Victoria II - Japan - AAR

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Sixty-Three - The Chinese War

The new year, once again, started with a rearranging of the Upper House.

Once again the Liberals and the Socialists both gained seats in the House. In fact the Socialists now outnumbered the Anarcho-Liberals. They even outnumbered the Reactionaries.

The Liberals had mixed feelings. On one hand the smaller parties might join forces.

On the other hand the Liberals may soon be the largest movement in Japan.

And the good news was unemployment was almost nonexistent.

Halfway through February there was shocking international news. A part of the Chinese Empire had broken off and announced it was now the Heavenly Kingdom. Of course the Chinese Empire declared war on this “rebellion” led by the younger brother of Jesus Christ.

And so the Chinese Civil War began. Most assumed that the Chinese Empire would win. They just had the most resources.

Even on a map it was easy to see who would win and who would be defeated. The Heavenly Kingdom was just so small. Why did they even THINK they would be able to fight off the forces of China?

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Why did they even THINK they would be able to fight off the forces of China?

Because they're the heavenly kingdom.

 

[serutan]

I seem to recall that the Tai-Ping rebellion actually had a chance to succeed, but (I think) they got too ambitious too quickly.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Sixty-Four - Failed Assassin

In March the scientists in Japan uncovered an idea they labeled Traditionalism.

The idea being that some knowledge comes from common sense and is against rationalism.

That month the Diplomats in England also, once again, increased Japan’s relationship with the Queen of the UK.

In June the Japanese scientists had uncovered the idea of Secularization. In that art and education and government would no longer be under the influence of religion.

In June the international news also held some interesting information from the US. The President was able to toss his would-be-assassin off the balcony in Ford’s Theater.

Some witnesses said the assassin had over sized front teeth, like fangs, but these reports were dismissed by the press as the ravings of a confused and drunk public.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

It'd be just your luck that your very next game as another country has Japan go crazy and take over the west coast of the amercias and all of China.

 

[serutan]

Some witnesses said the assassin had over sized front teeth, like fangs, but these reports were dismissed by the press as the ravings of a confused and drunk public.

I see what you did there.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Sixty-Five - Advances In Science!

By late June a major turning point had been reached. The researchers had finished studying State & Government. Which benefited the Japanese government in some areas.

Not that anybody could explain HOW it benefited the government.

Anyway the scientists started studying muzzle loading rifles.

In July the government started to encourage Capitalists to come to Hiroshima. The development of business and industry was something the government felt was the most important thing that it could do.

By August the researchers seemed to be moving with great speed. Discovering the differences between Meritocracy vs. Aristocracy and the differences between Populism vs. Establishment.

It was also noticed that unemployment was almost zero. Even with so few factories the businesses were easily absorbing the workforce of Japan.

This was all good news. But there was some bad news.

Turns out there were some more movements within Japan. Campaigns for safe working conditions and public meetings. Things the Liberals were more than happy to bring about. If they ever were in power again.

More things to add to the list of future changes that the Liberal Party needed to carry out.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Sixty-Six - Edo Becomes A Modern City…Kind Of.

The scientists continued to discover weird and confusing discoveries. For example the idea that uncivilized cultures and nations needed help to civilized, as defined by the other more civilized nations, was an idea they took from the Europeans.

Then there was also another idea they had discovered. The idea of Hussars. Seems they were discovering a lot of mounted military ideas lately.

Talking about the military they decided to order the training and assembling of three Artillery Brigades. Future revolts would be facing greater firepower than ever before known in Japan’s history.

Also in September the Diplomats in Washington, D.C., had improved Japan’s relationship with the US.​

Then, near the end of the month, the railroad system in the Province of Edo was finished!

Soon the provinces around the Capital were also finishing their projects. Mito, Urawa, Utsunomiya, Chiba, and Yokohama were soon all linked to Edo via railroad tracks!​

The Capital region had joined the modern world.

 

[serutan]

So now the Liberals can railroad their agenda through the Diet?

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Sixty-Seven - Artillery

With the start of the new year it was noticed that in the Upper House the Liberal were ALMOST the largest Party. Almost.

But there were other issues to deal with. The Liberals were focused on other worries besides the next election.

For example the Diplomats in London were happy to announce, once again, they had increased Japan’s good relations with the UK and its government.

It was also noticed that the Netherlands were planning to go to war with Belgium.

Then another rail system was finished. This time in the Province of Kanazawa.

Then half way through January the first Artillery Brigade was assembled in Mito and sent to join the forces in Edo.

The second Artillery Brigade was assembled in Osaka on the 1st of February and went to join the forces in Kobe.

The third and final Artillery Brigade was assembled in Kobe itself and was able to join the First Home Island Army at once.

As few days later the Provinces of Nara, Osaka, and Wakayama, in the Region of Kansai was ordered by the government to start building their own railroad systems. Of course the government funded it.

Japan was full of natural resources. But the factories needed to have be linked to those sources and each other to properly function. And if the Capitalists would not do that the government would!

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Sixty-Eight - Time To Vote

Under the surface of Japan’s normally very well mannered society was a bubling pot of politics. The people wanted minimum wage, safe working conditions, AND public meetings.

And there were of course the Nationalists, Anarcho-Liberals, and Brunei native all arming themselves.

And the international news showed the pressures building up in Europe and other parts of the world.

Around this time the government ordered the building of a railroad system in the Province of Kobe.

It was also noticed that unemployment had gone up. No doubt due to the finishing of the railroads releasing a lot of workers back into the nation’s untapped labor pool.

In June the Diplomats in the US, once again, did a great job at increasing Japan’s and the American’s friendship.

On the other hand, in Europe, two war were raging. The Austrian-Prussian conflict had dragged a few nations into a slug match.

While a smaller war was going on between the Netherlands and Belgium.

Then researchers announced they had finally developed Muzzle-loaded rifles. Or, at least , perfected them.

Of course the next stage of Japan’s military development was Breech-loaded rifles.

Then it was reported that the Province of Toyama had finished building their railroad system.

By mid July the international news had caught up with what was happening on the world stage.

Then researcher discovered Constitutionalism. Which seemed a tad weird since the nation already HAD a Constitution.

And then the next election was upon Japan. The Liberals were happy.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Sixty-Nine - So The Debates Started

The researchers announced, in September, that they had started to compare Bureaucracy and Nepotism.

In other words the Civil Services were seeking to free themselves from political control of the Elite to become more effective. Or were they just trying to start the Managerial Revolution?

In November the Debates started. The first one seemed to be about…well….religion.

The Liberals decided to support the idea that the people could have their Gods.

Around the same time a Russian steam powered warship was spotted off the coast of Japan. Somewhat alarming. But not a real threat. Not only one ship.

Also Russia has a Cordial relationship with Japan.

Still it was decided to strengthen Japan’s ties with the Russians. So the Diplomats in Russia focused on doing so.

And the government also decided to allow the military to expand the Naval Base in Brunei. Just in case.

Which was a good idea. As shortly afterwards a Russian FLEET showed up off the coast of Japanese North Borneo.

The Liberal Party were not too worried about the Russians. They had bigger fish to fry.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Seventy - Not So Smart Moves

So, at the start of the year, 1865, the Upper House was rearranged even while the election was still going on.

The Reactionaries, the Socialists, and the Liberals gained seats while the Anarcho-Liberals and the Conservatives lost seats.

Still, things might change by the 28th of February when the election came to an end.

The next debate was about Religion. Of course the Liberals supported Pluralism.

When the election finally ended and the votes were counted the Liberals…were not happy.

Sadly, with the Court Faction in charge there was no way to bring about change or reform.

“HA! They can’t stop us!” said the older members of the Liberal Party.

So they went to the Emperor and asked to be in charge again. And he said sure.

But it turned out they COULD be stopped. As the Liberals still didn’t have enough votes to change anything. At least not through the Upper House.

“You were saying?” said the young Liberals.

“Shut up,” replied the old Liberals.

In March the Diplomats in London, once again, helped to improve Japan’s relationship with the UK.

But the Liberal Party did so something to help their cause…er..the people’s cause.

An accident at a factory allowed them to make public the idea that Minimal Safety Regulations to the factories and businesses might be important

“We’re going to have another election,” announced the older members of the Liberal Party. "Then we will have enough seats to change things."

“Yes, that worked so well last time,” pointed out the young members of the Liberal Party.

“Shut up,” replied the old Liberals.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Seventy-One - Finally!

The international news had very little about Japan. There were bigger events on the world stage.

The Austrian-Prussian Brother’s War was still going on. Europe was a massive conflict.

And Brazil was planning a war with Peru. To absorb it seemed to be the goal of the future war.

Back in Japan unemployment had skyrocketed.

By May the next debate, this time about citizenship policy, was held.

The Liberals pushed for limited citizenship. They hoped this would push the votes into their favor.

There was also a announcement from the scientists. Muzzle-loaded rifles had been perfected and was now able to be mass produced.

But there was also some bad news. By July three factories had gone bankrupt. To try to counter this issue the Liberals pushed the Spending in Construction up to 100 percent while lowering Taxes across all three classes.

The idea being more money would be available among the populace to spend on goods and services. While the increased spending might help employ more people.

Then the next debate was in late July. This time on Tariff Policies. In other words Free Trade or Protectionism. Of course the Liberals pushed for Free Trade.

In August Diplomats in Moscow did their best to increase Japan’s relationship with Russia. Once again all the Russian ships floating about the coast was somewhat alarming.

Once again the international news had nothing about Japan. Though the Netherlands was grabbing some neighbor’s lands.

The European war still going on. The large Austrian-Prussian Brother’s War was a stain on the map of Europe. It looked like Austrian MIGHT be losing.

In September Russia went to war with China and the Allies of China. Which brought some relief to the Japanese. At least the Russians were now occupied with somebody else. And their Fleet would be tied up with the war.

In September the Liberal government signed the Geneva Convention.

Then the elections finally came to an end. And the Liberals, plus the Anarcho-Liberals, had formed a coalition. They would form the basis of the government.

NOW they could get to work!

 

[serutan]

Is Greek fear a derivative of Greek fire?

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Seventy-Two - Ships Of The Line

Sadly, the troublesome movements and rebels were still bubbling under the surface of society.

But the Liberal Party had plans to make many of the movements harmless. If they could. They just needed the votes.

Then there was some bad news. General Yoshimichi Oyama had died from old age. His funeral was fine and well attended.

And a new war had appeared in South America. But then there was good news in November.

Researchers had made enough advances in chemistry to allow the industry to make Explosive Factories.

The international news was, once again, slightly behind the times. And the front page was mostly covered in news of the wars. And maybe a developing war between the Netherlands and the UK.

Near the end of November there some interesting news from Bintulu. Seems a ‘illegal’ trade union had formed. Normally the government’s reaction with be swift and harsh. But the Liberals had the local law enforcement pull their punches a tad.

Yet, to prove that they had a strong backbone, the Liberals allowed the Navy to order the building of TWO ships of the line.

Of course the Diplomats in London helped improved Japan’s relationship with the UK. After all, what was the point of making your Navy larger if you didn’t have good relationships with the Greatest Naval Power on the planet?

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Seventy-Three - Breech-Loading

1866 opened with the Upper House, once again, rearraging itself.

The Conservatives and the Anarcho-Liberals lost seats. While the Reactionaries, Socialists, and Liberals gained them. The Socialists seemed to be catching up on everybody else.

Around the same time scientists discovered the Hierarchical Order. The idea seemed to be a pryamid scheme to be honest. But then were not most governments and businesses pryamid schemes?

The Austrian-Prussian Brother’s War didn’t really seem to be going well for either side. Though Austria seemed to be losing it. According to the maps anyway.

And the war the Russians started didn’t seem to be going their way. At least not based on any of the maps the Japanese government could find.

Seems the international news reported a major crisis had been avoided.

But it didn’t seem to really please anybody or help international relationships.

In late February the Province of Osaka, the first province in that region, finished building their railroad system.

Soon the whole area would be crisscrossing with them.

Then the researchers announced that breech-loading guns had been perfected. And they started to work on medicine.

 

[Eurasia]

Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Seventy-Four - Small Arms Factory.

Of course the first thing the Army did was start training three Guard Brigades.

The idea being they would be the most advanced units available when assembled and would easily crush….well anybody.

The Province of Wakayama announced it had finished its railroad. This was closely followed by the Provinces of Nara and Kobe. The whole Region would now benefit from speedy delivery of goods and soldiers.

In May the Diplomats, in Washington, after taking the President out for some drinking and female company, announced they had increased Japan’s relationship with the US,

This was important because the USA was becoming a powerful nation. Fourth on the Official list of Great Powers according to people who made such lists in their basements while their parents had a drunk fight over how their offspring spent their time making lists in the basements while talking to their toy clown at night. Just because he likes clowns. It isn’t a big deal. And voices in his head are normal for a adult at that age still living with his parents. That’s normal in Japan.

Anyway…..near the end of May it was reported that a small arms factory was being built in the Region of Kanto.

The international news had something about a cat and football. Which seemed to have very little to do with feet.

 

[Nikolai II]

​

The international news had something about a cat and football. Which seemed to have very little to do with feet.

Since it was about poor people, it's probably the football that is kicked with the foot. Handegg being an expensive sport. And rugby (cheap handegg) not being named for any feet.

It might be baseball though, if it's a sport for poor people with a ball but a bad name when calling it football. (It also became a lot more popular in Japan in our timeline)

 

[serutan]

But won't a small arms industry limit Japan's reach?