Beijing, China
So these old men are the people who command Chinas armies eh? I bet you they havent seen any fighting at all with their own eyes since the Nine Years War. I mean come on, theres no way their frail health could possibly take the sun in Turkmenistan or the tropics of Annam. Or healthy enough to holler at lazy soldiers trying to idle out of their duties. Heh were supposed to be an encouraging spirit in this pit of conservatism and comparing our rank in the army I dont understand why they would even listen to us!
The junior officer being spoken to smiled and nodded his head in response to the whispered remarks by his friend. He himself had little of the faith of invincibility of the Army as these old peacocks but they were technically JUST only his superiors after all. Imperial General Staff his father-in-law! Peacocks still living in the days of the Nine Years War, decades ago before he was even born in charge in charge of the largest army in the world. He would be laughing if it werent a serious matter. It all really went back a few months ago after the initial invasion of Turkmenistan had been underway and the offense had been halted.
The Emperor after seeing the various capitols and cities of Europe had decided that Europes military system had great merit. Especially their so called General Staff which according to him made the armed forces of Europe much easier and flexible. Oh it sounded great on paper with the benefits, but reality had to rear its ugly head. The Armys senior commanders lived in the days of the musket. Antiquated, obsolete, creaking and not to mention extremely conservative were prized characteristics not to mention virtues.
Several officials had come to him and several other junior officers sightseeing in Samarkand offering them a position on the Imperial General Staff to inform the senior commanders of new developments since their last battle and aid them in making decisions. It was doomed before the idea was even implemented in kind truly. Chinas military bureaucracy was in ways less prone to change then the decrepit Confucian civilian one. Everything moved at a slow orderly pace up, or dropped down like birds shot down if youre unlucky. There was little room for bright young officers to rise quickly with the system being based on seniority.
It was thought that soldiers and officers whove had more experience or time in the army would naturally be better suited to command positions. Such theory was of course just theory, and had little to no practical use. The first Imperial General Staff had resulted in nothing being done and a shout out between the younger more junior members of the group with the older senior group. The last meeting hadnt been much better and while logistical concerns and issues had been solved direct Imperial Intervention was obviously needed. Everyone was just worried about whose side the intervention would back.
Beijing had once been the center of the Glorious Empire to him, but after strolling through the corridors of power in the Forbidden Palace it seemed to be rife with politics, internal and external struggles, the things that a soldier normally hated. In war it was so much simpler, the enemy would be in front of you, not the man behind you, not the man besides you, but just in the front. Politics were much, much different. Your enemy could be anyone who disagreed with you for personal or professional reasons. Friends were hard to make, while enemies could be made by the ship full.
Checking his pocket watch while eating the dim sum placed in front of him he tapped his watch catching the attention of his fellow officer eating across the table. They left the area and journeyed across the Palace to where the Imperial General Staff meeting was held. They entered and took seats while waiting for the other members and the imperial appointee to arrive. The other officers arrived some glaring, some smiling. After they all entered the room a younger man with a few officers following him arrived in the building and took the seat reserved for the Head of the General Staff. The young man walked with authority in his steps and a serene confidence that screamed power and smiled at the officers assembled before addressing them:
I believe officers, we will finally accomplish something with my supervision and input. Your needless squabbling is helping nobody but the Turkmens and Japanese who as Heaven knows dont need any help in being troublesome. Order will be brought to the Army, and those who stand in the way of progress will be demolished. By Imperial Decree General Xuang you are encouraged to retire to your estate in Hebei. Lieutenant Zhao is hereby promoted to Commander and his fellow lieutenants promoted to General. Do with the Army as you see fit gentlemen."
"Long Live China!"
