File: Krupp Gun.jpg (74 KB, 602x388)

74 KB JPG

“Give my compliments to the gunnery crew,” you say to Witter. Crossing your arms, you look over at the Krupp gun, still smoking from the barrel and open breech. Witter nods enthusiastically, then speaks to the men in German. They all salute you sharply, the absolute model of professional artillerists.

“Well, Herr General?” Witter raises an eyebrow, hands in his pockets, as he looks back to you.

Sato leans in, whispering in Japanese. “These weapons are exactly what our army needs. Artillery is the undisputed master of a modern battlefield. I suggest we buy them.”

You nod slightly, turning to Witter. “I’ll take all the units you have.”

The German smiles graciously. “Very good, sir. I shall add them to your bill. Shall we negotiate the rest of your purchase as well?”

You think, rubbing your chin. What you’ve seen so far is a plethora of things that could give the Shogun’s army an advantage. The Dreyse rifles, as well as the machines to build them, are of highest priority to you right now. Still, buying machine tooling will be expansive, and you still have other nations to visit. Additionally, the army will need good uniforms and equipment, both of which the Arsenal has in spades. If you were to make a major purchase of uniforms, equipment, rifles, and the Krupp guns, that would leave you with only enough money for a small purchase of tooling. Of course, you could buy more tooling as well, but such a large expense this early on in the mission might draw the Shogun’s ire. You’ll have to be careful about what exactly you buy here today. The Arsenal has three thousand of the Dreyse rifles, as well as a plethora of older small arms in varying condition and obsolescence, as well as a smattering of pistols for use by officers. There are enough uniforms in stock, you estimate, to equip your entire force and have some to spare; the same goes for the associated kit, boots, hats, and ammunition carrying equipment. Then there comes the matter of the machine tooling for the Dreyse Needle Rifles… You know that buying any of that equipment will be expensive, but if you can buy just enough to set up a small workshop, your resident gunsmith might be able to grow the operation into a proper factory with some time.

Turning to your cadre, you switch to Japanese. “Gentlemen, your thoughts?”

File: Major Sato, 1866.jpg (33 KB, 564x811)

33 KB JPG

Keisuke speaks first. “To purchase machine tooling is a rare, and valuable opportunity.” He frowns, crossing his arms. “It may be expensive, but I think such an expense is worthwhile.”

Nakajima shakes her head momentarily. “The machinery is impressive, yes, but it will take some time to get it all ready to make rifles.” She rubs her hands together, trying to keep them warm in the cold winter air. “I doubt our enemies are worrying about what they’ll be building in five years, so I imagine they will focus on purchasing modern equipment for use immediately. We should do the same.” She then looks toward the building. “Those uniforms seem like they should be a priority as well. If the Shogun is going to form any kind of central army, it will need to look like an actual army instead of conscripts.”

You nod, looking over at your other officer. “And you, Major Sato?”

He frowns deeply, rubbing his mustache. “It is true that our enemies will be focusing on confronting us sooner rather than later, and that would mean needing weapons and equipment now…” He trails off. “But I can’t deny the usefulness of that tooling. As loathe as I am to say it, perhaps we should ask if they will lease some tooling to us. It will be more expensive if we were to continue long-term, but what if we were to reverse-engineer the machines once Japan stabilizes? Then we could use that expertise to build our own factories.”

You pause, considering your options.

>Keisuke is right. You need tooling, even if it means cutting back on the other items you will acquire.
>Nakajima makes a good point. The enemy won’t wait for you to build a factory and arm your men with new rifles.
>Sato’s plan, though ambitious, might be the best solution. See if you can purchase what you need, and lease some tooling temporarily.
>Come up with a compromise. (Write-in)

File: 1466307315561.jpg (41 KB, 550x512)

41 KB JPG

Also I'm so sorry that it took so long for me to get the next thread up. Life has been draining for me over the last couple months.

>>5211843
>Sato’s plan, though ambitious, might be the best solution. See if you can purchase what you need, and lease some tooling temporarily.
Hope life gets easier for you, Zap.

>>5211843
>Sato’s plan, though ambitious, might be the best solution. See if you can purchase what you need, and lease some tooling temporarily.
Reverse engineering is how the Japanese got so many guns in the first place.

>>5211843
>Sato’s plan, though ambitious, might be the best solution. See if you can purchase what you need, and lease some tooling temporarily.
Take it easy man.

>>5211843
>Sato’s plan, though ambitious, might be the best solution. See if you can purchase what you need, and lease some tooling temporarily.

If nothing else, it'll give us a core force of firearms manufacturing experienced workers that know how to use relatively modern equipment. Experience like that is invaluable for producing the quality of and quantity of weapons we need now and in future.

Plus, it gives us the capacity to produce modern / experimental weapons on a scale greater than hand-craft / prototyping which is valuable given our investment in our Italian firearms designer.

>>5211843
>Sato’s plan, though ambitious, might be the best solution. See if you can purchase what you need, and lease some tooling temporarily.

>>5211851
When will god tape you to a chair to run

File: A modern army.jpg (408 KB, 1500x605)

408 KB JPG

Sato’s plan seems like the best option to you. If you can lease equipment and reverse-engineer it, you’ll be able to build weapons manufactories once the situation in Japan stabilizes. Turning to Witter, you remove your cap briefly and run a hand over your hair. “Herr Witter, would it be possible to lease some of that tooling from you?”

This takes the German by surprise, and he pauses for a moment to consider it. “A leasing agreement could prove quite beneficial.” Crossing his arms, he considers it for longer before deciding. “Yes, I will allow it. Japan shall lease out our surplus tooling.” Grinning, he begins walking toward the arsenal building again, beckoning you to follow. Your cadre all fall in as you walk beside the arsenal director. “And I presume you will be purchasing other items as well?”

You nod. “Yes, I believe we will need all of the Needle Rifles you have, as well as all the uniforms and equipment.” Pausing, you think for a moment. “Additionally, we’ll take the revolvers and some of the older small arms.”

“Very well,” Witter nods. “I shall write up the agreement once we return to the office.” He raises an eyebrow. “And I recall you mentioning that your superiors were interested in a production contract as well, yes?”

You think on it. While you could arrange a production contract, it might stretch your resources thin. You know it’s what the Shogun wants, but you doubt it will be all that fruitful compared to actually having the machines at your disposal.

>”Indeed. I would like to negotiate a contract for some Needle Rifles.”
>”I believe the current purchase we are making will be sufficient.”
>Write-in.

>>5212274
>>5212561
Retail management fucking sucks, man. Pays the bills though.

>>5212844
>When will god tape you to a chair to run
Hopefully soon enough. Still have to keep a day job for the time being. This book deal is slow going, very slow.

>>5213265
>”I believe the current purchase we are making will be sufficient.”

>>5213269
damn you, its suffering waiting 3 months inbetween every update! Keke, but looking forward to seeing how the book goes, Fingers crossed.

>>5213265
>”I believe the current purchase we are making will be sufficient.”

>>5213265
>”I believe the current purchase we are making will be sufficient.”

>>5213265
> Satou, Nakajima, what do you know of our native arms production? Is the shogunate producing any modern rifles at the moment?
> Enquire about terms for a modest licensing contract for rifles and artillery
Doesn't hurt to see what's on offer.
If they can loan us a cadre of gunsmiths and machinists to help bootstrap our production and train their replacements it could be worth more than it appears.

Let's be real, our entire stock of modern weapons is likely imported at the moment aside from some small cottage industry.

The shogun doesn't just want a domestic production contract because of the fear of pirates intercepting gun shipments, but because it would add an air of legitimacy to a shogunate that's reeling from a possible assassination, an arms race and civil strife. Beretta alone likely isn't going to be able to supply the bulk we need if we're drawn into an early war.

Traditionalists won't like the idea of importing thousands of foreign guns, but they'll likely be more accepting of a domestic industry producing the same guns that is also bringing food and wealth to the table. By the time it percolates through the social strata we should have had enough time to found an entirely native munitions factory and find some local genius gunsmiths.

A contract gives us the initiative and could dissuade daimyos that aren't yet ready from acting rashly, or provoke them into launching an early campaign before they're ready. Option one gets us precious time to solidify our control and make further developments, option two results in a bloody early campaign, but a campaign that is more likely to be on our terms, as they would be reacting to us and not the other way around.

Only problem is we REALLY need to see what the Krupp family is offering, modern steel mills and mines are essential.

>>5213265
>”I believe the current purchase we are making will be sufficient.”

File: Zitadelle_Spandau.jpg (2.75 MB, 2048x1365)

2.75 MB JPG

You shake your head. “I believe our current purchase will be sufficient.” As you all walk to the office, you think about what you’ve just done for the Shogunate. A shipment of new rifles and uniforms will be welcome, surely. The army will need to have such things if it is to meet any foe in the near future. The leasing of the machine tools will be important for the development of the Japanese arms industry, both in terms of actually making weapons, as well as training and familiarizing the Japanese people with industrial production. You wonder how quickly Japan will industrialize, once things stabilize. For now, you need to prioritize the coming months though. The Krupp guns will help with that. If Napoleon taught the world anything, it was that artillery should never be underestimated (though perhaps not over-prioritized either).

You sign the agreement for purchase and leasing, and send out men to collect the necessary funding. Once the agreement is signed, you send a telegram to the Shogun letting him know, then are soon on your way back to Schloss Tegel. You’ll rest there for a few hours, then your company will tour Berlin in the evening if the weather holds.

As you all climb into the carriages, a man runs up to the window and passes a telegram though to you. Glancing down at the paper, you instinctively notice the Shogun’s seal, and hand it to Keisuke first.

He opens it wordlessly as the carriage begins to move, his eyes wandering across the page. “His Excellency congratulates us on the lease of the machinery and purchase of weapons and equipment.” He grins slightly. “Judging by his description of the British mission, we are doing markedly better.”

You chuckle tiredly, knowing how tough the going must be over there. The Brits seem to be more open to working with the Satsuma than with the Shogun. “They’ve got their work cut out for them.”

The diplomat rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Also, the Shogun has suggested that we avoid getting too close with the German government.” He grimaces. “There are tensions between them and the French, and it would seem that the Shogun wants to prioritize our relationship with the latter.”

>”Duly noted.” (follow the Shogun’s suggestion)
>”I believe we should allow relations to form naturally. Surely the French wouldn’t turn on us because we got too close with the Germans.” (play things by ear)
>”The French Empire is on the decline. We should endeavor to have friends in Germany once that happens.” (speculate/conspire)
>Write-in.

>>5223547
>”Duly noted.” (follow the Shogun’s suggestion)
Try to play all sides.

Also, there is the risk of Germany throwing aside Japan to appease Russia later -- Bismarck would later revive a three-way pact between Germany, Austria and Russia to deescalate crises in Eastern Europe.

>>5223547
>”Duly noted.” (follow the Shogun’s suggestion)

>>5223547
>”Duly noted.” (follow the Shogun’s suggestion)

>>5223564
I don't think it's even about playing sides at all, but rather the reverse - NOT playing the ball with Germans.
IRL, Shogunate was big on French help and assistance and French saw it as an opportunity to expand into a country that was closed to every other Western power. Turns out both better on the wrong horse, but it wasn't until Franco-Prussian war wrapped up and world moved on a bit that Japan switched from "French assistance" to "Prussian/German assistance", itself few years after Shogunate ceased to exist.

>>5225450
*bet on the wrong

>>5223547
>”Duly noted.” (follow the Shogun’s suggestion)

Frankly, I'd rather ally with the Germans than the French, but we aren't Shogun - orders are orders are orders.

>>5225450
>Turns out both better on the wrong horse, but it wasn't until Franco-Prussian war wrapped up and world moved on a bit that Japan switched from "French assistance" to "Prussian/German assistance", itself few years after Shogunate ceased to exist.
So, shouldn't we bet on the right horse then, or am I misunderstanding what you wrote?

>>5226507
Depends on a simple question: do you want to meta-play?
And do you want your great-grandson to be stuck in the 2nd Sino-Japanese war with banzai charges and insufficient artillery support despite it being 1940, for you picked Prussian military experts?

“Duly noted,” you nod. It would be troublesome to go against the Shogun’s wishes, despite your impression that the Germans could prove a valuable ally. Admittedly, the French have a better overseas presence, and could come to Japan’s aid more readily in an emergency.

Part of you wonders, also, if having the German marines and frigate in Japan would draw the ire of the French. Hopefully not.

The carriage ride back to the house is relatively uneventful, with the topic of conversation turning from one subject to another lazily. Keisuke is impressed with the architecture of Berlin, with the diplomat commenting that perhaps a German-style district should be constructed in Edo to welcome foreign diplomats and investors. You notice Sato’s discomfort at the idea, which is understandable given his opinion of foreign influence over his homeland. Still, you can’t help but wonder what effect such a project would have on the city.

Soon the conversation shifts to matters of foreign policy. Sato and Keisuke discuss the potential threats of China and Russia in the coming years, with both men agreeing that Russia could prove dangerous if the military mission to them fails to garner support. The massive nation has expanded aggressively in the last century, colonizing whatever is left in the northern parts of the Far East. You know that they used to own Alaska, but ended up selling it to the United States. There is talk of an island north of Hokkaido that Keisuke worries could be used as a staging area for invasion. Sato proposes that Hokkaido be reinforced and developed as a kind of northern military outpost, an idea that Keisuke seems to be fond of.

Your carriage is soon stopped in front of Schloss Tegel, and you all dismount briskly into the cold. Despite the bright sun, the wind is cold against you. Hopefully the temperature won’t drop too much by the time you are set to see the city proper.

That will be the end of this thread. Sorry again for the long gap in posting. I'll set up a new thread Saturday night after work and we'll continue from there. As always, the floor is open for any questions and comments until then. Thanks for playing!

>>5247114
Thanks for running!