CHAPTER IX: JAPAN
Part 2: Domestic Problems
(1585-1590)
Getting Comfortable
So the real question for this turn is: Go south and find trouble, or get ready to stomp on Korea some more next round.
I would love to attack Ayutthaya, but with their numerical superiority and the fact I have to travel so far to get there...no. Our ships will be out of supply, and while I suppose we could get port access somewhere, that doesn't really help with actual blockade work.
Dai Viet and Brunei are possibilities. They are just within colonization range, so could be cored - however Dai Viet has an impressive coring penalty, while Brunei boasts an equally impressive defensive bonus.
You know, we've been fighting alot lately. Let's take the turn off, get our house in order, and stomp on Korea starting in 1589.
This is a decision the
kami can get behind, as the Cherry Blossom Festival of 1585 is an amazing success.
On retrospect perhaps I should have taken the Admin points, but gold is hard to resist. It can buy many pretty things, such as one temple (Tax +1) and 5 constables (Local Tax +20%)
In December 1580 we get our claim on Gangwon, Korea. This completes our mission for +5 prestige and +25 Military Power. I forget what I choose for our next mission, which should show you how important it is.
We also form a coalition against Korea because, hey, our diplomat was bored.
This does not sit well with some of our ministers, who think perhaps that's a little much.
I tell them that the Shogun is infallible and our stability falls to 0 as a result. It won't stay there.
Indeed, by July 1581 we've rallied somewhat. Our stability goes back to +1, and new thinkers arise. (random new advisor) Among them is a naval advisor who wants too much money to join me. Thanks anyway.
The Year of Three Shoguns
This is the last decision our shogun makes, as over the winter he takes ill. In February 1587 it's time for young Katsuhito to try his luck.
Unfortunately, Katsuhito's idea of military logistics involves our samurai carrying rice seeds and growing/harvesting as they march. This goes about as well as you'd expect.
Unfortunately his brother, Kotohito, isn't any better.
The double-succession lowers our stability to -1, which is going to tie up our precious Admin points for awhile, especially since Kotohito tries to reform the administration by having all reports published in haiku.
Rice worth ten koku
Lost in fight with giant bot,
Robotech to blame.
Still, faltering logistics force our commanders stationed in Korea to get much more creative about feeding their men.
Unfortunately, the clan daimyo figure out our new shogun isn't quite the thing. Mumblings escalate to duels, duels to skirmishes, and it looks like we might be heading for Sengoku Part II.
I believe the term is "Hell no." We have our entire army in Korea: We can't afford any nonsense at home. We sure as heck can't afford to go to Stability -3.
Instead we weather the storm, going back to Stability 0 in May 1588. We're now just over a year from distracting our samurai with another war against Korea...
...and what could be better for restoring flagging morale than more taxes?
I would have loved an option that said "No thanks" and raised stability, but so be it. Perhaps taxing the commoners into submission is good for the empire after all. It must be: Two more temples and two more constables come out of it.
Round Two
November 1589 rolls around, and it's time. First, let's see if Korea has picked up any friends.
Right. Okay, I'm thinking two more wars with Korea. One to isolate their capital, the second to finish the job. My goal is what we would recognize as the Korean/Chinese border. Let Korea have the tundra for all I care.
We have 34 regiments, they have 13. Let's do this.
As last time, the naval war breaks out almost immediately. Three of their barques meet five of ours, resulting in one of theirs being captured. Weeks later 20 of our barques annihilate one of theirs in the Yellow Sea.
As 1589 draws to a close we have four provinces under siege. The Korean army has grown to 20K, but so long as we can get both of our armies to meet theirs about the same time, we should be okay.
Next turn we'll finish them off quickly, so the turn after we can kick Korea off the peninsula. Right?
Johan's Dice
Reign: 10 years
Roll Needed: 3+
Roll: 1
Continue: No
No....
NO....
NO!!!!!!
No....
