Commonwealth of Shanghai

The Commonwealth of Shanghai is one of the most economically powerful republic-states in the United Republics of China, akin to California and Texas of the 21st century United States of America.

During the old regime's expansion into space and beyond, Shanghai's urban area expanded into its rural districts, forcing the city's leadership to push its jurisdiction further inland, encroaching into the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. When the Zhongzhi Event occurred, nuclear barrages aimed at the city were intercepted and destroyed by the American and European coalition, in an effort to protect the integrity of international trade. Subsequently, Western forces moved into the city, securing the most economically vital districts, pushing the chaotic elements of the local population into the downtown area, which would eventually become known as the Inner City. Thus, at the future cost of a majority of the local population's standard of living, Shanghai's economic integrity was preserved, and continued to expand through the Second Century of Humiliation.

As democratic forces originating from the Taiwan province pushed up from the South, security of the megalopolis transitioned from the Western coalition to local law enforcement, officially recognized by the new United Republics of China shortly after its founding, as the Shanghai Law Enforcement. During this period, new plans sponsored by Western corporations were laid out to revamp Shanghai's infrastructure, resulting in the High Speed Rings of Shanghai which physically divided the city ethnically and socioeconomically.

By the early 24th century, the Commonwealth of Shanghai annexed the old cities of Suzhou and Jiaxing, expanding west to the Taihu Lake, north along the Yangtze River, and south along the Qiantang River. Its economic sector is diverse, a true megalopolis, a city-state unto its own, but one trapped in the past, lacking the opportunity to reform as other Chinese cities did after the Zhongzhi event, with new progress tempered by corporate meddling and political lethargy.

The defining feature of Shanghai are the High Speed Rings of Shanghai, bitterly called the Great Walls of Shanghai by the local lower class, as they divide families, ethnic groups, and limit traffic to the more prosperous outer districts. Along the eastern waterfront are several manufacturing, material refinement, and logistics districts. Further inland are commercial districts, tourist districts, and the seat of the Shanghai Parliament, along with the headquarters of the Shanghai Law Enforcement.

On the western boundaries of Shanghai, bordering the Taihu lake and the areas between it and the rivers to the North and South are agricultural districts that serve as the breadbasket of the local region. Research districts are located in old Suzhou and Jiaxing.

Between these prosperous districts made up of green-washed architecture and upper middle class populations is the Inner City, composed of the workhorse population of Shanghai, barely paid enough to sustain living and continue employment, but not enough to leave or improve living standards. Those who are able commute to the surrounding districts to earn a living, while the unemployed engage in the local black market, petty crimes, ad hoc security, or outright gang warfare.

Shanghai Law Enforcement/上海执法/Shanghai Zhifa

Shanghai Law Enforcement's primary mission is to maintain the security of the outer districts of Shanghai. Since Operation Heavy Chorus conducted by the Western coalition, the SZF was always a heavily militarized force, employing armored vehicles, helicopters, an army of drones, and a plethora of surveillance methods, and anti-cybernetic and bionetic tactics.

Red Blade Sect/红刀派/Hongdaopai

The Red Blade Sect is an Inner City gang whose jurisdiction approximately borders the research districts to the northwest. They are an old faction dating back to the PRC, more established with better education than the other gangs.

Black Sea Society/黑海会/Heihaihui

The Black Sea Society borders the industrial districts to the northeast.

Silk River Gang/丝河帮/Sihebang

The Silk River Gang borders the boundary between the Inner City, and the central Shanghai government to the west. They are known to have collusions with the SZF and enjoy under-the-table funding and supply of weapons to stake their claim, therefore are fairly despised by the rest of the Inner City.

Religious Cults

Religious cults of Christianity, Islam, Taoism can be found throughout the Inner City, but mostly bordering the tourism and commercial districts where the local residents have the highest chance of interacting with foreigners.