The Black Dragon - 11/02/2099

Two teenage cosplayers in Outer Mongolia consume raw marmot in folk cure, Hentiy put under quarantine as a result

2 days ago

BREAKING NEWS

3D printing makes low-volume manufacturing profitable, cheapens the price of specialty and novelty goods significantly

4 hours ago

Nanotechnology makes genetically modifying animals' precise genomes easier, makes having animals with petruding human organs for transplantation cheaper and more readily available. This and a rising supply of prisoner-harvested organs causes hospital wait times for transplant surgeries to decrease significantly

13 hours ago

Regional unions reorganised by state into government-run industry-wide unions, allows state to stop strikes from happening. As a result workers who strike despite this are illegally striking, get arrested

16 hours ago

Demand for mushrooms increases as people realise its supply is less damaged than those of other foods

19 hours ago

Outer Mongolia made an autonomous region

23 hours ago

Government announces investment in artificial intelligence

25 hours ago

Zheng He's treasure fleet and the Americas, artifacts found

History · 22:19, 31-Jan-2099

CGTN, Updated 22:46, 31-Jan-2099

In the past, a map in Shanghai depicting the Americas alleged dating back to the Ming Dynasty was discovered. Its discovery spawned theories that it was the Celestial Empire that discovered the Americas before its discovery by Christopher Colombus. The map's authenticity was questioned. The theory goes that the Americas were discovered between 1405-1433 by one of the Treasure Fleet's voyages.

Statue of Zheng He

The Treasure Fleet was a large fleet that travelled from China to Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and Africa to show to the Ming Dynasty's tributaries its strength. The Treasure Fleet was led by Zheng He, a Chinese Muslim eunuch. Due to cost and court ineptity, when the Yongle Emperor who supported these voyages died, the next emperor was influenced by the conservative Confucian court to discard the fleet and stop any voyages.

Portrait of the Yongle Emperor

Recently, a cache was found in Fuzhou. Fuzhou was where the Fuzhou Court of the Southern Ming, the different courts that wished to restore the Ming Dynasty and fled to the south during the Qing conquest of China. It is believed that its contents were taken from Beijing to Fuzhou where the Southern Ming's Fuzhou Court was located, and was hidden in Fuzhou so that the Qing would not obtain these artifacts when the court felt hopeless.

Southern Ming

The cache contained many maps, historical records, and biographies. Hundreds of maps showing the Americas were found, and both the paper and ink of these hundreds of maps were tested. Every one of them dated back to the Ming Dynasty and was were drawn in the mid to late 1400s.

The historical records and biographies had many details and accurately described much of the Pacific coast of the Americas. They even mentioned a man from the Americas being brought onto one of Zheng He's Treasure Fleet and was to be brought to China, but that the man died along the way and was buried outside of Beijing. Using directives in the documents, the remains were located. Surprisingly, the soil conditions of the burial site preserved the bones.

One of the discovered maps

These were tested and it was confirmed that the man was an Amerindian man who died in 1412. These historical documents and biographies also accurately described the appearances of many pre-Columbian Amerindian groups. They were referred to as Dongyi. The Dongyi was a term referring to one of the Four Barbarians, specifically those to the east of China. They are archaic terms from the Han Dynasty.

The Dongyi are of brown or red complexion and black of hair. They grow wheat-like plants with purple seeds they consume and carrot-like crops with red or purple spherical tubers. They herd camel-like animals that have wool like sheep. These inhabit high mountains. Their lands are cold and windy. The Dongyi value gold highly. They adorn their temples and rulers with it. The Dongyi, as barbarians, engage in human sacrifice.

The described people

Rumours of banditry in border regions, troops reinforce the region

China · 23:48, 01-Jan-2099

CGTN, Updated 05:31, 02-Jan-2099

Recently, there have been a rise in rumours of banditry in Manchuria and Outer Mongolia. These groups allegedly operate along the Russian border and avoid justice by crossing the border and hiding in the relatively lawless Russia. Thus, President Li Shimin has authorised the deployment of the Western Theater Group Army and Northern Theater Group Army in Outer Mongolia, northern Manchuria, and northern Xinjiang. The forces total 800,000.

Alleged photo of the bandits

These soldiers will construct fortifications, bunkers, supply depots, and monitor the region. Troops are to adopt new doctrines emphasising maneuverability and flexibility and to be ready to use cyberwarfare and electromagnetic warfare. Innumberable amounts of surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, artillery, armoured vehicles, ships and planes have been commissioned by the state. Hundreds of ships and planes have begun development. In addition, a larger portion of the National Protection Army Ground Force will be trained to become paratroopers. Pilots, paratroopers, and all the likes in the National Protection Army will be trained by former Zukesan military officers, as New Zukesa was well known for its advancements in its airforce. New planes in development will be based on Zukesan planes.

Bunker near Sikewoluojinuo

Crackdown on ration book fraud and corruption

China · 13:32, 11-Feb-2099

CGTN, Updated 13:32, 11-Feb-2099

In Outer Mongolia and Xinjiang, the ration system is failing. To combat this. Food depots and stores will be required to submit logs monthly and will be inspected by a government official at random and without warning every month. Security cameras will be a requirement for food depots and stores, which will have to give security footage to the state on a daily basis. Stores that do not follow regulations will have their licenses revoked. Social credit score continues to not be considered when distributing food.

A crowded grocery store

New ration books will be made with security features to make counterfeiting more difficult. Those who engage in, know of and do not report, or benefit from food ration fraud will be lashed five times for every such violation. Those who hoard food will likewise be inflicted the same punishment.

A photograph of a ration book

However, the government has agreed that the underlying issue must be dealt with. It is believed that the cause of mass ration book fraud is lack of food and inequality in food distribution. To combat this, grocery stores and food depots will be operated by members of of the nation's militias. It will also be made sure that the militiamen come from outside of the province so that they have no personal motivation or interest that might make them engage in corruption. This change will make it so that local officials will not be able to pressure or force store clerks or depot workers to engage in corruption or accept fraudulent ration books as militiamen are not subordinate to local officials.

A grocery store at the end of the day

These policies will come into effect immediately and will make it so that food supply does not decrease at a worrying depletion rate caused by corruption. Though, there are other factors. One such is pestilence. In order to keep food safe from pests such as insects, rats, or bears, traps for these pests will be distributed to all free-of-charge.

A rat humourously tied up and shamed for stealing food before being sent to a government office to be processed

To ensure that food stores are not completely depleted, leftover food stuffs, deceased pets, pests, and roadkill will have to be given to the state at the end of each week. These will be made into 'ration meals,' consisting of these and cheap foodstuffs minced together in a mixture that is made palatable with artificial taste enhancers.

A ration meal, previously deemed suitable only for prisoners to eat

National Protection Army releases information on new armaments

China · 09:36, 10-Feb-2099

CGTN, Updated 09:36, 10-Feb-2099

The National Protection Army Ground Force has revealed its two newest armaments, the Type-100, new main battle tanks, and the _____, new amphibious armoured personnel carriers. 1200 of each have been produced so far, production continues. The National Protection Army Airforce has revealed that it has received 50 Type 91 Anti-Tank Missile UAVs, 50 Type 89 Reconaissance UAVs, and 2 E-17 AEWCs. The National Protection Army has stated that it has also received rifles, artillery, and 'such stuff.

Type-100 Main Battle Tank

The Type-100 incorporates modular components that can easily be swapped out or upgraded to adapt for different situations. These modular components are made of UHNWPEs that make the tank significantly lighter while also allowing armour to be thinner and more protective against penetration. The hybrid engine allows for there to be a silent driving mode in case stealth is needed. The tank also incorporates electronic warfare systems that are modular and can be swapped out.

Type-100 Tank

WZ-600

The WZ-600 is amphibious and travels in the water with power provided by two propellers at the rear of the hull. The propellers face in towards the vehicle when on land, but are rotated through 180° once in the water. Its armour is modular and is made of UHNWPEs, improving protection, lowering cost, making it easier to replace armour parts, and lowers the WZ-600's weight significantly. The WZ-600 is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system to reduce fuel consumption. The WZ-600 is designed for easy maintenance, resulting in a reduced downtime.

WZ-600