Victoria II - Japan - AAR

[Eurasia]

"Look! That kid's got a lemonade stand! Let's seize it!"

"Is he a foreigner?"

"He lives down the street."

"Good enough. Get the torches, and pitchforks, and the puppets!"

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Four - Happy New Year!

As the votes come in on the 1st of January, of the year 1886, it was clear that, once again, the Liberals had lost some seats. As had the Socialists and the Conservatives.​

On the other hand the Reactionaries, Communists, and Anarcho Liberals all gained seats. A somewhat shocking mix.

On the other hand the scientists reported that they had discovered Nitroglycerin. Which could be used as a heart medicine and explosive. Sadly it used up fertilizer as the base material in producing it.

Diplomats in both the UK and in Russia improved Japan’s relationships with those nations. Mostly using booze and candy.

Then, in late January, the scientists announced they had discovered both High and Low Pressure Steam Engines. This would help both in Mining and Farming.

It was decided to research Business Banks. After all, Capitalism seemed to be the future. And Japan was all about the future. Trains, steam engines, puppet shows. The FUTURE!

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Author’s Notes :

I also checked. Japan is not in anybody’s Sphere of Influence. We’re free. FREE!

 

[HistoryDude]

Let's hope that you can keep yourself free... or start building an Asian empire.

That nitroglycerin could be a useful tool in making such an empire...

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Five - Vampires! Communist Vampires?

By mid March it was noticed that the Russians had, due to their last war with China, taken a large part of the Asian Empire as their own.

The Japanese populace were little alarmed by this. How large would the Russian Empire become and how far would it go to keep its position as a Great Power?

The War of the Dongola Concession is still going on at this time. It looked like the Ottoman Empire was winning. Slowly. Ethiopia is always being pick on.

It was also noticed that a part of France was now English. Poor, poor French people. Being forced to eat all that broiled food.

And before you knew it the Austria-Hungary was in a war with Romania. The official reason was to acquire Western Siebenburgen. Also vampires. Who would have known there were Communist vampires. You would have thought vampires were Capitalists?

And some guy named Grant wrote some Memoirs.(1)

And so another war was raging in Europe.

Then, in April, a surprise! A Foreign Industry was seized…so on and so forth.

The vampires were more interesting.

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Author’s Notes :

Funny enough I have Grant’s book in my library,

Also some governments were investigating vampires in the late 19th century.

 

[Historywhiz]

Funny enough I have Grant’s book in my library,

Impressively modest of Grant or the book binder, he was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1864.

 

[Nikolai II]

Impressively modest of Grant or the book binder, he was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1864.

Seems legit, that memorial coin[?] (medal?) is dated 1863 after all?

 

[Historywhiz]

Seems legit, that memorial coin[?] (medal?) is dated 1863 after all?

Yeah it’s the Congressional Gold Medal he was given for his successes at Vicksburg in July of that year. https://www.si.edu/object/congressi...Grant, Ulysses S.,surrendered on July 4, 1863.

Now the cover makes sense, not really an act of humility at all but one of deserving modesty.

 

[HistoryDude]

Britain owns Normandy? That's new. I wonder if they're planning on reclaiming other pieces of France that they lost centuries ago...

Russian China? Does this imply the beginning of a partition of China between European colonizers? If it did, would Japan participate?

 

[Eurasia]

Britain owns Normandy? That's new. I wonder if they're planning on reclaiming other pieces of France that they lost centuries ago...

Russian China? Does this imply the beginning of a partition of China between European colonizers? If it did, would Japan participate?

Japan, for now, is staying out of mainland Asia. Too many Great Powers are involved in Asia.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Six - Problems In Europe

The People Of Poland​

In late April the Province of Edo built a Glass Factory. But this was small news when compared to what was about to hit the news stands in Japan’s major cities.

It was noticed that Russia had a fleet off the coast of the home islands. But that wasn’t the major news either.

No, the major news was a International Crisis! Seems the center of the crisis was Wielkopolskie.

Seems Poland wanted Wielkopolskie and was being backed by….the UK…maybe? While Wielkopolskie belonged to the Russian Empire.

​

This was a little confusing. Because nobody could find Poland on the map. Or Wielkopolskie for that matter.

Then the UK made the decision to back Poland. Not good. Once nations start taking sides there was a chance of a conflict.

As the populace watched what was happening in Europe the Japanese Capital was deciding if it should hold a Regional Trade Fair. In June the government decided to do so. At great expense of course.

Near the end of June bad news came out of Europe. France and Spain were joining on the side of the Russian Empire. While the Two Sicilies and the German Empire were still on the fence. But likely not for long.

Two Sicilies decided to back the Russian Empire. It also looked like that the Netherlands were plotting to start a war with Spain. And in Africa the Egyptians had started their war to “liberate”the Sudan from Ethiopia.

In July it was noticed that Russia STILL had Fleets in Japanese waters. And now a few of them were floating around the Japanese colonies.

On the other hand the Trade Fair opened and brought much glory to Japan. So that was good news.

 

[Nikolai II]

Well, the topic of the crisis is "The Liberation of Poland", so it seems legit that Poland doesn't exist (but the UK intent is that it should exist after the crisis is over).

..were you allied with the UK and can get dragged in? Or is this the opportunity to try to pick up some loose colonies (Sakhalin, Singapore, something else) while the owner is busy?

 

[Eurasia]

Well, the topic of the crisis is "The Liberation of Poland", so it seems legit that Poland doesn't exist (but the UK intent is that it should exist after the crisis is over).

..were you allied with the UK and can get dragged in? Or is this the opportunity to try to pick up some loose colonies (Sakhalin, Singapore, something else) while the owner is busy?

I am allied with nobody because none of them want to be my ally. And no. The Great Powers would crush me. The Great Powers ARE too powerful for anybody but another Great Power to even think about going after their stuff. Even if they are in a war they could crush me.

 

[HistoryDude]

Russia looks likely to win this crisis.

Would Poland attack Germany and Austria-Hungary to gain lost territory back if it did achieve independence? That might influence what side the German Empire takes...

 

[Historywhiz]

Unless Krakow somehow became Poland, then Poland doesn’t exist (yet) in terms of the game. What this looks like is Britain trying to provoke Russia into releasing an independent Poland comprising of Wielopoloskie, which, if memory serves, is the Russian state that makes up the middle of the bulge into German territory.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Seven - Wars And Death

By mid September it was rumored that Portugal was plotting to start a war with Egypt.

Egypt was already at war with Ethiopia. Being in TWO wars might cause it some problems.

In October typhoid fever seems to have spread to Japan. No doubt from those foreign visitors who liked to try to open businesses in Japan. Germs! Of course, the best way to handle it was to burn…er…quarantine the people.

Then the scientists announced they had discovered Business Banks. Which would help increase taxes.

They were ordered to study Strategic Mobility. It was felt the Army needed a little loving.

 

[HistoryDude]

It's a shame that the army might take a while to see use...

What will Portugal take from Egypt?

 

[Eurasia]

It's a shame that the army might take a while to see use...

What will Portugal take from Egypt?

Looks like 'Place In The Sun'. I guess Egypt has colonies and Portugal wants them?

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Eight - A Future War?

By November all the nations had taken sides.

​

The German Empire was now backing the United Kingdom and Two Sicilies was backing the Russian Empire. War would break out soon if the nations could not find a way to agree on a solution to the Crisis.

Egypt’s war for the Sudan was still going strong.

It was at point that Japan strengthened its relationship with both the UK and the Russian Empire.

By December the fuse was getting shorter in Europe. If things did not calm down there would be a major war in Europe in 1887.

 

[HistoryDude]

Japan is planning to stay neutral in that war, which is good. Improving relations with both sides is wise.

Are there any territories that Japan might be able to steal from the weaker members of those coalitions? Especially in the Pacific? Should Spain (and maybe France) be worried?

 

[Nikolai II]

Good point. Even if the great powers (even Russia) are immune, maybe this is the time to pick on China?