Age of Imperialism: A Colonization RP IC

[Al-Hind Indus]

Manila, the Philippines, Spanish East Indies

Offices of the Royal Philippine Company

For Miguel Salamanca, the latest news from Spain was not good. According to a note that had just arrived from a friend in the Governor-General's office, the Hashemite Sultanate was investigating the possibility of invading Egypt from their territories across the Red Sea. On top of the recent talk of "Asia for Asians" coming out of Japan, this was bad news. Any invasion of Egypt would almost certainly mean the closure of the Suez Canal, and that would add a huge amount of transit time to the already-long voyage from Manila to Valencia, Spain. Of course, bad news had plagued the Company for most of its history, and this probably wouldn't cripple the Company in the long run.

The Industrial Revolution in Europe ensured that the Company did a brisk business supplying Europe with raw resources for its factories, and the new availability of consumer goods provided a good cargo for the return trip to Manila. The relatively recent war with Britain had damaged the Company's operations, but they were nearly back at pre-war profit levels. The current problems facing the Company, those mainly being Chinese pirates and rival Dutch traders, had been issues for decades and likely wouldn't be resolved by the Company.

This Canal issue was the same. It was a job best left to the politicians. His job was to handle operations in Manila, and that was it.

Now that he thought about it, though, there was something he could do about it after all.

Salamanca spun back around in his chair, reached over to his typewriter, and slid in a piece of paper. Some time later, two letters were added to the outgoing pile in the postal office in Manila. One, bound for Japan, concerned Salamanca's job. The other, bound for Madrid, concerned the Canal.

To: The Sovereign Ruler of the Empire of Japan or His Designated Representative
From: M. Salamanca, on behalf of the Royal Philippine Company

Good day,

On behalf of the Royal Philippine Company, I would like to extend a request that the Royal Philippine Company be permitted to meet with a representative of His Majesty to discuss trade between the Empire of Japan and the Royal Philippine Company in its role as the primary trading company in the Spanish East Indies.

Respectfully,

Miguel Salamanca
Royal Philippine Company

To: Nicolas Prat
From: M. Salamanca, on behalf of the Royal Philippine Company

Good day,

On behalf of the Royal Philippine Company, I would like to extend a notice that the Royal Philippine Company formally disapproves of any measures taken against the security of Egypt. The Company will seek redress with the Spanish Crown against any state that takes measures to invade or otherwise subjugate Egypt.

Respectfully,

Miguel Salamanca
Royal Philippine Company

A letter has been sent to Japan requesting trade negotiations.
A letter has been sent to the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs threatening punitive measures if the invasion of Egypt goes ahead.

Emperor Meiji sat on his Chrysanthemum throne, reading the two messages his Prime Minister delivered to him. Apparently the Spanish are seeking to further influence Japan through trade. The emperor, constantly looking at what has happened to China and the rest of south east Asia, was hesistant to even consider this. But Prime Minister Ito convinced him that they must at least meet to discuss their differences. And apparently the Sultante also want to discuss Japan's ambitions. With pressure mounting, Meiji finally relented, and ordered his Prime Minister to respond to both letters.

To: M. Salamanca of the the Royal Philippine Company
From: Itō Hirobumi, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan

Greetings,

The Heavenly Sovereign of Japan has instructed me to meet with you as soon as possible. We seek peace with the Europeans, so we believe a formal meeting between our two nations will serve vital in keeping Asia secure. We will agree to discuss the role the Royal Philippine Company will play in the far east.

Regards,
Itō Hirobumi
Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan

To: Japanese Emperor Meiji
From: ALKhataei,Sultan of Hashemite Sultanate

Your Person, We though highly disturbed by the policy of Asia for Asians, have thought of preventing a conflict between Spanish and Japan. Further, we want to establish a trade company near the islands of Taiwan. Remember, that even we are Asians, but aren't against the Europeans,and firmly believe that currently Europeans are a step ahead from us in terms of development. We also are wiling to provide security of Japanese interests from English and American predators.

Yours Truly,
Al-Khataei

To: ALKhataei,Sultan of Hashemite Sultanate
From: Itō Hirobumi, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan

Greetings, Sultan of the Hashemite Sultanate

We agree that a conflict between Japan and the Spanish would best avoided. We also agree that the Europeans are ahead in devolopment. Our Emperor even styles his armies after the West. However, we are hesitant to agree to your establishment of a trading company in Taiwan. In order to discuss your ideas, we would be willing to come to the Sultanate and further talk about Asia.


Regards,
Itō Hirobumi, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan

Prime Minister Ito would be welcomed if he arrives at Medina, after the talks the Sultan may visit Emperor in Japan.

[Destad Republic]

Bangkok, Kingdom of Siam

King Rama VI has decided to enter diplomatic relations with France to prevent Thailand from collapsing. His goal is to keep out foreign invaders as long as possible while dealing with social issue's. So, he wrote a letter to President Jules Grévy about the situation.

To: President Jules Grèvy
From: King Rama VI

Greetings! Despite our hostile relations against each other we would like to change that throughout Peace Treaty via Cease-fire. I hope you can accept this proposal!

[Al-Hind Indus]

First Offensive against Khedivate of Egypt

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST THE KHEDIVATE OF EGYPT AND SUDAN.

Allies and Hashemite Forces	Number
Hashemite	25,000
Hashemite Colonial	5,000
Ethiopian Muslims	50,000
French Muslims	1,000
Local Egyptians and Sudanese	10,000
Total Hashemite and Allied Forces	91,000 men

[Asardia]

Japan Announces Expansion of Naval Operations in the Pacific

In order to better protect Japan from external threats, Emperor Meiji authorized Navy Minister Saigō Jūdō to not only increase the number of ships currently in Japan's arsenal, but also to begin patrols in the South Pacific. The Dutch recently approached Japan asking for their assistance with pirates. Emperor Meiji accepted their offer, quickly realizing the importance of gaining allies in the West. The navy will patrol the waters of South East Asia, and the areas around the Dutch East Indies to assist in the Dutch's attempts at fighting off pirates currently harassing them. The Navy will also patrol the waters around Taiwan and Korea, in the hopes of slowing down European colonization closer to the Empire of Japan

[Halazy]

The Forbidden City
The king of Spain had already responded, and quite favorably at that. Good, the Empress Dowager thought. The Westerners still remembered how to treat the Celestial Empire. Though there had yet been no word from France or Scotland, she was certain it would come before long; they would be profoundly foolish to reject such an offer.

Now there were things to do back home. Cixi had finally caved to the unrelenting pressure of her advisors and allowed the trains in Peking to be pulled by steam engines rather than horses, and already it was said that cargo was moving far more swiftly. Disturbing as the sound was to the tombs of the Emperors, surely, she reasoned, they could bear a little noise in exchange for making China more powerful than she had ever imagined.

The next step, logically, was for the empire's craftsmen to make more things for the trains to move, and that meant factories. A few had been opened by private investors over the last couple decades, but China's economy was still overwhelmingly agrarian. State funds would have to be invested in industry as soon as possible, likely with foreign help in setting up the machinery. Fortunately, the whites had, in their greed, established numerous trading ports along the coast; surely there were engineers and scientists among them.

Of key importance were shipbuilding, arms manufacturing, and training. The Eight Banner system established three hundred years ago was still more than sufficient to organize the army, but the men themselves needed serious upgrades if they were to stand up to the hungry Europeans. The introduction of the Mauser rifle had done wonders to level the playing field, but things like heavy cannons and Gatling guns were still sorely lacking, to say nothing of the outdated navy whose ships were all ordered from Europe. China would need armories, foundries, and modern shipyards, and these in turn would need skilled mechanics, again likely from the Western tradeports.

This was a difficult position. To give the Middle Kingdom over to Westernization too completely would be to destroy five thousand years of civilization, and yet to ignore it all would do the same. There would be backlash no matter what the Empress Dowager did. Perhaps she could credit the Emperor's youth and inexperience with some of her decisions. It may just work.

The Imperial Court awaits the Spanish delegation.

State money is flowing into the pockets of hopeful industrialists, while posters advertise advisory positions for new factories in the European-owned ports.

Conservatives say this is disrespectful to Chinese learning. Liberals say this is too little, too late. Both say it very quietly, so the police can't hear.

[Al-Hind Indus]

Japan Announces Expansion of Naval Operations in the Pacific

In order to better protect Japan from external threats, Emperor Meiji authorized Navy Minister Saigō Jūdō to not only increase the number of ships currently in Japan's arsenal, but also to begin patrols in the South Pacific. The Dutch recently approached Japan asking for their assistance with pirates. Emperor Meiji accepted their offer, quickly realizing the importance of gaining allies in the West. The navy will patrol the waters of South East Asia, and the areas around the Dutch East Indies to assist in the Dutch's attempts at fighting off pirates currently harassing them. The Navy will also patrol the waters around Taiwan and Korea, in the hopes of slowing down European colonization closer to the Empire of Japan

OOC:The Envoy would communicate with the countries by TGing

[Bruke]

For the sake of regional peace, stability, and prosperity, the Hashemite Sultanate and the Ethiopian Empire agree to the following.

Ethiopia as the protector of the rights of Christians in the Sultanate, with an Ethiopian observer mission based in Jerusalem.
The Hashemites as protector of Muslims in Ethiopia.
Cooperation in the building of a railroad linking Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.
The right of free passage of Ethiopian forces through the Bab-el-Mandeb. and the Suez Canal.
No interference by the Hashemites in the Afar lands, Obock and Tadjoura, and Somalia.
A mutually-agreed upon demarcation of the borders between Ethiopia and the Sultanate Sudan, and an agreement that the military forces of each will notify each other in advance of traveling to the shared border.
No interference by Ethiopia in the Sultanate Sudan and no interference by the Hashemites in Ethiopia.
The hiring of a force of 50,000 Ethiopian Muslims, led by Ras Mohammed of Wollo, to be used for the duration of the Egyptian and Sudanese campaign in exchange for the Hashemites paying a sum of 150,000 Maria Theresa thalers, to be payable to the royal treasury at Mekelle.

[Al-Hind Indus]

For the sake of regional peace, stability, and prosperity, the Hashemite Sultanate and the Ethiopian Empire agree to the following.

Ethiopia as the protector of the rights of Coptic Christians in Egypt, with an Ethiopian observer mission based in Alexandria.
Cooperation in the building of a railroad linking Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.
The right of free passage of Ethiopian forces through the Bab-el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal.
No interference by the Hashemites in the Afar lands, Obock and Tadjoura, and Somalia.
A mutually-agreed upon demarcation of the borders between Ethiopia and Sudan, and an agreement that the military forces of each will notify each other in advance of traveling to the shared border.
No interference by Ethiopia in Sudan and no interference by the Hashemites in Ethiopia.
The hiring of a force of 50,000 Ethiopian Muslims, led by Ras Mohammed of Wollo, to be used for the duration of the Egyptian and Sudanese campaign in exchange for the Hashemites paying a sum of 150,000 Maria Theresa thalers, to be payable to the royal treasury at Mekelle.

ADEL: WE ACCEPT FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE.

[Bruke]

For the sake of regional peace, stability, and prosperity, the Hashemite Sultanate and the Ethiopian Empire agree to the following.

Ethiopia as the protector of the rights of Coptic Christians in Egypt, with an Ethiopian observer mission based in Alexandria.
Cooperation in the building of a railroad linking Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.
The right of free passage of Ethiopian forces through the Bab-el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal.
No interference by the Hashemites in the Afar lands, Obock and Tadjoura, and Somalia.
A mutually-agreed upon demarcation of the borders between Ethiopia and Sudan, and an agreement that the military forces of each will notify each other in advance of traveling to the shared border.
No interference by Ethiopia in Sudan and no interference by the Hashemites in Ethiopia.
The hiring of a force of 50,000 Ethiopian Muslims, led by Ras Mohammed of Wollo, to be used for the duration of the Egyptian and Sudanese campaign in exchange for the Hashemites paying a sum of 150,000 Maria Theresa thalers, to be payable to the royal treasury at Mekelle.

ADEL: WE ACCEPT FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE.

The Emperor also signs the treaty, and wishes Adel success on his campaign.

OOC: remember Ras Mohammed is my character, so I control him. Don't make posts that have my characters do something, that's the first rule of RPing

[Al-Hind Indus]

Barbarossa has arrived in Aden.The 90,000 men will now wait for the French troops to attach and then the First War against Khedivate of Egypt would begin.

[Bruke]

Barbarossa has arrived in Aden.The 90,000 men will now wait for the French troops to attach and then the First War against Khedivate of Egypt would begin.

Ras Mohammed came with his 50,000 men from Wollo, and arrived in Aden, waiting for the war to begin.

[Tysoania]

Manila, the Philippines, Spanish East Indies

Offices of the Royal Philippine Company

Miguel Salamanca studied the letter from the Prime Minister of Japan carefully. It stated that they were willing to open talks with the Royal Philippine Company to discuss the role of the Company in Asia. The first thought in Salamanca's mind was that he should frame it, seeing as how it was from a Prime Minister. Second, his business senses kicked into high gear. This could be a massive expansion opportunity for the Company, so he had to play his cards extremely carefully. He would get support from the Governor-General for a voyage to Japan, maybe some gifts. Then Salamanca would go down to the docks, pick out their most impressive ship, and have it quickly repainted and cleaned up. He'd also need the office staff to get their hands on some sales information. They'd be ready to sail in about 4 days, he calculated, which was more than enough time to pick out the sailors he would take with him.

To: Ito Hirobumi, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan
From: M. Salamanca

Sir,

On behalf of the Royal Philippine Company and the Governor-General of the Spanish East Indies, I am pleased to hear of your acceptance of this request. The Royal Philippine Company ship Manuel Teradon will arrive in Tokyo Bay in approximately 2 weeks.

Respectfully,

M. Salamanca
Royal Philippine Company

A day after Salamanca departed for Japan, a Spanish Navy convoy arrived in Manila for refueling before continuing on to the Imperial City in China.

A Spanish mission to Japan has set sail.
The Spanish mission to China has stopped in Manila to refuel before setting sail for China.

[Halazy]

To:The Emperor Guangxu
From: Sultan Al-Khataei

Your Person, We want to establish an Turco-Arab mission in the provinces of Xinjiang and establish formal relations between our Empires. Historically, we had close relations from time of UMAR [RA], the ruler of Rashiduns. This alliance would protect the Chinese from American and British predators.

Yours Truly,
Al-Khataei

To Sultan Al-Khatei of the Hashimids,

While the idea of an Arab embassy in Great Qing is certainly a harmless one, it seems to us that having such a presence in Xinjiang, with only the mountains, dry desert, and sparse Uyghur nomads for company would defeat the purpose of your mission. Therefore we, in our radiant wisdom, shall grant your sultanate an embassy in the city of Gansu, located near enough to the imperial capital that diplomacy may be practical, yet also close enough to the western borderlands that visits to the Muslims there, if desired, are also possible. Before establishing themselves, your emissaries shall visit the palace at Peking with sufficient tribute, as is appropriate.

May your journey be a peaceful one,
His Holy Highness Guangxu, Emperor of Great Qing

Where would Cixi be without her obedient nephew?

[Al-Hind Indus]

A spy has informed the Wali [Governor] of Vilayet Yemen [Governorate of Yemen] that the Khedivate has 110000 men but has inferior technology. He also said that Khedivate has been abducting Ethiopian and Somali men and kids.

[Al-Hind Indus]

To:The Emperor Guangxu
From: Sultan Al-Khataei

Your Person, We want to establish an Turco-Arab mission in the provinces of Xinjiang and establish formal relations between our Empires. Historically, we had close relations from time of UMAR [RA], the ruler of Rashiduns. This alliance would protect the Chinese from American and British predators.

Yours Truly,
Al-Khataei

To Sultan Al-Khatei of the Hashimids,

While the idea of an Arab embassy in Great Qing is certainly a harmless one, it seems to us that having such a presence in Xinjiang, with only the mountains, dry desert, and sparse Uyghur nomads for company would defeat the purpose of your mission. Therefore we, in our radiant wisdom, shall grant your sultanate an embassy in the city of Gansu, located near enough to the imperial capital that diplomacy may be practical, yet also close enough to the western borderlands that visits to the Muslims there, if desired, are also possible. Before establishing themselves, your emissaries shall visit the palace at Peking with sufficient tribute, as is appropriate.

May your journey be a peaceful one,
His Holy Highness Guangxu, Emperor of Great Qing

Where would Cixi be without her obedient nephew?

The Sultan himself would accompany his diplomats to the Celestial Kingdom, after the war ends. He would then visit Japanese Emperor. He hopes to prevent a war in between Japan and China

[Al-Hind Indus]

Further, Sultan would ask for Help in current war in Sudan. It would be great if China lends a few Uighurs.

[Holoska]

[]

[Al-Hind Indus]

A Turkish man with the name of AbdulAziz Maximoglu has built the Maxim gun. The mechanism of the Maxim gun employed one of the earliest recoil-operated firing systems in history. The idea is that the energy from recoil acting on the breech block is used to eject each spent cartridge and insert the next one, instead of a hand-operated mechanism. Maxim's earliest designs used a 360-degree rotating cam to reverse the movement of the block, but this was later simplified to a toggle lock. This made it vastly more efficient and less labor-intensive than previous rapid-firing guns, such as the Mitrailleuse, Gatling, Gardner, or Nordenfelt, that relied on actual mechanical cranking. The Maxim gun design was provided with water cooling, giving it the ability to maintain its rate of fire for far longer than air-cooled guns. The disadvantage of this was that it made the gun less flexible in attack than the lighter air-cooled weapons, being heavier and more complex, and requiring a supply of water.

Trials demonstrated that the Maxim could fire 600 rounds per minute.The Maxim is heavy, bulky, and awkward. A lone soldier could fire the weapon, but it is usually operated by a team of men, usually 4 to 6. Apart from the gunner, other crew are needed to speed reload, spot targets, and carry and ready ammunition and water. Several men are needed to move or mount the heavy weapon.

[Halazy]

Further, Sultan would ask for Help in current war in Sudan. It would be great if China lends a few Uighurs.

To the Hashemite Sultanate,

The Sultan's request, though surely carefully considered, must be rejected for three primary reasons: first, the subjects of the Celestial Emperor are not commodities to be traded on the international market; second, even if they were, the Hashemites have not yet proven their loyalty, and therefore trustworthiness, to Great Qing; third, it is not, nor has it ever been, the policy of China to resolve the squabbles of foreign peoples except for the direst of circumstances. However, it would be permissible for the Hashemite delegation, after (and only after) presenting their tribute to the Son of Heaven, to attempt to recruit free Uyghurs in Xinjiang assuming all goes well. This recruitment may only take place in Xinjiang, only free Muslim Uyghurs may be recruited, all must join of their own volition, and all must be sufficiently armed and trained for the conflict, with their freedom guaranteed afterward and their pay fair.

Emperor of Great Qing Guangxu

Ah good, thought Cixi, the Scots had gotten around to reading their mail. True to form, they were coming out swinging, though politely enough that it would be outright wasteful to turn them away.

To Her Majesty Queen Mary of Scotland,

I regret to inform you that that the Son of Heaven has, after divine consultation, emphatically refused to lease more ports to Europe. In addition to this, it would be against China's interests to lease to your kingdom the island of Hong Kong, as it is already leased to the British. While His Highness has no objection to allowing Scottish traders access to this port, that is currently something that must be negotiated between your two realms. However, He, in his wisdom and mercy, has seen fit to allow Scottish ships access, though not a lease, to the port city of Shanghai, through which any trade may be conducted. To finalize this agreement for the future, His Highness insists that a Scottish delegation travel to the Imperial Palace to formally sign. Other terms may be discussed there and then.

May you live ten thousand years,
Empress Dowager Cixi, Regent for His Holiness Emperor Guangxu

[Al-Hind Indus]

Further, Sultan would ask for Help in current war in Sudan. It would be great if China lends a few Uighurs.

To the Hashemite Sultanate,

The Sultan's request, though surely carefully considered, must be rejected for three primary reasons: first, the subjects of the Celestial Emperor are not commodities to be traded on the international market; second, even if they were, the Hashemites have not yet proven their loyalty, and therefore trustworthiness, to Great Qing; third, it is not, nor has it ever been, the policy of China to resolve the squabbles of foreign peoples except for the direst of circumstances. However, it would be permissible for the Hashemite delegation, after (and only after) presenting their tribute to the Son of Heaven, to attempt to recruit free Uyghurs in Xinjiang assuming all goes well. This recruitment may only take place in Xinjiang, only free Muslim Uyghurs may be recruited, all must join of their own volition, and all must be sufficiently armed and trained for the conflict, with their freedom guaranteed afterward and their pay fair.

Emperor of Great Qing Guangxu

Ah good, thought Cixi, the Scots had gotten around to reading their mail. True to form, they were coming out swinging, though politely enough that it would be outright wasteful to turn them away.

To Her Majesty Queen Mary of Scotland,

I regret to inform you that that the Son of Heaven has, after divine consultation, emphatically refused to lease more ports to Europe. In addition to this, it would be against China's interests to lease to your kingdom the island of Hong Kong, as it is already leased to the British. While His Highness has no objection to allowing Scottish traders access to this port, that is currently something that must be negotiated between your two realms. However, He, in his wisdom and mercy, has seen fit to allow Scottish ships access, though not a lease, to the port city of Shanghai, through which any trade may be conducted. To finalize this agreement for the future, His Highness insists that a Scottish delegation travel to the Imperial Palace to formally sign. Other terms may be discussed there and then.

May you live ten thousand years,
Empress Dowager Cixi, Regent for His Holiness Emperor Guangxu

The empress would surely be given a gift that impresses her. The great Maxim guns would be presented to her soon. She would be glad to see that.

[Al-Hind Indus]

French troops have reached Aden,under the leadership of Muhammad Al-Yeshmi. Discussion is going on with Chinese Empress. Once she replies. The army will march into the Khedivate of Egypt.

OOC:Muhammad Al-Yeshmi would be controlled by France.

[Halazy]

French troops have reached Aden. Discussion is going on with Chinese Empress. Once she replies. The army will march into the Khedivate of Egypt.

The Emperor awaits the arrival of the Hashemite Sultan and his curious new guns. Further discussion will take place in Peking.

[Al-Hind Indus]

Peking,Qing

The Sultan reaches and is tired. He is wearing a black turban and a white dress. He seems impressed by the City's beauty. He remembers the magical China or Al-Sin as he read about it in folklores. He is ready to meet the Queen and present to her the newly made Maxim Gun. He has brought its inventor too, AbdulAziz Maximoglu or Abdul Aziz the son of Maxim. The Maxim Gun is slowly kept on the Ground, lest it might break. The Sultan would visit Japan after this. He had to hurry. He promised Barbarossa to fight by his side on tbe day of Invasion.

[Al-Hind Indus]

....

[Al-Hind Indus]

To: Spanish Government
From: Hashemite Colonial Government

We have been building trade outposts on the territory of New Zeland. This is to notify you as to avoid problems later. We would be happy to help both our new neighbours Philipines and Dutch East Indies.