Criminal Incompetence #3
Japan established the Southern Development Bank and the Southern Colonization Company in Indonesia. They set up banks, pulled money out of them, and built ports and railroads, launching a full-scale economic invasion of Indonesia. They were just following the path Britain had already blazed. "Hey, you too?" "Yeah, me too." The Anglo-Japanese Alliance was living up to its name like never before; the two powers synced up perfectly to push for Indonesia's colonization. You've got to squeeze out at least as much as you invest, right?
So what was Korea doing in the midst of all this? "We're redeveloping everything from here to there into beaches. White sand, you know. Invest in hotels." We rounded up wealthy Chinese with grudges against Britain and Japan, egged them on to speculate in coastal real estate, and said, "Setting everything else aside, don't we have some connections in Indonesia?" We stepped in as proxies for the Netherlands—who couldn't even set foot in Indonesia at the time—got our shares recognized there, and took on the role of their agents. It was all about balance of power. If Britain and Japan monopolized everything, even with some territorial division, the fledgling nation of Indonesia might get split in half between them. We had to intervene.
Did we just pocket the perks? No way. We weren't like those damn Anglo-Japanese devils. Korea started by securing food sources first. "Fill that entire island with coconut trees?" "Raise coconut crabs too, and take all the coconuts—shells and all. Oh, and set up shrimp farms. We'll build the ponds for you." Then we tilled the mountains. "Knowledge industry center? What's that? It looks way too fancy, almost like a prison." "It's a camp for businessmen with government offices, banks, trading partners, and everything inside. There's even a library—and air conditioning! We'll build you a model showroom."
Think about why air conditioning was invented in the first place—it's obvious. In a world where AC wasn't common, especially in Southeast Asia, it was seriously impairing productivity. "Perfect spot for a meal with a government official, huh?" Hey, watch it. My industry knowledge center isn't some shady deal spot. The first floor was wide open as a government office for anyone to use, and the basement was a library where anyone could read books and access specialized texts. Come study, basically. And since all this was funded from the pockets of the resident businessmen, it was like skimming commissions straight from the money-makers.
Not that I care. The profits from owning the foreign exchange bank? It's no different from slapping fees on a country's entire import-export trade. There's no better racket. But does that mean we're taking a cut from kids buying candy? I couldn't swear we weren't, but I didn't want to go digging through foreign exchange banks just for that. Besides, I knew something even better.
"Power plants?" "Everyone's experienced that air conditioning in the model showrooms and now they're clamoring for their own." Exactly, that's what I'm talking about. If people have any brains. Honestly, Southeast Asia without air conditioning can't develop. Just like East Asia without tractors.
"Fine." Korea brought in several ships loaded with generators and docked them. "All that is generators?" "No, those are the power plants themselves."
The transmission tower lying in the middle of the ship stood up, connecting to the pier and power lines.
"It's a mobile power plant. An evolutionary form of the refrigerated container ships we used for beef imports." "This is impressive."
This cargo-ship-style power plant had clear pros and cons. The biggest advantage? Electricity couldn't reach deep inland, but it also escaped some local government meddling. Rate cuts? Bond issues? What's the difference from nationalization? If the government pressures for lower rates, just say the contract's up and sail away. We split it between local electricity producers and suppliers made of locals and government entities. Land-based plants can't do that easily. Sure, salt corrosion means regular maintenance, but that actually ensures safety. Low initial investment, and plenty of other perks. Oh, and it produces hot water too? Salt as well.
The government might be miffed that their influence doesn't reach these plants, but is that my problem? If they're unhappy, they can build their own. No country in the world would build one for them without strings attached—way harsher terms and collateral than mine. Korea had low or no risk, but foreign companies faced big ones. The irony? The very risk of nationalization jacks up electricity prices.
"If Southeast Asia gets air conditioning, it'll develop too." Just like Korea industrialized with tractors, Southeast Asia would do it with AC. And Korea? We'd collect the usage fees in between. Stick a straw in the power grid, and you're set for life.
"The problem is..." The problem is, while I'm planning to siphon through electricity, Japan, Britain, and the Netherlands look like they're bringing milking machines instead of straws. Like Nintendo vs. Nike—money's finite, and this means Southeast Asians paying premium power rates without affording AC. That's a hassle for me.
"Now that Korea's involved, every home—no, every room in Southeast Asia needs 24/7 AC. That's non-negotiable."
The real issue? Unlike this relatively peaceful spot, World War I was raging, money-making spots were limited, and barreling down that path led straight to bankruptcy. Take Japan, who geared up with the Eight-Eight Fleet pre-war and mid-war—post-war depression hit them in the face. Their industry had shifted to wartime structure. Fine for war profits, but peacetime disaster. Indonesia couldn't afford that direct hit.
War wrapping up roughly? Economy vulnerable because of it? Britain sails in with battleships. Even after losing dozens, they'd only lost one finger off ten. Tempting a beast like that. Korea had Qing as a target, swallowed it to buy time for industrial restructuring. Indonesia didn't have that luxury. In the end, we had to make money—and make others make money too. That way, Korea profited...!
Luckily—or unluckily—Southeast Asia was rich in natural resources and well-positioned. What it lacked? People. And Korea had plenty of spares. Specifically, Chinese. The Chinese civil war had quieted briefly, but boat people were swarming now, thinking it was their chance.
"Turn the bow around." Philippines route two: "Tactical Chinese drop." Europeans were relocating addresses too back then. Cemeteries, mostly. "West, south, east—all frontlines. Where should we head?" "…"
West was trench warfare, east was in full spring offensive now that the west had opened up. South? Austria handles it. Germany couldn't do more. But the decisive problem was...
"No oil..!" Oil, above all, offers overwhelming convenience in propulsion. Compare steam locomotives to diesel—it's ridiculous. Crucial in war's bottlenecks. Germany's prized Schlieffen Plan was already toast after a year-plus of fighting.
"Old battleships run on coal and can maneuver, but our prized new battleships all run on petroleum. Fleet battles are impossible like this."
"No more fuel to squeeze out?"
"Regrettably, yes. That's our situation."
How could this be? That black liquid so precious? Deciding wars? Not infantry, cavalry, artillery?
"Your Majesty of the German people—no, Supreme Commander of the German forces—there's some good news."
"What?"
"The Ottomans say they'll join. That isolates their southern forces."
So? The Kaiser's face said. Fair enough—to Germany, the southern front was expendable.
"We're attacking northern Russia but results are poor. Maybe pivot entirely. Like to Russia."
The staff officer pointed not to the capital, but lower—Ukraine.
"Not France or Serbia, but Russia again? Then the current spring offensive?"
"Hand the south to Austria and Ottomans entirely. Keep the spring offensive going, but use the distraction of Ottoman entry to march liberated divisions into Ukraine bloodlessly. Once we hold Ukraine, Russians can't come down. Especially if we've occupied it."
The listening Kaiser fell silent. A soldier who'd been quiet stepped forward.
"Makes sense. Those guys prioritize guarding their palaces first."
If it were Germany's Kaiser, he'd fight to the Netherlands if needed—unless the navy he cherished mutinied—but Slavs obsessed over their palaces.
"Turn the spearhead of this spring offensive from the Russian capital to Ukraine, then Baku. Secure oil first."
"Isn't that too risky?"
"Sitting still feels riskier to me. Believe a guy fresh from the front—they're not fully mobilized yet."
Hindenburg addressed the staff but loud enough for the hesitant Kaiser.
"Without Ukraine, our German soldiers starve. Fuel too—and food shortages are already buzzing."
"...Harvest season's coming up too."
The Huns, sensing oil crisis, awakened their plundering souls.