--- Imperial Crown Prince Siagu's POV ---
--- 2 Months later ---
--- 11th of March 1897 ---
Time has flown by since the New Year's celebration at the Diliwata Estate - precisely two months have passed. During this time, many significant events have occurred, not only within the empire but also among our people scattered across the globe.
On the day following the New Year celebration, our entire family engaged in charitable work within the communities surrounding the capital. We distributed gifts and provided assistance to the less fortunate in the city. We handed out food and clothing, aiming to alleviate some of their suffering. Charitable organizations associated with our family throughout the nation also made their contributions by distributing similar aid.
After nearly a month's stay at the Diliwata Estate, we eventually returned to the Imperial Complex. It was a welcomed move to return to our home.
In the days following the New Year's celebration, the case involving the Former Minister Eloy Mancao and other government officials reached its conclusion after being investigated by the Imperial Judicial Council.
Former Minister Eloy Mancao received a prison sentence of 150 years, while the other individuals involved were sentenced to 60-78 years in prison without the option of bail. Additionally, they were required to repay the government funds they had embezzled, which amounted to a staggering ¥85 million or $62.05 million.
This recovered money was then allocated for two purposes: compensating individuals with slave ancestry for the years they were denied fair compensation, and supporting another branch of the government.
On the 3rd of January, we received a letter from Senior Eunuch Akash Sundar. The letter contained Wilcox's response to my father's proposal. Notably, Wilcox accepted the terms, sparking excitement in my father as he contemplated the potential for expanding his influence in the Pacific region.
The letter also includes a request for 2,000 to 3,000 firearms and a ton of ammunition to bolster their military forces, along with three highly trained soldiers to assist them. It appears they have gathered a total of 3,000 to 4,000 individuals with the aim of overthrowing the current Dole Government. In response, my father dispatched the requested ammunition and also sent Master Sergeants Arjun Mathur and Ravi Singh, along with Second Lieutenant Nguyễn Hải Anh as their leader.
The firearms and ammunition were shipped via a passenger vessel bound for Hawaii, with the three military officers providing an escort.
By January 15, 1897, a new gold vein was uncovered in the city of Baguio. This discovery prompted a significant influx of people to the city in the hopes of finding gold for themselves. This surge in population and economic activity boosted the city's prosperity. According to the Ministry of Social Welfare's report to my father, the city's population reached a record high of 256,897 individuals.
The revelation of a new gold source reminded me of the abundance of natural resources in the entire Butuan archipelago, Sabah Region, lower Champa Region, Hainan Region, and the Pacific Islands. These resources not only promise economic growth but will also aid in expediting the production of weaponry. Furthermore, this discovery will generate employment opportunities in response to these newfound resources.
Given that the constitution mandates the establishment of our own business, I am left with no alternative but to entrust this responsibility to the government.
Consequently, by persuading my father to support my cause, he utilized his authority as the leader of the state and the emperor of Butuan. He instituted the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, appointing Apolinario Mabini, 3rd Baron of Tanauan and a current member of the House of Lords, as its head minister. The newly established Ministry's role is to oversee and regulate the exploration, development, utilization, and preservation of the nation's natural resources.
Subsequently, I presented my father with a comprehensive plan and the locations of the respective resources within the empire. I also emphasized to my father the necessity of ensuring that these locations and resources do not come under the control of private business owners. Additionally, I underscored the importance of not causing irreparable harm to the ecosystem.
The government should take advantage of these opportunities to boost our income and the national budget. Despite our country having an annual revenue of ¥719,273,243 or $521,790,348.92 last year and expenditures of ¥702,500,000 or $511,768,248.92, it is still insufficient to fund the Military's current goal of expanding its arsenal.
This is why I am compelled to include the two largest private companies in the empire in my plan. With support from Dowager Melchora Aquino's Golden Lotus Armory and Andrés Bonifacio's Mineral Enterprises, a significant burden has been lifted from the Ministry of Defense's shoulders.
The newly established ministry in exploration and construction initiated various projects, creating job opportunities and leading to the development of towns near mining sites. This not only lifted people out of poverty but also provided employment for those in search of work.
However, the rapid proliferation of these new towns posed a challenge for the current Minister of Social Welfare, Minister Kenji Morita. Without effective leadership and planning, these towns became eyesores. Even Doctor Rizal expressed concerns about the towns, warning of potential disease outbreaks due to unhygienic conditions.
Minister Gabriel Mendoza of the Ministry of Public Works also raised issues with the settlements, particularly their locations. Many of these newly established towns were situated in mountainous areas, making them susceptible to landslides, flash floods, and earthquakes.
This was not an isolated issue in the archipelago; similar challenges were experienced in the Region of Hainan, Lower Champa, and Sabah. The enticing prospect of significant income offered by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources attracted a substantial number of people, including 14 million individuals or 4 million families.
Some left their low-paying jobs, while others relocated in hopes of finding better employment opportunities at the government-established mining sites. This sudden migration addressed the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources' concerns.
However, it created a double-edged sword for the Ministry of Social Welfare. On the positive side, it resolved the issue of joblessness for many. On the downside, the problem of settlement locations and planning became a significant challenge.
My younger brother, Imperial Prince Ainesh Philip of Butuan, has shown steady improvement. Much has changed since the arrest and subsequent death of the three suspects. Although he has become somewhat distant from others, except for those of us whom he already knew, he remains highly vigilant around strangers. As a result, he spends most of his time in his room and in the garden of the Imperial Palace.
My younger sister and Prince Yeong have continued to grow close to each other over the past few months, particularly now that my sister is dedicating most of her time to the Baltso Palace, where she is studying Korean culture and language.
Recently, there has been an increase in Japanese aggression, as they are heavily involved in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula due to the emergence of a fifth rebellion since King Sunjong's reign began. Minister Ali Ahmadi continues to advocate for an expansion of the empire's active military officers, consistently requesting additional personnel from the cabinet.
And on February 1st, 1897, Minister Ali Ahmadi's request became a reality. The Sannor Parliament approved his proposal. On that very day, he made a public announcement that the Butuanon Imperial Navy and Butuanon Imperial Military were open for new recruits, increasing the cap of active military personnel from a mere 300,000 to 600,000 soldiers.
In a statement released to the public through radio and newspapers, he explained, "The expansion of our nation's active personnel limit is a response to the growing threat posed by the Japanese Empire to our nation's sovereignty and regional stability."
This announcement prompted many able and patriotic men to enlist and undergo training to serve the empire. Just three days after our nation increased its military personnel, the Kingdom of Siam also declared an increase in its military to 400,000 soldiers, citing similar concerns for their decision.
The sudden increase in military personnel garnered varied reactions from the international community. Some, notably the Russian Empire and the Qing, welcomed this increase, while others, such as France and Japan, expressed their discontent. In contrast, several countries chose to remain neutral.
In contrast to previous military recruits who were trained using traditional methods, new soldiers underwent training with modern strategies and regimens. This set them apart from the older generation of soldiers within the empire.
The announcement of an alliance between King Gojong and our nation was made public. The general population welcomed this news with enthusiasm, largely due to the positive propaganda published by pro-monarchy news outlets. They conveyed that the alliance symbolized the strength of our nation and its commitment to safeguarding our lands from foreign aggression.
The British and the Dutch embraced the alliance, while the Chinese and the French maintained a neutral stance regarding the announcement. The Japanese, on the other hand, viewed the alliance as a threat to regional stability and condemned our nation for persistently recognizing King Gojong's government, the Joseon Kingdom Provisional Government (조선국 임시정부).
The government's adoption of the Asianization ideology has proven to be quite successful since its introduction to the public last year. This approach, which involves incorporating Western fashion into Butuanon clothing, has led to a flourishing clothing and fashion industry, particularly among the elite class of society. This has resulted in the creation of more expensive clothing made from high-quality fabrics.
However, this success has posed a significant challenge to the silk and cotton industries of the empire. They were unable to keep up with the sudden surge in demand. In response, the government has taken steps to support the silk farming industry by providing cash loans to businesses, enabling them to purchase more silk worms and employ thousands of workers.
These businesses have also established numerous silkworm farms with the hope of meeting the growing demands of the fashion industry. While waiting for the silkworms to mature, the government has imported a substantial quantity of silk fabrics from British-India to sustain production during this period of high demand.
Notably, formerly neglected cultural buildings and sites have now piqued the interest of the public, giving rise to the 'Restoration and Preservation Movement' within the empire. This movement is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of sites that were previously overlooked and not under the jurisdiction of two key organizations: the Imperial Estate and Imperial Heritage.
Sites such as the location of the first outpost of the Rajahnate of Butuan, bordering the Sultanate of Maguindanao, and the sites of ruined cities from the Clan Period were investigated by the movement. They also successfully uncovered the remains of the first boat used by our ancestors upon their arrival in Sooraj, a vessel known as the 'Balangay.'
However, one of their most remarkable discoveries was the unearthing of amulets and artifacts that had once belonged to previous Rajahs and Clan Leaders. When this was published in the newspapers, it caused quite a sensation and became the talk of the town.
This discovery sent shockwaves throughout the empire, inspiring more people to support and join the movement's cause. By the second half of February, the Restoration and Preservation Movement had become the third-largest organization dedicated to preserving and restoring historical sites in the nation.
The promotion of a unified Butuanon identity throughout the nation has been making significant progress. People are increasingly identifying themselves as Butuanon, despite the existence of diverse cultures and traditions within the Butuanon community. Even the natives of the lower Champa Region, who were initially hesitant about embracing the Butuanon identity, have now wholeheartedly accepted it.
I have also learned about the remarkable advancements made by the Air Force in their zeppelin technology. These developments were quite unexpected to me. I had reservations about zeppelins due to their flammability and slower speed. However, recent improvements led by Engineer Arjun Gupta have changed my perspective. While the idea of using zeppelins for warfare was already feasible within our airbases, the practical deployment of zeppelins in actual warfare may still require some time.
Nonetheless, what excites me the most is the independent progress made by the zeppelin technology. This advancement promises to be mutually beneficial for both the engineers and our empire. It demonstrates that, even without my direct guidance, the military engineers and the populace are capable of charting their own path of progress.
This is crucial because a nation that relies solely on the guidance of one individual, from top to bottom, will find it challenging to progress effectively. Governing a country is a collective effort, and it demands the involvement of many. This is why historical monarchies often had councils of scholars or nobles. In our case, we've chosen to establish the Purana Prachayat, which later evolved into the royal court of the Rajahnate, or the Grand Imperial Court.
While the entire nation has been diligently working over the past few months, I, too, have been quite busy.
Firstly, my classes with my teachers have been progressing well. In the last two months, I've been discussing the Clan Period with Doctor Rizal. I've also covered topics related to our church and the monarchy with Archbishop Adam. Additionally, I've completed lessons in various subjects, including mathematics, science, literature, and more. However, these lessons are just the beginning, as there are more to be discussed in the future.
I visited Siargao Island last month to celebrate Ate Kaahini's birthday. It was a fantastic and enjoyable experience. The island's big waves and white sandy beaches made me truly appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the surroundings. This made me reflect on the importance of preserving the environment while also advancing technologically.
The idea of nature and technology coexisting is quite ambitious, especially given that our nation is currently going through its second industrialization wave.
The celebration was relatively small, but what brought a smile to my face at the party was the playful banter with Ate Kaahini. Crown Prince Vajiravudh sent her a gift - a new set of Chut Thai clothing in her size, along with some lovely golden jewelry. Ate Kaahini blushed with happiness after being teased and congratulated by her family.
I've also been in constant communication with Princess Khao. Our relationship has grown since the day we first met, and it continues to thrive. Even my parents enjoy teasing me about how excited I get when receiving letters or telegraphic messages from Khao herself.
She has also informed me that her brother, Crown Prince Vajiravudh, has been in constant communication with their father. He's been trying to persuade him about the ideas he has developed during his stay in the empire, particularly concerning the well-being of the people. Their father has expressed his intention to convey these suggestions to the Siamese government for consideration. However, King Rama V has taken a different approach and is contemplating the implementation of the Asianization policy, which is welcome news for Vajiravudh.
It has also been two weeks, following a slight delay, since Uncle Sharvil, along with a few other diplomats from our nation, traveled to Beijing to conduct negotiations with the Qing government. This was a discreet move, and I only learned about it last night while my parents were discussing it.
According to my father, the negotiations with the Qing government, if successful, will secure their neutrality when an expedition is launched to recapture the entire Korean peninsula. This strategy is wise because it allows the nation's military to concentrate its efforts on a single front, avoiding the strain on military personnel and resources that would come from engaging in multiple theaters of war.
And just this week, Uncle Sharvil has finally arrived in the Qing Capital, according to my father. I'm confident that in a few days, he will finally have the opportunity to meet Empress Dowager Cixi. The Dowager Empress currently holds control over the entire Qing, a woman with power extending across the Chinese lands.
If my uncle can successfully negotiate with the Qing, the future of our nation will undoubtedly become brighter. I sincerely hope for his success in this endeavor. Dealing with the potential troubles that a future China might cause in the region would be a considerable challenge. Moreover, as a lover of monarchies, witnessing another dissolution of a monarchy would be devastating for me.
Despite our busy schedules, we still find an hour or two to relax and spend time with each other. This is a tradition that my grandfather passed on to my father in the hopes of strengthening the family bond, and it's clearly yielding positive results.
Today, on the 11th of March, 1897, my day off, I find myself relaxing in the main pavilion in the Imperial Garden, observing the fish swim contentedly in the pond.
Inside the pavilion, I am accompanied by my three senior courtiers, while the junior courtiers are stationed outside to guard the pavilion along with the Imperial Household Guards. The security measures have become much stricter and more vigilant since my younger brother's situation within the Imperial Complex.
The process of selecting new courtiers has become increasingly complex, now requiring in-depth investigations to prevent mistakes, especially in the case of little Ain.
Despite the strictness and tight security, the atmosphere in the main pavilion remains solemn and peaceful. It's a rare opportunity for me to completely unwind and appreciate the beauty of nature that the Lord has created.
"Hmmmm… What a wonderful afternoon we have today," I said, savoring the taste of the tea Senior Court Lady Mei Ying had brewed for me a while ago.
"Mm-Hmm… it sure is, Your Imperial Highness," replied Senior Eunuch Tạ Quang.
But it appears that fate has other plans for me, as I'm about to end my relaxation. I can see Radhesh rushing toward me, his face a mix of seriousness and excitement.
A few seconds later, he finally arrived in front of me, bowing his head in reverence while panting heavily.
"Your Imperial Highness," Radhesh said, bowing his head.
"What is it that has you in such haste, Radhesh?" I calmly inquired as I continued to sip my tea.
"The... T-the..." he stammered, struggling to catch his breath.
I found myself growing irritated, for Radhesh had never displayed such nervousness and stammering before. I had trained him to approach tasks with precision and composure.
"Stop," I ordered, raising my hand in an open-palm gesture, signaling him to pause. "Take a moment to calm yourself before speaking. I would rather you not run out of breath."
My words made the other three senior courtiers behind me giggle, while they caused Radhesh to turn red. After a few minutes, he managed to compose himself. This surprised me, given that he's usually quick to regain his composure. It made me realize that the news he carried must be quite serious.
"Say it now," I said with all seriousness. Direct requests or statements are far better than long-winded ones.
Radhesh's face lit up with excitement as he blurted out, "The Empress, your mother, your Imperial Highness, she's pregnant. You will once again be an older brother, sir."
A sigh of relief escaped my lips upon hearing his words. I felt nothing but joy and excitement at this moment, knowing that another family member would soon join us, another little angel to care for. This was going to be a lot of fun.
"Congratulations, Your Imperial Highness, on becoming an older brother once more," Radhesh declared before respectfully bowing his head.
All the courtiers and guards in attendance within the pavilion followed suit, bowing their heads in unison. The women curtsied while the men showed their respect and exclaimed in unison, "CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING AN OLDER BROTHER AGAIN, YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS!"
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Author's note:
Hi everyone. I have changed some address calling in this story to further fit it on the current timeline.
1. Instead of being called "SIR/Ma'am" by the courtiers, I have decided to change it into "Your Imperial Highness/Your Royal Highness". This is because the idea of calling members of the nobility by "SIR/Ma'am" is not that acceptable in Asian noble society until the late 20th Century.
2. I have also decided to make the Empire of Butuan under the Sino-Sphere. This is because of my realization on how similar the architectural design, clothing, imperial structure, way of living, of Butuanon Culture are to the Chinese.
But Butuanon architectural design are also characterize with being built on stilts or posts while others are not. The other thing is that the architectural design is also being characterize of having number of floors from the first floor. Most houses and Palaces have its floor reaching to 2nd to 3rd floor.