Chapter Ten - With Great Power Comes Great Incompetence
With Sokoto now westernised, and correctly thought of as a civilised nation, she could industralise. Having paid her long suffering troops next to nothing for the last few months Sokoto had more than enough money to build some factories.
Unsurprisingly for a devout Islamic nation the majority of Sokoto's factories were concerned with the creation of alcohol.
With her first factories under construction the Sokoto government reluctantly order for the army to be fully paid once again. Noticing that for some reason the troops are still rather irked by the government's actions over the last few months, it almost as if they had been mistreated, the Sokoto government hurriedly send forth the diplomats. Keen as they are to send several thousand near mutinous troops as far from them as possible.
The diplomats return several weeks later with dreams that Sokoto's new status as a civilised nation would lead other countries to treat them better now quashed. As they were simply forced to flee Nejd after delivering the decleration, as has become usual.
A few weeks into the war and the Sokoto government learns that which has long been true.
That by bullying far smaller nations you quickly show yourself a great power. It is the civilised way.
Sokoto's army is left in disbelief following a battle against Nejd.
As madman Yaji Rumfa, an impressively incompetent general who was well on his way to the top rank in the army, is somehow defeated. This battle causing the Sokoto army to wonder if some competence in a general is perhaps a desirable thing. That is until they noticed Rumfa had achieved high casaulties, indeed he had achieved nothing but casaulties, thus clearly this glory filled battle proves incompetence is still best.
Not quite sharing the same view as the army the government is left desperate to cover up this reverse. This leading them to make a proud announcement mere weeks later.
That many of these supposed 'artifacts' appear suspiciously new and seem to have been made from various pieces of Sokoto goverment stationary is happily glossed over by Sokoto's Archaeological Society who have been greatly rewarded for these finds.
News reaches the Sokoto government of a most interesting decleration of war.
Russia declaring war upon Great Britain in a bid to reclaim British Sakhalin. This likely due to the fact that Britain is currently already bogged down in a war against China. The Sokoto government is normally uninterested in foreign wars but this one does give Sokoto an intriguing opportunity.
Putting any such opportunity to one side for the moment, the Sokoto government grow increasingly nervous as Nejd's seemingly unstoppable army secures another victory.
It almost seems as if westernisation has robbed Sokoto of her military prowess. However it turns out Sokoto lost here as general Abasama, who some consider 'uncommonly young' as he is twelve years of age, had been sent to bed early as punishment for not eating his vegetables during dinner. Their general ordered from the field by his strict parents, the Sokoto army quickly succumbed to defeat.
With war against Nejd continuing to rumble on, Sokoto's generals assuring the government this war is going well pointing to Sokoto's impressively high casaulties thus far as proof of this, Sokoto's diplomats are sent on their next diplomatic mission. For once the diplomats are not terrified of the task before them. They are dealing with a fellow civilised nation, a European nation well versed in diplomacy. They expect to be treated well.
Several weeks later and the green faced terrified diplomats return having found out that not only are civilised European nations no less enraged by declerations of war, but they are still prone to seasickness.
In what continues to cause wonder amongst the Sokoto navy Sokoto's new ships, built on her Mediterranean coast, actually float. Most of the time anyway. This quite an improvement over Sokoto's previously built vessels. These newly constructed ships transporting Sokoto forces to the coast of Greece. Hurriedly disembarking as quickly as possible, the troops still refuse to trust Sokoto ships, battle is met with the Greek army.
Following the recent battles against Nejd the Sokoto government insist upon choosing the commander of the Greek landing themselves rather than leaving it to the army as is usual. They choose the reasonably competent Usman al-Walid for the role despite protestations from the rest of Sokoto's officers. The rest of the officers fearful that al-Walid is too skilled a general to ever be able to secure victory.
With the turn of the year a considerable amount of Liberals are appointed to Sokoto's upper house of parliament by Sokoto's Sultan after growing demands from the public for greater democractic rights.
Both the Liberals and some of the Conservatives agree with the public, feeling it only right that democracy is brought to Sokoto. Provided it is a democracy which in no way enfranchises any but fellow rich members of the nation, such as themselves. All lower classes clearly unqualified to decide the fate of the nation in any way whatsoever.
Sokoto's officers are left feeling vindicated in their protesting against the selection of al-Walid for command in Greece mere days later.
Admittedly al-Walid did somehow manage to win against the Greeks, despite his not being horrifically incompetent, but Sokoto's officers are quick to criticise the few casaulties he suffered. This a far more important consideration than mere victory.
A day later and Sokoto's nemsis is finally defeated, Abasama gaining revenge for his earlier loss against ibn Muhammad.
This stunning victory against an outnumbered battle weary force won after Sokoto's troops had thrown themselves forward desperate for a quick victory after being warned by Abasama he would have to leave them soon to do his homework.
A few weeks later and another interesting opportunity for expansion is noticed by the Sokoto government.
With Portugal wisely failing to honour her alliance with Spain, her sole ally, after France's declaration of war, Portugal is now rather bereft of friends. Especially as Britain is still at war with both China and Russia. The Sokoto government quickly order thousands of running shoes made, this proven to be much needed equipment in war against Portugal, as she readies herself for yet another potential war.
The shoes now ready, Sokoto's hugely reluctant diplomats are sent forth.
Mere days later and the diplomats return looking surprisingly happy. Having procured some running shoes for themselves they managed to escape Portugal with ease after delivering the decleration of war.
Research into 'Bronze Muzzle-loaded Artillery' is completed days later.
This after Sokoto academics proved that grass and mud are indeed ineffective material for creating working cannon, bronze for some reason working far better.
Sokoto's generals have become surprised and worried by the fact that inexplicably Sokoto's soldiers are not as keen to blindly follow their orders after the last few brusing wars. It almost as if the soldiers lack confidence in Sokoto's brilliant generals. Due to this research into 'The Command Principle' is begun, in an effort to show Sokoto's soldiers the wisdom of always following the orders of her officers. No matter how crazy said orders often seem.
The Sokoto government is left confused a few weeks later.
Surprisingly the Netherlands are refusing to treat Sokoto's ambassador seriously, instead mocking his incredibly fashionable green and pink uniform. Clearly this a case of fashion envy.
With Greece's forces long since crushed, and Russia thankfully still busy with Britain, war with her finally comes to an end.
Sokoto thus secures her first mainland European holdings, whilst still having a mere five ships stationed on the Mediterranean Sea. With such naval power her overseas holdings are undoubtedly well protected.
With Sokoto now a very democratic nation since the political reforms of a few months earlier, the rich alone continuing to hold power, a limited constitution has finally been created.
Sokoto's Sultan all too happy to give up absolute power as he does not wish to be blamed for the horrible mess the government have left the nation in.
In what can only be described as a hugely surprising and wholly unexpected move the perifidious Ottomans dare declare war on peace loving Sokoto.
Just as the, uh, 'peace loving' Sokoto is finishing her occupation of Nejd.
War against Nejd is hurriedly brought to an end following this entirely unwarranted decleration of war by the Ottomans.
It is only after the annexation is finalised that the Sokoto government realise they have offered an easy entry into Sokoto for the 30,000 strong Ottoman army waiting just over the new border. Wonderful. Still, the Sokoto government is not too worried, the Ottomans have a mere 21 brigades available. That is until they are informed by aides that the Ottomans have not yet mobilised, they will have far more brigades available once they do so.
This could prove difficult.
[I'd be much obliged if anyone can let me know, are other nations able to intervene in this war on the Ottomans side when she is the aggressor? Or as the aggressor does this mean she is basically alone and none will intervene on her behalf?]