--- Imperial Prince Sharvil's POV ---
--- A few days before meeting the Dowager Empress ---
--- 12th of March 1897 ---
"Your Imperial Highness," a man dressed in a white and silver sonmin suddenly spoke with great respect, drawing my attention away from the papers that were currently piling up on my table.
The man is in his early 50s, standing with a little difficulty at a height of 5'7, with dark-colored eyes and a mixture of black and white hair paired with wrinkles on his face . His narrow eyes hint at his ancestry, tracing back to the Hainan Province, making him a half Hainanese and half Butuanon. His composed demeanor and deep respect reflect his years of dedicated service to the nation.
This man, my trusted aide in the negotiations with the Qing Dynasty, is Minister Lai Weijun. Minister Weijun has been serving the nation since his early 20s when he served for a decade in the Imperial Butuanon Navy. After his naval service, he transitioned into politics and joined the conservative party.
Over the years, his dedicated service earned him a position in the diplomatic committee under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a role that existed prior to the formation of the Sannor Parliament.
To add to his impressive resume, he served as the ambassador/minister of Butuan to Qing/China when diplomatic relations between our nations were still stable. His efforts during that time in strengthening and repairing the relationship between China/Qing and Butuan bore fruit, reducing tensions.
It's no wonder that Minister Weijun is the one Kuya Siagu sent with me, among others, to negotiate with the Empress Dowager. Not only is he fluent in Mandarin Chinese, but he's also adept at negotiation.
"Hmmm? What is it, Minister Weijun?" I asked as I turned my attention to him, noticing he held another stack of papers.
It appeared to be more information, I assumed.
"Here are some additional pieces of information regarding the Dowager Empress, Your Imperial Highness. And based on the content of these documents, it appears that the statements made by the ambassadors of Joseon and Siam, a day after our arrival, regarding the power struggle in this nation are indeed accurate," he stated calmly before handing me a copy of the documents.
"Thank you, Minister Weijun," I replied with a smile before offering him a seat. "Please, take a seat if you may, Minister."
"I don't th--" he began to decline.
"Don't even think about declining the offer, Minister. You are already in your 50s, and your body needs some rest at times," I calmly interjected while looking at him.
"But tradition dictates..." he responded sternly.
"Don't even mention tradition this time, Minister. Tradition will not allow my conscience to have you standing like that tonight after a long day you've had. Your years of service to our nation warrant this special exception. Besides, it's just the two of us in here," I calmly replied. However, despite his age, I couldn't help but shake my head at his stubbornness.
This old man truly holds tradition close to his heart. Tsk.
"Sigh... Let's not complicate this, Minister. You're old, much like my useless father, the emperor, when he was still alive. Though I despised him, I still cared for him because of his age, and the same goes for you. Take a seat so that we can begin," I stated firmly, not backing down from my words. He followed without complaint after hearing my words.
"Good, I thought I'd remain disobedient..." I continued, smiling at him as he took his seat in front of the table.
"Sigh… What can I even do, Your Imperial Highness," he stated before taking my seat.
"Anyways, it looks like the influence of Empress Dowager Cixi over the Imperial Court of Qing has steadily been eroding for the past years after she entered her semi-retirement in 1889. Quite different from what we are hearing in the empire where she is still the one in charge. Looks like the information gathering of the empire have been eroding for the past years, we needed to do something on that one also," I stated, a bit shocked by the information I have just read.
Although our nation has indeed been quite powerful over the years, information like this can sometimes be left in the dark. Fortunately, we sought help from the ministers of Siam and Joseon, who are here in Peking (Beijing). Otherwise, I would have made a fool of myself when I entered the palace.
And the information that reaches Sooraj have been quite different than this one. Sooraj must really invest more on intelligence gathering as this will be our weapon against the enemies, prior understanding and knowledge of your enemies are necessary for survival, that is what we in the military been taught for.
"She has indeed given the reins to her nephew to rule the entire China, Your Imperial Highness. But Empress Dowager Cixi still holds significant support from the conservatives of this empire, not to mention from the higher-ups of the military. She can still influence the daily running of the Imperial Court and she might even be able to seize power from her nephew, much like what she did back then," Minister Weijun replied calmly.
"Hmmm… It looks like she still holds quite a bit of power in the Imperial Court of this nation. Looks like her actions in successfully seizing some control from the late Xianfeng Emperor's cousins have paid off. Not to mention that the past rulers of these nations that followed have either been weak or just children who needed a regent to rule in their stead," I stated while continuously reading the documents.
"Indeed. Although our nation has also experienced times like this in the past, we have grown past this type of greediness and barbarity in the struggle for power during the reign of the first emperor. In essence, Emperor Charan I stabilized our nation by cleansing the greedy nobles who were only after their fair share of money from the coffers of the Rajahnate," Minister Weijun seconded.
"Mh-mm…" I nodded and hummed as we both continued to flip through the documents. "So, does this mean that we would be meeting the emperor instead of the Empress Dowager, then?" I inquired after a moment of silence on my side.
"Yes and no, Your Imperial Highness," he replied and paused for a moment before continuing. "Yes, we would be meeting the emperor, unlike our original plan to meet only the Empress Dowager. And no, we will still be visiting the Empress Dowager to convince her to support us as well. As the documents have pointed out, Empress Dowager Cixi still holds a huge influence over this nation, although much lesser compared to the Guangxu Emperor, but this miniscule influence will be able to help us also... that's why we need to meet both of them."
Hearing Minister Weijun's words made me pause for a moment, contemplating the possibility of what would happen if we only chose to meet one of them. Although the emperor is what the people see as controlling the entire nation, Empress Dowager Cixi still holds some influenced over the court of the Qing Dynasty, especially to the conservative faction of this nation.
With the support of either Emperor or Empress Cixi in securing their neutrality in the upcoming war with the Japanese, we can be confident that the operation will be a huge success.
"I see. Then who do you think we should visit first in this ordeal, Minister? You have much more knowledge compared to me about the complexity of the Qing Dynasty's Imperial Court," I asked after a long pause of contemplation.
"It would be the Guangxu Emperor whom we should pay a visit to first before the Empress Dowager Cixi, Your Imperial Highness. This is to show our sincerity and follow the tradition and customs of this nation. Both wield significant power over this nation," Minister Weijun suggested calmly.
"Hmmm... How about the gifts that we brought? Are they all ready to be given?" I inquired, to which he answered with a smile and a nod.
"Yes. We have brought a total of four gifts for the emperor and the empress dowager, with each receiving two. We have brought four of our locally produced wines and two scrolls containing Chinese scriptures from the Book of Proverbs in the Bible," he answered with a smile and nod, which made me smile in satisfaction.
The scrolls containing the Chinese scriptures from the Book of Proverbs were one thing, but the four pieces of two types of wine were brought as gifts. And if I am not mistaken, those wines should be the ones called 'Bais,' created by the Mandaya and Dibabawon Manobo tribes of the Caraga region, and the other one must be the 'Intus' of the Visayan people.
"This should be the Bais and the Intus types of wine, am I right, Minister?" I inquired with a smile, to which he answered with a nod, confirming my thoughts about the type of wine we brought as gifts.
I understand why they brought Bais and Intus as wine gifts for the emperor and empress dowager. These two wines are two of the most expensive traditional wines produced by the people of the empire, especially the Bais. Honey from bees is not easy to find, making it more expensive and only available to higher members of society.
The Bais wine is a type of mead, originally made by our indigenous people called Mandaya and Dibabawon Manobo. It is made from a mixture of honey and water at varying proportions. It is fermented for at least several days to a month, but if you want it to be more alcoholic, fermenting it much longer is necessary. The Bais wine is fermented and sealed using a stoneware jar called a 'tapayan.'
The 'intus,' on the other hand, is a type of sugarcane wine that originated in the islands of Mindanao and Visayas. Intus is created by boiling sugarcane juice until it thickens into a syrup. Afterward, it's allowed to cool and mixed with the bark of the karabawan tree (Neolitsea villosa) and left to ferment. The duration of fermentation determines its alcohol content, with longer fermentation resulting in a higher alcohol content. Intus is often flavored with langkawas (Alpinia galanga) or pal-la (Cordyline fruticosa) roots.
Similar to bais wine, intus wine is fermented and sealed using stoneware jars called 'tapayan.' These two wines are part of our nation's heritage, with their origins dating back to the late Clan Era. They are considered luxurious types of wine, and many were stored in the wine cellars of the Imperial Complex, distinct from Western-inspired wines.
According to legend, these wines were served to warriors, rulers, or individuals of high status in the past by the original tribes as a gesture of respect and recognition. When these tribes were integrated into the clans, which later became the domain of the Rajahnate, the production of these wines was exclusively reserved for the Rajah's family. These wines were known as 'The clear wine of the Rajah' and 'The alcohol of the rulers.'
Our conversation continued for a few more minutes that night before we both decided to call it a night and get some rest.
The next day, since the meeting was still a few days away, I took the opportunity to explore the capital. I must say, this nation's capital is quite different from Sooraj. The architecture of the buildings still bears the influence of its history, with a smaller number of factories and structures dedicated to manufacturing and services influenced by the West.
People from various walks of life in the nation strolled along the city's side roads. Some were foreigners, while others were locals. Outside the embassies of different nations, soldiers stood guard to protect their respective ministers working in the offices. I noticed embassies from Japan, Joseon, Siam, Germany, Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Russia, and many more foreign nations.
Catholic priests were also active in this nation, spreading the gospel to the people. Some were receptive to the teachings, while others remained resistant and resentful. Anti-Western sentiments were not uncommon in this nation, especially if your nation had a history of losses to Western powers.
The approach of these priests in spreading their religion in this country was also a bit different. Unlike the Western world, where such practices are more widely accepted, the Qing Dynasty had its unique cultural and religious practices. Religion here is more of a way of life and thinking than merely a spiritual guide.
This is the reason why we chose not to send priests from Sooraj to Beijing to spread the gospel of the Aylashanism faith. We knew full well that this faith would not be attractive to the Chinese people. It took us almost a whole 10 years just to fully establish the Christian faith in Hainan Province, so it would be even more challenging in this vast nation.
My tour in the capital concluded after I encountered the Japanese ambassador in Peking (Beijing). Without any interaction, I made my way back, feeling a deathly glare coming from the ambassador, idiot.
A few days later, our scheduled visit to the palace to meet with the emperor finally arrived. We had two carriages that carried me and my men as we made our way toward the huge gate of the Forbidden City.
A guard shouted, "Wèi Bùtúān huángshì qīnwáng Shāwēi'ěr dǎkāi chéngmén! (Open the gates for the Imperial Prince Sharvil of Butuan!)" before the huge gate of the Forbidden City opened.
As the gates of the city opened, the carriage I was riding slowly made its way inside the fortified city, followed by the other carriage carrying my companions.
The Forbidden City, a place so fortified that it served as a fortress for the Imperial Family of the Qing and previous dynasties' residences.
Its ancient architecture and structure exuded sturdiness and dominance. The city walls themselves gave off a feeling of power and dominance over all those who gazed upon it from outside. Even the city gates emitted an aura that belittled commoners.
This was not my first time visiting the Forbidden City. Six years ago, before the tension between our nation and the Qing escalated to what it is today, I visited this very city to discuss matters with the dowager empress. At that time, I was representing my brother, and now, once again, I was here to represent our nation in negotiations.
A few minutes after entering the city, I stood outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, or Qianqing Palace, to meet with the emperor.
Behind me was Minister Weijun, and behind him were two rows of diplomats carrying the set of intus and bais wine to be given to the emperor as a gift, along with the translated Chinese script of the book of proverbs.
A courter announced, "Wǔ Duān dì guó huáng tài tử Shā'ěr wéi'ěr jí qí suí cóng, lǐ bù shàng shū Lài Wěi jūn (Imperial Prince Sharvil of the Empire of Butuan with his men, Minister Lai Weijun)," before opening the door of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, revealing the beauty of the palace inside.
At the farthest center of the palace, elevated from the floor of the purity palace itself, was the throne of the Qing Emperor. This throne, called the Dragon Throne, symbolized the emperor's power, believed to be mandated by the heavens as a dragon, an old tradition still practiced and followed today.
Seated on the throne is the emperor himself, Emperor Guangxu, also known as Emperor Zaitian. He is dressed in his opulent court attire made of gold. It's no surprise that conversations about the extravagance of this empire are widespread in the streets of this city, while its people are suffering from famine and hunger. It wouldn't be astonishing if, one day, this nation were to face revolts from the peasantry.
Beside the emperor, government ministers and eunuchs are also present inside the hall, all looking at us, attempting to pry into our affairs. These individuals may consider us beneath them, but we did not come here to be looked down upon.
Approaching the throne, my companions and I bow our heads in a show of respect and greet the emperor in unison.
"We greet Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty," we all say before raising our heads.
"Ah, Imperial Prince Sharvil. Have a seat, everyone," he says with a smile, gesturing to his courtiers to serve us refreshments as we take our seats.
"I hope you and your people have had a trouble-free stay in the capital," Emperor Guangxu continues. "While the capital may be safe, we can't be certain with the current situation surrounding us."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," I reply with a smile. "My men and I have enjoyed our time in the capital while awaiting today's meeting."
"That's good to hear, Imperial Prince Sharvil," he says with a sigh. "It was indeed our failing not to have you stay within the Forbidden City during the duration of your visits." He continues with a somewhat mocking tone. "We humbly ask for your forgiveness. Can you find it in your heart to forgive us, Imperial Prince Sharvil?" His smile is mirrored by those around him, and their intentions are clear.
This situation is infuriating. Instead of responding to the emperor's words with a smile, I must restrain my anger. Their refusal to allow us to stay within the Forbidden City as their guests, contrary to custom and tradition, is a mark of disrespect. Their actions are akin to spitting on our nation's reputation.
The audacity of these squinting barbarians to look down on us! Then in reality, they are just a bunch of opium addicts who can't even maintain their nation from being eaten by foreign nations. It's almost laughable in the eyes of the nobility of Butuan to hear that they've suffered defeats at the hands of the Japanese, even the general public have been constantly bad mouthing them for loosing to a nation that is much smaller than them.
If it weren't for my older brother's desire to secure their neutrality in the upcoming war with the Japanese, I wouldn't waste a moment of my time in this less developed nation. Their ongoing use of slavery is deeply disturbing, and it's no wonder they can't effectively fend off foreign influences in their lands. Even the local people of Hainan Province have managed to sway the opinions of their relatives in Xuwen County, ever since the borders between our nation and theirs opened.
The fact is, we can still win the war without their neutrality. Even if they choose to join the war against us, we have the capabilities to overcome them. With the imminent completion of the first batch of airplane prototypes, we'll have the upper hand. Managing two major fronts in this war will become much more manageable. Moreover, our alliance with the Siamese against the Qing is well-known worldwide. Even the French and the British will think twice before provoking us.
"Your Imperial Highness... This emperor underestimates us," Minister Weijun whispered with utmost seriousness from his seat behind me.
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Authors note: The practice of making Intus Wine and Bais Wine are now extinct and are considered lost during the Spanish colonization. No records remains regarding these wines process of making.