Nuova Italia needs no America. It would be better to colonize near our homeland instead.
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Having just caught up, I must say, excellent story you have here. As for those Ternate ships, all I have to say is "Owah men are running from the battlefield sir, a SHAMEFRUL DISPRAY!!!
I think conquering their nearby lands is more worthwhile.
I'm surprised the explorer didn't die. That goes against tradition!
Not sure what the explorer had been relying on to live so long.
I'm impressed you caught up. Normally, people don't want to bother with an AAR of this length. I hope I can keep the story interesting.
My schedule has been changed quite dramatically so my updates for this AAR will be either delayed or more irregular than before.
Chapter 491
A month before the exploration fleet returned to the capital, a war was declared on the Hindu nation of Kutai. For a long time, the Brunei border was threatened by this nation as the Kutai ruler refused to acknowledge the independence of the nation. Despite repeated warnings made to the Kutai ruler, all the warnings fell on deaf ears and conflict was inevitable. The Doge made the decision to declare war and a large Nuova Italian fleet headed out to transport troops to Brunei territory. The Doge didn't even hesitate in this matter knowing that, as long as Kutai existed, Brunei would always be threatened.
The Doge argued that the Republic had her ups and downs so it was better not let Kutai have a chance for initiation when Nuova Italia wasn't faring too well. A direct attack would permanently solve this problem and resolve the tensions on Borneo ever since Kutai, as the aggressor, attacked Brunei. There was enough territory for common grounds for the two nations but the Kutai ruler refused to accept reality. He would rather throw away everything his nation had for his crazy ambitions. It was his refusal to hear logic that sparked the war and he would live with the outcome for the rest of his life.
The Nuova Italian war fleet arrived in Borneo a month later with all the troops stationed at the border. Their advances then triggered the war which soon became a very one-sided conflict. While the Kutai ruler might talk big, he was actually not prepared for this aggression. He assumed that the Republic would sit idly while he made his threats and that would be a mistake he would live to regret. Nuova Italian soldiers marched into Tarakan where, after some brief resistance, the province was occupied. The rapid fall of the province devastated the morale of the Kutai soldiers.
Hoping to turn the situation around, the Kutai general attempted to retake Tarakan to give his men confidence but they were simply outmatched against better trained Nuova Italian soldiers who also controlled strong defensive positions. Tried as they may, the Kutai forces were repelled with more than three times the casualty of Nuova Italian soldiers. The high casualties only further demoralized the Kutai soldiers but the defenders had yet to give up on their resistance as the Nuova Italian soldiers marching into Berau learned.
The Kutai forces in Berau had cannon support which allowed them to deal far heavier casualties to the attackers who had grown overconfident. The attackers still managed to win in the end but the losses for both sides were far more even. This was a wake-up call for the attacking officers that they had yet to win the war so they must remain vigilant and fight at their very best. Berau managed to hold out for another month before it too was occupied because the Nuova Italian soldiers needed time to regroup following their close battle against the Kutai forces in the province.
Once again, the Kutai general wasn't giving up and launched an attack on Berau upon learning the province was weakly defended. That was the case for a week before more Nuova Italian soldiers were transported by sea to the province. Following their arrival, the tide of the battle turned almost instantly. Not only were reinforcements aiding atop the walls but contingents were also sent behind enemy lines which ultimately saw the Kutai forces completely surrounded. The Kutai soldiers fought to the last man and even their general died fighting like a true warrior.
The attackers proceeded to Bulungan where their siege lasted only two weeks. They then headed to Samarinda where they met some more resistance. By this time, the defenders were quite demoralized so they only fought briefly before they routed. The chaos of the rout saw the Kutai soldiers head into untamed wilderness where they were picked off by the savages until there were no survivors. Their story was only known by the Nuova Italian soldiers who gave chase for a few days before they wisely pulled out from the area.
The fall of Samarinda meant only Sulu remained as the last unoccupied Kutai province. Nuova Italian soldiers were all deployed to the province where they directly assaulted the supposed last stronghold of the Hindu nation. The defenders had practically given up by this point with the gate opening and the defenders surrendering in hopes of living. The war on Kutai was over and the peace deal was very simple. Kutai would be annexed by Nuova Italia so the Hindu nation could no longer threaten the existence of Brunei. This peace deal would also improve the lives of the Kutai people who had been oppressed by their tyrant rulers.
Do you dare suggest that the glorious nation of Brunei could ever perish? If only Alboino Spinolo were here today, you would already be dead for that heresy.
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With Mike, we never know what he's thinking about.
One can argue that Michelangelo is a successor of Alboino.
Chapter 492
While the majority of the Nuova Italian forces were returning back to Sumatra, a small portion was left in Sulu where they would continue garrisoning the province. Before war was declared, the Doge had emphasized the importance of a port on Borneo which would serve the Republic. Nuova Italia must continue her powerful naval presence and a port would help her extend her reaches to the eastern parts of Southeast Asia. Clearly, there were plans to expand eastwards, maybe even as far as the territory discovered by the exploration fleet once Sesto and his men returned to Sumatra.
As for the other former Kutai provinces, the Doge saw no used for them. Those provinces were home to heathens who wouldn't be too happy with their ruler being a person of a different religion. There were already news of resistance fighters forming to oppose Nuova Italian rule because lies could be spread by the radicals so easily. To crush these rebels, more soldiers would have to be deployed and Nuova Italia wasn't so small anymore. She needed her soldiers to protect all of her civilians and the Republic only had a limited number of soldiers to deploy.
The province of Sulu was already proving to be a challenge as Nuova Italian soldiers were cracking down on the resistance there. The large presence of soldiers had been suppressing the rebels as the rebel leaders were sought out. Once the head of these rebels were removed, then the rebellions should die down easily. If such forces were needed for all the provinces, then the Republic didn't have enough men to ensure the rebels were put down. Of course, the Doge had other plans with the provinces which he saw beneficial for Nuova Italia as well.
The nation of Brunei hadn't directly contributed to the war against Kutai but the nation was a trusted friend of Nuova Italia. Because Brunei was liberated by the Republic, her leaders were always grateful of the Nuova Italians. In addition, they were given independence and full autonomy to all aspects of her governing so the relationship between the two nations was always seen very close like two friend who had been through a lot together. The Republic gained a valuable ally where she had limited influence of while Brunei had a powerful friend who could protect her from threats like Kutai.
The province Sulu didn't change the fact that the Republic still had limited influence in Borneo. The port would see Nuova Italian ships have a safe port where they could dock for repairs or as a temporary stop. Those in Sulu had to maintain close trade deals with the Brunei to get the resources she needed since having everything transported from Sumatra wasn't really viable at the time. The trade deals would make both nations stronger which was exactly what the rulers of the two nations wanted. Overall, the development between the two nations had been equally rewarding for the two sides.
Five former Kutai provinces were sold to Brunei at an undisclosed amount but what mattered was how the funds were later used. The wars had taken a toll on the Nuova Italian treasury which saw a loan taken to maintain the war. The loan was finally paid off with the reparation taken from Kutai along with the ducats acquired from the sold provinces. This was great news as the loans were paid off early before their interests became significant. As the Republic's finances were coming under control, more funds could be diverted to the development of Sulu.
The sole Nuova Italian colony on Borneo, Pontianak, was also sold quietly under the table to Brunei. This surprised no one who was actually aware of the existence of the colony since the colony only served one purpose at the time. An excuse was needed to declare war on Kutai and this was accomplished as soon as the casus belli was fabricated and war was declared. Afterwards, there was no purpose since the colony was costing the Republic ducats resulting in it being one of the many reasons why the loan was taken in the first place.
Meanwhile, the exploration fleet returned back to Sumatra shortly after its departure to Southern Africa. There were rumors that going around this point would eventually see the ships reaching Europe. The Doge wanted this matter investigated so he sent the Sesto to explore those waters. Sadly, the explorer got terribly ill a week after leaving Sumatra and, given that the doctors aboard the ship lacked the expertise to cure him of his illness, he died two weeks later. The exploration fleet returned back to Sumatra so a new explorer could be picked.
As is tradition, the explorer has died. Just when he's about to find a path back to Europe.
There is no other way. All this has happened before, and will happen again.As is tradition, the explorer has died. Just when he's about to find a path back to Europe.
Brunei has taken its rightful place as sole ruler of Borneo. One day the entire island will be theirs, provided they know how to use the free colonist they get from their national ideas.
Good thing they didn't have life insurance policies back in those days. All those explorers' families would be striking it rich.
Good thing they didn't have life insurance policies back in those days. All those explorers' families would be striking it rich.
There is no finer death for an explorer than to die at sea! It is a great honor, not a tragedy!Why must the curse of the explorers continue?!
As is tradition, the explorer has died. Just when he's about to find a path back to Europe.
The tradition must live on! That's how we maintain our republican traditions.
True, he has survived quite long so that's an achievement.
Brunei has taken its rightful place as sole ruler of Borneo. One day the entire island will be theirs, provided they know how to use the free colonist they get from their national ideas.
Good thing they didn't have life insurance policies back in those days. All those explorers' families would be striking it rich.
I'm sure the Republic takes good care of the explorers' family.
Why must the curse of the explorers continue?!
The curse will remain to the end of the EU universe.
True, that's where they truly belong.
Chapter 493
Sinibaldo Odescalch was picked as the new explorer and he accept the position with pride. He would take over what Sesto was originally assigned to do and there was great excitement of what the discovery could reveal. The rumors must have basis given that there were news of Portuguese ships spotted in Asia. The Republic, having been viewed by many other Asian nations with hostility due to the difference in religion, couldn't get any confirmations. Sinibaldo was about to give the confirmation Nuova Italia needed to finally find a path back to Europe.
Before the explorer left for his expedition, he said farewell to his brother, Gregorio, who was also given an assignment abroad. Unlike Sinibaldo, his brother would be headed to territory much closer to home. The island he was to lead an expedition on was somewhat explored but the interior still remained very much a mystery. Gregorio had the objectives of securing the land so the colonists could setup their colony as soon as they arrived. There were sightings of various Chinese state ships near the island with the intention of maybe claiming the land there.
If there was anything the Republic disliked, it was losing to her Asian neighbors when it came to land. The island, known to the Chinese as Taiwan, hadn't been claimed by any Chinese state following the collapse of Ming. The coastal settlements on the island had largely disappeared following the collapse of the once mighty empire. When Nuova Italian explorers had a chance to explore the coast, they could still see evidence of the settlements which at one point had been home to thousands or tens of thousands of people. That was in the past though.
The Doge of the Republic had emphasized the importance of securing this island given its proximity to China. Yue was a valuable ally but Nuova Italia could offer little assistance if her forces couldn't reach Southern China within a reasonable amount of time. A naval base in Taiwan could do wonders for the logistics and also provide the Republic a base where they could gather intelligence on the Chinese states. Taking land from the rich Chinese region was certainly a possibility that the Republic might take in the near future once she dealt with certain affairs first.
While the exploration fleet set out to southern tip of Africa, the transports, with a few warships, departed from the Nuova Italian capital. The two brothers were heading in two different directions but their intent was the same. They both wished to contribute to the growth of the Republic and were willing to leave their families and everything that had been part of their life to do so. Both men also faced certain uncertainty since neither could be certain if he could return home again. Despite the odds, they were willing to take the positions and they were selected for just that.
The journey for Sinibaldo was a long one but his brother arrived in Taiwan in a few weeks due to the excellent conditions at sea. The winds aided them so they could arrive at the island sooner than expected. Gregorio had his men build a small base on their first day so they could rest. They would head deeper into the island the very next day once they were well rested. The journey to Taiwan had been swift but a good night rest on solid land could do wonders for most of them. Gregario wanted to take no risks if he could avoid them on the foreign island.
During the middle of the night, a lookout shouted that unidentified men were closing in on the base. Gregorio had been too excited to sleep so he was discussing with a few of his most trusted officers about how they would explore the island. Once they heard the commotion, they quickly rallied their sleeping men for battle. The lookouts tried their best to raise the alarm and fend off the attackers but they were soon silenced once the attackers managed to close the distance. Luckily, their sacrifices weren't in vain considering that the other Nuova Italians managed to get up for the sudden attack.
The attackers might have the element of surprise initially but, once the Nuova Italian soldiers regrouped amidst the chaos, they were soon repelled. The only losses they inflicted were the lookouts which had result in two undesirable outcomes for them. First, the Nuova Italians not only discovered about the inhabitants of the island but also learned about their hostility towards foreigners. This was a critical information they needed when they ventured deeper into the island because they needed to know what mindset was required.
Secondly, the loss of comrades only brought out rage from the Nuova Italian soldiers. Previously, there were doubts amongst some of the soldiers when they first arrived at the island. Most of these were new recruits who left home for the first time. Gregorio had worries about how they would deal with the unpredictable events they would encounter on Taiwan. The senseless deaths had not only solidified their resolve but also gave them strength and desire to crush those who took the lives of their fellow comrades. Gregorio knew he had everyone behind him when he finally headed into the interior.
The attacking party hadn't been a large one or the Nuova Italian soldiers would have sustained far more casualties from this surprise attack. What had puzzled Gregorio was how organized they were. They didn't seem like a bunch of savages who only knew how to work together to hunt down wild animals as prey. Instead, their approach to the base had been well thought out and they were discovered when they were quite close. This observation reminded Gregorio of what he was told regarding the past of Taiwan. He hadn't expected the information to be of any use.
Before the formation of Ming, the island of Taiwan had been a state for a brief time not different from the Chinese states on the mainland. The state hadn't been a very successful one because the natives were hostile and didn't like foreigners too much. The state eventually collapsed but no one attempt to resettle the island until the arrival of the Nuova Italians. The lack of resources had been the main reason why the island hadn't been resettled for so long. When Gregorio was assigned the task of clearing the way, he literally only expected backwards savages.
The surprise attack was a good indication that he and his men were dealing with more than just backwards savages. Gregorio had a theory regarding the collapse of the state where the settlers actually joined the savages. They might have resorted to backwards way of living but they still possessed the intelligence to carry out the surprise attack they launched. Gregorio, if he wanted success in this expedition, must move forward with caution. Underestimating the enemy at this point could easily cost him and all his men their lives since they didn't know the exact numbers of the savages.
Definitely the case if we want to invade China one day.
Chapter 494
Gregorio was convinced that he needed to take action at once. They needed the initiative to strike at the heart of these savages who were opposing their arrival. These savages might be a lot more organized than they first expected but their lack of diplomacy meant they were still not much better than wild beasts. Their teamwork was praiseworthy but they were still nothing compared to what the Nuova Italian soldiers were capable of. The savages had their chance to attack and they failed quite miserably. Gregorio was about to make them regret this ambush.
The lookouts who lost their lives were given a quick burial at the base. It wasn't plausible to get their bodies back home and these men knew the dangers when they signed up. Proper markers would be made in the near future but Gregorio wanted the savages removed from the island first. At least, he wanted to clear out the region where the settlers were expected to arrive in a few months. Their safety was the priority and, luckily for him, the extermination of the savages was exactly what they needed to accomplish that and carry out their revenge for their fellow soldiers.
Among his men were some of the best trackers the Republic had to offer. These men had been mapping out the untamed regions in Sumatra where they often relied on themselves for survival. These men might start their journey with food and supplies but, depending on the region they were assigned, they needed to find and obtain their own food until they completed their tasks. These required them to learn how to survive in different environment where they could only count on themselves. The harsh environment taught these men how to better adapt to the wilderness.
Tracking down prey for food was a familiar task for these men and they were able to quickly locate the footprints of those who fled following the failed ambush. Gregorio allowed them to take the lead while he and his men followed to the best of their ability. Despite the difficult training their soldiers had to go through before they were eligible for these expeditions, the untamed territory in Taiwan still prove more difficult than anything they experienced. Often, the trackers went ahead to gather intelligence before returning to report what they had found.
A few trackers soon returned with interesting development. They were certain that they had found the savage settlement further ahead. The settlement was surrounded by walls which saw Gregorio alarmed. However, they reassured him that the walls weren't well maintained and had multiple breaches in them. There was an agreement that the walls were built by more civilized people in the past before they were abandoned altogether. The savages might have preferred living in the settlement which they no doubt took from those who once lived there.
The layout of the settlement remained a mystery since the area outside the walls had little cover. The trackers didn't want their presence detected so they remained far away to study what they could. They could hear the sounds and shouts within the walls and the footsteps definitely led to the area. They looked to Gregorio for instruction and the man asked them to find a quiet location nearby. He needed a place to serve as a temporary base where he could explore a few options before them. He didn't want to make a rash decision and regret it later.
Their temporary base was later determined to be a large cave. There was no sign of wild beasts using the cave which suited Gregorio just fine. They didn't need to fight any beasts when they needed all their men to crush the savages. There was a river nearby so they had time to soothe their thirst while Gregorio and his officers discussed the options they had. In the end, they decided to strike at night so the savages wouldn't see them until it was too late. They might be unfamiliar with the local terrain but the element of surprise could easily turn the tide in their favor.
Everyone ate their rationed food before they rested until it was dark out. The trackers led the way and the Nuova Italian soldiers were soon outside the walls. They quickly closed the distance between the bushes and the walls and the alarm wasn't set off. Either the savages didn't bother with lookouts or they were confident in their ability to fight any enemy. Of course, the savages might not even be aware of a counterattack. No doubt, they thought that they had a chance to regroup and launch another attack before the Nuova Italian men even understood what was happening.
As Gregorio was about to make the signal for his men to go through the breach, they heard footstep which saw them frozen in place. Soon, they heard quiet talking as the savages were leaving through the breach they planned on launching their attack through. The savages had torches to illuminate their path but their clothes were definitely those of wild beasts. They were so focused on their path before them that they failed to notice the Nuova Italian soldiers who were pressed against the wall ready to pounce at these backward humans.
Gregorio waited patiently for all the savages to walk through the breach and, miraculously, they didn't sense that they were being watched. When one lowered one's guard and didn't account for the unexpected, one could make critical mistakes. In this case, the Nuova Italian leader was going to take full advantage after he risked a peek through the breach. There were no more savages approaching the breach so this was their time to strike. His whistling was the signal his men waited for and it also got the attention of the savages who were confused by the sound.
The savages barely had time to register the Nuova Italian soldiers who cut them them almost instantly. Gregorio emphasized that they didn't need to bother capturing any of the savages since communications would be impossible. Their open hostilities without any provocation was the only indication they needed to justify them of their actions. These savages couldn't be tamed and they happened to stand between the Republic and her colonization of Taiwan. The death of the armed savages outside the settlement was only the beginning of the attack.
With the help of the bit of illumination from the Moon, Gregorio was able to identify the enemy casualties as young able bodies men carrying deadly looking, though backwards, weapons. Without basically no intelligence on who was inside the settlement, he could only assume this group was merely a scouting party sent to follow his men and possibly pick off the stragglers. Knowing that they could face overwhelming numbers, the Nuova Italian leader led the way as they entered through the breach. He wasn't about to let his men see the anxiety on his face.
When Gregorio is an old man, when he recalls these events, it'll go something like this: "Back in my day, we didn't have this native policy nonsense. If we wanted to deal with savages, we had to march five miles to their camp, uphill both ways."This must have been before the patch that introduced native policies.
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This must have been before the patch that introduced native policies.
What native policies?
When Gregorio is an old man, when he recalls these events, it'll go something like this: "Back in my day, we didn't have this native policy nonsense. If we wanted to deal with savages, we had to march five miles to their camp, uphill both ways."
Gregorio would frown upon how his descendants deal with primitives.
Chapter 495
The Nuova Italian soldiers all took a deep breath before they dashed towards the savage settlement where the unknown awaited them. The swift victory against the raiding party raised their morale but no one looked forward to the massacre of the women and children in the settlement. They understood that, for the safety of the colonists who were heading to Taiwan, they must clear the path of all resistance. The colonists had enough problems regarding food production and the local unexpected weather so the savages weren't something they should be dealing with.
When they were headed to Taiwan, Gregorio and his men were forced to remain in Yue territory for a few days as they waited out the typhoon which were very common at the time. They learned from their allies about the typhoon season which made traveling to the island a dangerous, if not suicidal, journey. They impatiently waited for the weather to clear up before they could proceed to landing on the island where they set their base and were attacked shortly after. Unlike the typhoons, the Nuova Italian soldiers could actually do something about the savages.
The savage settlement was very quiet with a few torches here and there. The locals clearly didn't expect their raiding party to return anytime soon so they went to bed. This would make the lives of the Nuova Italian soldiers easier as they could go into the individual compounds where they could painful kill the inhabitants inside. No one was proud of his accomplishments on Taiwan but these men fully understood what was expected of them. They were at least given the reassurance that the locals died in their sleep so they went with minimal pain. These might be savages but they were still humans, if just backwards compared to them.
Gregorio and his men waited until morning before they checked to see if they killed every last savage. Afterwards, they dug a large grave to bury all the corpses. This was the least they could do for this backwards savages who had given up on a chance to embrace the modern age. Gregorio then led his men back to their base where they continued setting up the new settlement for the arrival of the colonists. Some of them were expected to remain behind to protect the settlement from the wild beasts in the area. Gregorio later volunteered to stay behind.
The colonization of Taiwan went far smoother than anyone expected following the extermination of the savages. Southern Taiwan was the first to be populated before efforts were made to colonize the northern parts of the island. Without the savages barring their path, the colonists were able to expand their settlements at a steady rate with the occasional wild beast posing as a minor inconvenience. The island of Taiwan was eventually fully colonized and Gregorio was able to return back to Sumatra. He later admitted that he stayed behind to overcome the guilt of the attack.
On his way back home, Gregorio learned that Michelangelo earned another term in the Republic. The support he had saw him win in overwhelming fashion with none of his competitors come even close to challenging his position. Considering that Nuova Italia was on a steady path to success, no one wanted to change the status quo. Gregorio wasn't a man of politics so he cared little about who was elected as long as they had the Republic as their main priority. The moment the leader posed a threat to the Republic, Gregorio would take action to resolve that.
If the rumors were true, Michelangelo might be almost sixty which was quite a feat at the time. Most might wonder what kept the Doge going after all this time. During a discussion on the ship with the crew, Gregorio learned that most people wanted a younger leader to take over. They understood that Michelangelo had been bringing a lot of great positive changes to the Republic but they also wanted their nation to adapt to the changing time. The nations around them were certainly changing so they needed younger generations to lead the nation to a future. Many agreed the Doge should step down.
Gregorio neither agreed nor disagreed with them. He just said that he didn't want to be part of politics since he considered it far too complicated. He was content with his life on Taiwan where he married a beautiful woman who had sought out a new life on the island. The two of them were heading back to Sumatra where they planned on having a simple lifestyle. His wife was expected to have a child in a few months so Gregorio was eager to return to Sumatra. He wanted his mother to be present during the birth because she was experienced with these sort of things.
Once the crew were done talking about politics, they shared some interesting information with Gregorio. While Taiwan was being fully colonized, there were efforts to start a new colony in the Wake Island. When asked, no one in the crew knew where exactly the island was. All they could say was that the island was quite far and was in the east. No one knew the exact reason for the colonization of the island but they didn't question it. No one really questioned the Republic's decision unless it clearly went against the values and beliefs set by its founders.
From the rumors that spread about the Wake Island, the crew learned very little except the island offered very little in terms of resources. Even water was fairly scarce unless one took advantage of the rain. Otherwise, the colony offered no real opportunity to settlers. There were rumors that the island was supposed to be a port and nothing more. It would serve as a minor pit stop for the ships before they headed further east towards what might be undiscovered land. Since the expedition that discovered land which wasn't Europe, there were speculations as to what the discovery actually revealed.
These colonies were taking a toll on the Nuova Italian economy as Gregorio learned shortly after his arrival there was a noticeable deficit. Deficits weren't something new to the Nuova Italians but, given how the Republic was prospering over the decades, no one expected this to happen anytime soon. Clearly, no one expected the colonies to be so expensive in terms of both ducats, manpower and resources. Some said that a few advisers in the government might be worrying about their job as there might be scapegoats to be blamed for this deficit.
There were indeed changes of government officials to resolve the deficit but Gregorio couldn't care less. He and his wife were proud parents of a boy and girl so they were just a happy family. As for his services in Taiwan, Gregorio was rewarded generously with enough ducats to solve all of their expenses until they were old age. Life was great for them and they chose to be content and grateful for what they had. Gregorio did wonder from time to time how his brother was doing. He hadn't heard from him for a long time and there weren't exactly reliable rumors while they were far from home.
Chapter 496
The Nuova Italian government learned by pure coincidence about the westernization of Majapahit. The Hindu nation had remained relatively quiet in the region as an ally of the Republic but recent rumors suggested that the nation felt threatened by the growing strength of Nuova Italia. Why the Hindu nation feared the Republic was anyone's guess but the fact that westernization was taking hold of the nation was quite important considering such a development was a double-edged blade for the Republic. If the two nations became enemies, Majapahit would be a serious threat.
The westernization hadn't been a smooth process for the Hindu nation with the numerous uprisings of those opposing the change. The Majapahit government had cracked down on those in the uprisings and thousands, if not tens of thousands, lost their lives every month. Yet, the Hindu nation had been surprisingly effective at sealing her borders to prevent news of her westernization reaching any of her neighbors. Nuova Italia was merely aware of the fact when she had a few of her merchants who managed to sneak back into the Republic's territory to share what they knew about the situation.
Given the unstable situation in the nation, it was no surprise that the Majapahit government chose to remain silent about its change to western ways. An enemy could potentially take advantage of the situation to attack her while she was the most vulnerable. After all, the internal uprisings were also taking a significant strain on the soldiers and treasury of the nation. In addition, the Majapahit government seemed uncertain how the Republic would respond to their change. This wasn't exactly what the Nuova Italian government wanted but they couldn't do anything to prevent it anymore.
On the surface, the two nations did appear as allies willing to aid one another in times of need. However, the relationship had deteriorated over the years as fewer nations threatened either nation in the area. Majapahit no long felt endangered so the alliance was a lot less valuable for her. Westernization often had unpredictable results and this sudden change in attitude could be a result of it. The Nuova Italian government could only wait patiently as it observed its quiet neighbor for any signs of possible betrayal after the decades of friendship they enjoyed.
Meanwhile, the Nuova Italian merchants were adjusting to a change in price of one of their goods. A new method had arrived from the west in a place called India regarding fabric making which had a greater impact than most anticipated at first. In the past, the wool industry had been booming due to the large demand to make fabric for clothing. This saw certain regions in Asia benefiting while other parts were suffering as a result. Some parts of India looked to change this by changing the process of the fabric making itself. Their efforts had finally paid off.
More efficient methods were developed which, combined by the large number of people involved in the process, saw noticeably less wool used as a result. This sudden drop in demand resulted in a serious hit to areas that were reliant on wool exports for its local economy. Certain parts of the Republic were in a similar situation but the local merchants worked quickly to minimize the overall impact. They understood the importance of keeping the local economy strong in their trades so new negotiations were made regarding the price of wool exports to ensure continued trades.
As a result, the dropped prices of wool had almost no impact on the Republic which saw her economy continue growing strong monthly. In addition, the explorer Sinibaldo had also made some significant discoveries when he and his men returned from the southern coast of Africa. What they learned confirmed some of the theories the Republic had regarding how to reach Europe and also supported the idea of a completely different landmass to the east of them. These two confirmations would dictate the future policies the nation would take in the upcoming century.
The exploration fleet wasn't able to go past the southern tip of Africa but there were also trade posts established by Iberian nations. It was through these trade posts where they learned more about the colonization of Africa itself. The nations of Castille and Portugal had been competing over the islands off the coast of Western Africa. The mainland Africa had proven to be too harsh to colonize due to both the local climates and the hostilities of the local tribes. The islands proved valuable as they served as ports for ships to extend the ranges of the ship so they could eventually reach Asia.
The Nuova Italian government learned by pure coincidence about the westernization of Majapahit. The Hindu nation had remained relatively quiet in the region as an ally of the Republic but recent rumors suggested that the nation felt threatened by the growing strength of Nuova Italia. Why the Hindu nation feared the Republic was anyone's guess but the fact that westernization was taking hold of the nation was quite important considering such a development was a double-edged blade for the Republic. If the two nations became enemies, Majapahit would be a serious threat.
The westernization hadn't been a smooth process for the Hindu nation with the numerous uprisings of those opposing the change. The Majapahit government had cracked down on those in the uprisings and thousands, if not tens of thousands, lost their lives every month. Yet, the Hindu nation had been surprisingly effective at sealing her borders to prevent news of her westernization reaching any of her neighbors. Nuova Italia was merely aware of the fact when she had a few of her merchants who managed to sneak back into the Republic's territory to share what they knew about the situation.
Given the unstable situation in the nation, it was no surprise that the Majapahit government chose to remain silent about its change to western ways. An enemy could potentially take advantage of the situation to attack her while she was the most vulnerable. After all, the internal uprisings were also taking a significant strain on the soldiers and treasury of the nation. In addition, the Majapahit government seemed uncertain how the Republic would respond to their change. This wasn't exactly what the Nuova Italian government wanted but they couldn't do anything to prevent it anymore.
On the surface, the two nations did appear as allies willing to aid one another in times of need. However, the relationship had deteriorated over the years as fewer nations threatened either nation in the area. Majapahit no long felt endangered so the alliance was a lot less valuable for her. Westernization often had unpredictable results and this sudden change in attitude could be a result of it. The Nuova Italian government could only wait patiently as it observed its quiet neighbor for any signs of possible betrayal after the decades of friendship they enjoyed.
Meanwhile, the Nuova Italian merchants were adjusting to a change in price of one of their goods. A new method had arrived from the west in a place called India regarding fabric making which had a greater impact than most anticipated at first. In the past, the wool industry had been booming due to the large demand to make fabric for clothing. This saw certain regions in Asia benefiting while other parts were suffering as a result. Some parts of India looked to change this by changing the process of the fabric making itself. Their efforts had finally paid off.
More efficient methods were developed which, combined by the large number of people involved in the process, saw noticeably less wool used as a result. This sudden drop in demand resulted in a serious hit to areas that were reliant on wool exports for its local economy. Certain parts of the Republic were in a similar situation but the local merchants worked quickly to minimize the overall impact. They understood the importance of keeping the local economy strong in their trades so new negotiations were made regarding the price of wool exports to ensure continued trades.
As a result, the dropped prices of wool had almost no impact on the Republic which saw her economy continue growing strong monthly. In addition, the explorer Sinibaldo had also made some significant discoveries when he and his men returned from the southern coast of Africa. What they learned confirmed some of the theories the Republic had regarding how to reach Europe and also supported the idea of a completely different landmass to the east of them. These two confirmations would dictate the future policies the nation would take in the upcoming century.
The exploration fleet wasn't able to go past the southern tip of Africa but there were also trade posts established by Iberian nations. It was through these trade posts where they learned more about the colonization of Africa itself. The nations of Castille and Portugal had been competing over the islands off the coast of Western Africa. The mainland Africa had proven to be too harsh to colonize due to both the local climates and the hostilities of the local tribes. The islands proved valuable as they served as ports for ships to extend the ranges of the ship so they could eventually reach Asia.