"At 3,900 miles, the Yangtze, or Chang Jiang ("Long River") is the largest river in China and the third largest in the world. It rises in the wetlands and glaziers of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in far western China and flows through eight provinces to the East China Sea, just north of Shanghai. Along its long course more than 700 tributaries from another six provinces join the Yangtze. The river is navigable from its mouth up to a thousand miles by ocean-going vessels and warships.
In 1854, American warships begin patrols along the Yangtze River to show the American flag and support American consulates. After 1890, as the political stability of China deteriorates, America's naval presence increases. By about 1914, the patrols are equipped with shallow draft gunboats and cooperate with Britian's Royal Navy. American naval forces also engage in anti-piracy patrols and occasionally put ashore landing parties to protect American interests. France, Italy, the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Japan also maintain gunboats and larger fleet units in and around China. The United Kingdom has a large fleet stationed in Chinese waters to support its economic interests at Hong Kong, Shanghai and Hankow.
In 1900, northern China is devastated by the Boxer Rebellion. The Boxers murder several hundred foreigners, mostly missionaries and about 50,000 Chinese Christians. For 55 days, foreign diplomats and businessmen, and Chinese Christians barricade themselves in Peking's (Beijing) Legation Quarter. The Boxers and Imperial Chinese troops then lay siege to the Quarter until it is relieved by a mixed force of British and Indian Army, American, French (mostly Indochinese), Italian, German, Russian, Japanese and Austro-Hungarian soldiers, sailors and marines. Later, the United States Navy organizes the South China Patrol, based at Hong Kong, and the Yangtze Patrol, based at Shanghai and then at Hankow. The patrols escort American merchant ships through bandit infested gorges and protect American interests in the interior of China…"
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Amicalement
Armand
gets his hands on some fields and fences.
