Chapter 130

--- 3rd Person POV ---

"We must continue our advances within the provinces of the Dynasty. On the next days and weeks to come, we must capture key provinces and cities to make sure that we have better standing in the negotiating table. The more land we gain the more we have the power to take control the coming negotiation." Yuvraj Siagu commanded, "Send a fleet of our Airforce and attack the railways that connects Eastern Siberia to the rest of Russia. We must cut off their connect to further delay any attempt to send reinforcement in the frontlines.

This war must be a success and must result on us gaining the upper hand. The time has come for the Qing Dynasty to cease its existence and be replaced with a new one."

After Yuvraj Siagu made his motive, a smile of confidence then appears on Minister Li and General Ahmadi, know that the future of the Qing Dynasty is now fully sealed. With Yuvraj Siagu's words, the tide of the war further tips on the alliance's side. This is evident as just days after Yuvraj Siagu's meeting with Minister Li and General Ahmadi, the city of Chienchou falls under the hand of 4 thousand soldiers sent by Brigadier General Ayaan Mehta, the 2nd Governor-General of Taiwan.

But the Qing and the Russians made a counter attack by the 21th of November 1905. Mastering a total of 800 thousand soldiers, 700 thousand of which were by the Qing Dynasty while the remaining are the limited support of 100 thousand Russian soldiers of the Russian Empire. Despite Prince Chun's dissatisfaction his complains cannot do a thing as it was due to their mistake that they are now facing multiple fronts in the war.

The assault was made by dawn, hoping to catch the Japanese and few Koreans in the area off-guard. But the assault of the combined Russians and Qing forces will prove to be disastrous as after gaining the initial control of the battle the Japanese and Korean forces manages to recover shortly after.

Countering the assault made by the Qing and Russians an aerial bombardment was conducted by the Korean Imperial Airforce and Japanese Imperial Airforce after the strategic retreat were made aiming to lower the guards of the Qing and Russian forces. Devastated by the sudden aerial bombardment the strong hundreds of thousands of Qing and Russians soldiers descended into chaos after Japanese and Korean forces regrouped and attacked the now Russians and Qing soldiers in chaos.

The battle ended by the 4th of December 1905 with having the Koreans and Japanese received a casualty of not less than 50 thousand soldiers while the Qing and Russians incurred a loss of 150 thousand individuals, majority of which were killed during the bombardment as most were killed in a stamped.

But before the battle of Chienchou were concluded a force of 500 thousand Russian soldiers made their attempt to slow the progress made by the Korean soldiers in Northern Manchuria and Eastern Siberia. By the 1st of December 1905 the first simultaneous assault happed, 300 thousand strong Russian soldiers enter Ussuriysk and recaptures the city after being under the hand of the Korean Empire for months.

Along with this after squashing the Mongol rebellion in Mongolia, recapturing it for the Qing, 160 remaining Russian soldiers once again recaptures the city Hulunpuir and its surrounding villages, killing every Korean soldier the Russian forces encounter.

This was a disaster for the Korean Empire as despite receiving support from the Butuan Empire, Korea still relatively weak compared to the unstable Russian Empire. The only hope that Emperor Gojong prayed for is a miracle of aid from Butuan or the Japanese.

And by the 4th of December 1905, the entire Northern Manchuria falls under the hands of the Russians, along with this is the city of Vladivostok. This practically pushes the Korean Empire back to square one as the area they have captured were now back at the hands of their enemies.

But the prayers of Emperor Gojong were heard as reinforcement from the Japanese and Butuan finally arrived. With the aeroplanes fleet of the Butuan Empire being the first to arrive. And with just the span of a week, the lands that was lost by the Koreans were now reclaimed and once again falls under their control. Progress was even made especially after the destruction of the Trans-Siberian railway, proving to be a huge disaster for the Russian forces.

And without even realizing it, the entire Easter Siberia were now overrun by the forces of Butuan, Korea, and Japan. With the Butuan Empire taking the border lands of Easter Siberia to the rest of Russia. The battle alone cost the lives of 100 thousand individuals from both sides while few thousands from the Russian Empire side have deserted and left their post seeing that victory already slipped from their grasp.

By the end of December 1905, the provinces of Hunan, Kiangsi, and Fukien, fall under the control of the Butuanon Imperial Military with its biggest battle occurred during the battle of Chi'an in Kiangsi. The surprise attacked was made by the 280 thousand strong Qing forces at dawn, catching the garrisoned 100 thousand Butuanon soldiers off-guard.

If it weren't for the landmines planted by the Butuanon soldiers' days before the surprise attacked, the 50 thousand deaths they have sustained will rise on a higher level. As of late, the battle of Chi'an remains the bloodies and brutalist battle the Butuanon Imperial Army encountered during the war.

But the Qing army did not come out unscratched as they have also sustained 50 thousand deaths, most of which were attributed to the landmines and their bodies fragility due to malnourishment.

The Kingdom of Siam have also made significant impact on the war fully controlling the provinces of Kwangsi, Yunnan, and Kweichow, fully controlling the Southern region of the Qing Dynasty. But having border with the White Lotus Rebellion, the advances of the Siamese army came into a halt as fierce resistance from the rebels made it almost impossible for the Siamese army to further push forward.

But despite the advances and success the alliance has done, a handful of disastrous battles have also made an impact to the alliance. Particularly the battle of Chenzhou that cost the lives of thousands of Butuanon soldiers after it pursued the enemies without clearing the area causing landmines to detonate. Another situation also occurred in Quanzhou, costing the lives of 500 naval soldiers after a small cruiser ship was hit by a torpedo from a Russian naval battle ship.

This made a huge damage towards Prime Minister Aguinaldo's reputation as tabloids like the Lobestar Tribune places the blame on Aguinaldo's weak command. Even the Lobestar Media Group's television channels blame Aguinaldo and his government on the failed attack, causing the people to lambasted Aguinaldo's name on the streets.

"Aguinaldo has been slandered from all fronts already; it won't be long before he will finally surrender himself to your grasp." Yuvrani Khao pleasantly stated while taking a bite of the food in front of her.

Yuvraj Siagu and Yuvrani Khao are currently at the dining room of the Palace of Sella. Today is the 8th of January 1906 and both are having their lunch heartily, with foods provided by the cooks and chiefs working for the family. It has been their practice after being married to have their food taken together as both know that they have only limited time to leisure together due to their busy schedules, especially with Yuvraj Siagu who basically took the front of the war council.

With displeasure visible on his voice while focusing on his food, Yuvraj Siagu replied,

"That is something he must not do during this time, if an ounce of intellect still remains on his head. Such man has been in office over the past decades but have made little to no improvement within the lives of the people without my papa or mines intervention. Such man should have not been allowed to hold any pollical office, if it weren't for my papa's insistent that the man remains, Aguinaldo should have been gone even before the both of us got married."

Yuvrani Khao giggles as she takes pleasure on her husband's cute reaction, "Perhaps, but you cannot deny the fact that the man contributed on popularizing the monarchy while subsequently damages the image of any other form of democracy in the eyes of the public."

A short pause was made by Yuvraj Siagu, pondering on his wife's words, "That might be true. His contribution in tarnishing other forms of democracy have indeed been helpful. Hahaha."

Laughter echoes through the entire room as the couple openly mocks Aguinaldo and his foolishness while being in office. Yuvraj Siagu even mentioned how Aguinaldo made fun of himself during their wedding that the man requested to be seated next to their important guest, an act that really made Aguinaldo a clown in the eyes of the couple.

The playful banter between Yuvraj Siagu and Yuvrani Khao filled the room with laughter, an intimate moment of reprieve amid the tense backdrop of political machinations and war preparations. Their chemistry as a couple was evident, with Yuvrani Khao's sharp wit perfectly complementing Yuvraj Siagu's dry humour.

"He even insisted on giving a toast, remember?" Siagu added, chuckling as he gestured dramatically. "Only to bungle his speech so badly that he mispronounced the name of your father. The guests tried to stifle their laughter, but I could barely keep a straight face."

Yuvrani Khao covered her mouth, her giggles turning into full laughter. "Oh, I remember that too well! He went on to say something about how 'unity under the sun' was his lifelong mission, but it came off as a terrible metaphor about umbrellas and rain." She leaned closer to Siagu. "Do you think he knew he'd become a living caricature of himself?"

Siagu smirked, shaking his head. "Doubtful. A man like Aguinaldo doesn't know when he's being laughed at. He thinks the applause is always for him, even when it's for the jesters performing behind him."

They both burst into laughter again, their bond evident in the way they shared their thoughts so freely, even about delicate political matters. Despite the weight of their responsibilities, the couple found solace in these moments of shared humour, mocking the follies of a man who had become a symbol of inefficiency in their eyes.

As the laughter subsided, Yuvrani Khao's expression turned more serious. "All jokes aside, my love, do you think it's wise to keep him in the cabinet, even now? His antics amuse us, but his incompetence might become a liability in times like these."

Siagu considered her words, his jovial demeanour giving way to a more contemplative tone. "Aguinaldo's usefulness lies in his ability to be the lightning rod for criticism while keeping the monarchy untouched. But… if he becomes a true obstacle during this war, even my father's past leniency won't be enough to save him."

Khao nodded, her hand resting gently on his. "Then let us hope he stays foolish but harmless, and that the real work continues with those capable of carrying it out. You have enough on your plate without having to babysit a grown man."

While the two are having the best time of their life during their luncheon, different can it be for the others who are observing everything unfolds.

The ripple effects of the conflict extended far beyond Asia. In London, Paris, and Amsterdam, policymakers grappled with the realization that the Pan-Oriental Alliance was no longer a regional force but a global disruptor.

The Dutch, already wary of Butuan's growing influence, mobilized their colonial garrisons in the East Indies. Stationed along the border with Butuanon-controlled territories and a standoff slowly becoming in common, heightening tensions and threatening to expand the conflict into Southeast Asia.

In Britain, debates raged within Parliament. Some advocated for intervention to curb Butuan's ambitions, fearing the rise of an Asian superpower capable of challenging European hegemony. Others argued for restraint, unwilling to commit resources to a distant conflict while Europe itself teetered on the edge of another crisis.

France, nursing its colonial ambitions in Indochina, viewed the situation with a mix of dread and opportunity. French officials saw a weakened Qing Dynasty as a chance to expand their sphere of influence but remained cautious about antagonizing the Pan-Oriental Alliance. Not to mention that the Butuan Empire have already announces its interest over the Qing Dynasty.

In St. Petersburg, the news of yet another wave of defeats was met with outrage and despondency. The Tsar's precarious position grew more dire as the war dragged on. With revolutionary fervour spreading within Russia, fuelled by dissatisfaction over the disastrous war effort, the Tsar's grip on power weakened daily. 

Empress Dowager Maria, after a long wait and worry, finally receives the signal she needed to act. A message via telegraph were sent from Sooraj were sent, telling her to act now as the time is already ripe. Emphasizing the need to do in haste before her son could even react and defeat their forces.

Thus, in the 9th of January 1906, under the covers of the night sky and silence of the night. Grand Duke Michael and Grand Duke Sergei along with 3 thousand Russian soldiers and 500 blended soldiers of Yuvraj Siagu stormed the Winter Palace and captures Tsar Nicholas II with almost no resistance.

The capture of Tsar Nicholas II was swift and surgical, a testament to the planning and coordination that had gone into the coup. The Winter Palace, once a symbol of unassailable imperial power, fell with barely a struggle. Guards loyal to the Tsar were either overpowered or quietly defected, their morale shattered by months of war and internal dissent.

Empress Dowager Maria, clad in a dark, regal cloak befitting the sombre occasion, stood in the grand hall of the palace as her son was brought before her in chains. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on the walls, illuminating the faces of those present—faces marked by resolve, fear, and the faintest glimmer of hope.

Tsar Nicholas II, his once-commanding presence diminished, looked up at his mother with a mixture of betrayal and defiance. "Mother," he said hoarsely, his voice cracking under the weight of exhaustion and disbelief. "Is this your doing? Have you turned my own family against me?"

Maria's expression was unreadable, her voice steady as she replied. "Nicholas, you have brought this upon yourself. Your recklessness, your stubbornness, and your refusal to heed advice have driven Russia to the brink of ruin. This is not betrayal—it is salvation. For our family, and for the empire."

"Salvation? Heh!" Tsar Nicholas II mockingly mumbles as he slowly descends into insanity, "I AM RUSSIAS SALVATION! IT IS I WHO WILL LEAD RUSSIA INTO GREATNESS! I AM ANNOINTED AND I AM THE SUPREME OF ALL RUSSIANS!"

The grand hall fell into an uneasy silence as Nicholas's outburst echoed against its ornate walls. The once-proud Tsar now appeared as a ghost of himself, his wild eyes darting between the faces of his captors, searching in vain for loyalty or sympathy. None met his gaze.

Grand Duke Michael stepped forward; his voice steady but laced with bitterness. "Your Majesty, look around you. The empire you claim to lead lies in tatters. Our soldiers are slaughtered on foreign soil, our people starve in the streets, and revolution burns at our gates. You speak of salvation, but all you've brought us is despair."

Nicholas's laughter turned hollow, his lips curling into a twisted smile. "Ah, Michael, my dear brother. Always so quick to criticize, yet so slow to act. Do you think you can rule in my place? That the people will bow to you as they did to me? You are nothing without the divine right bestowed upon me."

Empress Dowager Maria stepped closer, her regal presence silencing the tension between her sons. "Enough, Nicholas. This is not a trial, nor is it a debate. The era of your reign is over. What happens next depends on you. Will you accept your fate with dignity, or will you drag our name further into disgrace?"

Nicholas seemed momentarily lucid, his eyes locking onto Maria's with a flicker of vulnerability. "And what of my family?" he asked, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "What of Alexandra? The children?"

Maria's expression softened ever so slightly. "They are currently in my home country, away from your insanity and unrest you have created."

The Tsar's shoulders sagged as the weight of his predicament settled upon him. With not words exiting his mouth, Empress Dowager Maria decided to settle everything as soon-as-possible.

Maria turned away, her cloak sweeping behind her as she gestured to the guards. "Take him to his quarters," she commanded. "He is to remain under house arrest until further notice. No harm is to come to him unless he attempts to escape or incite rebellion."

Maria turned away, her cloak sweeping behind her as she gestured to the guards. "Take him to his quarters," she commanded. "He is to remain under house arrest until further notice. No harm is to come to him unless he attempts to escape or incite rebellion."

As the guards escorted the now deposed Tsar Nicholas II away, his laughter echoed down the halls, unsettling those who remained. "You think you've won, Mother? You think you've saved Russia? Mark my words—this empire will crumble without me. And when it does, you will remember this moment and curse your treachery!"

Grand Duchess Elizabeth, who had watched the entire scene in silence, stepped forward to stand beside Maria. "He won't go quietly," she remarked, her voice tinged with both sadness and practicality. "Even in chains, Nicholas is dangerous."

Maria sighed; the weight of her decision etched into her face. "I know, Elizabeth. But his time is over. Now we must ensure that the new order we build does not repeat his mistakes. For the sake of Russia, and for the sake of our family."

"Mother," Grand Duke Michael called as he slowly approaches his mother after sending his now ousted brother towards his quarters for house arrest.

Hearing her son's call, Empress Dowager Maria turns her head only to see her remaining son in his military uniform with pride and grandeur. It was indeed painful for her to oust her own son but that all she can do to save this family and this country from total anarchy.

With a serios tone and elegant demeanour, Empress Dowager Maria called for her son "Michael," she said, her voice steady but carrying the warmth of a mother's enduring love. "Come closer."

Grand Duke Michael obeyed, stepping forward with measured grace, his tall frame silhouetted against the dim light of the grand hall. Despite the turmoil of the night, he carried himself with the dignity expected of a Romanov. Yet, in his eyes, there was a trace of uncertainty, a hint of the burden now placed upon him.

As he stopped before her, Maria reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. The simple gesture carried the weight of her hopes and expectations. "Tonight marks a turning point," she said softly. "Not just for our family, but for Russia. You must understand the gravity of what lies ahead. Russia is now on the verge of collapse and if you play your cards well, stabilizing this empire will be feasible."

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Author here! I will not be updating for the next 2 months for some personal problem. Hope you all can understand and still continue to support our little story. Thank you everyone!