JSNES03: Déjà Vu, Jamais Vu, Presque Vu

Bah, my attention to detail has made this take way longer than expected. It may have to be done tomorrow. Downgraded to 50% tonight.

A detailed update is much preferable to a rushed one.

Update #1; 1820-1821 A.D. “The Jugglers and the Clowns”
​

“As we historians have looked back upon their past and attempt to glean lessons from the actions of our predecessors, few years have rivaled 1820 as a shining example of how not to rule one’s nation.” -Anonymous Historian

Trouble in Byzantium, or, The Battle for Middle Rome

For decades, Konstantine XII has ruled his troubled nation from its foundation by Catherine the Great, and has done so with a fair and steady hand, but many recent events have led some of his closest advisors to believe that perhaps senility is beginning to set in.

It began with the establishment of what would be called “Forced Labor Camps”, which, in the wake of increasing Turk militancy, used Turkish slave labor to create a series of roads and railroads with which to transport the rebellious and troublesome Turks further east, allowing loyal Greeks to establish themselves in the Western and Central regions of Anatolia. At first this seemed like a good idea, and more than enough troops were sent to enforce this dictate… but it became increasingly apparent that this was doing more harm than good. Adding fuel to the ever-present fire of Ottoman resurgence, revolutionary Turk activity surged as it became more than apparent that the goal of these labor camps were not only to remove the Turks from their homes, but to remove their souls from this very earth. Overzealous Greeks, made yet more bitter by the decades of brutal Turk-Greek rivalry, grew crueler and crueler with their reprisals against the workers in the camps and in villages which harbored runaways, and before long the Turkish nationalists had more than enough propaganda in hand to openly plot the independence of their people. Across central Anatolia, railroads and routes of trade and transport were regularly cut, and the Byzantine armies found it increasingly difficult to maintain a constant presence in the revolutionary capital of Ankara, where, shortly, the pivotal event of the Turkish revolution would occur.

However, one cannot analyze the entire Byzantine situation without first addressing the Montenegro crisis. The King of Montenegro had done an excellent job fostering Slavic nationalism in his nation, and his greatest concerns had been external not internal. But suddenly, from his southern region emerged a massive rebel movement, whose sole goal seemed to be the overthrow of the Montenegrin government. The rebels quickly bogged down much of the Montenegrin army, and it seemed to them that such a spontaneous group could only come from an established power…. And their suspicions were quickly confirmed when nearly all the rebels captured spoke either Greek or Turkish. Alas, as accusations flew against the Byzantines for instigating this rebellion, bullets and cannon flew back, as suddenly a Byzantine combined force of over 60,000 men moved in to “restore order” to the troubled nation. The King was torn, but as news of trouble in the Turkish front reached his ears, he put his foot down, and organized a nation-wide mobilization to drive out the Byzantine invaders. Abandoning most of the southern portion of his realm, the King rallied his forces around him at Podgorica, and, augmented by a few thousand hastily assembled militias, braced for the inevitable attack.

The Byzantines advanced, aided by quite a few of the “rebel groups” found in southern Montenegro, as well as a handful of opportunistic Greeks. Their forces outnumbered the Montenegrins about 2:1, but the terrain was particularly unfavorable (or the exploitation thereof), and the Byzantine forces, wracked with the inefficiency which had kept them from dominating Anatolia for so long, soon faced problems in keeping their attacks reinforced. A fatal error was made in allowing the Montenegrins uncontested control of Gorica hill, which overlooks the center of the city, and from which the Montenegrins relentlessly laid artillery fire upon their invaders. Were it not for this hill, and a crucial series of fortifications on the Moraca River, the Zeta plain would surely have been overrun by the more numerous Byzantine forces. Instead, the Byzantines were forced to call off their attacks on Podgorica, and instead dug in further to the south around lake Skadar, licking their wounds and preparing for the inevitable continuation of their invasion. The Montenegrins suffered badly despite their victory, losing vital manpower and being forced to pummel large amounts of their capital to the ground in order to save their city, especially the all important bridges across the two main rivers which flow through the capital.

This brings events back to the Turkish rebellion in the east, which, with 60,000 Byzantines busy fighting Montenegrins to the West, found itself operating surprisingly easy in the Greek-hostile environment. It was in Ankara that the rebellion itself would be launched, when a series of explosions destroyed the local Greek Orthodox church, and the incensed Greek’s reprisal finally forced the leader of the revolutionary movement to reveal himself-Pasha Murad Hussein. The new Pasha had been organizing former military groups of the Ottoman empire for some time, using the few remaining veterans of the long defunct army to mimic its organization and train the new recruits for combat. Ankara quickly descended into chaos, as Greek forces found themselves mostly trapped and without communication to Constantinople by relentless sabotage on the part of the Turks, surrounded by angered family members of those dead from the labor camps and those who had run in order to survive them. The Greek forces, however, held together, if not only because they were some of the more experienced in the field of counter-insurgency and some of the elite guard which had previously served as bodyguards to the emperor. Eventually, though, facing a shortage of supplies, and hearing news that the Turkish rebellion was only spreading in the surrounding areas, the General in command, General Dimitrios Kiriakis, sent out the order to retreat southward toward Konya. He received as rude an awakening there, though, as in Ankara, but with further reinforcements from other areas of Southern Anatolia (and many mobilized Greek militias from the West who acted in repulsion upon hearing of a Turk resurgence) was able to establish order and a command post for the crushing of the Turkish rebellion.

Other areas in Anatolia quickly fell to Turkish control, as refugees who had fled to Zand Persia began flooding into the Armenian areas and causing trouble, and the forced labor camps were either eliminated or fell into total chaos at the abandonment of their Christian overseers. The rebels do face a severe shortage of supplies, as the isolation imposed by the destruction of infrastructure has forced severe rationing on the part of the Turks, and if things continue down their current course, starvation may be around the corner.

Byzantines:
(-Infrastructure, -2 Confidence, -6 Infantry (green) -3 Infantry (Disciplined) -1 Guard (Disciplined), -2 Dragoon (Green) -2 Infantry (Rabble) -1 Dragoons (Disciplined), -1 Artillery (Captured by rebels in Ankara), +5 Infantry (Rabble, Greek militias), +1 Turkish rebellion)
Montenegro:
(-3 Infantry, -1 Guard (Disciplined), +2 Confidence (nationalistic rallying), -1 economic level, -1 Living Standards)


The war of Northern Aggression, or, Today’s the day we’re going to have a picnic

“Where on earth is the damned British intervention?” -James Monroe

Tensions between Georgia and the Washington Republic, since its very formation, had brought the two nations to war on more than one occasion. None had predicted, least of all the Georgians, that the usually temperamental (albeit fierce when aroused) enlightened republic to its north would launch an all out military assault in their crusade to end monarchy throughout the Americas.

The Washingtonians launched their attack on the 14th of January, allotting minimal plotting time but recognizing that the summer weather of Georgia would make it considerably difficult to occupy, as well as the fact that multiple contingencies had already been drawn up years in advance. President James Madison caused quite a stir by entirely superceding Congress (who would eventually officially declare war after it was clear that the Washingtonians were winning and fully engaged). The Washington Guard troops, the very forces who occupy Washington DC and had scored considerable kills against the British and proved their Patriotism time and time again, led the attack, making use of their artillery to pummel the few Georgian fortifications.

The Georgians were quickly driven out of Norfolk after a very brief fight, and it became apparent that the woefully unprepared Georgians had grown soft with such a long period of peace, and before they could adequately prepare, the Washingtonians had occupied the entirety of the States of North Carolina, and were marching upon the heart of Georgia itself.

On the federal level, the Georigans may have been unprepared for war, but as the Washingtonians soon found out, the years of slavery and fierce regionalism had hardened the various southern communities, and militia forces all throughout the country rallied to the Georgian flag to fight for their independence. This was augmented considerably when, in a fatal mistake, the Washingtonians began arming the slaves of North Carolina and freeing them from their bondage, losing the support of almost every white in the ever paranoid Kingdom. As the Washingtonians marched toward Charleston, and bombarded its harbor (having effectively routed its fleet, which was forced to flee to Savannah and fell to disuse) they soon found more and more opposition to their march, being forced to skirmish on a daily basis as their lines fell prey to near incessant harassment. It was in mid April that the Washingtonian force of over 35,000 men arrived to surround the beleaguered city of Charleston, but almost as soon as they arrived, their encirclement was under attack from all sides by the nearly suicidal Georgians desperate to save their capital. Over 20,000 Georgians wait patiently in the capital of Charleston, and it has been estimated that nearly another 10,000 militias from all over the states of Georgia and South Carolina reinforced the army from both within and without. This would surely be the final stand; but King George was not there to see it. Fleeing down to Savannah with a significant entourage beforehand, the King left control of the battle to his most trusted General, General Andrew Jackson.

General Jacob Brown of Washington, sensing that time was not on his side, pressed harder and harder for his artillery and navy to batter down the walls of Chareleston and open up Georgian flanks for exploitation by the more numerous Washingtonians. Jacob Brown got his way, but as his forces charged time and time again, the desperate Georgian defenders fought tooth and nail to kill anything which entered the city. Within the city, however, internal tensions worked against them, as many of the black citizens saw their chance for freedom and a small portion of the city was burnt down in an effort to work against the Georgian defenders. This may have helped more, though, cloaking the defenders in smoke and opening a wide area in which Washington forces could be mowed down effectively by the ready defenders, as well as hardening their resolve to resist the seeming “Negro uprising” which they had all feared. The northern areas of the city fell first, and as the Washingtonian forces marched further and further south into the heart of the city, General Andrew Jackson realized he was in an increasingly hopeless situation. The Washingtonians felt blessed from their advance, but the general himself was not satisfied. He had been informed beforehand that the British would be intervening, and, as casualties mounted, became overcome with stress. Upon receiving the confirmation that in fact, the British were not to come aid him in his assualt, the General was hit by a paralyzing stroke in June of 1820, but his aides were able to both keep him alive as well as take over for him in the attacks. It was about that time when, Quickly forming fortifications over a specific part of the city, and abandoning the majority of what he held, Jackson pulled his forces into his small quarentine and told them it was time to make their stand. Here, the Washingtonian forces fought the fiercest resistance of the war, and for more than a week the attackers lost a disproportionate number of men to finally trap Jackson and a dozen of his remaining men to a small house in the southern tip of his defenses. It was here that Jackson himself is reported to have called for an immediate cease fire, and, taking his pistol, marched out in the open and began wildly shooting at the stunned attackers. Realizing his identity the officer in command called for a complete cease fire, and a brave dozen men charged the crazed general in an attempt to capture him. Though his arm would be wounded in the struggle, the general was finally brought down, and bound and gagged to be brought to prison. Legend has it that in the process Jackson brought down 3 of his attackers and bit off the ear of the fourth, but no evidence to this could ever be found.

Washington had won. They had fought through the heat and humidity of the Georgian summer, but had captured its greatest general, subdued most of its army, and captured its capital (or the remains thereof). It had taken nearly 7 months, but it was done. The Washingtonians soon, however, noticed their victory may have been pyrrhic, as the rosters registered nearly 17,000 dead in the assault alone, and even more continued to die from malaria and partisan activity. The heart of Georgia has fallen, but the bulk of the Washingtonian forces too lie dead, and back at home dissent was at an all time high. In Virginia, word of the slave rebellions have resulted in white riots against the war in much of state, and the insurmountable casualties in wake of the battle for Charleston have caused citizens all across the nation to lose confidence in their president in fighting a war that was never approved by congress in the first place. In fact, much of Congress looks set to lose its job, and there have been calls from some of the more radical of senators to impeach president Madison and elect a new president who will negotiate a favorable peace with Georgia.

The King of Georgia has gathered his men in Savannah for one last battle… praying to God that his nation hold on, just a little longer….

Georgia:
(-3 Dragoon, -8 Infantry, +17 Infantry (Rabble, Militias) -8 Infantry (rabble, same militias), +1 Confidence, -2 Economy, -Charleston EC, -6 Frigates (Rabble))
Washington:
(-1 Guard, -8 Infantry (disciplined), -3 Infantry (green) -4 Infantry (regular) +5 Infantry (Untrained, armed slaves), -4 Confidence, -1 Economy, -3 Frigates (Green))

The madness of King Leopold

"while near Beijing, try to keep it quiet” -King Leopold I

There have been crazy kings over the centuries, and King George of Britain used to take that cake when asked which one was the most stricken for madness. But the old King rolled over in his grave when he heard of the shenanigans of the mad King Leopold and his Chinese adventure.

The madness became apparent as soon as the King ordered the mobolization of over 80,000 Belgian citizens, or almost 3% of the population. There was immediate uproar, yes, and desertion, but the King ruled with an iron fist and crushed all those who objected. Gathering up his forces, “all the infantry” of about 100,000 men, the King set his sights on the far east. Waving any need for “logistics”, the King ordered all his men aboard his small navy to set sail for the mystical lands of China. A detailed plan was made, in which a series of three landings were to take place on the Chinese coast, including one to liberate Korea from their oppressors in Beijing. Almost immediately, the top commanders in Leopold’s government protested, citing that the Chinese army, though inferior, would surely rip apart the unsupported Belgians. Few of these men survived these meetings, as Leopold had murdered all those who voiced considerable opposition to his plan.

It became quickly apparent that there was no way in hell, that, without logistics and a bigger navy, all 100,000 Belgians would be able to make it to China. The United Kingdom, with one eyebrow raised, refused docking to the Belgian navy and forces. Leopold would have to improvise. Loading as many men as he could on his navy, about 20,000, Leopold prepared his forces to set sail for their suicide mission. Alas, for poor Leopold, neither he nor anyone would live to see such an expedition occur. Talks of a coup had been discussed time and time again, and finally, as Leopold gave one last inspirational speech to his troops (to be fair, it was a pretty good speech, albeit with some grammatical errors) two of his officers came up from behind and callously shot the King in the back of the head, announcing that his infant son, Leopold II (different than the OTL Leopold II, born earlier and half French) had succeeded the throne. As regent, General Jules Edouard Xavier Malou announced that he would rule until Leopold reached the age of 18.

Across Belgium, the people breathed a sigh of relief. In the Dutch regions, the sigh was greater, as Leopold was notorious for his oppressing of the protestant Dutch minority, and hopes were high that the new government would cut back on much of the more extreme of the Ultramonte policies. If only the people knew, it was out of the frying pan, and into the fire.

Almost as soon as he became the Regent King of Belgium, Malou adopted all the former absolute powers of King Leopold and immediately sought to quell the unrest that was beginning to simmer in the country. Having drafted such a sizable portion of the nation’s population, Malou found himself with a group of 70,000 armed and very unhappy workers and farmers… now very cynical and able to get rid of the authoritarianism that had almost thrown 100,000 Belgians to their very death. This attitude was held by much more of the Belgian population at large, and except for the support of the military (who was incredibly grateful for saving them from death at the hands of Leopold) and the clergy, Malou realized he had quite the situation on his hands. He immediately ordered the complete disarmament of nearly all the newly drafted Belgians, training up those who he felt would be useful to the state to keep the others from causing trouble. This only inflamed the angry draftees, who almost immediately began fleeing the state and spreading their arms amongst their comrades, especially among protestants in the north.

Sensing that a civil war was about to occur, Malou deployed the Belgian military mostly to the Flemish areas of the country, which would prove to be a near fatal mistake. The first shots were not in fact fired in Flanders; but instead were in Brussels itself. The workers, fed up after years of oppression, horrible working conditions, and armed in the wake of the draft fiasco, seized control of the local Brussels garrison and began launching reprisals against the factory owners, clergy, and various other elites in the capital. The crisis grew quickly, as the Flemish took this as their cue to revolt as well, and soon Malou was forced to flee the capital as it became clear it was too unsafe to stay there when one of his residencies went up in flames at the hands of terrorists with more than enough gunpowder. Malou’s absence considerably demoralized the already nervous and disillusioned Brussel garrisons, and a combination of desertion and cowardice resulted in the complete occupation by the local rebels.

The leader of these rebels, a man by the name of Leon Frère-Orban, would soon declare the “liberation of all workers of Belgium”, and establish on that day an ideology which would influence movements worldwide. This movement, which would soon be known as Orbanism (with Brother Orban as its symbolic founder, and martyr) preached a radical philosophy of worker mass action and anti-clericalism which struck fear into the hearts of any capitalist or clergyman all across Europe. (OTL Communism, essentially. About time it developed). Orban declared the commune of Brussels, appointing himself as premier, and arresting and executing the various clergy members and elite which had been unfortunate enough not to flee in time. Orban made the fatal mistake, however of seizing the property of many of the property owners in Brussels, and in doing so, alienated much of the liberal middle class which had risen alongside him against Malou’s oppressive government.

Outside of Brussels, Malou regained his composure, and as news of the radical nature of Orban’s commune reached the rest of Belgium, support for revolution waned, and Malou’s forces were reinvigorated with a fear of this potential uprising. A bloody battle ensued as Malou’s forces charged headlong back into the city, finding much support among many of the former rebels, eventually reaching Orban himself battling alongside his comrades in the city square. It is here that many of the details blur, as socialists and Orbanists in the future would glorify Orban’s last stand against Malou’s army as it closed upon him, pistol in hand, fighting to the death until being struck down by a saber beneath his ribcage and into his heart.

Malou had won, and, as his forces mopped up the revolters, realized he had won a bloodied nation. And it was not over. In the north, the Dutch were still clamboring for independence, and the borders of Germany and the Netherlands were increasingly crossed by protestant rebel groups to harass and terrorize the Belgian government. The government was stable, though, and had won support of the clergy, military, and frightened middle class liberals fearing another uprising. Industry had been damaged, nearly beyond repair, and many industrialists fled to France and the HRE for fear of their lives in the unstable Belgian state.

Belgium:
(-1 King Leopold, +1 Military Dictatorship, -29 Infantry (Untrained), -1 Guards (regular), -4 Infantry (Disciplined), -1 Infantry (Green), -2 Government efficiency, -2 EC’s, -2 economy, -1 Living standards, +Dutch/German rebels)

Holy Industrial Empire, Batman!

In what will surely be one of the most massive of industrial investments of history, the Holy Roman empire has invested nearly all its yearly stipend in constructing an elaborate series of railroads all throughout the empire, as well as handing over tremendous amounts of capital to a relatively unknown cast-iron manager, Freidrich Krupp. All across the empire, unemployment was significantly curbed as underemployment set in, as more and more people were needed to build and plan the extensive railroad system the Emperor envisioned crisscrossing his empire. Perhaps a bit too grandiose, the railroad system has had a great benefit on the empire, but not without a price. Already, the sheer scale of the system has caused a bit of a bureaucratic quagmire, as a tremendous portion of the infant bureaucracy has been overloaded with contracts and plans for every corner of the state, and local bureaucrats (especially in the minor states) bicker and fuss over which towns would have the railroad run through, causing multiple delays. In many minority areas, especially Poland and Hungary, the railroads have become a symbol of the German Imperialism, and it is not uncommon for portions of the tracks to be found completely derailed due to vandalism (little explosive/terrorist use for the most part), tacking on another nuisance to an already bogged down system. The HRE has, however, had much foresight in preemptively expanding public facilities in cities, reducing much of the overcrowding and pressures of society as much of Germany (especially Western OTL Germany) urbanizes.

The Steel industry, too thrives, as Freidrich Krupp has proved an able administrator of the new technology (albeit a tad… corrupt, to say the least). Steel making had been a monopoly reserved to the British, but with the sale of the secrets to the HRE, Krupp has imitated the process in full force. Across the Ruhr, coal and iron mining were developed (and quickly bought up by Krupp), and, stimulated by the tremendous demand for material for the railroads, boomed, creating the Kaiseliches Stahl Gesselschaft or KSG. Though much of the area just needs time to reach the apex of its output, it is already growing into one of the more profitable and industrially advanced areas of the world.

(+1 living standards, +multiple EC’s in the Ruhr, -1 Government efficiency, +1 Super Rich Krupp)

We come from the lands of ice and snow…

In Russia, things too seem to be doing much better. The Imperator has announced sweeping reforms, and much of the anxiety which had lasted in the earlier years of his reign are dispelled in favor of widespread popularity.

In a series of moves that effectively destroyed all semblance of nobility in Russia, the Imperator announced the official end of serfdom (which had fallen out of favor in the civil war, anyway), the nullification of noble titles (with compensation; the buyoff put down most unrest), as well as a clear line of succession to his throne. What was most foreign to the people was the fact that it was not his son who would inherit the role of Imperator, but instead those of other positions in the current government, with a list of successors sealed away from public view. This sated much anxiety, but also raised the more educated’s suspicion of corruption and fear of power-grabbing in the event that the line of succession is not fully known to everyone (and even if it is). Regardless, the reforms were enacted, and though there was much discontent (especially by the former nobility, or what was left), the bayonets of the Russian army ensured that any who wished to speak up would need to do so through a gaping hole in their throat.

Other notable reforms included a switching to the Gregorian calendar, much to the dismay of the orthodox church but accepted due to previously mentioned methods of quieting. Purchases were also made of the Crimea and Kamchatka, and throughout the empire great parades were held in honor of newfound Russian nationalism and resurgence, something the Zand Persians watched with contempt, but the people of Russia lauded high. The Russian government furthered its expansion by claiming everything within the article circle from the Kola Peninsula through the Western Side of the Bering Strait, excluding any Islands pertaining to Svalbard. Noone paid it much notice, as there is nothing there but ice and water as far as they know, but it was a belligerent move nonetheless. Overall, the future looks bright for Russia, and support for the government is growing very quickly amongst the general populace.

(+1 Confidence, +1 Government efficiency)

Noone knows what its like, to be the bad man…

In Aramapura, all hell has broken loose. Again. But this time, it’s not Siam’s doing, its Britain’s. Siam received the news, on March 21st, that Britain planned on invading Burma, and they were welcome to join, and much to their dismay found that the British had in fact already crossed the border and were headed for Rangoon. Not to be outdone, the Chinese also invaded very halfheartedly in the north, in what seemed more like a forced suicide than an actual invasion. Annoyed but hungry for land, Siam attacked all along the Aramapuran border, joining with British forces in the south to take Rangoon.

The British, effectively led and very well supplied, did have the significant disadvantage of manpower. French investment in Aramapura had not been wasted, and the Aramapurans, though not terribly well trained or motivated, were equipped with modern French weaponry and used such to great effectiveness in downing their British invaders. Disease did much of the fighting for them, too, as the British especially in Rangoon suffered great casualties to malaria, yellow fever, and a multitude of other debilitating sicknesses.

Regardless, the British pushed on, and in the east with the help of nearly 40,000 Siamese troops, took Rangoon after a protracted battle with Aramapuran forces, who were then forced to retreat west along the coast, where British fleets could bombard and harass incessantly, forcing the troops to take to the jungles to avoid casualties.

In the West, the British found much more resistance. Owing much to their lack of numbers, the British were somewhat overwhelmed by the Aramapuran military, hardened in jungle warfare from decades of combat with the Siamese. Alas, they were not as prepared to fight the effective leadership and tactics of the British army, and were soon forced to retreat to the capital in order to stave off the British attack. Feeling that, as most of the British military was distracted in the south, they would be able to hold off the Brits, it was a rude awakening when they realized the Siamese were also racing for the capital, with more than 20,000 able bodied men, seeking the prize that had eluded them for so long.

The British tore down the Aramapuran defenses, and, although moving slowly through the jungle terrain (logistics became a pain, especially as the monsoon season set in), they were able to breach the capital and seize the offices of government before the Siamese. This can be owed much in part to the fact that the Aramapurans, sensing both the weakness of the Siamese armies in comparison to the British, and wanting to save the humiliation of losing their capital to them, moved most of their armies to stave off the Siamese assault while the British exploited its weakness.

The Brits were quick to establish a new colonial government in Aramapura, but found administrating it considerably troublesome. Unrest grew in the countryside as resistance to British rule was augmented by the providing of French-made weaponry by the former army to the peasants, and the hopes of the Aramapuran government that their French backers would come to their side against the aggressors (in what was a clear violation of the proxy wars the British and French had been fighting with the two nations). It remains to be seen how the French react, as well as the irate Siamese who are making demands of land from the British government. Regardless, if the British are to maintain control of the region, they simply must send more forces to quell the resistance.

Britain:
(-3 Infantry (regular), -2 Dragoon (Regular))
Siam:
(-8 Infantry (green), -7 Dragoons (rabble))
Aramapura:
(-Economy, other assorted badness, -5 Infantry (Green), -11 Infantry (Rabble), -10 Dragoon (Rabble))
China:
(-16 Infantry (Untrained, disease) -12 Dragoons (Untrained, Disease, you really shouldn’t send so many&#8230

“The best part of waking up…. Is finding your nation hijacked by white men”

In a move which had significantly saddened the King of Java, but was not all too unforeseen, the Scandinavians have asserted their control over the island in its entirety, but retain the King of Java as leader of domestic affairs. Rather than resist and devastate his nation, the King accepted the occupation, though with considerable contempt. The Scandinvians sent more than enough forces to secure order, and are now effectively exploiting the wealth of Java.

It should also be noted that the Scandinavians have considerably increased their influence in China, investing in the transport of rice and other commodities into Jiangsu and Fujian provinces. Already their presence is becoming better known, and deals have been struck with the Qing government involving potential sharing of technology….

The Scandinavians also established a new colony in Africa, amid growing nationalism at home.

(-1 Java)

The Dragon Awakens…. Brushes his Teeth, Takes a nap

In China, the Emperor has launched a newfound initiative at modernizing his nation… and there is actually someone listening. Many elites, especially in the Beijing Area, in light of the Japanese submission (and, a little bit, the crazed Belgium expedition), have begun actively taking steps to eliminate corruption in their nation. Trade has also been freed up, and British and Scandinavian merchants find quite the market for their goods. The Chinese have used this to establish deal with the two powers for machine parts, steel, and other industrial goods to help them in their quest toward self sufficiency. It looks a long way away, but progress is being made.

China also announced that after centuries of rule, Mongolia would be freed as an autonomous state under Chinese oversight. Although grumblings did occur by many of the Chinese who would like to see Mongolia maintain its status in the Empire, few took any action against it, and many in Mongolia lauded it as a great move for their people.

Opium is also becoming a problem in China. Although banned, the drug has found its way into many of the southern provinces, especially around Hong Kong where European traders can easily access portions of China through Britain’s lax trade policies. One Dutchman was captured and hanged by the Chinese government for smuggling Opium, and though the Dutch protested vigorously, and condemnations flew from Europe about the incident, there was little doubt to his activities, and no action was taken.

Many Chinese are also finding their way to Britain’s North American colonies, as the Qing Emperor is making it easy and encouraging people (especially surplus soldiers) to move to Canada to work on the fledgling railroads which are wracked by shortages of manpower. Many Chinese took this offer up, and the railroads in the West have sped up the development of the region. Many also took the opportunity to move south, to Spain’s California colonies, after hearing of the discovery of gold and further need for employment. The populace of both California and Western Canada have expressed much xenophobic and racist outrage at this movement of “yellows” into their territory, and it has prompted the local Californian administration to ban Chinese immigration and file complaints to the British government to keep them under control.

China:
(+1 government efficiency)

Deus Vult!

France, not to be outdone in these troubled times, has considerably ramped up its missionary activities throughout the world. From The New world, to North Africa, to India, and even some say Japan, the French are taking steps to convert the populace to Catholicism and secure their loyalty to both Paris and Rome. A program of immigration was also set up for the holy land, and recruitment of Catholics from all across Europe (Mostly French and Italians joined the call) has resulted in a considerable influx of zealous Christians and destitute people looking for a new life in the holy land. The Papal states have augmented this worldwide catholic colonization with the creation of a missionary school in Rome, where many of the elite missionaries and religious representatives abroad can be trained to be effective leaders and proslytizers.

This has sparked considerable tension with the local Arab Muslims, especially in light of the Turkish revolts to their north. In fact, many French garrisons found themselves actively pursuing agitators sneaking across the border, and subduing a small uprising in northern Palestine against their rule. The most troubling of all, though, is the increasing activity of subversive elements in Egypt, where many have been inspired by the Turkish revolt against their Byzantine occupiers to do the same to the French. Thus far, no spark has provided for an all out rebellion, and the French are keeping a close eye on potential leaders, but many in France fear not just an Egyptian revolt, but on that spans the entirety of North Africa and Arabia.

In France itself, the King has secured some support with many of the lower classes of his nation by enacting some basic social programs; a very well timed move, as word of the Brussels Commune spread to France and many feared a repeat in the very conservative, often somewhat oppressive nation. No trouble emerged, much to French relief, but the example of Belgium has hardened many of the French reactionaries in their resolve against an Orbanist movement, and pushed some of the more open members of the French elite to accept that concessions must be made to keep potential unrest at bay. Military reforms were also enacted, as great emphasis was placed on communications and strategic fortifications throughout the French mainland.

The French have expanded their colonial holdings, sending a sizable force down from Algiers to secure some of the trade routes across the Sahara and subdue the problem of Berber raids (with some success) as well as up the Nile river to secure the protection of the "rumored Christians" who live at the source. This, of course, put the French in direct conflict with the Sultanate of Darfur, but advancing mosty through the increasingly unstable areas of its East, the French encountered little organized resistance to their superior forces. Some skirmishes with the Fur did occur as the French advanced down the west side of the nile river and into Fur territory, but for the most part the weakened Fur Sultanate avoided direct conflict with the well equipped and disciplined armies of the French in favor of periodic raids and consolidation of their remaining lands. Going was slow, but the French have almost secured the entire Nile that the Sultanate controls.

Darfur:
(-6 Infantry (Rabble))
France:
(-1 Dragoon (Disciplined))

El Mundo es un Pañuelo

The Spanish empire… it extends as far as Argentina to California. Keeping this empire has been no easy feat, and, as the Spanish found out in 1820, it may only get harder…

It has been no secret that revolutionary activity in the new world is steadily increasing, as the increasingly white, enriched, and modernizing colonies look less to Spain and more toward their local leadership for guidance. Spain has however, since the installation of Fernando as King, ruled with a much lighter hand than centuries past, and as such the colonials have enjoyed a greater degree of autonomy and freedom than they ever had before. But such freedom, once given, can never be taken away. At least, not without consequences.

In California, the discovery of gold has prompted a significant output in, well, gold, but without much government control (especially economically) inflation has run rampant in the region, and there is far too little Spanish currency floating around for proper conversion. Enter Terencio Hidalgo, a Spanish immigrant rich off the chance discovery and claim of a gold vein on his property. Sensing the people’s need for stable currency, Terencio Hidalgo used his significant fortune to establish a local mint and bank at the booming town of San Francisco, and has there begun minting his own currency for use by the residents for currency. The mint gained widespread acceptance mostly due to necessity, and as confidence in the currency grew so did Hidalgo’s wealth. This has prompted the entrepreneur to expand his enterprise to dominate the region almost entirely economically, building a clear monopoly of banking and minting in the area, as well as investing in mining and covertly smuggling Chinese immigrants into the region for use on the fledgling railways and infrastructure. Needless to say, the Spanish authorities are increasingly eying this man with suspicion and contempt, as his power grows the influence of Madrid upon the region lessons. The local Viceroyalty and administration has been mostly bribed to turn a blind eye to some of Hidalgo’s practices, especially as all seem entirely benign and very popular in the eyes of the people.

In Mexico, a bit of tension has erupted between the appointed Spanish Viceroyalty and the local administration run out of Mexico City. Apparently, the local administration began the construction of two small arms factories in the city of Guaymas; one producing Spanish made arms, and another provided by a French investor making French-made arms. These would not be the first arms manufacturies in the new world; there are quite a few, especially in Mexico/La Paz, but the administration did not register the construction with the local viceroyalty. This has aroused much supsicion, but the local administration claims it was simply a mistake, and that the proper channels were circumvented either through negligence or a fault in communication. Regardless, Spanish suspicion has raised many eyebrows in Mexico, and further action may spur some Mexicans to question the Spanish role in Mexico as a whole.

In Peru, where Spanish suspicions are much more founded, there is public opposition to many of the newly enacted Spanish policies favoring the native and mestizo populations over the elite, white populations which comprise the economically dominant faction of the region. Already deeply conservative, the increasingly liberal Spanish government has alienated most of the whites in the region, and revolutionary societies have been established under the watchful and ever-present eye of the Spanish government. So far, only a few have been arrested for their subversive activity, but as economic investment grows in the region, and natives continually migrate to the cities and raise in economic prominence, Peru will serve to be a hub of anti-Spanish sentiment in the new world.

In Louisiana, as the colony becomes more developed (and more diverse, even more so than California) complaints by the locals about Anglo encroachment have increased, as the Anglo settlers from Georgia and Virginia bring with them their slaves and agitate in the region for extension of the already somewhat tentative borders of the Republic and Kingdom. This has become an even greater problem, as runaway slaves, slave catchers, and Georgian partisans have crossed the border into Louisiana Territory (and Florida) as a result of the recent conflict between the nations,

In Argentina and Uruguay, things are relatively quiet. In recent times, there have been more and more vocal calls for the separation of Uruguay and Paraguay from the Viceroyalty of La Plata, but the Spanish government has been slow thus far to act for fear of setting a dangerous precedent for other regions seeking to divide the Spanish colonial holdings even further.

(+Ominous feeling in the Americas)

EC centers have risen and fallen all over the world, yet God is too lazy to go back and detail each of them. Know that they probably rose due to a combination of government investment and timely circumstances.

(+many EC’s, -a few, +even more ECness for Leeds )

Simply amazing. Didn't see this coming really.

“As we historians have looked back upon their past and attempt to glean lessons from the actions of our predecessors, few years have rivaled 1820 as a shining example of how not to rule one’s nation.” -Anonymous Historian

Click to expand...

Optimistic, aren't we?

Nice first update, but I think you forgot a little French colonial adventure.

Doublepost

das said:

Optimistic, aren't we?

Nice first update, but I think you forgot a little French colonial adventure.

Click to expand...

Oh, bloody hell, you're right. My apologies, I somehow managed to completely overlook it; it is late here, and I'll add that tomorrow, along with stats (Which aren't done yet) and any other minor changes I plan on making to the update.

From: Kingdom of France
To: Regency of Belgium

We express dismay at Our cousin's tragic insanity and demise, but also understandment that in the circumstances that was, perhaps, the only course of action left. In any case, We are glad to hear of General Malou's heroic victories over the maddened Communards. Do tell Us if there is any assistance that We can give you in order to help stabilise the situation inOur highly-regarded neighbour Kingdom.

From: Kingdom of France
To: Washington Republic

Along with many in Our Court and Parlement - and, so We have heard, in your Congress as well - We are dismayed and even angered by your unprovoked and brutal invasion of the Kingdom of Greater Georgia, which We regard as an old and respected ally of France. We strongly implore you to seek a just and fair peace settlement - if Our allies so request, then with Our mediation - immediately. Otherwise, Our patience with your policies shall grow dangerously thin.

From: Kingdom of France
To: British Commonwealth

We are not amused at all at your recent actions in Burma. The monarch of Aramapura is a heathen, but a trusted ally of France nonetheless - and do not pretend to be unaware of this, for under Our father King Louis XVI France had helped liberate Aramapura from you and your allies previously. What you are doing now effectively violates the terms of the peace treaty that ended the Third World War, granting Us every legal right to consider France at war with the Commonwealth. Continue your reckless aggressions, and it will grant Us every moral right - as well as moral obligation - to do so as well.

Furthermore, We do hope that the rumours about your support for the barbaric Washingtonian war are greatly exaggerated.

To Kingdom of France
From General Malou of Belgium

We are pleased to hear our brothers stand beside us in this time of crisis, and would be more than grateful if the powerful French nation could lend a small contingent of its military forces to help subdue the pesky Orbanists and protestants which seek to destroy our proud French Catholic nation.

From: Kingdom of France
To: Regency of Belgium

Then so it shall; a French Corps shall come under your supreme command within the early months of the coming year. We wish for the swiftest restoration of peace and order within Belgium.

From: The British Commonwealth
To: Washington Republic

We are appalled at the actions you have taken against the Kingdom of Georgia. Unless you order a complete retreat, Britain will be forced to intervene on the side of Georgia.

From: The British Commonwealth
To: Kingdom of France

We assure you, we had no say in this reckless invasion. If the President assumed we would assist him, he assumed wrong. Merely, he asked us our opinion on the Georgians. Clearly they are not our favorite nation, but we would never sanction an invasion of them. The Commonwealth will see to it that Washington is brought back a peg or two. We can not have a belligerent and aggressive state directly south of New England.

From: British Commonwealth
To: Qing Empire of China

Your welcome for expelling the "Belgian invaders" (everyone has a hearty laugh). I believe there discussions between us on a few key points? Do you intend to begin these plans soon?

From: The British Commonwealth
To: United Scandinavia

Did you allow the purchase of your Australian colonies as we negotiated?


@josef, EXCELLENT update! Really fun reading it. A few questions:

1. I can't tell, did I expand in Australia?
2. What is a good sized force to expand anywhere, or do I just need initiatives for getting settlers over there?
3. Nothing happened in Japan?
4. The stuff I gave the HRE is different from the stuff I gave China. Not a question, but pah.

OOC: That's nice and all, but you forgot Burma.

*** Off the coast of Tianjin ***

"Maxime, look! there it is, the land that King Leopold promise us would be Belgium's!"

"Captain Maxime, for the last time. And no, that's the port of Tianjin! King Leopold promised us the entire land of China!"

(Small talk amongst the sailors: isn't Tianjin part of China...)

"QUIET! All men to deck, we shall proceed as King Leopold ordered!"

*** Tianjin ***

"Um... Captain Maxime, what were our orders again?"

"You stupid fool, how many times do i have to tell you, to facilitate the invasion for the main army that is soon to come! What do you think we were supposed to do with these yellow pagan clouts?"

"...Then why are we strolling along the markets, sir?"

"Men can't fight on an empty stomach, Dylas. This is why you will never be a captain."

"What's that captain?"

"Nothing, now hurry up and carry these back to the ship! we must make haste or the Generals shall have my life!"

*** Aboard the ship ***

"What in God's name do you think you are doing! Take your filthy feet off my precious Leopold right this instant! You have no right to be aboard my ship!"

A small, shrewd looking chinese man gave a look of fear (Maxime: Rightly So!), and spoke into the ears of this chinese man with a long blue robe with various patterns stitched on, and wearing an odd looking hat with a feather sticking out. The man spoke back, and the translator spoke in his heavily accented english.

"Teh Empuror is curius about you. He wushes for your pesence in teh impurial palace."

"Captain! what should we do!?"

"How should i know! but King Leopold told us to stay quiet... this will be a good opportunity to infiltrate Beijing too... just do as they say!"

"Humph, very well, i'll see this so called Emperor of yours."

*** Execution grounds ***

"I demand you to release us right this instant! What right do you have to treat a foreign party like this! This is propost- <mouth stuffed with dirty cloth>

The entire crew of the Leopold received similar treatment, after they too failed to realize that their lives were no longer in their hands and were making their opinions heard. The last sailor in the row, however, sparked laughter instead of annoyance with his last words.

"You shall pay when the royal armies of belgium reaches shore!"

Sadly, the belgian men went to their graves in confusion, unable to comprehend why these yellow scums were laughing.

OOC: Sorry, i coudln't stop my self from writing this story.

das said:

OOC: That's nice and all, but you forgot Burma.

Click to expand...

Amapura's aggression towards British allies in China and Siam was unacceptable. We ended it.

Perhaps we can recreate an Amapuran state so you can retain your puppet, but Rangoon will remain in British control and much of interior Amapura + the capital will be ceded to Siam.

The cartographer's office will have several spiffy maps drawn up just for you, King, within a short period for you to review.

Taking Sudafrika.

To Ethiopia
From Sudafrika

We wish to form an alliance with you, or at the very least an NAP, for defense against the imperialistic powers of Europe.

To: Washingtonian Aggressors
From: His Royal Majesty, By the Grace of God King George the Second of Great Georgia, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Such a blatant act of aggression shall go down in the annals of infamy for all time. If you do not agree to completely withdraw your forces from sovereign Georgian territory without delay, His Royal Majesty shall not hesitate to marshall His forces and destroy your invading army before turning His attention to your homeland.

To: His Majesty, King Louis XVII of France
From: His Majesty, King George II of Great Georgia

Please accept Our gratitude for Your recent statements regarding the infamous Washingtonian rabble who even now pollute Our soil with their presence. As always, the Kingdom of France, her King, and her people have our utmost respect and admiration.

To: Prime Minister John Cartwright of the British Commonwealth (very tiny wistful sigh at writing those words )
From: His Majesty, King George II of Great Georgia

We send Our thanks for your statement against Washingtonian aggression and brutality that even now has much of Great Georgia in flames. Such bald-faced barbarity can not be tolerated by the civilized and Christian nations of the world, His Majesty is sure you agree. Despite our past... differences... our nation holds the British people in the highest of regards. Long live the proud and indefatigable Anglo-Saxon race!

lurker's comment: Great update!

@Azale, Scandinavia DID sell their Australian colonies, I just forgot to change the color. Shall fix.

NOTE: Joe has to go to the Yankees-Giants game and a party today, so fixes, stats, and diplomacy will have to wait until late tonight. Please be patient until then.