Chapter 1

Everywhere in Europe the social unrest rages on as nothing has been done to subdue the root of it. Small riots started by the plebs occur so regularly that some people talk about a global uprising. Luckily for the regimes the uprisings do not join forces and the incidents are ended very fast by police or dissolve by themselves.

The rich everywhere, who own the factories and shops, are driven to desperation as the riots endanger their property. A leaderless mob can turn on everyone and everything and lets face it the labourers are being exploited as it is. There is no time for doubts, they either have to turn to their governments or face the agitated people they employ.

The Netherlands acknowledge that something is brewing but experience a big hindrance in their budget as they have a phenomenal debt. The economical investments they made in the past and are still doing help a bit but it will take a long time before they can reap the profits.
Willem doesn’t think much of the Belgian burgeousie. ‘Just a bunch of selfish money grabbers’ he’s been noted to say. And nothing so far indicates that he’s wrong.

The French on the other hand are trying to lay a good foundation. Louis-Phillipe founds some universities from were the liberal ideas will be spread. Dutch intelligence discovered that some funds were freed in case an army has to be raised. Furthermore the French are starting an educational system for officers. The potential of experienced officers is big enough to make this a short term success.
The English haven’t yet taken a position apart from the colonial squabbles between them and the Dutch. Another hindrance is the debt they have with the Rothschilds dating back to the last warcampaign.

Wilhelm of Prussia was very active these past weeks. He brought his old allies Austria and Russia together in a new Holy Alliance. Naturally Prussia takes the lead but this may cause envy later on. Measure were taken, on initiative of Wilhelm of course, to stabilize the internal situation. In light of the external situation armies are readied. Prussia, with help from Austria, also tries to get the rest of the German provinces on his side. Most of them aren’t reluctant to the idea but want real decisive power in return.

As the European economy further plummets, money becomes a rare thing for any regime. Whatever plans were made for the future they have to be readjusted unless the economy would rekindle for some reason.
This is the time for cautious politics but an opportunistic faction could turn this in to his advantage.

Actions:

1) What to do about the economical malaise (for the regimes)? Keep in mind this will take up almost the entire budget, unless you come up with some interesting solutions.
2) What to do with the rich? They want power but aren’t exactly in a strong position right now. For the Belgian burgeousie this is your time to pick a side, but don’t take the decision lightly.
3) Keep in mind that whatever you do it will cost money and can possibly harm other sectors of governmental spending. Keeping a police force and an army at the ready provides a good protection but remember that unpaid men don’t do their job very well.

As always if you have any questions, comments or just want to shed some light on a certain thing please post it.

Good luck the fun is about to start.