Cao: Difference between revisions

'''Cao''', officially the '''Cao Special Federal District''' is an island and overseas province of the [[Daxia|Democratic Republic of Daxia]] that sits near the entrance to the [[Nysdra Sea]] in northern [[Crona]]. [[Cusinaut]] and [[New Yustona]] are located directly north of it and [[Quetzenkel]] and [[Varshan]] are to the east and south respectively. The territory consists solely of the island of Cao and its adjacent territorial waters. Its capital and the largest population center is the city of [[Zhenzhu]]. The island's population is approximately 1.2 million inhabitants, of which the vast majority are ethnic [[Daxian people|Daxians]]. The island's command of the gateway to the [[Nysdra Sea]] make it a highly strategic location and an important economic hub for all of north [[Crona]]. It also serves as the base for the Daxian navy's Nysdra squadron with responsibility for safeguarding Daxian lines of communication to [[Xisheng]].

Caos's climate is predominantly temperate maritime, characterized by mild temperatures, ample rainfall, and frequent cloud cover throughout the year. The influence of the [[Nysdra Sea]] ensures relatively mild winters with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, while summers are cool and moderately warm, seldom exceeding uncomfortable heat. Rainfall is a constant companion, with showers occurring frequently, particularly in the west. Cloud cover is prevalent, often lending a soft, diffused light to the scenery. Occasional storms, particularly during the autumn and winter months, bring strong winds and heavy rain, adding dynamism to the climate. The island's climate lends itself to a prevalence of coniferous vegetation.

[[Daxia]]n exploration in the late 1500's brought them to the gates of the Nysdra and Uxma. In 1604 the ship ''Shin's Pleasure'' carrying Zhong dynasty officials on an official embassy to the [[Quetzenkel]] chieftains, was set upon by Uxma pirates. The boarding attempt was repelled with heavy casualties on both sides and ''Shin's Pleasure'' left the area and headed back southwest. News of the brazen attack left a powerful impression back at the Zhong court and a punitive expedition was dispatched. Consisting of ten ships armed with cannons and with close to twelve-hundred men, it was the largest naval show of force by the Zhong that sailed so far north. A numerically superior pirate force was defeated; with two High Captains killed, at the Battle of the Straits before moving on to attack Uxma itself. The pirate capital was defended at length by the remaining high captains but after a long bombardment and starvation of the defenders, Uxma surrendered to the [[Daxia]]ns after three months. The two remaining High Captains and their officers were summarily hanged as a warning against continued piracy and banditry; this event marks the end of the High Captaincy of Uxma. While the Battle of the Straits did not end the threat of piracy for good, it did dislodge them from their main base in the [[Nysdra Sea]], leaving the island open uncontested for settlement. The new settlers renamed Uxma to [[Zhenzhu]] and fortified it against attack from the sea.