Chapter Fourteen - Putting the Boot In
Having conquered so much of the Ottomans lands the Sokoto government faces something of a problem.
Militancy is rising to worrying levels as Sokoto's newly acquired Ottoman citizens are for some reason unhappy at being forced from a prosperous, industralised, technologically advanced nation filled with intelligent, rational people into a nation where all in a position of power would struggle to find their own backside at the first attempt. Quickly identifying this potential danger the government hurriedly act to appease their new serfs-uh, citizens, by outlawing slavery.
With Sokoto finally at peace for the first time in many years the government is at last able to reward Mocambique with full statehood.
Whilst Mocambique begins experiencing the joys of full statehood within Sokoto, higher taxes, far worse schooling and forced wearing of pink no doubt warmly welcomed by Mocambique's people, Sena unfortunately has too few bureaucrats at present to be similarly rewarded. Rumours that the people of Sena purposefully removed the bureaucrats themselves so as to escape statehood quite clearly shocking lies.
Horror grips the government a few months later as tensions build between Sokoto and other Great Powers over Persia.
The government reluctantly assert their position, unhappy at incurring infamy from doing so. Quite clearly incurring such infamy is dangerous for Sokoto as it blemishes her reputation as an otherwise infamy free peacable nation.
A few months after these worrying events in Persia the doubtless delighted province of Sena is made a full state on July 6th 1858. A short while after this Sokoto's scientists make an important discovery.
The discovery of medicine able to combat malaria allowing Sokoto to begin colonising for the first time. Surprisingly, for a province newly granted statehood mere weeks before, Sena eagerly volunteer to be the first region colonised. Her people wishing to return to life as a mere colony, inexplicably preferring the pre-statehood days of less taxes and less bureaucratic interference.
The government is left hugely offended a week later as a report brands Sokoto's many fine houses mere slums.
Whilst the government strongly disagree that the dwellings in question are anything like slums, pointing to the fact that these fine houses are owned and rented out by the current Prime Minister who would never let his poor tenants suffer horrible living conditions merely to gain some extra profit, they nonetheless call for a parliamentary investigation into the scandal. Keen as they are to bribe some politicians into clearing the Prime Minister's good name. That is, keen as they are to allow some wholly impartial politicians to clear the Prime Minister's good name.
With militancy continuing to rise, it almost as if people dislike living in slums, suffering abject poverty and constant warfare, the government hurriedly pass another reform before rebellion grips the nation.
As ever the government pass this reform whilst motivated only by an interest to encourage democratic freedom within Sokoto. The fact that these unions will be entirely controlled by state officials and their members closely watched for any hint of rebellion is merely a small and unimportant matter.
The last few months have witnessed a considerable expansion of Sokoto's navy.
As Sokot shipbuilding remains as reliable as ever, several newly made ships sinking before a makeshift fleet is cobbled together, the government plans to use the newly made, barely floating, fleet to conquer yet more lands.
With the ships now waiting off the coast of Italy time is of the essence, they will likely sink soon. Sokoto's diplomats are thus quickly sent forth.
This is a highly delicate diplomatic mission, Sokoto's diplomats must deliver the decleration of war to Italy and also convince France to dishonour their alliance with her. If France joins this war Sokoto is more than likely doomed.
Everything then rides upon Sokoto's diplomats, something the government soon realises and begins worrying about, wishing they had sent someone with some actual tact and diplomacy to handle these crucial negotiations.
A day later and Sokoto's triumphant diplomats return home. France having dishonoured her alliance with Italy, no doubt scared by the thought of fighting Sokoto's pink clad troops. Rumours that Italy had in truth told France she could easily handle any nation which employs horrifically inept pink and green clad diplomats alone without any aid clearly slanderous lies.
With France failing to join the war Sokoto need merely deal with the technologically advanced, numerically superior, better equipped and far better led Italy. This should prove a dawdle.
Realising this, Sokoto's hugely relieved troops hurriedly disembark from their already sinking ships, quickly occupying Sicily. With Sokoto's armies in place the first Italian force begins to cross the strait from Reggio di Calabria into Sicily, Sokoto's troops ready and bravely awaiting them. Or rather, Sokoto's troops are petrified yet forced to await them as there is nowhere for them to run.
As another Italian force is also moving forward to cross the strait the Sokot navy quickly moves to block the crossing, as the plan is to only allow the Italians to cross into Sicily in small numbers. This otherwise intelligent plan of only allowing small Italian forces into Sicily one at a time has but one small flaw.
It depends upon Sokoto's navy acting competently.
The navy block the straits too late, allowing the 43,000 strong Italian force to enter Sicily alongside the other force already there.
The plan to limit Italy's forces in Sicily now ruined, Sokoto's hugely outnumbered troops are still in a reasonably strong position. The terrain heavily favours the defender and in Abasama Sokoto has a gifted general who has thus far proven himself infuriatingly competent. Furthermore in a move of such incompetence that it draws nothing but admiration from Sokoto's army, the Italian general, Baratieri, is completely useless when it comes to attacking.
As troops are hurried from Sokoto's mainland by her barely floating transport ships to reinforce the battle of Messina, another Italian army is forced to watch impotently from accross the strait.
Provided Sokoto's navy can keep their position in the Bay of Naples, Sokoto may just emerge victorious here. It is this reliance upon the inept navy which causes considerable worry however.
As the battle of Messina continues to rage on an influx of newly appointed Liberal members of the Upper House prompts the government to pass another reform.
Eager as they are to continue expanding democracy and freedom in Sokoto and, more importantly, appease those misguided individuals who claim the rich alone currently have power and that revolution would thus be a good idea.
News filters through that Italy has now mobilised her reserves, giving her yet more of a numerical advantage over the fifty seven brigades Sokoto can muster.
This worrying news as Sokoto's troops are wavering in Messina despite outnumbering Italy's once large force.
A day later and the battle ends. Seemingly the shock of Sokoto completing occupation of Italian land in Palermo and Catania too much for Italy's battle weary force.
This a considerable victory for Sokoto, the army remain reasonably satisified with Abasama's conduct, happy as they are with the considerable length of time it took Sokoto to defeat a smaller Italian army bereft of reinforcements. The few casaulties Abasama suffered is something of a concern though.
After Sokoto's forces in Sicily enjoy a period of recovery the strait is opened once again.
With the strait opened Italy is all too willing to once again send a force into Sicily, happy for said force to become cut off from the mainland and fight an opponent in terrain which heavily favours the defender. Sokoto's army is hugely impressed by such tactics. First the Ottomans and now Italy are showing them how true Great Powers prosecute wars and achieve high casaulties.
Italy making this same ingenious attack time and again.
Whilst Italy continues sending her troops to certain defeat in Messina the Sokoto goverment makes a worrying discovery.
Italy now has a formidable navy of forty nine ships. Against which Sokoto has ten much battered ships of the line led by an admiral who will prove quite useless in the event of an Italian attack and several more near sinking transport clippers. No wonder Italy is keeping her navy in port when faced with such a force.
A few weeks later and research into 'Ideological Thought' is completed.
The government happy that their ideology promoting freedom, prosperity and the absolute necessity to always vote Conservative or else suffer a horrendous fate has caught on well within the nation. Sokoto's academics next begin research of 'Muzzle-loaded Rifles'. The army requesting this research in the hope that giving Sokoto's soldiers more lethal weaponary will lead to greater numbers of friendly fire casaulties.
Nearly two months later and the last of Italy's forces are finally defeated.
However not before Sokoto's blockading navy decide upon one last act of incompetence, as they move from the Bay of Naples allowing the Italian force to retreat back to the mainland where they are nonetheless crushed by a pursuing Sokoto force. This act of considerable incompetence from Sokoto's navy simply leaving the government hugely relieved Italy never once moved her massive fleet from harbour throughout the war.
With Italy's armed forces at last crushed Sokoto's troops cross the strait into mainland Italy ready to courageously face the toughest part of any war, namely siege duty. Many quickly suffering horrendous injuries such as indigestion caused by eating too much delicious Italian food as they valiantly begin besieging Italian provinces.