Sack of Highdrilian: Difference between revisions
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The successful construction of the railway drew the attention of the government in Leidenstad, which itself was spearheading the development of a nationwide road and rail network. These efforts were hindered by the Kingdom's fragmented geography, particularly in the Älmarkii Highlands, where rail transport was vital for the mining industry which fueled the Cryrian industrial revolution, but also dangerous and difficult work for laborers. The Cryrian government had turned to outside regions under its influence to acquire low-cost workers who would pose a minimal burden to the state. Among the chief priorities of the Norsian Concern was to ensure Leidenstad's continued political and military commitment to its position in Aikthudr'zhur, and as such it was quick to offer its Aikkian workforce which already had experience in similar lines of work under similar conditions, albeit on a far smaller scale.
[[File:Railway Workers.png|thumb|Aikkian railway workers near Lielsta, Cryria]]
Initially, Aikkian workers were raised on a voluntary basis. This yielded comparatively low numbers as most of the railway workers had been farmers seeking employment outside of the harvest season, and were as such disinclined to travel to Cryria for assignments that might last multiple consecutive years. However, the Concern's recruitment drive dovetailed with an unrelated legislation pressed onto the Aikkian court by lobbyists in Leidenstad, which lifted trade restrictions on Cryrian agricultural products. Cheap foodstuffs soon began flooding into Aikkian markets and undermined local farmers, who had already been impacted by a series of poor harvests.
The Concern saw an opportunity to impress the Cryrian government, expand its landholdings in the Aikkian interior, and increase the Aikkian government's dependance on Cryrian industrialists. In 1870, the Norsian Concern heavily subsidized Cryrian agricultural imports into Aikthudr'zhur. Smaller local farmers, many of whom were already on the brink, were financially crushed by this move. Many were forced to surrender or sell their lands for a pittance and accept low-paying positions which would see them sent to labor under harsh conditions in Cryria. Larger aristocratic landholders became heavily indebted to the Concern in order to remain afloat, thus ensuring that they remained beholden to Cryrian interests, and the decimation of the agricultural workforce turned Aikthudr'zhur into a food importer dependent upon Leidenstad long after the Concern ended its subsidies.
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