Fusou

**Imperial Shogunate of Fusou**The **Imperial Shogunate of Fusou**, commonly known as **Fusou**, is a nation in southern Akaina. The current Doubly-Crowned Shogun is Koyanagi Masuhiro.

## Imperial Shogunate of Fusou

Flag of the Imperial Shogunate of Fusou

Map of Fusou in 1908

### Official Script

Chữquốc Ngữsốit (standardized traditional Fusan)

### Ethnic Composition

Fusan (majority)Xīdǎonán (minority on Western Islands)

## National Information

### **History**

#### Prehistoric

The first Fusan peoples migrated over the Sea of Denishu about 40,000 years ago, largely confining their settlements to the warm western & southern coasts, as further portions of humanity went forward towards the northern coasts of the continent of Akaina.

Anthropological evidence suggests that these first Fusans were a highly militaristic people, employing early ships to follow the northward current up to raid more vulnerable settlements in the colder areas. They would also engage in extensive internal village-to-village warfare within their own ranks.

While humans settled in the more inland regions, the colder temperatures & rough geographic terrain would prevent their population from ever rivaling that of the coastal groups; they did, however, develop a culture separate to that of their warring coastal counterparts. Safe from their bellicose oceanic raids, the inland Fusans lived a much more isolationist lifestyle, as the rugged terrain kept the separate villages largely to their own devices.

#### Antiquity

Ancient Denishi kings conquered the southern strait from its Fusan inhabitants in antiquity, sending the remaining Fusans spiraling northward, which lead to the bloody subjugation of the inland Fusans by the coastal Fusans & the birth of a wider Fusan culture. Despite this development, the Denishi would continually overpower the native Fusans, leading to 3 separate periods of Denishi domination, being interrupted variously by rebellions which spanned several decades.

The Denishi conquest of southern Akaina was not entirely unwelcome; the elements of the extinct Fusan society would survive in territories too poor to catch the eye of the Denishi Kings, eventually evolving into the country of Ji.

#### Medieval

Fusou remained internally divided at this time, as feudalism drove further wedges between the country's many distinct cities, towns, & provinces. When not collaborating against the Denishi, they often engaged in both territorial & commercial warfare with one another, causing the development of a distinct caste of warriors in each region, known as the Samurai.

The occasionally independent Fusan kings would also return to their ancestor's habit of continual raids on the northern people of Ji, Joseon, Tokkaido, & Qichau. These Fusan pirates were known as *wokou*.

The long-term effects of Denishi domination were felt in Fusan culture, as native systems became forgone in favor of the Denishi alphabetical & numerical system. Cultural traditions, such as meals, were also brought over the strait into Fusou. The Denishi were welcome by the mercantile element of Fusan society, as their protection made them major players in Encircled Sea trade. This would often set them into conflict with their northwardly, independent neighbors, who often tried to raid their plentiful ships.

Overtime, the wokou eventually evolved into cliques & political entities entirely of their own, known as the *funebatsu*. They operated as separate gangs, who aligned themselves to the Fusan city-states as privateers of sorts, working to both protect that cities' own trade but also to hamper that of their competitotrs. In many ways, they grew as their own maritime political entities, having noble families & class distinctions throughout their wide fleet.

#### Pre-Modern

In 1407, currently going through the Denishi Succesion Crisis, and an on going war with Dengfeng, Denishu's hold over Akaina weakened greatly. During the Fusan War of Independence, Genjirō Ichimura lead a diverse coalition of soldiers supplied from many separate Fusan cities, repeatedly defeating the now outnumbered & beleaguered Denishi forces.

In 1426, following a partial victory in the war, Ichimura would establish himself as the first Emperor of Fusou. Despite this title, his position held little power, besides a nominal tribute from the myriad separate Fusan fiefdoms. This system of tributaries would last until the Ji attacked Genjirō's succesor, starting the First Hokutō War in 1447, during which the appointed commander of the coalition army, the S*hogun*, gained immense political & military power, which was eventually reflected back on the Fusan city-states through various civil conflicts.

The position of Shogun, now having superseded that of the Emperor, was recognized as the de facto leader of Fusou from then on. The emperor would remain as the country's de jure leader, however in practice exercised very little power. Conquests of separatist tribes & city-states, often intertwined with Ji, would continue for nearly 100 year until finally, in 1536, the last separate Fusan city-state, Konoichi, was conquered by the shogun Tsuji Masuhiro, finally establishing the first united Fusan state in thousands of years.

Masuhiro effectively established his clan as an adjourning ruling dynasty to the emperor, via a system of extortion enforced by his military power. Power was centralized in Masuhiro's home city, Sakaki, which grew to be the country's first capital. In respect to the distinct regional cultures & histories, obedient cities & provinces retain certain rights & traditions under the overarching government, a system which remains in place to this day.

With the conquest of the city-states, the funebatsu were reorganized into the Kyōryoko Suiryoku, Fusou's national navy to the present.

#### Brother's War

After a devastating war with Firocco, Fuso would become embarrassed on an international stage, which caused major political upheaval in the country. This was further exacerbated by the honor-suicide of the current reigning Shogun Seo Masuhiro, causing a rift between his two sons in manner of ideology; his first, Suto, was staunchly traditionalist, seeking to preserve native Fusan identity in its entirety, whereas his second, Hirabayashi, was much more open to western reforms, and found them necessary to preserve Fusou's independence in the wake of a rapidly industrializing world. This conflict kicked off the Burazāzu War (Brother's War) between the two.

The emperor, although powerless, used what strength he had to back Suto in the conflict, while Hirabayashi recieved backing from western powers, such as Liotain & Celtica, from which he imported *Vetterlis* rifles, which were far superior to the native *Tanegashima* employed by traditionalist soldiers. Using modern technology, Hirabayashi defeated his brother in under a year; although he wanted his brother to be captured alive, he followed in the foot steps of his father, committing honor-suicide in his castle before Hirabayashi's soldiers could reach him.

The war lasted from August, 1868 to July, 1869.

#### Hirabayashi Reforms

In the aftermath of the war, Hirabayashi reshuffled the politics of the country, by merging the position of Emperor with Shogun (creating the modern position of Doubly-Crowned Shogun), moving the capital to the largest city, Dansavan, and eradicating the *samurai* as a caste, due to them largely siding with Suto during the war.

With the destruction of the samurai system, Hirabayashi was free to reform the Fusan army into a modern force, starting with just a small cadre of 5,000 soldiers, built mainly from the Miyoshi police force & ex-Samurai, which, over the decades, expanded into the full modern Fusan army.

Economically, Hirabayashi reformed the country with great success, seeking to spur a quick industrialization, which put Fusou a step above its Akainan neighbors. Hirabayashi's industrial reforms were aided by Western advisors, although they occasionally faced aversion from native villagers.

Fusou would industrialize relatively quickly compared to the rest of Akaina due to an abundance of natural resources, interest from western powers, & general proximity. Fusou's long-standing Encircled Sea trade routes were instrumental in this. Due to the usage of foreign industrial methods, however, industrialization did not spread evenly across the country, more so being limited to the larger, more globalized cities, while certain rural areas remain backward.

#### Industrial

With the city-states subdued & Ji often being fought on various indecisive conflicts, Fusou began to look outward for conquest alongside the powers of Velravin. Fusan colonial ambitions near to Kijana were hampered by the country's great distance & relative underdevelopment compared to Velravin, however the country would still acquire Violana in 18XX & Hariria in 18XX. Where Fusan overseas expansion most succeeded was in the conquest of several island chains in the Panthallasic Ocean, which guaranteed Fusan access to international trade. The largest of these possessions is the island of Atasuīgan, which consists of the colonies of Hakepuu & Liku, which together hold nearly a million people.

#### Modern

Fusou's modernity, relative strength, & anti-colonial geopolitical ambitions, have lead many nations to unofficially recognize it as the "Defender of Akaina."

In 1907, following the threat of an intervention by Drakenstaat & Firocco, Astyria-Denishu gave Fusou the right to police the southern tip of Akaina, politically controlled by Denishu. Some believe this will eventually lead to a full annexation of the peninsula, which would undo thousands of years of Denishuan control over the entirety of the straits.

### **Government and Politics**

*Main Article;* Politics in Fusou

The government of Fusou is a constitutional, semi-democratic monarchy, whereby a democratically elected Prime Minister & Parliament, as well as a hereditary shogun, must all approve of a law before it is passed.

### Diplomacy

#### Geopolitical Stances

##### *Colonialism*

Bad except when we do it.

In 1908, Fusou contributed £8,000,000.00 to help Anitkabir repurchase Karindah.

### **Economy**

*Main Article: Economy of Fusou*

Fusou's economy is both the largest & most developed in Akaina, owing to its rapid industrialization throughout the 1800s and into the 1900s.

#### Industry

Fusou's industrial development is distributed unevenly across the country, in an urban-rural divide; while the cities of Fusou have become greatly modernized & comparable to those in Velravin, large swathes of the countryside remain stuck in the feudal era.

##### Energy

wip
wip