Qi Empire
Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 12:14 am
Qi Empire (WIP)
OUTDATED / WIP
The Qi Empire was established in 1660, after a successful siege of Nanjing against the Qing forces by Koxinga, also known as Zheng Chenggong. In 1659, Koxinga had mounted his forces and prepared to march on the city of Nanjing, at the time a Qing stronghold in the region. Initially wanting a grand battle, like his father had with the Dutch, he prepared to announce the battle ahead of time. However, on the night before he was to do this, he had a dream advising him against such actions. As a result, he marched on the city of Nanjing unexpectedly, taking the Qing forces by surprise, and taking the city. This was seen as a massive defeat for the Qing, with many officials switching sides to support Koxinga's forces. In the following weeks, the Qing forces and officials withdrew from China, returning to Manchuria in the north. Quick to solidify this victory, Koxinga went to Beijing, securing the north under his rule. It was in Beijing, in the spring of 1660, where Koxinga was crowned as Emperor of the newly established Qi Empire. With word of his victory over the Qing spreading, the remaining provinces and officials throughout China were quick to swear allegiance to Koxinga and the Qi Empire. Seeing the changing times, and the potential threat caused by Europeans, Koxinga made the decision to establish his court in Nanjing, rather than Beijing. By doing this, he was able to ensure the new capital was centrally located, and that he would be better able to deal with any threats caused by the Europeans.
Less than a year after establishing his empire and kicking the Manchurians out of China, Koxinga amassed a large force and landed on the island of Formosa, and laid siege to the Dutch Fort Zeelandia. The siege dragged on for several months, with neither side making any progress, until Koxinga's forces were finally successful in taking the fort in February 1662. The Dutch were forced to surrender the island to Koxinga, and officially end their colony on the island. Koxinga promptly renamed the island to Taiwan, and integrated it as a province in the Qi Empire. He also made plans to use the island as a base of operations to fight against European colonialism in the region. Following his victory against the Dutch, and eager to consolidate his rule, Koxinga took his fleet to the Ming tributary kingdom of Ryukyu. There he expelled the Japanese officials by force, threatening the Shogunate with invasion if they interfered, and officially made the Ryukyu Kingdom a vassal of the Qi Empire. The treaty signed in the summer of 1662 would lead to the official annexation of Ryukyu less than a century later, in the face of increased Dutch colonial activities in the region. Returning to Nanjing in the months following, Koxinga was able to finish consolidating his rule, and successfully established a rule of law in the Qi Empire that survives to this day. However, by 1663 Koxinga's health was failing, and by June of that year, he passed away. He was succeeded by his second son, Zheng Cong, with his first son having "died" in spring 1662.
Over the following years, Emperor Zheng Cong diligently pursued his father's policies of keeping the Europeans out and establishing a 'pure' Chinese empire, driving back Dutch and Spanish attempts to retake Formosa. In 1673 he led a successful invasion of Jeju island, conquering the island from the Koreans and annexing it into the Qi Empire. During the 1680s he also began a series of campaigns to establish full Chinese rule over the island of Taiwan, something that would not be completed until the 1740s. Meanwhile, over the years Emperor Zheng Cong and his descendants instituted a policy of Sinification amongst the non-Han populations, encouraging the use of Mandarin Chinese and the education in the Chinese system, especially in the fringes of the Empire, such as Jeju and Ryukyu. By 1776, realizing the importance of Macao as a trading port, and following an increase in Chinese administrative attempts over the region, the Qi government officially revoked the Portuguese lease over Macao, evicting them from the islands. This was enforced by the Chinese fleet.
In the decades and centuries that followed, the Qi Empire took a particular interest in improving the lives of its citizens, whilst also keeping out European powers. By limiting the ports the Europeans could trade in, whilst also maintaining a steady control over the borders, the Empire was able to keep out various European powers, and repel several invasion attempts by the British, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, and French (or their equivalents). By the late 1800s, the Qi Empire was seen as a strong and stable nation, albeit one that was inwardly focused, rather than outward looking. This changed when the Americans visited, forcing the Empire to open to trade. However, due to their history of keeping foreigners out, and resisting colonization, they were able to establish decent trading arrangements with the Americans, securing access to new technology, whilst also assuring Chinese sovereignty.
Despite all the precautions taken, in the early 1900s foreign interference in the nation resulted in several rebellions in the north. This, combined with unrest in the south, almost resulted in the Empire being overthrown. However, by solidifying the holdings that the Emperor could, the nation was able to deal with the unrest in the south, and form a solid line of defense against the rebellions in the north. Yet this was not enough, and by 1912 the northern and central provinces of the Qi Empire had broken away, forming their own Chinese nation, and claiming that they were the true China. Vowing to fight against this, Emperor Zheng Zhihao order a series of studies on democracy throughout the nation and internationally in 1918. These studies led to the Government Reforms of 1927, which introduced the Chinese Imperial Democratic system, and paved the way for more freedoms for the people, along side a reform of the educational system. These changes were generally well liked, with many of the population viewing them as key steps for the nation. In the 1930s Emperor Zheng Zhihao made a public declaration, promising that China would be reunited once again. The people strongly supported this declaration, and this has lead to a general support for the One China Policy and reconquest, which has lasted to this day. Following his declaration, the Qi Empire has worked to better the lives of its citizens and to build up a military force that is capable of retaking the northern provinces.
| Qi Dynasty (齊朝)| China |
| Motto: |
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| Capital: Nanjing |
| Demonym: Chinese |
| Official Language: Mandarin |
| Population: 1 billion |
| Religion: WIP |
| Government: Chinese Imperial Democracy |
| Current Emperor: Zheng Yi (鄭義) |
| Current Palace Secretariat: Kong Wei |
| Currency: Tael (1,000 Wen = 1 Tael) 1 Tael = 1oz silver |
| GDP (nominal): WIP $19.237 trillion (US) Per capita: $37,592.82 (US) |
| Time Zone: UTC +8 |
| Driving side: Left |
The Qi Empire was established in 1660, after a successful siege of Nanjing against the Qing forces by Koxinga, also known as Zheng Chenggong. In 1659, Koxinga had mounted his forces and prepared to march on the city of Nanjing, at the time a Qing stronghold in the region. Initially wanting a grand battle, like his father had with the Dutch, he prepared to announce the battle ahead of time. However, on the night before he was to do this, he had a dream advising him against such actions. As a result, he marched on the city of Nanjing unexpectedly, taking the Qing forces by surprise, and taking the city. This was seen as a massive defeat for the Qing, with many officials switching sides to support Koxinga's forces. In the following weeks, the Qing forces and officials withdrew from China, returning to Manchuria in the north. Quick to solidify this victory, Koxinga went to Beijing, securing the north under his rule. It was in Beijing, in the spring of 1660, where Koxinga was crowned as Emperor of the newly established Qi Empire. With word of his victory over the Qing spreading, the remaining provinces and officials throughout China were quick to swear allegiance to Koxinga and the Qi Empire. Seeing the changing times, and the potential threat caused by Europeans, Koxinga made the decision to establish his court in Nanjing, rather than Beijing. By doing this, he was able to ensure the new capital was centrally located, and that he would be better able to deal with any threats caused by the Europeans.
Less than a year after establishing his empire and kicking the Manchurians out of China, Koxinga amassed a large force and landed on the island of Formosa, and laid siege to the Dutch Fort Zeelandia. The siege dragged on for several months, with neither side making any progress, until Koxinga's forces were finally successful in taking the fort in February 1662. The Dutch were forced to surrender the island to Koxinga, and officially end their colony on the island. Koxinga promptly renamed the island to Taiwan, and integrated it as a province in the Qi Empire. He also made plans to use the island as a base of operations to fight against European colonialism in the region. Following his victory against the Dutch, and eager to consolidate his rule, Koxinga took his fleet to the Ming tributary kingdom of Ryukyu. There he expelled the Japanese officials by force, threatening the Shogunate with invasion if they interfered, and officially made the Ryukyu Kingdom a vassal of the Qi Empire. The treaty signed in the summer of 1662 would lead to the official annexation of Ryukyu less than a century later, in the face of increased Dutch colonial activities in the region. Returning to Nanjing in the months following, Koxinga was able to finish consolidating his rule, and successfully established a rule of law in the Qi Empire that survives to this day. However, by 1663 Koxinga's health was failing, and by June of that year, he passed away. He was succeeded by his second son, Zheng Cong, with his first son having "died" in spring 1662.
Over the following years, Emperor Zheng Cong diligently pursued his father's policies of keeping the Europeans out and establishing a 'pure' Chinese empire, driving back Dutch and Spanish attempts to retake Formosa. In 1673 he led a successful invasion of Jeju island, conquering the island from the Koreans and annexing it into the Qi Empire. During the 1680s he also began a series of campaigns to establish full Chinese rule over the island of Taiwan, something that would not be completed until the 1740s. Meanwhile, over the years Emperor Zheng Cong and his descendants instituted a policy of Sinification amongst the non-Han populations, encouraging the use of Mandarin Chinese and the education in the Chinese system, especially in the fringes of the Empire, such as Jeju and Ryukyu. By 1776, realizing the importance of Macao as a trading port, and following an increase in Chinese administrative attempts over the region, the Qi government officially revoked the Portuguese lease over Macao, evicting them from the islands. This was enforced by the Chinese fleet.
In the decades and centuries that followed, the Qi Empire took a particular interest in improving the lives of its citizens, whilst also keeping out European powers. By limiting the ports the Europeans could trade in, whilst also maintaining a steady control over the borders, the Empire was able to keep out various European powers, and repel several invasion attempts by the British, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, and French (or their equivalents). By the late 1800s, the Qi Empire was seen as a strong and stable nation, albeit one that was inwardly focused, rather than outward looking. This changed when the Americans visited, forcing the Empire to open to trade. However, due to their history of keeping foreigners out, and resisting colonization, they were able to establish decent trading arrangements with the Americans, securing access to new technology, whilst also assuring Chinese sovereignty.
Despite all the precautions taken, in the early 1900s foreign interference in the nation resulted in several rebellions in the north. This, combined with unrest in the south, almost resulted in the Empire being overthrown. However, by solidifying the holdings that the Emperor could, the nation was able to deal with the unrest in the south, and form a solid line of defense against the rebellions in the north. Yet this was not enough, and by 1912 the northern and central provinces of the Qi Empire had broken away, forming their own Chinese nation, and claiming that they were the true China. Vowing to fight against this, Emperor Zheng Zhihao order a series of studies on democracy throughout the nation and internationally in 1918. These studies led to the Government Reforms of 1927, which introduced the Chinese Imperial Democratic system, and paved the way for more freedoms for the people, along side a reform of the educational system. These changes were generally well liked, with many of the population viewing them as key steps for the nation. In the 1930s Emperor Zheng Zhihao made a public declaration, promising that China would be reunited once again. The people strongly supported this declaration, and this has lead to a general support for the One China Policy and reconquest, which has lasted to this day. Following his declaration, the Qi Empire has worked to better the lives of its citizens and to build up a military force that is capable of retaking the northern provinces.
