"I hope that this update will aid with the further understanding of D-398. Unfortunately there is little time to give a further update as the recorder had been damaged in a recent partial cave in. Perhaps we really to need to find a location other than a old underground tunnel that lies near a fault."
Louis XVI and the Period of Uncertainty
(Buenos Aires 1903)
The period after the First World war was difficult for France. Even though they had won the war the cost had been enormous, and France was now in serious debt. Louis XVI realized he had two main options, increase the taxes on the poor or tax the untaxed nobility, with only a mild increase on the common people. As the first option seemed likely to cause massive revolt Louis XVI chose to do the latter[1]. This move was quite unpopular with much of the nobility, though they simply complained. Louis XVI's popularity with the people of France increased though, with only a few minor incidences with the tax hike. However France still had some difficulty paying it's debts and was unable to undertake any great projects.
The French Navy suffered considerably during that period of debt, which would cause significant problems for France when the Second World War rolled around. The FEIC however continued to thrive throughout this period, and purchase several ships from the Navy to protect their ships from pirates. As the French experienced more trouble with their debt the FEIC was able to buy the ships for cheaper and soon had a navy nearly the size of the actual government one. This meant that many able bodied sailors went to the FEIC's employment for the better pay.
The need for money caused the French to engage in a rather risky endeavour. They decided that the profit the the British made of Rupert's Land would help them out yet they were in no position to risk war with the British, even if the British were in bad debt themselves. The French thus decided to arm the Inuit, trading with them much as they did with the other native peoples of the new world, except that the Inuit furs would be stolen from British ships. While these raids would prove risky they none the less helped the Inuit improve their living standards. The element of surprise certainly helped the Inuit as a few Kayaks could sneak up upon a British ship quite easily. There was a slightly lower profit margin in dealing with the Inuit privateers over the hunters of further south, but that was simply the nature of the system.
In the end Louis XVI managed to just barely guide France through the post war period of uncertainty. While some would argue that other courses of action could have led France through better Louis XVI's path worked well enough, and that's the important part.
[2] As per OTL
[3] Hokkaido
(Buenos Aires 1903)
The period after the First World war was difficult for France. Even though they had won the war the cost had been enormous, and France was now in serious debt. Louis XVI realized he had two main options, increase the taxes on the poor or tax the untaxed nobility, with only a mild increase on the common people. As the first option seemed likely to cause massive revolt Louis XVI chose to do the latter[1]. This move was quite unpopular with much of the nobility, though they simply complained. Louis XVI's popularity with the people of France increased though, with only a few minor incidences with the tax hike. However France still had some difficulty paying it's debts and was unable to undertake any great projects.
The French Navy suffered considerably during that period of debt, which would cause significant problems for France when the Second World War rolled around. The FEIC however continued to thrive throughout this period, and purchase several ships from the Navy to protect their ships from pirates. As the French experienced more trouble with their debt the FEIC was able to buy the ships for cheaper and soon had a navy nearly the size of the actual government one. This meant that many able bodied sailors went to the FEIC's employment for the better pay.
The need for money caused the French to engage in a rather risky endeavour. They decided that the profit the the British made of Rupert's Land would help them out yet they were in no position to risk war with the British, even if the British were in bad debt themselves. The French thus decided to arm the Inuit, trading with them much as they did with the other native peoples of the new world, except that the Inuit furs would be stolen from British ships. While these raids would prove risky they none the less helped the Inuit improve their living standards. The element of surprise certainly helped the Inuit as a few Kayaks could sneak up upon a British ship quite easily. There was a slightly lower profit margin in dealing with the Inuit privateers over the hunters of further south, but that was simply the nature of the system.
In the end Louis XVI managed to just barely guide France through the post war period of uncertainty. While some would argue that other courses of action could have led France through better Louis XVI's path worked well enough, and that's the important part.
Awakening a Sleeping Power: Russia's Great Blunder
(Beijing 1907)
[1] As Louis XV did OTL(Beijing 1907)
Paul III was not a popular man with the nobility of Russia, and this was a fact that was quite evident to him. Thus Paul made to over all policies: improve the conditions of the people to gain their support and exile nobles who spoke out against him to Siberia and Alaska. Thus Paul began the abolishment of serfdom in certain areas. The largest area was Siberia which sparked a massive flow of immigrants into that cold eastern land. He also began a gradual abolishment in Russia proper by freeing any serfs who had been under a noble exiled to Alaska or Siberia. Unfortunately this inflow of nobles into Alaska proved disastrous.
The Aleuts had been subjugated to near slavery[2] in Alaska and the influx of nobles only worsened their situation, thus they began to riot and attack the Russian forts. This prompted a need for soldiers and armaments to be shipped to Alaska. Thus large numbers ships set off from the Siberian cost to supply this demand. Unfortunately one ship, carrying rifles (which saw a fair bit of use by Russians against the small Aleut forces), was caught in a storm in the Sea of Okhotsk. The entire crew either drowned or abandoned ship, with a few managing to make it to a Russian port. However the ship did not sink, but was blown of course and landed in Ezochi[3] where it was found by the local Ainu people in mid 1768. News of the ship slowly spread across the Ainu community, and soon plans were being formed for a rebellion using these strange new weapons.
By 1769 they began carrying out raids against the Japanese to try to push them off Ezochi. The terror of the rifles caused panic amongst the Japanese, if the Ainu had had muskets the effect would be far less frightening, but the accuracy of the rifles meant that the Ainu could start picking people off before anyone knew they we there. The Ainu did eventually run low on ammunition, and the superior numbers of the Japanese armies were to much for the few Ainu with rifles and their allies with weapons only equal to what the Japanese forces wielded, if not inferior.
The rebellion still had a major effect on Japan though, as many citizens now worried that the lack of gunpowder in Japan had made them open to an assault by the Europeans. Thus some of the Ainu rifles were smuggled off by these worried people to be studied. The Shogun attempted to stop these efforts, but had relatively little success and the event slowly became akin to a which hunt. Meanwhile efforts to improve the Japanese gunsmithing technology proved very successful, and small groups were soon wielding rifles as protection against the Shogun's police. Then on September 5th 1771 as small group of Riflers, as the group was called, kicked out the officials in the town of Shiroishi. It is unclear what the exact goal of this move was, though most historians now agree it was likely that the head of the local Riflers simply wanted more power, however the effect is clear.
This brought a civil war to Japan that would ravage the country for years to come. The Riflers eventually stated that it was their goal to restore the power of the Emperor and to have Japan once again be a significant force in the world, though these goals were more to gain support than the ideology of the head Riflers. Throughout the War the Shogun kept the Dutch from having any idea what was going on, in order to keep trade profitable and keep the Dutch from aiding the Riflers. It did seem for the first few years that the Riflers would be quickly defeated, but when they switch to raiding tactics the slow rifles managed to proved effective. The war continued bloodily for many long years before either side could make any sort of gains.
The Aleuts had been subjugated to near slavery[2] in Alaska and the influx of nobles only worsened their situation, thus they began to riot and attack the Russian forts. This prompted a need for soldiers and armaments to be shipped to Alaska. Thus large numbers ships set off from the Siberian cost to supply this demand. Unfortunately one ship, carrying rifles (which saw a fair bit of use by Russians against the small Aleut forces), was caught in a storm in the Sea of Okhotsk. The entire crew either drowned or abandoned ship, with a few managing to make it to a Russian port. However the ship did not sink, but was blown of course and landed in Ezochi[3] where it was found by the local Ainu people in mid 1768. News of the ship slowly spread across the Ainu community, and soon plans were being formed for a rebellion using these strange new weapons.
By 1769 they began carrying out raids against the Japanese to try to push them off Ezochi. The terror of the rifles caused panic amongst the Japanese, if the Ainu had had muskets the effect would be far less frightening, but the accuracy of the rifles meant that the Ainu could start picking people off before anyone knew they we there. The Ainu did eventually run low on ammunition, and the superior numbers of the Japanese armies were to much for the few Ainu with rifles and their allies with weapons only equal to what the Japanese forces wielded, if not inferior.
The rebellion still had a major effect on Japan though, as many citizens now worried that the lack of gunpowder in Japan had made them open to an assault by the Europeans. Thus some of the Ainu rifles were smuggled off by these worried people to be studied. The Shogun attempted to stop these efforts, but had relatively little success and the event slowly became akin to a which hunt. Meanwhile efforts to improve the Japanese gunsmithing technology proved very successful, and small groups were soon wielding rifles as protection against the Shogun's police. Then on September 5th 1771 as small group of Riflers, as the group was called, kicked out the officials in the town of Shiroishi. It is unclear what the exact goal of this move was, though most historians now agree it was likely that the head of the local Riflers simply wanted more power, however the effect is clear.
This brought a civil war to Japan that would ravage the country for years to come. The Riflers eventually stated that it was their goal to restore the power of the Emperor and to have Japan once again be a significant force in the world, though these goals were more to gain support than the ideology of the head Riflers. Throughout the War the Shogun kept the Dutch from having any idea what was going on, in order to keep trade profitable and keep the Dutch from aiding the Riflers. It did seem for the first few years that the Riflers would be quickly defeated, but when they switch to raiding tactics the slow rifles managed to proved effective. The war continued bloodily for many long years before either side could make any sort of gains.
[2] As per OTL
[3] Hokkaido
