-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Ye Gads! How many rebellions pop up in newly-conquered China every month? Sure, everybody knows that "British rule is Best(tm)", but those disgruntled capitalists and their comrades-in-crime, however small a proportion of the population they might be, must still make for an awesome fighting force in all of China.
As to your next target, I would recommend some aesthetic rounding of the British Imperial Borders. Tibet, Nepal and that other buffer state next to it break up the nice smooth pink hue of the royal maps...
As to your next target, I would recommend some aesthetic rounding of the British Imperial Borders. Tibet, Nepal and that other buffer state next to it break up the nice smooth pink hue of the royal maps...
Congrats on the victory. Quite a war you had there and those partisans are a pain, to be sure.
I agree that now would be a good time to round out your control of south east asia, Siam and Burma, because all your armies are in the area putting down rebellions anyway.
I would also point out (though I expect you are already aware) that the current North West frontier of India looks a little close to Delhi and that the Punjab is a very productive region.
Spencer.
I would also point out (though I expect you are already aware) that the current North West frontier of India looks a little close to Delhi and that the Punjab is a very productive region.
Spencer.
Some attempt you have going here. The Russian bear would be another nice trophy to hang on the wall near to the fire and the whisky bottle or? 
Hello all, sorry to keep you waiting. I've been busy and when I haven't been busy the Paradox server has been busy! Anyway, I'll try and update more frequently than once a week.
Also, after this chapter there will be something of a change in style, largely because I'll be in constant war from here on. Where possiible I will use real life incidents to enliven the narrative, although less attention will be paid to time. Thus, Sikh war will take place in the 1870s, for instance.
In time. The Russians aren't really a threat at the moment. There are other more dangerous adversaries.
Well, a large number of troops have to stick around to quell rebellions anyway. But yes, Asia in general is the next target.
Indeed. Shortly after the war I upgraded to 1.03. This lowered the partisan frequency considerably, although they began to actually be able to take provinces. I'm gald you liked the description of the war.
Sadly the small minority of disgruntled Capitalists does make for a large number of rebllions. Maybe 4 a week or so. A lot anyway. There were a lot less after I pulled crime funding up to 100%. Partisans were a reall pain though. Absolutely hideous.
All right! The next peoples to be liberated by thr British Bengali armies will be Korea and Tibet, OK? Now you know!
That's the spirit old boy! We certainly showed those Manchu chappies a thing or two, didn't we, what! At long last the Chinese are free to enjoy British rule. Toodle PIP! Last one to Peking's a rotten Egg!
Er, yes, we won.
Er yes, Some capitalist journalists, the dregs of humanity, suggested that Bwa ha ha ha was exactly what Queen Victoria said after news of the victory reached her. Anyway, The edited screenies are the best you can get with MS paint!
I might do just that. Thanks for reading Seidita.
All in good time Pax. All in good time.
Also, after this chapter there will be something of a change in style, largely because I'll be in constant war from here on. Where possiible I will use real life incidents to enliven the narrative, although less attention will be paid to time. Thus, Sikh war will take place in the 1870s, for instance.
Judge said:
In time. The Russians aren't really a threat at the moment. There are other more dangerous adversaries.
Spencer said:
Well, a large number of troops have to stick around to quell rebellions anyway. But yes, Asia in general is the next target.
coz1 said:
Indeed. Shortly after the war I upgraded to 1.03. This lowered the partisan frequency considerably, although they began to actually be able to take provinces. I'm gald you liked the description of the war.
Stuyvesant said:
Sadly the small minority of disgruntled Capitalists does make for a large number of rebllions. Maybe 4 a week or so. A lot anyway. There were a lot less after I pulled crime funding up to 100%. Partisans were a reall pain though. Absolutely hideous.
All right! The next peoples to be liberated by thr British Bengali armies will be Korea and Tibet, OK? Now you know!
Sir Humphrey said:
That's the spirit old boy! We certainly showed those Manchu chappies a thing or two, didn't we, what! At long last the Chinese are free to enjoy British rule. Toodle PIP! Last one to Peking's a rotten Egg!
Er, yes, we won.
Crimson King said:
Er yes, Some capitalist journalists, the dregs of humanity, suggested that Bwa ha ha ha was exactly what Queen Victoria said after news of the victory reached her. Anyway, The edited screenies are the best you can get with MS paint!
Seidita said:
I might do just that. Thanks for reading Seidita.
Pax Britannia said:
All in good time Pax. All in good time.
The news of the conquest was greeted with large celebrations in London. Many people had been worried about the outcome, almost believing defeat to be inevitable. Victoria however, was convinced of the outcome from the first day.
We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist.
Queen Victoria.
Consequences of the conquest of the Middle Kingdom by the United Kingdom
On December 22nd 1871, China officially came under the administration of the United Kingdom, and became an integral British possession as much as the Philippines or Canada. The consequences of a democratic government gaining control of over 400 million Chinese cannot be exaggerated.
Diplomatic Consequences
Prior to the conquest of China, Britain had followed a conservative approach to foreign policy. Apart from minor colonial skirmishes with other European powers over small colonies, small wars in Asia against uncivilized savages and wars fought alongside other European and American powers against tyranny, Britain had generally remained aloof from conflict. Expenditure on the navy was low, as was that of the army, as peoples of Anglo-Saxon descent traditionally viewed large standing armies with disdain.
However, the expense involved with the highly idealistic liberation of China, and the vast area involved, made European great powers anxious as to British intensions. The Foreign Office found it very difficult to conduct any sort of diplomacy with other powers. Indeed, the last negotiation conducted by the Foreign Office took place in October 1871, concerning compensation for British merchants in Africa over harassment by Ottoman soldiers.
The last diplomatic deal
Domestic opinion in foreign nations often turned decisively against Britain, manipulated by undemocratic capitalist and socialist forces, who by demonizing the UK hoped to gain more power for themselves. The cartoonists of various state controlled newspapers were particularly venomous in attacking British motives.
A typical cartoon from Germany, depicting John Bull as a giant malevolent Octopus bent on world domination.
These cartoons can be seen however, as simply a deep rooted denial of the by undemocratic forces to the liberating mission of Great Britain. Nevertheless, the isolation of Great Britain from other nations had important consequences. Britain would henceforth act on it’s own, continuing its great mission to liberate the peoples of the world from tyranny by solely their own devices- prior to 1871 Great Britain had favoured multilateral action. After 1871, Britain stood alone as the bulwark against tyranny. This did have some negative effects however, as by essentially breaking relations with other nations, it inadvertently strengthened undemocratic and capitalist forces in those nations.
Perhaps the greatest change was felt by the bowler hatted clerks and secretaries of the Foreign Office. Now, rather than writing detailed and complex treaties negotiating colonial borders and forging strong alliances with stubborn allies, their only duties consisted of the mundane issuing of declarations of war and concluding peace treaties placing new areas under the control of Her Majesty’s Government.
Social Reform
Change is inevitable. Change is constant.
Benjamin Disraeli
One day before the completion of the conquest, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, passed a bill in the House of Commons for the most ambitious program of social reform seen anywhere in the world. Legislation was enacted primarily to compensate the appalling conditions found in China, but legislation applied to all parts of the Empire. Disraeli’s program was in many ways similar to Bismarck’s program of social reforms, and incurred large debt in the short term. It was also a sharp distinction from previous conservative policy, although it was generally applauded by the agricultural and industrial worker elite which controlled the Conservative Party.
Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits, or “The Dole” as it was often known, was a generous system of payments intended to tide over the unemployed until the expanding economy provided work. Unemployment was previously unknown in the empire, apart from areas such as India where large numbers of liberal minded clerks lived by begging. However, over half of the Chinese population were without work, and it would be some time before sufficient jobs could be found by developing agriculture and industry. These benefits were a significant humanitarian gesture, preventing a widespread catastrophe in the wake of liberation.
Health Care
Imperial Health care systems, although existing, had generally been poorly funded and unable to properly deal with the large numbers of sick and wounded generated by the war and the profound ignorance of basic hygiene amongst capitalists and aristocrats. Disraeli’s program, allowing funding of the construction of new hospitals for civilian and military use, expansion of the training of physicians at Universities, education programs for children encouraging greater hygiene and funding for general public health projects such as the construction of improve sewage systems throughout the Empire. This program was an immediate success, and encouraged a population boom in the years following 1871.
Pensions
The unfortunately large numbers of dead and wounded from the war made it necessary to include pensions for military personnel and their families in this legislation. Pensions were later expanded into the civilian area by industrial leaders. Britain’s Pension system was later regarded as the best in the world.
Minimum Wage
Owing to the immense incompetence, sloth and dishonesty showed by Capitalists, it was agreed that the new minimum wage would truly be a minimum wage in order to encourage Capitalists into more acceptable occupations.
Work Hours
Work hours were of course untouched, as to limit work hours was to encourage sloth, indolence and Capitalism. Indeed, all MPs present were indignant at the thought of Capitalists working as little as 14 hours per day. Legislation regarding limiting the work day was widely (and probably correctly) regarded as the tools of Satan.
Safety Regulations
Parliament passed regulations allowing for some improvement to workplace safety, but generally this legislation was quite limited in scope, and did little to improve workplace standards.
Police
Enacted through separate legislation almost a year following the conquest of China, the Police Powers Act ushered in new funding and new powers for Police throughout the Empire. This had occurred primarily due to recommendations of a Swedish traveller to China and man of letters, Johan Von Paradox who commented that raising police funding was a good way of preventing rebellion.
China had an apparently enormous number of rebellions. A few reactionary Chinese seemed strangely loyal to the Qing dynasty. It would be nearly ten years before Victoria could truly be said to hold the mandate of heaven. In the meantime, the establishment of a powerful constabulary eased the burden placed upon regular military forces, and even did something about the more or less omnipresent capitalist and aristocratic crime gangs which terrorized Imperial citizens.
Economic Ramifications
The costs of the war, and of Disraeli’s social reform package were enormous. In early 1872, debt was already over 4 million pounds- it would be over a decade before being fully paid off. Massive investment was also required by both government and industry to modernize China’s shockingly badly developed transport and agricultural centers. Some railways were built in the following years, although only to a very rudimentary level in the heavily populated eastern coast. Railways continued to be built in Britain and Canada and other industrialized areas, but initially expanding agriculture and other resource gathering operations was the prime factor towards economic growth in China. It would be over 11 years before heavily populated areas such as Suzhou were fully modernized however.
The conquest also had other important economic factors- tens of thousands of Chinese emigrated to other parts of the Empire, crowding into factories in the Philippines and the Americas. Many Japanese also emigrated, wishing to take part in Britain’s industrial miracle. Some areas of Canada and Oregon were transformed by this immigration.
Japanese Migrants flood into Halifax
It remained however, to the treasury to cope with the enormous costs and debt following the liberation of China. Fortunately, the massive increase in taxpayers generated by the liberation of China made vast new sources of funds available to service the debt and modernise China. Another significant factor alleviating difficulties faced by Treasury accountants was the adoption of the Gold Standard for exchange rates. Gold was a perfect commodity to base exchange rates on, owing to its abundance and value, which for many years had remained perfectly steady at half a pound per ton. It is estimated that the adoption of the Gold standard increased industrial productivity and the efficiency of taxation by such an amount that the amount of taxable income was raised by 12%.
Nevertheless, there was still an urgent need for funds to service the debt. Although taxes remained low for several years following 1871, it was inevitable that taxes would be raised to new levels, and indeed it is estimated that by the middle of the 1870s the treasury was skimming by various means almost half of the income of taxpayers. And this was still not enough income for the treasury- but then again, there was never enough.
Military Consequences
British troops gained enormous experience from fighting against Qing troops and partisans. New techniques and innovations were adopted, although curiously British army technology would henceforth remain almost fixed until 1880. Instead, military research in this period was directed towards the navy, which was for the first time in 30 years granted funds to expand. The creaking frigates and Men o’ War were replaced by new Iron Plated ships.
Despite the valour, daring, pluck and courage shown by British forces in China, there were obviously important military lessons that had been learnt from the war. The amount of cavalry present, only 7 corps, was insufficient to for subduing so large an area. It was obvious that in the case that equally large enemies needed to be occupied that more cavalry forces would be required. At the same time, cavalry had been shown to take heavy casualties, whilst the regular infantry took relatively few.
Initially, a large force was required to deal with rebellions- 5 of the 7 cavalry corps were required to remain behind to defeat rebellions by reactionary capitalist nationalist forces. These forces represented only a fraction of the Chinese population, but were a serious problem owing to the enormous size of China’s population. As economic conditions and improved policing took effect, the number of rebels subsided to more manageable levels.
After the conquest, tens of thousands of Northern Chinese volunteered for service in the British army, grateful for liberation from Manchu tyranny. Over time, manpower from Northern China would match and surpass the use of Bengali manpower. Taking the lessons of the campaign to heart, British planners instituted some far reaching reforms as to the composition of the British army.
Henceforth, rather than being trained as regulars, new native divisions would be accompanied by a brigade of Elite guards units. Infantry corps would be expanded, and be composed of 7 divisions rather than 5; 6 guards divisions and 1 unit of engineers, to provide additional rapid construction of field fortifications. Cavalry corps remained more or less unchanged, although their number was increase to 6 divisions of hussars rather than 5. The use of artillery was increased- rather than the old horse drawn dragoon artillery which had taken enormous casualties, artillery brigades were attached to infantry divisions and placed in corps of 6 divisions. These corps possessed enormous firepower, and were generally reserved for the toughest and most difficult enemies. Some new divisions of Dragoon Guards were also produced, probably owing to boredom of junior secretaries at the war office. It would however, be many years before these far reaching changes could be fully brought into practice, and in the years following, Bengali troops would continue to be the backbone of Imperial forces, such as in the Korean crisis and the Tibet incident.
Freedon-The Greatest Consequence
Of all the changes, the largest obviously occurred to the Chinese people. Oppressed by the Manchu for hundreds of years, now they were finally free, and protected by British law. Crime was very slowly beaten back over the following years by the new Police force.
The Manchu Emperors had ruled autocratically from within the forbidden city, totally cut off from the population. Victoria was very keen that her new Chinese subjects knew the benevolent power who was watching over them, and ordered that enormous placards were placed in all major cities. And every Chinese knew whom to thank for the enormous improvement in their lives.
Victoria’s benevolent picture gazes out over Tianenmen Square
We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist.
Queen Victoria.
Consequences of the conquest of the Middle Kingdom by the United Kingdom
On December 22nd 1871, China officially came under the administration of the United Kingdom, and became an integral British possession as much as the Philippines or Canada. The consequences of a democratic government gaining control of over 400 million Chinese cannot be exaggerated.
Diplomatic Consequences
Prior to the conquest of China, Britain had followed a conservative approach to foreign policy. Apart from minor colonial skirmishes with other European powers over small colonies, small wars in Asia against uncivilized savages and wars fought alongside other European and American powers against tyranny, Britain had generally remained aloof from conflict. Expenditure on the navy was low, as was that of the army, as peoples of Anglo-Saxon descent traditionally viewed large standing armies with disdain.
However, the expense involved with the highly idealistic liberation of China, and the vast area involved, made European great powers anxious as to British intensions. The Foreign Office found it very difficult to conduct any sort of diplomacy with other powers. Indeed, the last negotiation conducted by the Foreign Office took place in October 1871, concerning compensation for British merchants in Africa over harassment by Ottoman soldiers.
The last diplomatic deal
Domestic opinion in foreign nations often turned decisively against Britain, manipulated by undemocratic capitalist and socialist forces, who by demonizing the UK hoped to gain more power for themselves. The cartoonists of various state controlled newspapers were particularly venomous in attacking British motives.
A typical cartoon from Germany, depicting John Bull as a giant malevolent Octopus bent on world domination.
These cartoons can be seen however, as simply a deep rooted denial of the by undemocratic forces to the liberating mission of Great Britain. Nevertheless, the isolation of Great Britain from other nations had important consequences. Britain would henceforth act on it’s own, continuing its great mission to liberate the peoples of the world from tyranny by solely their own devices- prior to 1871 Great Britain had favoured multilateral action. After 1871, Britain stood alone as the bulwark against tyranny. This did have some negative effects however, as by essentially breaking relations with other nations, it inadvertently strengthened undemocratic and capitalist forces in those nations.
Perhaps the greatest change was felt by the bowler hatted clerks and secretaries of the Foreign Office. Now, rather than writing detailed and complex treaties negotiating colonial borders and forging strong alliances with stubborn allies, their only duties consisted of the mundane issuing of declarations of war and concluding peace treaties placing new areas under the control of Her Majesty’s Government.
Social Reform
Change is inevitable. Change is constant.
Benjamin Disraeli
One day before the completion of the conquest, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, passed a bill in the House of Commons for the most ambitious program of social reform seen anywhere in the world. Legislation was enacted primarily to compensate the appalling conditions found in China, but legislation applied to all parts of the Empire. Disraeli’s program was in many ways similar to Bismarck’s program of social reforms, and incurred large debt in the short term. It was also a sharp distinction from previous conservative policy, although it was generally applauded by the agricultural and industrial worker elite which controlled the Conservative Party.
Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits, or “The Dole” as it was often known, was a generous system of payments intended to tide over the unemployed until the expanding economy provided work. Unemployment was previously unknown in the empire, apart from areas such as India where large numbers of liberal minded clerks lived by begging. However, over half of the Chinese population were without work, and it would be some time before sufficient jobs could be found by developing agriculture and industry. These benefits were a significant humanitarian gesture, preventing a widespread catastrophe in the wake of liberation.
Health Care
Imperial Health care systems, although existing, had generally been poorly funded and unable to properly deal with the large numbers of sick and wounded generated by the war and the profound ignorance of basic hygiene amongst capitalists and aristocrats. Disraeli’s program, allowing funding of the construction of new hospitals for civilian and military use, expansion of the training of physicians at Universities, education programs for children encouraging greater hygiene and funding for general public health projects such as the construction of improve sewage systems throughout the Empire. This program was an immediate success, and encouraged a population boom in the years following 1871.
Pensions
The unfortunately large numbers of dead and wounded from the war made it necessary to include pensions for military personnel and their families in this legislation. Pensions were later expanded into the civilian area by industrial leaders. Britain’s Pension system was later regarded as the best in the world.
Minimum Wage
Owing to the immense incompetence, sloth and dishonesty showed by Capitalists, it was agreed that the new minimum wage would truly be a minimum wage in order to encourage Capitalists into more acceptable occupations.
Work Hours
Work hours were of course untouched, as to limit work hours was to encourage sloth, indolence and Capitalism. Indeed, all MPs present were indignant at the thought of Capitalists working as little as 14 hours per day. Legislation regarding limiting the work day was widely (and probably correctly) regarded as the tools of Satan.
Safety Regulations
Parliament passed regulations allowing for some improvement to workplace safety, but generally this legislation was quite limited in scope, and did little to improve workplace standards.
Police
Enacted through separate legislation almost a year following the conquest of China, the Police Powers Act ushered in new funding and new powers for Police throughout the Empire. This had occurred primarily due to recommendations of a Swedish traveller to China and man of letters, Johan Von Paradox who commented that raising police funding was a good way of preventing rebellion.
China had an apparently enormous number of rebellions. A few reactionary Chinese seemed strangely loyal to the Qing dynasty. It would be nearly ten years before Victoria could truly be said to hold the mandate of heaven. In the meantime, the establishment of a powerful constabulary eased the burden placed upon regular military forces, and even did something about the more or less omnipresent capitalist and aristocratic crime gangs which terrorized Imperial citizens.
Economic Ramifications
The costs of the war, and of Disraeli’s social reform package were enormous. In early 1872, debt was already over 4 million pounds- it would be over a decade before being fully paid off. Massive investment was also required by both government and industry to modernize China’s shockingly badly developed transport and agricultural centers. Some railways were built in the following years, although only to a very rudimentary level in the heavily populated eastern coast. Railways continued to be built in Britain and Canada and other industrialized areas, but initially expanding agriculture and other resource gathering operations was the prime factor towards economic growth in China. It would be over 11 years before heavily populated areas such as Suzhou were fully modernized however.
The conquest also had other important economic factors- tens of thousands of Chinese emigrated to other parts of the Empire, crowding into factories in the Philippines and the Americas. Many Japanese also emigrated, wishing to take part in Britain’s industrial miracle. Some areas of Canada and Oregon were transformed by this immigration.
Japanese Migrants flood into Halifax
It remained however, to the treasury to cope with the enormous costs and debt following the liberation of China. Fortunately, the massive increase in taxpayers generated by the liberation of China made vast new sources of funds available to service the debt and modernise China. Another significant factor alleviating difficulties faced by Treasury accountants was the adoption of the Gold Standard for exchange rates. Gold was a perfect commodity to base exchange rates on, owing to its abundance and value, which for many years had remained perfectly steady at half a pound per ton. It is estimated that the adoption of the Gold standard increased industrial productivity and the efficiency of taxation by such an amount that the amount of taxable income was raised by 12%.
Nevertheless, there was still an urgent need for funds to service the debt. Although taxes remained low for several years following 1871, it was inevitable that taxes would be raised to new levels, and indeed it is estimated that by the middle of the 1870s the treasury was skimming by various means almost half of the income of taxpayers. And this was still not enough income for the treasury- but then again, there was never enough.
Military Consequences
British troops gained enormous experience from fighting against Qing troops and partisans. New techniques and innovations were adopted, although curiously British army technology would henceforth remain almost fixed until 1880. Instead, military research in this period was directed towards the navy, which was for the first time in 30 years granted funds to expand. The creaking frigates and Men o’ War were replaced by new Iron Plated ships.
Despite the valour, daring, pluck and courage shown by British forces in China, there were obviously important military lessons that had been learnt from the war. The amount of cavalry present, only 7 corps, was insufficient to for subduing so large an area. It was obvious that in the case that equally large enemies needed to be occupied that more cavalry forces would be required. At the same time, cavalry had been shown to take heavy casualties, whilst the regular infantry took relatively few.
Initially, a large force was required to deal with rebellions- 5 of the 7 cavalry corps were required to remain behind to defeat rebellions by reactionary capitalist nationalist forces. These forces represented only a fraction of the Chinese population, but were a serious problem owing to the enormous size of China’s population. As economic conditions and improved policing took effect, the number of rebels subsided to more manageable levels.
After the conquest, tens of thousands of Northern Chinese volunteered for service in the British army, grateful for liberation from Manchu tyranny. Over time, manpower from Northern China would match and surpass the use of Bengali manpower. Taking the lessons of the campaign to heart, British planners instituted some far reaching reforms as to the composition of the British army.
Henceforth, rather than being trained as regulars, new native divisions would be accompanied by a brigade of Elite guards units. Infantry corps would be expanded, and be composed of 7 divisions rather than 5; 6 guards divisions and 1 unit of engineers, to provide additional rapid construction of field fortifications. Cavalry corps remained more or less unchanged, although their number was increase to 6 divisions of hussars rather than 5. The use of artillery was increased- rather than the old horse drawn dragoon artillery which had taken enormous casualties, artillery brigades were attached to infantry divisions and placed in corps of 6 divisions. These corps possessed enormous firepower, and were generally reserved for the toughest and most difficult enemies. Some new divisions of Dragoon Guards were also produced, probably owing to boredom of junior secretaries at the war office. It would however, be many years before these far reaching changes could be fully brought into practice, and in the years following, Bengali troops would continue to be the backbone of Imperial forces, such as in the Korean crisis and the Tibet incident.
Freedon-The Greatest Consequence
Of all the changes, the largest obviously occurred to the Chinese people. Oppressed by the Manchu for hundreds of years, now they were finally free, and protected by British law. Crime was very slowly beaten back over the following years by the new Police force.
The Manchu Emperors had ruled autocratically from within the forbidden city, totally cut off from the population. Victoria was very keen that her new Chinese subjects knew the benevolent power who was watching over them, and ordered that enormous placards were placed in all major cities. And every Chinese knew whom to thank for the enormous improvement in their lives.
Victoria’s benevolent picture gazes out over Tianenmen Square
Last edited:
Astonishing... I'm amazed you were able to institute social reforms after you added so many millions of poor Chinese to your Empire. Very impressive. And if your Empire is capable of such things, fighting the rest of the world should be a walk in the park. It's hard to believe that any other power could be anything more than a very low speed bump on the way to World Conquest.
Oh yeah, that picture of Victoria gazing down on her loyal Chinese subjects is a nice touch.
Oh yeah, that picture of Victoria gazing down on her loyal Chinese subjects is a nice touch.
Stuyvesant said:Astonishing... I'm amazed you were able to institute social reforms after you added so many millions of poor Chinese to your Empire. Very impressive. And if your Empire is capable of such things, fighting the rest of the world should be a walk in the park. It's hard to believe that any other power could be anything more than a very low speed bump on the way to World Conquest.
Oh yeah, that picture of Victoria gazing down on her loyal Chinese subjects is a nice touch.
No, I instituted the social reforms 1 day before I hit the annex button. Much cheaper.
And yes, Victoria cares deeply about her new subjects. She wishes to make herself known to all of them.
Sir Humphrey said:
Thanks sir Humphrey! Next update tomorrow!
On another note, the beta is now available, which fixes amongst other things the pop income for the rich. Should I update and risk a Capitalist revolution, or continue until the end under the stalwart tutelage of my conservative farmers and workers?
I'd stick with 1.03 vanilla if I were you. While the correction of the POP income bug would result in more income for your rich POPs, the effects on the macroeconomics of the game could wreak havoc on your economy.
Crimson King said:
Ok Crimson King, I'll stick with 1.03 for now.
Sorry for the lateness of the update. I've been busy, and It's hard to make total war and rampant annexations interesting, but here goes.
Imperialism: The White Man’s Burden
Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
Take up the White Man's burden--
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.
Take up the White Man's burden--
The savage wars of peace--
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hopes to nought.
Take up the White Man's burden--
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper--
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go mark them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.
Take up the White Man's burden--
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"
Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.
Take up the White Man's burden--
Have done with childish days--
The lightly proferred laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
Rudyard Kipling, 1899
The acquisition of such a large and populous area as China posed large problems to the Colonial Office. Two problems in particular were important- the suppression of the reactionary element amongst the population, and the defense of China from external aggression. External threats were many however, and systematic campaigning was required to ensure China’s continued freedom. The commanders of the British army, Wolseley and Gordon knew that there was only one sure way to ensure an end to aggression of foreign countries- buy showing their peoples the benefits of democracy. In the years following 1872, a large number of wars were fought to further the cause of democracy and freedom.
Korea – April 1st –August 21st 1872
Gordon was increasingly worried by news from the northern Korean border region. Intelligence reports suggested that a large number of Manchus had escaped British Justice by fleeing to Korea, and were training a vast army to retake China. In this they were emphatically supported by the Yangban, Korea’s Confucianist scholar/land owner aristocratic elite. During preceding centuries, the Yangban had slowly increased their aristocratic control over the countryside, and established near-slavery over the Korean peasants, who despite their industry and stamina lived at near starvation levels due to the Yangban’s harsh taxes.
Initially, Gordon found it very difficult to convince the war office that the liberation of Korea was the next logical step. The British public had seen several hundred thousand casualties in the liberation of China, and it was some months before they forgot about them. However, on April 1st Gordon’s hand was forced when the Koreans launched a sneak attack,* and Gordon gave the order to liberate Korea.
*(Some capitalist historians have suggested, without any convincing evidence, that there was no provocation on the border, and that Gordon simply acted as a law unto himself. Naturally, these “historians” are no more than liars, cheats, scoundrels, knaves, blackguards, bounders and cads.)
Fortunately, owing to Gordon’s foresight, several hundred thousand men were stationed just off the Korean coast, and it wasn’t long before British troops were able to occupy many key areas.
The dastardly Koreans launch a sneak attack
The landing at Inchon is generally regarded as the key moment of the campaign, decisively splitting the Korean forces in two.
Gordon lands at Inchon
Resistance was slight, owing to the reluctance of the Korean peasantry to support their oppressive government. However, in June, a large force of approximately 100,000 men under General Mok was engaged by British forces in Hamhung.
The decisive battle at Hamhung
British victory, due once again to the spirit and training of the Bengali troops was assured, although the Yangban and the Chinese reactionaries fought on. By August 21st however, they admitted defeat and Korea became the next Crown Colony of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Tibet: September 17th – November 10th 1872
Korea was however, only one of the places where Chinese reactionaries were hiding. On China’s eastern border lay Tibet, a Bhuddist theocratic dictatorship, ruled absolutely by the Dalai Lama. Tibet possessed an enormous clergy, over 20% of the adult male population, living off the rest of the nation. This tyranny deeply offended the British public. Numerous committees were formed calling for intervention, such as the “Free Tibet” campign.
The campaign to Free Tibet begins
The invasion of Tibet was hindered not so much by the resistance of the fanatic Tibetan monks, but by the harsh terrain of the Himalayas.
Bengali forces invaded Assam, marched north past Bhutan into Tibet at Yatung, and then to Gyantse, a Tibetan fortress which rested at an altitude 2.5 miles. Wolseley stayed two weeks in Gyantse, attempting to negotiate democratic elections, and then attacked and defeated the Tibetans. However, the Tibetans fled though an ingenious system of tunnels built by slaves, and retreated to their capital at Lhasa. They left behind more than 300 Tibetans dead and wounded, while the British casualties totaled just four killed and 30 wounded. An additional 700 Tibetans also perished, cut down by machine guns, 50 miles from Gyantse.
After Gyantse was taken, Wolseley force marched his troops across the Himalayas to over 130 miles north to Lhasa, and there succeeded in routing the remaining Tibetan monks, most of whom were armed with matchlock rifles and wore lucky charms which they believed would shield them from bullets. The Battle of Lhasa lasted a day and a night, and on daybreak of November 10th, the Dalai Lama surrendered.
Annam and Cambodia: November 25th 1872- January 18th, 1873
Annam and their vassals the Kmers had begun to persecute the Christians again. This could not be tolerated, and thus Annam and Cambodia’s rulers were deposed in quick succession.
Burma: February 1st – March 21st 1873
The new King of Burma, Midon Min, seized a British ship belonging to one captain Lambert, a merchant in rare woods such as teak early in 1873. The Burmese king enslaved Lambert and his crew, forcing them to perform unspeakable acts such as singing La Marseillaise. Fortunately, one of Lambert’s crew was able to escape by pretending to dead, and escaped to India. Midon Min had also shown great interest in obtaining British held territory in Arakan. It was obvious that Burma posed a serious threat to all the free peoples of the world, and thus powerful forces were sent to subdue Midon Min and free Burma.
The Invasion of Burma
Luang Prabang: April 13th – May 14th 1873
Luang Prabang was a remote and fierce moutnain tribe living in the mountains west of Annam. In Mid 1873, the Capitalist Guerillas based in Luang Prabang began kidnapping Vietnamese to work in their vast underground diamond mines. Victoria was incensed by this activity, and ordered Wolseley to free them. By May 14th Luang Prabang was incorporated into the crown colony of Indo-China, and an election later that year confirmed British sovereignty over the area. Capitalist guerilla activity in the area dropped considerably.
The Invasion of the unpronounceable Luang Prabang
Siam: May 29th – October 30th 1873
The lecherous King Mongut prepares to molest Anna
A British nanny, Anna Leonowens, had been lured to Siam by the King supposedly to care for his children and give them a proper British education- sadly however, she was soon reduced to the status of a sex slave by the vile king. In her biography, the King and I, she wrote of the unspeakable acts perpetrated by King Monkut- unspeakable acts, which cannot be repeated here. When published, this caused an uproar. Prime Minister Disraeli, always keen to follow public opinion, declared war on May 29th.
Siam must be destroyed!
However, the Siamese displayed unexpected resistance, especially in the battle of Pulao. General Foster, having already liberated most of the country, and advanced his main column past the banks of the NGoon river towards Pulao. Here they were came under a ferocious counterattack led by Prince Chuasiri, Mongkut having already been captured. The Thai onslaught was only defeated by a spirited charge from the second batallion of the 8th native infantry. Foster found himself in desperate single combat with Chuasiri, and killed him with a single sabre cut to the head. In his memoirs, Foster wrote of the courage of the Siamese.
They maintained their ground and fought manfully. I hate a runaway foe: you have no credit for beating them. Those we were dealing with were no flinchers- on the contrary I never saw more bravery or steadiness exhibited in my life. Run they would not, and of death they seemed to have no fear, though their comrades were falling thick about them, for we were so near that every shot hit…
Superior firepower won the day- the Siamese firearms were woefully antique, and thousands of Thais were cut down by rifle fire. By October 24th, the right flank of the enemy was turned, and the Siamese were routed.
The bloody battle of Pulao
By October 30th the city of Pulao itself had fallen, and Siam was annexed. As a token of submission, the King sent Victoria a gift of a Siamese cat, which soon became enormously popular amongst Bourgeois cat fanciers, before being imprisoned in the Tower of London until his death.
Bali: October 31st – November 18th 1873
Britain’s anti-slavery campaigners had determined that Bali, far from being a tropical paradise, was in fact one of the major slave trading centers of Asia. From October 31st until November 18th, British forces landed and subdued the slave traders. The freed slaves unaminously voted to become part of Britain on November 18th. Still, the invasion of Bali did come in for some criticism from liberal MPs, who pointed out that the force employed was disproportionate to the gains achieved.
Some people called this overwhelimg force
Various other despots were also deposed during this period.
Sikkim: November12th –December 7th 1873
Nepal: December 9th – January 10th 1874
Brunei: December 18th –March 16th 1874
Atjeh: February 5th 1874 - May 5th
The Atjehnese are defeated
Shimla: June 1st 1874 - June 18th
Ladakh: July 2nd – August 4th 1874
By June 1874, Victoria was justly pleased with the progress of freedom throughout Asia.
The Asian Anti-Slavery Campaign picks up momentum in June1874
Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
Take up the White Man's burden--
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.
Take up the White Man's burden--
The savage wars of peace--
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hopes to nought.
Take up the White Man's burden--
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper--
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go mark them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.
Take up the White Man's burden--
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"
Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.
Take up the White Man's burden--
Have done with childish days--
The lightly proferred laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
Rudyard Kipling, 1899
The acquisition of such a large and populous area as China posed large problems to the Colonial Office. Two problems in particular were important- the suppression of the reactionary element amongst the population, and the defense of China from external aggression. External threats were many however, and systematic campaigning was required to ensure China’s continued freedom. The commanders of the British army, Wolseley and Gordon knew that there was only one sure way to ensure an end to aggression of foreign countries- buy showing their peoples the benefits of democracy. In the years following 1872, a large number of wars were fought to further the cause of democracy and freedom.
Korea – April 1st –August 21st 1872
Gordon was increasingly worried by news from the northern Korean border region. Intelligence reports suggested that a large number of Manchus had escaped British Justice by fleeing to Korea, and were training a vast army to retake China. In this they were emphatically supported by the Yangban, Korea’s Confucianist scholar/land owner aristocratic elite. During preceding centuries, the Yangban had slowly increased their aristocratic control over the countryside, and established near-slavery over the Korean peasants, who despite their industry and stamina lived at near starvation levels due to the Yangban’s harsh taxes.
Initially, Gordon found it very difficult to convince the war office that the liberation of Korea was the next logical step. The British public had seen several hundred thousand casualties in the liberation of China, and it was some months before they forgot about them. However, on April 1st Gordon’s hand was forced when the Koreans launched a sneak attack,* and Gordon gave the order to liberate Korea.
*(Some capitalist historians have suggested, without any convincing evidence, that there was no provocation on the border, and that Gordon simply acted as a law unto himself. Naturally, these “historians” are no more than liars, cheats, scoundrels, knaves, blackguards, bounders and cads.)
Fortunately, owing to Gordon’s foresight, several hundred thousand men were stationed just off the Korean coast, and it wasn’t long before British troops were able to occupy many key areas.
The dastardly Koreans launch a sneak attack
The landing at Inchon is generally regarded as the key moment of the campaign, decisively splitting the Korean forces in two.
Gordon lands at Inchon
Resistance was slight, owing to the reluctance of the Korean peasantry to support their oppressive government. However, in June, a large force of approximately 100,000 men under General Mok was engaged by British forces in Hamhung.
The decisive battle at Hamhung
British victory, due once again to the spirit and training of the Bengali troops was assured, although the Yangban and the Chinese reactionaries fought on. By August 21st however, they admitted defeat and Korea became the next Crown Colony of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Tibet: September 17th – November 10th 1872
Korea was however, only one of the places where Chinese reactionaries were hiding. On China’s eastern border lay Tibet, a Bhuddist theocratic dictatorship, ruled absolutely by the Dalai Lama. Tibet possessed an enormous clergy, over 20% of the adult male population, living off the rest of the nation. This tyranny deeply offended the British public. Numerous committees were formed calling for intervention, such as the “Free Tibet” campign.
The campaign to Free Tibet begins
The invasion of Tibet was hindered not so much by the resistance of the fanatic Tibetan monks, but by the harsh terrain of the Himalayas.
Bengali forces invaded Assam, marched north past Bhutan into Tibet at Yatung, and then to Gyantse, a Tibetan fortress which rested at an altitude 2.5 miles. Wolseley stayed two weeks in Gyantse, attempting to negotiate democratic elections, and then attacked and defeated the Tibetans. However, the Tibetans fled though an ingenious system of tunnels built by slaves, and retreated to their capital at Lhasa. They left behind more than 300 Tibetans dead and wounded, while the British casualties totaled just four killed and 30 wounded. An additional 700 Tibetans also perished, cut down by machine guns, 50 miles from Gyantse.
After Gyantse was taken, Wolseley force marched his troops across the Himalayas to over 130 miles north to Lhasa, and there succeeded in routing the remaining Tibetan monks, most of whom were armed with matchlock rifles and wore lucky charms which they believed would shield them from bullets. The Battle of Lhasa lasted a day and a night, and on daybreak of November 10th, the Dalai Lama surrendered.
Annam and Cambodia: November 25th 1872- January 18th, 1873
Annam and their vassals the Kmers had begun to persecute the Christians again. This could not be tolerated, and thus Annam and Cambodia’s rulers were deposed in quick succession.
Burma: February 1st – March 21st 1873
The new King of Burma, Midon Min, seized a British ship belonging to one captain Lambert, a merchant in rare woods such as teak early in 1873. The Burmese king enslaved Lambert and his crew, forcing them to perform unspeakable acts such as singing La Marseillaise. Fortunately, one of Lambert’s crew was able to escape by pretending to dead, and escaped to India. Midon Min had also shown great interest in obtaining British held territory in Arakan. It was obvious that Burma posed a serious threat to all the free peoples of the world, and thus powerful forces were sent to subdue Midon Min and free Burma.
The Invasion of Burma
Luang Prabang: April 13th – May 14th 1873
Luang Prabang was a remote and fierce moutnain tribe living in the mountains west of Annam. In Mid 1873, the Capitalist Guerillas based in Luang Prabang began kidnapping Vietnamese to work in their vast underground diamond mines. Victoria was incensed by this activity, and ordered Wolseley to free them. By May 14th Luang Prabang was incorporated into the crown colony of Indo-China, and an election later that year confirmed British sovereignty over the area. Capitalist guerilla activity in the area dropped considerably.
The Invasion of the unpronounceable Luang Prabang
Siam: May 29th – October 30th 1873
The lecherous King Mongut prepares to molest Anna
A British nanny, Anna Leonowens, had been lured to Siam by the King supposedly to care for his children and give them a proper British education- sadly however, she was soon reduced to the status of a sex slave by the vile king. In her biography, the King and I, she wrote of the unspeakable acts perpetrated by King Monkut- unspeakable acts, which cannot be repeated here. When published, this caused an uproar. Prime Minister Disraeli, always keen to follow public opinion, declared war on May 29th.
Siam must be destroyed!
However, the Siamese displayed unexpected resistance, especially in the battle of Pulao. General Foster, having already liberated most of the country, and advanced his main column past the banks of the NGoon river towards Pulao. Here they were came under a ferocious counterattack led by Prince Chuasiri, Mongkut having already been captured. The Thai onslaught was only defeated by a spirited charge from the second batallion of the 8th native infantry. Foster found himself in desperate single combat with Chuasiri, and killed him with a single sabre cut to the head. In his memoirs, Foster wrote of the courage of the Siamese.
They maintained their ground and fought manfully. I hate a runaway foe: you have no credit for beating them. Those we were dealing with were no flinchers- on the contrary I never saw more bravery or steadiness exhibited in my life. Run they would not, and of death they seemed to have no fear, though their comrades were falling thick about them, for we were so near that every shot hit…
Superior firepower won the day- the Siamese firearms were woefully antique, and thousands of Thais were cut down by rifle fire. By October 24th, the right flank of the enemy was turned, and the Siamese were routed.
The bloody battle of Pulao
By October 30th the city of Pulao itself had fallen, and Siam was annexed. As a token of submission, the King sent Victoria a gift of a Siamese cat, which soon became enormously popular amongst Bourgeois cat fanciers, before being imprisoned in the Tower of London until his death.
Bali: October 31st – November 18th 1873
Britain’s anti-slavery campaigners had determined that Bali, far from being a tropical paradise, was in fact one of the major slave trading centers of Asia. From October 31st until November 18th, British forces landed and subdued the slave traders. The freed slaves unaminously voted to become part of Britain on November 18th. Still, the invasion of Bali did come in for some criticism from liberal MPs, who pointed out that the force employed was disproportionate to the gains achieved.
Some people called this overwhelimg force
Various other despots were also deposed during this period.
Sikkim: November12th –December 7th 1873
Nepal: December 9th – January 10th 1874
Brunei: December 18th –March 16th 1874
Atjeh: February 5th 1874 - May 5th
The Atjehnese are defeated
Shimla: June 1st 1874 - June 18th
Ladakh: July 2nd – August 4th 1874
By June 1874, Victoria was justly pleased with the progress of freedom throughout Asia.
The Asian Anti-Slavery Campaign picks up momentum in June1874
Last edited:
Backfire said:
Thanks Backfire! But there is much, much more to come. (although not tonight, I'm going to bed. Good night!)
Take up the White Man's burden --
The peril of our times.
Bring autocrats to justice
For all their hateful crimes.
And conquer all you see;
End human freedom's dearth -
For God's United Kingdom
Shall rule oe'r all the Earth!
There's just something about world conquest that makes me all poetic.
The peril of our times.
Bring autocrats to justice
For all their hateful crimes.
And conquer all you see;
End human freedom's dearth -
For God's United Kingdom
Shall rule oe'r all the Earth!
There's just something about world conquest that makes me all poetic.
Good show and Rule Britannia! This is really the most riviting read ever! Whats your population? Must be absolutely massive. Did I mention that this was a brilliant update?
Good show old boy!
Finish off those annoying little Indian principalities its getting in the way of all the red on the map
Finish off those annoying little Indian principalities its getting in the way of all the red on the map