Chapter 2: The First Haitian-Venezuelan War
By early 1837 the Haitian government was making a modest profit, but still not enough to fund education properly or even think about expanding. The nations treasurer had an idea to use the growing tariff efficiency to boost the nations budget. It was a shrewd move, and some taxes needed to be cut in order to not upset the population too much, but it worked.
Pretty much instantly Haiti went from gaining .16 gold a day to gaining .74, a very nice improvement. As administrative efficiency improved so did the tariff efficiency and the budget continued to have modest gains.
Seeing the budget grow, the Haitian government decided to start focusing on improving their research. Despite having nice economical gains, the nations research generation was at an all time low, and a couple years had passed with no discoveries. So we start promoting clergy in our only region.
Taking a closer look at our provinces, it is quite disappointing almost all of our region is mountainous. Yea its nice for the defense, but we will never be able to get a high level of railroads built here, where it is likely most of our factories and immigrants will eventually be. Not only that, but its not correct, the highest point in Haiti IRL is less than 8,000ft.... much less than say Colorado where most of it is hills in-game.
Anyways, with our swelling budget and rising national treasury we decide its time to get ambitious.
3 clipper convoys are ordered built, a plot must be brewing, but who will be the goat?
Venezuela seems the easiest target, and her allies don't have much in terms of manpower, navy, or direct borders so it seems a daring, but possible move. Plus there is a decent contingent of Afro Caribeno's living within the country... one of our accepted culture groups. After the convoys begin construction, the nations treasurers again step in and recommend to take control of the clipper convoy stockpile.
The tool-tip here was widely regarded as being ironic in the Presidential Cabinet, since NOT setting it to manual would probably result in us taking loans. :laugh:
Anyhow, the government decides on yet another shrewd move, they are going to disband one of their beloved irregular infantry!
This cant bode well. What they heck are they doing disbanding military units on the onset of war?...
Oh... Simply making room for some better units. After fully inspecting the situation the Secretary of War has recommended that we improve our quality of units. Well, at least one of them. Despite having only 1 regiment and 1 ship our spies have indicated that Venezuela has at least 1 regiment of infantry quality if not better, so a couple brigades of irregulars might chance defeat.
Then not long after preparing for war, we have been discovered, costing us 4.7 infamy, not bad.
Shortly after, we have achieved our proper Casus Belli, and war is declared. Ecuador and United States of Central America both accept calls, but largely do nothing to stop the Haitian aggression.
Having our 3 clipper convoys quickly transport the troops over, we catch them off guard. Upon war, Venezuela retreats its only regular unit and mobilizes....
But the freshly mobilized troops are cut off and destroyed almost instantly in their capitol, leaving the other still unknown regiment to wander, while our army sieges their capitol. There were a few naval skirmishes, because of our very tight financial situation we were not able to fund the naval supplies, and 2 of our ships were lost. Then out of the fog of war, Venezuela begins siege on Santa Domingo with its only regiment, now known to be cavalry.
The Secretary of War has ordered a full mobilization of the population, yielding a mighty 1 regiment of farmers! Now with their only regiment in sight, The commanding officer in Venezuela decides to split his troops to begin sieging multiple provinces at once. Leon Laleau, the nations finest general takes personal command of the mobilized farmers, and orders a march to La Vega to dig in the mountains.
The situation is looking manageable, but Leon Laleau and his sturdy farmers must somehow prevent the Venezuelan Cavalry from marching past Le Vega.
Meanwhile, the nation has discovered its first major technology shortly into the year 1840...
The immediate effect is non existent, but the coming innovations should prove worth it.
Then as Santa Domingo falls, we are interrupted with some fearful news;
Venezuela intends to annex us. We will show them. Leon Laleau calls to the peasant farmers to defend their freedom once more! They hear his call and chant a fierce war cry off the mountain as the steadfast Venezuelan Cavalry approach La Vega. Supplies were doubled temporarily to ensure a high level of morale for the troops during these critical moments.
A violent battle ensues, and in the confusion Leon Laleau forgot to call upon his stenographers to record the battle. But in the end, the farmers held the mountain and did massive damage to the Venezuelans morale. Meanwhile, in the southern campaign the sieges are going on unopposed, and progressing nicely.
Then in a daring counter attack, Leon Laleau rallies the farmers to march on Santa Domingo to cut off and destroy the Venezuelan Cavalry. Its a success. The enemy find themselves outmaneuvered and give up the fight without many casualties, leaving General Laleau to siege Santa Domingo.
The war it seems has been won, but it still is not over. The cost has been great, the nations once rich treasury is now depleted and they are forced to take loans and make budgetary concessions.
Meanwhile, as the sieges continue we are blessed with one of our first discoveries. Many more will soon follow...
Then as the siege of La Vega is complete, the Secretary of War decides to demobilize the hearty farmers and let them go back to tending the fields now that the war seems in hand.
With the Haitian army still going on unopposed in the southern campaign, there is little hope for Venezuela to avoid defeat.
Also with the war nearing completion the national stockpile spending has been reduced significantly, and the budget surplus has been enough to pay off the war debt before a formal peace treaty is even signed.
The nations education and administration spending has suffered for a little more then a year, but the newly added provinces should more than make up for it.
Finally under pressure from the Haitian government, the Venezuelans concede to their demands.
Peace is made with their entire alliance, and the region of Venezuelan Zulia is gained.
With that, our national production is now at least partially diversified. The budget also soars, administration and education spending are restored to acceptable levels. Haiti is no longer a 1 state province, so annexation will now require two wars, making survival much more likely in the future.