No, the other game called The New Order where the Nazis won

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > No, the other game called The New Order where the Nazis won

«‹›14 »

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

with immense pain Electricity

# ? Jul 14, 2023 22:38

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 2, 2024 20:17

Gen. Ripper: Jan 12, 2013

CHOO CHOO

# ? Jul 14, 2023 22:40

Arcanuse: Mar 15, 2019

Electricity.

# ? Jul 15, 2023 03:09

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Gotta admit this is not how I figured this vote would go.

# ? Jul 15, 2023 03:21

Synthbuttrange: May 6, 2007

well yeah

you gotta get electricity before you can get electric trains

# ? Jul 15, 2023 04:18

dead gay comedy forums: Oct 21, 2011

Synthbuttrange posted:

well yeah

you gotta get electricity before you can get electric trains

Exactly. How the hell you wanna great transport infrastructure without electricity, ffs

# ? Jul 15, 2023 04:59

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

It makes sense to me to go with this, since we encouraged all those factories to be built out in the countryside.

# ? Jul 15, 2023 22:55

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Chapter 23: May - November 1968

There�s one final hurdle for our security and anti-corruption reforms.

Once again, Matsushita has managed to carve out extra wiggle room for themselves. Given that they haven�t been implicated in plots to seize power illegally in Guangdong, they are granted this in exchange for votes.

Exceptions that paradoxically are not granted to some of our own faction. Hey, you snooze you lose: Matsushita came to us first and now we�ve got the votes we need. Ibuka is probably trying to play the long game to get access to prisoner labor. As for Hitachi �

Morita isn�t even going to entertain the idea.

quote:

World News
GERMANY INCREASES NAVAL PRESENCE IN INDIAN OCEAN

June 26, 1968
Germania, Germany

According to an article in the official Das Reich newspaper, the German Kriegsmarine recently conducted a series of large-scale exercises out of Mauritius and R�union, previously parts of French Madagascar that were seized by Germany after the insurgency there. After losing many of its holdings in Africa as a result of the collapse of the colonial government two years ago, Germany is apparently attempting to mount a comeback in the Indian Ocean as a counter to the Co-Prosperity Sphere.

Japanese diplomatic sources quickly denounced the move as �as an act of German aggression.� Although Japan has not yet made obvious moves in response, the incident is seen as a part of the continued deterioration of relations between the two superpowers, exacerbated by the German-American d�tente following the Stockholm Summit.

quote:

World News
RUMORS OF CONSPIRACY UNNERVE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

July 5, 1968
Tokyo, Japan

Strange rumors of a massive conspiracy from the interior of Japanese-occupied China have been rattling political experts in Tokyo following the arrest of General Sun Dianying earlier this year. These rumors, supposedly involving the long lost former leader of the Juntong, Dai Li, have reportedly stoked terror in the Chinese countryside as Dai Li was famously noted for his brutality during Chiang Kai-shek�s rule.

Tokyo, however, has refused to comment officially or to even acknowledge the rumors; unofficial sources have dismissed them as �imperialist misdirection.� Recently, however, members of the press in Tokyo have noted that rumors about the conspiracy have begun linking it to the highest echelons of Japanese military intelligence.

It�s a good thing, then, that we are seeing to our own security, as Japan is distracted by German military encroachment and bizarre rumors of a Chinese conspiracy.

quote:

The Displaced Family

It was a sunny day in Kōshu, and there was no smog in the air. On his walk to work, Lee Chun looked around and saw nothing that made him regret feeling good about the day.

He did, actually, see a policeman acting in a far better manner than what he was used to. The officer was directing traffic with practiced gestures and an absence of violence. When not pointing his arms or blowing his whistle, he was pointing out directions to various directionally challenged passersby.

This wasn't the only thing Chun had seen or heard about; after all, individual good cops had been a thing for years. Chun's family had been welcomed to Guangdong by one. No, these days there were also far fewer arbitrary arrests and even fewer instances of Kempeitai overreach too.

Even better was the fact that gangs that used to prey on neighborhoods like Chun's had quieted down - but Chun had no idea whether that was because of the increased police presence or for other reasons. All told, the police seemed to be helping people for once in their lives, like they claimed they were always supposed to do.

Did Chun trust the police? Of course not, they were still the cops. People didn't call that lot bastards for nothing. He also couldn't trust the corporations that ruled Guangdong not to abuse the police. But he could safely say he distrusted the police less: unlike before, the police were doing their job, and not rolling over for the Kempeitai. It was the bare minimum. But even that was better than nothing.

On to the next thing.

quote:

The Good Cop

"The Legislative Council today reached a decision to refer any and all major decisions on transport infrastructure to a committee until the beginning of the next legislative session..."

Lam Haau-cyun received that day's radio news with some degree of disappointment; for all his public protestations to the contrary, he had hoped he'd be able to go and see his family again.

The shopkeeper with whom he was listening to the news nodded in sympathy, before offering his own two cents.

"Sure, we could do with better roads, but if there's one thing you can say for the new power plant, it's that there are fewer of those drat brownouts, and the electricity bills are cheaper too. Not to mention, with more lights on the street these days, crime is on the way down too. Maybe you'll be able to take leave then, Officer."

Lam scoffed. "If there's less crime, they won't need me; they'll just send me on permanent leave."

The shopkeeper lost his mind laughing. "No need to worry then, Officer, I'll hire you post-haste!"

Lam chuckled, shook hands with the shopkeeper, and walked out in a good mood. But that mood was punctured when he saw the sticker outside the shop. "POWER PROVIDED BY CHEUNG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY.�

He shook his head and moved on, knowing that no matter what befell him or others, Cheung Kong, Li Ka-shing, and all their ilk would get richer and richer until the end of days.

Few things, if any, were unambiguously good.

quote:

The Struggling Founder

Hiroshi Yamauchi sat comfortably at his office at Nintendo's headquarters in Guangdong, reading through various documents that had been given to him. The sound of pleasant music filled the room as he found himself smiling at the latest report that had been given: Nintendo's profits had risen significantly, gambling profits were up and demand for various gaming equipment had risen. Nintendo was given an opportunity by Sony and Cheung Kong, and it fought tooth and nail to seize it all. The deals with them and Stanley Ho were a godsend for both Nintendo and Yamauchi, who found himself extremely pleased with the result of all the hard work he and his company had put in to get this far in such a volatile market. From barely scraping by with a meager existence and equally as meager instant rice to rubbing shoulders with some of Guangdong's biggest companies and being seen as a rising star in the market.

But of course, decadence and complacency is what leads to ruin. Yamauchi knew this all too well as he got to the second half of the report detailing the success of Nintendo's venture into electronics. That was to say, a disappointing failure that quickly soured his mood. But just as the harsh reality of a new venture failing got him down, Yamauchi's spirit was once again raised by the realization that he even had a new venture to begin with. He was steadfast, determined that he would strive for further success and stability, his spirit bolstered by all the hardships he had faced in order to obtain the success he had today.

See, Officer Pessimist, a rising tide lifts all boats!

quote:

World News
ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND AT WAR

August 30, 1968
London, England

What was widely regarded as one of the biggest flashpoints in Western Europe today exploded with violence after reunification negotiations between England and Scotland collapsed. After London�s demands that Scotland enter into a union with them fell through, the government has apparently decided to force the issue. Already, English jets have reportedly been seen over Edinburgh and explosions have been heard from the direction of the military airfield at Kirknewton.

The Scottish last a little more than a month.

quote:

World News
SCOTLAND SURRENDERS, LONDON TO PROCLAIM REESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED KINGDOM

November 2, 1968
London, England

In the aftermath of a rapid military campaign dubbed the �October War� by many news outlets, England has successfully defeated the Scottish army and is in full control of the former nation following the capture and surrender of the government.

Despite an official ceasefire and surrender, many smaller units are reported to be still in action, engaging in guerrilla warfare against English forces. Despite this and the ongoing unrest in Wales, the Prime Minister is expected to declare the former United Kingdom reunited in the coming days

The infrastructure bill is put before the Legislative Council, and with the number of votes needed to flip in order to get a majority so close, a little money beneath the table is all that is needed. No compromises are added to this bill.

After all, do you know what the difference is between a bill that passes by one vote and a bill that passes by a dozen?

Nothing.

And speaking of votes:

quote:

World News
KENNEDY SECURES SECOND TERM

November 5, 1968
Washington, D.C.

Robert F. Kennedy was once said to be too naively idealistic to succeed. Today, however, his doubters have been proven wrong as the progressive champion once more defeated the Republican-Democratic Coalition and secured four more years in the White House.

Speaking before a crowd of cheering well-wishers, he declared that though much change had been achieved, "there is still so much more to be done."

Kennedy has vowed to focus his second term on ripping out the remaining injustices in American society, with even more ambitious plans being set in motion. Conservative commentators have already expressed outrage at just how far he is willing to go to see his dreams realized. Whatever happens, few Americans doubt that the 1960s will be remembered as a decade of unprecedented change.

# ? Jul 17, 2023 03:50

Bloody Pom: Jun 5, 2011

Haha! Nothing bad ever happens to the Kennedys!

:ohdear:

Bloody Pom fucked around with this message at 05:15 on Jul 17, 2023

# ? Jul 17, 2023 05:08

tatankatonk: Nov 4, 2011; Pitching is the art of instilling fear.

Bloody Pom posted:

Haha! Nothing bad ever happens to the Kennedys!

# ? Jul 17, 2023 06:10

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

Nice to be able to do good honest legislative bribery again without bad dishonest other people bribery endangering the state.

# ? Jul 17, 2023 23:34

NewMars: Mar 10, 2013

paragon1 posted:

Nice to be able to do good honest legislative bribery again without bad dishonest other people bribery endangering the state.

Note: this actually disables many of the mechanics necessary to pass bills. I. E. bribing people to get votes outside of events, making it much, much harder to get Morita's agenda done. Which is why people usually recommend that you do it last.

# ? Jul 17, 2023 23:53

wedgekree: Feb 20, 2013

Yay for progress!

# ? Jul 18, 2023 00:41

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

NewMars posted:

Note: this actually disables many of the mechanics necessary to pass bills. I. E. bribing people to get votes outside of events, making it much, much harder to get Morita's agenda done. Which is why people usually recommend that you do it last.

I was able to bribe people for the infrastructure bill with no problem? :shrug:

# ? Jul 18, 2023 01:34

NeverHelm: Aug 9, 2017; Never attribute to malice that post which is adequately explained by a poor sense of humor.

NewMars posted:

Note: this actually disables many of the mechanics necessary to pass bills. I. E. bribing people to get votes outside of events, making it much, much harder to get Morita's agenda done. Which is why people usually recommend that you do it last.

Nah, we're fine. This only happens if you go all in. Which is not what happened here.

NeverHelm fucked around with this message at 12:25 on Jul 18, 2023

# ? Jul 18, 2023 12:22

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

So, what should we tackle next?

A:

B and C are mutually exclusive, as are D and E.

# ? Jul 18, 2023 16:07

McGavin: Sep 18, 2012

E

Our kids need to learn gooder.

# ? Jul 18, 2023 16:10

Arcanuse: Mar 15, 2019

D. Homes, homes everywhere.

# ? Jul 18, 2023 16:58

Guy Fawkes: Aug 1, 2014; Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense

McGavin posted:

E

Our kids need to learn gooder.

Agree

E

# ? Jul 18, 2023 20:05

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

F Lets finish getting our house in order.

# ? Jul 18, 2023 22:30

Kurgarra Queen: Jun 11, 2008; GIVE ME MORE
SUPER BOWL
WINS

paragon1 posted:

F Lets finish getting our house in order.

Yeah, we've cleaned up our act and the cops, it's time to Finish reforming our governance.

# ? Jul 18, 2023 22:41

wedgekree: Feb 20, 2013

Yeah, vote for F

# ? Jul 19, 2023 03:26

StillFullyTerrible: Feb 16, 2020; you should have left Let's Play open for public view, Lowtax

F please.

# ? Jul 19, 2023 16:24

alex314: Nov 22, 2007

F sounds good.

# ? Jul 20, 2023 10:21

Tankbuster: Oct 1, 2021

F is something that is necessary and historically authentic.

# ? Jul 20, 2023 18:07

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Chapter 23: November 1968 - April 1969

quote:

World News
GOLDWATER STUNS NATION WITH LATE, COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY

Phoenix, Arizona
November 6, 1968

In a shocking upset, it appears that Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona is the actual victor of the 1968 presidential election, after the final few precinct counts gave him a slim majority in the state of Ohio and therefore a 3-point electoral college lead. This comes after multiple news organizations called the election for incumbent president Robert F. Kennedy.

Indeed, sources inside both campaigns confirm that Senator Goldwater called the President late on election night to concede, but then called again in the early hours of Wednesday morning to �retract� the concession as late results from Ohio began moving in his direction. By 10:00 a.m. EST the Associated Press issued a retraction of their own call of the race and declared Goldwater the winner.

Speaking in front of a jubilant crowd in front of his campaign headquarters in Phoenix and holding aloft a copy of the New York Times bearing the headline KENNEDY DEFEATS GOLDWATER, the senator said "I solemnly swear to you that I shall bring order out of the past four years of chaos. We've suffered under the yoke of a fanatic who sought ever increasing power in his attempt to remake America in his image. Such men who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth. And let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyrannies. I will not extend our government to promote misguided interpretations of welfare or equality; I will only extend your personal freedoms.�

A vocal critic of federal government policy for many years, Goldwater campaigned on the belief that Washington's budget and powers should be rolled back heavily, and that any responsibilities not directly pertaining to defense and diplomacy should be delegated to state governments. However, he also believes in diverting funding to America's growing military-industrial complex, so as to better protect against the other powers.

So, just like in real life the US election happens in the first week of November but the game doesn�t give you an event popup about who won until inauguration day in late January. When I concluded the last update I left the game running until January to see who had won, and got Kennedy. Then for whatever reason when I reloaded it to record the next update, Goldwater won. I reloaded many times and attempted some debug menu trickery but couldn�t fix it. So, we�ll be dealing with President Goldwater now. Sorry, Kennedy fans! But, (spoilers for Kennedy 2nd term) it�s for the best as, unless you�ve committed to actually doing very little, Kennedy and his vice president get gunned down by a right-wing extremist at some point and after the Speaker of the House refuses the post, Senate president pro tem Strom Thurmund gets sworn in.

Anyway, on to the next thing!

quote:

World News
�NANJING REPORT� ROILS CHINA, JAPAN

December 30, 1968
Nanjing, Republic of China

A leaked police report detailing horrendous actions over decades by the corporations that control China�s industry has led to large-scale protests across that country. Documented in the so-called Nanjing Report are hundreds of stories of workers being physically, verbally, and sexually abused by upper-level management of the zaibatsu.

Also documented is the amount that has been carefully embezzled from Chinese workers and farmers, as well as details of massive horizontal mergers that violate current Japanese antitrust laws. Experts predict considerable fallout in both Nanjing and Tokyo, with the extent of Japanese involvement in the Chinese economy finally exposed.

To the north, we are reminded of what it is that we are fighting against. Guangdong shall not go down the same road as China!

But getting there is more and more difficult. This might be the most significant vote deficit we are starting from.

In the United States, the new president is sworn in:

quote:

"A Christian, a Jew, a pilot, and a senator walked into a bar in DC. 'What can I get you, Mr. Goldwater?' the bartender asks." Thus goes one of the jokes Barry Morris Goldwater tells about himself, and it reflects the complicated and colorful background of the man dominating the Southern and Western wings of the RDC.

Born in the Arizona Territory to a Jewish father and Episcopalian mother who ran a department store together, the young Goldwater lived an unremarkable life until the outbreak of the Second World War, when he would become a reserve officer in the USAAF, and a pilot with the Ferry Command.

Moving supplies around the various war fronts in Asia and Europe, Goldwater would come to develop a great loathing of both his fascist enemies and what he viewed as the failures of the Dewey administration's peace policies. Following the defeat, Goldwater's aggressive rhetoric and unabashed social conservatism propelled him to the Senator's seat for Arizona in 1953, replacing the retiring Democrat

Goldwater rose to become one of the leaders of the Republican faction in the RDC, resisting recruitment attempts by both the Democrats, due to his personal animosity with Eisenhower, and the NPP, which he views as too fixated on Japan alone and dominated by socialist radicals. His charisma and fiery presence soon set him on a path to the White House.

Now, with Goldwater swept into power by a wave of popular support, the world looks across the seas in hope or worry, as the USA takes another step towards full military mobilization against its fascist enemies around the world.

1968 also saw an election in Australia, and it too has consequences

quote:

World News
AUSTRALIA TO DISMANTLE NUCLEAR ARSENAL

January 31, 1969
Canberra, Australia

Australian Prime Minister Jim Cairns announced today that his administration had ordered the dismantling of Australia�s fledgling nuclear arsenal. Cairns, a socialist activist, was elected to the premiership last year on a hardline anti-nuclear platform. His supporters celebrate the development as the welcome outcome after years of campaigning.

However, the country�s allies have reportedly been shocked by the sudden reversal in Australia�s nuclear policy, with opposition members calling the decision tantamount to wasting millions of dollars in research and increased the island nation�s vulnerability over �blind idealism.�

Meanwhile, sources in several OFN capitals feel that Cairns has weakened the OFN in the Pacific. Japanese reactions have been positive, with Prime Minister Ikeda congratulating his counterpart on his commitment to regional peace.

Huh. Well, ok then.

The Civil Service Ordinance is introduced to the Legislative Council. Some half measures such as keeping Japanese as the official language of government documents are considered, but rejected. 90+ percent of the population does their daily business in Cantonese; the government should reflect that.

quote:

The Good Cop

Lam Haau-cyun had never paid the job openings much mind, posted on the corkboard hanging next to the stairwell in his precinct. Beyond a certain point, everyone knew, you weren't going to get anywhere if you weren't Japanese, or had connections with the LegCo, no matter how well any Zhujin spoke or wrote the language. It was useless to try, so why worry?

But everything that had happened since Morita Akio had become Chief Executive hadn't escaped Lam's notice either. From worker's pay to health and safety, the Chief Executive and his lieutenants were pushing for change - of the kind that even Lam hesitantly approved of, even if he thought they were courting disaster.

The bullpen had been abuzz with rumors that the next round of personnel changes and promotions would see qualified Zhujin employees and officers allowed to advance into middle management, and beyond, if merited. There would be an exam, and interviews - in Cantonese. Whether one was excited or irritated varied, but it was all anyone could talk about.

It was all Lam could think about over lunch, mulling over the promotion to sergeant as he absent-mindedly swirled congee in his bowl. He could use the pay, and if it came with more responsibility - well, if that meant he could do things his way, giving orders rather than just taking them�

It was worth a shot.

The problem is, we don�t have the votes. Yet.

Good old Matsushita can usually be counted on to throw some votes our way in exchange for favor. But we can�t count on him always being there, or never asking for something we are unprepared to give.

The others might actually get something out of these bills if they didn�t try so hard to stand in the way.

Their last-ditch desperate attempt to derail things would have caused a lot more problems if we hadn�t already secured the Matsushita votes.

quote:

The Good Cop

Lam heard the commotion well before he knew what had happened, as he returned from a beat to the cheers and clapping of his colleagues, huddled around the radio in the center of the bullpen.

"Did you hear, Haau-cyun?" A fellow officer hurried over and leaned against his shoulder, whispering conspiratorially into his ear. "Starting tomorrow, the employment restrictions are being lifted. The Japanese lieutenants are making GBS threads themselves!"

Lam stopped in his tracks, digesting the news. Finally, he responded: "Good."

"That's not all. Li Kwan-ha - you know, the captain appointed by Li Ka-shing - is formally putting his name in to become deputy commissioner. One of us, deputy commissioner!"

Lam shrugged weakly. "Do you think he has a chance?"

His colleague slapped him on the back. "With Chief Executive Morita and Li Ka-shing on the selection committee? Maybe he'll get a fair hearing. It's better than anything else we've had."

As his colleague walked away, Lam walked back to his desk, fishing out a set of papers stored neatly in a drawer. He read over the entry one more time, in the cleanest Japanese he could manage, and then made for the stairs.

Well, isn�t that interesting. No need for a vote when the next product launch rolls around � we can�t miss out on this opportunity.

What�s next?

A:

B and C are mutually exclusive, as are D and E.

Moon Slayer fucked around with this message at 01:28 on Jul 24, 2023

# ? Jul 22, 2023 04:47

HannibalBarca: Sep 11, 2016; History shows, again and again, how nature points out the folly of man.

Is our children learning?

E

# ? Jul 22, 2023 11:29

Arcanuse: Mar 15, 2019

D. More housing, homes for everyone.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 12:42

McGavin: Sep 18, 2012

Educate the kids.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 13:02

StillFullyTerrible: Feb 16, 2020; you should have left Let's Play open for public view, Lowtax

E please.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 17:29

tatankatonk: Nov 4, 2011; Pitching is the art of instilling fear.

Housing, what good is an education if you leave school to go live in a hovel?

# ? Jul 22, 2023 20:36

Alikchi: Aug 18, 2010; Thumbs up I agree

Gotta go with D.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 20:51

Guy Fawkes: Aug 1, 2014; Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense

Let's bet on the future.

E

# ? Jul 22, 2023 21:20

Kurgarra Queen: Jun 11, 2008; GIVE ME MORE
SUPER BOWL
WINS

Going to have to vote D.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 21:54

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Currently D and E are tied with 4 votes each!

# ? Jul 23, 2023 03:32

Morrow: Oct 31, 2010

Going to tiebreak for E, because nothing is more realistic than a postgraduate living out of a shopping cart.

# ? Jul 23, 2023 04:35

Arbite: Nov 4, 2009

Morrow posted:

Going to tiebreak for E, because nothing is more realistic than a postgraduate living out of a shopping cart.

Too Real. And yes, E.

# ? Jul 23, 2023 05:11

Tankbuster: Oct 1, 2021

Gonna have to go with E as well.

Also does anyone have links to any other HOI4 SSLPs? Preferably this mod or Kaiserreich.

# ? Jul 23, 2023 19:32

alex314: Nov 22, 2007

E do learn gooder, kids.

# ? Jul 23, 2023 19:55

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# ? Jun 2, 2024 20:17

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Chapter 25: April - September 1969

quote:

The Good Cop

In the aftermath of the passage of the Civil Service Ordinance, Hayashi Kōsen received the promotion which he had dreamt of for so long. Granted, it was not all sunshine and rainbows; his first day on the job, the Japanese majority among the more senior officers made their distrust clear.

There were insinuations and snide comments about him being merely "a diversity hire" and unfit for the job, and once or twice he could have sworn that a slur or two was being uttered behind his back. But all that rubbish mattered very little to him for two reasons. First, he was used to being called slurs left and right. Second, for all that he did not show it, this promotion had him just as much on cloud nine as Morita himself had apparently been when the Ordinance was passed.

The next day, his second on the job, he met with Yasukawa Yoshiko wearing his new badge. They talked about the latest flaps du jour in the LegCo and in Guangdong high society, then moved on into the streets of Kōshu for the usual rounds. As he escorted his charge around and kept order in the streets, Kōsen felt for the first time that he wanted to do his job exactly right.

This feeling intensified the next day, when his superior granted him responsibility over his own patrol unit effective immediately. Now Kōsen was really eager; perhaps he could at last start making a difference.

Morita and Li start work on the next round of legislation even as the last one starts making an impact.

quote:

World News
FRANCO ABOLISHES THE IBERIAN COUNCIL

April 20, 1969
Madrid, Iberian Federation

Caudillo Francisco Franco has announced to a large crowd - and international press corps - that the Iberian Council will cease to exist within a week.

Originally created to serve as a position to allow for trusted figures to share their expertise with the caudillos to allow for better governance, the council has allegedly deviated from their goal. Rather than just advise the twin rulers of Iberia, Franco - the sole leader of the Federation following the death of Caudillo Salazar just over a year ago - accused the institution of attempting to undermine his rule and bring corruption to an institution otherwise free of it. In his address, Franco stated that, if they were to set such a poor example, then they had no advice of value, and if there was no valuable advice, there was no reason for the council to exist.

And now it�s time to prepare for the 1969 product launch!

And this year is going to be a little bit different.

A few months later, the education reforms are already underway.

quote:

The Displaced Family

Lee Chun watched his younger brother, Hei, doodle machinery while looking at the schematics and manuals Chun and their father had brought home. As the boy pored over the technical documents, he made more interesting points to build upon those he had already been making for weeks. To Chun, as to the rest of his family, it was quite clear: Hei would benefit from more schooling�

...but clearly that was a forlorn hope. In the part of Kōshu where they lived, the only remotely good schools catered only to Japanese and one or two wealthy Zhujin families. Moreover, what few Chinese schools existed would be of little use for Hei, who needed access to better resources; they taught only basic sums, literacy, and obedience to the State. That basic curriculum bored even Wai. She too had talked with her mother and father to see if she could get more and been crestfallen when the expected �no� came.

As Hei continued looking at the diagrams, copying them down, and making more precocious observations, Chun could not bring himself to puncture his beloved younger brother's enthusiasm. He dared not say that this was likely the upper limit of what someone could realistically hope for in this accursed city.

Hang in there, Hei and Wai, help is on the way. And the rural schools need even more help.

quote:

The Modern Princess

"Why am I doing this, again?" Lam grumbled as the aging patrol car rattled down the gravel road, an hour outside Kōshu. It was unusual for the Kōshu police to have anything to do outside the city - and with a passenger, no less.

"I'm sorry," Yasukawa Yoshiko ventured uneasily, stealing a glance at Lam's rapidly darkening expression. "We're writing about the schools, and I needed an escort �"

"On a day off?" Lam rolled his eyes. He resisted the urge to snap, �it's like you people own the place� - because it was true, not an insult.

The two disembarked silently thirty minutes later outside a sun-bleached wooden schoolhouse, with Guangdong's tattered flag on the roof. Were it not for the sight of children through paneless windows, the building looked as if it should be abandoned - or condemned. Yoshiko hesitated, eyes widening, before she walked gingerly across the dusty grounds; Lam followed wordlessly, having witnessed too many similar scenes to be surprised.

Inside, two exhausted teachers faced a hundred pupils, their uniforms often patched, frayed, and a size too small. The books were torn, the chalk was broken, and the desks wobbled and creaked. For every eager child, six more were listless - unengaged by torn books and weary educators, but still preferring school over an empty home.

"These children deserve better, Officer," Yoshiko's pained admission as they got back in the car - of something being so blindingly obvious, if one were not naive - hung heavily. Lam felt his patience bend, then snap.

"Have you paid attention to anything, Ms. Yasukawa?" Lam said, as calmly as he dared. "To your people, this is all we deserve."

The ride back was silent.

Oof, this one hits me harder than the others. Here�s a picture of a classroom I taught in for two years when I was in the Peace Corps in Cambodia:

quote:

The Displaced Family

Lee Hei's schoolteacher, Mr. Wong, looked over his latest mathematics test. Finding it to have no errors, he wrote out the customary 100 with two lines under it on the top of the front page. And, as always, Wong knew, it was richly deserved. The teacher knew, as everyone else in the school did, that young Hei knew his business. The little genius was clever enough to accurately draw machines and copy out schematics from memory while finishing his tests well ahead of time and acing them to boot.

Wong sighed at the tragedy of it all. Though it galled him beyond belief, he knew just how useless the education he was paid to provide was. The likelihood was that poor Hei - just like so many smart children that had come before him - stood little chance of having a good future, no matter whether he stayed at this school or went to the other myriad shabby schools for Chinese in Guangdong. But his bitter thoughts were interrupted by something catching his eyes. It was the front page of a Sony brochure.

SONY SCHOLARSHIP OFFER

ESSAY CONTEST ON INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND THE FACTORY OF THE FUTURE

APPLICATIONS WELCOMED

This was worth a shot, Wong thought. He resolved to bring it up to Hei the next day.

In education, even if only one student gets an opportunity they otherwise wouldn�t have, it makes the whole thing worth it.

quote:

The Displaced Family

It was another boring day, Lee Hei thought, as he stared out the window at the bleak Kōshu landscape. Suddenly something changed: Mr. Wong was calling him to the faculty room. He liked Mr. Wong, so he had no problem with it, though he was worried about whether he might be in trouble.

When Hei got to the faculty room, he found two men in suits waiting for him, and Mr. Wong smiling somewhat nervously in the corner. The men, both wearing Sony lapel pins, smiled benevolently, and one of them asked in Cantonese: "You're Master Lee Hei, I presume?" Hei, suddenly somewhat nervous, nodded.

The man smiled and pulled out a document that Hei recognized was his essay from earlier. "Young master, would you kindly walk through this essay of yours with us?"

Hei nodded, but he had something to say first. "Sirs, I'm not sure what you can do about what I'm going to tell you. Everyone says I'm smart, and that may be true, but my older brother - I admire him so much - is still smarter. He could do numbers, watch more than just a machine, but the people at his job just have him doing tasks that a machine could be doing."

The man nodded. "We'll look into him, then. But let's get on with the essay."

Hei nodded and began to discuss his work.

More good news follows when the actual bill is introduced to the LegCo. We actually have a majority right off the bat, and with votes to spare! The other companies (with one notable exception), see this for what it is; an investment in the future workforce �

quote:

The Modern Princess

"I don't know, Yasukawa," Editor Takasaki said hesitantly, tapping Yoshiko's handwritten draft with a red pen. "Our readers are looking for... lighter reading."

"Everything in there is real," Yoshiko countered. "You wanted to capture the rhythm of life in Guangdong? This is it."

It had only taken hours for Yoshiko to write the draft after her visit to the dilapidated school. It was scant on statistics and light on levity, pulling back the curtains on the visible neglect in education outside the Three Pearls. It was an unvarnished look outside the bustling cities where the Japanese and wealthier Zhujin lived, pretending that other people lived no differently than they did.

"I don't know," Takasaki repeated, sucking air through his teeth. "Our readers want to learn, but they also want to believe. You know, the pan-Asian brotherhood and all that-"

"If you ask me, Editor Takasaki, the pan-Asian dream isn't working," Yoshiko pressed her point home. "Not for these children. Our readers deserve to hear that in their own words."

Takasaki was silent, his fingers drumming the desk as the ceiling fan whirred in the background. Yoshiko tried another approach.

"At the very least, it'll be different from what the weeklies from Tokyo will be saying. We can't go wrong with being original."

At that, Takasaki gave a weak chuckle. He circled the article's title - a sign that it would be published - and handed the draft back to Yoshiko with a parting thought: "You're starting to sound like a local, Yasukawa."

� especially when the wider public learns just how rickety that future is at the moment.

We have enough wiggle room to add on some amendments that might otherwise be dealbreakers.

quote:

The Modern Princess

There was no escaping the subject du jour of Guangdong's Japanese enclaves following the release of the Kanton Fujin Koron's latest issue. The stubborn executives and their preening wives (and a few mistresses) denounced it as a disloyal screed, a fabrication. Some of their juniors and the younger housewives joined them. Others nodded along politely - but a few said nothing, their faces pale and drawn.

For better or for worse, everybody had an opinion about Yoshiko's expos� - and for a journalist, there was no greater compliment. There was just one thing left to do.

"So," Lam opened, having been called to the Koron's offices directly. "No interviews today?"

"None," Yoshiko confirmed. "What's done is done."

"You caused one hell of a ruckus, that's for sure," Lam said, lighting a cigarette. "Don't get your hopes up. Whatever the Chief Executive or his kind says, you can't take them at face value."

"Why not?" Yoshiko asked, leaning against the police cruiser alongside Lam. "Chief Executive Morita and Li Ka-shing's histories - they're nothing like the rest of the suits in the Government Complex. One got run out of Japan, the other never finished school. They mean what they say."

Lam grunted indifferently, but was otherwise silent. He gazed up at the clouded sky. "Do you think they'll succeed?"

Yoshiko shrugged. "I don't know. But if my telling the truth can make a difference, well, then I did my part.�

Meanwhile, in Europe, the Iberian Federation did not survive Franco�s dissolution of the Iberian Council, and has completely collapsed. The Iberian Wars have begun.

Also pictured, the French Civil War remains stalemated between communists and pro-democracy forces.

Fortunately, we went further west for a new market.

Belatedly, (most of) the other tycoons realize that this is happening no matter what and try and get their own piece of the action. All are rebuffed.

quote:

The Displaced Family

Lee Chun was called away from the factory floor at the Cheung Kong-owned factory. True, the job was better than his old job had been, but he had not been able to advance beyond the level he had reached at that old pesthole. Despite that, he was dissatisfied to be called away, and made it visible on his face as he went into the meeting room.

Two men were sitting there; both had Sony lapels on their suits and, Lee noted, spoke in Cantonese despite having a distinctly Japanese look to them. One of them spoke: "Mr. Lee Chun, I presume?" At Lee's curt nod, the man continued. "You, Mr. Lee, are lucky to have a younger brother that looks out for you."

Lee was bemused. "I know he looks out for me, sir, but how do you know that?"

The man smiled. "Look through this essay that young master Lee Hei wrote for our essay competition and see if you recognize the conclusions."

Lee read through it and was flabbergasted at the depth of his younger brother's ingenuity. "I-I do recognize the conclusions. I've even told my shift manager things to this effect, but nobody listens to me."

Both men nodded. "I see your talent is wasted here, for all Cheung Kong's merits. What do you say to working at a Sony plant instead, as a foreman? We can arrange a subsidy for the young master's education too; that'll make sure he can really shine."

This was his and Hei's big break, he knew.

"I'm in, sir."

And perhaps Guangdong isn�t the only place in the Sphere changing for the better.

quote:

World News
TAKAGI ELECTED PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN

September 21, 1969
Tokyo, Japan

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Ikeda after his failure to adequate respond to the Nanjing Report and rumors of a Chinese conspiracy in Japan�s government (since proven false), Takagi Sōkichi has been elected as the new prime minister.

Campaigning on a promise of liberalization, the former admiral has made himself highly popular among the public, but has also made plenty of enemies, notably in the Imperial Japanese Army. The centerpiece of his campaign is his crusade against corruption within the Japanese political system, something that he has repeatedly called a �tumor upon the Empire and a betrayal of kokutai.� Alongside this, Takagi is a strong proponent for technocracy as a means of securing the advancement of the state.

However, the new prime minister�s public support is noticeably shaky, as uniting progressive student activists and the Imperial Japanese Navy makes for a potentially unstable power base. Only time will tell if the liberals within the ruling Taisei Yokusankai are able to deliver on their promises.

# ? Jul 24, 2023 01:26

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