1858 July to December
Diplomacy
After some positive diplomatic exchanges our relationship with Britain has warmed considerably and we now consider them friendly to our nation. We hope to extend this friendship in the future by asking for access to Britain’s ports around the globe. This will now become a major goal of our future diplomatic efforts and will give very real strategic advantages.
Relations with the USA also continue to slowly improve. Our goal here is to sign a commercial agreement to aid us in accessing their vast gold reserves.
As usual the governments of Switzerland and the Papal States continue to stonewall our efforts at passage rights through their country. Our efforts in this regard will continue next year.
Not previously mentioned was the fact that several years ago we made diplomatic overtures to our Italian brother states regarding the grand project of a unifyed Italy. All have since signed up to the principle of unification (i.e. I played the unification decisions on their capital provinces until they agreed to unification. This is the 2nd way to unify Italy minus the Austrian controlled provinces but does allow you to keep Savoire and Alpes-Maritime rather than ceding them to the French)
The treaty of Plombiere is signed in early September
In conjunction with this event our relations with Austria turn hostile (-17 to -39) and our defensive alliance with France is reaffirmed (In reality this event would give you a defensive alliance with France if you hadn’t managed to already get one through normal diplomatic means)
I Army will move out of its barracks in Piedmont and deploy along the Austrian border in the hopes of provoking a diplomatic crises with Austria. The next year could be critical for our nation (although in all likelihood the Austrian AI will not attack)!
Diplomatic relations
We suffer an insurrection in Alpes-Maratime (even though the people are happy and the revolt risk is zero.)
Elsewhere in the world there is no resolution to the conflict between Persia and Afghanistan and the slaughter in China continues. In the USA there are signs of trouble as loyalty to the US declines in its southern states.
In Tunisia it looks like a French attempt to grab the country has been repulsed for the time being.
Majerteyn War Sept 1857 to ?
The war here has heated up considerably in the last 6 months as we lose 4000 men to roughly 10000 of the enemy in a series of engagements.
The situation in the North
We have gained military control of Berbera and Ogaden and started building fortifications to hold them from enemy incursions. We have also built mission stations (each colonial structure allows you to supply 3 elements for free). In addition Ogaden has started work on a depot and Berbera has started construction of an anchorage.
The main Majerteyn army has moved to besiege Ogaden whilst a small detachment of fighters is besieging Berbera. General Fanti (recently reinforced with a new Colonial brigade and field hospital) will sortie this turn in an attempt to clear the besieging forces from both locations. The battle weary 1st Brigata will remain in Berbea to lick its wounds and take on replacements.
Further south a brigade of marines and a light cavalry regiment will move north up the coast in an attempt to secure Busaso (the last Majerteyn province)
The situation in the South
We were able to secure military control of Hoboyo and Baidoa. Again fortifications are being constructed together with mission stations. These two provinces are particularly valuable as they provide a shield to our main base in the area Mogadishu.
In Mogadishu itself we have constructed a railroad and are now getting production from our Opium farm (basically we become the world’s first drug cartel as no one else is selling Opium) Mogadishu is also extending its depot (to level 2).
Early skirmishes
Mogadishu August
Hoboyo August
After chasing the native army around for several months general Franti finally corners the enemy in Ogaden (September)
In late November (he was inactive for 3 turns) he tries to eliminate his enemy at Berbea
After this bloody encounter with the Majerteyn who seem to have an inexhaustible supply of replacements another battle occurs in Berbea in December
General Fanti’s column is now severely fatigued from marching through the desert and several bloody battles and suddenly looks vulnerable to a shattering defeat. Luckily reinforcements arrive by sea into Berbea which should allow him to prosecute his campaign.
Economy
In November we increased our excise and corporate taxes to 50% and 8% respectively in attempt to meet the increasing costs of our armed forces and research.
The increased funding for Muzzle Loading rifles is having an affect (currently at 76%)
We started the construction of the following:
- Luxury goods shop in Sardinia (July)
- Steel Mill in Alessandria (October)
- Merchant Fleet
We completed the following
- Shipbuilding completed in La Spezia (July)
- Railroad completed in Mogadishu (October)
- Iron extraction completed (Alessandria)
- Merchant fleet sent to North Baltic
Our internal demand is
- 20 Food
- 16 Common Goods
- 11 Luxuries
We supplied this demand at 100% over this period. Our average satisfaction is 98% ; our militancy stands at 2%; literacy remains at 76%.
Our population breakdown is
- Peasants 57%
- Workers 26%
- Middle class 12%
- Upper class 3%
- Aristocrats 2%
Organic Stockpile
Inorganic
To give an example of how much we are buying and selling in a turn
We in the main will avoid buying any goods from the major powers and will usually attempt to buy goods from South Italy (see this money as being invested for the future), Mexico and Brazil and other minor nations in South America.
During this period we have sufficient gold and gems to enable us to convert them to state funds in November.
Military
We have added
- Fortress artillery (Alessandria)
- Merchant and Naval ship replacements
- Infantry replacements x 2
- Colonial brigade
- Transport Squadron
- Garrison (Alessandria)
Piedmont completes the expansion of its depot to level 3. Alessandria expands its depot to level 2 and starts expansion to level 3. La Spezia completes a level 3 fort.
Colonisation
- Trading posts are opened in Tourane(Silk);Pleiko(Rice);Dongquai(Sugar);Hobyo(no resource but provides free supply for 3 combat elements)
- A natural society and geographic society expedition are completed in Tripoli. (175 prestige)
- Previously mentioned colonial structures in Somalia
Prestige
We have managed to move from 13th to 12th in prestige. Our first goal will be to overhaul Japan. So far this period we have closed the gap on them to just 350 points.