Nanyang Storm 1864

In contrast to the undercurrents between the US and Europe, the confrontation between the two major European military blocs was much more overt, with intense hostility made no attempt to conceal it, triggering a massive wave of white immigrants fleeing Europe.

Since the workers' revolution that swept across Europe in 1848, waves of immigration to the United States have continued to rise, reaching more than 3300 million by 1910.

This laid the foundation for the US population, which reached a total population of 94.6 million in the first quarter of 1912, not far from the goal of reaching 100 million people.

The State of Chu and the United States are among the world's leading immigrant nations. The former is predominantly populated by Chinese immigrants, while the latter is predominantly populated by European white immigrants. Countless immigrants have contributed to the prosperity and development of these two industrialized countries.

At the end of the first quarter of 1912

By order of His Majesty the Emperor of Great Chu

From now on
The Great Chu Empire's "free immigration policy" was officially terminated, and a quota-based restricted immigration policy was implemented instead, raising the entry threshold and basically eliminating the possibility of low-skilled workers obtaining Great Chu Empire residency.

The original "free immigration policy" was extremely lenient. As long as immigrants from the mainland bought a ship ticket and arrived at any sovereign territory of the Chu Kingdom, they could obtain a formal passport, acquire formal citizenship, and enjoy all the rights of a citizen.

This is known as the "base policy," which allows only Chinese immigrants to enter, while immigrants of other ethnicities must meet strict screening criteria. Black people, Indians, and Malay indigenous people are not allowed to enter.

After the domestic population reached a new total of 1.6 million, the Great Chu Empire's immigration policy underwent a significant change, raising the entry threshold.

In the United States, the influx of European immigrants fueled the Second Industrial Revolution and enabled the country to maintain high-speed economic growth for more than 30 years.

When the total population reached nearly 100 million, the United States also introduced a number of restrictive laws, including;

The ban on entry for the mentally challenged and the weak-willed, as well as the restrictions on entry for Chinese, Japanese, Jews, Italians, and Hungarians, made them targets of wanton exclusion and persecution by American workers and immigrants from Northwestern Europe.

Xenophobic organizations such as the "American Patriots League" and the "American League," composed of native Americans and earlier white Protestant immigrants from Northwestern Europe, emerged, the most notorious of which was the Ku Klux Klan in the South.

Among them, the most influential was the "American Protection Society," founded in 1887. Its members stirred up trouble everywhere, attributing the political corruption, lagging urban development, rising crime rates, and declining living standards that emerged in American society during this period to the arrival of new immigrants.

Regardless, the United States still maintains a free immigration policy.

If history had not changed

Therefore, after World War I, in 1920, Congress passed a resolution to completely end the free immigration policy in the United States and replace it with a quota-based restricted immigration policy.

This is not surprising; when a prosperous and powerful country grows to a certain population size, it will also feel the pressure from employment and economic development.

The Great Chu Empire had a large population, vast territory, and a large empire area. It only gradually tightened its immigration policy when the total population reached 1.6 million.

The total population of the Great Chu Empire today is only slightly less than that of the Qing Dynasty (400 million), the United Kingdom (3.75 million, including India and other colonies), and Tsarist Russia (170 million), ranking fourth in the world.

The total size of the Royal Navy of the Great Chu Empire was second only to that of Great Britain, ranking second in the world, and was generally recognized by countries around the world as being stronger than the German High Seas Fleet.

Faced with such a powerful adversary, the Americans were also quite wary.

Washington White House

Newly appointed U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson is discussing the extremely thorny Pacific policy with Secretary of State Ed Harper, White House Chief of Staff Joey Smith, and Treasury Secretary William Krotter.

President Wilson said;

"Gentlemen, we must now clarify our Pacific policy; it is urgent."

As you all know, the poor relationship between the United States and the State of Chu has seriously affected the economic development process and hindered progress.

This has become a problem we must face squarely: whether the future holds the reins of the Chinese empire in the Pacific or we must live in its shadow. A decision must be made.

The president looked expectantly at everyone present and presented a truly difficult problem.

This silenced everyone. White House Chief of Staff Joey Smith said with a wry smile, "Mr. President, that's a good question. It seems we only have three choices: war, peace, or maintaining the status quo."

"Come on, man, war isn't an option," Treasurer William Krottel immediately retorted.

He glanced at everyone, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke;
"Our army has only 16.5 men, while the Chu state has more than 50."

The U.S. Navy fleet was only half the size of the Chu state's, and it also lacked combat experience significantly.

Since 1862, the United States has not experienced a truly brutal war.

Guys, don't bring up the Spanish-American War of 1902. Those Spanish rookies were already defeated by the Great Chu Empire, and they don't reflect the true fighting power of the US military at all.

Even if the U.S. Navy concentrates its resources on developing, it will not be something that can be accomplished in three or five years if it wants to form a sufficiently powerful combat force.

It can be said that during His Excellency's next four-year term, there is no possibility of challenging the Great Chu Empire's Pacific hegemony.

Therefore, I say, war is not an option.

Secretary of State Harper retorted dismissively;
"Look, our Treasury Secretary has been so terrified by those Easterners that he has voluntarily given up the possibility of using force to defend American interests, which is simply unbelievable."

I want to remind you, dear Mr. William
Before the Civil War, the United States had fewer than 20,000 troops in the army, but six months after the outbreak of the war, the Union Army had more than 920,000 troops, and that was only 50 years ago.

Today, the United States possesses world-class industrial capabilities, producing one-third of the world's steel, and is capable of unleashing astonishing war potential in the face of crisis.

Provided the budget is sufficient, America’s large shipyards can build up to 15 main battleships simultaneously, leaving enemies, including the State of Chu, far behind.

By the end of next year

The U.S. Navy will have 20 new and advanced main battleships, a powerful naval force sufficient to support its anticipated maritime ambitions.

I am very optimistic about this. It is time for the powerful United States to make those barbaric yellow-skinned people with pigtails pay the price.

Instead of hiding behind her mother, trembling and saying she was scared.

Perhaps it was this cowardly metaphor of "hiding behind one's mother" that thoroughly enraged Treasurer William Kroth, who was suddenly fired up and responded with a cold snort.

Thank God!
Mr. Harper’s ignorance and stupidity have lowered the bar for cognition. He doesn’t even know his own enemy, yet he dares to recklessly ignite a war.

I solemnly reiterate once again

None of the 1.6 million people of the Great Chu Empire wore queues. Their warships were world-class, their industrial and agricultural products sold well worldwide, and they had a long history of 5000 years. They were not the "barbaric Easterners with queues" you described.

The army of the Great Chu Empire successively defeated the Spanish, Dutch, British, and French, as well as the arrogant Japanese, and its overall military strength ranked among the top three in the world.

Ironically
The US Navy doesn't even have a single warship comparable to the main battleships of the Great Chu Empire, yet it arrogantly wants to challenge Pacific hegemony. How is that any different from courting death? Ask anyone with basic naval knowledge, and they'll know that the Royal Navy of the Great Chu Empire has so far commissioned 12 battleships equipped with 343mm guns, each an invincible sea monster.

Although the U.S. Navy will have 20 battleships by the end of next year, these battleships will be equipped with 305mm main guns and have a displacement of between 16000 and 18000 tons.

They might be able to bully Brazil and Argentina, but they are far from being a match for the Royal Navy of Chu.

Compared to the Chu state's main battleships, which had a displacement of up to 3 tons, the main battleships equipped by the United States were like Don Quixote challenging a windmill; the outcome was predictable.

It is an indisputable fact that the United States has yet to possess a warship capable of countering the main battleships of the Great Chu Empire.

I can understand your tough stances during the election campaign, but when it comes to policy directions that concern the future of the country, recklessness and foolishness are absolutely unacceptable; that would be a crime against this free nation.

Go ask the US Navy admirals, who is willing to face the cannons of the Chu people?

Out of the bare minimum of responsibility, I would resolutely oppose any risk that would cost the lives of millions of Americans, simply because of the stupidity and ignorance of a few individuals—that would be utterly absurd.

Mr. President, I hope you will seriously consider my suggestion.

President Thomas Woodrow Wilson nodded approvingly, raised his hand to stop Secretary of State Harper's biased remarks, and spoke up;
“Well said, Treasurer William.”

It is very important to have a correct understanding of one's own abilities. As a veteran who participated in the Spanish-American War, I remember the troop transport fleet I was on was intercepted by the Chu Kingdom warships, and I still remember that terrible experience vividly.

The dark, gaping cannons of those Chu warships instilled an unforgettable fear in all the American officers and soldiers.

Must admit

A rifle can never directly challenge field artillery, even the smallest caliber field artillery; that is the biggest problem.

Let's forget those inspiring campaign slogans; saying them is one thing, doing them is another.

So we only have two options left.

The first approach is to continue the practice of previous US administrations, maintaining a superficial balance through constant concessions.

It is entirely foreseeable that this path will become narrower and narrower until there is nowhere left to retreat.

The second point is to demonstrate sufficient sincerity, engage in comprehensive dialogue with the State of Chu, and strive to eliminate global trade barriers and open up trade, even at the cost of giving up some domestic markets.

This will be a much-criticized path, a thorny path, but also the only viable method.

I need a responsible and capable government official to open a gap in the negotiations with the State of Chu, which is currently facing a passive situation of being heavily surrounded and blocked.

To achieve its goals, the United States is willing to make significant concessions, including tariffs on imported industrial products; everything is negotiable.

The only principle is that the State of Chu must make equal concessions.

At this stage, the possibility of triggering a war is not being considered.

The United States is willing to seek solutions with the utmost sincerity, change the prejudice of other countries that the United States is an "economic giant but a political dwarf," and strive for the international status it deserves.

Based on this core concept
During the current administration's term, the Pacific policy was formulated around this policy objective, which has become the direction of the government's work going forward.

Although I was filled with resentment, reality dictated it.

In the next 5 to 10 years, the United States and Chu must move forward along this path that is both highly controversial and requires a concerted effort to find common ground, seeking cooperation amidst confrontation.

During this process, the government will listen to dissenting opinions and continuously revise policies.

Please feel free to add anything.

Must admit

As a seasoned and competent politician, President Thomas Woodrow Wilson delivered his words of humility in such a lofty and dignified manner that even bullets couldn't penetrate his thick skin.

Fortunately, the Oval Office was filled with seasoned veterans of the political arena who had been entrenched for two or three decades. No one dared to question them directly; instead, they all echoed their sentiments.

"Instead of the sensitive political, economic, religious, and cultural issues, I suggest starting with eliminating trade barriers between the two sides, partially opening up domestic markets, and reducing customs duties, which are more likely to achieve a breakthrough."

"I second that we could discuss a US-Chuxiong free trade agreement, strive to partially open up the domestic market, allow two-way access, and jointly build a super market."

"I second that. This is indeed a beneficial suggestion, much better than simply shouting for war."

"Nobody wants to see war, and I wholeheartedly support the president's decision."

"I second that, count me in."

Everyone expressed their opinions, and most agreed with the president's and the finance minister's proposal for full contact, thus establishing the basic principles of the Pacific policy.

Cooperation, rather than escalating conflicts and widening disputes, is what matters. Otherwise, it deviates from the interests of both countries and there will be no real winners.

This high-level secret meeting determined the core of the United States' Pacific policy for the next two or three decades.

The United States planned to build two Nevada-class battleships, equipped with 356mm main guns, with the first one to be funded for construction in the latter half of 1913.

Two years later, he was fitted with amphibious gear and entered service with the U.S. Navy fleet before the end of 1916.

By then
The main force of the Royal Fleet of the Great Chu Empire has been upgraded to a new level of 381mm main naval guns, which have improved in range, firepower and deterrence.

From a technical standpoint, it is firmly in the lead.

Recognizing the technological gap between the two sides, President Thomas chose a more prudent approach and actively engaged in dialogue with the State of Chu.

Strive to bridge differences and reach a consensus.

As a typical immigrant nation, the choice of the new US government reflects the prudence of the British, the ease of the French, the rigor of the Germans, and the pragmatism of the Slavs, demonstrating a remarkable ability to navigate challenges with ease.

The Americans are no pushovers; without sufficient strength as a guarantee, they would have pounced on us and torn us to shreds long ago.

(End of this chapter)