CHAPTER XIX: YEMEN
Part 2: Westernizing on a Budget
(1705-1710)
Guess what we're doing this turn?
If you guessed 'antagonizing the Mughals' you're absolutely right! Though in all fairness they started it.
Oh? The westernization thing? Yeah, we start that too. First we have to deal with that great evil, the terrible foe that threatens everything us Yemeni hold dear, the Anti..uhm...Muhammed (despite the fact they're also Sunni), Kilwa.
Subjugation
Well. That was easy.
We were at 88% war score as the turn began so tried out luck, and the Kilwans were more than happy to concede. They are now a protectorate like Funj, safely under umbrella while secretly dreaming of freedom. What can go wrong?
Well, one thing is high revolt risk rates pretty much everywhere. We begin coring the last Omani province, impose harsh treatement in 13 provinces, and start changing the culture in seven others.
Simply put, I overreact. The high revolt risk crashes once the people see us trying to get our budget under control. The provinces we convert were Egyptian, which was already an accepted culture. In fact, by slowly converting them to Bedouin, we ultimately declare the remaining Egyptians 'unfit for our halls'. Also, all those dip power points would have been useful.
Oh well. Can you blame me for not paying attention?
Certainly these guys can't talk.
We lower our military to 28 units, which steadies our budget. From a height of 22 loans, we'll be down to nine at the end of this turn.
Our army arrives home in September 1705. We're still trying to get ready for Westernization, and have one too many diplomatic relationships, so I cancel the RM with Funj. It's not like they can do anything about it.
In January 1706, the Mughals ask if we'd like to contribute to their wellbeing.
I believe the Arabic term is 'LOL.'
Our refusal apparently impresses the Mughal emperor, who immediately asks for a royal marriage. They're already our allies, so it's not an extra diplomatic relationship we can't afford. Sure.
Fiscal and diplomatic responsibility is something our people can get behind.
It's just too bad that good will won't last.
Westernizing
So, for those of you who may have not had the pleasure, let's review.
Westernizing lowers our stability by three, but if you have some Admin powers saved up that's hardly back breaking.
Your country will automatically invest up to 8 monarch power from each category into the cause. When you build up 2800, your tech group changes to western.
Our current regency is 5/1/1. He produces 8/4/4 points per month. As we begin, our Diplomatic power pool is almost depleted, but we have plenty of Admin and Military.
This means we can pretty much put 8 Admin points into westernizing indefinitely. We will put in up to 8 points from the other categories as well, but since we're only producing 4 per turn, this will begin draining our Dip/Military pools. When we run out, we'll only put in what was produced (4 in this case).
Throw it all together, and it's going to look something like this.
So...12 years, with an expected completion date of 1718. We might not be in Yemen anymore, but that should position them to close the tech gap they have with the Ottos and Morocco and perhaps even challenge Portugal in time.
It's a huge step, but the Ottomans are supportive: They sell us naval supplies for -1 mercantilism, +40 Dip Power and +20 relations.
Internally it goes down hill pretty fast: In June 1707 brigands attack pilgrims and we of course repel them. Then the nobles just get stupid.
Our 28K army catches theirs in October, inflicting 7,000 killed before they disperse.
Persia Asks For It
Around that time a Persian agent is caught trying to smear our reputation. Per diplomatic protocols and the in game text we send him back. Without his tongue. Or his ability to reproduce.
This doesn't seem to deter them though, as Persia embargoes us in February... and despite the fact I'm westernizing and paying off loans, it's tempting.
Persia has an army of 31K...on the Mughal border. The Mughals have 45K in Hormuz and would happily join me in a punitive war.
We even move our fleet to the Persian Gulf, watching small Persian naval squadrons move in and out. Our army moves towards Qatar, ready to catch a series of quick boat rides once the Mughal army destroys the Persians. I open the diplomatic menu, and...
...our new Sultan (Mohammed, 4/1/4) embarasses the court for -1 stability.
Which causes more nobles to rise up. In the modern Sudan. With 22 regiments.
Which is about when we catch a Persian agent trying to sow discontent. We sow his mouth shut and send him home. He won't be having children either.
For six months our army marches from Qatar to the Sudan, and in December 1708 our 28K meets their 22K. It's...close. We lose 10,000 to their 9,500 - but our superior numbers mean we hold the ground at day's end. Those nobles disband as well.
In January 1709 I'm ready to declare war even with my army badly out of position - after all, once the Persian fleet is crushed or blockaded we have all the time in the world, and anyway it's fair to let the Mughals get first crack at a few provinces (and fight that 31K army.) That's when I remember we have 0 Dip points stored, and barring events it's going to be that way for another nine years. This means I can fight, but I can't impose peace. Not good. Perhaps I'll think of something if we get another turn.
My failure to declare war frustrates the Mughals, who would like us to share our trade again.
Given their reaction, maybe they don't speak Arabic.
In June, it's time for our artists to let us know that we're forfeiting our culture and for what? So that perhaps Morocco, the Ottos and Portugal won't stomp on us. Where's the glory in that?
Tough. A look at our neighbors' military techs shows how important this is:
Code:
Portugal 25
Ottomans 24
Morocco 22
Oman 18
**Yemen** *17*
Kilwa 12
Funj 6
In December Suhar (formerly Oman) converts to Sunni, uniting the Yemeni in one interpretation of Islam. OPM Oman and Persia are the only Shiites in the world.
As the turn ends, I impose harsh measures
everywhere just in case we're not here to manage Westernization further. Said process is at 31.03% (869/2800) and now expected to finish in February 1718.
Johan's Dice
Reign: 10 years
Needed: 3+
Roll: 5
Continue?: Yes
We might even be here to see it.