Rise of the Sun of May - Part 4: The European Blues (1858-1863)

Jumping back in, Rosas has declared war against the newcoming Paraguayan King Roque I, claiming territory that would push Paraguay's border north to the Pilcomayo River. As reserves mobilize, General Ángel makes his way directly for Asunción.

The Bolivians join the war as Peru and Colombia refuse. This is no problem though as the Bolivians were just brought in as extra backup. However, this does mark the end of the ABC Bloc.

In April, Former Governor Urquiza has the audacity to turn to Rosas for a defensive alliance. Rosas ain't havin' none of that.

As the troops move in, it's clear the Paraguayans aren't playing around. A formidable 19,000 man and growing army protects the small country. Rosas, however, knows that Ángel would easily wipe the floor with them.

Taxes go up but that's a given under Rosas. What can he say, he needs the money!

Current Peruvian President Ramón Castilla returns to Rosas to recreate the alliance. Rosas agrees and loves seeing people come crawling back to him.

More war in Europe! Up and coming Great Power Bavaria has declared war upon the North German Federation. The Germans aren't getting any breaks.

As the sieging of Paraguay kicks off, the 20,000 man Paraguayan army decides to go full force in an attempt to quickly knock us out of the war.

Ángel holds fast as Generals Justo Menza Sr. and Jr. quickly move their reserves in to backup.

Even after reinforcements arrived for the Paraguayans, Ángel manages to absolutely decimate their morale with his tactics.

And just like that the battle is done. For every brave Argentine lost, five more Paraguayans were killed. However, it was not all a victory. General Justo Menza Jr. sustained several shots to his torso before being removed from the battle. It is not sure what will come of his condition but his father, Menza Sr., is filled with vengeance.

Menza Sr. follows the Paraguayan retreat and kills 3,400 more of the bastards while only taking 500 casualties himself. Content with this victory, Menza Sr. heads back to northern Argentina where his son lays in a hospital.

As the last of the Paraguayan army is relinquished, General Justo Menza Jr. dies of his wounds. Rosas sends his condolences and Menza Sr. retires from the army, leaving many troops devastated.

In October, Asunción is finally captured by Ángel and his men. Following a moment of silence in memory of Menza Jr. with his troops, Ángel barges into the still-under-construction palace and presents the demands King Roque I.

Roque accepts the deal; Paraguay shall move their border north and Argentina shall receive all land between its current borders and the Pilcomayo River. Rosas intends to fill the 'gap' of barrenness later with some good old fashioned colonization. The new state formed by this acquisition, Formosa, officially brings the Senate up to 20 seats.

As the reserves are left go and Ángel returns, the budget once again goes back up.

Not only does Lady Argentina have some clear borders being formed, but the war has very slightly improved her international standing. Formerly around 40th after Rosas' Brazilian fiasco, we now sit at 36th and ticking up on the global scale!

Meanwhile, the new railroad being built is a thing, and a good thing for a country with 0% infrastructure. (Speaking of infrastructure, how in the world does this map mode work? If i look at the US with tons of infrastructure, it's all just the same tan color, shouldn't it show the different percentages in different colors).

Anyway, the railroad in Carmen will finish in 1861, allowing a 'test trial' of a rail system before Rosas decides to expand it further.

Surprisingly, Bavaria easily wins the German Brother's War. All alone, Bavaria faced both the monstrous North German Confederation and Sweden but they still pulled through.

On July 15th 1859, Rosas historically signs the last check towards the national debt. Written out to the Bank of Argentina itself, the check wiped the debt clean in around $1,493.30. This will surely usher in a new era of economic prosperity; Roaring '60s here we come!

Taxes are lowered in 'celebration' (but really Rosas just forgot to lower them after the war).

In August, a project to construct a Liquor Distillery is revealed in Buenos Aires. Rosas, excited for the money (and alcohol) it could bring donates the first $500 of the project's bill. (By the way, how exactly do I get investors to stick at this point? I won't show all the slides but I ended up practically footing the entire bill because no investors stayed or built up. Is this just because i'm too small or have too weak of an economy?)

On the topic of alcohol, the famous Beer Halls of the Andes are creating more stir as poverty levels increase in the area. Rosas sees no correlation and also wants a sip of that tasty shit.

In October, more Uruguayan Nationalists rise once again agitated by former Colorados. Ángel moves down to deal with them, now having an easy route to Uruguay through transport ships.

The Argentine Senate of 1860 is assembled. Following the successful Paraguayan War and the erasing of the national debt, Rosas and his party's approval rating is at a high. The Federals manage to break the previous 9-9 ideological tie in the Senate and easily retake full control.

Ángel manages to easily wipe out the Nationalists.

These Europeans are really going at it! A new war pits France and its allies against Austria-Hungary. Another interesting scenario for Rosas to watch with a bowl of popped corn.

Rosas decides to push for war on the Kongo after salivating at their lack of protection.

Europe, getting hammered as is, decides to go further down the whole with a fresh crisis. Ostpreußen is the scene where many Lithuanians at the extreme edge of Germany's border rally for independence. Bavaria quickly backs the Lithuanians.

If he was to attack Kongo, Rosas would need the ships in ship shape. To be at their prime when crossing the ocean, the ships need supplies. Rosas decides to research for these supplies.

Europe ramps up for yet another massive war. *Ding* *ding* In the Bavarian corner, weighing in at over 9 million square miles we have "Mother" Russia along with their special and totally not incompetent friends, the Spanish! In the German corner, weighing in at an undisclosed amount of disputed territory, we have the Bastard British!

After forming the casus belli on the Kongo, Rosas calls off any future war when he notices a single province in the country has a population nearly equal to all of Argentina herself. That's a lot of potential rebels.

The US and it's annoying and dominating sphere have begun to encroach on South American soil as Colombia is absorbed in their influence. Rosas opposes this, seeing America as a coming threat in the future.

In the Senate, one of the members of Partido Reaccionario has given a rousing warhawk speech. Rosas approves.

The economy is doing so well following the debt payment that Rosas can actually raise budgets for Education and Administration up to 60%!

The liquor distillery has commenced construction in Buenos Aires. Expecting to be completed in 1893, the distillery will be a branch of the Italian distillery 'Fratelli Branca' in Milan. This company is expected to be especially successful in Argentina as they focus on making Fernet-Branca, a popular bitter liqueur consumed all across the nation. Rosas is pleased.

In March, the Chileans announce that they had sent a colonization expedition to expand down to the tip of Patagonia. Rosas does not like this one bit as it could result in a Chilean land grab of the lower provinces.

The science guys are ordered to look at army guy stuff.

On May 12th 1861, the first railroad in all of South America is completed in Carmen. Rosas himself cuts the ribbon at the starting station and rides the full length of the track.

Meanwhile in Germany- a Russian takeover!

Word from Chile is that they have signed the 'Geneva Convention'- a set of rules concerning wartime. Rosas would never sign such weak and spineless treaty!

Later that day, Rosas signs the treaty after pressure from the Senate convinced him it might give Argentina some legitimacy on the world stage.

That war is basically over now.

Yep, the treaty is signed and the North German Federation releases the one province Kingdom of Lithuania, which continues under the protection of Bavaria.

The Argentine Senate of 1862 is assembled. The Left Coalition returns to their usual steady growth. Meanwhile, the Reaccionarios have gained support from their fiery jingo speeches.

A situation in the US! In April, 14 American states break off to form the Confederate States of America. Current US President Abraham Lincoln doesn't seem to be having any of that and has made it clear he will not let the union parish. Rosas kinda wants that though.

The UK almost immediately recognizes the CSA. International support doesn't seem to back America.

Anarcho-Liberals under revolutionary Domingo Abaroa have risen in Bolivia. Rosas elects to not intervene- after all, where were the Bolivians in Entre Rios and Paraguay?

In fact, Rosas decides to hold a military parade just to piss off the neighbors.

Around this time I also used the province thing in the ledger to get some stats on where the population lives. It turns out that half of the population live in either Buenos Aires or the central city of Córdoba. I thought this was just cool to look at though so here you go!

Our international spot is now 26th! Rosas has successfully brought us back to our former place we held in '36!

More Reaccionarios follow the previous example and try to hold rousing speeches in the Senate. Rosas just finds it annoying now and kicks them off the soapbox just to display his own power.

Railroads are now being built all over the State of Buenos Aires!

The Confederates have basically lost at this point.

On January 2nd 1863, following years of slow Platinean migration to the souther barren lands, Rosas officially declares that Argentina now encompasses these deserts in her borders.

Adding yet another state to the Confederation, Argentina grows once again!