Chapter 24: Anybody Seen My France...?
Our date with the Big Blue Girl is in Full Swing, and as our records show... Well OK, CD's... We're in prime real estate now:
It's been awhile since the Swiss could make their cocoa and watches unfettered, so it is a great relief to report:
Free Chocolate Bars for everyone...!
Alas the date with France is not all fun and profit:
Looks like a storm is coming, and his name is Henri IV. He's been remarkably resilient this war. Like vinyl siding...
Meanwhile, over on the other side of the pond, our first 'victory' is recorded...:
The desert sands are full of the fierceness... But nothing can stop the mighty forces of Milan...!
In Franche-Comte, it doesn't go so well:
Apparently men with swords and guns and pikes, whilst dressed in woolen breeches, can be much harder to subdue than sand.
Speaking of sand... We have to be a tad bit creative over in the nether regions...:
It's a tedious bit of fun. My soldiers play Cowboys and ride around roping and herding Rebels...
Yee Hah !!!
It appears Henri IV is serious this time around...:
Must be nice to have a secretary scribe to write all of your dispatches for you.
...And it must be a bitch to get that abbey toted around so he has that desk in the library to sit and write at...
Well, Henri IV, we're serious too, and not just about lowering prices...!
This is my favorite part of the date with the BBG. I love to see her break under the relentless siege pressure. As she loses province after province, it's fun to see her scramble in desperation to try to make a regiment anywhere she can.
Even now, not even half way across the country yet, and with Henri making life difficult I could get out of this...:
But alas, with only 53% to work with, you won't get far with any game changes. That means we must soldier on.
It is truly a sad day in Milan...:
I will miss him greatly. He has been a very good general for me...
His replacement is a 2-1-2-0 wonder man with a girls middle name. Upon hearing this, the entire populace of Province revolts, revolted at the revolting development.
The final peace deal province is taken...:
Girona will complete the coast line with the exception of Nice... I'll have to find a way to wait a bit and see if France will eat her and save me some BB.
Oh, and Pirates. Ugh. Like little black bouncy balls. These started near the Knights and bounced all the way over. At least they didn't do like the last batch and bounce all the way around the boot to the coast of Girona.
Them's some rowing mother fill in the blanks there.
This next shot is for
Sir blsteen...:
See, I do have a Navy, and I are for is using it...! It just so happens I have the pirate blocker there and France had ships in Girona... But it's a naval battle, so it counts, right...?
As their huge naval presence is being pummeled, France again offers peace. They will cede Piedmont, Roussillon, Girona and Savoie. All conveniently non core provinces that belonged to someone else until recently. Hmmm. No.
2 days later, Rouer(I'd like to buy a consonant)gue falls to the men of Milan, France jumps in behind the Rebs to siege while I attack the Rebs themselves. Thanks France, but really, I got it.
In fact, here, lemme help you...:
I feel just a little bit... Eeeevil over that one, but I'll get over it.
Hey hey hey...:
A little rebellion on the upper west side would do nicely. May be able to net the coast from Aleppo down through Gaza in the peace deal. That's the aim at this point, anyways.
Because everything was so busy at this time, I elected to make the slider move and continue. Momentum was really good, and I wanted France to be peaced out before looking at any new directions. So, on January First, 1490 we again made a slider move to Centralized... And got an 8K Pretender Revolt in Savoie... Which I hardly thought the least bit challenging, and figured I needn't spend 5 pictures showing...
The rebs got spanked in Province, The French lost their 5 ships and good old King Henri IV reappeared with another army in Saintonge, booting the rebs there and forcing me to deal. I sent a combo army in at him that was heavy on INF, as it was all I had in the area... We pulled the win, but losses were equal.
Dayr Az Zor fell to Milan middle January, not part of the peace, but maybe enough to send the RR through the roof and spawn something useful.
February dawns with something useful indeed...
...For nothing but a step. But even a step is useful.
And this Henri King guy just won't quit. Gotta give the guy props for hanging in there. Who among us wouldn't give a left nut for someone that strong to go through that many battles and survive...?
Except when this happens...:
Sorry Henri... Had to happen sooner or later. That sissy named guy actually pulled off a bit 'o the upset there. Guess I'll have to tell the other commanders to go a little easier on him.
At this point it's starting to rain Rebs. France has hit the 17+ club for WE while I retain a higher than I'd like 5.03. It's enough to trigger some unwelcome guests up north, and some welcome ones down south... Though I still hate having to deal with them.
The Mams actually ask for a white peace. I laugh out loud. They couldn't touch me if they wanted too. I'll have more trouble with rebels than you. I have absolutely no interest in letting you off the hook at all.
With the Siege of Poitou complete and another 6 running in France, the time is near for a peace. I know this because the Rebel ping pong championships are getting under way back home. Perigord falling is just another coffin nail, as is Bourbon...
My men didn't make it to Württemberg in time, so I get the extra 10 years of nationalism. Oh boy oh boy. I are is so ashamed...
o
Franche-Comte falls in July 1490, Just in time for the semi annual salt crisis. It's then I notice a gathering of Rebs, Two religious zealots and one Cosmopolitan patriot group, all sitting together. They decide it's a good time to head to Limousin, all at once of course. All told it's a slightly pared down 4/18/0 red and black army of festering nuisance. Then for some odd reason, the zealots abandon attack and stay put... Then one decides it knows better than the other one and joins the patriots. Just make up my mind already, will ya...?
With most of the southern heart occupied, the north and south corridors start to get can openered...:
Getting there.
So hey, you know those Reb zealots that stayed behind...? Well France built a new army and booted them out into the other two groups. My poor 4K had little chance against the 20K currently attacking me in Limousin. Jerks.
We did take another Mam province, Asyut. Junk though. Peace deal % builder, that's it. I am really not looking forwards to adding these boat anchors to my land list...
By October, we have Navarra in the fold, along with...:
That and sending the rebs back at the French just to say 'hi'...
We white peaced the Chagatai, mostly just to avoid having to pronounce their name anymore.
As of November 11th 1490, France is 0% war capacity, 17.05 WE, +2 STAB and 60% blockaded with a WS of 85%.
Provence is worse...
On the other shore, The Mams are 0% WC, 18.07 WE, -3 STAB and 100% blockaded with a 24% WS. The fact Hedjaz still holds a number of provinces but refuses to make peace is dragging things out over there a little.
On the 12th, we take back Württemberg. The Rebs are hiding in Ansbach, so I leave the army there.
I know it's getting tough in France when I can hear Henri the IV bitching clear across the battlefield. He's got an 'army' of 4K INF. All day long you can hear him saying things like "At the begeening of this affair I ad an Armee of 50,000 men. It was an honor to command such men into battle. This, this isn't even basic training... I can't believe I ave to command such a trifle."
By the end of the month we got to hear him riding back to Il de France alone complaining that he had no armee at all. And how he was 'keenga', and he deserved an armee...
It was REALLY funny to see him in command of the 1K INF army...
By December, Alexandria was Milan's, and we had rebels going in Cairo and the Sinai. We just need enough war score to cover the coast, which we don't have yet.
With the beginning of the New Year, the southern half of France are belong to us as Aragon falls. By the end of January, Henri's 1K INF 'armee' is toast, and he again wanders home muttering to himself about past glory.
In February, it's election time as my leader pays his office and his life goodbye. For us...? Well, it's a good thing...:
He also turns out to be a decent general too. Works for me...!
March sees us netting Trade tech 13 and the province of Othe.
Not a whole lot but a few rebel actions till France begs us to let them off the hook in June. I politely decline.
Three days later I take Blois just to rub it in.
Four days after that I take Caux just to rub that in.
Eight days after that I take Orleanais just to rub that in...
In August, General Serbelloni kicks the bucket. At this rate I won't have a general survive the war.
September sees Maine join the fold, I also have Hawran open for siege business thanks to the guided rebs.
On October first, a three star Diplomat becomes available...
The Otts celebrate by going bankrupt.
I swap out my 19 year vet three star with the new guy. The Mams hear I have a new advisor and try to sneak a peace by... Not.
October 10th and the capitol of France belongs to Milan. In my world that makes a war official. Later on Hawran falls too.
November is Normandie. It isn't until mid January before Anjou becomes one of the last French places to feel the foot of Milan. It's been Reb this and Reb that for awhile.
It proves to be another bad year for Hedjaz too, as they go bankrupt. I wish they'd peace out... It would let me get the % I need for a Mamluk deal.
A few more Reb actions until finally, April 17th, 1492 the last province in France falls.
The Ottomans celebrate by going bankrupt... Again. While awaiting the cool down, and getting everything in order I make trade level 14... Refineries are possible, and only one away from monopolies.
My WE has fallen to a mere 3.36... I decide to raise war taxes for a bit, as there seems to be a fleet of French ships on the northern edge of the empire. I can't end the war like this. It's 15 Carracks, way too large a force for France to be left with. Besides, with war taxes and all the occupied French lands, I collect an astonishing 532.95 at the end of the year. Very nice coin for this early in the game...
I hire me my first 'Admiral', who nets me one pip. At least it's the one pip that matters. One shock pip. I set out with 21 Carracks and my all star naval leader to go and do battle with the mighty French fleet.
The French make a last, desperate bid for peace as Castille realizes that she's now stuck between a rock, (me) and a hard place, (Portugal) and ends her embargo.
Monday. April First. The naval battle begins. 21 on 15. with my 1 shock Admiral vs no commander. I'm shocked Henri IV didn't try to weasel his way on board and try to command.
As I weasel around rebellion after rebellion, and slowly get more provinces turned in the world of The Mamluk, the naval battle rages on. Finally near the end of June it ends.
The result...? Milan has 19 ships left. France...? Three.
It's a bit of the chase and catch, but by mid July France no longer has a navy.
I manage to get Delta and the Nile in rebellion, as it's getting close to peace time over there. By November I have Beruit done and Aleppo under the gun.
Finally in December it's time to end the suffering of the French. I put forth my peace proposal...:
Man French territory is expensive.
If I was smart, I would have waited till January first. But by this time I was more than half way through the marathon session, and clearly decision impaired...
Now hold on there... I know I know.
"Why didn't you let nations go" or etc. etc. Two reasons. One, I want the coast. Two, I want to get into Castille's face, especially after the annexation of the Palatinate. And third...? Well... Let's just say nobody's singing.
I also have to apologize for alot of words and no pictures for the end of this. I wanted to get to the French peace, and I had 160 screenshots... With a limit of 20, I would have to do 8 (eight) updates to get this far. I like to type as much as the next guy, but HT³ is here, vacation is coming and so is Christmas... So I took a few liberties along with the French.
Besides, I have a surprise in store before this run is done. No hints as to it's nature. But I think many of you will like it.
Till next time...!
T
