Tyranny of Steel

In the days that followed Berengar's arrival in Japan, news rapidly spread about the end of the German-Japanese war, and the political union between the two nations that would result from the upcoming marriage between the Kaiser and the Japanese Empress.

To some, this was the sign of a new golden age, where Germany's vastly superior military might would ensure an era of peace and prosperity across the globe. However, for others, this was the worst possible scenario that could have occurred after the war had come to an end.

In the city of Beijing, within the forbidden palace, Emperor Zhu Wudi sat upon his throne, with a rather uncomfortable expression on his face. Standing before him were many of his court advisors, including his eldest son, and heir Zhu Zhi. These advisors were currently in a fierce debate about how the Ming Dynasty should respond to this sudden news.

"Contrary to what we expected, the Imperial Japanese Military proved to be nothing more than a minor nuisance to the German Empire. In less than a year, the war has come to an end, while the Germans have suffered no serious damage. Instead, their economy appears to be stronger than it has ever been, while their military is in its most advanced state.

While Japan has been thoroughly bombed into submission, their Empress has not been held accountable for her crimes, and instead the Germans have pinned the blame for all her actions on the late General Shiba Kiyohiko. Who, as we all know, had conveniently been killed off before he could stand trial and assert his innocence.

If such a thing was not bad enough, then perhaps the worst to come from this whole conflict is the fact that he Kaiser has actually chosen to marry the Japanese Empress as his fifth and final wife, and in doing so, he intends to help rebuild the country after the catastrophic damage it has suffered. If such a thing is allowed to persist, then it will only be a matter of time before Japan eclipses our influence over the eastern world."

Zhu Zhi was quick to add to this point before his father could give his opinion.

"It would also appear that we were incapable of smuggling any talented individuals out of Japan during the chaos that ensued after Shiba's coup. The German blockade was simply impenetrable, and as a result we have not achieved our real aim of acquiring Japanese scientists and engineers to help advance our Empire.

I am afraid that with the economic support of the Reich, and the military aid which the Japanese will receive once the German occupation ends, the Japanese Empire will become the dominant power in the East, even if they are forbidden by the terms of their treaty to aggressively expand their borders. Our economy simply can not compete with either of the two industrial powers."

Zhu Wudi took all of this into consideration, as he sat upon his throne and thought about a valid solution to the problems the Ming Dynasty currently faced. Though they had been neutral throughout the majority of the conflict, and even supported the Reich behind the scenes towards the end, there was no reason to believe that Germany would support the Ming Dynasty over the Japanese Empire in this potential trade war. Especially not after the marriage between Berengar and Itami was concluded.

Thus, after carefully examining the problem for some time, Zhu Wudi came up with a drastic solution to the crisis that his dynasty was currently facing. One that had shocked both his eldest son and all his advisors.

"It would appear that my worst fears have been realized. This union between the Kaiser and the Japanese Empress will create a new stranglehold of German influence over the eastern world. Japan is now nothing more than a puppet of the Reich, like so many other nations in this world. Germany will use Japan as a naval base, and by doing so will police the Sea of Japan.

It was already bad enough that the Joseon submitted to these golden haired foreigners, but now with Japan beneath their boot, the Germans will control the world's trade without resistance. Soon enough, the Germans will be exporting their ideals to our own country, like they are currently doing to Japan and the Joseon.

If we wish to remain an independent nation, with our own culture and civilization, then we have no choice but to shut down all maritime trade, and rely on our tributaries for economic support. Henceforth, I am expelling all German citizens from the Ming Dynasty and closing our maritime borders so that neither the Germans nor their Japanese proxies can spread their imperialistic influence to our lands!"

Both Zhu Zhi and his father's many advisors broke out into a fit when they heard these words. Close down their maritime borders? The people of the Ming Dynasty were already well accustomed to German goods, and there was still a healthy tea trade to the western world via their trade routes with the Reich. Such a thing would have terrible consequences for their economy.

Not to mention the fact that the Ming Military was already heavily reliant on German weapons and munitions. If they cut all trade with the Reich, then it would mean the eventual collapse of Ming military influence outside their borders. Unless, of course, they were somehow able to purchase the goods from the Joseon instead.

However, when compared with the idea of becoming the next subject in the German Sphere of Influence, both Zhu Zhi, and all of his father's advisors, agreed that a stagnating economy, and being forced to rely on their own military industrial complex was a better alternative.

At the end of the day, Zhu Wudi was the current Emperor, and his word was law, thus after squabbling amongst themselves for some time, the Ming advisors bowed humbly before their monarch, and submitted to his will.

Word immediately spread to the fatherland about the Ming Dynasty's decision to expel all Germans from their borders, and to close all maritime trade. As a result, Linde quickly became concerned about the collapse of the tea trade, which was a major luxury item which the people of the Reich had become reliant on.

As a woman who was quick on her feet, Linde almost immediately dispatched an order to her agents that were still within the Ming Dynasty's borders to secure a variety of tea plants and transport them to the Indian Empire.

Thus, while the chaos was unfolding across the Ming Dynasty as a result of the new isolationist policies that were being implemented. The German agents who had not yet been expelled quickly found their way to the markets of Beijing, where they purchased as many tea plants as possible. The idea was to bring all the types of tea that the Germans enjoyed, to the Indian Empire, and grow them there.

After all, the Indian Empire was a subordinate State of the Reich, and thus Germany would no longer have to pay a premium to get access to tea. Instead, it could be sold back to the fatherland for pfennigs on the mark.

The Ming Dynasty had no idea that by expelling the Germans from their borders, that they would bring with them the means to start their own tea industry abroad, and thus cut many of the profits that the Ming would have otherwise made as the primary grower and exporter of tea to their tributaries.

Before the Ming officials could even inspect the German ships which were carrying their diplomats and agents back to the Reich, they had already set off for the shores of India with a cargo hold full of a variety of tea plants.

Thus, before Berengar could even receive word of the Ming Dynasty's sudden actions, Linde had already acted on his behalf, and secured the tea trade for the Reich. Something he would reward her for in the coming days.