Chapter Twenty Five - A Francly Brazilliant War
Whilst the government is busy congratulating the army for the loss at Santander three days before, defeat against a tired, routing force nearly half the size of Sokoto's quite an achievement, welcome news arrives from Brazil.
Not only has Sokoto emerged victorious at Corumba, her troops have taken a considerable amount of casualties. The government can but hope that this late showing of incompetence will allow for Sokoto to begin achieving parity with France and her allies for casualties suffered. Alongside news of this victory the report also details the sighting of a sizeable French force to the north in Cuiaba. Said force suffering considerably from attrition as the large stack is marching through rainforest quite unable to support such numbers. The Sokot army can only salute such tactical brilliance from France, no wonder she leads the way for casualties suffered.
Research into 'Iron Muzzle-loaded Artillery' comes to an a week later whilst Sokoto's forces in Iberia are busy attacking France's much diminished armies.
Much to the shock of the industrialists involved the iron made from cow dung and cotton is proving rather less strong and robust than expected, cannon constructed from the material having a tendency to often explode quite suddenly. To the industrialists delight the army nonetheless make a bulk order for thousands of the new 'iron' cannon. Exploding artillery sure to cause many Sokot casualties, it is a most welcome addition to Sokoto's arsenal.
The academics next begin researching 'Strategic Mobility'. This an important technological advance the army have called for which will have two major effects. Firstly, officers, especially generals, will be taught how they can be as strategically mobile as possible. In other words they will be taught how best to flee the battlefield so as to bravely direct matters from afar. Secondly, soldiers will be taught how they can be as strategically mobile as possible. In other words they will be taught how best to charge recklessly into well defended enemy held positions so as to maximise casaulties. Such training should help bring Sokoto's army closer to the standard of the other great powers.
Strategic mobility training begins immediately, General Rumfa throwing his men forward at the most strongly defended French position whilst fleeing-uh, tactically withdrawing from the battlefield himself. The results are encouraging.
Naturally the government praises so forward thinking and incapable a general, his losses at Logrono against a force half the size of his own highly impressive.
Far less impressive is the conduct of Zamnagawa as he achieves victory a day later.
This one victory bringing with it the destruction of over forty battle ravaged French brigades and the bulk of the much feared Belgian army. Not only has Zamnagawa suffered few casualties in this battle, he also seems intent upon ending this war as quickly as possible. This wholly unacceptable behaviour when Sokoto is still trailing France with regards to casualties suffered.
A mere day later and the government is given rather more pleasing news from Brazil.
Not only has Sokoto suffered more losses than France at last, it has also become clear that losing hundreds of men whilst marching through inhospitable rainforest is indeed the best way to ready troops before a battle, this obviously the reason for France's victory here. The Sokot army intends to make use of this ingenious French tactic at the earliest opportunity.
Whilst thousands of soldiers are busy fighting in South America and Iberia the government concerns itself with rather more important matters.
Namely deciding which group of businessmen and traders in Naples should be favoured for government contracts. After considering the matter carefully the government decide to favour the bid from rich capitalists and aristocrats. Shocking rumours that the government favoured the capitalists and aristocrats bid due to their ongoing policy of preferring the rich clearly slanderous lies. The government is entirely fair in its dealings with all citizens whether rich or poor. The capitalists and aristocrats simply had a stronger bid which represents better value for money for the taxpayer. Plus they offered a larger bribe.
A week later and the government is left pleased as it becomes clear that the Sokot army is learning well from France.
Attrition currently ravaging a large Sokot force in the Amazon rainforest. Said attrition likely to cause more casualties to the force than they suffered whilst defeating the bulk of Brazil's army at the battle of Vila Bela.
The government is given yet more welcome news over a week later later as it becomes clear that Prussia is not faring well in her war against Egypt.
Having occupied Cairo and the surrounding Giza region for a number of months Prussian forces within the region have finally left for home having become rather tired of waiting for military access from Sokoto, there only so many sand castles you can make before this becomes quite boring. With the departure of Prussia's forces Egyptian citizens have risen in rebellion, the rebels slowly ending the wholly unjustified Prussian occupation of Egypt.
Whilst Sokoto's forces slowly win ground in Iberia the government is given a worrying report detailing an amphibious landing by France. Doubtless France has dropped off troops in Northern Iberia so as to relieve her hard pressed forces there, such a move likely to greatly hinder Sokoto's advance from Iberia into France. Or perhaps France has made the landing in South America so as to aid her struggling forces in the region.
No, instead France has followed Belgium's brilliant lead and dropped off a large army in Sokot Italy. A large army which is currently suffering from attrition having landed in the inhospitable hilly terrain of Palermo. This cunning move simply proving beyond doubt that Sokoto still has much to learn from France regarding how best to wage war.
Whilst French forces are busy besieging Sicily the government is left delighted as they receive reports from South America which show that the Sokot army is beginning to fight with the bravery, brilliance and shocking incompetence expected of her forces.
Kabe and al-Hajj in particular given considerable praise for their somehow suffering defeat at Concepcion despite outnumbering their exhausted and attrition ravaged French foe.
Whilst Sokot forces meet defeat after defeat in South America the government is given yet more pleasing news.
Having conceded defeat in her attempt to annex Egypt Prussia has instead declared war upon France. This showing the great international standing of Sokoto, she is loved the world over, Prussia rushing to her aid as soon as it became abundantly clear that Sokoto is winning the war.
Following the good news of Prussia joining the war on Sokoto's side the government is given some bad news a few months later.
Much to the dismay of the government France's seemingly invincible force in Concepcion has finally been defeated. Sokoto's soldiers within the region finally having come to the realisation that with overwhelming numbers on their side they could win the battle quite easily provided they simply ignore their officers. Following this victory France and Brazil's remaining forces within South America are quickly vanquished.
The government is forced to concede defeat to France a few months later.
A number of Sokot victories decimating the few remaining battered French forces in Europe as Sokoto at last advances from Iberia into France. It seems likely that Sokoto will prove victorious in this war but where it matters, in terms of casualties suffered, France is the clear victor.
With French forces in Europe now defeated Sokoto's troops begin the terrifying task of besieging France, many quickly suffering from horrific siege conditions as a result of said siege duty. Horrific siege conditions caused by the excellent food and drink, agreeable weather, lovely countryside and friendly population which Sokoto's soldiers must heroically endure.
Feeling rather guilty regarding the rebellion currently afflicting Egypt, Sokoto's incessant warring with Egypt and her liberation of Egyptian lands into the glorious Sokot Empire perhaps slightly to blame for the current instability plaguing Egypt, the government send the diplomats forth with news of Sokoto's planned rescue of Egypt.
They return a few days later looking surprisingly shaken. Said fear caused by their Egyptian counterparts attempts to 'honour' the diplomats with internment within a pyramid following the delivery of Sokoto's decleration of aid. This entirely bewildering and ungrateful behaviour from Egypt, there is no better aid that Sokoto can provide than the total liberation of Egypt into the mighty Sokot Empire.
The academics complete the research of 'Strategic Mobility' over a month later.
The army is delighted with the new strategic mobility training. Officers are now able to flee-uh, withdraw from the battlefield quickly and easily so as to bravely direct matters from afar, whilst soldiers have now become adept at identifying the strongest enemy position on the battlefield before attacking said position en masse, this providing maximum casualties.
Research of 'Army Risk Management' is begun next. The government and army both hoping such research will be able to identify the worst risks facing the Sokot army, so that said risks can then be magnified. This sure to have the much desired effect of increasing casualties suffered yet further.
A few months later and it becomes clear that France truly has lost this war.
With the much feared Belgian behemoth now agreeing to peace with Sokoto France's one last chance of success has vanished.
[As can be seen Belgium actually proved rather effective in her occupation of Sokot Italy. I had no men stationed in Italy when she made her landing and could spare no one from Iberia, thus Belgium was free to occupy most of my northern Italian holdings.]
France is taking her likely defeat very well though, kindly providing Sokoto with reports of a newly found rich iron vein in French held Davao a few weeks later.
What makes the report of this newly found vein all the more surprising is that no one seems to be working within the mine in question. Which does lead the government to believe that the report may simply be a lode of nonsense.