Nanyang Storm 1864

When I returned to Donggang Prefecture after the inspection, all the lights were on.

Donggang Prefecture (Note: Moresby) is located at the easternmost tip of Shangri-La Island. It has world-class enclosed harbor conditions and the bay is shaped like a narrow-necked, big-bellied bottle.

The entrance is a towering cape with a classical seven-story pilot lighthouse, artillery forts and barracks facilities, which provides excellent security.

Entering the wide harbor
You can see the city lights spread out densely, along the undulating hills, extending to the end of the distant horizon, as if the galaxy in the sky has fallen into the mortal world.

Although it failed to make it into the top ten cities of the Chu State, Donggang was still a first-tier city. At the end of 1897, its urban population reached 53.52, ranking 13th among cities in the country, making it a major port city in the east.

This place is very close to Australia. The southern port of Jinyuan County under the jurisdiction of Donggang Prefecture is only 156 kilometers away from Australia, facing each other across the Torres Strait.

This is the last stepping stone for Chinese immigrants to enter Australia.

In the early years

Encouraged by policies, many local Chinese residents in Donggang Prefecture immigrated to Australia with their families, which caused serious population loss in Donggang Prefecture and took more than ten years to recover.

Now the kingdom's policy has changed and local residents are not allowed to immigrate to Australia at will.

It is said that this is because the southern state of Victoria has been complaining to London for many years, complaining about the influx of Chinese immigrants: "Australia is almost flooded..."

Chu and Britain have close and friendly relations. In line with the principle of "quit while things are going well", Chu tightened its immigration policy to Australia to maintain the overall friendship between the two countries.

This is also beneficial to the State of Chu itself. The revitalization of Donggang is due to this policy, and it finally managed to retain people.

Australia today

The Chinese population accounts for more than 76% of the total population, with a total of approximately 217.7 million people, and has a strong ability to reproduce and develop itself.

After suffering heavy losses in the war of the Australian Expedition, the white population of Australia was much smaller than in history, at just over 68.8.

In the South African War that Britain was planning to launch recently, young white men from the Australian colonies were the key recruitment group, accounting for more than 65% of the total number of the Australian and New Zealand Corps, and were recruited to go to South Africa.

If the war goes badly and a large number of young white Australians are lost, it will inevitably deal a heavy blow to Australia's efforts to restore its European white population.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu met with some leading figures of the Chinese community from Australia at the Donggang Palace and had in-depth conversations with them.

some of

The Earl of Qianjiang and his son have attracted particular attention from the world. They are the most trusted confidants of His Majesty the King and have been rooted in Australia for nearly 1869 years since 30.

During the expedition to Australia, King Zheng Guohui of Chu personally led the army, and the deputy commander-in-chief was Lieutenant General Qian Jiang, the Minister of Military and Political Affairs, who was his right-hand man during the Tongzhou militia period.

After the war

Lieutenant General Qian Jiang and the Australian Expeditionary Force officers and soldiers, including the Fifth Division, almost all retired and settled in Australia, becoming local Chinese ranchers and capitalists of all sizes.

Only a few elite officers were retained as the skeleton, and the 5th Expeditionary Division was rebuilt on this basis.

Earl Qianjiang transformed himself and became the Governor of Queensland in the election. He was re-elected for more than 20 years and later became the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament.

at the same time
Earl Qian Jiang still serves as the president of the Chu Association of Australia. He holds a very important position in Australia. He is a leader of the Chinese community in Australia and also the largest rancher in Australia.

The Qian family owns more than 160 million acres of land and has extremely large ranches in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria. It is the largest rancher in Australia, without a doubt.

His second son, Qian Enhuai, inherited the family's political tradition and became the new governor of Queensland in the latest gubernatorial election, continuing to firmly control the local administrative power.

"Your Majesty is as heroic as ever, but I, an old minister, am just a candle in the wind, with not many days left. I have no regrets in dying to see Your Majesty today!" Qian Jiang said with tears in his eyes, and he bowed down with a trembling body.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu quickly stepped forward and promptly supported Earl Qianjiang, who was about to pay his respects, and said solemnly:
"Hengchen, why are you so? You and I have been king and minister for decades, working together sincerely. We have established a nation overseas and created such a grand scene, which is truly a story to tell. Now is the time to enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life with children and grandchildren around you. Don't take life and death lightly."

"Hengchen" is Qian Jiang's pen name. This affectionate name moved his expression, and tears were sparkling in his tiger eyes.

Qian Jiang is about the same age as Li Hezhang. He is already in his seventies, with white hair and beard, and his originally straight back is now a little hunched.

After being helped to sit down, Earl Qianjiang said with a look of deep emotion: "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. The pain I suffered from fighting on the battlefield when I was young has become more and more apparent now.

My old arms and legs are no use to me, and I know I don’t have much time left.

I have been able to follow Your Majesty in this life and accomplish a lot of great things, fighting the Red Barbarians and killing the foreigners. I have truly enjoyed life and will die without regrets.

Fortunately, with God's mercy, my Qian family can still produce several useful descendants.

Enhuai is a very outstanding son. He can inherit the Qian family's tradition of loyalty and bravery and serve the king. I beg Your Majesty to grant him permission.

Today I ask to be placed before Your Majesty, and I shall serve you like a dog or a horse."

Speaking of here
Earl Qian Jiang turned around, snorted coldly at Qian Enhuai who was standing beside him, and said:

"What are you standing there for? Come kowtow to His Majesty quickly.

My Qian family has a tradition of loyalty. Even though we are in Australia, our hearts are still with the Great Chu, and our descendants have passed on this tradition from generation to generation.

I am old and frail, and I am afraid that I will not live long. I am afraid that I will not see the day when Australia belongs to the rule of the Great Chu Kingdom.

Today, before His Majesty, you all kneel down and swear that even if I die, I will smile in my grave."

Listening to his father's last words, Qian Enhuai, who was standing on the side, was already in tears. He walked obediently to the front of His Highness and knelt on his knees to pay homage.

He said: "I kowtow to Your Majesty with gratitude and will always remember my father's teachings.

In this life, I am loyal to the royal family of Da Chu and to the country and society, and my loyalty will be passed down from generation to generation.

If Your Majesty gives an order, we will unite our clan to follow it and welcome the royal army to recapture Australia and achieve the great cause of unification.

If I can do this, I will die without regrets.

Heaven is my witness
If you break this oath, you will be cursed by thousands of people and will not be buried in the ancestral tomb."

Qian Enhuai was not the eldest son born of a legitimate wife. According to the laws of the Great Chu Kingdom, the noble title of earl should be inherited by the eldest brother.

He has no official title in Da Chu and is currently the Governor of Queensland, but he is just a commoner, so he calls himself a "commoner."

King Zheng Guohui of Chu accepted the gift calmly, without talking about the relationship between the monarch and his subject. Now that he was his uncle, Earl Qianjiang also wanted to entrust his son to him for his loyalty.

The two men had a hard-core friendship that had been forged from the pile of corpses. They were nominally king and subject, but in reality they were as close as brothers. Naturally, they were worthy of this respect.

Accepting this bow meant accepting the loyalty of the second generation of the Qian family.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu extended his hand to support him and said:
"My dear nephew, please stand up. You are now the governor of Australia and have great influence in both the political and business circles. If the Great Chu Kingdom ever takes over Australia, we will certainly need your help."

After a little consideration
Then he said again:

"Since you are willing to serve the court, I am very pleased.

From now on

He was actually appointed as an adviser on Australian affairs at the level of Under-Secretary of State in the Colonial Office. He was responsible for reporting directly to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, recording official files, and managing all affairs in Australia.

From now on, get closer to Li Butai."

The State of Chu originally did not have any advisor on Australian affairs, but since Your Majesty has appointed one, there must be one.

Lieutenant General Qian Jiang was surprised and delighted upon hearing this. His lips trembled as he urged his second son, saying, "Your Majesty's grace is so great. Our Qian family is so fortunate. Quick, express your gratitude!"

The Qian family has taken root in Australia. Although they shoulder heavy responsibilities, they quietly unite and accumulate the strength of the Chinese community.

But after all, he was far away from the center of the kingdom and no longer had the legitimate status of a high-ranking official in the court, so it was inevitable that he would feel a little lost.

Seeing the Great Chu Kingdom's thriving power, poised to dominate Southeast Asia and rival the British and French powers, that was truly impressive, and suddenly this Queensland Governorship wasn't much of a draw anymore.

Now that Your Majesty has spoken, I am naturally overjoyed to return to the imperial court.

"Your humble servant... Oh, no... I bow to thank Your Majesty for your grace. I will abide by my duties and be loyal to the king. I look forward to the recovery of Australia by the Chu army and the achievement of a glorious hegemony. I bow again." Qian Enhuai bowed deeply with inexplicable gratitude.

Colonial Secretary Li Jinghui stood by and congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations! Mr. Advisor, the Qian family is a family of loyalty, bravery, and righteousness, and has received great favor from the Emperor. From now on, you and I will serve in the same court, and I hope to work together sincerely to achieve great things."

"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Your Excellency. I am a country bumpkin, and I am rude and uncouth. I hope you will give me some guidance."

"Advisor Qian is too modest. We will have to rely on advisors for future Australian affairs. It is only right that we work together to complete the mission entrusted by His Majesty."

"That's right. I will obey your orders at any time." Qian Enhuai immediately entered the state of an official.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu was willing to pay a huge sum of money for a horse's bones. He gave him a high-ranking position as Under-Secretary of the Colonial Office without hesitation. Although he was just an "Australian consultant", he was definitely a high-ranking official of the Colonial Office.

In this way, the atmosphere in the hall became more relaxed and harmonious.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu and Earl Qianjiang had not seen each other for a long time, and the two chatted casually about some family matters.

Upon learning that Earl Qianjiang already had more than 30 grandchildren, some of whom were in politics, some in business, some in the Australian military and police, and some in education, King Zheng Guohui of Chu laughed and said:

"Hahaha...Okay, okay, our generation is pioneering, the next generation will lay a solid foundation, and by the time our grandchildren come around, we'll start to make great progress.

This is the reason why “those who plant trees will enjoy the shade”.

Brother Hengchen, don't stay in Australia. Let your children go out and see the world.

Go back and pick out a few outstanding grandchildren and bring them to Manila to study with the prince.

The friendship between you and me, the older generation, must be passed down from generation to generation by these children, so that the incense will never cease!"

"I, your Majesty, am grateful for your grace. This is a blessing you can't find even with a lantern. If those boys knew they could study with the princes, they would be so happy. I would like to thank you in advance." The wrinkles on Earl Qianjiang's face were stretched out with a smile.

Whether he is really that happy or not is another matter.

His Majesty is truly cunning and shrewd. He has just spent a fortune on buying horse bones, and now he has sent a hostage. He is not afraid that the Qian family will not work wholeheartedly for the court.

Qian Enhuai held the high position of Governor of Queensland and served as an advisor to the Deputy Minister of the Colonial Department of the Chu State. This was equivalent to having his feet in two boats, one in the open and the other in secret.

In particular, the position of advisor on Australian affairs can only be kept secret and cannot be made public.

Otherwise, he would never have been able to become the Governor of Queensland.

The British are not so magnanimous and will never allow anything to be done under their noses. That would be an insult to the British people's intelligence.

Everyone present was well aware of this.

Qian Ende, the eldest son of the Qian family who will inherit the title of Earl in the future, will take over the position of president of the "Australian Da Chu Association", a non-governmental organization centered on veterans of the Australian Expeditionary Force. It is also the largest and most influential Chinese association in Australia.

The "Australian Da Chu Association" claims to have 50 members, almost all over Australian cities and villages. It has strong cohesion and great influence, and its potential power is much greater than that of the Governor of Queensland.

no doubt
The outstanding second-generation descendants of the Qian family, who held important positions in politics, business and civil society, all sent their legitimate descendants to Manila to study with the princes.

Combined with other overt and covert means, the Qian family was tightly tied to the chariot of the Great Chu Kingdom.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu arranged things clearly while chatting and laughing. There was really no worldly airs at all, as if it had always been that way.

Chatted for a while

King Zheng Guohui of Chu hosted a royal banquet, during which more than a dozen prominent Chinese-Australians and accompanying court officials were present. They spoke festive words and all the Chinese leaders who were received felt honored.

After the banquet, everyone dispersed.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu did not drink much wine, just a few sips, and was a little tipsy.

The maidservant brought him a cup of tea, and he drank it while watching.

Looking out the window of the palace
Donggang, shrouded in the night, looks like a starry sky with countless lights flashing. This shows from one side that the local economic development is indeed booming and full of vitality.

Donggang Prefecture (Note: Moresby) is located in a coastal area with a humid climate. Its annual rainfall is similar to that in southern Jiangsu, about less than 1000 mm.

Most rainfall is concentrated in the rainy season, while the dry season has plenty of sunshine and little rainfall.

This place is very suitable for developing agricultural production. In the hands of Chinese immigrants, it is simply a treasure land for agricultural production and its potential has been fully tapped.

About 2000 to kilometers west of Donggang Prefecture, entering Jinyuan County, the rainfall suddenly doubles to an average of mm per year, which is very suitable for the growth of sugarcane, which prefers hot and humid weather.

Several nearby counties are the main production areas of large-scale sugarcane plantations, with a total area of ​​more than 370 million mu and a total Chinese population of more than 40.

Going further west, the rainfall in the tropical rainforest area on the southern slope of the Snow Mountain Range increases sharply, from an average of 2500 mm per year to an average of to mm per year, where there grows primitive tropical forests that have been desolate and uninhabited since ancient times.

It is a green desert that has not yet been inhabited by anyone.

In areas with concentrated rainfall, there are several heavy to torrential rains almost every day. The sky is like a leak and it rains non-stop. There are almost no sunny days.

The Chu State colonized Shangri-La Island for over thirty years, but to date, only the southern and northernmost ends of the island have been developed on a large scale. The vast alluvial plains south of the central snow-capped mountains remain largely untouched. (End of this chapter)