1886 - The Sun Goes East
Europe
Germany flexes its muscles in Europe, powering up its military industry and within a year having an army that outnumbers any other in Europe. The Emperor is proud, the population cheers, the war economy booms, and only a few lone economists predict that such spendings on military will lead to a collapse of the german industry.
The Netherlands and Belgium both seize the opportunity to begin trade, one country with France the other with Portugal. The trade investments are predicted to pay for themselves withing 10 years, and then turn into pure profit, and both of these countries have enough time to wait.
If Germany is showing the world its military strength, then UK and Spain are investing into the navy. Spanish ports have been operating at full capacity, and a year later Spanish navy can rival any in Europe with perhaps the exception of the English and French. English shipyards have provided more ships for the Royal Navy, and it remains the most powerful in the world, however what has been done the last year is hardly the limit of England's potential.
Austria presents a suprise to everbody. The Balkhan peninsula that has been relatevley quite for 20 years is aflame again. 180,000 Austrian troops marched into Montenegro in the begining of the spring. The army of Montenegro attempted to organize a defence, but was destroyed in the first encounter, and the capital surrendered without a fight. Austrian troops occupied most of the country except the southernmost hill region called Kosovo where the remnants of the Montenegrian army camped for the winter. Throughout the winter the Montenegrian army was disbanded, instead replayed by a number of partisan leaders who are committed to fighting against the Austrians. Some of them, those who are Muslim, are attempting to take their men into the Ottoman Empire for protection. The Slav leaders are attempting to fight their way towards Serbia where they thing they will be safe.
Africa
Spain establishes two new colonies on the western coast of the Sahara. The colonies grow rapidly, and the native population is not hostile. Some private companies in Spain have taken interest in these colonies which helped the growth even further.
Transvaal in South Africa begins to modernize. The country expands rapidly, and increases its armed forces. The natives know to stay away from the white people, and the expansion only haults when the Transvaalis see outposts with British flags on them.
America
Everything is quite in America, but the US has begun the largest naval construction program in history. The navy has increased by at least 3 times, and some talk of designs of new ships that have been floating around in the government. It appears US has desided to take its part in the naval game that is being played out by the strong of this world.
Asia
A change of government takes place in Japan. The new emperor surrounds himself with the most loyal, if not the smartest, people he can find, and begins to modernize the army. The army has been trained up to European standards, and the constant parades being held in the cities have drastically raised the prestige of the army. On the home front, much of the preciously war-oriented industry has been redirected to producing civilian products, and small buisneses are reseived the much needed help from the government. New ports have been opened, and a number of new shipyards have been built. Japan is begining to look more and more like a modern nation.
Just across the straight, China is attempting to modernize as well, however it has less luck than its smaller neighbor.
The old ruler has been expelled to Taiwan, and a new Emperor established. When the followers of the old ruler fled to Taiwan too, they managed to establish a local government and most of Taiwan is now under their control.
To begin with China disbands most of its army, almost 8/10th of the army are sent home, right after which China begins a new war. The new people in the workforce stimulate the economy, and it develops much quicker, however the prestige on the army falls drastically, especially since it is not anywhere near as effective, and the war with Luang Prabang is not going as successfully as planned. The Chinese army crushed the Luang army in combat, but the roads through the jungles and hills are hard, and since the army has orders not to loot native villages it is suffering from food shortages since supplies are hard to bring in.
In addition to that, the government banned Confusian exams, and has started massive propoganda wars against Confusionism and a promotion of Western Style Education. The result was a huge increase in literacy of the population over the year, however the more conservative regions of the country, namly Manchuria and Chekiang have refused to follow these rules and a number of other rules made by the government. These revolts are not agressive, but they do pose a problem to modernization.
And as a final step, China traded its money for technology. Spanish, Austrian and British experts have come to China to help modernize the country, and the eastern region of the country and cities are becoming more and more modern, but the rural China remains the same way it was 1000 years ago. In return for these favors Spain gains permision to use Hainan Island and trade privelleges in Qingdao, Austria gains money, and England gains the exclusive trade rights in Shanghai and a right to build a british owned railroad in China. It seems the country is becoming more modern, but will the Emperor still be in conrol when the Europeans come in to "help"?
In Afghanistan the local warlords have been giving British trouble. They continiously cross the borders and attack British posts. Some generals call for an invasion of Afghanistan, but there has been no word from London still on weather that is going to happen or not.
Diplomacy:
From Montenegro
To Russia:
We are your Slav brothers. The Germans have attacked us, and they have taken our land. We ask you not to let this go, we must be strong together. If you let this go, Serbia is next, then Rumania, and then Russia itself will fall to the Germans.
From The Ottomans
To Austria:
You have invaded Kosovo, which is a Muslim province. If you do not stop, all of the Muslim world will unite against you
From Luang Probang
To UK:
We have been invaded by China, we ask for your wise nation to step in and stop this bloody conflict before it goes too far.
