Post

The Other End
While the Victory of the Lake was a resounding success, suspicion began to brew between Mazaltan and Durango. The Socialist system of Soviet Mexico is completely incompatible with the oligarchic Council. Rumors circulated that the Barons will back out of the deal, their most imminent threat neutered.

Motivated by uncertainty, the Republic decided to move first. Not long after the guns go silent over Lake Manor, boots marched down the boulevards of Durango, flying the battle flag of the SFSR. Leading them is 2nd Regimental Commandant, Hermann Oscar. He has come to take the Soviets’ part of the deal: annexation. The Council... was surprised, but not shocked. They know it’s coming, they just didn’t think it’ll be so quickly.

“Since our socialist system is incompatible with your oligarchy” Hermann stated, “We will give you an offer. Resist, and die, or relinquish all your private assets to the Mazatlan government. You will be appointed as military commanders, and your troops will serve the nation, not you.” They balked at his points and demeanor. Calm and polite, but they can tell he isn’t joking around. In the meantime, men of the 2nd and 3rd infantry regiments of the Mexican Red Army has surrounded the barracks and stables, preventing a breakout by the individual charros. Machine guns are brought upon the rooftops of nearby buildings, pointing squarely at the bases. A hundred or so managed to hop onto their steed and flee into the countryside, but they are few.

Unable to do any other course of action, the Council of Durango officially surrendered it’s sovereignty to the Mexican Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. What followed was a massive restructuring of... Well, basically every system. A temporary provincial council is picked from the best and brightest of the area, with Sinaloan supervisors. The old estates of the barons were carved up into grazing grounds for new collectives, replacing the old individual farmsteads. Official taxation was introduced, and the funds were used to install a basic healthcare system and expand education.

The biggest thing of all though, are the charros. These are horsemen serving their barons, like how knights served a lord in the far past. They were bound to their master, not to some frivolous idea of a nation. This makes them a potential liability, and most within the government advocated for their disbandment as soon as possible. After they’ve trained loyal troops their craft, of course. The target of this is a new generation of charros, one serving the Republic, not individual bosses.

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Durango is annexed by the MSFSR.
Population gain: 1,780