Nanyang Storm 1864

Time flies, time flies like an arrow.

Another year has passed, and the pointer of history has reached the end of the third quarter of 1913, which marks the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the Great Chu Empire (including the early kingdom period).

While war clouds loomed over Europe, the western Pacific, with the Great Chu Empire at its core, enjoyed a peaceful and tranquil social environment and a thriving industrial economy.

Northern China was also in a period of peace and stability during the early years of the Republic of China, and its national industries and economy developed rapidly, presenting a thriving scene.

The supreme royal delegation led by the Emperor of the Great Chu Empire arrived in Panama, the capital of Costa Rica, in mid-November, and is about to begin a national-level goodwill visit to North America.

Public opinion around the world generally believes
This diplomatic trip by Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire may be the swan song of his reign and his last visit to friendly countries, carrying immense significance.

In addition to visiting Canada, the United States, and Mexico in North America, Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire will also inspect Central America's Central Plains and Costa Rica, South America's Kingdom of Colombia and Patagonia, and make side trips to Peru and Chile, thus completing a tour of the entire territory of the Great Chu Empire.

This move served two purposes: first, to quell the public's deep longing for an inspection by the imperial high command; and second, to convey the boundless imperial grace, which extends to Central America and Patagonia.

More than forty-five years have passed since the South American desert expedition began in 1868.

The fact that the supreme royal emperor of the Great Chu Empire had never set foot in this place inevitably left the local Chinese community feeling deeply disappointed, and contained a strong sense of "wanting to be valued".

This is not funny at all; it is what ordinary people truly crave.

Just as in a large family, some children yearn for the attention of the royal family of the Great Chu Empire, His Majesty the Emperor's personal visit exemplifies this, much like how parents gently comfort their neglected children.

Its inherent meaning is difficult for those who have not experienced it to comprehend.

The emperor of the Great Chu Empire routinely inspected the eight islands of his homeland, sometimes more than ten times, and at least twice in Australia.

In the overseas frontier governor's office
Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire visited and inspected the East African colonies twice and the West African colonies once, but he neglected Hawaii, Central America, and Patagonia in South America.

How can the Chinese community in this region bear this?

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty made his final tour of Central and South America during the later years of his reign. The local people imbued this tour with a deep sense of making up for past regrets, making it all the more significant.

Panama City
The citywide celebrations, which began three days prior, reached their climax when the Emperor himself arrived. More than 40 people flocked to the city, creating a massive, surging crowd along the several-mile stretch of road from the port of Panama to the city center.

Many people set off from home as early as one or two in the morning, gathering early on both sides of the road along His Majesty the Emperor's route, holding the imperial flag and national emblem flag, waiting silently, hoping to witness the exciting moment.

9 a.m.

When His Majesty the Emperor's fleet successfully docked at the Panama port, an unprecedentedly grand welcoming ceremony unfolded amidst countless exploding fireworks and celebratory songs and dances. Gentlemen and ladies of Panama's upper class poured out, creating an unprecedented spectacle.

Without experiencing the loneliness of oblivion, it is difficult to comprehend the fervent and passionate emotions of the people of Central America today.

The roadsides and buildings were packed with people, waving imperial flags excitedly and singing and dancing to welcome the emperor.

The Chinese population that migrated to Central America in the early days has now reached its third generation. Their bloodline incorporates the passionate, unrestrained, and musical qualities of the indigenous people of Central America, which are fully displayed in the grand ceremony.

The imperial chariot of Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire, escorted by eight hundred royal guards on tall horses, came winding along the road.

A long convoy of hundreds of cars and security trucks led the way, with guards at the rear, creating a truly spectacular sight.

The crowds along the way went wild at that moment, with cheers rising in waves.

The early immigrants, their hair now streaked with gray, couldn't help but shed tears. They knelt down in front of the royal convoy from afar, which drew a large number of people to kneel down in worship.

Even after the motorcade had driven away, the people who had come to welcome them could not hide their excitement, and many of them burst into tears.

The tears not only expressed the bitterness of countless years, but also the relief of the emperor's boundless grace. A mix of emotions welled up in their hearts, how could they not be moved to tears?

Panama Palace

When the Emperor arrived, all seven or eight princes and grandsons who originally lived here moved out, including His Highness Chu-Zheng Yan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Panama Military Region, who needed to be summoned by His Majesty to enter the palace.

During his more than 10 days of rest in Panama, Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire, despite his fatigue, received high-ranking military and political officials from Zhongzhou and Costa Rica at his palace, as well as King Chu-Zheng Su and His Highness the Crown Prince of Colombia, who had come from afar to pay their respects, along with prominent figures and business representatives from various parts of Central America.

He also attended the opening ceremony of the Panama City State Hospital, inspected the museum, the University of Panama and the local military camp, and visited several surrounding towns, where he was surrounded by excited and jubilant crowds.

at the same time
Meanwhile, in Europe, a peace treaty was also reached in the Second Balkan War. This war, which lasted for a month and a half, ended in a crushing defeat for Bulgaria.

In the First Balkan War, several small Balkan states united to launch a war against the Ottoman Empire, seizing a large amount of territory through the war.

The Second Balkan War was an internal conflict among several Balkan states over the unequal distribution of spoils, with the Kingdom of Bulgaria on one side and the Kingdoms of Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Romania on the other.

1913st January 6

Incited by Germany and Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, confident in its strength, launched a preemptive attack on Serbia and Greece.

Soon after, Romania and Montenegro joined the war, siding with Serbia and creating a four-against-one situation.

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce fighting, the Ottoman Empire, which had suffered heavy losses in the First Balkan War, also joined the fray, stabbing the Kingdom of Bulgaria in the back.

Besieged on all sides, Bulgarian King Ferdinand I was forced to sue for peace, losing a large amount of territorial gains from the First Balkan War. On August 10, Bulgaria signed the Treaty of Bucharest with Serbia, Greece, Mongols, and Romania.

On September 29, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Istanbul, returning Eastern Thrace and Adrianople, which Bulgaria had previously occupied, to the Ottoman Empire.

The Second Balkan War thus came to an end, with the Kingdom of Bulgaria emerging as the final loser.

The outbreak of two wars in quick succession has sharpened tensions among Balkan countries to an unprecedented degree, with each country having territorial disputes with its neighbors, brewing a potential crisis.

Early September
The emperor led his fleet through the Panama Canal to the port of Colon, where he made a brief stop to inspect the home port of the Caribbean fleet.

In the Royal Suite on the top floor of the ultra-luxury cruise ship "Tianchi"
Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty summoned Lieutenant General Chu-Zheng Yan, commander of the Panama Military Region, to inquire about some secret arrangements.

"Yan'er, what's the situation in Mexico?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the situation is just as rotten as it has been for the past few decades. In the year or so that I have been in office in Central America, Mexico has had two presidents. Corruption is rampant, bribery and abuse of power are commonplace, and the entire upper class is rotten to the core." "When it comes to politics and economics, the Americans are no good at it. But when it comes to political infighting, forming cliques and undermining each other, they are all experts."

“Grandpa is absolutely right. The task you assigned is already showing promise. Mexico is responding very positively, but they are asking for a very high price.”

"Oh, tell me."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The current President of Mexico, Cavarez, was born into the highly prestigious Dos Santos family. He is extremely greedy and audacious. He is willing to sell anything, including territory."

"Hehehe...a resident insect of the nation."

"This is not surprising. Over the past few decades, the large-scale territories that Mexico has sold to the United States have all been the result of dirty dealings behind the scenes by these political families. Otherwise, they would never have been able to succeed."

"Yes, if there were no collusion between insiders and outsiders, how could they have signed such a treaty ceding territory without going through war? The Mexicans are truly unique."

"Grandpa, the current Mexican President Cavarez has expressed his willingness to cede Baja California through reliable channels. He is asking for $22 million, and privately offering an additional $30 million in benefits. This is the result of many secret negotiations, and he is unwilling to make any further concessions."

"What a huge appetite! The kickback they're charging is even higher than the publicly disclosed territorial transfer fee."

"President Tavares explained that the $30 million private benefit would be shared by the dos Santos family with several top families in Mexican politics, and the government would also have to make some concessions; it was not something they would keep for themselves."

"Good heavens, this is a den of thieves!" Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty laughed upon hearing this, shaking his head helplessly.

After entering the 20th century

The Great Chu Empire put a halt to its military expansion worldwide, focusing instead on internal integration and development rather than one-sidedly pursuing territorial and colonial expansion.

At this time, the empire's territory expanded slightly from 1657 million square kilometers to 1706 million square kilometers, mainly due to an increase of 286,000 square kilometers in southern West Africa, and an expansion of over 100,000 square kilometers into the Ethiopian Plateau in East Africa's Eritrea region.

From 1902 onwards, the empire's territory remained largely fixed without major changes, entering a relatively long period of digestion, absorption, development, and integration.

This does not mean that the Great Chu Empire had no interest in external expansion. It depends on the region. For example, the Great Chu Emperor Zheng Guohui and high-ranking officials were very interested in Europe and North America.

The Great Chu Empire was most interested in Baja California, which belongs to Mexico. It is a long and narrow island with a shape resembling a French baguette.

Its northern tip connects to the border of California, located between the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean.

The entire Baja California peninsula extends 1223 kilometers from northwest to southeast, with a width ranging from 50 to 250 kilometers, an average width of 75 kilometers, and an area of ​​14.37 square kilometers.

Because the North American Coast Range runs through the area, most of it is between 500 and 1500 meters above sea level, with the terrain sloping from north to south. The highest point is Ncantada Peak in the north, at 3078 meters above sea level.

This place is of no use to Mexico; it is just a barren and remote province with a population of 31.22 who are engaged in agriculture and fishing, and have no industrial sector.

If it falls into the hands of the Great Chu Empire, its usefulness will be immense.

From a regional strategic perspective

With control of Lower California, the Great Chu Empire can extend its northern defense line 3500 kilometers northward from Zhongzhou, reaching the US-Mexico border, greatly increasing its security depth.

The Great Chu Empire gained 3500 kilometers of northward depth, while the United States lost 3500 kilometers of southward depth.

The future US-Mexico border and its extensions will be the limit of the US's southward expansion.

The Great Chu Empire will station a fleet and a sufficient number of army officers and soldiers on Baja California Island, like a sharp spear pointing at the back of the west coast of the United States.

Its deterrent power is absolutely enough to make the Americans' scalps tingle.

They discussed it in private for a while.
When they heard that the current Mexican president, Tavares, was eager to reach a treaty, and that he had been accused of corruption shortly after taking office, several political opponents joined forces to try to oust him from office.

This is a common occurrence in Mexican political life, where each president rarely serves for long.

If the Tavares family can formally sign this territorial transfer treaty with the Great Chu Empire before leaving office, they will make a fortune; at worst, they can simply move to Europe.

The remaining younger generation of the Dos Santos family can inherit the political legacy. As long as they have money and power, they might become president again in a decade or so.

This is the current political reality in Mexico: corruption exists from top to bottom, and those who are not corrupt are simply those who haven't had the opportunity to manipulate things.

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Empire made the decision with a wave of his hand, saying, "Let's proceed according to these conditions. The Imperial Household Department has ample funds in its accounts, and they won't generate any revenue if left unused. Let's just take them out and spend them."

It's only a little over fifty million US dollars, it's totally worth it.

This secret purchase of Baja California Island was spearheaded by the royal family of the Great Chu Empire, and the funds for the purchase were allocated by the Imperial Household Department, so it did not need to go through the imperial government.

This greatly enhances secrecy, making it difficult for transaction secrets to be leaked.

The people most afraid of the sale of Baja California Island are not Mexicans, but Americans; a leak of the news would certainly hinder the sale.

After a secret meeting, Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty made the final decision to conclude a territorial transfer treaty with the Mexican government and pay the funds after his visit to the United States, completing the transaction with lightning speed.

At that time, the Emperor of the Great Chu Empire will visit the United States and Canada, where a series of bilateral trade and economic treaties will be concluded, creating an atmosphere for improved bilateral relations, thereby numbing and delaying the US government.

At the same time, it also increases the cost that the United States will have to pay after the deterioration of bilateral relations.

This alone should give the US government pause for thought.

The diplomatic negotiations between Chu and the United States, which lasted for more than a year, resulted in a series of important agreements on economy, trade, culture and bilateral exchanges, which were to be signed when the emperor of the Great Chu Empire visited.

This is considered the current US president's greatest achievement and a bilateral agreement that the US business community has long desired, meaning that US companies can access the vast markets of the Western Pacific and the Great Chu Empire under relatively fair conditions.

Within the United States, this series of landmark treaties is known as the "Centennial Treaty," signifying the most significant political agreements between the two countries in nearly a century, and its importance cannot be overstated.

The Americans were truly dumbfounded by this sudden stunt by the Chu state and the Mexicans.

(End of this chapter)