Just occasionally rebel scum can do a good job. Belograd would have been better, no? However, we musn't ask for too much.
-
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Hetman Lyantskoronsky goes to work
(Narrative resumed by Petro Lyantskoronsky)
Nech and the war of intrigue
As I began to rule as Hetman in January 1506, Ukraine had been at peace for twelve years. We needed this peaceful period as we built up strength in our economy and infrastructure, though this process was painfully slow. Poland initiated a war against Lithuania in June, securing our border on that side for the time being. Muscovy, though anxious to absorb its neighboring Russian states, waited patiently for an opportune time. Ukraine was allied to Ryazan and Georgia, and this alliance was renewed the next year.
While we were not involved in a hot war, there was a war going on, but of a different sort. This was the war of intrigue, spy versus spy, Nech versus Uncle Boris in Moscow. Cousin Yuri posted the first victory when Ryazan regained Saratov, earlier ceded to Sibir but now in revolt. The key prizes from our point of view, however, were the provinces of Kaffa, Lugansk, and Bogutjar. All were owned nominally by the Golden Horde, but after several wars the Khan's government was clearly too weak to maintain its hold on these three provinces. So agents from neighboring countries worked behind the scenes in order to precipitate defections.
Round one went to Uncle Boris when Bogutjar defected to Muscovy at the end of 1506. The Muscovites' seizure of Vorones from Ryazan years before had borne fruit at last. We were disappointed, but we understood Bogutjar had been a long shot from the beginning. And Nech was optimistic about Kaffa and Lugansk. He said we had an excellent chance to gain each one; receiving both was not at all out of the question.
By 1509, as expected, the Khan's men had been unable to reclaim these two provinces from the rebels who held them. Nech assured me that his men were hard at work in Kaffa and Lugansk. So it was a bitter blow when the news came in February that Kaffa had defected -- to Crimea. We put all our hopes into a defection from Lugansk, but in November it was Uncle Boris who staged the coup once more. Yet again Ukraine had been shut out.
Nech, now a bitter, defeated old man, resigned his post in disgrace. His health failed him and he passed on to a better world soon afterward. One of his young deputies took over his position and became the new Nech.
OOC: The original Shaula, Krempsky, and Nech would be very old or dead by this time. In the story I will keep referring to these men, but now instead of names they are titles, denoting whoever holds those positions at the time.
This time Uncle Boris loses
Though we were bitterly disappointed at the results of the Golden Horde's defections, we had no legal recourse, as Krempsky sadly explained. So we continued our slow pace of development. Shaula's team made an important tactical advance (land tech 4, 1514). Krempsky added a diplomatic victory by negotiating successfully with Novgorod to join our alliance, in 1515. Three months later, our new ally sent a contract to Kharkov for us to sign. The cover letter stated that it was purely a formality, a routine document needed for the Novgorod Royal Archives. But Nech smelled a rat, or more properly, King Peter's influence, and Krempsky studied the proposed contract carefully. It was a trap -- they were trying to sucker us into being their vassals.
OOC: Novgorod, with just one province but a COT, had much greater power than Ukraine with four provinces.
Early in 1517 our alliance expired, but Krempsky promptly renewed it with the same members (Ukraine, Georgia, Ryazan, Novgorod). Several months later, we received a crude insult from Moscow -- Uncle Boris's work, as Nech explained to me.
"But Nech, why would Uncle Boris send this insult?"
"Simple. They want us to declare war."
"So they want to fight against us?"
"Certainly not. Uncle Boris does not intend anything of the sort."
"Then why would he want us to declare war?"
"Petro, you are slow to understand. Look at the map."
"You see? Muscovy does not want to fight Ukraine -- at least, not yet. But they are eager for a chance to attack Novgorod and Ryazan. That idiot King Peter doesn't even have an army!"
"Ah, I understand now. They want us to declare war so that they can attack our allies, and still hold a good reputation in courts throughout Europe."
"Exactly."
"Then how should we respond?"
"Easy. We declare war."
"But that is what Uncle Boris wants us to do!"
"Not exactly. Look at the map again. Uncle Boris gambled, and he made a mistake."
"I still don't see it."
"We declare war, and we don't call our allies. Muscovy's provinces Lugansk, Bogutjar, and Vorones are cut off from the rest of their territory, and they don't have access through Ryazan -- Cousin Yuri saw to that. We can strike at a mere stump of Muscovy's power while they fume, helplessly, in their capital."
"But they could still declare war against Ryazan and attack us directly."
"They could do that anyway, anytime they want. We are risking nothing new by attacking now. And we'll never get a better chance than this."
"Very well. So shall it be. We have six months for Shaula to prepare the scorpions for battle."
We proceeded just as Nech had advised, declaring war against Muscovy in March 1518. Shaula sent a small covering force to Bogutjar while our main army of 14 thousand, mostly cavalry, stormed across the Don to attack 14 thousand enemy infantry in Lugansk. Muscovy's army held surprisingly well under this onslaught, thanks no doubt to the inspired leadership of their commander, Repnin. Our army took about 5 thousand losses and retreated, broken, back to Donetsk. But the Muscovites, though victorious, had taken heavy losses. Cut off from their homeland, they were easy prey for the next attack, Repnin or not.
Having destroyed the enemy army, it remained only to siege the three provinces while crushing the small new armies that were raised in Vorones in the meantime. These sieges proved to be difficult, for Shaula certainly could not afford to let his men wither and freeze during a winter siege. We tried to keep only a holding force at each province through the winter while our main forces sheltered in Donetsk. Even so, the toll due to attrition was high.
Nevertheless, in time we were able to capture all three provinces: Lugansk in September 1519, Bogutjar March 1520, and Vorones, finally, in June 1521. However, the arrogant Muscovites adamantly rejected Krempsky's peace offer (to cede Lugansk). But after a few more months they had had time to nurse their wounded pride, and Uncle Boris conceded his miscalculation. Lugansk now belonged to Ukraine.
One month after the war, Muscovy claimed the mantle of the Byzantines and became Russia, the so-called third Rome. They were determined to be the masters of Eastern Europe, and perhaps much more.
(Narrative resumed by Petro Lyantskoronsky)
Nech and the war of intrigue
As I began to rule as Hetman in January 1506, Ukraine had been at peace for twelve years. We needed this peaceful period as we built up strength in our economy and infrastructure, though this process was painfully slow. Poland initiated a war against Lithuania in June, securing our border on that side for the time being. Muscovy, though anxious to absorb its neighboring Russian states, waited patiently for an opportune time. Ukraine was allied to Ryazan and Georgia, and this alliance was renewed the next year.
While we were not involved in a hot war, there was a war going on, but of a different sort. This was the war of intrigue, spy versus spy, Nech versus Uncle Boris in Moscow. Cousin Yuri posted the first victory when Ryazan regained Saratov, earlier ceded to Sibir but now in revolt. The key prizes from our point of view, however, were the provinces of Kaffa, Lugansk, and Bogutjar. All were owned nominally by the Golden Horde, but after several wars the Khan's government was clearly too weak to maintain its hold on these three provinces. So agents from neighboring countries worked behind the scenes in order to precipitate defections.
Round one went to Uncle Boris when Bogutjar defected to Muscovy at the end of 1506. The Muscovites' seizure of Vorones from Ryazan years before had borne fruit at last. We were disappointed, but we understood Bogutjar had been a long shot from the beginning. And Nech was optimistic about Kaffa and Lugansk. He said we had an excellent chance to gain each one; receiving both was not at all out of the question.
By 1509, as expected, the Khan's men had been unable to reclaim these two provinces from the rebels who held them. Nech assured me that his men were hard at work in Kaffa and Lugansk. So it was a bitter blow when the news came in February that Kaffa had defected -- to Crimea. We put all our hopes into a defection from Lugansk, but in November it was Uncle Boris who staged the coup once more. Yet again Ukraine had been shut out.
Nech, now a bitter, defeated old man, resigned his post in disgrace. His health failed him and he passed on to a better world soon afterward. One of his young deputies took over his position and became the new Nech.
OOC: The original Shaula, Krempsky, and Nech would be very old or dead by this time. In the story I will keep referring to these men, but now instead of names they are titles, denoting whoever holds those positions at the time.
This time Uncle Boris loses
Though we were bitterly disappointed at the results of the Golden Horde's defections, we had no legal recourse, as Krempsky sadly explained. So we continued our slow pace of development. Shaula's team made an important tactical advance (land tech 4, 1514). Krempsky added a diplomatic victory by negotiating successfully with Novgorod to join our alliance, in 1515. Three months later, our new ally sent a contract to Kharkov for us to sign. The cover letter stated that it was purely a formality, a routine document needed for the Novgorod Royal Archives. But Nech smelled a rat, or more properly, King Peter's influence, and Krempsky studied the proposed contract carefully. It was a trap -- they were trying to sucker us into being their vassals.
OOC: Novgorod, with just one province but a COT, had much greater power than Ukraine with four provinces.
Early in 1517 our alliance expired, but Krempsky promptly renewed it with the same members (Ukraine, Georgia, Ryazan, Novgorod). Several months later, we received a crude insult from Moscow -- Uncle Boris's work, as Nech explained to me.
"But Nech, why would Uncle Boris send this insult?"
"Simple. They want us to declare war."
"So they want to fight against us?"
"Certainly not. Uncle Boris does not intend anything of the sort."
"Then why would he want us to declare war?"
"Petro, you are slow to understand. Look at the map."
"You see? Muscovy does not want to fight Ukraine -- at least, not yet. But they are eager for a chance to attack Novgorod and Ryazan. That idiot King Peter doesn't even have an army!"
"Ah, I understand now. They want us to declare war so that they can attack our allies, and still hold a good reputation in courts throughout Europe."
"Exactly."
"Then how should we respond?"
"Easy. We declare war."
"But that is what Uncle Boris wants us to do!"
"Not exactly. Look at the map again. Uncle Boris gambled, and he made a mistake."
"I still don't see it."
"We declare war, and we don't call our allies. Muscovy's provinces Lugansk, Bogutjar, and Vorones are cut off from the rest of their territory, and they don't have access through Ryazan -- Cousin Yuri saw to that. We can strike at a mere stump of Muscovy's power while they fume, helplessly, in their capital."
"But they could still declare war against Ryazan and attack us directly."
"They could do that anyway, anytime they want. We are risking nothing new by attacking now. And we'll never get a better chance than this."
"Very well. So shall it be. We have six months for Shaula to prepare the scorpions for battle."
We proceeded just as Nech had advised, declaring war against Muscovy in March 1518. Shaula sent a small covering force to Bogutjar while our main army of 14 thousand, mostly cavalry, stormed across the Don to attack 14 thousand enemy infantry in Lugansk. Muscovy's army held surprisingly well under this onslaught, thanks no doubt to the inspired leadership of their commander, Repnin. Our army took about 5 thousand losses and retreated, broken, back to Donetsk. But the Muscovites, though victorious, had taken heavy losses. Cut off from their homeland, they were easy prey for the next attack, Repnin or not.
Having destroyed the enemy army, it remained only to siege the three provinces while crushing the small new armies that were raised in Vorones in the meantime. These sieges proved to be difficult, for Shaula certainly could not afford to let his men wither and freeze during a winter siege. We tried to keep only a holding force at each province through the winter while our main forces sheltered in Donetsk. Even so, the toll due to attrition was high.
Nevertheless, in time we were able to capture all three provinces: Lugansk in September 1519, Bogutjar March 1520, and Vorones, finally, in June 1521. However, the arrogant Muscovites adamantly rejected Krempsky's peace offer (to cede Lugansk). But after a few more months they had had time to nurse their wounded pride, and Uncle Boris conceded his miscalculation. Lugansk now belonged to Ukraine.
One month after the war, Muscovy claimed the mantle of the Byzantines and became Russia, the so-called third Rome. They were determined to be the masters of Eastern Europe, and perhaps much more.
And your growth continues. Nice job adding a border with GH. Perhaps now you will get one of those nifty instant CBs - though normally the event gives you one with your best friend.
Very old trick - go to war and don't call upon your allies. Works best when you are at war with the whole world (bb). Good job and can't wait for a new map!
I need to ask - why didnt you just start as Lithuania and release Ukraine as a vassal in 1419 and then restart as Ukraine?
Hm, or better yet, design your own scenario? Maybe he wanted to make it more "real"?
Maybe he wanted to make it more "real"?
Very well done but a note of caution. Beware of Crimea! If they revolt, and they will, be sure to put down the revolt as soon as you can. They have a perchance of declaring their independence at the drop of a hat. Believe me I know from personal experience.
Joe
If they revolt, and they will, be sure to put down the revolt as soon as you can. They have a perchance of declaring their independence at the drop of a hat. Believe me I know from personal experience. Joe
Storey said:Very well done but a note of caution. Beware of Crimea!
Joe
They are already independent - in Azov, Kaffa and Kerch.
coz1 said:Perhaps now you will get one of those nifty instant CBs - though normally the event gives you one with your best friend.
Right on the money. Or you get a free CB on Lithuania (later Poland), against whom you already have a permanent CB.
Nalivayko, I didn't post a map after the war because only Lugansk changed hands. So just take the southernmost red province and change it to green.
Storey, I remember well your frustrations with Crimea while playing as Georgia in the "3 countries" AAR last year. Message received.
Revolts haven't been a big problem so far, but I've had to be careful, especially during wars. There was a bad stretch during the 1540s, but we'll come to that soon. So far I have played to just past 1600 and the nation of Crimea still exists. Even so, of course I don't want to risk losing a province by defection.Angelscotboi: you brought up the question of releasing Ukraine from Lithuania right at the start. Hmm, to tell the truth, I didn't think of that! Because in my GCs I always see Ukraine revolt from the GH (or maybe Russia, much later), I fixed my mind to that scenario and didn't consider anything else. I thought I checked the GH in 1419 and they couldn't set Ukraine free at that time. But maybe I'm just making that up. I'll have to check it again tonight.
As for designing my own scenario, I don't know how to do that. But I'll bet you could do a pretty good job, nalivayko!
In any case it is true that I wanted to take over Ukraine as it typically exists in the GC -- that is, as a small revolter, normally from GH, around 1450. And having invested this much into the current game, I'm not about to replay it from a different origin!
Thanks to all for reading and for your comments. All feedback is very much appreciated, I assure you!
hmm I wouldn't restart either!
You are doing pretty well!
But is the tech group a problem?
You are doing pretty well!
But is the tech group a problem?
angelscotboi said:
I finally checked this out. Neither Lithuania nor the Golden Horde may release any vassals in 1419. Apparently Ukraine (and others such as Astrakhan and Crimea) can't exist until a bit later.
jwolf said:
I started a game today as Lithuania and by June 1419 I was able to release Ukraine as a vassal.
jwolf said:
Ukraina can be release/revolt from the 1st of Jan. 1419. I remember this being talked about a lot when someone wanted to play Flanders in the GC. Apperantly you always have to wait for a few days (a month?) before you can release any vassals, no matter which country or anything.
I was messing around with the new beta when all the tags got added; you can release vassals by the third or fourth of Jan 1419. Probably even on the second.
OK, I stand corrrected. Anyway, the course of this campaign is set! Some other time, I'll have to see what Ukraine would be like starting in 1419.
A time of peace, and an end to peace
(Narration by Krempsky)
An end to the Moslem revolts
A critical event took place in April 1522: the Protestant Reformation. I explained to Hetman Lyantskoronsky that this was good news for us.
"How so? We have none of these new Protestants in Ukraine, nor indeed in any country near us."
"Ah, Petro, it is a legal issue which will give us advantage. At last we can end all turmoil at Crimea."
"A split in the Catholic Church helps us to keep stability in a Moslem province? Have you lost your mind?"
"Quite to the contrary, I assure you. Let me explain. You will recall that one official representative from each major religion known to us holds office here at Kharkov."
"Yes, each one often makes an appeal on behalf of a particular citizen of his faith."
"Right. And that is their official function. But unofficially, we and they maintain a very delicate balance of religious power. We grant to each one full approval or disapproval of his religious practices. Or we can grant anything inbetween. And the word goes out to peasants all over Ukraine. Each one knows where his religion stands, and if that standing is not good we risk revolt."
"Then that problem has a simple solution. We just grant full approval to each religion, and everyone is happy."
"Oh, if only it were that easy, Petro! But you have to remember, each priest knows his own standing with our government as well as that of all the others. If we grant approval to too many, they become jealous and the country would boil over with intrigue. Conversely, if we grant approval to too few, they would unite in hostility and plot from within. As I said, it is a delicate balance."
"And what is that balance, Krempsky?"
"Experience has shown that we can grant approval to half of the priestly representatives and maintain a stable equilibrium."
"I must confess that this seems very strange to me. But supposing it is all true, how do the new Protestants help us?"
"Up to now, we have had just three representatives: one each from Rome and Mecca, as well as our own Orthodox priest. So we could give full approval, naturally, for the Orthodox but only a neutral position with respect to the Moslems, and that at the expense of full disapproval toward Rome. But now we have a fourth representative for the new Protestants. Since they are all very far away from us, we take a public stance of firm disapproval toward them, allowing us to adopt full approval for the Moslems. The peasants in Crimea are happy at last."
"Krempsky, you are a genius. If only we had that Reformation earlier..."
Military matters
After our war with Muscovy ended in 1521, Ukraine was at peace for many years. Shaula, married to Lyantskoronsky's sister Lesya, constantly drilled and improved our troops, working hard to bring our new recruits up to the standards of the veterans from the Muscovy war. These new troops occasionally had the opportunity to show their courage as nationalist revolts flared at Lugansk. And Shaula's hard work paid off. Each time our army crushed the rebels before they were able to organize an attack on the fort (OOC: several revolts, but the province never even got looted.).
Shaula and Lesya produced their own little scorpion, their son Samiylo, who was born in 1503. Samiylo barely knew his old grandfather, Hetman Grigorievich, but his Uncle Petro trained him well, to say nothing of what he learned from both Shaula and Lesya. Even as a very young man he showed a keen instinct for tactical innovation. It was Samiylo who solved a critical problem that had vexed our commanders for decades: how to assault a fort in close combat, without waiting for the siege to finish by virtue of starvation. Though this was mere theoretical knowledge in 1527, we were confident of Samiylo's methods. Samiylo then turned his attention to defense, working with the citizens of Krementjug to voluntarily improve the fort in that province to a formidable redoubt, by far the best in all Ukraine.
Samiylo further persudaed his father -- and his uncle, the Hetman -- to build a war galley in Crimea. Though most Ukrainians scoffed at the idea, Samiylo successfully convinced us that this ship would be valuable for reconnaissance in the Sea of Azov.
The Ukrainian economy
The main action throughout these years, however, was our constant and usually futile attempts to build up an economy worthy of the name. There was so much we could have done -- if only we had the money to pay for it. But such money was in very short supply. I achieved a victory on this front, or so I thought, in 1525 when I signed the charter for a prominent nobleman to establish a monopoly on the salt sales from Crimea. Lysenko's company got the profits and a nice share went to Hetman Lyantskoronsky in Kharkov. Everyone was happy, not counting the peasants who had to pay higher prices for salt, until the whole scheme unraveled in a huge scandal in 1531. That son of a dog Lysenko had been cheating us the whole time, falsifying his sales records while he siphoned the profits to a secret account at Rhodes. Lysenko's end was gruesome as the Hetman got his revenge. But it left our economy in a shambles.
The only way for us to keep even the low level of income we had was to push hard to keep a full corps of merchants in service at the great trade center of Novgorod. Other trade centers, however attractive, were too expensive for us to consider. But even Novgorod was difficult. In 1525-1526, for example, it took six attempts in order to finally replace one merchant who could not stay in business due to the intensity of the competition.
Nech's agents brought sensational news in 1530 with the opening of a brand new trade center in London. Though this city was very far away, I figured we would have an excellent chance to establish a presence there before competition became significant. But these efforts met only with failure.
OOC: 19 open spaces, and my merchants failed twice. I couldn't affort to gamble on London anymore after that.
But the news of 1533 was even more sensational. Nech rushed into my office breathlessly:
"The Turks have lost control over Thrace! The citizens there defected to the Venetian government, and the Turks can't do a thing about it!"
"Odd, I thought the Turks' capital moved there after they conquered the Byzantines."
"No, Krempsky, that was only a rumor. For whatever reason, the Sultan stayed in Anatolia."
"Fascinating. But how does this news concern us?"
"Venice is far more advanced than the Turks. Send an emissary to them for a trade agreement. Thrace will be even better than Novgorod for us, mark my words."
As Nech predicted, so it came to pass. Within a few months, Thrace was clearly the destination of choice for our merchants. But it was extremely difficult for our primitive merchants to succeed there. Four consecutive merchants met with failure in 1534. By 1537 it was apparent that we would have a phenomenal struggle to place or keep merchants at Thrace, but we had no other choice that was at all viable.
Yet, though these economic issues occupied most of our attention, they were overshadowed by two other events. First, Hetman Lyantskoronsky passed on to Heaven in January 1534. His nephew Samiylo was acclaimed unanimously as the new Hetman, taking the name Kishka. Kishka's first official act, arranged by my negotiation, was to marry Elizaveta, the sister of the Prince of Ryazan.
Second, Nech failed us in March 1537 as we were completely surprised to receive Lithuania's declaration of war. We had sown the wind, and we were about to reap the whirlwind. It was time to see if the young scorpion Kishka could lead our soldiers to victory against a foe this powerful.
(Narration by Krempsky)
An end to the Moslem revolts
A critical event took place in April 1522: the Protestant Reformation. I explained to Hetman Lyantskoronsky that this was good news for us.
"How so? We have none of these new Protestants in Ukraine, nor indeed in any country near us."
"Ah, Petro, it is a legal issue which will give us advantage. At last we can end all turmoil at Crimea."
"A split in the Catholic Church helps us to keep stability in a Moslem province? Have you lost your mind?"
"Quite to the contrary, I assure you. Let me explain. You will recall that one official representative from each major religion known to us holds office here at Kharkov."
"Yes, each one often makes an appeal on behalf of a particular citizen of his faith."
"Right. And that is their official function. But unofficially, we and they maintain a very delicate balance of religious power. We grant to each one full approval or disapproval of his religious practices. Or we can grant anything inbetween. And the word goes out to peasants all over Ukraine. Each one knows where his religion stands, and if that standing is not good we risk revolt."
"Then that problem has a simple solution. We just grant full approval to each religion, and everyone is happy."
"Oh, if only it were that easy, Petro! But you have to remember, each priest knows his own standing with our government as well as that of all the others. If we grant approval to too many, they become jealous and the country would boil over with intrigue. Conversely, if we grant approval to too few, they would unite in hostility and plot from within. As I said, it is a delicate balance."
"And what is that balance, Krempsky?"
"Experience has shown that we can grant approval to half of the priestly representatives and maintain a stable equilibrium."
"I must confess that this seems very strange to me. But supposing it is all true, how do the new Protestants help us?"
"Up to now, we have had just three representatives: one each from Rome and Mecca, as well as our own Orthodox priest. So we could give full approval, naturally, for the Orthodox but only a neutral position with respect to the Moslems, and that at the expense of full disapproval toward Rome. But now we have a fourth representative for the new Protestants. Since they are all very far away from us, we take a public stance of firm disapproval toward them, allowing us to adopt full approval for the Moslems. The peasants in Crimea are happy at last."
"Krempsky, you are a genius. If only we had that Reformation earlier..."
Military matters
After our war with Muscovy ended in 1521, Ukraine was at peace for many years. Shaula, married to Lyantskoronsky's sister Lesya, constantly drilled and improved our troops, working hard to bring our new recruits up to the standards of the veterans from the Muscovy war. These new troops occasionally had the opportunity to show their courage as nationalist revolts flared at Lugansk. And Shaula's hard work paid off. Each time our army crushed the rebels before they were able to organize an attack on the fort (OOC: several revolts, but the province never even got looted.
).Shaula and Lesya produced their own little scorpion, their son Samiylo, who was born in 1503. Samiylo barely knew his old grandfather, Hetman Grigorievich, but his Uncle Petro trained him well, to say nothing of what he learned from both Shaula and Lesya. Even as a very young man he showed a keen instinct for tactical innovation. It was Samiylo who solved a critical problem that had vexed our commanders for decades: how to assault a fort in close combat, without waiting for the siege to finish by virtue of starvation. Though this was mere theoretical knowledge in 1527, we were confident of Samiylo's methods. Samiylo then turned his attention to defense, working with the citizens of Krementjug to voluntarily improve the fort in that province to a formidable redoubt, by far the best in all Ukraine.
Samiylo further persudaed his father -- and his uncle, the Hetman -- to build a war galley in Crimea. Though most Ukrainians scoffed at the idea, Samiylo successfully convinced us that this ship would be valuable for reconnaissance in the Sea of Azov.
The Ukrainian economy
The main action throughout these years, however, was our constant and usually futile attempts to build up an economy worthy of the name. There was so much we could have done -- if only we had the money to pay for it. But such money was in very short supply. I achieved a victory on this front, or so I thought, in 1525 when I signed the charter for a prominent nobleman to establish a monopoly on the salt sales from Crimea. Lysenko's company got the profits and a nice share went to Hetman Lyantskoronsky in Kharkov. Everyone was happy, not counting the peasants who had to pay higher prices for salt, until the whole scheme unraveled in a huge scandal in 1531. That son of a dog Lysenko had been cheating us the whole time, falsifying his sales records while he siphoned the profits to a secret account at Rhodes. Lysenko's end was gruesome as the Hetman got his revenge. But it left our economy in a shambles.
The only way for us to keep even the low level of income we had was to push hard to keep a full corps of merchants in service at the great trade center of Novgorod. Other trade centers, however attractive, were too expensive for us to consider. But even Novgorod was difficult. In 1525-1526, for example, it took six attempts in order to finally replace one merchant who could not stay in business due to the intensity of the competition.
Nech's agents brought sensational news in 1530 with the opening of a brand new trade center in London. Though this city was very far away, I figured we would have an excellent chance to establish a presence there before competition became significant. But these efforts met only with failure.
OOC: 19 open spaces, and my merchants failed twice. I couldn't affort to gamble on London anymore after that.
But the news of 1533 was even more sensational. Nech rushed into my office breathlessly:
"The Turks have lost control over Thrace! The citizens there defected to the Venetian government, and the Turks can't do a thing about it!"
"Odd, I thought the Turks' capital moved there after they conquered the Byzantines."
"No, Krempsky, that was only a rumor. For whatever reason, the Sultan stayed in Anatolia."
"Fascinating. But how does this news concern us?"
"Venice is far more advanced than the Turks. Send an emissary to them for a trade agreement. Thrace will be even better than Novgorod for us, mark my words."
As Nech predicted, so it came to pass. Within a few months, Thrace was clearly the destination of choice for our merchants. But it was extremely difficult for our primitive merchants to succeed there. Four consecutive merchants met with failure in 1534. By 1537 it was apparent that we would have a phenomenal struggle to place or keep merchants at Thrace, but we had no other choice that was at all viable.
Yet, though these economic issues occupied most of our attention, they were overshadowed by two other events. First, Hetman Lyantskoronsky passed on to Heaven in January 1534. His nephew Samiylo was acclaimed unanimously as the new Hetman, taking the name Kishka. Kishka's first official act, arranged by my negotiation, was to marry Elizaveta, the sister of the Prince of Ryazan.
Second, Nech failed us in March 1537 as we were completely surprised to receive Lithuania's declaration of war. We had sown the wind, and we were about to reap the whirlwind. It was time to see if the young scorpion Kishka could lead our soldiers to victory against a foe this powerful.
Maybe I'm too much of an optimist, but I'm betting that he can! Those worthless Lithuanians are arrogantly occupying Ukrainian territory - you have justice on your side
+ less BB for you if you take the teritory, as its a defensive war. How bad is your ecenomy??
How bad is your ecenomy?? 
All these stories about merchants in 1.07 makes me want to stick with 1.05
Congratulations on finessing the Muscovites & good luck against the Lithuanians!
Congratulations on finessing the Muscovites & good luck against the Lithuanians!