see Part One of the Journal

 

 

Modern Juncture

 

 

Friday, 21 November, 2008

 

... Nanjing, China, about 11 pm local time.  The portal is a pumping station within a small park in an industrial zone; another pair of Jammers (Cheng and "Bob" Ma) are waiting in a drab commercial building across from the park. These Jammers have collected everything they can in the last four days, to fulfill the PSOs equipment needs. The PSOs view some Internet pages with interest. "The economy in the tank? We're declared dead? Obama elected? Gay marriage banned in California? Wow."

 

 

One of the local Jammers drives the PSOs to a MacDonalds for late dinner. There's a surprising number of chicken and pork products on the menu, but our homesick PSOs order about 25 "Number 3" meals:   a double cheeseburger, large fries, medium soft drink. The foods are consumed ravenously while the Jammers drive them to a "love hotel":

 

 

The PSOs sample the decadence and delights of commercial Chinese titilation, and quickly fall asleep. About half of the porn channels have digitally scrambled "explicit" images, anyway; and some of the PSOs are feeling ill from a combination of Hell, reading the news, alcohol, and MacDonald's food.

 

 

Saturday, 21 November, 2008

 

The PSOs meet the Jammers at noon in the bar!

  

There's a lot of discussion about equipment, gear, etc.; the Nanking Jammers get their "marching orders" for gathering stuff from their bent pharmacists, other Jammers in Hong Kong, the airsoft store, etc. They're gonna take the PSOs to the airsoft store to pick and choose clothing and load bearing equipment. "It's great, all your commando stuff!"

 

Stuff from Hong Kong can be in Nanking tomorrow mid-morning. Also at lunch, the Jammers provide the PSOs with plain-old cell phones, 2056-era "currency cards", and a couple of telephone numbers (one in 2008 Australia, one at an unknown location in the 2056 world). "Call these numbers and leave a message, if you show up somewhere unexpectedly." Besides all that, you get the positions of a dozen portals in the 1900 Juncture, plus a few in the 1018, 2008, and 2056 Juncture.

 

Frank spends a few hours reading books, the internet, etc. in regards to the Boxer Rebellion. The other PSOs are shopping.

 

 

Sunday, 22 November, 2008

 

The supplies from Hong Kong show up, the PSOs measure, divide, check, etc. and pack for their trip.

 

Monday, 23 November, 2008

 

The PSOs depart for the Boxer Juncture, but change their mind about which Portal to use after a sat-phone call from a Mysterious Friend.

 

Summary:  Here's a list of the latest known high-value Feng Shui sites in northeast China.

 

• Forbidden City, Peking:  mixed Imperial, Hand and Ascended control
• Mount Wutai, aka Wutai Shan (39 0' N, 113 35' E):  Ascended control
• Mount Heng, aka Heng Shan (38 35' N, 112 54' E), Hand control
• Mount Tai, aka Tai Shan (36 15' N, 117 06' E), Hand control, very powerful
• Mount Song, aka Song Shan (34 29' N, 112 57' E), controlled by the "neutral" Shaolin Monastery
• Mount Jiuhua, aka Jiihua Shan (30 15' N, 118 10' E), Ascended control

 

What's your goal in this?

What are peace, justice, freedom and liberty worth to you? Your lives, your country, your history?

The Jammers' three-part plan:

 

• remove Feng Shui in the 1019 Juncture, at Mount Ararat on March 25, 1019
  • check on how that turned out
  • everyone moves around for a day or two, to their final Junctures
• set the strangelet bomb in Hell (Gate Ripper portal from Ararat)
  • only the toughest, most dedicated Jammers, it's a suicide mission
  • Battlechimp Potemkin will lead them
  • presume portals may reset or disappear
• activate King Kong in 1019 Africa
  • the Ape Factory is already set up there at an "undisclosed location"
  • pretty much all remaining apes, scientists will be there

 

Gotta stop part 3. You'll need transport within the 1019 Juncture, I have a Soviet SADM; it'll get to you. The mercenaries guarding and transporting it don't know about the Secret War, and I doubt they'd do as well as you.

 

RA-115 special atomic demolition munition. Weight 30 kg (two 15 kg components), mechanical delay timer for 5 minutes to 24 hours. 0.5 to 2 kiloton dial-a-yield. Continual maintenance is a chore -- the tritium-deuterium gas supply (a few grams) needs to be replaced every six months. Less tritium-deuterium gas = less yield. One of 132 KGB-Spetsnaz bombs gone missing in the 90s.

 

The Boxer Juncture

 

 

June 30, 1900

 

The PSOs arrive in China, at an abandoned village about 40 miles northwest of Peking. The two local Jammers, Louis and Moray Murray, help them stash their cache. McClellan visits the nearby town of Tchang-Phing, attends a Boxer indoctrination ceremony, buys four riding horses and two pack horses.

 

In Peking, Imperial forces open fire on the legation defenders with a 3" Krupp gun. Smallpox, dysentery and typhoid are running wild through the Chinese Christians in the legation area -- and to some extent among the Europeans. Several of the wounded will succumb to tetanus, as well.

 

Terrific rainstorms pound Peking and the surrounding areas:  "torrents of rain, a fierce driving wind, and blinding lightning." Even so, daytime temperatures are reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. Cigar and cigarette smoking are quite common among the legation defenders, to deal with the terrific stench of rotting corpses.

 

July 1, 1900

 

Chinese soldiers appear on the eastern end of the Tartar Wall; the Germans on the wall promptly flee. The Americans must retire from the walls as well, with Chinese troops at their read. A force of Russians, British and American troops storm the wall and re-take the positions.

 

July 2, 1900

 

Arriving near Peking, the PSOs cache their extra gear in an abandoned farm a couple miles from the outer walls. Leaving Hobbes to watch the horses and gear, the other three PSOs creep around the city. They notice with dismay the numerous Imperial troops and bands of Boxers. They climb over the wall, creep along the deserted streets, and observe the late-night siege activities. Seeing an opportunity, they dash along the top of the wall between the Tartar City and the Native City, and leap into the waiting arms of a couple of American marines.

 

It's a busy night on the Tartar wall; American, British and Russian troops are all present.

 

Captain Myer's report includes: 

 

"Gunner's Mate (First Class) Joseph Mitchell, U.S.S. Newark, who operated the Colt gun with the utmost courage and skill under the heaviest fire; he also, with the assistance of Mr. Squiers, put in working order and later used successfully an old brass cannon which had been dug up inside our lines [in late June]; he also captured a flag under peculiarly hazardous circumstances, on which I will later make a special report. A group of American civilians made their way into the Legation area, along the Tartar wall; they have come from central Asia on an exploratory expedition."

 

July 3, 1900

 

After midnight, Captain J. T. Myers, USMC leads a charge along the Tartar wall to drive the Chinese further down and to destroy some new fortification work. The PSOs help destroy a slowly-approaching siege machine. Captain Newt Hall takes command, as Myers is wounded during the night action (he ran into an iron spear embedded in a wall, seriously gouging up his thigh).

 

Captain Hall's report: 

 

"I was called about 2.30 a.m., July 3, 1900, and informed that you were wounded, and went on the wall and took command until relieved by Captain Von Strauss about 3.30 or 4 a.m. At his request I took charge of the old barricade, making a passage through it for the men, and strengthening the rear side (Ha-ta-men side) of the barricade. I remained on the wall until ordered down by you at 11.30 a.m. It was raining continuously, and heavy fire from the enemy during the entire time. The American, Russian, and British marines were at work on the barricade that you took and the old barricade, the Chinese laborers being afraid to work under the enemy's fire."

 

Into Peking, the PSOs meet the besieged Europeans. First Secretary Squires of the American Embassy especially attracts their attention -- he's a member of the Ascended! 

 

July 4, 1900.

 

Before dawn, the PSOs sneak out through the water-gate, and pass through the burnt ruins of the Chinese city. By dawn, they are in the Imperial Hunting Preserve, south of the city. The heat and humidity are still staggering. After sunset, they find the damaged railway line, and begin moving parallel to the track. The stations and bridges are burnt, and the corpses of railway employees are mostly picked to bones by vultures and dogs.

 

Within the legations, Harriet Squiers gives an Independence Day party for the American children.

 

Captain Hall's report:

 

"Intermittent and slack fire by the enemy during the day. Asian expedition members moved out along the Jade River before dawn. Occupied in building barricades. Private Woods was wounded at the head of the east ramp by a stray bullet."

 

July 5, 1900

 

Moving south, more or less parallel to the railway, the PSOs camp at dawn, and begin moving again after dark. During the day, while filtering more water at a river, feral dogs threaten the group briefly.

 

Fifty men are in the hospital at the British legation.

 

July 6, 1900

 

"The Chinese made an attack upon Tientsin this morning. They opened fire with artillery at four a.m. Their attack was developed from the east. They had twelve guns in action. The allied forces replied with three 12-pounders from the Terrible, and afterwards a force of 1,000 men, composed of detachments of the different European forces marched out to attack the Chinese, under cover of the naval field guns. The Chinese eventually were compelled to retire , at one o'clock. Mr. Mackenzie's godown was fired by a shell. The Chinese worked their guns well, and the shell fire they kept up upon the European settlement was very accurate."

 

The PSOs can hear the artillery ... The first American troops from overseas arrive at Taku -- mostly the 9th Infantry from the Phillipines plus a battalion of Marines.

 

July 7, 1900

 

"All noncombatants have been ordered to leave Tientsin, but most of the able-bodied civilians remain voluntarily, assisting in the defence of the city, and at the full disposal of the military authorities. Chinese continue sniping, often shelling the settlements. They are extending their lines along the canal to the north-eastward and appearing in greater force to the west of the city. Yesterday we bombarded the city and the immediate suburbs, which stopped the Chinese gun fire for some time. The French settlement and the railway station are most subject to attack. To-day another bombardment will take place as yesterday. Am steadily getting more guns up. Ten thousand troops now here, and more required. Both Russians and Japanese are expected."

 

To avoid Chinese armies, the PSOs travel wide around Tientsin. Admiral Alexieff arrives from Port Arthur with more troops.

 

Meanwhile, in Peking, an old iron muzzle-loading cannon is found neglected in a foundry; an American gunner, Sergeant Mitchell, fixes it up and attaches it to an Italian carriage. Russian fixed-case 12-pdr shells, useless up until now, are found to fit - they are disassembled and the propellant is loaded manually into the bore, followed by the shell. The gun has terrific recoil, and produces huge clouds of black sooty smoke when fired; but the "International Gun" proves very useful.

 

Unfortunately, ammunition for the other heavy weapons is running short:  only 14 rounds remain for the Italian 1-pdr, and cartridges are being made from all manner of materials.

 

The Chinese have only brought about ten guns into action, and only two have been modern weapons (3" Krupp breechloaders).

 

July 8, 1900.

 

Captain von Thomann is killed by an artillery shell which strikes him full in the chest, while defending the French legation.

 

The PSOs arrive at Taku, and are interviewed by General Dorward and the other Allied commanders (Col. Fukushima for Japan, General Lineivitch and Admiral Alexieff for Russia, Lt. Colonel Robert Meade USMC for the US). The urgency of the situation is made clear, and the Allied generals plan the immediate reduction of Tientsin.

 

The American 9th Infantry Regiment is entirely ashore at Taku.

 

July 9, 1900

 

"HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES,

Tientsin, China, July 9, 1900.

    SIR: We made the attack on the Chinese right flank this morning at about 6 a.m. My force was on the right flank of our line. We drove the enemy steadily to the westward, and finally the flanking party, our marines and some sailors (Japanese), entered the arsenal together. We were subjected to a heavy shell fire but had no casualties, although the shells exploded overhead and among men for an hour.

    Chinese losses about 500 -- I think more. Japanese cavalry and artillery did excellent work. Our losses were about 45, of which 7 were killed.

    The arsenal was so badly wrecked that no garrison was left in charge.

    Three miles of the line to the westward entirely clear of Chinese. My prisoners say that Boxers lost so heavily last rain that they fell back to the westward that day. Last rain was on Friday.

    Report as to the capture of Nieh's family by Boxers is confirmed by prisoners. At the same time, they say the troops we fought to-day were his (Nieh's).

    Ma's troops on the other side of the river confronting Russians.

    I think it more than probable that we will make a general attack on the city to-morrow.

    The firing and fire discipline of our men was expert to-day. Fifty of them controlled and overpowered the fire of the enemy while our artillery was passing over a bridge. I was thanked by three different nations for the work of our men. I am glad to say that they are well and fit as fiddles for any work.

     We still need artillery and cavalry very much.

     Some political questions may arise in a day or two and I shall report them immediately. At the same time I am being governed entirely by the Secretary's instructions. The grave situation in Peking has been confirmed by the encoded messages from Mr. Conger and other ministers, brought by several American civilians yesterday - members of a trans-Asian expedition, which came out of the interior only last week. General Namaguchi strongly urges an immediate advance, past Tientsin, to relieve Peking.

     Chinese shelling from the east did great damage. I have secured quarters for the Ninth entirely out of line of fire. Everything else under fire. My barracks struck again to-day.

          Very respectfully,

LITTLETON W.T. WALLER, 

Major, U.S.M.C., Commanding Battalion.

 

THE SECOND IN COMMAND,

United States Naval Forces, Asiatic Station."

 

 

 The American 9th Infantry Regiment begins marching towards Tientsin. First use of the International Gun:

 

"Mr. Squiers promptly took a great interest in this ancient piece of ordnance, hoping that we might make some use of it. He, with Mitchell, a gunner's mate from the Newark, have worked assiduously in their efforts to clean off the rust of forty years and get it ready for use. During the cleaning process they made projectiles of bags of nails. They took the " International," as the gun was christened, over to the Fu and fired the bags of nails at a Chinese barricade, thus serving the double purpose of cleaning the gun and causing some damage and immense flight to the enemy. The noise of the explosion was so much greater than anything the Chinese had heard coming from our lines that five sentries incautiously put their heads above the Imperial Wall to ascertain what was going on, and were promptly shot down by our guards."

 

Temperature 109 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade at the legations. The Austrian charge d'affaires, von Rosthorn, is wounded while taking part in the defense of the French legation.

 

July 11, 1900

 

A Chinese courier is sent to Peking, with coded messages for the ministers. In part:  "We have met with American couriers, who have communicated your position. Expect Allied forces to advance from coast before month ends."

 

July 12, 1900

 

The PSOs depart for Peking again. The Allied troops have gathered at Tientsin for the "last push".

 

Captain Hall's report, in Peking:

 

"Sniping on the part of the enemy. I was ordered to build a barricade at the far end of the first bastion on the Ha-ta-men side about 100 yards from our barricade; build about half of it during the night; almost no shots fired by the enemy; a few volleys fired by us, on request of the German commanding officer, at the enemy's barricade on the wall in the rear of the German legation. About 12.30 p.m., at the request of Baron Rahden, the Russian commanding officer, I sent one corporal and four privates to protect his men while they were occupied in tearing down some burned buildings and went with them. There was very little firing by us, as the enemy did not open fire upon the Russians until they had finished working and were coming back to their legation".

 

Friday, July 13, 1900

 

Four Chinese 3" Krupp guns shell the Fu from just 150 yards away. At 4 p.m. the Chinese attack the legations on all sides. At about 6 p.m. two underground blasts destroy much of the French legation. 5 of the defenders are killed, and 10 wounded, this day. 

 

The Allied armies (5,650 men) under Brigadier-General Dorward attack the Chinese forces in Tientsin (30,000 men) before 3 a.m.; at 5:45 am the Chinese magazines in town explode very violently. Marine Lieutenant Smedley Butler is wounded during the assault. The Allied troops pass the night very close to the enemy positions.

 

July 14, 1900 - Bastille Day

 

Sergeant Mitchell, the Marine gunner, jumps out to the Chinese barricades and wrests a black Boxer flag away from the Chinese, thumbs his nose at the Chinese, and dives back to the friendly lines.

 

The Allied forces walk into Tientsin, pretty much unopposed -- the Chinese forces have fled during the night. A Japanese soldier is sent by Brigadier-General Dorward with messages for Peking, confirming possession of Tientsin, and advising that the Allies will advance to Peking within a fortnight.

 

The Chinese government delivers a note to the Legations (from "Prince Ching and others"), requesting the foreigners to leave Peking.

 

July 15, 1900

 

More barricade-building atop the Tartar Wall by the Americans. At one point Marine private Dan Daly is the only man guarding the wall for several hours under heavy fire.

 

Captain Hall's report:

 

"I was informed that the barricade was not far enough along the wall and was requested to build another. At my request, Mr. H.G. Squiers, first secretary to the United States legation, went on the wall with me to show me the exact place at which it was desired to build the barricade--the far end of the bastion about 100 yards from our last barricade and yards from the enemy's barricade. I took Private Daly with me about 9 p.m., and went out to reconnoiter the bastion with the understanding if we were not attacked the coolies were to come out with sand bags, under charge of Privates Carr and Upham ten minutes later. As the coolies did not come at the appointed time, Private Daly asked permission to remain in the bastion while I returned for the coolies. I did not wish to leave one man in the bastion as there were stray shots flying along the wall from the front and rear and the Joss temple west of the legation. Finally, feeling sure that there was a misunderstanding in regard to the coolies, I left Private Daly and returned to the barricade for the coolies and found out that the interpreter first sent up with them could not understand English and that Mr. Dossberg, secretary of the Belgian legation had just arrived and was starting for the bastion in which I had left Private Daly. I sent out Privates Carr and Upham with the coolies and went back to our first barricade to send the rest of the men to the barricade built on the night of the 12th."

 

July 16, 1900.

 

The PSOs arrive back in Peking before dawn. Captain Strouts, commander of the Royal Marines in Peking, leads a party of men to provide a relief for the Japanese forces in the Fu this morning; he is wounded returning to the British legation (shot through the femoral artery in the thigh) but is saved by the medical supplies of the PSOs. Mr. Morrison, the Times correspondent, is wounded during the same incident. Captain Wray replaces Captain Strouts for now.

 

A steady rain begins that day; fleas and mosquitoes are added to the innumerable flies and cockroaches in the legations.

 

That evening, another message is received from the Chinese government; it claims that Imperial troops within Peking are engaged in road-mending (not barricade construction) and requests that the foreigners refrain from killing Chinese, and promises that the government will "keep order and give protection." The messenger also carries coded telegrams -- the American one, dated July 11, reads in part: 

 

"We have met with American couriers, who have communicated your situation. Expect Allied forces to advance from coast before month ends."

 

The legations agree to a cease-fire with the Chinese.

 

Map from the 1900 Encyclopedia Britannica

 

Captain Hall's report:

 

"An armistice was made with the enemy. Sick. Private Fisher killed about 9.30 a.m."

 

The PSOs creep out of the legations, and move stealthily about Peking's streets. O'Reilly manages to enter the Peitang cathedral and talks to Bishop Favier.

 

July 17, 1900.

 

After midnight, the PSOs set off the powder supply for a mine near the Peitang.

 

Mr. Squiers is made Sir Claude's "chief of staff" for the defense of the legations.

 

Despite the armistice, firing can be heard from the direction of the Pietang (the Catholic cathedral) within the Imperial City. Both sides take advantage of the cease-fire to improve their barricades and other defenses. The Japanese begin buying rifles from Boxers and Imperial troops for $15 each. Only 1,000 cases of champagne remain to the defenders; soda water is more valuable!

 

The Japanese courier arrives from Tientsin, confirming that the Allies now hold that city, and that a relief force will advance towards Peking beginning on July 20th. Edwin Conger sends a young Chinese courier with coded messages to the coast:  "For one month we have been besieged in British Legation under continued shot and shell from Chinese soldiers. Quick relief only can prevent general massacre."

 

Russian (under General Lineivitch) and Japanese troops (under Lt. General Yamaguchi) begin advancing along the railway line from Tientsin, towards Peking, with little coordination (actually more of a race). Each force has about 3,000 men; both commanders feel the other nation are as much the enemy as the Chinese.

 

Captain Hall's report:

 

"Sick."

 

July 18, 1900

 

The Japanese and Russian troops confront and defeat Chinese forces at Peitsang. British, American and other Allied forces are still gathering transport and waiting for reinforcements in Tientsin. A messenger arrives at the legations, send on July 15th from the Japanese consul at Tientsin:

 

"... he hoped the large foreign contingent of soldiers would get started by the 20th for the relief of Peking ; he hoped there would be 24,000 Japanese, 6,000 Russians, 3,000 British, and 1,500 Americans ; and that the Chinese city of Tien-tsin had been burnt, but not the foreign settlement."

 

Captain Hall's report:

 

"Sick."

 

July 19, 1900

 

The PSOs creep out to their cache outside of Peking, and retrieve more supplies -- including two claymore mines. Chinese forces at Yangtsun hold out for several hours against uncoordinated Japanese and Russian assaults. Several incidents of "friendly fire" occur between the Russians and Japanese before the town is taken.

 

In Peking, the Dowager Empress sends the legations

 

"... three carts full of melons, six bags of flour, egg-plants, and an uneatable Chinese vegetable — no eggs, no ice, or fruit, except the unripe melons."

 

Captain Hall's report:

 

"Quiet. A few stray shots during the day."

 

July 20, 1900

 

The Japanese move out early in the morning, along the Peiho River, followed an hour or so later by the Russians. The July 17th message from Edwin Conger reaches Tientsin.

 

July 21, 1900

 

Captain John Myers is well enough again to resume command of the American marines in Peking. Messages are sent covertly out from the Peking legations, toward the coast (they arrive about July 27th). The American message:

 

"PEKIN, July 21, 1900.

DEAR RAGSDALE: Have been besieged in British legation five weeks under continued fire from Chinese troops, but since 16th, by agreement, there has been no firing. Fifty marines of all nations have been killed, and more wounded.

 

          We have provisions for several weeks, but little ammunition. If they continue to shell us as they have done, we can't hold out long. Complete massacre will follow. Hope relief can come soon. Glad to hear victory at Tientsin, but regret its terrible cost.

 

          Hope you are all safe and will send cipher by bearer.

E. H. CONGER"

The British message:

 

"BRITISH LEGATION, Pekin, July 21.

          From June 20 to July 16 repeated attacks by Chinese troops on all sides, both rifle fire and artillery, including two 3-inch Krupp guns.

          Since July 16, armistice, but cordon strictly drawn, both sides strengthening positions.

          We hold at present following line: Two hundred yards wall Tartar City south of American legation, Russian and British legations half of park opposite east of latter, also French and German legations; all outside this line burnt and ruins held by Chinese, whose barricades are close to ours.

          All women and children in British legation. Food sufficient for fortnight at most. Ammunition running short.

          Casualties to date 62 killed, including David Oliphant, Warren, and double that number wounded in hospital, including Strouts (captain of marines), Halliday (captain of marines). Rest of legation all well.

          Important that relief force, when near, should advance rapidly to prevent attack on legations by retreating Chinese forces.

          Yesterday we refused a renewed demand to leave Pekin and proceed to Tientsin.

MACDONALD,

British Minister."

July 23, 1900

 

Li Peng-Heng arrives in Peking, and meets with the Dowager Empress.

 

July 24, 1900

 

Bloody purges take place among the Imperial officials at Peking. The Guiding Hand prepares to attack the legations.

 

July 25, 1900 (= December 18, 2008 = February 7, 1019)

 

The Japanese and Russian forces arrive at the fortified city of Tungchow, 15 miles east of Peking. Their supplies are low (especially ammunition), and contact with the coast is irregular. The town is taken after a bitter fight, but by nightfall the Imperial army has beseiged the city. The Russo-Japanese force has lost a few hundred men as combat casualties, but about 2400 men to disease; many of these men are in Tungchow, as they could not be sent back nor left behind.

 

Attacks and bombardment of the Legation quarter in Peking begins again (after the 9-days-long armistice), including fire from a couple of 3" Krupp guns mounted on the Imperial city walls. The PSOs, stationed at the barricades at the west end of Legation Street, help to stop a Chinese assault after dark.

 

 

American troops begin arriving at Taku from the Phillipines. British, American and other Allied troops fight Imperial forces north of Yangtsun, along the river, trying to re-open the supply line to the Japanese and Russians.

 

July 26, 1900

 

Troopships from India (via Singapore) arrive at Taku, bringing General Gaselee also. General Namaguchi dies of heart failure brought on by disease, heat and exhaustion; Colonel Fukushima is now in command of the Japanese forces in Tungchow. A message is sent by a Japanese courier to the Legations.

 

on to Part Three of the Journal