Boxer Rebellion Public Character Profiles (1) Qing Court (2) Eight Nation Alliance

Qing Court

Commander of the Kansu Braves Dong Fuxiang Dong Fuxiang is an experienced Qing soldier. He has fought in many wars, including the Sino-Japanese War and several major rebellions against Qing rule. Dong and his elite Gansu Brave soldiers have an excellent reputation throughout China as a dangerous fighting force and extremely loyal to China. As the Boxer movement gains momentum, Dong and his men are increasingly cooperating with them in attempting to expel foreign influence.

Commander Ni Zanqing Ni Zanqing is the son of a wealthy landowner near Peking, he studied martial arts and became a prodigious warrior, even selected for the Emperor’s personal guard. Deeply patriotic, Ni has become a leader in the Boxer movement and commands many of the bands around Peking. The movement is already significant, but Ni knows that it can grow even more powerful and widespread and may allow him to rid his beloved China of foreign influence once and for all.

Commander Zhao Sanduo Zhao Shanduo is a highly skilled and well known martial arts master. He has trained many disciples, and as the power of the Qing dynasty slowly erodes, has begun to mediate disputes between villagers and uphold law and order in the countryside. Almost as anti-Qing as he is anti-foreigner, Zhao wants to see the corrupt, decadent and inept Qing dynasty fall and a government more sympathetic to China’s poor and peasants take power.

Dowager Empress Cixi Dowager Empress Cixi has proven a skilled administrator, a master of intrigue and a Machiavellian politician. Cixi has led China for decades, and despite giving up the regency to her son, maintains a great degree of influence over the imperial court, particularly amongst the traditionalists and conservatives. As such she watches with concern her son’s drift towards progressive reform. Having survived several coups and rebellions, Cixi is determined to maintain the Qing Dynasty both from domestic challenges and the subversive pressures of foreign influence, Christianity and widespread modernization.

Guangxu Emperor The Guangxu Emperor was deeply inspired by the stupendous progress Japan had made in industrializing its economy, modernizing its military and becoming a great power, and became convinced that China’s future lay in liberal reforms, modernization and a constitutional monarchy. To that effect, he has laid the groundwork for a series of sweeping reforms to catapult China into modernity.

Grand Supervisor Li Lianying A eunuch in charge of much of the Imperial Court’s day to day activities, Li Lianying is a dependable and trusted advisor of the Dowager Empress. Lianying also acts as her eyes and ears, and occasionally claws, within the court, employing a number of spies, very little happens within the court and the Qing government without his knowing.

Minister of Revenue Liu Kunyi (also Viceroy of Liangjiang) Liu Kunyi is a veteran military cammdner, having fought in the bloody Taiping Rebellion during the 1850s and 1860s. He’s also served as a governor of many provinces and has a great gift as an administrator. Liu does harbour some sympathy for reform, and suspects that China must not be rash in dismissing the foreign Empires. He knows that they’ve triumphed over China before in war, and so are dangerous, but also that the technology and ideas that they bring with them could raise China up to take its rightful place as a great power in the world.

Minister of Rites Zhang Zidong Zhang Zidong is an expert diplomatic and highly experienced Qing official. As Minister of Rites, Zhang is responsible for managing and upholding China’s state religion confucism and maintaining relations with various religious groups within China. The ministry has also developed a significant secret policing role to root out dissent and heresy, both threats to the regime. However, despite this post’s orthodox requirements, Zhang is himself rather unorthodox, being a progressive reformer and an advocate of alliances with foreigners.

Secretary of Defence Ronglu Ronglu is a veteran of several wars, including the Sin-Japanese War, and has held a number of administrative positions. He’s a traditionalist and firm ally of the Dowager Empress and Dong Fuxiang. As Secretary of Defence, Ronglu is currently overseeing the creation of the New Army, a western trained and western equipped army to bolster the government’s power. Ronglu also has direct command of a number of soldiers, and is responsible for coordinating the military efforts of the dynasty.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Gong Gong is a highly respected Chinese statesman and has led a number of major diplomatic missions for China throughout the last half century. Gong is a friend of the Guangxu Emperor, and a supporter of his reforms and constructive engagement with foreign

powers. As Minister of Foreign Affairs Gong will be the primary point of contact for Chinese negotiations with the states of the 8 Nations Alliance and other European and Asian nations.

Minister of Personnel and Justice Xu Jingcheng Xu is a Christian Qing Official, a difficult position to be in. He’s an experienced civil servant, a liberal, and a supporter of the Emperor’s planned reforms and friendly relations with foreign powers. As the Minister of Personnel and Justice, Xu is responsible for controlling the administration’s vast bureaucracy and legal system. As such, he has some influence over how effectively imperial policy and law is upheld.

Prince Qing, Yikuang An experienced officer, noble and Qing official, Prince Qing is a moderate liberal and military commander. He controls a number of troops as part of his banner army, and retains a great degree of control over the Tianjin fleet from his stint working in naval affairs.

General Yuan Shikai Yuan is a very skilled and highly ambitious military commander. He has so far remained neutral in the growing dispute between the progressives and conservatives within the Imperial court, but has managed to place himself in charge of the New Army, a very powerful if small force within the Imperial army, recently trained by western officers and equipped with western weapons. This troop also has escaped the malaise and corruption which reduces the effectiveness of many of the larger Chinese armies. Placed right in the capital, in astute hands this force could lead to major political opportunity.

General Nie Shicheng Nie Shicheng has fought Taiping rebels, anti-Qing insurgents, French, Japanese and countless other foes on behalf of China. He’s conservative and loyal to the Empress, though is quite prepared to accept western technology and military tactics if it will improve China’s army. His own force is largely responsible for protecting Peking from aggression through Manchuria by Japan or Russia.

Prince Duan, Zaiyi Prince Duan is an extreme conservative, an ardent supporter of the Boxer movement and an opponent of any foreign presence within China. He’s already begun to provide military aid to Boxers attacking foreigners and Christians in the countryside, having raised a small warband of his own, Duan is also privately wealthy, and has put out feelers towards recruiting his own private army.

Governor of Shangdong Yuxian Yuxian’s position as governor of Shangdong puts him in a unique position. He will be primarily responsible for pursuing and prosecuting the murderers of the three German

missionaries killed in the Juye incident, and so has great influence over whether the European powers are appeased, whether the Qing court gains or loses authority in the region and whether the Boxers are supressed or strengthened. Yuxian also has access to Shandong's local militias and revenue.

Viceroy of Liangguang Li Hongzhang Li Hongzhang is an important Qing Politician, diplomat and general. Li is a progressive modernizer and reformer, and a great advocate of balancing against threatening foreign states by creating alliances with other foreigners. As viceroy of Linguang, Li has control over China’s southern forces and much of the income from the province, and responsibilities for maintaining order in the west of the Empire.

8 Nations Alliance

Field Marshall Count Alfred Von Waldersee Field Marshall Count Alfred Von Waldersee holds the position of commander-in-chief of the German forces in China. Waldersee, eager to escape semi-retirement, is looking forward to action, particularly punishing those responsible for the murder of three German missionaries. He will be responsible for safeguarding German civilians and securing German interests within the Qing Empire, and to that effect he has been tasked with securing the area around Tsingtao as a permanent German base.

Rear Admiral Candiani Rear Admiral Candiani is head of the Italian cruiser squadron in the Far East. Italy strongly desires to establish a permanent presence in the East, and if Candiani can find a way to turn the current crisis to Italy’s advantage he’s strongly encouraged to do so by his government.

Major General Alfred-Amédée Dodds Major General Alfred-Amédée Dodds is a commander of French forces in Indochina. An experienced officer, Dodds saw success in several campaigns in Africa, and his men trust him. He will control all French forces in the current navy, and if Dodds can combine diplomacy with land and sea based military power effectively, he may be able to expand French influence in the region considerably.

Captain Eduard von Montalmar Captain Eduard von Montalmar is one of Austria’s best captains, and has been assigned to the Far East with no oversight for that reason. Von Montalmar, despite limited Austrian presence in the region has orders to support the alliance, particularly the Germans with whom Austria desires good relations, in any way possible. Montalmar has some pull within the Imperial Navy and can request more Austrian forces in the region, particularly if an opportunity for establishing a secure Austrian presence presents itself.

General Nikolai Linevich General Nikolai Linevich has been involved in the military his entire life, and is respected throughout the Russian army. General Linevich is responsible for the Russian garrisons in Port Arthur and Vladivostok, and must coordinate with the Russian fleet led by Admiral Alekseyev. Linevich also knows that Russia has long desired more direct control over Manchuria in northern China, and, as well as supporting the other members of the Alliance, should look towards establishing such control.

Admiral Yevgeni Alekseyev Admiral Yevgeni Alekseyev an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy. Alekseyev is an illegitimate son of Tsar Alexander II, and has some small influence within the Russian court and government in St Petersburg. Alekseyev commands a strong fleet, certainly

compared to his Chinese counterparts, and must coordinate with General Levich to secure Russia’s interest in China.

Prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren Prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren is a powerful and influential Mongolian prince. Prince Namnansüren and his people have grown weary of Chinese rule in Mongolia, and have been given promises of support by Russia should they seek independence. The current distractions in China may provide the prince with his moment as the Qing court turns away from its far flung provinces, though he will have to time his moment carefully, as the Mongolians alone are no match for the Qing armies.

Major General Adna Chaffee Major General Adna Chafee is commander in the American army, and is based in Hawaii currently. As tensions rise with Spain and within China, Chaffee may soon find himself called to action to take the Spanish Philippines, and perhaps all the way to China, particularly if American missionaries are threatened or if the US Navy sees an opportunity for gaining greater access to Chinese markets.

Rear Admiral Louis Kempff Rear Admiral Louis Kempff is a competent officer of the American Navy, and familiar with the challenges associated with operating naval forces in the Pacific. Kempff knows tensions with Spain are on the rise, and that he may be asked to help take the Spanish Philippines. However, Kempff has also been asked to help pursue America’s open door trade policy with China, and has been authorized to use force to secure concessions from the Qing government in that arena, and to support the Alliance.

Prime Minister of Nepal Bir Shumsher Rana Bir Shumsher Rana is the eleventh prime minister of Nepal who brought much needed reform and infrastructure to his kingdom. The Prime Minister has retained very close relations with the British Raj and sees Britain as a very important ally. The Prime Minister has been more than happy to provide Britain with recruits for its elite Ghurkha regiments, and commands a number of those troops who have retired and returned to Nepal. Bir Shumsher does though see the instability plaguing China as an opportunity to expand his influence into neighboring Tibet.

General Sir Alfred Gaselee General Sir Alfred Gaselee was born in Britain, but has spent most of his military career in India. Gaselee’s primary objectives are twofold; he must ensure the safety of British and other European civilians within China, and try to gain more concessions from the Chinese government with regards to trade. To this effect, a British force is en-route to northern China to secure a base near Peking on the island of Wei-Hai-Wei. Gaselee can also call on large bodies of well-equipped troops in Hong Kong and British India should the need arise.

Vice Admiral Sir Edward Seymour Vice Admiral Sir Edward Seymour of the Royal Navy is one of the few members of the 8 Nations alliance committee that has had previous military experience in China in conflicts such as the Opium War and Taiping rebellion. Seymour’s first task is to help General Gaselee force the Chinese government to cede Wei-Hai-Wei as a base of operations, and then work towards the suppression of the Boxer movement and the opening up of China to more trade.

Henry Keswick, Jardine Matheson Representative Henry Keswick, businessman extraordinaire, represents Jardine Matheson, a British company dealing in those goods most desired by the Chinese people, which seems to mainly be opium. Keswick wants to further his company’s interests in China, at any cost necessary. As a man of great charisma, Keswick holds great influence within Jardine and with other British companies in the Far East, and controls much of his company’s merchant shipping to China, along with a very large war chest.

Colonel Shiba Goro, Military Attache to the Legations Colonel Shiba Goro served in the first Sino-Japanese war, which led to the appointment of Military Attache to the Japanese legations. As one of the few members of the 8 Nations alliance committee that has had extensive experiences in China, Colonel Goro is well-versed in the internal workings of the Qing court. Colonel Goro originally trained as a Samurai, and is a brilliant personal fighter himself and commands great respect from his men. Due to his experience in China, Goro has been placed by the Japanese government in the Japanese Embassy in Peking’s Legation Quarter, and is responsible for its defence.

General Yamaguchi Motoomi General Yamaguchi Motoomi is leader of the 5th division of the Japanese forces. General Motoomi and the Japanese government have recognized that the Boxer activity in China is weakening the Qing government, especially in regards to the protection of her resources, thus the government is waiting for the right opportunity to deploy Motoomi and his 5th Division in support of the rest of the Alliance and to secure more territory for Japan on mainland Asia.

Admiral Togo Heihachiro Saneyoshi Togo Heihachiro Saneyoshi is an admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Admiral Saneyoshi spent seven years studying in Britain and thus is well versed in military strategy and tactics. The Admiral has had some experience fighting in and around China which will be extremely useful. The Japanese home fleet is a modern, numerous and immensely powerful navy, and is out of all the Alliance by far the closest major naval force to the theatre of operations and so can provide considerable support should the need arise.

Hudson Taylor, Head of the Chinese Inland Mission Hudson Taylor is the Head of the Inland Mission in China. Taylor is known to be set on converting the Chinese people, but still holds enormous respect for their cultural customs. Taylor has limited contacts within the Qing court, but great influence within the Chinese Christian community and the Christian donors in the US and Britain. Taylor also maintains contacts with many non-British missions in China and acts as a coordinator and spokesperson for their efforts.