Assam: The Breakfast Wars - A spirit tale

[Bismarck]

Its great to see some regionalism in the AARs now....

And don't worry about having new personal flavor events... I fully support that kind of thing....

M

 

[Cat Lord]

ooc

I think I won't resize the images (some of the small texts become unreadable, and they are part of the fun), but I promise from now on that I will cut the screenshots to the interesting part I want to show you...

Chapter 1, tomorrow noon, Greenwich time...

Cat

 

[Cat Lord]

Part 1, Chapter 1:

And on January 3, 1420, king Sujângphâ looks at the world around with new eyes:

And to the north, there was Tibet, full of Tibetan Buddhists, with low technology even by Assamite standards, and if we only know Lhassa, they probably have more provinces and could raise armies all around us, and were protected by Yetis during their long winters.

And to the North East, there was populous China, full of Han and Cantonese Konfucians heathens (but for Yunnan and XinJiang, good Buddhists provinces). They could raise more armies that the total population of Assam peasants, and that was a frightening thought. The ghost ordered to conquer Sichuan Pendi and Wenshan, and that promised to be fun...

And further in the East there was Dai Viet, 4 provinces full of Vietnamese Buddhists, and apparently a tough cookie (or more explicitly a tough rice ball, by Asiatic standard), as even China could not crush them alone. And Lao Cai was one of the Gardens to conquer, and it seems far away.

In the immediate South East, there was Myanmar, two provinces of Burmanese Buddhists, with low technology. And they consider the Assam province should be part of their realm, and that was not fair, as none of theirs was a divine Garden.

Further South East, there was Taungu, another two provinces of Burmanese Buddhists country, but with same technology as our. And they, too, consider the Assam province should be part of their realm, and that was not fair either, as none of theirs was a divine Garden.

Further away, there were:
- Vientiane, three provinces of Laotian Buddhists;
- Cambodia, two provinces of Khmer Buddhists;
- Ayutthaya, three provinces of Thai Buddhists.
And none of them was hosting a divine Garden, and they were far away, so they should be avoided.

Past Taungu, and South of us, there was Pegu, a one province of Burmanese Buddhists, but the only one with a harbour. And that was important, even if they do not make grow the divine herb. And of course, they consider the Assam province should be part of their realm, and that was just ridiculous.

South West of us, there was Arakan, a so-called Sunni country, but Tarakan and Chin provinces were Burmanese Buddhists, and Santal was a land of Bengali Hinduists. But neither was Arakan hosting any of the divine Gardens.

And to the West, there were our ancestors’ land of Bengal, a six provinces country, and although they claim to have embraced the new Sunni faith, they were all Bengali Hinduists in their hearts. And Bengal was hosting at least one of the divine Gardens, in Bihar, and it was their capital, and that makes things harder.

Finally, there was Orissa, a two provinces Bengali Hinduists country, and they were hosting one of the divine Gardens as well, in Berhampur, but they were beyond the seas for us.

And the other Gardens of Sambalpur, Colombo and Nanchang, Assamites haven’t a clue of where they could be. And that didn’t help.

And all our Buddhists neighbours were not Bengali like we are. And all the other Bengali provinces were Hinduists, contrary to us. And that was tough, when you think about it !

Assam was a poor two provinces mountain country, and Sujângphâ, for the first time of his lazy life since he became king, begins to think the world was a complicated place to live …

“- What would be your first decision, Ô, Sujângphâ king ?”, ask the faithful servant, while recovering from his scary day.
“- First, before we go to war and for further diplomatic reasons, we should be completely intolerant toward Christians, extremely tolerant toward Buddhists, and slightly tolerant toward others.
- Very well, my king. And what shall we do next ?
- Next, we shall avoid angering China, and join them in their war to subdue Dai Viet, in the hope of conquering the first Garden of Lao Cai. After all, they took the decision to overthrow the Chinese oppressors in the Vietnamese Rebellion, and as I said before, I think that was a very foolish move of them.”

And in January 3, 1420, Assam entered a Military Alliance with China and Taungu, and joined the war on their sides against Dai Viet.
The morning after, Vientiane also joins them, and the armies begin to move all over the place.

On February 2, 1420, our first merchants successfully expanded our trade in Ganges, and the Assamite archivists will not report it anymore, because it is dull. But trade is of utmost importance for a small country like us, because it makes war sustainable.

On May 16, 1420, our glorious Assam Army has arrived in Lao Cai, and initiates a siege.
In June, 1420, we were attacked by hostile armies of Dai Viet in Lao Cai but won the battle.

Curses ! The month after (July 7, 1420), Dai Viet accepted peace with China, China paying 84 gold coins in indemnities, ending the war, and making our fighters’ death useless. Surely, they end it because they decide to move to the Northern Capital of Beijing.

On July 21, 1420, Dai Viet starts the foundation of the Empire of Dai Viet. Assam as a country has not the beginning of an Empire, and Assam the Great King, as a fierce ancestor ghost, “He would not be happy…”, wonders king Sujângphâ…

 

[unmerged(7404)]

In the immediate South East, there was Myanmar, two provinces of Burmanese Buddhists, with low technology. And they consider the Assam province should be part of their realm, and that was not fair, as none of theirs was a divine Garden.

Don't even touch Myanmar! You will be threatened by Köadhifhoqgwodcieewasd, aka "The one who's name is hard to spell".

You weenie! Ally yurself with china , *says the boy that after the suicidal attack against China currently is getting eat up by them*.

Great AAR, and tactical very smart to ally with China! Great installment!

 

[Cat Lord]

tactical very smart to ally with China

Well, as said, I screwed up a few games with these settings before writing the AAR, most of them for not being allied with China

Cat

 

[coz1]

Oh yeah - Dai Viet showing who's the big boy!!! Take that China! Be prepared for lot's 'o wars allied with China like that. They are such little land grabbers!

 

[Cat Lord]

Don't know if the alliance w/ China will last long as we have to grab land from them

Hmmm, and from Dai Viet as well

Cat

 

[Cat Lord]

Part 1, Chapter 2:

“- Are you sure we could not fake to have made a tea Garden grown again, so we could end this stupid quest, Ô first Gardener of the realm ?
- Alas, dear Sujângphâ king, it really takes years. Besides, I don’t think we have the proper sacred virgins to harvest them. I, mmh, heard it was part of your sacred duty that the realm’s virgins become proper women…
- Eeer, yes, it seems to have been long ago, but it is not the case anymore, and don’t tell any ghost about that little detail, OK ? Curses, curses, curses ! By the re-incarnated toe nails of the greatest fakirs, how could I avoid my sinful past and please this frightful ghost when he comes back here ???”

King Sujângphâ was seriously considering a Tibetan exile, asking for the personal Daila-Lama’s Yetis bodyguards, when a herald, fumbling all the way on the wet muddy road, comes, shouting at him:

“- Great news ! Terrible news, my lord ! Taungu declared war upon Pegu !
- What ! To these worthless scums ? OK, where is our army stationed ?
- Still in Yunnan, since the treacherous Chinese peace, my lord.
- Order king Assam the Great to move South immediately !”
And he added to himself: “Could a ghost ever die in combat ?”

And on September 12, 1420, Assam joined the war on the same side as Taungu, China and Vientiane against Pegu, Ayutthaya and Cambodia. And the troops move all over the place again…

And in November 1420, after a won battle in the muddy tropical marshes of Pegu (the country), we have initiated a siege in Irrawady, with our brave 6000 Assamite soldiers, and 500 knights, 3000 Laotian horsemen, 6000 troopers from Taungu, and 4000 of their cavalrymen, against a 5000 garnison, but the Gods could testify we suffer serious attrition…

But, while the war was going on through January 1421, another herald runs to King Sujângphâ, still fumbling all the way on the wet muddy road, as Assam do suffer heavy rains all the year, but never enjoy snow, even in January…

“- Great news ! Terrible news, my lord…
- What ! Has Taungu signed a treacherous peace as well ?
- No, my lord, but Tibet declared war upon us !”
“Bye-bye, personal Yetis bodyguards”, think the king for himself, “Call on our allies immediately !”

And on January 29, 1421 : China and Taungu joined the war on the same side as Assam against Tibet, but Vientiane dishonored our Military Alliance.

We raise 4000 infantry troops in Assam, and send them to protect Kachin in April 29, 1421.

November 10, 1421, a good news comes at last: We captured the province of Irrawady from Pegu, and generously annexed them, though most of the other countries were upset, and we get a slightly tarnished reputation. Worse, it ends this war for China, Taungu and Vientiane (the filthy traitor), but we still have to face Ayutthaya and Cambodia alone…

 

[Cat Lord]

November 11, 1421 : Pegu accepted our peace offer.

 

[unmerged(7404)]

Good! Taking it slow and easy, annexing a CB-natiion. Poor you for facing Ayutthaya alone. In my Myanmar game they usually maintain some 30.000 troops . You gotta hope for that attrition to kill 'em!

 

[Cat Lord]

ooc

Taking it slow and easy, annexing a CB-natiion

Actually later in the game, I realise I was a real Bad Boy on this one: Offensive War, Annexing the capital, same religion = 8 BB !
I don't have any CB shield on Pegu, as they don't host a Garden.
Very expensive, just to get a harbor, not even connected to my country (No line of Supply... Hum Hum).
Nevertheless it was too late, and I eliminate a foe with a Permanent CB on me, which is important on "Aggressive" level.

Poor you for facing Ayutthaya alone. In my Myanmar game they usually maintain some 30.000 troops

They do, and launch them at me, but wait for the next Chapter...

Cat

 

[Cat Lord]

Part 1, Chapter 3:

“- Haaa ! Don’t scare me like that Great King Assam, appearing from nowhere in the middle of the air ! Aren’t you supposed to be leading our glorious army in our newly conquered province of Irrawady in case of revolt ?
- I, puny Sujângphâ, as a ghost, could travel faster than you think. I was wondering why you were not in Kachin to lead our defence against the aggressive Yetis ?
- Well, to be honest I have not practice martial arts since years, plus, I am allergic to Yeti hairs. A sneezing king is a bit too mundane isn’t it ?
- I also heard there are no more virgins in the kingdom ?
- Bollocks ! I mean, who told you ? Eer, that’s sadly true, but this is not like tea, you know, it is just a matter of a year or two, and we will have plenty of virgins again, see ?
- I am not happy with your leading, puny Sujângphâ, not happy at all. We still have not conquered any Garden.
- Sorry, conquest is your duty, not mine. And hey, we gain a fleet, one warship and one transport, and a harbour, in the war against Pegu. We could now explore the world and such, good, no ?
- Since I have come back to haunt your lineage, I think I am missing not only the warm delighting taste of tea, but also the munchiness of rice balls for breakfast. Alas I have no teeth, so I’ll take yours !
- Nooo, nooo ! Aaaaaargh ! ”

“- *Munch*, *munch*, now let’s get a fresh start my young Suphakpâ king.”
And the vision of an ancestor ghost with the re-implanted teeth of your predecessor sharing your breakfast is not a cheerful one.

And on January 1, 1422, Suphakpâ begin to rule the glorious nation of Assam...

The little king Suphakpâ was very young and not initially far better (5/5/5) than the previous king, and probably because he was frightened of the 20 000 Ayutthaya troops near Irrawady, he took a loan in December 1, 1422 ! But at least he was a quiet boy, and tried his best.

[OOC, I don’t remember the hell why I have taken the loan, but it was 3 AM…]

Ultimately, it proves insightful, as on December 5, 1422, Myanmar declared war upon Taungu, and we decide to join them with China.

In May, we move back our Assam regiment from Kachin to Assam, and that was a foolish move, as in August 6, 1423, Tibet begin to siege Kachin.

Between August 1423 and July 1424, armies moved and fought all over the region between Irrawady, Mandalay, Assam, Shan, and Bago.
Amongst other things, the peasants in Irrawady revolted in December 1423, just to be crushed by Ayutthaya, when they begin to besieged Irrawady (thanks, nice work guys…).
On March 27, 1424, Myanmar accepted peace with China, asking for 200 gold coins in indemnities.
On June 13, 1424, we captured the province of Shan from Myanmar
But on, July 18, 1424, we lost control over Kachin to Tibet.
So that on July 20, 1424, we accepted peace with Myanmar (not to be the only one fighting again), asking 250 gold coins in indemnities, and most of the gold come directly from China, and will be use to pay back the loan…

On September 26, 1424, we initiate the siege of Kachin to get it back (Tibet is struggling with its own war against Chagatai Khanate).
On January 1, 1425, we lost control over Irrawady to Ayutthaya.
On February 3, 1425, Tibet accepted peace with China, China paying 200 gold coins in indemnities, again.
Wars begin to look grim, as we are now alone in both wars, against Tibet from one side, and against both Ayutthaya and Cambodia on the other side, and only controlling one province out of three of our glorious nation.

Hopefully, on July 2, 1425, we re-captured the province of Kachin from Tibet, and we begin to send them peace offers (all 3 refused). Tibet tried to take the province back, but if they have Yetis to protect them in the snowy mountains, we have mighty fakirs, animal shape-changers, flower witches, and snake charmers in our jungle mountains, and all their six attempts failed. On August 2, 1427, king Suphakpâ of Assam accepted the generous peace of Tibet, winning 142 gold coins in indemnities, and that is probably Chinese gold again…

Side notes, during the war:
On July 9, 1425, Bengal claimed they will now guarantee our independence, and that’s nice of them.
On April 1, 1426, our naval technology level increased to Late Medieval (1), and we are almighty now (no bonus effect, tough…)

On September 24, 1427, we accepted a White Peace with Cambodia.

On October 1, 1428, a White Peace was signed between us and Ayutthaya, as we refused all their proposals to give away Irrawady, and the war was not active for 36 months. This gives us Irrawady back for free, and there is a lesson to learn there: Don’t let province in the hands of Rebels, but don’t fear to let them to your foes…

On January 2, 1429, “10 years have past !” event happened to us [OOC: see this other thread], and young king Suphakpâ decided to go for better troop Quality. He may be wiser than you think…

On January 6, 1429, Ayutthaya accepted peace with Dai Viet, Ayutthaya paying 50 gold coins in
indemnities.
On February 7, 1429, Ayutthaya accepted peace with China , China paying 200 gold coins in indemnities, and the Chinese, Oh, they are rich…

At the end of 1429, the known world is nearly at peace, but for Atjeh fighting Malacca (that’s too far away to bother us), and Taungu and Vientiane fighting Ayutthaya and Cambodia (let them weaken Taungu, I can live without it).

And king Suphakpâ think: “If I don’t want to end as sadly as Sujângphâ, that could not last for long…”

 

[unmerged(7404)]

Wow! Good instalment (though you touched Myanmar, you shall regret that ) and I fancy the "10-years" script! If you don't mind, I'll borrow it, okay, hehe .

And you did well in the war with Ayutthaya, achieving white peace. "Success you have made, gleat walliol king", says oul gleat mastel of Myanmal.

 

[Cat Lord]

though you touched Myanmar, you shall regret that

Hey, I only get some Chinese gold from them...

Hum, it won't last long, and you won't like the next chapter I am afraid...

Thanks to be a faithful reader USA patriot, I am waiting for your update on your AAR

Cat

 

[unmerged(7404)]

Originally posted by Cat Lord

Hey, I only get some Chinese gold from them...

Hum, it won't last long, and you won't like the next chapter I am afraid...

Thanks to be a faithful reader USA patriot, I am waiting for your update on your AAR

Cat

Thanks, though the Myanmar AAR will be put on ice until I've created a decent amount of events and leaders (not cheat-editing mind you!).

 

[unmerged(6777)]

That's a really handy bit of scripting! *copies* *pastes* Thanks!

Good stuff so far. What are you going to do if Assam the Great dies in battle or in siege? Script a "second coming" event?

Looking forward to seeing less tea in China.

 

[Cat Lord]

What are you going to do if Assam the Great dies in battle or in siege? Script a "second coming" event?

That's what I am afraid of, for the moment, and this is why I never "Assault" so far.

I have a couple of characters to come, and I hope they will arrive before Assam the Great dies in combat (after that, I won't mind to be honest...)

That's a really handy bit of scripting! *copies* *pastes* Thanks!

I wonder why no-one has had the idea before, especially none from all the scripting-genius of the EEP (and boy, they have done harder work than this !)

Cheers all,

thanks for your reading...

Cat

 

[unmerged(6528)]

On April 1, 1426, our naval technology level increased to Late Medieval (1), and we are almighty now (no bonus effect, tough…)

I love this line....

And its great to see somone shaking up all those nice placid Buddhist nations , keep it coming!

RJ

 

[Cat Lord]

Part 1, Chapter 4:

“- Now, young Suphakpâ king, would you tell your ancestor Assam what you have learned from the previous years ?
- First, that we have mighty fakirs, animal shape-changers, flower witches, and snake charmers in our jungle mountains, to help us and protect our soldiers. But if we let them alone, and a foe reaches our province first, they will turn against us, as they will protect the first one that entered the province.
- Now, that’s a good lesson my Suphakpâ boy, what else ?
- Second, our neighbours lived in the same landscape and so we should entered and siege their province first, and let them come to fight us, for the same reason as above.
- That the same, and that is known, but have you learn something new ?
- Oh yes, my dear ghost ancestor, I have learned that it does not matter when your foe controlled a province of yours for 3 years if they don’t, neither you, act further in the war (and you can stand the war exhaustion), as 36 months of inactivity will force a White Peace, and you will get your province back for free. And that’s not true for Rebels, as too much Rebel possession of a province gives it to one of your neighbours or create a new hostile country, and that is worse.
- That was a very valuable lesson, and only known by a few, anything else ?
- And lastly, I learn that I should try to conquer a divine Garden soon, if I don’t want to end like Sujângphâ.
- Nooooo, would you be scare of your kind ancestor ghost ? You should not be. You are a better boy than he was (the lazy git). But what is true is that a divine quest is a divine quest, and I can not leave without trying to fulfil it. But there is something more to be learned. Our realm is now divided, and that is wrong. How could the soldiers in Irrawady received their girlfriends’ letters while at war ? They can’t and that will lower their morale dangerously. Now, we have only two options: Whether we conquer lands to another harbour so that we could reach Irrawady by sea, or we conquer lands between Assam and there. What do you think ?
- I think there are only capitals between these provinces, dear ancestor Assam, so we can not achieve it by land in only one war…
- Ha ? Do you suggest we crush Arakan then ?
- No, dear ghost Assam, because Arakan, if on border of the sea, do not have any harbour.
- So ?
- So, I suggest we go inland, but we will need two wars, and you should forgive me not to conquer a Garden meanwhile, because I want to keep my teeth…
- Ha ha ha ! Don’t be frightened; one set of teeth is enough for an ol’ghost. I take your point and will be patient. Now let’s go to war…
- Mh, we will also lose a lot of stability attacking a fellow Buddhist neighbour without Casus Belli.
- And do you think it is important, my little boy ?
- No, dear Great King, because we are a little country.
- Now, that’s a good boy !”

And on January 2, 1430, king Suphakpâ consciously writes a letter to Mohnyininthado, his neighbour king: “Dear neighbour king, my dear ghost ancestor and I have decided to crush your useless 14000 soldiers and 1500 knights with our 9000 troops and 3000 knights, as I can write to you, but our navy boys in Irrawady can not write to their fiancées home, and that’s not fair for them.” And the time it takes Mohnyininthado to decide if it was a joke or a letter to take seriously, the Assam army had engaged and won a battle against 1000 poor troops and begin to siege the province of Shan, another muddy tropical marsh, but Assamite troops were elite in them now.
The only fact that bother Assam the Great King, but he did not dares frightening his young pupil, was that China dishonored the Military Alliance and only Taungu joined the war against Myanmar, and that was a subject of concern.

On July 29, 1430, we capture the province of Shan from Myanmar, we go back to Assam and raise some troops, and on April 29, 1432, we engaged hostile armies in Mandalay and won the battle (but that was risky), and we initiated the siege of Mandalay on May 3, 1432.
The Myanmar armies try to get back at us many time but attrition and a low morale make them lose all engagements. On October 3, 1432, we captured the province of Mandalay, and on October 21, 1432, they were forced to give us the province of Shan, become our vassals, give us access through their territory, and we now have a tarnished reputation.

 

[Cat Lord]

October 21, 1432 : Myanmar accepted our generous peace offer.