Episode 19: Song's musical chairs
In 1648 I slide two steps towards defensiveness through events. I also encourage the Eunuchs, resulting in their takeover.
However, the Temple Faction has a higher influence from the domestic sliders than either the Eunuchs or the Bureaucrats, so in about six months the Templars take over.
The same happens in 1649.
In 1650 the truce with Shawnee ends, so I declare colonial conquest upon them, after which the Iroquois join the war. I also encourage the Eunuchs again, leading to a six month rule by them before control is regained by the Templars.
In 1651 a crack-down on heresy happens, which leads to -5 influence to the Templars.
In July I sign a white peace with the Iroquois. This is good, as this means that I can declare war on them quicker. In August I manage to convert Cornwall after only three years of missionary pressure.
In January 1652 I once again encourage the Eunuchs, as there is no event happening to help me.
The reason why I conduct this nausea-inducing Templar-Eunuch musical chairs is that this way I can send merchants and colonists. Unfortunately the Templars have more influence than the Eunuchs, so the Templars regain power quickly, forcing me to repeat the whole process time and time again.
The next month I annex Shawnee, costing 7.2 Infamy resulting in a 12.2 Infamy total. I destroy the Pennyrile Centre of Trade immediately, as I believe the less CoTs the better.
In March I create Confucian England as a nice alternative government for the English people. Soon after that the Templars take over again.
In August I get the magnificent advisor event, which can give +2 stability. I use this opportunity to switch the "Patron of the Arts" National Idea to "Scientific Revolution". I have enough Fine Arts academies and other sources to get cultural tradition and no real need to change the Innovativeness/Narrowminded slider anymore. "Scientific Revolution" is one of the stronger economical National Ideas, a good pick at this stage.
In January 1653 I declare Colonial war upon Great Britain. Problem is that GB is also at war with Venice, which has control over a couple of British colonies. There is only one quick way to settle this. In September I escalate the war and declare Colonial War upon Venice. They are soon joined by Castille, who become the new alliance leader. As Castille is allied with Austria, they join as well. Surprisingly, Bohemia also joins the alliance, although they are not allied with either Venice or Castille. Perhaps because Bohemia is Defender of the Catholic Faith that they could join the alliance? So who are at war with us?
Oh, that doesn't look good, does it? But don't worry; although half of Europe is at war with me, the reality is that besides Great Britain, the combined fleet of my enemies is much weaker than my fleet: only 16 Big Ships against my 45. Also, Austria, Castille, Bohemia and the others are also at war with Great Britain, leading to some amusing battles between me and Castillian/Austrian forces on British soil.
In November I have enough warscore in the war with Great Britain that I can negotiate a favourable peace. I get 5 of their colonies and 2000 ducats. This means I can savely transport troops again, so I ship a 20 regiment strong assault corps to Venezia. With my superior fleet, I can land troops in the Venician capital and no enemy forces can retake it as I block the straits. Effectively Venice is for me one of the easiest nations to get a modest victory against, as I don't have to risk a continental landing to get provinces. That's why I decided to declare war on Venice: even with all of Europe cascading into war with me, I can just take Venezia and get a nice peace deal.
In March I control Venezia after a fifteen-day assault, which is quite quick for a level 3 fortress. In April I annihilate their colonial forces, seven regiments strong.
This gives me enough warscore to force Venice to concede their 3 colonies to me. Alliance leader Castille is bought off with 200 ducats, leaving the Central Republic in peace. Infamy is now at 12.2. To provide some contex, my Infamy limit is 24 and I lose about 2.2 infamy per year.
The American situation after the wars.
In 1655 I give the Eunuchs a nudge.
In September the Golden Horde appears at our borders! They have conquered their way through our nice neighbours the Oirat Horde and are now invading us. But with a Land tech level of 7, there are less threatening than kittens. An assault corps is sent to deal with the horde.
In December I use my free slider move to slide towards Quality, as I want the Quality/Quantity slider to be at zero. The Templars have too much influence!
In July 1656 I declare war upon the Iroquois, as the truce has ended. To our west, things go swimmingly as well. In May 1657 the Golden Horde agrees to give a monthly tribute of 18.4 ducats. Also, the Eunuchs get the green light.
In December a new event, the Gilded Pagoda, gives +5 influence to the Bureaucrats.
I start building level 1 forts. In May 1658 I annex the Iroquos, which costs 7.2 Infamy, increasing it to 11.7. I destroy the Mohawk CoT. The last indigenious American nation is no more.
In June 1560 the Templars get the sign to enter the stage.
Here you can see all of the North American territory. As you can see, almost all of it is uncored, a testament to the quickness of the colonial expansion both by bayonet and by colonist.
As a final remark, I think this episode shows that it is indeed possible now with the new patches to quickly change factions. In 12 years there have been 13 changes, 7 times to the Eunuchs, 6 times to the Templars and 1 to the Bureaucrats. Song truly is a great political manipulator!
Stats
Code:
change during decade change since 1399
1650 1660 absolute relative absolute relative
No. of provinces 138 172 34 25% 118 219%
Yearly income 7926 8324 398 5% 7.486 893%
Yearly income/province 57,4 48,4 -9,0 -16% 32,9 212%
Inflation 0,0 0,2 0,2 N/A 0,2 N/A
Manpower (x1.000) 504 500 -4 -1% 415 488%
Army Size 140 140 0 0% 101 259%
Navy size 95 109 14 15% 60 122%
Code:
change during decade change since 1399
1640 1650 absolute relative absolute relative
No. of provinces 119 138 19 16% 84 156%
Yearly income 7.975 7926 -49 -1% 7.088 846%
Yearly income/province 67,0 57,4 -9,6 -14% 41,9 270%
Inflation 1,6 0,0 -1,6 N/A 0 N/A
Manpower (x1.000) 496 504 8 2% 419 493%
Army Size 117 140 23 20% 101 259%
Navy size 92 95 3 3% 46 94%
The army size in 1640-1650 has grown because of the strengtening of the Expeditionary force in Britain. Limited naval expansion to keep tariffs at 100%.
The stats show, unsurprisingly, that a huge expansion in territory has taken place the last two decades. The 1650-1660 stats show the success of the Templar-Eunuchs ping-pong: 34 provinces gained, of which 26 has been conquered and 8 through colonization.
This comes at a price, though, as the quality of the economy has dropped significantly. Only in 1560 was it worse, at 32,4 yearly income/province. And with all the catholic and animalistic provinces gained, stability is difficult to recover.
Next episode: Song turns to Europe
Originally Posted by delra
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But... I wasn't patient enough to play with the factions so... some modding and... THE ULTIMATE WARMONGER! Goodbye factions, and hello imperial_government.
