1836
Armok Gets Scrappy
So things started to get interesting just where I left off.
First thing, I decide to set out on a new policy of fiscal responsibility. We were hemorrhaging a significant amount of precious money on interest and always deep in debt. So, my new rule since 1830 has been to do my best to keep our coffers in the black, or not carry a debt over for more than one season. We're making a little more money now, but there's just never enough. One reason was the totally unsustainable trade subsidies we were offering to minor nations; I had to scale it back so that we could earn a damn dollar but it cost us a lot of our preferred trading status.
Meanwhile other major nations are beginning to strike it rich with overseas profits. I'm insecure without a developer unit, and we're always so broke I just cant help but feel jealous that they already have one.
In 1831, Woudmary decides to go to war with As Sha'ashoh, our southern neighbors and our desired conquering grounds. This is tricky, because Woudmary is our only ally since 1822 and I don't want to have to fight with them over that minor nation. Neirlau, the major nation most closely aligned with the scoundrels in As Sha'ashoh, promptly declares war on Woudmary in order to protect their interests. At this time, we're asked to step in to back up Woudmary.
Not wishing to get entangled in a war we're not really ready to fight, I consider declining. But two considerations win out: backing out on our ally harms our diplomatic relations with them significantly, and I don't want to give up our hard-earned friendly relations. (Also backing out when things heat up is craven behavior.) Second, taking a war footing with Neirlau gives us a pretense for invading As Sha'ashoh, and we can therefore seize the country without offending our allies.
Soon after, Vinosce also gets into the fray by declaring war on Woudmary. Vinosce and Neirlau are not allied but are mutually at war with both of us. They are nations of average strength, so I'm not too worried about much actual fighting occurring.
About this time we enjoy a burst of intellectual activity and train up lots of skilled workers. I think it's when the working people of Armok discover coffee.
Over 1832-33 I'm able to grow the military a little bit, and we get a General Saratsk.
Finally we got the developer unit. A couple of countries are already making big bucks and I feel we're late to this game.
At last we strike As Sha'ashoh in 1834. Feeling confident in our numerical superiority, I direct our small army of 16,000 men [ooc: force size 16] to take the capital directly. I had anticipated that a quick victory there would make the whole country roll over easy to us. But by declaring war, the minor nation submits to Neirlau for protection on account of their previous non-aggression pact. Oh well.
Our valiant forces fight a hard-won battle, suffering some fairly grievous casualties but carrying the day, overcoming the fortifications of the capital city. EuchreJack's 1st Regulars are first into the breach, or so they claim... Half-medals are awarded all around!
In the winter of 1835, I dispatch a division of troops northwest to seize Masn, which they do without much difficulty. High on our own success, more monuments to our own greatness are erected!
The 2nd Council of Governors is held.
We aren't invited.
By this time, the minor nation of Makajas has been completely dissolved and occupied by forces of Oishaba and Iprikoy. For a brief moment, anarchy prevailed in the nation and we had a chance to seize the rich province of Saz without repercussions. I dispatched troops there but Oishaba's army got there first and occupied it. It's probably for the better, our forces on the border with Neirlau's half of As Sha'ashoh are barely adequate to hold the line as it is. The enemy has dug in and built fortifications along the new border and we're not strong enough to take them. Neirlau did attempt an attack on our line earlier this year but it was repulsed by our troops.
Meanwhile, our navy has gotten it's first taste of combat:
Sort of anticlimactic, I know. There's four ships of the line in service now. We are ranked second-to-last in military strength.
So now, it's fall of 1836. Here's the situation.
These are the current borderlines drawn up in the south. Much has changed:
In the north country, we've established a new supply line linking rich coal deposits with our port in Sumo province. Once we can get a commensurate supply of iron, we'll be ready to double our steel production.
In the heartland, take note that many of our interior villages have developed into towns! This has been one of great successes of the 1830's. 5 of our 7 provincial settlements have developed.
Meanwhile, abroad, our misadventures in foreign policy. So, by now it's clear that our investment in an embassy in Makajas early in the 1820's was a bet on the wrong horse. Trying to make up for lost time, I've been courting Agombo with all the money we can spare. We have an embassy there now, and we're buying up property in that country as fast as we can scrape together the dough, financial austerity measures be damned! We've secured some good resources there (that's our developer next to the cotton field).
Now if we can just woo the Agombo government to join our empire as a colony, we'll be doing alright. But Neirlau is already ahead in relations with them and I fear that we may well lose that race, and all of our foreign investment to boot. This part I always find the absolute hardest angle of this whole game.
Here's some statistics to consider. At least there's one category in which we are excelling.
More vitals:
For the next five-year plan:
- Catch up on technology. We're about 3 or 4 developments behind the curve right now.
- Throw money at Agombo until they join our empire, before Neirlau gets them.
- Scale up steel industry by developing northern iron reserves. Scale up all industries.
- Develop army and navy – try to push those orange bastards out of our island. Meanwhile, fortify the border.
Obviously there's no way we can pay for all of this! So we'll just manage as best we can, I guess. Perhaps we should hold a bake-sale.
Author
Topic: Lets Play Imperialism! Every dog has it's day. (Read 8891 times)