Age of Steam and Steel: Gameplay Thread

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Call to arms

The Emperor calls on all Han people and other loyal and patriotic subjects who live under the rule of the illegitimate Manchu regime to resist that regime in whatever way is within your means. This regime has ruled our Empire but has not served the interests of the Empire. It has been very soft on the interference of foreign powers within our realm and have been unable to ensure order within our realm.

Edict on the Spread of Foreign Religions within the realm

The Emperor views the spread of the foreign religion of Christianity within our realm to be a severe threat to the security and wellbeing of the Empire. As such, all foreign Christian missionaries shall be denied entrance to the Empire. Those currently within the Empire must leave before the 1st of January 1837 and those found after that point shall recieve a fine of 25 taels or a prison sentence of 20 years.

Edict on Infrastructure

The Emperor views the expansion of infrastructure to be a key priority of the Empire with regards to expanding the economy and winning the war. The budget of the Ministry of Public Works shall be expanded by 5% and shall be instructed to prioritise and expand the construction and maintainence of roads.

Edict on War Production

The Emperor sees the protection of the realm to be an absolute priority. As such, the budget of the Ministry of War shall be increased by 5% and this money shall be dedicated to improving and expanding production methods.

Edict on Taxation

The Emperor believes it is important for the Empire to increase revenue in order to ensure investment in infrastructure and armaments towards the vital goal of order and growth within the realm. The land tax shall be increased to 5% and the commercial tax shall be increased to 10% effective 1836.

Edict on the Holy Roman Empire

The Emperor hereby grants the Holy Roman Emperor access to the city of Ningbo for the purpose of hosting a diplomatic legation, the residence of military instructors and the use of the port for the importation of armaments. The Holy Roman Empire does not have permission to host missionaries at property it holds in the city, the Emperor is vigilant that such access is not taken advantage of to undermine the Empire or its people.

Edict on Ryukyu

As per the treaty with the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Emperor considers the Kingdom of Ryukyu to be a tributary of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Edict on Guang Faction

The Empire has agreed, after negotiations with representatives of the Guang Faction, to the ceasefire that was offered.

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Edict on Christians

As the Emperor has made clear previously, the Emperor takes the view that the spread of foreign religions within our Empire is a threat to the security and integrity of the Empire. Last year's edict succeeded in expelling thousands of missionaries spreading these incorrect teachings within our realm and the spread of Christianity in our realm has stopped. We now face a question of how to treat the people who have been converted by these missionaries. They are subjects of our Empire and they should prove themselves by being patriotic and supporting our struggle for order throughout the realm. This shall not be mistaken for leniency for any Christians found to be involved in any plots for rebellion. The Emperor's edict from last year concerning the spread of foreign religions within our empire shall be revoked. The ban on entry for missionaries shall remain but expulsions of those already within the realm should cease.

Edict on events in Taiwan

The Dutch refusal to engage with the Holy Roman Emperor's attempts at reason, their arrogant treatment of Japan in negotiations and their failure to produce a concrete plan and time scale for their withdrawal leaves the Emperor with no choice but to strongly condemn the Dutch seizure of Taiwan. Taiwan is an integral part of our realm and we do not consider the occupation of this land by a foreign power to be legitimate. We call on the King of the Netherlands to immediately withdraw from our Empire and call on Chinese people under Dutch occupation to carry out their patriotic duty and disobey Dutch forces.

Edict on Seperatist Provinces

The Emperor cannot agree to the Hui demand for ending our claims over that region due to the precedent this would set in future. However, we warn seperatists against falling for sweet gestures from the Manchus. They have no intention of carrying out what they offer, as they have shown our people time and time again. A nation subservient to Western companies and interests is not in the interests of the Western parts of our Empire, just as it isn't for Han people in the East of our Empire. Our policy with regards to seperatist factions shall depend on their actions during this war. Seperatists who support the Manchu faction can expect very little autonomy and those who align with the rightful emperor can expect significantly more autonomy.

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Edict of the pathetic failure of the Guang faction

The Emperor has recieved reports of the collapse of the Guang Faction's siege against Manchu forces in the South. We had signed a ceasefire with the forces of the Guang Faction on the condition that we concentrate our efforts on dispensing with the forces of the Manchu regime. We consider their failure to be a breach of the terms under which the ceasefire was signed and thus consider the agreement void. Our forces will act accordingly.

The Emperor calls on supporters of the Guang Faction to support the Emperor, whose forces have proven to be the only ones capable of dispensing with the Manchu regime and who has undeniably obtained the Mandate of Heaven. Now is the time for supporters of all other factions to lay down their arms, end the war and suffering and begin a new era of serenity, peace and prosperity throughout the Middle Kingdom.

Edict on the Dutch enemy

Dutch citizens are unwelcome within the Empire due to the present state of hostilities that exists. Dutch citizens who are determined to be of value or who recieve permission from the Emperor or one of his high ranking representatives, shall be permitted to remain.

Edict on the matter of food shortages

The issue of food shortages, particularly in newly liberated regions where fighting has been very harsh, is of great concern to the Emperor. This is the time for patriotic citizens to work together to ensure the wellbeing of the Empire. All tariffs and other restrictions on food imports shall be repealed for the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Holy Roman Empire. The Ministry of Works shall be instructed to stockpile more food by buying excess produce from farmers as well as food from traders.

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Edict on the need to re-unify the Middle Kingdom

The Emperor's forces have achieved clear victories and has undeniably assumed the mandate of heaven. It is time for all people across the Middle Kingdom to be loyal to their Emperor and their Empire, to provide a swift and decisive end to this war.

Supporters of the former Manchu regime from either faction must recognise the futility of their actions and lay down their arms. The Emperor offers rank and file enemy soldiers a simple amnesty: surrender, disarm and help build a new peaceful and prosperous Empire.

Edict on enemy prisoners

The Emperor orders that prisoners who were found to have simply been ordinary soldiers of the Manchu regime with little commitment to that regime be released from jail. Most officials shall remain in jail for the time being.

Edict on the tyrant of Shenyang's "offer"

Having recieved word that after the brutal murder of his own cousin, the tyrant of Shenyang decided to make a delusional offer to the Emperor of the Middle Kingdom, the Emperor laughed and then continued with the day's business.

Edict on food tariffs

In an edict from the previous year, the Emperor repealed tariffs on food imports from various realms. This policy is hereby extended to Joseon and Scandinavia.

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Treaty of Leizhou

I . The Chinese Empire recognizes the Leizhou Concession as a legitimate holding of the Kingdom of Scandinavia.
II . The Chinese Empire agrees to a 50% reduction on tariffs on imported Scandinavian goods.
III . The Kingdom of Scandinavia agrees to permit trading at Leizhou from Joseon and other merchants engaged in trade at Leizhou prior to the establishment of the concession.
IV . The Kingdom of Scandinavia agrees to forbid the settlement of missionaries at Leizhou.

xGustaf Stierneld, Utrikesstatsminister

x Youfú Emperor

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Joseon-Zhongguo Treaty of Prosperity

1. The border between the lands recognised as belonging to the realm of Joseon and those belonging to that of the Middle Kingdom shall follow the Yalu River from the Yellow Sea upstream until it meets the blue line marked on the map which it shall follow until it reaches the Whale Sea.

2. Outer Manchuria will be held by the Joseon realm as a duchy of the Middle Kingdom, the boundary between Inner and Outer Manchuria being the Songhua River.

3. The full might of the Joseon realm shall be committed to securing Manchuria as a part of the Middle Kingdom.

4. The right of Korean traders to conduct trade within the Middle Kingdom shall be maintained as normal.



x Queen Regent Sunwon on behalf of her grandson King Heonjong

x Youfú Emperor