Chapter 2: The New Year (2)

International Legation, Peking, Qing Empire

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear

For auld lang syne

We'll drink a cup of kindness yet

For the sake of auld lang syne…

Even in the desolate and ruined streets of the current under siege International Legation in Peking. The people in the legation - British, Americans, Germans, Austrians, and even Christian Chinese, are still celebrating the New Year amidst the chaos and carnage around them. The buildings and streets are filled with people, mostly Christian Chinese who flee from the Chinese who started the rebellion and attack the foreign powers and those who converted to Christianity.

The children, both Westerners, and Asians, of different nations, are singing different New year's songs to celebrate the turn of a new year and to create a semblance of the festivities amidst the happening around them. The ambassadors and the military officers also allowed it to boost the morale and confidence of the people inside the legation which still has a lot of Europeans with their families stuck in this quagmire.

"Colonel, do you miss your family?"

"Yes, Sir Cornwall. But I think I'm lucky that they are in London and not here in Peking. I don't want them to experience such horrifying and gruesome scenes."

The two men are currently walking in Legation street towards the Spanish Legation where the Ambassadors present would have a small party and a meeting to plan their next moves in this crisis. Reinforcement is still not in sight and they realized that this would last longer than they expected as the enemy is not just a disorganized and disgruntled mob but a large movement that is organized and there is even direct and open support from some of the high officials and military of the Qing Empire as some of the attackers are trained Qing soldiers. They even introduced themselves as the Righteous sons of the Han who wants all foreign powers and Christianity out of the Qing Empire. Such a group can only grow with the tacit support of the Qing Empire so the Ambassadors can't trust any offers from the Qing.

"Our great country has a lot of enemies abroad and if I remember there are also some in our own homeland… there are a lot of activists in London protesting against our country's expansionist and imperialist policies. Saying things like supporting the independence of our colonial lands and human rights of the colonized."

"If I may speak Sir Cornwall… I just see these people as hypocrites trying to satiate their egos by deluding themselves as heroes and lovers of equality and freedom. The world can never be an equal and fair place…"

"Yes… I also think the same thing, Colonel. The reason that the people in our country enjoy such development and living standards is because of the benefits and advantages we gain from other nations. Britain would never experience such growth and prestige without centuries of expansion and gaining colonies and power. The reason that our people can hold their heads high is due to the sacrifices and work of our forefathers and they just want to throw that away due to such lofty ideals like equality and rights."

Ambassador Cornwall and Colonel Brooke can only sigh as they reminisce about their country and its problem. The British Empire is a major world power with its influence and power felt around the world. Such power and glory created a lot of enemies abroad and domestically. There would be always those people who believe that what they are doing is morally unjust and wrong but in the eyes of the British Ambassador the Colonel is that what they are doing is not wrong and is for the betterment of the British people.

That the world is built on the premise of the survival of the fittest. Nature has already proved this theory right as those species that can't cope with the changes are erased in history and become extinct. There are even Kingdoms and Empires that collapsed like the mighty Roman Empire which collapsed as they can't cope with the changes in time and just become a passage in history. Even with its might and power, it can't still prevent its downfall and they believe that the British Empire would become like that if it can't keep and maintain the power it possessed.

They are in deep of their conversation when they arrived in front of the Spanish Legation and see that there are already a lot of people inside it. The reason that the party and meeting are chosen in the Spanish Legation is that it is located in the middle of the International Legation. With everything that is happening around them, it is much safer if they conduct their new year celebration in the Spanish Legation which is far from the frontline around the International Legation.

"Even if there is fighting around, a civilized gentleman can still find the time to celebrate important events. Do you agree with me, Colonel?"

"Yes, Sir Cornwall, this is what makes a man a civilized creature different from animals."

The two men then approach the entrance of the Spanish Legation. The Spanish soldiers who guard the entrance let them enter as they see that the two gentlemen are the British Ambassador Cornwall and the other one head of the soldiers of the British Legate Colonel Brooke. The two then immediately enter the Spanish Legation and is still amazed at what they had seen.

The Spanish Legate is filled with a lot of people wearing formal suits and dresses. The people are all important people of every country present in the International Legation together with their families. They are still amazed at how the people were still able to wear such suits and dresses even in the midst of conflict and chaos. It seems that the rebellion and carnage around is just an illusion as they can still laugh and enjoy the party. The people around dance and talk with others as they seem to want to enjoy and stay in this illusion longer. The people know that this is just an illusion and they are trying to fool themselves away from reality.

"This is what a civilized man should do. Even in the midst of pressure and suffering, they can still find ways to celebrate and enjoy," Ambassador Cornwall commented. It is clearly seen on the Ambassador's face that he enjoys and likes this kind of socializing event. He immediately walks towards where other Ambassadors are staying and drinking. The Colonel who is left behind immediately went in the direction of the military officers of other nations.

"It is a pleasure seeing you gents here."

"It is also our pleasure Ambassador Cornwall."

The other Ambassadors present look and nod toward Ambassador Cornwall as a way to acknowledge his presence. The other Ambassadors are wearing suits and tie attire aside from the German Ambassador who is wearing his full military uniform.

"How are your men and citizens faring these days Sir Cornwall," Ambassador Mckinley is the first person to speak to Ambassador Cornwall as the two are close personally due to the trade between their businesses. Even if both countries have different policies and doctrines, especially the British which is an imperialist and monarchist state while the United States is a democratic state, the two were still able to build such good friendship due to trade and commerce.

"There are still enough supplies to last for a few weeks even if we had to feed the refugees who are assigned to us… How about you Ambassador?"

"Same as yours Sir Cornwall… but among the ranks, there are rumors spreading that reinforcement would take a long time to arrive."

"Same… it is really worrying even for me. It would demoralize the men if such rumors would continue. But it would be worse if it would come true that the reinforcement from outside would take a longer time."

The two ambassadors are feeling the tense pressure that the International Legation is feeling right now. As it is possible that the entire nation is hostile to them and they are in deep hostile territory, it is worrying what might happen to them if they surrender, if even the Chinese who converted to Christianity are included in the attack without any mercy and impunity.

It is also more likely that the reinforcement from their nations would take longer to arrive as they are deep inside the Qing Empire and there might be enemy forces that would try to stop them from reaching the Qing Capital. Also, the supplies they have are shared with the thousands of Christian Chinese that are taking refuge in the International Legation, making it enough only for weeks instead of months. They know the need of feeding the refugees as it would give them moral high ground and justification against the rebellion.

"Don't worry… the German forces in Manchuria would arrive soon. We don't even need to create a coalition of relief forces as we Germans alone can do it!"

While the two are talking, another person is coming to join in their conversation. It is the German Ambassador, Baron Bilovy, who is confident that the German Army would arrive earlier even if it would come alone without help from other world powers.