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Looks like Russia's elite have finally found their way into the war from their positions in Poland and the Caucasian mountains. Hopefully the force that had been occupying Okhotsk (under the command of Gen. Yashiro?) can bring reinforcements before the Russians overwhelm your positions.
As long as the Japanese fleets continues to win, they Russian's shouldn't be able to take back Sakhalin, no matter how much they mobilize.
Hopefully they will tire at some point or get involved in some other war, like the Crimean.
Hopefully they will tire at some point or get involved in some other war, like the Crimean.
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Often go awry
Leave it to the Swedes to appear out of the blue. Guess they were site-seeing after their first appearance. I'll be curious to see what transpires now that the Bear is coming in force.
Often go awry
Leave it to the Swedes to appear out of the blue. Guess they were site-seeing after their first appearance. I'll be curious to see what transpires now that the Bear is coming in force.
I'm thinking they didn't. An army of 30,000 isn't really a huge army by game standards at this point. They might have had a standing army located east of the Urals and it's just now getting to me. I'm not sure I want to meet the numbers they might throw at me if they mobilized.
Might well be!
Welcome, Neoteros!Yeah. I'm not going to give away what happens, but you know as well as I -- it will be interesting, no matter what!
This is true. Again, I'm not going to give it away, so I'll just leave it at that.
Welcome, Surt! (almost didn't realize it was your first post -- I'm used to seeing your posts over in Imperio Novo!)That might be also!
Welcome, Doppelsoldner! Thanks for dropping in! I kind of miss Vanilla too -- it's been a year or more since Siam ended. I haven't played the other versions yet, but I'm looking forward to Heart of Darkness.
Indeed! As I continue to play the game, I'm noticing that my ships are getting attrition just from being in my local neighborhood. I'm a little shocked that the Swedes are even bothering to send their ships all the way around. I haven't looked to see if maybe they have a local base, but not to my knowledge. Thanks for watching!
Another update in 2-3 days, I suspect. Wednesdays are normally my day off (flex schedule) but that's liable to end here in a week or so. Work is screwing around with me, and I may be looking for a job soon. Well, I should say that I'm looking for a job now, and I'm not particularly inclined to stay where I am. It's hard times, though, and I'm reluctant to leave a sure thing, even if they're screwing around with me. Grr...
Until then.... Thanks for your comments, folks! Any new readers out there, or long-term lurkers who might want to say hi?
Rensslaer
You are faced with a tough choice. Spreading out means that that you can't resist the Russian stack; but form a stack of your own, and attrition will spike. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Another fine update. The Swedish entry into the war in unwelcome, but hopefully the numbers involved remain low. Those 30,000 Russians are a more pressing concern, I hope you have some effective generals who can offset the Russian technological advantage.
I know! I had no idea Russia would be so difficult with attrition. Hard to manage.
Thanks! I have the unfortunate luck of not having any generals with defensive skills. Grr...
If you've persevered until now, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Go Japan!
Thanks! We'll see!
I guess I should get started on another update, huh? Maybe I'll have some time tonight.
Thanks again for your readership, and especially for your comments!
Rensslaer
As, in May of 1863, our confidence in the war against Russia had been cast aside, and we were thrown into doubt, we vacillated as to what was to be done.
Had we wrongly doubted? Were we contemplating defeat just as we were on the verge of victory? It was important not to make a mistake in this. Japan’s future hung in the balance.
We were fortified when teams of Western-trained artisans began producing a steady supply of muzzle-loading rifle firearms, such as the Russians and other Europeans used. This could make a tremendous difference for us – before, we had held our own against Western armies without such technologies. The Russians still had better weapons than us, but could this even the score?
Our hopes were set back as we received word that our defending army at Okinawa had been defeated by the Swedes. How embarrassing! To be humbled by a small, distant country that had none of the might and reputation of Russia. The Swedes would have control of the island before long…
When Russian General Alexseyev arrived at Ayan, a bloody battle began. But we found that our losses were not tremendous. Not at first report. We were killing as many of the enemy as they were of ours. Could we bleed them here, retreat, and then bleed them more in Okhotsk? Use an attrition strategy to wear them down?
We wondered, especially, as the Russians sent us an envoy who offered to let us go, and not to interfere with Japan, if we would only stop this “silly” war. It was a sign of weakness from Russia. This should give us hope, no?
But no matter how well we did against the Russians, we were sure to lose this battle at Ayan. General Nogi could promise to take much blood for his troubles, but he did not promise to defeat the enemy – they were too many.
At Tilichiki, Gen. Kamimura had recovered from his earlier stumble, and was now fighting the Russians with more competence. Many on both sides were falling. But our two sides were too evenly matched, in numbers, and the Russians had the edge, technologically. Could we hold? Time would tell.
And the Russians had managed to take Petropavlovsk, on the far end of the Kamchatka Peninsula, back from our troops. That had been hard-won, and now would prove yet another omen against our prevailing in this war. We might hold them in the mountains, once they moved back north.
June 21, Gen. Nogi was shamed to have to retreat before a victorious, and hardly weakened enemy. He had lost 4,600 soldiers, against only 2,000 Russian casualties. That meant 28,000 Russians would soon descend upon our mountain holdouts near Okhotsk. Could Nogi’s exhausted troops aid the 11,000 Japanese who were there to turn the Russians away?
Japan had won battles with worse odds before. It was possible. We decided to wait and see. But the loss at Ayan took a toll on our confidence. Observers from other countries, both Western and Eastern, began to predict doom for Japan. Could that be? Could the gods be so displeased with us that they would allow such?
At the end of June, Gen. Kamimura’s struggle was weighed out, and the result was not nearly so favorable as any of us had hoped.
Again, he had inflicted losses of about 2,000 upon the enemy. But he had lost nearly 6,000 of his own. This, too, was a significant defeat. And it meant that our odds of maintaining control of any of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the long run were very small.
Okinawa was also lost to us. The only consolation was that our large sailing warships had sunk all of the Swedish transports, so that they would not be able to cause further mischief after their small victory on that island.
In July, the Russians sent another envoy, offering peace on the same terms as before.
Was this a sign that we were to humble ourselves? Was their overture not a sign of weakness, but rather a recognition that this war was now benefiting neither of us?
Gen. Yui was locked in combat in the mountains of Ossora, and while his position was solid, and his technique was sure, he could still not hope to defeat 17,000 of the enemy.
In the end, it was the Emperor who counseled caution and reason over misplaced hopes. He commanded us to accept the Russian offer, and end the war.
He said that, one day, we might revisit this war, and we would have our victory then. But, for now, we were too weak. Too behind-the-times. Peace would give us an opportunity to catch up some more – to learn more of the ways of the Westerners, and raise larger armies, so that an army of 30,000 enemy need not trepidate us.
In the end, we achieved the most important of our war goals, even if Sakhalin Island remained in enemy hands. We were free – the Russians no longer felt free to dictate to us, or demand exclusive trading rights, or to bully us into favorable terms for their merchants. No, Russia was now on the same footing as all the other barbarians – they would have to be respectful in order to do business with us, or we would tell them to go away.
Our status had fundamentally changed, since before the war. Previously, we were seen as backward, as primitive… as unworthy of notice. Now, all the European powers realized that, though we had lost the war on the battlefield, we had in fact humbled the Russians and made them give up something they valued. We had humbled THEM!
Now, Japan stood as a consideration in the minds of Europeans – we had earned their respect. And, we were quick to note, we now stood at the pinnacle of Eastern wisdom. China, and so many other Asian powers had been humiliated and forced to give up land to their European predators.
Japan had turned the barbarian king back! We could stand proud, and hold our heads high!
A definite victory for Japan - against two European powers with far superior tech and an advantage in numbers. The conflict also seems to have encouraged the Emperor to embrace modernisation, to a degree at least.
Excellent stuff, really enjoying this.
Excellent stuff, really enjoying this.
Good post. I see this as a political and moral victory for Japan, especially against the #2 Great Power. Hopefully they will have a period of peace to explore modernization.
Don't neglect your navy, if the enemy can't reach you, they can't dictate victory conditions.
I'm actually quite happy, even though I'd kind of set my sights on territorial conquest. I really didn't expect to do as well as I did!
Great! Thanks! Now, the center of gravity of both of them is definitely further west, but Russia at least is a local threat.
The Emperor has more and more come to the mindset that Japan must modernize or remain as vulnerable as the rest of Asia. This seems to follow the historical timeframe and transformation pretty reasonably. Threats require action or submission, and Japan intends NOT to submit!
IMHO you quit right in time
Yeah, I think so too. Territorial acquisition/occupation was pretty much as far as I could have gotten with that 28,000 troops bearing down on me, plus the more battles I lost, the worse the warscore would get...
Thanks! You know, I hadn't even noticed (partly because I'm intentionally remaining naive about the world, ala the Japanese isolation) Russia was #2!
Peace would be a good thing for a while. With Russia no longer lording it over us, there's potential for some growth.
Indeed! My problem now is that the other powers -- Russia in particular -- have modern fighting ships, and I'm stuck just spamming frigates and men-o-war to protect myself. Modernization will help!
Probably another couple of days before the next update. Work has been a pain -- a real pain -- this week, with projects and office politics. Plus, I've got to get taxes done. I was supposed to be working on taxes tonight, but I discovered that my computer won't play sound for anything. Grr... Now, yes, I did empty my "recycled items" folder today, but how on earth would my sound capability have gotten stuck in there? iTunes isn't playing, and it recognizes files, but can't play them. Same with WMP. Youtube won't play sound, news videos won't play sound... So I've spent my night troubleshooting instead of doing taxes. ((sighs))
Thanks for your readership! Any new readers out there?
Rensslaer
A tactical defeat, but a strategic victory for Japan. Your territory wasn't expanded, but you've removed the influence of the vile Russians, and can now push your country to the limits to ensure you receive both a strategic and tactical victory in the next war.