Empire Rising: Spain

Although such an approach proceeds rather slowly, the advantage is that Spain does not need to deploy too many troops. Within ten to twenty years, it can infiltrate the entire Sokoto Caliphate, establishing clear colonial rule over this area.

However, because the Berlin Conference accelerated the pace of colonization in Africa by various countries, Spain had no choice but to seek more effective and rapid methods to establish its own colonial rule.

Fortunately, by previously infiltrating economically, Spain had already gained the support of several indigenous states, so it didn’t have to face the complete Sokoto Caliphate.

In fact, this seemingly powerful indigenous nation was already decaying. When the nation was initially established through a Holy War, the Sokoto Caliphate wielded formidable combat strength.

As the state was passed down, something called power and desire replaced fervor for religion, and devout warriors were doomed to become indulgent dragons seeking pleasure.

In July 1885, Spain officially launched an attack on the Sokoto Caliphate, intending to annihilate this seemingly powerful indigenous nation in a short time.

Though Spain can be said to stand in an invincible position, it did not show the slightest contempt or complacency towards this behemoth of nearly ten million people.

To annihilate this vast nation in one battle, after coordination between the Colonial Affairs Department and the Ministry of Defense, Spain decided to deploy three Colonial Divisions along with ten Colonial Defense Corps, mustering a force of 80,000 soldiers.

During the war, the West Africa Colony will suspend transporting food supplies to mainland Spain. These food supplies will be sent to the Guinea battlefield as strategic materials for the war.

Besides, Spain will also deploy transport fleets to convey large quantities of weapons, equipment, and ammunition supplies from the mainland to the Guinea Colony.

The Spanish Government is taking this war very seriously. This could also be Spain’s last colonial expansion in Africa; apart from Morocco, Spain would basically lose interest in African territories henceforth.

The reason for this disinterest is simple: the barrier of the Sahara Desert. Because the Sahara spans all of Africa, it’s impossible for West Africa and North Africa to connect.

Though it looks like a whole on the map, the central part, lying in the Sahara, cannot be effectively controlled.

Moreover, the existing colonies are already sufficient for Spain’s development. The agricultural development of just one West Africa Colony is enough to demand massive human and material resources from Spain, taking years to complete.

Not to mention the development of the Guinea Colony and Congo Territory; unless Spain had a sufficient population, it might be ten years before seeing results.

Without an adequate population, they might have to wait at least several decades to see the outcomes of developing the Guinea and Congo Territories.

The 80,000 troops will split into two groups, launching attacks on the Sokoto Caliphate from the east and the west.

The western army is the main force attacking Spain, composed of two Colonial Divisions and five Colonial Defense Corps, totaling about 50,000 soldiers.

The primary task of the Western Route Army: starting from the Dahomey Region and heading eastward, integrating the armies of those southern states opposed to the Caliph, and then moving directly towards the capital of the Sokoto Caliphate, Oyoibo.

Oyoibo is only over 200 kilometers away from the Dahomey Region of the Guinea Colony; there’s hope that the Western Route Army might encircle the capital of the Sokoto Caliphate before it even realizes what’s happening, dashing the hopes of those states still loyal to the nation.

As long as the Sokoto Caliphate and its government can be resolved, the Spanish Army might not need to take significant military actions afterward; those states already dissatisfied with the Sokoto Caliphate would naturally step up, showing loyalty by leading the Spanish Army, ensuring their own safety.

As for the other route, composed of one Colonial Division and five Colonial Defense Corps, it consists of 30,000 soldiers.

The core mission of this troop is to march northward from the Cameroon Region, blocking reinforcements from the northern states supporting the Sokoto Caliphate before the Western Route Army captures Oyoibo.

Though the Sokoto Caliphate doesn’t possess many firearms, their population is what Spain needs to be wary of. If the Western Route Army cannot capture Oyoibo quickly, it’s crucial whether the Eastern Army can block the reinforcements.

If the enemy manages to counter-surround the Spanish troops, it would be a serious problem for the Spanish Army.

Although the Spanish Army possesses advanced weapons, logistical problems will inevitably arise if surrounded.

Without logistical support, the advanced weapons become mere sticks; without their most lethal assets, defeating the Sokoto Caliphate’s forces becomes significantly harder.

Once the whole battle plan was formulated, Spain immediately started implementing the related actions.

Spain doesn’t plan to disclose its battle plans to those southern states opposing the Sokoto Caliphate. Though they can be utilized, nobody can ascertain whether there are still people loyal to the Sokoto Caliphate within these states.

If unexpected factors lead to leaks of Spain’s battle plans, causing the Sokoto Caliphate to bolster defenses at its capital, Oyoibo, the consequences would be disastrous.

Anyway, by the time the Spanish Army reaches these southern states’ territories, it can easily control these states’ armies.

They have remained unscathed while clearly resisting the Sokoto Caliphate, thanks to support from Spain.

Regarding Spain’s demand for command authority over their troops, they have no choice but to agree. After all, their ammunition supplies depend entirely on Spain; without Spain’s support, their weapons become useless.

Without armed forces equipped with firearms, what do they have left to resist the Sokoto Caliphate’s rule? The Sokoto Caliphate’s ability to govern over thirty states and maintain national stability is not without cause—it possesses a powerful army, and these small states would stand no chance whatsoever against the Caliphate’s forces without firearms.

The Western Route Army’s advance went relatively smoothly. Marching eastward from the Dahomey Region, they encountered indigenous states opposed to the Sokoto Caliphate all along the way.

This allowed the Spanish Army to gain control over vast territories without firing a single shot and obtained command authority over tens of thousands of indigenous troops.

Of course, while termed as command authority, the Spanish side wouldn’t frequently direct the indigenous forces.

The primary role of these indigenous armies for Spain would be to deplete the enemy’s manpower during attacks on the Sokoto Caliphate’s capital, Oyoibo—in other words, as cannon fodder during sieges.

And since they are cannon fodder, there’s no need for precise direction.

When the time comes to assault the city, they can charge en masse, and whether they survive depends entirely on divine favor.

To reassure these indigenous states into handing over command of their forces, Spain agreed to offer some benefits.

Once the Sokoto Caliphate is defeated, these indigenous states will be incorporated into Spain’s colonies, continuing to exist in the form of protectorates.

Their trade relations with Spain shall remain unchanged. It could be said that aside from changing their annual tribute from the Sokoto Caliphate to Spain, nothing else would alter.

This is a kind of assurance for these indigenous states. After all, Spain displayed exceptional force when conquering disparate indigenous nations.

Not only were those conquered indigenous nations utterly wiped out, but a considerable portion of their population was also slaughtered.

For these indigenous states, who cannot resist Spain’s colonial rule, their only choice is to ensure their own safety as much as possible.

Regarding their ruling leader, the great Sokoto Caliph, who would care about his future after Spain waged war?