LukasL old han reform semi FI

A transcription of LukasL's build shown in this video. I thought transcribing this popular build was still worth it. Enjoy.

Game plan :

Apply pressure on your opponent to distract him while to advance to the industrial age to deliver a massive timing attack using the power of the Old Han reform card.

Age I :

Standard French consulate opening. Priority on wood treasures until the village is built, then focus on food and coin. Age up with the Porcelain tower. Build it with as many villagers as possible without idling your town centre.

Age II :

Ship the 7 steppe riders and go kill villagers. you want to trigger a response from your opponent. Do not build infrastructure. Just macro for age 3 (tower on coin). Ship 700c and age up with the confucian academy. 

Build another village in transition (porcelain tower to wood), then gather food to pay for the beiyang army shipment. Switch your alliance with the British if you expect some fighting to happen. The longer you stay with the French, the better for your economy it is.

Age III :

Ship Beiyang army followed by intervention. Keep applying pressure, while macroing for age 4 behind. Keep the porcelain tower on wood to build a market and get upgrades. You need to be allied with the British the moment intervention arrives at the latest. 

Ship 1000c and go to age 4 with the white pagoda when safe to do so. In transition, produce disciples (to overpop with the white pagoda), a war academy and produce units from the age 2 armies. You may want to build a monastery and get monk/disciple upgrades as well.

Age IV :

Ship units and keep producing units. The bigger your mass is, the more value you get out of the Old Han reform card (since your units are upgraded but you paid them at their original price), then push.