1836
Chagrin and Constraint
Glorious Uristia has been growing steadily in economic heft, yet Iīm afraid weīre facing our second crisis period in our short history. Things are getting out of hand! Weigh in, countrymen, and help the beleaguered Prime Minister figure out how to get this situation under control.
Boksi: Good question. The port was completed on the Yangjun river some time ago, and has been an important conduit of supply since then. I had a forester improve the hardwood harvesting and Iīve recently developed our cotton fields in that little region to Level II. Elsewhere in the former Yangjun region everything is tranquil and totally useless to us.
Iīll begin with some of our good news: we have added two fine new ships to the Navy. These were laid down during our short boom of 1832-1834, when we were enjoying uncontested exploitation of our associated Minor nations. A second Ship of the Line
Enforcer, and the steam-powered Raider
Lightfoot.Our foreign earnings were growing through 1831-1834 at a good rate, and continue to bring us a hefty check every season, but we are no longer alone with the slithering Siss in this racket. The gap has closed slightly, as you can see.
I just about shat a brick when I saw this: The nerve!
Whatīs really unfortunate is that the Siss have enough cash to buy those gem mines and are doing so. Weīre powerless to stop them (itīs a free market after all). Perhaps we can look forward to nationalizing their assets once we colonize Yubah.
Still, weīre making a lot of money overseas. Our earnings in one season in 1834:
Without these earnings, weīd really be broke. As it is now, weīre running deep in the red, purchasing the raw inputs to feed the Machine. Between raising more troops and training citizens, virtually no cash is left for foreign grants. The tinpot rulers of Yubah and Penia are belly-aching without their grants and may think to question their loyalty if this goes on for too long. At least Yubah. Penia is all but joined at the hip with us now.
The political affairs map of 1834:
The Council of Governors of 1835. Notice that even the Penians voted for Ace, the seditious whelps.
At least weīve made some important domestic achievements.
The current central problem facing us is that we are paying a fair bit to import raw resources - iron, textiles, and timber, while failing to strike a fiscal balance, because that cash is so direly needed to invest in the military, infrastructure, civil development, and the occasional technological breakthrough. Weīre not selling much because our industry is pumping out armaments, not manufactured goods for sale. Things are frantic because weīve fallen behind other Major nations in military power.
The solution as I see it:
Oleikale is the last remaining Minor nation not yet in the pocket of a Major power, and weīll probably offend nobody important if we invade there. They have the raw resources we need, and are not that far away by sea. As a wise Uristian once said, ĻA colony a day keeps imperial collapse away,Ļ and this is particularly true at present.
In fact, I was so sure about this plan I went ahead and declared war at the start of 1836. Our timing was either perfect or abominable, depending on your stance, judging by this disturbing news I received the same week:
Yes, this is a very ill tiding indeed. How shall we handle this?
Lastly, this is our invasion force as it stood mustered at the barracks complex in Uristia City. Anyone who would like to replace General Tyonma is welcome to volunteer for the honor.
As soon as the transports depart, Iīll hurriedly build up a home guard, or at least complete our protective screen of frigates who scout the coastline and prevent surprise invasion from abroad, so we wont leave the Homeland totally unprotected. Meanwhile, we must make some cash, and fast! That means diverting our industry away from guns and towards butter, metaphorically speaking.
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Topic: Letīs play Imperialism! Hail Uristia - We have colonies. (Read 29812 times)