1880-94: Starting in the province of Anhui, a Chinese general starts to reunite the country and defeat the Society of Brotherly Love. He contacts New Rome and Germany, hoping to find allies, and finally decides for Germany, who sends advisors to build up China's industry. For this influence, he also decides to make China a republic. Lacking a strong navy, Tungning (OTL Taiwan) stays out of his reach, however; and worse, the Russians are too strong to let him take Beijing either. 1881: Cyclone in Haiphong, Vietnam. 300,000 dead. 1883: Krakatoa explosion. 1888: Canada makes a pact with Thailand.