CircuitNES said:Jaggonite/Abaddon
Leader: Sakin Alool
Government: Despotism
Color: Purple
Starting Location: K9
Credits: 230
Ruins Controlled: 0
Imperial Favor: 6
Spending:
1x Transport Hovercraft (180)
2x Cleric (50)
Ruin Terms:
J7: Initial cost of 500 credits, rent of 250 credits/turn
Movements:
2 Grunts hop into the TH and zoom across the map, where they leap out.
3 Other Grunts move out from base, secuing RuinJ7 (Now known as Sakin's Devine Ruin)
http://i55.tinypic.com/lxijk.png
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Domestic
Cleric's work as raising everyones opinion of Sakin Alool. Citizens of Jaggon believe they are most blessed and celebrate the securing of a first ruin, and the beginning of doing so for others.
Second Orders said:Name and Player: Jaggonite/Abaddon
Leader: Sakin Alool
Government: Despotism
Color: Purple
Starting Location: K9
Credits: 230 (+250/turn)
Ruins Controlled: 1
Imperial Favor: 6
Build Assault Hovercraft (Bank 10 Credits)
As before, movements are on the map, have one grunt hop out at Q12 and start moving around the jungle, have the other hop out and claim the other direction.
Offer up my Ruin on this contract: 300 Credits launch, 100 credits per turn, with contract negotiated every 4 turns
Spoiler :![]()
Third Orders said:Name and Player: Jaggonite/Abaddon
Leader: Sakin Alool
Government: Despotism
Color: Purple
Starting Location: K9
Credits: 560 (+350/turn)
Ruins Controlled: 1
Imperial Favor: 7
SPENDING:
440: 2 Assault Hovercraft.
BANK 120
Offer up Ruin J7 on this contract: 300 Credits launch, 100 credits per turn, with contract negotiatable
Whats this you may ask? Well, I think you should allow this ONCE, and THEN tighten the rules.. but what currently is there for me to renegotiate every turn, getting a nice little credit launch boost? Your little formula MUST find me a interested party as you stated there are several out there? If NOT.. well the contract just carries on with me getting 100.. But if you do that, I think you are mean![]()
How about in future a duration must be set and if you break that, you suffer -2 rep?
As for movements all should be pretty clear.. down towards the south east one grunt moves and then gets into the transport to ensure hex's claimed before he zipps onwards.
Spoiler :![]()
Turn 8
England
Henry the Eight of that name, called the Iron-Crown, King of England,
delivers a short speech on the steps of the Palace to the assembled crowds.
People of England,
Today we go to War. We fight for the Bread in our Mouths, Our Freedom upon the Seas, the Defense of the Gospels and of Jesus Christ, and the Honor of the English people wherever they may wander. Today we put an end to the accusations, insults, and intrigue of that serpent King Juan of Spain. To War England! And to victory!
Important Note Regarding Irish Involvement: Should Ireland fail to show up in our invasion of Spain, I have secured a potential loan from the House of Lee for 7000g. If Ireland leaves us out in the cold (or fails to submit orders) use that 7000g line of credit to train 5000 extra soldiers and 40 extra cannon above and beyond what is written in these orders and substitute those for Irish ones- so they go to Northern Spain instead of Irish soldiers- I realize it will take longer to move our forces from England to Spain in this case and that our initial assault on San Sebastian may be a bit underpowered as a result but just continue to ferry the forces across until our full complement of forces have crossed to mainland Europe then proceed with the plan as outlined below. Additionally spend an additional 100g to bribe Anabaptists and Basques if the Irish dont pay their share.
Important Note Regarding Defense of England Itself: Should we be attacked in England itself prior to our amphibious attack on Barcelona we will have 2250 soldiers and 10 cannon to defend. If we are attacked after our amphibious attack on Barcelona, we will have 250 soldiers to defend. In either case, if we are attacked by a large force, use our line of credit with the House of Lee to train an additional 5000 soldiers and 40 cannon just as above but in this case use them for defense and not to assist in the attack. If we have already used our line of credit because the Irish have flaked on us and we are still being attacked, then levy defenses as best we can and have the King and his family hide out as best they can.
Family:
King Henry VIII (born 1497)
-sister: Princess Rose (1495)
-wife: Queen Eleanor of Austria (born 1504) (married in 1521)
-daughter: Abigail (1522)
-daughter: Pearl (1523)
-daughter: Sparrow (1524)
-daughter: Carmen (1525)
new this turn!
-son: Arthur (1527)
-son: William: (1529)
-daughter: Rose (after her auntie) (1530)
Colonies and Trade Forts
(Ive kept the stats on what has been invested so far mostly for my own benefit but you may want to refer here for what standing armies are maintained where if our colonies are attacked.)
Colonies
- Fort Henry (1518) (3 Henry-Towers, 7 cannon, 600 soldiers)
200g to trade-goods for bribes for the locals
4200g on development, defensive fortifications cotton and sugar plantations, missionary work- Pemba Isle (1522) (50 soldiers) (1500g)
1500g on development, clove plantations- Fort Eleanor (1524) (3 Henry-Towers, 3 cannon, 300 soldiers)
200g to trade-goods for bribes for the locals
1500g on development, defense, mines, farms, missionary work
Trade Forts and Enclaves
Throughout the update well be moving forces around.
- Saffavid- Basra(1521) (200g guns, naval tech)
- Songhai (1521) (1000g on major cathedral and university)
- Congo Basin (1521) (350 soldiers), (100g to trade good for bribes for the locals)
- Vijayangagra-Gao (1522) (200g guns, naval tech)
After this turn our forces will be:
Fort Henry: 300 soldiers, 3 cannon, 3 Henry towers
Fort Eleanor: 150 soldiers, 3 cannon, 3 Henry towers
Pembra/Zanzibar: 150 soldiers, 5 cannon, 5 dedicated ships for protecting against piracy and for local carry trade.
Fort Carmen: 150 soldiers, 3 cannon, 3 Henry towers
Fort Pearl: 150 soldiers, 3 cannon, 3 Henry towers
Congo: 200 soldiers.
Total forces dedicated to colonial protection (and not available to the European theatre): soldiers: 1250, navy: 5, cannon: 15
Total forces dedicated to European theaters: soldiers: 8250, navy: 85, cannon: 50. (or 13,250/85/90 if Ireland flakes out.)
Goals:
- Grow existing colonies and establish forts for soldiers and cannon there-upon.
- Found two new colonies- Fort Pearl and Fort Carmen
- Establish trade enclaves in Poland and Muscovy
- Destroy a large portion of the Spanish navy by engaging its elements in conjunction with our Kalmar allies
- Assault Spanish assets on the Michuan river.
- Invade Spain and take most of Spain north of the Ebre River.
- Plunder and destroy New Spain colony and move its wealth to Fort Henry (or sell what cannot be used in our colony)
- Invade and conquer the Spanish Balearic islands
IP
- 0 IP- hire soldiers our conversation indicates we do not need to spend an IP to hire troops when we are at war.
- 1 IP- declare war on spain
- 1 IP- espionage against spain
- 1 IP- Fort Carmen colony
- 1 IP- Fort Pearl colony
Policies
Discovery: A time of exploring new ideas, new places, of reaching beyond what is comfortable and traditional. The new world, new ideas from Europe, the discovery of people and nations beyond the horizon we had never even heard of a generation ago brings new vitality to individual and national 'discovery'. (I envision bonuses to developing new technology/philosophies and exploration/colonization of distant lands)
Finance
- Spending
Income: 13754g. Treasury: 21g.
- 100g to repay my debt to House of Lee,
- 200g to bribe for diplomacy with the Basques and Anabaptists
- 1000g to pay for espionage missions involving Spanish targets
- 500g to supply soldiers and sailors in campaigns against the Spanish and in the New World
- 5000g to hire 5000 soldiers
- 1550g to hire 31 cannon
- 1000g to develop Fort Henry
- 1000g to develop Fort Eleanor
- 1000g to develop Pembra/Zanzibar
- 1200g to found Fort Carmen
- 1000g to found Fort Pearl
I should have 225 gold left in the treasury. In addition to the funds paid by the Austrians, Kalmar, Polish and Moscovites, we will receive 500g from Scotland; so we should have 2325g left? (I am counting a 1600g payment from one of the people paying our debt bouncing off House of Lee because our debt is fully paid and returning to our coffers- see below)
- Borrowing/Diplomatic Income
The Muscovy will pay 1600g to the House of Lee on our behalf to retire our debt.
The Polish will pay 1600g to the House of Lee on our behalf to retire our debt.
The Austrians will pay 1600g to the House of Lee on our behalf to retire our debt.
The Kalmar will pay 1700g to the House of Lee on our behalf to retire our debt. (and they owe use 1800g additionally for next turn)
Pay 100g of our own money to the House of Lee to retire the last of our debt.
At the end of the turn the treaty that lets them have a monopoly on the export of English wool will expire.
Note that we are paying 6600g to the House of Lee from other people and ourselves. Thats incase one of the payments fall through. If they dont- just send one of the 1600g payment directly to us. I dont want to tip the house of Lee 1600g- I am a just over-insuring because NESers sometimes forget the deals they made.
As noted above and outlined in the diplomacy section, should Ireland not show up to our attack or if we are attacked unexpectedly, we will be borrowing 7000g from the House of Lee.
- Taxes
Enact the Emergency War Measures Tax of 1525.
Increase domestic taxes by 5% and trade taxes by 9%.
Diplomacy
sign this:
Treaty of Open Waters
Signatories: Ireland, Scotland, England, Kalma
We signatories hereby agree to the following terms:
- War-ships of signatory nations shall reduce their topmasts when within visual range of the territories of the sovereign nations of fellow signatory nations.
- Ships of the signatory nations shall come to the military assistance of ships of fellow signatory nations if under attack by others.
- Colonies and trade forts of signatory nations shall provide emergency assistance to the ships and their crews of explorative parties of other signatory nations. Nations of ships and crews requiring such assistance will provide reasonable financial assistance in compensation.
and this:
Terms of Credit between the House of Lee and the Crown of England:
That the House of Lee offers the Kingdom of England a line of credit for 7,000 gold to be used to fund military expenditure should Englands allies prove unworthy of their promises or should England be attacked from unexpected quarter.
Should this credit not be required, the Kingdom of England and House of Lee will be free of any financial or other obligations arising from this agreement.
Should this credit be required, it would be expected to be repaid within 5 years time, without interest.
Should this credit be required, but the Kingdom of England be unable to repay the funds, the House of Lee would gain possession of estates and holdings in Northern England valued at 7,000 gold. I.e.: The Kingdom of England offers these estates and holdings as fiscal guarantee for its repayment of funds. In this case the House of Lee would provide opportunity for resale of the estates and holdings back to the Kingdom of England at a future date for a price not more then 30% greater then 7,000g.
Should the Kingdom of England repay the credit within the 5 years time, the House of Lee would have no claim to English possessions or estates beyond what they currently hold.
also note:
Also please allow the Saffavids, Songhai, and Vijayanagar unrestricted use of my trade ports and colonies to refit and resupply their ships (sending their kings bills for all materials as needed) to help them extend the range of their ships.
Time-Line
- 1526 January: Send diplomats to the Basques and to the Anabaptist.
- 1526 January: Hire Jews displaced from Spain by the policy of deportation as spies and advisors.
- 1526 January: Begin hiring and training new soldiers and casting new cannon. Have our soldiers and sailors prepare for an amphibious landing
- 1526 January: Begin making contacts and developing a spy-network throughout Spanish ports, in particular Barcelona, Cadiz and Valencia- in many cases use Jews displaced by the Spanish deportation policy to guide English intelligence.
- 1526 January: Begin attempting to establish informants and spies in the Spanish royal court and military apparatus
- 1526 January-February: Purchase three old outdated merchant ships from private merchants arriving in England from either Spain, Portugal or Italy. Begin outfitting two with gunpowder to make HellBurner ships and one with a few barrels of gunpowder and trade goods.
- 1526 February: Five English galleons loaded with 3 cannons, specialists meant to make contact with the Songhai and Vijayangagra, and colonists and supplies for Pemba/Zanzibar leave for Africa and the far East.
- 1526 February: English galleons arrive in Songhai, perform some trading, unload spy to make contact with the Songhai military and head south to Congo.
- 1526 February: English galleons arrive in Congo, load 150 of the 350 soldiers stationed there (leaving 200 in the Congo)
- 1527 March: Send a spy disguised as a merchant aboard private merchant ship to Egypt.
- 1526 March: English galleons arrive at Pemba/Zanzibar and unload colonists, cannon, colony supplies and load cloves.
- 1526 March: English colonists in Pemba/Zanzibar begin developing Pemba/Zanzibar.
- 1526 March: Send an old outdated ship to an Italian port with trade goods but also several barrels of
gunpowder. This ship will trade along the Italian coast, mostly just passing time until its time to return to the Spanish theatre in August.
- 1526 April: English galleons arrive at English trade enclave amongst the Saffavids, unloading cloves and spices and loading horses. They also unload one spy meant to make contact with the Vijayangagra. These five ships then go on to provide an escort to English trade ships plying the Indian ocean and west coast of Africa using their bases in Pembra/Zanzibar, Saffavids and Indian lands to operate from.
- 1526 October-December: Observe merchants, fishermen and anyone with a ship that can carry a convoy to Spain and list their ships for future confiscation.
- 1526 November 3rd: Explode one Hellburner ship in the port of Cadiz and one in port of Valencia. Simultaneously, saboteurs will set the armories and powder depots of these cities afire.
- 1526 December 4th: 55 English ships and 600 soldiers and 10 cannon set sail for New Spain along with colonists and colony supplies under command of Sir Francis Drake
- 1527 Friday, January 8th: The states of Kalmar, Ireland and England will temporarily confiscate Kalmar, Irish and English ships and, along with Kalmar (65 ships) and English (30 ships) royal navies, use these to carry and land 3500 Kalmar, 4500 Irish, and 5000 English soldiers, and 20 Kalmar, 40 Irish, 40 English cannon at San Sebastian, Spain. Once taken our forces are under strict orders not to pillage the city. We want to stay on good terms with the Basques. Ships return to pick up more soldiers.
- 1527: January 11th: Leaving 500 English soldiers to hold San Sebastian, 3500 Kalmar, 4500 Irish, and 4500 English and 100 cannon (minus losses taken landing in San Sebastian) leave the city and march for Pamplona. Along the way they are under strict orders not to pillage the countryside. We want the Basques, Navarre, and Anabaptists on our side.
- 1527 Mid-January: Drakes galleons arrive at New Spain and raid it, taking anything of value which they possibly can and leaving the colonists there destitute (or dead).
- 1527: Mid January: Ships and convoys involved in transporting soldiers and supplies from Kalmar/Ireland/England return to Ireland and England and load up with 500 Irish and 1000 English soldiers.
- 1527: January 25th-31st (?): 12,500 allied soldiers and 100 cannon (minus losses) march on and take Pamplona. Again there are strict orders not to pillage the city as again we want to keep the Basques, Navarre, and Anabaptists potentially friendly.
Leave 500 English soldiers to garrison the city and 12000 allied soldiers and 100 cannon (minus losses) march across the wide plains and farmlands of Northern Spain for distant Zargosa. While the people still speak Basque or practice Anabaptism, our forces will not pillage or destroy the villages they cross but very soon they will be free to unleach their bloodlust as their reach the main agricultural plains and 'regular' Spaniards. We will switch from feeding on supplies and begin to pillage towns and villages and live off the local villagers stores of food and livestock. This will probably slow us down a bit as we forage wider and send scouts distantly and along the way our reinforcements should catch up. Also take loot wherever we can.
- 1527: January 28th(?): Ships return to San Sebastian with 500 Irish and 1000 English soldiers. These set out at a hurry to try and catch up to the main army.
English (30) and Kalmar (65) ships guard our supply-lines and any counter-attack by the Spaniards.
- 1527 February: Son Arthur is born.
- 1527 February: English galleons arrive at Fort Henry, unloading colony supplies to begin expanding Fort Henry. They also unload any goods taken from New Spain that are suitable to developing Fort Henry as a colony.
50 ships (minus losses from rain on New Spain) under Sir Francis Drake leave with 750 soldiers (minus losses from Spain- thats 600 soldiers from England and 150 of the 600 from Fort Henry) and 11 cannon (minus any losses from rain on New Spain- thats 10 from England and 1 of the 10 from Fort Henry) to hunt Spanish ships. (leaving 2000 soldiers in England)
5 ships leave for Fort Eleanor with colonists, colony supplies and 150 soldiers (from fort Henrys 600) and 6 cannon.
This leaves 300 soldiers and 3 cannon at fort Henry.
- 1527 February: Expansion of Fort Henry begins.
- 1527 March: Five ships arrive at Fort Eleanor unloading colony supplies and colonists and loading 150 soldiers.
This leaves 150 soldiers and 3 cannon at Fort Eleanor.
- 1527 Early March: Drakes 50 ships, 650 soldiers and 11 cannon (minus losses in raid on New Spain) drop off 1 ship and 25 soldiers to scout the Michuan river while the rest hunt for Spanish ships on the coast near the Michuan and along the ruins of New Spain. (hunting continues for most of early summer- using Fort Henry as a base of Operations)
- 1527: Late April, Early May: Approach Zaragoza with 13,500 allied soldier and 100 allied cannon (minus losses). This is a feint meant to draw the soldiers of Spain to this site while we bypass it and march for the capital. If they chase after us we can fight them in the open and if they attempt to race us to reach Barcelona before us by going south of the river Ebre they will be trapped on the south side of the river by our sabotage. If they stay put, great, we dont have to face them and can bring our full weight to bear against Lleida and Barcelona.
- 1527 Early May?: Scouting party returns (?) from Michuan river and reports to Francis, rejoining the main fleet when possible.
- 1527 Mid-May: Five ships arrive at site of Fort Carmen colony and unload colonists and supplies and 150 soldiers and 3 cannon.
- 1527 May: Construction begins on Fort Carmen colony.
- 1527 June: Drakes 50 ships, 650 soldiers and 11 cannon arrive Michuan, sailing up-river and attacking Chalco and further up-river (if the river allows) (assuming the Spanish have not left the river basin yet). Once the mission is complete or if late August arrives, they will return to Fort Henry to refit and resupply (using stolen goods from New Spain to assist in the effort)
- 1527 Early July: Five ships arrive at site of Fort Pearl colony and unload colonists and supplies and 150 soldiers and 3 cannon. Five ships return to Fort Henry.
- 1527 July: Construction begins on Fort Pearl.
- 1527 Mid-August: The outdated merchant ship we sent to the Italian coast with trade goods and gunpowder returns to Spain, preferably with an Italian crew or something. It sails to up the River Ebre and unloads most of its crew near Tartosa. Dedicated English spies then sail for the Tartosa bridge and, in the dead of night, blow up the Tartosa bridge.
- 1527: Mid or Late August: Approach Lleida with 13,500 allied soldier and 100 cannon (minus losses). This may happen later if we encounter heavy resistance in the field. Take city, plunder it, and leave 1000 Irish soldiers to defend the city.
- 1527 Late August: Five ships from Fort Pearl arrive Fort Henry and join with Drakes fifty.
- 1527 Early-September: Fifty-five ships, 650 soldiers and 11 cannon (minus any losses leave for England).
- 1527: Mid September to Early October: Approach Barcelona with 12,500 allied soldier and 100 allied cannon (minus losses). Lay siege, beginning to fire cannon on walls and forts. This may happen later if we encounter heavy resistance in the field or at Lleida.
- 1527 Mid-October: Francis and friends arrive England, refit, repair, etc. Goods taken from New Spain or the conquests against Spanish soldiers that are unsuitable for colony development are unloaded as plunder.
- 1527 Mid/Late October: English and Kalmar ships involving in ferrying soldiers to San Sebastian and providing supplies, etc, rendezvous with Drakes ships
- 1527 Late October: Francis Drake leads eighty-five English and sixty-five Kalmar ships (minus losses) and 2000 English soldiers and 10 cannon (minus up to 650 soldier and 55 ships lost in the New World) for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean sea. (this leaves 250 soldiers in England to keep the peace; Levy more forces from the population if we need them for some reason). Search and destroy Spanish ships; if we encounter the Spanish navy along the way sink them. If we encounter any other navy along the way avoid them. If we encounter a mixed Spanish/other navy along the way, avoid them. Work our way along the Spanish coast taking our time to chase down Spanish ships as we go and arrive Barcelona Mid-November.
- 1527 Mid-November: Drakes ships (150 ships total minus losses) arrive at Barcelona. Ship-based cannon fire assists land-based cannons. Two-thousand English soldiers and 10 cannon (minus losses in new world) flank the city while the 12,500 soldiers and 100 cannon (minus losses from march across northern spain) press the offensive from the hills. Take city? Plunder it.
- 1527 Mid or Late November: Ten Kalmar ships assigned to patrol Ebre river to prevent crossing by boats or stuff
- 1528 January (or whenever we take Barcelona):
3000 English and 1000 Kalmar soldiers and 15 English cannon remain in Barcelona to guard the city.
10,500 soldiers and 95 cannon (minus any losses from both new world and Spanish conflicts) march for Zaragusa.
85 English ships and 55 Kalmar ships (minus losses) hunt Spanish ships including merchant ships and sink or capture them and blockade Vallencia and Castellón de la Plana ports.
- 1529 March: 45 English and 55 Kalmar ships (minus losses) continuing harassing Spanish coasts under a Kalmar commander, raiding wherever they can, or hunting Spanish ships and merchant shipping (this is their orders for the rest of the turn). 2000 English soldiers and 10 cannon aboard 40 English ships set sail for Balearic islands.
- 1529 April: 10,500 soldiers and 85 cannon (minus any losses from both new world and Spanish conflicts) arrive at Zargosa. Take city. Plunder. This is where we make draw our stand; we will now assume a defensive stand and consolidate our lands north of the river Ebre.
- 1529 March: 40 Ships, 2000 soldiers and 10 cannon (all English under the command of Sir Francis Drake) will assault the Balearic islands starting with the capital of Palma. Use the remainder of the turn to sail along the coasts of these islands and secure all major towns and villages and force the population into surrender. These islands and their agricultural and fishing production will be used as a supply base for our forces in continental Spain if required. Additionally, their harbors and ports will be used as a base to refit and repair our ships in the Mediterranean. Our ships will also intercept any shipping by Spanish ships through Mediterranean waters from here.
- 1529 May: 3,000 soldiers and 30 cannon set up fortified positions at Zargosa to isolate the north shore of the Ebre river from the south shore (while 10 Kalmar ships patrol the river to prevent Spanish row boats or other small boats from ferrying forces across. 7,500 soldiers and 45 cannon (minus total losses) move into the countryside to visit small towns and villages to force them into obedience. They also visit the cities of Tudela, Logrono, and Mirando de Ebro to try and take up fortified positions to control these bridges. This is not particularly realistic so just do the best they can. These forces can use supplies from the homeland (via the Anabaptists/Basques or our own forces in San Sebastian/Pamplona) bust mostly plundering farms, etc.
- 1529 June: Son William is born.
- 1530 July: Daughter Rose is born.
Actions
- Sale and Spread of Technology
Goals
- Openly Sell 7-Trace italienne (star forts)/7-Combined arms to the Muscovy for 1600g (paid to the House of Lee to retire our debt) and a 300g English trading Enclave (In Archangel?)
- Openly Sell 7-Trace italienne (star forts)/7-Combined arms to the Polish for 1600g (paid to the House of Lee to retire our debt) and a 300g English trading Enclave in Polish lands (Gdansk)
- Openly sell 7-Trace italiene (star forts)/7- combined arms/galleons/4-cannon fire to the Kalmar union for 1700g this turn and 1800g next turn.
- Openly Sell the Scottish galleons tech for 500g (direct payment to us).
- Openly sell the Austrians 7-Trace italienne (star forts)/7-Combined arms for 1600g.
- Secretly pass the blueprints for making cast iron cannon and siege II to the Songhai free of charge.*
- Secretly pass the blueprints for making 3-Cannon fire and boarding to the Vijayanagar free of charge.*
- Secretly pass the blueprints for making caravels and 3-Cannon fire and boarding to the Egyptians free of charge.*
Summary
The sale of technology to the European powers is an open affair and obviously a means of raising funds for our war. The sharing of blueprint to the Songhai, Egypt, and Vijayanagar is blueprints only and only involves one guy passing off some papers. It won’t help nearly as much as our past attempts and we expect they’ll need to spend more of their own funds but I absolutely don’t want to get caught this time.
Send The Muscovy and Polish technicians to teach them whats what as soon as we see them beginning construction of warehouses and merchant quarters for the English and the House of Lee confirms they got their money from them.
Send the Kalmar the technicians to teach them whats what as soon as House of Lee confirms receipt of moneys.
Send the Scottish and Austrians specialists to teach them whats what as soon as we confirm getting funds from them.
Send 5 ships with 100 soldiers and 5 cannon south to Songhai and beyond right away.
Description
The sale of tech to European powers is straightforward and I won’t explore it further at this point.
Our ships will drop off some merchants and clergy in Songhai and they will head directly into the interior. Once in Songhai, one man, disguised as a priest, will carry unlabeled blueprints detailing cast iron cannon manufacture and siege II techniques (so no English or other languages on it) and meet with his Songhai contact in the English church, and serve confession to a variety of new Songhai converts. One of these will be a Songhai spy and to him our English spy will provide the documents. If the documents are found, we will deny anything that has to do with them.*
A single spy travelling as a merchant will arrive in Egypt ASAP and head into the interior. He will have with him documents and blueprints for caravels and 3- cannon fire and boarding techniques again without any written language. The ‘merchant’ will meet with an Egyptian ‘merchant’ and buy some raw cotton (and pass the documents). *
Our ships going to Songhai and Pemba/Zanzibar will go on to the Saffavid trade fort. While there, he will secretly meet with a representative from Vijayanagar and provide unlabeled blueprints for 3- cannon fire and boarding. This is in a far-away place away from prying eyes so hopefully this is secret enough.*
* = In all cases we are sacrificing ease of them learning the technology in favor of maintaining secrecy (they may need to invest more cash than if I sent technicians like last time). Last turn we sent out teams of technicians and got caught. This turn we send out 1 man with 1 document to meet with one other man. That’s the full extent of our exposure and it would be very surprising for others to learn of our involvement in this.
Synergy with Policy
None.
- Expanding Trade with Eastern Europe
Goals
- Develop trade enclaves with Muscovy and Poland
Summary
Poland and Muscovy have both agreed to open trade enclaves for the English (and pay 300g of their own money to do so) along with paying us a sizeable retainer to teach their armies the secrets of modern warfare.
Description
Hopefully our trade enclaves can be situated in Archangel and Gadansk. We will trade for Russian amber, timber, and especially fur (sable, ermine, mink, etc) and for Polish grain and timber and other exports in exchange for English finished wool products and manufactured ironware, and whatever else.
Synergy with Policy
Relatively little. No synergy expected.
- War Measures Tax of 1525
Goals
- Increase T-Tax to 19
- Increase D-Tax to 35
Summary
Increase taxes to support our war against Spain
Description
We will utilize our homeland soldiers to help our official collect the taxes and put down uprisings as needed. Their orders are to keep things as peaceful and non-violent as possible.
Synergy with Policy
None.
- Diplomacy with the Basque, Navarre, and Anabaptist
Goals
- Avoid conflict in the Basque region.
- Avoid conflict in the Pyrennes with the Anabaptists
- Secure a route for supplying our forces in Northern Spain
- Gain intelligence and scouting expertise from new allies.
Summary
England will send 200g, Kalmar will send 100g, and Ireland will send 100g so as to secure the goodwill of these people. Ultimate goal is the security of our supply-lines and avoidance of conflict in their regions. Note that our soldiers are under orders not to pillage or plunder within these regions.
Ultimately the diplomacy and bribes are an insurance policy to make sure our supplies reach all the way to Barcelona. Secondarily, they are to be used to assist with intel about local terrain and weather.
Description
With the Basque, appeal to their sense of cultural identity separate from Spain and with generous gifts to their leaders especially in San Sebastian and Pamplona to try and secure cooperation from their people when we land at San Sebastian and Pamplona. If we can fight central Spanish forces only and ‘free’ the locals from the central government, that would be best. Even if the population is divided (maybe amongst the line of those who benefit from the bribes and those that do not), the presence of a large naval and military engine in their lands should help them to see that cooperation is the way to go. Ultimately I want to make sure we can land supplies and reinforcements in San Sebastian and move them through Pamplona with minimal fuss. Additionally, if we are successful and sign a peace treaty with Spain, it might be easier to annex these lands if they are friendly.
With the Anabaptists, i want to appeal to potential fear that they might have of the Spanish of anyone who doesn't toe their particular brand of Catholicism. We have seen what they have done to Muslims and Jews and threatened to do to other nations, including England, if they should embrace religious reforms. They have good reason to be fearful. And so we three allied nations were sent by God to protect them. We want to use their local knowledge of the area near and in the foot-hills of the Pyrenees by hiring scouts and locals knowledgeable in the terrain. I want to use their knowledge to help guide us quickly and effectively through their lands with minimal fuss. Most importantly however is that I want to trade much of our gifts for their support of our army as it moves into more south-eastern Spanish lands. If we can get them English/Kalmar/Irish goods, then perhaps they can provide us with their own supplies, especially beef since they are probably ranchers and bread since they are farmers too(?) to feed our troops.
Synergy with Policy
None.
- Espionage Directed at Spain
Goals/Summary
- Gain intelligence on the location of Spanish troops and ships
- Gain intelligence on the position of fortifications and defenses in targeting towns and cities
- Feed the Spanish war machine misinformation and lies regarding allied troop movements.
- Blow up the harbor and powder stores of Cadiz and Valencia
- Blow up the Tartosa bridge to isolate Spain north of the Ebre from Spain south of the Ebre
- Capture the Spanish king or his family
- Capture the Spanish treasury
Description
- Local intelligence
(funding ~150g?)
We will supplement the intelligence and scouting we may get from the Anabaptists in the north with traditional espionage. English operatives will approach Jewish ex-Spaniards that were deported by King Juan or his father and offer to pay them and possibly get revenge on their behalf if they would only return to Spain and report what they see to the English. These Spanish-speaking Jews will presumably remember the cities of Spain and disguised as merchants or travelers or whatever else, return to Vallencia, Barcelona and Cadiz and make contact with locals that might have been friendly with them and working in conjunction with traditional English spies posing as Spaniards attempt to infiltrate the dockyards and barracks of these cities, perhaps joining the local garrisons or taking observatory positions as fishermen or traders. These will provide intelligence to the English army of the coming and goings, construction and equipping of ships and soldiers.
- Sabotage of Valencia and Cadiz harbors
(funding ~400g?)
Purchase old crap ships from the private sector. Two of these ships will be used to make Hellburners. Each ship, fairly small, will be of approximately 70 tons. To ensure maximum carnage, they will be outfitted with an oblong fire chamber a meter in diameter and 12 meters long. The walls will be five feet thick and consist of a brick floor, and with walls and roof composed of old tombstones stacked vertically and sealed with lead. On top of the chambers will be a mixture of iron shards and small nails and ball-bearings from our heavy industry foundries. The whole will be filled with high quality fined corned gunpowder. The device will be concealed to appear as a set of crates. The whole thing will be covered in standard wooden deck and fly Portuguese or German colors as they sail, one into Cadiz and one into Valencia. They will be set to drift towards the largest concentration of Spanish military ships present (timing their arrival with the presence of a high-number of military ships by working in conjunction with our local intelligence (see above and the time-line) and an understanding of local currents and tides).
As the ships begin to drift their crew (intelligence operatives and elite soldiers) will abandon ship and flee in skiffs beyond the harbor wall or deep into the city proper (so as to avoid being killed) immediately after setting the delayed fuse. Each ship will have two triggering mechanisms; one will be a clockwork mechanism designed by a watchmaker and the other will be a conventional delayed fuse mechanism. Both will be concealed below-decks.
Based on expectations from literature, the blast should rip most things apart within a 60-meter radius and the blast should be heard up to 50 miles distant (source: the infallible Wikipedia)
When she later recalled the story she remembered first the bright glare that turned the darkness of her private room in the inn into brightest day. A second later a thunderous reverberation struck the inn and shook it, toppling her from her bed and against the far wall. At first she had thought that Judgment Day had arrived but she soon realized that she was still alive and breathing. Looking from the window she saw all of the harbor aflame. People were running hither and yon, many bleeding profusely and some missing limbs or clutching at loops of viscera spilling from their guts. Later she would learn that a massive explosion had rocked the harbor, destroying ships and killing soldiers and merchants, fishermen and traders. Speaking to others later she had learnt that horses and houses had been knocked over up to a mile distant and that slabs of stone from the explosion had been thrown up to a league distant and buried deep in the earth. It was said that people had suddenly died without a visible wound, killed by the concussion of the air. But that had been only the beginning.
In the ensuing confusion, our agents who had infiltrated the city would make their way to the armory and gunpowder depots and sneak in (or walk in if the confusion is great enough) and set a long fuse to the gunpowder stores of the military armories setting off secondary explosions and adding to the confusion and carnage.
- Sabotage of Tartosa Bridge
(funding ~80g?)
The goal is to divide the northern and southern shores of the Ebre River so that our soldiers and ships can better control territory in the north of Spain.
The operation is timed to occur when our own troops are making their way from Zargosa region to Lleida and Barcelona. I hope that the Spanish troops from central Spain will realize the danger our forces pose to Barcelona and the king and attempt to drive for the capital and arrive to assist in its garrison prior to our arrival by taking this bridge across the Ebre. This way they will be stuck on the southern shores far from distant Zargosa and the closest bridge (if my research proves correct- its hard to find data on 16th century bridges over the River Ebre online but I think I tracked most if it down). The other thing it does is prevent the Spanish king from escaping nearly as easily if he decides to run.
The operation depends on the purchase of a junk ship from the private sector and its operation along the Italian coast as a regular merchant ship for awhile. Then, when the time is right (mid August 1527?), it will sail up the River Ebre and, in the dead of night, plant explosives a the base of the bridge’s pylons and arches. Setting a long fuse, the explosives will be ignited and hopefully the bridge will fall.
- Turning Spanish Scouts and Spies
(funding ~120g?)
Fund additional counter-intelligence and counter-scouting activities to catch and intercept Spanish scouts and spies. Whenever we can catch a Spanish spy, we will do our best to turn him, especially if we can find his family and hold it ransom or otherwise have a good hold over the loyalty of the individual.
Also, we will try to convince some Basque, Anabaptist or disloyal Spaniards to serve as “Spanish Informants”. The primary job of these informants will be to convince the Spanish army that the invading allied army plans on crossing the Ebre at Zargosa and marching into southern and central Spain. This is so that the enemy will send their forces away from Lleida and Barcelona or elsewhere and into southern or central Spain or to garrison Zargosa so that we can flank them at a strategic level. The secondary job is just to sow confusion about the precise location or composition of the invading army and especially as to how it is supplying itself (let them think we are using barges on the Ebre river?).
- Infiltrating the Royal Spanish Court
(funding ~400g?)
Lastly, we want to infiltrate the Spanish royal court. We want someone(s) who knows the King and his family and has an ax to grind. Our aim is to get someone to start relating the activities and location of the king so that when our men and ship arrive at his location (Barcelona?) we can use that intelligence as well as a traitor(s) amongst his men to capture him so we can force peace on our terms quickly and decisively. Part of the money is to buy off his bodyguards or the captain thereof – there’ s a lot of money on the table. We are basically paying 400g to either capture the Spanish king or his close family.
Once we have the king, send out misinformation that he is being carried in a ship back to England so that the Spanish navy will make stupid mistakes and take chances attacking our navy. The truth is that we will tuck him up and very covertly carry him back overland through the Pyrenees and to the shores of North-western Spain. We will then ship him back to England from there.
Also use our contacts in the Royal Spanish court to secure the treasury.
Synergy with Policy
None.
- War in The New World
Goals
- Destroy Spanish navy by outnumbering it locally.
- Raid, plunder and destroy colony of New Spain
- Destroy Spanish forces on the Michuan river
Summary
Fifty-fives ships leave for New Spain with 600 soldiers and 10 cannon from England. They arrive 6 weeks later (you said it takes 4-8 weeks to travel) and plunder New Spain. They then sail on to Fort Henry before 49 of the ships set sail to hunt and destroy any Spanish ships in the region. Meanwhile a small number of soldiers and 1 ship are sent to the Michuan river to try and do some scouting. When they return or when its obvious that they aren’t returning, we will assault the Spaniards in Chalco and around there. Once that operation is complete the ships and soldiers will return to Fort Henry, rendezvousing with ships sent to establish colonies in the East and then returning to England to assist in the assault on Spain proper.
Description
- Expedition for New Spain:
Sir Francis Drake will be placed in command of this operation. He’s the king’s favorite for naval affairs. His given a rather large number of ships but only a limited number of soldiers because he can pick up soldiers in the New World from Fort Henry. (I am reducing garrison sizes in Fort Henry and Fort Eleanor based on what you told me- I worry that their upkeep is reducing the growth rate of my colonies). Note that the ships also carry colonists/specialists and supplies for our developing and new colonies. They leave on 4th of December of 1526, arriving at the shores of New Spain sometime in Mid January.
- Assault on New Spain:
If we meet any Spanish ships along the way engage them and capture/destroy them to the best of our capacity unless we are outnumbered or two heavily encumbered by the supplies and colonists we carry.
The ships will approach the New Spain coast and unload 10 cannon and 400 soldiers somewhere with a natural harbor but not in range of local defenses. The soldiers and cannon will then approach the major settlement areas and if there is no major defenses, in coordination with the soldiers aboard the ships, over-run the settlement. If there are proper defenses use our ship-based and land-based cannon to open them up before we pour our soldiers in.
Once the major defenses have been overcome systematically dismantle the settlement and load anything that isn’t nailed down onto our ships. Take all the food and crops and burn anything that isn’t harvestable yet. Leave the majority of the Spanish colonists to starve. Any valuable specialists can come with us as we sail for Fort Henry; they are now indentured servants of the English crown. Interrogate with prejudice the governors and senior military officials if we can catch them to determine the movement of Spanish assets or the founding of new colonies in the New World.
- Fort Henry
Arriving at Fort Henry separate our fleet into 5 ships which will be used to taxi colonists and supplies and head East to set up our eastern colonies. Our treasure taken from New Spain will be unloaded and whatever can be used to assist in the development of Fort Henry will be invested in our colony (the rest will be sold when we return to England).
One ship with 25 soldiers will set sail for the Michuan river to scout for our future attack.
Forty-nine ships, 750 soldiers and 11 cannon (we load 150 soldiers and 1 cannon from Fort Henry to swell our ranks) will hunt for Spanish ships.
- Scouting Expedition
March 1527, Étienne Brulé, born in France but immigrated to England at the age of 15 and having risen considerably in the ranks of the English navy, take command of a scouting expedition to the Michuan river. His goals are to locate the Spanish and determine their numbers. He takes with him only 1 ship and 25 soldiers. His orders are to sail up the river until he spots evidence of the Spanish then to turn around and sail back to Fort Henry and rejoin Francis Drake.
- Hunting Spanish ships
March- June 1527, Francis Drake will hunt for Spanish ships and assets along the mouth of the Michuan river and the coastline between it and New Spain, as well as the coast north of New Spain looking especially to intercept any ships bringing resources or reinforcements to the Spanish soldiers in Michuan territory or treasure ships leaving the river.
If we have any evidence of a new Spanish settlement founded in the New World this turn, then these are the assets that are to be used to run it down, plunder it and destroy it.
Francis Drake will use Fort Henry as a base of operations, meeting up with the scouting ship and personnel once their mission is complete.
In June 1527, Francis Drake will sail his fleet up the Michuan river to do battle with the remnants of the Spanish army at Chalco (or thereabouts)
- Hunting Spanish Amongst the Michuan
Based on our conversation, I will not be sending the English soldiers into a protracted adventure amongst the Michuan river. Instead they will remain on their ships as long as possible and only head inland to do battle with the Spanish when the meet them.
So the idea is to sail up the Michuan river and if we see Spanish ships to engage and capture/destroy them. If we encounter a Spanish fort we are to unload our forces out of range of their cannon or guns, and if it is along the river, use our ships to fire upon it with their cannon while our soldiers and cannon approach from the landward side. Overrun and plunder their forts.
If we cannot find the Spanish on the river and see no evidence of their ships, then just turn around and go back to Fort Henry. If we see the Spanish but they hide in the forest or wilds, do not pursue them; instead simply plunder and raze any forts they may have on the river’s edge. If we are attacked by the Michuan or Aztecs, defend ourselves as best as possible and capture them so we can release them with a message back to their masters (namely that we are here to destroy the Spanish and trade with their tribes).
Under no conditions are our soldiers or cannon to stray more then a quarter day’s journey from the ships and they are never to sleep on land. The ships are numerous- they have big cannons and they are the soldier’s protection.
- Returning to England
In late august, Étienne Brulé and Francis Drake will meet up with the ships used to set up our colonies further east and head back to England. Once there they will unload any treasure that couldn’t be used to prop up Fort Henry and repair/refit/resupply then combine with the Kalmar and English navy there and head out to fight in mainland Spain.
Synergy with Policy
None.
- War in Spain
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Goals
- Take and hold, in this order, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Lleida, Barcelona, Zargosa
- Control Spain north of the Ebre river
- Inflict a grievous injury to the economy and prestige of the Spanish faction
- Capture the Spanish king and his family
- capture the Balearic isles.
Summary
March on Northern Spain via San Sebastian and take Pamplona, Lleida and Barcelona. Take some boats to Parma and take those islands too. Capture the Spanish king.
Description
- An Amphibious Attack
Our original assault will take place on Friday January 8th, 1527 and rely on ships confiscated from the private sector of the three allied nations. Our convoy will be under the protection of 30 English and 65 Kalmar naval vessels and will carry 3500 Kalmar soldiers, 4500 Irish and 5000 English soldiers and 20 Kalmar, 40 Irish and 40 English cannon. The arrival of a huge allied fleet should be a surprise to the inhabitants of San Sebastian (including those we made diplomatic contact with) but once they arrive, their overwhelming numbers, the lack of defensive preparations by the inhabitants of San Sebastian and our diplomatic bribes might conspire to together render the surrender of the city without a battle. And so we will arrive and not fire a single cannon until our diplomats have a chance to offer the city governors a chance to surrender. If they refuse, then we attack, starting with ship-based cannon fire, then unloading cannon/soldiers on nearby hills and laying the smack down on their fortifications before storming them.
Either way be very merciful with the population. Our soldiers are under orders not to plunder or pillage the city or the environs in any way. As soon as they are ashore we move them out of the city and into military camps so they have little chance to do harm. Five-hundred soldiers will remain on garrison duty but the officers are to work closely with the diplomats to avoid inflicting harm or hardship upon he population. Place local English sympathizers that our diplomats have contacted in positions of puppet authority.
Our diplomats will contact some locals with English sympathies (that we bought with our bribes?) and ask them to help guide us through the hills to the plains around Pamplona.
Later more soldiers will arrive and land here (possibly more at this point if we cannot carry as any over in the initial ferry operation- we will also provide supplies via the San Sebastian harbor.
- March to Pamplona
Once we take San Sebastian we will march for Pamploma; we are doubtful that the Spanish will be able to mobilize a coordinated defense of this city due the speed of our progress. We will use the Basque and Anabaptist populations in the region to secure safe passage. We will survive on supplies brought with us and not harm the popuation.
If the Spanish army meets us in the field (unlikely considering that we have just arrived in Spain and it takes awhile to amass and march an army) do our best to fight them in an open area with our flanks protected by hills or forests and take advantage of any small hills to mount our numerous cannon to seriously deplete the enemy forces from a distance.
- Pamplona
Pamplona has the distinction of pretty much controlling the major passes through the Pyrenees and no doubt is important to control if we want to move our supplies through the foothills of the Pyrenees to Barcelona. And so we must have it.
Again rely on our diplomats to make contact with English sympathizers amongst the population focusing again on the Basque or Anabaptists- maybe make out Juan’s wife as a traitor to them who sold them out to the Spanish despite their wishes? Anyway, again offer them surrender without a shot fired but if they refuse then reduce their fortifications and formations with cannon (since we have so many) before moving our bulk in. Again we will move into the city but our soldiers are under orders not to plunder or harm the civilian population. They are there to destroy government of central Spain, the local barracks and defenses, then move back out in the countryside. Place local English sympathizers that our diplomats have contacted in positions of puppet authority.
Five hundred allied soldiers will remain to guard the city.
- Naval Operations
At this point the Kalmar/English navy should be free to focus on other things. They will make search and capture/destroy operations against smaller groups of Spanish military ships and against Spanish trade ships. They are not to engage overwhelming enemy numbers and if the enemy pursues our navy while we are outnumbered, they are to head to narrow straits (or river mouths) anywhere they can to try and fight in areas where mobility is restricted and we can fight limited number of enemy ships at once.
In mid-October Francis Drake’s forces from the New World should return, rendezvous with the Kalmar and English ships in the region (total 150 ships) and, after taking on 2000 English soldiers and 10 cannon, sail down the coast of Spain hunting capturing and sinking Spanish military ships and trade vessels. Do NOT attack third party navies such as the Portuguese. My diplo with Milarqui before he dropped was going well so I hope they will stay neutral.
- Feint at Zaragosa and March for Lleida.
Sometime during this march we expect the 500 Irish and 1000 English soldiers who would have to come in a second ferry operation to catch up to our main force.
As our soldiers march beyond the lands of the Basques and Anabaptist they will be given free reign, encouraged even, to forage far and wide (carefully using plenty of scouts and local guides) and plunder crops and farmlands and villages to feed the marching army. Do as Sun Tzu suggests and make the enemy pay to upkeep our forces. This means that we will probably contact many enemy spies and scouts which is bad but also good. Those scouts we do capture we will try to turn (see espionage budget, action) and return to their masters with tales of us heading for Zargosa and beyond to Valladolid and the agricultural heartland of Spain. Our mission, as understood by double-agents, is that we want to control the stomachs of Spain and so will cross the Ebre at Zargosa and head west.
The Spanish army may try to meet us in the field here. At this point we should have 13,500 soldiers and 100 cannon (minus losses). My understanding is that its fairly dry plain with some agriculture and lots of Mediterranean agriculture so we might end up fighting in croplands or open plains more likely. That’s fine. This favors our cannon-heavy army and ‘combined arms’ approach to warfare.
Anyway, in truth we will feint at Zaragosa to try and draw the Spanish army to garrison that city but march for Lleida
Maybe three-to-four days distant from Zaragosa we will suddenly turn and head directly east, moving overland in a wide front. If garrison forces from Zargaosa pursue us, then send our cavalry (dragoons?) in a wide sweeping maneuver, ahead and east, then north. Meanwhile our main forces will continue to move east then finally turn and prepare to meet the enemy (with canon on the south near the Ebre river). As the two lines meet our northern cavalry will wheel and strike at their northern flank and western rear. If garrison forces do not pursue or head eastwards on the southern side of the Ebre river, then that’s cool- just keep marching for Lleida.
- Assaulting Lleida
Sometime before we reach Lleida the bridge across the Egre at Tartosa will have been destroyed (see Espionage) trapping the soldiers and government of Spain north of the Egre there and preventing those soldiers in central and southern Spain from partaking in the defense of Lleida and Barcelona. Hopefully…
By the time we reach Lleida (August?), the Spanish army should have organized itself somewhat and may be prepared for us more adequately. By now however, our spies should be fully operational as well and feeding us information regarding the movement of troops in Lleida and Barcelona. The Spanish king will have to decide if he wants to make a stand at Lleida or wait in Barcelona. Hopefully he makes a stand in Lleida which lacks the defenses of Barcelona.
The plan is to reduce the city defenses with our numerous cannon before making our assault. Our forces will consists of 13,500 soldiers and 100 cannon (minus losses). If we can make our way into the city the first thing we must do is secure the bridge across the Segre to prevent new reinforcements from the Barcelona and the west and to prevent soldiers fleeing back to Barcelona. Hopefully they are more likely to surrender when they see their route of retreat cut off. Once we take the city completely plunder every last thing of value from it and raid the grain stores. England will do its best to secure the knowledge of the books and professors the University for itself.
This time it’s the Irish who will garrison the city, especially to secure the bridge and its access across the Segre. Leave 1000 Irish soldiers here.
The rest of our soldiers will continue for Barcelona.
- Assaulting Barcelona
For our assault on Barcelona I have invested considerable funds into espionage of the royal court and so our officers should have excellent intelligence on the position of Spanish forces and in particular the king and his bodyguard.
Our forces consist of 12,500 allied soldiers and 100 cannon (minus losses). The plan is to arrive in late September or early October and take positions in the many hills around Barcelona. Split our forces but keep them close enough to each other to provide mutual fire support. Make tentative approaches to the city to either 1) test their capacity for defense or 2) try to draw them out into a battle in the field. If they sally, take advantage of the fact to destroy as many as we can and to counterattack the city. If they appear weak when we test their defenses and our intelligence confirms as much, attack.
Otherwise just besiege the forces and control the suburbs and transport into and out of Barcelona while we wait for Francis Drake and the navy. Build ditches and trenches to advance our forces under cover while we wait. He should arrive early November. When Drake arrives our landward forces will move the canon forward using the ditches and begin to assault the city. Meanwhile Drake will use the 150 ships (minus losses) to fire on the port and open a path for them to get closer and turn their cannon upon the interior of the city’s defenses.
When the time is right move the soldiers in from the landward side first and follow with our marines and cannon from the ships. That’s endgame for taking the Spanish capital.
In the confusion of street to street fighting (if the Spanish king doesn’t surrender right away), send our soldiers, guided by our intelligence, to find the King’s hiding places and make contact with the traitors we have bought. Try to use the traitors in conjunction with our own forces to take the King alive. Regardless of if that’s possible or not, capture his family and highest ranking nobles. Spirit them away before the battle is over and things calm down. Raid the treasury and plunder the city for every last valuable bit we can find. Let the soldiers have a good time and don’t discipline them if they drink, rape and kill to their hearts’ content- they’ve earned it.
Once the situation is secure, the city has been looted, the plunder exported back to our home countries and relative security attained, send 10 Kalmar ships to patrol the Ebre river and prevent Spanish soldiers from crossing on row boats or whatever. They can also raid any river-side villages. Food taken from these raids should be used to support our marching soldiers whenever possible.
Send 10,500 soldiers and 95 cannon (minus any losses from both the new world and from the Spanish campaign) back to Zargosa and the countryside.
3000 English and 1000 Kalmar soldiers remain in Barcelona to garrison it for a bit.
- Post-Barcelona Naval Orders
85 English ships and 55 Kalmar ships (minus losses) hunt Spanish shipping and raid Vallencia and Castellón de la Plana ports if they are poorly defended or otherwise just the countryside coast line.
This continues until march when 40 English ships peal off to assault the Balaeric islands.
- Zargosa and the Countryside
At this point the Spanish army should be much depleted or alternatively our forces should remain near full strength. Our soldiers and cannon will return to Zargosa region (April 1528?) and this time not feint an attack but mount a real siege and assault. We will continue to live off the land as best we can with supplies coming in from both the Pyrenees to the north and up the Ebre via the Kalmar patrols.
Secure the city, plunder it as best we can and set up a major defensive position here so we can hold the most eastern bridge across the Ebre. The defensive position consists of 3000 soldiers and 30 cannon. The remainder of our army will move into the countryside and secure the surrender of villages and ‘collect taxes’ on behalf of the ruling nations (us). If our forces allow it, they will also continue up the Ebre and secure other bridges like Tudela, Logrrono, and Mirando de Ebro.
- Balaeric Islands
In March of 1529, 40 English ships, 2000 English soldiers and 10 English cannon will set sail from Barcelona under command of Sir Francis Drake (leaving 1000 Kalmar and 1000 English soldiers to defend and hold Barcelona and 45 English and 55 Kalmar ships (minus losses) to patrol the Spanish coasts).
Their target is the Balaeric islands starting with the capital of Palma. They are to secure all the major towns, ports and harbors first. The crops and fish collected here will then be exported back to our forces in Spain to assist in their maintenance and support. These islands also provide a safe harbor, once secured, to repair and refit any damaged English ships without having to return to the Atlantic and England. Drake is under orders to be merciful to the population in the hopes that they might be permanently integrated into the English kingdom.
Any plunder taken is divided as follows. England is repaid for its espionage efforts. If Ireland showed up, then the plunder is divided 2 shares to England, 2 shares to Kalmar and 1 share to Ireland. If Ireland doesn’t show up the plunder is 1 share to England and 1 share to Kalmar.
Synergy with Policy
None.
- Colony Expansion
Goals
- Expand value of Pemba and Zanzibar Isle settlement (+economy, + trade, +territory)
- Expand value of Fort Eleanor settlement (+economy, + trade, +territory)
- Expand value of Fort Henry settlement (+economy, + trade, +territory)
Summary
Explore native agriculture and plant species and develop opportunities throughout colonies
Invest in mining, timber, fishing, plantation cash crops for Fort Eleanor
Develop timber, ship-building and mining industry for Fort Henry
Invest in pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a bit further into cloves for Pemba and Zanzibar, also a deep water port on Zanzibar island
Description
For Pemba/Zanzibar:
1) Buy cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg seeds from Malaccan, Indian or Muslim traders (paying a premium to smugglers or thieves contracted especially for this purpose if necessary). Send people to Zanzibar/Pemba to set up plantations of these spices (especially on Zanzibar island). If we get peanuts from the New World, try planting peanuts and other ‘old-world’ nuts.
2) Expand our clove plantations (especially on Pemba island).
3) Develop a deep-water harbor at the best natural site.
4) Develop a Henry Tower Triangle*
For Fort Eleanor:
1) Begin to survey for precious metals. IRL there is iron and some gold in the Caribbean but maybe not in this time-line. Either way, survey a bit.
2) Also apparently there were mahogany and cedar forests here (source: THE HISTORY OF CUBA by Clifford Staten), so set up some timber-yards (to feed our domestic demand and to export to Fort Henry). 3) Also, you said the weather was no good for tobacco but my source (Staten, see above) says otherwise and anyway, I want to give it a try so plant sugar, tobacco, cotton, coffee from Egypt and Africa, and introduce cattle, sheep, goats and horses.
4) Working in conjunction with the local natives, explore what agricultural options are available from New World crops (maize, cotton, peppers, avocados, amaranth, beans, peanuts, potato, sunflowers)
5) Develop our existing Henry Towers by linking them with subterranean tunnels.*
For Fort Henry:
1) Survey for iron or other ores and if there is some, develop some mines.
2) Develop logging and timber-yards
3) Develop a true European-style shipyard for the construction of modern ships.
4) Working in conjunction with the local natives, explore what agricultural options are available from New World crops (maize, cotton, peppers, avocados, amaranth, beans, peanuts, potato, sunflowers). Also explore introduction of sugar, cotton, coffee from Egypt and Africa, and introduce cattle, sheep, goats and horses.
5) Develop our existing Henry Towers by linking them with subterranean tunnels.*
*= The Henry Triangle. As it exists Fort Henry and Eleanor have 3 Henry Towers each. These are large round towers meant to provide protection to soldiers and cannon to protect coasts and other areas. Cheap to build and maintain, they basically turn a war between boats and shore into a war between wooden boat hulls and thick stone tower walls. They are based on the Martelo Tower, but I now want to connect each triangle of towers (two on the coasts, one slightly inland and in-between) with subterranean tunnels (where the gun-powder is stored actually). Each tower is also built to be collapsed from the interior with a minimal explosive charge. And in this way if one tower is about to be over-run, the defenders can collapse that one tower and retire to the other two to continue the defense. These are ‘Henry Tower TrianglesEach colony will have these as defenses if possible.
Synergy with Policy
None really.
- Founding New Colonies
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Goals
- Found Fort Carmen
- Found Fort Pearl
Summary
Explorers, colonists and soldiers will land at the site of Fort Carmen and look for a suitable natural harbor not too distant from fish banks or land suitable for agriculture and found a settlement there. Later, others will do the same for Fort Pearl.
Description
The site for Fort Carmen is situated at an excellent position to control travel through the New World central straits and that’s why we are developing a fort there: to control the straits. In May of 1527 5 galleons will arrive from Fort Eleanor with colonists, explorers, specialist builders, missionaries, traders, 300 soldiers and 6 cannon and supplies. They will immediately begin 1) looking for a site to build Fort Carmen that has a natural harbor and fresh water, 2) developing a means of feeding the population be it fishing or farming or both, 3) making contact with locals and trading with them our tin and ironware (things like cooking pots, etc, not weapons) trying to learn from them about local agriculture and mineral resources, 4) developing a deep-water harbor for our ships, 4) developing a quarry (or import stone from Fort Pearl site- see below), 5) sending missionaries to the locals and 6) developing Henry Tower Triangles (see above). Once the appropriate resources are unloaded, the ships and much of their cargo (minus Fort Carmen colonists, specialist builders, 150 soldiers, and 3 cannon (for the towers)) will head eastwards for Fort Pearl’s settlement site.
In July of 1527, 5 galleons will arrive from Fort Carmen with colonists, explorers, specialist builders, missionaries, traders, 150 soldiers and 3 cannon and supplies. They will immediately begin 1) looking for a site to build Fort Pearl that has a natural harbor and fresh water, 2) developing a means of feeding the population be it fishing or farming or both, 3) making contact with locals and trading with them our tin and ironware (things like cooking pots, etc, not weapons) trying to learn from them about local agriculture and mineral resources, 4) developing a deep-water harbor for our ships, 4) developing a quarry (or just import stone from the Fort Carmen site) 5) sending missionaries to the locals and 6) developing Henry Tower Triangles (see above).
Ships will then return to Fort Henry to Rendezvous with Francis Drake.
Note: Fort Carmen is being funded for 1200g and Fort Pearl is being funded for 1000g. If the quarry is better situated at fort Pearl than Fort Carmen, spend 1200g on Fort Pearl and 1000g on Fort Carmen instead of the funding shown. That extra 200g is for a quarry.
Synergy with Policy
There may be some synergy here as we use our discovery of new lands to develop new resources and distant coasts.