“As military defeats in Ginzhu ramps up, the North Hebeian government collapsed again! Tanks and military trucks of the Hebei Republican Army stormed government institutions in North Hebei’s capital, Shanzu. Members of the Hebeian Legislative Council from the Hebei Republican Party, including President Dai Zhou and the members of the Dai Cabinet, have been forced to step down at gunpoint. A purge of officials believed to be a part of the more moderate ‘Shanzu Clique’ is reportedly ongoing. In its place, the remaining members of the Hebeian Legislative Council, who are all from the Nationalist Part of Hebei, the rival of the now-banned Hebei Republican Party, voted to replace President Dai Zhou with General Huang Shikai, one of the leading figures of the previously discredited militarist faction of the Hebeian Republic. One of his first acts is to once again reinstate the national ban on magic, which was previously reversed by the Hebei Legislative Council.”

  - Midori Imperial Herald

  +++

  North Hebei

  Shanzu City

  January 24, 2026

  The newly-christened “President of the Republic of Hebei”, General Huang Shikai, walked with practiced steps through the halls of the Imperial Palace. Outside, the city itself was in a state of emergency lockdown, with soldiers of the republican army and the police force keeping the civilian population in order.

  It was a perfectly bloodless coup, something which President Huang had long wanted ever since the incompetent dogs of his old friend, Dai Zhou, took over the militarist-led government after the failed 2nd Battle for Ginzhu.

  How amusing. Shikai laughed as the officers gathered before him gave him a salute, as he entered the room where the Presidential cabinet met. One of the soldiers opened the door, and inside, were the gathered members of the Dai Cabinet, all of them effectively powerless and out of office. We lost power because of Ginzhu and regained it again because of it.

  “Gentlemen,” Shikai spoke with a cheery grin as he took his seat. “It would appear that the situation changed drastically. You fumbled the bag with the battle down south, but at least you all have enough guts not to keep standing in those positions you think you can run. Now, I’d like to give you all a chance, and unite the revolution at last.”

  “Spare us the grandstanding, Shikai,” the older man, Dai Zhou replied. Like Huang Shikai, Dai Zhou was in his late forties, forty-seven specifically, born just a year before Huang Shikai. “At this point, that little childish stunt you did is not where my concerns lie. My concerns lie in your plans about winning this war.”

  “Is that so?” Shikai asked. He leaned forward, chuckling a bit. “Who would have thought that you would give up power so easily? I’m still surprised you ordered the republican guard to stand down.”

  “The winds have changed. Even I can recognize that,” Zhou replied. “Now, tell me what your plan is, and why you think you can do better than me when you surround us with fools that led us into this civil war in the first place.”

  “Fools? They are good men, who want to reinvigorate the nation—”

  “Then why are you here, Shikai? Why are you still asking us to join you in administering the state? It’s a weak display to remove us only to take some of us back in.”

  “I see it as an act of rational mercy,” Shikai replied with a shrug. “Besides, it’s a bit difficult to place my allies in the military in civilian positions.”

  Zhou laughed at that, nodding with a smug grin.

  “As I had expected,” the former president patted the table, amused. “Such a grand display from you only to lead to this. I see. I know that the fools from the military are quite inept at running a state. It’s why Larissa, Poznek, Lombardia, and even the Federalists at Orland keep replacing their ministers and cabinets.”

  Shikai sighed at that. It was true—his goal here was to gain access to the ministers gathered in the room, and place some of them into important positions, not military ones, but civilian ones.

  “Well, there’s the option of letting the women in too,” Shikai said. “But it’s a bit unpalatable at the moment.”

  “I understand, I understand,” the former president replied. “Well, I have but one concession needed if you want to gain the support of my allies. Reverse the ban on magic.”

  “That’s a bit of a non-negotiable,” Shikai rebuked. “My generals will not have it. They have evidence that many women are banding together to oppose us internally, in another internal insurrection.”

  “They already did that once, because our first policy was to remove them from a power they rely on each day,” Zhou frowned. “It is foolish to continue that policy. The empress down south will have no reason ever to surrender if we keep it too. It’s an idea that will forever tear our nation apart.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “We’ll be in a deadlock in this case aren’t we?”

  “Well, you can rule alone if you please,” Zhou replied. “Just, if you mess up, don’t be surprised if you’re replaced by someone else. Your generals are watching, any mistake, will be your downfall.”

  As if I didn’t know that.

  “I will release all those that I purged from the administration,” Shikai said. “But if I smell an ounce of insurrection from your ranks—”

  “Look, we have more in common with each other, compared to the other generals in the Army,” Zhou said. “You’d do better to realize that your allies and enemies have now shifted. In fact, I think you’ll find it more likely that we moderates would like to support you in keeping the more troubling elements in your ranks at bay.”

  “I see,” Shikai frowned. “Then let us try to create a new stable government together.”

  “Sure, let’s discuss the rest then, old friend.”

  And soon, hours passed, as President Huang and former President Dai discussed the main problem faced by North Hebei—the various cliques that threaten revolutionary unity.

  +++

  West Orland

  November Palace

  “So their government just collapsed again,” Amelie asked as they dined. Walter, Jacqueline, Adelaide, and even William all continued eating, as Amelie’s bewildered reaction grew. “...I swear, it’s so tiring how every time we push them into defeat they turn this way.”

  “The same thing already happened in the Federal Republic,” Marie, who was present at the dinner meeting, said. The leader of the RIU demurely patted her lips with her handkerchief, before continuing. “President Rimpler just sacked multiple of his top officials, replacing them with new ones. We’ve only found that out recently.”

  “Why?”

  “Incompetence? Corruption? That’s what my teams gathered, though it’s all most likely just accusations or what else,” Marie said, taking a drink from her glass of water. “I think it tracks anyway. Most of our enemies are, truthfully, unstable governments.”

  “Factionalism runs deeply through all revolutionary movements,” Walter explained. “The only thing truly holding these guys together is the fact that they hate the old order, and want to see it burn. Based on their behavior, I imagine even if they win, they’ll just turn on each other afterward instead.”

  “I mean, they’re already doing it,” Jacqueline said. “It’s like all of them are power-hungry fools.”

  “Maybe,” Amelie sighed. “Then again, I can’t say I blame them.”

  “Why?” Jacqueline asked.

  “These are military men that never tasted an ounce of control in their lives,” Amelie mumbled. “For the first time, they’re not just taking orders. They can seize power and give orders themselves. But all they know is how to take power, they probably don’t have an idea how to truly wield it outside of crudely copying our methods.”

  “That’s true,” Walter said. “If there’s one thing I believe the regimes you women created, is that it’s damn efficient at keeping us in line. Hence it lasted for centuries. These guys are no administrators though. That’s why they apply and enforce the law in confusing manners. They gun down anyone who opposes them, and many of those under them view their leaders as temporary relics that they can replace when the opportunity arises. It’s a disorderly attempt to maintain order.”

  Amelie took a sip of her juice, frowning further.

  “I’ve been entertaining the idea of a peace deal that’ll let some of these countries keep their revolutionary governments for a while,” Amelie said. “If they can somehow show us that they’re not going to oppress their people and that they’ll stop their aggression, then…then it would be a worthy endeavor. But that relies on having someone that’ll keep the deals in effect staying.”

  “Good luck with that,” Walter laughed. “It’s why we’re in total war right now. Even if you manage to get a peace treaty out of them, if I know one thing about us men, is that papers mean nothing to us. Laws, treaties, and institutions, they’re all just bendable tools that can be broken and enforced selectively. They’re not going to respect it.”

  “I know,” Amelie said. “Hah…we’re paying way too much for the sins of the past.”

  She lowered her cutlery on the table and settled her back on the chair.

  “Even when we’re winning in Hebei and Kusari for a fair bit, it’s all still so distant,” she complained. “I know this war is going to continue for years, but still…if we can just have a decisive victory that’ll make them surrender…”

  “It’s never going to happen,” William blankly said as he cut through his steak. “You’re deluding yourself.”

  “I know,” Amelie gently smiled. “Still, I want to dream a bit at least. Goddess, this war has already dragged on for so long, millions have already died. Millions more are about to die. I hope I can find a way out.”

  “We still have no idea how to even push to Eirhow to this day,” Jacqueline said. “We’re still on the defensive at home. Even if we win outside, it won’t be over so easily.”

  “At the very least, we've stabilized our ranks and our team,” Walter said, grinning. “That’s already enough of an advantage over these fools. Through Amelie’s maneuvers, we have a highly united and responsive MN. Our allies believe in the cause. Our nations are largely stabilizing. Even Gallia is doing the same.”

  “Who knew trying to reform your country will make your people finally follow you,” Jacqueline huffed. “If only we started this thing ages ago, none of this would have happened.”

  “Past is past, it’s pointless to ruminate about it,” Walter shrugged. “I personally have even more grudges about it, but we shouldn’t keep being down. With the victories we’re racking up, I believe the future is starting to look up.”

  Amelie finally smiled.

  “Is that so, Deputy Prime Minister?” Amelie asked. “Quite surprising that someone like you seems a bit more hopeful instead of being jaded.”

  “Can you blame me?” he asked. “I mean, our enemies are pissing themselves and shooting each other while we push onwards. How can I not celebrate their misfortunes as fortunes for our side?”

  Ah, so he’s not hopeful because there’s a chance for a better future. Amelie’s smile faltered. He’s just enjoying our enemy’s misfortune. Classic Walter, I guess.

  Discord server here!