Pieman
Prince
As the decades of the 6th century (500's, just to be clear) went by, the predominance of China in the Confederation became increasingly evident. Not only did it possess the largest military and population of the conglomerate but it's culture was also overwhelming. The Chinese language became the de facto form of communication between confederate nations and Chinese artistic works became widespread. Chinese poetry was read and quoted in the Vietnamese court and Chinese pottery was awash in Korean markets.
By the end of the 6th century, the people of Japan had become greatly concerned that their culture, and even their national identity, would become wholly absorbed by China. On New Year's Day of 603, with the Chinese army tied down in Western Burma, a dramatic coup d'etat was staged in Japan, with the Japanese members of the Senate of the Chinese Confederation assassinated, and a local lord, Hiroshi Tokugawa, proclaimed Emperor of Japan.
Within a month, the Chinese had organised an invasion fleet numbering hundreds of vessels transporting 100,000 troops to subjugate Japan and reabsorb it into the Confederacy. However, in a reverse of previous events, the Chinese fleet was ravaged by a typhoon and the remnants of the invasion fleet were swiftly crushed by the Japanese. The Japanese then continuously harried the Chinese coast, razing many coastal villages and even capturing several Chinese ports.
Encouraged by Japanese resistance, several other nations began seceding from the Confederation. There was widespread discontent across the Confederation, partly due to similar fears the Japanese had of cultural and national erosion, and partly due to the high taxes levied on the citizens of the Confederation in order to maintain the armies in Western Burma. By April 603 Korea split off from the Confederation and signed an alliance with Japan against China. Vietnam soon followed suit and the colonies of Japan eventually sided with its motherland rather than fight against it alongside China. Faced with such a great drop in revenue via taxes, by September 603 the Chinese could no longer afford to pay tribute to placate the barbarian tribes of Manchuria and Mongolia, which resulted in numerous barbarian tribes raiding Northern China in "re-compensation". At the end of 603, China was feeling immense strain, with its economy shambling under the weight of having to support over a million troops and the armies of China struggling to fight off so many opponents. Was there any hope for China?
By the end of the 6th century, the people of Japan had become greatly concerned that their culture, and even their national identity, would become wholly absorbed by China. On New Year's Day of 603, with the Chinese army tied down in Western Burma, a dramatic coup d'etat was staged in Japan, with the Japanese members of the Senate of the Chinese Confederation assassinated, and a local lord, Hiroshi Tokugawa, proclaimed Emperor of Japan.
Within a month, the Chinese had organised an invasion fleet numbering hundreds of vessels transporting 100,000 troops to subjugate Japan and reabsorb it into the Confederacy. However, in a reverse of previous events, the Chinese fleet was ravaged by a typhoon and the remnants of the invasion fleet were swiftly crushed by the Japanese. The Japanese then continuously harried the Chinese coast, razing many coastal villages and even capturing several Chinese ports.
Encouraged by Japanese resistance, several other nations began seceding from the Confederation. There was widespread discontent across the Confederation, partly due to similar fears the Japanese had of cultural and national erosion, and partly due to the high taxes levied on the citizens of the Confederation in order to maintain the armies in Western Burma. By April 603 Korea split off from the Confederation and signed an alliance with Japan against China. Vietnam soon followed suit and the colonies of Japan eventually sided with its motherland rather than fight against it alongside China. Faced with such a great drop in revenue via taxes, by September 603 the Chinese could no longer afford to pay tribute to placate the barbarian tribes of Manchuria and Mongolia, which resulted in numerous barbarian tribes raiding Northern China in "re-compensation". At the end of 603, China was feeling immense strain, with its economy shambling under the weight of having to support over a million troops and the armies of China struggling to fight off so many opponents. Was there any hope for China?
