A New China (Guangdong AAR) - Part 4: The Cantonese Revolution (1889-1893)

Welcome back to the AAR.

The Provisional Government of the Republic of Guangdong has been declared. A new flag is used for the time being. The top has the name of the Provisional Government, while the bottom has "Liberty or death!"

Prime Minister Archibald Primrose, leader of the Liberal Party and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has established his dedication to make sure the Provisional Government's revolt is squashed. Reaction to the revolt is mixed - while many see it as uppity young Chinese men revolting to end rightful British supremacy, many are reminded of the American Revolution that had happened a hundred years prior and wish to see the Provisional Government succeed in the revolution.

Sun Yat-Sen himself is trying to increase the rightfulness and popularity of the Revolt by making many parallels to the American Revolution. However, many are afraid of the Chinese - or the "yellow peril" - in much of the West, leading to only token support from a few Western people.

But with the support of the Revolutionary Army (革命軍) and Revolutionary Navy (革命海軍), it is hoped the West can get out.

British allies Christian IX of Denmark and Luis of Portugal declare their immediate support for the British against the "yellow peril", and declare war on the Provisional Government as well.

Immediately, troops from Canton move into Hong Kong to occupy it and prevent easy landings from British Indian troops to easily invade the Capital.

The war has led to a lack of trading with necessary partners, causing the economy to drop sharply.

Hong Kong was swiftly captured, and in a month, fell to the Revolutionary Army.

After Hong Kong is occupied, Macao (澳門) is occupied next.

Troops from Shaozhou move into Canton to defend it in the case of British, Portuguese, or Danish naval attack.

Macao is now occupied and brought under military rule.

The Bank of Kwangtung continues to lose money from the war, and the Provisional Government is forced to take out massive loans to prevent ensured bankruptcy.

In order to deal with the economic collapse, some units are disbanded in an attempt to make a profit.

Three Portuguese ironclads and a commerce raider appear off the Gulf of Tonkin, blockading the western ports of Canton, causing a blockade and preventing trade to Hai-nan.

A risky idea is created: send the Revolutionary Navy over to the Portuguese Squadron to end the blockade.

The battle begins. However, we are ill-prepared, and the Navy had no funding prior to the battle.

The battle is disastrous. Alfonso Ortiago loses no ships and destroys an ironclad, a man-of-war, two frigates and three transports, ending any chance of Kwangtung naval supremacy in the area during the War.

What remained of the Revolutionary Navy was scrapped by the Provisional Government for supplies for the Revolutionary Army, as it was just going to suck up funds until the end of the war.

British transports appear off the coast of Kwangtung! They are preparing to make landfall on the country!

The Army moves into action, preparing to dig in against British troops.

Ch'ao-Chou is occupied by British troops. Martin Beatty, the general of the Army there, prepares to move into Huizhou...

The Huizhou Regiment and Beatty's Army meets up in battle!

The initial defense is looking bad, but reinforcements are sent from Hong-Kong, Canton and Macao to support the battle.

Despite a large amount of casualties, a phyrric victory occurs. Beatty is forced back into Chao-chou, while 40,000 casualties happen in the course of the battle.

Due to the large amount of casualties, the Provisional Government passes an order of mobilization, ordering every male between the ages of 14 and 60 to enlist in the Army for the Revolution.

Thousands promise to join the cause. Even with some grumbling about being forced to serve in the ranks, it's for a pure purpose - the liberation of Kwangtung from British influence! The troops that fell in the Battle of Huizhou shall be avenged!

After a lot of reinforcements are sent in, Beatty pulls back to Chao-chou. Despite us taking more casualties, only 387 men remain in his Regiment.

Then the rest of his army is routed, and Beatty is taken prisoner.

The failure of Beatty's operation is met with massive happiness in the Provisional Government and with anger in the British government.

But more loans must be taken out. The Revolution will fail if the Provisional Government cannot afford to fund the Revolutionary Army.

Despite a few victories, Prime Minister Archibold Primrose refuses to surrender to the Chinese.

We must take extra measures. And that measure is to demand that new Portuguese King Carlos must cede Macao over to us.

More units are disbanded to prevent bankruptcy.

A large Portuguese squadron is spotted with thousands of troops!

Around 43,000 Portuguese troops, led by General Teofilo, lando n Macao and attack the Huizhou Regiment defending the port city.

Reinforcements are sent in to defend against the Portuguese!

General Teofilo withdraws from Macao, and attempts to leave to Canton, having lost a large amount of infantry and calvary. The Revolutionary Army took more casualties over all, however.

Portuguese troops are significantly weaker than British or Danish troops, making them a lot more easier to attack or defend against.

Then the Danes arrive!

The Danish Army and Navy are a lot better trained than the Portuguese Army and Navy (and maybe the British Army even), so it's going to be challenging to defeat the Danes.

They land in Chaoching. Neergaard's army is mainly comprised of artillery, which makes it quite poorly organized. Combined with the grassland...

...this means the Revolutionary Army can easily defeat it.

The battle is, as usual, more or less a failure casualty-wise, but a success strategically. Neergaard also dies mid-battle, collapsing the Danish morale.

Meanwhile, General Tiofilo dies of a bullet mid-battle, and what remains of the Portuguese Army is imprisoned.

The resulting battle is a massive failure for the Danes, as a massive amount of artillery are captured

A mainly peasant army led by Hu Sun is sent into Chaoching, where upon Sun's army takes 21,000 casualties, while the Danish army takes 1,000.

And the Danish Expedition Force is no more.

In Britain, the war is becoming more and more unpopular with the people. The massive expenses brought upon the country from the war is causing strife and protests, and - despite the blockades - the War is looking more and more useless. Combined with the massive casualties from Beatty's Expedition, calls to end the War grow.

New British Prime Minister, Labour Party member James Keir Hardie, wants to end the war, but much of the Conservative and Liberal Parties want to continue it until the Revolution is crushed.

This is the highest army funding can be kept at while making a profit. Yat-Sen plans to continue the massive Army funding until the Revolution ends.

In an attempt to make more money, the Provisional Governments decides to encourage bureaucrats in Kwangtung to generate more tax money.

Interestingly, the Qing are at war with the Russians. Yat-Sen sees an opportunity.

On December 1st, 1892, the Provisional Government decided on a risky maneuver - declare war on the Qing and annex Fuchien to get more funding from the natural resources there.

War was declared.

Qing troops invade Shanzhou...

...and Revolutionary troops invade Fuchiang.

Qing irregular armies are no match for Kwangtung guns. The armies are slaughtered easily.

But, to the surprise of the Provisional Government, the Qing give military access to the British.

The Battle of Canton starts. Whoever wins the battle wins the war.

More reinforcements are sent in...

Finally, the Empress Dowager Cixi sues for peaces and cedes Fuchiang to the Provisional Government. We are successful, once again.

The Battle of Canton has gone on for a long time. Bloody and horrible, more and more British men are demanding the war end.

Finally, Parliament has the sense to end the war. On June 7th, 1893, the Treaty of Hong Kong is signed. PM Keir Hardie and Provisional Leader Sun Yat-Sen shake hands, and Kwangtung gains complete independece.

Kwangtung is now independent, and no wars are happening. A new independent Republic led by Sun Yat-Sen and other Chinese republicans is now at peace. A new Constitution is to be created soon.

Long live Kwangtung! Long live China!