Reforms [Private: Alfie -> Markus]

[Wizry 1221]

 

"Hello Markus,

 

It would be remiss to not state that Adria’s position in the Mori’quessir conflict is tenuous at best. Without severe reforms to doctrine, army, polities, and economics - there is no certainty of Adria being able to put up a fight against the invading force. Thus, I have suggested reforms to all four in order to make Adria a: mobile military force focused on harrying the enemy; politically able to focus upon the Mori’quessir to allow for the full usage of the strategies allowed to a military focused on the ‘Fabian’ Strategies; and economically able to carry on the conflict. This is, in my analysis, a successful way for the Duchy to not only carry on the fight against the Mori’quessir, but do so in a way that is sustainable for the future.

 

I request this to be kept in private for my own security.

 

Strategic & Tactical Reforms

 

The Mori’quessir that I have encountered are primarily based in formations and legion tactics. The Mori’quessir must also be understood to be masters of pitched warfare using infantry tactics. This results in my suggestion of a focused doctrine using the principles of the ‘Fabian Strategy’. To explain, the Fabian Strategy is a strategy that turns the war from a series of decisive battles contesting zones of control into a contest of attrition until the situation has developed to a point where their natural advantages in a pitched battle have disintegrated. The way this is traditionally conducted is through an avoidance of battle and sabotage of the supply lines of the enemy. Furthermore, if Adria is to lose farmland, it is far better to render this land unusable and burn the market to starve the Mori’quessir of food and weaponry. This results in an enemy that, while numerically superior, no longer has the logistical ability to support their army and their expansion. 

 

When this process has been completed, the Officer Corps of Adria may instigate a pitched battle. Even now, do not under-estimate the Mori’quessir, but follow through with tactical understandings. The Mori’quesir have a type of combined arms approach to warfare, as their legion number five thousand men - with various engineering, siege weapons, and various other support corps aiding them. However, it would be remiss to not recognize the inherent weaknesses of this manipular formation. While lightly armed troops and a type of ‘flying cavalry’ exist, they exist to guard the flanks or disorganize an opposing attack. These troops, if successfully broken through, or outright defeated, leave the rear of the legion exposed to an attack. Furthermore, should the legion itself be broken in its organization, it may fall to a charge or basic military maneuvers.

 

This, however, requires a mobile military force primarily based in horseback archery for strategic and tactical success. Only a mobile military can conduct harrying attacks with supreme efficiency; only a horseback archer primary force can exploit the manipular formation and their lightly armed troops to promote exposing of internal weaknesses when that organization is broken apart. 

It is the suggestion of myself that the Adrian state looks into what I have suggested and implement them in full.

 

Political and Economic Reforms

 

It is an unfortunate moment for the Adrian State that they have been split into two directions. A focus on the Mori’quessir and a focus on the war with the, what I will call, Coalition. This can be corrected in a variety of ways - something that can be only corrected by the Duke and His staff. But for the success of the military reforms, there must, unfortunately, be a singular focus on the Mori’quesir - as total doctrinal and structural reforms to an army in a two front conflict would spell disaster due to troops not being able to be trained to a manner befitting the differing natures of conflict. This is further escalated by the Coalition and the Mori’quessir fighting in two different ways and with two different structures.

 

Economically, I suggest government control of the Adrian economy even if the state’s focus becomes singularly upon the Mori’quessir. In a type of beschlagnahme, Adria would earmark strategic raw materials for the purposes of war, and put under its own control the whole process of production and manufacturing into finished goods - with a complete inability to divert the material into civilian use unless permitted. This would permit the mobilization of Adria into a complete backing of the military reforms that would enable conflict with the Mori’quessir.

Finishing Thoughts

This is a fully realized reform plan that I share with you, Markus. It is a plan that I have constructed with my experience.

Once again, I request that you implement these things in fullness - but leave my name off the reforms or debate.

Regards,

Alfie Fabius."

 

If for some reason you want to see the cited sources, footnotes, or just prefer google docs, here you are.

Spoiler

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QW8dbNlrcQfiXV0l7TDdpq1nWcBXLSTi6cXmoDlBDKo/edit?usp=sharing