--- 3rd Person POV ---
--- 25th of September 1904 ---
"And what? All of our efforts and persistence, what we got in return is a loss in manpower and the loss of lands..." Empress Dowager Cixi blurted, "whom should I blame this for then? With days pass, the influence that I once held in this dynasty slowly crumbles. Not because of me, but because of how incompetent people can be!"
Anger surfaces on Empress Dowager Cixi's face after speaking. Her fury almost made her go in craze after hearing that the soldiers that she sent to assist the Russians after officially declaring war against the Japanese and the Koreans were nearly wipeout just days after arriving in Manchuria. The anger Empress Dowager Cixi felt at the time she heard the news almost made her collapsed but manages to composed herself and stay senile.
But despite recovering from sudden anger that causes her to almost collapsed, Empress Dowager Cixi felt once again the feeling she felt during the siege of the forbidden city when the allied forces forcibly breakthrough the gates of the palace. Fear is what lingers on Empress Dowager Cixi's heart, fear that after she passes away, the Dynasty that she deeply cared would crumble and be destroyed.
She could feel it, she's not young anymore nor she is immortal. Her days are being counted, yet she could still not find anyone capable of replacing her nephew in becoming the new emperor of the Dynasty. Thus, while she awaits patiently, she also needed to prevent any cracks appearing. This is why, Empress Dowager Cixi decided to dishonor her deal with the Butuanons and sided with Russia instead as the danger of the strengthening Korea and Japan hunts her in her dreams.
"Huáng Tàihòu (Empress Dowager)," Yuan Shikai called respectfully, afraid of angering Empress Dowager Cixi, "I have already gathered enough forces to support our remaining soldiers in Manchuria."
"How many are they?" Empress Dowager Cixi inquired, inwardly pleased with Yuan Shika's words.
Along with this, the remaining individuals inside the throne room focuses their attention to Yuan Shika, whom have caught the interest of Empress Dowager Cixi. Politics is not just a skill of navigation but also a skill for devouring and overtaking your competitors. And with how Yuan Shikai manages to get the interest of Empress Dowager Cixi, it clearly shows that Yuan Shikai have secured a great advantage over others. Causing Xu Huiyan, Prince Chun, General Dong Fuxiang, Wu Ting-fang, and Prince Zaiyi, to glare with hostility towards Yuan Shikai.
With a proud and confident smile, Yuan Shikai bowed slightly towards Empress Dowager Cixi, "A total of 120 thousand soldiers have been recruited by my people and all of them will be arriving to the area."
"Wonderful!" Empress Dowager Cixi's face brightened momentarily as she absorbed Yuan Shikai's words. "120 thousand soldiers," she echoed, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Finally, some news worth hearing." Her expression, which had been contorted with rage just moments ago, relaxed, though the tension in the room remained thick. The officials, sensing the shift in mood, exchanged guarded glances, all too aware of the dangerous game unfolding before them.
Yuan Shikai, having successfully captured Cixi's favor for the moment, allowed himself a modest smile. "These men are ready to fight under the banner of the Qing Dynasty, Huáng Tàihòu. They will strengthen our forces in Manchuria and ensure that the dynasty does not falter in the face of our enemies."
Cixi nodded, clearly pleased. "Good. The Japanese and Koreans may have dealt us blows, but we will not bow to them. And as for the Russians, they may have failed to protect the Manchuria region, but we shall not fail in defending our own."
Her words carried an air of defiance, a sharp contrast to the vulnerability she had just displayed moments earlier. Yet the anger simmering beneath her calm exterior had not entirely faded. The thought of dishonoring her deal with the Butuanons, of severing a once-promising alliance to side with Russia, lingered in her mind. It was a gamble, one that could either preserve the Qing Dynasty or hasten its collapse.
"Huáng Tàihòu, if I may speak." Xu Huiyan, the Minister of War, cleared his throat cautiously. "Though Yuan Shikai's forces are a significant boon, we must consider the terrain in Manchuria and the state of our current forces. Our men are weary, and morale is low after the losses we've suffered."
Cixi shot him a sharp look, her temper flaring once more. "Do you think I am unaware of the state of our soldiers, Xu Huiyan? Do you think I do not know the cost of war?" Her voice rose, and the tension in the room thickened. "It is because of these failures that we stand on the brink of collapse!"
Xu Huiyan bowed his head, not daring to challenge her fury. "Of course, Huáng Tàihòu. I merely wish to ensure that we do not send our remaining forces to their deaths without proper strategy."
Yuan Shikai, sensing an opportunity to further solidify his position, stepped forward again. "Huáng Tàihòu, I have already taken the necessary precautions. My forces will not march into Manchuria unprepared. We were already coordinating with our remaining soldiers there and strike with precision. I assure you; we will not repeat the same mistakes of the past."
Empress Dowager Cixi's gaze softened slightly, though her anger remained palpable. "You had better be right, Yuan Shikai. I will not tolerate another failure. The future of the dynasty rests on these decisions, and I will not have my legacy tarnished by incompetence."
Prince Chun, her ever-loyal adopted son, spoke up cautiously. "Mother, while we must strengthen our forces, we must also consider the diplomatic consequences. The Butuanons will not take this into a brighter light. We risk alienating another powerful nation in the region."
Cixi waved her hand dismissively. "The Butuanons are a distant threat, Chun. They are occupied with their own concerns. We have more pressing enemies at our doorstep. If we do not act now, Korea and Japan will devour us."
Her words were final, leaving no room for further debate. The gathered officials understood that any further objections would be met with the full force of her wrath. Yuan Shikai's forces were on their way to Manchuria, and the fate of the Qing Dynasty would once again be tested on the battlefield.
Empress Dowager Cixi, now composed but still seething beneath the surface, rose from the Dragon Throne. "We will see how our enemies fare when they face the might of 120 thousand Qing soldiers. And when they fall, the world will remember the strength of this dynasty."
As Empress Dowager Cixi exited the throne room, her long imperial robes trailing behind her, the tension in the air remained thick. The ministers slowly straightened themselves, each lost in thought, contemplating the ramifications of the meeting. Yuan Shikai remained standing tall, basking in the subtle triumph of having won the empress dowager's favor—at least for now. His rise, however, did not go unnoticed by the other officials.
Prince Chun, his face calm but his eyes sharp, approached Yuan Shikai. "You have the Empress Dowager Cixi's approval for now, Yuan Shikai. But do not forget, she is a difficult woman to please. Should you fail, she will not hesitate to replace you."
Yuan smiled diplomatically, bowing his head slightly. "I am aware, Your Highness. But I will not fail. The Qing Dynasty needs strength, and I intend to deliver it."
Prince Chun remained silent, watching as Yuan Shikai moved away, the other ministers exchanging knowing glances. General Dong Fuxiang, renowned for his brutal tactics in suppressing rebels, narrowed his eyes as he watched Yuan Shikai leave the room.
"He's too proud and ambitious," Dong Fuxiang muttered to Xu Huiyan. "It's dangerous to place too much power in his hands."
Xu Huiyan nodded, but he remained silent.
"Let him be for now…" Prince Chun calmly stated while looking at the now vacated Dragon throne.
"What do you mean, Young Highness?" Wu Ting-fang inquired curiously as he diverted his attention to Prince Chun.
"Are you just going to give up on this one, Your Highness?" Dong Fuxian confusedly stated, displeased with Prince Chun's silence, "Every moment you decided to take no action, Yuan Shikai gains influence over the military. This will be a threat to you and your position in the near future, Your Highness."
Frustration is what General Dong Fuxian is feeling as he finishes his words as he can feel and see it how much he is slowly losing influence over the military. The prestige and connection Yuan Shikai made have not just endangered General Dong Fuxian's influence over the military but have weakened his influence in the court also.
And this was evident to General Dong Fuxian after Yuan Shikai have informed the entire court that he was able to raise 20 thousand soldiers to fight against the Japanese and Koreans. This crushes General Dong Fuxian's pride and confidence as he knew for a fact that he won't be able to pull the same number of soldiers willing to fight under his banner.
Thus, General Dong Fuxian decided to cast his piece of bet to Prince Chun, the man whom have better position over others towards Empress Dowager Cixi. If there is one individual whom can control Yuan Shikai and prevented him into gaining too much influence and power, Prince Chun would be the best choice. Thus, despite the possibilities of him losing his head in the process, General Dong Fuxian still gambles without second thought.
But instead of receiving a direct response from Prince Chun himself, General Dong Fuxian were only able to receive a meaningful smile from the prince himself, which made him feel unsettling.
"Your Highness!" General Dong Fuxian exclaimed in fury, echoing his voice in the entire throne room.
"General!" A raspy and dignified voice of Prince Zaiyi intersected General Dong Fuxian's voice, "Know your place in this palace, General. Yuan Shikai might be an individual who seeks power and have great ambition. But at least he is not shy into having us all see his intention. Unlike some of us in here who prefers to be seen as weak as a fragile sheep but inwardly is a devouring wolf."
Prince Zaiyi commented meaningfully while looking at the remaining individuals in the throne room. As one of the individuals whom have survived long inside the court of the Qing Dynasty and have even been one of the leaders during the Boxer rebellion, Prince Zaiyi have already experienced better compared to others. Thus, despite the silence of Prince Chun, who remained staring at the dragon throne, Prince Zaiyi never interfere.
Prince Zaiyi have seen Prince Chun grew into adulthood, and he knew for a fact that despite Prince Chun's silence, he has already anticipated and made preparation to Yuan Shikai's possible actions in the future.
"Yuan Shikai's rise to power is inevitable and is not far from reality," Prince Chun stated calmly after remaining in silence for quite some time already, "But that doesn't mean that he cannot be stop into gaining more influence."
Prince Chun then faces the people inside the throne room, whom have remained with him. A meaningful smile appears on his face while looking at each eye of the people in front of him. Yuan Shikai might be a threat to others in gaining power in the Dynasty, but Prince Chun is confident enough that with simple word from him, he will be able to destroy Yuan Shikai and his status within the court of the Dynasty.
"A river that produces a loud sound is as empty and shallow as an idiot begging for anything on the street. But politics is not always about being loud and bold… patience and waiting for the right moment to act is what makes an individual soar to the heavens and remains as the dragon." Prince Chun meaningfully stated as he made his way towards the exit door of the throne room.
Prince Zaiyi tailed behind Prince Chun with a grin on his wrinkling face, pleased with the words being uttered by Prince Chun. While General Dong Fuxian and the others remains inside the room, still confused and grappling on the words left by Prince Chun himself. But despite this, all of them have the same thought in mind, the political arena within the Forbidden City was more dangerous than any battlefield they could ever encounter, and they were all participants in a game where a single misstep could lead to ruin.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Cixi made her way to her private chambers, her mind racing with thoughts of the future. The weight of the dynasty's survival hung heavily on her shoulders. She had ruled through cunning and ruthlessness for decades, but the threats facing the empire were becoming more complex and more immediate. Korea and Japan were rising, while her own empire seemed to be withering, struggling against both internal rebellions and external pressures.
She paused in front of the great map that adorned one of the walls of her chamber—a detailed depiction of China, Korea, Japan, and the surrounding regions. Her eyes lingered on Manchuria, a contested territory that had seen too much bloodshed already.
"Russia..." she murmured, her thoughts drifting toward the Tsar's empire. The Russians had promised her support in exchange for Qing cooperation, but even that alliance was fragile. The losses in Manchuria, where Russian and Qing forces were supposed to cooperate, had been disastrous.
Her thoughts then shifted to Butuan, the growing empire that had once been a potential ally. Now, by siding with Russia, she had effectively severed any trust between the Qing and the Butuanons. But what choice did she have? The Koreans and Japanese were emboldened by their victories, and the Butuanons were too far away, too removed from her immediate concerns. She needed a powerful partner closer to home.
Her eyes scanned the map again, settling on Korea. It was no longer the weakened kingdom of the past. The young Korean king had turned his nation into a formidable power, allying with Japan and fending off Qing influence. The mere thought of Korea becoming a dominant force in East Asia filled her with dread. They had once been tributaries of the Qing Dynasty, and now they were rivals.
But what worried Cixi most was the potential for rebellion within her own borders. The humiliation at the hands of foreign powers, combined with the dynasty's weakening grip, was emboldening rebels across the country. The Xuwen and Leizhou Counties were already in turmoil.
After going back against the deal with Butuan in handing Xuwen and Leizhou to them, the Butuan Empire responded by shutting and cutting all trade and communication with the Dynasty. A blockade of trading vessels was even made by the Imperial Butuanon Navy, preventing goods outside the Dynasty to enter, causing a huge blow against the economy of the Dynasty.
Empress Dowager Cixi already anticipated this event to unfold but what slipped away from her grasp is the realization Western nations would just sit by and watch as the Imperial Butuanon Navy harass merchant vessels entering and exiting her nation. She could sense the winds of change blowing, and the fear of losing her empire gnawed at her.
"Time," she whispered to herself, "I need more time."
Summoning her inner circle was only the beginning. She needed to secure her grip on the military and stabilize the empire before the cracks deepened further. Her mind turned to Prince Chun, her loyal son, who had always been her trusted confidant. He had been cautious in his approach to diplomacy, warning her about alienating potential allies, but Cixi was no stranger to risky maneuvers. She had outlasted her rivals through calculated decisions, and she intended to outlast these challenges as well.
As Cixi contemplated her next moves, her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a eunuch, bowing low before her. "Huáng Tàihòu," he said in a hushed tone, "a letter has arrived from the Russian court. It is addressed to Your Majesty from Tsar Nicholas II."
Her eyes narrowed as she took the sealed letter, breaking the wax to reveal its contents. The Tsar's words were formal, expressing his continued commitment to their alliance and offering additional military support. However, buried within the lines of diplomatic pleasantries, Cixi could sense a veiled warning: the Tsar expected results, and soon.
She folded the letter carefully and dismissed the eunuch. Alone once again, Cixi stared at the map, her fingers tracing the northern borders of her empire. The pressure was mounting from all sides. She needed to strike quickly, decisively, and without hesitation.
As she stared at the map, her expression hardened. "Let them come," she whispered to herself. "The dynasty will not fall. Not while I still draw breath."
On the coast outside the capital, Hanseong, of the Korean Empire, a massive ship of the Imperial Butuanon Navy is currently preparing to depart the dock of the coast. Armed with latest guns, cannons, and weaponries for defense and offense, the BEB Aakash II, a ship of different caliber with the current sailing ships in the world. Yet instead of being in complete silence due to how deep the night is, soldiers from completely different countries can be seen forming a pathway line from the docks towards the entrance of the ship.
With a stern and serious express, devoid of exhaustion and sleepiness, soldiers of the Butuan Empire patiently await on the left side of the path, forming a straight line while facing the center. On their opposite, the rigorously and seriously trained, newly reformed soldiers of the Korean Empire under the tutelage of General Luna and his men.