Nanyang Storm 1864

The mainstays of Donggang Prefecture's agricultural economy are sugarcane and rubber. Due to the local rainy tropical climate, the sugarcane produced is of higher yield and better quality, making it a major export product to North America.

Natural rubber is an industry that developed later in response to the surge in international market demand. In addition to supplying the domestic market, it also supplies a large amount of the North American market.

The widespread adoption of new types of machinery such as automobiles, tractors, bicycles, and motorcycles, coupled with the surge in demand for rubber products during the Second Industrial Revolution, spurred a significant expansion of local rubber plantations.

Rubber trees are perennial tropical economic trees that take 8 to 9 years to reach the level required for tapping rubber and have demanding requirements for the natural environment.

At present, only the State of Chu can supply large quantities of natural rubber.

The State of Chu is a world-class producer of natural rubber, as well as sugar and palm oil. Its dominance in the spot market has kept natural rubber prices high.

This gave the Chu state a natural advantage in the automotive and agricultural machinery industries.

Being in a prime location gives one an advantage. The oldest automobile company in the Chu Kingdom, BMW, already owns a rubber plantation industry covering tens of thousands of acres, and continues to expand its area.

Its competitive advantage in this field is unparalleled.

Several large automobile and agricultural machinery companies in the State of Chu have also ventured into the natural rubber industry to varying degrees, which has enabled them to significantly reduce costs.

On the other hand, natural rubber is one of the key products that earns foreign exchange through large-scale exports.

The industries in Donggang Prefecture are mainly wool textiles, canned fish and seafood, as well as a newly built large copper smelter, all of which are strong pillars of the local economy.

The large copper mine developed last year, the Octedi Copper-Gold Mine, is only 126 kilometers away from Donggang Prefecture. It is also a copper deposit with huge reserves and has become a new highlight of Donggang Prefecture's economic development.

Donggang Palace located halfway up the mountain

From here, you can overlook the entire city of Donggang, with white sails dotting the wide bay and large transport ships constantly coming and going.

it's here

Minister of Colonial Affairs Lee Ching-hui, who had just arrived in Donggang Prefecture, had traveled by boat from the capital Manila and would accompany His Majesty on the remainder of his southern inspection tour.

He brought the latest international news;
After the State of Chu resolutely rejected the negotiations of the seven-nation delegation, the British, though surprised and puzzled, wisely kept quiet.

Several other countries, led by Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, continued to lodge diplomatic protests. Germany even threatened the Chu state that "the punishment of white people in a dangerous and inhumane manner is completely unacceptable and we will consider taking corresponding sanctions."

The official residence of Tsukiko responded very strongly, planning to dispatch a task force led by the battleships "Lanfang" and "Saba" to visit Qingdao Port and Weihai in the near future, and to make side trips to Yokohama, Nagasaki and the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Use a language that Germans can understand to make them shut up!

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty expressed his satisfaction with the plan, offering a few brief comments and agreeing with it.

In the Far East

Japan demanded negotiations with Tsarist Russia, primarily requesting that Russia recognize Japan's special interests in Manchuria and Mongolia and fulfill its promise to withdraw from the three northeastern provinces.

Tsarist Russia arrogantly refused, which further intensified the conflict between the two sides.

Many diplomatic envoys from various European countries believe that;

A fierce war between Japan and Russia is inevitable, at the earliest in the first half of next year and at the latest the year after.

The basis for making such a judgment

This stems from the Trans-Siberian Railway, which the Russian Empire is currently constructing with all its might and at a cost of 14.6 billion rubles. This 9288-kilometer-long railway is scheduled to be completed sometime in 1905.

This massive Trans-Siberian Railway has been under construction for 12 years, and tens of thousands of Russian serfs have died from exhaustion along its lines, yet Russia has persevered despite numerous difficulties.

Why was Tsarist Russia willing to empty its national treasury and tighten its belt to build this "gold-devouring behemoth"?
The answer is very clear;

This Trans-Siberian Railway, stretching from the permafrost to the Pacific Ocean, embodied the strategic dream of the Tsarist Russian Empire's "Yellow Russia Plan." It was a vital transportation artery for the two-headed eagle looking eastward, reflecting the Tsarist Russian Empire's ambition for hegemony.

Controlling the East, suppressing Japan, and then vying for the warm sea outlets of the Far East and colonizing the Chinese mainland, thus realizing the centuries-old dream of the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Unless the Japanese are completely stupid, they will definitely launch a decisive war that will be enough to drive out the Russian forces before the Trans-Siberian Railway is completed.

Otherwise, they would be driven away by this massive northern bear, completely burying the last glimmer of hope for colonizing Manchuria and Mongolia.

Neither of the two robbers had good intentions; neither of them was a good person.

That is
The war will take place within the next two years. After that, the Trans-Siberian Railway will transport a steady stream of Tsarist Russian soldiers and massive amounts of supplies to the eastern frontier, thereby establishing an overwhelming advantage.

"...

In summary

Your humble servant also believes that this war is imminent. Judging from the war preparations of both countries, Fusang has made more thorough preparations, and its ten-year war preparation plan has entered its final stage.

"Our Great Chu Empire should make plans as soon as possible in order to adapt to the changing situation."

Minister of Colonial Affairs Lee Kyung-hoi reported with a grave expression that he also believed war would break out in the next two years.

If we don't fight now, there won't be any time left.

Compared to the more pressing situation for Japan, the advantage of time lay with Tsarist Russia. Every day the war was postponed, the advantage tilted slightly in Russia's favor. Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu remained silent, raised his cigar, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled thick smoke, which blurred his figure.

He was all too aware of the dog-eat-dog war between Japan and Russia.

Why did the British wisely keep quiet at this juncture?
This is because the current situation in the Far East has created a situation where the Anglo-Japanese alliance is confronting the Russian-German alliance, and the Anglo-Japanese alliance is not in a dominant position.

This is, after all, a land war, and the British are not good at it, as had been fully demonstrated in the Second Boer War in South Africa.

To help the Japanese prepare for war, both Britain and the United States provided substantial loans and supported many Japanese industries.

For example, Yokohama Shipyard and Kure Naval Shipyard were built into world-class shipyards by introducing a complete set of British shipbuilding equipment and related advanced technologies with the support of loans.

There were also some gun and gunpowder factories, and even clothing factories that used British-style sewing machines. There were more than 130 related industrial support projects, which enabled Japan to have the initial capacity for industrialization.

That alone is not enough
The Anglo-Japanese alliance also hoped to gain the support of the State of Chu, mainly in terms of logistics and military supplies, but the State of Chu decisively refused and declared neutrality on this issue.

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty did not want to help either side, and some of the cabinet ministers at the Yuehu official residence also raised this issue.

Following the precedent of the South African war, they provided logistical support to Japan. These cabinet ministers were well aware of how lucrative wartime finances were.

Even if I've always looked down on the Japanese, I don't have any grudge against Mr. Qian, do I?

However, this individual opinion was opposed by most of the cabinet ministers, who accused him of "making money against his conscience," and the matter was ultimately dropped.

Although they were in Southeast Asia, most people in the court had a special and deep affection for their homeland and were unwilling to add fuel to the fire.

The reason why Germans supported Tsarist Russia was due to the military standoff that Europe was facing.

If Tsarist Russia could shift its focus to the Far East, and in the event of unfavorable military circumstances, mobilize its elite European troops to the Far East, it would be a significant advantage.

The Franco-Russian alliance would then be weakened, significantly reducing the military pressure on the trilateral alliance led by Germany.

France's position in this conflict is the most delicate.

France was unwilling to see Tsarist Russia's influence expand eastward, nor did it approve of Tsarist Russia's "Yellow Russia Plan." France preferred that Tsarist Russia focus its main efforts on the military confrontation in Europe.

However, due to the military alliance between France and Russia, France outwardly supports Russia's position.

However, by adding a clause, it was clarified that the joint defense clause could not be activated if Russia's mainland was not invaded, thus prompting France to enter the war.

In other words, we can offer moral support, but we can neither send troops nor provide manpower; we can provide some supplies and logistical support, though not in large quantities.

European direction

France stood with Russia and Britain to counter the alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

In the Far East

France, however, stood in opposition to Britain, which displeased Britain and made it even more eager to cooperate with the reliable and powerful global partner, the State of Chu, once again.

Germany was at odds with Tsarist Russia in Europe, but joined hands in the Far East.

The only explanation for this seemingly absurd situation is that it stems from self-interest.

"Minister Li, in your opinion, what is the likelihood of war breaking out between Japan and Russia?"

In my humble opinion, it is over 90%.

"Is that clear?"

"Your Majesty, as everyone knows, the goal of Japan's ten years of military preparations is Tsarist Russia. The Anglo-Japanese alliance also aims to contain Tsarist Russia. In order to get rid of its colonial status and prove itself, the entire nation of Japan is determined to turn the tide through a war against Russia."

"Hmm, that makes sense. The Empire will not interfere in matters concerning the Northern Divine Continent," Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty declared definitively.

His statement will also set the tone for the Chu State's foreign policy toward the Far East.

The Great Chu Empire continued to expand its territory in the South China Sea region, extending its colonial reach to the Americas and Africa, which made the Japanese extremely envious.

In particular, the sudden acquisition of the Australian continent completely broke the Japanese people's defenses.

The saliva dripped for three feet, and no matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn't figure out why the usually arrogant and domineering English had changed their ways and become so generous to the Chu Kingdom.

Even if he were her own son, he wouldn't be any different.

After in-depth research

This made him admire Chu's decades-long strategic planning in Australia and its ability to seize opportunities with uncanny accuracy, and he even revered the Emperor of Chu as a god-like figure.

From imperial audiences with the Emperor of Fusang to meetings large and small in the military and political spheres, he always mentioned "the strategic planning of the Chu Kingdom," practically wearing the word "admiration" on his forehead.

Recently
Japan has intensified its efforts to send students abroad to the University of Manila, Cebu Administrative College, Royal Army Senior Infantry College, and Batangas Polytechnic in Chu, hoping they can acquire some real skills.

Putting aside historical grievances, the Japanese are the best students. (End of Chapter)