Nanyang Storm 1864

Emperor Emeritus Zheng Guohui rode side by side with former Prime Minister Li Jingxi, discussing major domestic and international events, with particular emphasis on relations with the United States, which were the current focus.

The State of Chu has always pursued a policy of high tariffs and economic suppression against the United States, prohibiting American products from entering the empire's internal market and also strongly restricting their entry into the Western Pacific market.

Conversely, the US also imposed high tariffs on industrial products from the State of Chu.

The two sides competed fiercely on a global scale, with the State of Chu consistently maintaining the upper hand due to its territory and significant influence in Central and South America.

This is a foreign economic policy that was consistently followed and upheld during the reign of the retired Emperor Zheng Guohui.

To cultivate good relations with Europe, suppress and restrict the United States, and continuously expand economic penetration and influence in other parts of the world in order to find more markets for the imperial industrial products.

The second emperor of the Great Chu Dynasty continued to adhere to this policy after ascending the throne.

Emperor Emeritus Zheng Guohui knew
In line with the development of the times, the rise of the United States was inevitable. Today, the two major powers, Soviet Russia in Europe and the United States in North America, have become indispensable players on the world stage.

You can't stop it, but it's good enough if you can slow it down or weaken it.

these years
The Lone Star Republic separatist forces in Kansas in the South and the separatist forces in California on the West Coast have both received some degree of support from the State of Chu, which is what the Americans particularly resent.

During the European war, the retired emperor Zheng Guohui originally wanted to contain and change the development trajectory of the United States through military strikes.

After repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, they ultimately abandoned this immature attack strategy.

The archives of the Royal Army and the Royal Navy contain more than a dozen operational plans against the United States, including military strike options of varying degrees, covering almost everything imaginable.

The Americans were well aware of this and also regarded the State of Chu as their number one enemy.

During the six or seven years that followed his abdication, the retired emperor Zheng Guohui observed the different development trajectories of Chu and the United States with a detached eye. After careful analysis, he concluded that the decision to abandon the plan to militarily attack the United States was correct.

Development to date
The total population of the State of Chu was close to 200 million, reaching 1.92 million, which is among the largest in the world.

The United States also has a total population of over 100 million, reaching 1.13 million. It is also a world-class populous and industrial power, and its current military strength should not be underestimated.

During the European War
Through several rounds of military mobilization, the United States armed more than 370 million troops in just six months, resulting in a dramatic increase in its military strength, which ultimately stems from its profound industrial and economic foundation.

Such a clash between two world-class powers is no less significant than a collision between Mars and Earth.

The scale, scope, and intensity of the war could very well spiral out of control, leading to a completely unpredictable outcome.

Just like the Germans, Wilhelm II was full of confidence in winning the war after it started. In the end, the course of the war completely slipped out of his control, like a wild horse leading the powerful German Empire to the abyss of destruction.

The retired emperor Zheng Guohui dared not gamble; he couldn't afford to lose.

Thanks to the strategic geographical advantages gained from early planning, the State of Chu controlled almost the entire Pacific Ocean, forming an island blockade chain against the west coast of North America.

Like a noose around the neck of Americans, it prevents American industrial products from crossing the Pacific Ocean and penetrating the markets of countries in the Western Pacific.

The strong presence of the Chu state in Central and South America also prevented the United States from penetrating South America.

In South American countries such as Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, the struggle between pro-Chu and pro-American forces is fierce, and with the British meddling in, it's truly a chaotic mess.

The most intense covert conflict took place in Cuba, where the Americans have consistently accused the Chu state of being the mastermind behind Cuban resistance, creating chaos and division in various parts of Cuba, and being a major factor in the instability of the Caribbean region.

The State of Chu, of course, did not agree, and the two sides had been engaged in a verbal battle for many years.

"Because it is located near the Pacific Ocean, it has always been trying to gain greater influence in the Pacific. The United States is a natural strategic competitor of the Empire, and we must not be careless," Emperor Emeritus Zheng Guohui instructed, and began to ride back.

"Wei Chen understands."

Li Jingxi then turned around, urging his horse to follow the emperor, keeping a slightly behind.

Back to Royal Horse Farm
After dismounting, Emperor Emeritus Zheng Guohui casually handed the riding whip to his attendant, took a hot towel to wipe his face, and then picked up a teacup to drink some water.

All the attendants served him with utmost care and respect.

Although the retired emperor abdicated the throne, he remained the most powerful and supreme ruler in the empire he had created, and most importantly, he did not relinquish his financial power.

The same group of people still served the retired emperor, but they were upgraded to the retired emperor's secretariat to distinguish them from the institutions serving the second emperor in the palace.

The eight funds under the Royal Household Department remain in the hands of the Supreme Emperor, including those for the Royal Navy, the Royal Guard, and the Royal Army.

This logic is easy to understand. The retired emperor has only abdicated; he hasn't actually died yet. How could he possibly be entitled to a share of the inheritance?

Even if Father Emperor is in good health, so many royal brothers would not agree.

Life in Melbourne is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world, appearing lazy and tranquil, and because it is located at the end of the world, it has an extra sense of ease.

This area is a gold and wool producing region and has been less affected by the global economic crisis; it is extremely rare to see homeless people and beggars on the streets.

This is the imperial system at work; whenever there are homeless people without food or clothing, the government and police system will systematically take them in and arrange for them to work in imperial estates or mines and farms.

Instead of idly wandering the city, one should earn a living through hard work.

As long as you have some strength, you won't starve to death.

This policy is unfriendly to those who want to coast along and do nothing, which is also the excuse that Americans have been using to criticize the Chu state for its authoritarianism.

Upon returning to the Melbourne Palace, I received several urgent memorials.

The first report came from the empire itself, stating that His Majesty the Emperor was unwell and had been bedridden since April, with his condition now becoming increasingly serious.

This matter concerns the fate of the empire and its people. We humbly request His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus to grant a divine decree and allow him to return to the country to take charge of the capital, Manila.

The second document concerns the Central Plains War in the northern lands, where warlords from various regions are locked in a chaotic battle, and the outcome remains uncertain.

The third bill is a national security motion by the U.S. Congress to restrict and confiscate assets of potential adversaries, particularly Eastern capital invested in major U.S. cities and in the financial and industrial sectors. It is scheduled to be passed by the House of Representatives.

This is the prelude to a new wave of anti-Chu sentiment. If it passes the House vote on June 20, it will undoubtedly bring a negative impact no less than an earthquake to the current complex bilateral relationship between Chu and the United States.

Clearly, this is American politicians stirring up trouble, trying to shift the blame for the severe impact of the Great Depression on society onto the persecution of the United States by the State of Chu.

Shifting the anger of the lower classes to other groups could be a viable crisis management strategy.

But the problem is that
The Great Chu Empire would not obediently become a sucker and suffer losses and slander for no reason.

The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a stern warning.

The actions of the US political establishment have crossed the imperial line; they must pull back from the brink, or they will bear all the serious consequences. For decades...

The imperial family has made enormous investments worldwide, and according to outsiders, including various debts, the total amount exceeds 10 billion silver dollars.

Annual interest or stock dividend income alone exceeds one billion silver dollars.

These are mostly speculations among the people. The royal family of the Great Chu Empire has never responded directly, and no one knows exactly how much wealth the imperial family has.

what can be confirmed is
This was an asset that could rival the wealth of a nation. The total amount of war loans owed by Britain, France, and other countries, based on available records, was approximately £8.25 million, equivalent to between £51 billion and £52 billion.

Other potential shareholdings and fixed assets scattered throughout major cities in Europe and America, as well as the assets of affiliated companies, are absolutely a huge iceberg; what is shown above the surface is only the tip of the iceberg.

The problem is that with the powerful national strength of the Great Chu Empire, no country dares to default on its debts. Even countries like England and France obediently repay the principal and interest, at most applying for debt extensions or restructuring.

A country like the Soviet Union simply defaulted on its massive debt of over 170 billion francs to France, something most countries wouldn't do.

The United States' sudden move is almost a direct imitation of the Soviet Union.

How could the Great Chu Empire tolerate this?
After reading the recently delivered memorials, the retired Emperor Zheng Guohui remained calm. He had experienced too many ups and downs in his life, and it was rare for anything to surprise him.

He simply gave the order: "Pack your bags and set off back to the mainland, taking all my prized horses with you."

"Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed immediately." Deputy Secretary-General Zhou Qing respectfully accepted the order and withdrew.

Emperor Emeritus Zheng Guohui looked at the swaying trees outside the window and sighed softly.

The tree wants to be still but the wind doesn’t stop!
The departure of the retired emperor back to the empire caused a huge sensation in Melbourne, with hundreds of thousands of citizens taking to the streets to bid him farewell.

It was a bustling place, filled with the sounds of people and the clamor of drums and gongs.

With a long whistle, the luxurious cruise ship carrying the Emperor Emeritus slowly departed from the dock, drawing a clear arc on the azure South Pacific Ocean as it sailed towards the vast ocean beyond the harbor.

Two Earl-class battleships, one in front and one behind, along with heavy cruisers and other escort ships, firmly protected the luxury cruise ship at its core as it set sail northward.

More than ten days later
Just as the Emperor Emeritus and his entourage arrived at the new Xi'an port, they received devastating news from the empire's homeland: Emperor Chu-Zhengyuan had passed away at the Great Chu Imperial Palace due to illness, at the age of 59, and the entire nation was in mourning.

Upon receiving the news, the retired emperor issued an edict canceling the rest period and ordering an immediate return north, for the country could not be without a ruler for even a day.

1930st January 5

The retired emperor and his entourage, returning from Melbourne, Australia, arrived in the imperial capital Manila and then hurriedly entered the palace to handle the funeral arrangements for the deceased emperor.

Officials mourned, and the entire nation was draped in white.

Soon, the imperial edict of the Holy Ancestor will be issued, ordering the successor Emperor Chu-Zheng to receive the imperial decree of succession and complete the transfer of power before the coffin, thus succeeding to the throne of the third generation of Emperors of Great Chu.

After two weeks of mourning, officials and nobles paid homage to the coffin during the encoffining ceremony. The coffin, under the grand escort of the imperial guards, was then escorted to Yongtai Mountain, the imperial mausoleum in the north, for burial, along with rare funerary objects.

By the time all these matters were dealt with, it was already the end of May.

The posthumous title of the second emperor of the Great Chu was set as "Kaiyuan Shengwen Shenwu Xiaoyuan Gao Emperor", and his temple name was Chu Gaozong. The Holy Ancestor Emperor bestowed this title upon him.

When the succeeding emperor ascended the throne, Prince Chu-Zheng, the eldest son of Emperor Gaozong of Chu, entered the palace to pay homage to the Holy Emperor Taizu and was defeated by the prince's tears.

When the 8-year-old Emperor Taizu Zheng Guohui saw the emperor prostrate on the ground weeping, he couldn't help but feel compassion. The feeling of an old man burying his young son was unbearable.

Fortunately, the Great Chu royal family had many offspring, and seven or eight of them had already passed away, so he didn't feel much grief.

"Rise! Since the weighty responsibilities of the nation have been entrusted to the Emperor, you must prioritize state affairs. Do not grieve excessively, lest it harm your health!"

"Before the Holy Emperor Taizu, the Imperial Grandson is filled with trepidation and humility. Only by beseeching the Holy One to take charge of the central government can the Imperial Grandson have some confidence!"

"You are the emperor, so do as you are supposed to do. I'm sure your uncles won't make things difficult for you. If you encounter any difficulties, just report them to us, and the Emperor Taizu will take care of it for you."

"The imperial grandson kowtows to thank the Holy Emperor Taizu and respectfully wishes the Holy Emperor Taizu ten thousand years of good fortune and longevity."

"Sigh, what's the point of living so long? Get up!" Emperor Taizu Zheng Guohui waved his hand, looking utterly disheartened.

He spoke with the emperor for a while, then, feeling exhausted, returned to his palace to rest.

Emperor Taizu Zheng Guohui paid great attention to health preservation, so even in his eighties he was still vigorous and healthy, and occasionally he could still favor a few young concubines, which amazed people.

This is not unusual in later generations. As long as one eats and drinks well and takes good care of oneself, living to eighty or ninety years old is just common.

But in this day and age, that is indeed considered a long life.

Emperor Taizu Zheng Guohui never expected that the emperor would pass away before him. He was not good at fortune telling and was powerless to change the situation, so this was all he could do.

Thinking about it, I feel relieved.

The emperor's throne was not an easy position to hold. Very few emperors throughout history lived to a ripe old age, for various reasons, with immense pressure being the most significant factor.

Every emperor who was responsible would devote himself to the country and its people, often bearing the heavy responsibility of governing the nation.

Emperor Taizu Zheng Guohui was well aware of the historical trajectory and always struck at the right time to gain the greatest benefit with the least loss.

When faced with powerful adversaries such as the United States or the Soviet Union, they often back down.

Therefore, he has been in power in the empire for over fifty years without encountering any insurmountable obstacles. Naturally, he has not faced the kind of trouble that would drive a person crazy.

This wouldn't work on someone else.

The succeeding emperor was 36 years old and had more than ten years of experience in the colonial department. Before ascending the throne, he served as the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and was no stranger to politics.

Regardless, with the Holy Ancestor Emperor himself in charge, the imperial family members wouldn't be able to cause much trouble.

Of the more than one hundred sons of the Holy Ancestor Emperor Zheng Guohui, more than twenty inherited their fiefdoms, seven or eight died, and more than twenty remained in remote fiefdoms.

The remaining dozen or so held positions in various government departments, making them among the more influential members of the royal family in the empire. The leader of these was Prince Chu-Zheng Hui, the Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Army, a powerful minister who held significant authority in the military.

The others either hold sinecure positions in banks or large corporations, or in universities or museums, and are mostly not very successful members of the royal family, so they don't cause any problems.

However, I can't travel around anymore these next few years.

Thought of here
Emperor Emeritus Zheng Guohui couldn't help but sigh. At his advanced age, still having to plan for his children and grandchildren—that was truly something else. (End of Chapter)