Huadao: Difference between revisions
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By the [[1870]]s, Huadao was profitable. The initial mining presence - the Royal Overseas Fertilizer Company - was joined by two other competing companies, and the decade saw a dramatic increase of mining operations combined with an influx of new workers. Between [[1870]] and [[1895]], about a thousand mainland Audonians were brought to work on the island for six month terms, often in very poor working conditions. They were joined throughout the period by a mixed group of Levantines and Sarpics, including prisoners from [[Urcea]], [[Derian identity|Derian]] political refugees from [[Burgundie]], ambitious [[Isurian]]s, and a large number of other people, though predominantly ethnically Urcean. During the late 1890s, the island reached its peak guano productivity, shipping large amounts of product to both Audonia and [[Vallos]]. The economic boomtime was not to last, however, as the [['97 Rising]] and [[First Great War]] greatly disrupted operations; the Rising created instability on the island and the Great War disrupted international trade. The Rector of Huadao, George Renzo, declared his neutrality in the '97 Rising for the first two years of the war. As profits declined and business on the island slowed, Renzo decided to take the unusual step of declaring Huadao's independence. Accordingly, Renzo ruled the Republic of Huadao as its President from June [[1899]] through February [[1900]]. In that year, a detachment of the [[Navy of Burgundie]] arrived and deposed Renzo. In his place, a [[House de Weluta|de Weluta]]-aligned Rector was appointed. The Burgoignesc Navy assisted the new Rector in restoring business operations and improving the security of trade, and on 13 February 1900 he temporarily nationalized the guano mines. For the remainder of the Rising and First Great War, the guano profits of Huadao were divided between [[Burgundie]] and the de Weluta legitimist cause. The Rector remained in place after the Rising and restored private ownership of the mines. The mines continued to operate at peak efficiency until around [[1912]], when deposits began to dry up. From that time until the early [[1930]]s, the island sank into gradual irrelevance, though the Royal Navy base continued to function against a backdrop of an increasingly depopulated island. A civilian population did remain, however, primarily composed of ethnic Audonians with nowhere go to and various Occidental convicts sentenced to live on the island. In the 1920s, the people gradually transitioned from mine work to subsistence farming and other low-level economic activities as well as working on the naval base. | By the [[1870]]s, Huadao was profitable. The initial mining presence - the Royal Overseas Fertilizer Company - was joined by two other competing companies, and the decade saw a dramatic increase of mining operations combined with an influx of new workers. Between [[1870]] and [[1895]], about a thousand mainland Audonians were brought to work on the island for six month terms, often in very poor working conditions. They were joined throughout the period by a mixed group of Levantines and Sarpics, including prisoners from [[Urcea]], [[Derian identity|Derian]] political refugees from [[Burgundie]], ambitious [[Isurian]]s, and a large number of other people, though predominantly ethnically Urcean. During the late 1890s, the island reached its peak guano productivity, shipping large amounts of product to both Audonia and [[Vallos]]. The economic boomtime was not to last, however, as the [['97 Rising]] and [[First Great War]] greatly disrupted operations; the Rising created instability on the island and the Great War disrupted international trade. The Rector of Huadao, George Renzo, declared his neutrality in the '97 Rising for the first two years of the war. As profits declined and business on the island slowed, Renzo decided to take the unusual step of declaring Huadao's independence. Accordingly, Renzo ruled the Republic of Huadao as its President from June [[1899]] through February [[1900]]. In that year, a detachment of the [[Navy of Burgundie]] arrived and deposed Renzo. In his place, a [[House de Weluta|de Weluta]]-aligned Rector was appointed. The Burgoignesc Navy assisted the new Rector in restoring business operations and improving the security of trade, and on 13 February 1900 he temporarily nationalized the guano mines. For the remainder of the Rising and First Great War, the guano profits of Huadao were divided between [[Burgundie]] and the de Weluta legitimist cause. The Rector remained in place after the Rising and restored private ownership of the mines. The mines continued to operate at peak efficiency until around [[1912]], when deposits began to dry up. From that time until the early [[1930]]s, the island sank into gradual irrelevance, though the Royal Navy base continued to function against a backdrop of an increasingly depopulated island. A civilian population did remain, however, primarily composed of ethnic Audonians with nowhere go to and various Occidental convicts sentenced to live on the island. In the 1920s, the people gradually transitioned from mine work to subsistence farming and other low-level economic activities as well as working on the naval base. | ||
===Second Great War=== | ===Second Great War=== | ||
In the years and months leading up to the [[Second Great War]], tensions and Levo-[[Daxia]]n antagonism became increasingly clear to Urcean decisionmakers. In [[1930]], the decision was made to dramatically increase the size of the Royal Navy base on Huadao and begin strengthening its fortifications. An air base was also planned and completed in [[1931]], though it was controlled by the Navy for the duration of the war. The work was largely complete by April [[1934]], weeks after the beginning of the [[Second_Great_War#Beginning_of_hostilities|crisis in Dericania]]. A limited number of forces were withdrawn from Huadao to [[Levantia]] over the summer of 1934 but the naval station remained in place and the garrison remained at three-quarters strength. | In the years and months leading up to the [[Second Great War]], tensions and Levo-[[Daxia]]n antagonism became increasingly clear to Urcean decisionmakers. In [[1930]], the decision was made to dramatically increase the size of the Royal Navy base on Huadao and begin strengthening its fortifications. An air base was also planned and completed in [[1931]], though it was controlled by the Navy for the duration of the war. Several locations were scouted for the airbase but ultimately a portion of land on the far western shore of the island was chosen due to its level terrain; in years to come, the coastal adjacency of the airstrip became a strategic issue. The work was largely complete by April [[1934]], weeks after the beginning of the [[Second_Great_War#Beginning_of_hostilities|crisis in Dericania]]. A limited number of forces were withdrawn from Huadao to [[Levantia]] over the summer of 1934 but the naval station remained in place and the garrison remained at three-quarters strength. | ||
Huadao would not have long to wait before it was tested. In September 1934, Daxia went to war with [[Burgundie]], and Urcea honored the terms of the [[Istroyan Pact]] and declared war. A small Daxian flotilla was sent in early October to capture the island, as it threatened the trade route between Daxia and its [[Stenza|holdings in Peratra]]. The First Battle of Huadao was a Urcean victory, as the Royal Navy forces present in and around Huadao easily chased the Daxian flotilla away. A second attack came on 13 March [[1937]], a few months after Daxia's success at the [[Battle of Ayermer (1936)|Battle of Ayermer]]. The Second Battle of Huadao saw another Daxian flotilla arrive which the Royal Navy was only able to fight to a draw. While distracted by the Daxian fleet, a landing party came ashore and easily captured the coastal airfield, causing significant alarm. The [[Royal Marine Corps (Urcea)|Royal Marines]], supplemented by local militia, fought with Daxian forces over the airfield from 13 March until 2 April, when the last holdouts were finally captured. Daxian forces had hoped for a local Audonian uprising to supplement their numbers but were disappointed as many of the ethnic Audonian locals joined in the defense, ultimately dooming the expedition. During the time of the Second Battle, Huadao came under routine aerial bombardment, destroying some of the infrastructure and homes on the island. Following two costly failures to capture the island, Daxia abandoned plans to capture it and instead intermittently blockaded and surrounded the island. The period between [[1937]] and [[1940]] was hard for island residents, and during this time many bunkers were built into the island's many hills to provide semi-safe residency for the population. As the naval war decisively turned in favor of the [[Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association]] towards the middle and end of the war, Levantine naval supremacy was reestablished around Huadao in 1940-41. After that time, Huadao saw a great uptick in activity, as long-range bombers began to be stationed on the island. At the end of the war in [[1943]], the airbase was transferred to the [[Royal Air Force (Urcea)|Royal Air Force]], which would gradually improve facilities and bring additional personnel to the island. | |||
===Postwar boom=== | ===Postwar boom=== | ||