Liao

The Grand Federation of Liao, commonly known as Liao, is located in northern Avalonia. Liao is transferring into a mixed market economy worth 2.9 trillion dollars (17th). The population of Liao is 121 million (12th). What is now Liao was settled by ancient humans around 10,000 BC. By 700 CE, these initial tribes had formed into a multitude of competing kingdoms. In 1684, Bakanese merchant Chi Ho Kwan established a number of trading town and military outposts in the Liaotian coast and its surrounding isles to extract sugar.

Etymology
roughly means far place.

Native settlement
Settled around 10000 BC by early humans.

Kingdoms
by 700 AC a number of small tribal kingdoms had popped up in what is now Liao, composed of many different cultural groups they were competitive and small wars would break out often, they lived in a type of walled hill city known as a kurik.

Arrival of Beifang
Chi Ho Kwan was a powerful merchant and noble in Beifang in the late 1680s. He had invested much into trade with the new world which had brought him extraordinary wealth and he was able to convince the emperor to back an expedition to occupy the newly explored Fujian islands. In 1697 the first colonisation fleet carrying 700 people arrived in Xinji Bay establishing the first colony.

Colonial period
During the early colonial era, sugar was highly valued and as such was an important part of the early Liaotian economy. The wealth the sugar trade produced made Liao a popular destination for Bakanese migrants, allured by the possibility of riches and a new life in the rapidly expanding colony.

The slave trade greatly expanded due to the increasing need for labour in the many sugar plantations in the colony.

Native trade with Beifang added fuel to the growing fires. With the introduction of Bakanese muskets to the internal conflict between native tribes, the tension grew to a point where an all-out war between the many native tribes became an absolute certainty. Eventually, despite the tribe of Shakan winning over most, if not all of the tribes, the coastal Bakanese authorities stepped in and crushed the growing native power, in what historians today call the War of the Muskets.

As sugar became more readily available and cheaper, the Liaotian economy evolved into one more focused on industry, agriculture, and manufacturing. The local colonial government, being a much more flexible and practical ruler than the traditionalist imperial power on the other side of the ocean, was able to maintain an up-to-date armed force throughout the rest of the 19th century.

Independence era
in 1900 Liao voted on its independence with an overwhelming 87% of the population opting to stay. However, a government was set up and Liao was officially declared a sovereign state under the Bakanese commonwealth.

Economy
Liao has a mixed market economy with growing technology and service sectors. Traditionally focused on resource extraction and manufacturing, it began to transition in the late '90s to the economy it has today.

Government
The Governor represents the emperor as head of state democratically. The Prime Minister is elected by popular vote as is the Senate and Assembly House.

Military
The Liaotian Armed Forces are broken up into 4 branches.

Air Force
The Liaotian Air Force includes Fighter Command, Air Defence Command and Bomber Command.

Navy
The Liaotian Navy includes the Fleet, Submarine Fleet, Fleet Air Arm, and Marines.

Army
The Liaotian Army consists of the Army and Special Forces.

Strategic Reserve
The Liaotian Strategic Reserve consists of the Coast Guard, Home Guard, and reserves.

Culture
Despite keeping close cultural and political ties to Beifang, Liao has developed its own culture, commonly referred to as Avalonian Bakanese.

Sport
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Food
Liao mainly features fusion cuisine between local produce and food from Beifang.