NationStates Jolt Archive

China was the world's most populous nation for hundreds of years. China has had a history older than most European nations, going back to the times of Ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. Yet, China was not an international power such as Europeans and the United States by 1900 as China was considered a Third World nation. However, this would all change in a far different way, and alter the future of the world irrevocably.

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1898 AD:

China had begun to work out several new reforms in education and infrastructure. One educational step included the great public examinations, which had been conducted on much the same system for seven or eight centuries past, were to be modified by the introduction of subjects suggested by recent intercourse with Western nations. There was to be a university in Peking, and the temples, which cover the empire in all directions, were to be closed to religious services and opened for educational purposes. Railroads were being considered to be employed on a larger scale, as per the order of the Emperor. However, complications arose due from foreigners.

To boost these bold reforms, a plot was conceived, under which the Empress Dowager was to be arrested and imprisoned, as the Empress was a traditionalist, resistant to modernization. However, this plot was betrayed by Yuan Shih-k`ai, and the Empress turned the tables by suddenly arresting and imprisoning the Emperor, and promptly decapitating all the conspirators, with the exception of K`ang Yu-wei, who succeeded in escaping. He had been the moving spirit of the abortive revolution as he was a fine scholar, and had completely gained the ear of the Emperor. China, for the third time in history, passed under the dominion of a woman.

(Point of Divergence)

Prince Tuan grew in anti-foreigner feelings, ideology, and beliefs right after the failed plot. The promised reforms were cancelled by the Empress, further fueling Prince Tuan's anger. Prince Tuan felt that the only way to compete aganist the foreigners was to learn about them, their ideologies, beliefs, sciences, customs, and so forth.

He recalled a passage of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Sun Tzu, that perfectly applied to this very situation.

"Know thine own enemy."

Prince Tuan began to gather covert support aganist the Empress, learning from the mistakes of the first failed coup plot. His followers adopted Sun Tzu's teachings, and formed a core of supporters. Prince Tuan also began speaking to the Chinese peasants at festivities, instilling the ideology of Sun Tzu and Confucius. The peasants spread the ideologies throughout their home villages, which eventually created a popular support base for Prince Tuan's planned coup.



1899 AD:

The Confucius and Sun Tzu teachings continued to spread throughout the Chinese populace, providing even additional fuel towards the Boxer Rebellion. The Chinese populace hated the foreigner missionaries, citizens, and officials as they enjoyed rights and access priviliges that they did not deserve. The Boxers acted upon the populace's distrust and resistance towards Christianity as the Chinese believed that Christianity veils aggression and expansion under the guise of religion, with no respect for traditions. The Chinese also felt that Christianity was a major threat to their millennia old culture and traditions, re-writing the Chinese to follow Europeans beliefs, ideals, cultures, and traditions.

The Boxers continued to grow in strength, however, unlike in actual history, they did enjoy a growing popular support thanks to Prince Tuan's efforts of speading the teachings of Sun Tzu and Confucius. More and more Chinese nobles, officials, and leaders began to gravitate towards Prince Tuan as they remembered the injustices of the Opium Wars and seeing a potential chance to finally break free of foreigner oppression.


1900 AD: (Start date of Alternate Earth 1900 - 2000 (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=424002))

The Boxer Rebellion grows into a full blown rebellion aganist foreign occupation.

Sounds plausible to me. I'm looking forward to seeing this Boxer Rebellion RP go, if only becuase I am trying to milk it for all possible personal gain ;)

Prince Tuan sat on a nobleman's throne in his fortress inside the ancient imperial Chinese city of Luo Yang, which had been founded in 1200 BC. Prince Tuan pondered the latest turn of events with the Boxer Rebellion, the USA's responses, the incomptency of the Dowager Empress, and future plans for China.

Prince Tuan abruptly had a thought as he recalled the problems of missionaries and foreigners still living in China's countryside.

Why didn't I think of this earlier? This would effectively solve all China's problems while giving me the necessary prestige and leverage to declare myself Emperor!

Prince Tuan smiled as he motioned for a personal aide to call for his military commanders. Approximately a hour later, several robed officials entered Prince Tuan's throne chamber. The officials bowed down to Prince Tuan, offering the proper gesture of respect for an Imperial member. Once all the ceremonials were over and done with, the officials sat down at a long tea table, with Prince Tuan taking up the head seat at the end of the table. Servants began serving tea to Prince Tuan first, then to his military officers.

Prince Tuan began speaking, barely suppressing excitement in his voice as he detailed his plan to his commanders.

"Greetings.

I have been thinking about the current situation with the Boxer Rebellion, and possible ways to prevail from this situation.

First of all, I want the Imperial Army to round up all foreigners, by force if necessary," Tuan emphasized the next phrase, "but do not harm or kill the foreigners."

Several officials murmured, as Prince Tuan continued his outline.

"Second, once we have rounded up the foreigners, the Imperial Army is to protect these foreigners from any possible Boxer Rebellion ambushes or attacks.

Third, all foreigners are to be escorted to Peking and Shanghai. The Imperial Army shall remain with the foreigners to protect them from any Boxer attacks in Peking and Shanghai. The Imperial Army is also to garrison themselves in these two cities.

In doing these actions, we will appear to be doing what the Westerners want. Therefore, they will be more leninent towards us, which grants us the perfect opporunity to either decieve them, or to deliver a potent boost to China.

At that point, we can either have all the foreigners leave China, leaving no foreigners for the Boxers to attack, and leaving the Westerners no reason or excuse to invade China again. On the other hand, we could take all these foreigners hostage, making the Westerners concede and cave in to my demands that all foreign influence, interference, and polices are to be removed from China completely, leaving China a free nation, independent of any Western influence."

After Prince Tuan finished his details, there was full silence for a good several minutes at the long rectangular tea table. One official sitting three seats down the table from Prince Tuan broke the silence.

"Esteemed Lord, I think I can speak for all of us here when I say that your plan sounds extremely ambitious. However, we are concerned about the Dowager Empress, as she is the ultimate authority."

Prince Tuan nodded before responding, signifying acknowledgement and respect for the proper question asked.

"Do not worry about the Dowager Empress. Once I put this plan into motion, the benefits China will see will easily sway even those loyal to the Dowager Empress to my side. Thus, she will lose the little prestige and respect that she has left. If she continues to rule, then China will surely self-destruct and end up as a giant colony of the Westerners.

I am very well aware I am speaking treason, but it must be done for the greater good of China. The lives of hundreds of millions are at stake, as well as our entire culture, history, and society. China must modernize if she is to remain a power in the modern world."

Prince Tuan's voice began rising.

"Would you rather live as people under the heel of Westerners who have no concept or idea of our feelings, beliefs, society, and lives? Or would you rather stand proud as all the Chinese have done for the last 4,000 years, and stare down these vile Westerners whose empires and histories only date 800 to 1,000 years at most? We must stand proud, and declare that we are the rightful peoples of Asia!"

Prince Tuan sat back down, taking a long sip of tea to soothe his drying vocal chords. Meanwhile, the assembled commanders and offficials murmured amongst themselves, then eventually began nodding in unison. The same official who spoke up earlier locked eyes with Prince Tuan.

"You are quite convincing. I fully support your ideas and plan. May China prevail!"

Agreement spread throughout the assemblage like wildfire until there was not one silent voice. Prince Tuan simply smiled, as he knew that those officials and commanders were the ones most likely to stay with him through thick and thin. He also knew that these people were also disillusioned with the Empress's failing rule and strangehold on Chinese progress.

Time for massive change and reform was at hand. China will never be the same again.