The civil war in the Hanese Dynasty rages on and the casualties from four sides are mounting at an unprecedented rate of a hundred thousand. Journalists and military correspondents from all across the world are documenting the bloodiest civil war to date, gaining attention from the people, and causing groups to rise and advocate for peace.
But in reality, that's not going to happen soon as the four are hell-bent on vying for control of the nation that has been exploited for centuries by the western powers and their neighbors, the Yamato Empire.
Last month, an atrocious act was committed by the Boxer's faction against the foreigners living in the International Legation Quarter, prompting two of the greatest empire in the world, Deutschland Empire and the Britannia Empire, to send expeditionary forces to exact revenge on the Boxers and to the Hanese people.
Though such a thing would never happen if they have only left the International Legation Quarter despite Ruthenia clearing the first wave of Boxers.
Now, sending expeditionary forces to the Hanese dynasty could prove problematic to the Han Dynasty as they will have to divert their attention from the three factions to the invading forces. A famous quote from the United States by one of their presidents can apply to their circumstances where it was quoted as "a house divided cannot stand".
It's the perfect timing for the western powers or even the Yamato Empire to acquire more lands in the Hanese mainland, but Ruthenia is not going to allow that to happen.
Ruthenia feared that they'll be forced to share the massive resources of the Han Dynasty with the western powers. It's the only thing that is keeping Ruthenia from helping the Nationalist Party militarily.
Just in the span of one month, the Ruthenia Empire has approved giving military aid to the Nationalist Party in the form of weapons, aircraft, tanks, vehicles, and as well as military intelligence which can be used to their own advantage.
The level of technology Ruthenia is giving to them is equivalent to that of world war 2 and post-world war 2 era tech. Assault rifles that are easy and cheap to manufacture like the AK-47, radial engine aircraft such as P-51 fighter aircraft and B-17 bomber aircraft, and military vehicles from armored carrier personnel to trucks for logistics.
Of course, they are not giving them military hardware for free. The Ruthenia Empire seeks exclusive rights to mining rich mineral resources lands in some parts of the region of the Hanese Dynasty, helping the Ruthenia to industrialize rural areas of the empire for a cheaper cost.
If the Deutschland Empire or the Britannia Empire were to capture those regions, the Ruthenia Empire would be forced to take drastic measures that they don't want to do in the first place. Instead, they'll just help one faction that is aligned with their interest military and use them as a tool to kick the other factions and foreign forces out of the country.
February 10, 1929.
300 nautical miles east of the coast of Shanghai, two troopships belonging to the Deutschland Empire and one from the Britannia Empire are sailing towards the port of Shanghai. It carries thousands of fully-equipped, military-trained troops to take over Shanghai port and set up command there.
800 meters behind them was the Morzh-Class Diesel-Electric Submarine based on the Collins Class Submarines.
In the bridge deck of the submarine was Admiral Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov, one of the admirals fortunate enough to gain battle experience from the second Rutho-Yamato War.
"Sir, torpedo tube one and two is flooded and ready," one of his men informed him.
"Good, return to your station and wait for the Command Ops to give us the authorization to fire," Vasili replied and continued. "Maintain speed and bearing. I don't want those ships to be out of sight even for one second."
"Aye aye, captain."
***
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in the capital of the Deutschland Empire, Berlin. Kaiser Wilheim was entertaining himself by watching television which features a comedy-drama.
There was a knock on the door, causing Kaiser Wilheim to sit straight in his seat.
"Come in!"
The door creaked as it opened, revealing the prime minister of the Deutschland Empire, Erik.
"Mein Kaiser, sorry for the interruption but I have something I need to inform you," Erik said.
"What is it? Your tone sounds serious," Wilheim asked.
"Mein Kaiser, one of the factions in the Hanese Civil War, the Kuomintang, had detected our troopships off the coast of Shanghai. They knew our intention and demanded that we turn back. If we don't, they'll blow up our ship."
Wilheim scoffed. "Blew up our ship? Then blew the ship that is going to blow our ship!"
"It's not that easy Mein Kaiser, it's nighttime on the other side of the world and we presume that the Hanese are using submarines, possibly from the Royal Navy of the Han Dynasty. It'll be hard for our ship with no sonar to find them."
"So what are you implying? That you are going to give in to the demands of those inferior beings?" Wilheim said angrily.
Erik shook his head slightly. "Not at all Mein Kaiser, although I'm afraid we might lose those men should we take their threats lightly. The military councils had suggested to me that we use our destroyers docked in Tianjin to escort and provide security for our troopship."
"How many destroyers do we have in Tianjin?" Wilheim asked.
"We have two newly-constructed Type-1928C destroyers with state-of-the-art anti-submarines capabilities stationed there. The Hanese submarines are outdated and noisy so they'll be able to find her in time."
"Then send the two of them. How dare those Hanese, try to threaten us? They are beyond preposterous. How long will it take for our destroyers to get to the current position of our troopships?"
"A day, Mein Kaiser. The distance the destroyers have to cover is too great. Now that you have given your orders the military council will now contact the troopships to comply with the demand of the Hanese. We can't leave them there vulnerable to the threat of their submarines."
"As much as I hate to admit it, the Hanese won this one. However, it's only for a short amount of time. Very well, send them back,"
"Understood, Mein Kaiser. I'll be taking my leave now."
***
Five hours later, in St. Petersburg Winter Palace.
"The Deutschland Empire did what?" Alexander exclaimed.
"Yes, Your Majesty, you just heard it. The Deutschland Empire complied with the demands of the Hanese to stop sailing toward Shanghai. But they haven't left entirely. According to our intel, the Deutschland Empire has tasked two destroyers docked in the Tianjin port to get to the troop ships to escort them. It looks like the Deutschland is not leaving but waiting for their security to arrive. And once it arrives, they'll continue forward to Shanghai and the destroyers that are coming along with them will hunt the submarines they knew belonged to the Hanese Navy."
"What about the Britannia Empire? Did they take the warning seriously as well?" Alexander asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty, in fact, they are coordinating with the Deutschland Empire for protection against submarines as their fleet is farther than the Deutschland."
"Okay good, our plan remains the same. Should they try and come to Shanghai, blow them up as intended."
"Our submarine is trailing the troopship as we speak, Your Majesty."
