The End of an Era
Theyonaguin debated with the other council members long and hard. A slightly different approach was need. So far the Republic had grasped as much territory as her reputation would allow at the end of each war. Theyonaaguin wanted to reduce this to allow the natives to keep enough reputation that the world may accept any new claims that came to light.
They also discussed which provinces they would take and decided against victimising any one enemy exclusively. They would simply take the richest American provinces they could. A short survey later and it was found that they wanted 3 provinces from Portugal and one from Ireland.
Peace with Ireland was signed first:
The Republic cleaned out the whole of the Irish treasury, while also gaining the province in question. Theyonaguin was not ready to let the Irish off so easily and forced them to release Tyrone. Expecting a two province minor, the aged man was shocked to see the result of his diplomacy.
The money was immediately invested in more tax assessors. The nations ability to deal with inflation now resulted in much resilient economy. While waiting for the right moment to make peace with Portugal the old man again convinced the world of valid Iroquois claims.
Theyonaguin was now so aged and had ruled for so long that the ordinary people started to fear that their beloved Republic had fallen into becoming a Monarchy. Concerned and disillusioned they demonstrated their cares.
Theyonaguin, old and shocked at this new occurrence decreed that he would soon stand down, once the final negotiations with Portugal were complete he would make way for new blood. This pacified the protesters somewhat, but also had the whole nation concerned as they younger men jockied for position.
With country destablised and the old man now anxious to retire the peace negotiations with Portugal were completed a little earlier than planed.
Portugal's 3 richest American provinces, and a province on which Theyonaguin had establish claims where transfered. A large sum of reparations where passed to the Republic also.
In anticipation of changing some of the nations main policy principles some of this money was invested in temples throughout the land. As promised the old leader retired. The celebrations to honour him lasted many many days and the nation rejoiced in his amazing longevity and career. Once retired he was never seen or heard of again. The new Doge rose up and once all the electioneering spin and prattle had died down the nation realised that a golden age had passed with Theyonaguinn.
The effects of this new Doges lack of skills in Administration was almost immediate, the lines of communication through the nation, the manner by which the Doge's authority was exercised were too much for the new ruler. Petty officals started to take bribes and the whole system became strained under such a burden of administration.
However, some of the old policies were still working and slowly the Christian fools were being converted to the Old Religion.
At this point the nation had recovered completely from the effects of those liberal protests. The new Doge drew the council together and they argued long and exhaustively, eventually he won out. Colonial growth was no long such a priority as it once was. The Republic, the richest nation on earth, could afford to be more leisurely in the growth of her colonies. However, the new Doge, tried to circumvent is own incompetence by establishing an Cabinet of Ministers to advise him. The nation was shocked and again disquieting talk was heard in many drinking holes.
Yet another spy turned up, there had been several over the years, the ones caught were always the same, always from the Incans. Something had to be done.
To distract the nation from her internal upheaval the republic went to war to claim the last territory the Theyonaguin had established as being rightfully belonging to the Iroquois. However as the war progressed it became apparent that the Cabinet did more than appease internal critics and this enabled the Republic to slowly annex the whole Incan nation. The diplomats had checked that she still had no money to be exhorted, her independence had fulfilled its purpose.
Another distraction was completed as a new colony grew into a bustling city. Finally the Iroquois had somewhere to go for their holidays, their vacations and a new industry was born!
At the next election another Doge wont he fight, also coming from the school of diplomacy this one was even better with his silver tongue but terrible at all other aspects of his job.
The effect was immediate as the government blundered further, the overextension crisis deepened. Even the Cabinet could not help relieve these problems.
The Republic felt that is had lost its way without Theyonaguin. The debates in all the talking shops revolved around how to balance the diplomatic needs of the Republic with her Administrative ones...