First Opium War

Chapter 3: Empire Of Japan

In the year 1900 Japan became at odds with Britain's rule over China. King Bertrand asked to do business with Japan's emperor, Hideo Shen, who controlled the west and eastern borders of his own country. Bertrand asked to build outposts near Japan's coasts.

          Initially, Bertrand wanted to surround Japan using his army - an attempt to control Japan's trade routes and outsource Chinese slaves to countries interested in buying them.

          Hideo never agreed to allow that which made Bertrand impatient. He thought Hideo and his empire were weak. In 1903 Bertrand enacted a mandatory military draft and all men and women of Chinese descent will be forced to fight Hideo's army of lethally-trained samurai. What it made it worse was that the draftees have never used British weapons before.

         In 1902 Bertrand closed his plantations and inducted the Chinese people into their British society under certain restrictions. He did this to grow his job market and increase his kingdom's revenue. In this decade no Chinese man or woman, who lived in the occupied lands, knew what war was like. Despite being forced against their Japanese ally, the Chinese population learned a lot from Japan's culture in the past. 

         While China focused on martial arts, Japan used a sword style called Kenjutsu. The Tiger masters called for the aid of Japan during the initial start of the Opium War, but they never came to help. Japan was afraid of Britain's power at that time.

         Japan's kingdom sat on Mount Kita - second largest mountain next to Mt. Fuji. It overlooked the vast majority of lands beneath them. Hideo Shen stood on the balcony of his throne room as the wind blew across his black, low cut hair. The moon reflected off his Karuta - his samurai armor. His katana was strapped to his waste - a deadly seventy centimeter blade that curved at the tip. He was aware of Britain's military draft that was forcing China's people to become soldiers, and Britain's power to brainwash them. Bertrand held China's legacy hostage. 

          He often deceived China's population by controlling their food supply and made them think they were eating healthy, when in reality, it induced unhealthy ingredients to their bodies, weakening their martial arts spirit. Bertrand also devised an operation meant to turn the Chinese people against one another - men against women, the old against the new. Through the oldest trick in the book - divide and conquer, Bertrand knew it would've been easier to control them. 

          All Hideo could do was just prepare for anything. This would be the first time Hideo and his army would fight against gun powder. But unlike the Ten Tigers Of Canton in the First Opium War this wasn't the first time he's heard of firearms.

        Samurai warrior, Akihiko Oburo, approached Hideo and bowed before his sensei. Oburo is a skillful warrior who has fought in smaller battles in the past. Against South Korea - who also used swords, Akihiko always had the higher advantage over his enemies. He's a respected warrior and the one Hideo knew he can always trust.

         "The 'Harvest' advances forward. They're forty kilometers from the western wall," he said to Hideo. 

          The Harvest - a term Japan used to describe Britain's ability to consume nations. 

         "Our warriors are ready at your disposal." Akihiko finished. 

          He stood wearing his samurai armor - made with steel and leather. He had black hair, tied into a pony tail at the top. His sword was the same as Hideo's katana, except a bit shorter. Hideo cupped his hands together behind his back. His eyes focused over the landscapes in the direction of the western wall.

          "The Harvesters are more clever than we can imagine." Hideo replied, in a hopeless tone. 

           His voice cracked a bit as he feared Britain's power. His great grandfather, Sagatori Shen, refused to lend his armies to help China at the start of Britain's invasion. And now it seems Hideo understands he will pay for the cowardice of his ancestor.