Boxer Rebellion Public Character Profiles
(1) Qing Court
(2) Eight Nation Alliance
Qing Court
Commander of the Kansu Braves Dong Fuxiang
Dong Fuxiang is an experienced Qing soldier. He has fought in many wars, including the
Sino-Japanese War and several major rebellions against Qing rule. Dong and his elite
Gansu Brave soldiers have an excellent reputation throughout China as a dangerous
fighting force and extremely loyal to China. As the Boxer movement gains momentum,
Dong and his men are increasingly cooperating with them in attempting to expel foreign
influence.
Commander Ni Zanqing
Ni Zanqing is the son of a wealthy landowner near Peking, he studied martial arts and
became a prodigious warrior, even selected for the Emperor’s personal guard. Deeply
patriotic, Ni has become a leader in the Boxer movement and commands many of the
bands around Peking. The movement is already significant, but Ni knows that it can grow
even more powerful and widespread and may allow him to rid his beloved China of
foreign influence once and for all.
Commander Zhao Sanduo
Zhao Shanduo is a highly skilled and well known martial arts master. He has trained
many disciples, and as the power of the Qing dynasty slowly erodes, has begun to
mediate disputes between villagers and uphold law and order in the countryside. Almost
as anti-Qing as he is anti-foreigner, Zhao wants to see the corrupt, decadent and inept
Qing dynasty fall and a government more sympathetic to China’s poor and peasants take
power.
Dowager Empress Cixi
Dowager Empress Cixi has proven a skilled administrator, a master of intrigue and a
Machiavellian politician. Cixi has led China for decades, and despite giving up the
regency to her son, maintains a great degree of influence over the imperial court,
particularly amongst the traditionalists and conservatives. As such she watches with
concern her son’s drift towards progressive reform. Having survived several coups and
rebellions, Cixi is determined to maintain the Qing Dynasty both from domestic
challenges and the subversive pressures of foreign influence, Christianity and widespread
modernization.
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor was deeply inspired by the stupendous progress Japan had made
in industrializing its economy, modernizing its military and becoming a great power, and
became convinced that China’s future lay in liberal reforms, modernization and a
constitutional monarchy. To that effect, he has laid the groundwork for a series of
sweeping reforms to catapult China into modernity.
Grand Supervisor Li Lianying
A eunuch in charge of much of the Imperial Court’s day to day activities, Li Lianying is a
dependable and trusted advisor of the Dowager Empress. Lianying also acts as her eyes
and ears, and occasionally claws, within the court, employing a number of spies, very
little happens within the court and the Qing government without his knowing.
Minister of Revenue Liu Kunyi (also Viceroy of Liangjiang)
Liu Kunyi is a veteran military cammdner, having fought in the bloody Taiping Rebellion
during the 1850s and 1860s. He’s also served as a governor of many provinces and has a
great gift as an administrator. Liu does harbour some sympathy for reform, and suspects
that China must not be rash in dismissing the foreign Empires. He knows that they’ve
triumphed over China before in war, and so are dangerous, but also that the technology
and ideas that they bring with them could raise China up to take its rightful place as a
great power in the world.
Minister of Rites Zhang Zidong
Zhang Zidong is an expert diplomatic and highly experienced Qing official. As Minister
of Rites, Zhang is responsible for managing and upholding China’s state religion
confucism and maintaining relations with various religious groups within China. The
ministry has also developed a significant secret policing role to root out dissent and
heresy, both threats to the regime. However, despite this post’s orthodox requirements,
Zhang is himself rather unorthodox, being a progressive reformer and an advocate of
alliances with foreigners.
Secretary of Defence Ronglu
Ronglu is a veteran of several wars, including the Sin-Japanese War, and has held a
number of administrative positions. He’s a traditionalist and firm ally of the Dowager
Empress and Dong Fuxiang. As Secretary of Defence, Ronglu is currently overseeing the
creation of the New Army, a western trained and western equipped army to bolster the
government’s power. Ronglu also has direct command of a number of soldiers, and is
responsible for coordinating the military efforts of the dynasty.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Gong
Gong is a highly respected Chinese statesman and has led a number of major diplomatic
missions for China throughout the last half century. Gong is a friend of the Guangxu
Emperor, and a supporter of his reforms and constructive engagement with foreign
powers. As Minister of Foreign Affairs Gong will be the primary point of contact for
Chinese negotiations with the states of the 8 Nations Alliance and other European and
Asian nations.
Minister of Personnel and Justice Xu Jingcheng
Xu is a Christian Qing Official, a difficult position to be in. He’s an experienced civil
servant, a liberal, and a supporter of the Emperor’s planned reforms and friendly relations
with foreign powers. As the Minister of Personnel and Justice, Xu is responsible for
controlling the administration’s vast bureaucracy and legal system. As such, he has some
influence over how effectively imperial policy and law is upheld.
Prince Qing, Yikuang
An experienced officer, noble and Qing official, Prince Qing is a moderate liberal and
military commander. He controls a number of troops as part of his banner army, and
retains a great degree of control over the Tianjin fleet from his stint working in naval
affairs.
General Yuan Shikai
Yuan is a very skilled and highly ambitious military commander. He has so far remained
neutral in the growing dispute between the progressives and conservatives within the
Imperial court, but has managed to place himself in charge of the New Army, a very
powerful if small force within the Imperial army, recently trained by western officers and
equipped with western weapons. This troop also has escaped the malaise and corruption
which reduces the effectiveness of many of the larger Chinese armies. Placed right in the
capital, in astute hands this force could lead to major political opportunity.
General Nie Shicheng
Nie Shicheng has fought Taiping rebels, anti-Qing insurgents, French, Japanese and
countless other foes on behalf of China. He’s conservative and loyal to the Empress,
though is quite prepared to accept western technology and military tactics if it will
improve China’s army. His own force is largely responsible for protecting Peking from
aggression through Manchuria by Japan or Russia.
Prince Duan, Zaiyi
Prince Duan is an extreme conservative, an ardent supporter of the Boxer movement and
an opponent of any foreign presence within China. He’s already begun to provide
military aid to Boxers attacking foreigners and Christians in the countryside, having
raised a small warband of his own, Duan is also privately wealthy, and has put out feelers
towards recruiting his own private army.
Governor of Shangdong Yuxian
Yuxian’s position as governor of Shangdong puts him in a unique position. He will be
primarily responsible for pursuing and prosecuting the murderers of the three German
missionaries killed in the Juye incident, and so has great influence over whether the
European powers are appeased, whether the Qing court gains or loses authority in the
region and whether the Boxers are supressed or strengthened. Yuxian also has access to
Shandong's local militias and revenue.
Viceroy of Liangguang Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang is an important Qing Politician, diplomat and general. Li is a progressive
modernizer and reformer, and a great advocate of balancing against threatening foreign
states by creating alliances with other foreigners. As viceroy of Linguang, Li has control
over China’s southern forces and much of the income from the province, and
responsibilities for maintaining order in the west of the Empire.
8 Nations Alliance
Field Marshall Count Alfred Von Waldersee
Field Marshall Count Alfred Von Waldersee holds the position of commander-in-chief of
the German forces in China. Waldersee, eager to escape semi-retirement, is looking
forward to action, particularly punishing those responsible for the murder of three
German missionaries. He will be responsible for safeguarding German civilians and
securing German interests within the Qing Empire, and to that effect he has been tasked
with securing the area around Tsingtao as a permanent German base.
Rear Admiral Candiani
Rear Admiral Candiani is head of the Italian cruiser squadron in the Far East. Italy
strongly desires to establish a permanent presence in the East, and if Candiani can find a
way to turn the current crisis to Italy’s advantage he’s strongly encouraged to do so by his
government.
Major General Alfred-Amédée Dodds
Major General Alfred-Amédée Dodds is a commander of French forces in Indochina. An
experienced officer, Dodds saw success in several campaigns in Africa, and his men trust
him. He will control all French forces in the current navy, and if Dodds can combine
diplomacy with land and sea based military power effectively, he may be able to expand
French influence in the region considerably.
Captain Eduard von Montalmar
Captain Eduard von Montalmar is one of Austria’s best captains, and has been assigned
to the Far East with no oversight for that reason. Von Montalmar, despite limited
Austrian presence in the region has orders to support the alliance, particularly the
Germans with whom Austria desires good relations, in any way possible. Montalmar has
some pull within the Imperial Navy and can request more Austrian forces in the region,
particularly if an opportunity for establishing a secure Austrian presence presents itself.
General Nikolai Linevich
General Nikolai Linevich has been involved in the military his entire life, and is
respected throughout the Russian army. General Linevich is responsible for the Russian
garrisons in Port Arthur and Vladivostok, and must coordinate with the Russian fleet led
by Admiral Alekseyev. Linevich also knows that Russia has long desired more direct
control over Manchuria in northern China, and, as well as supporting the other members
of the Alliance, should look towards establishing such control.
Admiral Yevgeni Alekseyev
Admiral Yevgeni Alekseyev an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy. Alekseyev is an
illegitimate son of Tsar Alexander II, and has some small influence within the Russian
court and government in St Petersburg. Alekseyev commands a strong fleet, certainly
compared to his Chinese counterparts, and must coordinate with General Levich to secure
Russia’s interest in China.
Prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren
Prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren is a powerful and influential Mongolian prince.
Prince Namnansüren and his people have grown weary of Chinese rule in Mongolia, and
have been given promises of support by Russia should they seek independence. The
current distractions in China may provide the prince with his moment as the Qing court
turns away from its far flung provinces, though he will have to time his moment
carefully, as the Mongolians alone are no match for the Qing armies.
Major General Adna Chaffee
Major General Adna Chafee is commander in the American army, and is based in Hawaii
currently. As tensions rise with Spain and within China, Chaffee may soon find himself
called to action to take the Spanish Philippines, and perhaps all the way to China,
particularly if American missionaries are threatened or if the US Navy sees an
opportunity for gaining greater access to Chinese markets.
Rear Admiral Louis Kempff
Rear Admiral Louis Kempff is a competent officer of the American Navy, and familiar
with the challenges associated with operating naval forces in the Pacific. Kempff knows
tensions with Spain are on the rise, and that he may be asked to help take the Spanish
Philippines. However, Kempff has also been asked to help pursue America’s open door
trade policy with China, and has been authorized to use force to secure concessions from
the Qing government in that arena, and to support the Alliance.
Prime Minister of Nepal Bir Shumsher Rana
Bir Shumsher Rana is the eleventh prime minister of Nepal who brought much needed
reform and infrastructure to his kingdom. The Prime Minister has retained very close
relations with the British Raj and sees Britain as a very important ally. The Prime
Minister has been more than happy to provide Britain with recruits for its elite Ghurkha
regiments, and commands a number of those troops who have retired and returned to
Nepal. Bir Shumsher does though see the instability plaguing China as an opportunity to
expand his influence into neighboring Tibet.
General Sir Alfred Gaselee
General Sir Alfred Gaselee was born in Britain, but has spent most of his military career
in India. Gaselee’s primary objectives are twofold; he must ensure the safety of British
and other European civilians within China, and try to gain more concessions from the
Chinese government with regards to trade. To this effect, a British force is en-route to
northern China to secure a base near Peking on the island of Wei-Hai-Wei. Gaselee can
also call on large bodies of well-equipped troops in Hong Kong and British India should
the need arise.
Vice Admiral Sir Edward Seymour
Vice Admiral Sir Edward Seymour of the Royal Navy is one of the few members of the 8
Nations alliance committee that has had previous military experience in China in
conflicts such as the Opium War and Taiping rebellion. Seymour’s first task is to help
General Gaselee force the Chinese government to cede Wei-Hai-Wei as a base of
operations, and then work towards the suppression of the Boxer movement and the
opening up of China to more trade.
Henry Keswick, Jardine Matheson Representative
Henry Keswick, businessman extraordinaire, represents Jardine Matheson, a British
company dealing in those goods most desired by the Chinese people, which seems to
mainly be opium. Keswick wants to further his company’s interests in China, at any cost
necessary. As a man of great charisma, Keswick holds great influence within Jardine and
with other British companies in the Far East, and controls much of his company’s
merchant shipping to China, along with a very large war chest.
Colonel Shiba Goro, Military Attache to the Legations
Colonel Shiba Goro served in the first Sino-Japanese war, which led to the appointment
of Military Attache to the Japanese legations. As one of the few members of the 8
Nations alliance committee that has had extensive experiences in China, Colonel Goro is
well-versed in the internal workings of the Qing court. Colonel Goro originally trained as
a Samurai, and is a brilliant personal fighter himself and commands great respect from
his men. Due to his experience in China, Goro has been placed by the Japanese
government in the Japanese Embassy in Peking’s Legation Quarter, and is responsible for
its defence.
General Yamaguchi Motoomi
General Yamaguchi Motoomi is leader of the 5th division of the Japanese forces. General
Motoomi and the Japanese government have recognized that the Boxer activity in China
is weakening the Qing government, especially in regards to the protection of her
resources, thus the government is waiting for the right opportunity to deploy Motoomi
and his 5th Division in support of the rest of the Alliance and to secure more territory for
Japan on mainland Asia.
Admiral Togo Heihachiro Saneyoshi
Togo Heihachiro Saneyoshi is an admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Admiral
Saneyoshi spent seven years studying in Britain and thus is well versed in military
strategy and tactics. The Admiral has had some experience fighting in and around China
which will be extremely useful. The Japanese home fleet is a modern, numerous and
immensely powerful navy, and is out of all the Alliance by far the closest major naval
force to the theatre of operations and so can provide considerable support should the need
arise.
Hudson Taylor, Head of the Chinese Inland Mission
Hudson Taylor is the Head of the Inland Mission in China. Taylor is known to be set on
converting the Chinese people, but still holds enormous respect for their cultural customs.
Taylor has limited contacts within the Qing court, but great influence within the Chinese
Christian community and the Christian donors in the US and Britain. Taylor also
maintains contacts with many non-British missions in China and acts as a coordinator and
spokesperson for their efforts.