During the month of June, the situation in China can simply be described by a single word, madness. The Boxer rebellion has been raging for several months now, and the blood flowing in orient only continues to increase.
The Boxers, originally intending to end the western domination of China, quickly spiraled into a gang of beasts committed to looting, rape, and murder. The rebellion eventually chose Christianity as one of the chief symbol's of oppression, and these atrocities soon concentrated on its believers.
Originally the west didn't give a damn about the yellow monkeys. I mean, isn't it natural that savages commit savagery? Murder? Rape? Looting? The victims are the same barbarians anyway, so who cares. But when the boxers started touching white people, Europe's collective seizure button was suddenly activated. Condemnation and threats followed, but this only made the Boxers even more rampant.
Seeing the ever increasing violence, European powers started gathering their respective dragon-hunters. Coupled with the increasing popularity of the 'Yellow Peril' theory, rather than being nervous at the upcoming campaign, many were excited at a chance to partake in a new 'crusade.'
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June 20, 1900 // Berlin, Germany
I frown as I read the morning news. Grotesque and brutal images are all over today's paper. For the first time in my 10 years here, I finally get a glimpse of the madness of the era.
Knowing my father's temperament, today's news must have been a shock to him. Other than his well known Anglophobia, my father is also a fierce believer in the 'Yellow Peril' theory. One of his biggest delusions in original history, was his prophesized 'imminent' race war which would decide global hegemony.
And my intuition proved correct. Hearing that the German ambassador to China had been assassinated by the Boxers, my father then went onto a rage, shouting "An eye for an eye!" "Blood for blood!"
Eventually, the Kaiser ordered a punitive force to be assembled and be sent into China. But before Germany could declare war, the next day I read something unbelievable.
[Qing Declares War on the West!
China formally declares war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan]
What a crazy bitch. I thought Kaiser Wilhelm was this era's prime hogu. But who is Empress Cixi? If this is what it means to be a hogu, then surely Wilhelm II is the new Bismarck.
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July 27, 1900 // Bremerhaven, Germany
Today, troops are finally being sent to China. My brother Adalbert is also joining the punitive force as an Ensign in one of the cruisers. So me and my family came here to say our final goodbye's. Meanwhile my father is inspecting the troops. After awhile, my father climbs the prepared stage and begins to deliver his speech to the troops.
So far the speech is relatively normal, thanking the troops for their service, doing the nation proud, German glory blah blah blah. Suddenly my father's voice grows louder and the contents become even more radical.
"...If you come before the enemy, he will be defeated! No quarter will be given! Prisoners will not be taken! Whoever falls into your hands is forfeited! Just as a thousand years ago the Huns under their King Etzel (Attila) made a name for themselves, one that even today makes them seem mighty in history and legend, so may the name Germany be affirmed by you in such a way in China that no Chinese will ever again dare to look cross-eyed at a German!"
Hearing the Kaiser's words I inwardly shake my head. If something like this was said in the 21st century, I guarantee that person is getting cancelled. I'm then reminded that this person is both my father and the Kaiser of Germany. I simply pray that my future legacy doesn't get cancelled by association.