Dreams of Frisian Freedom

[diskoerekto]

It can be done without a merchant, yes. But having him there does give a small boost.

so he doesn't need to find another merchant from thin air but just use the one that's collecting at home node and send him to Cape to steer Malacca to English Channel? He already steers Ivory Coast so one would be sufficient I think

 

[jak7139]

so he doesn't need to find another merchant from thin air but just use the one that's collecting at home node and send him to Cape to steer Malacca to English Channel? He already steers Ivory Coast so one would be sufficient I think

Yes, I think that works.

Very key @Bullfilter: you want the chain of merchants to be unbroken. So Malacca -> Cape -> Ivory Coast -> EC needs a merchant for each leg. You can also go from Iory Coast -> Caribbean -> Chesapeake -> EC, but you would need a merchant for each.

Having the route be more circuitous and longer, and pushed forward by more merchants means more profit.

 

[Bullfilter]

OK, we're back to Friesland and a good long session played, most of it covered in the next chapter. Getting closer to end game now!

Hang on, where are the Italians?!

I suppose that's when the Curia itself (usually the largest single influencer) nominates the Pope? Not this time though: hooray!

Kilwa lowkey turned out to be quite scary itself

Yes, eclipsing Somalia as the front runner. But as a few have mentioned, it will eventually bring them face to face with the overawing Turkish Republic!

Shu was like this as well when they had the mandate of heaven, that only went on until they hit Russia, let's see if Dai Viet can keep this up against either of Russia / Hindustan. Or maybe they'll become a third focus of strength in Asia, let's see

A bit like Kilwa, they are benefitting from not being close to Russia (and having Hindustan as a partner in crime), while Shu (like Somalia) expanded until they became a victim instead

Now this would change the power balance considerably in their favor in the region

Dai Viet is the rising regional power, as long as they can keep friendly with Hindustan they should do well.

you really use the AI to good use with those pics, very well done!

Thanks: had a few spare pic slots here, so decided to use them.

sounds like we're in need of some expansion

Yes, just trying to work within the limits, especially the braking effect the Coalition has had for many years now. Forces us to work in Africa and the East Indies. More on that in the next chapter.

the rule of thumb is to try to collect only from your home node (i think that can be done without a merchant), and rerouting all the trade you can through the most indirect way possible to arrive at your home node. the more meandering way the trade comes, the more money you make. if there are places where you cannot steer it towards your home node then you can collect there but that's suboptimal. one has to look at the trade map to figure out where to expand next so all trade loops back to your home node. In your case, Chesapeake Bay should be steering towards English Channel instead of collecting. If you somehow managed to have one extra merchant so you steer Malacca to Cape and then Cape to Ivory Coast you'll make more money. There'll be people with better and more precise advice than this though.

I agree with @diskoerekto. Probably best to transfer from Chesapeake (since it flows into the English Channel where you collect) and Malacca (eventually flows into EC via the Cape and Ivory Coast). You want to push as much money forward into your main node as possible.

so he doesn't need to find another merchant from thin air but just use the one that's collecting at home node and send him to Cape to steer Malacca to English Channel? He already steers Ivory Coast so one would be sufficient I think

Yes, I think that works.

Very key @Bullfilter: you want the chain of merchants to be unbroken. So Malacca -> Cape -> Ivory Coast -> EC needs a merchant for each leg. You can also go from Iory Coast -> Caribbean -> Chesapeake -> EC, but you would need a merchant for each.

Having the route be more circuitous and longer, and pushed forward by more merchants means more profit.

It can be done without a merchant, yes. But having him there does give a small boost.

Thanks both of you. You'll see how I've applied this advice in the next update, with a minor variation. I'll have some more questions after that (mainly about how much trade is passed on, and whether you should have trade protection fleets in the intermediate zones as well, especially if others are prominent in them).

Great news I guess! Congrats! I never saw/read about a country that has papal control so it'll be exciting to see what can be done with this

Although it seems that much of the juicy stuff has largely passed its 'use by' date this late in the game.

Every country that has diplo tech 23 automatically gets imperialism as a CB. But I just checked on the wiki, subjects can't use it. So you will have to go with a normal claim (fabricated either by yourself then granted to F Aust, or by them).

Nominating just the bordering provinces should be enough. As long as FrAus remains loyal, they will fabricate. I have no evidence for this, but anecdotally I feel like if you highlight too many target provinces, the subject AI becomes paralyzed with too many options.

You have to build the spy network in Portugal itself, but once you have enough strength can make a claim on PAus. Then just give that claim to FrAus in the subject interface.

Thanks, see the next chapter.

Only vassals I am pretty sure.

Right, thought so.

If Austria hasn't done so already, I doubt they'll do it now with the threat of Frisian intervention.

OK.

A sign that the Republic is of course blessed by God! Huzzah!

Naturally. For now, anyway.

Thanks as always for the support and advice.

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter 69: Building the Colonies (1777-81)

The late 1770s and early 17803 saw a major development and building boom in the Federal Republic, especially in the Frisian East Indies and Niger. [Bing AI, DALL-E3]

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The Dai Viet-Lan Na Cleansing of Heresy War

Vietnam had launched another religious war on a neighbour, this time Lan Na with its allies Kham, Taungu and Ayutthaya in February 1776. They had the support of the Asian superpower Hindustan and two other minor powers. Kham was forced into a separate peace in September 1776 while Taungu was effectively annexed by Hindustan in November of the same year.

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The one-sided conflict ended in July 1777 with Ayutthaya losing land in southern China and Indo-China to the Vietnamese and Kedah in Malaya going to Hindustan. Lan Na was forced to convert to Mahayana Buddhism.

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At that time, the British-Chilean War was still going, as was the Russian attack on Kikuchi and Japan and the Turkish War against Jimma and its allies in the Horn of Africa.

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The British-Chilean Imperialist War

Britain, supported by Castile, had begun a war against Chile and its allies Cuba and Mexico in June. For the next three years had seen most of Castilian California and Pacifico Norte occupied by Mexico and Chile, the British objective seemingly distant and forlorn. But by March 1779 Britain had turned this around, with Castile occupying large swathes of Chile and southern Mexico.

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By then, it was one of only three wars in progress around the world – internal revolutionary uprisings aside.

Just four months later Mexico had pulled out of the war, cutting a separate peace with Britain for a small reparation payment.

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Chile and Cuba did not last much longer, with the peace treaty of 30 August 1779 forcing Cuba to cede Trinidad to British Colombia, with Britain gaining territory in Peru and northern Chile after six years of war.

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The Turkish-Jimma Annexation War

The aggressive Turkish expansion in the Horn of Africa had continued in November 1775 with a bid to annex the small revolutionary state of Jimma, one of many that had spawned from the defeat of Somalia in a previous war. This had roped in a range of Jimma’s allies who were forced to confront the might of Revolutionary Turkey. But Turkish ally Mombasa had been isolated and was eventually overwhelmed by the growing Kilwa in August 1777, forced to cede some land and leave the war.

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By then, Jimma had been long occupied by the Turks, as had much of Somalia. In May 1778, Revolutionary Ethiopia was fully annexed by Turkey.

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The once-powerful Somalia was next to capitulate, losing a large slab of its provinces to the Turks in August 1778 and now reduced to a minor regional footnote.

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Due to Kilwa’s continued participation it took until November 1780 for Jimma to concede defeat. Its neighbours had been devastated and devoured just so Jimma could fail in its attempt to not become a Turkish vassal: their allies had suffered far more than they had for their commitment!

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Hindustani Wars

Hindustan-Dai Viet ‘cabal’ turned to the Shu Chinese kingdom as its next victim in February 1779. Shu had only partly recovered from its past losses against a range of rapacious enemies by this time and were vastly outnumbered by its principal opponents.

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Shu resistance only lasted a year and a half, though their concessions were comparatively limited. They lost one isolated province on the border with Hindustan and were forced to give up their overlordship of Bengal: probably releasing them from some future damaging obligation they would have been unable to fulfil anyway.

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The Hindustan-Dai Viet axis next bullied the minor Malayan state of Pattani just three months later, dragging Bengal and Malacca into what would doubtless be another fist-beating!

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Austrian-Swiss Counter-Revolutionary War

Revolutionary regimes took over the governments of Switzerland (now reduced to a two-province minor) and Lorraine in May 1777. In August 1779 this had become too much to bear for the reactionary Austrian Archduchy, who with British support set out to crush the Swiss revolution. The Austrians alone now commanded over 330,000 troops and the result was never in doubt.

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Lorraine’s resistance only lasted until the end of January 1781 with them forced to convert to Catholicism, with Switzerland defeated barely a month later. Their short-lived revolution was ended and they became an Austrian vassal.

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Other Wars

After almost five years, Russia’s weight had finally been brought to bear against Japan. Not only was Kikuchi annexed, but Japan was also forced to yield nine provinces in its south. No eastern power had yet been able to stand up to the Russian juggernaut.

[Image from Leonardo AI, Phoenix 1.0]​

The two minor former Shu-Chinese kingdoms of Miao and Yi were fighting against each other again in February 1781 – even though Yi didn’t even field a standing army.

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And in East Africa, Turkey was at it again a few days later, this time seeking to annex Revolutionary Harar, who only had Funj as an ally. Two more minor powers likely to be annexed or vassalised by the ever-expanding Turks, their revolutionary governments giving them no moral protection.

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Diplomacy, Espionage and Revolution

April 1776 saw another attempt to explore the option of instigating a colonial war between Frisian and Portuguese Australia. First, a spy network would have to be developed in Portugal before a new claim could be fabricated.

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The expanding bevy of Frisian diplomats was active during this period. The recent gaining of control over the Papacy granted an extra diplomat by the start of May 1776 – who was the one sent to build the spy network in Portugal. In June, spice trading granted a very useful increase of 25% in spy generation. Over the next three years, diplomatic missions came and went as some were fulfilled or networks were discovered and recalled.

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Relations were improved with both allies and former enemies at different times, while the long-term campaign to dispel Castilian rivalry continued on and off, including trust-building initiatives. Enmity with Franconia was a constant theme, as was keeping New Friesland from developing a dangerous level of liberty desire.

The new claim in Portuguese Australia was gained in August 1777 – before the network was degraded a year later – and it seemed this was automatically also adopted by Frisian Australia. But any action was forestalled when a review of the relative strengths showed Portuguese Australia had gained considerably in strength over the last few years and an inter-colonial war was no longer looking desirable.

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The Federal Republic at least tried to boost their colony’s manpower and officer corps, which it was hoped might encourage them to grow their own army and did at least act to significantly suppress liberty desire. Otherwise, a more suitable opportunity to grab some land in Australia would have to be waited for.

Espionage – especially spy network construction – was further enhanced in October 1777 with another idea unlocked: this now made spy-building efforts very efficient indeed in combination with the President’s skills, an effective spymaster and spice trading.

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And with diplomatic power at a premium, the next skilled diplomat recruited in December was kept at court to provide advice to the President.

The last mainland Frisian province to have the revolution spread to it was Meppen in May 1778. And by July, the Portuguese Australian army had grown further to 50,000 men, delaying any move there to the more distant future [unless anyone has any bright ideas on anything further I can do to improve the odds without going to war directly with Portugal itself].

In September-October 1779 there was something of a surge in potential unrest in New Friesland. Revolutionary upheaval there had to be met with the use of favours owed and another tariff reduction to keep thing in check in late September.

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Just a month later, mercantile interests were sacrificed to ensure more unrest did not eventuate.

When the spy network in France reached the required threshold, some agitation for liberty in Floride was considered. But given it was already at 100% it was assumed this would not make any material difference for now. So it was decided to corrupt the French bureaucracy instead. [For what good that would do.]

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From November 1779 to March 1781 the usual fluctuations in missions occurred, with a major event being the gaining of an eighth diplomat in October 1780. From late 1780, attention was turned to Africa, with spy networks started in Air in November and then Kanem Bornu in January 1781. By March 1781, two diplomats were still returning after the end of their missions.

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In September 1780, New Friesland was once again complaining about trade and again, with liberty desire only just under control, the Federal government compromised once more.

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The previously mentioned idea breakthrough of improved agent training in October 1780 not only increased the number of diplomatic operatives but also decreased advisor costs.

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Having not suffered much from its at-a-distance conflicts with Turkey, in November 1780 Kilwa was now the leading East African regional power. And saw fit to declare Friesland to be a rival. The President hoped it would go no further than that. The Republic now had five enemies, including Castile (still) and three declared rivals.

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Between January 1777 and March 1781, the long lasting anti-Frisian coalition, started by Saxe-Lauenburg way on 6 April 1747 after Friesland’s extensive conquests in Northern Germany, continued to break up at an increasing rate. Bengal left in January 1777; followed by Pomerania (Feb 1778); then a gap until Malacca (Nov 1780); and a flurry of Berg, Saxe-Lauenburg, Mainz, Austria, Magdeburg, Brunswick, Cologne and Deli (Feb 1781); followed by Saxony, Goslar, Pahang, Franconia and Kedah in early March. This formally dissolved the coalition which had lasted almost 34 years.

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Domestic and Economic Affairs

Based on the advice of economic experts, in April 1776 Friesland began to adjust its trade flows in the hope of making them more efficient and lucrative. The merchant assigned to Chesapeake Bay started to transfer trade to the English Channel instead of collecting. The merchant in Burgundy was recalled and three days later was on his way to the Cape of Good Hope, where he arrived on 1 July with instructions to transfer to the Ivory Coast, which already fed the trade route to the English Channel.

At that point, Sjoerd Ripperda who ran the Indonesian Charter from Malacca was switched from collection to forwarding trade to the Cape. Other factors may have affected trade income during the period of reorientation, but net trade collections from the previous three collection nodes had been 441 ducats and was 461 by 1 July through the English Channel alone: the adjustment seemed to have worked.

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Over four days in September 1776, two major events saw a conservative approach to education gain a one-off administrative boost, while a large sum had to be allocated from the treasury to deal with some political ructions that threatened to undermine Friesland prized AAA-rated stability.

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At the start of 1777, yet more funds had to be allocated, this time to deal with the effects or urbanisation in six provinces across the Republic in both Europe and the colonies. And to keep the burghers happy and gain some longer-term tax revenue.

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To follow up the recent trade moves, the 18 frigates of the Lubeck trade protection fleet were ordered to join the larger English Channel fleet in June 1777, where the British had been slowly eroding Frisian trading influence.

The ten-year debate timer in the Landtag ran out in October 1777. The President did whatever it took – money, influence peddling, appeasing the clergy and outright bribes – to quickly bring the new debate to a successful close. Quartering of Troops was enacted for the next ten years: especially important at that time as the Frisian standing army far exceed its support limit.

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And the following month another member was added to the expanding Parliament: a colonial seat from the FEI. The Landtag would later expand again with the addition of Verden in March 1779. For reasons that were not entirely clear (or explored much) at the time, by February 1778 trade income had fallen to 446 ducats per month after having climbed as high as 479 in June 1777.

A long process of conversion in Pasai ended in July 1778 and this gave a boost of Papal influence – enough for a Frisian-controlled Pope to happily grant a sanction for increased taxes, which would also aid in a modest construction program that persisted throughout the period.

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A big mission to convert the Sunni province of Kutaraja followed. As did a bountiful harvest a few months later, which helped to replenish a good deal of the recent expenditure from the already healthy treasury.

Recent frigate builds and the transfer of the Lubeck fleet to the English Channel had boosted the Frisian trade power there to 63% (up from 49% in April 1776) with monthly trade income up again to 463 ducats by September 1778.

Despite the adoption of the Enlightenment and parliamentary republicanism in Friesland, some superstitions still persisted in the late 18th century: the sighting of a comet in June 1780 sparked a nationwide panic. The loss of stability was soon remedied by the President of course, at the cost of considerable (though affordable) administrative power.

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From 1776 to 1780, Friesland’s ranking among the world’s great powers remained unchanged in 5th place. The increase in their score had come through development in the colonial provinces, seeing Friesland improve more that France above them and the three powers below them. However, the top three behemoth powers had grown significantly more over that time, fuelled principally by conquest.

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In terms of Friesland’s position over the long stretch of time since 1444, they also ranked 5th though there was some variance in the other positions of the top contenders. Friesland’s administrative rating, boosted in particular by their very large monthly income, was their strongest suit. Waning or def7unct powers like Portugal, Morocco and Poland were descending on the list, while Turkey, Hindustan, Russia, Friesland and Great Britain (in that order) led those on the upward trend.

Again for reasons not fully explored, by September 1780 the fluctuating trade income had ‘fallen off a cliff’ again, down to just 393 ducats/month and had only risen slightly a few months later.

A heavy program of development and building ran from January 1778 to November 1780, using a combination of surplus administrative and military power that could not yet be spent on further research advances, where Friesland was well already ahead of the international benchmarks. In January 1778, 546 admin and 165 military power was spent to develop Pekalongan (+6 dev), Poso (+7), Karta (+4), Surabaya (+5), Pindinga (+2) and Banten (+8) enabled four new conscription centres to be built in Karta, Surabaya, Pindinga and Banten to help redress the large land force limit (LFL) deficit. A cathedral also began construction in Poso. The completion of those builds in November 1778 saw the LFL raised to 365 regiments – still 25 short of the current establishment, which cost the budget an extra 25.59 ducats/month.

Another 59 admin and 105 military power saw Paul developed by +8 to 20 in April 1779, with another conscription centre commenced. The same was done in Ondo (in Frisian Niger) in August 1780 (70 admin, 70 military, +4 dev to 10) and Wakari (35 admin, +1 to 10 dev), with two more conscription centre builds commenced. At the same time, the withdrawal of the colonist from Gabon allowed grand shipyard to be built there as the development program moved into West Africa. The last development in 1780 came in Idah (again in Frisian Niger) a few months later (72 admin, 72 military, +6 dev to 10) for yet another conscription centre build.

Navy builds over this period were all of frigates in Europe, to support the protection of trade in the English Channel, as the naval force limit gradually increased. One was laid down in May 1777 and three in March 1778. Given the LFL overrun, no new regiments were trained. Instead, the focus shifted to drilling to increase army professionalism. From February 1779, eight of the ten Frisian Leger were drilling with army professionalism then at 33.89%.

As Friesland waited for the coalition to wither away and with the prospect for a colonial war in Australia on hold, the expiration of old truces meant a major attack on Air (army strength 68,000 from Air and its minor allies) was again on the cards. An assessment in November 1780 showed the prospects were good, so a diplomat was sent to set up a spy network. L.v. Idah stopped drilling and was moved up to the border; with the other Nigerian colonial army, Friesland had 65,000 troops in the region.

To ensure better odds and get mercenaries to soak up some of the inevitable casualties, the Grand Company (30 regiments) was hired in early February 1781, which deployed by 15 February but would take some time to organise. This put the book strength of the Frisian army to 420 regiments – 51 over the LFL, so therefore considerable extra costs incurred above the mercenary fees. By 5 March 1781 monthly net income was down to 144 ducats (trade at 395), with 50,000 in the treasury. The monetary cost could be sustained indefinitely, though it did dent the army’s professionalism.

On 15 March 1781, Friesland was ready. War was declared and the three armies poised on the border began heading towards their objectives. Two large Air border forts would have to be taken before further progress to the interior could be made. Aragon was not called in to support for now, as the Frisian leadership hoped to garner all the glory and gains for themselves, but the option remained if required.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

Its neighbours had been devastated and devoured just so Jimma could fail in its attempt to not become a Turkish vassal: their allies had suffered far more than they had for their commitment!

Two more minor powers likely to be annexed or vassalised by the ever-expanding Turks, their revolutionary governments giving them no moral protection.

There can only be one... (revolutionary state)

 

[diskoerekto]

The one-sided conflict ended in July 1777 with Ayutthaya losing land in southern China and Indo-China to the Vietnamese and Kedah in Malaya going to Hindustan. Lan Na was forced to convert to Mahayana Buddhism.

consolidation goes on

Due to Kilwa’s continued participation it took until November 1780 for Jimma to concede defeat. Its neighbours had been devastated and devoured just so Jimma could fail in its attempt to not become a Turkish vassal: their allies had suffered far more than they had for their commitment!

rev turkey not so nice against fellow revolutionaries

And in East Africa, Turkey was at it again a few days later, this time seeking to annex Revolutionary Harar, who only had Funj as an ally. Two more minor powers likely to be annexed or vassalised by the ever-expanding Turks, their revolutionary governments giving them no moral protection.

what was that doctrine of stalin's, socialism in one country or something?

Between January 1777 and March 1781, the long lasting anti-Frisian coalition, started by Saxe-Lauenburg way on 6 April 1747 after Friesland’s extensive conquests in Northern Germany, continued to break up at an increasing rate. Bengal left in January 1777; followed by Pomerania (Feb 1778); then a gap until Malacca (Nov 1780); and a flurry of Berg, Saxe-Lauenburg, Mainz, Austria, Magdeburg, Brunswick, Cologne and Deli (Feb 1781); followed by Saxony, Goslar, Pahang, Franconia and Kedah in early March. This formally dissolved the coalition which had lasted almost 34 years.

finally

At that point, Sjoerd Ripperda who ran the Indonesian Charter from Malacca was switched from collection to forwarding trade to the Cape. Other factors may have affected trade income during the period of reorientation, but net trade collections from the previous three collection nodes had been 441 ducats and was 461 by 1 July through the English Channel alone: the adjustment seemed to have worked.

goed gedaan!

On 15 March 1781, Friesland was ready. War was declared and the three armies poised on the border began heading towards their objectives. Two large Air border forts would have to be taken before further progress to the interior could be made. Aragon was not called in to support for now, as the Frisian leadership hoped to garner all the glory and gains for themselves, but the option remained if required.

hoping for a quick and painless win once again!

 

[jak7139]

But any action was forestalled when a review of the relative strengths showed Portuguese Australia had gained considerably in strength over the last few years and an inter-colonial war was no longer looking desirable.

[unless anyone has any bright ideas on anything further I can do to improve the odds without going to war directly with Portugal itself].

Throwing any spare development (mil category especially) into FrAus. will help build up their manpower and troop numbers. You have such a large treasury, so a building spree in the colonial subjects with barracks, forcelimit buildings, etc. would not be amiss. They also need income to support those armies so build income buildings after that.

You can also subsidize your colonies directly in the diplomacy screen (same section as embargoes, sending gifts).

When the spy network in France reached the required threshold, some agitation for liberty in Floride was considered. But given it was already at 100%

Can you support their independence, or are you worried that might drag you into a war you don't want?

Aragon was not called in to support for now, as the Frisian leadership hoped to garner all the glory and gains for themselves, but the option remained if required.

A good play. You want Aragon to be strong, but not too strong. Friesland can manage the land better.