Isolated from the rest of the Empire. There was but a single Railway, the Samara Red-Line which connected the Southeastern Steppe Lands to the rest of the Empire proper. When the Imperial System came into effect however the Russian Duma expected the Steppeland to continue trade with the Eastern Roman Empire and Mongol Khanate and sent customs officials and armed soldiers into the region. The Steppe people who had already been vocally petitioning for secession were less than pleased. Worst still overzealous customs officials had begun to arrest many Tatar and Mongol Citizens visiting family across the border on charges of smuggling, and tax evasion.
The issue finally global attention when the Samara Red-Line fell victim to several anarchist bombings. The Russians swiftly put blame on the Eastern Roman Empire and Mongol Khanate, declaring the Samarra bombings acts of sabotage.
The Eastern Roman Empire responded by arming Samaran rebels along the Border as well as preemptively mobilizing it's army. Then demands were sent to moscow, the Full return of all Mongol Territories taken after 1700. The Terms were flatly denied by the Russian government. Empress Victoria, sensing that a war with both the Eastern Roman Empire and Mongol Khanate could prove disastrous for an economically weakened Russia reluctantly asked Kaiser Wilhelm and the Holy Roman Empire to Intervene.
Kaiser Willhelm had taken this chance instead to try and advance the Imperial Agenda rather than aid Russia. Willhelm had blamed the Failure of the Imperial System on the lack of Inclusion of Empires such as the Celts. Willhelm had previously been reluctant to include the Greeks into the Imperial system and now saw an opportunity to change the original terms of the deal by demanding the Greeks also join the economic treaty with Russia under threat of war.
The Greeks once again refused, emboldened by the entry of the Celtic Empire on the diplomatic field. The Celts demanded a complete end to the Imperial System and later supported the full independent of the Tatar regions that had sparked the Samara Crisis. The Holy League was surrounded and preparations had begun to be made for a war to be fought on three Fronts, The East, South and West. Westphalia who had previously left the Imperial System quickly saw opportunity in siding with the greeks as well though remained noncommital. Still Neither Victoria or Willhelm conceded.
There was of course, another Wildcard in the mix. With War now imminent the Chinese had seized the opportunity not only to humiliate the Holy Roman Empire but dismantle the Imperial System and Eastern Roman control of Mongolia in a diplomatic master stroke.
Heavenly Emperor Wu Shen declared his intent to side, not with the Greeks, but the Austrians, in exchange for the full dismantlement of the Imperial System and Russian and Imperial support in the opening of Mongolia to Chinese and Russian influence. With China's sudden entry the Greeks had no choice but to agree or Face war with three of the five most powerful nations on the planet.
The Treaty of Peking would later be signed that year, The Terms were as follows:
The Imperial System would be officially ended, and Free Trade between the Liberal Monarchies and Empires of Eurasia would be restored. The Holy Roman Empire will be formally allowed to maintain its Mercantilist Policies in California, Alaska and Africa.
Mongolia and its Markets will be made into a Free Trade Zone for all signing members. The Mongolians are to abide by this term under threat of force by all Signed Members.
The Status Quo of Asia shall be Maintained by the Wu Dynasty, Holy Roman, Russian and Eastern Roman Empires.
Kamchatka, Korea and Japan will be formally recognized Territories of the Holy Roman Empire.
Siberia, north of the Mongolian settled border will belong to the Russian Empire.
All Lands south of the Mongolian Border and to the Himalayas shall remain the Wu Dynasties solitary Sphere. the Cordoban Colonies in South China shall be declared unlawful and rightful territories of the Wu Empire.
(Johann Milkas shaking hands with an Eastern Roman diplomat at the Congress of Peking)
The terms of Peking were harsh, but war in Asia had been avoided, For now.