Chapter 37: Breaking The Spell.
We find ourselves at war against the Ottomans on one hand, and the Portugese on the other. Portugal has called in Spain, but remains the warleader.
This is very important, since it means that Spain cannot call in Austria.
I may be able to use this to my advantage.
July, 1745. The Ottomans, with only about 100,000 men left, will have a chance to make up for the beating I gave them last chapter. Somehow, though, I doubt it, since the Russians have more than twice that number. Sorry, tovarisch, but I have other things on my mind right now.
My new heir is looking promising. Let’s hope he makes it to his own coronation alive, since his dad is pretty useless (3-0-2).
This war against the Iberians becomes even more promising when Algiers agrees to give me leadership in the war. You’re fighting on my terms now, Portugal.
I notice a large Portugese fleet, consisting of 22 Heavies, 36 Lights and 17 Transports, sitting in the Côte Azur. In the past, that would have been enough to make me cringe.
Not anymore. I can only hope there were 17 regiments on board.
The only army I have in France, are 31 newly build regiments. They are given a general and send to Béarn. The Portugese have gathered about 45,000 men and are marching on France. They seem to hesitate a bit when they see that army in Béarn. Not long, but long enough to let me get everyone back home.
I only have 2.08 War Exhaustion. Good. That means I can keep going as long as it takes.
The Portugese try to sneak past the Béarn army by going through Roussillon. Unfortunately for them, that happens to be the province where I had send about a third of my army. With some quick reinforcements thrown in for good measure, the fight is very easy, even with a river crossing.
After that victory, the fighting is almost over. There is a scuffle in Alentejo, but that is about it, really.
Then I realise that I had forgotten to bring the army in South America home. I have 27 regiments sitting in Grao Para!
These, of course, are quickly put to work. The Spanish and Portugese don’t seem to care that their home is being sieged, and happily concentrate on Africa. There are not even any landings in the Phillipines.
Pretty impressive, right? God, it’s fun having such a large army. I don’t know many nations on Earth that could comfortably carpet siege all of Iberia. Even so, it takes every soldier I have in Europe to do it.
In case you’re wondering why I am not blockading the Iberian peninsula, that is because they were busy at the time chasing down a Spanish fleet.
The Spanish escape, but not before dropping off 31 regiments in Nice. Somewhat annoying, but since I refuse to drop a whole bunch of sieges right now, I am going to let them have their fun for the moment.
Scratch another 32 Light Ships. If nothing else, this will hurt the Spanish trade more than a little.
And another one bites the dust. Even more than the Portugese ships, this feels really good, after 200 years of practically nonstop piracy in the gulf of Bordeaux.
Even without my intervention, the armies of Algiers and Mali manage to stay alive, and siege several Portugese colonies in Africa. Meanwhile, the Portugese are concentrating their efforts on my holdings in the Ivory Coast. I don’t care, as long as they stay away from my 2 colonies. Thankfully, they are too far inland, and never get in any serious danger. Together, we all sit on a satisfying 49% Warscore.
Here is a look at the situation in Brazil, where my single army is doing a ton of damage. By now, it is 1748. The war has been dragging on for a couple of years now.
Then, the Algerian army ceases to exist. I will have to do something if I want to prevent their gains from being lost again.
For one thing, I finally have enough men freed up to take care of that army in Nice. 30 infantry, 5 cavalry and 21 artillery, along with the Milanese army, under the command of Benoit de Ecures, a stunning 6-5-5-1 general. Probably the very best general I have ever had in any EU game.
Mind you, he will have to be at his best, because opposite the battlefield is a Spanish 5-5-3-1 general.
Right away, it becomes clear that I have it in the bag. With 2 more points of Morale and 7% Extra Discipline, together with superior numbers, I have nothing to fear.
That is enough for the Spanish to cave to my demands. Grabbing Léon is really just icing on the cake. The real price is the fact that they are forced to give up their alliances with Austria, Genoa, Portugal and Savoy. And after I take all their money back to Paris with me, it will take them a while to climb back out of the pit they had dug for themselves.
I am happily blockading Portugal, when out of the blue a Portugese fleet of 2 Heavies and 24 Lights, attacks my 26-ship blockade. I manage to get my combat fleet there, but they are just a day too late. We each lose 26 ships, but I have the feeling that I am in a position right now where I can afford the losses. Portugal can’t. Together with Spain and their mutual colonies, they can muster a mere 9 Heavies, 25 Light and 1 Galley.
I think that would break any camel’s back.
In other news, the Timurids get annexed by the Mughals with a Cleaning Of Heresy CB, while the Ottomans are forced to set Armenia free and pay Russia 196 ducats.
Not to be outdone, I write down a peace treaty of my own. Hidden in the midst of it all, Portugal is forced to break off all treaties with Spain, including Military Access.
I won’t be able to do much conquering after this, now that I have 85% Overextension, but it was worth it.
Great Britain has lost the Ottomans, Portugal has lost Spain and Spain has lost Austria.
What a difference a couple of defensive wars make.
Even better is the fact that my Land Force Limit goes up to 205 and my Naval Force Limit goes up to 208.
So I finally have free reign to pay the Emperor of the HRE (or maybe the Queen of England) a visit. See you next time!