Victory is found in those who wait, and patience is the necessity of Imperial superiority.

Thus, I find myself in a period of temporary discord in which I and the Generals have extremely limited access to the proper resources of strategy and tactical warfare for global domination. Due to the limitations, reform in the rule of Empire is being distributed among the Vassals and Colonies to ensure the Empire moves on.

Further, I must patiently meet a steadily building opportunity to eventually Return to Rule. This time, my return to my people will ensure we can unite and meet our enemies head on.

And therefore, my hiatus begins.

Apparently a typical issue with Empire: Total War, several of my saves have been corrupted. So my ever-expanding empire is ever-powerful, yet my desire to continue has been dashed by the several turns of progress that is gone.

So I will give a quick update on my progress.

After destroying the United States, I turned my focus onto Europe to strengthen my power there and eventually destroy the few nations left. I decided first on a plan that would later be predictably altered, as most War Plans are. My first step would be to invade and destroy Sweden, and then invade Russia from all sides in the North, South, and West. I ordered my troops into Sweden and destroyed them, but before I could stabilize Scandinavia and thus move into Russia, something unexpected but constantly feared, happened.

Spain attacked Austria, and I was presented with an ultimatum.

I was given the choice of either entering the war on the side of Austria and Russia, or decline and break my alliance with them. This would have turned out terrible for me if I eventually attacked Russia. So, intending to destroy Spain eventually anyway, I chose to join in the war against them. The war was hard and dangerous, but the will of the Maratha Empire persevered. I gained total dominance of the Americas and captured all of the Spanish territories within Europe.

I then turned my aim back toward Russia, who had been quickly building up a large army during our wars against Poland-Lithuania and Spain. I feared this only on the basis that they would not be immediately destroyed. Instead, I exploited their Alliance with me by bartering for two of their territories in the Easternmost of Russia, and one territory in the North near Sweden which I took from Rebels who seceded from Russia.

I stabilized the Americas, rebuilt Spain, France, and Italy, and focused the entire Empire on industry and economic stability as I quickly grew my armies to overwhelm our weaker enemies.

And I was finally prepared for World Domination.

Or, “War against the Four Lesser States”

—

After having defeated the Ottoman Empire, I decided to further crush the other, weaker factions.

To begin with, I set out my targets with the goal to gain the most territory and power while not upsetting the balance of diplomacy with other nations. My targets at this time became:

Venice

Italian States

Genoa

United States

With the Ottoman Empire gone, we would no longer be distracted from the war with Venice and the need to address the insurrection against the Maratha by the Italian factions.

I could also finally demand near total superiority over the lands of the Americas, what remains of not being in control by either Spain or India. The last great threat to our rule of the Americas would be the United States, a new nation out of the former Great Britain, a far earlier and totally temporary opponent of the great and powerful Maratha Confederacy.

It was suggested by my generals that this history of ties between the two treasonous powers may add to reason the destruction of this nation.

In Europe from the North, we would cross the Austrian lands, sending an army from Prussia to destroy Venice on their final region.

We would then build up defenses there, preparing the boats for the invasion of the Italian States, of Rome.

From here we would prepare the pillar of influence in Europe, at this moment sending troops to destroy the nation of Genoa and rule their two regions.

In the Americas, rounding up the last soldiers conquering the lands as far as Mexico, I would order the invasion of the United States from the South, the North, and the Northwest.

Now, this invasion was a risk in that the United States was our old ally and ally of others, but I find that for the most relevant part, the other nations realize our power and avoid protest of our call to rule.

The response from the United States was predictable.

Because of an old deal between us allowing for military access, it was required of me to deny all former deals such as access and trade. This protected for several months our settlements from the outright besieging from their vicious forces.

Nonetheless, our valiant national defenders lost in only a small number of regions.

These regions were of course defended with more soldiers concentrated from the West, as well as the full push to the North from the South.

Quite typical of foreign strategy, the majority of the United States settlements were left mostly undefended. Thus completely unprepared for our spread of rule.

With these armies marching ever confidently Northward to claim new land and save our former lands, their skill and tactic and pride for nation would create against their ability to carry out war against us, a devastating domino effect.

Region control shifted away from us only temporarily.

Italy became ours.

The regions of the United States became ours.

And we would subsequently prepare for the next stage in our Empire…

*retro oldtimey radio announcer voice*

What’s next for our heroes?

-Will the Indians of the East trample out the tyrants of the western world? Or will Maratha rule wither with the ages?

-Will Spain decide it has had enough challenge from other nations attempting to throttle its destruction? Or will it bow down to the more powerful?

-Will the weaker nations move past their historical grievances, joining together to face this new threat? Or will they fall, like dominoes, trampled under the strongest?

What is coming for Maratha Confederacy?!

Find out next in,

“The Four Horsemen — Who Died!”

With the invasion of the Balkans from the West, the acquisition of both Morea and Greece, and my second army prepared, I finally ordered the attack on Istanbul.

We overwhelmed them, a victory against the Ottoman final defence, a victory for dominance in the region and in Europe, and the further conquest of the Balkans.

We subsequently looked back to the East, pushing Dagestan north into Russia. Russia, having weak defences for most of its cities, lost regions to our enemy.

This was meaningful in that we would of course take the two southernmost regions for ourselves, ensuring forward strength for us toward Russia. Because of the historic ties between Maratha and Russia, we were granted military access which would make it much easier to press on with the Maratha strategy against the Ottoman, so soon to be destroyed.

But first we needed to destroy Dagestan, a minor detour from our Balkans Campaign.

At first the strategy was to attempt taking all three of the Dagestan-held regions, but as Russia reclaimed their region and we took the Dagestan Capitol Region, it became a quick, direct attack on their final city.

They foolishly sent their only army to attempt taking back control of their Capitol from Maratha, but instead lost not only the chance to assist their troops in Russia, but to defend themselves during our Assault.

This left only two groups to defend themselves.

Thus, Victory.

So important was this victory, however little the effort was to destroy Dagestan, that we were finally able to encircle the Ottoman Empire’s final region, Crimea.

Harkening back to many decades ago, this region was very temporarily controlled by the Crimean Khanate, a Protectorate of Ottoman Empire. Now, the Ottoman Empire will witness a similar quick and total destruction, entering the history books.

The battle was predictable. The Ottoman were no longer the force to be reckoned with, the foes nearly insurmountable. Instead, just two powerful Maratha armies, determined to win and continue on to other issues, destroyed the Ottoman Empire once and for all.

After having pushed the Ottoman from the East, and left them instead to Eastern Europe, I decided to continue fighting until the end. I saw no reason now to stop, considering that the Ottoman had but one valuable defence against us consuming their territories.

Their last powerful region was Istanbul, their last bastion of defence against our Indian Horde.

Despite having a strong, full army prepared to begin the Balkans Invasion, I instead ordered them to await the arrival of the second Istanbul Invasion Army which would soon arrive.

In the meantime, I sent a separate army to land in a territory owned by Venice.

The Invasion had begun.

Patras is a valuable territory in our ongoing war with the Ottoman, and the Venetians I knew to be much too intolerably weak to resist our enemy just northeast of them.

So we took it.

Although Austria and Italian States joining with Venice came unexpected to me, I quickly repaired our Peace with them.

I would deal with them later.

Meanwhile, we captured Morea from the Venetians.

And we quickly captured Greece as well, from Ottoman Empire.

Back further East, in an effort to push further to surround and contain the destruction of Ottoman Empire at the hands of the Maratha Confederacy, we destroyed Georgia.

And declared war on Dagestan.

Which exemplies the persistence of the Maratha to destroy Ottoman Empire and overwhelm our enemies and future foes, as the most consistently powerful force in the world.

As we steadily move our Empire across the land, I recognized the strategic power found in London and the British Isles. I see that I can fight from different directions with different European powers, with highly advanced defenses for my cities.

Of particular interest at the moment, of course, is Prussia. Tiring of this constant threat to the true nations of Europe, I finally made the decision to join the war.

To exemplify the importance of warring against Prussia and eventually destroying this nation, understand how overwhelming the militaristic desire of Prussia it is to destroy and control Europe themselves. Despite losing regions to Sweden, surrounding them, and Austria striking the final blow to their Capitol, still Prussia arose again as a violent nation for Europe to reckon with.

I knew that the reincarnation of this terrible power could very well gain more supporters as a reorganized and productive nation, and therefore much more support than even Spain gave, for their wars against Austria and others.

So what we, the Maratha Indians chose with great bravery, was to do what could possible turn into a united war against us. We chose to risk our foreign yet overwhelmingly powerful nation into the regions of Western Europe, in favor of peace for all the other Western European nations.

With us came Spain. Yes, they too feared this new threat.

Also came Austria and Sweden, both determined to finally and permanently destroy Prussia. And to an extent came Poland-Lithuania, still at war with Austria.

With Prussia, there were none. Certainly gaining very short and temporary support from our other enemies, but for nothing.

Prussia was finally destroyed.

As I ordered a dramatic increase in our military might, and with the growing stability of our economic policies, I realized how much more powerful we have become.

All other nations do not even compare.

Because of this realization and the growing demand for land for the expansion of the Maratha Confederacy, as well as the increasing threat to peace the Ottoman had become, I realized further the need to ensure stability under rule of Maratha.

Unfortunately, the other nations disregarded our Empire as simply a force from the East not worth the focus during Europe’s fight against Prussia and Spain. The persistence of Prussia has frightened even my own generals. And my funding of Prussia’s enemies has been for very little long term gain.

The stability and funding of Spain has increased dramatically to Prussia, as Spain had previously experienced Revolution and altered its leadership to a Republic.

So I decided it necessary to involve myself much more deeply in the wars in Europe. I also decided it necessary to further gain dominance in the world, by destroying the weakest remaining nations.

To start, I needed North Africa. My Second North American Army was on its way, to destroy the Knights of St John.

So I declared war.

This was quite easy to do, not only because of their military weaknesses, but also assisted by their isolation. Not being allied with anyone has ensured a speedy, lonely, destruction.

And for India, I gained three more regions important to my military strategy.

In the Americas, I declared war on the Plains Nations

And the Pueblo Nations

I used my remaining soldiers including my Third North American Army, to destroy both of them, thus leading into my declaration of war against Mexico.

Quickly making the majority of the Americas regions under rule of Maratha Confederacy.

Maratha Confederacy has begun with a strong start. I expect our successes to continue until the very end, but we must be careful not to advance too quickly and too far.

This is how Empires die.

________________________

Poor management and poor preparation against the most powerful force in the world is what will lead to the demise of the Ottoman Empire.

As expected, from the start of the war the Ottoman attacked our sea trade routes. We’ve been trading with most of the remaining nations and this was a very important resource, though the temporary loss of these important routes would not prevent us from destroying the Ottoman. In fact, it only drives us to fight quicker.

Thankfully, Austria was attacking the Prussia-Ottoman sea trade routes.

Our transport from North America was at this same time on its way to North Africa, where our Military Access deal with Spain and the Knights of St John would allow us to easily and safely pass over the land to destroy the Barbary States. Because of the strength of the Ottoman Navy, it would be a terrible strategy to think I should risk my soldiers to Ottoman waters.

Our first Eastern Invasion Army was on its way, and would eventually reach the only Barbary settlement, Tripolitana.

And it would be a quick and simple victory.

Only meant to open North Africa to us, taking control of Tripolitana would be an important strategic effort to surround the Ottoman Empire from both the East and West.

In the East, we captured Armenia.

Which was very easy not only because of the great skill of the Maratha Armies but also because the Ottoman had abandoned this region in favor of an offensive maneuver, so poorly organized that we could simply maneuver around them and exploit their poor strategy.

By 1764 we would wait for the region of Azerbaijan to be open to us, and we would defend our new settlements from attack.

And because of these few Ottoman armies in our new regions either routing to prepare their other settlements, or simply dying on our defending sword and gun, by the end of 1764 we would have the chance to take Azerbaijan for ourselves.

Which, by 1765, would ensure our successful Eastward Expansion for our Glorious Empire.

Greetings, reader. I am glad my letters have been received by you. Our effort to ensure the Empire, whichever it may be, is successful, could not be completed without the shared Intelligence in our communications. Were it not for my letters being read, then the great Empire and my great leadership would be hindered and my totally-not megalomania would consequently be humbled.

But what we need now is support. In order for the war to be won and peace to be found around the world under our leadership, our Imperial Forces must be funded by the citizens of the world. And only by this support can we continue not only militarily, but diplomatically, and by the will of the people. The people demand peace, and only by support can peace be regained. Only by support can we resist continued aggression against our people and our Allies.

In these cold and frigid Winter months our soldiers fight on knowing they’re fighting for you.

Any amount will do, so long as the source of this amount is given by the supreme faith in our leadership. You need not even be a Citizen to support our effort.

Buy War Bonds!

And the people of the Empire appreciate any and all support for our continued reign.

Thank you for reading.