Nanyang Storm 1864

The Bright Oil Company of the Great Chu Empire is the number one oil company in the world today, with Great Eastern and United Oil Company ranking third and fourth respectively, second only to ExxonMobil of North America.

The Great Chu Royal Capital is also a major shareholder of ExxonMobil and Texaco in North America, wielding significant influence over their decision-making.

If those who secretly hold shares are included, they can influence board resolutions.

The power of the Chu Empire's royal family, now possessing wealth across the four seas, has reached a point where it needs to be concealed. Its assets are spread across major countries around the world, mostly invested in long-term assets such as banks, mines, docks, and properties in the core business districts of cities, which are often held for decades.

Now, it has come to the point where they need to put on a show to deceive foreign countries and their own public opinion.

The Australian Transitional Treaty, originally reached in 1902, was supposed to compensate Britain with £6200 million, to be paid in three installments.

The once incredibly wealthy Chu royal family was struggling, even reducing its planned eight main battleships to just two, and drastically cutting military spending, with expenditures across the board showing a significant contraction.

To give the world's great powers an impression

The royal family of the Great Chu Empire truly spared no expense, which greatly improved their mood, leading them to jokingly call it "the dumbest deal in history."

From 1902 to 1904

The Great Chu Empire's military spending has been tightened for three consecutive years, which runs counter to the current international environment of developing military capabilities at all costs, making it all the more glaring.

The military expenditure of the Great Chu Empire in 1902 was reduced compared to the previous year, but the reduction was not significant, only about 2%.

The same was true in 1903 and 1904; military spending remained virtually unchanged for those three years, with no significant increase, which was quite remarkable.

Why do you say that?
In the international context of a standoff between two major military blocs in Europe, the arms race is intensifying.

Major powers around the world significantly increased their military budgets, with annual increases ranging from several 10% to over 20% annually, more than doubling in just three years.

For example, by the end of the last century, the military expenditures of the German Empire were not much different from those of the Great Chu Empire.

However, after three consecutive years of rapid growth, in 1904, Germany's total military expenditure had reached more than double that of the State of Chu, amounting to a massive 2.36 million silver dollars.

The value of this money is equivalent to £4720 million, or $2.36 million, or about 9.5 million German gold marks.

This enormous military expenditure accounts for approximately 44.6% of the UK's total military spending, nearly half.

Germany's plans for significant growth in the new year have sounded alarm bells in Britain, a blatant challenge to the British Empire's hegemony that cannot be tolerated.

No questions asked, just do it.

Despite the enormous financial deficit incurred during the Boer War in South Africa, Britain introduced an unusually high total military budget for the new year, determined to suppress Germany and maintain its global hegemony.

It was truly painful to grit my teeth and endure it like that.

After entering the 20th century, the British Empire declined very rapidly, completely unable to keep up with the Second Industrial Revolution, represented by electrification and chemistry, and presented a faltering and aging appearance.

The total economic output of the United States, Germany, and Chu has successively surpassed that of Britain, and they are showing an increasingly strong momentum of development, advancing rapidly and representing the world's advanced productive forces in the modern era.

But the proud British would never admit it, and continue to strive to maintain the pride of the British Empire.

This old age and weakness were noticed by Emperor Zheng Guohui of Chu, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, and Tsar Nicholas I.

When the lion king grows old, there will always be young male lions eager to challenge his dominant position.

Kaiser Wilhelm II was the one who fearlessly charged to the front. When he inspected the Rheinmetall steelworks, he confidently waved his precious unicorn cane and said.

"Don't be scared by appearances. The British these days are like washed-up boxers. One heavy punch and they'll fall down helplessly..."

His tone was full of confidence; he truly lived up to his reputation as someone who naturally attracts negativity, and his words were sure to provoke hatred.

It's worth noting that King Edward VII of England was the maternal uncle of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

Upon hearing these outrageous remarks, Edward VII nearly fainted from anger, and the facade of peace that had been maintained on the surface was completely torn apart.

Reliable information from clandestine channels
The UK has decided to join the Franco-Russian alliance to jointly counter the challenge from the alliance of Germany, Italy, and Austria; this is almost certain.

At this stage, we should support Japan in defeating the Russians first.

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire did not have the bad habit of boasting. He made enemies all over the world, and his words and deeds were extremely calm and shrewd. Even those secretly hostile powers could not find a single fault in him.

But no one dares to ignore the Great Chu Empire; it is a truly man-eating underwater crocodile.

Inside the Zichen Hall
Two enormous bronze taotie incense burners emitted wisps of smoke, and the unique, intoxicating aroma of ambergris imbued this imperial residence with a distinctive style.

In the side hall
Not only is there a large-scale world map on display, but there is also a sand table depicting the mountains and terrain of Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula. The Bohai Bay and Port Arthur are clearly visible, marking the latest offensive and defensive posture between Japan and Russia.

It's not as large as the Royal Army General Staff's large operations room sand table, but the deployment and movement of the corresponding troops are clearly indicated by small flags of different colors and arrow symbols.

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty stood by the sand table, reviewing the latest battle situation with the newly appointed Secretary-General of the Royal Family, Gu Huaiyu; General Zheng Guoguang, Minister of the Army; General He Zhucheng, Minister of the Navy; and several Deputy Secretaries-General of the Royal Family.

This is Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty's latest pastime: watching the fire from across the river and pointing fingers—a very beneficial way to relax both body and mind.

He said;
"The battle to capture the Russian fortress in Lushun has recently become extremely intense, with both sides suffering significant losses."

From the perspective of the battle situation
Despite not having the advantage in manpower or equipment, the Japanese relentlessly pressed and beat Tsarist Russia, even at the cost of greater casualties, in order to maintain this fierce offensive posture.

In terms of morale, they completely overwhelmed the Tsarist Russian army.

"Your Majesty is wise; this is indeed the greatest advantage of the Japanese army, allowing them to always maintain the initiative," General Zheng Guoguang, Minister of the Royal Army, nodded in agreement.

He was the Emperor's third half-brother, granted the title of Duke of Mindulo, and held important positions such as Commander of the Third Division, Governor-General of West Malaya, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, and Minister of the Army.

After the retirement of many veterans, he is the new leader of the Royal Army, a veteran with rich combat experience.

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty could be summed up in eight words: "Use people with loyalty and appoint people based on personal connections." Loyalty to the royal family was the most important quality, and being born into a noble family was also a double guarantee.

General Zheng Guoguang frowned as he looked at the situation of the Japanese and Russian sides on the sand table, and said cautiously;

"Your Majesty, according to the latest military intelligence..."
The war has been going on for six months, and Tsarist Russia is eager to reverse its current decline. It is sparing no expense to mobilize a large number of civilians to rush the repair of the railway section around Lake Baikal. It is possible that the entire line will be completed by the end of this month or the beginning of next month.

If that's the case, there are still certain variables on the battlefield.

Since the war

Tsarist Russia maintained a pace of sending about 2 soldiers to the Far East front every month, stretching its logistics lines so long that they were on the verge of collapse.

These Russian reinforcements disembarked at Lake Baikal and endured a difficult journey, trekking for a month and a half to reach the Far East. Their willpower was truly astonishing.

To know

The past few months have been the frost season in the Far East. The warming temperatures have turned the frozen land into a muddy mess, with virtually no roads to speak of, and everything was in a terrible state.

It can be said that these Tsarist Russian soldiers carved a path out of a quagmire.

It was precisely because of this military support that Tsarist Russia was able to maintain the current stalemate, although it was extremely passive, it did not show any obvious signs of defeat.

If the railway is completed

This would greatly enhance the Russian army's logistical support capabilities, eliminating ammunition and food shortages. The continuous influx of reinforcements could overwhelm the Far East, easily erasing the Japanese army's slight advantage.

In my humble opinion, the Russian army still has a chance to completely reverse the situation.

The others nodded frequently, showing considerable agreement with General Zheng Guoguang's assessment of the current situation. Indeed, this was the case.

On the current battlefields of Lushun, Liaoyang, Shenyang, and Harbin, the Russian army holds a numerical advantage, with a total force of about 37 men, equipped with machine guns and artillery, and is on the defensive.

However, due to the division of troops into different locations, the advantage in troop strength could not be fully realized.

The total strength of the Japanese army was between 27 and 28. The First, Third, and Fourth Armies were concentrated on the Lushun battlefield, while the Second Army faced the Russian garrison in Liaoyang, thus creating a local numerical advantage.

Current battle situation

The Japanese army concentrated its forces on the Lushun battlefield, where it gained a local numerical advantage and launched a fierce attack on the Fushun fortress, regardless of casualties. This pressure overwhelmed the Russian defenders, who repeatedly called for emergency reinforcements from the Russian Far East Commander-in-Chief!
If the Lushun Fortress were lost, the Russian Pacific Fleet, which was holed up inside the fortress, would face the danger of being completely annihilated.

Outside the port, the Japanese Combined Fleet was watching with predatory eyes, and the Russian Pacific Fleet's several attempts to break out were all thwarted.

If the high-point fortifications surrounding Port Arthur were lost, the Russian naval forces in the Far East would be completely wiped out, which would inevitably affect the entire course of the battle. This was a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the war.

The Japanese army launched a fierce attack, while the Russian army retaliated with heavy machine guns and heavy artillery fire, causing heavy casualties to the Japanese army, numbering in the tens of thousands.

The high ground fortresses around Lushun changed hands several times, and the corpses of the attacking Japanese soldiers covered the hillsides, making the fighting unprecedentedly fierce and bloody.

The two sides even engaged in hand-to-hand combat involving tens of thousands of people. In the brutal close-quarters fighting, life was as cheap as grass, highlighting the extreme cruelty of modern warfare.

In this war that no one can afford to lose
Like gladiators, the Japanese and Russian sides were knocked down time and time again, only to rise again and again, their bodies covered in wounds and mud, their eyes red as they brandished their swords and fought fiercely, their heavy breathing like that of bulls.

This unprecedentedly brutal war led the Great Chu Empire's navy and army to completely reassess the military strength of the Fusang people, acknowledging them as adversaries of the same caliber.

Internationally
The formidable military strength of the Japanese was also acknowledged, and they silently entered the ranks of first-class powers. This is the most direct change brought about by the current war.

Judging from the current situation assessment by the military and political leaders of the Chu State, most people believe that Tsarist Russia will achieve the final victory, which is inconsistent with the original history.

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu listened to their discussion but did not rush to express his opinion.

From the perspective of the situation

Although Russia was being suppressed in Port Arthur, it still had an army of more than 18 men in Harbin and Shenyang, and more than 2 reinforcements arrived every month, a situation that has continued for half a year.

The war broke out on February 8, 1904, and has now lasted for a full six months until mid-August. Tsarist Russia has deployed more than 100,000 reinforcements to the Far East.

The country is currently undergoing its fifth war mobilization, with the total number of newly recruited troops exceeding 750,000, and this number is expected to continue to grow.

If it is no different from the general historical pattern

Russia would then conduct nine war mobilizations, mobilizing a total of over 1.3 million people (note: this is not the number deployed to the Far East battlefield, but only the mobilization figure), making its military strength extremely formidable.

Furthermore, the emergency repair and connection of the Trans-Siberian Railway greatly increased Russia's ability to send reinforcements and weapons to the Far East. All of this helped Tsarist Russia turn the tide and overwhelm the Japanese with its massive military force.

That's not actually the case.
The Kingdom of Fusang was also mobilizing its full strength. Its total population was less than 50 million, and it could mobilize more than 2 million reserve soldiers in wartime (in reality, 118.5 million were mobilized).

At the beginning of the war, the total strength of the Japanese army was about 37.5 men (1140 cannons), of which 25 men were available for combat outside the Japanese archipelago. This size of the army was similar to that of the Great Chu Empire.

The difference lies in

The Royal Army of the Great Chu Empire has more advanced weaponry, more artillery and armored vehicles, stronger heavy firepower, and better logistics.

From the perspective of total troop strength alone

It was virtually impossible for Tsarist Russia to completely overwhelm Japan.

The saying goes, "Those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who have something to lose." The current Japan is a country with poor mountains and bad waters that breed fierce people. They completely disregard the casualties of the soldiers on the front lines and launch wave after wave of crazy attacks.

Its ferocity astonished the European and American powers watching the battle.

It's hard for outsiders to imagine
Japan, desperately seeking recognition from the world's major powers, is going to extreme lengths and act with utter madness.

The Japanese completely overwhelmed Tsarist Russia in terms of fighting spirit and desire to win, and their spirit of sacrifice was also stronger. Why couldn't they achieve final victory?

This is an advantage on a subjective level, in which Japan wins decisively.

On an objective level
The corrupt bureaucracy of Tsarist Russia was extremely evident. After the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway, instead of sending much-needed manpower, food, and ammunition to the Far East, it sent crosses, Bibles, clothes, and other strange items.

The stated purpose was to boost the morale of the Russian army, but in reality, the corrupt and greedy ruling class of Tsarist Russia continued to engage in rampant corruption and bribery even during the most intense period of the war.

The logistics warehouses were already empty. The food, weapons and ammunition urgently needed at the front were all just data on paper. They could only grab whatever they could and cramm it into the trains.

Whether the Russian troops on the front lines can use it is another matter.

With these incompetent allies dragging them down, the Russian troops on the Lushun and Liaoyang fronts had to fight on empty stomachs. As their artillery and heavy machine gun ammunition ran out, the fortresses were naturally captured.

In addition to these remarkable operations, before the Trans-Siberian Railway was opened, Tsarist Russia was able to continuously send 2 troops to the front lines every month, keeping the battlefield from collapsing.

On the contrary, after the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway, the number of troops sent to reinforce the front lines decreased sharply.

Is there no one here?
The situation is clearly not like that. With railways available, who would be willing to travel a long distance for a month and a half?
Even some Russian soldiers who had set off quickly turned back to prepare to take a train to the Far East battlefield.

The idea was good, but the reality was terrible.

At the crowded little train station on Lake Baikal, the surrounding area had been transformed into a massive military camp, with over 10 Russian troops crammed in. Simply feeding the soldiers was a major challenge. The chaotic logistics further exacerbated the disaster.

Many Russian soldiers, starving due to lack of food, staged an angry mutiny, bombing railway facilities and burning grain.

Even worse
After the outbreak of war, the numerous exorbitant taxes imposed on Tsarist Russia made it impossible for many low-level serfs and urban commoners to survive, which led to uprisings in various places and was one of the important reasons for the war.

Although these resistances were ruthlessly suppressed, the damage had already been done.

Located at the pinnacle of this world

The emperor of the Great Chu Empire was more aware of the historical failures of the Russian Empire. He believed that the incompetence and command errors of Russian generals accounted for only 60% of the failures, while the remaining 40% was attributable to the corrupt and backward bureaucratic system of Tsarist Russia.

Therefore, after the defeat, Tsar Nicholas II was not satisfied, and the Japanese demanded 30 billion rubles in war reparations, but not a single ruble came.

This war cost the Japanese their underwear.

The fact that Army Minister Zheng Guoguang failed to consider these factors outside the battlefield demonstrates that military personnel have limited vision and focus too much on the impact of military factors on the outcome of battles.

As an army commander, one must have a comprehensive strategic vision.

Fortunately, Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire did not need his Minister of War to be particularly wise and intelligent. By following his strategic plans, the Great Chu Empire would not go astray.

Nothing else, that's just how awesome a life is when you're on a winning streak.

"Your Majesty, the Japanese have recently launched a campaign against Liaoyang, and it is quite obvious that several large troop groups are converging on Liaoyang, presenting a clear offensive posture."

In this area
The Russian army constructed a complete fortified area, forming a circular defensive line more than 160 kilometers long, and stationed a large number of troops there.

From the perspective of the comparison of troop strength between the two sides
"The Russian army still holds a certain advantage. The Japanese are attacking the majority with a minority. This war could easily turn into a stalemate, and the situation is not optimistic," said Zheng Guoguang, the Minister of the Royal Army, with a solemn expression.

From any perspective, the aggressive Japanese army was at a disadvantage.

Ironically, the Japanese army controlled the pace of the battlefield, leading the Russians by the nose. Isn't that strange? (End of Chapter)