Everyone likes Walloons: Chapter 13
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Chapter Twelve
Chapter 13: The Calm Before
With our victory in India secured I am delighted to be able to return to domestic matters, particulary those of our 'great engine' the vast Industrial heart of the nation. Almost exactly three years ago we began a campaign to attract works from the fields and mines and into factories, it appears to have paid off with thousands of new craftsmen;
If the number of workers continues to increase it won't be too long before our factories in Flanders are full to the brim so I am spending the last days of May in the Ministry of Industry heading up a new expansion phase of Belgian industry. Firstly expanding a factory is shorter than constructing entirely new works so we start by growing the textile mills;
We will of course eventually require entirely new produce to sell, and speaking of textiles and fabrics the Ministry of Trade informs us of the growing demand for items of clothing.
Increasing wealth of europe's citizenry and the demands for uniforms to decorate one's soldiers seems to have lead to this boom and I would have Belgium meet it;
These regular clothes will provide for our citizens and soldiery, and for our more well off citizens and elite soldiers, officers and cavalry we will not leave lacking.
One day every Belgian and protected people will be able to litterally wear their pride in the homeland. Until then though there is much to do however, as we cannot leave the strategic heart of Belgium behind and so we will shift out factory working scheme over to Wallon while Flanders expands;
As we leave the victorious month of May and enter June there is little left to do for now, my schemes must be left to come to fruition on there own and so the only relief from the day-to-day will come from international affairs. It is not long until their news arrives;
The Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedemonte, currently chief among the Italian states, has adopted a new constitution. And a month later war breaks out in the east;
On the 24th of August Russia, perhaps seeking to restore their wounded pride, demands the region of Ostpreußen and Prussia understandably refuses. We shall have to watch events here carefully, Prussia, especially together with it's little Germanic allies, should prove a match for the Tsar's conscripts but it pays to be careful. And as part of being careful I authorise some substantial financial aid and beneficial industrial contracts to help the Germans' defence;
Only a couple of days later however we can return to good news at home;
The first section of our expanded and standardised railroads have been completed around the capital. Bruges will be completed within the week and in another three or four months the whole nationwide project should be done. The King is great lover of railroads and like any great leader wishes to share his passions with all of his subjects, so has his governors begin similar projects abroad.
With India being the largest and most productive of our possesions the first colonial railways begin to set up there. But it is not long before we are distracted by Russia again;
On the 11th of October Emperor Nicholas proclaims his realm the defender of Christianity, a devious lie if ever there was one, he cares nothing for people of the faith but merely wishes to expand his power and rule.
Considering the expansion of power I am very perturbed by the news brought to us on October the 24th.
We have enjoyed friendly relations with our neighbours to the south for all our years, Her Majesty Queen Louise is daughter to the King of France afterall. However as much as it might pain His Majesty to make an enemy of his Father-In-Law, King Louis Philippe, he is clearly the agressor in this case and has attacked Belgium's greatest ally. Headed also by His Majesties family, having fought for our independence and joined our cause against Russia to refuse Britains call would not only be highly dishonorable, but downright treacherous.
His Majesty declares war on the Kingdom of France the following day.
The World: October 1848
(OOC Note: You can see SC: Imperium Cultum's new colours here as there've been no territorial changes since the last map. Only changes I've made to the mod are to keep Belgium grey
and the Ottomans green. I've also left the Austrians as their default light grey and made Siam red as otherwise they don't actually show up on the map due to their new white.
Next Episode:
Chapter 14: The Inclement Weather Before