Operation: Tianshang de heping
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Operation: Tianshang de heping is the military operation of the Union Armed Forces against the rebellious states of Dalmacija (mainly Bangou Province and the River Warrior's Region, as Qianjin Province was largely in the hands of the Gunbatsu Clique) and Xianbei. The name "Tianshang de heping" means "heavenly peace".
Background
With the outbreak of Post-Chidao Troubles, Jingdao fell into great disunity. With the support of the Xinshi Emperor, Çakaristan raided and defeated the Seishi rebels. This action was seen by the other factions as a possible threat, and a conference was called in Xiacheng. With the Seishi subdued in the east, an Emperor who had announced that he did not wish to play a political role and, among others, the Gunbatsu Clique threatening an attack on the Cakari if they did not leave the Empire, a meeting was deemed necessary to keep the peace.
At that conference, the Articles of Union were adopted and the Great Apollonian Empire was de facto founded. Due to the absence of the states of Dalmacija and Xianbei from this conference, those states were seen as rebellious and formally represented by the Heavenly Court.
The united factions decided to bring the rebellious states under the Aquila flag. A military operation was proposed under the leadership of General Farrah, with a group of Armed Forces assembled from all corners of the Union.
The Operation was called 'Tianshang de heping', but met with immediate and heavy resistance. Marshal Yoshi Iwao, who took over from the recently deceased Field Marshal Tzao Yao, refused to allow foreign units into Jingdaoe territory. Objections from Unionists fell on deaf ears, provided Iwao's position was still very uncertain. It was finally decided to make the operation a cooperative one after all, but under the leadership of Jingdaoese officers.
By the time these command issues had been resolved the Dalmacijans had begun their own "Daocheng" offensive against the Gunbatsu Clique and Tegong State, seeking to at least knock out two members of the united factions.
Course
The operation started on 1.XIV.1698. The Çakari fleet sailed from the Northern Sea to the Central Sea, while the Tianchao Chuandui sailed up from the southeast. While the ships were completing the naval blockade, the Tobu Emperor sent an ultimatum: "Until 12.XV.1698, all insurgents to my authority have time to surrender. All Apollonian soldiers are ready to subdue you. So you can still save your bodies."
The reply to this move came on 11.XV.1698 in the form of a dozen medium range ballistic anti-ship missiles recovered from the captured coastal defences and launched against the converging enemy ships that had taken up their blockade stations.
